Michael Bane on School Board Shooting

I obviously have no reason to reblog anything of Michael Bane's simply because he is so wide read, but I do feel a need to add an addendum to this post from Wednesday. 

Michael and his colleagues made it quite apparent that the situation that occurred in the Florida school board meeting is a very real and very realizable for anyone.  Unfortunately, as is discussed in the linked post, most states have felt the need to restrict "sensitive places" and carve out gun free niches in the purview of compelling interest.  As illustrated this week, those gun free zones turn into "willing victim zones."  Most of us in the gun blogging and pro-self defense community would agree that the best way to stop this attacker would have been to demand peaceful disarmament through compelling request (read good guy with a gun shouting for compliance) followed by superior firepower if the request was not honored.  Unfortunately, that was a solution that could never manifest itself since the "rules" altered the game of the "gun fight." 

Which leads to Michael's question posed:  What do you we need to learn from this event?  Unfortunately, the answers from the professionals leave a lot to be desired, simply because there is no clear cut answer.  Every one of us can simply say the law needs to be changed.  True.  As the common sense world has shown, there is no such thing as a "gun free zone" when there is a bad guy with a gun meaning to cause good people harm.  But what should the individual do to mitigate this problem?  How should you or I prepare to deal with a potentially disastrous situation when we are forced to be unarmed? 

I have noted before that, currently, I have the choice made for me on a statewide level since I am a Maryland resident.  Permit Unobtainium is a serious problem where I reside.  That said, several of us in the Maryland community have come across this theoretical question before.  In Mr. Bane's post, I noted that several of the top tier trainers implied that they would consider disregarding the law and/or signs that create gun free zones.  I can assume that the saying goes that it is better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.  However, my libertarian mind works in mysterious ways; meaning, my rights stop at your door step.  That applies to both "state" owned property and or private property and business that don't wish for you to be armed.

The biggest issue I take from some of the responses is this avocation for "bending" the rules.  Considering there are varying degrees of punishment depending upon what state you are in, I don't know if I can agree with that assessment.  My initial assessment of the Maryland Shooters thread with a "private gun free zone" was to ignore the sign, keep it concealed, and not get caught, thinking that the most that would happen would be a request to leave and or a potential trespass charge.  In Virginia (where I carry the most) that would not be the case.  Violation of a private property posting would result in the loss of the permit, and a potential weapons charge since a permit is no good where the permit is no good (sorry for the bad English).  Further, as we learned this summer, that can compromise you when you end up the unwilling victim of bad police work and corporate policy.

Considering that there are a lot of issues that need to be worked out in a post-Heller/McDonald world, it is hard to completely agree with "bending the rules."  If a permit violation were as cheap as a small civil fine and "don't do it again," I would completely agree with ignoring signs that create no gun zones.  However, in states like Virginia, where the charge could be a high level misdemeanor that results in the loss of a permit as well as the potential to make me a prohibited person in the state of Maryland, the loss of the rights is my risk to the reward of remaining alive.  Following the law should not allow someone to loose their life, but in the tyrant state, that's the rules as they have been carved out.

Currently, it is hard to feel completely unsafe in the United States.  We are still extremely fortunate that crime has not degenerated into mass levels like seen in Mexico or even Argentina.  That said, as the economy continues to degenerate, we will see the degenerates attempt to keep their money for nothing scheme alive.  Desperate people will do desperate things, or as was illustrated in the Florida school board shooting, crazy people will do crazy things.  Meaning?  Be prepared!  

Update:  Fortunately, as I typed this, Michael Bane in his good ways, has an updated "what we've learned" post on how to deal with this type of threat.  While the carry aspect of it does not fit in with the Maryland Permit Unobtainium, everything else in his latest post does.  Some of his helpful tips are bulleted here in summary here: 

• Always be aware of your surroundings!  ALWAYS!
• Stay in a conditioned yellow (or moderate awareness) until you are certain you are in a safe environment.  Don't look at people, but look at actions, emotions, and the "tell" of someone meant to do yourself, your family, or others harm.
• When a bad situation does present itself, don't just react for the sake of reacting, but be calculated in how you react.  Non-action is the worst and almost always results in death or harm.  Do something, even if that something is wrong.
• Every time you enter a new room, assess the situation.  Where are exits?  Where is cover?  (Adding my own here)  Where is the best place to stay out of the mass rush?  People get trampled when panic sets in and flight takes hold.  Evading a gunman only to be crushed by the sheep won't bring you home safely.
• Read the others on both posts for a complete understanding of what professionals would do if in this kind of a situation.

