Sunday, December 30, 2007

What the People Believe

As I write this, a USA Today, un-scientific poll on the WEB reflects that 97% of the approximately 200,000 respondents feel the Second Amendment gives an individual the right to keep and bear arms.

This should be your litmus test for the coming Presidential election.

A candidate that does not pro-actively support this view can't have my support.

That leaves almost all the Democrats out. Hillary Clinton included. She would mouth support while working to undermine my rights....Duplicity is in her blood....as well as her husband's.

Register your opinion....who knows, someone may actually take notice in the vast liberal media to what the average American really feels.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Have Gun, Save Lives

Well the information is now out. A CCW holder saved lives in Colorado and stopped the Church killings.

OK...poor liberals.....How creatively you will argue that this instance of self preservation was just a fluke!

Hopefully, this will be a wake up call to all those very religious folks...who could not get it.

They should now join the chorus and echo the need to abolish the ban on carrying firearms in a place of religious worship if you have a CCW permit.

See more below from the Virginia Citizens Defense League":

"First, if you are an anti-gunner, I suggest you step away from the
computer and get yourself a good, stiff drink.

A concealed handgun permit holder in Colorado has stopped a violent
attack by a vicious criminal! She volunteered to work security at her
church after a violent attack at another Colorado church earlier that
day. Thankfully she did so, as she shot and killed a criminal who had
opened fire in the church.

This is exactly what VCDL has been saying would happen if we get rid
of gun free zones.

Had that permit holder not been armed because she was in a gun-free
zone, how many innocent, irreplaceable lives would have been lost?

THIS is why we want to get rid of university gun bans.

THIS is why we want to get rid of the restaurant concealed carry ban.

THIS is why we want to get rid of the gun ban in the non-sterile area
of airport terminals.

THIS is why we want to get rid of the gun ban for concealed handgun
permit holders on K-12 school property.

Notice in the links below how the media, especially CNN, desperately
want to make the CHP holder an "authority" figure. (Heaven forbid
that a regular citizen with a gun would save any lives.) The media
did this by emphasizing that she was a "security guard" and saying
that she has a "law enforcement background."

The pastor said in other interviews that she is a CHP holder and
volunteered to guard the church.

The criminal had a gun, smoke grenade, and over 500 rounds of
ammunition on him. He meant business and meant to slaughter as many
people as he could.

--

http://tinyurl.com/3yasdm

Pastor tells of horrific day
The New Life Church attacker refused a guard's order to drop his
weapon and fired before he was shot to death.

By Jean Torkelson

Originally published 02:22 p.m., December 10, 2007
Updated 06:23 p.m., December 10, 2007

COLORADO SPRINGS — The gunman who killed two at a Colorado Springs
church Sunday refused a guard's order to drop his weapon and fired
before the guard shot him to death and ended the attack.

The guard, a member of the New Life Church who provides security as a
volunteer, was called a hero by church officials today.

"She's the hero," Senior Pastor Brady Boyd said. "She saved 100 lives
yesterday."

Michael Ware, pastor of Victory Church in Westminster and a New Life
overseer, said the security guard is a small woman, "110 pounds
dripping wet."

Relating the account he had been told, Ware said the woman ordered
Matthew Murray to drop his weapon and they exchanged shots. The
attacker shot at the guard, missed, and kept walking into the church,
Ware said. The woman fired again, taking down the gunman.

Boyd is meeting today with members of the family who lost two teenage
girls in the shooting.

Stephanie and Rachael Works, 18 and 16, died in the attack. Their
father, David Works, 51, is in fair condition at Penrose hospital in
Colorado Springs with gunshot wounds in his groin area and abdomen.

Boyd said this morning that he believes the New Life Church's high
profile may have attracted the gunman there. Boyd doesn't believe the
attacker knew anyone at the church or singled out the church because
of personal animosity.

"We know (his name) but no one on the staff ever heard of him," Boyd
said Monday, as paused in the foyer where shattered glass and bullet
holes still spoke to the shootout between the woman parishioner — who
worked as a volunteer security guard — and the gunman.

In an exclusive interview after the press conference Boyd told the
Rocky Mountain News that he was calm in the wake of the shootings.

"Right now I'm in survival mode. I don't have time to think of the
scope of this. but I have a sense of calm that God is in control," he
said.

Boyd also seemed to indicate, but didn't elaborate, that violence
follows churches that preach the gospel.

"Any New Testament church is under attack and duress. It's unique to
us as westerners to think that when we come under attack there's
something wrong with the church," which isn't true, he said.

Ware said the Works family used to be members of his church. He said
they were loving, exuberant family who would rush up to him to give
him hugs at church.

"A precious, precious family," Ware said. "If you wanted an example of
a model family you would look to them."

Ware was among many somber-face church leaders converging on New Life
for the second time in a year.

One year ago, the church was engulfed in its first national crisis,
when pastor Ted Haggard resigned from the pulpit after admitting to a
sex scandal.

Overseer Larry Stockstill, who flew in from Louisiana, said he was at
the hospital praying with the Works family when the second Works girl
died.

Stockstill said because of Haggard's high profile the church had put
in a security plan long ago. Ware said that his church, too — as well
as many churches — have plainclothes worshipers who are armed and
ready to step in.

"They worship and watch," Ware said.

Boyd, who was hired to succeed Haggard, is getting high marks from
overseers for the way he's handling his second major crisis in a year.

"He stepped up to that microphone like a president," Ware said,
referring to Boyd's first news conference today on the shooting.

In the interview today, Boyd said he was having lunch with another
overseer, Jack Hayford, when they heard the shots. He did not see the
shooting.

"We didn't know if he (Hayford) was the target or I was," Boyd said.

Boyd's immediate thought was whether his wife and children had left
the church after the service — they had. Next, he thought, "Who's
being hurt in my church?"

As prescribed by the security plan, the two men stayed in the office,
a floor above the shooting.

--

http://thebronzeblog.blogspot.com/

Vet lauds female guard who felled gunman
By Kieran Nicholson
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 12/10/2007 04:32:06 PM MST

Authorities say 18-year-old Stephanie Works and 16-year-old
Rachael Works died from their injuries after a gunman opened fire
outside New Life Church on Sunday. Larry Bourbonnais, a combat-tested
Vietnam veteran, said it was the bravest thing he's ever seen.

Bourbonnais, who was among those shot by a gunman Sunday at New
Life Church, watched as a security guard, a woman later identified as
Jeanne Assam, calmly returned fire and killed the shooter.

"She just started walking toward the gunman firing the whole
way," said Bourbonnais, who was shot in the arm. "She was just yelling
'Surrender,' walking and shooting the whole time."

Bourbonnais, 59, had just finished up a hamburger in the
cafeteria on the sprawling church campus when he heard gunfire, he
recalled.

He headed in the direction of the shots as frightened people ran
past him looking to escape to safety.

"Where's the shooter? Where's the shooter?" Bourbonnais kept
yelling, he recalled.

Near an entryway in the church, Bourbonnais came upon the gunman
and an armed male church security guard who was there with his gun
drawn but not firing, he said.

Bourbonnais said he pleaded with the armed guard to give him his
weapon.

"Give me your handgun. I've been in combat, and I'm going to take
this guy out," Bourbonnais recalled telling the guard. "He kept
yelling, 'Get behind me! Get behind me!' He wouldn't hand me his
weapon, but he wouldn't do anything."

There was an additional armed security guard there, another man,
who also didn't fire, Bourbonnais said.

Bourbonnais yelled at the gunman to draw his attention, he said.

"First, I called him 'Coward' then I called him 'S---head' "
Bourbonnais said. "I probably shouldn't have been saying that in
church."

That's when the shooter pointed one of his guns at Bourbonnais
and fired, he said.

Bourbonnais ducked behind a hollow, decorative pillar and was hit
in the arm by a bullet and fragments of the pillar.

At about that moment, Assam, 42, turned a corner with a drawn
handgun, walked toward the gunman and yelled "Surrender!" Bourbonnais
said.

The gunman pointed a handgun at Assam and fired three shots,
Bourbonnais said. She returned fire and just kept walking toward the
gunman pressing off round after round.

After the gunman went down, Bourbonnais asked the Assam, a
volunteer security guard with the church, how she remained so calm and
focused.

Bourbonnais said she replied:

"I was asking the Holy Spirit to guide me the entire time."

--

This CNN link includes some video of permit holder:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/10/colorado.shootings/index.html

Security guard who stopped shooter credits God

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) -- "It seemed like it was me, the
gunman, and God," said Jeanne Assam, describing her feelings as she
confronted a man who charged into her Colorado Springs church Sunday
firing a weapon.

