Divemedic

Chicago Airport Police Told To ‘Run And Hide’ from shooters

The Chicago police department has instructed its officers to run and barricade themselves into a safe hiding place in the event of an active shooter. This is why I carry a gun: when seconds count, the police are hiding to protect their own ass.

Internal aviation department documents obtained by CNN instruct officers: “do not become part of the response to an attack. If evacuation is not possible, you should find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you. Block entry to your hiding place and lock the door,” but Matt Brandon, secretary-treasurer of the airport officers union, told CNN they have serious issues with the protocol.

By Divemedic, ago

Hawaii trip, part two

We began our trip to Hawaii on the island of Oahu. We stayed in a hotel on Waikiki beach. The first night, we decided to take a walk along the beach in front of our hotel. I was approached twice by homeless bums who were looking for a handout. The place is overrun with homeless. In fact, I counted 19 homeless people living on the beach in front of our hotel.

On the first day, we went to the north shore. A surfers’ paradise, the waves there during the winter are 30-40 feet tall. They were about 20 feet high on the day that we were there. It was amazing. I have never seen waves that tall at any beach.

We also went to the Hawaiian cultural center.

On day two, we visited the Arizona memorial, and the other museums commemorating the attacks on December 7, 1941.

After five days of touring Oahu, we climbed on a flight for our next island. My impression of Oahu is that it is a crowded tourist trap with a large military base on it. There are large numbers of people who struggle to make a living there because the cost of living is so high. Often, three families will live in a crappy wooden 900 square foot house built in 1945 that cost half a million dollars, because real estate prices are so high. The average rent on a three bedroom home on Oahu is nearly $2700 a month, and that home is likely more than 50 years old. A four bedroom apartment will set you back $3200 each month.

The only people who can afford to live there are multimillionaires (a nice house costs several million dollars), or military members who live on base. Everyone else lives on the edge of poverty.

One of the things that I saw when we were on Oahu was a large number of signs declaring that haole (white people) should leave, “Tourist go home,” or “We have enough hotels.” Signs of that nature. There are a large number of ‘native’ people who believe that Hawaii was some sort of peaceful paradise until Europeans arrived, and they think secession will return them to the ‘good old days.’ That will be the subject of  a future post.

By Divemedic, ago

Arrested for bad attitude

I know this is old, but I just saw it. A woman in Indiana is pulled over for speeding. Since she is alone on a dark road, she is afraid for her safety, and does what many safety experts, as well as the Indiana state police, recommend: she engaged her flashers, slows down, and drives to a well lit, public area before stopping. 

“The officer indicated the motorist displayed a defiant attitude.”

So she was arrested because she did not display the appropriate amount of deference to the authoritah of a cop. Officer roid rage approached her car, furious that she did not pull over, and she got mouthy with him, which is not illegal. Instead, he found a way to exact his revenge. This is a classic POP (pissing off police) charge. I have have heard many cops say this:

You might beat the charges, but you won’t beat the ride.


Meaning that they are knowingly abusing their arrest powers to hassle people.

Fortunately, in this woman’s case, the public outcry resulted in charges being dropped. There are many cops who are good people, and you are all being painted with a pretty broad brush lately. Have you wondered why? It is because, as a profession, this sort of behavior has continued for long enough that most people know someone who has been mistreated by a rude, overbearing bully of a cop. For years, this has continued, and now a large percentage of the people don’t trust you.

Clean up your profession, get rid of the power hungry idiots, and maybe people will be more likely to support you.



By Divemedic, ago

Gun laws not enforced

Here is a case where a 17 year old and his 14 year old brother were smoking marijuana and drinking vodka after shooting two people in an apparent read rage incident. 

