Firearms Archives
On firearms and dead tangos...
By John
Straight Shooter: Great Advice in the WaPo
By Lt Col P
Stephen Hunter, ace film critic of the WaPo and noted firearms enthusiast, has written the best-- THE BEST-- gun article yet in that paper, surpassing his own paean to the Winchester 30-30.
You want the gun to be second nature, its mechanics a confidence-building given. If you're worried about the gun, you will not dominate the upcoming transaction... You must master sound marksmanship fundamentals. Sight, picture, hold, press. Maximize recoil control, follow through (as in any sport) and most important, from your practice, believe in yourself and your entitlement to life and property. Know how to manipulate, change hands, reload, deal with jams. Learn the gun.
Good Lord, how did he get that past the editors?
Read the whole thing, read it again, pass it around to friends and family, especially those on the other side of the argument. Save it, print it out, frame it.
(And yes, the hand in the picture has finger on trigger. Someone in the comments nailed it.)
What Don't They Understand??
By Lt Col P
The DC Council just doesn't get it. What don't they understand about the Heller decision?
Vision tests, written tests, ballistics tests, trigger locks, purchase limits. You know what they sound like to me? Literacy tests; grandfather clauses; poll taxes-- The artful dodgings of petty tyrants who can't bear the thought of citizens enjoying life and liberty, seeing no need to beg the state for protection and sell their rights for empty promises. Remember-- this is the city government that set up Baghdad-like checkpoints to examine anyone entering a certain neighborhood.
I say this: If you can vote and serve on a jury, you can own a gun. End of story. The limits on gun ownership should be these: age of majority, justly determined mental incompetence, and evidence of a criminal record.
Keep your powder dry, DC residents. Don't take this shit lying down. Right and justice are on your side.
More on Heller vs. DC
By John
From the VMI eagle himself, Colonel Foresman, comes the constitutionalist angle.
Col H -
Yesterday’s decision by the Supreme Court in the Heller case was not surprising. Though I find it odd that I am in agreement with Antonio Scalia—whose whole jurisprudence is based on a concept of original intent. But this was not an ordinary case as it was about not only guns but what are the essential elements of the Bill of Rights.
There was time when I ascribed to the prevailing liberal view that the fundamental freedoms encased in the Bill of Rights were sacrosanct but that the 2nd Amendment was a collective right. Fortunately for me, being historian and great admirer of James Madison, I undertook some study of Madison’s authorship of the Bill of Rights. First, Madison was greatly influenced by the work of George Mason, another Virginian, who authored Virginia’s Bill of Rights. He was also greatly influenced by the thinking of and the written works of the Anti-Federalists. My study left me with the conclusion, which I share with Lawrence Tribe, liberal Law Professor at Harvard, that fundamental rights include the right to bear arms, and that to be effective the Bill of Rights must receive strict scrutiny in their abridgement.
Among the great surprises of my research was the realization that if Madison’s words has been adopted and ratified by the States, many of the questions which bedeviled the Supreme Court over the years would have less contentious. The second realization was that given an opportunity Congress, even in its first session, would meddle with plain English and make what we know as the Bill of Rights hard to comprehend.
For the sake of education, I am providing Madison’s original submissions; you will note that Madison’s submissions are broken into eight categories with some of the proposed amendments being additions to the preamble, some restrictions upon the actions of Congress, some being restrictions upon the Federal Courts, and the addition of an additional article to the Constitution
Here is a link: to the information. I have highlighted some portions in bold that supports my conclusion Madison had it right and as usual Congress screwed it up.
Amendments Offered in Congress by James Madison June 8, 1789First. That there be prefixed to the Constitution a declaration, that all power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from, the people.
That Government is instituted and ought to be exercised for the benefit of the people; which consists in the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the right of acquiring and using property, and generally of pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
That the people have an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform or change their Government, whenever it be found adverse or inadequate to the purposes of its institution.
