bearingarms--2020-11-27--Obama Still Calling Us Bitter Clingers

Obama Still Calling Us Bitter Clingers

Former President Barack Obama is out of office , thankfully , but it ’ s clear the man hasn ’ t changed very much .
For all the hate focused on President Trump , he wasn ’ t the one who looked down on millions of Americans with absolute condescension , talking about how we were bitterly clinging to our guns and religion .
That would be the great orator , Obama .
Now would normally be the time when former presidents start trying to be a bit more magnanimous because they don ’ t have a base to appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to alienate entire swaths of the public in order to appeal to others just a bit more than anyone else .
The problem with the Republican Party , said former President Barack Obama , in The Atlantic , is “ the attitudes of the base ” — meaning , the conservatives who don ’ t live in and around the political bubbles of Washington , D.C. , and who don ’ t travel in the liberal elitist circles of select spots in California and the East Coast .
In other words , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Conservatives who insist on the Constitution — problematic .
It ’ s Hillary Clinton ’ s baskets full of deplorables all over again .
Only this time , Obama completes the image of conservatives as stupid by explaining that it ’ s not so much the fault of the poor , ignorant people as it is the fault of the “ right-wing media.
” As if conservatives are too stupid to think for themselves .
“ I ’ ve said this before , ” Obama told The Atlantic .
“ The problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement , whatever you want to call it , goes back to the attitudes of the base — attitudes that have been shaped by right-wing media .
And so essentially what Republican elected officials have done is to say to themselves that in order to survive , we have to go along with conspiracy theorizing , false assertion , fantasies that Donald Trump and Rush Limbaugh and others in that echo chamber have concocted , because people believe them.
” Of course , these “ fantasies ” typically include statements that Democrats are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Obama fails to note just how often that pans out to actually be true .
Let ’ s not forget that Obama famously said that the only reason he wasn ’ t going to take our guns was that he knew he didn ’ t have the votes for it .
That is what held him back .
Not the Constitution or a respect for people ’ s rights .
Nope , just a lack of support .
So he needs to forgive me if I actually don ’ t trust him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he will or that I ’ ll lose a moment ’ s worth of sleep over it .
The truth is that while people often want to blame President Trump for the divisiveness we currently see , they really need to look no further than Obama .
This is a man who has driven division through the skulls of the American public with his every waking breath .
And you want to talk about people ’ s base ?
Let ’ s not forget how Obama ’ s base had a field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist , ” dismissing any and all arguments by taking a holier-than-thou stance and ignoring anything approaching debate .
Honestly , Obama didn ’ t learn anything from the last four years .
To him and to most Democrats , it seems , we ’ ll always be bitter clingers .

Former President Barack Obama is out of office, thankfully, but it’s clear the man hasn’t changed very much. For all the hate focused on President Trump, he wasn’t the one who looked down on millions of Americans with absolute condescension, talking about how we were bitterly clinging to our guns and religion.
That would be the great orator, Obama.
Now would normally be the time when former presidents start trying to be a bit more magnanimous because they don’t have a base to appeal to anymore. They’d stop trying to alienate entire swaths of the public in order to appeal to others just a bit more than anyone else.
But not Obama.
The problem with the Republican Party, said former President Barack Obama, in The Atlantic, is “the attitudes of the base” — meaning, the conservatives who don’t live in and around the political bubbles of Washington, D.C., and who don’t travel in the liberal elitist circles of select spots in California and the East Coast. In other words, Republicans who cave to Democrats — good. Conservatives who insist on the Constitution — problematic. It’s Hillary Clinton’s baskets full of deplorables all over again. Only this time, Obama completes the image of conservatives as stupid by explaining that it’s not so much the fault of the poor, ignorant people as it is the fault of the “right-wing media.” As if conservatives are too stupid to think for themselves. “I’ve said this before,” Obama told The Atlantic. “The problem facing the Republican Party, the conservative movement, whatever you want to call it, goes back to the attitudes of the base — attitudes that have been shaped by right-wing media. And so essentially what Republican elected officials have done is to say to themselves that in order to survive, we have to go along with conspiracy theorizing, false assertion, fantasies that Donald Trump and Rush Limbaugh and others in that echo chamber have concocted, because people believe them.”
Of course, these “fantasies” typically include statements that Democrats are looking to take your guns. However, Obama fails to note just how often that pans out to actually be true.
Let’s not forget that Obama famously said that the only reason he wasn’t going to take our guns was that he knew he didn’t have the votes for it. That is what held him back. Not the Constitution or a respect for people’s rights. Nope, just a lack of support.
So he needs to forgive me if I actually don’t trust him with much of anything else.
Not that he will or that I’ll lose a moment’s worth of sleep over it. The truth is that while people often want to blame President Trump for the divisiveness we currently see, they really need to look no further than Obama. This is a man who has driven division through the skulls of the American public with his every waking breath.
And you want to talk about people’s base? Let’s not forget how Obama’s base had a field day calling anyone who criticized him “racist,” dismissing any and all arguments by taking a holier-than-thou stance and ignoring anything approaching debate.
Honestly, Obama didn’t learn anything from the last four years. To him and to most Democrats, it seems, we’ll always be bitter clingers.


bearingarms--2020-11-28--One Woman's Journey From March For Our Lives To The Pink Pistols

Two years ago , Ermiya Fanaeian helped create the Utah chapter of the student gun control group March For Our Lives .
Today , the 20-year old is helping to resurrect the defunct Salt Lake City chapter of the Pink Pistols , a pro-2A group focused on defending the right to keep and bear arms for members of the LGBTQ community .
What happened to turn the college student from a gun control activists to a Second Amendment supporter ?
“ As working-class people , we should not be disarmed , ” she said .
“ There is everlasting violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on whatever side of the aisle , are not addressing , and we need to be able to protect ourselves .
And because of that , I came to this understanding that the March for Our Lives goals do not align with my goals.
” Fanaeian was a 17-year old high school student when a killer walked onto the campus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland , Florida and murdered 17 people .
In response , she helped to organize a pro-gun control protest at the Utah state capitol attended by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in papers at the time telling gun owners that “ we don ’ t wish to deprive you of your fetishism for your menacing weapons , ” but now she ’ s become a gun owner herself .
Fanaeian may have shifted her views on the Second Amendment , but her political ideology is still further to the left than many gun owners in deep-red Utah .
The good news , at least for those of who view armed self-defense as a human right , is that she ’ s not alone on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bear arms .
The Salt Lake City chapter of the Pink Pistols , which had fallen into a state of limbo after its founding a few years ago , has found new life with Fanaeian engaged in outreach .
“ We ’ ve had folks from all different walks of life in all different parts of the state reach out to us , ” she said .
“ They express their wants to finally be able to defend themselves , defend their families and defend their communities .
… They didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ folks to do so.
” Anyone can join the Pink Pistols , and Fanaeian says the group is currently made up of college-age people of all races and sexual orientations , including Ashton Leve , a graduate student who joined the group as an ally about a month ago .
“ With all the things that are going on in the world , there ’ s a lot of hate .
Every voting period seems to bring out the worst in people , ” said Leve who , like Fanaeian , has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
“ It never really occurred to me that ( LGBTQ people ) get hit or assaulted just for being who they are , ” he said .
“ I felt like this was a good way to reach out and address some of these issues.
” Of course , not every LGBTQ organization in Utah is as gun-friendly as the Pink Pistols .
While Fanaeian argues that “ we can ’ t talk about empowering marginalized communities while simultaneously trying to disarm marginalized communities , ” other longtime activists in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for gun bans and more .
Troy Williams , executive director of Equality Utah , the Beehive State ’ s “ premier LGBTQ civil rights organization , ” said , “ Many LGBTQ Utahns own guns , either for sport or self-defense .
Many don ’ t. ” “ As an organization we support the Second Amendment .
We draw the line , however , at military grade weapons in the hands of civilians .
We ’ re talking about weapons like the SIG MCX semi-automatic that was used to murder 49 LGBTQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pulse nightclub in Orlando .
These deadly weapons of war belong in the hands of soldiers , not civilians , ” Williams said .
Fanaeian , on the other hand , wants to see community-based solutions to stop gun violence , rather than what she calls “ restrictive gun control.
” “ As far as legislatively trying to do things such as ban assault weapons , or ultimately make it harder for regular everyday folks to access guns only so rich elitist people can access them … I ’ m completely against those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t just a right of the Right , any more than it ’ s a right limited to straight white guys in the suburbs or the country .
It ’ s the right of the people to keep and bear arms that shall not be infringed , and I ’ m excited to see voices like Ermiya Fanaeian ’ s used to defend that right , rather than trying to take it away .

