The Truth About Guns

hammacher.com describes the Power Nap Head Pillow [above] thusly: “This is the head-enveloping pillow that blocks out noise and light to create a private zone for catching a quick power nap. Designed in Spain, the cozy cocoon fits snugly over the head and neck while leaving a large opening for the nose and mouth. The pillow allows users to tune out their surroundings, creating a dark, quiet microenvironment ideal for achieving a deep, restful sleep whether stranded in a crowded airport or recharging between meetings at work. Pockets over the ears muffle ambient sound and serve as a place to tuck hands while leaning forward over a tray table or desk.” Absent a portable flotation tank, the head pillow sets the standard for &

Anyone remember the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009? Uncle Sam spent $831 billion of your hard-earned tax dollars to “stimulate” the U.S. economy. If you ask “progressives” why it didn’t work they’ll give you a simple answer: “It wasn’t enough.” You can see the exact same philosophy at work when it comes to gun control: it’s not working it’s because we need more! Make it harder to buy a gun! Limit ammunition magazines to seven rounds! Ban black rifles! Same again for poaching. More laws! More enforcement! And so . . . Poaching Crisis Prompts Immediate Protection of Southern White Rhino under ESA [Endangered Species Act]

“When they violate that oath by trying to erase the Second Amendment, then I think we have a duty … to remove that threat.” – California Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, Gun owners groups consider recalls of Calif. lawmakers [at foxnews.com]

Dr. Paul Gallant and Dr. Joanne D. Eisen write (courtesy Ammoland.com):

The UK has been at the vanguard of international efforts to secure an Arms Trade Treaty in the United Nations since co-authoring the original UN Resolution in 2006. Under former foreign secretary Jack Straw, the UK pressed for a “strong” treaty which equated human rights with weapons control. Yet the combination of total government control of handgun ownership, combined with the hands-off treatment of criminals has backfired. It must be embarrassing for British firearm-prohibitionists to see their philosophy failing in their own backyard, especially in view of their intense desire to export that philosophy to other nations around the globe . . .

Pyramyd Air’s marketing director and “booth babe” Elise Venditti finally sent the TTAG team some air guns. I chose the Tanfoglio above because the 1911 was John Moses Brownings’ gift to mankind and who am I to refuse divine providence (even if left the Rhode Island version for Lone Star status)? Other than deciding which survival knife to use on the packaging (while avoiding a QuickClot catastrophe), deciding whether or not to shoot it in the backyard is the next challenge. On one hand, it’s private. And I am in Texas. So no worries about Condor contamination or neighbor freak-out. On the other hand, I li

A man walked into JFK airport in New York City this weekend trying to catch a flight to Tennessee. As required by FAA regulations, he declared that he had an unloaded and locked firearm that he wanted to check through to his final destination. Under any sane person’s reading of the safe passage provisions of the Firearm Owner’s Protection Act, that should be fine and dandy. But since this is New York we’re talking about, the man was immediately arrested and CNN was all over the story.

A man was arrested Saturday at John F. Kennedy International Airport after checking a loaded rifle and three other illegal weapons, according to a Port Authority spokesperson.

Keenan Draughon of Clarksville, Tennessee, was arrested after he checked two handguns, two defaced rifles

According to Wikipedia,”Astroturfing is the practice of masking the sponsors of a message (e.g. political, advertising, or public relations) to give the appearance of it coming from a disinterested, grassroots participant. Astroturfing is intended to give the statements the credibility of an independent entity by withholding information about the source’s financial connection. The term astroturfing is a derivation of 

Just a quick reminder from someone who believes that the Second Amendment protects Americans’ right to keep and bear machine guns: it ain’t happening. In fact, the day when [well-heeled] Americans can buy a M2HB-QCB (or similar) without a background check is the day that our gun rights will have been fully restored. Although I’m not entirely comfortable contemplating some of the paths that would lead to that goal, I can imagine a day when it would happen. You?

I came across some ammo on Friday night. Lots of it. Thousands of rounds. For sale. In unlimited quantities. God bless Texas. Not one to look a gift horse in the price tag, I melted my plastic for 1000 rounds of 115-grain FMJ Federal Premium, 1000 rounds of CCI Standard Velocity 22R, 1000 rounds of Federal 55-grain 5.56, and 500 rounds of 40-grain FN 5.57 X 28m. What did I pay? 100 rounds of any of the above to the winner. Contest closes at midnight tonight (Sunday). Winner announced tomorrow (Monday) morning.

