U.S. Concealed Carry
“Armed American Report”
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July 18th, 2008
Dear Friend,
Happy Friday!
I’ve got an excellent edition of the Armed American Report lined up for you this week. Particularly, the feature article. I’m going to warn you… this is the most horrific story that I’ve read in a while. I don’t know why it hit me so hard in particular… it seems like I am always hearing of horrible tragedies committed by truly evil people, but this one in particularly really got to me.
In fact, it was hard to get all the way through… But, it’s an act of evil that everyone needs to be aware is possible. I didn’t include the video of the killer speaking… but I included a link at the end of the story if you really want to hear his confession. I’m warning you though, it’s VERY graphic. He does swear a lot, but that’s not what I mean by graphic. What is truly GRAPHIC about the video is the way the killer talks about what he did.
I guess I took for granted that killers would be remorseful after they have shattered families- after they have taken fathers and mothers from their children, or children from their parents. But this creep has none… at least, not yet. He has destroyed two families, and he is still engulfed in self-pity. His life has been “..hell..”, and therefore, it is “..not his fault..” for killing. THAT is what I mean by “graphic”. It’s almost disturbing to hear another human being talk like that. So anyway, I hope you pass this awful story on to everyone who you think would benefit from hearing it.
Well.. before I get to it, I want to remind you of something:
On Monday, I told you all about the new report that I just finished working on, called “How To Defeat a Bigger and Stronger Opponent in a Street Fight.” You remember the one, right? It’s the one that shows 27 highly effective martial arts techniques that can aid you, should you ever be confronted with physical force.
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Anyway, I only had 1,000 of these books made (actually, about 990 were available by the time I gave copies to some of my friends and family!). There are so many people who read my emails who aren’t members, that I wanted to offer them a little incentive to take their self-protection to the next level by joining the USCCA.
So what I’m doing, is offering this report for FREE to everyone who joins the USCCA at the Magazine + Website membership level. Here’s the thing- I’ve been offering this to everybody since Monday afternoon, and by my last count, I’m down to a shade over 500 copies of the report left. This is something I’d normally have to sell for $47, so I’d say this is a pretty darn good value! |
Anyway, if you want to take advantage of this New-Member offer, visit THIS page.
If you’re already a member or just want to learn more about this report, visit THIS link.
Okay, let’s get started!
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== USCCA Laugh of the Week ==
See all of Chaim’s Cartoons at his website:
http://www.chaimcartoons.com/
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== House Keeping ==
Dear CCM subscribers! We want your photographs for future CCM covers.
1) One or more armed individuals.
2) A relaxed, comfortable, everyday feeling to the photo.
3) A non-cluttered background.
4) Empty space around the sides and top, so there’s enough room for
headlines and article titles.
5) Good lighting, pleasant expressions, and no safety violations.
COMPOSITION:
Vertical format, cover quality images of people with their carry guns. We want in-focus faces and safe gun handling. We will not permit risque clothing and foul or controversial shirt graphics – let’s all put our best faces forward and show we’re the respectable good guys. Take it outdoors! Watch your backgrounds and your shadows falling into the image.
TECHNICAL:
Set your camera to the highest resolution. Take multiple shots to ensure at least one is in focus! Watch out for squinting in bright sunlight and faces hidden in dark shadows. Zoom in, zoom out for a variety and so we have the best possible compositions to choose from. Remember, our big CCM logo goes at the top of the picture and we need room to place it in there!
Photo guidelines: http://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/1056.cfm
Photo Advice: http://uscca.us/pat/SHOOTI~1.PDF
IMPORTANT:
We will need to get a signed model release so we know we have the model’s permission to be published (we don’t want our pants sued off!).
Model Release form (for an Adult): modelrelease-adult.pdf
Model Release form (for a minor): modelrelease-minor.pdf
EMAIL IMAGES TO:
Art Director Betty Shonts
betty@swatmag.com
subject title: CCM cover submission
Include 2-3 images with short paragraph describing the model, any visible carry gear, and the model’s interest in firearms or experience with concealed carry. (For examples, see page 2 in past issues of CCM). Be sure to include the photographer’s name!
