Crutching Around With A CCW

By Jason Parks – Guest Contributor

I have some questions that I want you to think about for a minute:

How does someone with a permanent physical disability carry a concealed weapon?

How much more time does it take for them to draw and fire compared to someone without a physical disability?

How can they avoid a confrontation if they cannot quickly extricate themselves from a dangerous location?

What affect does having a physical disability have on your situational awareness?

Do laws take into account a person’s physical disability if they are forced to use their weapon?

Now I want you to consider this scenario:

A man is home in bed with his wife. The sound of breaking glass wakes him up. He lies there for a moment listening. Did he dream it or was it real? His wife is still asleep beside him. Then he hears it – the sound of the deadbolt unlocking and the slight squeak of a door hinge that he has been meaning to oil.

He realizes that someone has just broken into his home.

He wakes his wife up and tells her what’s happening. She grabs the phone and calls 911. He gets out of bed and into his wheelchair. He is paralyzed from the waist down from a car wreck. He gets his pistol and flashlight from the drawer of his night stand.

His wife has been shooting a few times, but is not that familiar with guns. He is armed and ready, but his two children’s rooms are between him and the intruder. To get to their rooms he has to wheel himself out of his bedroom and down the hall to their rooms. He can’t simultaneously hold the pistol and the flash light and wheel himself into the hallway.

What does he do?

Most people don’t think about the challenges that people with physical disabilities face when it comes to CCW and personal safety. I think about it because a little over two years ago, I broke my left femur while walking. Believe me, I wish I had a great story to go with it but it was simply that I stepped wrong and broke it. The bone was brittle, and it shattered because of the radiation treatment I received when I had cancer. For a good story, remind me to tell you about the chainsaw incident.

Anyway, I have been on crutches for two years, two months and counting. I recently acquired my concealed carry permit so all these questions have been on my mind along with figuring out how to best carry a concealed pistol while on crutches. The standard stuff just doesn’t work. I Googled “concealed carry”+”disability” a few weeks back and got a lot of links that I have not looked at yet. I wanted to be able to take you on this little jaunt into figuring all this out with me.

So what do you think? Is it harder for someone with a physical disability to protect themselves and their families?

This post and its contents are the views and opinions of the author only, and do not necessarily represent those of Beretta.

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You can follow Jason on Twitter @thejasonparks.

Our Future Hunters and Fishers

By Brad Wilson - Guest Contributor

Five years ago my wife and I were blessed with our first child and at that point and time we both realized what it really meant to be a parent.  I can't even begin to name the millions of things on my bucket list that I now wanted to include him on.  From waterfowl hunting in Canada to sail fishing in Costa Rica, my adventures would not be complete without him included.

One thing that I have learned over the years as a parent is that these kids that we are raising are the future of our outdoor passions.  It really all came into perspective for me when my oldest son asked me every day, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day, for a week straight: "Daddy, when are we going fishing?"  At that point I realized that our children are what we mold them to be.  I realized quickly that both of my boys are as eaten up with hunting and fishing as I am (for which I have to give credit to my own dad).

The future of our passions and the future of our rights depend on what our children are taught, yet sometimes we get so caught up in ourselves that we tend to forget that.  I have learned over the years that I may not even pick my gun up the whole time on a hunt because I am more involved with teaching my sons about bird ID, flyways, or how wind plays into exactly where the birds will most likely decoy.

I am a firm believer in the saying "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life."


Have you taken a kid hunting or fishing lately?


Brad Wilson is an avid outdoorsman targeting waterfowl and saltwater fish and is a guest contributor for the Beretta Blog.  He can be reached on Twitter or YouTube.


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This post and its contents are the views and opinions of the author only, and do not represent those of Beretta.

Impressions From A Gun Show Virgin

by Carrie Lightfoot - Guest Contributor

Here are some simple impressions and a few questions from a gun show virgin:

There are not too many women at gun shows.... Yet!

I didn’t get strange looks for walking around with a gun on my hip.

I did get curious looks for being a woman cruising the aisles.

It is oddly comfortable and comforting being surrounded by guns, ammo and gun loving people!

