Response to the President
On October 1, 2015, the nation witnessed another tragic shooting -- this one at the Umpqua Community College in Oregon.
The President shortly took to a national platform to address the killings.
This should have been an opportunity for the President to unite a grieving nation. But instead, he chose to foment division. He even bragged that it was right for him to politicize this tragedy.
continue reading: Response to the President
Friday, October 2, 2015
Hope Doesn’t Save Lives...
Thank you to Tim Schmidt - a very good article from an email he sent out.
Hope Doesn’t Save Lives...
BY TIM SCHMIDT - USCCA FOUNDER
At the time of this writing, details are still unclear, but preliminary reports indicate that up to 10 people are dead and some 15 more are injured after an active shooter situation at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon Thursday morning.
Once again, precious human lives have been victimized by circumstances beyond their control.
According to Ammoland, the community college, located about 180 miles south of Portland, is a posted gun-free zone. Their security page states that:“Possession, use, or threatened use of firearms (including but not limited to BB guns, air guns, water pistols, and paint guns), ammunition, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or any other objects as weapons on college property, except as expressly authorized by law or college regulations, is prohibited.”
And once again, I feel absolutely sick to my stomach.
I want to know:
When will we be allowed to defend our most precious resources?
During a time that is both exciting and scary for these students—where some still skirt that fine line between the innocence of childhood and the uncertainty of what comes next—let me be clear: we have failed them.
It’s crazy that in this country, we have armed guards in armored cars protecting money, and yet we send our kids to school with nothing but “hope.” Hope that the unthinkable never happens. Hope that our teachers will be able to get them out of harm’s way until help arrives.
But hope doesn’t save lives.
What does save lives?
Guns in the hands of good guys.
Students and teachers—from elementary schools all the way up to colleges—are taught to “lock down,” to wait for help to arrive. It’s ironic in a way, because it fights our natural and instinctual fight-or-flight response. Essentially, our children aren’t allowed to do either. They just have to sit quietly and wait. That’s their “best-case” scenario. I’m sorry, but that’s not good enough for me—or for our kids.
Now, I realize that not every teacher out there would be willing to carry a gun. Arming oneself takes a lot of courage—and it’s a huge responsibility. A life-changing one, in fact. But if there are some teachers out there who are willing to make that commitment, to accept the call to be responsible armed Americans, imagine how the equation would change. Their only option would no longer be barricading their doors and shutting off the lights and waiting. No...they’d be able to fight back. I think our children deserve at least that much. It sounds harsh, and it is, but what they don’t deserve is to sit around and wait to die.
And so I ask again:
When will we be allowed to defend our most precious resources?
In what world does it make sense that we have armed guards in armored cars protecting money (which, by the way, liberals claim "isn't worth dying over"), but we have absolutely nothing in schools protecting our children?
In fact, it’s not even that we don’t have it...it’s that we don’t allow it.
But don’t our most precious resources deserve that? Don’t they deserve somebody to stand up for them? And when they get old enough, don’t they deserve to choose whether or not to accept that responsibility for themselves?
It’s time we stopped allowing our legislators to decide how much human lives—especially our children’s—are worth. The answer is simple. They’re worth everything.
Take Care and Stay Safe,
Tim Schmidt
Publisher - Concealed Carry Report
USCCA Founder
Hope Doesn’t Save Lives...
BY TIM SCHMIDT - USCCA FOUNDER
At the time of this writing, details are still unclear, but preliminary reports indicate that up to 10 people are dead and some 15 more are injured after an active shooter situation at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon Thursday morning.
Once again, precious human lives have been victimized by circumstances beyond their control.
According to Ammoland, the community college, located about 180 miles south of Portland, is a posted gun-free zone. Their security page states that:“Possession, use, or threatened use of firearms (including but not limited to BB guns, air guns, water pistols, and paint guns), ammunition, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or any other objects as weapons on college property, except as expressly authorized by law or college regulations, is prohibited.”
And once again, I feel absolutely sick to my stomach.
I want to know:
When will we be allowed to defend our most precious resources?
During a time that is both exciting and scary for these students—where some still skirt that fine line between the innocence of childhood and the uncertainty of what comes next—let me be clear: we have failed them.
It’s crazy that in this country, we have armed guards in armored cars protecting money, and yet we send our kids to school with nothing but “hope.” Hope that the unthinkable never happens. Hope that our teachers will be able to get them out of harm’s way until help arrives.
