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Randall; There are no words. Many of us have tried our best to provide some, but there simply are none that will heal the pain or soften the crushing blow that your family has been delivered. The best we can do is offer our sympathies, grieve with you, and offer our prayers to the One who can heal your pain and will strengthen you so that this doesn't crush you forever. I pray that God will hold you in His arms, keep you, give you strength and give you peace in the time ahead. Reach out to the folks here on TGO, your friends outside of here, and keep your own spirits up. Let us know what we can do to help. --David

Randall, I wish you hadn't needed to make this post. I wish I could have done more to help. I should have just told you to take him to Nashville, or Atlanta to try there after he was blown off at the local level. I know there are those who are claiming PTSD to game the system, to get benefits and monthly cash...damn them for taking away the resources needed, and numbing the doctors to the signs of danger when men in real need like your stepson ask for help. In the midst of your grief, I can only hope your family can find joy from the time you had with him. As far as I'm concerned, he's a casualty of the war he fought, just the same as those who died over there, Our nation, is stronger for having men like your stepson answer the call to service, and I'm sorry that noble service took him away from you and your family before his time.

At the very least it seems like some VA administrators, two senators, at least one congressman and the president himself ought to get a letter naming your son by name and expressing our disappointment in your sons treatment from each of the 26,579 members of TGO.

Somebody is going to shoot one of these clowns. And everybody is going to think they had it coming.

We can do this.

Randall, I am devestated along with you. This makes me sick to my stomach. I saw the title of the post and literally teared up. I am so sorry! Words cannot even describe the emotions that I feel - and I'm certain that they don't hold a candle to your's and your wife's. There are good providers in the VA who care deeply about our soldiers. But they're handicapped by a bureaucratic system that I'm afraid can't be fixed. We need to burn it down and start over. The politicians that profit on "fixing it" while asking us to be patient should be in prison. Our best and brightest give our country the best years of their lives. And in return they come home and are ignored by a system that would prefer they'd just go away. How many more of our kids have to lose their lives like this? This has to stop. Words seem hopeless in times like these, but I will keep your family in my prayers. If there is anything that any of us on TGO can do, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

Sorry for your loss. This may sound cold, but your story and my experiences are why I can't advocate for our young people to volunteer to serve. I was a honor graduate and loved my service, even my time in the gulf. Anyone who has ever served knows that sick call is frowned upon, so unless you have a sucking chest wound, you just suck it up. I'm seventy percent disabled, and I live and work everyday in pain. My last two visits to the Memphis VA I was greeted by a friendly little doctor who told me as soon as she closed the door that my current situation was not combat related, pissed me off, then checked my blood pressure which I'm certain was elevated due to the doctor making a decision prior to performing an exam. At that point around 1pm I'm taken to the emergency room where I'm abandoned until my pressure comes down around midnight, and sent home. I filed a grievance and an appeal detailing my experience with the first doctor. I received another C&P exam. If you've had this experience, you know that the doctors have all of your interactions and correspondence with the VA on their computer before your visit. I don't know if it was the complaint that I filled against her co-worker across the hall, but this doctor was worse. She was rude and rushed and blamed my ailments on the fact that I had gained weight since leaving service. She totally disregarded records from other doctors that showed that not only had I sought treatment, but I have hospitalization records for every ailment related to service. I don't want your loss and my response to sound like this is all about me, but I'll use the information to continue fighting, and motivating other warriors not to give up. No one is looking for a handout, only the healthcare services and treatment that we were promised when we volunteered. We are losing 22 a day. Despicable! God bless your family!

Since he rides the scooter is he considered mechanized infantry for the militia?

Wow, they managed to hit it all with that article. Chain smoking, unhealthy, unemployed whackadoodle with an AR-15, up to his ears in debts that he ostensibly isn't paying off, bankrupt, surfs the normal III%'er websites, signed up for the militia, decked his house (impending foreclosure) and raggedy mini-van with security cameras, pulls a "Leonard" and warns the cops that he's coming ahead of time (hoping for a confrontation and a lawsuit I guess), heads to Wal-Mart to tool around on the "Fat Lady Scooter" with his rifle's muzzle precariously stuffed into his shoe, while raiding the "sodas" and junk food aisles, all while scaring the gentle folks. Hell, they even managed to get a picture of him swilling a Coke and sporting a Trump for President T-shirt. I guess they left out the revelation that his wife was also his cousin because then the article would have seemed contrived. No bias in any of that story at all.

