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Talking to Your Wife About Guns & Conceal Carry Permits
Jessie Kay
Fri September 11th, 2009
You're getting a gun or a conceal carry permit and your wife or girlfriend is angry. She doesn't like guns. She is apprehensive about having a loaded handgun in the house and doesn't like the thought of you getting your concealed weapons permit. Well,
I was that way once too. I didn't grow up with guns in the house. No one in my family hunted wild game. I wouldn't say that I was anti-gun or pro-gun; I just never gave guns a second thought. I assumed guns were bad. I assumed that the only people who had
guns were hunters, police officers, and criminals. The thought of Joe Schmoe concealing a gun under his shirt while walking around the mall was incomprehensible. What would he need a gun for unless he was out looking for trouble? This isn't the Wild West -
a trip to Macy's isn't going to end in a shootout. It's a mall, not a battlefield! Then I met my husband. I knew he was an avid hunter before I even started dating him, so I knew there would be guns in his home. The shotguns didn't bother me much, since they
were for a hobby. But when I found out he had a concealed weapons permit and he stored a handgun in a safe under the bed, I almost flipped! I didn't understand - what did he need a gun for? Why does he have a permit to carry a gun around? I did not like this
at all.
But eventually, I came around.
Here are some tips, from a female former gun-hater, to help your wife or girlfriend understand & be comfortable with gun ownership and/or why you'd want a concealed carry permit.
Tip #1 - Go slow & don't be pushy: She's upset you got a conceal carry permit and now you're sleeping on the couch. The best thing to do is to not push the issue. She's an adult and you both have a right to your own opinions. Talk about guns and conceal
carry with her but don't resort to incessant pleading and nagging if she is refusing to listen. This will only have a negative effect (no one likes to be told what to do!). If she does come around, she'll have to do so on her own terms. Take it slow (no daily
gun discussions!) - no one likes to be told what to believe! She isn't going to change her beliefs overnight -- your decision to get a conceal carry permit didn't happen on a whim and likewise, she isn't going to robotically become pro-gun in a few hours.
Tip #2 - Explain your reasons: Getting a concealed weapons permit is a big decision and I'm sure you've thought it over carefully. Explain to her why you want to carry a gun. Perhaps it's because you want a gun for family protection? Has your neighborhood
had a series of break-ins? You want to carry it for self protection -- crime doesn't make an appointment! Even if you're just expressing your right to bear arms, give detailed examples or she might think you're just out looking for trouble.
Tip #3 - Don't get angry: It's inevitable - after you explain your reasons why you want to carry a gun, your girlfriend or wife going to retort. She might say stuff like, "You're paranoid!" "You never were like this before!" "You must be hanging out with
that dirtbag Rob again!" "It's just another one of your phases." Her responses might make you angry. You might not agree with her anti-gun beliefs, but please respect them. Change of any kind is tough and you cannot force her into your choice. Let her express
her opinions on firearms and she just might come around with time.
Tip #4 - Don't get a conceal carry permit without telling her: The worst thing you can do is to go behind your wife's back and get a conceal carry permit. You won't be sleeping on the couch - you'll be packing up and staying with a buddy for a few weeks.
If you get a conceal carry permit behind her back and start carrying a gun everywhere, your wife will feel deceived and outraged when she finds out (which she will. Trust me). Yes, you're an adult and don't need permission from your wife to get a conceal carry
permit and carry a gun, but as your companion, she deserves to know.
Tip #5 - Direct her to the Cornered Cat website: Cornered Cat is a firearms site directed at women. Written by a woman for women, Cornered Cat is the best online resource for women and firearms. http://www.corneredcat.com
Tip #6 - Discuss local news: Point out situations where the story would've turned out differently, had the victim been carrying a gun.Make sure not to harp on the issue, as she could tire from this quickly. Use this tip with caution, as this can come off
as lecturing. A gentle approach is key.
Tip # 7 - Take her to the gun range: One of the best ways to get her familiar with firearms is to take her to the range. By handling firearms herself, she will get a firsthand look at gun operation. Before I handled a gun, I thought a gun could go off
on its own, shooting up the whole room. After learning how a gun works, I was less fearful of them - and I even discovered I liked shooting! Don't harp on the self-defensive topic. Just have fun shooting targets and perhaps she'll come home from the gun range
with a new hobby.
