NRA questions what part of the Fast & Furious did Obama and Holder play in the scheme of things?  Is this an attempt to regulate more gun laws on the American people by allowing firearms to “walk” from gun stores? you bet!

Recently, a federal district court in Washington, D.C. issued a ruling upholding an Obama administration policy that requires federally licensed firearms retailers in states bordering Mexico to report multiple sales of semi-automatic rifles. The case was brought by two NRA-backed firearm retailers and by the National Shooting Sports Foundation acting on behalf of its affected members. Plaintiffs have already filed an appeal—but while we await the outcome, your help is urgently needed in seeking congressional action to end this illegal policy.

Devised by Attorney General Eric Holder’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the plan requires all of the 8,700 firearm dealers in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to report all sales of two or more semi-automatic rifles within five consecutive business days, if the rifles are larger than .22 caliber and use detachable magazines.

“A Significant Indictment” of DOJ’s “Integrity”: In a move that stunned members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the chief of the criminal division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona has cited his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and refused to testify.

Outrage of the Week: Politician Attacks Sheriff’s Support of Self-Defense: During an Oct. 31 press conference following the attempted rape of a woman walking her dog by a convicted felon, Spartanburg County, S.C., Sheriff Chuck Wright didn’t mince words. “It’s too bad someone with a concealed weapons permit didn’t walk by. That would fix it,” Wright said. Wright then repeatedly told his constituents “I want you to get a concealed weapons permit.” To hammer the point home he held up a fanny pack, saying, “They make this right here where you can conceal a small pistol in them.”

Second Amendment Weekend at Cabela’s in Dundee, MI: Join NRA-ILA Headquarters staff February 10-11^th, 2012, for a weekend of important grassroots education for gun owners. 2012 is undoubtedly the most critical election year ever for our Second Amendment rights and we must redouble our efforts to guarantee victory on Election Day. Please make plans to attend NRA-ILA’s FREE Grassroots Workshop and NRA University to learn what you can do to become a better activist in the fight to protect and promote the Second Amendment!

Grassroots News Minute Video: To view this week’s “Grassroots News Minute” video, please click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIYkRmi2TjE

STATE ROUNDUP (Please note the only items listed below are those that have had recent action. For other updates on state legislation, please go to the state legislation section at www.NRAILA.org, and check each week’s issue of the Grassroots Alert.)

For additional information, please click on the links provided.

GEORGIA: Pro-Hunting Bill Passes Unanimously in Senate Committee!
On January 25, NRA-backed Senate Bill 301 passed unanimously in the state Senate Natural Resources & the Environment Committee! This bill now goes to the Senate floor. SB 301 would allow Georgians to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting. Currently, Georgia law permits the use of suppressors for all shooting activities except for the taking of game.

State Senator Introduces NRA-Backed Legislation to Prohibit Destruction of Firearms
On January 27, state Senator Don Balfour (R-9) introduced NRA-backed legislation, Senate Bill 350. This bill would require local and state police authorities to return seized firearms, not currently being held as evidence in a criminal investigation, to the lawful owner if able. If the lawful owner is not found or unable to take possession of the firearm, SB 350 would require these agencies to sell these firearms at a public auction or to a licensed firearms dealer. SB 350 has been assigned to the state Senate Judiciary Committee, but a hearing date has not yet been scheduled.

IOWA: Traditional Ammunition Protections Move Forward in Des Moines
On January 26, the state House Natural Resources Committee passed House Joint Resolution 2001 by a 17 to 4 vote. HJR 2001, which is the House companion of Senate Joint Resolution 2001, is now headed to the House floor for consideration. SJR 2001 and HJR 2001 would rescind the Iowa Natural Resources Commission’s unjustified and dangerous regulation banning the use of traditional ammunition for dove hunting. SJR 2001, which has passed in the state Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee, is currently awaiting Senate floor action.

ILLINOIS: Pending House Votes on Three Anti-Gun Bills in Illinois
Three anti-gun bills passed on January 24 in the state House Rules Committee and could be voted on at anytime when the House convenes on January 31. House Bill 1294 seeks to ban countless semi-automatic handguns, rifles, and shotguns, many parts for them, as well as .50 caliber rifles and ammunition. House Bill 1599 would classify countless semi-automatic handguns, rifles, and shotguns as “semi-automatic assault weapons,” and would classify as “high capacity ammunition” any “ammunition of .50 or more caliber.” House Bill 1855 would create penalties for individuals who have had their firearms stolen if they fail to report the theft in an arbitrarily determined time-frame. Please contact your state Representative TODAY and urge him or her to protect your Second Amendment rights and oppose HB 1294, HB 1599, and HB 1855!

