I find myself very down since the Dallas massacre, and increasingly outraged (I know, I should not be anymore) over the lack of leadership coming from the White House and other top levels of the government. Our leaders foster division instead of unity. Unlike in the X Files, "the truth is not out there," the truth sits right in front of our noses. I go on progressive websites, and comment boards, and read nonsense about the threat posed by "right wing extremists." Since when did Black Lives Matter become a right-wing extremist group? Words have no meaning anymore in prog land . . .
The development I long ago feared is happening. We see a Molotov-Von Ribbentrop pact between leftist terrorists and Muslim terrorists, aiming to take down their common enemy, Western (read white) civilization. In addition, I remember something I wrote years ago while I was in Sri Lanka and later Indonesia. I wondered then why terror groups seemed so enamored of what I labeled the "CNN effect," a giant dramatic explosion or big attack. I know from personal experience, those kind of events are relatively easy for security forces to discover and head off. The real terror comes from "little" terror. I had noticed the impact the Washington DC sniper had on American society and thought that if I were a terrorist planner that's the way I would go; especially with the advent of 24 hour cable news and social media, coordination is not hard. Simultaneous or sequential sniper attacks or even guys on motorcycles shooting at motorists and pedestrians in multiple cities across America, Canada, Australia, and Europe would have a devastating effect on the ability of ordinary citizens to lead ordinary lives. I think we have stared seeing this horror come to fruition.
All of this was on my mind as my number two son and I drove to Temecula to pick up my S&W 686 from the nice folks at Faith Armory. According to the paperwork from the once great State of California, I could not claim my gun before 11:20:02 am on July 9. We arrived a bit early in my dusty but trusty 2005 Chevy Trailblazer (the car that will not die!) and had a look around. My son has applied for concealed carry, and one of the requirements for getting it is, well, you must have a gun to carry concealed--within the logic of the whole insane CC process in California, that's probably the least irrational requirement. He settled on a just-arrived, and very nice S&W MP9c. It came with two California compliant magazines: a 7+1 and an 8+1. I had not seen this model before; I own a full size MP40 which is terrific, but a bit large for CC. He presented his id, took and passed the test (28/30), went through the safety demo, plunked down his cash, and . . . gets to wait ten days. I wanted one, too! Alas! The kindly salesman informed me that I could only purchase one handgun/month. Since I had bought my 686 on June 29, I would have to wait until July 29, before I could buy another, and then, of course, wait ten more days. I will be back! I also have my eye on an 870 Express Tactical, much like the ones I had in Pakistan and Guatemala.
Anyhow, the digital clock finally ticked over to 11:20:02, and the hold on my gun purchase was released. The salesman went into the back and returned with the iconic S&W plastic box with my goody inside. He had me examine it, did some more paperwork, and finally it was mine!
California has just passed a loopy law meant to restrict ammo purchase by requiring a background check on every such purchase. I asked how this would work once the law came into effect. The salesman said nobody has any idea; they await guidance from Sacramento's progressive overlords who increasingly run our lives. Meanwhile, he suggested I buy ammo, lots of it. I already had ordered a bunch of the stuff from Cheaper than Dirt (arrived in two days!) and am ordering more. Lots more.
We are heading for some very bad times.