So I had the occasion to talk about the “SWAT” shooting (that I posted about here) with an ex cop.

His take: “Dude didn’t obey orders, so the shooting is justified”.

I pointed out that dude had no idea what was going on, and WAS ON HIS FRONT PORCH….. that some folks he couldn’t identify (maybe) shouted at him from across the street….that he was at least 30 yards (more like 60) away from the cops that had cover.

His take: If a cop tells you to do something, you’d better do it so you don’t get shot”.

I pointed out that it wasn’t like a cop was, you know, on the porch…in uniform, giving the orders.

His response: “I don’t know, I haven’t seen the video”.

I then asked, if he hadn’t seen the video, how could he judge?

“Doesn’t matter, it just matters what the cop on the scene thought. If he thought the dude was a threat, then the shooting was justified.”

I pretty much pulled back from the conversation at that point, ’cause it wasn’t gonna go anywhere…..

His parting shot? “If you see a cop at 2 am in your bedroom, you’d better do what he says or you could get shot….and that is justified too.”

I refrained from pointing out that ANYONE in my bedroom uninvited at 2 AM is probably also gonna get shot…I also refrained from asking him who he, or any cop, was that they thought they were justified in giving me orders?

But if cops really think this way, or even a significant fraction (by “significant”, I mean like more than 2%)  of them do, how can we be safe around them? If all they need to be “justified” (at least in their minds) to use deadly force is that they think anyone is a threat, then how can we let them interact with the rest of us? I, as a concealed carry holder have much more stringent rules than that for using deadly force, shouldn’t the “trained professionals” have at least as stringent rules of engagement?

More importantly, should we allow officers with that mindset to, you know, police the rest of us?

How there are lots of articles lately trying to whitewash the past actions of the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (and explosives now too)) and how now they are unable to do their (self defined) job because they are terribly underfunded and all?

Someone who wasn’t paying attention might think that the ATF has some pull with some folks in the Media and is trying to keep the agency from disappearing altogether or something…or at least gain funding.

Cliven Bundy walks free as federal judge dismisses Bundy Ranch standoff case

I never did see what they though he had done wrong, except defy the Feds.

Now, when will we see charges against the Federal lawyers for Malfeasance and Prosecutorial Misconduct?

(And then those Federal officers who threatened all those protesters with firearms?)

to sleep, nor would you ever not have to have your head on a swivel.

I’d find a way to finish you. And it wouldn’t be quick,

Man wrongly taken into custody, forced to take antipsychotic drugs, attorney says

Found at Elmtree Forge

And yes, you’d better believe that they were nobody to mess with.

Some little old ladies are just that kind of bad-ass even when they are old.

Nearly 100 year old woman huntress bags a deer. She turns 100 on Tuesday.

Joe is absolutely right.

If the Feds wanna say they can regulate pot, then why don’t they regulate the sales (and availability) of booze? Why can i buy it here in Indiana in a bar, but not in a package store on Sunday? Hows come I can buy it in Illinois on a Sunday but not in Indiana? How about county to county in Kaintuky? Some places you can buy it, some places you can’t. States rights mean something.

The way I see it, the Feds can prevent inter-state commerce, but not in-state commerce. This is, again, a States Rights issue.

And, as stated in the linked commentary, the best way for the GOP type folks to retain power is to let this go….to allow the STATES to make their choice.

But, realize that one cannot have the Feds stay out of pot and booze, and yet require Federal reciprocal carry rights.  Pick one way or the other.

If you don’t feel the need to carry a gun because you believe the government will keep you safe, why do you care if I or anyone else decides to Carry a gun? If anyone tries to harm you, the government will stop it right? Where Is your faith in government?


Colion Noir‏ @MrColionNoir

It is rumored that it is so cold in Massachusetts that Elizabeth Warren now claims to be an Eskimo. 

Who ordered the investigation stopped? Why?

The FBI has been investigating the Clinton Foundation for months, reviving a probe that was dialed back during the 2016 campaign amid tensions between Justice Department prosecutors and FBI agents about the politically charged case, according to people familiar with the matter.

Why did they stop investigating “dial back” during the presidential campaign?

Why are we only now hearing about this investigation, rather than during the campaign?
One wonders why it was stopped…Did the FBI think the case about the classified emails/Unsecured server would put her away (It should have, she WAS guilty, and folks have gone to prison for lesser failures with classified info)??? Or did someone…say a guy with big ears who lives in a pale house near a swamp, order Comey and his minions to stop? Perhaps it happened after another “chance meeting” with Loretta Lynch or something. One wonders what leverage the Clintons had over the higher ups in the Justice department…..Were they afraid of being “Fostered”? I cannot find any other reason as to why they would have stopped it.

I still want to know where the press was regarding this investigation before the election, and who ordered them to keep it quiet.

And I want to know why the FBI agents kept it quiet too? They talk about every other investigation, why keep mum on this one?

So I was supposed to fly Wednesday. Nope. snow squalls all day, bad viz. So, no flying. It was, of course, clear and nice at my house, 9 miles away….

Same same today. Clear and sunny at my home, viz in excess of 10 miles, unlimited ceiling. But to the east, Lake Effect snow. Viz 1/2 to 3/4, ceiling at 1700. So no flaying at 10 AM.

So I cancelled flying at 10. At 3 pm, it was awesome clear and smooth and no clouds or haze. I went up and did stalls and steep turns and slow flight and then some some landings. Winds 310 at 12 gusting 22…. So runway 27. First approach, wind gust picked me up a quarter mile off the end of the runway. I chose to go around, even though I could have used some more of the 7000 foot runway to set down. Trying to learn to make good decisions.

Second landing was a bit flat, but not too bad. The wind dropped me at the last minute, but I was correcting for it and was prepared for it. I’m actually not having to THINK about it, I am just doing the corrections.

3rd landing was just about perfect.
4th was perhaps the best I’ve ever done. Just touched on the upwind wheel and then the downwind. If you’d had a cup of coffee it wouldn’t have spilled. Didn’t even squawk the tires, just a rumble to show I was down.

5th was smooth, but not as smooth as the 4th one.

Taxi back and call it good.
0.9 for the day.

I did learn how much fun a snow covered taxiway can be though.

Gonna do it again today.