bearingarms--2020-11-05--Who's Ready For (At Least) One More Senate Election?

For most people , the election commercials are over .
The robocalls are done .
Regardless of the outcome of the counting , some of the most annoying features of elections are over .
They can now ignore campaigns for another two years at least .
However , in Georgia , we ’ re not so lucky .
Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed to her seat .
Under Georgia law , that means she had to run for election at the next election , which was Tuesday ’ s .
However , Georgia law also makes it a jungle primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independents–ran .
My home state is also one of those states where the win doesn ’ t go to the candidate who gets the highest number of votes , either .
They have to get 50 percent plus one vote to take it .
With so many people running , though , it was unlikely anyone was getting that total .
Warnock actually won the jungle primary with 33 percent of the vote to Loeffler ’ s 26 percent .
It would be easy to look at that and think Loeffler is doomed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least one Democratic senator ( the other race up for grabs is leaning for Sen. David Perdue rather than Democrat John Ossoff ) , but one shouldn ’ t be too sure .
See , Loeffler may have come in second in the jungle primary , but third place went to Doug Collins , a Republican representative who garnered another 20 percent of the vote .
He ’ s already thrown his support behind Loeffler .
Still , with all the Democrats likely throwing their support behind Warnock , does Loeffler have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does .
A few years back , we saw a similar situation brew .
John Ossoff won the jungle primary but lost the House race to Karen Handel .
That was because out-of-state forces through everything they had behind Ossoff , but it wasn ’ t enough to push him over the finish line with more than 50 percent of the vote .
This time around , Warnock is in the exact same position .
He ’ s had major party push , including commercials featuring Barack Obama .
He ’ s raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of money to get that 33 percent of the vote , but now the questions begin .
Can he rally the out-of-state troops to back him once again ?
If so , will it matter ?
Honestly , if you take percentages from each party and assume those who backed one Democrat or Republican would vote for another , Warnock doesn ’ t have a lot working for him .
About 50 percent of the votes went for Republicans while 49 percent went for Democrats .
The fly in the ointment are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best , that will give a fairly even split .
The thing is , that ’ s assuming Warnock can rally Democrats more than Republicans .
The GOP will likely focus on Georgia like a laser , throwing money at Loeffler and doing everything they can to help her win .
Meanwhile , there ’ s a good chance that Democratic money dried up for the year .
After all , they spent hundreds of millions trying to flip a number of states , only for it to backfire on them spectacularly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ again ?
Either way , though , this runoff race will be an important one , as it could ultimately determine who controls the Senate chamber .
Without counting the Georgia senate races , Republicans should have at last 50 senators if Thom Tillis wins in North Carolina .
Perdue may end up getting less than 50 % in his race , which would send him and Ossoff into another runoff .
If the GOP can hold at least one of their Georgia senate seats , that would guarantee that we ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell next year , not Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer .

For most people, the election commercials are over. The robocalls are done. Regardless of the outcome of the counting, some of the most annoying features of elections are over. They can now ignore campaigns for another two years at least.
However, in Georgia, we’re not so lucky.
Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed to her seat. Under Georgia law, that means she had to run for election at the next election, which was Tuesday’s. However, Georgia law also makes it a jungle primary, so everyone from both parties–and associated independents–ran. My home state is also one of those states where the win doesn’t go to the candidate who gets the highest number of votes, either. They have to get 50 percent plus one vote to take it.
With so many people running, though, it was unlikely anyone was getting that total.
Now, Loeffler stands opposed to Rev. Raphael Warnock.
Warnock actually won the jungle primary with 33 percent of the vote to Loeffler’s 26 percent. It would be easy to look at that and think Loeffler is doomed and Georgia is going to have at least one Democratic senator (the other race up for grabs is leaning for Sen. David Perdue rather than Democrat John Ossoff), but one shouldn’t be too sure.
See, Loeffler may have come in second in the jungle primary, but third place went to Doug Collins, a Republican representative who garnered another 20 percent of the vote.
He’s already thrown his support behind Loeffler.
Still, with all the Democrats likely throwing their support behind Warnock, does Loeffler have a chance? Oh, she most definitely does.
A few years back, we saw a similar situation brew. John Ossoff won the jungle primary but lost the House race to Karen Handel. That was because out-of-state forces through everything they had behind Ossoff, but it wasn’t enough to push him over the finish line with more than 50 percent of the vote.
This time around, Warnock is in the exact same position. He’s had major party push, including commercials featuring Barack Obama. He’s raised a lot of money and spent a lot of money to get that 33 percent of the vote, but now the questions begin.
Can he rally the out-of-state troops to back him once again? If so, will it matter?
Honestly, if you take percentages from each party and assume those who backed one Democrat or Republican would vote for another, Warnock doesn’t have a lot working for him. About 50 percent of the votes went for Republicans while 49 percent went for Democrats. The fly in the ointment are third-party or independent candidates, but at best, that will give a fairly even split.
The thing is, that’s assuming Warnock can rally Democrats more than Republicans. The GOP will likely focus on Georgia like a laser, throwing money at Loeffler and doing everything they can to help her win. Meanwhile, there’s a good chance that Democratic money dried up for the year. After all, they spent hundreds of millions trying to flip a number of states, only for it to backfire on them spectacularly. Is anyone willing to risk it all again?
Either way, though, this runoff race will be an important one, as it could ultimately determine who controls the Senate chamber. Without counting the Georgia senate races, Republicans should have at last 50 senators if Thom Tillis wins in North Carolina. Perdue may end up getting less than 50% in his race, which would send him and Ossoff into another runoff. If the GOP can hold at least one of their Georgia senate seats, that would guarantee that we’ll be talking about Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell next year, not Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.


bearingarms--2020-11-06--CA Teen Shot During Alleged Attempted Break-In

If you ask people why they purchase guns , most will say self-defense .
If you press a little further , you ’ ll find the majority have their gun because they ’ re concerned someone will try to break into their home while people are there .
It ’ s a very real concern , too .
After all , so-called “ hot ” burglaries happen all the time .
The general consensus is that if someone breaks into an occupied home , they intend to harm the occupants .
As a result , it means you should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s precisely what one California resident recently is alleged to have done .
Fresno County Sheriff ’ s detectives have recovered surveillance video from an east Central Fresno home – after a resident said he shot at someone who was trying to break in on Wednesday morning .
The 17-year-old suspected burglar was found nearby after being struck .
The homeowner reported a burglary at his home for the second time in two weeks .
“ We ’ re obviously talking with the homeowner to figure out why he might be getting targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a lot to the story that we still don ’ t know , ” said Tony Botti with the Fresno County Sheriff ’ s Office .
Investigators say a Ring camera installed by the front door was working early Wednesday morning and captured video of the attempted burglary .
The camera also alerted the homeowner , who deputies say , grabbed a handgun and ran outside .
By that time detectives were told , the suspect had jumped a fence and was running .
At some point , the homeowner confronted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired .
Unfortunately , it looks like the homeowner is being looked at as someone who did something wrong rather than the victim here .
Honestly , the reason he was targeted a second time may have been the burglar wanted to come back for stuff he saw but didn ’ t take last time .
Regardless , it looks like the suspect didn ’ t get far .
He was soon found nearby , bleeding from the gunshot wound .
Look , I ’ ve been the victim of a burglary before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , actually–broke in my back door , stole a few things of no real appreciable value , but left my wife feeling incredibly violated .
It ’ s a property crime , but there ’ s still trauma created from such an invasion .
Imagine finding someone trying to break into your home while you ’ re still there ?
That said , it ’ s rarely a good idea to follow someone who tried to break in .
Get a good look if you can , note the direction they were heading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much detail as you can , but following them may not be the wisest course of action .
After all , they could be leading you toward a number of heavily armed friends of theirs .
No , it ’ s best to keep your butt at home and be a good witness for the police .
After all , running away , they ’ re not a threat to you or yours .
At that point , it ’ s over , for the most part .
Don ’ t prolong it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a prosecutor can make the case you went after him looking for trouble , even if that ’ s not your intention .

If you ask people why they purchase guns, most will say self-defense. If you press a little further, you’ll find the majority have their gun because they’re concerned someone will try to break into their home while people are there.
It’s a very real concern, too. After all, so-called “hot” burglaries happen all the time. The general consensus is that if someone breaks into an occupied home, they intend to harm the occupants.
As a result, it means you should be prepared to defend yourself.
That’s precisely what one California resident recently is alleged to have done.
Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives have recovered surveillance video from an east Central Fresno home – after a resident said he shot at someone who was trying to break in on Wednesday morning. The 17-year-old suspected burglar was found nearby after being struck. The homeowner reported a burglary at his home for the second time in two weeks. “We’re obviously talking with the homeowner to figure out why he might be getting targeted so much, and then there’s a lot to the story that we still don’t know,” said Tony Botti with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators say a Ring camera installed by the front door was working early Wednesday morning and captured video of the attempted burglary. The camera also alerted the homeowner, who deputies say, grabbed a handgun and ran outside. By that time detectives were told, the suspect had jumped a fence and was running. At some point, the homeowner confronted the attempted burglar, and several shots were fired.
Unfortunately, it looks like the homeowner is being looked at as someone who did something wrong rather than the victim here. Honestly, the reason he was targeted a second time may have been the burglar wanted to come back for stuff he saw but didn’t take last time.
Regardless, it looks like the suspect didn’t get far. He was soon found nearby, bleeding from the gunshot wound.
I find I’m unable to muster any pity.
Look, I’ve been the victim of a burglary before. Some snot-nosed punk–based on witness descriptions, actually–broke in my back door, stole a few things of no real appreciable value, but left my wife feeling incredibly violated. It’s a property crime, but there’s still trauma created from such an invasion.
Imagine finding someone trying to break into your home while you’re still there?
That said, it’s rarely a good idea to follow someone who tried to break in. Get a good look if you can, note the direction they were heading and what they were wearing in as much detail as you can, but following them may not be the wisest course of action. After all, they could be leading you toward a number of heavily armed friends of theirs.
No, it’s best to keep your butt at home and be a good witness for the police.
After all, running away, they’re not a threat to you or yours. At that point, it’s over, for the most part. Don’t prolong it any more than necessary. Especially since a prosecutor can make the case you went after him looking for trouble, even if that’s not your intention.


