No, not Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Chemical weapons such as pepper spray or Mace are an excellent option, and should be included in your "Tool Box" of self-defense alternatives. They generally come in a can and have a few ounces of active agent. Providing the chemical weapon you select does not exceed two ounces of active chemical, you are free to carry concealed or open. A License to Carry a Concealed Weapon or Firearm is not needed. The propellant chemical is not considered an active ingredient.
Be careful if it is windy. When conditions are poor, like rain or wind, I don't consider pepper spray to be an viable alternative Go to your next tool.
If it is a nice day (aside for the attacker), engage the bad guy with the can, but be sure you aim for the attacker's face. You will need to be within range. Your weapon will provide instructions concerning distance. The chemical is not acid. It will not eat through the attacker's clothing. Hit him in the eyes. Feel free to apply liberally, most cans have multiple shots available. A few coats are probably wise and warranted.
I don't care much for the pepper spray key chains unless there is no alternative. I prefer a larger can on the belt or in a pocket. This can be carried in the hand and ready to discharge at any moment. Should someone confront you, get too close, refuse to stop or back off, let them have it. I've never heard of anyone being charged with improper discharge of pepper spray, nor have I ever heard of a civil suit resulting from discharge of pepper spray.
Now when it comes to chemical weapons, IGNORE the law. That's right. I said it. Ignore the law. The law does not prohibit you from carrying pepper spray into a Courthouse. Ignore it, you are asking for trouble. Treat pepper spray, or your chemical weapon of choice, much like you would a gun. This mind set will serve you well. I think it was an error that the legislature did not prohibit chemical weapons in a Courthouse, and I certainly hope security stops everyone carrying it.
I also think it is a great idea to have a chemical option available to you in your car. Mind you that heat may weaken the spray. Read the manufacturers suggestions closely. Cars in Florida get hot, so you may need to replace your can more frequently than you replace your carry spray.
Consider having a chemical option close to your front door. Go ahead and attach the spray's carry case right on the wall by the door, or on the door. If there are kids in the house you may wish to reconsider this option, or mount it high so kids can't get to it.
I find it funny when people think these chemical weapons are "girly". This stuff is effective, and no one gets killed. Sounds like a great alternative to me. Now if you are a man, and you get the pink carry case, well, all bets are off. I may have some fun at your expense.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
"Stopping Power!" Or is it, "Stopping Power?"
When considering stopping power, first ask yourself how you define it. Does it mean that the bad guy explodes? Maybe he just stops dead in his tracks? Does it mean he's alive, but not capable of causing harm to you or anyone else? I've read some of those ballistic tests. I think the best examples of stopping power are the statistics from those tests, stops me from ever wanting to read another article about ballistics tests again. I've seen the pictures and videos of what the cartridge will do to a block of gelatin, and am certain really of only one thing, if a plastic jug water ever attacks me, it had better watch out!
Like you, I've sat around gun stores listening to customers try to impress the gun store’s employees with their infinite knowledge on the issue, yet when I ask them what stopping power means, even the guy that pretends to have worked for Blackwater has little to say. And yes, we are onto you. So what does Stopping Power mean? I'm still not sure.
I do know this, unlike what you have been taught in your basic gun course, the truth is that any handgun cartridge is capable of providing "one shot, one kill" with proper shot placement and that any handgun cartridge will be woefully ineffective with poor shot placement. This means, that a round as small as a .32 can stop many attackers. Likewise, a poorly placed .41 magnum may do little damage, if any.
Although it is not ideal for self defense, a .32 caliber round will stop your average nut case if you shoot him through his eye into his brain. The same man may not even notice when grazed in the shoulder with that .41 magnum cartridge. Therefore, shot placement is the single most crucial component when determining the factors involved in terminating a hostile threat. Having said this, the odds of me being able to shoot a moving bad guy in the eye at 10 yards with a .32 Kel-Tec aren't good. So we do the best with what we have. Your muzzle should initially be focused on the bad guy's chest -- center mass. Two shots to the attacker's thoracic cavity is a good, effective way to begin a self-defense shooting. Rumor has it he won't explode, but it's still a good start.
Another popular misconception is that the shooter expects a single cartridge to be effective against an armed adversary. This is dangerous and could get someone killed. Again, unless your attacker has a habit of exploding when shot, even the most powerful combat cartridge will not guarantee an immediate stop. Keep shooting until the bastard is down. Your enemy is your enemy until he's dead.
