Good Job Guys!

It is always a pleasant surprise to find news such as this, not a single negative remark to be found.

From the Herald Citizen:

By Ashley Bergthold

Local gun shop recognized as top dealer

COOKEVILLE -- Top Guns, a locally-owned gun shop in Cookeville, has seen some changes take place since the first of the year. The business got a new partner, expanded its product lines and was recognized as a top dealer in Tennessee.
Adam West opened Top Guns in March of 2006 and in January of 2007 William Horner became West's business partner. Both West and Horner were avid gun enthusiasts before becoming owners of the store...

... Top Guns was recently recognized as a Smith and Wesson top gun dealer. According to West, there are only five dealers recognized by the gun manufacturer in Tennessee. The recognition goes to Smith and Wesson top volume dealers, which is based on total gun sales.

It looks like they are doing something right. Good job guys, keep up the good work.

The Liberty Sphere: Second Amendment News Roundup for 6/21/07

The Liberty Sphere has started a daily Second Amendment News Roundup with links to blog commentary on Second Amendment issues.

Today's post:

The Liberty Sphere: Second Amendment News Roundup for 6/21/07

Grannie get your gun

In the State of Texas, 17,256 people age 60 and over received a CHL in 2006. That is almost 28% of all the CHL's issued during that year. The oldest person to get a CHL in '06 was 92 years old. On a side note, we had seven 19 year olds receive a CHL this past year. The age group that had the highest representation was age 59, which received 3.08% of all CHL's issued in '06. The demographic reports for calender year 2006 (up through October) are to be found here.

Why did I bring this up?

It seems that it is news that our older citizens are armed in Ohio.

From the Plain Dealer:

By Joe Guillen

Grannie get your gun

Even at 69 years old, Russ Geis has enough vitality to bike through Stark County's remote nature trails.

He said the .380-caliber handgun on his handlebars will ensure he's doing it at 70.

Geis is among a growing number of seniors licensed to carry a concealed firearm. Because of the way the state collects such information, it's hard to determine exactly what portion of concealed-carry permit holders are 60 or older. However, some local permit data and anecdotal information indicate they have steadily packed heat since the state's concealed-carry law passed in 2004.

The article goes on to highlight a few other seniors who have accepted the responsibility for their own self preservation. As Mr Geis stated:

"You are out in a park, riding a bicycle trail and all of a sudden you're confronted by a drug addict who would kill you for $5," Geis said. "Are you going to sit there and say, Boy, I hope the police show up?'

Now from the anti's:

But gun-control advocates say society is safer with fewer armed citizens, not more. Senior citizens are no more at risk of being attacked than any other demographic group, said Toby Hoover, executive director of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence.

Also, despite the vulnerability older people might feel, there is a "code" among criminals against attacking women, children and the elderly, said Lt. Reginald Eakins, who's in charge of the division of the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office that issues concealed-carry licenses.

What a load of crud. Who is the local crack head going to rob, the 25 year old 6'1" runner, or the 65 year old grandma? Predators attack the weak and frail, it is a fact of life. I do not know who these folks are trying to kid, but it is not working.

Later in the article:

The Cleveland area has had a spate of high-profile attacks on seniors. Two seniors were killed in the city's Slavic Village neighborhood in recent months, including the March beating death of 78-year-old Joseph Krasucki.

What about that "criminal code" Lt Eakins?

Good News For One Firearm Manufacturer

From WPRI Channel 12 Eyewitness News:

Springfield gun maker reports record sales

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - Gun maker Smith and Wesson Holding Corporation reports record sales and earnings for the just ended fiscal year.

The Springfield-based company reported a nearly 49% increase in sales over the last fiscal year to almost $235 million.

Net income was almost $13 million.

CEO Michael Golden called the results "an incredible year."

The record results were driven by a 50% increase in firearms sales

That is some pretty good news. I'll bet a few anti's are having a conniption over this one.

