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USCCA Concealed Carry Report

Have you signed up for the free USCCA Concealed Carry Report put out by the USCCA? It is 100% free, and has a lot of valuable insights and information in every release.

ABC Nightline anti-gun spin

ABC Nightline recently aired a segment covering Restaurant Carry with the title of "Guns and Booze." With a title like that, they were certainly off to a good start on their standard anti-gun spin. At the end of the segment, they even tried to "prove" that when you draw your gun from a concealed holster you're more likely to have less accurate aim, by having a man shoot with slow measured shots on the first target, then drawing his gun and shooting a group of shots in rapid succession at a second target, then comparing the two target groupings. Pure genius.

Kudos to Nikki Goeser for managing to get in many excellent points on our side of the issue.

AZ: More People Armed for Self Defense

When I went in to my Doctor's office for my yearly blood work and EKG this week the nurse asked me to take off my shirt so she could attach the electric probes, which exposed the gun holstered in my IWB Holster. Last year the very same nurse seemed rather nervous while she told me she did not like guns, but this year she simply asked me if I had a CCW permit or if I was taking advantage of the new Constitutional Carry law here in Arizona that went into effect last month.

I told her that I do have a CCW permit, and that I plan to maintain it so that I can continue to receive reciprocity when I travel out of State, at least until we get Constitutional Carry instituted across the Country. She then revealed to me that she has seen a marked increase in the number of people bearing arms for self defense since the new law went into effect, many of whom have told her that they had avoided going through the process to get a CCW permit for various reasons, but were glad to finally be able to exercise their right to bear arms without asking the government for a special permission slip.

The observations of a single nurse are not a sound basis for a scientific study, but it is still very encouraging to hear that the Constitutional Carry law appears to be making a positive difference in the lives of many Americans finally free to enjoy more of their constitutionally guaranteed liberties while here in Arizona. As an added bonus, any thugs wanting to find easy targets in Arizona will now have to deal with many more potential targets being prepared to defend themselves and their loved ones. Many crooks will likely soon choose to move to a State where the local government ensures more of their potential victims are unarmed and defenseless.

The icing on the cake: she revealed to me that although she didn't even like guns a year ago, she has pulled a complete 180: She & her husband went through the process to obtain CCW permits earlier this year. I always love to see more Americans preparing themselves for self defense against treacherous thugs!

Police Budget Cuts: We Won't Come

Residents of Oakland California have been told that if they come home & find that their home security has been compromised - in other words their door has been kicked in - don't bother to call the Police. Why? Because the Police won't come unless there is proof that the thugs are still inside. How they expect you to know that before the thugs hiding inside bash your brains in with baseball bats I don't know, but I do have some friendly advice for such residents.

I highly recommend that you don't walk into a compromised home without your gun, and you should definitely have a buddy with you to back you up. Training on how to enter safely as a team and clear rooms is important too, so make sure you and your backup get plenty of training.

Definitely don't just wander in calling "is anybody still here?" - that is a good way to get your brains bashed in. Of course this advice won't be very helpful to my friends in Oakland California, since few California Subjects are even permitted to bear loaded weapons on their person. In Oakland I imagine only the politically well connected or wealthy are able to get a California "May Issue" CCW permit.

Update 1: It occurred to me this morning that although in California it is often difficult to obtain a CCW permit for self defense while away from home, it is perfectly legal to store an unloaded firearm in a locked case in your vehicle. Once you arrive at home you can load it up & carry it on your person in a holster for self defense. That way if you have any unpleasant surprises on the way into your home you won't be defenseless.

Attempted Rapists Given Lead Instead

Two Thugs followed a woman into her Oklahoma apartment late one evening when she was returning from some errands, and demanded that she remove her clothing. Not only did she fail to comply with their demand that she disrobe, she gave them lead instead.

She's a hero in my book. Not only did she save her own life, she also took two thugs off the streets that will no longer be free to search for new victims. One is resting 6 feet under, and the other is in critical condition while facing a murder charge for participating in a Felony where someone died. Her reasoning for having decided to carry: "I choose to carry a concealed firearm, because even though I am immensely grateful for the protection from our police departments, I realize they're not God, so they can't be everywhere at once." A wise decision indeed- a choice she's no doubt doubly grateful for now.

As we can clearly see, a gun in the hand is infinitely more valuable than a 911 dispatcher on the phone. The Police do the best they can with the resources they have, but when seconds count, the Police are still going to be minutes away.

