Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue agrees allowing concealed carry in airport non-secure areas is a good idea: "If my wife wanted to carry a gun, if she was walking from one of those far parking lots to pick up a grandchild or something like that, I think that's a good idea, yes," he said.
GP-TP plant claims exemption based on having a federal DHS-required safety plan under Coast Guard regs, and won't release details.
Marine Rules of Gunfighting, some of which might have application to civilian self-defense.
Open carry petition advances in Texas, one of six states severely restricting the practice.
Many states such as Texas do have concealed handgun rules and permits in place.
But many also have open-carry rules, unlike Texas, along with New York, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina and Washington, D.C., according to OpenCarry.org.
I noticed this article about a concealed carry being offered through a chamber of commerce elsewhere.
I have been promoting concealed carry through my own chamber, the Ladera Ranch Chamber of Commerce, which is part of the South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce. I flew to Utah last weekend and got approved this week as a Utah instructor, so I am now offering the class in the Chamber's online Business Directory (click the "Hot Deals" button).
I am also looking for community groups interested in promoting a class for their members as a charity event, and I have approached various Catholic groups and a domestic violence shelter. For these groups, I would consider donating my time and suggesting a donation in lieu of training fee.
LA Times reports:
Hutchens said she intends to review each permit and determine whether the gun owners demonstrated an immediate fear for their safety or held an occupation so inherently dangerous that they needed to carry concealed weapons in public.
This would appear to indicate policy changes inconsistent with Hutchens' statements at her hearings--that policy would not change--as relayed to me by Pat Bates.
Duringer Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation. June 12th, 2008 at 10:48 am I approached Pat Bates about the CCW issue at this morning's State of the Community breakfast in Ladera Ranch. I asked Ms. Bates whether the appointment of Sandra Hutchens as Sheriff will mean a change in CCW issuance and renewal, and Ms. Bates replied that Ms. Hutchens made clear during the hearing there will be no change in policy (except there will be an audit of political c-a-ronies). After Ms. Bates' comments I feel more comfortable about the situation but am still not sure about long-term fealty to the Second Amendment since no one talks about that. Maybe they are just playing safe til the election in 2011. Meanwhile, I'm focusing on educating as many people as I can about CCW. I'm flying to Utah this weekend to get approved as an instructor so I can help my fellow Californians carry legally while traveling in 33 OTHER states (but not their own). And I will also educate them on how to become an instructor and teach others. And so on. And so on.
5/30/2008
Just a few weeks ago, Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue signed legislation that extends Right-to-Carry into restaurants across the state. Of course, anti-gun politicians and opponents of Right-to-Carry have been busy making the same outrageous claims we've heard for decades: It'll make restaurants more dangerous, how can we tell if someone's carrying, and on and on.
Those critics should take a look at what happened in the town of Winnemucca, Nevada, not long ago. It was about 2:30 in the morning when Ernesto Villagomez walked in to the Players Bar and Grill and began shooting. He killed two men and wounded several others. But when Villagomez stopped to reload, a customer in the restaurant used his legally owned firearm to stop the killer.
That customer is a Right-to-Carry holder who was in the right place at the right time. He didn't make that restaurant more dangerous. He saved lives.
Send this story to every Georgian you know. They won't hear it from a media too afraid of firearms to cover the issue fairly, but the citizens of Georgia deserve to know the truth about Right-to-Carry.
Audio stream (MP3 file):
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ALEC Task Force Adopts Model "Campus Personal Protection Act" Friday, May 23, 2008 The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is an organization comprised of public and private sector members (largely made up of state legislators and corporate/association government affairs representatives) from all 50 states that share common support for free market principles and individual liberties. At ALEC's recent Spring Task Force Summit in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the Criminal Justice Task Force unanimously adopted a model "Campus Personal Protection Act." Brought forth by NRA-ILA, the act calls for the repeal of state restrictions on the possession of firearms by valid concealed handgun licensees on college and university campuses and preempts governing bodies of postsecondary educational institutions from imposing such restrictions on permit holders. This Act will officially become ALEC "Model Legislation" in 30 days if there is no objection from ALEC's Board of Directors.
Utah concealed weapon permits grow.
By the end of the year, officials estimate Utah will have issued more then 40,000 permits, nearly 150 percent more than issued last year. It's a 250 percent increase over permits issued in 2006.
....
Since 1994 about two-thirds of permits issued go to out-of-staters. The increased number of permits should generate about $1 million in revenue. Utah issues permits rather than relying on reciprocity agreements that recognize gun permits from another state, much like honoring driver's licenses issued elsewhere. Public Safety Commissioner Scott Duncan said the state should end out-of-state permitting, but acknowledged the decision rests with lawmakers. "We'll do it any way they want us to do it," Duncan said. "I think we need to look out for our state first." Duncan said the program leaves Utah with a number of problems, including the inability to monitor some Utah-certified permit instructors. About 70 percent live in states other than Utah. Gun rights advocate and committee member Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield, said he opposes eliminating out-of-state permitting.
