The GunShy Blog

Fun Friday 04-10-2009

2009-04-10T17:56:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you will hear people say that "any gun is better than no gun." Not this one. GunShy would like to do their first public service announcement, "Don't ever buy this gun."

New Toll Free Number

2009-04-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

We just secured a toll free number that will help us provide a greater level of service to our clients. The number is 888-702-G-U-N-S and should be fully operational by this Friday. If only Don LaFontaine were still alive to leave my voicemail. "In a world full of guns and confusion....

If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out his website. I have enjoyed many a preview movie trailer thanks to Don.

There Are Some Things Scarier Than Guns

2009-04-06T18:18:00.001-07:00

"As to the species of exercise, I advise the gun. While this gives [only] moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion to your walks."

-- Thomas Jefferson, writing to his teen aged nephew.

This has always been good enough for me, but recently my wife told me that "we" are going to start a new exercise and diet regimen. Since she has the metabolism of a hummingbird and looks just like she did when I met her 10 years ago, I read between the lines and realized that I will be working my butt off over the next 90 days. We just received the P90X program in the mail and I am sitting in my office wondering if I dare go home and watch any of these videos.

I guess one of the side benefits of this might be I won't have to get my gut out of the way when drawing my gun from it's holster. Since I have bought my pants a size bigger so as to accommodate for carrying a gun (keep that in mind when you start to conceal), I don't want to drop the weight too fast or I will be needing a new wardrobe. Wish me luck.....

Fun Friday 04-03-2009

2009-04-03T10:25:00.001-07:00

With three little girls in the house I have had to get used to pink rooms, pink dresses, pink shoes, and I even proudly own a pink tie that was picked by my oldest daughter as her favorite. I also am familiar with Hannah Montana, every Disney princess, and Hello Kitty. That is why I was intrigued by this:

Won't be in my collection any time soon, but I can see how pink may be catching on.

Deep Thoughts

2009-04-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

I started this post at 10:00 and two hours later it has been deleted about 5 times. It was on the subject of what the world would be like without guns and what kind of attitudes and attributes people would have to possess for that happen. It got very deep very fast and I realized it was way too heavy for this blog. One of the things that I found interesting is that guns are not a black and white thing even in my life. I support and am glad that we have them to protect freedoms, liberties, and life. At the same time, I am saddened when they are used to infringe upon those same things. Would the world be a better place without guns? Maybe in a perfect world. Until that day comes, I think I will hang on to mine.

Family Classes Explained

2009-04-01T20:42:00.000-07:00

I thought that I would take a minute and give an overview of what is discussed in our family classes. With so many guns in American homes and with the rising trend of kids bringing guns and weapons to schools, GunShy feels that it is important to educate our children in the likelihood that they encounter a gun. These are some of the things that we discuss and as mentioned in a previous post, each class is customized to meet the specific needs of each family:

Specific actions that kids should take if they encounter a gun in another persons home
Specific actions that they should take if they are shown a gun at school or if they hear that someone has a gun at school
A detailed presentation on the difference between what we see in movies and video games and the catastrophic effects that a misused gun can have (nothing graphic or scary, just the facts on what guns can do)
A family discussion that encourages open communication between parents and children and tries to take the secrecy and taboos out of the equation
If guns are owned in the home, we will discuss how that effects the family and offer suggestions that you may want to implement
Question and answer session

These are only some of the things that will be discussed but hopefully it gives you an idea of what we are trying to do with our family classes. Sometimes it takes a third party to come in and "direct" a discussion in order for your family to accept and benefit from the information. I know this has been the case in my own family.

The unfortunate truth is that our kids are constantly curious and constantly learning things about guns, whether it be good information or bad. Think about how much violence they see on a daily basis from TV shows, video games, and even cartoons. If we don't actively intervene with accurate and useful information, do we know how they will handle a chance meeting with a gun? Let's take the "what if" out of the picture. If I can be of any help in your family, please send me an email at info@gunshy.org

Tolerance and Fear

2009-03-31T22:54:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I am learning as I meet with people who want to learn about guns is this; we all have fears and biases that are ingrained into us because of our own experiences and education. Fear is an interesting thing. It is an emotion that does not need to be built on right or wrong, it is something we feel. The person who is afraid of guns has just as much right to feel that way as someone who is afraid of public speaking, or snakes, or anything, for that matter. Experts have said that as infants we are only born with two inherent fears, the fear of falling and the fear of loud noise. Everything else is a learned response based on our experience. I have been to firearm training courses where women have literally broke down crying because the experience is so overwhelming to them. One of the goals that I have with GunShy is to give individuals a safe, understanding environment where they can learn at their own pace. It took my wife 9 years of marriage before she would even consider handling any of my guns. She still is not a "fanatic" by any means, but I think she would tell you that it is possible to overcome stereotypes and learned fears simply by the right exposure and education.

