bearingarms--2020-05-29--GA GOP State Senate Candidate May Not Understand Gun Laws

No single person can possibly know every law in a given state .
I get that .
However , if you ’ re going to speak authoritatively about a subject , you should at least try to know what the hell you ’ re talking about .
It ’ s one thing to have different opinions , but you don ’ t get to have your own facts .
Yet in a report on a Georgia state senate election forum , I can ’ t help but shake my head at how even a GOP candidate doesn ’ t seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws .
QUESTION : “ How would you define your position on the Second Amendment and do you think that Georgia needs to make any reforms to its guns laws , whether those reforms be more restrictive or less restrictive with regard to our Second Amendment protections ?
” HICKMAN : As I said earlier in my opening comment , I ’ m very pro Second Amendment .
I hunt , I deer hunt and I also quail hunt , so I understand it , but I also understand that gun safety is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue practicing gun safety rules .
We need to make sure that people that buy guys go through the licensing procedure that is set up for people to do that , but I ’ m very pro Second Amendment and I ’ m pro for people having guns.
” Candidate Bill Hickman talks about the licensing procedure for people to buy guns and how the state needs to beef that up to make sure people aren ’ t buying guns outside of that system .
The only problem ?
There ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have a Georgia Weapons Carry License , but that ’ s for the carry of firearms–and other weapons , to be fair–but there ’ s no license required to purchase a firearm .
All you need to do is go and get a background check when you try to buy a firearm .
Hickman clearly doesn ’ t know what laws are already in place in the state of Georgia regarding the right to keep and bear arms .
It ’ s possible that he just saw someone display their GWCL prior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a requirement .
It ’ s not .
It simply allows the purchaser to skip the background check .
In a day and age when the NICS is so bogged down it ’ s ridiculous , there ’ s something to be said about just bypassing the whole process .
But it ’ s not required and never has been in the state .
Yet this raises an important question about Hickman .
After all , if he believes that the license requirement is in place and should remain there , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Or , should he take office , will he betray those voters who trusted him to defend the Second Amendment and push for a licensing requirement in the state ?
It ’ s a question Mr. Hickman needs to answer if he wants to be seriously considered for the seat .
Look , there ’ s no harm in simply not knowing .
While it ’ s easy for us to know these laws in not just our states but many others , this is a topic near and dear to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues where we probably don ’ t know our own state ’ s laws that well .
But Hickman isn ’ t just coming out as not really understanding the laws , he ’ s coming out in favor of laws he believes are already in place that are far , far more restrictive than what we have in place .

No single person can possibly know every law in a given state. I get that.
However, if you’re going to speak authoritatively about a subject, you should at least try to know what the hell you’re talking about. It’s one thing to have different opinions, but you don’t get to have your own facts.
Yet in a report on a Georgia state senate election forum, I can’t help but shake my head at how even a GOP candidate doesn’t seem to understand the state’s gun laws.
QUESTION: “How would you define your position on the Second Amendment and do you think that Georgia needs to make any reforms to its guns laws, whether those reforms be more restrictive or less restrictive with regard to our Second Amendment protections?” HICKMAN: As I said earlier in my opening comment, I’m very pro Second Amendment. I hunt, I deer hunt and I also quail hunt, so I understand it, but I also understand that gun safety is a big factor and we need to continue practicing gun safety rules. We need to make sure that people that buy guys go through the licensing procedure that is set up for people to do that, but I’m very pro Second Amendment and I’m pro for people having guns.”
Candidate Bill Hickman talks about the licensing procedure for people to buy guns and how the state needs to beef that up to make sure people aren’t buying guns outside of that system.
The only problem? There’s no such licensing procedure.
In Georgia, we have a Georgia Weapons Carry License, but that’s for the carry of firearms–and other weapons, to be fair–but there’s no license required to purchase a firearm. All you need to do is go and get a background check when you try to buy a firearm.
Hickman clearly doesn’t know what laws are already in place in the state of Georgia regarding the right to keep and bear arms.
It’s possible that he just saw someone display their GWCL prior to purchasing a gun and figured that was a requirement. It’s not. It simply allows the purchaser to skip the background check. In a day and age when the NICS is so bogged down it’s ridiculous, there’s something to be said about just bypassing the whole process.
But it’s not required and never has been in the state.
Yet this raises an important question about Hickman. After all, if he believes that the license requirement is in place and should remain there, will he change his position after learning otherwise? Or, should he take office, will he betray those voters who trusted him to defend the Second Amendment and push for a licensing requirement in the state?
It’s a question Mr. Hickman needs to answer if he wants to be seriously considered for the seat.
Look, there’s no harm in simply not knowing. While it’s easy for us to know these laws in not just our states but many others, this is a topic near and dear to our hearts. There are dozens of other issues where we probably don’t know our own state’s laws that well.
But Hickman isn’t just coming out as not really understanding the laws, he’s coming out in favor of laws he believes are already in place that are far, far more restrictive than what we have in place.
That’s a problem.


bearingarms--2020-05-29--Protests Turn Violent Across America, 7 Shot In Louisville

A third day of protests in Minneapolis over the death of 46-year old George Floyd erupted into a night of violence , with looting , fires , shootings , and even kidnappings reported to authorities in Minneapolis and St. Paul .
Protests in other cities saw violence as well , including a protest over the killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville , Kentucky where seven people were injured after shots were fired from within the crowd .
Breonna ’ s death was a terrible tragedy .
But , as Breonna ’ s family said tonight , answering violence with violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vandalism does not advance our cause – and it can not be tolerated .
I feel the community ’ s frustration , the anger , the fear .
But tonight ’ s violence and destruction is not the way to solve it .
“ Last night and early this morning protesters took to the streets in downtown Louisville to express their deep frustration about the Breonna Taylor case .
While the situation is still unfolding , we know that were several hours of peaceful protest before some in the crowd turned violent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from within the crowd .
Five are in good condition ; two were sent to surgery .
My prayers are with all of them .
No officers fired their weapons , and my thanks go to the police officers who , despite risk to themselves , got aid to those injured .
In a statement released early Friday morning , Louisville mayor Greg Fischer said five of those victim would recover and two underwent surgery .
An LMPD spokeswoman confirmed that one of the victims was in critical condition .
She also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains unknown is who was shot and by whom , as well as the names of those who were arrested .
In Minneapolis , the police department ’ s Third Precinct was assaulted by rioters for hours Wednesday evening before police fled the outpost .
Shortly thereafter , the precinct went up in flames , along with several nearby businesses .
While the burning of the police station was caught on multiple livestreams and local TV feeds , there were scores of reports of looting and violence throughout the city that played out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman ’ s body was found in a car , prompting a death investigation .
Police say there were signs of trauma on the body , which was found at the intersection of Bryant and 17th avenues .
This could be the second fatal incident connected with the nights of unrest in the city .
St. Paul was spared from the chaos Wednesday night , but that all changed Thursday .
The St. Paul Police Department said more than 170 businesses were looted or damaged Thursday , and dozens of fires were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injuries reported in the city .
Fires continued to burn in the city early Friday morning , with the largest one at Big Top Liquor near Snelling and University avenues , nearby Allianz Field .
Because of the sheer amount of chaos on the streets of Minneapolis and surrounding cities on Thursday night , it ’ s hard to get a handle on the totality of violence , but WCCO reports that one person was shot early Thursday evening at a Walgreen ’ s pharmacy just a few blocks away from the Third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter from an account that monitors local police and fire scanners indicating at least one attempted home invasion late Thursday night .
By early Friday morning , hundreds of local and state police , along with the Minnesota National Guard , began working to clear the streets of protesters , which led to the arrest of a CNN crew during a live report .
The crew was briefly detained before being released after Gov .
Tim Walz intervened .
Beyond the Twin Cities , there were also violent protests in Denver and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ windows at the state capitol building in order to break in .
Peaceful protests in Columbus turned violent when some involved began throwing objects at police officers .
Police responded by using tear gas to push the crowd back .
The crowd let up , but an hour later the protest escalated when demonstrators smashed windows at the Ohio Statehouse while some went inside the building .
SWAT arrived on the scene soon after the Statehouse break-in .
Officers used a loudspeaker to announce an emergency was declared in the area , meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be arrested .
The biggest immediate question at the moment is “ what happens this weekend ?
” Will the increased presence of law enforcement deescalate the riots in Minneapolis , or will they add more fuel to the fires ?
Will the pleas of family members of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor to conduct protests peacefully sink in or fall on deaf ears ?
We ’ ll know in a few hours when the sun goes down , but at the moment , unfortunately , I ’ m not particularly optimistic about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

