Georgia House Passes Constitutional Carry (HB 1358) Govenor Kemp Approves

Georgia capitol

On March 11, 2022, the Georgia House passed the Constitutional Carry bill, HB 1358, 94 to 57, with 5 Representatives not voting, and 24 excused. HB 1358 defines a "lawful weapons carrier" as a person who is eligible for a license to carry, any non-resident who would otherwise be eligible for a license to carry, and any person from another state who has a license to carry a weapon in another state. The bill then removes restrictions from carry in many areas which were previously restricted. Here is an example, showing part of the proposed law:

(f) Notwithstanding 16-12-127, any lawful weapons carrier may carry a weapon in all parks, historic sites, or recreational areas, as such term is defined in Code Section 12-3-10, including all publicly owned buildings located in such parks, historic sites, and recreational areas, in wildlife management areas, and on public transportation; provided, however, that a person shall not carry a handgun into a place where it is prohibited by federal law.

A separate Senate measure, SB 319, passed on February 28th, 34 to 22. The two bills now need to be rectified between the two chambers. 

One chamber may accept the other's bill, which would then be sent to Governor Kemp, who is openly championing Constitutional Carry, as a way of bolstering is conservative credentials. 

Kemp lost significant credibility during the botched and much disputed election of 2020. Significant evidence has surfaced showing illegal ballot harvesting may have swung the election.

Governor Kemp, on Twitter, tweeted that he is working hard to "get Constitutional Carry over the line! From twitter.com:

I am committed to working with both the Georgia House and Senate to get Constitutional Carry across the finish line!

With significant majorities in both chambers voting for bills which are very close in content, one of the two bills will probably be sent to Governor Kemp for signature in the next few days. 

It would take a significantly disruptive event for Governor Kemp to veto a bill he has worked so hard to get through the legislature, while campaigning for the primary election.

Alabama's Governor Ivey signed a Constitutional Carry bill into law on March 11th. It will go into effect on January 1, 2022.  

An Ohio Constitutional Carry bill is on the desk of Governor DeWine. If he does nothing, it will become law on midnight of March 15th. 

Indiana passed a Constitutional Carry bill out of the legislature, to be sent to Governor Holcomb. The bill, with a final designation of HB 1296, has some administrative actions to be taken before it is officially sent to Governor Holcomb. It has to be signed by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate. The Speaker has already signed it. The President (Lt. Governor Susan Crouch) had not signed it as of March 11th. Once it arrives at Governor Holcomb's desk, he has seven days to sign or veto it before it becomes law.

Nebraska recently voted for cloture on the debate for its pending Constitutional Carry bill, LB 773. This is considered the largest hurdle to overcome in the Nebraska unicameral legislature. At least two more votes are required before the bill would be sent to Nebraska's governor. 

It is possible all four states will pass legislation to restore Constitutional Carry in 2022, bringing the total membership in the Constitutional Carry club to 26. 

©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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MN: Followup, Homeowner and her Son no Charges in Shooting Death of Martin L. Johnson

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office will not charge a Minneapolis woman and her son after one of them fatally shot a man who the woman said attempted to break into the home and approached them in a threatening manner.

Martin L. Johnson, 30, died after he was shot in the chest Feb. 22 in the backyard of the home in the 3300 block of S. 25th Avenue, in the city's Corcoran neighborhood. The attorney's office will not file charges because both have "valid self-defense claims," and the two did not have the duty to retreat because they were at the "threshold of their patio door" when the shots were fired, according to a news release Monday.

"The homeowner and her son did not have a duty to retreat because they were inside their own home," according to the release. "All of the surrounding circumstances show that their fear of bodily harm was subjectively real and objectively reasonable."

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TX: Justin Hollie found not guilty in Self Defense Killing of Nicholas Daniel

It appears alcohol was involved on both sides. 

 

Daniel plowed his truck onto Hollie’s front yard in the dark of night and knocked on the door of his home where his two small children were inside with the firefighter eventually punching the homeowner’s head with a fist, Bond detailed.

“Anybody seeing somebody driving into their driveway in a 1-ton dually in an aggressive manner in the middle of the night is going to begin to feel fear,” Bond said in an interview, adding, Hollie “only defended himself after he had been struck in the head.”

