Fort Hood Tragedy

First, my condolences to the families of the fallen, and the wounded and their families as well. This was a horrific crime perpetrated on the innocent and unsuspecting, and there are not words to express how awful this is. God bless the victims and their families.

I was very surprised to find out that Fort Hood is a gun free zone in some respects. Like so many other massacres, (1, 2, 3, 4) this one took place in an environment in which most of the victims were not allowed to be armed. If military personnel were required to have their sidearms as part of their uniform, the death toll would almost certainly have been greatly reduced. (1, 2, 3).

I will note here an observation: This was apparently caused by a lone Muslim who felt it was his religious mandate to kill Americans. It seems to me an obvious observation that the great majority, if not all, terrorist activity in the last ten years or so is being instigated by Muslims who feel it is their religious mandate to kill Americans. Political correctness causes politicians and news media to pussy-foot around this fact, but – there it is.

I am not saying that all Muslims are like that. But given this trend, I think it would be wise to have a heightened awareness of what is going on with any Muslims you may know. Hasan, the murderer at Fort Hood (no, he’s not a ’suspect’ – he was caught in the act), apparently was quite open about his views and gave many clues that something was wrong.

This is not prejudice. This is situational awareness.

-Popgun

Different Viewpoints

Everyone has their own way of looking at things. Currently, there seem to be two opposing viewpoints of how to manage our country.

Liberals want more government, more government control of individuals, less individual rights, and has the view that the government will take care of all your needs. This is called the ‘nanny state’.

They also tend to believe that you are a victim of your upbringing and are not responsible for bad choices you may make. This is why liberal judges tend to let child molesters off the hook.

Liberals tend to be pro-abortion. They call this ‘pro-choice’, although the baby involved doesn’t get a choice.

Liberals believe in involuntary redistribution of wealth, possibly for humanitarian reasons.

Liberals believe the Constitution of the United States should be ‘interpreted’ according to their viewpoint.

Liberals tend to be anti-second amendment because they do not believe any individual can be trusted with a gun, and the idea that people are walking around in Walmart carrying a concealed hand gun scares the crap out of them. Even if those people are not felons.

Conservatives (real ones, that is) believe in maximum personal freedom, the smallest government that can do the proper roll of government. This is very cost-effective.

Conservatives believe in personal responsibility for individual choices. This is why conservative judges think child molesters should be shot.

Conservatives tend to be anti-abortion. Most of them see this as the murder of babies, purely for the convenience of immature and selfish parents who don’t take responsibility for their actions.

Conservatives are generally against involuntary redistribution of wealth, which they correctly view as robbery at gunpoint. (Think that’s an exaggeration? Try not paying your taxes. Eventually, somebody with a gun will show up to collect or to put you in jail. They will have guns.)

Conservatives believe the Constitution of the United States should be strictly interpreted according to the intent of the authors.

Conservatives generally are pro-second amendment because they believe honest citizens can be trusted with guns – both to use them when needed, and not to use them inappropriately. Law abiding citizens walking around in Walmart with guns don’t bother me. I know that they are not a risk to me or mine; only a felon (or wannabe felon) is a risk with a gun. And the best defense against the felon with a gun is to myself be armed, since the felon will not obey the law that says he can’t have a gun.

How do you know which philosophy is the right one?

That’s a deep question. There are many frameworks of belief that may help you decide, such as the Holy Bible. There is also how you were brought up, what you learned from your parents (or whoever raised you, these days).

As for me, I know that, as a child, I was taught a sense of honor. I was also taught a work ethic that to this day makes me get up every day and go to my job to earn my own way and provide for my family. I believe that I am worth my wages, and I believe that they are mine, not yours. I believe in personal responsibility. I believe that I can be trusted with a gun, because I know my own mind, and furthermore I believe I have the responsibility to protect my family if necessary. I have seen more than one couple grieve as they buried a miscarried child, and I know that abortion is murder. I believe in my personal freedom – and yours, too.