John Grady: Essay on Constitutional Carry

John Grady was kind enough to share with us an essay he wrote for his College Class on the topic of Arizona's new Constitutional Carry law:

Arizona Concealed Carry

Arizona has much history involving the “Wild West”; Doc Holiday, Wyatt, Vigil, and Morgan Earp, “gun-slinging”, and the shoot-out at the O.K. Corral. On July 29, 2010, many believe this day will be ushering in the reincarnation of the Wild West. From this date forward, any US citizen in the state of Arizona, age 21 and older with no felonies on record may carry a concealed firearm without a permit. This new law has raised many questions, and is in many ways controversial. Is it a bad idea? What kind of change will we see in society, if any? Will we see more crime or less? Let us analyze the concept of carrying a concealed firearm, potential scenarios where this new law may come into play, and our Second Amendment rights.

You may be asking yourself, “What is the definition of ‘Concealed Carry’?” Concealed carry is when an individual carries a firearm, specifically a handgun, on their person in a manner that is unseen by the public eye. Before this new law, it is an illegal act to carry a firearm in a concealed fashion without a license, punishable by incarceration for up to six months, and a fine of up to $2500. To obtain this license, one must be at least 21 years of age and go through an 8 hour course that includes subjects on use of force, legality, concealing techniques, and shooting qualification at the shooting range. Additionally, one must be able to pass a background check.

The requirement of a license has kept a very small amount of control over criminal activity in which a concealed handgun was involved. As we see in society today, gun laws never effect the “bad guys”. Many individuals involved in crime, organized or not, are obviously not concerned in upholding the law, but rather breaking it and thus not concerned with taking the time or paying the cost of getting a concealed carry license... Not to mention the fact that most have at least one felony on their record, disqualifying them from being able to receive a license in the first place. This means that when one of these individuals are caught with a concealed firearm, they are put behind bars. But what happens when one of these jailbirds gets out of prison? A recent study by the Criminal Justice Reform Coalition shows that over half the individuals that get out of jail go right back to committing crimes and end up being thrown back in prison again. As many of you who watch the news and read the newspaper can see, this is just an endless cycle. The majority of these gangsters carry a firearm in an illegal, concealed fashion on a daily basis.

Where does this leave the citizens who uphold the law, but don’t have the time or the money to go through the course? Where does this leave the gentleman who is just buying a pack of smokes when an armed gunman decides to hold up the Circle-K? He can’t exactly defend himself or others with a box of Marlboro “Reds”. What about the woman who is just walking to her car in a dark parking lot at night when a potential rapist corners her? What happens when her pepper spray isn’t enough? Maybe she owns a pistol but doesn’t have it in her purse to protect herself with because she is in a situation in which she doesn’t have the money or time to get her license. This, in my opinion, is a violation of our Second Amendment right to bear arms and to protect ourselves. Many people find themselves in similar situations. Many people own a firearm, but don’t have a concealed carry license. Now, with this new law, a law-abiding citizen may conceal a firearm on their person without the once required license, and have a chance to defend themselves, should they find themselves in a less than favorable situation.

Could this new law create a safer environment? I most certainly believe it can, and will. An armed and ready public can discourage a vast majority of criminal acts, from robbery, to violent crimes and rape. In Arizona, you will see a drop in crime rates, because now there is the “Unknown Factor” that the crook has to worry about. Before the individual commits a crime, s/he will have to consider that many of the people present could be carrying a concealed weapon. The whole room could be concealing a firearm, which makes for some very unfavorable odds if you are about to rob the place.

Kennesaw, Georgia provides a perfect example of what this law can do for the public. In March 1982, the small town passed an ordinance requiring each head of household to own and maintain a gun. Since then, despite similar predictions of "Wild West" showdowns, increased violence and accidents we are hearing now, not a single resident has been involved in a fatal shooting. That’s 28 years murder-free, as compared to Morton Grove, Illinois, who adopted a gun ban for everyone other than police, and witnessed their crime rate go up 15.7% despite predictions of the opposite occurring.

This new law, in my opinion will employ the “Sheepdog Concept”, as Lt. Col. Dave Grossman puts it in his book “On Combat”. The Sheepdog Concept is where the “sheepdog”, or protector in this scenario, sees a “sheep”, or victim, suffering an injustice or a violent crime by a “wolf”, or perpetrator. The sheepdog cannot just stand by and watch, but must step in to protect the sheep from the wolf. The sheepdog cannot abide with injustice. Don’t confuse the Sheepdog Concept with vigilantism. We aren’t talking about the Boondock Saints here. The sheepdogs of society don’t go looking for trouble, but are ready, should they encounter it. For instance, a man who is carrying a concealed firearm under this new law, witnesses a woman being robbed at gunpoint. The man decides to step in and use his firearm to save the woman, and possibly preserve her life. Now that people may carry concealed, I believe it will give many a feeling that they can have an impact and actually make a difference in a similar situation because they have the tool at their disposal to do so with.

