Whatever Happened to Eddie?

Disgraced New Orleans Police Superintendent and infamous hopolophobe Eddie Compass has officially moved on, trading police work corruption and hurricane stories excuses for a security job with a hotel group in New Orleans.

"I have had a lot of time to reflect on my life," Compass said. "I had gotten numerous job offers, some in the academic world, as the chief of police in different cities, some that were very, very lucrative," he said. "But its not about the money. Its about being a part of my citys revitalization." At a press conference to announce Compass new position, he asked not to be asked questions regarding the Police Department. "That's a part of my past," he said, "And I'd like to leave it there, in my past."

Patrick Quinn, co-owner of the New Orleans Fine Hotels group, said Compass is a welcome addition to its team. "After godliness and cleanliness, there is safety," Quinn said. "We know how important it is to keep our customers and clients safe . . . . so we wanted to find the very best guy we could to support what (local police) are doing to keep the city safe."

In accepting the new position, Compass is leaving behind a storied sullied 27-year rise to the top of the New Orleans Police Department, and a tumultuous end of days that came abruptly on the heels of Hurricane Katrina. Several people close to Compass have said Mayor Ray Nagin forced him from power. Compass has yet to name Nagin publicly as the man behind his resignation. Compass resigned a month after Katrina nearly broke the back of the city and its 1,700 1000 member Police Department. Desertions, officers alleged to have joined looters in pillaging and a pair of police suicides signaled a department unable to cope with the crisis that gripped the city.

Compass drew personal criticism when he emotionally recounted stories about rampant crime in the wake of the storm that eventually were proved untrue. "I'm not upset, not bitter," Compass said of his last weeks as a New Orleans cop. "I'm just looking forward to a new challenge . . . . I think this is my future," he said. "I'm a part of New Orleans. So I'm going to be a part of making it better."

Good luck Eddie. No, you may NOT check my bag.

Winchester 1000XS Review

I never thought I would own an airgun. Sure, I had shot a few as a kid.......they were little better than BB guns, although you could occasionally get lucky and bring down a blackbird with one. I began shooting .22LR early, and never saw the need for an airgun. Then, as an adult, I eventually settled into a house in a historic district on a river. It is a neighborhood infested with racoons, o'possums and squirrels. I recently found an attractively priced airgun in one of my favorite pawn shops. After shooting it behind the pawn shop, I decided to buy it. It was a Winchester 1000XS.

The Winchester 1000XS is manufactured by Daisy Outdoor Products, and is relabeled Winchester, along with it's airgun scope. It is a break action single shot .177 caliber pellet gun. Length is 45 inches, weight is 6.6 pounds. It has an advertised muzzle velocity of 1000fps at 17.1 ft/lbs. MSRP is $159.......my pawn shop price was $80. This rifle has a nice walnut stock, and a rifled barrel with a target crown. The sights and the safety lever are fiber reinforced polymer, ie. strong plastic. The scope rings are the see through type, so either scope or sights can be used.

It has been said the only interesting guns are accurate ones. To a great extent this statement is true. If so, the Winchester 1000SX is a very interesting gun. Pictured is one of my better targets, 3 shots at 30 feet. The rifle consistently shot < 1 inch groups, easily capable of hitting a squirrel or other varmit. The nice thing is those varmits can be taken out in the neighborhood without the neighbors complaining. Now that is cool! The scope held it's zero, and I had no problems at all with the rifle. The trigger could stand a little improvement, and I may tear things down to see if I can lighten it up a tad. As it is, it is quite useable. I am just used to my lightened 10/22 triggers.

Oh yeah.......this was supposed to be my little girl's Christmas present. I wonder if she would like some diamond earrings instead...........

Damn.

Argument Over Beer, Spaghetti Leads To Shooting
ORLANDO, Fla. -- An Orange County man is in jail, accused of trying to shoot his roommate with an AK style rifle. Their fight started after an argument over a beer and a plate of spaghetti. Investigators say David Fung-Cap just wanted a beer. "A beer. A beer. You know what, he was like, you didn't get me my beer. I was like, what are you talking about?" explained roommate Terah Mills.

Mills wanted some of Fung-Cap's spaghetti, and when neither would help the other, things got ugly. Fung-Cap went for his AK and opened fire. "Four times he shot at me. If it's my time to go, it's my time to go," Mills said he managed to wrestle the weapon away from his crazed roommate and left the apartment to get help from sheriff's deputies, who were already arriving. But then Mills accidentally fired another shot. The deputies thought he was aiming at them.

Thankfully, none of the five rounds fired in a densely populated apartment complex hit anyone. "I want my grandparents and parents to know that I love them and I would like a shirt and a cigarette and some shoes please," Fung-Cap said while being taken into custody. Investigators determined Mills was the victim. Now he'll keep the apartment, the beer and the food and, in the future, he said, he'll choose his roommates more carefully. "This guy's 25 years old. He's a grown man, just like me," Mills said. Deputies said there was nothing illegal about the AK, except for the fact that it was fired. Now it's in the custody of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

There's always an idiot somewhere.

The Shooter's Wheel of Corrections

Hitting a bullseye seems so simple in words. All you must do is align the sights and hold them there while releasing the sear of the handgun and allowing it to fire.

Shooting is an art. Like all art, the actual doing is so much more intricate than words can describe. All to often, it is not what you do, but what you do not do that gets that bullet on the mark. Here's a chart to help you figure out what you may need to stop doing. This chart is set up for the right handed shooter. Left handed shooters simply use a mirror image of the chart.

Update on Dan McKown

Brendan McKown, an assistant manager of the Excalibur Cutlery and Gifts store, was on his way to make a deposit at the time of the shooting at the Tacoma Mall on November 20. Of six people shot, McKown was the most seriously injured, sustaining injuries that have resulted in a bowel resection with a colostomy, and quite possibly paraplegia. Until now, Dan McKown has not spoken, having been in a medically induced coma.

When the shooting started, McKown, an armed CCW holder, said he didn't know who was firing at whom. Therefore, he made a snap decision not to stand up and fire back. McKown stated he briefly drew his gun on Tacoma Mall shooting suspect Dominick S. Maldonado, but he’s not sure Maldonado saw it. “I’m looking at this guy,” McKown said. “He’s a kid. I would have had to shoot him in the head.” So he yelled at the man to drop his weapon, an act that only succeeded in drawing fire. The deranged gunman turned and fired on McKown, striking him, he said, five or six times. The shots blew him back several feet, McKown stated.

"When I changed into another position, I see just the most surreal sight," McKown said from his bed at Tacoma General Hospital in a interview conducted by KOMO/4. "It's a young Arabic looking boy ... with a ball cap on and an AK in his hand," he said, referring to the weapon he thought the shooter was firing, a Kalashnikov rifle.

"So I said, 'Put down the weapon!' " continued McKown. "Obviously, he was faster on the draw than I was........It's a stupid statement, but I have a concealed weapons permit in case some idiot shoots up a mall," said McKown, who added that he likely would return to his job, and may also start doing stand-up comedy again.

McKown on Monday was upgraded to satisfactory condition, said Todd Kelley, a spokesman for Tacoma General. Kelley said McKown might be discharged in the next couple of days to a rehabilitation clinic. McKown said that in the end, he was thankful to be alive. "I'd be lying if I thought I was doing great," he said. "But I sure got off light, all things considered."

So what is there to be learned from Dan McKown's misfortune? Do not expect murderous criminals to obey commands you shout at them. Such a criminal is already disobeying the command of law and words alone will not stop them. If a CCW holder is going to engage such a threat with a handgun, they must maximize their chances by incorporating surprise, speed and accuracy. There is no shame or disgrace in using the ambush. This is life and death stuff, not a Tom Mix Western.

