There is a group of gun owners even I am afraid of. It's the freaks that only see one side, theirs and every one else is wrong. They are militant about their "side" and have to force their beliefs down everyone's throats in such a way as to turn off people who may have been on the fence about the issue. An example of this is a person who blatantly ignores everything logical to assert their "correctness" to the point of being rude and obnoxious.
It is perfectly acceptable to have an opinion that fully automatic arms should be licensed. It is also perfectly acceptable to believe that the 2nd Amendment allows individuals to own fully automatic to be owned, without government interference. The issue is, when one side becomes "militant" in their efforts or with their voice. There is nothing wrong with a cool, logical debate but when tempers flare, nothing gets resolved and no ones valid points are noticed.
It's this militant-style that makes gun owners look poorly. Angry and hostile movements and words makes those not directly involved in the debate look at the debaters as redneck, ghetto, or worse, criminal. If you are in the middle of a Chicago anti-gun rally, carrying an AR-15 down the other side of the street and shooting off rounds into the air is probably not the most logical way to get your point across. Calming and rationally debating the anti's on some forum is a better method.
Gun control, the death penalty, abortion, politics, etc are fun and dangerous topics to debate, but when hot heads take over, no one is winning and no desirable outcome will ever be achieved. Be rational, be firm, provide facts and back up your answers. Win through deliberate, calm mannerisms, not emotional outbursts.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
How disturbing
It amazes me that newspapers continue to report the stupidest things in an attempt to sell their papers. For example:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081015/ap_on_re_us/airports_guns
OMFG..Did you know it's still legal in most American airports to carry a firearm through the airport, just not through the security checkpoint? Well, f-ing duh !!
Did you know, you idiotic reporter, that owning and "bearing" a firearm are not only legal in the U.S., it is guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, like the right of the press to spew crap?
At least the police officer interviewed used common sense, ""t's really not more of a concern than at a mall or a train station," said Philadelphia police Lt. Louis Liberati."
"Jon Allen, a spokesman for the federal Transportation Security Administration, said the TSA has not taken a position on guns in airports and has no authority under federal law to ban them." While, Mr. Allen is 100% correct on this, it still strikes me as off that under federal law they can ban a 10 ounce beverage but not a 6 ounce one... Who knows?
Seems to me, the people who are carrying in airports are a sure sign deterrent for the bad guys not to screw around in this airport.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081015/ap_on_re_us/airports_guns
OMFG..Did you know it's still legal in most American airports to carry a firearm through the airport, just not through the security checkpoint? Well, f-ing duh !!
Did you know, you idiotic reporter, that owning and "bearing" a firearm are not only legal in the U.S., it is guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, like the right of the press to spew crap?
At least the police officer interviewed used common sense, ""t's really not more of a concern than at a mall or a train station," said Philadelphia police Lt. Louis Liberati."
"Jon Allen, a spokesman for the federal Transportation Security Administration, said the TSA has not taken a position on guns in airports and has no authority under federal law to ban them." While, Mr. Allen is 100% correct on this, it still strikes me as off that under federal law they can ban a 10 ounce beverage but not a 6 ounce one...
Seems to me, the people who are carrying in airports are a sure sign deterrent for the bad guys not to screw around in this airport.
Monday, October 13, 2008
New Convert
A few days ago, I met up with my regular shooting partners. One of the ladies brought her 12 year old step-son. Nice kid. A little shy and very inexperienced with guns. Oh, he knew movie style of shooting. but his technique was a little lacking for shooting anything more then a .22. He had his feet planted, legs straight and back arched so far back it was amazing he didn't fall over.
He learned fast and became a pretty good shot. He was a little hesitant with everything, though. The .22 pistol he enjoyed, but he was nervous about firing a 9mm. After a few shots of that, he had a big grin on his face. We started him with M1 Carbine, which, again he was nervous to try. He warmed up quickly to that.
The next step was a Winchester 94, lever action, in perennial favorite .30-30. He did not want to try this gun. He saw the size of the cartridge compared to the .30 Carbine and wanted nothing to do with it. "Just one shot," we urged. He tried one shot and grinned like we gave him a Xbox-360. He went through the next 3 rounds pretty fast. It didn't take much urging to get him to try a Remington Model 70 in .308 Win.
He's a convert.
He learned fast and became a pretty good shot. He was a little hesitant with everything, though. The .22 pistol he enjoyed, but he was nervous about firing a 9mm. After a few shots of that, he had a big grin on his face. We started him with M1 Carbine, which, again he was nervous to try. He warmed up quickly to that.