In December 2007, Matthew J. Murray, an armed gunman, killed multiple individuals at a youth center in Arvada, California. He then proceeded to drive to New Life Church in Colorado Springs to do the same. When he arrived at the church, he pulled out his firearm and open fired in the parking lot and the foyer, killing two people and wounding three. Out of hundreds of people present, Jeanne Assam had a concealed carry license and a pistol in her purse. She drew it from her purse and shot Murray multiple times, wounding him so severely that he ended up taking his own life. This woman was prepared for a day that she probably thought she would never see. This woman was a sheepdog and she could not abide with the injustice this gunman was inflicting. She saved lives that day. Imagine if a large portion of the population was prepared in such a manner. Would the gunman have even considered pulling this move with the “Unknown Factor”? Even if he did, he most likely wouldn’t have made it out of the Youth Center he shot up.

With the new law, we are seeing support of our Second Amendment right that hasn’t been in play since the early 1900’s. This law is a major restoration of our principal right to defend ourselves and the lives of others. It is pertinent that we exercise our right to bear arms, now that a huge portion of it is being given back to us. I encourage everyone who is going to utilize this new law to be responsible, and to educate yourself on the legal aspects on use of force, as well as the types of establishments in which you can and cannot carry your weapon. You can find this information on Arizona’s Department of Public safety website. I also encourage you to go out to the shooting range and practice, so if you ever see a day in which you may have to use your weapon (and I pray you never see that day), your shots will be precise and well placed. Don’t be afraid to carry a concealed weapon!

More Guns, Less Crime

The Washington Times posted an Editorial on the effect on crime Obama has caused simply by being the most effective firearm salesman of all time. Simply by having the longest anti-gun record of any President we have ever elected in the history of our Country, Obama caused firearm sales to skyrocket, and as John R. Lott Jr already discovered in his research: more guns, less crime.

Highway Robbery Prevented by Gun Owner

A man traveling with his wife and her mother prevented an attempted Highway Robbery when he shot the armed man who had attacked them while they were stranded on the side of the road. The Highway Robber and his two buddies obviously thought they had found a group of helpless victims stranded on the side of the road. Instead they found a family prepared to defend itself.

Do your part to prevent Highway Robbery. Arm yourself for self defense!

Self Defense in Chicago?

An Elderly man in Chicago defended his family from an intruder with a handgun, which is rare in Chicago since handguns are currently banned there. Hopefully the Supreme Court will decide to incorporate the 2nd Amendment this summer and declare the Chicago Gun Ban unconstitutional, so that we can have more happy endings like this in the windy city going forward.

More Guns equals Less Crime.

Gun purchases are up, crime is down, just as we would expect from the research John R. Lott Jr shared in his book: More Guns, Less Crime. Good news for Americans. Bad News for the anti-gun Violence Policy Center.

My Ruger LCP

After spending a lot of time researching to determine which pocket pistol I wanted to get for myself for use as my backup gun, along with many trips to my local gun dealer to try the feel of competing pocket handgun models in my hands, I finally made the plunge this evening & purchased a Ruger LCP. It only set me back $299.00 plus tax so I feel that I got a lot of bang for my buck. I also picked up a pocket holster: the DeSantis Nemesis.

The fellow I spoke with while making my purchase this evening mentioned that the Ruger LCP is by far and away the hottest thing right now in pocket pistols. He said they're flying off the shelf more quickly than any other make or model of pocket gun. It makes sense to me, as it is a very nice pocket handgun. I'll be heading to the range next week to try it out and I will give you all my report.

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.

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.

Open Carry Deters Crime

If you don't conceal your weapon, you give up the element of surprise in the event you are attacked and need to defend yourself. However, by carrying your firearm openly, you may deter a crime from happening in the first place, which would then lead to a better outcome. It is difficult to determine exactly how many crimes are deterred each year by those who carry openly due to the obvious fact that in such circumstances the crimes don't even take place.