INDIANA: Senate Public Policy Committee Passes Charity Gaming Legislation Crucial to Friends of NRA Events!
On January 25, the Senate Public Policy Committee passed Senate Bill 315 by a 9 to 1 vote. This bill will come up for a vote in the Senate as early as Monday. SB 315 will streamline the licensing and reporting process for charity gaming events, such as Friends of NRA banquets. These policy changes would greatly improve the ability of Friends of NRA committees to comply with Indiana charitable gaming laws in a timely and less cumbersome fashion, while protecting the personal information of Friends of NRA volunteers.

NRA-Backed Pro-Hunting Legislation Passes Committee and Goes to the Senate Floor!
Today, NRA-backed Senate Bill 243 passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 7 to 1 vote! This bill will now go to the full Senate for a floor vote. SB 243 would allow Hoosiers to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting. Currently, Indiana law permits use of suppressors for all shooting activities except for the taking of game. Enactment of SB 243 would ensure that hunting is treated the same way as other shooting activities with respect to the use of suppressors, and allow hunters to reap the many benefits suppressor use provides.

NEBRASKA: Critical Castle Doctrine Bill Heard in Committee
On January 25, Legislative Bill 804 was heard by the Judiciary Committee. This bill would create a presumption in the favor of a person who uses force against an intruder who has, or is attempting to, unlawfully and forcibly enter a dwelling or occupied vehicle. In such cases, deadly force would be presumed to be necessary for defense of those within the premises.

NEW JERSEY: Assembly Committee to Consider Ammo Ban & More
On Monday, January 30, the New Jersey Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider Assembly Bill 588 and Assembly Bill 1013. A588 is cleverly disguised as police safety legislation aimed at armor piercing ammunition (which is already prohibited under federal and state law). The measure actually opens the door to a sweeping ammunition ban by an unelected public official by executive fiat. Common hunting, target, and self-defense ammunition would be subject to ban, along with BB’s, airgun pellets, and non-metallic ammunition like plastic airsoft pellets, if the Attorney General decides that they pose a threat to the safety and well being of law enforcement.

NEW MEXICO: Pro-Gun Legislation Being Considered by Legislature!
Several pro-gun reform measures are on the move in this year’s thirty-day session which began on January 17. Senate Bill 26 would allow New Mexico residents to purchase long guns in non-contiguous states and residents of non-contiguous states to purchase long guns in New Mexico. SB 26 received an executive message from Governor Susana Martinez and has been ruled germane to the budget-only legislative session.

NORTH CAROLINA: Forsyth County Commissioners Postpone Vote on Carrying Concealed in County Parks!
At its meeting on January 23, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners was slated to vote on allowing concealed carry in county parks. Currently, both open and concealed carrying of firearms is banned in all Forsyth County parks, and there has been heated debate over the effect enactment of any new laws would have on citizens and visitors alike. Due to intense arguments on both sides, the county commissioners decided to postpone any action on this measure until they meet again on Monday, February 13.

OHIO: Reserve your seats for the 2012 Buckeye Bash and discover the “inside story” behind “Fast & Furious!”
Former NRA President Sandra Froman is the keynote speaker for this year’s event and will reveal what’s really going on in the gun-running scandal rocking the Obama administration. Plus, she’ll discuss the future of gun rights in America, and the dangers that lie ahead for all of us.

Buckeye Firearms Foundation will be holding this year’s fundraiser at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dublin, Ohio, on Saturday, February 11, and they promise that you’re in for a treat. Enjoy a great meal, participate in fun games and raffles, and join in on silent and live auctions for great items, like valuable firearms, artwork, collectibles, gun gear, knives, jewelry and more! Click here (http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/Buckeye-Bash) for more information and to get your tickets now!

