KC3 at the gun shows!

This month there are two gun shows that KC3 will be attending.

The first is the Kenny Woods show being held at Heritage Hall/Rupp Arena in Lexington this Saturday and Sunday, June 15 and 16. The doors open at 9 AM and we'll be there to answer your questions and get your ideas for future initiatives.

The second is June 22 and 23, National Gun Day at the Kentucky Fairgrounds and Exposition Center in Louisville. Once again, the doors open at 9 AM both Saturday and Sunday.

Come out and join us. Maybe you'll find that gun or the ammunition and accessories that you know you can't live without, and rub the noses of the anti-gunners in the gun culture while you're at it!

Video of the debate against John Yarmuth is now online

The video of the Louisville Forum debate about "gun violence" in February
in which KC3 was represented by board member and co-founder Charles Riggs against anti-gun liberal Rep. John Yarmuth is now online, courtesy of friend to liberty Bruce Layne.
You can find part 1, and the link to part 2, on this YouTube page by clicking here.

Annual meeting looming, new board members and activists needed.

The KC3 annual meeting's date has not yet been set, but notification will be forthcoming in plenty of time per our bylaws.

But before then we need to point out that we could use some more people to serve on the board of directors. We need people to help us devise new ideas, to help out at gun shows and to expand our presence into more of the state.
We'd love to work all of the gun shows in the state but with so few board members on hand now that's not possible. Having more directors, especially from other regions, would facilitate that.
We are also looking into a plan to enlist regional membership recruiters who would be responsible for going to gun stores and related venues in their areas to tell them about KC3 and encourage gun owners and CCDW permit holders to join us.
If you're interested in serving, have ideas on how we can expand and grow our membership or would like to volunteer in any way or offer any services to KC3 please get in touch via the comments section here on the blog. Thanks!

Video of the KC3 versus Yarmouth debate to go online

In February, KC3 co-founder and current president Charles Riggs debated gun control against Rep. John Yarmuth at the Louisville Forum Annual Dinner.

A video of that exchange will soon be online on YouTube so that you can see what was said and how it went. Don't expect any dynamic new arguments from Yarmuth and don't expect that the anti-gun members of the audience experienced any sudden conversion to our point of view in the process.
But many have asked about how the debate went and soon you'll have a chance to see for yourself.

KC3 newsletter to retire this year

The quarterly newsletter that KC3 has published for years is going away this spring.

The economics of publishing a newsletter have dictated that it's no longer cost-effective to put one out each quarter. The news is often dated by the time it arrives, and it's expensive to print and distribute it. While a few of our members still don't use the internet that much, the vast majority of them are using their computers to keep up with the world every day, often many times a day.
With the advent of the new web site KC3 will have the ability to publish an online newsletter with better graphics, better features and modern functionality including links to other sites in real time. We'll be able to connect our members and readers to other groups that share our interests and goals.
We'll also be able to deliver more value to our advertisers, which we anticipate will attract many more of them and in the process provide better service to the visitors to our page. You'll know more about products that could enhance your safety, and they'll be reaching a group that's focused on what they can provide.
We'll miss the hands-on nature of the newsletter - it's kinda funky, like the old church mimeograph pages of yore - but in its place we'll be delivering more efficient service and better value. More bang for your buck - what gun owner doesn't want that?

Big changes coming for KC3 this spring

If you've looked for the KC3 web site in the last few days, you might have noticed that it's not there. There's a reason for that.

A complete re-design of the KC3 web page has been in the works for over two years but progress has been slow. Several factors have led to delays in the web site changes. There are only so many hours in the days of everyone's lives, and taking the time to sort out the site's content was a slog for those who took on that task.
The biggest problem was finding an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that would devise a comprehensive re-design of the site that included the layout, the graphics and the features that were needed in an up to date site.
While the graphics that KC3 has used for the last several years, based on the outstanding photography of gun rights activist Oleg Volk, have drawn positive comments from many, the graphical style of the page was outdated and stale. Navigation of the page was cumbersome and there were dozens of pages of material that had become outdated. Malware had infected many pages due to outdated links, requiring a complete security overhaul. The easiest thing to do was to shut down the site.
But now KC3 has contracted with the crew at Modern Web Studios to take over hosting duties. In addition, they'll be designing a completely new look for the page.
The new site will have several features that we've needed for a long time. These will include the ability to take applications for new members and renewals without having to print an application and sending it in via the mail. It will have a function that will allow donations, and in time will expand to have an online store where you'll be able to buy Traveller's Guides and other merchandise.
Two features will be especially important. The first of those will be the online real-time blog that will give us the ability to post news items and links that members can use to stay current on topics relating to our mission. The second will be the sign-up link for our email broadcasts and alerts. With this feature, subscribers will get email notifications when an issue becomes urgent, or receive updates on legislation and political developments. When a change in a law or a bill needs your attention, you'll get an email message in time to take action and help KC3 protect and expand our self-defense rights.
There'll be more, of course, but for now we wanted you to know that at long last the changes that we've talked about are close to being realized.
And once the web page is up and running, watch out! There's more in store for you and KC3 in 2013.

