Concealed Carry Report

Victory in the U.S. Supreme Court

Gun Rights Roundup

Click here to read more about this landmark case.

Buckeye Firearms Association is thrilled that the United States Supreme Court has ruled to strike down the ban on private ownership of firearms in Chicago.

In a 5 to 4 decision, the court ruled that the Second Amendment applies to states and cities. The decision is a result of a case brought by Otis McDonald (and others) against the city of Chicago. Leaving no room for doubt, the court made clear that the Second Amendment applies to Mayor Daley and Chicago.

"While there is much work to be done, this decision is the first critical step towards universal self-defense rights," said Jim Irvine, President of Buckeye Firearms Foundation. Buckeye Firearms Foundation teamed up with the United States Concealed Carry Association to file an amicus brief in support of Mr. McDonald.

Ken Hanson, Esq., Buckeye Firearms Association Legislative Chair, summarized some of the highlights of the ruling:

The main majority opinion is written by Justice Alito. The main opinion holds that the Second Amendment applies to the cities and states via the due process clause of the 14th amendment.

Alito’s opinion leaves absolutely no doubt – there is a constitutional right to self defense, and people must be allowed to own/posses handguns as part of that right.

Chicago’s actual law is still in force, as the Supreme Court remanded the case back down to the lower courts to make the ruling. However, given the Heller ban did not pass review, the Chicago ban is not going to pass review.

The Brief of Buckeye Firearms Foundation and the U.S. Concealed Carry Association was cited in the majority opinion at footnote 2.

Justice Scalia wrote a separate concurring opinion, and this opinion does nothing but shred Justice Stevens’ dissent. It is extraordinarily brutal in exposing the minority for what it is, a group that wanted to disregard law simply because they personally hate guns. If you are going to read only part of the decision, read Scalia’s concurrence.

As a supporter of Buckeye Firearms Association or a member of the United States Concealed Carry Association, YOU helped win this victory and have helped change the course of history in the U.S. for generations.

Gun Rights Roundup is a joint venture of Buckeye Firearms Association and USCCA. We will keep fighting until every American enjoys their natural right to carry and self-defense. For more news on pro-gun law, politics, and events, click here to subscribe to Buckeye Firearms Association’s FREE Newsletter.

Coming Up On Armed American Radio

The Official Voice of the USCCA

Children at the Gun Range

I announce two new cities:
Denver, CO & Dallas, TX

The AAR guest lineup is changing rapidly due to the McDonald Supreme Court decision. We will be discussing the decision in detail as well as other current events that matter…Like Kagan…and Boneheads…and where we go from here!

Don’t forget to join Armed American Radio on FACEBOOK to keep up with all of the latest, up to the minute information as we talk about freedom. Also, please visit me at http://www.armedamericanradio.org for all of the latest affiliate stations around the nation carrying the broadcast and information on where to listen to the show LIVE every Sunday. For a copy of my book, co-written with Ms. Kathy Jackson, please visit www.lessonsfromarmedamerica.com

I’ll see YOU on the radio THIS Sunday from 8-11pm ET, 5-8pm PT

Mark

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Quote of the Week

‘‘The whole of the Bill [of Rights] is a declaration of the right of the people at large or considered as individuals… It establishes some rights of the individual as unalienable and which consequently, no majority has a right to deprive them of.’’

—Albert Gallatin, Oct 7 1789

USCCA Forum Highlights

Every paying website member has complete access to the USCCA forum, which is constantly being accessed by members sharing information, knowledge, insight, and fun. With well over sixty-thousand posts and growing by the hour, this is one heck of a valuable resource!

If you have never logged in but are a member, visit THIS location to watch help videos, including how to find out your username and/or password!

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Great Jeans!
From the Women of USCCA forum

I have found that Lee Jeans with a little elastic in the waist are great for an IWB holster. When you are not carrying, they fit well, and when you carry, the side elastic has enough give to accommodate the holster. It does away with the need to buy two sizes. Here is a link to Kohl’s where I buy them: KOHLS

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This is not a concealed carry question (please excuse me if this should be posted elsewhere), but I am hoping that you have some helpful thoughts. My son is 7. He has shown excellent gun safety/respect with his BB gun. I would like him to continue learning and be able to go to the range with me. Is the next logical step a .22 pistol? Any sense of what age he should be to start shooting at the range?

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Help Finding An Answer

(AAR Editor’s Note: This is a question about wallet holsters which are interpreted by law to be illegal. USCCA members with web access may read the great replies at the forums.)

Can you guys help me find the answer to a question I was asked?

Sometime back, here at USCCA I believe, there was a thread concerning a pocket holster that was illegal because part of the gun was either covered or not covered, I don’t remember which it was or maybe I completely crazy and none of this is true.

Does anyone remember anything about a pocket holster making concealed CC illegal because of the way the gun was held in the pocket holster?

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Best .22 Handgun?

I am looking at the Ruger Mark III for a plinker. Does anyone recommend it, or should I look at another 22 pistol?

USCCA members can read the rest of this great forum post HERE.

Video of the Week

David McCullough puts current challenges into historical perspective

USCCA Photo of the Week

All Photos of the Week are taken from Mr. Oleg Volk’s
website:
http://www.a-human-right.com/.

It is a fantastic site. Please check it out!

USCCA Self Defense Story

Every day, thousands of Armed Americans use their firearms to preserve human life. Let this section of my newsletter serve as a record of this fact!

June 3, 2010

West Covina,

From: San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Man Shot by West Covina Pawn Shop Worker Was in Middle of Day-Long Crime Spree

A robber shot by a West Covina pawn shop worker was in the middle of a very long day of crime, police said Thursday.

Detectives said El Monte resident Rudy Barbosa, 24, started a crime spree at 5 a.m. when he robbed a 7-Eleven in in El Monte. He went on to carjack someone in Los Angeles before he was shot by a worker at Alamo Jewelry and Loan, police officer said.

After being shot, Barbosa stabbed someone at the Valley Mall, stole things out of someone’s garage and led police on a short car chase before he was captured and arrested, said Detective Ralph Batres of the El Monte Police Department.

"He was involved in a several-city crime spree," Batres said.

Investigators believe Barbosa at 5 a.m. used a knife to steal lottery tickets and cartons of cigarettes from the 7-Eleven at 3243 Santa Anita Ave.

About 9 a.m., Batres said, Barbosa showed up in downtown Los Angeles where he allegedly carjacked someone at knife point in the 3200 block of South San Pedro Street.

Shortly before 11 a.m., Barbosa donned a mask and attempted to rob the pawn shop at 544 N. Azusa Ave. in West Covina, West Covina police Lt. Rudy Lopez said.

Two employees saw a masked man carrying what they believed to be a rifle trying to enter the front door while shouting out orders, police said.

One of the store employees fired a single shot from a handgun and the masked intruder fled, Lopez said.

Barbosa, who had a gunshot wound to the shoulder, then headed to the Valley Mall in El Monte where he stabbed a jewelry store customer in the back, Batres said.

"He went to look at some jewelry and ended up stabbing someone at the counter," Batres said.

The wounded man was hospitalized in stable condition.

Immediately afterward, Batres said, police believe Barbosa drove to the 4600 block of Santa Anita Avenue in El Monte, where he’s suspected of breaking into a garage and taking items while the resident was present.

El Monte police found Barbosa driving nearby and chased him several blocks until he crashed into another car at Santa Anita Avenue and Bodger Street, Lopez said.

Officers then arrested Barbosa without further incident and booked him in the jail ward at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, Batres said, where he was being treated for his gunshot wound.

"The vehicle that he was driving was (the) vehicle that was taken in a carjacking in Los Angeles earlier in the day," Batres added.

Barbosa remained hospitalized in stable condition Thursday, officials said, and was being held in lieu of $75,000 bail at a hospital jail ward.

Barbosa was initially booked only on suspicion of attempting to evade police and an El Monte burglary, officials said, though West Covina and El Monte police planned to seek additional charges against him shortly.

USCCA Q&A

Last Week’s Question: ANSWERED.

Tim, my 23 year old daughter is truly left handed and I would like a few recommendations on semi auto pistols for her. She can shoot my XD40 fine, but gets hung up clearing malfunctions and hit with the occasional brass casing as it ejects.

CBear:

Get her a Glock. Easy to take down, easy to put back together, easy to clean and oil. Mine has never malfunctioned and seems to eat any ammo I feed it. I see other guys on the range fighting malfunctions all the time and I don’t want that in a defensive weapon when my life is on the line.

Lt. G. Smith, Arlington, Texas:

This is for the man with the 23 year old daughter who is a leftie. If your daughter can handle a large gun then something along the Beretta line might work. Most Beretta pistols have the signature cut-away top slide, a design started in the 1930s for military and police guns. This allows the cartridge to eject straight up. Beretta recognized that semi-automatic pistols, like revolvers, might be used by both right and left handed people and the design made more sense than trying to design ejection ports for lefties. The only adjustment your daughter would have to make would be to develop a way to manipulate the magazine release button although a good gunsmith can probably switch the release to the opposite side for her

Anonymous:

If you can find a Walther P5 (9mm) she should be able to shoot it and clear any malfunctions easily with the added bonus of a true left hand ejecting pistol!

Mike:

Tim, this is for the left handed daughter question "gets hung up clearing malfunctions" All auto pistol clearing techniques are basically the same, get someone left handed at the range show her. of course the mag release has a lot to do with certain types of malfunctions If she is unable to get it, then maybe a revolver is the best for her, clearing is as easy as just pulling the trigger again. "and hit with the occasional brass casing as it ejects" I get hit with it sometimes, but if I stand on the left side of the lane it’s usually not a problem. Just make sure to wear a top that covers close to the neckline as my wife found out. cheers

CR Williams:

The issue of getting hit with the ejected brass is likely going to have to be handled by shooting different model pistols until you find one that throws the casings the right way. Don’t sacrifice the right ‘feel’ to avoid the occasional casing-ping, though, and I speak of one who has had the hot brass go down the shirt before. As for malfunction clearance, I do the same thing left-handed as right-handed by way of clearance procedure and grip, and might need to know more specifically how she is getting hung up on that to be able to help with it. For now, make sure she racks the slide hard and releases it fully on both reloads and malfunction-clearance, and experiment with slingshot grip on the slide if she is currently using an overhand, though I recommend overhand for those who can do that

This week’s question. Have an answer? Use the “Ask Tim” form below to give an answer- I’ll share them here next week!

