Dennis1209

Well, I'm not going to berate anyone for who they vote for, at least him / her cared enough to go out and exercise their Constitutional right to elect our government. I won't even talk about politics or our problems with people to lazy to exercise their right to vote. But I will state this undisputed fact, either a Republican or Democrat will win the Presidency and most state seats, period, end of story! A protest vote is a vote that doesn't go to a "lesser of two evils". It's simple math. I would love to vote for a candidate better than Mitt Romney, but the numbers are just not there. I personally don't want to endure another four years of Obama, but what other logical choice is there is you don't want to waste your protest vote? The politicians and news media are always going to "spin" the election results to favor their views, not the protest. At any rate, we're still stuck with the results of the election and have to endure the consequences. Remember... We're not a Democracy, we're a Constitutional Republic, and there's a world of difference. Regardless of your political beliefs, at least go out and vote and be heard while we still can. I would implore you to use logic and math before you submit a protest vote. When there is only two viable candidates to assume power over this nation, is it not best to elect the candidate that will lead us down the path of destruction at a slower rate? Just my logic guys...

[font='MS Reference Sans Serif'][size=3][color="#000000"]It was a beautiful fall day the beginning of November 2012! It was 2:30 P.M. and the temperature was 64 degrees, with clear blue skies and a light breeze. Not a care in the world, just enjoying the day with my family and life in general this weekend.[/color][/size][/font] [font='MS Reference Sans Serif'][size=3] [/size][/font] [font='MS Reference Sans Serif'][size=3][color="#000000"]My wife suggests I get the BBQ grill out and do some chicken for dinner while she prepares some potato salad and baked beans. Hey, that sounds great to me I’m getting hungry. But first she asks me to get the mail from the mail box, as she seen the mailman stop at the mail box 200 yards down the gravel driveway a few minutes ago. [/color][/size][/font] [font='MS Reference Sans Serif'][size=3] [/size][/font] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]Living in the country is great but, walking 400 yards or so round trip to the mailbox and transporting the garbage to the can on the road for pick up can be a pain, however… Our son is in the Army serving in Afghanistan and we are anxious to see if we received a letter from him. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]As I finished dumping the charcoal into the grill and stacking it before I lit it, I went inside to wash the coal dust off my hands so I didn’t transfer the black grime onto the mail to complete my marching orders. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]It’s time now to interject my personal habits. When out and about in public places, I’m always armed, be it my Kimber 1911, .45, a Glock 26 or my Ruger Sp101 .357. In my dwelling I’m prepared to protect my wife and myself. I faithfully use my ADT alarm system and always have a firearm with in close reach. Now that the kids have flown the coop, I need not worry about firearm security, just strategic placement of my weapons. I take my personal protection and that of my families very seriously. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]With clean hands and the BBQ pit ready to be doused with lighter fluid when I return from getting the mail, off I go on my 400-yard trek. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]About half way down the gravel driveway just to the left of the driveway I have a ¼ acre pond stocked with bass, bluegill and catfish. I keep a five-gallon pickle bucket filled with catfish food I feed them about every 2-3 days. So, I decided to stop and throw a few handfuls of catfish food into the pond. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]After feeding the fish I continue on to get my wife’s primary request accomplished and head again toward the mail box another 100 yards or so ahead.[/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]As I get to within about 25 yards of my mailbox on the country road, I hear a loud exhaust that sounds like it’s heading towards me on the road. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]As I approach the mailbox I finally see the vehicle making all that noise as it is approaching me by the country road mailbox. I’m 200 yards away from my house and the wife is in the kitchen making the side dishes. My closest neighbor is ¼ mile away. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]This old beat up blue and white car with a cracked windshield and loud muffler comes up and stops near me. I can see there are two occupants in the vehicle, both are disheveled looking and I’m very uneasy.[/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]As their car starts to creep toward me on the road and gets close to the mailbox, and me the driver shouts out something I could not quite make out. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]At this point in my mind I’m thinking, “with all the guns you have, here you are whistling Dixie”. As an old man with bad knees, rapid flight out of harms way is out of the question should the need arise. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]The car finally creaks to a stop next to me close to my mailbox. I get a good look at the two occupants. I’m not one to profile but, my heart started to race and I was thinking of my options. I could see the driver’s eyes, they were dark and dead like a sharks. Every fiber of my being was shouting these are two people to avoid at all costs. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]They finally spoke and said, “ do you know such and such where they live”? I replied, no I don’t. They asked, “do you know how to get to…” No I don’t. I then realized for sure they were phishing for a victim. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]The passenger was now opening and getting out of the passenger door. The driver was asking me if I could spare any money because they were just about out of gas. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]With heart pounding out of my chest I’m thinking, I’m in big trouble, what should I do? [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]Just being around my house and not intending to go anywhere that day, I had my wallet on my dresser, not thinking I would ever need it, much less a firearm! [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]Then it happened! The passenger was out of that piece of crap car with gun in hand, the driver exited in a flash with his own gun. I can’t tell you how slow motion is when your life is threatened![/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]The few words I remember is, “give me your F***** Money now A******” And repeated a half dozen times. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]Me being me and between being scared crapless and now at the point I’ll either need to beg for my life or stand up to them, I chose the later, bad decision. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]Either one or both could have made pulpwood out of me with just a few punches, but they chose not to. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]There is a bright light and tunnel vision come to find out as I was feeling a very hot burning sensation in my chest and in my head. I don’t think it was raining, but I was getting very wet and cold. [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]The next thing I recall is floating, yes floating, over me? I’m looking at “me” lying there soaked in blood, just floating about with no control where I “float”? [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]I’m thinking, I’m in no pain and why am I laying down there on the ground covered in red? [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]As I had another brief moment of awareness as they were going through my pockets, why didn’t I at least slip my SP101 in my waistband before I left the house? [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"][color="#000000"]I own self-protection tools, now my children have to divide them up? [/color][/font][/size] [size="4"][font="MS Reference Sans Serif"] [/font][/size] [font='Times New Roman'][size=3][color="#000000"]Think it can’t happen? Think it can’t happen to you? Think again.[/color][/size][/font]

