Why I Carry a Gun

From the back of Eddy Bay - Tranquilla 2 --- A few years ago I was facilitating a retreat when a middle-aged woman walked up to me and commented on my Life Membership pin to the National Rifle Association on my lapel.

"Oh, I see you are one of those," she said almost with a sneer.

"Yes, mam," I replied.

"Well, so I guess you 'pack heat' wherever you go?"

"Yes, mam wherever the law permits," I replied.

"Well, I guess you think you are pretty big and tough, huh?"

"No, mam but may I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"If you were to walk out of this building this evening and walking to your car you were assaulted and about to be kidnapped and possibly raped, would you want me to come to your aid?"

"Well, of course I would."

"Then 'mam be thankful that I am a NRA life member, can group a series of head shots on the move at 10-feet in the head of an assailant and that I 'pack heat' because that would be our best chance of getting you away from them safely."

The woman turned on her heels and stalked off.

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Like me or not, I have always seen myself as a patriot, one who believes in and abides by the Constitution and the laws of the land.

I pay my taxes, work hard, buy only homes I can afford, drive a 16-year old pickup, invest in gold and guns, have my own faith but try and not impose it on others, and live a quiet albeit sometimes frantic and hurried life.

I have saved my money - someone would say 50-cents of every dollar earned, love my wife and family, care for and even dote on my dogs, drink some good whiskey and wine now and then, eat a good steak, and enjoy my friends and entertaining them.

I believe that the United States is not in its decline but has many more good years to come. I am fed up with incompetency in the private and government sector and believe it is time to correct both.

I don't riot, whine or complain when the government doesn't bail me out of something, I simply pick up the pieces and try again. I don't believe the government owes me anything and I certainly don't believe in the "distribution of wealth" because I have worked long and hard since I was 13 to acquire my personal wealth.

I have had my heart broken many times. I have lost family and friends to cancer, heart failure, accidents, war and old age and yet my life goes on.

I fly my flag proudly.

I listen to National Public Radio, CNN, MSNBC and Fox News and I don't trust any of them to tell me the complete truth as I am curious enough to find it on my own.

All of those things make me who I am.

I believe my way of life should be protected and preserved.

So, before you judge those of us and our decisions about securing CCW permits and carrying weapons you might want to read the following carefully. It pretty well summarizes my feelings. It was shared with me by G.W. Hayden, a dear old friend. Simper Fi --- Dr. D

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"My old grandpa said to me 'Son, there comes a time in every man's life when he stops bustin' knuckles and starts bustin' caps and usually it's when he becomes too old to take an ass whoopin."

I don't carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed.

I don't carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.

I don't carry a gun because I'm paranoid. I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world..

I don't carry a gun because I'm evil. I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.

I don't carry a gun because I hate the government. I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.

I don't carry a gun because I'm angry. I carry a gun so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.

I don't carry a gun because I want to shoot someone. I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk or sitting in a restaurant, church or my car somewhere tomorrow afternoon.

I don't carry a gun because I'm a cowboy. I carry a gun because, when I die and go to heaven, I want to be a cowboy.

I don't carry a gun to make me feel like a man. I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.

I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate.

I don't carry a gun because I love it. I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.

Police protection is an oxymoron.

Free citizens must protect themselves.

Police do not protect you from crime, they usually just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.

Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'...

author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

A LITTLE GUN HISTORY

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control.

From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1911, Turkey established gun control.

From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.

China established gun control in 1935.

From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Guatemala established gun control in 1964.

From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Uganda established gun control in 1970.

From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Cambodia established gun control in 1956.

From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.

You won't see this data on the US evening news, or hear politicians disseminating this information.

Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens.

Take note my fellow Americans, before it's too late!

The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson.

With guns, we are 'citizens'.

Without them, we are 'subjects'.

During WWII the Japanese decided not to invade America because they knew most Americans were ARMED!

If you value your freedom, please spread this anti gun-control message to all of your friends.

The purpose of fighting is to win.

There is no possible victory in defense.

The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either.

The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.

SWITZERLAND ISSUES EVERY HOUSEHOLD A GUN! SWITZERLAND'S GOVERNMENT TRAINS EVERY ADULT THEY ISSUE A RIFLE. SWITZERLAND HAS THE LOWEST GUN RELATED CRIME RATE OF ANY CIVILIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!

IT'S A NO BRAINER!

DON'T LET OUR GOVERNMENT WASTE MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE ALL LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AN EASY TARGET.

I'm a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment!

Israelis Baffled by News of Defenseless US Soldiers

TYBEE ISLAND, GA. --- From my friend and fellow patriot Andy Rymer.

Israelis Baffled by News of Defenseless US Soldiers


Many Israelis want to know: why didn't the soldiers attacked by a U.S. Army major-turned-terrorist return fire?

When a Muslim goes, well, Muslim in Israel he is typically shot to death by someone--say, a reserve soldier--within seconds of screaming "Allah Akbar."

In contrast with the Israeli experience, it took 10 minutes before a civilian police officer at Fort Hood was able to shoot and stop Muslim fanatic Nidal Malik Hasan.

How could that happen? How could so many people trained in the strategies and tactics of modern warfare be so defenseless?

The answer--and this may astonish many Americans--is that the victims were unarmed. U.S. Soldiers are not allowed to carry guns for personal protection, even on a 340-acre base quartering more than 50,000 troops.

So it goes in brain-dead, liberal America .

Fort Hood is a "gun free" zone, thanks to regulations adopted in one of the very first acts signed into law by anti-gun President Bill Clinton in March, 1993. Click http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r190_14.pdf for the file.

