Archive for January, 2009
Michael S. Steele, RNC Chairman, on Gun Control and Gun Rights
Posted by: | CommentsThe Republican National Committee elected a new chairman today: Michael S. Steele. Steele, a former lieutenant governor of notoriously anti-gun Maryland, will lead the Republican party in the coming years. The Republican party has traditionally been the major party that favors gun rights. Will Steele support gun rights?
I’m not so sure.
In an October 16, 2006 Washington Post interview, Steele was asked “Should people have access to buy assault weapons?” Steele’s response:
“Society should draw lines. What do you need an assault weapon for, if you’re going hunting? That’s overkill. But I don’t think that means you go to a total ban for those who want to use gun for skeet shooting or hunting or things like that” (emphasis added)
When asked his general views on gun control, Steele stated:
“I grew up under some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. You can have all the gun control laws in the country, but if you don’t enforce them, people are going to find a way to protect themselves. We need to recognize that bad people are doing bad things with these weapons. It’s not the law-abiding citizens, it’s not the person who uses it as a hobby.”
That doesn’t sound like someone who understands anything about the Second Amendment or the truth around so-called “assault weapons.”
So, let me say this to Steele: the Second Amendment isn’t about hunting or sport. It is about an inalienable right granted to us by God, and codified in the United States Constitution as one of those things that the government is not allowed to interfere with. Please educate yourself if you expect to receive the support of gun owners.
H.R. 257: Attacks Handguns, Semi-Automatic Rifles, Magazines
Posted by: | CommentsIn another attack on the Second Amendment, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee has introduced H.R. 257, the Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act of 2009. H.R. 257 is a broad based attack, that would criminalize a number of things, including raising the age from 18 to 21 to lawfully own or possess a handgun.
The bill would also prohibit anyone under the age of 21 from owning or possessing a “semiautomatic assault weapon” or a “large capacity ammunition feeding device.” So it would seem that we trust our troops to handle real assault rifles (you know, the kind that are fully automatic) overseas, but should a 20-year-old Marine lance corporal return to the States and obtain a semi-automatic AR-15 with (gasp) a 20-round magazine, he or she would be a felon.
Likewise, it would become criminal to transfer or sell a handgun, “semiautomatic assault weapon” or a “large capacity ammunition feeding device” to an adult who has not yet reached the arbitrary age of 21. Oh, and the penalty increases from up to one year in prison to up to five years in prison.
Further, it would also expand the requirement that all firearms, not just handguns, be sold with safety locks. The law also adds new a new law imparting criminal liability to a gun owner who’s gun is obtained by someone under 18 years old.
And as another attack on gun shows, the bill would require that all persons under 18 be accompanied by an adult while at a gun show, and affixing liability on the gun show organizer if there is an unaccompanied teen on the show floor. Conceivably, the BATFE could find a teenager at one table, while mom and dad are at another vendor, and shut down the show.
None of the above items have ever been shown to decrease crime or accidental deaths. At best, they are “feel good” measures meant to “protect children.” The reality is they are just another means to erode away our Second Amendment rights.
This bill is currently in the House Committee on the Judiciary.
How to Bury a Gun: Someone Who Did and the Results
Posted by: | CommentsThere has been a lot of talk on the Internet forums about how to bury a gun and how to bury ammunition for long term storage. Most people have never done it, and are simply making educated guesses about the best ways to do it.
In the article “Bury a gun and ammo for 15 years (and be assured everything still works when you dig it up),” Charles Wood describes the steps he took to prepare and bury a Ruger Mini-14 and ammunition some 15 years ago. Wood then describes how he retrieved the rifle, and that the rifle and ammo were in perfect condition.
So, whatever your reasoning for burying a gun, take a look at this article. There is some good information in it.
Sig Sauer P232 Pistols: Updated for 2009
Posted by: | CommentsThe Sig Sauer P232 pistol was updated for 2009. The new P232 features a newly designed slide that reduces “slide bite” on larger hands and removable sights.
For those not familar with the Sig Sauer P232, the gun is a .380 ACP pistol that is more substantial in size and weight thant the recent crop of .380 pocket guns. The P232 runs between 18.5 – 23.6 ounces, has a 3.6″ barrel, and an overall length of 6.6″. The action is a DA/SA design, and has a capacity of 6+1.
The Sig P232 is available in three finishes: black Nitron, stainless, and a two-tone stainless slide with black frame. All models of P232 are available with standard or SIGLITE Night Sights.
Good Gun Deals Can Still Be Had
Posted by: | CommentsFor the past couple of years, gun and ammunition prices have been creeping upward. Since the 2008 elections, the prices on some firearms have skyrocketed. If you are in the market for a firearm, don’t be afraid: good deals can still be had. You just have to be patient, and be ready to deal with cash when you find something you want.
