Got My Truck Back!

I'm tired.  Lots of emotion expended in this episode.  Short story goes like this.  Semipro thieves grab my truck from Walmart parking lot in less than a minute.  They grab another truck very much like mine within an hour from another Walmart.  The proceed to park both in an apartment complex on the south edge of town.  We then have stormageddon overnight including some small tornadoes locally.  I'm guessing they didn't want to be out driving in that weather.  This morning, sharp apartment complex maintenance guy notices trucks that don't belong there.  I get a call from SAPD saying they got my truck!  Yippie!  They stole my trailer hitch ball piece that goes in the reciever, my lunch boxes with some of the best dried sausage around damnmnmnmnit!, some change, and my trash bag (strange ya?).  Not sure if they got anything else as that's all the memory has at the moment. They messed up the door lock, the ignition lock, and my headliner.  They left clothes and about 8 Sunkist soda cans that had nice fingerprints on them behind.  The cops were actually a touch optimistic about that.

Bottom line is the truck is in not to much worse shape than when I got it.  They did enjoy a full tank of gas on me for the evening.  The cops figure they were watching us as we recovered the vehicles.  Good.  I hope it ruined their day.  With any luck, they'll have many days ruined soon.  If that happens I should get a phone call.  I'll let you know.

I'm Now A Statistic

The Groundhog had his truck stolen tonight.  Probably by pros.  I was at Walmart.  They came off the highway in another truck and had mine gone within a minute.  Back on the highway.  Ironically, I was inside buying stuff for an orphanage in Haiti that our church is sponsoring.  I hope God is pretty ticked with those guys right about now.  It's in His hands now and I'm as good with that as I can be.  Kinda numb to the whole thing at the moment really.  Doesn't even make a decent post.  Ah well, got better stuff coming.

More Interesting 2A Activism

I guess I'm becoming a radical.  Mrs. Groundhog is getting into the act a bit herself.  Today we had numerous errands to run, one of which was to my credit union, Security Services Federal Credit Union just so's ya know.  Well, the one closest to us has a 30.06 sign that's not in compliance with state law but it is visible.  Mrs. G swore the one up the road near another place we were going didn't have the sign.  I thought that odd.  We both knew they used to have a type of "no guns" sign up at that one but had they removed them all together?  We figured we'd check.  We went up to the door and sure enough, no sign was visible.  "Yea" I thought.  I wanted to find out if it was a store by store policy so I went in and asked.  This is where things got a tad interesting.

Big somewhat intimidating looking guy goes into financial institution and inquires about handgun policies and rules.  Employee first encountered has no idea and says manager would be best to talk to.  She disappears into an office.  Intense discussion ensues at low volume for an uncomfortably long time.  I looked back at the door and much to my disappointment see that from the inside of the door you can see the 30.06 sign posted.  It was flat out invisible from the outside as you walked in.  Again, the sign is not in compliance with state law.  We have this thing here in Texas where the sign must be in 1 inch high letters that contrast with the background in both English and Spanish.  These weren't.  But back to that uncomfortably long conversation.  I was starting to wonder if I had done the equivalent of yelling bomb in an airport or something and we were being stalled until the cops roll up.  I seriously considered saying "never mind!  See ya!" and heading out.  About that time though, a different employee walked out of the office and went to another area.  Apparently that was the one having the intense conversation and the one we talked to had just walked in there and waited her turn.  Whew!  Who knew 2A rights activism could be so exciting!

Then it went back to normal and I got to chat with the manager and explained what the sign did and wondered who I'd speak to about it.  She went one better than the glasses place though and took my info and said someone from headquarters would call me on Monday.  Hey, taking care of the customers inquiry is cool even if they don't see it my way.  It was interesting to note that she assumed state law simply forbid carrying in a bank.  It does not.

For those interested, a FAQ on the Texas Dept. of Public Safety tells you exactly where you can't carry your licensed handgun.

Question 50.  Where can I not take my handgun?