After posting this I had to go check out the Foolish Forecast on Smith & Wesson:

What management says:
All the chambers have been loaded for Smith & Wesson as it continues its remarkable turnaround. While it seemed difficult to imagine improving on fiscal 2006, which saw revenue rise 27% and profits soar by 67%, this year has been another bull's eye for the legendary gun maker. Over the first nine months of the fiscal year, revenue was up 43% on the strength of a 46% increase in firearms sales. The January acquisition of Thompson Center Arms gives the company immediate firepower in the $1.1 billion longarms segment. Add in new and renewed police contracts, and you're staring down the barrel of a very formidable rival.

President and CEO Michael Golden, who has targeted the turnaround that began in 2004, noted the gun maker has taken aim and delivered on or near the mark. "We have delivered healthy, profitable growth in our core business and have entered all of the major long gun categories within two years of our decision to enter that market."

What management does:
Smith & Wesson has been able to consistently improve margins by keeping expenses in check. Gross and operating margins have been rising at a steady rate, and net margin, while also improving over time, has been subject to more volatility. Branding opportunities have spread the company name to markets that should bolster and expand its reputation -- like sponsoring a NASCAR team that runs at International Speedway (Nasdaq: ISCA) and Speedway Motorsports (NYSE: TRK) -- while introducing its weaponry to new and younger customers.

I wonder what part their new AR-15 (The M&P 15) played in this increase in sales?

Texas Governor Calls For Freedom

The article speaks for it'self:

From KXAN:

Perry Calls For Gun-Toting Freedom In Texas

While people across the country have called for gun control in the wake of Virginia Tech, Gov. Rick Perry called for gun freedom Monday.

Perry met with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, who is traveling the country to decide how the government can prepare schools for these types of situations.

Perry said Texas should consider allowing licensed, law-abiding citizens to carry their authorized weapon anywhere in the state.

"Whether it's on a college campus or wherever, and frankly, I think it's time for our citizens to be able to protect themselves," Perry said. "The last time I checked, putting up a sign that says, 'Don't bring your gun in here,' for someone who has ill intent on their mind, they could (not) care less."

Governor Perry and Attorney General Abbott have worked very hard for gun rights in Texas. Even prior to signing the Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground Bill, they worked to get reciprocity for Texas licensed CHL's with quite a few other states.

This statement is frosting on the cake. I look forward to holding him to this in the future.

Now if Perry would just forget about that pesky Trans Texas Corridor, and attempting to require HPV vaccines for all school girls in Texas, he could have quite the legacy.

Interesting Trends

Poking through the firearm related news this afternoon, I noticed some trends you might find interesting.

From KDFI Local 8 News:

Annual gun show attendance soars

SANDY, Utah Thousands flocked to the annual Crossroads of the West gun show this weekend, continuing a trend of rising attendance.

Show manager Bob Templeton says the two-day show at the South Towne Exposition Center attracted about 10,000 visitors. He says a similar show in February drew 12,000...

...He says the show's three-hour concealed weapons permit course also saw an increase in participants.

From KGW Northwest News Channel 8:

Number of Portlanders seeking concealed gun permits spikes

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The number of Portland-area residents seeking concealed handgun licenses has spiked in the two weeks since a gunman killed 32 people at Virginia Tech University.

Weekly requests for the licenses have tripled in Multnomah County and doubled in neighboring Washington County, officials said...

From Freep.com (Powered by the Detroit Free Press):

Wayne Co. Sheriff's Office offers gun training classes for women

More women are getting concealed-weapons permits now than ever before, according to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

And so, they’re getting training on how to use handguns.

The office is offering a gun-safety class from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 12. The first half will be classroom instruction at the Sheriff’s Training Center, 9555 Haggerty in Belleville. The second half will be firearms training at the indoor pistol range, 3100 Henry Ruff in Westland...

Contrary to what the Brady Bunch desires, more and more folks are accepting a bit of personal responsibility and are taking steps to protect themselves. This is a very positive trend that I hope continues a bit longer than the moment.

If you happen to be a new firearm owner, I would like to remind you that the safe and effective use of that firearm is your responsibility. Seek out and attend basic firearm training and make the Four Rules of Firearm Safety a habit.

A Note From the Good Guys

In yesterday's post, "Between Gun Lovers and Targets", I commented on an anti gun editorial printed in a California paper. The first comment to that post led me to a very well written pro gun editorial in a Texas paper. This one is well worth sharing.

