Archive for the ‘Gun Sense’ Category
Author: Mark Shean, author of Gun Sense, now #1 on Amazon.
I am attempting to give you all an accurate reference or ‘at a glance’ guide of what states will honor the Utah non resident CCW, and what states will honor the Florida non resident CCW, and what states will honor both of them, or just one of them. Now , I have found this to be harder than I thought it would be when I set out to do this project, if there is something, anything I have missed please email me about the oversight pointing to accurate facts, and I will research and correct the error quickly. Thank you. Mark Shean–
First things first, I thought it would be best to begin by listing all the constitutionally dysfunctional states/regimes, these are the regimes where the progressives, (democrats) will not honor anyone’s out of state license to carry, (your a bad guy in these states). These regimes are listed here in alphabetical order:
CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, HAWAII, ILLINOIS (Obama nation), MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETT’S, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OREGON, RHODE ISLAND, WISCONSIN. There you have it, eleven states that do not consider your gun rights as a citizen of the United States under the Constitution. Personally, I will not spend my money in states that do not honor our Constitutional/God given right to self defense within our nations boarders, from sea to shining sea.
These next 4 states will only honor the UTAH non resident CCW, (as opposed to Florida) if you have it, not both: Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, + North Carolina. *Bear in mind the title of my article, I am not talking about other non-resident licenses these states may already honor, only these two ‘multi’ state license’s.
These next 3 states will only honor the FLORIDA non resident CCW, (as opposed to Utah) if you have it, not both: Kansas, New Mexico,+ South Carolina.*Again, bear in mind the title of my article, I am not talking about other non-resident licenses these states may already honor, only these two ‘multi’ state license’s.
Colorado, under 18-12-213. Current Reciprocity.
(1) A permit to carry a concealed handgun or a concealed weapon that is issued by any state that recognizes the validity of permits issued, (by Colorado) pursuant to this part 2 shall be valid in this state in all respects as a permit issued pursuant to this part 2 if the permit is issued to a person who is:
(a) Twenty-one years of age or older; and
(b) (I) A resident of the state that issued the permit, as demonstrated by the address stated on a valid picture identification that is issued by the state that issued the permit and is carried by the permit holder; or
(II) A resident of Colorado for no more than ninety days, as determined by the date of issuance on a valid picture identification issued by Colorado and carried by the permit holder.
(2) For purposes of this section, a “valid picture identification” means a driver’s license or a state identification issued in lieu of a driver’s license.
Before I get to the states that do honor both the Utah and Florida CCW, there needs to be some clarification for New Hampshire, Florida, Kansas, New Mexico + South Carolina. OK, here we go, New Hampshire will honor the Florida and Utah CCW only if you are a resident of Florida and Utah. Kansas, South Carolina and New Mexico will honor the Florida CCW only if you are a resident of the ‘Sunshine’ State, they will not honor Utah. Lastly, Florida will recognize the Utah license only if your a resident of Utah. Please read this paragraph over a couple times, it can be confusing.
The next list of 27 states will honor both the Florida and Utah CCW, this does not mean they will not honor other state licenses as well, but for the sake of attempting simplicity, if you have a non resident Florida and/or Utah CCW multi state license you will know where you can take your concealed handgun in your travels: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah-(FL), Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, + Wyoming. Again, 27 states in all. NOTE: Utah honors the Florida CCW even if your not a resident of Florida. As mentioned previously, Florida does not do the same for Utah.
These next are a few states that do not honor the Utah CCW, but a couple may honor Florida* and other state licenses, only if you are a resident from that state:
KANSAS, As of 6-14-2011, will recognize: Arizona, Florida, (as already mentioned), Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, + Texas.
MAINE, As listed 8-23-2011,will recognize: Arkansas, Delaware, South Dakota, Louisiana, North Dakota, + Wyoming.
NEVADA, As of 7-1-2011, will recognize: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Rhode Island, + West Virginia.
NEW HAMPSHIRE, As listed 8-23-2011, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida (as previously mentioned), Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah (as previously mentioned), + Wyoming.
NEW MEXICO, As listed 8-23-2011, Formal written reciprocity with Texas, informal reciprocity with; Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, (as already mentioned), Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, + Wyoming.
