My Gun Class

(6/30/22 edited 7/5 BenQQ) The final straw was the Democrats dissolving our southern border to allow unvetted pre-organized masses, many of whom are reported to be criminals and terrorists, move illegally into the United States. Alleged President Biden has vacuously helped them into the country to colonize and make it their own.

Last year I wrote a story about their possible paths when crossing from the easternmost point of the Mexican border. One major route goes right through Memphis.

It's a trafficker's superhighway to the Northeast drug and child/adult sex slave markets. So, illegals and committed criminals pass through Memphis and some stay. Either way they (just on a local level) increase municipal costs, lower wages for contract labor and add to ever present criminal activity. The political party in power does not care.
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So, I finally stopped resisting...
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Recently I took a general gun class in preparation for a conceal and carry (C&C) permit in Tennessee. (This doesn't mean you have to have a license to carry nor does it mean I'm carrying now or will be in the future.)

Taught by a friendly, humorous City of Memphis police officer who had qualifications in a variety of weaponry, the Sunday class walked us through the different firearms, paraphernalia and laws regarding gun use in the State of Tennessee. Scheduled for 8 hours, the group decided to skip lunch and took an official state test that required, at least for me, some concentration and judgment. After that, we reconvened with the instructor to a shooting range nearby. (I hope to do a video of that or another range shortly.)
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With only 10 people of mixed gender and race and one taking the class as a requirement for an armed security service, stated reasons for taking centered on 3 overriding concerns: personal protection, rising crime and the likelihood of ever creeping gun confiscation by anti-gun zealots in the Biden administration. The instructor was not without trenchant comments regarding the erosion of our second amendment. (That, as you know, has been called the amendment that protects all the others.)
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The class covered a number of areas you hear about loosely and usually incompletely in news. Here are questions and answers I gathered in class. But in no way should you rely on this information without getting yourself to areal gun safety class. You do need to know the legal nuances and options if you have decided to buy or carry a gun. But don't take me as any kind of expert.

My story...
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Years ago in Memphis, I and a friend were robbed at gunpoint (off Beale St.). Last year I was verbally assaulted and moved upon while filling my car at a gas station. The man was offended because I looked at him. I must have been daydreaming about another place, another time. I beg forgiveness to the Antifa God. Perhaps I should go somewhere in public and kneel before a local gang so the local paper can put me on the front page and say how sorry I am for history. Yes, I was, absently enough, looking at him as I gassed up.
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Both set of experiences involved black male assailants. I'm white. I complied with the first and talked to the second without incurring bodily injury. But I don't know what would have happened had I been carrying when my armed robber and his driver pulled their cute late model yellow Jeep curbside a few feet from us.

When we turned to look, I noticed the passenger had opened his door to display his pistol, barrel pointing down, at floorboard level. His gun-holding wrist shook menacingly with purpose. As if to avoid some sort of legal check-off, he never pointed the gun directly at us, just brandished it, which, if he had taken the course, he would have known you just can't go around doing.  

He said-and I quote-”Do you*n----s* wanna die?”

We handed over our wallets in total compliance. I remember thinking there goes my California driving license as the compact Jeep u-turned at speed. I never recovered my license. Likewise, the robber may have become enraged at only gaining $2 from me. I was worried he would return for revenge.

My friend and I made it on to the well known bar Gertrude and Mabels. From there we called the police and the bartender gave me a beer for my experience. The free beer was like a consolation prize. It could have gone way worse counting two more dead victims on the streets of Memphis. It took about a half hour for the police to arrive. It was a busy night.
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At any rate, I believe I pieced together from media reports my young stupid robber was killed soon thereafter in a shootout with cops or civilians at a liquor store.
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All that to say, ever since then, I thought about carrying a firearm.

And now to my actual gun class.
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I am neither a lawyer nor a member of law enforcement. Again, you need to get into a class yourself if you plan to buy, carry or already own. I categorize these as “can you,” questions as they most are set by existing gun law. I frequently add more questions to the answers I heard in class. You can respond at my link below.
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So can you...

Gift a gun?
Yes but are you responsible if you give your gun to a person unqualified to buy a gun legally? Consider any possible risks of gun ownership of your giftee as well as how that may put youin legal jeopardy "if anything happens."
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Takea gun to a park?
Yes, but not if there is a school event going on at the time.