From The Orange Leader:

By Erik Onstott

Thoughts of a gun owner on the massacre at Virginia Tech

Mr. Onstott begins his editorial describing Virginia Tech's "Gun Free School Zone" rules and commenting on an article published in a British newspaper, The Daily Mail. Next he takes on Australia's Prime Minister, John Howard:

As for the infuriation, we can look to Australia, as Prime Minister John Howard said that after a killing spree in his country in 1996, “We showed a national resolve that the gun culture that is such a negative in the United States would never become a negative in our country.”

Every time I see such sentiments expressed, the only thing I can do is shake my head and grind my teeth — because as a member of the “gun culture” Howard so cluelessly derides, I take such statements personally. People who make such asinine statements don’t have the first accurate idea as to what the American “gun culture” is really like. To a man and woman we’re some of the kindest, most hospitable people you could ever hope to meet. And as a member of that “gun culture,” I find it profoundly offensive that a man of John Howard’s stature — who should know better — would level such a disgusting slander at me and my people.

It’s quite comforting to know, however, that Howard is proven wrong countless times every day by the actions of millions of people who carry and/or own guns in the United States. It’s estimated that between 50 million and 80 million people in the U.S. own guns; when compared to the approximately 11,000 murders committed each year with firearms in this nation, it puts into stark relief the law-abiding nature of American gun owners. The murder statistic is a tragedy indeed — but it’s not the fault of the American gun culture, Howard’s shamefully distorted view of said culture notwithstanding.

And here’s why. In the words of libertarian essayist Eric S. Raymond,“There is a 3 percent or so of psychotics, drug addicts and criminal deviants who are incapable of the dignity of free men....But for the other 97 percent, the bearing of arms functions not merely as an assertion of power but as a fierce and redemptive discipline. When sudden death hangs inches from your right hand, you become much more careful, more mindful, and much more peaceful in your heart — because you know that if you are thoughtless or sloppy in your actions or succumb to bad temper, people will die.”

This is just a short excerpt from Mr. Onstott's editorial. I highly recommend that you head on over and read the rest.

First Hand Account

It is not often that a blogger gets a first hand account of the use of a concealed firearm by a CHL holder.

Blogs of War has such an account:

Gun Control Gets Personal

My neighbor didn’t stand a chance and he was getting pushed down the sidewalk. I decided to sprint for the attacker’s back and try to spear him and put him down when my neighbor, arms and legs bloodied, came up in a perfect shooting stance with a .380. He was amped and screaming “Don’t fu*king do it..back away” and I was in the middle of it...

Head on over and read the rest, I'll hold off on my comments until later.

Uncle Sam's Shooting Gallery: 100 Years

Xavier has posted a bit of firearm history, a Popular Mechanics article on the National Rifle Matches of 1940.

TRAVELING in planes, trains, buses, private cars, trucks, and even on foot, more than 10,000 eager men, women, and youngsters from all corners of the nation will head toward the shores of Lake Erie in mid-August for the largest sporting event in the world. The lure that draws this myriad of bankers, housewives, G-men, clerks, police, shopkeepers, and citizens from practically every other walk of life, is the annual National Rifle Matches sponsored jointly by the U. S. War Department and the National Rifle Association...

Head on over and read the rest of the article, and some interesting comments here.

D.C. Gun Ban Overturned

A couple of folks have asked why I have yet to comment on the recent overturning of Washington DC's gun ban.

Basically it is because everyone else has done a very good job of getting the good news out there for the world to read. I would not have much to add to the commentary already written.

Gun Law News has compiled a fairly thorough list of articles and commentary on this very important decision:

D.C Gun Ban Overturned

Accidental gun fatalities hit low Point

Fatalities due to accidental/negligent of a firearm are heartbreaking events that leave families and friends stunned. The sad truth of the matter is that pretty much each and every one of these incidents could be prevented by safe and proper handling of all firearms.

If you watch the news and listen to the anti's, you would think that accidental/negligent firearms related deaths are on the rise. The facts show that quite the opposite is true.

