Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Second Amendment

Gun Blogger Rendezvous – Recap

This is a slideshow recapping our great time at the GBR-IV in Reno. We met so many nice folks and made new friends. It was truly a great experience for us, and we have already been in touch with some of our new buddies. Thanks to Mr. C and Kee Wee for throwing one of the best events we’ve been fortunate enough to attend.

Major Chuck Ziegenfuss did a presentation for Project Valor-IT, so we included a tribute to that in the slideshow. If you want to learn more please visit About Project Valour-IT on-line.

Blogs and others represented at GBR-IV:

Thanks also to the event sponsors: Para USA, Hi-Point Firearms, GLOCK, Dillon Precision, Lucky Gunner Ammo, The Silver Legacy, Brownell’s, Natchez Shooters Supply, Midway USA, Remington, Crimson Trace, Bison Armory, Cheaper than Dirt, National Rifle Association and the National Sports Shooting Foundation (thanks Bill!)

If I missed anyone, please tell me, so I can make it right.

Photo credits (most of ’em) – Damsel.

21 Sep 2009 by Firearms Military Patriotism Second Amendment Shooting Travel

Packing Light

SW442When I’m puttering around the house and yard, I have this little ensemble clipped inside my waistband. It’s my little S&W 442 .38 caliber J-frame (loaded with plus-P anti-personnel* rounds) in a Bianchi leather clip-on holster.

When the weather is a little warmer, she rides in a special holster on my leg under the sun dress. Either way, she is light enough that you just might forget you’re packing and venture somewhere you shouldn’t under such circumstances – not that I’ve ever done that, of course.

* One of our commenters described hollow-points as “limited penetration” rounds. He says that description is less apt to get a reaction from liberals than “anti-personnel.”

14 Jul 2009 by CCW Firearms Second Amendment

The Price of Independence

Our independence was bought and paid for with lives and lead. Independence is insured by the Bill of Rights and, in our opinion, the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state,
the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

patriot-pistol.jpg

03 Jul 2009 by Firearms Patriotism Second Amendment

Gunblogger Rendezvous IV

gbr4.pngAccording to Mr. Completely, you should “Get Your Registration and Reservations in ASAP.” They have blocked out rooms for Wednesday the 9th, through Sunday the 13th. Damsel and I have already made our hotel reservations and continue to plan the trip. We’re going to drive from the Los Angeles area and plan to make some touristy stops going and coming.

As for the GBR-IV event, we’re looking forward to meeting other attendees, participating in the events and activities, and, of course, winning one or more of the door prize drawings. Ride Fast and Shoot Straight has a rundown on some of the events and prizes.

A quick update to getting a Nevada CCW permit: We won’t have enough time to get through all the hoops required for a permit – however, we think that open carry may be do-able. I’ll continue to do the research, but this is on the OpenCarry.org website:

Nevada is a traditional open carry state with complete state preemption of firearms laws. However, Clark County (Las Vegas) is grandfathered so as to continue a “Deadly Weapons” registration scheme. Fortunately, Nevada law exempts travelers to and through Nevada from these registration requirements for 60 days.

Open carry seems to be allowed in vehicles and on one’s person as long as the weapon is visible. We’ll continue to evaluate this option.

29 Jun 2009 by Blogosphere Second Amendment Shooting

Ready for Gun Blogger Rendezvous ’09

gbr09.pngFor the last week or so, we have been making arrangements to attend the Gun Blogger Rendezvous which will be at the Silver Legacy Hotel in Reno, Nevada. The event is scheduled for September 10-13, 2009. We’ve sent off our registration and made the hotel reservations, so all we need to do is fill in some details for the trip (we’re driving from the Los Angeles area), like staying near Yosemite NP on the way up and the Owens Valley on the way back. We’re looking forward to going to Reno.

Over the years, we have visited Reno many, many times, enjoying every visit. We’ve been going to Reno ever since it really was “The Biggest Little City in the World.” Don’t get us wrong, we like the bright lights and big hotels in the New Reno, but we’re also quite nostalgic about the way it was.