Assam, a church security guard with **law enforcement experience,**
fired her own weapon at the invader and stopped his attack, police say.

Police on Monday identified the gunman as Matthew Murray and said he
was also responsible for an attack earlier Sunday at a missionary
center some 80 miles away.

The two incidents left four people dead, in addition to the gunman,
and five wounded.

Police said forensic evidence showed a positive match between a
handgun found at the church and shell casings found at the missionary
center in Arvada, a suburb of Denver.

Officials from the Colorado Springs and Arvada police departments
appeared at a joint news conference to brief reporters on what they
had pieced together about Sunday's events.

The first incident took place Sunday at about 12:30 a.m. at Youth With
a Mission in Arvada.

Police said a man with a beard, wearing a dark jacket, glasses, and
skullcap, entered the facility, got into a dispute with a staff member
about whether he could stay there for the night, and then opened fire.

Two staff members, Tiffany Johnson, 26, and Philip Crouse, 24, died
later Sunday from their injuries, Youth With a Mission co-founder
Peter Warren said. Two other staff members were injured, and one was
in critical condition.

Investigators tried to track the gunman through fresh snow with the
help of dogs, but lost his trail in a heavily walked area, Deputy
Chief Gary Creager of Arvada police said.

About 12 hours later, police say, Murray showed up at New Life Church
as a service was letting out.

Police said Monday he had an assault rifle and two handguns, and may
have had as many as 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

He fired on a family who were in or near their car. Two sisters,
identified by police as Rachael Works, 16, and Stephanie Works, 18,
were killed, and their father, David Works, 51, was also shot and is
hospitalized in fair condition with two gunshot wounds.

Murray then entered the church, police say, where Assam was one of
several volunteer security guards on duty.

"I saw him coming through the doors," she told reporters on Monday. "I
took cover, and I waited for him to get closer, and I came out of
cover and identified myself, and engaged him, and took him down. And
that's pretty much it." Video Watch Assam tell how she stopped Murray »

Police said they were still investigating whether Assam's weapon
killed Murray, or whether he might have died of a self-inflicted
gunshot.

Assam extended her sympathy to the families of the victims "and of the
gunman -- and I mean that very sincerely."

Phil Abeyta, who identified himself as Murray's uncle, appeared at
another news conference and read a statement from the family asking
for forgiveness.

"Our family cannot express the magnitude of our grief for the victims
and families of this tragedy," he said. "On behalf of our family and
our son, we ask for forgiveness. We cannot understand why this has
happened."

Abeyta appeared with spokesmen from the Youth With A Mission center,
who confirmed that Murray had been part of a training program five
years ago.

Peter Warren, director of Youth With A Mission, said Murray did not go
on the mission he was training for in 2002 because managers thought
that "issues relating to his health made it unsafe for him to do so."

But a man who served at the center with Murray told CNN Monday that
Murray was kicked out of the mission program for strange behavior.
Video Watch more about Matthew Murray's background »

A source -- a long-time member of New Life Church -- said Murray had a
falling out with Youth With A Mission after working with the
organization a couple of years ago. The source said Murray sent
antagonistic and threatening correspondence afterward.

Earlier Monday, Boyd said the gunman was unknown to parishioners there.

"He simply showed up on our property yesterday with a gun, with the
intention of hurting people, and he did," Boyd said.

Boyd said the megachurch instituted security precautions after the
shootings at the Denver area mission center.

Boyd said Assam was a hero in preventing further bloodshed, rushing to
confront the gunman just inside the church. "She probably saved over a
hundred lives," Boyd said. Video Watch pastor tell how guard saved
lives »

"I give the credit to God. And I say that very humbly. God was with me
and the whole time I was behind cover -- this has got to be God,
because of the firepower that [the gunman] had vs. what I had," Assam
said.

"I did not run away and I didn't think for a minute to run away, I
just knew that I was given the assignment to end this before it got
too much worse. I just prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide me."

She told reporters she had not slept since the shooting, "as I'm sure
you can tell."

She said she was on the third day of a three-day regimen of fasting
and prayer, wanting to know God's will for what to do with her life,
when the shooting took place.
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"I was weak, and where I was weak, God made me strong," she said. "He
filled me and he guided me and protected me and many other people. And
I'm honored that God chose me."

Assam was one of about a dozen volunteer security guards at the
church, half of whom are armed, Boyd said. The guards are licensed,
trained and screened, and are church members, not "mercenaries," he
said.

--

Fox news isn't afraid to say she had a CHP:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316378,00.html

Colorado Shooting Highlights Churches' New Emphasis on Security

Monday , December 10, 2007

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. —
When a black-clad gunman walked into New Life Church on Sunday and
started shooting, he was met with the church's first line of defense:
a congregant with a ***concealed weapons permit*** and a law
enforcement background.

The woman, ***an armed volunteer***, shot and killed the gunman. New
Life's pastor credited her with saving 100 lives.

Churches want to present an open and welcoming image, but in an era of
mass-casualty shootings and terrorism threats, the violence at New
Life highlights a new emphasis on security. Some of the nation's
estimated 1,200 megachurches — places where more than 2,000
worshippers gather each week — have been quietly beefing up security
in recent years, even using armed guards to protect the faithful.

Meanwhile, many more, often smaller congregations typically don't have
detailed security plans either because they don't have the money or
don't want to risk turning people away.

At Potter's House, a Dallas megachurch led by superstar pastor T.D.
Jakes, a private security company employs a team of armed, unarmed,
uniformed and plainclothes guards that keeps watch over crowds in the
thousands. Under a new Texas law, all nonprofits must use licensed
security guards, and the church hired Classic Security in response,
said Sean Smith, who formerly headed the church's security detail and
now works for the company.

For the past three years, Potter's House has hosted a church security
conference, drawing more than 400 people earlier this year to sessions
on surveillance, background checks and other issues. Although
precautions can be costly, money spent on security can end up being
far less than liability and lawsuit risks if no action is taken, the
church says.

"You see (security) anywhere but churches," Smith said. "You see it in
malls, at banks, at concerts. Somehow, at churches we feel immune to
violence. But it's been proven not to be the case."

Even without a security department, churches can train volunteers to
keep watch for suspicious behavior, like a visitor dressed in a long
coat in summer or not making eye contact with anyone, Smith said.

The security plan at New Life Church may seem extraordinary. The
church's volunteer security force is stocked with people with military
or law enforcement experience, they carry radios and weapons, and
there are evacuation plan calls for hustling worshippers into "secure
zones" in the case of emergencies.

But charismatic New Life, Colorado's largest church with about 10,000
members, is no ordinary church.

Even before the founding pastor, the now-disgraced Ted Haggard, became
a player on the national political stage, the church endured death
threats against him. There were bomb scares and vandalism, including
animal blood being splashed on the walls, said Patton Dodd of Colorado
Springs, a former New Life Church staff member and editor with the Web
site Beliefnet.

"Even back then we had people undercover in the congregation who were
armed," Dodd said. "It was a big church at the time, it was Christian,
and some people really hate that stuff.

"Not only do we have military and ex-military all over, we have this
sort of frontier mentality. People around here are serious about
protecting their own."

Haggard was fired last year after a male prostitute alleged a
relationship with him.

His successor, Brady Boyd, said at a news conference Monday that his
security chief recommended heightened security early Sunday after a
shooting in a Denver suburb at a missionary training center dormitory.
Boyd agreed.

The volunteer security guard hailed as a hero had attended the
church's early worship service at 9 a.m., then stood watch in the
rotunda of the busy church lobby as the second service was letting out.

There, she confronted the gunman, who managed to two slay two sisters
and wound three others before he was killed. One witness told a
television station the guard described praying to the Holy Spirit as
she squeezed off rounds.

Speaking of the church's security plan, Boyd said: "That's the reality
of our world."

On Sept. 15, 1999, a deranged man burst into a Wednesday night teen
prayer rally at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, killing
four teenagers and three adults.

In the immediate aftermath, there was talk at the church of posting
armed guards at every door. But the pastor, the Rev. Al Meredith, took
a different approach: he didn't change much at all.

The 2,500-member church urges police who attend the church to wear
their uniforms and arranges for squad cars for big events, but those
steps are more to ease the minds of congregants than stop an attack,
Meredith said Monday.

American Jews have long emphasized the need for safeguarding their
community organizations, schools and synagogues. Many groups formed
security committees.

"There have been security concerns generally for many years, but they
have certainly been heightened since 9-11," said Nathan Diament,
public policy director for the Orthodox Union, which represents
Orthodox synagogues in North America.

The Homeland Security Department created a grant program of nearly $50
million to improve security for religious and secular nonprofits
considered at risk of terrorist attack.

