Posts in 'Uncategorized'

All states are not created equally (in regards to your rights)

If you happen to live in a state where the cost or bureaucracy of getting your CCW is prohibitive, you should think about getting a non-residential permit from another state. In the news recently was an article about the rise in the number of non residential Virginia CCW’s issued that looks to coincide with a new procedure allowing people to take the “competency” test online. Basically, you take the online test of 15-20 true or false questions and if you pass you have the basic competency for carrying a gun. Examples of these questions are as follows: “The first step in cleaning your firearm is to make sure it is unloaded,” “Always keep firearms pointed in a safe direction,” Once the test is passed, you include it with your application, fingerprints for a background check, and the $39.99 fee. Since Virginia is a “shall-issue” state they must issue you a...

Take the money and run

Most likely you work hard for your money. In this economy that sentiment is probably an understatement. So why would you want to spend your hard earned cash at a place that doesn’t recognize your rights? I am talking of businesses that are hostile to gun ownership and gun owners. They come in diverse fields and have varying degrees of being anti gun establishments. For instance they could have that little sign on their door with a pistol X’d out. Now, unless I missed it on the news, force fields or magic pixy dust has not been proven to stop criminals so this business wants you to make yourself vulnerable to death but will do nothing more than place a sign up to insure your safety. I tend to avoid these places, mainly because I don’t want to be murdered. Sometimes they won’t have the little sign but if you are...

One should always stand up to bullies, even if they have a badge

I am glad to see that the corruption and racketeering of some in the Nassau Country Police Department does not go unchallenged, especially when the victim happens to be a gun shop owner on the border of his royal pompousness Emperor Bloomberg’s fiefdom (formerly known as New York City). $5 million for wrongful arrest from alleged crooked cop with a beef. The shakedown began in 2006 when Officer Erik Faltings in the Pistol Licensing Bureau of Nassau County came to gun shop owner Martin Tretola and asked him to release some weapons to a friend of Faltings in March of that year. Tretola questioned the legality of such a request and as a responsible gun shop owner refused. Officer Faltings apparently didn’t like not being obeyed unquestioningly and according to charges in the court documents orchestrated a raid on Tretola’s T&T Gunnery store which included the Nassau County Fire...

Standing for the Constitution by standing against the law

When I was in the Army we were told we had to follow all lawful orders. Sounds easy enough…until you’re given an unlawful order. Too often in history we hear of atrocities being committed by those “just following orders”. But even when you are right, and you stand up against what is wrong, it doesn’t mean it’s easy. In fact, it usually means the opposite and your life is going to get a lot more difficult. But I guess that’s where things like character and honor come into play. Are you willing to go against the flow and stand up for what is right? I just wanted to highlight a few people who seem to grasp the outline of what “shall not be infringed” means in a post Heller and McDonald world. And then just for kicks, to highlight one who wants to thumb his nose at the Second...

Is that a gun on your hip or are you just happy to see me?

As an open carrier I have found that there are tangible benefits to the practice that transcend simple self defense measures. Open carrying of firearms, where legally permissible, offers an opportunity to change perceptions and politics. Of course, like many things, this is a double edged proposition. I have been openly carrying in Pennsylvania since about 2005. Mostly in Pittsburgh but also throughout the state when I travel. Actually, to any state that it is legal to OC in, I do. But back to PA for now. In the Commonwealth it is legal to open carry on foot without a license or permit in every municipality except for Philadelphia. You need a PA License to Carry a Firearm or a CCW from another state with reciprocity. Over the years I have been subject to a great deal of police officers trying to assert dominance over me, by pressuring me to forfeit...

Are you ready to survive?

After going over the summary of internet traffic to my blog I noticed that, behind facebook, the most traffic was coming from a site called survival week. I thought I would give them a look and see what they were all about. To put it bluntly, the site is a one stop shop of survival information in case the world goes topsy turvy. So, before some of you start thinking about how the Mayans were all full of it and the end of the world isn’t going to come on December 21st, 2012 I want you to think about what you may need to be ready to survive that has nothing to do with a nigh-mythological doomsday countdown. Let’s start with something easy and quantifiable: Hurricanes. Not any hurricane mind you, lets take a look at what a hurricane can do to a city that is literally below sea level, New Orleans....

