Locked & Cocked - The Cowardice of Socialists - Inside School Shootings

For those who are uncomfortable carrying one in the chamber, I would ask how long you've owned guns?  I ask because I didn't own a gun until Dec of 2012, learning all the early safety rules from my Son.  I then took classes and read everything I could get my hands on, but it was a long journey from new gun owner to where I am now.

I am no expert by any definition you can think of, but I am comfortable carrying cocked and locked. This wasn't the case early on when I carried in my house - before receiving my CCL.  It was a bit unnerving to visualize one round sitting in the pipe awaiting the hammer, but I practiced and learned and as I had more questions, I searched for the answers and slowly came to the realization that one in the chamber was not only safe, but was the smart thing to do if I intended to carry.

I'm still learning every day.  I belong to several gun forums and I listen and learn from those who have been doing this a long time - far longer than I.  On the other hand, listening to someone who believes if you aren't comfortable carrying one in the pipe, then you shouldn't be carrying at all, I think they should remember not all gun owners grew up with guns and don't have a life long rapport with a loaded weapon.  Not all of us are "into" guns - I think of them as nothing more than a tool for self defense or as a work of art - and many of us only have our carry gun... or maybe plus 1.

I think it's far more important to keep telling people to train.  To learn. To work at it.  Eventually you will become comfortable with one in the pipe.  It may take time, but you will get there.

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If it's funded by taxpayer money, then it's a public place and we should be able to carry.  I understand courthouses, but the rest?  Not so much.

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I don't own laser sights, but hopefully I will be buying another gun this year and I was contemplating if its worthwhile to buy laser sights for an EDC.

When I train with my Son's SIRT pistol, or at the range, I am basically just pushing the gun to the target and firing.  I don't really take the time to aim thru the gun sights.  I figure that most gun fights start quickly, are at very close range and are chaotic and adrenaline filled, and when you throw in shooting on the move, I just find it hard to believe anyone has either the time or the conscious inclination to watch where the laser is - instead falling back on point and shoot training.

The other thought I had... I don't know if I want a laser that turns on as soon as my hand hits the grip, especially if its for home use.  I might want to remain unseen and this might work against me in that situation.  On the other hand, I can see where that little green/red dot dancing lightly in the middle of a criminals shirt may be a deterrent to a very bad situation escalating to a shooting situation.

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"Attempted illegal gun purchases occur 30,000 to 40,000 times each year among U.S. firearms retailers, according to a survey by the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California-Davis."

I wonder if they question why there aren't very many prosecutions?  I mean, really, if you have proof this is happening at this rate, why aren't there more prosecutions?  Like most gun studies done by anti gun programs masquerading as legit fact finding studies, it kinda' makes you question if the numbers are true.

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I'm just tired of the word "free" being tossed around like candy to kids.  I'm sick of being told the "Government" will pay for things, when in fact its the Citizens who pay.  I'm tired of being told that I am somehow responsible for the cost of others Healthcare, Child Care, College Tuition, Living Expenses, Housing Expenses and such.

If you are a Democrat / Liberal / Progressive and you believe our Constitution is wrong, our Bill of Rights is wrong, and you believe Socialism is better than what we have, then have the stones to say so.  Don't hide behind emotion filled speeches and fear monger warnings.

If Socialism is such a great thing, something you are proud of, something you believe is the way to a bright new day, why do you lie to meet your end results?  Why don't you trust the supposed truth of your ideology?  Don't be a coward in your convictions.  Step right up to the plate and be somebody.  Say it out loud.  Own it.

But you don't, and your gutless aversion to being truthful to yourself is sad.

Hillary is your 'next big thing' for our Country.  She is an Alinsky disciple through and through.    She wholeheartedly believes in the adage - "The ends justifies the means."  She lies at the drop of a hat and knows those who side with her, who have no honor in their convictions, will smile, nod and wink.

I fear for this country.
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Life vs Property as a reason to shoot.  This example was used in my CCL class by Mike Bius of Illinois Gun Pros...

Your Child falls into a shark tank filled with hungry sharks, would you jump in to save him? Of course you would.  Now consider that you dropped your very expensive $6000 Rolex watch into the same shark infested tank. Would you jump in to retrieve your watch?

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I subscribe to Concealed Carry Magazine, like many do, and they had a terrific, three part series titled "Inside School Shootings - What We Have Learned" that dealt with school shooters and what we now know - including statistics that showed high capacity mags and semi auto rifles - so called assault weapons - have no bearing on the death toll of school shooters.  Their stats showed these madmen fired at a very slow rate and not what Anti's would have the public believe, and in many instances the rate of fire was that of a bolt action rifle and never above the rate of any handgun.  The article concerned itself with a clear, unbiased and concise look at the statistics and with the information gleaned from active shooter situations, dealt with the best ways to defend our children without the benefit of an armed response.

The evidence just keeps piling up in our favor, but it's like talking to a brick wall.  Sometimes I think it's more important to show the public the amount of tax payer money being thrown away on legal bills that are born from chasing moonbeams.

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How can you argue for a magazine limit without any proof that any certain number of rounds is "the" number?  If you don't have proof, or a study making the case for "X" amount of rounds, then the alternative is that it is an arbitrary number.  As in "yeah, 10 rounds, that's the ticket!"  How the heck does that work?  How do you defend the magazine limit?  It just seems so stupid and cut and dried.

Or am I missing something?

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All I Can Say to Anti-Gun Liberals is...Yeah, Right.

Anti-Gun Liberals can be an incredibly unreasonable and downright silly group of people.  The constant nattering of mindless drivel that falls from their foaming mouths - couched as a reasonable argument or common sense - is, most times, mind-numbingly emotional, churlish and petulant.

After the recent shooting at a South Carolina church that killed nine while purposely leaving one survivor as a witness, Drxxx had this to say...

Drxxx Jun 22, 2015

If you force the surrender of all weapons before entering [the church], then you've essentially disarmed any would-be killers. 

