RSVP form for the annual meeting

If you intend to come to the meeting May 9th and want to have lunch with all of us, please use this form. You can click on it to enlarge it, then print it and mail it in to KC3. We must receive your RSVP by May 1st so we can order the correct quantity of food for the event.

We look forward to seeing you then.

(click to enlarge form in another window for printing)

KC3 Annual meeting reminder

The Kentucky Coalition to Carry Concealed annual meeting is only two weeks away!

We wanted to remind you once more about the date of the meeting.  And don't forget that if you intend to attend this year's meeting and want to eat lunch with the rest of us before the meeting, you MUST submit the RSVP form that's in the most recent issue of the newsletter.

We'll be posting a copy of it here on the blog ASAP so that you can download it from here and mail it in.  The form MUST be mailed in not later than MAY FIRST for it to be accepted.  Emails and phone calls will NOT be accepted as a form of reply.

We're doing this to save money and avoid squandering resources, which I'm sure we can all appreciate when we're watching the insane spending spree going on in Washington, DC.

The meeting will be held at the Open Range in Crestwood, Ky.  

Registration starts at 11 AM and lunch will be at 12 noon.  The annual meeting will start at 1 PM with the board of directors meeting to follow that.

If you need to renew your membership you can send in the form from the newsletter or get in touch with us by email via the web page on the 'contact us' page.  You MUST be a member to participate in the meeting!

Clear your calendars and be there if you want to be part of the process.  We look forward to seeing all of you.

Milwaukee police chief suspends civil rights in his city

(Chief Ed Flynn - Milwaukee)

There was a recent advisory opinion issued by the Wisconsin Attorney General that confirmed that the mere act of carrying a firearm openly on your person, as provided for by law in that state, did NOT constitute disorderly conduct or any other illegal act.

Unfortunately, Ed Flynn, the chief of police in Milwaukee has announced that he's not going to be guided by this advisory.  He's telling his cops to put citizens on the ground, disarm them and THEN determine if they're doing anything wrong!

We anticipate that there will be some lawsuits forthcoming if the police in that city are as stupid as their chief and try this tactic on law-abiding citizens.

Read more about it here and here.

Citizens gun rights group plans open carry event

More and more groups that advocate the citizens right to be armed have begun holding public events in order to focus attention on this issue.  

One group in Pennsylvania is holding a picnic where their members will carry openly.  You can read about it here.

There's a lot of disagreement in the firearms-owning community about this issue.  Basically we at KC3 believe that it's necessary to exercise our rights, to show the nation that we're not going to be intimidated by bad laws and bullying politicians who want to intimidate us into being reluctant to go public with our beliefs.  Carrying openly helps to dispel the myth that having a gun must inevitably lead to its misuse.

We're lucky that in Kentucky the right to carry openly is recognized, but the reason that KC3 exists is that at one point in time, some police departments made it their business to harass lawful gun owners who tried to carry openly in accordance with the law.

It's great not to have to carry openly, but it's also good to do it sometimes just because you can, because it's your RIGHT.

Congratulations!

The Civilian Gun Self-Defense Blog celebrated the posting of its 4000th self-defense incident this week.

Think about it.  That's 4000 times that a firearm has been used in a legitimate, legal manner to save lives or prevent crimes, and this is just since they began keeping track in 2003.

We hear from the mainstream media all the time about the tragic cost of guns and 'gun violence' but not nearly so often about the greater number of incidents in which lives and property were defended by gun owners.  And we know from various studies done over the decades past that the number of actual incidents is much greater than the average of two per day that their blog has posted.

Hats off to Clayton Cramer and David Burnett, the authors of the blog.  Mr. Cramer is a well-known professor and blogger of many years standing, and Mr. Burnett is a member of the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, which you can find more info about on this blog.

If you'd like to support their ongoing work, please make sure to hit the donations tab on the Gun Self Defense blog when you visit.  Their link is here on the left side of our page.  It's worth the look and worth your time to read the reports.

"Fight back! Whenever you are offered violence, fight back! The aggressor does not fear the law, so he must be taught to fear you. Whatever the risk, and at whatever the cost, fight back!" - Jeff Cooper

Concealed carry on campus

Update on the Thunder Over Louisville situation

Good news!  The Louisville Metro Police were asked at a press conference today about the ban on firearms that is posted on the TOL web page which we told you about.  They stated that there is NO such ban!

