"She had it coming because of her lifestyle."

[benEzra]

"She had it coming because of her lifestyle."

"Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas."

Those sentiments are despicable when applied to a woman who is raped. But it's apparently OK to feel that way if instead of being raped, the woman is is shot in the back by a rogue law enforcement officer in her own kitchen, while unarmed and talking on her webcam.

That mother of three kids who was murdered by a misogynist loser with a badge this week didn't "have it coming" because she owned a gun herself (a gun that wasn't even in the room with her). She was murdered by an abusive loser with an authority complex, and the murder weapon may have been department issued; it certainly wasn't hers.

I realize that one can have strong feelings against gun ownership by non-LEO's; I get that. What I DON'T get is people dancing gleefully in her blood and saying she brought it on herself, when her gun ownership had nothing to do with her death. Had she been a gun control activist who believed that only people in law enforcement, like her husband, should have access to guns, this would have played out exactly the same way. He would have still had access to a gun, and she would still have been as unarmed as she was.


RIP, Melanie Hain. I disagreed with you on your politics and your style on the gun issue, but you deserved better than this. Praying for your kids.

[divideandconquer]

1. Like a heroin addict overdosing

Why doesn't the gun hugger community start doing something about the social problems they blame all this gun violence on? The gun huggers love to crucify the "criminals" (often young minorities with little chance to escape gangs and violence) and celebrate when they are killed.

On the other side, it's time they are taxed for the gun hugger cult lifestyle and have to pay insurance. One of the problems at urban hospitals is the huge cost of saving bullet victims without insurance.

[geckosfeet]

2. I have gone so far as advocating for gun owners taking out gun insurance.

Similar to car insurance, it covers medical, legal, property damage, repairs, theft etc.

[spin]

21. I wouldn't be opposed to the insurance idea if the cost was

not prohibitive.

Most people have difficulty paying their auto insurance. If the gun insurance cost the same then many poor and middle class people couldn't afford it. If it were required by law, then many of these people could no longer legally own firearms. Gun Grabber Rhapsody.

Technically there should be little reason for such insurance to be expensive.

[Katya Mullethov]

23. Do you -have- to buy it ?

That will make it cost more .

[spin]

31. I don't believe it exists yet....

My quick search on Google show liability insurance for firearms instructors and gun ranges. I could find insurance for gun collectors but nothing for individual liability.

The concept of mandatory insurance has been proposed:

An Illinois state lawmaker is proposing that gun owners be required to carry personal liability insurance of at least $1 million.

Rep. Kenneth Dunkin's bill seeks to amend the state's Firearm Owners Identification Card Act to provides that any person who owns a firearm in the state maintain a $1 million or higher policy of liability insurance "specifically covering any damages resulting from negligent or willful acts involving the use of such firearm while it is owned by such person."

A gun owner would be responsible after a firearm is lost or stolen until the loss or theft is reported to the police department or sheriff of the jurisdiction in which the owner resides.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/midwest/2009/02/18/97987.htm

[benEzra]

38. Which is merely another way to limit gun ownership to the wealthy...

and keep them out of the hands of "those people" that drive Chevys and used Toyotas instead of BMW's.

[spin]

46. Gun control is always for the big guy and against the little guy. (n/t)

[geckosfeet]

66. I agree. It should be dirt cheap. $50 - $100 a year but if you have replacement options

for theft or damage it might be more.

Guess it depends on the specific level of the coverage.

[paulsby]

33. you can;t require insurance

on a constitutional right.

what next? requiring bloggers to take out anti-defamation/libel/slander insurance?