Several Jewish groups have received individual grants, according to
the Orthodox Union.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations also distributes a detailed
security checklist, urging groups to build relations with local law
enforcement and elected officials, report suspicious activity and hold
community meetings to raise awareness of potential threats.

The Fellowship of the Woodlands megachurch in Texas employs a former
FBI agent as a full-time security director, overseeing volunteers and
paid staff, said pastor Kerry Shook. Those who are armed in the
congregation are police officers, he said.

"It's something you just have to do today," said Shook, whose
congregation draws 15,600 people per weekend. "We want everyone to
feel safe. At the same time, we want to be open and accepting of
everyone. An incident like this one in Colorado Springs just
reinforces what the church is — we have to be a light in a dark world."

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Sweet Hillary

The NRA and I have some questions for the Heir Apparent to the Throne.

In a nutshell, do you support the interpretation that the second amendment grants an individual the right to keep and bear arms?

Hopefully, all candidates for the Presidency of the U.S. will have to go on record on this point.

In the meantime GOA has some well articulated points about Ms. H. Clinton - there should be no doubt as to where she stands on this issue.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Another Preventable Tragedy

Another day, another massacre.

Well the Anti-Gunners will now clamor again for the assault weapons ban. Yesterday, some poor depressed nut, used an AK to kill 9 shoppers.

We will soon learn how the mental health system failed us again.

We will learn how he bought his AK (legally)

And we will learn how any number of shoppers might have been carrying that day...but were not allowed to in this mall.

On that point Mr. Lott has some thoughts to offer us.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Paranoia runs Deep

Its a current common theme. A young student gets in trouble for writing about, speaking about or even creating a drawing with a gun.

The fear of violence in schools is real and is justified, but it's gone to far, when children can't play with toy guns, can't freely discuss their or their parent's hobbies, and parents have to worry about little Johnny telling his friends how he and daddy had fun and the local range.

This political correctness movement is stopping our children from expressing their feelings, thoughts, interests in firearms. This is counter-productive, leading to an unwarranted fear of everything that goes "bang", and demonizes millions of Americans who own, use and love firearms.

So what is the answer?

Parents, educators, gun owners, and all those interested in a balanced approach to school violence must make sure that educators don't confuse an affinity to firearms, hunting, target shooting as a logical precursor to violence.

Given, educators liberal bent, this balance will be hard to secure. But vigilance to deter violence should not become an excuse to restrict free speech or expression - where the mere picture of a gun evokes paranoia and a repressive response.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Ladies First

More females are taking up the shooting sports, and this is good. What better way to protect our right to keep and bear arms than to promote their use by women. That is the trend in many areas of the country including Arizona.

So, next time you go to the range, that a Lady.

Friday, October 12, 2007

CZ 82 A Pleasant Surprise


Just picked up a couple of CZ 82s to sell on line....but after shooting one....I now know I have to keep one....or buy some more.

These are all steel, high quality double action, single action autos in 9x18 Makarov. They are made in the Czech Republic between 1982 - to around 2002 and may still be the official military side arm of that country.

They hold 12 rounds, the trigger is very acceptable in single action and double action. It has an ambidextrous safety and is compact in size. A good choice for general self protection or even concealed carry. It comes with a holster, two magazines, a lanyard, a cleaning rod....and is in excellent condition.

It has a chrome lined barrel with polygonal rifling.

Took it to the range and here is how it shot at 25 yards from a standing two hand hold.
More accurate than my East German Makarov and very pleasant to shoot.

If you are interested you may be able to find one in your area or on Gunsamerica.com

Sunday, September 16, 2007

The Coming Supreme Court Case

I am betting on a victory when this case gets to the court. Looking forward to a sweet victory in the midst of the campaign for President. John Lott, articulates in this article, why its more likely we will win this one.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Will the Supreme Court Rule

Washington, DC....one of the most dangerous places on earth, is now asking the Supreme Court to support its position that citizens do not have a constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Mr. Fenty, DC's current champion of freedom and justice for all, hopes the Supremes will reverse the Federal Appeals Court ruling that cites DC's draconian gun laws as unconstitutional.

I thought his honor would demur to Democratic politicians who did not want this issue coming before the court and especially not during a Presidential campaign.

Now Ms. Hillary and company will have to answer the question....Do you solemnly swear to defend and support the constitution of the United States, so help you God....including the Second Amendment....that provides for the right of the people.......not the militia.....to keep and bear arms.

This embarrassing question will be posed to those freedom loving liberals who will then hem and haw, which most of the electorate will see as evidence of weakness....at least those inclined to care about their Second Amendment rights.

Excellent chance that the Court will take the case and rule before November 2008. Excellent chance that it will affirm the Individual right to keep and bear arms.

Saturday, July 7, 2007

Media Focus on the AK

The Associated Press points to the AK and its inventor, with a clear implication that somehow the AK's creator should be oozing with guilt over the results of his great invention.

So, once again the media takes the position that a weapon designed to defend Russia against its enemies is somehow inherently evil.

This fits the anti weapon bias of the press, who can't even see the reality of an armed force organized and equiped to effectively defend a nation.

The AP would prefer a guilt ridden Mikhail Kalashnikov, a guilt ridden John Browning, Eugene Stoner etc...individuals whose inventions have saved countless lives.

The paradox of our reality is something our media just can't accept.

Weapons intended to defend and save lives can and are used offensively and without merit. This is the nature of man and not the nature of the weapon. The weapon does nothing by itself.

But we don't really expect the media to tell that point of view.

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Another Media Outrage

Last March, the Roanoke Times decided to "out" thousands of CCW holders in Virginia. Now the same tactic has been used by an Ohio newspaper.

The Roanoke Times ceased its actions after a huge outcry, but so far the small minded newspaper editor involved in the Ohio incident is still defending their actions.

This type of attack on gun owners will continue until state laws are enacted making such release of sensitive information illegal.

So if you live in Ohio, start contacting your state legislators.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

K-31 Made Like a Swiss Watch


I took my old K-31 Schmidt-Rubin out to the range just for some fun the other day. This surplus straight pull bolt action keeps surprising me with its quality and accuracy.


Shooting from the bench at 100 yards, my hand loaded ammo worked well, and produced outstanding results for a military rifle that costs around $100 on today's surplus market.
This particular K-31 has all matching serial numbers, and even had the Swiss Reservist's name and address on a small piece of paper behind the butt plate.

The ammo is almost equivalent to a 30-06. But availability is an issue...so most K-31 owners load their own. The brass is available and of course 7.62 bullets come in all varieties. I use 165gr Remington soft points.

So if you are looking for a gun that was made in the 1950's with the quality of a Swiss watch, and for a good price, then look no further. Grab a K-31 while they are still available.

Friday, June 22, 2007

Media Bias

Well the media now admits what we all assumed for a long time.

Journalists overwhelmingly support Democratic candidates.

Can this be a conflict of interest. Of course it is.....but don't expect real journalists to care....they are convinced that their personal feelings, attitudes and financial support will not in any way sway their reporting.....Dream on.....!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Bloomberg The Turncoat Again

Well America's Anti-Second Amendment mayor Bloomberg of NYC is now switching sides again.

First he was a Democrat, ...then he decided he wanted the NYC Mayor's job....so he ran as a Republican.....Now he wants to be President.....so now he is switching from Republican to Independent status.

I predict...he will announce his run for the White House.....and that this will propel Fred Thompson to the White House.

No self-respecting semi-conservative could ever vote for this shallow, elitist, egotist, megalomaniac.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Gun Bill Moves Forward in Congress

Efforts to prevent the mentally ill from getting guns are moving forward in Congress.

All eyes are on this bill.

Will Senate Democrats let this bill get passed without ugly amendments?

Monday, June 11, 2007

Handgun Limits

Well, New Jersey is considering joining the ranks of 3 other states which limit handgun purchases to one per month.

So what's so bad about this?

Having lived with these restrictions for some time, I personally see no issues.

Buying one gun per month gives most folks the ability to defend themselves from most anything.

The reason for the limit - it may reduce straw purchase activity for illegal buyers (i.e., gangs etc.)

Is there any proof that this restriction is saving lives? I don't think so. But as far as handgun restrictions go, this one looks worse than it actually is.

Many argue that once in place the limits will change to "one handgun a year" or "one handgun every 10 years". Don't think we need to really worry about that.

And why not worry?

Because it politics. And most everyone knows that you can only push gun control so far before it becomes a political liability (Democrats know this).

When gun control running amok, is no longer a political time bomb....then worry...worry a lot.

Friday, June 8, 2007

Illinois - A State of Mind

I now have a better understanding of why CCW isn't happening in the state of Illinois.