Ok, I have made the decision to carry and went and got the Utah state concealed permit. My Wife and I both got the permit and I vowed to carry as much as I can. My wife seen me putting my pistol in my iwb holster and she said "I don’t want you to carry a gun in town" I calmly explained to her in town is the place I would need it the most to defend you and the family. She said I don’t mind you carry it in the truck, but not on your person. This is a very touchy subject…How do I make her understand how important it is to carry ALL the time, not just when she’s comfortable. I’m at a loss on what to do from here. I absolutely believe it’s important to carry all times possible. Has anyone out there had this experience?

Do you have a pressing concern? Use the ‘Ask Tim’ contact form found at this page to let me hear your advice. Just use the graphic below!

Concerned Spouses & a 1911 Review…

Posted in General – Jun 25th, 2010

June 25, 2010

Hello, fellow Armed Citizen.

I’ve got a new Tactical Tim video for you (featuring a beautiful 1911) and a great article about how to deal with spouses (or anyone) who doesn’t see eye to eye with your decision to go armed.

Let’s get started!

Tactical Tim - Rohrbaugh 380s

by the USCCA

Stepping Lightly Around Spousal Concerns

...I looked at my wife and said, "I am planning to own at least three guns before the government takes away my right to do so.".…

by Norm MacDonald

It was almost five years ago that, after reading an article in the local paper about the Second Amendment, I looked at my wife and said, "I am planning to own at least three guns before the government takes away my right to do so." Of course, she was a bit taken aback by the statement, but after some discussion she seemed to understand, and at the time did not raise any objections.

A few years passed before I actually acted on that commitment. I waited for a couple of reasons: First, I had personally never owned a gun and had not had a gun in my hands since pheasant hunting more than thirty years earlier. Second, the only time I had been around a handgun, I found myself intimidated by it. No, that’s not true; I was scared to death of it. So the thought of now venturing to own three firearms was a significant step for me. Nevertheless, I made a determination to own at least one rifle, one shotgun, and one handgun.

When we moved to Texas I made up my mind it was time to act. I went to a local gun range and began to inquire about the laws regarding handgun ownership and learning to shoot. After gathering some information, I decided that I would enroll in a Concealed Carry class. I asked my wife to join me. She was less than thrilled about it, but decided to give it a go. During the class, about an hour passed and the instructor brought out the handguns to pass around. That was all it took for my wife. She did not want to look at them, did not want to hold them, and certainly did not want to shoot them. She was out of there! Her decision to leave did not totally surprise me. It was a choice I respected and after talking with her about it later, I understood and did not question her reticence.

I finished the class and shortly thereafter purchased my first handgun. It was a Springfield XD-9 with a 4-inch barrel. What a great gun. I made every effort to shoot regularly to begin honing my skills and toyed with the idea of "carrying." Naturally, I remember the words I said to my wife when I signed us up for the class, "No, I don’t intend to carry a gun, I just want to learn to shoot one and have it in the home for personal protection."

Two years passed, and after moving to North Carolina I had achieved two thirds of my goal. I had my handgun, I had purchased a small .22 caliber rifle, and now my next step was the purchase of a shotgun. This was significant because it would not only round out my initial intent of owning three firearms, but it also began to pave the way to a more complete understanding from my wife. In addition, I began to seriously weigh the pros and cons of carrying on a regular basis. I felt it was the right thing to do to protect my wife and myself. I also felt it was an important part of my Second Amendment rights as a citizen of the United States. However, I knew my spouse might be more than suspect about the idea.

Over time my wife grew accustomed to my regular visits to the range and my intention to get my North Carolina concealed carry permit. When I decided to purchase a shotgun, she respected my thoughtful research and the fact that I would not bring the gun into the home until I had a credible means of securing it along with the .22. I had purchased a handgun safe right after purchasing my XD, so that was not an issue, but securing the long guns was.

During one of our evening conversations (I’m not certain of the topic, but bad guys and guns were a part of it) she hugged me and expressed her appreciation of my desire to keep her and our household safe. That was not so much a green light to me, as it was a realization that she had come to terms with guns in our home and the intent behind owning them.

Several months passed, during which time I joined the USCCA and began reading the magazine and following the forums. I decided it was time to carry. In making that decision, the main issue was not how to carry or what to carry. The main issue was how I would tell my life partner and how she might respond to it. I did not want to frighten her or cause undue alarm or stress. I wanted to tread lightly around her concerns. I suspect, at least I would hope, that this is not an uncommon concern for many gun owners when it comes to the feelings and concerns of their spouse.

Investing countless hours, I researched holsters, carrying methods, how to carry, when to carry, the ramifications of carrying and (God forbid) how I might respond should I ever have to draw my firearm. I read countless articles and sales pitches on holsters, gun fanny packs, IWB, OWB, the SmartCarry and others. I thought about my current gun and read about the size of guns others carried comfortably. Doing a good bit of research on USCCA and other sites, I read about differing scenarios and how carrying might mean changing my lifestyle: how I dressed, where we went out to eat, and how I approached situations and evaluated the circumstances around me at all times. Initially, it all seemed so overwhelming. That was, until I made the mental decision that I was going to carry and realized that I might not get it all right on the first go around. After all, others I had read about also went through a trial and error period regarding holsters, belts and the like.

All of that now seemed easy when bouncing it up against telling my wife that I had made a serious and informed choice to begin carrying. In fact, I did not tell her about it at first. Not that I wanted to keep it a secret. I wanted to see if she could discern that I was carrying either by a change in my demeanor or how I dressed. In fact, the first couple of times I carried my gun while with her she had no idea I was armed.

One evening, after going out to dinner, we were driving home and I stopped to fill the truck up with gas. While the pump was running, I looked at her directly and said, "Honey, I have given this a great deal of thought and consideration and I have decided that I am going to carry a firearm regularly." Her response appeared neutral, but I could see she knew I had given this whole idea a good deal of thought and I was seriously committed to her safety and mine. Then she asked, "Do you have it with you now?" And I said, "Yes, I do," a response that surprised her. She was totally unaware that I was wearing the SmartCarry holster and had the XD suspended between my legs! That was the end of the conversation that evening.

The topic has come up only a couple of times since then and it may come up again in a few days, a few months or a few years. But right now, even though she would rather I didn’t, she respects my desire to tread lightly around her concerns and give due diligence and serious consideration to what it means to carry a gun.

As husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, girlfriends or boyfriends, our decision to carry can dramatically affect others. Treading lightly around those concerns shows love and respect and I believe, strengthens our credibility as responsible gun owners.

Norm MacDonald is a freelance writer living in Monroe, North Carolina. He has been a corporate trainer in the area of Customer Service and has done consulting in the area of Personal and Professional Development. You can follow his thoughts at www.normmacdonald.wordpress.com.

USCCA Toon of the Week

No one cares about gun rights except YOU!

Gun Rights Roundup

You can read the entire list of tips here.

For every 1000 gun owners, there is one true gun rights activist who does the hart work of protecting the Second Amendment.

This isn’t an indictment of gun owners. It’s just the way it works in politics. A few do the work. A lot sit around and complain. The rest are oblivious to what’s going on.

If you’re one of the rare few who wants to fight for gun rights, here are 4 tips based on real world activism:

NO ONE IS AS INTERESTED AS YOU ARE.
Nowadays everyone’s attention span and time are limited. Be grateful if you get anyone’s attention on our issue, even for a few seconds. Some wannabe activists come in fast, then disappear faster. Take whatever you get from any volunteer. Praise and thank them. Don’t be disappointed when they drift away. They will. But some come back. Keep the light on for them.

GUN RIGHTS GROUPS STINK.
At the same time, these organizations are the best thing since sliced bread. We won’t keep our rights without them. It’s normal to love them and hate them at the same time. Be sure your complaints about them go to the person who can do something about your problem. Never give up your membership — it’s much easier to fix things from the inside. Avoid griping in public — our opponents love it when we do. Always handle our dirty laundry behind closed doors. Always.

THERE IS NO MAGIC BULLET.
There is no single answer, rule, or solution. Never has been, and never will be. None of us will write the single brilliant letter to the editor or Internet message that will miraculously turn everything around. Keep steadily busy. Do as much as you can, whenever you can. Anything you do counts, but some things count more than others. Find out what counts. Then do it.

THERE IS NO FINAL VICTORY.
Preserving RKBA is an ongoing PROCESS. We are winning and losing battles during this process, but the war will never be over. Becoming active to keep your gun rights is a lot like cleaning your house: it’s thankless and boring work, but necessary. Like dirt, the anti-gun crowd will just keep coming back. Forever. Your activism will keep us winning more than losing.

The point is, gun rights activism isn’t glamorous and it won’t make you famous. It’s hard. It takes effort. It requires stubborn determination. For many, it’s a way of life.

You must assume that no one cares about gun rights except you. Because in most situations, that’s exactly the way it is. The sheepdog protects the sheep.

Coming Up On Armed American Radio

The Official Voice of the USCCA

Surviving The Fight: Part II

This week’s featured guests:

The AAR guest lineup is changing rapidly due to the Stossel taping of More Guns, Less Crime in NY this week and the upcoming Chicago Supreme Court decision. Depending on the timing of the outcome of the case, Alan Gura and Otis McDonald are ready to appear on short notice as well as Suzanna Hupp. We will be discussing the Stossel program that I participated on as well as the court decision. Please make sure to tune in to Stossel on Fox Business Channel all week. Check the following link for show information. The Stossel Show-More Guns, Less Crime

I’ll see YOU on the radio THIS Sunday from 8-11pm ET, 5-8pm PT

Mark

USCCA Member-Only Video Tip

Here’s this week’s premium video tip; presented for the continued advancement of the armed citizenry and the preservation of our liberty! Use it well…

Cr Williams:

"Plugging the Gaps"

Once you know what it is, you need to know what to do about it. Dr. Meade continues a brief look at initial wound treatment with a discussion about what to do and what you can use to get the bleeding stopped. Part 2 of 2.

USCCA Forum Highlights

Every paying website member has complete access to the USCCA forum, which is constantly being accessed by members sharing information, knowledge, insight, and fun. With well over sixty-thousand posts and growing by the hour, this is one heck of a valuable resource!

If you have never logged in but are a member, visit THIS location to watch help videos, including how to find out your username and/or password!

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Let’s Post Our Favorite Gun Stores

(AAR Editor’s Note: A great source of member recommended gun stores.)

The thread on women shopping for guns made my think about posting this thread a easy choice. As women who love to shoot, lets post the names and locations of our favorite gun stores. That way we might be able to help our sisters and friends new to buying guns find gun stores that will treat them with respect their first time out shopping on their own. It will also be handy when we are traveling, or if we move from one area to another.