[spin]

37. It was tried in Illinois this year...

Read Illinois HB0687:

Bill Status of HB0687 96th General Assembly

Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that any person who owns a firearm in this State shall maintain a policy of liability insurance in the amount of at least $1,000,000 specifically covering any damages resulting from negligent or willful acts involving the use of such firearm while it is owned by such person. Provides that a person shall be deemed the owner of a firearm after the firearm is lost or stolen until such loss or theft is reported to the police department or sheriff of the jurisdiction in which the owner resides. Provides that the Department of State Police shall revoke and seize a Firearm Owner's Identification Card previously issued under this Act if the Department finds that the person to whom such card was issued possesses or acquires a firearm and does not submit evidence to the Department of State Police that he or she has been issued in his or her name a liability insurance policy in the amount of at least $1,000,000 specifically covering any damages resulting from negligent or willful acts involving the use of such firearm while it is owned by such person. Effective January 1, 2010.
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=687&GAID=10&SessionID=76

The bill was tabled By Sponsor Rep. Kenneth Dunkin on 4/3/2009

[paulsby]

44. i wouldn't put it past illinois

or chicago to try to (if not succeed in) trying to pass unconstitutional legislation regarding guns.

thanks for the excellent info! :)

[geckosfeet]

67. Who said require? Point is, that if something does happen, you and your guns are covered.

[armueller2001]

69. Maybe the gub'mint should require

mandatory free speech insurance, you know, just incase you happen to be the defendant in a libel or slander suit.

[geckosfeet]

70. Good idea. Run that one up a flag pole and let me know how it turns out.

[paulsby]

71. the analogy is apt

which is why i used the same one.

RKBA is a right recognized in our bill of rights.

the govt. cannot require one buys insurance in order to exercise such a fundamental right.

driving, as a counterexample, is not a constitutional right (and fwiw, you don't need insurance if you drive on private property. insurance is required to use the public roads with your vehicle)

[geckosfeet]

72. Again, I did not say require, nor do I think that is wise. But insurance in general is wise.

If you want to be liable for incidental damage that caused by discharge from your firearm that is your business. Personally I would rather have the insurance company pick it up.

[benEzra]

5. Even if gun owner = heroin addict in your mind (which I think is messed up),

this would be like your hypothetical heroin user being beaten to death by her spouse (while stone cold sober) for trying to leave him.

Let me say this again. HER DEATH HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HER GUN OR HER VIEWS ON GUN OWNERSHIP BY NON-LEO'S. It had to do with a gun (possibly department issued) in the hands of a rogue law enforcement officer with an authority complex, and most gun-control activists aren't interested in disarming law enforcement.

[divideandconquer]

35. She chose to wallow in the gun culture cesspool and paid the price

Gun-toting Pa. mom gets back concealed gun permit

LEBANON, Pa. (AP) — A mother who angered fellow parents when she openly carried a pistol to her 5-year-old daughter's soccer game got her concealed weapons permit back Tuesday after a Pennsylvania judge overruled a sheriff's decision to revoke it.
Meleanie Hain lost the permit after other parents complained about the presence of the gun during a soccer game on Sept. 11. Lebanon County Judge Robert Eby, who said he also is a gun owner with a concealed weapons permit, said the law required him to return Hain's permit.

But he questioned her judgment, saying she "scared the devil" out of others at the soccer field.

"Fear doesn't belong at a kid's soccer game from any source," Eby said.
------------------------------------------------
<http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-10-14-soccermom-gun_N.htm&h=374&w=245&sz=27&tbnid=sAhqLNX9SrhEYM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=80&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpicture%2Bof%2Bgun%2Btoting%2Bsoccer%2Bmom&usg=__wqHEp14sW881nEGRf38K6yoisPY=&ei=pGLSSu_yA8KYtgej-PD5Bw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=5&ct=image&ved=0CBQQ9QEwBA>

[benEzra]

36. And that had what, exactly, to do with a rogue law enforcement officer shooting her in the back

while she was unarmed?

Karma, right? She got what she had coming, in your view? She liked guns, so it was only fitting that her life was ended by one, LEO or not?

It must take a lot of hate to suppress one's humanity so thoroughly...

[rd_kent]

10. WHo are these "gun huggers" you reference?

Last time I checked, having a gun was not only legal, but a Constitutional Right.

[krispos42]

22. Except that nearly all shooters are already criminals...

...carrying a gun illegally, that was illegally aquired, and being used to further a criminal enterprise of some sort.