From South Coast Today:

By Marc Folco

Accidental gun fatalities hit low Point

Today, the annual number of accidental firearm-related fatalities (730) is down 77 percent from a high of 3,200 in 1930. In comparison to the 730 accidental gun deaths, 809 die from being struck by an object, 893 die from natural heat or cold, 1,307 suffocate, 3,306 drown, 3,369 die from fires, flames and smoke, 4,272 choke, 17,229 fall to their death, 19,457 are poisoned and 44,757 are killed in car accidents.

Did you catch that? Down 77% since 1930!

In 1930, there were approximately 110 million people in the United States, today there are over 300 million. If you adjust the numbers for the population increase, the results are very impressive.

In 1930 there were 2.9 accidental deaths due to firearms per 100,000 people.

Today there are .24 accidental deaths due to firearms per 100,000 people.

That is almost a 92% decrease in accidental/negligent firearm-related fatalities since 1930.

The author of the article lists a few factors contributing to this accomplishment:

The decline is attributed to a number of factors including firearm safety education programs by educational groups like the NSSF and the NRA, state-affiliated hunter education programs, free locking devices shipped with new firearms and advances in firearm designs and manufacturing.

I would like to add a couple of thing that I think have helped decrease accidental/negligent shootings:

• Jeff Cooper. By publishing and advocating the Four Rules of Firearm Safety, Jeff Cooper has done more than any other individual or government entity to increase the safe handling of firearms the world over. The Four Rules, when followed, prevent accidental/negligent discharges.
  
• This is one area where the media may have actually helped instead of hindered. When there is an accidental/negligent firearm related death, the media is all over it. This has increased awareness of the dangers associated with unsafe handling of firearms and caused folks to be more responsible.

Jeff Cooper, the media, gun magazines, hunting and shooting organizations, shooting ranges, gun shops and blogs have all worked together to raise awareness of firearm safety. A higher level of awareness equals a safer population.

We can do better. We can reduce deaths due to negligent firearm handling by another 90%. If you own a firearm, be responsible. Teach everyone in your house the proper and safe way to handle a firearm, make it as instinctual as buckling a belt.

If you are interested in learning more about firearm safety, I have posted some good information here.

Thanks to ACE over at Airborne Combat Engineer for leading me to this article.

I Was Wrong!

On Friday, I posted a Texas Firearm Legislation Update. In my commentary I mentioned that Representative Vaught was attempting to hold HB 284 (The Castle Doctrine Law) up in committee. I stated:

It now appears that between the rally and the fax/phone campaign, the freshman Democrat who is Vice-Chairman of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee is trying to hold up the bill.

In the comments to that post, Representative Aaron Peña (the Chairman of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee) assured us that he expected Representative Vaught to vote with the majority on the Castle Doctrine Bill.

This morning Representative Vaught responded to this issue via email. Here is what he said:

JR, I have not received the e-mail you mentioned in your blog yet because I am in Dallas right now. However, in response to the general inquiry, the information you posted is not correct. I intend to vote for the Castle Doctrine bill. That has been my intention before coming to Austin, and has remained the case since I took office. I have listened to all sides, including the State district attorneys' groups (who did have some concerns about the bill), and I think we have a fair bill that will likely pass out of committee.

As an Iraq war veteran (OIF 1) and having grown up on a ranch near Fort Worth, I am a strong 2nd Amendment and self defense supporter. You will be hard pressed to find anyone in either political party who is stronger 2nd Amendment supporter than me. So, I am really puzzled why anyone would tell you I was against the bill. I would appreciate you sharing with me who gave you that information as it is a pure fabrication which should be addressed. Thank you, and please take some time to visit with me in Austin if you come down on Tuesday.

Allen Vaught

It seems that I was given faulty information about Representative Vaught and his actions in the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee concerning the Castle Doctrine Bill. My statement accusing Representative Vaught of trying to hold up the bill was incorrect, and I was wrong to make such a statement without attempting to do a better job of vetting my source. I am very glad to have this opportunity to set the record straight. I appreciate the fact that Representatives Peña and Vaught took the time to correspond with us and settle this matter.

The Castle Doctrine Bill is a very important piece of legislation. House Bill 284 defines the term "unlawful force" as it pertains to a goblin acting on a citizen, states that there is no requirement to retreat from a goblin who is demonstrating unlawful force, and helps to protect the citizen from civil suits.

It is a beautiful day, so V and I are off to the range!