I’ll start it off my naming two here in SC, and one just across the border that I love to spend my time and money in.

Members can read the rest of this post at the forums.

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Super Solar Storms may be in Our Near Future

After a prolonged period of nearly no solar activity, (Sun spots), NASA, and others in the space weather business, are predicting we may be in for some major solar activity that could adversely effect our modern lives. Of course predictions are just that - An educated guess, but I won’t completely ignore them.
Check out this link: NASA

In 1859 one very large CME "Coronal Mass Ejection" hit us, and knocked out the only high-tech of the day. Telegraph stations, all over the continent were set on fire, and wires were fried. Northern Lights were seen as far south as Florida and Cuba. Should that same level of CME hit us today, it could be as bad, or worse, than an atomic EMP attack.

For more see: Fox News
And: Space.com

If you think it’s silly to prepare for an EMP, you might want to consider at least some preparations for the possibility of a major CME. No electricity, television, telephone, Internet, or other communications, throughout the entire hemisphere that the CME hits, for weeks or months, maybe longer.

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How Can I Carry While Swimming, or Doing Other Active Sports?

What do you do with your sidearm when you go swimming? What about other highly active sports and water sports?

I try to carry my sidearm on my body or keep it within arm’s reach all the time. Because I don’t carry in restricted buildings, I avoid them as much as possible, but I would like to carry everywhere else.

When I swim, usually I go with a friend or family member. Because of this I often carry to the lake, and then wait on shore with our sidearms while they swim. After which, they keep our sidearms while I swim. This naturally has limitations, so sometimes I have not taken my sidearm to the lake or ocean. Naturally, I don’t want my sidearm when I’m actually competing in highly active sports or when surfing, swimming, etc… When I practice running I do carry my side arm even though it does slow me down, however, when I run competitively this would be a very undesirable handicap.

So, what do you do with your sidearm when you go swimming or take part in similar activities? Even if you don’t swim, any advice would be appreciated.

Video of the Week

Concealed Means Concealed…

This is a pretty cool short video reminiscent of one Massad Ayoob did when he pulled out a bunch of guns he had concealed on his person. Just a reminder of two things: One is that it is not that hard to conceal a weapon legally. Two, it isn’t that hard to conceal a weapon illegally either! Keep those eyes wide open folks.

Tactical Tim - Rohrbaugh 380s

USCCA Photo of the Week

All Photos of the Week are taken from Mr. Oleg Volk’s
website:
http://www.a-human-right.com/.

It is a fantastic site. Please check it out!

USCCA Self Defense Story

Every day, thousands of Armed Americans use their firearms to preserve human life. Let this section of my newsletter serve as a record of this fact!

June 3, 2010

Flint, Michigan

From: WNEM.com

Home Invader Shot With Own Sawed-Off Shotgun

(AAR Editor’s Note: Now that’s the way to use a battlefield pick up! Of course the old man should have aimed better.)

Flint Township police are investigating after an elderly man got a hold of a sawed-off shotgun while a 35-year-old man burglarized his bedroom.

Police were called to the Brookstone apartment complex on Drummond Drive around 5 a.m. Thursday.

Investigators said the intruder, a Flint resident, had forcibly entered the second-floor apartment. Both residents of the home, a 70-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman, were asleep at the time.

Police said the suspect gained entry by climbing onto the balcony and entered through a screen door. Police said the sliding glass door was partially open.

The man then entered the woman’s bedroom, roused her at gunpoint and began to assault her, according to police.

Her screams awakened her living partner, who was sleeping on a couch in the living room.

Police said the man entered the room and saw the suspect set down his gun while rummaging through the bedroom. The man then grabbed the gun and shot the suspect.

Investigators said the suspect then grabbed the gun from the man and fled the apartment.

Officers said they later discovered him at a nearby apartment building.

The suspect was taken into custody and is being treated at a Flint Township hospital while under police guard.

Authorities said charges are pending against the 35-year-old suspect.

USCCA Q&A

Last Week’s Question: ANSWERED.

Hello. I hope it’s not too far off subject to ask but I’m looking at buying a AR-15 rifle probably at a gun show next month mostly for home defense. As a new gun owner I don’t want to spend $2,000 for a weapon that I won’t use too much outside of a range. I’m not planning to enter any competitions or hunt with it. However I don’t know what features to look for on the rifle and the best type of ammunition in the $1,000 range( total ) to make sure it is powerful enough to quickly stop any intruder. I thought it was a gun not a platform that many manufactures have their versions of. Can you offer any help? thanks

Jerry in MI:

In answer to the person about a ar15 for home defense. That’s too much gun for the purpose, a better choice would be a 12ga. pump shot gun with bird shot ammo. As you chamber a round the intruder will know what you have and probably leave the house. If not you don’t have to aim to close to hit the target.

JJ:

his should be no problem, when using a cross draw holster, simply watch that the muzzle stays pointed in a downward position until the weapon is in front of you and aligned on the target. Practice this often and you should not have any problems. Practice,practice,practice.

Anonymous.:

First of all you don’t have to spend anywhere near $2000.00 for an AR type rifle. There are dozens of fine quality guns available from about $700 up to about $1400.00. to 6.8 and 308. All being useful for home defense. 5.56/223 will be the cheapest and easiest to find and to shoot, because of low recoil. My advice is find a gun shop with a range and try before you buy. You can get all the gun you will ever need for under $1000, and as finances permit, you can build it from there. Good Luck I would look first at Stag Arms, Bushmaster, DPMS and S&W. Calibers range from 5.56nato/223rem

Paul from Austin:

To the gentleman looking at buying an AR15. Check out www.stagarms.com or www.dpmsinc.com as they have excellent deals on what your looking for. DPMS has the sportical which is a very good price for the product. If you purchase the lower separately you can purchase the upper in any configuration up to the .50 beowulf round which is a very very potent cartridge. For home protection you will be ok with the .556 nato by the way make sure you purchase the .556 and not just the .223 designation, yes they are the same caliber but you may not realize that the .556 Nato is a bit longer than the .223 wylde ,as the .223 has a shorter throat and shorter head space than the .556 Nato. Going with the .556 you will be able to chamber both with no issues. Also you have to think about Penetration and always think about where the bullet will end up after you touch off the round as the .556 Ball Ammo travels very fast and goes a great distance. Which ever Cartridge you go with i would make sure the round is Frangible in soft tissue and disintegrates when coming in contact with dry wall or concrete. The Ammo from www.extremeshockusa.com is an excellent Ammo that will do just that or even the Gold dot, Federal Bonded Hollow Point even their HST and Winchester Ranger is an excellent Cartridge. But like i said always think about where the Bullet might end up. Hope this helps, take care.

Anonymous:

To the guy who asked about an AR for home defense. AR is not the gun you want for protection. I am assuming you are talking home defense. An AR15 shoots a 22cal. projectile at 3000+ feet per second. A miss or sometimes even a hit will result in the bullet ending up in the other end of the house or possibly even into a neighbors house. Any High power rifle will do that. A hand gun launches a projectile at s much slower speed which results in less penetration of stuff that you don’t want. There are special bullets out there now(frangible)that cut down on the penetration factor even more. A shotgun loaded with shot will penetrate even less yet still impart a tremendous amount of energy into whatever it hits first. Also allowing less precise aiming (dim, no glasses, bright light, etc, all of which should be avoided if at all possible[be sure of your target and what is behind it]) Hope that helps.

Anonymous:

To the person considering an AR-15 as a home defense weapon. Unless you live in a remote area with few or no neighbors, the excessive penetration of rounds from an AR-15 could spell disaster for you if errant bullets struck innocent neighbors or their dwellings. If you insist on a long arm, consider a 12 ga. shotgun. It is devastatingly effective at typical violent encounter distances.

FP:

While the AR15 is a very nice gun to shoot, it is not what I would use as a home defense gun. There is too much risk of wall penetration which could endanger others, even neighbors. If you are looking for a home defense long gun, then the shotgun would be a better choice. I have an Ithica 37 12 ga. I bought it used with an 181/4 police special deerslayer barrel. Accuracy is not quite as critical and the sound of racking the slide on a pump shotgun should encourage any invader to find the nearest exit. the other alternative would be a quality handgun in a caliber that you can handle. FP

This week’s question. Have an answer? Use the “Ask Tim” form below to give an answer- I’ll share them here next week!

Do you have a pressing concern? Use the ‘Ask Tim’ contact form found at this page to let me hear your advice. Just use the graphic below!

Pocket Pistol Video Review & Shoulder Holsters…

Posted in General – Jun 18th, 2010

Hello, fellow Armed Citizen.

Welcome to the new and improved Concealed Carry Report. Not much has changed except for the name, but I do have a brand new Tactical Tim video!

Let’s get started!

Tactical Tim - Rohrbaugh 380s

by the USCCA

Whatever Happened to Shoulder Holsters?

...I feel anyone contemplating concealed carry should be well informed about all aspects of these designs.…

by Frank W. James

You don’t hear much about shoulder holsters anymore. To many, they are about as popular as spoiled milk and about as useful as a dial telephone or a typewriter. I am an advocate of shoulder holsters, or underarm holsters, as some refer to these designs, but I acknowledge their weaknesses. I just prefer them for their strengths. I feel anyone contemplating concealed carry should be well informed about all aspects of these designs.

For the most part, many leading authorities condemn shoulder holsters. Their reasons are multiple, but the main objection has to be simple comfort. There is no question that shoulder holsters are an acquired taste, maybe like escargot, but I know French citizens who don’t like to eat snails, so education and explanation is certainly necessary. Many shoulder holster designs are uncomfortable, while others are probably too complicated for the average end user. They may require too much attention in order to get the design to fit properly.

The beginning for anyone contemplating any kind of shoulder holster is to understand that they are different from all other holster designs in terms of ready fit. Hip holsters are pretty much good to go the moment you take them out of the packaging. Shoulder holsters are far more involved. You have to work with each specific design to make sure it fits comfortably before deciding whether or not its application will work for you, and unfortunately, you may have paid a great deal for a product that you feel afterward does not meet your needs. This, in my view, is perhaps one of the greatest shortcomings of the shoulder holster, because few merchants will accept their return after they have been worn for even a short length of time. They are kind of like underwear in this regard.

My personal opinion is that wearing a shoulder holster is much like wearing a light backpack or book bag. There are backpacks that can be tiring in very short order and there are those that work well, even with moderately heavy loads, for far, far longer. The key seems to be in getting everything in tune with your body style and profile. A key feature in getting any shoulder holster properly adjusted requires patience and time as well as trial and error adjustments, but also a full-length mirror. You have to watch and examine how the holster hangs along your sides as well as how badly it "prints" over your back and shoulders through the covering garment. Go through a series of movements and then go back to the mirror and see how well everything stays in place or where it moves to, so you can figure out further adjustments.