Those people I doubt are going to buy insurance.

Chicago has had a virtual ban on handguns for over 30 years. Therefore, there are virtually no legal handguns in Chicago, and they cause virtually no deaths or injuries. Yet, the few dozen or few hundred legal handguns owners in Chicago should be forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars a year for insurance to cover injuries in a drug-gang shootout?

Insanity.


Besides, if we had universal single-payer healthcare like we should, we would all be paying for it anyway in a fair and equitable manner.

[geckosfeet]

68. Insanity. I agree. Better get that checked out.

[paulsby]

32. troll - o - meter

0------------------------------------------5---------------------------------------------10
------^-----

you can do better. "gun hugger"is good, but you can do better.

[aikoaiko]

59. Yet another ridiculous analogy.

She didn't "overdose", someone "injected her with the intention of killing her".

[gorfle]

74. We do! We vote Democrat!

Why doesn't the gun hugger community start doing something about the social problems they blame all this gun violence on?

We do! We vote Democrat!

On the other side, it's time they are taxed for the gun hugger cult lifestyle and have to pay insurance. One of the problems at urban hospitals is the huge cost of saving bullet victims without insurance.

Or...how about single-payer health care so that everyone can go to any hospital or doctor without worrying about the cost? That's why I vote Democrat.

Or how about stopping these money and life-wasting foreign occupations and putting that money towards health care? That's why I vote Democrat.

Or how about stopping the "war on drugs" that incarcerates people who are of no danger to society and foments a violent criminal underground to satisfy the demand? That's why I vote Democrat.

[Jamastiene]

3. No, she didn't have it coming.

As much as I totally disagree with her grandstanding over the gun issue*, she definitely did NOT deserve to be shot to death. No way.


*And I AM pro 2nd Amendment Rights, btw. I just don't agree with the grandstanding and overtly right wing methods some people use.

[divideandconquer]

4. Women who live with gun nuts put themselves in harms way

Most women won't date gun nuts

[benEzra]

6. The man who killed her was in law enforcement...

who most "anti-gun nuts" (to use your pejorative construction) aren't interested in disarming. On the contrary, most gun control activists insist that people like her husband are the only ones who should have access to guns.

Never mind, of course, the fact that support for banning guns outside of law enforcement is about the same as the support for banning alcohol outside of medicinal use a la Prohibition. My point is, this woman's death had NOTHING to do with her views on gun ownership by non-LEO's, or her stance on licensed carry by non-LEO's; had she been a Sarah Brady disciple and believed only LEO's like her husband should have access to guns, the outcome would have been no different.

[divideandconquer]

8. Many gun nuts are in law enforcement

[spin]

25. Most cops are far from gun nuts...

guns are something they have to qualify with occasionally.

But I admit that I have met exceptions.

[paulsby]

34. as a police firearms instructor, i agree

there may be a higher %age of firearms enthusiasts in police, than in many other professions or the general populace, but...

the VAST majority of cops are far from gun nuts. they only shoot when required to at assessments (twice a year in my agency).

i talk to hundreds of cops coming through the range. most never shoot on their own time, and really don't care about guns any more than they care about handcuffs. it's a tool on their belt.

[spin]

47. The ones that are firearm enthusiasts are really devoted...

firearms enthusiasts. I earned a lot from those guys on the range.

[paulsby]

48. yea.

one of the instructors i work with is MR IPSC. the guy is just one of those classic gun guys. he's also an armorer (for several models), and has all the highest levels of certifications an instructor can have.

he used to work SWAT, but works patrol now.

many people here would consider him a "gun nut".

i'm not. i'm an instructor, but i don't read gun mags, and apart from my duty weapon, the only gun i own is a compact, so i can wear off-duty more easily than a full size glock. if i was at a doctor's office, i'd choose Outside, Maxim, or Scientific American out of the magazine rack over any gun mag.

i frankly find guns relatively boring. i find gun RIGHTS extremely important.

a lot of gun guys are like car guys. when they are into them, they are INTO them.

