Bomb Squad demonstration for TFA

Tuesday August 3, Investigator Jim Quick of the Knoxville Police Department Bomb Squad gave the Knoxville chapter of the Tennessee Firearms Association a demonstration of the Bomb Squad's truck and equipment. Quick had a question and answer session with the group at dinner in the Gondolier before moving out to the truck to show his equipment. Quick addressed the question of what a bomb looks like. A bomb can look like anything. 

Investigator Quick with flashlight bomb (photo by Liston Matthews)

The picture at right shows an ordinary looking flashlight that has been made into a bomb. When someone picks it up and turns it on, KA- BOOM!

Quick addressed the issue of bomb scares. He said that any time something is found that is out of place, it is to be suspect. it might be a briefcase, or a lunchbox. The thing to do is to just be vigilant in the work area. If you see something that can't be identified, call the bomb squad. They can come look at the item, use a robot to remove it, x-ray it, and, if necessary, explode the item.

Investigator Quick with Andros robot (photo by Liston Matthews)

Robots are becoming more and more common as equipment for bomb disposal squads. A locally manufactured robot is the Andros series made by Remotec division of Northrup Grumman in Clinton, TN.

These robots are controlled from the Bomb Squad truck, and can go into buildings and climb stairs. They have a fully articulated arm and  a hand to pick up objects. They also have a microphone and speaker, for officers to use in negotiations. Most importantly, the robots remove some of the element personnel danger.

Hats off to Investigator Quick, the Bomb Squad, and all the officers that form the thin blue line between civilized society and the dangerous underbelly.

The Knoxville chapter of the Tennessee Firearms Association meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Gondolier off Chapman Highway. This meeting is open to the public. The program begins at 7:00 PM. If you wish to eat and socialize, plan on arriving around 6:00 PM. For more information contact Bill Noll; wsnoll@comcast.net 865-688-0321 or Charlie Thoms; Cthoms43@aol.com 865-233-4561.

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Home invasions

Home invasions continue to plague the region. See my examiner post on the subject HERE.

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Save ten bucks. Join NRA or renew here for only $25.00.

Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Gun Buyback

Grier Heights, North Carolina, near Charlotte, staged a 'gun buyback' last Saturday; another in a long string of such events nationwide for more than a decade. This is another feel good event which will not achieve any significant result. You can read the story in the Charlotte Observer HERE, if you want to bother, but here's how they all go down:

Someone, a mayor, police chief, DA, or community group decides they want to get some guns 'off the streets.' They get a sponsor to spring for some cash, (often cash taken from unsuspecting stockholders). They advertise the event as cutting down on crime by getting guns off the streets.

On the day of the event, some people show up with guns of little cash value, and trade them for cash or a gift card, or gift certificate. The police take these firearms and often destroy them. Oddly enough, they often take them no questions asked, and agree to not run any forensics testing on them. If this is the case, that makes a dandy method of disposing of a weapon used in a crime.

The person who turned in the gun goes away with a little drinkin' money, and the promoters get the warm fuzzies, feeling good about not solving a problem. The unsuspecting community may have a false sense of security. The aforementioned stockholders are bilked out of just a little profit, and are usually none the wiser.

I'm sure law enforcement officers get frustrated with the catch and release criminal justice system, but the answer is getting the criminals, not guns, off the street. 

One last thing, let's parse the term buyback. After all, words have meaning. For one to buy something back means one had to previously own it.

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Second Amendment Foundation strikes again

Attorney Alan Gura and Second Amendment Foundation leader Alan Gottlieb file another lawsuit. This time in Maryland.

Read about it at: No Lawyers - Only Guns and Money

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Knox City-County Building posted

City-County Building Sign photo by Liston Matthews

Accessing your seat of government is not easy for citizens of Knoxville and Knox County, as I experienced this week.
Parking and walking is not too bad, for those of us in good health. The problem is, as with any city, finding a good place to park. Parking on the street is problematic most of the day.


That leaves parking garages, which don't have a reputation for being the safest place to park:

Going to the City-County Building means you can't take your defensive firearm, so what do you do for personal defense between the time you get out of your car in the garage, and your arrival at the C-C? As you can see from the picture, pocket knives (the sign says legal pocket knives) can be checked at the door.
So, while the criminal can choose whatever he wants if he decides to waylay you, you are limited to a medieval (very) short sword.
Keep in mind that the best way to win a fight is to avoid one. Always be vigilant. Be observant, and stay in condition yellow, as I mentioned in my Examiner Starbucks piece.
Be aware, also, that the Tennessee Theater on Gay Street and the East Tennessee History Center, 601 Gay Street are posted; as are Cafe 4 and Preservation Pub in Market Square. Then there is Krutch Park, which like all Knoxville City Parks, is posted.
Now, here is an interesting twist in Tennessee law. Seems that if you use a handgun in legal self-defense, you don't need a permit to carry. TCA 39-17-1322 states, "A person shall not be charged with or convicted of a violation under this part if the person possessed, displayed or employed a handgun in justifiable self-defense or in justifiable defense of another during the commission of a crime in which that person or the other person defended was a victim." [Acts 1994, ch. 943, § 1.] Now, you figure that one out.

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Arizona Constitutional Carry effective this week

Much of the recent news from Arizona has focused on SB1070, the immigration law. Almost unnoticed is the fact that Arizona's Constitutional Carry law goes into effect this Thursday.

Many Arizona police don't like it. They decry the fact that people will be able to carry concealed sans permit. Now, Arizonans have been carrying openly without permits for years. Why do they think that sixteen square inches of cotton will turn a good citizen into an evildoer? That hasn't happened in that bastion of conservatism, Vermont, where you couldn't get a permit if you tried.

Nor has it happened in Alaska, which has had permit-less carry for several years now.

Will blood run in the streets? NO! And one thing is for sure, states that ease restrictive gun laws usually see a drop in violent crime, as reported by Massad Ayoob. Read the research in John Lott's book, More Guns, Less Crime, available at Amazon.

That said, if you keep and/or bear a weapon, you have an obligation to get training in its proper use.

The Tennessee Legislature should be bold, and pass Constitutional Carry next year.

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Save ten bucks. Join NRA or renew here for only $25.00.

Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.