Some shoulder holster designs are very versatile in terms of the handguns they will accept. Shown here is the author’s older Bianchi leather X-15, which will easily accept and work with all three of the handguns in the photo. (Left to right) Smith & Wesson 4-inch Model 66, Springfield Armory XD 5-inch Compact, Colt Delta Elite.

Commonly acknowledged shortcomings

Probably the biggest group of critics of shoulder holsters is square range trainers and instructors, and organizations offering action-oriented handgun competition. The reasons are simple and they all start with the word "SAFETY." Firearms instructors routinely work with a line of shooters facing an impact berm. Almost all shoulder holsters operate like crossdraw holsters, meaning that during the drawstroke, the gun at some point will be held horizontally and pointed straight away from the side of the shooter. If you are standing to my left and I experience a negligent discharge while removing my blaster from its (left side) shoulder holster, you stand a good chance of catching the bullet. Such things have a tendency to ruin reputations and drive insurance rates through the roof. Not to mention, really complicate the rest of our day.

The same goes for most any competition venue requiring the use of a holster and a handgun because of the proximity of the range officers and onlookers.

It would also be appropriate at this time to mention that the drawstroke itself, from almost all shoulder holsters, has some specific safety requirements because of the ease with which one can point a firearm at parts of one’s own body. The big thing to remember is that the shooter must learn to "chicken-wing" the off-side arm and hand during presentation, so that as the muzzle clears the leather it also doesn’t cross the upper off-side arm or shoulder. Yes, it complicates things, but not nearly as much as a bullet hole will.

Another negative with shoulder holsters is that they are S-L-O-W in the drawstroke. Whoever labeled some of the older vertical carry, spring-clip designs "Quick-Draw" either had a terrific sense of humor or really believed in the use of an oxymoron. Compared to modern hip-mounted holsters, the drawstroke from most shoulder holsters can well be measured by sand dripping through an hourglass. They are not quick affairs.

Another problem with shoulder holsters is they are relatively low-security arrangements if discovered and someone makes a "snatch and grab" attempt for your blaster. The problem is the same one found with the crossdraw holster: the butt of the gun is presented toward the grabber, which makes it easier, if not outright convenient for them. The biggest security aspect to these designs is to make sure they are not discovered, noticed or known.

Shoulder holsters are terrible if you’re wearing one and find yourself in a social situation where everyone else in the room or the environment has removed their covering garment. To avoid embarrassment, you’ll have to excuse yourself, go to a bathroom, and more or less undress. Then you are faced with the problem of what to do with the gun and holster and where to store it while enjoying your host’s hospitality. I have found myself in such situations more than once, and the solution has always been tricky. Usually a trip to the vehicle is required with the end result you are now unarmed and far from your tool of defense.

The last objection is a personal one and that is my belief that shoulder holsters (with one exception) don’t go well with small handguns. Handguns the size of the common five-shot .38 Special snubnose revolver or smaller can easily be concealed in a pants pocket, so why go to a system that has so many pitfalls versus one that is not tied to a covering garment? The sole exception to this rule has to be the K.L. Null Holsters Ltd., Model SMZ, which is an extremely lightweight but well designed minimal shoulder holster system that will work well next to the skin and under the lightest of covering garments. It also works well in a hot, humid climate which is an area where most shoulder holsters fail miserably.

Okay, with all these problems and drawbacks why would anyone even consider these things?

This Mitch Rosen horizontal carry holster for a Walther P-99 can be classified as a ‘one package’ system because everything needed is included in one package: gun, holster, spare magazines and mag carrier. An unarmed person can grab this holster in an emergency, along with a covering garment. Should the emergency prove to be a non-event, the setup remains concealed and unnoticed.

Advantages of a shoulder holster

A well-designed, well-fitted shoulder holster works exceedingly well for heavy handguns. In fact, in my opinion, they work better than hip-mounted holsters because they spread the weight of the gun over a larger area of the body. Take for instance my favorite handgun, the four-inch Smith & Wesson Model 657 N-frame .41 Magnum revolver. Carrying it on the hip requires a thick and wide waist belt. Even then, after hours of use, it is not unusual to suffer discomfort in the small of the back or in the side. I have found that a good, well-adjusted shoulder holster makes it easy to carry this heavy revolver for days on end with little effort or concern.

If you are one who appreciates long-barreled handguns, the shoulder holster may be your only option for concealed carry. I’ve concealed and carried N-frame Smith & Wesson revolvers with barrels as long as 8-3/8 inches. Granted, I had to wear a goose-down vest as a covering garment (mainly to cover the "toe" of the holster, as it would stick out the bottom of anything shorter), but considering the extremely low ambient air temperature, everyone else was wearing similar clothing. The gun was never noticed. Even with barrel lengths of six inches or so, a shoulder holster is about the only practical means of concealing the gun.

When I took an Executive Protection course with the Tony Scotti School of High Performance Driving, a question was raised as to the best means of carrying a handgun while driving. The driving instructor said simply, "A shoulder holster." Our shooting instructor didn’t like that answer, but it’s true. A shoulder holster is not trapped by the seatbelt and it allows the defensive handgun to be available in a variety of circumstances. Only the counter-alternative ankle holster is as freely available while seated in a vehicle, but it is restricted to much smaller handguns.

As a farmer, I’ve found that shoulder holsters are really the only answer if I want to be armed with a handgun. Like the executive protection specialist, I’m involved with motorized vehicles, but added to that is the fact I also have to continually work on these vehicles. If you have to crawl under a piece of machinery to tighten bolts, check transmission fluid levels, or reset rock trap doors, the hip mounted holster acts like a gravel scoop. If the gun is heavy and hip-mounted then the whole rig will pull your pants low, and after crawling under something, you get stuff in places that makes your wife wonder, "What the hell has he been doing?" when she does the laundry. With a simple covering garment like a zippered-front hooded sweatshirt, I can use the shoulder holster when I work around machinery without catching the butt of the gun on levers, electrical lines, hydraulic lines, or even chains of various nature.

The covering garment and the shoulder holster act like the ultimate flap holster in extremely dusty or dirty environments, as I’ve learned many, many times over the years. The combination of the two keeps the gun far cleaner than even the best flap holster, and you do it all to no one’s knowledge.

The shoulder holster also offers advantages for those not working around machinery. When working with a rifle from the prone position while wearing a handgun, the shoulder holster makes it far easier to roll over or move about when flat on the deck than a hip-mounted holster allows. Invariably the hip holster will dig and catch on things, even plain grass, while the rifle shooter wearing a shoulder holster can concentrate on his long gun and sight picture with handgun retained completely and easily out of the way.

Several shoulder holster designs offer complete systems in the sense that the holster, the gun, some spare ammo and its carrier are all contained within one package. If an emergency arises when you are not armed it is more than handy to be able to grab this one item and have everything you need as you exit the premises, and with a covering garment it all can be concealed unnoticed should the alarm prove to be a non-event.

Another hidden advantage to some designs is their versatility in terms of the handguns they will accept and safely carry concealed, because unlike many hip holsters, shoulder holsters such as the old Bianchi X-15 can work with several different pistols conveniently and safely. The bonus is the user is able to work with the same holster system regardless of the gun chosen.

Conclusion

Many believe that shoulder holsters are from the era of wide whitewall tires, propeller airplanes, and vinyl records, but the truth is, the basic design when done properly and adjusted properly offers the concealed carry end-user, regardless of the chosen pistol, benefits not found with any other means of safely carrying a concealed weapon over a specific set of circumstances. It is truly a timeless concept and one I appreciate over all others.

Frank W. James, a certified police firearms instructor, is the author of Effective Handgun Defense from Krause Publications. He maintains a blog at www.frankwjames.blogspot.com and posts regularly on subjects ranging from agriculture, world affairs and other events, as well as his thoughts on shoulder holsters and gun related topics.

USCCA Toon of the Week

No Guns = No Money

Gun Rights Roundup

What is your reaction when you walk up to a business and see a “no guns” sign?

Do you ignore it? Do you return to your car and disarm before entering the business? Or do you find another business to deal with?

Here in Ohio, we suggest that concealed carry advocates do the latter. If a business puts up a no guns sign, don’t do business with them. Find a gun-friendly establishment and spend your money there instead.

Why? Because you shouldn’t support businesses that don’t support your rights. We shared a story a few months ago about how to get those signs removed. It involves talking to the owner or manager and asking why they posted the sign in the first place. Often a short conversation and a few friendly words can get that sign to come down.

But frankly, most people don’t want to confront someone, even on an important issue like this. So we came up with what we call the NGNM card. That stands for “No Guns = No Money.” The idea is simple. When you encounter a business that has posted a no guns sign, you disarm for a minute or two, walk in, and hand over one of the cards. You don’t have to say a word.

The card explains your feelings:

Your “no gun” sign prevents me from patronizing your business. So I, my family, and other gun owners will spend our money with your competitors

This message hits businesses, especially small businesses, right where they hurt – in the pocketbook. Most small businesses can’t afford to lose customers, especially in this down economy. So the card can have real impact, forcing the owner to think about the bottom line result of posting a no gun sign.

You can look at our No Guns = No Money cards here. We sell them cheap (and actually lose money on them) so we can get more cards into people’s hands. But if you work with a pro-gun organization in your area, feel free to create your own similar card. It doesn’t have to be fancy. The point is to communicate clearly that the business is losing money by forbidding you to enter.

This is just one more way that you can become part of the grassroots movement to restore gun rights in America.

Coming Up On Armed American Radio

The Official Voice of the USCCA

Surviving The Fight: Part I

This week’s featured guests:

Famed researcher and author of More Guns Less Crime, Mr. John Lott

The Black Man with a Gun: Pastor Kenn Blanchard

Also, make sure to catch me on “Stossel” on the Fox Business Network Thursday, June 24th at 8pm or midnight ET when I’ll be an in-studio guest with John Stossel in New York! Joining me on the panel in front of a studio audience will be Attorney Alan Gura, Otis McDonald (Chicago/McDonald case plaintiff), Ms. Suzanna Hupp, and Ms. Nikki Goeser.

I’ll see YOU on the radio THIS Sunday from 8-11pm ET, 5-8pm PT

Mark

USCCA Member-Only Video Tip

Here’s this week’s premium video tip; presented for the continued advancement of the armed citizenry and the preservation of our liberty! Use it well…

Cr Williams:

You can win a gunfight without surviving it. First aid for a trauma involving severe bleeding requires a different approach than you may have learned in basic first aid classes. Dr. John Meade will help us sort out the priorities beginning with first principles and what to look for. Part 1 of 2.

