Enter to Win a Weekend with Todd Jarrett

Time is running out. July 1st is the last day to enter to win a weekend of training with Todd Jarrett at Blackwater NC.

National and World Practical Shooting Champion Todd Jarrett has been a dominant force in practical shooting in the United States for the past 25 years. He currently holds four World titles, nine National titles and has won over 50 Area championships and countless other action shooting events.

Click here to enter to win this once in a lifetime opportunity to train with the best. While you are there, please vote for "A Keyboard and a .45". Your vote is appreciated.

That's not quite the "official" Blackwater emblem. I found it on Wired.

While Papa J is Working on The Blog

The grand kids are out playing with the sidewalk chalk.


It seems Grandma V expanded a bit on the "sidwalk" theme.


My small pit is now very well decorated.

I Wonder How Many of These Were Glocks

Sometimes I have to wonder just how clueless some folks really are. How is it that people can still think that they can carry a firearm on an airplane? The ever increasing security for air travel has been front line news for years now, yet people still try to carry firearms through the security checkpoint at airports.

From the Star Telegram:

Bryon Okada

Alarming rise in guns at D/FW

D/FW AIRPORT — In past years, during a typical month, Dallas/Fort Worth Airport screeners would catch a couple of weapons at the checkpoints.

For whatever reason, they’ve found 25 guns during carry-on screening at D/FW this year, including seven in the past four weeks.

"It’s not just a security issue — it’s a safety issue," said Andrea McCauley, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration. "Some of the guns are loaded."

Just a reminder: Don’t walk up to the checkpoint armed.

Here is a hint. When you are standing in the line waiting to go through security, read the signs that are pretty much everywhere. When you see the sign that states "no guns allowed", and you see the armed security at the x-ray machines and metal detectors, maybe you put 2 plus 2 together and come to the conclusion that maybe you should check your firearm with your other luggage.

I carry at the airport. When meeting folks at the baggage claim, I am legally armed. I would think that anyone who has the ability to purchase an airline ticket should be able to understand what is or is not allowed past the security checkpoint.

Where is the disconnect here?

Oh, just because we joke about Glocks being Tupperware, don't start thinking you can sneak one through airport security.

An amatuer's reading of Heller

The Freeholder has done an excellent job of dissecting the majority opinion in DC v Heller.

An amatuer's reading of Heller

Well worth your time.

Heller from Texas

Thought you folks might be interested in Heller reactions from Texas.

From the Star Telegram:

By Anna M. Tinsley

For Texas, highest court's gun ruling may be far-reaching

Suzanna Gratia Hupp believes that Texas lawmakers may try to expand gun rights next year, in light of Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling.

Hupp, a former state representative whose parents were among the Killeen Luby’s massacre victims in 1991, has heard suggestions ranging from "open carry," which would allow people to tote unconcealed handguns, to a plan she once proposed allowing legally concealed weapons to be carried on college campuses.

"In this state, they are very likely to try to broaden Texans’ ability to protect themselves," she said. "I would support that. I’ve wanted to have more of a Vermont-style carry here.

"There, if you are of age, and can legally own a gun, you have the right to carry it anywhere, anytime. I have no reason to think Texans are less educated or more violent prone . . . than people in Vermont."

Suzanna Hupp is a true Texas treasure.

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who as a senator led the effort to pass Texas’ concealed handgun law, hailed the ruling.

"Today is a great day for every American, a great day for the Constitution and a great day for the Bill of Rights," he said. "This decision affirms an inviolate right our Founding Fathers were wise enough to recognize in our Bill of rights."

The anti's were allowed their say in this article, but it is our day and I will not be quoting them here.

A couple quotes from our Senators...

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas — who has opposed the Washington, D.C., gun ban since she moved to Washington in 1993 and had to return her .357-caliber Magnum revolver to Texas because of the ban — also filed a friend-of-the-court brief, saying the Second Amendment is an individual right.

After the ruling, she said she was pleased to be "part of this historic decision."

"From this day forward, the people of our country will have the right in any jurisdiction of America to protect themselves and their families in their homes, and that was our goal," Hutchison said.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who was among those to sign the brief, said the ruling was the right thing to do.

"Texans have always cherished the Second Amendment right," he said.

...and other Texans.

It’s interesting that the court finds implicit in the Second Amendment is the right to self-defense. Every Texan has a right to defend themselves. How far that will go, I don’t know.  . . . But now it’s a constitutionally enunciated right."

— Bill Mateja, a Dallas attorney and former senior counsel for the U.S. attorney’s office


"Texans have long held that it is a fundamental right of every law-abiding citizen to keep and bear arms. Affirmation from our country’s highest court should unquestionably cement this right for future generations of Texans and Americans."

— Gov. Rick Perry


"The U.S. Supreme Court confirmed what Texans have known for years –the Constitution clearly protects individuals’ right to keep and bear arms. This decision should eliminate any legal threat to Texas’ concealed-carry law and our Castle doctrine."

— Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott


"This decision is a victory for law-abiding Americans who own guns for self-defense or for hunting and recreation and preserves an important thread in America’s history."

— Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst

Almost makes me feel sorry for the antis. Not quite, but almost.

This one is for SondraK

H/T to Say Uncle

You don't know Sondra? Why she is the Head Mistress of SondraKiStan, USA.

Where are the Men?

Earlier this week Armed and Safe commented on The civil rights march most have never heard about--and that some would prefer to keep under wraps. The march he was talking about occurred in 1965, and it was in support of the Deacons for Defense and Justice.

During Black History Month last year I posted "The Second Amendment, Civil Rights, and Black History Month". In that post I commented on the fact that early gun control laws were written to keep firearms out of the hands of blacks and other minorities. The Black Codes and Jim Crow laws were used to make sure that blacks could not own firearms and have the ability to protect themselves. The Deacons for Defense and Justice were also discussed in that post.

I have often wondered why the Jessie Jackson's of the world are hell bent on ignoring the fact that arms, protected by the second amendment, were effectively used by the Deacons and others to protect black communities and further the civil rights movement. Armed and Safe adds a bit on insight to that question with Speaking of the Deacons for Defense . . .

This brings me to my final question, and the reason for this post.

Where are the modern day Deacons for Defense and Justice? Where are the MEN who will stand up in their communities and say "Enough is enough"?

The street gangs are killing more young black men than the KKK could ever dream of. Drugs, violence, prostitution, substandard schools, the government dole and all the garbage that goes along with it are destroying entire communities. It appears that in some areas a complete generation has been lost in a cesspool of failure and crime.

All the politician can do is stand in front of a television crew and call for more restrictive laws, demand more power, and generally just fling spittle all over the place. They are incompetent and impotent. In the end they will do nothing with the additional funds raised or power acquired to actually help the communities that need it most.

Where are the MEN who will take a stand and say "No more, this community is ours". Where are the modern day Deacons, MEN who will put their lives on the line for their community, who will do whatever it takes to run the gangs out of their neighborhoods, who will see to it that the schools have the opportunity to offer a decent education to their kids, and who will be the standard bearers of true freedom and opportunity? These MEN are desperately needed.

A lot of folk are being well trained on the streets of Iraq and Afghanistan, taught the skills necessary to take back a neighborhood for the good and decent people who live there. Maybe...

More on DC v Heller

The Liberty Sphere has an excellent roundup of blogger reactions to today's ruling on DC v Heller. Head on over and see what the rest of the gunny blog-o-sphere has to say.

There are some who are not so pleased at the Supreme Court's affirmation of our individual right to keep and bear arms.

