Exercising my second amendment rightsExercising my second amendment rights Last Friday my oldest son had to give an estimate on a house repair on Jacksonville’s north side. While he was there a JSO officer stopped by the house to ask why he was there. My son told him he had to give an estimate on replacing the front door. The deputy told him that the boarded up house he was at, was one of the worst in the area for violence, drug trafficking, and that they have had many calls to this address for problems of shots fired. Before the deputy took off he warned my son to watch his back.
That night when he told me about what had happened, I told him that he would not be going back to that place. He looked at me and said, Dad we need the money, and I knew he was right. My reply was, “Dana when you go back to the job site, Eddie and I are going with you, and we got your back, and we are going armed...” He agreed, with a sigh of relief.
That Saturday morning we left the house with two hand guns, a 357 revolver, and a nine shot twenty two revolver. While on our way there we decided it would be best to call JSO and ask them to meet us at that address, so we could advise them of the situation. As we pulled up too the house, a deputy was on our tail. We parked, and all got out to talk, we told the deputy what we were there for, and that we had been warned about the problems at this address. We told the deputy that we didn’t want any problems, but we are armed, and we would protect our selves from deadly force, with deadly force. In my mind I’m thinking Ok here we go with the lectures and hassles from the deputies. To my surprise I was way wrong in my assuming that is what would happen. When we told him that we were armed, his only question was, who’s the one that is armed. I told him my son Eddie and I were. That is all he wanted to know, to my surprise.
My sons started to work, and I stood watch. The deputies hung around for awhile before they left. When they were gone is when the thugs started coming out of the wood work, as the roaches that were in the house we were working on. You felt as though there were a thousand eyes upon you, and there were. We were being, stalked, sized up or what ever you want to call it. Cars loaded with men would drive by many times real slow staring us down. The house was on a corner lot, this meant I had three corners to watch, plus my back made four. These punk kids, teenagers, and young adults would walk by the front of the house with their baggy pants, and their hands in their pockets, just starring you down. That was very nerve racking to say the least, you didn’t know if they had their hand on a gun in their pocket, or not.
At first we kept our weapons concealed, after giving it some thought I figured I would rather have it be known I was armed. By doing this I gave them the message that we would not be an easy mark, or another statistical victim of Jacksonville. When my son and I strapped the revolvers on our hip it did make a difference, it gave us a much wider parameter, and they all stayed across the street and not walking by right out front on the sidewalk.
It wasn’t long and I figured out what the deal was. By us being there we were interfering with their drug dealing. That day I counted over twenty drug deals going on right in the street. This blond girl that was setting across the street with others came up to me and asks why I was strapped, at first I didn’t quite know what to say. I thought for a second, and replied that, “We don’t want any problems, and we know the reputation of the neighborhood, we came hear to d a job. We hope for the best, but we are prepared for the worst.” She ran back across the street and you could tell she was telling them all what I had said.
Shortly after that a girl came up to me and asks if I would like to buy this knife, at the time I was leaning against the passenger seat of the van with the door open. When she walked up to me she had a knife, which was in a sheath, and asks if I would like to buy it. I told her no, she was standing about two feet away from me as she started taking it out of the sheath, this is when I realized I was in a corner with no way to retreat. I really started feeling uneasy with her standing so close with the sharp end of a blade being only a foot away from me. I looked up and caught my son’s eye; he saw mine and came down to back me up. You wouldn’t believe all the things that flash through your mind in those few seconds that this is all going on. All I can say is thank God that this situation ended peacefully, she was sincere about selling her knife, and not a threat.
The next situation really brought the seriousness of the situation we were in to light. I would say about seventy yards away I noticed a dude come out of his house you could tell he was on a mission, he was stepping them of rather quickly, headed my way. As he got closer I could see something in his left hand, I couldn’t make out what it was yet, but I had my eye on him. As he approached at about 150 feet headed towards me I could see his left hand was wrapped up with a shirt, or something. I was standing on the corner inside of the fence, I didn’t like what I was seeing, or not seeing. I couldn’t tell if this dude was toting a gun, or what. The man is still closing in, at seventy five feet still walking my way and looking at me. I’m thinking what the hell does this guy have under this shirt in his hand? This puts us in a very bad situation, I know I can’t shoot if I don’t see a gun, but I also know that he would have to fire at me first since If couldn’t see one. I retreated back towards the house for more cover, and to grab my boy’s attention.
