CCW

Yeah, this would never happen!

…is what the anti-rights folks say of legal firearm possession appropriately used:

AZ:Armed Citizen Wins Gunfight in Yuma

Guns & Ammo Brings It!

(click to embiggen)

I am SO GLAD to reside in the Free State of Arizona! – Guffaw

h/t Facebook

Training, Shooting and Fashion

Cornered Cat|Scratching Post always presents such well-reasoned wisdom.  You should read this link in particular, if you’re not already reading her blog.  Then you should remedy the situation by reading it, regularly.

Kathy Jackson walks us through the thought process of the new female shooting student.  After all, generally women are more concerned with fashion dictates.  (Yes, I know, Brigid, not every woman!  )

Some student concerns:

One person expressed it very well when she wrote, “[The Cornered Cat] course requires a holster type I have no intention of ever using. So that means even more money spent on a holster and clothing that would only be used the days of the class.”

Another person wrote something similar: “I’d have to invest in pants with belt loops, belt, and holster that I would probably never use again just to take one or two classes.”

Kathy intones:

Putting a loaded gun into a holster is the single most dangerous thing anyone ever does in a professional firearms training class.

I remember Jeff Cooper poo-pooing fashion with regard to its dictates versus the need to carry safely.  An  no one would have ever called The Colonel a fashion plate.  After all, what’s more important?

And men, don’t gloss over going to Kathy Jackson’s link because it’s aimed at women.  Her above quote applies to you, as well.

Both in training and (daily) carry, safety should be our foremost concern.  We are dealing with lethal instrumentalities, after all.

Fashion should come second.  Or even farther down the list.

As I’m on disability, my daily wear is usually a colored T-shirt, a long-sleeve over-shirt, Wrangler jeans, a belt from The Wilderness and my diabetic orthopedic walking shoes, with my right one built-up (aka ‘Ed’, the really big shoe).  On more formal occasions, I’ve been known to substitute a polo shirt.  George Clooney eat your heart out!  (I know – your bodyguards probably dress better!)

My shooting wear isn’t much different, except for the addition of my Tilly Hat and eyes/ears.  And sunglasses.

If you need to purchase (or perhaps borrow?) some clothes or holsters to meet the requirements of a particular class, I say go for it.  More training is always better.

h/t Kathy Jackson, Jeff Cooper

Message Received

So…

Ol’ Guffaw has his routines.  Routines are comforting, because they provide order and structure in an otherwise disorderly world.  I like my routines.

I’ve been ‘carrying a gun’ now, on-and-off since 1974.  Thirty nine years.  That’s a long time.  And since Arizona has had CCW laws in place, almost daily, unless I was severely restricted (like at my former workplace).  I carried.  Of course, I did carry to-and-from the workplace.  Don’t tell anyone.

It’s part of my routine.  Shower, dress; put wallet in one pocket, keys, cellular telephone, speed strip and folding knife in another, the snub in her holster in another. (Unless I’m carrying the 1911 IWB).  I’ve taken to carrying the snub more.  Laziness, I guess.  It’s my routine.

Unless I’m distracted.  My roomie had to work late, so, I was on my own for din-din, a rare occurrence.  Not my normal routine.  A distraction.  Went to Ted’s, a Buffalo NY origin hot dog place (charcoal-grilled, don’t ya know!).  Then to an event at a nearby public library (I know, I’m wild and crazy!)

Upon arriving at Ted’s, I did the usual self-frisk, checking to have keys before locking the car, wallet, knife, and sidearm.  (This is known in my circle as ‘spectacles, testicles, wallet, watch’, if you know the joke.)

And I had no firearm!  For some reason, I simply didn’t gear up before leaving home!  I had my wallet, keys, cell, speedloader and folder.  No gun.

I thought, “Oh, well, I have my knife” (like I’m a freakin’ ninja!) and had dinner @ Ted’s, then went to the library thing.  The usual door was locked, with a sign reading, “Must Enter By Front Door”.  So, I had to walk all the way around to the front, a semi-serious distance for a disabled guy like me.

And I asked at the information desk.  Seems they are now locking secondary entrances after 1830, due to increased crime in and around the facility!  WTF?  Fortunately, nothing happened.  (There was a security guard who looked up from her smart phone long enough to see I was in the building, then went back to more important stuff.)

And tonight’s the night I was the opposite of vigilant!  What a maroon I am!

Message received. 

It’s gonna be ‘spectacles, testicles, wallet, watch’, with more emphasis on the watch, in the future!

Advice to Cops

Maddened Fowl links to an article in PoliceOne.com, which gives advice at length to law enforcement professionals with regard to encounters with persons carrying weapons legally concealed.

You should go and read the whole article.  While positive in tone, it does show cops how to spot someone legally carrying concealed, and could be used to invoke probable cause if a citizen is on the edge with regard to a violation.  Like if they are carrying concealed with a permit, but in a non-permitted area.  (e.g. Arizona permits carrying in bars without warning signage if one is not consuming alcohol.  Sometimes permitees cross this line.  Some other States do allow consumption.)

In part:

Philosophically, I support the right to carry for anyone who can exercise the responsibility for proper care and awareness. I have found, by and large, that citizens who do carry concealed are very pro-law enforcement and would be very willing to come to your aid if you were in the middle of a fire fight. This can be good and bad but I try never to forget that they are supporters of law enforcement, not felons. This is a BIG difference.

• People who have gone through the process of getting a concealed carry permit are, in general, law abiding citizens, not felons.

