Month: September 2012

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It Can Still Be Done

September 30, 2012 by 2 Comments

The film Assaulted: Civil Rights Under Fire still needs funding to get it off the ground. As of this afternoon, Kris Koenig is still $37,750 short of the needed $65,000 to conduct the initial interviews and there are only four more days to raise it on Kickstarter.

I had the opportunity to meet Kris and his assistant Anita this weekend at the Gun Rights Policy Conference. They are good people and they are dedicated to the Second Amendment. Kris conducted a number of filmed interviews for the film this weekend and is off to a good start.

Kris has the contacts and the commitment from public television to get this program on the air. However, as I said in the opening paragraph, he needs money to finish the project. Personally, I have raised my own pledge four-fold because I believe in this project.

The readers of this blog are backers of gun rights or they wouldn’t be reading my blog. Here is my challenge: if everyone who reads my blog in next couple of days would only pledge $5 it would put this project over the top.

Let me put $5 into perspective. Five bucks is:

  • 4 softdrinks at $1.25 each, or
  • 1 fancy coffee drink at Starbucks plus the tip, or
  • Less than the cost of a Big Mac meal at McDonalds
  • The change scattered on the top of your dresser, or
  • The cost of a big box of popcorn at the movies, or
  • Less than the cost of a movie ticket.

I think you get the idea. Five bucks isn’t a lot of money in and of itself but if enough people donate five bucks it begins to add up. 

So please, consider making a pledge to this project. You can make your pledge here.

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Update On Otis McDonald’s Condition

September 29, 2012 by 1 Comment

Colleen and David Lawson, co-plaintiffs in McDonald v. Chicago, gave me an update on Otis McDonald’s condition and well as the circumstances that put him the hospital. This update is made with the permission of Mr. McDonald and his family.

He was standing at home and felt dizzy and did not fall, just let
himself crumple to the floor. After ten minutes, he felt well enough to
rise and out himself to bed, tho it was mid-afternoon. His kids found
him like that and rushed him to the hospital, where it was determined
that he had blood on his brain and put him in ICU. Subsequent tests
determined that surgery is not indicated at this point, and that it
discontinuing his blood pressure meds may be efficacious in relieving
that pressure. The docs felt he had been on them too long and didn’t
need them, and he reports a marked increase in feeling better this
morning, following discontinuance of the blood pressure meds. As of
last night, he was moved out of ICU and into a regular room. Although
visits are discouraged without prior consent of the family, Otis
welcomes your cards and has given permission for this status update to
be shared with any interested persons.


Cards and well wishes may be sent to:


Christ Community Hospital, 4440 W 95th St
Oak Lawn, IL 60453.


Otis McDonald sends his love and gratitude for your inquiries, prayers, and well-wishes.

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Keep Otis McDonald In Your Prayers

September 28, 2012 by 12 Comments

Pastor Kenn Blanchard let me know earlier today that Second Amendment hero Otis McDonald was admitted to the ICU at a Chicago hospital. He was admitted for a cerebral blood clot.  Mr. McDonald has been a fighter all of his life but this may be his toughest battle.

Kenn didn’t know Mr. McDonald’s current condition but requested prayers for him. I second that and would add that we need to keep his family in our prayers as well.

If I hear anything more about his condition, I’ll update this as soon as possible.

UPDATE: Mr. McDonald’s cerebral blood clot is a result of a fall at the airport in which he hit his head. He was on his way to the Gun Rights Policy Conference when he had his accident.    I was informed by Colleen and David Lawson that this happened at home and he was feeling faint. He didn’t fall but merely lowered himself to the floor. He was brought to the hospital a little later that day.

UPDATE II: Julie Versnel reported at the Gun Rights Policy Conference that Mr. McDonald is on the mend. That’s good news!

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A Question To Ponder

September 28, 2012 by 3 Comments

The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence (sic) is holding their gala event in New York City on Thursday, October 4th. They plan to honor B-list actors who’ve made public service announcements for them as well as highlight “men and women whose lives have been forever altered by gun violence.”