These tips hopefully will help you approach a nervous spouse about conceal carry and gun ownership. Even if her gun ownership views don't align with your own, always respect her opinions and realize that she may never come around.
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Balancing Safety & Readiness: Carrying “Cocked and Locked?”
October 21, 2013 | by Col (Dr) Benjamin Findley
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CONDITION 1: Cocked and Locked
Most shooters like to carry a single-action-only or 1911-style pistol a certain way to best balance readiness with safety. Some shooters like to carry “Cocked and Locked” (CL) and some do not. Some believe that carrying CL is very scary, a definite safety
hazard, and they don’t feel comfortable doing so. The mode of readiness and safety preferred by almost all of the experts for 1911s and most single-action pistols is called “Cocked and Locked.” There are several considerations, concepts, and pros and cons
to understand in making your own decision. I recently added a Colt 1911 XSE Combat Commander to my stable of defensive carry 1911s and single-action pistols. Earlier I had to make a decision about how I would carry these guns and feel comfortable and safe
doing so. Here are some of the things I considered to help you. After I made my personal decision, I strongly believe that I made the correct decision for myself and will share it with you later in the article.
Jeff Cooper, a Marine Lieutenant Colonel who served in both World War II and the Korean War, is recognized as the father of what is commonly known as “The Modern Technique” of handgun shooting and considered by many to be one of the world’s foremost experts
on the use and history of small arms. He was well-known for his advocacy of large caliber handguns for personal defense, especially the 1911 Colt. Cooper recognized that there are several conditions of readiness in which single-action guns like the 1911 can
be carried. According to many shooters, he promulgated the following Conditions of Readiness:
Condition 0 – Round in the chamber; hammer cocked; thumb safety is OFF; full magazine in gun.
Condition 1 – (Also known as “Cocked and Locked”)- Round in the chamber; hammer cocked; thumb safety is ON; full magazine in gun.
Condition 2 – Round in the chamber; hammer down; full magazine in gun.
Condition 3 – Chamber is empty; hammer down; full magazine in gun.
Condition 4 – Chamber is empty; hammer down; NO magazine in the gun.
Seeing someone carrying a single-action semi-automatic pistol in Condition 1 CL with the hammer back makes some people nervous. They think the gun can go off at any time, is not safe, probably has close to a “hair” trigger press, and it seems to be just
too ready for action. It probably is more psychological and subjective, than realistic and factual, but let’s explore it. The above Conditions have parallels in safe-action, double/single action, and double-action-only pistols. A hammerless striker-fired pistol,
double/single actions, and double-action-only pistols with their hammers at rest seem more peaceful and safe in comparison to a single action pistol for some, since they can also be somewhat quickly ready to fire.
Without a doubt, you must have the confidence and comfortableness that the pistol you are carrying in your holster is both safe and ready when you need it to defend your life. You can’t have second thoughts or doubts about being able to quickly and instinctively
go into action in an effective way with no fumbling or uncertainties and in a safe manner.
Obviously, it is possible to carry your 1911 or any single-action pistol in any of the first four Conditions above for self-defense purposes, given survival as your number one priority. You would not consider Condition 4, however, for immediate readiness,
since the chamber is empty and no magazine is in your gun. Let’s consider the pros and cons of each of the other realistic Conditions.
Condition 3. This Condition with the chamber empty and hammer down requires you to manually cycle or rack the slide before firing. This is a time disadvantage up front and after shooting. To return the gun to its carry position after shooting, you have
to drop the magazine, empty the chamber, drop the hammer, reload and reinsert the magazine, all without shooting an innocent person or yourself. This Condition is a dangerous practice for those who lack confidence in their handgun manipulation skills and techniques,
draw presentation skills, are untrained, unpracticed, and overly-nervous if the handgun even looks like it might be instantaneously useable. Of course, it is your sole decision, but I suggest you get proper training, practice your handgun manipulation skills
and draw regularly with time constraints, and do not carry your pistol with an empty chamber. Your carry handgun can be a great time away from coming into battery and being readily available instantly for your rescue, when you are under stress. Of course,
this is a hazard to you and those around you, but maybe not to the bad guy attacking you. Hey, your life is at stake! Recognize that this Condition REQUIRES you to PRACTICE the necessary techniques and skills regularly for effectiveness, readiness, and safety.