CCDW for teachers March 23rd!

I'll be teaching a CCDW class in Frankfort on Saturday, March 23rd, and teachers can attend FREE.

If you know a teacher who'd like to take their CCDW permit class FREE, with the cost of the class paid for by KC3, have them contact me at (502) 320-9807 as soon as possible.
The class is open to anyone who wants to attend at the usual cost of $75, but teachers will be certified at NO CHARGE as part of KC3's program to train and qualify more teachers in Kentucky, which will enhance the safety of our children - Charles Riggs, KC3 co-founder

Jessamine mom wants guns in schools to protect her kids

This could be the kind of activism that will change things in Kentucky -

http://kyprogress.blogspot.com/2013/03/jessamine-mom-takes-on-gun-free-zones.html

Is it time for a push at the local level?

Kentucky law provides for local school boards to allow armed persons in the schools -

Is it time to use this to push for allowing permit holders and/or qualified armed persons to be able to carry into schools in order to improve safety for our kids?

http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=6d7cf82dce30a60039b74c643&id=ab851cc523&e=[UNIQID]

KC3 sues five cities and a county for violations of KRS 65.870

This week KC3 filed suit against six Kentucky cities - Louisville, Ft. Thomas, Warsaw, Winchester, Ft. Mitchell - and Woodford county for violating KRS 65.870 by posting illegal signage or having illegal ordinances in place. They had six months to get their houses in order, now they're going to have to pay for their flouting of our laws!

  KRS 65.879 allows individuals or groups with standing to sue government entities that violate the law, and recover expenses and attourney fees.   If you live in Louisville, Ft. Thomas, Warsay, Winchester, Ft. Mitchell, and Woodford County, it might be a good time to ask your elected officials why they've ignored the law, and why your tax dollars are going to have to be spent in this manner. Maybe you could also take advantage of the law and swear out a complaint of official misconduct against these elected officials. Hmmm. Just a thought...

NY Supreme Court says the state must prove SAFE Act is compliant with Second Amendment, or else...

In New York, the state Supreme Court warned that it will issue an injunction against the recently passed SAFE Act, which limits magazine capacity and bans semiautomatic rifles, if the state fails to prove that the law is compliant with the Second Amendment. Of course it isn't, so this could get interesting. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that firearms "in common usage" may not be restricted nor may entire classes of firearms. New York did both with its seven-round magazine limit and outright ban of semi-auto rifles -- both AR-15s and standard-capacity mags holding more than seven rounds are clearly in common usage. And good luck finding a seven-round magazine. Gun manufacturers indicate they won't produce special New York-style magazines. (from PatriotPost.US)

The truth about assault weapons bans and background checks

by John Lott

With Senate Judiciary Committee meeting this week, it's likely that new gun control bills will be drafted very quickly. There are in essence two parts to the bills: the part that deals with the “assault weapon ban” and the part that deals with “universal background checks.” The first one faces long odds of passage, but the second might well pass.

Democrats will undoubtedly push for an assault weapons ban. The ban has become a central tenant of the Democratic party, with Obama's calls "to get weapons of war and massive ammunition magazines off our streets" and even Michelle Obama claiming crimes are being committed with “automatic weapons.” Senator Dianne Feinstein is pushing hard to reinstitute the earlier assault weapon ban, which she had originally enacted in 1994.

Proponents of an "Assault Weapons Ban" often argue their point by posing the question: "Why do people need a semiautomatic Bushmaster to go out and kill deer?"

From 1994 to 2004, we banned both so-called assault weapons and magazines that hold more than 10 bullets. But the ban simply did not do any good.

They obviously imply that the weapon must be a military weapon not designed for hunting. But they are simply plain mistaken. It has just been made to look like a military weapon. The semiautomatic Bushmaster functions identically to a small game hunting rifle. Indeed, the caliber of bullet it fires is too small to be used legally to hunt deer in most states.

