The Truth About Guns
Exploring the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns
Updated: 3 weeks 13 hours ago
FNS-40 Contest Entry: The LCP That Helped Me Meet My Father
By John Mauer
To say that my father and I aren’t close is like saying that RF and Diane Feinstein have a difference of opinion on matters of constitutionality. Divorced when I was three, my parents lived on opposite sides of the state. With my mother having primary custody, visits were limited to weekends, some holidays, and scattered special occasions. Asymptotically these visits became less frequent, replaced by even more intermittent phone calls, mailed gifts, and other detached well wishes. By the time I was nine it was more on the scale of once or twice a year, with the final recorded visit at age twelve when I was gravely ill.
In my formative years I was fortunate to have great influences on building my own character and constitution. My mother and step-father were encouraging when it came to guns and ownership, buying me my first rifle at thirteen. My best friend’s father took me under his wing as a
ShootingTheBull410 Concludes His Quest for the Ultimate .380 Round
ShootingTheBull410 has just finished his exhaustive, intensive Ammo Quest for .380 ACP pocket pistols…gel has been cooked, shots have been fired, bullets have been weighed and measured and conclusions have been drawn. If you’re carrying (or considering carrying) an LCP, a TCP, or maybe the rumored new GLOCK 42, this might be useful information. Here’s a video summary of all the test results, a guide to how all the ammo performed and which were the clear winner(s).
LA Times: George Zimmerman’s 106 Rounds Is A “Large Ammo Stash.”
The apparently never-ending George Zimmerman saga continues, having stepped off The Streetcar Named Self-Defense and boarded the Wives And Girlfriends Crazy Train. Officials have just released a list of the five guns that police removed from Zimmerman’s home after his latest arrest on November 18th . . .
Police seized an AR-15 with two magazines, along with a Glock 19, a .380, another 9mm, and a Kel-Tec KSG shotgun. All of the firearms were locked up when police arrived. They also found 106 rounds of ammunition, which, according to the LA Times, constitutes a “Large Ammo Stash.” In fact, that’s the title of the article: “Police find 5 guns, large ammo stash in George Zimmerman’s home.” (Click here, if you must, for the original story. The LA Times doesn’t list the specific firearms, but the
FNS-40 Contest Entry: It Really Is Time For Common Sense Gun Law Reform
By Stan Harvey
Yes, I said it…now bear with me and resist the urge to grab a nearby trashcan for the nausea caused by hearing that oft-repeated phrase. Anti-gunners often try to monopolize terms, and I’m advocating we reclaim this one. In the dominant political squabble over guns and gun laws, a giant elephant in the room is totally ignored. In the patchwork collection of gun laws to come out of our government over the past century, hardly anyof it deserves to be called “common sense” . . .
This goes far beyond guns, it touches on basic American values under threat that most citizens can appreciate when the debate is framed in the proper way. Many of us can relate to having a friend or family member who, despite being an otherwise rational person, succumbs to the fear based arguments against guns. In my experience, sometimes you can reach these people when you point out how totally inane or destructive most gun laws are, and the dangers to fr
Gun Review: Century Arms UC-9 Carbine Review
If necessity is the mother of invention, the beginning of the Arab-Israeli war of 1948 was the mother of the UC-9. The State of Israel needed to consolidate its logistical nightmare of a small-arms arsenal into a single platform in order to arm itself against numerically superior Arab forces. Luckily for the imperiled fledgling country, Uziel Gal was ready to answer the call of duty . . .
When Gal was designing the stamped metal sub-gun that would become his namesake – an honor he was staunchly opposed to – he scarcely could have imagined that it would become one of the most iconic small arms of the 20th century with more than 10 million built. That’s not to say that the Uzi is the be-all end-al
BREAKING: CO State Senator Evie Hudak Resigns
The writing was on the wall. As the deadline approached, there seemed little doubt that the latest recall effort would gather the needed signatures to qualify for a vote. That left Centennial State Dems with two options: 1) let the vote happen and risk a third defeat along with the loss of control of the state senate or, 2) kick the social media maven to the curb, allowing Governor Hickenlooper to appoint another Democrat to the seat. Now, according to denverpost.com, they’ve chosen door number two . . .
