U.S.A. – -(Ammoland.com)- “Action must be taken to curtail carelessness among gun owners,” a Monday Las Vegas Sun editorial urges. “Last week, the Transportation Security Administration announced that McCarran International Airport ranked among the top 10 U.S. airports where guns were found in carry-on baggage or improperly packed last year.”
“Throughout 2020, TSA caught approximately 10 firearms per million passengers screened as compared to about 5 firearms per million passengers screened in 2019,” the agency confirmed. TSA officers discovered a total of 3,257 firearms on passengers or in their carry-on bags at checkpoints…”
“As for the per-passenger upswing in guns found last year, it’s entirely plausible that it was tied to a massive increase in gun sales in 2020,” the Sun piece notes. “The spike, which was attributed to fears related to the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests, pushed the overall number of civilian-owned guns in the U.S. to nearly 400 million, according to one widely cited estimate.”
So far, no one has relayed any information that’s not supportable. And I’ll stipulate upfront, regardless of how some of us feel about TSA and mandated disarmament, that any gun owner who forgets that he is armed is being inexcusably negligent.
Confining the repercussions to them is not good enough for the gun-grabbers, who, having set up the argument by observing a problem and giving people a scare, then proceed to exploit it and swindle those people out of their rights.
“And keep in mind, these numbers didn’t include weapons packed properly in checked luggage,” the Sun hit piece continues. “Under federal law, guns can be placed in checked bags as long as they’re unloaded and placed in hard-sided cases…”
You get the feeling they’re against that, too? Oh, they’re against plenty more, and to help set the rubes up for the pitch, they bring in an “expert” who can wow the crowd with his credentials, former ATF special agent, and now special spokes-flack for the Giffords Gun-Grab Group, David Chipman.
AmmoLand readers may remember him. He’s the sleight of mind artist who says AR-15s should be regulated like machineguns, claiming them to be “weapon[s] of war, the same gun that was issued to me as a member of [the] ATF SWAT team.” And that con, of course, was devised years ago by Josh Sugarmann of the Violence Policy Center, who explained:
“The weapons’ menacing looks, coupled with the public’s confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons—anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun—can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons.”
Having proven that he can say just about any damn thing they want and the DSM (Duranty/Streicher Media), incompetent or deliberately deceptive, or both, will have his back, Chipman offers another meme that sounds good to the fearful and the ignorant:
“There are probably a small percentage of people who carry and are trained, like we expect from law enforcement or military. The rest are untrained or irresponsible.”
You know, government enforcers are the “Only Ones” who can be trusted with guns. Remember the parable about the mote and the beam?
Remember how Chipman’s assertion worked out for DEA agent Lee Paige, who made the claim that he was “the only one professional enough” to carry a gun in front of a room full of schoolchildren and then proceeded to shoot himself in the leg?
Without setting out to, I’ve compiled quite the “Only Ones” archive over at my The War on Guns blog, and there’s also a growing one here at AmmoLand. My purpose has never been to bash cops. I do it to amass a credible body of anecdotal evidence to present when those who would deny our right to keep and bear arms use the argument that only government enforcers are professional and trained enough to do so safely and responsibly. I also do it to illustrate when those of official status, rank, or privilege, both in law enforcement and in some other government position, get special breaks not available to we commoners, particularly (but not exclusively), and especially to expose law-breaking and corruption.
Since the topic the Sun introduces here is gun owners forgetting they have guns, let’s take a look at how much more superior Chipman’s “trained” and “responsible” professionals have proven themselves to be. Years ago I examined the ridiculousness of that contention by recalling some disturbingly common reports of officers leaving their sidearms in public restroom stalls (archived link may load slowly).
We also can’t overlook incidents of guns stolen from police vehicles, and reports of guns missing from police and federal agencies. Take, for instance, Chipman’s ATF, where lost and/or stolen agency guns have later been used in crimes. And don’t get me started on the guns they deliberately let “walk” to Mexico.
It’s hardly surprising that Chipman, a careerist with his snout in the disarmament trough, would want to point fingers at everybody else, and it’s hardly surprising that the Sun would help advance that agenda. They segued seamlessly from airline passengers forgetting the contents of their carry-ons into an attack on permitless carry, and a call for registration-enabling “background checks,” due process-denying “red flag laws,” and more. After all, there’s a well-financed elitist push for more Nevada disarmament edicts, and the media has always been more than happy to parrot narrative talking points on cue.