Two years ago, Ermiya Fanaeian helped create the Utah chapter of the student gun control group March For Our Lives. Today, the 20-year old is helping to resurrect the defunct Salt Lake City chapter of the Pink Pistols, a pro-2A group focused on defending the right to keep and bear arms for members of the LGBTQ community. What happened to turn the college student from a gun control activists to a Second Amendment supporter?
“As working-class people, we should not be disarmed,” she said. “There is everlasting violence against LGBTQ people that oftentimes politicians, on whatever side of the aisle, are not addressing, and we need to be able to protect ourselves. And because of that, I came to this understanding that the March for Our Lives goals do not align with my goals.”
Fanaeian was a 17-year old high school student when a killer walked onto the campus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and murdered 17 people. In response, she helped to organize a pro-gun control protest at the Utah state capitol attended by thousands of students. She was quoted in papers at the time telling gun owners that “we don’t wish to deprive you of your fetishism for your menacing weapons,” but now she’s become a gun owner herself.
“I used to think that guns were a scary thing,” she said. “Back then, I would have agreed with Joe Biden’s assertion to take everyone’s AR-15s away. And now I own one.”
Fanaeian may have shifted her views on the Second Amendment, but her political ideology is still further to the left than many gun owners in deep-red Utah. The good news, at least for those of who view armed self-defense as a human right, is that she’s not alone on the left in embracing the right to bear arms. The Salt Lake City chapter of the Pink Pistols, which had fallen into a state of limbo after its founding a few years ago, has found new life with Fanaeian engaged in outreach.
“We’ve had folks from all different walks of life in all different parts of the state reach out to us,” she said. “They express their wants to finally be able to defend themselves, defend their families and defend their communities. … They didn’t know it was an option for LGBTQ folks to do so.” Anyone can join the Pink Pistols, and Fanaeian says the group is currently made up of college-age people of all races and sexual orientations, including Ashton Leve, a graduate student who joined the group as an ally about a month ago. “With all the things that are going on in the world, there’s a lot of hate. Every voting period seems to bring out the worst in people,” said Leve who, like Fanaeian, has been a gun owner for less than a year. “It never really occurred to me that (LGBTQ people) get hit or assaulted just for being who they are,” he said. “I felt like this was a good way to reach out and address some of these issues.”
Of course, not every LGBTQ organization in Utah is as gun-friendly as the Pink Pistols. While Fanaeian argues that “we can’t talk about empowering marginalized communities while simultaneously trying to disarm marginalized communities,” other longtime activists in the state are still clinging to their support for gun bans and more.
Troy Williams, executive director of Equality Utah, the Beehive State’s “premier LGBTQ civil rights organization,” said, “Many LGBTQ Utahns own guns, either for sport or self-defense. Many don’t.” “As an organization we support the Second Amendment. We draw the line, however, at military grade weapons in the hands of civilians. We’re talking about weapons like the SIG MCX semi-automatic that was used to murder 49 LGBTQ people and wound 53 more at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. These deadly weapons of war belong in the hands of soldiers, not civilians,” Williams said. Fanaeian, on the other hand, wants to see community-based solutions to stop gun violence, rather than what she calls “restrictive gun control.” “As far as legislatively trying to do things such as ban assault weapons, or ultimately make it harder for regular everyday folks to access guns only so rich elitist people can access them … I’m completely against those initiatives.”
The Second Amendment isn’t just a right of the Right, any more than it’s a right limited to straight white guys in the suburbs or the country. It’s the right of the people to keep and bear arms that shall not be infringed, and I’m excited to see voices like Ermiya Fanaeian’s used to defend that right, rather than trying to take it away.


bearingarms--2020-11-28--Philadelphia Can't Keep Up With Their Guns, Wants To Control Yours

The city of Philadelphia is like a lot of other large American cities .
They ’ re cities that are seemingly plagued with violent crime and are reaching out for some kind of solution .
Unfortunately , the only thing they can think of as a solution is gun control .
Obviously , that ’ s an issue everywhere .
However , it seems that Philadelphia has a bigger issue .
You see , the city of Brotherly Love of Trying To Control Your Rights can ’ t seem to control the guns they actually own .
The city that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun control campaign against law-abiding gun owners can ’ t account for more than 200 of their own guns .
Philadelphia ’ s Sheriff ’ s Office was blamed in a report for failing to account for 210 taxpayer-funded service firearms and firearms that were seized .
They went missing between 1977-2015 , but only came to light in 2019 when a confidential complaint tipped off authorities that “ 15 long guns ” were missing .
That began an investigation that showed the city ’ s missing guns issue was 173 percent bigger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people tasked with enforcing laws , including court security and prisoner transfers , couldn ’ t follow their own regulations and keep track of their guns .
Philadelphia ’ s gun control cabal , including Democrat Mayor Jim Kenney , is sure to miss the irony here .
For clarity ’ s sake , this is the situation detailed clearly .
The same people who want to use law enforcement to curb the gun rights of law-abiding citizens and track and confiscate guns can ’ t even keep track and control of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Officials are saying there ’ s nothing to see here , move along .
It was a problem with the old regime .
A year-long investigation by the City Controller ’ s office blames “ physical disorganization , ” and “ poor record keeping ” by the sheriff ’ s office .
That might have been obvious when investigators saw firearms in piles on the floor and haphazardly stored .
Firearms belonging to the sheriff ’ s office and those that were seized were comingled and some were still loaded when stored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guns that the city simply doesn ’ t know where the hell they came from .
They don ’ t know if the city bought them , took them from some criminal , or what .
They ’ re simply in limbo .
And these are people who think they should be able to tell the citizens of that city what to do with their own firearms .
Honestly , it ’ s downright baffling that anyone would trust such incompetence with the power to restrict anyone else ’ s rights .
Of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city is trying to blame the old regime .
The problem with that is that it ’ s clear no one knows what ’ s going on .
With 200 government-owned firearms missing , a number of guns they simply don ’ t know where they came from , and no way to resolve the issue , it ’ s clear that the problems are systemic and ongoing .
And yet , these are also the only people some think should be trusted with firearms in the first place .
Please excuse me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notion .
Unfortunately , those people also seem to be set to take power at the national level in January , so I won ’ t be laughing too hard .

The city of Philadelphia is like a lot of other large American cities. They’re cities that are seemingly plagued with violent crime and are reaching out for some kind of solution. Unfortunately, the only thing they can think of as a solution is gun control.
Obviously, that’s an issue everywhere. However, it seems that Philadelphia has a bigger issue.
You see, the city of Brotherly Love of Trying To Control Your Rights can’t seem to control the guns they actually own.
Philly, we’ve got a problem. The city that’s got a mayor waging a gun control campaign against law-abiding gun owners can’t account for more than 200 of their own guns. Philadelphia’s Sheriff’s Office was blamed in a report for failing to account for 210 taxpayer-funded service firearms and firearms that were seized. They went missing between 1977-2015, but only came to light in 2019 when a confidential complaint tipped off authorities that “15 long guns” were missing. That began an investigation that showed the city’s missing guns issue was 173 percent bigger than what was first believed. The people tasked with enforcing laws, including court security and prisoner transfers, couldn’t follow their own regulations and keep track of their guns. Philadelphia’s gun control cabal, including Democrat Mayor Jim Kenney, is sure to miss the irony here. For clarity’s sake, this is the situation detailed clearly. The same people who want to use law enforcement to curb the gun rights of law-abiding citizens and track and confiscate guns can’t even keep track and control of the ones for which they’re responsible. Officials are saying there’s nothing to see here, move along. It was a problem with the old regime. A year-long investigation by the City Controller’s office blames “physical disorganization,” and “poor record keeping” by the sheriff’s office. That might have been obvious when investigators saw firearms in piles on the floor and haphazardly stored. Firearms belonging to the sheriff’s office and those that were seized were comingled and some were still loaded when stored.
There are a large number of guns that the city simply doesn’t know where the hell they came from. They don’t know if the city bought them, took them from some criminal, or what. They’re simply in limbo.
And these are people who think they should be able to tell the citizens of that city what to do with their own firearms.
Honestly, it’s downright baffling that anyone would trust such incompetence with the power to restrict anyone else’s rights. Of course, as noted above, the city is trying to blame the old regime. The problem with that is that it’s clear no one knows what’s going on. With 200 government-owned firearms missing, a number of guns they simply don’t know where they came from, and no way to resolve the issue, it’s clear that the problems are systemic and ongoing.
And yet, these are also the only people some think should be trusted with firearms in the first place. Please excuse me as I laugh hysterically at such a notion.
Unfortunately, those people also seem to be set to take power at the national level in January, so I won’t be laughing too hard.


bearingarms--2020-11-29--The 2A Activists Stepping Up To Reduce Suicide

Gun control activists love to portray Second Amendment advocates as people who care more about their right to keep and bear arms than they care about human lives , which is simply not the case for virtually every other gun owner I know .
Most of us are gun owners precisely because we care enough about human life to want to protect it , and we know that the insult on the part of anti-gunners is designed to bolster a false premise : the only way to truly protect innocent life is by banning guns .
If you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you know that in addition to covering the latest Second Amendment news and information , we talk quite a bit about ways to reduce violent crime without trying to ban our way to safety , and we ’ re not alone .
The Second Amendment community is full of activists who are more than willing to look for ways to reduce gun-related deaths , as long as they don ’ t infringe on our right to keep and bear arms .
The Oregonian newspaper is highlighting the work that several gun rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suicides , and it ’ s great to see some positive media coverage for their efforts .
“ It ’ s in the interest of gun owners to sit down at the table , ” says Alan Gottlieb , founder of the Second Amendment Foundation , a national organization based in Bellevue , and co-chair with Stuber of the Safer Homes coalition .
“ It ’ s all about preventing suicide , and not about other issues .
We have to talk about the problem in a way that doesn ’ t threaten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about safe storage when people are a threat to themselves or others.
” The Second Amendment Foundation ’ s Alan Gottlieb is co-chair of Washington ’ s Safer Homes coalition .
along with Jennifer Stuber , a professor of social welfare at University of Washington .
Gottliebe invited Stuber , along with firearms instructor Brent Bass , who leads the project ’ s firearms community outreach programs , to be a part of the SAF ’ s recent Gun Rights Policy Conference along with other members of the suicide prevention task force .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some circles of the 2A community when it comes to talking about or even acknowledging gun-related suicides , gun rights activist Clark Aposhian says it makes sense for gun owners to take the lead in dealing with the issue .
“ If you want to drop the numbers , the biggest bang for your buck is addressing suicide , ” he says .
“ But you don ’ t fix suicide the same way you fix a drive-by shooting .
If we don ’ t do something to address it in our own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , and it won ’ t be pretty — a new mandate , a new law — and it won ’ t be as effective as the peer-to-peer relationship.
” I think Aposhian ’ s on target with his comments .
The 2A community can be more effective than a red flag law or other unconstitutional attempts to reduce suicide by going after gun ownership itself , and we can all be a part of the solution .
Part of is simply reaching out to others to see how they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggling we can listen or point them to mental health resources .
We can also point gun owners who may be going through a crisis themselves or have a member of their household that they ’ re concerned about to programs like the Gun Shop Project so they can temporarily remove their guns from their home and store them in a place where they feel comfortable .
Of course , not every state has a Gun Shop Project in place , but I hope that will soon change .
With 2A activists taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no doubt that we ’ ll see more gun shops and gun owners stepping up to be a part of the solution .

