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There have not been any times that I have not felt welcome on TGO in ten years. The biggest problem I have with many of our members is that many behave as if all minority groups are monolithic. It can be bothersome when you’ve always tried to do the right thing while abiding the law. Being from Memphis, even my kids would be bothered by people telling them how well spoken, polite and behaved they were, as if they were abnormal. I really enjoy TGO. Some have wondered why I’ve hung around this long. It’s because David has the best forum on the Internet. Mac gives well thought out and reasoned opinions, and the members that I have had personal interactions with were all great, and we always spent lots of time just being human, and enjoying one another’s company. Finally, I believe that there have been members who joined because they believed they could be bigots, stereotype people and generally cause trouble, but the moderators have done an excellent job of eventually culling them from the heard.

Your post explains my feelings on this better than I could have put it in my own words. There are people in this country who have gotten wealthy pretending to fight against racism. Any chance of actually getting rid of it means their income is over. Thus, I doubt it will ever cease to be an issue, real or perceived. Further, many seem to use the word racism like a club to swat any perceived shortcomings in themselves, rather than taking a look in the mirror and addressing the real problem. I attempt to treat everyone like a human being as long as I'm allowed to. Tiptoeing around black people, women, etc. seem disingenuous to me. As far as being treated differently in a gun store, I think one gets treated according to his attire and demeanor rather than skin color most times. When I was a young man, I had long hair, wore jeans and a t shirt. I was treated like a thug at many businesses. Today, thanks to male pattern baldness and perhaps a touch of wisdom that comes with age, the long hair is gone, and the t shirt is replaced with a decent looking button down. I find I am now treated respectfully just about everywhere. My skin color hasn't changed. In short, dividing people into groups is a democrat tactic that I personally despise. My group is American. You are either with me or against me. United we stand, divided we fall.

While researching for a post on another forum, I ran across this site and it brought back some memories. Mousegunner was a member here and use to post a lot about pocket pistols and other firearms. I had forgotten he had started a web page with his thoughts and opinions on pocket pistols and other firearms. Someone else took it over after his death in the Summer of 2011 (with the permission of his family, I am assuming)and it's still available and has been updated with guest reviews. I saved it to my tool bar. You all might want to do the same. http://www.mouseguns.com/index.htm

Diversity and inclusion. I've lived this all my 50+ years without giving it a second thought. I respected everyone that deserved it based on the way they lived , worked and and treated others, never on the color of their skin. The fact that this has become a political talking point for years upsets me to no end. It's a manufactured crisis caused by the previous presidential administration and promoted by the news media. Call me a nut if you want to but that's how I see it. I'm supposed to have white guilt? Why? Who is running away from diversity and inclusion?

I'm just the plumber, Links. I keep the pipes running and the drain flowing. The members are what make the place great. Edited to add... PS: Thank you. I am very humbled by that.

Wouldn'tthat just be the wacko 12 gage equivalent to limp wristing? Same concept anyway...

I have been living under a rock apparently. I grew up using tools with a cord and up until about 5 years ago hadn't owned anything else. I bought a 20v DeWalt drill and have nothing but happy with the purchase. A few months ago I started researching impact drivers and impact wrenches as well as comparing different brands through forums and video reviews. I'd never have guessed impact wrenches had come as far as they have, and honestly was skeptical. I narrowed my choices down to DeWalt and Milwaukee as they seemed to be head to head as far as quality and torque. So I picked up a DeWalt 20vMax XR brushless 1/2" impact wrench and a DeWalt 20vMax 1/4" impact driver. They each came with battery/charger as well as carrying cases. Wow, I'm really behind the times, they are both outstanding! I got them both at Lowe's and was able to add 2 years of warranty through Lowe's to extend the 3 year warranty that DeWalt offers. Milwaukee has a 5 year warranty but I couldn't find both in stock anywhere and wanted to buy local in case I had any issues. I'd honestly have been happy with either brand but now all 3 of my tools can interchange batteries. I'm probably the last man on earth that has waited this long but if you haven't tried them, give them a shot.

Thanks for taking the time to respond. As always, I respect your opinion, and this time, agree with everything you said.

I had no idea of Link's race until I saw this post. If I did, I had forgotten it. Should I treat him differenly now? I think not. I've always valued his opinions and will continue to do so. I have not agreed with all his views, but respect them just the same. I see no reason to change my opinion of him, or how I interact with him because I now know he is black. He simply looks like a proud American to me. LINKS2K, I am curious if you feel unwelcome here because of racial issues?

Marshall was a joy of a person.

