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After Zimmerman: Lessons for a Citizen Carrier
American Thinker ^ | August 1, 2013 | Paul Jacobson

Posted on 08/01/2013 12:18:23 AM PDT by neverdem

Shortly after the Sandy Hook one Elementary School massacre in December 2012, I took to these pages to gently chide the NRA's Wayne LaPierre for his proposal to install an armed policeman in every school. Instead I suggested it would be more effective to permit armed teachers and school personnel, carefully screened and trained, to fulfill this role. The article outlined three principles to optimize the deterrent value of a societal gun presence: pervasiveness, anonymity, and publicity.

The article also pointed out (hat-tip John Lott) that all citizens, not just those who are armed, benefit from the crime deterrence created by law-abiding gun owners. This got me thinking about my own status. There I was, benefiting from all my gun-owning neighbors who helped create the safe neighborhood where I'm fortunate to reside.

At that point I made a personal decision to cease being a parasite and become instead a producer. Thus began a very steep learning curve to train and equip myself over several months to become a responsible and competent hoplite for the benefit of myself and my family, yes, but also my friends and neighbors.

In March 2013 I participated in a CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) class. In May I received my CCW permit. On that day this semi-retired septuagenarian (I, myself) became a citizen carrier.

My appetite for sound, reliable news and information about 2nd Amendment issues and the technology and skills of gunnery continues unabated. I've also made new friends and acquaintances who share my new passion. All this confirms for me what I knew at the outset: the propaganda of the gun-hating left about these issues and people is an unconscionable, ignorant pack of lies, every word of it.

In my CCW class there were no Rambos, just ordinary middle-class folks, mostly men but a...

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bangkist; banglist; ccw; guncontrol; secondamendment; youwillnotdisarmus
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1 posted on 08/01/2013 12:18:23 AM PDT by neverdem
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To: wardaddy; Joe Brower; Cannoneer No. 4; Criminal Number 18F; Dan from Michigan; Eaker; Jeff Head; ...
The Country Party MUST READ!

Defunding: the Framers' remedy for presidential lawlessness

E-mails Suggest Collusion Between FEC, IRS to Target Conservative Groups

Florida Plant to Produce Advanced Ethanol It's from recent biomass other than corn.

Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

2 posted on 08/01/2013 1:18:41 AM PDT by neverdem (Register pressure cookers! /s)
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To: neverdem

My lesson I got from the Zimmerman case is always have handy a throw down gun not registered to yourself...


3 posted on 08/01/2013 3:25:37 AM PDT by dpetty121263
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To: dpetty121263

It’s much cleaner and cheaper if you have a “throwdown” Combat folder knife.


4 posted on 08/01/2013 3:32:12 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Gaffer

Fingerprints? Just asking...


5 posted on 08/01/2013 4:23:49 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (Guns kill people, pencils misspell words, cars drive drunk & spoons make you fat.)
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To: Gaffer

Good advice. I’m just glad the author of the article in the original post finally woke up to reality. I mean he’s 70, for Pete’s sake! What took him so long?!?!? Oh, my, he met some gun owners... and they were normal people! Sometimes these columnists are like the newly religious. They finally catch on and then preach all day from back of their high horse. Honestly, I’m glad to have you in the fold, old-timer, but where have you been all my life?!?

He thinks he’s arrived, but his education has just begun.


6 posted on 08/01/2013 4:43:48 AM PDT by Dr. Pritchett
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To: carriage_hill

You’d have to wipe down a pistol too....no difference really. Then you’d have to clamp the perps hand around the pistol or the blade.


7 posted on 08/01/2013 4:50:42 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Gaffer

That’d be pretty obvious if any witnesses were in the immediate area, and especially with cellphone cams recording the incident (Rodney King).

It’d be a felony ‘tampering with evidence’ the LEOs would charge you with, wouldn’t it? I’ve thought long and hard about it, but can’t reach a valid conclusion.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...


8 posted on 08/01/2013 4:56:07 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (Guns kill people, pencils misspell words, cars drive drunk & spoons make you fat.)
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To: carriage_hill

Of course you’d have to quickly judge about witnesses and such. But if there aren’t any around and you don’t see CCTVs, I’d do it. No one can tell me that police don’t do it.


