Two Home Invasions With Two Different Results!

It did not take long to find a blog worthy article in the local news for today's post. The headline caught my attention, and I clicked on it to see what I could learn, if anything, to help bolster my personal home protection measures. This is the headline: "Man dies trying to escape home invasion". Violent home invasions are on the increase throughout the United States, and we get our share in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. What was interesting about this particular article by Bill Miller is the fact that the article covered two home invasions that occurred in the area last night. Here are a couple of clips from the article:

Home invasion #1:

A Dallas man died late Wednesday after jumping through a window to escape three robbers who burst into his apartment, north of the city's downtown area, officials said.

Sansiski Daniels, 43, died at about 11 p.m. at Parkland Memorial Hospital where he was taken following the home invasion in the 3200 block of Cedar Springs Road, a spokeswoman for the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office said.

Home invasion #2:

In another overnight home invasion, the would-be robber was hospitalized, said Sgt. Ross Salverino, a detective in the robbery unit...

...But, Salverino said, one of the residents grabbed his own pistol and gunfire was exchanged. One of the suspects was shot multiple times and the other fled. The wounded man was taken to Baylor Medical Center, but his condition was unavailable early Thursday.

No one else was hurt in the shootout, Salverino said.

One home responded as the police recommend, and as is law in some states. That man is dead. The second home responded by standing their ground and protecting themselves. Those people are still alive. Which was the better result?

Why is it that the story of the good guy that escaped injury because of his prompt action with a firearm is buried within the story where the homeowner died? If both accounts are in the same article, why wasn't the headline something along the lines of: "Home Invasion Attempt Foiled by Armed Resident"?

The moral of this story seems quite obvious. Take the necessary measures to protect yourself and your family. A good means of personal protection is a firearm. If you decide that a firearm would be a good tool to have for yourself and your family, receive quality training in the safe use of that firearm.

For $15, you can match wits with immigration

While digging through the daily news looking for something blog worthy, I came across this little gem in the Houston Chronicle:

EL ALBERTO, MEXICO — "Run! They're on our tails!" shouted a man in a ski mask as he led 15 people down a steep ravine and into a thorn-infested thicket. Gunshots pierced the night air. Sirens wailed. Then came a voice, sounding like the Border Patrol. "Don't cross the river!" someone yelled in a heavy accent. "Go back to Mexico where you belong!"

Welcome to one of Mexico's strangest tourist attractions:

A park where visitors pay $15 to hike across fields and through treacherous ravines, a grueling experience aimed at simulating an illegal journey across the U.S.-Mexico border. "We want this to be an exercise in awareness," said Alfonso Martinez, who acts as the chief smuggler at EcoAlberto Park in central Mexico. "It's in honor of all the people who have gone in search of the American Dream." The park, funded in part by the Mexican government, compares crossing the border to an "extreme sport" and tells participants that they, too, can "trick the Migra," slang for the Border Patrol.

We all know that the Mexican government is handing out booklets on how to safely cross the border of the United States illegally. We also know that the movements of the United States Border Patrol and the Minutemen are being publicised by the Mexican government on web sites so all can find easy areas to cross. This little bit of news caught me by surprise. They actually have a mini training camp, with funding from the Mexican government, to help teach people how to cross the border.

This just highlights the need to secure our borders. Not "better" secure our borders, but totally secure our borders. It is estimated that 500,000 illegals cross our Southern border each year, and they cross with the help of the Mexican government. Mexico is not going to do anything to stop the flood of illegals into the United States, they just keep opening consulates in our cities.

Call, fax, email and write your state and federal representatives and let them know that stopping the flood of illegal immigration is a necessity and is non negotiable.

Teen Shoots Younger Brother

As reported by nbc5i.com:

DALLAS -- A 13-year-old boy shot his 12-year-old brother with a rifle Saturday afternoon, Dallas police said...

...The teenager said it was an accident.

