Gunfighter: A Modern Warrior's Life

Day of Blog Silence

Friends, I won't be posting at my blog tomorrow, April 30th.

I won't be reading any blogs tomorrow, either.

Tomorrow, I will be joining the One Day of Blog Silence campaign. A day of electronic silence that was originally to be observed for the victims of the recent spree at Virginia Tech.

My silence, tomorrow will be for all of the victims of senseless violence. Whether they were killed here in Virginia at Va. Tech, Baghdad, China, Israel, Palestine... or in Darfur.



Or any of the other, myriad places that people are regularly slaughtered, that the world, apparently, doesn't give a damn about.

Think about it.

Tell others about it.

Make your leaders aware.

And for God's sake, don't just sit there.

Some Wars...

Some wars need to be fought.

Some wars are a moral imperative.

Some wars need to be fought, even if a quick, victorious conclusion isn't likely.

Some wars.

Some, but not all.

Here are a few examples of wars that should be fought:

The war on poverty: The war on poverty, also known as The Great Society, is largely deemed a failure in this country. I disagree. Lyndon Johnson's policies led to greater access to education and health care for poor people in this country, and while the eradication of poverty is something we have not yet accomplished in this, making the attempt to do so is not only noble, but appropriate for a country such as this to do.

Fighting to end poverty is a moral imperative. It must be done.

The War on Drugs: Many people, mostly old (and young) stoners say that the so-called War on Drugs is only about feeding the prison system and persecuting the poor, etc... I disagree. Drugs are a poison in our cities, and in our suburbs, and in the smallest of our towns (yes, there are drug problems in our small towns... even if you don't see them). Fighting the trafficking of drugs is important. If anything, I think that our national efforts to combat drug trafficking should be re-doubled.

Confession: I am biased. Losing a sister to an overdose will do that for you.

The War on Terror: This, too, is a fight that must be fought. This nation must do all that i can to combat terrorism. All terrorism... but we our fight against terrorism is something that should be conducted with good sense... and not in stupid, ineffectual spasms.

One of the first things that should be addressed is the fact that terrorism, like poverty, and drug trafficking/use/abuse, will always be with us.

I'll say it again for the idiots that think it will ever go away: Terrorism will always be with us.

It may not ALWAYS be Islamic terrorists, it may not always be Irish terrorists (forgot about them, did you?); it may not always be American terrorists, but there will always be terrorists.

Having acknowledged that there will always be terrorism, we need to take a good look at how to combat it. One thing that we should note right off the bat is that you CANNOT dismantle a group of organized terrorists with military power. Nope. Can't do it. This is no slap at our Special Forces, or our conventional armed forces, but it is true. Trying to destroy terrorism with an army is like trying to kill a housefly with a 30 pound sledge hammer.

Please don't misunderstand, here. When we identify a terrorist... anywhere in the world, we should be about the business of killing him/her and any of their associates. I said killing. Not Arresting.

Combating terrorism must be done with surgical tools... tools best wielded by Intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Unfortunately, fighting terrorism has become a political bailiwick of gargantuan proportions, and as you know, politicians only care about the next election cycle. This means short-sighted goals that end up making for nice headlines and bumps in the polls when they go well, but they really don't mean much.

Fighting terrorism is important. It must be done. We must use our political tools as well as other assets to fight it. Here is a start: We need to quit with our knee-jerk support of countries or regimes that are oppressive. We need to get at terrorists, much like you need to get at a Dandelion problem in your yard... at it's roots. In order to truly fight terrorism, we have to go after the people that fund it's operations... and my friends, that means we have to quit humping the legs of the Saudis.

There. It's out.

If we really wanted to use military force for an anti-terrorist end, we should have jumped an airborne division into Riyadh. That's who is funding most Islamic terror, you know.

Fighting the wars that must be fought should be priorities for this nation. Sadly, they are not.

Fighting poverty is done with a shrug of the shoulders, some federal or state funding (usually to little, and not well-used), and a silent tsk-tsking about "those people". In modern America, people have the notion that most poor people are poor because they deserve to be poor and that they like it that way. For shame.