Condition 2. This Condition with a round in the chamber, hammer down, and full magazine in place can be dangerous and some say the source of more negligent-accidental discharges than any of the other conditions. When you rack the slide to chamber a round,
the hammer is cocked and the manual safety is off. This is the way a single-action only functions by design. The hammer must be cocked either manually or automatically by racking the slide BEFORE a single action can fire. There is no way to avoid this with
the single action or 1911 design. In order to lower the hammer when you don’t need to fire any more or are returning your gun to its holster, the trigger must be pulled and the hammer lowered slowly by your other hand with the thumb on the firing pin, the
end of which is only a few millimeters away from the primer of a live round and a discharge. Should your thumb slip, the hammer would drop and fire the gun. Not only would a round be launched under embarrassing, dangerous, and possibly tragic circumstances,
but your thumb would be behind the slide as it cycles, resulting in possible serious injury to your hand. Another consideration with this Condition is that a true 1911A1 or Series 70-type pistol, for example, does NOT have a firing pin block, like my Series
80 Colt 1911 XSE Combat Commander does. So any impact on the hammer which is resting on the firing pin could conceivably cause the gun to go off, like when dropped. Recognize that in order to fire the gun, the hammer must be manually cocked with the thumb.
In an emergency situation, this adds another possibility for something to go wrong and this movement takes time, slows the acquisition of the sight picture, and affects accuracy some. Carrying a 1911 or single action pistol in Condition 2 is comparable to
carrying a double-action semi-auto with its counter-intuitive manual safety in the on position. Both place an awkward and unnecessary step between you and survival. PRACTICE!
Condition 1. This Condition is called “Cocked And Locked,” has the chamber loaded with a round, hammer cocked, thumb safety ON, and full magazine in place. To fire your shot, you MUST flick the safety down (or to the off position) before firing and flick
it back up when you’re finished. It is VERY IMPORTANT to flick or switch the safety OFF when engaging the threat, so your handgun will be in a Ready-To-Fire state to confront the bad guy/gal. It is critical to recognize that you CAN BE KILLED by the bad guy/gal
if you fail to switch your safety off BEFORE attempting to fire at the threat. History is replete with several individuals in law enforcement, the military, and in civilian encounters who have died because of their failure to switch their safeties OFF in a
tactical engagement. This MUST BE PRACTICED before carrying in Condition 1. Switching off the Thumb Safety is a challenging test of your familiarity with your single-action handgun and is a MANDATORY REQUIREMENT for firing your 1911 or single-action pistol.
With practice this necessary manual dexterity can be learned and remembered by any shooter with opposing thumbs, although some do not want to take the chance of forgetting to do so. Practice will instill these skills in your muscle memory. Since I rotate my
carry guns among single-action, double-action only (DAO), and double-single action (DA-SA) pistols, I must very consciously and deliberately understand the type of trigger action I am carrying and respond appropriately by intensely focusing on my handgun I
am carrying. I usually do NOT recommend rotating among the various trigger actions for carry gun purposes; however, the necessary skills and focuses can be learned with much time and practice. I carry my single-actions and 1911s in Condition 1.
H&K P30 Lite LEM Variation 1- 9mm
A 1911 or single-action pistol in Condition 1 is comparable to a striker-fired, safe-action pistol, like a Glock, which is always in a semi-cocked condition when a round is in the chamber anyway. The initial pull of this trigger performs generally the
same function as the thumb safety of a 1911 or single action. It’s also comparable to any variety of double-action semi-autos with the safety off, as the trigger press cocks the hammer and fires the gun in one single motion, though the long and cumbersome
double-action trigger press is designed neither for control nor accuracy. Usually my single-action pistols’ trigger presses (un-tuned) are between 4 and 6 pounds, while GENERALLY my DAOs’ presses are between 5.5 and 9-10 pounds and a DA-SA is between 5.5 and
10-12 on the first press, followed by 5.5-6 pounds subsequent press. Of course, this VARIES SIGNIFICANTLY, but my un-tuned single-action and 1911 presses are all less than any of my un-tuned DAO or DA-SA presses. However, my out-of-the-box H&K P30 “Lite”
LEM Trigger Variation 1 DAO has a press of about 4.5 pounds and you probably know of several other exceptions. While the operation of any handgun requires some training to ingrain the proper muscle memory, the 1911′s single-action mechanism is easier to learn
than the double-action/single-action system because it is less complex and more instinctive TO ME.
