Empty Holster

As a Texas concealed carry permit holder (a right subject to restrictions and authorization is a privilege), traveling through California is  somewhat disconcerting. Seeing so many citizens who willingly give up their natural and Constitutional rights for completely subjective reasons, rather than through logic and reason. I find it ironic, as I look more the part of a pacific northwest resident than a Texan most of the time. 

As a silent act of defiance, I wore my holster empty through California, Oregon, and Washington. Upon reaching Utah, I saw my rights somewhat restored all the way home to the (mostly) free state of Texas. 

Empty Holster

As a Texas concealed carry permit holder (a right subject to restrictions and authorization is a privilege), traveling through California is  somewhat disconcerting. Seeing so many citizens who willingly give up their natural and Constitutional rights for completely subjective reasons, rather than through logic and reason. I fin it ironic, as I look more the part of a PNW resident than a Texan most of the time. 

As a silent act of defiance, I have continued to wear my holster empty through California, Oregon, and now Washington. Upon reaching Utah, I will see my rights somewhat restored all the way home to the (mostly) free state of Texas. 

Texas CHL Reciprocity

While I know that the majority of states on the return trip to Texas recognize my TX CHL permit (licensing and regulating unfortunately and unjustly changes a right into a privilege), it is worth knowing the details of how and where one may carry in other states. For example; Texas now allows carry in liquor-serving and selling establishments, while Montana does not. Taking the time to read the details of those states you will be traveling through can save you some time and hassle with local law enforcement, as well as representing Texas as a responsible firearms owner. 

CHL Reciprocity

Please consult official sources (links below) of states where you are carrying. The Texas rules you learned do not apply if you are carrying in a reciprocal state. Follow the rules for that state.

States Honoring Texas CHLs

 New Mexico has rescinded CHL reciprocity with Texas. Read more...

1. Alabama, August 8, 2006. [DPS Notice] [Alabama CHL Link]
2. Alaska, September 26, 2005. [DPS Notice] [Alaska CHL Link]
3. Arizona, September 15, 1999. [DPS Notice] [Arizona CHL Link]
4. Arkansas, February 18, 1998. [DPS Notice] [Arkansas CHL Link]
5. Colorado, resident only, 21+, December 29, 2004. [DPS Notice] [Colorado CHL Link]
6. Delaware, November 1, 2005. [DPS Notice] [Deleware CHL Link]
7. Florida, resident only, August 28, 2000. [DPS Notice] [Florida CHL Link]
8. Georgia, November 22, 2004. [DPS Notice] [Georgia CHL Link]
9. Idaho, April 19, 2004. [DPS Notice] [Idaho CHL Link]
10. Iowa, January 1, 2011. [Iowa DPS Notice] [Iowa CHL Link]
11. Indiana, November 2, 2005. [DPS Notice] [Indiana CHL Link]
12. Kansas, resident only, January 30, 2007. [DPS Notice] [Kansas CHL Link]
13. Kentucky, September 26, 2000. [DPS Notice] [Kentucky CHL Link]
14. Louisiana, August 28, 1998. [DPS Notice] [Louisiana CHL Link]
15. Michigan, resident only, September 1, 2005. [DPS Notice] [Michigan CHL Link]
16. Minnesota, May 25, 2005. [Minnesota DPS Notice] [Minnesota CHL Link]
17. Mississippi, September 7, 2004. [DPS Notice] [Mississippi CHL Link]
18. Missouri, September 6, 2005. [DPS Notice] [Missouri CHL Link]
19. Montana, November 29, 2004. [DPS Notice] [Montana CHL Link]
20. Nebraska, 21+, October 27, 2009. [DPS Notice] [Nebraska CHL Link]
21. North Carolina, April 19, 2004. [DPS Notice] [North Carolina CHL Link]
22. North Dakota, February 4, 2005. [DPS Notice] [North Dakota CHL Link]
23. Oklahoma, July 24, 1998. [DPS Notice] [Oklahoma CHL Link]
24. Pennsylvania, February 28, 2005. [DPS Notice] [Pennsylvania CHL Link]
25. South Carolina, resident only, February 25, 2005. [DPS Notice] [South Carolina CHL Link]
26. South Dakota, September 6, 2005. [DPS Notice] [South Dakota CHL Link]
27. Tennessee, August 30, 2000. [DPS Notice] [Tennessee CHL Link]
28. Texas, of course.
29. Utah, September 3, 2004. [DPS Notice] [Utah CHL Link]
30. Vermont does not require a license to carry. [Vermont Link]
31. Virginia, September 1, 2005. [DPS Notice] [Virginia CHL Link]
32. West Virginia, March 23, 2012. [Letter of agreement] [Wisconsin CHL Link]
33. Wisconsin, 21+. [Wisconsin state list] [Wisconsin CHL Link]
34. Wyoming, July 25, 2002. [DPS Notice] [Wyoming CHL Link]

People holding California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington CHLs may carry in Texas.

For more reciprocity information see the DPS document athttp://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/reciprocity.htm.

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©2012; Texas Concealed Handgun Association. Contact TCHA. Page updated 05/01/2012

http://www.txchia.org/recip.htm

SAF, ANJRPC React to NJ Attorney General Brief on Gun Case

It's good to see someone avidly fighting the retarded gun laws in New Jersey. 

Squandering an opportunity to redeem the Garden State for its long disparagement of the Second Amendment - and in particular, the right to carry - New Jersey's newly appointed Attorney General has instead slapped gun owners in the face in the latest set of papers in a federal lawsuit brought by ANJRPC and the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) to overturn New Jersey's unconstitutional handgun carry laws.

