Political Action
Wednesday wanderings.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
I've been collecting conspiracy theories for the ammo shortage, and I recently heard a great one that supposedly came from a local gun store: FEMA has been buying ammunition companies, then shutting them down to eliminate all civilian ammunition sources.
One needs an awful lot of foil for a tin hat that big...
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Uncle and I have something in common: here in Oregon, our legislature also passed a "no texting" law. We went further, though - we added that you couldn't use a handheld cel phone at all. Then we enacted $2 billion of new taxes and spending in the state with the second-highest unemployment in the nation. We're number 49! We're number 49! Go team!
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I'm really excited about the rifles Savage has been introducing lately. I like this concept, though I'm not at all wild about the buttstock:
I'm more intrigued by this one:
If it's as accurate as expected, I may have to own one. (Sure, I could build one myself, but I'm too busy doing guns for other people. Remember the parable about the shoemaker's children?)
Now, if we could just get them to cease doing business with H-S Precision...
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Dr. Helen brings us the story of a woman who fought back against her knife-wielding rapist. Read the comments - some insightful, and some very amusing (in a train wreck sort of way.)
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From the Irish Times comes news that the powers-that-be want to ban "practical" shooting (i.e. IPSC, IDPA.) The Irish Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, had this to say:
“It’s simply not in the public interest to tolerate the development of a subculture predicated on a shooting activity which by the liberal standards of the US is regarded as an extreme shooting activity." He said any cursory research on the internet showed that these activities were marketed as being at the “extreme end” of handgun ownership and were “anathema to the tradition of Irish sporting clubs”.
Hmmm...such preoccupation with America leads me to suspect his national pride is still smarting from the shellacking his team took back in 1874.
-=[ Grant ]=-
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A little behind.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Another one of those hectic weeks, with lots of jobs needing to be finished off for shipment. I'll get back to you as soon as I can...in the meantime, I'll just observe that it doesn't surprise me Oregon's AG wasn't one of the 23.
-=[ Grant ]=-
The research (as usual) in on our side.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
David Kopel at the Independence Institute has a new research paper forthcoming in the Connecticut Law Review. Titled "Pretend 'Gun-Free' School Zones: A Deadly Legal Fiction", it deals with the subject of concealed firearms carry on school campuses. From the abstract:
I highly recommend that you download a PDF of the paper from Social Science Research Network. It's a terrific read and well worth your time.Most states issue permits to carry a concealed handgun for lawful protection to an applicant who is over 21 years of age, and who passes a fingerprint-based background check and a safety class. These permits allow the person to carry a concealed defensive handgun almost everywhere in the state. Should professors, school teachers, or adult college and graduate students who have such permits be allowed to carry firearms on campus?
In the last two years, many state legislatures have debated the topic. School boards, regents, and administrators are likewise faced with decisions about whether to change campus firearms policies.
This Paper is the first to provide a thorough analysis of the empirical evidence and policy arguments regarding licensed campus carry. Whether a reader agrees or disagrees with the Paper's policy recommendations, the Paper can lay the foundation for a better-informed debate, and a more realistic analysis of the issue.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Monday meanderings.
Monday,
April 06, 2009
Is it just me, or does anyone else smell something fishy in the sudden rash of mass murders involving firearms? I'm not one to latch on to conspiracy theories, but as someone once told me: "two is a coincidence, three is a pattern."
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Speaking of recent shootings, it seems the police in the Binghampton incident waited more than an hour to make entry, despite the emerging protocol of immediate engagement upon arrival. Their Chief is now busy making excuses for the delay; one is reminded of the "Blues Brothers Gambit": "I ran out of gas. I, I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts. IT WASN'T MY FAULT!"
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The gun prohibitionists, realizing the the Mexican Argument for U.S. gun control isn't gaining any traction, have jumped on the chance to use the blood of the innocent to further their ambitions. Their latest planted story is that of the former newspaper editor who "almost went postal" once upon a time. Naturally, he blames the wide availability of guns (and specifically his "hunting rifle") for contributing to his supposed mental instability. (See if you can spot the egregious gun terminology error in his story...)
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-=[ Grant ]=-
Monday meanderings.
Monday,
March 30, 2009
Sitrep: gunshow vendors tell me that any autoloading rifle is like gold these days (while they can't give away bolt-action hunting rifles.) Concealed handgun licensing is at an all-time high here in Oregon (and a large percentage of applicants are from what is often referred to as the "left" of the political spectrum.) Ammunition shortages continue, as well as components such as bullets and primers.
If I didn't know better, I'd say a lot of people have joined the ranks of "clingers."
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Someone recently asked if I still had the same opinion of Taurus revolvers that I did back in 2006. Given my recent experience with the brand-new 856 model, I'd have to say yes. Nothing at Taurus has changed, as near as I can tell.
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Late last year, the ProArms Podcast broke the news that Federal was bringing back .38 Special NyClad ammunition. This load was for many years the best standard-pressure .38 Special available. The NyClad is a soft lead hollowpoint of 125 grains, coated in a nylon compound to prevent barrel leading. It is just the ticket for the recoil sensitive, and especially for the new crop of uber-light "J" frame revolvers.
My sources tell me that Federal planned to do an initial run of the NyClad in March, so it should be available soon (if it isn't already.) Unless your local dealer is particularly astute, he probably won't be carrying it - you'll probably have to special order some.
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I wish I had time to write a political/economic blog - between Washington and Wall Street, there is a huge amount of material coming down the pipes daily. (The passing reference to waste plumbing is intentional.)
-=[ Grant ]=-
Wednesday wanderings.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Lots of linking to avoid thinking on my own!
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Xavier recently posted a letter from - and his response to - one of his readers. The exchange (and the comments that follow) bring up important issues in the area of Second Amendment activism. It isn't always black-and-white.
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When you've finished reading Xavier, pop over to Breda's place and read this related article she posted about a month ago. (I realize it's a bit late, and I'd meant to bring it up earlier, but just kept forgetting.)
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Rob Pincus is one of the more thoughtful trainers working today. He's got a great post up on the Breach-Bang-Clear blog about putting techniques on pedestals. Highly recommended read.
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Speaking of Rob, I discovered that he has a blog of his own. Good stuff.
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Not just techniques get put on pedestals; equipment does too. There are the 1911 people, the Glock folks, the "any caliber as long as it begins with '4' " crowd, and so on. I suppose one could accuse me of doing the same thing with wheelguns (retro pedestal?), but I'm on record as saying - more than once - that the revolver isn't the perfect tool for everyone and every purpose.
For example, a number of years ago I was engaged in an activity of some risk. For that, I forsook my beloved revolver for a Glock and all the high capacity magazines I could fit under a suit coat. I believe in picking the right tool for the job; it just so happens that, for some jobs, the revolver is at least one of the right tools.
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Rejoice! Tam has finally posted a new article over at The Arms Room. (I was beginning to think she'd given up writing about guns...)
-=[ Grant ]=-
Monday meanderings.
Monday,
March 02, 2009
I'm gratified - and somewhat surprised - at the tremendous response to last week's post "Risk assessment, or lack thereof." One of the difficulties I've found with this whole blog adventure is predicting what will resonate with my readers. In some cases I've been deliberatively provocative in order to get people to think outside of their comfort zone, while in others I've tried to deliver solid technical information not readily available in the swamp that is the internet.
On occasion (as with the article under consideration) I worry about whether I'm talking over my audience, that the subject might be a bit too abstract. I'm happy to find that my readers are significantly more discerning than average.
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One complaint about the Bianchi SpeedStrips is that they're not available in calibers other than .38/.357. I'm surprised that, until tipped off by a reader, I didn't know about Quick Strips from Tuff Products. They appear to be a clone of the Bianchi product, but are available in a wide range of calibers. Check 'em out.