Secondly. That in article 1st, section 2, clause 3, these words be struck out, to wit: "The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative, and until such enumeration shall be made;" and that in place thereof be inserted these words, to wit: "After the first actual enumeration, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number amounts to ——, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that the number shall never be less than ——, nor more than ——, but each State shall, after the first enumeration, have at least two Representatives; and prior thereto."
Thirdly. That in article 1st, section 6, clause 1, there be added to the end of the first sentence, these words, to wit: "But no law varying the compensation last ascertained shall operate before the next ensuing election of Representatives."
Fourthly. That in article 1st, section 9, between clauses 3 and 4, be inserted these clauses, to wit: The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed.
The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.
The people shall not be restrained from peaceably assembling and consulting for their common good; nor from applying to the Legislature by petitions, or remonstrances, for redress of their grievances.
The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country: but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person.
No soldiers shall in time of peace be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner; nor at any time, but in a manner warranted by law.
No person shall be subject, except in cases of impeachment, to more than one punishment or one trial for the same offence; nor shall be compelled to be a witness against himself; nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor be obliged to relinquish his property, where it may be necessary for public use, without a just compensation.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
The rights of the people to be secured in their persons, their houses, their papers, and their other property, from all unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated by warrants issued without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, or not particularly describing the places to be searched, or the persons or things to be seized.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, to be informed of the cause and nature of the accusation, to be confronted with his accusers, and the witnesses against him; to have a compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.
The exceptions here or elsewhere in the Constitution, made in favor of particular rights, shall not be so construed as to diminish the just importance of other rights retained by the people, or as to enlarge the powers delegated by the Constitution; but either as actual limitations of such powers, or as inserted merely for greater caution.
Fifthly. That in article 1st, section 10, between clauses 1 and 2, be inserted this clause, to wit:
No State shall violate the equal rights of conscience, or the freedom of the press, or the trial by jury in criminal cases.
Sixthly. That, in article 3d, section 2, be annexed to the end of clause 2d, these words, to wit:
But no appeal to such court shall be allowed where the value in controversy shall not amount to —— dollars: nor shall any fact triable by jury, according to the course of common law, be otherwise re-examinable than may consist with the principles of common law.
Seventhly. That in article 3d, section 2, the third clause be struck out, and in its place be inserted the clauses following, to wit:
The trial of all crimes (except in cases of impeachments, and cases arising in the land or naval forces, or the militia when on actual service, in time of war or public danger) shall be by an impartial jury of freeholders of the vicinage, with the requisite of unanimity for conviction, of the right of challenge, and other accustomed requisites; and in all crimes punishable with loss of life or member, presentment or indictment by a grand jury shall be an essential preliminary, provided that in cases of crimes committed within any county which may be in possession of an enemy, or in which a general insurrection may prevail, the trial may by law be authorized in some other county of the same State, as near as may be to the seat of the offence.
In cases of crimes committed not within any county, the trial may by law be in such county as the laws shall have prescribed. In suits at common law, between man and man, the trial by jury, as one of the best securities to the rights of the people, ought to remain inviolate.
Eighthly. That immediately after article 6th, be inserted, as article 7th, the clauses following, to wit:
The powers delegated by this Constitution are appropriated to the departments to which they are respectively distributed: so that the Legislative Department shall never exercise the powers vested in the Executive or Judicial, nor the Executive exercise the powers vested in the Legislative or Judicial, nor the Judicial exercise the powers vested in the Legislative or Executive Departments.
The powers not delegated by this Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively.
Ninthly. That article 7th be numbered as article 8th.
What find interesting about Madison’s draft of what became the 2nd Amendment is that he clearly lays the right out up front, explains why it is important, and lastly recognizes there are those who are opposed based on religious grounds from bearing arms. The consistent theme of Madison’s draft is that the rights of individuals, who actions, beliefs, and causes, are outside the bounds of the norms of society, should not be abridged.
Madison, more than any of the other founders, was the champion of the common man from the unconstrained power of government. It is for this reason he is not only my favorite of the founders, but the founder who most contributed to giving us the democracy, good or bad, we enjoy today.
