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Several years ago I purchased a new house in an upscale part of Chattanooga.  My house is very private with the driveway going up about 500 feet on a steep hill into the woods. The house cannot be seen from the main road, which is one of the reasons I bought it.  The area is very low crime, and I thought the property layout was ideal for not having to worry about thieves and such.  The driveway and woods are natural deterrents.  I felt so secure that I had never thought of buying a safe or putting in an alarm system.  I had guns, knives, watches, etc... unsecured all over the house.  For almost three years nothing happened... or at least that is what I thought.   My 80 year old mother lives with me, and every now and then she would tell me that she thought someone had been in the house.  She would say stuff like she thought someone had taken a shower or slept in my bed.  Nothing was missing from the house so I would always dismiss it as old age and/or paranoia.  A few weeks ago on a Saturday she told me that someone had been in her van and there was a bunch of stuff in it that wasn't hers.  I dismissed her concern by rationalizing that it was more than likely my nephew's stuff he left in it when he borrowed it a month ago.  She didn't buy my reasoning and was adamant that someone had been in her van.  She wanted to call the police to have them fingerprint or do all the cool CSI stuff to figure out who was in it.  I told her that since nothing was missing that they wouldn't do anything at all, so there is no point in calling them.  I also asked her why nothing was stolen from the house (she would keep a backup house key in her van).  In the end, nothing was done.   A couple of days had went by and I had pretty much forgotten about things until I came home from work that Monday and found my sister and nephew at my house.  When I walked in the house I was informed that the police were on their way.  When I inquired as to why, I was told that it was because someone had not only been in my mom's van, but they had borrowed it by hot-wiring it and brought it back.  The stuff they left in the van was drug paraphernalia (gram-size baggies, drug residue, etc...).  When the police arrived, they investigated my mom's van.  It was loaded with drugs and drug residue.  Whoever borrowed it was using it as a party van or drug dealing.  They were grinding up Xanax pills.  Wow, just wow.  Nobody in our family is into anything like that.  Heck, we don't know anybody that is into stuff like that.  The entire situation was baffling, but it was also very scary.   We have no idea how often this happened, nor did we know if those people had been in my house.  There was a house key in the van, and my mom would swear that someone had been in the house from time to time.  The baffling thing is nothing has been stolen.  I chalked that up to sheer luck and good fortune.  The very next day I took off from work.   I met with security people to install a monitored security system for my house, changed all the locks on my door, installed motion detected flood lights, installed 4 sets of blinds in my kitchen, bought a 1000 lb. Liberty Colonial-50 safe, and commanded that no keys will be left outside the house.    This entire situation has been so confusing, but as I said earlier, I feel very fortunate that I did not have anything stolen.  The other thing I will take from this situation is not to be so dismissive of my mother's concerns.  She still may be a little paranoid at times, but in this situation, she was correct in her observations.    

You should be self employed. It's even worse.

  someone you would not suspect, ever.  Been there done that.   Take a close look at family.   Just sayin....   

Fee grabbin... It's about the money no matter what the clownish Knoxville Chief of police says... The best way to get even with the city of knoxville is to stay out of it... I drive the speed limit where ever i go in knoxville and most everywhere else... It saves lots of problems...   leroy

And to make things even scarier. Can you imagine trying to tell the cop that just pulled you over that all the paraphernalia and residue was not yours or your family's? Could take away your right to vote, defend yourself with a firearm as well as your freedom.   I know if I pulled over a car that had drugs or paraphernalia in it and the owners told me the drugs in their car wasn't theirs I would laugh as I took them to jail.

Your certificate of course completion is good for 6 months. The DMV willnot initiate the permit process until one is 21. So YES one may take the course before being 21, but will effectively waste their money if they do so and fall outside the 6 month time frame as noted.