• Do not expect them to know the letter of the law or the interpretations of the law in various districts—they will have a general idea what the law states

• IF THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE to treat someone who may be carrying a concealed weapon as an armed criminal, by all means do so — however, when you make a contact with a CCW, proning them out wouldn’t be my first option without digging a little deeper

This is followed by a whole litany of fashion ideas civilian CCW’ers seem to cultivate, as opposed to the average felon or gang-banger.

Very educational, both for cops and for civilians who carry with discretion.  I suspect ganstas won’t see the article – or can’t even read.

WHOOPS!

So…I heard a tale the other day about an NRA Gun-In-The-Home and AZ DPS certified concealed weapon instructor who forgot to renew his CCW permit.

He was me.  (That was I?)

Of course, I told myself I had excuses – I was still unpacking from the move; I moved because I lost my home (an emotional/distracting time to be sure) and didn’t have a functioning printer to update my address information with DPS.  (They’re still in the Dark Ages – one cannot update information on-line.  Print out a form, fill it out and send it in.)

My roommate recently loaned me a printer because I’m more apt to print stuff than she.  I was getting it set up and remembered I needed to inform DPS.  I pulled out my trusty permit and WHOOPS!

Thank the good folks in the Arizona Legislature who passed Constitutional Carry a couple years back.  It’s a little different from having a permit, and if I ever have enough spare funds to actually buy a gun, I’ll have to go through the ‘dreaded’ NICS (Brady) check system.  The permit acted as a check, previously.

Of course, there’s no way I can afford to purchase any firearm, so I’m safe.

DAMN!

PS – I called AZ DPS CCW Unit yesterday morning and it turns out while the permit is currently invalid, renewal may be accomplished within 60 days!  Just print out the form, fill it out, send it in with a $43.00 money order and you’re golden for another five years!

Geez, in five years I’ll be 65 !  I’ll probably forget then, too!

The point is, IF you are a licensed or permitted person, check to make certain your documents are in order (e.g. current) and in your possession as needed.  It wouldn’t do to have a defensive confrontation and reach for one’s permit to show the PD and not have it, or have it previously expired.

Dog and Pony Show

Today is sentencing day for Jared Loughner.  He’s the young man who plead guilty to shooting 6 people dead, and wounding 12 others, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ).

The 24-year-old had pleaded guilty three months ago to 19 federal charges under an agreement that guarantees he will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Today, many of his victims will face their attacker and make victim statements.  Rep. Giffords is expected to have her husband read hers.

Now, please understand.  The man has already plead guilty.  This is just sentencing.  Of course, I know if someone shot me, I’d like to face them in court.

But, it’s mostly for show.  I expect the media to be there. (snark)

This means one of the other issues has again surfaced.  Mental disease and the right of gun ownership.  It’s expected that the current administration will soon make some-kind of appeal to change current firearms law to somehow invade medical privacy to make certain whacky folk can’t get their hands on a firearm.  Legally.  Of course, nothing would prevent them from using knives or bombs.  Or stealing one.  Or a dozen.  And we all know how efficient such a system will be.  Like the one that put Ted Kennedy on the No-Fly List.

And, you can bet there will be attempts to make seeking counseling or other mild mental health assistance to make it’s way to the governmental no-guns-allowed list.

Yeah, I’m certain it’ll work well to protect us all.  Just look how safe New York and Chicago are from gun-related crime.  (snark)

Kathy FINALLY Does It!

Kathy Jackson (of The Cornered Cat fame) finally started a blog about carrying a firearm for self-defense, and all the attendant issues.

Not just for Women, although that is her focus.  I steer students of both genders to her work because it is honest, direct and compassionate.

You should make her part of her regular reading regimen.  I have.

Her goal:

My goal in producing all this material is to educate and inspire people to take personal responsibility for their own lives and their own safety.

Sounds good to me! - Guffaw

Bianchi Speed-Strip Update

A few days back I posted regarding the decomposition of my Bianchi Speed Strip after at least 20 years of dutiful service.

This was a comment on the quality of the product (excellent!) and not intended to be a bleg.

HOWEVER, a couple of fine folks took it upon themselves to send me some spare equipment they were not using.

Living on disability as I do, I’m not made of money.  I had anticipated shilling out a few dollars for the item (they are reasonably inexpensive) + shipping.  But these folks came through in a pinch, without my asking.

THANK YOU!

I’m hoping this new gear will last at least a few more years.  This Internet friendship thing just might catch on! – Guffaw

Well, it FINALLY broke!

Self-destructed, actually.

My 20+ year old Bianchi Speed Strip.  The one I’ve religiously carried in my right front pocket whenever I was carrying a .38 or .357 revolver.  I used to carry two, but either lost one or gave it to a needy friend.  (Editor’s note – she no longer carries a wheel gun, so she graciously loaned it back to me!)

About two months ago, the 6th round holder broke loose (The little extension tab was long gone by then).  The round was still contained in the Neoprene, but separate from the unit.  Which was okay, because I only have the electroless nickel S&W 442, which holds 5 rounds.  A modification from Heaven!

BUT, the other day, the 5th round holder lost it’s integrity, and the round fell out of the unit.  I know four rounds for reload is better than none (or 5 or 6 loose in the pocket with my cell, keys, and Blur folder!).  And now it’s deteriorated down to three!

I’m both gun poor and money poor, but I guess I have to spring for a replacement pair.

Sigh.

They served me well.