An Historic Day for the Second Amendment
By Bull Nav
The right expressed by the Second Amendment, the one I always knew was an individual right, was upheld and clearly explained today by the Supreme Court in their ruling on Heller vs. DC.
Answering a 127-year old constitutional question, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to have a gun, at least in one’s home. The Court, splitting 5-4, struck down a District of Columbia ban on handgun possession. Although times have changed since 1791, Justice Antonin Scalia said for the majority, “it is not the role of this Court to pronounce the Second Amendment extinct.”
The whole 157 page opinion is available here.
My opinion is thus: how could they rule otherwise? Every other amendment in the Bill of Rights has been affirmed as an individual right, so to this non-lawyer it follows the the Second Amendment is also an individual right.
This will mean changes in DC and Chicago, which also prohibits handgun ownership. I don't expect the anti-gun crowd to lay down and quit, they will just get more creative in their attacks on the Second Amendment. I also don't think this decision will have any bearing on any congressional attempt to prohibit certain type of firearms as they did with the "Assault Weapons Ban" in 1994.
It will be decidedly interesting to see if either of the Presidental candidates have any comments on this ruling...
Wednesday Gun Lust
By Lt Col P
BR BullNav and I were talking about this the other day-- our standing lists of gun wants. We both have them. Mine is actually written down, along with other stuff, on my "Never-Ending Gear List." And over the last year I've been able to knock two of them off. In no particular order, the rest are:
Service-grade Mauser K98 (a little blood and iron never hurt anyone)
Finnish Mosin-Nagant (I don't want a Russian one, and I like the Suomi)
Ruger .22/45 Mk III and a Ruger Single Six (the only thing better than one .22 pistol is two)
DS Arms SA58 Para Tactical (if LV says it's good, it's good)
Charter Arms Undercover (who doesn't need a B.U.G.?)
Glock 21 (gotta see what all the fuss is about)
Wilson Combat Border Patrol Model (the fighting 870)
Winchester 94 30-30 (it's a piece of America, dammit)
M1 Carbine (I can't get it out of my head)
Spartan / Remington 12-ga Coach Gun w/ exposed hammers (the ultimate home defense gun, quoth LtCol Cooper)
Robinson XCR in 6.8mm (I admire the concept, but I've heard both good and bad about it)
And yours would be??
Gun-Day Sunday: AK On Deck
By Lt Col P
Check out the new gun, a Romanian WASR-10 from Century Arms:
I got it off the always outstanding GunBroker.com, a scratch auction that popped up for what seemed to be just a couple of hours. Came with two (2) magazines and a bayonet. (Plus two rough and ready slings, and some assorted odd pouches and frogs, and one wacky cleaning kit that stows in what looks like a muzzle brake that got separated from its muzzle.)
My, but it's a rough piece. Not that I didn't expect it to be, but still. Not a problem, I intend to give it a workout and test its legendary reliability. I've already broken it down and put it back together several times, and started to get used to the COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ergos-- selector switch, charging handle, and magazine release. When I first mounted it, my right thumb immediately flipped up to seek out the selector switch, which of course wasn't there.
I bought the gun primarily because the AK is a system I don't know at all, and I figured I should know it. I look forward to it, especially since 7.62x39 is so damn cheap.
OK, I'm going to open up the comments field for suggestions from the AK-literate amongst the faithful Op-Forians. One thing-- I'm not interested in turning it into a match gun. I want to leave it pretty much as is. What do I need to do or know before I take it to the range?
Lastly... With the bayonet attached, and in honor of its Romanian heritage, I believe I shall call it "Vlad The Impaler."
The Reason Why Good People Should Carry
By Lt Col P
TURLOCK, Calif. — Police killed a 27-year-old man as he kicked, punched and stomped a toddler to death despite other people's attempts to stop him on a dark, country road, authorities said.
Even though it was an untraveled rural road, there were witnesses. Some tried to intervene, and at least one called the police. But they couldn't do anything to stop it. They could only stand by and watch.
