Gun Control, The Real Facts

Most of you know that I am against gun control and the ridiculous measures legislatures continually try and pass.  Here are some of the major reasons why gun control is wrong.

• Guns are used by law abiding American citizens in self defense approximately 2.5 million times per year or about 6,850 times per day.  That equates to a lot more innocent citizens surviving and a lot more scumbag criminals being stopped.
• Concealed carry laws have reduced the murder and crime rate in all states where concealed carry laws have been passed.
• The 2nd Amendment protects the rights of individuals to keep and bear arms.  The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
• Washington D.C. has the most restrictive gun laws in the nation and is frequently the leader in murder rates.  While the murder rate in concealed carry states has decreased an average of between 36% and 49% Washington D.C.’s murder rate has increased 46%.
• More people die every year from motor vehicle accidents or sports related injuries then from accidental gun discharges yet you never see anyone trying to ban motor vehicles or sports.
• Gun control laws only disarm law abiding citizens.  Thugs and criminals won’t obey them as they are deviants to begin with.
• Given a choice criminals prefer unarmed victims 100% of the time.
• Self defense is an individual responsibility which cannot be delegated to someone else.  Firearms with proper training are the most effective form of self defense.

Freedom and Government Revisited

There are many important things to know about freedom and government.  Below are some of what I consider to be the most important ones.

• Your elected representatives could care less about your opinions and interests unless of course you are a major financial donor.
• Governments will use fear as a weapon and by doing so, create real or imagined threats that they will claim only the government can solve.
• Never waive or give up your rights under any circumstances.
• Strangers are just that, strangers, so do not engage in talking to them about anything private or sensative.
• Never make an assumption that an expert is really an expert.
• If you have fundamental differences with certain people it is a waste of time to argue issues, politics or philosophies with them.
• Avoid the victim mentality.  Take responsibility for your decisions.
• Consider nothing as true until you have verified it.
• Freedom means never having to beg the government for your fundamental rights.
• It is okay not to respect a political office if you don’t respect the person in that office.
• Draw your line in the sand so that you know what you will and what you won’t tolerate.

Removing Personal Data From Images (Survival Security)

When taking pictures with a digital camera or cell phone camera, these devices will add personal data to the pictures you take.  In many instances it is better to scrub the image which means removing the date, time, place, GPS coordinates or other info from a picture before sharing it online. Windows will make this fairly easy to do. 

Step 1 – Place the pictures you want to protect in a folder.   

Step 2: Select all image files then right click and select Properties.

Step 3: Select the Details tab, then click on “Remove Properties and Personal Information.

Step 4: Remove properties.  If you want to remove all possible info, just click OK to create a set of copies identical in every way except for the identifying information.  You may then delete the originals and save the copies.

Common Sense Survival Things Everyone Should Know Revisited

When it comes to any type of TEOTWAWKI (The end of the world as we know it) survival situations, there are some common sense survival things that everyone should know.

• Survival requires proper planning and good gear.
• Food, water, guns, ammo and other necessary survival items should be already stocked before a survival situation occurs.
• Avoid dehydration and starvation at all costs.
• Have a secure, well stocked, defendable location available.
• Firearms with sufficient ammunition and sharp knives for defensive purposes are essential.
• Avoid strange, dangerous areas and strange, dangerous people.
• Crowds can quickly turn violent and can get you killed.
• Light and noise discipline is essential.
• People will fight and kill over scant resources.
• Thugs will try and take what you have.  Be prepared to stop them.
• Martial law is always bad.
• People who thought you were nuts for prepping when times were good will start showing up on  your doorstep when times are bad. 
• Never show weakness.
• You must rely on yourself.
• A welfare mentality will get you killed.
• Trust your sixth sense.  If something seems wrong then it is wrong. 
• Bad guys with guns should be avoided.  If you cannot avoid them then you need to be better armed then they are.

Things Worth Achieving

I’m going to diverge from my usual survival and preparedness related posts, Conservative political opinions and weapons related items just this once so I can mention some important things I feel everyone should strive to achieve in life.  I’ve told this over and over to my children and I’d like to pass it along to you.

1. Attend college and graduate with an employable degree.  It is never too late to go to school.
2. Enjoy what you do for work.  If you don’t then find another line of work. 
3. Be proud of your country and proud to be an American.
4. Find someone who makes you happy and when you do stick with that person.
5. It’s better to have money and be happy then to not have money and be happy or unhappy.
6. Life is too short to be miserable.
7. If you don’t like something about your lifestyle or your personality, etc., then work on changing it.
8. Have a hobby you enjoy doing and do it.
9. Learn the art of relaxation.
10. Agree with everything I say; oh alright, agree with everything I say most of the time 🙂

Why I Oppose Gun Control

There are many reasons I oppose gun control.  The following statements will explain my reasoning.

