The Cluebat of reality strikes again, but I’ll bet the idjit still votes demoncrap.
Just had a conversation with a progressive Democrat in Colorado. Major fundraiser.
“The protestors got a few blocks from my house. And I don’t know anybody who owns a gun.”
He’s buying one today.
The left is losing their base, folks.
People choose order over anarchy.
— BDW (@BryanDeanWright) June 1, 2020
Since the M16 selective fire version is pretty much out of the reach of the average person these days, the AR-15 is what I call the current place holder of ‘The American Rifle’.
Yes, I’ve got other rifles, including an M16, but my consideration is that the current iteration of the standard issue rifle/carbine is what everyone should have one (1) example of in their inventory, and if you can’t figure out why, please look up the word – logistics – and think a bit.
Last Night We Saw Why Americans Own 16+ Million AR-15s
As televisions and computers showed a fourth day of protesters turned rioters Saturday, looting and destroying property, it was readily apparent why Americans own 16+ million AR-15s.
When Robert ‘Beto’ O’Rourke was still vying for the Democrat nomination–and pledging to come take away your AR-15–Breitbart News spoke with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) about what a Herculean task that would be. After all, the AR-15 is the most popular rifle platform in America.
NSSF shared their calculations with Breitbart, showing an estimated 16= million privately owned AR-15s in the U.S.
You cannot be blamed if you thought the number was closer to 250 or 300. Moreover, you cannot be blamed if you thought the 300 AR-15 owners were toothless, old, white, racists living on some isolated, off-the-grid piece of property deep in the heart of the South.
But as it turns out, AR-15s are owned by black people and white people, and by all skin colors in between. And there are WAY MORE than a couple hundred in circulation.
On August 31, 2018, Breitbart News reported more than nine million AR-15s were manufactured for sale in the U.S. under Barack Obama alone.
And on May 30, 2020–at the height of the Minneapolis rioting–Breitbart News reported on black business owners standing guard with AR-15s outside their properties.
And AR-15s are not just for men. On November 4, 2019, Breitbart News reported on a pregnant Florida woman who used an AR-15 to kill an alleged home intruder while her husband was under attack.
So when Joe Biden and other Democrats demonize AR-15s as “assault weapons” and campaign on taking them from the American people or at least ending their sales, remember the feelings you have right now; the feelings of wanting a tool you can keep in your house to protect your family in times of civil violence and unrest. And also remember those black business owners and that pregnant Florida woman, who saved her husband’s life.
Again, there are over 16 million privately-owned AR-15s in this country and after last night–after watching the wanton destruction and violence in city after city–perhaps you better understand why Americans own them.
“Possible“? It either is, or isn’t .
Possible Home Invasion Shooting
The Coshocton County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Office reports a male subject has been injured during a possible home invasion.
The Sheriff’s Office said on Friday, May 29 at 8:21 p.m. they received a report of a male subject being treated for a gunshot wound at Coshocton Regional Medical Center.
During their invesitgation authorities determined the male had been injured during a possible home invasion on South Lawn Avenue.
The male subject was later flown to Grant Medical Center for treatment of his wounds. His condition is unknown at this time.
Officials said they secured the residence and an investigation began.
The names of those involved are being withheld pending further investigation.
Robbery victim shoots, kills suspect in DeKalb neighborhood,
Police said a robbery suspect was shot and killed by his intended victim Friday morning in a neighborhood near Lithonia High School.
The man who was killed, identified as 19-year-old Aaron Cobb, is accused of going to a location on Marbut Farms Trace about 1 a.m. to commit a robbery, DeKalb police spokeswoman Michaela Vincent told AJC.com. Cobb was allegedly accompanied by others at the time of the shooting.
Police said a robbery suspect was shot and killed by his intended victim Friday morning in a neighborhood near Lithonia High School.
The man who was killed, identified as 19-year-old Aaron Cobb, is accused of going to a location on Marbut Farms Trace about 1 a.m. to commit a robbery, DeKalb police spokeswoman Michaela Vincent told AJC.com. Cobb was allegedly accompanied by others at the time of the shooting.“The intended robbery victim shot one person in self-defense,” Vincent said in an email.It’s unclear whether Cobb or anyone aside from the homeowner was armed.Vincent added that the other people who were with Cobb are facing possible charges. The specific charges were not released, and it’s unclear if the shooter will also face charges.
70-year-old man attacked, stabbed while walking down McKees Rocks street
MCKEES ROCKS, Pa. — Allegheny County police are searching for a man accused of stabbing a 70-year-old man in McKees Rocks Wednesday night.
The man was walking on Wright Street around 10:15 p.m. when police said he was attacked and stabbed with a knife by another man who was following him.
The victim was able to stop the attack by pulling out a gun he was legally allowed to carry and firing a shot.
The man took off, and police are still searching for him.
The Second Amendment is helping defend small businesses in the Minneapolis riots
The city of Minneapolis is burning.
Much of the media’s attention has rightfully focused on how the protests-turned-riots undermine the justified outrage over George Floyd’s cruel death at the hands of the police, and the unacceptable arrest of CNN reporters who were trying to cover the developments.
At the same time, these troubling developments should provide a renewed appreciation for the importance of the Second Amendment and how the right to self-defense uplifts minority groups in particular.
