Breakfast at Tiffany's – Because I Do Not Know

Pick On Someone Your Own Caliber

Duane over at duanemoody.com recounts several episodes of violence against gay people, including the Massachusetts case of Jacob Robida. In case you haven't heard, Robida is the neo-Nazi who walked into a gay bar and started flailing a hatchet at patrons before opening fire with a handgun. He then apparently abducted an ex-girlfriend, whom he killed, and shot an Arkansas police officer to death before other cops finally popped a couple of holes in this dirtbag and sent him to Hell. Duane also tells of another story out of London:

In London, a gay couple's house was set on fire, and other gay people have been attacked and beaten in the streets. They believe it is a backlash to the legalization of gay civil unions in Britain. The police are recommending that gays, lesbians, and transgenders be as careful as possible when walking outside.

Duane goes on to lament the state of our culture in which gays must worry about physical violence. However, I was struck by the police's advice. "Be as careful as possible." That's the best you've got, bobbies? I guess so in a country where you cannot use lethal force to defend yourself.

But here in America, we have another option -- which became a topic of discussion among a group of BaT friends: Arm yourself, train yourself and protect yourself. It's not only in the United States. The Swiss certainly understand that a well-armed society is a polite society. In Switzerland, it is law that each home is equipped with a gun. And this in a country known for its neutrality -- and for the fact that only Napoleon has invaded Switzerland since the 12th century.

These are my words of advice to every gay person I meet: Obtain a RtC permit and use it. What is an RtC, one friend of BaT asks? RtC stands for "right to carry." It's the correct term for "a concealed weapons permit," which the anti-self-defense groups like to use because "concealed" sounds more ominous. Thirty-eight states have RtC laws for qualifying citizens. Among the 12 that don't are some of the worst crime statistics. If you are unfortunate to live in one of those dozen states then you have to make a moral judgment on what is more important to you.

Owning a firearm for personal protection carries with it a great responsibility. You must receive proper training, both for your own safety and for others. Local law enforcement agencies often offer regular training classes, as do private firing ranges where most of the instructors are former military or police experts. I was training by a former SWAT member. Once you have received proper training, there are several like-minded groups you can join to sharpen your skills and help you navigate the permitting process. My favorite is Pink Pistols, a GLBT-friendly organization. They have local chapters throughout the country, and I've always found them to be a great bunch of people.

You should also secure your weapons, so that only you (or your partner, if you trust them with a gun and he/she has received proper training, as well) may use them. Gun locks are an excellent idea (at times -- more on that in a bit), and some states require that you purchase one when you buy a gun.

Which leads us to the two questions I am asked the most:

1. What gun is right for me?

2. Do you use gun locks?

Let's address Question 2 first. Yes, I have gun locks for all of my firearms. With only one exception, all of my firearms are locked. (A little background: A gun lock is a device which secures the trigger with a mechanism that prevents accidental firing. You must have a key or a combination to unlock the guard. This prevents stolen guns from being used or keeps children and other untrained people from hurting themselves or others.)

However, when I am carrying the weapon on my person, I do not lock it. Also, the firearm closest to me at night is unlocked. I do not have children living with me, nor do I want to take the time to unlock and load a weapon in a time of need. If children are at the house, the lock goes on. If I am transporting the gun or leaving it unattended, the lock goes on. I have this lock on my guns. It doesn't require a key, but uses a combination and has a lighted keypad. You can also buy key locks, but in darkness and confusion, I do not want to bother with a key.

Now, onto which gun is right for you. There are many schools of thought. I suggest you find a qualified instructor and a gun range which "rents" firearms for practice. You can then pick and choose until you find a gun that's right for you. Many people will suggest that a first-timer go with a low-caliber sidearm, such as a .22. While that may be good advice for those starting to shoot, I would not purchase one for self-defense purposes. When only one or two shots is all you get, you'll want the stopping power of a larger-caliber gun.

Then there's the semiautomatic vs. revolver debate. Semiautomatics can jam, which isn't pleasant if you really need to use it. This jamming is usually less about the gun's quality and more about the user's inability to correct hold it. Revolvers are simpler guns. However, they also carry very limited rounds -- usually six to eight "bullets." Semiautomatics, depending on state gun laws, carry anywhere from 10 to 15 rounds. So, if you're new and don't plan on sport shooting, I would recommend a revolver. It's close to dummy-proof for the novice. A word of advice on revolvers, however. But a snub-nose weapon (i.e., a shorter barrel). If in a close-up struggle, you don't not want to give the bad guy a good grip on your weapon.