Forty-eight states allow people to carry concealed weapons under certain circumstances. Only Illinois and Wisconsin do not.
Follow link for full tips on what to avoid.
In looking for these obvious signs of a criminal carrying a concealed weapon, make sure that YOU as a responsible law-abiding Concealed Weapon Permit Holder don’t make the same mistakes, because the defining benefit of having a concealed weapon is that the bad guy doesn’t know you have it. The surprise of a concealed weapon and the ability to present it quickly and deliver two sighted shots to your opponent’s chest before your adversary has the chance to react gives you a distinct advantage over the armed criminal. Don’t blow that lifesaving advantage by allowing the crooks to know you are carrying a weapon.
Link: Home - USA Carry - Concealed Firearm Information and Resources.
Interactive Concealed Carry Permit Maps
Link (Marion Hammer, Tampa Tribune): It's About The Second Amendment And Nothing Else.
Clearly, the state can - and did - act to protect the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves when traveling and in publicly accessible parking lots. It is definitely a safety issue, as a living person is clearly more important than an asphalt parking lot. NRA believes in private property rights, but unlike citizens, corporations are discretionary creations of government. They come into existence through charters created by legislatures. Corporate interests don't override the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. Shrill arguments for property rights or profits must not take precedence over the lives of hardworking men and women. An employer's political philosophy or contempt for firearms rights does not trump a law-abiding person's fundamental, right to self-protection.
Link: Florida's new guns-to-work law faces legal challenge -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com.
Florida's so-called "guns-to-work" law is the target of a lawsuit filed Monday in federal district court in Tallahassee by the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Retail Federation against Florida's attorney general.
Link (nranews.com): Getting Soft on Crime.
You were the victim of a crime. But your refusal to prosecute your attacker may lead to other crimes being committed by the same man. And they may not all end with "just a bruise" and a broken camera. Getting tough on crime isn't just the job of politicians. We have our role to play as well if we want to see our streets become safer.
Link: The Morning News: News : Bill Forces States To Accept Concealed Gun Permits.
WASHINGTON -- Americans with state-issued concealed weapons permits would be allowed to carry guns wherever they travel in the country under a bill introduced Monday by 3rd District Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers.
Link: Concealed Weapons Applications Rise Sharply.
Virginia Supreme Court statistics show that nearly 44,000 people applied for permits in 2007, an increase of more than 60 percent over the previous year. Applicants don't have to state a reason for seeking a permit.
This is not the first situation like this, and not the first involving Pizza Hut. NRA-ILA.org: |
| Friday, April 04, 2008 |
“The incident wasn’t something quick and simple. ... It was a long ordeal…my life was, without a doubt, in danger.” On the night of March 27, 2008, Pizza Hut deliveryman James Spiers of Des Moines, Iowa was delivering pizzas--just as he had many times before over the past 10 years. He walked into an apartment complex thinking he was making another routine delivery, but found himself in a battle for his life: he had been set up by a “customer” who had lured him into the complex by pretending to order the pizza over the phone, but who had an armed accomplice waiting in ambush. Spiers soon found himself trapped in a hallway with a gun to his head, his assailant demanding money. “Without a doubt,” he said, “my life was in extreme danger.” The thug (who, not surprisingly, has a long list of prior arrests) thought he had the upper hand. Fortunately, Mr. Spiers has a valid concealed carry permit, and was carrying a pistol for personal protection at the time of the attack. He struggled with his attacker and managed to draw his own firearm. He shot the assailant, who fled the scene but was later arrested after he sought medical treatment. Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the story. As a result of his actions, Mr. Spiers, a single father trying to make an honest living, was suspended from his job by his employer, Pizza Hut. That’s right. A man who, as a result of doing his job, was forced into a life-threatening situation, defended himself, and whose actions helped take a career criminal off the street, was deprived of his livelihood. Pizza Hut suspended James Spiers for defending his life. Vonnie Walbert, vice president of human resources at Pizza Hut, said, “We have a policy against carrying weapons. We prohibit employees from carrying guns because we believe that that is the safest for everybody.” “Safest for everybody?” This inane policy certainly makes things safer for criminals, like the one who attacked Spiers. But it does nothing to aid the safety of Pizza Hut’s employees. Every night, hardworking deliverymen and women must do their job in potentially dangerous areas. In fact, their jobs are statistically among the most dangerous in the nation. Yet Pizza Hut would deprive them of self-protection. Thankfully, people are taking notice. Spiers has said that he has been “overwhelmed by support from people who cheered what happened,” including Iowa state senator Brad Zaun (R-32), who noted, “If I was in a situation to protect my family, protect myself, to continue being a father, I would’ve done the same thing. What I want everybody to know…is that there [are] people out there supporting this man and his right to defend himself. I’m going to be watching Pizza Hut.” To voice your outrage over Pizza Hut’s disciplinary decision, please contact the Corporate Offices by phone at (800) 948-8488, or by e-mail at this webpage: http://www.pizzahut.com/contactus/ContactUsForm.aspx?l1=2024. This corporate policy is outrageous. |
Link: Townhall.com::Obama Comes Out Against Concealed Carry::By Amanda Carpenter.