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== ” Evil Among Us” ==
by Xavier
http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com
On June 18, 2008, two Texarkana teens rode the train from Dallas to downtown Garland Texas. They planned to commit a crime. Demarius Cummings claims he and his cousin, James Broadnax, were not planning on committing murder in Garland, only robbery.
They had stolen their aunt’s “chopper” (a Kalashnikov rifle) to swap on the street for a pistol, and taken the handgun on the trip. The two discussed killing, but Cummings claims he did not believe it would happen. Broadnax concealed the pistol, and the two boarded the night train to Garland.
In Garland, in the early morning of June 19, the two encountered Matthew Butler and Stephen Swan who were leaving Zion Gate Records, a Christian music studio which Butler owned, at 810 State Street. The four men conversed for a while. The men parted, and then Cummings went back with Broadnax and asked for a cigarette. Suddenly, Broadnax pulled his gun. Without hesitation he shot Swann, then Butler. As each man struggled to get back up, Broadnax shot them again, this time in the head, killing them.
The two murderers quickly rifled the dead men’s pockets, stole two dollars, and the keys to Butler’s car. They drove Butler’s tan 1995 Crown Victoria to Dallas, and hid the pistol. The next morning they switched the license plates at a relative’s house, swapped the pistol back for the AK, pawned a few tools found in Butler’s car, and tossed Stephen Swann’s ID out the car window as they left in the stolen automobile heading back to Texarkana. There, they were apprehended after a traffic violation. A bicyclist had discovered the two dead men’s bodies lying in a pool of sticky blood and spent shell casings at about 1:00 AM the previous night. Both criminals are charged with capital murder. Bond is set at one million dollars each. Both victims are dead.
Those are the facts of the case. There are other facts that may not be as apparent, however. One is that these two men were prowling Garland Texas for a victim, or two. They were not carrying an illegally concealed weapon for self protection against criminals. They were carrying an illegally concealed weapon to use in victimizing an honest citizen. These two men did not stop their victims on the street to discuss recording contracts. They did not ask for a cigarette because they were hungry for nicotine. A package of Marlboros would not have saved Matthew Butler and Stephen Swan.
These two thugs did not go to Garland Texas to buy, bum or steal a pack of smokes. In Cumming’s own words, they went there because “dat’s where the rich white folks stay at.” These two thugs stopped two honest citizens and probed them to ascertain their willingness to be victimized. Chances are, one or both of the victims refused to give the two men a ride, or let them gain access to the recording studio. Then came the cigarette ploy.
The first criminal tactic that many victims of a crime recognize is a violation of the victim’s right to passage, and their right to privacy. By the time this tactic is employed, the criminal has already been on the prowl with the intent of selecting a victim, and they have chosen their prey. The criminal is simply ascertaining whether or not their choice is one that will have tolerable consequences. The level of risk is commonly determined by the criminal through asking or demanding something from the victim. Whether the victim gives in to the request makes no difference to the criminal. It is the victim’s reaction to the request that determines the outcome of the encounter. While this interview process is happening the criminal and their accomplices are gaining position for the inevitable attack.
So what should a person do? At this point there is only one way to stop an attack. The criminal predator is behaving like an animal, a predator. To stop the attack, the victim must quickly and unequivocally convince the criminal that he is a superior predator. The criminal predator must suddenly realize that he has encountered someone who will kill him.
Keep your distance. Recognize and refuse to allow the positioning for attack. Do not engage in the attacker’s conversational ploys. Tell the attacker loudly and without hesitation to back off. Position yourself for repelling an attack, and get your hand on your gun.
