3 Boxes of BS

This is related to the Zimmerman/Martin kerfuffle because I started thinking of  the many  comments made about that incident.

Comments like ” Zimmerman shouldn’t have been following Martin, that started the whole confrontation”. Or ” Martin was afraid for his life because Zimmerman was following him.”

Those type of comments are common; that following someone or that questioning someone is starting the fight.

I just wonder if the people have really thought through the implications of what they are claiming. I don’t think they have.

Situation #1

A woman walking down the street at night; it is late and she is alone. Somedood makes a comment about her appearance or lets loose with a wolf whistle as she approaches. As she walks by, he starts to follow.

Situation#2

A college student walking through the neighborhood on his way home from a late class. Somedood stops leaning against at light pole and starts following him.

Situation #3

Walking down the street, you notice a homeless person sitting on the curb. As you walk down the street you notice he is now walking along behind you. You are the only two people on the street.

Situation #4

Walking through the store, you notice someone not in uniform following you around. As you pay for your merchandise and start to depart, he yells for you to stop right there.

Now did anyone of the people following the others do a single thing wrong?

Nope, not a single thing wrong. A Neighborhood Watch volunteer following someone through a neighborhood wouldn’t be doing anything wrong. It could be taken as unfriendly or even as if that person was suspicious but hey, that is what a neighborhood watch is supposed to be right?

Now imagine if it goes further

Situation#1

The dude yells out “Hey Sexy, Wanna go have some fun?

Situation#2

The dude following catches up and asks “Hey, what are you doing walking down my street?”

Situation#3

The homeless person starts ranting and raving about demons and devils taking over people’s bodies and only he notices.

Situation#4

The guy says “I need to see what is in your purse”

This is what I’m struggling with — is stopping a person, questioning a person enough to be considered starting a confrontation, enough to justify the person being questioned using violence?

I don’t think so but according to those vilifying Zimmerman it is. Could each of those situations be a set up for a crime, absolutely yes. But they could also just as likely to be an encounter completely devoid of malicious intent.

This is why I think it is important for gun owners, especially those who carry outside the home, address the case and the details of the encounter. We can show people that we understand the law. We can show people that we can distinguish between an innocent encounter and a crime. We can show people that we seek to avoid violence; look at the number of blog posts and articles about how to avoid situations.

It is also important that we continue to discuss the ethical and moral factors involving when, why and how a person should defend themselves. Our discussion of the incident can (and does) show that we gun owners are very aware of the full impact of our decision to carry. That the vast majority of gun owners have thought through the legal, practical and moral aspects of self defense.

It seems to me that the anti-rights cultists want to avoid discussions like that because it flies in the face of their claims. Claims that we are just blood-thirsty vigilantes, that we are racist, that we are unaware of the law, etc.

In the above scenarios, I don’t know a single gun owner that would have even pulled a firearm based on the information provided.

So does it help or hinder our rights by discussing incidents like Zimmerman? Please join the discussion.

If you lived in or visited a particular part of town, would you want to know if there had been a recent rash of similar crimes?

Police said they had connected the 11 earlier robberies but did not alert the public because the department did not want to compromise the ongoing investigation.

Would you want to know if you had a student who attended school and several of his/her class mates had recently been targeted in robberies?

Police said at least five students in Pleasant Grove have been robbed in the past three weeks. The victims are boys and girls in their mid to late teens. Police said the robbers are after jewelry, but will settle for cellphones.

While I fully understand that some details of a crime or crimes should not be released to the public; shouldn’t police departments and governmental agencies let people know about crimes?

I am particularly concerned about the Dallas Police department not informing the public. They didn’t keep the information under wraps to prevent a panic, they didn’t hold vital details back to sift through false leads.

No, they decided their investigation was more important then the safety and property of the very citizens they are supposed to protect. Which seems to be a direct contradiction to one of the primary points in their mission statement:

Realizing that the Police Department alone cannot control crime, but must act in concert with the community and the rest of the Criminal Justice System.

Must act in concert with the community – so how does keeping quiet about not just the Katy Trail/Uptown area robberies but the fact that kids are being held up meet that criteria?

“The school should have informed parents to let us know what’s going on,” said parent Teresa King as she picked up her child outside John B. Hood Junior High School.

These crimes happened off campus. Yes the DISD police (and isn’t that worrisome in itself) are investigating this but the city police are or should be also.

I am seeing this type of attitude more and more. Maybe I’m just becoming aware of it, maybe there is more of it; I’m not sure. I do know that it is very troubling. It seems as if more law enforcement personnel view themselves as the only ones to stop or prevent crimes; the only ones who should be responsible for the safety of the people.

So am I off base here or you seeing this type of attitude and behavior also?

For those infected with the Mosin Nagant bug, Cabela’s is having a Memorial Day sale.

Mosin Nagant 91/30′s on sale for $119.99 — $30 off from their normal price.

And that is if you can find them in the stores. That price is a bargain around here, guess I’ll be heading to Cabela’s this weekend.

Wonder if I can convince She Who Lets Me Make Her Coffee Every Morning to let me pick up two (gun fun only has funds for 1); I would like to keep my first one in original condition, change out just the sites on a 2nd one and fully sporterize a 3rd one.

I realize that some people are fragile flowers that need constant protection but it is rare that one admits it.

Wal-Mart is being sued for $1 million by a man who claims he was traumatized by a racist comment made over an intercom at a southern New Jersey store two years ago.

What could have possibly been said that was worth so much?

…which was used to broadcast an announcement ordering all black people to leave the Washington Township store.

That’s right folks. An obvious prank played by a kid caused $1,000,000 worth of emotional distress to someone. Which is kind of a strange concept to me. I’m told (some) people of color constantly deal with racism; they hear it all the time, they see it all the time, they experience it nearly constantly in their lives. So if racism is so prevalent in American society — how could this prank cause so much damage?

Battie claims he has needed medical care due to the March 2010 comment. He says it caused him “severe and disabling emotional and psychological harm.”

Severe and disabling emotional and psychological harm ! Really?

So Mr. Name Withheld because I don’t want to traumatize you any more — aren’t you admitting that you should be institutionalized?

Because if you can’t stand to hear a racist prank, surely you can’t stand to be out and about in today’s society?

Seriously folks if a person is that mentally fragile, there is no safe area in the country for him or her except (and probably not even there) a mental institution.

Please join the discussion.

Thought these might fit in with the meme started by Linoge

and the style of Borepatch

Got home just as the Brown Truck of Happiness was driving away.

Took a few pictures, opened the package and got to work. And about 30 minutes later I was taking pictures again.

Rain and Honey Do’s (Just how big is that bath room that I’m grouting anyways !!!) means I might not get to the range until tomorrow.

Stay tuned

….but very close.

I have found a great App for my Android phone.

It has a huge list of delivery companies available; simply enter the tracking number and follow the progress of your package across the country.

I’m expecting one of these to be on my doorstep when I get home. Going to be the first modification to any of the firearms I own. Should be lots of fun.

Stay tuned for pictures and a range report.