Marswolf

Well, I'll give half a point here. If Glock owners use quality factory ammunition, they are unlikely to have a problem. But I have bought cheap factory ammo that would not allow my USP to go fully into battery and the gun prevented its firing. That's what should happen. It might have been disastrous if I was shooting a Glock rather than a USP. This just shouldn't be a problem that the user has to think about.

Different person, Someguy. Back when James Magruder was trying to organize a Tri-Cities chapter of TFA, I got involved with the project just enough to try to get together with James (which never happened for reasons I don't understand) and also asked around about what local folks thought of the TFA. Mostly, I got blank stares. Even the gun shop owners knew virtually nothing about the organization. The gentleman I quoted was just an ordinary gun owner who didn't think the TFA did much. That was his perception and that is why I mention him. James had a meeting or two and the local chapter died from lack of interest and, IMHO, a lousy meeting location and no publicity (like Nashville???). I got turned off on the group when Harris couldn't find time to put together a state convention one year. Conventions can be fun get-togethers or they can be effective planning sessions for legislative action. That's what I think is needed. I suspect that John Harris is a good man. But TFA is largely a one-man show. Yes I know there are good members and some good chapters, but the TFA should be Tennessee's version of the Virginia Citizen's Defense League. It can't be that if it doesn't expand to more than one person running the show. So, I'm certainly not anti TFA or John Harris. I'm just disappointed that there isn't serious effort to decentralize the workings of the group. There need to be committees working on grassroots lobbying all over the state, not just one guy in Nashville who talks to representatives when he has time away from his job. These days, committee members statewide could meet in a chat room or using Skype every couple of weeks and plan activities. We could set up a room here on TGO to do that. Seems like TFA could do that too. Right now, I talk to my National and State Senators and Representatives fairly often and they are pretty much onboard with our desired gun policies. But I only have one vote. The TFA needs to be visible and very publicly supporting legislators and businesses that support our view.

Those articles in Capitalism The Unknown Ideal came from Rand's The Objectivist Newsletter. I was a subscriber when they appeared. Still have them around here somewhere.

Well obviously you are a dufus. One of the heads of a major training group has proclaimed the 24/7 to be junk. His name was Jägermeister or something like that. I always thought they were OK too, but we are obviously wrong. I wouldn't hide in a ditch with one....

Speaking off the record it has been my experience that KPD has some management problems.

Have I told you that I have absolute proof that a cruise missile hit the Pentagon? BTW, did you know that former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan was a protégé of laissez faire philosopher and author Ayn Rand? I knew of Greenspan in the 60s. I was both shocked and pleased when Reagan made him Fed chief. http://www.noblesoul.com/orc/bio/greenspan-time.html

The classic answer came from a gun friend (now deceased) who said that the TFA was some lawyer in Nashville who takes your money. That's probably a bit harsh, but it is interesting that pretty much no one knows how the dues money is spent. I don't know what the membership is of the TFA, but I doubt anyone is getting rich on the dues money. There is a critical junction at which an organization goes from a simple grassroots group to being a real player with paid staff who can do some serious lobbying. I don't think TFA is remotely close to that point. The TFA needs someone who can devote all their time to the group. That takes money and a willingness to share control on the part of the leadership. I doubt the TFA will ever get to that point.

There are a bunch of our military guys there who don't have much use for the contractors either.

I actually had this happen to me not long after I started to college. A drunk guy about twice my size said I was messing with his girlfriend and took offense. She didn't think that she was his girlfriend. So he pulled a knife and took a swing. Caught my left wrist a bit. Still have a nice scar there. I became a bit upset. I really don't like having other people make me bleed. So, since I had been practicing Karate and such since I was 14 years old and had a roommate I worked out with who had a 3rd degree black belt in the art, I broke his jaw in two places. But guns are good too.

Well hell.... Wish I had known that. My wife does jewelry and we were one of the vendors. Waynesan was there Saturday night too and dropped by to talk for a couple of minutes. I kept wandering into the indoor stages and after a couple of songs remembering that they served beer and that I was packing. I did not immediately leave because of that. Those restaurant laws are so stupid. I tend to ignore stupid laws.

I'll agree with you guys, Glocks are accurate and shoot well, if differently than other handguns. And they blow up when people get stupid. There is just less margin of safety if you do have a brain fart. Glocks are wonderful. - signed "Lefty"

I always shoot better when I'm shooting against someone.

Had a local music shop that was set up at the Rhythm & Roots festival give me a CF Martin (Martin Guitar) Straw Hat this weekend. Made by Peter Grimm. "Stay cool in the sun at your next festival or jam session with the new CF Martin Straw Hat. This Peter Grimm brand hat, has a pre-curved brim with a navy fabric band, displaying the CF Martin logo in white embroidery. One size fits all." Made in China, of course. The Martin hat band just slips off. Since my level of guitar playing expertise would be closer to using one of those chinchy instruments that Roy Clark advertised on TV than a Martin, I'll probably remove the band to prevent someone asking me to play. But I am getting into the hammer dulcimer. But I'm beginning to wonder about you guys who like cars and music, and even guns, more than women.

I'm sure a lot of it had to do with the white supremacist rally you were observing. Those things will set officers on edge. I have no doubt but that seeing that holster on your side was taken as a sign that you were a troublemaker. Carrying a holster is not illegal but did look suspicious. With your explanation to the officer, I don't think a judge would see in of itself as probable cause to search the vehicle though. As in most situations, this was a collection of errors. A cluster-****. Being at the rally, wearing a holster, allowing a search. Don't do that again.

I don't think I'd give a squat about the faculty looking me up, but employers want people who don't act like goofy kids. Your point is well taken.

Yeah it's possible to blow up anything, even a USP, if you get stupid enough. How many pictures have you seen of a USP kaboom? How many of a Glock?

Maybe we don't need to plan an even around when UT has a home game. I think I'd wait until next year to go and see if Tennessee would play football for a change.

Two hour video on internet? I think that instead of watching, I'll just do something more fun like pound bamboo splints under my fingernails.

Exactly my conclusion.

My point is that people are generally a lot more impressionable than they think they are. Especially younger people. I was. It's not a slam.

I'd be organizing a Nashville gun owners group and let the TFA come to meetings if they wanted to do so.

I used to have women as a hobby, but my wife says I can't do that anymore. Well, she knows I'm going to look. The rule is look but never-never touch....

Hey, I have a Beretta that I've carried since before it was selected by the military. Still carry it in jungle settings. Most accurate and reliable handgun I own. At least it's not a Glock. I met waynesan last night in Bristol. Never could figure out if he was going down to listen to music or drink. Must have been listen to music. I was so tired I'd have gone with him if he was going to drink. Besides, I think he was packing.

Now Dave.... You know perfectly well that people are asked permission to search their vehicles all the time when the officer suspects that there is something illegal in there but there is not sufficient cause to force a search or convince a judge to issue a search warrant. Last year a friend of mine was stopped in his pickup around Newport for something. My friend was asked for his permission to search the truck, but he refused. The office became very irate at this impertinence and launched into a tirade of threats that normally would get the vehicle driver to relent. But my friend did not relent. Eventually the officer realized that his bluff had been called and things quickly deescalated. You see, my friend realized that these bullying techniques are part and parcel of LE technique. Oh yeah, did I mention that my friend is a retired police chief?