When are politicians going to realize that most of the restrictive gun laws put in place only serve to hinder Law-abiding citizens. Let's face it, criminals are criminals because they have broken the law(s). All these hundreds of new gun laws being proposed don't stop bad guys from getting guns, they stop the good guys from getting guns. The good guys are using guns for hunting, protection, target shooting. The bad guys are using for shooting at people, hunting people, extorting and robbing people.
Millions and millions of dollars are wasted harassing good, honest law-abiding citizens with rules and regulations that serve no purpose. For example:
http://www.reason.com/news/show/130311.html
Baloney
Ballistics Gun databases fail
Brian Doherty REASON
January 2009 Seven years ago, New York started a database of "ballistic fingerprints" for all new handguns sold in the state. The bill's backers sold it as a crime-solving device, arguing that the state would now have a sample of a spent shell and bullet for every new gun sold. This, they said, would help police connect future evidence from crime scenes to specific guns.
Since then, the authorities have entered 200,000 newly purchased guns into the database and spent $1 million dollars a year on the system. Yet it hasn't led to a single solved crime. The only other state with such a database, Maryland, can attribute at least one conviction to the system since it was created in 2000-more than zero, but few enough that the state's own Police Forensics Division has suggested scrapping the program because of its demonstrated lack of benefits.
This hasn't come as a surprise to gun rights activists, who pointed to several potential problems when the databases were originally debated. Among them: The markings left by a gun are not guaranteed to be the same over the long term and can be deliberately changed with simple expedients such as filing inside the barrel; the vast majority of guns used in crimes are stolen or otherwise obtained in a black market, not used by their original legal owner; devoting so much record keeping to every gun sold guarantees wasted effort, since less than 1 percent of all guns sold will ever be used in a crime.
In 2003 a report from the California Attorney General's Office recommended against launching such a program because of its likely ineffectiveness in crime solving. And a March 2008 study from the National Research Council recommended against a national version of the New York and Maryland databases. In addition to noting the obvious ways in which such a program could be easily circumvented by criminals, the study said the theory behind the ballistics databases—that every gun marks shells and bullets in specific, stable, identifiable ways—has not been scientifically proven.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
I like this Sheriff
There used to be a law in Texas called, "Needs Killing." it's simple...you go before the judge and say, "Your Honor, that despicable ass needed killin'." It was a valid law for many years and may still be on the books.
I place of that, Florida has a Sheriff with brains and common sense. This is an old case and starts with a tragedy and ends well.
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2006545,00.html
Miami - A fugitive gunman accused of killing a Florida sheriff's deputy was shot 68 times by SWAT team officers who found him hiding in the woods, according to post-mortem results.
Police fired 110 shots at Angilo Freeland, 27, the target of a massive manhunt in central Florida after the fatal shooting of Polk county sheriff's deputy Matt Williams on Thursday.
"That's all the bullets we had, or we would have shot him more," said Polk county sheriff Grady Judd to the Orlando Sentinel newspaper.
Judd said Williams was "executed" after Freeland was pulled over in a routine traffic stop on Thursday. Another deputy was wounded and a police dog killed.
Williams, 39, was shot eight times - one bullet fired at close range behind the deputy's right ear and another in his right temple, according to post-mortem results released on Saturday by the sheriff's office.
Sheriff's officials said SWAT team members found Freeland on Friday hiding under a fallen oak tree in a wooded area near where the deputies were shot and began firing when they saw a gun in his hand.
- Reuters
http://www.snopes.com/crime/cops/judd.asp
I place of that, Florida has a Sheriff with brains and common sense. This is an old case and starts with a tragedy and ends well.
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2006545,00.html
Miami - A fugitive gunman accused of killing a Florida sheriff's deputy was shot 68 times by SWAT team officers who found him hiding in the woods, according to post-mortem results.
Police fired 110 shots at Angilo Freeland, 27, the target of a massive manhunt in central Florida after the fatal shooting of Polk county sheriff's deputy Matt Williams on Thursday.
