As far as I can tell...
... nothing prohibits me from carrying a weapon in a Washington college. Just not on the grounds of primary and secondary schools (except for picking up and dropping off kids. Glad I re-read that thoroughly, I thought I wasn't suppoed to do even that.)
Part of the reason for getting my concealed handgun license (and practicing with my weapon, and carrying it with me) was to not be helpless in random situations. Not that I expect something bad to happen. It's not that I want something bad to happen.
I just don't want to be one of those people who end up telling a therapist how helpless and stupid I felt and how I don't feel like I can go out in public any more.
From what I've read, rape victims who didn't fight back and mugging victims who didn't struggle are the most likely to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I know from personal experience what it feels like to have your home robbed. It's a violation, and causes you to lose sleep, distrust people, feel uneasy in the one place you should be able to relax (your home).
Don't be a victim. Don't promote victim behaviour in others. Promote strength and independance. Be a part of your community by being a strong contributing individual.
Develop yourself. Just as strength training develops your body, warrior training (whether with a handgun, a rifle, in the marital arts studio or wherever), strengthens your will.
Part of the reason for getting my concealed handgun license (and practicing with my weapon, and carrying it with me) was to not be helpless in random situations. Not that I expect something bad to happen. It's not that I want something bad to happen.
I just don't want to be one of those people who end up telling a therapist how helpless and stupid I felt and how I don't feel like I can go out in public any more.
From what I've read, rape victims who didn't fight back and mugging victims who didn't struggle are the most likely to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I know from personal experience what it feels like to have your home robbed. It's a violation, and causes you to lose sleep, distrust people, feel uneasy in the one place you should be able to relax (your home).
Don't be a victim. Don't promote victim behaviour in others. Promote strength and independance. Be a part of your community by being a strong contributing individual.
Develop yourself. Just as strength training develops your body, warrior training (whether with a handgun, a rifle, in the marital arts studio or wherever), strengthens your will.
posted by Larry at
4/17/2007 01:08:00 AM
6 Comments:
Spiffy! Geoffrey got his carry permit (and Oregon law allows weapons on school campuses, if you have a carry permit). He's been joking about buying me a happy shiny revolver.
Do you read the LawDog Files? (I can't figure out where I got the link, but it's nifty stuff!)
Funny, I've been looking for a Lady S&W for my sister- that would definitely qualify as a shiny happy revolver.
I'm glad Geoffrey got his permit- little stores that are open all night are major targets for stupid druggies who think they can score a quick $20-$50 and don't care much about the consequences because all they're thinking about is getting a fix.
Has he been practicing? I highly encourage running as many rounds as you can (practically) afford through the pea-shooter; while the instinctive point-and-shoot method works surprisingly well and often in very short range encounters, the idea of a gun is to stop them before they get close enough to hurt you.
I'd definitely love to take you and the girls shooting; I know I've said something about it before and haven't followed through yet, but I really do mean it. It's just so much fun. I took my sis just before I left and I was very proud when she put her first four rounds right through the kill zone on the target at about 20 feet. Note- the first four rounds she had EVER shot from a pistol.
I'll get my Oregon permit eventually. I have to go take the safety course, get a letter from WA Dept of Mental Health, and write a letter to the Multnomah County Sherriff outlining reasons why I want it. The kindly grandmotherly lady at the sherriff's office said it doesn't have to be much of a letter; "Just that you want it for sport shooting, or self defense, or to go shoot someone." (pause) "Ha ha, just kidding on that last one!"
Unfortunately, having missed a court date in 2004, I'm not eligible until April of next year.
It would be interesting to know whether UW or WASU have separate regulations preventing one from bringing weapons onto their campuses. I know that my place of work includes restrictions in our employee handbook. Not only can I not carry (if I had a permit, which I don't ... yet), I am prohibited from having my guns in my locked vehicle on company property. Of course, no one would know it was there (unless I told someone), but that provides some legal coverage for my employer if I go bug-nuts and start shooting. Still, it rankles on me.
Recent court cases are trending against companies being able to prohibt firearms in locked cars.
Most companies think they're protecting themselves against liability. But they may be opening themselves up for more liability if someone is disarmed and subsequently harmed by someone else by following their policy. It may be worht pointing out.
It's not good if the Univeristy's policy states no guns- because legally you have to follow signs and directions for private property and businesses. I don't think you would be prosecuted for a defensive use of a gun for breaking that policy, but it could result in problems with the school or somethng along those lines.
I highly encourage you to get your permit. It'll take you about 30 minutes or less in your local county sherriff office, and $65. All it takes is fingerprints, a background check (officially takes 6 weeks, but is usually much faster) and a clean record.
Of course, it's also worth mentioning that a CHL is worthless without a concealed handgun. So there's an expense. And a gun is much more useful if you practice with it, which has its own expense.
I find retail-priced 9mm rounds going for about $9-$13/box of 50 in our area. I went up a little bit to the .40 (Glock model 22) and those rounds are bit more (maybe $12-$15/box), but from what I've been reading on one-shot stopping capabilty, they're about 50% more effective.
Range fees at my local indoor range ar $75/year. I still have to pay lane fees, but at a discount. They also require that we buy our ammo and targets through them (for our practice session. Of course, you can buy more amo and stuff elsewhere any time you wish.)
Once you've had a little instruction, it might be better if you could find an outside shooting venue, perhaps some private property of a friend or family member, which would reduce the expense a good bit.
Oh, I own. And I practice - not that more wouldn't be useful (always). Expense is not a problem, more lack of time than anything else :-)
You can see pictures of some of my guns under the Gun Pr0n category on my blog. In particular, I am very happy with my Ruger .357, but it is obviously not a good carry weapon. Sweet to shoot, though.
And speaking of Lady S&W models, I happen to own a S&W in 9mm, which you can see in the lower left of this picture. Obviously neither a revolver nor shiny. I am cogitating on the choice of type for a concealable handgun, in fact, and may end up with a .40 pistol solely to share ammo with my hubby, who owns the .40 S&W that you can see in that same image.
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