Barack Obama is embracing anti-gun policies in the run-up to a Democratic presidential debate scheduled on the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings. “I am not in favor of concealed weapons,” Obama told the Pittsburgh Tribune. “I think that creates a potential atmosphere where more innocent people could (get shot during) altercations.”
David Hardy summarizes Volokh post on favorable ruling in "carrying at work" arena. Link: Of Arms and the Law: Opinion on employment and firearm rights.
Gene Volokh has a posting on an employment law case. Normally, an at-will employee can be fired, or quit, for any reason. In this case, he was fired because he brought a firearm to work. He sued, and the court refuses to dismiss his suit (although he might lose it later). The reasoning: (1) the state constitutional provision on right to arms for self defense indicates a strong public policy (while not binding a private property owner directly) in favor of such and (2) it is alleged that the employer really didn't have such a policy in place at the time of the firing, they just decided they didn't like it and fired him out of hand.
The 30-year-old mother of three jumped from her disabled SUV following a chase, holding a gun to her head to keep police back. Officers fired a stun gun but the nonlethal weapon was foiled by her heavy coat.
| Right-To-Carry |
| Right-to-Carry 2007 |
Only two states—Wisconsin and Illinois—prohibit carrying firearms for protection
• Nebraska is the most recent RTC state. In 2006, Nebraska’s RTC law was signed by Gov. Dave Heineman (R), Kansas’ Senate and House overrode Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ (D) veto of an RTC bill by votes of 30-10 and 91-33, respectively, and the Ohio Senate and House overrode then-Gov. Bob Taft’s (R) veto of a bill that improves the state’s 2004 RTC law, by votes of 21-12 and 71-21, respectively. • Other recent RTC initiatives. In January 2006, Wisconsin’s Senate voted 23-10 to override Gov. Jim Doyle’s (D) veto of RTC; the Assembly fell two votes short, voting 64-34. In Jan. 2004, Ohio then-Gov. Bob Taft (R) signed RTC into law and New Mexico’s Supreme Court upheld a 2003 RTC law. Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri adopted RTC in 2003, the latter by overriding Gov. Bob Holden’s (D) veto. • Types of RTC laws. There are 40 RTC states: 36 have “shall issue” laws, which require that carry permits be issued to applicants who meet uniform standards established by the state legislature. Alabama, Connecticut and Iowa have fairly-administered “discretionary-issue” carry permit systems. Vermont respects the right to carry without a permit. (Alaska, which has a shall-issue provision for purposes of permit-reciprocity with other states, adopted a no-permit-required law in 2003.) Of the 10 non-RTC states, eight have restrictively-administered discretionary-issue systems; two prohibit carrying altogether.
Click on map for larger graphic. • The right to self-defense is a fundamental right. The U.S. constitution, the constitutions of 44 states, common law, and the laws of all 50 states recognize the right to use arms in self-defense. RTC laws respect the right to self-defense by allowing individual citizens to carry firearms for protection. • More RTC, less crime. Violent crime rates in 2004-2005 were lower than anytime since 1976.1 (Crime victim surveys indicate that violent crime is at a 31-year low.2) Since 1991, 23 states have adopted RTC, the number of privately-owned guns has risen by nearly 70 million,3 and violent crime is down 38%. In 2005 RTC states had lower violent crime rates, on average, compared to the rest of the country (total violent crime by 22%; murder, 30%; robbery, 46%; and aggravated assault, 12%) and included the seven states with the lowest total violent crime rates, and 11 of the 12 states with the lowest murder rates.4 • RTC and crime trends. Studying crime trends in every county in the U.S., John Lott and David Mustard found, “allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons deters violent crimes and it appears to produce no increase in accidental deaths. If those states which did not have Right to Carry concealed gun provisions had adopted them in 1992, approximately 1,570 murders; 4,177 rapes; and over 60,000 aggravated assaults would have been avoided yearly....[W]hen state concealed handgun laws went into effect in a county, murders fell by 8.5 percent, and rapes and aggravated assaults fell by 5 and 7 percent.”5 • False predictions. Dave Kopel has written, “Whenever a state legislature first considers a concealed carry bill, opponents typically warn of horrible consequences....But within a year of passage, the issue usually drops off the news media’s radar screen, while gun-control advocates in the legislature conclude that the law wasn’t so bad after all.”6 A article related to Michigan’s RTC law said, “Concerns that permit holders would lose their tempers in traffic accidents have been unfounded. Worries about risks to police officers have also proved unfounded....National surveys of police show they support concealed handgun laws by a 3-1 margin....There is also not a single academic study that claims Right to Carry laws have increased state crime rates. The debate among academics has been over how large the benefits have been.”7 • RTC permit-holders are more law-abiding than the rest of the public. For example, Florida, which has issued more carry permits than any state (due to its large population and having had an RTC law since 1987) has issued over 1.2 million permits, but revoked only 157 (0.01%) due to gun crimes by permit-holders.8 Background. Before 1987, there were 10 RTC states. Indiana, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Washington had “shall issue” permit laws. Alabama and Connecticut had fairly-administered discretionary-issue systems. Georgia’s “shall issue” law was interpreted as discretionary in some jurisdictions. Vermont allowed carrying without a permit. Other states had restrictively-administered discretionary-issue carry permit systems or prohibited carrying altogether. These laws remain in effect. In 1987, Florida enacted a “shall issue” law that has since become the model for other states. Anti-gun groups, politicians and news media interests predicted vigilante justice and “Wild West” shootouts on every corner. The predictions proved false. Through 1992, Florida’s murder rate decreased 23%, while the U.S. rate rose 9%; thereafter, murder decreased both nationally and in Florida.9 Then-Florida Licensing Division Director, John Russi, noted that “Florida’s concealed weapon law has been very successful. All major law enforcement groups supported the original legislation....[S]ome of the opponents of concealed weapon legislation in 1987 now admit the program has not created the problems many predicted.”10 In a 1995 letter to state officials, Dept. of Law Enforcement Commissioner James T. Moore wrote, “From a law enforcement perspective, the licensing process has not resulted in problems.”
