My Issue With Anti-Gunners

When it comes to the second amendment I've come to the conclusion that there are not exactly two groups. However there are two groups that garner the most attention from the media, and of course to induce fear they make those who favor the second out to look like raving lunatics and those oppose to be the guardian angel of the country. Lets all agree on one thing firearms are stacked deep in the history of our country. It's not exactly like we had a series of boxing matches with the British, they shot at founding fathers and we shot back. Many men died on both sides and in the end we had the freedom to be our own country. Many times firearms have been used in this country and by this country and her citizens. For war, for protection, and for law enforcement.

Now before I get into the heart of the matter let me break it down how I see the people split over the topic of firearms and ownership by the average citizen. Lets start on the far anti side of the topic. These are the people who would love nothing more than to remove the second from the Bill of Rights, take all weapons away from the average citizen and leave them only for law enforcement, the military and federal agencies. My counter point is to look at what has happened with the bans in the UK and Australia. Sure death by gun is down, but overall violent crime is on the rise. Wait lets look at this last sentence again, or rather a small portion. In two countries with strict bans in which the people had their firearms confiscated there is still gun related murder. No guns allowed in the country, yet there is gun related murder. One more time people no guns, yet gun murder. Certainly I'm not the only one who goes well that certainly worked out well huh.

This is were you start hearing them go "Well we only want common sense laws." If you are the type of person who requires a law for something that is common sense, maybe you need to reevaluate how your living your life and the way in which you make your choices. To try and make laws for common sense means it was not common sense to begin with. I see this as a major problem within our country today, people do not want to think for themselves and would rather be told what is okay by the government, but then complain that their rights are not being respected.

My second group as we move away from the hardcore anti-gunners are those people who don't like them for one reason of another. Bad experience with one, taught to fear the gun instead of respect it, or any number of reasons. This is the not in my house crowd as I think of them. Now honestly as I view this group they don't care if honest citizens own firearms for hunting, protection, or should the need ever arise for the unorganized militia to be called on in a time of state or national emergency. They just don't want them in their homes. I work with a person like this, she explained it fully one night as we talked about many issues. Others owning them does not bother her, but she'll never allow one in her house. I can respect that choice, as she respects my right to keep and bare arms to protect myself and the people I care about.

Next are the average gun owners as I dub this group, and i place myself in this category as a man who only recently purchased is first firearm. We make a carefully informed decision about each firearm we purchase, some are just to collect for one reason or another. Others we actually have a purpose for, these could be hunting, self defense, competition shooting whatever the cause it is done with a reason. Personally I own for the purposes of self defense with the idea to maybe start hunting and competition shooting in the future. Some of the things we are sure to do is learn how to properly handle and care for our firearms. We handle them with care and always take the time to practice on a range before we may have to use them to protect ourselves or fulfill their purpose.

The next group heading down the second amendment line are you men and women who have been involved in the use of firearms from a young age, it tradition and they are the ones willing to speak out as they are well educated on the topics before us. These are the people we can all learn from and as such I'm willing to listen to and hear out. They own multiple firearms and advocate for having the restrictions that have been placed on our rights with thought out arguments using verifiable facts that are more current to the times. Additionally they will back it up with historic references to prove how such restrictions have failed the people in the past.

The last group includes those who shout and yell at every chance to be allowed to get what they want when the want no questions asked. They'll say just about anything to get attention on themselves, and some of it comes off as if to make them seem nuts to others. How stable or unstable a person may be is not up to me to judge. This group comes off looking like bullies from the other direction and these are the types of people that the media puts in front of the cameras as much as possible to push an irrational fear into people about firearms ownership. When someone like this is not available they will chop the footage in such a way to make anyone seem like an overzealous type.

As I begin to wind down from that let me try to get one point clearly across to anyone who reads this. Everyone wants their rights respected and to me that is not a problem. What does become a problem for me is when the rights of one group are attacked by another group. Let us all understand the Bill of Rights was set forth to reaffirm the God given rights every man, woman, and child. Now we all have heard the shouting from both sides and the misuses of information that go on. Anti-gunners point to a report that is almost 20 years old and had less than 300 respondents if memory serves me correctly. This is before the national background check system went into place, so these calls for background checks like it doesn't already happen are ridiculous in my eyes and the eyes of many firearms owners. The 40% everyone keeps pointing to is sadly an out of date number, and considering that mainly liberals are the one toting it around like their personal savior they don't know what to do when you point out the two facts above are resort to name calling instead or continuing a rational discussion.