Been looking at new lever guns lately and had trouble deciding on what to get. I'm a Marlin guy and had a hard time with the Remington quality. But after some research and finding out that.rhe 1894/5's had been retooled and overall quality was better than from 07-12, I decided I still had to have a Marlin. I ordered from Buds and my expectations were exceeded by far. Nice action, and quality fit and finish. Hopefully all of the new Remlins are this nice.

Lots of creepy clowns. Have you seen that one with the kooky eyes, lol

I have one you can test drive if you want.

YES!!!

Forget direct appeals to government officials, if you want the attention of everyone you listed, get the media to discuss it. Interns and entry level staffers open and answer the mail. Hell, the mail takes up to two months to get to that level with the screening procedures in place after the anthrax scares. The political consultants and senior staff are the ones focusing on the media and watching for fallout. Get their attention, and you'll have the right eyes starting to care. Randall, once your family takes the time to grieve, think about sharing your story with the local media channels. Maybe one of them can do a segment on the news with an interview of you and your wife going over the treatment records where he wasn't treated for PTSD properly, and try to get the local VA to comment. If you need help, you know how to reach me.

I can assure you that they don't give a damn. My dad passed away 10 days ago, and the VA's administrators made it lots worse than it should have been. For all they cared, he could have died in the street. #### the VA. Sorry for your loss, Randall. I feel ya.

I've not been on much the past few weeks and a few of you know of my step son, who has been like a son to me for 18 years today, that has suffered from a terrible problem with PTSD, depression and anxiety attacks and reached out to me to help. I thank you so very much for that!! I appreciate each of you. He turned 23 this past July and joined the National Guard 6 years ago at the age of 17. All he wanted since he was 8 years old was to join the Army and be a soldier. He graduated high school at 16 years old. He joined the National Guard to take advantage of college assistance programs. His basic training was at Ft. Sill Oklahoma and he finished 1st in his group of over 150 others. He then went to his AIT training at the same location and again finished 1st over a completely different group of the approximate same number as a Missile Control Specialist. Shortly afterwards, he received a letter of congratulation from the Governor of Tennessee for his accomplishments during that time. He was promoted to Sergent 2 years ago at the age of 21. He made 2 deployments to the Middle East with his last one being in 2014. The last mission was a "we're there, but we're not there" kind of secret mission and we didn't even know where he was for a year. He could call now and then, but couldn't tell us where he was. I don't know what happened over there, but he came back just a bit different. Not much, but a bit. Things didn't go well for him at times and he seemed bothered. He tried to hide it, but his condition got worse. We tried to get him to get help, to go to a private hospital and get help, but he resisted over and over again. "I'll be ok" is what he would always say. Finally we were able to persuade him to at least go the the VA clinic here in Chattanooga and he did a couple of times. Each time he went he said they did not take him seriously. The first time he was told that he just needed to "calm down". He didn't get better at all, got worse actually and we were worried. I finally got him to try again. The last time he went was 2 weeks ago today. He told them he needed to see someone in the Mental Health dept and he felt he needed help for PTSD and was having a panic attack right then. He said the panic attack was causing him pain in his chest. They sent him straight to a hospital saying it could be a heart attack. He argued with them and told them no, it wasn't it was a panic attack caused by the PTSD and he had been having them for a couple of years. They ignored what he said and sent him on by ambulance. Nothing was found at all at the hospital, then an hour later he called us to come get him. They have yet to follow up with him at all. They have not called and have completely ignored his cry for help from the Mental Health part of the VA on that day. It's like he never showed up there asking for help with mental issues. He's been living with us for the past 10 months or so and I told him to keep after them, don't give up because we are here for you and will see this through. We had called a Patient Advocate who tried to help, but I suppose my son had given up hope. He walked up to me about 2 hours later and said "well, now I don't know what to do..." I told him again, don't quit...I'll take you wherever you need to go and you know that. He said I know, then walked out the door on the 6th. That was 2 weeks ago and he wouldn't answer anyone's calls or texts. A couple of his friends saw him a week ago last Saturday, then no one saw or heard from him. Friends and family searched every location that could be thought of and 12 of us searched for him around his last know location this past Saturday. He was found on Sunday morning by a man out walking. He had taken his own life. the coroner said it was probably on Monday the 12th or early on Tuesday. I am so sick. I am so mad that some locations of an organization created to give our veterans care is so calloused and useless. Maybe some are not, I don't know, but the local VA clinic in Chattanooga can rot in HELL. If you work at a VA hospital, as I know some here do, don't take this personal. But if you see something like what happened to my stepson happening. DO SOMETHING. Change the organization from within. The VA is sicker than those they are supposed to help!!!!! All of his life, everybody that met my son loved him. He was funny, FULL of energy, loved motorcycles and dirt bikes which he got from me. He made everyone laugh and would help anyone that called him at anytime of the day or night. He had literally hundreds of friends that loved him. He was 1 year away from getting a degree in Computer science, forensics and security. He was brilliant which is obvious by his graduating at 16 years old. He had 4 years left in the military and wanted to make it a career. He had a wonderful life ahead of him and had so much to give this world......He may have had that chance IF the VA "Doctors" had got off their asses and helped him. IF they had not turned their back on him in HIS time of need. Randall53