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You may have heard that the U.S. Attorney General called (not surprisingly) for reinstating the infamous Assault Weapons Ban. What was surprising was Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's adamant refusal to consider such legislation. Mr. Obama's administration may find their road tougher sledding than they'd originally anticipated. All the better for us!
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A while back I wrote about the iPhone/iTouch ballistics application iSnipe. While it worked well, it was pretty basic; as I explained to the author, it needed some features added to enhance utility for the serious long-range shooter.
It didn't take long for competition to appear: Ballistic FTE has everything I ever wanted, and then some. It is superb in every respect; you must see the target recording function! It even has a calculator to help with rangefinding (mil-dot) reticle use. Ballistic FTE is a bargain at $9.99.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Monday meanderings.
Monday,
February 02, 2009
I wrote last week (one of the lost posts, sadly) about a shooting that happened just north of me in Portland. One of the local stations ran some aspect of that story as their lead every day for a solid week, referring to it as a "shooting rampage."
It's not surprising, though. This is the same television station that was the corporate sponsor of a gun "buyback" event last November, and even did a live remote during their morning news show.
Jerks. I mean that in the nicest possible way, of course.
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A buddy and I have had an email exchange regarding the engine failures on the Airbus which ditched in the Hudson River. As I told him: "I've never flown on an Airbus, and never will. I've owned a French automobile, and the thought of traveling above the earth in a device built by a committee containing engineers from Peugeot (let alone Citroen) scares me to death!"
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Thanks for all who expressed concern over the data loss I experienced last week. I have recovered the lost posts, and as I get time will be formatting (links, pics, etc.) and reposting them.
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Last Friday, Uncle brought us the story of a protest against ROTC arms training. The group's web page reveals a startling fear of inanimate objects, including what they refer to as "high powered pellet" rifles.
I wonder what it's like to travel through life being scared of everything around you...
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Coming up in the next few weeks...I'll have some thoughts on CNC machining, women & guns, facing demons, and more. Stay tuned!
-=[ Grant ]=-
You'd think they'd learn from the mistakes of others.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Where are all these stupid people coming from?
I'm planning a new rifle build. In recent years I've been playing around with the hyper-performance 6.5-284, and while I like the round it's time for something a little more mainstream. After careful consideration of all my options, I decided that my next competition/target rifle needed to be a .308. (I've never had a bolt gun in .308; as strange as that sounds, to me the round has always been an autoloading cartridge.)
An important part of any customized rifle is the selection of a stock. Two of the leading contenders for my "perfect" rifle were H-S Precision and McMillan. That was, however, before the story broke that H-S Precision had used a quote from infamous FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi in their latest catalog.
My first thought was the same as when I heard the owner of a high-end rifle company had ignorantly and publicly endorsed an avowed anti-gunner for President: "you've got to be kidding! No one would be that stupid."
Guess I was wrong.
A couple of bloggers actually called H-S to find out if the story was true. (After all, the purported catalog page making the rounds could have been photoshopped.) Turns out that it is, in fact, true - two separate confirmations from H-S employees, one of whom says that Horiuchi "knows" the owner of H-S.
My father told me that the quickest way to judge a person's character is to look at the kinds of friends he/she collects. Guess I know all I need to about H-S Precision.
Looks like McMillan just made another sale.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Snark attack
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tam, talking about the Clintons:
Milk. Nose. Out of.Are she and Bill even living together these days? Last I heard, their girlfriends weren't speaking to each other...
-=[ Grant ]=-
Monday Meanderings
Monday, November 03,
2008
Sebastian at Snowflakes in Hell has been getting hate mail over his coverage of the Cooper affair. I feel for ya, buddy, as I've gotten a few of those myself. As has been said, the difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits - and some of the emails received here have obviously not limited out.
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For better or worse, it'll all be over tomorrow night. Thank (insert your favorite deity).
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This weekend I finally got around to listening to the latest Pro Arms Podcast. This episode covers the snubby revolver, and in it Massad Ayoob mentions that he suspects Ruger will introduce an aluminum version of the SP101 next year. Sharp-eyed readers will recall that I'm a fan of the SP, though sometimes I tire at the weight of the thing. A lightweight SP would be Da Bomb, and I'd be first in line to get one.
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Apparently, I'm not the only one who picked up on Mas' comments. Glad to see this great podcast getting some listenership!
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I don't have the time (or the stomach) to prowl the forums, but others do - and luckily Xavier caught this thread on a Ruger Redhawk shedding it's barrel. (I'm mentioned about midway through the entire exchange.) It appears as though it might be the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) problem that Ruger fixed many years ago. There are evidently still a few Redhawks out there that didn't get caught in Ruger's warranty net, and perhaps is something to think about when buying a used example from early in the production run.
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Someone emailed that he thought my writing was starting to resemble Jeff Cooper's. I'm not sure whether to be flattered or concerned.
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From SurvivalBlog.com comes this story: it seems that the Brits have a machine gun that shoots itself. Isn't this the same army that fields the SA80 rifle, the gun M-16 haters should thank their lucky stars we're not using? (Owners of British sports cars will understand.)
-=[ Grant ]=-
Friday Extra: Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Friday, October 31,
2008
According to USA Today ("McPaper"), Dan Cooper has resigned from Cooper Firearms. USA Today included a quote sure to cement Cooper's reputation for gullibility:
You bet, Dan, because what a politician says is always sooooooo much more accurate and predictive than his past behavior. (For reference: how do you tell when a politician is lying to you? When his lips are moving!) Guess it's all that HopeyChangey (copyright 2008, TamKo Enterprises) at work, which would seem to be even more powerful than Steve Jobs' Reality Distortion Field.I don't believe that what's being said about Obama and his policies about guns are accurate. I have had a conversation with the senator … he is a stanch supporter of the right to hunt and the right to bear arms.
USA Today also managed to land a quote from Bob Ricker, who heads up the thoroughly discredited "American Hunters and Shooters Association". No surprise that he doesn't like the turn of events at Cooper. (I'll leave it to you to Google all about AHSA and their connections to the DNC, which in turn will tell you how much Ricker's opinion is worth.)
According to the article, the blame for Cooper's ouster goes to those meddling bloggers and muckraking internet forums that prompted a massive grassroots response against him. Of course, in politics when grassroots action agrees with your position/candidate it's "good", but when it doesn't it's "evil".
Tuesday is going to be interesting.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Bill Ruger. Jim Zumbo. And now, I give you Dan Cooper.
Tuesday, October 28,
2008
In the market for a custom rifle? Don't buy a Cooper. I've learned (via Snowflakes In Hell) that Dan Cooper, the owner of Cooper Firearms, is supporting Obama. Not only has he given money to the Obama campaign, he even found the time to sit for interviews; take this story in yesterday's USA Today, for instance.
When this development hit the blogosphere yesterday, it naturally ignited a firestorm. Cooper (singly and collectively) apparently felt the heat, as they quickly put up some spin on their website. "Spin" is exactly the right word - no repudiation of the USA Today interview, instead some platitudes about how they support the Second Amendment. (As it turns out, even their claims of equal support for McCain turned out to be not entirely truthful.)
Let me make this perfectly clear: I believe in a person's right to his or her own political opinions. If Cooper had simply given Obama money and kept his mouth shut, that would be his right and I'd defend it. But by going public, by flaunting his activities in a manner that does harm to the Second Amendment and all those who support it, he's crossed the line. By publicly choosing sides, he's made himself into fair game.
Folks, as you know I don't normally do politics here, but Obama is a serious gun grabber. His record goes back many years, and no matter how many times he says he doesn't want to take our guns, he's lying. Right through his teeth. For sure and for certain. There is no doubt. (Understand that I'm not at all thrilled by McCain, but on this issue there is clear delineation between the candidates, and it's one of great importance to anyone reading this blog. In the "lesser of two evils" competition, McCain comes out on top.)