• 29 new RTC states since 1987. Of these, 21 previously prohibited carrying; nine (indicated with an asterisk, below) had restrictively-administered discretionary-issue systems. 1989: Oregon, Penna. (Phila. included in 1995), and West Virginia (in Georgia a judicial ruling enforced “shall issue” statewide); 1990: Idaho and Mississippi; 1991: Montana; 1994: Alaska, Arizona, Tennessee and Wyoming; 1995: Arkansas, Nevada*, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah* and Virginia*; 1996: Kentucky, Louisiana* and South Carolina*; 2001: Michigan*; 2003: Colorado*; Iowa* (by fairly administering its discretionary-issue system), New Mexico, Minnesota* and Missouri; 2004: Ohio; 2006: Kansas, Nebraska. Citizens can defend themselves. Analyzing National Crime Victimization Survey data, criminologist Gary Kleck found, “robbery and assault victims who used a gun to resist were less likely to be attacked or to suffer an injury than those who used any other methods of self-protection or those who did not resist at all.”11 In the 1990s, Kleck and Marc Gertz found that guns were used for self-protection about 2.5 million times annually.12 The late Marvin E. Wolfgang, self-described as “as strong a gun-control advocate as can be found among the criminologists in this country,” who wanted to “eliminate all guns from the civilian population and maybe even from the police,” said, “The methodological soundness of the current Kleck and Gertz study is clear. I cannot further debate it. . . . I cannot fault their methodology.”13 A study for the Dept. of Justice found that 34% of felons had been “scared off, shot at, wounded or captured by an armed victim,” and 40% of felons have not committed crimes, fearing potential victims were armed.14 The right to self-defense has been recognized for centuries. Cicero said 2,000 years ago, “If our lives are endangered by plots or violence or armed robbers or enemies, any and every method of protecting ourselves is morally right;” English jurist Sir William Blackstone observed that the English Bill of Rights recognized “the right of having and using arms for self-preservation and defense” as intended “to protect and maintain inviolate the three great and primary rights,” the first of which is “personal security.”15 Sir Michael Foster, judge of the Court of King’s Bench, wrote in the 18th century, “The right of self-defense. . . is founded in the law of nature, and is not, nor can be, superseded by any law of society.”16 The Supreme Court, in U.S. v. Cruikshank (1876), recognized that the right to arms is an individual right, stating that it “is not a right granted by the Constitution. Neither is it in any manner dependent upon that instrument for its existence.” In Beard v. U.S. (1895), the court approved the common-law rule that a person “may repel force by force” in self-defense, and concluded that when attacked a person “was entitled to stand his ground and meet any attack made upon him with a deadly weapon, in such a way and with such force” as needed to prevent “great bodily injury or death.” The laws of all states and the constitutions of 44 states recognize the right to armed self-defense. In the Gun Control Act (1968) and Firearms Owners’ Protection Act (1986), Congress stated that it did not intend to “place any undue or unnecessary Federal restrictions or burdens on law-abiding citizens with respect to the acquisition, possession, or use of firearms appropriate to . . . personal protection, or any other lawful activity.” Police aren’t required to protect you. In Warren v. District of Columbia (1981), the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled, “official police personnel and the government employing them are not generally liable to victims of criminal acts for failure to provide adequate police protection. . . a government and its agents are under no general duty to provide public services, such as police protection, to any particular citizen.” In Bowers v. DeVito (1982), the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, “[T]here is no constitutional right to be protected by the state against being murdered by criminals or madmen.” National RTC reciprocity. H.R. 4547, by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), proposes a federal law stating that any person with a valid state-issued carry permit may carry in any other state, as follows: In a state that issues carry permits, its laws would apply. In a state that does not issue permits, a federal standard would permit carrying in places other than police stations; courthouses; public polling places; meetings of state, county, or municipal governing bodies; schools; passenger areas of airports; and certain other locations. Nonsense from Brady Campaign (formerly Handgun Control, Inc.). Sarah Brady: “the only reason for guns in civilian hands is for sporting purposes;” former HCI Chair, the late Pete Shields: “[If attacked] put up no defense - give them what they want;” Brady Center’s Dennis