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Exploring the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns
Updated: 1 month 22 hours ago

TTAG Reader Denied Illinois Concealed Carry License

Sun, 03/30/2014 - 12:00

TTAG Reader Shawn writes from the Land of Lincoln:

“My concealed carry license application was denied. I can forward you the full explanation of reasons of possible denial but the short version is: I was arrested 6 years ago for domestic battery, charges were dropped. I was admitted voluntarily for a week to a psychiatric ward ten years ago. That’s it. Anyway, I’m in the process of figuring out how to appeal it. In that process, aside from contacting the Illinois State Police, I sent an email to the folks over at Illinois Carry. They in turn forwarded my info to the NRA, and I just got off the phone with a nice lady over there. They’re putting together of a list of some bullsh*t denials to see what they can do about it.” Watch this space.

FPSRussia Promotes Over-Hyped Expensive G2 RIP Ammo

Sun, 03/30/2014 - 10:00

Our man ShootingTheBull410 ripped RIP ammo a new one. Using proper FBI protocol, STB410 refuted the company’s claims for the round and concluded “this isn’t all that impressive.” FPSRussia’s latest video uses a different gel and has a different take. “This is a very, very deadly self-defense round,” FPS opines, once again inflicting his painfully pathetic Russian accent on unsuspecting Millenials. Even assuming Kyle doesn’t get a commission from G2 (or free ammo), even assuming the ammo maker didn’t prepare the faux Russian’s ballistic gel, FPS does his viewers an extreme disservice by pretending to know what the hell he’s talking about. Will someone please tell Kyle to please go back to simply shooting stuff with big guns?

Quote of the Day: More Crime, More Guns? Edition

Sun, 03/30/2014 - 08:00

“This paper estimates the impact of climate change on the prevalence of criminal activity in the United States. The analysis is based on a 30-year panel of monthly crime and weather data for 2997 US counties. I identify the effect of weather on monthly crime by using a semi-parametric bin estimator and controlling for state-by-month and county-by-year fixed effects. The results show that temperature has a strong positive effect on criminal behavior, with little evidence of lagged impacts. Between 2010 and 2099, climate change will cause an additional 22,000 murders, 180,000 cases of rape, 1.2 million aggravated assaults, 2.3 million simple assaults, 260,000 robberies, 1.3 million burglaries, 2.2 million cases of larceny, and 580,000 cases of vehicle theft in the United States.” - 

Weekend Digest: Calling This One Busted Edition

Sat, 03/29/2014 - 21:00

Some 50-75 people were evacuated from their homes late Wednesday afternoon after police received a report that “potentially dangerous devices” that looked like large caliber bullets and artillery shells were found in a recently-vacated apartment. Police set up a perimeter around the neighborhood, evacuated several dozen residents, rerouted school and municipal buses, and kept the area locked down for several hours. The munitions were eventually determined to be de-militarized, were removed by specialists, and residents were allowed to return to their homes after a few hours. The photo above came from the link above, which has more . . .

photos and a video, and another video

Just Arrived: Ruger American Rifle .22 LR

Sat, 03/29/2014 - 20:00

I have a soft place in my heart for rimfire rifles and and an extra soft spot for Ruger rimfire rifles. My first gun was a 10/22 which still keeps chugging despite the tens of thousands of rounds of poor quality ammuntion, dirt, and poor maintenance I’ve thrown at it over the years. And while it has been a great gun, there’s something to be said for having a bolt action gun in the safe. Especially for teaching new shooters the finer points of marksmanship. Enter the Ruger American Rifle in .22 LR . . .

Off-Duty Chicago Cop Shoots Burglar Who “Appeared to Have a Gun in His Hand’

Sat, 03/29/2014 - 18:00

“The incident began at about noon today when the off-duty officer was at his home with his child when he did not respond to his doorbell and a knock on the door,” chicagotribune.com. “Believing that it was a solicitor, the officer ignored the people but noticed that after not responding, a van parked in front of his home sped off, returned and parked on the side of the home . . . At that point,

TrackingPoint Begins Accepting Bitcoins for Firearm Sales

Sat, 03/29/2014 - 16:00

 

A few days ago, the powers that be in Washington decided that Bitcoin will be treated like a commodity and not like a currency. That means it’ll be taxed as capital gains if you make money off it, just like stocks. But there’s one thing that the untraceable, anonymous, and very high-tech crypto-currency can buy that you can’t directly trade your shares of IBM for: guns. Specifically, TrackingPoint’s Toyota Camry-priced rifle . . .