Anyone who would even associate, much less marry Hanoi Jane, says everything about their character and values.

I have about 7 acres and I have to cut the front three acres once a week with one of those little John Deere riding lawn mowers, and it takes almost a full day. There's nothing more in life I like to do than spend a full day just cutting grass. NOT! I should just let it return to nature but it looks so good nice and neat. So I feel for ya

That's why I retired and moved to the country. I came from a neighborhood just as you're describing. Once it started and Section 8 arrived, for sale signs were popping up like Orville Wrights microwave popcorn. I was paying outrageous taxes on a moderate 15 years old home with a lot measured in feet. I had to accept 1/3 the appraised value to get out of Dodge, and I was fortunate at that. Talking to a former next door neighbor a few months ago, things around there have got much worse. They have a second mortgage on their home and are stuck there. It's been my observation in life that when the "hood" starts to turn South, nothing or nobody is going to stop it and you need to get out as fast as you can if financially possible. It's a damn shame!

I went through the same thing when I was looking for my retirement property. I was wise enough to demand from my Realtor any restrictions, on the property, a property map, last years taxes and any other hidden fees, etc. I learned a few things in the process. Some of the places we looked at were called subdivisions, with 2-20 acre plots. Being an urban / suburban dweller all my life also, I don't want to live in a "subdivision", but that's allot of room here we're talking about. We found a beautiful home with a few acres in one of these so called "subdivisions" and was about to make an offer. This was the first home entering this subdivision and no doubt considered the eye sore trailer trash of the place, as the rest of the homes in the area were more than a million dollars. This one could be had for 250K more or less. Anyway, I reminded the Realtor agent I wanted the plat map, restrictions, etc. before I made my offer. $500.00 per year maintenance fee to maintain the common park, roads, etc. No farm animals what-so-ever. And no firearms shooting per subdivision rules. We looked at several places like that and finally told the agent to exclude places like that, and refined my requirements. Finally found the place I wanted with property, a stocked pond, no restrictions other than state law and few neighbors. Until I joined a gun club, I shot out in one of my back fields where it was surrounded by woods and I would also shoot into a hill side or something. As a courtesy and to make sure no one is in the woods I don't know about, I call my two closest neighbors about a quarter mile away and inform them not to get startled at the gun shots, it was me shooting. That went a long way with neighbor relations, we're now good friends. Of course I didn't make a day of it so I didn't destroy the peace and quiet all day long. My wife has been an urban dweller all her life. I wanted a place as far from civilization as possible. We looked at a couple places I wanted really, really bad, the closest grocery / Walmart was :45 minutes away if you were in a hurry. The wife would have none of that so I had to comprimise... Walmart is now :15 minutes away But at my age it's comforting to know a hospital is only :15 minutes away if you rush. But, it took the Sheriff's deputy :30 minutes to get here when the burglar alarm went off at 3:00 A.M., but that's another story! I should have had a property survey done as the real estate agent suggested but, it was an additional $750.00 and didn't want to waste that kind of cash. If you get a place in country proper, you'll no doubt have well water and a septic system. As a condition of sale I requested the owner have the septic clean out cap located and marked, as well as the submerged well (have no well house, motor / pump submerged). I also had a sample of the well water tested for contaminates to be sure (was 25 bucks if I remember). That's my experience, good luck.