The mistake was shooting one. Until Saturday I had not ever shot an AK. They just never really interested me. To make matters worse, the first AK I shot was full auto. Man what a fun gun to shoot. It was a blast doing 3-4 round burst moving from target to target. Looks like now I am going to have another gun to start buying. Time to say bye bye to more of my hard earned money.

Creepy

My lord Jesus, Please make us an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred let us sow love; Where there is injury pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy! Grant that we not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life! I ask almighty God to shower you and your family with His peace, that He send legions of angels to comfort you and He draws you closer to himself

Kind of like the contestants, I mean guests on Maury and the target audience of ambulance chasing lawyer advertisements

My brand new 1919A4. Saw its first rounds Saturday.

That would explain a few things. lol

Randall... my wife and I are sitting here in tears; tears of sorrow for you and your family, and tears of rage at a horrible system that needs to be imploded. I will find SOME way to pass this along. Our prayers are with you, may God give you His peace that surpasses all understanding in the midst of this.

You really need to get out more and meet people in the 2nd Amendment community. There is no question in my mind this is a real person, who at best is playing it up for his 15 minutes of fame, but probably would say and do these exact same things if you or I were sitting down having lunch with him. The real question is who cares if he takes a rifle around with him? The same could be said about a lot of segments in the 2nd Amendment community who have almost religious beliefs about firearms, that make them very 'special'. Don't believe me, make a post about 9mm vs 45, go pop some popcorn and watch the fun

I'm going to try and post pictures soon. Been swamped trying to play catch up in the shop.

I haven't had any success with pocket carry on pistols larger then a P-32 or P3AT/LCP for daily carry so I'd consider being able to successfully (and comfortably) pocket carry a Shield or G-43 a win.

Very sorry for your loss. I am a veteran but thankfully have never had to deal with medical. I don’t know exactly what the problem with the VA is; but I have seen it suggested that Veterans benefits be available through their local private Doctors. I think this is the only fix. The sad part is that if your son had been a criminal instead of a Veteran he would have got the mental health help he wanted and needed. If you would let me use your son’s name and story I can think of some people that can do something about it that need to know his name and his story. I am a firm believer that stamped letters sent through the mail with real people’s names carry far more weight than emails and internet petitions. I am willing to write a letter.

This is terrible. I'm very sorry Randall.

I'm very sorry for your loss. I retire at the end of the month after 40 years. I have been in the Medical Corps the whole time. I have seen or dealt with issue a lot with Soldiers. Our prayers are with you.

There's such a small difference in size between the 42 and 43, it's hard for me to justify carrying the 42. It is light and adorable, just not near as much smack.