A Recipe for Breda: Toliet Paper Casserole

Noted guns & butter, recipe master, Breda, could have a field day with the notoriously high in fiber, with extra protein dish that constitutes a customary shopping trip every time the "ZoMG! WHITE DEATH is falling from the heavens, SAVE US GOD!" 

Basically, if you are unfamiliar with Baltimore, nearly every time there is a snow storm, the TV stations will put out multiple reporters to various "live shots."  One of those live shots will invariably show the obligatory "empty shelves" of the grocery stores.  Of the empty shelves, the Baltamorons that are interviewed will be guaranteed to tell you that they have just bought milk, eggs, bread, and toilet paper.  This phenomenon has come to be known as the "casserole" effect, appropriately named by my grandmother. 

The reason being that those ingredients (milk, eggs, bread and TP) are the key necessary ingredients to making Toilet Paper casserole.  Though there is no known formal recipe, one can surmise that it would read something like this:

1 Forecast of at least 1" of ZoMG! WHITE DEATH (snow)
3 cups of Baltimore News Channel Reporter and TV Crew
3 tbsp of panic
1 closed school system (prior to the snow)
1" of snow
1 gal 2% milk
Doz & 1/2 large eggs
1 full loaf of Wonder Bread (white preferred)
1 Charmin value pack (8 rolls)

Take one mixing bowl and place the Baltimore TV weatherman's forecast of at least 1" of snow on the 6 PM evening news.  Watch this newscast until you hear the word "snow" repeated at least 6 times.  At which point we then shake in 1 cup of the Baltimore News Channel Reporter & TV Crew doing live shots before one flake of snow can even be seen.  This live shot may include canned footage of highway crews loading trucks with salt and placing chains on their tires. 

At this point, take one of the 3 tbsp of panic and use it in the mixing bowl of sensationalism.  Go to bed, and let the mixture percolate in the fridge over night.  At 5am the next morning, arise from bed and check the local news to see that the TV crews are still indeed doing their live shots from last night.  If they are, turn on your AM radio to 1090.  If at least one school system has closed, look out your window to confirm no snow is on the ground.  At this point, mix in the 2nd tbsp of panic, wake and dress the kiddies so you can get them ready to go to the store. 

While at the store, head straight for the diary case first.  Eggs and milk are the first things to be picked over, followed by bread.  Toilet paper will be the last product to be picked over of the four main ingredients.  Do not purchase any other products as this will prevent the casserole from being adequately formed.  Use the express lines in the grocery store, and chat with as many people as possible about the yet to occur storm in hopes you will induce enough panic to cause your sensationalism to build to ludicrous speed.

Exit the store to head home, but if you would happen to see any TV crews, make sure you stop and talk with them, mentioning the fact that you were fortunate enough to be the last person to get any of the key ingredients to make your casserole.  Safe guard these items with your life because if they should be stolen, your life will most certainly come to a screeching, panic induced end. 

Once at home, retrieve your mixing bowl from the fridge and let warm.  Once the TV crews report the first flake has hit the ground, you can then mix in 3cups of milk, and your remaining tbsp of panic.  Crack open 2 large eggs and place the remainder in the fridge.  Fold in one roll of toilet paper and 4 slices of bread.  Mix thoroughly until well blended. 

Poor mixture into one medium sized casserole dish (preferably Pyrex) and let bake @ 350 degrees until the end of the snow storm. 

Servings are variable by nature, and not known to contain any nutritious qualities. 

Helo Ben's Facebook Page

Zero Hedge has been doing a series of artist renderings of political and economic leadership's "desktops" lately.  Yesterday, they took it a step further and did a rendering of Helicopter Ben Bernake's Facebook profile. 

The rendering comes from William Banzai who's blog is full of financial parodies and is worth a look for the (un)amusing factor.  Meaning, that the pics are so satirical, that they portray the reality that the political and economic leadership don't want us to know (hence why they are "un"amusing). 