• Gun control laws only deprive innocent law abiding citizen’s from being able to defend themselves.  Criminals will still be able to obtain guns illegally even with strict gun control laws and only law abiding citizen’s would be forced to turn their guns in, the criminals would still keep theirs.
• It is unconstitutional to ban guns.  The 2nd amendment clearly states the right to keep and bear arms and this has been supported in many court decisions.
• Guns are the ultimate equalizer when proper training has been obtained.  They provide protection for example to allow a 120 pound woman to stop a 260 pound man from raping, assaulting and killing her.  They provide the ability for a person to defend themselves when attacked by someone who is significantly stronger or when attacked by multiple individuals.
• The vast majority of guns are never used for criminal purposes.  Like the saying goes 90,000,000 gun owners in America didn’t shoot anyone today.
• More people are killed in this country in auto accidents then by guns yet you never hear anybody saying ban all vehicles.  Those who want to ban guns generally are afraid of them because they’ve never been taken to a shooting range or been properly trained. 
• Remember gun control ultimately isn’t really about guns but instead is about liberals having control and limiting our freedoms.
• As another saying goes it’s better to have a gun and not need it then need a gun and not have it.  Just ask most victims of violent crime who were not armed when attacked.  I meet many of them when I’m at the gun range who tell me they used to be anti gun until they were attacked, now they are pro gun seeking out as much proper training as possible.
• It is each law abiding citizen’s ultimate responsibility to be able to defend their homes, family and themselves from violent thugs and criminals.  Police in most areas will take 12+ minutes to respond to a 911 call if the 911 call can even be made.  Do you really want to be defenseless during that time if your life or the lives of your loved ones are in jeapordy.

 

Hurricane Categories

Most people have probably heard the term hurricane categories but what do they really mean?  The following is a listing of hurricane categories and their meanings; so the next time you hear that a Category 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 is approaching you will know what to expect.

• Category 1 – Wind speed between 74 and 95 MPH.
• Category 2 – Wind speed between 96 and 110 MPH.
• Category 3 – Wind speed between 111 and 130 MPH.
• Category 4 – Wind speed between 131 and 155 MPH.
• Category 5 – Wind speed in excess of 155 MPH.

 

Liberal Conservative Battle

As many of you may know my politics are conservative.  I have never really understood the liberal mindset so I can’t grasp why liberals seem to take the opposite positions on so many common sense conservative things.  In an effort to understand this I’m listing my top 5 personal political issue positions on items that are of importance to me.  

1. Illegal Immigrants – Deport them immediately.  By the very nature of them being here illegally they are breaking the law.
2. Gun Control – I am against this as gun control only renders law abiding citizens without defensive weapons.  No criminal is going to say “hey they passed a gun control law so I’d better turn in my guns.”  The right for law abiding citizen’s to keep and bear arms is a Constitutionally protected right.
3. Welfare – As a one time option for let’s say no greater than 12 months for those citizen’s who qualify I support this.  Beyond 12 months no.  Anyone who stays on welfare as a lifetime commitment should really be ashamed of themselves.
4. Political Correctness – I am against this.  All things should be called by their proper names.  Calling a violent thug, murder or rapist a “disadvantaged individual” masks what they really are.  a terrorist is a terrorist, they are not “misguided and misunderstood people.”
5. Affirmative Action – I am against this.  No matter what race, religion or ethnic background you are you should try to get the best education and best job that you can based on your own individual merits, not on a quota system.  I have achieved things on my own merits and hard work and if someone told me they were giving me a job or an education based on a quota and not on my merits, I as a self reliant individual, would find that insulting.

So there you have it.  I look forward to some interesting comments on these specific issues. 

How to Zero Your Rifle Scope

When you zero your rifle scope what you are doing is making sure your point of aim equals your point of impact.  The following are the steps I use to properly zero my rifle scope.

1. Make sure your scope is properly and securely mounted and leveled on your rifle.
2. Go to the range and set up on the shooters bench making sure the front of your rifle is supported on either a sandbag or a bipod so it is as steady as possible.
3. Set your paper target out at the 25 yard mark.
4. Fire three shots at the center of the target to get a representation of how tight the grouping is.
5. Adjust your windage and elevation to move the sight picture towards the center of the target based on where your original grouping was.  Check the markings on your scope.  If it is a 1/4″ scope every 4 clicks turned either left or right (windage) or up and down (elevation) will move the sight picture 1 inch in that direction.  If it’s a 1/8″ scope every 8 clicks turned either left or right (windage) or up and down (elevation) will move the sight picture 1 inch in that direction.
6. Determine how many inches away from the center of the target your origial shot grouping was and based on your scope markings move the windage knob (right side knob) the appropriate number of clicks, then move the elevation knob (top knob) the appropriate number of clicks.
7. Repeat steps 4 through 7 until your shot groupings consistently hit the center of the target.  Once you can consistently hit the center of the target your scope is now zeroed with the rifle.

Once you’ve done this often enough you should be able to sight the rifle in and bullseye the target every time in about 5 minutes.  If you later move the target out to 100 yards only slight adjustments in windage and elevation should be needed.

Methods That Carjackers Use

In order to avoid being carjacked, it is worthwhile to understand the methods that carjackers use.

• Carjackers will bump your vehicle from behind and when you get out to exchange insurance information or inspect the damage they will steal your vehicle.
• Carjackers will stage an accident with fake injuries and when you stop and get out to assist, your vehicle will be stolen.
• Carjackers will follow you to your home or office and when you park they will pull up behind you so you can’t escape then steal your car and leave with both vehicles.
• Carjackers will flash lights to get your attention then when you pull over your vehicle will be taken.
• Carjackers will pose as police officers and when you pull over they will take your vehicle.

So how can you prepare yourself.  Try the following.  Stay away from dangerous areas. Be situationally aware of your surroundings, if something feels wrong then get out of there.  Keep your doors locked and your windows rolled up.  Maintain sufficient distance between vehicles so that you have an avenue of escape if a carjacking starts.  If you cannot see the rear tires of the vehicle in front of you then you are too close to that vehicle.  Your vehicle is thousands of pounds of raw power, use it effectively.  Make sure to keep a fully charged cellphone number handy with your emergency phone numbers pre-stored.