Officer Says: "It Aint [America] No More"

In response to question: "This used to be America!" a Police Officer says: "It ain't no more" and threatens: "I can charge you with whatever I want to charge you with"

AZ: Which Restaurants Want our Dollars?

Like most people, my wife & I enjoy eating out from time to time. We personally don't even choose to drink alcohol, but there are many good restaurants in Arizona that happen to serve it to those who do. Starting September 30th 2009 the law in Arizona will no longer prohibit my wife & I from eating at restaurants that happen to serve alcohol while we carry concealed weapons for defense of ourselves & our family, so long as we don't drink.

Unfortunately some businesses are already making the decision that they don't want our dollars. That is their right as a business owner, as it will be ours to choose not to do business with them. About 138,000 active CCW Permit Holders in Arizona as of Sep 1st 2009 is nothing to sneeze at in this economy, and that doesn't even take into consideration the 2.5 Million Arizona residents who live in households that have at least one gun, many of whom are likely to support restaurants that support our rights irregardless of their own decision to not apply for a CCW permit for themselves.

The Arizona State Rifle & Pistol Association has created a web page to list Arizona businesses that have come out on one side or the other on this issue - either deciding to openly support the right to bear arms in self defense or deciding to ban our patronage. Businesses that ban entry to Conceal Carry permit holders carrying concealed will be advising criminals that they'll find easy targets inside the restaurant as well as walking about in the parking lot. The ASRPA has a PDF you can print out to share with the restaurants you wish to patronize. Restaurants can choose either to simply not ban our patronage or to go an extra step and have their logo listed as a self defense supporter on the ASRPA website to attract our business.

As required by the law, our weapons will remain concealed so patrons who are scared of guns will not even know we're there, the same way they don't know that we're sitting next to them in a Movie Theater or in an ice cream shop. The signs banning our patronage will begin shipping out later this week to the 100 or so restaurants that have already requested them. With about 5,900 bars & restaurants that serve alcohol in Arizona that will still leave us with 5,800 places we can patronize.

Thai Rama is the first restaurant to be listed as supporting our rights which as a result is now on my must visit list. As for those who don't want our dollars, the first to be listed are George & Dragon as well as Chipotle. Based on this article, I'm guessing the Chevraunt Restaurant & Wine Bar will soon be added to the list of restaurants who don't want our dollars as well. Be sure to contact these businesses with a friendly note or phone call to let them know your thoughts. If you know of other restaurants that should be added to one side or the other of the list send the details to ASRPA via: wewelcomeccw@asrpa.com

For any businesses thinking about creating their own gun free zone, please check out this video first:



Update 1: Other restaurants like Thai Rama that have indicated that they plan to respect our right to defend ourselves (based on reader feedback & the list - below listing is not comprehensive):
Black Angus, Olive Garden, NYPD Pizza, Parson's Restaurant, Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Babaloos, Eat at Joe's Barbecue, Maloney's, Santisi Brothers Sports Grill, Silver Spur Saloon, Chuy's Mesquite Broiler, & Valle Luna.

Update 2: More news on the subject: azcentral, azdailysun.

Update 3: Additional lists of CCW friendly restaurants are now available.

September 12th March on the Capitol

On September 12th Citizens from all over the Country will march on Washington DC in protest of out of control spending in an effort to unite our Country the way we united on September 12th 2001. Check out the Tea Party Express to see if there will be a lead up event near you. Those who can't make it to Washington DC on the 12th of September can join in on the protest at their local State Capitol. If you're in Arizona you can indicate that you plan to participate at the Arizona Tea Party, the Greater Phoenix Tea Party Patriots, or via Facebook. If you prefer you may simply show up at the Capitol on the morning of Saturday September 12th. Let your voice be heard!

Update 1: If you're on facebook you can also invite your facebook friends to attend with us!

Update 2: Find an event near you.

Update 3: I spent the morning with fellow Americans at the Arizona Capitol Today. It was wonderful to be with like minded individuals demanding an end to the out of control government spending. I counted about 3 dozen folks open carrying, and another dozen or so who were conceal carrying lifted up their shirt to show me their gun when they saw me open carrying mine. Freedom is wonderful, it's great to be an American!

To My Friends in California: Get the Monkeys off your Back

I have met many people who have moved to Arizona or other Free States in our Nation to escape the monkeys that have been running the California Legislature. Nevada has launched an add campaign inviting California small businesses to move there to get the monkeys off their back and to escape State income taxes that are among the highest in the Nation. I'd only add that by moving to any of the remaining Free States Californians would also escape a plethora of Nanny State personal freedom infringements as well, the right to keep and BEAR arms being high on the list.



