Posted on 05/27/2002 12:07:32 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
It is rumored that Jedi Master Mace Windu has the phrase "Bad Dude" engraved on his lightsaber. This is not due to any arcane minutae from deep within the bowels of the Star Wars canon, but because the actor who plays the Jedi, Samuel L. Jackson, is a notoriously Bad individual with significant Oedipal issues. Although I, like many other red-blooded American males, would like to consider myself likewise Bad, I find that I cannot, despite six years in an egregiously violent martial arts dojo and a bench press of 325 pounds.
I cannot, because I spent most of those six years taking regular beatings at the hands of JD, a true Bad Dude who held a brown belt in jujitsu in addition to his black belt in our style. I can still remember my last belt test, when for one brief shining moment, I thought I could take the man. A kick that sent me flying 10 feet backward into a wall – which I struck so hard that it knocked the wind out of me – quickly illustrated the delusional aspects of that notion.
And I'll never forget going out clubbing with JD and some other Dragons, and being confronted by a drunken lout who seemed to take offense at the mere notion of the martial arts. When he demanded to know what use our training would be if he were to pull a gun, JD simply smiled, slid back his jacket to reveal a .40 caliber compact Glock, and explained that while he trusted in his ability to cope with those he could reach with his hands and feet, he felt it was also important to be prepared for those he could not.
Like I said, a Bad Dude. Now, what does this have to do with the situation currently facing America? Well, if even a deadly martial artist will freely admit that he is not capable of defending himself against an armed attack without a weapon, then what hope does the average American have?
None. Absolutely none. We are helpless.
And while I agree with the logic of Joseph Farah's recent argument that suicide bombings are unlikely in America, I am less sure that the next round of al-Qaida attacks will be the sort of shootings executed by the Japanese Red Army, Fatah Tanzim and Hamas Izz a-Din al Kassam. Whereas these groups have simply been trying to kill Jews, al-Qaida seeks to terrorize the most powerful nation on Earth, and mass shootings won't cut it in the country that invented Columbine.
This does not, of course, mean that Americans should not be prepared. Quite the opposite. I also don't expect any more hijacking attempts, since everyone in the world now knows that a hijacking no longer means a brief detour to Cuba, but that doesn't mean we should turn off the metal detectors. Indeed, our president has told us that we must all do our part in this war, and I say that we take him at his word.
Americans must remember We the People are sovereign. We have not only the right, but the responsibility to defend ourselves and our country. Therefore, I am calling for the establishment of an unofficial national holiday, Guns Against Terror Day. And to celebrate it, I have the following three suggestions:
I'm told that America will be under attack soon, so the time to act is now. I think July 4, 2002, would certainly be an appropriate day for We the People to flex our sovereign muscle and take responsibility for defending ourselves.
Terrorists understand only force of arms.
Government understands only force of will.
If we give up and say, "Our hands are tied," we will surely see that prophecy come to pass.
Stay armed. Stay watchful.
Excellent statement!
Del
ps, how does one go about getting on your pinglist?
Excellent statement!
I agree.
I'm going to burst the bubble for a lot of people. Learning to shoot well is very difficult. It helps to live in an area where a person can own a firearm and have the type of gunrange or shooting matches so that they can learn the necessary skills. Very few shooting ranges allow drawing from a holster but there might be a monthly match that they can join.
Shooting a lot takes a lot of ammo and for that learning to reload ammunition is a must. Money becomes a factor when the reloading machine and components may take the price of a gun or more. Finding the time to shoot and then to reload the ammo it takes will change people's lifestyles. This isn't just a hobby, it becomes a way of life. If a person wants to devote the time and energy in being more than acceptable using a gun, I suggest getting involved in IDPA and High Power Rifle competitions. Getting involved with both competitions will give all the skills necessary.
This isn't Star Wars and there isn't such a thing as a Jedi Knight where the hero can learn everything by closing his eyes. Real skill takes more than buying something and the t-shirt. If anyone wants real skills they have to work at it. The people who have those skills are the ones who are out there practicing when they don't want to, in the bad weather and spending the time and money.
No - airline pilots should do what Magaw fears most.
Like Italian customs police who can't strike - but who, when angry with the government get what they want by "work-to-the-rule" actions - U.S. airline pilots should simply do a "work-to-the-rule" strike until allowed to fly armed.
That means to refuse as "unsafe" any plane they are given that flunks the tiniest FAA rule - and file a safety report with the FAA about it.
Pilots should also insist that the "work-to-the-rule" action would continue until Bush fires Magaw.
GUN REVIEWS free from ad-money bias - emphasizing pilot-friendly guns for CCW!
When I teach a class for the Florida Concealed Weapons Permit, I guarantee that if you listen to me and apply what I teach you will be able to put all rounds into the center area (6 inch diameter) of an average silhouette target at 7 yards or your money back. I haven't had to return one single cent in the 15 years I have been an instructor.
I also find that when I teach a novice married couple where both have equal (none) familiarity with firearms, the wife turns into the more competent shooter by far almost 85% of the time.
This is usually because the guys are only half listening and thus only half applying the lessons because usually most guys think that by simple virtue of the fact that they are male makes them an expert in three areas: WOMEN, CARS AND GUNS. Of course they are usually wrong on all three counts! Plus, the gals have less to unlearn having not been raised on the likes of Dirty Harry or Will Smith gangsta style, or even John Wayne! Finally, it has been shown that women have better hand/eye coordination which is the reason they usually make excellent pilots, especially helicopter pilots due to the multiplicity of tasks they must perform simultaneously.
Also we have a problem when someone will excuse themselves from practice or matches based on their misconception that "It's not real". They would rather stay home and use an excuse that somehow they will inherit what it takes to have the skills. Personally, I call what I do, "trigger time". Sometimes I don't practice when I'm shooting and I'm there to have a little fun. Never the less, I'm doing what I can to make a good shot on target. I'll be the first to admit that getting up at Oh Dark Thirty, driving two hours, and shooting in the rain may not be the E Ticket that I expected, but I always notice that the Masters are there all the time.
IDPA club to which I belong is one of the few "teaching clubs" in the group and we were the first to hold an officially sanctioned shoot east of the Mississippi River. In fact I was the first shooter run at that shoot and in honor of that, I ran the course with combat JHP's in my gun...what I actually carried on the street.
IMHO, IDPA is the best possible and safest preparation for realistic street situational training.
The club I shoot at is just starting and it's difficult to get the competitors to shoot from a concealed. I do and I think I'm the only one and I really don't care what the scenario reads. I shoot my street leather except for using lead for the plates. I still use the Commander that has the faulty extractor. So I'm not going to place first, second or third. Tough. What I should do is start using my street gun with the ports and just get disqualified for using it. Our score sheets allow me to have a copy and I can bring the copies home and compare what I did.
Nomination for quote of the month in my book.
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