A third day of protests in Minneapolis over the death of 46-year old George Floyd erupted into a night of violence, with looting, fires, shootings, and even kidnappings reported to authorities in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Protests in other cities saw violence as well, including a protest over the killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky where seven people were injured after shots were fired from within the crowd.
Breonna’s death was a terrible tragedy. But, as Breonna’s family said tonight, answering violence with violence is not the answer. Gunfire and vandalism does not advance our cause – and it cannot be tolerated.
I feel the community’s frustration, the anger, the fear. But tonight’s violence and destruction is not the way to solve it.
“Last night and early this morning protesters took to the streets in downtown Louisville to express their deep frustration about the Breonna Taylor case. While the situation is still unfolding, we know that were several hours of peaceful protest before some in the crowd turned violent, leading to seven people being people shot from within the crowd. Five are in good condition; two were sent to surgery. My prayers are with all of them. No officers fired their weapons, and my thanks go to the police officers who, despite risk to themselves, got aid to those injured.
In a statement released early Friday morning, Louisville mayor Greg Fischer said five of those victim would recover and two underwent surgery.
An LMPD spokeswoman confirmed that one of the victims was in critical condition. She also said several arrests had been made. What remains unknown is who was shot and by whom, as well as the names of those who were arrested.
In Minneapolis, the police department’s Third Precinct was assaulted by rioters for hours Wednesday evening before police fled the outpost. Shortly thereafter, the precinct went up in flames, along with several nearby businesses. While the burning of the police station was caught on multiple livestreams and local TV feeds, there were scores of reports of looting and violence throughout the city that played out off-camera.
In north Minneapolis overnight, a woman’s body was found in a car, prompting a death investigation. Police say there were signs of trauma on the body, which was found at the intersection of Bryant and 17th avenues. This could be the second fatal incident connected with the nights of unrest in the city. St. Paul was spared from the chaos Wednesday night, but that all changed Thursday. The St. Paul Police Department said more than 170 businesses were looted or damaged Thursday, and dozens of fires were set. But there were no serious injuries reported in the city. Fires continued to burn in the city early Friday morning, with the largest one at Big Top Liquor near Snelling and University avenues, nearby Allianz Field.
Because of the sheer amount of chaos on the streets of Minneapolis and surrounding cities on Thursday night, it’s hard to get a handle on the totality of violence, but WCCO reports that one person was shot early Thursday evening at a Walgreen’s pharmacy just a few blocks away from the Third Precinct, and there were unconfirmed reports on Twitter from an account that monitors local police and fire scanners indicating at least one attempted home invasion late Thursday night.
3100 block penn nomi section home invasion 20-30 trying to gain entry to an occupied residence #Mplsriot2020 — Hennepin County Police & Fire monitoring (@HCP_FM) May 29, 2020
By early Friday morning, hundreds of local and state police, along with the Minnesota National Guard, began working to clear the streets of protesters, which led to the arrest of a CNN crew during a live report.
Minnesota police arrest CNN reporter and camera crew as they report from protests in Minneapolis https://t.co/oZdqBti776 pic.twitter.com/3QbeTjD5ed — CNN (@CNN) May 29, 2020
The crew was briefly detained before being released after Gov. Tim Walz intervened.
Beyond the Twin Cities, there were also violent protests in Denver and Columbus, Ohio, where protesters smashed windows at the state capitol building in order to break in.
Peaceful protests in Columbus turned violent when some involved began throwing objects at police officers. Police responded by using tear gas to push the crowd back. The crowd let up, but an hour later the protest escalated when demonstrators smashed windows at the Ohio Statehouse while some went inside the building. SWAT arrived on the scene soon after the Statehouse break-in. Officers used a loudspeaker to announce an emergency was declared in the area, meaning any protesters who refused to leave would be arrested.
The biggest immediate question at the moment is “what happens this weekend?” Will the increased presence of law enforcement deescalate the riots in Minneapolis, or will they add more fuel to the fires? Will the pleas of family members of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor to conduct protests peacefully sink in or fall on deaf ears? We’ll know in a few hours when the sun goes down, but at the moment, unfortunately, I’m not particularly optimistic about the prospects for peace in the streets.


bearingarms--2020-05-29--Madonna: No One Should Have Guns, Even Cops

Once upon a time , Madonna was the hottest thing in the world .
Her music was pretty much guaranteed to hit the top spots on the charts and she knew how to work controversy to boost sales .
She was pretty damn good at it .
Anyone else remember her “ book ?
” But in recent years , her hot takes have been more the stuff worthy of ridicule than much of anything else , especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
Her in the bathtub just isn ’ t the same as I thought it would be back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ya .
It ’ s almost like she forgot how to use controversy to sell music .
That ’ s not stopping her from saying stupid stuff , though .
“ This has to stop !
!
Until we can over come Racism in America— no one should be allowed to carry a gun .
Most of all cops , ” the pop diva writes in an Instagram post .
Of course , does she have a point ?
Should anyone have guns ?
Even cops ?
( We already know the answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play along for a moment . )
Well , not every department in the country has armed police .
I know , I was shocked…until I read about this particular story .
That ’ s right , unarmed police had to get saved by an armed citizen , all because the local officials didn ’ t want to deal with the hassles of having armed officers .
From this , we can see that unarmed police aren ’ t exactly ideal .
“ Oh , but that ’ s only because bad people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British style gun control , it would be fine , ” someone might say .
Well , how about the time that unarmed police weren ’ t able to stop a knife-wielding maniac and a dude had to face him with a narwhal tusk ?
So no , unarmed police isn ’ t an ideal outcome .
And no , that ’ s not overly shocking .
Do you want to know what else isn ’ t shocking ?
Madonna ’ s hypocrisy .
You see , the singer is known to routinely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came in pretty handy once upon a time .
Back in 1996 , a man tried to gain entrance into Madonna ’ s home .
He was met with armed security who ended up shooting the suspect .
Now , we can ’ t be certain the man was an actual threat to Madonna , but I doubt he ’ d be a charming houseguest the singer would be delighted to have stay with her either .
Where were her complaints then ?
More than likely , though , what she means is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserve armed protection .
It ’ s bad enough that she wants to disarm you and me , but to use the George Floyd situation to call for the disarming of police officers ?
That ’ s downright unhinged .
If anything , the Floyd issue illustrates how easily you can kill someone without a firearm , especially coming from a position of authority .
She also fails to suggest how we disarm the legions of armed criminals who would have a field day in a country where no good guys at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough where your average citizen can ’ t carry weapons , but to also keep guns away from police ?
What deterrent is there , then ?
Look , no one should get their political takes from celebrities .
Just because they have some degree of talent in one area of their lives doesn ’ t mean they have anything meaningful to contribute anywhere else .
Yet that won ’ t stop people like Madonna from spouting off about things they know nothing about .
Frankly , they have that right .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , laugh , and never buy their music again .

Once upon a time, Madonna was the hottest thing in the world. Her music was pretty much guaranteed to hit the top spots on the charts and she knew how to work controversy to boost sales. She was pretty damn good at it. Anyone else remember her “book?”
But in recent years, her hot takes have been more the stuff worthy of ridicule than much of anything else, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Her in the bathtub just isn’t the same as I thought it would be back in the 1980s, let me tell ya.
It’s almost like she forgot how to use controversy to sell music.
That’s not stopping her from saying stupid stuff, though.
“This has to stop!! Until we can over come Racism in America— no one should be allowed to carry a gun. Most of all cops,” the pop diva writes in an Instagram post.
Of course, does she have a point? Should anyone have guns? Even cops? (We already know the answer to this, but let’s play along for a moment.)
Well, not every department in the country has armed police. I know, I was shocked…until I read about this particular story. That’s right, unarmed police had to get saved by an armed citizen, all because the local officials didn’t want to deal with the hassles of having armed officers.
From this, we can see that unarmed police aren’t exactly ideal.
“Oh, but that’s only because bad people can get guns. If we had British style gun control, it would be fine,” someone might say. Well, how about the time that unarmed police weren’t able to stop a knife-wielding maniac and a dude had to face him with a narwhal tusk?
So no, unarmed police isn’t an ideal outcome. And no, that’s not overly shocking.
Do you want to know what else isn’t shocking? Madonna’s hypocrisy.
You see, the singer is known to routinely enjoy armed security, a fact that came in pretty handy once upon a time.
Back in 1996, a man tried to gain entrance into Madonna’s home. He was met with armed security who ended up shooting the suspect. Now, we can’t be certain the man was an actual threat to Madonna, but I doubt he’d be a charming houseguest the singer would be delighted to have stay with her either.
Where were her complaints then?
More than likely, though, what she means is that peasants like us don’t deserve armed protection. It’s bad enough that she wants to disarm you and me, but to use the George Floyd situation to call for the disarming of police officers? That’s downright unhinged. If anything, the Floyd issue illustrates how easily you can kill someone without a firearm, especially coming from a position of authority.
She also fails to suggest how we disarm the legions of armed criminals who would have a field day in a country where no good guys at all have firearms. It’s bad enough where your average citizen can’t carry weapons, but to also keep guns away from police? What deterrent is there, then?
Look, no one should get their political takes from celebrities. Just because they have some degree of talent in one area of their lives doesn’t mean they have anything meaningful to contribute anywhere else.
Yet that won’t stop people like Madonna from spouting off about things they know nothing about. Frankly, they have that right.
Just like we have the right to point, laugh, and never buy their music again.


bearingarms--2020-05-30--America Aflame: Violent Protests Erupt In Cities Across U.S.