So, Drxxx, as people come into the church and you pat each of them down, the nutcase with a gun will just meekly stand in line?  And when you arrive at the would-be psychopath killer, your telling me you believe he is just going to slump his shoulders and hand over his gun in defeat?  Just like that?

Yeah, right. 


One person had this response to a suggestion that Marines be allowed to carry a sidearm after the shootings in Chattanooga...

Sharon xxx
They were shot thru the glass on the front of the building, with an AK47. Built to kill weapon... Please explain to the world, how a 9mm, would have fared [if the Marines had returned fire through the glass with standard issue sidearms]. Especially since they did not even see it coming.. How many shots can AK47, fire in 10 seconds??? [the same amount as any run-of-the-mill semi-auto handgun] Bulletproof glass is a much better answer.

So, Sharron xxx, Marines are sitting at their desks, talking to other people, on the phones, drinking coffee, going about their workday.

Outside a maniac with a diseased mind makes his way across the parking lot, his brain foggy with its own mindless yammering, his pulse pounding in anticipation of this personal Great Thing he intends to do.

He walks up to the doors and without warning, open fires - Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! - and in a heartbeat, he realizes he's trying to shoot through bulletproof glass!  So, instead of reaching out, opening the doors, walking in and continuing his onslaught, you believe he would hang his head, turn slowly and walk away in defeat.

Yeah, right.


After the Aurora theater shooting, Tom had this thought...

Tom
Anyone saying "if only someone was packing and had shot the guy" needs to realize that it'd be next to impossible for even a trained person to do that in a dark theater with a loud movie running, one that's full of tear gas and panicking people, with an assailant who's dressed in black and wearing body armor.  Odds are they'd have easily hit some more bystanders instead, increasing the already horrific body count.

So, Tom, you and the Wife stroll on down to the local theater to catch the latest action flick.  The movie is intense, interesting and is pleasantly holding your attention.  About halfway through the movie, some loud shots go off, startling you - is it part of the movie?  Then smoke, more loud bangs, people screaming.. what the hell?  Others are running for the exits and before you completely comprehend the situation, the theater is in utter chaos.

About four rows in front of you stands a man in black, shooting slowly, with lethal intent, the surrounding tumult a stark contrast to his matter-of-fact, slow and steady approach to mass murder.  You see people trying to escape, running, falling, some shot, some scrambling for safety, frantically climbing over others, bounding over rows of seats or crawling low across the concrete and carpet floor.

Your mind is screaming at you to run!  Instinctively you grab your wife and throw her to the floor, between the rows of seats, trying to protect her.  Adrenalin dumps into your body, your auditory senses close down, your eyes focus down to a pinpoint - tunnel vision - and you are unaware you are screaming at the top of your lungs to "go Go GO!"

You both frantically crawl along the floor as gunshots explode and echo through the cavernous, darkened theater, mingling with screams of the frightened, flashes of gunpowder and the moans of the wounded.

You furtively glance up to the pandemonium that surrounds you. With shock and disbelief, you see the gunman turning his focus on you and your wife, his gun now extended towards you, his next target.  You raise your hand to the gunman in a desperate and feeble last gasp at defending your wife and yourself, all the while thinking... This can't be happening!

Suddenly, just to the right, two rows down, you see a man crouched behind the row of seats at the end of the aisle.

He has a gun!  He is ready to fire on the sociopath who is committing the mayhem, who is creating the havoc and fear, who has brought the devil with him to the movies.  You cannot believe there is someone else carrying a gun!  And just as the good guy with a gun draws a bead in an attempt to stop the maniac with a demon's voice wailing in his head, possibly saving your life, you scream - "Put the freaking gun away!  You might hurt someone with that thing!"

Yeah, right.


Near my town, we've had two break-ins in a couple of weeks.  10:00 PM at night, a group of 4-5 men bursting in the door and quickly controlling those inside.  Carreraxxxx had this response to a U.S. Marine who stated he thought he was capable of defending his family with a gun in the home.

Carreraxxxx January 21, 2014 11:11AM
@kcrxxx -- I'm happy for you, and your false sense of security with your arsenal that can be used against you and your family.   

Carreraxxxx, you're sitting at home on a soft summer evening, the kids on the floor watching a Disney movie, your Wife settled into her favorite chair, reading a book.  You can't believe how wonderful your life together has been.  A good job, beautiful family, a great house in a wonderful neighborhood.  All is good...

Suddenly, there is an insane banging on the front door.  The kids scream in reaction to the ear-splitting noise.  The Wife jumps up, frantic, looking at you for guidance, not understanding whats going on as she gathers the children to her.

And now you realize, much to your chagrin, the front door has been violently breached and footsteps pound down the hall towards you.

Your home has been breached by thugs looking for valuables and who may or may not have violence on their minds.

Sitting on the table next to you is a book.  On the floor is your bowling ball.   On the footstool, without explanation, a gun appears.  Which one do you reach for to protect your family?

Yeah, Right.


On guns in the hands of trained individuals in schools, Bridgett xxxx had this to say about children paying a price for maniacs in schools.

Bridgett xxxx

They [children] pay the price several times a week. It's a pity that their parents care more for their killing machines than they do their own children.

Bridgett xxx, you are a teachers assistant and it's a beautiful spring day.  The sun is shining, big fluffy clouds fill the sky and the Kindergarten class you are helping with is happy, content and fun.  The Children have just settled down onto the floor for story time, about to listen to their favorite "Clifford" book when in a heartbeat, all hell breaks loose.

There is a sharp staccato report of, what?  Firecrackers? No.  Gunfire!?  Oh my God!  And it's close!  An alarm goes off that signals an intruder is in the school and it is an active shooter situation.

Your training kicks in and as you rush to close the door a man appears before you.  Disheveled, dirty, a crazy look in his eyes and with him he has a handgun and a rifle.  Before you can react to the situation, he shoots you in the shoulder, your collarbone exploding, a mist of blood surrounds your head and you fall back to the floor, feeling as though someone has just hit you full force with a baseball bat!

You groan as he steps over you, not even looking at you as he enters the room.  The children are screaming, terrified, their little eyes wide as you hear shouts of "Mommy!  Help, Mommy!"  Sobs and squeals cut through the air as you try to regain your feet, now realizing that you are wounded but not out of the fight.

