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 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".

Targeting Manufacturers of Toy Guns

Fox News now reports that San Francisco Bay area politicians now want to target the manufacturers of toy guns for the misuse of these replicas by kids.

The video report is however a balanced piece of reporting.

CZ -82 Option for Concealed Carry

There is a neat pistol currently available that fits a nice niche in the concealed carry market.
The CZ-82 has the following characteristics.

Original Czech CZ-82 9x18 pistols. This incredible pistol was the Czechoslovakian Army's replacement for the famed CZ-52 7.62x25 pistol. Produced from 1982-1992, it is still the official Military Sidearm. Typical Czech quality steel construction, 12rd High capacity magazine, cock and lock safety, and Super Accurate polygonal rifled barrel

The 9x18 cartridge is more powerful than a .380 and a little weaker than the 9mm Luger. Ammo is readily available at reasonable prices.

You can buy it on line if you have a C&R license or buy at your local gun show or gun dealer.

DC to Appeal Federal Court Ruling

Per information coming out of the Mayor's office, looks like the District of Columbia will ask the full federal Appeals Court to reconsider the decision on Parker. The request for review allegedly will happen tomorrow April 9, 2007.

I have learned that the content of this request in summary will go like this.

Whereas the citizens of the District of Columbia requiring the need for safety in their homes, businesses and streets in order to protect same, request that in consideration of the following factors the decision of the court to overturn long standing District gun control regulations be reversed.

The salient factors for the Court's consideration are:

• The District of Columbia is an elitist environment, therefore the elites do not require protection normally afforded to average Americans. They are protected by their faith in local law enforcement to be there when a dire need arises. In any event whereby LEOs are not available these citizens will resort to their superior linguistic and negotiating skills to ensure that potential assailants are rendered harmless.

• The consequences of not reversing this decision are catastrophic. All faith in local government will be lost if in fact this decision arms the local citizenry and that action effects a decrease in violent crime. Hereafter all claims by local government as to any proposed regulation for the advancement of the safety of the populous that in anyway impinges on the lifestyle of citizens will be derided.

• Given the demographic, cultural, political and racial components of this great city, it is likely that these citizens, unlike most in American will proceed to use "legally" acquired weapons in a manner inconsistent with the intent towards self-defense. The population of this great city can not risk empowering those who are inclined to self-defense today because many of them will be inclined to resort to using these new defensive tools without first recourse to other alternative methods of conflict resolution.

For these main reasons, we respectfully request reversal of the March 9Th decision of this court.