MacGyver

If I were in your shoes, I might use the five years you have left before the option of retirement to boost your skill set and education, all the while still collecting a paycheck. That way when you get out, you have the option and skill set to do what you really want to do. I'm in the forensics business, and we love to bring on former LEOs, but not having a degree will almost always be an issue because it's a lot harder for us to put you on the stand as an 'expert'. I might take a step back, and ask "if you could do whatever you want for a job, what would it be?" It's easy to dismiss that question because it sounds kind of "self-helpy?", but I think it's an important question for all of us. If you don't like what you do, it's up to you to make the change. I think you've got that part down, I would just want to make sure that you don't make a change to feel equally unfulfilled. As the others above said, thank you for your service. You are in an overworked, underpaid field, and we all benefit from your sacrifice. Thanks for that.

Good review, thanks. I like something that gives a little more space than a bivy for about the same size.

I'm with JustAGuy, I think this sums it up. I'm not sure what I think about "Homeland Defense Rifle", as it does denote a certain right-wingedness that I'm not sure we want, but I'd much rather see CNN referring to them as that rather than "assault rifle". I saw an article recently that I'll try and find and repost wherein the author makes a point that every responsible citizen has a civic responsibility to be familiar with operation and employment of their country's "Primary Battle Rifle". We are a long way removed in this country from any concept of civil defense that involves anything other than natural disasters, but the point is a good one. Instead of having to justify why we have "Assault rifles" or "Evil Black Rifles", we should turn it around to say we have them out of the responsibility of being good citizens - "Why don't you have one?" Come to think of it, I'm going to start referring to mine as my country's Primary Battle Rifle and see where it gets me. If nothing else, it will serve as good justification down the road with CENTCOM (aka my wife) as to why I have to buy that SCAR.

Do you have a degree?

Thank you all for your sacrifice and service.

Mark over at the Safe House has some Browning safes in a pretty classy gloss black. You can see your reflection in them. I've got a Browning Bronze series that I got from him and it fits the dimensions you gave, though I think you might have an issue fitting 18-20 long guns plus the pistols and other assorted valuables in one that size. Maybe not, though if you arrange them just right. It would be worth your time to call Mark and ask.

Since I got the Benelli M4, it is the standard I judge all others by. You will not be disappointed with that purchase. That said, it is a different class than the pump guns mentioned. Betweem the 870 and the 590, I don't know that you can go wrong with either. If I had to pick, it would probably be the 590.

Jason, What does the text on the door read? I couldn't quite make out the smaller text.

That is a spectacular project! Does he come down on the side of "show the officer your HCP" or just "keep it to yourself and let them look it up?" Seriously, that really is awesome.

I don't see how this is going to happen with the settlement they made with H&K. "Okay, we'll stop making the .22 version, but we're going to knock it off in 9mm"? It just seems like a sure fire way to have to hand your counsel a lot of money. That said, I wouldn't mind seeing a 9mm version.

By all means, give them a shout. Where was it so others can patronize them while in the area?

I had no idea that that was a part of Harding College's (now university) history. As we pretty much view them today only as a conservative Church of Christ school, this came as a suprise. Here's an interesting link containing some more background http://www.jamesdbales.us/Conservatism/THE_POLITICS_OF_Harding_Collegedraft2nofootnotes.htm

Nice. It's always great to get orders home. Be safe in your last few weeks.

The whole restaurant posting issue has turned out to be a non-issue for me, as none of the restaurants that I frequent on a regular basis have posted. I think it's going to become even less of an issue over time as the public and the media move on to something else. That said, this blogger has an interesting approach to dealing with restaurants that have posted: On Establishments That Post | Snowflakes in Hell

JHat, that's a sweet weapon. I've got my heart set on a walnut scout squad. For all of those coveting the rifle, I bet you'll be able to get a pretty good deal on it after Jason's wife beats him to death with it when he gets grease on her couch.

You might look at the 700LTR, too. Basically the police model with a 20" barrel. I love mine, but that's a hard choice to make. Especially since a walnut Scout Squad keeps calling my name.

On Target is a good range for after work shooting, and pretty convenient with the new Medical Center Parkway exit. A group of us go down there once a month or so after dinner and shoot until they close at 2100. First person is $19 each additional in the lane is $10. They have memberships available as well which I will likely look into for next year.

DM Bullard makes a great one pretty reasonably. I've got a 1.5 inch belt in dark brown that will likely last longer than I do.

That's a gorgeious pistol. Congrats.

I'm in for a large.

PPS - hands down. I've carried one in a DM Bullard Dual Carry for about a year and it is a great combo. It is more expensive than the other two, but I feel like it is more reliable, consistent, and will feed Federal HSTs or other defensive hollow points without issue.

I got my safe from Mark at the Safe House after doing a lot of looking around and comparing. It was worth the minimal difference in price to have them move it. I'm under the same constraints you are from a dimensional perspective. The Browning Bronze model I got fit that 23" depth perfectly.

That's great news. I don't even know you personally, but we were definitely keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. Congrats.

No one ever inches over the line. It seems like they decide to go off the deep end and then obliterate any line that was there. Have been out in the field on a case and haven't really been keeping up, but let me just say...Unbelievable.

Welcome. There's a lot of good information on here.