Another firearm "accident". This one involving children. The article is short, not much detail, just that one brother shot the other by "accident". Even though it is a short article, there is a lot we can infer based on what was reported. When the story of what all happened in that apartment on Saturday comes out, our generalizations will be proven correct.

The parents were not home. The rifle was unlocked, or the kids knew where the key/combination was located. And, this is the most important part of the story, the kids were told to "never touch the rifle" by Dad. This approach obviously did not work. Just as locking firearms up does not work with teenagers. Teenagers are an industrious lot. I know, I used to be one. You tell them to not touch, or stay out, or leave alone, and they will find a way to get into what you want them to stay out of .

I received my first firearm when I was seven years old. It was an over/under .22/.410. It was beautiful. It was mine. My brother shared a bedroom, and we often wrestled and fought as brothers do. I never "accidentally" shot my brother. My teenage friends and I often went out into the desert to shoot. We would bring enough guns to arm a small platoon. We never "accidentally" shot each other. How is that? How is it that I have been around firearms for almost 40 years and never "accidentally" shot anyone? How come my brother and my friends never ended up in the hospital with a gunshot wound? We often went shooting without adult supervision.

I can give you two reasons. My Dad, and Jay Boone. These are two of the four or five men that made me what I am today. Dad bought my first firearm, Mr. Boone gave me my first hunters safety course. Mr. Boone had a lot of guns, I mean a lot. And I got to shoot a good portion of them. Dad and Mr. Boone took away the mystique of a "gun". They made it another tool for this young lad. They also hammered in to me the four rules of gun handling before there were four rules of gun handling. As a seven year old, I would no more cross another person with the barrel of a firearm as I would pull my pants down in public.

So, what is the purpose of this post? The purpose of this post is to give a parent some very valuable information. If you are a firearm owning parent, you have a responsibility. Both a legal and a moral responsibility to your child and to the community. You have a responsibility to teach your children the proper respect for firearms and the four rules of handling a firearm. You have the responsibility to take the "forbidden fruit" mystique away from firearms. The only way you can accomplish this is to take your children out to the range. Take them out with you before they are old enough to shoot, so they can see you and other responsible firearm owners shooting and handling firearms safely. Let them help you clean your firearms. Let them handle your firearms, teaching them the four rules. When they are ready, take them out shooting. You may want to enroll them in programs like the Boy Scouts or the 4-H, two organizations that teach the shooting sports to children. There are also NRA programs that teach children firearm safety and marksmanship.

If you have firearms in your home, and even if you do not, teach your children to respect all firearms. Teach them the four rules of handling a firearm, and let them shoot. Take away the mystique and when they are over at a friends house, they will know what to do if the friend takes out "Daddy's" gun and does not know how to handle it.

If you have never shot a firearm, or if you would like to go out with your children and learn proper firearm handling as a family, I would be more than happy to take you if you are in the DFW Metroplex. Just send off an email and we will get together. I really enjoy introducing people to the shooting sports. If you are not in the DFW area, I may be able to find someone that would be happy to help. So send off an email anyway. Email

My oldest Grandson is seven. His first rifle is at his Papa J's. Maybe some range photo's will be in order soon.

Sunday's Blog of the Week!

It is Sunday, we are finally getting some rain, and I have found a great article to make my first "Sunday's blog of the Week" feature.

Key Taylor of The Liberal Lies, The Conservative Truth posted an article today that compares world events and national attitudes during the build ups to World Wars I and II to events and national attitudes today. He makes a very strong case that we are on the edge of World War III.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