Personally, I do not own a revolver anymore. When I did, I went with a Smith & Wesson .38 like this one. What I am carrying -- legally, mind you, as I live in a RtC state and I have a police-issued permit -- are one of these two: a Makarov .380 or a SIG P226 9 mm. Both are excellent weapons -- the Makarov the preferred sidearm of the Russian Army and the SIG produced by the Swiss, who know a little something about precision.

I don't make specific gun recommendations, as that is up to you, your instructor and your trusted firearms dealers. But I do recommend that you purchase your firearm new from a reputable dealer and a reputable company. No pawn shops, no knockoffs. Like with everything else, you get what you pay for -- and this purchase isn't something you want to skimp on.

P.S.: If you are anti-self-defense, then save your breath. You won't convince me with any argument, lame or otherwise, that I do not have the capability or right to protect myself -- especially if you are the same sort who will also say that we must "understand" why people commit crimes. No, I don't have to understand sh*t, and I'll take my chances with my 25 years of firearms knowledge over waiting 5 minutes while 911 responds.

As the T-shirt once said, "I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6."

UPDATE: Thanks to BfT and Bruce at Gay Patriot for the link love. Go here and here to read some of the comments for and against this post. Also, this points out that I never added GP to the blog roll. That's now corrected. I'm not a Republican, but I sure find that they agree with me more than I agree with them -- or that I thought I agreed with them.

16 comments Jake McCafferty last posted at 5:37 PM
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16 Comments:

I love that you said that I would not like your post; how did you know that I was against violence? Seriously, I don't begrudge people that want to have and use guns to protect themselves; it just isn't for me and my home. I personally don't want it, and guns make me feel actually more UNsafe. That's just a personal opinion!

By Anonymous, at 9:22 PM

Are you really advocating for all gays to buy guns?? Jeeeez, I think that post was the most ridiculous thing I have ever read. Violence does not beget violence and who knows, you go out and buy a gun and then get killed in a car accident the next day, the gun really didn't help you there, did it.

By Anonymous, at 6:58 AM

Jake, I agree 100%. It's time we stop acting like a bunch of fags and stand up for ourselves. Hip-hip-horray for saying what needs to be said. Signed the Ex-Marine from Marigny haha you know who I am.

By Anonymous, at 8:24 AM

I lean towards duane's attitude. I don't want a gun and won't have one. But I respect your right to have one, or as many as you want. I'm glad you emphasize proper trianing and safety procedures. I would hazard to guess that a majority of gun owners have no proper training.
It's been my observation over the years that people who are killed inside their home, with a gun, had a gun inside their home.
What I love about this country is that we have the freedom to choose.

By dAAve, at 8:32 AM

Saw this on gaypatriot ... two words: preach on.

By Anonymous, at 2:01 PM

I won't be rushing out to purchase a gun, I am completely against them, but I can certainly see where you are coming from. It is so frustrating to think that I might have to take extra precaution when I am out on the town simply becasue I happen to be a homosexual.

Although I can't support your idea, I think it was a great post.

By Matt S., at 2:14 PM

Bashers beware. The next queer you mess with may decide to mess back with superior and lethal force. Jake are you calling for a 21 st Century Deacons of Defense???? Sign me up

By Anonymous, at 3:41 PM

Duane, Matt and Dave ... thanks as always. I hope you are careful.

But Dave I'm not sure what you mean by people who have guns being killed by guns. Do you mean someone else in the house, or suicide or what? Or that they were killed by an invader. It's my personal opinion that once I'm in that situation, I'm already dead unless I can, by the grace of God, beat the perp to the punch. And I can't do that with a candlestick.

Jason, thanks for stopping by. I always enjoy illogical insults. Using your train of thought, then, if I am shot one day, then wearing a seatbelt every day doesn't help much. Um, yeah, OK. And, yeah, violence never solved anything. It certainly didn't end slavery or two World Wars.

Marine! It's been a long time. Are you back in the city for good or still hiding out in the Red Stick? Call me. Laissez les bon temps roulez! I miss you guys -- well, most of you. LOL.

