The Truth About Guns
Exploring the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns
Updated: 1 month 1 day ago
Incendiary Image of the Day: Let’s Not Forget the Constitution Edition
Here we have a protestor protesting a pro-gun protest. That would be one Jason Paul, a self-proclaimed progressive Democrat running for State Representative in Connecticut’s 48th District. Mr. Paul posted the pic on Facebook, proclaiming “Braving the gun rally and standing up for the overwhelming majority of Connecticut residents.” To which
STL Friends of the NRA Rakes it In
Last night in suburban St. Louis, Dirk Diggler, Tim McNabb and I – along with wives and assorted friends – attended the Gateway Friends of the NRA dinner. The whole thing came off without a hitch thanks to a lot of hard work by the organizers including the NRA’s Travis Scott. The good news: Travis told me that with well over 300 there, attendance was up by about 100 from last year. They were still collecting payments when we left, but you’d have to think that night’s haul was a good one. The bad news: Dirk and his friend Paul were the only black faces in the room, so there’s still lots work to do and room to broaden the org’s appeal. The best news: Along with some cheap cigars and a nice Spyderco knife sharpener, I managed to walk away with one of the most valuable prizes offered . . .
Don’t bother asking how much I bid for it in the silent auction. I’m taking that to the grave.
Question of the Day: Is There Common Ground on Guns?
Over at the Hartford Courant, gun control advocate Rand Richards Cooper has a question for gun rights advocates: “Can we agree that 30,000 annual gun-related deaths (and many more injuries) is undesirable; that it is a problem? If we can agree on that, we can proceed to discuss how one might reduce these numbers without threatening the fundamental right to own a firearm?” Before you answer, clock Cooper’s characterization of the “gulf” between pro- and anti-gunners. ”The bottom-line fear on the other side is that that we &#
Thousands Rally in Hartford to Support CT Gun Owners’ Rights
by CTSheepdog
On a blustery and cloudy Saturday, thousands of Second Amendment supports came from across Connecticut to mark the first anniversary of the passage of the now infamous Constitution State gun law and, most importantly, to call for its repeal. The rally drew like-minded supporters from nearby New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and others as far away as Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi and even Montana. Capitol police indicated that the crowd exceeded 3,000 attendees while other observers put the total closer to 5,000 at the rally’s peak . . .
Connecticut Citizens’ Defense League (CCDL) sponsored the rally. Scott Wilson, president of the CCDL, told the crow
Quote of the Day: Leland Yee is an Inspiration to Us All Edition
“This FBI investigation of Leland Yee reveals how easy it is to import lethal assault weapons that were previously banned. This case should be a warning to us all that even the most trusted appearing among us are ready to do real harm. Since Congress can pass no meaningful gun-control laws, even after the mass killing in Newtown, President Obama should use his pen to slow the import of these weapons, which have no place in our homes.” – California State Rep. Jackie Speier
Weekend Digest: Not Helping Edition
According to the Journal-News of Middletown, Ohio, police found an arsenal of weapons inside the home of a Middletown man after he was arrested during an altercation with officers. WCPO.com said “He kept safes full of guns at his home that he inherited from his father.” [What did he inherit? The home? The safes? The guns? All of it?] Police found 20 weapons inside the home of William Jefferys [epic mugshot above], including “high-powered rifles, sniper rifles with scopes [not much good without them], night vision equipment and
Want a Free Gun? Here’s April’s Giveaway List
While you may not have taken down our P22 or KSG, there are other fish in the free stuff sea. And thanks to Aaron Spuler at weapon-blog.com (who allows us to share it with you), there’s an easy way to pick and choose amongst ‘em. Make the jump, go forth and enter . . .
