TSA: Record Number of Guns at Airports

TSA is looking at another record year for people who forget that they have a firearm in their bag before they reach the security checkpoint.  Last year they found 2,212 firearms in people's carryon baggage.  This year, in the first 37 weeks, they have found 1,756.  More people are travelling by air, and the number of people with concealed carry permits is skyrocketing.   In 2014, the average number of firearms found in carry on baggage was a bit more than six per day.   From tsa.gov:

TSA had a busy year in 2014, screening more than 653 million passengers in 2014 (about 1.8 million per day), which is 14.8 million more passengers than last year.

2,212 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags at checkpoints across the country, averaging more than six firearms per day. Of those, 1,835 (83 percent) were loaded. Firearms were intercepted at a total of 224 airports; 19 more airports than last year.

This year, the average is a bit short of seven per day, 6.78 firearms found in carry on baggage each day.  TSA says that the vast majority are simply people who forgot the firearms was in the bag.   From wmbfnews.com:

TSA says 99.9 percent of the cases aren't malicious.

A lot of travelers just forget to follow the rules, especially this year as the number of people traveling by air is on the rise and more travelers are opting for carry-on bags.

Given the large numbers of people travelling, the numbers found with firearms in checked bags are statistically insignificant.  People with concealed carry permits follow the rules rather concientiously, 9,999 time out out of 10,000.  But there are so many concealed carriers (nearly 15 million by some accounts) that the one in 10,000 that forget, through distraction, momentary emergency, or action of a family member, amount to nearly seven a day.

Suveying the firearms impounded by TSA, it is clear that the vast majority are quality arms, legally carried for self defense.  The Ruger LCP pictured above is a representative sample.

TSA mentioned that 83% of the firearms in these cases are loaded, which reinforces the observations that the vast majority of these weapons are carried for self defense.  Here is the TSA definition of loaded:

As defined by 49 CFR 1540.5 a loaded firearm has a live round of ammunition, or any component thereof, in the chamber or cylinder or in a magazine inserted in the firearm.

 Here are the TSA guidelines for transporting firearms as checked baggage:

• Comply with regulations on carrying firearms where you are traveling from and to, as laws vary by local, state and international governments.
• Declare all firearms, ammunition and parts to the airline during the check-in process. Ask about limitations or fees that may apply.
• Firearms must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage only. Firearm parts, including firearms frames and receivers, must also be placed in checked baggage and are prohibited in carry-on baggage.
• Replica firearms may be transported in checked baggage only.
• Rifle scopes are permitted in carry-on and checked bags.
• All firearms, ammunition and firearm parts, including firearm frames, receivers, clips and magazines are prohibited in carry-on baggage.

As the number of concealed carriers continues to rise, a TSA policy should be formulated so as to not unduly punish people for a momentary lapse that caused a little inconvenience and no substantive harm.

A national reciprocity law would go a long way toward making a national TSA policy easier.  With a national reciprocity law, we would not be seeing disarmist police and prosecutors in New York and New Jersey looking to ruin the lives of innocent people from other states who dare to exercise their Second Amendment rights.   It has become so bad that Governor Christie of New Jersey has made a pledge to  pardon legal gun owners who are arrested in New Jersey.  From nj.com:

Absent a change in the state legislature on gun transport laws, Christie said that "I can do what I can do during the intervening time, which is if I think someone's been treated unjustly, we're gonna use the pardon and the clemency authority the governor has under the constitution, as we've done with Steffon Josey-Davis, and Brian Aitken and Shaneen Allen, and we'll continue to do with others going forward if circumstances are appropriate."

Cynics might say that Governor Christie is simply using the firearms issue to advance his presidential aspirations.  But he has a history of issueing pardons, at least after the case draws national attention to the draconian New Jersey firearms laws.

Donald Trump supports national concealed carry reciprocity.

His attitude reflects the national acceptance that exercise of Second Amendment rights is achieving.

