CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY -- GUN TALK -- PK380 GUN REVIEW

 Governor Chris Sununu signs New Hampshire Constitutional Carry Bill into law on February 22, 2017

 

Many members of The Women's Defense League of New Hampshire were in attendance wearing their "assault" pearls and in support of the bill. They were a key group working the past three-year battle to get this bill into law in the Live Free or Die state. The governor campaigned on this issue and followed through by signing the bill when it came to his desk. The WDL of NH were also key players in defeating every bad gun bill brought to the legislature during the same past three years. 

Wife has told me that this year's "gun fight" in the legislature is over. But, like the rest of the country, this state is also split down the middle on gun issues. The divide is wide and the battle will most likely never be over. But law abiding citizens won a big one this year. And it was good!!

 Women's Defense League of NH members with Governor Chris Sununu after signing SB 12 into law. (The gal in the photo was out of town)

CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY

In a nut shell: 

SB 12, "Constitutional Carry" ends nearly 100 years of discrimination against law-abiding NH citizens....the original license requirement was enacted in 1923.

The 2017 bill:

Makes licenses to carry a concealed loaded pistol or revolver optional by law-abiding NH citizens so they may fully enjoy reciprocity with other states;

It replaces the vague and discriminatory term "suitable" with "not prohibited by state or federal law" as the qualifier for local law enforcement in granting licenses

It returns into law the term of licenses from 4 to 5 years

It sets in statute the application form to be used.

 

GUN TALK

Back to the range this week as winter offers up teaser days of blue skies and t-shirt afternoons. Worked on safety, pistol skill sets and  accuracy. Also tried out a new Walther PK380 pistol; review below.

It seems to me these days that many gun reviews and gun talk border on doctoral theses in length and attempted scopes. Same with folks talking prepping. So, I will do my best here to avoid sounding like I know more than any of you and over-explaining.

The wife and I have have the privilege of working with new shooters. We are licensed instructors and strive to teach safety first and foremost. Secondly, we want our students on target with as many reps as we can get in during a class session. We stand next to each student throughout the course offering help and instruction as required. We are privy to honest gun discussions that our students would likely never engage in during the course of a "normal" day. We can boast that at the end of our lessons, students leave with a healthy and realistic experience shooting pistols. All request another opportunity to return to the range to continue the learning. 

We are often surprised that many of our students bring to the range an actual  fear of guns. I do not want to exaggerate this issue but many freely admit that and stand before us wearing that on their sleeves. They are strong enough to bring that in the open and work with it.  There is no greater satisfaction for an instructor than to help folks overcome the fears and become safe gun users. The open discussions are as important as standing with them as they shoot for the first time.

No matter where you stand on gun issues, if you find yourself in a place where you want to learn for your own personal reasons, I suggest you seek out a good instructor and take a few lessons. The experience will also help you come to grips with a better understanding of guns, safety, do's and don'ts, and the gun debate. The gun community, as we know and see it, is always more than willing to help in any way they can with new folks coming into the sport.

WALTHER PK380 NOVICE GUN REVIEW

The .380 caliber is the next step above a .22 caliber but under the popular 9mm caliber. It is considered by many to be the smallest "useful" handgun caliber used for self defense. 

The wife and I have wanted to find a 380 pistol to try but had not found one that fits. A gun has to fit the user. We are now both dealing  with arthritis and my wife has had hand surgery that limits her strength.  She is very comfortable with her .22 for personal use and use in teaching. But her long-time 9 mm handgun has become more than she can rack and comfortably shoot. Even I was looking to downsize from a 9mm carry/target pistol. 

We had read a few reviews of the Walther PK .380 and decided to go shopping. Right off the bat, my wife found she could easily rack the slide time after time. As important, the size of the gun fits both of our hands comfortably. The pistol afforded a two-hand hold without worry from our thumbs being too close to the slide. No worries about being cut or injured by the slide action during firing. This is an issue with some semi-automatic pistols. The sight picture was easy to acquire from the stock sights on the pistol. The pistol magazine holds 8 rounds in a single stack + 1 in the chamber. Nine rounds capacity for carry purposes.

I am personally biased to a pistol with a visible hammer and with an easy-to-understand and use safety feature. This pistol has both.

The pistol comes with one magazine. 

Larger than most other carry pistols of the same caliber.

Comfortable to hold with user-friendly recoil.
Easy take down for cleaning.

Affordable at around $350.00.

Pistol would not shoot Blazer Brass 95 g. FMJ due to harder primers "I believe."
Pistol ran a whole box of Remington 95 g. FMJ w/o issue.
Pistol also ran two boxes of SIG SAUER 90 g. V-Crown JHP w/o issue.
Single-action trigger pull not as smooth as I would like.
White dots on front and rear sights not as vivid as in the store. May replace.  