Condition 0. When your pistol is in Condition 0, the firearm is in its most ready state. A loaded magazine is inserted into the firearm; there is a round in the chamber; the hammer is cocked; and the external thumb safety is disabled. So the question then
is “Why would someone intentionally disengage a safety device prior to holstering their firearm?” The shooter only needs to press the trigger to discharge it. Yes, we recognize the rule and required discipline that you must keep your finger off the trigger
until you have eyes and sights on target. Consider that this is the Condition that law enforcement officers and soldiers carry their weapons in if they are in a danger area with known enemies in the immediate vicinity. Does Condition 0 apply to a Glock, Springfield
XD-XDM, Smith & Wesson M&P, or similar striker-fired, safe-action pistol? It is a matter of definition, since most have no external, manual safeties by design. A 1911 has an external manual safety, is hammer-fired, and you must disengage the manual safety
before firing by design. So yes, the Glocks, XDs, M&Ps, et al can be carried in Condition 0. Should they? Some feel Condition 0 is too unsafe and feel uncomfortable (unless the gun is pointed at a target), especially if the gun has a safety and is not engaged.
The only thing holding the hammer back is the sear and all it takes is enough force applied to the hammer and it can fall. Is it really unsafe? Many think not.
The only way a cocked and unlocked 1911 is going to go off is if you pull the trigger. Between the grip safety, firing pin block (on series 80 types) and the half cock notch, the 1911 pistol just is not going off unless you press the trigger. To me, I
see nothing wrong with carrying a 1911 cocked and locked in Condition 1, the way it was designed to be carried. Now if you feel uncomfortable with that, perhaps you should select another pistol for your purpose. I believe that there is no “one size fits all”
for carrying Condition. No matter what gun you are carrying, if you are in a bad neighborhood at night and several thugs are quickly approaching you, then you would probably want to be in Condition 1 or Condition 0 even. So I believe Condition 1 is the best
balance between safety and readiness of firing for a 1911 pistol for civilian self defense.
The “Half-Cock” Position as a Safety
The Half-Cock position on the M1911 has been used as a mode of carry and for some safety since World War II. Several “war stories” mention that soldiers regularly used the half-cocked safety position especially at night during patrols because bringing
the weapon to the full-cocked position from the half cocked created much less noise and left-handed shooters couldn’t use the thumb safety effectively. So using the half-cocked position helped with noise reduction and thumb safety manipulation for lefties,
while maintaining some safety that could quickly be released. It is really intended as a “fail-safe” backup and is not recommended as a safety. When the hammer is pulled back just a few millimeters it “half cocks” and pressing the trigger will not fire the
gun [on genuine mil-spec G.I. pistols only I believe]. The half-cock is intended as a fail-safe in the event that the sear hooks were to fail and it is not recommended as a mode of carry.
Colt 1911 XSE Combat Commander-4.25″ Barrel, .45
On guns like my Colt 1911 XSE Combat Commander with Series 80 type hammers, the hammer will fall from half-cock when the trigger is pulled. This would also include guns from Springfield Armory, Sig, and modern production Colts, etc. My Colt XSE has a Series
80 hammer-firing pin system with a firing pin block safety. Series 80 is a passive “safety” that physically blocks movement of the firing pin until the trigger is pulled. There are 3 safeties on my Colt Series 80: grip safety; external thumb safety; & Firing
Pin Block Safety (FPB.) [The original M1911 lockwork design (which is now usually referred to as Series 70) relied only on a strong firing pin return Spring to prevent a discharge in the event of a muzzle-down drop.] The difference Series 80 and 70 is that
Series 80 incorporates a firing pin block. I believe it uses 3 extra levers in the lockwork that work together to block the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled. Para-Ordnance, SIG, Auto Ordnance, Remington, and Taurus have adopted Colt’s Series 80 or a
similar firing pin block system as well. Kimber’s Series II pistols and most models of S&W 1911s have a FPB safety also, but it is a different system than Colt’s and is disabled by depressing the grip safety. Older Colts and most other clone guns lack a FPB
safety and can possibly discharge if there is a round in the chamber and the gun is dropped on a hard surface, or if struck a blow hard enough to allow the firing pin to jump forward and impact the primer of the loaded round. I have heard that usually using
an extra-strong firing pin return spring and/or a titanium firing pin will improve safety in these older designs.
