The .357 Magnum

In these days of mega-magnum handguns like the 454 Casull, 475 Linebaugh, 500 Smith & Wesson and 480 Ruger, the .357 Magnum seems like a weak sister to a lot of folks.  Why get a .357 when you can get a .41 or .44 Magnum?  There are plenty of reasons for going with the .357, in fact if I could have only one gun, it would be a .357. 

The .357 Magnum is now 77 years old, having come to fruition in 1935, right in the middle of the Great Depression.  Even at the then exorbitant price of $60, Smith & Wesson sold every one they made.  At the time, each one was hand made, and could be ordered with pretty much any option the customer wanted.

The cartridge itself is an extended .38 Special case, stretched out an extra 1/10”.  This was to prevent the hot loaded round from accidentally being chambered in the weaker .38 Special Military & Police model.  The new .357 Magnum was chambered in the N frame size gun, as it was believed that only the larger framed gun could handle the pressures of the new powerhouse, which were upwards of 47.000 psi.  It was, at the time, the most powerful factory handgun round available. 

Handgun authorities of the time, including Elmer Keith, Phil Sharpe and Douglas Wesson, were quick to extol the virtues of the round.  In fact, Doug Wesson used the new handgun and cartridge to take many head of game, including antelope, elk, moose and grizzly bear, to prove it’s superiority to any other factory round available.  The head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, authorized it for carry by his agents.

Fast forward 20 years to 1955.  A Border Patrolman named Bill Jordan liked the .357 Magnum round, but didn’t like carrying the weight of the heavy N-frame.  He asked Carl Hellstrom, then president of Smith & Wesson, if it would be possible to package the power of the .357 round in a revolver the size of the K-frame Military & Police. This resulted in the creation of the .357 Combat Magnum, later to be known as the Model 19.  At 35 ounces with a 4” barrel, Jordan called it ‘the peace officer’s dream,’ combining portability and power. 

One of the biggest fans of the .357 Magnum round, and one of my top 3 favorite gun writers, was Charles A. “Skeeter” Skelton.  He wrote many articles praising the .357, and his use of the Lyman bullet mold #358156, a gas checked 158 grain semi wadcutter bullet available as either a solid point or hollowpoint, has made that particular bullet a classic along the same lines as Elmer Keith made the Lyman #429421 250 grain bullet famous for the .44 Magnum. 

For a long time, I wrote off the .357 as being more of an annoying little brother to the .44 Magnum.  As I’ve gotten older, and done more study, I’ve come to realize that the .357 Magnum may be a better choice, for most people, than any of the larger rounds available.  The acquisition of several hundred .357 and .38 +P cases allowed me to experiment with different powders and bullets, and I have settled on one or two loads for all my needs. 

I have 2 .357 revolvers that I normally use, a Smith & Wesson Model 19 with 4” barrel, and a Ruger Blackhawk single action revolver with a 6 ½” barrel.  The Model 19 is a favorite for defense and field use. I have a set of Herrett’s Roper style grips on it, made to fit my hand perfectly. They are not too terribly expensive, running about $100.  They are worth the money, as good fitting grips are worth their weight in gold. 

My normal working load is a handload of the Oregon Trail Bullet Company 158gr semi-wadcutter bullet, with 7.5grs of Unique.  This gives me around 1200 fps or so, which is adequate for most of what I use it for.  It is powerful enough for lighter, thin skinned critters, and I can load up a pile of them to shoot and practice with on a regular basis.  Getting out and shooting is the only way you’re going to get good with a pistol. 

I carry this sixgun in one of 2 holsters, depending on what I’m doing.  For concealed carry, I’ll use a Range Master Holster from Rob Leahy at Simply Rugged.  It pulls the gun butt in close, yet allows a speedy draw.  I’ll carry extra ammo in a belt carrier on my left hand side.

For field carry, where concealment isn’t a concern, I use a tanker-style holster I picked up in the local Cabelas Bargain Cave for $12.  It is made for the 4” K frame, and is slung from the right shoulder to the left hip.  It also has a canvas cartridge slide on it for holding 12 extra rounds.  It is extremely comfortable, and it is reassuring to have the extra ammo where it is easy to get to. 

The Ruger Blackhawk .357 Magnum single action revolver has been in production since 1955, with a few improvements along the way.  They are just about indestructible, and are offered in blue or stainless steel.  Mine was picked up new in 2007, and has been toted around quite a bit in the time since.  It has been a hunting revolver for the last two seasons.  With the 6 ½” barrel, it balances nicely for long range shooting, but is not ungainly like some guns with longer barrels.  It wears a set of Ruger synthetic ivory grips, which give it a little bit of personality, along with a Belt Mountain #5 base pin for the cylinder.  Patterned after an Elmer Keith design that he had on his #5 revolver, hence the name, it is a tighter fit than the factory part, and reduces the wobble in the cylinder, giving a little bit tighter lock up  It also lends a touch of class to the gun.

