more cool and interesting places to visit on the web

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but our brains lead us to daily discoveries as we search the world to learn HowStuffWorks. "HowStuffWorks got its start in 1998 at a college professor's kitchen table. From there, we quickly grew into an award-winning source of unbiased, reliable, easy-to-understand answers and explanations of how the world actually works. Today, our writers, editors, podcasters and video hosts share all the things we're most excited to learn about with nearly 30 million visitors to the site each month."

From repairing lawn mowers, to making the best cough syrup, one can learn just about anything at Instructables.   "Instructables became that documentation system in 2005, as an in-house project of Squid Labs. When they weren't solving interesting problems like solar panels for driveways, efficiently harnessing human power, or strain sensing ropes, you could find them sharing Instructables from the workshop. From cooking to 3d printing, to making just about anything fly, Instructables became the recipient of countless hours of tinkering, soldering, stitching, frying, and fun, making just about anything."

Looking back in time is always more fun at The Internet Archive, a wacky time machine, "non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more.".   Music, great speeches, old television commercials, and a cornucopia of historical treasures can all be found here.

where can I carry a firearm in Texas

from Third Wind Firearms Training

FAQ:  When and Where can I carry a Firearm In Texas?

Please note that the information provided in this FAQ is not to be construed as legal advice.  You are personally responsible for knowing and abiding by all Texas laws and regulations, and municipal codes (some links have been provided below).  When in doubt, consult with an attorney, or local Law Enforcement officals.  Please advise me of any noted exceptions, errors, or updates to thirdwindfp@gmail.com.

Generally, any person may carry a firearm in Texas, if

• on the person's own premises or premises under the person's control, 
• inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned by the person or under the person's control.  Hand guns must be hidden from view in the vehicle unless the person is licensed to carry a handgun, and the handgun is carried in a shoulder or belt holster,
• the person
• must be older than 18 years of age unless under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian of the person,
• must not be engaged in criminal activity,
• must not be otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a firearm,
• must not be a member of a criminal street gang 
• There are no State laws regulating the open carrying of a long gun (rifle or shotgun), but there may be municipal or county ordinances of which you should be aware.

You should be aware that section 42.01 (a) (8) of the Penal C0de, states "a person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly "displays a firearm or other deadly weapon in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm".

A licensed person may carry a handgun in Texas, concealed or open carry, and the handgun is carried in a shoulder or belt holster, unless

• on any premises where you have been given written or oral notice not to do by the owner of the property, or someone with apparent authority to act for the owner, or by posted 30.06, 30.07 or 51% sign prohibiting carry on that premises
• Stay out of bars, clubs, taverns, etc,. while carrying a firearm.
• Restaurants and businesses serving alcohol that do not derive 51% of their sales from alcohol shall display a sign in a prominent place on the permit holder’s premises giving notice that it is unlawful for a person to carry a weapon on the premises unless the weapon is a handgun the person is licensed to carry 
• hospitals, nursing facilities, or on the premises of a mental hospital, unless the person has written authorization of the facility administration,
• on the premises of a polling place on the day of an election or while early voting is in progress
• the physical premises of a school or educational institution, any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle of a school or educational institution, whether the school or educational institution is public or private, unless: pursuant to written regulations or written authorization of the institution
• Note: An institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state may not adopt or enforce any rule, regulation, or other provision or take any other action, including posting notice under Section 30.06 or 30.07, Penal Code, prohibiting or placing restrictions on the storage or transportation of a firearm or ammunition in a locked, privately owned or leased motor vehicle by a person, including a student enrolled at that institution, who holds a license to carry a handgun under this subchapter and lawfully possesses the firearm or ammunition:
• (1) on a street or driveway located on the campus of the institution; or
• (2) in a parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area located on the campus of the institution.
• on the premises of any government court or offices utilized by the court, unless pursuant to written regulations or written authorization of the court;
• on the premises of a racetrack;
• in or into a secured area of an airport
• on the premises of a correctional facility, prison, or jail, or within 1,000 feet of premises the location of which is designated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a place of execution
• in the room or rooms where a meeting of a governmental entity is held and if the meeting is an open meeting, and the entity provided notice
• in an amusement park
• while intoxicated
• on any federal facility (post office, courthouse, prison, office building, etc.)

Note that there are many exceptions under Texas law relating to persons engaged in certain occupations (peace officer, guards, security officers, etc.) where a fiream may be lawfully carried.

GC §411.207. AUTHORITY OF PEACE OFFICER TO DISARM.