The suspect had a child's car seat in the back of his four-door pickup truck. The truck caught the attention of an elderly couple at 10:13 p.m. Saturday because it was stopped in the two-lane road facing the wrong direction, Singh said.As they got closer, the couple saw the man brutally beating the toddler behind his truck and throwing the child on the ground, according to Singh. Two or three other cars stopped, an unusual number to be passing through the remote area surrounded by a dairy, a cow pasture, a cornfield and a farmhouse, he said.
"What we got from witnesses is he was punching, slapping, kicking, stomping, shaking," Singh said. "They tried to intervene and get involved, but their efforts really didn't have an effect. The suspect was engaged in what he was doing. He just pushed them off and went back to it."
Just pushed them off and went back to it. Awful. Do you know what would have been an effective intervention? A full magazine of .45 ACP in the upper thorax. Immediately, without hesitation.
According to the article, six minutes elapsed between the 911 call and the arrival of a police officer, who promptly shot and killed the attacker. SIX. MINUTES. Long enough for him to beat the poor child to death.
Folks, this is why good citizens carry guns. Or, rather, should carry. The police, no matter how dedicated and skilled, will almost never arrive in time to do much but clean up after the fact.
Remember this well, when you hear candidates, politicians and journalists (like this little Princess) tell you what rights you may and may not exercise.
Dude, Where's My Pistol?
By Lt Col P
About a year ago, the Marine Corps decided to switch the T/O weapon of most officers and staff NCOs from the M9 pistol to the M4 carbine. (See MarAdmin 378/07.) Accordingly, pistols are beginning to disppear from armories as M4s flow in. Interestingly, I didn't really notice this policy change at the time it came out. (Who knows what other item in my warped priority list was commanding my attention at the time... )
At the risk of telling CMC how to do his job, I'm not sure this is a good idea. I'm not alone-- John Farnam weighs not once (scroll down) but twice on the subject, and I generally agree with him, if not completely with his correspondent in the second post.
Here's my opinion-- It's not that I favor the M4 over the 9mm, or vice versa, it's that I want both. The M4, 'though short, is really a long gun; the pistol is the back-up. It's a damn good thing to have when your carbine shits the bed, or runs out of ammo, or you're grappling with your opponent and can't bring the rifle to bear. I want them both. I'd prefer something heavier than the 9mm, but I won't turn it down.
I do realize that the officer's primary weapon is his radio, and his ability to direct his forces, but sometimes the boss needs a rifle. One battalion FAC I interviewed in Iraq about the first battle of Fallujah related how the inital contact in the city was so intense that he couldn't talk on his radios because he was too busy defending himself with his rifle. Nice thing to have when you need it.
Somewhere, somehow there has to be a funding angle to it. I wish HQMC would resolve it and give us back our sidearms. When you need a pistol, you really need it.
Guns 'n You
By John
John Stossel's mustache wants you to know: Guns are good!
Range Report
By Bull Nav
After work today, a friend and I headed over to the Washtenaw Sportsmans Club, where he is a member, to shoot.
I took my new Kimber SIS Ultra to begin Kimber's recommended break-in process. This consists of shooting 400-500 rounds of factory-loaded .45ACP 230 FMJ, and cleaning the weapon every 100-150 rounds.
I shot a total of 323 rounds of Winchester White Box (Made in USA), with a cleaning at 134 rounds. I have 3 7-round KimPro Tac-Mags (one came with the gun when I bought it; the other two I ordered from Kimber) which I numbered for tracking.
I had 10 FTF during the first 134 rounds. During this period, magazine 1 had at least 1 FTF every time it was shot while magazine 3 had no FTF. There were only 6 FTF on the last 189 rounds, with none during the last 63 rounds. I experienced no FTE, FTRB, or stovepipes. No ejected shell casing hit me, and it threw the brass quite well (better than was my experience with GI 1911s back in the '90s).
