U.S. Concealed Carry
Armed American Report
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February 15th, 2008
Dear Friend,
Well, it was NOT an easy task, but I managed to jam-pack this week's newsletter with so much information that it's ready to burst at the seams!
I hope you had an AWESOME week, and an even better weekend... you're going to love this- enjoy!
The Lesson of Kirkwood
by Bob Weir
It was just another city council meeting in the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood, Missouri, population about 28,000. It was a Thursday evening and the session was just being called to order after the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Although the council meetings in Kirkwood were occasionally immersed in controversy, they were reflective of a thousand other cities and towns across the country in which issues over zoning, parks, business and residential growth are often discussed with heated intensity. The mayor, council members and town staff had no reason to believe that this night would be any different. Certainly, they couldn't have imagined that in a matter of minutes 5 people would be shot dead in and around the building and 2 others would be severely wounded.
While Mayor Mike Swoboda, 69, was gaveling the meeting to begin, Lee "Cookie" Thornton, 52, a man well-known for his angry tirades at council sessions, was in the parking lot shooting to death Sgt. William Biggs, 50, a 20 year veteran of the Kirkwood Police Department. He took the slain officer's gun and burst into the council chambers, killing Police Officer Tom Ballman, 37, the department's spokesman and community service officer who was on duty at the meeting. Witnesses said Thornton began yelling, "Shoot the mayor," as he started his bloody rampage.
"We crawled under the chairs and just laid there," said a severely shaken reporter who was covering the meeting for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Before the crazed gunman was brought down by other officers arriving at the scene he had killed 3 more people and wounded another two.
Among the dead were council members, Connie Karr, 51, in her second term and intending to run for mayor; Michael Lynch, 63, who had been on the council since 2000; and Kenneth Yost, 61, who served as the Public Works Director for the city. The mayor was wounded as was Todd Smith, a 36 year-old reporter. Mayor Swoboda, in critical condition, is serving his second and final term as mayor because of term limits. He is known by some as "Mr. Ubiquitous" because he shows up at every event. Most residents had good words for the mayor's commitment to the city and his many accomplishments. Yet, there was one resident who harbored a deep hatred for a man whom he believed was responsible for his torment.
Thornton was irate over zoning decisions that went against him, was furious over dozens of parking tickets that led to some $2,000 in fines and was livid over City Council attempts to curb his ranting at city meetings.
His outbursts during meetings had twice resulted in his forcible removal and arrests for disorderly conduct. Late last month, a judge threw out his lawsuit claiming the city infringed on his freedom of speech. Some say that was the final setback that put him over the edge. Reading about this horrific tragedy makes me wonder why someone didn't take steps to keep it from happening. How many signs do we need to forewarn us of danger? This man Thornton had been behaving like a maniac at council meetings for years. He had been handcuffed and literally dragged from chambers as he cursed the mayor and other city officials. At one point, the council considered banning him permanently, ultimately deciding he had a right to be there, but, because he had been disruptive at the podium, was prohibited from speaking.
Yes, hindsight is 20/20 and there's no purpose in trying to second guess those who didn't insulate themselves from someone who appeared to be emotionally deranged. However, we can and should learn something from this homicidal rampage.
The police officers were the first targets because the killer knew they were armed. Once he removed the threat from them, he knew he could begin to satisfy his malevolent thirst for revenge, unimpeded. The town attorney threw a couple of chairs at the madman, warding off some shots directed at him. Suppose that attorney was armed? How many lives might he have saved?
Suppose there had been a police officer in civilian clothes at the meeting? Last year, a former police officer at a Colorado church drew her weapon and killed a rampaging gunman before he could take any more lives.
We can't read anyone's mind, but we can read their behavior. Those 5 innocent people deserved to go home to their families that night. One inconspicuous police officer might have made it possible for at least some of them to do so.
Bob Weir is a former detective sergeant in the New York City Police Department. He is the executive editor of The News Connection in Highland Village, Texas.
Hey gang! If you're anything like me, you EAT UP any and all the information you can get regarding "Carrying Concealed Weapons".