Handguns
- Sig P226 MK 25 + SilencerCo. Osprey 9 Combo
Deadline: April 6, 2014
Added to this list: March 19, 2014
http://www.silencerco.com/989234jotherg984ithjoerghp9up23475928rjqeoigj981y39htekleihgdybadbyoqjrht8t7897234968723908tuehu98h7w9thyq9e8h79r7h98sf7h09sfgh-987fh908sg7h09s8f7gh98sf6gh908sf6h/
Infographic: America’s Rap Sheet
If you listen to the hysterical shrieking regularly emanating from Shannon Watts and her action-demanding maternal types – and really, why would you? – you could be forgiven for coming to the conclusion that crimes involving guns and what Evolve terms ‘dumbassery’ with firearms has never been worse in these fifty-seven United States. Of course, spreading that disinformation is very much to the advantage of the denizens of the Civilian Disarmament Industrial Complex. After all, that’s what keeps the media attention and, by extension, the dollars flowing. On the other side of the coin, to read the comments on this site and others, you could also come to the conclusion that gun owners walk out the door each morning kitted up for the inevitable Thunderdome-like struggle to make it t
First Reported Chicago Concealed Carry Permit Holder Defensive Gun Use
The day after Otis McDonald went on to his reward, chicagotribune.com has a report on a defensive gun use by a resident with a concealed cary permit. “The man was walking from his garage to the front of his home when two males in hoodies appeared in a gangway between his home and the neighbor’s home, [Chicago Police Department News Affairs Officer Michael] Sullivan said. One of the two men pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed at the man who took out his own gun and managed to fire several times at the males, Sullivan said . . .
The males fled the area without being struck and the shooting did not result in any
Sons of Guns “Steel Tornado” Saiga Shotgun [Not Shown]
“This week on Sons of Guns: a former pro football player turned contractor hires Will to have a triple barrel 12 gauge demolition shotgun made.” Yes, but – the shotgun in the clip (not magazine) is a Saiga with a ferris wheel attached, not a triple-barreled shotgun (which has certainly been done befoa). I guess you could say the full-auto Saiga has never been done befoa but I’d rather have an AA12. And I’d prefer to watch our faux Russian friend Kyle (a.k.a., FPSRussia) fire it than the sons-of-you-know-what at Sons of Guns. Of course, that was Kyle back in the good old days, when massive firepower was his plot line. Seems to me it’s time for some fresh faces and new ideas in gunTVland.
Question of the Day: Has Your Doctor Asked About Your Guns?
“I’m sure you’ve heard this a ton of times but I wanted to give you a heads up for what its worth,” TTAG reader RT writes. “I was just recently at my doctor’s complaining about frequent migraines. He asked me typical health questions and then asked me two interesting ones. #1 Do you feel depressed and then #2 Do you have any guns in the house? Obamacare in action. This is how they will get legal gun owners on a list to fail typical background checks. Ridiculous.” I’m no fan of Florida’s attempt to prevent doctors from asking about guns (First Amendment and all that) but there’s asking and there’s asking. Has your doctor inquired about your firearms? If so, how did that go?
My Most Recent – And Hopefully Last – DGU
By Tom in Oregon
Having reached over 20 years as a police officer without needing to fire my gun, I was about as secure in my career as I could be. Comfortable in the patrol unit, teaching survival skills, mostly gun-fighting. Using some earned vacation time, two workmates and I decided to try a new fishing spot closer to home. Normally, we’d take a 10-hour drive to the Snake River. This trip would be a 2-hour drive to the John Day River for four days of relaxation . . .
After three days in that location, I decided to take the guys out to the Columbia River to wrestle a big sturgeon or two. As it was a short drive to the boat ramp, I pre-loaded my Ruger MK II in a gun rug and put it on the dash of my boat. It’s an all-around great boat gun.
