Archive for November, 2008
Brady Campaign: “There’s More Work To Do”
Posted by: | CommentsThe notorious Brady Campaign, which actively works to curtail the Second Amendment, released a statement today praising former President Clinton’s signing of the Brady Law 15 years ago as a “critical first step.”
“This is a happy anniversary, but a reminder that we need to do more,” said Sarah Brady, Chair of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
What is their next step?
“While we celebrate the Brady Law’s huge success, we also must remember that too many sales — from so-called ‘private sellers’ at gun shows, through classified ads and by word of mouth — still don’t require background checks,” said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Center.
Ah, yes…the fabled gun show loophole.
The next step that Brady and Helmke would like to make is to eliminate, or at least have the government involved in, private transfers of firearms. This includes a regular guy like me wanting to sell a rifle to another guy, or even me buying a firearm for my son at Christmas. (They think that is a ‘straw purchase.’)
What the Brady Campaign tries to do is create an inaccurate image of gun shows to the general public. The Brady Campaign paints a (false) picture that gun shows are somehow exempt from background checks, almost like a duty-free section of an airport is exempt from taxes. Of course, this is false. All gun dealers are required to perform background checks regardless of where they may be doing business at. The Brady Campaign’s true aim is to restrict private transfers between two citizens.
Let us be perfectly clear. An anti-gun President and Congress will be taking office on January 20. The Brady Campaign and their ilk are emboldened and will be charging hard to take away your rights by restricting sales and importation of new firearms, registering the ones currently in your safe, and eventually banning what you already own. Ammunition taxes are likely to increase and all sorts of onerous government intrusions into private transfers are coming.
Standing in the doorway when the government shows up for your guns is a lost cause. Standing up for your rights NOW, while we still have them, is extremely important.
Get involved at the local level, write and call your elected representatives, and please, join the NRA. If we can triple membership, we can stop a lot of the bad laws that will be coming our way.
The Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network, LLC is a group of armed citizens who have networked together to provide legal assistance for innocent citizens who used deadly force to defend themselves. Some rather impressive people are associated with the Network, including Massad Ayoob, John Farnam, Tom Givens, and Dennis Tueller. Read More→
Ruger SR9 Approved for Use in Massachusetts and California
Posted by: | CommentsThirteen months after the Ruger SR9 was introduced to the free world, California and Massachusetts have both deigned the SR9 to be acceptable for their citizens as well.
Introduced in October 2007, the SR9 was Ruger’s first striker-fired pistol. While citizens in other states have a variety of options available to them with the SR9, such as an OD green frame, the SR9′s in California and Massachusetts appear to be limited to only a black frame with a brushed stainless steel slide. I suppose a green Ruger is more likely to run off on its own and commit crimes.
Of course, the SR9 is neutered in both states, as their citizens are only allowed sub-capacity 10 round magazines, instead of the standard capacity 17-round magazines. The good news, I suppose, is that the residents in these states will have the already upgraded SR9‘s.
I sometimes wonder if there are any red-blooded Americans left in those states.
South Carolina’s Second Amendment Tax Holiday: No Taxes on Guns Friday or Saturday!
Posted by: | CommentsSouth Carolina residents will enjoy a break on state tax if they purchase a firearm Friday or Saturday. The measure was passed by the SC legislature earlier this year and applies only to firearms. Ammunition, holsters, and other accessories are not included.
The full story is at The Herald.
Happy Thanksgiving
Posted by: | CommentsHappy Thanksgiving to all of my readers. I hope that all of you and your families have had a prosperous year and have prepared for the coming year.
Smith and Wesson M&P Ships to Three Additional State Law Enforcement Agencies
Posted by: | CommentsSmith and Wesson announced that they are shipping 1155 M&P duty pistols to three state law enforcement agencies. All three agencies were not issuing Smith and Wesson guns prior to this, but now all three issue the M&P as the primary duty gun.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Services – 555 M&P in .357 Sig
Washington Department of Corrections – 500 M&P in 9mm
Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations – 100 M&P in .45 ACP
As reported on this site and on BlueSheepdog.com, the M&P has been selling well in the law enforcement market. While the Glock is still king, S&W is definitely fighting for police agencies, trying to regain the dominance it once had.
Charter Arms Rimless Revolvers in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP
Posted by: | CommentsCharter Arms has been showing the willingness to be different and offer consumers revolvers that they can’t find elsewhere. Earlier this year, Charter Arms introduced the Patriot line of revolvers chambered in .327 Federal Magnum. The Ruger SP101 was the only revolver chambered for the .327, until the Patriot revolvers which gives buyers a choice in this caliber. Now Charter has announced a new line of revolvers designed for rimless self-defense cartridges.