Handguns and other weapons cannot be carried at schools or on school buses, at polling places, in courts and court offices, at racetracks, at secured airport areas, or within 1,000 feet of the premises of a facility carrying out an execution on the day of an execution. The law also specifically prohibits handguns from businesses where alcohol is sold, if more than half of their revenue is from the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption. Additionally, weapons are prohibited on locations where high school, college or professional sporting events are taking place. Furthermore, you may not carry handguns in hospitals or nursing homes, amusement parks, places of worship or at government meetings, if signs are posted prohibiting them. Businesses also may post signs prohibiting handguns on their premises based on criminal trespass laws.

I added the emphasis to the FAQ answer.  So to summarize, you can't take your licensed hand gun to these places:

1.  Schools or on school buses.
2.  Polling places.
3.  Courts and court offices.
4.  Racetracks.
5.  Secure airport areas.
6.  Within 1000 feet of execution facility on day of execution.
7.  What we call 51% businesses, usually bars.
8.  Any school or professional sporting event (unsure if monster truck rallies apply).



The other places listed really don't even need to be although perhaps the punishment is stiffer if you are caught there.  The reason being is that it clearly says you have to have signage posted.  Well, any business can prohibit carry if it posts the correct signage so I'm unsure why the specify those.  Notice that financial institutions are not mentioned at all.  Also, ignoring a 30.06 sign is a misdemeanor where as some of the other specified areas are felonies.  Thus endeth today's 2nd Amendment activism moment.

My Bit Of 2A Activism

I found out today that my new vision insurance wasn't accepted by the normal eye doctor I see.  After asking around the office to see if anyone else had it, used it, who'd they see, where, etc. I found another doctor in the same shopping center that accepted it.  After work today I popped over to make an appointment and per the normal arrangement found her office next to an eyeglasses store called Visionworks.  They used to be an EyeMasters.  Apparently they are changing their name.  I'd been there before when they were under the EyeMasters label quite a while back.  I never went back because they had the Texas 30.06 statute posted prohibiting the lawful carry of concealed handguns.  At that time I didn't have reason to need or want to shop there so I just chalked them off my nice store list.

Texas 30.06 Sign

Well, I now find that it would be awfully convenient to drop in over there tomorrow after I get my exam but I can't because I'll be carrying.  I went back to my truck after making my appointment and was about to leave when I started getting irritated about it.  Since I had just come from a super secure, super safe military facility where weapons are totally prohibited and it's a felony if you break that rule, I happened to not be carrying at the time.  Now mind you, I don't like that either but I'm not willing to go to jail to protest it.  I also figure getting some face time with the base commander to politely explain how useless the signs are would get nowhere and not be in my best interests.  So since I was already disarmed I went in and asked to speak to the manager.

She was a nice lady and I wanted to be nice to her and as convincing as I could be.  At times like this the fact that I look rather intimidating does not help matters at all.  But I nervously pushed on saying I'd like to talk to her about the no guns sign on the door.  I was immediately met with what I figured was true in that it was company policy and they couldn't do anything, not their fault, etc.  I said I understood but would you mind if I educated you a little about what the sign does?  She was OK with that so I proceeded to show her my CHL license, explaining what I had to go through to get it.  I explained that a LOT of Texans have these and by having that sign up there you keep regular law abiding citizens from entering your shop because they'd be committing a crime.  To personalize it more I explained that that is exactly what will happen tomorrow because I'm coming in for my exam next door and won't be able to come into your store after to get some glasses since I'll be carrying then.  Also telling them that they had a very nice store and I'd love to buy my glasses there.

She seemed to understand and I deliberately didn't go into too much detail hoping only to get this simple message across.  Sign equal less money in store coffers.  Nothing else really mattered or would matter to the higher up types anyway, although to them I could explain the more intricate bits about how the sign wasn't doing them a lick of good and anyone without a permit would already be committing a crime by being in there, or out front walking around with it.  Here in Texas though we can actually drive right up to your front door with a handgun in our cars perfectly legally without gubment permission and the store can't stop that at all.  She said she'd pass that on to her managers for me and it all went as pleasant as pie.