Perhaps, some future policy will allow the 99.9% of people who forget a firearm in their carry on, a means of paying a civil fine, similar to a traffic ticket, and having their firearm placed in a locked box with the airplane captain, to be delivered to them at the destination, for a reasonable fee.  Everyone would gain by that arrangement.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.  Link to Gun Watch

Update: Donald Trump's support for national reciprocity added

Followup NC: Disarm of Shotgun Wielding Intruders:

Bryant and one of the masked intruders began to struggle over the shotgun.

During the struggle, Bryant was able to gain control of the gun.

The shotgun went off during the struggle, striking suspect Dangelo Malik Turner, 18, of Southern Pines, in the face and head.

At this point, the suspects left the home on foot towards Army Road, the sheriff’s office said.

Bryant followed the suspects as they fled the scene.

The suspects fired at Bryant as he chased them, striking him in the hand.

More Here

NM: Pacifist Homeowner Disarms, Shoots, and Kills Invasion Suspect

On a remote property on Perdiz Canyon Road, off of Highway 165 in New Mexico, a 59-year-old homeowner says that he woke up to find an intruder in his home.  The house is out of sight of the gate, down a long, dirt track that serves as a driveway.  The intruder is said to have sprayed the homeowner's dog with pepper spray, then used a gun after the homeowner woke up.  From koat.com:

"(The intruder) fired a shot that went just wide of my client's hip," Cravens said.

Cravens said his client used his cane to knock the gun out of the intruder's hand. According to authorities, the homeowner fired a fatal shot from that gun.

Sticks, batons, and any long, relatively hard object can be used very effectively as an improvised weapon.  Police have stopped using durable flashlights as impact weapons because so many suspects were being killed or severely injured. It is well worth the while to learn some simple stick fighting techniques to defend yourself.  Sticks can be carried almost anywhere without suspicion or special permits.  Whether the homeowner had any training or simply used instinct and got lucky is unknown  from the published account.

New Mexico does not have a specific "Castle Doctrine", but there is no duty to retreat from a deadly threat in the State.   If the action occurred as the homeowner claims, it is highly unlikely that he will be prosecuted.

The police are investigating the story.  The suspected intruder had to travel up the long driveway on foot, bypassing a gate at the base of the driveway.    The police are researching a blue SUV found parked near the driveway.

The homeowner's attorney says that the homeowner is a pacifist.

There is a bit of mystery to the story.  Most burglars will not explore an unknown dirt track behind a gate, on foot, to find out if there is anything worth stealing.   The burglar came prepared with pepper spray and a gun.  I am sure that they authorities will do the usual investigation to determine if the burglar and the homeowner have any connections.

It is not unknown for family members or acquaintances to steal from people that they know, or for professional burglars to develop a string of informants, be they house keepers, plumbers, yard workers, or utility people, who tell them information about places where there is property worth stealing, for a price or a cut of the proceeds.

That the pacifist homeowner was known to have eschewed  violence might have been a factor in the decision to victimize this particular residence.  The homeowner was not murdered outright, suggesting that the intruder did not expect any resistance.  But that is not uncommon.  Criminals are notorious optimists, believing that they will not be caught, they will not catch a bullet, that they will escape without injury.

In reality, stealing is a very risky business, even from a pacifist.

Some pacifists will defend themselves when attacked in their own home.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.  Link to Gun Watch

Updated 19 September, 2015

IL: Armed Clerk stops Robbery

FRANKFORT — An attempted armed robbery was foiled by a Frankfort gas station clerk who used a handgun to scare away a suspect.

More Here

Britain Disarmists not Content with Repressive Gun Control

 Chart from the UK government.


Britain has some of the most restrictive controls on firearms of any nation on earth.  Inspector Colin Greenwood wrote the first academic study of gun control in England and Wales, at Cambridge University, in 1972.  He found that registration of guns and the licensing of guns had no effect on crime.    From "A Study of Armed Crime and Firearms Control in England and Wales" by Colin Greenwood, page 246:

How, then, should policy on firearms controls be affected by the facts produced?  The system of registering all firearms to which Section I applies as well as licensing the individual takes up a large part of the police time involved and causes a great deal of trouble and inconvenience.  The voluminous records so produced appear to serve no useful purpose.  In none of the cases examined in this study was the existence of these records of any assistance in detecting a crime and no one questioned during the course of the study could establish the value of the system of registering weapons.