Chambering revolver for a rimless cartridge, such as the 9mm or .45 ACP, is not a new idea. Smith and Wesson, Taurus, and others have done it before. The problem has always been with the moon clips. To get a rimless cartridge to sit properly in the cylinder, you would have to snap individual rounds into a full or half-moon clip. While in theory this isn’t too bad, a lot of shooters will tell you it will quickly become a pain.
Charter Arms claims to have solved this problem by offering a system that allows you to insert rimless cartridges directly into the cylinder without the need for clips. Assuming the system functions flawlessly, this could be a serious leap forward for Charter. A lot of citizens would like to have a revolver chambered for the same cartridge they carry in their Glock or Sig. Also, add to the equation all of the police officers wanting to carry a back-up gun chambered for the same cartridge they carry in their duty gun.
The revolvers will be offered in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. The guns will feature a 2″ barrel on the 9mm, with a 2.2″ on the .40 and .45. The 9mm will be offered on Charter’s lightweight aluminum frame (12 oz), while the .40 and .45 will be offered on the slightly larger “Bulldog” frame. All guns will handle +P cartridges and will have a lifetime warranty.
An interesting note: Charter states the 9mm will chamber .380 ACP ammunition. So, if you need revolver dependability but need very light recoil due to arthritis or other issues, this might be well worth looking at.
MSRP will range from $399 to $449, so the guns will be affordable. Charter anticipates shipping these guns in the first quarter of 2009, starting with the .40 S&W then .45 ACP, and 9mm. All should be available by the end of 2009.
Stop Anti-Gun Politicians at the Local Level: Get Involved!
Posted by: | CommentsWe all know about the anti-gun politicians at the national level: Charles Schumer, Edward “Ted” Kennedy, Nancy Pilosi, and Joseph Biden. We also know about President-elect Barack Obama’s anti-gun efforts. But do we know where our local mayors and commissioners stand on gun rights?
Fortunately, NYC Mayor Bloomberg has made things easier for us. Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the anti-gun group started by Bloomberg, lists all of its member mayors for you here. If you have not already done so, check to see if your mayor has joined up.
If your mayor is a member of MAIG, it would be a good idea to pay them a visit or phone call. It is possible they do not understand what Bloomberg’s group is all about. If that is the case, it is an excellent time to explain that organization to them and encourage them to withdraw from the group. Alternatively, your mayor may fully understand what the group is about and they joined for just that reason. If so, you need to know that so you can work to elect a pro-freedom candidate in the next election.
In most jurisdictions, local politicians cannot make laws to further restrict your Second Amendment right. However, local politicans frequently have larger aspirations. So local politicans can become state politicians and then national politicians. If you work with them at the local level, they will carry their experiences with you into their next office. They may be better educated on gun rights, but they will definitely know that we care strongly about our rights, and they will be less inclined to tread upon them.
Robber Shot by Shopkeeper in a Marietta, GA Liquor Store
Posted by: | CommentsA shopkeeper shot an armed robber in a Marietta, GA liquor store on November 15, 2008. The robber pointed a handgun at the owner, demanding money and gin. When the robber started to put away his firearm so he could carry his loot, the business owner was able to produce his own handgun and bring it to bear on the robber. The robber then began to pull his firearm, forcing the shopkeeper to shoot him. The robber then fled.
Kudos to the business owner for keeping a cool head and acting when the robber was distracted.
Below is part of the store security video.
The Atlanta-Journal Constitution article:
Marietta store owner fires back at would-be robber
A would-be robber apparently got more than he bargained for when he tried to rob a Cobb County package store.
When a man wearing a hoodie and carrying a gun tried to rob the Windy Hill Package store, the owner fired a handgun at him, police spokesman Dana Pierce said.
The owner of the store at 2425 Windy Hill Road in Marietta believes he shot the suspect as he ran from the store during the Nov. 15 robbery attempt. A store security camera captured the incident as it unfolded around 7:30 p.m. at the store near Cobb Parkway.
The suspect is seen on the security camera pointing a gun at the clerk.
The owner, who asked that his name not be used because the suspect is still on the loose, said the robber first asked for a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Gin. When he came back to the counter he pointed his gun at the clerk and gestured toward the cash register.
As the store owner pushed a bag with the bottle in it toward the robber, the robber put his gun in the waistband of his pants. The clerk quickly reached under the counter and brought out his own gun – a .45 caliber – which he fired at the robber.