“There are a lot of people who would like to shoot me and you, I’ve noticed. That would be a fundraiser to end them all, wouldn’t it?” Iowa Representative Steve King to Texas Senator Ted Cruz, quoted in Ted Cruz in Iowa: Has he sown the seeds of a 2016 GOP presidential candidacy? [via nbcnews.com]

The Raleigh, North Carolina Parks Department is taking the passive-aggressive approach to changing the “No Guns Allowed” signs at the city’s 100-plus parks, saying that it would be “too expensive” to replace them all at once, but will update them “as signs are replaced (age or damage) or new signs are added.” Gun advocates say that’s disingenuous, that they don’t need to be replaced, just removed. The signs (above) were installed prior to a state law which allows concealed carry in public parks. Another reason given against a blanket overhaul of the signs is that the state legislature “might change the rules again,” though that argument doesn’t really hold much water, since the state law th

By MD Matt

Apparently Jimmy Kimmel took some blind people to the range recently, had them shoot at targets — badly — and made fun of them. On national television. Watching the resulting outrage was like hearing that people are upset that Howard Stern made fun of his guests. At some point one has to ask what they thought would happen? Was it in poor taste to tell someone that they shot their guide dog? Sure. Was the entire production cheap humor? Well yes. So what? . . .

How many people laughed when Al Pacino drove a car in ‘Scent of a Woman’ (raises hand)? As a blind man myself who owns firearms and goes to the range regularly I’m happy to see Kimmel getting some yuks from the whole blind-with-guns bit. It’s funny. It’s not a public safety risk. I’m kind of offended that this was the best he could manage, but then you have to consider the source.

What does bother me is reading the follow-up commentary. “Blind people shouldn’t have guns.”  “That’s dange

I was re-watching ‘Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life’ for the millionth time last night and with gun control advocates now talking about “safe storage” legislation in the wake of recent school shootings, one scene stuck out. John Cleese is trying to teach his class sex education. While discussing foreplay one of the students suggests rubbing a certain part of the female anatomy. Cleese’s response is classic: “What’s wrong with a kiss, boy? Why not start her off with a kiss before steaming towards the” well, you know the rest. And as he was saying it, in my mind I heard “What’s wrong with education? Why not start off with education before steaming straight towards legislation?” . . .

Gun control advocates always claim that their goal is to reduce “gun violence” while respecting the Second Amendment. Their actions say otherwi

“Behind a black fence that blocks the view from outside, the school in Newtown, Conn., where 20 first graders and six employees were killed by a 20-year-old gunman in December, is being razed,” the nytimes.com reports, using passive construction to chronicle active demolition. Which is no surprise given the lay-down-and-roll-over non-reportage that the Gray Lady has applied to the police report on the Newtown massacre. Who cares what happens to the buil

Nick’s Team FNH USA co-competitor, Diana Liedorff preaches routine. Doing the same thing the same way – all the time. Everything from how you pack your range bag to where you put your empties. The idea being, eliminate the variables lets you concentrate on what you’re doing so you can git ‘er done faster and more accurately. But even if you’re not a top-level 3-gunner – or a competitor at all – that’s still good advice. Going through the same routines each and every time you shoot can make you smoother, improve your accuracy and even make you a safer on the range or in the field. What are your shooting habits?

By Cliff H.

When it comes to constitutional carry, I’m of the same belief as RF – the only correct reading of the Second Amendment means that the government has no authority to say who can or cannot carry arms, when, or where. Nor do they have the authority to require anyone to acquire a permit before exercising their natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms. But that’s a fight for another day. Right now we have to live with the reality of our eroded 2A rights and, in most places, jump through bureaucratic hoops in order to avoid having our freedoms further eroded by facing arrest and other unpleasant and expensive official reactions . . .

That being the case, I’ve obtained a concealed pistol license (CPL) from the state of Washington. RF is apparently in the process of getting his permit from Texas. Many of the readers of this site have done the same in their respective  jurisdictions. So now, technically (though

“Loosening firearm restrictions in school zones is realizing a proclaimed NRA dream, eliminating all gun-free zones. Guns in every corner of America helps the NRA’s donating partner (gun industry) get richer, and in schools attempts to recruit the next generation of customers.” - Shirley Clements, Letter to the Editor, fdlreporter.com

Over 100 Seattle businesses have now chosen to advertise that their patrons are unarmed under a voluntary program administered by Washington Ceasefire in which businesses can sign up and download signs like the one above to place in their windows. According to seattlepi.com, the restaurant Oddfellows on Capitol Hill was the first to put up the signs. You can find them and the other 100 or so businesses to avoid over at gunfreeseattle.org. A reminder: Though no-gun signs do not carry the weight of law in Washington, you can be asked to leave. You’re encouraged to find other places to do business whenever possible.

As a followup to the recent post on

We reported the Manchester [UK] police freak-out when they discovered a 3D printing machine capable of producing a Liberator pistol. Cody Wilson, the guy who unleashed the 3D printed gun upon the world, had a few words to say about that. It’s your basic Wilsonian puddle of consciousness impish insurrectionist fun re: Defense Distributed’s role in the post-Snowden world. Defense Distributed. Ohhhh. Now I get it. Man am I behind the curve.