Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Self Defense
Well, the 709SS was just the ticket for me.
After a few weeks of thorough research, I made the decision to get the above handgun.
I walked in with the exact gun in mind, they happened to have it in stock, and walked out with it and 100 rounds of 9X19.
The .45 will defend the home just fine (with Bertha the hand cannon as backup), and the 9mm will defend me when I am out and about.
There are a lot of reviews of this firearm out there. So if you're interested in using a handgun for self defense you may want to consider this one.
Also, Theresa has been feeling a little unsafe at her workplace. There is a wierdo that has started following her constantly. Evidently he isn't doing enough to warrant being banned from the place, or from being arrested. The employee parking lot is a pretty long distance from the building, and people are checked for firearms at the door so she can't consider one of those while on the property.So she asked if I could pick her up some mace. I got her some.
My mother used to carry mace (remember that, Mom?). I have never tried any in my eyes, but the guys at the sport store today told me that it isn't an experience I would enjoy.
So Theresa is armed to an extent now. Watch out, wierdo.
***
Next on the list is a firearm for Theresa. She's considering her options.
*Note: This post marks the first in a new tag: Defense. All future posts pertaining to this topic will have this tag.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Yesterday was the first day of the golf league.
We are now at a different course, because the other course is soon to have three holes removed to accomodate the crappy Erie "International" Airport. Screw that airport.
Anyway....
Afterwards (no, I'm not going to discuss how I played) Dave G's girlfriend had a BBQ at her place. She lives just around the corner from me.
Bree had a great time. She had a hot dog, pasta salad, marshmellows, juice......
Wildman, Amber, and Alex were there too. It was great to see them all!
Even the amazing Bruce and his girlfriend showed up!
That rocked.
Bree stayed up way late, but got to ride on a lawn tractor at night just before we went home. Then she slept in her 'tent'. Yeah, that thing is still up in her room.
We are going to have to take it down soon.
Not a bad start to the season at all.
***
Oh, and Marci is our bartender. She said I was looking really good.
Listen lady. I know I look really good.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
This was our movie selection. It was way better than the previous movie.
What is really cool about it, is that it was filmed in a lot of places. Conneaut Lake Park was one of them, and that's not too far from where I live.
And Presque Isle was another place. I go there frequently, as may have been noticed through my blog postings.
Pretty sweet.
It was a tough movie to watch - especially for Theresa. It really affected her when...well, I can't give away any part of the movie. You'll have to watch it yourself.
***
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Bree Is Roughing It Tonight
I'm not sure what the deal is with the worried look on her face but...
Bree was all excited tonight when I told her we would try and make her a tent to sleep in.
(I have a real tent that is intended for motorcycle trips, but it is just too big for her room.)
So I used Theresa's idea of two kitchen chairs with a sheet across them.
Bree was pumped. She kept giggling like a...well like a little girl while we were constructing the ultimate tent.
So right now she is snoozing up in her room. I'm sorry, I meant she is snoozing in her tent...in the "wilderness". And I'm relaxing and dreading tomorrow being Monday.
***
Times like these are what makes interesting memories.
It's times like these that are the most important in life.
House Bill 40 Being Considered Again
This is a bit of banter on self and home defense.
For this topic, refer to http://forum.pafoa.org if you would like further information on the legalities in PA of owning and using FIREARMS for defense. There are obviously many other methods of defense.
Also, there is a good article at:
floor9.com is a really cool blog, based in Harrisburg.
Anyway, I would to specifically discuss the proposition of a castle doctrine for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
****************
“On Tuesday, May 25, the House Judiciary Committee will consider House Bill 40.
HB40, sponsored by State Representative Scott Perry (R-92), would permit law-abiding citizens to use force, including deadly force, against an attacker in their homes and any places outside of their home where they have a legal right to be. It is clearly stated that there would be no “duty to retreat” from an attacker, allowing law-abiding citizens to stand their ground to protect themselves and their family. HB40 would also protect individuals from civil lawsuits by the attacker or the attacker’s family when force is used.”
PA is currently a state with a duty to retreat law.
Essentially, you are obligated to retreat if at all possible. As a rule of thumb in the duty to retreat doctrine:
If you have the ability to use lethal force to protect yourself and your family (firearm, baseball bat, or documented martial art training) you must first warn the intruder.
“Avoid physical confrontation. If there is a safe avenue of retreat, use it (regardless of jurisdiction). At a minimum, retreat to the wall.”