USCCA Forum Highlights

Every paying website member has complete access to the USCCA forum, which is constantly being accessed by members sharing information, knowledge, insight, and fun. With well over sixty-thousand posts and growing by the hour, this is one heck of a valuable resource!

If you have never logged in but are a member, visit THIS location to watch help videos, including how to find out your username and/or password!

*******************

WWB (Winchester White Box Ammunition) is Dirty

(AAR Editor’s Note: There has to be opinions about this post. Members can log in now to share theirs.)

Went to the range yesterday, ran 50 rounds of Blazer Aluminum thru my Kimber, and took a good look at the gun to see how dirty it was. Just a bit of residue around the muzzle and on the slide at that end. After 1 mag of Winchester Whit Box (WWB), it looked like I dropped the muzzle end in the dirt, and got worse from there. People like the WWB because it’s cheap, but there are plenty of options for cheaper/cleaner ammo (Walmart, when they have it, has Federal in the maroon box for about $17/50 rds. WWB is about $34/100 rds.) I probably won’t stop buying WWB, but if there’s cheaper or cleaner available, I’ll go with that. If/when I start loading my own, I’ll stop getting the Blazer Aluminum too.

*******************

What OWB Holster for a Full-Size 1911?

I really like Tucker as I have an IWB Cover Up for a 4"1911 which is awesome.

For my full size 1911 I am considering an OWB Silent Thunder. Does anyone have feedback on this holster?

I am thin build and I need something that really hugs my waist in the 2:30 o’clock position, so I will consider other OWB makes and models. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

*******************

What is Your Favorite Mouse Gun?

What is your pocket gun of choice and why do you like it, when forced to go with what fits in your pants pocket? There are a lot of companies coming out with 9mm and more powerful pocket size guns in both revolver and pistols. I just don’t seem to have much faith in anything less potent than 38 special or 9mm.

*******************

So Why Compete in IDPA? Read This First

I think Gabe Suarez is an outstanding educator in his discipline. If the below statements are accurate (and I have no doubt that they are) why hasn’t there been changes to IDPA or even another self defense competitive shooting organization being developed? Could there be a timed shoot and move organization that uses any draw type? Is there a way to compete using point shooting? I guess my goal here is to have fun while training as realistic as possible. By the way appex carry scares me, but I do it. My snub sp101 allows me to sit comfortably. Isn’t this how IDPA began in the first place? IDPA began under the concept that people would train harder for competition than to save their life.

From Gabe Suarez:

1) All fights involve one party taking the initiative, and the other party responding. There are no mutually agreed upon fights today. You will either start the ambush, react to it, or avoid the danger area altogether. Most so-called modern gun training takes the assumption that, due to some super developed mindset, the "modern operator" will never be surprised, and thus will always have the initiative. If you ask me, that’s very wishful thinking

2) If you have good information, and can trust what you see, you can take the initiative on the adversary. This may mean preemptive drawing and shooting, as well as preemptively leaving before the fight begins. Distance benefits those who wish to be preemptive, which is why certain schools insist on always maintaining such distance, and always being alert. The problem is, you can’t always do what you plan to do. If you can guarantee one hundred percent always being alert–24/7/365–and never being surprised, then just work on your marksmanship and don’t worry about anything else. In fact, why are you even listening to me? The rest of us normal humans will look at other solutions.

USCCA members can read the rest of this great forum post HERE.

Video of the Week

Bar Shooting

These are criminals with guns not law abiding citizens. Several shots fired without anyone being hit. If this were to be used as a training example, the list of mistakes would be long enough to fill a book. Consider the man in the forefront of the opening of the surveillance footage. When he grabs his cellphone it looks as if he is going for a gun. The man at the end dancing and trying to shoot into the bar around another man standing at the door is by far the dumbest thing we’ve seen this year!

USCCA Photo of the Week

All Photos of the Week are taken from Mr. Oleg Volk’s
website:
http://www.a-human-right.com/.

It is a fantastic site. Please check it out!

USCCA Self Defense Story

Every day, thousands of Armed Americans use their firearms to preserve human life. Let this section of my newsletter serve as a record of this fact!

June 5, 1010

Walterboro, South Carolina

From: The Sun News

Serviceman Defends Family, Shoots Robber

An Army specialist just home from the Middle East shot and critically wounded a robber who tried to hold up his family after they stopped with car trouble late Thursday, authorities said.

Two other robbers returned fire as they pulled their wounded accomplice into a getaway car and sped away from the McCleod Road crime scene, according to Colleton County Sheriff George Malone. None of the victims were wounded, but their cars were struck by bullets, deputies said.

Deputies located the injured suspect a short time later at Colleton Regional Hospital, where he was being treated for several gunshot wounds, deputies said. David Jayquon Jakes, 19, of Smoaks was later transferred to Medical University Hospital in Charleston, where he remains in intensive care, Chief Deputy Ted Stanfield said.

Investigators obtained arrest warrants to charge Jakes with three counts of attempted armed robbery, three counts of assault with intent to kill, possession of a stolen weapon and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, Malone said.

Investigators have no plans to file charges against the serviceman who shot Jakes, as he had a valid concealed weapons permit and acted in self-defense, Malone said.

Authorities did not release the names of the serviceman or his family, citing safety concerns as deputies search for the two others robbers involved in the incident.

Sheriff’s officials said the episode played out this way:

Shortly before midnight, the Army specialist, his wife and mother-in-law were traveling down Interstate 95 in two vehicles, one of which was pulling a U-Haul trailer.

Hailing from a northern state, they were passing through on their way further south when the car with the trailer started having mechanical problems.

They took the exit ramp to McLeod Road, near Walterboro, to transfer the trailer from the disabled car to the second vehicle. While the serviceman was trying to wire the trailer’s lights to his truck, a silver sedan pulled up with three men inside.

A man with a cloth over his face stepped from the back seat of the sedan and pointed a .50-caliber Desert Eagle pistol at the older of the two women, ordering her about as he called her "pretty lady." As she ran toward her daughter, her son-in-law stood up and pulled out his own gun. He ordered the strangers to leave several times.

When the robber turned and pointed his pistol at the victims, the serviceman fired several rounds. The robber fell to the ground and dropped his weapon. His accomplices helped the wounded man back to the sedan as they fired several rounds at the serviceman.

Deputies later recovered the robber’s pistol and determined it had been stolen.

Jakes fit the general description of the robber, and other information collected by investigators indicated he was the wounded robber they were looking for, Malone said. He did not elaborate.

Deputies are pursuing several leads, but have not yet identified the remaining two suspects in the crime, Stanfield said.

USCCA Q&A

Last Week’s Question: ANSWERED.

Hello Tim. I own a S&W 38 cal revolver,6 in barrel, all stainless steel, small grips. It is my all time favorite shooter. I like to draw the pistol with my right hand from the holster mounted on my left hip and remain deadly accurate to this day. I am 56 years old. Can this position be concealed and stay effective?

CR Williams:

The description sounds like what I call a ‘classic crossdraw’ position. 9:00, grip forward, reach across with the right hand. Correct? Answer to the question then, is: Yes, and I know because I did it for the last five or six years. Not only that, I did it with an Outside-The-Wasteband holster. Refer to the second part of my Video Tip about the Elbow Up/Elbow Down drawstroke for a look at the method I practiced for the draw. I now carry differently, but would have no hesitation or worry about going back to that position if it was necessary or appropriate.

JJ:

Dr JPark, Enterprise, FL.:

I have medical equipment on my right (strong side) as I conceal carry on my left-side and cross-draw. I am using a Blackhawk holster (about $20, IWB. It is comfortable with my M&P9c for all day carry. In IDPA match I have to get an exception because of the cross-draw & medical equipment, but it works out.

Anonymous:

About the 56 year old gentleman carrying a S & W .38 with 6 " barrel in a crossdraw on his left hip. I carry a full size Beretta model 96 in .40 S & W that way and have had no trouble in doing so. That being said I have to make sure that I have a loose fitting coat, long vest or an untucked shirt to make sure the weapon is concealed. I carry this way in order to have proper access while the seat belt/shoulder belt is fastened in my pickup. Granted I’m a retired police officer but I’m 66 years old.

Paul from Austin.:

To the gentleman with the S&W concerning right hand draw from left side holster placement. You can surely conceal and still be effective with this technique, crossdraw. Their is an excellent company who has an excellent holster known as www.fist-inc.com with their #K7 Kydex IWB Interchangeable and Cantable, or their #K1 with all the adapters inside or outside and tuckable options. A very good deal i myself have been seriously thinking about as you can wear the #K1 any where on the body, crossdraw, strong side, behind the back and appendix. Also i believe www.comp-tac.com also has an excellent line up of holsters. Also check with fist’s Hybrid series which entails an outer leather with an inner kydex holster. I hope this helps you. Take care.

This week’s question. Have an answer? Use the “Ask Tim” form below to give an answer- I’ll share them here next week!

Do you have a pressing concern? Use the ‘Ask Tim’ contact form found at this page to let me hear your advice. Just use the graphic below!

The Concealed Carry Code & Armed Seniors

Posted in General – Jun 11th, 2010

June 11, 2010

Hello, fellow Armed Citizen!

I’m excited to tell you about a change we’ll be making to next week’s Armed American Report: We’re changing the name.

If you’ve been reading for a few years, you’ll know that this weekly newsletter has undergone many changes since the beginning (back in 2005- can you believe it??). At first, it was just a random email from me every once in a while. No frills- just a quick note to tell you about what was new with the USCCA, and about my own personal concealed carry happenings.

Then in 2007, I started consistently mailing them out on Fridays under the title "USCCA Weekly Newsletter". That was when the content really started getting rich: I began reviewing products, highlighting awesome
pictures and videos, and of course publishing good writing done in the name of family, friends, and freedom.

That lasted for about a year and a half, when I had professional
designer from Michigan give the look a very necessary overhaul. That was when we changed the name from ‘weekly newsletter’ to what we have today: The Armed American Report. It’s funny, because when we gave it that new look, I remember thinking that it looked drastically better than the old ‘web based’ format we had been using up to that point.

Well, that ‘new and good looking’ template was replaced after another year with the one you see here. It was made by the same designer from Michigan (thanks, Brian!) and I honestly believe this is still the best looking email publication
on the internet. But… I may be a bit biased. Either way- compared to the old light blue / navy blue, blocky format, the one we have here is absolutely brilliant.