During the riots, many minority-owned Minneapolis businesses have unfortunately been looted or destroyed. In response, a number of responsible, law-abiding citizens, both black and white, have exercised their Second Amendment rights to protect their businesses.
“It’s about damned time some heavily armed rednecks stood with fellow citizens,” one pair said. “These guys are out here with machetes and shattered windows trying to keep looters out of their business because cops can’t get in here. And so, you know, I figure, before there were cops there were just Americans … so, here we are.”
“Justice for Floyd, and I hope they stop looting at some point,” the men, who are both white, finished. Behind them, you can see minority business owners engaged in similar self-defense posturing.
WATCH: Armed citizens are attempting to stop looters in Minneapolis
“Before there were cops, there were just Americans. So, here we are.”
“Justice for Floyd but we don’t support looting…”@maxnesterak
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 28, 2020
In a second video from the scene, we specifically see armed, law-abiding black men deployed peacefully outside their minority-owned businesses to protect them from looters and rioters.
Law-abiding black gun owners post up, stand guard outside "black-owned" businesses.
Protect what's yours!pic.twitter.com/DY3AHknKAa
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) May 29, 2020
These are just two examples of many.
So, despite all the dark news, it’s worth remembering that the right to self-defense protects all Americans, not just white Christian Republicans, as some gun control activists would have you believe. In fact, gun control actually has a deeply racist history. All of this is worth remembering the next time so-called champions of minorities start calling for restrictions on the Second Amendment.
Heroic Soldier Speaks After Stopping Active Shooter Wednesday.
Suspected burglar fatally shot by homeowner in Everett
EVERETT, Wash. — A suspected burglar was shot dead by a homeowner during an apparent break-in in Everett Thursday morning.
The homeowner called 911 just before 5 a.m. to report shooting someone inside his home along 126th Street Southeast, according to Aaron Snell with Everett Police. Officers arrived to find a critically wounded man in his 30s. Officers and medics attempted to revive the man, but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe the burglar broke into the home and went into a room containing guns. The homeowner, a man in his 70s, awoke to sounds in his home, confronted the intruder and shot him, Snell said.
“That’s probably what I’d do, too,” said Brad Miller, who lives nearby. “‘Cause I’m a firearms owner. If it happens, I’m ready to do the same thing.”………..
Man Shoots, Kills Alleged Burglar In Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A man shot and killed an alleged burglar after he said he caught him breaking into a trailer and stealing DJ equipment in Philadelphia, according to reports.
Action News reports the shooting occurred at about 4 a.m. on the 2700 block of East Somerset Street when a 37-year-old man saw two people breaking into a trailer which contained his DJ equipment.
The outlet reports at least three shots were fired and the alleged burglar was hit in the back.
According to NBC10, the alleged burglar ran off but died a few blocks away.
Authorities found DJ equipment in a vehicle belonging to his girlfriend, who is cooperating with police, the outlet reports.
The shooter has not been charged and is cooperating with police, according to CBS Philadelphia.
You don’t have to use a gun to slug a thug.
And any car has all kinds of foot pounds of energy.
Fort Leavenworth soldier saves ‘countless lives’ by ending active shooter situation on bridge
Investigators not yet certain what prompted man to open fire
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — An active-duty soldier at Fort Leavenworth intervened in an active-shooter situation Wednesday morning on Centennial Bridge in Leavenworth, Kansas, and “saved countless lives,” according to police.
Leavenworth Police Chief Patrick Kitchens said they initially received a multiple shots fired call around 11 a.m. from the bridge and believed the case to be road rage. But after further investigation, police found it was an active shooter situation with a suspect randomly firing at vehicles passing by with a handgun and a semi-automatic rifle.
“This was an active shooter with multiple weapons on the bridge, firing at cars with no particular association,” Kitchens said.
At least seven bullets flew through the window of a Ford Taurus. Two other cars were shot. Investigators said a Fort Leavenworth soldier, who was in one of those vehicles, was wounded.
“There was an active-duty soldier assigned to Fort Leavenworth waiting in traffic behind the event who saw the event unfold and determined it was an active shooter,” Kitchens said. “The soldier intervened by striking the shooter with his vehicle, causing him to be critically injured, ending the encounter with the active shooter and likely saving countless lives.”
Kitchens said the suspected shooter is a Platte County, Missouri, resident.
“There doesn’t appear to be a target,” Kitchens said. “The person was simply, randomly firing at vehicles as they passed by.”
“Me and another patient just heard some sirens and I was like, ‘Wow. That’s awful close,'” said April Steinke, of Nextcare Urgent Care.
Steinke said she was impressed by the soldier’s quick thinking.
“That’s a hero to me,” she said.
Prior to the shooting, the Kansas Department of Transportation had closed one lane on the bridge for road work. Investigators are not sure yet what motivated the man to target random people. Detectives are looking into the shooter’s history.
Many people are focused on the solider who saved lives.
“I admire him. That was really nice thing that he did. Serves for his country every day,” Steinke said.
At last check, the victim shot was in serious condition. The suspected shooter, who was trapped under a car, was in serious condition. Authorities said both are stable and being treated at Kansas City hospitals.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is tracing the guns to see if they were purchased legally.