Oh, yes, the gun. Reportedly, one of these two victims had a concealed carry permit. Perhaps he left his weapon at home that day. After all, he was going to a Christian recording studio. No danger there……Perhaps the victim had his gun on him, but he lacked the ability to recognize the threat. Perhaps he believed in the innate goodness of all men. Perhaps he recognized the wrongness of the encounter, but the victim lacked the initiative and willingness to employ his weapon to save his own life. One thing is certain, however, by the time a cigarette was requested, this encounter on the streets of Garland Texas could only have been stopped through the use of deadly force.
Butler is survived by his wife Jamie, and two children. “I hope that whoever did this that they would come to know Christ,” Jamie Butler said tearfully. “I hope and pray that my husband gets a chance to meet them in heaven and gets a chance to shake their hand and gets a chance to forgive them himself.” May the souls of Matthew Butler and Stephen Swan rest in peace, and may we learn from their mistakes.
Below is a jailhouse confession from James Broadnax. Do not watch this video if you want to remain ambivalent about carrying the means for your own self protection. In the video you will see a sociopathic killer blaming his victims for causing him to “go into dat mode” and causing him to kill them. You will see utter and unmitigated lack of remorse. You will see stupefying excuses for a life that he himself wasted, his own, but which he takes absolutely no responsibility for. You will see not only total disregard for the human lives he destroyed, but also the most vulgar contempt for the grief of the families left behind. You will see inexcusable evil personified. You will see the evil that walks among honest citizens in every city in the U.S. You will see why I carry a gun, and why I train to use it to protect my life.
(Click on the picture above to go to Xavier’s blog to
watch the video- it’s at the very end of the story, but
I’m warning you.. this DIRT BAG uses some vile language. )
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== SpecOps Stock ==
‘By Knoxx‘
USCCA GEAR REVIEW
My friend, I have a GREAT product to show you this week. It’s a shotgun stock- but it’s the best shotgun stock I’ve ever used. When it comes to gun stocks… looks ARE important! So let me show you a close up of this thing:
As you can see, it looks a lot like the stock of an M4 carbine- it has a pistol-grip, and it has a very simple mechanism that allows the stock to telescope out four inches, which does several things… First, the pistol grip allows you to tuck your strong elbow in and make you a narrower target. The length adjustment is great because it allows the shotgun to be fitted to shooters of all sizes, but it also just simply allows you to make the gun short.
A lot of people use shotguns as their home-defense weapons. The problem is that shotguns like the 870 are usually long, because they are usually made for hunting! But if you get a 18 or 20 inch barrel for your shotgun in addition to a collapsible stock like this, you make your weapon MUCH more maneuverable.
This is a HUGE advantage when trying to navigate the tight spaces inside of a house.
Not to mention… this stock makes a shotgun look VERY cool… 
Okay, now for the AWESOME part. This stock reduces recoil. Plain and simple. The website claims that it reduces felt recoil of the most potent loads by as much as 95%.
I thought I’d try it out for myself, so I tried both slugs and buckshot. The buckshot I didn’t notice a HUGE difference in… but I didn’t think it recoiled a whole lot with the normal stock. But the slugs… I noticed a HUGE reduction of kick.
Not only did it not HURT like they used to… but the muzzle didn’t climb nearly as much as it did with the factory stock- which I thought was a great function.
Probably the BIGGEST advantage to this set up though, is the pistol grip itself, and how it gets your hand UNDER the gun. I don’t know about you, but when I shoot a shotgun that kicks badly, my thumb slams me in the nose… it gets VERY painful after just a few shots. But with this thing, your hand is nowhere near your face.
The ONLY sort of thing that you have to worry about, and they do warn about this on the package, is that you have to keep your face at least one inch behind the very end of the stock’s tube, where it flares out a bit, just before the stock starts angling down toward the pistol-grip. If you get into the gun too much, that will hit your in the face when you fire.
BUT… It’s still not nearly as bad as getting hit with your thumb. When I leaned into this stock too much, I did get hit, but it wasn’t that bad. In fact, it wasn’t enough to make me lean back, because this thing shoulders SO perfectly.
