A very few folks complained about me spending all that time and the last twenty blog entries on one topic. I felt those things needed to be addressed. I’ve said my piece on the matter for now. Thanks for your patience.
You get a respite here on that subject. I’m getting a respite this month, too. September 2013 had been shaping up to be a killer on my end, with the 30 days encompassing two classes, a speech at a Friends of NRA meeting in Idaho, teaching at a state bar association CLE course on defending justifiable shooting cases, the annual Gun Rights Policy Conference, the IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) national championships, and two shooting trials.
The two classes (great classes, with great students!) are done. None of the NRA supporters threw tomatoes or anything. The murder trial out west was postponed to November a couple of weeks ago. The attempted murder trial back east, which might have seen me on the stand during the pistol match, was scheduled to start Monday the 16th, and on that morning postponed into January.
As my kids used to say, “Woo-hoo!” I missed last year’s IDPA Nationals because it conflicted with a trial. Not this time. The old guy’s gonna be tripping a trigger in Tulsa, and is looking forward to the CLE and the Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC).
Speaking of respites…
The GRPC was created many years ago by the Second Amendment Foundation and the Citizens’ Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. You don’t need to belong to either to attend (though I recommend that you join both). THERE IS NO CHARGE TO ATTEND – you’re only responsible for getting there and feeding yourself. You’ll hear the finest minds in the gun owners’ civil rights movement giving you the inside story on the fight as it stands now and what to expect next. They’ll give you hundreds of dollars worth of publications for free.
The object is to bring together the people at the point of the spear on the national level, and at the grass roots. You’ll get the inside skinny from the people who’ve been fighting the fight in Colorado, in New York, and in the other most embattled states, and of course, those who’ve been fighting it in Congress and have carried it to the Supreme Court of the United States. Info is here.
Every time I go, it’s a re-charging of the batteries. You’re among hundreds of like-minded advocates of self-protection and civil rights. A respite from the constant assault on your rights? Feels that way to me.
Hope to see you there. In the meantime, I’m getting ready for a shooting match.
I think you would make a great guest on NRA News. Why Cam Edwards has not booked you is beyond me.
Mas – I’ve said my thanks previously for your commentary and insight on the Zimmerman case, so as far as I’m concerned you’ve earned your respite.
Enjoy it.
I, for one, have no complaints about the Martin-Zimmerman case series. This is one of the most important cases to come down the pike in a long time and your viewpoint and analysis was fascinating. Thanks Mas!
I don’t know about those “very few folks” but I would like to thank you for taking the time to post your thoughts on the Zimmerman case. I refer anyone interested to read you first before commenting on any of it. The court of public opinion has no rules and makes for an environment in which it is easy to condemn a person. I’m certain any one of those public opinion jurors would be clamoring for blind justice were they to be seated in Zimemrmans’ chair.
Thank You
Enjoy your respite Mas.
If the IDPA is in Tulsa, I’m gonna try to make it there. Would you have time to shake hands?
Sure, Josh. It’s at the US Shooting Academy in Tulsa. Go to http://www.idpa.com, where they have a list of who’s shooting on what squad, what days. When you arrive at USSA, go to the registration desk and they should be able to tell you which squad will be on which shooting bay at any given time.
I too would like to thank you for your insightful thoughts on the Zimmerman case.
Zimmerman was very lucky that his neighbor had a phone to take Zimmerman’s picture, since the police didn’t. Zimmerman was one cool customer to ask his neighbor for pictures. Don’t you think? I think the pictures were the primary evidence that kept him from doing some prison time. If this were an episode of Perry Mason I would have said that this doesn’t pass the smell test.
Best of luck at the IDPA Nationals!
A well deserved break for you, Mas. Knock ’em… er, silly at the IDPA Nationals! Show them young ‘uns how it’s done!
Thank you Mas!
Mas
You delivered a great series on the Zimmerman Case. You fleshed out facts and explained procedures while blog readers had the case still fresh in our minds. This series was a long well thought composition, that you obviously spent a lot of time working on.
Enjoy some well earned R and R.
Tim
I’m in agreement with Jeff in Wi. It was well worth reading all segments. I wonder if the person who commented that it was too much in the20th comments isn’t against the verdict.