"That's all the bullets we had, or we would have shot him more," said Polk county sheriff Grady Judd to the Orlando Sentinel newspaper.
Judd said Williams was "executed" after Freeland was pulled over in a routine traffic stop on Thursday. Another deputy was wounded and a police dog killed.
Williams, 39, was shot eight times - one bullet fired at close range behind the deputy's right ear and another in his right temple, according to post-mortem results released on Saturday by the sheriff's office.
Sheriff's officials said SWAT team members found Freeland on Friday hiding under a fallen oak tree in a wooded area near where the deputies were shot and began firing when they saw a gun in his hand.
- Reuters
http://www.snopes.com/crime/cops/judd.asp
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tucson story
Tucson is the second largest city in Arizona and is about 100 miles from where I live. I found this short, but interesting news blurb about Tucson beating its own record on the number of homicides. There were 74 homicides in 2008 in Tucson. The article, oddly, does not give a break down of how any of them happened. It doesn't say anything about guns, or knives, or baseball bats. It doesn't make any connection to gangs or illegals. In fact, the only reference it makes is to curfew breakers and parties. That's a little weird to me. All those 17 years olds in Tucson must be trouble . I am sure it isn't, at all, due to the fact that Tucson is so close to Nogales and is a major route stop for illegals.
The blurb is annoyingly unfilled with any facts, other then there are 9 more homicides in Tucson, then last year.
The blurb is annoyingly unfilled with any facts, other then there are 9 more homicides in Tucson, then last year.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Interesting read
It has been said for the past 40 years that the colleges and universities of America are filled only with liberal thought and these thoughts are passed directly to our college age children. There is some truth to this. The "changes" of the 1960's started in our colleges. There is nothing wrong with some of this change, nothing at all. I could not imagine nor would I want to live in America if "All men were not created equal" didn't mean that women, blacks, and other minorities didn't share the same rights that I have. Separate but equal is NOT equal.
Prior to the 1960's, colleges and universities were considered very conservative establishments. They taught old values. Most of these schools had shooting teams. Many, if not most, of the students grew up in families that hunted and they were hunters, themselves. Family traditions, of fathers taking their sons and daughters to the woods for hunting has gone back thousands and thousands of years and pre-dates firearms to the dawn of man. It was a necessity in order for you family to survive that all able hands either hunted of collected foods.
It has also been a tradition for many families to pass firearms, swords, banners, armor, etc down from one generation to another. One of the things the Brady Bunch is trying to do away with is this passing of guns from one family member to another. They consider it part of the "Gun Show Loophole" and feel that all gun sales or trades should be done with a background check. Here is a good read from a college professor who "gets it."
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/108236/
The idea that an heirloom cannot be passed from father to son is just ridiculous, regardless of what item it is: Money, cars, or guns.
Prior to the 1960's, colleges and universities were considered very conservative establishments. They taught old values. Most of these schools had shooting teams. Many, if not most, of the students grew up in families that hunted and they were hunters, themselves. Family traditions, of fathers taking their sons and daughters to the woods for hunting has gone back thousands and thousands of years and pre-dates firearms to the dawn of man. It was a necessity in order for you family to survive that all able hands either hunted of collected foods.
It has also been a tradition for many families to pass firearms, swords, banners, armor, etc down from one generation to another. One of the things the Brady Bunch is trying to do away with is this passing of guns from one family member to another. They consider it part of the "Gun Show Loophole" and feel that all gun sales or trades should be done with a background check. Here is a good read from a college professor who "gets it."
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/108236/
The idea that an heirloom cannot be passed from father to son is just ridiculous, regardless of what item it is: Money, cars, or guns.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Sensationalism, at it's worst
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081224/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_burress_search_warrant
I am not a Plaxico Burress fan. He's an idiot. He had a license, allowed it to lapse, but was a "big" enough man to still carry his gun in a state and bar where guns are outright banned. He deserves the punishment he has coming to him, for being stupid.
The news reporting services are just as bad. They flaunt themselves as being superior. They create sensationalism where none exists. For example:
Authorities seized a small cache of weapons and ammunition from the New Jersey home of New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, the New York Post and Newsday both reported Wednesday, possibly setting up the embattled player for more legal trouble.
