CarryConcealed.net Blog

Why I Carry a Gun

CarryConcealed.net — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:07:00 +0000

As a Concealed Carry Instructor I have had a lot of fun teaching people to shoot safely and learn how to defend themselves. Empowering people has been a blast, please excuse the pun. My family has made the decision that we will defend ourselves and not be victims. We will not go out an look for trouble and will take every opportunity to avoid trouble. However, there are many reasons that we have to defend ourselves and the number of reasons is growing.

As the economy gets tougher, and the housing bubble busting on the East and West Coasts, crime will be rising. With the failure of our Government to secure our boarder this will exacerbate the problem with the home grown thugs trying to keep up with the imported gangs and insurgents. I personally have had to stop several home invasions, help neighbors with their homes after being broken into, and save several different women from being raped from bad guys. All of this without being a Law Enforcement Officer. I just happen to be in the wrong place at the right time to help my neighbors and friends.

All of that being said, one of the biggest reasons that I choose to carry a side arm is because of the wild animals. We love to spend time out doors and enjoy nature. Some times nature chooses to be a little more aggressive than we would like. We have had Mountain Lyons and Bears around our place for years and we have to be careful to stay out of their way and not become breakfast. Our neighbors have not been as lucky, as their family pets had been carried off by the Mountain Lyon. Pictured on the right is one of them going across in front of our house on Saturday the 15th of Feb. 2008. We had setup cameras trying to catch bad guys stealing gas and caught Monty jogging through instead.

What ever your reason for wanting to carry a gun, please take a little bit of advice. Practice, seek advice from local experts, and lock them up when not in use. The life you save just may be your own.

Happy Trails and Keep the Lead Down Range - Clark - Carryconcealed.net.

When will stupid crooks learn? Do not mess with a Marine no matter how old he is.. Once a Marine, Always a Marine.

CarryConcealed.net — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 06:07:00 +0000

There have been many cases in the last few years like this one:

"Mess With a Marine Who’s Trying To Eat: Police investigate the scene –The 71-year-old retired Marine who opened fire on two robbers at a Plantation, FL , sub shop late Wednesday, killing one and critically wounding the other, is described as John Lovell, a former pilot for two presidents. He doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke, he works out everyday.

Lovell was a man of action Wednesday night. According to Plantation police, two masked gunmen came into the Subway at 1949 N. Pine Rd. Just after 11 p.m. There was a lone diner— Lovell, who was finishing his meal. After robbing the cashier, t he two men attempted to shove Lovell into a bathroom and rob him as well. They got his money. But then Lovell pulled his handgun, opened fire, shooting one of the thieves in the head and chest and the other in the head.

When police arrived, they found one of the men in the shop. K-9 units found the other in the bushes of a nearby business. They also found cash strewn around the front of the sandwich shop according to Detective Robert Rettig of the Plantation Police Department.&n bsp; Both men were taken to Broward General Medical Center , where one, Donicio Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale died. The other, 21-year-old Frederick Gadson of Fort Lauderdale is in critical but stable condition.

A longtime friend of Lovell, was not surprised to hear what happened. “He’d give you the shirt off his back and he’d be mad if someone tried to take the shirt off your back,” he said. Lovell worked as a pilot for the Marines, flying former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He later worked as a pilot for Pan Am and Delta. Lovell is not married and does no t have children. He is not expected to be charged, authorities said “He was in fear for his life,”

Rettig said. “These criminals ought to realize that most men in their 70’s have military backgrounds and aren’t intimidated by idiots.” Something tells me This this old Marine wasn't “in fear” even though his life was definitely at risk. The only thing he could be charged with is participating in an unfair fight. One 71-year young Marine against two punks. Two head shots and one center -body-mass shot - good shooting! That’ll teach them not to get between a Marine and his meal."

This was e-mailed to us by Dan, one of our Carryconcealed.net Contributors. When will dumb crooks learn that there are people no-matter what age that will defend themselves. It is not the fact that he had the training, it is the fact that he had the attitude, coupled with the training to not be a victim.

Think like a sheep and you will be heard-ed like a sheep - That would be Baaad.

Happy Trails and Keep the lead down range. Clark - Carryoncealed.net

Maybe the LDS Church Should Reconsider

CarryConcealed.net — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:47:00 +0000

While I am not a member of the LDS Church, I do have a lot of friends that are members. We have enjoyed the theological discussions regarding the history of the LDS church. While they have been known as the "Mormons" their headquarters is in Utah. Without going into a religious discussion regarding the LDS Church, it surprises me that they are planning on placing signs throughout Utah effectively banning guns from each of the temples and wards. With a the LDS Church having a history of overcoming all obstacles in order to carry thier religion to the rest of the world, it is surprising that they are banning legal CCW permit holders who are members of the LDS Church from carrying in their own churches.

They should take a moment and take a look at several cases where normal parishioners from other denominations have saved lives in thier own churches by having a legal CCW permit and being in the church when disaster attacks. The most recent was in Colorado when the volunteer security commitee member was instrumental in stopping a shooter with over 1,000 rounds and a AK47 as he was heading into the church. With an estimated 6,000 in attendance a lot of lives were saved because she was there and she was armed.

Many of our CCW classes are filled with local church members from other denominations that are encouraging their patrons to get training and thier permits. There are several churches that I know there are a very high percentage of parishioners that carry thier legal handguns to church. Those would be the churches that terrorists or crazies would not receive the pacifist welcome they expect.

Happy Trails and keep the lead down range. Clark -Carryconcealed.net

Which sign is on your door?

