bearingarms--2020-06-01--Man Accused Of Kidnapping, Double Murder Also Gun Control Advocate

I can ’ t tell you how many times I ’ ve seen someone who pushes for gun control also say things that suggest they ’ re violent individuals .
It ’ s hard not to think there ’ s some degree of projection involved when they say that if they see a gun , they plan on assaulting the person carrying it .
There really are some violent people in the gun control movement .
However , a college student from Connecticut who once took to his Instagram account to advocate for gun control now stands accused of kidnapping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a student at the University of Connecticut , is on the run and is suspected of killing two men , injuring another and kidnapping a woman , then fleeing in a stolen car , over the long weekend .
Yesterday , a 23-year-old woman who said she was abducted by the suspected college student was found healthy in New Jersey , police said .
The unidentified woman told police that Manfredonia took her out of the Derby , Connecticut , residence against her will , using her vehicle to escape after killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend of the fugitive .
Manfredonia is suspected to have started his killing spree Friday morning in an attack on a dirt road in Willington ( CT ) that left Ted DeMers ( 62 ) dead and another man seriously injured , state police said .
DeMers ’ wife Cynthia DeMers told the Hartford Courant newspaper that her husband and an elderly neighbor were attacked after taking Manfredonia to her motorcycle that was parked on the road .
You see , as awful as that is , Manfredonia ’ s hometown isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the accused used to advocate for gun control in part because of his hometown .
You see , he grew up just six doors away from the killer in the Sandy Hook massacre .
The fact that Manfredonia grew up in Sandy Hook six houses down the block from mass murderer [ The Sandy Hook killer ] was never mentioned in newspapers , except when adults worried in the press about the negative effects the 2012 slayings of 20 first-graders and six educators could have on his generation .
And before Manfredonia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Memorial Day weekend homicides , the social media posts associated with the 23-year-old University of Connecticut senior were recently about his support of the gun violence prevention work by homegrown nonprofits in Newtown .
Manfredonia was a senior at UConn , so probably too old to have been at the school the day of the shooting , so while some want to tied the killings to the accusations against Manfredonia , that seems to be a bit of a stretch .
Instead , though , I can ’ t help but notice just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even then , Manfredonia ’ s threats go above and beyond compared to the promises to hit , taze , or pepper-spray gun owners .
Bad as all of those are , none of them are kidnapping or a double homicide .
It ’ s important to note that Manfredonia is only accused of committing these horrific acts .
He hasn ’ t been convicted of them .
If he is , though , then it sounds like Newtown , Connecticut may want to take a long , hard look at what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what are the odds of a town of just 27,000 or so souls could produce two monsters ?
Maybe some of the groups that sprung up in the wake of Sandy Hook should focus some attention on that instead of trying to infringe on our rights .

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen someone who pushes for gun control also say things that suggest they’re violent individuals. It’s hard not to think there’s some degree of projection involved when they say that if they see a gun, they plan on assaulting the person carrying it. There really are some violent people in the gun control movement.
However, a college student from Connecticut who once took to his Instagram account to advocate for gun control now stands accused of kidnapping and a double homicide.
Peter Manfredonia, a student at the University of Connecticut, is on the run and is suspected of killing two men, injuring another and kidnapping a woman, then fleeing in a stolen car, over the long weekend. Yesterday, a 23-year-old woman who said she was abducted by the suspected college student was found healthy in New Jersey, police said. The unidentified woman told police that Manfredonia took her out of the Derby, Connecticut, residence against her will, using her vehicle to escape after killing her boyfriend, Nicholas Eisele, a friend of the fugitive. Manfredonia is suspected to have started his killing spree Friday morning in an attack on a dirt road in Willington (CT) that left Ted DeMers (62) dead and another man seriously injured, state police said. DeMers’ wife Cynthia DeMers told the Hartford Courant newspaper that her husband and an elderly neighbor were attacked after taking Manfredonia to her motorcycle that was parked on the road.
You see, as awful as that is, Manfredonia’s hometown isn’t unfamiliar with monsters.
It seems that the accused used to advocate for gun control in part because of his hometown. You see, he grew up just six doors away from the killer in the Sandy Hook massacre.
The fact that Manfredonia grew up in Sandy Hook six houses down the block from mass murderer [The Sandy Hook killer] was never mentioned in newspapers, except when adults worried in the press about the negative effects the 2012 slayings of 20 first-graders and six educators could have on his generation. And before Manfredonia was arrested Wednesday in connection with two Memorial Day weekend homicides, the social media posts associated with the 23-year-old University of Connecticut senior were recently about his support of the gun violence prevention work by homegrown nonprofits in Newtown.
Odd, that.
So, what happened?
Manfredonia was a senior at UConn, so probably too old to have been at the school the day of the shooting, so while some want to tied the killings to the accusations against Manfredonia, that seems to be a bit of a stretch.
Instead, though, I can’t help but notice just how many anti-gunners routinely threaten violence. Even then, Manfredonia’s threats go above and beyond compared to the promises to hit, taze, or pepper-spray gun owners. Bad as all of those are, none of them are kidnapping or a double homicide.
It’s important to note that Manfredonia is only accused of committing these horrific acts. He hasn’t been convicted of them.
If he is, though, then it sounds like Newtown, Connecticut may want to take a long, hard look at what they’re doing there. After all, what are the odds of a town of just 27,000 or so souls could produce two monsters? Maybe some of the groups that sprung up in the wake of Sandy Hook should focus some attention on that instead of trying to infringe on our rights.
Just a thought.


bearingarms--2020-06-01--An Up-Close Look At The Minneapolis Riots

Townhall ’ s Julio Rosas has been in Minneapolis , Minnesota covering the protests , riots , and looting sparked by the death of George Floyd since last Thursday , and he ’ s done an amazing job of reporting from the scene ’ both the legitimate and lawful protests that have taken place during the day and the violent rioting and looting that ’ s erupted almost every evening for a week .
Rosas has been in the thick of the action throughout his time on the ground , and has the scars to prove it after he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Minnesota National Guard member on Friday night .
Julio joins me on today ’ s Bearing Arms ’ Cam & Co. to talk about what he ’ s seen and heard during his time in the Twin Cities , including a growing number of armed citizens who are standing up and turning out to protect businesses and neighborhoods .
While the rioting and looting was originally centered around the Third Precinct police substation and commercial corridor of Lake Street in south Minneapolis , it has spilled out into surrounding neighborhoods , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets to keep out potential looters .
Standing guard over the blockades were residents of the community , some of whom were armed , and Rosas noted that despite major damage just blocks away , the local neighborhood remained untouched by rioters during his time on the ground .
Rosas says that the locals he ’ s talked to have been decidedly unimpressed by the response of Mayor Jacob Frey and Gov .
Tim Walz , particularly on the first few nights of the riots , when the Third Precinct building was burned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , police likely could have maintained control of the facility if other officers had been ordered to assist those standing guard outside , but instead Mayor Frey gave the order to stand down , leaving the building and the city streets in control of the looters .
The state ’ s response has also been marred by attacks on journalists covering the riots , including Rosas , who was hit in the chest with a rubber bullet on Friday , even though he wasn ’ t mingling with the crowd of rioters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gassed , and local photojournalist Linda Tirado was hit in the eye with a rubber bullet , suffering permanent injuries .
A CBS reporter tweeted over the weekend that his crew had also been fired on by police with rubber bullets , though the reporters were 500 feet away from protesters .
Without a doubt , law enforcement and National Guard members in the Twin Cities were under intense pressure to respond to the riots , but as Rosas tells me , these incidents only add fuel to the accusations of police misconduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the law enforcement officers charged with protecting and serving the community .
As for the idea promulgated by Mayor Frey and others that “ white supremacists ” have been responsible for the violence in Minneapolis , Rosas says that ’ s nonsense , adding that crowds of peaceful protesters and violent looters alike have had a multi-racial component to them .
Rosas believes that politicians trying to pin the blame on white nationalists are simply trying to deflect from their own ineptitude at the expense of the truth , which is far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forth by elected officials .
Be sure to check out the entire interview with Townhall ’ s Julio Rosas above , and stick around afterwards for more news , including a 70-year old man who was able to protect himself after he was stabbed by a stranger in McKees Rocks , Pennsylvania , thanks to the fact that he had his legally carried firearm with him .