So, I did a tiny bit today to advance my admittedly limited second amendment rights.  The manager and anyone she tells the story to will at least brush up against the fact that rights do, in fact, affect people at the smallest levels of life.  Most won't care but you never know if you planted a seed.  I may wave to her tomorrow when I go next door if I see her.  I also realize that if I really give a rip I need to write the company as well.  Anyone that's read my stuff knows I do that kind of thing so it's next on the agenda.  I alone might not make a difference but I bet it would only take 9 other people to "inform" the company that the policy is bad to get them to change it...

Discussions

Bob S. and I had a discussion today about a post I made a while back on the move Act Of Valor.  I love discussions that cause me to think.  I'm not the most skilled critical thinker a most folks can argue circles around me.  I remember in middle school social studies class I had to debate a gal over timber usage.  She represented the tree hugger camp and I, the lumber industry.  I did a ton of research but promptly got my butt kicked in the debate.  One of her main points was that people could live in caves as alternative means of housing and thus avoid using timber.  I got a C on that project only because of the reams of research I did.  I could have won the debate with one line that I naturally though up about 3 days later, "Exactly how many people do you know who live in a cave?"  Pretty sure that would have been end of story but that's not how it turned out.  Sorry for the bunny trail.  One to Bob S. and I discussing some things about Act Of Valor.  You might want to go back and read the original post first.

So Bob says to me:

Groundhog,

I served in the Air Force in the 80's when the military was largely ignored -- I took a different perspective from your same observation -most of the country isn't behind the military.

I looked at the type of people who served and still serve despite the fact that few still care about the country.

Think of the dedication, the integrity of those who served, still serve and will serve even though they know the country is drifting wildly from the ideal -- that say a lot.

It says we still have families and communities that can raise up such people.
It says we still have people who aspire to achieve those ideals and will defend the country as we try to work our way back - all isn't hopeless as long as we still have folks like that.
It says we still have much in the country to admire -- less then in the past definitely; but I don't see people flocking to get into Iran or Saudi Arabia, do you?

The other thing I took away is the simple fact as long as they serve; I should work to insure they have a country worth defending. It helped me realize that I need to stop being on the sidelines and get more active.

 Well put, had to chew a bit on it, then I said back:

 Bob,

It took me a few days to respond to you. Initially I needed to think it over, and then, of course, life got in the way. Go figure.

Let me try to clarify my rant some. I agree with the sentiment of the movie and I'm extremely grateful that we have people like that who will still serve their country in spite of what some people are trying to turn it into. I think the only reason the movie didn't grab me is that it didn't deal with our country, really at all. It just insinuated that everyone "back home" were chest thumping patriots who are 100% behind these guys. I dunno, maybe there really wasn't a good way to make this movie and try to explain the realities of "back home" at the same time. If I were 18 again I wouldn't hesitate for a second to join up. Heck, I'd do it today if I had any prayer of making it back in.

I find myself in a hard place. I'm proud of my service and theirs. Most of my life I've been proud of my country and yes, some of the time that was with rose colored glasses on. I suppose if you had to get down to the nuts and bolts of it I'm only not proud of part of my country. That would be the relatively large number of people that whether they realize it or not want to turn us into a Communist state. I don't think that's too strong a word for it either. I've seen nothing leftist that does not eventually equate to that type of government whether in that exact name or not.

Ensuring we have a country worth defending is the trick isn't it? We're in that nebulous area where things aren't abundantly clear. Direction isn't easily determined, even with some fairly predictable things coming. Economic problems (big ones) are likely unstoppable but who knows what will result from them?

I've read a number of people who have written lately about how we're now a country in decline. I tend to fall into this thinking myself, though as my darling wife pointed out to me recently, people have probably thought we'd gone into decline during every bleak period we've been through as a nation. Maybe we're just in a flat spot and the graph of our ascent still has a while to go up. I really don't know. I do know that none of the people who've written that sentiment lately have bothered to say exactly what we ought to do if we are in fact on that downward trend. You did though and really it's the only thing we can do and that's to get more involved.