The Biz Journal has the story:

“We’re proponents of progress, both internally in our smart rifle development and externally in the rapidly modernizing world around us,” said 

California Teachers Own Bushmaster. Still. Again.

Sat, 03/29/2014 - 14:00

“It has been more than 15 months since private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management pledged to sell Freedom Group, maker of the Bushmaster rifle that was used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre,” finance.fortune.cnn.com reports. “The promise came after pressure from the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), a public schoolteachers pension fund that was invested with the relevant Cerberus fund. By late last year, however, it had 

Question of the Day: Should You Be Able to Buy This Gun?

Sat, 03/29/2014 - 12:00

Proponents of civilian disarmament know exactly where to draw the line when it comes to deciding which guns Americans should not be allowed to own: any gun that scares them. The gun control advocates I mean. And if you’ve played that game with them you’ll have heard the rhetorical technique known as reductio ad absurdum. Specifically, “should Americans be allowed to own nukes?” Most gun rights advocates draw the line at weapons of mass destruction. Gun control folk respond by insisting that a black semi-automatic modern sporting home defense rifle is a weapon of mass destruction. Anyway, where do you draw the line? Should you be able to buy a Russian ZU-23-2 AA gun or similar? Without a background check or a permit?

CNN Chat Show Host Piers Morgan’s Parting Shot on Gun Control

Sat, 03/29/2014 - 10:00

Piers Morgan’s final words on Piers Morgan Live:

I have lived and worked in America for much of the past decade, and it is a magnificent country. A land of true opportunity that affords anyone, even British chancers like me, the opportunity to live the American dream. The vast majority of Americans I have met are decent, hard-working, thoroughly dependable people. As my brother, a British Army colonel, says, “You’d always want an American next to you in a trench when the going gets tough.” . . .

But that’s where guns belong – on a military battlefield, in the hands of highly trained men and women fighting for democracy and freedom. Not in the hands of civilians. The scourge of gun violence is a disease that now infects every aspect of American li

Quote of the Day: Cherry On Top Edition

Sat, 03/29/2014 - 08:00

“If it wasn’t so sad it would be comical. But what we’re really worried about is that this will further destroy the momentum for gun control here in California.” – Courage Campaign executive director Paul Song in Gun control advocates: Lawmaker arrest is setback [at yahoo.com]

[h/t Harold R.]

Phishing Attacks Target Gun-Based Facebook Pages Following Policy Change

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 23:09

 

A few weeks back, Moms Demand Action scored a small victory when they influenced Facebook to implement a new policy regarding firearms sales via the social media site. The change – a token, really – was to agree to remind those they site suspected of selling guns through Facebook to follow applicable federal and state laws. But the concern among gun owners was that Facebook’s new policy could have a chilling effect. Now it looks like some enterprising computer criminals have taken the opportunity to launch attacks of their own on firearms-based Facebook pages . . .

At first glance, this phishing attempt appears to be legitimate. The icon displayed on the emails in question looks like a genuine Facebook icon, and the text appears legal-ish enough. But when the recipient clicks on the link provided, it’s a “bit.ly” address referrer instead of a direct Facebook link. It’s easy to spot if you know what to look for. Her

Michigan Passes Short Barreled Rifle and Shotgun Legalization

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 20:00

On Thursday, the governor of Michigan signed into law a piece of legislation that finally makes the possession, manufacture, and transfer of short barreled rifles and shotguns within the state legal. So if Michiganders jump through the necessary hoops and secure a tax stamp from the ATF, it’s all cool. The best part is that the legislation goes into effect immediately, so if you’ve always wanted to get that SBR and you live in America’s mitten, now is the time! There’s one small wrinkle, though . . .

