Random Thoughts

I recently joined the Outdoor Bloggers Summit. There are a lot of good blogs on their blogroll, not just about guns but nature and conservation also. You can click on the button in the right column and it will take you there. I highly recommend their blogroll for good reading.

In his blog, The Shootist, Gordon Hutchinson has a post entitled "Paranoia is Good". The Shootist is listed in my blog list and also on the OBS list. I highly recommend reading his
articles also. Gordon has served many years in Law Enforcement and in training, he has also written two books.

Another good blog, that I recommend for those of you who are Survivalists or Preppers, is Stealth Survival. River Walker discusses many aspects of survival and has many links to suppliers, safety information, etc. Again, a link to his blog can be found on mine and the OBS lists.

Two other good gun blogs are, Home on the Range and The Breda Fallacy. The are both written by ladies who are excellent writers, and they also include some delicious sounding recipes.

On his website, Canovi and Associates, Matt Canovi offers different training courses. Matt has also spent many years in Law Enforcement and training, I consider Matt to be my Guru. I have a set of his training DVDs and even though I have not had the opportunity to do any actual training with him, his DVDs have changed my mindset and improved my shooting, greatly. A link to his site is in my Gun Information Site list.

As closing thoughts, We do not carry a weapon to kill, we carry a weapon to keep from being killed. We do not shoot to kill, we shoot to stop the threat. Force can only be overcome by greater force.

I Remember

I remember growing up in a family where guns were not only a sport but a way of life. My father and grandfather were both hunters and we lived on venison a couple night a week. My father was a Classified Courier for a company with Naval Contracts. I can remember him making a couple trips a week to Washington, DC or one of the Proving Grounds, and always with a .38 on his hip. Most of the time he drove the trip from Rochester to DC and there were no super highways in those days. Sometimes when paperwork had to be there in a rush, we would drive him to the airport and he would get on a plane, still with that .38 on his side.

I remember getting my first bow and arrows when I was nine years old. I remember shooting the family BB gun in the garage with my Dad teaching me how. I remember the first time he took me out deer hunting, I was not old enough to get a license, but I enjoyed just tagging along.

I also remember growing up in a time when punishment was swift and sure. There were no timeouts in the corner followed by a hug and kiss. There was a wide leather belt or the back of a hand. It's funny how quickly you learned right from wrong in those days. Kids did not come to school with Dad's gun and shoot a bunch of people when they had a beef, they duked it out somewhere and the beef was settled and all was forgiven. Of course when you got home, if you were on the losing end, you usually got some more.

Those were simpler times, when people who were not gun owners, did not want to take away your guns. Those were times when your hunter safety instructor was your father or grandfather. Those were times when weekend entertainment was a trip to go groundhog shooting or just somewhere to target shoot. It was a family affair with a picnic lunch.

I remember all these things, and then I think of today and wish I owned a one way time machine.

Guns and the Economy

In these days of a slow and faltering economy, seasoned gun owners and newbies alike are setting a trend. Gun and ammunition sales have rocketed, gun show attendance is overwhelming and in those free states that allow it, CCW Instructors are very busy.

Gun and ammunition purchases can vary from very expensive to relatively inexpensive. 6 months ago, I purchased a Jimenez compact 9mm, manufactured in the US. It came with a Lifetime Warranty, 2 10rd magazines, and loaded chamber and cocked indicators. I also purchased 500 rounds of Russian 9mm Ammunition and a small holster. The gun was $140, the holster was $18, and the ammo was $84. To date, I have had no problems with any of it. I also own an XD45, that is an excellent weapon in the $500 range.

The Russian ammo is available in many calibers, at reasonable prices under the Wolf and Bear Brands. It is good ammo for everyday shooting and practice, however it is not reloadable due to the steel cases. I do recommend the higher priced US manufactured, high expansion, hollow points for CCW and home defense. My personal preference is the Federal Hydra-Shok or Remington Golden Sabres, but there are many others put out by the other manufacturers that are just as effective.

Buy now, while you still can and help our economy.

Get Your Warfaces On

War has been declared on our Second Amendment Rights and our guns. HR 45 was introduced on Jan 6th, just prior to Barack Obama taking over. It was introduced by one of his Illinois Democratic Cronies.

We cannot and should not standby and watch our rights be eroded one by one. It is time to rise up and declare our own war on the liberal politicians. We need to fight with our votes, our mouths, and our pens. Here in SW Missouri we have a petition going around, to send to our Congressional Representatives and Senators urging their support in this fight against the gun grabbers. Similar action needs to be taken all over at the local level.

The Second Amendment March, scheduled for next year, needs to be preceded by State Marches to show our State Governments where we stand. We are trying to put one together
in our State Capital, Jefferson City.

Reach out and touch someone. Start local letter writing campaigns, get your gun clubs involved.
Start petitions in your own local areas, have rallies in public places, where people can see we are fighting for every one's rights.

Remember, no matter which of the original Bill of Rights falls, the others then become vulnerable also and then we live in a Dictatorship not a Free Society.