The arrest on Friday afternoon of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chavin , who ’ s now been charged with 3rd degree murder in the death of George Floyd , provided a glimmer of hope that Friday evening would be at least a little calmer in the Twin Cities and other metropolitan areas that have seen violent protests in recent days .
Those hopes disappeared with the setting sun , unfortunately , and despite a curfew ordered by Mayor Jacob Frey and the presence of hundreds of Minnesota National Guard troops on the streets , protesters and looters were once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets throughout the evening .
While Minneapolis may be the epicenter of the civil unrest , protests took place in almost every American city on Friday evening , with many of them turning violent .
In Atlanta , protesters smashed the windows of the CNN Center and squared off against riot police in the cable network ’ s lobby , while the nearby College Football Hall of Fame was targeted by looters .
In Washington , D.C. , protests sent the White House on lockdown for a time as protesters played a dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In New York City , dozens of arrests were made in both Brooklyn and Manhattan as protesters clashed with NYPD officers .
From the New York Post : Anti-cop rage over the police-custody death of George Floyd boiled over in New York City on Friday night — with hundreds of protesters trying to surround the 88th precinct in Brooklyn ’ s Clinton Hill neighborhood before being rebuffed by a massive NYPD mobilization .
Meanwhile , hundreds more protester at nearby Fort Greene Park , where some set an empty NYPD van on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same crowd had converged on the Barclay ’ s Center in Prospect Heights hours earlier , with police releasing chemical mace at the unruly demonstration there .
And still earlier in the day , in Lower Manhattan , at least 30 protesters were busted , including a man arrested for allegedly punching an NYPD sergeant in the head with brass knuckles .
The brass-knuckles wielding man allegedly walloped the sergeant as crowds massed at around 4 p.m. near Centre and Leonard streets ; he was one of dozens of protesters to be arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Post .
Name the city , and you were likely to find not just hundreds of people peacefully protesting the death of George Floyd or the criminal justice system as a whole , but large numbers of people looking for a fight or buildings to smash and burn .
A police officer was attacked in the street and squad cars ’ windows were smashed Friday on the third night of rallying in downtown Los Angeles over George Floyd ’ s death .
Officers were seen working to detain people after the burst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was quickly subdued .
The L.A. Police Department later said no arrests had been made , but an officer was hospitalized with unspecified injuries .
It was unclear whether it was the same officer involved in the scuffle .
Fort Wayne ’ s NBC camera crews saw protesters getting on top of a semi-truck .
Another Fort Wayne ’ s NBC Journalist Karli VanCleave spotted several people sitting in the road at Clinton and Main Street .
That ’ s when Fort Wayne Police responded .
The FWPD formed a line of officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of street around 8 p.m. Our cameras captured police spraying tear gas into the crowd .
When protesters approached the police riot line , our cameras also captured officers spray pepper spray at them .
Several crew WPTA crew members were caught in the crossfire of tire gas while filming live reports as well .
Fort Wayne ’ s NBC journalist Tom Powell captured video of people smashing windows of a law office on Berry Street .
Appeals for calm fell on deaf ears Friday evening .
In Atlanta , the mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists to plead with rioters to engage in peaceful protests .
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms passionately addressed the protesters at a news conference : “ This is not a protest .
This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. ” “ You are disgracing our city , ” she told protesters .
“ You are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country .
We are better than this .
We are better than this as a city .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Go home , go home.
” Bottoms was flanked by rappers T.I .
and Killer Mike , as well as King ’ s daughter , Bernice King .
“ We have to be better than this moment .
We have to be better than burning down our own homes .
Because if we lose Atlanta what have we got ?
” he said .
After Mayor Bottoms appealed for calm , the violence continued .
More cars were set on fire , a Starbucks was smashed up , the windows of the College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the iconic Omni Hotel was vandalized .
That ’ s the thing about mobs ; they ’ re not known for their reasonableness and rationality .
So what happens next ?
As far as the protests go , Saturday will be a critical evening .
I think the attitude among many big city mayors at the moment is to attempt to ride out the protests until the fire subsides and the crowds dwindle on their own .
If that doesn ’ t happen , you ’ ll see a growing push , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for authorities to do more to prevent the destruction of businesses and to keep the protests peaceful .
That will likely involve both deescalation tactics and , when necessary , the use of crowd control techniques and arrests .
I think it ’ s also fair to say it ’ s going to be a busy weekend at gun stores and ranges around the country , based on common sense and conversations I had with several gun store employees on Friday .
We ’ ve already seen a surge in gun purchases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part because people were concerned about coronavirus-related civil unrest .
Now we actually do have riots in the streets , and even some who were dismissing the idea of buying a gun two months ago will be visiting a gun store for the very first time today .
Now that lockdown orders are being eased around the nation , many sheriffs are once again accepting concealed carry applications and I also expect to see a surge in the number of Americans exercising their right to carry for self-defense next week as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the American experience as the right to keep and bear arms , but it does not include the right to destroy .
Arson is still arson , even if you set fire to a building while shouting “ Justice !
” There ’ s no such thing as looting in honor of George Floyd , or Ahmaud Arbery , or Breonna Taylor .
Chants of “ We don ’ t need the police ” aren ’ t likely to find a welcoming audience when you ’ re also smashing windows and gutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder than you might think for a neighborhood to rise from the ashes after it ’ s been burned to the ground .

The arrest on Friday afternoon of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chavin, who’s now been charged with 3rd degree murder in the death of George Floyd, provided a glimmer of hope that Friday evening would be at least a little calmer in the Twin Cities and other metropolitan areas that have seen violent protests in recent days. Those hopes disappeared with the setting sun, unfortunately, and despite a curfew ordered by Mayor Jacob Frey and the presence of hundreds of Minnesota National Guard troops on the streets, protesters and looters were once again clearly in control of some city streets throughout the evening.
No National Guard. No Local Police. No State Police. No police at all. In Minneapolis The streets belong to the protestors despite the 8pm curfew order. #GeorgeFloyd This is a shot of lake street. pic.twitter.com/7zE7R9zHwa — Sara Sidner (@sarasidnerCNN) May 30, 2020
While Minneapolis may be the epicenter of the civil unrest, protests took place in almost every American city on Friday evening, with many of them turning violent. In Atlanta, protesters smashed the windows of the CNN Center and squared off against riot police in the cable network’s lobby, while the nearby College Football Hall of Fame was targeted by looters.
#BREAKING: College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta has been destroyed & looted pic.twitter.com/JO7Gi0kBIU — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 30, 2020
In Washington, D.C., protests sent the White House on lockdown for a time as protesters played a dangerous game of chicken with Secret Service officers.
Police at the White House are now in riot gear with shields in the area where the barricades keep getting removed. Forming a second, loose line behind the first. #GeorgeFloydprotest #dcprotest #dc pic.twitter.com/u3Q0PkDjIZ — Rabble Crew Productions (@Rabble_Crew) May 30, 2020
In New York City, dozens of arrests were made in both Brooklyn and Manhattan as protesters clashed with NYPD officers.
From the New York Post:
Anti-cop rage over the police-custody death of George Floyd boiled over in New York City on Friday night — with hundreds of protesters trying to surround the 88th precinct in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill neighborhood before being rebuffed by a massive NYPD mobilization. Meanwhile, hundreds more protester at nearby Fort Greene Park, where some set an empty NYPD van on fire at around 9:30 p.m. The same crowd had converged on the Barclay’s Center in Prospect Heights hours earlier, with police releasing chemical mace at the unruly demonstration there. And still earlier in the day, in Lower Manhattan, at least 30 protesters were busted, including a man arrested for allegedly punching an NYPD sergeant in the head with brass knuckles. The brass-knuckles wielding man allegedly walloped the sergeant as crowds massed at around 4 p.m. near Centre and Leonard streets; he was one of dozens of protesters to be arrested in Brooklyn and Manhattan, sources told The Post.
Name the city, and you were likely to find not just hundreds of people peacefully protesting the death of George Floyd or the criminal justice system as a whole, but large numbers of people looking for a fight or buildings to smash and burn.
Dallas, Texas:
Police Chief U. Reneé Hall, who has condemned the actions of the Minneapolis officers, was out among the officers monitoring the march. “We’re giving you the streets,” she told one protester after objecting to demonstrators throwing rocks at her officers. “Don’t hit my folks.” Tensions continued to rise as the night wore on.
Las Vegas, Nevada:
A peaceful protest with hundreds of people marching down the Strip on Friday afternoon, protesting the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis custody, turned to tense stand offs with police and multiple arrests by evening. By about 8:30 p.m., about 150 protestors who remained were being pushed down Flamingo Road toward Koval Lane by dozens of officers in riot gear. The Metropolitan Police Department officers occasionally rushed the crowd to encourage them to move back, and multiple people were seen being led away in handcuffs.
Los Angeles, California:
A police officer was attacked in the street and squad cars’ windows were smashed Friday on the third night of rallying in downtown Los Angeles over George Floyd’s death. Officers were seen working to detain people after the burst of violence at Fifth and Olive streets was quickly subdued. The L.A. Police Department later said no arrests had been made, but an officer was hospitalized with unspecified injuries. It was unclear whether it was the same officer involved in the scuffle.
Fort Wayne, Indiana:
Fort Wayne’s NBC camera crews saw protesters getting on top of a semi-truck. Another Fort Wayne’s NBC Journalist Karli VanCleave spotted several people sitting in the road at Clinton and Main Street. That’s when Fort Wayne Police responded. The FWPD formed a line of officers in riot gear telling people to get out of street around 8 p.m. Our cameras captured police spraying tear gas into the crowd. When protesters approached the police riot line, our cameras also captured officers spray pepper spray at them. Several crew WPTA crew members were caught in the crossfire of tire gas while filming live reports as well. Fort Wayne’s NBC journalist Tom Powell captured video of people smashing windows of a law office on Berry Street.
Appeals for calm fell on deaf ears Friday evening. In Atlanta, the mayor enlisted the help of local celebrities and activists to plead with rioters to engage in peaceful protests.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms passionately addressed the protesters at a news conference: “This is not a protest. This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.” “You are disgracing our city,” she told protesters. “You are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country. We are better than this. We are better than this as a city. We are better than this as a country. Go home, go home.” Bottoms was flanked by rappers T.I. and Killer Mike, as well as King’s daughter, Bernice King. Killer Mike cried as he spoke. “We have to be better than this moment. We have to be better than burning down our own homes. Because if we lose Atlanta what have we got?” he said. After Mayor Bottoms appealed for calm, the violence continued. More cars were set on fire, a Starbucks was smashed up, the windows of the College Football Hall of Fame were broken, and the iconic Omni Hotel was vandalized.
That’s the thing about mobs; they’re not known for their reasonableness and rationality.
So what happens next? As far as the protests go, Saturday will be a critical evening. I think the attitude among many big city mayors at the moment is to attempt to ride out the protests until the fire subsides and the crowds dwindle on their own. If that doesn’t happen, you’ll see a growing push, even in the most progressive of cities, for authorities to do more to prevent the destruction of businesses and to keep the protests peaceful. That will likely involve both deescalation tactics and, when necessary, the use of crowd control techniques and arrests.
I think it’s also fair to say it’s going to be a busy weekend at gun stores and ranges around the country, based on common sense and conversations I had with several gun store employees on Friday. We’ve already seen a surge in gun purchases dating back to March, in large part because people were concerned about coronavirus-related civil unrest. Now we actually do have riots in the streets, and even some who were dismissing the idea of buying a gun two months ago will be visiting a gun store for the very first time today. Now that lockdown orders are being eased around the nation, many sheriffs are once again accepting concealed carry applications and I also expect to see a surge in the number of Americans exercising their right to carry for self-defense next week as well.
The right to protest is as fundamental to the American experience as the right to keep and bear arms, but it does not include the right to destroy. Arson is still arson, even if you set fire to a building while shouting “Justice!” There’s no such thing as looting in honor of George Floyd, or Ahmaud Arbery, or Breonna Taylor. Chants of “We don’t need the police” aren’t likely to find a welcoming audience when you’re also smashing windows and gutting small businesses, and it’s harder than you might think for a neighborhood to rise from the ashes after it’s been burned to the ground.