They had already been observing what was happing; we stood at the house with our full attention on this dude, now less the fifty feet from us with a dead pan stare right on us. He brought his hand to his chest, as if it were in a sling. Stopped and looked around at the others standing there walked over to them and started talking. It was then I could finally take a breath, when I realized what was under his shirt, drugs; yup it was another drug deal going down. What a stressful and dangerous situation we were in that day. I was so glad to get out of there that day. I told my boy’s that they needed to charge the investor they work for hazardous duty pay for a job like that.
I would like to thank the Jacksonville Sheriff’s office for the understanding and vigilance they showed us that day. They did patrol that street during the day, and one thing I noticed the dealers had radar; it’s like they new a cop was in the neighborhood. So Jacksonville Sheriff’s office, thank you for letting us exercise our second amendment right to bare arms, and protect ourselves.
Submitted by MeMaw on Wed, 06/25/2008 - 7:23pm.
Thank you for sharing this. I hope your sons don't have to work in that area again, and I'm glad the outcome was better than it could have been. MeMaw Submitted by winn1955 on Wed, 06/25/2008 - 9:36pm.
Memaw Its not just one area of Jacksonville it appears it is happing all over. Today he was in a different part of Jax working. Right out in front of the house he was working at shots rang out. Everyone hit the floor until the firing stopped. I wish he didn’t have to work in Jax, but right now that is where the work is. I worry about him and my other son everyday that they work there. This happened in broad daylight. Jax is totally out of control. It is a sad day in Duval when a person takes their life in their hands just by trying to make a living to feed their family. After today he has made up his mind to carry a weapon everyday when in Jacksonville. It was just last week when an A/C service man was pistol whipped, and robbed. Maybe it is time for the honest citizens to start shooting back, when threatened?
Submitted by TruthHurts on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 7:05pm.
It is getting crazier and crazier in Duval and Clay. I am not sure because I have not done any research on the topic but my gut feeling is it seems to be happening all over the country. Smith and Wesson, don't leave home without it. TRUTHHURTS Please go to http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer and sign the petition for the Fair Tax Bill. Tell Congress to pass this Bill.
Submitted by Walt on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 9:21pm.
For those who might be interested, getting a concealed weapons permit is not that hard. If you decide to carry a gun it is a necessity to get one, otherwise you could be facing more trouble than you might imagine. Firstly, you must attend a concealed weapons class to learn some of the legalities about the responsibilities of carrying a loaded firearm. Ignorance is no excuse when it comes to not knowing these laws. You could unintentionally end up with a felony record and not even know why until you are placed under arrest. Concealed weapons classes cost between $45 and $55, depending on who teaches the course. The next step is to get a colored, passport type photo to send in with your application. Then you have to get your fingerprints done electronically at the Sheriff’s office. This costs $42.00. Lastly, you have to submit your completed application, photo, fingerprints and another $75.00 to Tallahassee and wait 6 to 9 weeks for your license. You must carry this license with you at all times when you a packing your pistol. Concealed weapon means exactly that. It is against the law to expose your firearm in public unless you are in a situation where it is necessary to use it. If someone sees it, they could feel threatened and call the police and you just got yourself in trouble. You can’t holster it on your belt and swagger around town like Matt Dillon. If you buy a 50 caliber pistol, you’d better have a really big pocket to hide it in. The use of Deadly Force is lawful in Florida but ONLY as a last resort. Florida allows you to stand your ground but you must be sure if that is the logical and legal situation to be in. A gun is for self-protection and the protection of others, not as a repellant. If an environment scares you or makes you uncomfortable, then it may be wiser to make yourself absent instead of letting people know that you are armed and dangerous.
Submitted by jimmaxie on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 9:22am.
If I have a gun, and I want to carry it I have to keep it hidden and have a concealed weapons permit, but what if i carry my gun out in the open for all to see all the time, do I still need a permit? If i am in a sitution where I need to use my gun, will I get a felony charge for mortally wounding some crack head sob with my un permitted gun... When they outlaw guns only outlaws will have guns... Bet cha the crack heads in Winns situation, didn't have concealed weapons pemits
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle
Submitted by Walt on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 12:31pm.
It is not unlawful to carry a gun without a concealed weapons permit but you must do it correctly. If you carry a gun on your person when you are out in public, you must be permitted. If you carry a loaded gun in your car you don't have to have a permit but you must have it securred in your glove box or encased where you can't quick-draw it. This is Florida law only. Other states have different rules on that aspect. Only you can determine the necessity for mortally wounding someone since each situation is different. If you could do nothing else, then you should be okay. The law for Deadly Force is displayed in the linked web page in my previous post. The crack-heads in Winn's post probably weren't carrying a permit. Just because they were doing things illegally doesn't justify you doing the same thing. I'm just trying to let you know how to carry a weapon legally so we won't be seeing your mug shot in the evening news. Having a gun is your constitutional right. Using it properly is still something that the government can control. Submitted by winn1955 on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 12:57pm.