They clarified that the only place where legally concealed firearms would not be permitted would be INSIDE the beer tents, and that those areas would be correctly posted, as required.

They stated that concealed carry by persons with legitimate CCDW permits would be allowed on the Great Lawn and other open areas, in accordance with Kentucky statutes.

We're still waiting for the Kentucky Derby Festival people to fix their web site, but for the time being this is a very significant victory for us.  In the past, Louisville's city government simply ignored any attempts to reverse their discriminatory policy.

Thanks for your help and support!  We'll keep you posted as this situation evolves.

Louisville decides not to obey Kentucky laws

It's Kentucky Derby time again, time for festivities and activities, balloon races and mini-marathons and for the great fireworks and aviation show called "Thunder Over Louisville". But in a stunning show of sheer gall, Louisville's rulers have decided that they are a law unto themselves.

Kentucky has a law that says that only the General Assembly may make laws relating to firearms, what's called our preemption law. But Louisville's Metro council doesn't care.
Anther law states that no unit of government may ban CCDW in the open areas of parks. That doesn't concern mayor Jerry Abrams and his happy band of gun-haters.
Kentucky's constitution plainly says that you may carry firearms openly about your person, with few restrictions and none that relate to this situation. Louisville seems to be making up their own constitution.
Why are we saying this?
Read what's here on the "Thunder Over Louisville" web page about what you can and can't bring into the Derby festival area along the waterfront - http://www.thunderoverlouisville.org/frequently-asked-questions.html -

What can't I bring to Thunder Over Louisville?

For safety reasons the following are not permitted in the event area, which goes south from the Ohio River to Main Street between Clay Street and 10th
Street:

No Tents

No cans or bottles are allowed at the event site. Plastic bottles and food are permitted. There is also plenty of food and soft drink stands to take care of any needs you may have. Beer is available at the Chow Wagon at Waterfront Park and the Belvedere Beer Garden.

No alcoholic beverages are allowed.

No bikes, skateboards or skates are allowed in the event venue. You will be asked to walk them in for pedestrian safety.

No firearms are allowed.

Please leave any pets at home.

Due to increased security - all persons and parcels are subject to search.


So, by decree of the Metro council, they have announced that they have suspended your rights for an area extending 15 blocks east-to-west, and 3 blocks north-to-south!
In blatant violation of the laws and constitution of Kentucky, the Louisville Metro county government has revoked the right to self-defense - and will be searching you at random to enforce their decree!

We were just apprised of this outrage today and have already started the effort to reverse it. Check back here for updates on the situation.
In the meantime, take advantage of the contact page on the Kentucky Derby Festival web site here to get in touch with them, but be warned the email link for info@kdf.org on that page doesn't appear to work so you might have to call them. You can use these addresses to reach their media contact people - aboyd@kdf.org and mshallcross@kdf.org - which ought to shake them up a bit. Please tell them that you won't be spending your money at the Derby or any related events as long as this policy is in place.
They got away with this in the past. We're going to do our best to see to it that it ends now.

Stupid signs just won't go away

(click on sign to enlarge image for viewing)

Okay, so you have a business in Kentucky?  Why would you post signs that quote Ohio law on the door of that business?

Apparently some business people in northern Kentucky either aren't sure which side of the river they're on, or they're too lazy or too cheap to have signs printed up just for their Kentucky locations.

These signs were found on a Cincinnati Bell Wireless store in the Crestview Hills shopping center by KC3 member Scott Berger.

The address of the store is: 2895 Dixie Hwy, Crestview Hills, Ky. 41017.

Their telephone number is (859) 331-1000.

You can also contact their corporate HQ at 'contact us' link at the top of their web page here.

If you live up that way, we wish that you'd stop in and talk to them, or give them a call on the phone.  Tell them, politely please, that the signs are stupid for a couple of reasons.

One, this is Kentucky so quoting Ohio law means nothing.

Two, signs don't stop criminals from robbing their stores or threatening their employees.

Three, stupid signs keep responsible citizens from spending their money in stores that post stupid signs.  You don't want to burden them with your money if that's how they really feel about honest people who carry for their own safety.

They need to hear from all of you before we give them a visit or send them a letter so that they know that you don't appreciate their disregard for your safety and your freedoms.

And tell 'em KC3 sent you!

Missouri moves for major changes in CCDW law

As our members and friends know, KC3 is now in the process of collecting signatures on a petition in support of changing our statutes to legalize the possession of firearms on school property.