There are several problems with the duty to retreat, but I don't want to get in to those problems right now. That is just opening the door for countless hours of debate between people on both sides of this topic's fence through my blog comments. I do, however, have a ridiculous hypothetical example about this duty to retreat that I wanted to give later.
What I would like to discuss is the fact that a castle doctrine makes it so that a person cannot be sued in a civil court for defending themselves, or their home. (For any defense that is decided through investigation to have been justified.)
As it stands now, if you manage to survive an attack on you or your home, you can and probably will be sued by the family of the person who was killed. Civil lawsuits are incredibly easy to initiate in any state, with PA being no exception, and if you've ever watched TV you see the ambulance chasers at every commercial break. They have all kinds of commercials, and have to pay for that somehow. They pay for it by going to court. Once a crime scene is corded off, the sleaze of the legal world will stand just outside the yellow tape, and pick out the people they are going to hand out business cards to.
The bottom line is, whether or not the plaintiff wins, it will still be a great deal of time and money out of your pocket to go to trial in a civil suit.
(All because you defended yourself or your home.)
And as it stands now, you will go to court in a civil lawsuit. Just assume that and be done with it.
"I visualize deaths in the streets all over the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania if they pass this," Bishop Kermit Newkirk of the Harold O. Davis Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia said.
I pulled the above quote from www.fox43.com. So yes, there are two sides to this debate. I disagree that a castle doctrine will make crime increase. But look up the information that is out there yourself and decide for yourself if you are so inclined.
Being from Ohio, I can tell you that I am familiar with Ohio law. I am still learning about PA law, and it takes a while to get up to snuff on this stuff. Ohio adopted a castle doctrine in late 2008, and I wish it would have while I was living there.
Does the castle doctrine mean there will be “death in the streets all over the Commonwealth”? Let's consider the fact that there already is death in the streets all over the commonwealth, and no laws will ever change that. So will this make the death in the streets more prevalent?
No. Look up stats on this and judge for yourself. All statistics are wishy washy to begin with, so it can be used on either side of the fence on topics like this, but the fact remains that violent crimes typically go down in states after adopting these laws. There are a lot of factors to consider when looking at statistics, so be careful to have an understanding of how the stats were obtained before you make a judgement.
But my interpretation of the stats that I see as valid is that violent crime goes down by some percentage after the adoption of a castle doctrine.
You need to understand the definition of the word crime, however. I'm not going to school anyone on that. That's on you to look it up. But as it stands now, failure to retreat is considered a crime if the attacker survives and takes you to court with Johnny Cochrin at his/her side. If there is a window on the second floor of your house, and Johnny convinces the jury that you could have retreated out of your window onto the pavement below....you committed a crime.
If the attacker dies, and his/her family takes you to civil court...Johnny can get you for a huge chunk of your money.
Because you didn't jump out of your window.
(ok, jumping out of a window onto pavement probably isn't going to be considered a mode of retreat, but I'm just trying to emphasize this.)
Will a castle doctrine completely remove the chance of a civil suit? No. But it will reduce the chances of one by a great margin.
People with children will not compromise the safety of their children, regardless of the laws. So the adoption of a castle doctrine will be a good thing for them. I want to present an example.
Wildman and I work together. While he is out and about, his wife could be at home with Alex (the dope-diggity-est dude ever), taking care of him and the homestead. If she were to hear a noise and walk into the entry room of their apartment and see a dude forcing his way in through the French doors...you better believe that woman is going to jack him up first and ask questions later.
His ass will be at the bottom of the stairs with lumps on his head from a bat, rolling pin, cast iron pan, one of Alex's toys (not a beanie baby though), or maybe just her highly effective fists.
If she has a firearm then this baddie will be ventilated with some holes in his torso.
And we don't even need to mention that both of their beagles would have done some serious chewing and gnawing as well, followed by the insult-to-injury act of marking their territory on his face.
Even if it is ruled to be justified, Wildman and family could be tied up in court because the attacker's family is pissed that he was seriously hurt or killed. And it's a long flight of stairs his ass would have gone down, so believe me...death is possible.
A person should not have to first retreat when defending themselves, their home, their family, etc.
Defense should be a right.
And people shouldn't fear civil lawsuits following justified defense.
I hope PA finally adopts a castle doctrine. It will be one more way that things are evening up on the playing field between the criminals and the law-abiding citizens.
