Monday, December 9, 2019

400 K views

Today I note more than four hundred thousand views of this blog. Thanks to all who participate.

Doing a little rough calculating, I figure that if these were all individual and not repeat visitors, if each of you had 1000 guns, that would still be shy of the numbers of guns out there in the US.

There are in excess of four hundred million in the US. Maybe a whole bunch more, since guns only have two enemies:




RUST

&

POLITICIANS

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Thanksgiving 2019


Thanking God for all the blessings he has bestowed - -










Friday, October 25, 2019

ERPO's are bad law

UPDATE: After learning that the H-C managing editor had been on vacation when I sent my ERPO letter; and prompting from Jenny to resubmit it. I did send it in again. They printed it HERE.

Freedom of the Press is free only if you own the press. Below is my recent letter to the editor of the Cookeville Herald-Citizen. It seems doubtful after this much time that they will publish it. So, here it is.

October 5, 2019
Editor, Herald-Citizen:

Advocates of Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPO’s or Red Flag Laws) are really more interested in depriving citizens of their lawfully owned guns than they are in public safety.

H.R. 3076, currently under consideration in Congress, is flawed from the beginning, by authorizing confiscation of private property following an ex parte hearing. This means that the respondent first learns of being targeted when heavily armed G-men show up at his door before daybreak to seize his guns.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Muddy River Tactical Holster


Like many other Pistol People, I have accumulated my share of holsters, and even made a few. The problem is that practically every holster has some negative factor. Like handgun choice, compromise is the order of the day.





Defensive handguns need to be as powerful as a bazooka and as light as a feather. So, if you choose a .50 Desert Eagle as a defensive pistol, it may serve double duty as a boat anchor, but it will tend to make you have a list to starboard.

But, I digress . . .

There are a number of factors to consider when looking for a holster. Some are:

  • Inside the waistband (IWB)
  • Outside the waistband (OWB)
  • Clock position*
  • Cant (tilt)
  • Shoulder - vertical
  • Shoulder - horizontal
  • Shoulder - angled
  • Belt thickness and stiffness

Front view
I gave up on IWB when I learned that you have to wear larger pants. Since I didn't carry the big gun every day (often opting for the pocket rocket), my waist tended to expand to fit the larger pants. Uh, not good!

Now, the chief advantage of IWB is concealability. But that advantage diminishes when a cover garment is long enough to cover the muzzle of an OWB holstered pistol. So, in recent years I have tried several different OWB holsters with varying degrees of success. One, of thick leather, has an attached magazine pouch. It has poor retention, though. Another, which I made, holds the pistol high and tight, but has poor retention.

Sweat shield is standard


Recently, I decided to try an OWB Kydex holster from Muddy River Tactical. I was pleasantly surprised to see the large number of pistols they make holsters for. They include two styles of belt loops with each order. A nice
choice, at no extra charge. Chicago screws also allow for cant adjustment.

I ordered the holster and it came quickly. My pistol fit perfectly, but there was a problem. The holster had almost zero retention. So I got on the phone and called Muddy River. Kevin, the owner answered. Wow! I started to tell Kevin the problem, and he asked my name, and order number. I gave them to him and he said, "I will send you a return label right now."

Dimple in trigger guard provides positive retention

He did.





I sent the holster back on his dime, they put a nice dimple in the trigger guard, and, Voila!, problem solved. I could have probably done that, but I thought Kevin would want to make it right.
Chicago screws and multiple holes
allow cant adjustment


He did.





Now,
the pistol slides in, snaps in place, and is held securely.

Based on reasonable price, speed, and excellent customer service, I highly recommend Muddy River Tactical.
 ----------------------------

*12 o'clock is front and center, 3 is on the right hip, etc.



Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Is Walmart filtering guns on their wifi?

Let me be clear, I am not boycotting nor calling for a boycott of Walmart. I realize that it can be very difficult in some locales to not use them.

