Proposed design of NC illegal immigrant licenses sparks concern

To contact us Click HERE
 
A new driver's license expected to be issued to some illegal immigrants in North Carolina has prompted state lawmakers and immigrant rights groups to voice concerns over the proposal.

The proposed North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles license has a bright pink stripe and the bold words "NO LAWFUL STATUS."

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles announced last week they would begin issuing the licenses March 25 following a lengthy legal review. The Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program grants valid federal work permits to qualified applicants brought to the U.S. as children without legal authorization.

Some Republican lawmakers in the state have balked at the idea, filing a bill Thursday to bar the DMV from granting the licenses until at least June.

More @ Fox

As if Hanoi Jane wasn’t fuel enough........

To contact us Click HERE
 
Breitbart VERBATIM

Finke: Michelle at Oscars 'unnecessary and inappropriate'

Oh My God - the Academy actually fans the fire by drafting First Lady Michelle Obama to help present Best Picture from presumably the White House? So unnecessary and inappropriate to inject so much politics into the Oscars yet again. Hollywood will get pilloried by conservative pundits for arranging this payoff for all the campaign donations it gave the President’s reelection campaign. I don’t understand this very obvious attempt to infuriate right-leaning audiences. Clearly the studios only want to sell their movies to only half of America.

DIY Weapons of the Syrian Rebels

To contact us Click HERE
Via hefferman1

 
Nearly two years after the start of Syria's popular uprising, the conflict has evolved into a slow-moving, brutal civil war with many players and no clear end in sight. Multiple rebel groups across the country continue to fight President Bashar al-Assad's forces, using any weapons they can get their hands on.

While the rebels are using many modern weapons, they've also come up with their own makeshift solutions. In these weapons workshops, anti-aircraft guns are welded to pickup trucks and armor shields are attached to machine guns and cars. Mortar shell nose cones are turned on lathes and explosives are mixed by hand. Homemade grenades are launched by jury-rigged shotguns or giant slingshots in the urban battlefields of Aleppo and Damascus. Gathered here are a few examples of the hand-built munitions of the Syrian rebels.  

38 photos @ The Atlantic

Support for Confederate Flag now a “mental illness”

To contact us Click HERE
Via SHNV

If the South should lose, it means that the history of this heroic struggle will be written by the enemy. That our youth will be trained by Northern school teachers, will be impressed by all of the influences of history and education to regard our gallant dead as traitors and our maimed veterans as fit subjects for derision.- Patrick Cleburne

The above statement turned out to be even more prophetic than General Patrick Cleburne could have ever imagined, not only did his prediction come true in the United States, it has now proven true for our northern neighbor, Canada.

The Toronto Star reports:

A high school in York Region has banned a controversial flag long synonymous with America’s Deep South, but also with prejudice and racism.

The Confederate flag became popular at Sutton District High School in the last two years, said principal Dawn Laliberté, emblazoned on bandanas, lighters, belt buckles, backpacks and pickup truck windows.

After explaining the flag’s symbolism to students this week, the school implemented a ban.

“Our first step is always to educate. We are only dealing with a handful of students who view it as a white pride kind of thing, so we thought now is the time to get the message out,” Laliberté said.

Time after time, when asked about the Confederate flag, the majority of students be it in the U.S. or Canada say that it is not a symbol of racism, but rather a symbol of their heritage, a way of life, their culture, only to be scolded and told that it is racist and subsequently banned.

Perhaps the most disturbing subject of this article seems to be that sporting the Confederate flag and celebrating ones culture is now a mental disease. Again quoting the Toronto Star:

A 2011 study in Political Psychology by psychologist Joyce Ehrlinger showed exposure to the Confederate flag resulted in “more negative judgments of black targets.”

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out where this is heading, soon this study will be used far and wide in school districts across the U.S. , all the usual suspects appear in the Toronto Star article, diversity is good (unless you happen to fall into the pro Confederate flag category), lack of exposure to Black History Month etc.

