The Eggman had to write this for me since as I say later, I have no brain, no muscles and no ability to reason or think. I’m neither good nor evil — Like most other tools, I’m a simple inanimate object.

I am Joe’s gun. I’m almost as much a part of his daily outfit as shoes or socks. In fact, Joe goes without his socks more often than he goes without me.

Joe keeps me hidden away whenever he can. Few people outside of Joe’s most trusted friends even know I exist.

I can’t think for myself, I can’t reason and I can’t act on my own. I’m just a simple machine with few moving parts — about as complicated as a stapler. I have no brain, no muscles and am neither good nor evil.

Now I am a dangerous machine, I’ll have to give you that. Like Joe’s lawnmower, chainsaw, hedge clipper and automobile I can be very dangerous in untrained or irresponsible hands.

Fortunately Joe and the other law-abiding citizens who take their duty of self defense seriously are committed to their responsibilities as gun owners.

Joe knows and obeys the law. He takes me to the shooting range to practice on a regular basis — a lot more often than most policemen do.

Joe would never allow me to fall into the hands of a child or other irresponsible person and would never use me unless there was no possibility of ready escape or retreat.

Joe thinks of me much like his insurance policy. He hopes and prays that he will never have to use me, but knows that if he has to, I could save him or his loved ones from death or injury at the hands of evil people who don’t care about, much less obey laws. (Handguns are used defensively almost 2 Million times every year, most often with no shots fired.)

I don’t know why some people hate me and want to get rid of me without really knowing anything about me. If they concentrated on the subhuman criminals who misuse tools such as guns, automobiles, chain saws, ice-picks, baseball-bats, pocket knives, hammers, machetes and authority, regardless of any law, and left law-abiding people like Joe alone you would all be more secure.

At the very least Joe does no harm, as demonstrated in the 40 plus states where the citizens are ‘permitted their right’ to carry firearms. In these places crime rates have dropped and are still dropping far faster than the national average — much faster than places where firearms are essentially banned.

It’s obvious that when I’m owned and carried by law-abiding citizens like Joe I do far more good than harm.

It’s sad that many laws keep honest people like Joe from defending themselves while no law or regulation has ever, nor will ever keep me out of the hands of criminals.

Since it is a demonstrated fact that the best defense against bad people with guns is good people with guns, I’m glad my sisters, brothers and myself are carried by people like Joe

– you should be too.

* The text of the article should be included in it’s entirety. Other than minor formatting and/or grammatical edits, it may not be edited or condensed. (You may make changes to reflect local laws and regulations. (All localities do not require fingerprinting, for example.)
* The notice “Original Article Copyright 2007-2011 by T.S. Eggleston” must be included.
* You may omit the copyright notice if you choose to send the text as a “Letter to the Editor” to media outlets. Please, however, include something to the effect…”The following is submitted to you with permission of the author, T. S. Eggleston”

A handgun safe that is worth buying will always be easy to open when you need to get to your gun in a hurry. There are many different types of pistol safes that have different locking styles. One of the most popular is the key. The problem with a key is that when you are under stress it is sometimes hard to get the key into the hole. That is why I would not recommend getting a safe with a key lock. The best type of lock is a biometric lock. A biometric lock reads your fingerprint and then opens the lock instantly.

Lots of people like to keep their valuable things at home rather than a bank security box. You can also use your pistol safe to store things such as passports, cash, photos, and valuable coins. By thinking of a revolver safe as something that can serve more than one purpose it helps to justify the expense of purchasing one. Now we are going to look at the best accessory that you can get for your safe.

Getting a dehumidifier for your handgun safe is definitely a smart buy. Many high-end safes come with dehumidifiers built in. If the pistol safe that you buy does not come with a dehumidifier built in then you can look at aftermarket options. One popular option uses crystals that absorb extra moisture that collects within the safe.

As you can see, having a pistol safe in your home is very important if you want you and your family to be protected. We talked about how a safe that opens quickly is important, how you can keep other valuables in your pistol safe besides handguns, and how a dehumidifier is a great accessory for any pistol safe. Now that you have this information, it is time to go out and get your pistol safe today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Case

Then again, some people argue that the best way to store a handgun in the house is under the bed, or in a drawer, so that there is no time wasted fumbling around with a pistol safe to retrieve the gun in a time of crisis. This is a viable argument, and one that I can understand. But as with most things in life, it is a trade off. Even though that gun in the drawer is easiest to access, it is also easy for thieves and children to access also. A fingerprint safe bridges the gap between gun security and easy accessibility.

