The Truth About Guns
Exploring the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns
Updated: 6 days 11 hours ago
Are You Traveling With Your Gun This Holiday Season? Here’s How To Do It Safely
The American Automobile Association (AAA) estimates more than 110 million Americans are traveling this holiday season to visit family and friends. That’s not a record high but is significantly above last year’s numbers – 34 percent higher – given that so many Americans stayed home due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Last year saw a record-high number of firearm purchases as more than 21 million Americans passed a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check to buy a gun.
FACT CHECK: No, Shootings Don’t Increase When More People Carry Firearms
By Jon Miltimore
A couple of months ago, The Atlantic published an article written by staff writer David A. Graham that explores the surge of violence the United States experienced in 2020.
Overall the article, which analyzes findings from the FBI’s “Uniform Crime Report,” is quite good. It effectively breaks down what we know and—more importantly—what we don’t know about the latest crime trends in America, which in 2020 saw a record surge in the murder rate amid a broader rise of violence.
After Smash-And-Grab Thefts, Chicago Mayor Rips Businesses For Not Hiring More Private Security
A necessary complement to legal gun ownership is legal recognition of the right to use them, both de jure and de facto. The wide discretion and unpredictability of district attorneys in their decisions to pursue charges against individuals using arms in clear self-defense can cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees even when one is acquitted. Additionally, civil courts’ willingness to entertain bogus lawsuits from criminals against their victims presents an additional risk.
Gun Meme of the Day: Brotherly Love Edition
Ehhhh 13th highest murder rate in the country. No big deal. Philadelphia would have to more than triple its murder rate to catch up to St. Louis. Holy cow.
Continue reading Gun Meme of the Day: Brotherly Love Edition at The Truth About Guns.
‘Experts’ Say a Series of Mistakes Lead to Kim Potter Grabbing Her GLOCK Instead of Her TASER
By Stephen Groves and Kathleen Foody, AP
The suburban Minneapolis police officer on trial for fatally shooting Daunte Wright has said she mistakenly used her gun when she was trying to grab a Taser during a chaotic attempt to arrest the black motorist.
Policing experts say that regardless of Kim Potter’s intent, the fatal shooting was preceded by smaller mistakes or questionable decisions that added up to a dangerous situation as she was training a new officer.
Marlin is Back: Ruger is Shipping Marlin 1895 SBL Lever-Action Rifles
It’s been a long, hard rode for Marlin rifle lovers. After the brand was acquired by the Cerberus bean counters who cobbled together the monstrosity that was once known as the Freedom Group and combined the brand with Remington, the new owners had some, uh, problems with production and quality. Those were eventually ironed out over time, but not without much schmerz, sturm und drang.
When Remington Outdoor finally collapsed into Chapter 7 bankruptcy and the parts were sold off, many in the gun community were thrilled to see a respected company like Ruger get its hands on the venerable Marlin brand.
Newsweek Sounds the Alarm Over an Impending Coup by Power-Mad Armed Republicans
By Lee Williams
There is fearmongering, and then there is Newsweek-level fearmongering.
The once-respected news magazine – which a former reporter recently described as “a painful embarrassment to anyone who toiled there in its golden age,” which is now known for its incendiary click-bait – is at it again, blasting conservatives, gun owners and the Second Amendment, while warning its shrinking über-woke readership of a coming civil war.
A recent story by their science writer, David H.
California’s ‘High Capacity’ Magazine Possession Ban On Hold Pending Supreme Court Appeal
Last month, an en banc ruling by the Ninth District Court of Appeals upheld California’s ban on so-called high capacity magazines…basically any magazine that will hold more than ten rounds of ammunition.
The ruling outlaws the possession of millions of magazines legally bought and owned by law-abiding gun owners in the state, including those shipped in during “freedom week.” That was the period after Judge Robert Benitez struck down the law in 2019 and before a stay of his decision kept it in place until the Ninth Circuit could rule.
Don’t Blame Guns for the Spike in Violent Crime, Blame George Soros’s ‘Legal Arsonists’
Soros prosecutors refuse to enforce laws against shoplifting, drug trafficking, and entire categories of felonies and misdemeanors. In Chicago, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx allows theft under $1,000 to go unpunished. In Manhattan, District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. refuses to enforce laws against prostitution. In Baltimore, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby has unilaterally declared the war on drugs “over” and is refusing to criminally charge drug users in the middle of the worst drug crisis in American history.
Gun Meme of the Day: Victory is a Bright Flash Edition
It is not the destination, it is the journey. When you aim for perfection, you discover it’s a moving target. Today is victory over yourself of yesterday. I know nothing about surpassing others; I only know how to outdo myself. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.
Continue reading Gun Meme of the Day: Victory is a Bright Flash Edition at The Truth About Guns.