Reference
Reference

Shooting Through Doors

I was recently taken to task in this thread on The Firing Line for opposing shooting through doors. The fact is, I have met more than one man who made a fatal error by not identifying his target and shooting through a door. While the merits of shooting through doors can be debated endlessly, the necessity of identifying your target should not. I was reminded of this Firing Line argument when I read this article from Jackson Mississippi.

Burglary suspect killed on porch
By Kathleen Baydala
kbaydala@clarionledger.com

A Jackson man who shot through his front door at a suspected house burglar early Sunday morning never intended to kill him, a relative said. But Marcus Rawls, 23, of Jackson was found dead on the porch at 4:36 a.m. wearing a ski mask and gloves, officials said. Tory Willis said his brother, Cedric Marshall, was shaken up after learning he had fatally shot a man at 464 Willaman St. "He was trying to protect himself," said Willis, 23. "He wasn't trying to kill anybody."

Jackson Police Department Detective Brendon Bell said police had not charged the shooter as of Sunday night. Bell would neither identify nor confirm the shooter described as "an occupant of the house," but Willis identified his brother as the shooter. Marshall could not be reached. But during an interview at the home Sunday afternoon, Willis described what happened.

Willis said his brother told him two men he didn't know knocked on his door at 2 a.m. Sunday. And when Marshall didn't answer, the men tried to kick down his door, so he fired shots to scare the men off. Thinking he had done so, he went to bed, Willis said. A few hours later, Marshall's cousin drove by the house and called Marshall when he saw a man lying on the porch, Willis said.

Rawls died from a gunshot wound to the head, said Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart. "Right now the case has to be prepared and presented to the grand jury," Bell said. The grand jury will determine whether the shooting was justifiable. Bell could not confirm whether there was a second potential burglar.

Many of the surrounding neighbors on Willaman Street said the neighborhood is usually quiet except for a recent string of break-ins. Precinct 2 Commander Lee Vance said there has been criminal activity in that area in the recent past. "I would not say house burglaries are any more prevalant there than in other places," Vance said.

The homeowner stated he did not intend to kill. With those statements he may have destroyed a defense grounded on fear for his life. The threat was still on the homeowner's porch when he was shot. This one will be interesting. I hope this homeowner has some skin on his teeth, he might need it. Mississippi's justifiable homocide law can be found here.

UPDATE

Ski-masked man shot to death on porch had criminal history
Victim pleaded guilty to burglary in 2004; mother says he wasn't breaking in
By Kathleen Baydala
kbaydala@clarionledger.com
A bullet hole scars the center of the door of the Jackson home where Marcus Rawls was shot early Sunday. Although Marcus Rawls has a criminal history, including burglary, his mother said Monday she does not believe he was trying to break into a house when he was fatally shot early Sunday morning. "Why would he rob somebody when he had money in his pockets," Vonda Rawls said. Her 23-year-old son had been working construction jobs since being released from jail, she said.

Rawls pleaded guilty in October 2004 to charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling, receiving stolen property and cocaine possession dating to 2000, according to Hinds County Circuit Court records. He was sentenced to serve four years in prison and, with time served, was released last month, according to Mississippi Department of Corrections records. Police found Rawls dead on the porch at 464 Willaman St. at 4:36 a.m. Sunday wearing a ski mask and gloves. He died from a gunshot wound to the head, Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart said. Rawls had died shortly before his body was found by police, Grisham-Stewart said.

Jackson Police Department Detective Brendon Bell would not identify the resident, whom he described as "an occupant of the house," but Tory Willis identified his brother, Cedric Marshall, as the one who fired the gun. Bell would not confirm that identification Monday, saying the case is still being investigated and no charges have been filed. But Vonda Rawls said she is upset police have not charged the man who shot her son. The case will be presented to a grand jury, which will decide whether the shooting was a justifiable homicide. Attempts to reach Marshall on Monday were unsuccessful. Willis said Marshall told him Sunday he thought two men were trying to break into his home at 2 a.m. and shot through the door to scare the intruders away. "He was trying to protect himself," Willis said. "He wasn't trying to kill anybody." Bell would not say if Rawls was accompanied by anyone else at the time of the shooting. Willis said his brother did not realize he had hit anyone until a few hours later and called the police. Bell would not identify the person who made the 911 call to authorities.

Good luck to Cedric Marshall. Vonda Rawls is obviously delusional in her grief and avarice, and some slick attorney will be looking for a score. It's time Cedric Marshall told his brother Tory Willis to shut the hell up and hire legal counsel. Even if a shooting is justified, the defense costs in civil court can wreck a person.

Pawn Shop Circuit: Shotguns and Air Rifles

Neil's gun shelves had not changed much. He did have some really slick 5 and 8 string bass guitars out of hock, probably from New Orleans. Neil also had a Winchester 1894 30/30 with some nice wood for $150. It had a scope mounted on it, and it was a newer rifle, not an old one. I might go back for a gander on that one later.

Dave had a beater Remington 870 for $109. That was kind of interesting, except I prefer a Mossberg, and I have enough shotguns already. His Rossi revolver was still on the shelf along with a few black pistols.

Amber had a Taurus 80 revolver for $139. It was kind of neat, a nickeled Brazilian version of S&W's famed Model 10. I'm considering it, just to have a Model 10 copy.
Amber also had a very interesting rifle, a Daisy/Winchester 1000XS air rifle. This was a one pump, break action rifle that came with a scope. She had it priced at $80, and it functioned fine.

So, now I was torn.........This rifle would allow me to shoot varmits invading my attic with abandon, and it would also allow my daughter to shoot in our backyard. She already has a trimmed down Ruger 10/22, but she must go to the range to shoot it. This rifle is still a bit big for her, but she would grow into it.........The stock has a beautiful grain......it has the heft of a real rifle.....a good scope......Amber let me take it out back and pop a few cans.............it was accurate as all get out. Sold!
Now I just have to keep from shooting my little girl's Christmas present........of course, I have to do a safety check, I am a good Daddy..........and a function check.....and I have to dial in the scope.........make sure it's durable.......

Snipers on the Danziger Bridge?

Even in the desperate days following hurricane Katrina, the news flash seemed particularly sensational. Police had encountered eight snipers on an overpass shooting at relief contractors. In the gun battle that followed, officers shot and killed five or six of the marauders. Had the people of New Orleans' 9th Ward gone mad? Were there people more intent on hindering rescue than being rescued? Or were these official stories of snipers shooting at relief workers just one more example of propaganda distributed to justify the police-state tactics and gun confiscations employed by local authorities? New evidence exposes these tales of woe to be as false as the reports of widespread police defections in the aftermath of the storm. (Those reports have since been found to be a cover-up of payroll padding in the city's employment records under Police Commisioner Edwin Compass' tenure.) Authorities say they are still trying to reconstruct what happened Sept. 4 on the Danziger Bridge in New Orleans. One thing is almost certain. Civilians were not shooting.

A story in the Los Angeles Times appears to debunk the "sniper threat" accounts, quoting several citizens who claim to have been shot by police officers. The initial story in the New Orleans Times-Picayune declared that police "had caught eight snipers on the Danziger Bridge, shooting at relief contractors." They then shot to death five or six of the purported marauders in the ensuing gunfight. Later stories revised the account, reporting only two deaths and conflicting testimony as to who they were. Although not disclosed by police, one of the dead is a mentally retarded man, 40 year old Ronald Madison, who was merely seeking food and relief after the flood according to friends and family. Lance Madison, 49, said he and his brother Ronald Madison (deceased), were crossing the Danziger Bridge to reach the safety of a dental office owned by their brother Romell. Romell Madison is a dentist and a prominent community figure who has served on several state commissions, mostly involving healthcare. He said that his brothers, after being stranded for several days on the roof of Lance's apartment building in New Orleans East, were trying to reach his office on the Chef Menteur Highway. Romell confirms that to get there they had to cross the Danziger Bridge. "We ran for our lives," Lance told Chief Orleans Parish Magistrate Judge Gerard Hansen, who presided at the preliminary hearing, where Lance Madison faced eight felony counts for the attempted murder of eight police officers.

