Suicide is not painless

The recently reported suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain have caused me to pause and think about suicides that have happened close to me.

The theme song of M*A*S*H is a sad song that states, in part, that "suicide is painless". No, it is not. The one who leaves has apparently had much pain, and those left behind experience tremendous pain for a long time.

I have had two co-workers opt-out. Also, my wife lost a friend as a teenager, and we had a schoolmate who checked out in middle age.

Three of those were some of the biggest surprises ever, though one had spoken of it beforehand. I do remember being dumbfounded upon hearing about them.

Why do people do this? Others with much more education in this have not (to my mind) figured it completely out yet. I will not attempt it here.

Source: World Health Organization

I will tell you what I know, though:

Suicides cross all national and cultural lines. Look at this chart. One area with the highest rate is the former Soviet Union, which, for a lifetime asserted there is no God. (a clue?)

   ---

...and I will tell you what I think:

Gun-grabbers in the United States will use these suicides (Spade and Bourdain) as a springboard to demand more bans of firearms. Note that these two celebrities were reported to have hanged themselves. Sad, but no firearm involved.

A couple of years ago, I had a back-and-forth dialogue with a lady on the other side about guns, published at Ammoland. As I wrote there concerning suicide,

The CDC reports for 2013 that there were a total of 41,149 suicides, of which 21,175 were listed as firearm suicides. So, about 58 of 113 suicides (51%) per day were committed with a firearm. 

While suicides are certainly tragic, if you were able to totally eliminate firearms from the civilian populace, the other 49% would still be there, and I suppose some of those who would have used a firearm will resort to some other method as they do in other countries where firearms are not readily available...

Societies with very low private gun ownership, such as India have a much higher suicide rate than the United States, so they can't blame guns there. Hanging, poisoning, and jumping are used more internationally. So, it seems that those who are serious about it will find a method/tool to accomplish it.

Well, suicide is not painless; nor is it the fault of the necktie, bridge, insecticide, or gun.

....and peaceable gun owners need not feel guilty....

Join a "community conversation on gun violence"

I know this is short notice, but if you are close enough, please sign up an attend tomorow evening, Tuesday, in Wake Forest. 

Grass Roots North Carolina,  P.O. Box 10665, Raleigh, NC  27605  877-282-0939, www.GRNC.org, Fax: 919-573-0354 GRNC NEEDS YOU to attend what's laughably billed as a "Community Conversation on Gun Violence."  Our Home Page   |   About Us   |   Join GRNC   |   Contact Us In This Issue 2nd Amend. Resources Quick Links Alert Details Immediate Action RWI 2nd Amend. Resource Library J. Lott's Crime Prevention Research Ctr. Support RWI:You Shop. Amazon Gives. More On Us  Update Your Information  Facebook Twitter GRNC NEEDS YOU to attend what's laughably billed as a "Community Conversation on Gun Violence." Do we really believe that they intend to have "Balancing Perspectives and Responsible Solutions" like they say? Not with panelists such as Anti-gun Senator Floyd McKissick, Anti-Gun House Minority Leader Darren Jackson, NC Council of Churches (Part of the National Council of Churches, an anti-gun group) NC Executive Director Jennifer Copeland, the Chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners (and registered Democrat) Jessica Holmes, and as "Moderator," Rick Glazier, the Executive Director of the extreme Leftist NC Justice Center. Far from the "balanced perspectives" that this event's organizers espouse, this is a left-wing gun-grabber's dream panel. They billed it as a "Community Conversation," but did they invite Grass Roots North Carolina, our state's premier gun rights organization? Of course they didn't. But they're inviting YOU. Registrations still seem to be open, so we need you to sign up HERE and attend this event. If gun owners are to have a say in our communities, our voice must be heard and that means YOUR voice needs to be heard at this event. The Community Conversation will be Tuesday, 15 May 2017 from 6:30PM until 8PM at Wake Forest Presbyterian Church, 12605 Capital Blvd, Wake Forest, NC 27587. We need you to clear your schedule and meet us there so that it's actually a conversation and not just unchallenged anti-gun propaganda. Because this event will take place in a church, please wear appropriate clothing. No camo or ragged jeans, no t-shirts with slogans. Business casual is preferred, but any clean clothing appropriate to a house of worship is acceptable. Afterwards, join us at across the street at East Coast Wings and Grill for a little food and pro-2A camaraderie. IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED! Sign up for the "conversation" at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-community-conversation-on-gun-violence-tickets-45555177763 Email Sean at SeanS@grnc.org and let him know that you'll be in attendance. MORE ABOUT GRNC

Ruger Security 9

The Ruger Security-9 appears to be aimed (pardon the pun) squarely at the Glock 19. Although I have not fired one, I had a chance to handle several at the NRA Annual Meeting in Dallas.

The pistol is extremely close to the G 19 in dimensions. A little thinner. About the same weight. It is hammer fired, like the Ruger LCP II, rather than striker fired, like the Glocks, Ruger SR-9, etc. The price? About 60% of the G 19.