The horror before you is relentlessly unfolding unless you can do something, anything!  The demon in your room has turned his cold, dark eyes on the huddled mass of squirming, crying, terrified children.  You are staggering to your feet when you see the Teacher, Gail, a friend of yours, reach behind her back and come out with a Glock 19 with 15 + 1 rounds of 9 mm for the bad guy.

Your fear is at its height, screaming at you and you shout... "Goddamn, it Gail!  No!  You might hurt someone!"

Yeah, right.


Bad guys will always have guns and they will do harm and that will never change.  No gun laws can prevent it.  Signs can't stop it.  Wishful thinking can't make them go away.  Fairy Dust is of no help.

Murder is already against the law, so why would more "feel good" gun laws stop the madness?


I'm all for a conversation about curbing violence.  I don't know a single person who isn't - Liberal, Conservative or Libertarian.  But the anti-gunners insistence that it's all the fault of the gun is surreal, stupid and Hoplophobic and counterproductive to solving the problem .

Don't be a victim.  Don't let your Children be victims.  Guns are not the enemy, violence and the people who commit it, are.

Stay Safe and Carry Responsibly
Hipshot

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Order now... "Concealed Carry and the War on the Second Amendment"

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Hydra Shoks, Hillary and Dogs getting shot...

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My Son called and told me he was pulled over by local Police this evening.  When the officer walked up to the car, he explained to my Son that he made the stop because my Son had been tight on the yellow light.  He said he wasn't going to write him a ticket, but just wanted to tell him to take it easy.

My Son handed him his DL only (here in Illinois there is no Duty To Inform).  The officer went back to his car and a minute later returned.  He asked my Son if he had a CCL and was he carrying?  My Son answered in the affirmative and that it was in the SOB position.  The officer said "that's fine."

My Son was driving his Wife's car so he didn't come up on the system at the time of the stop and only when the LEO ran his license (my Son asked).  My Son also asked the LEO how he should handle it in the future and the officer replied that it would be nice if he just handed the officer the DL and CCL together.  He told my Son to never use the word GUN - for the usual reasons.

My Son said the the officer was polite, calm and a nice guy and that from now on, he will probably give the officer both.

The funny thing was, we just had this conversation the night before.  What would either of us do.  I told him that when I first received my license, I figured I would hand over both, but lately my mind had been going the opposite way.  I find myself a little angry that an officer should feel uncomfortable that I have a legal sidearm, even though it doesn't bother me that the LEO has one when he comes up to my car.

Now I don't know.

All in all it worked out well for my Kid and the Officer was a good guy.  Can't be unhappy with that. 

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And so it begins... In the second line of the linked song (below) she hitches her wagon to the Idiot King.
If this Woman thinks she's going to get the Country vote, or that riding on Oidiots coattails is a good thing, she is truly dumber than a sack of hair... You can't fix stupid, can you?  No... I didn't think so.

Stand With Hillary

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Even at my age, it never ceases to amaze me that whenever I learn something, I realize how much I don't know.

I was very suspect of the whole Zimmerman / Martin case, finding it hard to land squarely on Zimmerman's side.  With all his post trial stuff, I also thought "this guys is a mess!"

Then I read Massad Ayoob's new book "Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense" and he devotes roughly 30 pages to that trial.  After reading his thoughts, reasoning and the legal implications of all the evidence, I can't help but agree with Mas that Zimmerman was clearly innocent.

And now?  Now I'm reading the fascinating book "On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society" by Lt. Col. David Grossman and I am beginning to understand just how emotionally crippling it is...

1)  To know and anticipate you may have to take someones life

and

2)  Follow through on that decision.

So I empathize with Zimmerman and his plight.

Is he a good guy?  I have no idea, though I'm learning that the aftermath of taking a life, whether at war or in self defense is a powerful, life changing event, even when you are completely in the right.  But one thing I know for sure... I'm going to keep reading, keep educating myself and above all, I'm going to remember how much I don't know.

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I ordered a DeSantis Pocket Tuk for my Taurus TCP from Midway USA.  It could fit in a slightly larger than standard envelope - $15.49 + $4.46 shipping and $3.00 special handling fee.  Also bought a Plunger Spring, Barrel Link and Link Pin for my 1911 that totaled $12.47 and could have been sent in any standard envelope.  Shipping was $4.19 +  that Extra Special Kid Gloves Handling Fee of $3.00.

It's a shame.  Midway USA almost always has what I need, but due to the exorbitant shipping and special handling fees, I use Midway only when I have to.

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At the beginning, because I was new to all this, I spent a lot of time, reading books, magazines, researching the internet and listening to folks who've been doing this a whole lot longer than I.  From everything I perused, it all kept coming back to Hyrda Shoks.  Well tested, used by LEO everywhere and trusted by just about everyone I've ever read.  So... when it ran like a dream in my pistols - Hydra Shoks it was, and I never looked back.

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Why are cops shooting so many dogs?  Why does that seem to be their first response?  Or is it, like many things in this day and age, because of the internet and our total and unfettered access to information?

No matter what... seems like a lot of dogs get shot.

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Order a copy of my new book of humor  "I'm Married... Shoot Me!"  for just $7.70 -The harrowing tales of your average Husband.    Children, insanity and manly cowardice, all wrapped up in love - now available through Lulu.com

Liberal Stupidity, Crazy Teachers, School Concerns 101 & Retention Holsters

Just so I'm clear on the Liberals logic of Background Checks for private transactions.  A bad guy with an illegal gun is standing in the shadows in a dark alley on the Southside of Chicago at 2:00 am on a Tuesday night..  Another bad guy, who doesn't have an illegal gun but wants one for his nefarious activities, wants to give the bad guy with an illegal gun $80 dollars so that he may then have an illegal gun at his disposal to do violence against others.  So Liberals think a law that makes it mandatory to do a background check for private transactions will stop the bad guy with an illegal gun from selling the illegal gun to the other bad guy who doesn't have an illegal gun???   I... I... I got nothin'....