PRELUDE TO WORLD WAR III ? - THE SUNDAY
COMMENTARY
History is our greatest teacher. Though circumstances change and technology advances the basic pretext that has decided events in this world throughout history is essentially the same. People decide the fate of nations and unfortunatly though we have historical evidence that is applicable to events that every generation faces the people who make the decisions that determine those current events fail to recognize past mistakes and follow a similar path to their historical counter part. The world, though with different countries lead by different individuals has always had its aggresors and its peaceful nations with the peaceful nations idealistically thinking that through negotiations and incentives that the aggressors will see the logic of ceasing their aggressive ways. The sad and historical fact is that though peaceful attempts have delayed the aggressor and in nearly every instance give the complete indication that the aggressor has discontinued his aggressive ways and followed the path of peace, after the conflict is completed and the aggressor is defeated the truth reveals that while the aggressor was talking peace behind the scenes he was continuing his build up for war and fulfilling his aggressive goals and plans. Additionally after every conflict each generation has determined that the end of that conflict has brought the world the lasting peace that everyone wishes and that the conflict has ended the will and abilities of the aggressors. Yet wars continue and peace seems to only be fleeting. Don't misunderstand me peace is always a desire and the basic goal of every civilized nation but unfortunatly history proves that those who desire peace continually face aggressors who force their aggressive nature on others whether in their own country, neighboring countries or a group of people whether ethnically or religiously similar.

With history as a teacher the I ask this question. With the circumstances that we face today are we on the brink of a third World War and from a historical stand point where are we if the possibility of World War exists ? First with the war against Islamic Fascism taking many forms and appearing on several battlefields as well as countries throughout the world ranging from the Middle East to India, From Europe to the Phillipines and yes even the United States and Canada evidence indicates that this war has reached world purportions which also would indicate that it is quickly becoming a world conflict...

Ken continues to build his case, and the conclusions he puts forward are hard to dispute. This is a blog well worth adding to your bookmarks and reading often.

I am of the opinion that we are on the verge of another world wide war. I feel that unlike the first two world wars, this one will have more battles on United States soil. I use the word "more" because 9/11 was a major attack on our soil, and was the first blow in a battle that we have taken to the Middle East. Recent events prove that the enemy is working hard to bring the battlefield back to the United States. I have to wonder what it will take for the American public to come to the conclusion that we are involved in a world war, and then what will have to occur for the politicians to finally work together for the good of the country?

Never Forget - Never Forgive

Click here to comment!

I found this at Pettifog Jots and Tittles and decided to see if I could get it to work and ta-da, it did.

People do need to be reminded, often, of what happened on September 11th, 2001. Too many of us try to put it behind ourselves as a bad memory, something not to be dwelt upon. There are times when forgetting is a good thing, when putting a bad experience behind us is the right thing to do. What happened on 9/11 should never be forgotten. The pain we all felt on that day should stay with us like an open sore until the threat of future attack is no more.

We, as a nation have to remember what was done to us. We have to remember that we were attacked, that a group of terrorist killed 2996 innocent people in one morning. We have to remember the images of terrorist supporting communities in Muslim nations cheering as our people jumped from the Twin Towers before they fell. We have to remember how we felt that day and during the following weeks. We need to hold on to a part of that anger, fear and pain. This is the only way we will stay vigilant and determined to end this threat.

Councilman In Jail Accused Of Shooting Man

FORT WORTH, Texas -- A Glenn Heights city councilman is in jail accused of shooting a man in the face.

There is lots to be written about when a local elected representative ends up in jail, especially when it is firearm related. As I was reading through the article, the all too common excuse was presented in the councilman's defense. Yep, you guessed it:

A friend of the councilman said Brown insists the gun fired accidentally.

There is no such thing as "accidentally" shooting someone in the face. The article does not go into the reasons why the councilman was pointing the gun at another man's face, it just indicates that the guy was a boyfriend of a woman he knows. If he did not intend to shoot this person, then he discharged his firearm negligently and he is at fault in this incident. He did not follow the four basic rules of firearm handling. Now is as good a time as any to go over these four rules.