And I resent every dime I pay in taxes that is given to somebody who doesn’t deserve it, or is otherwise wasted. I do believe in charity – but it should be voluntary. And I don’t believe that people who are unwilling to work should receive a single dime of charity. Charity should be reserved for those who want to provide for themselves, but cannot because of circumstances such as health or age.

I have self respect because I have worked hard to do the best I could with my life. Others have done better, and some have done worse. But the key is to do your best. I paid my rent on my chunk of the planet today, and I feel pretty good about that.

I can’t say why you should choose one philosophy or the other – but I know which one I’ve chosen.

-Popgun

Perception of Risk

In my previous post, I referenced an article at Home on the Range that gave some very good tips for home security. I particularly agreed with Brigid’s comments about alarm systems. An email exchange with my daughter-in-law caused me to lay out in my mind why I give armed self defense the priority that I do.

The article’s statistics indicate that 1 in 5 homes will be invaded or burgled. My own research indicates that a person living in Texas has a pretty fair probability of encountering some type of violent crime sometime in his or her lifetime. If you live in a city, the odds are higher. If you live somewhere that does not allow concealed carry, the odds are much higher still. I simply believe it is a good idea to improve my odds on the outcome. The original research of mine on these probabilities was based on public records from a time when the economy was good, by the way. It is a telling fact that statistics show that there is a direct correlation between increased concealed handgun licenses and decreased violent crime. Read one of John Lott’s books for more detailed information.

When driving, I wear a seatbelt. Not so much because the law requires it, but because statistics show that they save lives and minimize injuries. This was reinforced in my mind in 1988 when I rolled a pickup truck and found myself hanging up-side down from the straps – uninjured. When riding my motorcycle, even though there is no helmet law in Texas, I always wear a helmet. This is because I know for certain that it can alleviate the outcome of a motorcycle accident, having experienced such. I have had a helmet absolutely save me from a lot of reconstructive surgery on my face. It bothers me that some friends of mine don’t wear helmets. It’s their choice – but I wish for better for them, because they are my friends. I also know that if you ride long enough, eventually you will have an accident. Still, it is my friends’ call whether to wear helmets or not, and none of my business. I felt obligated to tell them about it; I did; and now it’s up to them.

In the same way, every once in a while I point out a potential risk to those I care about. I suspect that this gets me talked about.

One thing to realize is the principle of preparedness commensurate with the potential loss. I don’t carry an umbrella around all the time; if I get caught in the rain, I haven’t lost a lot or created a big problem. Although I am much less likely to need a gun than an umbrella, I do carry a gun when it is legal to do so, because I don’t ever want to be in the position of needing one and not having it if things go pear shaped. I even keep one handy when I’m sitting around in the living room of my house – because I am aware that it would be fairly easy for a home invader to kick in my door and get to me well before I could reach my gun if it was in the bedroom in a lock-box. (1) The potential for personal loss is great enough that I think it is worth the hassle to carry. I simply could not bear the pain if, for instance, somebody snatched one of my grandkids – and I could have prevented it if only I had been armed. Knowing how I would feel, of course I go armed. Selfish of me, I guess.

I’m 55 years old, and I have lived to see a decrease in compassion, an increase in rudeness, a big increase in population, and a large increase in the number of people who have no moral compass. It looks to me like the probability of needing an effective means of personal defense is increasing, particularly with millions out of work and some of them getting desperate. As these people’s unemployment benefits expire, a certain small percentage of them will begin to get more creative in how they get what they need, and the number of people in that category will continue to increase for quite some time to come. The current economy will inevitably result in an increase in crime.

As Robert A. Heinlein’s character Lazarus Long said, be an optimist by temperament, and a pessimist by policy.

I guess it’s a matter of perception of risk. I may err, but I will err on the side of safety for my family and myself.