I used one target at 15 yards. The gun was very accurate, a lot more than I am, and the 4 pound trigger pull was very smooth. You pick up the front sight quite nicely and the gun is very controllable--the steel frame soaks up the recoil very effectively. It was about 80F out today and the 3" barrel was very hot to the touch after 6 magazines.
The grips did loosen up, but I will fix that.
Overall, I am very impressed with the way this gun feels and shoots. Next time out, I will put another 150 rounds of 230gr. FMJ through it and then start on the 230gr. Hydra-Shoks...
Gunday Saturday
By Bull Nav
After much research, I am finally a 1911 owner.
Based on my requirements (which was for a .45 that was smaller than my SIG P220 I usually carry) I finally decided upon the Kimber SIS Ultra. A 3" barrel, night sights, ambi thumb safety...nice gun.
Once I get to the range, a full report will follow.
Gun-Day Monday: Springfield Armory
By Lt Col P
Did you remember the celebrate the M1911 .45's birthday on saturday? If not by some time at the range, then at least by some dry-fire or maintenance? I hope so.
The fact that I carry a Springfield Armory M1911-A1 brings me to today's gun post. I've spoken of it before, I think, and it's a great piece of gear. For value and reliability, that gun is the sore dick of the pistol world-- YOU CAN'T BEAT IT. But I digress.
It's not Springfield Armory, the commercial gunmaker of today, that I'd like to highlight. It's the original Springfield Armory, a government arms manufacturer from 1794 to 1968. Now an historical site run by the National Park Service, it preserves a key piece of American history. (SA picked up the name and crest and the traditions a few years after the Federal operations ceased.) This is where not only substantial production of American military small arms took place, but significant innovation as well. The great John C. Garand developed the mighty M1 there.
The NPS site doesn't appear to have a simple historical overview, but you can find some basic facts here.
It is on my list of places to see. If you've been there, feel free to leave a comment on your visit.
New Gun for SOCOM
By Lt Col P
By way of our favorite beefy Afrikaner, we learn that SOCOM has chosen a new rifle, the FN SCAR. He kindly supplied an image, which I have lifted shamelessly:
CNN-- gasp!-- has more info.
And I found this on YouTube:
OK, things are looking good so far, I like the port-side charging handle... Manly caliber? Check. Iron sights? Check. Bayonet lug? HEY!! What the--
Gun-Day Sunday: MagPul's Latest
By Lt Col P
OK, I'll admit it's pretty nifty:
But, as LtCol Jeff Cooper used to ask, What's it for?
That was perhaps a little gratuitous, but still... OK, I understand the concept, but its "tactical niche," to borrow another Cooper-ism, is at present unclear. However, all in all, good on them for tossing things out. You never know what will come of an idea.
PS... Is it really necessary to cover your torso with the muzzle while folding it back up, or is that merely an operator issue? If it's a design issue, I'm not sure I want one.
Gun-Day Monday: The M1014
By Lt Col P
A commenter asked a question on the weapon brandished by the Marine in the video clip I posted below. I replied to him by email, but I thought it would be a good thing to educate the masses. Hold all questions til the end.
Meet the M1014, the Joint Services Combat Shotgun.
It's a Benelli 12-ga autoloader, with a telescoping buttstock-- huh huh, heh heh, I said "butt"-- a 1913 rail and good sturdy ghost ring sight. It replaced the Mossbergs and Remingtons previously in service. I saw several in service in Iraq back in 2004, and although like all shotguns a niche weapon, it is a useful piece of gear and a good thing to have around. The one drawback I heard about was that since it's an autoloader, it's not as omnivorous as a pump gun.
Write in and let us know what you think if you've carried one, or carry one now.
One more Monday gun fact below the fold...
Read More »
Front Sight, Press!
By Lt Col P
A clearer picture of the facts of the Colorado Springs church shooting has emerged over the last day or so, and even though it appears that the gunman died by his own hand, I think this doesn't change the essence of the armed guard's response one single bit.
