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Old 07-23-2010, 08:59 AM
palmetto99 palmetto99 is offline
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"Happines is a worn gun:my concealed weapon and me" is an article by one Dan Baum that appears in the August 2010 edition of Harper's Magazine. I became aware of the piece via an NPR station that I listen to via the internet (yep, NPR. I listen to a show out of Utah and now and then it's pretty interesting). Mr. Baum admits to being a "liberal" (his word), but is also a hunter and has enjoyed shooting since he was a kid. He decided to get a concealed weapon permit to see what it was all about and as a subject to write about. All in all, I think he takes a pretty even approach to the subject of concealed carry and firearms. In the radio interview, he was very good at poking holes in the usual gun control arguments that were presented by callers. Some of you may not like his tone, but still it's not the typical article that you would find in a magazine like Harpers. I looked for the article online without much luck, so I had to purchase a copy at the local big box book seller.
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Old 07-23-2010, 10:50 AM
palmetto99 palmetto99 is offline
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Google "PRI Radio West" to find the "recording" of the interview with Mr. Baum.
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Old 07-25-2010, 11:48 AM
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Thanks for the post. I just came back from the grocery store and had noticed the article but didn't want to spend $7+ just to read it. So I will go listen and then maybe buy the magazine
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Old 07-25-2010, 02:30 PM
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Found this after a little hunting around. The file is a .pdf version.

http://tiny.cc/0f5bm
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Old 07-25-2010, 05:47 PM
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Very good read!
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Old 07-25-2010, 06:15 PM
scooter123 scooter123 is offline
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An interesting article. It also points out some interesting variance in the standards that exist from state to state under Shall Issue. In Michigan the minimum requirement is 8 hours, 5 of which are in the classroom and 3 on the range.

The classroom session started out with the typical NRA propaganda videos and a sales pitch for the AR-15 as it was going to be shortly banned. The class was at a gunshop/range and the store owner did have to get his sales pitch in. Too bad he wasn't pushing a lever gun in 357 Magnum, that would have really built a fire under me, as it was he was wasting his time because I have no interest at all in the AR and it's variants. However once the formal class started it was all business and most of the time was spent on the legal aspects of carrying a handgun and the consequences that could come about as a result of it's use. I also found the range time to be of great benefit, while I've always been a decent shot with a handgun I was dreadfully slow. It only took my being willing to listen to the instructor and about 15 minutes of practicing some new techniques to cut my firing rate in half.

I also think that he oversold the burden of carrying to some extent. Probably a result of his living in a liberal enclave. On balance, it's a pretty good writeup with a bit of a Liberal slant to it that may cause some to re-think their attitude towards those who do choose to carry.
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Old 07-25-2010, 09:23 PM
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Interesting article, even if it does have a liberal undertone.
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