Townhall’s Julio Rosas has been in Minneapolis, Minnesota covering the protests, riots, and looting sparked by the death of George Floyd since last Thursday, and he’s done an amazing job of reporting from the scene’ both the legitimate and lawful protests that have taken place during the day and the violent rioting and looting that’s erupted almost every evening for a week.
A large crowd of protesters have gathered outside the US Bank stadium. As it's getting closer to curfew, someone on a megaphone is encouraging people to leave and go home. pic.twitter.com/lrQCbnvH4v — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) June 1, 2020
Rosas has been in the thick of the action throughout his time on the ground, and has the scars to prove it after he was hit by a rubber bullet fired by a Minnesota National Guard member on Friday night. Julio joins me on today’s Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co. to talk about what he’s seen and heard during his time in the Twin Cities, including a growing number of armed citizens who are standing up and turning out to protect businesses and neighborhoods.
While the rioting and looting was originally centered around the Third Precinct police substation and commercial corridor of Lake Street in south Minneapolis, it has spilled out into surrounding neighborhoods, and Rosas described seeing barricades erected on local streets to keep out potential looters. Standing guard over the blockades were residents of the community, some of whom were armed, and Rosas noted that despite major damage just blocks away, the local neighborhood remained untouched by rioters during his time on the ground.
Rosas says that the locals he’s talked to have been decidedly unimpressed by the response of Mayor Jacob Frey and Gov. Tim Walz, particularly on the first few nights of the riots, when the Third Precinct building was burned to the ground. According to Rosas, police likely could have maintained control of the facility if other officers had been ordered to assist those standing guard outside, but instead Mayor Frey gave the order to stand down, leaving the building and the city streets in control of the looters.
The state’s response has also been marred by attacks on journalists covering the riots, including Rosas, who was hit in the chest with a rubber bullet on Friday, even though he wasn’t mingling with the crowd of rioters and looters. Other reporters have been tear gassed, and local photojournalist Linda Tirado was hit in the eye with a rubber bullet, suffering permanent injuries.
an update: I am permanently blind in my left eye, and the docs absolutely refuse to let me go back to work for they say six weeks. I’m definitely not allowed to be near smoke or gas. Usually if I had to stay home I’d spend a lot of time amplifying folk but reading hurts today — Linda Tirado (@KillerMartinis) May 30, 2020
A CBS reporter tweeted over the weekend that his crew had also been fired on by police with rubber bullets, though the reporters were 500 feet away from protesters.
This is the moment Minneapolis Police fired on our CBS News crew with rubber bullets. As you can see, no protesters anywhere near us- we all were wearing credentials and had cameras out. Our sound engineer was hit in the arm. #cbsnews pic.twitter.com/UAy7HYhGnL — Michael George (@MikeGeorgeCBS) May 31, 2020
Without a doubt, law enforcement and National Guard members in the Twin Cities were under intense pressure to respond to the riots, but as Rosas tells me, these incidents only add fuel to the accusations of police misconduct and have exacerbated the tensions between residents and the law enforcement officers charged with protecting and serving the community.
As for the idea promulgated by Mayor Frey and others that “white supremacists” have been responsible for the violence in Minneapolis, Rosas says that’s nonsense, adding that crowds of peaceful protesters and violent looters alike have had a multi-racial component to them. Rosas believes that politicians trying to pin the blame on white nationalists are simply trying to deflect from their own ineptitude at the expense of the truth, which is far more complicated than the simple narrative put forth by elected officials.
Be sure to check out the entire interview with Townhall’s Julio Rosas above, and stick around afterwards for more news, including a 70-year old man who was able to protect himself after he was stabbed by a stranger in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, thanks to the fact that he had his legally carried firearm with him.


bearingarms--2020-06-01--Armed Bakers Prevent Looting Of Cleveland Store

Riots are violent uprisings .
The only thing that separates them from civil wars in many people ’ s minds is the choice of weapons .
Sticks , rocks , and Molotov cocktails aren ’ t the same as rifles and machineguns , at least so far as the general public is concerned .
However , all those weapons can kill just as easily as a firearm .
In Cleveland , a bakery was able to escape the destruction visited upon so many other businesses .
How did they do it ?
Simple .
They took advantage of the Second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstration in downtown Cleveland to protest the death of George Floyd turned violent on Saturday .
Those intent on turning the protest into a riot , systematically smashed out windows and looted stores , restaurants and bars .
But when they got to Corbo ’ s Bakery on Euclid Avenue , they were met with resistance .
After protesters tried to force their way inside with bats and other weapons , owner Joe Corbo and his two sons armed themselves with guns and told the rioters that they would not allow them inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t want any trouble , we don ’ t want you guys in here damaging our property , we ’ re just protecting our business and truthfully , I would say maybe 80 % of them understood , they left us alone and kept walking , and then there was that 20 % that just were accusing us of some things and crazy things that just weren ’ t true .
We weren ’ t there to hurt anybody or cause a problem , we were just protecting our business , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took note of the weapons and the determination of the Corbo family to protect their bakery and decided to move on to other businesses , but not before breaking out a large window at Corbo ’ s .
A video of the incident was posted on Instagram ( language warning for those that need it ) : While they had a window busted out , that was the worst of it and clearly , the rioters decided to look for less well-armed prey .
It ’ s a shame that there is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but what can they do ?
Honestly , every business owner needs to be armed .
Sure , property isn ’ t worth killing someone over in and of itself , but the rioters have caused serious injury and a number have been killed .
This is not the time to simply assume things will work out for the best .
So far , the businesses that haven ’ t had extensive damage have been those where someone had a firearm handy .
Those are also the people who generally aren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coming days , for as long as this kind of thing continues , we ’ re likely to see more and more of these kinds of stories .
Unfortunately , we ’ re also going to hear about many more businesses that didn ’ t have armed citizens manning them and were destroyed as a result .
Too many people are likely to lose their lives and their livelihoods because of this nonsense .
If you ’ re someone in a larger city who normally wouldn ’ t own a firearm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Learn how to use it as quickly as possible .
Then , when you ’ ve done that , be sure to use it to defend your life should the rioters come a-calling to your business or home .
I ’ d much rather right this story than the one I wrote earlier today .

Riots are violent uprisings. The only thing that separates them from civil wars in many people’s minds is the choice of weapons. Sticks, rocks, and Molotov cocktails aren’t the same as rifles and machineguns, at least so far as the general public is concerned. However, all those weapons can kill just as easily as a firearm.
In Cleveland, a bakery was able to escape the destruction visited upon so many other businesses.
How did they do it? Simple. They took advantage of the Second Amendment.
What started as a peaceful demonstration in downtown Cleveland to protest the death of George Floyd turned violent on Saturday. Those intent on turning the protest into a riot, systematically smashed out windows and looted stores, restaurants and bars. But when they got to Corbo’s Bakery on Euclid Avenue, they were met with resistance. After protesters tried to force their way inside with bats and other weapons, owner Joe Corbo and his two sons armed themselves with guns and told the rioters that they would not allow them inside the bakery. “We don’t want any trouble, we don’t want you guys in here damaging our property, we’re just protecting our business and truthfully, I would say maybe 80% of them understood, they left us alone and kept walking, and then there was that 20% that just were accusing us of some things and crazy things that just weren’t true. We weren’t there to hurt anybody or cause a problem, we were just protecting our business,” said Co-owner Selena Corbo. The protesters apparently took note of the weapons and the determination of the Corbo family to protect their bakery and decided to move on to other businesses, but not before breaking out a large window at Corbo’s.
A video of the incident was posted on Instagram (language warning for those that need it):
While they had a window busted out, that was the worst of it and clearly, the rioters decided to look for less well-armed prey. It’s a shame that there is still prey out there, to be sure, but what can they do?
Honestly, every business owner needs to be armed.
Sure, property isn’t worth killing someone over in and of itself, but the rioters have caused serious injury and a number have been killed. This is not the time to simply assume things will work out for the best. So far, the businesses that haven’t had extensive damage have been those where someone had a firearm handy. Those are also the people who generally aren’t getting attacked, either.
Over the coming days, for as long as this kind of thing continues, we’re likely to see more and more of these kinds of stories.
Unfortunately, we’re also going to hear about many more businesses that didn’t have armed citizens manning them and were destroyed as a result. Too many people are likely to lose their lives and their livelihoods because of this nonsense.
If you’re someone in a larger city who normally wouldn’t own a firearm, I beg you to reconsider it immediately.
Go.
Get a firearm.
Learn how to use it as quickly as possible.
Then, when you’ve done that, be sure to use it to defend your life should the rioters come a-calling to your business or home. I’d much rather right this story than the one I wrote earlier today.


bearingarms--2020-06-01--Parkland Victim's Father Attacks Smith & Wesson's Free Speech

A favorite tactic from back in the day was for anti-gunners to pressure the families of shooting victims to file a lawsuit against gun manufacturers .
They figured that if they could bog the gun companies down in enough lawsuits , then eventually they would shut down .
Luckily , Congress intervened and put an end to the practice by passing the Lawful Commerce in Arms Act .
The act ended lawsuits for what people do with firearms after they were sold , but didn ’ t prevent lawsuits that focused on mistakes made by the manufacturers .
In particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a firearm .
Yet , it seems that loophole–one that should exist–has been latched onto by a new breed of lawsuits .
These seek to go after companies over their marketing .
The latest to try it is the ever-annoying Fred Guttenberg .
The father of a mass shooting victim and two gun safety groups petitioned the federal government on Sunday to stop the firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson from using what they described as “ deceptive and unfair ” marketing to promote assault-style rifles .
The father , Fred Guttenberg , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland , Fla. , joined with the advocacy groups Brady and Everytown for Gun Safety to send a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission .
As part of the complaint , Mr. Guttenberg and the gun control groups said that Smith & Wesson mimicked first-person-shooter video games in its advertising materials to attract adolescents and young adults .
They added that the marketing of the company ’ s AR-15-style guns “ attracts , encourages and facilitates mass shooters ” and “ played a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the complaint .
Smith & Wesson is the maker of the M & P15 .223 rifle used by the 19-year-old shooter in the 2018 Parkland massacre .
The complaint urged the federal agency to investigate the company and to require that it include warnings in some of its marketing materials .
This is likely based on a lawsuit against Remington over the marketing the company had for their rifles , one of which was used in the Sandy Hook massacre .
However , just as with that case , this one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a company ’ s freedom of speech .
Advertising materials are speech .
So long as they ’ re not fraudulent , they have the right to say what they wish in that marketing or use whatever methods they can to attract attention to their products .
That ’ s especially important with firearms because there are relatively few places where they can market their products .
While Smith & Wesson ’ s marketing may have replicated the look of a first-person shooter video game , the advertisement didn ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there ’ s no evidence I ’ m aware of that the Parkland killer ever saw any firearms advertisements , much less this one .
More than likely , he bought what he could afford and what was in stock .
Yet Guttenberg doesn ’ t care about that .
He ’ s angry that his daughter is gone , which I understand completely .
I can ’ t even fathom my little girl being taken away from me like that .
What Guttenberg doesn ’ t get a pass on , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infringe on people ’ s liberty .
Taking guns away from the rest of us won ’ t bring his daughter back .
It won ’ t even stop the next mass shooting .
Neither will going after Smith & Wesson because you don ’ t like how they market their guns .
All it ’ s going to do is make him an annoyance that isn ’ t worth listening to by anyone who doesn ’ t already agree with him .