America is ill and it's pretty serious. She's been ill before and has recovered before. There's a cancer in her that's tearing her apart and it's one we'll never be rid of. I read an awesome quote today.

"My confidence is that there will for a long time be virtue and good sense enough in our countrymen to correct abuses." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Edward Rutledge, 1788

Jefferson was correct. I believe there are still large numbers of us that fit this category but we have largely abdicated any potions of authority that would allow us to "correct abuses". Those in authority pander to the free lunch crowd currently and they really can't say no or they'll be replaced. The abuses are enormous and the list is long. I'd like us to be able to use one of the lefts best practices against them and that would be those small incremental changes that have allowed them to get so close to their goal. I just don't know that we have the will or the time to do so. Liberty seems to come upon people in a great rush amid great events. Bondage creeps in and picks liberty apart one insidious bit at a time. Until it too can usher in its “great event” when liberty is finally toppled, crushed under its own weight due to its deterioration from within.

Can we stop this from happening? If enough of the people who were left would get active and oppose the insanity being foisted upon us I have no doubt we could stop it in short order. I know I personally don’t do enough though I do some. My list is small and I find it a struggle to enlarge. I don’t know that I’m fighting but I am resisting. I won’t stop that.

In a split comment post no less!  I had no idea blogger limited comments in length.  So I told Bob I thought it was a good discussion and I wanted to share it with my readership.  He's cool with that and cooking up his own post on it.  Anyway, he replied back:

Groundhog,

I think the only reason the movie didn't grab me is that it didn't deal with our country, really at all.

This is something that I've read in other places and I think that sentiment misses an important point -- the movie wasn't designed to deal with our country.

Not every movie has to examine the deeper political connotations of our current political situation in depth. One of my pet peeves is a movie that treats me as an idiot; having to spoon feed me their version of what is happening.

I can see for myself the corruption, the decisiveness, the entitlement mentality; it is up to me to determine IF those factors affect the situation in the movie.


Things aren't clear and direction isn't easy to determine but again I don't fault only the politicians. We, the people, have allowed our melting pot to become a salad bowl; each part that used to make our country strong now striving to remain apart.
We, the people, have said we will tolerate nearly anything instead of demanding that we take the best of each culture and resign the worst to the trash heap of history.

In my opinion it has gotten to the point where it doesn't matter if we have time or not; we have to act and act now. I'm not talking revolution but of making change politically. I appreciate the chance to discuss it here because I'll turn it into a post (fair is fair, eh).

Either we succeed on the national stage by changing the local or we set up enclaves where the ideals of our constitutional republic can weather the storm.

You talk about the great number of people who want to turn us into a communistic county and I won't argue their goal; just the quantity. I really don't see it. I see a few (relatively) moving the country and the vast majority going along for the ride. And that is in all political parties, not just the liberals. So the question is where do we go from here? Hint -- local elections.

All in all a pretty good discussion.  Lets see what Bob cooks up out of this.  He's got less slop in his gear box than I do ;)

More Home Grown Contest Goodness

AGirl has had a benevolent benefactor contribute to another round of contests for a new female shooter.  Go see the latest here.  We're going to give back this time with something to add to the mix.

Now That's Funny Riaght Thar!

I don't care what you say!

The headline (with linkage)...

4 Amish Arrested on Alcohol Charges After Buggy Hits Cop Car

Lets see, we got Amish, alcohol, cops, and buggys.  What could possibly go wrong here?

Officials say deputies were responding to reports that people were drinking in several Amish buggies on a country road.

Kinda makes you wonder exactly who called it in, and for that matter, exactly how they did?  But wait.  The best quote from the entire (short) article is this...

wait for it...

wait for it...

Police say several other buggies fled the scene.

 Snort!

Credit 10NBC Philadelphia for this gem

Welcome To The Burrow!