Yep, getting about that time of year. It's nice to be retired to the country! No more shoveling the snow from the sidewalk and driveway. No more rushing out in a panic to the store to buy milk, bread and eggs. And best of all... No fighting the traffic and slick roads to get to / from work. I do have to venture my way to the chicken coop to get my free eggs and get the occasional log from the back deck for the wood burning stove. So I guess you could say I'm only semi-retired Good luck!

NICE! I still own my LH A-Bolt. Was trying to sell it at one time. Never heard of Tung oil? Is it for the stock?

Anyone see the similarities between 1860 and today? Northern aggression, a government out of control, a Nanney state, population control, government mistrust? As a nation we have become divided between two camps. Those that want the government to provide for their every need (wealth redistribution), and those that want to keep and earn what they have.

I have a question for pond / lake owners and fishermen. I'm bamboozled and at wits end, but a little of the history first. I bought this property about four years ago. It has a stocked pond in the front yard, maybe about a quarter acre in size. I know for a fact it has Bluegill the size of your hand and bigger, we've caught plenty of them. I know for a fact, it has lots and lots of Bass, as we've seen them and caught plenty of them. Only problem, the bass are stunted in growth and most are about 11" - 12" and I don't believe there are any lunkers, but that's not what bothers me? All my neighbors tell me there's great big catfish in my pond, hell even our mailman said he knew that from the previous owner(s) and fishing it. I'm told to use minnows to catch the catfish. For the last two years I have fed the catfish in my pond with floating catfish food purchased from the local co-op. The bluegill go nuts eating it but never seen a catfish surface and grab a nugget? Last fall when we had so much rain the primary spillway could not handle the water, it over flowed over the secondary spillway. In the path of the over flow an eight to nine pound catfish got "beached" on my front lawn. I looked at it with great enthusiasm, soiled my pants, and released it back into my pond. Three days later, I found it floating. The primary spillway at the dam / deep water is a 6 inch PVC pipe. The secondary spillway for over flow is at the opposite shallow end. Eighteen months ago I purchased one hundred (100) channel catfish from the local fish truck. Naturally, I stabilized the fish bag water to the pond water temperature before I cut the bag to release them. We kept an eye on the pond for the next several days and only seen two floaters who didn't make it. That's ninety-eight (98) fish that should have survived. Because the pond is so small to sustain that many fish naturally, I always feed them every 2nd to third day. Since I've owned this property, I've had friends, myself, family and all the neighbors fish my little pond with success for bluegill and bass only. We have all tried fishing for catfish using; red wigglers, night crawlers, minnows, stink bait, corn, hot dogs, cheese, dog food and today, turkey liver. I spent another eight hours fishing for them and not even a nibble. NO ONE has ever caught a catfish from my little pond? I don't have a little boat for the pond and I thought about buying a throw net to see if there's anything there? Next step I'm thinking about is buying a couple large treble hooks and trying to snag to see if they are there? I'm so aggravated, I'm at the point of renting a pump and drain my pond to a few feet and see what's there. There's no other water source or pond / lake that feeds my pond. My pond gets filled when there's an abundance of rain and it filters to a small creek to my pond. Any thoughts guys?