Contrary to President Obama's crocodile tears, his administration is bent on further disarming the U.S. Military, and all Americans. Obama and his people will not rest until every American is a sitting duck..


Israeli teachers, from kindergarten on up, are also armed; so, a Virginia Tech-type slaughter is highly unlikely at an Israeli university.

Israelis, who have had to combat terrorism all their lives, are not afraid of guns. They are an armed people, ready, willing, and able to defend themselves and their country.

Unlike indoctrinated Americans, paralyzed by fear and political correctness, Israelis understand that people, not guns, kill people.

And the same holds true for the Swiss, where after completing their obligatory military stint of 2 years , they go back home into civilian life with their issued military weapon and ammunition ready for any state emergency. They also attend government-sponsored fire-arms training annually., and if necessary, they can mobilize in a matter of days.

As you might expect, their crime-rate is also one of the lowest in the world. Why? Because the criminal knows the potential victim is armed!

Personal Boundaries - Where Do You Draw The Line? By Kathy Jackson

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From Chateau Amoire at Tybee Island, Ga. --- I have long advocated to my men and women friends that you must take the time to think through what you would do in a true "life or death" situation whether you carry a weapon or not.

What would you do if someone tried to kidnap you?

What would you do if you were taken by force and told to get on your knees with you back to the attacker?

What if you were on a plane that was being hijacked by a homicide terrorist?

What would you do if you saw someone being beaten, raped, or kidnapped?

I have thought through all the above scenarios mainly because at one time I was responsible for seeing that none of these happened to my clients.

I also have considered what I would do for myself, my wife and my friends.

The following article by Kathy Jackson is thought-provoking and a good read. It is time for you to think through each scenario and come to your own conclusion.

"Personal Boundaries:

Where Do You Draw the Line?"

"...I will not kneel. No one is going to execute me.

If I die, I'll die fighting....."

by Kathy Jackson

The last few weeks we have been republishing some articles from past issues of Concealed Carry Magazine to give everyone a taste of what they are missing if they aren't a subscriber to the United States Concealed Carry Association. This week's article is from the Web Only Articles. We have way too much great info to squeeze into the issues of Concealed Carry Magazine, so we publish the additional articles on the web. New articles are added every week.

Listed below are some conditions under which I intend to fight back even if I don't think I can win.

I have made this list for myself because I understand that the natural thing to do, when something bad happens, is to deny that it is happening: "This can't be happening to me!"

Even if you get past that thought (a lot of victims never do), the other natural tendency is to tell yourself that if you wait, if you do what the other person says, things will get better. The situation will work itself out. All you have to do is cooperate. The attacker will take your wallet, your car keys, whatever, and leave you alone. Just wait, do what he says, and everything will be okay. That's what most people who are attacked tell themselves -- and in most cases, that is exactly what people should do. Even if you are armed, why kill someone if you don't have to? It's only stuff!

But while waiting for an opening and cooperating with the attacker might be the best survival strategy in many situations, there are a few very specific situations where waiting and cooperating are the worst things the victim can possibly do.

A woman forced into a car by an attacker, for instance, has a 95% or higher chance of getting killed if she complies. Even if it seems highly likely the attacker will kill her right there if she doesn't get in the car, the fact is that right at that moment, the odds are the very best they will ever be for her. They might be lousy odds, but they aren't going to get any better. So I have decided, in advance, that if I'm ever in that situation, that's when and where I will fight back no matter what my frozen brain and in-denial guts are telling me about my odds.

Similarly, a man forced into a back room on his knees, with his back to the attacker, has just been put into the execution position. Most of the time, when someone is forced into this position, what comes next is a bullet in the back of the skull. Once you are on your knees, you don't have any more choices left, even if do you suddenly realize what is about to happen. If you're going to save your own life in such a situation, you have to make the choice to fight back before you're on your knees.

The purpose of analyzing this stuff beforehand is to make sure that even my frozen brain and my in-denial guts cannot lull me into cooperating if I am ever in one of the extreme places where a victim really needs to fight if she is going to survive. Because I've thought about this stuff in advance, if something like it ever happens, even my frozen brain will have a definite decision point.

Some of my personal boundaries are:

* I will not go anywhere at gunpoint. If the bad guy wants me to go somewhere else, it's because he will be able to do something to me there that he is unwilling or unable to do to me right here, right now. Therefore no matter how bad the tactical situation seems right here and now, right here and now is the absolute best chance to fight back I will ever have and I intend to use it.

* I will not be tied up. If the bad guy wants to tie me up, it is because he wants to do things to me that I would be able to prevent if I were not tied up. Therefore, I will resist while I am still able to do so.

* I will not kneel. No one is going to execute me. If I die, I'll die fighting.

* If someone tries to take one of my children, I will fight even at the risk of my child being killed in the resultant firefight. I plan this not because I have positive assurance that I would be successful, but because I would not be able to live with myself if I simply "allowed" my child to be taken, brutalized, and his body perhaps never found. I'd rather watch him die in front of me. (Yes, that's harsh ... but given those two options and only those two, which would you choose?)

My point is not that your boundaries should be the same as mine. It is simply that even though you can wait until the very last moment to make the final decision about fighting back, you should have certain things already set into your decision-making machinery beforehand. If you don't, and if you are ever attacked, you may not have enough time to do anything but stand there with your brain frozen solid while your attacker takes all your choices away.

Kathy Jackson is the Managing Editor of Concealed Carry Magazine.