Blackburn v Bredesen 2018

As we near the general election, I have a few thoughts for Tennesseans whose minds are not made up yet on the Senate race.
Examine your belief systems and see which candidate's views most closely match yours. This can encompass many different areas, such as right to life, firearms rights, or border security. Vote for that candidate.
Consider the Supreme Court. The contentious atmosphere surrounding the appointment and confirmation of Justice Kavanaugh revealed the true nature of the Democratic Party's leadership. The Democrats, with one exception (Manchin of WV), voted the party line, against Justice Kavanaugh. On major issues, Democrats by and large vote the party line in Washington.
The Democratic Party is, without a doubt, the PARTY OF GUN CONTROL! You can research this yourself, or you can check out my friend John Richardson's compilation of state Democratic Party platforms HERE.
Bredesen, as governor, vetoed Restaurant Carry in 2009, as I noted in an update in 2010. With Mike Bloomberg hosting a fundraiser for him, is there any reason to believe that he is no longer a gun banner?
These mid-term Senate races, like the Presidential race two years ago, are really about the Supreme Court. Do you want to see President Trump appoint and have confirmed justices who will follow the Supreme Law of the Land, the Constitution; or risk having a Democratic controlled Senate stalemate his appointments until after the next Presidential election?

Well, do you?

Gun Rights Policy Conference 2018

The 2018 Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC) convened in the Windy City on Saturday, September 12, at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. The meeting, sponsored by the  Second Amendment Foundation and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, was preceded by a reception Friday evening, which included a concealed carry fashion show.

The Sears Tower (Willis Tower) in Chicago

Saturday morning, the meeting was called to order by Julianne Versnel, Director of Operations, Second Amendment Foundation (SAF). The day saw a potpourri of Second Amendment advocates speaking. You can see a list of the speakers HERE.

One serious issue mentioned by several speakers was Red Flag Laws, also known as Extreme Risk Protection Orders. Reminiscent of the denouncements of the French Revolution, some Red Flaw Laws allow for the confiscation of firearms without due process; without one even being able to face their accuser.

Historical American jurisprudence has required that you be accused, with an opportunity to defend yourself in court. The trend with these Red Flag Laws is for another person to make an accusation that you might commit a crime. The judge issues a ruling, and the police show up to confiscate your guns, violating both your Second and Fifth Amendment rights.

This alarming legislation is a prescription for so much to go wrong. Here are some possibilities.

1. The police show up unannounced to take Joe's guns. Joe is not willing to give them up, and in the ensuing gunfight, Joe and/or some police are killed or seriously injured. 
2. Joe, who has been not been convicted of any crime, now has had his Second Amendment rights unilaterally extinguished without due process. 
3. The police successfully confiscate Joe's guns, and now Joe has an expensive legal fight to reclaim his guns.

These states now have some sort of Red Flag Law:

California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Illinois
Indiana
Maryland
Oregon
Rhode Island
Vermont
Washington

If you hear of similar proposed legislation in your state, this is bad law, and needs to be opposed at every level.

For me, a high point of the conference was meeting Rhonda Ezell, the winning plaintiff in Ezell v Chicago. Chicago had a historical ban on handguns. Following the McDonald decision which restored the right to own a handgun in the Windy City. . . .Chicago required that citizens have training before acquiring a handgun, while prohibiting gun ranges in the city. A Catch-22 situation. Ezell's case changed that. According to the Chicago Guns Matter website, "laws regarding handgun ownership are uniform across the entire state (of Illinois)."

The SAF leads in the fight for gun rights restoration. Make plans to attend GRPC next year in Phoenix. There is no charge to attend the conference, but you will have to pay for your transportation and some meals.

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Friday of the same weekend the Alternative Mass Media Convention (AMM*CON) Second Amendment media workshop was held in the same location. It was a gathering of podcasters, writers, bloggers, etc., with a goal of improving the effectiveness of our alternative media.

I was honored to be one of the presenters there. Here is a recording* of my  presentation:

*Must remember to reverse the camera on that cell phone!

The evil of the handgun permitting process

More than two decades ago, Tennessee passed a "shall-issue" handgun carry law, requiring the Tennessee Department of Safety to issue a handgun carry permit to any citizen who takes the required training, has a clean record, is mentally competent, and has enough money to pay for the privilege.