[X_Digger]

11. 'gun nuts' like cops?

Pitiful.

[oneshooter]

14. I guess I got lucky then

First date with my now Loving Wife was skeet shooting!! This was almost 25 years ago. Now we both enjoy HighPower and IDPC shooting. And we still shoot skeet!!

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

[PavePusher]

15. You are quite despicable. n/t

[cognoscere]

19. It's fairly obvious

which orifice you pulled that statistic from.

[spin]

24. Your statement "most women won't date gun nuts"...

may depend on where you live.

In Florida, where I live, it's unusual to find any male that doesn't own firearms and many women also own their own guns. In North Florida, hunting is very common. I've been in a hardware store listening to a middle aged woman bragging about the first deer she had shot in the season. One of my daughters friends has a 14 year old daughter who has shot deer. In fact my family is eating venison tonight.

So in this area if a woman goes looking for a good man who doesn't own firearms, she'll have a long search.

[benEzra]

39. Given that one in three U.S. gun owners is a woman...

I'd say that someone is overstating the prevalance of his own gun-owner-hatred.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

40. So you think she had it coming?

[proteus_lives]

49. Just keep shooting yourself in the foot.

You're revealing what you truly are. A person with no empathy and no heart.

[Tim01]

7. Just like gays and AIDS. It's a result of their choice of lifestyle.

I probably should just go ahead a delete this myself. I'm sure blaming the victim(gun activist) of an abusive spouse is fine, but blaming the victim of aids is beyond awful.

And just to clarify, neither should be blamed. Nobody should be celebrating the deaths of AIDS victims, or spouse abuse victims.

[Berry Cool]

9. No, they shouldn't.

And they shouldn't be blaming the victim here either.

But blaming the victim is very popular on DU when the victim disagrees with us philosophically.

A lot of people here don't believe in any god, but they seem to believe in karma. Because that way they can still have the comfort that bad things only happen to people who deserve them.

I can't even count the number of times I've seen news posted here about sheer misfortune happening to Republicans and other conservatives that has been followed in comments by statements like "Karma's a bitch" and "Serves 'em right."

It's like a little piece of whatever makes people human is missing from some people. Like they just think they're on a team and it's all a big game, and all they're doing is gloating over the other side losing.

I think people like that have forgotten why they have the political philosophy they do. Which I thought was because they cared about people and believed their philosophy was best for people in general...not just a flag to wave and a color to wear.

If it's all just about being a blue shirt vs. being a red shirt, what's the point?

[Tim01]

12. I used to think there was more to it than red vs blue.

But I don't believe that so much anymore. Especially since I have seen how quick people on this site are to be mean and nasty.

Just pick a team for the sake of the team.

[X_Digger]

13. +1,000,000

I wish I could rec a post.

[dashrif]

16. Imo

That will be the end of us all, instead of finding common ground it's. "Your a shill for _________" (insert any thing you don't like or whats popular hate at the time)

[divideandconquer]

17. Gun huggers blame gangbangers for America's high murder rate

and celebrate every death of one with a bloody victory dance but as a group but do nothing to help these troubled people and use them as boogie men like this despicable NRA propaganda comic. It's only when a gun toting suburban soccer mom gets killed that they have any compassion.

cartoon.

[east texas lib]

18. Really?

Gun toting soccer moms never shot up the street and my mom's home (eventualy burglarizing and burning it down) but gangsters
sure as hell did. There's a reason people hate gang-bangers and it has nothing to do with politics or the NRA. Get a clue.

[krispos42]

28. More accurately, we celebrate an aggressor being foiled...

...in his attempt to rob, injure, or kill somebody.



We don't generally celebrate when a career criminal record gets hit by a bus while crossing the street, even though that provides as much of a benefit to society as being gunned down by his intended victim. We do celebrate when that person's predatory actions come to an abrupt halt. I'm more than happy to let the cops do the deed, but far too often the professionals are not on the scene. When that happens you have ordinarly people doing the best they can under the circumstances.