Missouri was behind us in getting their CCDW law passed, but they're making up for lost time in a big way -

"Jefferson City — Legislation lowering the minimum age for obtaining a concealed-weapons permit and allowing concealed guns at public colleges and universities received first-round approval Wednesday in the Missouri House." (You can read the rest of it here -)

It goes to show that we can't rest on our laurels and be content with what we have now. We have to keep pushing to expand our rights. That means getting those signatures and being ready to hit the General Assembly hard in 2010 so we get the improvements that we know we need!

Contact KC3 for copies of the petition or copy it from your newsletter, then mail the signed copies in to us.

Excellent thinking in a well-written essay about guns and freedom

So many people write about guns and about our freedoms. But few have written so concisely and cogently as "Armed Liberal" has in this piece at the Winds of Change blog.

Here's an excerpt -

"We are left with the choice between the tragedy of funerals we have today and the tragic farce of placing our face quietly under Orwell's eternal boot. And the tragedy - the real tragedy of that choice - is that it isn't a choice; because what we would get at the end of choosing it, I believe, is the worst of both worlds where law abiding citizens place themselves at the mercy of both an intrusive and useless state and of violent criminals the state cannot control."

Read all of it here.

Gallup poll shows no new support for gun control

A poll conducted before the most recent rash of shooting showed no new increase in support for gun control in this country.

There's good reason to believe that this reflects the possibility that more Americans are getting the news that gun control laws don't work.  Disarming potential victims and ordinary citizens will never persuade maniacs from their intent to commit mayhem.

You can read the Gallup poll story on their web page here.

WLKY report on guns and CCDW in Kentucky

More Kentuckians Apply For Concealed Carry Permits

By Steve Burgin, WLKY news
Read the whole story on the WLKY web page here.
(watch part one here) (watch part two here)


LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A Target 32 investigation has found a dramatic increase in the number of Kentuckians applying for concealed carry permits.

Applications in Jefferson County more than tripled in December of 2008. Weapon and ammo sales are up as well, and people are packing gun safety classes, which are required before a person can get a concealed carry permit.

A change in the administration and a troubled economy are the two main reasons given for this increased desire among Kentuckians to carry concealed weapons. As a result, business has shot through the roof at Open Range Sports in Crestwood, Ky. Barry Laws runs Open Range.

"We are starting to love Obama right now," he said. Laws said there's a fear among his customers that President Barack Obama will move toward more gun control.
"It's a double-edge sword," he said. "People want to buy a lot of firearms, but there aren't a lot available."

Stacy Triplett, who recently received her concealed carry permit, was shopping for a way to hide her 9 mm pistol. "It's a fundamental right to bear arms and we are concerned that right might be curtailed," she said.

According to state records obtained by WLKY News, applications for concealed carry licenses, jumped from 12,292 in 2007 to 16,503 last year -- an increase of 34 percent.

Charles Riggs, a member of the board of the Kentucky Coalition to Carry Concealed, said the message behind those numbers is clear. "That says when I go out of my house, I'm responsible for myself. I'm responsible for my own well-being," he said. "I have the right to live my life unmolested by criminals."

Since passing the law in 1996 and through the end of last year, the commonwealth has issued nearly 146,000 concealed carry permits.

(read it all and watch the videos on their web page here)

Where you ban guns, predators will prey

In the aftermath of the most recent mass shootings and murders of police officers, we can expect to hear a mounting hue and cry for more gun control.

Instead of being defensive, we need to be coming right back at the gun-banners and ask them why they insist on a policy that's been shown to fail again and again?
Here's a good article that quotes Suzanna Gratia Hupp, whose parents were murdered in the Luby's cafeteria massacre in Texas in 1991.
The fact that so many of these monsters who commit these crimes commit suicide is a demonstration of their cowardice. Even though the perpetrator in Binghamton, New York was wearing body armor, when he reached the end of his slaughter he shot himself rather than face the guns of the police. He counted on having unarmed victims to prey upon.
We need to be throwing this right back in the faces of the gun haters. They are the ones who should be held accountable because their insistence on disarming ordinary citizens is the very thing that guarantees the monsters will have an open field, filled with helpless targets.
Now is the time to fight back, not to be defensive.
We own firearms with which to defend ourselves. We must gather up our arguments and take the fight to the public forums so that the rest of the nation understands that it's the anti-gunners who have the blood on their hands.