(a) A peace officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of the officer’s official duties may disarm a license holder at any time the officer reasonably believes it is necessary for the protection of the license holder, officer, or another individual. The peace officer shall return the handgun to the license holder before discharging the license holder from the scene if the officer determines that the license holder is not a threat to the officer, license holder, or another individual and if the license holder has not violated any provision of this subchapter or committed any other violation that results in the arrest of the license holder.

(b) A peace officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of the officer’s official duties may temporarily disarm a license holder when a license holder enters a non-public, secure portion of a law enforcement facility, if the law enforcement agency provides a gun locker where the peace officer can secure the license holder’s handgun. The peace officer shall secure the handgun in the locker and shall return the handgun to the license holder immediately after the license holder leaves the non-public, secure portion of the law enforcement facility.

(c) A law enforcement facility shall prominently display at each entrance to a non-public, secure portion of the facility a sign that gives notice in both English and Spanish that, under this section, a peace officer may temporarily disarm a license holder when the license holder enters the non-public, secure portion of the facility. The sign must appear in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height. The sign shall be displayed in a clearly visible and conspicuous manner.

(d) In this section:
(1) “Law enforcement facility” means a building or a portion of a building used exclusively by a law enforcement agency that employs peace officers as described by Articles 2.12(1) and (3), Code of Criminal Procedure, and support personnel to conduct the official business of the agency. The term does not include:
(A) any portion of a building not actively used exclusively to conduct the official business of the agency; or
(B) any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk, walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.
(2) “Non-public, secure portion of a law enforcement facility” means that portion of a law enforcement facility to which the general public is denied access without express permission and to which access is granted solely to conduct the official business of the law enforcement agency.

Definitions

• "Firearm" means any device designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile through a barrel by using the energy generated by an explosion or burning substance or any device readily convertible to that use. 
• "premises" 
• includes real property and a recreational vehicle that is being used as living quarters, regardless of whether that use is temporary or permanent. 
• means a building or a portion of a building. 
• The term does not include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area...
• "watercraft" means any boat, motorboat, vessel, or personal watercraft, other than a seaplane on water, used or capable of being used for transportation on water.
• "Amusement park" means a permanent indoor or outdoor facility or park where amusement rides are available for use by the public that is located in a county with a population of more than one million, encompasses at least 75 acres in surface area, is enclosed with access only through controlled entries, is open for operation more than 120 days in each calendar year, and has security guards on the premises at all times.

Links

Texas Constitution and Statutes: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/
Texas License To Carry A Handgun Laws http://dps.texas.gov/InternetForms/Forms/LTC-16.pdf

why do I need an AR-15?

Why do I "need" an Ar-15?  That's an interesting question that has been posed to me several times in the past two weeks, so let me respond here, and hopefully put this question to rest.

Why do I "need" an Ar-15?  I don't "need" an AR-15.  I "want" an AR-15.

Why do other folks "need" the things they own (motorcycles, golf clubs, boats, luxury homes, fancy cameras, canvases and paints, books, giant televisions, jewelry, art, expensive cars, monster gaming computers, giant trucks, lake front property, tats, etc.)?  Other than certain cases, none of them "need" any of these items; they "want" them.  These things bring fun, excitement, personal fulfillment, relaxation, sense of accomplishment, stress reduction, yada yada, etc.!  People "want" the things they want, for their own
personal reasons, and they are welcome to them, at least as far as I'm concerned.

So let's ask the honest question, why do I "want" an AR-15?

I enjoy shooting.  It brings me fun, excitement, personal fulfillment, relaxation, sense of accomplishment, stress reduction, yada yada, etc..  I don't hunt, I shoot paper targets.  I love putting those tiny holes in pieces of paper, cardboard, cans, 2x4s, etc.  It is the thing that makes me happy.  It relaxes me, gives me an opportunity for skill improvement and accomplishment, can be shared with friends and family (most of my circle shoots).  I look forward to shooting, read about shooting, research shooting, take classes on shooting, talk about shooting; shooting is my hobby.  I use shooting as a way of helping others by teaching safety classes.  I have used my firearms skills, and may again in the future, to protect myself and others.  When I do take my AR-15 out of the safety cabinet, I take it to the range and have big fun.

The AR-15 is an excellent shooting platform.  It is a high quality, well built (in most cases), reliable, safe, easily maintained and repaired, easily customized, economical (in most cases) firearm.  Millions of Americans "want" and own AR-15s for the same reasons. 

 How about the  "why do you need an AR-15 to hunt?" question.  An AR-15 is a perfectly viable, and widely used, hunting rifle.  Millions of Americans hunt with these rifles as it is an accurate, well performing rifle, and is highly adaptable to numerous hunting types.  The calibers and ammunition choices are wide and appropriate for hunting most small to medium sized game, and some large game as well.