Can you buy a gun if you have a record of domestic violence?
No.

How do you carry your gun in your car?
You're supposed to put it in some sort of lockbox, though I don't know if that's required legally and the instructor never brought it up anyway.  

On carrying your firearm in a purse or bag.
That seemed to be a pet peeve of the male instructor. When reaching for your gun intime of need, don't dig thru gum wrapper, kleenex, wallet, hairbrush, etc.--unless you were thinking to politely offer a breath mint to your shooter.

Is Tennessee an "open carry" state?
Yes. Tennessee is an open carry state. That means if you have an enhanced handgun permit, you can carry visible firearms with restrictions.

What about reciprocity with other states?
Yes, Tennessee has reciprocity, meaning other states honor the carry laws of Tennessee. Other states have legal carry reciprocity but restrictions apply. Check out this reciprocitymap.  

Using...
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When can you shoot someone?
Only when your or someone else's life is imminently, meaning immediately and physically threatened, can you argue imminent threat in your defense. My comments: your best bet is to expect to be charged, so have legal gun coverage insurance. Even if you are found innocent of all charges, you won't end up ruined financially by ambitious woke district attorneys.

Can I use a gun in protection of someone else?
Yes, but only if his or her life is in imminent danger. I remember the case of a man displaying aggressive actions toward a woman who was sitting in a car. The car was in a parking lot in East Memphis. The woman's husband shot him and was convicted over what was probably argued as legal defense. The point: when you ever shoot someone, you are putting yourself in legal jeopardy of the state, even if you think you are rightly protecting someone else.

Under what circumstances can I SHOW a gun in protection of myself or someone else?
I don't remember this even being brought up in class and again I'm not a lawyer, but it is probably illegal to “brandish” a weapon without cause. On the other hand, I've heard if you pull your weapon, you have good reason to use it. If any legal experts read this, feel free to respond. Regardless, an ambitious anti-gun woke DA could argue even spotting a gun handle under clothing is brandishing. I now am surprised that people—excluding current media—don't ask more questions of candidate district attorneys regarding their prosecution policies of citizens involved in self-defense shootings. Tennessee law:

39-13-101. Assault. (a)  A person commits assault who:     (1)  Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another;   
‍(2)  Intentionally or knowingly causes another to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury; or   
‍(3)  Intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another and a reasonable person would regard the contact as extremely offensive or provocative.

What about use of a gun when threatened with a knife?
Imminent life threat seems to cover this as well. Instructor said knife attack can be deadly at 21 feet. So shoot the bastard. Hopefully the DA won't disagree.

Where can you be prohibited from carrying?
Various places. For example, private businesses can prohibit concealed guns if a sign is posted. You cannot carry in a park if a school event is occurring at that park at that time. Look for posted conceal and carry signs.

What is the Castle Doctrine?
Like the “Every Man A King” mantra back in the days of the great Louisiana populist Huey Long, Tennessee lawmakers rightly decided your home is your personal “castle” that you can protect with deadly force. That doesn't mean you can step out your door and shoot someone in your front yard who is threatening to break in. Again, depending on the DA and wording of the law, you may not be allowed to use Doctrine Castle defense even if someone who has removed a window screen, raised the window and is about to crawl through. The criminal has to be in your house.

Does the Castle Doctrine extend to my car?
Yes. But does that mean an assailant has to be in your vehicle before you can shoot him? Can you shoot him if he reaches your body, such as your neck, through a window? Can you shoot him if he is the process of entering your car uninvited? Again, hopefully voters will begin to review prosecution records and ask these types of questions of DA incumbents and candidates who want the job.

Can I use deadly force, that is, shoot, to protect my property?
No. This is maybe one of the greatest categories of gun owners getting legally prosecuted. I think its a gun law that should be reconsidered, especially regarding vehicle theft and, for lack of a better term, business sackings.