No, I look nothing like Mr.Sutherland, but I was a huge fan of his show 24. My wife and I are solidly middle class with three adult college educated kids, and conservative upbringings. That has changed. We no longer consider ourselves a part of any party or group. I come from a hard working family where I saw my grandfather work side by side with game show host Wink Martindale, farmed his own land, and raised animals. Everyone in the family was expected to participate. My wife is college educated, and worked her way up from loading planes at FEDEX , to management, and finally a regulatory compliance SME at FEDEX World Headquarters. I’m a 90% disabled veteran, and a government employee scheduled to retire in a few years. The highlights of my military career were being on the Ft.Gordon, Ga. SRT team, and being a part of the service members who had the swiftest victory in combat history during Desert Storm. I’m mostly conservative in my thinking, but I have a soft spot for those who struggle. It’s not always that they are lazy or don’t work, as David and Mc mentioned, lots of times the are profiled and discarded simply because of the pigment of their skin. What I’ve enjoyed about the last ten years on TGO is meeting members in person. We’ve had great transactions, and even better interactions. I don’t know if it’s upbringing that causes people to be prejudiced, but I do know that spending time with someone who doesn’t look like you, or share your views greatly benefits all parties involved. For those who have never met me, and only know my Sutherland Profile, here are a few photos.

TN / GA / AL Suarez Training Group! On Saturday July 28 we will hold our July meeting for the TN/GA/AL Regional Suarez Int Training Group! Subject: ARE YOU QUALIFIED? Instructor: Tier 1 Suarez Int Staff Instructor Randy Harris Location: The usual place- Phillips/Edwards Farm 763 County Rd 332 Pisgah AL 35765 Time: 9AM CENTRAL time - 3PM CENTRAL time Price: $80 - pay at class cash or check. What you need to bring: Pistol, pistol magazines and at least 250 rounds of pistol ammo. Revolvers are welcome if you want to party like it is 1899. Also a Rifle with 50 rounds and shotgun with 11 slugs and 5 rounds of 00 Buckshot if you choose to do the FBI Rifle and Shotgun qualifications. We will shoot several police and federal agency qualification courses. We will shoot the FBI Pistol Qual, the ATF Pistol Qual, LAPD SWAT Pistol Qual and then the FBI Rifle and FBI Shotgun qual courses. I will also keep records of these (if you are happy with your scores) for future reference and use . This will serve to get your shooting prowess on record in case it is ever needed in the future in some legal matter. This is also something your church might like to have for their records if you are a member of a church security team. As far as the courts are concerned if it isn't documented it didn't happen so this is an opportunity to get some official scores on paper in case you ever need them . Not only that but it will be a good day of shooting some somewhat challenging courses.

I am cheap. I have a Porter Cable 'Tiger Saw' sawsall that is about 2/3 the size of a regular sawsall. It shares batteries with my light and drill and fits where I need it. I use this professionally as a service plumber. It is one of the best $50 I ever spent.

Nice. I need to get mine out.

I too was in a cord coma for a long time all while the closest thing I have to a brother kept telling me to go get a 1/2" milwaukee fuel impact and it will change your life. Boy was he ever right. I own about $2k worth of their fuel line tools and Im anxiously awaiting their chainsaw and pole saw. I haven't found anything their impacts won't tackle. I will say their string trimmer takes 2nd place when comparing it to dewalts. But even then the fuel trimmer is far ahead of the rest out there.

I guess the only thing better is laying on one!

Haven't thought of him in a long while. Thanks for the reminder.

Since everyone seemed to enjoy my bike, I took a few pictures of it today on my ride.

Seems like I have seen those pictures before. Doesn't matter. I have been around Garufa for hours at a time, but almost always picture him as his avatar. I have spent a lot more time with it than his real face. Linky has had the same avatar for years. He's probably always gonna be Bruce Willis to me, even if we meet in person a few times. It's easy to blame something on racism, especially as heavily promoted as it is these days. It's almost never about skin color.