First-Time Gun Buyers Explain How Coronavirus Changed Their Politics
Scott Kane went 38 years without ever touching a gun. That streak would have continued had it not been for the coronavirus. In March, fearful of the harassment his wife and child experienced over their Asian ancestry, Kane found himself in a California gun shop. His March 11 purchase of a 9mm would have been the end of the story, were it not for a political standoff over shutdown orders and background checks. Now Kane, a former supporter of gun-control measures and AR-15 bans, is frustrated by the arduous process that has denied his family a sense of security. The pandemic has made the soft-spoken software engineer an unlikely Second Amendment supporter.
“This has taken me, a law-abiding citizen with nary an unpaid parking ticket to my name, over a month,” he told the Washington Free Beacon. “Meanwhile Joe Bad Guy has probably purchased several fully automatic AK-47s out of the back of an El Camino in a shady part of town with zero background checks.”
Receipts reviewed by the Free Beacon show Kane first purchased a firearm on March 11 from Sportsman’s Warehouse in Milpitas, Calif. Santa Clara County shut down the shop before Kane’s 10-day waiting period was complete. No end date was given for the order, but a California law giving buyers just 30 days to pick up a gun remained in effect. Kane was stuck in a legal limbo that only grew worse.
Unable to do business, the store went belly-up in May. Kane had no way to pick up his gun. He started the process over again at another store in a neighboring county. He returned home with a Springfield XD 9mm and a biometric safe on April 29, 50 days after he first passed a background check and paid for a gun.
“I’m seriously thinking of running for office or something,” Kane said. “This state’s gun laws are insane.”
Kane is not alone. An influx of new gun owners has the potential to permanently alter the politics surrounding guns in the United States. If industry estimates are correct, millions of Americans across the country have become first-time gun buyers since March. If the experience changes their minds about the ongoing debate over gun control it could tip the balance of political power toward pro-gun activists and politicians.
It is not that the new buyers were unaware of the politics of gun control. Several new gun owners who spoke to the Free Beacon—some of whom requested anonymity citing safety concerns—generally leaned toward enhanced restrictions, their positions informed mostly by major news stories. But as they have become more personally invested in the debate, they find themselves more skeptical of gun control. Brian, a 40-year-old Floridian, used his savings to buy a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield in March after being laid off—the experience changed his entire approach to Second Amendment issues.
“In the past, I wasn’t against owning a gun. However, I did think that we had suffered enough as a country from school shootings, and something needed to be done. I was for stricter gun laws—no ARs, close the gun-show loophole, better mental health regulations, etc.,” he said. “I would now oppose stricter gun laws.”
While all of the first-time buyers who spoke to the Free Beacon cited safety concerns stemming from the pandemic as their top reason for buying a gun, some said the politics of the moment played a significant role in their decision. But they held differing and even opposing viewpoints on which politicians concerned them the most—suggesting the group of new owners represents a fairly diverse political spectrum……….
Washington…………..D.C. And we see one of the results of the Heller case.
“The Fourth District officers responded to a sounds of gun shot call in the 800 block of Randolph Street, NW (11:21am). A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect pulled a handgun out and threatened the complainant. The complainant, who has a Firearms Registration Certificate and Concealed Carry Permit, drew his weapon and fired two shots striking the suspect twice, with non life threatening wounds. The suspect was transported to a local hospital and placed under arrest for Felony Threats While Armed and Carrying a Pistol Without a License.”
BIRCH TREE, Mo. (AP) — A southwestern Missouri sheriff said a fatal shooting appeared to be justified.
KYTV reported that the shooting happened Saturday night near the small town of Birch Tree in Shannon County. The name of the victim has not been released.
Sheriff Darrin Brawley said the man killed and the shooter were relatives.
Brawley said a man showed up and began firing shots into a mobile home. The homeowner fired back, striking and killing the man
Man shoots, kills home invader
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — The Bay County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at about 6:05 am on Tuesday, May 26th in reference to a home invasion burglary,” officials wrote in a news release. “Deputies responded to 2307 Mound Avenue in Panama City, to find a man, shot, on the floor inside the home.
EMS responded and pronounced the man dead at the scene.
The residents, an elderly man, and another woman in the home told deputies that the male homeowner had been outside in front of the home when he saw the man walking down the street, acting erratically. He was screaming and swearing, and, according to witnesses.
The man walked down the homeowners’ driveway and approached the homeowner. Then he went inside to get away from the man on the street.
The stranger then followed, beating on the door to the house. Later busting in the glass door and breaking in.
The stranger knocked the woman to the ground and began beating her on the head. The homeowner stated he felt he could not physically stop the intruder so he went upstairs to get his firearm.
He shot the firearm multiple times, ending the threat, deputies wrote.
The woman was taken by EMS to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries.
They have identified the intruder as Nathan Jerrell Edwards, 31. Initially, it was reported that Edwards was a local. Deputies later clarified that Edwards was from Georgia and was staring in a short-term rental about a block away from the scene of the incident
It’s Noo Yawk. Fuggetaboudit
Grocery store worker arrested after man with knife shot in Brooklyn
EAST NEW YORK, Brooklyn (WABC) — A grocery store worker in Brooklyn is in custody after police say he shot and killed a man armed with a knife.
