Outdoors in RI: Fishing show, birders, forced Safe Storage, 2A notes, protection class – Jeff Gross

by Jeff Gross, contributing writer

Fishing Show big success

The RI Saltwater Fishing Show at the RI Convention Center was an excellent time!  Met some new folks and caught up with some friends I haven’t seen in a while. I would like to thank Scott, the show director, for his professionalism and kindness extended to me.  If you did not attend the show by all means mark it on the calendar for 2025 as this writer saw numerous saltwater fishing rods exiting the building and many a bulging shopping bag.  Came away with some nice items including a hard-to-find fishing shirt. Oddly enough a device was found that appears to ease muscle spasms and joint problems.  This device’s testing is ongoing and may be featured in a future article. The above lures (header Photo) are some masterpieces proudly displayed for sale. Alas, Seth missed out on his Sausage and Pickles. The owner was handing out free samples to everyone. This is probably why the US Army set their booth up right next door. Apparently, the Army and Marines like to do things hand in hand. Though pricey, the hot and spicy sausage will go well in a thick tomato sauce mixed with basil and other herbs and maybe a hint of sweet Vidalia onion.  No peppers, though.

For Rhode Island Birders

Spring is here and the warm weather birds are already here as well.  Gold Finch are at the feeder and it is great to see them.  A previous home on the East Bay banned the use of bird feeders as well as outside storage. Joining the finch are tit mice, chickadees, and a brightly colored Cardinal.  With the heavy winds Thursday, it is surprising that the birds are not suffering from motion sickness on the feeder. The Bluebirds that were seen in the yard and Big River management area are likely moving north now. The Bluebirds were replaced by Redwing Black birds, who are elusive to the camera.  Also in town are the woodcock, as a mating call was heard in the Johnston’s BJ’s parking lot grass area late one night.  Now is a great time to fill up the bird feeders as the forage is difficult to find on the ground. Do not use old bird seed from last year – the birds won’t touch it.  The birds showed up RIGHT AWAY after refilling with fresh, just purchased seed.

Dinner Time – Learning Time

A number of families are returning to or continuing traditional family dinners.  These dinners where all sit down in each other’s company build a strong healthy relationship that result in strong family values. Normally a Sunday affair, families are now setting a specific day of the week to accommodate all working family members.  Ideas are shared while dining and I have reason to believe it is also an educational meal as well.  Family dinner is a great time to teach the little ones about firearm safety as well as any other family members.  We do not need government intrusion in our homes dictating how we should lead our lives nor disable our only means of self-protection.

FREE Personal Protection Class

For those looking to train their family even further: Mike Guilmain and Dan K. Kesler are offering the following: This is a free class focusing on personal protection with and without firearms, and does not include live fire, but they will be offering the blue card test after the class for anybody who needs it. The class is Saturday March 30 from 3 to about 6 PM. This class normally costs $75-$100, but they are offering it at no charge to anybody in RI. The class is held from 3-6 PM at the Smithfield Sportsmans Club at 14 Walter Carey Rd. It will be in the field house at the top of the hill and there is plenty of parking available.  The class is 3 hours, so bring water or soft drink and a snack. There are hands-on portions of the class that cover firearms selection for different purposes (personal protection, home protection, hunting, sports shooting, etc.). And they will have a variety of carry holster options available to try out as well.

Here is the class Facebook link:

FREE Community Concealed Carry & Home Defense Fundamentals | Facebook

To register for this class, please email your name and phone number to Dan at  [email protected]. 

“Forced” Safe Storage Bill in RI

In contrast, the RI Senate passed the “Forced” Safe Storage bill.  An Identical bill is sitting on the table in the House Judiciary Committee.  Hopefully, the bill stays tabled.

My concern is the laissez-faire attitude of some Rhode Island gun groups.  I had my final conversation with the Women for Gun Rights RI rep and when I mentioned the forced safe storage bill her reply was “Oh, it is no big deal”.  “No big deal!” I stated! I informed her that the bill is a clear-cut case violation of the 2008 Heller decision.

Here is the Heller 2008 Decision statement:  SCOTUS held that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess firearms and that the city’s total ban on handguns, as well as its requirement that firearms in the home be kept nonfunctional even when necessary for self-defense, violated that right. 