Growing up in the North as a child I had just about every race, creed and religion including Islam around me everyday in school. We all studied together and at recess we all went out and played together. Marbles. dodgeball, tag, baseball, just what every a kid wanted to play there was a game out there on the playground. If I knew back then what I know today I would have looked around and I would have seen all kids from all races playing the same games and no one being left out because of race, creed, religion or any other reason. Now with that said, segregation was not practiced in schools up there when I was growing up so I was dumb to it when I moved south at age 17 in 1966. It was not really taught down here either I don't think. I believe it was just practiced but never taught, at least to me. As I grew older I began to realize that it was an option as to how you practiced it or if you did at all. My grandfather never practiced it cause one of his best friends that live down the road on a small farm was an African American and there was many times we broke bread at the same dinner table with the man and his family. I never did because I always thought in the back of my mind it was a stupid thing for people to do. I did loose some friends I had made in high school but I just thought to myself they were never really friends anyway. I was never the sharpest knife in the drawer but I knew I was not going to be told who I could or should associate with and who not to back then and I am still living my life that way 53 years later. Back on election night when President Obama got elected the first time I had a few friends over to the house watching the polls. And I heard his speech and then I heard Michelle's famous line, "This is the first time in my life I am proud of my Country" and I turned to my friends and I said this country just moved backwards 50 years and they agreed. I didn't say that because we had elected an African American. I said it because that particular one was elected. He had a chip on his shoulder the size of the dome of the White House and thought he had something to prove and was going to show everyone who he was. I knew he was not a President for the People but a President for a select few people. I listened to the Pod cast last evening and I didn't hear what I could call bashing of the NRA. I heard things about it I was not aware of and I heard things that could improve it in the future but I heard a disussion more than a bashing of it.....JMHO on that. I said it on page 1 of this thread and I will say it one more time. I don't care what your race is, creed is, religion is, gay or straight, male or female. If you want to become a member of TGO just sign up and join a great bunch of people with a passion for something we all love.

I drilled my .45 cal form 1 ss baffles with a drill press and it worked just fine. Although a lathe would be ideal, it wasn't absolutely necessary. I don't remember the actual size of the bit, but I think it was .060" bigger. With aluminum baffles I would just drill them .25" and call it a day, it will work just fine. Those baffles you have look pretty beefy so I am confident it will work great. Also you have a pretty good sized center point already started so I don't think you will have a problem with the bit walking, mine were a lot smaller so I really had to slow my drill press down and take my time. Actually looking at them again they look like ss. what size tube? It has been a couple of years now since I have done mine but now that I am thinking about it my form 1 .45 was a ss spacer for the blast chamber, the first baffle was ss, and the rest were aluminum. My .30 cal form 1 was 100% ss and to my ear that one is just as quiet as my form 4 Thompson Machine Thirty with a monocore. After doing two form 1's and buying two form 4's it made me realize how overpriced suppressors really are.

