Stand Your Ground, but, Don't be Stupid

 

Self Defense or Overkill?

Ten .45 rounds fired, man down and very dead. The lawyers will have a job on this one. To me it appears to have started as self defense then spiraled out of control.

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Labor Day Party

Resident in our building have holiday gathering. I’m not a great fan. The people organizing them I like so I show up. Banner goes to visit Sisty. He hates being alone in our apartment. The idea of an 80 lb friendly eating machine among people and food is not to be contemplated.

Here Comes de Hook

Only when your vehicle is on the hook do most people even notice a tow truck.

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In some neighborhoods and apartment complexes you can hear, “Here come de hook” or,

    “aquí viene el camión de recompra”

 Colofornia News

“Wealthy” conservative backers of ballot initiatives keep blocking the benign, and for our benefit, (P)regressive plans. Horrors!

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The same Democrats complaining never seem to have a problem with wealthy dark money groups interfering when it coincides with their ideology.

At least seven initiatives will be on the ballot this election. Some were funded by dark money (P)regressive money. Can you spell hypocrisy?

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 Unicorn Farts Meets Reality

Confession. I have little understand of “carbon capture” and little interest in learning more. Seems to this Latter Day Luddite like some Ponzi scheme. What is apparent it takes a lot of electricity. Other than climate change hustlers, does anyone else even see a need?

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Venezuela Gangs Colorado Tren de Aragua 

My, my, cow pies being kicked all over the place.

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and MORE

This situation is now an international story and mixed into national politics. Not a bad thing; sunlight is a great disinfectant.

Mike Coffman is the Aurora Mayor (term limited) and is nobody's patsy. Aurora has always been a pimple on Denver's ass (years past we owned two homes there). It is divided by two counties (Adams on the North, Arapahoe on the South) that results in different tax and bond systems. Denver's main jail sits on the North side.  The city is home to more immigrants, legal and illegal, than any other place in Colorado. There is a significant perpetually pissed off black population and a mobile "unhoused" population. Squeezed continually are 'native' Mexican descendants. The city council is always split between (P)regressives and conservatives. At the moment the conservatives have a slim majority. The Chief of Police office has been a revolving door forever. Some officers would have been at home in the LAPD Rampart division circa Rodney King.

Perhaps Aurora's biggest problem is the Califorication of Colorado with the suburban Liberals keeping their neighbors nice while pushing problems into Aurora and surrounding locales.

Boulder Mentality

Emperor Polis’ husband is a Boulder native and boulder to his bones. He isn’t the most savvy p.r. person. Perhaps he doesn’t feel a need?

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As always, YMMV

Stirring the Pot

 

Self Defense Shooting? Expect bad after action situations

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Even elderly residents in 2^nd Amendment friendly Wyoming aren’t immune from heavy handed police and prosecutors.

This one is for LL, Virtual Mirage, who likes to poke the bear

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Banner’s Posse

He now has three ladies in our building offering to host him while I exercise at the recreation center. One makes him homemade dog treats. Four ladies and one gentleman routinely provide him with treats. One scatters treats along the 3^rd floor hall for him to find. 

A larger number of residents and visitors take an opportunity to give him petting and praising him as, “a good boy”. As we make our rounds, they call out, “It’s Banner! And Frank”.

Union Pacific #4014 Big Boy

The Fall Tour details have been released. Many in the Central Time Zone will have an opportunity to see and/or visit the largest operating steam engine in North America. Emphasis on “operating”.

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Something that annoys me for no good reason is people who call the Big Boys “the world’s largest, blah, blah, blah”. They are among the largest ever built and, arguably, the most successful for their intended purpose. They are not the largest in North America and the rest of the world.

They were designed to haul large trains from Cheyenne to Ogden and back. Westbound from Cheyenne they need to climb from 6,000’ ASL at Cheyenne to 8,000’ ASL in approximately 30 miles over Sherman Summit then operate at high speed (by the standards of the day) across  Wyoming to Evanston.

From Ogden at 4,300’ ASL to Evanston at 6,750’ASL they needed to navigate two narrow canyons for about 70 miles. They were purpose built for the curves on the route they ran and were not suited for other railroads. ALCO built other large steam engines for other railroads whose needs were different.

Interstate 84 runs beside the UP tracks from Ogden to Evanston.

Wyoming has vast quantities of coal and the Union Pacific owns a lot of the deposits. At one time they used coal to power turbine engines. These proved to be high maintenance and were so loud you could hear one many miles away.

Economy + Voting

Every day the “news” has stories of restaurant chains going out of business or drastically scaling back. Banks closing branches. Pharmacies closing or scaling back. Household names like Avon going out of business. Southwest Airlines pulling out of smaller markets. The bad news goes on and on. COVID hangover is usually cited by the American Mainstream Maggots (h/t BZ). Certainly the reckless Biden Administration and Congressional (P)regressives aren’t at fault, right?