Most fingerprint safes are battery operated, and so it is vitally important to get one that has a blinking light to warn you of a low battery. Also, depending on the size, a pistol safe can hold other valuables also, such as cash or jewelry. An interior light, foam interior, and mounting hardware are other features that are good to have. In some cases, the pistol safe can be taken with you when traveling and secured with a security cable.

A fingerprint safe is a good solution to the problem of securing your handgun at home. In my opinion, its a great way to keep the gun safe from children and thieves, while also allowing reasonably quick accessibility.

KP Smith is a mechanical engineer with a passion for history, guns, gardening and self-sufficiency.

Pistol Safe

Fingerprint Safe

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The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution grants citizens the right to bear arms. Though the relevance of such a liberty has been hotly contested, owning and carrying firearms is legal in all 50 states. However, each state has its own laws and procedures for purchasing and using a weapon. This is to ensure that individuals who choose to use guns for recreation or protection are knowledgeable about their decisions.

Owning a Firearm

Here are the applicable Rhode Island gun laws. To lawfully own a handgun (pistol or revolver) in the state of Rhode Island an individual must be at least 18 years of age. It is not required to have a permit or a license to purchase or own a firearm. To carry a concealed weapon however, there is an application process that ultimately must be signed by the state Attorney General.

For shotguns or rifles individuals are NOT required to

· Have a license to carry

· Have a permit to purchase

· Register their shotgun or rifle

Applying for Concealed Carry

The chief of your local police department must sign your application to verify your residency before submitting it to the Attorney General. To obtain the signature you may be required to complete a National Rifle Association Safety Course administered by a certified NRA instructor within the state of Rhode Island. After taking the course you may also be required by the BCIS to get your fingerprints on the F.B.I card system.

The fingerprinting process will take four to six weeks. After completing the prerequisites and finally submitting your application to the state Attorney General, you must allow up to ninety days for a response. The entire process could take four to six months before receiving a response. The Attorney General may deny your application based on a variety of reasons including your answers to the complicated questionnaire.

Concealed Carry on Campus

At most universities across the country it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon onto the campus. After an upheaval of violence at schools like Virginia Tech in which a student opened fire on classrooms, killing several students before taking his own life, gun owners have started a movement across the country to change laws. Rhode Island advocates of concealed carry on campus propose that individuals who are licensed to carry a concealed weapon be allowed to do so on college campuses.

For more information on Rhode Island gun laws or criminal weapons charges, contact Rhode Island criminal defense lawyer James C. Powderly at www.rhodeislandscriminaldefenselawyer.com

Joseph Devine

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine

(a) Possessing a firearm with the intent to go armed during the commission of or attempt to commit a dangerous felony

(b) Possessing a firearm during

1. the commission of a dangerous felony;

2. an attempt to commit a dangerous felony;

3. flight or escape from the commission of a dangerous felony;

4. flight or escape from the attempt to commit a dangerous felony.

The teeth are in the sentencing. If the defendant has a prior felony conviction, the law creates a new class of felony, essentially a “Super C Class” and a “Super D Class”. Violations of subsection (b) are deemed a Class C felony, but demand a mandatory minimum ten (10) year sentence with zero release eligibility, and no option for supervised release. However, the standard Class C felony for a Range I offender is three (3) to six (6) years. The new law stands alone at a minimum of ten (10) years, regardless of the range of the offender (this isn’t problematic with Range II offenders, where the range itself is six (6) to ten (10) years, where the minimum simply becomes the maximum already allowed in the range). A violation of subsection (a) is a Class D felony, with a minimum sentence of five (5) years if the defendant has a prior felony conviction. Without a prior felony conviction, the minimums are six (6) and three (3) years, respectively.

As well, jail credit is tweaked with the new law. In Department of Correction custody, one typically qualifies for “good time”, which is usually getting three days of credit against your sentence for every two you serve (standard in local Davidson County custody, which is for sentences under six (6) years, is two days for every one day you serve). The Crooks with Guns law largely eliminates such good time – akin to federal sentencing rules, you can complete your sentence no earlier than after having served 85% of it.