It's not the doctors. They have some exceptional doctors. It's the government ####bags that administer the thing. I hope they all rot in hell.

They don't care. Luckliy I have a private physician who briefly worked at the VA when he was younger. He is not fond of that place or the government, and I've always received excellent care and attention from him. It's not right for warriors to suffer they way they do. To make things worse, I had a family member who served in the gulf at the same time I served. He came back so screwed up that he took a life in a domestic situation, then took his own life. You never get over it. Just depend on friends and loved ones to help you cope.

You can imagine how I feel when I see multi-millionaire thugs that won't stand for the National Anthem. I know it's their right, but do your protesting at the voting booth. Not in the face of people like my son. The right of free speech goes only so far, when you begin to step on other peoples graves, I draw a line.

I don't think I could find a more accurate description. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Improvise, overcome, adapt! I heard that somewhere. Learn to think ahead and plan for the future rather than live in the moment. The old adage grow and move, or die comes to mind. Good points about evolving. Too many folks have the I am here and that is enough mentality. Until someone comes up with a better mousetrap and all of sudden you are no longer relevant. There are a few jobs that will be around for quite a while. Transportation, aviation, health care, construction, technology (If current and forward thinking), and government (Spit spit) come to mind. Do a little research into a career before attending school and it might just pay off. Or not and you can always rely on the old, "Will that be here or to go?" Phrase. Oops, maybe not as kiosks are taking that over now thanks to the great unwashed wanting $15 per hour to flip fish and broil burgers. Remember when that was a job for teenagers to make a little spending money? Well now it is the latest opportunity for folks that do not think forward enough or plan well enough to do better. Yeah there are a few trapped by circumstances but most of those are due to bad decisions. Remember what the Judge said, "Well, the world needs ditch diggers too!"

I have a few friends that were in the printing business. That's a tough one. Like I said... glad I'm old.

Buy both. I have both, and don't have to worry about which one is better. I do not discriminate.

We usually have it around 7-8 a round in the store. And right now we have it in bulk packs at $0.05798 a round. Guns N More Like Our Face Book Page For Daily Deals

This guy could have been paid to act like this for the story. Who knows. But you can't remove constitutional rights of US citizens because a few people misuse those rights.

So if someone owns 17 guns they're a "super owner"? I always thought anything below that was 'cute' and 20 was 'a good start'

OK, I realize there are "those kind" out there within the gun community, but this has a distinct air of liberal initiated/fabricated propaganda to promote the cause kind of stuff. Just sayin'.

TGO group buy?

KahrMan, let's go shopping. I am in the market for an AK [finally] myself. Based on what I have seen, 7.62 is the caliber to get as 5.45 has become increasingly harder to find. Any truth to this?

Has Century always been the only importer for that line, or maybe recently become the only one? Did they drop the big "Canik" on the left side of slide or something? If so, maybe they've become the only importer and are trying to be more like Springfield XD markings, emphasizing the US company more than the maker? Anyway, one way or the other, I'd feel comfortable wagering it's exact same heater. - OS

Here are some audio examples of it...

You made history. I think you're the first person that's ever gotten a good deal at a gun auction. Nice collection.

+1000 on these 2 points EXACTLY

Working plain clothes I've carried everything from Springfield 1911 MC Operator w/Surefire x300 down to a Glock 19 w/XC1 light concealed. I find I can reasonably conceal just about any standard size firearm with my shirt untucked. I'm 5'10" 175 and athletic build. I run either Raven Concealment or Bravo Concealment holsters with an Ares Ranger Belt Enhanced. The belt makes all the difference for the heavier guns. I ended up running my Glock 19 the most because I also conceal handcuffs and extra mag and it all gets pretty heavy working all week. Just remember just because it's comfortable for 10 minutes around the house doesn't mean it will be comfortable all week.

Sweat = rust. Lint builds up fast. I don't clean my gun because I've shot it, I clean it because I need to get the salt and lint out of it. While I'm at it I'll make sure the barrel is clean and the shiny parts are still shiny and lubed. Dry fire practice is worth it's weight in gold.