A favorite tactic from back in the day was for anti-gunners to pressure the families of shooting victims to file a lawsuit against gun manufacturers. They figured that if they could bog the gun companies down in enough lawsuits, then eventually they would shut down.
Luckily, Congress intervened and put an end to the practice by passing the Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. The act ended lawsuits for what people do with firearms after they were sold, but didn’t prevent lawsuits that focused on mistakes made by the manufacturers. In particular, things like flaws in the manufacturing of a firearm.
Yet, it seems that loophole–one that should exist–has been latched onto by a new breed of lawsuits. These seek to go after companies over their marketing.
The latest to try it is the ever-annoying Fred Guttenberg.
The father of a mass shooting victim and two gun safety groups petitioned the federal government on Sunday to stop the firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson from using what they described as “deceptive and unfair” marketing to promote assault-style rifles. The father, Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, died in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland, Fla., joined with the advocacy groups Brady and Everytown for Gun Safety to send a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. As part of the complaint, Mr. Guttenberg and the gun control groups said that Smith & Wesson mimicked first-person-shooter video games in its advertising materials to attract adolescents and young adults. They added that the marketing of the company’s AR-15-style guns “attracts, encourages and facilitates mass shooters” and “played a significant role” in the Parkland shooting, according to the complaint. Smith & Wesson didn’t immediately respond. Smith & Wesson is the maker of the M&P15 .223 rifle used by the 19-year-old shooter in the 2018 Parkland massacre. The complaint urged the federal agency to investigate the company and to require that it include warnings in some of its marketing materials.
This is likely based on a lawsuit against Remington over the marketing the company had for their rifles, one of which was used in the Sandy Hook massacre.
However, just as with that case, this one is really nothing more than an attack on a company’s freedom of speech.
Advertising materials are speech. So long as they’re not fraudulent, they have the right to say what they wish in that marketing or use whatever methods they can to attract attention to their products. That’s especially important with firearms because there are relatively few places where they can market their products.
While Smith & Wesson’s marketing may have replicated the look of a first-person shooter video game, the advertisement didn’t have the shooter hurting innocent people. Further, there’s no evidence I’m aware of that the Parkland killer ever saw any firearms advertisements, much less this one. More than likely, he bought what he could afford and what was in stock.
Yet Guttenberg doesn’t care about that. He’s angry that his daughter is gone, which I understand completely. I can’t even fathom my little girl being taken away from me like that.
What Guttenberg doesn’t get a pass on, though, is his continuing efforts to infringe on people’s liberty. Taking guns away from the rest of us won’t bring his daughter back. It won’t even stop the next mass shooting. Neither will going after Smith & Wesson because you don’t like how they market their guns.
All it’s going to do is make him an annoyance that isn’t worth listening to by anyone who doesn’t already agree with him.


bearingarms--2020-06-01--Restaurant Employee Fires Shots After Customer Assaulted By Rioters

A Charleston , South Carolina steakhouse is receiving both praise and criticism after an armed employee fired shots into the air Saturday night as rioters assaulted a customer standing outside .
Hall ’ s Chop House , located on King Street in the city ’ s historic downtown , was right in the thick of the riots and looting that began late Saturday afternoon , and by the time the sun had set , windows had been broken and fires were raging nearby .
Jim Stuckey , a former NFL player who was at the restaurant , was apparently jawing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation escalated into violence .
As crowds began to form , an employee with the restaurant stepped outside , pointed a firearm and told protesters to back away from the establishment , an eyewitness who filmed the incident told the newspaper .
Some members of the crowd began throwing things at the steakhouse after being shown the weapon .
Stuckey was already present in front of the restaurant with a golf club and was getting into a verbal altercation with some of the protesters .
A Post and Courier reporter on the scene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the iron and a cigar while interacting with the crowd .
An eyewitness that filmed the interactions said Stuckey was then attacked by several people after shouting at the crowd and was knocked to the ground .
Around 9:56 p.m. , the Halls ’ employee then came back outside and fired at least four shots into the air according to videos shared with the newspaper and heard by a reporter on scene .
“ Shots were fired during the height of the violence outside of our restaurant around the time a window at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement from the restaurant said .
“ In an effort to protect customers and staff , a Halls ’ team member drew his licensed concealed firearm and discharged it into the air while other members of the Halls team brought an injured guest inside the restaurant.
” Just a reminder that warning shots aren ’ t a great idea , both from a legal perspective and as a practical matter .
What goes up must come down , and those rounds fired into the air could have ended up hurting someone who posed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Still , it doesn ’ t sound like any store employee is facing charges at the moment .
The restaurant added that “ no one was injured by the gunfire , but a Halls ’ guest was injured in front of the restaurant.
” The steakhouse said in a statement that they are cooperating with authorities and will conduct an internal investigation .
Additionally , the restaurant said that certain staff members are trained and licensed to carry concealed weapons .
Windows were broken and some damage happened from an object being thrown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There was no looting on the premises .
In the aftermath of the attack , the restaurant received mostly praise for protecting their customer , though there were critics as well .
“ I hope the employee that was standing out of your door and shooting into street becomes a clear indication to the rest of Charleston about the way your restaurant disregards life , ” one account wrote .
Another commenter said , “ Thankfully your employee was armed and took action .
I hope he is recognized and not reprimanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the restaurant owner that several staffers are concealed carry holders , I doubt the employee is going to be reprimanded .
Meanwhile , Stuckey says he ’ s not pressing charges against any of the individuals who assaulted him , though Charleston Police Chief Luther Reynolds says there were ten arrests made in the downtown area on Saturday night .
Hall ’ s Chop House was closed on Sunday as the city imposed a curfew that ran from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. Monday .

A Charleston, South Carolina steakhouse is receiving both praise and criticism after an armed employee fired shots into the air Saturday night as rioters assaulted a customer standing outside. Hall’s Chop House, located on King Street in the city’s historic downtown, was right in the thick of the riots and looting that began late Saturday afternoon, and by the time the sun had set, windows had been broken and fires were raging nearby.
Jim Stuckey, a former NFL player who was at the restaurant, was apparently jawing with some of the protesters when the situation escalated into violence.
As crowds began to form, an employee with the restaurant stepped outside, pointed a firearm and told protesters to back away from the establishment, an eyewitness who filmed the incident told the newspaper. Some members of the crowd began throwing things at the steakhouse after being shown the weapon. Stuckey was already present in front of the restaurant with a golf club and was getting into a verbal altercation with some of the protesters. A Post and Courier reporter on the scene photographed and witnessed the former athlete holding the iron and a cigar while interacting with the crowd. An eyewitness that filmed the interactions said Stuckey was then attacked by several people after shouting at the crowd and was knocked to the ground. Around 9:56 p.m., the Halls’ employee then came back outside and fired at least four shots into the air according to videos shared with the newspaper and heard by a reporter on scene. “Shots were fired during the height of the violence outside of our restaurant around the time a window at Halls was being broken,” a statement from the restaurant said. “In an effort to protect customers and staff, a Halls’ team member drew his licensed concealed firearm and discharged it into the air while other members of the Halls team brought an injured guest inside the restaurant.”
Just a reminder that warning shots aren’t a great idea, both from a legal perspective and as a practical matter. What goes up must come down, and those rounds fired into the air could have ended up hurting someone who posed no threat to customers or staff. Still, it doesn’t sound like any store employee is facing charges at the moment.
The restaurant added that “no one was injured by the gunfire, but a Halls’ guest was injured in front of the restaurant.” The steakhouse said in a statement that they are cooperating with authorities and will conduct an internal investigation. Additionally, the restaurant said that certain staff members are trained and licensed to carry concealed weapons. Windows were broken and some damage happened from an object being thrown through the glass, the restaurant confirmed. There was no looting on the premises.
In the aftermath of the attack, the restaurant received mostly praise for protecting their customer, though there were critics as well.


bearingarms--2020-06-01--As Violence Spreads, Neighbors Protect Neighbors In Seattle Suburb

