KF: Candy, where were you born and raised?
CD: Northwest Indiana.
KF: Is that rural or urban?
CD: Middle class neighborhood. Hammond is an old city with historical connections to Chicago.
KF: Were you taught about firearms as a child?
CD: Yes. My father had an old gun his father, who was a policeman, had found in his paddy wagon. I was taught a gun is ALWAYS loaded.
KF: When did you first shoot a gun?
CD: In 1969. I was on a rural police force and one of the officers taught me to shoot.
KF: Did you ever have to draw your service weapon?
CD: I was a radio operator and matron when we needed one. The only time I needed a gun then was one night shift when we had some dangerous guys in town. One of the officer’s provided me with his spare semi-auto, just in case.
KF: In general, how did your family, friends and neighbors feel about guns?
CD: We never really discussed them, with the exception of my father’s negative opinion of the Brady Bill.
KF: When did you buy your first gun?
CD: 1999, at a gun show.
KF: Was there any particular event in your life that made you decide “That’s it. I’m getting a gun?”
CD: I had already understood the importance of having a gun, but the massacre at Virginia Tech (in 2007) galvanized my support for everyone, anywhere being able to have a gun to use for self-defense. The professor killed that day was a Holocaust survivor! If he’d only been allowed, and trained to have a gun; it could have been a different day.
KF: Did you take firearms instruction?
CD: I took classes at the Deerfield Archery and Pistol Range, Deerfield, WI.
KF: Were there other women in your shooting class?
CD: It was a private class.
KF: Did you feel comfortable in the environment?
CD: I had a respectful, knowledgeable teacher. He was a former cop and understood all the ramifications of using a gun.
KF: For a first time woman shooter, would you recommend a private class or group class?
CD: Most gals feel more comfortable in a gal class. I do NOT recommend that a boy friend or husband teach them. Men tend to want to take control. No offense to you guys, but it seems to be true.
KF: Is it true that women are better shots than men? You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want.
CD: Why not? Women are patient and listen to their teachers. We gals know how to squeeze a trigger, not PULL it. That’s the difference in hitting the target!
KF: What gun did you first own?
CD: A .38 SW, Model 10
KF: What gun do you own now?
CD: That one plus a Baby Eagle (aka Jericho), and a Glock 36.
KF: What are Wisconsin’s firearms carry laws like?
CD: We have an Open Carry law that dates back to the late 1800’s. That creates three problems.
- 1: In today’s world where so few people have guns the very site of a gun raises all kinds of PANIC and RED FLAGS. Years ago children were taught ‘gun manners’. Guns were so common in homes that every child was taught how to respect the potential danger of a gun. The gun my father showed me was an unusable antique but when we talked about it he taught me that every gun is loaded.
He taught me there is no such thing as a ‘gun accident.’ EVERY gun is LOADED, even if you’ve just taken the magazine out or emptied the cylinder. We must respect the tool we hold in our hands and understand the potential dangers.
- 2: And it gets cold here! The very idea of having a belt and holster on the outside of my coat is absurd. Not to mention the reactions of the ill-informed public.
- 3: The irony is in the law. It was made that way so people would know who ‘carries.’ Now, since so few carry openly, the bad guys don’t see a gun and consider us defenseless, a perfect scenario for an assault.
We in WI are in the process of changing that. I’m the treasurer of the Republican Party of Sauk County, WI. That’s right, I’m a Republican, also unusual for Jews. Our party is preparing for 2011 caucuses and has proposed resolutions that not only allow Constitutional Carry, but also will provide ‘Castle Doctrine’ and ‘Stand your ground’ provisions. Wisconsin law will change dramatically this year!
KF: You’re obviously a political activist. Has this been a lifetime involvement, or something you’ve come to more recently?
CD: I’ve always been ‘outspoken’ about what is right or wrong. Even in high school in the late 1950’s, I was concerned about our American liberties. Being outspoken is my nature.
Once upon a time women were more self-sufficient. They understood the gun and used it to help Our Country in its fight for freedom. Today’s women are just now relearning what our ancestors knew.
I formed Jewish Women Supporting Gun Ownership — www.jwsgo.org -- with the same thought in mind as the JPFO. An Armed People is a Free People. Gun control is People Control.
KF: Jewish gun owners seem to be a rare lot. Why do you suppose so many Jews are anti gun ownership, either mildly or fanatically?