To me the greatest benefit of Cocked-and-Locked carry in a 1911 or single-action pistol (besides instant readiness) is the soft and short trigger press and excellent trigger control and accuracy it makes possible… because the only operation the trigger
must perform is to simply drop the hammer. Of course I am biased to single-action handguns, but I do use and carry other action triggers. For my goals, skills, and training, the other types of semiautomatics without tuning and gunsmithing cannot provide the
precise, light and short, and consistent trigger press of a 1911 or single action pistol. Again, I must focus on thumbing down the external safety lever. So for me, generally speaking, Condition 1 offers the best balance of readiness and safety. Its biggest
drawback is that it looks dangerous to people who don’t understand the operation and safety features of the pistol and don’t practice them. Condition 1 to me with my skill set is obviously the fastest way to get my 1911 into action, the least prone to mistakes,
the most direct path to precise trigger control, and by far the safest way to carry and operate my guns. Again, it is VERY IMPORTANT to remember to switch the safety OFF when engaging the bad guy/gal, so your handgun will be in a Ready-To-Fire state to confront
the bad guy/gal.
To get yourself comfortable with CL carry, put a snap cap in the chamber and then carry it around the home CL. If during your normal day to day movements, the hammer never accidentally falls and the safety stays engaged, you’ll start to get a comfort level
and appreciation for the main safety feature of any gun– your brain with finger off the trigger. Only when you’re ready and comfortable, start putting live ammo in the chamber and carry CL.
The ability to get your shot off quickly and accurately is your main goal when carrying concealed in a self-defense confrontation. How long does it take you to rack the slide, chamber a round and be ready? You can learn and practice this under time constraints
to be successful. You can also learn and develop your muscle memory through practice to switch the safety off quickly when you already have a round in the chamber. You must decide for yourself what is the optimal carry Condition and perfect it through regular
training and practice.
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More than 91,000 concealed-carry permits have been issued in Illinois since the state began allowing guns to be carried in public a year ago, according to Illinois State Police figures released Friday.
State police said 91,651 permits had been granted by the end of 2014. Cook County, which includes Chicago, led the way with almost 24,000 permits, or more than one-quarter of Illinois' total. Suburban Will County was a distant second, with more than 6,100 permits.
Illinois in 2013 became the last state in the nation to sign off on allowing concealed carry.
State police said the number of permits issued last year in Illinois peaked at about 18,000 in both March and April before sharply declining. Last month, about 5,000 permits were approved.
The state denied more than 2,300 applications, and 175 permits were revoked after they were granted, Friday's figures show.
Illinois, which had been the last state in the nation to allow its citizens to carry handguns in public, was compelled to change that when the Chicago-based federal appellate court ruled in December 2012 that the prohibition was unconstitutional.
After months of debate, Illinois lawmakers in 2013 narrowly beat a federal court deadline and adopted the Firearm Concealed Carry Act over then-Gov. Pat Quinn's vehement objections. Officials rushed to establish a system to handle what was expected to be a flood of applications and put in place an online application process that began in January 2014.
A flurry of ensuing state and federal lawsuits from Illinois residents whose applications for a permit to carry a concealed weapon were rejected without explanation prompted state police to require a state review board to reveal its reasoning.
Europe’s Leading Rabbi: Jews Must Begin Carrying Guns
A French soldier helps secure the perimeter of a Jewish school in Paris as part of the highest level of security plan after last week's attacks by Islamist militants, Wednesday, Jan. 14 / AP
One of Europe’s most prominent Jewish organizations is petitioning the European Union to pass new legislation that would permit Jewish community members to carry guns “for the essential protection of their communities,” according to a letter obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
The European Jewish Association (EJA), which represents Jewish communities across Europe, says that gun license laws must be altered following a string of deadly attacks on Jews in France and other European countries, where anti-Semitism has been growing at an alarming rate.