Hollie took to his .40 caliber pistol in self-defense in response to the deadly weapon threats posed by Daniel’s truck and fist, argued Conroe-based criminal defense attorney E. Tay Bond, who represented the accused.

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Breaking: Ohio Governor DeWine Signs Constitutional Carry; Ohio 23rd member of Club

 Ohio State House

A little before 5 p.m. on Monday, Marh 14, the Ohio Governor signed SP 215 into law. With the addition of Ohio, there are now 23 states in the Constitutional Carry club.  From buckeyefirearms.com:

At approximately 4:50 p.m. on Monday, March 14, 2022, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 215, which will make it legal to carry a concealed handgun without a license in Ohio 91 days after signing.

"This is a day that will go down in history," said Dean Rieck, Executive Director of Buckeye Firearms Association. "It has been about 18 years since Ohio enacted HB 12 to bring licensed concealed carry to the state.

According to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, here is a summary of the effects of the law: 

• Provides that a person who is a “qualifying adult”is not required to obtain a concealed handgun license in order to carry a concealed handgun that is not a “restricted firearm.”
• Defines “qualifying adult”as a person who is 21 years of age or older,is not legally prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm under specified federal or state law, and satisfies certain specified criteria necessary to obtain a concealed handgun license.
• Defines “restricted firearm”as a firearm that is a dangerous ordnance or that is a firearm that any law of this stateprohibits the person from possessing, having, or carrying. 
• States that specified references to a concealed handgun licensee apply to a qualifying adult, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
• States that expiration, suspension, and revocation references to a concealed handgun license do not apply to a qualifying adult, unless the person has been issued a concealed handgun license.
• Eliminates the requirement that a concealed handgun licensee must carry a concealed handgun license in order to carry a concealed handgun.
• Modifies the duty to notify by providing that a concealed handgun licensee or active duty military member, before or at the time a law enforcement officer or motor carrier enforcement unit employee asks if the person is carrying a concealed handgun, must disclose that the person is carrying a handgun, unless the person has already notified another law enforcement officer or motor carrier enforcement unit employee of that fact.
• Permits expungement of convictions based on failure to comply with the notification requirements described in the preceding dot point.

There is a detailed analysis at the Legislative Service Commission site. The text of the law is available

The text of the law is available at this state.oh.us site. 

In this correspondent's opinion, it is dedicated Second Amendment activist groups in each state which have brought about the restoration of Constitutional Carry in so many states. 

It is important to have a knowledgeable, talented, dedicated lobbyist on site, at the state level. 

©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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IL: Melendez found not Guilty in Shooting of Cortez-Milan

The two, who had known each other for years, had been in a feud in the weeks leading up to the shooting, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Melendez’s attorney, Lawrence L. Wade, told jurors that Cortez-Milan reached for his waistband when Melendez shot him.

Prosecutors argued that people could be heard on video, which was played at trial, telling Melendez to put his gun down because Cortez-Milan was not armed, the Tribune reported.

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Vermont: Homeowner Wounds 1 of 2 Home Invaders

Police said they received notice of a shooting inside a Westminster home just before 11 a.m. The victim was driven to a local care center before being flown to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, though the "severity of his injuries is unknown."

Investigators said the shooting followed a home invasion at Shady Pines Park, a mobile home park in the community. The man shot is accused of intruding with another person — the property owner reportedly opened fire on both.

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PA: Armed Victim Engages in Shootout with Burglar who Stole his Gun

According to investigators, the victim returned home to find a man armed with an AR-15 standing in his doorway. 

After a brief struggle, police say the suspect fired at least 7 shots and the victim returned fire with his legally-owned firearm.

 

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Breaking: Alabama Constitutional Carry Sent to Governor Ivey at 3:05 p.m. , March 10 update Governor Ivey Signs Bill

The Alabama legislature has sent the Constitutional Carry bill (permitless carry), HB272, as amended by the Senate, to Governor Ivey at 3:05 p.m. on March 10, 2022.

The bill from the Senate was accepted by the House with a vote of 70 to 29. The Senate concurred 24 to 6.