For example, a friend of mine at work had a nice NYPD Smith and Wesson model 64-1 revolver. This was one of the last revolver models approved by the NYPD for carry. My friend, a retired NYPD cop, was keeping his full-sized duty gun, but was trying to get rid of this one, a 2″ barrel K-frame with a bobbed hammer. He only wanted $100 for it. I was willing to buy it sight unseen at that price, and cash quickly exchanged hands. As a Smith and Wesson revolver guy, I can’t resist picking up a pre-lock gun that has some history behind it.
In another example, my father called me just a little while ago. One of his friends has some pistols he is looking to sell for some extra money. For $150, my dad picked up a unfired FEG P9R with two magazines, holster, and ammo. Looking around at some of the auction sites, the same gun starts at $295 and goes up from there.
Recently, a local police academy was liquidating some of their unused inventory. Back in a corner of their firearms vault were more than a dozen Ruger Mini-14′s. Most of the rifles were unfired, and none had ever been issued for use on the street. In fact, most of them had merely sat in the vault for about a decade, completely unmolested. The price? $250 each. I missed out on that deal, but would have bought every one of them if I could have.
The point I am trying to make is this: unless you must purchase a specific firearm today, be patient. Ask around at work, at church, and at other gatherings. There is always someone who has a gun, but would rather have some money. Once people know you are in the market for something, word of mouth will bring the deals to you. You just have to know what you want, and be willing to pay cash immediately.
Ammunition Prices: An Update
Posted by: | CommentsI documented the rising cost of ammunition in November when I compared prices of various brands and loads from a major ammunition supply company to their prices from March 2008 and January 2007. Many of you said prices would fall for a variety of reasons. The good news is that, in some cases, you were right. However, the bad news is many of the loads are out-of-stock and you just can’t buy them.
Obviously, shopping around is always to your benefit. For example, Natchez Shooters Supplies just sent out an e-mail this morning stating the American Eagle 9mm 115gr FMJ is in stock and on sale at $9.99/50. Similar deals can be found on other brands and loads by taking a few minutes to hit all of your favorite online gun shops to compare prices.
Ruger Mark III Hunter .22 LR Pistol
Posted by: | Comments
Ruger product announcement:
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. introduces a new .22 autoloading pistol: the 4-1/2 inch Ruger Mark III™ Hunter. The Mark III Hunter combines all the advantages of the Ruger Mark III pistol with performance-enhancing features.
The New Ruger Mark III Hunter features a stainless steel frame and a 4-1/2 inch target-crowned, fluted bull barrel. The Mark III Hunter also features checkered Cocobolo grips, a quick and easy-to-find V-notch rear sight blade, and a HiViz® front sight with six interchangeable LitePipes™. The 38 ounce gun has an overall length of 8-3/4 inches.
The magazine release button on all Mark III pistols is located to the left side of the grip, behind the trigger guard. The ejection port has been contoured and the bolt ears are tapered. All Mark III Hunter pistols are drilled and tapped to accept Weaver-style scope base adapters, included at no extra cost, to mount today’s advanced optics. The Mark III pistols also feature a visible loaded chamber indicator, unobtrusive internal lock and magazine disconnect to meet sales requirements in some states.
The lighter-weight, fluted target barrel and high visibility sights give the New Ruger Mark III Hunter a new level of rimfire performance in the field. The new eye-catching Ruger Mark III Hunter pistol balances comfortably in the hand and sets a new standard for precision in short barreled, small-bore hunting pistols.
Uncle Mike’s Kydex Holster Review: A Concealable Holster for the Sig Sauer P226
Posted by: | Comments
Several months ago, I purchased a kydex paddle holster from Uncle Mike’s for my Sig Sauer P226.
The Uncle Mike’s holster is an open top, but models with a thumb break strap can be purchased as well. I found that the holster held the Sig very securely, but was not so tight as to prevent a smooth draw. There are two screws on the front of the holster that you can use to adjust the tension of the holster, but I found the tension to be “just right” as it was, so I did not adjust them at all. Read More→
Durham City Council Ignores Voters, Meets With Anti-Gun Special Interest ‘Informally’
Posted by: | CommentsThe Durham city council met with the anti-gun ACORN organizer Rev. Melvin Whitley in an informal “work session” on Jan. 22, according to The Herald Sun.
As I reported in December, the Durham city council has been considering supporting Rev. Whitley’s proposal for ammunition regulation modeled on Illinois law. The proposal would require, in part, a citizen to obtain a permit from the local sheriff prior to purchasing any ammunition.