PENNSYLVANIA: Votes on Pro-Gun House Bills Postponed until February
On January 24, the state House Judiciary Committee was scheduled to vote on two very important firearm bills. Unfortunately, the votes on House Bill 1523 and House Bill 1668 have been delayed until next month. Please continue to call AND e-mail your state Representative urging him or her to support HB 1523 and HB 1668. These much-needed pro-gun bills would make critical changes to enhance Pennsylvania’s firearm laws.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Employee Protection Legislation Introduced in Pierre!
On January 23, NRA-backed legislation that would prohibit employers from preventing employees from lawfully storing firearms in their locked personal vehicles was formally introduced in the state House of Representatives. Introduced by House Speaker Val Rausch (R-4) and sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Russell Olson (R-8), House Bill 1132 will address a long standing issue for South Dakotans. Please contact your state legislators today and urge them to cosponsor and support HB 1132.

TENNESSEE: House Companion Employee Protection Bills Filed
On January 25, we reported that two NRA-drafted employee protection bills were filed in the Tennessee Senate, Senate Bill 2992 and Senate Bill 3002. We are pleased to announce that the House companion bills were filed on January 26. House Bill 3560 and House Bill 3559 are NRA-drafted bills that would prevent employers from discriminating and enforcing policies against the storage of lawfully-owned firearms in employees’ locked private motor vehicles parked at work.

VIRGINIA: Senate Passes Historic Sunday Hunting Legislation!
On January 26, in a victory for sportsmen throughout the Commonwealth, the Virginia Senate passed legislation to repeal the comprehensive ban on Sunday hunting by a 29 to 11 vote. This bipartisan action will now send Senate Bill 464 to the House of Delegates for committee assignment and further consideration. Those Senators who voted to allow Sunday hunting in Virginia voted to preserve Virginia’s treasured hunting heritage, honor essential private property rights and provide an enormous annual economic stimulus without spending a single dollar of taxpayer money.

House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee Passes Five Pro-Gun Bills!
On January 27, the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee passed five pro-gun bills: House Bill 20, House Bill 22, House Bill 26, House Bill 375 and House Bill 940. These bills will all now be sent to the floor of the House of Delegates for consideration. It is important that you contact your Delegate today and urge him or her to support these bills when they come up for a vote.

Planning Process Underway for James River National Wildlife Refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is writing a new management plan for the James River National Wildlife Refuge which is located along the James River in Prince George County, eight miles southeast of Hopewell and thirty miles southeast of Richmond. The 4,325-acre refuge is open to deer hunting. The USFWS is inviting public comments to help shape management decisions on the refuge for the next fifteen years. Once a plan is drafted it will be made available for public review and comment. The Service has identified several preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities, including the amount and distribution of public use. If you want to become involved in the planning process, you may submit comments to fw5rw_evrnwr@fws.gov. Please include “James River CCP” in the subject line. For further information you may call Meghan Carfioli, the Planning Team Leader, at 804-829-5413.

WASHINGTON: Two Pro-Gun Bills Could be Heard in House Committee on Monday
House Bill 1508, a shooting range protection bill, and House Bill 2471, a background check reform bill, are scheduled for an executive session and could be voted on by the House Judiciary Committee this Monday, January 30, at 1:30 p.m. in Hearing Room A of the John L. O’Brien Building in Olympia. House Bill 1508 is a vital shooting range protection bill, introduced by state Representatives Dean Takko (D-19), Tim Probst (D-17) and Kevin Van De Wege (D-24). Shooting ranges are critical to competitive and recreational shooters, hunters, law enforcement, and individuals who just want to practice for self-defense.

WEST VIRGINIA: Four NRA-Backed Bills Introduced in the Mountain State
Pro-gun West Virginia legislators have introduced four NRA-backed bills already with at least one more bill expected to be introduced in the very near future. SB 149, SB 353 and SB 370 have been sent to the state Senate Judiciary Committee for its consideration. SB 144 has been sent to the state Senate Natural Resources Committee for its consideration. For more information on these bills please click on the above link.

ATAC TV FIREARMS, TOM CLARKE, MARK FLINN, JIM FULLER, LENNY BOLTON, JEFF HALL, RIFLE DYNAMICS, VENOM TACTICAL, FORCE OPTIONS, GLENN JUSTICE

This question is about the newer “plastic” handguns such as Glocks, Springfield XD and other firearms made of the tough new plastics.  No, the barrels, springs and other parts of the guns are not plastic.  Even the shape of the plastic frame will show up on x-ray machines.  Don’t be stupid, don’t try it.  Check the gun with your luggage.  Anything else is dumb and gives the good firearms owners a bad name in the eyes of the law.  check out this article and video on ATAC TV.