With that in mind, I wanted to give you a couple links that I think you are REALLY going to find useful. Okay, you probably have heard of Gabe Suarez, of Suarez International- especially if you are a member, because Gabe writes an AMAZING force-on-force column in our Concealed Carry Magazine. Well, he's got a GREAT online forum called "Warrior Talk" as well... be sure to check it out! http://www.warriortalk.com/
PS- Gabe also has a great email newsletter called "Warrior News". Be sure to check it out as well: http://suarezinternationalmail.com/
Enjoy, friends!
the POWER WEDGE
USCCA GEAR REVIEW
As you have probably noticed, each week I try to review a product that you are going to find useful. Well folks... pound for pound, I think this week's gear-review might just be the single most useful and unique products that I've showed you... at least in recent memory.
It won't be as cute as last week's gear review, but I have a feeling this thing will make up for it in sheer effectiveness and simplicity! The product is the "Power Wedge", and it was invented by a company called Anderson Innovations.
The way this product works, is you secure a small plate to the floor right on the inside of the threshold of a door. Then when you want to secure your entry ways, say for example you are going to sleep, you just drop the Power Wedge onto the plate. Here's a picture from their website that explains it perfectly:
Isn't that so clever? I have personally talked to the guy who came up with this idea, and he told me that he's gotten feedback on four home invasions that were prevented because the thug was unable to gain entry through doors equipped with the powerwedge. That's just amazing! He told me that the secret of the Power-Wedge's power is that it's so low to the ground. It's nearly impossible for a thug to apply his direct force to the bottom of the door, so it's going to be VERY difficult for him to bust this thing.
Now obviously, if someone REALLY wants into your house, they are eventually going to figure out a way. BUT... if simply kicking your door in fails, two things will happen as a result:
1) The thug will have to make a LOT of noise trying to get through your door, alerting you to his presence.
2) You will have bought yourself time. In a home invasion, every SECOND counts, and with the power wedge, you will have many more seconds... seconds to secure your family, call the police, ready your firearm, and take up a good defensive position.
THAT is why I REALLY like this product. The inventor sent me two of them to test, but I have already ordered two more for my garage doors.
... did I mention that these things are only $14.00??
For more information on this wonderful product, visit their website:
USCCA Members-Only Forum Highlights
Every Member has complete access to the USCCA forum, which is constantly being accessed by members sharing information, knowledge, insight, and fun. With well over thirty-five-thousand posts and growing by the hour, this is one heck of a valuable resource!
I made a mistake!
I decided to join a couple of other gun related forums and after surfing around for a couple of weeks, I now realize that I made a mistake and have wasted a lot of time messing around with at least one of them.
Coming on to our USCCA forum is like night and day compared with one of the others I've been visiting and it feels as if the level of maturity on this site is way ahead of the others I've seen. When I joined USCCA and announced myself as a new member, several current members welcomed me and said "You chose well". I absolutely agree with them.
I look forward to our USCCA forum continuing to be classy, informative, and also fun. I have unsubscribed from one of the other forums and will not go back there. Unfortunately, the one I've unsubscribed from is named after a well known gun manufacturers and I own one of their excellent weapons. I have no idea if the forum is in any way related to the actual manufacturer but, they are not doing themselves any favors by being associated with some of the trash talk that's allowed to be posted.
Thank you everyone for making this forum (and the whole association) great.
Best to you always.
Is There Such A Thing As A Pocket .45?
Now I've seen a few on websites and in magazines that claim to be suitable for pocket carry. That doesn't mean that they would actually work in the real-world as a pocket gun.
Things have changed for me and I have developed a need to carry my primary weapon inside my front pants pocket. I bought the Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm which is great for my pockets, but I am just now really beginning the search for a suitable .45.
Even if I have to switch to wearing only tactical khakis all the time during those hours of only being able to carry in the pocket I can live with that.
The answer to: "How to sharpen a knife"
A few weeks ago I asked for help in locating a good knife sharpener. Let me say thanks to the many replies I received. I can recall my first knife. It was a Tom Mix pearl handle single blade knife. I got it in the mail after sending two Ralston cereal box tops.(If you can go back that far your OLD). It fit snugly into a pocket in a high ankle boot on the right side that had a flap that snapped closed. Since then and many box tops later I'm still collecting knifes of one sort of another. Usually cheapies that come and go like all things. I finally decided to get a more expensive knife, one that would last a bit longer. My only problem was that none of the knifes I had would stay sharp for very long (sound familiar).
