The Truth About Guns

By Clifford Heseltine

There is a lot of interest in and discussion of the concept of Constitutional Carry these days, but what exactly are we talking about? The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States says, exactly and succinctly: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” This doesn’t give you or me or “the people” the right to keep and bear arms. This amendment was simply an affirmation that the people already have the right to keep and bear arms and that the new federal government had no authority to infringe upon that. That’s not a Constitutional right; it is a natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right, one of 28 such rights listed in the first seven amendments . . .

Historically it was felt that the Bill of

“Nobody’s political career is more important than protecting the American people. Who among us is of such value that we would not say, ‘I’ll take a risk, so that our kids don’t have to take a risk and be in danger?’ So, I think there’s reason to be hopeful… And when it passes the House, some senators — well-intentioned — would no longer have the excuse: ‘It’s no use my risking my political career because it’s not going any place in the House.’ Let’s prove it. Let’s turn that around.” Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) quoted in Pelosi Tells Brady Campaign Just ’20, 30′ More Co-Sponsors Needed to Move Gun Control Bill [via

National Presto Industries announced Friday that it had finalized the purchase of DSE, Inc., a Tampa, Florida-based company that makes 40mm ammunition for use in grenade launchers. DSE is a competitor to NPI’s existing AMTEC business, which makes ammunition, fuses, cartridge cases and other military equipment. NPI is possibly the weirdest combination of companies I’ve ever seen, with the DSE/AMTEC segment servicing the defense industry, the Presto segment manufacturing the Fry Daddy, pressure cookers, and other kitchen appliances, and the Absorbent Products segment engaged in the manufacture of private label adult incontinence products.

A recent spike in home invasions around Mishawaka, Indiana has nervous homeowners dialing 911 at the slightest noi… Oh wait, no it doesn’t. Let’s try again. A recent spike in home invasions aroun

A woman lay on a bed in a small house in the woods. An old woman, her sight is gone, she can no longer walk, she can not hear well, her world has shrunk to this small house and a few of her children and friends. She is 97 years old. She hurts, her bones ache, she’s tired and yet, her mind is clear. For a time she lived in the Caribbean, rode in fast boats, knew heroes, defeat, and victory. This woman is my mother, and she knew some of the joy of life again as I read Matt Bracken’s dystopic action thriller, Castigo Cay . . .

For a week this spring, I read to her when she was awake and I was able. My sister and I took care of her as she can no longer care for herself. She was captivated by Castigo Cay, enthralled by the

In the course of discussing Obamacare’s [alleged] provision of a double secret “officer corps,” Texas Rep. Louie Gomert wonders (darkly) about Uncle Sam’s decision to stockpile ammo, including hollow points. And then he asserts “most ranges don’t let you use hollow-points; they’re too destructive of the target.” Gomert goes on to assert—rightly—that America’s “not supposed to have a secret security force.” (*cough* NSA *cough*) Or any of the hidden activities of any of the fed’s alphabet soup of law enforcement agencies. (*cough* Fast and Furious *cough*) Of course, none of that is as worrying as, say, New York’s SAFE Act. That’s the thing about conspiracy theories: it’s the conspiracy right in front of you that you need to worry about. Still, extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Right? [h/t DrVino]

You read his piece. You heard the outcry. You read his response. Now hear it right from the horse’s mouth. About the only interview former Guns & Ammo technical editor Dick Metcalf has granted is this one with Tom Gresham on Gun Talk Radio. Listen for yourself above and let slip the dogs of righteous retribution below.

As always, thanks to Aaron of The Weapons Blog for compiling this thing. Go forth and enter.

Handguns

• FLD Glock 21 Gen4 & Kimber Tactical Pro 2
  Deadline: November 29, 2013
  Added to this list: November 8, 2013
  http://www.nagr.org/fld-giveaway2.aspx
• Ruger LCP
  Deadline: November 30, 2013
  Added to this list: November 8, 2013
  http://www.clarksvillegunsandarchery.com/Sweepstakes_31.html
• Bond Arms Inc Texas Defender Derringer
  Deadline: November 30, 2013
  Added to this list: November 8, 2013
  https:/

By DrVino

This past weekend, I took a newbie shooting. He’s a nice, young member of the tribe and had expressed an interest in shooting so I took him along to one of the public ranges in the mountains near L.A. Everybody who shoots with some frequency comes to the public range with their guns in cases, supplies in boxes and target frames (rented or home-built). People who own a gun and want to “shoot it once or so”, stand out a mile away. So, immediately, when two guys (one short, shaved head, tattoos, baggy clothing and the other taller, more muscular with more tasteful arm tattoos and one of those buzzed-on-the-sides-long-and-heavily-gelled-on-top hairdos that I associate with guys who race their tricked out Acuras for pink slips) walked up in between lane breaks, they stuck out like sore thumbs . . .

These guys walked up with an uncased AR with an Eotech and no sling. The guy whose gun it appeared to be held it by the pistol grip the way you hold a bucket: dangling from

Theodore Wafer, 54, is to be charged with 2nd-degree murder, manslaughter, and a firearm charge for shooting 19 year-old Renisha McBride in the face with a shotgun on November 2nd, prosecutors announced today. Wafer is expected to turn himself in today to formally answer the charges. This case has drawn accusations of racial profiling, along with inevitable (but utterly baseless) comparisons to the Trayvon Martin case. ‘Stand Your Ground’ and ‘Castle Doctrine’ laws will play no part in this case at all . . .

