The Truth About Guns

Everyone knows at this point that Massachusetts’ gun laws are some of the strictest in the country, so that makes it that much more surprising to find out that almost half of the illegal guns seized and traced last year in Boston came back to Massachusetts as their point of origin. 509 handguns (not pictured) were seized in 2013 in Boston, some used in homicides or other crimes, and some simply possessed illegaly. 326 of those were traced to their original point of retail sale, and 46% of that number were originally purchased legally in Massachusetts. Even more interesting, despite the strengthening of MA’s already strict gun laws over the last 18 months, that 46% number is much higher than back in 2005 & 2006 when gun laws were weaker . . .

Lots of gun owners (like our reader Wendy) think the NRA could do a better job appealing to a younger, wider audience than it does. By the look of the gun rights org’s latest recruitment effort, it appears they’ve heard the criticism. (Although RF was a little disappointed when Batman didn’t show up.) So…how did they do?

“We have armed security because other people on your side of the debate threaten our lives. I wish it weren’t the case, but it is.” – tweet from Erika Soto Lamb, comms director for Everytown for Gun Safety (includes Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action) [h/t DrVino]

The Barrett REC7 has been around for a while, yet I only know one person who actually bought one. It might be an after-effect of their reputation for expensive firearms like their 50BMG line — good guns, but you can’t afford them. Barrett’s updating the rifle line with a new keymod forend (bringing them into line with other high end manufacturers), an all chrome one-piece push-rod piston system, more colors, and a new Geiselle trigger. We’ve been promised one to review, and we’ll let you know how it runs.

Daniel Defense has been using Magpul’s furniture on their firearms for years, but starting at SHOT Show this year they’ve begun using their own design for the stock and handguards. The stock design is pretty nifty, with added rubber pads for comfort and grip. The pistol grip… meh. It has the same rubber grippy panels, but it has a much sharper grip angle than the standard A2 grip. Some people will like it, some won’t, but DD will continue to sell like hotcakes.

Ammo auteur ShootingTheBull410 goes retro in this episode of his short-barrel 9mm Ammo Quest. One of his viewers donated some classic Federal Hi-Shoks to the cause of scientific inquiry. This ammo design definitely pre-dates the pocket-9mm craze, so will the old schools stuff do well from the newest-style short-barreled pistols? Only one way to find out: click “play” and see.