But, the more I see, the more I am inclined to move my business elsewhere, when possible.

For instance, its not simply that they are going to discontinue selling certain ammo (which will be good for real gun stores), Walmart is also
. . .a charter member of the Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership, organized by Walmart and Everytown for Gun Safety (a Bloomberg gun ban group).
And if that is not enough, they are apparently doing some filtering on their wifi. Today, while in Walmart, I clicked on a link to take me to The Truth About Guns site.

Here's what I got:















Then I turned my wifi off, and the site popped right up:




Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Link: Recalling the Tragic History of Gun Control

Murderers with poisonous ideologies have taken the lives of innocents once again. And the response is the same as it always is: Politicians turn to the proven solution of creating yet more felonies to criminalize law-abiding gun owners. . . .



Read this article by Stephen P. Holbrook at The American Spectator HERE.

h/t David Hardy

Friday, August 23, 2019

Link: Handgun carry permit class lesson more than guns

Dickson Detective (Galesi 6) 25 ACP - EXCELLENT  Guns
Dickson Detective 25 photo credit GunsAmerica
Lindsay McReynolds, Managing Editor at the Cookeville Herald-Citizen recently wrote an interesting editorial piece on guns.

This may be different from what you would expect.

Read McReynolds's description of her venture HERE.






She concludes with the hope of everyone who carries a defensive firearm, "And while I hope I never have to use it in a situation where someone is trying to harm me or someone I care about, I'm grateful to know more about another tool I can use to defend myself."

NOTE:  From the context of the article, I believe she shot a different gun while taking the class. The Dickson Detective pictured here is similar to one she owns, a hand-me-down from her grandmother.

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Ballistic wampum: buy now

Money has historically been a medium of exchange and store of value. Hard currencies, such as gold and silver have been used for centuries as money. Paper money has been substituted for gold and silver in times past. Paper can be more convenient and is easily transportable. Paper Silver Certificates, for example were issued until 1963, when they were replaced with Federal Reserve Notes, which have no backing except for the “full faith and credit” of the issuing (US) government.

Wampum was a currency used by North American Indians made of beads of polished shells.
The late Jeff Cooper in his book Fireworks (limited supply), discusses the abstract concept of money, and the good faith necessary for a currency to have value. In Chapter 20, Ballistic Wampum, he states,  
"A trustworthy entity (king, nation, company, bank) which promises to redeem its paper in gold, on demand, can issue pretty good money. Obviously when an untrustworthy entity does not so promise, what it issues as "money" has no value at all apart from a sort of social momentum."
These words, published in 1980, are as true today as then. Cooper, at that time noted a commodity conspicuously lacking from lists of things to stock in case of a disaster. He, of course, was speaking of ammunition. As he states, it is more valuable than paper, and even more valuable than minted coins in the event of a monetary collapse. Cooper says ammunition can be used to shoot to “stock your larder,” and in his unique prose, “keep the ill-disposed off your back.”
But also, ammunition can be used as a medium of exchange and store of value, money. When he wrote this book, a round of 22 long rifle was worth about 3 ½ cents. Today (August 2019), accounting for inflation, it is much less expensive, available for less than 3 cents per round (and free or low cost shipping with some suppliers). “Clearly the 22 long rifle is the big item,” said Cooper, since everybody has a 22. He also advised that you buy some of other calibers.

It may be that supplies of ammo and guns become severely limited as politicians are heating up their rhetoric against guns. Now may be a good time to hedge your bets.
So go buy some ammo, and when you do, buy an extra box or two. Don't buy out the store, though, leave some for your neighbor. Date the ammo, and after you have accumulated enough, rotate you old stock out (shoot it), and replace it with new.
For more info: Jeff Cooper

Monday, July 15, 2019

Marion hammers dissidents

Marion Hammer, former president and ye olde guarde leader, takes dissenters to task at the NRA.

