Tag Archives: Second Amendment

Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good sound bite…

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http://home.nra.org/pdf/Transcript_PDF.pdf

This has bothered me to no end for weeks.  Days after Wayne LaPierre spoke the NRA new conference in response to the Sandy Hook tragedy, I heard liberals left and right saying his speech was shameful and that he’d made a fool of himself in calling for armed teachers.  But I couldn’t for the life of me remember hearing him say that. Armed security in the schools, certainly but, I don’t remember him saying all our kindergarten teachers needed to get strapped as the media has continually suggested.  So I decided I needed to read the transcript again, just to be clear because, it’s not like the media would ever get something wrong.

Well, I can’t find a single phrase in the entire thirteen page document.  Those of us who actually listened to the press conference with an open mind will not be surprised by this “revelation.” The fact is the liberal media is continually spinning “the facts” to fit their agenda while quietly, Democrats across the country are apparently embracing what Wayne LaPierre actually suggested…Professional, armed security for schools.  Congress is looking at grants to fund it.  Legislatures around the country have already authorized it in many cases.  So it seems that while the media continues to sell the idea that “we” and the NRA are crazy for suggesting it, legislators and administrators across the country are quietly acknowledging the idea that armed security is, in and of itself, a deterrent where as “Gun Free Zones” are a magnet for tragedy.

– Gary

Liberals act as if they have a monopoly on personal interests in this debate

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Lawmakers touched by gun violence take debate personally – Yahoo! News.

I have heard it said on more than one occasion that those of us against gun control would feel differently if WE had been the victims of “gun violence” or otherwise had violence by an armed individual touch our lives.  Folks, I take personal exception to that as a survivor of more violence than I care to remember (more than my fair share of fights, an attempted stabbing, and more than one drive-by shooting) .  And I’d also like to remind these people that violence does not occur in a vacuum where the only people who are hurt are Democrats and liberals.  We could argue whether or not their mindset of a willing victim means they are that much more traumatized but, that’s another discussion.

I have not been present for a mass-shooting…Don’t want to be and hope I never have to deal with it.  Chances are very high that I never will because I don’t spend a great deal of time in places where these incidents are likely to occur (invariably Gun Free Zones) .  But if you’ve never heard of her, I’d like to take a moment to turn your attention to former Texas State Representative, Suzanna Hupp.  She too was a victim of violence.  She was sitting in a Luby’s with her parents when George Hennard crashed his truck through the front of the restaurant and began shooting people.

When Hennard approached Hupp, she reached for a revolver (.38 caliber) she normally kept in her purse only to realize that it was still in her vehicle outside the restaurant.  Hupp’s seventy-one-year-old father, Al Gratia, rushed, unarmed, toward Hennard in an attempt to subdue Hennard and defend  Hupp and her mother, Ursula.  Mr. Gratia was fatally shot in the chest. Hupp tried to flee with her mother but, Mrs. Gratia stayed to cradle her fatally wounded husband Al and was ultimately executed by Hennard.

Police arrived and exchanged fire with Hennard.  Faced with armed force, like nearly all mass shooters, Hennard retreated further into the restaurant to commit suicide rather than continue to fight.  Hennard had shot 50 people, killing 23 of them, including Suzanna Hupp’s parents.  It was, until the Virginia Tech shooting, the worst mass shooting in modern US history.  But Suzanna Hupp’s reaction and her story does not fit the narrative of Diane Feinstein or others who go so far as to arm themselves while simultaneously treating the rest of us as chattel that must be disarmed.  In fact, rather than demanding more restrictions, Hupp demanded the right to defend herself rather than be a victim.

I seriously doubt Ms. Hupp would suggest you or I go out hunting for mass shooters or act as police but, she championed concealed carry laws across the country.  Why? Because she too had a personal stake in changing the law.  Never again, would she be forced to wait her turn to be executed by a mass murderer. Never again, if she could help it, would someone have to watch helplessly, as their parents or other loved ones were killed like fish in a barrel because someone like Diane Feinstein would prefer they be a good victim.

In closing; I offer this warning, those who propose limits on law-abiding people are not seeking to make things safer for the rest of us. These people have a self-serving agenda and there are many, well meaning people, who will go along with the program because it “seems” reasonable.  Talk to them. Tell this story and be sure they hear both sides because they won’t get it from the media.

– Gary

Predictably, the liberals make demands rather than seeking solutions

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Texas Republicans offer prayers, Sheila Jackson Lee demands action after Lone Star shootings | Texas on the Potomac | a Chron.com blog.

Woody Allen’s ex is jaw jacking and I truly wish Pierce Morgan would follow through on his threat to deport himself. Seeking her usual 15 seconds in the spot light, Sheila Jackson Lee has staked her claim.

““Today is yet another sad day in our country because of a senseless shooting at the Lone Star College North Campus in Houston, Texas. I am deeply saddened to learn about those who have been wounded because of this incident. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the Lone Star College campus community and those who have been injured and anyone else personally impacted by this senseless act of violence. I am sure that everyone in the community of the Lone Star College campus will do whatever they can in the coming days to ease the pain, tensions and concerns of all affected.

“I have introduced common sense legislation that would focus on protecting our nation from gun violence and accidents. H.R. 65 will raise the handgun eligibility age from 18 to 21, and will prohibit persons under the age of 21 from possessing semiautomatic assault weapons or large capacity magazines. Moreover, H.R. 65 increases penalties on individuals who knowingly transfer a handgun, ammunition, semiautomatic assault weapon, or large capacity ammunition feeding device to a person under age 21. We must also work to ensure that Gun Free Zones are enforced.

“My prayers and condolences go first to the families of those wounded and I share the grief of everyone affected by this event. I applaud the swift work by the First Responders. Americans have a remarkable ability to support one another in times of crisis. This is one of those times.””