The Chicago Tribune is demanding that we Repeal the 2nd Amendment (please take the time to add your comment to this drivel).

As I sit here and listen to Mayors Fenty and Daley bemoan the fact that individuals do have rights in these United States, I am struck by the absolute disconnect they have with reality, and the arrogant disdain in which they hold their supposed subjects.

I have not watched any video of Bloomberg yet, but I can only take so much in one evening.

DC vs Heller, A Quick Post

I am late in commenting on today's Supreme Court decision on Washington D.C. vs Heller. A long days work and all that. The court voted 5-4 in favor of Heller, outstanding. To tell the truth, recent decisions handed down by the court had me a bit worried about this case, and I was not expecting a 5/4 decision in favor of Heller. I thought it was either going to be 9/0 in favor of Heller, or 5/4 against.

The Supreme Court of the United States should have handed down an unanimous decision in favor of Heller. The facts were laid out before them and the arguments for the DC gun ban were debunked.

Jim Lindgren, of the Volokh Conspiracy, stated:

In dissent, Justice Stevens seems to have been unduly influenced by the brief from brief from historians and law professors putting forward a "civic rights" view. That brief was put together by Carl Bogus and joined by many historians who initially jumped to Michael Bellesiles's defense, including Jack Rakove, Saul Cornell, and Paul Finkelman.

David E. Young, author and historian, had taken this brief to task. He pointed out their errors and omissions in an article published on the George Mason University's History News Network. I discussed this article in the post "Why DC's Gun Law is Unconstitutional". I contacted Mr. Young this morning, and this is some of what he had to say:

I was somewhat disappointed that this ended up a 5-4 split because the historical information directly contradicts the minority. Obviously, the minority have relied on the information provided to them in the pro-DC briefs. I urge those who want to understand why the gun control supporters' briefs are misleading to read my analysis of them, especially that of the professional historians that was published by the History News Network at http://hnn.us/articles/47238.html. With briefs like that to rely on, no wonder gun control advocates accept as true what the historical sources directly contradict.

I will join with David and urge you to read his analysis on the brief that the dissenters of the court relied upon for their dissent.

I'm off to play with grand kids, they have been very patient with me so far.

More on DC v Heller to come.

I am Off..

...to the airport to pick up my daughter from New Mexico and her two children. Later this evening I'll be back at the airport picking up my daughter from Delaware.

Kids and grand kids, it's going to be a great few weeks.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to get the ones in Colorado down, then we will really have a full house.

More on Open Carry

Open carry has been in the news and the blog-o-sphere quite a lot lately. I am a proponent of open carry, and would do so some small percentage of the time if open carry were legalised in Texas.

Why open carry? Let me answer that with a question of my own.

Would Matthew and Stephen been chosen as victims if they had visible side arms? I kind of doubt it. They were chosen because the goblins saw them as easy prey.

Here in Texas we do not have that option. I seriously doubt that option will be available to us for quite some time. An open carry bill will most likely be introduced during this upcoming legislative session, and I will support it so long as the wording is acceptable, but I do not think it will get much traction.

North Carolina allows the open carry of a sidearm and Chris has written a well thought out bit of commentary on the subject. Head on over and read Open Carry for some insight from one who does carry openly.

H/T to SayUncle for the link.

Gun Facts Version 5.0

Is now available.

Gun Facts version 5.0

Gun Facts is a free e-book that debunks common myths about gun control. It is intended as a reference guide for journalists, activists, politicians, and other people interested in restoring honesty to the debate about guns, crime, and the 2nd Amendment.

Gun Facts has 94 pages of information. Divided into chapters based on gun control topics (assault weapons, ballistic finger printing, firearm availability, etc.), finding information is quick and easy.

Download your copy today.

Only One Week Left

For your chance to win a weekend at Blackwater learning pistol craft from none other than Todd Jarrett.

You can help send your favorite gun blogger to summer camp at Blackwater USA with world class shooter and instructor Todd Jarrett... and have a chance to win a invitation for yourself as well. Para USA, along with Blackwater, USA is sponsoring a weekend of first class instruction at the most exclusive training facility in the United States.

The top ten gun bloggers in our contest will get an invitation to shoot a special Para pistol and learn the secrets of a World Champion from Todd Jarrett. Blackwater USA is hosting the event at their facility in North Carolina. Gun Blogger Michael Bane and a video crew will record the event for Down Range TV.

Best of all, by voting for your favorite gun blogger, your name will be put into a drawing for an invitation to this exclusive event. That’s right 10 gun bloggers, and maybe you could spend a weekend learning the shooting secrets of the best shooter in the world.

Not only will the winners get to spend a weekend learning from the best, they will get to be on TV with Michael Bane.

If you are not interested in winning this event, you can still vote and help me on my way to North Carolina.

Click here to enter to win and vote for "A Keyboard and a .45".

I do appreciate your support.

Seattle Mayor Oversteps His Bounds

Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation and Joe Waldron of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms have teamed up to take Seattle's Mayor Greg Nickels to task.

From seattlepi.com:

Mayor Greg Nickels exploits gun-show loophole

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, behaving like the would-be ruler of a "city state," has decided to ignore Washington's longstanding firearms statute regarding the legal carry of concealed handguns by licensed private citizens on city property.

He recently announced he will ban all guns from city property -- places that belong to all citizens, including those who are legally armed -- by executive order, which is not subject to City Council review. This arrogant fiat blatantly violates both the letter and spirit of this state's model pre-emption law, which places all authority for firearms regulation in the hands of the Legislature. He ignores a section in the law that specifically exempts people licensed to carry a concealed handgun from such firearm restrictions.

The entire editorial is well worth your time in reading.

Confession of a Killer

Early Thursday morning Matthew Butler and Stephen Swan were murdered outside of the recording studio (Zion Gate Records) owned by Matthew Butler. The goblins who killed Matthew and Stephen were caught on the Texas/Arkansas border.

This video is of an interview with one of the killers by Fox4 News.

Warning. This video contains hard language and may not be appropriate for everyone. It does violate my "keep it clean enough that my grand kids can read it" rule, but it is important.

The original came from here.



One important thing to note is how the goblins approached the victims. They asked for a cigarette. Anytime someone on the street asks for a cigarette, the time, directions or pretty much any other generic question, you should go on high alert. It is a sad commentary on today's society, but it is what it is.

You can read more about this case here, and here.

Thanks Tony 3 Dogs for the heads up.

Thousands sign petition to make Texas an open-carry state

The push for open carry in Texas is covered in the Star Telegram.

By Anna M. Tinsley

Thousands sign petition to make Texas an open-carry state

If Duane Suddeth had his way, he could strap on a handgun and wear it — anytime, anywhere — without concealing it.

That day has not come in Texas, but the 42-year-old Bedford man is among thousands hoping it is on its way.

"This is the public’s right," Suddeth said. "Whether they choose to exercise that or not is up to them."

Texas, despite its independence and frontier reputation, is one of only six states where handguns cannot — in some form — legally be worn in plain view.

The first time V was exposed to open carry in a public setting was at the NRA Annual Meetings and exhibits in Louisville. After getting over her initial surprise at seeing so many folks wearing sidearms openly, she decided that open carry might be a good idea. I personally would open carry quite often if that option were open to me.

In Texas, where residents may carry concealed handguns if they have a permit, more than 3,500 people have signed an online petition asking Gov. Rick Perry and the Legislature to make Texas an open-carry state.

I just checked and there are now over 4600 signatures on the petition. A little news coverage goes a long way.

