Glock Virus

Yesterday afternoon my son and I went into Stoddard's to punch a few holes in some paper people because sometimes paper people just need to be shot at. I had my Gen 4 Glock 17 and he had my Gen 3 Glock 17. I'm proud to say that I did out shoot him yesterday. After we shot we hung out for awhile and watched a little football in their member's lounge. I eventually wandered back to the sales floor and looked at the last two Glock 21 LE trade-ins that they had. As you might expect, one of them decided it had to come home with me.
You have to like the thought of 13+1 rounds of 45 ACP and LE trade-ins are always a sweet deal because there are a lot of police officers who don't enjoy shooting as much as you and me. So these guns are usually in excellent condition except for some holster wear.

I now am now the proud owner of -
Glock 21 - 45 ACP
Glock 17 Gen 3 - 9mm
Glock 17 Gen 4 - 9mm
Glock 34 - 9mm
Glock 22 - 40 S&W
Yes, I know this list is missing quiet a few different calibers so I'm probably not done.
Heck, I don't even have a Glock 19.

To make matters worse - Stoddard's has become a Glock LE Dealer so you know they are going to have all kinds of Glocks just lying around. I'm not in law enforcement but I am a Glock Armorer and a member of GSSF so I qualify for some Glock discounts. This could get ugly real fast.

Thanks for listening,
The Math Teacher

I Like My Glocks

As most of you know I have a few different firearms. I am proud to say that I have Walthers, Smith & Wessons, Rugers, Kimbers, Colts, a couple of Heckler & Kochs, and a few Glocks. A lot of gun aficionados look down on Glocks. As for me, I feel that the people at Glock make a fine product that has an important place in today's gun industry. I have a Glock 22, a couple of Glock 17s and one of my newest acquisitions a Glock 34. I have to say that I really enjoy shooting my Glock 34 at the range. It's a fairly large gun and the weight of the gun is 22.92 ounces empty, and 32.79 ounces loaded. It will hold up to 18 rounds of 9mm ammo. The total length is 8.15 inches with a barrel length of 5.32 inches. The sight radius is the advantage with this larger gun, and the sights are easy to recover and line up after each shot. The trigger pull from the factory is 4.5 pounds. It is a major shooter that is extremely accurate for a tactical pistol with the added benefit of GLOCK reliability. This is also one of the most popular pistols among IDPA competitors. If you're looking for a good, full size tactical pistol, you couldn't do much better than the GLOCK 34. I may or may not ever compete with it, but I expect that this is a gun that will be with me until I'm too feeble to pull the slide back by myself. I bought this gun from the folks at Stoddard's Range and Guns in Douglasville, Georgia. If you stop by tell them I said hey.

Thanks for listening,
The Math Teacher

Which gun?

Since I own a few different handguns I have often been asked which one is my favorite. That's not an easy question to answer. I have more than a few guns in most of the different calibers available. Since I have my GWL I carry a gun most of the time except for when I'm at work. You would think that my favorite gun would be the one that I carry the most. I would guess that is true for the most part. In the state of Georgia you have the choice to carry your gun open or concealed as long as you have a Georgia Weapons License. I would say that 75% of the time I carry concealed which usually means I leave my shirt un-tucked to conceal the gun on my belt. There are three guns that I find myself carrying most of the time.

The first one is an
H&K P30 in 9mm.
I bought this gun brand new from Stoddard's in Douglasville.


The following is from the H&K website -
A recent HK pistol design, the P30 is a modern police and security pistol that combines function and safety. Ergonomic features include a special grip frame with interchangeable backstrap inserts and lateral plates, allowing the pistol to be individually adapted to any user. Ambidextrous controls include dual slide releases and magazine release levers. Extensively tested, the P30 has already been adopted by several European police agencies. Excellent weight and balance make the P30 naturally pointable, easy to control, and accurate to shoot. An open notch rear sight with luminous (non-radioactive) contrast points allows for fast and accurate target acquisition, even under poor lighting conditions.
During a recent (2009-2010) endurance test, a P30 test pistol fired more than 91,000 rounds without any major component failures.

