The new phase of the war against terror
We can probably all agree that there’s a new phase coming in the war against terror because of yesterday’s events and most of it will have focus on this country. We can probably also agree that the best deterrence to this domestic terrorism threat is vigilance. But I submit that Americans now have a responsibility to legally carry firearms – if we’re the first line of defense, we need to be armed.
The places that need armed citizens, Chicago, New York, Washington, DC restrict firearm ownership and carrying concealed weapons – that’s their problem. The rest of us owe it to our communities, friends and families to arm ourselves and take advantage of local laws. If your State allows CCW and you don’t have a license, you really should get one.
The jihadists take advantage of every one of our laws in order to attack us, it only makes sense that we take advantage of our laws to defend ourselves from them.
And Congress needs to get off their collective ass and write a national CCW law so that I can take my handgun to the store 12 miles away. if I abide by the laws in my own State, why would I suddenly decide to be a criminal in the next one? 32 States accept my CCW license – why are the other 18 and the District of Columbia scared of me?
Category: Guns
Already there.
I carry even to places I’m not supposed to.
But at this point, PC-ness be damned.
Interestingly enough, what are the cities that are most likely to be hit with a terror attack? Hmmm…
I’m doing my part, so are some of my buddies. Others are, like most of America, just coasting along and not really concerned about it, until something happens. Tightening security at airports only goes so far. It’s more window dressing than anything else since the bad guys already know that air travel is no longer a “soft” target. As Uncle Jimbo has pointed out on several occasions (and he’s someone that knows what he’s talking about) they won’t be going after the obvious, but rather other “soft” targets, like crowded bars at happy hour, malls, etc. where they don’t have to use crappy bombs put together with duct tape and propane tanks, but rather some place they may just walk in and do the old spray and pray method. How do you defend against something like that? By having those that can shoot back. Sure, they may get a few, but if there is a way to mitigate the damage; why wouldn’t people want to be in a position to do so? Subways, malls, bars, festivals, etc. When seconds count the cops are only minutes away. Having TSA doing groping sessions at subways or other such highly intrusive checks only gives the facade of security. What would happen if some jihadi decided to just go after the crowd in line to get groped, like happened in Moscow? Would we then say “well, at least they didn’t get on the airplane” and ignore that maybe the terminal was the target to begin with?
We all are the first line of defense.
Condition one- check.
By the way, Claymore, Georgia is one of the States that don’t recognize my CCW permit. What’s up with that?
Join the club…I got the entire south sewed up except for freakin’ W. Virginia, Virginia and South Carolina.
Florida has CCW, and I use it. Also, I don’t go into any business unarmed, never have. The least I have is my awareness, (which about 75% of people leave at home). Contrary to what many think, it is NOT the duty of law enforcement to protect us. Their job is reactive, not proactive, and is like that in our best interest. As stated above, we ARE “the first line of defense”, whether government, libs or anyone else like it or not.
I can carry in SC, WV and VA – I suspect that it’s Georgia’s fault for not reciprocating.
I know that a lot of states don’t reciprocate Minnesota’s Carry Permit.
Hey Jonn, did you check out that ammo site I sent you, that has 10mm in stock?
Frankly, that’s something the states need to work on, although I don’t see why, 2nd Amendment superceding state law and all that–or so goes the theory. For as “free” as we are in NH, it’s amazing that only about half the states/territories have reciprocity with my (resident) CCW permit.
And yeah, thanks for the reminder. Gotta get mine renewed.
BTW: For those not sure–may or may not be 100 percent, but one of the easier sites to navigate:
http://www.handgunlaw.us/
I don’t know if I am comfortable with every swinging dick getting a CCW, in my opinion only veterans should be able to get one provided they pass a psych exam and backround check. I don’t know where you guys live but I wouldn’t trust any of the cops in my town with helping me out or being able to hit the broad side of a barn.
You’re doing your part Old Trooper? What would that be?