Of course not everyone is liking this idea.

Gun safety advocates aren’t so sure.

"What are they trying to do? Go back to Texas gunslinger days?" asked Richard Leal, a board member of the Houston-based Texans for Gun Safety. "Things are bad enough as it is, with people 18 and older being authorized to carry guns."

Gun safety advocates? This sentence makes me think this group is advocating a bit more than gun safety: "Things are bad enough as it is, with people 18 and older being authorized to carry guns." Sounds like a gun banner to me. Lets check their web site shall we?

History and background Information

Texans for Gun Safety (TGS), formerly known as Texans Against Gun Violence Education Fund, was founded in 1995 as a 501(C)(3) Texas corporation. TGS is a grassroots organization dedicated to significantly reducing gun violence in Texas through education.

I am a Texan for gun safety, often posting commentary on safe firearm handling, taking folks out to the range and giving hands on instruction on safe gun handling, and working with children on firearm safety. These folks are just an anti gun shill group with a nice, fudd friendly sounding name.

Next we get the typical LEO "it will never work" quote:

Some law enforcers say they would be leery of an open-carry policy in Texas.

"I really think it would cause a lot of uneasiness in the community, with people seeing so many guns," Tarrant County Constable Sergio DeLeon said. "It could create more problems than it would solve."

Well Constable, that is where education of the public comes in to play. If open carry is legitimised in Texas, then the news outlets and law enforcement will have the obligation to help educate the public on the fact that they will be seeing folks wearing a sidearm out in the open in public.

On a side note. There is no law in Texas against carrying a long arm in public. Just food for thought.

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who as a state senator helped make concealed-carry law in 1995, said he doesn’t believe that open carry would create any problems.

While he never considered proposing an open-carry measure, Patterson said he has seen the practice in Arizona.

"I went into the bank, and a guy walked in with a .45 in his back pocket," he said. "I thought, 'Well, that’s unusual.’ "

Commissioner Patterson is a hoot. If you don't know who he is, this quote should get you acquainted with him:

He carries a gun in his boot, likes the smell of burning diesel and observes "Confederate Heroes Day" like a religious obligation. He will ask but never beg for your vote, answer ridicule with scorn and dress down whiny liberals with a smile on his face.

So go ahead, critics, make Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson's day: Recruit an opponent, elect a new land commissioner or have him impeached. But don't count on him to yield. One. Inch.

"Over my dead body," the Republican wrote to General Land Office staffers last year when it was suggested he could use government condemnation powers to provide access to the storied Christmas Mountains in West Texas.

"Never trust them," he says of the "lying" reporters who cover him. Even average citizens can expect Patterson's wrath should they criticize his stewardship of publicly owned lands.

"You, sir, are the one that doesn't get it," Patterson wrote to one citizen who was angry over a controversial plan to sell off the Christmas Mountains to private interests. "In your narrow minded view only the 'government' can do what's right ... you are more inclined to have an open mouth than an open mind. I can detect you are a typical partisan."

Back to open carry.

To sign the petition head on over to Open Carry of Handguns in Texas. (4995 signatures now)

To learn more about the open carry movement, go to OpenCarry.org.

Want to Get That Celtic Blood Flowing?

Have a listen to this.



H/T SondraK

A Gnu Day is Dawning

RobbAllen has decided that he is Giving the Brady Campaign my full support.

I told you not to vote for that guy.

2008 Texas Republican Party Platform

Now that the Republican Party of Texas Convention is over, it is time to see how we did with the 2008 State Republican Platform.

Back in March I had offered up two resolutions to the Senate District 10 Resolutions Committee. The first resolution was in support of the right to concealed carry by licensed individuals on college campuses, and the second concerned an individuals right to keep their firearm locked in a vehicle on their employers' parking lot.

The Senatorial District 10 Republican Convention integrated my resolutions with those submitted by others to make a very strong statement about our support of an unfettered RKBA. This statement was sent to the state convention for consideration in SD 10's platform.

The following is what came out of the state convention, the official stance of the Republican Party of Texas on our right to keep and bear arms:

Right To Keep and Bear Arms – We urge the Legislature and Congress to repeal all laws that infringe on the right to bear arms, and to reject any monitoring of gun ownership, and all excessive taxation or regulation of guns and ammunition. We support a ten-year minimum mandatory sentence without parole for felonies committed with firearms. Stiff penalties should be enacted for frivolous lawsuits against legitimate firearms manufacturers. All gun owners are responsible for safely storing and operating firearms. We believe the Legislature should enact legislation: allowing: Concealed Handgun License holders to carry concealed weapons on publicly owned institutions of learning; and, preventing employers from prohibiting Concealed Handgun License holders from storing their concealed handgun in their vehicle while on a company parking area, and removing civil liability from property owners who do not prevent Concealed Handgun License holders from carrying on their premises. We believe that FFL holders should be free from harassment, and license revocations and denials against firearm dealers based on violations consisting of largely inconsequential record keeping errors and encourages the ATF to consider lesser gradation of sanctions for such errors.

Not too shabby. Remember this platform during the next legislative session, hold your representative's feet to the fire if they fall short of supporting pro individual freedom legislation.

On a side note: I did look through the Texas Democrat Platform to see what they had to say about our RKBA. As expected, it was not mentioned.

I Will be Attending the...

...Defending the American Dream Summit with my youngest daughter.

Hope to see you there.

RightOnline

Defend the Dream - Texas

Americans For Prosperity - Texas

The Brighter Side of High Fuel Costs

The rising gasoline prices are driving some illegals home.

From the Star Telegram:

By Constanza Morales

Fuel costs sending immigrants back to Mexico

Fort Worth...

...But high gas prices are forcing contractors and day laborers to change how they do business, which is causing a ripple effect in other areas.

Construction projects and landscaping jobs are being delayed because contractors can’t afford to pick up workers. And workers faced with additional costs for gasoline or the purchase of a car are giving up on day-labor jobs and going back to their home countries...

Some laborers, like Pablo Trinidad, resort to carpooling to reduce gas costs. But Trinidad, 40, says fuel prices decrease the amount he’s able to send to his family in Puebla, Mexico, from $100 to $50.

"If things get worse, I will work only to pay for my ride to go back home," Trinidad said...

Juan Jose Leiva, a native of Zacatecas, Mexico, is staying home more and visits the labor center only twice a week.

"Patrons [contractors] are not paying enough now," said Leiva, who plans to return to Zacatecas in November...

Unscrupulous employers have used illegal immigrants to create a serfdom of low cost, disposable labor. Now that the cost of doing business has risen along with the gas prices, the employers of these illegals are feeling the crunch. The workers are being hit with a double whammy by the cost of food which is increasing along with gasoline.

Construction workers who don’t have to look for a job at the center or on streets are also facing difficulties because of the cost of fuel, and contractors won’t give them additional money or incentives to make up for the increase.

Javier Arias, owner of Masonry and Stucco Services of Dallas, said his company has 20 workers building a condominium in downtown Fort Worth, and many of them live in Dallas.

"The company can’t afford to pay for a transportation stipend," said Arias, chairman of the Hispanic Contractors Association of Texas. "None of them have told me, 'I can’t go to work because I can’t afford gas,’ but I’ve heard that many are gathering, carpooling and paying a share for gas."

American citizens are also carpooling to get to work. Secretaries, engineers, nurses and workers of all vocations are carpooling to get to work. The cities and state have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in HOV lanes on our freeways to encourage car pooling. Construction workers having to carpool is newsworthy?