While peaceful protests took place in Seattle , Washington on Sunday , there was also no shortage of looting and rioting in the Emerald City and surrounding suburbs .
Gov .
Jay Inslee activated the National Guard statewide late Sunday evening , but some residents in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue weren ’ t waiting for authorities to protect them .
Video taken on Sunday afternoon shows several armed citizens standing guard over the entrance to their neighborhood .
While there were reports of looting in Bellevue on Sunday evening , it looks like it was confined to downtown businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a curfew in the downtown area , and the mayor declared a civil emergency for downtown , which included a ban on firearms in the effected area and punishments ranging from a fine of $ 250 to a 90 day jail sentence for those caught with any weapon , from guns to lumber to skateboards .
I wouldn ’ t be surprised if local business owners ignored that prohibition on firearms in order to protect their businesses , given the widespread destruction we ’ ve seen in cities across the country .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , arguing that the city is failing to keep their businesses and property protected .
The order also doesn ’ t apply to residential areas , so the armed homeowners protecting their neighbors aren ’ t subject to the mayor ’ s weapons ban .
Armed citizens weren ’ t just protecting Bellevue neighborhoods either .
Local news reports from Seattle showed more armed citizens protecting businesses in nearby Snohomish , Washington as well .
Perhaps these armed citizens wouldn ’ t feel the need to protect businesses if they felt like police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on things .
Seattle talk show host Dori Monson , in a scathing column , says Seattle ’ s leaders like Mayor Jenny Durkan have failed residents during a time of crisis .
Having seen for days what was happening in city after city , how did our political leaders not know that was going to happen in Seattle Saturday ?
When the Seattle protests were announced , I said on my show Friday that they were inevitably going to lead to disaster for our city .
So , why did our political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen ?
There are only two possible answers : That they truly did not see this coming , in which case they really are too ignorant for their jobs and should resign immediately ; or that they did see this coming and decided to allow it to happen anyway .
Monson says Durkan declared that “ weapons are not allowed ” in downtown Seattle , but the rioters simply ignored the mayor ’ s impotent proclamation .
She said they were caught off guard by the riots .
Again , they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see this coming She said to the rioters , “ you can not use inappropriate activity to destroy businesses.
” Uh , Jenny ?
Were you watching the coverage ?
They can — and did — use “ inappropriate activity.
” Did you really think talking to rioters like a scolding kindergarten teacher was going to make a difference ?
She ended her presser by saying if you are determined to cause chaos and destruction , “ stay home.
” That scolding also didn ’ t seem to have any impact of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any impact on rioters .
Consequences will .
Arrests need to be made .
Order needs to be restored , or else the chaos will only continue .
Residents and business owners have no choice but to protect themselves and their livelihoods while officials twiddle their thumbs and utter platitudes .

While peaceful protests took place in Seattle, Washington on Sunday, there was also no shortage of looting and rioting in the Emerald City and surrounding suburbs. Gov. Jay Inslee activated the National Guard statewide late Sunday evening, but some residents in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue weren’t waiting for authorities to protect them. Video taken on Sunday afternoon shows several armed citizens standing guard over the entrance to their neighborhood.
Citizens in Bellevue (Seattle suburb) are protecting their neighborhoods from rioters & looters. pic.twitter.com/s6UpMtdXfM — Digital Forests (@DigitalForests) June 1, 2020
While there were reports of looting in Bellevue on Sunday evening, it looks like it was confined to downtown businesses.
Picture of the car on fire in downtown Bellevue. pic.twitter.com/YbvdW3jjPF — Downtown Bellevue (@DTBellevue) June 1, 2020
Late Sunday, Bellevue officials imposed a curfew in the downtown area, and the mayor declared a civil emergency for downtown, which included a ban on firearms in the effected area and punishments ranging from a fine of $250 to a 90 day jail sentence for those caught with any weapon, from guns to lumber to skateboards.
I wouldn’t be surprised if local business owners ignored that prohibition on firearms in order to protect their businesses, given the widespread destruction we’ve seen in cities across the country. They may also take the mayor to court, arguing that the city is failing to keep their businesses and property protected. The order also doesn’t apply to residential areas, so the armed homeowners protecting their neighbors aren’t subject to the mayor’s weapons ban.
Armed citizens weren’t just protecting Bellevue neighborhoods either. Local news reports from Seattle showed more armed citizens protecting businesses in nearby Snohomish, Washington as well.
ARMED citizens deployed in Snohomish WA in open Carry. No protest here. #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/s6h5l5ZL9X — MT-PT (@wsmith825) June 1, 2020
Perhaps these armed citizens wouldn’t feel the need to protect businesses if they felt like police and the National Guard had a handle on things. Seattle talk show host Dori Monson, in a scathing column, says Seattle’s leaders like Mayor Jenny Durkan have failed residents during a time of crisis.
Having seen for days what was happening in city after city, how did our political leaders not know that was going to happen in Seattle Saturday? When the Seattle protests were announced, I said on my show Friday that they were inevitably going to lead to disaster for our city. So, why did our political “leaders” allow this mayhem to happen? There are only two possible answers: That they truly did not see this coming, in which case they really are too ignorant for their jobs and should resign immediately; or that they did see this coming and decided to allow it to happen anyway.
Monson says Durkan declared that “weapons are not allowed” in downtown Seattle, but the rioters simply ignored the mayor’s impotent proclamation.
She said they were caught off guard by the riots. Again, they’re the only ones who didn’t see this coming She said to the rioters, “you cannot use inappropriate activity to destroy businesses.” Uh, Jenny? Were you watching the coverage? They can — and did — use “inappropriate activity.” Did you really think talking to rioters like a scolding kindergarten teacher was going to make a difference? She ended her presser by saying if you are determined to cause chaos and destruction, “stay home.” That scolding also didn’t seem to have any impact of the rioters.
Scolding won’t have any impact on rioters. Consequences will. Arrests need to be made. Order needs to be restored, or else the chaos will only continue. Residents and business owners have no choice but to protect themselves and their livelihoods while officials twiddle their thumbs and utter platitudes.


bearingarms--2020-06-01--Savage Beating During Dallas Riot Illustrates Why We Defend Second Amendment

Gun control activists don ’ t really see the point of guns , at least for the most part .
Quite a few will work to curtail your ability to purchase a gun but have no qualms about owning them themselves .
It ’ s different when they buy guns , after all , because they ’ re all good and pure and stuff .
However , they will often question you about why you have a gun , whether you ’ re carrying at the moment or whether it ’ s your AR-15 at home in the safe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ something like that ?
” they ask .
Well , because stuff like this can happen ( some might find the following video disturbing ) : I ’ ve personally seen this video , which comes from a riot in Dallas over the weekend , from a couple of different angles .
This was reportedly a man who was trying to protect his business from looters , and we see how that worked out for him .
Some reports claim he had some kind of a bladed weapon , like a machete , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t have a firearm .
It ’ s my understanding that , despite appearances to the contrary , the individual pictured here survived .
That said , it ’ s absolutely awful what we ’ re seeing all over the country right now .
What happened to George Floyd was an absolute tragedy and from what I ’ ve seen , it never should have happened .
However , how does this help ?
Unfortunately , if people don ’ t have the means to defend their property and , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predatory jackwagons are going to do what they want in a case like this .
It ’ s important to note that rioters don ’ t actually care all that much about George Floyd .
Oh , their outrage may have brought them out to what were supposed to be protests , but that ’ s not what it became about .
It became about seeing how much they could take from people who had nothing to do with any of this .
Yet , let ’ s imagine if that man in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AR-15 .
With a 30-round magazine , he ’ d have clearly been able to engage any and all of his attackers .
Likely , though , he wouldn ’ t have needed to .
Instead , the rioting turdnuggets would have seen the weapon and decided to look for an easier target .
While that sucks because it means someone else is going to be victimized , it ’ s also the best you can do .
If every store owner had an AR-15 handy during a riot , I somehow suspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past .
At the end of the day , we ’ re seeing horrible things transpiring .
This video is just one of several I caught here and there over the weekend , including one of a female police officer being brutally beaten .
What ’ s worse is that there ’ s no real end in sight just now .
Instead , the virus of rioting seems to be spreading , which is something no one should want .
With that , though , a lot of people are probably feeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchases before the pandemic hit the U.S .

Gun control activists don’t really see the point of guns, at least for the most part. Quite a few will work to curtail your ability to purchase a gun but have no qualms about owning them themselves. It’s different when they buy guns, after all, because they’re all good and pure and stuff.
However, they will often question you about why you have a gun, whether you’re carrying at the moment or whether it’s your AR-15 at home in the safe.
“Why do you think you need something like that?” they ask.
Well, because stuff like this can happen (some might find the following video disturbing):
A mob of rioters just murdered a man in cold blood in Dallas. He was defending his store. pic.twitter.com/1b28ezTUiY — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 31, 2020
I’ve personally seen this video, which comes from a riot in Dallas over the weekend, from a couple of different angles. This was reportedly a man who was trying to protect his business from looters, and we see how that worked out for him. Some reports claim he had some kind of a bladed weapon, like a machete, but all seem to agree that he didn’t have a firearm.
It’s my understanding that, despite appearances to the contrary, the individual pictured here survived.
That said, it’s absolutely awful what we’re seeing all over the country right now. What happened to George Floyd was an absolute tragedy and from what I’ve seen, it never should have happened.
However, how does this help?
Unfortunately, if people don’t have the means to defend their property and, more importantly, their own lives, some predatory jackwagons are going to do what they want in a case like this. It’s important to note that rioters don’t actually care all that much about George Floyd. Oh, their outrage may have brought them out to what were supposed to be protests, but that’s not what it became about. It became about seeing how much they could take from people who had nothing to do with any of this.
Yet, let’s imagine if that man in the video had been armed with an AR-15. With a 30-round magazine, he’d have clearly been able to engage any and all of his attackers. Likely, though, he wouldn’t have needed to. Instead, the rioting turdnuggets would have seen the weapon and decided to look for an easier target.
While that sucks because it means someone else is going to be victimized, it’s also the best you can do. If every store owner had an AR-15 handy during a riot, I somehow suspect that looting would become a relic of the past.
Let’s just call it a hunch.
At the end of the day, we’re seeing horrible things transpiring. This video is just one of several I caught here and there over the weekend, including one of a female police officer being brutally beaten. What’s worse is that there’s no real end in sight just now. Instead, the virus of rioting seems to be spreading, which is something no one should want.
With that, though, a lot of people are probably feeling much, much better about their firearm purchases before the pandemic hit the U.S.
Hat tip: Gun Free Zone


bearingarms--2020-06-02--"Wreck It" Ralph Northam's Message To Rioters Will Have Gun Sales Soaring