The recent attacks, including one on a Kosher market that killed four, “have revealed the urgent need to stop talking and start acting” in a way that empowers Europe’s Jews, according to a letter sent Tuesday by EJA General Director Rabbi Menachem Margolin to EU leaders.
The EU, which has enacted very stringent gun control laws, should empower and train Jews to be proficient with guns in order to maintain their safety, according to Margolin.
“The Paris attacks, as well as the many challenges and threats which have been presented to the European Jewish community in recent years, have revealed the urgent need to stop talking and start acting,” Margolin writes.
“We hereby ask that gun licensing laws are reviewed with immediate effect to allow designated people in the Jewish communities and institutions to own weapons for the essential protection of their communities, as well as receiving the necessary training to protect their members from potential terror attacks.”
Margolin told the Free Beacon that he and the EJA have been warning for “a very long time” that anti-Semitism is growing in Europe and that it poses a direct threat to the continent’s Jewish population.
There has been a “dramatic increase of anti-Semitism in Europe,” Margolin said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. “We demanded from the European governments some time ago that action should be taken [and] were not surprised to see the results in Paris.”
Many Jews are living in fear and have shunned popular community outposts such as synagogues and kosher markets out of fear of an attack like that in Paris.
“Many people today are not coming to synagogue because of the issue and they’d be more comfortable if they knew people were trained to react in an emergency,” Margolin said.
Attacks against Jews have been on the rise, as neo-Nazi parties and other anti-Semitic organizations gain a foothold in some European nations. However, the growth of anti-Semitism has not always been acknowledged by leaders.
“We need to recognize the warning signs of anti-Semitism, racism, and intolerance that once again threaten Europe and our European ideals,” Margolin wrote in his letter to the EU.
The situation cannot continue as it is, Margolin insisted.
Jewish community representatives should be armed and on guard at Kosher markets and synagogues, he said.
“We realize that we also have to do something to take responsibility in case it takes too long” for authorities to put the proper defenses into place, Margolin explained.
This would include stationing armed Jewish community members at popular hubs.
Meanwhile, extremists who have travelled to countries such as Syria, where they train alongside the Islamic State and other terror groups, are now returning home to Europe, where they pose a direct threat to Jews, according to the letter
“The European Jewish Association has long and publicly warned European governments of the need to clamp down firmly on any and all acts of terror wherever and whenever they arise,” the letter says. “As you know, the danger is that much greater as many Europeans travel abroad to be indoctrinated into radical Islam, before returning to their European homelands to use their militant training to devastating effect.”
Any changes to the gun laws can be made in a safe and effective way, Margolin argues.
“Let there be no doubt, we are asking that all weapons will be issued for self-protection only, and to designated personnel that will undergo thorough investigation and training by local authorities,” he wrote.
Margolin said that he is currently in negotiations with EU leaders to relax certain gun restrictions, though some remain hesitant to do so.
“Some people are afraid it might bring the situation to be uncontrolled,” he said, noting that negotiations on the matter would include ways to ensure Jewish community members are properly trained to use weapons.
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said that while guns could help Jews defend themselves against an individual attack, only authorities can protect them against a mass attack like those carried out in France.
“As to personally being armed, such a move could help when a Jewish person is threatened by thugs, but won’t help if G-d forbid, Charlie-type terror attacks are launched,” Cooper said.
“Bottom line: Only the Police and intelligence can protect France’s Jews from terrorism,” Cooper said, noting that it is expected French authorities will continue boosting defenses. “If the government doesn’t, then there is no long range future for Jews there.”
“In the meantime, additional steps by the community to train and defend Jews from hate attacks are appropriate, necessary, and prudent,” Cooper said. “I pray that all these steps will help.”
