Representative Bryan Stevenson (R128-Joplin) has outlined the qualifications for the new Right To Carry legislation. The bill establishes a procedure for obtaining an endorsement on a person’s driver’s license that entitles the person to carry a concealed firearm. Sheriffs will issue certificates of qualification to applicants who meet the requirements for obtaining the endorsement. The bill takes effect October 11, 1003. To qualify for the certificate needed to acquire a concealed carry endorsement, individuals must:

Be at least 23 years of age; Be a citizen of the United States; Have resided in Missouri for at least six months or be a member of the military, or the spouse of a member, stationed in Missouri; Not have been found guilty of a felony; Not have been found guilty, in the five years preceding the application, of a misdemeanor involving a crime of violence or two misdemeanors involving either alcohol-related driving offenses or possession of a controlled substance; Not be a fugitive from justice; Not be currently charged with a felony; Not be dishonorable discharged from the armed forces; Not have engaged in a pattern of behavior, documented in public records, that causes the sheriff to have a reasonable belief that the applicant presents a danger to himself, herself, or other; Not have been adjudged mentally incompetent or released from a mental health facility for five years prior to the application; Not be the respondent in a valid full order of protection currently in effect; Be fingerprinted; Clear a criminal background check by the state and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Comply with training requirements established by the bill.

The Joplin Rifle and Gun Club is currently working toward hosting the mandatory training sessions required in this bill. Announcements will be forthcoming as to date, location, and other particulars regarding the training requirements. Application fee for the permit may not exceed $100, and renewal fees may not exceed $50.

NASCAR to the Max

Sunday’s Sylvania 300 from New Hampshire International Raceway maintained the tracks reputations for being a one groove (racing lane) track with little passing on the track. The race featured twenty lead changes among eleven drivers with most lead changes taking place during pit stops.

Following the races sixth caution period, the race was restarted with 102 laps remaining leaving the drivers little choice but to pit for fuel if the race continued under green flag conditions. With the laps winding down, the leaders began pitting to take on just enough fuel to reach the finish. As each driver pitted, the leader board shuffled until all of the front runners had cycled through the pits.

When the activity on pit road had subsided, Jimmie Johnson had inherited the lead which he held until the checkered flag flew. Johnson’s win gave him a sweep at the New Hampshire track this season and his third win of the season.

A serious tragedy was averted during Sunday’s race after Dale Jarrett crashed on the front stretch. With his car sitting helplessly near the start/finish line, Jarrett was a sitting duck as the race leader allowed several lap down cars to race back to the line to get back on the lead lap while other cars attempted to keep them a lap down. All cars passed Jarrett without further incident however it had to be uncomfortable in Jarrett’s seat. NASCAR needs to take a serious look at its caution policy before a driver is seriously injured in a similar incident.

At the three-quarter point of the season, Matt Kenseth seems to have a lock on the season’s point championship. Kenseth leads second place Dale Earnhardt, Jr. by 404 markers. Barring a meltdown of epic proportions, Kenseth will claim the crown. Kenseth need only finish eighth or bettor over the final nine races to claim the title regardless of how his challengers fare.

The teams now head to "The Monster Mile," Dover (DE) International Speedway. The season’s winningest driver, Ryan Newman, claimed the season’s earlier race from the 1-mile high-banked oval.

Had a couple a people ask if there was a murder trial goin’ on yesterday. The Square was packed with cars parked in ever spot available.

I suppose the former sheriff deputy trial concernin’ some missin’ charity contributions of less that a couple hunderd bucks is the culprit causin’ the traffic. I’m hearin’ that there were more than a couple dozen witnesses scheduled for the trial. Add in the media types coverin’ the event and ya see why there was a parkin’ problem on the Square. The Farmer’s Market was also goin’ on so there was plenty of frustration tryin’ to stop in for a quick shoppin’ spree.

There’s no doubt the Courthouse draws lots a folks to the Square which is good for business, but I’m bettin’ most merchants are hopin’ for a fair, but quick trial.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

By Tom and Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

Help! I’m going back to school, and the stuff I need/want to take won’t all fit into my car. My friends say I should rent a trailer. I’m concerned that my car will be ruined by the effort of towing a trailer across, first, the Sierra Nevada, then the Rockies. My car is a 1997 Honda Civic, with 155,000 miles on it. I live in the San Francisco Bay area, and I’m going to Indiana University in Bloomington. What do you suggest? — David

RAY: I suggest a garage sale, David. You have too much stuff.

TOM: Yeah. You’re supposed to be footloose and fancy-free. These are your college years. You’ll have the rest of you life to surround yourself with a house-and-a-half full of useless junk that’ll prevent you from ever moving again. Why start now?

RAY: Plus, it probably will croak your car. Or at least shorten its already tenuous life. Engines and transmissions have to work hard to get over mountains — especially small engines. And when you add another thousand pounds of weight for them to pull, not to mention the additional wind resistance of a big, pizzabox-fronted trailer, you’re just asking for the engine or tranny to overheat or fail. And a compact Honda Civic — as nice a car as it is — was not built to tow trailers over multiple mountain ranges.

TOM: So, my suggestion would be to throw some of your stuff overboard (i.e., get rid of it). If you absolutely can’t bear to do that, you can always ship some of it to school. Send the stuff by UPS, and let them drag it over the mountains and cook their transmissions.

RAY: Or, if you really must take a ton of stuff with you, you can always rent a whole truck and tow your car behind it.