Question. All the employees, franchise owners, and others affected will still vote Democrat, if they bother to vote at all, right?

Question for Virtual Mirage

Will the financial structure under Harris/Walz 4^th Obama term be able to fund construction of reeducation camps? Will dogs be allowed? Are we doomed to exist in military surplus tents ala Joe Arpaio? Will we be forced to live with the current horde of “unhoused”?

For everyone else, think it can’t happen?

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Ying and Yang? Exercise

Starting in mid May I started and exercise and diet program to drop weight and increase mobility. Result? Gained weight. My mind says go, the 80 year old carcass it inhabits is saying, “fuck you, I’m retired”. With all that I’m not giving up but am rethinking my approach. For this week at least, I’m giving the carcass a rest.

Another epic Wyoming drunk driver

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Climate Change

A nearly one hour You Tube video that lays out inconvenient facts about climate change.

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Enough stirring. As always, YMMV

Unconcealed Carry

Lone Star Parson

http://lonestarparson.blogspot.com/2018/09/swords-in-texas.html

has been agitating the internet with arguments about edged weapons without offering alternatives (well, just once).

For the past thirty years this hammer has stayed in the passenger floor well of every vehicle I regularly drive. Never have I had an officer of the law even questioned why it is there.

Admittedly, a couple of lady passengers have expressed some discomfort with the presence. Probably the same ones who would complain about hay hooks.

The hammer has proven useful in a few road rage incidents. A memorable incident  involved dense fog and a tailgating BMW driver with a million candlepower worth of auxiliary lights.

I’m not one to name things but if I named this hammer, Thor might be appropriate.

Over the years it has also served as a hammer, most recently last week on a recalcitrant trailer hitch on my sister’s F-150.

Please, let’s not start an argument on weights, handle lengths and handle materials.

Self Defense Concealed Carry

Disclaimer. Yes, I’m a dirty old man. Get over it.

At the Post Office picking up mail. People watching. Young lady parked and got out of her car. Black low riding jeans, studded belt, and snug black shirt. Maybe 5’ tall. Maybe 90 lbs. She walked with an air of complete confidence and purpose.

Inside the Post Office she went to her box which is within five feet of mine. Took her mail to the counter. In  flash, from out of nowhere, she had a 3” blade folding knife, opened with one hand, and proceeded to slit open envelopes.  She was so quick and smooth spec warriors would be impressed.

It occurred to me her air of competence and confidence was because she knew she could defend herself. I find that a great thing. 

Self Defense Firerms

Brigid has one of her outstanding posts up on self defense. I’ve sent the URL to several female relatives urging them to read it.

http://mausersandmuffins.blogspot.com/2016/07/fighting-for-something-thoughts-on-self.html

For much of my adult life my nickname has been “Tank”. A large tank. Haven’t worried too much about physical attacks but have twice faced loaded firearms pointed in my direction by malefactors. Now, age 72 and slowed by age, the intimidation factor is probably diminished.

What I’ve carried for years is a .44 Special Charter Arms Bulldog. Not everyone’s choice and maybe not a good choice. Some of my reasons.

1.  Safety. You can open and close the cylinder with the hammer down. No worries about an accidental misfire lowering the hammer on a live round. Charter Arms builds them with a bar under the hammer that doesn’t move until  the hammer is cocked. No worries about it firing if dropped.

2.  Stopping power. Yes, it is not a magnum but it will stop any predator found North America, especially two legged.

3.  Reliability. 100% over 20 years and hundreds of rounds fired.

4.  Accuracy. Far better than my skills. Watched my sister put five rounds into a junk refrigerator (at one of ‘those’ ranges) at over 50 yards.

5.  Intended purpose. I am not paid to be a gunfighter. Close range self defense as I’m retreating.

As you can see in the photos a gunsmith added a “peep” sight. I have macular degeneration in my right eye. I can still focus on the front sight/target and the peep helps me align the piece.

In my younger years I was above average with a rifle (best shot in my Army Basic Training Company). With a hand gun, on my very best day, mediocre. The Bulldog fits my skill level. I’ve had the opportunity to shoot other handguns. A son has several. I like his Springfield XP .45 and a Makarov he has.  Enjoyed them, especially the Makarov, but will stay with what I have.

Something all of us can agree on. Having something is better than nothing. Knowing how to use what you have is better than learning how to use it as the s^*t is hitting the fan.

This, Also, is The 2nd Amendment

“Can you open the door for me”?, a woman in a motorized wheelchair asked me. Her transporter was inside a MacDonald’s by one of the entry doors. She wasn’t sitting in the chair. Rather, she was lying straight at about a 45 degree angle. Her salt and pepper hair was neatly combed and she was wearing immaculate pressed blue scrubs. She had a blanket around her legs. Peeking out from the blanket was a tea cup Chihuahua. How long had she been waiting for someone to help her? Can you imagine the frustration?