Seems like Chicago liberals have a stranglehold on all Second Amendment issues.

So why have the good law abiding citizens of this state put up with this for so long.

Obviously, gun rights groups are so far ineffective in getting attention.

Perhaps their voices will be heard in the next round of elections. (Wait a minute....Doesn't that Obama guy come from that state?....Oh well.)

Monday, June 4, 2007

Mosin Around



Surplus rifles are sometimes surprising, in terms of history and accuracy.

The Mosin-Nagant 1891/30 is such a rifle.



Millions were made by Russia in WWII and they helped save the USSR from the Nazis.

No one will claim that this weapon is superior to a Mauser design. But it's very functional and exhibits decent accuracy.

I recently took my Mosin to the range shooting at 100 yds with cheap Wolf ammo.
This 5.5 inch black circle ended up with 9 shot within 3.5 inches. Not bad for a gun made in 1944, using standard Russian ammo. All shots were from a sandbag rest with iron sights.

You can get these guns cheap. Mine cost $69 with all matching serial numbers.

These guns are fun to shoot, inexpensive to own, and can be scoped for hunting.

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Registration Mania in California

Well California here I come....or should the title of the song be California there I never go!

Seems, Calif. Pols think people need to be checked out when buying ammo and a detailed records need to be kept. For what purpose? Obviously no real practical reason, other than to make politicians feel good that somehow this will reduce crime?

I think its time to start a national registry of flaky people, those with superficial thoughts and behaviors, those that distort the national culture, those that inhibit clear thinking and overall civil behavior. I think we can start this registry in California and maybe it will save some lives.

Friday, May 25, 2007

Penn. Gun Law Proposal

While some may decry the new proposed Penn. state gun laws, I see nothing bad in them.

The most extreme thing that is likely to become law is the one gun a month rule for handguns.

This is the law if VA, except for CCW holders. It has not been a problem. Being limited to 12 handgun purchases a year is not an issue for most of us.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Should You Worry

In a recent survey a small minority(5%) of Muslims living in America expressed support for Al-Qaida while 13 percent saw justification is suicide bombings.

When the population being surveyed is in excess of 2 million, even a small number of potential supporters of terrorist tactics is worrisome.

Lets hope this is not lost on anyone, including Muslims.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Open Carry

It is generally rare that open carry becomes a controversial issue, mainly because most gun owners living in locations that allow open carry, just don't do it.

In Idaho, a couple of teenagers are exercising their right and getting noticed.

This is a non-issue for most gun owners. And personally, as long as the ability to carry concealed is granted in a given state, the issue of open carry just doesn't excite me.

I understand why some feel its important to exercise the right to retain it. Those who have CCW permits have options for self protection that most often negates the issue of open carry.

Yes, we all know CCW is not allowed in certain places. Most CCW holders have no problem abiding by the rules knowing that something can always happen when their in a restricted zone.

Open carry is rarely exercised. The right to open carry will remain until someone can establish that it does more harm than good. So hats off to the two young teenagers who are setting an example in their community on how to open carry in a respectful manner.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Does Anyone Have a Stamp?

How about this for a new way to catch criminals. Lets micro stamp each cartridge fired with the gun type, serial number etc.

When the bad guys leave spent cases behind, now LEOs can easily find them?

This is getting traction and may become law.

So what's wrong with the idea.

1. It will added modest costs to each new semi-auto sold
2. Criminals will not hesitate to use some abrasive to mark up the bolt face and destroy the ability to micro stamp the case.

Some bad folks may actually get caught because of this new tool.....especially those who firing the gun without pre-mediation.

Is this foolish legislation ?

Maybe if it can actually help LEOs, and its not obtrusive technology, well maybe its a good idea?

Friday, May 18, 2007

Islamic Fears

Seems, foreign ministers of Islamic nations are horrified by Islamophobia, which they soundly condemn as a great terrorist threat.

If they wanted to reduce terrorist threats, seems like they should have denounced Islamic terrorists instead!

OK Bloomberg, take that!

Well, the anti-Bloomberg gun give away went off yesterday. Don't think it makes much difference to "his honnor".

Thursday, May 17, 2007

The Mayor's Choice

Mayor Fenty of D.C. has plenty of thinking to do, and lots of folks who want him to take the Parker case to the Supreme Court. But he has lots of others who wish he wouldn't. The Washington Post presents the choices in a surprisingly balanced way.

I hope the case goes to the high court. But as mention in prior posts, there are very solid political reasons not to let it happen.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Gun Giveaway Politics

Governor Kaine of Virginia wants to have it both ways. How typical of a politician when it comes to guns - and of Democrats.

Kaine just signed a law making it a felony to "sting" an FFL in VA without VA permission and VA/Federal LEO involvement.

Now, as reported in the Washington Post, he just doesn't understand why the VCDL is conducting a gun giveaway in a Fairfax County building.

Of course he knows why its being done.

  1. The giveaway supports the intent of the legislation he just signed
  2. It supports FFL holders in VA
  3. It sends a message to the Bloombergs of America
  4. It sends a message to the government of Virginia - Citizens will support their rights
  5. It is perfectly legal and ethical
As this surprisingly balanced article points out local government officials have no problem when government buildings are used for left leaning agenda's and anti-gun meetings by anti-gun non profits. Pro gun groups have the same right to assemble and conduct raffles etc.

This is democracy at work - the only reason the Dems in VA are upset is that the VCDL is playing it smart and this really makes the locals politicians nervous.

More power to the VCDL.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Regulatory Madness

In Illinois you need a FOID to legally own a firearm, even if you are 10 months old.

Wonder, how many violent crimes in Illinois are committed by FOID holders?

More Voices Against Gun Free Zones

The VT Killings have increased the debate around the error of gun free zones. Expect gradual movement on this until the next gun free zone killing.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Presidental Candidate Litmus Test

Rudy G said the other day, that the Constitution gives individuals the right to keep and bear arms. Now I am not convinced that the former Mayor of New York who aggressively enforced the city's draconian Sullivan law can be trusted on this one. But I want every candidate to affirm their position on the Second Amendment. Any candidate that waffles on this, that does not unequivocally state that the Constitution does guarantee an individual right to keep and bear arms, need not worry about being elected, because they will have killed their chances.

Now the Democrats can get away with nominating someone not on the right side of the Second Amendment. But if nominated they will lose. Frankly, we can only hope for such a candidate.

Any Republican hoping to capture the nomination must pass muster on this point.

But....once candidates get past this Second Amendment test, they will have to also convince me that.

  • they will not support an assault weapons ban
  • they will not limit magazine capacity
  • they will support CCW and the privacy of CCW holders

Bloomberg's Wake

The Washington Post recent reports on Virginia's response to Mayor Bloomberg's guerrilla war, now includes criticism of a planned gun giveaway sponsored by the Virginian Civilian Defense League. In its Sunday edition, it describes Fairfax County government official's discomfort with the VCDL meeting, since citizens may attend and be legally armed.

The Washington Post does a poor job of trying to present an issue objectively. It continues to push its pacifist agenda by portraying citizens who are willing to defend themselves and others, as some kind of fringe element that society is embarrassed by.

Surprisingly, both these WP articles were written by the same reporter. Yet the latest one fails to even mention the bill that Governor Kaine just signed making Bloomberg's sting operation a felony.

Friday, May 11, 2007

It's Gun Magazine Time

Well, after the VT killings, it's not surprising that various politicians at various levels want to push for some token gun control measures. So in Illinois its time to attack the magazine capacity issue and limit it again to 10 rounds.

This useless concept has no real impact on crime or even the VT killer's circumstances.

As many gun owners know, you can change a magazine in under 1 second no matter what the capacity - but it makes politicos feel good to offer up tokens.

Anyway more of this stuff will just drive up the current price of clips. I recently bought a few more hi caps...because you never know....and it might be a good investment too.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Is the Paker Decision going to the Supremes?

The District of Columbia has lost its request that the Parker decision be reviewed by the Appeals Court that affirmed that the Second Amendment provides for an Individuals right to keep and bear arms.

Now D.C. has 90 days to request the case be heard by the Supreme Court.

D.C. can request the High court's support but are the stakes too high? Might D.C. decide in deference to Hillary Clinton, not to allow the issue to go to the High court when it might well become a 2008 presidential campaign issue, and look badly for the Democrats.

If the case is pending with the High Court, Hillary will be asked to make a stand on the issue. This could be very hard for the Democrats who would end up alienating their left or moderates if they take the wrong position. Hillary would not be able to dodge the issue. Surely Obama etc. would take the stand that the 2nd Amendment is a Collective right.