Can you ever pay off your crime?

Spent some time this weekend thinking about a conversation I had concerning a topic from last week about the mandatory jail time for felons who use firearms in another crime or simply illegally carry after their first release. This post may be a little more philosophical than others but I think its some good food for thought. Instead of using specific examples of varying crimes I am going to pose the query as such: Should a convicted felon ever be allowed to regain all their rights? This of course includes the right to keep and bear arms. In my youth I was a bit more of a hard tack when it came to this notion. I believed that if you committed a crime you should be punished and that you are no longer a citizen in regards to the Constitution. You have broken the social contract intrinsic to being a...

The Peoples Champion…

…are the people themselves. In 2 places this week, from the Capitol of Sacramento to the little village of Corrales, NM the people who believe in Freedom, the Second Amendment and Liberty in general rose up in opposition to a heretofore tone deaf legislative body and demanded that their rights not be infringed. I wrote earlier of State Senator Leland Yee of San Francisco’s unconstitutional bill and his flippant let-them-eat-cake-esque response when legally advised that it was unconstitutional. Well, apparently coming all the way out to California for the rally that Gun Owners of California (in conjunction with GOA) planned and was estimated to be attended by 2,000 – 5,000 attendees was unnecessary. For the committee, being flooded with emails, letters and calls finally got the hint. The GOC’s top lobbyist was called personally by the representative of the committee and was told that Gun Owners had won and that the bill was...

To protect the children…

…let us arm the children. And I don’t mean slapping a six shooter on a toddler but rather a child in the sense that while they are adults in the eyes of the law they will always be children in the eyes of their parents. Sending your child off to college is often a very emotional time for parents. I recall my father getting a little misty eyed when he drove me some 500 miles to the University of Pittsburgh and wished me luck. And it is the role of parents to provide for the safety of their children as best they can. To that end, I say we should fully support the goals of Students for Concealed Carry. Later this fall, in conjunction with SCC I will be traveling to several Universities that have seen crimes committed against a student or students and really delve into what the actual...

The many shades of Mitt Romney

I wish the Mitt Romney was more like Paul Ryan in regards to the Second Amendment. As I wrote previously, Rep. Ryan has been a constant and trusted vote for the Second Amendment and I feel confident in him in such regards. The top of the ticket, on the other hand, in regards to figuring out his stance on gun rights, is like trying to capture a shade in the dark. While as Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney was atrocious in regards to the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Here is the following measures that were passed or supported by Gov. Romney: 1994: backed 5-day waiting period on gun sales. Find common ground with pro-gun & anti-gun groups. (Jan 2012) 2002: I will not chip away at MA’s tough gun laws. 2008: “Lifelong” devotion to hunting meant “small varmints”. 2002: My positions won’t make me the hero of...

We didn’t land on Hussein Barack, Hussein Barack landed on us

Or at least he will if he is re-elected. I have often heard from those who plan on voting for Obama this fall, that he has not moved for any gun control measures, that he is not against guns and that he is not a threat to the Second Amendment. All of which are false. And I can prove it. First of all there are the obtuse reasons. The fact that his Attorney General Eric Holder in 1995 is quoted as saying “we need to brainwash people against guns”. This from the same Attorney General who has stonewalled congress in regards to the Fast & Furious scandal that was reportedly a scheme to promote gun violence in order to pass new gun control measures. Then there are the words of the President himself who said, while on the campaign trail in 2008, of Pennsylvanians that “they get bitter, they...

Romney get your gun

…or in this case your hunting, skinning, butchering (in a good way), polish sausage making, Second Amendment defending running mate, Paul Ryan. With the announcement of Paul Ryan as Romney’s running mate I decided to take a day or two and let the hullabaloo quiet a bit before I weighed in with any commentary. Now that I, and the nation, have had a couple of days to digest the news I figured I would delve into Ryan’s street cred in regards to the Second Amendment. First and foremost, Rep. Ryan’s rating from GOA is an A. Simply put, he is a strong pro-gun voter and philosophically sound. But lets get into the meat and potatoes of what that means. Rep. Ryan voted for the prohibition of lawsuits against gun manufacturers for misuse of their weapons. How anyone could have voted otherwise is beyond me. It would be like suing Toyota...