Gun control activists love to portray Second Amendment advocates as people who care more about their right to keep and bear arms than they care about human lives, which is simply not the case for virtually every other gun owner I know. Most of us are gun owners precisely because we care enough about human life to want to protect it, and we know that the insult on the part of anti-gunners is designed to bolster a false premise: the only way to truly protect innocent life is by banning guns.
If you’re a regular reader here at Bearing Arms, you know that in addition to covering the latest Second Amendment news and information, we talk quite a bit about ways to reduce violent crime without trying to ban our way to safety, and we’re not alone. The Second Amendment community is full of activists who are more than willing to look for ways to reduce gun-related deaths, as long as they don’t infringe on our right to keep and bear arms.
The Oregonian newspaper is highlighting the work that several gun rights activists are engaged in to reduce gun-related suicides, and it’s great to see some positive media coverage for their efforts.
“It’s in the interest of gun owners to sit down at the table,” says Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, a national organization based in Bellevue, and co-chair with Stuber of the Safer Homes coalition. “It’s all about preventing suicide, and not about other issues. We have to talk about the problem in a way that doesn’t threaten gun owners. We have to talk about safe storage when people are a threat to themselves or others.”
One way to do that is to offer gun owners the ability to transfer their firearms when they or someone in their household is in a crisis and guns might need to be temporarily removed. A number of states, including New Hampshire and Colorado, have implemented programs where gun stores will temporarily store guns for lawful gun owners without getting law enforcement involved.
The Second Amendment Foundation’s Alan Gottlieb is co-chair of Washington’s Safer Homes coalition. along with Jennifer Stuber, a professor of social welfare at University of Washington. Gottliebe invited Stuber, along with firearms instructor Brent Bass, who leads the project’s firearms community outreach programs, to be a part of the SAF’s recent Gun Rights Policy Conference along with other members of the suicide prevention task force.
Dr. Jeff Sung, a Seattle psychiatrist and task force member, briefed the audience on what it’s like to go into and come out of a suicidal thought process to show how safely stored guns can protect people in the home. “A suicidal crisis is not fatal in and of itself,” Sung says. “The vast majority of people get through it. Research shows that when people don’t have immediate access to a lethal method, they find a way to get through suicidal crisis, and find a way to reconnect with life, reconnect with a new sense of purpose.”
While there is still a stigma in some circles of the 2A community when it comes to talking about or even acknowledging gun-related suicides, gun rights activist Clark Aposhian says it makes sense for gun owners to take the lead in dealing with the issue.
“If you want to drop the numbers, the biggest bang for your buck is addressing suicide,” he says. “But you don’t fix suicide the same way you fix a drive-by shooting. If we don’t do something to address it in our own culture, it will be done for us, and it won’t be pretty — a new mandate, a new law — and it won’t be as effective as the peer-to-peer relationship.”
I think Aposhian’s on target with his comments. The 2A community can be more effective than a red flag law or other unconstitutional attempts to reduce suicide by going after gun ownership itself, and we can all be a part of the solution. Part of is simply reaching out to others to see how they’re doing, and if we see someone struggling we can listen or point them to mental health resources. We can also point gun owners who may be going through a crisis themselves or have a member of their household that they’re concerned about to programs like the Gun Shop Project so they can temporarily remove their guns from their home and store them in a place where they feel comfortable.
Of course, not every state has a Gun Shop Project in place, but I hope that will soon change. With 2A activists taking the lead on suicide prevention, I have no doubt that we’ll see more gun shops and gun owners stepping up to be a part of the solution.


bearingarms--2020-11-30--Three CA Men Face Federal Gun Trafficking Charges

California has some of the toughest gun control laws in the nation .
They ’ re restrictive in almost any way you can be restrictive .
The only reason they haven ’ t outright banned guns is that they know they can ’ t get away with it .
However , they ’ ve restricted them to a point of absurdity .
I guess these three guys ( allegedly ) didn ’ t get the memo .
Three California men face federal gun trafficking charges after they allegedly bought or tried to buy 27 firearms in Utah in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Christopher Lopez , 22 ; and Bryan Rodriguez , 21 , were charged with travel within the United States with intent to deal firearms without a license , according to a complaint unsealed in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City .
According to the complaint , Rodriguez told federal agents that he bought the guns for Erick Lopez and Christopher Lopez and another unidentified man because they were unable to legally buy firearms in Utah .
Prior to each transaction at several stores , the three men gave Rodriguez instructions as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy and provided him with cash for each sale , the complaint says .
The three men are believed to be related to each other .
None of them had a valid federal firearms license to deal , transport or ship guns .
Despite this , they were allegedly attempting to buy and transport firearms into the most gun-controlled state in the nation .
Maybe it ’ s just me , but it looks like maybe those gun control laws aren ’ t stopping everything some folks want to believe they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this and argue that it ’ s evidence we need more gun control at the federal level , that if we had that , these guys and others like them wouldn ’ t be able to get guns .
However , that ignores the reality of criminals .
See , if they want guns , they ’ re going to get guns somehow , some way .
If they can ’ t get them this way , they ’ ll get them by stealing them from law-abiding gun owners .
If they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they ’ ll start looking overseas and buy them that way .
After all , how else do drugs make it into this country ?
If you ’ re saying you believe new laws would somehow stop the flow of guns to criminals , you ’ re showing yourself to be willfully ignorant about how often criminals obtain stuff they ’ re not legally allowed to have .
That includes drugs and yes , it includes guns .
You ’ re not going to stop criminals from getting firearms with more gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are charged with trying to circumvent the laws already in place .
They didn ’ t do anything legally , according to authorities .
Why would you believe still more gun laws would actually have some kind of an impact ?
The reason is , of course , that they don ’ t necessarily even care if it stops gun trafficking .
They just want to use it as an excuse to deny you and yours the ability to defend yourself , all so they can feel good about themselves .

California has some of the toughest gun control laws in the nation. They’re restrictive in almost any way you can be restrictive. The only reason they haven’t outright banned guns is that they know they can’t get away with it. However, they’ve restricted them to a point of absurdity.
Yet gun control proponents routinely argue that California’s gun control laws work.
I guess these three guys (allegedly) didn’t get the memo.
Three California men face federal gun trafficking charges after they allegedly bought or tried to buy 27 firearms in Utah in the past four months. Erick Lopez, 20; Christopher Lopez, 22; and Bryan Rodriguez, 21, were charged with travel within the United States with intent to deal firearms without a license, according to a complaint unsealed in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. … According to the complaint, Rodriguez told federal agents that he bought the guns for Erick Lopez and Christopher Lopez and another unidentified man because they were unable to legally buy firearms in Utah. Prior to each transaction at several stores, the three men gave Rodriguez instructions as to the quantity and type of guns to buy and provided him with cash for each sale, the complaint says. The three men are believed to be related to each other. None of them had a valid federal firearms license to deal, transport or ship guns.
Despite this, they were allegedly attempting to buy and transport firearms into the most gun-controlled state in the nation. Maybe it’s just me, but it looks like maybe those gun control laws aren’t stopping everything some folks want to believe they are.
Of course, some will look at this and argue that it’s evidence we need more gun control at the federal level, that if we had that, these guys and others like them wouldn’t be able to get guns.
However, that ignores the reality of criminals.
See, if they want guns, they’re going to get guns somehow, some way. If they can’t get them this way, they’ll get them by stealing them from law-abiding gun owners. If they can’t get them from that, they’ll start looking overseas and buy them that way.
After all, how else do drugs make it into this country?
If you’re saying you believe new laws would somehow stop the flow of guns to criminals, you’re showing yourself to be willfully ignorant about how often criminals obtain stuff they’re not legally allowed to have. That includes drugs and yes, it includes guns.
You’re not going to stop criminals from getting firearms with more gun laws. After all, these three are charged with trying to circumvent the laws already in place. They didn’t do anything legally, according to authorities. Why would you believe still more gun laws would actually have some kind of an impact?
The reason is, of course, that they don’t necessarily even care if it stops gun trafficking. They just want to use it as an excuse to deny you and yours the ability to defend yourself, all so they can feel good about themselves.