I’m happy to say that next week marks another step forward to the USCCA’s free publication. We’re not changing the look (because frankly, this one is awesome), but we are changing the name.

Starting next week, the Armed American Report will become the Concealed Carry Report. I think it’s a good name, and it’s more specific to what you and I, as armed citizens, are all about. Yes, we’re armed. But more specifically, we carry concealed.

I hope you enjoy the new name, and if you’ve been around with me, reading since the beginning: Thank you very much for your time, patience, and loyalty. I hope you stick around long enough to see the next big change. I have no idea what that will be… but knowing me, it’ll happen within the next year!

Okay, enough jabbering. Let’s get started!

The Code of the Armed Senior

...In our increasingly menacing society, staying relatively safe and staying armed seem to be synonymous…

by Bruce N. Eimer, PhD

News Flash:

Recently, at a Phillies baseball game in Philadelphia, an argument began between two groups of men over some spilled beer. The argument grew into a melee, and security guards threw everyone out. Afterwards, in the parking lot, three men from one of the groups jumped one man from the other group who was trying to leave the angry and violent scene. The three men beat, kicked and stomped the other man to death. By the time the police arrived, it was too late. The victim suffered severe head trauma and was pronounced dead right there by medics. All I could think of after reading this headline news story in the Philadelphia Inquirer was that if the victim had a gun on him, he might have been able to save his life. This would have been a clear case of the justifiable use of deadly force in self defense. The three murderers started the violence, escalated it, and had a marked disparity of force in numbers and size over their victim.

Carrying a gun regularly is a big commitment and responsibility. It’s not always convenient, nor is it always comfortable. However, as noted firearms trainer and gun writer Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch is fond of repeating, the concealed firearm is not meant to be comfortable; it is meant to be comforting. In our increasingly menacing society, staying relatively safe and staying armed seem to be synonymous. As you grow older, when you lose some or many of your physical powers such as size, strength, flexibility, stamina, endurance, prowess, stealth, speed, and reaction time, you become more vulnerable to predators. This is how it works in the animal kingdom and it’s the same in the human kingdom. Fortunately, the gun can serve as an equalizer of sorts, allowing you to even the odds or tilt them in your favor. God in his infinite wisdom may not have created all people physically equal, but old Sam Colt saw to evening the odds.

The Code

Few violent criminals fear the gun or other deadly weapons. I have never heard of a hoplophobic violent criminal! However, jailhouse interviews reveal that many (though not all) violent criminals do fear the resolute person holding the gun. A resolute senior citizen holding a gun on you is someone to fear. It’s like a cat backed against the wall. You’re going to get hurt unless you back off. What does the cat have to lose but his life?

When you’ve been alive for six decades or more, you’ve seen a lot and have had numerous experiences and scrapes. At this point in life, you either have the instinct for survival or you don’t, and you wouldn’t have lived this long if you didn’t. So, whether or not you’ve consciously thought about it, you have in fact internalized a code of rules that guide your life, and they work! If you believe in armed self defense and have chosen to live the armed lifestyle, whether recently or long ago, there is a code of rules that guide this lifestyle choice. This code is not very complicated. Actually it is quite simple. It’s all about staying alive and healthy for as long as God intends. After awhile, the code of the prepared armed senior citizen became crystal clear. It’s something to live with.

Grandma’s reliable and handy Smith & Wesson Model 342 .38 Special.

The Armed Senior Citizen’s Code and Principles of Self Defense

The Armed Senior Citizen’s Code is largely common sense, but its tenets form the groundwork for effective armed self defense for anyone who is committed to life. Permit me to elaborate on its five tenets.

1. Own at least one defensive handgun.

Two is better than one, and three or four are even better, but one is a basic minimum and necessity. However, it is not enough to just own a gun! There are a number of corollaries to this tenet.

The first and primary corollary is that you must know how to use and maintain your defensive equipment. Therefore, you should read your owner’s manual and if you are new to guns, you should get competent hands-on instruction. When you really need to use your handgun is not the time to be figuring out how to most efficiently work its manual safety or decock the hammer! You also need to keep your guns clean. Your guns, as emergency rescue equipment, should be kept in good condition. That requires regular cleaning, adequate lubrication, and periodic inspections and function checks.

A second corollary is that you should join a gun club and attempt to make like-minded friends. One of the secrets of success and happiness as well as personal safety and security is building a support network of human resources. This can be done by making friends with available individuals whose talents and abilities complement your own. Not only will you have fun, but you will also benefit from the camaraderie. If you have online access with a computer, check out several quality online discussion forums where you can make friends and share knowledge. Some recommendations would include: www.DefensiveHandguns.com, www.USConcealedCarry.com, www.WarriorTalk.com, and www.smith-wessonforum.com. Some worthwhile blogs include George Hill’s www.MadOgre.com and my www.PersonalDefenseBlog.com.

A third corollary is that you need to go to the range and shoot regularly. You need to practice regularly so that you become comfortable and accurate with your defensive handguns. You must make shooting them a basic reflex. So join a gun club or range. You’ll meet nice people and it’s cheaper than paying by the hour for range time.

A fourth corollary is that you should also practice handling your unloaded defensive handguns at home. This is called "dry practice" and it can build and strengthen your muscle memory for gun presentation, gun handling, and gun operation. Dry practice develops your unconscious competence in gun handling.

2. Keep at least one handgun loaded at all times.

You should keep at least one of your defensive handguns loaded and accessible to you at all times. When you need it is not the time to be fumbling around loading it. Loaded means a round in the chamber and a fully charged magazine in a semi-automatic pistol, and all chambers of the cylinder loaded in a revolver. This is also called "Condition One" and it’s the only condition in which to carry a defensive handgun.

3. Keep at least one loaded handgun on you.

What good is your .45 in your bedroom drawer when you are out and about? What good is it if it’s unloaded, disassembled, or locked in a safe if your home is invaded? When your duty defensive handgun is not on you, keep it loaded, secured and immediately available. When you are carrying, your gun should be hidden, but instantly accessible. That means concealed and out of sight. From a tactical standpoint, I am not an advocate of open carry because it compromises the valuable element of surprise. For example, if you are sitting at the counter of your favorite breakfast place open carrying a sidearm and some armed nut enters the joint to plug the cook because he had a bad meal, whom do you think he’ll target first? Carry concealed.

4. Be prepared and ready to use the gun you’re carrying if it becomes necessary.

Prepared. What does "prepared" mean? It means having the right mindset, the right equipment for you, and the training to use your equipment competently and to employ deadly force if you are facing imminent deadly peril. When the proverbial balloon goes up and adrenaline is being dumped into your bloodstream during your body’s alarm reaction, good training prepares you to go into reflexive mode.

Ready. "Ready" means being willing to do whatever you have to do, including using deadly force, to prevail. It means being willing to fight for your life. It means refusing to lose. It means committing to the principle that if it’s your life versus the life of a violent criminal who has targeted you as his prey; you will not hesitate to take his life.

Necessary. What does "necessary" mean? It means that your life or the lives of those whom you care for are in imminent deadly peril and it is necessary for you to take immediate action if you and your loved ones are going to survive. You will know it if this "gravest extreme" arises, in which the use of deadly force is both necessary and justified. I would recommend reading Massad Ayoob’s classic book, In the Gravest Extreme, to learn more about the issues involved.

For deadly force to be justified, the person threatening you must have the immediate means, the immediate opportunity, and the demonstrated intent to cause you grievous bodily harm or death right then and there such that you are in immediate jeopardy. It’s either your life or your attacker’s, and if you did nothing to bring the situation about, or cause the situation to escalate to a life and death confrontation, you are justified in using deadly force.

Doctrine of competing harms. In his Lethal Force Institute (LFI) training Ayoob talks about a jurisprudence concept called the "Doctrine of Competing Harms" which is pertinent here. This refers to the fact that the law (and most reasonable and prudent, law abiding citizens) will typically excuse the breaking of a law to prevent the commission of an even greater harm.

Disparity of force. Ayoob also talks about the fact that when there is a "disparity of force" in favor of a stronger, more dangerous, unlawful aggressor, the weaker would-be victim is justified in employing a force multiplier, including deadly force, if that’s what is necessary to save his or her life. This would apply if a man attacks a woman, a younger, stronger, or bigger man attacks an older, weaker, or smaller man, or a number of men attack one man.

5. If you have to use it, don’t hesitate.

Finally, if you have to use deadly force, such as a gun, in self defense, you cannot afford to hesitate because you will not have time to dawdle. The situation will unfold, or unravel, fast. Hopefully, you will have seen it coming so that you will have had some time to take judicious measures to avoid the "gravest extreme". However, this will not always be possible in our imperfect and unpredictable world. Hesitating in a deadly force encounter can get you killed. Fractions of a second will count. Time may seem to slow down. You will have tunnel vision on the threat. Only training and the will to prevail (a good dose of luck won’t hurt either!) will enable you to break your tunnel vision, maintain a cool head, and save yourself. In most gunfights, the person who scores the first shots gains the winning advantage.

So, there you have it. That’s the code. It’s simple. It’s based on common sense, and it spells S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L. Stay safe, and live a long life.

Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D., psychologist, NRA Certified Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor, and moderator of the online forum www.DefensiveHandguns.com, teaches concealed carry classes for the Florida, Virginia, and Utah carry permits. Bruce provides private firearm instruction and co-authored the book, Essential Guide to Handguns. For more information, visit www.PersonalDefenseSolutions.net

USCCA Toon of the Week

Are you a sheepdog … or a sheep?

Gun Rights Roundup

CLICK HERE for more information.

The recent mass shooting in northwest England proves the fallacy of relying on government to protect you.

Wire service and British news agency reports say 12 people are dead and 25 people are wounded, and suspected gunman Derrick Bird is among the fatalities. It appears he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

If laws could stop mass shooters, England should be immune to such events. In 1996, the English government cracked down on gun ownership, banning handguns and placing severe restrictions on long guns following the Dunblane Massacre of 16 school children by Thomas Hamilton.

Anti-gun forces and legislators promised that such laws would protect citizens. But then in 1987, with strict gun laws in place, Michael Ryan murdered 16 people in Hungerford. So much for that theory.

The fact is, when you pass laws that ban guns and restrict self-defense, you turn the population into sheep ready for slaughter.

Compare this to what has happened in America.

An armed off-duty police officer stopped a gunman in Salt Lake City’s Trolley Square in 2007. An armed church member stopped a shooter in Colorado Springs that same year. An armed customer at a restaurant in Anniston, Alabama prevented a mass shooting in 1999. An armed high school vice principal stopped Pearl, Mississippi gunman Luke Woodham. Two armed students stopped a gunman at the Appalachian Law School in 2002.