CarryConcealed.net — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:24:00 +0000

This was sent in to us by one of our readers. He states that he is an NRA Life Member, and was a certified pistol instructor.

His letter states: "I 've got to say that I'm very pleased to have found you folks on the Internet. And I hope that your commitment to responsible self defense will favorably influence others to get their heads out of the sand and take a positive and proactive stand against crime, and no longer accept being passive victims."

The sign on the right was something he jotted down after 9/11 and after Katrina he felt it more valid than when he originally wrote it.

We at Carryconcealed.net would like to thank him for sending this in, but we would also like to challenge everyone in the United States to take this one step further.

Make a plan for any disaster, prepare for the plan, and implement the plan. The sign on the door is more than a warning for bad guys, it is only one part of a plan for your families safety.

Make a plan, and implement the plan, the life you save may just be your own.

Happy trails and keep the lead down range - Clark Carryconcealed.net

The measure of a man is not in the day to day living, but rather what is his reaction to a disaster

CarryConcealed.net — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 04:24:00 +0000

After watching Oklahoma setting a record for 6 national disasters in one year; you would think that people would plan for a disaster. During the power shortages in Oklahoma where some 600,000 people were without power for long periods of times we did not see the news covering looting, rioting as we did with Katrina. What they did cover was the Red Cross coordinating shelters, neighbors helping each other, churches opening their doors, and electric companies sending employees from across the country to help get power back up. This is a great story of countless hours of volunteers that cared for their neighbors throughout the ice ravaged area. It looked like a bomb had gone off in many areas of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. We however as a family did not spend much time working on our issues because we were prepared and did not have the disruptions that impacted so many other people. We did have a great time helping neighbors and our church. My son took this picture of an owl during the storm.

There are two key take aways from the ice storm of 2007. First that there were enough people that had a plan, additional supplies and were able to help. Second is that the people who did not have a plan did not panic, riot or loot. Seeing a disaster in a community brings out the best and worst of times. Lots of rebuilding and pain, and lots of community spirit were built in neighborhoods because of the team work that took place.

One key difference between the ice storm of 2007 in Oklahoma and Katrina was that the police were not instructed to pick up the guns from legal owners, and there were very few lootings reported. People were able to band together in their neighborhoods for help and security.

Today I was sitting in an office waiting for my next appointment when a government add came on showing terrorist blowing things up, landslides, tornado's, earthquakes and a family making a plan for communicating. The add had one point; make a plan for any disaster. Is your family ready for the next disaster? Do you have a plan?

Can you ask yourself the following questions: Can my family survive a natural or terrorist disaster without support from the local or national government for 72 hours; 6 months; or 1 year? Each time period has different requirements and different answers. Where do you go? How do you communicate with your family if the cell towers are down? How can you protect your family in a riot and the police cannot respond?

The more we can prepare for both natural and man-made disasters the better we will be prepared to help those who did not prepare. The measure of a man is not in the day to day living, but rather what is his reaction to a disaster. Take a moment and make a plan, communicate the plan with your family, and implement the plan. The life you save may just be your own.

Happy trails and keep the lead down range – Clark –Carryconcealed.net

Dad's, be very careful what you tell your sons.

CarryConcealed.net — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:34:00 +0000

Being an NRA Certified instructor and working with the Boy Scouts has been one of the highlights of my life. Being able to teach a young man safe gun handling, and life skills, is a reward that only those who have been teaching understand. We had our November camp out at my gun club. The Troop covered the shotgun and rifle basics, and then shot skeet, trap and .22 rifles. The weather was perfect and we also tried to allow the dads that were there to also shoot

After a great day of shooting we were all sitting around the campfire telling stories. Pictured on the left is the club right at sunset. Terry, one of the new dads, was telling a story on his own father. His dad had such a dry sense of humor that no one ever new if he was kidding or not.

Many years ago when Terry was about 9 years old he had his first lesson with the family .22. His dad had taken Terry out and showed him how to use the rifle and he had his first gun safety lesson. Several days later his dad said "Son go and shoot the cow we are going to butcher her tonight". Well a young man of 9 years old walks down to the barn and leads the cow to the house and shoots the cow right between the eyes. While we were deathly quiet around the campfire listening and waiting for the punch line, Terry continues and says he remembers his mother holding his dad down and saying "You told him to shoot the cow".

He described the event as being horrific, because they had to stop and butcher the family pet. I asked Terry if his dad had ever said anything to him, and he smiled and said no but his dad never made a joke like that again.

The reason this story is so important is because boys listen to their fathers. I have been able to see a difference in boys that have dads active in their lives and those that do not. If we are going to leave this country in a better condition for our grandchildren, we as men need to take the time and talk to our kids. We also need to take the time to give them the right directions the first time.

Happy trails and keep the lead down range. Clark -Carryconcealed.net

NRA - It is not what it seems.

CarryConcealed.net — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 04:22:00 +0000

On the Friends of the NRA event web page this was posted.

"The National Rifle Association has selected three of its top Junior Members to receive the 2007 Outstanding Achievement Youth Award, recognizing them for their active participation in the community, the classroom, and the shooting sports. Overall, $10,000 in scholarship money was awarded to the winners thanks to a generous donation from Brownells, Inc., the world's largest supplier of firearms accessories and gunsmithing tools."

People have decided to label the NRA with a stereo type that is not correct. They have painted the NRA as the giant gun lobby that is trying to throw it's weight around and force politicians to bow down to their will.

If people would actually stop and look at what is going on and who is making those claims against the NRA. Let's take a little walk down history lane. In fact it was the NRA that helped minority towns to help defend themselves during the racial turmoil of the 50's and 60's. They were there when no one else would stand up for the minorities.