Nearly 260,000 have license to carry weapon

From the Houston Chronicle:

By MELANIE MARKLEY

Nearly 260,000 Texans have a license to carry a concealed handgun, according to revised figures released this week by the Department of Public Safety.

At the end of last year, 258,162 people had permits, up about 4 percent from the year before and more than double the number in 1996, when Texas law first allowed people to carry concealed weapons.

And who are these folks?

Senior citizens and middle-agers are among the most likely to take advantage of the concealed handgun law.

Although those 55 and older represent just 28 percent of the state's population over the age of 21, they carry 46 percent of the permits. And one-third of the permit holders are 60 and older.

"I just turned 60, and I'm one of those guys," said Jerry Patterson, the former legislator who authored the concealed weapons law before he became Texas land commissioner...

...Patterson said he believes older Texans are more likely to have the permits because they have more time and resources to get them.

It can also be said that older folks realize that they make good targets and are at an increasing risk of being the victims of violence. They make rational decisions to minimize that risk, and to be prepared in the event that are assaulted. It only makes sense that they obtain a CHL.

According to last year's revised figures, 1.7 percent of Texans 21 and older had a concealed handgun permit.

Only 1.7% of Texans have a CHL. This is a figure we need to work on. The more folks have a CHL, the less likely anti gun laws will come out of Austin. It is just a political fact. People who take the time to get a CHL, take the time to vote. And guess what, CHL holders will not look favorably upon any politician who puts forward anti gun legislation.

As an aside; My wife and I were at a funeral yesterday. There were two guys a couple of rows ahead of us that were very obviously carrying under their suit jackets. One guy even adjusted his pants by grabbing onto the barrel of his firearm and giving it a lift. It surprised me because most of the folks I know that carry are discrete. I got a chuckle out of it and after pointing them out to my wife, turned my attention back to the service. I later learned that these two guys are police officers. There is no real reason behind sharing this little story, other than the fact that I found it interesting.

Finally, a Police Spokeswoman Gets It!

I think I am going to have to add the Albuquerque Tribune to my often read newspapers list.

While looking around for this afternoons topic, I found Alphecca had commented on a WorldNetDaily article titled "FIGHTING BACK 3 home intruders shot dead in Albuquerque". This article quoted the Albuquerque spokeswoman making some very interesting comments. These comments are not what I have come to expect to hear from police spokes-folks, so I decided to dig a little deeper and came up with this great article in the Albuquerque paper:

Using deadly force is legal

By Michael Gisick

The car in which Raymond Gabaldon died, according to Albuquerque police, had been reported stolen on Dec. 7, Gabaldon's 40th birthday.

Two weeks later, on Dec. 22, Gabaldon drove the car onto Desert Drive in southwest Albuquerque, where he chose a house in the 600 block and broke in, police say.

He'd done stuff like that before: twice in 1986 and again in 1992, 1996, 2005 and 2006. Burglary, robbery, auto theft, aggravated burglary, weapons, drugs. Jail. Probation.

There was a warrant out for his arrest Dec. 22, for violating his probation on a previous burglary charge, when police say he broke into the house on Desert Drive and got himself shot by the homeowner.

Gabaldon retreated outside, but made it only as far as the stolen car, where police found him dead.

He was the third man in the past month shot and killed after reportedly breaking into an Albuquerque-area home. Authorities say that's more likely a coincidence than a trend.

"Hopefully this is going to send a message to people who are breaking into homes," Albuquerque police spokeswoman Trish Hoffman said Tuesday. "They're engaging in very dangerous behavior, not only to the people they're robbing, but to themselves."

"Hopefully this is going to send a message to people who are breaking into homes..." Now that is what I like to see, a police spokeswoman supporting the right of citizens to protect themselves, and sending notice to the goblins that the police stand with the citizenry on this issue.

I do have to note that this particular incidence would not have taken place if the criminal justice system had done it's job. This goblin had a long history of similar crimes and should have been segregated from society long ago. The criminal justice system failed to do it's job, a homeowners life and well being was jeopardized, and the goblin was killed. I guess we can chalk it up to "all's well that ends well".

More Christmas Firearm News!