Walt you say, that “If you carry a gun on your person when you are out in public, you must be permitted.”I have to ask what type of permit are you talking about to carry a gun out in the public that is not concealed.In the not recent past and not in this area of Florida I have carried a gun on my hip all around the town I used to live in with out any problems. Now of course that was twenty years ago. The reason I carried it was I did quite a bit of hunting, and always carried a side arm. While coming back to town I would stop at stores with it and never had a complaint. Has Florida law changed since then? Law enforcement in this country can not protect you; you have to protect your selves. Ask yourself this question, out of all the murders, rapist, and robberies in Clay and Duval County how many were stopped by law enforcement before they happened, or while they were occurring? The answer is a big fat 0, that’s right none. So how is it that people think that law enforcement can protect them When I wrote exercising my second amendment rights the other day, I stated I was glad to get out of there, and I was. I could not fathom standing in that neighborhood as I described it, with out the capability to protect my self, or family. Yet people live in that situation every day depending on the police to save, and protect them from the thugs that roam the streets. And on top of that the police give them false hope by letting them believe that they can protect them. I don’t say that to belittle the police departments, they are doing the best they can. I wouldn’t want there job. Let’s keep this local, when I say local I also mean the Jacksonville area. What hasn’t law enforcement tried to stop capital crime in our area? Getting guns of the streets hasn’t worked, strict gun control hasn’t worked, holding prayer rallies hasn’t worked, forming groups such as mad dad’s hasn’t worked, Putting more patrols in a heavy crime area hasn’t worked. We spend millions of or tax dollars trying to solve this problem with out much success, Isn’t it time to try something new , out of the box, a bold new plan? Now I know that as soon as I present this idea some will scream vigilante, I say not. Hear me out; the state of Florida already has a new law that pretty much states that you no longer have to be in your home to defend yourself with deadly force. Now you can be any where if in fact you are threatened, or someone else with death, or severe bodily harm, you do not have to retreat; you can defend your self with deadly force. The state already has a concealed weapons permit that is assessable to most citizens. So here is my question, why not take some of the money that we spend on failed law enforcement policies, and encourage our citizens to get their weapons permit, give them the same training that our officers get on the use of deadly force, and let them go about their business of living their lives. I saw the difference in, I guess you would say attitude the Saturday I was in Jacksonville’s thug neighborhood, before they knew I was armed, and after they knew I was armed. If these punk thugs had to worry about who was armed, and who wasn’t you would see a drop in capital crime. And for the hard learners that still decide on committing capital crime, if an armed citizen, is there to protect the victim, or their selves with deadly force, Oh! Well it would be one less thug roaming the streets preying on us hard working citizens. I know that there are a few law enforcement officers who read this blog site; it would sure be interesting to here your opinion on the matter, along with all the other blogers.
Submitted by Walt on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 2:19pm.
Winn, I’m glad to see someone who is as passionate about this subject as I am. I agree that it is going to take each and every one of us getting involved to finally put a stop to the criminal element. It’s a shame though that we have to consider the use of firearms to protect ourselves. Carrying a gun doesn’t make you a vigilante, it only allows you to protect yourself if the time comes where you have to react. It isn’t like we are all bounty hunters out looking to arrest someone. I’ve talked to police officers in both Clay and Duval counties about the idea of wearing a weapon out in the open for all to see. Each and every officer has told me something different. In actuality, there are only two places where you can openly display a firearm; one is the confines of your own home or property and the other is at your place of work if your employer gives the authority. There are many places where you cannot carry a gun even if you have a permit. These are all government buildings, schools, libraries, airports and any store that displays a sign saying "No Firearms Allowed". The police do the best job they can but they can usually only react after the crime has been committed. It’s not often when a crime is committed while a policeman is standing there watching the action take place. Some areas seem to get better service from the police than others and I wish that wasn’t so. I was once doing a job off Moncrief Road in Jacksonville and was the victim of a drive-by shooting. I was standing near my truck talking to my boss when a carload of young men drove by and fired their gun at us. They missed us but shot the rear view mirror off my truck. I called 911 and the dispatcher asked if anyone was hurt. Two hours later a cop stopped by to take a report. I was angry at the delay but he said they were swamped with calls and lowered the priority of my call because nobody was injured. I understood but I still wasn’t happy.