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CONFIRMED: FAST AND FURIOUS DOCS SHOW OBAMA ADMIN WAS USING THE PROGRAM TO PROMOTE GUN CONTROL
It is what was widely suspected by cynical critics of the Federal government such as the writers of this blog, but now we have official confirmation that the Obama administration was using Operation Fast and Furious as an excuse to advocate for stricter gun control measures, even as the program funneled thousands of rifles to Mexican drug cartels.
from Sharyl Atkisson:
ATF’s internal Public Affairs Talking Points show the agency was using Fast and Furious to help justify new gun control regulations–without telling the public that ATF was actually facilitating the delivery of weapons to Mexican drug cartels.
The talking points (p. 15) state:
“These cases demonstrate the ongoing trafficking of firearms by Mexican DTO’s and other associated groups operating in Arizona and the need for reporting of multiple sales for certain types of rifles in order to ferret out those intent on providing firearms to these criminal groups.”
The newly released collection of documents related to Operation Fast and Furious also clearly show that this was not a botched operation by “rogue” agents as previously espoused by the Obama administration:
While the Department of Justice was still insisting the gunwalking was a renegade operation conducted by rogue agents in Phoenix, the documents make clear ATF headquarters in Washington D.C. knew that weapons were being allowed to flow to Mexican drug cartels.
For example, Fast and Furious began in October 2009. Washington D.C. talking points recount (p. 17) that:
“From October 2009 through October 2010, this organization, through the use of numerous straw buyers, purchased approximately 1.25 million dollars in firearms from FFLs [Federal Firearms License’s] in the Phoenix area and trafficked the firearms into Mexico and other locations within the United States.”
Another example is an October 12, 2010 funding request to ATF headquarters in Washington D.C. (p. 40) from Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Bill Newell. It stated, in present tense (making clear that ATF was aware, in real time, that the weapons were being transported by ATF suspects to cartels on a continuing basis):
“The firearms are then being trafficked into Mexico using non-factory compartments in various vehicles through various Ports of Entry (POE’s) in Arizona and Texas. Since the ATF case was initiated, agents have identified approximately twenty-seven straw purchasers who have purchased a large amount of AK-47 style rifles and pistols from various FFLs in the Phoenix Metropolitan area and Prescott, Arizona, since September 2009.”
You would think that any reporter with even a hint of dignity would be reporting on this story by now, especially with so much overwhelming evidence that the Obama administration’s corruption and law-breaking lead to the death of hundreds of Mexican civilians and at two US Federal agents. But no; it’s still just Sharyl Atkisson, who had to leave her network to continue reporting on the story, and a handful of bloggers on the right like yours truly.
The bias against guns: What the media isn't telling you
Just two days before New Year’s, a 2-year-old accidentally shot and killed his mother at a Wal-Mart in rural Idaho. The victim was Veronica Rutledge, a 29-year-old concealed handgun permit holder. The child had reached into his mother’s purse. Massive news coverage ensued.
Tragedies like these make headlines. That’s understandable. But where was the news media on the previous day, when concealed handgun permit holders likely saved multiple lives?
— In Fargo, N.D., four people robbed a 36-year-old man and beat him unconscious. Fortunately, a permit holder stopped the attack. “The passer-by, who has a license to carry a concealed weapon, brandished his gun to end the robbery,” police reported.
If Americans hear only about the bad things that happen with guns, they will be much more likely to support strict gun regulations. The unjustified fears may also disarm people and prevent them from saving lives.
Weren’t these stories equally newsworthy? To save a stranger, a permit holder stood up to four attackers. Without the pastor’s concealed handgun permit, there could have been a mass shooting in a crowded church. That would surely have gotten massive national news coverage, but the pastor stopping the attack wasn’t considered a story.
The lopsided coverage gives Americans a skewed view of guns.
The Associated Press at least tried to put the Rutledge case in some perspective. It noted that, a year ago, Idaho had more than 85,500 permit holders — about 7 percent of the adult population. Yet even this doesn’t do justice to the rarity of the tragedy.
I can’t find another similar case of a child accidentally firing a permit holder’s concealed handgun. For decades, there have been millions of permit holders. Today, there are 12 million. It will probably be a very long time before there’s another case like this.
My research finds that states saw no increase in accidental handgun deaths after adopting concealed-carry laws. Even non-fatal accidental gunshots result in permits being revoked, and those are extremely rare.
Some in the media have used the tragedy to exaggerate the risks of concealed carry.
Others listed two cases where a child shot an adult to death, but again neither case involved a permitted concealed handgun.