SOUTH CAROLINA, As listed 8-23-2011, will recognize: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, (as already mentioned), Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, + Wyoming.
NOTE: It does not matter what license you may have to go into other states, the states you go into EXPECT you to know their laws concerning concealed carry. So it is in your best interest to do your homework prior to traveling. Even in the 11 constitutionally dysfunctional states you are protected by a federal law* if you find yourself passing through one of these 11 regimes, it is known as the McClure-Volkmer Act of 1986, you can read it below:
INTERSTATE TRANSPORT of FIREARMS info:
NOTE: The Federal McClure-Volkmer Act of 1986*: In a nutshell, (as I read it, not verbatim). This federal act will protect you from criminally friendly, ‘constitutionally dysfunctional’ states/regimes, (11 of them, Ca. Ma. Ill. NY. NJ. etc.) in this way: Individuals transporting through certain states that would otherwise view such transport as ‘illegal’, may do so under this law if the weapons are unloaded, cased and stowed in a trunk or locked vehicle compartment which is not readily accessible to the occupants. Any ammunition must also be kept separate and be locked away from the occupants and firearms.
Mark’s Note: (This ‘act‘ I believe, is to ensure the safety of any criminal(s) intent on a felony assault of you and your loved ones in these 11 ’constitutionally dysfunctional’ states/regimes) also (I suggest buying the ammo when you get to where your going, as there may not be enough ‘compartments’ in your vehicle to be in compliance.) This ‘act’ is a reflection of our so-called Representative’s looking out for our safety…….?! Sure…..
‘ACT’ 0f 1986 continued; The law abiding traveler(s) must simply be passing through the ‘constitutionally dysfunctional’ states/regimes, and must be bound for a jurisdiction where the possession of such weapons are not considered a threat or illegal by any ‘constitutionally respectful’ state(s). As long as the traveler(s) maintain a steady uninterrupted course through the ‘constitutionally dysfunctional’ states/regimes with the ‘offending’ weapons/ammo stowed in the manner described above, they will be protected from a felony assault on their inalienable rights from the 11 ‘constitutionally dysfunctional’ states/regimes that they might travel through. Prime example; New Jersey
On a personal note: I believe we should be able to go anywhere within our United States, with one license issued by the state wherein we live, as we do with a drivers license per the Full Faith and Credit clause in our Constitution, found under Article IV, Section I. Go read it, it is already clear, all but two of these states are playing games with our gun rights. Vermont and Alaska has the Constitution right, they dont need gun licenses there to own firearms, if your a known criminal, a code is put on your drivers license, you can not own firearms, and you better not be caught with one.
Submitted By Mark Shean, 8-23-2011
Posted in 
I will list some questions here that I have encountered in my Ma. classes, with answers. Also my #Gun Sense series may answer other questions.
Q: Do you give the Ma. state class for the LTC/FID license?
A: Yes, I have given the class since 2000, my son joined me in 2013, we travel all over the state* giving the required class. Please go to my HOME page for details, where you schedule your own class.
Q: A Massachusetts friend wants to store a firearm(s) in my safe, is that legal?
A: If he has a gun license, and you have a gun license, yes you can, but the licenses have to cover the gun, if it is a handgun you both must have a LTC.
Q: When do you replace firearms?
A: On or before the expiration date stamped on the underside of the hammer……..
Q: What does ‘unrestricted’ mean in applying for LTC ?
A: It means for any Lawful purpose in how you utilize your firearm(s).
Q: In Massachusetts is it illegal to ride in a vehicle with a loaded weapon with a LTC with children in the car?
A: No, it must be under your Direct Control as outlined in G.S. #22. But you can not take it onto school property, read G.S. #35.
Q: In Ma. if I apply for a license to carry would my son being a police officer influence the decision in Ma?
To read this chapter in full, and any other articles in the Gun Sense series, it is available as an Ebook and a Paperback at Amazon under:
Gun Sense Massachusetts Gun Law Information and Common Sense Firearm Safety By Mark R. Shean Sr.
Rated #1 at AMAZON in the Shooting section!!