Submitted by jimmaxie on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 3:02pm.
I really like your idea on spending $$ on educating and encouraging people to get a permit for the guns. We have to have all this government involvment any way, why not let them pay for some gun safety programs and permits. Don't hunters have to go to hunt safety school to get a lisense to hunt. Why not gun totin' school? I know a lot of people who own guns but don't ever hunt, so they haven't any reason to go to the hunter safety school.
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle
Submitted by TruthHurts on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 5:11pm.
Any citizen wishing to obtain a concealed weapons permit can do so easily. Go to a place that offers a concealed weapons permit course like south side gun pay your money take the course pass the test and submitt the papperwork its very easy. Carrrying a weapon in the open is not allowed in Florida, and you probably wouldn't want to because you broadcast you are armed and that may cause you a whole different set of problems. Like poker you never show your hand. One such problem may be you wear it in the open, your followed home and open yourself up to burglary while no one is home because the scum bags beleive you have guns to steal. Another may be that you are wearing you side arm openly have no martial arts or hand to hand combat training and you have that gun taken from you and used against you. Another example may be that the desperate scum seeing your gun in the open goes to plan B to attack you to compensate your being armed. You want it concealed yet easily assesable at the same time to be used only as a last resort in life or death situations. I have carried a concealed weapon for 20 years and I am proud to say I have never had to pull it out. I carry it dicretely and quietly, and never disrespect my right to carry. I also have about 8 years of martial arts training. I keep it concealed yet available. A word of caution while carrying a weapon, that very weapon you depend on can also be taken away from you and become your worst nightmare. Training, training, training is the key. TRUTHHURTS Please go to http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer and sign the petition for the Fair Tax Bill. Tell Congress to pass this Bill. Submitted by winn1955 on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 6:16pm.
Walt you are right I am very passionate about my right to bare arms, and to have the freedom to use it to protect my life, or another’s. Many more need to get involved to come to the side of law enforcement with some help. Not just the feel good, do good answers that have been put forth in jax to try and curb the murder rate. It doesn’t work, plain and simple. It is a sad day in America that we have to consider firearms for the protection of our honest hard working citizens, but Walt it has surely come to that, and the sooner we admit it the better off we will be. It is my belief that the violence is going to get a whole lot worse in the near future.
It’s pretty degusting when a child can not set up a lemon aide stand with out fearing being robbed at knife point, for a whole fifteen dollars. Sad, sad, sad. I know carrying a gun does not make you a vigilantly, but many will say it does, by taking the law in your own hands, and we both know that is not the case. Police officers can not be every ware, but citizens are, if many more Law abiding citizens were armed the headlines would change. I would much rather see a headline that reads, Car Jacker shot and killed while attempting to rape a woman taken from the mall, by an armed citizen. Now that is a headline I could watch and say, Hell Yea! Way to go, give that man a medal. And I’m sure the victim would feel the same way.
I don’t believe the officers on the street would mind more armed citizens. I know what they don’t like, and that is surprises. In my past experiences I have been pulled over while armed, and armed while at my house. The first thing I have always done is make it known to the police officer that I am armed, and every time the first question from their mouth was were is it. In the case of being pulled over while driving I told him It was on my front seat. His next question was why are you armed, my reply was I’m on my way to the bank with a large deposit. He walked up check out the location of the weapon had me stand at the back of my car while he run my license. It all checked out, he told me to slow down and have a good day. Same thing while at home officer comes to my house as soon as I see him I announce that I’m armed, same question were is it.. told him on the table. His reply was could you walk away from the table, my reply, no problem officer and walked away. If you not stupid about it and don’t surprise them I have never had a problem.
As many has stated that this country would revert back to the wild west. I think you would see honest citizens going about their daily routines, until they witnessed a capital crime occurring, and then they would take the appropriate action as prescribed by law. I think you would see the crime rate, and the headlines change dramatically.
As I stated earlier it is my belief that things are going to get worse, much worse in the near future. And I’m certainly preparing for it. Sure wouldn’t want to live in any city this day and age. Wake up, watch the signs, our crops are failing like never before from floods, and drought, energy is hitting record levels. World food prices at at the highest levels ever. Our economy is not geared for an increase in the cost of energy like is happing. I don’t care how rosy the politicians paint the economy, something got to give.
Submitted by Walt on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 8:10pm.