Training is never a bad idea

Have you thought about taking classes?

In talking about concealed carry with people, it's surprising to find that often many of them haven't taken any formal training with their firearm. While that's not a major problem, since most defensive uses of guns are resolved in favor of the defender, quickly and at close range, it's still never a bad idea to increase your skills. Think about it. If you had to use your pistol to stop a thug who was attacking you, how confident would you be in both your own skills and your equipment? Taking professional training will help you with that. It'll show you what works and what doesn't by giving you an opportunity to test your equipment and your tactics. You'll have someone to coach you, who can see what you might be doing wrong and give you suggestions about what you could do to improve your abilities. Many of us assume that we're good enough with what we know, but what kind of attitude is that? You've taken on the burden of carrying a gun so that you can defend yourself and your loved ones. Is "maybe" being prepared good enough when it's the lives of those you love most in the world at stake? Most of you get training in the workplace so you can do your job more efficiently. Is there ANY job more important than defending your own life? Good training is a lifetime investment. When your life is on the line, you'll be glad you put in the time and effort. For suggestions on where you can find professional firearms instruction, contact KC3 via the web page or the comments on this post.

Fox News blows the lid off the government's disinformation campaign!

Eric Holder and others in the Obama administration, including Hillary Clinton, have been telling us that 90% of the guns being used in the drug wars in Mexico are coming from the U.S.


Of course, those of us who know anything about guns know full well that you don't just drop into the local sporting goods store in Phoenix and stock up on machine guns, RPGs and grenades to take back to Juarez. The majority of the weapons being used by the cartels are either bought from other countries which are happy to sell them the full-blown, fully-automatic military weapons that they're using, or are being provided to them by the thousands of Mexican soldiers who go AWOL every year, taking their guns with them.
And where are THOSE fully automatic assault rifles, those M16s, coming from?
Why, they're being GIVEN to the Mexican government by the United States!
But that won't stop the gun-haters in Washington from using any major event and telling any lie and distorting any statistic in order to pass misguided legislation that infringes on YOUR rights.
Fortunately, not all of the mainstream media are falling for it.
Fox News has a story about it here. You can read that, and follow their ongoing broadcast expose of the devious manipulations of the numbers that the Obama gang are trying to employ to take away your personal freedoms.
We can be thankful that at least one of the major news outlets cares about the truth!

Come join KC3 and freedom-minded citizens at this event

KC3 is going to have a table at the Tax Liberation Day event being put on by the BIPPS on April 18th. We hope that you'll plan to attend, and tell your friends and family about it.

We'll be telling you more about our participation in the weeks ahead.
You can get more information right now about the organizers, the
Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions at their web page.
There's going to be food and music and games and contests, so you'll want to check back here to see what's planned for this family-oriented day.
Hope to see you and yours at Applebee's park in Lexington on April 18th!

Be careful about taking a CCDW class

We've received reports of a person who is no longer a certified instructor who's taught CCDW classes and defrauded the students of their money.

Before you take a class, check with the Sheriff's office and be sure that the person offering it is on the current list of approved instructors. Sadly, there are some unscrupulous people out there. You can also find the list at the Dept. of Criminal Justice Training web site here. Click on the link to view it.
The DOCJT and the KSP do everything that they can to investigate every problem that's reported to them and to prosecute those persons who break the law. But you owe it to yourself to do your homework before you take the class and be sure that it's on the up and up, just to avoid the ensuing hassles if it's not.
We'll keep you informed on this situation as more confirmed information is available.

Please welcome our new sponsor

KC3 is happy to announce that the Elzetta company is now a sponsor and supporter of our efforts. Not only do they have some outstanding products but they're located right here in Kentucky.

Please visit them to see their full line of flashlight mounting devices for the AR series of rifles here on their web page - http://www.elzetta.com
We've asked three of the best instructors we know to use one of their mounts for testing, and will be reporting back to you in the weeks ahead to let you know how well they held up. Based on what we've seen of the gear from handling and examining it, we expect excellent feedback.
If you have an AR and want a simple, lightweight and effective way to put a light on it, this could be what you need. Please check them out, and tell them thanks for supporting KC3!

Don't forget to call the House leadership, too!

Urgent Alert: Important Kentucky Pro-Gun Bills Still Need Your Help and Time is Running Out! Please Stand-Up and Make Your Voices Heard!