The church staff understood the danger of this sort of attack (however remote the possibility), had a multi-facted plan in place to address an emergency, and executed that plan. Part of the plan was an immediate response by a small group of volunteers who assumed the duties of armed watch. When the shots were fired, one of them ran to the sound of gunfire and took the only appropriate action.
By all of the various press accounts I've read, this lady seems to fit the profile of the sheepdog--alert, capable, dedicated. The phrase that comes to mind is, "dialed in." Whether or not she consciously used the color code, I'd say she definitely started the day in Yellow, and switched to Orange and then Red in rapid succession. That her shots were not ultimately the fatal ones matters less than the fact that her shots took the gunman off his plan of action and stopped him in his tracks. She had the skill to hit what she was firing at-- I'd like to hear accurate reports on the range involved-- but more importantly she had the will.
Those of us who carry regularly and class ourselves as protectors should review this case again and again, and rededicate ourselves to the principles of self-defense. Urge your church and school system to adopt more realistic and effective policies against attacks, and be watchful against creeping complacency. The flag will go up when we least expect it, and we ought to be ready for it. The traits we need are skill, will, and attitude. Skill we must have, but will is foremost, attitude is supreme. Cultivate them all.
God bless the poor family who lost loved ones there, but thank God a real citizen was there to do what needed to be done.
Gunday Sunday: The Steyr Scout Rifle And The City By The Bay
By Lt Col P
I just put up a post long in the works, on the mighty Steyr Scout rifle. This is my go-to long gun, a real joy to carry and to shoot. I welcome your comments and questions.
The Scout rifle was of course the brainchild of the late, great LtCol Jeff Cooper of Gunsite. One of Cooper's frequent targets (in the figurative sense) was the lunacy of San Francisco's politics. I note with dismay but no surprise that the march of idiocy continues in San Francisco, with another ridiculous city gun buy. "The idea is to make the streets seem a little safer when the city's murder rate has risen in recent years — San Francisco has had at least 89 homicides so far this year." Except that the kind of people who'll turn their guns in for paltry cash aren't the ones out causing the crime problem.
At least San Franciscan doesn't have his head up his ass, however.
But not everyone participating in the gun program Saturday believed it was helpful.Peter Buxtun, a 70-year-old gun advocate, turned in two pistols Saturday that he said were worthless. He collected $300 in gift cards.
"You can buy junk guns for $10 and then use the gift cards to buy new guns," he said. "I saw a half-dozen uniformed SF police officers taken off the street to sit for hours in a City Hall photo-op, instead of patrolling certain drug-ridden and gang-infested neighborhoods."
68 Years
By Bull Nav
That's the amount of time since the Supreme Court has heard a 2nd Amendment case.
After a hiatus of 68 years, the Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to rule on the meaning of the Second Amendment — the hotly contested part of the Constitution that guarantees “a right to keep and bear arms.”
This one is based on Washington DC's appeal of the court case against their prohibition against gun ownership.
Either way it goes, it could have far-reaching implications.
Should make for an interesting Spring...
Gunday Sunday: A Gratifying Spectacle
By Lt Col P
I spent the afternoon at The Nation's Gunshow. Didn't get any guns, but I did do some lookin', and I came away with some quality ammo and a few other things. It had been a few years since my last gunshow visit; I beheld the spectacle and pronounced it good. That's America for you, I thought; like Ted Nugent says, you can't do this in France.
Want ammo? You got it. By the case, the box, the single round, whatever. Look for the banner marked, "AMMO," and you've got a good place to start. The gamut ran from the high quality brand names to the unknown remanufactures to the peculiar but not necessarily bad. Try some half-sized 12-ga birdshot training rounds, fifty cents a piece. Not a bad idea if you have a pump gun or a double. Sealed battle packs of .308, 5.56, and 7.62x39, of Lithuanian and Yugoslavian manufacture. I snagged a hundred rounds of 5.56 Winchester white box, thereby fulfilling my duties under Natl Ammo Day. ($46, by the way.)