The next step was a Winchester 94, lever action, in perennial favorite .30-30. He did not want to try this gun. He saw the size of the cartridge compared to the .30 Carbine and wanted nothing to do with it. "Just one shot," we urged. He tried one shot and grinned like we gave him a Xbox-360. He went through the next 3 rounds pretty fast. It didn't take much urging to get him to try a Remington Model 70 in .308 Win.
He's a convert.
Friday, October 10, 2008
lifetime Warranty
Year ago I purchased a Marlin Model 70 .22 rifle. It's a clip fed .22 similar to the Model 60 tube fed .22 internally. At the time I picked up the used Model 70, I noticed that Ramline made 25 round banana clips for the gun. I bought one. The gun was never very reliable. I replaced parts, stripped, cleaned, stripped and cleaned it again but after a couple of dozen rounds it would start having issues with ejection.
I pulled it out of the closet a few months ago to try it out, again. I took the Ramline magazine with it. After a few dozen shots, the neck of the Ramline magazine broke. The neck portion was in the gun and the larger part that held the spring and the majority of bullets went crashing to the floor. I tried duct tape and super glue, but to no avail. This thing was trash.
I found the original magazine packaging at the bottom of box of gun stuff I had. Lo' and Behold, it has a lifetime warranty: "No questions asked/Lifetime Free Replacement." Wahoo !!
I hit the W.W.W. and find they have a 1800 number. The lady on the other end of the line tells me, "They have been out of production since 1994 and we have none in stock."
I ask about the lifetime replacement and get told, they have none to replace it with. I ask about repair, and I am told they cannot repair them. Well, crap. "How about a gift card or something for compensation for a Lifetime Guarantee, that really isn't?" She laughs at me !!
Now, I knew I was pushing things, but come on, if my car has a Lifetime Guarantee on brakes and the brakes go bad, they are replaced for no cost, right? If my Ipod takes a crap and they cannot fix it, they replace it with the current version, right? I guess not so with magazines from Ramline (AKT).
I pulled it out of the closet a few months ago to try it out, again. I took the Ramline magazine with it. After a few dozen shots, the neck of the Ramline magazine broke. The neck portion was in the gun and the larger part that held the spring and the majority of bullets went crashing to the floor. I tried duct tape and super glue, but to no avail. This thing was trash.
I found the original magazine packaging at the bottom of box of gun stuff I had. Lo' and Behold, it has a lifetime warranty: "No questions asked/Lifetime Free Replacement." Wahoo !!
I hit the W.W.W. and find they have a 1800 number. The lady on the other end of the line tells me, "They have been out of production since 1994 and we have none in stock."
I ask about the lifetime replacement and get told, they have none to replace it with. I ask about repair, and I am told they cannot repair them. Well, crap. "How about a gift card or something for compensation for a Lifetime Guarantee, that really isn't?" She laughs at me !!
Now, I knew I was pushing things, but come on, if my car has a Lifetime Guarantee on brakes and the brakes go bad, they are replaced for no cost, right? If my Ipod takes a crap and they cannot fix it, they replace it with the current version, right? I guess not so with magazines from Ramline (AKT).
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Guns being returned?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081008/ap_on_re_us/katrina_confiscated_guns
NEW ORLEANS - City officials have agreed to return hundreds of firearms that police officers confiscated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, part of a deal to resolve a lawsuit filed by gun lobbying groups.
Police department spokesman Bob Young said it has stored 552 guns that were confiscated after Katrina, through Dec. 31, 2005. Police have said that most of the confiscated firearms had been stolen or found in abandoned homes, but the NRA claims police disarmed some people who were trying to flee the city.
In April 2006, police made about 700 firearms available for owners to claim if they could present a bill of sale or an affidavit with the weapon's serial number. Halbrook, however, said few people could present proof of ownership after Katrina, which flooded 80 percent of the city.
Wow...read the whole article. The city of New Orleans has agreed to give back what was stolen, in complete violation of the 2nd Amendment as well as the 4th Amendment (illegal search and seizure). What about all those gun lost, stolen (taken home as trophies by cops), or damaged. I am quite sure no one bothered to check the guns for rust in the past 3 years. I am sure New Orleans finest has gone out of their way to protect these weapons from scrapes and dings.
Do people get compensation for lost or damaged property? What if they do not have serial numbers or receipts, since all their homes were damaged by the hurricanes? Who is going to make sure this never happens again? Sure, new laws were passed in recent years disallowing confiscation of guns in a natural disaster, but what happens during martial law....? Laws are suspended.
NEW ORLEANS - City officials have agreed to return hundreds of firearms that police officers confiscated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, part of a deal to resolve a lawsuit filed by gun lobbying groups.
Police department spokesman Bob Young said it has stored 552 guns that were confiscated after Katrina, through Dec. 31, 2005. Police have said that most of the confiscated firearms had been stolen or found in abandoned homes, but the NRA claims police disarmed some people who were trying to flee the city.