I have no difficulty believing the recent Gallop Poll that said 47% of homes in the US have a firearm. They were all at the show!

You can wear ANYTHING you want to a gun show and I mean anything.  

Fully grown adult males actually will pin handwritten signs on scraps of paper on themselves! 

What are all those little parts filling the tiny bins on so many tables?

Gun lovers are really nice and patient people.

The people watching doesn’t get any better.

There are many “interesting characters” at gun shows.  

Bring a cart with wheels - everything is VERY heavy.

Buy your ammunition on your way out!

Going to a gun show is like going to the humane society. There are so many guns that need good homes. You MUST leave with one.

You see the wildest T-shirts for sale and on the visitors.

I didn’t expect to see machetes and Gothic swords - but they were fascinating.

The collector firearms are amazing.

The military historic paraphernalia is sobering.

I want one of those huge rounds in my home. I don’t know what they are - but they are really big, very heavy and very cool!

I like the sound of stun guns.

Nothing beats a hot dog, a Coke and a stadium full of firearms.

Carrie Lightfoot is owner of The Well Armed Woman and quest contributor for the Beretta Blog. Join the dynamic group of women shooters on Facebook orTwitter and visit www.thewellarmedwoman.com

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This post and its contents are the views and opinions of the author only, and do not necessarily represent Beretta.

First Lady of Duck Hunting

by Adam Brassfield - Pro Staff Contributor

Painted nails, pretty earrings, gorgeous lips and an itchy trigger finger. She is a knock out in a dress and a sharp shooter from the blind. Her Beretta Xtreme is her instrument and killin' greenheads is her passion. Yes, she is absolutely amazing!

For so many years it was never a thought. I mean: the one where you could see a female, day in and day out, in the duck blind. With all the nasty weather and mud, the thought of ever seeing a woman showing me up was a long shot. Then I met Natasha and my whole world changed. Seriously, when you think of a lady duck hunting you think of a backwoods, tobacco spitting woman whom you may or may not mistake for Clay Aiken. But I have to be the first to tell you: I was floored.

The first time she went duck hunting with me I thought it was a nice way to "give back" and something real good to look at, other than the other three mildly disgusting gentlemen that work with me. She shot a wood duck and a few others and looked as though she belonged out there, but I wanted to put her to the test so, the next week in our duck boat, we three guys let her come again...big mistake! She out-shot all of us and she is an incredible professional of the sport. What? I did not know if I should ask her to marry me or throw her out of the boat. I did both.

Watching this beautiful lady shoot greenheads out of the sky, give commands for the dog to retrieve them then load her Beretta without even asking, did nothing short of making me want to have kids all over again! The other two guys are ugly enough to burn a wet mule, so I knew I had a chance. She has changed our company and she has changed this industry.

Natasha is living proof that women have a place in the gun and hunting world. Not only are they coming but they have already arrived. Have I mentioned she shoots a Beretta? I have died and gone to duck hunting Heaven.

Adam Brassfield is a guest contributor for the Beretta Blog. He can be reached on Facebook.

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This post and its contents are the views and opinions of the author only, and do not represent those of Beretta.

The PSA Shootout

by Phil McNaughton- Guest Contributor

Springtime is wonderful in South Central PA.  Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, and if you listen closely, the musical dings of lead pounding steel echo through the countryside.  That's right, it’s spring, and it’s time for the PSA Shootout.  Held annually at the Palmyra Sportsmen’s Association, the PSA Shootout is the largest knock-down steel match in the country, bringing in nearly 600 shooters for an all-steel speed shooting match. 

There are 6 stages, with 25-35 falling steel targets per stage.  With approximately 180 plates, at 600 shooters... Yeah, that's well over 100,000 rounds downrange over the course of the 4-day event.

The game is pretty simple: shoot all the plates until they are down, as fast as you can.  There are 4 handgun divisions:  Stock Auto (iron sights, no comps), Open Auto (optics, compensators, etc), Stock Revolver (iron sights, no comps), and Open Revolver (optics, comps, etc).  Shooters can enter multiple divisions with different guns. 