[spin]

29. The statistics show that gangs are a MAJOR problem...

Excerpts from Gang Statistics 2009
http://www.urbanministry.org/wiki/gang-statistics

100% of cities with population greater than or equal to 250,000 reported gang activity in 2001
85% of cities with population between 100,000 and 229,999 reported gang activity in 2001
65% of cities with population between 50,000 and 99,999 reported gang activity in 2001
44% of cities with population between 25,000 and 49,999 reported gang activity in 2001
20% of cities with population between 2,500 and 24,999 reported gang activity in 2001
35% of suburban counties reported gang activity in 2001
11% of rural counties reported gang activity in 2001

***snip***


59% of all homicides in 2001 in Los Angeles and 53% in Chicago were gang related, there was a total of 698 gang related homicides in there two cities combined where as 130 other cities with population of at least 100,000 with gang problems reported having a total of 637 homicides between them

I don't celebrate anyone's death and I sure as hell don't dance every time a gangbanger is killed.

But to be fair, I will admit that there isn't a hell of a lot of good paying jobs available for minorities, especially minorities that have received the education that our public schools bestows on them.

Often gang life is violent and results in the death of innocent people. We could combat this by throwing anyone caught illegally carrying a firearm in jail for 10 to 20 years. We could also push for laws that legalize certain drugs.

But no, the liberal anti-gun side goes off on a tangent and wants to reinstate a useless "feel good" law called the Assault Weapons Ban.

I think that as a nation we have peaked and started the long fall. Sad.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

41. Actually it's convicted felons that are to blame for most of it.

[proteus_lives]

50. They don't want to hear the truth!

It spoils their fantasy world.

[spin]

56. True, they just love to spout their sad propaganda...

it's mindless, but it's comforting to them.

[Euromutt]

51. *Criminologists* blame gangs for America's high murder rate

Specifically, it's the illegal drug trade. Because it's illegal, you can't take a business dispute to court; the only way to settle it permanently is by killing the other guy. The effect of this is to brutalize the participants, who carry this method of "conflict resolution" over into their personal lives.

If you factor out young, black urban males (the demographic most likely, due to socio-economic conditions, to be drawn into the illegal drug trade) both as perpetrators and victims, the American homicide rate would actually not be all that remarkable, compared to other wealthy industrialized nations.

Oh, and you do know that NRA pamphlet was never published, right?

[GreenStormCloud]

20. I am amazed at how many people here are ready to shred the Constitution...

to help the blue team win.

The First Amendment comes under attack a lot around here as people want to have the government shut down Fox or RW radio. Others want preachers to have their sermons cleared by the government first.

The second amendment comes under fierce attack in this forum.

In the thread about the gun in the movie, a poster wants to violate the 4th for the sake of his phobia about guns.

Yet, we are all supposed to be progressives around here.

[krispos42]

27. Well said

That dichotomy has always struck me from when I was a freshman in high school and came across a gun book in the library and became interested in the topic.

I understand why... George Lakeoff stated it quite well in "Don't Think of an Elephant" (strict, self-dependant father vs nurturing, protective parent models), but it still makes me shake my head a little.

I support and agree with a lot of right that I don't personally use, like gay sex/gay marriage and drug legalization and abortion. I understand that those rights being respected make me freer, even if I never (as a straight clean male) have used them.

[spin]

30. RKBA is a very progressive idea. (n/t)

[proteus_lives]

52. Sickening isn't it?

They are swallowed by their fear. They want to be SAFE because to them it's more important then being free. I support the Constitution, all of it!

I tell every gun-grabber I debate, "The 2nd Amendment should be as enshrined as the all the others. You take away one, you make a lot easier to take away the others."

I'm a proud RKBA Democrat! Anyone who wants to shred the 2nd is not a liberal/progressive.

[spin]

26. Good post and unfortunately true...

Democrats and Republicans act like two football teams playing for the Super Bowl. The object is to win at all costs.

But real life isn't a game and we elect politicians to find solutions to the problems that face us. We don't elect them to play games.