Here's the problem, the handgun cartridge is grossly underpowered compared to a shotgun shell, or rifle cartridge. If only we were allowed to carry concealed shotguns and rifles. Until we can, we need to settle for our handguns -- first two shots delivered as quickly as possible while maintaining accuracy. Shoot twice at center mass then quickly determine if the threat still exists. If the threat is not terminated, muzzle to the head and deliver two shots. This does not mean you walk up to the bad guy to deliver the third and fourth blows. Remain where you are. Stay a safe distance away. By training to shoot twice every time you engage a target, a standard response develops that enables the quick and accurate delivery of two hits when shooting to defend your life. Good stuff, and once your muscle memory maintains the movement, you are increasing your skill set big time.
When choosing a cartridge, there is plenty of literature comparing calibers, the projectile's design, weight, velocities, and just about everything else you can think of to keep you busy for months. These conversations are great between gun guys, but was that the extra couple of hundred feet per second really dispositive of the gun fight? Unlikely. I suggest you select a cartridge that has a large cross sectional bullet diameter (this is what is meant by “caliber” and this directly relates to the amount of damage the bullet will inflict by damaging tissue) and as heavy a bullet weight as possible (measured in “grains”). Load as hot a round as you can effectively control. The weight and velocity of the bullet effects penetration and this determines how much internal damage it will cause. Therefore, the larger the caliber, heavier the bullet, and faster the velocity, the greater the tissue damage, the greater the odds the bad guy stops.
There’s an old joke, A Texas Ranger is asked why he carries a .45. He replies, "They don’t make a .46”.
Many hand gunners think that a fully loaded, large caliber pistol cartridge, such as the .45 ACP (Auto Cartridge Pistol) is too difficult to control. Excessive recoil when shooting a handgun chambered in .45 ACP may be due to poor handling rather than high cartridge power. An average man with proper grip and a stable stance will have effective control of the muzzle enabling target reacquisition. I recommend that you shoot the heaviest bullet and the largest caliber that is loaded as hot as you can control and discharge two accurate shots, center mass, in the quickest amount of time possible. It’s placement that does the damage, not just the round. A Navy SEAL with my .32 is far deadlier than a blind man with my .50 Action Express.
Like you, I've sat around gun stores listening to customers try to impress the gun store’s employees with their infinite knowledge on the issue, yet when I ask them what stopping power means, even the guy that pretends to have worked for Blackwater has little to say. And yes, we are onto you. So what does Stopping Power mean? I'm still not sure.
I do know this, unlike what you have been taught in your basic gun course, the truth is that any handgun cartridge is capable of providing "one shot, one kill" with proper shot placement and that any handgun cartridge will be woefully ineffective with poor shot placement. This means, that a round as small as a .32 can stop many attackers. Likewise, a poorly placed .41 magnum may do little damage, if any.
Although it is not ideal for self defense, a .32 caliber round will stop your average nut case if you shoot him through his eye into his brain. The same man may not even notice when grazed in the shoulder with that .41 magnum cartridge. Therefore, shot placement is the single most crucial component when determining the factors involved in terminating a hostile threat. Having said this, the odds of me being able to shoot a moving bad guy in the eye at 10 yards with a .32 Kel-Tec aren't good. So we do the best with what we have. Your muzzle should initially be focused on the bad guy's chest -- center mass. Two shots to the attacker's thoracic cavity is a good, effective way to begin a self-defense shooting. Rumor has it he won't explode, but it's still a good start.
Another popular misconception is that the shooter expects a single cartridge to be effective against an armed adversary. This is dangerous and could get someone killed. Again, unless your attacker has a habit of exploding when shot, even the most powerful combat cartridge will not guarantee an immediate stop. Keep shooting until the bastard is down. Your enemy is your enemy until he's dead.
Here's the problem, the handgun cartridge is grossly underpowered compared to a shotgun shell, or rifle cartridge. If only we were allowed to carry concealed shotguns and rifles. Until we can, we need to settle for our handguns -- first two shots delivered as quickly as possible while maintaining accuracy. Shoot twice at center mass then quickly determine if the threat still exists. If the threat is not terminated, muzzle to the head and deliver two shots. This does not mean you walk up to the bad guy to deliver the third and fourth blows. Remain where you are. Stay a safe distance away. By training to shoot twice every time you engage a target, a standard response develops that enables the quick and accurate delivery of two hits when shooting to defend your life. Good stuff, and once your muscle memory maintains the movement, you are increasing your skill set big time.