bearingarms--2020-11-06--Election Fraud & The Battle of Athens

Election Fraud & The Battle of Athens

Election fraud can take many forms , but thankfully we don ’ t see the type of brutal suppression of the vote that ’ s the focus of today ’ s Bearing Arms ’ Cam & Co .
Author Chris DeRose joins me on the show to talk about a largely forgotten story from U.S. history that made headlines at the time .
In The Fighting Bunch : The Battle of Athens and How World War II Veterans Won the Only Successful Armed Rebellion Since the Revolution , DeRose provides the full story of how a group of young GIs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by E.H. Crump in the Tennessee ’ s McMinn County , ultimately going to war with the machine over the right to a free and fair election .
The Battle of Athens , which is also referred to sometimes as the McMinn County War , stemmed from the type of violent and overt voter suppression that we don ’ t see any longer , thankfully .
The folks who were complaining that having to stand in line for a few hours to cast a ballot means that their vote was being suppressed have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an elderly black farmer who was beaten and then shot in the back by a patrolman in Athens , Tennessee for trying to cast a vote in a county election on August 1st , 1946 .
Gillespie was the first casualty in the Battle of Athens , but the fight had been brewing for several years before it erupted on that hot August afternoon .
As DeRose explains , the Crump political machine was brazenly corrupt , and when it took over McMinn County life changed for the residents .
For one thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s department were paid under a fee system which gave them cash money for every person they booked into the local jail .
As you can imagine , the graft and corruption was rampant .
Buses and cars would regularly be pulled over by sheriff ’ s deputies and the out-of-town occupants shaken down for money under the guise of being charged with drunkenness .
Residents , meanwhile , lived under the thumb of Paul Cantrell , the local boss of the Crump machine , who controlled not only local law enforcement but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the local paper .
When thousands of GIs returned to McMinn county in late 1945 and early 1946 , they decided to overthrow the machine by running a slate of candidates of their own in the 1946 county elections .
The GI Non-Partisan League was born in May of that year and fielded six candidates ; three Democrats and three Republicans , and all opposed to Cantrell and his top deputy Paul Mansfield , who were running for sheriff and state senator , respectively .
By the time Election Day arrived on August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new sheriffs deputies to “ patrol ” the elections .
One veteran who was serving as a poll watcher was arrested and taken to the local jail after he requested the ballot box be opened and certified as empty before any official votes were cast , and Cantrell ’ s heavies did all they could to discourage supporters of the GI party from going to the polls .
They couldn ’ t stop Tom Gillespie , though .
He showed up at his precinct in mid-afternoon , but when he attempted to cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Windy ” Wise punched Gillespie while wearing brass knuckles .
The elderly black man turned and tried to run from Wise , but the so-called officer of the law drew his pistol and fired into Gillespie ’ s back .
Those were the first shots fired in what became the Battle of Athens , which ultimately involved dozens of veterans and members of the Memphis machine engaged in a full scale firefight over ballot boxes .
When the shooting ( and the dynamiting ) finally stopped several hours later , the ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GI Party members , and an honest counting of the ballots proved that the newly formed political organization had soundly defeated the Crump political machine .
These are the bare bones of the story of the Battle of Athens , but DeRose ’ s new book fully fleshes out the figures at the heart of the story for the very first time .
For decades , many participants in the fight refused to say much about it , and the only person who ever faced legal consequences was Wise , the patrolman who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was only sentenced to three years for murdering him ) .
DeRose , however , spent years doing research on the book , including gaining access to some witnesses who finally opened up about happened on August 1st and 2nd back in 1946 .
Check out the entire conversation with Chris DeRose in the video window above to learn even more about this forgotten piece of American history , but for the full story pick up a copy of The Fighting Bunch online or at your local bookstore .

Election fraud can take many forms, but thankfully we don’t see the type of brutal suppression of the vote that’s the focus of today’s Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co. Author Chris DeRose joins me on the show to talk about a largely forgotten story from U.S. history that made headlines at the time. In The Fighting Bunch: The Battle of Athens and How World War II Veterans Won the Only Successful Armed Rebellion Since the Revolution, DeRose provides the full story of how a group of young GIs took on the Memphis political machine run by E.H. Crump in the Tennessee’s McMinn County, ultimately going to war with the machine over the right to a free and fair election.
The Battle of Athens, which is also referred to sometimes as the McMinn County War, stemmed from the type of violent and overt voter suppression that we don’t see any longer, thankfully. The folks who were complaining that having to stand in line for a few hours to cast a ballot means that their vote was being suppressed have clearly never heard of Tom Gillespie, an elderly black farmer who was beaten and then shot in the back by a patrolman in Athens, Tennessee for trying to cast a vote in a county election on August 1st, 1946.
Gillespie was the first casualty in the Battle of Athens, but the fight had been brewing for several years before it erupted on that hot August afternoon. As DeRose explains, the Crump political machine was brazenly corrupt, and when it took over McMinn County life changed for the residents. For one thing, the members of the sheriff’s department were paid under a fee system which gave them cash money for every person they booked into the local jail. As you can imagine, the graft and corruption was rampant. Buses and cars would regularly be pulled over by sheriff’s deputies and the out-of-town occupants shaken down for money under the guise of being charged with drunkenness. Residents, meanwhile, lived under the thumb of Paul Cantrell, the local boss of the Crump machine, who controlled not only local law enforcement but local government, the schools, and the local paper.
When thousands of GIs returned to McMinn county in late 1945 and early 1946, they decided to overthrow the machine by running a slate of candidates of their own in the 1946 county elections. The GI Non-Partisan League was born in May of that year and fielded six candidates; three Democrats and three Republicans, and all opposed to Cantrell and his top deputy Paul Mansfield, who were running for sheriff and state senator, respectively.
By the time Election Day arrived on August 1st, Cantrell had hired some 200 new sheriffs deputies to “patrol” the elections. One veteran who was serving as a poll watcher was arrested and taken to the local jail after he requested the ballot box be opened and certified as empty before any official votes were cast, and Cantrell’s heavies did all they could to discourage supporters of the GI party from going to the polls.
They couldn’t stop Tom Gillespie, though. He showed up at his precinct in mid-afternoon, but when he attempted to cast his ballot a patrolman named C.M. “Windy” Wise punched Gillespie while wearing brass knuckles. The elderly black man turned and tried to run from Wise, but the so-called officer of the law drew his pistol and fired into Gillespie’s back.
Those were the first shots fired in what became the Battle of Athens, which ultimately involved dozens of veterans and members of the Memphis machine engaged in a full scale firefight over ballot boxes. When the shooting (and the dynamiting) finally stopped several hours later, the ballot boxes were in the hands of the GI Party members, and an honest counting of the ballots proved that the newly formed political organization had soundly defeated the Crump political machine.
These are the bare bones of the story of the Battle of Athens, but DeRose’s new book fully fleshes out the figures at the heart of the story for the very first time. For decades, many participants in the fight refused to say much about it, and the only person who ever faced legal consequences was Wise, the patrolman who was convicted of killing Gillespie (though he was only sentenced to three years for murdering him). DeRose, however, spent years doing research on the book, including gaining access to some witnesses who finally opened up about happened on August 1st and 2nd back in 1946.
Check out the entire conversation with Chris DeRose in the video window above to learn even more about this forgotten piece of American history, but for the full story pick up a copy of The Fighting Bunch online or at your local bookstore.


bearingarms--2020-11-06--Glass Tabletops More Dangerous For Kids Than Guns

Over and over again , we ’ re told that guns are some deep , pressing threat to our children .
We hear from anti-gunners that if we don ’ t enact the gun control they demand , children will die .
It ’ s an old , tired method of playing off parental fears , but it works more times than we might care to admit .
However , it seems that for all the hand-wringing over guns , there ’ s a bigger threat out there .
On 26 July 2020 , a paper titled : Glass table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waspublished in the American Journal of Surgery .
The paper detailed an examination of how many accidents involving glass tables occurred in the United States , how severe the injuries from such accidents were , and the distribution of injuries by age .
The annual number of fatalities from accidents involving glass tables was projected to be about 400 .
Most people do not consider glass tables to be a significant risk for accidents .
400 deaths a year sounds like a lot .
It is about .13 per 100,000 , out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
400 is .00018 of the total number of deaths in the nation each year .
The results of the article have been widely published in the public media .
From newsmax.com : Bonne ’ s group found more than 3,200 U.S. cases of glass table-related injuries requiring trauma center care occurring between 2009 and 2015 .
The data was collected from the 96 sample hospitals included in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database .
More than half of the injuries were traced to faulty glass tables , the researchers noted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ care centers nationwide , Bonne ’ s team estimated there are about 13,800 U.S. cases of severe injury tied to glass tables each year .
The team also looked more closely at the 24 cases that their Level 1 trauma center treated between 2001 and 2016 .
In this smaller grouping , the investigators found that half of their patients experienced injuries to their deep organs , upper torso , abdomen or joint cavities and required surgery .
About 8 % died within a month of injury .
Most of the injuries were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or adults in their early 20s .
The study has a bar chart showing the distribution of cases by age .
From the chart , it was simple to obtain good distribution numbers .
42 % of the accidents were for children .
13.9 % were for children under the age of five .
The projection , from the study , is for 400 fatalities from glass table accidents per year .
That translates to 168 children aged 0-17 who die in fatal accidents involving glass table tops per year .
55 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the age of five .
The study numbers were done from 2009 to 2015 .
During that period , there was an average of 86 children who died in accidents involving firearms per year ( 601 for 7 years ) .
There was an average of 24.4 children who died each year , on average , under the age of five ( 178 for 7 years ) in accidents involving firearms .
From the CDC WISQARS database : In other words , a glass tabletop is more dangerous than your firearm .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The only warnings I ever give people is that they ’ re a nightmare to keep clean , based on my own experiences with one .
I never warned anyone that it could result in their child being killed .
Meanwhile , plenty of people will freak over the mere idea of having a gun and a child in the same house , despite us now knowing which is the bigger threat .
That ’ s because people don ’ t have an irrational fear of glass tabletops .
They can see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rational decision either for or against them .
Guns , however , are a different matter .
There , people have been conditioned to freak out .
They ’ ve been told over and over again how dangerous they are , so they ’ re downright fearful of them and their mind warps any numbers into a bigger problem than they are .
Now , at least , we can quantify the threat .
There really isn ’ t much of one .