Also grabbed a handful of M1 Garand clips (you can never have enough), and one (1) new Magpul PMAG. I have read in more than one place that some Smith & Wesson M&P15s will take them, and some won't. I wanted to see for myself, since I have one of those rifles and I have read some good things about that magazine. It was only $15, and I figured that if the rumors were true I could unload it-- no pun intended-- pretty easily. OK, well, I'll be unloading tomorrow because it won't seat in my M&P15T. That's fine, because all of my USGI mags work well. Just wish I could run the PMAGs.
We saw and handled some guns that I had wanted to take a closer look at for a while. I found the SIG 556 to be a nice piece after an admittedly cursory handling, but none of the ones I saw had sights. (What kind of rifle comes without sights? On a serious gun you should be able to take out of the box, load it and fire it.) Same-same with the AK-47 WASR-10, but of course that has sights, and with the WWII German K98 from Mitchell's Mausers. Both are well worth the very modest price. I'll have one or both of them in short order, I predict.
National Ammunition Day: Do Your Part
By Lt Col P
19 November is National Ammunition Day. (Or Week, 17-25 Nov, for those who can't hit the gunstore on the actual day.) The goal is for law abiding citizens to clean the shelves of their local supplier.
If a big retail store is your only option, then go for it. But I prefer to swing my business to the mom-and-pop gunstores, who are always looking for business and are the first victims of anti-gun legislation and lawsuits.
One hundred rounds a man (or 'man). Buy what you can, but buy some.
And Another Thing!
By Lt Col P
Since I'm in a particularly bellicose mood today, allow me to introduce you to the newest member of the family... 6.85 pounds, 32 inches long, solid black...
Read More »
A Modest Proposal on Base Defense
By John
That last post got my brain churning.
Remember those loser Al-Qa'ida wannabes, the Fort Dix Six?
Right after they were busted by a one-hour photo clerk, our base sprung into action. Instead of a partial gate ID check (driver only), they took the drastic action of a 100% gate ID check!
This struck me as particularly stupid. The Fort Dix Six all had IDs as pizza delivery drivers, so I didn't really understand how making the Colonel's wife show her creds with the Colonel in the vehicle enhanced security.
It reminded me of a story relayed to me by one of our OSI agents. A couple of years back, the federales busted a local Dominoes driver for passing information to "a foreign intelligence agency." Everyone knew the guy, he'd deliver his pizzas and chat up the customers. Turns out he wasn't just being friendly, he was fishing for information about the base and base ops.
The point here is that bad guys can get on the base if they want to, period.
So anyway, while security forces aggressively check old ladies' and little kids' IDs, they also forbid licensed concealed carriers from carrying their firearms on base. An entire base full of trained Airman, not one of them allowed their constitutional right to carry a weapon (unless they serve as base cops).
What I'm asking here is simple. What would be a more effective way of defending your installation? Treating your Airman like men and allowing concealed carry, or upping the mandatory ID check?
The former seems a bit more proactive, I think.
A Post About Nothing
By Lt Col P
Well, not quite. I've been silent lately because I haven't had much to write about, save for a minor rant over at the other blog.
What else is there to say? Congress remains "oily," as I think one of the boys at B5 once put it, legislating defeat instead of pressing for victory.
The forces overseas continue the fight undaunted, though, and are pressing hard for victory. This, while hardly surprising, is ever heartening. I only wish the oleagenous legislators were paying more attention.
On another positive note, the weather in DC is uncommonly fine. Low-to-mid 80s yesterday and today, and dry. (Thanks, Canada!) Beer is still widely available, good cigars remain for now untaxed, and the 2nd Amendment scene looks promising. Oh, and speaking of which, I might be on the verge of an important purchase. Stay tuned.
That is all. Return to what you were doing.
DC Gun Ban Appeal: Good or Bad?
By Bull Nav
Well, it looks like Mayor Fenty of Washington DC has decided to appeal the decision overturning the 31-year old handgun ban in DC.
