Marswolf

I've never seen a problem here in Tennessee, or Virginia either for that matter. Some cops like to intimidate those who don't know their rights, but most are cool (OK) with open carry. Even if you hit a bad cop, most of them and their departments really don't want to be sued and will back off if you politely assert your rights. Of course if you come in from the cold wearing a hoodie and balaclava, someone might call the cops. I'm big on looking like you should have a gun.

The guy I know who has one has been in LE for 25 years or so and normally carries a G23. He practices just about weekly, more often in warmer weather. He isn't a neophyte and he certanly doesn't consider the 45 ACP 24/7 junk. As mentioned, I've been carrying professionally for a long time too. The 24/7 isn't junk. Not what I'd carry, but certainly OK if you insist on a 45. I don't care for them in the other calibers because of ergonomic issues. BTW, I like Glocks OK for duty use but I never recommend them for self defense carry.

Wish I had know about that concert. Rhonda Vincent is extraordinarily talented.

I don't own one but have shot one. It's a very nice handgun. The 45 ACP is the winner in the 24/7 line. If I was going to carry a 45, I'd certainly seriously consider the Taurus 24/7.

Ah, yet another Tri-Cities person!

Hey Macho! Looks like some good people here. Until you arrived, of course....

Hi Bob. I'm local to you in Blountville.

I don't know either. It's been a while since I've been there. When we get the databas set up I'll do a walk down State Street and get them entered. There isn't normally a problem there, although State Street Bar and Grill, just down the street, occasionally has a problem. I would be warry of leaving the gun in my car though. They aren't that far from the projects on the VA side.

Boy, that was fast. Thanks for the button.

How about adding a forum for local get-togethers. We could start topics for our area to plan to get together for breakfast, or supper or whatever. I've spotted several people from the Tri-Cities, where I am. Be nice to put a face with the screen names once a quarter. It's always a cluster setting these things up, but we did this eons on a pre-Internet service (GEnie) I was sysop on. It worked out well. Lots of fun if you don't try to over-organize it. One more thing, can you add a button to go to the top of the page at each post? Just a little nicety that I miss here.

I generally carry concealed unless I'm on official business.

USP 40 - OWB 3 o'clock P7M8 - IWB 4 o'clock P-3AT - IWB 4 o'clock or back pocket of pants or shorts, or if appropriate Thunderwear Beretta 92SB - web military holster USP or Beretta - shoulder holster Just depends on the situation. Occasionally for woods use I carry Taurus 44R revolver (44 mag) in a web holster.

I know about the reenacting part of Scouting. I was once a member of a Civil War reenacting group that is also a high school club and scout troop in Bristol. I was a committee member or something like that for the troop, but did reenacting with them too. Glad they have someone like you in Scouting. It seems like every couple of months up here we have a Scout official or leader exposed as some crook or pervert. Hopefully they are doing more thorough background checks. In that light, a carry permit is basically a good citizen award. I would think Scouting would welcome people who have been certified as stable enough to carry. I really don't worry about that. I don't go out of my way to display my handgun. I'm not a "cowboy" but I am used to open carry in my job and if I'm doing concealed carry and take my coat off, I don't sweat it. The secret is that you need to dress in a way that makes it plain that you are someone who is supposed to have a gun. I've never been questioned.

It would be good if we could attach a photo of the door of the business with a no-gun sign in the banning location database. That way, when they come out to ask why we are photographing their business, we could tell them it's to show how they are anti 2A.

Maryland is entirely too close to DC.

Welcome! I'm a Tennessean by birth, but the rest of my family was born in Georgia, going back to well before Civil War times. Always glad to see another guy who is serving his country in the military. Sorry the service is in Maryland. Only good thing about Maryland is oyster sandwiches.

That's a shame. I've always considered looking out for yourself to be an positive American value that should be encouraged. Seems like it would be good to teach scouts that when they go on primitive camping trips, it's a good idea to take a gun along. Kids have done that here in America since before we were a country. Is it OK to let them know that you normally pack but don't do so at scouting activities just because of the rules?

Well that is a mystery. Can you see the group expansion is evenly distributed around the X or is it primarily top to bottom or right to left? Top to bottom might be an indication that the barrel isn't seating in exactly the same way after it heats up. Might just need a little more barrel fitting.

Sight radius on a pistol is so short that the problem of barrel heating probably isn't significant compared to other factors like shooter fatigue. You'd probably have to use a Ransom Rest or equivalent to really tell. You're more likely to see the problem on accuracy rifles like Remington 700s or target rifles although I've never noticed a problem with my .308 WIN 700VS. Probably because of the heavy barrel and the special hand loads I use.