I dry-fired several Security-9's at NRA, and, being a fair shot, but not a top tier competitor, it felt fine to me. Some writers on the web have noted that it has a long trigger reset. I like to let the trigger go all the way forward between shots, so that's not a big deal to me.

When I was handling the Security-9, I discovered that I could not put it on Safe. One of the Ruger reps was nearby, and he took the pistol and put on safe, no problemo. Hmmm....

Hold on there, hombre, how did you do that?

It turns out that this pistol's safety pivots from the front, like Ruger's nearly seventy year old  line of .22 pistols; not at the rear like a 1911. Push up on the REAR of the safety, and it goes on Safe very easily. It's all in knowing how. I hope Ruger adds this little tidbit to their owner's manual.

So, it looks like Ruger has introduced a pistol that competes with the (relatively) expensive Glocks, yet costs just a little more than the SCCYs. A look at Gun Genie shows the ones equipped with fifteen round magazines are "allocated" which indicates they are selling well. The units with ten round magazines are as low as $329.90, out the door, tax and all in my area.

I like it.

Guess who I saw at NRA 2018 in Dallas

Here are a few pictures with some folks I saw at NRA. I have included hot links you can follow.

I was sitting in the audience at the NRA ILA Leadership Forum, waiting for the VPOTUS and POTUS to speak. I felt a tap on my shoulder, and there was Il Ling New, a Facebook friend and firearms instructor at Gunsite Academy. 

Here is Vice President Pence. You can hear his speech HERE.

Here is President Trump. You can hear his NRA speech HERE.

I had to leave the Leadership Forum for an interview with NPR, but I was able to catch Diamond and Silk's live feed later in the Press Room:

Here I am in the press room with Rick Ector of Detroit, my pal John Richardson, and competetive shooter Annette Evans.

Here I am with champion shooter Julie Golob.

Here I am with former Secret Service agent and Fox News contributor Dan Bongino.

John Richardson got tickets to Michael Bane's party. Appropriatly, it was named Cinco de Baneo.

Here I am with a new friend Jason Crotteau, owner of Wyoming Tactical LLC. 

Here's John Richardson with Michael Bane.

Here I am with Michael at his party.

I saw some other friends also, too many to mention. It was great seeing over 87,000 of my best friends at NRA in Dallas.

No room at the inn

Some months ago, I made a reservation through Travelocity with-

Comfort Suites West Dallas - Cockrell Hill (CSWD)
4275 Dfw Turnpike, Dallas TX 75211

-for the NRA Annual Meetings in Dallas.

Boy, was that a bad move.

NPR interview at NRA 2018 convention

The President spoke at the 2018 NRA Annual Meetings. Afterwards, I had an interview with NPR. It was a total surprise to me to be asked to do this. Although I felt like I was being baited a time or two, I thought the interview went well.

To hear the four minute-ish interview and see a transcript of the conversation, click HERE.

1 Peter 3:15

Administrative things - May 2018

1. There are links that I think are worth looking at in the green bar at the top of this blog.

• Got Jesus? - Well do you?
• Knox Gun Guy - From my time in Tennessee.
• Tennessee Lawn Grass - I relate my experimentation with Zoysia grass in Tennessee; I think it is the best all around lawn grass for the South.

2. On the left side.

• My mugg
• A subscribe link. If you like my work, you can subscribe there. This is running on a Google product which makes it easy for you to unsubscribe whenever you wish. Give it a try.

3. On the right side.

• My work that has been popular with readers.
• My blog list. This shows the latest posts of bloggers I have an interest in. They update each time one of those folks posts something new.

I regretfully reserve the right to not approve comments if, in my opinion, they come from the Left, or if they do not meet my decency standards; or if I just don't like them. The Google blog platform is free and available, as long as you meet their standards. Maybe some should start their own pages.

I will always try to answer serious questions.

I appreciate your cooperation.

And now POTUS

President Trump, White House Photo

I recently reported that VP Mike Pence will be speaking at the NRAAM in Dallas. Now we learn from Fox News that President Trump will also be in attendance.
The Secret Service will be in charge of security while POTUS and VPOTUS are there, so, once again,

NO GUNS, NO KNIVES, NO WEAPONS

As I commented at Fox news,

Contrary to what some are saying, the historical record shows that the NRA Annual Meetings (NRAAM) for quite a few years have been open to carrying of firearms, in accordance with state, local, and Federal laws. Some are calling the NRA hypocritical for "banning guns" when VPOTUS speaks at NRAAM in Dallas. That is pure rhetoric. Whenever a person such as POTUS, VPOTUS, or anyone subject to Secret Service protection, attends an event, be it NRAAM or a rally in Saginaw, MI, weapons of any type are not allowed. I spoke with President Trump at the NRAAM in Nashville, and have video of the conversation. I was armed at the time. Mr. Trump was not under Secret Service protection at that time. You on the left keep saying you want to have a conversation about guns. How can we have an intelligent conversation when you emit such garbage.

VP Pence to speak at NRA in Dallas

VP Mike Pence,
Official White House photo

In a previous post, I noted that handguns will be allowed at the NRA Annual Meeting in Dallas this year.