Wife easily racked and shot 6 magazines with a little soreness in her hands, noting that it would not have stopped her from shooting more. 

Bench tested one magazine at a metal target 25' distance with all hits.
Shot both ball and SIG SAUER into a book to see results. 

• Ball ammo went half way in and exited out book side (shooters error for not a better center shot) 25'
• SIG SAUER defense ammo impressive-see pics below. 25'
• Plan to repeat test again soon and will report.         

 Entrance hole and SIG SAUER bullet path

 SIG SAUER bullet path and exit. Book is 2" thick.

 380 Ballistic Video Example

All in all, a good first overall shoot and test for both of us. No regrets with purchase and more time will be spent practicing. The pistol will also be introduced into beginning women's shooting classes as a training pistol for gals to try. It just might well fit that gap between the .22 and the 9mm caliber pistols.

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THE CHERRY PIE

I suppose this will be a repeat of the pie story that I may have posted before. But this was a milestone birthday for the wife and the pie story is worthy of visiting this time of the year. 

Her mother always made her a cherry pie for her birthday. Mom has been gone now for quite awhile, but as along as I am around, she still gets the homemade Cherry Pie and made with the same amount of love.

Two days before her birthday, I found a "tart" cherry pie in town at our local co-op food outlet store. Sign said tart cherry pie and was made by the gals working the bakery section of the store. I asked a few questions and bought the pie. The gal who baked the pie said it was still warm as she pulled it from the display counter.  I knew then and there it was a good decision. 

She arrived home to a birthday test cherry pie and we both dove in. Goodness sake, what a treat. The tartness was perfect and the pie did not last 24 hours. 

We went back to the co-op the next day and talked our way into two pounds of the tart cherries the baker used. And on her birthday morning, I made the above pictured tart cherry pie. 

She looked upward, pointed to the pie for her mom to see and she filled a small dish each for both of us to enjoy. And it was good, my friends, it was good. She was happy and mom was proud; husband was warm and fuzzy. 

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A winter week of warm weather and snow melting. Also the start of the mud season as part of season's changing. A few motorcycles can be heard and seen this week, pre-testing their upcoming spring and summer months. 

Have a good week and heads up up up!!! 

 

SLUMGULLION and THE LORD'S PRAYER

THE LORDS PRAYER and INTRODUCTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES
DONALD TRUMP
by
MELANIA TRUMP 

HERE     HERE

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SLUMGULLION

One of my favorite dishes mom ever cooked. I did not realize it was a real dish until I looked it up. Quite often when I asked what was for dinner, mom would reply, slumgullion. All I paid attention to was that it was combination of leftovers coupled with a desire not to have to cook. A one-pan, throw-together meal. Memory serves me that our slumgullion was some mixture of:

• meat (usually hamburger) chopped up
• mashed potatoes, onions, pasta, red or white sauce
• fresh garden vegetables
• can of mushroom soup, uncooked rice with an appropriate amount of liquid
• pie crust or cornbread mix
• topped with melted cheese and toasted bread crumbs
• sprinkled chicken seasoning
• salt and pepper
• any other leftover

It was oven baked or cooked together in a large cast iron pan and stirred or folded a few times or had a crust. It came together quickly and was on the table quickly.

Mom knew how to make SG. I have tried making this from time to time but have not brought the same flavors to the meals that mom could. 

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NATIONAL ANTHEM

Go here for the song, not the quality of the video. 

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CHICKEN SOUP

I want chicken soup for lunch today.  I should go saute a few veggies in good olive oil now. Celery, carrots, onions, salt and ground black pepper. Saute for longer than normal. Add chicken broth, part of a yellow squash that nearing its end of counter storage, a dab of frozen peas, healthy squirt of thyme, some basil, tomato paste for color and taste. One more dash of sea salt and more turns of the black pepper grinder and a handful of big noodles. Not adding white wine today. No thickening agent as I am in a broth-y soup mood. Warmed roll with butter dipped in broth at lunch time.

But I would prefer to call in one of the staff and order chicken soup for lunch today. I did did not sleep well last night. Tossed, turned, napped a few hours at a time.  Very lazy today. 

Pregresso "Rich and Hearty - Chicken and Homestyle Noodles". Again not pushing nor suggesting or hinting. Just found that this can of soup comes close to home made; maybe an 8 out of 10. Well maybe 7 out of 10, but because I do not have to make it, becomes an 8 our of 10. Open can, put in pan, heat till hot, fill a medium mug (not bowl), maybe a touch of table salt and eat. Quick like a bunny. 

And I ache, too. Tired and achy. No bounce in the mind or body.