The (L.A.) Times reporters also located Jose Holmes Jr., 19; recovering from critical wounds suffered in the shooting, claiming he was shot for no reason at all. Holmes displayed wounds to his arm, neck, chin and stomach. A colostomy bag now drains Holmes' bowels. His left forefinger and thumb are frozen. Doctors told him his hand sustained permanent nerve damage. Holmes states the final shot at him was delivered via an assault style rifle, and at point blank range, despite the fact that he was carrying no weapon himself. Other unarmed victims, Leonard Bartholomew, 44; his wife, Susan, 39; and daughter, Leisha, 17; were also shot by the police. Susan Bartholomew lost an arm to what the family believes was a point blank shotgun blast. The other unnamed dead citizen was a 19-year-old man and a friend of Jose Holmes Jr. "A lot of people were running past us with guns and robbing people in the hotel and stuff," said Jontae Holmes, 16, a niece of the Bartholomews. "Then the generators got messed up and the lights started going off. It was scary." Six days after the storm hit, Jontae said, her aunt and uncle crossed the bridge to retrieve a wallet they had left at home. Susan and Leonard Bartholomew hoped to catch a rescue boat to navigate the still-flooded streets, the teenager said. The Bartholomews' nephew, Jose Holmes Jr. came along, as did one of his friends, another 19-year-old, who planned to search for his missing mother. Several other family members remained at their motel room. Police said Jose Holmes and his friend were among a group of "at least four suspects" near the east end of the bridge who began shooting at officers. When police returned fire, they said, the shooters jumped over a concrete barrier to a pedestrian walkway along the north side of the span. The suspects continued firing from behind the barrier, the police claimed.

There were some terrible, unforgivable acts carried out in New Orleans before, during, and after hurricane Katrina. Not all of those acts were the acts of citizens. The worst looters and rapists were those who looted and raped the US Constitution. The investigation of the NOPD's performance throughout the crisis is ongoing. It was nice of them to be so quick to claim credit for these deaths. It will be difficult to shift the blame.

Revising Reality

No, it's not another idiot with a gun, it's idiots with Photoshop.

The folks at Harper Collins Publishers are trying to revise history. Specifically that Clement Hurd, the illustrator of Goodnight Moon was a non smoker. See more at Goodnight Reality.com, and vote your conscience. It's time to decide whether history wil be recreated by politically correct fascists or preserved as it was. If you believe that Mr. Hurd's smoking photo is a bad influence, and as such should be altered, perhaps you will agree with his ficticious support of the 2nd Ammendment by ficticiously posing with his Glock. History is either as it was or as we desire to see it. The choice is ours. If we want to benefit from history, we must be honest about it.....all of it.

Hat tip to Tam.

Reasons I Like a J Frame in My Pocket

1. It's better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it.
2. I never have to wonder if a round is chambered.
3. It will fire with the muzzle pressed into ribs.
4. There is no safety to disengage.
5. I never have to worry about keeping it covered.
6. I can discreetly have my hand on my gun while assessing a situation.

My old beat up Smith & Wesson Model 38 wears grips that were given to me by a patient who was a State Trooper. I once compared it to a modern S&W scandium gun at the gun counter, and it was every bit as light in the informal lefty righty hand heft test. The bodyguard style frame rides in a pocket superbly, and cannot snag on the draw.

I will often carry a 1911 if I take time to strap on a holster, and have a cover garment. All to often, I just take the little J frame from the hook it hangs on in it's holster, slip in my pocket and go.

Idiots with Guns #7

There are those who may point out "Oh, it's only an AirSoft pistol." OK, sure.
There is an old saying.........as we train, so shall we live, and die.
This is one young lady who I would never hand a real gun to.
Yep, it's an AirSoft for an air head.

The purpose of Idiots with Guns is not to humiliate, but to educate. Over the years we have seen photos of people who, upon picking up a gun, just cannot resist pointing it at something they should not, with their finger on the trigger. This is usually the camera, another person, or themselves. These photos are often difficult to google up, because of the pages they are shown on. If you have archived any of these photos, feel free to send them in to bayouroversATjamDOTrrDOTcom

The Four Rules
1. All firearms are loaded
2. Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you are not willing to destroy
3. Keep your finger off the trigger unless your sights are on the target
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it

Sleeper

CITGO Clerk Refuses Assistance to Robbery Victim

Blognomicon tells us of a Gary, Indiana woman robbed at knifepoint at a CITGO station--and the clerk refused to dial 911!!

GARY, Ind. -- A woman who was robbed at knifepoint while pumping gas into her church's van couldn't believe it when the gas station attendant refused to call police for help. "I ran, of course, to the nearest place," Gary resident Rosetta Heffner said, recounting Sunday's robbery.Her request to call 911 was met with silence from the other side of the Citgo station's counter.
She tried again.
The clerk's response?
"Use your cell phone."
Heffner couldn't believe it.
"I thought it would be a safe haven, anything could have happened, and he told me to use my cell phone," Heffner told the Post-Tribune of Merrillville.

The gas station's manager said he was sorry about the robbery, but clerks at the station do not make emergency calls from the front counter, fearing retaliation for criminals."We have to be careful," he said. "If we call, then there are problems. They can hear. So we use the back phone. We are always helpful to the customer, but we have to protect ourselves."

Members of the Moving Spirit Church, which Heffner attends, regularly use the gas station to refill the church's vehicles. At least they used to. Member Latrell Peterson said the church will take its business elsewhere. "We have eight vans and three buses rolling every day, but we don't go there now," Peterson said.

If you have a blog, please consider telling your visitors about this, along with CITGO's contact information.
My email:
An Open Letter: Is This CITGO Corporate Policy?
Your website claims “We’re Your Neighbor.”
Your “Community Involvement” page tells us “At CITGO, we take ‘community’ seriously. Lending a hand to those in need is important to us.”
Yet, according to the Associated Press, when a paying customer asked your Gary, Indiana station clerk to dial “911” after getting robbed at knifepoint, on your property, your clerk refused. Your manager confirmed this is standard practice when asked.
Is it?
What is CITGO going to do about this?
And why, with all the competition out there, should the public do business with a company that shows such callous and cowardly disregard for the welfare of its customers?
Your reply, or lack of one, will be publicized. How much depends on the swiftness and acceptability of your reaction.

UPDATE 11/28/5

I recieved an email:
Thank you for your e-mail.
We are currently investigating this incident. Please understand that CITGO does not own or operate any retail outlets. However, we can (and will) take appropriate measures -- up to and including de-branding the station -- if such action is warranted.
CITGO is committed to operating as a good neighbor where we do business. Please be assured that we do not ignore nor take matters like this lightly.
Thank you for your interest in CITGO Petroleum Corp.

Sincerely,
Bruce McCall
Customer Service Representative
Midwest and Northeast Regions
x4886 or 1-800-423-8434, dial tone x6514
918-524-2114 - Fax
bmccall@citgo.com

UPDATE

According to AlanDP in my comments, this is a canned response. Go figure.

A Hero in Tacoma

On November 21,2005, Dominick Sergio Maldonado, 20, of Tacoma, Washington pleaded not guilty to assault, kidnapping and firearms charges for shooting up the Tacoma Mall. He is being held on $2 million bail. Police say Maldonado stormed through the mall shooting randomly at shoppers. He surrendered to law enforcement about four hours later after shooting six people and taking four hostages in a Sam Goody music store. On November 22, police were still trying to determine how Maldonado, a convicted felon, had obtained the two weapons he carried into the mall. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is helping Tacoma detectives trace the history of the weapons. Enough about the criminal scum. His deranged actions simply set the stage for the real story.

