The Truth About Guns
Exploring the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns
Updated: 1 week 1 day ago
NSSF: Chipman Nomination to Head ATF Helped Sell Another 1.3 Million Firearms Last Month
Oh look! Another monster gun sales month. Who could have possibly seen that coming? It’s almost as if nominating the most anti-gun individual in history to run the federal government’s firearms regulator has a measurable effect on Americans’ desire to buy the guns they want while they still can.
While the raw number of NICS background checks performed by the FBI in May was up over the year-ago total, the National Shootings Sports Association’s adjusted number for last month (the better indicator of actual gun sales) fell from the May, 2020 number.
San Jose Police Release Bodycam Video of Railyard Shooting
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has released bodycam video of the team of officers who entered the San Jose railyard facility last week in response to reports of an active shooting. Samuel Cassidy, a railyard employee, murdered nine coworkers before killing himself as police closed in on him.
Note that unlike the Broward County Sheriff’s Department officers who formed a perimeter around Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School while the killer there continued to murder teachers and students inside, the Santa Clara responders followed protocols that have been accepted practice for dealing with mass shooting incidents since the Columbine shooting in 1999.
Continue reading San Jose Police Release Bodycam Video of Railyard Shooting at The Truth About Guns.
Shouldn’t an ATF Director Be Able to Define What an ‘Assault Weapon’ Is When He’s Asked?
No one can be an expert on everything.
But maybe, just maybe, if you advocate banning certain types of weapons and want to head the agency that ultimately would be tasked with enforcing any such ban, a basic requirement should be an ability to define that class of banned weapons.
[Biden’s ATF Director nominee David] Chipman either could not or would not do so during the hearing, when asked by Sen.
There’s More Room and Security in a Lockdown Organized Gun Safe
An organized gun safe is a happy gun safe…and one that comfortably accomodates and secures all of your guns and valuable gear. If you’re having trouble getting everything stowed in your current safe, you don’t need a new one, you just need a little help organizing it with Lockdown’s line of gun vault organization gear.
Make the most of your space with Lockdown organization gear like ultra-convenient magazine racks, handgun racks, magnetic barrel rests, slide-out drawers, or pistol hangers.
Gun Meme of the Day: A Shot at GLOCK Edition
I’ve got a few memes that poke fun directly at specific firearm manufacturers. Don’t get too bent out of shape about it.
Continue reading Gun Meme of the Day: A Shot at GLOCK Edition at The Truth About Guns.
New Interactive Belt Builder From Klik Belts [With TTAG Reader Discount]
Klik Belts has been making top shelf belts in Texas for years. Now they’re launching an interactive belt builder to let you build exactly the belt you need.
In real time you can see a 3D rendering while you pick between 9 belt colors, 7 buckle styles, width, velcro locations, and size. Here is the direct link to the “build your own belt page” Use code TTAG15 at checkout for 15% off.
Chipman’s Hearing Performance and Nerf 80% Receivers [VIDEO]
This Week in Gun Rights is TTAG’s weekly roundup of legal, legislative and other news affecting guns, the gun business and gun owners’ rights.
The Chipman Hearings
ATF director nominee David Chipman’s hearings kicked off last week, and it was… well, an unmitigated disaster.
From stating outright that he thought ARs ought be included under National Firearms Act regulation, to being called out for his myriad insulting remarks against American gun owners, to his weird Dr.
Silencer Shop Launches 4473 Cloud, Providing Cloud-Based Form 4473 Storage for FFLs
Every firearm background check involves filling out an ATF Form 4473. It’s three pages when printed double-sided, and it must be kept by the FFL (the store selling the firearm) for at least 20 years. Yes, you read that correctly. Your local gun shop is storing an absolutely absurd amount of paper 4473s.
Imagine, if you will, 20 years worth of three-page 4473 Forms and how much storage space that requires. Imagine having to perform a serial number trace and needing to find one specific 4473 in your collection of tens of thousands.
LOSE YOUR RECORDS, LOSE YOUR RIGHTS: Illinois Legislature Passes FOID Bill With the Help of ISRA
The NRA’s state affiliate in the Land of Lincoln helped negotiate a new bill to modernize the state’s much-hated Firearm Owner Identification Card Act. The Illinois State Rifle Association then went neutral on the new gun control language after its formal introduction, tacitly supporting HB562‘s passage while every other gun rights organization went on record opposing the measure.
ISRA’s surprising neutrality on the final language was actually discussed during the brief Senate floor debate before the bill passed in the Senate.
New Jersey Attorney General Weaponizes His Office to Attack Out-Of-State Gun Sellers
By Lee Williams
When I worked at a newspaper in Delaware, I was intimately aware that if I strayed across the border into New Jersey with any weapons, ammo or mags and got caught, I would likely spend the rest of my life in a state prison.
Back then, New Jersey officials were content with only targeting individual gun owners, either those who weren’t familiar with their crazy gun laws, or those from free states who may have taken a wrong turn.