Mark Shean, author of GUN SENSE, on Amazon
This information was verified through the Ma. State Police…..To read this chapter in full, and any other articles in the Gun Sense series, it is available as an ebook and a Paperback at Amazon under:
Gun Sense Massachusetts Gun Law Information and Common Sense Firearm Safety By Mark R. Shean
The answers can be found at the bottom of ‘Gun Sense‘ # 29, don’t cheat.
7. While transporting firearms not under your Direct Control can they be loaded? Y N
To read this chapter in full, and any other articles in the Gun Sense series, it is available as an Ebook and a Paperback at Amazon under:
Gun Sense Massachusetts Gun Law Information and Common Sense Firearm Safety By Mark R. Shean Sr.
Rated #1 at AMAZON in the Shooting section!!
Not my opinion, these are facts.
I am going to point out some court decisions that have come down on the side of the police. These cases were filed by people who were victims of violent crime, or filed by the surviving members of families on behalf of a member killed by violent criminals. They have two things in common, 1. The police did not arrive in time, or at all, to save the victim(s), and 2. No one has ever won a decision in court against the police because someone died before they could respond. Here are a sample of four cases to highlight why the Second Amendment is vital. At the end I will give a brief summary as to why this is the way things will always remain.
This first case,…..
To read this chapter in full, and any other articles in the Gun Sense series, it is available as an Ebook and a Paperback at Amazon under:
Gun Sense Massachusetts Gun Law Information and Common Sense Firearm Safety By Mark R. Shean Sr.
First, if you would like a copy of your adult criminal record, (if any) you can call the CORI unit at 617-660-4640, Also look at Gun Sense #34. I think the fee is $25. You can use this report to clarify, in your own mind, if there are any possible ‘road blocks’ that may stand in the way of your getting a gun license.
Conviction”; A finding or verdict of guilty or a plea of guilty, whether or not final sentence is/was imposed.
I will list some laws that you as a gun license holder are required to know. I am not a lawyer, but the last time I checked I don”t have to be to reproduce what is public information, …..
To read this chapter in full, and any other articles in the Gun Sense series, it is available as an Ebook and a Paperback at Amazon under:
Gun Sense Massachusetts Gun Law Information and Common Sense Firearm Safety By Mark R. Shean Sr.
Forward; By Mark Shean, author of Gun Sense now on Amazon.
This next article has been floating around the Internet, and so far I have seen it attributed to three different people. I think it strikes a very true chord that reasonable people should all easily understand, what ever side of the fence you may be on. I have decided to post it here for your consideration. At the end I will put the author as ‘Anonymous’, since I am sure three different people did not all write the same thing word for word….. It echo’s what I have been writing about for years concerning the fallacies of the so-called ‘gun control’ crowd and their flawed/dangerous reasoning. MS
Why Carrying A Gun Is A Civilized Act;
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of these two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that’s it.
In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force.
The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100 pound woman on equal footing with a 220 pound mugger, a 75 year old retiree on equal footing with a 19 year old gang banger, and one guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.
There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we’d be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a [armed] mugger to do his evil deeds. That, of course, is only true if the mugger’s potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat, it has no validity when most of a mugger’s potential ‘victims’ are armed.
People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the mob, and that’s the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a monopoly on force.
Then there’s the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser. People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don’t constitute lethal force, watch far to much TV, where people take beatings and only come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level.
The gun is the only weapon that’s as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight lifter. It simply wouldn’t work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn’t both lethal and easily employable.
When I carry a gun, I don’t do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I’m looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don’t carry it because I’m afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn’t limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation…that’s why carrying a gun is a civilized act.
“The greatest civilization is one where law abiding citizens choose to be armed, they then can only be persuaded, never forced”. Anonymous-
Submitted on this site by Mark Shean, 2-15-2011
Mark’s NOTE: Governments around the world, through the U.N. would like to force a total gun ban world wide disarming all civilian populations, (not already disarmed) especially, and most importantly to include citizens of the United States through the up coming so-called ‘Arms Trade Treaty‘ that the Obama Administration said they will gladly sign!! I say let governments lead the way and disarm first, I am sure they would not, saying that to disarm would embolden their enemy’s to attack their homelands. On a smaller scale why should citizens disarm to embolden madmen to invade their homes?