He  later documented that the gun laws in England were passed because of fear of revolution instead of to control crime. 

Law Professor and Historian Joyce Lee Malcolm buttressed Greenwood's work in her books detailing the rise of English gun controls.

In spite of evidence of the ineffectiveness of these laws, politicians in England and Wales continue to push for ever more restrictive, administratively expensive, and ineffective firearms legislation.   From independent.co.uk:

The chaotic, fractured and inadequate gun control regime covering more than 1.8 million firearms in private hands needs to be overhauled or will result in further massacres, a new report warns.

A damning investigation by the official police inspectorate reveals that some of Britain’s biggest police forces have ignored requests to tighten up their licensing programme despite widespread failures revealed following a triple gun murder nearly four years ago.

While the article references the number of firearms, the number of legal firearms owners is less than half as many.  From www.gov.uk:

• There were 151,413 firearm certificates on issue as at 31 March 2014, an increase of 2.5% compared with 147,695 on issue at the end of March 2013.
• The number of firearms covered by such certificates increased in the last year (to 507,867 firearms) and is the highest number since these figures were first collected in 1995.
• There were 582,923 shotgun certificates on issue as at 31 March 2014, an increase of 2.1% from the 570,726 on issue at the end of March 2013.

There were about 734,336 legal firearms owners in England and Wales in 2014, the latest year that I could find records for.  The chart shows a slight rise in firearms ownership in England and Wales.  It has been enough to cause the disarmists to push for even more restrictive legislation.

Note that the disarmists have to go back four years to find a sensational case involving a legal gun owner.    The population of England and Wales is about 57.5 million in 2015, so about 1.3% of the population owns guns, under tightly regulated circumstances.  Defense of self and others is not a sufficient reason to be allowed to own a gun in the UK.

The important point of this number is *not* that the number of crimes committed with legal guns is statistically insignificant; but rather that the number of gun owners is statistically insignificant as a voting block.  Nothing in the article mentions the increased violent crime rate with illegal guns and other instruments, that occurred after the strict firearms laws were passed.

The UK subverted their version of the Second Amendment in the 20th Century.  Even though the Second Amendment is derived from English roots, Colin Greenwood showed how the English right to arms was simply ignored out of existence by 1972.   There is a point when the number of gun owners becomes low enough that they can be ignored by the ruling elite.  That is what has happened in England and Wales.

It is not enough to merely follow the rule of law.  A totalitarian despot can follow the rule of law by passing draconian laws.  Governments must be limited in what they are allowed to do.  The limitation in UK law was insufficient to be effective, and the level of firearms ownership was insufficient to preserve their right through the democratic process.

It is a lesson the citizens of the United States would be well served to pay attention to.

 Definition of disarmist

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.     Link to Gun Watch

"Government Shutdown" Propaganda ineffective with Second Amendment Supporters

The Obama administration has been able to run roughshod over almost all opposition in the Congress for a number of reasons.  One that is put forward is that Congress fears being blamed for a "Government Shutdown".

This translates to a fear of the old media blaming Congress, and the electorate believing the media.  I mention this because of the recent CCN poll.  Here is the statement used to prep the question:

"On a regular basis, Congress must pass bills that authorize the federal government to spend money for a certain amount of time.  When that time expires, the government must shut down until Congress passes a new spending bill."

Not surprisingly, 71% of the respondents say it is more important for the Congress to approve a budget agreement that would avoid a "government shutdown" versus a wide variety of other options, such as eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood.

The implicit assumption in the statement is that the only party causing a "government shutdown" is the Congress.  No information is given to show that the President is at least equally responsible for a "government shutdown", even though all the President would have to do, in these circumstances, is to sign the budget bill.

The information that all essential services of the government would keep on operating, is not stated.