Mass shooters are wolves. They look for sheep. They avoid the sheepdogs who can stop them.

So the question should not be what laws can we pass to stop madmen? The question should be how can we change the mindset of citizens to become sheepdogs instead of sheep?

On September 11, the anniversary of one of the most tragic events in America’s history, Buckeye Firearms Association will welcome Col. Dave Grossman, who will present The Bulletproof Mind, an all-day seminar on becoming a sheepdog in a land of sheep.

WARNING: This intense, all-day class deals bluntly and graphically with real-world violence and lethal self-defense. We recommended this workshop for adults and mature teens ONLY. It will do for your mind and spirit what body armor does for your torso.

Coming Up On Armed American Radio

The Official Voice of the USCCA

Summer is Coming, so I Have Decided on a .380. But Which One?

This week’s featured guests:

Executive Director of Gun Owners of America: Mr. Larry Pratt

Larry is the voice of “NO Compromise”!

U.S. House of Rep. Candidate in San Francisco: Mr. John Dennis

John is running against Nancy Pelosi!

Also Joining Us: Pro-gun Attorney Mr. John Monroe

I’ll see YOU on the radio THIS Sunday from 8-11pm ET, 5-8pm PT

Mark

USCCA Member-Only Video Tip

Here’s this week’s premium video tip; presented for the continued advancement of the armed citizenry and the preservation of our liberty! Use it well…

Cr Williams:

Vehicle Access IV

Wrapping up the vehicle access segment, let me offer some thoughts about putting the gun somewhere else than your normal carry position when you’re in the car, and go over something you should do if you ever have to fire shots inside any enclosed space. Finally, there are a couple of notes I need to make so that you’ll understand better what I’m doing throughout the VT series. Part 4 of 4.

To see the first part of this series, scroll below this one on the Video Tips page

USCCA Forum Highlights

Every paying website member has complete access to the USCCA forum, which is constantly being accessed by members sharing information, knowledge, insight, and fun. With well over sixty-thousand posts and growing by the hour, this is one heck of a valuable resource!

If you have never logged in but are a member, visit THIS location to watch help videos, including how to find out your username and/or password!

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Being in Texas, and having the 100+ weather, there will be times where I need a gun that doesn’t weigh two pounds for when I am out and about in gym shorts and a light t shirt. I respect almost everyone’s opinion in the forum (I really feel like I am part of an intelligent forum, myself not included) so I wanted to get everyone’s input and experience on which .380 I may prefer. It will most likely be a pocket carry piece in a pocket holster. I have narrowed it down to the Kahr P380, the Micro Eagle, and the Sig P238.

I am leaning to the Kahr right now, but really like the Micro because of the smoothness for pocket carry (gym shorts can get stringy with a lot to get caught on). I do like the options of the Sig for CT Laser and night sights. So I don’t know. Price is a consideration, but honestly, safety doesn’t have a price in my mind. Furthermore Magnum Research says no +P ammo, so should that make point into my consideration?

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I Got Bit by the Gun Bug and Have it Bad!

I’m pretty new to guns. I Started with a Walther 22 and used it in a handgun safety course. When the course was over the instructor offered the opportunity shoot his Springfield 1911 45 auto. That is when I started getting sick.

Shortly after that I acquired one with the help of the instructor. I love it. Recently I purchased a S&W 357 model 686 revolver and the first time firing was quite the adrenaline push. I really enjoy that cal. and am interested in an auto 357. All I learned at the gun store is that Magnum Research makes The Desert Eagle. Not looking to carry this gun but think it would be a blast to own and shoot. Can anyone offer experience or opinion of this model?

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Do I Tell Them?

My wife and I will be visiting her brother and sister-in-law next month and I was wondering if we should tell them we will be carrying Because we’ll be staying with them, should we tell them? On one hand I think they deserve to know, but on the other hand it’s what concealed carry is all about. I would feel naked and insecure with out my Beretta. Your opinions on this would be most welcomed.

Video of the Week

Officer Shot

Officer shot by suspects told how an unsettling feeling had crept over him. This reinforces what has been said in the self-defense community since the beginning—if it feels wrong it probably is.

Click here to check it out.

USCCA Photo of the Week

All Photos of the Week are taken from Mr. Oleg Volk’s
website:
http://www.a-human-right.com/.

It is a fantastic site. Please check it out!

USCCA Self Defense Story

Every day, thousands of Armed Americans use their firearms to preserve human life. Let this section of my newsletter serve as a record of this fact!

June 02, 2010

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

From: St. Louis Today

Missouri Mom Uses Gun to Stop Attempted Rape of Daughter

A Cape Girardeau mother with a gun is being credited with stopping the attempted rape of her daughter.

The Southeast Missourian reports that 51-year-old Craig Kizer faces a variety of charges, including attempted rape, armed criminal action and burglary. He has no known address and did not have an attorney.

Police say Kizer had been working on the family’s home as part of a renovation project, but was not staying there. The teen was in bed around 5:30 a.m. Sunday when Kizer came into her room with a knife and climbed on top of her.

When he set the knife down on the bed, the teen grabbed it and screamed.

The girl’s mother came into the room with a gun, pointed it at the suspect and ordered him out of the house. Police later arrested him.

USCCA Q&A

Last Week’s Question: ANSWERED.

I won and carry a S&W AirLite .357 Mag snubbie. At a shooting school I attended recently, they told me the S&W 2" was only good for about 500 rounds. They claim the S&W confirmed that. True? If so, what fails?

Morris Piedmont, SC:

Being an avid reloader myself, i would say that Smith & Wesson is probably correct. the snubbie is meant to be a primary carry gun. i don’t think the barrel or the cylinder would fail but would expect this from the lightweight frame after constant shooting. on the other hand, if you choose to shoot this gun a lot, i myself would suggest shooting the 38special rounds in it while target practicing. I would think that this would extend the life of your weapon and you could still load it with the massive 357 rounds when carrying it for personal protection.

Anonymous:

In my humble opinion I doubt the veracity of the statement. Not sure what that is based on but, were I you, I would call Smith and Wesson, give them the information and source, and get a confirmation or “debunking.” I have a S&W 642 Airweight and it has 300+ rounds of .38 Special and .38 Special +p down the pipe with ZERO ill effects. I cannot imagine S&W putting a revolver on the market with a “500 round” life expectancy. I doubt they would still be in business after all these years

Anonymous:

I cannot say for the snubby, BUT, the original ‘take’ regarding another S&W, the 39-2, was “it needed a major overhaul and replacement of many parts after 1500 to 2000 rounds.” After owning and carrying this particular weapon for well over 35 years, maintaining it properly and having fired well over 50000 rounds through it, I have never had to replace anything except the barrel (routine wear) and 1 firing pin (about a month after I bought it). I have updated the grips a few times as well, but not because they ‘failed’. I carry it every day in a Galco owb leather holster. I call it my “American Express Card - never leave home without it”. It has NEVER let me down!

Anonymous:

The super-lightweights may indeed be only good for a few rounds _of the really hot loads_…. While they’re not really range guns, they will survive practice on the range with standard range loads (in .38Spl) about as well as anything else, at least for a while. In short, they’re solid enough to practice with while using .38Spl loads, and can take a few “familiarization” rounds with the nasty stuff, but should only be used with the latter occasionally. Most people are, IMHO, better off with an all-steel .38Spl occasionally loaded with +P, unless they really can’t deal with the extra weight. Much harder to shoot apart

RCB:

I have never heard that a 2″ S&W was only good for 500 rounds. While I never owned a lightweight S&W, I have owned an S&W model 36 in the past and I currently own an S&W model 60. The model 60 is indeed chambered for .357 rounds, but I prefer to use .38 P+P rounds when carrying it as a self defense weapon. I have shot well over 500 practice rounds through it and it still functions as it should. The model 60 is an all stainless steel revolver, and for its size it’s a bit heavy, but I purchased it to replace a Taurus model 85, and I specifically like the added weight that the S&W model 60 offers. It may be that the lighter models that S&W offers have a problem with higher powered loads but I’ve not seen that in print anywhere or heard it among the people I practice with.

This week’s question. Have an answer? Use the “Ask Tim” form below to give an answer- I’ll share them here next week!

Do you have a pressing concern? Use the ‘Ask Tim’ contact form found at this page to let me hear your advice. Just use the graphic below!

“Backup Guns, D-Day & the Swiss Army Snubby…”

Posted in General – Jun 4th, 2010

Hello, fellow Armed Citizen.

Sunday is the 66th anniversary of D-Day: the day we began setting western Europe free of Third-Reich Germany’s occupation. Everyone in the world knows that America rescued Europe, but some people forget that our Marines and Navy simultaneously rescued east Asia from the hands of Imperial Japan.

If you ever get a chance, be sure to check out the new HBO mini-series created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, I strongly encourage you to do so. The books that inspired the show, including With the Old Breed and Helmet for My Pillow are equally ‘must reads’. That show and those books give you a little bit of an idea what it was like to be a Marine fighting a fanatical enemy in south-east Asia.

If you do watch the show without reading the books, just remember this: As amazing as the show was, it didn’t even come close to matching the brutality discussed by Eugene Sledge and Robert Lecky in their books.

These things will give you a whole new level of appreciation for what our veterans have gone through.

“An Easy-To-Master,
Deadly Self Defense System…”

Recently, a man named Damian Ross of The Self Defense Company contacted the USCCA regarding a self-defense product that he and his team developed. After checking out their website I thought, “Wow, this product looks cool, but how good is it?“

I told Mr. Ross right away that we DO NOT take advertisers anymore, and we ONLY promote products that we feel are top notch. After reviewing The Self Defense Training System, I can safely say that this is a product that ANYONE can benefit from.

Whether you are completely new to self defense and out of shape, or already a black belt, The Self Defense Training System is set up to be incredibly simple, incredibly easy to follow, and incredibly effective.

This training system is currently being used to train military personnel, police officers, actors that play those characters on television, and citizens like you and me.

As you know, it’s rare for USCCA to give its nod of approval to other company’s products, but this is one that definitely gave me some new unarmed self defense perspective, and some easy-to-use and deadly defensive tactics as well.

One is None: Thoughts on the Backup Gun

...Are you carrying a backup gun, knife, and light? No? Then perhaps you should feel guilty. Here’s why……

by Michael Tan

USCCA Toon of the Week

Obama Backs International Gun Control Treaty

Gun Rights Roundup

President Barack Obama has called on the Senate to ratify the Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials.