Guns, and gun owners are being portrayed by the media in a good light more often than I can recall happening in recent history. There is still a very large amount of anti-gun news being reported, but small stories like this are becoming more common:

From News 4, KXLY:

Trying out Christmas gifts on the gun range

Jeff Humphrey

SPOKANE -- With all the unwrapping and holiday dinner left behind on Tuesday a lot of people who didn’t have to work had some time to sit down and enjoy playing with their presents. Or, as the case was with many people, they took their new presents to the gun range.

The Sharp Shooting gun range in Spokane was closed on Christmas Day so Tuesday morning there was quite a crowd of new gun owners anxious to try out their gifts.

One of them was Ryan Evans, who must have been very good husband this year. His wife, with a little help from Santa, went out and bought him a .44 Magnum – a hand-held cannon that’s known as the weapon of choice for Hollywood's Dirty Harry – that’s surprisingly accurate.

Now I am getting a tad bit jealous...

Shooting is actually a family sport and respect for guns is something passed down from generation to generation. A lever action rifle is Kyle Graham’s first weapon and with a little help from his dad Butch is already familiar with some very important safety concepts.

"Always keep the muzzle pointed down range ... you always treat it like it's loaded," Kyle said.

Now for my favorite quote from the article:

Kids will always be curious about guns but experts say you can safely satisfy that interest at your local gun range, which can also be another way for parents and children to spend time together.

After the first of the year, I will be taking the sons of another blogger out for their first session at the range. I am really looking forward to this opportunity to introduce these guys to firearms and work with them on safety (maybe we will end up with a couple new 4H shooters by the time the day is done). I will introduce the basics, and be the last word on safety, while dad will be working with them on marksmanship. It is going to be a good day.

This article was found on Keep and Bear Arms.

Children learn gun safety

I do not have good data on the number of BB/pellet guns and firearms that were given as Christmas presents this year, but from the numbers I saw being purchased over the past month, I would say that there were quite folks waking up Christmas morning to a wonderful present. Many of these folks will be first time or otherwise inexperienced shooters who will require training in how to safely handle a firearm. That responsibility usually falls upon the giver of the gift or another experienced person close to the family.

The Sheriff's Office of Caddo County in Louisiana offers additional training for those with their first gun.

From The Shreveport Times:

Children learn gun safety

By Adam Kealoha Causey

The pops of .22 rifles firing and the pings of shells hitting concrete a second later filled the brisk air on a recent Saturday.

A row of five boys -- all about 8 to 10 years old -- faced shooting targets with parents, grandparents and Caddo sheriff's deputies directly behind or beside. The group braved the 30-degree temperatures for one purpose: learning the safe use of firearms.

The youngsters attended the first of three offerings of the Caddo sheriff's office "First Gun" courses for the fifth consecutive year at the Sheriff's Regional Training Academy in southern Caddo Parish. The classes are aimed at providing basic instruction for children who have never fired a gun.

This is a great idea, and I applaud the Caddo County Sheriff's for taking on this project.

I found this article on Keep and Bear Arms.

Programs Give Boost to Female Shooters

The best way to ensure that the people of "We the people" stand with us on Second Amendment issues is to introduce them to the shooting sports. The more people that are familiar with firearms and take part in the shooting sports, the more people that understand that firearms are not the issue as advertised by the anti's. The participation by women in the shooting sports is growing by leaps and bounds. The shooting sports are an area where women can compete with the men on equal footing, gender does not play much of a role in most of the shooting sports.

One program introducing women to the shooting sports was reported on in the Asbury Park Press out of New Jersey.

JACKSON — Fifty percent more women are target-shooting now than were involved in the sport five years ago, according to surveys conducted by the National Sporting Goods Association.

The statistics from the Connecticut-based trade association for the shooting, hunting and firearms industries show that of the 22 million people who target-shoot more than once a year in the United States, about 5 million, or 23 percent, are women. The surveys were conducted from 2001 through 2005.

More than 1.2 million women in the United States target-shoot at least 20 times per year, the surveys show.

"More and more women are discovering that hunting and shooting sports are great family activities," said Doug Painter, National Shooting Sports Foundation president.