Normal shooting loads are made up of the Cast Performance Bullet Company 180 grain Lead Flat Nose-Gas Check bullet with a healthy dose of Alliant 2400 powder behind it. This is my hunting, walking around, do-all load for the Blackhawk. Sighted in at 50 yards, I am entirely confident in it to do whatever I need it to.  For a light practice load, the above mentioned Laser Cast 158gr semi wadcutter bullet and 3 grains of Bullseye in .38 Special cases fills the bill. 

It is usually carried in another holster made by Simply Rugged, a #120 with an extra long retention strap.  The holster rides on a 2 ½” cartridge belt with 28 cartridge loops, and the whole thing is carved in a floral pattern.  It’s a beautiful rig, made for showing off or heavy work. It is quick to draw from, should the need arise, and keeps the gun safe and secure.  I asked Rob to make me one just like Skeeter Skelton’s, and he came through!  If I want to carry it concealed, I have a Simply Rugged Pancake holster for it.  It’s a big gun, but under a cold weather parka or rain jacket, it’s doable. 

Even with its heaviest loadings, the .357 Magnum is still much easier to shoot than its larger siblings.  The Blackhawk is the best value in a hunting handgun today, and will last forever if cared for properly.  For someone who is doubtful of their ability to handle the bigger calibers, the .357 is still effective on nearly everything 4 legged in the lower 48, except that bullet placement is a little more critical.  We owe this to any game animal we shoot, anyway.

The Smith & Wesson Model 19 is a classic sixgun, and is lightweight to carry while still being easy to shoot. One can carry it all day, and not be tired or sore when the sun goes down.  Six rounds of .357 is still pretty potent, and I’ve never felt undergunned by having “only” 6 rounds. 

So, don’t be ashamed of having a .357 Magnum; embrace it, make it your own, live with it, shoot it every day.  You’ll be far better off than your friends who have their bigger toys, but can’t hit the broad side of the proverbial barn!

CCW classes are being held every week, plus we have advanced classes coming up:

Tactical Medicine for CCW: May 11, 10am-2:30pm.  MAC Pro Shop and Training Center, Springfield, Mo.

Figthing Handgun Skills: May 25th, 9am-6pm. It will be held in Willow Springs, MO.

Notice that our enemies are still training, no matter what the gov't says.  We need to be training, too.

http://freebeacon.com/ez-bake-terrorism/

Gun crimes down...surprised? We think not!

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-gun-crimes-pew-report-20130507,0,3022693.story

We've know this for a long time, nice to see the mainstream media finally figuring it out.  Get out, get training and go armed!

Recent training classes

OK, it's been a while since we've posted here.  We've got classes coming up in the next few months!  CCW classes every week, 1 day fighting handgun classes, 2 day classes out of town and private classes.  Lots going on, so we'll keep you up to date!

Merry Christmas to All!

The Lord Jesus Christ was born this day!  Give thanks for this most precious gift, and all that He has given us. 

Here's hoping you all have a safe and Merry Christmas!

Assault Weapons and the Truth

Well, this administration may not be going after our guns overtly, but they sure are setting the stage for it.  If you have guns, you need to join the National Rifle Association.  You may not like everything they do, but they're our most powerful voice on Capitol Hill.  I'm a Life Member, and getting ready to upgrade to Endowment Member.  Make your voice heard! 

The fight doesn't end with us.  Every one of us needs to make sure our children understands the immense importance of the Second Amendment and eternal vigilance.  I know we're all busy, but a phone call or email or a letter takes five minutes.  Let our legislators know what you expect of them.  If we lose, we have only ourselves to blame. 

December 2, 2010 4:00 A.M.

Assault Weapons and the Truth
The Obama administration has nominated an anti-gun zealot as the U.S.’s top gun cop.

The Obama administration is moving into high gear in putting gun-control advocates into important government positions. The administration’s nominee to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), Andrew Traver, should be of particular concern. His attacks on the civilian use of so-called assault weapons raise real questions about his willingness to distort the truth for political purposes. The person nominated to be the nation’s top gun cop shouldn’t use inaccurate descriptions to scare people into supporting gun control.

Mr. Traver is the special agent in charge of the BATFE’s Chicago field division. Therefore, he knows what was covered by the federal assault-weapons ban that sunset in 2004. But in November 2009, NBC interviewed Traver and reported: “Traver says the power and randomness of the heavy caliber, military-style weapons make them so dangerous not only to people, but to police. They’re so powerful, body armor can’t withstand a hit, and they’re so difficult to control, their bullets often get sprayed beyond the intended targets, striking innocent victims even when they’re in their own homes.”