We do however have at least one documented example in Kennesaw GA where a crew of armed thugs decided NOT to commit armed robbery in a waffle house because the thug who went in to scout the place before the crime saw Matt Brannan and J.P. Mitchell openly carrying their firearms. You can listen to Mark Walters of USCCA's Armed American Radio interview Matt Brannan and J.P. Mitchell for more details on the event. Over the years I have also heard multiple first hand accounts of possible criminals who seemed determined to commit a crime as they approached their potential victims, but suddenly turned away when they noticed a holstered firearm.

If you think about it from the point of view of the thugs it makes sense. Why would they want to attack a group of people where they know at least one person is armed for self defense when they can easily find another group of potential victims where all are likely unarmed? Why would they want to significantly increase the odds of being shot by one of their intended victims? Before you say it, yes, there are situations where a crazy person determined to attack a particular location would attack irregardless, shooting at the known armed people first, but that situation is rare relative to the typical crimes committed by criminals who are simply looking for an easy target.

If you do choose to Open Carry, I recommend that you utilize and train with a retention holster. I like the Blackhawk SERPA holsters as they hold your weapon securely, yet allow you to remove your weapon quickly & easily with a little practice. What is your favorite retention holster? Let me know in the comment section.

Learn more about Open Carry at OpenCarry.org.

National Park Gun Ban Ending Soon

The existing weapons ban at our National Parks is ending next week on Monday February 22nd. Are any of you planning to visit a National Park next week? If so, you'll finally be free to defend yourself from two and four legged animals. When seconds count, a Park Ranger may be hours away if you're lucky enough to even have cell phone service. Your handgun or rifle on the other hand will be right at your side, ready to be a useful tool in defense of you & your family.

AZ: Home Intruder Demanding Keys to Car Given Lead Instead

A suspect who robbed a carwash had his car break down while he was making his getaway. He ditched his car at an elementary school, causing the school to go into lockdown, and took off on foot into the nearby neighborhood. He broke into a home and demanded the keys to the car. Instead of keys, the homeowner gave him lead.

I love happy endings!

H/T to Shawn.

Washington Times Editorial: The forgotten virtue of firearms

I just read a well stated editorial from the Washington Times on the forgotten virtue of firearms. It discusses the one-sided nature of the mainstream news as it relates to criminals using guns. If it bleeds it leads, leading to the primary focus of headline news being placed on stories of criminals attacking defenseless victims, while the vast majority of crimes stopped by law abiding gun owners don't lead the news as there was no blood involved - simply aiming a gun at the bad guy was enough to stop the attack in 98% of the cases of self defense. When self defense uses of a gun are reported and covered at all, they seldom go beyond a small story buried deep in the local news.

The Washington Times editorial also brings up the important fact that the vast majority of mass shootings have taken place in so-called gun free zones - places where criminals & sociopaths have the upper hand on victims rendered defenseless by bad policies or laws, places like Virginia Tech or the recent Fort Hood Terrorist Attack. Gun free zones are a failed progressive experiment based on the mistaken fallacy that criminals might obey a gun free zone sign. It is high time we stop treating our citizens like lab rats, it's time to end the gun free zone experiment.

Open Carry Experience in Oregon

I was recently traveling through Oregon where they currently have zero reciprocity for any out of State CCW permits (for additional info on gun laws impacting armed travel check out these gun travel tools). In addition to zero reciprocity Oregon is also unwilling to issue CCW permits to non-residents unless you happen to live in a bordering State. As an Arizona resident, the only way I'm not prohibited from protecting myself while traveling through Oregon is to open carry, and even then I have to stay out of six of their Nanny State cities like Portland who prefer to make out of State visitors easy targets for criminals. As a result, before I crossed into Oregon I tucked in my shirt to transition from concealed to open carry.

As we traveled through Oregon stopping from time to time to eat or refuel our vehicle, most of the people encountered didn't appear to notice my handgun. However, while we were at a gas station paying someone else to do my normal task of refueling our car, I went into the convenience store to buy some soda and snacks. While there, I overheard a child nearby ask his father: "Dad, why does that man have a gun?"

His father didn't answer, so I took the opportunity to respond myself. While pointing to our car outside I said: "you see, I have a wife and children in that car out there who I love very much, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep them safe. My handgun is just one of the tools at my disposal to help me do that."

He seemed satisfied with my answer, and even gave me a smile.

3 Thugs Ambushed the Wrong Couple

While a couple was walking from their driveway to their home, three thugs attacked them in a surprise ambush. One of the intended victims was armed and prepared to defend himself, which he did, bringing an early halt to the attack. One of the thugs passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital, the other two ran away. I love happy endings!