Source: Jeff Dege, used with permission

As the animated graphic shows, states have continually enacted laws, that have gone variously from no issue to may issue to shall issue. And some have moved all the way to Constitutional Carry! The legislatures and governors of these states have been recognizing that the typical crime does not occur when the police are nearby. Most crimes occur outside the home. Police most often can only clean up after the crime, take a report and start looking for the perpetrator.

While the permitting process in Tennessee and other states has certainly improved the situation for citizens, they still place an undue burden on the peaceful citizen, but not on the criminal.

In Vermont, it is lawful to carry a firearm openly or concealed provided the firearm is not carried with the intent or avowed purpose of injuring a fellow man. No permit is needed. Thus, in Vermont, citizens are not required to get a permit to carry a firearm. The State of Vermont has long recognized the right of its good citizens to defend themselves while away from home without the need of a permit.

In 2014, Tennessee joined most of the surrounding states, and does do not require a permit to carry a loaded firearm in a vehicle, but still requires a permit if one is to carry a handgun on or about the person. 

No Leland, no!

Today, we learn from the Firearms Policy Coalition that the Town of Leland, NC, has banned "dangerous weapons"

RESTRICTIONS ON POSSESSION, TRANSPORATION, AND TRANSFER OF DANGEROUS WEAPONS AND SUBSTANCES 

Effective at 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, the transportation or possession, or the sale or purchase of dangerous weapons or substances, while off one’s own premises, is prohibited. This prohibition and restriction does not apply to lawfully possessed firearms or ammunition.

We've been through this before. Officials in their officialdom (often while surrounded by tax-paid armed security) attempt to disarm the citizenry. You must evacuate, lowly resident, and you must abrogate your Constitutional Rights while doing so.

And the good city fathers expect law officers to be able to discern between lawfully and unlawfully possessed firearms or ammunition.

Just no!

Federal funding for guns in schools - why not?

Last night, August 23, Jason Chaffetz guest hosted The Ingraham Angle on Fox News. He had a segment about the proposal to provide Federal funding to arm school staff.

Chaffetz's guests were Igor Volsky of an organization known as Guns Down, and Laura Carno, founder of FASTER Colorado.

FASTER stands for Faculty/Administrator Safety Training and Emergency Response.
FASTER training enables teachers, administrators and other school employees to stop school violence quickly and administer medical aid immediately. FASTER is not intended as a replacement for Police and EMTs. Instead, it enables on-site personnel to save lives through prompt action.

 HERE is the link to their debate.

WP Clip Art

The problem having no armed security, or even SRO's here and there, is time. As correctly stated by a Federal judge and the Michigan Attorney General (in a case involving guns in a home with foster children), criminals don't call ahead for an appointment. Neither do school invaders.

Volsky's stance was that the police should be called. That attitude brings us back to the time problem. Chaffetz brought up his coach in high school, mentioned his credentials, and asked what about him having a gun (in school). Volsky begrudgingly agreed that with such proper training, it would be OK (to arm some school staff).

Well Duh!

That's what FASTER is all about.

Carno gave a well-reasoned argument for the FASTER program. Well done!

. . . Volsky also commented that he wanted to reduce the number of guns in the United States.

Not gonna happen!

Consider this. Recent published estimates place the number of guns in private American citizens' hands at somewhere around four hundred million. That is approaching half a billion. . . .and considering that prior to the Nazi inspired Gun Control Act of 1968, there were no government records kept, there just might be a few more!

Just suppose Volsky and company could get a law passed reducing the number of legal guns to absolute 0, who is going door-to door to collect?

What do you think?

Gear review: LAPG Sling Pack

The one problem with backpacks is that they are "back there". I have used one or another for over a half century, and they are very practical for many situations. I even have a couple that have skate wheels and an extendable handle. One of those could serve as a carry-on bag if travelling very light.

However, some times the fact that the bag is "back there", makes it inconvenient. Enter the SLING BAG OR SLING PACK. I have been wearing LAPG pants and shorts for several years. They have cargo pockets, and use a fabric that goes from the dryer to the drawer or hanger; and they are ready to wear. When you catch them on sale, they are a really good deal.

When I saw that LAPG offered a sling pack, I decided to take a close look. After reading the description, the reviews, and the Q&A's, I went for it. For 20 bucks plus shipping, why not.

Since it came from the left coast, economy shipping meant it came around the cape, through the canal, or by mule drawn wagon, but it got here in about a week and it was worth the wait!

The bag is ambidextrous, meaning their is a bottom strap on each side, so you can rig it to go over either shoulder. You can, when needed, wear it in front as the situation warrants.