Unfortunately, the Kentucky legislature played party politics in Frankfort the last two days of the working session and two pro-gun bills may have failed as a result. There are, however, only two legislative days left after the veto session (Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27) to consider them, so it is critical that you make your voice heard loudly.

Please contact the Senate Leadership and respectfully urge them to take up House Bill 419. Ask them to attach the NRA-backed amendment and send it to the full Senate for consideration. The NRA-backed amendment would strip HB419 of its original language and would require universities to comply with current Kentucky Code allowing gun owners to keep their firearms in a locked vehicle on public and private property.

Also, please respectfully urge the Senate Leadership to bring House Bill 358, as amended, to the floor for consideration by the full Senate. HB358 has been amended to contain the original language from HB419. This bill would now permit citizens to carry firearms for self-defense while engaged in hunting, fishing, trapping, and other activities, and would clarify that citizens may do what is necessary for self-defense in the case of a wild animal attack, without fear of unjustified prosecution.

If passed by the Senate, HB419 (with the NRA-backed amendment) and HB358 would need to be sent back to the House for concurrence. Please contact the House leadership and ask them not to close up shop early and continue working through the last legislative day during the Regular Session. Ask them to vote on these important Right-to-Carry measures if passed by the Senate.

Time is running out. We also ask that you contact your State Senator and State Representative TODAY and respectfully urge them to support HB419 (with the NRA-backed amendment) and HB358.

Contact information for both the Senate and House Leadership is listed below. To find contact information for your State Senator and State Representative, please click here. Your State Legislators can also be reached by calling (502) 564-8100 or by leaving a message at (800) 372-7181. It is most effective to contact your State Legislator's office directly.

Senate Leadership

State Senator David Williams (R-16), Senate President
Office: (502) 564-3120
District: (270) 433-7777
David.Williams@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Katie Stine (R-24), President Pro Tempore
Office: (502) 564-3120
District: (859) 781-5311
Katie.Stine@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Dan Kelly (R-14), Majority Floor Leader
Office: (502) 564-2450
District: (859) 336-9048
Dan.Kelly@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Dan Seum (R-38), Majority Caucus Chair
Office: (502) 564-2450
District: (502) 749-2859
Dan.Seum@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Carroll Gibson (R-5), Majority Whip
Office: (502) 564-2450
District: (270) 230-5866
Carroll.Gibson@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Ed Worley (D-34), Minority Floor Leader
Office: (502) 564-2470
District: (859) 625-5536
Ed.Worley@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Johnny Turner (D-29), Minority Caucus Chair
Office: (502) 564-6136
District: (606) 377-6962
Johnny.Turner@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Jerry Rhoads (D-6), Minority Whip
Office: (502) 564-2470
District: (270) 825-2949
Jerry.Rhoads@lrc.ky.gov

House Leadership

State Representative Greg Stumbo (D-95), House Speaker
Annex: (502) 564-2363
Capitol: (502) 564-3363
Greg.Stumbo@lrc.ky.gov

State Representative Larry Clark (D-46), Speaker Pro Tempore
Annex: (502) 564-7520
Larry.Clark@lrc.ky.gov

State Representative Rocky Adkins (D-99), Majority Floor Leader
Annex: (502) 564-5565
Rocky.Adkins@lrc.ky.gov

State Representative John Will Stacy (D-71), Majority Whip
Annex: (502) 564-7756
Johnwill.Stacy@lrc.ky.gov

State Representative Jeff Hoover (R-83), Minority Floor Leader
Annex: (502) 564-0521
Capitol: (502) 564-5391
Jeff.Hoover@lrc.ky.gov

State Representative Bob DeWeese (R-48), Minority Caucus Chair
Annex: (502) 564-4334
Capitol: (502) 564-5391
Bob.Deweese@lrc.ky.gov

State Representative David Floyd (R-50), Minority Whip
Annex: (502) 564-5413
David.Floyd@lrc.ky.gov

New message about making calls on bills today and tomorrow

We got a phone call from a friend in state government who said that the House needs to hear from us, too, to tell them to vote on the bills that we want to see moved - HB419 and HB358.

Even if the Senate brings them to the floor, if the House leadership doesn't decide to act on them then they're dead.
The House is saying that they're not going to hear any new bills and we need to change their minds!
The number is 1-800-372-7181 to reach the message center and to leave a message for EVERYONE in the House and Senate!

Pass it on and get out the word!

