I had expected my CCW license to arrive sometime next week. However, as my wife came home from work, she picked up the mail and came in the house with a big grin.

She looked at me and smirked, "Now why would the Wisconsin DOJ be sending you a letter?"

Well, yes, that department has to okay my resellers license, but when I fondled the envelope I could feel the hard plastic card inside!

Hang on world, for one legally armed biker has been unleased upon our city streets!

And sadly, for the first time in my 60 years, I have now been granted the full measure of my enumerated rights under the USA Constitution.

Congratulations. Ever work out the holster issue?

Yes, and no.

My Harley shop sells this smaller fanny pack. I've had mine for about a year, and I use it to deliver knives when I'm on the Sportster. I found that jamming four or five knives in my jacket pocket was bulky and pulled the jacket down, but the little pack on a thick belt allowed me to carry the weight on my hips.

I figured, what the hey, I already own it, so why not use it. I folded up a small micro-fiber cloth for lining, slid the thing on, and went for a walk around the neighborhood to see if it worked. It did fine.

I carried the SW 642 (loaded) and two spare HKS speed loaders, no problem. I don't know if this is a permanent solution, but for brief walks and riding on the bikes, it works.

https://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb23 ... 01-110.jpg

Watch out here comes the Tourist. Congratulations!

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRXXxQ1OuDc&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

LOL. I never owned a SAA. Back before I came to respect them I was offered a new one in the box, I think it was Grade B engraving, for 350 bucks. Young. Dumb. I turned it down...

I talked to a good client today, and told him the news. Speaking about a potential killer, he bought "The Judge." Slugs. Shot. And .45 Colt rounds. Yikes.

Back then $350 was a lot of money. That would be worth lots today especially in the box.

Yes, it would be. I was in my twenties at that time. My 4-inch nickel-plated Colt Python went for 250 dollars at that time. But then, it's not the only bone head move I made that year. I was also offered a Pasadena A .44 AMP AutoMag for the same 350 bucks. With that came the box, 50 rounds of cartridges and as I remember, reloading dies. Oy, what an idiot...

BTW, I wanted to add one thing. There had been a story in our local newspaper about processing the licenses. Our state law gave the DOJ the span of 45 days to process the first "glut" of mail. Then after that first month, they had to do it in 21 days. The dirty little secret was that to make this mandate the department would process the "21 day mail" first to make both dates. In other words, I probaby got my license now while the guy who mailed in his request on the first day of the law is still waiting.

Even after the 21 days took effect, the DOJ was making attempts to get an extension.

I also believe the procedure is done by a bureaucratic "triage." The 'perfect' requests just get put through. Those with a minor error are routed to a manager, and the rejects come last.

In that manner, I tried to rig the system. Even as a young boy, my dad who was an engineer, taught me how to print as you would on a blueprint. I do so today. I filled out the entire form that way, I made sure all of the signatures were in the right place and legible. I even scanned and then made a color copy of my test credentials. I hand printed the check, and then stapled the documents together in the exact order as tabulated on the instructions. In other words, a perfect job.

I received my license on the 13th day after training. Considering a one/two day mailing into the DOJ, and then a one/two mailing back to me, that means my license was processed from start to finish in 9 to 11 days. There's the advantage of being thorough.

I intend to return the favor. If I am ever attacked with deadly force, (a clearly stated, mandated and taught for a Wisconsin CCW) I intend to provide the responding officer with a perfect "ten ring/philtrum" Mozambique group. No humor intended. Gunwriter Masaad Ayoob states that a legal, righteous shooting will still result in an arrest. No civil lawsuits are permitted in Wisconsin for the aggressor. I intend to prove my innocence with the same clarity.

Well, my little black and orange Harley pouch did not work out. It was a hassle getting the revolver in and out to lock and store it in the cab of my truck, and the zippers designed for security on the road were inconvenient to unzip when sitting in a chair having coffee.

These are two major concerns. While the gym permits firearms, the lockers routinely get broken into. Since they do not put cameras in the lockerrooms, you do not know you stuff is gone until you return for a shower. Yes, I lock mine with a Master Lock.

I did place a gun-rug in my truck, but when seated in the cab, I had to squirrel around to zip everything up. While I do have deeper secured pockets in my riding jackets, I do not have them in my winter coats.

So, it looks like I have to use a traditional fanny pack from the 1980s until I find a better method for a hammerless revolver. In summer I will switch over to the CZ 83 with a convenient thumb-snap holster.

However, the conventional wisdom is to try new methods in any pursuit to see how they work in the real world. Ships take "shake down" cruises, we have test pilots, and you should take a day-trip with your touring bike before you head out to the opposite coast. My orignal method failed, time to try another procedure..