The State's latest filing maintains its absurd position that the Second Amendment does not exist outside the home, and that it is the State's responsibility to protect the public from law abiding citizens with firearms. The papers even reference the Second Amendment as a "privilege."

Gun owners had speculated that the resignation of the former Attorney General and the recent appointment of a new one by Governor Christie might signal a change in the state's deeply flawed policy on guns. Instead, the State's June 28 filing in a federal appeals court reaffirms the State's hostility toward the right of honest citizens to defend themselves with firearms outside the home - even though the police owe no duty to protect individual citizens.

"Evidently, the Attorney General's office still doesn't realize that New Jersey is part of the United States, not a police state," said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. "Constitutional rights do not evaporate when someone leaves the doorstep of his or her home, and that includes the right to bear arms. One doesn't need' to justify the exercise of a civil right, which was made perfectly clear by the court in a very similar case in Maryland earlier this year. The Garden State attorney general doesn't understand that simple principle now, but he will."

"It is crystal clear that the State of New Jersey distrusts honest citizens with firearms and has no intention of ever respecting the right to defend yourself with one outside the home," said ANJRPC President and Executive Director Scott Bach. "New Jersey will eventually be forced by a court to do more than just pay lip service to the Second Amendment, but rather to meaningfully recognize this basic freedom. We intend to bring this case to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary," said Bach.

The case was filed in late 2010 by ANJRPC, the Second Amendment Foundation, and several individual plaintiffs, challenging New Jersey's unconstitutional "justifiable need" standard for issuance of handgun carry permits - a nearly impossible standard to meet that has all but eliminated the right to self-defense with a firearm in the Garden State. Requiring a showing of "need" to exercise a fundamental right is unconstitutional. The case is currently before the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals, one step away from the U.S. Supreme Court. A decision from the Third Circuit is anticipated by early next year.

 

Source: The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org)

More Bad Taste from Lacithedog

More ignorance by lacithedog I can't think of a reason to want to buy Starbucks' Coffee: They allow gun toting clients in the USA ("would you like hot lead with that?"). Now, they have the bad taste to ask the Irish why they are proud to be British! Inviting followers on Twitter to "show us what makes you proud to be British" as part of a diamond jubilee promotion must have seemed like a good idea at the time at Starbucks. But after tweeting the invitation to nearly 2,000 Irish followers of its Twitter account on Tuesday, the coffee giant has been on the receiving end of a backlash over its seemingly shaky grasp of political geography. If allowing gun toting customers isn't bad enough, they have to show how DUMB they are by asking Hibernians (the Irish) if they are proud to be British--TWO DIFFERENT ISLANDS.

I'm not surprised to see the hoplophobes still focusing on Starbucks support for gun owners. On one hand, the Irish have every right to live free and independent from British rule. On the other, there has been more tasteless and ignorant anti-rights sentiment from the Left on this issue. What is even more ironic is that Lacithedog is criticizing a free market entrepreneur while ignoring the fact that oppressive British rule has caused the violent reactions from the Irish for centuries. The disarming Irish by the crown has even the cause of the problem, and ignoring that fact to focus on coffee completely misses the point in an attempt to berate Starbucks more for supporting gun rights. The free market shows that customers support Starbucks gun policies, despite the whining from the Left. 

Annie Oakley's Guns for Sale

Relatives of legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley are offering up a collection of items including her Stetson hat, guns, letters and photographs in an auction that one expert says hits the mark for its breadth and sentimental value.

On Sunday, Heritage Auctions will offer up about 100 Oakley-related items in Dallas, including a 12-gauge Parker Brothers shotgun that is expected to fetch about $100,000. Two Marlin .22 caliber rifles are expected to sell for more than $20,000 each.

Oakley gained fame in the 1880s and 1890s for her shooting skills as a performer in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. She died in 1926 at the age of 66, but has remained a pop culture icon.

[...]

http://m.cbsnews.com/fullstory.rbml?catid=57449715&feed_id=999&videofeed=999

Venezuela Bans Private Gun Ownership, Idiots

History; doomed to repeat itself.

Venezuela has brought a new gun law into effect which bans the commercial sale of firearms and ammunition.

Until now, anyone with a gun permit could buy arms from a private company.
Under the new law, only the army, police and certain groups like security companies will be able to buy arms from the state-owned weapons manufacturer and importer.
The ban is the latest attempt by the government to improve security and cut crime ahead of elections in October
Venezuela saw more than 18,000 murders last year and the capital, Caracas, is thought to be one of the most dangerous cities in Latin America.
'Must do more'The government has been running a gun amnesty in the run-up to the introduction of the new law to try to encourage people to give up their illegal arms without fear of consequences.

One member of the public in Caracas told the BBC: "They're killing people every day. This law is important but they need to do more, they're not doing enough now."

Hugo Chavez's government says the ultimate aim is to disarm all civilians, but his opponents say the police and government may not have the capacity or the will to enforce the new law.
Criminal violence is set to be a major issue in presidential elections later in the year.
Campaign group The Venezuela Violence Observatory said last year that violence has risen steadily since Mr Chavez took office in 1999.
Several Latin American countries have murder rates far higher than the global average of 6.9 murders per 100,000 people.
According to a recent United Nations report, South America, Central America and the Caribbean have the highest rates of murder by firearms in the world.
It found that over 70% of all homicides in South America are as a results of guns - in Western Europe, the figure was closer to 25%.

BBC News - Venezuela bans private gun ownership

Irony: the BBC reporting on a Venezuelan gun ban after their own handgun ban resulted in an increased of violent crime post-ban of 300%.