Not that business has been bad for Virginia gun store owners lately .
We saw a spike in sales in November after Democrats took control of the state legislature , and things had only just begun to calm down in early March when demand skyrocketed again as the nation entered lockdown .
Gun sales never did drop down to normal levels , but they ’ re likely to go through the roof after Gov .
Ralph Northam was asked by a reporter on Tuesday if he had a message to rioters and looters in the state .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They ’ re mad , and I guess an analogy if it ’ s OK that I would use as a physician who has been with families when they ’ ve lost their children .
A lot of times well intended folks will come up and say ‘ I understand what you ’ re going through , I feel your pain.
’ Well , no you don ’ t .
Because you ’ ve never walked in their shoes , you ’ ve never experienced what they ’ ve experiencing .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best one not talk about the pain that people are feeling… “ I think we need to step back from the big picture , from the protesters , and certainly encourage them to be peaceful but I think the bigger challenge , the bigger message for people who look like me is to ask ourselves why ?
Why are they feeling this pain ?
And to listen , and when we listen , we learn , and then if our hearts are in the right place , as Del .
McQuinn said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in a civil manner move forward and take action to make our society better for our young folks and everybody that ’ s else in the world with us… “ I think it ’ s fair to say that there are individuals out there who are exploiting the situation that we ’ re in .
And for that , we regret that and ask them to take their energy and interest elsewhere.
” Check out the governor ’ s comments here ( they ’ re at 1:00:56 if it doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out just how utterly weak his response is .
Remember , he ’ s being asked specifically what is message to rioters and looters is , not people who are exercising their First Amendment rights to peaceably assemble .
It ’ s absolutely absurd for Northam to pretend that at this point the rioting and looting has any legitimate purpose .
In Richmond , there ’ ve an awful lot of hipster white college kids who ’ ve been smashing store windows alongside black residents .
They ’ re not allies of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , and it ’ s going to be years before the neighborhoods will begin to recover .
Northam ’ s comments will embolden those who are looting and rioting in cities like Richmond , and in turn send more Virginians flocking to gun stores to purchase one of the few remaining firearms still available for sale .
The governor talked a lot on Monday afternoon about the pain of the rioters , but he said nothing at all about the pain of Virginians who ’ ve watched their businesses go up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire with children inside , and who are watching their neighborhoods become devastated by repeated acts of vandalism and violence as the sun goes down every evening .
Their pain may not matter to the Northam , but I can assure you it ’ s real .
Governor Ralph Northam forfeited any moral authority to lead a conversation about racial injustice the moment he put on his blackface ( or was the Klan hood ? )
, and his mealy-mouthed attempt to explain away the riots and looting is the latest example of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In fact , I truly believe Ralph Northam wants to divide us .
Compare his velvet-glove treatment of those actually committing acts of violence with how he described Virginia gun owners before they peacefully descended on the state capitol for a rally back in January .
Northam said at a news conference that intelligence from law enforcement agencies indicates that out-of-state militias and hate groups fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories have “ malicious plans ” for the rally .
“ They ’ re not coming to peacefully protest .
They are coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northam said .
Northam said he will declare a state of emergency in Richmond from Friday evening through Tuesday evening .
Under the order , city , state and Capitol police will form a unified command , state employees are encouraged to stay home for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday , and all weapons will be banned in the Capitol Square .
“ No one wants another incident like the one we saw at Charlottesville in 2017 .
We will not allow that mayhem and violence to happen here , ” Northam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally where clashes broke out and a counterprotester was killed .
Of course , the event went off peacefully , with more than 20,000 gun owners filling the downtown Richmond area and thousands of unarmed rally attendees on the state capitol grounds .
Now that there ’ s actual violence taking place in Richmond on a nightly basis , the governor wants us to put ourselves in the shoes of the looters and feel their pain .
Why should we , when the looters themselves , both black and white , would rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steal from a local business ?
Northam is offering succor and emotional support to rioters and looters , while offering up a giant middle-finger to the state ’ s law abiding residents , not to mention the actual protesters who are watching their movement being co-opted by violent agitators and opportunistic looters .
Now that we know we can ’ t rely on “ Wreck It ” Ralph to help defend and protect the lives and property of the law-abiding , expect a flood of Virginians into the state ’ s gun stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality .

Not that business has been bad for Virginia gun store owners lately. We saw a spike in sales in November after Democrats took control of the state legislature, and things had only just begun to calm down in early March when demand skyrocketed again as the nation entered lockdown. Gun sales never did drop down to normal levels, but they’re likely to go through the roof after Gov. Ralph Northam was asked by a reporter on Tuesday if he had a message to rioters and looters in the state.
“I think from my perspective, people are angry. They’re mad, and I guess an analogy if it’s OK that I would use as a physician who has been with families when they’ve lost their children. A lot of times well intended folks will come up and say ‘I understand what you’re going through, I feel your pain.’ Well, no you don’t. Because you’ve never walked in their shoes, you’ve never experienced what they’ve experiencing. And so perhaps I’m not the best one not talk about the pain that people are feeling… “I think we need to step back from the big picture, from the protesters, and certainly encourage them to be peaceful but I think the bigger challenge, the bigger message for people who look like me is to ask ourselves why? Why are they feeling this pain? And to listen, and when we listen, we learn, and then if our hearts are in the right place, as Del. McQuinn said, we can sit down at the table and in a civil manner move forward and take action to make our society better for our young folks and everybody that’s else in the world with us… “I think it’s fair to say that there are individuals out there who are exploiting the situation that we’re in. And for that, we regret that and ask them to take their energy and interest elsewhere.”
Check out the governor’s comments here (they’re at 1:00:56 if it doesn’t load automatically for you) to check out just how utterly weak his response is. Remember, he’s being asked specifically what is message to rioters and looters is, not people who are exercising their First Amendment rights to peaceably assemble.
It’s absolutely absurd for Northam to pretend that at this point the rioting and looting has any legitimate purpose. In Richmond, there’ve an awful lot of hipster white college kids who’ve been smashing store windows alongside black residents. They’re not allies of the black community. They’re gutting it, and it’s going to be years before the neighborhoods will begin to recover.
Northam’s comments will embolden those who are looting and rioting in cities like Richmond, and in turn send more Virginians flocking to gun stores to purchase one of the few remaining firearms still available for sale. The governor talked a lot on Monday afternoon about the pain of the rioters, but he said nothing at all about the pain of Virginians who’ve watched their businesses go up in smoke, had their homes set on fire with children inside, and who are watching their neighborhoods become devastated by repeated acts of vandalism and violence as the sun goes down every evening.
Their pain may not matter to the Northam, but I can assure you it’s real. Governor Ralph Northam forfeited any moral authority to lead a conversation about racial injustice the moment he put on his blackface (or was the Klan hood?), and his mealy-mouthed attempt to explain away the riots and looting is the latest example of his utter inability to unite Virginians. In fact, I truly believe Ralph Northam wants to divide us. Compare his velvet-glove treatment of those actually committing acts of violence with how he described Virginia gun owners before they peacefully descended on the state capitol for a rally back in January.
Northam said at a news conference that intelligence from law enforcement agencies indicates that out-of-state militias and hate groups fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories have “malicious plans” for the rally. “They’re not coming to peacefully protest. They are coming to intimidate and cause harm,” Northam said. Northam said he will declare a state of emergency in Richmond from Friday evening through Tuesday evening. Under the order, city, state and Capitol police will form a unified command, state employees are encouraged to stay home for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and all weapons will be banned in the Capitol Square. “No one wants another incident like the one we saw at Charlottesville in 2017. We will not allow that mayhem and violence to happen here,” Northam said, referring to a white nationalist rally where clashes broke out and a counterprotester was killed.
Of course, the event went off peacefully, with more than 20,000 gun owners filling the downtown Richmond area and thousands of unarmed rally attendees on the state capitol grounds. Now that there’s actual violence taking place in Richmond on a nightly basis, the governor wants us to put ourselves in the shoes of the looters and feel their pain. Why should we, when the looters themselves, both black and white, would rather put themselves in the shoes they can steal from a local business?
Northam is offering succor and emotional support to rioters and looters, while offering up a giant middle-finger to the state’s law abiding residents, not to mention the actual protesters who are watching their movement being co-opted by violent agitators and opportunistic looters. Now that we know we can’t rely on “Wreck It” Ralph to help defend and protect the lives and property of the law-abiding, expect a flood of Virginians into the state’s gun stores as they wake up to that sad reality.


