FlyboyLDB

I love the G23. I sold mine and picked up a G27, but now I am looking to purchase another G23. If you carry an extra mag just pick up a couple of G22 mags and sleeve them. This will give you the extra rounds of a G22 in the extra mags. But yes, the G23 is an excellent gun. Carries/conceals just about as well as the G27 - not a ton of difference.

Welcome Shawn. Nice 1911 you picked up. I don't know about PC being closer than Shinebone Ridge - but the setup is nicer.

Welcome. Is Norris gun range private or a public range?

I agree with the used price being as much as new in pawn shops - I never go looking for guns there.

I purchased one NIB from a dealer at a gun show close to Chattanooga for $275 out the door. It was a TN dealer that ran it through a GA dealer there at the show. Here in GA no NICs fee if you have a GFL - so that alone saved me $10. I would say our area gets $270 - $299 NIB for the PF9s. I have seen price tags higher - but I just kept walking.

Hit this PBS poll. We do not need to rehash things. I don't care how you swing - so lets not get in a huge debate. 1-2 seconds to fill out. http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

For "fairest" price or trade - a FTF (Face to Face) with an individual would be best. Like the others stated - paper or get enough post and list it here. I know of a few dealers around that would take trades - but I don't think it would be too fair.

One other thing, address all your emails or post mails to Stephen Lebowitz (pres) or daddy Charles Lebowitz (chairman of the board). And for the one stating it will not effect CBL if we do not shop there because the tenants pay the rent. Think again - the tenants in most cases pay a portion of their profits to the mall - in addition to CAM charges. If the tenants can't pay - mall suffers. I am for anything and everything to promote ccw. But fact remains this is private property and they can make what ever misguided calls they desire. If caught they can ask you to leave.

That is the jest of it. GFL holders & TCP holders only make up a very small percentage of their demographics. I had one of my friends that heads up a surgery center stop by the Hamilton Place Mall to shop - this was in December. Carrying his Kimber Ultra CDP II in a holster rig covered up with a vest. Security approached and asked if he was carrying under the vest - yep. He had to leave immediately. Could stow the gun and come back in - but he chose not to. But my feelings are that you can write letters all day long - and they will not blink an eye. Maybe if one could get a petion going (can do it on-line www.petitiononline.com ), gather enough signatures with addresses, then it might garner some attention. But people siging from IN is not going to hold water with them.

Then please do educate us in what has driven the oil prices up. Please don't say supply, demand & shortage - this is beyond your economics 101. I better get in line at the pumps because the last three stations I went to were running low or out all together.

Just like we write/wrote our elected government officials regarding gun laws - we need to write them regarding oil speculation. Here is a link that will do most of the hard work for you - like looking up your officials, composing the letter/email. Just type in your Zip code under "Tell Congress to Act Now" box. Here is the link Stop Oil Speculation Now | S.O.S. NOW Thanks

Instead of the CTAC - get the MTAC. I think you will be happier with the comfort level much better. Plus you can purchase shells for different guns. I had the CTAC and could not for the life of me figure out why anyone would say this was a great holster - Comp-Tac took it back and sent a MTAC - life is good.

If money is not an issue, then my vote is for the Kimber Ultra II CDP in the 9mm. I swear this has to be one of the finest looking 1911s in a 9mm. Plenty of good 9mm. But usually avail $$$ help target the search.

Each barter transaction is considered income. It might not be a huge deal if no one reports it. But let's say that you do barter with the painter who owns his own business. He records the payment in the value of guns in his accounting system. He gets audited - now they have your info - and if you get audited and if you didn't report his painting fees as income for you - you would have some tax liabilities. Those are BIG IFs & ANDs. We belong to barter groups that do track and report each trade. For individual private deals - I would say you are safe. Nothing illegal regarding bartering for a firearm between individuals. I purchased a 30.06 on barter.

TN does not have a "public gathering" clause like we do in here in GA - although some of that clause will be gone July 1st. I see no issue with carrying uless it is posted.

I joined up and after 2 months I requested a refund. It is not really an "Association". They use the United States in their name for a reason - it make it look more "official". Their ads depict or led me to think they also lobbied for gun rights. They tout thousands of members - but their forums were fairly dead with little participation. It is like you said, a money venture for the guy. $70 + for magazine and access to web site. The magazine is ok, but on the pricey side for a magazine. Their "Free" stuff is just PDF files of past magazines. A gun holster review that was very out dated and left a lot to be desired - but I think they value it at several hundred dollars that you get for free.

99.99999999999999999999999% of the time they work! They have an excellent reputation. Glocks are in more LEO's hands than any other brand. And they work - I know I already said that. I can shoot 200 rounds through my glock, take it home and not clean it, come back and put a few hundred more rounds through it with no issues. There is a wide range of options /accessories available for the Glock. I hear the safety issues all the time - non issue for me. Maybe that extra fraction of a second not fumbling with a safety could just save a life. Price is also another attraction to the Glock. And bottom line is Glocks work.