I don't know what Cooper's motivation is. Perhaps, like Bill Ruger, he figures that Obama will only take "bad" guns away from people, and leave his products alone. Or, perhaps like Zumbo, he's just clueless. I don't know, but one thing is for certain: unless something revelatory is forthcoming from them, I'm never going to consider a Cooper product - and you shouldn't, either.
Contact Cooper; tell them how you feel. Send their contact information to your friends, post it in your gun clubs, hand out flyers at gun shows. Tell any retailer with Coopers on the shelf about Mr. Cooper's sell-out, then give them Cooper's contact info. Encourage them to tell the company exactly what they think of Dan Cooper and his new-found "friends."
Then start saving your pennies for a Barrett - made by a company that understands, and supports, the Second Amendment.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Monday Meanderings
Monday, October 27,
2008
Someone recently speculated that if a certain "feel good" candidate is elected President, semi-automatic handguns would be the first things targeted for control. This would mean an increase in revolver sales (and, presumably, a corresponding increase in services to and for revolvers.) While I'm normally elated at the prospect of more people possessing the hallowed wheelgun, this is not the way I wish it to happen.
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Gun sales are up on the prospects of the coming election. It would seem that people exercise their rights when others threaten to exorcise them.
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To those patiently waiting: good news is coming, but not today. More to follow.
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A boy attending a supervised machine gun shoot in Massachusetts (Massachusetts ?!?!?!) lost control of an Uzi and fatally shot himself in the head. A sad story, to be sure, but one which will no doubt be used to justify a call for increased restrictions on all autoloading firearms. (Read the comments at that site only if you have a strong stomach for stupidity.)
Which, unfortunately, brings us right back to where we started.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Monday Meanderings
Sunday, August 10,
2008
Something old, something new - all are borrowed, and one makes me blue!
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Marko over at the munchkin wrangler (who, for all of his talent, still hasn't figured out what the caps key is for) has penned another winner: "tales from a gun-free society." It's a personal look at the societal effects of wide scale disarmament. (My general rule is that if Marko wrote it, it must be worth reading. This is yet another validation of that rule.)
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If the name "Gecko45" means nothing to you, then you've missed out on one of the funniest things on the 'net - the rise of the Mall Ninja. Sadly, the original postings on GlockTalk that led to the coining of the term are long gone, and the mallninja.com site is no more; luckily for us, someone recognized the historical importance of Gecko45.
His (her?) whole posts - along with some good background and explanations - can now be found at Lonely Machines. If you're new to the Mall Ninja phenomenon, it's a must-read. If you remember the original, it's a hilarious blast from the past. In either case, go. Read. Laugh.
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Gecko45 is a classic, no doubt. It's hard to beat such comedic genius, and how many people can lay claim to inspiring a new term? Well, Larry Correia's got a candidate of his own: the original "HK: because you suck. And we hate you." essay. You can read it - along with his hilarious followup - at this link. (If you're a rabid HK fan, it's guaranteed to raise your blood pressure. If you're not, it'll make you squirt milk out your nose.)
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Happy Monday!
-=[ Grant ]=-
I'm not gloating....
Monday, July 07, 2008
...quite the opposite, in fact.
A client sent me this link to the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department's FAQ regarding handgun ownership. As you know, the recent Supreme Court decision in the Heller case struck down the handgun ban in DC. However, it did not address the ban on semiautomatic handguns in the District, which still stands.
The result is that the only handgun DC residents will be allowed to own is a revolver.
As you are no doubt already aware, I'm a big fan of revolvers. I'm on record as saying that there is no job a good revolver can't do; I originated the phrase "the world isn't flat, your gun shouldn't be either." I believe that owning a revolver displays innate good sense and good taste, and an appreciation of the finer things in life.
Still, people shouldn't be forced to own one by limiting their freedom to choose something else.
It's great that the District's residents may now own a handgun; it's not so great that they won't get a choice in what kind of handgun. I'm hoping that someone will take the District back to court and have that part of their ineffective laws struck down. At that point, residents will be able to decide for themselves what they'd like to own.
If you're in DC, I support your right to decide for yourself which to own: a beautiful, graceful, efficient revolver - or an ugly, ungainly, unreliable, ill-fitting, bottom-feeding, ground littering, reciprocating monstrosity.
(Not that I'm biased, you understand!)
-=[ Grant ]=-
Supreme Court update
Wednesday, June 25,
2008
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will announce their decision in the District of Columbia v. Heller case tomorrow morning, commencing at 10:am EDT. The best place to follow their announcement is the SCOTUS Blog, which has live coverage of every Court decision.
Regardless of which direction the Court takes, tomorrow will be groundbreaking in the history of the Second Amendment.
-=[ Grant ]=-
A slight intermission...
Wednesday, April 09,
2008
...from the normal gun-centric topics we cover here. This, however, is important enough that I think it deserves your attention.
Tam and Marko continue to be bright spots in the individual rights blogosphere. They have a clarity of communication that is a marvel to me. (I tend to be a little long-winded, and sometimes less than succinct. They don't suffer from those problems. I'm claiming that it's because I have more work to do than they. Yeah, that's the ticket!) Their respective blogs have percolated to the top to become the first two I read every morning.
Today, though, Tam has outdone herself. I've been harping about the evils of the 17th amendment for years, but have never found a cogent and concise way to explain my concerns. Tam does it in only a thousand words, and still manages to make the (admittedly dry) subject readable and engaging.
Highest recommendation. Read it, memorize it, bookmark it, forward it.
-=[ Grant ]=-
A funny thing happened on the way to the Supreme Court
Wednesday, March 19,
2008
Everyone with access to a keyboard is blogging about Heller v. D.C. today. The level of insight varies from brilliant to "yesterday I couldn't spell blogger, today I iz one."
Lest I be thought in the latter category, I will refrain from commenting on the proceedings. I will, however, leave you with this quote from Gun Law News:
That, folks, is the only certainty in this whole case!No matter what the outcome from the Supreme Court, the Brady Campaign and the Violence Policy Center will declare victory. Then they will initiate fund raising based upon their "victory".
-=[ Grant ]=-
Who knew - besides us, of course?
Wednesday, March 12,
2008
This Reuters story about "normal" gun owners has been getting a lot of attention in the blogosphere - as well it should. The condescension in the text is palpable, as if the reporter really wanted to do a hit piece but couldn't come up with the slimmest of excuses to do so.
Need proof? How about this quote:
Yeah, that's objective.The owners are not just urban criminals and drug dealers.
Check out the comments over at Say Uncle.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Monday Meanderings
Monday, March 03,
2008
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Every once in a while, Tam hits one out of the park.
Read the whole thing - it's good.This is the country where we're supposed to be leading ourselves, not waiting for solutions to be handed down from on high.
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SayUncle alerts us to this story. Predictable Euro-socialist hand-wringing and whining commence.
(Yes, I would generally agree that brandishing a weapon is both a tactical and legal no-no - but then again, if you're an old, frail lady and someone strange is standing in your yard, refusing to leave, perhaps you are justified.)
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I missed this until Michael Bane pointed me to it. Hilarious!
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Happy Monday, everyone!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Monday catch-up
Monday, January 07,
2008
I usually don't get into
politics in this blog (I don't feel it's appropriate to the subject
matter I cover.) But, since the future occupant of 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue will have a direct impact on 2nd Amendment
issues, I'd like to address the upcoming primaries, both "D" and
"R". I keep hearing that this election is about "change." Call me a
curmudgeon, but I just don't see where shifting from one
overspending, big-government candidate to another overspending,
big-government candidate is "change."
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Here in the Pacific Northwest, it seems that those who want to "protect and serve" don't handle firearms very well. Just the other day a former Marine and aspiring police officer shot and killed himself at a New Year's Eve party. Though the news accounts played up the "alcohol is involved" angle, in a television interview his girlfriend said that he simply believed that he had unloaded the pistol, and wanted to assuage his guest's fears by putting the gun to his head and pulling the trigger.
Sound familiar? Once again, the problem is that people treat guns they believe to be unloaded differently than those they don't.
