Wheelgunner

Farenheit 451 is one most of us read in school, but it's worth another reading. The Revolution by Ron Paul - The Congressman has provided the people with a guide for making this nation once again the Land of the Free.  The Memoirs of Joseph Plumb Martin - Martin was an American enlisted soldier in the Revolutionary War.  Most military history books are written by generals and discuss broad strategies; this one was written by a private and he deals with such topics as foot blisters from forced marches and going hungry because colonist farmers he was defending refused to share food.

We don't have kids yet so normally everything stays loaded at home. On the rare occasion when we do have kids in the house, I put a padlock through the chamber of everything except my carry gun (which stays on my hip).

Sent a snail mail letter to my state representative two days ago.  I'm gearing up to write a whole new batch that mentions the event on War Memorial Plaza.

Today I celebrated Gun Appreciation Day like several hundred other Tennesseans - by driving into Nashville and attending the pro-Second Amendment rally that took place at War Memorial Plaza.  I know many of our members don't live within easy driving distance of Nashville and have busy schedules, so I thought I would describe what went on for those who were unable to attend.   When I arrived at noon there was a surprisingly large crowd already gathered on the Plaza.  The turnout was inspiring.  There were Liberty Riders (bikers), veterans and representatives from veterans' groups, whole families, and single people.  The crowd was not heavily skewed by one age group - I would say about a quarter of those in attendance were over 60.  The best was seeing how many people brought their whole family, and especially their kids.   There were numerous "Don't Tread on Me" flags, American flags, and some great homemade signs - my favorite was a simple white poster with the following words in black: "Fear the Government that Fears Your Guns."  There were certainly some "amens" throughout, and some clearly riled up people, but the whole bunch was well mannered and respectful throughout.  There were no opposition protesters that I saw.   A man was addressing the crowd by PA system when I showed up.  He shortly introduced John Harris, who I understand is in charge of the Tennessee Firearms Association.  Mr. Harris spoke several times throughout the event and struck me as a confident, capable leader.  The other speakers included State Senator Bill Ketron, and State Representative Joe Carr (who proposed the bill to nullify any new firearm-related promulgation from the Obama administration).  Representative Carr had some very good things to say about the Second Amendment, as well as some stirring remarks on Tennessee and its duty to stand up to federal tyranny.   Perhaps the most moving speaker was a lady Tennessean (I believe her name was Nikki Gosser) whose husband was murdered right in front of her.  She is a HCP holder but was unarmed at the time of the murder because she and her husband were working in a bar (this was several years ago before carry in bars was legal).  Her story obviously drove home the point that the kind of restrictions proposed in Washington only really hurt the good folks who follow the letter of the law.  I really liked that she called out the bias of the media and lamented how unfairly we are treated in the court of public opinion today.   As the event concluded we joined hands and sang a patriotic song.  Standing there looking out over the crowd I actually choked up and couldn't sing.  It was an amazing experience and one I won't soon forget.  I made some new friends today and look forward to attending the next similar rally next month and seeing some familiar faces.  What I saw and heard today reaffirmed my commitment to standing up for our rights and enjoying liberty to the fullest, and it's comforting to know that there are so many others out there who feel the same way.  

@ TNSovereignty - Is it safe to say then that good dissent is composed of certain elements? Say, good dissent requires courage, individual critical thinking, and a solid understanding of the Constitution? Are those the right elements? If so, then knowing those elements could help us identify the flaws in our adversaries' philosophies. That would make it really easy to quickly point out to a misguided individual the flaws in his position and thus begin to win him over with right thinking. E.g. "What you're saying shows that you've read a lot about the purposivist method of constitutional interpretation. And the fact that you're saying your comments here in this debate shows the courage behind your conviction. But good dissent also requires individual work. Tell me about the critical analysis you've done on your own. In other words, why don't you adhere to a different school, like the textual interpretation for example?"

