Quote of the Day–Joe Huffman(03/27/2012)

As long as people carrying books or guns into their home worry about the police breaking down their doors in the early morning hours we have more work to do.

Joe HuffmanClimbing the Clock Tower stairs with my rifles

March 25, 2012


[Sadly as great as things have gotten lately Joe nailed this problem right on the head.  Many of us still live in fear of the state randomly deciding they don’t like us anymore for one reason or another.  Some would call us paranoid.

The problem there though is if you have been paying attention you realize yes we should be concerned.  All it takes is some scared sheep calling the police to get a no knock or guns blazing visit from some officer he wants to get his rocks off.  You and I both know how that can and will probably end.  Even in the best circumstances they’ll show up and take your property without cause or warrant and refuse to return it.

I grew up in the 90s and I understood there was some fear then. What I have noticed though, strongly over the past 5 or 6 years my fear level has been steadily rising.  As much as gunnies are “coming out of the closet” we are hearing more and more of the no knock and innocent people being killed.  Back in the 90s you just worried about the state.  Now you have to worry about some puritan calling to complain about your choice of hobbies and how the inanimate objects scare them.  That’s what has changed.  Our neighbors have bought hook line and sinker in to 1800-Dial-A-Nazi in the “War on Terrorism”

We still have a long way to go.  Until police stop treating every gun owner as a second class citizen because of that puritan we are going to have to continue to fight.  It’s a two front battle though, we must first get people to stop having an irrational fear of inanimate objects.  Secondly we need to get the officers who behave in such a manner to realize we are an asset, not a hindrance. 

My local sheriff looks at the wife and I as an asset that can help him if necessary should the need require.  He knows us and he knows there is nothing to fear from us.  It is not gun owners who have perpetuated this us versus them mentality and sadly I’m not sure how to best combat it.  At least I’m not the canary in the coal mine, but I’m close enough I might as well be.  Time for new tactics. 

Please remember this even if you think those of us who worry are just paranoid, just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean no one is out to get you.  -B]

SSCC #292–Portland

Officer Christopher Humphreys is seeking the sheriff’s position in Wheeler County, where he spent three years as a deputy before joining the Portland Police Bureau.

That innocent enough right?  He’s just moving up the corporate ladder in his field right?

In 2006, he and another Portland officer were accused of failing to get medical treatment for James Chasse, a mentally ill man they had taken into custody after he had been tackled by officers.

Chasse died and last year the city paid out a $1.6 million lawsuit in the case.

Humphreys was later involved in another incident that drew criticism. In 2009, he fired a beanbag round at a 12-year-old girl at a MAX stop after she hit another officer.

So in other words his reckless use of excessive force ensured that he could not excel up the ladder of his fair city.  So instead he wants to go to an empty county in central Oregon where he is being assured victory by no opposing challenger.

State Sponsored Criminal Count 292: Officer Christopher Humphreys

Because only in the public sector could you cost the people you work for 1.6 million dollars while also abusing them and get a promotion.

It’s Always The Little Things

So the replacement part showed up in the mail today.  The first thing I did was print the part so I could make a replacement if necessary.

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So if you are someone searching for a Walther P38 Retaining Latch Plunger, there is the schematic diagram and measurements in English units.  Here’s a picture of the the little pain itself.

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And as an FYI, that replacement part cost me 10 bucks.  I’ve got it back in the frame and once I stop feeling like I’m going to hack out a lung I’ll finish cleaning the slide.  I will say I much prefer my 1911, M1, and AR15 which I can clean with at most a simple set of punches and the standard rods and brushes.

One Last Piece of Homework

Finished up the class this morning.  Drew the lucky card and was the first one on the timer.  Thankfully I rocked it and didn’t have to run the shooter multiple times.  The main focus for class today was stage design, safety concerns, what to look for, and then the practical application of scoring.

The stage was a modified El Presidente.  There were no shoots placed between each of the targets with their perf edges lined up on the center A zone.  T1 in our case had hard cover on the left hand of the perf as well.  Up rage there was two no shoots stacked immediately behind the shooter.  The shooter had to turn and engage T1, T2, and T3 with two rounds each as a normal El Presidente.  Then while doing the mandatory reload, you needed to switch and engage from the other side of the no shoots.  So if you shot left side first, the 2nd string of 6 shots after the reload had to be done from the right side.

It was actually a fun stage.  I don’t remember my exact score,  I know I clipped a couple no shoots.  I ran it just under 10 if I remember correctly.  I ran the stage a few extra times later when they needed shooters for those who had trouble on the timer.  I did ok on the second one.  The third time I ran it I decided to throw a little curve.  I shot an extra shot before doing my reload and just to make sure it curved I put it off target so there wouldn’t be a matching penalty.