BUT--

I learned from Jenn Jacques this morning at TTAG, that VP Mike Pence will be speaking at Friday's Leadership Forum.

SO--

I contacted the NRA and asked if that event (the Leadership Forum) would be a Secret Service weapons exclusion zone.

YES, it will be. Here is the reply I got from NRA:

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

Matteo, Jack 
10:55 AM (12 minutes ago)
to me 
Good morning,

The ILA-Leadership Forum will be a Secret Service secured event. Firearms will be strictly prohibited in the hall.* Please make the necessary arrangements with your firearms prior to the event.

 Firearms will be allowed in the exhibit hall in accordance with state law and proper documentation.

Thank you,

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

So, please be sure to not attempt to go there with your gun.  

I then contacted KnifeRights and asked,

" Will you be providing knife checks at the Leadership Forum, like you did at Louisville. VP Pence is speaking, therefore it will be a no weapons zone."

Thanks,

I got a quick reply from Doug Ritter:

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

Doug Ritter 

11:22 AM (10 minutes ago)

to me 

Yes

Doug Ritter

Chairman and Executive Director

Knife Rights, Inc.

Knife Rights Foundation, Inc.

www.KnifeRights.org

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

*emphasis added

The Second Amendment as an Expression of First Principles

Edward J. Erler
Co-author, The Founders on Citizenship and Immigration

Edward J. Erler is professor emeritus of political science at California State University, San Bernardino. He earned his B.A. from San Jose State University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in government from the Claremont Graduate School. He has published numerous articles on constitutional topics in journals such as Interpretation, the Notre Dame Journal of Law, and the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy. He was a member of the California Advisory Commission on Civil Rights from 1988-2006 and served on the California Constitutional Revision Commission in 1996. He is the author of The American Polity and co‑author of The Founders on Citizenship and Immigration. This fall he is a visiting distinguished professor of politics at Hillsdale College.

Reprinted by permission from Imprimus, a publication of Hillsdale College. Although this is five years old, it is still pertinent today, in view of the renewed attacks on the Second Amendment. Now retired Justice Stevens advocates repealing the 2nd. 

This is a long read, so find the time to give it your attention. You can also see Dr. Erler's presentation at the end. Added note, fully automatic weapons are not totally illegal. But they are very expensive, and possession without the proper paperwork is illegal. The bold emphasis in the article is my addition.

The following is adapted from a lecture delivered on February 13, 2013, at Hillsdale College’s Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington, D.C.

We are currently mired in a frantic debate about the rights of gun owners. One example should suffice to prove that the debate has become hysterical: Second Amendment supporters, one prominent but less than articulate member of Congress alleges, have become “enablers of mass murder.”

Special animus has been directed against so-called assault rifles. These are semi-automatic, not automatic weapons—the latter have been illegal under federal law since the 1930s—because they require a trigger pull for every round fired. Some semi-automatic firearms, to be sure, can be fitted with large-capacity magazines. But what inspires the ire of gun control advocates seems to be their menacing look—somehow they don’t appear fit for polite society. No law-abiding citizen could possibly need such a weapon, we are told—after all, how many rounds from a high-powered rifle are needed to kill a deer? And we are assured that these weapons are not well-adapted for self-defense—that only the military and the police need to have them.

Now it’s undeniable, Senator Dianne Feinstein to the contrary notwithstanding, that semi-automatic weapons such as the AR-15 are extremely well-adapted for home defense—especially against a crime that is becoming more and more popular among criminals, the home invasion.

North Carolina Legislature School Safety Committee Meeting

NC School Safety Cmte Mtg

Wednesday, March 20, I attended the first meeting of the Legislature's School Safety Committee Meeting. There were speakers from several branches of NC government.

A few highlights:

Speaker Tim Moore gave a nice welcoming speech.

A North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) speakers said, "we stand ready too respond" (after an incident) and identify the bad guy before the fact.

The most disconcerting thing I heard at the meeting was in a presentation by Elliott Smith, Acting agent in charge of Fusion Center of the SBI. He quoted inflated statistics published by Bloomberg's front group, Moms Demand Action, that there have been over 300 school shootings since 2013. This is simply not true. It is refuted even by such mainstream publications as USA Today, Time, and the   Washington Post, I noted that one representative challenged Mr. Smith on his facts. I recommend that Mr. Smith take another look, to restore his own credibility.

A couple of takeaways from this meeting-

1. I have been hearing for years how the folks in favor of gun control (which, when you drill down far enough, means gun bans) want to have a conversation or "civilized dialogue". How can you have a conversation with someone who publishes bogus statistics.
2. More importantly, even though the statistics are not as bad as the Mom's state, the stakes are still just as high. It is America's children that are at stake. 

And more recently-

A retired Supreme has opined that the Second Amendment should be repealed. The truth finally outs.

So while the legislative committee had enough gendarmes present that you couldn't stir them with a stick, children are still basically not provided with any realistic protection at many schools. The legislature could, no expense, provide enabling legislation for armed volunteer staff at our schools, and while they are at it, provide them immunity from liability for good faith actions.

Video of some attendees at the meeting