The Post, citing anonymous law enforcement sources, said a 9-mm handgun, a rifle and ammunition for three other guns — a .380, a .45 and a .40, the same caliber of gun Burress accidentally shot himself with — were seized during the execution of a search warrant at Burress' home in Totowa.
"Citing anonymous" sources...Ok, Deep Throat !! 3 guns is a not a cache, small or large. I have a larger "cache" then that in my car. The reporter, who is unnamed, could just say that Burress "had three guns and some ammunition in his home." He has to use the word cache, which is always used with gangs and drug raids.
How's that for fair and impartial reporting?
I am not a Plaxico Burress fan. He's an idiot. He had a license, allowed it to lapse, but was a "big" enough man to still carry his gun in a state and bar where guns are outright banned. He deserves the punishment he has coming to him, for being stupid.
The news reporting services are just as bad. They flaunt themselves as being superior. They create sensationalism where none exists. For example:
Authorities seized a small cache of weapons and ammunition from the New Jersey home of New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, the New York Post and Newsday both reported Wednesday, possibly setting up the embattled player for more legal trouble.
The Post, citing anonymous law enforcement sources, said a 9-mm handgun, a rifle and ammunition for three other guns — a .380, a .45 and a .40, the same caliber of gun Burress accidentally shot himself with — were seized during the execution of a search warrant at Burress' home in Totowa.
"Citing anonymous" sources...Ok, Deep Throat !! 3 guns is a not a cache, small or large. I have a larger "cache" then that in my car. The reporter, who is unnamed, could just say that Burress "had three guns and some ammunition in his home." He has to use the word cache, which is always used with gangs and drug raids.
How's that for fair and impartial reporting?
Friday, December 19, 2008
Blatant price gouging
We all know that in the past 60 days, prices have risen dramatically. There are a few factors to this, but the biggest one is the fear that President-elect Obama will follow through on pre-campaign pledges of banning handguns and semi-auto rifles. There has been a huge increase in gun and ammo sales since a couple weeks prior to the election. Many assault-style gun types are sold out across the country and those that are left have risen dramatically in price.
Some of the price gouging has become ridiculous. Cheap AK variants have gone from $350 to $550 dollars in less then a week. Handguns have risen in price, too. AR-style rifles, which started as low as $599 for Century Internationals rebuilds are now $799. This is pure profit taking. There is no reason for these huge price increases. Obama doesn't take office for another month and any changes will take some time after that. This is no better then gas stations charging $5 a gallon on fears of gas shortages after hurricanes, when in fact, the supply lines were slow but still open.
Here are hard facts from just one seller. Cheaper Than Dirt ( cheaperthandirt.com).
Item....................Dec. catalog... Jan Catalog
S&B 45 auto $15.97 $21.79
S&B 9mm $9.79 $14.49
S&B .30-06 $12.89 $16.39
S&B 7.62x25 $13.29 $21.79
SBR 9mm $23.19 $29.86
Win 40 S&W $17.39 $21.49
Win 40S&W (100)$34.09 $44.49
Russian7.62x54 $99.97 $129.97
Federal xm193 $7.99 $14.89
Lake City .223 $15.69 $21.79
Federal xm80 $13.79 $19.49
5.7x28 ss195lf $21.89 $34.49
All 50 cal ammo went up about $10/10 rounds fom $40.69 to $49.97 or more
Aguila subsonic $34.19 $47.29
Wolf gold 303 brit $12.89 $21.79
Wolf gold 308 win $11.69 $17.79
All Hornady TAP ammo +$7 or more
That's just some in the first 10 pages !!