Hold on; calling the staff again. "Please prepare the big sleeping bag on the couch in the 4th floor office. Pull the blinds, turn off the phones and do not disturb for 2 hours.............no, that will be all."

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 Entertainment For Old Folks

A young man we know locally is a logger; handy man and down right good kid with outdoor skills. I called him to see if he would come over and give us an opinion on a wind damage tree from the past weeks  wind storm. It appeared to be tall enough to slap across the driveway if it fell. 

He said yes and was over the next morning. Said the tree was only standing do to the "grace of God" and most likely will come down soon, and especially when the ground thaws.  We hired him at a very reasonable price and he was back in an hour. Dropped the tree, we video-taped and the bride did a great job narrating the video. Also another opportunity for me to practice editing a video and getting it on YouTube. And it was indeed entertainment for old folks.

I also asked the young man if he would pull some of the snow of of the front of the roof that was piling up in the valley of two adjoining roofs and if he could pull some of the snow bound up behind the chimney. 

I have forgotten what it was like to be young, in shape and nimble. He climbed up the large snow bank in front of the house, freed the snow pile behind the chimney and pulled what he could from the valley in a matter of minutes. He made it look so easy. I feared trying that myself for the long recovery period needed from "the old man falling while trying to get snow off the roof" annual winter story.

We paid the bill and treated him to a zip lock bag of home made jerky. Put a smile on his face!! 

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   THE MILKY WAY

That this is true catches me in non belief. But I suppose if all you have lived in is LA and never ventured out at night when it is dark dark, seeing the Milky Way is such a wonderment, that a call to 911 is appropriate. We are truly doomed.

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A good nights sleep does wonderment for a new day. I feel 65 again this morning. Snow fall prediction fell way short of forecast and we received 2-3 inches.  Sunshine and milder temperatures for a few days. Relief!

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 LANDING A CESSNA 180 ON A HIGHWAY. BROTHERLY LOVE

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Stay away from crowds, have a very good week and God Bless!!  

 

I WANTED TO BE ENTERTAINED

Photo taken half way up Mt. Kearsarge this past week

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It has been a week since the Super Bowl. For years now I've watched out of habit and sought to find entertainment in the commercials. The game(s) have been “ho hum” at best and quite often I find other busy chores to get me through the event. Because the game goes well into my bed time, I opt out mid-way knowing I can read about it the next day. If I ever had a horse in any Super Bowl race, everyone of them have let me down.

But this year, it was the game. GREAT game and I really did not have a horse in the race. 

I am a Lady Gaga fan because I like her voice. I like her music. (and yes I have watched this a few times with sound up) Her flamboyant dress and performances are not as bad as early years and I am entertained (an opinion).

So, I too looked forward to her half time show this year. Says she has been planning this since she was four years old. Never before in memory have I watched a half-time show. Bare breasts, shaking asses and tongues hanging in my face are far removed from my entertainment interests. But, I like Gaga. I think she was well aware of her 13 minute window to the world. Moms, dads and children could have watched this year's performance together. What a concept!!

And I admit here, I wanted to believe. Especially when she opened with God Bless America: patriotic music, and wearing a harness with wires attached. The drones painted the American Flag in the background and she jumped. Yep, jumped off the top of the football dome into center stage. 

Then, as she was falling, on the guided wires to the stage, my inside sensors went off. But I WAS damned if they were right and I turned them off. She was falling. But on they came again. And the moment passed as her performance continued. I liked it. The music, the performance, the dance (and I dislike most of today's dance), the choreography and her touch with the cast and crowd. I wanted it to be what I saw. I wanted to be entertained!!

IT WAS AN ILLUSION. YEP AN ILLUSION. And my gut told me something was missing. The jump out of sight and then her falling mid air. Looked awesome, accompanied by music and the cheer of the crowd. Hook, line and sinker if not for the gut telling me to watch out. “Something was not as shown to the audience.”

Still, I was entertained and cannot deny that. I did believe and that over rode my gut by 90%. And now, days later I learned it was an illusion even to see a video of her rising to the roof on wires as her opening singing was live streaming to the world, pre-recorded. All anyone in the stadium had to do was look up. My only regret is that I did not just simply enjoy the entertainment along with trusting my gut. But, in the end, well done!!  And another good lesson for paying attention to my gut feelings, too. If the NFL had anything working for them these days, they would book her for LII. We could enjoy another half time show and the kids could watch.

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Hermon and Spooky 
Working their bed in front of the winter wood stove.

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FANS

I laughed to myself this morning. I have learned that Patriot Fans are very serious. Do not step on their team, players and walk so tenderly when offering comments about the team outside of the greatness they are.