bearingarms--2020-11-30--AZ Student's Suicide Prompts Call For Waiting Periods

Suicide is something that many of us have a difficult time wrapping our heads around .
What could be so bad as to push someone , especially a college student , to take their own life .
As bad as life might be , is it really bad enough that killing yourself is the best option ?
No , it ’ s not .
It almost never is .
However , suicides also become part of the political landscape .
Especially when you talk about guns .
After all , guns are used in a number of suicides .
Further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suicide numbers in their claims about firearm-related fatalities .
Now , in Arizona , the suicide of a college student has many questioning the wisdom of allowing same-day gun sales .
I can ’ t even imagine what Sanov ’ s parents and friends are going through .
I just can ’ t .
However , the beliefs of grieving parents can not and should not be allowed to dictate the debate over one of our constitutionally-protected rights .
Yet that ’ s what the media is doing .
That ’ s why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
And it ’ s on the media for not pointing out the obvious truth that guns aren ’ t the problem .
Sanov was clearly disturbed .
He was in a psychiatric hospital–a stay that apparently didn ’ t do him very much good at all–and then less than two weeks after his discharge , he killed himself .
The problem was that Sanov has issues that weren ’ t being addressed , not by his family or by mental healthcare professionals .
Not after he was discharged , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have gotten the gun , he might still be alive , ” his parents and friends appear to be saying , and that ’ s true .
He might be .
Or , he might have used any of a thousand other methods to take his own life , many of which are almost as much of a sure thing as using a gun .
There ’ s no guarantee that such a law would save anyone ’ s life , much less Sanov ’ s .
Meanwhile , there are people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If someone ’ s life is being threatened , being able to buy a gun that day means a peace of mind they don ’ t get when they way three , five , seven , or however many days someone wants someone to wait before purchasing a firearm .
Those waiting periods aren ’ t making people safer .
In fact , those waiting periods are absolute torture for someone under some kind of threat .
For however many days , they have to hope and pray that the person threatening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat is empty and meaningless .
As such , they ’ re being victimized each and every day they ’ re denied their right to buy a firearm for their own self-defense .
Further , guns are used more often to defend human life than to take it .
That ’ s based on pretty much every estimate out there , even those by anti-gun groups who have a vested interest in understating the effective use of firearms .
Because of that , most people who buy a gun aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Treating everyone like they ’ re likely to kill themselves isn ’ t remotely sane .
Plus , if Sanov had a plan to kill himself with a gun , why would anyone believe he ’ d be stopped by a waiting period ?
All it would do is delay the act .
It wouldn ’ t necessarily stop it .
Finally , let ’ s also remember that the Second Amendment is a right .
A right delayed is a right denied , after all .
Telling people they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like telling people they have to wait to put in notice on a job or wait to buy a computer or wait to speak out against the government .
None of that makes any sense , so why is it acceptable to make people wait to buy a gun ?
Then again , the Second Amendment is a second-class right these days , at least in the minds of many .

Suicide is something that many of us have a difficult time wrapping our heads around. What could be so bad as to push someone, especially a college student, to take their own life. As bad as life might be, is it really bad enough that killing yourself is the best option?
No, it’s not. It almost never is.
However, suicides also become part of the political landscape. Especially when you talk about guns. After all, guns are used in a number of suicides. Further, gun control advocates like to use suicide numbers in their claims about firearm-related fatalities.
Now, in Arizona, the suicide of a college student has many questioning the wisdom of allowing same-day gun sales.
At a rest stop on a highway north of Tucson, Alex Sanov made his loved ones members of a club no one wants to join. Nine days after he was released from a psychiatric hospital — a stay that had seemed to do him a world of good – the 21-year-old University of Arizona student walked into a midtown gun store and walked out with the firearm he would use to kill himself. Stopping at his nearby apartment on Oct. 3, he left the receipt for his $260 purchase on the kitchen table, then took his final drive. An hour later, his short life was over. Parents and friends believe Sanov, a 2017 graduate of Catalina Foothills High School, might have been saved were it not for an Arizona gun law that permits the same-day purchase of firearms.
I can’t even imagine what Sanov’s parents and friends are going through. I just can’t.
However, the beliefs of grieving parents cannot and should not be allowed to dictate the debate over one of our constitutionally-protected rights. Yet that’s what the media is doing. That’s why this news story exists in the first place.
And it’s on the media for not pointing out the obvious truth that guns aren’t the problem.
Sanov was clearly disturbed. He was in a psychiatric hospital–a stay that apparently didn’t do him very much good at all–and then less than two weeks after his discharge, he killed himself. The problem was that Sanov has issues that weren’t being addressed, not by his family or by mental healthcare professionals. Not after he was discharged, at least.
“But if he couldn’t have gotten the gun, he might still be alive,” his parents and friends appear to be saying, and that’s true. He might be.
Or, he might have used any of a thousand other methods to take his own life, many of which are almost as much of a sure thing as using a gun. There’s no guarantee that such a law would save anyone’s life, much less Sanov’s.
Meanwhile, there are people who desperately need those same-day gun sales. If someone’s life is being threatened, being able to buy a gun that day means a peace of mind they don’t get when they way three, five, seven, or however many days someone wants someone to wait before purchasing a firearm. Those waiting periods aren’t making people safer.
In fact, those waiting periods are absolute torture for someone under some kind of threat. For however many days, they have to hope and pray that the person threatening them won’t come, that the threat is empty and meaningless. As such, they’re being victimized each and every day they’re denied their right to buy a firearm for their own self-defense.
Further, guns are used more often to defend human life than to take it. That’s based on pretty much every estimate out there, even those by anti-gun groups who have a vested interest in understating the effective use of firearms.
Because of that, most people who buy a gun aren’t going to claim their own life with it. Treating everyone like they’re likely to kill themselves isn’t remotely sane.
Plus, if Sanov had a plan to kill himself with a gun, why would anyone believe he’d be stopped by a waiting period? All it would do is delay the act. It wouldn’t necessarily stop it.
Finally, let’s also remember that the Second Amendment is a right. A right delayed is a right denied, after all. Telling people they have to wait to buy a gun is like telling people they have to wait to put in notice on a job or wait to buy a computer or wait to speak out against the government. None of that makes any sense, so why is it acceptable to make people wait to buy a gun?
Then again, the Second Amendment is a second-class right these days, at least in the minds of many.


bearingarms--2020-11-30--ATF Pistol Brace Shenanigans A Sign Of Things To Come?

It ’ s looking increasingly likely that the ATF is going to be a weaponized tool of gun control activists in an upcoming Biden administration .
On today ’ s Bearing Arms ’ Cam & Co , Alex Bosco , the head of SB Tactical , joins Cam for an update on the continued push by ATF officials to go after pistol braces , the companies that make them , and the millions of legally-purchased firearms that come equipped with the accessory .
The latest twist in the saga of the SB Tactical pistol braces came last week when a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company was revealed as part of a FOIA request of the agency .
That letter claimed that SB Tactical was advertising pistol braces as “ approved by the ATF ” as part of their marketing materials , and also alleged that the company had only received approval for two of the nearly two dozen products available for sale .
As The Truth About Guns reported , however , the ATF letter was awfully short on facts .
That ’ s an important distinction , because as Bosco tells me on today ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real need for a company like SB Tactical to submit every one of its products for ATF approval .
In fact , Bosco says that in meetings with the ATF , company officials were specifically told by agency officials that as long as the models were using the same technology as the braces that had already been approved ( which Bosco describes as two rubber flaps and a strap securing the pistol brace to the user ’ s forearm ) that they didn ’ t need to submit every model for review .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s exactly what SB Tactical did , only to have their submissions disappear into a bureaucratic black hole .
More than two years later , the company is still waiting to receive a single determination letter from the ATF regarding the pistol braces that they submitted for review .
Bosco tells me that , as far as he can tell , the agency is basically trying to stall any decisions until the next administration takes power .
Once that happens , it ’ s quite possible that the ATF will move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that use stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles or “ any other weapon , ” which require registration and a $ 200 tax stamp under the National Firearms Act .
Possession of an unregistered NFA item can be punishable by up to a decade in prison along with a hefty fine , and the founder of SB Tactical estimates that there are at least 4-million firearms currently in the hands of legal gun owners that could fall into those categories if the ATF decides to launch a gun pan using administrative action .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s willing to go to court to fight the “ arbitrary and capricious ” determinations by ATF officials , but he ’ s also encouraging gun owners to contact their representatives , senators , and the Trump administration to urge them to rein in abuses by the agency .
Be sure to check out the entire conversation with SB Tactical ’ s Alex Bosco in the video window above for even more details about the current situation and where things are likely to go from here .

It’s looking increasingly likely that the ATF is going to be a weaponized tool of gun control activists in an upcoming Biden administration. On today’s Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co, Alex Bosco, the head of SB Tactical, joins Cam for an update on the continued push by ATF officials to go after pistol braces, the companies that make them, and the millions of legally-purchased firearms that come equipped with the accessory.
The latest twist in the saga of the SB Tactical pistol braces came last week when a 2018 letter sent by the ATF to the company was revealed as part of a FOIA request of the agency. That letter claimed that SB Tactical was advertising pistol braces as “approved by the ATF” as part of their marketing materials, and also alleged that the company had only received approval for two of the nearly two dozen products available for sale.
As The Truth About Guns reported, however, the ATF letter was awfully short on facts.
First, regarding SB Tactical’s marketing of “non-approved” braces, the ATF’s 2018 letter includes images of the language SB Tactical used at the time. The language used did not, as the ATF asserts, say that the braces in question were sold as “evaluated and approved” by the ATF. SB Tactical’s marketing materials describe the braces as “ATF Compliant.”
That’s an important distinction, because as Bosco tells me on today’s show, there’s no real need for a company like SB Tactical to submit every one of its products for ATF approval. In fact, Bosco says that in meetings with the ATF, company officials were specifically told by agency officials that as long as the models were using the same technology as the braces that had already been approved (which Bosco describes as two rubber flaps and a strap securing the pistol brace to the user’s forearm) that they didn’t need to submit every model for review.
After the 2018 letter, however, that’s exactly what SB Tactical did, only to have their submissions disappear into a bureaucratic black hole. More than two years later, the company is still waiting to receive a single determination letter from the ATF regarding the pistol braces that they submitted for review.
Bosco tells me that, as far as he can tell, the agency is basically trying to stall any decisions until the next administration takes power. Once that happens, it’s quite possible that the ATF will move to redefine any and all AR-style pistols that use stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles or “any other weapon,” which require registration and a $200 tax stamp under the National Firearms Act. Possession of an unregistered NFA item can be punishable by up to a decade in prison along with a hefty fine, and the founder of SB Tactical estimates that there are at least 4-million firearms currently in the hands of legal gun owners that could fall into those categories if the ATF decides to launch a gun pan using administrative action.
If that does happen, Bosco says he’s willing to go to court to fight the “arbitrary and capricious” determinations by ATF officials, but he’s also encouraging gun owners to contact their representatives, senators, and the Trump administration to urge them to rein in abuses by the agency. Be sure to check out the entire conversation with SB Tactical’s Alex Bosco in the video window above for even more details about the current situation and where things are likely to go from here.