Over and over again, we’re told that guns are some deep, pressing threat to our children. We hear from anti-gunners that if we don’t enact the gun control they demand, children will die. It’s an old, tired method of playing off parental fears, but it works more times than we might care to admit.
However, it seems that for all the hand-wringing over guns, there’s a bigger threat out there.
On 26 July 2020, a paper titled: Glass table injuries: A silent public health problem waspublished in the American Journal of Surgery. The paper detailed an examination of how many accidents involving glass tables occurred in the United States, how severe the injuries from such accidents were, and the distribution of injuries by age. The annual number of fatalities from accidents involving glass tables was projected to be about 400. Most people do not consider glass tables to be a significant risk for accidents. 400 deaths a year sounds like a lot. It is about .13 per 100,000, out of a total of 731.9 per 100,000 total. 400 is .00018 of the total number of deaths in the nation each year. The results of the article have been widely published in the public media. From newsmax.com: Bonne’s group found more than 3,200 U.S. cases of glass table-related injuries requiring trauma center care occurring between 2009 and 2015. The data was collected from the 96 sample hospitals included in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database. More than half of the injuries were traced to faulty glass tables, the researchers noted. Multiplying that by the almost 5,000 emergency care centers nationwide, Bonne’s team estimated there are about 13,800 U.S. cases of severe injury tied to glass tables each year. The team also looked more closely at the 24 cases that their Level 1 trauma center treated between 2001 and 2016. In this smaller grouping, the investigators found that half of their patients experienced injuries to their deep organs, upper torso, abdomen or joint cavities and required surgery. About 8% died within a month of injury. Most of the injuries were suffered by children younger than age 7 or adults in their early 20s. … The study has a bar chart showing the distribution of cases by age. From the chart, it was simple to obtain good distribution numbers. 42% of the accidents were for children. 13.9% were for children under the age of five. The projection, from the study, is for 400 fatalities from glass table accidents per year. That translates to 168 children aged 0-17 who die in fatal accidents involving glass table tops per year. 55 of those children are projected to be under the age of five. The study numbers were done from 2009 to 2015. During that period, there was an average of 86 children who died in accidents involving firearms per year (601 for 7 years). There was an average of 24.4 children who died each year, on average, under the age of five (178 for 7 years) in accidents involving firearms. From the CDC WISQARS database:
In other words, a glass tabletop is more dangerous than your firearm.
Yet who sounds warning bells about glass tabletops? The only warnings I ever give people is that they’re a nightmare to keep clean, based on my own experiences with one. I never warned anyone that it could result in their child being killed.
Meanwhile, plenty of people will freak over the mere idea of having a gun and a child in the same house, despite us now knowing which is the bigger threat.
That’s because people don’t have an irrational fear of glass tabletops. They can see the threat they potentially pose and make a rational decision either for or against them. Guns, however, are a different matter. There, people have been conditioned to freak out. They’ve been told over and over again how dangerous they are, so they’re downright fearful of them and their mind warps any numbers into a bigger problem than they are.
Now, at least, we can quantify the threat. There really isn’t much of one.


bearingarms--2020-11-06--Montana Voters Say "No" To Local Gun Controls

Gun owners and Second Amendment supporters in Montana delivered a big victory for the right to bear arms this week , turning out in large numbers and propelling a ballot initiative barring local governments from passing their own concealed carry restrictions to victory in the Big Sky State .
LR-130 was approved by 51 % of voters on Tuesday , despite anti-gun groups like Everytown for Gun Safety spending big in the state to defeat the ballot measure .
“ LR-130 protects us from entities in the future enacting stricter gun laws than exist at the state level , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Falls , who sponsored the bill to place LR-130 on the ballot .
He said LR-130 prevents Montana from having a patchwork of local gun ordinances , which could be difficult to track and comply with .
Several cities in Montana have rules prohibiting open or concealed carry at public gatherings or in parks or cemeteries that , with the passage of LR-130 , may be illegitimate .
For instance , the ordinances in Libby and Culbertson banning guns in cemeteries are likely no longer legal , and Helena likely won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to alert local authorities if they visit or live in the city .
The NRA Big Sky Self-Defense Committee , the main group that supported LR-130 , received nearly all the $ 51,600 it raised from the National Rifle Association ’ s lobbying arm , according to records from the commissioner of political practices .
The unsuccessful “ Vote No on LR-130 ” campaign raised about $ 1.4 million and received significant in-kind contributions from national and state groups , including the Montana Federation of Public Employees , the Montana League of Cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Montana Human Rights Network , according to the commissioner of political practices records .
Defeating LR-130 was a priority for gun control groups , which have been trying to undo firearms preemption laws in many states , including Montana , for several years .
When the city of Missoula passed a local universal background check ordinance back in 2016 , Everytown for Gun Safety was fully on board , and when the law was challenged , the gun control group provided free legal services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep the law on the books .
The Montana State Supreme Court ultimately rejected the local law as a violation of the state ’ s firearm preemption statutes , but 2A groups across the state began lobbying lawmakers to provide more protections for the Second Amendment .
Legislation barring localities from establishing their own carry laws passed both the House and Senate , but was vetoed by Gov .
Steve Bullock .
Second Amendment activists then moved to put the bill before voters as LR-130 , and Everytown quickly launched a campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the measure passed despite the nearly 30-to-1 spending advantage by groups opposed to the ballot measure is worth highlighting .
Money does matter in politics , but clearly it isn ’ t everything , and 2A advocates everywhere should take heart at the results in Montana .
Even with the deep pockets of Michael Bloomberg and other anti-gun billionaires funding gun control efforts , those of us who work to protect the Second Amendment can and will defeat them .

Gun owners and Second Amendment supporters in Montana delivered a big victory for the right to bear arms this week, turning out in large numbers and propelling a ballot initiative barring local governments from passing their own concealed carry restrictions to victory in the Big Sky State.
LR-130 was approved by 51% of voters on Tuesday, despite anti-gun groups like Everytown for Gun Safety spending big in the state to defeat the ballot measure.
“LR-130 protects us from entities in the future enacting stricter gun laws than exist at the state level,” said state Rep. Matt Regier, R-Columbia Falls, who sponsored the bill to place LR-130 on the ballot. He said LR-130 prevents Montana from having a patchwork of local gun ordinances, which could be difficult to track and comply with. Several cities in Montana have rules prohibiting open or concealed carry at public gatherings or in parks or cemeteries that, with the passage of LR-130, may be illegitimate. For instance, the ordinances in Libby and Culbertson banning guns in cemeteries are likely no longer legal, and Helena likely won’t be able to continue requiring concealed carriers to alert local authorities if they visit or live in the city. The NRA Big Sky Self-Defense Committee, the main group that supported LR-130, received nearly all the $51,600 it raised from the National Rifle Association’s lobbying arm, according to records from the commissioner of political practices. The unsuccessful “Vote No on LR-130” campaign raised about $1.4 million and received significant in-kind contributions from national and state groups, including the Montana Federation of Public Employees, the Montana League of Cities and Towns, Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Montana Human Rights Network, according to the commissioner of political practices records.
Defeating LR-130 was a priority for gun control groups, which have been trying to undo firearms preemption laws in many states, including Montana, for several years. When the city of Missoula passed a local universal background check ordinance back in 2016, Everytown for Gun Safety was fully on board, and when the law was challenged, the gun control group provided free legal services to the city in a failed attempt to keep the law on the books.
The Montana State Supreme Court ultimately rejected the local law as a violation of the state’s firearm preemption statutes, but 2A groups across the state began lobbying lawmakers to provide more protections for the Second Amendment. Legislation barring localities from establishing their own carry laws passed both the House and Senate, but was vetoed by Gov. Steve Bullock. Second Amendment activists then moved to put the bill before voters as LR-130, and Everytown quickly launched a campaign to defeat the proposal.
The fact that the measure passed despite the nearly 30-to-1 spending advantage by groups opposed to the ballot measure is worth highlighting. Money does matter in politics, but clearly it isn’t everything, and 2A advocates everywhere should take heart at the results in Montana. Even with the deep pockets of Michael Bloomberg and other anti-gun billionaires funding gun control efforts, those of us who work to protect the Second Amendment can and will defeat them.


bearingarms--2020-11-06--Push Begins For WA To Crack Down On "Armed Demonstrations"

