Archive for the 'Firearms' Category

Apparently in the same city not too far away.

Dean Weingarten writing at Ammoland.

I open carry in Wisconsin on a very regular basis, rarely do I have someone say anything to me about it, but every now and then…

Last fall I was standing in line to pay for a coffee at our local Kwik Trip convenience store. I was openly carrying my Glock 22. I noticed a man look at me and then go about his business. As I went out to my truck he came outside.

He said, “sir, is it legal to carry a pistol like that in public?”

I replied yes it is, both our American constitution, as well as our Wisconsin constitution, protect the right to keep and carry arms.

“He then said oh, you have a permit to carry.”

I replied, no permit is required to carry openly in the State of Wisconsin.

This man was both shocked and excited. He thought he must have a permit to carry, and confided that he was wanting to do that, but was afraid the process would be long and expensive. I informed him it is not; while waiting, he should study up on our gun laws and carry. He was very thankful.

Several weeks ago I walked into an Aldis grocery store. Several people took note I was openly carrying, but did not say anything.

As I walked out of the store, a car was approaching. I waited for it to pass and then proceeded to cross the parking lot.

The driver of the vehicle got out of his car and crossed the parking lot and said, “sir, I want to thank you.”

I asked him “What for?”

He replied, “I want to thank you for carrying your sidearm in plain view. It does my heart good when I see people doing that. I feel safe and comforted in knowing if a wacko walks into an establishment with malicious intent, and sees someone who is armed, most likely he will change his mind, as he is looking to hurt, not be shot.  Thank you for using your rights.”

As we talked he thanked me again for open carrying and said that I had given that push he needed to start carrying himself. I told him, more people need to be using their liberty. Liberty unclaimed, unused, is easier to lose.

Today, a buddy and I walked into Wal-Mart.

I go into Wal-Mart several times a week open carrying.

I have never had anyone say anything to me, but today was different. I was carrying my Glock 22. Today was a two mag day.

My buddy was carrying his nickle plated .45 Long Colt on a western style gun belt. It is a very flashy pistol.

We did our shopping. Upon entering the checkout line, a look of panic appeared on the face of a cashier standing near by.  She called the manager.

As I’ve said before, I open carry “For the peace, good and dignity of the country and the welfare of its people.”  I’ve also said that “There is no prima facie reason that open carry cannot be legitimately for the reason of making a statement or for education purposes.”

Honor both the first and second amendments, and open carry when you can.

Yea I’d like to train at Thunder Ranch, but you know, the thing about $$.  Just not enough of it.

At least Clint and I share one thing in common: a love for 1911s.

By now every one has seen the viral video pictures and discussion about Mr. Mark McCloskey and his wife outside having to defend home and hearth with firearms.  What happened leading up to this is very important.

… [A]s soon as I said this is private property, those words enraged the crowd. Horde, absolute horde came through the now smashed down gates coming right at the house. My house, my east patio was 40 feet from Portland Place Drive. And these people were right up in my face, scared to death. And then, I stood out there. The only thing we said is this is private property. Go back. Private property. Leave now.

At that point, everybody got enraged. There were people wearing body armor. One person pulled out some loaded pistol magazine and clicked them together and said that you were next. We were threatened with our lives, threatened with a house being burned down, my office building being burned down, even our dog’s life being threatened. It was, it was about as bad as it can get. I mean, those you know, I really thought it was Storming the Bastille that we would be dead and the house would be burned and there was nothing we could do about it. It was a huge and frightening crowd. And they were they broken the gate were coming at us.

The man in the picture above is trespassing, and if he threatened Mr. McCloskey, he deserved to be shot until dead.  One must take seriously verbal threats, especially if the one threatening has already trespassed on to private property.

This is called self defense, and it’s covered in the commandments of the Almighty.  It’s not only a right, but a duty.  Mr. McCloskey would have been neglecting the commandments of God had he abandoned his home and wife to the mob.  One cannot assume that he can retreat fast enough to escape danger, and Mr. McCloskey is responsible under Biblical law not only for his own life, but the lives of those under his responsible charge, in this case, his wife.

There is a video embedded below, but before we get there, I do have a few tactical suggestions that future victims like Mr. McCloskey might want to consider.  Nothing says back away and leave my family in peace like an AR-15.  It gives the ability for rapid target acquisition, quick recovery of sight picture, and ability to produce heavier volume fire than if he had to chamber another round (e.g., as with a bolt action rifle).