You commies in WV don’t honor my permit! Fine, be that way, boogers.
WH2; that’s on a need to know basis 🙂
Sounds interesting
I agree with your assessment of the cops, WH2. I train more than 90% of them. I’ve even invited several of my local cops to the range with me, but they don’t take me up on it. Don’t know why, but if I worked in a job that required me to carry a weapon (and I have), I would be training as much as possible.
I like your style Woodman.. I don’t worry about permits I keep an M-4 in a camping chair bag under my seat and a glock 19 on me whether I am mounted or dismounted. If me or mine take contact the only thing the police are going to do is show up and write ticktes.
OT-
It’s a cultural thing- those that train ‘too much’ with their weapons are considered ‘gun happy’ and more likely to pull a weapon when one’s not needed- or so they say. Second, its the old ‘I carry it, therefore I know how to use it’ mentality as well. Many just don’t want to be seen as ‘triggers’ so they don’t do it beyond their mandatory requirements.
That, and if they want to use it more, they feel they should join a SWAT team or something….
Texas is working on a open carry law but I believe it pertains to CCW permit holders. LEO & TxDPS-PSB Class 3 Security guards exempt; Security guards can open carry to and from work, in vehicle, ect. It cleared House committee and was introduced to the full floor. Others here are pushing for a “Constitutional” Open Carry, something Texas hasn’t allowed since the late 1800’s.
H.B. 2756
Mr. Wolf; I understand your analysis, but if the difference between living and dying is whether I’m more proficient with my service weapon (if I’m a cop) than the bad guy, then I damn sure am going to be proficient. I have watched videos of LEOs where they were in a point blank firefight and unloaded their hi-cap mag and hit nothing. To me, that’s pathetic. I have also watched videos where the officer shot twice and hit twice. The difference is training. Just about 2 years ago, there was a stand-off and firefight between a murder suspect/gang member and 3 police officers. There were 45 shots fired by the police and 3 hits on the bad guy. Does that sound like a good hit percentage?
The FBI did research and found that the percentage of shots fired to hits for the police is at a pathetic 15% and the shots fired to hit percentage for the bad guys is right around 68%. I know LEOs that will go to the range once before their yearly qualifying and that’s it. Yet the public is under the assumption that law enforcement is much better trained than civilians with carry permits. I find it to be the opposite of reality.
A friend is a security supervisor at a Federal Reserve Bank and we have talked about their training and that they have a range on site that the FBI and local law enforcement can use for free. He laughs when I ask if the FBI and local LEOs are there all the time and if they’re really proficient. That tells me something.
I can carry in SC, WV and VA – I suspect that it’s Georgia’s fault for not reciprocating.
Georgia won’t reciprocate because S. Carolina won’t recognize Georgia’s relatively light requirements to carry. There’s no range or classroom requirement…all you have to do to get a permit is 1. be a resident, 2. pass a background check, 3. pass a fingerprint screen, 4. pay the fee. That’s it. According to S. Carolina, that’s not enough to qualify in their state, so Georgia won’t reciprocate.
I don’t know if I am comfortable with every swinging dick getting a CCW
So with which part of, “shall not be infringed” do you find fault?
Ok Sparky, shall not be infringed? You want every meth head on the street with a CCW? If it were up to you they would be giving them away like baseball cards. I don’t have a permit but I carry my shit anyway but I am trained and proficent in using those weapons that I mentioned in an earlier post. I keep them for Force Protection, and never have had an issue. Not everyone has had sufficent firearms training, and that 8 hour NRA course doesn’t cut the mustard if you ask me.
I disagree with the comment carry firearms legally, I don’t trust those politicians to do the right thing, but I do trust myself to acquire the right target. If we handle firearms RESPONSIBLY we will all be the better for it.
I don’t think #23 lives anywhere with a significant amount of gun crime.
