Let's be clear about one thing. We are the battle of our lives - a war even - for the hearts and minds of the ordinary American. It is not just enough to get all the gun owners on our side. We need middle America: the soccer mom who is apprehensive about the safety of her kids, the father who wants to protect his family, the gay couple who has one slur and one threat too many, everyone.
So when you have a well-known firearms trainer like James Yeager of Tactical Response say what he did, it doesn't help. Below is an edited version of Yeager's original video. If I understand correctly, Yeager took down the original video and substituted a somewhat less inflammatory version.
The controversy over this video and his original comments where he stated he was going to "start killing people" comments have caused the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security to suspend his concealed carry permit.
In the video below from New Channel 5 out of Nashville, TN, you can hear his original comments.
NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather
From the News Channel 5 story:
"I'm not (expletive) putting up with this. I'm not letting my country be ruled by a dictator. I'm not letting anybody take my guns! If it goes one inch further, I'm going to start killing people," he said in the video.A later story from the station has the statement from the Department on his carry permit suspension.
Yeager's company, Tactical Response, is headquartered in Sandy, Tennessee and trains civilians in weapons and tactical skills. Yeager's biography stated that he worked as a police officer for the Sandy Police Department as well as the Benton County Sheriff's Office before starting his company. His certifications list him as a qualified instructor in dozens of firearms and weapons training classes, including being a Department of Safety Certified Firearms Instructor.
According to a spokesperson for the Tennessee Highway Patrol, however, Yeager is not a currently not a Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security certified instructor, nor is Tactical Response a department certified school.
"The number one priority for our department is to ensure the public's safety. Mr. Yeager's comments were irresponsible, dangerous, and deserved our immediate attention. Due to our concern, as well as that of law enforcement, his handgun permit was suspended immediately. We have notified Mr. Yeager about the suspension today via e-mail. He will receive an official notification of his suspension through the mail," Commissioner Bill Gibbons said.Look, I can understand being mad. None of us like the idea of any new gun control laws much less one's that may be the result of an Executive Order from President Obama. That said, you don't spout off on YouTube for the whole damn world to see and especially the gun prohibitionists. It is just plain stupid and doesn't help the cause of gun rights.
Unfortunately, the mainstream media has the story now. You can be sure that Yeager's little tirade will be trotted out by the gun prohibitionists again and again.
Gee thanks, James. You are one dumb stupid fucking son of a bitch.
I agree that what he said was stupid, but we have to steer any debates away from collective guilt anyway. They already blame every other gun owner for what the few criminals do. I know it's tough because people like making blanket judgements, they rather not consider each person as an individual.
ReplyDeleteHis demise can be blamed on the internet. "The internet dun him in!" No one would even know this guy, in fact, most of these self-aggrandizing ex-warriors would never exist or see the light of day were it not for YouTube. And it's the internet and news media that are bringing the whole issue of gun control to a seething boil. It's completely unwarranted. Every law-abiding gun owner in America is being penalized by someone's stupidity. It's a good thing Emporer Obama signed an executive order for lifetime protection for ex-Presidents (including himself.) I guess he saw this guy's video and 'wuz afrayed.' Talk about sticking it to the taxpayers.
ReplyDeletethe gun blogs have been calling this guy out for a long time. we're way ahead of the mainstream media on this clown, just need to let people know that.
ReplyDeleteYeager is a clown, but he's a clown that fits the media's perception of gun owners. You can be sure they will ride this as long as they can now that they have picked up on it.
ReplyDeleteWhoa there, John. I agree with everything said regarding Buck Yeager (as ENDO likes to call him), but this I hope you will clarify: "We need middle America: the soccer mom who is apprehensive about the safety of her kids, the father who wants to protect his family, the gay couple who has one slur and one threat too many, everyone."
ReplyDeleteOne *slur* too many? Please tell me that you don't think a slur against *anyone* is a self defense justification.
I do suspect it's either me misreading it, or one of those times like I've had having a different thought in my mind when starting a sentence than when I ended it.
So...just asking. :-)
One thing on Yeager I think is hilarious. Though I don't even support the requirement for a license to carry concealed, the fact that he had his suspended means that the only way he can carry now, if allowed in TN, is...openly. The mode of carry he has idiotically disparaged in video after video.
Keep calm and carry, James. OPENLY. ;-)