It happened just after 11 p.m. Monday at Rose Family Grocery Store in East New York.
Police say 25-year-old Edwin Candelario attempted to attack the worker with a knife during an argument.
That’s when the 34-year-old worker pulled out a gun and police say he shot Candelario several times, killing him.
It appears the worker was not licensed to have the gun.
Apparent burglar shot, killed after breaking into Hesperia home
HESPERIA, Calif. (KABC) — A Hesperia man was shot and killed after he forced his way into a home in the middle of the night, authorities said.
Sheriff’s deputies say Julian Robert Sanchez Garcia, 31, of Hesperia, forced his way into a home on Balsam Avenue around 2:49 a.m. Monday.
Two men who were home at the time say they heard yelling and pounding on the front door at the time. They said Garcia then forced his way inside the home.
A shooting occurred and Garcia was struck by gunfire and later pronounced dead at the scene.
The two men said they did not know Garcia. They were brought to the San Bernardino County sheriff’s station in Hesperia and were cooperating with investigators.
No arrests have been made.
Not the ‘baddest part of town’ by any means.
Man in serious condition after Springfield resident shoots intruder
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Springfield Police are investigating an overnight shooting in the 1100 block of North Missouri.
The Springfield Police Department tells us the shooting happened Saturday night as one person tried to break into the shooter’s home.
One of the residents fired a warning shot and the intruder continued, so a second resident shot him.
Police say after the shooting, both residents fled the home.
One of them returned home, saying they dropped the other off near Atlantic and Broadway. Police are still looking for that person.
The suspected intruder is in serious condition, and police have not released any names.
APPEARS TO BE SELF-DEFENSE, SAYS EPD, ABOUT THIS MORNING’S SHOOTING DEATH
Press release from the Eureka Police Department:
On May 22nd 2020, at approximately 2:40 a.m., officers from the Eureka Police Department were dispatched to the 1300 block of West Avenue on a report of multiple subjects involved in an altercation.
During the altercation, an occupant of a nearby residence confronted the subjects from his porch and advised them to leave the area. The subjects then confronted the resident and became hostile toward him and entered onto his property.
The resident attempted to use pepper spray to deter the subjects, with no success, as he entered back into his home. At least one subject entered the residence and attempted to assault the resident.
During the altercation inside the home, the resident fired multiple shots from a handgun, which he had retrieved from inside the residence, striking the subject who was assaulting him. This subject was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A second subject, who was on the porch, was struck in the leg by gunfire. This subject was transported to St. Joseph Hospital for treatment. This injury is believed to be non-life-threatening. Officers were able to locate and detain everyone who was involved at the scene, including the shooter. The individuals involved in this incident were unknown to one another.
EPD Detectives responded to the scene, along with Evidence Technicians, and took over the investigation, which is still ongoing.
At this point in the investigation, Detectives have completed their interviews with everyone who was on scene and involved. After completing the interviews and upon initial review of the evidence at the scene, the shooting appears to have been done in self-defense. The Lead Detectives have conferred with the District Attorney’s Office and based on the investigation no arrest will be made at this time. The completed report will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review.
Bob, just what in the wide wide world of sports is going on out there?
People just not have it cross their minds to carry a gun while in the wild?
One of the first things I did when I was posted to Ft Lewis was head to the Sheriff’s office in downtown Tacoma and get a CCW so I could carry anytime I was off post.
Cougar Attacks Mountain Bikers Near Seattle, Killing One and Injuring Another
SEATTLE) — The two mountain bikers did what they were supposed to do when they noticed a mountain lion tailing them on a trail east of Seattle.
They got off their bikes. They faced the beast, shouted and tried to spook it. After it charged, one even smacked the cougar with his bike, and it ran off.
It wasn’t enough, authorities said.
As they stood trying to catch their breath, the cougar returned, biting one of them on the head and shaking him, Capt. Alan Myers of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police said Sunday.
The second cyclist ran, and the animal dropped the first victim and pounced on him, killing him and dragging him back to what appeared to be its den.
“They did everything they were supposed to do,” King County sheriff’s Sgt. Ryan Abbott said. “But something was wrong with this cougar.”
The attack Saturday near North Bend, in the Cascade Mountain foothills 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Seattle, was the first fatal cougar attack in the state in 94 years. Myers said Sunday that the cougar was underweight — about 100 pounds (45 kilograms), when a typical 3-year-old male in the area would be 140 to 180 pounds (63 to 81 kilograms).
The 31-year-old Seattle man who was bitten first, Isaac Sederbaum, survived. Rescuers flew him to a hospital, where he was in satisfactory condition Sunday, Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Gregg said.
Myers identified the deceased victim, a 32-year-old Seattle resident, as S.J. Brooks.
After the cougar attacked Brooks, a badly bloodied Sederbaum managed to get on his bike and ride off. He rode for 2 miles (3 kilometers) before he could get a cellphone signal to call 911.
When rescuers arrived, it took about half an hour to find Brooks, who was dead with the cougar on top of him in what appeared to be a den-like area. An officer shot at it, and it ran off. Several hours later, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife agents used dogs to track it to a nearby tree. They shot and killed it.