But hope doesn’t save lives.
What does save lives?
Guns in the hands of good guys.
Students and teachers—from elementary schools all the way up to colleges—are taught to “lock down,” to wait for help to arrive. It’s ironic in a way, because it fights our natural and instinctual fight-or-flight response. Essentially, our children aren’t allowed to do either. They just have to sit quietly and wait. That’s their “best-case” scenario. I’m sorry, but that’s not good enough for me—or for our kids.
Now, I realize that not every teacher out there would be willing to carry a gun. Arming oneself takes a lot of courage—and it’s a huge responsibility. A life-changing one, in fact. But if there are some teachers out there who are willing to make that commitment, to accept the call to be responsible armed Americans, imagine how the equation would change. Their only option would no longer be barricading their doors and shutting off the lights and waiting. No...they’d be able to fight back. I think our children deserve at least that much. It sounds harsh, and it is, but what they don’t deserve is to sit around and wait to die.
And so I ask again:
When will we be allowed to defend our most precious resources?
In what world does it make sense that we have armed guards in armored cars protecting money (which, by the way, liberals claim "isn't worth dying over"), but we have absolutely nothing in schools protecting our children?
In fact, it’s not even that we don’t have it...it’s that we don’t allow it.
But don’t our most precious resources deserve that? Don’t they deserve somebody to stand up for them? And when they get old enough, don’t they deserve to choose whether or not to accept that responsibility for themselves?
It’s time we stopped allowing our legislators to decide how much human lives—especially our children’s—are worth. The answer is simple. They’re worth everything.
Take Care and Stay Safe,
Tim Schmidt
Publisher - Concealed Carry Report
USCCA Founder
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Sheriff Jim Wilson - Understand the code - A Tip!
Defensive Awareness: Understanding the Color Code
by Jim Wilson - Thursday, September 24, 2015
Being aware of what is going on around you greatly increases your ability to spot trouble and often to avoid it entirely. Col. Jeff Cooper developed the Color Code to help people understand the mental condition and level of preparedness that is necessary to deal with a potential criminal attack. As a refresher, here is his color code in its entirety.
Condition White — Unaware and unprepared.
Condition Yellow — Relaxed awareness.
Condition Orange — Specific alert. Something is not quite right and has your attention.
Condition Red — Specific threat. I will use deadly force if it becomes necessary.
Cooper's intention was that this color code was not about the amount of danger that was involved. Instead, he saw the color code as relating to the mental state that the person should be in. Sadly, many people who quote the color code don't truly understand it and they pass this lack of understanding on to others. Probably the most abused of these four mental states is Condition Yellow, relaxed awareness.
Read the whole article!
Final thought:
So we don't really need these latter-day experts to make all sorts of modifications to the Color Code. They really don't need to add additional colors, nor do they need to bother changing the meaning and definitions of the various states of preparedness. If they really want to be of service, they should find ways to help us all be more aware of our surroundings and alert to potential trouble. And you and I need to make a commitment to forcing ourselves to be more alert ... even when it is dark ... even when we are running late ... even when we don't feel well ... even when we are safe at home. It should be a critical part of everyone's personal-defense plan.
by Jim Wilson - Thursday, September 24, 2015
Being aware of what is going on around you greatly increases your ability to spot trouble and often to avoid it entirely. Col. Jeff Cooper developed the Color Code to help people understand the mental condition and level of preparedness that is necessary to deal with a potential criminal attack. As a refresher, here is his color code in its entirety.
Condition White — Unaware and unprepared.
Condition Yellow — Relaxed awareness.
Condition Orange — Specific alert. Something is not quite right and has your attention.
Condition Red — Specific threat. I will use deadly force if it becomes necessary.
Cooper's intention was that this color code was not about the amount of danger that was involved. Instead, he saw the color code as relating to the mental state that the person should be in. Sadly, many people who quote the color code don't truly understand it and they pass this lack of understanding on to others. Probably the most abused of these four mental states is Condition Yellow, relaxed awareness.
Read the whole article!