1. All firearms are loaded - There are no exceptions, period. Know this rule and live it. Handle all firearms accordingly.
2. Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you are not willing to destroy - If you are not willing to see a bullet hole in it, do not allow a firearm's muzzle to point at it. If you are doing dry fire drills in your home, extra care needs to be made to insure that ammo is not even in the same room as you are. Dry fire drills can be dangerous because they do violate Rule #2.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger unless your sights are on the target - You do not gain any speed at all by keeping your finger on the trigger. Keep it out of the guard until you are sighted on the target. Practice this until it becomes second nature. If this rule were followed 100% of the time, there would be no accidental discharges.
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it - Be aware of your surroundings whether on a range, in the woods, or in a potentially lethal conflict. Never shoot at sounds or at a target you can not positively identify.

Tragedies could be avoided if everyone involved with firearms followed these rules all the time.

Fr. Frog lists these rules and other firearm safety procedures here. It is very well put together and even old hands at the firing range would be advised to look it over.

Another gun shop closes due to minor clerical errors

Longtime owner, a former law enforcement officer, says his livelihood is gone

The federal government is closing Roy Stone's gun store in downtown Merced because of clerical errors in the business' records.

By Leslie Albrecht
Last Updated: August 12, 2006, 12:36:55 AM PDT

The federal government is closing Roy Stone's gun store because he broke the law. His crime: sloppy bookkeeping. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is revoking Stone's license to sell guns after an audit revealed clerical errors on paperwork that customers fill out when they buy a gun.

"(Revoking the license) was due to repeated violations of the Gun Control Act that were found during the inspection process," said ATF spokeswoman Nina Delgadillo. "The violations relate to record-keeping obligations."

But Stone said the mistakes were a handful of minor errors like writing the wrong date next to a customer's signature, or forgetting to check off one of the 36 boxes on the three-page form that all gun buyers complete.

What other business can be shut down permanently because of minor clerical errors? Taking Mr. Stone at his word (and there is no reason not to, no charges were filed), we see that there is an agenda by a government entity to close gun dealers and limit the accessibility of firearms to law abiding citizens. The article continues:

Stone isn't the only local gun dealer in trouble for paperwork mistakes. He said seven gun dealers in Fresno have been shut down recently.

Gary Mitchell, owner of Gunrunner Gun Shop on Yosemite Park Way, said the ATF has threatened to revoke his license too because of faulty records.

"We're just businessmen," said Mitchell. "We don't want bad guys to get guns. We're trying to work with law enforcement -- both state and federal -- and they're fighting
against us."

Seven other dealers have been shut down, businesses and livelihoods taken away by the stroke of a pen. This is happening all over the country, and this is happening without any kind of oversight. The BATF pretty much does what it wants. From entrapment at gun shows to closing down businesses, these relics of Prohibition continue to stomp on the Second Amendment and our freedoms as American Citizens.

California does not allow a private individual to purchase or sell a firearm without going through an FFL licensed dealer. Eight less licensed dealers means eight fewer places for law abiding citizens to buy and sell firearms.

There is a bit of irony in this particular story though:

The ATF crackdown carries extra sting for Stone, because he spent his career working in law enforcement, retiring as a California Highway Patrol officer in 1993.

When he was a police detective in Modesto, he worked side by side with ATF agents, sometimes drinking coffee with them in his office.

Now that same agency is shutting his business down, and while he didn't expect any special treatment because of his background in law enforcement, he said it doesn't feel good to have the "good guys" against him.

I have to wonder about the "cases" he worked with these "good guys". I wonder just how many lives he may have ruined for the lack of a $5.00 tax stamp on a short barrel rifle or shotgun?

This story was listed on Gun Owners of America

Q & A in the Los Angeles Times

The San Fernando Valley in California is experiencing a rash of "Takeover Robberies" in restaurants and other small businesses. A takeover robbery is when a group of robbers enter an establishment and rob everyone in there. It is violent and dangerous. Let us see what the L.A. Times has to say about this in the Q & A feature:

Analyzing Troubling Surge of 'Takeover' Robberies in the San Fernando
Valley

From a Times staff writer

August 23, 2006

Question: There have been more than 200 "takeover" robberies of restaurants and other businesses over the last year. Why has this become such a problem?

