What the 2014 Elections Mean to Gun Rights

On By Tom LindsayIn Self Defense

Braun tweetThis week, as everyone knows, the Republican party gained control of the senate, and increased its margin of control in the House of Representatives.

Sadly, despite elation in the social media similar to the above, the elections, in a nutshell, mean absolutely nothing to the cause of gun rights.

Yes, there are some good things we, as law abiding gun owners, can take away from the elections:

  • A lot of the senators who voted for the flurry of knee jerk gun control laws following the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2013 were defeated, as we expected they would be.
  • The GOP now controls both houses of Congress, making further gun control legislation even less likely.
  • More importantly the GOP controls the senate. In view of the advancing age of some of the more staunchly pro-rights Supreme Court Justices, namely Scalia and Thomas, it makes it a lot harder for a liberal president to sway the court toward gun control.

But here is the truth, none of which is affected by these elections:

Hoplophobic liberals will continue their quest to ban and confiscate guns in the United States. They are unaffected by the elections, the makeup of Congress, real public opinion, or anything besides their own desire to take away our guns. A cursory glance at their responses in the media this week make that clear.

Rich anti-gunners like George Soros and Michael Bloomberg will continue to spend to achieve their goals. Do not be fooled.

The key to handling the anti-gun factions is the same as any other threat in life: awareness. Do not let bozos like Ken Braun lull you into a false sense of security. Keep your awareness all the time. Never go into Condition White.

Know this: the times ahead are slightly less bleak for the cause of gun rights, but our worries are not over. Not by a long shot.

 

Be Prepared, Part 12 – Keeping the Get Home Bag Up to Date

On By Tom LindsayIn Family, Planning, Safety

Be Prepared, Part 2 - Getting Home

 

This past Sunday was beautiful here in Kennesaw, and I took the opportunity to clean out and check our Get Home Bag. In this case, I took heed of some family changes in the last couple of years that have changed the needs of the bag somewhat.

First, my wife normally is the one away from home, although certainly on a family trip we would all be involved. In any case, we both went through it and agreed on what to include.

Second, we took into account last year’s snow storm, and what my wife might want to use from the bag.

Here is what we have in the bag, with the changes indicated in bold:

  • Granola bars (we are going to find some energy bars or fruit bars as well)
  • Water
  • Change of clothes (2 shirts, sweat pants, and 2 pairs of socks )
  • Work gloves
  • Ball cap and sock cap and woman’s ear covers
  • Poncho
  • Shoelaces
  • Bandana and shemagh 
  • Rubber jar opener (to make a makeshift sink drain plug if needed)
  • Cell phone battery charger
  • AA Batteries
  • LED flashlight
  • Light sticks
  • Ammo
  • Lighter
  • Candles
  • Purel
  • Germicidal wipes
  • Bedroll and fleece blanket
  • A towel
  • Space blanket
  • Hand Warmers
  • Entrenching tool
  • Multitool
  • Trash bags
  • Map
  • Compass
  • Whistle
  • Pen & paper
  • Rope
  • Drugs – Aspirin, Immodium, Sudafed, Antacids

In addition, I have a first aid kit and fire extinguisher that would be added.

Of course, we did the usual maintenance – fluffing the blankets and towels, and replacing the granola bars.

Now we are all set for the winter to come!

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Epilogue:

See other GHB posts from Linoge and Erin.  Good stuff.

 

Please Help Borepatch

On By Tom LindsayIn Blogs, Gun Bloggers, Just For Fun

As we reported a couple of days ago, our friend and fellow blogger Borepatch ran afoul of the roadway in Florida and wrecked his motorcycle, breaking several ribs and his collarbone in the process.

Being the supportive and kind people we gun bloggers are, Miguel at Gun Free Zone immediately suggested a plan:

Training Wheels for Borepatch start

We have proudly stepped up to help.

Training Wheels for BorepatchPlease give.

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Of course, it occurred to me that if he were wearing his kilt at the time of the accident, we may need to raise the target, to pay for rehab for the First Responders.

More to come.