There are times when I think it makes sense to carry a firearm to a protest .
If it ’ s about the Second Amendment , for example , then it makes perfect sense to carry openly as a way to remind people that these guns exist and that people in their community own them .
If it ’ s not about the Second Amendment but you ’ re worried about violence , then carrying concealed makes a lot of sense .
Yet at no point should this action really be considered illegal .
I mean , the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So is the right to keep and bear arms .
So just how can doing the two at the same time be illegal ?
Well , in some places , it is .
One of those places is Washington state , and now the push begins to pressure authorities to crack down on them .
It was the evening before the 2020 election , and with the potential of civil unrest looming , some members of the Spokane City Council were worried .
“ I have received enough emails from citizens who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on election night , because they don ’ t feel safe , ” Councilwoman Karen Stratton says .
After all , the racial justice protests over the past few months , in Spokane and across the country , haven ’ t just involved clashes between police and unarmed protesters .
There have also been private citizens with guns — patrolling the streets , keeping an eye on demonstrators or claiming to be protecting businesses against looters .
Some of them , like those wearing camo and surveilling a June Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as official members of the Lightfoot Militia .
Others represented themselves as from more loosely defined armed groups in the militia movement like the Three Percenters .
Councilwoman Stratton says she doesn ’ t have an issue with people who own guns , but this was different .
“ I do have serious issues with those people who carry guns , who come down to our downtown core and other areas to intimidate and frighten people , ” she says .
See , what this really is about is trying to prevent people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protecting private property .
Keep in mind that these armed citizens , whether you agree with them or not , aren ’ t demonstrating or anything else .
They ’ re trying to prevent arson and looting , a real problem at many of these “ racial justice protests ” in recent months .
It doesn ’ t matter , though .
They ’ re trying to use this to put an end to it : It isn ’ t just Washington that has an anti-militia law on the books .
Almost every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And there ’ s plenty of legal precedent justifying it .
In 1879 , a German citizen militia leader named Herman Presser was charged with violating an Illinois state law after leading a troop of 400 armed men through the streets of Chicago .
His case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court , which concluded that the state ’ s law banning private paramilitary organizations didn ’ t violate the Second Amendment .
Washington , like Idaho and every other state , has similar laws limiting paramilitary activity .
Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , however .
The 1943 version banned citizens from organizing together in an armed military company , but made an exception for clubs who wanted to carry around swords .
Still , the law bans most civilian groups from associating “ together as a military company ” to “ organize or parade in public with firearms.
” In fact , Council President Breean Beggs points out , the very same section of Washington ’ s state Constitution that protects the right of individuals to bear arms in self-defense also bans individuals or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of men.
” In other words , they resent the hell out of ordinary citizens volunteering themselves to help prevent the widespread destruction they ’ ve seen in numerous other cities .
More importantly , though , they want to be able to run roughshod over gun owners now that they believe Biden has the election locked up .
If you can ’ t organize , you can ’ t prepare as a group .
You can ’ t be ready for whatever may be around the corner .
I ’ m starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you ’ ve in Washington , watch yourself .
Somehow , though , I wonder if this will only target one side of the debate .

There are times when I think it makes sense to carry a firearm to a protest. If it’s about the Second Amendment, for example, then it makes perfect sense to carry openly as a way to remind people that these guns exist and that people in their community own them. If it’s not about the Second Amendment but you’re worried about violence, then carrying concealed makes a lot of sense.
Yet at no point should this action really be considered illegal. I mean, the right to demonstrate is protected by the Constitution. So is the right to keep and bear arms. So just how can doing the two at the same time be illegal?
Well, in some places, it is. One of those places is Washington state, and now the push begins to pressure authorities to crack down on them.
It was the evening before the 2020 election, and with the potential of civil unrest looming, some members of the Spokane City Council were worried. “I have received enough emails from citizens who are truly afraid to be out tomorrow night, on election night, because they don’t feel safe,” Councilwoman Karen Stratton says. After all, the racial justice protests over the past few months, in Spokane and across the country, haven’t just involved clashes between police and unarmed protesters. There have also been private citizens with guns — patrolling the streets, keeping an eye on demonstrators or claiming to be protecting businesses against looters. Some of them, like those wearing camo and surveilling a June Black Lives Matter demonstration in Spokane, have identified themselves as official members of the Lightfoot Militia. Others represented themselves as from more loosely defined armed groups in the militia movement like the Three Percenters. Councilwoman Stratton says she doesn’t have an issue with people who own guns, but this was different. “I do have serious issues with those people who carry guns, who come down to our downtown core and other areas to intimidate and frighten people,” she says.
See, what this really is about is trying to prevent people from going to places of protest and protecting private property.
Keep in mind that these armed citizens, whether you agree with them or not, aren’t demonstrating or anything else. They’re trying to prevent arson and looting, a real problem at many of these “racial justice protests” in recent months.
It doesn’t matter, though. They’re trying to use this to put an end to it:
It isn’t just Washington that has an anti-militia law on the books. Almost every state has a version of it. And there’s plenty of legal precedent justifying it. In 1879, a German citizen militia leader named Herman Presser was charged with violating an Illinois state law after leading a troop of 400 armed men through the streets of Chicago. His case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which concluded that the state’s law banning private paramilitary organizations didn’t violate the Second Amendment. Washington, like Idaho and every other state, has similar laws limiting paramilitary activity. Washington’s law has evolved over the years, however. The 1943 version banned citizens from organizing together in an armed military company, but made an exception for clubs who wanted to carry around swords. Still, the law bans most civilian groups from associating “together as a military company” to “organize or parade in public with firearms.” In fact, Council President Breean Beggs points out, the very same section of Washington’s state Constitution that protects the right of individuals to bear arms in self-defense also bans individuals or corporations from organizing an “armed body of men.”
In other words, they resent the hell out of ordinary citizens volunteering themselves to help prevent the widespread destruction they’ve seen in numerous other cities.
More importantly, though, they want to be able to run roughshod over gun owners now that they believe Biden has the election locked up. If you can’t organize, you can’t prepare as a group. You can’t be ready for whatever may be around the corner.
I’m starting to believe that’s the point.
If you’ve in Washington, watch yourself.
Somehow, though, I wonder if this will only target one side of the debate.


bearingarms--2020-11-06--CO Police Chief Knows Why Crime Is Surging

After years of declining crime rates , the United States has seen a sharp increase in violent crime in 2020 , and Greeley , Colorado police chief Mark Jones thinks he knows why .
In a new op/ed in the local paper , Jones lays out several reasons for the rise in violence in his town , but his theory doesn ’ t just apply to what ’ s going on in Greeley .
Jones first points to an ACLU study that shows a 46 % decline in the state ’ s jail population since the COVID-19 pandemic first began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that only non-violent offenders are being released from jail , Jones says that ’ s not what he ’ s seen .
COVID along with America ’ s political unrest have placed a tremendous amount of stress on everyone .
I have watched a number of Body Worn Camera videos where people simply lose their mind over a simple contact with the police .
There has been an increase in the use of alcohol and drugs since COVID began , as people try to cope with their newfound problems .
This substance abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their inability to control anger and other emotions .
In the last four months , we have experienced a number of stabbings and shootings .
That number includes four homicides that are all gang related in one form or another .
Three of these homicides have involved gang members from the Denver area as either victims or suspects .
GPD has seen an increase in drug activity involving these gang members as well .
Back to my comments about Colorado ’ s jail populations .
The reductions in jail populations is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to be a push from the state not to incarcerate people for drug convictions .
Jones says he doesn ’ t think that people caught with small amounts of drugs should be taking up prison space , but adds that the real issue is “ the number of other crimes that people who use drugs are involved in , which can lead to more serious violent and non-violent crimes.
” The chief also points out that there are “ more guns on the streets now than I have ever seen in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he doesn ’ t call for any new gun control laws .
Rather , Jones wonders why many violent criminals seem to be getting a slap on the wrist when they ’ re caught .
Currently there are laws on the books that require long prison time for crimes of violence with a firearm , including convicted felons in possession .
The problem is very few of these people complete their sentences and are being released with less and less time served .
If we are serious about gun related violence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found empty bed spaces for this purpose .
Lastly , as a society we have emboldened the criminal with all of the defunding the police talk , reduction in sentences , not revoking parolees and de-criminalizing or greatly reducing the levels of many crimes .
I believe all of this plays a powerful role in criminal behavior and what seems to be an increased boldness and aggression toward the police and victims of crimes .
In other words , crime is increasing because criminals think they can get away with their illegal activity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many criminals feel more confident about not being identified by witnesses , and if they are caught , the criminal justice system isn ’ t taking their crimes seriously enough .
While there may be other issues at work here , Jones has correctly identified many of the major factors driving the sharp increase in violent crimes in many cities .
The answer , as he points out , isn ’ t to slap another gun control law on the books , but to get serious about enforcing existing laws with swift and @ @ @