So, Mayor Fenty will be under pressure to not take the case forward. Instead he is likely to try to regulate around the issue by imposing some liberalization of D.C. gun laws that would keep most guns out of the hands of citizens who want them while letting some guns flow to those who would have to pass rigid criteria.

The criteria might include need, training, and specify the type of weapons allowed.

Even if such rules are adopted, they will likely face legal challenges, but through regulation, D.C. can still make it unlikely that the average law abiding citizen can have a gun in their home. D.C. can do this an avoid an embarrassing political issue for the Democrats and a likely worse outcome assuming the High Court would sustain the Parker Decision.

Gun Control Education

Penn and Teller Part 1 on Gun Control

Penn and Teller Part 2 on Gun Control

Penn and Teller Part 3 on Gun Control

Monday, May 7, 2007

An Objective View of Gun Control

20/20 reports that gun control may be problematic. Maybe there is hope for the media.

The Future for American Gun Owners

The following is a e-mail from a VA resident sent to a VA Newspaper. It reflects a perspective that may hold sway in your future.

Do you want to live in an America where you feel you
have to provide a handgun to your sons or daughters
for them to be safe in college or high school
classrooms? Would you want to carry a firearm every
time you go to the grocery store, to the shopping
mall, to church or to any public place? If not
everywhere you go, how will you know when the armed
madman or criminal might appear?

Would you and your family be willing to practice
handling and shooting a gun so that you might have
some realistic chance of defending yourself against an
armed criminal? Will you need a 9 mm handgun with a
15-round clip so you won't be outgunned by an armed
criminal? Will you need a bulletproof vest, or
armor-piercing bullets in case the criminal is wearing
a vest?

Or would you feel content to rely on gun enthusiasts
like those who write to this newspaper, hoping that
they will be there and that they will be as good with
a gun as they think they are?

If the opportunity to carry firearms in public places
is such a valuable right, why aren't more of us
actually doing it?

The tragedy at Virginia Tech is so sad and personal
that it feels wrong to talk about anything other than
the overwhelming fact that people lost their lives.
But perhaps it is more wrong now not to talk about
guns in America.

I believe the answer is fewer guns, not more guns. The
idea of an armed citizenry may have made some sense in
Colonial times. Today, it is madness.

I also believe that America is on an irreversible path
to stricter gun control similar to the paths that
every other civilized nation has followed. Demographic
changes and advances in technology are altering rural
lifestyles. The mere passage of time distances us from
the overly romanticized, Wild West attitudes that
produce these self-professed rugged individualists who
believe in self-help by gun, instead of relying on our
trained police forces as the rest of us, collectively,
democratically, have chosen.

Effective gun control will be extreme gun control, and
it may very well require the repeal of the Second
Amendment and the reconstitution of the current
Supreme Court. If it is to happen sooner rather than
later, it will require that wives and mothers and
young people have the strength of will and conviction
to oppose and stand up to those mostly old men who are
not going to change their minds about guns.

It won't happen in my lifetime, probably not in my
children's lifetimes. But it will happen, and America
will be a better place when it does.
If this viewpoint is as upsetting to you as it is to me, then now is the time to get involved.
If you don't want an America where gun ownership is considered evil then you must be willing to get actively involved to:

  • Defeat any candidate for political office that does not in word and deed support an Individual's right to keep and bear arms - no matter what else you agree with them on, if they don't support this, you must work against them.
  • Educate your friends, neighbors, children, grand children etc., about the enjoyment of the shooting sports and the responsible use of firearms as well as the reality that firearms are a valid means of self-defense - the right to keep and bear arms is an outgrowth of every one's natural right to self-defense.
  • Support gun rights organization by joining the NRA, SAF or local organization.
  • Be an advocate by word and deed for the responsible use of firearms. Don't foster the negative by doing stupid things with a gun.

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Military Needs a Better Gun

Some in Congress are concerned with a recent move by the Pentagon to purchase 500,000 more M-4 Carbines. Is this the gun our troops deserve?

Saturday, May 5, 2007

A Revolting City

Philadelphia, must not be the city of brotherly love. Seems the city doesn't believe that the state law pre-empting local firearms laws doesn't apply to them. So now they intend to sue the state to somehow become exempt from the state's firearm pre-emption laws.

This is the new trend in local leftist leaning governments. If a law you don't like applies to you....just ignore it. Better than that challenge the law by suing your state government.

Of course its just political grandstanding, but it puts the citizen in the middle.

Comply with an new illegal law, or don't comply and get arrested?

Seems like a new theory in Constitutional law is being tested. It's not about State's rights ...its about municipal rights.

If Penn. has any guts, it will appropriately respond to this challange by promptly getting a court to stop any enforcement of "illegal" Philia gun control measures.

Terror List

What's wrong with the NRA's position on preventing the AG from putting Terror List folks on the "can't buy a gun" list?

On the surface it seems like a reasonable approach. But can and will this authority be abused.

The NRA has raised some valid issues. The legislation should be fully vetted and amended to ensure some form of review, due process etc., considering the real chance that you could end up on this list through no fault of your own.

I can easily see future circumstances where the misuse of this provision will cost some lives.

Is this legislation really needed? Can't the government keep close tabs on potential terrorists without telling them that they are being watched?

Friday, May 4, 2007

Even Jackie Mason Gets It

Some common sense about gun control from a stand up comedian, and he is not joking.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Gonzales Should Resign

Well, I am now convinced that the Attorney General should resign. Not because he fired some US Attorneys, but because he speaks before he thinks.

His latest remarks about guns on College campuses makes it clear that this man is no supporter of the peoples right to defend themselves.

Mr. Gonzales, its time to go!

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Virginia Gun Control Change Problematic

The Executive Order signed by Governor Kaine may hold some problems that will need fixing, VCDL alert indicates that:

Earlier today, Governor Kaine signed an Executive Order (EO) prohibiting another category of people from owning firearms. Kaine's EO would take away gun rights for life of any person adjudicated dangerous, but only ordered to be treated as an OUTPATIENT. (Anyone who is committed as an inpatient currently loses their gun rights
already.)

So, what's the problem?

1. Kaine's action is probably unconstitutional! If Kaine can just issue an Imperial Decree changing existing law without any debate from our elected representatives, why not just disband the General Assembly, if they aren't needed any more? :-(

The proper way to handle a situation like this is for the Governor to call a special session of the General Assembly to address this issue and ask the the General Assembly to modify the law.

2. His EO may appear to be a reasonable restriction because no one wants a violent, insane person to have a gun or any other weapon for that matter.

However, what judge in HIS right mind would allow a person who the judge KNOWS to be a danger to himself or to others to be sent home and allowed to do outpatient treatment?!? The judge should commit himself to inpatient treatment for doing such a thing! That's like sending serial murderer Jeffrey Dahmer back home but requiring him to attend weekly counseling sessions!

If a person is adjudicated dangerous to himself or others, he should be confined, NOT sent home!

So you might ask, why would there be ANY patients who were both dangerous AND ordered to do outpatient treatments?

Because the judge might believe that the person isn't really 'dangerous,' but the judge feels that the person does desperately need mental help and that the person wouldn't seek such help on his own. So the judge declares the person to be 'dangerous' so that the person can be forced to take the outpatient treatment.

Should a person who is not believed to be dangerous by a judge be banned from having guns for the rest of his life?

3. The Governor's edict is retroactive! Thus, if you were treated as an outpatient under a court order thirty years ago and have been fine ever since, you can now no longer BUY, OWN, or POSSESS any firearms.
If you do you can be charged with a federal FELONY!

4. The Governor has falsely promised that gun rights could be restored. NOT true. There is no way to get your name off the federal list once Virginia has added you to it, even if you are now perfectly normal. You will be prohibited by federal law from buying or possessing a firearm for the rest of your life. And you may not even realize you are a 'prohibited' person, so when you attempt to purchase a firearm, you may be shocked when you are arrested for lying on the 4473, which is a FELONY.

5. Once you are on the federal mental defect list, you could lose more than your gun rights. Your security clearance could be at risk.
Your job too.

6. According to the Washington Post, Attorney General McDonnell said, "We are still in a state of mourning, but now is the time for action." What he's really saying is that he's got to do something, anything, to make it look like the government is doing something.
Just another "feel good" measure - and one embraced by Governor Kaine!

And talk about rushing to do something - Kaine JUST APPOINTED a commission to look at the mental health problem and make suggestions, but Kaine didn't even wait for the commission to meet! He just charged forward on his political hobbyhorse!

So how did we get into this situation?

Simple - the Court system failed us by not committing the VT murderer to involuntary treatment. As if that wasn't bad enough, the Governor comes along with a knee-jerk solution and compounds the problem by throwing out a huge net to catch such a very rare person. That huge net brings in all kinds of unintended consequences. And it still won't guarantee more government failures that could lead to more murders and mayhem down the road.