More @ Marble Hill Constitution-News

GOA Alert: Urge your Senators to put a stop to Republican-compromises

To contact us Click HERE

                                                                    Anti-gun Sen. Charles Schumer's staff is leaking out to the press the Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn is "on the verge" of caving in and agreeing to a ban on private gun sales -- and requiring virtually every American to get the government's approval before exercising their constitutional right to become a gun owner.  According to The Washington Post (2/23/13), the remaining sticking point is Coburn's reluctance to require a 4473 for every private transaction.  Were this to occur, ATF's practice of going into gun stores and copying all the 4473's -- a practice which has been documented by GOA -- would soon produce a national gun registry.  Schumer's people have also let it be known that they may have Susan Collins (R-ME), John McCain (R-AZ), and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) in the bag.  (Note to gun owners in these states:  These Senators really need to hear from you!) Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that the final version of the "Schumer sell-out" prohibits any paperwork from being kept on private gun sales.  Even then, the "Schumer Sell-Out" would still result in one out of seventeen legal gun purchases being permanently and illegally blocked.   According to scholar John Lott, 8% of all gun purchases are currently blocked by the FBI.  But, according to a recent study by the Department of Justice, only 1.8% of the 8% are blocked because they are "denied."  That means that 6.2% are neither "denied" nor "approved."  However, because most gun sellers won't sell a firearm under these circumstances, even after three days, these legal gun purchasers are permanently denied their constitutional rights by bureaucratic fiat.  Although the FBI is legally required to state a reason for blocking a gun purchase within five days, it NEVER complies with the law -- daring purchasers, instead, to "sue us."  Most purchasers, lack the means to do just that. What if one out of seventeen lawful voters was illegally turned away from the polls?  What if one out of seventeen innocent men was illegally sent to prison?  What if one out of seventeen newspapers was shut down?  None of these would be acceptable to anti-gun zealots who, with relish, deny the right of legitimate gun purchasers to exercise their Second Amendment rights one out of every seventeen times.  The "Schumer Sell-Out" would still strip 150,000 veterans of their Second Amendment rights with no due process whatsoever.  Sure, there will reportedly be throwaway language, supposedly allowing veterans to get the constitutional rights back.  Schumer fooled Coburn into accepting comparable language on a 2008 law, but it never had any impact.  The problem is not "getting their rights back."  The problem is preventing their rights from being unconstitutionally stripped -- with no due process whatsoever -- in the first place. Under the 2008 Schumer legislation, the Obama administration can use a psychiatrist's diagnosis to strip veterans and others of their constitutional rights.  No court order is needed.  Soon, under Obama's Executive Action Number 1, millions of Americans with ADHD, and even post partem depression could have their gun rights taken away with a keystroke by Medicare, Medicaid, and the Department of Education.  Firemen, policemen, and soldiers with PTSD could also lose their gun rights under the "Schumer sell-out," and there's nothing they could do about it.  The "Schumer Sell-Out" would exacerbate the problem with NICS system breakdowns during weekends and black Fridays -- blocking all gun purchasers.  The "Schumer Sell-Out" would strip farmers and Americans in rural areas of their Second Amendment rights.  Sure, there is a possibility that Schumer will accept do-nothing language in the Brady Law protecting remote Alaskan villages.  But millions of Americans would still have to travel hundreds of miles (accompanied by their sellers) in order to transfer a firearm to their next-door neighbor -- hoping desperately that they're not among the 6.2% of Americans who get a non-committal response from the FBI.  The "Schumer Sell-Out" would still be ineffectual to stop Adam Lanza (who stole his guns) and James Holmes and Jared Loughner (who passed background checks).  In fact, an internal Department of Justice memorandum concedes that it would be almost totally ineffectual.  As a result, the main purpose of the “Schumer Sell-Out” remains, and has always been, to “break the back of the gun … lobby” and to serve as a platform for the next round of gun control. The Sunday New York Times (2/23/13) pointed out what this is all about.  According to the Times, Schumer is jealous to protect the 13 Democratic seats in pro-gun states which will come up in 2014.  Press reports ascribe Coburn’s role as being one who will “provide cover” for Democrats running for reelection. From a purely partisan standpoint, the GOP should realize that guns will serve as a powerful political weapon for them, unless Coburn’s acquiescence to the “Schumer Sell-Out” takes guns off the table.  In places like Arkansas and Montana, 95% of all voters would no doubt oppose the "Schumer sell-out," as 95% of NRA members and 96% of 25,000 GOA members did in recent surveys. Conversely, the "Schumer Sell-Out" will revitalize and engerize the handgun control movement.  Finally, the "Schumer Sell-Out" will give Obama the aura of invincibility and make it virtually impossible to stop the rest of his agenda.  If Sen. Coburn really wants to “compromise” with Schumer, he should make Schumer give up some ground and demand that Congress repeal the Gun-Free School Zones Act.  Now, that would be a real “compromise” that would save lives! ACTION:  Contact your U.S. Senators and ask them to oppose the "Schumer sell-out."  Click here to send a prewritten message to your Senators Please note that there are two different action responses for you to send, and the system will automatically send that response, depending upon whether your Senator is a Republican or Democrat. 

Makin' a list, checkin' it twice...

To contact us Click HERE
The gals and I are what some might call "preppers".  That term can cover quite a range of activities and lifestyles.  When you grow up or live out in rural areas like we do, what folks call prepping is just how we've always lived.  When the Blizzard of '78 hit northwest Ohio, we were snowed under for almost two weeks... no power, no school, no police, no fire service or EMS... folks took care of their own and each other... the firewood cut and stacked many months before kept us warm, the summer's garden produce was canned and stored in the basement, we melted snow for water, and we survived and helped others as best we could. Besides, ridin' a snow mobile right into downtown to get items at the grocery store was pretty cool and that was back when you could call "Joe" to open up his pharmacy at midnight to get a prescription for the elderly neighbor.


These days a lot of folks live paycheck to paycheck, some by choice, some not... but many live day to day if they were ever faced with their food, water, or shelter supply stopping.  While I'm not sure you can plan and prepare for every possible circumstance without it consuming your life, I think most folks can plan and prepare for some.  Like anything, to do it right you need to educate yourself, make a plan, and follow through... at a steady pace, not a crazy-mad rush that causes you to burn out and drop the whole matter.


For more immediate needs, the gals and I have Bug Out Bags (BOBs) ready to go and we've added Get Home Bags (GHBs) to our preps.  What's the difference, well the BOBs are set up for "buggin' out" and have supplies for at least three days and possibly up to two weeks of survivin', while the GHBs have what we anticipate needing for one day, maybe overnight... to get home from work, a friends, shopping, etc.


We're currently on Christmas break and my daughter and I went through our BOBs to check and update our preps and I changed out some clothing as I've lost some weight.  My daughter said she would like a list of everything that's in the bags and where 'cause she can't always remember... which I thought was a profound idea since I can't remember every little thing, let alone the expiration date or age of some supplies AND I have lists of just about everything else in our lives... lists for planning, lists for to-do, lists for the budget, lists for reloading, lists for groceries... boy have I got lists.