Furthermore, a shotgun would have been limited in magazine capacity, even a tactical shotgun like an M4 Benelli.  Readers can claim until they’re blue in the face that they just want their .308 or 30-06, but when it comes to CQB, there is nothing like the carbine.  You can have your M1, there is nothing like an AR-15 in this circumstance.  Everyone knows this is true, and it’s a good thing that Mr. McCloskey had that go-to weapon at his disposal.

I would suggest some training for him though.  The particular stance, holding at the hip, is worthless and counterproductive, and could actually convince the assailant that you didn’t know what you were doing.  He needs some practice at the range, holding at the low ready, and proper use of the sling.  A tactical vest, along with at least Kevlar armor, able to hold additional magazines, would also have been handy in this circumstance.

If Mr. McCloskey intends to continue allowing his wife to carry a weapon, she needs some training in proper muzzle discipline and grip technique.  There is deep fear in her eyes, and some training could have added confidence to her presentation.  She also needs a legitimate weapon.

None of the things I’ve said above should be interpreted as mocking the gentleman and his wife.  I think he acted bravely, even if I might have done things a bit differently.

You can expect to see video and pictures of this event shown, brought up, and discussed from now on until and through the election.  This was a big deal, because it wasn’t someone who approached the violent mob intending to make trouble, it was a home owner defending his life.  Similarly, the poor lady who was under threat by the mob in Fredericksburg, Virginia, is an event that should stick in the minds of readers for a very long time.

The self righteous circuit attorney, Kim Gardner, has her panties in a wad over this.  It doesn’t matter since Mr. McCloskey was acting in self defense.  Exactly why she would act the way she has concerning this might be confusing to someone who doesn’t understand the mob, but the important thing to grasp concerning Kim is that she is part of the mob.  Glenn Reynolds says it best.

That’s why they don’t want you to own guns. And that’s why the Ken-and-Karen case has the left and its media enablers so upset. They want you cowering in your home, calling for police protection that their political action has made sure won’t come. Or worrying that that might happen so that you yield to their demands. If you’re out on the steps with guns in your hands, suddenly the script has flipped. Either they’re intimidated, which is bad for morale when you’re running a mob, or they escalate and become so violent that the “deniable” part of the intimidation is gone, because they can’t pretend even to themselves that this was a “parade” of “peaceful protesters,” and a more violent response to the mob becomes certain in the future. And while mobs can dish out violence, they usually don’t take it very well, lacking discipline and cohesion. That’s why the goal is to keep the violence ongoing, but at a low enough level that it seems easier to go along than fight. Open resistance interferes with that, and sets an example for others.

They want you to be disarmed before the violent mob.  Kim Gardner wants that too.  Resolve not ever to be disarmed, and resolve to be like Mr. McCloskey, at least in spirit.

Other coverage:

PJM

WRSA

Reddit/firearms

Reddit/firearms

Reddit/firearms

Reddit/firearms

Reddit/firearms

David Codrea.

So it’s not just “gun nuts” adding to their “arsenals,” as the gun-grabber groups would have us believe. A significant percentage are women or are from restrictive states like California, where, feeling threatened by what they see on the news, have started discovering just what they’ve been missing.

The thing is, with all these new gun owners, the chances for negligent discharges and other bad things happening through ignorance go up. Like “Gunners’ Guru” Jeff Cooper famously observed, “Owning a handgun doesn’t make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician.”

David recommend a specific book, and that’s great.  Reading is the first step.  Owner’s manuals are great too, but if you’re a new gun owner and new to this blog, I recommend that you get some training.

You can even write me and I’ll make some recommendations for training.  The point is, while you’ll occasionally find arrogant gun owners like you find in any discipline, most of us are very nice, willing to help, and anxious to teach.

Don’t be shy.

Strange news.

Remington Arms, America’s oldest gun maker, is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and is in advanced talks for a potential sale to the Navajo Nation, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

Remington is making preparations for the Native American tribe to serve as the lead bidder to purchase its assets out of Chapter 11, the Journal reported here, citing people familiar with the matter.

The report added that the filing could come with in days.

I think everyone in the gun community expected Remington to go down the toilet, especially after being bought by Cerberus with financial “engineers” skimming money from profits.

But this is odd – Navajo Nation?  I wonder what that’s all about?  What does Navajo Nation intend to do with Remington?