Lest you think I am exaggerating the negative impact that the Governor's actions will have on those who need help, want help, and are willing to seek help, I will share with you an email I just received from one of our brave Armed Forces members.

I have left off the person's name for obvious reasons:

"I came back [from my tour of duty] last fall. I'm very worried that getting advice, counseling, or treatment could have ramifications on my ability to carry, own, and use firearms. I've been diagnosed with "mild PTSD" [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder] and am very anxious that treatment it is going to put me on some list. I believe I can handle the PTSD, if necessary, but it'd be a whole lot easier if there weren't that Sword of Damocles hanging over my head.

As it is, I'm treating myself based on information from public sources."

I'll be honest - that email tore me up. Just watching the news and seeing what those men and women go through in protecting this county is enough to give ME mild PTSD! I can't even imagine being at war and living through all that our fighting men and women live through.
Yet we put them in a position of being afraid to seek a helping hand in adjusting back to normal, peacetime life!

Is this what those who are suffering from emotional stress and trauma, or have common things like depression, get to look forward to? The additional worry of becoming a second-class citizen, disarmed by their own government for seeking help?

And what about employment? Those in a position to lose their guns unfairly will now also be in a position to lose their security clearances unfairly, too.

For now, VCDL needs to investigate the whole situation and its implications in more detail. I have been talking to the Attorney General's Office, as well as to the aides of House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith and Delegate John Welch.

Things like a temporary injunction come to mind, so that the law can be changed carefully and not in a knee jerk reaction. Letting the General Assembly change the law, if it needs changing at all, in a constitutional way is a necessity, too. ;-)

This alert for now is just a 'heads up.' The implications of what is happening could have grave consequences for a lot of innocent people and we are going to be monitoring the situation carefully.

***************************************************************************
VA-ALERT is a project of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL).
VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The membership considers the Right to Keep and Bear Arms to be an essential human right.
Imperfections indeed may exist, and should be remedied through legislative action, but few can blame Virginia for trying to take quick action to close the loophole that helped the VT Killer get guns.

Monday, April 30, 2007

Say it again, Sam

The SAF is asking for ABC to recuse their man Sam.

Well, SAF don't hold your breath.

Sam was doing this on his own and of course it does not hinder ABC's appearance at objectivity in one way, (what objectivity?)

The Fix is In

Virginia's Governor has "fixed" the reporting issue that prevented his state from sending the name of the VT killer to the NCIS database. His executive order only effects involuntary confinements to a mental institution.

Sounds like his next move is too work on the "gun show" loophole.

Unfortunately, mentally unstable folks can still buy guns at garage sales, from neighbors, from illegal sources etc. Well maybe the current move by VA would have stopped the VT Killer. It's a reasonable response to an insane act.

Post VT Tragedy Legislation

Fox news reports on the ongoing effort to tighten loopholes in the NICS system.

Lets see if Democrats can deal with this one gun control issue which most Americans support, without trying to insert useless gun control provisions just to score points with their buddies on the left.

They would be smart to meet the NRA and GOA concern's head on and deal with just the mental health records issue.

On the issue of stigmatizing those who have been in the mental health system, surely some compromises need to be made to address the reality that people to get better, but these details can be worked out. For example; certification from a mental health board, professional etc., that the individual is free of problems and has been cured and remained so for a period of five years since the mental illness confinement.

Fixing the mental health records reporting issue is a win-win for gun owners, but lets do it right.

The Media Awakes ?

A moment of enlightenment from a respected media outlet ?

And yesterday another mall shooting....and questions....was the gun a semi-auto....was CCW allowed at the mall.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Thank God I don't live in New York State

The NRA reports that NY State legislators are trying to drive gun owners out of state with several new proposals that will make it ridiculous to even try to live and shoot in NY.

An North Dakota puts the Castle Doctrine into law.

In Virginia, Governor Kaine sends out a trial balloon on the Gun Show loophole.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

VT Aftermath

NRA has now clarified its position on potential new gun controls.

And now a new push to keep guns out of the hands of those on the terrorist watch list.

And in North Carolina, lots of folks with involuntary confinements to mental facilities are not being reported.

Friday, April 27, 2007

John Lott's on line debate of Gun Control

Mr. Lott just conveyed a lot of common sense to the Washington Post's on line audience.

Check it out.

HR 297 - GOA ALERT

Gun Owners of America (GOA) is alerting folks about the dangers of HR 297, a Democratic proposal that would require submission of state data to the FBI to improve the NICS background investigation process.

After the VT incident, it's promising that some sort of tightening of rules that require states to submit mental health histories to the government will be passed.

Most gun owners agree, but perhaps HR 297 goes too far.

The danger claimed by GOA is that this bill would happen without a recorded vote.

Lets hope that doesn't occur and last I heard no bill can become law without the Senate also approving and the President signing.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Fix the Gun Check Database

Privacy Advocates your time has come.

Now eyes are on the bastions of the almighty protectors of privacy that have encouraged states to limit the data they provide to the gun check database.

Will one preventable massacre be enough to diminish the influence of the Privacy police?

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Don't Subscribe to Newsweek

The latest edition of this weekly magazine has several biased articles regarding guns in America.

There isn't a shred of objectivity or even an attempt at balance.

What would you expect - but isn't time those of us who are tired of biased reporting start doing something constructive.

People need to cancel their subscriptions and while doing so let the editors know why.

Newsweek won't really care, since they wrote off gun owners long ago, but maybe someone in the parent corporation will take notice.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

NRA's Smart Strategy

The NRA is now widely reported to be working with Congress on tougher legislation that would help ensure mentally ill prospective gun buyers are prevented from obtaining firearms.

It's clear that the VT killer could have been stopped at many levels.

  • the campus police did not effectively act to limit student exposure
  • the campus administration did not act to warn students earlier
  • the state of VA failed to allow students to protect themselves by allowing CCW on campus
  • Counselors failed to be aggressive in this case, political correct thinking stopped them from trying to expel this student.
  • Legal cases acted to inhibit the expulsion of students.
  • Legal liability trumps safety in the minds of school administrators
  • The killer's parents did not intervene effectively
This list is going to grow, but I already see one positive outcome of this tragedy.

The Anti-Gun media, interest groups and left leaning folks will have a harder time trying to marginalize the gun lobby.

Now even the Washington Post, a key bastion of left leaning thinking is waking up to report that the evil NRA is trying to help tighten gun control laws when it comes to this kind of case.

While this may horrify the more extreme pro-gun groups, it is welcome to the vast majority of gun owners and non gun owners alike.

This common sense approach will win new support for the NRA and strengthen its hand with Congress on preventing "stupid" gun control measures from seeing the light of day.

The NRA is smart to help. The Assault Weapons legislation now pending in Congress and other key issues require a strategic alliance with Congress that shows moderation where moderation is required. The gaping holes in the mental illness reporting process require tough legislation to mandate the reporting of any confinement to a mental institution and I hope it even goes further than that. I think we need to legislatively fix responsibility for reporting to schools administrators, counsellors, and mental health providers.


Anyone who is prevented from acquiring a firearm through the background investigation should also be provided with Appeal rights so they can challenge the decision if in fact they are erroneously included in the database of those who don't qualify for gun ownership.

This is a real opportunity for increasing public awareness of gun owners civic minded positions and improving support for the NRA among prospective members, Congress and even the media.

So before some go ahead and try to crucify the NRA for "getting in bed" with gun control advocates, they should think hard about what is to be gained by a reasonable approach to gun control.

Friday, April 20, 2007

VT Killer Fell Through The Cracks

Looks like the VT Killer was enabled by the mess in who should report what mental illness issues to the federal government. The convoluted story is here.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Mental Illness and Guns

How best to deal with the crazy who has not yet acted crazy enough to be locked up in a mental institution?

The VT killer was under some psychiatric care and was considered suicidal, yet health care professionals felt there was insufficient reasons to admit him to an institution for care.

The current ATF rules requires self identification of the potentially mentally ill on the questionnaire that is required with the purchase of a gun.

Some of the state databases may actually have mental confinement data. Many do not or they are just not up to date.

Why not require health care professionals to report any individual to the state police who comes into their facilities and exhibits evidence of a willingness to harm themselves or others without any rational justification.

Banks are required to report cash transactions to the government that exceed $10,000. Why can't doctors be required to report sick people who may kill themselves or others. Failure to report would be a criminal offense.

If these folks are concerned about they're potential liability for criminal sanctions they would opt to report. Worse came to worse the gun purchaser would be denied the chance to purchase. They should be provided with an appeal process by an independent body (not ATF) as part of this solution. I see this as very reasonable gun control. No doubt others will disagree.

