In study this week of details in the Ferguson grand jury transcripts, it was noted that Officer Darren Wilson carried a 40 caliber Sig Sauer P229. He explained to the grand jury that it held 12 rounds in the magazine plus 1 in the chamber, for a total of 13. During the course of many pages of testimony, it appears that, in the midst of 2 failures to fire (most likely due to Micheal Brown's having had his hand on the slide) the first 2 rounds were fired inside the vehicle and 10 more fired outside the vehicle.

Officer Wilson also stated that when back at the police station making the gun safe before placing it in an evidence bag, there was just 1 round left in his pistol. That tells me a couple of things: (1). He stopped shooting immediately when the lethal threat was stopped and (2) Had he been restricted to carrying a handgun with a 10-round magazine capacity, Officer Wilson would most likely have been mangled or killed.

An incident late last week prompted this post after a few nights of "sleeping on it". On one news channel or another, some of you probably saw where a 71-year old CHL holder shot and killed a man who had just assaulted and robbed his wife of a necklace just outside a north Dallas grocery store. In the following link, the reporter uses verbiage "overwhelming support on social media". http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/dallas-county/2014/10/29/man-concealed-handgun-shoots-kills-robber-police-crime/18115091/

As most of us recognize, the news media is usually not the best source of "the totality of the circumstances", but the reporters in the link above did a decent job of explaining some basics of Texas Penal Code Section 9.41. Those who have taken one of my CHL classes may recall that I don't typically spend much time on 9.41, other than cautions of possible "land mines" and "thin ice". And trying to get everyone to think about in advance: What "stuff" do you own that would be worth the emotional and financial grief that typically follows shooting someone?"

And more food for thought: I am certainly not blaming the victim or apologizing for the deceased, but ..... Ladies, please think long and hard about the jewelry you wear in some public places. 

Edited to add: Similar, even more violent robbery, in Whole Foods parking lot a few years back. The short version if not using the link: Thief ripped off necklace, then cut off finger for $90,000 ring. http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/08/06/13487160/

It looks like just a work-over crew set up on gas well site across the road this week. When the trucks started delivering equipment, I feared another well was going in during one of the peaks of our upcoming hunter ed season. The drilling and fracking is NOT at all conducive to outside discussions on the skills trail - or sometimes, inside either for that matter. As of today anyway, it appears the only major inconveniences before dove season opener may be the dirt still blowing off Lantana and the one-lane funnel on westbound 407 just before Copper Canyon Road.

This south side portion of our place includes both old and a little new stuff around the evaporative air conditioner. This is also a portion of "the view" some $300,000 homeowners could have if Lantana does not build an appropriately tall wall. I almost wish the gas well drillers would crank up with another well or two to give them some immediate motivation.

This is the first in a series of blog posts about various training firearms available to DCSA students. 

"Newbies" should not be intimidated by some of the necessary jargon that follows in this post and others in the coming months. Our classes and "hands on" sessions in the both the classroom and the range are geared toward getting students familiar with proper terminology, safe gun handling and marksmanship skills and at least "conscious competence", whether with one of our firearms or one they already own.

I lead off this series with the Sig Mosquito, because if someone can learn to operate all the controls on the Mosquito, they will generally be able to understand and operate just about any other semi-automatic pistol. The Mosquito is chambered in 22 Long Rifle, known for minimal recoil and use of inexpensive ammunition (at least in "normal" times).

The Mosquito's primary claim to fame is its size and ergonomics, virtually the same as several of Sig's line of handguns chambered in 9mm and above. The takedown lever, decocker, slide latch and magazine release are in virtually identical locations to some other popular Sig centerfire handguns. It also has an ambidextrious thumb safety and 3-dot sights. The Mosquito has a DA/SA (Double Action/Single Action) trigger assembly, which is representative of the action on some other Sigs as well as several other manufacturers.