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I've been installing Bowen "Rough Country" rear sights on Ruger GP100s for a while, and the clients are very happy with them. The stock Ruger front sight, though, is very indistinct - rounded corners, irregular serrations, and sometimes uneven top surfaces. The Bowen front sight is a great alternative, though pricey - it is an expensive part, and has to be fitted and machined to desired shape. However, if you want the best sight picture possible on a Ruger, it is the way to go.
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It's a new year, and still no Dan Wesson .357 revolvers from CZ-USA. I'm wondering if they're going to show the shop-worn prototype at the SHOT show next month, and once again claim that they're "coming real soon now!"?
-=[ Grant ]=-
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Here in the Pacific Northwest, it seems that those who want to "protect and serve" don't handle firearms very well. Just the other day a former Marine and aspiring police officer shot and killed himself at a New Year's Eve party. Though the news accounts played up the "alcohol is involved" angle, in a television interview his girlfriend said that he simply believed that he had unloaded the pistol, and wanted to assuage his guest's fears by putting the gun to his head and pulling the trigger.
Sound familiar? Once again, the problem is that people treat guns they believe to be unloaded differently than those they don't.
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I've been installing Bowen "Rough Country" rear sights on Ruger GP100s for a while, and the clients are very happy with them. The stock Ruger front sight, though, is very indistinct - rounded corners, irregular serrations, and sometimes uneven top surfaces. The Bowen front sight is a great alternative, though pricey - it is an expensive part, and has to be fitted and machined to desired shape. However, if you want the best sight picture possible on a Ruger, it is the way to go.
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It's a new year, and still no Dan Wesson .357 revolvers from CZ-USA. I'm wondering if they're going to show the shop-worn prototype at the SHOT show next month, and once again claim that they're "coming real soon now!"?
-=[ Grant ]=-
I'm back - Happy New Year!
Wednesday, January
02, 2008
Well, I enjoyed my little
vacation. While I was out, the emails and snail mails piled up -
it's going to take the rest of the week to get through
everything!
In my post-vacation hyperactivity, I've decided to rearrange my shop's layout to make it a little more efficient. My parts cabinet, for instance, has always been across the room from my workbench. That's an oversight that has annoyed me for years. It's not a trivial task to fix the problem, as a) the cabinet is quite heavy, and b) lots of other things need to be moved to make the appropriate space. I'm doing it anyway.
In gun news, I found this expose on one of CeaseFire Pennsylvania's board members. I've always marveled at the difference in mental attitudes between pro- and anti-Second Amendment people, wherein the latter tend to focus on hyperbole and emotion, and the former tend to cite facts and scholarship. It comes as no surprise, then, that one of "their own" believes in such non-rational things as crop circles and extra-terrestrials. This is the "mainstream support" they're always bleating about?
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go answer the mail. I anticipate some long keyboard sessions!
-=[ Grant ]=-
In my post-vacation hyperactivity, I've decided to rearrange my shop's layout to make it a little more efficient. My parts cabinet, for instance, has always been across the room from my workbench. That's an oversight that has annoyed me for years. It's not a trivial task to fix the problem, as a) the cabinet is quite heavy, and b) lots of other things need to be moved to make the appropriate space. I'm doing it anyway.
In gun news, I found this expose on one of CeaseFire Pennsylvania's board members. I've always marveled at the difference in mental attitudes between pro- and anti-Second Amendment people, wherein the latter tend to focus on hyperbole and emotion, and the former tend to cite facts and scholarship. It comes as no surprise, then, that one of "their own" believes in such non-rational things as crop circles and extra-terrestrials. This is the "mainstream support" they're always bleating about?
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go answer the mail. I anticipate some long keyboard sessions!
-=[ Grant ]=-
In case you haven't heard
Wednesday, November
21, 2007
The Supreme Court of the
United States has agreed to hear the case of District of Columbia v.
Heller (the case is better known as
Parker v. District of Columbia, wherein five other D.C. residents
seek to join Mr. Heller's suit. Heller, then, is the base decision
that we are most concerned with.)
There is much hand-wringing about this case. A certain segment of the firearms fraternity (I'll call them the Not Ready Alliance, or "NRA" for short) doesn't want the case to be heard, because "we might lose, and then what will happen?!?" The other side, which I'll call "Gung-ho Order of Allegiance" ("GOA", in case you don't get the joke) is proclaiming "this is GREAT! Now we'll get rid of all those unconstitutional laws all over the country! Let's go get 'em!"
My position? Simple: sooner or later, the SCOTUS is going to hear a Second Amendment case. That much is sure. It might as well be this one.
From my standpoint, it's best if they hear Heller and not something else. Why? Because we are unlikely to find another case anytime soon that has a better chance of coming out on "our side." It is as close as to a "slam dunk" as we will probably ever see, and I'd rather they look at Heller than some other, less solid, case.
What's more, this court is probably the best relative to individual rights that we'll have in a long time. Don't get me wrong: this court is no friend of the Constitution, and has shown so time and again, but it's about as good as has existed in my lifetime.
(Given the field of likely Presidential nominees - of either party - they aren't going to get any better, either. Only one candidate holds out hope of real change in this matter, and unfortunately he's not getting a lot of support from the "gun culture." More's the pity.)
Again, it's not about the downside if we lose or the upside if we win; it's about timing. This battle has always been inevitable, and the smart warrior chooses to engage when he is strongest and his opponents are weakest. For us, that is now.
Let the chips fall where they may.
-=[ Grant ]=-
There is much hand-wringing about this case. A certain segment of the firearms fraternity (I'll call them the Not Ready Alliance, or "NRA" for short) doesn't want the case to be heard, because "we might lose, and then what will happen?!?" The other side, which I'll call "Gung-ho Order of Allegiance" ("GOA", in case you don't get the joke) is proclaiming "this is GREAT! Now we'll get rid of all those unconstitutional laws all over the country! Let's go get 'em!"
My position? Simple: sooner or later, the SCOTUS is going to hear a Second Amendment case. That much is sure. It might as well be this one.
From my standpoint, it's best if they hear Heller and not something else. Why? Because we are unlikely to find another case anytime soon that has a better chance of coming out on "our side." It is as close as to a "slam dunk" as we will probably ever see, and I'd rather they look at Heller than some other, less solid, case.
What's more, this court is probably the best relative to individual rights that we'll have in a long time. Don't get me wrong: this court is no friend of the Constitution, and has shown so time and again, but it's about as good as has existed in my lifetime.
(Given the field of likely Presidential nominees - of either party - they aren't going to get any better, either. Only one candidate holds out hope of real change in this matter, and unfortunately he's not getting a lot of support from the "gun culture." More's the pity.)
Again, it's not about the downside if we lose or the upside if we win; it's about timing. This battle has always been inevitable, and the smart warrior chooses to engage when he is strongest and his opponents are weakest. For us, that is now.
Let the chips fall where they may.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Green with envy
Wednesday, October
31, 2007
Ever run across someone who
does something so much better than you, that you are simultaneously
awed and angered?
I get that way when I read Marko's blog "The Munchkin Wrangler." His writing positively sparkles; he's able to relay conceptual topics in an elegant and concise manner that is so much better than my lame attempts.
His latest missive deals with the idea that one should simply "give criminals what they want and they'll leave you alone." It's so good, it should be required reading for everyone - whether they carry a gun or not.
Don't miss it.
-=[ Grant ]=-
I get that way when I read Marko's blog "The Munchkin Wrangler." His writing positively sparkles; he's able to relay conceptual topics in an elegant and concise manner that is so much better than my lame attempts.
His latest missive deals with the idea that one should simply "give criminals what they want and they'll leave you alone." It's so good, it should be required reading for everyone - whether they carry a gun or not.
Don't miss it.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Even the best families have their fights
Monday, October 29,
2007
I've always assumed that
readers of this blog are probably NRA members; I'm sure more than a
few are GOA or JPFO members, as well. Like many of you, I've
belonged to the NRA for some time, and appreciate the work that
they do.