The AR-15 is a semi-automatic gun, not a machine gun, like those used in the military. One pull of the trigger releases one bullet. With a machine gun (or automatic), one pull of the trigger releases many bullets.

Generally, people need semi-automatic guns for self-defense. As Vice President Joe Biden’s recent gaffe about recommending people fire two warning shots from a double-barreled 12-gauge shotgun so amply illustrates. The recoil from such a shotgun may be too much for a smaller person. I know of seven cases during just this past December where at least ten shots were fired defensively. They involved instances where 2, 3, or even 4 criminals had broken into people’s homes.

The assault weapon ban also faces one very big obstacle. We have been there, done that. From 1994 to 2004, we banned both so-called assault weapons and magazines that hold more than 10 bullets. The ban was very similar to what is proposed now, with guns banned because they looked like military weapons or had rather arbitrary, cosmetic criteria.

But the ban simply did not do any good.

Despite plenty of studies by criminologists and economists, none of the academic criminologists or economists who have studied this have found any benefits from the law. One of the studies was even funded by the Clinton administration. Yet, this study too concluded: "the evidence is not strong enough for us to conclude that there was any meaningful effect (i.e., that the effect was different from zero)."

Seven years later, in 2004, the authors of that report (Chris Koper and Jeff Roth) published a follow-up study for the National Institute of Justice together with a fellow criminologist (Dan Woods). Yet again, they could not discern any benefit: "we cannot clearly credit the ban with any of the nation's recent drop in gun violence. And, indeed, there has been no discernible reduction in the lethality and injuriousness of gun violence."

The old ban banned semi-automatic guns purely based on their looks or whether they contained two or more features such as bayonet mount, folding or telescoping stock, pistol grip, flash suppressor, or grenade launcher fittings. The new rules list 157 banned guns by name because of their looks and would ban other guns if they have just one of those features.

Yet, these minor differences have already been tried by states such as California and Connecticut, and, again, neither criminologists nor economists have found any benefits from these state level laws either.

What is so maddening here is that the proposals are trying to split semi-automatics into two groups: the “bad” ones and the “good” ones, but there is no sensible criteria used to distinguish the two. While Democrats know that there is absolutely no chance of passing a law that will ban all semi-automatics, they want to appear as if they are “doing something” by trying to ban some of them.

As for the second part of gun control measures, expanded background checks, the likelihood of passage is stronger, but the case for expanded checks is weak. Again, research by others as well as my own keeps failing to find that background checks lower crime rates.

Possibly that isn’t really too surprising. Background checks are just one way of stopping criminals from getting guns and even more extreme methods have failed. Even when guns were banned in Washington and Chicago or even in island nations such as the UK, Ireland and Jamaica, criminals still got guns and murder rates rose after the bans.

To make their case in favor of expanded background checks, impressive numbers have been repeated over and over again. President Obama claims “40% of guns are purchased without a background check” and that background checks have “blocked 1.7 million prohibited individuals from buying a gun.”

Both claims are simply false.

The 40% number is actually 36%, and refers to transfers, not sales. It would only be accurate if family inheritances and gifts were reclassified as "purchases."

The 36% number was based on a small survey from 1991 to 1994, most of which came before the Brady Act took effect on Feb. 28 1994, with the act introducing the requirement that all federally-licensed dealers perform checks.

Similarly, the supposedly 1.7 million prohibited individuals prevented from buying a gun make no sense whatsoever. What we have is 1.7 million “initial denials.” Again, it is a big difference.

Truth is, these government databases are rife with flaws. Remember the five times that the late Sen. Ted Kennedy missed flights because his name was on the anti-terror “no fly” list? By Obama’s method of counting, that means the “no fly” list stopped five flights by terrorists.

Hardly.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives dropped over 94 percent of those “initial denials” after preliminary reviews. Further review found that at least a fifth of the other 6 percent were also wrongly stopped from buying guns.

The current flaws in the background-check system may be an inconvenience for many, but for some it means dangerous delays. Some people who suddenly, legitimately need a gun for self-defense, such as a woman being stalked by an ex-spouse or companion will find themselves defenseless.