Included in the list of those “whose lives have been forever altered” was this:

Aurora theater shooting victims Ethan Rodriguez-Torrent (who escaped
without physical injury) and his friend Stephen Barton (who was shot in
the neck and shoulders), who had stopped in Denver to visit a friend
during their cross-country cycling trip;

How is Ethan Rodriguez-Torrent a “theater shooting victim” if he had no physical injuries? Is the Brady Center claiming the Mr. Rodriguez-Torrent has PTSD or other mental disorders other than hoplophobia, that is? Was just being in the theater enough to be able to claim victimhood?

I can understand calling the friend a victim as he was actually shot by the deranged student but I’m having a hard time accepting that Mr. Rodriguez-Torrent is a victim. By extension, if you’ve ever witnessed a hostile encounter, in person or on TV, then you are a shooting victim. I’ve watched the Zapruder film of JFK being assassinated in Dallas as well as have vague memories of watching Jack Ruby kill Lee Harvey Oswald on TV so does that make me a shooting victim?

By the dumbed-down standards of the Brady Center, I guess it does. I’m a victim, you’re a victim, we’re all victims now. Victim of what I’m still not sure but victims nonetheless.

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Important Update On CCW At GRPC In Orlando – It’s Legal In The Hotel

September 27, 2012 by 15 Comments

Thanks to the industrious work of Miko Tempski, Board Member of the CCRKBA, we have the definitive answer on whether the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport is considered a part of the airport for concealed carry purposes.

It is not!

Miko receved the following from the Orlando Police Department’s airport division a few minutes ago:

 From: John O’Grady
Subject: Fwd: Airport Firearms Carry and attached hotel
To: miko.temski

Mr. Tempski, I am in receipt of the below email request. In short you are correct in your interpretation of the FSS. The Hyatt Hotel is it’s own property so legally carrying a weapon is OK. Carrying a firearm in the terminal is prohibited. If you have any other questions or concerns please contact me directly.

Regards, John O’Grady Orlando Police Department Division Commander Orlando International Airport

Thus while you can’t legally carry within the airport terminal, you can carry in the hotel itself. I just confirmed with the hotel that it can be accessed without entering the terminal.

Thanks again to Miko for getting a definitive answer from law enforcement. I should know not to trust public affairs and marketing!

UPDATE: Thanks to Markofafreeman in the comments below we have some directions on how to enter the hotel if you are driving without entering the terminal: If you drive, go up to the 4th floor parking, following the signs for
the Hyatt. As advertised, the entrance is right there and you don’t need
to enter via the terminal.

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Carrying Concealed At The Gun Rights Policy Conference

September 27, 2012 by 4 Comments

A comment to a post by Miguel at GunFreeZone.net started me looking into Florida’s concealed carry laws and prohibited locations. The Gun Rights Policy Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport which is located in the main terminal of the Orlando Airport. I confirmed with the Hyatt that they are actually considered part of the airport terminal (or so the Front Desk said).

According to Florida Statue Section 790.06 (12)a, you are prohibited from carrying in the following locations:

(12)(a) A license issued under this section does not authorize any person to openly carry a handgun or carry a concealed weapon or firearm into:

1. Any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05;
2. Any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station;
3. Any detention facility, prison, or jail;
4. Any courthouse;
5. Any courtroom, except that nothing in this section would preclude a judge from carrying a concealed weapon or determining who will carry a concealed weapon in his or her courtroom;
6. Any polling place;
7. Any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special district;
8. Any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof;
9. Any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms;
10. Any elementary or secondary school facility or administration building;
11. Any career center;
12. Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose;
13. Any college or university facility unless the licensee is a registered student, employee, or faculty member of such college or university and the weapon is a stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes and the weapon does not fire a dart or projectile;
14. The inside of the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport, provided that no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal, which firearm is encased for shipment for purposes of checking such firearm as baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; or
15. Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law.