The ARMALITE RIFLE 15 (not "assault rifle", or "automatic rifle", or "army rifle") is a proven, effective, valued and treasured semi-automatic civilian sporting firearm.

I "wanted" an AR-15, I got an AR-15, and I value my AR-15.  "Need" has nothing to do with the equation.  Along with millions of other firearms owners, most of whom are NOT members of the NRA (although I wish they were) I enjoy my shooting past time.  It puts a smile on my face, doesn't hurt anyone, can protect me and others if needed, and gives me a venue for self improvement and relaxation.  Some folks like yard sales, antiquing, and metal detecting; I like gun shows.  Much like golf, softball, boating, macrame, bike riding, jogging, photography, mudding, gaming, swimming, skiing, sky diving, scuba diving, painting, and reading, shooting makes my day.  I don't get many days of shooting, but range day makes it!

If you're curious, I invite you to join me for a range day, or encourage you to ask one of your gun owner friends to take you out and see for your self what shooting an AR-15 is like.  You may like it, you may not, but at least you'll have an experienced, informed opinion of what an AR-15 actually is, and what it is not.

See ya at the range!

not your everday news ...

"Fake News"!

That's a term bandied about with minimal discrimination, and becoming more prevalent targeting the more well known news sources as the online blogs rush to report with seeming minimal concern over factual content and verified accounting, Not necessarily a one sided venture,  political parties, interested financial factions (Soros, Bloomberg, Koch, etc.), and countless organizations use the media and its pundits, either gullibly or willingly, to influence public thought and opinion, rather than providing "news".  American journalism's once noble mission to gather and report facts forgotten, swallowed by a cesspool of dis-information, deceit, fabrications, and distortions foisted upon a willingly naive general public.

I enjoy casting about the world of ideas, and come across a variety of sources, some far from mainstream, that might offer a different view, a wandering perspective, a random validation or a new distortion of events reported daily.  Stepping away for a moment from CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC, Here a few you might enjoy or entertain as well, perhaps validating your own concepts, or possibly inflaming you to new heights, in no particular order:

DailyMe
Arkansas Times
OneNewsNow
HaaretzDaily
The Patriot Post
World News Network
Forbes
Channel News Asia
The Nation
The Texas Tribune
BBC News
Black Christian News
Mondo Times
The Sun
Today
Infowars
Chuck Baldwin
The Huffington Post
Worthy News
Time
World
CBC News
Al Jazeera

security between the pews

A friend asked recently for some advice on putting together a security plan for a small local church.  While I am certainly no expert on security, I have had some experience and a bit of training in keeping people safe, and in situational awareness, and am all too happy to help.    We all have a need for heightened awareness in our current troubling times.  Danger can, and does, come from every direction and from a dizzying array of personalities, and we would be foolish to entertain the thought that "It can't happen to us."; it can, and it might.  Violence may reach us wherever we are in an ever shrinking, demoralized, chaotic, and disjointed world that, more and more, reflects an individualized thinking, breaking rapidly away from the comforting past-normal of community and unity.  For many of us, "church" is a last remaining refuge of common thought, purpose and fellowship.  We have a need, and a desire, to look out for each other.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

Several recent articles lead us to the inescapable conclusion that focusing on the safety and security in a church environment is a need, not a luxury.

Christianity Today highlights some of the needs facing the church in America today in  Church Security: How Do We Keep Our Churches Safe in a World Where Evil Is Present?

CNN focuses on the trend for churches to focus on training for an armed response in Security becomes a top priority for churches after Texas Massacre.

Lifeway gives us The Balance between Security and Worship at Church.

I've noted a few resources on the web that I think bear reading and exploring, for anyone, because we're all in this together.

Full Armor Church states "Our material is designed to help churches organize and operate security based ministry programs and educate their volunteers and staff on church safety protocols. Our resource kits provide valuable information, church forms, response guides, training PowerPoints, child safety guides, instructor’s guides, and fully customizable policy manuals.  We are committed to the cause of keeping churches safe and guarding the integrity and work of the Body of Christ within our communities. As part of that mission, we have promised to keep our prices affordable for ministries of all sizes."

Sheepdog Church Security offers a comprehensive array of both free and affordable paid training resources.  Reading through their training chapters will provide a wealth of insight into the need for critical thinking about security for worshipers.

Smart Church Management sends up 8 Tips to Tighten Church Security.

Brotherhood Mutual highlights a few guidelines on preparation for Church Safety and Security.

NOCSSM  "is a national organization of churches across the United States. We provide our members with educational resources to help them in their security efforts. Resources include our web site which includes written policy and procedure templates, best practices for church security and training videos from some of our national conference sessions of special interest to church security teams".


more to come