Brendan "Dan" McKown was delivering a bank deposit for Excalibur Cutlery, a mall gift store, when gunshots scattered shoppers at noon in Tacoma. Dan McKown was an armed CCW holder. Witnesses state that McKown stood about 20 feet from the gunman when he faced him and drew his own pistol before being shot. Whether he spoke to the gunman is unknown. "Our understanding is that Dan drew his weapon and confronted the gunman," his stepmother, Beverly McKown, said during a news conference Tuesday at Tacoma General Hospital. “Dan is always one who believed in protecting people and he put his life on the line for other people,” McKown's father said. “His actions and the actions of others like him may have prevented additional casualties by confronting the aggression and possibly changing the gunman’s action early in the conflict.”

McKown, 38, was shot twice in the abdomen and has been on life support, said hospital spokesman Todd Kelley. The two bullets severely damaged McKown's intestines and abdominal muscles, but doctors were able to repair the damage. Tragically, McKown also suffered injury to his spinal cord. A second surgery to remove bullet and bone fragments from his spinal canal was successful, Kelley stated, but the bullets caused "significant nerve damage that will likely result in permanent paralysis." McKown was being brought out of a medically induced coma Tuesday. The other shooting victims were treated at hospitals and released. A longtime friend of McKown's who talked with witnesses after the shooting said McKown always carried a gun. "He's always been worried about the way society is going, and for him, carrying a handgun was less for himself than for others," Syrus Corbin said. McKown "has always had a fear of being there when someone flips out and just starts shooting people, and I'll be damned if it didn't happen to him." Employees of the Kits Camera store, where McKown fell, cared for him for more than an hour before he could be rushed to the hospital. He was conscious, they said, but were unsure if he said anything.

The McKowns, of Yelm, Thurston County, described their bachelor son as a look-alike of late-night TV host Conan O'Brien, with a great sense of humor, a passion for photography and a deep Christian faith. They said that while they are worried he may be paralyzed for life, they are certain McKown's faith will sustain him. The Dan McKown Medical Fund, set up to help offset McKown's expenses, has been established through the Bank of America. Donations may be made at any Bank of America branch, the family said. The account number is 83799 577. The family would also like to encourage people to go to their local blood bank and donate blood in Dan McKown's name.

The McKowns, who are active in prison ministries in part because McKown's father spent some time behind bars years ago for his own "bad choices," said they have been praying nonstop for their son and for Maldonado. "We are not angry," said Beverly McKown. "We are praying for Dan and we are praying for this boy. God is a healer."

Many, including myself, will argue whether Brendan McKown's decision to take on a rifleman while armed only with a handgun was a wise decision. What is inarguable is that it was a courageous decision. Brendan "Dan" McKown, thank you. Your actions are a credit to CCW holders everywhere.

Update on Dan McKown

Teaching Our Youth

Today I went out shooting with the son of a friend. Lee is a young man who has an interest in pistol weilding, as well as old military guns. He had been waiting for this shooting opportunity for months. I gathered up a box of pistols, everything from Ruger MKIIs to a HK P7, to some 1911s, along with a CETME, an Kalashnikov, and a couple of Riot Guns. I lugged a crate of ammo and all my range stuff to the car, and took off. Five days prior, I had sent Lee an email containing the Four Rules to memorize, and a short list of what to bring, including a good attitude. I instructed Lee to learn the Four Rules, that he would be tested.

When I arrived, I had Lee recite the Four Rules before getting in my SUV to go shoot. He recited them without error or hesitation. Very good! I started Lee out on his father's Ruger MKII. I had him shooting at 10 yards, into paper plates. Lee did fine with the Ruger, and I kept him on it for about 200 rounds. I taught him that 90 percent of pistol marksmanship is trigger control. More specifically, being able to move a trigger while holding a gun in your extended hands without altering sight alignment. Lee got to where he was shooting 3 inch groups, but I could tell he wanted to move up in caliber. I explained that this might be a mistake, but Lee wanted to shoot centerfire.

I broke out a Beretta 92FS, and demonstrated it's functions to Lee. He was liking this a lot more. His groups expanded and left the paper plates a bit. I had him slow down, and work to get those groups back. I put him on the HK squeeze-cocker, and Lee saw how important his grip was to maintaining trigger control. He got back on the plates, and I shot the Beretta a bit to get the point across that it was not the equipment.

When Lee was back on the plates, he wanted to try out some plastic fantastic stuff. I had brought along two HK USPs, a fullsize and a compact. They were both in .40S&W. Lee shot them both and was all over the cardboard, mainly down below the plates. He didn't like that. Lee asked about Glocks, and I gave my opinion. Then I brought out my 9mm Commander, and Lee began to get on the plates again. He really liked that pistol, and he wanted to try a .45 1911. With a Colt .45 in his hands, Lee spread out his groups a bit, and then brought them back down to about 3 inches, staying on the plates. I told him this was damned good shooting for the first day.

Lee was wanting to explore those long guns, so I broke out the CETME first. Lee liked that one a lot. He was unable to expend my supply of .308 before the desire to shoot a Kalashnikov got the better of him. Finally, Lee went to the Winchester Riot Gun, and saw why it reigns supreme as a home defense tool. I put him on four plates arrayed across 15 feet at varying heights and he was able to hit all four in rapid sucession. Now he was pumped!

When we went back to the .22 pistol, Lee was all over the boards again. To correct this, I had him load just one round at a time into the MKII magazine. Doing that makes a person slow down and really make that one shot count. Lee began to get back on the plates, then to trim his groups a bit. I instructed Lee on dry firing, and again on the Four Rules. In fact, all throughout Lee's shoot, I would quiz him on the Four Rules, and he would unerringly state them.

Lee performed excellently on the range. He had no safety infractions, and he is a credit to his generation in his respect and dedication. I think there is hope for the Second Amendment!

Pawn Shop Circuit: A Police Positive

Neil had a Colt Trooper MKIII on his shelf again. I guess the owner of that gun is just paying the interest on it over and over. He had a couple of black tactical pistols as well.

Dave had a Taurus Model 65 for $159 along with his Rossi 971. Nothing much had moved in his cases.

Amber had a Beretta 96 Brigadier for $359.

One day, while in a hole in the wall pawn shop, I spied what I thought was an early Detective Special. It looked rather lonely in it's fake stag Franzanite grips, so I asked to see it.
What was handed to me was even more interesting.

I was handed a First Generation Colt Police Positive. As serial number 1529XX, it came out of the Colt factory late in 1923. All the numbers matched, and it locked up with the famed Colt tightness. What was interesting was the barrel. It had been cut down to two inches and had the original sight silver soldered back on. As I held the gun, I felt the history flow out of it. I felt more history in this gun than any sock drawer special collector gun I have held. The gun was altered and as such had no real collector's value. I'm interested in the history of concealed carry though, not the history of firearms manufacture. We dickered a bit and agreed on a price.

To me, this gun had value.

Because of the quality of the work, and the use of the original sight, I made the leap of faith that the attenuation of the barrel occured early in this Colt's life. At one time somebody needed effective concealed protection. Either it wasn't available from the factory or in the township, or money was not available. The owner of this gun decided to take matters into his own hands and delivered it to a skilled gunsmith. The revolver was delivered back to the owner as an effective carry weapon. I am drawing this conclusion based on the availability of weapons and the economic reality of the time, but I believe the barrel was cut down either before or during the Great Depression. Because of the remaining blue finish, I believe this gun was stored for several decades before it came into my posession. An interesting aside is that it fits perfectly into my J frame pocket holsters.