Millions of women actively participating in the shooting sports, millions of women who are not scared of guns, who teach their children the safe handling of firearms. These are women who can look Sarah Brady in the eye and tell her to pack sand.

According to the NSSF, over the past five years, the numbers of women target shooting with air guns rose by 55 percent to 866,000; with rifles, up 53 percent to 2.7 million; with handguns, up 33 percent to 3 million; and with shotguns, up by 16 percent to 1.4 million.

Participation in the National Rifle Association's Women on Target events — which introduce women to target shooting — has grown with the sport.

The NRA started sponsoring the clinics in 2000. Thirteen events were held across the country that year, with about 500 women participating, said NRA spokeswoman Mary Sue Faulkner.

This year, more than 6,800 women took part in 229 Women on Target events, including the one held at the Central Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club in Jackson in September.

Did you see that? Three million (3,000,000) women actively practicing with handguns. That is 3,000,000 women who will have an option other than calling 911 if attacked.

To read the full article, go here.

Go here for more information on NRA sponsored Women's Programs.

I found this story on Keep and Bear Arms.

Gun club fired up over hobby

College shooting sports and clubs, not something you hear about during the sports portion of the evening news. Sanctioned teams are out there, competing at levels just as significant as the ball related sports we watch each weekend. See one of my earlier posts here highlighting a member of the Texas Christian University Women's Air Rifle Team.

A somewhat new wave on college campuses is the formation of shooting clubs. These clubs are more casual than the teams, and are open to any who want to participate and learn about firearms. One such club is the UNC Tar Heel Rifle and Pistol Club. As reported in the Herald Sun:

CHAPEL HILL -- Officers of UNC's Tar Heel Rifle and Pistol Club grew up firing guns.

Club president Dax Dixson, of Pikesville, started target shooting when he was 4 and, as a teenager, began entering competitions for firing military surplus rifles.

Vice president John Houston, of Garner, said he was like "the little kid from the movie that always wanted a Red Ryder," which is a popular type of BB gun.

And on the Pinnacle farm where Dwight Springthorpe grew up, hunting was used for pest control.

"You can't let the coyotes eat the sheep," the UNC sophomore said.

The three aim to share their interest with other Carolina students through the rifle and pistol club, which was formed last fall.

This is cool, and a great way to introduce college students to firearms and firearm safety.

The 60 or so group members travel to local ranges to try out hobbies like skeet shooting and rifle and pistol marksmanship. Most of the members of the club have never shot guns before, so officers place a big emphasis on safety and technique.

"We focus on teaching people how to use firearms without shooting one another," said Dixson, a UNC senior.

Instead of being overtly political, the club is mostly about fun and education, officers said.

The best way to insure our firearm freedoms continue is to take folks out to the range. Providing a save and enjoyable shooting experience for a person who is not sure about firearms will do more towards helping our cause than any amount of debate.

These shooting clubs are popping up on college campuses all over the country. Harvard, Duke and MIT are just a few of the colleges that have shooting clubs.

You can read the article in it's entirety here.

‘Brass on the grass’ surprisingly hot at Sciota Rifle Range, Unicoi’s best-kept secret

Best-kept secret? Well it was before this news article came out. It was nice to read about this range on public land, that is open to everyone, and appears to be well kept.

The article appeared in the Valley Beautiful Beacon, a paper serving Erwin, Flag Pond and Unicoi Tennessee.

Residents of Unicoi County may not know that within Cherokee National Forest is Unicoi’s best-kept secret, Sciota Rifle Range. Yes, muzzle meets mountain in a safe and beautiful, natural environment where use of the National Forest is not just limited to hiking, camping and fishing. Pistol, rifle, shotgun, and all kinds of gun enthusiasts may also enjoy the natural surroundings that the forest provides. And enjoy it they do . . .with a bang...

...The range is unsupervised and open during daylight hours only. There are 3 separate ranges, at 25, 50, and 100 yards, from which to shoot. It is advisable that you bring personal targets and silhouettes at which to fire, and throw away all trash that you accumulate, including shells and paper or plastic targets.

There is a fee to use the range, $2.00/day or $30.00/year, a very reasonable fee by any standards.

The article goes on to discuss firearm safety and range etiquette:

To fully benefit from the experience that the rifle range affords, one must know,

fully understand, and practice rifle range rules and etiquette.