They are still very involved in training, and while doing so end up saving lives. The NRA trainers across the country are holding training classes every day because the NRA helped put training materials, and certification programs together. These programs are the very reason that we are able to implement the 2ND Amendment that we hold so dear. With out the trainers and the work that the NRA does, there would be millions of people shot accidentally, robbed or raped. There are several different reports showing that Americans save their families thousands upon thousands of times a year that do not get reported with the proper use of firearms. It is the ones that were not trained or did not follow the safety procedures that the news media publishes.

As an NRA Certified Instructor, I can not begin to tell you the satisfaction of having an underprivileged young man go through one of our camps and learn how to shoot a black powder or a .22 rifle. The fact that they can have a better understanding of what our forefathers had to do when they went hunting for food, or just learning the life skills regarding firearm safety. Their smiles are rewards enough, but it does not compare to when I train a family that has been receiving death threats. They are afraid they may be dead or raped before help can arrive, and there is no better feeling that one can get than helping a family have a fighting chance against the bad guys.

So the next time someone sitting next to you says something nasty and degrading about the NRA, ask them....How many organizations can actually have a rich history of giving back to the communities through scholarships, training communities in danger, and fighting for our rights to defend ourselves? If they still look at you like you are a right wing nut job, just smile and ask them how long it takes for the Police to arrive at their house?

Happy trails and keep the lead down range. Clark -Carryconcealed.net

The Perfect Home Defence

CarryConcealed.net — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:46:00 +0000

Let me tell you a short story. 13 years ago my wife and two kids were in the mall and walked by the animal adoption spot. As soon as they walked in I knew that I was dead meat. A pit in my stomach rose to my eye balls as I knew I was going home with a dog. While I have always had dogs; I had two kids, who needs a dog with kids around?

My son and daughter picked the ball of fur that ran right out of the pack and landed in their laps. There was no getting out of this one. Hank was only several months old and was a Blue Healer/Austrian Shepard mix. He grew faster than the kids and thought he was one of the kids.

Within the first year he had taken over his job as our protector. I was out of town on business and he normally slept in our bed room. He heard something and went to the front of the house and attacked the front door. The next morning my wife found a big muddy boot print on the front door and part of our retaining wall broken in as the bad guy was running to get away from Hank. This turned out to be only one of many times that he saved my family from bad guys, mountain lions, and lots of insurgent squirrels. He even was instrumental in saving our neighbor from a home invasion from folks that could not understand English.

As he was getting along in years we decided to get a buddy for him and that helped him stay young. We were surprised, but he took the lead and taught the new puppy all of the tricks, including potty training and who was the bad guy. At night we would say "Night Night" and he would go up to my son's room and the other puppy would sleep in our daughter's room. He would never miss a beat and let me know if some one was around. My wife and I really had a feeling of being protected with a dog in each of the kids rooms.

He again was getting along in years and we got another dog from the adoption folks to have him train the next one. With three dogs in the house it was a little wild. He again stepped up to the task and even seemed like he was going to live forever. The new puppy was trained in no time and we had a pack of protection. It was a good time for years to have a night time routine and have the dogs head upstairs to each of the kids rooms and then have Hank in our room. However, this could not last forever.

He and I had our last trip to our favorite place at the lake. We spent hours sitting and just going over the old times. He seemed to enjoy the time and even seemed to let me know he was going to be alright. On the way back up the hill to the house, he collapsed. He was not able to go on.
We may have lost our protector, but he has trained two wonderful friends. They are a great source of joy and still know their place in our family. Right in the middle of everything we are doing.

The purpose of this story is to let you know that if your are looking for protection, it can come in many different ways. One can be just as easy as going to your local pet adoption place and look for a "Hank". He or she will be a friend, companion and the best protection money can buy.
I only hope that I can live up to the person that Hank thought I was. I will miss my best friend. Happy trails, and keep the lead down range. Clark - Carryconcealed.net

FBI: al-Qaeda detainee spoke of fire plot -

CarryConcealed.net — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:27:00 +0000

First lets say a prayer for the evacuee's of the fires in California. Next their behavior is to be congratulated. In the single largest evacuation in the states history, everyone is working together as Americans. Their "Govenator" is leading the charge to give help. Way to go.

On a more serious note. Posted 7/11/ 2003 in the USA Today, "PHOENIX (AP) — The FBI alerted law enforcement agencies last month that an al-Qaeda terrorist now in detention had talked of masterminding a plot to set a series of devastating forest fires around the western United States"

If there is ever a moment for the FBI and the local Law Enforcement to catch the bad guys, now is the time.

NRA and CCW Instructors, let's all challenge our students.

CarryConcealed.net — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 02:47:00 +0000

With the political arena changing, and the number of people in the United States taking CCW classes is a an all time high. All of the NRA and CCW instructors across this country need to take a stand and do a couple of things that will help our country in the long run. While many of us are doing one or two of these suggestions, I even know several that are doing them all, lets challenge each other as instructors to do the following:

1: Encourage our students to join the NRA. If they are going through your class because they have been threatened by gangs or bad buys and do not belong to the NRA they are perfect examples of folks that should join the NRA. The magazines and publications that come with your membership have great tips for security and what every day citizens do to save them selves from the gangs or bad guys.

