Crossroads of the West
Utah Gun Collectors Association
January 24, 2011 is officially John M. Browning day (“JMB day”) in Utah, honoring this firearms genius, one of the world’s greatest gun inventors, and one of Utah’s most noted citizens.
Of course, 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the Model 1911 .45 “automatic” pistol. (Quick- a show of hands how many of you own one of these? Hmmm, a huge number!)
While January 24th is the official ceremonial day for honoring Browning, we hope that gun enthusiasts will schedule Browning themed events throughout the year.
We already know that Ogden’s Union Station Museum and the Fort Douglas Museum have special exhibits planned. The Utah Gun Collectors will probably have a special competition for Browning theme displays at their gun show in January.
USSC would like to publicize all other Browning related events for 2011, both in our alerts and on our website. Send your info to volunteer@utahshootingsports.com.
Will your club sponsor something like a match where only Browning invented guns can be used? That could apply to just about any shooting sport, from Cowboy Action, to bullseye pistol, to trap or skeet, action pistol shooting, etc. Even the Class 3 Machine gun shooters can have a Browning only match. If not as your main event, then how about adding a special one for JMB day? Obviously the matches may be more fun (if outdoors) later in the year, but let’s have a list of them available to release by January 24th!
If you have a shop, how about a special sales event on January 24th (or other dates) in honor of Browning?
Maybe someone can come up with a Browning trivia quiz or crossword puzzle we can distribute to the media.
We have already confirmed that the NRA would consider publishing a story on JMB Day events in Utah in the American Rifleman magazine. They will be doing a number of 1911 themed articles throughout the year. Let’s get some writers/photographers busy now working on a story!
How about some of our collectors or historians coming up with a full list of John M. Browning designed guns. You can do it for a single manufacturer- one person work on Colt, one on Winchester, one for Remington and someone else for FN if you want to. Of course his designs were also made by other U.S. makers (Browning Brothers in Ogden, for example) including Savage, I.B.M. Corporation, etc. That does not even begin to touch on the Italian, Japanese or Brazilian made copies!
Can someone come up with links to all of Browning’s firearms patents that we can post on line?
Send all info or questions to volunteer@utahshootingsports.com and we will release a list of everything by January 24th, 2011. We need all inputs by December 31st.
UDPL Super Shoot August 28th
There are over 100 shooters already registered for the Utah Defensive Pistol League “Super Shoot” to be held this Saturday, August 28th. Registration starts at 7:00. Full details at http://www.udpl.net/results/2010/SuperShoot-Details-2010.pdf
Browning Museum Gun Club meeting Tuesday September 14th
At the Union Station Museum on 25th Street in Ogden at 9:00 AM sharp. Free, open to the public and spouses are welcome for this fun one hour event the second Tuesday of every month.
Southern Utah Pistol & Revolver Advanced Concealed Carry Course September 25th-
SUPR is hosting an “Advanced Concealed Carry Course” on September 25th at their range near St. George. Full details at http://www.southernutahpistol.com/sep-25-advanced-concealed-carry-course-805
2010 Western CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Matches in Phoenix October 16-24 in Phoenix
The Western CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Match combine to offer an unprecedented nine-day series of clinics, recreation-oriented “as-issued” military rifle matches and national-class service and match rifle competitions with the best highpower rifle shooters in the country. The Western Clinics and Matches will take place 16-24 October at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, Phoenix, AZ. The Official Program and on-line registration will be posted at http://www.odcmp.com/competitions/westerngames.htm as soon as it is available.
Southern Utah Hunting Club
Just outside cedar city with pheasant and chucker hunting on 568 acres for members and non members, guides and hunting dogs included with membership. More details at www.southernutahhuntingclub.com
With Independence Day (aka “The Fourth of July”) just around the corner time is running out for you to prep for your first open-carry day!
First off you’ll need to find out if it is legal to open-carry in your locale, and if so what the restrictions on doing so are. You might even want to find the applicable sections of Codified Law that apply and carry a copy with you, just in case you run into some of our friends in blue.