Henigan: self-defense is “not a federally guaranteed constitutional right.”17 In Jan. 1999, HCI claimed that between 1992-1997 violent crime rates declined less in RTC states than in other states.18 (HCI previously claimed RTC caused crime to rise.) HCI erred in categorizing states as RTC states based upon their having RTC laws in 1997, since only 17 of those 31 states had RTC in 1992. HCI calculated crime trends from 1992 to underrepresent the impact of RTC laws; by 1992 many states had RTC for many years and already experienced decreases in crime. HCI misclassified Alabama and Connecticut as “restrictive” states, doing so presumably because both states had decreases in crime. HCI also credited restrictive laws for crime decreasing in some states. But states that have restrictive carry laws have had them for many years, and crime did not begin declining in those states until the 1990s, and did so due to factors unrelated to guns. Nonsense from Violence Policy Center: In 1995, VPC claimed Florida’s RTC law “puts guns into the hands of criminals.”19 The claim was false, since the law permits a person to carry, not acquire, a firearm. VPC claimed “criminals do apply for concealed carry licenses,” without noting that such applications are rejected. Contradicting itself, VPC noted that criminals had requested that their rejected applications be reconsidered. “To set the record straight,” Florida Secy. of State, Sandra B. Mortham, said, “As of November 30, 1995, the Department had denied 723 applications due to criminal history. The fact that these 723 individuals did not receive a license clearly indicates that the process is working.” She added, “the majority of concealed weapon or firearm licensees are honest, law-abiding citizens exercising their right to be armed for the purpose of lawful self-defense.”20 In 2001, VPC claimed there are more women murdered with handguns than criminals killed by in self-defense.21 The value of handguns for self-defense is not measured by how many criminals are killed, however. More important is how often people use handguns to prevent crimes and how often criminals do not attack for fear the potential victim is armed. Also, VPC undercounted the number of criminals killed in self-defense by counting only those noted in police reports, thus excluding defensive homicides later determined to have been appropriate. McDowell math: In March 1995, anti-gun researcher David McDowell claimed that gun homicide rates increased in Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa after Florida’s 1987 RTC law.22 But homicide rates fell 10%, 18% and 20%, respectively, in those metro areas from 1987 until 1993, the most recent data at the time.23 To show an increase, McDowell calculated Jacksonville and Tampa trends from the early 1970s, when rates were lower than in 1993, but calculated Miami’s from 1983, since rates before 1983 were higher and their inclusion would show that the rate had decreased. None of McDowell’s homicides was committed by a license holder, and he did not indicate which homicides had occurred in situations where a permit would have been required to carry a gun. McDowell has also claimed that D.C.’s murder rate decreased after its 1977 handgun ban. In fact, the rate tripled after the ban.24 The 43:1 claim: Based upon a small study of King’s County (Seattle), Washington, gun control supporters claim a gun in the home is “43 times more likely” to be used to kill a family member than a criminal.25 To reach that ratio, self-defense firearms uses are grossly undercounted by counting only cases in which criminals were killed. Most often, when guns are used to defend against criminals, the criminals are only scared off, captured or wounded. Kleck has called the 43:1 ratio and its variants “the most nonsensical statistic in the gun control debate.”26
1. BJS (http://bjsdata.ojp.usdoj.gov/dataonline/) and FBI (http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/offenses/violent_crime/index.html). 2. BJS, “Criminal Victimization 2005” (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov./bjs/pub/pdf/cv05.pdf). 3. BATF, “Firearms Commerce in the United States 2001/2002” (www.atf.gov/pub/index.htm#Firearms). 4. Note 1, FBI. 5. Lott, “Crime, Deterrence, and Right To Carry Concealed Handguns,” 1996. 6. David Kopel, “The Untold Triumph of Concealed-Carry Permits,” Policy Review, July-Aug. 1996, p. 9. 7. “Should Michigan keep new concealed weapon law? Don’t believe gun foe scare tactics,” Detroit News, 1/14/01. 8. Florida Division of Licensing, Monthly Statistical Report (http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/stats/cw_monthly.html) 9. Note 1, BJS. 10. Testimony before the Michigan House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, 12/5/95 11. Targeting Guns, Aldine de Gruyter, 1997, p. 171. 12. “Armed Resistance to Crime: The Prevalence and Nature of Self-Defense With a Gun,” Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Fall 1995, pp. 150-187. 