2: Teach your class to lock the guns up at home, while maintaining quick access to authorized persons. This can be accomplished with the small gun safes that have the electronic combination lock on the top. They used to be very expensive, but good ones are now available for $50.00. Unless the guns are on my hip, they are locked up. At night I have the safe door open by the bed with the loaded gun ready. In the morning I close the safe or put the gun on. While my kids are great shots and have been taught for years, they do not have access to the guns. Responsible gun owners keep the guns away from the kids until such time they leave the nest for good.

3: Practice. I can not even tell you how many people call contact us and want to go through a CCW class, but they have not shot in years. Just going through a CCW class does not even begin to get you ready to defend you or your family. It only covers the legal aspect of the requirements. As instructors we need to encourage the students to practice at the range in a safe area. Letting several years go by and then expecting your body, under duress, to perform with a firearm is too much to expect.

4: Instructors can also encourage learning after the class. I have offered with several of the Carryconcealed.net trainers to go to the range and work with students on shooting drills. We also talk about reading books and learning what responsibilities come with gun ownership. If students take the CCW class, get the permit and never read any trade publication on how do defend your family, disaster will strike. The students will not be able to defend themselves when the crissis moment arives.

5: Take a little of the class time to talk about being "Situationally Aware". If they are going to carry a handgun in a purse or deep conceal, they need to think about watching their surroundings. Digging for your side arm may be too late, when you may have been able to avoid the situation just by looking farther out and being aware of everything around.

I would like to thank all of the dedicated NRA and CCW instructors that teach across the nation. With out this dedicated group of people, your gun rights would not be able to be implemented. They do a great job on little pay and most do it because they want to help people defend their 2nd Admendment Rights as Americans.

Hug a NRA or CCW Instructor this week - Happy Trails and keep the lead down range. - Clark Carryconcealed.net

Ask not what you can do for your country, but rather ask what you can steal from the masses to keep your political career.

CarryConcealed.net — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 20:24:00 +0000

While the original statement was from John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address on January 20, 1961. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

Time and time again we see actions in Washington and cities across this great nation of compromised by our elected officials that will not help the United States or it's citizens, but will some how increase their perceived power. Some examples have been politicians that have gone to speak with foreign countries and say things that can be used by our enemies as recruiting tools. There have been so many I do not need to name names like Jimmy, Nancy and others.

Other examples would be the Republican party. We had a Republican Senate, House and President, but yet we still had an open border and rights of our citizens were about to be negotiated away. The Democratic Party has now control of the House and Senate and they have not solved a thing. We still have an open border. The scary part is the Democrat candidates stating they will raise the capitol gains tax. Should the Democrats gain the White house, look out. Wall Street is watching and there will be a sell off of stocks and investments rivalled only to the stock crash of the 20's. All of this just because of the shear lust for power.

One example in the local area included one DA that was drunk with power. When he went after the Duke students and did not pay attention, or ignored, evidence this impacted the path of the trial and his eventual outcome. Another copy cat DA is in Tulsa. He has opened charges against a concealed weapon permit holder months after he defended himself against a much younger man on meth. Law enforcement on the scene talked with witnesses and determined that Kenneth Gumm, 76 years old, was trying to get away from a young man who was over the legal intoxication limit. The young man had participated in alleged road rage and and then chased the older man down. He had pushed the elder saying "Your History". Witnesses even have stated that the CCW Permit holder was heard saying "Get back I have a gun". The permit holder was saying this while backing up around his car and trying to get away, only to be run down.

This has political motivation written all over it. This will be worth watching and seeing if the DA was under his own lust for power or was ordered by the Mayor of Tulsa.

When will politicians get back to thinking of our country rather than themselves?

"Ask not what you can do for your country, but rather ask what you can steal from the masses to keep your political career as evidenced by our politicians over the last 30 years." Clark -Carryconcealed.net

Thoughts from a Veteran

CarryConcealed.net — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 03:26:00 +0000

This was e-mailed to us here at Carryconcealed.net and we wanted to share his thoughts. Very interesting.

An observation of mine is that wars in the 19th and 20th Centuries were won mainly by getting other countries to modernize, go into debt, have their weapons rust and become obsolete, then it was time to attack. Most wars fairly easily won with the imbalance. 21st Century brings a whole new meaning to things. With B2 bombers running $2.3 billion, an aircraft carrier now about $3 Trillion, Abrams tanks at $6.8 million., anyone opposing is going to need a pretty robust economy.

I laugh at such as Iran. They want to be in the big league. But anything they have will be items less than 1/20 of the cost of ours. That means they will need 20 times as many in number. Course that would completely destroy their economy. The Soviet Union collapsed because thyey couldn't produce the technology and new weapons to counter the US. So they quit the race. Not that the US is free from financial ruin. We need to return to being the industrial empire we were in WWII and following 2 decades. Currently our manufacturing is mainly military and everything else imported, largely from China. Though our decline as a military power may be some time, our economic decline is emminent. We need to take a different course.The way to deal with Iraq is tell them, "You have 90 days to put your government and country together. After that the US troops will all be gone. Should you fail to accomplish this, the US will divide Iraq up like a pie and invite every neighboring country to take a slice. Your country will cease to exist." Those countries getting parts of Iraq would be Israel, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudia Arabia, Pakistan and if they give up the nuclear program even Iran. I like playing hardball. And the result would bring more of the Islamic nations into closer proximity to either work their problems or fight it out. I often refer to this as the "Burning Bridge Policy" of withdrawl. Actually a good chance the Iraqis would accomplish it. I rely on national pride and peoples resorcefullness when faced with a sink or swim situation.