This is just one of many types of remedies that need to be discussed.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Foreign Aid

In the last 48 hours the media is dancing with post mortums on the VT killings and some of the gratuitous crap is flowing from our enemies and friends oversees.

I just love it when the Brits, Germans, Aussies, French etc., jump on the bandwagon to claim that this tragedy is the fault of American culture.

I would remind them of the aspects of English, Middle Eastern and European culture that brought the world such events as the recent London bombings, the Madrid bombings, the French riots and the list can go on and on. Violence is not the sole purview of the US.

I will remind them who saved their asses numerous times in the last 100 years with our American values and culture, including are willingness to bear arms in their behalf.

So dear allies, enemies and do-gooders - stay the "F" out of our business - look to the weaknesses in your own societies that perpetuate ignorance, crime, and create a fertile ground for terrorism.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

VT Gunman was legal

Today's news reports make it clear that from a Federal and State Firearms perspective, it appears that the killer at VT bought his guns legally.

Resident Aliens are allowed to purchase handguns. In VA the killer also had to comply with a one handgun per 30 day rule...and did so.

Also, ATF regs require a purchaser to certify that they have not been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution.

The killer may have been under treatment for depression, but that does not equate to being adjudicated mentally defective etc.

So while the Anti Gunners will spew venom about this incident, what we have here is a nut case who did not set off enough trip wires to get himself declared a nut case before he was able to do damage.

Now all the civil liberty protectors who hate guns but love to coddle the sickies of society are not going to want proactive efforts to declare folks mentally incompetent prematurely.

So once again we must face reality. Bad thoughts, evil writing, or evil words do not make a crime.

This country correctly loves freedom too much to start putting potential nut cases away until there is some concrete act that shows they are a threat to themselves and others.

Seems like the answer to the problem here is what the Second Amendment is all about. Being able to pro-actively defend your and other lives.

Sadly, that right comes at a high price, but a price we all must be prepared to pay. Some crazies and other evil folks will use their ability to get guns to the detriment of us all, but unless we can factually show that they intend to harm or have harmed others, there isn't much we can do.

A higher degree of proactive security measures in public places would help. Proactive is a word that VT officials need to study. They might also think about the realty of CCW as an aid to the security of students, staff and visitors at colleges and universities.


Virginia Tech

So far it seems clear that University culture may have contributed to this tragedy.

It was an open campus. So the President of the University has no ability to lock down the place when the first shooting occurred and the culprit was not captured?

This is the kind of timidness that I would think would not exist in this day post Columbine and post 9/11. Time will reveal what the campus police did and when...or rather what they didn't do and why.

This tragedy could have been avoided. It is not about just the killer. Its about a mentality that places other concerns above the most basic of rights....the right to live.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Virginia CCW on Campus-Virginia Tech Tragedy

This from the Virginia Citizens Defense League.


From January 31, 2006:

"House Bill 1572 didn't get through the House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety. It died Monday in the subcommittee stage, the first of several hurdles bills must overcome before becoming laws.

...

Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker was happy to hear the bill was defeated. "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus."

--

Well, Mr. Hincker - are you still happy? Militia, Police, and Public
Safety Committee - still think you did the right thing?

--

And As Reported by the Roanoke Times:

Gun bill gets shot down by panel
HB 1572, which would have allowed handguns on college campuses, died
in subcommittee.


A bill that would have given college students and employees the right
to carry handguns on campus died with nary a shot being fired in the
General Assembly.

House Bill 1572 didn't get through the House Committee on Militia,
Police and Public Safety. It died Monday in the subcommittee stage,
the first of several hurdles bills must overcome before becoming laws.

The bill was proposed by Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah County, on
behalf of the Virginia Citizens Defense League. Gilbert was
unavailable Monday and spokesman Gary Frink would not comment on the
bill's defeat other than to say the issue was dead for this General
Assembly session.

Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker was happy to hear the bill was
defeated. "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the
General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students,
faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus."

Del. Dave Nutter, R-Christiansburg, would not comment Monday because
he was not part of the subcommittee that discussed the bill.

Most universities in Virginia require students and employees, other
than police, to check their guns with police or campus security upon
entering campus. The legislation was designed to prohibit public
universities from making "rules or regulations limiting or abridging
the ability of a student who possesses a valid concealed handgun
permit ... from lawfully carrying a concealed handgun."

The legislation allowed for exceptions for participants in athletic
events, storage of guns in residence halls and military training
programs.

Last spring a Virginia Tech student was disciplined for bringing a
handgun to class, despite having a concealed handgun permit. Some gun
owners questioned the university's authority, while the Virginia
Association of Chiefs of Police came out against the presence of guns
on campus.

In June, Tech's governing board approved a violence prevention policy
reiterating its ban on students or employees carrying guns and
prohibiting visitors from bringing them into campus facilities.

Tragedy at Virginia Tech

Today a gunman opened fire at the campus of Virginia Tech University and reports at this moment indicate as many as 20 dead including one gunman.

Our thoughts must be with the families of the wounded and dead.

This campus has its own police force. It seems that no one was there at the time to stop this killer.

When the dust settles, after all the cries for more gun control, what we may find out in this situation is that an affirmative CCW policy on campus might have saved these lives.

Firearm Manufacturing Trends

ATF reports that in 2005 with 79% of gun manufactures reporting:

  • 1,090,798 handguns were produced.
  • 75% of these were pistols and 25% revolvers.
  • Only 47,000 of these handguns were exported.

Of the pistols 32% were 9mm and 36% were of a larger caliber.
Of the revolvers 27% were in a caliber greater than .22 or equal to .32.
  • .38 caliber production exceeded .357 mags

ATF's statistics confirm the trend to larger calibers.
  • 23% of revolvers were made in .44 to .50 caliber.

In the prior year 2004, 74% of manufacturers reported.

These statistics imply:

  1. ATF statistical reporting requirements are either lax or not enforced since almost 1/4 of manufactures didn't report in the last two reporting periods.
  2. Overall handgun manufacturing volume has not changed much in the last two reporting periods.
  3. At the current rate of handgun production we will have added a couple of million more by the time the 2008 presidential election occurs.
We don't know if these numbers closely correlate with sales. But if we can assume that half the buyers are first time buyers we might be talking about several hundred thousand new handgun owners who might be influenced by Second Amendment issues in the 2008 election.

Considering that a lot of new gun owners buy rifles (one million more added to the market each year), seems like gun folks might be able to gain some allies if we can market to these new gun owners.

I wonder if gun rights groups like the NRA ever buy the new gun owner lists maintained by manufacturers (when you mail in your warranty card). Seems like direct outreach would be a smart thing.

Costs might prohibit the NRA from doing large mail outs but I would think gun manufacturers should be sending something out to their known customers to help push Second Amendment support.

Come to think of it...I never get anything mailed to me from the gun manufactures who I have sent product registration cards to. Wonder why?

Available ATF statistics can be found here

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Can a Russian Pistol Be Sexy?



One of my favorite little pistols is the Makarov in 9x18 Makarov. It's just got the right combination of style and function and I love how it fits my hand. It's a cold war piece that can still be had for under $350 and its eight round capacity is sufficient for most CCW needs.




I recently did a little practice with an East German Model.


It was made in 1963 and has a Pierce rubber grip. The little 9x18 Mak. round is just a little more comfortable to handle with this grip.


It's an old fashioned gun in that the magazine release is on the heal of the grip. It's got a decocker. The first round can be fired double action. If the gun is cocked their is no manual safety other than to use the decocker.


On my recent visit to the range I used stock imported 9x18 Mak ammo (at around $7.50) a box, at 25 yards using a standard two hand hold in the standing position. Accuracy was more than acceptable. The Makarov comes with a small front sight which does not aid in rapid target acquisition, however at most gun fight distances it may not be a real liability. Even if you get one just for fun, its a classic piece of firearms history, inexpensive to own and shoot.


These guns are available. A lot of information on the Makarov is on the Net. Here are a couple of places to research if you are interested.

General Information

Makarov.com

The Elimination of Firearms in America

Sadly, I can foresee the end of all firearm ownership in the United States. It won't come soon, but within 50 years, technology will render the need for a tool that fires a projectile with great accuracy obsolete. Once the technology is available and affordable the ownership of firearms as a class of weapon will be targeted for elimination save collectors and museums.

Weapons that immobilize rather than kill will create the excuse for government to finally agree that the right to bear Arms is protected by using this technology even though the means of bearing Arms will become non lethal but effective deterrent technology.