In California you can keep some arms if they're the right color, have only approved features, and are on a State Approved Arms List, but are you allowed to BEAR them? Only if you carry your gun openly while leaving it unloaded, or you carry openly while in a rural area. Unless you are among the California residents lucky enough to have received permission from the local Sheriff in the form of a permit to carry concealed which only happens if you can prove to him or her that your life is worth protecting:

If the CCW license is desired for . . . the protection of large sums of money or valuable property, you are required to explain and provide good cause for issuance of the license . . .

Do the Monkeys running the California Legislature not know that the guns the criminals carry are always loaded, and that criminals do victimize law abiding citizens within populated areas? Why have the criminals been given the upper hand by California legislators?

In Free States, all citizens are deemed worthy to bear openly carried loaded arms for self defense, so long as you are not a prohibited possessor. There is no discrimination here based on how much money you carry to the bank or how populated the area is that you happen to be standing in.

Update 1: Whether or not you are in a position to move or are in a position to need or want to stay in California, be sure to support the efforts of gun rights organizations like the SAF, Calguns and the NRA to train or preferably replace the monkeys who treat your rights like discarded banana peels.

Security Alarms

I have a security alarm, but unlike the purpose alluded to in the current lineup of Brinks Home Security commercials, I don't have a security alarm to scare away intruders but rather to wake me up so I can grab my gun. If the security alarm ends up being enough to scare an intruder away that would be icing on the cake, but I'm not willing to bet the lives of my children on that alone.



Speaking of Security Systems, what do you think of this yard sign?

Greg Brush - Bear Attack Survivor

Greg Brush disappointed the dinner plans of a 900 Lb starving Brown Bear in Alaska thanks to the fact that he was prepared to defend himself with his Ruger .454 casull revolver stashed in his side holster. Tom Gresham of Gun Talk Radio interviewed Greg Brush yesterday on the 8/23 show. You can also read the survival story in the Anchorage Daily News. I'm glad that this story was a self defense story rather than a story of a defenseless victim killed by a starving bear.

I'm not a Bear expert but from what I heard Greg Brush say in the interview in addition to what I read in the article it sounds to me like Alaska needs to beef up its bear hunting program at least a wee little bit. If the bears are starving to the point that they are driven to attack humans there are likely too many bears for that local environment to support.

Open Carry Alive & Well in Arizona

Yes, in Arizona we still enjoy the right to keep & BEAR arms without a piece of paper from the Government granting us permission, so long as you do so openly. This apparently freaks out some of those who are scared of guns. I guess it is a bit jarring when they finally come to the realization that people besides the Criminals & Police officers are carrying weapons. Perhaps it is time that they also realize it is far easier to carry a gun for your protection than it is to carry a Police Officer. If you dial 911, it will likely take minutes for the Police to arrive, but your trusty sidearm will always be at your side immediately. Besides that, I have a number of friends who are Police Officers, and I can't think of a single one of them that would consent to being carried around.



Full Audio of Ernest Hancock's interview of Chris: Part 1, Part 2. Earnest Hancock Interview on CNN.

What GOA had to say.

What the press had to say: KTAR, ABC 15.

For once I can agree with something Robert Gibbs said:

Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said people are entitled to carry weapons outside such events if local laws allow it. “There are laws that govern firearms that are done state or locally,” he said. “Those laws don’t change when the president comes to your state or locality.”

Sebastian has the scoop on what some of the bloggers are saying. More at Arizonashooting.com.

Update 1: Listen to Alan Korwin discuss this topic with Chicago radio host Greg Jarrett: part 1, part 2.

AAR Armed American Radio - New Addition to my Podcast List

I'm a long time member of the United States Concealed Carry Association so I have no idea how I've been missing out on this since it first began airing a few months ago on April 26th. USCCA has a new nationally syndicated weekly radio program that is also available as a podcast: AAR Armed American Radio with host Mark Walters author of The Ordinary Guy columns in USCCA magazine. It currently airs on Sunday evenings 8 PM-9 PM EDT (5PM-6PM Pacific) although it will soon be a 2 hour program starting September 13th. Former Congressman Bob Barr & Florida CCW Instructor Eric Williams will be guests on the upcoming program this Sunday Aug 23rd.

You can listen via live Internet Streaming on 920 AM WGKA, WLBB, KNZZ, KSCB, WLCM, KJMT, KGTK, KITZ, or KKFT Nevada 99.1 FM TalkRadio and call in to participate by dialing 877-956-9566. I subscribed via iTunes yesterday & downloaded all of the old episodes to catch up with what I've missed. From what I've heard so far I'm impressed, I've found it informative as well as enjoyable to listen to which makes for a great combination. If you enjoy the program as much as I do be sure to contact your favorite local talk radio program & ask them to syndicate the show.