My e-mail name gives away my philosophy. Gengis Khan was my favorite leader of all time. Unlike Alexander, he went from orphan to conquering the world from a tiny nation that he assembled and an army that probably only numbered about 80,000. Actually his empire was more one of trade than conquest. Basically he only destroyed those that wouldn't become corporate allies.

The age of entitlement - Our kids are spoiled

CarryConcealed.net — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:41:00 +0000

We need to do some basic things and spend more time with our kids. When I was growing up my Dad was in the military and I was very proud of that and his accomplishments. I did not know until later when it was my turn to be a parent that it really hit me what he had done for his country, his wife, and his sons.

Dad would come home from long missions and we would help him fix cars, and things around the house. It would take twice as long, but he taught us how to do things that we needed to know about running a house and taking care of a wife. He was involved in scouts and when he was gone for years at a time (to a kid it seemed that way) he would make up for it by our 30 day vacations that other families never took.

We communicated through voice recorders and watched the news to see if his type of plane was shot down. We watched Jane Fonda tell me that my Dad was a murderer.

When it came down to our family times and Christmas, it was different. Mom would make hundreds of cookies for every man on the post that had to work, and Dad hand delivered to every man working on the holiday. He would get home around midnight or later and we would then celebrate out Christmas. Years later my brother and I were sitting in his back yard and talking about the delay in our Christmas celebrations. He said that he understood why Dad did what he did for the men. They were missing their families and then low and behold here comes the commander handing them fresh cookies made by his wife. He was able to visit with each and every one during the Holiday.

Leaders are not those that just tell people what to do, they care about the entire picture and act accordingly.

We spent more time with our Dad even though he spent lots of time away. It is not how much time..... It is what you do with the time.

While watching and helping with my kids activities, it has been a blast working with lots of kids from many walks of life. It has allowed me to see what is going on across social barriers and economic situations. The bottom line: I have two great kids and it has been work, but my wife and I have spent the time to help them get ready to productive members of society. This alone does not ensure they will be good kids. That is up to the kids themselves. It just seems that parents who spend quality time with their kids have a higher ratio of kids that can contribute to society.

The kids of today as a generation expect things handed to them, and when it does not happen some day...... It should be a very interesting dinner topic when they do not get what they want or know how to work. Well that is if anyone sits down to dinner.......Clark - Carryconcealed.net

We can arm the teachers now or we can bury our kids.

CarryConcealed.net — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 04:21:00 +0000

This is already happening in the rest of the world. Lets learn from them that our Gun Free Zones are a known target for the terrorists.

"In Thailand, where officials have been waging a bloody fight with Muslim separatists for the last two years, some teachers carry weapons for self defense as they are viewed as part of the government. In Israel, teachers are not allowed to carry weapons in the school, but security guards at the entrances are armed." This was published on MSNBC.

So if you are not willing to arm some of the teachers, then you need to raze the taxes and do what the Israelis have done.

The way I see it we have three choices. 1: Arm some of the teachers and give them training to carry concealed; 2: Pay for SWAT team members at every school; or 3: We can prepare for some of our greatest assists to die when they are attacked. The Terrorists do not care about your kids, they only care about wiping out the United States.

Learn the gun laws in your state. For example you can carry your CCW in your car in Oklahoma when picking up your kids. You may not leave the car, but if you are in the wrong place at the right time, the life you may save just may be yours. CCW Permit holders are not law enforcement and should not act like such, but they have the right to defend themselves.

Clark - Carryconcealed.net

Arm some of the teachers now!

CarryConcealed.net — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:33:00 +0000

We can have the debate now or later... but two days before the VT slaughter I posted a statement that we need to arm the teachers and offer a first line of defence. Lets arm only a portion of the teachers.

Given the teachers backgrounds ....lets say that only 10% would want or could qualify to hold a CCW in school.... That would increase our front line defence to an estimated 500,000 in schools across the United States. This front line defence could save lives in a tramatic situation.

So if they are targeting 100 fold of the Russia school hostage issues then we can only assume that 400 schools is a good target.

Glenn Beck has done a great job this week taking about Perfect Storm. He is talking about schools across the US being attacked at the same time. He seems to be the only one putting all of the pieces together.

Do you have a plan at home for an attacker? Do you have a plan if your kids are attacked?

Get with your local Law Enforcement NOW and PLAN. - Clark Carryconcealed.net.

Ben Bova - Some Crazy Ideas about gun control?

CarryConcealed.net — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 01:24:00 +0000

Ben Bova posts on his blog: "Gun control. Back when airline hijackings first started and airport security began making life more difficult for passengers, I got the feeling that the security people were going about their task backwards.Instead of searching everybody to make certain that no one was carrying a gun aboard the airliner, it seemed to me that they should be handing each passenger a loaded .45 automatic pistol and telling them that if anybody makes a suspicious move, start shooting."

He may be out there, but he has a valid point. Take a look at El Al Israeli Airline and have you ever wondered why they have NEVER had a plane hijacked? It is because there is an armed air marshal on every flight. Some airlines in the US allow the pilots to carry guns, but then they make them pay for the expensive training, and use their own personal vacation time. We can cover all of the security you want outside the plane, but with low tech and a determination to kill Americans, we will not be safe until we follow El Al.

The second point is about the homeless. Lets let the homeless live in the congressional buildings during the night time when our law makers have gone home. It would help get more use out of our publicly owned buildings and resources. Not all of Ben's ideas are way out there.

Keep on posting your opinions Ben, maybe one or two will get through and help save our country. Clark - Carryconcealed.net.