When choosing a cartridge, there is plenty of literature comparing calibers, the projectile's design, weight, velocities, and just about everything else you can think of to keep you busy for months. These conversations are great between gun guys, but was that the extra couple of hundred feet per second really dispositive of the gun fight? Unlikely. I suggest you select a cartridge that has a large cross sectional bullet diameter (this is what is meant by “caliber” and this directly relates to the amount of damage the bullet will inflict by damaging tissue) and as heavy a bullet weight as possible (measured in “grains”). Load as hot a round as you can effectively control. The weight and velocity of the bullet effects penetration and this determines how much internal damage it will cause. Therefore, the larger the caliber, heavier the bullet, and faster the velocity, the greater the tissue damage, the greater the odds the bad guy stops.
There’s an old joke, A Texas Ranger is asked why he carries a .45. He replies, "They don’t make a .46”.
Many hand gunners think that a fully loaded, large caliber pistol cartridge, such as the .45 ACP (Auto Cartridge Pistol) is too difficult to control. Excessive recoil when shooting a handgun chambered in .45 ACP may be due to poor handling rather than high cartridge power. An average man with proper grip and a stable stance will have effective control of the muzzle enabling target reacquisition. I recommend that you shoot the heaviest bullet and the largest caliber that is loaded as hot as you can control and discharge two accurate shots, center mass, in the quickest amount of time possible. It’s placement that does the damage, not just the round. A Navy SEAL with my .32 is far deadlier than a blind man with my .50 Action Express.
Where can I go? More importantly, where can’t I go?
Get this one wrong, and where you end up may be federal prison.
Where you can and cannot carry a concealed firearm is the subject of some serious debates. As quickly as one interesting question is answered, another pops up. Many questions are very fact specific, and require the attention of an attorney. Others are easier to address. We will only discuss specific places in this post; places, facilities, buildings, and the like. We’ll address carrying a gun in a car, truck, motorcycle, or bicycle in another post.
So where cant you carry your concealed firearm with your License to Carry a Concealed Weapon or Firearm? We’ll start with some assumptions. 1) You have your license to carry, and you’ll need it to go here. 2) You are already complying with federal and state laws concerning your license. 3) You need to be somewhere.
Where you can and cannot carry a concealed firearm is the subject of some serious debates. As quickly as one interesting question is answered, another pops up. Many questions are very fact specific, and require the attention of an attorney. Others are easier to address. We will only discuss specific places in this post; places, facilities, buildings, and the like. We’ll address carrying a gun in a car, truck, motorcycle, or bicycle in another post.
So where cant you carry your concealed firearm with your License to Carry a Concealed Weapon or Firearm? We’ll start with some assumptions. 1) You have your license to carry, and you’ll need it to go here. 2) You are already complying with federal and state laws concerning your license. 3) You need to be somewhere.
If you have a License to Carry a Concealed Weapon or Firearm, life is pretty good. You don't need to worry about where you can go, if the place isn't on the list of prohibited places, you are free to carry concealed.
You can’t carry your gun in an airport passenger terminal. I get a lot of questions on this issue, and some people get argumentative about it. They mistake the passenger terminal for the “sterile” terminal. They are not the same. There are places you can walk in the passenger terminal without going through TSA’s security booth. These places are still part of the passenger terminal and carrying a concealed weapon can get you in big trouble.
If you have a firearm in an airport, it better be unloaded, in a TSA approved container and ready to be declared. We’ll cover air travel in another post. Until then, if you’re not declaring the weapon with the airline when you check in for your departing flight, you have no business having the weapon. Stop. Turn around. Leave the building immediately. Go back to your car and secure the weapon in your car. Now return as your blood resumes natural circulation.
The only time you can have a concealed firearm on your person at the airport is when you are in your vehicle, and then you had better be Buckled-up. So if you only have a motorcycle and you need to pick up a friend, either leave the gun at home or call a taxi. If you need to drive up to the airport to drop off a friend or loved one for a departing flight, and you are wearing a concealed firearm, you will be hugging and kissing and saying your goodbye’s in the car and keeping your butt in your seat. You will be rude by not assisting them with their luggage. The price you pay.
No concealed firearms in the airport. Clear enough? If you forget and get caught, call your lawyer and pray the TSA doesn't prosecute you in Federal Court.
So, where else can’t we carry?
Anyplace federal law prohibits it.
A bar, or portion of a restaurant that serves alcohol for consumption. If you go to TGI Friday’s, you can sit in the dining area and eat, but if you have to walk through the bar area to get to the restroom, you may want to “hold it” until you get home. You can’t be in the bar area with a concealed firearm. If you have a kid and the kid has a tendancy to run around, stay out of restaurants with bars. I hear Perkin's is nice this time of year.
Where else can't you carry your gun?
Post office.
Social Security Building.
IRS Building.
Polling place (anywhere you vote).