The background not given, and the question not asked are these:

On a regular basis, the President must sign bills that authorize the federal government to spend money for a certain amount of time.  When that time expires, the government must shut down until the President signs a new spending bill.

I suspect the same 71%, perhaps higher, would say it is more important for the President to sign a budget agreement that would avoid a government shutdown versus a number of other options, such as funding Planned Parenthood.

The media uses strategies such as this to frame the debate in a manner that insures that their agenda is moved forward.

Polls are often used to create public opinion, rather than to measure it.

One extraordinary exception to the ability to use this sort of propaganda to forward the leftist agenda, has been the destruction of the Second Amendment.

The Second Amendment is so clear that a significant percentage of the population rebelled against being told to ignore the plain wording of the Constitution and to believe what they were told to believe.  They ignored the admonitions that only the "experts" could know what the Constitution actually meant.

The knowledge of the attempted manipulation lead to the understanding that people were being manipulated in other areas.  The old media calls this "manufacturing consent".  I am convinced that the Second Amendment was the example that brought the nation to the state where the credibility of the media and national politicians is at an all time low.  When the Constitution was written, it was assumed that all media was partisan and had an agenda.  

The Second Amendment may be the thread that unravels the cloak of the "inevitablitily" of ever greater government power.

 ©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.  Link to Gun Watch

Video Update: Robber of Circle K Stores in Phoenix armed with Semi-Automatic

Link to video

In 2013, Circle K revealed a corporate policy of disarming their employees.   Circle K fired an assistant manager in Georgia for having a firearm in violation of corporate policy, after he defended himself from an armed robber.   A clerk had been murdered in the store a few years previously.  From 11alive.com:

Jarriel said Circle K suspended him right after the Saturday morning robbery and then gave him a firing notice Thursday for violating its company policy against guns on the property. 

In Phoenix, Arizona, the robber shown above took advantage of that policy by robbing three Circle K stores in one early morning hour between 4 and 5 a.m. 

The screenshot shows what appears to be a full sized semi-automatic handgun in the right hand of the robber.  The resolution is not good enough to establish the make or model.  It looks real, but it is possible that it is a fake or a toy.   It is also possible that it is not loaded, has the wrong ammunition, or is inoperative.  Armed criminals are known for their lack of technical knowledge of firearms, and for depending on a bluff to get what they want. 

A defender should make the assumption that the threat is real, unless he has conclusive evidence to the contrary.  Some knowledgeable members of the gun culture can easily determine if a gun is real, a toy, or a BB gun.  If the lighting is right, it is possible to see if a revolver is loaded or not by looking at the front of the cylinder.

From what is shown, the use of deadly force would have been justified, if anyone had decided to resist.

Policies such as Circle K's, ma attract robbers and increase risk instead of decreasing risk for innocent people.  Some states have changed their law to reflect that possibility. 

Wisconsin granted immunity from liability to establishments that allow their customers and/or employees to be armed.  Similar legislation has been considered in several other states.     From Wis. Stat. § 175.60(21)(b), (c):

(b) A person that does not prohibit an individual from carrying a concealed weapon on property that the person owns or occupies is immune from any liability arising from its decision.

In Wisconsin, a business that requires its employees to be disarmed rejects the immunity from liability that the law offers.

How long it will be before an injured employee or their survivors, sue a business for creating an unsafe working environment by requiring their employees be disarmed in the face of the clear and present danger of armed robbery.

In the Phoenix case, no one was injured or killed.   I hope that Circle K employee's luck will continue to last.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.  Link to Gun Watch

 

CNN Poll Background Check Question Shows Respondents Skeptical

CNN recently released the results of a poll it taken from 4-8 September.   Question 14, shown in the screenshot above, has several hypotheticals that are left up to the responder to self-define.   Here is the question and hypothetical outcomes, from the poll:

If gun control laws were changed so that more comprehensive background checks were in place for all gun purchases, how likely do you think it is that they would: 

Prevent those with mental health problems from buying guns

Prevent convicted criminals from buying guns

Make it harder for law-abiding citizens without mental health problems to buy guns

Included in the undefined hypotheticals, no definition of "more comprehensive" is given.   It is left to the responder to assume the meaning of another hypothetical. Does "all gun sales" really mean "all legal gun sales", or is it the fantasy hypothetical of "all gun sales"?