An interesting video that discusses what may happen if you ever have to defend your home:
This guy is somebody I have been subscribed to for a while now. Some of his videos have been pretty informative for me.
Another cool link is one that I came across about a month ago. This blog is pretty cool. I've found some info on it to be useful.
In conclusion, I take defense pretty seriously. I have been a victim required to defend myself. It changes how you look at things. And it lasts for a very long time...probably the remainder of your life.
My recent decision to be as vocal about it stems from my time as Bryanna's guardian. She spends five nights a week with me as her only protection, and believe me when I tell you that I will make it very difficult for anyone to harm her. They have a good chance of being killed if the situation escalates to that point.
Shes is all that is important on those five nights. And the adoption of a castle doctrine will be a good thing, in my opinion. I feel PA needs a castle doctrine.
Every state needs a castle doctrine.
***
Saturday, May 22, 2010
We just got back from watching "Alice In Wonderland" at the dollar theatre.
So no, the above pic is not of the theatre we went to. But anywho.
Bree was afraid at certain points, but she was a trooper.
Of course, I got stuck sitting in front of assholes again. Like I always do.
It was still a nice idea, since it has been raining all day and there is nothing else to do.
Yuckie weather this weekend.
***
Update: Theresa got her license in the mail today. I haven't gotten my mail yet. We'll see when I get home.
***
9:41PM update: I got my license in the mail. Off to bed.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
I have finally become angry.
Mr. President. I'm done with you.
I never should have supported you. My regret is not that I wanted change, but that I believed you when you said you were about change.
Mr. President, you will not get my vote when it comes to re-election. If you remain President for a second term, I will honor you as my president for another four excruciating years. Then I will cry out of happiness that you are gone.
My only hope, naive as it may be, is that the next President is not like you.
I want a President. I do not want a celebrity who whines about things, condemns those who disagree with the administration, and who haphazardly pushes bills into law and celebrates them as major accomplishments.
I applaud Arizona's decision to crack down on illegals.
And shame on you, Mr. President. I find you very un-American.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The manual I spent a lot of time working on is now complete. Just handed it in today.
Of course, Bill re-wrote the thing.
I could have saved myself a lot of hours at home if he just would have written it to begin with, but at least it's done and over with.
Tomorrow I start risk-assessing. Finally.
We'll see how that goes.
***
If the weather permits I will be riding to work this week. We'll see!
***
I got to hang with Justin for about a half hour after work. I also got to hang with Alex. Alex is a totally awesome dude.
At least he didn't poop on me or something.
***
Bree was uncontrollable tonight. Kids suck.
http://rawcamp.com/
The guy on this 'site' reminds me of my brother.
He's like the black, angry version of my brother, of course.
He's pretty sweet.
(sarcasm)
Monday, May 17, 2010
Concealed
Theresa and I went and filed paperwork for concealed carry licenses.
That way, one day I can be as cool as the guy in the above picture.
Because he is one dope-ass mutha fo' sho'.
***
I took a vacation day instead of going to work. I felt like crap, so I would almost rather have gone to work.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
First "Official" Ride of 2010
Tonight was my first real ride of the year.
Sure, I've been out on the bike prior, but this was really the first ride just for the sake of riding.
I rode to nowhere in particular. Just out and about.
Since it was a tad chilly, I wore thick leather gloves with full fingers, chaps, sweater, etc.
The Bonnie still turns heads, even though it's finally starting to show some age. There are fuzz scratches all over the tank. Some fasteners have surface rust on them. Screw caps have the 'chrome' worn off. The seat is starting to look well-worn.
But people still love it.
***
My next planned trip is going to be a short one, but an interesting one. I am going to ride to the Evans City Cemetery.
My next planned trip is going to be a short one, but an interesting one. I am going to ride to the Evans City Cemetery.
That cemetery is famous for being the one in the film "Night Of The Living Dead".
One of my all time favorite horror movies. (I'll make a post about my love of "dead" movies some other time.)
So who's going with me?
***
The biggest trip of my life is in the planning phase as well. Big Ed and I are beginning our plans for a motorcycle ride to Alaska. Keeping up with tradition, I'd like to take the Bonneville. But I may need to upgrade to a bigger bike that is meant for touring. By the time we do this trip, roughly five years from now, I'll be in my mid thirties. I don't know if my body can handle that many miles on the Bonneville by that age.
(It gets rougher and rougher each year!)