Many "hi cap" magazines increased by $5...or a lot more
Springfield xD 9mm sub-compact 16 rd mag from $24.97 to $39.97
Beretta 92f from $9.97 to $14.97
DPMS 223 M-4 upper assembly.. from $499.97 to $799.97
Ap4 contour barrel from $189.97 to $209.97
I stopped looking after that. My frustration was very high. CDNN, Cabela's, Centerfire and many other retailers did not go to these extremes. I wrote Cheaper Tan Dirt an email:
I have been a long time CTD customer. I received your latest catalog in the mail yesterday and I am shocked at the price gouging !! Your surplus ammo prices have risen dramatically. Come on...this is stuff that been around in a warehouse for 20+ years and was purchased in bulk months or years ago. Your company is using Obama as an excuse to steal someones wallet? Even new Remington and S&B ammo has gone up by $4 to $6 a box. I am very disappointed in CTD not only playing on peoples fears about Obama but even worse, screwing over your loyal customers with this pricing garbage. Shame on you. Natchez, Ranger Joe, CDNN, and some of the other vendors I have used are no where near the craptastic price increase CTD has given us. Your Former Loyal Customer
Here is the response I received back 45 minutes ago from their email department person, Tonya Harris: Thank you so very much for you comment..
She obviously cared about what I wrote. So much so, she replied back in poor English... not your comment, but you comment.
See ya, CTD...hope your sales slide and your company falls by the wayside of bankruptcy.
Some of the price gouging has become ridiculous. Cheap AK variants have gone from $350 to $550 dollars in less then a week. Handguns have risen in price, too. AR-style rifles, which started as low as $599 for Century Internationals rebuilds are now $799. This is pure profit taking. There is no reason for these huge price increases. Obama doesn't take office for another month and any changes will take some time after that. This is no better then gas stations charging $5 a gallon on fears of gas shortages after hurricanes, when in fact, the supply lines were slow but still open.
Here are hard facts from just one seller. Cheaper Than Dirt ( cheaperthandirt.com).
Item....................Dec. catalog... Jan Catalog
S&B 45 auto $15.97 $21.79
S&B 9mm $9.79 $14.49
S&B .30-06 $12.89 $16.39
S&B 7.62x25 $13.29 $21.79
SBR 9mm $23.19 $29.86
Win 40 S&W $17.39 $21.49
Win 40S&W (100)$34.09 $44.49
Russian7.62x54 $99.97 $129.97
Federal xm193 $7.99 $14.89
Lake City .223 $15.69 $21.79
Federal xm80 $13.79 $19.49
5.7x28 ss195lf $21.89 $34.49
All 50 cal ammo went up about $10/10 rounds fom $40.69 to $49.97 or more
Aguila subsonic $34.19 $47.29
Wolf gold 303 brit $12.89 $21.79
Wolf gold 308 win $11.69 $17.79
All Hornady TAP ammo +$7 or more
That's just some in the first 10 pages !!
Many "hi cap" magazines increased by $5...or a lot more
Springfield xD 9mm sub-compact 16 rd mag from $24.97 to $39.97
Beretta 92f from $9.97 to $14.97
DPMS 223 M-4 upper assembly.. from $499.97 to $799.97
Ap4 contour barrel from $189.97 to $209.97
I stopped looking after that. My frustration was very high. CDNN, Cabela's, Centerfire and many other retailers did not go to these extremes. I wrote Cheaper Tan Dirt an email:
I have been a long time CTD customer. I received your latest catalog in the mail yesterday and I am shocked at the price gouging !! Your surplus ammo prices have risen dramatically. Come on...this is stuff that been around in a warehouse for 20+ years and was purchased in bulk months or years ago. Your company is using Obama as an excuse to steal someones wallet? Even new Remington and S&B ammo has gone up by $4 to $6 a box. I am very disappointed in CTD not only playing on peoples fears about Obama but even worse, screwing over your loyal customers with this pricing garbage. Shame on you. Natchez, Ranger Joe, CDNN, and some of the other vendors I have used are no where near the craptastic price increase CTD has given us. Your Former Loyal Customer
Here is the response I received back 45 minutes ago from their email department person, Tonya Harris: Thank you so very much for you comment..
She obviously cared about what I wrote. So much so, she replied back in poor English... not your comment, but you comment.
See ya, CTD...hope your sales slide and your company falls by the wayside of bankruptcy.
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