This correspondent expects Governor Ivey to sign the bill, making Alabama the 22, 23, or 24th state to restore Constitutional carry. Governor Ivey has a primary coming up on May 24, 2022. With a vote in the house of 70%, and in the Senate of 80%, it would be foolish for Governor Ivey to veto HB 272.

In Alabama, if the governor vetoes a bill, a majority vote is required in each house to override the veto. If the governor does nothing, the bill becomes law after six days, not counting Sundays.

In Ohio, the SB 215 has passed the legislature and is headed to the Governor for signature. It seems likely Governor DeWine will sign the bill.

In Indiana, the legislature has passed HB 1296, a Constitutional Carry bill. It is the latest iteration from a complicated process to bypass a hostile committee Chair.  It will soon be sent to Governor Holcomb. I expect HB 1296 to become law, because Indiana has a very weak veto system. A governor's veto is easily overridden.

In Georgia, the bill has passed the Senate, with a strong assist from Governor Kemp. It has passed the House Committee.  If it passes the House, Governor Kemp is near certain to sign it.

It is unclear if Ohio, Alabama, or Indiana will be the next state to enact Constitutional Carry.

The decision is now up to the governors of the three states. As of this writing, confidential sources have informed this correspondent, that Governor Mike DeWine will sign the bill, in part to aid in his primary election. He has not yet received SB 215.

Governor Holcomb of Indiana is said to be hostile to Constitutional Carry. He has not made any official statements saying he would veto HB 1296. The bill has not yet been sent to him. After he receives the bill, if he does nothing, the bill becomes law in seven days.

The members of the Constitutional Carry (no permit required) club consisted of 21 states at the end of 2021. Those states are:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The club is about to expand. It may become 24 states by the end of March.

Georgia could make that number 25 in short order.

With over 21 states restoring Constitutional Carry , Constitutional Carry becomes the preferred method of dealing with the Second Amendment and state constitutional amendments for the right to keep and bear arms.  When 25 states have restored Constitutional Carry, half of the states will use this method.

Supreme Court justices read the media. The states have shown Constitutional Carry does not harm public safety. It is what state legislators have done to honor the right to keep and bear arms. It may have a positive effect on the justices as the opinion in the New York Rifle & Pistol Association case is before the court. In it, the justices have an opportunity to address whether the right to bear arms means more than the ability to carry a rifle from one room in the home to another.

The opinion is expected to be released in June of this year.

Update: Governor Ivey signed SB 215 1 hour after the legislature sent it to her.

©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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Governor Ivey Signs HB 272: Alabama Becomes 22nd member of the Constituitonal Carry Club

 

On March 10, 2022, one hour after the Alabama legislature sent her House Bill 272, Governor Kay Ivey signed Constitutional Carry into law. The bill will become effective on January 1, 2023. Alabama has joined 21 other states in the Constitutional Carry club, increasing the number to 22. From Governor Ivey's office:

MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday signed House Bill 272, known as the constitutional carry bill, into law, defending law abiding Alabamians’ Second Amendment rights.

“Unlike states who are doing everything in their power to make it harder for law abiding citizens, Alabama is reaffirming our commitment to defending our Second Amendment rights,” said Governor Ivey. “I have always stood up for the rights of law abiding gunowners, and I am proud to do that again today.”

HB272, sponsored by Rep. Shane Stringer (R – HD102), revises certain restrictions regarding the carrying or possession of a pistol and eliminates the requirement to obtain a pistol permit in order to carry a concealed pistol.

Representative Shane Stringer has worked for years to obtain the passage of Constitutional Carry. For Stringer, it is a matter of principle. He has suffered for his principles.  On May 14, 2021, Shane Stringer was fired from his position as a Captain in the Mobile County Sheriff's department, because of his support for Constitutional Carry as a State representative. From a previous AmmoLand article:

From Representative Shane Stringer’s press release (for those who have difficulty reading the image):

State Rep. Shane Stringer (R – Mobile) said on Friday that he is proud to stand in defense of the Second Amendment gun rights of Alabamians despite being fired by Mobile Sheriff Sam Cochran for his position on the issue,”

(snip)

“The U.S. Constitution does not say you have a right to keep and bear arms as long as you pay what amounts to a gun tax in the form of permit fees,” Stringer said. “It says you have the right to keep and carry firearms… period.”