The 17 year old will be charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. There are a host of other charges that I wonder why they were not also charged.
Drug possession
Alcohol possession by a minor
DUI (in Florida, if you are legally intoxicated in a vehicle with the keys in the vehicle with you, you can be charged with DUI)
Possession of a firearm by a minor: The only way that a minor can possess a firearm in Florida is for the purpose of hunting, marksmanship competition, target practice, or if the firearm is being lawfully transported to or from the aforementioned activities.
It is also a felony for any adult to have provided this minor with the firearm.
My theory is this: the real utility in firearms laws is not in reducing crime. The anti gunners don’t care about reducing crime. What they really want to reduce is firearm ownership. Reducing crime is really just an excuse for passing firearms laws. 
The reason that any gun law is not enforced is that the powers that be KNOW that criminals will not obey them, and that is just fine with them, because the crimes committed are just used as an excuse to pass another gun control law. The real target of gun control laws is the law abiding gun owner.
By Divemedic, ago

Free money

The video below is a typical Democrat voter. Watch it all the way through. I know it is torture, but if you really want to understand the depth of our problems, you need to watch all of it while remembering that her vote counts the same as yours.

By Divemedic, ago

Flying and the TSA

I recently took a trip to Hawaii. I have a lot of thoughts on what I did and saw on this trip, enough to make several posts on the subject. Since the trip involved 7 different flights departing from 5 different airports, I want to begin the series with a discussion of the experience of flying and going through TSA security.

First, the TSA:
Since travelling with a firearm is such a hassle, and since the state of Hawaii does not honor my concealed weapons permit, I was travelling unarmed. I locked my firearms in the safe, and headed out.

Screening is a mess. During the seven different screening processes, I was asked to remove my shoes for 5 of them, my belt for two.

In four cases, I was scanned with the millimeter wave devices. In three of those 4 cases, I also received a pat down. In one case, the machine had them frisk me because of a wadded up receipt in my pocket. Twice, they felt the need to examine my left calf. This is the same calf that required extensive surgery to repair. Perhaps the old scar tissue sets it off, I do not know.

In four of the airports, I was also sniffed by a TSA dog.

In three airports, my luggage (checked and carry on) was x-rayed at least twice.

It went like this:
(Hawaii) Bags are x-rayed upon entry to airport, for so- called “agriculture inspection.”
Have papers examined at ticket counter. Hand checked bags to TSA. They x-ray them and send them through.
Stand in queue that passes by sniffing TSA dog.
Have papers inspected by TSA agent.
Remove shoes, belt, and contents of pockets. Place them with belongings on belt for x-ray exam.
Go through perv scanner.
Get dressed while standing under TSA version of flag.

I actually felt DIRTY and sick to my stomach each time I had to go through this. What happened to the freedom we used to have?

Airlines:
Of my 7 flights, four flights were late. Three had been moved to different gates without notification. Three of them had me sitting next to crying babies.

Flying sucks.

By Divemedic, ago

2015 in review

Here is the obligatory year in review post. I don’t mention a lot o personal stuff on here, but this post will be an exception.

This has been a pretty good year.

Professionally:
I began the year working as a part time science teacher. While doing my taxes, I was able to get an exemption from the Obamacare penalty, but it was obvious that I would not be able to do so forever. The penalty is going to be quite a bit more expensive for 2015, and buying insurance is also too expensive. I needed to get a job that offers health care benefits.For reasons that I am not yet at liberty to discuss, I could not return to my old career as a paramedic, so my only other option was to go full time as a teacher. So I now teach Biology and Chemistry at the High School level.

Personal:
In November, I became engaged to my girlfriend of the past two years. We are getting married next fall.

Financially:
There is a post to follow in this, but the bank finally managed to foreclose on the house from my bankruptcy six years ago. I am glad to finally be rid of that albatross.

This was a good year for travel.

This year, I took road trip to New Orleans in March, and one to Canada, Maine, and many places in between in July. In June, we  flew to Puerto Rico and took a seven day cruise to Aruba, St Martin, St Kitts, and St Thomas.
In November, we took two cruises: the first being a two day trip to the Bahamas, and the second was a seven day cruise to St Thomas, St Martin, and the Bahamas. We were on the French Side of St Martin when the Paris attacks occurred.
For Christmas, we decided to take a trip to Hawaii. We left on December 18th right after work. We arrived in Oahu the next day. We flew home on the 29th, and arrived home on the 30th. There are a few posts on that coming up.