The second gun a carry a lot is a
Nighthawk Talon II 1911 with Bobtail in 45acp.
I bought this gun used from Stoddard's in Douglasville.

The following is from the Nighthawk website -
The Talon II comes with all the standard features of the full size Talon, match grade barrel, lightweight match trigger, forged slide stop, tool steel sear, extended mag catch and tool steel hammer. Small wonder that it’s one of our best sellers. The Talon II is a true 4.25" bushing barrel gun.
I'll be honest with you, I don't really know what all of that means but I do know that this is one excellent, easy to shoot handgun.

The third gun I have been known to carry a lot is a
Walther PPS in 9mm.
I bought this gun brand new from Wild West Traders in Marietta.

The following is from the the Walther USA website -
Walther PPS - More Conceal, Less Carry
The Walther Police Pistol Slim (PPS) model narrows the margin between concealment and confidence by packing Walther innovation into an unbelievable 1.04 inch profile. It's amazing how much professional-grade design actually fits into this lightweight sub-compact. Available in either 9mm or .40S&W, the PPS packs in more power. All in all, the PPS embodies both the legendary quality and tradition of innovation that make it not just a great pistol — but a great Walther pistol.

So, those are the three guns I carry the most. Would I say one of them is my favorite? Maybe....
My favorite gun to target shoot is my
Walther P99 in 9mm.
This was another used Stoddard's purchase.
My favorite gun to just look at is my
Smith & Wesson Model 625 JM Revolver in 45acp.
The fine folks at GA Firing Line in Marietta got this for me.
So which gun is my favorite? I have no idea.

Thanks for listening,
The Math Teacher

Websites used in this post -
H&K USA
Nighthawk Customs
Walther PPS

Where to shoot

So you want to go to a range and shoot a few rounds? I shoot at two ranges that are pretty close to the Powder Springs area -

The first range is called
Wild West Traders
2445 Austell Rd.
STE. 200
Marietta, GA 30008
I am a member at Wild West and this is the first range I shot a handgun at.
Wild West Traders has twelve lighted 25-yard lanes featuring a target retrieval system. For range use they allow pistols up to 45 caliber, and rifles that shoot pistol calibers. Twenty-two (22) calibers are allowed but NO magnums. They do not allow rifles, air guns, paint guns, or shotguns. Wild West Traders was founded in 2006 but the range is located in the old Hot Shots location which has been around for quite a few years. They have some of the lowest range rates in the state and charge only $10 per hour to shoot.

Next up is
Stoddard's Range and Guns
5840 Highway 78
Douglasville, Georgia 30134
I am also a member at Stoddard's. (Well, I said I was addicted to guns didn't I?)
Stoddard’s Range and Guns, the newest addition to Georgia’s ranges, is a state-of-the-art full service gun range and store. Stoddard’s features 12 lanes of 25 yard shooting for handguns, rifles and shotguns of all calibers (there are some, but very few exclusions). All lanes at Stoddard’s are controlled by a unique touch screen, multi-programmable system. Shooters can practice on moving and turning targets that can be controlled by the shooter, or chosen from a pre-programmed menu. Adding to the experience, Stoddard’s provides a fully air-conditioned environment, where the shooter is not exposed to the harmful smell and taste of lead and other airborne contaminants. A washstand, and lead-removal floor mats, protect the customer from carrying home an invisible coating of lead.

So that's the two ranges that are closest to me in Powder Springs. I enjoy shooting at both places and do most Saturdays. Yes, I shoot at one of them in the morning and then go to the other one in the afternoon. I know, that seems like a bit much but as I have said -

I'm addicted to guns.