[sandnsea]

42. She bought the gun hype

I certainly don't think she brought it on herself. I do think if we had honest education about self defense and violence in this country, people wouldn't fool themselves into believing a gun is all it takes to defend yourself against a violent predator. It isn't. Guns are never going to be the answer to violence, not in any way shape or form.

[Merchant Marine]

43. Wait...

Defense against violence is no defense against violence?

What?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

45. Clearly gun are sometimes the answer to violence. The police come to mind.

[Euromutt]

53. You've talked about "real self defense" in other threads

Care to explain what it is, and why it's more effective than a firearm (provided you have some good training in using it)?

[sandnsea]

54. Ask a cop

Do they just hand then a gun, teach them how to use it, and then go protect people? THINK. You know the answer to your own question. THINK. Jesus I'm so sick of ignorance.

[spin]

55. Elaborate some...You've caught my interest...

I think I understand what you are saying and if so I agree with it.

[Euromutt]

60. You know what I'm sick of?

I'm thoroughly sick of posters who refuse to say explicitly what they mean, and then berate other posters for not fully understanding what they mean, even though they refuse to say it.

I'm not interested in trying to guess what you're getting at. Why is it so hard for you to come out and just say it? Or are you desperately trying to cover up the fact that your emperor is stark naked?

And how does it even begin to make sense to complain that you're so sick of ignorance in response to a request that you share your knowledge? A request for information is an effort to diminish ignorance, and you're obstructing it.

[sandnsea]

64. An adult who doesn't know what self defense is

Really? You expect me to believe that??

I'm not playing.

[ManiacJoe]

65. She seems to be defining "real self defense" as

something like "integrated self defense" which covers unarmed hand-to-hand as well as clubs, knives, and guns (based on her "ask a cop" response).

[Euromutt]

73. I know what *I* think self-defense is

I'm asking you what you think "real self-defense" is because I'm curious to know what you think it is.

I'm also curious to know how you know with such certainty that the late Ms Hain was unfamiliar with whatever you consider to be "real self-defense." And please don't tell me "because she's dead."

[Merchant Marine]

61. Cops

Qualify twice a year with a 9mm pencil. Most CCW range tests are much, much more strenuous than a beat cop's training.

[paulsby]

76. i am a police firearms instructor

and the fact is that most cops (i see hundreds through the range) are not gun "freaks", and are not particularly good shots. most (vast majority) ONLY shoot when they have to.

i can't speak to CCW range tests, because i've never seen one (my state doesn't require them). i can say that our qualification is pitifully easy.

the firearms instructor qualification was hard. but the standard qual is easy.

and i've still seen plenty of cops fail it.

[X_Digger]

77. Here's the TX test criteria..

http://www.krtraining.com/KRTraining/TexasCHL/CHLtest.html

8,9 and 10 rings = 5 points

7 ring = 4 points

on target, outside rings = 3 points

3 yards, 20 rounds

* 1 shot, 2 seconds, 5 times
* 2 shots, 3 seconds, 5 times
* 5 shots, 10 seconds, 1 time

7 yards, 20 rounds

* 5 shots, 10 seconds, 1 time
* 2 shots, 4 seconds, 1 time
* 3 shots, 6 seconds, 1 time
* 1 shot, 3 seconds, 5 times
* 5 shots, 15 seconds, 1 time

15 yards, 10 rounds

* 2 shots, 6 seconds, 1 time
* 3 shots, 9 seconds, 1 time
* 5 shots, 15 seconds, 1 time

All strings start from 'low ready'. All shooting may be done with one or two hands. A 70% score (175 points) is a passing score, but in our opinion anyone that cannot pass with a 90% score on the first try should seriously consider additional training to improve shooting ability.