Basically, the National Forests generally follow the laws of the state in which the Forest resides with a few exceptions to prevent people from using concealed weapons to hunt with. The FAQ is not entirely complete. Cherokee does follow state law but they have been known to be a bit unfriendly about it in the northern section. That may be why the exception isn't in the FAQ.

Iraq hasn't been stable for millennia except when some strong-man forced the people to act semi-peacefully for a while. Really true of the whole region. I'd have gone after Syria first. Our Intel was lousy. I mostly blame Jimmy Carter for that, but all the Presidents after Carter should have fixed it. But since we are in Iraq, we need to finish the job. Not maintaining control there makes it much more likely we will be attacked. We are not there to free the Iraqi people. We are there to prevent terrorist attacks on us here in the US. I was talking to one of our guys in Iraq the other day who is pissed at our Congress and a lot of the American people. He says that you can not support the troops without also supporting the war. I totally agree with him. It's just word play to pretend you can support our military without supporting their cause. We are going to have to get out of this thinking that we are going in, cleaning up the place, and leave. Terrorism doesn't work that way. We are no longer protected by our oceans. This is a long-term conflict. We need to think in terms of decades rather than months. But I don't think we will do that. It's going to be a roller coaster. They attack and we go after them then withdraw, followed by another attack on us. So what do I think will happen? We'll sent in a few more troops that will be insufficient to do the job, declare victory and leave. That will be followed by civil war with sections of the country used to train more people to kill us. And they will kill us. We never learn.

Reef, you are technically correct, but.... All state parks are posted. There is even special allowance in the code to keep them from having to change their no packing signs from the old ones they already have in place. We need to work to do what Virginia did and specifically permit concealed carry in state parks. So far I haven't heard of bloodbaths in Virginia parks since the change. As I understand it, the intention of the lawmakers was to prevent handgun carry in municipal parks. That's not what the law says, but I think that is likely to be clarified (and changed) in this legislative session. Meantime, municipalities are being advised that they do not have to post. This recently happened in Bristol.

I carry in a bunch of different ways. The web belt and shoulder holster have built in magazine carriers. For side carry, I may have up to four additional magazines in addition to the one in the handgun. IWB I normally carry one spare magazine. For casual carry with the .380 Kel-Tec sometimes it's just what is in the handgun. I'm not paranoid about being attacked, just careful. Seven rounds should be fine in the Walmart parking lot. But there are additional rounds in the trunk plus the XD-9 sub always in the car side pocket. I do continually check to make sure the magazine is properly seated in the pistol. Once found the magazine loose, but not missing, in my P7M8. So I always check the magazine when getting out of the car or when possible when getting up from a chair. The loose mag only happened once, but I want to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Yes, if you have a carry permit, you may generally carry in the National Forests. While this document is for another Forest, the Cherokee National Forest follows these standards. http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/lee/general/firearms.doc Firearms on the National Forest Land First, the primary laws governing possession of firearms and other weapons on National Forest are State Laws. These laws were developed by the states following establishment of our Cooperative Wildlife Management Agreements. Most notable of the state laws concerns controlling firearms on the National Forest are "cased gun laws". Cased Gun Laws: As the name implies, this law requires that all firearms on National Forest be unloaded and kept in a case. Virginia and West Virginia have similar "cased gun laws". In order to allow hunting, these laws make an exception. Ø It is legal to have loaded firearms on National Forest during the authorized general firearms and muzzle loading gun seasons for bear, deer, grouse, pheasant, quail, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, turkey, or waterfowl. This exception is very specific and applies only during the period when it is legal to take these listed species and doesn't include carrying the loaded weapons in a vehicle. Ø Because hunting on Sunday is prohibited, carrying a loaded gun on National Forest is not legal on Sunday even if it is the Sunday in the middle of the general firearms deer season. Ø The second exception to this law allows people with a concealed weapon permit to carry a loaded, concealed, handgun either on their person or in their vehicle while on National Forest. This does not apply if the person is engaged in a primitive weapons season or chase only season. Ø People hunting with muzzle loading weapons or bow and arrow may not have a modern firearm in their possession regardless of the concealed weapon permit. Discharging a firearm, crossbow, or bow and arrow in or across a road or within the right-of-way of any road is prohibited by both State and Federal Law. Any person convicted of a felony may not legally possess firearms on National Forest. Reckless use or handling firearms: It is a violation of both Federal and State law to handle any firearm in a careless and reckless manner or hunt while under the influence of intoxicants or narcotic drugs. TARGET SHOOTING - Target shooting is prohibited on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests by an Order signed in February of 1996. Target shooting on National Forest should be accomplished only at approved ranges.