Just last night I showed this unit to my dad (who later asked if I could get him a deal on one…. No, dad!), and that was the first thing he noticed. “Wow, this pulls up beautifully!”.
Anyway, I was excited when I heard that Knoxx was sending me one of these, and I worried that my anticipation would build this thing up to the point where my expectations could never be met… BUT- I was wrong. This stock is perfect. It’s made of HEAVY duty polymer, and it feels more strong than the original synthetic stock that was on this gun from the factory. Not to mention, it’s VERY easy to install.
I really can’t say a whole lot more about this thing… I love it. I’ll be honest with you… they are letting me keep this thing. (THANK YOU KNOXX!), but I absolutely would buy one otherwise. They make them for a ton of different kinds of shotguns too. Check them out using the link below!!
http://www.knoxx.com/products/SpecOps_Stock.php
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== USCCA Members-Only ==
Forum Highlights
Every Member has complete access to the USCCA forum, which is constantly being accessed by members sharing information, knowledge, insight, and fun. With well over sixty-thousand posts and growing by the hour, this is one heck of a valuable resource!
How to Carry While Cycling? by ‘av8ndad’
I am an avid road cyclist (200-300 miles per week). When I ride, I wear lycra shorts and close-fitting cycling jersey with three small elastic pockets in back.
Until I got my CCW, I carried a can of pepper spray in my jersey pocket, but would now like to carry my KelTec P3AT. The problem of course is that despite its small size, the KelTec will print. I have a leather pocket holster from pocketholsters.com, but I worry that it will become unusable and/or stinky within a week or two of us. I can’t wear an IWB holster or fanny pack because they will both impede performance.
So . . . for those of you who are cyclists, how do you carry your firearm on your rides? Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Personal liability insurance question by ‘hankh4324′
Hi folks,
Now that I’m carrying on an everyday basis, I got to thinking about how awful it would be to go though the b.s. of defending myself in court if I had to shoot a BG. I would like to get some excess personal liability insurance; I’ve looked at what’s offered by the NRA and also at the insurance offered by the CHL Protection Plan (www.chlpp.com). Can anybody give me any opinions and/or knowledge of the pros/cons of either of these policies? Thanks in advance for your answers.
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Got pulled over by Sheriff Joe’s Deputy by ‘HK Toter’
I was coming home from a buddy’s house in Mesa, Az earlier tonight @ 2200hrs and a Maricopa County deputy pulled me over. To recap what’s been happening in Mesa for the last few weeks; we got us a little immigration problem here!
I was leaving a convenience store in the heart of the “Mexican Barrio” area and he was on my butt. He turned his lights on so I pulled of Broadway into a neighborhood to get of the main drag. After seeing what area I was in it was apparent to me the deputy was going to be extra “careful”. I noticed in the mirror his weapon was drawn. I sat there had both hands in plain sight on the wheel so he could see them.
He came up on the passenger side with a flashlight shining on my head and I don’t know why, I think just to break the ice I said “How’s it going tonight deputy”. He checked me over with his light, looked around my Land Cruiser and then asked me, “Do you know why I pulled you over”. Now I was still waiting for the license, registration and insurance bit so my hands were still on the wheel. So with a smile I said ” Your pulling me over because I’m white, aren’t you.” He then started laughing, me too. I then explained I had dinner with a buddy and his wife, and needed smokes at the Circle K. He was still laughing when he then asked for my licence, insurance and registration. Then came the real fun. I told him there were three firearms in the car and I do have a weapons permit.
The deputy asked where they were and I told them 2 were under the rear bench seat and I have one on me. He asked me under extreme watchful eyes to get my paperwork out of the glove box and step out of my Land Cruiser. After all that was done and he ran me through the computer he asked what I was carrying on me. I told him I had a Guardian .380 and he commented “That’s what I carry for a backup”. Then came the real fun. He asked what was under the seat. I told him I have a Remington 870 and a PTR91 rifle under there. His next comment was a long drawn out “Damn”, then “let’s take a look at what you got”. Now to me it’s not an issue, some people will have one, and I was hoping he wasn’t go to have one too. So to say, I am loaded for any contingency, the Navy and my Dad trained me on this. I carry 5 full 20 rnd. magazines of .308 with my rifle. I also have it set up as an HK G3A4, sling, NATO scope, bipod, bayonet, retractable stock and lots of other goodies abound with it.