One aspect of the proposed change in the gun laws puzzles me, however, In amending TCA 39-17-1307, possessing a deadly weapon that is not a firearm in the commission of a “dangerous felony” as listed in the Crooks with Guns law is a standard Class E felony. That part makes sense, and would apply to knives, pool cues, baseball bats, etc. However, possessing a firearm in the commission, attempt to commit or escape from a non-dangerous “offense” (note, not felony) is a Class E felony. A Class E felony entails a one (1) to two (2) year sentence for a Range I offender. So, in essence, if you possess a firearm while committing the least serious misdemeanor, you could suffer a felony conviction (think Driving on a Suspended License because of unpaid tickets, or Criminal Trespass, both Class C Misdemeanors – and the way it is written, possessing a valid concealed carry permit wouldn’t matter a lick).

To me, this part seems to be an overreach of the law, and would operate entirely outside the spirit of the Crooks with Guns law. Hopefully the amended wording won’t be enforced in that manner, but with the way the legislature wrote it, my reading certainly confirms the new law would allow it.

This helpful article is provided by criminal defense lawyer Nathan Moore, a practicing attorney admitted to the Tennessee bar, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, and the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He maintains a criminal law blog and website at http://www.mooredefenselaw.com

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While it was good on paper, the law was difficult to put into practice because there were problems when it came to checking criminal records in real-time. Those who wished to avail of handguns could fill out a form and then just be told to come back a few days later. The gun seller would then submit the form to the local police department, who in turn, would conduct the background check. The Brady gun law requires that an instant background check system would have to be established by the federal government to take the place of the waiting period necessitated by the old system. This instant system is now in place.

This system is dependent on the formation of a database containing information of a criminal record. The following are the people the government deems unfit to own or purchase a gun: those who are convicted of domestic abuse, illegal immigrants, convicted felons, the mentally ill and people facing felony charges. This list can encompass millions of people. To handle the influx of people, the Federal Bureau of Investigation maintains a National Crime Information on a computer. This is known as the Interstate Identification Index which is an extensive list of serious criminal-record date on just about everyone who has ever been charged with anything in the United States.

The file includes such information as full name, birth, sex and race and placed onto a file. The Immigration Service compiles a similar list of known illegal immigrants. A more difficult list to compile would be that of the mentally ill. It’s easy enough to get the names of those who are already confined in mental institutions, but this list also encompasses those who are placed in a hospital for any period of time, which makes it difficult especially if the people stayed in the hospital for just three days or so. There’s really no way to maintain a database of all the people.
Indeed, accuracy is one problem of this whole process. Because the information is entered by human hand, there’s the possibility of human error. If someone just so much as enter a wrong address, or misspell a name, the error could deprive another person of their right to purchase a handgun.

Click Here > Free background checks available, but hurry.

Get an instant criminal background check right away.

Do physicians background checks because you just never know do you?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Dean

One of the first things that you need to consider when you are trying to buy and carry a gun in Wisconsin is where you are allowed to carry the gun concealed. Some different states have many different laws that pertain to the concealed carrying of your handgun or shotgun depending on what kind you have. You should be aware that there are many different kinds of guns out there that are available for purchase. In Wisconsin, the state law says that you are not allowed under any circumstances to carry a concealed handgun. This means that even if you own your gun, you are not allowed to carry it with you where it is hidden in any way on or under your clothing. Many states have laws that correspond to this law saying that you are not allowed to carry a gun that is hidden in any way. The Wisconsin state laws also state that you are not allowed to carry or transport a concealed gun no matter what the circumstances are.

The next thing that you should be aware of is that you are not required to have a permit when you purchase any type of gun. There are many different kinds of guns that you can purchase, so its quite helpful that you don’t need to have a permit in order to purchase any of them. For handguns, there is no permit available for carrying because you are not allowed to carry any handgun in the state of Wisconsin. Although in some states you are permitted to carry a concealed gun, you aren’t allowed to in Wisconsin. You should be aware that in order to take your gun anywhere, you need to make it visible so that it is not technically considered concealed.

For more information, contact the Appleton Criminal Lawyers of Kohler & Hart at http://www.appletoncriminalattorneys.com

Joseph Devine

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Can a CDL truck driver legally carry a gun in the truck? This is a very HOT topic! In my previous article, “CDL Truck Drivers Carrying Guns,” much controversy was created because nothing could be found anywhere showing any Federal Law stating that it was illegal to carry. I have pointed out that there is NO Federal Law saying that it is illegal, only city, county and state laws that make it illegal to do so, as well as policies set forth by the motor carrier. I have found the actual Federal Law revealing the insight on this subject, listed below:

Title 18 Setcion 926(a). The peacable journey law.