That doesn't mean, however, that I'm in lock-step with the NRA, nor do I believe that supporting them means that I should turn off my brain. I criticize them when they need to be criticized, because if that didn't happen they would morph into an organization that none of us could support.
When they've caved on important issues or made odd political endorsements, I've been critical. I think that is part and parcel of responsible membership.
Say Uncle has a good post on this topic. I agree with him.
-=[ Grant ]=-
That doesn't mean, however, that I'm in lock-step with the NRA, nor do I believe that supporting them means that I should turn off my brain. I criticize them when they need to be criticized, because if that didn't happen they would morph into an organization that none of us could support.
When they've caved on important issues or made odd political endorsements, I've been critical. I think that is part and parcel of responsible membership.
Say Uncle has a good post on this topic. I agree with him.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Wednesday mind dump
Wednesday, August
15, 2007
Let's clean out the ol'
noggin:
-- Neat little "preaching to the choir" site called What kind of person supports gun control?
-- I've been thinking that the reason revolvers don't seem to capture much attention any more is because no "high speed low drag" kind of people use them. Unfortunately, pointing out that France's GIGN used to issue revolvers probably isn't going to have the desired effect!
-- Ruger's QC continues to be hit-and-miss. Just this week, I got in a new 3" GP100 with the barrel screwed in too far (canted to one side), and a 4" example that didn't time correctly. I continue to recommend them as good base guns for custom projects, because once they're sorted out they make a superb custom - and you'll never wear one out. Probably best, though, to buy in person, and inspect carefully.
-- I get an unexpectedly large number of inquiries as to what I use as a bore cleaner. I've used the homebrew Ed's Red formula for years, and have found nothing else that I like more. (I do use Hoppe's 7.62 formula for jacket fouling removal, however.)
-- The number of Detective Specials that are still in use as police backup and off-duty guns amazes me. Hardly a week goes by that I don't get at least one email or call from a LEO who is still using one in a secondary role. I've said it before, I'll say it again: S&W is missing a big market for the small 6-shot revolver. (Colt, of course, is missing out too - after all, they hold the designs for the Magnum Carry, but they don't want to make revolvers any more.)
-- I'm working on pictures for a new entry on the Recent Projects page. I won't divulge any more than it is, for once, not stainless. Stay tuned.
-- A non-relevant entry: got the latest versions of iLife and iWork last week. Verdict: Pages is finally a heavy hitter, Numbers is really cool, and the latest version of iPhoto is worth the cost all by itself. It's a great time to be a Mac user!
That's it for today. Boy, am I glad to get all of that out of my head!
-=[ Grant ]=-
-- Neat little "preaching to the choir" site called What kind of person supports gun control?
-- I've been thinking that the reason revolvers don't seem to capture much attention any more is because no "high speed low drag" kind of people use them. Unfortunately, pointing out that France's GIGN used to issue revolvers probably isn't going to have the desired effect!
-- Ruger's QC continues to be hit-and-miss. Just this week, I got in a new 3" GP100 with the barrel screwed in too far (canted to one side), and a 4" example that didn't time correctly. I continue to recommend them as good base guns for custom projects, because once they're sorted out they make a superb custom - and you'll never wear one out. Probably best, though, to buy in person, and inspect carefully.
-- I get an unexpectedly large number of inquiries as to what I use as a bore cleaner. I've used the homebrew Ed's Red formula for years, and have found nothing else that I like more. (I do use Hoppe's 7.62 formula for jacket fouling removal, however.)
-- The number of Detective Specials that are still in use as police backup and off-duty guns amazes me. Hardly a week goes by that I don't get at least one email or call from a LEO who is still using one in a secondary role. I've said it before, I'll say it again: S&W is missing a big market for the small 6-shot revolver. (Colt, of course, is missing out too - after all, they hold the designs for the Magnum Carry, but they don't want to make revolvers any more.)
-- I'm working on pictures for a new entry on the Recent Projects page. I won't divulge any more than it is, for once, not stainless. Stay tuned.
-- A non-relevant entry: got the latest versions of iLife and iWork last week. Verdict: Pages is finally a heavy hitter, Numbers is really cool, and the latest version of iPhoto is worth the cost all by itself. It's a great time to be a Mac user!
That's it for today. Boy, am I glad to get all of that out of my head!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Hump day catch-up
Wednesday, July 25,
2007
Saw this on the news last
night, and my very first thought
was "that can't happen - handguns are banned in the UK!" Guess it
just shows the true futility of such laws. (Check the comments,
though - apparently some people think that they're not going far
enough. There are those in this country who think the same
way.
Even when they admit the laws won't work, they pass them anyway.)
---
Say Uncle alerted me to this...c'mon, you know you've always wanted to shoot a propane tank, just to see what happens.
---
Finally, this isn't really gun related, but is just too funny to ignore. Further comment would seem unnecessary.
---
-=[ Grant ]=-
---
Say Uncle alerted me to this...c'mon, you know you've always wanted to shoot a propane tank, just to see what happens.
---
Finally, this isn't really gun related, but is just too funny to ignore. Further comment would seem unnecessary.
---
-=[ Grant ]=-
Happy Independence Day!
Wednesday, July 04,
2007
On this, the celebration of
our country's birth, I wish for everyone a safe, happy, and
inspiring holiday.
I don't usually make political statements on this blog, as I generally find unsolicited discussions of politics and religion to be impolite. After all, if you wanted to read about such things you'd go to a blog dedicated to those topics! However, since our Second Amendment rights are inexorably tied to the political landscape, I think that it would not be out of line to make a comment on this occasion. I hope you'll indulge me for just a minute or so!
Think ahead to the coming elections; at this point there is only one candidate for the highest office in the land, from the major parties, who espouses the principles espoused by our Founding Fathers. (I'll leave it to you to figure out who that person may be, as the individual personality isn't the point of this little diatribe - it's the concept I want to focus on.)
Oddly, many in this country won't vote for such a candidate because they feel those principles are "too radical" or "anarchist." Sad, isn't it, that we have become so fearful of freedom in the last 231 years that we would actively avoid the kind of real personal liberties that our Constitution guarantees!
So far, none of the gun bloggers - even the most rabid advocates of the Second Amendment - have come out in support of such a candidate, preferring instead to focus their endorsements on those who don't challenge the status quo, except in the shallowest manner.
I fear that Patrick Henry is, at this very moment, rolling in his grave.
Freedom - real freedom - is a messy, scary, imprecise thing. Back in 1776 they understood that it isn't always pretty or "fair" (by whatever definition of that word you care to use.) Any attempt to impose order or "fairness" will result in a reduction in freedom, and there is just no way around that. That is just what we've been doing for the last couple of centuries, and you can see the results. Can anyone out there honestly say that they're happy with this?
Here's a little experiment: ponder, today and come November, where your personal intersection of freedom and comfort lies - then vote a little to the freedom side of that line. Push yourself. Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. In that way, little by little, we might be able to make some headway against the forces who stand for prohibition, limitation, and collectivism.
End of sermon. That wasn't so bad, was it?
-=[ Grant ]=-
I don't usually make political statements on this blog, as I generally find unsolicited discussions of politics and religion to be impolite. After all, if you wanted to read about such things you'd go to a blog dedicated to those topics! However, since our Second Amendment rights are inexorably tied to the political landscape, I think that it would not be out of line to make a comment on this occasion. I hope you'll indulge me for just a minute or so!
Think ahead to the coming elections; at this point there is only one candidate for the highest office in the land, from the major parties, who espouses the principles espoused by our Founding Fathers. (I'll leave it to you to figure out who that person may be, as the individual personality isn't the point of this little diatribe - it's the concept I want to focus on.)