So here in Illinois, Liberal Logic goes like this... As a citizen with a Concealed Carry License, I get up in the morning, get dressed, strap on my loaded sidearm... and I'm legal.  Later, while carrying concealed, I take my Rifle, put it in the trunk of my car and drive to my friends property for a deer hunt... and I'm legal.  We drive to the selected spot on his property, exit the car, take our loaded rifles and proceed to walk across a field to a stand of trees to begin our hunt - I am carrying a loaded rifle and my loaded concealed carrying handgun... and right there, even though I'm on private property, with permission of the owner,  carrying a concealed legal handgun while already carrying a legal rifle for deer hunting is illegal and I am subject to arrest...  no... I don't have a logical explanation either.  You'll have to ask a Liberal.

When discussing Teachers carrying concealed in schools for the protection of Children, how many times do I have to hear a Hoplophobic person ask... "What if the Teacher is having a bad day and they go crazy, pull out their gun and start shooting the Children?"  All I can think to ask in return is - "What kind of a parent would send their Child to a school where they think the Teachers are unstable and may commit murder on their Children!?"

Other rants about Teachers and Concealed Carry that I've heard from Hoplophobes -

1)  "What if a Student steals the gun!?"   It's being carried concealed and concealed means concealed.  Why and how would the Student know the Teacher was carrying?

2)  "What if the Teacher leaves it in his desk, forgets to lock the desk and a Student takes it?"  Again, it's being carried concealed!  What part of that statement don't you understand?

3)  "What if a Teacher has a physical confrontation with a Student and the Student grabs the gun from the holster?"  In this day and age of Student violence against Teachers, this is actually a legitimate question and an honest concern for those who don't understand the carry lifestyle or the equipment available for this type of situation.  Here's my answer in two words - Retention Holster.

This is from SafariLand Holsters -
For example, in the case of Safariland’s SLS (Self Locking System), the user must overcome the pressure of two springs to push the hood down in order to unlock the mechanism. Then, while holding the unit in the down unlocked position, the user must rotate the hood completely forward to allow the weapon an opening to exit from the holster. If the user simply pushes the hood down to the unlocked position and then releases it, allowing the hood to re-lock, the holster is as secure as it was initially. However, since there are two separate and distinct motions (much like releasing a snap and then rotating the weapon forward slightly with the older 295 holster before drawing), the SLS provides two levels of security by itself. By adding a Sentry device to the SLS, which requires a separate and distinct motion by the user, a third level of security is achieved.

Concerns avoided - The gun cannot fall out of the holster.  The gun cannot be snatched from the holster.  The gun is secure until the person carrying the gun needs it to protect your Children from a madman intent on doing as much damage to your Children as he can before someone with a gun shows up and either shoots him or watches him as he commits suicide - the two most common endings to active shooter situations when someone with a gun arrives on scene.

Stay Safe and Carry Responsibly
Hipshot

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Order a copy of my new book of humor  "I'm Married... Shoot Me!"  for just $7.70 -The harrowing tales of your average Husband.    Children, insanity and manly cowardice, all wrapped up in love - now available through Lulu.com

Public Places - Jury Nullification & Bat Masteron's Cane

Recently the Wife and I went to the polling place at the local Mall - not the Mall proper, but the strip Mall to the north of the property.  And lo' and behold there was the "posted" sign. I can't help it, but I

always get so worked up when I have to disarm to go into a place that is paid for with taxpayers dollars.

How does that work?!  How do they, after being told by SCOTUS that carrying in public is covered in the Second Amendmen,  give us back our Second Amendment rights, but then turn around and say "Well although, as a citizen of this State and this Country, you have the right to carry, you can't carry in places that you pay for as a citizen of this State and Country.

If we are a lawful in our ability to conceal carry - in public - how can we not be lawful to carry in the places that we directly pay for?!  If it's run on taxpayer money, it doesn't get more public that that!  It's discrimination against a law abiding and legal group of people.

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Do you believe in Jury Nullification?

Would Jury Nullification be in conflict with the oath you swore to in court, to uphold the laws presented?  No.  No it would not.

If you swear an oath to uphold the Constitution of the US and the State, by ignoring unconstitutional laws, you are upholding your oath.  You do have personal honor, the most important kind, the kind of Honor that is the hardest to stand by.  There is nothing worse than hearing an officer or a soldier saying "I was just following orders."

In that, there is no Honor.


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I love all the old western TV shows.  Which reminds me of a Bat Masterson episode  (yeah, I'm old) where a young man picked up Bat's cane and Bat snatched it back out of his hands, telling him in the most serious voice -" I studied Cane fighting for years! You have no idea how dangerous a cane can be!"

Really.  I'm not lying.  He said that.

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As a Libertarian, why would I vote for the very people who implemented this for their own security?

Full article HERE

"Consider the following fact from this year’s General Election here in Illinois as evidence of just how unfair the system has become. In order for an election candidate to run for office and have his or her name printed on the November ballot here, they need to collect and turn in a certain number of valid ballot access petition signatures. How many signatures?

Number of Signatures needed for any Congressional candidate to appear on the 2014 IL election ballot (from the Illinois Board of Elections):

• Republican Party candidates – 500

• Democratic Party candidates – 800

• Libertarians, Greens, other Opposition Party candidates – 15,000

• Independent candidates – 20,000

*Each quantity is slightly different for each of Illinois’ 18 Congressional Districts. They above are averages of all 18."

There should be a law that states that Legislators may not pass any law that only benefits those in office.

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Normally, I can go days, even weeks without disarming.  So I guess I was just jazzed because yesterday I had to disarm twice in two hours.

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Order a copy of my new book of humor  "I'm Married... Shoot Me!"  for just $7.70 -The harrowing tales of your average Husband.    Children, insanity and manly cowardice, all wrapped up in love - now available through Lulu.com

Concealed Carry Deterrents - Hatch Duty Gloves For Carry - Silver Dollar Belly Bruise

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It's a shame, but here in Illinois, how many people add up the $$$ ($500) for training + the time it takes to receive the license, add in the question of whether, after going through all that -  Can I carry where I want to go?  Can I carry at work?  Can I carry on public transportation?  Can I carry at the stores I like to go to?  The restaurants?