Final thought:
So we don't really need these latter-day experts to make all sorts of modifications to the Color Code. They really don't need to add additional colors, nor do they need to bother changing the meaning and definitions of the various states of preparedness. If they really want to be of service, they should find ways to help us all be more aware of our surroundings and alert to potential trouble. And you and I need to make a commitment to forcing ourselves to be more alert ... even when it is dark ... even when we are running late ... even when we don't feel well ... even when we are safe at home. It should be a critical part of everyone's personal-defense plan.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Sheriff Jim Wilson
THIS JUST IN: But if you used your AR to stop someone from attacking you wouldn't that make it an "Anti-assault rifle"?
Interesting thought!
The Sheriff Jim Wilson Channel
Interesting thought!
The Sheriff Jim Wilson Channel
Jim Wilson Facebook
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Looks Like Off Duty Cops in NYC are just limited citzens like the rest of us!!!
NYPD Bans Off-Duty Cops from Carrying at Pope Events
By Robert Farago on September 24, 2015
Pope Francis and friends (courtesy marymagdelan.blogspot.com)
“Off-duty cops who plan to see the pope during his tour of the Big Apple are being warned to leave their guns at home — or face being sent away and reprimanded by NYPD brass,” nypost.com reports. “‘All members of the service who plan to attend a papal event while off-duty are hereby advised that firearms will not be permitted’ read a message sent to police officers on Wednesday.” Wouldn’t you know it? The po-po are p.o.ed. “How dare they disarm us!” cry the Only Ones ™. Check it out . . .
Despite heightened concerns about an assassination attempt or act of terror, off-duty cops will ultimately have to abide by the very same rules that civilians are asked to — a move that is not sitting well with members of the force.
“This is our city and we should be able to carry,” a police source said, describing the policy as “very offensive.”
“God forbid something happens,” he explained. “You’re going against the patrol guide which says you’re required to be armed at all times while in New York City. If something bad happens and you’re not armed, you’re not able to protect yourself, your family, friends and the public. You have the leader of the biggest religion in the world and the potential for violence is there. I’d like to be able to protect myself if something, God forbid, does happen.”
Let me see if I’ve got this straight. If a law-abiding civilian (a group that includes police officers) carries a firearm he or she may be able to use it defend innocent life? A law-abiding civilian carrying a gun is a good thing? Who knew! Certainly not the Powers-That-Be in the City That Never Sleeps!
I guess someone forgot that armed non-LEO civilians protect police officers – just like off-duty police officers could protect the Pope.
What do you expect from NYC!!!!!!
By Robert Farago on September 24, 2015
Pope Francis and friends (courtesy marymagdelan.blogspot.com)
“Off-duty cops who plan to see the pope during his tour of the Big Apple are being warned to leave their guns at home — or face being sent away and reprimanded by NYPD brass,” nypost.com reports. “‘All members of the service who plan to attend a papal event while off-duty are hereby advised that firearms will not be permitted’ read a message sent to police officers on Wednesday.” Wouldn’t you know it? The po-po are p.o.ed. “How dare they disarm us!” cry the Only Ones ™. Check it out . . .
Despite heightened concerns about an assassination attempt or act of terror, off-duty cops will ultimately have to abide by the very same rules that civilians are asked to — a move that is not sitting well with members of the force.
“This is our city and we should be able to carry,” a police source said, describing the policy as “very offensive.”
“God forbid something happens,” he explained. “You’re going against the patrol guide which says you’re required to be armed at all times while in New York City. If something bad happens and you’re not armed, you’re not able to protect yourself, your family, friends and the public. You have the leader of the biggest religion in the world and the potential for violence is there. I’d like to be able to protect myself if something, God forbid, does happen.”
Let me see if I’ve got this straight. If a law-abiding civilian (a group that includes police officers) carries a firearm he or she may be able to use it defend innocent life? A law-abiding civilian carrying a gun is a good thing? Who knew! Certainly not the Powers-That-Be in the City That Never Sleeps!
I guess someone forgot that armed non-LEO civilians protect police officers – just like off-duty police officers could protect the Pope.
What do you expect from NYC!!!!!!
Friday, September 11, 2015
9-11 NEVER FORGET
FEATURE - QUOTED FROM: http://www.shootingwire.com/features/230096
Fourteen Years After: Reader Remembrances
Yesterday, I asked our readers to share their feelings about the country since September 11, 2001. Fourteen years after the most devastating attack ever on home soil, there have been a lot of changes; not all positive. Today, we remember the lost lives, the courageous acts of average Americans and dedicated first responders through your words.
Your words have inspired me to keep working for change. And reminded me that if we pull together, we can make a difference.