Oddly, many in this country won't vote for such a candidate because they feel those principles are "too radical" or "anarchist." Sad, isn't it, that we have become so fearful of freedom in the last 231 years that we would actively avoid the kind of real personal liberties that our Constitution guarantees!
So far, none of the gun bloggers - even the most rabid advocates of the Second Amendment - have come out in support of such a candidate, preferring instead to focus their endorsements on those who don't challenge the status quo, except in the shallowest manner.
I fear that Patrick Henry is, at this very moment, rolling in his grave.
Freedom - real freedom - is a messy, scary, imprecise thing. Back in 1776 they understood that it isn't always pretty or "fair" (by whatever definition of that word you care to use.) Any attempt to impose order or "fairness" will result in a reduction in freedom, and there is just no way around that. That is just what we've been doing for the last couple of centuries, and you can see the results. Can anyone out there honestly say that they're happy with this?
Here's a little experiment: ponder, today and come November, where your personal intersection of freedom and comfort lies - then vote a little to the freedom side of that line. Push yourself. Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. In that way, little by little, we might be able to make some headway against the forces who stand for prohibition, limitation, and collectivism.
End of sermon. That wasn't so bad, was it?
-=[ Grant ]=-
So that's the explanation
Monday, June 25,
2007
SayUncle alerts us to a new Connecticut law
requiring law
abiding gun owners to report firearms thefts immediately or face
the consequences.
He says one insightful thing:
He says one insightful thing:
Punishing the otherwise law-abiding is easy. After all, they don’t shoot back. And going after people who do shoot back is hard.
Yep, that would explain
it.
-=[
Grant]=-
Just to set the record straight
Wednesday, June 20,
2007
One of my
favorite blogs is Marko's "The Munchkin
Wrangler." Marko is
yet another prolific and intelligent blogger from Tennessee whose
interests include firearms and Second Amendment rights.
He wrote an interesting piece a while back, titled "Why the Gun is Civilization." While one could (and some do) argue that his premise is not fully developed, I found it thought provoking. It's worth reading, if only to get you thinking more abstractly.
It seems that I'm not the only person who liked that little essay, as it has apparently been turning up in various guises and attributed to someone else. This is my little contribution to helping the cause: if you see his writing under someone else's moniker, or even unattributed, do your part and let people know who wrote it.
It's a karma thing.
-=[ Grant ]=-
He wrote an interesting piece a while back, titled "Why the Gun is Civilization." While one could (and some do) argue that his premise is not fully developed, I found it thought provoking. It's worth reading, if only to get you thinking more abstractly.
It seems that I'm not the only person who liked that little essay, as it has apparently been turning up in various guises and attributed to someone else. This is my little contribution to helping the cause: if you see his writing under someone else's moniker, or even unattributed, do your part and let people know who wrote it.
It's a karma thing.
-=[ Grant ]=-
The Second Amendment Carnival is back!
Monday, May 21,
2007
Some great stuff (like
always!)
The Second Amendment Carnival
(Hopefully my plumbing nightmare is over...full report later this week.)
-=[ Grant ]=-
The Second Amendment Carnival
(Hopefully my plumbing nightmare is over...full report later this week.)
-=[ Grant ]=-
On Virginia Tech
Wednesday, April
18, 2007
At first, I wasn't going to
comment on the sad crime perpetrated on the campus of Virginia Tech
this week. I figured that everyone, everywhere, was going to do so
(with varying degrees of erudition and insight.) I decided there
wasn't anything I could add. Until...
Listening to the news on the radio, I heard an interview with two students who said that they were in "the room where he was shooting." According to these people, students and faculty were hiding under and behind anything in the room that they felt would provide them some protection, or flat on the floor in the absence of same.
It's what they said next that prompted me to comment: as the gunman shot, he naturally ran out of ammunition, and had to stop to refill his magazines. After taking the time to refill then reload his weapon, he continued his unfettered spree.
He was out of ammunition, and had stopped to reload - why didn't someone, anyone, in the room take that golden opportunity to tackle the murderer? At that point the criminal couldn't shoot anyone, and the risk even to the person who would choose that course of action would have been relatively minor compared to letting him get his firearm back up and running.
The answer is as obvious as it is sad: our society has fully inculcated the victimhood and helplessness mentalities into the last several generations of people. They didn't do anything because they have been taught their entire lives to rely on someone - anyone - else for their safety and well being.
This is what the nanny state has given us. This is what our Founding Fathers, I think, understood when they listed the natural right to keep and bear arms in their Constitution: yes, it's about the ability to resist tyrannical governments. More importantly, though, is the choice inherent in the right.
You see, it's not the exercise of the right in and of itself that matters; it's the existence of the choice to exercise the right that is so very important. Even if one chooses not to exercise the right, in making the choice one has experienced the self-actualization that leads to great inner strength and a heightened sense of self-worth. The very personal decision - no matter what the decision itself is - is what makes for citizens who are self reliant, who can think for themselves, and cannot be corralled like sheep.
When the "transaction cost" of the individual choice is raised - when the ability to decide for oneself is restricted or controlled in any manner - the choice is made not by the individual, but by someone else. The benefits of making the decision are denied the individual, and he/she learns (bit by bit) how to be a subject rather than a sovereign individual. Given long enough, an entire people is conditioned to be subordinate themselves to authority figures; when the "badge" of "authority" is the firearm, the people will prostrate themselves to anyone who wields one. Even a crazed killer.
Milton Friedman was right.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Listening to the news on the radio, I heard an interview with two students who said that they were in "the room where he was shooting." According to these people, students and faculty were hiding under and behind anything in the room that they felt would provide them some protection, or flat on the floor in the absence of same.
It's what they said next that prompted me to comment: as the gunman shot, he naturally ran out of ammunition, and had to stop to refill his magazines. After taking the time to refill then reload his weapon, he continued his unfettered spree.
He was out of ammunition, and had stopped to reload - why didn't someone, anyone, in the room take that golden opportunity to tackle the murderer? At that point the criminal couldn't shoot anyone, and the risk even to the person who would choose that course of action would have been relatively minor compared to letting him get his firearm back up and running.
The answer is as obvious as it is sad: our society has fully inculcated the victimhood and helplessness mentalities into the last several generations of people. They didn't do anything because they have been taught their entire lives to rely on someone - anyone - else for their safety and well being.
This is what the nanny state has given us. This is what our Founding Fathers, I think, understood when they listed the natural right to keep and bear arms in their Constitution: yes, it's about the ability to resist tyrannical governments. More importantly, though, is the choice inherent in the right.
You see, it's not the exercise of the right in and of itself that matters; it's the existence of the choice to exercise the right that is so very important. Even if one chooses not to exercise the right, in making the choice one has experienced the self-actualization that leads to great inner strength and a heightened sense of self-worth. The very personal decision - no matter what the decision itself is - is what makes for citizens who are self reliant, who can think for themselves, and cannot be corralled like sheep.
When the "transaction cost" of the individual choice is raised - when the ability to decide for oneself is restricted or controlled in any manner - the choice is made not by the individual, but by someone else. The benefits of making the decision are denied the individual, and he/she learns (bit by bit) how to be a subject rather than a sovereign individual. Given long enough, an entire people is conditioned to be subordinate themselves to authority figures; when the "badge" of "authority" is the firearm, the people will prostrate themselves to anyone who wields one. Even a crazed killer.
Milton Friedman was right.
-=[ Grant ]=-
The Parker decision - what you didn't know
Wednesday, March
14, 2007
You've probably heard of the
recent DC District Court decision that confirms what we all know:
the 2nd Amendment is an individual right. Definitely good news, and
the result of a lot of hard work on the part of the lawyers
involved in the case.
Now you probably think that the NRA was in the thick of the legal proceedings, defending our rights and bankrolling the costly fight, just as their countless solicitation mailings claim.
Think again.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Now you probably think that the NRA was in the thick of the legal proceedings, defending our rights and bankrolling the costly fight, just as their countless solicitation mailings claim.
