Don’t need a permit

My husband and I both love BHM and look forward to every issue. We read every BHM cover to cover.

One bit of advice in Donna Insco’s article (Issue 143, Sept/Oct 2013) “Homestead Security for Women” concerns me though. In the article she advised women to get a concealed carry permit and use it. That is, she advised women to get a permit and carry a concealed firearm. While I could argue whether concealed carry or open (not concealed) carry is the better way to go, I’m in total agreement with carrying a firearm on your homestead, particularly when you’re outside. However, I have a problem with Donna Insco’s advice to women to get a concealed carry permit first, before carrying a firearm. Is there really anywhere in the U.S. where a permit is required to carry a firearm (concealed or otherwise) while you’re on your own property? I hope not.

Actually, I already have a concealed carry permit, so does my husband. We’ve had concealed carry permits for many years. And both my husband and I do carry when we’re outside, especially out on the back part of our place, away from the house. Sometimes the firearm one of us is carrying is concealed, like when it’s covered by a long shirt or a jacket. Sometimes it’s not. Regardless, neither of us worries about concealed carry permits when we’re on our own property. The permits are for concealed carry when we’re NOT on our own property.

I don’t believe advising people to get a permit for exercising a right is a good thing to do. There are already far too many people in this country that think owning guns is illegal unless you have special training and a license/permit. That kind of nonsense is promoted by the anti-rights mass media, and I sure don’t like to see it in BHM.

Now if you’re talking about getting the training necessary for obtaining a concealed carry permit, that’s a horse of a different color. There’s a whole host of responsibilities that comes with carrying a firearm, let alone when carrying one for personal protection. A person carrying a firearm should be aware of those responsibilities. But just because a person has a concealed carry permit does not necessarily mean that person has had the training. Sadly, I also believe there are some people who have had concealed carry training and still aren’t aware of their responsibilities. Nevertheless, I will not promote infringement on anyone’s right to carry a firearm if they so desire. And I certainly won’t promote the infringement of a person’s rights on their own property.

Barbara S. Young
McCammon, Idaho

Beer money well spent

Renewing my subscription. Our subscription had elapsed due to our financial situation, but we realized that this was what we liked to do on our “date night.” Have a beer and read BHM. Missed it so much that we’ve decided to cut out the beer to pay for the subscription.

Tony & Monica Simatovic
Newbury Park, California

Scald pears to easily skin

Under your Pear Overload article (Issue 143, Sept/Oct 2013) it says on page 73, “Peel, slice, and core the desired amount of pears.” Why do it the hard way? Like peaches, if the pears are scalded, the skin softens, and slips right off. About 10 to 20 seconds in boiling water, depending on how ripe they are. Cut the pears in half, and a melon baller and knife will remove the core. Then can the halves. If we are going to dry them, we use an old Veg-O-Matic vegetable slicer to cut them. Easier, and much more uniform.

Thomas Curry
Soda Springs, Idaho

BHM good for the soul

Thank you — first off to Heather Adams (BHM office staff) for helping me get my subscription, very helpful and thought-provoking. I’m a veteran being treated for PTSD (Beirut ’83) and my disability check doesn’t go real far. To my point, Heather, I am saving up for the Whole Sheebang, all in time. Your magazine has gotten me through my recent post-op work on shoulders/knees. Reading is good for the soul and brain.

The whole Backwoods Home lifestyle is just what I need and I have talked about with my VA head docs. They agree to a point. No matter , I know the hard work would be good but not too hard. I’m 58 years, sort of banged up (but still good to go).

I’m looking for a ’60-’62 Willy’s station wagon to fix up and travel the country visiting VA centers and other DAV’s. Next will be a stop to visit your offices and meet the staff. Dave and Annie, seems like you were always there when I need a foot in the rear or push from your stories. Not forgetting the rest of the staff. Thank you for all you’ve written; I take most to heart. John Silveira, you’re the kind of man this country could use in the White House in D.C.

After 9/11 my world was broken and took a lot of time and help to put the puzzle pieces back together, although some still don’t fit just right.

Just wanted to share those thoughts and words. I’ve still got a lot of years left in me. Someday I’ll be able to pack up and start my adventure then settle down and relax in the high country.

Ronald Anastasi
Cape May Court House, New Jersey

The CD

I subscribe already to your wonderful magazine and saw your CD on the back cover. What a great thing — so many articles from back issues! I am a “newbie,” so don’t have but two magazines so far; I was just wishing that I could afford some of the back issues, and now many of the articles from them are available in one CD! Thank you for an entertaining, enlightening, educational publication!

Ann S.
Texas

More articles for older folks

I just finished reading two stories in Issue 144, Nov/Dec 2013 — “Leaving Yuppieford” and “Tips for older homesteaders.”

Hope to see more articles like this in the future. I’m 72 years old and really enjoy your magazine.

Larry Melvin
Dundalk, Maryland

Bury guns in sand

Reference Issue #140 (March/April 2013) “Hiding a gun.”

If you are going to bury a gun regardless if vertical or horizontal, recovery is less difficult by digging the hole eight inches larger after container is placed in the ground. The four inches on all sides is filled with sand, the area on top of the container should have eighteen inches of sand, the rest filled with dirt from the hole.

Any surplus dirt should be removed from the area and scattered so as not to reveal the area in which the gun was buried.

The sand will make retrieval easy even in the dead of winter. Hope this is helpful.

J.M.
Beatrice, Nebraska

Extension exercises

Congratulations on figuring out that extension is better for your spine than flexion. I routinely refuse treatments to patients that want to continue the flexion routine, i.e. toe-touching, yoga, whatever.

My reputation and my patients’ health are too important to me. Throwing chiropractic under the bus because of …! Nuff said. I renewed anyway.

Dr. David J. Walters, D.C.
Erwin, Tennessee

Didn’t intend to throw chiropractors under the bus. They do a lot of good too. — Dave

Borrowed a friend’s issues

I was introduced to your magazine a few weeks ago from a friend who let me borrow his past years’ subscription. I love the articles, the recipes, and the political views. Looking forward to being a long-time subscriber.

Heidi Mackey
Pendleton, Oregon

Gold Beach office visit

We very much enjoyed our visit to your office last week & are sorry we missed meeting Dave.

Thanks again for the fun visit & we hope if any of you are in the Atlanta area you will give us a call and stop by for a visit.

Ron & Marcia Crysler
Canton, Georgia

Now I subscribe

I have been reading your website for years. It is very informative. I finally can afford a subscription so I am subscribing. Thank you for producing such an informative magazine.

Mike Grenet
Bryan, Texas

Look forward to each issue

Just wanted you to know that I really enjoy your magazine and look forward to each issue. Although I am disabled I still love all the articles and dream of doing all the events you write about — always wanted to be a pioneer homesteader!

Mary Ann Harding
Freeport, Pennsylvania