Stringer said that despite Cochran’s action, he remains committed to his legislation and to the Alabama law enforcement community.

 “As a state legislator, I swore an oath to God that I would support the U.S. Constitution, and this legislation does just that,” Stringer said. “And whether or not I am employed by the Mobile Sheriff’s Office, my heart and soul will always belong to the mission of enforcing the law and to my fellow officers who seek to protect the men, women, and children of Alabama.”

It is principled Representatives and peace officers such as Shane Stringer, joined with millions of Second Amendment activists, which have increased the number of Constitutional Carry states from only Vermont, in 2002 (Vermont had Constitutional Carry since the Second Amendment was ratified in 1791) to include Alaska in 2003, and Arizona in 2010. 

From 2011 to the present, 19 more states have joined the Constitutional Carry club, making 22 in total.

The number is increasing rapidly. It is likely to include Ohio and Indiana by the end of March, becoming 24 states. Georgia is looking as an excellent candidate to joint the club. The legislation has passed the Senate, a similar bill has passed the House committee. Governor Kemp is pushing hard to pass a Constitutional Carry bill before the primary.

 

©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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FL: No Charges for Man who Shot Sarah-Nicole Morales in Self-Defense

Prosecutors will not charge an Orange City motorcyclist who shot and killed a Volusia County library assistant who he said pointed a gun at him following a road rage incident, according to an email from the State Attorney’s Office.

Andrew Derr, 40, of Orange City, shot and killed Sara-Nicole Morales, 35, on Nov. 20 outside her mother’s house in Orange City. Derr said Morales pointed a gun at him, according to reports. Two other men said Morales was waving the gun around, according to reports.

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Constitutional Carry Passes Indiana Legislature. Veto Possibilities.

 Indiana Senate vote on Constitutional Carry March 8, 2022

On March 8, 2022, the Indiana legislature, on the last day of the session, after byzantine twists and turns of the legislative process, voted to pass Constitutional Carry legislation three hours before the session ended for the year. 

Indiana Second Amendment activists have been working to pass similar legislation for years. In 2021, a Constitutional Carry (permitless) bill passed the House 64 to 31, before being killed in the Senate Judiciary Committee chaired by Liz Brown (R -15). 

In 2022, Senator Brown worked hard to kill a new bill, and came very close to succeeding. In 2022, the Republican leadership in the Senate appears to have been educated about Constitutional Carry. They used legislative procedures to bring the bill to a vote in spite of the machinations of Senator Brown, who, it is rumored, was working with Republican Governor Holcomb to kill the bill. 

The bill was brought to the rules committee after the debacle of the Judiciary Committee hearing chaired by Brown. The rules committee decided it was too late in the session for anything to be done. Then the bill language was substituted for another bill which had already passed the Senate. This procedure (strike all) is sometimes used to work around a committee chair who blocks a popular bill.

Several other procedures were used before the bill finally came to a vote of the House as HB 1296 at about 5:30 p.m. on March 8th.  It passed, 69 to 30. The full Senate debated, then passed HB 1296 at about 9 p.m. The vote was 30 to 20. Senator Brown and eight other Republicans voted against the bill. The bill would not have passed without the assistance of the Senate Republican leadership.

Many have asked: Will Governor Holcomb (R) veto the Constitutional Carry bill? 

He may, but this correspondent doubts that he will. Indiana limits the power of the Governor's veto more than most other states. In 2021, the Indiana legislature overrode Governor Holcomb's vetoes three times. 

If the Governor does nothing, the bill becomes law in seven days.

If the Governor vetoes the bill, a majority vote in both chambers is necessary to override the veto.

The legislature has until the end of the next legislative session to override the veto, or they can call a special session to override a veto earlier.

New laws generally take effect on July 1 of the year they are passed.  

Indiana is well on the way to becoming the 22nd, 23rd, or 24th state to join the Constitutional Carry club. Ohio and Alabama are very close to passing Constitutional Carry, so the sequence is uncertain. 