In August of 2007, we posted about Reno’s famous welcome sign. Here is the original article repeated here:

Pigeon Dung and Reno’s Famous Sign

reno-old.jpgAfter reading news accounts about the contribution of pigeon dung to the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, I was reminded about how pigeons similarly factored into the destruction of the famous “RENO – The Biggest little city in the world” sign that spans the entrance to the downtown gambling district. I recall reading a the story in the 1980’s about how the old sign became inhabited by pigeons that roosted or nested in the sign. They got in through gaps in the sign and, of course, pooped while they were in there.

Image right: Reno sign, 1980’s – click to enlarge

reno-new.jpgEventually, despite having been evicted several times by the city’s maintenance crews, the pigeon problem persisted until one day there was an electrical short-circuit in the sign. The methane from the dung ignited; there was a minor explosion and a fire afterwards that damaged the sign beyond repair. The sign was removed and subsequently replaced by a newer Vegas-style beauty which electronically beckons visitors to the downtown district. While it’s a beautiful sight, the new sign doesn’t have the old sign’s charm and breaks the promise for a “little city” beyond. Recent visitors to the new Reno, if they knew the old Reno, will know what I mean.

Image left: New Reno sign – click to enlarge

As for pigeons? They’re just rats with wings.

16 Jun 2009 by Blogosphere Culture Second Amendment

Back to California

Joshua Tree

We’re back in California (for the time being) and planning to spend our last day on vacation visiting Joshua Tree National Park. We drove through the park from the south entrance today, so we have our preview of tomorrow’s tour. We’re camped in Twentynine Palms, CA, tonight, and plan to head back to the park in the morning. After the visit to the park, we’re headed back to the grind at home – for now.

We enjoyed our trip and look forward to our upcoming retirement and eventual return to Arizona when we get our affairs in order. While in Arizona, we both enjoyed our 2nd amendment rights to carry in a place that gets it. We can hardly wait to get the freak out of liberal California.

18 May 2009 by Curmudgeon Rants Second Amendment Travel

Is the Second Amendment Obsolete?

second amendmentI published a post last February entitled Understanding the Second Amendment. Although I wrote it months ago, I got a comment the other day in which the author decided the second amendment was obsolete and should be repealed:

altrurian said,
April 16, 2009 @ 14:51:18 PDT · Edit

I agree with the irrefutable parsing of the amendment that you have provided. It seems rather straight forward. It just doesn’t have relevance anymore. You can’t make that argument about any of the other amendments in the “Bill”. 320 million folks “bearing” arms is unthinkable. Get real.

Surely even you recognize the ludicracy of the epithet “anti-gun”. Who in their right mine[sic] wouldn’t be against, in the abstract sense, an artifact designed to kill.

Let’s repeal the thing on its face value and get on with it.

I felt that this needed an answer and wrote the following response:

Cap’n Bob said,
April 16, 2009 @ 17:47:51 PDT · Edit

“It just doesn’t have relevance anymore.”

Let me point out that these very arguments were used in the recent D.C. vs. Heller Case before the Supreme court, i.e. the Washington D.C. gun ban. The majority found in favor of the defendant and it is again legal to possess firearms in D.C. for home protection. Think about it and you will find this is a good thing (hint: find out the average response times for 911 calls).

“320 million folks “bearing” arms is unthinkable. Get real.”

For you, perhaps. For me (and millions of other Americans), a person trained in the use and application of firearms who regularly drills and does target practice it’s not “unthinkable.” I have military training and have owned guns for over 45 years. I have a permit to carry a loaded concealed handgun in more than half the states in the union (including Minnesota). My weapons have never leaped into my hands and caused me to do harm to anyone or anything other than taking game and fending off varmints.

“an artifact designed to kill”

My guns are designed for protection, defense, hunting and sport. Any other definition is “an artifact of your perception.” Who “in their right mind” would deprive me (and millions of other Americans) of those purposes?

“Let’s repeal the thing on its face value and get on with it.”

I say that we keep the Bill of Rights intact, and allow those not comfortable with it move north of the 49th parallel, where they don’t have such a pesky artifact. “Get on with it.”

I would have to say that your nom de plume, derived from altruism, a selfless concern for the welfare of others, does not fit your agenda when it comes to personal defense and the protection of liberty.

17 Apr 2009 by Second Amendment

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