What I'm about to write is unrelated to the comments above (which I agree with) about the purpose of the Second Amendment.  Rather, it's an indictment of the dangerous brand of liberal "logic" seen in the article mentioned above.   I quote Mr. Andrews: "I'm not worried, because I don't own an assault weapon and don't feel the need for one."  And later: "Guns are not going away, because the Second Amendment is sacrosanct."   Mr. Andrews admits that he has no desire to own a liberty rifle.  Then he concedes that firearms generally are here to stay.  Shouldn't it be enough, then, for him simply not to purchase one?  Why will he only be satisfied when no one can purchase one?   I personally don't have any desire to own the morning after pill.  In fact, I am opposed to its use based on my principles.  So what do I do?  How do I deal with my moral aversion to the morning after pill?  Do I attempt to prevent others from having access to it, or rail against it in the media?  No.  I simply don't buy it.   I sincerely regret that Mr. Andrews has psychological problems stemming from his federal military service.  But I can't help but point out that a reasonable national (and local) dialogue - emphasizing logic, history, and law -  about the place of firearms in our society would be much more achievable and productive if those (like Mr. Andrews) with deep seated phobias, emotional scarring, and other mental health problems conscientiously removed themselves from the discussion.     People like Mr. Andrews truly frighten me.  They represent one of the greatest threats to our rights because they cannot be engaged in a mature political debate.  If a liberal has a list of reasons or historical evidence that supports his positions, I can show him the fallacies of his logic, or prove to him that his historical events were anomalous.  I can show him, through reasoning, why he is wrong - and bring him to our side.  But when a man refuses to recognize logical reasoning - like the relationship of cause and effect - and refuses to acknowledge the value of historical analysis - e.g. the fact that we have needed to fight for our freedom in the past - and instead stands solely on emotions and fears...  he's effectively removed himself from the grownup world of discussion.  He has become a zealot, a person beyond the reach of rational adult reasoning.  And we all know what happens when angry people are no longer able to reason.

Yes, Tennessee could do this.  It's called "nullification" and States have used the same technique in the past to check federal power.  The reality is that while the federal law enforcement apparatus is massive, still its resources are finite.  If enough States nullify a federal law, then the federal government will be overburdened with workload and will be unable to enforce that law effectively.  Nullification requires strong State level leaders, though, and consequently is unlikely today.

Letters sent today.

Outstanding article, QuietDan. Thank you.

Like Runningfree, I'm a fan of CAO, and especially the La Traviata. I also like an Arturo Fuente Churchill now and then. During finals season I go to the cigar shop (which has free wifi) with a couple twenties in my pocket. I buy a stick, fire it up, and before I know it I've been studying for two solid hours. Great way to mix business and pleasure.

If you compare the stats on Cor Bon 125 grain rounds on the Ballistics By The Inch website, the .357 round is 400 fps faster than the .38 Spl out of a 3 inch barrel. Agreed, .357 is a beast in a J frame, but there is a real ballistic advantage over .38 SPL even in a snubbie. Maybe a nice heavy SP101 in .357 would fit the bill?

@ Benkharr - How tight a budget? Less than $1,000 for both?

I am grateful they did make a stand, but I'm not at all confident that even a third of our fellow Americans would support making a stand today. The underlying question I struggle with is, "Is it worth making a stand for constitutional principles in a democratic society if the majority of the electorate prefers to reject those constitutional principles?" You see, that question pits our love of democracy against our love of God-given, inalienable rights. On a side note, and in response to PapaB's post, I quote from the footnote on page 171 of Congressman Ron Paul's book, "The Revolution": "John Adams is often misquoted as saying that one third of Americans supported the Revolution, one third opposed it, and one third were indifferent. Historians have repeated this incorrect quotation time and again. Adams was in fact speaking of American support for the French Revolution. Historian William F. Marina has shown convincingly that a majority of Americans supported the American Revolution."