I was at first confused that on a weapon such as this, the hammer had not been bobbed. I learned from my patients that in the 1920's there were many people who had learned to shoot with the Colt SAA. Cocking a hammer on a draw was commonplace. On this gun, the thumb would likely have rested on the hammer while the gun was still pocketed, effectively shrouding it on the draw stroke. The unbobbed hammer supported my conclusion of when the barrel was cut down.

Million Dollar Baby

First, I know it was released in 2004. I prefer to wait in blissful ignorance about movies until I know they are worth my time. I also prefer to crash on the sofa with reasonably priced snacks and beverages and enjoy the damned show without loud greasy kids, big haired women, or stupid comments from the crowd. So it was when I finally purchased a previously viewed DVD of Million Dollar Baby. I knew the film had achieved aclaim at the Oscars, I just did not know exactly why. Now I do.

I suppose I was expecting an updated Rocky. I got that and more. Eastwood was sublime in his approach. Hell, you hardly even knew it was him. That is no small accomplishment for an actor of his stature. Likewise, Morgan Freeman slipped into the role of Scrap so easily that Morgan's familiar face disappeared from my conciousness.

Then there was Hillary Swank. Damnation. She did what few actors or actresses have done. She created a person so believable that every character she plays afterwards will be Maggie Fitzgerald playing someone else. Billy Bob Thorton did that in Slingblade. As the director, Eastwood never, never, forgets that less is more, and gives just enough information to tell the story. And what a story it is. If you have managed to remain ignorant of the story like I did, you think you know it. You do not.

Since I am likely to be the last person ever to give a review of Million Dollar Baby, I will let my predecessors' exaltations stand. I can hardly give it any more significant praise. This movie was unique. You can live without seeing it, but your life will be richer if you experience it. If you have not seen it yet, stop reading here. Get the movie and see it.

Now for my criticisms. I wish this film had been researched as much from a medical standpoint as a boxing standpoint. Any nurse or physician who has worked with paralysis can tell you this was not done. Three errors in Act 3 were glaring. Decubitus ulcers do not form in the popliteal area. Thier placement there was necessary only for cinematic camera angles. People who are taken off a ventilator rarely go gently into the night. Finally, epinephrine (called adrenaline in the movie) does not cause asystole.

Movies and TV have long used the nasal cannula to show that someone was really, really medically compromised. Every nurse I know snickers when they see this cinematic device. Seeing a trach vent to indicate the same was refreshing. Of course Christopher Reeve made that idea acceptable in Hollywood. If they had done a little research, the third act of the movie could have been as plausible as the first and second. But then, I'm not a boxer, so what do I know?

Firearms Bill of Sale

When I buy or sell a firearm privately, I always get a Bill of Sale. A proper Bill of Sale will give a buyer some protection against a stolen firearm, if nothing else creating fear in the seller's mind if the seller doubts the gun's history. It will also offer some legal protection if the gun is later used in a crime and traced back to the seller.

Here is the basic Bill of Sale I use. Feel free to cut and paste it into a word processor program and make up your own. That being said, I make no guarantees to it's validity in court. I am not an attorney.

Bill of Sale
Transfer of Ownership

For $______ received, I, (seller’s name here), have sold to (buyer's name here)
One (1) ABC Model XYZ firearm description here, Serial # _____________
Any other accessories here

I represent that this ___________ is not stolen. I am the owner of the _______ listed above. If it can be shown now or in the future that this _______ was stolen prior to the date listed below, I will give the buyer a full refund for return of the _______ and all accessories listed above.

Sold as is.
No warranty is expressed or implied by the Seller.
Seller assumes no responsibility after transfer of ownership has taken place.
Seller assumes no responsibility of any/all aftermarket parts added to the ___________.
Seller assumes no responsibility of any/all original equipment parts on the ________.
Buyer assumes all responsibility when transfer of ownership has taken place.

Seller specifically disclaims any warranties of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose of this ________ and disclaims all responsibility for consequential and/or incidental damages or any other losses arising from the use of said _________.

Buyer agrees to the terms and conditions set forth and listed on this document, and acknowledges that he has received a true copy of this Bill of Sale/Transfer of Ownership and certifies that he is 21 years of age or older. Buyer acknowledges and understands that he will read the Owner’s Manual. Buyer agrees that it will be his responsibility when transfer of ownership has taken place to adjust, check, and follow all instructions as outlined in the Owner’s Manual. Buyer attests that he is able to legally buy and possess firearms.

Buyer: Name Here
Seller: Name Here

Date:_________________________

Buyer: _____________________________
Address:____________________________
Phone #: ____________________________
Seller: ______________________________
Address: ____________________________
Phone #: ____________________________

Have You Been Wenzeled?

Anyone who has traded on ebay or sold a few things independently on an internet forum runs the risk of getting screwed. In California lives a boy named Charlie Wenzel, AKA cdubzon40s. Charlie liked to ride around in his jacked up 2WD silver pick-up truck, license number 7A97452. His blonde girlfriend enjoyed these trips as well. Charlie's Dad, Mark, a retired Naval aviator still flies. Charlie is now world famous. He decided to sell some used truck parts, gears to be exact, on an internet forum. Charlie lied about the condition, stating they were new when they were not. Then, after he had cashed the buyer's check, he demanded an extra $25 above the agreed on price, before shipping the gears. After all, reasoned Charlie, $25 was worth more than the good name his father had given him.

The storm that followed gathered slowly and deliberately, as people from all over the internet, who had been shafted on internet deals gathered. Soon, among Charlie Wenzel's nasty juvenile taunts, information began to be published. First, a photo of his father, then his phone number and address. Satelite photos of his home. Photos of his truck with license plate showing. Charlie's cell phone number popped up and he began recieving calls. His yearbook photos were located, posted and photo shopped. His girlfriends photos appeared. Of course the poor girl that had to sit beside him in class had her yearbook photo, name and thus her internet life examined. Charlie's baby pictures surfaced. A photo of Charlie's father's airplane was posted. Websites dedicated to Charlie Wenzel have begun. Merchandise is being marketed. What was left behind is a forum thread on Pirate 4X4 that will live as a testament to the anger that thousands of people can harbor when they have been ripped off by anonymous punks on the internet. All of this collective repressed anger was directed at Charlie Wenzel in a glorious catharsis.

Charlie typed up an apology, but the revenge was complete. The subject spread over so many forums, chat rooms, and mail lists that a Goggle search of Charle Wenzel turns up 767,000 hits, and it is still growing. Unfortunately for Charlie Wenzel, many employers screen prospective employees in just that fashion. There is an illusion of anonymity in cyberspace. The reality is it can be turned against you, and burn you for life like Charlie Wenzel.

Elderly Man on O2 Foils Invasion with Squirrel Rifle

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Despite being 83 years old and reliant on oxygen via nasal cannula for a lung ailment, Harry Carpenter wouldn't let his wife of 57 years be robbed by knife wielding intruders in his own home.

Two would-be thugs forced their way into the home of Mr. Carpenter and his wife, Jackie, while the two were having dinner, according to a police report. One of them forced Carpenter to sit down in the sun room, while the other went with Jackie Carpenter, 80, to get money from her bedroom. Carpenter tried to come to his wife's rescue but was threatened with the knife.

Then Carpenter got his break — his wife pretended to faint and the intruder who was restricting him went into the other room to see what was happening. Carpenter shuffled to his laundry room, where he kept an old, .22 caliber rifle that he owned since childhood. He fumbled for bullets sitting on a shelf. The suspect returned before he could load, so Harry slammed the bolt home and aimed the empty weapon at the intruder.

The home invader stopped dead in his tracks, yelled at his companion to flee, and they both hauled ass. Police were unable to locate the two suspects, who didn't get any money.