The Women for Gun Rights mission statement is: Educate not Legislate.  Apparently, Women for Gun Rights need to educate themselves about the SCOTUS decisions and the outstanding effects SCOTUS is having on gun owners. Further, the government needs to stay out of the homes of the citizens.

Wednesday a RI politician asked me where all the yellow shirts were on testimony nights. I stated the yellow shirt attendance was deliberately misrepresented by most of the local media. This writer counted about 50 Yellow shirts compared to 10 Red shirts on the Senate Judiciary night, and 250 -300 yellow shirts to 30 red shirts on the House Judiciary night.

Pictures from the RI media were made to look like there were 4 yellow shirts on the House Judiciary night. RI gun owners:  Keep going to the RI MSM media – for bogus, fake news, or, as some have fun quoting a former governor, “come here for your news” on 2A developments in our state.

I told the RI politician that numerous gun owners have abandoned RI, and moved to TN, FL, NC, NH and Maine. Rhode Island continues to hemorrhage good people. Pretty soon it’ll be nothing but Democrats, criminals, terrorists and illegal aliens.

Unity was allegedly the mantra at the 2A rally inside the State House.  A politician made a statement (outside the State House) that wheeling and dealing is going on behind closed doors regarding anti-gun bills.  We all know that, since 2015, we as gun owners have gotten screwed on a yearly basis, except for 2023.  What changed in 2023?  This behind closed doors “good old boys” nonsense is why I freelance outside RI. The anti-gun mob wants more and more each year. Myself, there is no more compromising – period.  Now it is time to bring the legal battles into the heart of the state.  The RI anti-gun politicians – all local politicians – are on the radar and being noticed for their work. Stay tuned.

Second Amendment Foundation

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) out of Bellevue, WA has a proven record of success.  The 27 to 2 wins verses losses I mention from time to time; the wins can often be attributed to SAF. They are good people and one of the many reasons I enjoy working with them is that they listen. Unlike some other groups that are secretive and keep their members and outsiders deliberately in the dark to maintain control.  SAF routinely does a weekly update.  There are no signs of control issues with SAF.  SInce it is now tax refund season, please consider joining SAF. Membership is $15, the same price for a small pizza, or a rat burger meal at a fast food place. Either food your body won’t miss and you’ll help fund some great legal success!  As mentioned, it is tax refund season.  What better way to counter the oppressive Federal Government actions like the IRS than use a portion of your tax refund as a one-time donation to the SAF’s ongoing legal juggernaut.  Give the donation some serious consideration as this 1.2 trillion dollar federal spending package (about to pass) will come out of all of our pockets. There are some anti-2A earmarks in the package, too.

Here is SAF’s link: Join or Renew Membership – Second Amendment Foundation (saf.org)

Also please subscribe to 4 Boxes Diner on YouTube as Mark W. Smith is a nationally accredited legal scholar that even SCOTUS refers to for an historical and educational analysis. He is also a friend and should be a friend of yours as well, so please subscribe! 1006729 (youtube.com)

As if there aren’t enough problems going on, this writer has been contaminated with Brown Tail Moth’s agent again.  For you folks in Maine please band together and eliminate this problem. The contamination appears to have come from a blanket that was purchased in WalMart in Waterville, Maine last July and used at camp almost a year ago.  This blanket was washed twice so this Brown Tail Moth agent doesn’t decompose readily.  Stay tuned.

Talk to you next week – Jeff

Jeffrey “Jeff” Gross spent 21 years as an Analytical Chemist at the USCG R&D Center in Groton, Connecticut, Woods Hole Laboratories, and Helix Technologies. Changing careers is a “great learning experience for everyone”, Jeff says, and I’m an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, a student of the sciences, and the world. The US holds too many wonders not to take a chance and explore them”.

Jeff is the Model Train and Railroad entrepreneur. Proud Golden Retriever owner. Ultra strong Second Amendment Advocate and Constitutionalist. “Determined seeker of the truth”.  Jeff is a RIFGPA Legislative and Legal Officer, Freshwater Chairman, NRA Liaison.

His subjects include Outdoors, Second Amendment, Model Railroading, and Whimsical. He can be reached at: [email protected]