Don't forget to call your Senator during these last days of the session

The 25th and 26th of March are the days that the General Assembly takes up vetoed bills and finishes its business for the session. But they can also take up new bills and pass additional legislation if they choose.

HB419 and HB358 still need to be passed. They languishing in the Senate in committee, and need the support of the Senate leadership to move to the floor.
HB419 contains language that would make it legal to have a firearm in a vehicle on university property, just like you're allowed to have on everywhere else in the state. HB358 has the language that recognizes our right to be armed for self-defense even while hunting or in the field.
Both of these could still be brought to the floor and passed, but it'll take the work of all concerned citizens to get this done.
Be sure to call your Senator and tell them that you want to see these bills given a vote, and sent on to the governor for his signature, and contact the Senate leadership to urge them to make an effort to effect this.
The toll free number to leave a message with any and all of the Senators is (800) 372-7181. Take advantage of it and please pass on this information to your friends.

KC3 to be on TV in Louisville March 25th

Recently KC3 board member Charles Riggs was interviewed by Steve Burgin of WLKY Channel 32 TV in Louisville as part of an upcoming program about guns and the economy and related topics.

We haven't yet been told the title for the program, but we've been informed that it's set to air on Wednesday, March 25th at 5 PM and again at 11 PM. You can contact WLKY for more information via their web site here.

Unlawful registration of GIs guns reversed

Recently a knucklehead commander down at Fort Campbell, Kentucky took it upon himself to mandate that the troops had to register their personal firearms, even those stored off post - AND, they had to declare if they had a concealed carry permit!

Fortunately, the commander above HIM took over and rescinded this foolishness. Read the story about it, along with a copy of his letter, here.

Seems like people who agree with Obama's desire to restrict your rights are crawling out of the woodwork, even in the Army. Good thing that citizens choose to resist tyranny.

One stupid failed policy leads to another - the British government at work

There's a piece on the Vdare web site about the evolution of more crimes by foreigners in the UK, combined with more crimes using knives and the predictable nanny-state response to it by the government.

You can find it here - worth reading if only for the many links in the text to other stories and background material.
Here's an excerpt -

"In a culture where the normal instinct of self-defense has been largely depressed by decades of liberal peacenik propaganda, mere gun grabbing (as Washington is now gearing up) will not suffice. British peace extremists may have imagined that depriving the people of firearms would ensure the end of violence in society, but something else happened on the rainbow road to kumbaya—the confiscation of guns from the British people over several decades did not result in perfect peacefulness."

Gun rights advocates get ready for a fight, House rejects bringing back the gun ban

Folks on our side are busy refuting the arguments that Holder and Diaz and other rabid anti-gunners are trying to use to introduce another gun ban. Read it on Fox News online here.

Meanwhile, 65 members of the House of Representatives tell Holder, et al, to forget about another ban - it ain't gonna fly! See that report on the NRA/ILA site here.

IT IS TIME TO ACT!

Kentucky Tea Party
Lexington, Ky - March 21

The federal stimulus, spending hundreds of billions of dollars we don't have; sending billions to states that are raising taxes anyway; bailouts going to companies that should be restructured instead of sustained; 9,000 earmarks being called 'last year's news'; proposals to tax energy until it's no longer affordable, dispense with the secret ballot for union elections, make the government the director of all health care, double welfare spending...

It is an assault on the liberty that is very foundation of our national success, and it's time to say so in a public demonstration.

The Kentucky Club for Growth, Leland Conway of WLAP in Lexington, the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions and others are organizing a Kentucky Tea Party in downtown Lexington. KC3 supports this important public demonstration against the waste and bad policy being created in Washington.

Come down to the Robert F. Stevens Courthouse Plaza (corner of Limestone and Main) at noon on Saturday, March 21st, and let City Hall, Frankfort, and Washington know what's on our minds.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY!
Don't be content with having this discussion only amongst ourselves. We need to show all of Kentucky that conservatives are still here and willing to engage.

Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009
Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: Robert F. Stevens Courthouse Plaza

WE ARE ORGANIZING SO YOU CAN MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.
We must remind everyone that national success follows from individual success, not government direction.

JOIN US!
Bring signs, teabags, whatever your inspiration.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Andy Hightower
Executive Director

There's still time to contact the legislature about two important bills

The Fate of Two Pro-Gun Bills Rests in the Hands of the Kentucky State Senate Leadership!
Contact Senate Leadership Today!