President Bill Clinton signed the convention in 1997, but neither he nor President George W. Bush sent it to the Senate for advice and consent for ratification. The convention, commonly known by its Spanish acronym CIFTA, was negotiated under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS).

President Obama, with little fanfare, has urged passage of this dangerous treaty.

The convention poses serious risks to liberties associated with the First and Second Amendments. Specifically, it seeks to criminalize a wide range of gun-related activities that are now legal in all states, and it would clash with the First Amendment’s protection of free speech.

It would also entitle foreign governments to legal assistance from U.S. authorities when pursuing extradition requests, including requests to arrest individuals exercising their First Amendment rights.

Finally, it would create a chilling climate for the freedom of speech of foreign nationals both in the United States and in the Western Hemisphere as a whole.

If this doesn’t take your breath away, nothing will. The sheer audacity and sweeping scope of this treaty should send a wake up call to every liberty-loving patriot in America.

If you support gun rights and love America, you need to read the entire article detailing Obama’s international gun control treaty. We’ve also posted a Lou Dobbs video report from last year when Obama first announced his support of this treaty.

If ever there was a line in the sand we must draw, this is it.

Appointed Sheriff reverts to smear tactics in an attempt to win

BONUS Gun Rights Roundup

by Uli Gebhard, USCCA Member

Those of you who have martial arts experience will know this feeling: You are sparring in class, sixth or seventh round, you are just as tired as your training partner, but you still manage to keep the upper hand.

The other person can’t accept that you sparr better, he’s frustrated that he can’t score, and his mind is set on getting through your blocks and past your kicks and punches to land his own techniques.

This is light-contact training but all of a sudden you feel that despite the instructors’ reminder to train and not to beat each other up, the person you are sparring with hits hard, not to match your own speed and momentum but to force his way through. He’s so desperate that he tosses the rules aside and instead of prevailing with calm and superior technique he uses brute force to get things to turn his way.

Sandra Hutchens: To Suppress and Deny.

Seeing the headline and reading the analogy, you can already guess what’s coming. Appointed Administrator Sandra Hutchens is reverting to unfair tactics – sadly not for the first time. In February 2009, she had her command staff bring an overbearing police presence to a Board of Supervisors meeting in an attempt to intimidate and suppress her opposition – us, the CCW holders.

Following the pattern, and realizing that pro-CCW candidate Bill Hunt has a very real chance to win the election, she and her associates of the “establishment” are circulating unfounded rumors and allegations about unethical and illegal actions that Bill Hunt supposedly committed in his field of work as a private investigator.

In comparison, Bill Hunt refused to bring Mrs. Hutchens past into the equation. Albeit there would be quite a few questionable actions that she was involved in. Instead Bill Hunt questions current and well-publicized decisions that she made while leading the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Mrs. Hutchens is following the pattern of a detached career politician who needs to make or leak allegations against a competitor to gain an advantage. Remind you that this is the person who claims on her website that she wants to “Restore integrity and honor to the leadership of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department”.

Bill Hunt: To Protect and Serve

I have met Bill Hunt personally and he is a man who stands behind his word. On the other hand, take a look at the footage of the Board of Supervisor’s Meeting of last year and you will get a good impression of Mrs. Hutchens mindset (her discussion of the subject is 1:45:00 into the footage)

With her reverting to foul play to achieve a win in the elections, I am glad to provide Bill Hunt the opportunity to react to her allegations:

Ladies, Gents, here is a Statement that Bill Hunt sent me when I asked him for a response to Mrs. Hutchens attacks.

Bill Hunts Response:

My opponents have lost on the issues and are now attacking my profession out of desperation. I have not been accused of any unethical, immoral or illegal behavior. It’s nothing more than a smear tactic.

We are innocent in this country until PROVEN guilty. I am standing for the Constitution and our rights, even our 5th amendment right to due process and our 6th amendment right to a defense when charged with a crime. Heaven forbid that the truth come between justice and the Santa Ana Police department!

These are the issues that have my opponents running scared:

Bill Hunt is committed to defending our constitutional rights and will issue concealed weapons permits to law abiding citizens for personal protection. Bill Hunt is committed to leading the fight to make California a shall issue state.

Bill Hunt is opposed to early releases, and cite and releases, and will ensure that persons convicted of crimes serve their entire sentence.

Bill Hunt will ensure all inmates are screened for their immigration status, and those here illegally will be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation to their country of origin.

Bill Hunt has a detailed plan to cut costs and improve and improve services in the sheriff’s department. He has been endorsed by Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County Arizona, and the men and women of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Strong Constitutional leadership! Bill Hunt for Sheriff.

Closing thoughts by Uli Gebhard:

Please allow me a couple of comments to close this article. I first met Bill Hunt in October 2008, one year before he announced his candidacy and just days after Mrs. Hutchens had begun what one of the Supervisors called a “misguided jihad” against concealed weapon permits. To this day she has failed to substantiate the legal basis that she claims mandated her actions. On November 18, 2008 Attorney at Law Chuck Michel invalidated these claims (his speech is 2h 52min into the footage).

She forced her Los Angeles-based policy upon Orange County and tried more than once to create facts before the full effect of her actions would become known. Her campaign program lists a few feel-good points, two of which her current actions are already contradicting.
She had constituents openly demanding the Board of Supervisors to ask for her resignation.

In contrast, Bill Hunt has been straightforward and to the point from beginning. He lost his career as a police officer when he spoke up against corruption inside the previous command structure of the Sheriff’s department. He has well formulated plans for key issues. Add to that his endorsed by many police organizations, most of all by the Deputies of the department that he wants to lead.

Election day is just a few days away. During these last crucial days every small effort to help counts. With your continued support I am hopeful that we can mark June 8 as the ending of a major error.

Uli Gebhard is a mechanical engineer in Los Angeles and a firearms instructor in the Orange County and Bakersfield areas.
Find out more about Uli on his website.

Coming Up On Armed American Radio

The Official Voice of the USCCA

Medications In Your Emergency Plans?

It seems that each week the Armed American Radio show gets better and better and is currently the fastest growing nationally syndicated firearms related radio program IN AMERICA. As a last minute addition on Sunday, May 30th I was fortunate enough to be joined by Mr. Guy Smith who specializes in debunking gun control myths. It was a lot of fun talking with him and with Ms. Nikki Goeser joining me in the studio for a three hour show, we had no shortage of discussion, I can assure you! Coming up THIS week I will be joined by expert trainer Rob Pincus as co-host for the entire broadcast. Joining us, among others will be Mr. Marty Hayes of the Firearms Academy of Seattle. You may have seen Marty on Personal Defense TV. In addition, the Roundtable promises to be a great discussion and we’ll be giving away Bonehead awards for the stupidest comments made by the anti-gunners!

Remember to head over to www.armedamericanradio.org for up to date show information and make sure to head over to FACEBOOK and check out Armed American Radio for up to the second information as the guest lineup builds and new stations are added!

Don’t forget to check out www.lessonsfromarmedamerica.com for a copy of my book co-written with Kathy Jackson.

Want Armed American Radio in your area faster than we’re currently growing? Make sure to call your local talk station, ask for the program director and ask them to carry us! It works!

I’ll see YOU on the radio, THIS coming Sunday 6-6-2010 from 8-11pm ET, 5-8pm PT

Newest stations added, KXFD Freedom 970am in Portland, Oregon and WWRC 1260am in Washington, DC! More coming, stay tuned!

Mark

USCCA Member-Only Video Tip

Here’s this week’s premium video tip; presented for the continued advancement of the armed citizenry and the preservation of our liberty! Use it well…

Cr Williams:

Vehicle Access III

The third access method I’ll show you here, I call the ‘Eastwood’ method. I’ll tell you why and discuss a couple of other points as we begin to wrap up the vehicle access part of the VT series. Part 3 of 4

To see the first part of this series, scroll below this one on the Video Tips page

USCCA Forum Highlights

Every paying website member has complete access to the USCCA forum, which is constantly being accessed by members sharing information, knowledge, insight, and fun. With well over sixty-thousand posts and growing by the hour, this is one heck of a valuable resource!

If you have never logged in but are a member, visit THIS location to watch help videos, including how to find out your username and/or password!

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Old Eyes

Can someone help me? I wear trifocals and was shooting in a IDPA classifier when someone told me I could shoot better by keeping both eyes open. I’ve been closing one eye to shoot all my life. Is there a way to train myself to keep both eyes open?

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Doing Some Research

I’m doing some research on a hunting rifle caliber. Rather, 3 calibers to be specific. I am hoping to purchase my first hunting rifle soon and wanted the opinion of the community here.

I’m considering the .308, 30-06 and the .338 Lapua. Looking for something that can be used for anything from white tail to Elk, as well as Ram and Bear. Would like it to also be good for a real emergency situation to use as a long-range-reach-out-and-ruin-someones-day kind of round.

Any suggestions or comments?

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I wonder how many of you have your prescription medication in your emergency plans?

Tip 1: As a retail pharmacist for over 14 years, I would recommend a month supply of your routine medication. Why do I recommend that much supply you might ask? Well, pharmacies and pharmaceutical warehouses are businesses, and business want to reduce their expenses. Inventory is an expense, and pharmacies are trying to keep as little inventory as possible. Pharmacies receive orders usually on Monday thru Friday which allows them to keep their inventory very low. If there is a disaster, your pharmacy may not receive medications in a timely matter and they might run out very quickly.

Tip 2: Also, do not just get an extra month and keep in your emergency bag. Always keep your extra supply in a rotation so you do not have expired, old medication in your bag.

Tip 3: Have prescription insurance? Most insurance plans will let you get a refill on a 30 day supply after only 23 days. So get your refill early several times and you will have your month supply without having to pay full price! However, do NOT ask for narcotics early as that will raise suspicion.

Tip 4: If you open your bottle of aspirin and it smells like vinegar, it’s going bad.

Tip 5: Ask your pharmacist to put the expiration date of the medication he is dispensing on the bottle. If he rolls his eyes at you, then find another pharmacy. (Also, some Brand Name Over-The-Counter items have a longer expiration date than the generics, but not always, so just check before you buy.)

Tip 6: State laws may vary, but most states allow you to transfer your refills from one pharmacy to another. Just bring your old bottle to the new pharmacy and they can transfer it. (It does not have to be the same pharmacy chain either.)

Tip 7: Think that pharmacy chains that offer $4 generics have the lowest price on all medication? WRONG! They probably have raised prices on other generics to make up for that $4 prescription, so price shop around. Also, find a pharmacist that is willing to answer your questions.

Video of the Week

Jackie Mason on gun control. We all know Jackie as a comedian. See his other side as a conservative who is interested in keeping America free!