AZ: NRA Open Range Day at Ben Avery

The NRA is hosting an Open Range Day on May 8, 2010 at Ben Avery:

FAIRFAX, VA – The Disabled Shooting Services of the National Rifle Association is proud to announce the second annual Open Range Day at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 8, 2010. Open Range Day is an all inclusive event where certified trainers and instructors introduce a wide variety of shooting sports to people with physical disabilities.

"We had a huge response from first-time shooters last year," said Disabled Shooting Services Manager Vanessa Ross. "Registration for 2010 is already twice the size of last year's class, and we can’t wait to get things started."

Open Range Day begins with a safety clinic led by NRA Certified Instructors. Participants then have the opportunity to learn the proper way to shoot shotguns, rifles, pistols, and air guns. "The important thing is for everyone to explore their personal potential on the range and simply have fun," explained Ross.

The event is made possible through the generous donation of time and materials. In addition to the numerous volunteers who will be on hand to guide the shooters, companies like Ruger, White Flyer, and Davidson's have graciously donated materials.

"We wouldn’t be able to hold such an event without our corporate sponsors,” said Ross. “Ruger, Savage, and Davidson's are donating the use of their firearms, White Flyer Targets and Birchwood Casey are donating targets, while Kowa Optimed, Pyramyd Air, Lapua and Remington are donating spotting scopes and ammunition."

For more info on Open Range Day, contact Vanessa Ross at (703) 267-1495 or e-mail: Disabled-shooting@nrahq.org. To learn about NRA’s disabled shooting programs, visit http://www.nrahq.org/compete/disabled.asp.

IA: Iowa Becomes 41st Shall Issue State

Iowa Governor Chet Culver Signed their Shall Issue Concealed Carry bill (SF-2379) into Law today, making Iowa the 41st State to mandate that all concealed carry applicants be treated equally under the law rather than subject to subjective case by case determinations by their local Sheriff as still occurs in the remaining "may issue" States. The new law will take effect January 1st 2011.

Congratulations Iowa!

Additionally, Iowa will honor all Concealed Carry permits issued by other States which will allow me to actually visit Iowa some day. Currently they don't recognize any out of State permits, so this will be a wonderful change! I've heard that Iowa is a nice place to visit, if you didn't mind giving up your right to defend yourself and your family while visiting. That problem will be gone starting in 2011.

Gene German has additional details.

American Uprising

Nice montage video including some Tea Party footage. Uprising by Muse as background music:

"They will not force us! (to buy healthcare insurance)
They will stop degrading us! (they call us tea baggers?)
They will not control us! (we will not hand over our guns!)
And we will be victorious!" (at the polls this November!)

VA: Intruder Broke into the Wrong Home

An intruder broke into a home in Botetourt County, VA utilizing a wrought iron chair to smash through the sliding glass door late at night. The homeowner dialed 911, but had to use his shotgun to defend his wife & children before the Police were able to arrive. Thanks to the fact that he was prepared to defend his family they are all alive and well. The intruder on the other hand was called home to meet his maker, and will no longer be a drain on society.

When seconds count, the Police are minutes away. We should all be prepared to defend our families from those who would do them harm. It is a moral obligation those of us who are parents or spouses all have to those whom we love.

NSSF Survey on Shooting Sports Activity

The NSSF commissioned a survey that showed that users of the modern sporting rifle (AR-15 style rifles) were the most active in the shooting sports last year. About 8.9 Million people used modern sporting rifles in shooting sports on an average of 22.9 days during 2009.

It also showed that 2009 was a record year for all shooting sports activities, hitting a high water mark of 34.4 Million people who participated in one or more types of shooting sports activities overall.

The next time you head to the range, be sure to invite a friend along with you. The shooting sports are fun, I have brought many people with me, and have yet to find anyone who did not have a great time. As always, be sure to teach them the gun safety rules before you let them touch your gun. Have fun!

More People Free to Arm Themselves for Self Defense

I've recently discussed the new Arizona Constitutional Carry law with a number of people who have told me they had been reluctant in the past to apply for a CCW permit as they did not want to be on any government list of known gun owners. They have taken self defense training courses, and have studied the local laws, yet have been unable to conceal carry due to the fact that they did not have a CCW permit issued by the government. They are looking forward to enjoying their restored freedoms in the near future, and will soon join those of us who have already obtained CCW permits in being able to be armed for the defense of themselves and their families.

How many more people will be armed for their own defense after the new law takes effect? It is anybody's guess, but even if there are only two or three times as many people prepared to defend themselves it will be a very good thing for all of us due to the fact that more guns in the hands of law abiding citizens always equals less crime. I know one thing for certain: this new law will cause the criminals to wonder even more about who might be armed among their potential targets. I'm guessing some of the criminals will soon choose to move away from Arizona to a location where all of their victims are more likely to be defenseless.

Washington DC and Chicago are still favorites among armed thugs as both places are a smörgåsbord of defenseless potential victims walking around on the streets, disarmed by their own government which is unwilling to recognize constitutionally protected rights, including, but not limited to, our right to keep and bear arms. For those who are slow, like the children the signs in some neighborhoods warn us about, you know, the neighborhoods with the yellow signs that say "slow children at play," the definition of bear in this context is: "to hold or to carry."

Arizona: Creating a hostile work environment for Criminals since 1994.

