Or at least not effective... I got lost in the fog around Post Falls, Idaho - I do mean completely totally and foolishly lost. Just looking for a range I had visited more than once, a few years back. Being a guy, I never stopped to ask directions, never doubted that I was on the correct roads, never knew it was going to take so long to figure out I had best start all over with better information, directions and a bit of prayer. If I had just had a woman with me, she would have straightened me out quicker, yes, she would have. I did regroup, and drove right there to arrive before the cased rifles would get to the line.
Kind of like having that buddy, watch your shooting technique, your dance routine, or the poor choir director noticing you haven't found the proper key to sing in for that hymn. What is a key for anyway? Just to open a door, if one hasn't a big ugly guy along to do it for you.
The picture is of the Sun shining on the shooting, this is not a qualifying Winterseed by RWVA standards, it is only an Idaho Springbreak (in the weather).
Her second Appleseed, with two cleaned Redcoat targets and her Rifleman AQT. Her husband mentioned that he would be looking for a new 10/22, since it seems she has adopted one of his favorites as her rifle.
It wasn't all 22 caliber, we had three .223 shooters. The second day Known Distance was fun, all the way out on the crunchy snow to the 200 and 300 yard lines for the racing heart beat.
Appleseed, with EERT, Dirk, and Mr. Clean, eight shooters first day, nine shooters second day. At Fernan Rod & Gun Club, Inc. North of Fernan, Idaho.
By the second day, there would be a total of seven Riflemen shooters, of nine participating, and I would head home, five hours away , with a happy feeling about my Stevens Armory model target rifle awaiting my pick up at the gunsmith's.
checking in. Anyway, there are millions of good people in America, for that matter the world has more good folks than bad ones. I wrote a note to a Colorado Senator about her idea that statistics rule - that one should just trust that next time one gets raped it will be different.
It
is important that Colorado have safe schools, citizens and freedom from
fears. I watched some of your performance as a member considering gun
free campus laws. There is no evidence that having guns or not having
guns will change the rape statistics, but the people that carry firearms
- legally and without permission from the law, never have to wonder
what would have changed if there had been a policeman present. They only
know they had prepared the best they could for their own protection or
for committing a crime against people that wouldn't resist - someone
that was disarmed. Most
fears of firearms are fed by watching television and movie productions.
There are bad people out there, there are many fine good law abiding
folks deciding that the legislature is not concerned with their
individual protection or are just stupid about the threat. The bad
people and those deciding that the government isn't concerned about
really protecting them-- they will both be carrying a firearm or other weapon for their peace of mind. You shouldn't restrict freemen and women from protecting themselves and their loves, that would be stupid. Thank you for your concern, but put yourself
in a beautiful young innocent body, in the dark with a rapist and tell
yourself how you are going to live with the trauma. How many more
criminals will strike before you allow your good citizens to assist in
getting rid of the trash?
I want to make it clear that the government isn't good at protecting citizens. I also think that the individual is responsible for most of their actions and reactions in the things that happen in their lives. Mostly, one should only be good, and resist and fight off the bad, the government is going to ignore anything that isn't a threat to itself, unless it can make some money from it.
If I were king the rapist would be gelded on first conviction, emasculated on the second conviction and sold to China for body parts and fertilizer upon a third conviction. Aren't we lucky that I will never be king?
Had a wonderful day at church, lots going on, much of it 'Old' truths.
Psalm 1 - for starters: Discussions about the Media, Politics and grandchildren (how to spoil them) and coffee and doughnuts. All good.
My wife has decided that we need to get together on our schedules, and we will, kind of. I am going to Idaho for an Appleseed, next weekend, and I am riding the Trusty Triumph to Rochester, Minnesota end of June and back first of July.
And sure enough, looking for a new title for myself, an Armed Intelligence, just jumped out and hit me.
I have been playing with my fear, not examining it, and then facing it and conquering it... I am frozen in fear. Sigh. I am enjoying watching Waterloo with Rod Steiger, one of the finest Historical movies made. Made coffee, made breakfast gruel and still have the fear. Watched a bit of Fobes on FOX, watched a bit of Neil Cavuto on Business. Nothing breaks the fear, it seems this is all just distractions to the need to face the fear. I have come to the conclusion on the Gun Control - 2nd Amendment debate/conflict/and the Revolution or Total Collapse of American Civilization that I will stand with the LORD. I know the weapons, the tactics and history and such - the only thing that will work is Godliness. I am sure that surrender to the LORD, makes more sense than surrendering to people of power that can't make a budget, figure out where the money went, and constantly tarnish their lives by bad or even evil behavior. Still haven't faced that fear, the one in my mind, and there doesn't seem to be a better time than now. Wish me luck... how do those fears get planted and fed? Where is that instant fear killer when one needs it?
