Firearms Control

Starting with a side rant, possibly pointless. If more people did 50 push ups on crushed gravel on a hot Ft Leonard Wood afternoon, they wouldn’t call anything not a smoothbore a “gun”.  Just saying.

No outright ban and confiscation is the “compromise” the firearms control crowd offer. All the rest of their rhetoric is bullshit. They take each and every concession as a weakness and push for more. Since they are not honest, or respectful of any opinion not in line with their own, no concessions should  be made, IMO.

This creates a more dangerous situation. All of us active shooters know of the dangerous idiots out there with access to firearms. I personally lack the courage to ever be a NRA Range officer. Any fool that can pass a background check and has the money can equip themselves with lethal machinery and not have a clue as to safety, or even care. Whee, adrenaline rush.

In a more perfect world, no one would possess a firearm without training and proven competence, IMO. Ain’t going to happen. Anything like that will be grabbed by the Chuck Schumers of our country and used to advance their agenda.

What to do about “gun violence”?  At every opportunity blame the gun grabbers.

“Hey, Mr/Ms Gun Grabber, that death is on your door step. You, with you self assumed moral high ground and the conviction your feeling are facts, won’t heed the voices of those who actually know what the hell they are talking about. This is your outcome.”

We should take a page from President Trump and go on the offense. Build a case that we have solutions but the Schumers of our country are the obstacle.

I recently put up a post, “Buck No”, about the congressman from my district voting against the National Reciprocity bill even when he was an original co-sponsor. Was it flawed with being tied to ‘improved’ background checks? Undoubtedly. When has any legislation been perfect?

WSF, you are arguing against yourself. True, but our fellow citizens whose opinions differ still have a voice that should be heard. Not all are demagogues. And maybe, just maybe, they should be heard by firearm advocates. Yeah, pay those traffic tickets. Show you are a responsible and sane citizen. Your right to bear arms comes with an obligation to bear those arms responsibly, not scare the shit out of your fellow citizens.

Let us understand not everyone calling for “gun control” is a Chucky Schumer. If you want to create one more, let that soccer mom who may be ambivalent now believe her children are in danger. She is the one who needs to know what makes a safer place for her children. How? One on one. Be prepared to talk to those who may have an open mind. YMMV

Thoughts On Firearm Ownership

This will be a rambling post with no real point. You are warned.

First, I detested the use of the word “gun” unless you are referring to a smoothbore. Firearms have been part of my life since childhood. There was always a .30-.30 over the front door, a rifle in our vehicles, and a .22 in a closet. I can’t tell you how young I was when I first fired a firearm because I can’t remember. Likewise, I can’t remember a first use of a hammer, saw, axe, hay fork, or cow hobbles. They were tools that we used, sometimes daily. From 7^th grade through high school, I belonged to the NRA Junior Rifleman program. The weekly range session was the highlight of my life. At no time did I hear anyone referring to a “gun”. Please take my word for it, in the Army, circa 1963, referring to your M-1 or M-14 as a “gun” would bring swift, and unpleasant, attention from the NCOs. Even the .50 M-2 was a “weapon”.

Second, I detest people who don’t handle firearms safely. I think everyone should demonstrate a basic competence and understanding of safety issues before they can own a firearm. Yes, I understand this is not happening because anything of this nature will be gloomed on to by the gun grabbers and perverted. There already exists a model, the hunter safety card.

http://www.hunter-ed.com/

Does it work? Damn right it works.

http://www.interstatesportsman.com/articles/how-dangerous-is-hunting-really

Third, I think every household should have a firearm and ammunition, and know how to use them.  Of course, some households have members who are not emotionally stable or mentally competent, and access must be restricted. I say this as someone who has personal experience with the issue. Rapid access in an emergency is compromised, but compromised access is better than no access. As I type this, a revolver is available in the drawer of my desk beside my right knee.

Fourth, I think every business should have trained and armed employees in the workplace. I spent thirty years in the retail automobile business. Believe me; you do not want to rob a car dealership. While some are “gun free”, none I every worked for were, even when the “official” policy was “gun free”.

Two times in my life I’ve faced a criminal armed with a hand gun. The first time was around 1970 in Glendale, CO at a small coffee shop on Colorado Blvd. My employee, Glen, and I were at the cash register paying for our coffees to go when the robber approached and waved a firearm. Glen was an 11B about one year removed from the 173^rd in Vietnam. Without a word spoken, Glen and I both tossed our hot coffee in the robber’s face. Soon, the robber was happy to see the police and ambulance.

The second time was mid 1970’s in Renton, WA. I was on a test drive. When I stopped to change places with the “customer”, he pointed a semi automatic p.o.s. at me. Dumb little gang banger, he had the safety on. Funny how your military training kicks in, even after years away from it.

In both cases, I devoutly wished I was armed. Discussing the second case with a supervisor, he told me I was armed, with my wits. Yeah Don, not a substitute for my .44 Special.

I doubt many readers of this blog will disagree with me, even my (p)regressive friends who occasionally wander over here. I believe everyday violent criminals leave potential victims alone because they are afraid of getting shot. That, I believe, is a good thing.

Trophy Mount

My late father enjoyed taking people hunting. For several years, he was a professional guide. After he remarried in 1984, he acquired a new set of relatives to take  hunting.

One of the new relatives was “Lou”. He was affluent enough to have hunted all over the world and had numerous trophy mounts in his large den. Lou’s wife wasn’t a hunting fan. There was a sense of friction between them on the subject of hunting.

While out with my father, Lou managed to shoot a hole through the bed of my father’s new 4x4 GMC pickup. Can you say, “Four Rules”?

Lou’s wife paid a modeler for a model of the pickup, painted appropriately, with tiny holes in the correct places. She had the model trophy mounted and hung in Lou’s den.

Reports were Lou wasn't amused.