Fighting drug trafficking is rather half-assed... if we wanted to put the hurt on drugs, we should defoliate the Cocoa producing parts of Columbia and other countries that produce that shit.

Instead of doing these things... we get the war in Iraq, which has as much to do with terrorism as it has to do with ping-pong.

What a waste.

Oh, my aching back!

This is a photo of most of the stuff I carry on my belt and in my pockets while I am working.



It gets heavy... but not as heavy as a patrol officers belt.

I wish I had more to say tonight... but I am tired.

The MIL visit is almost over, and things have gone well.

GF

Historical Stupidity

A few weeks ago, the Gunfighter family took a vacation in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was spring break in our local schools, and we wanted some concentrated family time, away from commuting household duties, and everything else.

Williamsburg is one of our favorite places, because Mrs Gunfighter and I are real history geeks. Wait, that isn't quite accurate. Mrs Gunfighter loves history and is a professional historian... I'm a history geek (the difference being that she is trained and has a Doctorate in the discipline... I'm just an oddball with books). Anyway, one of the things we love about Williamsburg is the plethora of good bookstores. Indeed, one of the first things we usually do after getting into town, is to go straight to the Books-A-Million that is near the college of William & Mary (where we REALLY want soccer girl to go).

Well, when we got to Williamsburg this time around, we did the exact same thing. Went to the bookstore. While we settled in and browsed in the various sections, a man came up to me to hand me a flyer, which I accepted. I noticed right away that this fellow was dressed in a black quasi-military outfit that was part Chairman Mao...



and part Che Guevara



Anyway, he said "have a look at this" and walked away. When I looked at it, this is what I saw:



For those that didn't know, the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the settlement of Jamestown, which marked the beginning of the colonization of North America.

Now, I'm not ignorant of history. Far from it. Neither am I ignorant of the horrors of slavery and some of it's lingering effects. I'm not ignorant of slavery's brutal practices, and I don't think that raising the level of awareness of these things is bad.

Having said all of the above, I think that; A) Celebrating the establishment of the settlement that eventually led to the creation of the United States (and Canada) is a good thing; and B) Suggesting that the celebration makes a mockery of the brutality of slavery is wrong-headed.

I'm not one of those "slavery-happened-then-it-went-away-get-over-it" people, but I think a little perspective is in order. Most of the information that you can find regarding the history of Jamestown and about the establishment of a slavery culture in America has been very sensitive to the incredible importance of the contributions of slaves and free blacks to the creation and the early economic viability of the United States.

No one should think that racism isn't still a problem in this country. It is, and when it rears it's ugly head, it must be attacked.

The celebration of the founding of Jamestown isn't racist, and it shouldn't be attacked.

When I see that manifesto of the idiots in the The New Black Panther Party. I see a group of people that would have better spent their time actually learning their own history before displaying their ignorance.

There are many problems in this country, folks. The Jamestown celebration isn't one of them.

I hate historical stupidity.

Why Captain Kirk?

Some of you have asked me about this, and since I have spoken about it, breiefly, several times in this blog. I'll just give you the whole story right now.

Whe I was a kid, I watched all of the old Star Trek episodes whenever I could. Not only because of my interest in Science Fiction, but also because Captian Kirk, of the starship Enterprise, was one of my role models.

Go on and laugh, but please take a moment to read my reasons. Captain Kirk was one of my most important role models because of the following:

Because he was a leader.

Because he was confident.

Because he was a man of courage.

Because he commanded loyalty and respect from his people, and gave them the same.

Becaus he was bold enough to break the rules when he needed to.

Because you could always count on him.

Because he didn't abandon his people.

Because he was funny.

Because he was a bad mutha****** ("shut your mouth!" "but we're talkin' 'bout Kirk!"... please tell me you get the reference)

Because he wouldn't let himself be pushed around (not even by the Klingons).

Because Jim Kirk always got the hot chicks.

...and finally, because even the Tribbles liked the guy... and Tribbles were a great judge of character.

Look, my parents divorced when I was five. My dad was still in the military and was rarely around. I learned a lot of what a man was suppose to be from negative example. Every saturday afternoon (at 5 p.m.) Kirk was always there. He never let me down.

I like to think I possess a lot of the qualities that were embodied in the James T. Kirk character.

