Political Ammo

To get a concealed weapons permit in the state of Montana is pretty easy. You just have to go to your local Sheriff’s office and fill out an application. You have to meet certain criteria.  The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, 18 or older, holds a valid picture identification issued by the state, and a resident of the state for at least 6 months. A permit may not be denied unless the applicant is ineligible under Montana or federal law to own, possess, or receive a firearm; has been charged and is awaiting judgment in any state for a state or federal crime that is punishable by incarceration for one year or more; has been convicted in any state or federal court of a crime punishable by more than one year of incarceration or, regardless of the sentence that may be imposed, a crime that includes as an element certain acts, attempted acts, or threats; has been convicted of carrying a concealed weapon while under the influence or of carrying a concealed weapon in a prohibited place and the applicant has not been pardoned or five years have not elapsed since the date of conviction; was dishonorably discharged from the United States armed forces; has a warrant outstanding for his arrest; has been adjudicated to be an unlawful user of an intoxicating substance and is under a court order of imprisonment or other incarceration, probation, suspended or deferred sentence, treatment or education, or other condition of release or is otherwise under state supervision; or has been adjudicated to be mentally ill, defective, or disabled and is still subject to a disposition order of that court. Easy right? Well it really is as long as you are a law abiding citizen . Your application will take 60 days to process.

The good thing about carrying a weapon here in Montana is you can carry a concealed weapon if you are a person who is outside the official boundaries of a city or town or the confines of a logging, lumbering, mining or railroad camp or who is lawfully engaged in hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, hiking, backpacking, farming, ranching or other outdoor activity in which weapons are often carried for recreation or protection, or the carrying of arms on one’s own premises or at one’s home or place of business.

I am a father of three children. My oldest is ten years old and she has never shot a gun. She does know how to use them, and the rules we have put in place concerning them. I have wide variety of weapons in the house that are not out on display, or locked up . We started when they were young, explaining what they were, why we have them, where it was safe to use them and how to treat them. I believe that you have to take the mystery out of them. Let the kids handle them (empty of course). Teach them basic rules and enforce those rules. Even if you feel uncomfortable about letting them handle the guns. You have to teach and enforce the rules from the very beginning. Here are my basic rules for my kids and if you have had any weapons training these rules might sound familiar.

1. Treat every weapon as if it is loaded.

2. Keep the weapon on safe and your finger of the trigger until you decide to shoot.

3. Keep the weapon pointed in a safe direction at all times.

4. NEVER handle a weapon with out an adult present.

I think these rules are basic enough for even my youngest, who is three to understand and follow. I might be wrong, but that is how we are doing it and it works for us. There is another thing about guns that your children will pick up on and that is, if you are nervous around guns they will be too. I have the kids help clean the guns so they see how it works and answer their questions while we are handling guns. I don’t keep it a secret which I think is why my kids and I have our own opinions about guns, my daughter does not like them. She says they are for killing, and she doesn’t want anything to do with them. I am a hunter along with her mother and our friends. I don’t force the issue with her. I will start taking her out with a .22 rifle and shoot some cans just to see if she thinks that is fun and show her that there are lot more to guns than just killing.  My boys think they are loud and don’t want to mess with them.

I think this is a very important issue for parents because of the statistics, that show “2004, 5,292 young people ages 10 to 24 were murdered-an average of 15 each day.” That is a very disturbing number isn’t it? The good news about this stat, is it is better than previous years and it is getting better every year. My opinion is that the best form of gun control is for the gun owners to keep control of their guns. If you are worried about theft, lock it up. If your kids don’t follow the rules punish them. If you are worried about it being taken from you get training on weapon retention and defensive tatics.

Level three

The first thing you want to keep in mind when selecting a holster is that it is suitable for your gun in particular If you do possess a handgun, you are going to want to look into purchasing a holster.  The last thing you want is to have the gun turn against you without notice. Because of the importance of having a gun holster, you want to take the time to find the right kind which can be difficult. Many holsters are mass made taking away the exclusivity. The end result is that your gun is not going to fit snuggly and it can present discomfort while carrying it around.

The next thing you want to look at is, You want a holster that will keep your gun secure when you are not using it and one that remains open after you have taken the gun out. This will make it easy to put back in without any trouble.

Lastly, look to see that the belt loops work with your belt. If it does not it is going to feel uncomfortable and will prevent you from quickly removing your gun. Depending on what you use your gun for, you want to have the option to quickly remove it if needed.

With that said, the best option for you is shop around and find one that you like. You need one that feels comfortable and is functional according to your needs. There are thousands of different styles and designs of holsters out there. The Blackhawk serpa line of holsters are great for retention, drawing, and holstering. The top of the line in this series has a carbon fiber finish The patented serpa technology lock is apparent with this as it engages the trigger lock as you holster the pistol and releases quickly as you use a normal drawing motion.