So who's going with me? Wildman has already passed. Wimp.
Theresa wouldn't go to Alaska if you paid her. Her loss, if you ask me.
Whoever we go with, it will be the trip of all trips. More to report later.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Some time from now, when people are ill and on death's bed from consuming petroleum....
Some time from now, when people are jailed for possessing a firearm...
Some time from now, when it takes three incomes for a single household...
Some time from now, when Bryanna and other children near her age get to live in squalor as adults under a socialist government...
Some time from now, when you no longer need to be a U.S. citizen to be president...
...that time is fast approaching.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Bree's Questions
She likes movies with mindless action in them.
She likes to ask questions.
"Why does he have a knife?"
"Is he a bad guy or good guy?"
"Is that a monster?" (anybody with a beard, or anyone who is ugly gets this question asked about them. Because monsters are ugly, of course.)
"Is that a squirt gun?" (Anytime a gun is on TV.)
"Is this Rambo?"
"When is Rambo going to beat the monster?"
And the greatest, random question ever asked:
"Can Rambo get Freddy Koo Koo?"
Yes, I still get asked about Freddy Koo Koo. I'm continually reminded just how stupid putting that movie on was.
***
One pretty sweet thing I've learned lately, is that Bree is convinced that I can stop all monsters. She told me that recently.
More Updates, More Man Stuff, Random Ramblings
The final dentist visit was today. I had four cavities.
I did them all without novocaine.
Somehow my insurance company has it in their head that being two days late on my payment is reason to cancel my account. I didn't get my regular emailed bill from them this month. They told me that I must have just missed it.
But two days late is enough to cancel it?
The cell phone bill came in today. Somehow they are convinced I used 50.00 of internet. Of course they are probably right. It was probably Bryanna messing with my phone.
The Vmax parts this month are still going to happen, even though I am broke (and it's only the second week of the month), thanks to the gift card Wildman got me. However, with the increasing cost of everything, it is looking like it will not be possible to have two motorcycles on the road. Especially if I have children. In fact, it looks like one motorcycle will end up being too much! We'll see.
Theresa got into an accident today. The side of her car got bashed up, but nobody was hurt. It will get fixed soon, and will hopefully not cost her anything.
That reminds me that I never made a post about my recent accident. I drove into my own garage door. Marked up the front of the Santa Fe, and the door. It is functional still. But if the renters find out I'll probably be buried in debt over it.
***
There is some good news.
I still have a job. We lost the only new order I was a part of, so my job is probably in question. But I still have it for the time being.
I still have th ability to have my hobbies. That time is limited, but I still have them for now.
I'm healthy. Maintaining health sure is expensive, though.
Bree and I hang out like best buds most nights of the week. It's something I look forward to, actually.
***
I went to the Erie Sports Store today. My god, firearms are so damned expensive. Ammunition is really going through the roof to the point that the average citizen can't afford it.
Though he may not be the guilty party, I personally thank Obama for making it more and more impossible for people to own firearms.
Thanks, Mr. President.
However, my growing fears are not going away. And since I'm not going to become a black belt kung fu guy in a timely fashion, my options for personal defense are knives and guns. I've always carried knives, and yes I've used them to defend myself. And though I did defend myself, I am telling you that it is not the best method of self defense. So I am going for my concealed carry permit.
Now, all you people living on the border of PA and OH. If you are a PA resident with reason to head into OH, like I am, the concealed carry will only be valid in PA. So you'll still need to rely on them blades.
****
More to post later. Gotta put Bree to bed.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Updates and Man Stuff
Dave G. is urging me to begin reloading ammunition. I'm going to start this month.
I bought mirror adapters for the Triumph. That way, I will be able to buy after market mirrors from several different brands. I won't need to buy the expensive Triumph mirrors.
I'll be getting my concealed carry license soon. And yes, I plan to carry. No sense in having it if you aren't going to carry it.
I have cut my Jim Beam consumption down to less than 30% of what is was 6 months ago. Pretty much, I hardly drink any more.
I haven't chewed tobacco in three months. I don't miss it.
The Vmax work begins this month. Long live that stinky beast.
The golf league begins at the end of this month.
Oh, Theresa is getting her concealed carry license too. I'm pretty sure she'll carry. And she'll bust a cap in a fool's ass, I'm sure.
I had to repair my laptop today, though it was simply removing parts that were broken. But still, it's another appliance I can add to my list. I'm manly.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Random things I'm sick of:
Getting older.