The entire blog from Ben is at: Naplesnews.com

Living with the miss-information about the Federal Assault Weapons Ban

CarryConcealed.net — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:01:00 +0000

It is interesting to see how many people throw around the words 'The Clinton Federal Assault Weapons Ban". This piece of legislation ended in 2004 but no one in the media has read the entire bill.

One example is listed from the Newsobserver.com. Stanley Chambers publishes an article talking about the need for police to have "semiautomatic versions of the M-16 rifles." Mr. Chambers is using a quote from Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign. The quote used in the article is "any one with a grudge and a credit card" can legally own sniper rifles. The "expiration of the federal assault weapons ban in 2004" has enabled criminals to have access to more powerful guns. The article dated September 5th, is actually a very informative and is trying to show that police departments are trying to stop crime. It is just a normal exhample of how the Ban is missunderstood and missrepresented. Pictured on the right is Lt. Kevin Cates of the Durham Police and his picture was taken by Stanley Cambers.

If you look at the "Federal Assault Weapons Ban" it still allowed the purchase of SKS, AK47s and other Assault rifles. It did limit the extended magazines and some of the flash suppressors, but anyone who could legally buy a gun could still get them. So why are criminals getting better guns or should we also ask why are our police departments having to buy AR-15's and carry rifles and shotguns? Or is it because we have allowed so many criminals in our country and do not deport them when they are caught. We are seeing examples in every state of illegal aliens, from many different countries, that are committing crimes and killing Americans while not being deported.

The answer is not in poorly written gun control legislation, but rather lets look at the source of the increased gang and criminal activities. Where are they coming from, and how do we stop them? Clark -Carryconceled.net

News Posting a Gun Story with both sides of the story. What is this world coming to?

CarryConcealed.net — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:06:00 +0000

This week is a national week of gun protests instigated by the left wing media. CNSNews.com ran a gun story with several good points and tried to actually report both sides. Wow a news source providing actual news instead of "Feeding" the American Public what they feel we need to know.

Here are some examples:

For Gun Control:

"During the first seven months of 2007, the media waged an intermittent war against the Second Amendment, using a variety of fallacious arguments to make the pitch for gun control," according to "The Media Assault on the Second Amendment," which was released on Monday by the Culture and Media Institute (CMI). "When it comes to the right to bear arms -- to accept personal responsibility to defend home and family -- the media are far from fair and balanced."
"A crime wave in the big cities, followed by the Virginia Tech tragedy in April, gave the media plenty of ammunition for attacking the right to bear arms," said David Niedrauer, the study's author. "The three major broadcast networks ran at least 650 stories on gun homicides from January through July" but only two on using firearms for self-defense.

Against Gun Control:
"In their zeal to repeal the Second Amendment," the report indicates, "the media failed to inform their audience of at least four powerful arguments against gun control: -- "Comparisons between countries are not useful. Unfortunately, direct comparisons based solely on crime rates and gun laws tell very little about whether gun control actually works. Social scientists believe that gun control is only one of many factors that influence rates of violence.-- "Guns are frequently used to stop crimes. To the Founding Fathers, the right to bear arms for self-protection was essential if citizens were to be truly free, but this essential fact rarely saw the light of day in the mainstream media.-- "Most guns used in crimes are illegally acquired. Like it or not, banning guns only takes them out of the hands of law-abiding citizens, making it easier for people with no respect for the law to attack their victims.-- "Gun control laws have no proven effect. At worst, gun control laws leave law-abiding citizens defenseless before rapacious criminals, and at best, they may not affect violence at all."

So here is a story published by CNSNews.com that has information on both sides. Kind of nice for a change. Personally I like the facts reported rather than being forced to listen to some poor Star Wars Jedi mind trick.

Clark -Carryconcealed.net

Source - http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200708/CUL20070827a.html

It is not the atomic or dirty bomb, it is how we got here and how we react.

CarryConcealed.net — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 11:40:00 +0000

With several US Cities under a warning that there is a dirty bomb imminent we have to ask several questions. 1: With a Republican House and Senate why is our border still open, and with the Democrats in power why is our boarder still open? 2: How will we react as a nation, state, community and individuals? Michael Ramirez Editorial Cartoonist for Investor's Business Daily has this dead on right.

The first question brings up the ultimate question: Are our law makers doing anything for the country except trying to improve their individual careers or party before thinking of the country's best interests. Let’s look at the illegal that executed three bright and wonderful young minority kids that were on their way to collage. This is even after he has a rap sheet and out from rape charges. If you are in our country illegally, no matter where you are from, and you do something wrong, you need to be placed in prison and the key thrown out. The law makers are letting us down by not enforcing the laws they have created and endangering our country.

The second question we all need to look at in this time of war. As a nation we have proved that we can go riot, pillage and kill over a murder trial or even just having the power out. What is going to happen when we have a real attack on our soil? We have forgotten 9/11 as a nation and we still do not realize that we are under attack from radical Islamic jihadist that will not stop. When the dirty bomb goes off or we have a large nuclear attack we will need to wake up, take care of our neighbor and realize how we got to this point in history. Once we wake up, we can fix the problem as Americans. We only pray that we wake up before the next large attack, as our law enforcement community has been able to stop many attacks since 9/11.

Clark - Carryconcealed.net

Is there a correlation between state with no CCW permit and high crime?

CarryConcealed.net — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 03:45:00 +0000

Doug Zellmer of Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers posted a story on July 27th titled "Well-wishers aid Oshkosh boy whose lemonade stand was robbed". When you run through the story you may think that this was just some young punks robbing another kid trying to raise money for a vacation and to buy his mom a birthday present. The thugs punched the young entrepreneur in the stomach and took the $20.