bearingarms--2020-05-30--Activists Demand Major U.S. Companies Institute Open Carry Ban

A coalition of gun control groups including Moms Demand Action and Brady have sent a letter to eighteen U.S. companies urging them to ban the open carrying of firearms in their establishments , claiming that doing so would somehow prevent criminals from misusing firearms on their property .
The letter , which was first reported by the left-leaning American Independent website , calls on companies like McDonalds , Family Dollar , Waffle House , and 7-11 to institute the new policy because they “ believe that American customers deserve to shop free of armed intimidation.
” The groups then point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevented by any open carry ban , like the shooting of a security guard at a Family Dollar in Flint , Michigan .
In that case , security guard Calvin Munerlyn told a female customer that she needed a mask .
Another woman got involved in the argument , but both eventually left the store .
About twenty minutes later , two men showed up at the store to confront Munerlyn .
Police say 23-year old Ramonyea Bishop pulled out a gun and shot Munerlyn in the head .
Bishop ’ s now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and carrying a concealed weapon charges .
The second man charged in Munerlyn ’ s death , 44-year old Larry Teague , Jr. , also has several prior offenses involving drugs and guns on his record , and it seems highly unlikely to me that the suspects would have simply stayed away from the store if they noticed a “ no open carry ” sign at the front door .
Heck , Bishop , who ’ s accused of actually pulling the trigger , has been charged with carrying a concealed weapon in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t sound like he was open carrying at all .
In another case referenced by the American Independent , a 28-year old from Aurora , Colorado stands accused of shooting a cook at a Waffle House after he was barred from entering the establishment .
According to court documents , witnesses say on the morning of May 14 Watson went into the Waffle House on East Mississippi Avenue without wearing a face mask .
He was told several times to wear one due to the coronavirus pandemic , became belligerent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses , he told the cook , “ I can blow your brains out right now.
” A waitress suspected Watson was high .
The next night , he came back and was refused service .
One witness says he hit the cook in the head and chased him out into the parking lot , where he allegedly shot him .
Watson ’ s also being investigated over another shooting that took place in Denver back in April after his car was impounded , but to date no formal charges have been filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Waffle House shooting , it sounds like Watson didn ’ t care about the mask policy for Waffle House , but gun control advocates would have us believe that he would have abided by a no-guns-allowed policy ?
Get real .
Of course , this isn ’ t really about banning open carry .
It ’ s about banning firearms in as many spaces as possible , as gun control advocates made clear .
If Volsky and his anti-gun buddies really want to keep people safe , they should concentrate on advocating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those accused of violent crimes .
Kelvin Watson , for instance , is already out of jail on $ 100,000 bond , despite facing seven charges including attempted murder .
The criminal justice system needs to treat violent threats more seriously than suspects like Watson would ever treat a “ gun-free zone .
”

A coalition of gun control groups including Moms Demand Action and Brady have sent a letter to eighteen U.S. companies urging them to ban the open carrying of firearms in their establishments, claiming that doing so would somehow prevent criminals from misusing firearms on their property.
The letter, which was first reported by the left-leaning American Independent website, calls on companies like McDonalds, Family Dollar, Waffle House, and 7-11 to institute the new policy because they “believe that American customers deserve to shop free of armed intimidation.” The groups then point to incidents that would not have been prevented by any open carry ban, like the shooting of a security guard at a Family Dollar in Flint, Michigan.
In that case, security guard Calvin Munerlyn told a female customer that she needed a mask. Another woman got involved in the argument, but both eventually left the store. About twenty minutes later, two men showed up at the store to confront Munerlyn. Police say 23-year old Ramonyea Bishop pulled out a gun and shot Munerlyn in the head. Bishop’s now facing with first-degree murder, felony firearm and carrying a concealed weapon charges. The second man charged in Munerlyn’s death, 44-year old Larry Teague, Jr., also has several prior offenses involving drugs and guns on his record, and it seems highly unlikely to me that the suspects would have simply stayed away from the store if they noticed a “no open carry” sign at the front door. Heck, Bishop, who’s accused of actually pulling the trigger, has been charged with carrying a concealed weapon in the commission of a felony. It doesn’t sound like he was open carrying at all.
In another case referenced by the American Independent, a 28-year old from Aurora, Colorado stands accused of shooting a cook at a Waffle House after he was barred from entering the establishment.
According to court documents, witnesses say on the morning of May 14 Watson went into the Waffle House on East Mississippi Avenue without wearing a face mask. He was told several times to wear one due to the coronavirus pandemic, became belligerent and pulled out a gun. According to witnesses, he told the cook, “I can blow your brains out right now.” A waitress suspected Watson was high. The next night, he came back and was refused service. One witness says he hit the cook in the head and chased him out into the parking lot, where he allegedly shot him.
Watson’s also being investigated over another shooting that took place in Denver back in April after his car was impounded, but to date no formal charges have been filed. Based on the court documents in the Waffle House shooting, it sounds like Watson didn’t care about the mask policy for Waffle House, but gun control advocates would have us believe that he would have abided by a no-guns-allowed policy? Get real.
Of course, this isn’t really about banning open carry. It’s about banning firearms in as many spaces as possible, as gun control advocates made clear.
“The goal here is to push retailers to follow the trend we’ve been seeing of businesses recognizing that their top priority is to keep customers and employees safe, and that there’s a business cost associated with our incredibly loose gun laws,” Igor Volsky, executive director of Guns Down America, said in an interview.
If Volsky and his anti-gun buddies really want to keep people safe, they should concentrate on advocating for laws that will get tough on those accused of violent crimes. Kelvin Watson, for instance, is already out of jail on $100,000 bond, despite facing seven charges including attempted murder. The criminal justice system needs to treat violent threats more seriously than suspects like Watson would ever treat a “gun-free zone.”


bearingarms--2020-05-31--The Left's Latest Dilemma: Ban Guns or Ban Police?

One of the offshoots of the protests and riots that have erupted in most American cities over the past few days has been a growing call on the left to defund law enforcement and end policing .
Search Twitter for the hashtag # DefundPolice and you ’ ll see thousands of people urging an end to law enforcement as a radical , yet necessary step to eliminate injustices perpetrated by police officers .
This campaign raises several serious questions , starting with “ Haven ’ t the past few nights given us evidence of what would likely happen if law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Defund Police movement , the economic damage done by the coronavirus lock down ( compounded by the damage in many cities by looters and rioters ) is going to make it economically unfeasible to offer up “ free ” healthcare , college education , universal basic income , and the other pricey programs that supporters believe would end crime and make law enforcement irrelevant ( even if the American public were to vote in politicians who would attempt to implement this agenda ) .
The Defund Police movement might be happy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic damage is also likely to lead to budget reductions for governments across the board , including first responders .
We ’ re likely going to see fewer uniformed police officers this time next year , along with fewer firefighters , EMTs , and paramedics , whether we like it or not .
I can ’ t help but wonder , however , how many of the same folks that are calling for an end to policing are also big believers in the idea that we need all kinds of new gun control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control agenda would not only not defund law enforcement , it would dramatically expand the number of federal felony gun laws on the books and lead to even more police power .
Making the most commonly sold and possessed rifle in the United States illegal will likely lead to millions of Americans breaking the law by maintaining possession of the guns they already own .
How will Biden enforce his gun ban without law enforcement ?
Again , how do you even attempt to enforce a universal background check law on private transfers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s going to be awfully tough to enable law enforcement officers to “ temporarily remove an individual ’ s access to firearms ” when there ’ s no more law enforcement , isn ’ t it ?
If police have been defunded , who ’ s going to be responsible for ensuring that the only gun owners are those who ’ ve been licensed by the state ?
Biden even has an entire section of his campaign plank on gun control devoted to “ empowering ” law enforcement , not defunding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very defund-y to me .
Joe Biden and many of his fellow Democrats have been all in favor of expanding police power in order to enforce their anti-gun agenda , even when it results in thousands of young black men going to prison and having felony records for simply possessing a firearm without a license .
In Virginia , Democrats in control of the state legislature this year ignored a proposal that would have empowered cities to reduce violence in high crime neighborhoods by focusing on the most violent offenders .
Instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s gun control agenda and the expanded authority for law enforcement that goes along with it .
I expect that Joe Biden and other Democrats are going to try to have it both ways .
They ’ ll talk up the need for a dramatic overhaul of the criminal justice system , but they won ’ t overhaul their own policies that expand police power and allow for discriminatory licensing laws and other policies that not only have a chilling effect on the exercise of a constitutionally-protected right , but fail to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end , they ’ ll choose the gun bans and other restrictions on our Second Amendment rights over the demands to ban police .
If given the chance , they ’ ll likely curb the ability of law enforcement to respond to riots that threaten the safety and security of American citizens even as they embolden police to lock up those who may try to protect themselves and their families with a firearm .