“Certainly, I replied. Which door? Are you sure you have control of that brutal beast”?  Her reply was strained,  her volume low, and I realized she could only speak with great effort. Using her right hand  to manipulate the joy stick, she exited and started across the parking lot.  This woman is helpless. She can’t even cry out for help. Her only protection is a two pound dog. I don’t know what mobility she has in her hands but, if any, she should have something that goes bang for protection. Even a .22 Derringer. Can you imagine the fear she must live with?

Think she could ever qualify for a CCW permit? Range test? Financial cost?

Nearly every politician running for office says, “I support the 2nd Amendment……………but………hunting……common sense………..blah, blah blah.

Kind of like, “Some of my best friends are ………………………

                                           OR

We’re Christians, and ……………………

That woman needs more than the kindness of strangers or a freak’s fear of the judicial system. She won't get it. The smug asshats won't even give the safety of someone like her a passing thought.

MacDonald’s? I use their restrooms and buy a “Senior” cup of coffee. Hope they lose money on the transaction. My preference is for real food.

Yes to Concealed Carry

Daughter in law (FDIL) has started the process of obtaining her CCW. Five kids and an active duty military husband; I'm all in on this.Can she shoot?

http://wellseasonedfool.blogspot.com/search?q=by+a+rank

Women and Self Defense

Reading Brigid http://www.mausersandmuffins.blogspot.com/ today started this thought.

Questioning women protecting themselves with firearms puzzles me; why it is even a question. My first exposure to the answer happened when I was going on six.

We lived, at the time, in a small house next to the railroad tracks. The area is still isolated. We were two miles from the nearest telephone in the small town next to the state highway. No law enforcement personnel were in the area unless they happened to be patrolling the state highway.

My father was away from the house, working, when a hobo/tramp/transient came by looking for a handout. Upon seeing a small (5 foot), attractive young woman, alone with a small child, he decided to try for more than a handout. He was soon looking down the barrel of a .30-.30 Winchester Model 94 and ran for his life. My mother encouraged his departure with three of four rounds near his feet as he ran. The misses were deliberate; she was very proficient and had handled firearms her entire life.

When I’m asked advice about firearm protection, I refer people to the Cornered Cat blog http://www.corneredcat.com/kids/kidsfun.aspx . Great advice for woman and good information for everyone.

People’s attitudes toward self defense also puzzles me; why it is even a question. If I sense danger, suspect someone will hurt me or mine, or they make threats, they will meet a dirty white boy. Promptly.

.44 Special Sight Modification

Macular Degeneration affects my right (sighting) eye. Thankfully, a recent exam shows it hasn't gotten worse in three years. It affects my ability to focus. A local gunsmith came up with a peep sight arrangement and I recently tested it. I was able to focus on the front post clearly with the target mainly in focus and the peep, while blurred, helped keep everything aligned.

Five rounds at a measured 25' with four solid hits and one grazing hit makes me think this will work. Before the peep I couldn't hit three out of five.

Practice is what is needed. With near zero availability of .44 Special, not to mention the cost, I am reluctant to use up my stock. My thinking now is a .22 revolver (Charter makes one) with a peep added. Also, having the gunsmith improve the front post - something better than paper white out. Suggestions are welcome.

I tried aiming using my left eye. Two hits, so much practice will be needed to go that route.

Some people think I am incredible cheap (paper plate targets among other things) while I prefer prudently thrifty. My personal standard for handgun use is to be able to make a body hit at parking lot distances. Seems I'm faced with spending some dollars.

The lint on the handgun is from the innocuous cotton drawstring sack I use for a range bag.

Predator Control

Criminals are predators. They view their victims as a resource to be exploited. They have no more compassion for their victims than a coyote has for a rabbit. In their heart of hearts they feel they are entitled to their actions. I am frustrated with those opposed to firearms (firearm, not gun, unless you are referring to a shotgun) who ignore that which is obvious. Every creature on Earth will fight for their survival. A firearm is a great equalizer.

Freedom isn't free and our exercise of our freedoms with firearms will have collateral damages; it is the price we pay. Are there people who should never have a firearm? Of course, and sadly, that includes some of my family members.

Automobiles give us great freedom of movement. Misuse results in horrific collateral damages. Do we try to minimize damage via laws, training, fitness tests, etc.? Of course. Automobiles are used in drive by shootings. Lets stop drive by shootings by banning automobiles. Make sense to you?

Now we are being blamed for the problems in Mexico; a country that has kept their citizens disarmed for decades. The predators in Mexico are well armed because they are CRIMINALS!

Until our "leaders" can show me how they can control predators, I will keep close at hand my tool for predator control. Your mileage may vary.