2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

I have a concealed handgun permit for both WA and OR, and I openly carried a large caliber handgun for over 10 years when I lived in Alaska, mostly for bear protection.  It was so common that it rarely evoked any comments, other than from tourists.

Many years ago I was unexpectedly threatened at knife-point by a complete stranger who happened to be a very large and threatening person. He was obviously high on drugs. It was the middle of the afternoon, in a public place. No one came to my assistance, and for a moment, it was just him and me. He could have easily stabbed me and caused great bodily harm or even killed me. Luckily a companion of his happened by and ushered him away before anything happened.

The message to me was clear: in a sudden crisis of a life or death nature, don't count on any help from others.

Most people will never have this kind of experience, but if it does happen, possession of a concealed handgun may just save your life. I see no problem with someone who is just wearing a gun in public. Of more concern to me are the guns that you can't see which are carried by criminals and malcontents. 

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
view in context

I lived in Germany for 15 years serving with the U.S. Army. Whenever I saw a person there who was very overweight, he or she most often turned out to be an American. I think there is something in our American diet and lifestyle that accounts for this, otherwise I would have observed the same proportion of vastly overweight people as we have in America. Most Germans walk far more regularly than we do to maintain their weight, and they eat far less fast food than we do. Also, for better or worse, there is also intense social pressure not to be too different in German society, including not being too heavy. In the USA, we are different in all of these areas.

posted 4 years, 9 months ago
view in context

David,

I was for two years homeless, but not in the sense that the word usually calls to mind. I had just retired from the Army, sold my house in Alaska, packed up my new Honda CR-V with clothing, camping gear, musical instruments and other personal effects, and headed out on the road. I was searching around the country for possible places to settle. I stayed in campgrounds, hotels, and with friends, family, and sometimes even with some kind strangers.

I had an income, but I didn?t have a job or a home. All I had was a UPS Store mailbox. This was a big problem for me when I was stopped at the US border after having driven through Canada from Alaska. The Border Patrol officer became very frustrated and annoyed with me when I could not give him a fixed address for where I lived. Consequently, I became angry that this was even an issue, and I threatened to file a complaint. They eventually let me go, but my point is that to be labeled as homeless, even in a nontraditional sense, can result in being hassled. I realized that there is a strong negative attitude towards people in nonconforming situations. I can only imagine what indignities the true homeless people of Portland must endure at the hands of those who seek to judge them.

Thanks!

posted 5 years ago
view in context