Instead of losing clients, Vincent Flores, owner of Alamo Foundation and Repair of Fort Worth, lost two workers.

"I can’t guarantee more than three days of work per week for my employees, and unfortunately, that wasn’t enough for them to pay the bills," said Flores, who has a team of four workers.

A foundation company with one owner and four illegal immigrant workers is not a reputable business. Along with his "undocumented" workers, he most likely has been receiving "undocumented" income. Since his workers are off the books, he does not need much in the way of insurance on the books. The sad fact is that this fly by night foundation repair company has taken jobs from reputable firms that are insured and pay their workers a fair and reasonable wage.

Now that these workers are headed back to their home countries, many of these shady businesses will go under, as they should. Do you think a business that hires illegals cares one bit about the environmental rules and regulations that legit business owners have to follow? How about basic safety and sanitation practices, do you think those are high on the list of priorities for a company that hires illegals? I don't.

Businesses that hire illegals need to be punished as current law dictates. If the .gov would start enforcing the current immigration and hiring practice laws, even more illegals will decide it is time to go home. As the serf workforce is depleted, companies will be forced to hire U.S. citizens and do business out of the same rule book as the rest of us. I don't see a downside to that.

Musical Interlude

A little Doobie Brothers for your listening pleasure.

Old black water, keep on rollin...

Speaking of Blackwater, did you know that you could win a weekend at Blackwater USA?

You can help send your favorite gun blogger to summer camp at Blackwater USA with world class shooter and instructor Todd Jarrett... and have a chance to win a invitation for yourself as well. Para USA, along with Blackwater, USA is sponsoring a weekend of first class instruction at the most exclusive training facility in the United States.

Now that would be one outstanding weekend.

To vote (hopefully for A Keyboard and a .45) and register for your chance to spend a weekend at Blackwater with Todd Jarrett, click here to head on over to ParaUSA's contest entry page.

Act now, voting ends July 1st!

Senator Cornyn on the Radio

Senator Cornyn was interviewed on KLBJ News Radio this morning.

The interview focused primarily energy issues and Senator Cornyn did an excellent job fielding questions and explaining his stance on several areas of our current and future energy needs.

The Walking Dead

ExistingThing has been doing a bit of fiction writing of late.

The Walking Dead - Chapter 1 - What am I going to do today?

If you like Zombies, it will be well worth your read.

Texas Castle Doctrine

My post, "Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground Bill Becomes Law " continues to be one of my most popular posts. Quite a few people are interested in our Castle Doctrine law and the search engines are sending them here. Since there is so much interest, I thought I should write an update with a little history and links to the applicable Texas codes.

The Texas Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground bill that became law is SB 378. The actual title of SB 378 is "An Act Relating to the Use of Force or Deadly Force in Defense of a Person".

SB 378 passed the Texas State Senate with a vote of 30 to 0. The bill went on to the House where it passed 133 to 13 with one abstaining from the vote. This bill was signed into law by Governor Perry on March 27th, 2007. The Texas Castle Doctrine is effective as of September 1st, 2007.

Here is the text of SB 378 as enrolled. I have removed the strikeouts that indicated deleted text from the code to make it easier to read. The title of each section is linked to the applicable section of the Texas Penal or Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

relating to the use of force or deadly force in defense of a person.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 9.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding Subdivisions (4) and (5) to read as follows:

(4) "Habitation" has the meaning assigned by Section 30.01.

(5) "Vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section 30.01.


SECTION 2. Section 9.31, Penal Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided in Subsection (b), a person is justified in using force against another when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to protect the actor against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful force. The actor's belief that the force was immediately necessary as described by this subsection is presumed to be reasonable if the actor:

(1) knew or had reason to believe that the person against whom the force was used:

(A) unlawfully and with force entered, or was attempting to enter unlawfully and with force, the actor's occupied habitation, vehicle, or place of business or employment;

(B) unlawfully and with force removed, or was attempting to remove unlawfully and with force, the actor from the actor's habitation, vehicle, or place of business or employment; or

(C) was committing or attempting to commit aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated robbery;

(2) did not provoke the person against whom the force was used; and

(3) was not otherwise engaged in criminal activity, other than a Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance regulating traffic at the time the force was used.

(e) A person who has a right to be present at the location where the force is used, who has not provoked the person against whom the force is used, and who is not engaged in criminal activity at the time the force is used is not required to retreat before using force as described by this section.

(f) For purposes of Subsection (a), in determining whether an actor described by Subsection (e) reasonably believed that the use of force was necessary, a finder of fact may not consider whether the actor failed to retreat.


SECTION 3. Section 9.32, Penal Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 9.32. DEADLY FORCE IN DEFENSE OF PERSON.

(a) A person is justified in using deadly force against another:

(1) if the actor would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.31; and when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:

(A) to protect the actor against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful deadly force; or

(B) to prevent the other's imminent commission of aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated robbery.

(b) The actor's belief under Subsection (a)(2) that the deadly force was immediately necessary as described by that subdivision is presumed to be reasonable if the actor:

(1) knew or had reason to believe that the person against whom the deadly force was used:

(A) unlawfully and with force entered, or was attempting to enter unlawfully and with force, the actor's occupied habitation, vehicle, or place of business or employment;

(B) unlawfully and with force removed, or was attempting to remove unlawfully and with force, the actor from the actor's habitation, vehicle, or place of business or employment; or

(C) was committing or attempting to commit an offense described by Subsection (a)(2)(B);

(2) did not provoke the person against whom the force was used; and

(3) was not otherwise engaged in criminal activity, other than a Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance regulating traffic at the time the force was used.

(c) A person who has a right to be present at the location where the deadly force is used, who has not provoked the person against whom the deadly force is used, and who is not engaged in criminal activity at the time the deadly force is used is not required to retreat before using deadly force as described by this section.

(d) For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), in determining whether an actor described by Subsection (c) reasonably believed that the use of deadly force was necessary, a finder of fact may not consider whether the actor failed to retreat.


SECTION 4. Section 83.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 83.001. CIVIL IMMUNITY. A defendant who uses force or deadly force that is justified under Chapter 9 Penal Code, is immune from civil liability for personal injury or death that results from the defendant's use of force or deadly force, as applicable.


SECTION 5.

(a) Sections 9.31 and 9.32, Penal Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for this purpose. For the purposes of this subsection, an offense is committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs before the effective date.

(b) Section 83.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of this Act. An action that accrued before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the action accrued, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

This is good law that took a lot of hard work to get passed. If your representatives supported SB 378, be sure to send them a quick note thanking them for their support. We've a lot of work ahead of us in this next legislative session, a thanks now could go a long way towards more support in the future.

This Did Not go Quite as He Had Planned

Sometimes the dumb crooks file intersects quite well with the dead crooks file.

From the Dallas Morning News:

By Dan X. McGraw

Man accidentally kills himself while trying to rob a Grand Prairie home

A 19-year-old man accidentally shot and killed himself Tuesday morning while he was attempting to rob a Grand Prairie home, authorities said.

Cameron Sands, 19, of Fort Worth kicked in the door of the house and then shot himself in the stomach as he pulled a gun out of his pants to shoot the homeowner, Grand Prairie police said. The homeowner was not injured.

All's well that ends well.

Tony 3 Dogs sent us a link to the Fox4 News story with pictures.

The Texican Tattler thinks A little bleach for the old gene pool is a good thing.

Local Gun Bloggers in The News

The folks over at Texican Tattler got a nice spot in HDNews.