It would be interesting to know what law he broke by demanding money but not threatening, not announcing a hold up or implying he was armed? I guess the assumption is if you demand money in a bank it's considered bank robbery? The funny thing is... Under the fractional reserve banking system, the banks can create and loan money out of thin air that never existed, and charge interest to boot. So, who's robbing who?

You got that right! That's why they are aptly referred to as "the greatest generation". My meager one year jungle vacation was nothing compared to what they did.

Another day in paradise! The CQ runner awakens me at 4:00 A.M. as usual for our workday. Our days last anywhere between 10 hours and around the clock, depending on what’s happening. Our company, the 117th Assault Helicopter Company, consists of basically five platoons; one platoon maintenance, three platoons helicopter slicks, and one platoon guns. The mission of slicks are basically to deliver troops, supplies and equipment to landing zones (LZ’s) in the bush. The mission of guns is to support our ground troops in combat and engage the enemy where found. Depending on the particular helicopter gunship, the armament varied but, all our UH-1C Huey gun ships always had a pilot, co-pilot, crew chief and door gunner, and the crew chief and gunner always had a M-60 machine gun in their lap supported by an elastic luggage strap from the ceiling. The gun ship I was assigned that day had two mini guns and two rocket pods with eight rockets each. Every newbie by company policy was required to spend his first thirty days in maintenance before he could volunteer for guns or slicks. I was freshly out of maintenance on only my third or fourth mission for the day in the gun platoon. As an enlisted man / newbie door gunner, I was lowest in the pecking order, rightfully so. Before a hot breakfast, the crew chief and gunner goes to the aircraft to make ready and load armaments and do any preventive maintenance needed, then goes to mess for possibly the only hot meal of the day, and gets issued two “C†ration meals. And speaking of “C†rations! I’ve watched Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern on the Travel Channel many times and seen him put things down his throat that would gag a maggot. He’s probably got more sense than to try the “C†ration canned ham and eggs! After a standard Army mess breakfast of powdered eggs, imitation bacon, mush, toast and powdered milk gagged down, we attended the daily mission briefing and got assigned our mission. A little history and background is in order first. When I arrived in RVN, the AH-1 Cobra gun ship was becoming most requested for missions due to it’s superior armament. Our UH-1C Huey’s were relegated to less critical missions and backup. The standard morning mission briefings always included our specific assignments, intelligence of known enemy locations, friendly ARVN locations and know anti-aircraft weapons locations, and any communicated friendly activity in route or at our intended destination. One thing I wasn’t especially fond of this morning was the intelligence that Charlie had an abundance of heat seeking missiles normally reserved for fighters, B-52’s and reconnaissance aircraft. Now they had spares and were shooting down helicopters with them. Bummer! So… We received our mission, fly to the Tay Ninh airport and wait for a mission and further instruction, so off we go into the wild blue yonder, flying low into the sky. Most of the time we flew nap of the earth (NOE), meaning we flew just feet above the jungle / earth to reduce the chance of getting shot down. On this particular day we were doing just that. I must say if it were not for people shooting at you, it’s a great way to see the country! We’re flying NOE and maybe two-thirds the way to our destination, in unison all four of us were on the internal intercom and asking, “what the Hâ€! Then, at the speed of sound it hit us… Not four nautical miles in front of us were dozens of bright flashes, jungle, dust, dirt and debris flying sky high then comes the explosions and concussions. The pilot was so shaken I think he did a sharp 360 turn to get the hell out of Dodge! It was a B-52 air strike! The four of us, me, myself, my shadow and my reflection are still here to tell you. The noise and concussions of those bombs (I assume 500 pounders?) are unbelievable at probably just four miles away! I remember thinking at least I don’t have to throw away my underwear so Mom doesn’t see it. With no earth or trees to buff or absorb any of the blast, it was surreal. Communications and lack off between our military forces and ARVN’S resulted in us running into the path of artillery and air strikes on several occasions. Flying along and hearing artillery shells whiz by and not being able to see them or know where they’re coming from or going is another experience.

Just my opinion but, I'd much prefer not to have to deal with it. It's going to probably be a very fast attack, up close and chaotic. No time to consider where that bullet(s) will end up, and I'm responsible for where it goes. Myself, pepper spray would be the best and safest alternative.