If you have ever wanted to learn about guns but have been held back because of your own fears, or preconceived notions, I challenge you to give us a try. One thing that I can promise, is that there are options available to you to learn at your own pace and under the criteria that you are comfortable with. At GunShy, we want to make a difference and reach those of you who want a different kind of educational and training experience. We value your opinion and would love to hear of any input or experiences that you have had. Comments are always welcome and we will reply to any email sent to info@gunshy.org

Limited Time Free Classes

2009-03-30T23:03:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I was hoping to do when launching this project is to reach out to those people who are on the fence when it comes to gun ownership. I have had a lot of conversations with people lately, who say things like "We've been talking about getting a gun", or "I have a gun, but it just sits in the closet. I don't even think I have any bullets for it." I realize that not everyone is as passionate about guns as I am, but the fact that I cannot find any ammunition on the shelves, tells me that people are concerned right now. I feel like GunShy can offer those new to the gun world, a great way to navigate through what can be a complicated and intimidating process.

I have never been the kind of person to just sit around and wait for things. There are a lot of things that we are working on in order to provide a service to the gun beginner. While we are waiting for our website to be built and as we are compiling our e-books, I have started to offer free classes for those in the Las Vegas and Henderson area. We have had great feedback on these classes and their experiences will be shared on the website in upcoming weeks. Right now I am looking for families who would be interested in a customized class tailored specifically for your family. Because every family is different, GunShy feels that every class should be different so as to meet your specific needs. Of course there is common content regarding safety and general gun info, but a part of this process will be a pre-consultation that will help us determine exactly what you need. If you or someone you know would be interested in one of these classes, please send me an email with your contact information to info@gunshy.org

My heart goes out to those who are suffering job loss and home foreclosure in this state of ours. I know that people are reaching out for anything that makes them feel more secure, more at peace. I don't believe that anyone can tell you whether gun ownership is right for you. That decision has to be made on your own, and it should be made with careful consideration and deliberation. I sincerely hope that GunShy can provide a service that will help you in that process.

Desert Therapy

2009-03-28T22:56:00.000-07:00

One of the definitions for therapy in the dictionary is "any act, hobby, task, program, etc., that relieves tension." I have talked in previous posts about why I carry guns for self defense, but sometimes it is just nice to get out and leisurely shoot. I call this my "desert therapy" and I was able to get out today (thank you honey!) and sharpen some of my skills. Shooting for me is like golf probably is for some individuals, something that you can never fully master in your lifetime, but something that you can fully enjoy every time.

I was able to try out my new target stands that I made for about $45.00. If anyone wants to get the specifics on how to make them just shoot me an email at info@gunshy.org and I will get you the details on how to make them.

They worked out really well and it is nice to be able to tear them down and store them in a duffel bag.

Lately, I have been practicing my speed in drawing from a concealed holster. This is the result from my full size Rock Island Armory 45, shot at 3, 5, and 7 yards:

And from one of my favorite guns, the Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm. Shot also at 3, 5, and 7 yards:

So as not to play favorites to my handguns, I brought along my Rock River Arms AR-15 and shot it at about 30 yards. A little tweaking on the red dot sight and she should be about perfect.