The list of problems with Mr. Traver’s claims is very long. If he really believes that these weapons fire unacceptably “heavy caliber” bullets, he is going to have to ban virtually all rifles. Small-game rifles — guns designed to kill squirrels and rabbits without destroying too much meat — typically fire .22-caliber bullets, which are only slightly smaller than the .223-caliber bullets fired by the M16 (used by the U.S. military since Vietnam) and the newer M4 carbine (used in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars). Deer-hunting rifles fire rounds that are very similar to those used by the AK-47.

Speaking of M16s, M4s, and AK-47s, Traver is correct when he states that the guns covered by the federal assault-weapons ban were “military-style weapons.” But he fails to note that this really just deals with style — the cosmetics of the guns, not how they actually operate. The guns covered by the ban were not the machine guns actually used by the military, but civilian, semi-automatic versions of those guns. The civilian version of the AK-47 may look like the guns used by militaries around the world, but it is different. It fires essentially the same bullets as deer-hunting rifles at the same rapidity (one bullet per pull of the trigger), and does the same damage.

On penetrating body armor, Mr. Traver leaves out one important detail: Rifles in general are often able to penetrate body armor simply because their bullets travel faster than those fired from handguns. The same can be said for going through the walls of houses. But if he had said that deer-hunting rifles can often penetrate walls and lower-level types of body armor, it is unlikely that his comments would have generated the same fear.

Unfortunately, Mr. Traver has done more than make clearly inaccurate claims about so-called “assault weapons.” He has supported banning .50-caliber rifles, regulations that would force many gun shows to close down, the Chicago handgun ban, and repealing the Tiahrt Amendment, which protects sensitive trace data from being misused in frivolous municipal lawsuits against gun makers. He also worked with the Joyce Foundation, which has funded gun-ban groups such as the Violence Policy Center, on the “Gun Violence Reduction Project.”

The fact that Mr. Traver uses the same misleading claims as groups such as the Brady Campaign shouldn’t make it too surprising that gun-control groups are applauding his nomination. Nor is Traver’s nomination very surprising after President Obama appointed two strong anti-self-defense members to the Supreme Court. But Mr. Traver’s nomination is dangerous. Making up claims about guns to demonize them is beyond what is acceptable for someone who wants a position in which he will be regulating American gun ownership.

— John R. Lott Jr. is a FOXNews.com contributor, an economist, and the author of More Guns, Less Crime, the third edition of which was recently published by the University of Chicago Press.

The weather outside is frightful...

With the weather changing, we need to be thinking about changing our tactics when carrying concealed.  The more clothes we have on, the more difficult it is to get to our guns quickly.  So, we have to look to pocket carry for extreme cold weather.  For example, while I carry my Glock appendix IWB, when it gets cold outside I can stick my S&W 642 in my coat pocket.  That way, I can have my hand on my gun when the fight starts, and it'll give me time to get to my primary. 

Before you do it on the street, make sure you get to the range and try it out.  Don't make assumptions about your ability.  Get out and work the technique before you have to do it for real. 

The holidays are here...

We're entering one of the most dangerous times of the year.  Crime always goes up around the holidays.  Plus, in case you haven't noticed, the world situation is getting more precarious by the day.  We need to be on our toes, and be ready. 

Keep your guns ready.  Get to the range, and get to training.  You can't change the world, but you can take care of your little piece of it.  Stay alert, but not paranoid. 

Sorry for the hiatus...

Lots has been going on.  I'm now a Boy Scout Assistant Scoutmaster, and we had our first camping trip this last weekend!  I never made it far in Boy Scouts, so hopefully I can help my oldest boy get along better than I did.

Classes are still happening.  I've got Shotgun Gunfighting this weekend, then Intro to Defensive Pistol on the night of October 19th. 

My first "official" magazine article has been published in US Concealed Carry Magazine!!!  If you're not a member of USCCA, you should be. http://www.uscca.com/.  The focus is solely on concealed carry, and is a good place to be associated with.

I'll post my review of a couple of Rob Leahy's holsters tomorrow, then some pics from the Shotgun class next week. 

Folks, the world is still a dangerous place, so keep your gun with you 24/7, get trained, stay dangerous.  I'll post some new info tomorrow, also, to keep you up to date. 

Everyday carry gear (EDC)

OK, we've talked about having your gun with you everywhere you go.  I also realize that carrying a full size fighting gun is difficult, whether it's because of your work environment, the weather, or any other reasons.  There are ways to carry every day, though. 