The airline angle being used here reminds me of a post I did years ago that illustrates how much we’ve lost from the way things used to be, or more accurately, how much we’ve allowed to be taken from us, which is never enough. Because it’s buried on my blog, I’m going to steal from myself and repost much of it here:
Turner Classic Movies has been playing a resurrected John Wayne film, just recently released to DVD and apparently seen on TV for the first time: The High and the Mighty.
I enjoyed it–from the soapy melodramas among the passengers to scenes that were obvious sources for the “Airplane” parodies, right down to Robert Stack thanking John Wayne for slapping him when he lost his cool: “I needed that.”
I half expected to see Lloyd Bridges declaring it a bad week to give up sniffing glue, or Stack warning “That’s just what they’ll be expecting!” when the control tower ordered the runway lights turned on.
But what really struck me were the assumptions of the time: A stewardess (before the pc days of “flight attendant”) lighting a passenger’s cigarette–indeed, the pilots smoking in the cockpit. Not that I miss that, but you know what?–that choice ought to be determined by the market rather than dictated by the fedgov.
And then there was the handgun–carried by a passenger who was stalking a man he believed to be his wife’s lover. He carried it right in his coat pocket.
He got on a plane without going through metal detectors. TSA didn’t grope him or wand him down or make him take off his shoes. The other passengers took it away from him. One kept it in his pocket for safekeeping, and gave it back when the guy promised to be good! And because there was no harm/no foul, no SWAT team was waiting to take the guy out when he got off the plane–he disembarked down the stairs and walked across the tarmac to the terminal. In San Francisco!
I was two years old when this movie came out. I see the changes in assumptions that have happened in my lifetime and wonder what assumptions will change when my sons are my age.
If the self-anointed high and mighty represented by hirelings like Chipman have their way, those changes will be total.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
An oldie but a goodie – only government employees are professional enough to have firearms.
Thanks for making the point, David – it can’t be made enough.
The voting demographic that can be influenced the most (white, suburban women), have no idea that government employees are no more qualified to carry than non-LEOs who have done even a little training.
If you do a series of articles on this, please include the back-flipping FBI agent who pressed the trigger on his firearm when he picked it up off the dance floor (“the ladies love his style”).
Wasn’t that covered on The Darwin Awards on Brandon Herrera’s Youtube channel? Still waiting for him to finish that AK-50 though.
I much prefer the 12.7 millimeter by 42 mm so-called Beowulf cartridge!
Much more usable, highly effective, and can be easily carried!
Cheers from the oil patch in Central Wyoming
Also include the NINE bystanders shot by NYPD at the Empire State Building, the innocent woman and child shot by NYPD in the Bronx as they fired approx 20 rounds at a drug dealer, and the two women shot IN TIMES SQUARE by NYPD as they fired on a unarmed man having a mental health crisis completely missing their intended target and hitting the two bystanders instead.
These are just a few incidents within the past few years from a single department. Government agents are notoriously under trained.
Ol Mayor Sullivan’s Boys never disappoint, do they? Been at it since the nineteen naughts, they have been. Gangsters, nearly all.
Chi-Town ain’t that different, either. You know “da boiz” always ready to fit their rivals with a new pair of “Cement OverChoos”. I think all that stuff about “we’re special and you ain’t” runs back at least to the days of the Whiskey Rebellion and the subsequent formation of what is now the ATF.
Gangsters, nearly all.
Hannity says they’re heroes – each and every one.
I shot competitively with LEOs (some of whom were very good). When speaking with the good ones individually, they would acknowledge that the average LEO has horrible shooting skills and poor firearm handling habits.
That is because most of them are not “people of the gun.”
It would be helpful to the cause if the average suburban, white woman was provided this information from someone they value. The message they hear is how highly trained LEOs are and that’s why we need more gun control laws that apply to non-LEOs.
The message could be conveyed in a way that does not belittle LEOs, but just explains the facts of shooting skills and firearm handling.
Many voters are just obsessed with the notion that firearm ownership is inherently dangerous for non-government employees, despite all the facts to the contrary.
And, lest we forget, most people are ignorant about most things but they will never admit it. What is the saying? “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
I have been in law enforcement for 43 years and I can confirm that the average police officer is a poor shot. Most barley qualify on a very easy course, but in the last few years police department have tightened up firearms training and tactics probably because of law suits over the actions of a FEW.
Thank you.
To any voters who might be reading the comments on this site:
My point is not to criticize LEOs – it is to point out that passing more gun laws that apply to non-LEOs based on the assertion that LEOs are the “only ones professional enough” to have firearms, is an act based on a false premise.