So we made a list of what was in each of our BOBs and GHBs, put them in zip-lock bags and put the bags right inside the top compartment.  I also made a list of future items and upgrades.  For example, we have to live within our budget and we have to do almost all our preps in triplicate as there are three of us.  I like the L.A. Police Gear backpacks we have, but they are not the best and while we chose Coyote brown/tan to look less tactical and conspicuous, we'd like to eventually get better quality bags that have a frame and look even less tactical... although the Molle strips are very handy.


The GHBs are $29.99 gear bags from Cabela's that we picked up on sale for $9.99 each.  They probably won't make it to the summit of Mt. Everest and back, but they should make it home with us.  The GHBs were also packed with consideration for the vehicles they sit in during the summer months so 120 to 130-degree heat won't ruin anything inside.

If you're interested in putting your own BOBs together or updating what you have, there are plenty of lists already out there on the internet.  Greg Ellifritz has a recent list in his post over at Active Response Training for the BOB and the GHB.  Greg has his BOB weighing in at 55 pounds, but realizing his physical condition in comparison to knowing what our physical condition actually is... we've tried to keep our BOB's under thirty pounds before we add the fire-power and requisite hardware.  James Wesley, Rawles' Survival Blog has plenty of information and lists for planning or checking your preps when it comes to BOBs and GHBs.  Survival Cache also has a list to consider for a BOB.

So we hope you folks don't have to use your BOBs or GHBs anytime soon, although we've tried using and replenishing ours on occasion to test our preps, but you might want to make a list... and the gals and I do hope you have a very Merry Christmas... and be good... because we're not the only ones... Makin' a list, checkin' it twice...

Hoppe's Universal Field Cleaning Kit

To contact us Click HERE
There are a lot of good bore cleaners, solvents, lubricants, and tools for cleaning and maintaining guns.  It seems like I've tried most of them at one time or another.  While I really like Hoppe's BoreSnakes and I keep some OTIS Deluxe Rifle/Pistol Cleaning System kits in convenient places, sometimes you still find yourself in need of a cleaning rod out in the field, on the range, or while you're on the go.


One of the most compact, packable gun cleaning kits I've run across at a reasonable price that has a rifle-length cleaning rod is the Hoppe's Univeral Field Cleaning Kit. For under thirty bucks, this kit has a six-piece rifle-or-shotgun-length aluminum cleaning rod, some Hoppe's Lubricating Oil, a can of Hoppe's 9 Bore Cleaner, a variety of cleaning patches, patch holders, a shotgun adapter, and a handy nylon case with Velcro closures that's about five inches, by six inches and barely an inch-and-a-half thick when closed up. 

There's a pocket with a Velcro closure sewn in the lower flap of the case and a pocket sewn in behind the bore cleaner, oil, and cleaning rod stretch loops.  You can keep the cleaning patches in one pocket and the rod ends an accessories in the other pocket.  One area lackin' for this kit is that no bore brushes or jags were included, so you'll have to supply or purchase those separately.
It never fails when you're out shooting that eventually you'll get a stuck case, bullet, or other situation where a BoreSnake or cable just won't work. With a full-length cleaning rod taken apart and stowed in the case, It will easily slip into your range bag or even a pocket in your cargo pants or backpack.... or even into the top pocket of a Ruger 10/22 Take-Down Rifle bag. Besides, my gal's used to my Hoppe's 9 cologne after all these years.
So if you're lookin' for a handy little cleaning kit... you might want to take a look at this little kit from a name that's been around for quite some time... Hoppe's Universal Field Cleaning Kit

Ma'am, what you need is a five-shot snubby...

To contact us Click HERE
So gals... would you let your guy pick out your new purse or bra without you? Yeah, it's a pretty personal decision... it needs be a good fit for you, it needs to be the correct caliber... uh... size, it needs to be one of good quality plus reliability, and you don't really want it to cause any discomfort.  These are the same basic reasons as to why you need to educate yourself and choose your own gun too.


This past weekend, I taught another NRA Basic Pistol/Ohio CCW course, and five of my students were ladies who, for the most part, were completely new to shooting.  Several had asked me about buying a gun beforehand, but I encouraged them to come, go through the course, and try some of the rather large selections of handguns we happen to have on hand and then make a decision on which type and kind of gun to purchase.
Now there's been more articles arguing 'bout revolvers verses semi-autos than you can shake a stick at...some that have valid points, but many that aren't looking at specific, individual gun owners. I discussed a recommendation for revolver I gave a while back and I still stand by that recommendation for that particular person.  Tellin' someone they need a specific gun without knowing them well or educating them and making sure it fit's that particular person's needs is like tellin' a gal she needs a 34DD bra without havin' a clue what size she really is.  
Most recently, Greg Ellifritz over at Active Response Training posted the first part of his Firearms Manifesto which I whole-heartily agree with.  It's a fair assessment as it's always a very personal choice. Caleb, over at Gun Nuts Media discussed the topic of snubby revolvers a while back too, and he sums up their short-comin's... pun intended... pretty well, but I've got another view too.
There were three gals this past weekend in my course that did their shootin' with five-shot snubbies... three gals with almost no shootin' experience among them... and you know what... they all shot really well.  Are they ready to win an IDPA match next week? No... but after a good day of learnin', tryin', checkin'out, and decidin' for themselves, they chose to do their shootin' with the snubbies... over the full size revolvers, mind you.
These ladies all felt the semi-autos were fine, but a little complicated... for them.  As with many I've trained, and even though I've shown them how easy it is to work, check and run a semi-auto... they felt most comfortable with the .38 snubbies... the weight... the size.  I even offered to start'em with .22s, but these three preferred their snubbies.  Now I will say, the Ruger SP101 and the LCR's are fairly easy shootin' with .38 Specials, especially when compared to the snappiness of an ultra-light gun like the Smith & Wesson Airweights.