Not every bump in the night is an intruder bent on mayhem and murder. Sometimes that person ringing your doorbell at 3:00 a.m. really did run out of gas or really does need you to call an ambulance. Renisha McBride’s family says the 19 year-old was disoriented from an earlier car crash when she knocked on the door of an unnamed Detroit homeowner on November 2nd.

She certainly was disoriented. The Wayne County coroner releas

By Clay Moultrie

The recent story of two students at Gonzaga University has renewed debate withing the gun owning community of how property rights relate the the 2nd Amendment. I’d like to share a few thoughts and observations and would like your input. Property rights are a fundamental right. Most of us would agree that when someone is in our home, they are expected to respect us and our property. If a threatening stranger tried to enter my home with a firearm, I wouldn’t allow it. If a guest tried to view objectionable content in my home (things covered under the 1st Amendment, but that I or my family found offensive), I would not allow it. While those individuals have a Constitutional right to possess a firearm and view that material, my property r

By Paul White

I’m new to the concealed carry world; in fact I’m still waiting for my license to get back. It should arrive in late December–a great Christmas gift! So I’m not some experienced hand at this. I’ve been attacked when I was much younger, but I’ve never been shot at. I’ve never been in law enforcement or the military. I’m not some grizzled old guy that’s going to tell you to carry a full sized 1911 with 2 spare mags and a compact 45 as a back up because nothing else is big enough, or to carry a gun that has a capacity of at least 12+1 because that’s the minimum bullets you need, or that you have to carry XYZ type of gun. I don’t have the standing to be able to do that . . .

What I am going to do is enumerate some things I realized while shopping for a concealed weapon, and working out carry options.

1) Decide roughly what yo

By Michael Holderer

The scenario: a major disaster has hit your region of the country. There’s been significant infrastructure damage in your area and surrounding states. You estimate things won’t get better for 30-60 days. Supplies of food, water and fuel are at critical levels. Emergency broadcasts are reporting some incidents of civil unrest nearby. Police are tied down taking care of their own families and dealing with only the highest priority incidents.  If you had to make a choice between a Benelli M2 shotgun with 50 shells or a suppressed Walther P22 with 200 rounds…which gun would you grab?

TTAG Central Command received a question yesterday about our content contest. Reader J. Howard asked if a video submission would qualify as a valid entry to win the coveted FNS-40 Long Slide that’s up for grabs. Although I initially answered in the affirmative, after consultation with the Dear Leader, we came to the conclusion that videos are really a whole ‘nother beast unto themselves. So thanks to the unending generosity of the people at FNH USA, we’re branching off into a second contest. That’s right, in addition to the current written word competition, we’re starting a second category just for moving pictures. Talkies even! And since video production takes

Jason Schauble just recently took the reigns of fledgling TrackingPoint, the media mavens who started shipping their “almost like cheating” super high-tech rifle only a couple months back, and now it looks like he may have been given the boot. Sources close to TTAG have informed us that Jason has been fired from his position, and the announcement was made at an all hands meeting just now within TrackingPoint. We have confirmed this change through an independent second source as well. There’s no word as of yet as to the reason for the shake-up, since from the outside the company appeared to be doing extremely well.

Reader Shea writes:

Nick, I have a real love/hate relationship with your gun reviews.  On one hand I love that you are not afraid to be honest regarding how you feel about any particular weapon.  You are so quick to call out a gun for what it is and even more importantly what it isn’t.  That being said I have fallen in love with several guns in the past due to their reviews in other publications only to have my dreams of obtaining the perfect piece for a given application squashed due to your brutal honesty of how the manufacturer of said firearm has fallen short. My question for you is about the nature of your relationship with the manufacturers. . .

Do they like you, or do they hate you?  Gun makers spend millions of marketing dollars getting the photos of their newest offerings in front of gun buyers around the country.  The writers at the gun mags seem

Paul Markel [via ammoland.com] writes:

It seems a bit ironic that a product that is soon to take over the custom gun finishing world would bear such a simple, if not benign, moniker. The name “DuraCoat Aerosol Can” doesn’t exactly make you jump out of your chair and sprint to your nearest gun dealer. Nonetheless, the brand new DuraCoat Aerosol spray can is an idea that is going to set the gun and accessory refinishing world on fire in the very near future. For those unfamiliar with the DuraCoat product, let me quote from their website . . .

“DuraCoat is a two part chemical coating. Unlike other firearm finishes, DuraCoat was created specifically for firearms. Other firearm finishes are “spin-off’s” from other industries. Also, DuraCoat is permanent. With normal use, a firearm f

“We are actively exploring all options to pass legislation that will eliminate the problem.” – Senator Charles Schumer, Undetectable guns a law enforcement challenge [via chron.com] [h/t M.R.]

OK, so this is an arsenal… From Prince George, BC: RCMP officers (and others) seized a large quantity of guns and ammunition from a home after CBSA officers noticed a pair of suspicious packages coming to that address from Germany. The packages were inspected and were found to contain the lower receiver for a Colt-M16A1 and a trigger assembly and selector switch for the M16A1. At the residence, police located more than 31,000 rounds of ammunition, three handguns (two of which were loaded), seven rifles, a fully automatic M16, a fully automatic AK47, two morning stars (spiked metal balls on a chain and stick), two shotguns, five 100-round capacity drum magazines, 50 assault rifle magazines, and four bulletproof vests.

If you’re in the vicinity of STH 186 near Vesper, Wisconsin this evening, you may want to be on the lookout for an AR-15 on the lam. It seems a Wood County Deputy was replacing the rifle in his