As always,
Thanks for listening,
The Math Teacher

If you want to carry a gun

If you want to carry a gun in the state of Georgia you must get a Georgia Weapons License. To obtain a Weapons Carry License in Georgia, a Georgia resident goes to the Probate Court of their County of residence. The Probate Judge is the issuing authority for Weapons Carry Licenses in the State of Georgia. Procedures vary slightly by County but are mostly prescribed by Georgia law. Most Probate Courts will have a website which will detail the specific procedures used in that County. At a minimum, applicants must undergo a criminal background check, which requires fingerprinting and then processing by the GBI and the FBI. A felony or domestic violence conviction will generally be disqualifying, as are certain other conditions. A mental health check may also be required. Georgia does not have a training requirement to obtain a Weapons Carry License. The cost of applying for a License will be between $70 - $80, some or all of which must be paid in cash.
Georgia has a very active and effective gun rights organization, GeorgiaCarry.Org. I am an active member of GeorgiaCarry.Org. The GeorgiaCarry website has detailed information on procedures for applying in each county. There is also a detailed chronology of Georgia carry laws and history of the past racist roots of gun control. GeorgiaCarry contributed information used in this article.

Thanks for listening,
The Math Teacher

My Summer

I just noticed that I haven't been here ALL Summer long. I'm sorry about that, I guess I got kind of busy.

The first reason was - My Mom was very sick and eventually passed away on July 12th. She was a great lady and had a profound influence on my life. It goes with out saying - I miss her dearly.

The second reason had to do with Georgia.Carry.Org, the second amendment group I belong to.

When I wasn't with my Mom this summer I was recruiting members for GCO (this is what we call Georgia.Carry.Org). I went to different ranges all over the state and through special arrangements with the ranges, allowed people to shoot for FREE if they would join GCO or renew/extend their membership if already a member.

The results of my little project -

Total number of ranges visited = only 16

Total miles driven for GCO = 2014

Total money raised for GCO = $5534

Number of members who renewed = 84

Number of new members = 253

Sixteen ranges over the course of the summer may not seem like a lot but it felt like a lot while I was doing it. One Friday, I got up early and drove to Savannah and then drove home that night. I want to go on record and state that although it is possible, you should never consider a trip from Powder Springs to Savannah to be a "day trip". Just for kicks, the next day I drove to Macon and back.

I had a great time and I met a lot of good folks. Most of the people that I meet who are involved with guns are really good people.

I'll try not to let my next visit not be so long.

Thanks for listening,
The Math Teacher

Interesting Gun Fact

Since I started buying guns I have accumulated a let's say not a small collection. I prefer to not say exactly how many guns I own for two reasons.

-First reason - To be honest I'm not sure. I sort of lost count. :)

-Second reason - I've had to do something the last couple of weeks that I really don't like to do. I sold a few guns.

Yes, it's true. Guns are almost like money. At least they can be turned in to cash very quickly. I do recommend that if you find yourself needng money and you have a gun you want to part with - don't sell it to a gun store or try and pawn it. You will be able to get much more for your gun if you find a trustworthy individual and sell it to them. In order to sell a gun to an individual in the State of Georgia you do not need to fill out any type of paper work as long as they live in Georgia and are not prohibited from owning a gun.
Heck you might even be able to sell your gun to me. :)
I like it when guns are on sale.

Thanks for listening,
The Math Teacher

Walther PPS 9mm

The Walther PPS is one of my favorite handguns.
This from the Walther website-

Walther PPS - More Conceal, Less Carry

The Walther Police Pistol Slim (PPS) model narrows the margin between concealment and confidence by packing Walther innovation into an unbelievable 1.04 inch profile. It's amazing how much professional-grade design actually fits into this lightweight sub-compact. Available in either 9mm or .40S&W, the PPS packs in more power. All in all, the PPS embodies both the legendary quality and tradition of innovation that make it not just a great pistol — but a great Walther pistol.

Gun Information and Your Rights

After I got my first gun I was very concerned that I not do anything that would get me in to trouble with it. While on the internet I discovered two very helpful sites.

GeorgiaCarry.Org

Georgiacarry.org is Georgia’s no-compromise voice for gun owners.