Anti-gunners will do whatever they can to try and prove the average citizen should not be allowed to own a firearm. They will say in the name of common sense here is what we should do, and they even go so far as to say look here I bought a gun doing only what was the minimum legally required of me. Case in point can be read here.

http://msmagazine.com/blog/2013/06/12/my-month-with-a-gun-week-one/

Now to my fellow Americans and anyone around the world who doesn't want to read it, or only glanced at it I'll give you the short version here. The author freely admits she does not like firearms is a member of the Brady Campaign who was in a shouting match with gun owners over Starbucks policy towards firearms owners. She gets her permit to concealed carry and probably carry in general, I'm not sure where she lives. I just hope its no where near me after what I read. She buys a firearm without difficulty, well there is a real duh moment if you have no criminal past why would you expect a hold up on NICS, after all it is the (National Instant Check System). She leaves the gun shop and for whatever reason believes it is loaded, as a matter of fact her paranoia is such that because she doesn't know how to clear her weapon, or load it she panics and heads back to where a cop was preforming a traffic stop. She never once mentions taking a class or going to take one, yet one of the premises of her experiment is to be ready to use it if needed. On top of all this she then say she is writing the article from her local Starbucks firearm in her possession, and almost comes off as if she wants to jump out of her seat and start shooting right there.

I've carried in different places and been around people acting in various ways, and honestly I've never been tempted to just pull out my gun because I didn't like someones behavior. In my honest opinion the people who are crying the most for these common sense laws are the ones who have it the least to begin with. I honestly believe the time has come for a return to critical thinking, and self accountability. Time to stop blaming tools for your actions, time for others to stop blaming the actions of others on a tool.

My firearms sit loaded and ready to be used if necessary, and you know they are so lazy they stay were I put them. They don't run out the door and start shooting people, they don't slap people, they don't rob banks, 7-11s or liquor stores. They just sit there, they are a tool that I control, they don't control me. Anyone who believes guns control the person needs to visit a shrink and try to figure out why they think guns can function on their own.

My First 3 Days of Carry

So far everywhere I've gone when I step out on my door I have my Springfield Armory XDs on my person. The only place that has been the exception is to work, as they have a no weapons policy in place. While I wish I could have it on me I do follow the established policy of my company. To this point when concealed either no one was able to see I had it which is good for me as it means I am doing it right. The open carry is much the same nothing has been said, and if anyone saw it they don't say anything to me about it. As day 4 progresses, I stopped into Wal-Mart with it out in the open and made a couple of quick purchases before heading home for awhile before going to the family barbecue.

Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans, I urge those of you who can to openly display your firearm to honor those who sacrificed first to let us be free.

The Challenge To Carry

Now after the rally I came to the conclusion that it was time to make sure I was always in possession of a firearm. After all what good is a firearm at home when you out at the store or to a meal with the family. The choice between carry style as far as Open Carry, in other words out there for all to see. Versus Concealed Carry, hidden from plain view is a personal choice for each person. Some are only one style or the other, and others will mix it up depending on any number of factors.

Personally I prefer to conceal, I'd rather keep the bad guys guessing but again that is me. I'm sure there will be times I have it out in the open, as an example today on the 4th of July I'll have it in plain view in honor of those who picked up the musket and went to war to secure our freedom, and those who served to defend our freedom.

Now my challenge is in response to a woman from the Brady Campaign who decided to see what is was like to own a gun for 30 days and do only the minimum to purchase, be able to carry concealed, and be ready to use in defense of herself and others in private and public. Now I applaud her for stepping outside her comfort zone, certainly it is not easy to do, but I take issue with her idea of minimum required. She had no idea how to clear her new weapon, remove the magazine, or chamber a round to use. Her ignorance shows through by the fact that she never once mentions taking a class to learn to use her firearm.

Here is my main issue with the anti, commonsense law crowd. They know nothing about how a firearm works in reality. All their information seemingly comes from movies, TV shows, and fictional books. Responsible gun owners have commonsense, if we don't know how something works we take a class to get familiar with its operation. Anyone who reads it and doesn't shake their head at her lack of commonsense find a gun owner explain to them how you don't find any issue with her actions and see if they can explain it to you better. If you find me, well I'll Gibbs smack you and then tell you why her behavior needs to be corrected.

At one point near the end it seems as if shes thinking about committing murder in her local Starbucks. I have to call bullshit on that one, just because she bought the firearm doesn't mean it suddenly took control of her free will. Any crime she commits is because of her own free choices, the firearm is tool the thoughts where in her head before she owned it. For her and her ilk it would be an easy thing to blame. In cases like that I think we should blame pencils for misspelled words, forks for making people fat, and cars for DUI accidents.