I think the fact the Liberal Democrats of Illinois drew up the legislation to make it as narrow as possible for Concealed carry, is the biggest deterrent to going through the process and paying the exorbitant amounts of money.

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This past winter I wanted to buy a pair of gloves that would allow my finger to engage the trigger without the trouble of thick, bulky materials.  I saw these Hatch Duty Gloves  (Hatch SG20P Dura-Thin Search Glove (Black, X-Large) written up in Concealed Carry magazine and figured I would give them a try.


I paid $22 for them thru Amazon ($29 from Hatch).  Using their (Hatch's) sizing chart, the palm of my hand comes out to 10".  According to the chart, this would be the big end of the Large size scale or the low end of the Xtra Large scale.  I opted for the Xtra Large as usually I buy leather dress gloves in the 2XL size, but figured these are made to fit tight.

I was right.

I'm 6'3" and I do have large hands, but I was able to get these on after a few seconds of pushing and tugging and boy do they fit tight!  Honestly, I'm not sure if they are supposed to be this tight or not, but they feel like a second skin.  The way the leather is cut makes the glove slightly uncomfortable as the leather presses into the webbing of my hand between the first and second finger (they are duty gloves, so I'm guessing the gloves are made this way so the leather is tight to your trigger finger), but I'm going to go ahead and wear them and see if they break in.

If you are outside for long periods, they aren't going to keep your hands warm , but for short walks, going to and from the car, walking the mall, they are just fine.

But do they allow you to get your finger on the trigger?  With my 1911, it's as though I don't have a glove on!  With my little Taurus TCP, the seam on the tip of the index finger just touches the trigger guard as I reach for the trigger, but still fits nicely, especially impressive with my gorilla hands.

They seem to be nicely made, look sharp, have a very soft interior and, other than the aforementioned cut of leather between the first and second fingers, are quite comfortable.  I also like the short cut of the glove at the wrist.  I've thought about ordering a pair of the 2XL just to compare and at the price I paid, it wouldn't be a big deal, but I think I will wear these for a week or so and see how they break in, before deciding to go with the larger pair.

(UPDATE)  These are nice gloves for concealed carry.  The upside?  feel great, fit tight and easy to get your finger on the trigger.  Downside?  They are not warm.  Only for short stretches outside.  Also, because the leather is soft, they tend to drag and grab inside of my topcoat.  I can't just slide my hand back inside my coat and grab my gun as the coat will hang on the gloves leather.

All in all, nice gloves, but as with anything we do for concealed carry, you must train with these gloves to make sure you won't have any surprises should a situation arise.

(UPDATE 3-3-2016)  Another winter with these gloves and no worse the wear!  I use them whenever I go out or drive.  Wear is really minimal and they have maintained their elasticity, comfort and looks.  I give em' Five Stars!

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I was at LGS a few months ago with a friend.  I was standing behind him while he began shooting.  I was standing far enough back that I was a little bit in the aisle at the rear of the range.  Suddenly something hit me in the stomach, hard.  I lurched / jumped and for just a split second, I thought I had been shot.  I quickly grabbed my stomach (considerable as it is) and pulled up my shirt.  As I looked down, I saw a piece of metal on the floor, small, maybe a 3/8 of an inch.  I picked it up and it looked
like pot metal.

Actual bit of metal that hit me

My stomach was bleeding, nothing bad, but like a deep pin stick and it was sore.  My buddy (who has a lifetime of experience with guns) said it looked like pot metal... maybe someones gun malfunctioned?  But I just couldn't figure out an angle that would allow me to be hit by flying metal.  With me standing behind my shooter (he was shooting a colt 1911, so it didn't come from his gun) I just couldn't see where it came from.  I checked with shooters on either side of us to see if they had had any problems, but no problems were found.

A few days later I had a deep purple bruise the size of a silver dollar on my belly.

Ah well...

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Moe's Eye Poke Violence - Polo Shirts and Printing - West Side Story Liberal Fears

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A few weeks back I picked up two boxes of CCI Mini Mags (100 count) at Bass Pro Shops - $9.00 a box.   It was behind the counter and limit was two boxes.  Whoeeeee!

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Man dies by hammer and I'm thinking it might be the next weapon Anti's try to ban...

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Most of the shirts I wear are Polo's, t-shirts and sweatshirts (around the house).  When wearing a button down, I tuck the shirt (I always wear IWB) or on very rare occasions pocket carry.  I have a couple of nice vests - not tactical - that I can wear unbuttoned if I feel I need extra help.  I carry either a Taurus TCP, a 1911 Commander or now a newly minted Kahr CW45.  Anymore, I never worry about printing.  For all the crying, whining and emotional hand wringing one hears from the Anti's, no one notices, looks or apparently, cares.

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A very short review of the book - After You Shoot - Your Guns Hot. The Perp's Not.  By Alex Korwin

I read it and I didn't care for it.  Most of what he says is strictly conjecture and what he thinks might work.  Most of the lawyers quoted in his book disagree with him and his teachings.  I felt like he was using the reader as a guinea pig for his experimental thoughts on what to do in a shooting situation.  I think if you employed his suggestions, you might end up in bad trouble.  No thanks.  I'll just stick to the advice of the Massad Ayoobs of the world.

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We went to see West Side Story at the Drury Lane theater in Oak Brook a few weeks ago.  When the lights went down, the MC announced that all phones needed to be turned off, that there would be fighting and smoking in the play and that there would be... wait for it... Fake Gunshots!  Believe it or not, there were audible gasps from many in the audience.  Oh, their tender sensibilities... whatever will they do when real life comes for them.

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Well, at least Illinois is still in the hunt for the Obama Presidential Library.  Although, other than comic books, what else would be stored there?