One of the offshoots of the protests and riots that have erupted in most American cities over the past few days has been a growing call on the left to defund law enforcement and end policing. Search Twitter for the hashtag #DefundPolice and you’ll see thousands of people urging an end to law enforcement as a radical, yet necessary step to eliminate injustices perpetrated by police officers.
Getting a lot of replies tonight about the demand to Defund Police, police abolition, etc. 1st I’d say that “Defund Police” is not *my* demand, but it is the demand emanating from the Black-led organizers who have been doing this work for years right now in this moment. (thread) — DEFUND POLICE (@jaybeware) May 31, 2020
This campaign raises several serious questions, starting with “Haven’t the past few nights given us evidence of what would likely happen if law enforcement simply disappeared?”
So what about “crime” – well to deal with crime, it is also clear that you have to deal with inequality in society. Reparations, social spending, UBI, universal free healthcare, universal free education. The root of crime is poverty, inequity, racism and policing itself. — DEFUND POLICE (@jaybeware) May 31, 2020
Unfortunately for the Defund Police movement, the economic damage done by the coronavirus lock down (compounded by the damage in many cities by looters and rioters) is going to make it economically unfeasible to offer up “free” healthcare, college education, universal basic income, and the other pricey programs that supporters believe would end crime and make law enforcement irrelevant (even if the American public were to vote in politicians who would attempt to implement this agenda). The Defund Police movement might be happy to learn, however, that the same economic damage is also likely to lead to budget reductions for governments across the board, including first responders. We’re likely going to see fewer uniformed police officers this time next year, along with fewer firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics, whether we like it or not.
I can’t help but wonder, however, how many of the same folks that are calling for an end to policing are also big believers in the idea that we need all kinds of new gun control laws. Joe Biden’s gun control agenda would not only not defund law enforcement, it would dramatically expand the number of federal felony gun laws on the books and lead to even more police power.
Regulate possession of existing assault weapons under the National Firearms Act. Currently, the National Firearms Act requires individuals possessing machine-guns, silencers, and short-barreled rifles to undergo a background check and register those weapons with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Due to these requirements, such weapons are rarely used in crimes. As president, Biden will pursue legislation to regulate possession of existing assault weapons under the National Firearms Act. Buy back the assault weapons and high-capacity magazines already in our communities. Biden will also institute a program to buy back weapons of war currently on our streets. This will give individuals who now possess assault weapons or high-capacity magazines two options: sell the weapons to the government, or register them under the National Firearms Act.
Making the most commonly sold and possessed rifle in the United States illegal will likely lead to millions of Americans breaking the law by maintaining possession of the guns they already own. How will Biden enforce his gun ban without law enforcement?
Require background checks for all gun sales. Today, an estimated 1 in 5 firearms are sold or transferred without a background check. Biden will enact universal background check legislation, requiring a background check for all gun sales with very limited exceptions, such as gifts between close family members. This will close the so-called “gun show and online sales loophole” that the Obama-Biden Administration narrowed, but which cannot be fully closed by executive action alone.
Again, how do you even attempt to enforce a universal background check law on private transfers of firearms without police getting involved?
Incentivize state “extreme risk” laws. Extreme risk laws, also called “red flag” laws, enable family members or law enforcement officials to temporarily remove an individual’s access to firearms when that individual is in crisis and poses a danger to themselves or others. Biden will incentivize the adoption of these laws by giving states funds to implement them. And, he’ll direct the U.S. Department of Justice to issue best practices and offer technical assistance to states interested in enacting an extreme risk law.
It’s going to be awfully tough to enable law enforcement officers to “temporarily remove an individual’s access to firearms” when there’s no more law enforcement, isn’t it?
Give states incentives to set up gun licensing programs. Biden will enact legislation to give states and local governments grants to require individuals to obtain a license prior to purchasing a gun.
If police have been defunded, who’s going to be responsible for ensuring that the only gun owners are those who’ve been licensed by the state?
Biden even has an entire section of his campaign plank on gun control devoted to “empowering” law enforcement, not defunding it.
Empower law enforcement to effectively enforce our gun laws. Prioritize prosecution of straw purchasers. “Straw purchasers” buy a firearm on behalf of an individual who cannot pass a background check. Biden will end those loopholes by enacting a law to make all straw purchases a serious federal crime and ensure the U.S. Justice Department has sufficient resources to prioritize their prosecution. Notify law enforcement when a potential firearms purchaser fails a background check. Too often, when prohibited persons attempting to buy a firearm fail a background check, state and local law enforcement is never informed of the attempt. As president, Biden will direct the FBI to set up a process to ensure timely notification of denials to state and local law enforcement, and he’ll support legislation to codify this process. This empowers law enforcement to follow up and ensure prohibited persons do not attempt to acquire firearms through other means. Require firearms owners to report if their weapon is lost or stolen. Responsible gun owners have a responsibility to inform law enforcement if their weapon is lost or stolen. Biden will enact legislation to make this the law of the land. Stop “ghost guns.” One way people who cannot legally obtain a gun may gain access to a weapon is by assembling a one on their own, either by buying a kit of disassembled gun parts or 3D printing a working firearm. Biden will stop the proliferation of these so-called “ghost guns” by passing legislation requiring that purchasers of gun kits or 3D printing code pass a federal background check. Additionally, Biden will ensure that the authority for firearms exports stays with the State Department, and if needed reverse a proposed rule by President Trump. This will ensure the State Department continues to block the code used to 3D print firearms from being made available on the Internet. Reform, fund, and empower the U.S. Justice Department to enforce our gun laws. Biden will direct his Attorney General to deliver to him within his first 100 days a set of recommendations for restructuring the ATF and related Justice Department agencies to most effectively enforce our gun laws. Biden will then work to secure sufficient funds for the Justice Department to effectively enforce our existing gun laws, increase the frequency of inspections of firearms dealers, and repeal riders that get in the way of that work. Direct the ATF to issue an annual report on firearms trafficking. This report will provide officials with critical information to better identify strategies for curbing firearms trafficking.
That doesn’t sound very defund-y to me.
Joe Biden and many of his fellow Democrats have been all in favor of expanding police power in order to enforce their anti-gun agenda, even when it results in thousands of young black men going to prison and having felony records for simply possessing a firearm without a license. In Virginia, Democrats in control of the state legislature this year ignored a proposal that would have empowered cities to reduce violence in high crime neighborhoods by focusing on the most violent offenders. Instead, they rallied behind Gov. Ralph Northam’s gun control agenda and the expanded authority for law enforcement that goes along with it.
I expect that Joe Biden and other Democrats are going to try to have it both ways. They’ll talk up the need for a dramatic overhaul of the criminal justice system, but they won’t overhaul their own policies that expand police power and allow for discriminatory licensing laws and other policies that not only have a chilling effect on the exercise of a constitutionally-protected right, but fail to reduce crime as well. In the end, they’ll choose the gun bans and other restrictions on our Second Amendment rights over the demands to ban police. If given the chance, they’ll likely curb the ability of law enforcement to respond to riots that threaten the safety and security of American citizens even as they embolden police to lock up those who may try to protect themselves and their families with a firearm.


bearingarms--2020-05-31--Dollar General Employee Cleared In Self-Defense Shooting Of Robber

Here ’ s the flip side to that story from yesterday about gun control activists working to ban guns from retail establishments ; a manager of a Dollar General store in Dayton , Ohio won ’ t be facing any charges for shooting and killing an armed robber back in October after a grand jury declined to issue an indictment after weighing the evidence .
Frankly , I ’ m surprised it took this long for the grand jury to clear the store manager in the shooting , though the coronavirus likely delayed any grand jury action for several months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy call .
On Oct. 9 , Roosevelt Rappley , 23 , reportedly showed a gun and demanded money from a cashier at the North Gettysburg Avenue Dollar General .
When the store manger tried to intervene , the suspect pointed the gun at the manager , according to the prosecutor ’ s office .
The manager then pulled out his own gun and shot Rappley multiple times , according to the prosecutor ’ s office .
Rappley was able to leave the store , before collapsing outside .
The manager followed him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s gun before calling 911 .
“ I just had somebody try to attempt and rob me over here at Dollar General on Gettysburg , ” he said in a 911 call .
“ Came in with a firearm , threatened to take money out the drawer , pointed a gun at me and my staff members .
He pointed a gun at me , I had a firearm on me , I pulled my firearm and I shot him in self-defense.
” Dollar General is all over my neck of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tend to think of them as a rural outfit , but the ’ ve got plenty of stores in urban areas , and they ’ re often located in high crime neighborhoods which makes them easy and attractive targets for robbers .
If I were managing one of the stores , I ’ d be carrying as well , and it sounds like the store manager ’ s actions saved lives .
During the investigation , Dayton police Lt. Jason Hall said there were witnesses at the store who saw the suspect enter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and demand money from the cash register .
“ An armed employee was then engaged with the individual attempting to rob the store , ” Hall said .
“ The shooting occurred inside the structure , and the individual fled outside.
” The store manager was in legal possession of the firearm , Hall said .
He also noted that the store is private property , so the manager would not need a concealed carry permit to legally carry a firearm .
If anti-gun activists like Shannon Watts had her way , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having a gun on him and using it to defend himself and the employees and customers .
Actually , if Shannon Watts really had her way , this manager would have been unarmed and unable to defend himself and those inside the store .
Do you have any doubt that gun control groups would be fine with exploiting the murder of a Dollar General manager to push for gun control laws ?
In fact , despite claiming to be okay with the Second Amendment , Watts , Igor Volsky , and other prominent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder time with praising the lifesaving actions of an armed employee .