TITLE 18–CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

PART I–CRIMES

CHAPTER 44–FIREARMS

Sec. 926A. Interstate transportation of firearms

Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

OK…now that we have the Federal Law on this matter, what does it mean? I would say that you could give this to 50 attorneys, and all 50 would interpret it differently! I believe what it is saying, is what I originally wrote in my previous articles….a CDL driver may carry a gun in the truck with him or her, PROVIDING that it does not violate any other STATE law, in which the driver will be passing through. Thus my point again…city, county and state laws may be the prevention for CDL truck drivers to carry guns…

Help me out drivers….what do you think now?

Aubrey Allen Smith is the author of the first and original Truth About Trucking. With 29 years in the transportation industry, Allen has helped many new, inexperienced drivers discover the truth about the trucking business. If you are considering a career in trucking, learn how to avoid the scams before you begin! Visit http://www.truthabouttrucking.com today, and learn the truth.

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One issue in the gun control discussion is whether citizens should be able to have “conceal-and-carry” weapons with them at all times. If a citizen wishes to obtain a concealed carry permit, then he or she must first pass a background check, meet eligibility requirements and complete a handgun safety course. Statistics show that crime actually decreases once right-to-carry laws are enacted. Florida passed the law in 1987, when crime was at an all-time high.

In the years to follow, very few incidents involving concealed weapons occurred so the Dade County Police department stopped tracking them. In fact, from 1987 to 1996, the homicide rate dropped 36% (compared to 0.4% nationwide), the firearm homicide rate decreased 37% (compared to a nationwide increase of 15%) and the handgun homicide rate decreased 41% (compared to an increase of 24% nationwide).

Another gun control question is: Are automatic weapons included in our Second Amendment right? Since automatic assault weapons weren’t developed until World War I, the founding forefathers couldn’t have possibly imagined the impact of these guns on society… right? One can only imagine the sort of havoc a gun firing 1,500 rounds per minute could have on the general population.

However, U.S. crime statistics show that the vast majority of incidents are not from automatic weapons but from standard handguns. After the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004, the unthinkable happened: crime dropped by 3.6%. Some states kept the ban and saw murder rates drop, on average, 2.4% (although the murder rate actually rose in some states). Of the states that got rid of the ban, murder rates decreased by more than 4% on average.

Gun control laws have ranged the gamut from restrictive to lenient over the years. In 2008, the Supreme Court made a landmark decision in the case of D.C. vs Heller. They interpreted the 2nd Amendment as pertaining to an individual right to bear arms, rather than a collective right. They also noted that, in their estimation, handguns were included in “arms” and that it was lawful for a citizen to have a handgun in his home, so long as the proper permits were secured. Never before has the highest court in the land been so bold to define the law. Yet, they also cautioned, there are still necessary restrictions, as outlined in the 1986 gun regulations.

A whole world of information about the gun permit eagerly awaits you from Mike Selvon portal. Visit us for more insider tips on the gun license.

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Additionally, federal law mandates that anyone convicted of a violent or drug-trafficking crime with the possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 20 years in jail. Additionally, if the firearm is a machine gun or equipped with a silencer, the perpetrator is subject to life imprisonment without parole.

The National Firearms Act of 1934 was the first of modern gun control laws to pass. Following Prohibition, this act imposed an excise tax of $200 on the manufacture and transfer of all Title II weapons, while also mandating their registration. Firearms moving past state lines had to be reported to the Department of Treasury (which is now the function of the Department of Justice). During this time period, rogues and gangsters ruled the streets, with headline catchers like Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, which prompted President Roosevelt to take drastic measures.

The next bout of gun control laws didn’t come to pass until 1968 when The Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 was passed by Congress. Analysts say the assassination of President John F. Kennedy created public outcry over guns for sale and in possession in America. The Gun Control Act specifically defined specific groups of people who were not allowed to own firearms, such as those under 18, people on parole, citizens with criminal histories or restraining orders, dishonorably discharged veterans, ex-cons, the mentally incompetent and drug users. People could no longer purchase guns for sale from online/mail-order dealers or buy from individuals outside their home state.

Different presidents have had different policies concerning gun control laws over the past few decades. Reagan was pro-gun, but took a firmer stance after his attempted assassination. President Clinton passed the first-ever Assault Weapons Ban in 1994, which was questionably enforced. Critics said Clinton’s gun policies inflamed NRA members and led to the Democrats losing control of the House. President Bush let some of the old gun regulations expire and President Obama has remained ambivalent thus so far, allowing the Supreme Court to uphold Second Amendment rights.

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