bearingarms--2020-06-02--No, Trump's Talk Of Protecting 2A Rights Wasn't a "Dog Whistle"

When President Donald Trump addressed the nation Monday afternoon , he referenced the Second Amendment when talking about the potential need to call out the military to quell the riots that have spread to virtually every major American city .
“ I am mobilizing all available federal resources , civilian and military , to stop the rioting and looting , to end the destruction and arms .
And to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans , including your Second Amendment rights , ” said the president while speaking in the Rose Garden .
Almost immediately , howls of protest and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the president for his remarks .
Many of the president ’ s critics accused him of invoking the Second Amendment as a “ dog whistle ” to white supremacists to let them know the president is on their side .
I think Nikole Hannah Jones is off base here , both in terms of what she believes the president ’ s motivation was , and her reading of history that presumes the only reason the Second Amendment exists is because of southern slaveowners who wanted to ensure that militias could put down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let ’ s talk about the present , and then we ’ ll revisit the past .
The simplest explanation for the president to mention the Second Amendment during yesterday ’ s speech is because he knows that the issue is vitally important to his base .
I don ’ t think Trump ever loses sight of the fact that we ’ ll be holding elections in November , and giving a shoutout to the Second Amendment may have been nothing more than a nod to those voters .
It ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ images from around the country of armed Americans protecting their neighborhoods and businesses from looters and rioters .
Not just good-old-boy white Americans either .
After all , the Second Amendment is a right of the People , not a right of white people .
If Trump ’ s comments were meant as a dog whistle , I don ’ t think many gun owners heard it , because every gun owner and Second Amendment supporter I know wants to see more black and brown gun owners , not less .
I could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ column on how gun ownership has introduced me to Americans far different than me who I never would have met without our shared support for the Second Amendment , from Maj Toure of Black Guns Matter to Erin Palette of the Pink Pistols and Operation Blazing Sword .
I ’ m sure that there are some racist gun owners in the United States .
I ’ m also sure that they don ’ t define or are representative of the Second Amendment community as a whole .
Even if the Second Amendment was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South , the right to keep and bear arms is clearly not confined to pasty-faced white guys like me .
In fact , though , that ’ s never been the case at all .
From the time of our founding , the right to keep and bear arms has been used to further the cause of equality .
It ’ s actually gun control laws that have sought to deprive black Americans , recent immigrants , and others of their Second Amendment rights .
First , let ’ s acknowledge that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did want to ensure that they would be able to use the militia to put down slave insurrections and to send out patrols to capture slaves trying to escape captivity .
However , it ’ s wrong to say that was the only impetus behind the push to include a right to keep and bear arms in the Bill of Rights .
In 1783 , New Hampshire passed a law to abolish slavery in the state .
Four years later , during the ratification debates over the proposed Constitution , the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the document .
Other states that had already moved to abolish slavery , including Vermont and Massachusetts , also had debates and discussions about the need to protect the pre-existing right to keep and bear arms in the U.S. Constitution .
Pennsylvania had abolished slavery even earlier than New Hampshire and Massachusetts , yet there was still a strong desire to see the federal constitution protect the right to keep and bear arms just like Pennsylvania ’ s state constitution , approved in 1776 , did .
In 1790 , moderates in Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which they considered too radical , with one of their own .
They even changed the wording of the right to keep and bear arms , but only to simplify it .
The reasons for wanting Constitutional protection for the right to keep and bear arms were as varied as the states themselves .
It ’ s simplistic to the point of fiction to proclaim that the only reason we have the right to keep and bear arms was to put down slave revolts .
In fact , as Fordham law professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Negroes and the Gun : The Black Tradition of Arms ( which should be required reading for every Second Amendment supporter and lover of American history ) , from the earliest days of our nation armed citizens used their rights in defense of black Americans .
Johnson tells the story of Ned and Lucy Page , who were born into slavery but gained their freedom when they were brought to Ohio in the early 1800s .
In 1806 the couple were at a tavern near Dayton when “ two armed men entered intent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” As Johnson details : Four years later , in Jefferson , Ohio , a band of “ fifteen to twenty colored men armed with guns , pistols , and other weapons ” intercepted a group of slave catchers that were bringing a family of fugitives back south .
A standoff ensured until a local white attorney made an offer to represent them before a local magistrate .
According to Johnson , the judge “ rejected the slavers ’ claims .
In a final insult , the slave hunters were charged with assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , forfeiting their bond.
” It is absolutely fair to say that some whites used guns to keep black slaves in subjugation , both before and after the Civil War .
In the aftermath of Nat Turner ’ s Revolt in 1833 , many southern states passed laws that barred free blacks from bearing arms , or even being taught how to read or write .
The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified in part because of the desire to ensure that newly freed slaves could exercise all of their rights , including the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southerners bitterly opposed the idea of armed black Americans , and committed atrocities like the Colfax Massacre , where more than 100 black Americans were murdered .
Colfax Parish reflected the political and racial divide in Louisiana .
Its 4,600 voters in the 1872 election were split between approximately 2,400 hundred mostly black Republican voters and 2,200 white Democratic voters .
One incident however , touched off the Colfax massacre .
On March 28 , local white Democratic leaders called for armed supporters to help them take the Colfax Parish Courthouse from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 .
The Republicans responded by urging their mostly black supporters to defend them .
Although nothing happened on April 1 , the next day fighting erupted between the two groups .
On April 13 , Easter Sunday , more than 300 armed white men , including members of white supremacist organizations such as the Knights of White Camellia and the Ku Klux Klan , attacked the Courthouse building .
When the militia maneuvered a cannon to fire on the Courthouse , some of the sixty black defenders fled while others surrendered .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ James Hadnot , was accidentally shot by one of his own men , the white militia responded by shooting the black prisoners .
Those who were wounded in the earlier battle , particularly black militia members , were singled out for execution The indiscriminate killing spread to African Americans who had not been at the courthouse and continued into the night .
All told , approximately 150 African Americans were killed , including 48 who were murdered after the battle .
Only three whites were killed , and few were injured in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these ugly incidents change the fact that the Second Amendment wasn ’ t written to keep slaves in bondage , even if that happened to be a top priority for some southern slaveholders .
Yes , throughout our history some white Americans used their firearms to murder black Americans and terrorize black communities .
Black Americans also used their firearms in defense of themselves , both individually and collectively .
In fact , throughout our nation ’ s history the right to keep and bear arms has been incredibly important to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader civil rights movement , and it makes no sense to me to try to rewrite history in attempt to attack the right to keep and bear arms generally .
From Ned Page standing his ground in the early 1800s , Ida Wells urging black Americans to put a Winchester repeating rifle above the fireplace to guard against lynchings in the 1890s , Mississippi farmer and civil rights activist Hartman Turnbow using a rifle to defend his family against white supremacist nightriders in the 1950s , to black business owners in St. Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Second Amendment has helped black Americans defend their freedom , protect their families , and live to fight for the rest of the rights accorded to them under our Constitution .