Okay, the following opinions may not be popular but they are mine and so I will express them for others to consider.  Let me preference them by saying that for roughly 13 years (1990 to 2003) I lived on the 2300 block of East Fifth Avenue in Knoxville.  That was my grandmother's residence and she had lived there for several decades by that point.  I originally started living there, too, because I was attending college at the University of Tennessee which was nearby.  At the time, there was what I remain convinced was a crack house at the corner of East Fifth and Olive, you couldn't get into the alley that turned off of Olive and ran parallel to Magnolia and East Fifth half the time because so many hookers would be standing around and would try to get in your car - repeatedly yanking the door handle even with the door locked - if you stopped to keep from running over one of them and the old Park Theater where I saw a few movies as a kid, which by the late 90s stood abandoned at the end of that alley, was used as a drug and booze hangout for vagrants (it has since been torn down.)  While I lived there, there were at least two gang-related drive-by shootings at the house directly across and one house down from ours on East Fifth.  One of our black neighbors quite likely saved my life one day when I first started living there when she warned me that the doo rag I was wearing (this was back when pretty much every college aged guy wore doo rags) was the wrong color and would get me killed.  My grandmother had her purse stolen one Sunday evening after returning from church right in the back yard one day when I wasn't there and Mr. Colt and I had to persuade three 'urban youths' to stop trying to break in our front door at about 2am one time.  I say all of that to demonstrate that I am not just some rube from a rural area who doesn't know what living in such a neighborhood is like.   Let's be honest, here.  The gangs continue to operate because there is money to be made via their criminal activities.  Lots of it.  The possibility of getting killed while attempting to make said money is simply an occupational hazard.  The possibility of getting blown away or put in prison didn't stop gangsters like Capone or Gotti and it won't stop these 'ganstas', either.  To them, being dead is better than being poor (or actually having to work a steady job for a living, apparently.)  It is an economic as well as cultural issue and simply having a father there to tell them 'don't do it' won't stop the problem in the 'hood any more than coming from a good home and having good parents keeps supposed 'good' kids from suburbia from getting into drugs and so on.  Heck, there are 'good families' in the 'hood whose kids end up in gangs, too.  Further, having a bunch of well-meaning people get together to try and 'stop' the problem isn't going to do any good, either and I doubt any significant numbers of any real gang members participated in the discussions.  Going that route is akin to the members of this forum talking to each other about how irrational and short-sighted the attitudes of anti-gunners are - we are preaching to the choir and it will have little to no impact on the anti-gunners because they don't give a crap what we have to say.  Likewise, a bunch of non-gang members and 'community activists' trying to solve a problem which the main actors in the situation do now want solved is not likely to be very effective.  In other words, it boils down to pissing in the ocean.   Honestly, the attitude of these gang members is nothing new.  I have already mentioned Capone and Gotti.  Further, I think of a PBS special I saw the other day that was about Bonnie and Clyde.  Like the urban gang members, they started out as young people living in poverty.  Bonnie, at least, came from a 'good home' with a mother who 'raised her right'.  She was drawn into the life of a criminal, apparently, by dreams of it being glamorous and romantic - the same kind of glamour and romance a poor, urban kid might ascribe to having a nice 'crib', a car with an awesome stereo, nice rims and being able to afford flashy gold chains and the like.  For Clyde's part, he just couldn't stand being poor and apparently basically decided that he would rather be dead than poor or in jail.  From those simple motivations they went on to commit terrible crimes, murder innocent people and, eventually, die in a hail of bullets.  Further, they and other, similar criminals such as John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, et. al, were actually viewed positively or even idolized by other depression era Americans who also wished they could escape their lives of poverty and drudgery - even those who were law abiding citizens and who would never dream of actually doing such acts, themselves.     