Even with those short sight radiuses, light-weight guns like the Ruger LCR, and long-double action trigger pulls didn't seem to mess up these gals and I think I know why.  Fundamentals.  They learned and practiced the fundamentals of safe shootin' and they were consistently keeping groups of hits on nine-inch targets at fifteen and twenty-five feet without any problems... initially from the benchrest position, then from the two-handed isosceles position while standing. 
Having confidence in their knowledge about the operation of the gun lends itself to gaining confidence for mastering the fundamentals of shootin'.  One of them did try a 9mm semi-auto, but by the end of the day, they were pretty sure the revolver was for them... for now.  Are they ready to compete in the next IDPA match? Probably not? Are they ready to go out and purchase their own gun, practice, and join the ranks of American gun owners? YES!
I prefer a semi-auto, although I've been known to carry a five-shot snubby from time to time too.  Maybe these gal's will move on to a semi-auto someday too. One recommendation I have though, guys, let your gals pick out their own bras, their own purses, and their own guns.  And ladies, regarding purses... you need to educate yourselves and make your own decisions, but I recommend on-body carry for concealed carry instead of your purse... although that is a topic for another day.
That way, when a gal chooses a snubby as her personal firearm, it's not because some guy told her that's what she needed... it's because she educated herself, looked at her options, and finally said to herself... Ma'am, what you need is a five-shot snubby...

Deal hunting in a panic'd market

To contact us Click HERE
It is no big secret that we are in the largest panic buy of guns in recent history. Prices on most any semi-automatic firearm are up as the threat of restrictive legislation looms over the heads of all gun owners in the US. For those on  a budget, now has been a terrible time to purchase a lot of gear.

However, deals are still around. Now particularly, I have noticed a lot of good rimfire deals. I think what is happening is gun owners are liquidating these older firearms to free up some cash for more battle rattle type purchases. Today, I purchased 4 Ruger Mk II mags for 6 dollars each. That is a heck of a deal, considering new they run about 18 bucks (when you can find them).

If you are in the market for guns, I would say to avoid the tactical centerfire buying frenzy and instead look at classic rimfires - the Mk series from Ruger, Browning Buckmarks, and even the S&W 22a line. For rimfire rifles, I have seen a lot of 10/22s floating around, and though pricing on them has not been heavily affected by the recent uptick in buying, prices are still a little high on them in general. People with several shops in their area would be wise to keep an eye out for some bargain used 22s hitting the racks.

I have also seen some nice revolvers start piling up at local shops- especially vintage S&W. Now is also a good time to hit the bush looking for that m10, m36, m15, m29, or other quality revolver you have always wanted. I suspect this is a temporary bubble, as I would bet a shiny dollar coin that most companies are going to redo production schedules for this year (if they haven't already) to handle the semi-auto rifle demand.

Obviously this is all speculation, but I suspect we won't actually see much in legislation pass in the near future, and we will be flooded with semi-auto rifles by the second quarter. Other guns that got bumped on production lines (and corresponding accessories like single stack mags) will also be running dry by then. I really think the market is going to nearly flip in the next 5 or so months where now is a great time to get some blued steel and wood, and early summer will be ripe for some tactical tom-foolery.

Stay safe and shoot well.

Cuomo's state of State- the loss of gun rights

To contact us Click HERE
After listening to A. Cuomo's state of New York State, I am questioning if I have ever been considered a citizen, or just a disillusioned plebeian. Mislead into thinking my vote, my life, my rights, and my dreams matter.

New York stands on the edge of a new and terrible world - where tens of thousands of New Yorkers will instantly be made criminals, with their property seized, and no compensation offered.

The numbers to the relevant NYS officials are below. Please call if you are a resident of NYS.

Call the Governor’s Office (518) 474-8390– AND LEAVE THIS MESSAGE:

Leave messages for these politicians as well.

Senate Leader Skelos:  518-455-3171

Senate Co-Leader Klein:  518-455-3595

Senator Valesky:  518-455-2838

Assembly Leader Silver:  518-455-3791 


Just as a reminder, these are the same people- the same State Government, that debated for over 5 years on if Gays should be allowed to marry. Hint: THEY SHOULD AND IT SHOULD NOT TAKE THAT LONG TO REALIZE THAT. 

Five Years. Yet they will strip away our rights in days when afforded the opportunity. It took them 5 years of legislative ass-fuckery to recognize an obvious right- and yet they will take another birth-right away in a few days the first chance they get.

Remember that- and remember this: You may not have cared about gay marriage, you may not care about guns- but someday, they will try to strip you of something you love and believe in. I hope there are people left to help you fight your fight, and I hope you help me fight mine.

Butt kickin' and dry-firin'...