I remember trying to sharpen my Tom Mix knife on the edge of the curb in "Da Bronx" NY.
It didn't work very well. Through the years and many curb stones latter I really had no real success. Flat stone, Arkansas stone, oil stones, Wal-Mart specials, yep tried them all. Some one suggested the knife manufacturer Spyderco. I took the plunge and ordered a Tri-Angle sharpener from Aeromedix for $ 42.95. (The cheapest I could find). Well I set it up after playing the CD they sent explaining how to use it,(it's simple). I'm happy to say the hair on both my arms are gone and I'm working on my legs, although carefully when I get up high. I thought you'd like to know that it does give a very sharp edge. Am going to order a another Tom Mix knife as soon as I finish this, please pass the Raldton Ferena Cereal.
Thanks again for your suggestions.
Now THAT is a Shotgun!
USCCA VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Note: Because some email programs don't display the newsletter very well when the Video of the Week is included, I've decided only display the video on the website itself. This change will make the newsletter load a lot faster for you, so I think you'll like the change! To go to our newsletter site to watch it, visit the following link:
http://www.uscca.us/news/newsletter/the-importance-of-armed-citizens/
"Tim-spiration" of the Week
USCCA QUOTE OF THE WEEK
- Sometimes a good quote will inspire or motivate you. Sometimes, they’ll just put a smile on your face! Here is the quote for this week…
"The NRA believes America's laws were made to be obeyed and that our Constitutional liberties are just as important today as 200 years ago. And by the way, the Constitution does not say Government shall decree the right to keep and bear arms. The Constitution says 'The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
Self Defense Story OF THE WEEK
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Every day, thousands of Armed Americans use their firearms to preserve human life. Let this section of my newsletter serve as a record of this fact!
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THEY PICKED THE WRONG DUDE TO ROB!
found at: biblicalevangelist.org and written by: Dr. Robert L. Sumner
Recently a couple of masked thugs – Donicio Arrindell, age 22, and Frederick Gadson, age 21 – decided to rob a Subway Sandwich Shop in Plantation (FL), a little town of about 5,000 due west of Fort Lauderdale, just off I-595. It looked like a safe time, shortly before midnight and only one patron was dining at a table, an elderly gentleman.
After cleaning out the cash register, the hoods decided the old man finishing his meal would be easy pickings, too, and herded him into the men’s room where they helped themselves to his wallet. What they didn’t know was that this “old man” was John Lovell, an ex-Marine who had served as pilot for two Presidents, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, and was a gentleman who not only had a Second Amendment right to bear arms, he knew how to use them.
Although 71-years of age, Lovell works out at the gym every day, doesn’t smoke or use alcohol, and remains very adept at handling himself. After they got his money, the ex-Marine pulled out his business piece and opened fire, hitting both men – each in the head and one in the chest. When police arrived they found one sprawled on the floor and the other one the K-9 dogs found hiding outside in the bushes. Both were taken to the Broward General Medical Center, where Arrindell died and Gadson remained in critical but stable condition at the time of this writing.
As Police Detective Bob Rettig explained, “These criminals ought to realize that most men in their 70s have military backgrounds and aren’t intimidated by idiots. Something tells me this old Marine wasn’t ‘in fear’ even though his life was definitely at risk … And he better not be charged! More like rewarded.” Then he added, “The only thing he could be charged with is partaking in an unfair fight – one 71-year-young Marine against two punks.” Authorities verified he would not be charged, but no mention was made of a reward.
Closing Thoughts
Whew, what a newsletter, huh? I sure had a lot of fun putting it together!
Before I let you go this week, I want to remind all of the USCCA Members reading this about the contest that I kicked off yesterday! It's a contest for a new Kimber Ultra Carry II, or a $900 cash prize, OR a Life-Time USCCA Membership! All you have to do to win this thing is send me the most compelling, and the highest quality USCCA testomonial!
Exciting huh? It's easy too! Check out the official contest page to figure out how to submit your very own chance to win:
http://uscca.us/contests/testimonials/testimonial_contest.html
Tim Schmidt
Founder - U.S. Concealed Carryhttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com