ATAC TV Firearm Reply and Answer:

Tom Clarke and Lenny Bolton with ATAC TV Firearm’s Q&A address this important question with a serious warning for those traveling with firearms.This is a great question, with a very clear answer.  NO! The gun will not get through an X-ray undetected.  And, taking the answer one step further: DO NOT TRY IT.

First of all it is illegal to carry a concealed firearm or weapon through an X-ray machine, whether it is in an airport or any other government building, without permission from the proper authorities.  This question specifically refers to carrying a GLOCK or similar type handgun through airport security.  Tom Clarke make is very clear:  Just because the gun (GLOCK, Springfield, etc.) is plastic or polymer, does not mean you can sneak it through security.  Nor does it give you the permission to sneak it through security.

Lenny Bolton also emphasizes the gun will show up in the X-Ray image.  Plain as day, the entire outline of the firearm, including the trigger guard, will show up in the monitor.  Even if you separate the metal slide, it will still show up.

There is a correct way to travel with your firearm.  Laws are always changing over time.  For example, in reference to airline security, you can always call or check online with TSA (http://www.tsa.gov/) and ask about procedures for traveling with your firearm.  It is important to also check the laws of your destination because laws are different from state to state, or country to country.  Look into the proper protocol for your travel.  If you’re declaring a firearm, you may have to sign a statement that your firearm is cleared out and properly stored.  It is very important to communicate with TSA and airport officials in this case!

Straight to the point: Just don’t do it.  It’s not going to work.  Follow the firearms laws, which are put in place to protect everyone.  It is illegal and the penalties are pretty severe.

The ATAC Staff appreciates your great questions!  Keep them coming!

Watch Video Now: Will a Plastic Gun get through X-ray?

Ask Firearms Questions and Get the Answers on ATAC TV Firearms Channel

Robert Williams of Mihand Aircraft near England, Ark., places the engine cover back on his agricultural airplane after removing the battery cable. Federal officials allowed crop-spraying planes to return to the skies as long as they stayed away from commercial airports, one day after they were grounded because of security concerns after the previous week’s terrorist attacks. On Friday, Sept. 2, 2011, the FBI and Homeland Security have issued a nationwide warning about al-Qaida threats to small airplanes, just days before the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. (AP Photo/Spencer Tirey, File)

The FBI and Homeland Security have issued a nationwide warning about al-Qaida threats to small airplanes, just days before the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Authorities say there is no specific or credible terrorist threat for the 10-year anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. But they have stepped up security nationwide as a precaution.

According to a five-page law enforcement bulletin issued Friday, as recently as early this year, al-Qaida was considering ways to attack airplanes.

The alert, issued ahead of the summer’s last busy travel weekend, said terrorists have considered renting private planes and loading them with explosives.

“Al-Qaida and its affiliates have maintained an interest in obtaining aviation training, particularly on small aircraft, and in recruiting Western individuals for training in Europe or the United States, although we do not have current, credible information or intelligence of an imminent attack being planned,” according to the bulletin obtained by The Associated Press.

The bulletin also says al-Qaida would like to use sympathetic Westerners to get flight training, then get them to become flight instructors.

Matthew Chandler, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, described the bulletin as routine.
“We shared this information with our partners to highlight the need for continued awareness and vigilance,” he said.

Aviation security is much tighter than it was a decade ago, but al-Qaida remains keenly interested in launching attacks on airplanes, believing large attacks with high body counts are more likely to grab headlines.

Threats to small airplanes are nothing new. After the 2001 attacks, the government grounded thousands of crop dusters amid fears the planes could be used in an attack.

In 2002, U.S. officials said they uncovered an al-Qaida plot to fly a small plane into a U.S. warship in the Persian Gulf. And in 2003, U.S. officials uncovered an al-Qaida plot to crash an explosives-laden small aircraft into the American consulate in Karachi, Pakistan.
___
Associated Press writer Matt Apuzzo contributed to this report.