Here’s the flip side to that story from yesterday about gun control activists working to ban guns from retail establishments; a manager of a Dollar General store in Dayton, Ohio won’t be facing any charges for shooting and killing an armed robber back in October after a grand jury declined to issue an indictment after weighing the evidence. Frankly, I’m surprised it took this long for the grand jury to clear the store manager in the shooting, though the coronavirus likely delayed any grand jury action for several months. Still, this was a pretty easy call.
On Oct. 9, Roosevelt Rappley, 23, reportedly showed a gun and demanded money from a cashier at the North Gettysburg Avenue Dollar General. When the store manger tried to intervene, the suspect pointed the gun at the manager, according to the prosecutor’s office. The manager then pulled out his own gun and shot Rappley multiple times, according to the prosecutor’s office. Rappley was able to leave the store, before collapsing outside. The manager followed him outside and reportedly kicked away the suspect’s gun before calling 911. “I just had somebody try to attempt and rob me over here at Dollar General on Gettysburg,” he said in a 911 call. “Came in with a firearm, threatened to take money out the drawer, pointed a gun at me and my staff members. He pointed a gun at me, I had a firearm on me, I pulled my firearm and I shot him in self-defense.”
Dollar General is all over my neck of the woods in central Virginia, so I tend to think of them as a rural outfit, but the’ve got plenty of stores in urban areas, and they’re often located in high crime neighborhoods which makes them easy and attractive targets for robbers. If I were managing one of the stores, I’d be carrying as well, and it sounds like the store manager’s actions saved lives.
During the investigation, Dayton police Lt. Jason Hall said there were witnesses at the store who saw the suspect enter the store, pull out a gun and demand money from the cash register. “An armed employee was then engaged with the individual attempting to rob the store,” Hall said. “The shooting occurred inside the structure, and the individual fled outside.” The store manager was in legal possession of the firearm, Hall said. He also noted that the store is private property, so the manager would not need a concealed carry permit to legally carry a firearm.
If anti-gun activists like Shannon Watts had her way, this store manager would have been fired for having a gun on him and using it to defend himself and the employees and customers. Actually, if Shannon Watts really had her way, this manager would have been unarmed and unable to defend himself and those inside the store. Do you have any doubt that gun control groups would be fine with exploiting the murder of a Dollar General manager to push for gun control laws? In fact, despite claiming to be okay with the Second Amendment, Watts, Igor Volsky, and other prominent gun control advocates clearly have a much harder time with praising the lifesaving actions of an armed employee.


bearingarms--2020-05-31--Op-Ed Bashing Armed Protestors Missed Deeper Point

One of many things Cam and I agree on is that carrying guns to protests that aren ’ t about the Second Amendment is probably counterproductive .
The moment you do , the story becomes about the guns and not about the issue being protested .
No , it shouldn ’ t , but we have to remember we have a media that sees guns as an unmitigated evil and , by extension , see you as an unmitigated evil .
As such , you kind of have to take that into account when you address an issue .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misrepresenting those armed protestors .
I don ’ t agree with them doing it , but I agree with their right to do it , and anyone who is going to take issue with it had better have their facts straight .
In an otherwise unremarkable op-ed taking issue with those protestors , the writer kind of set me off .
Each time , we went through the motions of safe handling , and he would reiterate the old cliché , “ The gun is always loaded.
” After shooting , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , disassemble and thoroughly clean each one , and talk .
He was strident that a gun , even a child ’ s toy gun , should never be pointed at another person , and they should be oiled and stored safely , locked away when not in use .
So it ’ s through this lens that I interpret this disturbing American moment , as armed protestors stage marches in the state capitals of our country , disgruntled by governors ’ corona virus stay-at-home orders .
Disturbing because the implication of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an AR-15 , is violence .
That if we don ’ t get what we want , we ’ ll take it by force .
Of course , armed protestors took to the streets in Richmond to take issue with Governor Ralph Northam ’ s proposals , and then many of those proposals passed .
If it really is a case of “ if we don ’ t get what we want , we ’ ll take it by force , ” then where is the force in Virginia ?
Maybe the writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the most convenient way for him to see it ?
However , what set me off was the bolded portion .
Now , I ’ ve advocated for locking your guns up when not in use as well , so why did this bother me ?
Because of where he goes after that .
I hate to break it to you , buddy , but carrying them at a protest is them being used .
They ’ re being used as a symbol of how they ’ re free people and won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they have the means to resist tyranny .
Of course , resisting tyranny is apparently “ not getting what we want ” or something .
Time and time again , milquetoast wannabe pundits will take aim at what they see as low-hanging fruit .
In this case , the armed protestors .
A lot of people are less than thrilled with them for whatever reason , so they opt to make a stand on something that a stand isn ’ t really needed .
That ’ s because they ’ re convinced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation that people will appreciate .
To be sure , they have that right and if someone will host them , more power to them .
Unfortunately for them , that also means they better understand the topic at hand .
Implying that those guns at the protests should be locked up , then insulting people simply because you disagree with their method of protest–that ’ s further in the op-ed that I didn ’ t quote .
You should check it out for a good laugh at the author ’ s expense–is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us all that you ’ re not someone we should take seriously .

One of many things Cam and I agree on is that carrying guns to protests that aren’t about the Second Amendment is probably counterproductive. The moment you do, the story becomes about the guns and not about the issue being protested. No, it shouldn’t, but we have to remember we have a media that sees guns as an unmitigated evil and, by extension, see you as an unmitigated evil.
As such, you kind of have to take that into account when you address an issue.
However, I won’t tolerate someone misrepresenting those armed protestors. I don’t agree with them doing it, but I agree with their right to do it, and anyone who is going to take issue with it had better have their facts straight.
In an otherwise unremarkable op-ed taking issue with those protestors, the writer kind of set me off.
Each time, we went through the motions of safe handling, and he would reiterate the old cliché, “The gun is always loaded.” After shooting, we’d sit down at the kitchen table, disassemble and thoroughly clean each one, and talk. He was strident that a gun, even a child’s toy gun, should never be pointed at another person, and they should be oiled and stored safely, locked away when not in use. So it’s through this lens that I interpret this disturbing American moment, as armed protestors stage marches in the state capitals of our country, disgruntled by governors’ corona virus stay-at-home orders. Disturbing because the implication of a protestor dressed in tactical gear, holding an AR-15, is violence. That if we don’t get what we want, we’ll take it by force.
Of course, armed protestors took to the streets in Richmond to take issue with Governor Ralph Northam’s proposals, and then many of those proposals passed. If it really is a case of “if we don’t get what we want, we’ll take it by force,” then where is the force in Virginia? Maybe the writer sees it that way because that’s the most convenient way for him to see it?
However, what set me off was the bolded portion.
Now, I’ve advocated for locking your guns up when not in use as well, so why did this bother me? Because of where he goes after that.
I hate to break it to you, buddy, but carrying them at a protest is them being used. They’re being used as a symbol of how they’re free people and won’t be bullied into compliance, that they have the means to resist tyranny.
Of course, resisting tyranny is apparently “not getting what we want” or something.
Time and time again, milquetoast wannabe pundits will take aim at what they see as low-hanging fruit. In this case, the armed protestors. A lot of people are less than thrilled with them for whatever reason, so they opt to make a stand on something that a stand isn’t really needed. That’s because they’re convinced they have something to add to the conversation that people will appreciate.
To be sure, they have that right and if someone will host them, more power to them.
Unfortunately for them, that also means they better understand the topic at hand. Implying that those guns at the protests should be locked up, then insulting people simply because you disagree with their method of protest–that’s further in the op-ed that I didn’t quote. You should check it out for a good laugh at the author’s expense–is a completely different animal.
It tells us all that you’re not someone we should take seriously.


bearingarms--2020-06-01--Some Gun Owners Are Pointing Guns At Their Junk, Making Us All Look Bad