Score 0 for the thugs.
Score 0 for the police.
Score 0 for 911.
Score Knockout for the 2nd Ammendment.
Thank you Mr. Carpenter.

Do You Recognize This Man?

Troy L. Randolph is one of many registered sex offenders that are unaccounted for after hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Mr. Randolph uses the alias Troy L Trahan and was convicted of strongarm rape February 24, 2000. His present location is unknown. Information on other registered sex offenders who are unaccounted for since August 29 can be found here.

These offenders are dangerous to your community. They may be armed. Do not try to apprehend them yourself. Call the police. These people are convicted sex offenders. Warrants have been requested because they are not in compliance with Louisiana law. They have not registered their address and they could be living in your community. If you recognize one of these offenders, call the police.

Hat tip to Paw Paw.

Grammar Cops

I have been visited by the Grammar Cops. I recieved a comment correcting my grammar on a post a month old. I corrected my error, and then the Grammar Cop had the audacity to demand credit for their "work". To wit:

"...........typically include crediting those who contribute to your work (such as pointing out errors in your post which you incorporate.) I was just trying help you correct your errors and improve the image of the pro-gun community. Presentation of information is very important, especially in reaching audiences on the Internet."

Yeah right. Check out this presentation..........pack sand.

If you want a link, just ask. I'll give you one if you are not a jerk.

As a result, I am now moderating the comments on this forum. I apologize for the inconvienence.

I began this public soapbox to have fun, and possibly help other people who appreciate guns. Maybe entertain a couple of people. I have devoted considerable time to it at the expense of other endeavors. I don't give a rat's ass what my "audience" thinks of my grammar. If you would like to improve the image of the pro-gun community, then go do it somewhere else. This is my soapbox, and I'm going to say whatever the hell I want to, however I want to. If you don't like it, read something else.

I've been giving this blog shit a little to much time. I've posted at least once or twice a day since it began. I'm going to take a break. If you are disappointed and in need of something to read, I invite you to peruse the fine blogs in my bloglist. If you are offended, there is a line forming around the corner, and I don't give a damn.

Church Sign

National Buy Ammo Day!

Carnival of Cordite #39 is up!

Step right up! The Carnival of Cordite #39 is open for viewing at Resistance is futile!

The Carnival of Cordite is a weekly round-up of blog posts on guns, shooting, hunting, personal protection, and the law and politics of the Second Amendment. If this is your first time visiting Resistance is futile! then enjoy assorted ramblings about the political, economic, cultural, and bizarre news of the world, from the conservative viewpoint throughout the site...
Live, from Liberal Eugene, OR... You will be assimilated!

Louisiana HCR 39 Passes

Louisiana HCR 39 by Representative Steve Scalise (R-Metairie) is a resolution urging Governor Kathleen Blanco (D) to include legislation amending the state’s emergency powers law in the items to be considered during a broader Extraordinary Session expected in January.

As you’ll recall, law enforcement officials working for, or under the direction of, the City of New Orleans and St. Tammany Parish abused their authority under this law and confiscated legally-owned firearms from law-abiding citizens trying to protect themselves, their homes, and their families after Katrina hit. The NRA sought, and was granted, a temporary restraining order in federal court stopping this practice and requiring officials to return the guns to their rightful owners.

HCR 39 recognizes that firearms confiscations did indeed occur in Katrina's wake, and explicitly forbids unreasonable searches and seizures of any item, including firearms, as well as reaffirming the rights of Louisiana citizens to keep and bear arms as stated by the Constitution of the United States.

Idiots with Guns #6

Chico seems to be saying "Come on and get some" to his audience. It makes one wonder if he would be this cool if two hoodlums were threatening his ass. But then again it's not about protecting your ass is it Chico? It's all about looking cool and being Billy Bad Ass. Get some training before you hurt somebody.

The purpose of Idiots with Guns is not to humiliate, but to educate. Over the years we have seen photos of people who, upon picking up a gun, just cannot resist pointing it at something they should not, with their finger on the trigger. This is usually the camera, another person, or themselves. These photos are often difficult to google up, because of the pages they are shown on. If you have archived any of these photos, feel free to send them in to bayouroversATjamDOTrrDOTcom

The Four Rules
1. All firearms are loaded
2. Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you are not willing to destroy
3. Keep your finger off the trigger unless your sights are on the target
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it

From an email......

They say the loudest sound you ever heard was the gun you thought wasn't loaded. Here's an unapologetic account of a self shooting with pictures.

"Well....I've always heard it's not a matter of "if, but "when". My number came up and I paid a hefty price.

Last Friday I was preparing to go shooting the next AM with a buddy of mine. I had just put a new a-grip on my Glock, and was going to clean it after my wife and I finished our movie. Crash is an awsome movie BTW.

I put the weapon back together and inserted the mag. I did not pipe a round because I knew I was going to strip it later. I went upstairs and put the weapon in the tool box in the garage.

About and hour later (mid-night or so), I returned to the garage to finish cleaning and getting gear together for the morning. I picked up the Glock, dropped the mag and prepared to remove the slide. I done this literally thousands of times in the last fifteen years, but this times things were a little different. I grabbed the slide getting ready to push the takedown pins and pulled the trigger......BANG!!!!! Apparently I DID pipe a round an hour prior. My shooting bud attributes it to force of habit, but why the hell didn't I check the chamber before pulling the trigger? Should that be force of habit too?

Not only did I set off a .45 in my garage, but I passed right through my left hand......Yep....I fucking shot myself point blank. I'm still having a hard time getting my head around what I did. I was SO angry at myself. I have always been uber safe with any firearm, but one lack of procedure changed everything. I'm really taking this hard, and all the "it could have been worse", "accidents happen", and "thank God you didn't lose your hand statements really don't help. I guess I'm getting over it, but it still seems very surreal to me.

Here are details....I know you all are morbidly curious, and I don't mind telling...it's kinda like therapy for me.
I DID NOT hear the shot (nor did my ears ring afterwards), and it felt sorta like catching a fastball right in the palm of your glove. I have a very clear image, and suspect I always will, of the hole in my hand...perfect .45 diameter not bleeding....yet. I took a few seconds, and then the arterial arch in my palm cut loose. Blood like you wouldn't believe. I think the fact that I was a Paramedic in a former life helped me out here. I walked into the laundry room and grabbed a towel to wrap it up, call up the stairs for my wife to come down. I remember thinking "if I go get her, I'll mess up the carpet on the stairs". No lie. She came down half asleep and kind of grumpy, and I told her "I just put a bullet in my hand". Said she was calling 911 and according to her I responded "That would be a good idea.." My wife is neo-natal RN, and can remain cool as a cucumber. This helped me out too I think.

I went back into the garage, put my blasted hand on the floor kneeling on the towel and proceeded to open my ever present jump-bag with the other. I opened a US issue trauma dressing with my teeth, and proceeded to wrap my hand. Those dressing are the schiz nit by the way. My wife later told me it was very "Die-Haredesque"......
I do remember cussing at myself the entire time...I have never been that angry before.....

Four cops, the shift sup., a pumper truck and am ambulance later I was off to the ER. I didn't feel any pain until I got in the ambulance. The endorphins shut down and it hurt like nothing you can imagine. No tickets from the cops, but did have to ask which weapon I did it with. My garage looks like an arsenal pre-range trip.

The bullet (a Black Talon no less..) shattered my ring finger meta-tarsal, and 'removed' two others. It destroyed the flexor tendon of my ring finger, almost separated my pinky tendon, and exited the right side of my wrist just above my watch band. There was a definite exit hole, but the blast force blew the side of my palm WIDE open about three inches in length. I didn't even see the exit wound until I removed my watch for the FD. Anyway, nine hours of surgery, three screws, a tendon graft from my forearm and about two-hundred sutures later I was put back together. My surgeon said if anyone has to get shot in the hand, this was how to do it. No nerve damage....whew. Physical therapy twice a week for God knows how long, and the surgeon expects at least 80% function back.