I walked into a local small store last week before the big game and joked that I had heard that Tom Brady just broke his arm. You could have heard a pin drop in the whole entire store. I knew some of the folks working there and thought a little joke would be fun. But I was the only one laughing in the store and had to immediately tell them it was a joke. I kept laughing but none of them did.

With all of the hate these days that folks put up with, to the point of violence on someone who wears a “Make America Better Again”, I would thoroughly enjoy watching a snowflake tell a Patriots Fan to take off their Patriots hat because it offends them. Or to take off the numbered 87 team jersey shirt because they feel unsafe.   Front row seat preferred. And for added content, do it in front of a mob of Patriot Fans. Ooooooooooooooooo---tingles!!

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ORDERING A PIZZA: PEPPERONI, BLACK OLIVE AND XCHEESE

I have a local pizza joint put in the "contacts" list in my new phone. Gave it a name and told "Jane", the girl in my phone, to call. She did, said the correct pizza joint name. A guy answered, I ordered and said I would be there in fifteen minutes. 

I arrived and proud of using voice technology, while driving hands-off, to order a pizza. I'm gettin it!!

The gentleman behind the counter said he did not have that pizza ready to go because he did not get the order. Questioned who I called and offered that maybe I had called his brother's pizza joint a few towns away. 

Nope, I had the correct number in my phone and it was up to Jane to do her job. 

 

Somewhere still, there sits a pepperoni, black olive with extra cheese pizza waiting for pick up. 

What can ever possibly go wrong? 

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CALM BEFORE MID WEEK STORM #2

Just started to snow here and we are on a storm line prediction of 5" - 10" to 18." The bride has left for town for an important event and meeting. Cannot/would not stay home on this particular day. So, we put a few plan(s)A,B and C to get her home and up the steep switchback driveway. Snowfall predicted to be 1-2 inches per hour during her return. A hard hitting, short term storm. Tomorrow wind chill below zero all day.

These are the days that we prep for year around. Bug out bag(s) and in-home readiness. Small pot of clam chowder on, tractor and snow blower fine-tuned, woodbox full with wood stove in the burn zone. All dog business done for the morning, vehicles topped off yesterday, flashlights with batteries set out, phones charged, ham radio on local simplex monitor. Cell phone texting plan and check in. Hand held radios with fresh batteries all. What else?

Now this Sunday morning and just getting ready to publish, feet of snow forecasted. My romance with winter this year is officially over.

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Close friends shared this photo of Mt. Washington from their trip north last weekend. Lenticular clouds often form over/near mountain tops. A visible sign of bad winds always. Pilots taught to give them a wide birth. 

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NH CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY PASSES STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES    GOVERNOR WILL SIGN  

Not a peep from our local television on the evening news. Soooo true to form and agenda. 

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IS WAR ON THE HORIZON?

I know not how else to get into this as I wrap up this week. This wears on me. I listen to some news, try to listen between the lines and come to understanding of the constant drums for violence.  Push is coming to shove while keeping in mind that the aggressor sets the rules.

I came across the following in The Woodpile Report this past week. A  good write up on the recent Berkeley riots.

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• "The anarchists are by far the most dangerous of these groups. They are organized like militias. They actively train and practice their operations. They have discipline and zero tolerance for weakness. They have a number of former military personnel providing expertise to enhance security, logistics and martial arts capabilities. The majority are physical fit, military-age males. They are primarily white with few minority members. Their leadership tends to be either former military, a proven leader from the occupy movement or a highly educated alpha-male........."  

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1968 was an historical year of rioting in this country. Violence and protests. But I missed all of that with a year's tour of duty flying in Germany. I was border-qualified to fly the German/Czechoslovakian border. We flew daily to monitor the border and watch them watch us fly the border on their radar. We were sport for them as their radar guns followed us along the border.

In August of that year, Russian invaded Czechoslovakia.  

I remember that word came down to our unit, to get our spouses and families ready to leave German immediately. Government personnel were packing to do the same. There was a real time threat of the Russian tanks in Prague heading to the border and enter Germany. An act of war!!

We were sent to fly the border and monitor a crossing check point from Czechoslovakia into Germany. We had landed and were notified Russian tanks were on the road heading to that checkpoint. We took to the air to watch and report. Nothing else we could do. 

I remember watching a long row of tanks running right up to the crossing arm of that checkpoint and then stopping. Stalemate. They blinked and eventually pulled back. As fast as all of this was coming into play, it ebbed and the tanks withdrew.  

I realize now how far removed I was from the enormity of that moment. I had no idea of world politics in play, although as a border-qualified pilot, we were well instructed that any border crossing error, during our flights, meant an international incident.  

 

I so hope that I am wrong and all of this is just an old man spinning worry. But like the dog when her hackles go up,  I feel something is brewing.

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Have a safe week and as always, heads up when you are out and about.