“By resigning I am protecting these important new laws for the good of Colorado and ensur
New from Magnum Research: Ultra-Compact Desert Eagle 1911U
The tighter a brand’s focus the more successful it is. Brand extensions—products that wander outside the brand’s consumer-defined tightly-gathered meaning—-can make mountains of money. But they dilute the brand. Diet Vanilla Caffeine-Free Coke Zero anyone? Magnum Research established their rep with the Desert Eagle. The .50AE gun was such a success that not even decades of excreable quality control could kill its appeal. (You can buy an excellent Israeli-made Deagle for $1563)
H&K Gets Green Light to Export Civilian G36
It’s been said that H&K isn’t the most customer friendly company when it comes to the civilian market, but a recent filing with the German government reveals that the (nearly) bankrupt H&K has received approval to export a new rifle based on the G36 design for the U.S. market. Designated the HK293, the rifle will come in a variety of configurations… as soon as Uncle Sam gives it their stamp of approval. Needless to say we’ll be watching for this at the SHOT Show in a few weeks. Make the jump for the proposed specs . . .
Short rigid shaftAnd So It Begins: New York Sending Out Gun Confiscation Notices
New York’s SAFE Act is a bad, bad thing. It requires people to register, sell or transfer (out of state) “assault rifles” and “high capacity” magazines. Many Empire State gun and standard capacity ammunition magazine owners have complied. Many have not. So, at some point, the State’s gonna go get ‘em. People on both sides of the law enforcement divide will die and the s will hit the fan. Meanwhile, there it is: the reason why expanded background checks, indeed all background checks and any type of registration, set the stage for confiscation. And tyranny. [h/t DrVino]
Quote of the Day: There But For the Grace of God Edition
“We are thankful for God’s grace and protection given this unsettling and unprecedented incident. We are committed to providing a safe environment for our church family to worship, and firearms are prohibited on our campuses.” - Pinelake Church Executive Pastor of Operations, Rod Cadenhead, Mississippi woman struck by bullet shell after man ignores ‘no gun’ sign in church [at rawstory.com]
Daily Digest: Hometown Lockdown Edition
Today it’s CBS’s turn to spread the FUD, with news (?) of a “gun” that can be made with items that you can purchase after you clear security at the airport. To make sure we’re on the government watchlist, here’s what you need to manufacture your airport gun: a hair dryer, some 9-volt batteries, an aluminum can, a magazine, a refrigerator magnet clip, dental floss, an anti-perspirant spray can, lithium batteries, some coins, water, and a condom. It looks like something that’d be as likely to kill you as anyone else, but according to CBS12, we should all be very afraid. Click the photo above or here to see the video, which offers Myspace among its “sharing” options, but won’t give me a simple embed code. . .
Today’s Lockdown of the Day is brought to you from
FNS-40 Contest Entry: Building a 100% California-Made AR-15
by EC in CA
Greetings from everyone’s favorite state in the Union! Just kidding. But seriously, half as a political statement and half as an expression of state pride, I decided to build an AR-15 that’s 100% “Made in California” (a.k.a. People’s Republic of Kalifornia, Commiefornia, Kaliforniastan, et al.). Why in the name of organic granola would anyone want to build a rifle from parts made in, of all places, California? Many Americans care about where their firearm was manufactured. Some people simply want it to be “Made in the USA,” but others make more specific choices as a matter of regional, state, or civic pride. We California gun owners (all 9 million of us) are no different.