I could do one hell of a lot worse.

GF

Ten Weird Things

Recently, well, several weeks ago, Suzanne, from "Cuss and Other Rants" tagged me for the "ten weird things about me" meme...

I have been delinquent in completing it because not only have I been fairly busy, I also had a problem coming up with ten things about me that I think are weird.

Now this doesn't suggest that their isn't anything weird about me... just that I don't see them, I suppose. So, I decided to ask some fellow bloggers what they thought. The following are some of the results.

1. I'm a professional gunfighter (some of you actually thought that this, in itself, was weird)... and I make rosaries... for fun. (That came up six times!)

2. I sometimes iron my money.

3. I enjoy the company of Lesbians. I didn't think that's weird. I don't really like ALL lesbians... I just don't have anything against them as a class of people.

4. I'm a black man that regularly wears a kilt.

5. I think that no yard work is finished until everything has been completely watered. Including my that front walkways and sidewalk

6. That I do the cooking in our house.

7. That I would ask people that don't know me very well, about weird things about me.

8. That I can recite the "Green Lantern" oath from memory

9. "Shoot 'Em Up Friday" (it's not weird, it's cool... and educational!)

10. I iron my jeans.

11. That Captain James T. Kirk was, and remains an important role-model for me.

OK, that's eleven... but I had to work in Jim Kirk.

Have a nice day!

GF

"From Dust We Came..."

"...To Dust We Shall Return."

I had planned to post the "10 Weird Things About Me" meme today, but sadly, I have to report that a quiet, lurking, reader of my blog, passed away this past Sunday.

Paul was Mrs Gunfighter's supervisor.

They had worked together, to great effect, for several years. Together, with their unit, they produced several well-received educational videos on subjects such as "Terrorism: War Without Borders", the "History of Diplomacy", and "Today in Washington: The Media and Diplomacy", among others.

Paul was a quiet, private, man. He was a diligent Historian, and an effective manager. He devoted his entire professional life to the service of his country. He leaves behind his adult children, as well as many colleagues and people who respected him.

Mrs. Gunfighter turned him on to my blog several weeks ago, and by her reports, he enjoyed it.

Godspeed, Paul. We'll see you on the other side.

Shalom,

GF

Inappropriate or Incompetent?

By now, most of you will have heard about the recent terminations of many (8) U.S. Attorney's by the Attorney General of The United States, Alberto Gonzales. No doubt you have heard about all of the controversy that has been generated.

As a result of the irregularities surrounding the dismissals, the Senate Judiciary Committee wanted the persons involved, including Karl Rove...



Harriet Miers...



and Attorney General Gonzales...



to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The White House fought tooth and nail, citing executive privilege, to keep White House staff members from having to testify under oath. Hmm. Am I the only person that has a problem with this?

Let's look at it this way: How well do you think it would go over when I make an arrest and then tell the judge, "Your honor, I'm happy to testify in this case, but I won't do it under oath, and I won't do it with a court reporter present, and only if you agree not to tell the public"? How do you think it would go from there? Not well, I can assure you... but this is what the White House wants. The President doesn't want his staff compelled to tell the truth.

Something is wrong with that, my friends.

We shouldn't be surprised, though. The President is a bloody liar, himself, and has surropunded himself with like-minded people.

Eventually the testimony conditions (after some compromising) were agreed to by all parties, and AG Gonzales was compelled to testify, under oath, with a court reporter, and on television. Before his testimony, however, Mr. Gonzales had several weeks of rehearsal and preparation time for his hearing, even cancelling his scheduled vacation around Easter, in order to have more time to prepare.

**News Flash** YOU DON'T NEED TWO WEEKS OF PREPARATION TO TELL THE BLOODY TRUTH!

On the day of his testimony AG Gonzales used the term "I don't recall" or words to that effect at least 45 times.

45 times.

This man is the Attorney General of the United States, as such he is the chief law enforcement officer in the United States. He is supposed to be the guy in charge of enforcing our laws. This is a man who was once the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court... he should know a bit about the law, and about testimony. Saying "I don't recall" so many times while on the witness stand must make anyone hearing this, question the man's integrity or fitness to testify.

