A minor update.
The sheriff's department in my county has begun giving "concealed carry" classes for free, just as they have in Tazewell County where a militia was allegedly declared. There are, I believe, 4 currently scheduled. I had intended to sign up for one, but this afternoon I was at the courthouse on an entirely unrelated matter (no, @"BIAD", I was not under questioning for the questionable dirt mounds heaped at my gate, or the possibility of the interlopers they might contain - the ground penetrating radar cleared that up pretty handily), and Grace struck up a conversation with the deputies guarding the door whilst I was roaming the corridors searching for a loo. Upon my return, I presented an old ID from, well, some former employment, and the deputy considered that it might be sufficient proof of a familiarity with firearms for a Concealed Carry Permit.
So upon his advice, I went up the elevator to a clerks office and applied, on strength of that ID. I'll know in a couple of weeks whether it was strong enough evidence of my familiarity with firearms or not. A judge has to figure it out and say yea or nay. If not, I expect a call to clear things up.
Now, I've never had a concealed carry permit, despite my background. I HAVE carried concealed for my entire life, I just never felt a need to ask anyone's permission to guard my one and only life. As a matter of fact, I considered asking permission to be counter-productive. It only gives other folks notice that you might upset their apple cart unexpectedly if they attempt to upset yours, so I've always considered it a security risk. Nowadays, however, considering the laws potentially coming down the pike, I deemed it advisable, because CCP carriers have certain privileges above and beyond the common herd regarding those laws. For example, the proposed "one handgun a month" law in Virginia exempts CCP holders.
For 14 years of that former employment, I had to endure a class once a year - EVERY year - for re-qualification with my sidearm that puts a CCP class to pale. I endured that classroom for 1/2 of the allotted time each year, and then punched holes in targets day and night for the remainder of it. Oddly perhaps, I consistently scored better shooting at night than I did in daylight, and I still don't know why. I averaged 94% daylight and 96% night on a modified FBI course - it got to the point that the instructors would run me through in the first wave so that I could be a range coach for the remainder. I even got a CCP certification one year because the instructor felt bad for wasting our time, but have since misplaced the certificate. Anyhow, I thought it advisable to put that education to use while I was at the court house today, and see if it still counts for anything.
In other news, the great state of West Virginia has up for a vote a resolution telling the Federal government to go pound salt up their collective ass regarding THEIR infringements on the Second Amendment. It says, in effect, that what happens in WV STAYS in WV, and if it does, the Feds have no goddamned say in it at all, as it is entirely a state matter. Missouri recently passed a similar or identical resolution, and I do believe either Montana or Wyoming passed it a few years back. I love WV - those folks seem to know how to defend their citizens, and allow their citizens to defend themselves. If I can't get them to annex my county out from under VA, I may have to move there. It should be a relatively easy move, as I have owned land there for over 50 years.
In still other news, I heard on the news this evening that more counties in the adjoining state of Tennessee have passed 2ndA Sanctuary resolutions. Some in WV have also passed them, and I wondered why (since the entire state is a "2ndA Sanctuary") until the recent resolution telling the Feds to mind their own damned business came up. After that, I realized their 2A resolutions in WV were aimed at the Feds rather than the locals.
Kentucky is also still on fire with the 2A fever, and is burning steady from east to west. I expect Tennessee will follow suit. It's starting to catch in adjoining North Carolina as well, but I have to wonder how far it will get there, considering the massive influx of Yankees and Illegals that have invaded there.
The war the Socialists declared on Virginia has spread to other states, and some of them are responding accordingly.
This could get messy if they don't back the hell off and tend their own damned taters, and leave us alone to tend ours as we see fit.
.
The sheriff's department in my county has begun giving "concealed carry" classes for free, just as they have in Tazewell County where a militia was allegedly declared. There are, I believe, 4 currently scheduled. I had intended to sign up for one, but this afternoon I was at the courthouse on an entirely unrelated matter (no, @"BIAD", I was not under questioning for the questionable dirt mounds heaped at my gate, or the possibility of the interlopers they might contain - the ground penetrating radar cleared that up pretty handily), and Grace struck up a conversation with the deputies guarding the door whilst I was roaming the corridors searching for a loo. Upon my return, I presented an old ID from, well, some former employment, and the deputy considered that it might be sufficient proof of a familiarity with firearms for a Concealed Carry Permit.
So upon his advice, I went up the elevator to a clerks office and applied, on strength of that ID. I'll know in a couple of weeks whether it was strong enough evidence of my familiarity with firearms or not. A judge has to figure it out and say yea or nay. If not, I expect a call to clear things up.
Now, I've never had a concealed carry permit, despite my background. I HAVE carried concealed for my entire life, I just never felt a need to ask anyone's permission to guard my one and only life. As a matter of fact, I considered asking permission to be counter-productive. It only gives other folks notice that you might upset their apple cart unexpectedly if they attempt to upset yours, so I've always considered it a security risk. Nowadays, however, considering the laws potentially coming down the pike, I deemed it advisable, because CCP carriers have certain privileges above and beyond the common herd regarding those laws. For example, the proposed "one handgun a month" law in Virginia exempts CCP holders.
For 14 years of that former employment, I had to endure a class once a year - EVERY year - for re-qualification with my sidearm that puts a CCP class to pale. I endured that classroom for 1/2 of the allotted time each year, and then punched holes in targets day and night for the remainder of it. Oddly perhaps, I consistently scored better shooting at night than I did in daylight, and I still don't know why. I averaged 94% daylight and 96% night on a modified FBI course - it got to the point that the instructors would run me through in the first wave so that I could be a range coach for the remainder. I even got a CCP certification one year because the instructor felt bad for wasting our time, but have since misplaced the certificate. Anyhow, I thought it advisable to put that education to use while I was at the court house today, and see if it still counts for anything.
In other news, the great state of West Virginia has up for a vote a resolution telling the Federal government to go pound salt up their collective ass regarding THEIR infringements on the Second Amendment. It says, in effect, that what happens in WV STAYS in WV, and if it does, the Feds have no goddamned say in it at all, as it is entirely a state matter. Missouri recently passed a similar or identical resolution, and I do believe either Montana or Wyoming passed it a few years back. I love WV - those folks seem to know how to defend their citizens, and allow their citizens to defend themselves. If I can't get them to annex my county out from under VA, I may have to move there. It should be a relatively easy move, as I have owned land there for over 50 years.
In still other news, I heard on the news this evening that more counties in the adjoining state of Tennessee have passed 2ndA Sanctuary resolutions. Some in WV have also passed them, and I wondered why (since the entire state is a "2ndA Sanctuary") until the recent resolution telling the Feds to mind their own damned business came up. After that, I realized their 2A resolutions in WV were aimed at the Feds rather than the locals.
Kentucky is also still on fire with the 2A fever, and is burning steady from east to west. I expect Tennessee will follow suit. It's starting to catch in adjoining North Carolina as well, but I have to wonder how far it will get there, considering the massive influx of Yankees and Illegals that have invaded there.
The war the Socialists declared on Virginia has spread to other states, and some of them are responding accordingly.
This could get messy if they don't back the hell off and tend their own damned taters, and leave us alone to tend ours as we see fit.
.
Diogenes was eating bread and lentils for supper. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king.
Said Aristippus, ‘If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.’ Said Diogenes, ‘Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.’
Said Aristippus, ‘If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.’ Said Diogenes, ‘Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.’