SAFE IN WISCONSIN

Early this morning I sent the following correspondence to all members of the Madison, WI city council urging them to repeal section 25.28 of the city ordinances  which states " No person shall sell, manufacture, purchase, possess, or carry a "Numchuk" (also called a "Nunchaku") or a "Churkin" or a "Sucbai" or similar weapon, within the City of Madison."  I made the following arguments: 1) Thousands of varieties of weapons exist, yet during the city 1970's chose to ban just three which originated in Southeast Asia and are part of the long martial arts tradition?  Why? We know why:  because of a hysteria against these weapons that arose with the rise in popularity of martial arts entertainment at the same time.  This was similar to the anti-switchblade hysteria that spread in the 1950s.  Every culture has a warrior tradition. To maintain a prohibition only against weapons that originated in a particular culture might be an example of ...

  Gaining Perspective  “I feel naked without my gun.” is a statement sometimes made by someone who has carried a concealed firearm long enough that they have become comfortable with the practice and have made it part of their everyday routine.  Typically this statement comes about when the person is entering a gun free environment, e.g., on a commercial flight or in some other prohibited location.   Sometimes it is said aloud, and at times only said to one’s self.  I will admit there was a time several years ago when I found myself saying it.  But I looked inside and thought carefully about this statement and the feelings that give rise to it.   If one feels naked without a gun, it is a sign that they have developed too great of a psychological dependence on being armed with a firearm.  In addition, it is a sign that this person does not understand how a gun fits into a personal security plan.  When you must leave the gun outside, yo...

More About Carjacking As auto anti-theft systems have gotten more difficult to overcome, the crime of carjacking has increased.  Why try to defeat a sophisticated anti-theft system when you can simply take a vehicle from the driver after all anti-theft safeguards have been deactivated?  Carjacking can happen anywhere but mostly occurs in urban commercial areas while the driver is entering or exiting a parked vehicle.   Over 90% of carjacking occur in urban or suburban areas In a national survey 93% of carjackers were male In the same survey a weapon was used in 74% of carjacking 45% firearms 11% knives 18% other weapons Places carjacking occur: 44% open areas, such as along a street 24% garages, parking lots, and near commercial areas (malls, gas stations, restaurants, office buildings) Carjacking happens frequently at intersections while a car is stopped and blocked by vehicles front and back.  To prevent this, do not stop too close to the car ahead of you....