When politicians want us disarmed so badly, is it because they have very bad intensions that would get them shot if we were not disarmed?
Criminals prefer unarmed victims, Politicians prefer disarmed subjects.
Quotes from two original Patriots;
” Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.” –PATRICK HENRY-
“A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government“. –GEORGE WASHINGTON-
Submitted by the author of:
FYI;
As of 2005; an FID card or LTC no longer allows you to purchase a hunting license, but, if you happen to have a previous hunting license dated from 2007 or older, that would suffice for you to obtain a new hunting license without your having to go through the hunter safety course. For more information call the Ma. Wildlife Department at 978-772-0693 for upcoming classes, or call Bass Pro Shops in Foxboro at 508-216-2000, as they sometimes host the Hunter Safety classes in their store.
Also a Mr. Michael J. Pierdinock a Massachusetts Certified Master Basic Hunter Education Instructor will teach two classes per year at Old Colony Sportsman’s Club in Pembroke. His email address is: MPierdinock@Lightshipengineering.com for more information.
Topics covered during the Basic Hunter Education course include: safe handling of hunting arms and ammunition, hunting laws and ethics, wildlife identification, wildlife management, care and handling of game, basic survival skills, and first aid. The course also allows students 15 years or older to apply for a firearms license, (FID) at their local police departments. These Certificates of Completion are also recognized in all the United States, (to bad our gun licenses are not…) Canada, and Mexico for the purchase of a hunting or sporting license. The state requires this to be a 12 hour course.
Basic Hunter Education courses are posted at www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/education/hed/hed_course_schedule.htm other useful links are as follows: for schedule of classes, www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/education/hed/hed_basic_listing.htm also to submit an online form: www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/education/hed/forms/basic_request_form.htm
Previous graduates who have lost their certificates may obtain a duplicate by calling 978-772-0693 or filling out a form requesting a duplicate on the website at www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/education/hed/hed_duplicates.htm
New Electronic Licensing Website started in 2011. Inquiries regarding purchases of electronic licenses and permits from MassFishHunt should be directed to ActiveOutdoors by calling toll free 888-773-8450 or emailing: mahfwebmaster@als-xtn.com License buyers will still be able to purchase the traditional paper hunting, trapping and freshwater fishing licenses and stamps at license vendors throughout the state until the switch is made to an entirely electronic system. For a list of current hunting, trapping, and freshwater fishing license vendors: www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/licensing/vendors/license_vendors.htm
You can subscribe to be notified when a Massachusetts Trapper Education course is available. The Trapper Education course listed below is now open for enrollment. Or contact: “Education, Hunter (FWE)” hunter.education@state.ma.us
If you are interested in the course, please call 508-389-7830 classes are filled first-come, first-served, and enrollment cannot be processed via email.
Also, please be advised, that if you are taking the course as mandated for first-time trappers and Problem Animal Control (PAC) Agents in order to apply for a Massachusetts trap registration number, a state issued certificate from any US state is accepted to meet this requirement.
Thank you for your interest in the Mass Wildlife Hunter Education Program.
NOTE: Age 15 up to 18, The fee for FID is $25, as stated in the MA General Law (Chapter 140, section 129B)
(9C) Except as provided in clause (9B), the fee for an application for a firearm identification card for any person under the age of 18 shall be $25, which shall be payable to the licensing authority and shall not be prorated or refunded in the case of revocation or denial. The licensing authority shall retain 50 per cent of the fee and the remaining portion shall be deposited into the General Fund. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, licensing authorities shall deposit quarterly that portion of the firearm identification card application fee which is to be deposited into the General Fund, not later than January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year.
Submitted by,
Mark Shean, Author of Gun Sense, good for where people and guns are together.
FYI;
Jury nullification occurs when a jury returns a verdict of “Not Guilty” despite its belief that the defendant is guilty of the violation charged. The jury in effect nullifies a law that it believes is either immoral or wrongly applied to the defendant whose fate they are charged with deciding. Jury nullification can only be applied in criminal cases.
The American jury draws its power of nullification from its right to render a ‘general verdict’ in criminal trials, the inability of criminal courts to direct a verdict no matter how strong the evidence, the Fifth Amendments ‘Double Jeopardy’ clause, which prohibits the appeal of an acquittal, and the fact that jurors can never be punished for the verdict they return. A jury can nullify a law due to disagreements with the justice of the law, jury nullification can sometimes take the form of a jury convicting the defendant of lesser charges than what the prosecutor sought.