She says, "Those who didn’t get an assignment might want to consider whether or not they want to help us save the Second Amendment or continue on a course detrimental to NRA and our mission. "

Read John Richardson's commentary and Hammer's full diatribe HERE.

I will comment only on the statement quoted above. The way it is written as an either/or statement implies that if you are not with them, you do not support the 2A.

To the contrary, I want to restore the 2A as originally intended. Not retreat while feigning victory.

No red flag laws
No more bans
Yes national reciprocity

Marion, NRA will change. Either self directed, or imposed from outside.

Thursday, June 13, 2019

FSNB Bank changes gun policy



When we moved to Cookeville, TN, we decided to open an account locally. One option was the FSNB branch located in Walmart. But, there was a problem. FSNB was posted. We decided to bank with another local bank.










Each time I walked by the FSNB in Walmart there was that sign, so I decided to write to FSNB about their ban-

Thursday, June 06, 2019

John Davis, Chairman of the board, President, and CEO, FSNB Bank

Dear Mr. Davis:

I recently saw your sign at the FSNB branch in the Walmart in Cookeville, TN. That sign prevents honest, permitted citizens from doing business with you. Many of us do business with Walmart each day. We (permitted citizens) have, at significant personal expense, gone through training, had criminal background checks done, and been issued a permit by our respective states.
I would hope that you will reconsider this policy. If you keep your properties posted, I hope that you are providing armed security. If not, you are placing your customers and employees at a greater risk, for by posting, you are notifying the criminal element that there are probably not any armed citizens in your bank branch. You thus create a risk-free workplace for the armed felon.

There is a lesson to learned from the attacks in schools,  government buildings, etc. The lesson is that felons will be happy to see your signs if they decide to target your branch. The odds will be in their favor.

Again, I urge you to reconsider this policy. I would like to be able to tell all my friends and readers that they are welcome at your bank.

Respectfully,

Liston Matthews
Cookeville, TN


Here is the positive response I got the next day from Mr. James Cerrone of FSNB:

Mr. Matthews,
Shortly we will be removing the sign and following Walmart’s lead.  Bottom-line we will comply with whatever standard they require since we are inside the WM.   Thanks for your input.


. . . And Here is a photo taken today, Thursday, June 13. Note the absence of the NO FIREARMS sign.

Thanks so much to the folks at FSNB for this very good change in policy.














Wednesday, June 12, 2019

The Failure of Gun Control in Virginia Beach

Gun-control failed again in Virginia Beach, and it failed big. A disgruntled city employee quit his job and then came back to kill 11 of his coworkers.

The news media and gun-prohibitionists called for more more gun-control while ignoring all the failed gun-control regulations that were in place.

These gun-prohibitions didn’t keep us safe in Virginia Beach. Why would new laws work any better?

Read the rest of this from my friend Rob Morse at Slow Facts HERE.

Sunday, May 26, 2019

No universal background checks on guns

Here is the letter I wrote the Cookeville Herald-Citizen, published on May 14, 2019:

The Thursday letter questioning Rep. Rose indicates that the writer either doesn’t know all the facts, or he is purposefully misleading readers. 
Here’s how the mentioned background checks would create issues for lawful gun owners. These universal check laws seek to require a check each time a firearm changes hands. For example, the law passed in Washington state does not allow for handing a friend or relative a firearm at a shooting range, without first going through a check. Then, when the firearm is handed back, the original owner would also undergo a check. Never mind that he may have lawfully owned the gun for fifty years. Yet, background checks have not been shown to reduce crime, the purported objective. 
The writer uses the phrase ‘we all know’ several times. In one instance, he states, “We all know most people approve of background checks.”  The fact is, background checks have not been shown to keep guns from prohibited persons. With half a billion guns in circulation in the United States, that's just a pipe dream.
The writer states,  “...their (NRA) members send them millions each year because they scare people into believing their right to bear arms will be taken away.”  But when Kamala Harris says, “We need a … renewal of the assault weapon ban,” that sounds like taking away the right to bear arms, doesn’t it? When Julian Castro supports “gun buybacks", of guns the government never owned, what does that sound like? When Bernie Sanders says we need to, “ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons”, uh, is this starting to have a familiar ring?
History has shown that universal background checks (registration) have no good upside, yet plenty of bad downside. 
Liston Matthews
Cookeville
The letter I was referring to was published here:


Thursday, May 2, 2019

Three hundred fifty thousand

Today, this blog surpassed 350,000 page views.