Also like many other handguns, the Mosquito can be finiky about ammunition. The primary recommendation by the manufacturer is generally CCI Mini-Mags for maximum reliability. Thankfully, the one we use is well broken in and generally runs great, even with the less pricey brick ammo.

For Freedom Plan Members or recent students who want to join us, we will have the chronograph in lane 2 again this coming Friday evening from 7:00 until whenever. This will be one of the rare instances when, with instructors on site, and special target set ups, centerfire rifles up thru 30 cal will be allowed (hollowpoint or softpoint ammo only).

On Friday evening May 2 around 7:30, Wallace Foy will be bringing out his Glock sight adjustment tool for those who might need a "bump" or two on their rear sight. Cost of just $10 for Freedom Plan members. Others may contact me in advance to make arrangements for possibly tweaking/shooting some other types of pistols that evening.

It's been a few years since we have done such, but it's probably about time for another little "swap meet" at the range. Or maybe a good time for simply "socializing" with those of similar mindset.

The guidelines are pretty simple: Bring out anything gun-wise that you might want to sell or trade. Guns, scopes, holsters, ammo, etc.  And your own folding table to set up outside if you have a lot of "stuff".  All guns for sale or trade should have cable ties through the action. All concealed carry guns should remain that way - concealed, unless inside the range in one of the shooting stalls. 

DCSA will provide the fixings for hot dogs, burgers and drinks. Cooking will probably start around 6:00.. Please let us know here, on Facebook page or e-mail to dcsa1996@yahoo.com if you plan to attend, so we will have a better idea of how much food "stuff" to buy. I will plan to be there not later than 4:00 for anyone who might want assistance in setting up an outside table (possibly with a canopy?) or re-upping a Freedom Plan.

Plan A is to set up mostly outside. In the event of rainy weather, Plan B will be to set up everything inside (including the range if necessary).

Also feel free to comment here or on DCSA Facebook page if you would like to let others know what you plan to bring, remembering that "One man's trash may be another man's (or woman's!) treasure."

May 17, 2014 a.m. addition: I plan to put out some holsters that, with shortened version of CHL class, are no longer needed for "show and tell". also a Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 and a Crimson Trace laser grip for Smith $ Wesson j-frames. Below is a "paste" of what Richard just sent me; 

Below is what I will most likely bring on Sunday, not sure if anybody will want the guns but will at least have them out there for people to see that we are back in business.
 
Shotguns

Glocks

Ruger LCR

Rock Island Armory 1911

Springfield XDs .45 cal

Stag Arms Model 3 AR-15

Used Sigs

Slide Glide

Kershaw Knife a few of them

North Texas Arms

2311 Regina Drive

Corinth, TX 76210

940-279-1446

www.northtexasarms.com

The photo above is posted on the blog today so that some members will not be in quite so much shock upon their next trip to the range. Bonnie, one of my first students for an NRA First Steps class, described it as "The Twilight Zone". 

When we bought our little piece of nature on the hilltop in unincorporated Denton County in 1995, there was nothing but woods, brier patch and poison ivy between us and FM 407. Last week, Lantana's contractors suddenly clear cut the last of it, including many majestic trees that had to be at least 100 years old. Sickening. However, their sandbox, their rules.

As some may have noticed, a new elementary school is under construction about 400 yards to our southwest and is scheduled to open in August. In an ironic twist, I understand the CVS Pharmacy scheduled for construction on the northwest corner of 407 and Copper Canyon Road, has been delayed again - until their lot can be incorporated into the Town of Copper Canyon in order to possibly get a liquor license for beer and wine sales. Pre-platting drawings obtained from Denton County earlier this week indicate the balance of the Lantana property between us and several more commercial lots along 407 being "conceptual" intentions of 200+ more cookie cutter houses on postage stamp lots.

