Category: Guns

No Specific Motive

The FBI closes its investigation into the Las Vegas shooter without coming to a definitive conclusion as to why.

While the agency found no “single or clear motivating factor” to explain why Stephen Paddock opened fire from his suite in a high-rise casino hotel, Paddock may have been seeking to follow in his father’s criminal footsteps, the FBI said.

Honestly, I’m not surprised. I figured if we were going to find the reason, it would have come out within the first month. Personally, I’m going with Alfred’s explanation.

Concealed Carrier Versus Active Shooter

I came across this article on things to consider if you, as a concealed carrier decide to engage an active shooter. For me, this definitely reinforces my opinion of getting my family and friends the fuck out and only engaging if needed.

Still, even with that stance, this article explained some things that have to be considered if that active shooter does cross my path. My big takeaways were:

  1. Act fast and decisively
  2. Get close because the bad guy has a rifle and I have a pistol
  3. Even doing everything right, I still might get shot by the cops – accept it

There is a lot more in the article, so read the whole thing.

Friday Quote – Jury Question to Judge

This came is as the jury request in the case of Brian Aitken, who was convicted of running afoul of New Jersey gun laws. This is a prime example of why I support jury nullification.

Why did you make us aware at the start of the trial that the law allows a person to carry a weapon if the person is moving or going to the range, and during the trial both the defense and prosecution presented testimony as to whether or not the defendant was in the process of moving, and then in your charge for us to deliberate we are not permitted to take into consideration whether or not we believe the defendant was moving?

Tab Clearing

Time to clear out some open tabs on the browser.

You Think You Know Me looks like an interesting party card game. Particularly if you have people you’d rather not play Cards Against Humanity with.

Tam recommended Thyrm lens covers for your weapon mounted light. These are disposable covers for range time to keep the lens clear.

What do you call a guy who is a decorated Navy SEAL, a Harvard-trained medical doctor, and an astronaut? I’m going with “Dr. Kim.” The best comment I’ve heard is this is the kid who when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up answered “Everything!”

Final Parkland Commission Report

The final report is issued. Miguel has it here for your perusal.

Arming teachers is the hot button recommendation. If the bullshit passed by the legislature is any indication, that one is dead on arrival. Especially if it doesn’t include preemption requiring the school boards to allow for it.

Also, the state should spend a bunch of money on the usual suspects. Maybe we do, but considering how colossally Broward screwed the pooch in order to keep its numbers looking good, I’m skeptical that all that additional money will prevent another tragedy.

Being Armed Isn’t Easy

Via FB friend Evie, comes an article from a retired SWAT officer. The first part is dealing with a new doctor who isn’t thrilled to find out said retired cop is carrying a gun. I’m not comfortable with you being armed was the money quote from said doctor.

My first reaction was on the lines of “Welcome to the party, pal” Particularly when the author goes into all of the issues of carrying concealed. These are all things I understand quite well. Particularly the odd looks in “mixed” company when I say I can’t go in a place. Or the look the Wife-To-Be gives me when I carry around the house.

Then I remember, I’m not the target audience of the article. He’s writing to other cops. Letting them know the issues that they will face when they carry after they leave they job.

Then, the author goes into whether or not an armed citizen can prevent/stop an active shooter. This is important for former cops to think about, because they have been trained to intervene. As for me, that’s not necessarily part of my wheelhouse. I’m not a sheepdog. I don’t carry to protect anyone but me and mine. I’m more of a porcupine with range. If I can do more, I will do more, but not at the expense of my first duty.

Friday Quote – John ‘Shrek’ McPhee

If you ever have to use a firearm for your own safety, this will be one of the worst situations you will ever face. This is humanity at its worst. Before, during, and after this situation, the skills need to save you will not just come to you. These skills have to be learned before that moment. Training has to begin before, and you need to know this cold and on demand. Training is for life and can only be achieved through perfect practice and repetition. There are no short cuts here. Refuse to be a victim.

Policing Our Own

Greg Ellifritz has gotten sick and tired of bloggers stealing his words. He doesn’t have the resources to sue, so he’s going to use the tried and true method of shaming. I’m good with that.

I re-blog a lot of content. Either because the author is more knowledgeable, succinct, and/or funnier than me. I make damn sure that if I’m quoting, I let my readers know I’m doing so. I have felt the pain of crafting a paragraph (or even a sentence) when on a deadline and the brain won’t cough up something coherent.

I’m going to let Greg have the final words on this post.

We in the gun community need to hold each other accountable. That’s why I’m sharing this with all of you. Do you think this guy [the thief] is a trustworthy source of information? Why would you rely on advice from a thief to keep you safe?

Failure After Failure After Failure

I was alerted to this by a post by J. KB over at Miguel’s. I have to agree with him that for as much shit as we give the media for their obvious bias, they are capable of doing some amazing work. If the Sun Sentinel doesn’t receive a Pulitzer for their tireless work on documenting all of Broward County’s failures during the Parkland shooting, the committee fucking robbed them. This is the epitome of what good journalism is supposed to do – hold those in power to account for mistakes, mismanagement, and outright fraud that led to both the deaths of citizens and the deprivation of other citizens’ rights.

The Sun Sentinel posted an interactive minute-by-minute account of the Parkland shooting, including the numerous failures of the system and of those entrusted with the protection of the students – morally, if not legally. It also busts some of the myths surrounding that horrible tragedy. You need to RTWT. And then RTWT of J. Kb’s analysis of the analysis. Go ahead. I’ll wait.

Multiple, multiple, multiple failures. The fact that the top tiers of both the Broward Sheriffs Office and the School System have not been publicly fired and publicly shamed is a damning indictment of that county’s government. And those same reprehensible people were perfectly willing to cast blame on people like me to hide their own failures.

It makes one long for the days public officials feared things like tar and feathers.

RKBA Round Up

Probably the biggest story is the ATF banning bumpstocks. A lot of anger thrown at the NRA (which I don’t think is deserved) and a lot at the president (which is). Miguel disagrees with me on that last point. Yes, the Hearing Protection and National Reciprocity are in Congress, but for a president who took our shilling, he’s been remarkably unwilling to expend political capital for our causes.

Next up, unlike the state courts, the federal court reminds us that the cops have no duty to protect and dismissed the suit against Broward over the Parkland shooting. One hopes parents and teachers take away the proper lessons, but I’m highly doubtful.

Speaking of Parkland, the report cans be found here. I doubt our current legislature will actually do anything with its recommendations, much less the local governments.

Here’s a listicle on why you should own an AR-15.

A New York judge struck down the state’s ban on nunchucks. RKBA includes things other than guns and knives.