So, if 'talking it out' and trying to fix the problem through intervention and so on won't work we have to ask ourselves what other solutions might be available.  As one comparison I have already made involved the mafia, let us look at that aspect of organized crime for an example.  Accepting that the mafia is still extant and that it isn't likely to ever completely go away, we can also see that there was a time period when they rose to the pinnacle of their power and profitability when their criminal activities seemed to be the most widespread and overt and, subsequently, a decline in said power and profitability.  Simply put, the mob made big money off of Prohibition and their nation-wide presence seemed to go into decline after Prohibition ended.  Why?  Because there was profit in illegal booze that was mostly removed once booze was no longer illegal.  To understand just how widespread and powerful the mob became during Prohibition we need only to look at some of the places we might least expect to see the mob represented.  Consider that there was a mob presence in 'backwater' places like Roane County and Cocke County, Tennessee because those were the places where much of their illegal booze was made.  I have even read that Johnson City was sometimes known as 'Little Chicago' due to the mob presence and influence there.  The mob was there because there was money to be made.  Take away the money = take away some of their influence.  Without the possibility of making lots of cash (in this case slinging dope) I would say that enthusiasm for getting killed or landing in jail for a street gang would suddenly become much reduced.  Now, does that mean that we should legalize all currently illegal drugs?  I can't say that.  I am just saying that as long as there is money to be made through selling such substances then there will always be those willing to take the risks associated with doing so as well as those who are more than willing to accept the deaths of innocent bystanders and community members, regardless of the victims' ages, creeds or skin colors, as 'collateral damage.'   I also think that there is another aspect of gang life that will be difficult to overcome.  It is the same type of mentality that causes young men (and, increasingly, women) of Middle Eastern lineage to be willing to strap bombs to themselves and blow themselves up in crowded, civilian locations.  I think that gangs make use of the same mentality and the same type of 'conditioning' used to achieve that mentality.  Further, while some, such suicide bombers undoubtedly come from troubled families there are also examples of those who came from good homes, some whose families renounce the activities of their sons and daughters and even some who never suspected that their child had gotten in to such radical ideology.  Likewise, I think that while there might not be such an overt 'religious' aspect involved for those young gang members I do think there is an aspect of gang life that includes the idea of being 'martyred' for your 'brothers' in the gang.  Do the higher ups in the gang really give a crap about those 'martyrs'?  I suspect that they do not any more than I suspect the various Imams, etc. give a crap about the rank and file 'martyrs' who blow themselves to bits for 'the cause'.  Maybe there is even some informal idea that one will end up drinking 40s with Tupac in some sort of 'gansta's paradise' of an afterlife (I am not trying to make light of this issue, I am actually being serious, here, even if my example puts a bit too fine a point on it.)  If anyone doubts the pseudo-religious idea of martyrdom as a result of living the 'thug life' (and dying a thug death) just look at the various, post-death representations of Shakur.  Here was a guy who had 'thug life' tattooed on his abdomen and who seemingly refused to distance himself from various criminal activities despite having success both as a recording artist and an actor yet many seem to beatify him as if he were the patron saint of gang bangers.   So, due to the latter issue as well as the fact that there will always be people attracted to such groups, whether because they are bored or disaffected with their law abiding upbringing or because they come from broken homes and are looking for a surrogate family I believe that gangs will never go away any more than the mafia has completely gone away.  However, I also think that the only way to even curb the activities and reduce gang membership is to remove the potential economic benefits of belonging to such a gang.