Fun Friday 03-27-2009

2009-03-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

Life is too short to be serious all of the time so we will be starting a new segment on Fridays called "Fun Friday." Hopefully it can give us something to smile about as we go through these difficult times together. Todays entry, my wife's next Valentine's Day gift (I wish I would have found this sooner):

Yes, you are seeing this correctly, a blow drier that looks like a gun. Just remember to follow the safety rules when using! :)

10 Things To Consider When Buying A Gun

2009-03-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

When buying a gun, there are many things that should be considered. The following are 10 examples of topics which will be explored in depth in our upcoming e-book, "The 25 things you should consider when buying a gun":

What will I use the gun for? (hunting, sport, self defense, etc.)
What is my budget?
What caliber best suits my needs?
Comparing the costs of ammunition and if it is in your budget to practice with that caliber
Comfort and fit. Can you reach all of the mechanisms required to operate that gun without it being awkward?
What kind of sights will suit you the best?
The "cool" factor (Don't underestimate this one)
Ease of cleaning and take down
Will other members of my family be using the gun and is that a consideration that I need to take into account?
If buying for self defense, will I want to conceal this gun?

When buying a gun, most people will go to the Internet and start reading the forums on what people are saying about a particular gun that they are interested in. Although sometimes helpful, it can also be confusing, since it is based on peoples opinions. The only opinion that should matter is your own and there are some fundamental things that should be considered before purchasing.

"The Armed Citizen"

2009-03-23T18:44:00.000-07:00

Now we know that the media sometimes put their own spin on the events that are happening in this world. It becomes our responsibility to educate ourselves on what is really going on around us. When it comes to guns being used for self defense, we often hear of all the things that have gone wrong in those situations. That is why I like the article "The Armed Citizen" that is put out by the NRA in their National Rifleman magazine. It gives us glimpses into all the times that someone has been able to prevent something bad from happening "because" they had a firearm. Studies indicate that firearms are used over 2 million times a year for personal protection, and that the presence of a firearm, without a shot being fired, prevents crime in many instances. This is an example of what I'm talking about as published in the April 2009 issue of American Rifleman:

While fetching wood from her garage one evening, a 70-year-old woman heard what sounded like people fighting. "I looked over into the road to see what was going on, and about that time a guy comes running around the house," she explained. The woman ran inside, got her gun and dialed 9-1-1. The man circled the house, pounding on all the windows. He broke through the living room window and knocked over the television. The woman can be heard on the 9-1-1 tape yelling at the man, "You stay right where you're at!" Police say she aimed her gun at the intruder and told him, "If you come any closer, you're going to be dead." She then ordered him to the floor and he obeyed, collapsing into a fetal position. He remained that way until police arrested him. (South Bend Tribune, South Bend, IN, 01/06/09)

If anyone wants to read other experiences similar to this you can find the online version here. At the bottom of the page, you can even search your own state and find out what is going on locally. I think that for most of you, it will be an eye opening experience.

For me, a big part of why I own guns, and even more importantly the reason why I train with those guns, is because of something that you will see in nature all of the time. Survival of the fittest, hunter verses hunted. It is common for criminals to seek out those who they think are weaker than them and an easier target. The elderly and women are often targets because of this.Unfortunately, when a bad guy has a gun it makes him more powerful than he should normally be. The above story shows how a gun can be a great "equalizer" in the hands of a not so timid 70-year old female. Regardless of our motives for owning or not owning guns, what would you want to be nearby if someone broke through your door one night with the intent of making you their next victim?

Gun Safety Rules

2009-03-21T22:50:00.000-07:00

When it comes to gun safety rules there is a lot of material available to you. I personally lean towards the rules found here. They state simply:

ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY
KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

The NRA has some specific gun safety rules that can be found here. You will notice that they are very similar and a great discussion about why these rules vary slightly can be found here. The most important thing is that we take these rules and understand the wisdom behind them. I had a wise mentor tell me once that "practice does not make perfect", "PERFECT practice makes perfect." As we handle guns we should always be practicing "muzzle awareness" and keeping our trigger finger on the side of the gun until we have determined a target that we are willing to destroy. In my own experience, practicing these safety rules in conjunction with each other has always allowed me to come home safe and with all my fingers and toes.

In regards to teaching gun safety to children I like the Eddie Eagle program that has been put together by the NRA. It is something that is easy for children to understand and is well supported by the NRA. The four fundamentals of the Eddie Eagle program are:

STOP
DON'T TOUCH
LEAVE THE AREA
TELL AN ADULT

As with anything these rules create a foundation that we can use to help keep our families safe around guns. If anyone would like more information about these rules or have specific questions, please shoot me an email at info@gunshy.org

Guns And Kids In The Same House

2009-03-20T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is both a tricky and a sensitive subject to discuss. GunShy's purpose is to provide good information and resources so that people can make educated decisions on what will work best for them. Now in saying that, many people choose to have guns in their homes and many times there are children in that same home. It IS our ABSOLUTE responsibility to keep children safe. I have never liked the phrase "gun accident" because it implies no deliberation, unexpectedness, and no plan or cause. It is usually negligence and irresponsibility of an adult that causes an unintentional discharge of a gun by a child.

