Cross-Post

(From a discussion on FB regarding the unique vulnerability of real estate agents)

Carrying a firearm is an intensely personal decision and should be considered in the context of "this is not some kind of self-defense or safety strategy magic wand." If you make that choice, I would strongly encourage a comprehensive safety strategy to include de-escalation, exit choices and training. As a side note, I would equally strongly resist *mandating* such training.

In the Seattle area we are fortunate to have the Seattle Firearms Academy led by Gila & Marty Hayes (among other training institutions) where nationally renowned trainer Massad Ayoob regularly teaches. We are also lucky enough to have Kathy Jackson, author of the "Cornered Cat" living and teaching in our area.

My contribution?

1) Be where the trouble isn't, if at all possible.
2) Run away! Run away! (if you can - for some of us that doesn't work so well..)
3) De-escalate, if you can.
4) Shoot center of mass.

Nickels Gun Ban Hearing Report

The hearing Monday night went about as well as it could have, all things
considered. About 200 (my est., hard numbers not avail yet) showed at a
ratio of 80/20 (again, an approximation) in favor of the Pro2A. It is
presently anticipated that Nickels, charming soul that he is, will
continue down his course of Chicago-esque rule by Mayoral fiat, however
it appears that the press picked up on the theme and the lopsided
numbers in the testimony. I am guessing somewhere between two and five
lawsuits will be filed within a week of formal enactment of the Nickels Ban.

I suspect weather (we're not USED to cold/snow/ice here) deterred many
as temps were below freezing, and many folks in steeper neighborhoods
faced sheets of ice claiming to be roads between their homes/businesses
and main thoroughfares.

We had a fair number of good speakers on the 2A side, with only a few
wince-inducing moments. The opposition, predictably, focused more on
"disarming y'all makes me FEEEEEL safer, never mind logic/numbers" while
our side was more "facts'n'logic" based.

Present were members of the JPFO, leadership of the Second Amendment
Foundation (including Alan Gottleib), recognized NW firearms luminary
Joe Waldron (of SAF), a fair number of folks from the new Citizens for
the 2nd Amendment group, and many MANY others. Probably one of the high
points of the evening was one gentleman from the C2A group that
presented a comparison graphic of the number of shall-issue states in
1986 vs 2006 - good strong visual there.

My testimony may be found at nwfreethinker.blogspot.com .... and in a
couple of days the entire hearing will be available for your viewing
pleasure at www.seattle.gov ...

Regarding the suggestion elsewhere I move to Wyoming/Idaho/Montana - I have
practical reasons and familial obligations leading me to remain in
Seattle despite any other considerations. Additionally, I just escaped
back from California a couple of years ago where the taxes, gun laws,
and regulation generally are all much more oppressive than things in
Washington.

Barring things falling further apart up here, in WA we really have a
pretty good deal when it comes to gun issues, and the Eastern half of
the state (and the Western, outside of urbania) is fairly pro-gun and
tends to serve as a drag on anti-gun measures, and liberal notions
generally (which is not *always* a good thing, but in general a net
benefit - balance is good). And when it comes down to it, I *like*
Seattle....it's the elected ninnyhammers that annoy me.

This bit with Nickels and his ban is a sufficiently substantial
annoyance to drag me kicking and screaming back into activism at a level
beyond my preferred letter-writing and the occasional bit of mentoring.
In any instance...not a bad evenings work...

Here's the link. I've yet to find a way to copy or embed it, but will keep trying...this is to the entire hearing...

http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=5010890

Courtesy of the CCRCKBA

The folks at CCRKBA say it better than I can, however, to sum up, our the Seattle Mayor has gone astray - planning to ban guns by fiat and executive tantrum, rather than following a legislative process - claiming that despite a state preemption law, that by ruling that any person carrying (lawful or otherwise, CPL or no) is inherently trespassing and subject to ejection or arrest. State Attorney General Rob McKenna disagrees, formally. The below is from the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms...read it, write, call, fax - and if you're able, show up to testify.

___________________________________________________

SEATTLE MAYOR SAYS HE WILL BAN GUNS YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS NEEDED
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has launched an attack on law-abiding gun owners who either live in the city, or visit there, by forging ahead with a plan to ban all firearms, including those legally carried by law-abiding citizens. He is doing this in defiance of an opinion from Attorney General Rob McKenna that such a ban would be illegal under Washington State’s model preemption statute.

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms encourages Washington State residents, and citizens from across the country who regularly visit Seattle, to submit comments to the city via its website:

www.seattle.gov/firearmsrule

On December 15, 2008, a public hearing will be held in the Bertha Knight Landes room at Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, with sign-in beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Mayor Nickels’ proposed plan would impair the rights of citizens to bear arms, as affirmed by Article 1, Section 24 of the Washington State Constitution. He would prevent citizens licensed to carry firearms in public places from exercising that right on city-owned property, including city parks and the Seattle Center.

Citizens may also e-mail Mayor Nickels directly: seattle.gov/mayor/citizen_response.htm

You may also call the Mayor's office: (206) 684-4000.

A fairly modest proposal

I don't have the time, and I certainly don't have the server resources to take the hits such a page would generate, but I am hoping that in the next day or so some semi-talented sort will take the necessary steps to put up a website listing the manufacturers, re-sellers, and local dealers that do business with governmental entities or their employees in the State of California - from the big buyers in Sacramento to the Banning Police Department - so that we, as private buyers and enthusiasts, can refrain from doing business with these firms until such time as they repudiate any existing contracts and agree to refuse new business from political bodies in California or their employees.

"Or their employees": California, and many other jurisdictions, have created a two-tier system by which "special people" (judges, prosecutors, elected officials, police officers, etc) get to enjoy a whole range of rights and privileges not enjoyed by the peons - rights and privileges that tend to shield them from the bad effects of poorly thought out law. It is my intent in this suggestion that this demographic should again have something stronger than their internal moral compass to inspire their actions in this matter - say, a shortage of firearms and ammunition.

I'll write more later, but the above is my initial response...