Does she not know the minimum age for purchasing a handgun is already 21?  And how exactly are you going to “enforce” a gun free zone without turning these places into the armed check points and establishing the police state you claim you don’t want? Having said all this, I find it interesting that she’s not calling for an outright ban in this statement.  Is this a ray of hope for us?!  I have to wonder if it isn’t a sign that she and other liberals recognize they don’t have votes for an outright ban on modern firearms and standard capacity magazines. Don’t relax just yet heroes…I’m just thinking out loud here.  The fact is, these people salivate at the news of each new incident as an opportunity to point a finger at us.  But, here’s a newsflash, yesterday, 100,000,000 gun owners used their guns responsibly and no one was shot or injured as a result.

– Gary

Zero personal injury, zero property damage, no shots fired…Happy wife, happy life.

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Around 9:30 pm tonight, my wife and I were leaving a celebratory gathering at popular bowling alley on Houston’s west side when I spotted a male subject moving between my car and another vehicle on the south end of the property. As we walked toward the car, the subject began moving in a direct line toward us.  Within a few yards, the subject intercepted another male patron from the bowling alley.  Their conversation seemed to be starting with “…hey, let me talk with you for a minute…” Not that anyone has a reason to know this but, for me, those words coming from anyone, make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.  Why? Because never in my life has anything good come from someone saying, “…hey, let me talk with you for a minute.”  It seemed like the wife saw this too as she didn’t resist when I grabbed her hand, told her we needed to return to the building. Once inside, I told my wife I thought I was seeing a setup for a robbery and suggested she take a quick restroom break while I looked for a manager.

The subject, we’ll call him Goofy, was a black male in his late twenties or early thirties, dark complexion and about six-feet tall.  Goofy had short dreadlocks and was unshaven with an uneven beard.  While Goofy was wearing baggy clothes, nothing about his build or movements suggested that he’d missed any meals or had any reason to be begging for food or money.  In fact, I’d say Goofy appeared to have a fairly athletic build (broad shoulders, thin waist) that suggested he’d be able to put up a fight.

With the wife headed to the restroom and no manager in sight, I poked my head outside the building again to look for Goofy.  When I looked toward the last place I’d seen him, I saw Goofy had disappeared.  I continued scanning and spotted what appeared to be Goofy and the other male patron moving south, beyond the south end of the property, toward a Valero on the next block.  There was no lighting between the Valero and the end of the property so it was hard be positive about what I was seeing but, there was a marked Houston Police unit at the Valero and I figured if Goofy was really going to be a problem and headed in that direction, it would be that officer’s problem and not mine.

Rather than waiting for the wife to return, I decided it would be best to go get the car without her and get the heck out of Dodge sooner, rather than later.  So, I “texted” her instructions to wait for me inside the entrance while I retrieved the car and brought it to the door. Not knowing if Goofy had really vacated the parking lot, I decided it was better to be ready for a fight that never comes than get caught behind the curve.  So as I walked along the side of the building, as surreptitiously as possible, I retrieved my pistol from my pocket holster and held it under my sweater as if my hand was simply in my pocket.  Fortunately, it became apparent as I approached the car that Goofy really had moved off with the other patron toward the Valero by the time I reached my car.  So, I re-holstered the gun, started the car, moved it to the building entrance where my wife was waiting and we departed the area immediately.

Now, some will ask why I didn’t notify someone (i.e. tell a manager or a security guard).  Quite honestly, I hadn’t seen anyone I could clearly identify as a manager or security guard for the facility all night.  It’s Friday night at 9:30 pm and were standing in a crowded bowling alley that is part club, part restaurant, and serving lots of alcohol.  No good could come from staying there any longer than we absolutely had too.  I wanted to get us out of the building and on our way as soon as humanly possible.  Goofy was off property when I looked for him the second time so there didn’t seem to be anything to tell even if I did wait to find a manager.  I am sure I could have handled it differently but, it ended with zero personal injury, zero property damage, no shots fired…Happy wife, happy life.

Lessons learned/reiterated: 1) Shit happens when you least expect it.  Coming out of a graduation party, walking into what looked like a potential robbery was not what I was expecting for the night.  2) What looks suspicious, probably looks that way for good reason.  Don’t continue walking into trouble when you can see it coming.  3) Have a plan.  Every situation is different but, if I’m out with my wife/family, my first plan is always to immediately move her and/or others to a safer location immediately if it can be done without engaging a threat.  4) Don’t dither! You can choose to always wait for more information and suffer paralysis of analysis or act on the information you have in hand.  That’s not suggesting you shoot first and ask questions later but, if a situation looks like it has the potential to get ugly, don’t stand there waiting for the shit to hit the fan.

– Gary

Sensible Words falling on Deaf Ears…

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Newtown Gun Group Pres: ‘We Are Not the Evildoers’ – Yahoo! News.

“Who among us has not been moved by the unspeakable tragedy that was inflicted by a deranged man upon the children of Newtown, Connecticut, our very home at the NSSF?…” “…What can possibly heal the wounds, silence the anguished outcries, and make rational discourse on such a heartfelt topic occur?” – Steve Sanetti

I think all gun owners feel the same way. We are all revolted by the actions of those who visit evil on our families, especially the most innocent among us.  It is unfortunate that we are attacked out of the actions of people we do not count among our own.  We and the tools we own/use are vilified while those responsible are made into celebrities, setting the stage for the next monster to grab his 15 minutes of fame/infamy.  What is sickening is to hear a President who has, through his roll as Commander in Chief, killed more children with drone strikes than have ever been killed in these attacks, ask US to examine our conscience as if to suggest we are the ones lacking in moral fiber.

-Gary