Growing up , the Four Rules were hammered into my brain before I was ever old enough to even think of handling a firearm .
I ’ m not saying I always did it right , but I never did it wrong because I didn ’ t know better .
As a result , I ’ m a pretty safe gun owner who has also spent a fair bit of his time training to meet the threats that might present themselves .
I ’ m not an expert or anything , but I ’ m more capable than many , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , first and foremost , I feel it ’ s my responsibility to be a responsible gun owner .
After all , mistakes any of us make reflect on the rest of the gun community .
Apparently , not everyone shares that philosophy .
Gun owners are putting their metal where their manhoods are in a bizarre trend that sees men courting danger to prove how well they can manage a gun .
Those participating in the meme do so by pointing their gun at their genitals with the safety off , placing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posting a photo of it on social media .
And voila , just like that – proof they are very manly .
It was first assumed that the gun owners were embracing the risky pose as a way of trolling progressives .
The author and storyteller Dylan Park , who originally reposted the images in a viral tweet , summed that theory up as follows : “ To everyone asking why , I ’ m not 100 % sure .
But I think the thinking here is ‘ Guns don ’ t kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so we ’ re going to point them at our dicks to prove how safe they are ’ or something , ” he said .
But , as detailed in an article by Vice , the trend started more than a year ago after fighting within the gun enthusiasts community , which eventually led to one faction trying to prove superior knowledge over the other .
As the Facebook page Gun Owners Who Hate Gun Owners explained : “ It ’ s actually to upset people who think trigger discipline is important.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their firearms at their junk and place the finger on the trigger .
The safety is off , if there ’ s a safety , and they somehow think this makes them big and bad .
The Guardian calls it a trend .
So does Vice .
The problem is , I ’ m not convinced it really is .
After all , I ’ m pretty sure most people stupid enough to actually do something like that are too stupid to fill out a Form 4473 .
A few people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t see it as enough to make up any kind of trend .
“ Why is it stupid ?
” no one with a brain asked .
Well , it ’ s stupid because cocked and locked handguns don ’ t require a great deal of pressure to go off , and some of these weapons shown qualify as such .
Imagine you ’ re posing for an idiotic selfie to show how much of a hardass you are and how you don ’ t need no gun safety , only to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now , keep in mind where you were pointing that gun and think about it for a moment .
Yes , you lose .
In fact , the only real winner is humanity .
After all , you ’ ve now provided a tiny bit of chlorine into the gene pool .
Thank you for that .
The downside , though , is that every one of these jackwagons makes the rest of us look bad .
When we talk about responsible gun owners , there will be someone who remembers these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is what they ’ ll think .
Worse , though , will be those that think this is how you become a “ real ” gun operator .
They ’ ll get it in their head that if you ’ re serious about using a gun for self-defense , you ’ ll be up for this .
Nevermind that not a single real trainer advocates for this kind of thing .
Nevermind that I ’ ve never met a single professional–either trainer or user via military or law enforcement–who thinks this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get it in their heads that this is the way and end up doing something stupid .
So please , knock it off .
I don ’ t care if you shoot your junk off–it some case , I might prefer it if you did–but I do care about you screwing things up for the rest of us .
With that out of the way , I have to take a little issue with The Guardian .
I mean , I don ’ t expect them to get stuff right , but they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t take safety as important .
The problem ?
Well , the actual post doesn ’ t support any such thing .
As you can see , that post is taking issue with people who can ’ t look beyond trigger discipline .
The issue is commending people for doing the bare minimum , something we teach new shooters on day one , and not looking any deeper .
While I may or may not agree with the group , this doesn ’ t exactly look like they think it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun at your junk .
Not that The Guardian can be expected to understand the difference .

Growing up, the Four Rules were hammered into my brain before I was ever old enough to even think of handling a firearm. I’m not saying I always did it right, but I never did it wrong because I didn’t know better. As a result, I’m a pretty safe gun owner who has also spent a fair bit of his time training to meet the threats that might present themselves. I’m not an expert or anything, but I’m more capable than many, less capable than many others.
However, first and foremost, I feel it’s my responsibility to be a responsible gun owner. After all, mistakes any of us make reflect on the rest of the gun community.
Apparently, not everyone shares that philosophy.
Gun owners are putting their metal where their manhoods are in a bizarre trend that sees men courting danger to prove how well they can manage a gun. Those participating in the meme do so by pointing their gun at their genitals with the safety off, placing their finger over the trigger, and posting a photo of it on social media. And voila, just like that – proof they are very manly. It was first assumed that the gun owners were embracing the risky pose as a way of trolling progressives. The author and storyteller Dylan Park, who originally reposted the images in a viral tweet, summed that theory up as follows: “To everyone asking why, I’m not 100% sure. But I think the thinking here is ‘Guns don’t kill people, people with guns kill people so we’re going to point them at our dicks to prove how safe they are’ or something,” he said. But, as detailed in an article by Vice, the trend started more than a year ago after fighting within the gun enthusiasts community, which eventually led to one faction trying to prove superior knowledge over the other. As the Facebook page Gun Owners Who Hate Gun Owners explained: “It’s actually to upset people who think trigger discipline is important.”
Yes, these people place the barrels of their firearms at their junk and place the finger on the trigger. The safety is off, if there’s a safety, and they somehow think this makes them big and bad.
The Guardian calls it a trend. So does Vice.
The problem is, I’m not convinced it really is. After all, I’m pretty sure most people stupid enough to actually do something like that are too stupid to fill out a Form 4473. A few people are doing it, but I don’t see it as enough to make up any kind of trend.
“Why is it stupid?” no one with a brain asked.
Well, it’s stupid because cocked and locked handguns don’t require a great deal of pressure to go off, and some of these weapons shown qualify as such. Imagine you’re posing for an idiotic selfie to show how much of a hardass you are and how you don’t need no gun safety, only to get startled by a loud noise or something.
BANG!
Now, keep in mind where you were pointing that gun and think about it for a moment. Yes, you lose.
In fact, the only real winner is humanity. After all, you’ve now provided a tiny bit of chlorine into the gene pool. Thank you for that.
The downside, though, is that every one of these jackwagons makes the rest of us look bad. When we talk about responsible gun owners, there will be someone who remembers these turdnuggets and associates us with them. This is what they’ll think.
Worse, though, will be those that think this is how you become a “real” gun operator. They’ll get it in their head that if you’re serious about using a gun for self-defense, you’ll be up for this. Nevermind that not a single real trainer advocates for this kind of thing. Nevermind that I’ve never met a single professional–either trainer or user via military or law enforcement–who thinks this is a good idea. Some newbie will get it in their heads that this is the way and end up doing something stupid.
So please, knock it off. I don’t care if you shoot your junk off–it some case, I might prefer it if you did–but I do care about you screwing things up for the rest of us.
With that out of the way, I have to take a little issue with The Guardian. I mean, I don’t expect them to get stuff right, but they presented this bit as supporting those who don’t take safety as important.
“The uninitiated zero in on dumb sh*t like [safety] because it’s their entire knowledge base. It’s the only thing they understand,” said the moderator of a Facebook group named Sh*t Gun Normos Say (normie being a word pejoratively applied to people who stick to rules or norms with fervor).
The problem? Well, the actual post doesn’t support any such thing.
The uninitiated zero in on dumb shit like this because it’s their entire knowledge base. It’s the only thing they… Posted by Shit Gun Normos Say on Thursday, May 14, 2020
As you can see, that post is taking issue with people who can’t look beyond trigger discipline. The issue is commending people for doing the bare minimum, something we teach new shooters on day one, and not looking any deeper.
While I may or may not agree with the group, this doesn’t exactly look like they think it’s a good idea to point a gun at your junk.
Not that The Guardian can be expected to understand the difference.


bearingarms--2020-06-01--FL Sheriff Warns Looters: Our Residents Have Guns

Polk County , Florida Sheriff Grady Judd has a simple message for anyone intent on rioting , looting , or burning down homes or businesses : the Second Amendment is alive and well in the county .
Judd said there were rumblings on social media that rioters planned to bring violence into the neighborhoods of Polk County .
“ I would tell them , if you value your life , they probably shouldn ’ t do that in Polk County .
Because the people of Polk County like guns , they have guns , I encourage them to own guns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in their homes tonight with their guns loaded , and if you try to break into their homes to steal , to set fires , I ’ m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns .
So , leave the community alone , ” Judd said .
Not a lot of nuance there .
The sheriff says a protest Sunday afternoon in Lakeland , Florida was peaceful , but Sunday evening officers received word of a planned attack on police .
Judd said they received information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 8 p.m. near Interstate 4 and Highway 27 , but the Polk County Sheriff ’ s Office and Florida Highway Patrol were ready .
Judd said the Highway Patrol did a “ marvelous job ” helping stop the few who showed up for that alleged effort .
“ We are going to hunt you down and lock you up if you engage in any criminal conduct , ” Judd said .
Sheriff Judd says that he believes in and supports the First Amendment right along with our other constitutionally protected rights , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on the death of George Floyd .
I ’ m glad to see Sheriff Judd not only speak up in support of residents to protect themselves from those who would seek to do them harm , but I ’ m not exactly surprised .
I ’ ve had the chance to talk with Sheriff Judd on multiple occasions over the past few years and he ’ s always been a supporter of the right to keep and bear arms for self-defense , though we disagree about a few things like banning bump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that George Floyd should be alive today is also incredibly important , and the sheriff ’ s comments echo those made by other law enforcement officers around the nation in condemning the actions that led to the death of Floyd in Minneapolis one week ago .
Green County , Tennessee Sheriff Wesley Holt also spoke out about Floyd ’ s death a press conference on Monday .
“ I have always told our officers at the department to treat everyone with respect as if you were in their shoes .
It is disturbing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now considered targets for what a few officers chose to do , ” Holt said .
“ We have a great group of law enforcement officers in Greene County who go out each day and put their lives on the line to protect the citizens of Greene County.
” It is possible to be angry about the death of George Floyd and the rioting and looting that ’ s taken place across the country since his death .
In fact , I ’ d say that ’ s where most of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d never guess it by watching or listening to the mainstream media .
Justice for George Floyd won ’ t come from broken windows and shattered lives , and the promise of a better country built on the ashes of a burned-out nation rings hollow to most of us .
We are striving , however imperfectly , towards the more perfect union promised in the Constitution , and the only way to get there is to start on the common ground where we can find it .