Think again.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Apologies are hollow when you really believe what you say!
Monday, February
19, 2007
Sorry if this post is more "linky"
than "thinky", but there's a lot happening very quickly...
It all started last Friday, when Jim Zumbo - a long-time Outdoor Life writer and Outdoor Channel contributor - wrote a piece on his Outdoor Life blog which opined that "assault rifles" weren't used by "legitimate sportsmen" and, essentially, were evil and should be banned. I learned about it from Michael Bane's blog, where he called for Zumbo to apologize.
It didn't take long for the word to start making the rounds, and even the people at the Brady Campaign (the professional gun-grabbers) linked to it as "proof" that assault weapons should be banned. This, just after the resurrected Assault Weapons Ban was re-introduced in Congress last week.
Zumbo, realizing that he was in deep doo-doo, started backpedaling and dropping names of the anointed in an effort to seem as though he's really "one of us." His editor, John Snow, tried to deflect the growing firestorm by posting that Zumbo was really a nice guy, and that people can agree to disagree, and other soft-shoe obfuscation.
Apparently the noise got to the folks at Remington, who have been big sponsors of Zumbo over the years. On the weekend, their CEO, Tom Milner, posted on Bane's blog that Remington would be severing their relationship with Zumbo first thing Monday morning. Though the authorship was in question, David Codrea was able to verify the courageous act yesterday, and come this morning the official Remington website added a statement to this effect.
Tam elated, vows to spend more money.
(Whew. Original content would have been easier!)
-=[ Grant ]=-
It all started last Friday, when Jim Zumbo - a long-time Outdoor Life writer and Outdoor Channel contributor - wrote a piece on his Outdoor Life blog which opined that "assault rifles" weren't used by "legitimate sportsmen" and, essentially, were evil and should be banned. I learned about it from Michael Bane's blog, where he called for Zumbo to apologize.
It didn't take long for the word to start making the rounds, and even the people at the Brady Campaign (the professional gun-grabbers) linked to it as "proof" that assault weapons should be banned. This, just after the resurrected Assault Weapons Ban was re-introduced in Congress last week.
Zumbo, realizing that he was in deep doo-doo, started backpedaling and dropping names of the anointed in an effort to seem as though he's really "one of us." His editor, John Snow, tried to deflect the growing firestorm by posting that Zumbo was really a nice guy, and that people can agree to disagree, and other soft-shoe obfuscation.
Apparently the noise got to the folks at Remington, who have been big sponsors of Zumbo over the years. On the weekend, their CEO, Tom Milner, posted on Bane's blog that Remington would be severing their relationship with Zumbo first thing Monday morning. Though the authorship was in question, David Codrea was able to verify the courageous act yesterday, and come this morning the official Remington website added a statement to this effect.
Tam elated, vows to spend more money.
(Whew. Original content would have been easier!)
-=[ Grant ]=-
BREAKING NEWS: Revolvers reclassified as "assault handguns"!
Wednesday, January
10, 2007
This from an article in the Frederick News-Post
in Maryland:
Thanks to SaysUncle for the heads-up.
-=[ Grant ]=-
If a Cobra and a Diamondback are "assault handguns", what does that make a Python?? It seems that the old saw about stupidity and hydrogen being the most common things in the universe has been proven true in what used to be known as the "Free State."Seized from Vaisman's residence were a broad range of weapons including assault handguns. Among the weapons were at least one Colt Cobra and at least one Colt Diamondback.
Thanks to SaysUncle for the heads-up.
-=[ Grant ]=-
You're not paranoid if they really ARE out to get you
Monday, January 08,
2007
When I meet new people (who are
not clients), I am often very circumspect about revealing what I do
for a living. Paranoia on my part? Perhaps, and I sometimes think
that working and corresponding with (and being married to) fellow
gun owners has warped my view of the non-gun owners amongst
us.
Have I adopted an "us vs. them" attitude? Though loathe to admit it, I think I have - at least, the germination of that mindset is definitely underway. My more naive associates sometimes accuse me of being a bit too sensitive, telling me that just because someone chooses not to own a gun for themselves doesn't mean that they think less of me for doing so.
I almost believed them. Until this article in the Seattle PI got printed. This may be the single most sickening such opinion piece I've seen, for it attacks not the article itself - a strategy that has been increasingly ineffective - but the very mindset of the gun owner.
Thanks to the View From North Central Idaho blog for alerting me to this tripe.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Have I adopted an "us vs. them" attitude? Though loathe to admit it, I think I have - at least, the germination of that mindset is definitely underway. My more naive associates sometimes accuse me of being a bit too sensitive, telling me that just because someone chooses not to own a gun for themselves doesn't mean that they think less of me for doing so.
I almost believed them. Until this article in the Seattle PI got printed. This may be the single most sickening such opinion piece I've seen, for it attacks not the article itself - a strategy that has been increasingly ineffective - but the very mindset of the gun owner.
Thanks to the View From North Central Idaho blog for alerting me to this tripe.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Hunting & gun control: what's the correlation?
Monday, November
27, 2006
First, there was
this article on the decline of hunting
in Newsweek. Great
article, and poignant - surprising treatment from the mainstream
media.
However, we must also realize the necessity of divorcing the subject of hunting - whatever we make think of it - from the topic of Second Amendment activism. As this article on Michael Bane's blog reminds us, the 2nd "ain't about duck hunting" - or any other kind of hunting, for that matter.
Great reading.
-=[ Grant ]=-
However, we must also realize the necessity of divorcing the subject of hunting - whatever we make think of it - from the topic of Second Amendment activism. As this article on Michael Bane's blog reminds us, the 2nd "ain't about duck hunting" - or any other kind of hunting, for that matter.
Great reading.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Another place to feed your gun-blog craving
Wednesday, October
25, 2006
Now that winter is coming, most of
us (except for those in the southern part of the country) will find
our opportunity for shooting activities sharply reduced. If you
can't be out shooting, the second best thing is reading about
shooting!
The Gun Blogs bills itself as the "online community for gun bloggers." You'll find a number of bloggers who write about guns, politics, and hunting on a regular basis. Definitely worth checking out!
-=[ Grant ]=-
The Gun Blogs bills itself as the "online community for gun bloggers." You'll find a number of bloggers who write about guns, politics, and hunting on a regular basis. Definitely worth checking out!
-=[ Grant ]=-
The Carnival is back in town!
Wednesday, October
18, 2006
The Carnival of Cordite, that is!
That's right, once again you can get your fix of the best gun blogs on the net. This is a great one - lots of links. Take a look!
-=[ Grant ]=-
That's right, once again you can get your fix of the best gun blogs on the net. This is a great one - lots of links. Take a look!
-=[ Grant ]=-
California arresting law-abiding gun owners
Monday, September
25, 2006
I hate to keep harping on
Californians, but come on people - a sunny climate really can't be
worth these continuing assaults on your constitutional liberties,
can it? Are you really so fond of your upwardly mobile lifestyles
that you're willing to voluntarily surrender your freedoms by
continuing to live there?
Read about the latest raids here.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Read about the latest raids here.
-=[ Grant ]=-
How they deal with hijackers in Lake Wobegon
Wednesday,
September 20, 2006
I'm not a fan of Garrison Keillor;
personally, I just never got his appeal, in the same way I never
understood why people thought Seinfeld was funny. Guess I'm just
humor impaired.
Nevertheless, I recently ran across this piece that he wrote for The Salt Lake Tribune, on airline security. He's got a funny bit about allowing people to carry guns on board, and I have to agree with his final question:
-=[ Grant ]=-
Nevertheless, I recently ran across this piece that he wrote for The Salt Lake Tribune, on airline security. He's got a funny bit about allowing people to carry guns on board, and I have to agree with his final question:
The way to stop terrorists on planes is to encourage passengers to bring loaded firearms aboard: guys in orange vests sitting in exit rows with deer rifles on their laps, ladies with Mr. Colt in their purses, kids with peashooters. Somebody wake up the NRA. Does the Second Amendment say ''The right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed except on commercial airliners''? Where is the right wing when you really need them?