Posted by Narcotics Firearms Explosives Investigations at 7:07 PM

ATAC TV

Thanks to Dave Grossman and his well written article.  In these rough times, people must realize the “wolf” is not far away and they may be confronted at any time.  I chose to be a “SHEEPDOG”!!!!  Read on . . .

By LTC (RET) Dave Grossman, author of “On Killing.”

Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always,even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for? - William J. Bennett - in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy November 24, 1997

One Vietnam veteran, an old retired colonel, once said this to me:

“Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident.” This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another. Some estimates say that two million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year, a tragic, staggering number, perhaps an all-time record rate of violent crime. But there are almost 300 million Americans, which means that the odds of being a victim of violent crime is considerably less than one in a hundred on any given year. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million.

Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.

I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me it is like the pretty, blue robin’s egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without its hard blue shell. Police officers, soldiers, and other warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful.? For now, though, they need warriors to protect them from the predators.

“Then there are the wolves,” the old war veteran said, “and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy.” Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.

“Then there are sheepdogs,” he went on, “and I’m a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf.”

If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed

Let me expand on this old soldier’s excellent model of the sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids’ schools.

But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid’s school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep’s only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of denial.

The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.

Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn’t tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports in camouflage fatigues holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, “Baa.”

Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.

The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door.

Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Remember how many times you heard the word hero?

Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed right along with the young ones.

Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, “Thank God I wasn’t on one of those planes.” The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, “Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.” When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.

There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population. There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself.

Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I’m proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.

Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, “Let’s roll,” which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people and parents. — from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.

There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. - Edmund Burke

Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn’t have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision.

If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior’s path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.

For example, many officers carry their weapons in church.? They are well concealed in ankle holsters, shoulder holsters or inside-the-belt holsters tucked into the small of their backs.? Anytime you go to some form of religious service, there is a very good chance that a police officer in your congregation is carrying. You will never know if there is such an individual in your place of worship, until the wolf appears to massacre you and your loved ones.

I was training a group of police officers in Texas, and during the break, one officer asked his friend if he carried his weapon in church. The other cop replied, “I will never be caught without my gun in church.” I asked why he felt so strongly about this, and he told me about a cop he knew who was at a church massacre in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1999. In that incident, a mentally deranged individual came into the church and opened fire, gunning down fourteen people. He said that officer believed he could have saved every life that day if he had been carrying his gun. His own son was shot, and all he could do was throw himself on the boy’s body and wait to die. That cop looked me in the eye and said, “Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself after that?”

Some individuals would be horrified if they knew this police officer was carrying a weapon in church. They might call him paranoid and would probably scorn him. Yet these same individuals would be enraged and would call for “heads to roll” if they found out that the airbags in their cars were defective, or that the fire extinguisher and fire sprinklers in their kids’ school did not work. They can accept the fact that fires and traffic accidents can happen and that there must be safeguards against them.

Their only response to the wolf, though, is denial, and all too often their response to the sheepdog is scorn and disdain. But the sheepdog quietly asks himself, “Do you have and idea how hard it would be to live with yourself if your loved ones attacked and killed, and you had to stand there helplessly because you were unprepared for that day?”

It is denial that turns people into sheep. Sheep are psychologically destroyed by combat because their only defense is denial, which is counterproductive and destructive, resulting in fear, helplessness and horror when the wolf shows up.

Denial kills you twice. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: you didn’t bring your gun, you didn’t train. Your only defense was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by your fear helplessness and horror at your moment of truth.

Gavin de Becker puts it like this in Fear Less, his superb post-9/11 book, which should be required reading for anyone trying to come to terms with our current world situation: “…denial can be seductive, but it has an insidious side effect. For all the peace of mind deniers think they get by saying it isn’t so, the fall they take when faced with new violence is all the more unsettling.”

Denial is a save-now-pay-later scheme, a contract written entirely in small print, for in the long run, the denying person knows the truth on some level.

And so the warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of his life, and prepare himself for the day when evil comes. If you are warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be “on” 24/7, for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself…

“Baa.”

This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheephood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.

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• Exceptional high level of protection (4.4 Joules) from hypodermic needles (VPAM KDIW 2004)
• Manufactured under strictly ISO

Take a look at PPSS products.  It might save your life!

PROTECTING FRONTLINE PROFESSIONALS - PPSS GROUP

ATAC TV Firearms

We have designed our groundbreaking and ultra lightweight stab vests to provide the very best knife and blunt trauma protection. They are a highly functional solution to individuals who require extra protection from edged weapons in their chosen vocation.