Thank you for all you do for all the rest of us. In regards to 9-11, I have decided that I can no longer rage at the fools in Washington. I can and will work to make what changes I can at the ballot box and hope for the best. I have come to understand that I am unable to change the mind or heart of someone that is convinced that America got what she deserved, or that our response was wrong or that our war was wrong. I also know that they are unable to change mine.
Instead, I remember. My children remember. In turn, my grandchildren are taught to remember. We remember those who died. We think of the loss of the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and fathers and wives and mothers. We don't screen the pictures or the videos. We watch the events unfold every year on Discovery or History.
Mostly though, we celebrate our Military. Our firefighters and our Law Enforcement. This is the day we use as an example of what selflessness truly means. This is the day of true service and sacrifice. Our eyes are wet and our hearts are full on this day. Because we know that there are more of us than there are of them. We are just quieter.
But that must end. We fly our flags, we wear red, we wave to our LEO's and our firefighters and pick up the tab of any uniform that shares a restaurant with us. We understand what it means to be a sheepdog. We are an entire family of them.
---
I had retired from the U.S. Army nearly 10 years before 9-11. Since I still lived in the Washington, DC area, the same house while on active duty, I thought to put on my battle-dress uniform and head into my old building to offer what help I could, but I soon realized I'd just be an old soldier in the way. One of my colleagues who was on active duty, and was assigned to issuing security credentials at the Pentagon crash site wrote the following:
"During one of my shifts I slipped away from the security tent and stood as close as I could get to the Pentagon without causing a problem. I marveled at the destruction, the smell, and the dust. I found myself staring up at the offices—cut away like rooms of a doll house. There were desks and chairs and file cabinets and frames on the walls. I wondered who worked at that desk, and whose kids once occupied those frames."
-----
14 years ago I was a freshman sitting in English class when the towers were hit. Growing up a fireman's son I knew what was going on and how the responders were reacting, and was worried as everyone else that my town could be next. I have lived in a suburb of the Twin Cities in Minnesota my whole life and we do have some "high value targets" around us, the Mall of America, IDS Center, Federal courts and Federal Reserve depositories, so naturally we were all on high alert as things were coming in. The pain and shock I felt that day has never gone away, I never knew any of the firefighters, police, ems, or public victims of the attack, but I cry every year as the date come around and I watch the same documentaries on TV. The day had a profound impact on my life, I became a firefighter/ paramedic and have been doing that as a volunteer for close to 10 years now, and wouldn't give it up even for my regular job.
-----
Editor's Note: There were many of you who responded, and no way to put everyone's comments into a single column. I want to thank each of you for your insights. You're always welcome to send me your thoughts, comments and criticisms. None of us is as smart as all of us.
- Jim Shepherd
A few pics to remember:
Friday, September 4, 2015
There really is no safe place anymore.
According to the Associated Press, "The killing of a veteran police officer northwest of Chicago is the latest in a string of recent law enforcement deaths. Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz' death on Tuesday triggered a manhunt for three suspects around the small Illinois community where the 52-year-old officer worked."
Believe that police officers and sheriff’s deputies and all the other brave men and women who serve as law enforcement—by the very nature of their jobs—accept a certain level of inherent risk in serving and protecting their communities. Most will tell you that they knew exactly what they were signing up for!
These officers are under attack.!!!!!!!
AP: “Darren Goforth was shot and killed Aug. 28 in suburban Houston as the Harris County deputy stopped to put gas in his patrol car. Henry Nelson, an officer in Sunset, Louisiana, was shot and killed Aug. 26 while responding to a domestic-violence call. Louisiana State trooper Steven J. Vincent died Aug. 14 after being shot in the head while assisting a motorist.”
Violent attacks over the last several weeks have sent a wave of fear through the law enforcement community. It’s another stark reminder that evil can strike anytime.
There really is no safe place anymore.
Remember how important it is for people, responsibly armed citizens, to remain aware and diligent at all times!
To Quote Michael Bane: "…police all across the country are going to be very tense, so when you as a concealed weapon or an open weapon carrier interface with law enforcement officers, you need to be 100% on your game. That means under no circumstances are you going to make any "motions consistent with drawing a handgun." Hands in full sight, I suggest palms turned out. If you have a concealed weapon, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES do you pull open your jacket or pull up your shirt to reveal the concealed weapon except under the specific orders of the LEO!"
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