If the Hyatt Regency is legally part of the terminal at the Orlando Airport, carrying concealed even with the proper license/permit is forbidden. People traveling to the conference who would normally be carrying should be aware of this. I knew you couldn’t carry in the bar portion of restaurants but I didn’t know about the airport portion of the law.

If you have any different information as to the status of the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport, please share it in the comments below.

UPDATE: I just spoke with Vera of the Public Affairs Department of the Orlando International Airport regarding this issue. I asked specifically whether the Hyatt Regency was considered part of the main terminal for the purposes of concealed carry. She replied, “It is in the airport.” Unless we hear differently from the Orlando Police Department, I would operate under the presumption that concealed carry is not allowed at the Hyatt Regency.  See my separate update – the Orlando PD, airport division says the hotel is a private holding and is NOT part of the airport for CCW purposes.

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One More Day Until GRPC!

September 27, 2012 by 2 Comments

We are getting excited. It is only one more day before we board a Delta jet to Orlando for the Gun Rights Policy Conference. There will be old friends to see, new friends to make, and a chance finally to meet people you only know from the Interwebs.

The Complementary Spouse is making lists of stuff we shouldn’t forget while I’m trying to figure out which Hawaiian shirts to pack. We all have our priorities!

You can read the agenda here.

As I’ve said before, if you live anywhere in the area you should attend for at least Saturday. It’s free to attend, you’ll get tons of free books on Second Amendment topics, and you’ll learn a lot. Plus Madison Rising will be playing the National Anthem!

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Quote Of The Day

September 27, 2012 by 2 Comments

California Senator Leland Yee’s SB249 has officially died for this session of the California legislature. The finger pointing has begun between Senator Yee and Attorney General Kamala Harris. The so-called investigative journalists at KCBS who did the original story that let Senator Yee think he could ride the issue to fame and glory have more on it here.

The quote of the day comes from Senator Yee bemoaning the fact that people let their voice be heard:

State Senator Leland Yee, who sponsored the bill, said the campaign
became ugly fast. “We got emails, we got phone calls. We even had
billboards along 101,” he said.

Dude, that’s the way it is supposed to happen in America. Citizens can and should make their voices heard. I imagine that is one of the reason’s Sen. Yee’s family (including him) emigrated in 1951or ’52 to America from Red China.

As to the billboards, props to the gun rights activists in California!

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A Reminder For NC Hunters

September 27, 2012 by

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is reminding hunters of the requirement to wear blaze orange during certain hunting seasons. As an aside, I wonder if this requirement will ever be expanded to include the safety yellow that you see so many highway workers and public safety personnel wearing nowadays.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Home From The
Hunt™ safety campaign is reminding hunters to follow blaze orange
requirements.

In North Carolina, hunters are required to wear a cap, hat or an outer
garment in blaze orange that is visible from all sides when hunting
bear, feral hogs, deer, rabbit, squirrel, grouse, pheasant or quail with
a firearm. Hunters are also required to wear blaze orange while hunting
with a bow on Sunday during the muzzleloader or gun season.

“Blaze orange, sometimes known as hunter orange, fluorescent orange or,
by some old-timers, as 10-mile cloth, is instantly recognizable and
signals caution to the viewer,” said Travis Casper, state hunter
education coordinator.

The Wildlife Commission recommends everyone wear blaze orange if they
are going to be outdoors in areas shared with hunters. Blaze orange
clothing stands out against an outdoor background and studies have
proven it increases visibility of the wearer in low light situations.
Blaze orange also can be helpful in locating someone lost or injured.

“Throughout the various hunting seasons, the majority of folks are
responsible and safe,” Casper said. “This state has an excellent hunting
safety record, which improves every year. But it isn’t perfect and we
want to eliminate preventable incidents.”

All first-time hunting license buyers in North Carolina must complete a
hunter education course successfully. Classroom courses are offered free
across the state by the Wildlife Commission, with locations and
schedules listed online at
www.ncwildlife.org.

For information on hunting seasons and rules, consult the 2012-13 N.C.
Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest, also available
online at
www.ncwildlife.org.