Maine Could Expand CCW Reciprocity: A bill signed by the governor
directs the Commissioner of Public Safety to work in cooperation with
the Attorney General to conduct a comprehensive review of other states'
concealed weapon laws for the purpose of identifying and seeking other
states with which Maine may enter into concealed weapon reciprocity
agreements. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall report findings and
progress to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public
Safety no later than January 1, 2008. Upon receipt of the report, the
Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety may
submit necessary legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd
Legislature.
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3183
---
NRA-ILA Alerts: Alerts for the various states are posted on the NRA-ILA
website.
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/State/
---
From John Farnam:
21 July 07
Shooting in NM, from an LEO friend there:
"Last week, a local armed-robbery suspect fled the scene via a car
first, then on foot. Our officers gave chase. After negotiating
several fences and walls, the lead officer and the suspect found
themselves running along a shallow ditch. Before long, our officer
overtook the suspect.
Our officer attempting to holster his pistol and go hands-on. The
suspect took advantage and attempted to grab the officer's pistol (SA
1911, loaded with Cor-Bon 230gr HP). Our officer responded by
retracting his pistol. Then, from a close-engagement position, shooting
with his strong hand only, he fired two rounds into the suspect's
mid-section.
Upon being hit, the suspect displayed scant reaction, and the fight
continued. However, our officer was able to get away from the suspect's
grasp. When the suspect attempted to re-engage, our officer, now firing
from a conventional, Weaver, two-handed grip and stance, shot him five
additional times in rapid succession. As our officer moved laterally
and simultaneously reloaded, the suspect tottered and then dropped in
place, DRT.
Autopsy confirmed that all seven rounds fired by our officer struck the
suspect in the mid-chest to lower abdomen. Five bullets were recovered,
all fully expanded, from the suspect's body. Two exited and were not
recovered, but the appearance of exit wounds confirmed that they had
fully expanded also.
Internal damage to the suspect's body was massive! There was no
possibility of recovery.
Neither of our officers were injured."
Comment: All of us need to be mentally prepared to confront VCAs who
will find your pistol, in whatever caliber, only mildly amusing!
Multiple, rapid impacts may be necessary to get his full attention. We
cannot stop inflicting blows until his will to fight is destroyed. It
may take longer and involve more shooting than many of us believe it
possibly could!
/John
(A few years ago, when I lived in a different city, I learned that a
friend, the owner of the local gun shop, was referring students to my
CWP courses with the advice, "Ignore all that kung-fu gunfighting Steve
teaches and concentrate on the legal stuff." This incident points out
that skills other than trigger control may be necessary in order to
deploy the gun and to survive until the bullets take effect.)
21 July 07
Another Bear Story:
"My family and I just returned from a camping vacation in UT. We camped
within a mile of a recent fatal, bear/human incident. In the process,
we were exposed to no end of bear-literature, posted USFS billboards,
and contained within handout literature.
The most obtrusive and amusing part was the 'What to do when attacked by
bear(s)' paragraph. It recommended fighting back against bears with
anything available, so long as it is utterly ineffectual! There was,
naturally, no mention of firearms.
Like all sane people, we ignored their 'advice' and appropriately armed
ourselves."
Comment: In all government literature, defending oneself with the only
instrumentality that has any chance of success (guns), is
"subject-non-grata." Being continuously prepared for violent, personal
attack by going armed is also unmentionable.
"They love us when we lose, but they hate us when we win!"
/John
(Again, the best strategy against a charging bear is to shoot to break
the shoulders.)
23 July 07
Operator, the antithesis of Grasseater.
Tomorrow morning, seventy million Americans will get into their cars and
drive to work. Some, a minuscule fraction of one-percent, will never
make it! They'll die, or be injured, in wrecks. The rest of us, while
saddened when these things happen in our high-speed world, still need to
face to the front and get where we're going!
Modern, Western Civilization is chock-full of dangerous things, like
cars, airplanes, electricity, rat poison, and guns. And, while an
extremely small percentage of people, through carelessness, stupidity,
or evil intent, will hurt themselves and others while misusing these
things, the rest of us realize that, in order to take full advantage of
what our Civilization has to offer, these things are unavoidably going
to be part of our daily lives. We fully realize that we need to be
careful, but we are determined to live a full and rewarding life, and
that such a life is inexorably going to bring us into contact with
hazardous things and dangerous circumstances. Risk attaches to
everything. Who dare, prevail!