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There is no such thing as Gun Violence. Just as there is no such thing as Knife Violence, or BlackJack Violence, or Bat Violence, or Poking in the Eye Violence. When we commit violence on someone, it is a conscious act. The gun cannot act, it is only the tool of the person committing the act. The knife cannot act, it is only the tool of the person committing the act, the finger cannot act, it is only the tool of Moe.

Moe demonstrating his quick strike capabilities.

To fix violence you must first work to repair the family unit in this country. Better parenting means better educated children, better educated children mean better employment opportunities, better employment opportunities means less reliance on gangs and drugs, and so on... and so on...

Violence is not caused by a gun. If you believe guns are the problem, then you must also believe that banning spoons will stop obesity. How silly does that sound?

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The NRA believes in teaching children gun safety, starting with the Eddie Eagle gun safety program while the anti-Second Amendment, anti-Constitution people believe it's best to stick your head in the sand and cross your fingers 

The NRA has Eddie Eagle who teaches these four rules to children
If you see a gun:
STOP!
Don't Touch.
Leave the Area.
Tell an Adult.

Eddie the Eagle is a program Schools and groups may use. It never mentions the NRA. It is there for parents and adults to use to teach safety. Nothing more.

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As a Second Amendment supporter who has stood-by observing as the media, standing tall behind the First Amendment, trashed our Right to keep and bear arms and attempted to ban certain guns and magazines - it only seems fair that legislation should be written that would restrict the media to 25 words or less on any one topic.  Background checks (who are these people, anyway?), licenses, and a special use tax on all purchases pertaining to writing should be mandatory.

Being forced to use concise and comprehensive verbiage would be a common sense approach to protecting our children from those that would put icky-bad thoughts in their heads.  The public would be safer, as National Security would be better served by less information... lets face it, there's no need for you to know the pesky details of how the Government does it's business!

While this would be a minor hindrance to those who use their First Amendment Rights, it's only common sense that the Citizens of this Country should embrace this restriction for the good of everyone - women and children, poor and downtrodden, the hurt and lost.  Though being able to use just 25 words or less will put a damper on some of you in the media, those that write about hunting and fishing won't be affected.  Only those who write Op Ed pieces on Politicians, Legislators and the like - those words are the real danger to the rest of us.  Come one guys! This would be a "common sense" law!  The media would still be able to use words to report on any story, just not as many!

Oh yeah, a list of banned words to follow.

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Good Cop / Bad Cop - Breaking Down the Blue Wall of Silence

On a warm night in August of 2013 a call came in to the Dispatch Center of the Dover Delaware Police Department regarding a disturbance at a local gas station - a purported fight with a drawn gun.  Officers were dispatched and Cpl Thomas Webster arrived first on the scene. The Officer found 30-year old Lateef Dickerson (yellow hat - as seen in the dash cam video of the second Officer to arrive) about a block away from the gas station.

See video HERE

It was reported to the responding Officers that Dickerson was the suspect with the gun (no gun was found and there were no charges filed pertaining to a gun).  As the second Officer arrived, dash cam footage shows Dickerson complying with Officer Webster's commands.  Dickerson raises his hands and locks them behind his head as Officer Webster, with gun drawn, directs him to get on the ground.  Dickerson does so without hesitation - but when he complies, in the street on his hands and knees, palms flat on the pavement, completely helpless, Officer Webster suddenly and viciously kicks Dickerson full-force in the face - hard enough that Dickerson's hat flies off his head and out of the videos frame, hard enough to concuss him, hard enough to break his jaw, hard enough to knock him out cold.

And for what reason?

The second Officer arrived in time to be standing at the scene when Officer Webster knocks Dickerson into lala land.  He then helps Officer Webster handcuff Dickerson - who is now beginning to shake the cobwebs out in his head.  Dickerson is then transported to the hospital for his injuries and later booked on charges of assault, theft and resisting arrest, with those charges eventually being dropped.

In 2014 a Grand Jury decided not to indict Officer Webster and later that year, the U.S. Attorneys office decided that Dickerson's Civil Rights were not violated.  At that time the ACLU involved themselves with the case, filing a lawsuit and demanding the release of the video.

In January of this year Attorney General Matt Denn took office and began a look into the case.  He soon requested a second Grand Jury - Webster was indicted on Monday and arrested on a felony assault charge that very day.

Rep. Sean Lynn tells the News Journal that the officer's use of force "seems completely unwarranted.

… I was definitely taken aback."

Fred Calhoun, President of the Delaware police union said, "It's not fair. This was done because of what is taking place in society today," an apparent reference to Baltimore and Ferguson. Webster's lawyer says his client will plead not guilty; at this time Officer Webster is out on $5,000 bail.

We will have to see how this case shakes out, but on the face of it, there can be no excuse for Officer Webster's violent assault on an unsuspecting and defenseless citizen.  He had backup on the scene.  There were no other suspects in sight.  Dickerson was complying and was completely impotent and defenseless when Officer Webster willfully chose to inflict pain and injury on an unsuspecting and submissive citizen.

This is not about whether Dickerson is a bad guy - he is a life long criminal and that fact is not in dispute.  It is about LEO who overstep their bounds... because they believe they can.  Because they have been off the leash for so many years - like feral dogs.  Because they have the authority of law.  Because the courts and government legislators - both Federal and State - have erred over and over again on the side of LE.  Because the courts have ruled time and time again in LE favor, tearing down the Bill of Rights in the misplaced name of safety - for both the Citizens and LEO's themselves.

Right now, through the magic of the internet and personal video devices - which are ubiquitous, to say the least - Bad Cops are splashed across the world in all their raging glory.  Bully cops, lying cops, intimidating cops, physical cops,  cops who realize they are being filmed and suddenly become nice guys, cops who deny citizens their Rights, cops who attempt to stop citizens from recording, even though they know that the recorder is well within the citizens rights, cops who abscond with phones, hoping to delete or destroy video... it's a veritable cornucopia of Bad Cop examples.

Bad Cops have cost the taxpayers of this Country billions of dollars in misconduct suits. In 2011 alone, the city of New York paid out $119 million -  which included non abuse suits such as negligence.  Chicago has paid out over $450 million over the last 10 years - $84 million in 2013 alone.  $54 million from Los Angeles in 2011.