Well go out and check the Wisconsin gun laws and you find that there is no CCW permits allowed. If I was a crook I would move to Wisconsin as the entire state is a "Gun Free Zone". If I was a resident of Wisconsin, I would move to one of the 37 states that allow the state's citizen to protect themselves.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070727/GPG0101/70727023

States takiing on the illegal question will have short term issues, but will prevail.

CarryConcealed.net — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:03:00 +0000

With the new laws that are affecting illegal aliens kick into effect there are several negative things that will impact our country. However the positive end result will out weigh the short-term problems. We just need to prepare for the short-term problems and plan for the long-term survival of our country.

Two examples of short term problems:
1: I have been visiting with local law enforcement and they have indicated that there is a rash or burglaries and crimes that are not being reported. The violent illegal aliens are preying on those illegal aliens trying to work and earn money. As many can not get bank accounts they bring home weekly pay in cash. This is an increase in cash and the inability to call for help is a recipe for disaster for many illegal communities. Rape, robbery and other crimes are up in those communities and are not being reported.
2: Mary Lou Pickel of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published a report saying that business catering to illegal aliens will loose significant business. She gives a car dealer as one example, explaining that the dealer used to sell 15 trucks a week and is now down to 3. This is because of the Georgia Law restricting the registration of a vehicle onlyto people that can get a Georgia drivers license. "
Both of these are just indicators. Taken by themselves they do not mean the "sky is falling". However, they do show that we are in for a change in our society. When there are changes of this magnitude there will be strife on both sides. The question we need to ask our selves is will you be able to defend your family when the social strife turns in to riots near your home? We have seen this over such things like the "OJ Simpson Trial". What do you think will happen when the illegal aliens can not get food or are tired of being preyed upon by their own.
We have asked this many times: "Can you take care of your family for 72 Hours; 3 Months; 6months or 1 year with out government help?" Each one of these requires different resources.
Clark – Carryconcealed.net

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/07/15/tags_0716.html

Being “Situationally Aware” is not enough; you must have the desire to help others.

CarryConcealed.net — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 12:16:00 +0000

We have been talking about going through our daily lives with being “Situationally Aware”. This is defined by several authors as having the ability to watch what is going on in your surroundings and have a plan should something transpire. David Kenik wrote a book called “Armed Response”. After reading the book I understand that I am one of those that watch in a relaxed alert state, rather than the type that goes through life totally unprepared. The book helps explain how to become more prepared to defend your loved ones.
There is one part missing from just going around your daily chores and being “Situationally Aware”, and that is the attitude or desire to protect yourself or your loved ones from attacks. This attitude of a selfless desire to protect your loved ones can be seen in several news stories that have just happened in the last few weeks. In Kingstown, N.C. a 5-year-old boy grabbed a rabid fox by the neck and pinned it to the ground during a family cookout, protecting six other children before his stepfather could kill the animal. He was quoted as saying “I wanted to protect my little brother.” This little boy is truly a hero.
Another prime example of this quick thinking selfless behavior happened in Scotland by a cab driver. He is pictured holding the ticket he got after the terror attack. As he was driving up to the airport to drop his fare off, he noticed the two terrorists trying to blow up the airport. He yells to his fare to run for her life and he jumps into the battle. The following are quotes from his account to the Daily Record in Scotland:
"It was obvious the driver wanted into the boot of the Jeep for something and I was worried about what it was. I thought it must be a gun."He was going crazy, just lashing out at everyone and babbling p*sh in a foreign language the whole time."I've heard people say since that he was shouting 'Allah!' but I didn't hear that. It just sounded like a lot of c**p to me."I ran for the guy and punched him twice in the face with pretty good right hooks."Then I kicked him with full force right in the balls but he didn't go down. He just kept on babbling his rubbish."I couldn't believe that he was still standing. I know I would have been floored by that kind of kick."
Alex McIlveen the cab driver is also a true hero. He threw himself into the battle and injured himself saving others. Had the Islamic Terrorist made it into the airport un-checked hundreds may have died that day.
You may never know how you will react when someone else’s life is on the line. Now is the time to think about how you will react and what you will do rather than waiting until it is thrust upon you for a decision. Several disastrous situations have already been tossed in my path, and it is obvious that being “Situationally Aware” is not enough. In one of the disasters along my path, another person who could have helped the rape victim almost ran me over trying to get away from the situation. We were able to apprehend the rapist and testify against him in court. He was found guilty and went to jail. You must have the desire to help others or being “Situationally Aware” is utterly worthless. Lets all band together as Americans to help each other as the bad guys and Islamic Terrorists are only gearing up. We can stand against them with the selfless acts of bravery like the cab driver and the 5 year old saving his brother.
Clark - Carryconcealed.net

Reference:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/tm_headline=hero-cabbie--police-took-my-good-nike-trainers&method=full&objectid=19401912&siteid=66633-name_page.html

http://carryconcealed.net/news/#81

Let’s enforce the laws – Gun or alien

CarryConcealed.net — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:11:00 +0000