Second, once you’ve determined the legality of your carry, check where you plan on going to make sure you won’t come within any legal proximities to any school, church, bar, or other potentially prohibited place. You don’t want to be caught 946 feet away from a school while you’re finding a shady spot on the parade route or fireworks display. You might be exempt from such laws, but make doubly sure you are before you go open-carrying.
Third, pick a respectable looking firearm to carry with you. I’d suggest against that AR-15, Uzi, or AK-47. Go with a nice looking (recently cleaned) pistol or revolver.
Fourth, make sure you have a good holster. It should look nice and function even better. I would HIGHLY recommend a holster with some type of retention mechanism, such as the Blackhawk Serpa CQC that I recently reviewed. You don’t want your pistol coming loose at an inopportune time.
Fifth, pick out your clothing. You want to look NICE! Shirt and tie would be fabulous, but you may choose something less casual. Don’t look like a gangster (the old, Chicago mob-boss style, or the newer bejeweled kind either). If you can, you want to look like you could be an off-duty or plain-clothed cop. You are NOT trying to impersonate a law enforcement officer, but you do want to look every bit as neat and tidy as they do.
Sixth, be prepared for a confrontation, either with a civilian or a law enforcement officer. You’re now an ambassador of the open-carry movement and gun-owners in general. DON’T LET US DOWN!
Seventh, carry a camera and voice recorder. If you run into anyone that gives you a hard time, press record. Don’t do it “in your face” rather, do it quietly and secretly. You’ll behave better and keep a cooler head if you know you’re being recorded.
Eighth, and most importantly, be friendly, smile, be nice. These are your friends and neighbors that you’ll be mingling among. Make a good (and positive) impression.
Lastly, report back! Let me know how it went!
If you’re anything like us here at Sitting Duck Policy, you feel a bit upset when you come across a location that has posted a “No Guns” sign.
You feel that this not only infringes upon your Right to self-defense, but also advertises to criminals that beyond that sign is a “safe working environment” free from “potentially hazardous conditions” which could end up getting them hurt (or killed) during the commission of their crime.
You don’t like this sort of “Defenseless Victim” zone the property-owner has created by posting their signage, but how do you go about telling them, in the hopes this policy will be removed (or preferably reversed)?
Tim Oliver over at Learn to Carry has created some free cards that help you do just that! Simply download to your computer, and print on any heavy-stock paper that you want (or take the .pdf to your local Kinko’s or UPS Store and have them print and cut a few sheets for you).
Recently we ran an article detailing our recommendations on how to conduct yourself during a traffic stop while armed. Ironically, one of our writers, Joe Levi, ran into just such a situation only days after the story was run. The following is his account in his words (used with permission).
It’s been years since I was last pulled over, but having a brother and a next-door-neighbor in law enforcement has kept me close to the their community. Although I respect the man behind the badge, I also respect the fact that “anything I say or do will be used against me”.
I left work shortly after dark and was “lit up” by a police officer. I pulled to the side of the road, put the car in “park” and cut the headlights.
I rolled down my window and place my hands on the top of the steering wheel while I waited for the LEO to come up to my window.
When he got to my window he did something I’ve never seen a LEO do before: he introduced himself by name and department: “Hi there. I’m Officer Smith from Clearfield Police Department.”
“Good evening, I’m Joe Levi, Syracuse, Utah.” Now, if I were on foot, that’s all the identifying information that I’d be provided to give, but since I was driving a vehicle at the time, I was prepared for the next question. It didn’t come, well, not right away.
“It looks like you’ve got a headlight out on the passenger side. Were you aware of that?”
“I didn’t know it was out, but it’s been acting up, so I’m not surprised,” I replied
“Yeah, it’s was out when you drove past me, that’s why I stopped you. Can I see your driver’s license?”
