New Kansas CCW Law Already Effective

Edit To Add (2/21/07): I've noticed that a lot of people are visiting this page when searching for information on the new Kansas Concealed Carry laws. Therefore, in case you're looking for more "official" info, here's the link to the Kansas Attorney General page that describes the CCW law:

http://www.ksag.org/concealed_carry.shtml

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Firearm advocates tuned to the national scene may recall that Kansas has recently joined every state in the Union but two by passing the "2006 Personal and Family Protection Act" allowing law-abiding citizens to carry concealed handguns. Although that law is less than a month old, several people are alive because of one man’s actions to stop a life-threatening situation.

From an article on the website of KSNT, a Kansas television station:

Phillips 66 Owner Dean Yee was not going to make it easy for the two men he says tried to rob him at gunpoint Friday. “They demanded money and to make things tougher I said I'm not gonna give you the money you can come around here and get it yourself.”

That's when a customer in the store, and valid conceal to carry permit holder in Oklahoma, took action.

“He got their attention. He looked at my friend and pointed the gun at him and then his life was in danger and he exercised his right and shot him,” said Yee…

“I would've been shot in the chest,” said Yee.

After fourteen years of trying to pass the Conceal Carry law in Kansas, State Senator Phill Journey says Friday’s incident is a prime example of where the new law could help society. It is absolutely going to be seen as more permit holders are out there. I think its important that criminals need to be on notice that this will happen to them.”

“I think its gonna give businesses a lot of added protection police can't be everywhere at every minute,” said Journey.

Thank goodness Kansas has come to its senses in realizing that bad guys will always find a way to break the law and endanger the lives of honest citizens. This successful encounter will surely resonate with other criminals and make them reflect upon the fact that their intended victims are now prepared to defend themselves.

Originally published here.

I'm Not An Addict

What ever happened to K's Choice? What a rockin track that was...

Anyway, I've finally succumbed to my overwhelming need for coffee. I've been denying this fact for awhile, but it's no longer a "want to have". It's no longer a "should have". It's now fully in the camp of "need to have". If I'm up before 10:00 AM, you better not get between me and my morning fix.

While coffee is a stimulant that magically pulls the cotton out of my head and alcohol is a depressant that magically pulls the inhibitions out of my actions, I do see a few similarities:

You can build up a tolerance. I used to drink about half a cup and I was good. Now I need two before I feel awake.

I refuse to drink girly drinks. You won't see me drinking an Appletini at the bar and you won't see me drinking half-caf mocha cream peppermint latte at my desk. I don't even want to see any cream or sugar in the vicinity of my mug. I'm usually the first one in the office, which allows me to get the pot brewing. People used to complain that I make it too strong... but they've seen the light.

Too little is a bad thing. Since I refuse to drink girly drinks, my gin and tonics and coffee taste like ass to the uninitiated. I'm not drinking this to please my taste buds. Give me enough to get me drunk or alert.

Too much is a bad thing. Yesterday, I had my first case of the shakes since circa 2001. Back in the day it was from waking up in some uncomfortable position on my floor after a weekend college bender. This latest case was because I kept feeling drowsy and therefore drank about three times my normal intake of coffee. I tell you what, I got more work done in those few hours than any other time I can remember. If you looked at my desk right now, you'd think some meth freak spent the last 12 hours meticulously cleaning it.

Chicago City Official Found with Handgun

Unfortunately for average citizens of Chicago, the possession of handguns has basically been banned since the early 1980’s. However, if you live in the Windy City and would like to own one for personal protection or target shooting, there is an avenue available to you: Become a City Alderman!

Apparently, these Chicago officials are part of an elite ruling class that can exercise their innate and (supposedly) protected right to keep and bear arms while forbidding you to do so. I was not aware of this discriminatory and despicable policy until I read an article from The Chicago Tribune reporting on a criminal raid of Chicago Alderman Arenda Troutman that resulted in the discovery of her legal .357 revolver.

Believe it or not, but this blatant hypocrisy is not what upset me most about this story. Sam Adam Jr., Troutman’s lawyer, defended his client’s need for owning and carrying a concealed handgun:

Adam said Troutman needed protection in the economically depressed area where she lives and serves. Her home has been broken into in the past…

"She didn't go up to the North Shore to run, or to the southwest suburbs among the affluent to make things better," he said. "She's right there in the 'hood."