Legal Heat Contest

Thanks to the generosity of the Legal Heat application authors, the first ten people who leave a comment on the Dustin's Gun Blog fan page requesting one of the 10 promo codes for a free copy of Legal Heat will win a free copy of the app (runs on the Apple iPhone/iTouch/iPad but the hardware is not included). I'll send the codes to the lucky winners via facebook mail.

Good luck, and have a great weekend!

Update 1: I've received some questions on how to post a comment on the fan page - you need to first click the "like" button on the left hand side after which you'll see a comment box available on the top of the page.

Update 2: As of right now on Sunday May 9th there is still 1 copy of legal heat remaining to give away. Get it while it lasts!

Chicago: Defenseless Victims Caught on Tape

In Chicago there are more than 10,000 surveillance cameras invading the privacy of defenseless victims unfortunate enough to live there, but I doubt the cameras provide much comfort to the victims of the violent crimes. Sure, the captured video makes nice footage for the nine o'clock news, and if we're lucky, it might even make it easier to find the perpetrator after the crime has already been committed, but I doubt either of those benefits provide much comfort to the defenseless victims of crime, especially for those who fail to survive the incident.

Once the McDonald vs Chicago Case rules later this summer to incorporate the 2nd Amendment as restricting State and local governments from violating our protected right to keep and bear arms for our own self defense, things should begin to look up for my disarmed friends who live there and in other gun-ban cities. Until then, all they have available is the comfort of knowing that if they are unfortunate enough to become a victim of crime, they could also be a star on the nine o'clock news.

AZ: Governor Brewer Signed Constitutional Carry!

It's official. Arizona joined Alaska & Vermont in recognizing the right to bear arms as protected by the Second Amendment this afternoon when Governor Brewer signed SB 1108 into law. Although you are still free to apply for an Arizona CCW permit to receive reciprocity in States that recognize it, you will no longer be required to ask the Arizona State Police for their permission to bear arms in defense of yourself and your families once this law takes effect this fall (on July 28, 2010), even if your gun happens to be covered by your shirt or jacket. The current legislative session is expected to end in the next few weeks, so this law should take effect sometime in late July or early August. Watch this post as I'll update it with the effective date once it is official (July 28, 2010).

This is a great day for freedom in Arizona. Here is a link to the press release from Governor Brewer. Be sure to send her a note to say thanks for supporting Freedom.

Update 1: Alan Korwin has issued an excellent summary of the change to the law.

Update 2: NRA Press Release.

Update 3: Check out the comments from the hoplophobes!

Update 4: I'm already hearing from people who plan to conceal carry once the law takes effect.

Update 5: The 49th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session Adjourned on Thursday, April 29, 2010. As a result, Constitutional Carry will take effect on Thursday, July 29, 2010

Update 6: Expanded Freedoms are Now in effect!

Don't Tread on Me!

Like the rattlesnake the American People bite back when provoked. Politicians will feel our bite when we throw out Progressive Democrats & Progressive Republicans at the ballot box this November!

Satire on Open Carry

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Open Carrier Discrimination
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

AZ: 2nd Amendment Lunch at Capitol

A week from today on Monday April 19th come and join freedom loving Americans from all over for a Second Amendment Lunch and Rally at the Arizona Capitol at noon. Bring your family, bring a lunch, and bring your favorite firearm in your favorite holster in celebration of our right to bear arms.

Celebrate America. Celebrate Freedom. Enjoy a lunch.

You can RSVP and invite your facebook friends to join us via event links here or here.

AZ: Constitutional Carry Passed!

The Arizona House of Representatives passed SB 1108 Constitutional Carry this afternoon by a vote of 36 to 19 with 5 abstaining. This is great news for Freedom Lovers all across the US, and especially for those of us live in or visit Arizona.

Next stop, Governor Brewer's desk. Send her an e-mail and ask for her support.

More from the NRA-ILA.

Update 1: Governor Brewer signed Constitutional Carry into law!

AZ: Constitutional Carry Scheduled for Final Vote

AZCDL & the NRA-ILA have informed me that SB 1108 Constitutional Carry is scheduled for a final vote in the House tomorrow. Be sure to contact your representatives to ask for their support as the vote is expected to be a close one and they need to hear from you. It has already passed in the Senate so if passed in the House tomorrow it will then head to the Governor for her signature.

AZ: Firearms Freedom Act Signed into Law

HB 2307, Arizona's version of the Firearms Freedom Act was signed into law today by Governor Brewer. This is good news for Arizonans, as we join 5 other States who have already passed similar bills, and roughly two dozen other States who are currently considering them. It's a great way for Arizona to tell the Feds that they need to stay within the bounds of the US Constitution and leave our State alone. The Federal Government has gone way beyond the original intent of the Commerce Clause of the Constitution and has been treading we the People under their muddy boots. It is time for us to bring a well overdue end to their arrogance.

HB 2543, State Firearms Preemption, was also signed into law by Governor Brewer.

An excerpt of the new Arizona State Firearms Preemption law is below:

"A. Except as provided in subsection D of this section, a political subdivision of this state shall not enact any ordinance, rule or tax relating to the transportation, possession, carrying, sale, transfer, PURCHASE, ACQUISITION, GIFT, DEVISE, STORAGE, LICENSING, REGISTRATION, DISCHARGE or use of firearms or ammunition or any firearm or ammunition components OR RELATED ACCESSORIES in this state."