When President Donald Trump addressed the nation Monday afternoon, he referenced the Second Amendment when talking about the potential need to call out the military to quell the riots that have spread to virtually every major American city.
“I am mobilizing all available federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arms. And to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights,” said the president while speaking in the Rose Garden.
Almost immediately, howls of protest and accusations of thinly veiled racism were thrown at the president for his remarks. Many of the president’s critics accused him of invoking the Second Amendment as a “dog whistle” to white supremacists to let them know the president is on their side.
This reference to the 2nd Amendment is a head scratcher only if you don’t know that 2nd Amendment was in fact created to ensure Southern slaveowners the right to maintain & arm slave patrols to put down insurrections amongst the enslaved. Now he’s invoking agnst their descendants https://t.co/9anFgRjQCm — Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) June 1, 2020
I think Nikole Hannah Jones is off base here, both in terms of what she believes the president’s motivation was, and her reading of history that presumes the only reason the Second Amendment exists is because of southern slaveowners who wanted to ensure that militias could put down insurrections among the enslaved.
First, let’s talk about the present, and then we’ll revisit the past. The simplest explanation for the president to mention the Second Amendment during yesterday’s speech is because he knows that the issue is vitally important to his base. I don’t think Trump ever loses sight of the fact that we’ll be holding elections in November, and giving a shoutout to the Second Amendment may have been nothing more than a nod to those voters.
It’s also quite possible that Trump has seen the images from around the country of armed Americans protecting their neighborhoods and businesses from looters and rioters. Not just good-old-boy white Americans either. After all, the Second Amendment is a right of the People, not a right of white people.
Arab business owners protecting their businesses in Rochester NY! pic.twitter.com/xWvY5qsaqq — al.prodigy (@Al__prodigy) June 1, 2020
me on my way to apply for a license to carry pic.twitter.com/355BDnUe7x — jay (@JAYVERSACE) June 2, 2020
Storefront Sikhs protecting theirs from Antifa and looters. https://t.co/7Rbgkn9ySv — John Sadden (@Geelivingston) June 2, 2020
If Trump’s comments were meant as a dog whistle, I don’t think many gun owners heard it, because every gun owner and Second Amendment supporter I know wants to see more black and brown gun owners, not less. I could (and should) write an entire column on how gun ownership has introduced me to Americans far different than me who I never would have met without our shared support for the Second Amendment, from Maj Toure of Black Guns Matter to Erin Palette of the Pink Pistols and Operation Blazing Sword. I’m sure that there are some racist gun owners in the United States. I’m also sure that they don’t define or are representative of the Second Amendment community as a whole.
Even if the Second Amendment was only ratified because of white slaveowners in the South, the right to keep and bear arms is clearly not confined to pasty-faced white guys like me. In fact, though, that’s never been the case at all. From the time of our founding, the right to keep and bear arms has been used to further the cause of equality. It’s actually gun control laws that have sought to deprive black Americans, recent immigrants, and others of their Second Amendment rights.
First, let’s acknowledge that Jones is right that some southern slaveowners did want to ensure that they would be able to use the militia to put down slave insurrections and to send out patrols to capture slaves trying to escape captivity. However, it’s wrong to say that was the only impetus behind the push to include a right to keep and bear arms in the Bill of Rights. In 1783, New Hampshire passed a law to abolish slavery in the state. Four years later, during the ratification debates over the proposed Constitution, the state’s constitutional convention proposed an amendment to the document.
Until that point, the Federalists had argued that, since the federal government would have only limited powers, a bill of rights was unnecessary. However, the New Hampshire convention then proposed one, including a guarantee that “Congress shall never disarm any citizen, unless such as are or have been in actual rebellion.”
Other states that had already moved to abolish slavery, including Vermont and Massachusetts, also had debates and discussions about the need to protect the pre-existing right to keep and bear arms in the U.S. Constitution.
Ratification conventions demanded a bill of rights when the federal Constitution was proposed in 1787 without one. In the Massachusetts ratification convention, Samuel Adams proposed “that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress, . . . to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms . . . .” In the Pennsylvania convention, the Dissent of the Minority demanded a written bill of rights, including the proposal: “That the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and their own state, or the United States, or for the purpose of killing game; and no law shall be passed for disarming the people or any of them, unless for crimes committed, or real danger of public injury from individuals…”
Pennsylvania had abolished slavery even earlier than New Hampshire and Massachusetts, yet there was still a strong desire to see the federal constitution protect the right to keep and bear arms just like Pennsylvania’s state constitution, approved in 1776, did.
That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state; and as standing armies in the time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; And that the military should be kept under strict subordination, to, and governed by, the civil power.
In 1790, moderates in Pennsylvania managed to replace the 1776 state constitution, which they considered too radical, with one of their own. They even changed the wording of the right to keep and bear arms, but only to simplify it.
The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned
The reasons for wanting Constitutional protection for the right to keep and bear arms were as varied as the states themselves. It’s simplistic to the point of fiction to proclaim that the only reason we have the right to keep and bear arms was to put down slave revolts. In fact, as Fordham law professor Nicholas Johnson makes clear in his book Negroes and the Gun: The Black Tradition of Arms (which should be required reading for every Second Amendment supporter and lover of American history), from the earliest days of our nation armed citizens used their rights in defense of black Americans.
Johnson tells the story of Ned and Lucy Page, who were born into slavery but gained their freedom when they were brought to Ohio in the early 1800s. In 1806 the couple were at a tavern near Dayton when “two armed men entered intent on hauling them back south in chains.” As Johnson details:
“Ned Page pulled a pistol from his pack, squared up his sights and threatened to kill rather than be taken. A clutch of friends surrounded him in support. The slave catchers were apprehended and charged with breach of the peace.”
Four years later, in Jefferson, Ohio, a band of “fifteen to twenty colored men armed with guns, pistols, and other weapons” intercepted a group of slave catchers that were bringing a family of fugitives back south. A standoff ensured until a local white attorney made an offer to represent them before a local magistrate. According to Johnson, the judge “rejected the slavers’ claims. In a final insult, the slave hunters were charged with assault. They posted bail and rode off, forfeiting their bond.”
It is absolutely fair to say that some whites used guns to keep black slaves in subjugation, both before and after the Civil War. In the aftermath of Nat Turner’s Revolt in 1833, many southern states passed laws that barred free blacks from bearing arms, or even being taught how to read or write. The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified in part because of the desire to ensure that newly freed slaves could exercise all of their rights, including the right to keep and bear arms. Some southerners bitterly opposed the idea of armed black Americans, and committed atrocities like the Colfax Massacre, where more than 100 black Americans were murdered.
Colfax Parish reflected the political and racial divide in Louisiana. Its 4,600 voters in the 1872 election were split between approximately 2,400 hundred mostly black Republican voters and 2,200 white Democratic voters. One incident however, touched off the Colfax massacre. On March 28, local white Democratic leaders called for armed supporters to help them take the Colfax Parish Courthouse from the black and white GOP officeholders on April 1. The Republicans responded by urging their mostly black supporters to defend them. Although nothing happened on April 1, the next day fighting erupted between the two groups. On April 13, Easter Sunday, more than 300 armed white men, including members of white supremacist organizations such as the Knights of White Camellia and the Ku Klux Klan, attacked the Courthouse building. When the militia maneuvered a cannon to fire on the Courthouse, some of the sixty black defenders fled while others surrendered. When the leader of the attackers, James Hadnot, was accidentally shot by one of his own men, the white militia responded by shooting the black prisoners. Those who were wounded in the earlier battle, particularly black militia members, were singled out for execution The indiscriminate killing spread to African Americans who had not been at the courthouse and continued into the night. All told, approximately 150 African Americans were killed, including 48 who were murdered after the battle. Only three whites were killed, and few were injured in the largely one-sided battle of Colfax.
None of these ugly incidents change the fact that the Second Amendment wasn’t written to keep slaves in bondage, even if that happened to be a top priority for some southern slaveholders. Yes, throughout our history some white Americans used their firearms to murder black Americans and terrorize black communities. Black Americans also used their firearms in defense of themselves, both individually and collectively. In fact, throughout our nation’s history the right to keep and bear arms has been incredibly important to the rights of individual black Americans and the broader civil rights movement, and it makes no sense to me to try to rewrite history in attempt to attack the right to keep and bear arms generally.
From Ned Page standing his ground in the early 1800s, Ida Wells urging black Americans to put a Winchester repeating rifle above the fireplace to guard against lynchings in the 1890s, Mississippi farmer and civil rights activist Hartman Turnbow using a rifle to defend his family against white supremacist nightriders in the 1950s, to black business owners in St. Paul protecting their shops against rioters in 2020, the Second Amendment has helped black Americans defend their freedom, protect their families, and live to fight for the rest of the rights accorded to them under our Constitution.


bearingarms--2020-06-02--As Cities Burn, Americans Embrace Their 2A Rights

If you ’ re lucky enough to have avoided riots and looting in your neighborhood or city over the past week , congratulations , but don ’ t think it can ’ t happen where you live .
On today ’ s Bearing Arms ’ Cam & Co , I speak with Jon Stokes , editor of ThePrepared.com , and former NYPD officer Rob O ’ Donnell about what we need to be doing as individuals and a community to be prepared in case unrest hits close to home , as well as how we can begin to move past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a productive effort to reform and fix some of the legitimate issues that have been raised by the deaths of George Floyd and others around the country at the hands of law enforcement , instead of simply burning down our cities and using Floyd ’ s death to destroy neighborhoods .
Over the past week , not only have many Americans decided to embrace their Second Amendment rights and purchase a firearm for self-defense , we ’ re also looking at other ways to keep ourselves safe if we suddenly find ourselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and looting .
One of The Prepared ‘ s newest employees lives near the Fifth Precinct in Minneapolis , and Stokes describes how she ’ s no longer able to visit her local grocery store or pharmacy , which have both been boarded up and looted .
The city of Minneapolis is telling residents like her to get a go-bag ready filled with food and essential medicines , but not only is it impossible for her to now find those essential items , there ’ s nowhere for her to go even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if you wait until you need these items , you ’ re likely going to find yourself unable to get them .
That goes for firearms and ammunition as well .
Stokes , who lives outside of Austin , Texas , says he ’ s visited several local gun stores in recent days and has found them picked clean of common calibers like 9mm and .223 .
That ’ s not likely to change anytime soon , as demand for guns and ammunition is still far outpacing supply .
We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun sales , and demand is likely higher right now than it was in early March when the country went on lockdown over coronavirus fears .
As many Americans seek out a firearm for self-defense , many gun owners are actually using their firearms to protect themselves and their businesses from rioters and looters , including in some unlikely places like Santa Monica , California .
Open carry is illegal in California , but then again , so is rioting and looting .
Something tells me that even in anti-gun localities , police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business owners protecting their livelihoods with guns .
In fact , expect to see much more of that the longer these riots continue .
If the government won ’ t protect us , we ’ ll protect ourselves .
That ’ s sort of the American way , after all .
As for what might actually stop the rioting and looting , Rob O ’ Donnell tells me that leaders need to step up and take charge , noting the absolute chaos on the streets of New York City last night .
Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pin the blame on Mayor Bill de Blasio , but O ’ Donnell says Cuomo ’ s been part of the problem as well .
O ’ Donnell also makes the excellent point that real reform and positive change when it comes to law enforcement can ’ t and won ’ t happen as long as there ’ s rioting in the streets and people ’ s local lifelines like grocery stores , pharmacies , and even post offices are being destroyed .
O ’ Donnell says that not only is it incumbent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their jobs , but the actual peaceful protesters need to continue to call out and check Antifa members , anarchists , and others who are using legitimate protests to wage an illegitimate campaign against civil society .
Check out both interviews in the video window above , and stick around after for the latest on a story out of Omaha , Nebraska involving a bar owner who shot a looter in self-defense after he was attacked .