Ry tried to throw a curve ball and did a fantastic job of zeroing the stage in procedurals.  He didn’t switch sides after the reload and stacked his shots.  Total he got 7 procedurals at –10 a piece at a total of 60 points for the stage, you do the math.  Yeah, it’s those little things that get you, like walking past the port and getting two FTEs and the misses to go with it.  That stuff adds up quick. 

So now comes the last piece of homework.  The open book exam, where thou shalt cite all relevant rules and state a conclusion for the answer.  I actually did really well on last nights homework so I’m not too worried.  My biggest mistake was I wouldn’t find other rules that further supported the conclusion.  But I will probably work on that tomorrow so I can try and sleep and recover.

SSCC #291–Lorain

Lorain police Officer Bill Lachner pleaded no contest Friday to a disorderly conduct charge that stemmed from his Dec. 23 arrest on allegations he had physically assaulted his girlfriend and was fined $150.

Originally officer Lachner faced a domestic violence charge which would have placed him under the Lautenberg Amendment if he was found guilty.  This would have prevented him from being able to own or carry a firearm even if on duty.  In other words he would have to be fired from his job.  The victim appears to be pleased with the results however I doubt a prosecutor would be as lenient with someone who was not anointed. 

State Sponsored Criminal Count 291: Bill Lachner

Because being a cop means you can escape a domestic violence charge when it would also mean you would loose your job.

NROI Training

So I spent the morning with Joe and Ry while doped up on Dayquil and Mucinex. It kept me clear enough to be able to pay attention think about what the instructor was as well as different things I’ve experienced and ask questions.

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Biggest upshot of training though is being able to hear about the experiences of others and learn from them.  So I’m going to spend the night working on homework and continuing on going through the material.  I also discovered that being an RO can save a wasted trip should the unfortunate occur at an area or national event.  Instead of being stuck twiddling my thumbs I can go work a stage and they often ask.  I also learned that DQ isn’t a matter of if but when for those active in the sport.  There are those who have and those who haven’t yet.

Tomorrow is the range day so I’m going to get through the homework as well as writing up some notes for tomorrow and then relax to try and hopefully feel better for tomorrow. 

Quote of the Day–Emily Miller (03/23/2012)

“George Clooney paid $100 to post bail in DC. It cost me $465 to register a gun. It’s cheaper to be a criminal in this city.”

Emily MillerStatus Post on Facebook


[The facts above do not surprise me one bit.  If they can’t legislate something away they will work on taxing it out of existence.  Just look at the National Firearms Act of 1934.  It didn’t out law guns specifically but taxed them to the point where people would have trouble affording the stamp.  -B]

h/t Uncle and Instapundit

SSCC #288-#290–Spokane

Federal obstruction charges are expected to be filed soon against two more Spokane Police officers in connection with the city’s handling of the Otto Zehm investigation, which U.S. Department of Justice officials have called an “extensive cover-up.”

What were they covering up I hear you ask?

Thompson was the first officer to arrive that night at the Zip Trip, 1712 N. Division St., after two young women erroneously reported that Zehm had taken their money from a nearby ATM machine. A jury convicted Thompson after the video showed him strike the unarmed and retreating Zehm almost immediately during a struggle that later included six other officers.

Zehm was struck as many as 13 times with a baton, shocked with a Taser multiple times and was eventually hogtied. After a plastic mask was placed on his face, he stopped breathing and never regained consciousness. He died two days later.

It gets worse.

The 2006 police confrontation that led to the death of Zehm, a Spokane man with schizophrenia…

While the primary officer was responsible, what he was found guilty of was not for the homicide he committed.  Instead he was found guilty of needlessly beating him and then lying to cover up his actions.  He is punishment for the cold blooded murder of an innocent man who committed no crime other than not being able to grasp what was happening?  Six to 8 years.  Most depressing in all of this:

Otto Zehm’s last words were, “All I wanted was a Snickers Bar

Had it been any civilian who had done something like that it would have been a murder charge.  The officer initiated force without any indication it was required.  Beat the hell out of the suspect who was innocent, hog tied him, and then placed a non rebreather mask on him without oxygen.  Where I’m from at minimum that’s manslaughter since the mask was the final blow.  He was negligent and it resulted in a mans death.  That fact though was ignored and that’s not what he went to jail for.

Two other officers then attempted to aid him in his cover up.  They are just as culpable in this mans death by their actions.

State Sponsored Criminal Count #288: Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr.

#289: Officer Sandra McIntyre

#290: Officer Tim Moses

Because when someone wants a snickers bar, you beat the hell out of them and then suffocate them.