bearingarms--2020-11-30--Black Friday Gun Sales Fourth-Highest One-Day Total In NICS History

The Great Gun Run of 2020 continued on Black Friday , as the FBI ’ s National Instant Check System reported 186,645 checks over the course of the day .
It ’ s the fourth-highest one-day total in the 21-year history of the NICS system , though the volume of checks was down about 8 % compared to the day after Thanksgiving in 2019 .
Black Friday traditionally has been one of the busiest for FBI analysts , but this has already been a shattering year in which the FBI has posted 32.1 million checks so far as the deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that Biden ’ s election would threaten gun rights .
Six times this year , the monthly check numbers surpassed 3 million , while the June number fell just short of 4 million .
There are a couple of factors that may have led to slightly smaller numbers for 2020 compared to last year .
First , retail sales overall were dramatically lower this year as many consumers avoided crowded stores in favor of shopping online .
According to Sensormatic Solutions , a retail tracker , in-person sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Black Friday sales , but online sales topped $ 9-billion last Friday , which was a 22 % increase over online traffic in 2019 .
Less foot traffic in retail locations , including big box retailers like Cabela ’ s and Bass Pro Shops , was likely a contributing factor to the decline in background checks last Friday .
While it is possible to purchase a firearm online , the gun will be sent to an FFL and the buyer will go through a background check before they can take physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words , online gun sales from Black Friday won ’ t show up in that day ’ s NICS numbers , because those background checks have yet to be performed .
Instead , they ’ ll likely take place over the next couple of weeks as gun stores receive the guns ordered online and prepare to hand them over to customers .
Another contributing factor for the slight dip in background checks compared to Black Friday in 2019 is the fact that inventory at most gun stores is way down compared to what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you could walk into most any gun store and have a wide selection of firearms to choose from .
There ’ s simply not much in stock at the moment , and guns are being sold just as quickly as they get to a retailer in many cases .
Ultimately , sales of firearms on Black Friday were still incredibly strong , and the appetite for gun ownership among Americans continues unabated .
I expect that we ’ ll continue to see a high volume of sales throughout December , and depending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections in Georgia that will determine control of the U.S. Senate , we could even see another surge in the New Year .

The Great Gun Run of 2020 continued on Black Friday, as the FBI’s National Instant Check System reported 186,645 checks over the course of the day. It’s the fourth-highest one-day total in the 21-year history of the NICS system, though the volume of checks was down about 8% compared to the day after Thanksgiving in 2019.
Black Friday traditionally has been one of the busiest for FBI analysts, but this has already been a shattering year in which the FBI has posted 32.1 million checks so far as the deadly virus has fueled public fear and President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that Biden’s election would threaten gun rights. Six times this year, the monthly check numbers surpassed 3 million, while the June number fell just short of 4 million.
There are a couple of factors that may have led to slightly smaller numbers for 2020 compared to last year. First, retail sales overall were dramatically lower this year as many consumers avoided crowded stores in favor of shopping online. According to Sensormatic Solutions, a retail tracker, in-person sales were down 52% compared to 2019’s Black Friday sales, but online sales topped $9-billion last Friday, which was a 22% increase over online traffic in 2019. Less foot traffic in retail locations, including big box retailers like Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops, was likely a contributing factor to the decline in background checks last Friday.
While it is possible to purchase a firearm online, the gun will be sent to an FFL and the buyer will go through a background check before they can take physical possession of their purchase. In other words, online gun sales from Black Friday won’t show up in that day’s NICS numbers, because those background checks have yet to be performed. Instead, they’ll likely take place over the next couple of weeks as gun stores receive the guns ordered online and prepare to hand them over to customers.
Another contributing factor for the slight dip in background checks compared to Black Friday in 2019 is the fact that inventory at most gun stores is way down compared to what it looked like a year ago, when you could walk into most any gun store and have a wide selection of firearms to choose from. There’s simply not much in stock at the moment, and guns are being sold just as quickly as they get to a retailer in many cases.
Ultimately, sales of firearms on Black Friday were still incredibly strong, and the appetite for gun ownership among Americans continues unabated. I expect that we’ll continue to see a high volume of sales throughout December, and depending on the outcome of the January runoff elections in Georgia that will determine control of the U.S. Senate, we could even see another surge in the New Year.


bearingarms--2020-11-30--Gun Rights Groups Seek To Capitalize On Barrett Confirmation

Amy Coney Barrett has already made a difference on the Supreme Court , but there ’ s still a lot more to do .
The newest justice on the Court takes her seat on the bench a lot of hope for many on the right , but especially gun rights groups .
After all , it ’ s been more than a decade since the Heller and McDonald decisions remade court precedents for Second Amendment cases .
In that time , many lower courts have opted to completely ignore Heller , figuring they know better .
Meanwhile , the Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment-related case since then , and then they opted not to issue a ruling in that one .
In other words , the supposedly friendly Supreme Court wasn ’ t all that gun-friendly .
With Barrett on the bench , though , expectations are high that things will change , and gun rights groups are jumping at the opportunity .
Pro-gun groups have flooded the federal courts with challenges to various firearms restrictions , expecting the cases will work their way up to the newly constituted 6-3 conservative Supreme Court .
The high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major gun cases in recent years , but activists are banking that the recent addition of Justice Amy Coney Barrett will help force the court under Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to weigh in sooner or later .
Alan Gottlieb , the founder of the Second Amendment Foundation , said his group immediately started lining up plaintiffs and crafting a flow chart of cases they wanted to file after President Trump nominated Justice Barrett to fill the vacancy left by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
“ Having her on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six pro-gun votes and while Roberts has obviously been reluctant to hear a case , now I don ’ t think he has much of a choice , ” Mr. Gottlieb said .
“ I think the court ’ s going to hear a case.
” Mr. Gottlieb ’ s group teamed up with Firearms Policy Coalition and other pro-gun groups to challenge laws in states such as Maryland , California , New Jersey , Louisiana and New York .
All the suits were launched after Justice Barrett ’ s nomination in October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s requirements that concealed-carry permit holders demonstrate evidence of recent threats or assaults to obtain a permit .
He said the groups are trying to get as many cases as possible filed before Inauguration Day so they can then turn their focus to combating potential gun-related executive orders from presumed President-elect Joseph R. Biden .
Now , will all these cases make it before the Supreme Court ?
Probably not .
Some won ’ t be issues the Court will want to tackle no matter what .
Others , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has long been believed to be the stumbling block for many Second Amendment cases in recent years .
While ostensibly one of the conservative justices on the Court , Roberts has apparently figured SCOTUS has done enough for the Second Amendment .
Either that or he ’ s had a change of heart about gun rights .
Regardless , with Barrett on the bench , Roberts may not be able to stop the Court from taking on additional Second Amendment cases , thus forcing the Heller decision to be acknowledged by the lower @ @

Amy Coney Barrett has already made a difference on the Supreme Court, but there’s still a lot more to do. The newest justice on the Court takes her seat on the bench a lot of hope for many on the right, but especially gun rights groups.
After all, it’s been more than a decade since the Heller and McDonald decisions remade court precedents for Second Amendment cases. In that time, many lower courts have opted to completely ignore Heller, figuring they know better. Meanwhile, the Court has only agreed to hear one Second Amendment-related case since then, and then they opted not to issue a ruling in that one.
In other words, the supposedly friendly Supreme Court wasn’t all that gun-friendly.
With Barrett on the bench, though, expectations are high that things will change, and gun rights groups are jumping at the opportunity.
Pro-gun groups have flooded the federal courts with challenges to various firearms restrictions, expecting the cases will work their way up to the newly constituted 6-3 conservative Supreme Court. The high court generally has declined to take up major gun cases in recent years, but activists are banking that the recent addition of Justice Amy Coney Barrett will help force the court under Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to weigh in sooner or later. Alan Gottlieb, the founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, said his group immediately started lining up plaintiffs and crafting a flow chart of cases they wanted to file after President Trump nominated Justice Barrett to fill the vacancy left by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “Having her on the court, we think we really have six pro-gun votes and while Roberts has obviously been reluctant to hear a case, now I don’t think he has much of a choice,” Mr. Gottlieb said. “I think the court’s going to hear a case.” Mr. Gottlieb’s group teamed up with Firearms Policy Coalition and other pro-gun groups to challenge laws in states such as Maryland, California, New Jersey, Louisiana and New York. All the suits were launched after Justice Barrett’s nomination in October. In Maryland, they are challenging the state’s requirements that concealed-carry permit holders demonstrate evidence of recent threats or assaults to obtain a permit. He said the groups are trying to get as many cases as possible filed before Inauguration Day so they can then turn their focus to combating potential gun-related executive orders from presumed President-elect Joseph R. Biden.
Honestly, that’s a sound strategy in my mind.
Now, will all these cases make it before the Supreme Court? Probably not. Some won’t be issues the Court will want to tackle no matter what. Others, however, will.
Chief Justice John Roberts has long been believed to be the stumbling block for many Second Amendment cases in recent years. While ostensibly one of the conservative justices on the Court, Roberts has apparently figured SCOTUS has done enough for the Second Amendment. Either that or he’s had a change of heart about gun rights.
Regardless, with Barrett on the bench, Roberts may not be able to stop the Court from taking on additional Second Amendment cases, thus forcing the Heller decision to be acknowledged by the lower courts.
Lord knows, it’s about damn time.