“Sure thing, it’s in my front pocket.” In my experience, LEO’s like to know what you’re doing so there are no surprises. Telling him that my wallet was in my front pocket, then digging my wallet out of my front pocket reassured him that I’m one of the good guys. I removed my driver’s license AND my Utah Concealed Firearm Permit (CFP), place the wallet on the dash in front of me, and handed him BOTH forms of ID, then returned my hands to the top of the steering wheel.
He looked at both (CFP was on top of the driver’s license) and said “Oh, okay. Are you carrying this evening?”
With my hands still on the top of the steering wheel I replied “Yessir. Right hip.”
“Thank you for letting me know. I’m also going to need your registration and proof of insurance.” He didn’t miss a beat, didn’t make a big deal over the fact that I had a loaded firearm on my hip.
“No problem, they’re in the glove box.” I paused before reaching for the glove box, then reached over with one hand, opened the glove box and removed the envelope that I keep that information, then handed him the requested papers.
“Great. I’m going to go back and run this, sit tight.”
“Yessir.”
A couple minutes later he came back, handed my my papers, permit, and license. “I’ve entered this stop into the computer as a warning with a note that I’ve advised you that your headlamp is out and that I requested that you have it serviced. I’m not going to cite you for anything and you won’t be getting any paperwork, just make sure you get that light looked at as soon as you can. Have a good evening.”
“Will do. Thank you.” He returned to his car. I re-filed my paperwork in the glove box, put my cards back in my wallet, turned the headlamps back on (both came on, ironically), signaled to my left, put the car in drive, waited for traffic, and drove the rest of the way home.
The total traffic stop was no more than 5-7 minutes and was the easiest, most hassle-free stop I’ve ever been involved with.
Mutual respect goes a long way, and I truly felt this officer respected me.
Again, we remind you, we are not lawyers; we are not providing any type of legal and/or professional advice. As with anything you read/watch/hear, you should verify your facts and make sure the information applies to you. Consult legal council when and where appropriate.
The question of when you should draw your sidearm should be something that you have already answered to your own satisfaction. It should be something that you have trained for. It should be something that you build into your Color Code responses so that it’s not a question of if, but when, and it’s not your decision, it’s the decision of the bad guy. His actions should dictate your pre-programmed response.
The answer to this question is both simple, and complex.
All of our laws are based on the presumption of what a “reasonable person” would do in that circumstance.
Simply put, draw your sidearm when a “reasonable person” would be in fear for their life or receiving serious bodily harm. (In many areas this extends to the life and well-being of another person.)
If you draw your firearm the bad guy has just crossed the Condition Orange line and you are now in Condition Red. At this point a “reasonable person” would feel fear for their life (fear receiving serious bodily harm), and would be justified in stopping that threat by the use of deadly force.
Put another way, as a civilian, you should not draw your sidearm unless you are justified in (and prepared to) kill the bad guy, if need be. Of course, killing someone is not your intent, but it may be the inevitable outcome of the encounter.
Put yet another way, as a civilian, if you’re not justified in pulling the trigger, you’re probably not justified in drawing your sidearm either.
NCJones, a member of the USA Carry Forums recounts the following story.
I was at a friends pizza joint once about 11:30 PM waiting on my order and four thugs in baggy pants and gangster look walked in and just stood around (SW Houston).
The guy asked if he could help them and they said no.
At the time I was carrying a 1911 in a shoulder holster. I had my arms crossed with my hand inside the jacket. Hand on the grip and unsnapped just in case it turned ugly.
The pizza guy was a friend and noticed that I didn’t take my order and leave and that my hand was inside my coat. He thanked me for hanging around until they left.
In this example, NCJones elevated to Condition Orange when the four “suspicious individuals” came in. He prepared to enter Condition Red, setting his “mental triggers” (if one of the suspects did X, Y, or Z he’d draw and shoot). He prepared himself mentally and physically, and luckily, didn’t have to enter Condition Red.
A reader of a forum posted this question (paraphrased):
This may be odd to some, I have been carrying my firearm for about a month and have yet to carry it fully loaded. I’m just now getting used to the Holster and weight.