Answer: Los Angeles police officials believe that robbers have discovered they can make out with a good deal of cash and valuables by targeting local restaurants without facing the tight security of banks. The upturn comes as bank robberies in Southern California have plunged — 455 last year compared with 2,600 a year during their peak in the early 1990s.

Could a major part of the problem be that it is illegal for folks in most of CA to defend themselves? Could it be that the bad guys know that a restaurant full of law abiding citizens is easy pickings?

So what is the answer to this problem? What can restaurants to to protect themselves from these predators?

Q: What can businesses do to protect themselves?

A: Officials have talked to some retailers about taking steps to keep from becoming victims. ..

... Officials have urged restaurant owners to make sure back doors are locked and to consider beefing up security.

Problem solved.

This is just another example of how strict gun laws just make it easier for criminals to commit crime, of how strict gun laws endanger the lives of law abiding citizens.

Pay-Per-View hotel porn has arrived on the Conservative Hit List.

The Courier-Journal reports that several conservative groups have banded together and are attempting to get the FBI and the Department of Justice to investigate hotel porn:

NEW YORK (AP) -- Pornographic movies now seem nearly as pervasive in America's hotel rooms as tiny shampoo bottles, and the lodging industry shows little concern as conservative activists rev up a protest campaign aimed at triggering a federal crackdown.

A coalition of 13 conservative groups - including the Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America - took out full-page ads in some editions of USA Today earlier this month urging the Justice Department and FBI to investigate whether some of the pay-per-view movies widely available in hotels violate federal and state obscenity laws.

There are quite a few issues that these groups support that I would be supporting with them. This is not one of those issues. There are many hotels to chose from that do not have pay-per-view porn (the article indicates that only 40% of hotels offer pay-per-view porn), and the ones that do require a positive action on the part of the viewer to watch the porn. It is not something your kids are going to see by accident. It has been said many times over that you can not legislate morality. You can elect a moral government and you can pass on your moral principals to your children, but you can not expect the government to require morality from everyone.

It is possible that there is an ulterior motive here, the same motive that causes the hotels to provide this entertainment feature in their rooms. Money!

The coalition also is trying to draw attention to CleanHotels.com, a directory of hotels and motels nationwide that pledge to exclude adult offerings from their in-room entertainment service.

Just as I have the right to order the Blade Trilogy on PPV if I wish, so does a person or couple have the right to order the legal entertainment of their choice.

The best way to get hotels to stop providing porn as part of the entertainment package is to only stay at hotels that do not offer it. And, let them know that is why you are staying there.

This is a very well written article by DAVID CRARY and well worth your time.

My first post - Driving with money is a crime!

It seems that Eight Circuit Court of Appeals feels that if you are traveling with a large amount of cash, you must be a bad guy. It does not matter if you were arrested or convicted of any wrong doing, your cash can become the property of the police department that finds it. The Newspaper.com has this to report:

A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that if a motorist is carrying large sums of money, it is automatically subject to confiscation. In the case entitled, "United States of America v. $124,700 in U.S. Currency," the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit took that amount of cash away from Emiliano Gomez Gonzolez, a man with a "lack of significant criminal history" neither accused nor convicted of any crime.

Yes, you did read that correctly. You do not even have to be accused of committing a crime to have your cash confiscated. Now this is quite the revenue generating concept for your local police department.

The court's reasoning?

Yesterday the Eighth Circuit summarily dismissed Gonzolez's story. It overturned a lower court ruling that had found no evidence of drug activity, stating, "We respectfully disagree and reach a different conclusion... Possession of a large sum of cash is 'strong evidence' of a connection to drug activity."

This is just another example of the Judicial Branch gone wild.

The full opinion is here.