bearingarms--2020-11-30--Cyber Monday Stocking Stuffers For 2A Fans

Looking for some affordable gifts or stocking stuffers for the gun owners in your life ?
We ’ ve got you covered with some great gift ideas that won ’ t break the bank this holiday season , from hunting accessories to gun cleaning tools to some fun and unique gadgets that are perfect for fans of the Second Amendment , personal preparedness , hunting , and more .
Tipton Pistol and Revolver Snap Caps – Every gun owner should have a set of snap caps , which come in a variety of calibers and allow users to practice dry-firing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun itself .
While a set of snap caps can be found for around $ 15 , if you ’ re willing to shell out $ 100 for an upgrade , you can also pick up a LaserLyte laser trainer with a built-in snap cap that will allow you to get the most out of your dry-fire exercises by seeing exactly where your shot would have hit .
With ammunition hard to come by these days , this is a great way to be able to regularly train with your gun without burning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to easily replace .
Primos 372 The Third Degree Xtra Loud Cottontail Predator Call by Randy Anderson – You can spend a fortune on electronic game calls , but this old school coyote lure can bring in predators for less than $ 20 by simulating the sound of a cottontail rabbit in distress .
In most states , you can hunt coyotes year-round with a hunting license , and you may even find local land owners who are happy to let you hunt on their property for predators that can wreak havoc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Speedloader – If you ’ ve ever struggled with getting those last couple of rounds in your pistol magazine , a speedloader is an absolute must-have .
This is a great little tool that makes loading magazines a breeze , and MakerShot offers speedloaders in a variety of calibers and magazine sizes , so make sure that you pick the right speedloader from the options available .
American Standard – Bullet Poster – The perfect decoration for a gun room , man cave , or the wall above your reloading bench .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all major modern rifle , shotgun , and handgun calibers and is both visually appealing as well as incredibly helpful .
You can also pair the bullet poster with this print of a visual history of firearms for even more Second Amendment goodness .
No Step On Snek Hoodie – Some memes have a shelf life of just a few hours , while others are eternal .
This take off on the Gadsden “ Don ’ t Tread On Me ” flag never fails to make me smile , and I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas list this year .
In sizes up to 2XL .
Real Avid The Pistol Tool – 19-in-1 Pistol Multitool – A handy little multitool for handgun owners , this pocket-sized multitool features Allen wrenches , gunsmithing bits , a bushing wrench , pin punch , scraper , metal file , and even a 3″ blade .
Throw this in your range bag or keep it on hand and you ’ ll be equipped to deal with almost any issue that might come up with your everyday carry gun or any of your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – Not exactly Second Amendment-specific , but still a great stocking stuffer for hunters , hikers , and those who love the outdoors .
The LifeStraw personal water filter can filter up to 1,000 gallons of contaminated water without using chemicals or any moving parts , and according to the manufacturer removes 99.9999 % of waterborne bacteria and 99.9 % of waterborne protozoan parasites .
I bought one for each of my kids a few years ago , and they ’ re still in regular use on hiking and camping trips .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that it doesn ’ t allow you to take water with you , but if you ’ re willing to spend a little more you can solve that problem with the LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottles , a 22 oz water bottle with a Lifestraw water filter built in .
We ’ ll be featuring more gift ideas in the coming days , but hopefully there are at least a few items on this list that will help you find the perfect stocking stuffer for your gun owning friends and family members @ @ @ @

Looking for some affordable gifts or stocking stuffers for the gun owners in your life? We’ve got you covered with some great gift ideas that won’t break the bank this holiday season, from hunting accessories to gun cleaning tools to some fun and unique gadgets that are perfect for fans of the Second Amendment, personal preparedness, hunting, and more.
Tipton Pistol and Revolver Snap Caps – Every gun owner should have a set of snap caps, which come in a variety of calibers and allow users to practice dry-firing their handgun without doing damage to the gun itself. While a set of snap caps can be found for around $15, if you’re willing to shell out $100 for an upgrade, you can also pick up a LaserLyte laser trainer with a built-in snap cap that will allow you to get the most out of your dry-fire exercises by seeing exactly where your shot would have hit. With ammunition hard to come by these days, this is a great way to be able to regularly train with your gun without burning through ammo that you might not be able to easily replace.
Primos 372 The Third Degree Xtra Loud Cottontail Predator Call by Randy Anderson – You can spend a fortune on electronic game calls, but this old school coyote lure can bring in predators for less than $20 by simulating the sound of a cottontail rabbit in distress. In most states, you can hunt coyotes year-round with a hunting license, and you may even find local land owners who are happy to let you hunt on their property for predators that can wreak havoc on their livestock.
MakerShot Custom Magazine Speedloader – If you’ve ever struggled with getting those last couple of rounds in your pistol magazine, a speedloader is an absolute must-have. This is a great little tool that makes loading magazines a breeze, and MakerShot offers speedloaders in a variety of calibers and magazine sizes, so make sure that you pick the right speedloader from the options available.
American Standard – Bullet Poster – The perfect decoration for a gun room, man cave, or the wall above your reloading bench. The 36 x 24 poster features life-size comparisons of all major modern rifle, shotgun, and handgun calibers and is both visually appealing as well as incredibly helpful. You can also pair the bullet poster with this print of a visual history of firearms for even more Second Amendment goodness.
No Step On Snek Hoodie – Some memes have a shelf life of just a few hours, while others are eternal. This take off on the Gadsden “Don’t Tread On Me” flag never fails to make me smile, and I’ve actually got this on my own Christmas list this year. In sizes up to 2XL.
Real Avid The Pistol Tool – 19-in-1 Pistol Multitool – A handy little multitool for handgun owners, this pocket-sized multitool features Allen wrenches, gunsmithing bits, a bushing wrench, pin punch, scraper, metal file, and even a 3″ blade. Throw this in your range bag or keep it on hand and you’ll be equipped to deal with almost any issue that might come up with your everyday carry gun or any of your other pistols.
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter – Not exactly Second Amendment-specific, but still a great stocking stuffer for hunters, hikers, and those who love the outdoors. The LifeStraw personal water filter can filter up to 1,000 gallons of contaminated water without using chemicals or any moving parts, and according to the manufacturer removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria and 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites. I bought one for each of my kids a few years ago, and they’re still in regular use on hiking and camping trips.
The one drawback to the personal water filter is that it doesn’t allow you to take water with you, but if you’re willing to spend a little more you can solve that problem with the LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottles, a 22 oz water bottle with a Lifestraw water filter built in.
We’ll be featuring more gift ideas in the coming days, but hopefully there are at least a few items on this list that will help you find the perfect stocking stuffer for your gun owning friends and family members this holiday season.
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bearingarms--2020-11-30--Iran Says Nuclear Scientist Was Killed With Remote-Controlled Gun

Iran ’ s top nuclear scientist was assassinated on Friday , gunned down as he and his wife were headed to a resort town not far from the country ’ s capital of Tehran , and a top Iranian security official claims that the scientist ’ s killing was conducted by Israel using a remote-controlled machine gun hidden in a nearby car .
The semi-official news agency Fars was the first to report the alleged details of the attack , and on Monday Ali Shamkhani , secretary of the Supreme National Security Council , repeated the allegation at the funeral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off when the lead car in Fakhrizadeh ’ s security detail traveled ahead to inspect his destination , the report said .
At that point , a number of bullets were fired at Fakhrizadeh ’ s armored car , prompting him to exit the vehicle as he was apparently unaware that he was under attack , thinking that the sound was caused by an accident or some problem with the car , according to Fars news .
The outlet did not specify if those shots were fired from the remote-controlled machine gun or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exited the vehicle , the remote-controlled machine gun opened fire from roughly 150 meters ( 500 feet ) away , striking him three times , twice in the side and once in his back , severing his spinal cord .
Fakhrizadeh ’ s bodyguard was also hit by the gunfire .
The attacking car , a Nissan , then exploded , the report said .
Fakhrizadeh was evacuated to a nearby hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
His wife survived the attack , according to Iranian media .
A couple of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the original accoutns of Fakhrizadeh ’ s assassination didn ’ t mention anything about remote-controlled machine guns , but instead detailed an explosion happening first , with snipers opening fire on the scientist and his security team as they got out of their car to investigate the damage .
The Times of Israel also says that several defense analysts doubt the Fars version of the story , pointing to photographs of the bullet-riddled armor car , which they say “ better fits the initial descriptions of armed , trained operatives conducting the raid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun .
The technology certainly exists to control weaponry remotely , though whoever was responsible for the attack would still have needed human resources on the ground to assemble the machine gun , mount it in a vehicle , and ensure that there was enough ammunition loaded for a successful attack .
Human assets would also likely have been on the ground as a backup in case the remote-controlled machine gun jammed or didn ’ t respond to commands , which further calls into question Iran ’ s version of events .
Regardless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the death of the scientist in charge of Iran ’ s nuclear program is a blow to the country ’ s efforts to develop atomic weapons , and comes on the heels of several other successful efforts to sabotage the nuclear program .
Israel — long suspected of killing Iranian nuclear scientists over the last 10 years — has declined to comment on the attack on Fakhrizadeh , who founded Iran ’ s military nuclear program in the 2000s .
He headed Iran ’ s so-called AMAD program , which Israel and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation looking at the feasibility of building a nuclear weapon .
Meanwhile , Iran ’ s Press TV reported Monday that the weapon used in the assassination Friday was made in Israel , according to Reuters .
“ The weapons collected from the site of the terrorist act ( where Fakhrizadeh was assassinated ) bear the logo and specifications of the Israeli military industry , ” an unnamed source told the English-language news outlet .
Israeli officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Reuters .
While Israeli officials are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation is preparing for possible retaliation , placing embassies on high alert and the Israeli Defense Forces issuing a statement saying that the military is maintaining “ full preparedness against any expression of violence against us .
”