A big thanks to all who have taken some of your valuable time and spent it here.


Tuesday, April 30, 2019

What now, NRA?

Rob Pincus and Joshua Prince
prepare to address the NRA at the NRAAM
Do you remember Union Carbide?
Montgomery Ward?
Sears, Roebuck, and Company?
ITT Technical Institute?

What do these have in common?

Two of them have ceased to exist, one is on the ropes, and what was left of Union Carbide after the Bhopal gas leak was purchased by Dow Chemical in 2001.

Each of them was at one time a thriving business. Sears was a major mail-order powerhouse. Ward's was a big retailer. ITT Technical Institute helped many through technical career education.

Today, people are still ordering items mail-order, only online and not from Sears. Many are still getting technical educations, but not at ITT anymore. Chemicals are in use everywhere, but not produced by Union Carbide. People still shop at local department stores, but not Ward's.

The point of this narrative is to point out that any entity is subject to eventual demise, perhaps through a catastrophic industrial accident as happened to Union Carbide. Perhaps simply through poor business practices or failure to meet customer needs.

Saturday, April 20, 2019

The most important questions

Did Jesus really rise from the grave on Easter?

Was he really born of a virgin?

Eternity hangs on the answers to those questions. If the answers to those questions are true, then he is worth listening to.

He claimed to be the Son of God, which is a huge claim. He was cruelly executed for making that claim.

Did He lie?

Was He crazy?

Is He truly Lord of all?

What do you think?

Are His claims at least worth exploring as much of the world celebrates Easter tomorrow?

Does your eternal future depend on the answers to these questions?






Friday, April 19, 2019

Patriots' Day - April 19, 2019

On April 19th, we honor the anniversary of Patriots' Day and the legacy of Liberty launched that day, which is our inspiration to this day. In doing so, we mark the opening salvo of the first American Revolution in 1775, and the first step toward the establishment of an eternal declaration of the unalienable Rights of Man -- the rights of all people, subordinating the rule of men to our Creator-inspired Rule of Law, the basis for our Republic's Constitution


Read the rest of this article by Mark Alexander at 


Thursday, April 4, 2019

Unplanned

Last Sunday afternoon we went and saw Unplanned. This movie will break your heart if you have a soul. It is the story of a young woman who was a clinic director for Planned Parenthood.

One day, her eyes were opened! She realized what she was doing and left the organization.




This movie may make you sick to your stomach as it did me. Yet you need to see it. This movie all too clearly exposes the multi-generational infanticide we have tolerated in our country.

The unborn (and now immediate postpartum in some states) child is killed at the hand of a stranger . . . dismembered and discarded. There is no due process. No guardian ad litem. Just the ice cold instruments of Doctor Death.

But God provides forgiveness for all sins, to those who repent of their sin, and turn to Jesus. Including those who have participated in this taking of innocent life.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Crickets

On March 25, I sent the email below to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. To date I have not heard back from him. I have a feeling that I shouldn't hold my breath.

If I do hear back from him, I will post his reply.
------
Dear Governor Lee,

Elsewhere, you state " I am committed to eliminating the carry permit fee for gun-owners, because no one should have to pay a tax for exercising their constitutional rights." (https://www.billlee.com/our-tennessee-values/ (now a dead link)). This would imply a permit at no charge. 

