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,

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?

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*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 [sic] State 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: _____________________

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 

HERE.

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).¹ 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.

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...

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*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.

Did Rick Scott shoot himself in the foot before the Florida Senate race?

As I write this on November 14, Florida is once again in the throes of a vote recount. The Senate race pits term-limited Governor Rick Scott (R-ish) against incumbent Bill Nelson (D). Following the tragic massacre at Parkland. Florida, Scott got on board with the gun banners and signed a bill -

Official Photo, State of Florida

• prohibiting young adults, age 18-20, from purchasing long guns
• banning bump stocks
• creating a red-flag law that nullifies due process for gun owners
• imposing a three day waiting period for gun purchases

Did Scott think there would be no backlash from this? Did he really think gun owner memories are that short?

I'm not saying conservatives have gone out and jumped on the Nelson bandwagon. But, many folks are tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. Sometimes they either -

• just stay home, or
• leave that particular race blank

As I said in my letter to President Trump earlier this year,

Based on the history I have seen of past elections, if you flip on the Second, there is a good chance you would not get our support in 2020. Worst case, people will vote for the Democratic candidate. At best, many will stay home, and could very well throw the election by their absence. 

Governor Scott, perhaps if you hadn't turned your back on the firearms community, the spread would be great enough that there wouldn't even be a recount, huh?

What do you Floridians say about this?