This is one of my favorite EDC setups.  It's a Smith & Wesson 642 .38 Special double action revolver, wearing a Barami Hip Grip and Tyler T-Grip adapter. No holster needed, goes right into your waistband.  With it is a Bianchi Speed Strip with 5 extra rounds, and a Spyderco Delica folding knife.  If you're legally allowed, there is no reason you can't have this with you damn near 24/7/365.  It isn't hard. 

Goodbye, little buddy...

I had to put down my puppy Zip down 2 days ago.  He came down with parvo, and it just ate him up.  He was only 6 months old, he loved to chase my chickens, wake me up at 4:30am and ride in my truck with his head out the window.

Woman shoots intruders; 1 dead

If you didn't see this, it should make your day!

http://www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/content/2010/crimesite/article.aspx?subjectid=450&articleid=20100716_11_AA110_ByMatt123176&allcom=1


Woman shoots intruders; 1 dead

By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer
Published: 7/16/2010 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 7/16/2010 5:32 AM

The victim of a home invasion fought off two attackers early Thursday by shooting both in the head, killing one, police said.

One of the intruders, Darreon Carter, 18, died in a Tulsa hospital. The other, Daniel Holman, 23, is in critical condition, police said.

The incident was Tulsa's second deadly home intrusion in as many days.

Capt. Travis Yates said the woman was walking through a dark parking lot about 3:50 a.m. at the Brighton Park apartments in the 4800 block of South Darlington Avenue after a trip to a fast-food restaurant. As she opened her apartment's door, the men demanded money and forced their way inside.

The woman initially cooperated, but when one intruder told her to undress, she pulled a snub-nosed revolver from her purse and shot him, police said.

A struggle for the gun broke out, and her boyfriend tried to help, police said.

Although she took blows to her head, the woman was able to shoot the other intruder. She fired five shots in all, Yates said.

"It seemed to be a courageous act, protecting their home and their life," he said. "They were shaken up, but it was sort of impressive — they weren't hysterical."

Brighton Park typically doesn't see much criminal activity. Yates said there were no immediate signs that the woman knew the attackers.

"We believe that this was totally an opportunity crime," he said. "Somebody saw a woman walking up to an apartment, and they decided to commit a crime, and here we are."

The woman held the wounded intruders at gunpoint until help arrived. Her boyfriend collected two screwdrivers that the men had used as weapons, police said.

Officers found Carter and Holman in the apartment's entryway. Carter was unresponsive; Holman was conscious, but his condition was deteriorating quickly, Yates said.

Medics took both men to St. Francis Hospital, where Carter died. Holman remains in critical condition with bullet wounds to his head and stomach, police said.

Police took the tenants to headquarters for questioning, but Yates said he didn't expect them to be arrested.

The woman's name was not immediately available, and there was no answer at the apartment later Thursday.

Police said two other recent home-invasion robberies also seem to have been crimes of opportunity.

Seeing open doors, robbers entered the home of Stephen Rodolf, near 26th Street and Peoria Avenue, in June and the home of Rabon Martin, in the 1400 block of South Carson Avenue, on July 6, police said. People in each home were assaulted by the armed robbers.

Three suspects have been charged in the Rodolf robbery and assault, and one of them is also charged in the Martin robbery. One of the three suspects, Ryan K. Smith, has not yet been arrested.

Smith, 21, is described as black, 6 feet 3 inches tall and 170 pounds.

Thursday's shootings happened about a day after another home invasion that left a resident dead.

Police said masked intruders ransacked a home in the 600 block of East 27th Place North before fatally shooting Corey Lajuan Johnson, 30.

The assailants, who are at large, made gang-related remarks during the ordeal and took property from the home.

They were black, wore hooded jackets and had cloths covering their faces, police reported.

Anyone with information about Ryan Smith or any of these home-invasion robberies and assaults is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS. Tips can also be sent to the Police Department online or via text message at tulsaworld.com/crimestoppers.

The Crime Commission offers rewards for information that leads to arrests, and tipsters can remain anonymous.

She had her gun, and used it to good effect.  Take a lesson, folks.  Carry your gun everywhere, all the time!

Daily carry guns

OK, so you've decided to start carrying concealed.  Let's talk about that for a minute.

You've got to have your gun with you, every day.  You have to know it's there, and not leave the house without it.  You don't get to pick and choose when an emergency will occur, that's why it's called an emergency.  As John Farnam says, "When it's least expected, you're elected!"  Carry your gun, plus at least one reload. 

I strongly recommend you carry a full size, fighting handgun.  I carry a Glock 19 9mm semi automatic, plus 2 15 round magazines.  It sounds like a lot, but if you ever have to deal with multiple bad guys, you want as much ammo on hand as possible.  I've also carried a 1911 .45 auto, and if I went back to carrying one, it'd be a full size 5" gun, with three spare magazines. 