To contact us Click HERE
Wow, this fall has been busy for me and the gals.  I've been feelin' like a one-legged man in a butt kickin' contest... no offense intended to those with one leg... it's just an ol' sayin' that's been around for years.  I've picked up the NRA's Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor certification, been accepted into the NRA's Training Counselor program for early next year, and completed the Ohio 4H Shooting Sports Shotgun Instructor certification.

My main gal and I are stepping up as the lead advisor (me) and the Ohio Shooting Sports Coordinator (her) for our 4H club.  I've also been appointed to the Board of Directors for our local sportsmens club and still serve on the county 4H committee.  All that has been on top of our regular duties as professional educators, parents, church members, etc.

I'm starting to learn to say no with some authority, but you wouldn't have guessed that from the previous paragraph.  Sometimes things have to go or slow down and as some of you have noticed... the blog is down to about one post each week, but I still enjoy keepin' the blog up as it relaxes me and keeps me in touch with so many great folks out there so I'm committed to at least one post every week or so.

Of course, I still find time for prepping, hunting, the outdoors, and shooting.  Having a place to shoot and hunt out back is sure an advantage.  I've been trying to make sure I get my exercise each day by ridin' the Schwinn Airdyne, weight lifting with dumb-bells, keeping my trigger fingers and hands strong with the Grip Master while driving to work, and walking the trails to check trail cams.


A few friends of mine have recently lamented that they haven't been able to get much range time in lately or even for months.  Even with our own range here at home, I still do a lot of dry-firing with both pistols and rifles and practice drawing from concealment fairly regularly... even out on the shootin' range.

There's been a lot written about dry-fire practice, including some good things by my friends Ron, over at When the Balloon Goes Up, and Matt, over at Jerking the Trigger.  I think one of the keys to effective dry-fire practice is being methodical and focusing on fundamentals and technique over speed... almost like developing a kata in a martial arts discipline.  Dry-firing isn't anything new, bulls-eye and rifle shooters have been using the technique for many decades.  I even ran across an advertisement (below) for a dry-firing arm weight from fifty years ago in the November, 1962 edition of Guns magazine.


There are a lot of ideas, tools, lasers, special equipment, and other gadgets to assist the shooter with dry-fire practice, but I have two items that I believe are critical.  First, the Triple-Check... make sure your gun is unloaded, the magazines are unloaded, there is absolutely no ammunition in the area, you're aiming at a safe target or location and TRIPLE CHECK your gun to make sure it is empty.  That's right, three times, check it... check it... and check it again.

The second critical item is simply DO IT!  Practice dry-firing regularly.  Work on the fundamentals   Get the trigger pull going in a steady motion, straight to the rear until it breaks.  Make sure your grip is consistent.  Practice operating the controls on your gun.  Always be aware of what your muzzle is covering if you're practicing drawing from concealment.  Oh, and don't forget your off-hand... you know, the one you don't use to write.

So, feel free to let me know if you have any ideas or tips that help improve the dry-fire practice experience... but for now I need to get back to... Butt kickin' and dry-firin'...

Makin' a list, checkin' it twice...

To contact us Click HERE
The gals and I are what some might call "preppers".  That term can cover quite a range of activities and lifestyles.  When you grow up or live out in rural areas like we do, what folks call prepping is just how we've always lived.  When the Blizzard of '78 hit northwest Ohio, we were snowed under for almost two weeks... no power, no school, no police, no fire service or EMS... folks took care of their own and each other... the firewood cut and stacked many months before kept us warm, the summer's garden produce was canned and stored in the basement, we melted snow for water, and we survived and helped others as best we could. Besides, ridin' a snow mobile right into downtown to get items at the grocery store was pretty cool and that was back when you could call "Joe" to open up his pharmacy at midnight to get a prescription for the elderly neighbor.


These days a lot of folks live paycheck to paycheck, some by choice, some not... but many live day to day if they were ever faced with their food, water, or shelter supply stopping.  While I'm not sure you can plan and prepare for every possible circumstance without it consuming your life, I think most folks can plan and prepare for some.  Like anything, to do it right you need to educate yourself, make a plan, and follow through... at a steady pace, not a crazy-mad rush that causes you to burn out and drop the whole matter.


For more immediate needs, the gals and I have Bug Out Bags (BOBs) ready to go and we've added Get Home Bags (GHBs) to our preps.  What's the difference, well the BOBs are set up for "buggin' out" and have supplies for at least three days and possibly up to two weeks of survivin', while the GHBs have what we anticipate needing for one day, maybe overnight... to get home from work, a friends, shopping, etc.


We're currently on Christmas break and my daughter and I went through our BOBs to check and update our preps and I changed out some clothing as I've lost some weight.  My daughter said she would like a list of everything that's in the bags and where 'cause she can't always remember... which I thought was a profound idea since I can't remember every little thing, let alone the expiration date or age of some supplies AND I have lists of just about everything else in our lives... lists for planning, lists for to-do, lists for the budget, lists for reloading, lists for groceries... boy have I got lists.


So we made a list of what was in each of our BOBs and GHBs, put them in zip-lock bags and put the bags right inside the top compartment.  I also made a list of future items and upgrades.  For example, we have to live within our budget and we have to do almost all our preps in triplicate as there are three of us.  I like the L.A. Police Gear backpacks we have, but they are not the best and while we chose Coyote brown/tan to look less tactical and conspicuous, we'd like to eventually get better quality bags that have a frame and look even less tactical... although the Molle strips are very handy.


