m16ty

I understand your concerns, but I think the permit system is a false sense of security. Lets face it, any idiot can pass the HCP class. Shoot, when I took mine we graded our own papers, and as long as nobody got shot at the range you passed that part. I do think that when a cop runs your license or sees your HCP and sees that you are a HCP holder it eases their mind a little, because it tells them right away that you at least can pass a background check.

As far as the Sheriff goes, you are right, talk is cheap, and he could change his tune if his himself is threatened with jail. That’s all the more reason we have to stand behind people like this when the pressure comes down on them. Local and state government is the best defense we have against all this mess. If that fails, it’s going to be very bad. like the saying goes “when it becomes time to bury your guns, it will be time to dig them back up”. I read a story once about how Saddam Husain came to power. What he did was call a big meeting and had all the local leaders come and discuss his new administration. He stood up and started reading a list of names. When he said somebody’s name, they would take them outside and shoot them. He didn’t have to kill everybody, he just had to kill a few to prove his point. After that everybody fell in line. The IRS does the same thing, they couldn’t do a thing if everybody agrees to stop paying taxes. People have tried the no tax movement in the past, they didn’t prosecute all of them, but they did a few and did it severely, and everybody else fell back in line.

I ain't buying no neutered mags. I did buy 10 more standard capacity G17 mags, and a few more AK mags (already set on AR mags). I'm betting on a grandfather, and no law enforcement (at least in red states) is eager to start going door to door to round anything up. My local Sherriff has already said he flat out won't do it, and will hinder any efforts by the State or Feds to do the same.

I like watching prank videos also, but just the ones where it's just some harmless practical joke where everybody gets a good laugh at the end. Not something like this where somebody is even pretending violence.

I agree with this. Also add that people have been de-sensitized to violence. Maybe you thought that he was just bluffing when he pulled the gun, but when he started shooting that should have removed any doubt. Most of the time the bad guy gets the drop on you and you don't have much time to react, these people had plenty of time.

I agree that your mistake was confronting him again, but "hiding in the bathroom" would be a little too much. Once inside your home, you have to duty to retreat any further. I would say that if you would have just backed up and stayed inside the main living area on-guard until the police arrived, you'd be fine according to the law.

I just finished a local "Citizens Sheriff's Academy" back in the fall. It was eye opening to see the other side of things, and one night was a Q&A session with the DA. At the end of the day, I think most officers just want to find the truth, and aren't looking to "hang" somebody. The DA Q&A was interesting. He more or less said that he's not looking for convictions, he's looking for justice, and makes it a point that nobody in his office keeps up with their conviction rate. He also said that many times in actually tries to help out the accused when warranted, but also said that once he is satisfied that their is enough evidence to convict and they go to court, he becomes their biggest adversary. All that being said, I have been questioned as a potential suspect in the past. I was 100% innocent and they came to that conclusion after the interview, but you could tell a bunch of the questions were leading or just to see how I would react. Being innocent, I had enough of their leading and insinuating questions and got up and walked out (I wasn't under arrest of being detained). Never heard anymore about it. I had went willingly to the interview to try to be a helpful witness, but I didn't appreciate the attitude and questions. The "interrogator" wasn't that good anyway, for a layperson like me to pick up on his technique. I got to where I answered certain questions the way I did just to antagonize him, you can do that when you know you are 100% innocent and you know they have zero evidence to the contrary.

That’s kind of what I was getting at. Of course, at the time the robber probably doesn’t know you are a law abiding citizen, all the knows it somebody is pointing a gun at him and may shoot. That’s really they only thing that is keeping him from running off. Just seems like a lot of things could go wrong. Probably your best bet is to pull your firearm, the robber backs down where you are no longer in fear for your life, and you just tell him to get out of there. I’ll admit, I’d probably have a hard time doing that, but I’ll also admit I have problems doing what is best sometimes, especially right after I thought somebody was trying to do me harm. It’s really easy to talk about what you should do on a Internet forum, and we should know what to do and try our best to follow those rules. It all gets fuzzy though when things are happening fast, and you get into that “fight or flight” mode. Sometimes we start fighting when we should be flighting.

I think a thief should be shot. Sadly, the law doesn’t allow that though. Wouldn’t hurt my feelings if they changed the law.

I never have liked the idea of holding somebody at gunpoint. A good friend of mine did it and got away with it when a couple of thugs robbed his store, but it just doesn’t seem to me like a good idea. You are just standing there holding a gun on them for however long it takes the cops to get there, seems like a long time for something to go bad. What if they try to run, what if they catch you looking away and try to rush you? Then when the police show up, they are walking into a “robbery in progress” and first thing they see is you with a gun in your hand. Not saying I wouldn’t do it, and it’s surely better than shooting them, but just seems a big opportunity for things to go from bad to worse.

Gun shows are a waste of time right now, unless you want something you just can't live without and don't mind paying over top dollar for it.

That is true. Keep in mind though, you may also have to convince a jury you were in imminent fear for your life. At the end of the day, it's not so much what you think, it is what a jury would likely think.