I suggest you carry a backup, or second gun, all the time, too.  This isn't paranoia; anything made by man can break, and I've seen everything out there break or fall apart at some point.  I carry my main gun inside the waistband, in the appendix position, with the holster made by Dale Fricke.  My second gun is carried either in an ankle holster or carried on my belt for a left hand draw.  I really like the Smith & Wesson J-frame, five shot revolvers. 

You need to get out and shoot your guns!  You can't read about it, you have to do it.  50 rounds a week is not unrealistic, and more is better.  Make sure it's relevant training, not just throwing rounds downrange.  Shoot your guns, with two hands and one hand.  Get competent training. 

Who Needs Guns in Church?

Well, here's one nitwit who still doesnt' get it. We have 'gun control' in the largest cities in the nation, New York, Washington, D.C., Detroit, Chicago. It's worked well there, hasn't it? But his answer, is more gun control. What a tool!


Michael Arceneaux
Contributor

AOL News (July 19) -- No matter what name you call your deity, there's a common theme among religious institutions in the land of Louisiana: You cannot trust your fellow man, not even in the House of God.

Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law a bill that could easily be mistaken as satire: Concealed handguns are now a go in places of worship.

House Bill 1272, known has the "gun-in-church bill," was introduced by Rep. Henry Burns, R-Haughton.

The new law allows licensed gun owners who are part of a security force to carry concealed weapons into churches, mosques and synagogues.

Those who wish to pack heat while giving praise will have to take an extra eight hours of tactical training each year.

Does that make you feel any safer? No? If it helps, churches, synagogues and mosques choosing to allow concealed carry will have to inform their congregations of the decision.

Perhaps protective vests will finally get sold in the gun aisle at Walmart, too.

To be fair, the bill was not issued as an open love letter to the NRA.

It was presented as a way to give worshippers in "declining neighbors" a means of defense against criminals. More importantly, places of worship will not be forced to allow guns on their property.

Is this really the way to go?

While gun-rights supporters erupted in cheers for Gov. Jindal, a churchgoer in Wisconsin was startled at the sight of a fellow parishioner openly carrying a loaded Glock 9 mm handgun in church.

In response, the police were called. Though the gun carrier wouldn't mention her name, she did tell NBC's TM4J why she carries it.

She said: "I started carrying earlier this year. I'm getting older and fatter and slower and criminals are getting meaner."

Sadly, church violence is not uncommon.

There have been incidents of gun violence in Colorado and New Jersey in recent years. Back in 1980, a teacher by the name of Alvin Lee King III stormed inside a church with an AR-15 assault rifle, a hunting rifle and handguns and opened fire -- killing five and injuring 10.

In an interview with CBS 11 on the 30th anniversary of that shooting, Detective Jimmy Meeks of Hurst Police Department in Texas, who also travels the country teaching church security, argues that there's a certain mentality many religious people need to get over.
More Opinion on AOL News

Meeks says his mission "is helping get churches get beyond the mentality that 'we're safe in the house of God.' It is not a safe house in the mind of the criminal."

It's a sentiment echoed by John Monroe, an attorney for a gun-rights group assisting a Georgia minister suing Upson County to get guns inside his church.

Monroe told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, "Things happen in church. ... What we really want is the state not to say what can happen in church."

As frightening as the thought of criminals repeating such awful crimes in religious institutions is, I'm more alarmed that none of these gun rights supporters has concluded that if we had more gun control, the psychotic people who brought terror into church never would have had the opportunity to do so.

Though House Bill 1272 was introduced under the guise of preventing violence, I worry that it may ultimately make churches, synagogues and mosques more susceptible to it. Violence begets violence. How many more examples do we need to prove this point?

I understand the urgency for security in the religious community, but I don't believe laws like the "gun-in-church bill" are the answer.

Gun control is.

Here's a more complete list of church shootings over the last few years, and why more people need to have guns in church. Maybe this knucklehead needs to study his history a bit more.

March 8, 2009 - Maryville, Illinois - Suspect Terry Joe Sedlacek, 27, of Troy, walks into the First Baptist Church, and shoots pastor Fred Winters dead, point blank. Several church members are injured by a knife in the struggle to capture after the attack, The suspect also had stabbed himelf, but survived, when his gun jams.

Feb. 18, 2009 - Garden Grove, California - A man walks into the internationally known Crystal Cathedral, hands a greeter a note, then kneels in front of a cross and shoots himself in the head, leaving him dead at the altar.

July 27, 2008 - Knoxville, Tennessee - A gunman opens fire in a church during a youth performance, killing two people and injuring seven.