Gentlemen, I would argue that one of the only positive side effects of the whole paramilitary movement by Leo’s across the country during the last twenty years, is that the paramilitary training has provided more shooting practice, a tighter mindset while shooting, which has resulted in a higher hit rate and better efficiency by the cops involved.
Cheers from the oil patch in Central Wyoming
Your net rhetoric is utterly splendid my good man, and it will be; right up to the point that the nice people with the tin shields on their shoulders, Point their guns at you and tell you to disarm or die. this can happen to you at a mall, small business, or at any City, county, state, or federal, government building, which TSA staffs, although there could be other agencies as well with armed officers at portals. entering said government buildings when armed by the average American, will get that average American arrested and charged with a felony. Fingerprinting, photo… Read more »
It was only the tip of his finger. Luckily, the firearm, though pointed at several customers further down the counter were not injured by the ND.
Tale of Two Cities, Chicago, IL. vs Houston, TX. Population ~ Chicago, IL. 2.7 million vs Houston, TX. 2.15 million, Median HH Income ~ Chicago $38.600 vs Houston $37,000 % African-American ~ Chicago 32.9% vs Houston 24% % Hispanic ~ Chicago 28.9% vs Houston 44% % Asian ~ Chicago 5.5% vs Houston 6% % non-Hispanic White ~ Chicago 31.7% vs Houston 26% A reasonably similar match-up until: Concealed Carry gun law ~ Chicago NO vs Houston YES # of gun stores ~ Chicago Zero vs Houston 84 dedicated shops another 1,500 places to buy. Homicides, 2012 ~ Chicago 506… Read more »
The people who could lead an effort to improve things will only discuss numbers until it destroys the narrative, then they will say things like:
Meanwhile small children continue to be murdered by habitual, violent criminals who grew up in a dysfunctional micro-culture that tolerated and encouraged low impulse control.
Much as I agree with your conclusion, might want to consider murder clearance by police. I suspect abject failure of Chicago PD has much to do with their high murder rate.
Armed populous helps keep cops honest and are less likely to fear criminal retribution for helping cops solve murders.
“The weapons’ menacing looks, coupled with the public’s confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons What’s with this Sugarman pervert, anyway. I WATCHED him lie some years back as he “testified” before a Senate Judiciary hearing in Washington State.Seems an Idiot State Senator from King Gounty had himself an “assault weapon” ban bill and since HE was chair of that Senate Committee, ol Joshie Boy was called in to testify. He baldfacedly lied as he explained how “these weapons are easily and quickly convertible to full automatic fire” and this must be removed from the hands of… Read more »
As long as you get in their faces, pointing out how they NEVER aim their gun control proposals, where they should, at the perpetrators of gun crimes, you’ll mop the floor with them, in rhetoric or debate. As for LEOs endorsing gun confiscation, how hard is it to understand, they have their guns already, so they want to keep it away from the hoi polloi (masses)? This is all a part of the set-up for the coming world, where the elite have total control under the system of socialism.
Historically, “conservatives” have revered LE. Are LEOs sure they want to change that?
Leos are people with families, mortgages, vehicle payments, utility payments, Pension funds, and a whole list of bills they have to pay every single month. They also live politically within each of their organizations: PD’s, SO’s, HP’s, and are under authority to Superior officers who have a direct impact on their careers, and their continued employment. So you tell me how individual Leo’s are going to react when their Superior officers order them to go door-to-door with the SWAT teams, which are running down the registration lists using the 4473 forms which we’ve all filled out, and confiscating weapons that… Read more »
People in the private sector lose their jobs all the time for doing the right thing.
I have zero empathy for a government employee who will severely abuse the rights of American citizens in order to keep his job, pension, and dental insurance.