Some of us can remember the time when we could leave home and never think about locking the doors. In the days before central air conditioning, it was a must to sleep with all the windows of the house wide open with the hum of circulating fans going all night. It wasn’t a concern leaving the car unlocked and the windows down whenever we went shopping at the local grocery. People had respect for others back then and you could rely on your neighbors to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Kids were taught that the police were there to help if you ever had trouble and school was a place to learn and not just a place to spend your day. Nowadays, alarm systems are standard equipment on some cars and some folks seek the security of gated-communities when looking for a new home. Houses in some communities are equipped with burglar bars on the windows and metal doors with re-enforced door jambs. Police now walk the halls of the local school and parents wouldn’t think of sending their child there if that wasn’t the case. There is no such thing as a good neighbor, just a person who lives next door or across the street. Our little world exists only to plug a cell phone in our ear so we can keep in touch with our own little posse or texting something that probably doesn’t mean much to anyone except ourselves. Violent crime only happens to somebody else, and if it does happen to us, we haven’t got a clue as to the reason why. Young thugs are more brazen now and chances are good that they are willing to shoot it out with police if they are ever apprehended. Even at a young age, they probably already have a rap sheet that a seasoned felon would be proud of. Politicians would have us believe that the problem could be solved by throwing some more money into various rehabilitation and after-school programs. Kids are smarter than that. When children realize that the worst that can happen is that they have to play the "Time-Out" game, it only reinforces their lifestyle. The tragedy for society is that young thugs grow into older, more vicious criminals. The annual crime rate seems to grow each and every year so it can be assumed that the Judiciary isn’t making much of a dent in solving the problem. The solution to the problem appears to be here at the grass roots. It’s getting back to some of the basics of being a good neighbor. It’s keeping an eye out for your fellow man and protecting the innocent victim just as aggressively as you would protect a member of your own family. If all you are able to do is call 911, then Do It! If you feel like you can safely assist the victim, then Do It! Don’t sit on your hands and say that you don’t want to get involved. Be a good neighbor instead of just the person who lives next door.
Submitted by TruthHurts on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 8:15pm.
Walt Well said I agree totally TRUTHHURTS Please go to http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer and sign the petition for the Fair Tax Bill. Tell Congress to pass this Bill.
Submitted by Magnumforce on Sun, 06/29/2008 - 3:27pm.
He that hesitates may be a dead man. Don’t try and play nice with these thugs they see that as a sign of weakness. If you feel threatened and can prove you were in fear of your life or families bust a couple of caps center mass. Remember if you let them come beyond the 21ft reaction zone they may get to you before you can pull you gun and take action. These punks practice this stuff and grew up on video games playing violence so they are very street smart and up on their game. I would rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6.
Submitted by jimmaxie on Sun, 06/29/2008 - 5:17pm.
Being the observant and friendly neighbor that I am has lead me to meeting many many good people in my hood. Ask Magnumforce about my crusades and causes for my neighborhood. Not a face goes by on the sidewalk that I don't say hi too or nod my head in the direction of a new bicylists with a friendly smile. I just want any strangers to know that they have been noticed and if any funny business comes up i will remember them. Just call me Gladis Cravits!
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle Submitted by winn1955 on Mon, 06/30/2008 - 5:47pm.
Would-be Victim Kills Arlington Robbery Suspect A robbery suspect is dead after police say a would-be victim shoots and kills the man in front of several witnesses inside an Arlington apartment complex. Officers said that two suspected robbers tried a stick-up on a group of people in an apartment parking lot shortly before midnight. One would-be-victim pulled a gun and shot a suspect to death. The man who got killed was a Black man in his twenties. The man who shot him is the one who called law enforcement.
The second suspect got away, and the police say the preliminary investigation appears to be justifiable homicide. The police found multiple guns at the scene that corroborate the shooters story. The way it should be, this is exactly what I have been talking about. If we were to see more headlines like this I will promise you our crime rate will go down. These punks’s choose the easy mark for a reason. Shove the barrel of a gun in one of these punks’ mouths while trying to commit a capital crime against you, and he would whine like a little female dog. As you can tell I have no patients, or respect for the animals they are. Some one needs to give this man a medal, if all facts check out. You go dude, Rock on! People are talking about ...Here are the recent blog postings with the most comments. |
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Great story. Just another reason to protect your 2nd Amendment Rights to the fullest. Remember, any GUN LAW passed only hurts the LAW ABIDING CITIZENS. Criminals dont care what laws are passed, they carry their firearms either way..........
Fear the Gov. that fears your guns......(Fear Obama)
Steven P Munsey A+, MCP, IASO Orange Park | Green Cove Springs munsey13@comcast.net