When I’m carrying I think about what if something happens and I need to fire. If I draw my sidearm I would first have to rack the slide to chamber a round.
We don’t have kids so I’m not locking up my gun anymore. It stays close to me.
Here is a reply from one of our staffers:
I carried 10+0 in my Glock30 for the first 10 years (full magazine, no round in the chamber).
I sat through another CFP class recently and the instructor ran though some scenarios and statistics, and I came to realize, in most altercations where drawing my sidearm is necessary, I may not have enough time to draw and acquire my target before my target is "on me"… and carrying "unloaded" (no round in the chamber) means I’d still have to rack a round… which would take even more time. Add to the timing factor that I may have one of my hands occupied (fending off an assailant’s weapon, or distancing myself from him with an out-stretched arm), or may have an injured limb, and may not be able to use both hands to rack the slide, and it becomes even more important that all I have to do is "point and click".
After that class I’ve carried with a round in the chamber everywhere that I carry my sidearm.
It’s great they you’re getting used to the mechanics of carrying a sidearm! Take some time and get familiar with it. Get used to the holster, the added weight, and the fact that you have the added responsibility of that tool with you.
It took me a long time before I didn’t feel "uncomfortable" carrying concealed.
It took me a long time before I didn’t feel "uncomfortable" carrying fully loaded.
I’m still getting used to open-carrying.
You’re not "odd" by carrying "unloaded". Carry the way that you feel best suits you. Ask questions, do research (like you did by posting your question), and find out if you need to change "what suits you" in favor of a better practice, then decide if you’re willing to do so.
We here at Sitting Duck are advocates of legally carrying a firearm to exercise your basic civil Right of self-defense. Whether you decide to do this in an open or a concealed fashion is up to you (and the laws that govern how, where, and when you can carry.
Statistics have shown that states that have adopted laws permitting concealed carry of firearms have had a notable decrease in violent crimes (rape, assault, homicide, etc.) as the number of concealed carry permits increase. An interesting corollary is that crimes against property tend to increase.
In other words, it looks like criminals, when faced with the increasing possibility of facing an armed victim, a criminal will favor property crimes over violent crimes. That’s a good thing. A stolen stereo, TV, or even a vehicle, is an insurance claim. A violent crime is something entirely different.
If ordinary “civilians” who might be carrying a firearm (concealed) are such a good crime deterrent, how much better would a civilian who actually is carrying a firearm (in the open)?
Today we’d like to introduce you to Bad Ace.
Bad Ace is a regular guy who lives in the firearm-unfriendly state of California. He also openly carries his firearm every day, in compliance with California State Law. Unlike others who simply carry and deal with “concerned” citizens (those ignorant about the law) and uneducated Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs), Bad Ace carries an audio/video recorder with him. He knows the law, and he exercises his Rights. (Something more of us should do.)
Bad Ace then posts his experiences with LEOs on his website and makes them available via podcast.
In a political move, Authorities in Nevada have decided that the Concealed Firearm Permits (CFP) issued by Utah and Florida “materially differ” from those issued by Nevada, and are thereby exempt from reciprocity.
In other words, as of July 1st, 2009 Nevada will no longer honor Utah and Florida CFPs.
The reasoning? Nevada permits are valid for a period of 5 years and require live-shooting proficiency as part of the requirements to be eligible for a Nevada CFP.
Utah does not require a live-shooting as a requirement for obtaining the permit, Nevada does.
Florida permits are good for 7 years, 2 more than Nevada’s 5.
Nevada, we feel, is picking at straws and shouldn’t worry about these two seemingly minor issues. Utah and Florida could offer “extensions” to their permit (similar to drivers license endorsements for commercial vehicles or motorcycles) that indicate the CFP holder has been “certified” in live ammunition or has “renewed” their permit at the 5 year mark. We’re afraid of what kind of can-of-worms this might open.
In the meantime, we at Sitting Duck Policy are advising our readers to unload and properly store their firearms before crossing the line into Nevada – or avoid Nevada altogether until they reverse their policy.