Automatics are downloaded to 10 rounds in a magazine, and revolvers are limited to 6 shots before a reload.  The start position is either holstered, or gun in hand with the muzzle touching the table, and reloads can be done off your belt, or the table.

The stages contained large plates, spaced closely together for those clutch-dumping speed runs, along with just enough small plates so you had to slam on the brakes and really see that front sight.  Someone in Texas must have read my post about the Star, and decided to teach me a lesson by stacking 2 stars on top of each other in Stage 1. 

Although my Beretta 92G Elite II ran flawlessly all day, the rest of my squad fought with an abundance of gun malfunctions.  Failures to feed, fire, eject, and who knows what else seemed to pop up on every other run.  At least one shooter had to break out the back up gun.  This is one of those events where folks like to see how light they can load their ammo, but I try to stay away from the sub-power factor bunny fart loads.  It might shoot soft, but it might also not cycle your gun reliably, or knock down the steel.

This was my first year at PSA, I managed to squeak by in 60^th place, out of 271 shooters in Stock Auto.  I had solid runs all day, with only 1 stage that disappointed me... yeah, the one with the stars...

So next spring, if you’re looking to start your shooting season off with a bang, or a ding, try the PSA Shootout.  You'll see some old friends, meet some new ones, and have a blast.  Just bring your safe attitude, your favorite pistols, and ammo.  Lots of ammo.

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This post and its contents are the views and opinions of the author only, and do not necessarily represent those of Beretta.

Cars and Compassion

By Carrie Lightfoot - Guest contributor

How far from reality is the characterization that all large companies are only about the money and  that somehow, people of influence have only attained that position at the expense of others.

I believe that, for many, it is the other way around. That a company’s commitment to “do good works” and labor to help those less fortunate, results in a blessed company.  Beretta is such a company.   Beretta and what we see as the “company”  is merely the complete reflection of the Beretta family members, both past and present, their values, guiding principles, and the direction they give to everything they do. 

Mrs. Beretta with her son, Carlo

Umberta Beretta, with grace and elegance, continues this deep history of giving. Umberta says that  since she was a child, she has had the instinct to protect the weak. She shared: “It is silly to concentrate on your own life. Life is too short. The least one can do is try to think ahead and try and create a better world for those who are coming next”.

She is passionate about protecting children from the ravages of AIDS and believes with education it can be stopped. Her commitment to the health of mothers and children around the world has her involved with multiple organizations driven to protecting those most vulnerable. Umberta continues this committed work with her participation in the upcoming “women only” car race,  The Cash & Rocket (RED) Tour.

Thirty five red cars and seventy of the most successful women from the worlds of fashion, film, music, art and business will travel to the fashion cities around the world and unite in their efforts to raise global awareness and funds for charity. 

Mrs. Beretta will be driving a Porsche like this one

These seventy inspirational women will hit the road June 7th for a 3 day road trip like no other. They will travel from central London, to the elegance of Place Cendome in Paris, through the cobbled piazzas of Milan ending in the glamour of Monte Carlo's casino, raising funds along the way.  Umberta is actively giving her time and resources in a very personal way to make sure the event raises cash. Individuals from around the world can donate to the "car" or "team" they like.

How about us all “joining” Umberta on this journey to help others and make our world a better place for the suffering.  Every donation, even the smallest, can make a big difference.  Donate here: www.crowdrise.com/umbertaandgabriella.

“Many small people, in many small places, do many small things, that can alter the face of the world.” Anonymous

With all of the misrepresentations and mischaracterizations of big companies today, it is so important to acknowledge and recognize those that are founded and rooted in compassion and heart, and continue to live it and walk their talk, like Beretta. Hats off to Umberta: she is an inspiration to us all.

“To do more for the world than the world does for you - that is success.” Henry Ford (1863-1947)

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."  Anne Frank (1929-1945)

If you would like to be part of this cause by sponsoring Umberta, donate to team RED.

Carrie Lightfoot is owner of The Well Armed Woman and quest contributor for the Beretta Blog. Join the dynamic group of women shooters on Facebook or Twitter or on her website.

Make sure you follow Beretta on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube

This post and its contents are the views and opinions of the author only, and do not necessarily represent Beretta.