There are some specific things that need to be addressed when having firearms in our homes. You will hear a lot of passionate debate that covers that wide spectrum we discussed in an earlier post. Some will say that guns should not be in the same house that have children in it, or that the gun should be unloaded and locked up, while the ammo should be stored separately (preferably Australia, they might say). Others will say that a loaded gun can be kept safely in a home if the children have been educated and made familiar with them. Since Krista wanted to know how I keep my children safe, I thought that would be the way I approach this, and then people reading this can take a good, long look at what will Guarantee their own children's safety.

I will run through the things that I do because I love my kids and want to keep them safe. The first is to:

NEVER leave a gun (loaded or otherwise) out in the open. I have a combination gun safe that I keep all my guns in and I am 100% confident that my kids can not get to where my guns are. Now in saying this, some people want to have a gun close by at all times for protection. I always carry a gun on me where I know I have control of it but I am not always home to protect my family. During the day (when my wife is home with the kids) and at night (no I do not sleep with a gun on me) we keep a loaded gun in a mini vault which looks like this:

In regards to ammunition, I keep that locked up as well. Although I have never heard of a bullet jumping up by itself and hurting someone, it is a good practice. Having an active one year old, it is more of a matter of a choking hazard than a safety issue for me. I also do not want any of my kids bringing bullets to school (if you don't think it happens, I can tell you of about 10 instances that I had personally as a 3rd and 4th grader) People will debate the issue of storing ammo in a different location from the guns. That debate should be had with yourself and spouse and what is going to work in your family.
One of the most important things that we can do is educate our children from the time that they can understand. I think we sometimes underestimate the ability that they have to grasp life and death principles. Most of us know what "stranger danger" means. We have probably talked about this with them. I am saddened that we live in a world where I have to worry about that but I am not naive to it. The evil that I know is in this world is one of the reasons that I own guns. There is a real danger out there with child predators. Now.... I have voluntarily brought something that has the potential to be dangerous into my home. While some people may think they need to hide that from their children, I believe just the opposite. In my next post I will be addressing the safety rules that every parent and child must know to ensure their safety.
Finally, common sense and constant evaluation. As parents we know our kids. I have three girls and they have not shown any interest or curiosity in my guns. For that reason I have not pushed anything but the safety rules upon them. Although they know the safety rules and respect them, they have never handled or shot any of my guns. Once they show an interest or begin asking questions I will be ready to educate them further so that it takes the "mystery" and "curiosity" out of the equation.

Remember, if you have a family, than owning guns is a "family" thing. There are many things to consider and I cannot possibly tell you all of the "rituals" that I have to keep my kids safe like my "daily" scan of the area where my gun safe is. It is in my closet and first thing in the morning and last thing at night I have the opportunity to visually inspect that area. I have a ritual for packing and unpacking every time I go to the range or leave the house with my guns. My wife calls me Rainman because of all my little routines. ........If it keeps my kids safe she can call me anything she wants.

How Do You Define Dangerous?

2009-03-17T12:51:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about the word danger a lot lately. There are a lot of things that are "dangerous" in our lives and we find all kinds of ways to protect ourselves from them. We lock dangerous things away like (chemicals, knives, medication). We try to avoid other dangerous things like (tobacco, drugs and alcohol). And then there are some things in our lives that we probably don't give much thought to. Let me give you some examples:

How many parents let their children go swimming? Most of us do. We don't see it as a danger usually because we are either with them or we have put them through years of swimming lessons and we are confident that they can swim on their own. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are 300 children under the age of 5 who die from drowning in a swimming pool every year. In addition, There are 5,000 children age 14 and under who are treated in emergency rooms for pool-submersion injuries every year. Of those about 15% die and 20% suffer permanent disability. These statistics tell us that pools can be dangerous but I want you to think about how you handle that danger with your own children.