According to documents that surfaced through this investigation, AG Gonzales has attended meetings (which he earlier claimed he didn't attend), and detailed briefings (which he claims not to remember) on terminating the employment of 8 U.S. Attorneys. He doesn't remember any of it? He doesn't remember signing documents? His staff is making these decisions for him and he isn't even consulted? Is the Attorney General suffering from Alzheimer's?

I'm sorry, Mr. Gonzales, or "Gonzo" as President Bush calls him, but this isn't good enough.

Either you fired those people for political reasons in some sort of partisan shaking of the law enforcement tree, in which case you should resign, or the Department of Justice is completely out of control because of your incompetence, in which case you should be fired. In either case, you should leave office.

Regular rank and file cops can lose their jobs even at the hint of impropriety. This is because you can't hold a position of public trust if you are a liar, a thief, or someone who when under oath, is prone to dissemble.

You, sir, are a sleazeball. I wouldn't trust you, or any of your lickspittle coterie of thugs, liars, wingnuts, and Regent University graduates, to guard the most rancid whorehouse in Olongapo.

You disgust me.... but this is what we get from people that think torture is alright, as long as you don't call it torture, and the Geneva convention on the treatment of Prisoners of War is irrelevant as long as you call them "detainees".

An Evening With The Stars

On Friday night, the Gunfighter family had a night out on the town, and went to see the musical phenomenon that is sweeping the nation. We went to one of our local high schools and saw their production of Disney's "High School Musical"!



What's that?

You say you've never heard of it?

If that's so, you probably don't have young children between the ages of 6 and 16.

Anyway, "High School Musical" is an original Disney Channel production... a made for television movie about a budding romance between a basketball star student, and a star science/math student.

When I used the word phenomenon earlier, I wasn't exaggerating. This little movie has achieved big things, including being released all over the world, selling more DVD's than almost any other movie in the world in 2006, and has prompted one sequel which is currently filming, with another in the works. The movie has already prompted the sale of millions of copies of the soundtrack CD.

Anyway, I bought the tickets as soon as I heard about the production, because soccer girl loves this movie, and because Mrs. Gunfighter and I know all of the words to all of the songs (particularly "Status Quo" and "Getcha Head In The Game". After I got the tickets, I swore Mrs Gunfighter to secrecy, and we waited until Friday morning to tell her that we were going.

When SG found out about it, she was practically vibrating with excitement!

I have to tell you, the kids at the school were fantastic! They did a great job with the songs, dancing, and acting. I was particularly pleased for two of the boys, Brandon and TJ, who are members of our congregation and really, really nice kids.

The icing on the cake was when soccer girl got to get autographs from the cast, who we all lined up in the hallway. She was really excited since she knew the two kids from our church.

We all had a good time, and drove home singing songs from the show... and then listening to the soundtrack as soccer girl was put to bed... still excited, but all worn out.

What fun!

Shoot 'Em Up Friday

Hi.

It's Friday... and you know what that means in Gunfighterland: It's time to do some shootin'!

Cue the music!!! (click the play button!)




Our demonstration pieces today will be:

A fairly standard concrete block...



...an old satellite receiver and a Public Address system amplifier.



I used a 12 gauge shotgun...



...and a submachine gun.



Once again, the purpose of the demonstration is to show what will and won't protect an officer from gunfire.

The concrete block will stand up to a couple of well-placed shots, with the bullets of the subgun only penetrating through one side of the block, but as you can see here...



...when the weapon is fired on full automatic, the block is completely destroyed after only three 3-round bursts.

The block easily deflected the buckshot, but the slug rounds easily penetrated both side of the block.

So. There you have it. Concrete will protect you from small arms fire, but only momentarily. If you are taking cover behind a concrete block wall, you'd best be planning your next move (or better yet, you'd better hurry up and kill your opponent), becuse your protection may not last as long as you think.

The satellite receiver and the PA amplifier are next, and as you can see below, they fared no better...





...especially against slug rounds. Please note the through-and-through nature of this particular hole:



Once again, please believe me when I tell you that I didn't have ANY fun while doing this.

Today's shoot 'em up Friday presentation was brought to you by the letter...