On another page, you state "Constitutional Carry - - You shouldn’t have to pay a fee to exercise your constitutional rights. I’d work with the legislature on any proposal where we can expand your constitutional rights, and I’ll sign legislation to make it happen."

But a question is, will state employees, such as THP officers continue to appear in committee meetings and testify against Constitutional Carry?

You have also been quoted as clearly saying you "would sign constitutional carry" in Loudon.

For the record, I heard (former) Governor Haslam promise a TFA group I attended that he would sign CC, and I have seen the video where he promised the same to another TFA group. Yet his minions worked diligently in committee meetings to assure the legislation never reached his desk, thus allowing him to keep his promise.

When will you begin to work for passage of Constitutional Carry.

I will post your answer on my website: http://www.goodhillpress.com/

Respectfully,
Liston Matthews
------

Friday, March 22, 2019

Kentucky passes permitless carry; Tennessee still tarries

Governor Matt Bevin has signed permit-less carry (AKA Constitutional Carry) into law in Kentucky. This brings to sixteen the number of states that have done so.
Boundary marker between Tennessee and Kentucky
Liston Matthews photo

What does this mean. I read the bill, and it appears that anyone who may legally own a firearm may legally carry a firearm in Kentucky. So, if you are on the other (North) side of the boundary stone pictured, the Second Amendment is your carry permit. according to WKYT, the law becomes effective June 26. 2019.

On the other hand, if you are on this side of that big rock, you  are in Tennessee,

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Benchmade shreds guns . . .

What about their reputation?

We learned recently that Benchmade Knives cut up some guns for Oregon City, OR.

Many in the gun rights community took issue with their involvement in this destruction. One Facebook correspondent observed that they appeared to have created a short-barreled shotgun in the process.

It has been reported since then that Benchmade has made contributions to Democratic (the party of gun control) politicians.

Having read a report that Benchmade sells only to officials, I went to their website and found this acknowledgment form (AKOA, reproduced below 2/27/19*) This form appears to say that ordinary citizens are not allowed to purchase Benchmade automatic knives.

Yet, a correspondent informed me that he purchased a Benchmade automatic from an online retailer without completing that form. Then, when listening to Benchmade's representative interview with Tom Gresham on Guntalk, his statement about citizen sales did not line up with the AKOA.

Another person reported that Bud's in Sevierville, TN will sell to ordinary citizens.

Here's hoping that they will change their official policy and acknowledge that citizens in some states, including Tennessee, have had the right to carry any knife restored.

If they are located in a state where the only politicians to be donated to have a D after their name, and if they are serious Second Amendment supporters, maybe they should think of relocating.

What do you think?
-------

*Automatic Knife Opening Acknowledgement Form 
IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL STATUTES, Benchmade Knife Company requests that you read carefully the requirements set forth below, and sign this acknowledgement [sic] form prior to your purchase or receipt of any automatic opening knife from our company. 

By placing an order or receiving a Product Service (Lifesharp Service, Lasermark Service, warranty or repair) from us for any automatic opening knife product, you agree that you meet any or all of the following criteria established by Federal law: 

Federal law prohibits shipment of automatic knives across state lines, with the following exceptions: 

1. to civilian or Armed Forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the Federal Government ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of the Federal Government; 
2. an active Armed Forces member or employee acting in the performance of his or her duty; 
3. to supply or procurement officers of the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or militia of a State, Territory or the District of Columbia ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in the connection with the activities of such organization; 
4. to supply or procurement officers or employees of the municipal government of the District of Columbia or the government of an [sicState or Territory, or any county, city or other political subdivision of a State or Territory; 
5. to manufacturers of such knives or bona fide dealers therein in connection with any shipment made pursuant of an order from any person designated in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4. 

Benchmade Knife Company will not sell automatic opening knives to any customer unless such sale or receipt of Product Service return is made in compliance with one or more of the above conditions. 