I’ve noticed an increase in the number of military veterans here on TGO. First, on behalf of my family, and myself, we sincerely thank you for your service to our country. As veterans we all have many memorable experiences we will never forget, be it from boot camp, cooped up in a submarine, mess hall, missing our loved ones or combat experiences. We have many things in common, two being; defending our country and our personal accounts of our military service. We have differences in our service also… In my day we didn’t have the sophisticated technology and equipment the military deploys today. I spent a year in a tropical jungle environment and many of you served in an arid sandy environment, mountainous, hot, cold, above / below water, in the air, etc. I would really like to hear some of your experiences you’re never going to forget. There are those horror experiences as military veterans that are best kept inside one’s self and not even spoken about to your spouse, so I request we keep it light. I’ll go first. After forty-one years, many memories have faded like an old newspaper but here’s one still fresh in my memory. August 21, 1971 (my birthday) – Shortly after midnight PST, on my non-adjusted watch, we landed in RVN and it was time to exit the Seaboard World Boeing 707, I was exhausted after a thirty-two hour trip from Travis, AFB. We had stopped in Alaska and Okinawa, Japan for fuel and maintenance. While getting my few personal items from the overhead storage compartment and preparing to de-board the plane, many thoughts were racing through my head. The first was a sigh of relief the plane made the trip. At nineteen years old (more on that later), I had just completed advanced individual training (AIT) at Ft. Eustis, VA. My military occupational skill (MOS) was 67N20, aviation mechanic. In short, I knew just enough to get myself into trouble. But I digress. While boarding the Boeing 707 (the first American jet liner if memory serves), its appearance was something out of a Stephen King novel. Massive swaths of paint were peeling from the fuselage, wings and tail sections. The aft section of the plane was encrusted completely in soot from jet fuel exhaust and probably never washed from the day it was built. Standing in line in the aisle of the plane slowly making my way to the exit I’m thinking how ironic this is landing in this hostile foreign country on my birthday, or is it my birthday? For the prior two days before the flight departed we got very little sleep due to all the paper work and processing required before we departed. Add to that the nervous tension and anticipation of actually going to a combat environment with the unknown and not getting a wink of sleep during the flight. I wasn’t the brightest bulb on the tree. Shuffling down the aisle in a fog I’m wondering what time it is here or if there’s a day change, is it my birthday now, yesterday or tomorrow. Let’s think about this Specialist Dennis1209 for a moment, it’s shortly after midnight PST, that’s California time, wait a minute, is it actually just after midnight or noon in California right now? I finally decided it’s not worth the effort to waste precious brain cells on the matter and continued to Zombie my way to the front exit door. I finally made it to the exit door when it hit me both literally and figuratively right upside the kisser! Forget about all the stories you’ve heard about CHARLIE… This country is going to get you first! Here it is pitch black outside just getting off the plane and I’m thinking, “don’t pass out from lack of oxygenâ€. I’ve never had such heat and humidity sap my body so hard! I’m going to have to drink the air I think I’m breathing! Another 24 hours of in country processing, swallowing red and white chalky horse malaria pills with the continued sleep deprivation, and I recognized myself as one of the cast members the other night on “The Walking Deadâ€. Never did figure out if I landed in RVN on my birthday, as there were more pressing issues a nineteen year old had on his mind? In the next episode of "War Stories". "Depends have not been ininvented yet"!

Just out of curiosity, did anyone notice anybody shooting a gun my size or smaller at the competition? I was shooting a little Kimber Ultra CDP II. Only been shooting IDPA for about a year and I don't believe I've ever witnessed anyone shooting a Nano, 642, LCP, LCR, Body Guard, Solo, etc. Or for that matter, I don't even recall anyone shooting a .380 or any other defensive mouse gun. Guess most people want the competitive edge or don't carry the "Mouse"?