At the beginning of 2022, there were 21 members of the Constitutional Carry (permitless) club. They were:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

This correspondent predicted 2 - 4 states would pass Constitutional Carry bills in 2022.  That prediction still holds.  If four states pass Constitutional carry, then half of all states in the United States will have restored the state of law to where no permit was required to carry a loaded handgun, concealed or openly, in most public spaces, as it was in 1791.

Long experience has shown that violent crime and suicides do not rise when people, who have not shown themselves to be a danger to themselves or others, carry firearms without government permission.

The requirement to obtain a government permission slip to carry a firearm, is an infringement on the right to bear arms, as stated in the Second Amendment.

©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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CO: Left Wing, Unlicenced "Guard" not Charged in Shooting Death of Lee Keltner

A double standard? 

Prosecutors plan to drop the murder charge filed against an unlicensed security guard who shot and killed a man in 2020 following dueling rallies in downtown Denver because they don’t believe they can overcome the security guard’s claim that he acted in self-defense.

Matthew Dolloff, 32, shot and killed Lee Keltner, 49, on Oct. 10, 2020, during a confrontation between the pair toward the end of two opposing political rallies in Denver’s Civic Center. One demonstration featured conservative “Patriot Rally” attendees. That group was met by left-leaning counter-protesters.

Dolloff’s attorney, Doug Richards, said prosecutors with the Denver District Attorney’s Office told him they intend to dismiss the second-degree murder case at the pre-trial conference scheduled for March 21. A jury trial was scheduled to begin April 12.

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NICS February, 2022 Third Highest Feb for Gun Sales, 4th for Background Checks

 

 February of 2022 was the third highest February for gun sales since the National Instant background Check System (NICS) started in 1998. It was the fourth highest number of NICS checks done during the month of February.

Only 46 percent of the National Instant background Check System checks were for carry permits and carry permit rechecks in February of 2022. In February of 2021, the carry permits and permit rechecks were about 60 percent of total NICS checks.

The change seems related to implementation of a reformed FOID card system in Illinois. Public Act 102-0237 went into effect in January. It appears to have reduced the number of background checks conducted by Illinois state police by hundreds of thousands of checks a month. 

In February of 2021, there were about 3.44 million NICS checks, total. 

In February of 2022, there were about 2.55 million NICS checks, total. 

Those total NICS numbers include all the checks done for carry permits and carry permit rechecks.

There were about 1.30 million guns sold using the NICS checks in February of 2022. 

In February of 2021, there were about 1.35 million sold.

In February of 2020, there were about 1.24 million sold

In February of 2016, there were about 1.41 million sold

Gun sales remain at levels well above historical averages. The number of gun owners in the United States continues to grow, while interest in and desire for guns remains high.

This correspondent believes the demand for firearms is being driven by uncertainty domestically and in foreign affairs. Crime rates have risen sharply during the run up to the 2020 election with several Democrat states and cities announcing some crimes will not be effectively prosecuted. Police moral is low in those areas. Police have been demonized by the dominant media and the Democrat party. It is easy to understand why murder rates have spiked in many urban areas. The United States has a long, strong history of using firearms for defense of self and others. Neighbors help each other. Local organizations are formed spontaneously to aid in protecting neighborhoods.

The war in Ukraine is showing how useful small arms are in aiding national defense during an invasion. 

In the United States, there is a long history of local  militias spontaneously forming to keep order and to aid in civil defense during emergencies. There is a strong base of veterans to aid in organization and training such spontaneously organized systems.

An invasion of illegal aliens, many of them criminals, is occurring at the southern border with the assistance of the Biden administration. Over two million illegal aliens came to the United States in 2021 alone.

Handguns remain the strongest segment of the firearms market. About five handguns are sold for each three long guns.

Ammunition manufacturers are running all out.  There may be some limits on obtaining the supplies to make ammunition.  Ammunition remains in high demand and many calibers are difficult to find. Prices are high. The inability of manufacturers to meet the increased demand is probably limiting the demand for firearms. The war in Ukraine is increasing the demand for small arms ammunition.