So.. what exactly has to change?  For me, it's simple.  The answer is Trust and Respect - and it's a two-way street.

But herein lies the dilemma - you can't have trust when the line between Good Cops and Bad Cops is blurred by the Blue Wall of Silence.  Go back to that video and watch the second officer on the scene - what did the second Officer do when he saw his Blue Wall Brother viciously attack a defenseless man with a savage and brutal kick to the face.

He did nothing.

He didn't step in between the victim and the Officer.  He didn't physically restrain his Brethren in Blue.  He didn't try to protect the victim... he didn't do anything at all, except help cuff the suddenly unconscious man.

If Police departments across this Country want to mend fences with the public, if they truly want the trust of Americans, they must start by policing themselves - first and foremost.   Good Cops - and make no mistake, they are legion - need to show the public that their first and highest concern is the protection and safety of that public.

Good Cops need to turn in Bad Cops.  They need to report Bad Cops immediately and without concern for the welfare of anyone except the victim and the citizen.  The public needs to see that LEO are here to protect and serve... us.  The public must know that LEO are placing 'we the people' ahead of their own Fraternal Order.  It's the only way this works.  It's the only way to regain the trust and respect of the citizenry.  It's the only way back to sanity.

As far as the Lateef Dickerson situation, the questions I would like answered in this particular case are these... What exactly did the second Officer write in his report and did he report his fellow Officer to his superiors?  If he did those things, Great!  Good on him.

But if Officer #2 did none of those, then I want to know if he was suspended and or terminated for filing a false report?  Was he reprimanded for not reporting it?  Was anything at all done to reinforce that this is not acceptable behavior?  That his first responsibility is to the safety of the public?

We have a long way to go in this fight to bring the Police into the 21st century of video, audio and the internet... and its complicated by Unions, Politicians, Legislators and our Courts. It's a worthwhile fight - but only if the Good Cops realize we are on the same side, fighting the same fight.  All Cops need to be held accountable for their actions... and inaction.

Otherwise, our trust is gone like a ghost at sunrise.

UPDATE:  The Officer identified above as Cpl Thomas Webster is due to start his trial for Second Degree Assault on November 30, 2015 - See related story HERE

UPDATE:  After 16 hours of deliberation, the jury found the Officer not guilty of all charges.  The officer claimed he was aiming for his body, not his head - Though I don't understand why he was kicking him at all.  See related story HERE

UPDATE:  The same Officer received $230,000.00 from the city in a "separation deal"  See related story HERE

Stay Safe and Carry Responsibly
Hipshot

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If you enjoyed this article, you might like my new book -Concealed Carry and the War on the Second Amendment, a collection from the New Gunner Journal - It is now available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  If you have any questions about Concealed Carry or are sitting on the fence, this would make a nice present to yourself or someone you know, to learn about the lifestyle and those who live it.

Order now... "Concealed Carry and the War on the Second Amendment"

Order a copy of my new book of humor  "I'm Married... Shoot Me!"  for just $7.70 -The harrowing tales of your average Husband. Children, insanity and manly cowardice, all wrapped up in love - now available through Lulu.com

Stupidity Should Be Painful - Condition Yellow - Morons

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The stupidity and irrational fears of the people of this Country borders on the psychotic...
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To all those who've received their Concealed Carry license this year - As the late, great Cubs Broadcaster Jack Brickhouse would say - "HEY HEY!"

Congrats!  Strap it on, make your way to WallyWorld and take your WallyWalk!

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When I drop my Grandson off at school, I always wait to make sure no one can see my gun before I transfer it to the locking glove box.  To be honest, I just don't need some hysterical person calling the cops about the "man with a gun at the school!"  So, even if the law said "Yeah sure, go ahead..."  I still wouldn't do anything that would expose my sidearm to passersby... I just wait till its all clear.

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I worked on the south side of Chiraq for 23 years, and down there you learn to work with your head on a swivel or you may find yourself in very bad trouble, very quickly.  For me, Condition Yellow was a way of life long before I knew the term existed - long before concealed carry.


I've often wondered how low the crime rates across this Country would go, if the average person learned about Condition Yellow and applied it's simple teachings to their everyday lives?

I would have to think crime would fall like a rock.  It just makes sense.  Keep your head out of your I-phones.  Don't text while walking blindly.  Take off the headphones.  For Christ's sake, just be aware!

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I'll never understand how any state gets away with abusing our Second Amendment Rights the way they do...

Murdoch v Penn., 319 U.S. 105
No State shall convert a liberty into a privilege, license it and attach a fee to it.

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Funny story.  I had a call from the "IRS."  The call was very loud with a lot of background noise, like the office was at the stock market on crash day.  The man who was speaking to me had a thick accent that made it difficult to understand him above the din behind him.  From what I gathered, I owed the IRS money and it needed to be paid right away or the Sheriff would be there to arrest me in the morning (his words).

Now his English is horrible and anyone with any brain at all should see this scam from a mile away,

but I let him stutter and stop and start again, mechanically reading his lines, for about 2 minutes.  I then interjected and said something alone the lines of...

"Whoa, whoa whoa, little buckeroo... can I ask a question?"

He deliberated for a second and then said "Yes" in what I can only describe as a Thai or Vietnamese accent.

"Do people really buy into this?  I mean, when you talk to people, do they really believe this?"

And Gods honest truth, after roughly five seconds, he replied in a completely defeated, utterly disheartened tone... "No."

And I hung up.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

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Order a copy of my new book "I'm Married... Shoot Me!"  for just $7.70 -The harrowing tales of your average Husband. Children, insanity and manly cowardice, all wrapped up in love - is now available through Lulu.com

Common Sense, Witch Hunts and Conniption Fits

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Articles written from the Left plead for a "common sense" discussion about gun control.  What they fail to understand is this... When it comes to the Second Amendment, there is nothing to discuss, just as there is no discussion about controlling First Amendment protections on free speech. It doesn't make any difference how many polls or surveys or studies there are - The Second Amendment is a Right, not subject to opinion. Even if polls ran 99% in favor of gun control, it doesn't matter. The Bill of Rights protects the one from the many (tyranny). If you protect the Rights of the one, you protect the Rights of all.