The US Army is now using sound technology in Iraq to immobilize with sound waves. They have recently demonstrated a microwave weapon that can cause people to feel like they are on fire without causing any lasting physical effect. British authorities are also working on similar technology.

In time these techniques will be perfected to be the size of a handgun or rifle. When citizens can with accuracy focus a microwave at a potential assailant most will come to agree that firearms for self protection are no longer needed.

Hunters, if there are any left fifty years from now, may receive an exemption from the firearms ban - but it is likely that hunting handguns will be outlawed.

If you think this all sound like science fiction.....think again.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

What to do about Bloomberg?

Well, the good Mayor of NYC is still at it. Looks like the Justice Dept. won't stop him. The Gun Manufacturers are trying.

Perhaps we should try.

  • Boycott everything NYC
    • Don't watch Letterman
    • Don't buy clothes with NY displayed
    • Don't watch Yankee or Met games
    • Don't see any movies about or made in NYC
    • Don't eat corn beef or pastrami sandwiches
    • Don't read magazines published in NYC
    • Stop reading the Wall St. Journal
    • Don't hold business meetings, conventions or pleasure trips to NYC
or

  • Set up a sting operation
    • try to buy cigarettes in Manhattan with underage stooges and then initiate suit against store owners
    • try to find a hooker at a Manhattan hotel and then sue the hotel for promoting prostitution
Of course the most effective thing in this battle is the kind of legislation VA recently passed that makes it illegal to "conduct sting operations" if your not a LEO.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Some Simple Steps to Make Us All Safer

In a just issued earth shaking report we all learn that the new gun to fear is not the assault weapon or the Saturday night special. No...it's the Nail Gun.

Well taking a page out of the progressive gun abolitionist's handbook, I have a couple of remedies that deal with the problems of dangerous weapons (things that kill most people) in our society.

  • All hammers and nails must require a safety training certificate before they can be purchased. Nail guns must not be larger than 12" and must be registered.
  • All butcher knives must be sold with a plastic sheath. The knife must emit a high decibel alarm if the sheath is not placed on the knife within 15 minutes of its removal from the knife.
  • All rope sold in lengths under 3 feet must be registered as potential strangulation devices.
  • All baseball bats not made of foam rubber must be certified to break into at least three equal pieces if they strike an object weighing more that 10 pounds.
  • All sales of scissors, axes, letter openers must be hit with a 10% potential weapon tax.
  • All blunt objects that can be held in the hand and potential thrown or used as a weapon must be be taxed at the rate of 5%.
  • Cars, Trucks, Buses and any other motor vehicle must have a collision detector installed that automatically applies the breaks and stops the engine if an object is detected within 100 feet of its forward direction where the object is determined to be larger than 1 cubic foot in size.
  • Liquor, wine and beer can only be sold if the purchaser certifies that they will not be driving a vehicle or operating any heavy equipment within 3 hours of ingesting the product.
Now I think we are making some progress!

What Can Be Done About Suicide By Firing Range ?

Well, today we have another report of suicide by "Firing Range". Maybe something can be done to screen folks?

How about using the instant check system where its available?

Thursday, April 12, 2007

CCW Permits Info - Only Journalists Need Apply

In some jurisdictions CCW Permit holder information can only be provided to journalists. Sounds like nobody was thinking of the implications when these laws were passed. Now one Sheriff is suing the state to determine if he must comply with the law.

The more I hear of these stories the more it is obvious that a federal law is needed to prohibit the release of CCW data to LEOs and only for law enforcement purposes.

Read about the suit here.

Penn and Teller on Gun Control

The site of Arms and the Law

Has posted a link to Penn and Teller's latest take on Gun Control. It's worth a look.

Columbus Seeks To Dodge Suit On Semi-Auto Ban

GunWeek.com reports that the City of Columbus Ohio has stopped enforcing its Assault Weapon Ban based on a new state law that went into effect in March.

"Columbus police suspended enforcement of the city’s assault-weapons ban on Mar. 14 as a new Ohio law took effect, wiping out many locally enacted gun controls across Ohio.

The state law, approved by the legislature in December over the veto of then-Gov. Bob Taft, says only state and federal lawmakers can enact rules governing the possession, sale and storage of guns in Ohio. According to The Columbus Dispatch, it wiped about 80 local laws off the books in Columbus, Dublin and more than a dozen other cities across the state.

The city of Cleveland immediately sued the state in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, contending that the pre-emption law violated the state’s constitutional provision for “home rule” which allows municipalities to adopt and enforce their own ordinances. Cleveland has enacted several, especially when it comes to firearms. The Ohio attorney general will be in charge of arguing against the city in support of the new firearms preemption statute.

Columbus considered its own suit or the possibility of joining Cleveland’s county court lawsuit, then opted for a free ride."



This is a growing trend in the nation. If you think your local law should not be voided by the state, just cite "home rule" as your authority and sue.

Something similar is going on in Texas, where local law enforcement was told to keep arresting drivers found with loaded handguns even if a new state law allows it.

Now the politicians in Texas, Cleveland and Columbus may actually believe their municipal rights were usurped. However, municipalities seeking to challenge a state law need to suspend their enforcement of the ordinance in question otherwise citizens are left in the lurch and at the whim of local officials.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Its a Good Day to Kill Yourself

Firing ranges are now getting the blame for suicides in some jurisdiction. The Associate Press reports that suicides are problematic events at the nations' firing ranges because their is no requirement for a background check to use range facilities or rent a gun.

In an unrelated report others claim that states with high gun ownership have more suicides.

Again the anti-gun bias looks at the instrument of death not the cause. People who kill themselves are generally clinically depressed. They are mentally ill. They could kill themselves with anything deadly, a car, a hammer, a knife, an overdose of medication etc.

Even a background check will not indicate that someone is depressed!

While I give the AP some credit for a balanced report, you've got to question why this kind of report even makes it to the national news. The statistics on death by firing range are obscure and the probability of such events are rare, yet it spices up a slow news day.

Tony Soprano

The seasons first episode of the Sopranos aired Sunday on HBO and presented viewers with a new treat. Tony and his brother-in-law Bobby take a walk into the woods to do some recreational shooting. Bobby produces a full auto AR-10 and Tony proceeds to blast away at some foliage.

While the Sopranos have been around for several years, rarely in the hit series do fully automatic rifles get air time. In this scene the viewer gets the clear impression that the AR is just a new toy, but of course these are Mafia types, so now the AR becomes associated with the bad guys and the viewing public being somewhat naive, sees the AR profile as evidence of a fully automatic weapon.
Another potential bias against assault weapons.

More cheap thrills and cultural bias against guns or was HBO just trying to make a little scene about Tony and Bobby's relationship a bit more exciting?

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Gun Free Zones

Gun free zones can be killers.

Here is an issue that should rally women to support the tools for self-defense. John Lott's essay is posted to Fox News Website.

Aside from "no gun" zones, many jurisdictions even ban the use of pepper spray and other non lethal weapons.

Too many women counter Mr. Lott's argument by claiming that the solution to violence against them, is the elimination of guns from society. Unfortunately, stalkers will not be deterred and will get their hands on an illegal gun if necessary.

In this day and age more women should be supporting their Second Amendment rights.

The Privacy Issue and CCW Permits

In their editorial today the Roanoke Times laments Virginia's decision to stop giving it's CCW database to the public based on blanket FOIA requests.

The paper cites the need for investigative reporters to be able to "out" criminals who might have a CCW permit.

This point raises a couple of issues that are relevant to the Privacy vs Publics' Right to Know issue.

1. Every governmental unit that possess a CCW database potential has the ability to conduct computer matches of it data against lists of known felons, sex offenders etc. It is their responsibility and not the media's to be looking for violations of gun laws. Most CCW holders do not object to law enforcement using these lists for legitimate purposes. We do not need the Roanoke Times or the New York Times pointing out firearms violations that could be uncovered by governmental authorities.

2. The media wants access because they want to find a juicy story. They want to "data mine" the CCW Permit lists to determine which Senator, local politician or other famous person is carrying - to make some point about that person in the interest of the media's agenda or to increase readership. I understand their motivations but that's not a valid reason to get their hands on sensitive personal information.

3. The CCW Permit list is an indirect gun registration list. While it does not contain specific firearm information it points directly to one's ownership of a handgun. If any jurisdiction requires firearm registration these specific gun records will also be fair game for the media. I wouldn't be surprised if FOIA requests have been made for gun registration records already. Note: Some in PA are moving to require registration.

4. Nothing short of legislation protecting CCW and gun registration records will solve this problem. Law enforcement purposes should be the only reason to release this information, even if that means that major gun rights organizations can't get their hands on it for their outreach efforts. Sometimes we can't have our "cake and eat it".