Of Tobacco and Lead

By Keith Hollar – Guest Contributor

Photo courtesy of BerettaUSA.com

You might not think that cigars and firearms have things in common, but in reality they do. First off, they are both passions of mine; I’ve been shooting for over 20 years and have been enjoying cigars for about 8.  Secondly, they are both under attack from people in government and from the media, and if we don’t stand up for them, we might lose the right to enjoy them, and probably some others as well.

There seems to be an impression, nowadays, that people who enjoy shooting or premium cigars are bad, crazy or backwards.  As most of you probably agree that is not true.  We are just law-abiding citizens enjoying something guaranteed by our great Constitution.

Let me explain a few things about premium cigars that might not be well-known.  First off, they aren’t sold in the likes of 7-Eleven® with names such as White Owl or Black and Mild.  They are sold in tobacconist shops and are made of only tobacco, with no additives (save for some flavorings in a few cigars).  They also can’t be used to roll and blunt.  If you try to do that with a premium cigar you’ll end up with a pile of mangled leaves.  Also, most cigar smokers aren’t addicted to them; they smoke them for the enjoyment.  Recently, however, between the FDA trying to take over regulation of the premium tobacco industry and municipalities enacting stricter rules on where and when people can smoke, it has been getting more difficult to find places to enjoy a legal product. Now: I don’t want to force my cigars on someone else, but I think that the business owner should be allowed to choose how they want to run their business.

With regards to firearms there have been two major events that had been used to call for more restrictions on private firearm ownership.  These are the “Fast and Furious” debacle across the border and the Zimmerman shooting in Florida.  The progressives and the media have used both of these events as examples of why we need more and more gun control.  However, both of these incidents have laws concerning them.  If these laws were enforced, or if someone was found in violation of these laws, there might not have been loss of life and the guilty will be punished.

What am I trying to say, you ask?  OK. here it is: if we don’t stand up for our rights now, once they are gone, there won’t be anything stopping those in charge from revoking other rights next. 

What can you do?  Join organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA) or Cigar Rights of America (CRA).  Write to your local, State, and Federal elected officials.  Sign petitions against further governmental intrusion of our lives.  By making our voices heard, we will let the people in power know that we won’t let them take away rights that are Constitutionally guaranteed without a fight.

Agree?  Disagree?  Other thoughts?  Make sure you leave them in the comments below.

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This post and its contents are the views and opinions of the author only, and do not necessarily represent those of Beretta.

The 10 to 2 Rule

By Brad Wilson - Guest contributor

As an avid duck hunter I get to spend quite a bit of time in the blind with different people from all walks of life.  I have had the opportunity to hunt with professional sports stars as well as with average Joes that have never sat in a blind a day in their life.  One thing that I can not stress more is SAFETY!

When folks whom I've never been hunting with get in the blind with me, we always go over safety and shot selection, first and foremost.  The basic rule that I give is what I call the "10 to 2 Rule."  Basically what the hunter has to understand is that his window of opportunity will present itself between the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock position as he or she directly faces the front or rear of the blind.  If the bird happens to get outside of that range then that bird is off limits to the hunter and is in play for the person standing next to them.

If I have a hunter deviates from this rule, I will give a fair warning on the first instance.  I love this sport and I completely understand that we get caught up in the adrenaline rush sometimes, so if the infraction wasn't blatant or reckless I will give a little leeway.  My delivery will definitely make them think about the shot they took though.  If it happens again, the hunter will be asked to unload his weapon and set it down.  In all the years I have been hunting I have only had to go to this extreme one time.  After a few vollies, it was apparent that he understood where I was coming from and after a little pep talk we agreed that he would be WAY more careful.  I didn't have another problem all morning, and he learned a new respect for his weapon and the other hunters around him.

One exception to this rule is the hunter on the end of the blind.  I normally like to put more experienced hunters on the end because typically their shooting skills are far better than a novice's and thus they can "cover the end" of the blind.  I typically sit on the end where the door is, so I can work the dog on retrieves and cover that end of the blind.

