Book Review: In Defense Of The Second Amendment

There are books. Then there are books that truly do break new ground and dance a flamenco on the bloviating pontifications of pundits, media, and academia. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the literary equivalent of Jose Greco reducing a pile of bloviation to a layer about a nanometer thick.

photo of book/book cover
In Defense of the Second Amendment

In Defense of the Second Amendment is not your normal gun/gun rights book. It is a long-overdue breath of fresh air that take the false arguments and tropes of the anti-gun authoritarians, lists them, and then demolishes them one by one, fact by fact. It truly is a new take, and a much needed take that arms you to deal with those tropes and actions.

Unsurprisingly, Larry has created a fast moving, even fun, read with this book. While it is easy and enjoyable to read, it is in no way, shape, or form a lite read. The citations provided are extensive, well-sourced, and could occupy you for days, or even weeks if you truly get into them. It is meticulously researched, and it shows.

The book clearly benefits from Larry’s extensive experience with firearms and the Second Amendment. Unlike most corporate “journalists” Larry knows weapons, and in particular firearms, as well as the political process and the bureaucracy. I was unsurprised to read that when Larry offered to teach one of his courses for free to local media, none accepted the offer. For corporate media, ignorance is bliss. For those who defend and make full use of the Second Amendment, their ignorance is anything but bliss — but Larry has laid out a guide for dealing with that and more.

This book should be read and owned by anyone who supports the Second Amendment, or is on the fence about guns and gun control. I would highly recommend that if you have a friend or know someone who is on the fence, give them a copy of this book as a gift. While it will not guarantee they come out in favor of the Second, it will open eyes to the lies and manipulations in play. I would also recommend giving it as a gift to those who are opposed to guns. Not really expecting any conversions, but it has the potential to get this information out to a much wider audience. Who knows, the person might read and start to think a bit, and that’s a good thing.

Larry also lays out some what-to-dos that are very good. I’m already doing some of them, plan to add more as I can. This is not the time for inaction, but the time to start really working on the local level while enabling legal and other action.

In Defense of the Second Amendment is a book that will make you laugh; it will make you cuss; and, best and most of all, it will make you think. Be sure to give copies as gifts, because thinking can be contagious and this is an epidemic we need.

Recommended.

NOTE: I do not earn any commission or fee from this book or the publisher, and I bought this copy with my own money.

Kroger Fuel & I Are Done

It was nice to have some funds this morning to do a little shopping after the wonderful joys of two different fasting blood draws to start the day. Nothing huge, but some things I’ve been needing to pick up like coffee for next week and other bits and pieces.

After having a wonderful breakfast (more on that in a separate post), I hit Kroger as my first stop and on the way out I decided to get fuel, as I’ve done for years. I got my $8.32 worth of gas, and went on my way. Yes, keeping the car as full as I can while I can.

Now, normally on an errand day I’m checking my online banking before and after each stop. It lets me make sure things have been correctly charged, keep up with my balance, and make sure nothing has gone awry. Today, I didn’t do that and it bit me.

I stopped at Fresh Thyme to pick up a couple of things, and when I got to the checkout, my debit card was declined. Given my balance at the start of the morning, and that I hadn’t spent all that much at Kroger, I was on the phone to the bank rather quickly, fearing that someone had somehow gained access to my card. Someone indeed had. Kroger.

In all the years I’ve shopped there, much less bought fuel, I’ve never been hit with a hold that showed up online. As noted, I tend to check as I shop, and I’ve NEVER, let me repeat, NEVER seen a hold from them. Is it possible one has hit? Sure. But, again, never seen one for fuel. In this case, per Kroger policy (as stated by them) they are now putting a $150 hold on all debit card purchases at the pump.

So, I found myself dead in the water as they had taken an additional $150.50 above what I had already legally paid, and had not returned it. Kroger blamed my bank and/or Visa for that. The bank and/or Visa said it was on Kroger. To a certain extent, I don’t care. Since I had paid for the gas I bought, and verified Kroger indeed had the money (which they agreed that the did indeed have that whole whopping $8.32), I wanted my $150.50 back.