Any federal building prohibiting firearms.
Courthouse / Courtroom.
Jail / Prison / Detention Facility.
Police Station – or any Law Enforcement or Peace Officer’s facility.
On school grounds, or in a school’s facility or within 1000 feet of any elementary, middle or secondary school during school hours or during a school sponsored event, School bus stop, School sponsored event. For specific questions, ask your attorney.
Any athletic event where students are competing.
Any athletic event where athletes are paid to compete. This includes the Dolphins, the athletes need to be paid to play, no requirement that they actually win.
Any government facility where a meeting of a county commission, city council, school board, water management, or special district is taking place.
Any meeting of the state legislature, its committees or subcommittees.
Speaking of whores, you can’t be in a place of nuisance. This includes a house of drugs (crack house), house of prostitution (whore house), or house of illegal gambling. Then again, you shouldn’t be in one of those places anyhow.
So what about all of those businesses that have signs that say “Firearms Prohibited”? Sometimes they illustrate it with the picture of a gun and a circle with a slash through it. Like the Ghostbuster’s logo. Who you gonna call? Uhem! Anyway. Okay, so you see that pesky sign. What do you do now?
It’s pretty simple. You are carrying a concealed weapon so no one will even know you have a gun. It’s a public place and you are an invitee. No, you may not feel like an invitee, but take my word for it, you are. Go on in. Take care of business. Now if you do something foolish and someone catches on that you have a gun, they can ask you to leave, and you must vacate immediately. Do not stand around arguing, you will lose. You can be cited or arrested for armed trespass if someone simply asks you to leave and you fail or refuse to leave promptly. This means without cashing out. Just leave.
How about a bank? Yes, generally. What if it's FDIC insured? Then both you and your money are safe in there. Feel free to carry concealed in the bank. There are some exceptions. If the bank is in a federal building, it’s a no-no. If the bank is owned by the federal government and federal law prohibits it, don’t try it. But if it’s your average, everyday commercial bank next to the Publix or by your doctor's office? Your fine.
In all cases, just remember that you have a License to Carry a Concealed Weapon or Firearm and it means just that. It must be kept concealed. If not, all bets are off!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Florida is a Preemption State
Florida is a Preemption state. This means that the Florida legislature decided, and the Governor agreed, that Florida has only one set of laws concerning where you can and cannot carry a concealed firearm. Therefore, it is up to the Legislature to decide where you cannot carry a firearm.
Like the United States of America, Florida is a sovereign state, and not a political subdivision of the Federal Government. Florida’s counties, cities, and special districts (mosquito control, fire control, school boards) are mere political subdivisions. Once the Florida Legislature enacted Section 790.33, Florida Statutes, it took full and complete control over all Florida firearms’ law (understanding federal laws also apply), and declares county, city and other ordinances null and void. Period!
Many counties such as Lee and Hillsborough have public beaches and parks with signs prohibiting firearms, but if you have a License to Carry a Concealed Weapon or Firearm, and you follow state and federal laws, carrying a concealed firearm on a public beach is legal.
Problem is, our County elected officials, and their County Attorney’s Offices may not understand, or want to acknowledge this. Another problem is law enforcement. Should a citizen need to use a firearm to legally defend herself on a beach or in a park, the law enforcement officer may arrest her because of the sign alone, or due to the ordinance that put it there. The law enforcement officer may not have read Section 790.33, Florida Statutes.
Remember, the statute says that “Any such existing ordinances are hereby declared null and void.” Read the statute, it’s pretty clear and to the point.
Like the United States of America, Florida is a sovereign state, and not a political subdivision of the Federal Government. Florida’s counties, cities, and special districts (mosquito control, fire control, school boards) are mere political subdivisions. Once the Florida Legislature enacted Section 790.33, Florida Statutes, it took full and complete control over all Florida firearms’ law (understanding federal laws also apply), and declares county, city and other ordinances null and void. Period!
Many counties such as Lee and Hillsborough have public beaches and parks with signs prohibiting firearms, but if you have a License to Carry a Concealed Weapon or Firearm, and you follow state and federal laws, carrying a concealed firearm on a public beach is legal.
Problem is, our County elected officials, and their County Attorney’s Offices may not understand, or want to acknowledge this. Another problem is law enforcement. Should a citizen need to use a firearm to legally defend herself on a beach or in a park, the law enforcement officer may arrest her because of the sign alone, or due to the ordinance that put it there. The law enforcement officer may not have read Section 790.33, Florida Statutes.
Remember, the statute says that “Any such existing ordinances are hereby declared null and void.” Read the statute, it’s pretty clear and to the point.
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