As much as I disliked a term that Ronald Reagan used during his presidency, I understood it later. " Trickle down economics ". It really put a knot in my pantyhose  at the time but once I got over my democratic ways I understood.

Carry a copy of the report from the police with the vehicle. That way if a dog ever alerts on that vehicle you can show them why. Canine search dogs should not alert on Xanax, or any other prescription drug, but you never want to take a chance.

Sounds like it may be a friend of the family. Would explain why the van is still around, and why nothing was missing from the house. Could be wrong. It's happened before. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That van situation is one of the most bizarre crime MOs I've ever heard of.   - OS

Looking at timings, etc, it appears that the "deal" McAuliffe brokered was in the works long before Slatery put pen to paper.  This one reeks of internal VA politics - McAuliffe used the AG and the VSP to take an action guaranteed to pressure the legislature, which in turn pushed back, eventually resulting in a deal that really accomplished very little of any substance...except, perhaps, to get all the gun control activist groups in VA now royally pissed at McAuliffe for reneging on the action they wanted without ever consulting with them before scuttling the ship.  Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of ingrates...

Feel good movie of the year.

Don't watch it if you're incapable of understanding that vets really don't give a flying shit what other people think of their language, jokes or actions.  If you are one of those people, stay far away.   I can't wait to see it.

  it's a gun law that will let dirt and debris into the action without causing a stoppage.....just like an AK is loose.  :dirty:

I guess I'm going to have to find a new place to sleep during the day and some new wheels at night....

Have 14 kids and get a government job...or no job at all. Then you can make a comfortable living and not pay your ridiculously high taxes. It works for almost all the inner city ghetto trash.

I have a hunch that is how the tip got broken off in the first place.  :)

  RCBS makes A berdan decapping tool.  http://www.rcbs.com/Products/Case-Preparation/Accessories/Berdan-Decapping-Tool.aspx   I've done it placing the case in a vise with some leather around the case and a small center punch.  Another way is hydraulics.  Using a wood dowel, does not have to be an exact fit but close to filling the mouth of the case.  Fill the case with water and rest the case on a washer that with a hole that's just slightly larger than the primmer.  give the dowel a good smack with a persuasion tool.  The primmer will pop out and you may receive a little splatter of water.  This method is not recommended for large quantities but it works.

near as I can figure, 90% of gun violence in Knoxville is thug on thug,  the other 10% is people defending themselves from pill heads.   Thugs are the issue, nothing more.

Wow. Creepiest thing I've ever seen

If you want we can rig your van to explode if it starts again For science and stuff. Im qualified and things. Got a funny looking badge for it too Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

So I opened my safe yesterday and realized it had become a catch all for all sorts of junk.  It just looked like a mess.  Besides my guns and extra magazines I had several old holsters I don't use, extra scope rings, scope bases, scope covers, assorted screws, gun locks, shotgun gun plugs, assorted individual rounds, assorted tools, cleaning brushes, backstraps, scope boxes, gun boxes..well you get the picture.   I pulled everything except for my guns out.  I threw away what was trash and organized the other things on my work bench.  At least I now have all my scope stuff in one place, cleaning stuff together etc.   The only thing i put back in the safe with my guns was the extra magazines for each gun.  Now when I open my safe it is nice and neat and organized.  I might be being a little anal but clutter just gets to me.     Anybody else let there gun safe turn into a junk pile like I did?

  That's the correct answer.   There is nothing in the HCP statute that says you must be 21 before taking the course, only 21 to apply for the permit,  and within 6 months of course completion (which technically is a TNDOS ruling based on a similar statement within the statute regarding renewal).   - OS

Can't wait to see it BIKINI SNAP!

This may be up to the individual instructor, I'm not sure. I know for me personally I took my HCP course in March or April, don't remember exactly, and I turned 21 in June. So it was a couple months prior to turning 21. It may have changed even as this 6-7 years ago and I do remember the 80s video and I have heard they have a new video for the classes now. Just my experience. I applied maybe a couple days after my birthday, certainly the same week. Had no problems getting approved either.

Last time I got a ticket it was in a small town called Watertown and it was about 3AM and I was heading to a bass tournament on Center Hill lake and the squad car was parked in a used car lot waiting for an idiot like me. I was clicking off 63 in a 35 zone. As luck would have it the LEO also liked to fish and we talked for about 10 minutes while he wrote the ticket. He said he could take me to jail for 20 over the limit but just checked the excessive speed square without putting a speed down. I signed the ticket and he let me go. When I got home that night I read the ticket and I was just going to pay it since it was a 70 mile drive to go to court one way. Then on the bottom of the ticket I see the words, "NO CHECKS". Well, I thought about it a couple days and finally decided it is all about money anyway with small towns and I saw that the fine was 55.00 for excessive speed so I wrote out a check to court clerk of Watertown and sent the check and a copy of the ticket. 8 days later my check cleared my bank and I never heard another word out of them. That was in 1988............................... :shrug:

