The Truth About Guns

DPMS’s AR-10 rifles are pretty popular largely because they’re an inexpensive alternative for those looking for a more powerful semi-automatic rifle. They’re accurate, too — there’s a pair of twin girls that use their DPMS .308 rifles to hit the 1,000 yard target at my local range with ease. Heck, they had to ask the range master to put up a smaller target to keep from getting bored. Now, DPMS has shortened their Hunter rifle and started offering it in a couple new calibers, namely .243 and .338. Oh, and MSRP is $1,699 — much less by the time it gets to the gun shop, naturally. It looks pretty sweet, and we’ll ask for one to test out.

“This is their response to the massacre of first-graders. Think how disgusting that is.” – Kelly Burke, President of the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action quoted in Gun Rights Activists’ Latest Strategy: Armed Demonstrations [via texastribune.com]

Expanding on their popular MOE line of AR-15 accessories, the fine folks at Magpul have announced their new SL line. Optimized for the new M-LOK attachment system, the handguards feature longer extended side panels and added grippy slats to help you hold onto the gun just that much better. The stock also appears to have been streamlined, and a nifty split adjustment lever lets you move the stock around.

Lots of our readers were intrigued by Jeremy’s review of the See All Open Sight. If you were amongst ‘em, you can get one for free. Just come up with the funniest, most imaginative caption for this weekend’s photo and the very same sight Jeremy used for his review will be all yours. Just be sure to get your entry in before midnight on Sunday.

Sometime tomorrow, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America,will mount a protest against the NRA convention in Indianapolis. Why wouldn’t they? MDA jefe Shannon Watts calls The Circle City her home. (You might make a joke about the city’s nickname and the word “jerk” relative to the protest but I couldn’t possibly comment.) Meanwhile, MDA’s corporate parent Everytown for Gun Safety has to get its licks in; Mayor Michael Bloomberg is not one to play second fiddle to anyone except God – and God has already saved his place for Mayor Mike in heaven (apparently). And so EGS has released this video during the NRA’s first day festivities, trying to hoist the “gun lobby” by its own petard. I’m thinking it’s a damp squib. But you can’t argue with gunshot wounds. Can you?

As far as I can tell, I’m the only African American at the NRA’s national convention. And I’m white. Not to put too fine a point on it, Indianapolis has just become the Old Fat White Guy center of the universe. While I have nothing against OWFGs – some of my best contributors are OWFGs – the battle to defend and extend firearms freedom lies elsewhere. The urban cores are where it’s going down, conurbations where minority voters hold sway. If the NRA wants to seal the deal, to put gun rights beyond reproach (where the U.S. Constitution places them), they need to attract blacks, asians and hispanics. So . . . how? How does the arctic-colored civil rights organization get minorities to come in out of the cold?

The 2014 NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits are well under way, with throngs of attendees packing the Indianapolis Convention Center floor. For those of you who can’t (or don’t want to) be here, you can still look in on the official proceedings here as we live stream them for your viewing pleasure. Here are the speakers who are scheduled to address today’s Leadership Forum beginning at 1:00 p.m. eastern. You’re welcome.