[paulsby]

78. some thoughts

i like the fact that there is no shooting beyond 15 yds. our course still has some rounds at 25 yds, which is pretty unrealistic. at 25 yds, you really should be using your rifle or shotgun with a deer slug. of course i work with a navy SEAL guy who is a total freak. he shoots ROUTINELY 3/4 hits of a soda can at 50 yds with an out of box glock 22. it's a good way to teach trigger control and sight picture (since it's more critical at these distances), but is too close to TARGET shooting vs. combat shooting.

i don't like the fact that there are no reloads during the course of fire (iow during the timed segments).

the ability to reload under pressure is a good one to have. again, not very likely during a shooting, but i think it's a fundamental aspect of knowing your gun and it MAY be needed.

our course has several rounds fired one hand only (support side) required. i think this is good because if one hand is injured, you gotta be able to shoot one handed.

it looks like a decent course. it's better than our old course. our new course i think is a little better (has some segments with moving and shooting, reload stuff, one hand stuff, and shooting from behind barricade).

but i agree. if you can't shoot a 90 on the course you showed, you should consider more training. iow, in conclusion, i think that test is adequate. heck, our state doesn't even HAVE a test for CCW.

btw, the ONLY time i have ever fired a perfect score - was the very first time i shot. it was a 6 shot revolver, and i had never shot one before (i had shot a .22 lr rifle as a kid on maybe a couple dozen occasions, and done some bb gun plinking).

to this day, i am sad to admit, i have never fired a perfect score again. not once. i have come very close many times (a few times with just ONE shot off the 10 ring).


also, something i have become very enamored of is steel targets. you don't want people looking over their sights to see where their rounds are landing and then compensating. that's wrong. each shot should be an independant event. iow, if you shoot twice to the right, you should not think "pull my gun to the left a bit", you should think "shoot at the center of the target). steel targets are great because they give an instant feedback to the shooter. plus, they are fun.

[X_Digger]

79. Interesting observations!

I agree with the reload drill and support hand, I'd add in two more sections and raise the required score to match. I could see something more realistic- shooting from cover, moving while shooting, etc- but it'd be hard to test for (finding ranges in every city and locale equipped to give it.)

[paulsby]

80. yea, i agree

one thing i find that is excellent to do if you are interested in improving your shooting, is shooting with elevated heart rate.

nothing, except an actual shooting , can prepare you for a ... actual shooting (i know firsthand), but it works well.

drop and do some pushup, or run a few laps (with gun holstered lol) etc. to get your heart rate up above 150. THEN shoot. it can at least give you somewhat of an approximation of what it feels like in a real shooting.

[X_Digger]

81. Watching the front sight go 'bump' 'bump' 'bump' in time with your heartbeat..

.. really does suck. I've had that scenario happen with hunting, and it's _really_ obvious with a long rifle with a scope. I can only imagine how nuts that'd be with a handgun with such a large shift in POI with smaller hand motions.

[rl6214]

82. I scored a 249 on my TX CC range test

I would think most cops would be hard pressed to beat that.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

63. So you are advocating everyone have tasers?

[TheWraith]

57. It's also the way that the wingnuts talk about gays.

Personally I think this woman made the wrong decision--a gun doesn't protect you from someone in constant close contact like a spouse. The only way to deal with that sort of threat is to get the hell out of dodge, but she evidently didn't go far enough in that direction if he still had access to the house. However, there's a huge difference between making a mistake, and "deserving" your own death.

[benEzra]

62. From what I can tell, she didn't seem to believe that he would come after her

given that she certainly had all the equipment to carry comfortably at home and wasn't doing so (again, for all the gun-haters out there, she was UNARMED and talking on her webcam when she was murdered). If she made a mistake, it appears to be the assumption that her ex wasn't the type to come kill her for trying to leave him.

I agree that if an intimate partner IS that level of threat, then getting out is the best approach, and there are support networks out there for battered/threatened women if they don't have anywhere else to go. Apparently she didn't see him as the threat he was, unfortunately.

Can't imagine what the kids must be going through right now.

[Piwi2009]

75. Gun ownership isnt stupid.

Having an estranged husband in the house and talking to men on webcams right in his face--that was stupid.

[aikoaiko]

58. Good effort, Ben Ezra.

Always a good voice of reason.