Again, at least "conceptually", the engineering drawings available to the public indicate 7 50 ft. wide residential lots just south of the new overhead electric lines that Lantana and CoServe recently re-routed in a new (not shown) 20 ft. wide easement along our south 400+ ft. property line. As indicated in the adjacent photo, Lantana's suddenly bulldozing the woods exposed our "back side" and 18 years of accumulated "stuff" not previously visible from the road. As an aside, the camo portion of the building is what is left of the original paint job (both front and back), intended to be "environmentally friendly", to get the building to blend into the woods. As it turned out, the camo paint job gave some people a perception that we were some sort of radical paramilitary organization and it was replaced with a solid color. 

In any event, in order to get out swift messages, a new "24/7 GUN RANGE" sign was completed and installed yesterday (with plans to repaint the back side of all of the structures white). Time will tell what height wall Lantana opts to build to screen us from their latest development and them from our ongoing operations and accumulating "stuff".  But, until they do build an appropriately tall wall, we may have to deal with their noise and dust. Meanwhile, home builders will certainly not be able to claim that they did not have notice of adjacent operations and "architecture". 

I also plan to send a certified letter and a copy of this 3/7/14 blog post to at least the local Lantanta honcho, to make abundantly clear that we will have little or no sympathy for anyone who buys a house near three long-established 24/7 business operations and wants to whine later about the lights, sights, sounds or smells of any of them - or any other future business locating on our unincorporated property. Then again, many prospective new home buyers might be like Bonnie - and want to consider the purchase of one of the new (2-story?) cookie cutter houses to be able to walk to the gun range. And have one of the strongest Verizon cell phone signals obtainable in the rat race.

4-21-14 P.S.  Lantana Board recently voted to NOT let CVS Pharmacy property be incorporated into Copper Canyon. 

As many in law enforcement and the "real world" of concealed carry have come to recognize, the NRA's three primary rules for safe gun handling for "Sport Shooting" must be judiciously applied in proper contexts. CHL people and cops are certainly not expected to carry unloaded handguns, so a little common sense is applicable to "the totality of the circumstances" in regard to Rule #1 and #3. As another instructor has pointed out, note Rule #3 says "ready to use".

With a common form of carry for both men and women being IWB (inside waist band) and Rule #1 often being compromised, the final photo here depicts what many of us believe is the safest option when re-holstering IWB, particularly with holsters that do not have a rigid opening. Placing the loaded handgun inside the holster while pointed in the safest direction, then putting the holster into the desired position greatly reduces any chance of a finger or a piece of clothing getting inside the trigger guard. The same principle is applicable with pocket holsters. If not doing so already, more "food for thought", especially for many students and friends who opt to carry around front - with the muzzle pointed at things they are generally not willing to destroy!

With the reduction in CHL class hours last September, there are several topics in my Texas CHL lesson plan that had to be eliminated - or at least substantially abbreviated. This little "history lesson" is one of them. It may be, at the very least, "Nice to Know" info as certain issues get cussed and discussed among ourselves and in the media between now and when the Texas Legislature is in session again this time next year.

Those who became CHL holders when the law went into effect on January 1, 1996 were taught certain things about Texas Penal Code Section 30.05 in regard to "Criminal Trespass". One of those things was a warning to be watchful for any type of "No weapons" or "Gunsbuster" type of signage that might be posted in some private businesses. And that the penalties for getting caught carrying a handgun - knowingly or unknowingly - beyond one of these signs could be extremely serious. 

And signs there were! Throughout 1996 and well into 1997, due primarily to the media attention of the new CHL law going into effect and irrational fears by many people, there was an epidemic of various types of "No Handguns" signage placed at the entrances of various types of private businesses, especially in major metropolitan areas. Otherwise law-abiding, "sqeaky clean" CHL holders who happened to miss seeing one of these signs were at great risk of a "Criminal Trespass with a Firearm" charge: as in Class A Misdemeanor, including "Go directly to jail, get a lawyer, pay the fees and fines, very possibly have to go back to jail and be ineligible for another CHL for at least 7 years". 