Dec. 9, 2007 - Colorado - Three people are killed and five wounded in two shooting rampages, one at a missionary school in suburban Denver and one at a church in Colorado Springs. The gunman in the second incident is killed by a guard.

May 20, 2007 - Moscow, Idaho - A standoff between police and a suspect in the shootings of three people in a Presbyterian Church ended with three dead, including one police officer.

Aug. 12, 2007 - Neosho, Missouri - First Congregational Church - 3 killed - Eiken Elam Saimon shot and killed the pastor and two deacons and wounded five others.

Oct. 2, 2006 - Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - Attack by a gunman who killed five girls and then himself, while not a church, occurs at an Amish school targeted a religious site.

May 21, 2006 - Baton Rouge, Louisiana - The Ministry of Jesus Christ Church - 4 killed - The four at the church who were shot were members of Erica Bell's family; she was abducted and murdered elsewhere; Bell's mother, church pastor Claudia Brown, was seriously wounded - Anthony Bell, 25, was the shooter.

Feb. 26, 2006 - Detroit, Michigan - Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church - 2 killed + shooter - Kevin L. Collins, who reportedly went to the church looking for his girlfriend, later killed himself.

April 9, 2005 - College Park, Georgia - A 27-year-old airman died after being shot at a church, where he had once worked as a security guard.

March 12, 2005 - Brookfield, Wisconsin - Living Church of God - 7 killed + shooter - Terry Ratzmann opened fire on the congregation, killing seven and wounding four before taking his own life.

July 30, 2005 - College Park, Georgia - World Changers Church International - shooter killed - Air Force Staff Sgt. John Givens was shot five times by a police officer after charging the officer, following violent behavior.

Dec. 17, 2004, Garden Grove, Calif.: A veteran musician at the Crystal Cathedral shoots himself to death after a nine-hour standoff.

Oct. 5, 2003 - Atlanta, Georgia - Turner Monumental AME Church - 2 killed + shooter - Shelia Wilson walked into the church while preparations are being made for service and shot the pastor, her mother and then herself.

June 10, 2002 - Conception, Missouri - Benedictine monastery - 2 killed + shooter - Lloyd Robert Jeffress shot four monks in the monastery killing two and wounding two, before killing himself.

March 12, 2002 - Lynbrook, New York - Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church - 2 killed - Peter Troy, a former mental patient, opens fire during Mass, killing the priest and a parishioner. He later receives a life sentence.

May 18, 2001 - Hopkinsville, Kentucky - Greater Oak Missionary Baptist Church - 2 killed - Frederick Radford stood up in the middle of a revival service and began shooting at his estranged wife, Nicole Radford, killing her and a woman trying to help her.

Nov. 1, 2000, Kansas City: The wife of a minister fatally shoots her daughter and then herself.

Sept. 15, 1999 - Fort Worth, Texas - Wedgewood Baptist Church - 7 killed + shooter - Larry Gene Ashbrook shot dead seven people and injured a further seven at a concert by Christian rock group Forty Days in Fort Worth, Texas before killing himself.

April 15, 1999 - Salt Lake City, Utah - LDS Church Family History Library - 2 killed + shooter - Sergei Babarin, 70, with a history of mental illness, entered the library, killed two people and wounded four others before he was gunned down by police.

Will Thousands Of Police Layoffs Unleash Chaos And Anarchy Across America?

Thousands of police officers have been laid off all across America since the current economic crisis began. Thousands more are getting ready to be laid off. So could we be on the verge of a new era of chaos and anarchy in America as crime runs wild and there are just far too few police to respond to it all? That is the message that one blood-smeared billboard in Stockton, California is trying to get across. Paid for by the Stockton, California police union, the message of the billboard is chillingly clear: “Welcome to the 2nd most dangerous city in California. Stop laying off cops.” As state, city and local governments across the United States continue to be devastated by the ongoing economic crisis, budget cuts are becoming much deeper and police forces have suddenly become a very popular target.

Officer Steve Leonesio, the president of the Stockton Police Officers Association, has announced that the police union plans to spend approximately $20,000 on at least 20 more billboards.

Why is the union putting up all of these billboards?

Well, it turns out that Stockton has been considering a plan to lay off 53 police officers in an effort to eliminate a $23 million budget deficit.

But law enforcement in Stockton has already been cut to the bone. Recently, the Stockton Police Department dropped this bombshell….

“We absolutely do not have any narcotics officers, narcotics sergeants working any kind of investigative narcotics type cases at this point in time.”

Do you think drug dealers will be flocking to Stockton after they hear that?

But the truth is that so many of these local governments around the nation are just flat broke at this point.

Even major cities are having to admit that they have accumulated such large debts that they cannot even afford to provide the most basic services any longer.