The GHBs are $29.99 gear bags from Cabela's that we picked up on sale for $9.99 each.  They probably won't make it to the summit of Mt. Everest and back, but they should make it home with us.  The GHBs were also packed with consideration for the vehicles they sit in during the summer months so 120 to 130-degree heat won't ruin anything inside.

If you're interested in putting your own BOBs together or updating what you have, there are plenty of lists already out there on the internet.  Greg Ellifritz has a recent list in his post over at Active Response Training for the BOB and the GHB.  Greg has his BOB weighing in at 55 pounds, but realizing his physical condition in comparison to knowing what our physical condition actually is... we've tried to keep our BOB's under thirty pounds before we add the fire-power and requisite hardware.  James Wesley, Rawles' Survival Blog has plenty of information and lists for planning or checking your preps when it comes to BOBs and GHBs.  Survival Cache also has a list to consider for a BOB.

So we hope you folks don't have to use your BOBs or GHBs anytime soon, although we've tried using and replenishing ours on occasion to test our preps, but you might want to make a list... and the gals and I do hope you have a very Merry Christmas... and be good... because we're not the only ones... Makin' a list, checkin' it twice...

Hoppe's Universal Field Cleaning Kit

To contact us Click HERE
There are a lot of good bore cleaners, solvents, lubricants, and tools for cleaning and maintaining guns.  It seems like I've tried most of them at one time or another.  While I really like Hoppe's BoreSnakes and I keep some OTIS Deluxe Rifle/Pistol Cleaning System kits in convenient places, sometimes you still find yourself in need of a cleaning rod out in the field, on the range, or while you're on the go.


One of the most compact, packable gun cleaning kits I've run across at a reasonable price that has a rifle-length cleaning rod is the Hoppe's Univeral Field Cleaning Kit. For under thirty bucks, this kit has a six-piece rifle-or-shotgun-length aluminum cleaning rod, some Hoppe's Lubricating Oil, a can of Hoppe's 9 Bore Cleaner, a variety of cleaning patches, patch holders, a shotgun adapter, and a handy nylon case with Velcro closures that's about five inches, by six inches and barely an inch-and-a-half thick when closed up. 

There's a pocket with a Velcro closure sewn in the lower flap of the case and a pocket sewn in behind the bore cleaner, oil, and cleaning rod stretch loops.  You can keep the cleaning patches in one pocket and the rod ends an accessories in the other pocket.  One area lackin' for this kit is that no bore brushes or jags were included, so you'll have to supply or purchase those separately.
It never fails when you're out shooting that eventually you'll get a stuck case, bullet, or other situation where a BoreSnake or cable just won't work. With a full-length cleaning rod taken apart and stowed in the case, It will easily slip into your range bag or even a pocket in your cargo pants or backpack.... or even into the top pocket of a Ruger 10/22 Take-Down Rifle bag. Besides, my gal's used to my Hoppe's 9 cologne after all these years.
So if you're lookin' for a handy little cleaning kit... you might want to take a look at this little kit from a name that's been around for quite some time... Hoppe's Universal Field Cleaning Kit

Ma'am, what you need is a five-shot snubby...

To contact us Click HERE
So gals... would you let your guy pick out your new purse or bra without you? Yeah, it's a pretty personal decision... it needs be a good fit for you, it needs to be the correct caliber... uh... size, it needs to be one of good quality plus reliability, and you don't really want it to cause any discomfort.  These are the same basic reasons as to why you need to educate yourself and choose your own gun too.


This past weekend, I taught another NRA Basic Pistol/Ohio CCW course, and five of my students were ladies who, for the most part, were completely new to shooting.  Several had asked me about buying a gun beforehand, but I encouraged them to come, go through the course, and try some of the rather large selections of handguns we happen to have on hand and then make a decision on which type and kind of gun to purchase.
Now there's been more articles arguing 'bout revolvers verses semi-autos than you can shake a stick at...some that have valid points, but many that aren't looking at specific, individual gun owners. I discussed a recommendation for revolver I gave a while back and I still stand by that recommendation for that particular person.  Tellin' someone they need a specific gun without knowing them well or educating them and making sure it fit's that particular person's needs is like tellin' a gal she needs a 34DD bra without havin' a clue what size she really is.  
Most recently, Greg Ellifritz over at Active Response Training posted the first part of his Firearms Manifesto which I whole-heartily agree with.  It's a fair assessment as it's always a very personal choice. Caleb, over at Gun Nuts Media discussed the topic of snubby revolvers a while back too, and he sums up their short-comin's... pun intended... pretty well, but I've got another view too.
There were three gals this past weekend in my course that did their shootin' with five-shot snubbies... three gals with almost no shootin' experience among them... and you know what... they all shot really well.  Are they ready to win an IDPA match next week? No... but after a good day of learnin', tryin', checkin'out, and decidin' for themselves, they chose to do their shootin' with the snubbies... over the full size revolvers, mind you.
These ladies all felt the semi-autos were fine, but a little complicated... for them.  As with many I've trained, and even though I've shown them how easy it is to work, check and run a semi-auto... they felt most comfortable with the .38 snubbies... the weight... the size.  I even offered to start'em with .22s, but these three preferred their snubbies.  Now I will say, the Ruger SP101 and the LCR's are fairly easy shootin' with .38 Specials, especially when compared to the snappiness of an ultra-light gun like the Smith & Wesson Airweights.