________________________ (Benchmade Customer/Owner) recognizes and acknowledges that it is our responsibility as the owner, buyer to ascertain and obey all applicable laws (local, state, federal and international) in regard to the possession or purchase of any item from Benchmade Knife Company. We hereby represent and certify that our purchase or ownership of automatic opening knives from Benchmade Knife Company meets one or more of the criteria set forth above and agree to use these knives in connection of duties as described above in sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. 


Signature of Customer/Owner: _____________________

Date: _____________________



Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Link: How to Ban Private Gun Ownership in America

It can be done. You just can’t do it in one fell swoop. You must do it in steps. 

You take the first step in 1934 by making some kinds of guns bad...

Read this thought-provoking article from my friend David Cole at Black Man with a Gun 

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

What's wrong with a bump-stock ban?

The end goal of gun prohibitionists is total elimination of private firearms ownership. 

They have a national history that goes back four score and five years to the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA 1934).Being unable to succeed in their goal in one fell swoop, they have implemented bans on various firearms; and created a slowly growing list of prohibited persons who may no longer legally possess firearms.

Here is a short list of just some of their actions, both nationally and in various states and localities:
  • 1911 - Sullivan Law in New York
  • 1981 - Morton Grove, Illinois gun ban
  • 1982 - Chicago gun ban
  • 1990 - Mayland Saturday Night Special ban
  • 1986 - Hughes Amendment gun ban
  • 1997 - Lautenberg Amendment people ban
  • 2018 - A proliferation of Red Flag laws, including one proposed in Tennessee.
Additionally, we saw the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994, which banned firearms with certain cosmetic features. A partial list includes semi-automatic rifles able to accept detachable magazines and with two or more of the following:
  • Folding or telescoping stock
  • Pistol grip
  • Bayonet mount
  • Flash suppressor, or threaded barrel designed to accommodate one
  • Grenade launcher
This Federal ban, which had a ten year sunset, could have been called a lipstick and eye-shadow ban because of the fact that it had no effect on the functionality of a firearm. It also included a ten round magazine capacity limit. A number of states and municipalities passed similar bans which are still in effect. Recently, there has been a spate of similar Goldilocks bans passed around the country.

Monday, January 7, 2019

Using a spare Android as a GPS

Some GPS's, such as a Magellan I once had, require that you download software to a PC, connect the GPS to the PC, download updates, stand on your head, and jump through three hoops to get an update.

Smartphones, on the other hand, can be updated wirelessly, and Google Maps are kept well up to date, for the most part*. The problem I have run into with several Androids is that, even when plugged into a 2.1A vehicle charger, the battery still discharges. On a long trip, the battery would go too far down for the phone to be trusted to get around at my destination.

I had to get a new phone because  of switching carriers. My old Alcatel phone is GSM compatible, and I needed to use Verizon towers which use CDMA technology.

So...
After getting a CDMA compatible phone, I decided to press the Alcatel (6" screen) into service as a GPS. Even with the SIM card removed, I still had the problem of the battery continuing to discharge over time. This is not as critical, of course, as having the primary mobile phone go down....but still inconvenient.

I tried several things, read lots on the internet, but could not find the answer. Finally, I put the phone in AIRPLANE mode. That did the trick. Now, the battery stays charged while travelling.

I did some experimenting, and here is the procedure I follow:

  1. Download offline maps for the region(s) I will be travelling in.
  2. Create an itinerary on the laptop and email it to myself.
  3. Open the email on the phone while WiFi is available (important).
  4. Set the phone on AIRPLANE.
  5. Plug into power in the vehicle, and go.

Note...
Since I am operating offline, I will not be getting real-time traffic on my GPS Android. That's a trade-off for keeping my battery operating. I still have my operational phone, which I can get traffic on as needed.

Let me know your results, or share your ideas...

--------------------------------------------------------

*I discovered that it is possible to send new street addresses to Google Maps, and they will update them in a week or two.

For more on GPS Android navigation, check out this article at The Joy of Android.