When state and local governments refuse to enforce domestic tranquility, individuals are incentivized to pick up the slack. Hence, strong gun sales, with many manufacturers selling firearms as fast as they can produce them.

©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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FL: Domestic Defense, Man Attacked by Family Member shoots, wounds, Attacker

A man was attacked by a family member and felt his life was in danger so he fired a gun shooting the man several times, according to the sheriff’s office. The shooter rendered first aid and called 911. The sheriff said witnesses on scene confirmed it was self-defense.

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Book Review and Black Bear Attack Excerpt: Handloggers by W. H. Jackson

Handloggers is the biography of Alaskan pioneer W. H. (Handlogger) Jackson and his wife Ruth Jackson, nee Ruth Johnstone. 

Jackson moved into Alaska about 1917-18, prospecting, handlogging, and trapping. He was born about 1883-84 in California, when the fastest transport was a steam engine train. Most of his travels before 1920 were on foot, horseback, or by steamship. He married in 1927, and died in 1970. During his long outdoors career, he developed an outstanding reputation for skill and fair dealing.

On page 225, Handlogger writes of the unprovoked black bear attack he foiled with a stout walking stick. It was in 1960, near Kegan Cove. He was about 76 years old.

He called the stick his "snozzle stick", claiming if he ever needed, he could hit a bear on the "snozzle" with it. Jackson is very good at telling a story. One day, while hiking, he saw a large animal moving the thick brush, coming directly at him. He could not determine what it was. He was standing on top of a log. From Handloggers:

At twenty yards, I still could not see what it was. I hollered some more, but it didn't turn. It was something big, coming deliberately at me. There were no grizzlys around, nothing I'd seen that would bother me in all the years I'd worked there. My snozzle stick looked awfully inadequate, but trying to run would be useless.

At thirty feet it broke into the open, a black bear in full charge. No mistaking its intention. Ears flattened, eyes blazing, teeth bared, huffing and snorting, it lacked only the size, speed, and volume of a big grizzly or Kodiak on the warpath. 

My snozzle stick was water-soaked and heavy from lying in the rain water in the bottom of the boat. I grasped it in a two-handed swing like a ball player and brought it down across the bears nose just as its teeth were snapping half a yard from my shins.  

I must have hit hard. The bear shut its eyes tight, ducked its head, and ran back to the top of the knoll. There it sat down to watch me. When I was sure it was not coming again, I backed off the log and headed for the beach.

I was mad. For more than fifty years I'd been prowling through the brush where black bears were as thick as rabbits, and I'd thought no more of meeting a black empty handed than I'd thought of meeting people on the street. Now to have this fool bear destroy all my trust in the blacks, all my respect for them!

Handlogger Jackson had spent a lifetime as an expert ax man. His livelihood depended on being able to place an ax blade to within a small fraction of an inch where he wanted it to go, while standing on a tiny platform, and expending a full power stroke. It is plausible he could do the same thing with a walking stick while standing on a log. 

Jackson went back to where he had left a rifle. He had thought it was unnecessary in an area where only black bears were common. He returned and killed the black bear, a big sow, as he considered it a threat to any human it came across.

The book is an excellent account of pioneering in Alaska during territorial days, and the transition to a state.

During Jackson's long career, he wrote articles for the Alaskan Sportsman magazine. Some articles were assigned by the editor, who was a friend of Jackson's.  His first article appeared in the fourth edition of Alaskan Sportsman, in April of 1935.

Jackson's most popular article in the Alaskan Sportsman, was a rewrite of the "Old Groaner" story, in 1953, 17 years after the original article. The original article was written only a few weeks after the event which occurred in November of 1935. 

The original story was published in the eighth edition of Alaskan Sportsman in February of 1936, written by F.W. Gabler. 

This correspondent came across "Handloggers" while doing research on the "Old Groaner" mythology, in order to understand the person who wrote the 1953 re-write. The 1953 re-write was re-published in the book "Blood in the Arctic Snow" in 1956. The re-write was re-published in 1986, in Alaskan Sportsman.  The 1953 re-write was re-written in Larry Kanuit's book, Bear Tales for the Ages, published in 2001. The 1953 re-write has been the source of several articles and much myth-making on the Internet. 