End of February, 2013, and sure enough I didn't get a retirement check from the folks that have been taking my money for years while I was employed. Sending a check to my Checking account, knowing my spouse's name, SSN and date of birth. Sure enough they want all that again, and don't submit original documents, do get it notarized and send it to us soon. Amazing, how out of touch one becomes from everything, although they all want the SSN, they then decide that I must prove that number is I. And what would happen if it isn't?
The Assessment time is here, two months gone from 2013, and how am I doing? What still needs to get done? How much time do I have, what is the priority? We do have one don't we?
Amazed at how much of my life, looking back recently, isn't based on what is on the television (or cable). Have I missed a great movie? a book that must be read? Are there bills unpaid? File for retirement, file for taxes, why am I not assisted by these government agencies - don't they have to accommodate those functioning less than perfectly?
Seems like I weigh just a bit less than I did in December of 2012, that is good. When working out at the YMCA today I found an eleven and a half mile bike ride after a 5k row, with a mile slog with Fox News captions. A little rope pull and a hot shower and the day is done.
Yep, need some more assessment, for I must be falling behind those important things in one's life -- if I could just remember what they are.
I would hope that law would provide protection of everyone from threats, although it seems that most laws are only threats and outlaws and rebels ignore them.
If the law, is that: A well regulated militia is necessary for the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Seems very straight forward, positive, and non threatening. Being a law for the government, without a punishment listed I would assume that violation of that law would be treason or just impossible to break. Enough of that, I am not that stupid.
But I am a simple man, and ancient but I do want you to know that I don't really run around obeying some fools' laws. I am normally going around behaving well because my parents, friends, family and neighbors expect me to be a fine fellow. Life is sure easier that way.
I stopped at a Safeway one night, going to get a sandwich and some snacks for a long drive, and since I was there I picked up two bottles of Blackberry wine. Now, I am not a drunk, had not been drinking, was intending to take the bottles home where I have a glass of wine in the evening with my wife - no more than one a day, like they recommend.
But stupid thoughts in Olympia, Washington had been put to paper that drunk driving would be reduced by stopping Earl and all his kind from purchasing alcoholic beverages between the hours of something to something. Drunk driving is a problem - so many legisators and public officials and judges seem to do it and get caught.They are not alone, other drunks are out there - and from my criminal contacts when asked about this law, they all told me that most snack and beverage shops will have an employee with alcohol in the trunk of his vehicle that he will sell during those hours.
Now I don't care to change the law about alcohol sales, I want more responsible adults, and longer jail terms for those caught driving under the influence - like two weeks in a Chinese prison, or a DHS re-education camp.
But it was one of the many laws, good intentioned folks with too much time on their hands have passed to make the world safer but sillier, without achieving their intentions. Failure, again.
So, just to keep my bonifides in the Gun Control Contentions, the outlaw and the rebel will not follow any laws about firearms - except the one about not being caught without enough firepower for the fury and the fight. The armed law abiding person will have to decide if this is just another stupid law - like homosexual activities and dope smoking, that being lawful is just not the way one lives with the LORD.
I do know, that representatives elected to positions of power, that can't do the functions of government outlined in the Constitution, aren't really smart enough to be followed, nor listened to, but they should be confronted constantly. Where is the budget?
So Friday night I turned the three computers off, and the link, and went to Ariel, Washington to the Wolverton Mt. Gun Club for two full days of Appleseed. The weather started with snow flakes, water everywhere, gusting winds and cold. But we waded it out, and got into the reason and the organization, safety, rules to shoot by and then we got the rifles out and starting shooting.
Two ranges, plenty of instructors for the brave 19 that showed up, lent some materials and a bit of ammunition. You have heard there seems to be a shortage? For totally unknown reasons the line I was working had faster times completing training and shooting, so the normal Time Monkey was hiding from the chill in the air and puddles, too. I was line boss in the morning, 2nd Strike during lunch, and safety officer/instructor in afternoon.
Fine instructor dinner down the road in Cougar, where I also found a place to shower, sleep and watch the show about who is the best chest pounding combat pairs. I learned long ago in very hot places the quiet ones you never notice are the baddest.
You do know that I just would love to have an M1A with a rail and a scout mounted scope, with about six ten round magazines, I promise I won't bring it to New York, Governor Coumo. Now if I can just get Mayor Bloomberg to buy my ammunition for it. Best be some very good letters to send to them.
Next day, back at the refresher and instruction, more shooters come out and some folks change lines, Rifleman patches being earned by paying attention and persistence. Time Monkey still no where to be found, I shift to the other range in the afternoon after lunch. I give the Known Distance information for their future shooting skills. Everything wraps up well, about five Riflemen made, loud Huzzahs! mark the ceremony, I am off starting to clean up so we can pack out.
Finally, finished I get into the Caravan and head back for the drive home. Two and a half hours in Sunday evening traffic, stop for more coffee, and hang on until the welcoming lights of home. I feel much like the chainsawed Bigfoot that was getting moist and mossy, but very happy for the difference we made with the new and experienced shooters. I got to do one 1907 sling presentation for the one shooter using such, and it really worked for him after, so he is on his way.