From the foundation of our United States Constitution until present, there has been wild accusations between candidates and political parties in congressional and presidential elections. Some historical political allegations have been so outrageous, it defies logic why the accused did not file slander or libel suites? In the early years of our political system, they would have a dual of honor to settle the matter. Fast forward to today's political races. Smear and personal attacks are the norm. A candidate for office can be investigated back to the 3rd grade when a witness comes forth and accuses you of using the "N" word in third grade. I guess my question is... When an allegation is factually made against an opposing political candidate so outrageous is can be easily rebuked and proven, why is there no follow up with a law suit for libel or slander?

Had a whole tasty pig to choose from for lunch. Then get home and get only a selected cut for supper. The weather forecast was scary a day or two before the match but the day turned out fantastic. Had a blast!

I found this article very interesting and hope it catches on in Tennessee. I seem to recall Tn. passed a constitutional hunting rights law awhile back that the tree huggers can't bypass with frivolous suits. http://www.ammoland.com/2012/10/04/a-historic-opportunity-for-louisiana-voters-to-protect-their-gun-rights/#ixzz28cxQSQ3X

Let's settle this loss of life question, shall we? If you're at home, at Wally World, a restaurant, whatever, and someone is pointing a potentially deadly firearm at you in the commission of a felony. Do you suppose their goal is not to kill you if the need, opportunity or hankering arrives? Let's look at it tis way. If someone is committing a crime and pointing a deadly weapon at you, as far as you're concerned it's war, plain and simple. In war does any military simply shoot to stop the threat or shoot to permanently stop the threat? There's goals and objectives in war, and staying alive and not worrying about any future threats is one of them.

It should be obvious what's going to happen when things get really bad and the free food / free rent comes to a halt. As stated above, a decaying city has to raise taxes on the remaining citizens to provide services to the point the remaining citizens can't afford to support themselves anymore and if they have the means, they move. It's an almost unstoppable cycle that can only be temporally delayed by an influx of federal tax payer money. The low life element doesn't need much of an excuse to justify their criminal behavior if not pacified. After intently studying my crystal ball, Tara cards and my collection of chicken bones... They all concur we will have a marshmallow and hot dog roast in a number of major cities when President O concedes the election to Romney next month.

Thanks! Learned my lesson. At the match yesterday when I racked the slide it would not strip off the first round and go into full battery. I had to nudge the slide forward a bit every magazine change. Other than that (losing added seconds) it worked fine.

I'm not criticizing TWRA with my following comments, as to maintain a hunt-able population of wild game we need someone to establish bag limits and regulate the sport, but... Every state I've lived in, you have to take at least an hour prior to hunting / fishing, especially if you're hunting a new area, to read all the hunting / fishing regulations and follow all the asterisks and pound signs around from page to page, not to be in violation of anything. Many of the regulations make no sense to me and I'm of the opinion politics are influencing regulation more than necessary. In addition, make a minor small error and get caught by a Game Warden, such as for example a few inches less of blaze orange on when required in the field, and you're going to get a ticket. It seems all Game Wardens follow the law to the "T" and seldom cut a break for a minor honest to goodness silly mistake. If I were King of Tennessee fish, game and wildlife regulations, here's what I would do... I'd appoint a non political panel of maybe five or so hunters and or fishermen because they would have a horse in the race. The panel would be rotated and replaced every 3-5 years as not to get stale or too comfortable in the position so that they look out for the best interests of our sportsman and bring fresh view points to the table. No new rules or regulations would be implemented or changed without the approval of say... 3/4 of the board. The regulations would be simplified down to specific intent. And speaking of intent... If not immediately obvious to a lay person upon reading the rule / regulation, a simple explanation of why the rule / regulation was implemented would accompany the change. My logic? The vast majority of wildlife habitat is privately owned. We pay property taxes on the use and management of that land. Game and wildlife are considered the property of the people (State). The game and wildlife are on the welfare food stamp program getting a free lunch on my garden and crops Hunters, fisherman and property owners should have more input and influence on sport regulations, not just writing in your comments for consideration.

Confucius, he say, "keep your 1911 close and keep your Glock even closer". Well, I could be wrong? It could have been Flavis Josephus, Buddha, Gandhi, Einstein, Blomberg or me who said it? But this being a 1911 Forum in its infancy, you get the idea

Been there, done that. Sometimes it takes a hard slap in the face to wake up and smell the coffee, so to speak. The best of life is not material, it loved ones, friends and family, and good memories of the times we shared in this life.