I am going at it here in GA. Being on the border, I would love for some TN organization to step up and lead the way for those in TN - I would think this would be the TFA. I would be willing to volunteer at the local level. But not being a TN resident limits my politcal influence - although I have wrote several letters to various politcal officials.

Yep, public gathering law could get you. Also the PG law could also cause you issues if you pass by any city bus stops. I am sure alcohol would be served too.

Great ideas!!!

Here is an example of an organization that works for the people. Maybe the TFA can take note. Just an example and just FYI to get people thinking. Everyone is now talking and debating what is a good idea and what is not. Dear GCO Member, Below is a calendar of upcoming GCO Events: April 22, 2008 - Contact the Governor! MARTA and other groups are now actively lobbying the Governor, requesting that he VETO our bill! Please counteract their effort by asking him to sign. Write a real letter on real paper with a postage stamp, then email and call on the telephone. Ask your friends and family to do the same. April 26-27, 2008 - Assist GCO with its Recruiting and Information Center May 9, 2007 - Support GCO in the courtroom. GCO will be fighting the City of Atlanta and others in Fulton County that are denying your right to bear arms. Courtroom 7F of the Fulton Superior Court at 1:00 p.m., Judge Doris Downs presiding. May 10, 2008 - GCO lunch at Red Top Mountain. GCO will be presenting its Representative and Senator of the Year awards! www.GeorgiaCarry.Org

??? Best of luck in getting people involved? Best of luck in getting a reliable and motivated lobbying organization?

I don't think anyone is conveying that TGO is a "politcal machine". Everyone here has sense enough to realize that TFA is not TGO or vice versa. I think, as in my case, TGO has a group of informed people interested in gun carry in TN - and TGO is an outlet for that. I think if the TFA was well established, it would be known in this TGO group - again, NOT THAT TGO IS A POLITCAL LOBBYING ORGANIZATION, but rather common ground for those interested in politics that relate to firearms, news tid bits, helpful hints, etc. I am just curious, you state that you have been far more motivated by the posters here - which is great - because we all need encouragement - how has this motivation moved you? Have you contacted your state senator/rep personally? Have you wrote an editorial in your local paper? I am not attempting to be sarcastic, but showing that we need to do more than just post here. Please don't take this as sarcasm, because that is certainly not my intent - and in print it is sometimes hard to descern. One other point, if one thinks that in TN favorable gun laws will just magically get passed, then think again. I am not at this point advocating TFA - but TN gun owners need a strong lobbying organization and people involved in the same. I can assure you that is not the NRA.

As far as TGO goes - it would be nice to see it as an outlet for TFA communicating to the TGO crowd as well as the TFA members. What bills are being introduced, bills being lobbied for on behalf of the TFA, status, etc. I strongly encourage the TFA to identify the gun friendly state reps & and state senators. Befriend them. Setup meetings/luncheons and invite TFA members and potential members. Emails might not be as effective as a hand written letter, but I say do both - and call. Everyone can't just let someone else do the work - it will never get done. We all have to contribute in some way. If the TFA is unwilling or unable to fulfill the needs of its member base, then another is in order. I think the TGO is a wonderful site to stay informed. Tennesseans are in need of an organization with political clout. Those in TN will have to support either the TFA or a similar organization. It take dollars to lobby, bring lawsuits, put ads in papers, etc. Even though my residence (my business is in TN)is in GA, I would be willing to sign up - I just need to know that the organization I am giving my $$$ to will indeed fight hard for my desires/rights I look at how much good that the GCO (Georgia Carry.Org) has done here in GA, I just can't help but think that a similar setup in TN would also go along way. Remember, even though the GCO has a web site, most of its communicating is via email, and its members using www.georgiapacking.org (which is similar to TGO). I do not know enough to give an opinion on TFA. But I would think this might be the best choice given that it is already up and running, it is doing some lobbying. Maybe it just needs some more support - in financial and in physical presence, etc.

Without the constituents of the respective politicians you are lobbying it is just a voice in the wind. Get some organized luncheons going in various parts of the state and get the state reps/senators to attend. Organize large groups outside of the capitol when they are meeting. You are correct. People must be willing to put their money where their mouth is. But at the same time, I would not want to give to an organazition that is not organized in their campaigning efforts. No one is looking for another "Website" in Tennessee. We are looking for an organization that can effectively lobby, organize events to promote such, go after illegal gun laws at the state, county & municipality level, and communicate the plans and results in an effective manner to its members. Is that too much to ask? Yes, there will need to be some volunteers and outside support - like maybe volunteering at gun shows to rally membership. Here in Georgia the NRA stepped all over the HB the we here in GA wanted. They (NRA) would not support it - because it was not their bill. They wanted the "parking lot" bill passed regardless of what opportunity it killed in GA for us to get rid of the public gathering clause. In the end, and thanks to one of our state reps (Bearden), a lot that was in Bearden's original bill was rolled into the NRA's parking lot bill. But the NRA lost a fair amount of it's GA members. But the NRA issues are another story/topic all in itself.