Glad your workload lightened up, shouldn’t have to work so hard in geezerhood. I don’t think many realize just how much you do.
Enjoy the match and confab…..and let us know if it’ll be available on the web.
Thanks.
Marc.
Mas,
There wasn’t any problem with your series at all. You had to wait until all the facts were in and the trial was over. Since we readers were bombarded by the medias’ propaganda for months, we were already overloaded with hearing about the digital lynching of GZ before we started reading your series. Do not change a word of what you wrote.
Here are my ideas for blogs in the future;
1) Suppressors for home-defense guns. Why? Because home-defense guns will be shot indoors. Ouch! I keep a pair of ear muffs hanging on the wall over my gun safes. I hope to have time to put them on before I have to shoot a zombie. {Yes, I am a bit of a wimp, I know.}
2) Guns of the future. Hey, it’s 2013. Where’s my ray gun? Where’s my robot? Where’s my flying saucer? Technology has really let us down. Ha Ha!
Mas, you’ve earned the rest, I don’t know how you do it? Your always busy. And I really enjoy reading your blogs. Have lots of fun.
Good luck in the match. Old Guys Rule!!
Oh yeah, I thoroughly enjoyed the Zimmerman series. Enlightening and facts instead of the emotional B.S. we get on TV.
Thanks for the informative series Mas. Could you do a article about shooting sports (IDPA, IPSC, etc.) and how they can relate to self-defense.
Marc, in the past the GRPC has been recorded and posted at Gun Rights Radio Network. If that’s true this year too, I’ll post a link as soon as I find out.
Dean Francis, your suggestion is a timely one. In the meantime, check out the “Combat Shooting with Massad Ayoob” book from the Gun Digest folks (usually in the sports section at Barnes & Noble), where the correlation between competitive shooting and self-defense is explored in considerable depth.
Hey Mas,
The series was excellent. So glad you covered it the way you did.
Have a great time on your Respite.
Have fun and good luck.
Thanks for taking the time to provide this detailed analysis. Given the importance of this case, I don’t think it’s possible to break the key facets down too much for the public. I spent time with every installment as soon as they were published.
Mas, thanks for the series on Zimmerman. I haven’t seen a more thorough treatment of the trial anywhere else.
Thanks as well for the info on the GRPC. I’ve heard that mentioned in the past but didn’t really know what it was or who was able to attend. I won’t be able to make it to Houston this year, but I’ll look out for it next year and attend if I can. Thanks again.
Have not read them all yet, but you did yeomans work… THANKS!
Just wondering how much info you receive in a Trial, say a Murder Trial.
I will give you some insight in to a Trial I was an Expert Witness in Toronto (long distance, I was awaiting my Green Card, could not go up) for the conclusion.
The Lawyers missed all kinds of really important evidence, written.
Thanks Mas, God bless you.
Mas, thanks for all you do for us. I have yet to comment on the past 20 blogs.. but here it go’s! Thanks for your insight and facts to all of the things some people were missing! And still some my still feel was the other way.. i myself first looked at the zimmerman case with a O my goodness at day one. Then research the facts atound a month later to find out that mr zimmerman really seemed to have acted in good judgement! And then we all know what transpired next for him.. but thats to the facts of that night.. he is a free man. From the guilty verdit! Im sure he , and his family will allways carry that load.. i enjoyed every blog i read from you! I’ve read alot of your articles, plus books. My hats off to ya, for all you do for our rights of gun owners! Thanks for all you do, and stand for bud! And with that said good luck in your upcomming match! Also was wondering if the mag class’s on your site ever get down this way? In south carolina!
Mas, far from too long, you know that I’m one who thought the GZ series was incomplete…but I do think I know why, so instead of faulting you I will thank you for your time, effort, knowledge, and insight. Hope you enjoy your shooty good time respite!
During your not so copious downtown, hope you can find the time for writing a Third Volume of Greatest Handguns. i have already read and reread my copies of the first and second volume.
Thank you for the great insight into this case Mr Ayoob. It was great to hear facts and not just spin.
Sir,
As much as I would love to join you, Marty Hayes and so many others at the conference it won’t be this year. Next year may be a possibility. Like the majority of your writings I learned much from your detailed analysis of the Zimmerman case and for your efforts I applaud you. Enjoy your break, you have earned it.
Steve