Hello there again, You’re still not getting the point! I’m not asking you to have empathy for them, I’m not asking you to consider what a dire situation they will be in emotionally, psychologically, or metaphorically! I’m asking you to consider the real-world aspects in there, that is the cops decision making process, as to whether they obey their olds to the Constitution, or they succumb to the pressures a pretty much losing their entire livelihood, possibly their families, and even looking at the possibility of going to jail themselves! Why is this important to consider? Because the cop on… Read more »
“Gun registration already exists in the form of those 4473’s, and those forms can be simply faxed, or emailed to every Leo agency in the country for proper use as it were.” Time to take you to school… The BATFE FORM 4473 is nothing more than a worksheet and purchase log for the FFL to use to query the perspective gun buyer as to their ability to pass the unconstitutional background check to get permission to transfer a firearm or firearms from the FFL into the purchaser’s / transferee’s possession. Then the FFL locks this form up in his safe.… Read more »
Thanks for the reply. The ATF has applied pressure to FFL, continues to apply pressure to the FFL, and has to date forced FFL to hand over those documents you say that they lock up with the feds can’t get to, which has the serial numbers of the weapons purchased, the name, address, etc information of the purchaser. So the ATF knows who you are when you buy a gun, where you live, and with the serial number of the gun and or guns you have purchased if they choose to know. The FFL DEALER does not have the financial… Read more »
Show me ONE FORM 4473 that has ANY firearm serial number listed on it. Just ONE! You are talking about the FFL’s Purchaser log book, NOT the FORM 4473. As for the ATF and L.E. reviewing FFL records, THAT is done all the time. Like I said, during investigations for stolen weapons and ATF/FFL audits. Now, if the FFL is dirty, then yes, the ATF will bring the K.Y. Jelly and have a party at your place at your expense. As for FFL’s not having the funds to move forward against government to fight for their rights? THAT is BS!… Read more »
Ah, come on man, there you go injecting facts into “Bonehead’s” false narrative. He was on a roll and you undid him. Ah, man.
Every 4473 has the firearm’s serial number on it. I know. I’ve done hundreds of transfers. It has recently been moved to the front page of the form here is the link.
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/atf-form-4473-firearms-transaction-record-revisions
Also, FFLs are required to turn their forms and log books into the ATF if/when they go out of business. The ATF has shipping containers full of 4473s.
This response is to Neanderthal75: The point I made, to which you responded was: “Historically, ‘conservatives’ have revered LE. Are LEOs sure they want to change that?” It was a question to LEOs. Your long-winded, rambling response included what is well-known: some percentage of LEOs will enforce new gun control laws because they fear the consequences of not following orders. I responded that reasoning is insufficient justification for enforcing certain laws. You responded to that by claiming I don’t understand your point and that I should consider real-world aspects. I understood your point and I considered the real-world aspects before… Read more »
Me thinks something got crossed somewhere? I thought I was responding to Neandrethal75?
You did – I clicked the wrong spot.
Don’t be selfish. Give us a treat.
By all means, please do expound on your findings? We are ready to pee our pants.
I wonder how many lives were snuffed out by “all those guns.” Yes, I would like to see those numbers compared to the number of lives snuffed out by the nine abortion clinics listed in the Las Vegas City area. Oh, that’s right, they don’t want to talk about that.
“Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;”
An average of 23 Veterans commit suicide a day. That is 8,395 a year and NOBODY bothers to present THAT FACT on . daily basis in the news or in these reports. Deeper yet? NOBODY says HOW the suicides are committed. Doesn’t mean 8,395 guns are used each year in this sordid detail.
David,
It’s happening all the time in Richmond.
“Oh, I forgot.”
That won’t help.
Stats here:
https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2021/01/26/tsa-continued-detect-firearms-virginia-airport-checkpoints-2020
The stats your link provided shows overall 1,200 decrease from 2019 to 2020 for firearms found by TSA, and lower than the other recent years (2016 and later). Even though RIC was higher in 2020 over 2019, for all Virginia airports there was also a decrease in 2020 to 2019. Also for all Virginia airports, 2020 was lower than all the other years reported (2016 through 2020). Then there’s that pesky stat, of 10 in one million screened. Compare that to all the other contraband found during screening, probably more like 1 in ten or twenty passengers. Most of the… Read more »
Since this clinic most likely has a “sign” then I’m sure that “Bonehead” wouldn’t carry inside it. One has to know their limitations.
At least 5 shot at Buffalo health clinic, 1 suspect in custody – StarTribune.com
At a Federal agency that just had the rollout of new pistols, the recipient of a new pistol shot their hand demonstrating/experimenting the standoff by pressing the muzzle end of the slide back. Even training does not make you immune to stupidity.
this is about POWER and CONTROL not guns. If you have guns and ammo to defeat body armor and the armored weapons they use against the people then they have to rely on siege, which means help could come and stop them. I think waco would have been different, government murdering citizens can you say tyranny. all for ONE felon that was a member
If all the veterans had done nothing, there would not have been a problem.
What sort of moron leaves their weapon in the car?
Concealed means concealed.
And felony means felony!
See how that works in real-world terms instead of rhetoric on the net?