Eureka! As it turns out, there are way more AR component manufacturers based in California than one would expect—many of them produce high-quality, distinctive, and (in some cases) class-leading products. It’s important to support these gun companies f
Defensive Gun Use of the Day: Size Matters Edition
What’s the bet that West Seattle shopkeeper Robert Moore saw Crocodile Dundee. Specifically the scene where the Aussie-out-of-water tells a would-be Big Apple mugger, “That’s not a knife. That’s a knife.” The difference here: it’s a gun vs. gun comparo (duh) and Mr. Moore didn’t really have a big gun after all. I mean the Dan Wesson is a nice gun. But it’s not a big gun. Hold on. Hey, tell me you weren’t hoping he was going to reach down and brandish a 12-gauge. Hang on; isn’t that a Ruger LC9 Bobby Boy proffers at the end of the piece? Clearly, he was bluffing. But one thing’s for sure: there’s nothing small about the size of the man’s testicles. Just sayin’ . . .
OMG! A School Near A Shooting Range! OMG!
What would you say if there was a shooting range next door to your high school? I would have said ‘hell, yes!’ and joined said range in a heartbeat. It would have given me a place to shoot when I wasn’t in school, and place to leave my car and shotgun while I was in class. It would have been a win-win for me and my friends, but some people don’t see it that way . . .
The school board of Waukee, Iowa is building a middle school and high school in a formerly remote parcel adjacent to the New Pioneer Gun Club. Iowa isn’t knows as a hoplophobic nanny state, but some neighbors have their panties in a wad over the construction of a new high school within 650 feet (the horror!) of a shooting range.
But here’s the deal: the New Pioneer Gun Club is a shotgun-only range with stations for trap, skeet and sporting clays. All of the firing lanes are pointed away from the schools or toward the interior of New Pioneer’s 100-a
FNS-40 Contest Entry: Cashing In On ATF
By A-Rod
I once saw a bumper sticker that said something like “The ATF should be a convenience store not a government agency.” I know why alcohol, tobacco and firearms got lumped into one agency but I think in the last decade or two they have strayed from their mission. About a year ago I got to thinking what if I invested in the stock of alcohol, tobacco, and firearm companies and for diversity in the stock portfolio I would include retailers that sold alcohol, tobacco and/or firearms. I wanted to keep this experiment manageable so I chose four publicly traded companies on the NYSE related to each area of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms (defense industries included) and three retailers . . .
I had 15 stocks to keep track of on an Excel spreadsheet. That should be pretty easy t
Gear Review: Slogan Outdoors UltraFlex Rifle Sling
Last year, Nick threw me a Slogan Outdoors rubber sling and said, “Hey. This guy says this is the best sling ever. Try it out.” As you’ve come to expect, we take every bold claim with a healthy dose of skepticism around here. And we take a double shot when someone uses the superlative. A year later, after miles of walking, jogging, bending over, climbing and general abuse, I’m on board. This is the best rifle sling ever made . . .
The Slogan Outdoors UltraFlex Rifle Sling is one of those, “Hey why didn’t I think of that?” affairs. No fancy sliding buckles with thirteen straps going in every direction. Just a single piece of thermoplastic (feels like rubber to me) made into a loop with two mounts on either end. Simply attach it to your rifle, adjust it so
Quote of the Day: Pacifism Won’t Work in Mexico Edition
“Nonviolence works with rational people. Gandhi would not have worked in Nazi Germany.” Mexican poet, poet, essayist, novelist and journalist Javier Sicilia quoted in Legítimo y digno tomar pistola para autodefensa (Legitimate and worthy to take a pistol for self-defense) [via excelsior.com]
Daily Digest: Signs & Signals Edition
In 2010, Phoenix (AZ) gun law expert Alan Korwin paid $11,000 to CBS Outdoors, who manages Phoenix’s bus shelter ads, to have 50 ads put up advertising his gun training company. The ads read “Guns Save Lives” and “Educate Your Kids,” and also contained smaller text about gun rights and Arizona’s concealed carry law. The signs went up on October 12th. A week later, Phoenix city officials decided the ads didn’t meet a requirement that such ads provide “adequate notice” of a commercial transaction, and the next day, the ads were gone. Korwin sued and lost . . .
But he later appealed and the case will appear before the Arizona Court of Appeals in about a week. Korwin’s contention is that the city is basically usin