Early in our history, judges often informed jurors of their legal nullification right. For example, our first Chief Justice, John Jay, told jurors: “You have a right to take upon yourselves to judge [both the facts, and the law]”.
In the 1895 decision in Sparf v. U.S., Justice John M. Harlan held that a trial judge has no responsibility to inform the jury of their legal right to nullify laws. It was upheld by a 5-4 decision of the Supreme Court. In a 1969 Fourth Circuit decision, U.S. v. Moylan affirmed the right of jury nullification, but also upheld the power of the court to refuse to permit any instruction to the jury to this effect. In part, the decision reads: ” If the jury feels that the law under which the defendant is accused, is unjust, or that exigent circumstances justified the actions of the accused, or for any reason which appeals to their logic or passion, the jury has the power to acquit, and the courts must abide by that decision”. Once a jury returns a verdict of “Not Guilty”, that verdict cannot be questioned by any court. NOTE: (But, the court now has no obligation to inform the jury of this nullification right, the jury has to figure this out for themselves somehow! MS)
Judges seem less likely today to favor jury nullification, or to willingly instruct a jury about their power of nullification as they were in the past. Judges are unable to take away the power of nullification, but have done much to prevent its use by not mentioning it as an option to juries, {that through no fault of their own, know nothing of the choice as it becomes more obscured by the courts.} Lawyers have even gone so far as asking potential jurors if they knew of jury nullification, then excused them from the jury pool if they did! The ‘fix’ is ‘in’ apparently.
If jurors have the power to nullify bad laws, shouldn’t they be told so? The omission by judges to give instruction on nullification is an extreme lack of ‘candor’, and, [I believe] in violation of our rights under the Constitution. Jury nullification can be used to provide the People an important mechanism for ‘feedback’. For example, jurors have sometimes used nullification to send clear messages to prosecutors about misplaced enforcement priorities, or what juries see as harassing or abusive prosecutions, (*a case is cited below). Jury nullification can be a tool to prevent our criminal justice system from becoming too rigid, or keep bad judges in check, it provides some ‘leeway’ in the ‘joints’ for justice, if jurors use this power wisely. But first they need to be educated about this right, something the courts shy away from, as noted above in: Sparf v. U.S. and: U.S. v. Moylan.
For example, this is a case in point; *In a recent 2010 case, a jury was never informed about their right to nullify by an activist, anti Second Amendment judge in New Jersey. The judge refused to allow evidence that was relevant to ‘exceptions’ in the vague gun laws of N.J.. Had the jury heard these exceptions that were requested from Brian Aitken’s attorney and even the jury itself, they would have rendered a ‘not guilty’ verdict based on the barred exceptions, but because of the instructions from the judge to only render verdict on evidence ‘allowed’, the jury was ignorantly forced into a ‘box’ and only had one choice, to render a “Guilty” verdict. This was a combination of a judge manipulating the verdict, and the jury not knowing their rights. Brian Aiken was subsequently, (wrongly) sentenced to 7 years in prison for crimes he never committed. (He served 5 months before sentence was commuted, 5 months of which he was brutalized in prison and will not discuss…, according to his father).
In a letter to the governor supporting Aiken’s clemency request, pro-gun Assemblyman Michael P. Carrol rightly noted that even if Aiken had committed “wholly technical violations [of] wholly problematic laws,” “not every violation of the law warrants an indictment, let alone incarceration.”
The Governor, Chris Christie, has since reviewed the case and has commuted the sentence, a sentence that should never have happened in the first place had it not been for a politically appointed thug in black robes with an anti gun agenda, returning political favors to the anti gun ‘progressives’ that appointed him and were his ‘masters’. The judge was removed from the bench after an investigation undeniably showed his bias. Other cases he presided over are under review. Now Chris Christy can go one step further, post haste, and give a complete PARDON to wipe the felony that ‘never was’ off Brian Aiken’s record once and for all. (Please finish the job Gov. Christy).
