So the Kid approaches me last night as I was with another co-worker  and with a great amount of urgency asks me when can he take the class so he can get his concealed weapons permit.  As I try to come up with the words to let him down easy, he launches on a tirade about something it happened to him and his child earlier that day.  It seems that while at a park with the Kid and a couple of friends, a particularly big sporting sphere flew by near them and the standard fare of cussing between Group One and Sport Sphere Group was initiated. Somehow and after a couple of minutes of trash talking, the ball was launched back at them and missed the Kid’s head by inches which prompted physical retaliation by one of the Kid’s friends.The next thing coming out of the Kid’s mouth was a description on how he would have fed the ball-tosser Mountain Oysters made out of his own genitalia.

Before he could utter another word, I told the Kid that in my opinion he was not ready to carry a concealed weapon. He was not happy to say the least and asked me what I meant by that. I reminded him of the conversation we had earlier and asked him what was the first thing he needed to shed in order to carry a gun but he could not remember so I refreshed his memory: EGO. I told him again that he could not let his ego dictate his actions and that he demonstrated not enough responsibility during the events. He got angry (another bad sign) and asked me what would have I done different if somebody almost hit my son with a ball. The answer caught him by surprise even though for us is obvious: get the boy and leave the area as fast and as far away as possible. He blinked hard, I guess it never entered in his brain that keeping a child safe might involve something other than blasting some caps on some schmuck. I drove the point home by telling him that what i just heard did not show a concerned parent seeking the safety of his progeny but a hot headed youngster who was dissed, had his ego “damaged” and wanted immediate satisfaction even though it was not the smart thing to do.

The sad part was that the Kid still didn’t get it. I was staring at his eyes and that brief moment of surprise faded quick. No light-bulb-moment-of-clarity illuminated his obtuse head. I think he just thought I was being a scared and ornery old fart who did not want to get in trouble.  And he is right, I am afraid for him, for his kid and for innocent bystanders if this guy ever gets to carry a weapon. More likely, if the Kid gets in a situation, his child may have to visit Daddy at a grave site or at Everglades Correctional Institute or even at Raiford State as Daddy waits for the needle.

CBS is reporting that gangs of machete wielding thugs are no roaming the streets looking for food.

Here is a quote:

Fights between gangs were seen on the streets. Machetes were flailing and it was impossible to predict what would happen next.

There was no sign of police or any kind of law and order.

The United nations also reported that looters broke into the UN’s warehouses to steal the food and other supplies they had for the nation. Now there is probably nothing to give to the defenseless because the morons at the UN were probably at the local child whorehouse . And the Red Cross points out that 4,000 criminals held at Haitian Prisons are out and roaming amongst the regular folk.  The British Newspaper The Telegraph on line even reports the sound of gunfire which they believe is people fending off looters in order to keep their belongings.

Many lessons to be learned here. I hope we do.

This is what I found this morning going in my local hospital for the yearly blood work up.This particular hospital had signs up some 4 years ago but took them down. I was happy that they were not buying into the fake “feeling good & safe through signs” granola manure, but it seems there must be a new sheriff or moron in charge.

Oh well.

I found this pic in some professional photographers’ website linked by Training Facility in an advertising email. Allegedly the Training Facility is about to use this company to take the pictures for their catalogs and what-nots. I wonder if they realized that this impressive “warrior” is holding what appears to be an airsoft M4gery. Gun people tend to be rather picky, you know? The MADE IN CHINA on the lower and the 2 screws in the magazine are not easy to miss. At least the trigger finger is in the right place.

If you live in Miami, you will face both the best, the weirdest and the worst of multiculturalism. I love being in a multicultural world of foods: Rotis one day, BBQ another (And at the Hitching Post you can have the choice of your favorite meat with baked beans or Cuban black beans) and get some Argentinian or Brazilian Churrasco. Nothing is more confusing that listening to 3 fans blasting the last season of Dolphins Football in English spoken with Creole, Portuguese and Southern accents. At the end, you get used to it since that is Miami.

But this is a wee bit too much:

I found this Jihadi/Hamaz/Gaza Strip revolutionary bullcrap in the Miami Art District. I am sure it means some multicultural “artistic” statement for some “enlightened” (with a very dim bulb) artist, but I fail to see it. Just another load of Islamofacism in our streets yet I might be the Homeland Security Domestic Terrorist suspect.

It is hard to even imagine what kind of hell is Haiti right now. The pictures are telling and yet we know they do a poor job projecting the real devastation.

International Agencies and Private Folks are now in gear trying to gather personnel and supplies to help. Help if you can. Say a prayer for Hatians, for what has happened and for what will happen. Predators will come out of the rubble soon and it is a target rich environment in a place where the Predators pretty much ran free before all this happened.

I was approached last night at work by a young man in his mid 20s expressing his interest in getting his concealed weapons permit. He heard I was an instructor and wanted to know if I would teach the class. In principle I said yes and spoke with him about the responsibilities behind carrying a weapon for self-defense, but I got the distinct impression that after I said yes, I was boring him with details.

We have talked about guns before and I know he knows squat about them, about using them for self defense or even shooting them for fun. His whole schooling comes from Movies, TV and Rap Music which could be summarized with his statement “I want a Desert Eagle!” Even though he is a single father which should make him a bit more mature, I really do not see it there. Then again him having a kid and not owing the means to defend the kid makes me uneasy about not giving him instruction.

I am a firm believer in personal responsibility. I also believe that you should carry a firearm if you want to since it is your right and I shouldn’t do anything to curtail it. The again it is my responsibility as instructor that I should not give help or to fail somebody that might do more harm than good with a firearm. I know I can teach him the class with special emphasis on Home Firearms Safety since he has a kid but, what if it does not take? To tell you the truth if he were to shoot himself I wouldn’t be worried: you pay your monies, you take your chances and I will actually make fun of you for not following the Firearms Safety Rules and getting an extreme ballistic remedial class. But I am afraid that his lack of maturity may lead to a child being injured or dead or an innocent bystander on his way to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

I am going to give this one some seriously deep consideration.

UPDATE: Thanks to James and the Pastor for guidance. The young feller will have to do without my instruction for now. I hope he matures enough to take on the responsibility.