I just finished another Twitter War with a two bit Radio Talk Show host from Seattle that covers “bizarre phenomena or experiences that lack an obvious scientific explanation, such as ghosts, UFOs, spirit communication and cryptozoology (Big Foot, Loch Ness Monster, et al)” but thinks I live in a world of fantasy because I believe in Self Defense.
The only reason my jaw did not hit the keyboard during the exchange was because I was laughing so hard at his “Superior Intellect.” And by the way, I think he believes I am a Cammo-wearin’-repressed-homosexual-redneck. Didn’t have the heart to tell him otherwise. The dumber his kind remain, the better.
Via All Nine Yards
The video shows Dale Norman from Fort Pierce being arrested for openly carrying a firearm.
As much as I hate that Mr. Norman got arrested, it is my opinion that he was breaking the law:
790.10 Improper exhibition of dangerous weapons or firearms.—If any person having or carrying any dirk, sword, sword cane, firearm, electric weapon or device, or other weapon shall, in the presence of one or more persons, exhibit the same in a rude, careless, angry, or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense, the person so offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
Was he doing it on purpose? I don’t think there was mens rea in the event. Was it a stupid way to carry a gun? In the state of Florida most certainly.
We repeat over and over that Concealed Carry means concealed, not barely covering. His choosing of cover garment was ill thought as it was a much too short undershirt/tank top and carrying the weapon in an outside-the-waistband holster sealed the deal of his arrest. It is our duty to follow the letter of the law to avoid getting into trouble and that includes making sure we are wearing the proper equipment and garments.
I told of this story before. I carry also in a OWB holster (pancake) and wear a vest any time I step outside the house. Even so, there is always a risk of accidental exposure like the day I was at a gas station and while the truck was being filled, I headed to the store to buy something. Four officers of Miami-Dade Police were coming out and a gust of wind just blew wide open my vest exposing my gun. The four officers saw me and the gun, but none of them even made a comment and one nodded at me as sort of greeting and all returned to their vehicles.
Accidental exposures will happen but it is our responsibility to keep them at a minimum and to be able to demonstrate that if they happen, we were not being careless about it. Having a good holster that will not drop a gun if suddenly bumped into, carrying inside the waistband if we a wearing some light upper body garment or wearing a cover garment that is long enough to cover the whole body of the sidearm.
That the law sucks? Oh hell yes. But we don’t go ignoring or being careless about it. We fight to have it changed in our favor. What can you do? You can begin by joining Florida Carry and help with their efforts on passing Open Carry in the State of Florida.
In the meantime Mr. Norman faces the following if found guilty of a First Degree Misdemeanor:
775.082. Penalties
(4) A person who has been convicted of a designated misdemeanor may be sentenced as follows:
(a) For a misdemeanor of the first degree, by a definite term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year;
775.083. Fines
(d) $1,000, when the conviction is of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Add to that lawyer fees, time spent in jail plus the loss of the gun.
Don’t be stupid, Concealed means concealed. Make sure your gun is.
UPDATE: Correction needed and thanks to Sean from All Nine Yards.
Mr. Norman is being charged with violation of Florida Statute 790.053
Except as otherwise provided by law and in subsection (2), it is unlawful for any person to openly carry on or about his or her person any firearm or electric weapon or device. It is not a violation of this section for a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm as provided in s. 790.06(1), and who is lawfully carrying a firearm in a concealed manner, to briefly and openly display the firearm to the ordinary sight of another person, unless the firearm is intentionally displayed in an angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense.
(3) Any person violating this section commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
FS 775.082
(b) For a misdemeanor of the second degree, by a definite term of imprisonment not exceeding 60 days.
FS 775.083
(e) $500, when the conviction is of a misdemeanor of the second degree or a noncriminal violation.
My step father’s forearm. We were shooting at our private range on Thanksgiving day, and his parents were over.
We had been shooting for a little while with a multitude of different pistols. However, the .25 caliber pistol that my step-father’s step-father had brought wouldn’t fire with any reliability. Following a trigger pull that did not result in a fired round, he stepped back about ten feet and I thought he was clearing/putting the gun away.My step father had stepped up to where we were shooting from ad was showing his mom the operations of his Smith & Wesson.
Now at this point I was standing about ten feet to his right, looking around in the grass for a round I had dropped. It was while I was bending over I heard a crack, followed closely by, “Ouch!” (my step-dad is funny in that, while his language could be terrible when we were working on cars, etc. he still, in times of durress, would not cuss in front of his mother).
As I turned I saw my step father bent over as he turned to look around. Obviously, given the X-ray, he had caught a round in his left forearm. It was, in fact, from the .25 that hadn’t been functioning earlier. So, we applied pressure and transported him immediately to the hospital.
To this day, I do not know whether it had been a negligent discharge (likely) or whether it was a slow burning primer (possible, not as likely). My brother and I were a mix of worry/anger/embarrassment at the time and I am still rather embarrassed when discussing the story with others.
The important lesson is that, had the four rules (particularly those regarding muzzle discipline) had been followed, no one would have gotten hurt.
Edit: .25 is even powerful enough to shatter bone, and it has less energy than .22lr. Caliber wars are particularly worthless.
Thanks to the OP for sharing this case. Even though accidental shootings are less and less every year, they do happen and sharing them reinforce the message of following the Four Rules and Safety Above Everything.
At ThePlant (Prison, the government) has foundso far87guns,64,000 rounds of ammunition, 18grenades, 4tear gas (grenades),stunbombsand 2mortars.
Among the guns recovered were 9 FAL rifles, 1 AK-47, 1 sub-machine gun and one K-15
The Plant Prison in Caracas was shut down just last month after days of heavy rioting. Convicts were laying down so much fire that Venezuelan Armed Forces were sent to put down the rebellion. The inmates were moved to other prisons and a full scale search for more guns, ammo and explosives are underway.
This is a video captured with a cell phone of the inmates having some sort of shindig with the guns at their disposal before the intervention.
And yes, that is full auto fire which is quite illegal in Venezuela. Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams are still inside the prison detonating materiel deemed to unsafe to handle.
Remember, this is the country whose Gun Laws are following the recommendations of IANSA and would make Sarah Brady’s chest swell with emotion. And they also have one of the highest murder rate in the world and more murders than the USA with one tenth of the population.
So one of the girlfriends for Rudy Eugene upgraded from Zombie to Vampire. The question is why? This is how conspiracies get started, next time find a human.