Slowly losing my rights as an American citizen.
Women and their emotions.
Men and their emotions.
Farmville requests on facebook. Screw farmville. Get a life, people.
Inflation continuing, and life getting harder to afford.
My own whining (ironic, I know).
The seemingly ineffectiveness of the POTUS. He is certainly a great celebrity, though.
Anybody related to Bree's father's side of the family. Even though I have never had to interact with them.
Stepping on Bree's toys. I suppose that comes with being a father figure though. Actually, it is part of the job description. "Must be willing to step on toys frequently".
The ever-increasing cost, and complete uselessness of golf. I have always known it to be stupid, but lately it has really failed to do me any good.
Trying to get out of my driveway in the morning.
Trying to get into my driveway after work.
The people I rent off of.
My insecurities.
The fact that everything, including tap water, seems to make me fart.
***
Doctor Visit
Bree has been running a temperature for a few days.
It turns out she has a throat infection.
So we went and got her some antibiotics today.
She'll be feeling better in no time!
***
Right now Bree and I are chilling out together. She's quite the little hangout-buddy. Calls herself my best friend.
She's right.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Golf In A Storm
Wildman and I participated in a golf tournament at the Scenic Heights Golf Course.
It was horrible.
It was windy, rainy, and there was even ice whacking us in the face.
I have to say that it was the most miserable round of golf I have ever played.
Wildman is pretty sick after the affair, and I am still worn out.
The only good thing is that we raised money for a good cause (our armed forces).
And in the end, that makes a day in the ice worth it.
***
Friday, May 7, 2010
Dental Woes
Well, I went to the dentist this week.
I found out that I need to get about 800.00 of work done.
No dental insurance.
Damn.
I go in next Wednesday to get it done.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Bree's Swimming Class
After getting the Triumph from the shop, we went to Bree's swimming class.
She still swims like a little guppy. A fast one at that!
This was her last week as a pike.
She has graduated to eel status!
Way to go Bree!!!
Motorcycle Updates
I just rode the Triumph home, and it is all legal for the commonwealth of PA.
The shop told me that it was the first Ohio bike in a while that it has seen that did not need parts replaced.
I take care of my bike, of course.
It ran real smooth the entire way back.
Vmax update: This is the week where I am going to begin purchasing parts. Next year will be the year of the Mighty Max! (Maybe the end of this year.)
Monday, May 3, 2010
She Styles Her Own Hair Now
And it works out well for her.***
The three of us went to Zuck Park for a nice picnic today. It was relaxing. Times like this are hard to come by.
****
(Update: The Triumph is getting inspected tomorrow.)
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Weekend
Bree went to her grandma's this saturday, so I kind of had some time to myself.
I put it to good use, and had a much-needed hang out session with Wildman, but that will be mentioned in better detail later.
Saturday morning was my first opportunity to test the 45. ( The barrel issue, as well as the serial number issue had been resolved earlier in the week.) I blew through about the same amount of rounds as I had with Dave G a few weeks earlier.
At one point I thought I had a problem. I pulled the trigger and the gun just went 'click'. I thought something had broken, but after some inspection I noticed the round had not gone off. I tried it in another clip and it again failed. Other than the failed round, which was no fault of the firearm, there were zero problems.
After going home I pulled out the Triumph and rode it to the notary down the road from my place. It's now registered in PA. Once I get it inspected I will be 100% ready to go for the 2010 motorcycle season!!!!!
Afterwards, I cleaned the gun and Theresa and I went to the mall. She got new glasses, a haircut, and her car inspected.
Later that night I hung out with Wildman. We hadn't hung out in quite some time. We hung out outside for a bit, and watched "Billy Madison" - a classic movie for sure. It was nice to hang out.
Today was another eventful day. The morning started with Theresa going to the range with me. She shot a handgun for the first time. Being a .45, it isn't a great gun for a first time shooter, but I gotta hand it to her, she shoots the thing better than I do. She was totally badass.
Afterwards we went to Bob Evans, and she told me it was an adrenaline rush to blow off some rounds. I'm glad she enjoyed it!
Then she and went to the Sports Store, and then met up with her mom to pick up Bree.
***
It was a good weekend, and I am really sad that tomorrow is the beginning of my work week.
However, at least tomorrow after work I will be able to hang out with my girls. Tree is off work tomorrow.
I hope everyone out there had a decent weekend too.
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