The District will ask the Supreme Court to uphold its strict 30-year handgun ban, setting up what legal experts said could be a test of the Second Amendment with broad ramifications.
On the one hand you have the gun control folks concerned.
Some gun control advocates have cautioned that a defeat in the Supreme Court could lead to tough gun laws being overturned in major cities, including New York, Chicago and Detroit.
(Please note: Detroit has no such law banning handguns, either to carry or to own. The Michigan Concealed Pistol Law covers it.)
I hope common sense on the part of the Supreme Court will prevail.
Gun rights advocates welcomed the chance to take the fight to the high court. A central question the D.C. case poses is whether the Second Amendment protects an individual's rights to keep and bear arms.
Experts say gun rights advocates have never had a better chance for a major Second Amendment victory, because a significant number of justices on the Supreme Court have indicated a preference for the individual-rights interpretation.
I guess my bigger concern is if they uphold the law. That could have huge Second Amendment ramifications.
As with everything in the courts, it will take time...
Two Incidents: Condition Yellow vs Condition White
By Lt Col P
This is not my first post on guns and the armed citizen, but this is the first in our brand new Firearms category. (Thanks, BR BullNav!)
Today, we contrast the results of being in Condition Yellow and being in Condition White. Those of you who are unfamiliar with the terms, please see my AAR on a defensive handgun course, and then follow the link to the Gunsite Color Code.)
In the first instance, a legally armed citizen-- and retired Marine, I'm pleased to say-- aced a pair of miscreants in south Florida when they held up a Subway and then tried to hold him up. Both were subsequently transported to the hospital where one assumed room temperature and the other might not be far behind him. Our Man was unhurt and it looks like he won't be charged either. (Thank God; take a look at this case.) Teaching points-- he is a long-time concealed carry permit holder, he clearly had a plan and had the skills and psychological conditioning to execute that plan. When he decided to act, he acted ruthlessly and decisively. Note his excellent diversionary tactics, which bought him time and distracted his adversary. It takes a cool mind and hand to do that. Well done, Marine, well done. (Note also that he apparently used a 1911 .45!)
In the second instance, there is nothing at all to be happy about. A young lady conducting a geological survey in a National Forest in Colorado met her end at the hands of a predator with a long criminal record. Given only the facts reported in the article, I think we can accept that she wasn't armed, she wasn't expecting anything bad to happen that day, and she wasn't even expecting that something bad could happen to her at all. Thus, she was not prepared, she had no plan, and she had no means to defend herself. She was spotted, assessed and targeted by a fillthy piece of human excrement, and sadly he prevailed. Teaching points-- today might not be the day that something bad happens, but you ought to conduct yourself as if it is; do not let any stranger get within striking distance of you, especially if you're way out in the woods all alone. This poor girl was utterly defenseless against a determined attacker, and all she could do was cry for help. Awful. (Note also that he was a paroled murderer, and he was carrying a gun. A good advertisement for the death penalty, and we see how much he was deterred by gun control laws.)
Condition White is no way to live, and sometimes it'll get you in very serious trouble. Better to recognize reality and get your mind and spirit in gear. The police, God Bless 'Em, no matter how active and numerous and energetic, can't be everywhere at once. The primary responsibility for your security is in your hands.
Reality vs. the Gun Control Advocate
By John
“Excuse me, do you, do you know about guns?”She's talking to me.
“A bit.”
“I'm terrified of guns.”I hold out my hands as if checking for rain.
“Sounds crazy, I know, thing is—do you think the salesman is going to be much longer?”
“There's tons of paperwork if you buy a gun. Tons.”Her eyes dart about, then she just looks at me straight-on:
“Thing is, he's going to kill me.”
True story. Read the whole thing, I doubt you'll find a more devastating indictment of the anti-gun lobby.
In other news, I can't believe Lt Col P hasn't created a "Firearms" category yet....
Update: Reality vs. Gun Control, example numero dos. Hotel Tango: Mary Katharine
Bullnav says: New category. Fixed.