CD: This is the question Aaron Zelman (JPFO’s late Founder) had been struggling for over twenty years to answer. It's hard to understand.
KF: Have you made any breakthroughs with Jewish friends regarding an armed citizenry?
CD: There are few Jews where I live but many of those feel the same as I do and are gun owners. What is alarming to me is how many non-Jews are also so willing to give up their rights of self defense.
KF: On your web site you mentioned you raised five children. How did you deal with kids and guns in the house?
CD: Our daughters are grown now. It was different when they were little and we lived in Illinois. We had one daughter who was too ‘curious’ about stuff and since IL laws are so restrictive we chose to not own handguns.
Now they have their own families. They make their own choices. They understand the “Right to Keep and Bear Arms.” They support the Second Amendment. One lives in MN and has a gun. The others live in restrictive states or cities and do not own guns.
KF: The world is changing. America is changing. Do you think the day will come when American Jews embrace gun ownership in the same percentages as non-Jews?
CD: Probably not. I think the answer to this goes back to the question of why so many Jews are anti-gun.
KF: What will you tell your friends and neighbors when the next nut case shoots up a bunch of innocent people?
CD: Firstly, IT’S NOT THE GUN, it’s the person holding it. This may be cliché, but it’s the truth. A gun is only a tool and as with any tool, improper use is dangerous and often fatal.
Secondly, we have become such a “politically correct” society that we can’t or won’t recognize people who are very likely a threat. We dare not say: “That guy is weird. That guy scares me. I’m calling the cops to check him out.” What if those around Jared Loughner had taken this further initiative? He was an obvious time bomb.
KF: Do you think the day will come when the government goes door to door demanding all of our guns?
CD: Should that happen, there WILL be another revolution.
KF: How do we prevent that day from ever happening?
CD: We must be constantly vigilant and learn more about our history, not from today’s “scholars” but from the original sources. That will help us pick legislators who truly defend the Constitution. Many politicians are “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” They talk the Second Amendment, then sell it out.
KF: In closing, is there anything you’d like to say to your Jewish American brothers and sisters?
CD: G-d gave man the ability of reason, the ability to choose. We humans are unique among all creatures on Earth. In that, we need the commandment, “Thou shall not kill” correctly translated. It is actually: “Thou shall not murder.” Murder and killing are two different actions. Murder implies pre-planned intent.
While we choose not to end a human life un-naturally, that includes our own. Our Creator gave each of us the value of our own life. We must protect our lives for Him. Should we be in a situation where our lives or those close to us are threatened, we have the obligation to defend them, even if it means killing the one threatening us.
KF: Thank you, Candy. May you never be forced to use what you have learned.
CD: Yes, that should be the armed citizen’s prayer.
News from Wisconsin Carry, Inc.
Greetings in Freedom,
A few quick updates.
As we all know, constitutional carry is now the movement for right to carry in this country. "Shall-issue" permit systems are the method of the 90's.
Wisconsin Carry is pursuing Constitutional Carry for Wisconsin because we've been behind the times for the past decade and its time to get where the country is GOING not where the rest of the country use to be. Governor Walker is on record saying he would sign constitutional carry into law if the legislature gets it to his desk.
This past year Arizona became the 3rd state to move to constitutional carry (which means law abiding persons not legally prohibited from owning/possessing a gun are allowed to carry concealed without a government
permit)
I recently emailed about Constitutional Carry legislation being introduced in Kentucky.
http://www.centralkynews.com/amnews/news/amn-homeless-guns-and-roads-on-min-01052011,0,5610864.story
From the story:
--"Harmon has prefiled two bills, including one that would do away with the requirement that gun owners get a permit for concealed carry of their weapons. He said he is drafting the bill because the permitting is unnecessarily costly and is counter to the intent of the Second Amendment. "I¹ve talked to many people who would like to get the (concealed carry license) but due to the time it takes and payments that can go over $150 or $200, they just can¹t," Harmon said. "It is a constitutional right the state law has infringed on."--
Constitutional Carry IS the future of the right to carry. Don't let your legislators sell Wisconsin short again. Its time WE in Wisconsin get to enjoy the rights people do in other states instead of lagging a decade behind them. Shall-issue permit systems are a decade behind the times now.
Here is a news article about Constitutional Carry being introduced in Utah:
Utah May Get Constitutional Carry: A Utah lawmaker wants to allow all state residents who can legally have a gun carry and conceal it without a permit.
Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, said he plans to introduce a bill to eliminate the requirement for a state concealed weapon permit to carry a loaded gun.
People who do not live in Utah would still need a permit issued by Utah or another state [emphasis added]. The measure is being drafted for the legislative session that begins Jan. 24. Wimmer said it wouldn't change laws about who can legally have a gun. Felons, people who have committed a violent crime and illegal residents are now prohibited from carrying a gun.
"If you're a law-abiding, upstanding citizen, you can protect yourself by carrying a gun without a permit," Wimmer said. Alaska, Arizona and Vermont already have similar laws, he said. (To my knowledge, none of the other three states cited requires a permit of non-residents.)
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700100439/Utah-lawmaker-Guns-should-be-legal-without-permit.html
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51038808-76/permit-concealed-utah-weapons.html.csp
Other upcoming events:
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. will be at the Bob and Rocco Gun Show at Cedar Creek in Rothschild.
January 28th Friday 3:00PM-8:00PM
January 29th Saturday 9:00AM-5:00PM
January 30th Sunday 9:00AM-3:00PM
Stop by our table and say hi!
Also, LARGE open-carry meet and greet at the Culvers IN Newville:
Sunday, February 13 · 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Culvers
571 East Richardson Springs Road
Edgerton, WI
We expect a large turnout to this event. Given the huge increase in membership from the Madison area in the wake the Madison 5 incident, this is a great opportunity for Madison area folks to come meet your fellow freedom minded OC'ers
Facebook event page for those who use facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=182828515079559
Carry On,
Nik Clark
Chairman/President - Wisconsin Carry, Inc.
www.wisconsincarry.org
www.youtube.com/wisconsincarry
www.twitter.com/wisconsincarry
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=340160200214
Good News/Bad news. Which do we want first?
by Candace E. Dainty
Founder JWSGO.ORG
January 4, 2011
After we were married, Ted wanted to teach me how to shoot. My new husband spent many hours away from home as he was employed by the Department of Energy Special Response Team. I knew nothing about guns and was intimidated by them; I had to desire to touch or even shoot them. Because I trusted him, I went ahead and complied with his wishes. He was very patent and encouraging as he first taught me the fundamentals with the .22 target pistol. We shot the coke bottle steel targets and it became extremely fun, like an old shooting gallery. I soon advanced to his 9mm service pistol. This pistol fit me like a glove and I became very fond of it. He taught me basic police tactics and then the more realistic Israeli Instinctive Shooting techniques. Bringing the pistol rapidly up, I could hit the bullseye without even using the front sites! The more I handled and shot the pistol, my confidence greatly increased.
Furthermore, there had been many thefts and home invasions in our neighborhood; we had been victims to thefts three times since we had lived there. In this particular case, there was a plague of crimes and thefts outbreaking throughout our neighborhood. Even the man that lived next door to us had his car stolen. The sheriff deputy told us that the perpetrator used a dog to justify being around and on people's properties.
At the time, Ted worked a second shift at his job and usually didn't arrive home until 11:30 pm. Therefore, when my little dog started barking one evening, I didn't spare any time to investigating. I rushed to the dining room where there was a window that overlooked the front yard. Outside the window there stood a strange man and his dog peering into my car. A warm rush of adrenaline surged though my body as the realization of the situation came to me. My daughter, who was eight at the time, was asleep in her room; we were alone.
With haste, I tried to decide whether to call 911 or to get the gun Ted had always left for me in times of trouble. I was afraid that while I called 911, the man would break down the door and enter the house. On the contrary, I realized that the gun would be a better choice. I quickly grabbed the gun from my bedroom and stood at the dining room window; I held the gun at my side with a valiant confidence. I calmly watched the man outside and determined that I wouldn't take any further action unless the man became a true threat.
As I stood there, the man saw me as the light from the kitchen revealed my silhouette. He was so brazen that he came right up to the window to stare me down with a dark and blank glare. He was just about three feet from me; even still, I stood there, fearless. He saw the gun, and frankly, I would have used it if I had to. He soon saw that I was not going to back down, so he hastily turned around and took off running. As I watched him run down the street, I saw him meet up with some friends of his and continue running.
I truly believe I prevented a crime that day; I'll never forget it. Even though I did not have to use the gun, displaying it in my hand gave a substantial warning to that young man. Whether it be a coincidence or not, we never had any more problems in that neighborhood after that. I tend to believe that the man spread the word around that we were not to be messed with.