13. “A Tribute to a View That I Have Opposed,” Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Fall 1995, pp. 188-192. 14. J. Wright and P. Rossi, Armed and Considered Dangerous: A Survey of Felons and Their Firearms, 1986, p. 155. 15. Stephen P. Halbrook, That Every Man Be Armed, The Independent Institute, 1994, pp. 17, 54. 16. Dowlut, Knoop, “State Constitutions and The Right to Keep and Bear Arms,” Okla. City Univ. Law Review, 1982, p. 183. 17. Brady: Tom Jackson, “Keeping the battle alive,” Tampa Tribune, 10/21/93; Shields, Guns Don’t Die - People Do, N.Y.: Arbor House, 1981; Henigan: USA Today, 11/20/91. 18. Handgun Control, Inc., “Concealed Truth” (http://www.bradycampaign.org/facts/research/?page=conctruth&menu=gvr) 19. “Concealed Carry: The Criminal’s Companion.” 20. St. Petersburg Times, 1/11/96. 21. “A Deadly Myth: Women, Handguns, and Self-Defense.” 22. “Easing Concealed Firearm Laws: Effects on Homicide in Three States.” 23. Note 1, BJS, and FBI, annual Crime in the United States reports. 24. Ibid 25. A. L. Kellermann, “Protection or Peril?: An Analysis of Firearm-Related Deaths in the Home,” New England Journal of Medicine, 1986. 26. Note 11, pp. 177-178. |
| Posted: 1/16/2007 12:00:00 AM at NRA-ILA.org here |
UPDATE: I just spoke with a wealthy PI/former LEO who also has a CCW here in OC. He warned me that backing the wrong horse for sheriff could result in my CCW being revoked if my horse loses. I've already had to fight off one attempt to non-renew, and I certainly don't want to go through that again! So this is not an endorsement of Bill Hunt--just urging folks to prod the Supes into appointing someone who, like Hunt, strongly supports CCW.....Isn't America great? Maybe I'll retire there.
With Carona gone, there is an air of fatalism about gun rights in Orange County. An NRA officer recently told me, pessimistically, that CCW is dead in Orange County, that most Orange County Supervisors are basically RINO's who do not share our values. (Witness the sneaky multi-stage attempt to get rid of John Wayne's name from the airport.) Maybe a positive can be found? Maybe this will spur statewide RTC? So far, no legislator or candidadate has been gutsy enough to offer what has spread like wildfire across forty (40) states. And the Respublikanskiys that are running? Let's just say that after talking with them, I have serious doubts about their fealty to 2A. What is it about their California constituents they find so inferior to residents of those forty (40) other states? Are we not responsible enough? Are we not men enough? Are we not mothers enough?
I am not giving up. I briefly tasted having my CCW non-renewed (until I appealed), as a result of some "free speech" of mine. I don't carry as much as I used to, for practical reasons, but I didn't like--even temporarily--not having the option to protect my family.
Perhaps the recent Mission Viejo Mall Shooting will help our side.
Here is an email from Deborah Courtney, a local 2A activist:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Friends:
Bill Hunt is independent of all the nonsense that is involved with the Sheriff's Department, and he sacrificed his career to clean things up. Unfortunately, The Machine was strong.
I personally attended meetings where 30 plus Deputies attended and gave their full support to Bill. They are loyal to him, and respect him immensely. At this time, they need someone with inside knowledge, and outside the box.
He is staunch Pro 2A and CCW, anti illegal immigration, and traditionally and fiscally Conservative. He is endorsed by the deputies union, and the firemen. They know a respected leader when they meet one.
I personally give Bill Hunt my endorsement, and am asking you to contact the Board of Supervisors and let them know that you do, too.
Also, please invite Bill to come and meet your friends, family, and service groups, and send messages to your friends in Orange County. I encourage YOU to set up groups for him to meet. He is willing to come out to meetings or groups and visit, and answer any questions as to how he would run the department as Orange County's next Sheriff, Sheriff Bill Hunt!
Contact Bill at 949.456.0205 and I HAVE MADE IT EASY FOR YOU TO CONTACT THE SUPERVISORS at:
Supervisor Janet Nguyen
Supervisor, First District
Phone: 714.834.3110
Fax: 714.834.5754
janet.nguyen@ocgov.com
Supervisor John Moorlach
Chairman, Board of Supervisors
Phone: 714.834.3220
Fax: 714.834.6109
district2@ocgov.com
Supervisor Bill Campbell
Supervisor, Third District
Phone: (714) 834-3330
Fax: (714) 834-2786
Bill.Campbell@ocgov.com
Supervisor Chris Norby
Supervisor - 4th District
Phone: 714.834.3440
Fax: 714.834.2045
Chris.Norby@ocgov.com
Supervisor Patricia C. Bates
Vice Chairperson
Supervisor, 5th District
Phone 714.834.3550
Fax: 714.834.2670
PatBates@ocgov.com
Or contact me if I can be of service to you:
Deborah Courtney
714.508.5789 phone
Link: Concealed gun permits soar : Updates : The Rocky Mountain News.