All in all, this was a pretty good year. I look forward to what 2016 brings.

By Divemedic, ago

Armed at Disney, redux

Just after I did my post on being armed at Disney, the company came out and announced that they would be placing metal detectors at their parks. This was apparently done in response to the man who was arrested while carrying a 5 shot Smith and Wesson revolver into the park, without a concealed weapons permit.

One article made this claim:

Before you are allowed inside the park, you can see an increased security presence at the front gates. Large metal detectors are set up at the entrances of Disney World’s four theme parks. Security thoroughly goes through each guest’s bag, pulling out items and opening wallets.

I went to Disney’s Hollywood studios in the Orlando area to test the claim that they would be looking for firearms by opening wallets and running guests through metal detectors. To test the claim, I decided to carry my J frame Smith and Wesson in a pocket holster in the front right pocket of my jeans.

There is an area just in front of the entrance where park security checked the bags of guests who were bringing bags, but this was haphazard at best. There is a “bypass” that allows guests without bags to enter the park without passing through the bag check area. Since I did not have a bag, that is the way that I went. There were security guards there, including an off duty deputy, and a security guard with a dog. I passed through without them giving me a second look, despite the fact that I was armed.
I watched them for a bit. They stopped one man to look in his fanny pack, but allowed at least three guests through who were either pushing strollers or wearing backpacks without giving them a second look. I did not, in the five minutes I watched, select a single person for a magnetometer, nor did I see a single magnetometer in use. It is possible that the magnetometers were discretely hidden, but I watched hundreds of people enter the park, and none were given more than a quick look, and most passed through without question. 
Just as I have done dozens of times, I entered the park with my weapon, walked around for about an hour, and then left. I was armed the entire time, yet I did not break a single law, nor did I do anything to hurt anyone. 
I also recently visited Universal Studios. The security there is just as much of a joke, and it is full of holes. Let me give you some examples:
If you are a guest who drives to the park at Universal, you must pass through a security checkpoint where they do the same sort of cursory inspection that is done at Disney. If you are staying at one of the hotels on Universal property and decide to walk to the park, you must also pass through a second security checkpoint. However, if you take the complimentary water taxi from the hotel to the park, the boat drops you off BEHIND the checkpoint into the “secure” area without so much as a glance.
Another security lapse at Universal is the mini golf course. It is surrounded by a 3 foot tall wrought iron fence. The golf course is in the nominally secure area, but is separated from the general public by this fence, and nothing more. 
In short, this is not security, it is theater that is designed to make people who don’t know any better FEEL as if they are safe. It is all smoke and mirrors.
By Divemedic, ago

Armed at Disney

There is a Facebook argument raging over this news article from WFTV with a misleading headline saying “Man arrested for having gun at Disney” the headline should read “Man arrested for illegally carrying weapon without permit.” (The headline has since been changed). The man was arrested because he was carrying a concealed weapon without a valid permit.

The argument centers around a few points, every one of them showing ignorance of the issue. Here they are. The first few are legal arguments, the next few are moral.:

1 It is illegal under (Federal law/Florida law) to carry a gun into (a theme park/Disney).
No it isn’t. There is not a single law that prohibits concealed carry into a Florida theme park.

2 Disney prohibits carry of guns. If you carry, you are guilty of armed trespassing.
This is not true either. Armed trespassing in Florida requires that the armed person be specifically told to leave, and refused to do so. A generic “no guns” policy or sign does not meet the notification requirement. The Disney spokesman seems to think that corporate policy has the effect of law, but he is mistaken:

“We immediately engaged law enforcement and the matter was resolved quickly and without incident,” a Walt Disney World representative said. “Our policies are clear, and we have zero tolerance for any violation of them.”

3 Why do you need to carry a gun at Disney? Here is my only answer to that.

4 Disney has crack security. They will protect me.
Actually, Disney security, at least here in Orlando, is unarmed. They hire off duty Orange County deputies to serve as armed security. They do have bomb dogs, though. The handlers for these dogs are apparently unarmed. The only people who claim that Disney has a secret SWAT team and a crack team of secret security, the person doing the discussing has struck me as a bit of a mall ninja.