Understandable that most prefer to remain tight lipped about this stuff.  Would you guys change your plans if it looked like the majority of Americans really don't want to keep their rights?  RobertNashville, you made a good point about the looming consequences of chronic fiscal irresponsibility.     I wonder about the logic of sticking around in a nation where my fellow citizens attach ever less importance to constitutional rights.  And I have begun to doubt that most Americans prefer to be free men over the reassurances of a nanny state.     I'd rather take a long vacation than personally survive a Dr. Zhivago scenario.

What would it take to make you believe that you no longer had legislative or judicial protection of your Second Amendment rights? What event would make you snap into action (leave the country, hide your firearms, etc.)? Obviously an outright, open federal policy of collecting all privately owned arms would get most gun owners into gear, but would anything less than that set you in motion?

"Not enough" is the answer.  You make a good point.  It's time to put some thought into new ways to make an impact, cause this ain't cuttin' it.  Thanks for the push in the right direction.  

Dennis, I'm embarrassed but you stumped me in a single post.  I'll do some reading and try again soonish.

I see what you're saying - that there are costs associated with carrying a handgun even aside from fees for permit or class.  Because none of us expects the state to distribute free handguns, holsters, ammunition, and training under constitutional carry, even if that system were adopted in Tennessee there would be some citizens who were precluded from exercising their right to bear arms due to financial constraints.  That makes sense.  It's acceptable because it is the result of free market and capitalist principles.   What I have a problem with, like Chucktshoes, is the state imposing a fee that I must pay to it before I can exercise my constitutional right.  In my opinion our law in Tennessee unconstitutionally infringes the federal Second Amendment not by issuing a permit card, or by fingerprinting us, or by requiring a fee, but rather by making it illegal to carry a loaded handgun in public in the event a citizen does not fulfill those prerequisites.

You can bet your bottom dollar that citizen, State court, and federal court would all find infringement of a constitutional right if classroom instruction, fingerprinting, fee-paying, and permit were prerequisites to everyday free speech.

@ sventvkg - I wholeheartedly agree that something needs to be done all across the country. But it seems to me that involving the federal government - even in "solutions" that look helpful on the surface, like a federal carry permit - is a mistake. The authority of our federal government over the States and their citizens is growing in a way I can only describe as out of control. These days I think the only way to reclaim the rights we're losing or have already lost is by first setting things right in Tennessee and then using the power of the State to start nullifying unconstitutional federal laws.

Here's my advice: decide what purpose the BOB will serve (just get you home frame work, get you from home to a buddy's house, live in the woods for a week, etc.). Next decide what all you will need for that purpose and make a list. Then actually assemble everything on the list. Put it all in your A bag and carry it around for a while to make see if there are some items you want to cut to save weight. Once you know exactly what will go in the bag (like Garufa said) you can choose the right size.

Law enforcement officers have the legal authority to disarm a HCP holder during a traffic stop. Got it. Here's what I don't understand: if an officer thinks the lawfully armed citizen is enough of a threat to prefer disarming him, why doesn't the officer actually treat him like a threat? (call for back up, take cover, weapon drawn and aimed at center of mass, short verbal commands clearly shouted, etc) If I were in the officer's shoes and were concerned about somebody shooting me, I can't imagine climbing into a stranger's car by myself to grab the handgun off his hip. I guess I'm just not that brave.

Will, congrats on the new GP. They're outstanding guns. Was that fiber optic front sight factory or did you put it on yourself? How do you like the sight picture? Sorry I can't help on the holster issue.

@ bayouvol - If the weight of the gun is uncomfortable, you might need a new belt, too. Like rockman I EDC a snubbie SP101, and found that a IWB holster (mine is Galco) reduces the felt weight of the weapon.

Senator Feinstein says Gen. Petraeus will not testify in Senate hearings on Benghazi next week due to his "resignation." Isn't that convenient? http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/09/15054517-cia-director-david-petraeus-resigns-cites-extramarital-affair?lite