Unfortunately, the unintended consequences of these laws can cost lives. Talking about only the benefits of more laws and not their costs isn’t going to make anyone safer.
John R. Lott, Jr., writes frequently for FoxNews.com. An economist and former chief economist at the United States Sentencing Commission, he is also a leading expert on guns. He is the author of several books, including "More Guns, Less Crime." His latest book is "At the Brink: Will Obama Push Us Over the Edge? (Regnery Publishing 2013)." Follow him on Twitter@johnrlottjr.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/02/28/truth-about-assault-weapons-bans-and-background-checks/#ixzz2MINwecVV

Good news in Illinois!!!

NEWS RELEASE
Second Amendment Foundation
12500 NE Tenth Place • Bellevue, WA 98005
(425) 454-7012 • FAX (425) 451-3959 • www.saf.org

7TH CIRCUIT LETS POSNER RULING STAND; HUGE WIN FOR CCW, SAYS SAF

For Immediate Release: 2/22/2013

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation today won a significant victory for concealed carry when the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals let stand a December ruling by a three-judge panel of the court that forces Illinois to adopt a concealed carry law, thus affirming that the right to bear arms exists outside the home.

The ruling came in Moore v. Madigan, a case filed by SAF. The December opinion that now stands was written by Judge Richard Posner, who gave the Illinois legislature 180 days to “craft a new gun law that will impose reasonable limitations, consistent with the public safety and the Second Amendment…on the carrying of guns in public.” That clock is ticking, noted SAF Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb.

“Illinois lawmakers need to create some kind of licensing system or face the prospect of not having any regulations at all when Judge Posner’s deadline arrives,” Gottlieb said. “They need to act. They can no longer run and hide from this mandate.”
“We were delighted with Judge Posner’s ruling in December,” he continued, “and today’s decision by the entire circuit to allow his ruling to stand is a major victory, and not just for gun owners in Illinois. Judge Posner’s ruling affirmed that the right to keep and bear arms, itself, extends beyond the boundary of one’s front door.”

In December, Judge Posner wrote, “The right to ‘bear’ as distinct from the right to ‘keep’ arms is unlikely to refer to the home. To speak of ‘bearing’ arms within one’s home would at all times have been an awkward usage. A right to bear arms thus implies a right to carry a loaded gun outside the home.”

Judge Posner subsequently added, “To confine the right to be armed to the home is to divorce the Second Amendment from the right of self-defense described in Heller and McDonald.”

“It is now up to the legislature,” Gottlieb said, “to craft a statute that recognizes the right of ordinary citizens to carry outside the home, without a sea of red tape or a requirement to prove any kind of need beyond the cause of personal protection.”

The ruling also affects a similar case filed by the National Rifle Association known as Shepard v. Madigan.

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation's oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. In addition to the landmark McDonald v. Chicago Supreme Court Case, SAF has previously funded successful firearms-related suits against the cities of Los Angeles; New Haven, CT; New Orleans; Chicago and San Francisco on behalf of American gun owners, a lawsuit against the cities suing gun makers and numerous amicus briefs holding the Second Amendment as an individual right.

KC3 takes on John Yarmuth in debate at Louisville Forum Annual Dinner

There are still tickets available for the Louisville Forum Annual Dinner where KC3 co-founder and board member Charles Riggs will be debating the topic of Gun Violence against Rep. John Yarmuth on Thursday Feb. 21st - for more information and to purchase tickets go to their web page at -
http://www.louisvilleforum.org/events.aspx
It'd be great to have a whole room full of Second Amendment supporters to cheer on our side so make plans to attend, and get your tickets before Feb. 18th.

Califonia cop killer isn't RIGHT-wing nutjob...

Former Los Angeles police officer Chris Dorner allegedly went on a shooting rampage this week, murdering one officer and two civilians, as well as wounding two more officers. As I post this, he is still at large. Dorner, also a Navy veteran, was fired from the department in 2009 for making false statements, and now claims he is seeking to punish corruption within the LAPD. What is often missing from media coverage, however, is the part of his manifesto announcing that he's pro-Obama, pro-Hillary for 2016, pro-gun control, pro-"assault weapons" ban and anti-NRA.


Don’t believe it? Read it for yourself HERE.

Why isn't this in the news? The bias of the major news organizations is the point here. Give us the facts, and let us make up our own minds.
gbw

Louisville and Lexington lawmakers attack law-abiding gun owners

Apparently we get our own version of Dianne Feinstein's "commonsense" gun legislation here in the Commonwealth!! Aren't we lucky? Apparently some of our legislators still think that the 2nd Amendment is about hunting.

Read about it here (NRA/ILA), and here (Lexington Herald-Leader), and here (Louisville Courier-Journal).

