Gun Owners – Please Support this Change

On May 8, 2020May 8, 2020 By Tom LindsayIn CCW, Concealed Carry, GeorgiaCarry, Gun Free Zones, RKBA

For some time, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) refused to allow the carry of weapons for self defense, even if the person involved held a license or permit. Even in recent times, as more and more states issued licenses, the USACE refused to honor them, despite the fact that they were recognized in State Parks, and in National Parks that are not run by the USACE.

For those wondering (and I did) the USACE runs State Parks and National Parks that involve dammed waterways, and they maintain the dams. This sets these parks apart somewhat, in that they are managed by a branch of the military, rather than by the civilian parks departments. Because of this, a lot of the park rules reflect those in effect on Army bases, and one of those rules has been a prohibition on carry of weapons, even by service personnel.

As the other park systems began to relax their prohibitions in the wake of less restrictive carry laws, the Corps remained mired in the past. But state groups, notably GeorgiaCarry.org, continued to press the Corps to allow lawful carry by license holders.

In 2019, following a series of lawsuits by GCO, the Corps agreed to issue permission letters, if a citizen were to write and ask for such a letter. Then, should one be asked, this letter could be presented as proof of the right. But to be honest, even this restriction is too much, and GCO continued its legal pursuit.

And finally, this year the Corps agreed to change the rule! The proposed rule change is open to comments, and I highly recommend you go here and read the docket, and submit your supporting note. The deadline to submit is June 12, 2020.

Look for updates here as the rule gets closer to change.

Condition Orange

On March 17, 2020March 20, 2020 By Tom LindsayIn Be Prepared, Gun Rights, Planning, RKBA1 Comment

In a state of emergency, like the current COVID-19 pandemic, things are already hectic and unpredictable, bordering on chaotic. In these times, one would think that the government would focus on helping citizens protect themselves, both from the stated dangers of the virus, and the dangers of those who would prey on the weak by taking advantage of the emergency.

Sadly, this is not the case.

In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the police went door to door and seized firearms from legal owners, and held them, until forced to return them three years later, after settling a lawsuit brought by the NRA-ILA.

So what should we law abiding gun owners expect, now that the White House and many states and cities have declared states of emergency?

Well, as with many things, this depends on where you live.

First, know that the US Government cannot seize your guns – legally – because of a state of emergency. See 42 U.S. Code § 5207.

In Georgia, the law used to allow authorities to seize our guns, but thanks to GeorgiaCarry, the law was changed, and now, while we can’t buy new guns, we can still carry the ones we own.

Georgia law O.C.G.A. 38-3-51 says,:

(c) The Governor shall have and may exercise for such period as the state of emergency or disaster exists or continues the following additional emergency powers:
…..
(8) Suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation of alcoholic beverages, explosives, or combustibles; provided, however, that for purposes of this paragraph, the terms “explosives” and “combustibles” shall not include firearms or ammunition or any component thereof; and
(Emphasis added)

For a summary of laws from other states, see this post from Bigfoot Gunbelts.

So, what should we do?

First, know your rights in the state where you live. Do research. Contact your local state gun rights group.

Second, print out and keep a copy of the law with you, in case someone you encounter does not know the law. For those in Georgia, here is a copy.

Then, take action. For those of us in Georgia, buy ammo, if you can. Here in Kennesaw, 9mm was gone last week. But that’s why I lay in ammo any way.

But always, stay alert. Stay in Condition Orange. And stay safe.

++++

NOTE – Section 8 of the Georgia law had been updated to the current correct version.

“Gun Safety’s” Strategy, One More Time

On January 6, 2016January 6, 2016 By Tom LindsayIn Gun Control, Gun Rights, RKBA1 Comment

Confiscation Yesterday, the Poser In Chief, to much fanfare, announced another round of (redundant) Gun ~~Control~~ Safety initiatives, designed to keep him from having to forcea tear or national television.

Nothing he announced is new, and nothing he announced would have prevented the attacks on Sandy Hook, San Bernardino, or Paris.

So, I just wanted to remind everyone, once again, what the real end game is.

The Government is going to eventually expand background checks to nominally include all sales, even those between private individuals. This will likely happen because some much publicized event will happen, and it will be found that the gun was bought from a private seller (better, at a gun show) by someone who was otherwise prohibited from owning a gun. Never mind that what they did was already against the law, there will be a loud call for Universal Background Checks, and it will happen.

In the wording of the new law (or Executive Order or ATF sub-rule, it doesn’t matter) this will apply to all “transfers,” which the average person will understand to mean a sale, and which will also be explained to mean a gift or an inheritance.

But then the ATF will, suddenly and dramatically, remind us that handing the gun to a friend at the shooting range is, in fact a transfer. And both parties are then arrested and convicted dramatically, and stripped of all future rights as convicted felons.

There will suddenly be a police presence at gun ranges, to prevent these horrible crimes. This will go on, dramatically, for one or two years. But the overall number of gun crimes will not correspondingly decline. Now, it may decline in fact, but the media will make sure that is not apparent.

Then, eventually, the Antis will make the announcement that, since these simple Common Sense Gun Safety changes have made no difference, it must be because the Ebil Militia is still getting guns.

And some Horrible Tragedy will occur (the more children involved, the better, in their eyes) and there will be a clamor for Confiscation.

And our once supportive members of congress will cave. And they will call for confiscation.

The Second Amendment may or may not be repealed, but, for all intents and purposes, this will be the end of freedom as we know it.

At that time, it will be up to us gun owners to decide which side we are on. It won’t be a time for slogans or protests or social media.

I have already decided.

And I pray every day that I am wrong.

Proof That Media Bias is Designed Into the System

On October 26, 2015 By Tom LindsayIn Rant, RKBA

On Saturday, October 24, an allegedly drunk woman ran her car into a crowd at the end of the Homecoming parade at Oklahoma State University, killing at least 4 people, and injuring over 30. A nation waited for news, and struggled to understand how someone could do something like this.

The next day, the Traverse City, Michigan, newspaper the Record-Eagle ran this story about the event on page 3.

At first glance, one would think the headline writer neglected to read the article.

But then the Record-Eagle upped the derp in its retraction by admitting what we already suspected:

At first I thought they were blaming the printing team. But now I see that this belies their assumption that incidents of multiple deaths or injuries must involve a shooter. Not a driver, or an earthquake, or a flood. And this assumption is so ingrained, they made it their normal page design.

I guess in the race to get the attention of the gun haters, it pays to save time any way you can.