-=[ Grant ]=-
Have you downloaded GUN FACTS yet?
Monday, September
18, 2006
If you haven't, remedy that
situation right now!
Gun Facts is a free e-book that debunks common myths about gun control. It is intended as a reference guide for anyone interested in restoring honesty to the debate about guns, crime, and the 2nd Amendment.
Divided into chapters based on gun control topics (assault weapons, ballistic finger printing, firearm availability, etc.), finding information is quick and easy. Each chapter lists common gun control myths, then lists a number of documented and cited facts that directly dispute the gun control claim. Thus when a neighbor, editor, or politician repeats some slogan propagated by gun control advocacy groups, you can quickly find that myth and set them straight!
This is an absolute must-have, folks!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Gun Facts is a free e-book that debunks common myths about gun control. It is intended as a reference guide for anyone interested in restoring honesty to the debate about guns, crime, and the 2nd Amendment.
Divided into chapters based on gun control topics (assault weapons, ballistic finger printing, firearm availability, etc.), finding information is quick and easy. Each chapter lists common gun control myths, then lists a number of documented and cited facts that directly dispute the gun control claim. Thus when a neighbor, editor, or politician repeats some slogan propagated by gun control advocacy groups, you can quickly find that myth and set them straight!
This is an absolute must-have, folks!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Brits prove - AGAIN - that gun laws don't work
Wednesday,
September 13, 2006
A tip of the Revolver Liberation
Alliance ball cap (now available here) to Tamara K., who blogged
this CNN story over at the View From The Porch.
So, let's see if I've got this straight: the British police, enforcers of some of the toughest gun laws in the world, busted a gun running operation whose pipeline originated in New Jersey - home of some of the toughest gun laws in the United States? What's wrong with this picture? I'll give you three guesses, and the first two don't count...
(Oh, and a fat raspberry to Associated Press, who just had to point out the American flag hanging over the porch at the offending house in Britain - a "large" flag, as the article made sure to mention. That, people, is what we call a "cheap shot.")
-=[ Grant ]=-
So, let's see if I've got this straight: the British police, enforcers of some of the toughest gun laws in the world, busted a gun running operation whose pipeline originated in New Jersey - home of some of the toughest gun laws in the United States? What's wrong with this picture? I'll give you three guesses, and the first two don't count...
(Oh, and a fat raspberry to Associated Press, who just had to point out the American flag hanging over the porch at the offending house in Britain - a "large" flag, as the article made sure to mention. That, people, is what we call a "cheap shot.")
-=[ Grant ]=-
The Second Amendment Carnival
Monday, September
04, 2006
Here's another great firearms link
carnival: from the Free Constitution blog comes the fourth
installment of the Second Amendment Carnival. Check it out - lots of great
links!
-=[ Grant ]=-
-=[ Grant ]=-
California: on the leading edge of gun prohibition - again
Friday, September
01, 2006
The California Senate has passed a bill
that requires
"microstamping", which imprints each fired case with a unique
identifier from gun in which it was fired.
As usual, Tamara K. at The View From The Porch has a great analysis of the situation. Check it out.
I hate to sound harsh, but how long are all you California gun owners going to put up with these kinds of gun control plans? Haven't you figured out that they just don't want you in their state?
-=[ Grant ]=-
As usual, Tamara K. at The View From The Porch has a great analysis of the situation. Check it out.
I hate to sound harsh, but how long are all you California gun owners going to put up with these kinds of gun control plans? Haven't you figured out that they just don't want you in their state?
-=[ Grant ]=-
2008 Presidential election: yuck!
Wednesday, August
30, 2006
2008 is
shaping up as the battle of the Republican anti-gunner versus the
Democratic anti-gunner. If only I could afford my own
island...!
-=[ Grant ]=-
-=[ Grant ]=-
She "gets it"
Wednesday, August
23, 2006
Tamara K., over at her blog The View From The Porch, says this:
"For what it's worth, I don't carry a gun to protect me from muggers at the mall. I don't even carry a gun to protect me, period. I carry a gun every day despite living in an area where I'm more likely to be hit by an asteroid than attacked by a mugger as a symbol of my refusal to buy into this culture of teat-sucking victimhood for one day longer. I carry it because I can."
Recite this, word for word, next time some busybody asks (with the inevitable sneer) why you need to carry a gun.
-=[ Grant ]=-
This week's website pick: keep on on firearms legislation
Friday, August 18,
2006
This is one of the few sites I check regularly. The Gun Law News website is an easy way to keep up on firearm news, legislation, and court proceedings.
Yes, they have an RSS feed!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Tamara K. gets it right - again
Friday, July 21,
2006
As you may remember, I'm a fan of Tamara K.'s "View from the porch" blog. She's got a new post up, and it's spot-on.
It reminds me of occasions when I've been goaded into discussing gun control with an anti-freedom activist (usually when I'm in a masochistic mood.) I've often been told that "people can't be trusted with guns because they'll go out and shoot their neighbors."
I've been known to respond "why do you want to shoot your neighbors? Are you unstable?" It usually ends that line of argument very quickly.
It's a great read - be sure to check it out.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Every once in a while, the New York Times surprises me
Wednesday, July 19,
2006
The New York Times ran this article on getting a concealed weapons permit in Texas. What's surprising is the relative lack (for the NYT, of course) of fear-mongering, class bigotry, or gratuitous put-downs.
Does this mean they've come over to our side? Nawww, but maybe some of their on-the-fence readers will!
-=[ Grant ]=-
We're on the winning side (for once)
Wednesday, July 12,
2006
Politicians are starting to figure it out...well, at least their lapdogs in the media are.
According to the U.S. News & World Report, gun control legislation is a big loser on Capitol Hill these days. Hooray! But, if history tells us anything, it's that gun owners will squander their current strong position. We need to go on the offensive and build on the gains we've made.
Michael Bane has an interesting FIve-Point Plan for Consolidating Our Current Successes. Though I'm not entirely sure about the first item (we shouldn't make additional legislation, we should insist that the Constitution be upheld - but I understand his point), the rest is spot-on. Pass it along!
(Obligatory revolver content: the US News article illustration is of several Ruger GP-100 revolvers!)
-=[ Grant ]=-
Discrimination that won't merit a lawsuit
Monday, July 10,
2006
If you're looking for a job, it's probably not a good idea to put firearms related items on your resume. In today's America, it's acceptable to discriminate on politically incorrect factors.
-=[ Grant ]=-
"Pretty soon, you're talking real money."
Wednesday, July 05,
2006
It's become apparent that the U.S. government has lost trillions (not millions, not billions, trillions) of dollars that were taken out of our (yours and my) pockets.
The recriminations are pathetically predictable; the Democrats point fingers at how President Bush "squandered" a non-existent 'budget surplus', while Republicans chastise the democrats for their 'tax and spend policies'.
The trouble is that they are equally at fault. The only things politicians do, in the final analysis, is write intrusive laws and spend money like drunken sailors. Anyone remember the story of the turtle and the viper?
-=[ Grant ]=-
We're almost there
Friday, June 16,
2006
A friend pointed out this article to me. Seems that the total number of legally owned firearms in America is now approaching 290 million, while our population is right around 298 million. We're close to having one firearm for every person in America! (If only they were all revolvers...)
While you're reading that article at Say Uncle, subscribe to their RSS feed. Lots of good gun news comes out of that site!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Should stupidity be a revenue stream?
Friday, May 19,
2006
Remember Lee Paige, the DEA agent who shot himself in the foot in front of a class of school kids - not to mention a video camera? Well, he's back - and suing the government because, well, because it's a sure way to get rich.
Favorite quote: "He also notes that he is no longer permitted or able to give educational motivational speeches and presentations."
No kidding?!?
-=[ Grant ]=-
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