You can read all the gun related bills introduced so far in the Ky. Legislature on this page.

Folks, I've talked to a lot of you at gun shows, and I don't know how many times I've heard, "It can't happen in Kentucky." Well, here it is. It's time to call/mail/email your State Senators and Representatives, and get this bill beat into the ground. Links to their contact info can be found in the right column of the blog.

Time to get to it!!
gbw

Tell Congressman Yarmuth what you think about the "gun violence" issue.

If you live in Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District, Congressman John Yarmuth would like your take on the President's proposed measures to reduce "gun violence". Go to this webpage to tell him what you think. There is a place to leave your ideas about what might work. Keep it civil. Here's what I suggested.

1. Stop playing politics with this and ENFORCE CURRENT LAWS AND PROSECUTE VIOLENT OFFENDERS. Precious little of that going on in the Federal courts.


2. Incarcerate violent offenders for certain, long-term sentences. Recidivism is too high in this group to leave them on the streets.

3. Increase the penalties for all violent offenders.

4. Leave the 99.999% of legal, law-abiding gun owners alone and go after criminals. And if the mentally ill are a problem, get them in front of a judge so they can be adjudicated mentally ill and therefore ineligible for a legal gun purchase.

5. Realize that none of the proposed items, even those with which I agree, make anyone safe, or even arguably safer. The heart of man is desperately wicked. No one can understand it. As long as we participate in society, we are at the mercy of the sociopath, the psychotic, and the evil persons around us.

gbw

Want to set up a policy for concealed carry at your school?

KC3 has received inquiries from some schools asking what needs to be done to allow teachers and administrators to carry under current Kentucky law. If you are in a position to implement a concealed carry policy at your school, we strongly recommend you seek advice from an attorney.

The applicable Kentucky statute is KRS 527.070, particularly section 3f. KC3 supports arming teachers and school administrators. The only way to stop a bad person with a gun is a good guy/gal with a gun. As history has shown us, designating an area as a "gun-free zone" only paints targets on the backs of everyone who finds themselves in one.

KC3 is represented by Friend and Hunt LLC. They successfully defended Mitchell v. UK, a significant win for gun-owners' rights in Kentucky's Supreme Court, and are definitely pro-gun owner, pro-Second Amendment folks. Friend and Hunt contact information is below.

www.friendandhunt.com

Lexington Office
465 East High Street
Suite 103
Lexington, KY 40507

Office: (859) 455-9482
Fax: (502) 716-6158
Email: info@friendandhunt.com

Pikeville Office
P.O. Box 610
Pikeville, KY 41502

Office: (606) 369-7030
Fax: (502) 716-6158
Email: info@friendandhunt.com

gbw

Next CCDW class for teachers and women Feb. 16th

The second free CCDW class for teachers will be held in Frankfort on Saturday, Feb. 16th.
The first class was a success, with five teachers attending and a total of 11 students. Not a huge class, but a pretty good turnout for such short notice.
If you're a teacher who wants to take the class FREE, or make a donation of $25 and pay for your own or another teacher's class, contact Charles Riggs at (502) 320-9807 to get more information and reserve your spot.
We anticipate that there will be classes in other areas of the state as more instructors step up to volunteer their services. Steve Sprowls in Elizabethtown has already indicated that he'll be offering CCDW for teachers, so watch for advertisements of those in that area.
Remember that for every $25 donation dedicated to the program KC3 and its affiliated instructors will certify a teacher at NO cost to them for their CCDW permit. If you want to support the program, or make a donation for a specific teacher get in touch with us!

What was President Reagan's viewpoint?

The other side is fond of pulling out a letter from former presidents in favor of the 1994 gun ban legislation. They are fond of reminding us that even President Reagan supported the now discredited, unsuccessful, and useless cosmetic gun ban. I can't speak to the former President's state of mind in 1994. I can tell you what he said when he was President, and fully in control of his faculties.

"Mightn't it be better in those areas of high crime to arm the homeowner and the shopkeeper, teach him how to use his weapons and put the word out to the underworld that it is no longer totally safe to rob and murder? ... Criminals are not dissuaded by soft words, soft judges or easy laws. They are dissuaded by fear and they are prevented from repeating their crimes by death or by incarceration. In my opinion, proposals to outlaw or confiscate guns are simply unrealistic panacea. We are never going to prevent murder; we are never going to eliminate crime; we are never going to end violent action by the criminals and the crazies -- with or without guns." -Ronald Reagan

GBW