I am glad that we have another voice on the air waves spreading the truth about our rights adding to the voices of other great freedom defenders like Tom Gresham of Guntalk Radio, Cam Edwards of NRA News, & Charles Heller of Liberty Watch Radio, not to mention the voices of many other great podcasts such as those currently participating in the Gun Rights Radio Network. All of my favorite gun rights podcasts are listed on the right hand side of my blog under the title "Gun Rights Podcasts" so check it out and see if there are any listed that you don't already know about.

Looking for bulk 5.56 ammo for your AR15?

I've been ordering my bulk ammo from Aim Surplus for quite a while and have always been happy with their service. They run out of stock from time to time due to the high demand but they currently have 5.56 M193 brass case non-corrosive ammo in stock again. I just made an order to replenish my supply. It's the same brand I'm already using (Prvi Partizan) and I've been very happy with it. Right now you can order 1000 rounds for just under $360 plus shipping.

Note that if your AR15 or other rifle is chambered for 5.56 ammo you can shoot this M193 5.56 ammo in addition to .223 ammo, but not the other way around. If your rifle is chambered specifically for .223 you should only shoot .223. Your chamber type will probably be stamped somewhere on the receiver or barrel depending on what type of rifle you have.

Scholastic Clay Target Program

The Scholastic Clay Target Program is introducing youth all over the Country to the Shotgun Shooting Sports. It is run by volunteers & is open to youth aged 9 on up until they graduate from High School (After High School they can continue on to the Collegiate ACUI Clay Target fun). Think of SCTP as your local little league for the Shotgun Shooting Sports. Find a Club near you!



Here in Arizona there are currently 17 clubs State wide and the season runs from Oct 1st through May 1st so there is still plenty of time to register your children in the program for the 2009-2010 school year. For info on an Arizona SCTP club near you contact Ashley Lynch at 602-942-3000 or alynch@azgfd.gov

Readit News did a nice write up on the of the 2008-2009 Arizona SCTP Commissioners’ Cup that was held at Ben Avery this past spring. The 2008-2009 SCTP National Championship was held in Sparta IL in July. As I've discussed earlier, Ben Avery has a world class Clay Target Range including Trap, Skeet, & Sporting Clays, so if you haven't been there, be sure to check it out.

Thomas Paine & Hannity on Patriots at Town Hall Meetings

William Kostric vs MSNBC Chris Matthews

MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews was schooled on the Freedoms we enjoy in America by William Kostric (William Kostric open carried his firearm on private property near the location of Obama's Healthcare Town Hall in Portsmouth, NH):



Update 1: William Kostric is shown support by over a dozen patriots in Arizona!

Alan Gura Lawsuit on Question of Bearing Arms

Alan Gura & the Second Amendment Foundation are confronting the Washington DC ban on bearing arms (what part of keep & BEAR arms do DC Politicians not understand?). Hopefully it will be at least as successful as the Heller case.

Related SAF News Release.

Guns on Campus One Year Later

The Harrold Texas School District made it through its first year with the partial removal of the gun ban without any incidents to report. There were not any accidental shootings, none of the guns carried by teachers were used in crime, and no mass shooters were dumb enough to attack. None of the dire predictions of blood running in the streets came to pass.

Related SAF News Release.

Glenn Beck & the Dis-dis Information Czar

There is a new Dis Information Czar (Linda Douglass) in the White House, so Glenn Beck has introduced the Dis-dis Information Czar (Stu):

Someone Who Read the Health Care Bill!

Unfortunately, he is not yet a US Representative, but if he runs, he's got my vote! This guy actually READ the Health Care Bill, and due to the fact that Obama hasn't even read it yet, perhaps he should give this guy a call:

Bio Channel: I Survived

I recently got caught up with my podcast subscriptions & Tony of the Firearms Cafe had an excellent podcast episode titled I Survived (episode 21). In it he discussed a few episodes from the I Survived TV Series on the Bio Channel. If you missed it go back & listen. It offers excellent insight into the fact that you are your own immediate responder. You are the only person immediately on the scene during any given attack or emergency, and it will be up to you to make sure your family survives. Prior planning & preparation will go a long way towards ensuring you are able to achieve that goal.

Another great resource along these lines is Michael Bane's The Best Defense available on the Outdoor Channel.

The Firearms Cafe is one of many great podcasts available on the Gun Rights Radio Network.

Permits for Free Speech?

Isn't it interesting that you need permission from the Federal Government to walk around on public sidewalks with political signs that the Federal Government doesn't agree with? Permits for Free Speech & Peaceable Assembly?


Video was posted by Young Americans for Liberty.

Tom Gresham: Trap a Terrorist Tips

Tom Gresham of Gun Talk Radio in support of the Department of Homeland Security's new definition of a Terrorist has created a group of funny audio bumpers that you've probably heard if you've been listening to his radio show or podcast. Tom has made them freely available for download on his website - check them out & share them with your friends.

By the way - Tom is now on twitter. :)