Enjoy and happy hump day. 

Upstart Blog Goes Live! CCWStories: Pleas from Marylander's for Self Defense Rights

It is no secret that I am a concealed carry advocate.  Unfortunately, my home state illegally infringes my natural right to self defense and my enumerated right to keep and, more importantly, bear arms.  Though the Second Amendment Foundation, a local Vietnam Vet, and Alan Gura are attempting to rectify that problem, a fellow www.marylandshooters.com board member has started a new blog to change the political and legislative landscape for fellow advocates.

CCWStories will publish the stories of Marylander's who would seek handgun permits to wear and carry if the state's discretionary permitting process was changed to that of a shall issue policy.  Further, the blog owner is encouraging Marylander's with permits to detail the process they went through to obtain their permits, specifically their troubles in obtaining them, the hoops they had to jump through, or the restrictions donned upon their permit.

Non-Maryland citizens are also asked to offer stories of obtaining permits from their home states and what it is like to have the ability to exercise the right to self-defense.  Feel free to include information detailing the states you are allowed to carry in with either reciprocity agreements from your home state or non-resident permits you have obtained from other states in an effort to conceal carry nationwide.  Of course, actual stories of self defense are also welcomed! 

Most importantly, share this new blog with your friends, family and network.  It's time that the stories of law abiding citizens are published for all to see.  We have them [anti-gunners] on the run, let's show them no mercy in their retreat to the woodshed!

Bloggers are the "Worst of the Internet?" Nice Try CNN, but Not Quite

Let us correct what the true meaning of John Roberts comments are:  "The truly nasty side of the internet is the right-wing nutjob bloggers who have finally been allowed to have an outlet for their pent up frustrations.  How dare they talk out against their overlord media and call into question our integrity and 'journalistic' qualities.  We report the news, they hide behind pseudonyms.  Not like they matter much at all, because they are non-impacting upon the 'real news' that the likes of this network reports."

First off Mr. Roberts, if us bloggers don't really matter, why are you talking about us?  Talking about us only gives us the credibility that some of us desire.  I for one know that in reality, those who read my comments are mainly friends and family, and fellow bloggers and message board members who primarily share the same political philosophies as myself.

We also know that you hate the fact that someone on some blog happened to provide Mr. Breitbart with the "inconveniently edited" tape of Ms. Sherrod's NAACP comments so your contempt for the exposure of a hypocritical liberal organization is so great, that it is impossible for you to hide your true meaning. CNN and Mr. Roberts dislikes the fact that despite Ms. Sherrod's come to Jesus moment, her actions as a public official were still rooted in racism.  As soon as she decided to not do her duties to the fullest extent possible, based on skin color alone, she had perpetuated the prejudice that the NAACP claims to fight against.  While I personally applaud Ms. Sherrod for admitting the failures of her human kind, as a public employee, she is held to a high standard of personal integrity.  Did that standard warrant a firing?  Probably not, but, the fact remains that she openly admitted that some people will discriminate within their government positions based on race and race alone.  Dr. King, Jesus, and God, don't see color, last I checked, but some of their decedents certainly do.  

Does the expose of Ms. Sherrod and the subsequent exposure of shoddy editing and portrayal in the "pajama-media" deserve a full on excoriation of the First Amendment?  Absolutely not!  If we need an FCC sheriff of the internet, then so too does the alphabet media.  Most of the "right-wing blogosphere" is motivated by nothing more than a relentless search for the truth with an underlying moral background to seek the truth and the justice that follows.  Most of us merely opine and direct people to "real" new sources, that actually report the facts that we seek.  We also know that the right-wing side of the blogosphere is under strict scruitiny from the likes of CNN and Mr. Roberts.   Unlike the dino-media cohorts who have to redact and edit past articles for their false statements, untruthfulness, and then subsequent flushing of these correct items down the memory hole all, we follow our hearts for the truth not for their hidden agendas.  I'd think that we [bloggers] are the gatekeepers that Mr. Roberts would actually like to see monitoring the "monitors" of the free society and it's internet.

In summation, Mr. Roberts, we'll keep our free internet, blogs, and the inconvenient truth, you can keep the change.