One thing we all should remember: a hunt with no safety is nothing more than a game of Russian Roulette with accidents waiting to happen.  Whether you are in the duck marsh, the deer woods, or just having fun at the local range, safety should be your first and foremost concern at all times.  Always understand that "you are your brother's keeper" and not speaking up about unsafe acts is just as bad as if not worse than committing the unsafe act yourself.

Happy hunting and stay safe!

Brad Wilson is an avid outdoorsman targeting waterfowl and saltwater fish and is a guest contributor for the Beretta Blog.  He can be reached on Twitter and YouTube.


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This post and its contents are the views and opinions of the author only, and do not represent those of Beretta.

Barrel Full of Monkeys

by Rick Chisholm - Guest Contributor

I don’t think I’ve been to a single gun shop in my life that did not have an example of a blown barrel. Now the advent of YouTube has provided a fertile resource for the curious to watch as people blow up their guns either through ignorance or happenstance. While it does make an interesting conversation piece -- having a barrel on display peeled back like a banana -- blowing up your barrel is no laughing matter and poses serious risk of injury to the shooter and bystanders.

    Blown barrels are rarely due to defect on the part of the barrel: the usual culprit would be an obstruction, although I would not rule out poorly crafted reloads in some cases. Obstructions come in a variety of forms, but commonly it is something left over from cleaning the gun, like a small patch, or piece of one. 

    Be sure to inspect your barrel after cleaning and before taking the gun to the range or blind. When afield, take special care to keep the muzzle off the ground, and if you drop the gun be sure to unload it and inspect the bore before carrying on with your hunt.

    A little caution and due diligence goes a long way to keeping you safe while you spend time with your firearms. Happy and safe shooting.

Rick Chisholm is an IT Security Officer and guest contributor for the Beretta Blog. He can be reached on Twitter

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American Heroes

By Matteo Recanatini

The Range Safety Officer calls out to the three shooters. "Barrels up, actions open, rotate!"

JB, a 21-year old Marines Corps veteran, adjusts his A400 Xcel and walks carefully to the next station. His uneasy steps betray the courage and steadfastness of his character. As he makes himself comfortable at Station #2, I catch a glance of his tattoos: a set of dog tags seems to have been pinned to his right shoulder. A Holy Cross, on his chest. The phrase "May the Lord have mercy on my enemies, for I shall not" on the side of his chest. But the tattoo that most stands out to me is on his belly. It reads "American Made" JB is indeed an American-made hero.

For a moment, I forget that JB is a triple amputee. Both of his legs and his right arm were blown away by an IED during conflict in Afghanistan. He is one of over fifty wounded veterans from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan who came, guests of NASCAR star Ward Burton and his "Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation," for a day dedicated to them: our American Heroes.

I had the fortune to spend a day with these incredible individuals, thanks to Ward and his staff, fishing, shooting Beretta guns and bows. Regardless of their injuries, every one of these great men partook in the celebration. Some were seasoned shooters, others had never powdered a clay in their lives.
JB was there with his mother, but don't get the wrong idea: the proud Marines does not let anyone feel sorry for him. He'll get right up and show you that he's capable of more than you in no-time-flat. Bantering with an Army veteran, a 6-foot-3, 300 pound gentle giant, JB was ready to defend the honor of the USMC, when his fellow soldier made a snide comment.

JB: a true American Hero

During my 4-hour drive home, last night, I had ample opportunity to think about what I had witnessed: true American spirit. I had been lucky enough to talk to men who decided that serving their country was the most important thing they could do. They paid a price, as did their families: some were missing limbs, while others' wounds were not as-readily visible, but deep and lasting, nonetheless. Some were able to walk on their own, others had to be helped out a golf cart or a wheelchair.

You look at these young men, and you focus on their wounds, on the hand that is supposed to be at the end of their arm, and has been replaced with a prosthetic device. You see the scars they bear, and you forget the reason why that scar is there in the first place. It's easy to empathize with how hard it must be to carry on life without legs. What we tend not to do, however, is to take the next step: to remember that the only reason they are in that condition is, truth be told, us.

The missing arm, the scar that runs from the hip to the shoulder, the impaired vision. They are all currencies used to pay for our freedom, and for the freedom of towns and villages in the Helmand Province, or in An-Najaf.