When the Deputy saw this it was like he was a five year old seeing Disneyland for the first time! For five minutes he played with my rifle. We sat there with his lights spinning on his squad car in that neighborhood while he played with my rifle! I even showed him the illuminated reticle on the scope and taught him how to use the range finder @ 100, 200, 300 and to 600 Meters. It was actually fun.
Needless to say I did not get cited, and I think he’s buying a rifle soon too.
Another vote will be cast for Sheriff Joe! I do like the MSCO.
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Hk P7-psp by ‘grover77′
An online dealer that I deal with has a number of used HK PSP 9mm for sale for $810 after tax ,shipping and fees. They are police trade ins. I have read that this a very good gun. Does anyone know if this is a good price and has anyone shot one of these? They are very good/excellent condition.
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Is 1/2 an Inch Really All That Much by ‘pphilip’
Ok, so I’ve narrowed down my new carry gun to Para ordnance (I think) either the CCO which has a 7 + 1 capacity a 3 1/2 inch barrel and is 32 oz. I’m not a big girl, so my husband suggested the Para Carry which is really only 1/2 an inch shorter in length and maybe 1/4 in shorter in height. It holds 6 + 1, he thinks it would be easier to hide and he’s probably right but is giving up that extra round and extra 1/2 inch really gonna be worth it in the long run. Any thoughts?
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== “Armed Citizen From Texas ” ==
USCCA VIDEO OF THE WEEK
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== “Tim-spiration” of the Week ==
USCCA PHOTO OF THE WEEK
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USCCA QUOTE OF THE WEEK
- Sometimes a good quote will inspire or motivate you. Sometimes, they’ll just put a smile on your face! Here is the quote for this week…
“No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.”
-Colin Powell
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Self Defense Story OF THE WEEK
- Every day, thousands of Armed Americans use their firearms to preserve human life. Let this section of my newsletter serve as a record of this fact!
- “Burglar shot, killed in Park Heights home”
found at:http://www.claytoncramer.com/gundefenseblog/blogger.html
A Park Heights man shot and killed a 45-year-old man who was attempting to burglarize his aunt’s home early Wednesday morning, a police spokeswoman said.
Police did not release the name of the man who was killed because next of kin had not been notified. They also did not release the name of the shooter Wednesday.
Several people at the man’s house Wednesday declined to speak with a reporter.
Police received a call reporting a shooting at the 3800 block of Hayward Ave. about 1:10 a.m. Wednesday, said police spokeswoman Nicole Monroe.
When officers arrived, they were told that a man had broken into a home. A man living in that house heard someone come into the basement, and he went upstairs to get a his .38-caliber handgun, police said. He was the registered owner of the gun, police said.
The man, armed with the weapon, went to investigate and heard footsteps upstairs. He called out to his aunt to see whether she was walking around the house, Monroe said.
Then he walked up to the first floor and saw the burglar running through the rear door of the kitchen and fired once, striking the burglar in the back, Monroe said.
The burglar ran out the back door and collapsed near a shed, Monroe said. The man called 911, put his handgun on the kitchen table and waited for police to arrive. Medics rushed the burglar to Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:05 a.m.
The state’s attorney’s office is waiting for the completion of the homicide investigation before reviewing the case to determine whether to press charges, said Margaret Burns, a spokeswoman for the state’s attorney’s office.
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Closing Thoughts
I hope you’ve truly enjoyed this week’s edition of the Armed American Report. Please stay safe, and have a great weekend!
Tim Schmidt
Founder - U.S. Concealed Carry
http://www.usconcealedcarry.com