Only some of our lawmakers have heard what we want from them. Let’s enforce the laws that are on the books. Let’s take a look at the gun laws. Most of them are based upon some reasonable desire to keep the guns out of the bad guys hands and in the hands of the tax paying citizen. If they had enforced the laws that are currently on the books, and we improved our systems in place, the Virginia Tech shooter (with a phrase from the Quran on his arm) would have not been able to get the gun in the first place. It is the law-abiding citizens that go and get the CCW permits. Of the thousands issued across the country, only a handful had committed a crime after getting the permit.
As for the border and illegal aliens: It is not a racial thing but rather it is a right for a sovereign country to allow people into it’s country that will be productive members of a society. When was the last time we heard about trying to hang out illegally in Mexico or Canada. We as Americans would go to jail. Oklahoma is the first state to step up and sign legislation to penalize the employer for hiring illegally and it does not matter what country they are from. Oklahoma’s HB 1804 and signed in to law on June 11, 2007 is the first in the country that deals with this issue.
To the Hispanic community, please do not take offence, but go through the process and become legal. I have worked all of my life only to be told that I will not receive any Social Security benefits because of the thousands of illegal babies that are now drawing monthly checks and never paid a dime into the system.
To the radical Islamic Terrorists that have come here illegally to practice your jihad, go home.
To our law makers that have not heard what Americans have been saying to you: Close our border, get the illegals out, enforce the laws on the books. As you all have spent wasted years talking about ineffective solutions; lets take your salaries and pensions and apply them to the border patrols that you have turned your back.
This is still the single greatest country in the world. We have to wake up in order to take care of our tax paying citizens and protect our rights that our forefathers fought and died to protect. Giving up the right for us to protect our families and our sovereign nation is an idea that we need to get out of our head. We need to stand up for our country and those that have gone before us so that we will be able to leave it to those that come behind.

Clark - Carryconcealed.net

The bottom line: Practice or die.

CarryConcealed.net — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 03:08:00 +0000

If you have a CCW Permit – When was the last time you practiced at the range?
With our gang violence increasing in this country, and people are getting CCW Permits every day, why are you not practicing? If you need the protection of a gun, you need to practice. The ultimate goal for any sane person should be to never be involved in a gun fight, unless you are in fear of your life. Are you willing to bet your life on the gun that has been sitting in the corner or in the safe for years with out being cleaned or fired? My parents bought a house with a cubby hole in the hall. One of us said “that would be a great place for a hidden gun”, sure enough there was one there. It was pulled out and the gun was rusted and the bullets had to be pried out of the chambers. The gun was given back to the original owner, and this gun would not have saved anyone in an emergency.
One of groups that helps with practicing and makes it fun is the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA). Carryconcealed.net is in the process of becoming a corporate sponsor and getting involved with our local chapter.

The following is a description from the IDPA web site.
The International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) is the governing body of a shooting sport that simulates self-defense scenarios and real life encounters. It was founded in 1996 as a response to the desires of shooters worldwide. The organization now boasts membership of more than 11,000, including members in 19 foreign countries.
One of the unique facets of this sport is that it is geared toward the new or average shooter, yet is fun, challenging and rewarding for the experienced shooter. The founders developed the sport so that practical gear and practical guns may be used competitively. An interested person can spend a minimal amount on equipment and still be competitive.
The main goal is to test the skill and ability of the individual, not equipment or gamesmanship. “Competition only” equipment is not permitted in this sport.
The firearms are grouped into five (5) divisions: 1) Custom Defensive Pistol (.45ACP semi-automatics only); 2) Enhanced Service Pistol (9mm (9x19) or larger caliber semi-automatics); 3) Stock Service Pistol (9mm (9x19) or larger caliber double action, double action only, or safe action semi-automatics); 4) Enhanced Service Revolver (.38 caliber or larger double action revolvers); and 5) Stock Service Revolver (.38 caliber or larger double action revolvers). See Appendix One – Equipment for delineations in the revolver divisions. Shooters are then classed by like-skill levels with progression from Novice (NV); to Marksman (MM); to Sharpshooter (SS); to Expert (EX); and, finally, to Master (MA).

The bottom line: Practice or die, but you might as well have some fun on the way! Clark -Carryconcealed.net
http://www.idpa.com/

The Fat Lady has not even begun to warm up…..Al-Qaeda is exporting jihad.

CarryConcealed.net — Tue, 29 May 2007 23:40:00 +0000

The Sunday Times in England reports that deputy leader of Al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has urged supporters in Iraq to extend their "holy war" to other Middle Eastern countries. In a letter sent to the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq in the past few weeks, Zawahiri claims that it is defeating US forces and urges followers to expand their campaign of terror. He conjures a vision of an Islamic state comprising Lebanon, Palestine and Syria, where Al-Qaeda has already gained its first footholds. The goal of an Islamic "greater Syria", first outlined by Zawahiri two years ago, is detailed in the letter amid growing concern about the activities of new groups under Al-Qaeda’s influence in the countries concerned.
This report is disturbing by itself, but when you look at the poll taken last week indicating that an estimated 58% of the Muslims in the United States under 30 (Those most likely to participate) approve of suicide bombings.

May 29, 2007 in Cairo, Egypt an American member of Al Qaeda warns to end US invovlement in all Muslim lands or face an attack worse than Sept 11. Adam Yehiye Gadahn, who also goes by the name Azzam al-Amriki, said Al Qaeda would not negotiate on its demands.
"Your failure to heed our demands ... means that you and your people will ... experience things which will make you forget all about the horrors of September 11th, Afghanistan and Iraq and Virginia Tech," he said in the seven-minute video

Lets take a look around us and be "Situationally Aware" when we are out and about. Lets involve our Law Enforcement agencies any time we see things that are not right, just like the Circuit City employees getting involved to help stop the attack last month. Our Law Enforcement people in the United States are the best in the world, and they still can not cover the front lines. CCW permit holders in most states can only react when our lives are in danger, and legal repercussions may occur if judged as acting like a vigilante. But we can be watching and be ready to act should the occasion arise.

Clark -Carryconcealed.net

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,274715,00.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1845232.ece