When was the last time I gave up something I considered "vital" to me, for the better good of someone I don't even know? Cowardly, never.

As I walked through these men, at the fishing pond or at the range, I heard their conversations: often, they discussed of the problems they face now that they are back in the arms of Lady Liberty: readjusting to life without combat, physical therapy, finding a job. Some offer their advice, discussing how you start calling the Human Resources office, letting a few days go by and then calling the General Manager. "Let them know you're a veteran." advises one.

Life continues, for JB, with the ups and downs, and all the challenges they have to face, all-too-often alone.

And I think "Why is America not doing more?"

I wonder how it is possible that someone is willing to die for us, but we're not able to find him a job. How it is possible that every man and woman in America doesn't drop what they're doing to ensure that every JB who comes back from a war theater is honored beyond a ticker-tape parade.
Why are not all organizations like the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation?

As I think of each of the dozens of men I met, of their stories, of their truly selfless acts, I feel so lucky that Beretta can help organizations like the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation and Ward himself, who invests his time and money to tirelessly ensure that our American Heroes receive the honor and recognition that they deserve and - as tears well in my eyes - I pray that every family in America, every man and woman, will take  a moment, whenever possible, to take care of our veterans.

You may be reading this and promise yourself you'll do something, to help even out a score that is so great, it sometimes scares us. But tomorrow we'll be dealing with the usual hum-drum, made of mortgages, bosses telling us that our report is late, kids who need braces, drivers cutting us off and who knows what else.

And JB may be forgotten.

You know what's amazing? That, not matter what, he won't stop loving his country and - through his prostheses - loving you every day, for the rest of his life.

Will you help?

Eat Your Vegetables

by Carrie Lightfoot - Guest Contributor

“I don't want any vegetables, thank you. I paid for the cow to eat them for me.” Doug Coupland 

 

"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon."  Doug Larson

I have noticed something very interesting. I post a photo on Facebook of a cat wielding a machine gun or a Mae West quote about being a bad girl and within hours - over 500 shares, even more LIKEs and tons of great comments. I post a photo of an attractive woman brandishing a firearm and BINGO thousands of shares and likes and hundreds of comments. (Yes, there are tons of MALE Well Armed Women fans.)  I post a link to a phenomenal article loaded with potentially life saving tips and/or spot on marksmanship tips and..... Maybe 10 shares, 100 likes and only 5-10 comments. 

So what is that? 

That is human nature. We love something quick, fun and satisfying but don’t really like to take the time to take care of our “firearm health”. There are a few areas in our lives, where this probably really doesn’t matter much. Then there are the few that really do matter, like our health, our relationships, our careers and yes, our skills as an armed personal defense shooter. But of course as Booker T. Washington said “Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.” 

This is where the Broccoli comes in. 

It really is like eating vegetables. We know they are good for us, very good for us. We don’t even question it and yet some of us still avoid them like the plague. So What can we do to get over the barrier of “if it is good for me, than no thank you”? What can we do to make these “vegetables” taste better besides wrap them in bacon? 

We know that regarding one’s physical health, if they have an illness or are diagnosed with a serious medical issue, they will make the dietary and lifestyle changes necessary. They WILL begin to eat their vegetables. The fear becomes the motivator. 

Now, none of us should have to, or needs to go through the trauma of a close call or an attempted attack to create the fear to get us to change our ways, should we? Of course not.  It takes the mental commitment and belief that we each could REALLY be in this type of horrifying situation to create the fear that will cause us to change our ways and do the reading, training and practicing necessary.

So the moral of the story is: enjoy the simple things and the things that make you laugh, but also invest in your firearm health. Read, train, practice and grow in your knowledge of what just might keep you alive if the horrific and unexpected happens. Oh and yes, eat your vegetables, too!

Carrie Lightfoot is owner of The Well Armed Woman and quest contributor for the Beretta Blog. Join the dynamic group of women shooters on Facebook or Twitter or on her website.

Make sure you follow Beretta on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube

This post and its contents are the views and opinions of the author only, and do not necessarily represent Beretta.