The Durham city council was hit with a lot of outcry against supporting this kind of back-door gun banning, and they removed their meeting with Rev. Whitley from the council’s agenda. However, it appears when they thought no one was looking, they did indeed meet with Rev. Whitley in an informal work session.
Let me be very clear… The Durham city council needs to hear from you on this matter. I have talked before about working locally to fight anti-gun politicians, and this is the perfect example. Local politicians are saying one thing, but doing something different on a gun issue.
Contact the Durham city council today! Their contact information can be found on the Durham City Council web site.
Also, if you live in North Carolina, support the pro-gun group Grass Roots North Carolina. They have been out in front on this topic, and are really fighting hard for your Second Amendment freedoms.
HR-45: National Firearms Licensing, Tracking and Banning
Posted by: | CommentsIn an effort to bring Illinois-style anti-gun legislation to the entire country, Rep. Bobby Rush has introduced HR-45, the Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act. This act would require a national database of firearm sales, licensing of firearms owners, and the bill would make it illegal to transfer firearms from one private person to another.
The bill would make it illegal to possess a handgun or long gun with a detachable magazine unless you were licensed. Additionally, the ban on transfers will eliminate private sales, requiring all transactions to go through a dealer and be tracked in the national database.
Further, firearms as gifts would be severely curtailed, limited to the “infrequent” transfer of a firearm “by an individual to a parent, child, grandparent, or grand-child.” This would eliminate an uncle gifting a firearm to his nephew, etc.
Please contact your elected representatives, and let them know your position on this dangerous legislation. Also, if you are not already a member, please join the NRA today! They are “on the ground” in D.C. everyday, fighting for our Second Amendment rights.
From the NRA:
U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) recently sponsored H.R. 45, also known as “Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act.” The bill is, at its core and as its name implies, a licensing and registration scheme.
The measure calls for all handgun owners to submit to the federal government an application that shall include, among many other things: a photo; an address; a thumbprint; a completed, written firearm safety test; private mental health records; and a fee. And those are only some of the requirements to be licensed!
The bill would further require the attorney general to establish a database of every handgun sale, transfer, and owner’s address in America. Moreover, the bill would make it illegal to own or possess a “qualifying firearm” — defined as “any handgun; or any semiautomatic firearm that can accept any detachable ammunition feeding device…” [emphasis added] without one of the proposed licenses.
Additionally, the bill would make it illegal to transfer ownership of a “qualifying firearm” to anyone who is not a licensed gun dealer or collector (with very few exceptions), and would require “qualifying firearm” owners to report all transfers to the attorney general’s database. It would also be illegal for a licensed gun owner to fail to record a gun loss or theft within 72 hours, or fail to report a change of address within 60 days. Further, if a minor obtains a firearm and injures someone with it, the owner of the firearm may face a multiple-year jail sentence.
H.R. 45 is essentially a reintroduction of H.R. 2666, which Rush introduced in 2007. H.R. 2666 contained much of the same language as H.R. 45, and was co-sponsored by several well-known anti-gun legislators–including Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel. H.R. 45 currently has no co-sponsors.
HR-197: National Right to Carry Bill Introduced
Posted by: | CommentsFrom the NRA:
U.S. Representatives Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.), recently introduced H.R. 197– the “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009″–a bill that would provide national recognition for valid state Right-to-Carry licensees.
The bill would allow any person with a valid carry permit or license issued by a state, to carry a concealed firearm in any other state if the permit holder meets certain criteria. In states that issue permits, a state’s laws governing where concealed firearms may be carried would apply within its borders. In states that do not issue carry permits, a federal standard would apply. The bill would not create a federal licensing system; it would simply require the states to recognize each other’s carry permits, just as they recognize drivers’ licenses.
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) is expected to introduce the Senate companion bill in the near future. Rep. Stearns has introduced such legislation since 1995.
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121, and urge him or her to cosponsor and support H.R. 197!
If you are not already a member, please join the NRA today!
Kel Tec RFB: First Impressions
Posted by: | CommentsThe Kel Tec RFB rifle will be shipping early next month (Feb 09) according to a Kel Tec representative at the 2009 SHOT Show. The rep was very upbeat about the rifle, stating they are in production now and will be shipping very soon.
Kel Tec’s sales of the RFB rifles to distributers have been very brisk, selling 1,000 to one distributer on the first day of the SHOT Show alone.
I had a chance to handle the RFB, and I have to admit I was impressed. The rifle, chambered in .308/7.62 NATO, is hefty, but very well-balanced. Kel Tec had several different configurations of the RFB on display, and everyone stopping to check them out seemed to like them.
The RFB looks like it will be a very good seller for Kel Tec.
