Firearms Freedom Acts - Is Kentucky Next?: ... Recently, several states began a pushback against federal regulation of the right to keep and bear arms. The Firearms Freedom Act was first passed in Montana and declares that any firearms made and retained in-state is beyond the authority of Congress. I mentioned the legislation in a letter to Representative James Comer. Mr. Comer informed me that there were actually two bills in the Kentucky legislature on this issue. "My constituents believe passionately in the Second Amendment, and I have always been a vocal and hard fighting member of the General Assembly to see that our gun owner rights are protected," Comer said. According to the website a total of five states now have enacted this law with many more considering similar legislation. In Kentucky, HB 87 specifically states that "firearms, firearm accessories and ammunition that are made in Kentucky, marked ... in Kentucky, and used in Kentucky... are exempt from federal law" ... http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/03/states_seek_to_protect_gun_rig.html --- Non Sequitur in Ohio: Ohio's adoption of a concealed-carry law in 2004 created quite a stir over what has turned out to be largely unfounded concerns. There haven't been shootouts in the streets or on freeways. Workplace violence hasn't increased because employees could carry guns to work. Criminals who never follow gun laws ignore this one, too... To us, the law has been a success thanks to its detailed nature and strict controls on when and how people can carry loaded weapons. It has found a balance between gun rights and common sense safety. But some state lawmakers, including state Sen. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, want to change concealed-carry laws by tossing out rules for how guns must be carried in vehicles and allowing permit holders to carry guns into businesses with Class D liquor permits, including grocery stores, restaurants and bars. Both are profoundly poor ideas, earning strong opposition from law enforcement and businesses alike... (And the evidence for this would be the chaos and mayhem in the states that lack Ohio's strict controls on licensed CCW?) http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20100321/OPINION01/3210318/Our-Opinion-Tweaking-conceal-carry-increases-danger --- Oops, Wrong Liquor Store: A liquor store clerk shot and killed one of two armed, masked men who tried to rob the shop on Tully Road late Friday night, Modesto [CA] police said today. Police arrived at the Super Liquors store in the 1600 block of Tully Road to find one of the robbery suspects with gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital and died later in the night. This evening, police identified him as Kyle Johnson, 20, of Modesto. A second suspected robber fled the scene after struggling with a second clerk, police said. They said this evening that the suspect, a 17-year-old boy, had been arrested and will be booked into Juvenile Hall on charges of homicide and attempted robbery... http://www.modbee.com/2010/03/20/1095586/modesto-store-clerk-shoots-and.html --- Training the Handicapped Shooter: ... Who would not be moving to create distance with their attacker? The handicapped. People with disabilities represent approximately 20 percent of the population of our country, but are victims at a much higher rate than the general public. Research shows these numbers to be four to five times higher, and that is on the conservative end. For many handicapped CCW holders the "regular" training methods of moving and shooting are just not applicable to their personal situation. This is where my story begins. I am a firearms instructor for Precision Defensive Shooting School in Colorado. I was contacted by a lady, Angie, who wanted to take a defensive handgun class to obtain her concealed carry permit. In talking with her she was quick to point out that she uses a wheelchair. While I have taught many defensive pistol classes, I must admit that until this woman contacted me, I had not had anyone in a wheelchair take a class... (This article raises some good points. From my experience, there is not a single answer to which holster is best for someone in a wheelchair. Some people will feel more hindered than others in their draw stroke by the arms of the chair. One option may be some sort of thigh holster, covered by a blanket, folded or unfolded, across the lap.) http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=36008 --- Survival Mindset: ... In a violent encounter, having the right tools won't do you a bit of good if you don't know how to use them. If you have the correct mindset, even the wrong tools will often make do. A cop carries a gun on his hip at work every day. Most people who work outdoors or in warehouses carry knives or box cutters. You're average office worker or department store clerk doesn't carry a gun or a knife. Many people don't carry guns or knives. In uniform I may have two or three of each at any time. For those of you who typically don't carry anything that is traditionally thought of as a weapon, it may be a consideration that you wish to make. If you choose to walk around unarmed, that's okay, as long as you're prepared to protect yourself... (Those familiar with my book and my website know that I place mental "software" above hardware in priority. This article is linked as a good refresher on the concept of mental preparedness to fight back, not as an argument for going unarmed.) http://www.survivalblog.com/2010/03/survival_mindset_being_ready_f.html --- Lance Thomas Interview: At the end of his Friday column, David Codrea has embedded a video clip of an old interview with Lance Thomas, a Los Angeles watchmaker who prevailed in a series of gunfights with robbers. Most people who've read Paul Kirchner's The Deadliest Men list this the Lance Thomas chapter as their favorite, probably because Kirchner actually got to interview him. Thomas chose to place handguns at intervals around his store, rather than rely on one in a holster. I can't say that I agree with his choice to place different types of guns at different locations or his implication that one must attain a high level of training in order to qualify for a carry permit. It's difficult for me to tell if he truly believes that, if he says it as a sop to the agency that issued his CWP or if he says it mostly as a caution not to rely on the pistol as a talisman that will ward off evil. In any case, the video is worth watching, to hear Thomas's version of mental preparedness. http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m3d19-Toledo-Blade-warns-against-selfdefense --- Finnish Sniper Killed Over 700 Russians: Ensconced in the snow, his white camouflage suit rendering him invisible to the invading Soviet