5 Why do you need to carry a gun around so many kids?
For the same reason I carry elsewhere. Criminals don’t magically cease to commit crimes in the vicinity of children. Here is one such post:

All this debate about how you can take a gun anywhere with such and such licence. LISTEN TO YOURSELVES! you’re trying to justify bringing a GUN into a park full of KIDS! I am not comfortable with anyone carrying guns near my kids or encouraging such violent behaviour this is why kids are killing eachother get a grip u bunch of fools!!!!!

6 The guy was obviously compensating for his small penis.
That is a good way to have a rational gun discussion: make dick jokes.

7 All people with a gun fetish should be psychologically evaluated, as they obviously have mental problems.
Perhaps they should do the same for people who want to comment on the Internet.

8 Concealed carriers don’t stop mass shootings.

I pointed out the New Life Church. Here is the response I got:
I question the intelligence of someone who would fire a gun at a car in a public parking lot. She had no way of knowing whether there was a child in the car or not. She was not saving someone who was being murdered, raped or kidnapped. She wanted to be a hero, and didn’t care that she might have been putting innocent people in danger. The icing on the cake is when she immaturely and petuantly declared she was “never helping another person” for the rest of her life. Is this the kind of person we want to be firing a gun in public?

9 People who carry guns because of the small chance of a crime are paranoid.
One poster pointed out that people who own fire extinguishers are not considered paranoid. The reply was pure gold that displayed the moonbattery for all to see:

Who has fire extinguishers in their home? I find a fire alarm is adequate. I guess you have a fall out shelter incase of nuclear attack too? Leave firefighting and law enforcement to the professionals.

These people are completely unhinged and will not listen to facts or reason. The good news is that many people are realizing just how stupid and pedantic the anti gun position is. 100 million firearms sold in seven years.

By Divemedic, ago

Australia Homicide Reporting

In my recent post on the “Australia doesn’t have mass killing” talking point, a visitor, libertarianm, asked for the primary source for my claim:

Six years, six spree killers, 35 homicides.Australia, like many countries, doesn’t list a death as being a homicide until someone is convicted of the killing. 

Australia’s National Homicide Monitoring Program, administered by the Australian Institute of Criminology, tacks homicides in Australia. The Australian Institute of Criminology is Australia’s national research and knowledge center on crime and justice. 
The National Homicide Monitoring Program has this to say about the definition of ‘homicide’:

Homicide is defined by the criminal law of each Australian state and territory. As a result, varying definitions exist between states and territories in terms of its degree, culpability and intent.

Since there is no national definition of exactly what constitutes a ‘homicide’, the NHMP uses the following definition(my comments in blue follow each point):
* all cases resulting in a person or persons being charged with murder or manslaughter.
In order for a killing to be classed as a homicide under this criteria, a person must be charged with the crime. No suspect in custody or no charges filed, no homicide.
* all murder–suicides classed as murder by police
Remember that each state and territory is left to define murder and homicide. If the police in a particular jurisdiction don’t declare it to be a murder, it is not a homicide. Likewise, for the police to declare it to be a murder, there must be a dead suspect for it to be a murder/suicide. If there is suspect dead from suicide, there is no homicide.
This is an important distinction. The shooter in the Sydney Hostage incident of 2014 was not listed as a homicide incident, despite the fact that the shooter killed two people.  Why? Because he was killed by the police. The killings were listed as terrorism, despite evidence that the shooter was a serial rapist, and was out on bail after being charged with the murder of his wife. 
* all other deaths classed by police as homicides 

Again, the laws vary between each territory and state. What one police department classifies as a murder, another may not. This makes it nearly impossible to determine the number of homicides.
The real problem with using ANY data from other countries as a yardstick to measure the effectiveness of restriction on firearms ownership is that different countries use different methods and definitions, making a direct comparison of data useless for statistical and comparison purposes.
By Divemedic, ago