The robber appears to be hit in his right side and staggered as he turned to leave. Piece said no bullet holes were found in the walls of the store.
Pierce said the suspect left without any money – or his gin.
When the robbery began to unfold, the owner said, “He was yelling something like he was going to kill me. I didn’t think nothing of him when he came into the store, because we get guys that dress like that in here all the time. It all happened so fast that I didn’t have time to be afraid.”
Police checked local hospitals for patients with gunshot wounds, but haven’t turned any up.
No charges are expected to be filed against the store owner. The owner said this was the first time that someone has attempted to rob him since he bought the store in December 2007.
Orange County Sheriff Revoking CCW Permits
Posted by: | CommentsOrange County has had problems with it’s sheriffs.
The last sheriff of Orange County, California, Michael Carona, has been indicted on federal corruption charges and left office in January 2008. Now the current sheriff, Sandra Hutchins, is actively working to revoke the concealed carry permits issued by previous sheriffs.
California allows citizens to carry a concealed firearm if they are issued a permit by their county sheriff. The problem with California’s law is the sheriff is not required to issue anyone a permit. Many states, such as Florida, are “shall-issue” states, which means if the citizen meets the eligibility requirements, the state is required to issue the citizen a permit. California is a “may-issue” state, which essentially means permits are issued at the whim of a single government official and can be denied for any reason whatsoever.
In Orange County, only about 1100 people possess a CCW permit. Of those, 422 have been sent letters by the sheriff indicating the permit will be revoked unless the citizen shows some reason why they “need” one. I guess reasons like “I’m a free citizen of the United States” and the protection of self and family don’t cut it with Sheriff Hutchins.
I’ve never understood why the brass at law enforcement agencies tend to be anti-gun. When sued by a citizen for “failure to protect” style cases, the first thing the department lawyers scream is there is no duty to provide protection to individuals. And, they would be correct. The thing that galls me, though, is that these same chiefs and sheriffs would deny you the ability to protect yourself, even though they know they cannot protect you.
For a fair news story on the Orange County situation, check out the LA Times story here. (I know…fair reporting out of the LA Times! Who woulda figured?)
New Federal Shotgun Ammo Featuring Barnes Sabot
Posted by: | CommentsFederal has introduced a new 12 gauge hunting round using a Barnes slug called the “Tipper Expander.” The new offering is a 3″ shell with 3/4 ounce slug leaving the shotgun at 1900 fps. This cartridge is only for rifled barrels, and claims to be a good hunting round to 200 yards. Federal already offers a 2 3/4″ Tipped Expander load. Federal’s press release:
This season, Federal Premium® offers an additional 12-gauge load for the Barnes® Tipped Expander® slug. Last year marked the first time Federal gave the Barnes Expander shotgun slug a tip and for the fall of 2008 shooters using fully-rifled barrels will have a 3-inch ¾-ounce option.
The addition of this polymer tip provides better expansion and a higher ballistic coefficient and makes this heavy-hitter a legitimate 200-yard performer. This sabot slug is designed for use in fully rifled barrels only.
“The Barnes Tipped Expander is truly the best tipped slug on the market,” said Ammunition Brand Manager Rick Stoeckel. “The addition of the tip took the Expander, which is known for its near 100% weight retention and reliable expansion, to a whole new level.”
Aiding in the excellent performance of the Barnes Expander is Federal’s proprietary delivery system. When the slug and sabot exit the barrel, the sabot separates clean, resulting in a true flight for the projectile every time. The polymer tip provides a lower drag and aids in consistent expansion for better downrange ballistics.
NRA Membership: Your Vote for Freedom
Posted by: | CommentsDuring the next few years, President-elect Barack Obama and a liberal Congress will work to take away your Second Amendment rights. There is not much that can stand in their way.
Today, more than ever, we need every gun owner to join the NRA. The National Rifle Association is the largest, best represtned gun rights organization in Washington D.C. They represent you in the offices of every Congressman and Senator on Capitol Hill.
As the new semi-auto ban bills, registration bills, ammunition taxes, and prohibitions private sales come up for votes…the NRA will be there representing our rights. The more members they have, the more clout they have to convince out elected representatives that we matter….that the Constitution matters!
If you think of gun rights as a wagon, being pulled through the mud of Washington politics, NRA members are the ones out pulling that wagon through to higher ground. If you are not a member, you are just riding in the back, bogging it down in the D.C. mud. Join us today! Get out and help pull!
The next four years can be bad for gun rights and the Constitution. However, if we all unite, we can make a difference! Join the NRA today! Already a member? Great! You can extend your membership here also.