Even the reporter got a bit of hands on instruction. Great job guys.

The Purpose of Dallas County Criminal Courts is...

...revenue generation?

From the Dallas Morning News:

By Kevin Krause

Dallas County criminal courts urged to generate more revenue

Dallas County commissioners are asking the county criminal court judges to generate more revenue from their courts or possibly lose funding for some key programs such as drug court and jail education, as well as and services for the homeless and mentally ill.

The county is facing a $34 million budget shortfall for the coming 2009 fiscal year. So far, commissioners have found enough cuts and additional revenue to offset 23 percent of that deficit.

The county criminal courts, which handle misdemeanor cases, are generating less revenue this fiscal year from fines and fees assessed to defendants.

And here all this time I thought the purpose of criminal courts was to help deter crime through the proper administration of justice.

Fits Has a Sign that Lisa...

...won't let him hang.

Maybe she'll like this sticker I picked up at the gun show last Saturday better.


As you can see, I am a firm believer in multiple layers of security.

Building up Stores

The increase in gasoline, food, and ammo prices is outpacing most of our incomes. I know that the reported inflation rate is still low, but I also know that I am spending much more at the pump, the grocery store and the ammo dealer than I ever have. The heavy rains in the Midwest are not going to make things any easier, as a matter of fact I expect food and fuel prices to sharply increase in the late Summer / early Fall due to the hit our corn and wheat crops are taking.

It may be a good idea to start stocking up on canned and dry goods to help get over this hump.

Getting started is easy. Every time you go grocery shopping, double up on the canned and dry goods that you purchase. If you need a can of peaches, buy two. Going to have friends over for spaghetti? Instead of purchasing two packages of noodles and a jar of sauce, get four packages and two jars. Place the additional products under a bed, in a closet or cupboard that is not used for day to day meal making. If you do this for two months, you will build up a decent supply of foods that your family actually eats. This supply can help you get through a period of hyper-inflated food prices or the loss of a job. In the event of a natural disaster or other major emergency, this supply could be a Godsend.

Update: As requested in comments, the Food Storage Calculator. The food storage calculator is a very good tool for an individual or family looking to put up adequate stores to meet pretty much any emergency.

The Econo-Scout...

...is finished.


I picked up the cheek rest at the Market Hall gun show this morning and that was the finishing touch.

Savage 10FCM Scout Rifle, Leupold FX-II 2.5x28mm IER Scout scope, Harris bi-pod, the Wilderness Ching Sling, an Uncle Mikes sling stud, and a cordura cheek rest from the gun show.

The barrel is broken in, the scope sighted in, and all that is left is for me to master it. The case of ammo that I also picked up this morning should help with that little task.

Senator Cornyn at the Convention

When Senator John Cornyn spoke at the Texas Republican Convention this afternoon, his introduction included this video.

That has to give you a chuckle.

Senator Cornyn has always done a great job of communicating with us Texans, and he has stepped that communication up a bit. To keep up to date with what is going on with the Senator, just read his blog.

Customers foil robbery, capture suspect at Fort Worth bank

I guess they didn't get the memo about letting the goblin have what he wants. After the robbery, this inept bank robber attempted to carjack a get away car, that is where the heroes of the day step in.

From the Dallas Morning News:

By Debra Dennis

Customers foil robbery, capture suspect at Fort Worth bank

FORT WORTH – An unsuspecting thief picked the wrong day to rob a bank.

Customers capture bank robbery suspect When the man walked into the Wells Fargo bank on Heritage Trace Parkway just before noon, he probably didn't count on four customers – two of them in the Army – wrestling him to the ground.

"It's Friday the 13th and everything went wrong for this guy," said Fort Worth police Lt. Paul Henderson said. "He must have walked under a ladder or broken a mirror or something. He certainly didn't plan on two army guys knocking him to the ground."

The Star Telegram's take on the same story.

Shooting on The Move

A YouTube lesson with Todd Jarrett



That man is a machine.

How would you like to spend a weekend with Todd Jarrett, working on skills like these? Too expensive you say? Not if you win it.

You can help send your favorite gun blogger to summer camp at Blackwater USA with world class shooter and instructor Todd Jarrett... and have a chance to win a invitation for yourself as well. Para USA, along with Blackwater, USA is sponsoring a weekend of first class instruction at the most exclusive training facility in the United States.

For more information on the contest and to vote for your favorite gun blogger (hopefully that will be A Keyboard and a .45), and to enter the contest yourself, click here.

Gunz N Mexico

I am late on getting to this, I know, but I was too pissed to post when I first read this propaganda piece article in the Dallas Morning News.

U.S., Mexico launch unprecedented effort to disrupt cross-border weapons smuggling

By David McLemore and Laurence Iliff

HOUSTON – Tons of heroin and cocaine move north across the Southwestern border. And millions of dollars and truckloads of weapons move south – feeding the escalating levels of violence that have turned parts of Mexico into war zones and spread as far as North Texas.

Haven't "we the people" been demanding secure borders? Have we not forced Congress to approve the building of a fence between Mexico and the United States? You would think the rest of the article should be about the lack of a secure border and the .govs dragging it's feet on building our fence. Nope, "...millions of dollars and truckloads of weapons move south" gives a hint as to the essence of this "report".

At least 80 percent of all of the weapons used by drug traffickers in Mexico to kill one another as well as police and soldiers come from the U.S., Mexican officials say. They've repeatedly asked the U.S. government for more help in stopping the flow of weapons from Texas and other border states into Mexico.

Okay, instead of cussing and banging my keyboard around, I'll try to use logic here. Why would the Mexican Drug Cartels want U.S. firearms when they have easy access to the firearms used by the Mexican police and military? Report after report from south of the border mentions fully automatic firearms in use by the gangs. Select fire weapons are not being sold over the table at gun shows, gun shops or yard sales. As a matter of fact, I would go so far as to submit that the majority of black market full auto firearms in the United States came from south of the border.

Now comes the part where I start to see red:

On Monday, U.S. and Mexican customs investigation officials unveiled a cooperative effort called Armas Cruzadas to disrupt cross-border weapons smuggling through the sharing of databases and better monitoring of illicit sales at guns shops and guns shows.

And on Tuesday, the U.S. House authorized spending $1.6 billion over the next three years to help Mexico and other countries counter growing drug violence, including $74 million for the Justice Department to stem the flow of guns south. Funding, however, will have to come separately.

So, we are giving representatives from a corrupt government access to data on U.S. citizens and gun sales. This is the same .gov that depends upon money being sent back to Mexico by illegal aliens here in the United States to boost it's economy? The same .gov that has opposed the building of our fence and outright called us racist for wanting the fence in the first place? That .gov now has access to data on U.S. citizens?

On top of that we are going to give $1,600,000,000 to Mexico and other south of the border countries? NO, no, no, no, no, no.

Spend that $1.6 billion on expediting our fence.

Congress, secure the borders. Do your jobs, do what is mandated by the Constitution and see to the security of these United States.

Dewey Webb, special agent-in-charge of the Houston office of the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said the new operation will help provide firmer data on how many weapons are being bought legally or otherwise and moved across the border.

"Right now, we know Texas is the No. 1 source of weapons smuggled into Mexico, with most of them coming from Houston and Dallas," Mr. Webb said. They're bought "by 'straw purchasers' who act as buyers for the cartels."

Well Dewey, if you "know" all of this, why have you not arrested these straw purchasers? You do know that making a straw purchase is against the law don't you?

Oh wait... you did arrest one guy about 5 years ago. Great job!