But El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa believes the sharp rise in applications in his county was caused by a reaction to highly publicized shootings there and across the country. Maketa said applications rose 87 percent in his county, and most of those were for new permits rather than renewals. He said spikes in applications happened directly after high profile shootings like the Utah mall shooting, the Virginia Tech massacre and the New Life Church gun battle — all happened in 2007. Maketa said he's not concerned about the county's growing number of legally armed people. In fact, he said he believes law-abiding citizens make the region safer by getting the permits. "Actually, I wish it was a higher number, because I know from experience that offenders in the jail system tell me they avoid crimes against people because they know there is a very high concealed-carry rate," Maketa said.
Link: The State | 03/09/2008 | Well-armed Lawmakers.
One in five state lawmakers has a concealed-weapons permit.
Link: Extending the Right to Carry, Part 2. Excerpt:
In my last blog, I talked about the importance of having a real discussion on the issue of Right-to-Carry on campuses across this country. Instead of having that honest debate, people like Paul Helmke and Peter Hamm of the Brady Campaign seem intent on talking about anything but the real issue.
They accuse groups like Students for Concealed Carry on Campus of being "funded by the gun industry," instead of simply recognizing that this is an issue that is important to tens of thousands of students and faculty. And their arguments against Right-to-Carry on campus are just straw men that collapse with ease.
They say that allowing Right-to-Carry on college campuses would lead to alcohol-fueled bloodshed. But they ignore the fact that there are many young adults who are already gun owners and Right-to-Carry holders across the country. They're serving in our military, they're serving as law enforcement officers, and yes, there are many who are just responsible gun owners. These young men and women are already gun owners of legal drinking age, and they're not causing mayhem. There's simply no reason to believe that extending Right-to-Carry to campuses would cause these responsible adults to act irresponsibly.
The gun-control crowd also likes to say that when a madman is shooting into a crowd of students and faculty, the presence of an armed citizen would actually make things worse, not better. This is a ridiculous argument. At Trolley Square Mall, at New Life Church, at Appalachian Law School, and on and on, the presence of gun owners—whether they were off-duty officers, volunteer security guards, or simply students—didn't lead to more violence, but to less.
That's because these Instant Responders can always do what First Responders can never do: Immediately stop attacks on innocent people.Finally, the Brady Campaign and others say they don't want our schools to look like prisons. With Right-to-Carry, they wouldn't. They would look just like our restaurants, our grocery stores, our bookstores, and every other place that people lawfully exercise their Right to Carry. And I'd much rather our campuses look like that than continuing to look like slaughterhouses.
Orange County Park trails are beautiful and educational, especially with wildflowers at this time, but are also full of risks that any responsible parent will prepare to counter -- consider this typical sign warning of mountain lions (several parks close to us have had bikers killed by these cougars):
Now, here is news of another risk on Orange County trails:
SANTA ANA - Police have arrested a 40-year-old man who they suspect committed a series of armed robberies at gas stations and liquor stores.
....The robber in each case held up the businesses by entering the store, approaching the clerk and demanding money using a firearm or a hunting-style knife, Gonzalez said. He would then flee on a mountain bike and head toward the Santa Ana River trail, he said.
Link: Extending the Right to Carry, Part 1.
In Virginia, the state legislature recently voted to extend the Right-to-Carry into restaurants that serve alcohol. Frankly, it wasn't a controversial vote. Both chambers passed the bill easily, with very little opposition. And that's how it should be. Virginians have been exercising their Right to Carry for years now, and fears of "blood in the streets" have, of course, not come true. So why is there such controversy over extending the Right-to-Carry onto school campuses? The fact of the matter is, we're not changing the requirements of who can exercise their Right to Carry. We're merely expanding where RTC holders can exercise that right. There are millions of RTC holders in this country. You drive next to them, you shop with them, you see them every day. They're your dentist or your pastor, your boss or your star employee. They're everywhere. And the reason you may not know that is because they're not the problem. They're already carrying in your church, the grocery store, and the public library. They're with you at your favorite restaurant or your local bookstore. And the reason you never think about it is because they're not the problem. The problem is that there is evil in this world, people who want to prey on the innocent and defenseless. The gun-control crowd has also flamed the fears with their embarrassingly weak arguments against extending the Right to Carry. They have played on emotion at the expense of logic and reason. And in my next blog, I'll take their arguments apart one by one. The discussion over extending Right-to-Carry is too important, and knee-jerk calls for more gun control serve no purpose but to avoid the issue.
This is not an endorsement and your mileage may vary, but I've had good comfort with this holster for five years, and excellent retention -- consider this video of the Big Orange at Disneyland:
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Link: Blade-Tech Ultimate Concealment Holster :: Inside Waist Band :: Holsters :: Blade-Tech Industries.