Polk County, Florida Sheriff Grady Judd has a simple message for anyone intent on rioting, looting, or burning down homes or businesses: the Second Amendment is alive and well in the county.
Judd said there were rumblings on social media that rioters planned to bring violence into the neighborhoods of Polk County. “I would tell them, if you value your life, they probably shouldn’t do that in Polk County. Because the people of Polk County like guns, they have guns, I encourage them to own guns, and they’re going to be in their homes tonight with their guns loaded, and if you try to break into their homes to steal, to set fires, I’m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns. So, leave the community alone,” Judd said.
Not a lot of nuance there. The sheriff says a protest Sunday afternoon in Lakeland, Florida was peaceful, but Sunday evening officers received word of a planned attack on police.
Judd said they received information that law enforcement would come under attack at 8 p.m. near Interstate 4 and Highway 27, but the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol were ready. Judd said the Highway Patrol did a “marvelous job” helping stop the few who showed up for that alleged effort. “We are going to hunt you down and lock you up if you engage in any criminal conduct,” Judd said.
Sheriff Judd says that he believes in and supports the First Amendment right along with our other constitutionally protected rights, but he hopes that protesters keep their focus on the death of George Floyd.
“All of that ugliness has taken away from what we’re united about,” the sheriff said. “We’re united about the conduct that you saw with George [Floyd].”
I’m glad to see Sheriff Judd not only speak up in support of residents to protect themselves from those who would seek to do them harm, but I’m not exactly surprised. I’ve had the chance to talk with Sheriff Judd on multiple occasions over the past few years and he’s always been a supporter of the right to keep and bear arms for self-defense, though we disagree about a few things like banning bump stocks. The fact that Judd acknowledged that George Floyd should be alive today is also incredibly important, and the sheriff’s comments echo those made by other law enforcement officers around the nation in condemning the actions that led to the death of Floyd in Minneapolis one week ago. Green County, Tennessee Sheriff Wesley Holt also spoke out about Floyd’s death a press conference on Monday.
“I have always told our officers at the department to treat everyone with respect as if you were in their shoes. It is disturbing to see how all law enforcement officers are now considered targets for what a few officers chose to do,” Holt said. “We have a great group of law enforcement officers in Greene County who go out each day and put their lives on the line to protect the citizens of Greene County.”
It is possible to be angry about the death of George Floyd and the rioting and looting that’s taken place across the country since his death. In fact, I’d say that’s where most of America is at the moment, though you’d never guess it by watching or listening to the mainstream media. Justice for George Floyd won’t come from broken windows and shattered lives, and the promise of a better country built on the ashes of a burned-out nation rings hollow to most of us. We are striving, however imperfectly, towards the more perfect union promised in the Constitution, and the only way to get there is to start on the common ground where we can find it.


bearingarms--2020-06-01--Joe Biden's Awful Idea On Police Reform

Joe Biden's Awful Idea On Police Reform

Presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden offered up a ridiculous take on reforming use of force policies for law enforcement on Monday by claiming that officers should be trained to aim for the legs of “ unarmed people coming at them with a knife.
” Biden ’ s comments came while he was speaking with local black leaders at the Bethel AME church in Wilmington , Delaware .
Oddly enough , the Associated Press didn ’ t even mention Biden ’ s bizarre comment about officers shooting suspects in the leg .
Instead , reporters wrote a puff piece designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , instead of an ignoramus when it comes to both human anatomy and use of force policies .
In the early moments of Monday ’ s gathering at the Bethel AME church in Biden ’ s hometown of Wilmington , the former vice president listened quietly and took notes in a spiral notebook .
All of the attendees , including Biden , wore face masks .
“ The vice president came to hear from us .
This is a homeboy , ” said Pastor Sylvester Beaman , before Biden and those present bowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s softer approach may foreshadow how the presumptive Democratic nominee presents himself in the five months before the presidential election , emphasizing calm and competence as a contrast to a mercurial president .
It is an approach that carries the risk of being drowned out by the much louder , more persistent voice of Trump .
“ He ’ s not in office , and he certainly does not have the megaphone like the person currently occupying the White House does , but I do think our people are looking for someone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely tough times , ” said Rep. Val Demings of Florida , whom Biden is considering as a running mate .
“ America just needs to be reassured that there ’ s someone who ’ s understanding , someone who ’ s willing to say , ‘ Yes , we do have some issues , ’ and someone who ’ s willing to address it.
” The AP ’ s unwillingness to address Biden ’ s use of force comments is even more inexplicable given that they spoke to Rep. Demings , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orlando , Florida .
You ’ d think she might have something to say about the idea of officers aiming for the legs of suspects when they have to use their service weapon , and given the fact that she ’ s on Biden ’ s short list to be his vice-presidential nominee , I would have loved to have heard her try to explain away his comments .
The reason why virtually every firearms instructor teaches gun owners to aim for center mass if they have to use their firearm in self-defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop the threat .
You don ’ t pull out your gun in the first place unless your life is in danger , and you don ’ t pull the trigger unless you ’ re in fear of imminent death or great bodily harm .
Utah police officer Jeffrey Denning wrote a great explainer for the Deseret News a few years ago about why police aren ’ t taught to aim for the leg .
I hope Joe Biden can read it at some point .
Shooting someone in the leg doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop shooting .
The same is true of someone who is shot in the arm or shoulder , or even in the chest .
Shooting someone in the leg won ’ t necessarily stop him or her from standing , walking or even running .
Shooting someone in the leg doesn ’ t even mean he or she will fall to the ground .
And , it doesn ’ t mean the individual will stop feloniously aiming a gun at a police officer or an innocent citizen and pulling the trigger .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone in the leg , there is a chance it could sever the femoral artery and still potentially end that person ’ s life .
Officers learn how difficult it is to shoot accurately under stress .
An officer can be a near-perfect shooter on the range , but the stress of a real firefight is totally different .
Shooting a gun out of a person ’ s hand is nearly impossible , and it would be dangerous to attempt in real life .
Even if an officer wanted to shoot someone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , doing so would be incredibly difficult to do under stress .
Real gunfights are not static ; they ’ re mobile .
Trying to hit a moving leg or arm would put an officer at a greater disadvantage than he or she already faces .
Biden is simply clueless when it comes to this issue , and the mainstream media will do everything they can to cover up his buffoonery and make it look like statesmanship .
There are real conversations to be had about use of force policies , no-knock raids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if this is all he has to offer , Biden should simply keep his mouth closed .

Presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden offered up a ridiculous take on reforming use of force policies for law enforcement on Monday by claiming that officers should be trained to aim for the legs of “unarmed people coming at them with a knife.”
Biden today on police training: “Instead of standing there and teaching a cop when there’s an unarmed person comin’ at ’em with a knife or something to shoot ’em in the leg instead of the heart is a very different thing.” pic.twitter.com/2xgqvlQtJ2 — The Recount (@therecount) June 1, 2020
Biden’s comments came while he was speaking with local black leaders at the Bethel AME church in Wilmington, Delaware. Oddly enough, the Associated Press didn’t even mention Biden’s bizarre comment about officers shooting suspects in the leg. Instead, reporters wrote a puff piece designed to portray Biden as an elder statesman, instead of an ignoramus when it comes to both human anatomy and use of force policies.
In the early moments of Monday’s gathering at the Bethel AME church in Biden’s hometown of Wilmington, the former vice president listened quietly and took notes in a spiral notebook. All of the attendees, including Biden, wore face masks. “The vice president came to hear from us. This is a homeboy,” said Pastor Sylvester Beaman, before Biden and those present bowed their heads in prayer. Biden’s softer approach may foreshadow how the presumptive Democratic nominee presents himself in the five months before the presidential election, emphasizing calm and competence as a contrast to a mercurial president. It is an approach that carries the risk of being drowned out by the much louder, more persistent voice of Trump. “He’s not in office, and he certainly does not have the megaphone like the person currently occupying the White House does, but I do think our people are looking for someone who can make them feel better during these extremely tough times,” said Rep. Val Demings of Florida, whom Biden is considering as a running mate. “America just needs to be reassured that there’s someone who’s understanding, someone who’s willing to say, ‘Yes, we do have some issues,’ and someone who’s willing to address it.”
The AP’s unwillingness to address Biden’s use of force comments is even more inexplicable given that they spoke to Rep. Demings, who’s the former police chief in Orlando, Florida. You’d think she might have something to say about the idea of officers aiming for the legs of suspects when they have to use their service weapon, and given the fact that she’s on Biden’s short list to be his vice-presidential nominee, I would have loved to have heard her try to explain away his comments.
The reason why virtually every firearms instructor teaches gun owners to aim for center mass if they have to use their firearm in self-defense is simple: you’re shooting to stop the threat. You don’t pull out your gun in the first place unless your life is in danger, and you don’t pull the trigger unless you’re in fear of imminent death or great bodily harm. Utah police officer Jeffrey Denning wrote a great explainer for the Deseret News a few years ago about why police aren’t taught to aim for the leg. I hope Joe Biden can read it at some point.
Shooting someone in the leg doesn’t mean he or she will stop shooting. The same is true of someone who is shot in the arm or shoulder, or even in the chest. Shooting someone in the leg won’t necessarily stop him or her from standing, walking or even running. Shooting someone in the leg doesn’t even mean he or she will fall to the ground. And, it doesn’t mean the individual will stop feloniously aiming a gun at a police officer or an innocent citizen and pulling the trigger. Even so, if an officer did shoot someone in the leg, there is a chance it could sever the femoral artery and still potentially end that person’s life. Officers learn how difficult it is to shoot accurately under stress. An officer can be a near-perfect shooter on the range, but the stress of a real firefight is totally different. Shooting a gun out of a person’s hand is nearly impossible, and it would be dangerous to attempt in real life. Even if an officer wanted to shoot someone in an appendage (leg or arm), doing so would be incredibly difficult to do under stress. Real gunfights are not static; they’re mobile. Trying to hit a moving leg or arm would put an officer at a greater disadvantage than he or she already faces.
Biden is simply clueless when it comes to this issue, and the mainstream media will do everything they can to cover up his buffoonery and make it look like statesmanship. There are real conversations to be had about use of force policies, no-knock raids, and other policing issues, but if this is all he has to offer, Biden should simply keep his mouth closed.