First, always remember to put safety first and use range commands properly with care. Most importantly, never handle a gun as if it is unloaded, even if it is unloaded. Keep muzzles pointed downrange, keep fingers off the trigger until you are ready to fire, and only point the gun at your intended target.

They mention the necessity of bringing along eye and hearing protection, even for the non-shooters. This is very important. If you Sweetie is going with you to the range to watch you compete, she should have, at the minimum, hearing protection.

This suggestion got a smile out of me:

Thirdly, make sure that you have cleaned your weapons after each and every use. Showing up with a dirty firearm is not only a safety hazard but poses health hazards as well. A clean gun is ready for clean firing. Too, bring enough ammunition to the range.

I am not sure how a dirty firearm poses a health hazard, bu the suggestion that folks "bring enough ammunition" is priceless.

Thirdly, learn and use proper range language and body positions as you approach and participate in the firing line. A “hot” range is one in which gunfire is occurring or is expected to occur. Non-participants should stand behind the shooter and opposite the target during gunfire. During a “cold” range, no weapons should be handled, loaded, or chambered. A cold range allows shooters to check and/or change target settings. Only shooters should “go downrange” toward the target area.

Both hot and cold ranges are equally dangerous and require extreme care and caution. “Cease fire” means just that, stop firing. Finally, a range that is “clear” signifies that shooters may safely proceed toward their target.

Remember safety first.

In other words, during a cease fire, while folks are downrange checking/resetting targets, keep your mitts off of your firearms.

I hope you folks in this Tri-Cities area treasure what you have with this range. Ranges like this are few and far between.

Trust the Criminal

Say Uncle has an interesting post discussing the current trend by the media to encourage crime victims to "trust the criminal" and to "give him what he wants" and all will be okay. I have noticed this theme in our local media when they offer their "crime safety tips for the holidays", and it is becoming a popular topic on the gun boards and on blogs such as To Which I Replied...

#9 of Say Uncle points out the medias reaction to Commissioner Lambert's confrontation with the goblin Kane Stackhouse. If you will recall, the goblin attempted to rob the car dealership owned by the commissioner. The commissioner stopped the robbery by drawing his firearm and forcing the goblin to drop his own weapon. For further details go here. Later in the week it was discovered that prior to his attempted robbery of the commissioner, the goblin had murdered a truck driver. Even after it is known that the goblin is a murderer, #9 reports the following from a political talk show in Tennessee:

The second local event happened Sunday morning on the “Inside Tennessee” political talk show on WBIR. You can see a clip from the program on Say Uncle. Panelist and local Knoxville attorney Don Bosch made a statement to Lumpy Lambert that defies common sense. Bosch said to Mr. Lambert, “You increased your chances many fold over of being shot by pulling that gun.” So what is attorney Don Bosch saying? He is saying trust the criminal.

Mr. Bosch, is there no situation where you would condone drawing a firearm to protect yourself or your family? Even if the commissioner had not been as well trained as he was, even if he was slower than the goblin and was injured, at least he was injured defending himself from a goblin who had already killed and would not have hesitated to kill again if given the chance.

#9 goes on to mention:

There were six shootings in the same 24 hour period with two fatalities. The only firearm event that had a good outcome was the one where an armed citizen protected himself. The idea that armed citizens present a hazard to other citizens has not be proven, in fact in areas where carry permits are allowed violent crime has decreased.

Those statistics just do not seem to make it to the 10:00 news.

Let's see what happens when you "Trust the Criminal".

This is an article from today's local paper, The Star Telegram:

Arlington man shot in attempted robbery dies

ARLINGTON—Police are seeking help in identifying a suspect wanted in the killing of a 26-year-old man.

Sanal Nathan, a former University of Texas at Arlington student, tried to stop a robber from taking his fiancé’s purse when he was shot outside his apartment complex Monday night.

Officials said he tried to reason with the suspect but was shot in the chest and the suspect fled without the purse. He died at 3:18 a.m. Tuesday at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth.

Personally, I prefer the outcome of the commissioners confrontation over the outcome of Mr. Nathan's. Self protection is not just a choice, or even a right, it is a responsibility.