So this is how I will respond, I will carry everywhere I go that I can legally do so a mix of open and concealed carry to see how it works for me. An American citizen with commonsense, that actually uses his head just like the millions of gun owners who daily manage to think things through and just because we carry doesn't provide an urge to commit murder.

Events of the Erie 2nd Amendment / Premption Rally

Now with the last week or so being I really wasn't able to get to this any sooner. Why I chose today to get this done only God knows why. I think it may well have something to do with it being the 4th of July, but read on and see what happened through the eyes of a person with nothing to gain for printing lies. After all I do this for free so I have nothing personal to gain.

I made my way into Erie about 10 am and along the way in stopped into Bob's Gun Shop and Indoor Shooting Range. Now with the questions over the ordinance and being a married man who has his family to worry about I was going up empty holster. A conversation with Bob and a few moments later I had a red training Glock in my XDs holster. Bob rounded up a few more and let me take them with in an attempt to show our contempt to the city over the ordinance that for all I can see is beyond state law.

I'm certain there are some who would wonder why I did not just take my XDs and thumb my nose at the city. Simply put if you factor out my wife's concerns about how far the EPD would be willing to go to enforce the ordinance. Why would I risk the chance of the city making $300 off me, if I'm putting $300 forward it was going to Joshua Prince who is the attorney of record for the group Open Carry Pennsylvania. As I make my way down to the area around Perry Square I meet up with Joshua and his father for the pre-rally meal.

Now we sat down to eat and discuss many topics mostly related to gun rights, and the case against the city. I mean from trial court to state supreme court inside 24 hrs it is certainly is worth note to many of us. So as the meal came to an end we gathered outside and watched the clock tic away until we could enter and begin. I had heard from many attendees that the EPD felt the need to remind them multiple times that the rally didn't start until 1 pm. This seemed like over the top behavior to provoke a response, but those I stood with laughed it off and wouldn't bite or give the EPD any reason.

Now when we walked over to the park a couple of people began circling the park. One of the first things we took note of was the trash laying around the park much off it just short of the can. Many of us called this into question on social media as we didn't need the city trying to claim to the media we trashed the park. The other big observation was a set of drunken individuals who continued to drink and took issues with one member of the rally prior to our entrance. While I don't know the problem I do know Chief Mark Kessler was in attendance and proceeded to call the EPD and report everything he witnessed.

For those who are not from or ever been in Erie, PA let me make one thing very clear. City hall and the EPD are on the other side of the street from the park. So 100 to 300 yards away at a max, and it took them almost 30 mins to start walking through the park. There arrival was not about the call made by Chief Kessler but rather to follow orders, as was obvious when they merely shoo'd away "One Eye Willie".

Justin wanted to be the man to lead the group in officially to begin the rally, so we did allow him that honor as we proceeded into the park. When asked if he was aware he was breaking the ordinance he responded "I know." While the EPD tried to press for ID's no one produced theirs under the advisement of the Prince Law Firm. The EPD officers were told as much on multiple occasions.

This is the point were those of us in attendance continued filming and photographing to include the members of the EPD present, who in turn were filming us. Sometimes shoving the camcorder right in the face of a person in attendance. When the speeches began the EPD proceeded to record the tags of every car, truck, and motorcycle around the park. The grand idea is to use facial recognition to issue the tickets once they identify everyone who was there and in violation of the ordinance. With the kicker being in my mind that the ordinance has no exemption for law enforcement, so every uniformed officer in attendance was also in violation of the ordinance.

Now to read the Erie Times News they'd have you believe that the citations were written then, alas that is a load of crap. If the EPD wrote a ticket it certainly wasn't for an ordinance violation. Now to listen to certain types of people like the city solicitor, or Justin's biggest fan Russ they'd have you believe that our firearms will just randomly jump out of the holster and go off. Well they didn't and they stayed put through it all. The fight against the city's blatant disregard for state law continues and on this the 4th of July I feel it important to make sure unbiased information as possible is listed for the public.

Yesterday while at work one of the local stations had the city solicitor on for an interview. Of course they tossed up softball questions and he couldn't even keep from stuttering through them. He ignores the issue of the city's violation of state law using the SCOTUS decision in Heller to justify keeping the ordinance. While the PA supreme court has their own rulings on similar cases involving Chapter 18 Section 6120 violations. So we stand up against what we consider and unlawful ordinance and place it before the higher court to consider.

