Intro and Hi from Bellingham area.

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Hello all. Have been reading for a while after linking from a Digg article. Registered when I finally had a question then someone else asked it first. Now my son is visiting while on leave from the Air Force and he suggested we OC for the first time while he’s home. I thought it might be better to introduce ourselves and maybe have a mini meet up with others in the area.

I have lived here for 40 years after a stint as an Army brat. Raised two boys and am close to retiring. One son went the Air force route as Security Forces and now as a SERE Specialist. He’s a gold medal shooter for the USAF and builds weapons part time. He bought his own 20 gauge at age 10 and we shot trap and reloaded for several years.

I have CC’ed since I was 21 and became more interested in that and OC while in AZ and almost getting car jacked a couple of months ago. Luck (mine) and stupidity (theirs) was the only thing that got me out of it. My wife almost had to change her pants though.

Anyway, while he’s in town for a couple of weeks, we thought it might be nice to start out with lunch or coffee with some experienced OC’er as opposed to my reading this forum for another two years before trying it on my own. J

Happy to be here and looking forward to learning and reading more.

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Welcome aboard. If you have any questions or need anything, please do not hesitate to ask!

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Welcome! If you want to avoid ever getting carjacked, I'm selling this:

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Was just chatting with RichardXXXX about putting together a meet for the area. How about Sunday July 13th? Would people prefer breakfast, lunch, or coffee? Anyone have any ideas on a place? We went to Babe's in Ferndale last time but I'd like to do a Bellingham location this time. I have no idea of the friendliness of any of the B'ham restaurants as I don't eat out much.

Obviously Olive Garden is out.

Billy McHale's might be a good option. Anyone ever OC'd at Billy McHale's?

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almost car jacked in the ham?

I'm working on getting my brother's girlfriend's coffee shop OC friendly, maybe when that happens we can hit it for coffee. (with who she is i'm content if the place isn't... which is why i just asked [5 mins ago]) So far she's said she's okay, but needs to ask her partner.


diamond jims is always awesome for breakfast... usually a pretty good wait though, and they might not be friendly. (how does one word asking if they are?)

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heresolong, it might be better to hold it a different day, as that's when the Kitsap BBQ is (our monthly meet for W. WA). But, at the same time, it would be a good option for those that don't want to go all the way to Kitsap.

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I did get the "okay" for an OC coffee meet.... might have helped that i threw out the 'this is why I carry' speech.

so let me know when's a good weekend and i'll "warn" them (they'd appreciate knowing ahead of time I'm sure).

however I just thought of this, it's probably within 1000 feet of a school, does that cause us issues (too lazy and sleepy to look up right now)?

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uncoolperson wrote:

I did get the "okay" for an OC coffee meet.... might have helped that i threw out the 'this is why I carry' speech.

so let me know when's a good weekend and i'll "warn" them (they'd appreciate knowing ahead of time I'm sure).

however I just thought of this, it's probably within 1000 feet of a school, does that cause us issues (too lazy and sleepy to look up right now)?

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I don't know of any law in Washington that prohibits you from having a firearms within a thousand feet of a school. If there were my house would be a restricted zone.

I'll start a new thread for coffee next Sunday for those who can't make it to Kitsap. What is the place called and where is it? What time?

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heresolong... it's a federal law. I know it's 1000 feet, but there's exceptions for personal property.

I don't have time to look it up, but it's the whole "Gun Free Zone" "School Zone" thing. I've gotta go do yardwork and homework.

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The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was enacted as section 1702 of the Crime Control Act of 1990 (Pub.L. 101-647, 18 U.S.C. § 922(q)) on November 29, 1990.


Summary

In general, it shall be unlawful for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone. This does not include possession of a firearm on private property that is not part of school grounds.