After years of declining crime rates, the United States has seen a sharp increase in violent crime in 2020, and Greeley, Colorado police chief Mark Jones thinks he knows why. In a new op/ed in the local paper, Jones lays out several reasons for the rise in violence in his town, but his theory doesn’t just apply to what’s going on in Greeley.
Jones first points to an ACLU study that shows a 46% decline in the state’s jail population since the COVID-19 pandemic first began. While we’ve been told that only non-violent offenders are being released from jail, Jones says that’s not what he’s seen.
COVID along with America’s political unrest have placed a tremendous amount of stress on everyone. I have watched a number of Body Worn Camera videos where people simply lose their mind over a simple contact with the police. There has been an increase in the use of alcohol and drugs since COVID began, as people try to cope with their newfound problems. This substance abuse contributes to individuals’ lack of self-control and their inability to control anger and other emotions. In the last four months, we have experienced a number of stabbings and shootings. That number includes four homicides that are all gang related in one form or another. Three of these homicides have involved gang members from the Denver area as either victims or suspects. GPD has seen an increase in drug activity involving these gang members as well. Back to my comments about Colorado’s jail populations. The reductions in jail populations is not all about COVID. There is and continues to be a push from the state not to incarcerate people for drug convictions.
Jones says he doesn’t think that people caught with small amounts of drugs should be taking up prison space, but adds that the real issue is “the number of other crimes that people who use drugs are involved in, which can lead to more serious violent and non-violent crimes.”
The chief also points out that there are “more guns on the streets now than I have ever seen in my 34 years of law enforcement,” but he doesn’t call for any new gun control laws. Rather, Jones wonders why many violent criminals seem to be getting a slap on the wrist when they’re caught.
Currently there are laws on the books that require long prison time for crimes of violence with a firearm, including convicted felons in possession. The problem is very few of these people complete their sentences and are being released with less and less time served. If we are serious about gun related violence and crime then let us use our newly found empty bed spaces for this purpose. Lastly, as a society we have emboldened the criminal with all of the defunding the police talk, reduction in sentences, not revoking parolees and de-criminalizing or greatly reducing the levels of many crimes. I believe all of this plays a powerful role in criminal behavior and what seems to be an increased boldness and aggression toward the police and victims of crimes.
In other words, crime is increasing because criminals think they can get away with their illegal activity. Jones says with mask mandates, many criminals feel more confident about not being identified by witnesses, and if they are caught, the criminal justice system isn’t taking their crimes seriously enough.
While there may be other issues at work here, Jones has correctly identified many of the major factors driving the sharp increase in violent crimes in many cities. The answer, as he points out, isn’t to slap another gun control law on the books, but to get serious about enforcing existing laws with swift and certain consequences.


bearingarms--2020-11-06--Body Cam Footage Of Walter Wallace Shooting Released

Philadelphia burned for two nights .
Around 30 officers were injured .
People were furious at yet another black man being shot by police .
The usual suspects were out there screaming about how the police were resorting to brutality , they were looking for black men to gun down and this was just another example .
They did it without much understanding of just what happened , either .
Once news trickled out about specifics , everyone had to play armchair quarterback , but that was generally based on second-hand information .
Now , police have released the body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wallace , was violent already .
His sister , among others , called to tell the police that the suspect was beating his mother .
His brother called , too .
In his brother ’ s call , you can hear some kind of commotion in the background .
“ He was having a mental health episode , ” some have argued .
Yet in multiple 9-1-1 calls , no one told police he was having an episode .
Not that it would have mattered , mind you , but you can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they didn ’ t know .
Wallace ignored I don ’ t know how many calls to drop the knife .
He made moves toward multiple people and the officers didn ’ t fire until the end .
Looking at all that in totality , the officers appear very restrained , actually .
It ’ s clear they didn ’ t want to fire his weapon .
That ’ s true of the vast majority of law enforcement officers , really .
Yet with these two , that ’ s clear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he wasn ’ t going to follow instructions .
Let ’ s be clear as well , the shooting followed what looked like an aggressive move back into the streets , followed by continued ignoring of officers ’ instructions .
We should also note that after Wallace ’ s mother threw her phone at police , she wasn ’ t assaulted in return .
If they wanted to be brutal towards members of the black community , she gave them a golden opportunity , yet again , they were restrained .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this is a good shoot .
While the suspect made an aggressive movement back into the street , officers didn ’ t fire then .
I don ’ t see anyone he was moving toward , so I won ’ t say it ’ s a clear cut , 100 percent good shoot .
That doesn ’ t mean it ’ s not , though .
Now we ’ re getting into stuff that ’ s beyond my knowledge and I ’ m not afraid to admit it .
That ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine , but the release of this suggests they already know the answer .
What is clear , though , is that Wallace was still a threat .
He was violent already and was armed .
My guess is that it was just a matter of time before he came after the officers or someone else .
I have no doubt they did what they had to do , though .
Meanwhile , I suspect this won ’ t do much to make people feel better about what happened , mostly because so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re looking at .
Now , though , we can discuss it with clear evidence of what actually happened rather than everyone ’ s interpretation .

Philadelphia burned for two nights. Around 30 officers were injured. People were furious at yet another black man being shot by police. The usual suspects were out there screaming about how the police were resorting to brutality, they were looking for black men to gun down and this was just another example.
People rioted. They burned buildings. They looted.
They did it without much understanding of just what happened, either. Once news trickled out about specifics, everyone had to play armchair quarterback, but that was generally based on second-hand information.
Now, police have released the body cam footage.
The suspect, Walter Wallace, was violent already. His sister, among others, called to tell the police that the suspect was beating his mother. His brother called, too. In his brother’s call, you can hear some kind of commotion in the background.
He was violent.
“He was having a mental health episode,” some have argued.
Yet in multiple 9-1-1 calls, no one told police he was having an episode. Not that it would have mattered, mind you, but you can’t fault police for not acting on what they didn’t know.
Wallace ignored I don’t know how many calls to drop the knife. He made moves toward multiple people and the officers didn’t fire until the end.
Looking at all that in totality, the officers appear very restrained, actually. It’s clear they didn’t want to fire his weapon. That’s true of the vast majority of law enforcement officers, really. Yet with these two, that’s clear.
It wasn’t until it appeared that he wasn’t going to follow instructions.
Let’s be clear as well, the shooting followed what looked like an aggressive move back into the streets, followed by continued ignoring of officers’ instructions.
We should also note that after Wallace’s mother threw her phone at police, she wasn’t assaulted in return. If they wanted to be brutal towards members of the black community, she gave them a golden opportunity, yet again, they were restrained.
I’m not going to say definitively that this is a good shoot. While the suspect made an aggressive movement back into the street, officers didn’t fire then. I don’t see anyone he was moving toward, so I won’t say it’s a clear cut, 100 percent good shoot.
That doesn’t mean it’s not, though. Now we’re getting into stuff that’s beyond my knowledge and I’m not afraid to admit it. That’ll be for the Philadelphia Police Department to determine, but the release of this suggests they already know the answer.
What is clear, though, is that Wallace was still a threat. He was violent already and was armed. My guess is that it was just a matter of time before he came after the officers or someone else. I have no doubt they did what they had to do, though.
Meanwhile, I suspect this won’t do much to make people feel better about what happened, mostly because so few of them actually understand what they’re looking at.
Now, though, we can discuss it with clear evidence of what actually happened rather than everyone’s interpretation.


bearingarms--2020-11-07--LP Candidate Takes State Office Behind Pro-Gun Positions

The state of Wyoming isn ’ t exactly an anti-gun paradise .
It ’ s a pro-gun state where even their Democrats tend to tread lightly when the subject of gun control comes up .
Among other things .
After all , it ’ s a pretty red state .
Yet even there , we can sometimes find seats where a Democrat was set to run unopposed .
Well , one Democrat went down in defeat to a Libertarian .
Given the party ’ s track record , any Libertarian running for a statewide office would have to be full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win .
But next year Marshall Burt will become the only sitting Libertarian state legislator , in Wyoming , and one of only five persons to ever win such a seat solely as a Libertarian .
And he says he entered his race certain that he not only could but would win it .
“ Being a Marine , I don ’ t have a notion of failure , right ?
I didn ’ t have the notion of failing or I wouldn ’ t have started , ” Burt said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways he could have spent $ 10,000 and months of his time than on a failing political campaign , and he thinks anything less than running to win is just useless “ lip service ” to the cause .
Burt was part of a Libertarian Party effort that focused on small races in districts that were unopposed .
He ’ s also the only one who won their race .
Then again , it seems he was the only one in the state to actually win .
You see , he was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a Republican .
The key , though , was focusing on values Republican voters could rally behind .
Burt ’ s local activism , on behalf of local Marines and vets and with the fire department , likely gave him a head start with local voters , since many already had some reason to know and trust him .
Burt ran a largely Republican-friendly campaign that emphasized the Second Amendment , new ideas in education , and making the state more attractive to diversified industries without relying on taxes and regulations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass “ red flag ” laws that might allow unelected officials to “ come in and confiscate guns , and put the burden on the [ citizen ] to prove they meet legal requirements to get their guns back.
” In other words , he ran a pro-Second Amendment campaign and won with it .
Libertarians are known for being pro-gun .
In fact , as a party , they ’ re arguably more pro-gun than Republicans .
After all , the GOP has members who are considering things like red flag laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backed the bump stock ban .
The difference is , Republicans can get elected to office .
And yet , Burt did .
However , the strategy that elevated Burt to office was one which may see Libertarians make some state-level gains and maybe even make it into Congress , but it ’ s unlikely to work everywhere .
For example , it seems that while voters are willing to vote for a Libertarian candidate if there ’ s no Republican , they won ’ t side with a Libertarian if there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on what we saw in Wyoming , at least .
Still , it ’ s a strategy I ’ d like to see tested a few other places .
Who knows , it might be enough to flip some blue states a completely different color at some point in the future .
If so , how many anti-gun states might turn out to be less anti-gun than we think ?
That ’ s just speculation , though , but it could be interesting to watch and see if it pans out .