In Oakland, California the battle over police layoffs has made national headlines over the past couple of weeks. Oakland has laid off 80 police officers, and now the police chief says that there are some crimes that his department simply will not be able to respond to.

In fact, Chief Anthony Batts has compiled a list of exactly 44 situations, including grand theft, burglary, car wrecks, identity theft and vandalism, that his officers will not be available to handle any longer.

What in the world?

Once upon a time in America you could get a police officer to come out for just about anything – including for getting a cat down out of a tree.

But those days are long gone.

Today it is very hard to get a police officer to come out for anything short of murder.

The following is a partial list of crimes that police officers in Oakland will no longer be responding to….

burglary
theft
embezzlement
grand theft
grand theft: dog
identity theft
false information to peace officer
required to register as sex or arson offender
dump waste or offensive matter
discard appliance with lock
loud music
possess forged notes
pass fictitious check
obtain money by false voucher
fraudulent use of access cards
stolen license plate
embezzlement by an employee (over $ 400)
extortion
attempted extortion
false personification of other
injure telephone/power line
interfere with power line
unauthorized cable tv connection
vandalism
Not that Oakland wasn’t already a mess, but now how long do you think it will be before total chaos and anarchy reigns on the streets of Oakland?

But Oakland is far from alone.

The sheriff’s department in Ashtabula County, Ohio has been slashed from 112 to 49 deputies, and there is now just one vehicle remaining to patrol all 720 square miles of the county.

So what are the citizens of that county supposed to do to protect themselves?

Well, when asked about what they should do, Judge Alfred Mackey gave this stunning piece of advice….

“Arm themselves.”

So is that what we are left with?

Is American society degenerating into a “Road Warrior-style” wasteland where we are all left to fend for ourselves?

It gets really frightening when you start considering just how many police are actually being laid off across the United States….

*Acting State Police director Jonathon Monken has announced that the Illinois State Police will lay off more than 460 troopers and close five regional headquarters by this fall.

*Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford has proposed a plan to lay off 40 police officers.

*The police department in Vallejo, California will temporarily suspend its K-9 and SWAT programs at the end of the month in a move to delay officer layoffs.

*Last year, 18 special police units in Toledo, Ohio - including the gang task force and the mounted patrol – were eliminated or downsized in an effort to replace the 130 patrol officers who were laid off because of a $20.7 million budget deficit.

*Of 315 municipalities the New Jersey State Policemen’s union canvassed, more than half indicated that they were planning to lay off police officers.

*Four police officers in one town in New Jersey were greeted at work this past Monday morning with notices informing them that they will be laid off on August 31st.

*Police in Phoenix, Arizona have been told that more than 400 officers could be impacted by layoffs if “the worst case scenario” plays out.

*Police and firefighters in Flint, Michigan decided that layoffs were preferable to taking a 15 percent pay and benefits cut.

*The city of Maywood, California laid off all 68 of its employees July 1st and is now “contracting out” police services.

*In Colorado Springs, dozens of police positions are going unfilled and the police helicopters were put up for sale on the Internet.

The sad thing is that as local police forces across America are being stripped down or dismantled, many communities are opening their arms wide to increased federal law enforcement “assistance”.

In recent years, we have seen a large number of examples where the U.S. military is being used for domestic law enforcement, which is supposed to be against the law. In addition, federal government agencies are increasingly taking over the financing, training and even command of local police.

But is this “federalization” of local law enforcement a good thing?

Of course not.

Unfortunately we live at a time when almost everything is being centralized under federal government control. Of course this is completely contrary to everything that our founders intended, but most of our “officials” don’t seem too concerned about actually following the Constitution these days.

So what are you seeing in your own local community? Is the police force being slashed where you live? Is crime on the rise?

Time to get prepared, if you're not already.

3 self defense stories

Here are three episodes from the last few days in which armed citizens successfully defended themselves against attacks by criminals. Note that in one case the defender was a 26 year old woman, and in another a 79 year old man. A firearm levels the field, and allows a smaller or weaker person to defend themselves against the bigger and stronger.

Macon, Georgia

From the Publication of July 6, 2010

Armed robbery suspect in critical condition after gun battle at Macon store

A suspected armed robber is in critical condition after a gun battle erupted when the gunman started shooting at a Macon store clerk Monday night.

Rashan Lateel Jordan, 29, is undergoing treatment for a chest wound at The Medical Center of Central Georgia, according to hospital sources.

The gunman started shooting at a female employee at Expert Wireless at 3795 Mercer University Drive, according to a news release from the Macon Police Department. The 26-year-old worker fired back and wounded Jordan, who ran out of the store and tried to flee in a 2000 black Infiniti Q45. Jordan hit a curb and was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries, the release stated.