Cheers from the oil patch in Central Wyoming
“Man has got to know his limitations.” I guess you know yours.
Thank you for proving once again you do not have the gray matter to engage in intellectual debates, all you can seem to do is act like a 5 year old and throw out cliches! Well done Roy Boy!
Well, I’m like yourself who seems to be omniscient, I can only address comments that I can see! The original comment at the top of this subsection of comments asked the question “What sort of moron leave their weapon in their car?” You raise the specific issue of in a private business, I did not take you to task for that fact, I cited specifically places that do not allow non Leo’s to carry. This was in direct response to Roy Boy saying concealed is concealed. How many articles have you read about printing when carrying? how many articles have… Read more »
My question is, were you drunk when you posted this? LOL!!!!!
taking it into a county, state, or federal building, will not get you a ticket, it will get you arrested on felony charges! The cop isn’t going to be on your side, because law enforcement officers are never on an individual side when a felony takes place! Take that chalk it up as a win in their arrest record, you know more felony arrests equals better career opportunities? Try taking your sidearm through TSA checkpoints, into any government building and see what their response is! Here’s a hint, you’re going to have lots of guns pointed at you, and the… Read more »
Suzanna Hupp, unfortunately. At the implied point of a government gun, to comply with the “law”.
Hey genius, Ever needed to go in a county building to get your new tabs for your vehicle? How about going in to get a new title for a vehicle that you purchased? How about going in to pay your property taxes? How about going in to pay a ticket? You are not allowed to bring your sidearm oh, your long gun, or any other weapon into a county building oh, it’s called a felony! You were a good little fellow before you left the house that morning so you put your sidearm into your holster, got in your rig… Read more »
When I paid my taxes two months ago I walked into my county building with its no firearms sign while carrying my handgun just like I do everywhere else where I don’t have to pass through a metal detector. No muss, no fuss. But hey, Bonehead, you do you.
Well Roy Boy, your life your business! Should you desire to engage in abject stupidity, that is in fact your choice! All you’ve got to lose is your house, your livelihood, your access to freedom, and a very unhappy stint behind Bars; all it takes is one cup looking at you kind of funny walking up to you and saying are you armed? What are you going to do when that happens Superman? Are you going to shoot it out with the local cops in the county courthouse? Yeah, that’ll look good on the evening News, that’ll really help to… Read more »
What really bothers me about your post is that you didn’t bother to check your spelling and capitalization like you apparently did in your post to Oldvet. It’s almost like you didn’t care as much about me as you did him. But, be that as it may, it really touches me that you seem to care so much about me and others. That must be your sensitive side. I’ll bet that goes over real big with the hoes. Now as far as to where I choose to carry a firearm don’t you fret none about that. I am pretty sure… Read more »
No problem Roy Boy, I’m so pleased to have been of assistance to you! Never mind the grammatical and spelling mistakes, I put effort into those people that I consider to be honest when debating. You apparently didn’t take note of the phrase I used concerning your choice in carrying a weapon: I wrote the phrase “your choice your business”, perhaps you should bone up on reading comprehension skills at your earliest convenience! I really don’t care where you choose to carry, how you choose to carry, when you choose to carry, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera! My point which you fled… Read more »
“I really don’t care where you choose to carry, how you choose to carry, when you choose to carry, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!”
And yet, here you are. LOL!
Once again allow me to strongly suggest that you take as soon as possible a remedial Community College level course in reading comprehension!
I’d tell you to get a clue, but quite frankly I do not believe you have any point of reference.
Cheers from the oil patch in Central Wyoming
See, there you go again, showing that sweet, caring side. What else you got?
If concealed carry is legal at your courthouse then good on you and I’m happy for you! However, that is not the case in most places and most courthouses. it should be the case in every courthouse across the entire country: that we are allowed to carry our weapons wherever we go. But what lackluster fellows like Roy Boy don’t seem to be able to do, is to actually address honestly the real-world consequences violating City, county, state, or federal building properties while armed and forbidden to so do. Far too many people are stuck in rhetorical land and what… Read more »
US representative (D) Val Demings from Florida’s 10th district. While she was CHIEF of the Orlando Police Department. She once left her department issued sidearm in duffel bag in her car for a burglar to take.This happened at her home. “I never leave my gun in the car, but I did that night because we were expecting guests for the weekend and they had young children. We are allowed to store our [weapons] in the trunk or passenger compartment as long as they are out of plain view.” So she apparently didn’t even have a high shelf or a lockable… Read more »