Authorities plan to match DNA taken from the animal with DNA from the victims to be certain they killed the right cougar. They sent the animal’s carcass to a veterinary lab at Washington State University for a necropsy to determine what might have been wrong with it.
There are an estimated 2,000 cougars in Washington. Until the 1960s, the state paid hunters a bounty for killing them. Now, it allows 250 to be hunted in 50 designated zones.
While they are sometimes known to kill livestock or pets, and though one even found its way into a park in Seattle in 2009, encounters with people in Washington state are rare.
Attacks have become more common as people increasingly encroach on the animals’ territory. In North America, there have been about 25 deadly attacks and 95 nonfatal attacks reported in the past century, but more attacks have been reported in the U.S. West and Canada over the past 20 years than in the previous 80, according to Fish and Wildlife.
Experts say that people encountering the big cats in the wild should stop and pick up small children immediately. Because running and rapid movements can trigger the animal’s prey drive, don’t run. Instead, face the cougar, speak firmly and slowly back away — appearing as large as possible, such as by standing on a rock or stump or opening a sweatshirt or jacket.
Keep your eyes on the animal and become more assertive if it doesn’t back off. And if it does attack, fight back.
“The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger,” Fish and Wildlife advises on its website.
Homeowner shoots man during attempted home invasion in Fort Worth
A homeowner shot one of three men police say were trying to break into a house in north Fort Worth on Sunday morning.
At 6:22 a.m., a homeowner called police and said men dressed in black kicked in the front door and tried to come into the house in the 2700 block of Northwest 34th Street, police officer Jimmy Pollozani said.
The homeowner shot two rounds and hit one of the men before they ran away. Officers found two of the three suspects and took them into custody; neither was injured.
Shortly after the home invasion call, a woman called police and said her father had been shot. The father was the third suspect and had been shot by the homeowner, Pollozani said.
Why Gun Rights Are Essential In a World of Uncertainty and Scarcity
Firearms are the most practical and effective way for the average American to secure his or her life, liberty, and property.
A common joke in the American gun community goes something like this:
Q: Why do you carry a gun?
A: Because carrying a cop is too heavy.
This humorous quip should not detract from the fact that many individuals in the United States (including me) own and carry a firearm for purely pragmatic reasons. The simplest case for the right to keep and bear arms can be summarized in one sentence: You are ultimately responsible for your own safety and security.
This sobering pill can be difficult for many people to swallow but that’s reality. Evil exists in this world. Under the right circumstances, people can and will do unspeakable things to each other as any student of history or psychology will know. Those fortunate to live in gated communities and can afford armed security are often oblivious that most other people do not enjoy the same luxuries.
Many violent crimes take place and are over in a matter of seconds (and stopped in seconds that prevent the worst). As another popular saying goes, “When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.” In the United States, depending where you live, police response time ranges from nine minutes to over an hour. Right now, one in five New York police officers are currently out sick due to COVID-19. Police in multiple states have announced they will no longer respond to theft, burglary, and break-ins. Given the current climate, it’s not unreasonable to assume police will take much longer to arrive, if they do at all, should someone dial 911.
Furthermore, Americans need to understand there is no legal obligation for the police to protect you, which is affirmed by the Supreme Court and multiple lower courts. (See Castle Rock v. Gonzales, Warren v. District of Columbia, and Lozito v. New York City). Should the police fail to arrive or protect you when needed, you can’t even sue for neglect.
Thus, given the legal and logistical realities, taking the initiative to protect yourself should be as sensible as any other proactive measure such as having a fire extinguisher in the home or jumper cables ready in the back of the car. Should disaster strike, preparedness will make all the difference in the world. Protecting your one and only life deserves no less preparation and investment, especially in our increasingly complex and uncertain world.
Americans are fortunate to live in a country with mostly stable institutions. But there are vivid examples when segments of society break down, many in not-too-distant memory. In widespread civil disturbances such as the 1992 LA riots or the aftermaths of Hurricane Katrina, Florence, and Harvey, the authorities were overwhelmed and unscrupulous individuals took advantage of the chaos to prey on others.
Going by sheer numbers, almost all of us will encounter at least one black swan in our lifetime. The current COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath are already the most trying times on the lives and livelihoods of Americans since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the financial crisis of 2008-2009.
Should an even deadlier natural or man-made catastrophe take place, if the authorities haven’t been incapacitated, displaced, or destroyed completely, whatever personnel and resources are left will be prioritized to protect high-ranking government officials, their inner-circle, and critical government facilities and infrastructure.
The economist Thomas Sowell reminds us, “The first lesson of economics is scarcity: there is never enough of anything to fully satisfy all those who want it.” Security also happens to be a scarce resource. There’s simply not enough boots on the ground that can guarantee all 300 million Americans will be protected at all times from all threats. In every emergency, tough decisions will have to be made. From what we know about past and present “continuity of government” plans, ruling elites will be evacuated to a secure bunker in some undisclosed location while John Q. Public will be left to fend for himself.
Every American schoolchild is taught that everyone is equal before the law. Given this fundamental axiom, it’s not unfair to demand that the average American citizen have access to the same means of security and protection that government officials—who are our servants, not overlords—insist on having for themselves (while using taxpayer money). Under the American political system, the right of self-defense cannot be limited to only a privileged few. No one, regardless of their socioeconomic status, can deny fundamental rights to others.
