Robb takes a look at some of the ballistics on the 30mm round and is impressed. Mine isn’t meant to actually be fired, but I’ve been thinking it would make the world’s coolest flask, since it’s hollow inside.
Month: June 2011
The New York Times Definitely Doesn’t Get It
Congress needs to be candid about how loophole-ridden laws have created a huge market for assault weapons, which end up in Mexico. At a hearing, Mr. Issa insisted, “We’re not here to talk about proposed gun legislation.†Federal officials in February sought authority to require gun dealers to report bulk sales of assault rifles only to have it blocked by a provision in the Republican budget. A responsible Congress would re-enact the assault weapons ban, outlaw uncontrolled gun-show sales and reform regulations that allow corrupt dealers to stay in business.
There’s no gun law in the world, save prohibition, which is constitutionally problematic, that’s going to prevent ATF from actively encouraging straw sales that dealers otherwise would not have made. I know this sounds crazy to an outfit as stupidly ignorant as the Times, but gun dealers actually don’t want to sell guns to criminals. If someone comes into your store wanting to buy a dozen AKs, that generally wouldn’t pass the sniff test. ATF was deliberately encouraging those kinds of sales and it has obviously wildly inflated the number of firearms ending up in the hands of smuggling rings.
If the NYT really wants to close a loophole, maybe they should call for abolishing the ATF.
Traver to Replace Melson?
The real risk in shaking up the leadership of ATF is that the Administration would take the inevitable position that it’s time for some adult leadership at ATF. Unfortunately, that appears to be coming in the form of Andrew Traver replacing Ken Melson This may not end up being a successful ploy by the Administration, but the obvious path toward political cover. While Obama can’t ram him through the Senate necessarily, he can always recess appoint him.
Castle Doctrine Heads to Governor’s Office
The Pennsylvania Senate just voted on Castle Doctrine this evening. PA Independent says the vote was 45-5, but the state website hasn’t yet updated with the roll call.
It now goes for the Governor’s signature.
Massachusetts Gun Control Leaders Ousted from Other Groups
Hey, when it comes to gay rights groups who hire former Massachusetts senators who partially made gun control a huge part of their political careers, well, they are 2 for 2 in being ousted amid “management differences.”
In the first case of Cheryl Jacques, she lasted a whooping 11 months after considering it “a difference in management philosophy” that Human Rights Campaign went 0-11 on gay rights ballot initiatives under her watch. In the second case of Jarrett Barrios, he just resigned after it came out that he cut a deal with AT&T for GLAAD to advocate for policies completely unrelated to their mission in exchange for donations. He must have been going for a record since he doubled Cheryl’s time with clocking an entire 22 months with the organization before scandal erupted.
So might I suggest to the boards of these organizations that former politicians who make their political careers on low hanging fruit (like gun control in Massachusetts) may not be the best folks to lead national organizations that actually have to consider real strategy and not piss off grassroots members. Just a suggestion.
Vintage Shooting Gear & Books
Consider this the “non-shiny” edition of my Esty search for random cool gun-related items. It’s a good thing that ordering online with the need to pay for shipping makes me stop to think twice before breaking out plastic. Otherwise, the vase would totally be on our mantel. Not everything in this gallery is vintage, but some of it dates back to the 1920s.
Stores featured in this gallery include: GransTreasures, Six Pack Vintage, The Hunter’s Treasure, Vintage Vinyl and Books, JOOL-AHOLIC, Fine Old Things, Eternal Art, Take Flyte Farm, Mikesalvage, Bullet Designs, Yonks, Dragstrip Dolly and Cluttered Mind.
Kel-Tec KSG
The folks over at Shooting Illustrated, which, if you ask me, is NRA’s best publication, and well worth the cost to subscribe, review the Kel-Tec KSG bullpup shotgun.
I’d really love it if NRA could get their publications over on the iPad and other mobile devices. I’d gladly pay for them there to save the cost of postage. I bug Cam about the need for an NRA News app regularly too. I’d really like to see NRA move on digital markets more quickly than they are doing.