A hardy welcome to 45er for stopping by to chew the roots!  Thanks for following.  You can check out his world over at Barrel Smoke.  Personally I can't think of a better day than making smoke with both kinds either!

A Poem

Roses are red.
Violates are blue.
Headcolds just suck the everloving life right out of your soul and leave you with no motivation to live what-so-ever but you know you gotta so you do.
And I love you!

While We're On The Subject Of Rights...

Way to go U.S. District Judge Benson Everett Legg who today smacked down an unconstitutional Maryland law on gun ownership.  The juggernaut continues.  Read the story over at Fox News.

Indiana Righting a Wrong?

Looks like they might be trying to.  Sadly, I can't even find my own post on the subject.  Guess that's what I get for snarky titles and little to no tagging!  Anyway, looks like Indian is trying to reverse the decision by their own supreme court that gave law enforcement cart blanch to enter your home legally or not.  They have introduced SB001 to try to fix that bit of constitution destruction.  Good on them!  I hope they don't wuss out like our Texas Senate did on TSA molesting.

h/t to Roberta X for seeing that over at Clare Wolfe's place, though I can't tell exactly where.

Act Of Valor

Saw it yesterday.  I had a reaction to this movie that I did not expect.  It was good and all.  Most other reviewers have said all that needs to be said about the quality of it.  Unfortunately, it didn't grab me.  I'm not 100% certain but I think the reason why is this.  In part, it portrayed those men as willing to give all for their country in a very "Rah, Rah!" manor.  That in and of itself is not really a bad thing.  This movie would have really had me back in the '80s or even through most of the '90s.  Why?  Because back then, the other part of what was implied by the movie was still true, or at least more true than now.  What's that you say?  Oh, the bit about how our Country supports us right back 100%.

But likely the whole country never supported it's military 100% right?  Absolutely!  But the majority did.  And it was that majority that got the lions share of attention from the media.  Unfortunately, that's no longer true.  I suspect in the 60's we had a different situation than we do now.  Not by much mind you but different none the less.  A very vocal minority was given the vast portion of the limelight by the relatively new mass media.  A media that is used to form opinions and attitudes toward things.  And quickly too.  If you think that's not a factor ask yourself this?  How many times did you see the towers fall on 9/11?  Do you think you would have been affected in the same way had you just read about it in the paper the next day?  Even if they had a shot of the plane hitting the building?  I don't think so.  Now ultimately you would still be shocked and probably get to the same point about it in your thought process as you have now but you would have done so using your reasoning as a filter the whole time.

The situation now is that all those communist* kids who petulantly against 'the war', 'the man', or 'the machine' back then are now leaders in a mass media that is fully used to sway opinion, pretty much openly now.  And they have much larger numbers who believe in their mission.  People like Michelle Obama who only recently "for the first time in her life" became proud of her country.  Allow me to emphasize what that means.  Prior to these recent times, she and those like her either did not care a whit about their country or they actively hated it.  They run this place now.  We have a country that is divided nearly in half.  You still got the usual chuck of ambivalent or 'don't really care' folks in the middle but its tougher for them to fall on the right side of the fence when its smack dab in the middle.

Back in the 80's and 90's when I served I was genuinely proud of serving my country.  The main reason for that is that I knew I had a country that I was proud of.  That is becoming less true as time marches forward.



* I purposely use the term communist now to describe the following: liberal, socialist, progressive, or left wing because that is the ultimate course they are on.  They deliberately soften it to make it palatable for their 'useful idiots' and because if the light of day shown on their true nature it would not be tolerated by even the weak kneed middle of the roaders amongst us.

Welcome To The Burrow

Welcome North!  Thanks for hitting that follow button sir!  I read you regularly.  Just mind the tail.  Sometimes I wash it and can't do a thing with it...

Now That's A Fire!

Sheesh, the male groundhog gets one little idea involving a cup of gasoline and the charcoal grill and all the women folk get all crazy and want to start dialing 911.  I already told you I have no hair left up there anyway!