As a result of some of this (and some very diligent work by NRA Board Member Charles Cotton), the 1997 Texas Legislature added Penal Code Section 30.06, specifically to protect CHL holders. The applicable (signage) portion states:

"Written communication" means: (A) a card or other document on which is written language identical to the following: "Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by holder of license to carry a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (concealed handgun law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun"; or (B) a sign posted on the property that: (i) includes the language described by Paragraph (A) in both English and Spanish; (ii) appears in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height; and (iii) is displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public.

On the same date this change went into effect, Section 46.035 was also amended to read

(i) Subsections (b)(4), (b)(5), (b)(6), and (c) do not apply if the actor was not given effective notice under Section 30.06.

Twenty months after the CHL law went into effect, these two changes (effective Sept. 1, 1997) were huge in that 
(1) CHL holders had a very well defined sign to watch out for and an excellent defense to prosecution if ever wrongfully charged by having gone past a non-compliant sign and
 (2) four of the original "prohibited locations" (including churches and amusement parks) were removed from the "no go" list (unless they give specified oral or written notice). 

Below, as used in our classroom for training purposes, is an example of a "compliant" 30.06 sign.

By late 1997, many business owners or managers who had previously posted "No Handguns" signage realized the stupidity - that is was already against the law to carry without a license in a public place AND that a sign on the front door was certainly not going to deter anyone intent on aggravated robbery or murder.  Many were also politely informed that such signage was making some of the most law abiding people in the state go spend their money somewhere else.

Most business owners or managers did not even know about the change in the law in regard to 30.06 signage. Of those who did, relatively few chose to spend the money to post the "big ugly signs". Besides, with "out of sight, out of mind" and the excellent reputation of Texas CHL holders, most businesses did not know or care if customers were packing,

However, in their infinite wisdom, some local anti-gun bureaucrats seized upon their knowledge of the new 30.06 signage and began to have signs placed at the entrance to locations such as the city library "to protect the children". Some school districts went so far as to post 30.06 signs at the entrances to their parking lots. The City of Dallas placed 30.06 signage at the entrances to the State Fair - which did not meet the definition of an amusement park as defined in 46.035. With such postings being in clear violation of Texas' "preemption law", the 2003 Texas Legislature amended 30.06 with the following:

(e) It is an exception to the application of this section that the property on which the license holder carries a handgun is owned or leased by a governmental entity and is not a premises or other place on which the license holder is prohibited from carrying the handgun under Section 46.03 or 46.035.

This amendment provided a "defense to prosecution" for license holders if local bureaucrats tried to wrongfully prosecute by basically saying, by State laws, the local bureaucrats did not have the authority to put up the 30.06 signs to begin with. As a result of this amendment - and hundreds of complaints from CHL holders - the 30.06 signs at Dallas' Fair Park came down. Beginning in October of 2003 CHL holders could comfortably carry into the State Fair (except to games in the Cotton Bowl).

However, all too many illegitimate 30.06 signs remained in place (and still do) in some taxpayer-funded locations, creating no small amount of confusion for (and sometimes disarming of) license holders. This resulted in House Bill 508 being introduced in the 2013 Texas Legislature. It included some severe penalties for any local bureaucrat that authorized ongoing placement of illegitimate 30.06.signage. It had great support this past session, yet died in the final hours due to Senator Dan Patrick's attempt to tack on an elitist amendment. There is a very good chance that a similar bill will be introduced again in 2015.

Speaking of the 2015 legislative session, we will likely be seeing at least one bill introduced again related to "Open Carry", which is quite controversial - and possibly the topic of another post one of these days. 

In conclusion for now as it relates to the 30.06 signage: Currently, in the locations where many of us go on a daily basis, there are just not all that many 30.06 signs. What many of us fear is that if any "Open Carry" legislation happens to get passed and is not very carefully worded in regard to signage (as in NOT tied to the current 30.06 verbiage), it could result in just enough "Man with a Gun" calls to 911 to create an epidemic of wasted police resources, business owners and managers not wanting any more "panic attacks" in their buildings or parking lots and a rash of new 30.06 signs going up at thousands of locations where there are none present today.