Now, I know this would be labeled under ‘wishful thinking’, but, let the crooked judge finish the 7 year jail sentence, maybe he should be ‘brutilized’. Now, wouldn’t that send a message to all the judges that actually believe their job is to legislate from the bench.
There are many cases where judges are driven by ideology rather than unbiased interpretation of the law/Constitution. One need only look at: D.C. v. Heller 6-26-2008, or: McDonald v. Chicago 6-28-2010, where both decisions were 5-4, barely in favor of our Second Amendment. Had these decisions been based only on honest interpretation of the Constitution and the preponderance of evidence surrounding the actual meaning of the Founders, the decisions would have had to be unanimous, and not along party lines. This points to how taunt a string our Second Amendment rights are balanced upon and how crucial judicial appointments are.
The Founders well understood history and that even a small amount of unchecked power corrupts otherwise good men over a sustained period of time, this is why they wisely built in ‘checks and balances’ to dilute and curtail this power. For the People, jury nullification is one way, the Second Amendment is another. The Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches are three more, each presumably keeping the others in ‘check’. The voting booth is yet another, let us not lose sight of this by allowing candidates into public office that view the Constitution as a ‘roadblock ‘ in the way of their socialist/progressive ‘agendas’. You can tell this by what they have done, not by what they say.
Mark Shean, submitted 1-4-2011
Mark Shean Sr. author of #GUN SENSE, on Amazon.
Outside of your immediate family and/or a trusted close circle of good like-minded friends, in this day and ‘enlightened’ age, don’t tell people what you have when it comes to firearms. I know that sometimes people may ask you if you own guns, the question, on the surface, may be quite innocent but it can sometimes lead to bad consequences. In this state, and time in history, it is an inappropriate question and you should politely decline to discuss your personal business with someone that does not have a ‘need to know‘ that information.
Your like-minded friends should/will all be on the same page with you concerning their, and your firearm information. Simply put, it is a matter of security. I know instances where a firearm(s) have been taken because of ‘loose lips’. In one case the home owner in question was big on cook-outs and inviting large crowds of ‘friends’ over. These ‘friends’ would sometimes come with people that the home owner did not know. We will call the home owner Willy, now Willy had quite a nice collection of guns and was very proud of them. He would make sure that everyone had a chance to admire them by bringing people into his house and showing the guns off. They were great ‘show and tell’ material. This went on for a few summers, I had long since given up trying to convince Willy that ‘show and tell’ was a bad practice. One day Willy came home to find that he had been burglarized and 21 various firearms had been taken. I think that more would have been taken but the crooks probably ran out of ‘hands’ to carry them. So far only four have been recovered, that was more than ten years ago.
‘Associates’ that you really don’t know very well, can innocently mention to someone you don’t know at all, that you are a gun owner, they in turn can casually pass that information on, it only takes one ‘bad apple’ in that chain of people to use that information against you.
Someone who had taken my class a few years ago called me recently and told me a thief had broken into his car and taken a handgun that was secured with a cable lock, in a locked box out of sight under the seat. He said that he only occasionally left it in the car for reasons I will not mention. I asked him if he had any other valuables in the car that were taken? He said that his GPS was not touched, or anything else, just the gun. Obviously he was specifically targeted for that gun. Possibly someone he knew had knowledge of the hiding place, and brought the correct tool to steal it. I asked him to think hard about who he had talked to about the gun, to come up with a list of people. It probably was not a friend that took the gun, it was probably someone a friend had talked to about the gun, so he needs to talk to his circle of friends to narrow it down. I think it will lead him to that gun, or at least a good suspect.
The main point that runs through this article is this, don’t trust those you hardly know to protect your secrets from others. Keep your gun(s) as private as you reasonably can. Your gun(s) are not anyones business but your own. If a firearm is stolen from you report the theft to the police as soon as you find out. Keep a list of the serial numbers from each gun to aid the police in trying to recover your property. Don’t unwittingly become an accomplice in the theft of your own firearms. That’s my 2 cents.
To read this chapter in full, and any other articles in the #Gun Sense series, it is available as an ebook and a Paperback at Amazon under:
Gun Sense Massachusetts Gun Law Information and Common Sense Firearm Safety By Mark R. Shean Sr.