-Popgun

Footnote (1): If the grandkids are visiting, I make darn sure the guns are locked up, except for the one that is on me; and I make sure that one is safe.

Practical Home Defense

A great article with practical tips for home defense. Thanks to Brigid at Home on the Range.

-Popgun

A Graph the Anti-Gunners Don’t Want You to See

Here’s a graph the anti-gun crowd don’t want you to see. It clearly shows the correlation of more guns per capita equals less firearm related deaths per capita, over time. The number of shall-issue states (for concealed carry) is also graphed, along with a lot of other data. Kudos to walls of the city for working this out!

Also thanks to RobertaX, who led me to this graph.

-Popgun

Bloomberg Lies Again

Regarding the Thune amendment, rabid anti-gun Mayor Bloomberg said:

“It would make it a lot easier for illegal gun traffickers to walk the streets of any city with multiple hand guns and that’s particularly problematic,”

Hey, Mayor Bloomberg – illegal gun traffickers do that anyway! That’s why I want my gun!

Idiot. What makes him think a law is going to stop a law-breaker?

He said elsewhere, with feigned horror in his voice, that concealed carry laws allow people to carry guns into (gasp) movie theaters, and (gasp) restaurants. Let me explain, Mayor Bloomberg – two kinds of people carry guns into those places: law abiding licensed citizens, and crooks. The crooks don’t care if you pass a law against it – they’ll be there anyway.

Many law abiding citizens want protection from the crooks. The cops are always a few minutes away, and though they do their best, I don’t have one in my pocket. I do, however, have my gun on me.

Texas Grandma and I went to see the movie G-Force the other night – I had my gun, and nobody got shot. But we would have had a means of defense if we’d been jumped in the parking lot. It’s a rough town, and there wasn’t a cop in sight.

Sunday, we went to church – followed by lunch at a restaurant. And again, nobody got shot. Texas Grandma went to the local mall Sunday evening, and took her gun. Nobody got shot.

We’ve been doing these things for years… nobody has been shot.

If you meet someone with a concealed handgun license, you can rest assured of one thing. That person has never had a history of trouble with the law. Felons cannot get a concealed handgun license!

The last time I had reason to talk with a police officer (a traffic stop), when he learned that I had a CHL – he relaxed and became friendly... because he knew he was safe with me. In Texas, a CHL holder is seven times less likely to be involved in any crime compared to the average citizen.

Those of you who don’t do guns, and those who live where it is unusual – be aware that regardless of the lies of Bloomberg and his ilk, those who legally carry concealed are the good guys. We’ve been screened by the police, we have clean records, we have had training in gun safety and the relevant laws.

-Popgun

Wasting Ammo

Yesterday after work, a friend and I went to the lease to spend some time wasting ammo with our SIG556’s. It is our custom, for safety’s sake, that only one of us shoots at a time. I had sighted mine in some time ago, but this was my friend’s first opportunity to do so, so he did most of the shooting on this trip, seeing as how we were somewhat time limited by daylight.

Next time, we’re taking a butterfly net to catch the brass. I think this could be a fun way to occupy those not shooting at the moment. OK, I have a weird sense of humor.

Anyhow, the weather was pleasant, blue sky, comfortable temperature. We have an area maybe 80 feet wide by around 800 yards long which is bulldozed clear, which we use as a rifle range.

Disclaimer: Although I am in my mid-50’s, I only really got interested in guns a few years ago, and rifles only a few months ago. So if I forget and say ‘clip’ instead of ‘magazine’, get over it. Those of you who get hung up on terminology need to relax a little… and if it makes you feel superior, that’s OK with me. Maybe you know more than I do; believe it or not, I have no problem with that. But watch out, I’m gaining on you… I may be relatively new to this, but I’m learning fast.