The Rare Nanny State Veto, Seen in the Wild
It’s rather unusual for a politician to veto nanny state legislation, but Rick Perry has vetoed the texting while driving law passed by the legislature, considering it “a government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults.”
One of the main reasons to be against this kind of legislation is that it does not work. It’s a feel good measure, and one that is only going to result in yet another crime that will help fill state coffers when ordinary people are fined. We already lose most of our rights when we get behind the wheel.
The Secret Code of the United States Marines
Joan Peterson is currently in hysterics over the fact that a man running for Congress in the 8th Congressional District of Arizona, which also happens to be Gabby Gifford’s district, is featuring a picture of his service where he is carrying a rifle:
Says Ms. Peterson:
Why does he need to run an ad with a poster showing himself with an assault weapon and calling himself a “Warrior”? Is this some sort of code to the extreme conservatives and gun rights activists?
I’ve largely grown bored with our favorite Brady Board member, but every once in a while I run across something so completely nuts I just have no choice but to share. I will admit to not getting an updated secret decoder ring from the NRA in some time, but going out on a limb here I am fairly certain there is no code.
What we have before us is a politician who is a United States Marine who served in Iraq. He would like potential voters to know about his service, so he puts pictures up of him soldiering on his campaign material. I know this is a shocking revelation, but soldiering generally involves carrying a rifle. Not only rifles, but real, honest to goodness select-fire full-auto capable assault rifles. Soldiers also, fairly commonly, refer to themselves as “warriors.” I know that’s hard to believe, but trust me, it’s true.
Surely the Brady Campaign is not now embracing the position that we ought to disarm our military? Surely they do not take the position that there is something wrong with Marines being proud of their service, or having to hide their service, because one of the tools they use to protect freedom is a firearm?
I show this only to point out how far outside the mainstream the leadership of the anti-gun movement truly is. Soldiers carrying guns… well, that’s just icky.
“Good” Gun Safety or “Bad” Gun Safety?
Pennsylvania Senate Democrats put out a press release about an event hosted by a state senator on “gun safety.” I immediately wondered whether this version of “gun safety” was about gun control or actually using firearms safely. It’s tough to say:
State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) joined with several law enforcement officials today to hold a gun safety event at her district office. The event was intended to promote safe handling and storing of personal firearms.
“Proper storage and handling of firearms, especially in homes with small children, is crucial,†Schwank said. “It is my hope that through this event and the information we provide here today, more gun owners can keep their families safe through proper gun storage.â€
At the event, Sen. Schwank and Berks County District Attorney John Adams discussed the importance of properly securing guns with a gun lock.
There’s nothing in there that indicates a call for more gun control. But, we also know that the last Democratic candidate for governor kept using vague talking points on “gun locks” that actually translated into mandatory locked storage that has already been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court – so some of her colleagues do have a history of taking some rather extreme liberties with the topic of gun locks as a matter of policy. Hopefully, she meant this event as strictly education and outreach rather than endorsing any kind of further restrictions on how we use firearms.
Unfortunately, there’s no grade on an NRA questionnaire by which to guide any assumptions about policies that may have been discussed. Her district, while certainly home to many local anti-gun politicians, was previously held by an NRA A-rated lawmaker who won their endorsement. The other potential signal for us would be the previous Castle Doctrine vote in the Senate, but that was on March 8 and she wasn’t elected until March 15 and did not actually take office until April 5. The only vote on the bill since she’s been in office has only been in a committee.
UPDATE: From a reader who attended the event: “I was at this event, and spoke with the Senator afterwards. For disclosure let me state that I volunteered with Medaglia’s campaign against her.
She supports HB40, and we should see her vote on that this week. She also thinks that current law is ‘sufficient’ when it comes to storage of firearms. So at this time at least she is not publicly calling for mandatory ‘safe storage’ laws.” Huge kudos for his efforts, and I’m glad that we know she appears to be ready to vote with us! To all of you who doubted in the comments based off nothing other than the press release or things you haven’t confirmed on your own, please let this be a reminder that getting involved is absolutely key to making a real difference on the issue.