No kidding? She felt the need to carry a handgun for personal protection? I bet she is not the only one out of millions of Chicago residents that live in one of our nation’s most crime-ridden cities.

So… will the criminal raid affect her political future?

Troutman said Thursday the charges do not deter her from running for another term in the Feb. 27 election, but opponent Willie B. Cochran called on her to resign Friday.

I understand her hesitation about becoming a lowly commoner now that she is used to a lifestyle befitting a privileged ruler. She would be forced to relinquish her special permission to defend herself and have to try and survive like everyone else on the dangerous streets of Chicago.

Originally published here.

But I thought the minimum wage increase was good?

Surely a mandatory minimum wage increase is good.... right? That's what the new Congress keeps telling me. Don't the Democrats want to raise the minimum wage in order to help our economy and all American workers? Isn't that the plan? So why are they specifically excluding the territory of American Samoa? Other territories and all states are being forced to raise the minimum wage. Why not American Samoa?

Supporters of this onerous legislation scoff when hearing the truth that mandatory wage increases force employers to cut hours/jobs, raise prices for their products/services, and expediate inflation.

The Washington Post (and several other outlets) are reporting that the large tuna canning company that employs the vast majority of American Samoans can't afford the minimum wage increase and would be forced to lay off a lot of workers and seriously hurt Samoa's economy. Therefore, the Democrats didn't have a problem excluding them from the legislation that will have the same detrimental effects to the rest of the minimum wage workers in American territories and states.

If their economic philosophies are supposed to be good for ALL of America (including territories), why are they excluding American Samoa?

"Some Perspective on Call for Gun Control "

A regular contributor to the Ohioans For Concealed Carry Discussion Forums has been kind enough to share a very informative article written by Peter Friedman. This little gem comes to us from (of all places) Massachusetts. There are several facts given that completely debunk some politicians’ cries for more gun control. The next time you hear about someone wanting to further infringe upon your innate and guaranteed right to keep and bear arms, be ready to confront that anti-gun zealot with the following information:

A Bill of Rights revisionist may say: “Guns are dangerous. They accidentally kill millions of people every year.”

Mr. Friedman corrects with: “According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2003 (the most recent data available), there were 112,132 accidental deaths in the United States. Of these, 730 were firearms related, while 44,757 resulted from automobiles. Other large contributors to injury deaths were falling (17,229), poisoning (19,457), suffocation (5,579), drowning (3,306) and fire (3,369). Surprisingly, even bicycles and tricycles caused more accidental fatalities (762) than firearms.”

A liberty assailant may say: “Guns cause people to kill themselves when they otherwise wouldn’t.”

Mr. Friedman corrects with: “Japan's suicide rate, which is 25 percent higher than that of the United States, coupled with their draconian gun laws, suggests that without firearms, those who want to commit suicide will find other ways.”

An anti-freedom elitist may say: “We need to get evil-looking assault weapons off the streets to make it safer for our children.”

Mr. Friedman corrects with: “Crimes committed with semiautomatic sporting rifles such as the type used in [a recent Massachusetts shooting] (improperly referred to as "assault weapons" in the media), are very rare, running in the neighborhood of 1 percent of gun crimes. Nationally, murders with knives, clubs and axes outnumber murders with "assault weapons" by 20 to 1.”

Finally, an anti-gun lobbyist may say: “Guns are more likely to kill a family member or cause an otherwise good guy to turn bad than be used in self-defense.”

Mr. Friedman corrects with: “Criminologist Dr. Gary Kleck has written peer-reviewed studies that report that firearms are used three to five times more often for defensive purposes than for criminal activity. In total, Dr. Kleck estimates that firearms are used defensively about 2.5 million times each year in the United States. In most cases, the gun is only brandished; only in 1 percent of the cases are the criminals wounded, 0.1 percent fatally. Dr. John Lott of Yale University conducted an exhaustive multi-year statistical analysis of crime trends in every county in the United States and has proven that allowing law-abiding citizens to be armed lowers crime."

Sorry gun control agenda pushers... let's not let facts get in the way of good emotional rants.