Anonymous #2, I don't think I'd advocate the Deacons for Defense, which, despite the end result, was an armed neighborhood watch at best and vigilante justice at worst. I favor gay people preparing themselves for defending their homes and their loved ones. I guess you can argue the Deacons did the same, but I can't say I would favor organized armed patrols in gay neighborhoods.

By Jake McCafferty, at 5:37 PM

I've posted my personal recommendation on my blog at;
http://tedbnnj.blogspot.com/2006/02/to-be-unarmed-is-to-be-dispised.html

For self-defense, anything smaller than a .38-special is more dangerous to you that to the goblin attacking you. And most importantly go practice with it; be familiar with it and be about to re-cock and de-cock it in the dark. And while I always recommend ear-protection for practicing, fire it a few times in the dark without ear-plugs so that the "bang-flash" will not startle you if you need to use in indoors in the dark.

By Charging Rhino, at 2:54 PM

Thanks for all the wonderful things you've said about being well-armed against attack! It's good to see some of the supportive comments, too. But I wanted to jump in here with some answers to some of the overly critical comments.

The Pink Pistols would never advocate that all gay people buy guns. We advocate that only those who want to have them buy them. We aren't silly -- if you have a strong objection to guns, you aren't going to be emotionally prepared to use it when the time comes. No one should buy a firearm unless they have thought long and hard, and come to terms in their heart with the potential that they may have to someday use it in defense of their life. Use it on another human being, that is.

If you can't face that reality, do not buy a gun. It would not only be a waste, it would be dangerous. A person who buys a gun under those circumstances is the person who gets it taken away and used on them by a bad guy, because they will hesitate when they should shoot.

And yes, violence does beget violence. But self-defense is not violence! Violence is wanton destructiveness and action with disregard to law. Self-defense is disciplined action with total regard for law, the antithesis of violence. It is the ultimate non-violent action, for it stops violence cold. And whoever said a gun can stop a car accident was talking crazy talk!

The image of the weak, defenseless queer that cowers from attack only encourages the idea that queers are safe targets. It is time to take personal responsibility for individual safety and stand up for ourselves!

If you're interested in starting a chapter of the Pink Pistols, stop by www.pinkpistols.org and check out the New Chapter e-book on the main menu!

---Gwen Patton
Pink Pistols
International Media Spokesperson

By Gwen Patton, NG3P, at 7:24 PM

Great post. I linked to it from the Outright Libertarians blog.

As for me, I was less than an hour away by car from where the attack occurred, and given how far Robida got afterwards, he could have easily made it to my neighborhood. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you I was glued to the news until the chase ended. Though I'm a big Second Amendment advocate, I telecommute from my home, so I wasn't at risk.

My husband-to-be, however, is a grad student and was on campus when the news of the attack broke. He's a big, lefty liberal who would never touch a gun and thinks it's weird I grew up with them all around me as a child (in Tennessee). I felt so helpless with him out there on the street with no means of self defense.

Unfortunately, I think it would take one of us or our close friends being attacked for him to even consider changing his position on gun control. I'm afraid he's very much representative of the LGBT community in that respect. I truly wish we could figure out how to get through to them

By Rob Power, at 10:04 AM

If one of the people in the Puzzles Lounge in Massachusetts had been armed, Robida would have been killed early on.

Think -- no seriously injured additional patrons, no dead woman from West Virginia, no manhunt, no dead cops. Just a dead scumbucket (which we got anyway, at much greater cost to society.)

It's a shame you take a swipe at the Libertarian Party, though, when we're the only party which actually supports the right to keep and bear arms and the right self defense without any reservations.

By Anonymous, at 10:12 AM

Gwen is absolutely right -- self-defense is NOT violence.

Those who get just as outraged at the thought of gays and lesbians defending themselves as they do at hate crimes have totally lost the distinction between right and wrong.

I don't believe there is a Pink Pistols chapter where I live (in Phoenix, Arizona). However, I am definitely interested in starting one. If you wither into a swoon at the thought of a safely-armed household, you'd best not visit mine. Big Maggie -- my Smith & Wesson .357 magnum -- is always loaded and ready for trouble.

I never go looking for trouble, but I am always prepared in case it comes looking for me.

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