Trial balloons floating about in the media have suggested that "more comprehensive" would include such things as an hour long interview with a psychologist, and the requirement for five unrelated people to give references, to include answering this question:  "Would you allow this applicant to have a gun alone with your children?"   

The poll question does not ask if the respondent would approve of such a measure or not, merely what the hypothetical effect would be from their self-defined version of the question and responses. 

Significant numbers of the respondents are skeptical of the efficacy of such measures.  If you add the "somewhat likely" and "not at all likely" numbers, 56%  are skeptical that the measures would prevent those with mental health problems from "buying guns", and 58% are skeptical that the measure would prevent criminals from "buying guns".

The phrase "buying guns" is a way to reduce the number of skeptics.   Mentally ill people or criminals do not need to buy guns to commit criminal acts.  Adam Lanza, the Sandy Hook shooter, was prevented from buying a gun by a background check.  He murdered his mother and stole her guns.  The proper wording to determine what people think of the efficacy of the law would have been "accessing guns" or "obtaining guns" rather than "buying guns".

Polls are used as a way to form public opinion, as much as to measure it.   They are also used to determine the best language to push public opinion in the direction that the media and politicians want it to go.  The reason that the phrase "background checks" is being used to push for more restrictions and records of gun ownership is that disarmists found that people who were not sophisticated in their knowledge of firearms law, accepted the phrase as a gateway to passing intrusive legislation.  When the details of such legislation become known, the popularity of the legislation drops like a rock.   Consider the following questions that were not asked:

Is requiring law abiding citizens to obtain government permission before buying a gun an infringement on Second Amendment rights? 

Should a background check law be structured so as to prevent a government database of gun owners or guns?

The population of Americans that is sophisticated about the word games played in these polls is growing larger and larger. 


©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.  Link to Gun Watch

Update: The article has been expanded and updated on 16 September

Kentucky Trooper Shot Dead; Killer Reportedly a Ferguson Protester

The man accused of fatally shooting a rookie Kentucky State Police trooper Sunday night has been shot and killed, according to authorities. Kentucky State Police Sgt. Michael Webb told The Washington Post that Joseph Thomas Johnson-Shanks, 25 — who was armed — was captured around 7 a.m. Monday, about eight hours after he allegedly shot and killed Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder during a car chase in western Kentucky.

Troopers gave Johnson-Shanks commands to drop his weapon; when he refused and aimed his weapon at them, Webb said, one of the troopers — later identified as a member of the State Police Special Response Team — “engaged” Johnson-Shanks and shot him.

Johnson-Shanks was transported to a nearby medical facility, where he died from his injuries, Webb said.

Ponder, the 31-year-old trooper, died hours earlier following a traffic stop, which turned into a police chase.

Johnson-Shanks appears to be behind the Facebook profile “Jay MileHigh.” The user posted photos from the Ferguson protests and from Michael Brown’s funeral, and the profile’s cover photo shows Michael Brown alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

According to online records, Johnson-Shanks had been arrested twice: in January 2014, for destruction of property; and in August 2014, for interfering with a police officer.

Johnson-Shanks’s listed address is in Florissant, Mo., next door to Ferguson, and the date of his arrest — August 11 — coincides with the riots that broke out following the shooting death of Michael Brown; “interfering with a police officer” was a common charge during the protests.


http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/kentucky-police-officer-shooting-ferguson-protester-ian-tuttle

AZ: Open Carry at the UPS Store

I have been a customer of the UPS Stores in Yuma for years.  I used their services to prepare targets and handouts for the concealed carry courses that I taught.  They have always been open carry friendly and have been very helpful. 