9 posted on 08/01/2013 4:59:21 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: dpetty121263
Make sure there aren't any fibers from your clothing on the weapon you throw down. I've seen more than one case where an LEO or other person has been nailed by the FBI.

Just sayin...
10 posted on 08/01/2013 5:04:25 AM PDT by ComputerGuy (HM2/USN M/3/3 Marines RVN 66-67)
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To: neverdem

11 posted on 08/01/2013 5:07:02 AM PDT by JoeProBono (Mille vocibus imago valet;-{)
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To: Gaffer

I know some do; I’ve seen the ankle .32/.38 snub-nosed holster, and asked a couple of LEO customers what they were for; got the “back-up piece” and a smile/wink from each. Knife throwaway makes more sense; you’re right.


12 posted on 08/01/2013 5:31:43 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (Guns kill people, pencils misspell words, cars drive drunk & spoons make you fat.)
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To: neverdem

The honest, law-abiding non-violent carrier is an asset to all.

The left wants to take guns away from honest, law-abiding non-violent citizens and deliberately leave them in the hands of violent criminals.


13 posted on 08/01/2013 5:36:43 AM PDT by I want the USA back (If I Pi$$ed off just one liberal today my mission has been accomplished.)
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To: neverdem
After Zimmerman: Lessons for a Citizen Carrier

The 3 Ss?

14 posted on 08/01/2013 5:38:57 AM PDT by Lee N. Field ("You keep using that verse, but I do not think it means what you think it means.")
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To: neverdem

Thanks for the ping!


15 posted on 08/01/2013 6:19:46 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: carriage_hill
It’d be a felony ‘tampering with evidence’ the LEOs would charge you with, wouldn’t it? I’ve thought long and hard about it, but can’t reach a valid conclusion.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

If the time ever comes, you take a look at the entire situation, and make the decision then if the circumstances warrant, and if the opportunity to execute is present. If not, you keep the knife in your pocket. Judgement matters

16 posted on 08/01/2013 7:17:03 AM PDT by zeugma (Be a truechimer, not a falseticker!)
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To: zeugma

100%.


17 posted on 08/01/2013 7:46:26 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (Guns kill people, pencils misspell words, cars drive drunk & spoons make you fat.)
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To: carriage_hill
I’ve thought long and hard about it, but can’t reach a valid conclusion.

Moral issues aside, IMHO it's best not to tamper with evidence. As you noted earlier, you never know where a witness could be. A quick look around won't do the job. You could very easily miss someone looking out of a window from across the street.

Plus you'll be dealing with trained and experienced detectives at some point. Those folks have seen all the tricks. They are not stupid!

Get caught tampering with evidence, and it would be very easy for a jury to disbelieve anything else you might have to say.

18 posted on 08/01/2013 8:05:41 AM PDT by Leaning Right
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To: Leaning Right
After thinking about it, tampering with evidence felony is something I just wouldn't do; it'd have to be a righteous and justified shooting, since we have protection here in PA.

That said, I've been robbed/shot once in 1974, and survived, and it won't happen again.

19 posted on 08/01/2013 8:17:52 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (Guns kill people, pencils misspell words, cars drive drunk & spoons make you fat.)
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To: carriage_hill; All
In spite of all the trouble GZ had, he was still acquitted. Indeed, by calling the cops and waiting for them, he got a very fair investigation that exonerated him and was one of the big reasons he won his trial. Discovered evidence tampering is sure to get you into BIG trouble and will be used to prove you did commit a murder or voluntary manslaughter when your act was actually a justifiable homicide.

Turning to the article, the author has it right when he says GZ should have immediately returned to his truck, locked it, and placed his weapon on the seat, ready to be used. In any situation like that one's vehicle is his rolling fortress. By leaving the vehicle and not getting back into it immediately GZ exposed himself to Martin's almost successful attempt to murder him. He's alive today only due to pure luck and the fact that he had the pistol.

I've had a permit and carried since 1995 have never had to display, point, or (God forbid) discharge a weapon in anger against anyone. By its mere possession and carrying I do, however, use it in anger every day because of the deterrence power of my carrying and that of thousands of others. In short, that weapon is there for me to be able to deal with Fate if it comes after me, not for me to be able to chase it.

20 posted on 08/01/2013 8:33:31 AM PDT by libstripper (A)
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