I don’t have a permit but I carry my shit anyway
Pray you don’t get stopped in a liberal “paradise” like Massachusetts, California, New York, New Jersey, etc…
And BTW–what you and the libs are doing with your “prove your worthiness” crap is akin to the logical fallacy of proving a negative. I’ve known civilians who never spent day one in the military who were far and away safer and more proficient with weapons than some career military.
Your assumption that “every meth head on the street with a CCW” is a liberal meme put out by the Brady idiots to try to grab my gun and take away my rights. It’s also stupid fuckers like you who DON’T play by the rules who fuck up everything for those of us who do.
I’m trying to remember…what is the term for a country that only allows the police and military to carry firearms? Can someone help me out here…
/sarcasm
Wow, I haven’t kept up with reciprocity for a few years. IIRC SC was the only southern state that didn’t recognize my KY permit. That’s expired now, so I use my VA permit to carry down this way. Alabama and Georgia do not recognize it, though (didn’t know that). I’m headed to GA next year and it seems that active military personnel are not required to have a permit there, so I’m good to go.
http://www.georgiapacking.org/GaCode/?title=16&chapter=11§ion=130
#21 OT,
You bring up a good point. One other thing to consider is that many LEO agencies don’t have the budget to train their officers to maintain proficiency in armed and unarmed combat (for lack of a better term).
Given how the LEO around Madison, Wisconsin, behaved, I’m not so sure I want cops being capable of paramilitary operations. Same goes for the growing reliance on SWAT to do everything from serving summons to more SWAT-like operations.
I understand ‘gun happy.’ It’s the twin brother of “When you have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.”
DaveO: That’s the general story; that the cops won’t train unless they’re getting paid to do it. Me, personally, if I were in the job, I would do it on my own time and my own dime (like I do anyway), because it’s my ass on the line. But that’s just crazy talk, since wearing a badge and carrying a gun makes you invincible and ultra-proficient in handling said firearm.
That’s expired now, so I use my VA permit to carry down this way. Alabama and Georgia do not recognize it, though (didn’t know that).
In general, it’s the same reason that S.C. won’t recognize GA permits…they see our system as too lenient and GA won’t reciprocate with a state that won’t recognize our permits…so either GA has to make it tougher to get a permit or the other states have to lower their threshold for reciprocity. You’re 100% right on the military thing though; if you’re active duty, you’re covered.
#32 Claymore,
Compared to Kentucky, Virginia has lenient laws. When I was 21 I had to take the mandated NRA Handgun Safety Course and fire 50 rounds at the range (it didn’t matter if I hit the target or not). As a service member that is waived. In Kentucky I had to go to a class two nights, watch videos on state laws and pass a written test, and place at least 11 out of 20 rounds on target at 7 yards. Military is not exempt there.
http://www.kc3.com/kyccw/license_process.htm
#31 OT,
Riiiiiiight! And agree about off the job training.
The running joke at my last job was that it was worth investing in a .40 cal pistol as our fellow federal LEOs got service ammo for free…and never shot. My limited experience shooting IDPA was that being a cop had zero correlation to shooting ability.
One of my recently-ETSed soldiers in our NG unit is now a deputy for King County (Seattle area). He shoots every chance he gets, and uses up his monthly allowance for training ammo and then some. But I suspect he’s something of an anomaly.
WA state has pretty lax requirements. It’s a “shall issue” state, in that they have to give one to you (with a fee, background check, fingerprints) if you apply; you don’t need any particular reason or justification. However, there’s no training requirement, so as with some of the earlier examples, a lot of states do not accept a WA permit.
Hey Sig? Is there a CSM Trevor XXXXX in your unit?
#3 OT,
We’ve already had our “little” episode of mall shooting several years ago where I live (SLC) at Trolley Square — by a disaffected Muzzie youth. (Thank God for an off-duty police officer who had his gun in the car).
So I NEVER think that ANYWHERE is safe. Always try to keep the radar up and scanning.
I think it irritates the wife that I carry so often and consistently, but she’s getting used to it — or at least she doesn’t say anything.