They fear what they do not know

That has been my experience in regards to people unfamiliar with firearms. This seems especially true with women. Coming from the North East I have had to deal with a great many people who have been so bamboozled and brainwashed by the constant and relentless attack on firearms that they think that the inanimate object will just jump up and start spitting bullets at them. But, thankfully im charming as hell and can usually convince even the most hardened heart to at least join me at the range once. Note: One should always have a healthy respect for firearms and the harm they can contribute to if not respected. Much like one should respect a car but realizes that if you drive 120mph drunk that its not the cars fault if you hurt or kill someone. Anyways, back to the range. I have not once…not EVER brought some gun...

Hang together or we’ll all Hwang separately

In case you haven’t heard, respected Attorney, President-elect of the New Haven Bar Association and carry permit holder Sung-Ho Hwang was arrested for attending a movie while carrying a firearm in New Haven CT. The only problem is that there was absolutely NOTHING illegal with what he did and therefore should not have been arrested at all. In fact, he wasn’t charged with anything relating to a firearm but rather “Breach of the peace”. Feel free to read that as “contempt of cop”. The fact that Mr. Hwangs action of self-protection so riled up the Chief of Police Dean Esserman that he ordered the officers to arrest Mr. Hwang when they would have otherwise let him go after discovering he possessed a Conneticutt carry permit are so vile and nauseating Chief Esserman should make himself sick. It is my hope that a lawsuit against the PD and the Town...

Who says you can’t fight city hall?

Or in this case the Capitol. The people are taking to the streets to oppose SB249. With a groundswell of support for gun rights, gun owners and those who believe in the Constitution have decided to take back government with a good ole fashioned rally at the Capitol in Sacramento. Details can be found here If you are in the area or if you can make the trip I ask that you give a little time to a good cause. Politicians often find themselves isolated in their ivory towers because their constituency are too busy earning a living to keep them in check. But sometimes, when politicians have lost their way it is imperative that the people stand together and demand acknowledgment of their grievances. If they cannot hear us from way up in their tower than we must shake the very ground with our voices and our feet. I invite anyone...

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety…

…deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Ben Franklin 1759 I decided, after seeing that I have some readers currently in the United Kingdom, to hearken back to Mr. Franklin because I believe a snapshot of America’s future can be seen across the pond if we do not listen to his words. After a pair of shootings in 1987 and 1996 the UK passed 2 Firearm Acts criminalizing the possession of of most firearms with an exception for antiques and black powder revolvers. Think about that, from tragedies that could have been avoided with armed resistance, Parliament decides to fulfil the dream of American Gun Grabbers and outlaw practically every handgun. Of course, this must mean that crime is non existent in the UK. I mean, if no one has guns then no crime can happen right? But that is not the case. Lets take a look at the numbers: In the...

Wasn’t expecting this…

While looking at the stats for this blog I noticed that I have had a couple of visitors from overseas. Not sure if they are Americans abroad or foreigners curious about Americas Second Amendment but either way I thank you for visiting. If you are a member of the US Armed Forces I, as well as everyone at GOA, thanks you for your service and we are honored by the sacrifices you have made. If you happen to be an Olympic Athlete representing America in the London Games may I wish you all the best of luck. We are all proud regardless of medals won or honors bestowed so long as you handle yourself with dignity and class. But if you happen to have some precious metal around your neck that’s good too! To any foreigners who may be curious let me say this. The right to keep and...

The Legislation is Unconstitutional? Take us to court

Thus is the sentiment of State Senator Leland Yee of San Francisco. The California lawmaker has proposed legislation looking for a problem. In case you haven’t heard of SB 249, if passed it will ban AR style rifles that currently need a tool of some sort in order to detach the magazine. Colloquially known as the bullet button, with SB 249′s passage will make all kits that detach the magazine illegal as well as the weapons. Not only will it be illegal to even have these kits in your possession but you will be required to turn them in without any compensation. Some of these rifles can be priced in excess of $4000. With the passage of SB 249, California will not only be further infringing on the Second Amendment but will be in clear violation of the Fifth Amendment which states that the government cannot seize property without giving...

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