Available PPSS Stab Vests styles:

Our stab vests offer the following great advantages:

• UK Home Office (HOSDB) certified knife protection
• Unmatched blunt trauma protection from a punch, blow or kick. Based on our professional frontline experience and extensive research we can only stress that an impact based assault is a more likely event than an attack involving an edged weapon or firearm.
• Extreme protection from hypodermic needles
• Please view our breath taking Stab Vests Video Demonstration
• Ultra lightweight (2.3kg for Size L)
• Ultra thin (using 5mm body moulded polycarbonate)

Who would benefit from PPSS stab vests?

• Everyone who is dealing with certain high risk individuals, such as potentially violent or aggressive members of the public, drug users or dealers.
• Everyone who is operating in geographical areas, known for criminal activities, drugs, alcohol misuse and disturbances.
• Everyone who is working alone and frequently facing frustrated and disappointed customers (e.g. customers unhappy with the service your organisation has provided)
• Everyone who is visiting people in their home or office to enforce laws and regulations, police the system or having to give bad news can justify the need and use for stab vests.
• Everyone who is securing and protecting property, events and people.

The key argument in favour of stab vests:

Wearing stab vests can be compared to wearing a seat belt when driving a car. We do not put the seat belt on because we believe we are going to have an accident today. We are simply acknowledging the fact that there is a remarkably small chance that we might crash. Yet, if this chance becomes reality, you have reduced the risk of injury and increased the chance of survival by wearing a seat belt.

Have you any further questions in reference to stab vests, covert ballistic vests or slash resistant clothing? Then please call us now on +44 (0) 845 5193 953 or email info@ppss-group.com

Coming soon on ATAC TV Firearms Channel

Tom Clarke teaches you how to lower your shooting / firing platform to engage your target from kneeling.  Shooting from kneeling is more stable, lower and very easy to learn.  The guys show you in the video how to practice this firing position on the range.  This is a more stable and lower profile firing position. Now remember, there are two different forms or styles to fire from kneeling. One is supported kneeling and the other in un-supported. Both have their applications in which the situation will dictate how and which kneeling position is correct. This blog only is pointing out the basic supported kneeling and how to practice this on the shooting range.

The supported kneeling give the shooter five points of contact; firing grip, support hand, shoulder or stock weld, cheek weld and also the support hand is additionally supported with the tricep head in front of the knee.  Yes, do not put your elbow on the top of your leg, this simply does not allow stability. The tip of your elbow is pointed and the back of your arm or tricep head lays more stable in front of the knee as show in the picture.

A few tips & Tricks when shooting the HK Rifle:

1. As you start to get into the kneeling fire or shooting position on the range, practice this slow and perfect. Establishing those solid points of contact.

2. Push your nose close to the rear sight, not too far back on the comb of the rifle stock. The (your) eye relief needs to be close to the rear iron sight of the HK Rifle.

3. Do not squeeze the support hand too tight, it is only supporting the rifle.

You can watch the HK USC video on ATAC TV Firearm Channel to pick up some more tips & tricks.

Train safe, slow and be consistent and your speed will come.

The knives are designed in both sculpted and flat versions.

The sculpted knife consists of grooves on the side of the blade and a serrated edge.

The grooves on the side of the blade are not intended for looks, but instead they serve four purposes. The deviated, surface allows the collection of rust, bacteria and even venom that are often found in harsh environments. When tissue comes into contact with these pathogens or toxins, bacterial infections and other lethal diseases will complicate even the simplest of wounds.  Additionally, the interrupted designed surface allows the cutting edge to function with both pushing and pulling motions increasing efficiency. This would be the opposite of a hacksaw that only cuts on the pulling motion and not the push.  The serrated edge also allows cutting in both wet and dry situations. Try cutting wet rope with a non-serrated blade; it is not easily done.  The final purpose of the sculpted grooves is that it reduces surface friction as it passes through the material by 35+ percent. Thus less energy is required to produce the same damage. For those intimidated by the design of this blade and concerned with the difficulty of sharpening, fear not; by positioning the sharpening rod along the groove these blades can achieve their optimum cutting edge with ease.

TOM CLARKE - TC TACTICAL KNIVES