Let's look at another example. How many of you own ovens or stoves in your home? In most cases they are right out in the open, are accessible at any time, and have no locks on the controls that release the gas and ignite the flame. How many hours have you wasted worrying if your child is going to get burned by this "dangerous thing". Probably not a lot because you have taught them from the time they could understand that they should not play with the oven. I know it is possible to have something dangerous in my home and not have it hurt me because we cook on our open flame stove almost every day and have not had an injury yet.

So you probably know where I am going with this by now but I have one more example. About 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States. That is about 42,000 people a year and one death every 13 minutes. No doubt about it, cars can be dangerous. Do you remember the first time you drove one? I was scared to death and it took some time, practice, and perseverance to overcome that fear. Now I get in one every day, put my wife and kids in another one, and we rarely give it any thought on how dangerous they "might be."

One last thing to ponder and that is the national statistics on gun ownership:

An estimated 40 percent to 50 percent of all homes in the United States have firearms, accounting for an estimated 200 million privately owned firearms. Thirty-five percent of homes with children have guns. In these homes, 43 percent of the guns are unlocked, 14 percent are loaded, and 9 percent are both loaded and unlocked.

So the question becomes, "Do I really need to know about guns?" I will leave that up to you. However, I have made the decision to educate everyone around me who will lend an ear. For me, that is how we overcome danger, by education and practicing responsibility. Future posts will address how we can have safe interaction with guns and, most importantly, protect our kids.

What Is GunShy?

2009-03-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

GunShy is being built on a simple premise, to reach the millions of people in this world who fall between the spectrum of this guy...

and this guy...

Lets face it. There are a lot of opinions about guns in this world and a lot of people who will share theirs at a drop of a hat. An opinion by definition is "a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty." Navigating the gun world can produce fear, be intimidating and be discouraging. It is important to be able to find factual information so that you can make decisions that are best for you and your family. Let me give you an example:

I try to attend the gunshows whenever they come to Las Vegas. I have noticed lately that more and more people are coming out to these events. I was standing next to a gentlemen at a booth who asked a pretty simple question to the vendor"If you could only buy one gun, which one would it be?" Now that question is usually asked by someone who is buying their first gun or perhaps on a budget and trying to find the best gun for their money. Here was the response....

"I buy whatever the liberals don't want me to have. And that gun right there is the one that gives them the biggest fit." He then pointed to a 50 caliber gun which looks something like this:

As good as this would have looked mounted on top of his family sedan, it probably was not the best direction to head him in. Now don't get me wrong, I love gunshows, gun stores, and even big guns like the one above, but I do feel that there are people who want and need help when it comes to choosing and owning guns. They need other options.

Gunshy hopes to cater to those that want a "kids glove" approach to guns. We are in the process right now of organizing our class material as well as our e-books which will be available online. The next step for us is the focus groups that we will be holding so that we can know exactly how to serve our clientele. If anyone has specific questions or would like to email me suggestions, comments please do so at info@gunshy.org

My Experience With The Las Vegas Gunshow Today

2009-03-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

Here are my observations for all they are worth:

Way too many people. I must have said excuse me about 100 times as I muscled my way down the narrow aisles
Supply and demand along with a lot of Obama rhetoric have made purchasing anything gun related extremely painful. An Ar-15 30 round magazine that I bought for $15.00 a few months ago was being sold for $26.00 today.
The term "gun show" should be used very loosely since all I ever seem to come home with is jerky and Cosmos Caramel Corn (worth the trip, by the way)
I am even more convinced that there is a need for a company like GunShy after spending a couple of hours at the Jerky Show, I mean Gun Show

Check Out The New Logo

2009-03-14T16:02:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it is because GunShy is a new company or because I am so passionate about the subject matter, but it seems that with every little progress, I get more and more excited. A good friend of mine , Ty Harmon just finished a preliminary logo design for our company and I am amazed at how near perfect it is on the first try. Ty is one of the most talented people I know and you can check out his other logos and projects at tyedart.com. Please take a minute and weigh in on whether we should keep the G slanted or straighten it out.

Welcome to the Gunshy Blog

2009-02-28T21:09:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our blog. Your one stop for gun information, catering to the novice and beginner. Make sure to follow us and comment so that we can get you the information that you want and need.