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I think we need a law that makes it illegal to break a law... Wait... did I just use Gun Control Logic?

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I think they should pass a "Criminal Must Run" law. When a criminal in the act of committing a crime meets up with an individual who chooses to defend himself from said criminal committing the crime, the criminal committing the crime must run away from the crime scene or be arrested. That ought to take care of all our problems

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Having body cams on Cops is about one thing and one thing only. The ability to ensure that the Citizens of this Country are protected from those that are paid to protect and serve us. Everything else is smoke and mirrors. The very reason LE is going to body cams is due to far to many LEO's behaving as if they are the judge and jury. The camera's will do two things - Make peace officers follow the law and treat Citizens with respect while Citizens will have to do the same. This is a win / win.

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Michael Bloomberg is beginning to look a lot like Joseph McCarthy. McCarthy whipped Americans into a frenzy, making a mountain out of a Communist molehill - then fell hard when the American public not only realized it, but understood the insidiousness of his propganda. Bloomberg is like that - His message, couched in emotion, fear and "common sense" is not only insidious, but sinister as well. Thankfully, due to the fight of sane and fearless Citizens, he's beginning to look desperate and stupid - and to be honest, like many narcissists,  he's just not bright enough to know this is a war he can't win.  He is on the wrong side of the argument.

It will always be a fight, but I don't think he has the backing of as many as he believes. Oh, they may be loud and animated - which serves his out of control ego well - but there's just not that many of them.

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If I hear one more politician or rights activist use the phrase "common sense" I'm going to puke.
 
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It seems as though many people assume that if you carry into a place with a non-compliant No Guns sign and they find out you have a gun, you will be "asked to leave."  What if you aren't "asked to leave?"  What if they panic and call the police about a "man with a gun!"

Thanks, but I think I will just leave my sidearm in the car or better yet, not go in.  They don't want my business?  They don't get my business.

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Each time I go to my Grandkids school for a play, school event, sports or just to pick them up, it seems so silly that I can't walk right in with my sidearm concealed.  I stand there, look at all the children, the parents - a school full of targets - and it just seems comical that I am not allowed to stand there with them, with my gun.  I had the same thought when I went to the hospital to see an Aunt who had surgery.  There I am, standing outside her door, waiting for my Wife to come out.  It's quiet, calm and serene - and I'm thinking that this is so stupid that I have to disarm in the parking lot.

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Speaking of wives, mine didn't like the idea of guns, but didn't give me too much flak.  She would've just as soon I not carry... all the standard stuff, Grandkids, accidents, how do I know for sure the gun won't break and go off.   She would look away or have a physical reaction (flinch) when I unholstered in the car and put the gun into the locking glove box right in front of her passenger seat.  Now?  It doesn't bother her at all.  She has become accustomed to the sight of my sidearm.  She opens the glove box for me before I unholster.  And she feels safer when we go out.  I guess with concealed carry, there is an adjustment time for everyone!

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Order a copy of my new book "I'm Married... Shoot Me!"  for just $7.70 -The harrowing tales of your average Husband. Children, insanity and manly cowardice, all wrapped up in love - is now available through Lulu.com

SCOTUS Drops The Ball In Drug Sniffing Dog Ruling

As reported over the last couple of days, the Supreme Court of the United States - in a 6-3 Majority ruling led by Justice Ginsberg's opinion - decided that Nebraska Police officers required a warrant to search a car with a drug sniffing dog after a traffic stop was completed.

LINK: Read the Courts opinion HERE

Now, in many circles this ruling is being hailed as a victory for the Fourth Amendment - which lately has been taking more punches to the head than smooth talking Leon Spinks.  But the reality is, the only change brought forth by the SCOTUS ruling is how Police will conduct traffic stops.

Officers in the Nebraska case stopped the car, wrote the ticket and then detained the vehicle and occupants for an additional 7-8 minutes while awaiting the arrival of a drug sniffing K-9.  When the dog arrived the Police were told by the occupants that they did not consent to a search.  They were removed from the car and on the second trip around, the dog pointed on what turned out to be a bag of meth under the seat.

“Absent reasonable suspicion, police extension of a traffic stop in order to conduct a dog sniff violates the Constitution’s shield against unreasonable seizures,” Ginsburg said, in an opinion joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

So the reality is, they didn't rule that drug sniffing dogs trampled on your Fourth Amendment Rights,  they ruled the dog must be brought to the car within the time frame of the traffic stop.

My question is this - absent Probable Cause, how is it ever legal to detain a citizen of the U.S.A.?  

If an LEO has Probable Cause, then he should search the car - just open the car door and start rooting around.
But, if an LEO has to bring in a dog to confirm his inkling, then all he has is a hunch, and hunches aren't included in any way, shape or form in the wording of the Fourth Amendment.  Detaining someone because you have a "feeling" about them, or they are acting "hinky" is not Probable Cause by any definition and doesn't hold up in Court.  And by that standard, if you have to wait for a dog to give you Probable Cause to do a search, then you had no right to detain them in the first place. You have - purely and simply - violated their Fourth Amendment Rights.

For a long time now, our Fourth Amendment Rights have been slowly eroded as the Courts have sided again and again with Police, using the "in the interest of public safety" ruse.  With this ruling, SCOTUS had the opportunity to cut a wider swath, putting teeth back into the Fourth Amendment - but alas, they dropped the ball.

In the end, they could have restored Honor and Integrity to the Bill of Rights.  They could have taken back what has been given away.  They could have pushed back against the militarization of Police in this Country.  But they didn't.

And then my question becomes...Why?

Stay Safe and Carry Responsibly
Hipshot

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Order a copy of my new book "I'm Married... Shoot Me!"  for just $7.70 -The harrowing tales of your average Husband. Children, insanity and manly cowardice, all wrapped up in love - is now available through Lulu.com