I honestly believe that our justice system is so broken in administering harsh sentances for the very crimes this event was about that the problem will never get better. I found it kind of ironic that as the meeting was taking place you know that shootings were happening somewhere around K'ville. Until the perpetrators of such violence are delt with in the justice system by some very looong sentances then talking about is just feel good B.S. It takes money to lock people up, I know, and no one wants to be taxed more to pay for that. I don't and I am sure most others on here don't either. I would like to see a study of the city's courts and sentances and early releases  on violent offenders as to how some of these people may have been on the streets  when their crimes should have kept them behind bars. There is such a multitude of factors involved here that it may be impossible to find a solution. As for me for now, I will continue to carry and defend me and mine from those that would prey on others.

I'll take a look at mine when I get home. I'm thinking that there is a piece that rotates on the safety that blocks but I'm not 100%

The test for a cz52 is put a pencil down the barrel, eraser end first, cock and decock. If the pencil jumps, don't use the decocker. Mine works fine but I still don't 100% trust it, even with though the 52 is equipped with a FPB.

You mean "Democrat voting base? "

Excellent. Now get to making ARs so we can all buy one in case the devil weasels her way into the White House. Sent from the Fortress of Solitude.

It could be and likely as not soon will be worse...much worse...should you question this look at Canada. Now look at the number of State Income Taxes in our country...I have enough friends who own small businesses they are getting out of as rapidly as possible to see how bad it is on them.

I don't see how he'll have time for either given he's supposed to declare marital law (or something like that) and pronounce himself king dictator for life at some point before the elections right?

I think the problem is systemic with the takeover of our schools. When the gov created the dept of education, the libs started instituting their ways. Lack of discipline, interfering with parenting, lowering standards, getting rid of shop and civic classes and so on. Of course there is a growing Number of foreigners in every community as well. To me it seems the cause is evident, liberal policies! I caught a preview on the evening news for this community meeting and it seemed to me that no one will see the cause, the actual root of the problem. The intended result inmo is a call for more gun control. I guess I should say the agenda started way before the dept of education was implemented. But it sure has speeded things up.

I had a recommendation to use a guy named JOHN MILLER in Cleveland.   790-2780 ... 363 S. Ocoee St.   JFMGUNSMITHING@ATT.NET

So, how many folks contacted their legislators and told them what bills you wanted to see?

I know 2 that did back around Feb.2007. And witnessed the most pathetic media coverage ever.

No, not entirely.  But does emphasize.  And so far, the commentary is pretty good.  Some 12 year old is tearing them a new one right now. And man did he rip them. (basically - WTF are you OLD people doing letting children raise children?) (i.e. what do you EXPECT to happen??)   The moderator said - " doubt anyone wants to follow him, so here's a local gospel group during break"

Since it's serrated I'd send it back and hope for the best.

Bersaguy:  Maybe her attitude towards patients and healthcare is the reason she is booked up.

Michael, if your good with full autos, I'll be there.

Ok, so I've written my essay....   A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.     ​That should cover any and all aspects of why I should be allowed to carry.

I never will be as long as I have to beg and pay for my "constitutional" rights.

My answer is "no I keep them with me". My wife went to the doctor a few years ago and stepped on the scale. Gave it a puzzled look, stepped off handed her gun and holster to the nurse and stepped back on. Said that looks better and collected her stuff and went on. The look on the nurses face was priceless.

Drove a rental truck through there once in the late 70s to early 80s, I was real glad that they had all those giant jax in the open areas to cause snow drifts. Specially when I started seeing 18 wheelers turning over. Haven't seen many of those now, just snow fences.

If Colt wants to be serious, get out of Yankee land, and drop the union.

  Still need a short coat.   - OS

  Kind of hard to open carry in the winter, unless you want to strap a heater across your chest or something.   - OS