Iran’s top nuclear scientist was assassinated on Friday, gunned down as he and his wife were headed to a resort town not far from the country’s capital of Tehran, and a top Iranian security official claims that the scientist’s killing was conducted by Israel using a remote-controlled machine gun hidden in a nearby car.
The semi-official news agency Fars was the first to report the alleged details of the attack, and on Monday Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, repeated the allegation at the funeral for Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
The operation kicked off when the lead car in Fakhrizadeh’s security detail traveled ahead to inspect his destination, the report said. At that point, a number of bullets were fired at Fakhrizadeh’s armored car, prompting him to exit the vehicle as he was apparently unaware that he was under attack, thinking that the sound was caused by an accident or some problem with the car, according to Fars news. The outlet did not specify if those shots were fired from the remote-controlled machine gun or from a different source. Once Fakhrizadeh exited the vehicle, the remote-controlled machine gun opened fire from roughly 150 meters (500 feet) away, striking him three times, twice in the side and once in his back, severing his spinal cord. Fakhrizadeh’s bodyguard was also hit by the gunfire. The attacking car, a Nissan, then exploded, the report said. Fakhrizadeh was evacuated to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His wife survived the attack, according to Iranian media.
A couple of caveats worth noting here. First, the original accoutns of Fakhrizadeh’s assassination didn’t mention anything about remote-controlled machine guns, but instead detailed an explosion happening first, with snipers opening fire on the scientist and his security team as they got out of their car to investigate the damage. The Times of Israel also says that several defense analysts doubt the Fars version of the story, pointing to photographs of the bullet-riddled armor car ,which they say “better fits the initial descriptions of armed, trained operatives conducting the raid” as opposed to a satellite-operated machine gun.
The technology certainly exists to control weaponry remotely, though whoever was responsible for the attack would still have needed human resources on the ground to assemble the machine gun, mount it in a vehicle, and ensure that there was enough ammunition loaded for a successful attack. Human assets would also likely have been on the ground as a backup in case the remote-controlled machine gun jammed or didn’t respond to commands, which further calls into question Iran’s version of events.
Regardless of how the assassination was pulled off, the death of the scientist in charge of Iran’s nuclear program is a blow to the country’s efforts to develop atomic weapons, and comes on the heels of several other successful efforts to sabotage the nuclear program.
Israel — long suspected of killing Iranian nuclear scientists over the last 10 years — has declined to comment on the attack on Fakhrizadeh, who founded Iran’s military nuclear program in the 2000s. He headed Iran’s so-called AMAD program, which Israel and the West have claimed was a military operation looking at the feasibility of building a nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, Iran’s Press TV reported Monday that the weapon used in the assassination Friday was made in Israel, according to Reuters. “The weapons collected from the site of the terrorist act (where Fakhrizadeh was assassinated) bear the logo and specifications of the Israeli military industry,” an unnamed source told the English-language news outlet. Israeli officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Reuters.
While Israeli officials are keeping quiet about the attack, the nation is preparing for possible retaliation, placing embassies on high alert and the Israeli Defense Forces issuing a statement saying that the military is maintaining “full preparedness against any expression of violence against us.”


bearingarms--2020-11-30--NYC Trauma Doc Laments Lack Of New Gun Control Laws

The media seems to love them some anti-gun trauma doctors .
It seems they never miss an opportunity to quote one of them when the subject of gun violence pops up .
In fairness , they have some expertise on the subject .
For example , they see quite well what a bullet can do to the human body , and that expertise has relevance in a number of instances .
The problem is that so many take this particular expertise and believe that it gives them expertise on firearms as a whole .
In particular , the media and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trauma doctor in New York City , for an example .
In other words , Simon wants people to put their political desires or motives aside and adopt his political motives and desires .
I mean , that ’ s all he really said there .
What he fails to note because it falls outside of his expertise is precisely how those shooters got those guns .
New York City is damn near a firearm desert .
It ’ s more difficult to get and carry a firearm there than anywhere else in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all about how shootings are soaring this year .
There ’ s been no real liberalization of gun laws in the city , so if gun control worked so well , why all the bloodshed ?
We can all agree that the increase in violence this year is troubling .
Especially since so many places saw violent crime drop to virtually nothing during the lockdown .
The fact that violent crime is skyrocketing over last year means that it ’ s actually worse than we can really see just looking at the year-to-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t have a lockdown .
But do you know who doesn ’ t have the answers to the problems ?
Trauma surgeons .
Now , don ’ t get me wrong .
There are those who have studied beyond what they see at work , to be sure .
No group is truly monolithic , after all , but those who have real expertise on the subject aren ’ t experts because they ’ re trauma surgeons .
They ’ re experts because they put in the work beyond their professional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falls apart is that they ’ re only shown a very narrow window of the role guns can play .
They see the very worst , but guns are also used to prevent countless crimes .
They ’ re used to protect human life , even when they ’ re not fired .
While Dr. Simon can lament the gunshot wounds he ’ s seen on his operating table , he rarely knows the full story .
How many of those wounded , the ones that bother him so much that he thinks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and beliefs so we can appease the almighty trauma surgeon , how many of them were shot by a law-abiding citizen defending their own life ?
How many were criminals shot by other criminals ?
Unless Simon can answer those questions , his experiences are irrelevant to the discussion and the media would do well to stop promoting those ideas .
Trauma surgeons such as Dr. Simon have a lot to offer any discussion , but only with regard to their actual expertise .
And Dr. Simon would do well to realize that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the rest of us put aside our beliefs that gun control will fail just as it has time and time again just so he can feel better about himself .

The media seems to love them some anti-gun trauma doctors. It seems they never miss an opportunity to quote one of them when the subject of gun violence pops up.
In fairness, they have some expertise on the subject. For example, they see quite well what a bullet can do to the human body, and that expertise has relevance in a number of instances.
The problem is that so many take this particular expertise and believe that it gives them expertise on firearms as a whole. In particular, the media and trauma doctors believe it. Take this trauma doctor in New York City, for an example.
As he watches the surge in gunshot victims across New York City, veteran trauma surgeon Dr. Ronald Simon is baffled by politicians’ inability to stem the bloodshed. “It’s mind boggling to me that we can’t get our act together to start taking steps to prevent this kind of gun violence,” said Simon, Director of Trauma Surgery at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn. The Daily News reported Monday that hospital transports for gunshot victims have doubled so far in 2020 compared to 2019 — leaving a bloody harvest at trauma room doors citywide. … “I just hope that eventually, sooner rather than later, people could put their political desires or motives aside and all get together and create laws or programs that will enable us to reduce the availability of guns and prevent people from getting them that shouldn’t have them so that there are no innocent bystanders,” Simon said.
In other words, Simon wants people to put their political desires or motives aside and adopt his political motives and desires.
I mean, that’s all he really said there. What he fails to note because it falls outside of his expertise is precisely how those shooters got those guns. New York City is damn near a firearm desert. It’s more difficult to get and carry a firearm there than anywhere else in the city, yet this article is all about how shootings are soaring this year. There’s been no real liberalization of gun laws in the city, so if gun control worked so well, why all the bloodshed?
We can all agree that the increase in violence this year is troubling. Especially since so many places saw violent crime drop to virtually nothing during the lockdown. The fact that violent crime is skyrocketing over last year means that it’s actually worse than we can really see just looking at the year-to-year statistics. After all, last year didn’t have a lockdown.
But do you know who doesn’t have the answers to the problems? Trauma surgeons. Now, don’t get me wrong. There are those who have studied beyond what they see at work, to be sure. No group is truly monolithic, after all, but those who have real expertise on the subject aren’t experts because they’re trauma surgeons. They’re experts because they put in the work beyond their professional requirements.
See, where their expertise falls apart is that they’re only shown a very narrow window of the role guns can play. They see the very worst, but guns are also used to prevent countless crimes. They’re used to protect human life, even when they’re not fired.
While Dr. Simon can lament the gunshot wounds he’s seen on his operating table, he rarely knows the full story. How many of those wounded, the ones that bother him so much that he thinks we should all set aside our principles and beliefs so we can appease the almighty trauma surgeon, how many of them were shot by a law-abiding citizen defending their own life? How many were criminals shot by other criminals?
Unless Simon can answer those questions, his experiences are irrelevant to the discussion and the media would do well to stop promoting those ideas. Trauma surgeons such as Dr. Simon have a lot to offer any discussion, but only with regard to their actual expertise.
And Dr. Simon would do well to realize that what he’s really demanding is that the rest of us put aside our beliefs that gun control will fail just as it has time and time again just so he can feel better about himself.
Sorry, hard pass.
Hat tip: The Truth About Guns


bearingarms--2020-11-30--Disabled Man Fends Off Home Invader After Police Fail To Respond

