It's Here

Unless you were proactive and participated in the early vote option, tomorrow is the day to get out and vote for your pro-gun candidates.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask in a comment.  As the election volunteer coordinator, I consider it part of my job to help people with questions about candidates' stances on 2nd Amendment issues as well as couple them up with various campaign organizations that may need their help.

NOVEMBER IS COMING

Election time is fast approaching.  If you desire information about candidates, particularly their NRA ratings, go to http://nrapvf.org/ and click on your state.  It's pretty much self-explanatory after that.  A great tool provided to you by the NRA.  If you haven't joined, or if you know others who are willing, use the link to the right and save $10 on an annual membership.  Support the 2nd amendment!

Jobless (Almost)

My employer for the last 18 years decided to close the local facility.  I fully expected this would happen given the monumental management mistakes over the last few years, not to mention the economic collapse felt by the whole nation.  It was only a matter of time, and it came as somewhat of a relief to me.  I only wish they'd get it over with rather than dragging it out for another month or two.

At age 60, finding new employment is no picnic.  Right now, it's no picnic for anyone, but with retirement looming in the not-too-distant future, employers are hesitant at best to offer jobs to people in my age group.  I guess it doesn't matter that discrimination due to age is illegal.

I'm not in danger of losing my house or starving to death, but it would be nice to have a little extra spending money coming into the household.  Anyone know of a job that a 60-year-old self-proclaimed genius could handle?

ANOTHER TOY

As you can see, I have something new to occupy my time!  Never thought I'd be a Harley owner.  The only reason I'm writing about it now instead of riding it is the downpouring rain we've been experiencing all day.  The wife must have decided I deserved a little fun in my life that didn't involve shooting or dogs.  (Now I just have to figure out where to mount my S&W 500 on it.)

CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES

I have to post my congratulations and condolences at the same time for Harry J. McCullough III (I understand he goes by James), who did what I hope I would have done in the same circumstances, and shot an armed robber before any innocent people could be hurt.  The story can be found at http://www.omaha.com/article/20100427/NEWS97/704279843/0.

If he was carrying his handgun concealed, then he was technically breaking the law, since he didn't have a concealed handgun permit.  Personally, I don't care, and I don't think a permit should be necessary in the first place.  That issue has yet to be determined, but I hope for his sake, he is not charged, or is found not guilty if he does go to trial.

Lot's of guys (maybe gals too) talk about taking down the bad guy, but few of us really want to be put in that kind of situation.  Only someone who's been there can really speak to how it affects their life having killed another human being, regardless of the justification.  I hope James doesn't suffer in any way as a result of his actions.  Unfortuneately, he probably already has paid quite a price, and is probably not done yet.

I hope anyone who hears of this event will pass on their best wishes for him and do what they can to further the rights of those who choose to be prepared by carrying a firearm.  The proposed "castle law" failed in Nebraska this year, though some progress was made through amendments to other bills.  Let's all do what we can to get it passed next year, or as soon as possible.  We can do that by electing gun-friendly representatives, and supporting gun-friendly legislation.

THANK YOU, GOVERNOR

LB 817 was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor recently; good news for Nebraska concealed handgun permit holders.  It will keep municipalities from trying to circumvent state law regarding the right to carry a firearm (concealed), such as Omaha's outlandish requirements that all guns be registered with the city and that carrying, even openly, requires a concealed handgun permit.  How absurd!

I appreciate what Senator Christensen and several others have done in this regard, and also that our governor supports our second amendment rights.  It's too bad the so-called "castle doctrine" didn't make it this year.  Maybe next.

Defend Yourself

Call or write your state legislators, and urge them to support LB889.  The "castle doctrine" as many call it, is meant to protect people who use deadly force in defending themselves against murderers, robbers, burglars, rapists, kidnappers, muggers, carjackers, and the like, from criminal prosecution or civil suits.  You'd think it was common sense that the act of defending oneself, one's family, or friends, or even innocent strangers, from such attacks would be something society whould support rather than penalize.   However, this is not currently the case when it comes to the law.

I don't know if the proposed bill goes as far as I'd like it to, but I'm sure it is better than no protection at all.  In my opinion, people should be able to protect themselves regardless of where they are, and in any way that they are able to, without being subject to criminal charges or civil suits from those they defended themselves against.  (This protection would only be offered to people who were in a place they had a legal right to be at the time and who were not themselves in jeopardy because of their own previous illegal actions.)  No one should have the legal obligation to run away from an attack .  No one should have to hand over their property rather than fight to keep it.

To those who insist killing someone to protect material things isn't justified, where do you draw the line?  Is there a certain "dollar value" where shooting someone would be alright?  Is it okay to shoot them if they are stealing my food, but not if they are taking my iPod?  If they are stealing my gun, do I wait until they have it and decide to shoot me with it before I can defend myself? If they steal my property, can I have yours?  Can I shoot them if they are males over 18 years old, but not if they are females or juviniles?  Do I have to see their ID first so I'll know?

Get real!  Property is just as important to humans as life itself.  Without property (shelter, food, weapons, tools, etc.) there would be no life.

Hopefully, I will never have to use deadly force to defend myself.  If I do, I'm not going to be thinking of the legal consequences of doing so until much later.  With your simple act of calling or writing your legislators to support this bill, those who choose fight over flight won't be penalized for doing so.