Exceptions

(2)
(A) It shall be unlawful for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone.
(B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply to the possession of a firearm—
(i) on private property not part of school grounds;
(ii) if the individual possessing the firearm is licensed to do so by the State in which the school zone is located or a political subdivision of the State, and the law of the State or political subdivision requires that, before an individual obtains such a license, the law enforcement authorities of the State or political subdivision verify that the individual is qualified under law to receive the license;
(iii) that is—
(I) not loaded; and
(II) in a locked container, or a locked firearms rack that is on a motor vehicle;
(iv) by an individual for use in a program approved by a school in the school zone;
(v) by an individual in accordance with a contract entered into between a school in the school zone and the individual or an employer of the individual;
(vi) by a law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity; or
(vii) that is unloaded and is possessed by an individual while traversing school premises for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting, if the entry on school premises is authorized by school authorities.

-edited for format

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Thanks for backing me up on that M1Gunr.

So, as it reads, everyone showing up better have their valid CPL, even though it's not necessary for OC.

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sharp wrote:

Hello all. Have been reading for a while after linking from a Digg article. Registered when I finally had a question then someone else asked it first. Now my son is visiting while on leave from the Air Force and he suggested we OC for the first time while he’s home. I thought it might be better to introduce ourselves and maybe have a mini meet up with others in the area.

I have lived here for 40 years after a stint as an Army brat. Raised two boys and am close to retiring. One son went the Air force route as Security Forces and now as a SERE Specialist. He’s a gold medal shooter for the USAF and builds weapons part time. He bought his own 20 gauge at age 10 and we shot trap and reloaded for several years.

I have CC’ed since I was 21 and became more interested in that and OC while in AZ and almost getting car jacked a couple of months ago. Luck (mine) and stupidity (theirs) was the only thing that got me out of it. My wife almost had to change her pants though.

Anyway, while he’s in town for a couple of weeks, we thought it might be nice to start out with lunch or coffee with some experienced OC’er as opposed to my reading this forum for another two years before trying it on my own. J

Happy to be here and looking forward to learning and reading more.

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Sharp,

I'll be watching this thread for a confirmed, date, time and location. I'm active Navy and a prior Navy SERE instructor.

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M1Gunr wrote:

(ii) if the individual possessing the firearm is licensed to do so by the State in which the school zone is located

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We don't have licenses to possess firearms in the state of Washington. Since open carry is legal except where prohibited by state law I believe that this would be unenforceable. They would also have to prosecute you in federal, not state, courts. The Supreme Court also ruled in 1995 that this law was illegal. Congress passed it again in 1996 with the same wording but adding a bs line about "guns that have moved in interstate commerce" (ie all of them). The SCOTUS ruled again in 2000 (Morrisey) that laws such as this were beyond the Constitutional authority of the Congress, although they have not directly ruled on the "Gun Free Schools Act" again.

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Well it looks like there might not be enough interest in Whatcom county or the surrounding area right now. I was kind of wondering if there were enough people here yet to get anything going. Right now we are down to Friday afternoon or Sunday lunch-ish (not sure about Monday though) but they leave on Tuesday.

I am getting a lot of great info on this site so I'll just hang in the background and soak up some more until I feel knowledgable enough. I'll also keep an eye out for any get togethers within reasonable driving distance that might be coming up.

Keep up the good work everyone. I like the education.

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sharp wrote:

Well it looks like there might not be enough interest in Whatcom county or the surrounding area right now. I was kind of wondering if there were enough people here yet to get anything going. Right now we are down to Friday afternoon or Sunday lunch-ish (not sure about Monday though) but they leave on Tuesday.

I am getting a lot of great info on this site so I'll just hang in the background and soak up some more until I feel knowledgable enough. I'll also keep an eye out for any get togethers within reasonable driving distance that might be coming up.

Keep up the good work everyone. I like the education.

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The OC as a group for the first time is nice. That is how it worked for me. The following weekend I was OC by myself and felt perfectly comfortable with it. (Don't get a chance to carry during the week much. Live 3 blocks from work and by state law can't have a weapon with me at work... so yeah...)