The right to life is closely intertwined with the right of self-preservation. John Locke, a major influence on the philosophical foundations of the US Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, described the right of self-preservation as a “fundamental law of nature” in his Second Treatise of Civil Government:
The state of war is a state of enmity and destruction: and therefore declaring by word or action, not a passionate and hasty, but a sedate settled design upon another man’s life, puts him in a state of war with him against whom he has declared such an intention, and so has exposed his life to the other’s power to be taken away by him, or any one that joins with him in his defence, and espouses his quarrel; it being reasonable and just, I should have a right to destroy that which threatens me with destruction: for, by the fundamental law of nature, man being to be preserved as much as possible, when all cannot be preserved, the safety of the innocent is to be preferred: and one may destroy a man who makes war upon him, or has discovered an enmity to his being, for the same reason that he may kill a wolf or a lion; because such men are not under the ties of the common-law of reason, have no other rule, but that of force and violence, and so may be treated as beasts of prey, those dangerous and noxious creatures, that will be sure to destroy him whenever he falls into their power.
The political philosophy of John Locke and other Enlightenment thinkers contributed a unique element to American political theory: Fundamental rights do not come from the government. Human beings possess them already simply by virtue of being free and that includes a pre-existing, natural right of self-defense and self-preservation. As the Declaration of Independence memorably emphasizes, these natural rights are “unalienable” which means they cannot be taken or given away. They are permanent and apply in all times and all places to all human beings, with or without the Second Amendment or any other statutory pronouncement.
“Self-evident truths” and similar conclusions are found in other schools of thought. The ethical intuitionist philosopher Michael Huemer also highlights an interlocking relationship between the right of self-defense and the right to own a gun:
It is possible for a right to be both fundamental and derivative. Derivative rights are usually related to fundamental rights as means to the protection or enforcement of the latter, though this need not be the only way in which a right may be derivative. I claim that the right to own a gun is both fundamental and derivative; however, it is in its derivative aspect—as derived from the right of self-defense—that it is most important.
Even without the existence of absolute rights (which Huemer declines to acknowledge for guns or any other right), he nevertheless persuasively argues:
Using a memorable thought experiment, Huemer shows how gun control laws that prevent a person from accessing or exercising the means of self-defense is akin to a criminal accomplice who holds a victim down while the actual murderer carries out the foul deed. By preventing the victim from escaping or exercising his right to self-defense, the accomplice’s action is still “if not equivalent to murder, something close to murder in degree of wrongness, even though he neither kills nor injures the victim.” In a follow-up thought experiment, Huemer adds:
…except that the victim has a gun by the bed, which he would, if able, use to defend himself from the killer. As the killer enters the bedroom, the victim reaches for the gun. The accomplice grabs the gun and runs away, with the result that the killer then stabs his victim to death.
Most reasonable individuals will intuitively recognize what the accomplice did was morally wrong. In both scenarios, the accomplice’s actions purposely prevented the victim from defending himself. If gun control laws have the same effect, it logically follows that they are “about equally serious as a violation of the right of self-defense.”
Fortunately for Americans, most of us still have access to a wide range of choices when it comes to self-defense. While it is understandable to be reluctant to pick up a gun, it is worth mentioning alternatives such as martial arts, tasers, and pepper spray are often severely limited by range, efficiency, or effectiveness.
Even if she is proficient in martial arts (which requires years of training), a 5-foot, 100-pound woman will be overwhelmed if she faces multiple attackers who weigh twice as much. On the other hand, she can ably defend herself with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, which is a popular weapon for many Americans, including women, because of its light weight, low recoil, accuracy, reliability, ergonomics, and ease of customization to fit any shooter regardless of size and stature.
Compared to other options, firearms are the most practical and effective way for the average American to secure his or her life, liberty, and property. As I emphasized in a previous essay:
From the colonists winning independence from Great Britain to African-Americans vindicating their civil rights, the role of the gun is inseparable from American identity. The gun is the ultimate multipurpose tool that empowers its user with the means to put food on the table, as well as preserve one’s life, whether against common street criminals or government tyranny.
In these uncertain times, both the pragmatic and philosophical case for gun rights are as strong as ever.
Many Americans, especially minorities, have realized the need for self-protection in times of social upheaval and breakdown. It is unfortunate that it took a tragedy as extreme as the COVID-19 pandemic to remind people that we should never take peace, prosperity, and freedom for granted. But millions have now taken the first steps to defend themselves and their loved ones. They should know they are in good company.
From what I’ve witnessed firsthand and experienced to date, the American gun community is strongly supportive and always welcoming towards first-time gun owners and anyone remotely curious about firearms regardless of their background. (See our plethora of welcome and orientation videos for newcomers brought in by the recent gun-buying surge). Our country’s gun culture and people’s civic virtue reinforce each other. In the spirit of Tocqueville, civil society has stepped up in the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrated exemplary acts of charity. It’s only natural that the gun community is also actively participating by sharing knowledge with their fellow Americans and ensuring new gun owners are comfortably onboarded.