A few days ago, I was having a few copies made.   I had purchased their pre-paid copy cards, and had enough left over to last me for quite a while.  Lupe Paz was behind the counter and asked me if I was carrying a Glock .40.  I said no, it was a 9 mm.  We had a pleasant conversation about Glock models, and I realized I had never written about my experiences in the UPS store.

Part of that is the assumption of normalcy.  When things go well, we think nothing of it.  We expect that it will always be that way.  That has been my experience with the UPS store.  They do their job with a smile, they do it competently, and they are willing to help with any special requests, if they can.

I asked Lupe if he would take my picture to show me open carrying in the store.  He was glad to do so.   Just another normal day in Yuma.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.  Link to Gun Watch

Circle K Disarms Clerks, 3 Phoenix Circle K stores Robbed in 1 Hour

In 2013, Circle K was reported to have a policy of disarming their employees.  The working theory was that it was cheaper to suffer multiple robberies, (and risk dead employees and customers)  than to allow employees to defend themselves and customers.  One of the problems with this legal theory is that it encourages more armed robberies of Circle K stores, thus increasing the actual risk to employees and customers, while decreasing the risk to robbers.

From  abc15.com:

PHOENIX - Officials are looking for a man who they believe robbed three different Circle K locations around the West Valley.

On September 6th between the hours of 4:20 a.m. and 5 a.m., a male entered three Circle K stores and robbed each at gun point.

In the screenshot, the suspect is holding a gun like object.  Is it a gun? My educated guess is that it is a single action revolver with the ejector rod housing on the right side of the barrel.   When I hold a single action at the right angle, the shape looks similar to the low resolution screenshot.  His finger seems to be on the trigger, but I cannot make out enough detail to determine if the hammer is cocked.

Details like that can make a big difference in the calculation of whether the odds of resisting are in your favor.

The robber has identifiable tattoos on each arm and had decent video shots of his face.  I expect that he will be apprehended shortly.

Wisconsin destroyed the legal argument that stores incur more liability by allowing their employees to exercise their Second Amendment rights.  They granted businesses immunity from lawsuit for allowing customers and employees to carry firearms.

In this case, not resisting worked for the clerks.  It may not be the best policy next time.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Link to Gun Watch

TX: Young Father, Suspect both Dead in Gunfight in Car

Both men fired while inside the car.  Both died. The Father and likely the suspect were both prohibited from possessing firearms.  They may have known one another.  Alaniz appears to be referred to as "Eddie" in the exchange below.

"He said, 'Yeah, give me everything you got. I looked at him (Eddie) and I said, 'Just give it to him,'" Alaniz's wife Deanna Precella said. "He looks at Eddie and he tells him, 'Don't forget, I have one in the chamber.'"

Precella said Alaniz gave the man about $500 he had on him, but the robber demanded more. Moments later, the two men exchanged gunfire.

Precella and her 2-year-old daughter, who was sitting next to the robber, were caught in the crossfire.

More Here

NM: Business Man Shoots Burglar, Both Arrested

A man who owns an Albuquerque used car dealership says burglars have been hitting the shop in recent weeks, so when it happened again Sunday morning, he took action. But now, he's in trouble with the law for doing so.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Albuquerque police, the shop owner – Jorge Mateo-Segura - told police he was tired of his dealership being broken into, so when the alarm went off Sunday, he told the alarm company not to send police and that he'd check it out himself.

When the man arrived at his shop, he shot a burglar.
More Here

NJ: Intruder with knife Shot by Resident

During an ensuing struggle, one of the residents suffered a knife injury. He was later taken to the hospital and released.

Another resident fired a shot at Marshal, who then fled the scene, police said.

More Here

FL: Store Owner Pulls Gun, Foils Robbery

A would-be thief at a Lehigh Acres grocery store was caught off guard when the owner pulled out a gun and chased the suspect away.

Owner Pierre Phurcien said it was his first time being robbed, and when he realized what was happening he made a split-second decision that ultimately saved his life.
More Here

AZ: Phoenix Moms Demand Action Event Crashed by Second Amendment Supporters

On Thursday, September 10th, the Moms Demand Action organization, held a rally in Phoenix.  A little over 20 people showed up.  At least three people present were Second Amendment supporters. 