Unfortunately, the Kentucky legislature played party politics in Frankfort the last two days of the working session and two pro-gun bills may of failed as a result. Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27 are the only two legislative days left after the veto session to consider these pro-gun bills, so it is critical that Senate Leadership hear from you today.

Please contact Senate Leadership and respectfully urge them to take up House Bill 419 on Thursday, March 26. Ask them to attach the NRA-backed amendment and send it to the full Senate for consideration. The NRA-backed amendment would strip HB 419 of its original language and would require Universities to comply with current Kentucky Code allowing gun owners to keep their firearms in a locked vehicle on public and private property.

Also, please respectfully urge Senate Leadership to bring HB 358 with no additional amendments to the floor for consideration by the full Senate. HB358 has been amended to contain the original language from HB 419. This bill would now permit citizens to carry firearms for self-defense while engaged in hunting, fishing, trapping, and other activities, and would clarify that citizens may do what is necessary for self-defense in the case of a wild animal attack, without fear of unjustified prosecution.

At this time all legislators are back and forth between the capitol and their districts, so please take the time to use all the contact information listed below.

Senate Leadership
State Senator David Williams (R-16), Senate President
Office (502) 564-3120
District (270) 433-7777
David.Williams@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Katie Stine (R-24), President Pro Tempore
Office (502) 564-3120
District (859) 781-5311
Katie.Stine@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Dan Kelly (R-14), Majority Floor Leader
Office (502) 564-2450
District (859) 336-9048
Dan.Kelly@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Dan Seum (R-38), Majority Caucus Chair
Office (502) 564-2450
District (502) 749-2859
Dan.Seum@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Carroll Gibson (R-5), Majority Whip
Office (502) 564-2450
District (270) 230-5866
Carroll.Gibson@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Ed Worley (D-34), Minority Floor Leader
Office (502) 564-2470
District (859) 625-5536
Ed.Worley@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Johnny Turner (D-29), Minority Caucus Chair
Office (502) 564-6136
District (606) 377-6962
Johnny.Turner@lrc.ky.gov

State Senator Jerry Rhoads (D-6), Minority Whip
Office (502) 564-2470
District (270) 825-2949
Jerry.Rhoads@lrc.ky.gov

SAF press release about the attempt to gut the armed pilots program

OBAMA EFFORT TO END ARMED PILOTS PROGRAM AN OUTRAGE, SAYS CCRKBA

BELLEVUE, WA – A revelation by the Washington Times that President Barack Obama is trying to quietly end the armed pilot program, making air travel more vulnerable to terrorist attack, should outrage travelers, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.

“The Washington Times nailed it,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, who proposed arming pilots just hours after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and championed the armed pilot program. “What Obama is doing is risking public safety, as the newspaper put it, ‘in the name of an anti-gun ideology’.”

The newspaper reported in its Tuesday edition that President Obama is “quietly ending the federal firearms program” by diverting some $2 million from the training program to hire “supervisory” staff, whose job, it appears, will be to harass armed pilots through unnecessary field inspections.

“How dare the president, or anybody in his administration, take measures to erode the safety of air travelers,” Gottlieb questioned. “The armed pilot program provides a guaranteed level of security to the public. There may or may not be an air marshal aboard every airplane, but there is definitely a pilot in the cockpit.

“We trust commercial airline pilots with $500 million aircraft,” he continued. “We can certainly trust them with $500 pistols to defend those planes, and t! he lives of their passengers.

“Certain individuals have never liked the armed pilot program,” Gottlieb acknowledged. “These anti-gun, anti-self-defense bureaucrats seem more interested in their own power, and protecting their little empires, than they are in protecting the public. And now, Obama is catering to their anti-gun bigotry.”

Call the White House at (202) 456-1111, or send a comment by visiting www.whitehouse.gov/contact.

White House trying to kill Armed Pilots program

In yet another under-the-radar sneak attack, the Obama administration is pulling two million dollars from the Armed Flight Deck Officers program in order to move the money to people in the program who will kill it with regulations and restrictions.