I am confident these new gun owners will learn how to handle their weapons responsibly, discover the joys of shooting, and become future staunch defenders of the Second Amendment (and hopefully the rest of the Bill of Rights as well). Our past is full of inspiring examples of Americans emerging stronger and freer after overcoming crises that tear the fabric of society and test our ideals. In these “times that try men’s souls,” let us not forget the precious legacy bequeathed to us.
Thugs come in all species.
Platte County looking for escaped dogs
SMITHVILLE, MO (KCTV) — When we heard Platte County authorities were searching for six “wolf hybrids” that escaped a property near Smithville, we had to send KCTV5’s Emily Rittman to find out more.
When the dogs first escaped, they were originally reported to the sheriff’s office as six wolf hybrids. Since then, the Missouri Department of Conservation tracked their lineage and found they are not wolf hybrids.
At last check, the two dogs are still roaming the area.
Many neighbors who live near State Route 92 and Hornback Road have pets and livestock, which they try to protect from predators.
One owner discovered one of the six escaped dogs on their property, though. “One of them ended up attacking some goats in the area and was killed by the property owner,” explained Major Erik Holland with the Platte County Sheriff’s Office.
After that, and out of an abundance of caution, the sheriff’s office shared photos of the dogs on social media asking the community to report sightings of them.
“We have had some reports of livestock that they’ve already killed, that is why we are treating this a little differently than your average dog that ran away from a house,” said Holland.
“Anytime you are dealing with an animal they may be friendly with their owners or people they know,” Holland said. “We don’t know how they will react to people they don’t know or if they are scared. We are just asking people to try not to catch them. Stay away from them and call us.”
Fayetteville man arrested after shooting
FAYETTEVILLE — Fayetteville police say a man was arrested after he exchanged gunshots with another man Thursday night.
Manuel Navarro, 25, was arrested in connection with aggravated residential burglary, aggravated assault and tampering with physical evidence, according to a news release.
A man at 1469 N. Timbercrest Ave. called police at 10:52 p.m. to report he shot a man who entered his home.
Officers were told Navarro went into the house because his girlfriend refused to come outside. Once inside, Navarro pulled a handgun from his waistband and he and the caller exchanged shots, according to the release.
Navarro was shot on the right side of his body and fled the area, according to the release. He arrived about 45 minutes later at Washington Regional Medical Center where he was arrested.
A spokesman with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said Navarro would remain in the hospital until he could be transferred to the Washington County jail and a deputy was assigned to guard him.
Vineyard man shot, killed intruder in self-defense
VINEYARD Utah— Police have identified a man shot and killed in an apparent act of self-defense during a home invasion robbery.
Robert Jalil Williams, 20, of Salt Lake City, was fatally wounded Tuesday after Utah County sheriff’s deputies say he and a group of at least six others attempted to rob a Vineyard resident.
Police were originally called to the Concord at Geneva apartments, 125 N. Mill Road, about 6:20 p.m. A group of several people listed as homeless in a police affidavit had traveled from Salt Lake City to Vineyard “to rob and assault the intended resident,” whom they believe had previously assaulted one of their friends, the affidavit states.
The man living in the apartment shot and killed Williams.
“This appears to be an act of self-defense,” Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Cannon said Friday.
Six people were arrested, including two teenagers. Baboucarr Trawally, 27; Diego Fuentez, 18; Gabriel Little Hawk Trane, 21; and Sarh Sone Jabbah, 18, were each arrested for investigation of robbery
Man shoots and kills alleged home intruder in Scottsdale
SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Police have identified an 18-year-old man who was shot and killed Wednesday night by a homeowner in Scottsdale after he was found naked inside the victim’s residence.
Scottsdale police say the incident happened around 10:45 p.m. near Pima and Happy Valley roads.
The homeowner was reportedly doing work on the property when the family dog alerted him to some type of disturbance. When the father of the family entered a room to investigate, he found that one of his children had been confronted by a naked man, identified Friday as Cameron Yoe.
Police say Yoe was holding a large piece of wood in a threatening manner and charged at the resident. The resident then pulled out a gun and shot Yoe twice, killing him.
The 41-year-old resident was home with his wife and three children at the time. No one else was injured at the time of the shooting.
Police say that earlier in the evening around 9 p.m., officers were also called to a separate home in the area for a report of an attempted home burglary, but a suspect was not found. Police say the description of the male intruder in the first attempted break-in matched the description of the man shot and killed in the second incident.
No arrests have been made in the case as police continue to investigate.
From my experience, and from some others I worked with who use guns for the most extreme circumstances, if you go with dot sights on your self defense handguns, you go totally dot sight on them.
Between irons and dots, there’s enough difference on how the gun has to be presented to acquire your sight picture, that switching back and forth will cause you to take extra time to get on target.
And since time is of the essence if you need to use a gun to defend yourself, you can’t afford to waste any chasing the dot down.
So, it’s one or the other. Don’t mix them for your self defense inventory.
A good reasonable argument. I might make the choice between a shotgun and a rifle moot by having both, but that’s just me.