The state of Wyoming isn’t exactly an anti-gun paradise. It’s a pro-gun state where even their Democrats tend to tread lightly when the subject of gun control comes up. Among other things. After all, it’s a pretty red state.
Yet even there, we can sometimes find seats where a Democrat was set to run unopposed.
Well, one Democrat went down in defeat to a Libertarian.
Given the party’s track record, any Libertarian running for a statewide office would have to be full of almost nutty hubris to expect to win. But next year Marshall Burt will become the only sitting Libertarian state legislator, in Wyoming, and one of only five persons to ever win such a seat solely as a Libertarian. And he says he entered his race certain that he not only could but would win it. “Being a Marine, I don’t have a notion of failure, right? I didn’t have the notion of failing or I wouldn’t have started,” Burt said in a phone interview yesterday. There were other ways he could have spent $10,000 and months of his time than on a failing political campaign, and he thinks anything less than running to win is just useless “lip service” to the cause.
Burt was part of a Libertarian Party effort that focused on small races in districts that were unopposed.
He’s also the only one who won their race. Then again, it seems he was the only one in the state to actually win. You see, he was the only one up against a Democrat instead of a Republican.
The key, though, was focusing on values Republican voters could rally behind.
Burt’s local activism, on behalf of local Marines and vets and with the fire department, likely gave him a head start with local voters, since many already had some reason to know and trust him. Burt ran a largely Republican-friendly campaign that emphasized the Second Amendment, new ideas in education, and making the state more attractive to diversified industries without relying on taxes and regulations. He was especially against any attempts to pass “red flag” laws that might allow unelected officials to “come in and confiscate guns, and put the burden on the [citizen] to prove they meet legal requirements to get their guns back.”
In other words, he ran a pro-Second Amendment campaign and won with it.
Libertarians are known for being pro-gun. In fact, as a party, they’re arguably more pro-gun than Republicans. After all, the GOP has members who are considering things like red flag laws, universal background checks, and that backed the bump stock ban. The difference is, Republicans can get elected to office.
And yet, Burt did.
However, the strategy that elevated Burt to office was one which may see Libertarians make some state-level gains and maybe even make it into Congress, but it’s unlikely to work everywhere.
For example, it seems that while voters are willing to vote for a Libertarian candidate if there’s no Republican, they won’t side with a Libertarian if there are no Democrats running. That’s based on what we saw in Wyoming, at least.
Still, it’s a strategy I’d like to see tested a few other places. Who knows, it might be enough to flip some blue states a completely different color at some point in the future. If so, how many anti-gun states might turn out to be less anti-gun than we think?
That’s just speculation, though, but it could be interesting to watch and see if it pans out.


bearingarms--2020-11-07--Police Department Under Fire For Not Doing Enough Gun Control

Gun control , as most of us understand it , is a legislative issue .
You push to pass laws at the various levels of government in an effort to reduce the number of guns .
I won ’ t say the number of guns in criminal hands because , well , that ’ s not how it works .
We all know that .
But it does reduce the number of guns in total .
It ’ s just the good guys who end up disarmed .
However , for someone in one Louisiana town , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the recent shootings in Abbeville one resident is using Facebook as his platform to keep his community in the know .
Stephen Menard says he is closely connected with residents .
He ’ s tired of seeing families torn apart by gun violence .
He says he feels the police department could do better with monitoring gun-control They say they took 100 guns off of the street .
Well , if you took over 100 guns off of the street you wouldn ’ t have violence every night .
You wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police department also mentioned an increase of patrolling and security cameras .
However , he feels violence is increasing .
I think that second paragraph is a quote , but I ’ m not sure .
Now , Menard probably means well , but he doesn ’ t know what the hell he ’ s talking about .
His town of Abbeville , Louisiana has a population of around 12,000 people .
While that ’ s a fairly small place , it ’ s not a tiny place .
Menard seems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street should , somehow , solve the issue of violence , but that would only be the case if just 100 people were an issue and they had no way to access more guns .
Even in a small town , the bad guys have ways of getting guns , even after the police take their firearms .
They ’ ll continue to get firearms .
You can blame the police for that if you like , but black-market gun sales are like any other crime .
Police can only do something about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the players are , but when they ’ re conducting business .
That ’ s easier said than done .
Abbeville isn ’ t a large enough city to have the resources to somehow monitor every criminal act in the city .
Hell , no one has those kinds of resources .
Frankly , it sounds like Menard is just one of those people who want the police to work miracles without really understanding anything at all about how law enforcement actually works .
Not just that , though , but apparently he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is up pretty much everywhere .
There doesn ’ t seem to be a town of any size that is immune to the violence surge we ’ ve been seeing .
Why would Abbeville , Louisiana be immune ?
Sure , smaller communities are less likely to see as much as , say , Chicago or New York City , but that doesn ’ t mean they ’ re immune .
Again , I think Menard probably means well .
He ’ s probably just a concerned citizen who doesn ’ t like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wants to do something about it .
I ’ m just saying it would be far better to stop complaining about the police not being sorcerers and focus on things that might actually do some good .

Gun control, as most of us understand it, is a legislative issue. You push to pass laws at the various levels of government in an effort to reduce the number of guns.
I won’t say the number of guns in criminal hands because, well, that’s not how it works. We all know that. But it does reduce the number of guns in total. It’s just the good guys who end up disarmed.
However, for someone in one Louisiana town, it’s really all on the police.
Following the recent shootings in Abbeville one resident is using Facebook as his platform to keep his community in the know. Stephen Menard says he is closely connected with residents. He’s tired of seeing families torn apart by gun violence. He says he feels the police department could do better with monitoring gun-control They say they took 100 guns off of the street. Well, if you took over 100 guns off of the street you wouldn’t have violence every night. You wouldn’t have gunshots every night. Menard says the police department also mentioned an increase of patrolling and security cameras. However, he feels violence is increasing.
I think that second paragraph is a quote, but I’m not sure.
Now, Menard probably means well, but he doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about. His town of Abbeville, Louisiana has a population of around 12,000 people. While that’s a fairly small place, it’s not a tiny place.
Menard seems to believe that taking 100 guns off the street should, somehow, solve the issue of violence, but that would only be the case if just 100 people were an issue and they had no way to access more guns.
They do.
Even in a small town, the bad guys have ways of getting guns, even after the police take their firearms. They’ll continue to get firearms. You can blame the police for that if you like, but black-market gun sales are like any other crime. Police can only do something about it if they not just know who the players are, but when they’re conducting business. That’s easier said than done.
Abbeville isn’t a large enough city to have the resources to somehow monitor every criminal act in the city. Hell, no one has those kinds of resources.
Frankly, it sounds like Menard is just one of those people who want the police to work miracles without really understanding anything at all about how law enforcement actually works.
Not just that, though, but apparently he’s failed to note that violence is up pretty much everywhere. There doesn’t seem to be a town of any size that is immune to the violence surge we’ve been seeing. Why would Abbeville, Louisiana be immune? Sure, smaller communities are less likely to see as much as, say, Chicago or New York City, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune.
Again, I think Menard probably means well. He’s probably just a concerned citizen who doesn’t like what’s happening to his community and wants to do something about it.
I’m just saying it would be far better to stop complaining about the police not being sorcerers and focus on things that might actually do some good.


bearingarms--2020-11-08--Firearms Auction Offers Chance To Own A Piece Of History

More than 200 firearms , edged weapons , historical documents , uniforms , and military relics from the past 300 years are going up for auction later this month , offering collectors and history lovers from across the country the opportunity to bid on museum-worthy items .
Lancaster , Pennsylvania-based Morphy ’ s Auctions will host two events on November 17th and 18th called “ Early Arms & Militaria from the Age of Exploration , Empire & Revolution , ” and “ Extraordinary , Sporting & Collector Firearms , ” and both feature plenty of firearms that will have serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an extremely rare .60-caliber smoothbore silver-mounted officer ’ s pistol made for private purchase at Rappahannock Forge in Virginia .
Signed J .
Hunter , it bears the touchmark of rifle-maker John Frederick Klette ( 1756-1810 ) , who was foreman and master armorer at the forge during the Revolutionary War period .
It is one of only two known examples of its type , the other being the property of the Maryland Historical Society .
There is speculation amongst firearms scholars that the gun in Morphy ’ s sale originally belonged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) of the Virginia Line , who later served as governor of Kentucky .
The pistol is expected to sell for $ 250,000- $ 500,000 .
That ’ s an eye-popping price tag , but Morphy ’ s expects that many of the items up for bid will go for at least as much as the Rappahannock Forge pistol .
The November 19 Extraordinary , Sporting & Collector Firearms session boasts 462 lots of antique and modern shotguns , rifles , handguns , machine guns , cannons , accessories and more .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arms and artillery is a historically important collection featuring a unique cased set of Colt Model 1851 Navy and Model 1855 “ Root ” Sidehammer revolvers made for Loren Ballou ( 1828-1880 ) , a trusted friend and longtime employee of Colonel Samuel Colt .
Both guns are inscribed “ L .
BALLOU / LONDON , ” and the Model 1855 Sidehammer is the only known antique Colt firearms marked with a person ’ s name rather than a serial number .
Other unusual design aspects of this collection reinforce the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the Colt organization .
Extensive accompanying paperwork includes an Engineering Handbook inscribed by Samuel Colt .
Estimate : $ 300,000- $ 500,000 A rare and desirable martially-marked Colt Walker Model 1847 .44-caliber revolver , identified to “ B Company No .
49 , ” is one of only 1,100 made – 1,000 earmarked for military use ; 100 for civilian sale .
The design for this powerful 4lb 9oz revolver was a collaborative effort between Samuel Colt and Texas Ranger Captain Samuel H. Walker , national hero of the Texas-Mexico Wars .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ yards with little effort , proclaiming “ It [ would take ] a Texan to shoot it.
” The auction estimate for this legendary firearm is $ 75,000- $ 125,000 .
For those of us who don ’ t have an extra couple hundred thousand dollars to spend on a piece of history , you can at least look at the collections online before they ’ re auctioned off .
The Early Arms & Militaria items can be found here , and you can wander virtually through the Extraordinary , Sporting , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cam Edwards has covered the 2nd Amendment for more than 15 years as a broadcast and online journalist , as well as the co-author of `` Heavy Lifting : Grow Up , Get a Job , Start a Family , and Other Manly Advice '' with Jim Geraghty .
He lives outside of Farmville , Virginia with his family .

