AND THE GOOD NEWS...

I was surprised, but happy, to hear there weren't many serious calls for more gun control in the wake of the Aurora shootings.  Certainly there were a few who will take any excuse they can find to get on their anti-gun bandwagon:  New York's mayor for one.  If anyone should know the futility of gun control laws to actually prevent crime, it should be him.  New York's laws are among the strictest in the country, and yet they are one of the leaders in gun violence across the nation.  Chicago is another prime example.

I don't pretend to have a solution to the problem.  Honestly, I don't think there is one.  This kind of thing has been going on all over the world since time began, in one form or another, and unfortunately it will probably continue.  I think the best one can do is to stay alert, be prepared, and do your best to avoid places where you would essentially be a sitting duck for this kind of thing.

As the election moves closer, I expect to get a few calls from people willing to volunteer their time to promote gun-friendly candidates to office.  I'm not sure how much I can help them.  It appears candidates want the endorsement of the NRA, but not their help.  I can't say its a bad move.  They get the best of both worlds that way; a favorable rating by the NRA, but no accusations from the anti-gun crowd that they are affiliated in any way with the gun lobby or industry.

ANOTHER FOUR YEARS?

The republican party is struggling to find a candidate that satisfies a majority of the party base.  No matter who ends up on the ballot, beating Obama might prove difficult at best.  Many predict that Obama, if elected for a second term, will make up for his lack of an anti-gun agenda in his first four years when he had to worry about a second term.

As much as I hate the idea, money apparently does the talking when it comes to campaigns, so now is the time for all gun owners and others who believe in the second amendment to voice their opinions in whatever way they can.  This includes spending a few bucks, if you can afford it, to help out the campaigns of gun-friendly candidates.

You may not believe whole-heartedly in everything the NRA does, but at a national level, there is little doubt they have more clout than many other lobbying organizations.  A membership isn't all that much to ask when our gun rights are at stake.  Think about how much you may have spent on guns and ammo, and you'll realize how much you have to lose if our rights are severely restricted by Obama and his anti-gun choices for the supreme court.

You can save a few bucks on a regular membership by simply clicking on the link I put on this page, and yes, I get a few bucks for everyone who joins through my link.  I think I've made $5 in total since I set it up, so believe me, making money off potential members is not my goal.  I want to keep all my guns and be able to use them without restrictions for any legal purpose I choose.

I also volunteer as the Election Volunteer Coordinator for the 1st District in Nebraska, and I spend quite a bit of time keeping up with and supporting various pro-gun causes.  A few dollars coming back my way for my efforts helps in that regard, too.

Thanks to anyone who joins, whether you use my link or not.

Lots of new bills to ponder!

The legislature has a number of bills introduced already this year that have to do with gun rights.  I hope everyone with a stake in the outcome will read them and communicate their thoughts to their respective legislators.  Most of the bills I've seen are aimed at lessening the restrictions on gun ownership or carry, but the wording is not necessarily what many 2A rights enthusiasts would want.  There is that group that thinks we don't need these bills because the Bill of Rights and the Nebraska constitution already provide all the rights we need.  I don't necessarily disagree with them, but unfortunately, the state has taken measures that effectively limits those rights, constitutional or not.  In order to combat these infringements, we either need a court case to push that idea and get these infringements repealed, or we need to chip away at them with specific amendments to current law.

My best guess is that chipping away, is the method that will most likely get us closer to our goal.  Certainly, if someone were to push the envelope and take a case to the Supreme Court (Nebraska or federal), it could be a one-stop-shop of gun rights.  I just don't think we'll get such a case any time soon, or if we did, that the court(s) would find on our side.

In any case, the fact that there are some "extreme view" constitutionalists out there is not a bad thing.  It keeps the anti-gun crowd in check to a degree because I think they see the same problem from their own perspective.  They realize that the courts are not likely to find that gun ownership/carry is not protected by the Constitution except for the case of the military (militia).  Instead, the courts will argue that people have the right to keep and bear arms, with reasonable restrictions.  Therefore, the anti-gunners are as willing to chip away as we are to further their goal (eliminating guns in the public sector).  Without the hardliners arguing for complete freedom in regard to gun control, they might feel they can nibble away at our rights until there are none left.  With the hardliners, they realize there is a segment of society that will never accept that situation.

WOW

Applied on Tuesday morning.  Had my renewed CHP on Thursday afternoon.

I've heard a lot of horror stories from others trying to get their permits, some of them claiming it took months.  I have to wonder if they had such dubious backgrounds that it took that long to check them out for eligibility.  My original only took about 5 days.  It is now in the hands of the State Patrol awaiting some decision on where it will be displayed as part of Nebraska history.

THE PERMIT

It sure doesn't seem like five years have gone by since I got the first Concealed Handgun Permit issued in Nebraska.  I've been planning for some time now on getting out to the State Patrol office to renew at the first available opportunity.  I was told that, no matter what, my permit number would not stay the same or be indicative of the first permit renewed.  Still, I wanted to be the first one to apply for renewal, and I forgot to go yesterday.  Someone beat me to it.  Oh, well.  Lots of people think I'm number two anyway!

I still don't know what my number will be, or if I actually have to return my original permit.  They didn't ask for it today, and I assume they are mailing the new one, so I don't know if they'll expect me to return the original somehow, or not.  They told me it would be about a five-day turn around.  We'll see.

I'll keep you posted.