Aside from the connection of being written by the same author, there is no mention of Old Groaner in Handlogger Jackson's biography. Handlogger spent considerable time with his in-laws over the 26 years he was married before 1953. There were several mentions of Bruce Johnstone, Ruth's younger brother, in "Handloggers". Bruce Johnstone is the man who shot and killed Old Groaner in November of 1935. 

It is likely Jackson heard the story from Bruce Johnstone more than once.

There are many close calls and adventures in the Jackson's lives. Most of them involved boats and the weather. Some involve animals. Jackson has a flair for storytelling. Some of his stories include his opinions; some probably contain a bit of literary license. If you enjoy reading well written, real life, adventure stories, read "Handloggers". You won't regret it. 

©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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SD: Followup, Jury Finds Jarret Jones not guilte in Self Defense Shooting of Jon Schumacher

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — A jury in Brown County has acquitted a man who claimed he was defending himself and his daughter when he fatally shot her boyfriend in 2020.

After eight hours of deliberation, the jury on Tuesday night found Jarrett Jones not guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and first- and second-degree manslaughter.

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IN: Senator Liz Brown(R - 15) A Force against Constitutional Carry (opinion) (Update: Bill Passes!)

Indiana Capitol

A confidential source has informed this correspondent of events involving the Indiana Constitutional Carry legislation in 2022. The source claimed Senator Liz Brown (R) of Senate District 15 has been the major force blocking passage of Constitutional Carry. The source claimed Governor Holcombe wants the bill killed and is pushing Senator Brown to do the killing.

In particular, the source stated that Senator Liz Brown was adamant, and emotional in the Republican Caucus meeting on Thursday, March 3rd,  denouncing a provision in HB 1077, which required minors who use a firearm in a crime to be tried as adults. The tactic was successful, with the Republican leadership bending to Brown's insistence the provision be removed from the bill.

This tactic may kill the bill. The Indiana legislature is on a very short time budget, with many bills to enact before the legislative session ends at midnight on Tuesday, March 8. To change the bill at this point requires the amendment be made, the bill then voted on in the Senate and passed. Then the bill has to be sent back to the House, voted on and passed, all before midnight on 8 March.

The source was disgusted, because Brown has attempted to show herself as a proponent of Constitutional Carry.  The attempt at showing herself as a supporter is easily verified. On January 7, 2022, AP reported Senator Liz Brown is co-sponsoring a similar bill in the Senate.

The chairwoman of the state Senate committee that blocked the repeal effort last year is co-sponsoring a bill similar to the House proposal for this year’s session.

The source stated the Senate Republican leader,  Rodric Bray, is now a supporter of passing the Constitutional Carry bill. This is partly confirmed by a member of Indianagunowners.

At about 5 a.m. on March 7, 2022, from KellyinAvon at indianagunowners.com:

Second link below is for Senate President Pro Tempore Bray. His Legislative Assistant (Kayla) is at 317-232-9416. Again polite, professional, "thank you for your support on SB 209 with House-passed HB 1077 language."

I think Senator Bray has "seen the light" on this issue. Calls of support also have the affect of letting him know we are paying attention.

This correspondent has seen similar situations in several other states, where a popular bill is effectively killed by one stubborn legislator, ideologically committed to a position, which they do not want their constituents to know about. Second Amendment activists worked hard to bring the bill up for a vote.

Delay is often used to kill bills. The vote in the Senate committee on House Bill 1077 was delayed until near the end of the session.

In Senator Liz Brown's case, the strong emotions she showed during the committee hearing on the bill showed she is ideologically committed against Constitutional Carry. She knows this costs her votes, so she works to disguise her position.

Politicians who commit to one position to gain votes, but work behind the scenes against their public position, are not uncommon.

It is a betrayal of public confidence. Deception of voters is a cornerstone of "Progressive" governance.

It is becoming harder and harder to deceive Second Amendment activists. They have learned to watch closely what a politician does, not just what they say.

Senator Brown's tactics may work. Constitutional Carry may again be defeated in the Indiana Senate.

Senator Brown is not the only Republican who holds responsibility if Constitutional Carry is killed, but she has a significant share.