One of the ATF's biggest cases in Dallas involved a security guard whom agents documented buying 152 firearms, including 78 Romanian-made assault rifles, at a Mesquite gun store over four months in 2003.

Agents determined that Adan Rodriguez was a paid straw purchaser for members of a Mexican cartel. One of the pistols he bought in Dallas was used in the cartel gunfight near Reynosa, Mexico, in which two federal police officers were shot. Mr. Rodriguez was convicted on federal gun charges in 2004 and is serving a 70-year sentence.

The fact that he is serving a 70 year sentence is a good job.

And then there is more on allowing Mexican law enforcement access to our data:

The new measures will also give Mexican law enforcement officials greater access to the eTrace computer database in the U.S., allowing them to use the serial numbers to trace weapons used in Mexican crimes to U.S. gun dealers.

Does no one in our government question the intelligence of giving agents from another country access to our data?

There is a paragraph in the piece that I am not sure about the data:

Nearly half of the 14,111 firearms recovered and traced in Texas came from Houston and Dallas, according to a 2007 ATF report. Houston was No. 1, with 3,820, and Dallas close behind at 3,358.

I assume this is data on trace data on firearms found in Texas, which has absolutely nothing to do with guns being used in Mexico. The fact that nearly half of anything in Texas comes from Houston and Dallas/Ft Worth makes sense as nearly have the people living in Texas live in these areas. The 14,111 number is just a large number thrown in to make folks go "ohhhh".

This article is nothing but a propaganda piece. It's intent is to further the gun control agenda by getting people to accept these half truths and misinformation. This story hit all the hot buttons. Gun shows, straw purchases, buying multiple firearms in a short period of time, and they even pulled out the evil FNH 5.7 mm pistol and called it "Particularly alarming".

Maybe the DMN does not have an agenda. It is possible that David McLemore is not an anti gun reporter using his soap box to spew his drivel. Yep, it's possible, but I doubt it.

Stories like this will result in calls for legislation that closes the imaginary "Gun Show Loophole", limits firearm purchases to 1 a month or so, and bans firearms based on caliber.

A question for the DMN. How about doing a story on the hundreds of unresolved cases of Americans kidnapped just south of the Texas border? Or maybe a story on the number of illegals who are violent predatory criminals that increase the crime rate in our cities? Those are stories your readers deserve to see published.

Also commenting:

Fits with Um...Did They FORGET About the Drug And PEOPLE Smuggling?

David with Following the Pesos

And others who I will add when I can grab the links.

I have a couple fat pork chops on the grill, gotta get.

Overheard at Tam's Place

Not to cast slurs on the man...

...but I read on the internet that Barack Obama was seen bayoneting Davy Crockett at the Alamo. Wearing a keffiyeh.

Well that just cost him my vote!

Fighting Gangs

The Star Telegram published an editorial today praising Arlington's efforts to fight gangs and stated that Arlington "has a very real chance of making progress and of rescuing the city's most precious asset -- its young -- from gang violence" (See Fighting gangs).

These efforts include such cutting edge strategies as "Encouraging student participation in DARE" and "Partnering with Mission Arlington and apartment complexes to provide after-school activities at low or no cost" among others.

I left a comment on the editorial and continued my search of today's news for something interesting to talk about.

The Dallas Morning News hooked me up.

Gang member receives life sentence after soccer player's murder

Juan Delacruz Gomez was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday for engaging in organized crime that resulted in the March 2005 murder of a teenager playing soccer in a Northwest Dallas apartment complex.

Mr. Gomez, a member of the MS-13 gang, shot Eduardo Galicia, 19, in the back of the head after the teenager told him he was not involved in any gangs and turned to walk away, according to testimony.

From an earlier DMN story:

According to testimony during the one-day trial – much of it given through an interpreter – Mr. Gomez walked up to Mr. Galicia as he was playing soccer in a northwest Dallas apartment complex and asked him, "What neighborhood or hood are you down with?" meaning which gang was he a part of.

Mr. Galicia told him that he was not in a gang and turned to walk way. Then Mr. Gomez shot him in the back of the head, according to testimony.

After school programs and other youth services are nice, but they will do nothing to stop the gangs.

The gangs are excellent recruiters, they offer street cred and a sense of belonging. Rappers, the Corridistas, video games, and many films glamorize the way of life giving the gangs an easy hook. Once in, there really is no turning back. Punishment in the gangs is swift and brutal. As we debate the ethics of capitol punishment, the gangs use death routinely to keep their own members in line.

The gangs have gotten out of hand. They have escaped the boundaries of LA, Chicago and Detroit and are spreading into the smaller 'burbs of Mid America. The violent gangs are not going to be stopped by DARE or after school programs. These programs might give a few kids another choice, but the effect will be minimal.

In the Star Telegram article, Arlington's mayor was quoted as saying "You can't arrest your way out of the problem". I say this is only true if you have an ineffectual criminal justice system. District Attorneys who offer plea bargains to these goblins, parole boards who let them out early, and politicians who refuse to face this problem head on enable the spread of this cancer and put our children at risk.

Lets stop debating failed policies like gun control and the war on (some) drugs. We need to focus on violence control. We need to excise the cancer, remove it, separate it from our communities. Only then can we focus on the issues that allowed gangs to grab a foothold in the first place. Only after removing the tumor can healing begin.

Back to goblin Gomez, the goblin who put a bullet in the back of a kids head just for the heck of it. He was another choir boy.

The mother of Mr. Gomez's children and a longtime friend testified that Mr. Gomez was involved in the MS-13 gang, but was working to turn his life around.

Ninfa Perez, the mother of his children and an MS-13 gang member herself...

..."He is a good father," she said. "He needs to be out to watch his children grow."

Eduardo Galicia never got the chance to be a father.

From the Pointing Out the Obvious Department

Stimulus payments result in record May deficit

As if this Administration and Congress could give a chit about budget deficits.

Billy Bob vs. The Prius

H/T SondraK

Let's Play "Guess His Party Affiliation"

H/T to SondraK

Win a Weekend at Blackwater with Para's Todd Jarrett

Okay folks, this is important.

Bloggers who attended the Second Amendment Blog Bash as part of the NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibits have an opportunity to win a weekend at Blackwater with Todd Jarrett. One blog reader also has a chance of winning this package.

From the email:

Dear Gun Blogger,

We at Para appreciate your support of the NRA and were glad to see you at the Second Amendment Blog Bash. Your name has been entered into a contest, and the 10 winners will get an invitation to attend a summer camp at Blackwater USA's North Carolina facility with world class shooter and instructor Todd Jarrett.

The top ten gun bloggers in our contest will have the opportunity to shoot a special Para pistol and learn the secrets of a World Champion from Todd Jarrett. Gun Blogger Michael Bane and a video crew will record the event for Down Range TV.

The 10 bloggers with the most votes will receive an invitation to this exclusive event, so let all your readers know! They can cast their vote on the para-usa.com website: http://www.para-usa.com/new/special/blogger_contest06-08.php . Better yet, everyone who votes will have the option of entering their own name for a chance to win the 11th invitation to this exciting weekend!

- Tell all your readers to vote here, and enter to WIN, a weekend at Blackwater with Champion Shooter Todd Jarrett.

Spread the word, voting ends July 1st. The Para-Blackwater Gun Bloggers weekend will be August 22-24, 2008. Invitees must provide their own transportation to Norfolk, Virginia. Para USA, along with Blackwater USA, is sponsoring this weekend of first class instruction at the most exclusive training facility in the United States. Please visit the link above for more details.