More than 200 firearms, edged weapons, historical documents, uniforms, and military relics from the past 300 years are going up for auction later this month, offering collectors and history lovers from across the country the opportunity to bid on museum-worthy items.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Morphy’s Auctions will host two events on November 17th and 18th called “Early Arms & Militaria from the Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution,” and “Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms,” and both feature plenty of firearms that will have serious collectors salivating.
Leading the prestigious lineup is an extremely rare .60-caliber smoothbore silver-mounted officer’s pistol made for private purchase at Rappahannock Forge in Virginia. Signed J. Hunter, it bears the touchmark of rifle-maker John Frederick Klette (1756-1810), who was foreman and master armorer at the forge during the Revolutionary War period. It is one of only two known examples of its type, the other being the property of the Maryland Historical Society. There is speculation amongst firearms scholars that the gun in Morphy’s sale originally belonged to Brigadier General Charles Scott (1739-1813) of the Virginia Line, who later served as governor of Kentucky. The pistol is expected to sell for $250,000-$500,000.
That’s an eye-popping price tag, but Morphy’s expects that many of the items up for bid will go for at least as much as the Rappahannock Forge pistol.
The November 19 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms session boasts 462 lots of antique and modern shotguns, rifles, handguns, machine guns, cannons, accessories and more. At the forefront of this superlative array of arms and artillery is a historically important collection featuring a unique cased set of Colt Model 1851 Navy and Model 1855 “Root” Sidehammer revolvers made for Loren Ballou (1828-1880), a trusted friend and longtime employee of Colonel Samuel Colt. Both guns are inscribed “L. BALLOU / LONDON,” and the Model 1855 Sidehammer is the only known antique Colt firearms marked with a person’s name rather than a serial number. Other unusual design aspects of this collection reinforce the fact that Ballou held a position of great importance within the Colt organization. Extensive accompanying paperwork includes an Engineering Handbook inscribed by Samuel Colt. Estimate: $300,000-$500,000 A rare and desirable martially-marked Colt Walker Model 1847 .44-caliber revolver, identified to “B Company No. 49,” is one of only 1,100 made – 1,000 earmarked for military use; 100 for civilian sale. The design for this powerful 4lb 9oz revolver was a collaborative effort between Samuel Colt and Texas Ranger Captain Samuel H. Walker, national hero of the Texas-Mexico Wars. Walker himself fired the gun past 100 yards with little effort, proclaiming “It [would take] a Texan to shoot it.” The auction estimate for this legendary firearm is $75,000-$125,000.
For those of us who don’t have an extra couple hundred thousand dollars to spend on a piece of history, you can at least look at the collections online before they’re auctioned off. The Early Arms & Militaria items can be found here, and you can wander virtually through the Extraordinary, Sporting, and Collector Firearms auction items right here.


bearingarms--2020-11-08--McCloskeys Sue Photographer, Press Outlet Over Photo

Mark and Patricia McCloskey , the St. Louis couple facing felony charges for displaying their firearms as hundreds of protesters marched through their private neighborhood this past summer , have now sued United Press International and UPI photographer Bill Greenblatt , claiming that the photojournalist was trespassing when he snapped several pictures of the couple standing on their lawn with their guns in their hands .
The couple said Greenblatt ’ s photo has contributed to their “ significant national recognition and infamy.
” In addition to Greenblatt and the news service , the McCloskeys are suing Redbubble Inc. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products .
The McCloskeys allege that Greenblatt , UPI , and Redbubble are all profiting from “ t-shirts , masks , and other items , and licensing use of photographs bearing Plaintiffs ’ likenesses , without obtaining Plaintiffs ’ consent.
” Often their image on merchandise sold by Redbubble is accompanied with “ mocking and pejorative taglines or captions , ” causing them “ humiliation , mental anguish , and severe emotional distress , ” the suit alleges .
Meanwhile , UPI said recently it was considering whether to send a “ cease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of their use of the UPI photo as part of a personal greeting card .
While journalists can film and record from public right-of-ways , the McCloskeys argue that Greenblatt , along with the several hundred protesters , were all trespassing when they entered the couple ’ s gated , private neighborhood on their way to demonstrate outside of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson ’ s home on June 28th .
Nine people were originally charged with trespassing after the march , but in late September local prosecutors announced that they wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ ll see what happens with the civil lawsuit , but the McCloskeys are no doubt breathing easier after the results of the elections in Missouri on Tuesday .
Governor Mike Parson , who ’ s vowed to pardon the pair if they ’ re ultimately convicted of unlawful use of a weapon and evidence tampering , handily won another term , ensuring that he ’ ll be in office when the McCloskey case goes to trial .
In fact , now that Parson has won re-election I can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney Kim Gardner will push for a plea deal with the couple .
It ’ s possible that the couple would be convicted if the case goes to trial , but it ’ s far from a done deal , and there are a some big risks for Gardner herself in bringing the case before a jury .
There are still a lot of questions about whether it was the McCloskeys or Gardner ’ s office that actually tampered with the pistol that Patricia McCloskey held during the protests , and a full-blown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and embarrassing disclosures about how Gardner ’ s office handled the case .
Given the fact that Gov .
Parson has already said that he ’ ll pardon the couple , the only win that Gardner can really hope to achieve is in the court of public opinion .
Is that enough for Gardner , who ’ s rumored to be thinking of higher office ?
Perhaps , though I won ’ t be surprised to see her office quietly move to offer the McCloskeys the chance for pre-trial diversion at some point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , with the governor on their side , the McCloskeys have maintained that they ’ re ready to go to trial , and the threat of prison time upon conviction sounds kind of empty when the likelihood of a pardon exists .
Gardner may end up regretting her decision to charge the couple in the first place , because right now it ’ s more of a political and legal hot potato for the prosecutor than the McCloskeys themselves .

Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple facing felony charges for displaying their firearms as hundreds of protesters marched through their private neighborhood this past summer, have now sued United Press International and UPI photographer Bill Greenblatt, claiming that the photojournalist was trespassing when he snapped several pictures of the couple standing on their lawn with their guns in their hands.
The couple said Greenblatt’s photo has contributed to their “significant national recognition and infamy.” In addition to Greenblatt and the news service, the McCloskeys are suing Redbubble Inc., a San Francisco-based online marketplace for print-on-demand products. The McCloskeys allege that Greenblatt, UPI, and Redbubble are all profiting from “t-shirts, masks, and other items, and licensing use of photographs bearing Plaintiffs’ likenesses, without obtaining Plaintiffs’ consent.” Often their image on merchandise sold by Redbubble is accompanied with “mocking and pejorative taglines or captions,” causing them “humiliation, mental anguish, and severe emotional distress,” the suit alleges. Meanwhile, UPI said recently it was considering whether to send a “cease and desist” order to the couple because of their use of the UPI photo as part of a personal greeting card.
While journalists can film and record from public right-of-ways, the McCloskeys argue that Greenblatt, along with the several hundred protesters, were all trespassing when they entered the couple’s gated, private neighborhood on their way to demonstrate outside of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson’s home on June 28th.
Nine people were originally charged with trespassing after the march, but in late September local prosecutors announced that they wouldn’t pursue the cases in court.
In a statement, City Counselor Mike Garvin wrote, “prosecution is not warranted against these particular individuals,” after municipal court prosecutors reviewed property records of the street as well as video of the June 28 confrontation and interviewed witnesses. Garvin also noted the attorney for the trustees who own the street did not wish to pursue charges.
We’ll see what happens with the civil lawsuit, but the McCloskeys are no doubt breathing easier after the results of the elections in Missouri on Tuesday. Governor Mike Parson, who’s vowed to pardon the pair if they’re ultimately convicted of unlawful use of a weapon and evidence tampering, handily won another term, ensuring that he’ll be in office when the McCloskey case goes to trial.
In fact, now that Parson has won re-election I can’t help but wonder if St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner will push for a plea deal with the couple. It’s possible that the couple would be convicted if the case goes to trial, but it’s far from a done deal, and there are a some big risks for Gardner herself in bringing the case before a jury.
There are still a lot of questions about whether it was the McCloskeys or Gardner’s office that actually tampered with the pistol that Patricia McCloskey held during the protests, and a full-blown trial may end up with some uncomfortable and embarrassing disclosures about how Gardner’s office handled the case.
Given the fact that Gov. Parson has already said that he’ll pardon the couple, the only win that Gardner can really hope to achieve is in the court of public opinion. Is that enough for Gardner, who’s rumored to be thinking of higher office? Perhaps, though I won’t be surprised to see her office quietly move to offer the McCloskeys the chance for pre-trial diversion at some point before a jury is seated.
Of course, with the governor on their side, the McCloskeys have maintained that they’re ready to go to trial, and the threat of prison time upon conviction sounds kind of empty when the likelihood of a pardon exists. Gardner may end up regretting her decision to charge the couple in the first place, because right now it’s more of a political and legal hot potato for the prosecutor than the McCloskeys themselves.


bearingarms--2020-11-09--Open Houses & Concealed Carry: Realtors Embrace 2A Rights

