The "3-Step-Rule"

Otherwise known as the Yeti of handgun regulations. I've used shooting ranges in more states then I can remember, and invariably run into a law enforcement officer or officers, or gunshop ninja's that are happy to feed you as much misinformation as humanly possible.

In the case of the infamous 3-Step, they proclaim that as long as your weapon is 3 steps, or stages away from being fired, it's quite legal to carry it in your car. AS in...Step one unzip or open an otherwise closed container, Step two insert a magazine or load a revolvers cylinder, and Step 3 remove whatever safeties are present and prepare to fire.

Bullshit. Old wives tale. Call it what you will but it's wrong. Now, different states have different regs regarding carrying in a vehicle, but Florida says it's fine and dandy as long as it's in the glove box or encased somewhere other than your immediate person. And that is without having a concealed carry permit. WITH the permit, you can shove the bloody thing where the sun don't shine, but even without one you can still keep a loaded gun close at hand. And I bring this up because today I heard a man telling another all about how he should carry his pistol when driving and I did so want to interject but controlled the impulse to go shake the idjit till his dentures said nice-ta-meetcha to the pavement. Bad advice can move you in harms way. Harms way with the bad guys as well as harms way with the good guys. Read, as in find the correct information and even if you have to move your lips as you follow along, READ what your local laws are and follow them.

Simple. When in doubt, go to www.packing.org and look up your state. DO NOT ask the cop on the beat because they usually know little about the letter of the law and can pass along as much bad scoop as anyone. If the information from a particular state's website is confusing you, then call the local prosecutor's office, but get the word from the horses mouth, not the horses ass.

And as always, you should you or any member of your IM force be killed or captured, Messenger will disavow any knowledge of your true identity. But we WILL throw your dead ass one helluva send off.