I haven’t written here in a very long time, mostly because I haven’t had anything to write about. I have been out shooting, at least once a month so this is good.
Today I’m writing in regards to No Weapons Signs Posted. Last night I was invited out by a friend to go see a movie, I went and checked my app for places that allow or don’t allow guns, this theater does not allow, which most movie theaters do not so I didn’t carry and I made a point to seek out the sign that says that you can’t have guns in the theater. I looked all over the front doors, I looked at every sticker and sign at the ticket office and I looked all over the concession area too, nothing, not one sign did I see. So I asked the manager, where their signs were posted that you cannot have firearms on the premise, he said, “they are posted by the ticket office or they better be!” After the movie I looked once again thinking maybe I had missed it, still nothing whatsoever did I find, I didn’t care to go find the manager and have him point it out to me because I was ready to call it a night.
The thing is if I didn’t have that app, I wouldn’t know that they didn’t allow guns, if they do have a sign it is very hard to find or not there at all. I just think signs should be clearly posted, that you should see it pretty quickly not have to search really hard and still not find it. (10.8)
Yesterday was my first day using my IWB holster, usually I use my thigh holster because I mostly wear dresses. I can say, my goodness is that a very uncomfortable way to carry, just constantly pressing into my back. Any suggestions are welcomed.
So yesterday I drove through multiple towns to get to my destination, as I drove through towns. Out of curiosity I decided to check my application on my phone that supposedly says places that are not gun friendly. The below picture is for Colorado City, CO (not that this is a very big town with too many businesses but still interesting nonetheless:
I couldn't really put my whole comment on there so I didn't bother, I will put what would have been my comment if I could here.
Her reaching in her purse, for one, if she had researched methods of carrying and safe ways to carry, she wouldn’t have had that gun just in her purse, she would (should) have had a special made carry purse or she could have had a purse with a separate compartment that only contained the gun, that is your safest option for purse carry. I spent extensive time researching ways to carry and safe ways to carry, granted I do not advocate purse carry, it’s dangerous and easy for anyone to take that purse, and I’m a proponent for on body carry.
I read pretty much every comment on MS in regards to this article and I didn’t see one thing that was threatening towards her but then again MS was very discretionary about which comments were posted, I know not a single one of my comments were allowed, none were threatening in any way. And the fact they were screening comments to me says that’s not fair reporting or a fair discussion of the article and topic in general. I do understand not allowing her personal information to be posted, that is completely fair.
My first time out (as someone who is actually serious about conceal carrying and not doing an experiment) I found that yes, I was hyper aware in all areas and slightly curious as to if others in my vicinity were carrying. I can’t say I ever went out intentionally looking or even hoping trouble came along so I could have that chance. I strongly believe that the majority of people who legally carry have the hope they never have to even draw. As for Heidi not feeling safe while carrying, I think if she had proper training and the mindset that most that do chose to carry had, that maybe she might have felt safer. I know being a single girl, trying to date, it certainly helped me feel more comfortable knowing I could protect myself if need be, especially since I am a very small girl so more than likely (even with self-defense knowledge) that I will be over powered by pretty much everyone.
Your question to Hunter Glass in regards to having to notify an officer, it depends on the laws of the state that you are carrying in (I’m surprised he didn’t know this). Some states you are required by law to notify an officer that you are carrying and some you don’t. My state you are not required but out of respect if I were to be pulled over and I was carrying, I would keep my hands where they could see it, when he approached I would notify the officer that I was carrying and let them know where the gun was located.
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The thing is once again it just seems like it's biased news reporting, you have a psychologist that says that people who go out carrying a gun are more than likely going to see trouble just because and this is proven by her lame experiement with people holding a wiii gun (rolls eyes).
Then you have a former officer who just doesn't seem too informed and of course there is good old Heidi Yewman, the ignorant idiot trying to make some extreme case against guns.
I was reading The Spot, which is one of my daily readings and this article was posted Crime and Drugs yesterday (I'm just now getting to reading it).
It got me to thinking about the last time I was actually down in that area, I typically avoid it because of the parking and the bad elements that reside down there. The last time I was actually walking in that area was the day I had my sister drop me off at the Sheriff's Department to apply for my CCW. After I left there I couldn't get my app on my phone to figure a bus route home (Parking is hard to find and usually expensive so I had thought it would be better to be dropped off and just take the bus home). Unfortunately the app wasn't working to great and I figured I would just walk the few blocks over to Civic Center Park because it is a major bus hub. Walking over there my only thoughts were how I wish I had my CCW already, I would have felt a lot safer. I had to walk by a ton of very sketchy people sizing me up and its broad daylight, they have no fear of that and yes a lot of shootings do happen down there.
At any rate, it got me to thinking, I wonder how one really cleans up a park like this, and I understand it is something that takes time and probably a lot of trial and error. When I lived in Colorado Springs, Acacia Park was the vagrant, drug using, criminal hang out and I know after some time they had cleaned it up considerably but I don't know what all was done to make that happen.