Gun Meme of the Day: Weapons of War Edition
Thank you to the brave men and women who fielded this “hunting rifle” and saved the free world.
Full disclosure: this is a meme, not a real Everytown / Moms Demand Action ad. It was created to make fun of how ignorant they are on the topic for which they exist.
Continue reading Gun Meme of the Day: Weapons of War Edition at The Truth About Guns.
Gun Review: US Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 (M1 Garand)
Let’s face it. The vast majority of guns are rather boring. Not from a “yee-haw!” perspective, but from the perspective of mechanical ingenuity and history. The modern AR-15 may be the best example. As popular and functional as it is, an AR is re-packaged 50-year-old technology that’s so plastic and cold that it has no soul.
But in the world of firearms, the M1 Garand is the antithesis of soullessness. In a world of expensive special purpose firearms, it still holds its own in terms of usability and effectiveness for almost any purpose.
Continue reading Gun Review: US Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 (M1 Garand) at The Truth About Guns.
Why Doesn’t The New York Times Want to Admit That Riots Fueled Record Gun Sales?
It’s absurd to state — as if it’s a fact — that the pandemic “fueled” the surge when there were riots and the police stood down and did not protect the citizens! I personally got trained to use a gun last summer, and I fired a gun for the first time in my life. That had nothing to do with the pandemic. It was about civil disorder threatening my [Madison, Wisconsin] neighborhood and the manifest unwillingness of the city to keep order.
We Celebrate Them Because They Lived
There’s a serenity about Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery. It is a peaceful place. It’s where I choose to celebrate Memorial Day.
Some might feel it is an odd expression to say someone celebrates Memorial Day. This is the day, of course, set aside to memorialize those who have fallen in war defending our nation. Arlington National Cemetery’s Section 60 is where many of those men and women who fought and died in Iraq, Afghanistan and other far-flung places in the War on Terror are buried.
Continue reading We Celebrate Them Because They Lived at The Truth About Guns.
Gun Meme of the Day: Combing Through the Carpet Edition
Slip ping snap, oh crap
Eyes closed, breath held, listen hard
Silence. Shop Brownells.
Continue reading Gun Meme of the Day: Combing Through the Carpet Edition at The Truth About Guns.
Second Amendment Foundation Sues Illinois Over Ban on Under-21 Gun Sales
From the Second Amendment Foundation . . .
The Second Amendment Foundation has filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Illinois, challenging the state’s ban on concealed carry by young adults between the ages of 18 and 21, alleging the ban violates the Second and 14th Amendment rights of those citizens.
Joining SAF are the Illinois State Rifle Association, Firearms Policy Coalition, Inc., and three private citizens in the 18-21-year age group, David Meyer, Eva Davis and Mitchell Nalley.
The Silencer Shop Kiosk: One Central Spot for All Your Silencer and NFA Needs
As an NFA connoisseur, I’ve endured the process of applying for suppressors, SBRs, and SBSs many times over the years. Now that I’m a licensed firearm manufacturer, my process for receiving or making NFA items is simpler and faster, but I haven’t forgotten how Silencer Shop changed the game and created the easiest way to buy a silencer.
Upon moving to Texas four years ago (and living within about 15 minutes of Silencer Shop HQ, no less), I encountered their Silencer Shop Kiosk for the first time and experienced what it meant to buy and register a suppressor in one central location, all quick-and-easy like.
Why Open Carry is a Better Idea Now Than Ever
I had thought that the open carry debate had been beaten to death. But I saw a Fox News segment about homeless camping in Austin, Texas that triggered me. Maybe the events of 2020 and so far in 2021 warrant a reconsideration of the messaging conveyed by open carry.
The Fox segment explained that Austin had, some years ago, repealed its prohibition against camping in public places whereupon the homeless took advantage to bring California to Austin.
Continue reading Why Open Carry is a Better Idea Now Than Ever at The Truth About Guns.
Original Wheel Gun Showdown: Smith & Wesson Model 686 vs Colt Python
Two classics going head to head. Yes, I know, the Colt Python and the Smith & Wesson Model 686 have been compared ad nauseam, especially since the Python was reborn. This is slightly different since both guns are originals; the Colt was made in 1978 and the S&W was made in 1988. I am not comparing the current production guns here.
Why? Because to me, the current production guns from Big Blue are a knockoff of the originals.
The New Vortex Venom 5-25×56 FFP Rifle Scope
From Vortex . . .
Vortex Optics is launching the all-new Venom® 5-25×56 FFP, the first in a new series of optics aimed at giving shooters all the tools they need to get into the game at an affordable price without compromising optical quality, or giving up the features they need to be competitive.
The Venom® 5-25×56 FFP is a perfect example of what shooters should expect from the Venom® lineup, providing new shooters an entry-level price with next-level tools.
Continue reading The New Vortex Venom 5-25×56 FFP Rifle Scope at The Truth About Guns.