If you’re lucky enough to have avoided riots and looting in your neighborhood or city over the past week, congratulations, but don’t think it can’t happen where you live. On today’s Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co, I speak with Jon Stokes, editor of ThePrepared.com, and former NYPD officer Rob O’Donnell about what we need to be doing as individuals and a community to be prepared in case unrest hits close to home, as well as how we can begin to move past the rioting and looting and get back to a productive effort to reform and fix some of the legitimate issues that have been raised by the deaths of George Floyd and others around the country at the hands of law enforcement, instead of simply burning down our cities and using Floyd’s death to destroy neighborhoods.
Over the past week, not only have many Americans decided to embrace their Second Amendment rights and purchase a firearm for self-defense, we’re also looking at other ways to keep ourselves safe if we suddenly find ourselves in a neighborhood hit hard by riots and looting. One of The Prepared‘s newest employees lives near the Fifth Precinct in Minneapolis, and Stokes describes how she’s no longer able to visit her local grocery store or pharmacy, which have both been boarded up and looted. The city of Minneapolis is telling residents like her to get a go-bag ready filled with food and essential medicines, but not only is it impossible for her to now find those essential items, there’s nowhere for her to go even if she had them. As Stokes says, if you wait until you need these items, you’re likely going to find yourself unable to get them.
That goes for firearms and ammunition as well. Stokes, who lives outside of Austin, Texas, says he’s visited several local gun stores in recent days and has found them picked clean of common calibers like 9mm and .223. That’s not likely to change anytime soon, as demand for guns and ammunition is still far outpacing supply. We’ve had three straight months of record setting gun sales, and demand is likely higher right now than it was in early March when the country went on lockdown over coronavirus fears.
As many Americans seek out a firearm for self-defense, many gun owners are actually using their firearms to protect themselves and their businesses from rioters and looters, including in some unlikely places like Santa Monica, California.
Helen’s Cycles in Santa Monica getting some hate for being willing to protect themselves and their business. Guess where we are buying our 3 new bikes that got stolen? God bless these men! 🙏🏻🇺🇸 #MAGA pic.twitter.com/RsLBZOWIoH — PatriotsRising2020 (@PatriotsRising1) June 1, 2020
Open carry is illegal in California, but then again, so is rioting and looting. Something tells me that even in anti-gun localities, police have bigger issues to deal with than business owners protecting their livelihoods with guns. In fact, expect to see much more of that the longer these riots continue. If the government won’t protect us, we’ll protect ourselves. That’s sort of the American way, after all.
As for what might actually stop the rioting and looting, Rob O’Donnell tells me that leaders need to step up and take charge, noting the absolute chaos on the streets of New York City last night. Gov. Andrew Cuomo may be trying to pin the blame on Mayor Bill de Blasio, but O’Donnell says Cuomo’s been part of the problem as well. O’Donnell also makes the excellent point that real reform and positive change when it comes to law enforcement can’t and won’t happen as long as there’s rioting in the streets and people’s local lifelines like grocery stores, pharmacies, and even post offices are being destroyed. O’Donnell says that not only is it incumbent on politicians to step up and do their jobs, but the actual peaceful protesters need to continue to call out and check Antifa members, anarchists, and others who are using legitimate protests to wage an illegitimate campaign against civil society.
Check out both interviews in the video window above, and stick around after for the latest on a story out of Omaha, Nebraska involving a bar owner who shot a looter in self-defense after he was attacked.


bearingarms--2020-06-02--Gun Owners Like This Aren't Helping Things

Being a gun owner is a responsibility , one that far too many don ’ t take seriously .
However , even those guys aren ’ t risking anyone else .
With riots in pretty much every major city , it seems , a lot of gun owners are keeping their firearms very , very handy .
After all , people are getting hurt or even killed .
This isn ’ t good and no one knows when any of this is going to stop .
However , despite the anxiety many are feeling , this is not how you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was probably scared .
I mean , being in the middle of a crowd and hearing something hit your car would set off my own anxiety levels to a point that the International Space Station could study them with the naked eye .
I get it .
The problem is , that ’ s not likely to be enough to be considered a threat legally .
Further , since Bosze felt secure enough to exit the vehicle , it suggests that he wasn ’ t nearly as scared as he might like for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you ’ re scared , why leave the relative protection of your vehicle ?
Sure , keep your weapon handy in case you get swarmed and the window break or something .
Then you might need to defend yourself .
No , this isn ’ t the kind of action that will soothe tensions .
Instead , it ’ s likely to inflame them .
Bosze , who is white , will likely be held up by those he threatened–and rest assured , displaying that firearm like that was a clear threat–as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and just looking to shoot people .
Right now , people are angry enough as it is .
There ’ s no reason to pour gasoline on that dumpster fire , which is precisely what flashing a gun at a moment like that is .
Look , it ’ s vital right now that we all play it smart .
Stay away from places where protests are going on .
Maintain good intelligence about what ’ s going on in your city so you know where to go and how to avoid it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do everything in your power to get out without making the situation worse .
But don ’ t get anyone any ammunition to use against us .
Don ’ t use any degree of force unless you have to .
This is not the time for that kind of thing .
We ’ re sitting on the proverbial powder keg and I worry it ’ s only a matter of time before someone sets the whole thing off .

Being a gun owner is a responsibility, one that far too many don’t take seriously. However, even those guys aren’t risking anyone else.
With riots in pretty much every major city, it seems, a lot of gun owners are keeping their firearms very, very handy. After all, people are getting hurt or even killed. This isn’t good and no one knows when any of this is going to stop.
However, despite the anxiety many are feeling, this is not how you handle things.
Jonesboro Police have released the name of the suspect who they say pulled a gun in a threatening manner during Sunday’s ‘Jonesboro March for Justice. In a Facebook post, Jonesboro Police say John Bosze, 32, got out of his black SUV and showed a firearm towards the crowd of protesters, then proceeded to get back in the vehicle and leave the scene. According to the police report, Bosze’s SUV got into the middle of the crowd and a protestor struck his SUV with an unknown object. The report states that’s when Bosze got out of his SUV, displayed the gun to the crowd, and then left the scene.
I get that Bosze was probably scared. I mean, being in the middle of a crowd and hearing something hit your car would set off my own anxiety levels to a point that the International Space Station could study them with the naked eye. I get it.
The problem is, that’s not likely to be enough to be considered a threat legally.
Further, since Bosze felt secure enough to exit the vehicle, it suggests that he wasn’t nearly as scared as he might like for people to believe. After all, if you’re scared, why leave the relative protection of your vehicle? Sure, keep your weapon handy in case you get swarmed and the window break or something. Then you might need to defend yourself.
But this?
No, this isn’t the kind of action that will soothe tensions. Instead, it’s likely to inflame them. Bosze, who is white, will likely be held up by those he threatened–and rest assured, displaying that firearm like that was a clear threat–as somehow proof that white people are racist and just looking to shoot people.
Right now, people are angry enough as it is. There’s no reason to pour gasoline on that dumpster fire, which is precisely what flashing a gun at a moment like that is.
Look, it’s vital right now that we all play it smart. Stay away from places where protests are going on. Maintain good intelligence about what’s going on in your city so you know where to go and how to avoid it. If you end up there, do everything in your power to get out without making the situation worse.
But don’t get anyone any ammunition to use against us. Don’t use any degree of force unless you have to. This is not the time for that kind of thing. We’re sitting on the proverbial powder keg and I worry it’s only a matter of time before someone sets the whole thing off.


bearingarms--2020-06-02--VIP Gold Live Chat- Ed Morrissey, Julio Rosas, and Cam Edwards 6/3 1:30 PM ET

Coming up Wednesday at 1:30 Eastern , I ’ ll be taking part in what promises to be an incredible and informative live chat with our Townhall Media VIP Gold members .
Hot Air ’ s Ed Morrissey and Townhall ’ s Julio Rosas will also be taking part , and the three of us will be taking your questions and comments about anything you want to talk about .
Julio was my guest on Bearing Arms ’ Cam & Co. on Monday from Minneapolis , where he ’ s been covering the riots , and this would be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter who ’ s been on the ground covering the recent unrest .
The live chat will appear here at 1:30 Eastern , and it will be available as a replay for our VIP Gold members who don ’ t have the chance to take part live .
I hope you ’ ll tune in and be a part of the conversation , however , because it promises to be a good one .
Cam Edwards has covered the 2nd Amendment for more than 15 years as a broadcast and online journalist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
https : //bearingarms.com/author/camedwards/

Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey and Townhall’s Julio Rosas will also be taking part, and the three of us will be taking your questions and comments about anything you want to talk about. Julio was my guest on Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co. on Monday from Minneapolis, where he’s been covering the riots, and this would be a great chance to talk directly with a reporter who’s been on the ground covering the recent unrest.
f you are not a VIP Gold member, you can join below so you can participate today and in future chats! Use LOYALTY for 25% off!
The live stream is below, and it will be available as a replay for our VIP Gold members who don’t have the chance to take part live.
I hope you’ll tune in and be a part of the conversation, however, because it promises to be a good one.