In April 2006, police made about 700 firearms available for owners to claim if they could present a bill of sale or an affidavit with the weapon's serial number. Halbrook, however, said few people could present proof of ownership after Katrina, which flooded 80 percent of the city.
Wow...read the whole article. The city of New Orleans has agreed to give back what was stolen, in complete violation of the 2nd Amendment as well as the 4th Amendment (illegal search and seizure). What about all those gun lost, stolen (taken home as trophies by cops), or damaged. I am quite sure no one bothered to check the guns for rust in the past 3 years. I am sure New Orleans finest has gone out of their way to protect these weapons from scrapes and dings.
Do people get compensation for lost or damaged property? What if they do not have serial numbers or receipts, since all their homes were damaged by the hurricanes? Who is going to make sure this never happens again? Sure, new laws were passed in recent years disallowing confiscation of guns in a natural disaster, but what happens during martial law....? Laws are suspended.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Another Pulitzer prize winner...
Here's another nominee for the Pulitzer Prize...yeah, right.
http://www.abc15.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=08df0a8c-1115-49cc-aad2-8c7e59f02884
"Police are searching for a man who robbed a Mesa pizza shop Saturday night with a semi-automatic gun." Yeahhh... nice opening sentance. What kind of semi-auto weapon. A replica, a handgun, a semi-automatic revolver (Mataba or a Webley Fosbery), a rifle, or hey, how about a shotgun?
A few lines later, "The suspect entered the restaurant and revealed a black pistol before demanding money from the cash register and delivery drivers." So, it is identified now as being a "black pistol." So, ya bunch of editing geniuses, why is the pistol beside the article a stainless steel or nickel-plated 1911?
Nice reporting and editing. Goofballs !
http://www.abc15.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=08df0a8c-1115-49cc-aad2-8c7e59f02884
"Police are searching for a man who robbed a Mesa pizza shop Saturday night with a semi-automatic gun." Yeahhh... nice opening sentance. What kind of semi-auto weapon. A replica, a handgun, a semi-automatic revolver (Mataba or a Webley Fosbery), a rifle, or hey, how about a shotgun?
A few lines later, "The suspect entered the restaurant and revealed a black pistol before demanding money from the cash register and delivery drivers." So, it is identified now as being a "black pistol." So, ya bunch of editing geniuses, why is the pistol beside the article a stainless steel or nickel-plated 1911?
Nice reporting and editing. Goofballs !
Thursday, October 2, 2008
1911
Browning excellent M1911 is almost 100 years old in its stated form and more then 100 years old if you count its ancestry (M1905). This came out when cars were rare and most people were still getting electricity to their cities, let alone inside their homes. The current crop of M1911 pistols are finely turned pistols and the higher end ones could almost be considered woks of pistol smithing art.
Today, I had a chance to handle a Taurus 1911 clone. It was a very nice pistol. It had simple, no snag two white dot sight system that worked extremely well for me. I much preferred it to my own 1911's three system. The ergonomics of the pistol were excellent and control-ability of the weapon were darn good, too. For the fit, finish, and features this $525 pistol had, I would have expected to pay $1000 for a similar Kimber or Springfield Armories. It was a nice pistol.
One of my friends commented how he would have loved that pistol in something other then 45 ACP. I looked at him like he was a freak, but added they make this style pistol in a half dozens other calibers, including 40 S&W, 9mm Para, 38 Super, 50 GI, 40 Corbon, and others. He didn't believe me. I sent another friend to the rental area of the range to pick up a Springfield Armory's 1911 in 9mm Para. My friend was amazed.
I still looked at him like he face-planted while walked a straight line...no one gets a 1911 in anything but 45 ACP without a nasty look. But, he wants one.
Today, I had a chance to handle a Taurus 1911 clone. It was a very nice pistol. It had simple, no snag two white dot sight system that worked extremely well for me. I much preferred it to my own 1911's three system. The ergonomics of the pistol were excellent and control-ability of the weapon were darn good, too. For the fit, finish, and features this $525 pistol had, I would have expected to pay $1000 for a similar Kimber or Springfield Armories. It was a nice pistol.
One of my friends commented how he would have loved that pistol in something other then 45 ACP. I looked at him like he was a freak, but added they make this style pistol in a half dozens other calibers, including 40 S&W, 9mm Para, 38 Super, 50 GI, 40 Corbon, and others. He didn't believe me. I sent another friend to the rental area of the range to pick up a Springfield Armory's 1911 in 9mm Para. My friend was amazed.
I still looked at him like he face-planted while walked a straight line...no one gets a 1911 in anything but 45 ACP without a nasty look. But, he wants one.
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