"Hopefully it is because it caused you to be introspective and ask of yourself the same questions that you're asking here." Yes it is due to looking inward to see if there is something I am missing. Is there a viewpoint that I am not seeing or misreading? Not obsessing just curious to why we both feel like we are talking to a wall. neither side being able to see something else is not unheard of and often there are more than one way to see things. However in this case I think I am genuinely missing your point. "If an Asian guy walks into a gun store, no one bats an eye. But if a black guy, a Hispanic guy or a Middle Eastern guy walk into a gun shop, I've personally witnessed them being watched closely by the dudes behind the counter So, am I the only person that notices this? The fact that you're questioning what my motives are suggests that you haven't seen it. But to answer my own question, I know I am not the only one who does. " I have seen it. I am guilty of it. However it is not just the color of skin I see. Actually color has less to do with it for me. How one carries oneself, clothing, language, demeanor, attitude, and yes color to some degree. I am usually pretty observent, I tend to watch others fairly close. Yes stereotyping comes into it some. But in my case race is not the predominate factor. As I mentioned color does not matter if you walk in with your pants hanging, speaking ghetto, and talking about getting a new GAT. That gets my attention more than anyone's race. Now as for insinuating anything not my intention. I understand the question as to "Have you ever noticed". Yeah I have noticed. Now, insinuating that because you have seen some gun shops do this and setting that onto the gun and shooting community as a whole is an issue with me. You see, that is what the "Other side" has been doing for decades. So while I am trying hard to see what you are asking I see it as it goes both ways. Stereotypes exist for a reason and right or wrong I am of the opinion that profiling does have a place at times. Keep in mind that some people get my attention due to the way they act, talk, smell, look, or dress. I do not intend to apologize to anyone for that as it does no harm. I raise no alarm rather I just tend to watch closer. I have seen racism close up and diverity and inclusion would do absolutely nothing to help it. Do you feel included or welcomed in every place you go? Of course not. So the bigger question is how do we handle it. If it is nothing more than watching someone you do not know until they have proven themselves then that is no big deal. I guarantee I have seen more "Minority" racism towrds me than the other way around! So how do we go about being inclusive if those wishing to be included cannot promise the same? I see this as a bigger picture issue and not one that we should be seeing in terms of just one "Community". We are beyond that. We had made progress but I think the last administration ruined what progress was made and has made the environment ripe for divisiveness. Before we look t ourselves I think some others need to look at why those stereotypes exist and maybe work on getting that handled first. Yes we can do better but to do so it is not about us welcoming a few people into the gun shop or range. I have been lucky to travel the world and I have close friends from more diversity that most will ever know. I like to think I judge by actions and deeds rather than appearance but as noted above I do observe and reserve judgement until I am given a reason to act. I was on a very prestigous PGA course in Florida with the Vice President of our company. We were there with some of the executives of a very large well know Juice Company based in Florida. While waiting for the valet parker my clubs were grabbed and taken in right away. John's were left sitting there. We waited and the same caddy returned and grabbed someone else's bag from behind us! John grabbed his bag and carried it in while telling me he is used to that treatment. John was a very well mannered black male. Dressed very nicely for an afternoon of golf. Was it right that it happened? Was that club being inclusive? Nope, Did John make a big deal of it? Nope again. What he did do was send a note to the club board explaining why they lost the business of our company and the tournament we had held there for many years. Of course they responded that they would speak to that valet, train their employees, and would we come back? Problem is that John saw something that day. He explained it later. Not only was it the valet, it was the waiter at lunch after, it was the beer cart gals, it was the marshalls. All of them served John last that day regardl;ess of where he was in line. After he had mentioned it on the drive home I got to thinking back and he was correct. I also mentioned that on our local course we always played that did not happen. He mentioned that for the first dozen times or so he had visited it had. Until he had proven himself it had not changed but once the locals got to know him it had. So yes, it can and does happen, It is wrong that John died before he could see an end to that treatment. I miss him everyday. He was a friend, a brother, and a mentor. So while being inclusive is a great idea it is not always going to happen. Sometimes being pushed into something just makes it worse. There is no way diversity training is going to change the mindset of 90% of people in the world. We are all basing our actions on many things, how we were taught, how we have been treated, how we have seen others treated, and not the least of which is how we see society wanting us to. Whatever clique you follow or closely link with is going to have a great impact on your behavior. So when you mention how do we be more inclusive and diverse I see a question designed to get people to ask themselves a few questions. The NRA bashing is just a red herring. It has nothing to do with the real issue at all in my opinion. So, grouping an entire community into one idea and basically saying they are not inclusive enough is a tough sell. Especially to the alpha types that are prevalent in the shooting world. I think perhaps you are correct also in that I have not seen the reactions that you spoke of all that much. I tend to gravitate to and associate with folks that are like minded. As we have several different races and colors in my family that obviously leaves out the openly racist types. I apologize if I came across as acrimonious. Not my intention. I do however call it plainly and as I see it. I stand behind my call out on the NRA piece being a little heavy. I stand behind my call out of some seeing things that they want to see rather than reality. Having said all that I will assist anyone that wants to better themselves in any way i can. With Parkinson's I can no longer shoot as well as I used to but I can still teach the basics! I have taught hundreds of folks of all ages, races, genders, and abilities over the years. I will be more than willing to do so anytime with or without the NRA backing! Now is that inclusive or diverse enough for me to meet anyone's standards? Not that it matters to me as I mentioned I call it as I see it but I am still human enough to want to be liked, and accepted. Often to be those we must also be seen to meet someone else's ideals and standards. I can also be proud of the fact that I am willing to admit that publicly. I have found most cannot.

bikes are like footwear, that's why you need several! Indian is working on a 1200 flat track style bike for the general populas, should be out next year. https://newatlas.com/indian-scout-ftr1200-custom-flat-tracker/52111/ Many of us are getting more off-road as the masses become worse drivers. I think Indian will hit it out of the park with this new model and I hope Harley gets there act together and comes up with something similar.

I have a heavily modified stock powerplant Sportster of recent iteration. It is a great bike. I went style over substance and it sucks for more than an hour in the saddle. A proper seat and I would change my opinion. I personally prefer the light weight, nimbleness and narrow width of a Sporty. I ride it like I stole it.

Too slow. Them Somalians are wiggly

My Grandfather told me about a neighbor of his back years ago that was walking to his barn and his hired had had to him he killed a rattler near the path to the barn from the house. The neighbor asked him if he cut his head off and indeed he did. Neighbor for got about the snake the next day and was headed to get some eggs in his house slippers and he stepped on that snakes head and it damn near killed him before they could get him to the hospital. Any time a dangerous snake was killed on our farm the head was buried!!

If anyone here wants to know what unwelcome feels like, sign up over at the democraticunderground forum.