Senator Brown is unopposed in the state primary election to be held on May 3, 2022.  February 4th was the deadline for a candidate to file for the primary election. Senator Brown had two Republicans vote with her to gut the Constitutional Carry bill in the Judiciary Committee where she is the Chair. The three Republicans joined with 3 Democrats to gut the bill by amendment, with a vote of 6-5.

The two  Republicans who joined with Senator Liz Brown were Senator Mike Bohacek  of District 8 and Senator Susan Glick of District 13. They will not be up for re-election until 2024.

©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

 

GA: Armed Samaritan shot 18-year-old, after 18-year-old shot and killed the 25-year-old.

LITHONIA, Ga. — DeKalb police said that an 18-year-old was killed in self-defense in a shooting that also left a 25-year-old man in critical condition Monday night.

Officers were called to the 6300 block of Stablewood Way in Lithonia around 6:30 p.m. in reference to a shooting.

More Here

MN: Followup, Prosecutor wants Further investigation of Woman who Shot Martin L. Johnson

Prosecutors said Monday they do not have enough evidence thus far to charge a Minneapolis woman who fatally shot a man she described as coming at her in a threatening manner after breaking into her garage.

Police last week forwarded their investigation into the Feb. 22 shooting of Martin L. Johnson, 30, for consideration of charges against the 53-year-old homeowner who told police that she killed the man after he broke into her detached garage, then approached her while reaching into his waistband.

"The case has been deferred pending further investigation," said Lacey Severins, a spokeswoman for the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.

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Republican Senators Attempt to Resurrect Constitutional Carry in Indiana

Indiana Capitol

After the Constitutional Carry bill in Indiana was effectively killed in the Judiciary committee, with the connivance of the Chair, Liz Brown (R), the bill has been resurrected by Second Amendment supporting Republicans.

From wrtv.com:

INDIANAPOLIS — House Bill 1077, known as the ‘Constitutional Carry’ bill, has been effectively revived in the Indiana Senate after GOP lawmakers moved language from the now-dead bill into the unrelated Senate Bill 209.

SB 209 was originally a bill that addressed drug scheduling, but all that language was removed, and replaced with the original HB 1077 language.

In the conference committee, no testimony was allowed before the vote on the bill. The chair, Senator Eric Koch (R) said all the testimony had already been given. 

As the previous bill, SB 209, was previously passed by the Senate, this bill, now SB 209 with the original language of House Bill 1077, is reported as not subject to amendment. 

As reported on  indianagunowners.com:

I have the honor of being an Advisor on SB209 this morning where we stripped the original language from that bill and replaced it with the Constitutional Carry language that passed the House.
Constitutional Carry is ALIVE!

AP reports both the Senate and the House will have to approve of the "amended" bill before the end of the legislative session next week, for it to be sent to Governor Holcombe. From apnews.com:

The House and Senate would have to approve the repeal before the expected adjournment of this year’s legislative session next week. Passage in the Senate isn’t a certainty as Republican senators did not take up a similar House-approved bill last year, citing the opposition from police groups.

There is discussion on indianagunowners there may be an attempt to divert the bill to the Senate rules before a vote is taken in the Senate. If that happens, the bill will likely be killed before it is voted on.

Both the NRA and the Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association are reported to be sending out notices for members to contact their Indiana state senators in support of the bill. As reported at indianagunowners.com: 

House Bill 1077- Constitutional carry or Permitless carry- passed the House overwhelmingly but was severely amended in the Senate Legislative committee. Wednesday, a conference committee removed existing language from Senate Bill 209 to replace it with constitutional carry language from House Bill 1077. 

This allows the bill that passed the House to move forward in the Senate despite opposition in Committee. Now, the House and Senate will need to caucus to agree to sign the conference report.

Second Amendment activists in Indiana have been working hard for Constitutional Carry for several years. In Indiana, a lifetime permit is available for free. Second Amendment activists say it is the principle which is important. You should not have to ask permission to exercise a Constitutional right.

The issue is primarily whether the power of government is limited or not. Both the Federal Constitution and the Indiana Constitution purport to limit government power.  Are those limits real, or are they paper tigers?