We also invite you to browse our new Para USA website at www.para-usa.com where you can view all of Para's new pistols, and the latest reviews by all the top gunwriters.
Safe shooting and best regards,

I would really appreciate your vote, and it would be great if one of you won the 11th spot at this event.

Lets go to Blackwater. Vote here.

Day at The Range

It was to be another hot and windy day today, so I arrived at the range in the cool of the morning. I set up targets on the 100 and 200 yard berms, set up the gong on the 200, and was ready to get started by 0800.

Last time I was out the scope mount screws on the Savage Scout had loosened up. I remedied that little issue with a bit of Loctite 262, should be good to go for quite awhile. I had 20 rounds left for the break in of the barrel, 5 went down the 100 yard line to make sure things didn't get out of whack in remounting the scope, and the rest raised dust on the 200 yard berm. After I finished the break in I shot a couple 10 round strings, alternating between a target and the gong. I am really enjoying shooting the Scout. Now that the barrel is broke in and the scope sighted, it's time to start learning the Ching Sling.

When I finished up on the rifle range, I headed over to the 15 yard range for some pistol work. I just did the basics today. Draw from cover, draw from cover and move to the right, draw from cover and move to the left, and then incorporate slide lock reloads into the drills. I ran 150 rounds of Winchester White Box through the test Wilson Combat and Tripp Research mags with no problems. This is the first time I did not have an issue with the Wilson Combat ETM. Cool.

All in all a very productive, enjoyable and relaxing day at the range.

Oh, there was a small group on the 25 yd range doing some shooting and having a good time with friends. I went over to say hello and found that they had one of the new Clickloaders for Ruger magazines that every one has been talking about. They gave me a demonstration and wow, it seems to work as advertised. More coolness.

A Message from Great Cthulhu

I have been meaning to mention this for quite some time. AlanDP has A Message from Great Cthulhu.

It seems that many of you insignificant humans have made a crude attempt at "humor" (which I must admit I do not fully understand--although once the antics of the 976th form of Nyarlathotep did make me feel uncharacteristically light-hearted; figuratively of course since I do not actually have a heart) during your current election cycle by displaying various blasphemous caricatures of myself with such words as, "Why Vote For The Lesser Evil?" The implicit declaration being that I, somehow, am the Greater Evil...

A little election cycle humor for your Sunday afternoon.

Washington D.C, A Beacon of... Tyranny?

Washington D.C. is a bit of a dichotomy.

It is the political center of our Republic, housing memorials of our nation's war dead and monuments to our greatest leaders. Museums, art, history and stunning architecture are all to be found in Washington D.C., and all tributes to our freedom and liberty.

On the other side of the coin, Washington D.C. is an embarrassment to these United States. Leading the nation in violent crimes and murders for decades, as corrupt a political infrastructure that can be imagined, and an inbred contempt for personal liberties running throughout it's government and bureaucracies. Some would say that D.C. has what it deserves. That an electorate who continue to place vile and corrupt individuals such as Marion Barry into positions of power deserve the rotten fruits of their vote. Washington D.C. should be a Liberal utopia. It has been run by Democrats for decades, it has the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, and a population dependent on the .gov dole. All is not well in Liberalland, violent crime has gotten out of control, even by their standards.

So how does a Liberal react to this crime wave? With the force of arms of course. The overlords in D.C. have now gone too far and need to be stopped. Putting up checkpoints around neighborhoods and allowing passage based on whether or not the officer who questions you feels you have a "need" to be in the area, goes against everything this nation should stand for. This is a despicable act against the constitution of these United States. The order givers and the order followers need to be punished, harshly.

LawDog puts it best in his post, "Papieren, bitte!"

...Anyone not providing papers identification or a "legitimate reason to enter the neighborhood" will be -- and I quote -- "forced to leave".

Anyone objecting to being refused entry into the "Neighborhood Safety Zone" will face arrest for failing to obey police.

This sort of bushwa is EXACTLY what you bloody well get when the sodding government is the only folks allowed to carry guns. This sort of absolute felching gradoo is EXACTLY what you get when the citizens are disarmed.

Shame on the DC Police department. Shame! You are supposed to be peace officers, not some mouth-breathing knock-off of the gods-be-damned gestapo. And that goes double for Mayor Fenty, Police Chief Cathy Lanier and Attorney General Peter Nickles. Where, in the name of all that's holy, do you think that you are, World War 2 Warsaw?

Read the whole thing, LawDog expresses the anger that we all feel about this despicable act by the D.C. government.

Some of the residents of Washington D.C. have become so dependent upon Big Brother that they applaud the boot on their neck:

...But others applauded the initiative. George Saxton of Capitol Hill was pulled over in his black Ford Focus after dropping off his niece near the checkpoint. He said those who are complaining about the initiative probably have something to hide.

"I hope this will help," Saxton said.

I am disgusted.

Discretion

I don't hide the fact that I have firearms from my friends and neighbors. I often open carry around the house and in the front yard. When I head out to the range, I am not secretive about loading up the truck. Firearms are a normal and routine part of my day and if my neighbors have noticed, they have not mentioned it.

Others take a more secretive approach to firearms ownership. They have good reason.

From the Star Telegram:

By Domingo Ramirez Jr.

2 arrested following Euless home invasion

EULESS -- A group of armed masked robbers rushed into a house late Tuesday, herded several teens into a bedroom and then took several weapons including assault rifles from the residence before they fled, police said Thursday.

As the three bandits rounded up the teens, the mother of one of the teenagers ran to her bedroom, jumped out a window and called 911, police said.

The two they caught:

Yep, two Billy Bad-asses posing for the camera.

The home invasion happened about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 900 block of W. Midway Drive.

According to police reports, a woman, her three teenage children and two friends of the teens were at the home. Three men -- one wearing a ski mask and two with bandanas over their faces -- rushed into the house when one of the teens was about to leave, police said.

Two of the bandits were armed with long guns and one had a pistol, police said.

“They moved all the teens into a bedroom,” Williams said. “They also knew that there were weapons in the house and asked the teens where they were.”

The fact that you have firearms in your home can make you a target. It might be a good idea to be somewhat low key about being a gunnie, and you may want to have a talk with your children about talking about your firearms in school.

The robbers took two assault rifles and several handguns which the family was keeping in the house for other relatives, police said.

Having firearms in this house was something different, exciting even. I am betting that they bragged about them at school, the wrong kids took notice, and the family became a target.

Maybe I should be a bit more discrete myself.

Favorite T-Shirt of the Day

H/T SondraK

"The Scarecrow Bandits", a Bunch of Choir Boys?

Several members of a bank robbing gang that came to be known as "The Scarecrow Bandits" were arrested in the DFW Metroplex this past Monday. These goblins had robbed over 20 banks. They were called The Scarecrow Bandits because of the floppy hats and loose shirts they wore during the robberies.

This gang was responsible for more than 20 armed bank robberies, a one gang violent crime wave across North Texas. Could this have been avoided?

It seems so. If our criminal justice system had done it's job, these banks would never have been robbed.

From the Dallas Morning News:

By Steve Thompson

Charges of violence nothing new for Scarecrow Bandit suspects

So far seven members of this bank robbing gang have been arrested. Three of these seven have previously faced charges of murder.

"My name's Charlie," one of them said defiantly Tuesday afternoon, correcting a federal judge who had read his name from an indictment as Charles Runnels...

...While Mr. Runnels, 42, told the judge he worked in landscaping, Dallas police records accuse him during recent months of being a drug dealer.