Boulder Dismisses Its Own Appeal of Ruling That Struck Down the City’s ‘Assault Weapons’, Hi Cap Magazine Bans
From the Mountain States Legal Foundation . . .
The City of Boulder, Colorado, has dismissed its own appeal in a case about its sweeping gun control ordinance, which had previously been defeated in state trial court. The dismissal of Chambers v. Boulder is also a victory for Center to Keep and Bear Arms’ (CKBA) clients, who separately challenged the same measure in a federal case called Caldara v. Boulder.
The Right to Armed Self Defense in an Age of Permissive, Revolving Door Justice
By Miguel Faria, Jr., MD
Darrell Brooks, the 39-year-old criminal who plowed through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, had been arrested on November 2, 2021 for assaulting and running over the mother of his child. By November 16, Brooks had been released on a mere $1,000 bail, and less than a week later he plowed through the Christmas parade, killing six people and injuring dozens of others.
Like many other repeat offenders, who are continuously being released, Brooks is a sex offender with a long criminal record stretching back two decades.
Random Thoughts on All the Hunting and Gun Haters Out There Who Wish Me Dead
“I hope your dogs eat your face.”
“You deserve to be raped. I want to be the one to do it.”
“I’m going to hunt your family like you hunted that deer.”
These and other gems have become nauseatingly familiar to me. Most people hunt and shoot without ever being on the receiving end of threats, but I’m not among them. For years I’ve had the unwanted pleasure of watching human decency dive gleefully into its current downward spiral.
Gun Meme of the Day: Wish the Christmas Bunny Edition
With Christmas only five days away, here’s your friendly holiday reminder to keep those knock-off, airsoft-quality parts away from your rifle.
Continue reading Gun Meme of the Day: Wish the Christmas Bunny Edition at The Truth About Guns.
Guns for Beginners: Self Defense Basics and Frequently Asked Questions
[ED: Our friends at U.S. LawShield produced this FAQ on issues surrounding self defense and they’ve agreed to let us share it here.]
Many people have questions when they first become interested in learning self-defense. In this guide, we’ll address some of the most common self-defense questions people have and explore some things that are not always as obvious to someone just starting to research how to take responsibility for their own personal safety.
Game Processors Struggle to Keep Up as Hunting, Meat Donations Boom
Last year’s hunting season saw millions of sportsmen and women of all ages head to the fields and woods to give the great American pastime a try.
Hunting recruitment efforts were successful as interest in hunting remained high through 2021. That’s led to an interesting dilemma this year. All that harvested game means something more. Hunters are helping families in need around the holidays. The flip side of that is wild game processors are backed up and hunters are scrambling to get their harvest ready for the freezer.
Savage Announces its First Compact Pistol in Almost a Century, The New Stance 9mm Micro-Compact
From Savage . . .
Savage Arms is pleased to announce a new EDC handgun: Stance. This micro-compact 9mm marks Savage’s return to concealed carry and self-defense and will be the first of a complete family of handguns built to the demanding standards of accuracy and reliability that have come to define Savage Arms.
“Since Savage was sold in July 2019, President and CEO Al Kasper publicly stated that Savage Arms would be a complete firearm company,” Robert Gates, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Savage Arms said.
How My Views About ‘Gun Violence Prevention’ Changed
When I was about eight years old, I was blessed with being sent to Deerfield, a day camp in St. Louis, Missouri. The activities provided included going to the gun range and getting to shoot five .22 caliber Long Rifle bullets down range at a time. Oh, what joy that was. And I was pretty good, earning NRA marksman and sharpshooter badges.
The day camp provider, St. Louis Country Day School, continued having weapons on-campus and a rifle team until the 1980s, when the range space was given over to the football program.
Continue reading How My Views About ‘Gun Violence Prevention’ Changed at The Truth About Guns.
St. Charles, Illinois CCL Holder Shoots, Kills One of 2 Rottweilers Attacking a Jogger
Last week a 51-year-old woman was jogging when a neighbor’s friendly Labradoodle jumped an electric fence ran into the street to greet her. Most people would do what the jogger did…she grabbed the pet by the collar and took the dog back to its owner. That was when the owner’s two Rottweilers ran out of the house and attacked the good Samaritan.
The Chicago Tribune reports that “One had her by the leg, and the other had her by the scalp.”
A concealed carry holder was driving by and stopped to help the owner try to get the dogs off the jobber, but the attack continued.
Things That Don’t Suck: Benchmade Mini Bugout 533BK-2 EDC Folding Knife
This is the best of times and the worst of times for EDC knife lovers. It’s the best of times because there are a slew of manufacturers making more great knives featuring great designs with top notch materials than every before. It’s the worst of times because…well, actually no it isn’t. It really is the best of times for anyone shopping for a knife in just about any use or price category.
One of those truly great designs that just seems to do everything right is the Benchmade Mini Bugout.