But even if one is looking at guns generally, not just permitted concealed handguns, accidental gun deaths are still very rare. There were 548 accidental gun deaths in 2012, the last year for which data are available. That sounds like a lot, but a new Gallup survey suggests that 134 million Americans have at least one gun in the home, meaning the accidental gun death rate is about 4.1 per million people living in a home with a gun.
Unfortunately, despite the family’s claim to the contrary, the extremely rare tragedy with Veronica Rutledge likely arose because she stored her gun improperly. If she had a semi-automatic pistol, as some reports indicate, it would have been impossible for a two-year-old to have the strength to pull the slide back on the gun to chamber the first round. If she had a revolver or most pistols, it seems exceedingly unlikely that child would have switched off the safety. Thus, she had either already chambered the first round in the gun herself and/or switched off the safety, thus negating the gun’s safety features.
Media bias isn’t just about how stories are covered. It’s also about whichstories are covered. If Americans hear only about the bad things that happen with guns, they will be much more likely to support strict gun regulations. The unjustified fears may also disarm people and prevent them from saving lives.
Nevertheless, Americans overwhelmingly believe that guns increase safety both inside and outside the home.
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Gun Rights Group Names 2014's Top 10 'Anti-Gunners'
From being an advocate of the United Nations’ Arms Trade Treaty to pouring money into Washington state’s victorious I-594 gun control campaign, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms has come up with a list of the top 10 ‘anti-gunners’ for 2014.
Not surprisingly, former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg took the top spot this year for dumping millions into creating Everytown for Gun Safety and also helping to finance the I-594 effort in Washington.
The other nine are:
Paul Allen– The billionaire co-founder of Microsoft and principle owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trailblazers, he dumped a half-million dollars into the I-594 gun control campaign inWashington State.
Steve Ballmer– Another Microsoft alumni and owner of the L.A. Clippers who added more than$1 millionto the I-594 effort to criminalize perfectly legal activities in theEvergreen State.
Hillary Clinton– The former First Lady and Secretary of State suggested earlier this year that gun owners "terrorize" people by vigorously defending the Second Amendment. She also supported the unratified UN Arms Trade Treaty.
Andrew Cuomo– TheNew York governor who championed that state's Draconian SAFE (for Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement) Act, which is responsible for job losses in addition to penalizing every gun owner in the state.
Rahm Emanuel– The vehemently anti-gun mayor ofChicago whose administration has stubbornly resisted adoption of rational gun policies that would allow citizens to defend themselves against out-of-control violence in the Windy City.
Bill Gates– This billionaire Microsoft co-founder and his wife contributed more than$1 millionto the I-594 gun control effort, thus helping to pay for one of the most insidious political campaigns inthe United States.
Nick Hanauer– Another elitistSeattle-area billionaire who launched the I-594 gun control campaign and poured more than$1 millioninto the effort. His deplorable effort to exploit the Pilchuck High School tragedy by sarcastically suggesting that, "We need more school shootings" was an offensive new low in anti-gun politics.
Eric Holder– The outgoing U.S. attorney general fought to stall release of thousands of documents related to the Operation Fast and Furious scandal, final losing his battle in federal court this past fall.
Shannon Watts– As founder of the Bloomberg-supported Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Watts has spread disinformation about gun crime and campaigned against laws that bolster personal protection outside the home.
And the ‘dishonorable mentions’ go to:
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe for wanting to resurrect one-gun-a-month legislation in his state, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who both have pressed their gun control agendas, driving businesses and jobs out of their states; California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who has steadfastly defended arbitrary and discretionary concealed carry permits; former CNN commentator Piers Morgan for continuing his anti-gun rhetoric even though it forced his program's cancellation. Also on the list, Gerald Ensley, the Tallahassee Democrat columnist who wrote in November that handguns and semiautomatic modern sporting rifles should be banned, and that the Second Amendment should be repealed; and former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who wrote earlier this year that he would like to see the Second Amendment changed to confine the right to keep and bear arms to people serving in the military and state militia.
"The people on this list have worked very hard to undermine the civil rights of every American citizen who owns a firearm, or may one day want to, and they deserve vilification," CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb said in a statement.