Second Amendment Rally In Erie, PA

This Saturday June 22, 2013 at 1:00 pm there will be a rally in support of the second amendment. Since the tragedy of Sandy Hook there have been numerous calls for greater gun control. The one thing that many people don't seem to take into account is that these laws will not effect the way in which criminals behave. The real end result is to create a greater pool of victims for criminals. The activist group Open Carry Pennsylvania is conducting this rally and encourages all to attend who support the Right to Keep and Bare Arms.

While Pennsylvania is an open carry state the issue with the rally on Saturday is a city ordinance that prevents the carry of firearms in city parks. Currently Open Carry Pennsylvania founder Justin Dillon is fighting the city based on the state's preemption law. A short blurb reads as follows.

   Section 6120(a) of the Uniform Firearms Act which states: "No ... municipality ... may in any manner regulate the lawful ... possession ... of firearms ... when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth."

While a first line effort to place an injunction against the city ordinance was denied, Mr. Dillon's Lawyer Joshua Prince, Esq. has filed an emergency appeal to a higher court at this time. Currently all supports of the second amendment, and working to repeal this ordinance which by my layman's understanding of the law is illegal under Pennsylvania law. The city ordinance reads as follows.

Hunting and Firearms. No person in a park shall hunt, trap or pursue wild life at 
any time. No person shall use, carry or possess firearms of any descriptions, or air-rifles, spring 
puns, bow and arrows, slings, paint ball weapons or any other forms of weapons potentially 
inimical to wild life and dangerous to human safety, or any instrument that can be loaded with 
and fire blank cartridges, or any kind of trapping device. Shooting into park area from beyond 
park boundaries is forbidden.

Now Erie parks especially the one where the rally is to be held are not known for dense tree cover, or anything more than the required couple of squirrels. Additionally given PA's hunting laws it is illegal to hunt there anyway as it does not meet distance requirements I remember as a young boy. 

Of course no ordinance  or law is complete without a penalty. What is it you ask? Well as printed in an Erie Times article this is the penalty you face for carrying in a park.

Violation of the park-related city ordinance is a summary offense punishable by a fine of $100 to $300 and a maximum prison term of 90 days for failure to pay the fine.

Now let me get this straight, the city expects their citizens to go into the park unarmed. Now if you get attacked I'm guessing they'll expect you to tell the person causing you harm to hold on while you leave the park area so you can retrieve your gun, cause as we all know criminals are so willing to allow you to even the odds or gain the upper hand before they victimize you.

It is time for the people to wake up, take responsibility for their own safety and protect themselves. I know I have and I am willing too if necessary. If some one breaks into my home 911 will be called, but it will be with my phone in one hand and my gun to protect myself, my family, and my home in the other.

Some information taken from the Pennsylvania Firearms Owners Association. Visit them at www.pafoa.org

Back to educate and advocate

When I started this blog out was for a class project. Now in the wake of tragedy I return to educate inform and advocate for a common sense approach to how law makers approach their next moves. I oppose all feel good legislation and that is what keeps happening. I suspect that there will be people on both side of the issue to comment. My only rule is to be respectful I will not tolerate insults and name calling here. Now if you can abide by that rule feel free to contribute.

Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms

Within the state of Pennsylvania to carry a concealed weapon you are required to obtain a License to Carry Firearms. This is a process wherein you go to the county sheriff's department and fill out the application and pay a nominal fee. In Erie county the process is simple. You are "required to have a valid Pennsylvania state drivers license, the fee is $26.00, and at that time they will take a photo of you." ("Erie county sheriff's,") After you complete these steps the sheriff's office will begin their investigative process.

The process itself has a time limit of 45 days for completion, but can be completed sooner. During this time they check that the applicant has not lost their right to carry "in accordance with 18 PA C.S. section 6109." ("Carrying firearms in," )  If any violations are found then they will be denied the license. In addition if the applicant's reputation or character is in question they may deny the applicant.

Should the applicant be approved to carry in a concealed capacity they will be issued a license. "This is valid for 5 years, unless revoked sooner." ("§ 33.115. pennsylvania," 2001)  This could be due to misuse or related criminal conduct. In all the original plus two copies will be in existence. The original is given to the licensee, the first copy sent to the Pennsylvania State Police, and the second copy is kept on file with the issuing authority. They retain this copy for a period of six years.

Still the license to carry, does not mean you can go and buy a firearm. All individuals are still required to go through the standard background check for purchase.



§ 33.115. pennsylvania license to carry firearms. (2001, February 23). Retrieved from http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/037/chapter33/s33.115.html

Carrying firearms in pennsylvania. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=4451&&PageID=462424&level=2&css=L2&mode=2

Erie county sheriff's department. Retrieved from http://eriecountygov.org/sheriff/divisions/firearms.aspx