 This particular holster is known for its speed and retention and is perfect for tactical operations. It features extremely fast draw and will provide you with an immediate lock-in when re-holstering. It uses a natural drawing motion to release the weapon and there are no needs to remember any complicated sequences to access your gun. You simply grab and draw to quickly have hold of your gun.

The best option for you to choose from with gun holsters is a Blackhawk serpa holster. There are a few different categories of Blackhawk serpa holsters you can choose from to make sure it fits your gun properly.

Sportster style Blackhawk serpa with carbon fiber finish

As its name implies, the minimalist is a compact, open-top design that is ideal for daily wear. An elastic strap provides secure retention. The dual belt loops offer stability and pull the holster close to the body for optimum concealment. It has a hammer retainer tab that is easy use and can roll right off to allow you to get to your weapon quickly. It is lined in suede to protect the finish on the weapon. It has border stitching  for durability and to help keep the size down.  It sits on your hip and your belt loops will hold it in place. The slots will also form it to your hip. This sounds like it would be uncomfortable but it is well padded and after a while you will barely notice it. You don’t need to buy a special belt for it. It will fit any belt less than two inches wide.  If you are like me and like to talk about guns and holsters or just get some answers to your questions go to defensive carry forum.  

#105 Minimalist with slots

The right to carry firearms in National parks is a great win for gun enthusiasts and the NRA-ILA.  This new law took effect on February 22, 2010 and there are restrictions that you must follow if you carry in the parks.  Under the new law the gun owner and the National park are subject to the state’s gun laws. There is a ban on carrying firearms in federal facilties. There should be signs posted stating “No Firearms Allowed” to mark the federal facilties that you can not take your weapon into.  You can visit the National Park Service website  for the policy on firearms.

This can be a confusing subject and if you plan on taking advantage of it, you need to do your research on the federal ban and the state laws (For information on state laws, go to www.nraila.org/gunlaws.) the park is located in.  This right to carry only applies to possesion. You can not target shoot at your campsite for example. The laws that prohibit poaching and discharging weapon in a National Park are in place.  Go to http://www.nps.gov/kova/parkmgmt/upload/PL%20512,%20111-241.pdf to read the law.

Deciding on a holster might not be something most people think about. There are many things about a holster to consider when and even if you need a holster. If the only place your weapon stays is on your night stand then you might want a quick access vault and a gun bag to take it to the range for practice. If you have it for self defense and take it with you where ever you go, then you want to think about how long you carry it and what situations you will be in on a daily basis. For instance, if you want to keep it concealed you don’t want a dropleg rig. You would look for a holster that will help you conceal the weapon. There are lots of different types of concealment holsters. Just to name few; Inside the waistband styles, pocket types, purses, fanny packs, shoulder rigs and many more.

The important thing to do is think about what you have the gun for and your situation and your preferences. Then shop around and do your research. Then practice with it. I like to make sure the gun is clear and safe (empty, no ammo in it) and practice with the holster and gun in the comfort of my living room. I like to be comfortable with the combo before I try it with ammo and people around so I don’t make an ass of myself or put myself and others in danger with a loaded weapon. It is always a good idea to get comfortable with the setup before you go hot at the range or you need it in a bad situation. When you practice, think about the possible  situations you might need the gun and holster for. If possible try to draw and shoot from different positions.  If you wear a jacket to conceal your gun. Practice with a jacket on.

There are three levels of retention for holsters. Retention means the ability of the holster to keep the weapon where it belongs under stressful conditions. Lets look at a police officer in a struggle for an example.

Level one example

With a level one holster the officer has to be very conscious of where the weapon is because the holster might have a button snap or just a tight fit in the holster. It will be very easy for the officer to lose control of the weapon and that is the last thing anyone wants to happen.

A level two is designed make it so the wearer of the holster is the one who can pull the weapon from the holster by rocking the weapon forward in the holster and undoing the snap or some other securing device. Level two has

 two ways to keep the weapon in the holster. This is nice because adds to weapon retention by allowing the officer to concentrate on the fight and less on where the weapon is. The draw technique is closer to the natural and easy to learn and remember. Level two usually has one external and one internal device to retain the weapon.

Level three will have even more devices built in. They are great for the officer that practices alot with it and level three holsters provide a very high level of retention and protection for the weapon and officer. The only drawback is that you have to practice, practice, practice. There are three different retention devices that have to be bypassed to draw the weapon. This requires more practice than the other levels. The owner of this type of holster should practice everyday with the holster so the techique becomes second nature.
Every holster will require practice no matter what retention level it is. 

Level three

The other day I received a phone call about a holster. He asked if the blackhawk serpa holster with the carbon finish for springfield XD would work for his pistol. He has the Springfield XD 45 cal. That particular holster will fit every caliber that Springfield Armory has for that style weapon. The thing you have to be careful with is whether you have the full size or the compact. There are different holsters for them. 

Visit  http://www.myholsters.com/category/106 to see these excellent  holsters and a whole lot more.