An extremely verbose internet rando on Twitter explained at length, then condescendingly and smarmily continued to expound at length on how it was just business and I peasant should just deal (until I muted the mouthy thing who doesn’t apparently do well on social skills since even my “I don’t care” went over his head). He may be right, but again I’ve never had this done before. Yes, some other gas stations have put a $1 hold at the start, but I have never had one, esp. Kroger where I’ve been a regular customer for years, put a $150.50 hold on me before.

And, they are never going to do it again. Done. Don’t care how things are done, supposed to be done, or are done on the fly by the Queen of the May. I’m not going to do business with someone who takes my money even after I’ve paid my just debt, and then doesn’t return it immediately. Again, don’t care if it was Kroger, who cheerfully notes that holds can last 24 hours (so be glad if it gets back sooner peasant), and then blames all holds on the banks and/or Visa. I don’t care if it is the banks and/or Visa at fault, because they didn’t demand $150.50 for the hold, that’s on Kroger; and, they say the hold length is on Kroger. A pox on them both is my response.

And, yes, I know that they will give it back, for all that I am reminded of the bully who steals from you and then eventually gives it back because the teacher or someone bigger than them found out and made them give it back. Has that feel to it, you know? They will give you your ball, cash, lunch, whatever back when they are done with it. So deal.

Nor do I care if it is legal, done legally or otherwise within the way the banking system works in real life, or whatever. Fact is, taking someone’s money to which you are NOT entitled and then not giving it back immediately is wrong. Period fucking dot.

For now, the one place I know who is doing the $150 per go is Kroger. So, I’m not going there anymore and want you to be aware of what they are doing. Up to you if you want to deal with this or not. Yes, if I jumped through some hoops I might could shop there without getting hit with a $150.50 hold every time, but I’m also tired of all the people who want to see how many hoops they can make you jump through, as well as those who are good with it. Both groups do not have individual liberty, liberty, or your best interests at heart. Again, period fucking dot.

So, I’m shopping elsewhere for fuel. If this becomes a problem elsewhere, there are other options. There are options that may become much better given the way cards and such can be tracked — and fucked with officially and unofficially. Yeah, I’m one of those who is laughing at the idea of a federal crypto, and noting the move towards Chinese-style control over funds and more. Only idiots think that’s a good idea. Hoping Zelazny was right about what happens when cash is banned.

Also, I’m going to be taking as much of my business as I can for groceries elsewhere. Nice thing is, there is some good competition here. Which is nice, as I don’t like to reward what I consider bad behavior. Don’t care what Kroger or anyone else calls it, I see this as very bad behavior.

Sorry to be wordy and even a bit preachy, but I am more than a bit pissed. I did finally get my money back after multiple calls with Kroger, my bank, and others. Actually toying with the idea of a small-claim court filing as this wasted several hours of my time, deprived me of my funds for a period of time, created the potential for damage to my reputation, and a few other things. We will see.

For now, I’m going to raise a proper toast to Sunny, and try to relax a bit. Meantime, caveat emptor, esp. with Kroger fuel.

*****

If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the tip jar in the upper right or the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Modesto Hats – Highly Recommended

Okay, not the best shot of me but a decent one of the hat. Fact is, I like hats. Had a fedora that lasted around 20 years, a wool felt hat for hiking and such that lasted around 15 years, and a couple of others that gave decent use. Recently, I had the opportunity to wear a Panama Cuenca woven straw hat and loved it. So much so, I went online to find one.

While Amazon came up (of course) the second place in line was Modesto Hats in Ecuador. They had what I was after at a great price (shipping was more), and a nice variety of other hats to choose from. They do things by hand, using traditional methods by hand, and are glad – eager even – to show you how they do things. The customer service was excellent, you can use PayPal (even if you don’t have an account) so that your card is secure, and the hat arrived far sooner than estimated.

I’ve already identified a couple of other hats I intend to save up for and get. Frankly, rather than giving the money to Amazon or a big company that mass produces, I’d rather support a company that seems to be highly committed to doing it right and getting it right.

Rating this exchange: Highly Recommended