Compared to the AR-15 I bought first, I really do like the SIG556. It is gas piston operated, which makes it run cleaner and cooler. It doesn’t need a charging handle to operate; to charge it, you pull back on the bolt and let go. This seems much more natural to me, and easier to do while in firing position. The SIG is a bit heavier than an AR-15. Mine came with back-up fixed sights, a holographic sight and a folding stock. The folding stock is really handy for storing the gun, and it can be fired with the stock folded, which may be useful in home-defense situations using a laser for sighting.

I’m not a hunter, but I do enjoy target shooting and plinking, which I used to do a lot as a teenager. With the SIG, you can load a 30 round magazine and walk down the creek beds looking for targets of opportunity – your occasional coke can, or maybe a cotton-mouth or two. I find this really relaxing. This would also be a great varmint gun if you happen to need one. And to me, it is just plain fun to see just how close I can group those shots at increasing ranges.

If I didn’t think the cops would show up, I’d put a lawn chair on my roof and sit up there shooting gophers. This is something my Dad would have done, and no mistake. He in fact did frequently sit in his side yard, in front of the garden, with a beer on the table and a snake-charmer .410 in his lap, shooting gophers. This was right next to the highway, too. He would expose one of their tunnels, and wait for them to come fill it back in, whereupon he would blast the pest. In my favor should be that if I did this, at least I’d be cold sober.

Hmmm. I wonder if there’s anything illegal about sitting on your own land holding a rifle, out here in the boonies? Can the cops in fact do anything about it? Probably. In these degenerate times, they’d come up with some excuse like ‘public endangerment’, as if I’m not competent to hit the ground from 20 feet away.

On a more serious note, my second purpose for this rifle is home and self defense. If someone breaks into my home while I am there, my first line of defense is my .45, which I am more likely to be able to get to in a hurry. However, given time to do so, I’ll grab the SIG, which is a lot more firepower.

And, whatever comes to us here in the U.S., I hope it will be peaceful; but if it is not, I am at least better able to defend my family, home and property than I would be otherwise. I see hard times coming, but I hope I’m wrong. In any case, having an effective means of self defense is never a bad idea.

-Popgun

The Second Amendment

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

I’m glad that I live in this country, where we, the citizens, have the right to bear arms. They don’t have that right in Iran.

The Second Amendment serves two purposes; one is the right to bear arms to defend yourself. The other is the right to defend ourselves against oppression. That’s the part about “necessary to the security of a free State”.

At least here, we can shoot back if our government ever mutates into an oppressive non-representative regime.

One of the signs of any government mutating into an oppressive regime: the desire or attempt to relieve the populace of their guns…

Because certain mindsets don’t want us to be free, responsible adults who think for ourselves – they want sheep.

-Popgun

A Comparison of Today and the Wild West

Brigid, of Home on the Range, has done it again!

I wish I could get, well, everybody, to read her post. Things you probably didn’t know about the Wild West. And, in large part, why I hold some of the beliefs that I do. Read her article here. Recommended.

-Popgun

Philosophy of Self Defense

This excerpt from the Cornered Cat, pretty much sums it up for most cases of self defense or defense of others:

Awhile back, some lowlife in Portland, Oregon, kidnapped a 10-year-old boy. A witness reported the kidnapping, and gave a description of the vehicle along with the license plate numbers. Later in the day, someone who’d heard the account on the news spotted the pickup truck as it turned onto a dirt road outside of town. The police converged on the scene. When they arrived, the man was standing near the boy, waving a firearm around. When the kidnapper turned his gun toward the officers and began shooting, the officers returned fire, killing him. The boy was unharmed (except, of course, for psychological trauma).

Did the criminal deserve to die? Well, whether or not you believe he deserved to die for kidnapping a child, the fact is that when he raised his gun to fire at the officers, the criminal had just made the most important choice of the day. He decided that someone was going to die.

The officers on the scene had to decide whether the person who died would be an innocent child, or one of themselves, or the criminal. The choice that someone was going to die had already been made, and the good guys weren’t the ones who made that choice.

There is some excellent thinking on The Cornered Cat. Recommended.

-Popgun