While many sectors of the economy have been shaky this year ( and the service sector has been downright awful ) , the real estate market has done surprisingly well .
Home sales and prices are both at highs not seen since before the Great Recession , but the red hot housing market also has some realtors concerned for their own personal safety .
A new survey of the National Association of Realtors finds that nearly half of all realtors are now carrying some self-defense tool while on the job , with some 14 % reporting that they regularly have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Columnist Lew Sichelman says that even among unarmed realtors , many are refusing to rule out getting a concealed carry license of their own .
One female agent in Northern California told me that while she and members of her team haven ’ t carried firearms yet , guns “ could be in the future for us.
” Similarly , when a male agent in Maryland was asked if he carried , he responded , “ Not yet.
” Another man , one who ’ d been a police officer for 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massachusetts , was explicit when asked if he carried a gun : “ I own firearms and practice with all the revolvers , compact pistols and semi-compact pistols I own , ” he said .
“ I have a concealed firearms permit .
I prefer my S & W .380 ‘ Bodyguard ’ with a red laser built-in sight .
… It is a very concealable weapon I can carry in any season.
” He said his broker ’ s policy prohibits guns in the office .
But does he carry when actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not ?
” he said .
The NAR survey found that while only 4 % of respondents had been the victim of a violent crime while on the job , almost half of those surveyed said that a co-worker or a realtor they know have been victimized .
Several realtors shared stories with Sichelman of running into sketchy situations while looking to make a sale , with one woman detailing a recent situation that left her shaken .
As she tells the story , a man called her out of the blue asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t , but he said he wanted to sell his two-acre property .
Even though she had no clue who he was , “ he talked to me like I had known him for years , ” she said .
Against the wishes of her now-husband , she went to see the property .
Fortunately , she didn ’ t go to the site alone ; she took along a new agent in her office .
When they arrived , the “ seller ” took them deep into the property , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stages of construction .
The only thing that was close to being finished was a fully furnished bedroom .
The supposed seller kept trying to separate her from her male colleague , but she wouldn ’ t have it .
Then he asked her to come back later , alone .
She didn ’ t .
And after the two agents left , she never spoke to him again .
Now she says of the incident : “ It ’ s dangerous .
Even male agents are being attacked .
… We put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” We actually had an incident not too far from me earlier this year when a female realtor in Roanoke , Virginia was severely injured by a stranger who attacked her with a blunt object at an open house .
The woman ended up in the local hospital , while the suspect is currently awaiting trial on aggravated malicious wounding charges .
Using the buddy system and avoiding showing homes alone is a good idea , but it might not always be practical .
It sounds like more realtors are deciding to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the job , and I applaud them for taking their personal security seriously .

While many sectors of the economy have been shaky this year (and the service sector has been downright awful), the real estate market has done surprisingly well. Home sales and prices are both at highs not seen since before the Great Recession, but the red hot housing market also has some realtors concerned for their own personal safety. A new survey of the National Association of Realtors finds that nearly half of all realtors are now carrying some self-defense tool while on the job, with some 14% reporting that they regularly have a firearm on them for personal protection.
Columnist Lew Sichelman says that even among unarmed realtors, many are refusing to rule out getting a concealed carry license of their own.
One female agent in Northern California told me that while she and members of her team haven’t carried firearms yet, guns “could be in the future for us.” Similarly, when a male agent in Maryland was asked if he carried, he responded, “Not yet.” Another man, one who’d been a police officer for 16 years before becoming a full-time agent in Massachusetts, was explicit when asked if he carried a gun: “I own firearms and practice with all the revolvers, compact pistols and semi-compact pistols I own,” he said. “I have a concealed firearms permit. I prefer my S&W .380 ‘Bodyguard’ with a red laser built-in sight. … It is a very concealable weapon I can carry in any season.” He said his broker’s policy prohibits guns in the office. But does he carry when actually showing houses? “Why would I not?” he said.
The NAR survey found that while only 4% of respondents had been the victim of a violent crime while on the job, almost half of those surveyed said that a co-worker or a realtor they know have been victimized. Several realtors shared stories with Sichelman of running into sketchy situations while looking to make a sale, with one woman detailing a recent situation that left her shaken.
As she tells the story, a man called her out of the blue asking if she remembered him. She didn’t, but he said he wanted to sell his two-acre property. Even though she had no clue who he was, “he talked to me like I had known him for years,” she said. Against the wishes of her now-husband, she went to see the property. Fortunately, she didn’t go to the site alone; she took along a new agent in her office. When they arrived, the “seller” took them deep into the property, where they saw a house in the early stages of construction. The only thing that was close to being finished was a fully furnished bedroom. The supposed seller kept trying to separate her from her male colleague, but she wouldn’t have it. Then he asked her to come back later, alone. She didn’t. And after the two agents left, she never spoke to him again. Now she says of the incident: “It’s dangerous. Even male agents are being attacked. … We put ourselves in scary positions all the time.”
We actually had an incident not too far from me earlier this year when a female realtor in Roanoke, Virginia was severely injured by a stranger who attacked her with a blunt object at an open house. The woman ended up in the local hospital, while the suspect is currently awaiting trial on aggravated malicious wounding charges.
Using the buddy system and avoiding showing homes alone is a good idea, but it might not always be practical. It sounds like more realtors are deciding to bring along their firearm while they’re on the job, and I applaud them for taking their personal security seriously.


bearingarms--2020-11-09--Two GA Men Guilty Of Trafficking Guns, Drugs In Girl Scout Cookie Box

Unless I ’ m trying to lose weight , there ’ s nothing quite like the sight of Girl Scouts selling cookies .
While the purpose is both a fundraiser and , apparently , an attempt to teach entrepreneurship to young girls , no one really cares about all that .
What we care about are tasty , sweet goodness that might be expensive , but is also tasty as hell .
What we generally don ’ t associate with the Girl Scouts are guns or drugs .
Though the theft of guns in Fayette County was not part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ BJay ” Pak on Nov. 5 said two Union City brothers pleaded guilty and were sentenced to trafficking in firearms .
Located in south Fulton County , Union City borders portions of the north side of Fayette County .
Antonio Turrentine , 29 , and Dominique Turrentine , 30 , pleaded guilty and were sentenced in federal court on gun trafficking and drug charges .
Pak said the Turrentine brothers were arrested on Feb. 27 , after arriving at an agreed-upon location where they expected to sell guns and a pound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their arrests , both men were carrying loaded semi-automatic pistols .
The marijuana was concealed inside a Girl Scouts cookies box .
Pak said Antonio Turrentine in 2019 sold a total of 32 firearms , including assault rifles , shotguns and semi-automatic pistols loaded with large capacity magazines , to an informant participating in an ATF-sting operation .
Honestly , who thinks to hide stuff in Girl Scout cookie boxes ?
I mean , there ’ s someone out there who will look in boxes of any flavor .
Put a Thin Mints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d also better place an armed guard next to it if you don ’ t want me scarfing the minty goodness , so why hide stuff in the box ?
Then again , most criminals aren ’ t known for their brilliance .
Sure , there are very smart crooks out there .
They ’ re not the ones getting caught doing idiotic , low-level stuff like this .
Instead , we get these two mental giants .
Needless to say , though , their very existence illustrates why gun control is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money by selling guns illegally to people .
We can gather that not only were they unlicensed to sell these firearms , but they also failed to perform a background check on their customers .
In other words , they were selling guns to bad people who are supposed to not be able to buy guns .
I know , shocking .
I mean , the criminal class is usually so law-abiding and everything , right ?
At the end of the day , the bad guys are always going to have guns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtain guns no matter what you try to do .
You ’ re not going to stop them .
Instead , you simply stop the law-abiding from buying guns for lawful purposes .
Any delay in the process is the same as a denial of one ’ s civil liberties , which is precisely what gun control does .
Folks like the Turrentines ?
They specialize in making sure the criminals don ’ t have to worry about any of that kind of thing .
With them locked up , it ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to get guns , then maybe politicians should stop interfering with the law-abiding citizens .
After all , they ’ ll need those guns to defend themselves .

Unless I’m trying to lose weight, there’s nothing quite like the sight of Girl Scouts selling cookies.
While the purpose is both a fundraiser and, apparently, an attempt to teach entrepreneurship to young girls, no one really cares about all that. What we care about are tasty, sweet goodness that might be expensive, but is also tasty as hell.
What we generally don’t associate with the Girl Scouts are guns or drugs.
Apparently, two Georgia men did.
Though the theft of guns in Fayette County was not part of the announcement, U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak on Nov. 5 said two Union City brothers pleaded guilty and were sentenced to trafficking in firearms. Located in south Fulton County, Union City borders portions of the north side of Fayette County. Antonio Turrentine, 29, and Dominique Turrentine, 30, pleaded guilty and were sentenced in federal court on gun trafficking and drug charges. Pak said the Turrentine brothers were arrested on Feb. 27, after arriving at an agreed-upon location where they expected to sell guns and a pound of marijuana. At the time of their arrests, both men were carrying loaded semi-automatic pistols. The marijuana was concealed inside a Girl Scouts cookies box. Pak said Antonio Turrentine in 2019 sold a total of 32 firearms, including assault rifles, shotguns and semi-automatic pistols loaded with large capacity magazines, to an informant participating in an ATF-sting operation.
Honestly, who thinks to hide stuff in Girl Scout cookie boxes? I mean, there’s someone out there who will look in boxes of any flavor. Put a Thin Mints box in front of me and you’d also better place an armed guard next to it if you don’t want me scarfing the minty goodness, so why hide stuff in the box?
Then again, most criminals aren’t known for their brilliance. Sure, there are very smart crooks out there. They’re not the ones getting caught doing idiotic, low-level stuff like this.
Instead, we get these two mental giants.
Needless to say, though, their very existence illustrates why gun control is doomed to fail. These two made money by selling guns illegally to people. We can gather that not only were they unlicensed to sell these firearms, but they also failed to perform a background check on their customers. In other words, they were selling guns to bad people who are supposed to not be able to buy guns.
I know, shocking. I mean, the criminal class is usually so law-abiding and everything, right?
At the end of the day, the bad guys are always going to have guns. They’ll find ways to obtain guns no matter what you try to do. You’re not going to stop them.
Instead, you simply stop the law-abiding from buying guns for lawful purposes. Any delay in the process is the same as a denial of one’s civil liberties, which is precisely what gun control does.
Folks like the Turrentines? They specialize in making sure the criminals don’t have to worry about any of that kind of thing. With them locked up, it’ll be someone else.
If the criminals are going to get guns, then maybe politicians should stop interfering with the law-abiding citizens. After all, they’ll need those guns to defend themselves.