So I guess I was just kind of curious as to what other people's ideas might be in regards to this situation, if maybe in your areas you had a park with these same issues and if it had or had not change or even got worse.
I woke up at 04:00 this morning and started thinking about an interaction at work that day, I started critiquing how I was in that situation. I have to say that I am very disappointment in myself and later today will be spending time going over again gun safety. I used to think that I would never become so comfortable with guns that I wouldn’t be safe, not that I was horribly unsafe, just broke rules.
Yesterday my coworker calls me over to his office because another coworker brought in his 20 gauge for the shoot on Friday. I feel I picked up the gun wrong, it was leaning on the wall, I also didn’t check to make certain that it wasn’t loaded and when they asked me to position it to make certain that it would fit okay, I didn’t even stop to consider where I was pointing the gun, granted it was at a cinder block wall but at least I didn’t put my finger on the trigger. I broke the following rules: treat a gun as if it’s always loaded, be aware of your target and what is beyond.
I had a hard time falling back to sleep because I kept playing the situation over and over in my head and berating myself. I mean nothing happened but it’s when one doesn’t follow the rules that things could happen. (11.8)
I finally did it and went to the range alone, it's not that I was scared or nervous to just other things just kept coming up. It wasn't bad at all, I had a great time and I was in need (not want) of going out to the range. I had been feeling a bit down but I seem to be feeling a ton times better. It was a bit awkward being alone and everyone watched as I walked down to my station but that could also just be me being sensitive and while I was shooting one guy came over and watched and was even nice and swept up my casings.
Fun things are coming up, my company's annual clay shoot is the Friday after next and I'm really hoping to make some leaps and bounds from my total hits last year. Sometime in the next couple of weeks I plan on taking a basic pistol class even though it's pretty much all the stuff I know but I'm sure there will be a lot that I don't plus I just want to have some formal training under my belt. Sigh, I just feel so much better after this evening and at least if I never find friends to go out shooting with, I know I'm good to go on my own accord.
I very much support carrying, as anyone who reads this knows but I had never considered intent, I just always assumed that people would carry for protection only but I was proven wrong the other day and what my friend did I completely disagree with.
A small background on my friend, he has a lot of back issues and takes what I and a lot of his friends consider too many narcotic pain killers, this in of itself I don't think he should have guns around him, especially after hearing about some things and that he is falling into a deep depression but anyway, I'm sorry I deviate. So this friend of mine has been trying to set up a Rhizotomy before the end of the month since his insurance runs out. Now I can understand feeling a bit stressed about that but I do not understand going into the office directly openly carrying gun with the only intent to intimidate them into giving him an appointment. I almost want to call that brandishing a firearm even though he wasn't waving it about.
The whole thing got me to thinking about intent, obviously concealing isn't and couldn't be intimidation but it makes me wonder if those who do openly carry do it because they want to intimidate people. I'm sure not all people do but I wonder if there are a few out there. I usually think the better of people and this leaves me a bit naive but I chose to because I don't want to become so bitter and hardened that I can't ever trust anyone.
On another note with this same friend, this is me more or less just trying get it off my chest since I can't really discuss guns and gun related things with my family and most of my friends. So talking about the same friend, which I mentioned above and other instances where I felt it might be better that this person didn't own guns, at least not until he gets himself back in order because normally he's a sane rational person, who is level headed to a T.
He lives with his ex girlfriend because neither one of them can afford a place by themselves, he's doped up on pain killers and alcohol pretty much all the time now. Well she came home late one night from work and I guess bumped into a lot of things on her way through the living room, he came out of his room and pointed a gun right at her. Now I understand the dark thing, etc. but when you live with someone I would figure you might take that into account and listen a bit more before rushing out of your room and pointing a gun at someone. I think if he wasn't so doped up all the time, this wouldn't have happened. I live with someone and sometimes I hear things go bump in the middle of the night but I listen for a bit to try to determine the situation.
On a different note but medical related with guns and depression. Another friend was telling me how her friend had decided that he was too depressed and asked a friend of his to hold onto his guns until he got past it. I think that took a lot to do that and to be able to recognize oneself as a risk and to ensure safety of themselves and others.
I wish that my friend who is going through this rough time would recognize that he has some serious issues and shouldn't be around guns right now but mentioning this to him is met with anger and opposition, of course that's how an addict reacts to being called out. Just so I don't seem to come off as over reacting, just last night he tells me, while he's in Chicago for a few days, staying at a hostel that he was woke up by paramedics. I inquired for details and basically he passed out, the staff couldn't wake him so they called the paramedics. He tells me that it's a good thing that they didn't check his blood because they would have found a ton of alcohol, valium, Flexiril, Baclofin, which he lied to the paramedics and said he had only taken Flexiril. I'm sorry that sort of shit (excuse my French, I'm angry) just screams addict.
I am in debate on keeping this person as a friend but a part of me wants to be a friend that can help but there isn't anything I can do; I don't want to be like all his other friends that have cut the friendship because of these same issues but it's stressing me out watching someone I care about decline further down and being helpless.
Okay enough drama, sorry to deviate from the gun subject.