You need to carry the documentation for the firearm at all times when you have the gun with you. In fact, it’s best if you just duct tape it to the barrel for safe keeping. Any law enforcement off

Budget Body Armor?

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 19:00

by J.P. Anderson

As a guy who loves to save a buck, make things, and generally prove that “I don’t need to buy into your culture of consumption, man,” I’m always on the lookout for new projects. My interest in guns led me to improvised firearms, which inevitable led me to homemade body armor. Really. I was intrigued. Sure, Kevlar-and-plate body armor has a proven, battle-tested track record. But was it possible that “the man” was just selling us a load of goods? Could I make my own body armor that would be just as effective, comfortable, and cheaper? . . .

In case you’re pressed for time, the short answer is no. If you’re worried about your safety, buy some damn Kevlar. Interest free credit cards are your friend. For the long answer, read on.

My first idea about alternative body armor came from recalling an experiment I did with non-Newtonian fluids in eighth grade. You know, the

Weekend Photo Caption Contest

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 18:00

Detroit: 10 DGU Justifiable Homicides So Far In 2014

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 17:00

2014 is proving to be a good year for Motor City criminals to retire from the home-invasion robbery business. At least ten of them have already permanently moved on after being killed by homeowners defending their homes . . .

Police Chief James Craig called earlier this year for more Detroiters to legally arm themselves, and his department continues to support its citizens’ right of armed self-defense. Sgt. Michael Woody recently told the Detroit Free Press, “We are sick and tired of being victimized by the criminal element in this city. The citizens are protecting their homes and their property and their families, and they are well within their rights to do that.”

Ray from Texas Wins a Kel Tec KSG!

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 16:00

Some of you didn’t appreciate our recent gun giveaways. A few of the daily posts attracted more comments expressing outrage at being affronted with a chance to win a free gun than we’d get under a booth babe shot back in the good bad ol’ days. You know who wasn’t upset by those posts? Ray in Texas. That’s him, above, holding his brand-spanking-new desert tan Kel Tec KSG courtesy of the Kentucky Gun Company. And from the looks of things, he knows his way around a firearm. Congrats Ray and happy shooting.

New From Uncle Mike’s: IWB Tuckable Holster

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:00

Are you a concealed carrier who thinks variety is the spice of life? Someone who changes where you tote your mohaska depending on what you’re wearing, or maybe the mood you’re in? One day it’s at 4:00, appendix the next and then you throw in some small-of-the-back just to keep things interesting? That can get expensive, since different carry positions can necessitate different carry rigs. Not any more, though. Uncle Mike’s has just unveiled the one holster to rule them all. Their new IWB Tuckable can be used for an position, left- or right-handed. Deets after the jump . . .

Overland Park, Kan. – Uncle Mike’s, a leading provider of shooting accessories for more than 60 years, has introduced the first ambidextrous inside-the-waistband holster. The new IWB Tuckable holster from Uncle Mike’s is an affordable, highly adaptable concealed carry holster.

Versatility defined, the IWB

Masochistic TTAG Reader Banters with Daily Banter’s Oliver Willis

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:00

TTAG reader Andrew Egilmez had a read of Oliver Willis’ article The Perverse Reality of Modern Gun Culture. The dailybanter.com columnist lauded by the Boston Globe (“When Oliver Willis talks, the blogosphere cares”) reckons “The gun culture is all about protecting your home from mysterious, dark figures that are always a second away from attacking/raping you and your family.” Dark figures. Geddit? Our man Egilmez does. He emailed the following literary conversation with Mr. Willis, who starts his anti-gun agitprop thusly . . .

I will concede that the left has been on the losing side of the battle over guns for some time.

Ya

Stand Strong Connecticut

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 13:00

Send your STAND STRONG CONNECTICUT photo to guntruth@me.com. We’ll post them on our Facebook album [click here to view.] Please put STAND STRONG in the subject field of your email. You can click here to purchase a Stand Strong Connecticut t-shirt (half of profits go to Connecticut Carry).

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