As gun owners , we ’ re well aware of the adage that “ when seconds count , police are only minutes away.
” Bill Norkunas , a 70-year old resident of Broward County , Florida , can tell you firsthand just how accurate that statement is , because he was forced to fend off a home intruder for more than fifteen minutes earlier this month while sheriff ’ s deputies waited at the end of his street .
Norkunas , who had polio as a child and has suffered lifelong disabilities ever since , had just gotten out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7th when he saw a shadowy form outside of his bathroom window .
He turned on an outside light hoping to scare the stranger away , but instead the man was drawn like a moth to a flame to the front door of Norkunas ’ home .
Norkunas grabbed his gun and his phone and called 911 while he warned the stranger that he would shoot if necessary .
Despite repeated calls by neighbors and Norkunas himself , however , sheriffs deputies got no closer than 500 yards to Norkunas , and now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t answering any questions about why deputies didn ’ t respond , issuing a statement to the Sun-Sentinel newspaper filled with boilerplate language about an ongoing investigation and promises that the office is constantly reviewing and assessing “ its responses to emergency calls in order to provide the highest level of service to the public.
” Even after Norkunas ’ glass door was shattered deputies failed to respond .
In fact , the suspect , 23-year old Timothy Johnson , eventually wandered away from Norkunas ’ home and began trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Norkunas ’ neighbor Julio Fuentes watched and followed from a distance while on the phone with dispatchers .
Evenually Johnson wandered close enough to where deputies had gathered several hundred yards away and was taken into custody , but the incident has left Norkunas and his neighbors shaken .
Norkunas says that almost every neighbor he ’ s spoken to says they now want a gun of their own in case something like this happens again .
The response , or lack thereof , on the part of Broward County deputies brings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shootings at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018 , when deputies waited outside the school rather than rush into the building to confront the shooter .
The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that law enforcement have no obligation to protect you as an individual , so Norkunas and his neighbors have no legal recourse against the sheriff ’ s department for refusing to respond to the multiple 911 calls .
Norkunas says the sheriff ’ s office offered him $ 500 from the county ’ s victim services fund , which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already been released from custody on $ 14,100 bail .
I hope for his sake that he stays far away from Norkunas ’ neighborhood , because I have a feeling that the residents aren ’ t going to be waiting for police to respond the next time someone tries breaking into their homes .

As gun owners, we’re well aware of the adage that “when seconds count, police are only minutes away.” Bill Norkunas, a 70-year old resident of Broward County, Florida, can tell you firsthand just how accurate that statement is, because he was forced to fend off a home intruder for more than fifteen minutes earlier this month while sheriff’s deputies waited at the end of his street.
Norkunas, who had polio as a child and has suffered lifelong disabilities ever since, had just gotten out of the shower on the evening of November 7th when he saw a shadowy form outside of his bathroom window. He turned on an outside light hoping to scare the stranger away, but instead the man was drawn like a moth to a flame to the front door of Norkunas’ home.
Norkunas grabbed his gun and his phone and called 911 while he warned the stranger that he would shoot if necessary. Despite repeated calls by neighbors and Norkunas himself, however, sheriffs deputies got no closer than 500 yards to Norkunas, and now the Broward County Sheriff’s Office isn’t answering any questions about why deputies didn’t respond, issuing a statement to the Sun-Sentinel newspaper filled with boilerplate language about an ongoing investigation and promises that the office is constantly reviewing and assessing “its responses to emergency calls in order to provide the highest level of service to the public.”
Neighbors would not call the response “the highest level.” Instead of stopping the would-be-intruder at Norkunas’ door, witnesses said, the deputies stayed down the street and around a corner, some 500 yards away while Norkunas and his neighbors flooded the 911 emergency communications system begging for help for almost 15 minutes. “If he opens the door can I shoot him?” Norkunas asks the 911 dispatcher about two minutes into his phone call for help. By the third minute, Norkunas is telling the dispatcher that the stranger is trying to kick the door in, according to recording of the call. While still on the phone with the dispatcher, Norkunas can be heard warning the stranger that he better leave or he is going to get shot. Until this point in his life, Norkunas had never pointed a gun at anyone before. “Get the cops here quick,” he barks into the phone at minute four. Three minutes later, Norkunas’ voice is weary: “Sheriff, hurry up please.” Three more minutes pass. “Where the hell are the cruisers? … They are still not here. Jesus Christ. There’s still no cruisers. Come to my house, please please.” He tells the dispatcher his glass door is smashed in and he doesn’t know what to do. The dispatcher tells him the deputies are canvassing the area to “make sure no one else gets hurt.”
Even after Norkunas’ glass door was shattered deputies failed to respond. In fact, the suspect, 23-year old Timothy Johnson, eventually wandered away from Norkunas’ home and began trying to break into several other homes, all while Norkunas’ neighbor Julio Fuentes watched and followed from a distance while on the phone with dispatchers.
“Oh God, oh God, Oh God he’s walking to my f— house. Holy f—. Please help me. … Please hurry the f– up,” cried out another neighbor, who spent several minutes on the phone with a dispatcher initially trying to get help for Norkunas and then for herself as Johnson headed toward her house. With each minute that passes, the more incensed the woman becomes. The dispatcher tries to assure her help is on the way. With Fuentes still following the man, the man then goes to another neighbor’s house. The woman tells this to the dispatcher. “Oh my God this guy is f— terrorizing everybody’s house and you guys are nowhere to be found.” She lays into the dispatcher: “He could have gotten away and he could have hurt someone. My neighbor is disabled. My neighbor walks with a cane and you guys take your time. You guys take your f— time. The dispatcher replies: “They were not taking their time.”


bearingarms--2020-11-30--Kentucky Illustrates Growing Urban-Rural Divide

There ’ s always been something of a divide between the urban parts of the country and the rural parts .
The terms “ city-slicker ” and “ country bumpkin ” didn ’ t spawn out of the ether all on their own , after all .
They ’ re indicative of the fact that the cities and the rural parts of the country are very different places .
However , in recent years , it seems that the divide is growing , and it ’ s making things interesting in places like Kentucky .
It ’ s hard not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the post-election map of Kentucky , with its sweeping “ Red Wave.
” The Republican take-over of rural and small-town Kentucky is apparently complete .
The same holds true across the country .
Clearly there is a deep disconnect between the “ red ” – conservative and rural – and the “ blue ” – liberal and urban – parts of the state , as well as the nation .
This divergence is reflected across the country , as election maps of the nation shows the urban areas to be solidly “ blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red.
” This particular column is trying to make the case that Democrats are really better on the economy and all that because so many large corporations are based in cities , which is specious reasoning at best , but it ’ s not surprising to see a leftist trying to make it none the less .
However , what the author here misses is that there are many reasons why the rural parts of the country vote against Democrats with every chance they get .
You see , the cities are preoccupied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t care about the struggles of rural America on a great many subjects , including guns .
While cities like Chicago , Baltimore , St. Louis , and many others are struggling to address their own problems , their proposed solutions often include state-wide legislation restricting access to guns or making it more difficult to use one to protect your life .
In these politicians ’ minds , this is making the cities safer .
However , what we know for a fact is that they ’ re making the more rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rural counties may only have a single deputy on patrol at any given time , so when you hear a bump in the night , that deputy may be nearby…or he may be on the other side of the county and have to run full-speed for half an hour to get to you .
Without a gun , you ’ re at the mercy of whatever made that bump .
Yet Democrats from the city don ’ t see it that way .
They ’ re from places where there may be hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time when help is just a few minutes away .
They simply can ’ t grok the idea that you might not have a police officer at your house in just a few minutes if there ’ s an emergency .
In fairness , many in rural communities don ’ t really care what the challenges of the city are , either .
Those are the cities ’ problems to deal with and the rural areas simply aren ’ t interested in worrying about it .
This probably doesn ’ t help either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same token , most of the rural voters see things like gun rights as rights and believe that if the cities are having an issue , they should look elsewhere for the answers .
Since that ’ s not happening , the divide will continue to grow .
We should all dig in and get used to it .

There’s always been something of a divide between the urban parts of the country and the rural parts. The terms “city-slicker” and “country bumpkin” didn’t spawn out of the ether all on their own, after all. They’re indicative of the fact that the cities and the rural parts of the country are very different places.
However, in recent years, it seems that the divide is growing, and it’s making things interesting in places like Kentucky.
It’s hard not to be impressed when you look at the post-election map of Kentucky, with its sweeping “Red Wave.” The Republican take-over of rural and small-town Kentucky is apparently complete. The same holds true across the country. Clearly there is a deep disconnect between the “red” – conservative and rural – and the “blue” – liberal and urban – parts of the state, as well as the nation. This divergence is reflected across the country, as election maps of the nation shows the urban areas to be solidly “blue” and the rural areas solidly “red.”
This particular column is trying to make the case that Democrats are really better on the economy and all that because so many large corporations are based in cities, which is specious reasoning at best, but it’s not surprising to see a leftist trying to make it none the less.
However, what the author here misses is that there are many reasons why the rural parts of the country vote against Democrats with every chance they get.
You see, the cities are preoccupied with the cities. They simply don’t care about the struggles of rural America on a great many subjects, including guns.
While cities like Chicago, Baltimore, St. Louis, and many others are struggling to address their own problems, their proposed solutions often include state-wide legislation restricting access to guns or making it more difficult to use one to protect your life. In these politicians’ minds, this is making the cities safer.
However, what we know for a fact is that they’re making the more rural parts of the state less safe.
Rural counties may only have a single deputy on patrol at any given time, so when you hear a bump in the night, that deputy may be nearby…or he may be on the other side of the county and have to run full-speed for half an hour to get to you. Without a gun, you’re at the mercy of whatever made that bump.
Yet Democrats from the city don’t see it that way. They’re from places where there may be hundreds of officers on duty at any given time when help is just a few minutes away. They simply can’t grok the idea that you might not have a police officer at your house in just a few minutes if there’s an emergency.
In fairness, many in rural communities don’t really care what the challenges of the city are, either. Those are the cities’ problems to deal with and the rural areas simply aren’t interested in worrying about it. This probably doesn’t help either, to be fair, but on the same token, most of the rural voters see things like gun rights as rights and believe that if the cities are having an issue, they should look elsewhere for the answers.
Since that’s not happening, the divide will continue to grow. We should all dig in and get used to it.