Again, while we wish everyone would be careful and have only honorable
intentions, we still insist of being able to get out, travel at high
speeds, have electrical power at our fingertips, be free from rodent
infestation, and be able to unilaterally, efficaciously defend
ourselves, when necessary, from violent criminals. Yes, with all the
unhappiness, pain, and evil in the world, THE REST OF US STILL NEED TO
GET WHERE WE'RE GOING!
In a world without losers, there can't be winners either. There is just
enforced, dull, drab mediocrity, heavy- handedly imposed by powerful
churches and nanny-state governments, the Shangri-La of Leftists! This
is precisely what my ancestors, and yours, came to this Continent to
escape!
Independent Operators, dashing and daring, are necessary to make any
civilization grow and prosper. Instead, the current crop of political
candidates cater exclusively to losers, grasseaters, and criminals. In
fact, they propose viciously punishing everyone who doesn't commit
crimes, doesn't do stupid things, conducts their affairs with integrity
and honesty, and prosper boldly and courageously. Personally, I'd
rather they'd just say "Thank You," and leave it at that!
The Great Barrier Reef, stretches 1,800 miles from New Guinea to
Australia. Tour guides regularly take visitors to view the Reef. On
one tour, the guide was asked, "I notice the lagoon-side of the reef is
pale and lifeless, while the ocean-side is vibrant and colorful. Why?"
The guide responded, "The coral on the lagoon-side dies early because
the water is stagnant, offering no challenge for its survival. However,
the coral on the ocean-side is constantly being tested by wind, waves,
and storms. It has to fight for survival every day. As it is challenged
and tested, it changes and adapts. It grows healthy, strong;
reproducing, and thriving."
It is the same with people. When we are challenged and tested, we come
alive. Like coral pounded by the sea, we grow. Demands cause us to grow
strong. Stress produces tough-mindedness and resiliency. Testing
produces strength of character, faith, gratitude, and a peace that
surpasses all understanding. We become Operators! Why would anyone
want to be anything less?
Nanny-state governments, while assuring naive grasseaters that they have
to power to legislate all uncertainties out of life, will simultaneously
try to stamp us out completely, but they will ever fail, even as they're
failing now, despite their best efforts!
They're afraid of us. We shouldn't be surprised!
/John
24 July 07
Terms:
The term, "grasseater" first came, as near as I can tell, from an
obscure science-fiction novel about a race of intelligent, cat-like
creatures who disdainfully referred to all other, less-aggressive,
beings on their planet by that title. However, a friend, who is a
practicing vegetarian by medical necessity, suggested this:
"I delivered an impassioned speech many years ago. Afterward, a local
farmer came up to me and said, 'I loved your speech, son, but referring
to us as 'rednecks' is not helpful. Many of us who farm get sun-burned
necks, but that does not mean we are against you.'
Likewise, casually disaffecting warriors and future warriors is probably
not helpful. The Second Amendment is a stand-along issue, not a
meat-eater/vegetarian issue, nor a Republican/Democrat issue, nor a
tree-hugger/oil-driller issue, nor even a pro-war/anti-war issue. Our
goal, I believe, is to persuade as many as possible to see the Second
Amendment our way. We need as many converts as we can get!"
My friend is right! Of course, someone will be offended by anything we
say. At the same time, we need to reach out to converts everywhere.
So, I will be using the term "grasseater" less and replace it with VBC
("victim-by-choice"), which is probably more descriptive anyway.
Yes, I am a "work in progress!"
/John
25 July 07
Elaborations!
Never inclined to leave well-enough alone, my ever-imaginative
colleagues had submitted, in order to supplement "VBC" (Victim by
Choice), the following:
"VBB" (Victim by Belief) Those whose faulty personal belief systems
enable predators to effortlessly, continuously take advantage of them.
"VBS" (Victim by Stupidity) They never consider the consequences of (1)
going to stupid places, (2) associating with stupid people, (3) doing
stupid things
"PSV" (Premium Select Victim) They make such a lucrative, irresistible
target, they fairly invite victimization.
"EOV" (Equal Opportunity Victim) "I'm not selective. Any predator will do!"