It's not clear if anything was taken from the store, as police have not released any further details.
Anyone with information is asked to call Macon Regional CrimeStoppers at (877) 68CRIME.

Cincinnati, Ohio

From Local12 of July 9, 2010

Man Tries To Rob Military Member, Is Shot

Police say a military member who just returned from a tour of duty overseas was involved in a gun battle that led to the shooting of an alleged robber late Thursday night.

Officers say a man on the street approached two men in a car in Mount Auburn around 11:30 p.m. The man on the street tried to rob the men in the car. But one of his alleged victims had a concealed carry permit and fired back.

The gun battle left the alleged robber with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and a man in the car with a gunshot wound to the arm. The alleged robber was taken to University Hospital. Police say he has since been released but they haven't released his name or said whether he faces charges.

The man in the car was also treated and released. Police tell Local 12 that one or both of the men in the car are military personnel just back from a tour of duty overseas.

A police dog helped detectives locate two handguns in a wooded area nearby.


Colton, California

From the Mercury News of June 26, 2010

Elderly man shoots, kills burglar in Colton home

A 79-year-old man has shot and killed a burglar climbing into his Southern California home.

Colton police Detective Jack Morenberg said Saturday that Richard Contreras shot and killed 37-year-old Fidel Escanuelas Thursday.
A police news release says Contreras saw a car back into the driveway of his Colton home, heard a noise in a bedroom, found Escanuelas climbing through a window and shot him once in the shoulder with a handgun. Escanuelas died at the scene.

Police say two other men, 24-year-old Trinidad Amador and 25-year-old Albaro Amaya, fled on foot. Amador was quickly caught and arrested on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy, and Amaya was arrested Friday.

Morenberg says he doesn't anticipate that Contreras will face any charges.


OK, so what do we learn from this?

-Carry your damn gun all the damn time! You don't get to pick when something will happen. As John Farnam says, "When it's least expected, you're selected!"

-Fight Back! The criminals only understand violence. Hit them hard and often.

-Shoot them to the ground! Handgun rounds are weak, and ammo is cheap. Having lots of rounds on board is a good thing.

Bombers Kill 64 World Cup Fans in Uganda

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/07/11/uganda-bombs-explode-sites-deaths-feared-somali-militia-blamed/

What does this have to do with guns?  Just this:  having your gun all the time is important, but isn't the answer to everything.  Learn first aid skills, beyond the standard First Aid/CPR.  Take all the advanced medical classes you can, and have your gear handy.  Not only can you save your own life, but the lives of your family members. 

If you could have only one...

While I don't particularly care to think about having only one gun, it's good to sometime think about a case where you might only be able to  have one with you.  Skeeter Skelton, one of my favorite old time gun writers, chose the .357 Magnum revolver, and after much thought, I would have to go the same way.

My choice for this would be my Ruger Blackhawk .357 Magnum single action revolver with a 6 1/2" barrel.  I would also include with it the 9mm auxilliary cylinder.  It takes only a moment to replace, and a couple of turns of the screwdriver to change the sights.  This combo allows me to shoot 3 different calibers in one gun.  After shooting for the last 30 years, and being an instructor for long time, the two toughest brands out there are the Glock semi-autos, and Ruger revolvers. 

The .357 Magnum, when properly handloaded, can take any game in the lower 48 states.  Plus, I can shoot inexpensive .38 Special ammo for practice or small game shooting.  My normal working load is a Cast Performance 180 grain Lead Flat Point with gas check.  I load it fairly hot, because the Blackhawk will take it.  I also have a bullet mold and tools to make the same bullet if I can't get it commercially. 

The 9mm cylinder allows me to take advantage of one of the most popular rounds on the market today.  Having 3 calibers in one gun, in a survival, end of the world, or living a ways out situation, is pretty cool!  While it may not be the perfect concealed carry gun, it can be done with the proper holster and clothing.  I use a Simply Rugged Sourdough pancake holster for concealment, and a custom belt and holster, also from Simply Rugged, for general use. 

There are a lot of folks who will say a .22 rifle or pistol is better, or perhaps the 12 gauge shotgun.  Those are good choices also, and I won't begrudge anyone who chooses them.  But, I'll stick with my .357 Magnum.

Class this weekend; gun law sites

http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/july17-182010-closerangegunfighting-hallsvillemo.aspx

Still have a few spots for the Close Range Gunfighting course this weekend in Hallsville, MO. It should be an exciting class with this many people, so come out and join us!

http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/MOSL.pdf
www.handgunlaw.us.

If you need info on concealed carry laws around the country, or info on the state of Missouri, here are a couple of sites for you to check out.