He was convicted of manslaughter in Arkansas in 1994 and aggravated burglary in Dallas County in 1996. He was then convicted in Ohio of aggravated battery and spent nine years in a state prison there. He was released in 2006 and is to remain on parole under Texas authorities until 2021, a Dallas police report says.

Yet when he was charged with murder in Dallas, accused of shooting a longtime friend over money April 13, a magistrate set his bail at $100,000. He posted it and was released April 19, a few days before the Scarecrow Bandits' latest robbery.

Manslaughter, burglary, battery and murder, quite the choir boy wasn't he? Why the hell was he on our streets?

The other suspects who have faced murder charges are Antonyo Reece, 31, and Corey Deyon Duffey, 27.

Mr. Reece, whose name is sometimes spelled Antonio and goes by the nickname "Seven," was paroled early last year after receiving a 30-year prison sentence in 1991 for a Dallas County murder charge.

2007 minus 1991 = 16. This goblin spent barely half of a 30 year sentence for murder behind bars. I would like to know which parole board let him back on our streets so I can write them a letter expressing my appreciation for allowing this goblin back out on our North Texas streets. He has been such an asset to the community.

Mr. Duffey, a.k.a. "Keyno," pleaded guilty after a 1997 murder charge and was released from prison in 2000.

Three years for murder! Wow, our District Attorneys are doing a great job seeing that justice is served in North Texas.

And another who did not serve his full sentence:

Another accused bandit who has faced a long prison sentence is 42-year-old Tony R. Hewitt, a.k.a. "PricelessT." He was sentenced to 27 years on a drug trafficking charge in 1992 and released on parole in late 2005.

Not a single one of these goblins acquired their firearms legally. Not one.

Why is it that the same politicians, district attorneys and police chiefs who clamor for more restrictive gun control laws enable a revolving door justice system that puts goblins such as these out on our streets?

We do not need restrictive gun control laws, we need the laws that restrict our goblins enforced.

Closeout Sale on Woolrich Elite Tactical Clothing

Our friends at Dallas Tactical Supplies are having an outstanding sale on Woolrich Elite Tactical Clothing.

Click on the image for great deals.

Senator Cornyn at the Double D Ranch

And breaking a few clays.



Senator Cornyn has received an "A" rating by Gun Owners of America for his pro-gun voting record. The GOA considers him to be philosophically sound in his views on our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Senator Cornyn is up for re-election this November and needs your vote.

In the 2006 elections, Dallas County Republicans lost every race to the Democrats. Each and every race. How did this happen? Republicans did not show up to vote. In 2002 over 216,000 Republicans voted. In 2006, less than 179,000 made it to the polls. The Democrats had a showing of over 197,000 for each voting cycle. When Republicans showed up, Republican candidates won.

A recent poll (pdf) indicates that Senator Cornyn has a comfortable lead over his opponent. That's all well and good so long as Republicans show up to vote.

John Cornyn has done a very good job representing Texas as it's Jr. Senator. John Cornyn has opposed Senator McCain in the past when Senator McCain was off track, and I expect Senator Cornyn to continue supporting our conservative ideals. I also expect that he will be opposing those that just don't stack up, no matter who is President.

I wholeheartedly support Senator John Cornyn in his reelection bid, and ask that you do so also.

Rule #1

All firearms are loaded

From the AP

Man shoots self while showing how to handle a gun

ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) — An Alexandria man was recovering after accidentally shooting himself while showing his girlfriend how to handle a pistol on Saturday in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant.

Police said the 21-year-old man told investigators he forgot he had just reloaded the gun, and squeezed the trigger while putting the gun into the driver's door panel. The bullet went through his inner left thigh.

#1: What the heck are you doing using a firearm to show off to your girlfriend in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant?

#2: Putting the gun into the driver's door panel? There may be a bit more to this story than has been reported.

#3: At least he takes responsibility and has the decency to be embarrassed by his negligence.

Police said the man repeatedly told investigators he was ex-military and knows how to handle a gun, and was very embarrassed by the incident.

On a positive note, he missed anything major and survived this "learning opportunity" with minimum damage.

The Four Rules, just in case you need a reminder:

1. All firearms are loaded - There are no exceptions, period. Know this rule and live it. Handle all firearms accordingly.
2. Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you are not willing to destroy - If you are not willing to see a bullet hole in it, do not allow a firearm's muzzle to point at it. If you are doing dry fire drills in your home, extra care needs to be made to insure that ammo is not even in the same room as you are. Dry fire drills can be dangerous because they do violate Rule #2.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger unless your sights are on the target - You do not gain any speed at all by keeping your finger on the trigger. Keep it out of the guard until you are sighted on the target. Practice this until it becomes second nature. If this rule were followed 100% of the time, there would be no negligent discharges.
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it - Be aware of your surroundings whether on a range, in the woods, or in a potentially lethal conflict. Never shoot at sounds or at a target you can not positively identify.

1, 2, 3, 4 Rules so easy even a seven year old can learn them.

How to Ruin a Good Tent...

...and put a hole or two in your followers while you are at it.



H/T to SondraK

Visitor 100,000...

...arrived from Houston via a Google search.


This individual did not view the home page, so did not see the post about the contest. It is a good thing that a couple of regular readers were on the ball.


Mike and Justin both caught screenshots of the 100,000th visit.

Okay guys, send me your addresses so I can get one of these books/videos in the mail to you.

Thanks for catching the screen shots, I appreciate it.

Upcoming Firearms Auction

I enjoy auctions. There is something about a good auction that strikes a nerve with me. Auctions can be very educational, and you can find items in the auction catalogs that you may not have had the chance to see otherwise.

Greg Martin Auctions, out of San Francisco CA, is an excellent auction house specialising in fine and antique firearms and accessories, edged weapons, armor, militaria, American Indian Art and associated historical memorabilia.

June 16th is day one of the two day Fine and Collectible Arms and Sporting Guns auction. That's almost enough to make me want to go to San Francisco. It is a good thing we live in the internet age, a trip to San Francisco is not required to participate in this fine auction. Live online bidding is available.

Now a preview of a couple of my favorites from the catalog (Click on images for detailed descriptions):

Rare WWII Inland U.S. M1A1 Paratrooper Carbine together with Sling, Ammo Pouch, Magazines and Canvas Bag

Serial no. 218117, .30 caliber, 18-inch barrel with standard sights. Barrel marked: Inland Mfg. Co./General Motors/3-43. Parkerized finish. Walnut pistol-grip stock with folding shoulder stock. Sold together with original khaki canvas sling, ammo pouch with two extra magazines and original canvas carrying bag. Also included is a provenance file.

This one has an estimate a bit out of my range, but there are several other M1 Carbines, along with Garands and Model 03-A3's that are within my budget.

Xavier recently commented on The British Victory Model Smith & Wesson Model K-200. There is one to be had at this auction.

That would be a nice addition to any revolver collection.

As would this 'old school' concealed carry pistol:

.41 caliber, 2 3/8-inch blued turn-off screwbarrels with British proofs. Brass frame, the sides engraved with stands of flags. British proofs. Tap action. Sliding safety. Steel triggerguard. Checkered one-piece walnut stock, the back edge with inlaid silver diamond shaped escutcheon with JB script monogram.

Are you interested in seeing a powder horn that was carved and inscribed by Alexander Hamilton in 1773? They have it.

This is one of my favorites:

This is just the tip of the iceberg, and not even the best they have to offer. For auction highlights, go here. There really is something for everyone in this auction.