My buddy “Mark” was in the front passenger seat. He also taught at work and at the state police academy. My other buddy “Tim” was in the bac
Quote of the Day: Diagnosing the Problem Edition
“…the last time there was a massacre at Ft. Hood, back in 2009, the perpetrator was a provider of psychiatric care, not a patient. Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was not clinically insane, unless the religious zealotry that drove him to kill 13 people can be classified as lunacy. And, given that much of the Republican Party base is made up of religious zealots with guns, no Republican will be tempted to make that diagnosis.” – David Horsey in Ft. Hood shooting is part of the scenery in a gun-crazy nation [at latimes.com]
Otis McDonald, Chicago’s Second Amendment Champion, has Died, Aged 80
The Chicago man whose fight to overturn the city’s handgun ban went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the judges ruled in his favor to incorporate the Second Amendment (it now trumps local and state law), has died. Otis McDonald succumbed to cancer at the age of 80. May he rest in peace.
Self-Defense Tip: Don’t Use ATMs
When asked why he robbed banks, Brooklyn-born bank robber Willie Sutton famously replied: “That’s where the money is.” If Willie was around today he’d see automatic teller machines and laugh. Or rub his hands with glee. While the potential earnings are small compared to the dough inside a bank, the minimal time required to rob a customer and low risk of detection and apprehension make the job as easy as, well, taking money from an ATM . . .
ATM’s are a robbery waiting to happen. There’s no live surveillance, no guard to scare-off robbers. Anyone who sees you there KNOWS you’re getting cash (or can be forced to get cash). Worst of all, you’re facing away from approaching foot or car traffic. Even if you’ve amped-up your situational awareness – using your senses of hearing and smell I suppose – you’
Incendiary Image of the Day: Equating Guns with Cigarettes. Again. Still.
Folks like Moms Demand Action, a campaign run and funded by Michael Bloomberg, keep trying to make the association between cigarettes and guns. It’s a smart move, since the “progressive” movement was very successful in branding those who argued in favor of cigarettes as being in the pocket of “big tobacco” and kept ramming through more restrictions on when and where people can enjoy their favorite tobacco products. In their minds, guns are no different — a scourge on the country with no benefit whatsoever. They even say as much in the copy accompanying this Facebook post . . .
EXPOSE THE TRUTH: Just as the tob
BREAKING: ATF eForms Crashes, Off-Line Until Further Notice
The eForms software is not performing to our expectations. As a result, we are taking the eForms system down until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work with our industry partners to deliver a quality product. Any eForm submitted will continue to be processed. The finalized forms will be sent to the user via email . . .
Until the eForms system is returned to service for the industry, all imports forms (Forms 6 Part I and 6A), NFA forms (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10), and AFMER reports (Form 5300.11) must be submitted via paper, including any eForms in draft status. [h/t silencernews.com]
Could There be Another Waco? A (Local) Law Enforcement Perspective
Could there be another Waco? Or a Ruby Ridge? Of course. There is always a chance and today there seems to be an even bigger chance. First, let’s make a distinction. The BATFE, FBI, DHS and others are NOT POLICE officers. They are FEDERAL agents. They work for Federal agencies with political agendas ran by political appointees. This worked for gun owners when President G.W. Bush ripped the BATFE apart shortly after being elected. It worked against us with Clinton and more so now with Obama . . .
Many comments I get are against the “Militarization” of Police officers. I carry three firearms on duty. My Glock 22 sidearm, A Mossberg 500 police shotgun and an M16 patrol rifle. Each agency I listed above h
NM District Court: Resident Aliens Have Full 2A Rights
On Monday, the U.S. District Court for District of New Mexico ruled that legal immigrants have the same right to obtain a concealed carry permit as citizens. The equal protection clause mandates that those legally residing in the U.S. be treated the same under the law . . .
BELLEVUE, WA – The chief U.S. District Court judge in New Mexico today granted a permanent injunction against the State of New Mexico’s “citizens only” concealed carry law that unfairly discriminated against permanent legal resident aliens in a case brought by the Second Amendment Foundation. Judge M. Christina Armijo held…that there was no evidence showing that granting permits to legal immigrants is more dangerous than granting them to citizens and that the state had provided