Two of the Second Amendment supporters carried large signs that made the rally appear to be in support of the Second Amendment.   

Dr. Peter Steinmetz was one of the Second Amendment supporters that was present.  He reports:

One of the leaders initially asked us “respectfully, to please go across the street and demonstrate there”. I noted that this appeared to be a public street and that we were there to support their overall message of reducing violent crime. We would remain where we were and continue to peacefully exercise our 1st amendment rights. She then gathered together the MDA folks and urged them not to interact with us.

The "rally" lasted about 30 minutes.   Robert Denny, a member of the Arizona Citizen Defense League, was there taking pictures.  He reports:

In addition to my presence, there were two other pro-gun people with very informative larger signs who stayed within the group the whole time. As you will see in the pics, their sign were larger and readable from the street.  The little red and white sign simply said, "Whatever it takes".  The effect to cars passing by was what appeared to be a pro-gun rally.  A couple of pick-up trucks with Marine logo came by and honked their horn, obviously responding to the large pro-gun signs.  The ladies were so thrilled, and took the horns to mean they were being acknowledge for their wonderful message.  The Moms Demand Action sign didn't refer to what the message was, so it simply looked like they were supporting the two male pro-gun sign holders.  Beautiful, really.

Several of the "Moms" read the pro self defense signs, and there was some interaction between the two groups.    Many Second Amendment supporters started out as uninformed promoters of more infringements on  the Second Amendment.   

The rally was aimed at Senator Jeff Flake.   One of the "leaders", demanded that Senator Flake support "Universal Background Checks" (UBCs), a code phrase for positioning legislation prior to  mandatory firearms registration. 

Legislation that allows for background checks, without allowing for government tracking of the firearms involved, has always been rejected by those pushing UBCs.

Bob Denny had this to say in summation:

I could see the even was winding down after about 30 minutes and left just before noon.  All-in-all, a very nice pro-gun rally of two with several ladies in the background supporting us saying, "Whatever it takes!"  

The lead picture in the Arizona Republic article showed Dr. Steinmetz holding up his "Guns Save Lives" sign, on the left of the "Moms Demand Action" banner.  From the Arizona Republic:

While the rally took place outside Flake's Phoenix office, the senator was in a Washington D.C. meeting with gun-control advocates from Arizona for #WhateverItTakes Day of Action, said Jason Samuels, the communications director for Flake.

The Republic article only mentioned one Second Amendment supporter, though two had signs and another was taking pictures.  

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Link to Gun Watch

Rob Morse: Promoting Self-Defense as a Virtue

What should we do? We are in an ongoing culture war. Responsibility is out. Victimhood is in. Earning your own way is out of fashion. Demanding the government pay you is now the new normal. Freedom of speech, freedom of religious expression such as marriage, and the right of self-defense are the cultural canaries in our political ecology. Those rights are attacked first.

I’m profoundly disappointed in our political leaders. You are too if you’ve been paying attention. So- called conservative politicians have put up the weakest defense of our rights. In fact, we see political examples of cultural cleansing where liberal politicians want to eliminate a conservative culture. Liberal politicians want to stamp out conservatives to secure their political majority. We are past foolish to depend on politicians to defend our freedoms. What should we do?

More Here

OK: 85-Year-Old Shoots Invasion Suspect

TULSA, Oklahoma -

An 85-year-old homeowner shot a home invasion suspect who is in critical condition, according to Tulsa Police. The home invasion took place around 11 p.m. Saturday in the 1700 block of West Marshall.

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FL: Suspect Killed in Home Invasion, Suspects Charged

Police are investigating an early-morning home invasion robbery at a Pembroke Pines apartment that left one suspect shot dead and four others in custody, ordered held without bond on Saturday.
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LA: Burglary Suspect Shot by Homeowner

A Thibodaux man attempting to burglarize a Church Street house was shot Friday evening by the homeowner, Thibodaux Police spokesman David Melancon said.

More Here