This is simply crazy. The armed pilots program has been a positive force in the prevention of hijackings and violence on commercial aircraft, with an outstanding safety record. How does it make any sense to jeopardize the safety of the traveling public by this action?
You can read about it here in the Washington Times, and follow it up as it progresses on Michael Bane's blog here. Michael is the host of the Shooting Gallery show on the Outdoor Channel, and a long-time champion of our rights. He's also the host of Downrange TV on the internet. If you haven't ever seen Michael's work, time to take a look. Gun owners and concealed carry advocates have no better friend than Mr. Bane.
Pro-rights groups such as the Second Amendment Foundation have begun to take notice of this attempt to gut the safety of the skies and are sending out email alerts to gun owners and activists.
Once again, it's going to take the active efforts of those of us who care about freedoms and personal safety and our right to bear arms, making those phone calls and sending those emails, to undo this treachery. Better get used to it, it's going to be a long haul.
To send a message to your Congress-critters, you can go here to the government's web page and contact portal, or use the tools at the Gun Owners of America page.

Ban on re-use of brass lifted - and fast!

In the last few days, the internet was on fire with emails and blogging about a newly announced Dept. of Defense policy that would require the destruction of all once-fired brass from military ammunition.

In the past, brass from military ammo was sold as surplus to ammunition reloaders all over the USA.  They would use that to turn out economical ammo for LE training and the civilian market. Then suddenly there was an announcement in the last week that henceforth the brass must be destroyed, ground up and sold only as scrap.  Doing that would require that the buyers would have to melt the stuff down and have it made back into brass cartridge casings, which would have made the cost prohibitive!

Fortunately, gun owners started a firestorm of protests, emails and phone calls, to their Congressmen and every else they could get in touch with to protest this outrageous ruling.

Now, suddenly, the ruling is reversed and the sale of the intact brass will continue as it has for many years.

Had this not been corrected, companies such as Georgia Arms would have seen their incomes savaged, forcing them to lay off employees and conceivably going out of business.

Read more about the whole mess and the sudden turnaround here at The Firearm Blog.

For some thoughts on what this means about what's going on in Washington in the Obama administration, take a look here at Bloggo's.

Utah expands rights of gun owners

It's now legal to conceal a handgun in a car or at home, even if it's loaded, without having to have a concealed carry permit.
Read about it here.
You still can't carry a loaded rifle or shotgun in your car, but every bit of progress is a good thing.

Important new site for your use and information

If you'll look to the left of this page, we now have a listing of blogs and sites that you can visit and use.

The first one we put on here today is maintained by Clayton Cramer and David Burnett. It's the Civilian Gun Self-Defense Blog, found here.
You can even use the labels at the bottom of each posting to search for listings unique to various topics, including those solely related to Kentucky.
This is good stuff. It's important that we be able to point to incidents the bear out our contention that guns in the hands of the law-abiding citizenry save lives and preserve order.
Thanks and a hat tip to David Burnett, the Midwest regional director of the group Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, found here.

Chilling threats to free speech on campuses

Fox News and other sources have reported a story about a college professor who called campus police after one of her students made a presentation in class that supported the right of students to be armed on campus.

See the original story about this HERE .

Even college newspapers are expressing their outrage over this attack on his free speech rights, and on intellectual censorship - HERE.

This is exactly why KC3 is working to change the law here in Kentucky so that CCDW permit holders can carry legally on school grounds. We have to change the climate on campuses at all levels of education so that students and other adults aren't treated like criminals for refusing to be victims, and for espousing their point of view. Children have to learn that guns aren't bad, and that responsible gun ownership saves lives.

You can do a lot to help change this. Support KC3's petition drive by emailing us to get copies of our petition, then having other citizens sign it and mailing it back to us. We'll be presenting these to the Governor and the General Assembly to show your support for the bill that we intend to file in the 2010 session that makes the necessary changes in our laws.

You can also support the grass-roots student organization Students for Concealed Carry on Campus by going to their web site HERE and seeing what you can do to assist them in their efforts to make it legal to refuse to be a victim while at school.

Protecting our kids is just part of the equation. We have to make sure that gun-phobic teachers and administrators aren't poisoning their minds against gun ownership as well. It's going to take a lot of work and we need your help to make it happen.

HB419 has passed the House - time to call your senators!

HB419, which affirms the right of citizens to be armed for their own defense while hunting or in the field, has passed the House and has moved to the Senate for a vote.

You can find the text and history of the bill HERE.

This is important legislation which eliminates any doubt about our right to self-defense while we're in the woods, without leaving it to the judgement of individual game wardens or courts.  It also continues the current protections for wild game against poaching.

Contact your senator via the toll-free number at (800) 372-7181 or by email from the Kentucky Legislature web page HERE - and let them know that you expect them to vote in favor of this bill, and that you appreciate their support for our rights!