Three Firearms for Emergency Preparation
A firearm that is kept specifically for self-defense is akin to a fire extinguisher: it is life-saving emergency equipment maintained for rapid and unexpected deployment to mitigate a threat. A safe home should have both tools readily available to authorized users, and both should be maintained regularly. For those of us that are firearms and shooting enthusiasts, guns become more than just life-saving equipment; they may be our hobby or even integral to our lifestyle or work. Regardless, let us remember the most essential role of the firearm.
During this current pandemic, which has been declared a national emergency, we are experiencing something rather unique in the lifetimes of most currently living. While civility has, for the most part, been maintained thus far, people are scared. This is manifest by the current panic buying of firearms and ammunition, among many other commodities. First-time gun buyers have stripped the shelves bare of firearms inventory and ammo at a rate we have not witnessed in a while. This current situation has served as a reminder that our stability in firearms supply is as delicate as our supply in any other commodity, perhaps even less so.
The answer to such periods of high demand and low supply should be obvious: we should be sure to have stocked what we need before such catastrophes happen. What we need to keep on hand will vary extensively from one individual to another. Most non-gun enthusiasts are probably well enough served by having a pistol and a box of ammo in the drawer. For those of us that consider firearms an essential part of our preparation, however, we are looking at more equipment than that.
How much is enough?
How many guns and how much ammo should you have on hand? This is an endless debate. If you are relatively new to firearms, or if perhaps you are a hobby shooter but not yet squared away in regards to a dedicated arsenal of personal protection, you might be trying to figure out where to start. Obviously, having a single pistol and a box of ammo may well be all you ever need, but those who are motivated to prepare seek to equip themselves beyond this. While we would all love to have dozens of guns and tens of thousands of rounds of ammo on hand for our preparation and range entertainment, this is not realistic for most, nor necessary.
3-Gun Emergency Setup
I truly believe in a three-gun setup for emergency preparation as a starting point. This is a realistic place to begin and is more obtainable than having a huge safe full of guns. And it will likely fill all self-defense needs for those who never go beyond these three guns. What I suggest is as follows:
#1. Primary Defensive Pistol
First priority: a primary defensive pistol, preferably a full-size service pistol or compact version thereof. Think Glock 17 or Glock 19, Smith and Wesson M&P full size or compact, Sig P320 full size or compact, etc… A double-stack auto loader chambered in 9mm is hard to beat for most. This gun can be carried and is formidable enough to serve as a good home defense pistol as well. While a dedicated concealed carrier may need a smaller option as well to provide deep concealment, the full-size or compact pistol serves as an ideal go-to handgun option.
#2. Duplicate Primary Pistol
Second Priority: A duplicate of your primary pistol. That’s right, a backup to this primary defensive weapon. Perhaps your primary is a full size, and the secondary is the same gun, but the compact version. This would work well as it allows magazine compatibility between the two. A backup to your primary pistol is in order to be truly prepared.
#3. Defensive Long Gun
Third Priority: A defensive long gun. Rifle or shotgun, the choice is yours. The bottom line is that a long gun brings far greater ballistic capability to a fight. So having a dedicated defensive long gun that is ready for home defense makes good sense.
Simplify Your Defensive Arsenal
If you are a new firearms owner and want to acquire a minimum defensive arsenal that will serve your needs, these three weapons should do so quite well. Even if you are a gun person, and perhaps you shoot as a hobby, but you have found that your selection of weaponry is disorganized, then settling on these three options and prioritizing them as your go-to defensive weapons is in order.
Ammo and Magazines
With the selection of these three weapons, you realistically have to stock only two forms of ammunition, and two kinds of magazines (unless your selected long gun is a tube fed weapon such as a shotgun). This will greatly simplify your preparedness for such emergencies, like the one we are currently witnessing, in which firearms and ammunition is now hard to come by due to panic buying. Having only a single pistol caliber and a single long gun cartridge to stock for your defensive purposes will make maintaining a needed supply of ammunition easier. Even if you are a gun collector, with multiple pistols in all of the various chamberings, settle on your primary platform and be sure you have enough magazines and ammunition always on hand for that particular platform.
How much ammo is enough?
Everyone will have a different answer. But I will propose one that I believe is more realistic for most people who live within a budget that must be spread across not only firearms but all other preparation concerns as well. My suggestion for an initial goal to work towards is to have 1,000 rounds on hand for your defensive handguns, and 1,000 rounds on hand for a defensive rifle. Premium defensive ammunition is expensive. So having perhaps 200 rounds of premium hollow point ammo for each is in order. You can back this up with ball ammo. This is not ideal for defensive use, but a lot better than no ammo in a crisis. Always keep your defensive firearms loaded with the premium ammunition. If your long gun is a shotgun, having 200 rounds of buckshot on hand is in order. 1000 rounds of buckshot is quite bulky and expensive.
These weapons and ammunition are for emergency use, be it everyday self-defense or for the event of an extended emergency. If budget allows, keeping a year’s supply of practice ammo on hand makes sense as well. But defensive ammunition is first priority, of course.
Keeping Parts on Hand
Want to go a step further? Maintaining a parts kit with the most likely parts that break for your handguns makes sense. For a long gun, you can do the same. Keep a spare bolt carrier group for an AR15 on hand. This allows you to drop in a replacement for any of the most likely issues.
Prioritize this small, yet capable, assemblage of weaponry for the next emergency. This will give you confidence in at least that part of your preparedness.