But might the DA charge you anyway?
This wasn't covered in the class, but I'm always fascinated with official government behaviors. The answer: Who knows. It's been my observation district attorneys will file charges and avoid arguing most any shooting was good self-defense. Look at George Zimmerman but moreover Kyle Rittenhouse. Both were put through legal hell before coming out innocent of charges. And both were fortunate to have pro-bono attorneys.
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Conversation with students in my class seemed to indicate most were already used to firing a weapon. I was not, excepting the time when I was twelve years and shot a bird with a bb gun for which I experienced waves of guilt and 37 years later when as a photographer covering it, I fired an old powder pistol at a Civil War reenactment. Then the park rangers didn't seem to care, even though I had quaffed some homemade muscadine. Both had a kick.

To find gun safety classes in Memphis, go to duckduckgo.com and search for "gun safety classes Memphis, TN."

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above:
How to buy a gun in Memphis

coming up:
How to train with a gun in Memphis

Like to respond to this or contribute to an upcoming article?
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Contact
BenHarrison

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As Elections Near, Watch Out for Trump Smears From Your Browser

Microsoft Edge browser sucks up its choice of anti-Trump articles from everywhere. As usual when the near entirety of anti-Trump media continue their journalistic diatribe, you can count on one thing: you'll never get the whole picture of Donald Trump through the legacy and their spinoff media sites pitched when you open your browser. But you will get eye-catching graphical squares with sensational headlines linked to an article churned out by an anti-Trumper writer, reporter or producer.

It's not illegal for the browsers to inject politically prejudicial content, just unethical. Such content may even benefit the big tech corps if it helps to keep Trump out of office. Trump is likely to impose rules against their censoring content. Millions of viewers unknowingly are being influenced--and depending on what their base political inclinations are, turned even against their own self-interest.

Technically, by definition, its all "news." However, there's so much anti-Trump "news" that any neutral to pro-Trump news would, again by definition, be "news." Yet, you certainly don't see any of that plastered in most of the browser front pages. Most corporate browsers are pumping you so you will hate Trump so you will vote against him and the systems that feed their Democratic coffers will go undisturbed. And if Trump gets elected again, I believe you will see a bloated government run by the deep state unelectorate expunged so the peoples' vote for presidential policies are not undermined by bureaucrats.

Browser home pages twist the truth while positioning the negative to the max.

Example: "Republican allies break with Trump after he claims he can declassify documents just by thinking"

Others: "GOP senators break with Trump following his 'bizarre' Sean Hannity interview" More: "Voices: Trump and his children are in a lot of trouble--more than we ever expected." And more: 'It's 'put up or shut up' time for Trump as special master loses patience: former prosecutor' And the most ridiculous: "Why Two Trump Judges Ended Aileen Cannon’s Reign of Madness Over the Mar-a-Lago Case." Who says his interview was "bizarre?" Why is "Trump Judge" deemed "mad"?

This is Machine Gun Hit and Run Journalism Dressed Up as Information

Each small story adds to the total negative impact. Browsers link to both good stories that have a journalistic purpose and to others that are designed just as bad PR for Trump. The problem: most people just glance, internalize the headline and move on without ever questioning what they've read even if the click to the story.

Anti-Trump Repetition and Hypnosis

The flood of anti-Trump articles makes it a daily tranche of political propaganda

Most people just glance at the headlines, internalizing the biased message. Few take into account the sources. Most of these big corporate mouth pieces for Biden and by association the Deep State, have an interest in seeing that Trump is not elected. Hence, just like their brethren in print and television, they are going to pump every allegation from a political opponent until one might finally stick. So far none have. Their last hope: a criminal indictment arising from Trump's "mishandling" of secret documents. Anything to knock him out of the 2024 race.

With the browser front pages, you are not going to hear about the setups and lies the Democrats perpetrated on Trump, his associates and his voters

No, you won't see stories about the stealing of mass votes fully documented by Mike Lindell and Dinesh D'Souza.

A group of reporters has completely revealed the corruption of the Democrats and the Biden family in particular

But you'll never see the stories linked in the browser home pages such as Hunter's laptop that links "the big guy" to foreign/Russian/Chinese sourced payments, thus compromising alleged President Biden with all of those countries.

The alleged President Biden and the Democratic cabal, who never had to defend himself in courts of law against numerous documented vote thefts spanning across, most notably, the swing states, has consolidated his power with a third world style politicization of his Department of Justice and FBI. Dozens of Trump's associates and supporters have been arrested, harassed and hounded.