I'm not so sure we will ever win another election. In my opinion they stole the last two, there is talk of making Puerto Rico a state, and plans to make all illegals citizens. Then add the fact that they want to pack the court. If their plans come to fruition, I honestly don't see any way out of this without going to a place none of us want to go. At this point all our hopes are basically pinned on Joe Manchin, Him and maybe a few others that I don't know about may be against the more radical ideas.

I watched a video from a very respected self defense instructor about this very thing. His thinking was to not look strong, saying it makes you a target. I'm not sure I agree with him. I think the balance sits somewhere in between. I don't believe in walking around, open carrying, and decked out in "tactical" gear. I do think that looses any element of suprise, and if something bad is fixing to go down, you'll be the first one dealt with. If something is fixing to go down, you don't want to be first one to take the assault, I don't care how much training you've had, you'll likely be dead before you have a chance to respond, if it happens fast and is a suprise. On the other hand, if you appear weak and cowardly, you make an easy target for people to try you. You want to appear strong enough that the bad guys will think twice, and turn their attention away from you and go to an easier target. All that being said, I think most of the above is for when you are in public with other people around you. When you are on your property , I think it helps to present the stongest front you can. I collect military vehicles, and do a lot of shooting at my place. I'm kind of jokingly known in the community as "the crazy gun guy with all those army trucks". People that know me know I'm harmless, but it's not a bad reputation to have. A few years ago we had a rash of break-ins. Every single one of my neighbors either had their house broken into or at least an outbuilding or garage, but nobody ever bothered my place. I can't help but think my "reputation" may have had something to do with that, on top of that my place looks very secure from the road. Of course being known as "the crazy gun guy with the army trucks" also lets it be known that there could be good rewards for anybody lucky enough to complete a successful robery, but it's worked out so far.

Maybe he doesn't give a flip about gun rights, but if he knows he could piss off a liberal, he may would do it for that fact alone. Aside from the "bump stock ban" Trump has been pretty indifferent towards gun rights. I'll take that any day than somebody like Biden, or eventrually Harris, that is going to take an active role to try to disarm us.

Why so? There are plenty of ways to "conceal" OWB. Sure, there is going to be a bump in the outer garment in certain positions, but the causual observer will never look twice.

And come January, it will all go away and you'll never hear another word about it. Sadly, if Binden takes office we will never know the truth, because they won't even take a look at it. Trump tried to take on the Machine, but it was just too much for him to do. It was all setup awhile ago, by even people in his own administration. This country is gone, most people are just to blind to know it, and I think we all know what it will take to get it back.

This is probably currently the best chance we've ever had for this happening. While probably not likely, I could see something like this happen. I've got a feeling, if Trump does in fact loose, that he won't be afraid to go "scorched earth" on his way out.

I was talking to a friend that has a brother on the CPD. He said the same thing about the murders. He said that unless they have some easily attainable hard evidence or direct witnesses willing to testify, they just write the report and move on. He said there are just too many and not enough resources to put much time into murder investigations. The cops don't like it, but it is what it is. They have to hurry up and finish the report on the current murder, because there is always another one waiting on them to respond to.

Had a young punk behind the counter at a gun shop tell me the NRA has been disbanded. I told him that was funny, because I'm a life member and they still send me the magazine and the letters in the mail wanting more money. I signed up for a life membership years ago, but I don't send them any extra money. There is no doubt that they have some serious upper management problems, but I still think it's worth it to be a member. Those huge membership numbers do have an effect on swaying politicians, if nothing else.

I carry pretty much everywhere concealed, OWB, with a shirt or coat covering. If I want to be a little less noticeable, I carry the M&P Shield, but most of the time have the G17. Sure, it bulges and prints, but nobody notices. At church, I really don't care, but don't want to go all out open carry, just for out of respect to not freak out some little old lady. Pretty much everybody that needs to know knows I'm armed at church, as well as I know about the others that are armed. I'd carry a rifle to church if I thought I could get away with it, without freaking people out. Our church is fairly large, and if it comes down to it, it's very possible that you may have to make a fairly long shot, with friendlies in close proximity. To me, it's a whole different ballgame just carrying to protect yourself and your family by your side, than going to feeling responsible to help protect an entire congregation.

I've thought about this, but don't know if I trust them 100%. I'd like to try one on my carry gun, as my practice with them on my rifles I get noticeably quicker with target acquisition.

The sign seems to indicate that if you are open carrying you are ok.

Just get you a good OWB holster and a sport coat. Been carrying a Glock 17 this way to church for several years now. Nobody knows I'm carrying unless I tell them. You can draw pretty fast, as long as you leave the coat unbuttoned.

Sometimes a Glock 17, when I'm wearing a jacket. Most of the time a M&P Shield 9mm. Always OWB in a Blackhawk Serpa holster. I can conceal "good enough" with even the 17 and a untucked shirt or jacket. I've tried several IWB, and they just don't fit me.