I've included a pic of the round. Snap-On tool boxes are quite literally bullet proof. The jacket separated from the slug when it hit the box, that's why the slug is flat on one side. If the mods permit, I'll post pics of my hand too.....it's pretty burly, and will drive the point home.

Thanks for listening. My wife thinks I'm crazy to post this, but it really does help me feel better. Remember....check the chamber twice, then check it again."

An Open Letter to Bennigan's Restaurant

I took my 10 year old daughter to your restaurant to celebrate the grades on her report card last night. She had been looking forward to going to Bennigans with her Daddy all week.
In the middle of our appetizer gangster rap music began playing over your loudspeaker system. I do not recall all the lyrics, but I do recall the words "pimping and fucking hoes".
It took me over five minutes to get your bartender and manger to turn this abusive excuse for music off. Your manager then unapologetically went on to explain that she usually plays Christian Contemporary music as though I were a christian fundementalist. Your bartender acted as though the event was humorous.
I was prepared to leave, but because she did change the music, we stayed and finished our meal. I tried to explain to my daughter how sometimes these things happen but her evening was ruined. I do not doubt that she will be discussing pimps and hoes at Bennigans at her parochial school today.
I did not raise my daughter to succumb to this kind of trash, and I mistakenly believed Bennigans was the type of family oriented establishment that would not condone it, especially at 5:00 PM when children may be dining.
Be advised that I fully intend to inform other parents of your restaurant's ambience. A copy of this short letter will also be placed on the editor's desk of the local newspaper for publication.
Some things are unforgivable. Abuse of families and children through vulgar music selection in restaurants is one of them.

UPDATE
canned email response:
Thank you for contacting Bennigan's. We have received your e-mail and we do appreciate your feedback. We are reviewing your information and a representative from our organization will contact you by phone or mail within 14 business days. Your feedback is very valuable to the constant improvement of our brand and we appreciate you taking the time to share it with us. We look forward to seeing you in a Bennigan's restaurant soon!
UPDATE
I recieved a telephone call from the District Manager of Bennigans. He was apologetic, but he maintained the same excuses for this incident. He did offer to send coupons for free meals, and I agreed to accept them. We shall see.
UPDATE
One month, two weeks later, no coupons have arrived. It looks like Bennigans hires liars or incompetents for District Managers.

Pawn Shop Circuit: Dry Lake Fishing

Neil was down to two black plastic pistols, he even sold the Steyr. He sold his S&W Model 629 as well. I talked him into looking into the computer to see what was coming out of hock. He had over 190 items coming out this week, not all guns, and potentially any one of them going back into hock if the interest was paid on the loan.

Dave had another Rossi 971 out of hock. He had sold the Charter Arms Undercover, as well as a few pistols. Nothing new, but he did have all of his televisions tuned to The Price is Right. That was kind of ironic.

Amber had sold her S&W laser pistol. She still had a Glock under the glass along with another plastic gun. She has decided she wants to take a CCW course, and is watching for a good revolver.

I guess I enjoy the Pawn Shop Circuit for the serendipity of it. Going to a gunstore for a gun is kind of like buying fish at the grocery store. Going to a pawn shop for guns is like fishing. Sometimes you come home with a good catch, sometimes you just catch a cold. I spotted an unexplored pawn shop on the seedy side of town a week or so ago. I may stop and check it out if my luck doesn't change soon.

Home Defense in Kentucky

RUSH, Ky. - A member of the Kentucky Turkey Hunters Hall of Fame fatally shot an alleged intruder in his home early Saturday, Nov. 12, Kentucky State Police said. Roland Burns, 65, of Rush, told investigators that he awoke shortly before 12:30 a.m. EST to find the man in his home in rural Boyd County, Trooper Ed Ginter said.

Shannon Scott Conley, 32, of Rush, was pronounced dead at the scene. No charges have been filed in the case. State police are investigating.

Relatives say Conley had grown up in the house where Mr. Burns and his family now live. They say the former Marine, actor and model, was bi-polar, and that, as a child, his father had told him there was hidden treasure in the house. They also say Conley was obsessed to the point of madness to get back into his family's former home. Ginter said Burns told investigators that he was awakened by a vehicle in his driveway. He said he went to investigate and found the alleged intruder in his house. Burns told police he returned to his bedroom for a gun. "Mr. Burns ordered the man to leave the home," Ginter said in a press release. "A struggle ensued, and Mr. Conley was fatally wounded."

Burns, who was inducted into the Turkey Hunters Hall of Fame in 2003 by the Kentucky chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, was not injured, Ginter said.

Boyd County Commonwealth's attorney J. Stewart Schneider says it is unlikely he will charge Burns with a crime. He said Tuesday that it looks like Burns acted within state law when he shot and killed Conley.

Firearm Serial Obliteration Laws Challenged

When police arrested Juan Quinones in 2002, the handgun they accused him of packing had its serial number obliterated. Illinois state law at that time stated that merely possessing such a gun was prima facie evidence to also charge a person with obliterating the number.

But a recent ruling by the Appellate Court of Illinois declares this law unconstitutional. This could open the door to reversals for other people convicted of the same crime. Though the state law was amended last year, the court said those convicted under the old language were convicted against the presumption of innocence granted to anyone arrested for a crime.
More..........

Escapees Arrested in Tennessee

Two Louisiana prison escapees passed themselves off to University of Tennessee students as fraternity brothers escaping hurricane Katrina. Steven Ridge, 31, and Zachary Arabie, 22 (pictured), were arrested in Knoxville Tennesee last week when Ridge tried to pass a counterfeit bill. The two fugitives hung out on the 25,000-student campus, partying on Fraternity Row, dating coeds and renting an apartment in a favorite off-campus neighborhood. Ridge, serving time for forgery and theft, and Arabie, in prison for armed robbery, escaped Sept. 13 from River Correctional Facility in Ferriday, La. They whittled a Popsicle stick into a key to gain access to the outside world. "These men have been here a good while, never caused us a minute's trouble, and neither one of them is deemed dangerous to the public," River Correctional Facility Warden Rick Spinner stated in a news release issued immediately after the escape. The Knoxville authorities take another view, stating the two criminals were planning an abduction among other crimes.

According to Knoxville police, Ridge and Arabie stole a car and traveled to Birmingham Alabama, then stole another car to drive to Knoxville. They showed up using fake names at the UT Lambda Chi fraternity house a few days after escaping. Ridge claimed to be a Louisiana State University graduate and a Lambda Chi displaced by Katrina from a graduate program at Tulane University in New Orleans. He even had a Tulane ID card. "It's genius, their plan, it was really genius," said fraternity president Sam Seyler, a fifth-year senior studying English.

The perception of genius is relative.

We'll Take That!

Two Louisiana National Guardsmen were arrested on charges of looting Monday afternoon. Police comfiscated three boxes of liquor that a patrol officer allegedly saw two Louisiana National Guardsmen stealing from a home in New Orleans East. A policewoman was patrolling the Eastover area in New Orleans East when she saw two guardsmen carrying boxes out of a house. Following an investigation, the guardsmen were arrested for looting three boxes of alcohol.
The guardsmen were taken to the Seventh District Station and later turned over to Military Police. One of the guardsmen insists he did nothing wrong, and that he just found the boxes of liquor sitting on the ground while they were on patrol. The house used to belong to former Saints player and state legislator Pat Swilling. The home is now believed to be owned by a local rap artist.
The NOPD said it will not comment on the matter since it is being handled by the Louisiana National Guard.

Does this story remind anyone else of a scene in the movie Platoon in which a soldier has allocated some liquid refreshment from the Top's supply only to have it re-allocated by a man with one more stripe? Sorry about your credibility problem NOLA PD, you earned it.

Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson

The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson by Jim Supica & Richard Nahas is the hardcover Bible of the Smith & Wesson collector. At $25 or less on amazon.com, the purchaser of this book will likely make his money back in savings on his next used S&W purchase.

With the bastardized finishes and materials along with safety locks on the new S&W products, as well as their high prices, the older, plentiful S&W revolvers are quickly becoming the favorites of the savy wheelgunner. This book will tell the potential purchaser with assurance what he holds before him.

This particular edition (2nd) was published in 2001. The prices listed, therefore are from about 2000, and are five years old. Many of those prices have increased, but the information contained in this volume is still very pertinent. Jim Supica, of Old Town Station Ltd is a recognized authority on Smith & Wesson, as well as other guns. When Supica speaks, collectors listen.

You know you're from New Orleans when:

From the Times Picayune:
Some friends of mine were clearing out their belongings from their home in the Fontainebleau area and were going through the muddle of despair that attends the realization that you were insured out the wazoo for a hurricane but all you got was flood damage and now you're going to get a check for $250,000 to rebuild your $500,000 house. [flood insurance caps out at $250,000]
As they pondered this dismal circumstance in the street, their roof collapsed. Just like that. It must have suffered some sort of structural or rain-related stress from the storm and now, two weeks later, it manifested itself in total collapse.

Now I ask you: What would you do if you watched your home crumble to pieces before your eyes?

What they did was, realizing their home now qualified for a homeowner's claim, they jumped up and down and high-fived each other and yelled: "The roof collapsed! The roof collapsed!"

Our home is destroyed. Oh, happy day. I submit there's something not right there.

Idiots with Guns #5

This week, we present a double play on the moronic scale of gun handling. Two guns pointed at a camera, fingers on the triggers. Admittedly, the shutter was likely on a timer, judging from the camera angle. Next, however, they disregard the 4 Rules entirely.
When the camera is not enough, these geniuses show why old gunnies consider the 4 Rules inviolatable. They escalate their stupidity and document it for all the world to see. Once you cross the line, you tend to keep going. They also show why old gunnies tend to not take new gunnies out shooting. There's no future in it.

The purpose of Idiots with Guns is not to humiliate, but to educate. Over the years we have seen photos of people who, upon picking up a gun, just cannot resist pointing it at something they should not, with their finger on the trigger. This is usually the camera, another person, or themselves. These photos are often difficult to google up, because of the pages they are shown on. If you have archived any of these photos, feel free to send them in to bayouroversATjamDOTrrDOTcom

The Four Rules
1. All firearms are loaded
2. Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you are not willing to destroy
3. Keep your finger off the trigger unless your sights are on the target
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it

Carnival of Cordite #38

Carnival of Cordite #38 is up!

Duck Hunters can Ignore Curfews

You just have to love a state that keeps it's priorities in order!

Louisiana duck hunters worried they couldn't get to the marshes of St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes because of dusk-to-dawn curfews in those areas. Spokespersons for each parish now say duck hunters will be allowed through police checkpoints to reach their blinds Saturday morning, the opening day of the season. Checkpoints were put into place shortly after Hurricane Katrina ravaged southeast Louisiana on Aug. 29.

In St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff's Office spokesman Col. Richard Baumy said hunters can enter the parish via Paris Road and Interstate 510 at 4 a.m. Saturday. Baumy said hunters must present identification to get through the checkpoint, and officers will inspect vehicles leaving the parish. The Sheriff's Office is asking that all hunters leave the parish before dark.

Plaquemines Parish spokesman Major John Marie said hunters will be asked to show a valid Louisiana ID, a hunting license and a federal duck stamp to cross a checkpoint near Point a la Hache. Hunters also should have appropriate hunting gear with them, Marie said.

So if law enforcement is going to let hordes of men armed with shotguns through the checkpoints..............what's the purpose of those checkpoints again? Isn't it time to close them down?

Veterans Day

Gunney Gerald Schnieder, USMC.
When I meet men like him, I am very proud to be called a veteran, and to have a small quantity of the character men like this personify.

Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg--or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking.

What is a vet?

He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.

He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.

She--or he--is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.

He is the POW who went away one person and came back another--or didn't come back at all.

He is the Quantico drill instructor that has never seen combat--but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.

He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.

He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.

He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor die unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.

He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket--palsied now and aggravatingly slow--who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.

He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being, a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.

So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say, "Thank you." That's all most people need, and in most cases, it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.

Two little words that mean a lot: "THANK YOU."


It is the soldier,
not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier,
not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier,
not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier,
Who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Let's remember them on this Veteran's Day observance.
Father Denis Edward O'Brian USMC


In Flanders fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row by row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up your quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith, with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Pawn Shop Circuit:Tupperware and Jokers

Neil still had all three of his black tactical pistols, as well as his S&W 629. The Nylon 66 was still on the rack among a bunch of automatic shotguns. Neil had brought out a Sears M200 12 gauge pump, a copy of the Winchester 1200. Someone had cut the barrel down to just a hair over 18 inches. It was marked $99. I passed. I bought my Winchester pumps for less than that.

Dave had dragged out several plastic fantastics with stainless slides. Two were Sigmas, and one was a Taurus PT 111.

Amber had some tactical tupperware in, a Glock 19 for $350. She still had not sold her laser gun.

For giggles I decided to go by a couple of other pawn shops. One, a Ma and Paw shop beside a biker clubhouse had a case of handguns. One rather interesting one was a Colt 1911 that someone had butchered to put Bomar sights on. It had one of the huge magazine releases and laminated camo grips. Paw wanted $1000 for it, because it was a "race gun". Uh huh. The prices on the rest of the guns led me to believe Paw only like to do business with suckers or hagglers. Sorry Paw, I'm a simple buyer.

Next was a pawn shop across from the college campus. They had a KelTec P11 for $250, and a used HiPoint C9 for $150. I didn't stay in there to long. There was something creepy about the place.

The jokers in these two places made me appreciate Neil, Dave and Amber, eventhough the pickings were slim this week.

First Handgun?

The "First Handgun" question by Chris Byrne.

Happy Birthday USMC

"Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world. Marines don't have that problem."
President Ronald Reagan

Thank you for the job you have done and are doing still.

CDNN Catalog Here!

My CDNN catalog arrived today. The best deal I've found so far is a Springfield Leatham Legend TGO III pistol for $999. This is a $2999 MSRP pistol folks!

Order it while you can!

The Belt Man

I received my new gun belt from Jim Speidel this afternoon. I placed my order on October 26, two weeks ago. When the hand made, one and a half inch wide cordovan belt arrived today, it came with a hand written note from Jim thanking me for my business.
The best part though, is the belt itself. This is no Dickies work belt. There is no doubt this is a gun belt. It is stiff as a belt can be, and easily supports my holstered Government Model. One of the truisms of carrying a gun is it helps to have good leather. This is great leather. Thank you Jim!

A New/Old Offering from S&W

About a year ago, S&W put out their Thunder Ranch Special (TR21) revolver, a collaboration with Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch fame. Many wheelgun nuts disliked the looks of this revolver, much to Clint Smith's chagrin. He called detractors turdsuckers in his Reality Check column in American Handgunner. To his credit, Clint responded to a thread concerning the gun and the name calling on the S&W Forum. A while back, I wrote my own post on this issue.

Anyway........... It looks like S&W was listening. Here is a pic of the S&W 22-4, recently released. Yes, it does have the wormhole lock, but the rest is so well executed that many wheelgun fans will be heading to the order desk.

Thank you Smith & Wesson. Well done!

More pics and discussion on this revolver can be found on this thread.
Thank you S&W44 for allowing me to use your photo.