(IDPA APPROVED) After much feed back from our customers we have redesigned the UCH, making it slightly smaller. The loop is now injection molded making it much stronger than ever. This holster has the same features as our popular IWB model. It is fully adjustable for FBI Cant or Straight Drop, allowing for the shirt to be tucked into the pants, completely concealing the firearm and holster.
Link: Tulsa World: Bill would lower concealed-gun age to 18.
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A bill that would lower the age at which people can carry concealed weapons from 21 to 18 is headed to the state House for consideration. "In my district when you turn 18, you already have 16 years of experience with a gun," said Rep. Jerry Ellis, who added that he was exaggerating to make his point.
Link: An Empty Holster Protest.
Across the United States, thousands of college students are preparing to send their administrators a clear message: that a so-called "gun-free zone" only puts college students and faculty at risk of a madman. Back in October, the first Empty Holster Protest took place on 125 college campuses. Organizers of the spring protest are hoping that the second protest will be even bigger. The group Students for Concealed Carry put it this way: "While opponents may argue that guns have no place in institutions of higher learning, SCC contends that it is the rapes, the assaults, and the uncontested, execution-style massacres that have no place in America's colleges. The students of the Empty Holster Protest respectfully ask that steps be taken to take the advantage away from those who seek to harm the innocent." It's high time we have this debate. But you can expect the gun-banners to treat these students with contempt. A few months ago, Peter Hamm of the Brady Campaign suggested that students who oppose these gun-free zones drop out of college rather than fight for what's right. Can you imagine the outrage that would have caused if Hamm had been talking about a student's right to free speech, rather than his right of self-defense? These young adults have the facts on their side. A "No Guns Allowed" policy doesn't stop a cold-blooded killer. It only stops those who might be able and willing to fight back.
A Congress that cannot rectify this old problem is worthless. A rational reason cannot be articulated for these outdated park rules. I took my wife and daughter to Joshua Tree yesterday to (briefly) walk among the wildflowers. No way I would have them stay overnight there, defenseless against two- and four-legged predators.
Link: NRA-ILA :: Legislation.
Update On Right-To-Carry In National Parks And Wildlife Refuges Friday, February 15, 2008 The current regulations on possession of firearms in national parks--which generally prohibit possession, carry or transportation of loaded or uncased firearms--were proposed in 1982 and finalized in 1983. Similar restrictions apply in national wildlife refuges. It is now time to amend those regulations to reflect the changed legal situation with respect to state laws on carrying firearms.
The effect of these now-outdated regulations on people who carry firearms for self-protection was far from the forefront at the time these regulations were adopted. As of the end of 1982, only six states routinely allowed average citizens to carry handguns for self-defense. Now, 48 states have a process for issuance of licenses or permits to carry firearms, and 40 of those states provide the opportunity for average citizens to legally carry firearms for self-defense.
Starting in 2003, NRA staff began meeting with officials at the U.S. Department of the Interior to change this regulation and allow state law to govern the carrying and transportation of firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges -- as it does in national forests and on BLM lands. There was little resistance to such a policy change but also little action to make this change. Bureaucrats involved in this issue
Link: Idaho Press-Tribune.
BOISE — Idaho lawmakers are considering a bill that would strip the authority that administrators at public universities and community colleges have in keeping their campuses free of concealed weapons. A bill introduced in the state Senate on Wednesday would require the State Board of Education to set rules allowing concealed weapons on campuses, as long as permit holders first notify school administrators.
Link: NRA-ILA :: Legislation.
...introduced by State Representative Clel Baudler (R-58), would change the Iowa Right-to-Carry law to make Iowa a “shall-issue” state. According to HF120, any law-abiding persons 21 years of age or older would be eligible for a permit to carry a concealed handgun if they pass a training and marksmanship course. Training would not be required for a renewal of the permit to carry a firearm. HF120 also has a reciprocity provision that allows a person possessing a valid out-of-state permit to carry a weapon to be entitled to the privileges and subject to the restrictions of Iowa law provided the state that issued the license recognizes weapons permits issued in Iowa.
Link: Medford teacher appeals gun ban - OregonLive.com.
A Medford English teacher has appealed a court decision blocking her from carrying a gun at school. Shirley Katz, who teaches at South Medford High School, is seeking to overturn last year's Circuit Court ruling upholding a school district policy that forbids employees from carrying guns on campus.
Link: Michigan sees fewer gun deaths — with more permits.
The incidence of violent crime in Michigan in the six years since the law went into effect has been, on average, below the rate of the previous six years. The overall incidence of death from firearms, including suicide and accidents, also has declined.
Link: STLtoday - News - St. Louis City / County.
The pizza delivery driver who fatally shot a robber last week could have faced discipline over the incident had he not resigned, a Domino's spokesman said Wednesday. Although the driver was being praised by bloggers with comments such as "Score one for the good guys," many corporations, like Domino's, prohibit armed employees.
Link: John Lott's Website: Permit holder stops road-rage attack.
Here is another case where a concealed handgun stopped road-rage and saved lives.