GCO believes that citizens of Georgia and the United States have the right to own and carry the firearm of their choice for any reason other than to commit a crime.
GCO works tirelessly to ensure that the rights of gun owners are not compromised by the Georgia General Assembly, local officials, and those who ostensibly support gun rights while they work behind the scenes to erode our liberties. GCO is a non-partisan, grassroots organization, and GCO works for gun owners, not politicians. We are not interested in “access” or being “inside players.” We will not protect or make excuses for politicians who say they are our “friends” and then demonstrate otherwise by voting against us.

Public policy is controlled by the people who consistently show up and stay involved. GCO believes informed, active gun owners are the best defense against those who endeavor to infringe our liberties. To that end, GCO works tirelessly to keep our membership informed and active, and our members respond with equal passion and commitment.

GeorgiaPacking.org

On GeorgiaPacking.org you can find:

1 - An up to date list of pro and anti gun Bills in the Georgia General Assembly
2 - House and Senate Report cards based on gun related bills they sponsored and voted on.
3 - Georgia Gun Laws in plain English including Deadly Force and Stand Your Ground
4 - Georgia Attorney General Firearm Related UnOfficial Opinions
5 - Firearm Caselaw from the Appellate and Supreme Courts of Georgia.
6 - Weapons Related Georgia Code
7 - Probate Court contact information for all 159 Georgia Counties with a growing list of the actual firearm license process for each county; also accessible through the dropdown box on the left of the menubar at the top of every page
8 - A Firearm Discussion forum to talk about News, Guns, Bills, Laws, Concealed Carry, and the Georgia Weapons License
9 - Places Off Limits to weapons even if you have a Weapons License
10 - License Renewal Guide explaining the changes to the renewal process that went into effect 7-1-06

I joined Georgia Carry and presently serve as the State Membership Coordinator.
I am an active poster on Georgia Packing and I am known on there as The Math Teacher.

The first gun

The first gun I ever bought was a Ruger SP101 in .357 mag. I went to Wild West Traders to see what sort of gun I should buy. I told the guy at the counter that I was 50 years old and had never shot any type of gun but I wanted a simple handgun for self defense. Instead of looking down on me he was very helpful and told me that what I needed was a Ruger SP101 Double-Action Revolver in .357 mag. He said that if I got the gun in .357 mag. I would also be able to shoot .38 special ammo which would be cheaper to practice with. Armed with what I considered good advice I left and went to check prices at different places.
This was my first lesson in the world of guns. The same gun may cost you totally different amounts at different gun stores, even in the same area. I found the exact same gun at a store called Nick's and made my first gun purchase there. They seemed nice enough but maybe not as patient and helpful as the guy at Wild West. I was very suprised at how easy it was to buy a gun. I just filled out a simple form, gave them my driver's license to copy and waited a couple of minutes while they called someone to "check me out." I passed the background check and I was the very proud owner of my very first gun. They said that I now had range credit and asked if I wanted to shoot. I explained that I had never shot a gun before and asked if someone would have a few minutes to go in the range with me and help me get started so I didn't hurt myself or someone else. He kind of laughed and said they were too busy. There were 3 other guys in the store besides the one who helped me and I was the only customer. This seemed a little strange to me but maybe I was asking too much. I already knew that I was going to sign up for a gun safety class before I shot much so I took my gun home and started down the path that I find myself on now.

Welcome to addicted to guns

They say that the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem.

My name is Bill and I'm addicted to guns.

Two and one half years ago I not only didn't own any guns, I had actually never even shot a real gun. One day I just decided that I wanted a hand gun. I talked it over with my wife Pam and we decided that I would go to a class to learn about gun safety and them I could get a handgun for protection. My son and I signed up for a gun safety class at the local gun store/range - Wild West Traders in Marietta, Georgia. These folks are really nice and helpful and needless to say, I've been back there more than a few times in the last three years. This blog will be about my experience with guns. I went from someone who knew absolutely nothing about guns to a fanatic in a little over two years. I'll talk about guns I've bought and sold and my experiences with gun ranges, stores, training and gun people in general.

Thanks for stopping by,
Bill
The Math Teacher