The Brady Campaign and various other interest groups always tell us it’ll be like the Wild West if we let people carry guns with them. Well, maybe they were right.
Category: Carrying / Self-Defense
Arizona Has Fixed It’s Restaurant Carry Problem
Both Danno and Dustin are reporting. Very good. I found that at the NRA Convention, being on foot, it was a real pain in the ass to deal with. Can we get this fixed in North Carolina before Charlotte?
UPDATE: Parking lot carry was signed as well.
I Have to Agree With Caleb
Caleb thinks that Concealed Carry Insurance is a waste of money, because it’s what’s known as “Surplus Lines Insurance.” I don’t work in the insurance industry, as Caleb does, but it certainly makes sense that for an unusual policy, where risks are difficult to calculate, and costs won’t be spread out amongst a very large pool of policy holders, that you’re going to invariably be overcharged. Insurance companies typically don’t like placing bets if there’s a chance they’ll lose.
But being involved with having to defend yourself in court for a questionable suit does rise to the level of things one should consider buying insurance for, namely a devastating financial loss. But as a personal matter, I wouldn’t pay hundreds of dollars a year to cover something that’s a stunningly rare occurrence in the first place, and an even rarer to end up financially devastating if it does happen.
UPDATE: Xlrq has more on the topic here.
Arizona Restaurant Carry Goes to Governor
Word came this morning that Arizona’s Senate passed restaurant carry. Assuming Governor Brewer (who spoke at the NRA Convention) signs it, it will make Phoenix a fantastic city for future NRA meetings. Those of us from out of town won’t have to make the call between leaving guns unattended in hotel rooms or just going to dinner at a joint that happens to serve beer.
UPDATE: Here’s the NRA press release.
It’ll Be the Wild West
It’s always interesting to see how foreign media covers the gun debate in this country. I can’t say it looks any different than what you’d find from, say, the New York Times:
Now America’s powerful gun lobby is pushing for the introduction of “commonsense†laws in Arizona that would allow people to walk into bars with guns — just as they did in the old days. Tennessee and Georgia have approved the measure in the past year and a similar law is now being considered by Arizona’s state legislature.
Pennsylvania is already the “wild west” then, and unlike Arizona, we have no restrictions against drinking while carrying. Though, I think being caught intoxicated in public while carrying would probably be grounds for the sheriff to revoke your LTC. Either way, I don’t see why this is always such a big deal. It’s not like gunfights breaking out in bars is a common occurrence here, and we have a lot more LTC holders than any other state in the nation.
Kansas Recognizes Non-Resident Permits
From NRA:
Kansas Attorney General Steve Six today concluded that the State of Kansas will now recognize ‘non-resident’ right-to-carry permits issued by any of the 22 states already recognized.
“NRA has maintained for years that language in the Kansas statute indicates that ‘non-resident’ right-to-carry permits should be recognized,†said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. “This decision is a victory for gun owners as it expands right-to-carry laws and provides permit holders additional freedoms in Kansas to protect themselves and their families.â€
I guess this helps make up for losing Nevada.
Fix This
It seems I can no longer carry in Nevada. State authorities really shouldn’t jerk license holders around like this, because someone isn’t going to get the memo and will end up arrested. Nevada needs to pass universal reciprocity if their state officials can’t behave themselves.
More Holster Controversy
Mostly Genius thinks that junk holsters are worthless. The Defense Handgun Blog highlights hybrid models that are available. I can see the point a few people have made that cheaper holster offer an inexpensive way to try out a carry method. I have, somewhere, a Galco shoulder rig which I paid good money for, only to find out that shoulder rigs don’t work for me. Strong side carry at 4:00 is the only thing that I feel comfortable with.
But I think if you’re going to bet your life on something, spend a little extra money and get something that works.
Bangor Daily News on National Park Carry
They believe they’ve discovered a loophole:
The carefully worded gun amendment forbids any Interior Department regulation that “prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm including an assembled or functional firearm in any unit of the National Park System.†But it includes a loophole, presumably out of deference to the Tenth Amendment, which reserves undelegated powers to the states.
The loophole says that the new permissive rules must be “in compliance†with any state law where a park is located. An Interior Department spokesman agrees that a state law would take precedence over the new federal law.
It’s not a loophole, it was the exact intent of the bill. If states wants to prohibit firearms in National Parks, they are free to do so. I’m rather amused by a bunch of reporters at the Bangor Daily News sitting around thinking they’ve figured out a way to pull a fast one on us knuckle dragging gun owners.
Packing at the Doctors
Both Joe and Robb had experiences with going to the doctors office, and having to expose their firearms. Interestingly, both had the same reaction, which was no reaction. I’ve heard other people speak of this too. Do medical professionals encounter this often enough there’s a protocol? At least an unwritten one?