Even with those short sight radiuses, light-weight guns like the Ruger LCR, and long-double action trigger pulls didn't seem to mess up these gals and I think I know why.  Fundamentals.  They learned and practiced the fundamentals of safe shootin' and they were consistently keeping groups of hits on nine-inch targets at fifteen and twenty-five feet without any problems... initially from the benchrest position, then from the two-handed isosceles position while standing. 
Having confidence in their knowledge about the operation of the gun lends itself to gaining confidence for mastering the fundamentals of shootin'.  One of them did try a 9mm semi-auto, but by the end of the day, they were pretty sure the revolver was for them... for now.  Are they ready to compete in the next IDPA match? Probably not? Are they ready to go out and purchase their own gun, practice, and join the ranks of American gun owners? YES!
I prefer a semi-auto, although I've been known to carry a five-shot snubby from time to time too.  Maybe these gal's will move on to a semi-auto someday too. One recommendation I have though, guys, let your gals pick out their own bras, their own purses, and their own guns.  And ladies, regarding purses... you need to educate yourselves and make your own decisions, but I recommend on-body carry for concealed carry instead of your purse... although that is a topic for another day.
That way, when a gal chooses a snubby as her personal firearm, it's not because some guy told her that's what she needed... it's because she educated herself, looked at her options, and finally said to herself... Ma'am, what you need is a five-shot snubby...

Do you practice like you carry?

To contact us Click HERE
That seems like a very simple question... and it is a simple question.  There are a lot of folks who practice often, many even compete in various shooting sports matches, IDPA, USPA, etc., but is it truly preparing you for your daily needs when it comes to carrying concealed?  I also know a lot of folks go to the shootin' range and stand there putting holes in a fixed target at a fixed distance.


It's OK if you go to the local shootin' range occasionally or regularly, but are you drawing from concealment?  I'm talkin' bout real concealment, not the unzipped jacket or shoot-me-first concealment you see folks sportin' at an IDPA match.  It was a high of eighteen degrees 'round here yesterday.  CCW folks are not walkin' around here with t-shirts tucked into their jeans covered by an unzipped wind-breaker or fishin' vest.

Now don't get me wrong, practicing shooting at the range or in competition are great for building skills... just like weight-lifting and aerobic exercise is great for football players, but you still need to get out on the field and run some plays before game day.  And just like the coaches, you need to track your progress too. Are you "scoring" your targets while timing yourself? If you're not keeping track of your hits and accuracy while timing yourself, how do you know if you're getting any better?

Do you practice and run your gun, holster, and equipment like you carry daily?  Do you practice reloading from your concealed extra magazine?  Do you have a "competition" holster and a "daily carry" holster?  Do you practice with your "daily carry" holster too?

Now I realize that many folks don't always have a place to practice that allows you to draw and fire from concealment... let alone shoot move or practice seeking cover, but it would be good if you can at least find some place that will let you practice you real-life skills occasionally.  We're fortunate to have a place out back, but I'm sure if you look around your area, you'd eventually find some place to practice those daily carry skills.

So when you're walking around in 18 degrees with gusty winter wind blowing about... how fast can you get to your gun when your wearing three layers of clothes under your fully zipped-up, heavy winter jacket?  Do you carry in an alternative location in that situation?

As I asked before... Do you practice like you carry?

So, what are your thoughts?

Governor Malloy’s Common Sense (Idiotic) Gun Safety Reforms

To contact us Click HERE
Via Paul

 
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Thursday called for immediately banning high-capacity ammunition magazines, requiring background checks for the transfer of any firearm and expanding the state’s assault weapons ban.

 If you can stomach suchWeb Extra: Malloy’s Full Proposal (pdf)
The Democrat has expressed frustration with the pace of the General Assembly’s response to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. His release of what he calls “common sense gun safety reforms” comes a day after he questioned whether a legislative task force can reach a bipartisan agreement on gun law changes — an accusation that miffed minority Republican leaders who contend the task force is still working.

More @ CBS

List of North Carolina Schools Partnered with the United Nations

To contact us Click HERE
Via David

  North Carolina has 30 schools partnered with the United Nations to teach our children how to ”promote intercultural understanding and respect, not as an alternative to a sense of cultural and national identity, but as an essential part of life in the 21st century“.

This NGO of UNESCO is nothing more than another means to indoctrinate our children into a new world order. Our nation is under attack from both enemies foreign and domestic. How will they defeat a nation founded in Liberty? By using proven techniques: propaganda, disarmament,tyranny and the corruption of our own children.

United States Beddingfield High School
4510 Old Stantonsburg Road, Wilson

United States Ben L. Smith High School
2407 South Holden Road, Greensboro

United States Cedar Ridge High School
1125 New Grady Brown School Road, Hillsborough

United States Charlotte Country Day School
1440 Carmel Road, Charlotte

United States East Mecklenburg High School
6800 Monroe Road, Charlotte

United States Garner Magnet High School
2101 Spring Drive, Garner

United States Grimsley High School
801 Westover Terrace, Greensboro

United States Harding University High School
2001 Alleghany Street, Charlotte

United States Hickory High School
1234 3rd Street NE, Hickory

United States High Point Central High School
801 Ferndale Blvd, High Point

United States Hillside High School
3727 Fayetteville Street, Durham

United States Hunt High School
4559 Lamm Road, Wilson

United States Hunter Huss High School
1518 Edgefield Avenue, Gastonia

United States Jacksonville High School
1021 Henderson Drive, Jacksonville

United States Kinston High School
2601 North Queen Street, Kinston

United States Marvin Ridge High School
2825 Crane Road, Waxhaw

United States Millbrook High School
2201 Spring Forest Road, Raleigh

United States Myers Park High School
2400 Colony Road, Charlotte

United States Needham B Broughton High School
723 St Mary’s Street, Raleigh

United States North Mecklenburg High School
11201 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville

United States Parkland High School
1600 Brewer Road, Winston-Salem

United States Ralph L Fike High School
500 Harrison Drive, Wilson

United States Reidsville High School
1901 South Park Drive, Reidsville

United States Rocky Mount High School
1400 Bethlehem Road, Rocky Mount

United States South Iredell High School
299 Old Mountain Road, Statesville

United States South View High School
4184 Elk Road, Cumberland County, Hope Mills

United States W.G. Enloe High School
128 Clarendon Crescent, Wake County Public Schools, Raleigh

United States Walter Hines Page High School
201 Alma Pinnix Drive, Greensboro

United States West Charlotte High School
2219 Senior Dr, Charlotte

More @ NC Renegade

Scorecard: How Many Rights Have Americans REALLY Lost?

To contact us Click HERE
Via SHNV

  Painting by Anthony Freda: www.AnthonyFreda.com 

How Many Constitutional Freedoms Do We Still Have?

 

Preface: While a lot of people talk about the loss of our Constitutional liberties, people usually speak in a vague, generalized manner … or focus on only one issue and ignore the rest.

This post explains the liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights – the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution – and provides a scorecard on the extent of the loss of each right.

First Amendment

The 1st Amendment protects speech, religion, assembly and the press:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

However, the government is arresting those speaking out … and violently crushing peaceful assemblies which attempt to petition the government for redress.

A federal judge found that the law allowing indefinite detention of Americans without due process has a “chilling effect” on free speech. And see this and this.

The threat of being labeled a terrorist for exercising our First Amendment rights certainly violates the First Amendment.   The government is using laws to crush dissent, and it’s gotten so bad that even U.S. Supreme Court justices are saying that we are descending into tyranny.

For example, the following actions may get an American citizen living on U.S. soil labeled as a “suspected terrorist” today:

More @ Washington's Blog

HHRGC Dec. 22nd, Steel Results

To contact us Click HERE
It was another wet and sloppy day at Holmes Harbor Rod & Gun Club on Whidbey Island, but we still had 25 entries for our six stage steel match. Considering that this is only three days before Christmas, that's not too bad a turnout, I'd say! Several shooters packed it in early because of the rain and cold, but the rest of us stuck it out and slogged through to the end. (That explains the 120's in the stage scores.) After the first couple of stages the rain stopped, and it held off for the rest of the day, right up until just before we had finished the last stage.

	Name	Class	stg 1	stg 2	stg 3	stg 4	stg 5	stg 6	total
1	Mike Gallion	RF-O	8.01	12.03	13.22	13.69	11.66	8.28	66.89
2	Tony Ceci	RF-R	10.10	14.26	13.87	12.60	8.65	16.66	76.14
3	Joshua Hansen	RF-R	12.75	15.32	17.85	15.81	12.51	5.63	79.87
4	John Davidson	RF-O	11.87	15.08	15.19	14.04	15.41	8.45	80.04
5	Thomas Alldredge	RF-I	13.01	18.09	18.31	16.30	12.92	7.00	85.63
6	John Davidson	CF-P	15.43	17.65	23.24	20.09	11.83	13.31	101.55
7	Jeff Proctor	RF-R	21.28	19.98	19.49	21.26	15.83	7.59	105.43
8	Debra Kurre	RF-I	23.87	18.26	23.26	20.40	14.15	9.02	108.96
9	Debra Kurre	RF-O	20.40	15.41	24.42	31.30	9.97	13.64	115.14
10	Jeff Proctor	RF-I	20.80	25.79	24.59	16.20	19.60	13.81	120.79
11	Joshua Hansen	RF-I	21.61	24.69	21.96	22.63	22.66	7.89	121.44
12	Steve Blazina	RF-I	19.86	23.18	34.13	25.61	14.74	13.43	130.95
13	Thomas Alldredge	CF-P	24.01	21.82	21.12	37.06	16.68	10.96	131.65
14	Steve Blazina	CF-L	21.78	24.60	30.16	29.93	17.99	11.67	136.13
15	Richard Davis	CF-LR	35.22	37.16	14.91	40.16	21.70	16.34	165.49
16	Kevin Case	CF-LR	26.94	49.30	38.31	31.40	13.95	12.24	172.14
17	Debra Kurre	REV-I	20.65	29.58	22.95	56.36	21.86	25.44	176.84
18	Kory Koyamatsu	RF-I	37.09	30.09	35.10	48.37	24.73	14.30	189.68
19	Jim Dyment	CF-P	35.57	37.48	33.23	49.89	25.98	24.81	206.96
20	Mike Gallion	CF-O	86.52	120.00	120.00	120.00	23.92	9.68	480.12
21	Austin Leadley	RF-R	19.37	18.10	120.00	120.00	120.00	120.00	517.47
22	Linda Proctor	RF-I	31.69	34.91	120.00	120.00	120.00	120.00	546.60
23	Brian Lawson	RF-I	120.00	120.00	26.59	120.00	120.00	120.00	626.59
24	Russ Blazina	RF-I	120.00	120.00	53.92	120.00	120.00	120.00	653.92
25	Russ Blazina	CF-LR	120.00	120.00	93.07	120.00	120.00	120.00	693.07