James D. Julia "Outstanding March Firearms Auction" Catalog Offer

James D. Julia is the premier auctioneer of quality firearms in pretty much the world.  Their "Outstanding March Firearm Auction" on March 11 and 12 in Fairfield Maine.  One awesome thing about this particular auction is that James D. Julia is offering a limited number of free auction catalogs.  These catalogs are a work of art.

The online catalog is not yet ready.  When it is, I'll pick out a few of my favorite lots and post them here.

Help Ted Cruz Support the Second Amendment

You can be directly involved in helping support Senator Cruz as he defends our Second Amendment rights in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights.

From the TSRA:

The Senate committee listed above will take up the subject of "Proposals to Reduce Gun Violence: Protecting Our Communities While Respecting the Second Amendment" next Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. Senator Cruz is the Ranking Member of this subcommittee.

Senator Cruz is asking for your help.

Please be willing to submit your thoughts on a relevant topic for Sen.Cruz and the committee to consider in the form of a formal letter to the committee which makes either a pro 2nd Amendment argument or a tells a short, compelling, personal story about how you exercised your 2nd Amendment rights in a positive way, such as in defense of yourself, your family, your business, or how you scared off a robber.

Please submit your stories and statements in MS Word, well-written and clear. Then send as an attachment to the email address of Senator Cruz's staff below.

Jon_McClellan@cruz.senate.gov

Statements must be received by Monday in order to be helpful. Your statement could be submitted into the Congressional Record.

Senator Dick Durbin is the Chairman of the subcommittee and prides himself on carrying in a large stack of statements from the other side to showcase and submit into the record.

Texas Senator Cruz would like to be ready to respond in kind.

  Your words can end up in the Congressional Record.   I am going to write two statements.  The first statement will be concerning mandatory background checks on the private sales of firearms, and the second on proposed magazine capacity restrictions.

A Little Upgrade

I finally got tired of waiting on my computer to get anything done so I finally decided to upgrade my memory.  Changed out the two 512MB memory sticks for four 1GB sticks.  So far so good.

Maybe now I can open more than two windows at a time without crashing.

Notes From the Sidebar

David reminds us that "Liberty will not be won by scapegoating anyone, or throwing anyone under the bus" in  Another Route: For Whom the Bus Rolls.

The last sentence of Tam's In the Land of King Kid... caught me by surprise and gave me a good Sunday morning chuckle.

Carteach shares two good questions to ask when talking with folks who are undecided about gun control laws.  Discussing 'Gun Control', a point that needs making.... is worth your time.

Live From the Alamo City comments on the  "I'm a gun owner and I support gun control because it does not affect me" comments that seem to be popping up everywhere lately.  Read  “First they came for the semiautomatic rifles…” along with the comments.

Traction Control comments on the recent poll that shows most people believe that Government Threatening Personal Rights. 

The scandals go on and on and on . . . is poignant commentary on the inability of some leaders in the Catholic Church to accept that by their actions, and inaction, they have done great harm.    

Kevin does an excellent job of Fisking an American Constitutional Law Specialist, Eh?

Robert has a range report from Panola in February.  I don't know what all these people are doing shooing Evil Black Rifles at targets 600 yards down range.  Don't they know that the AR is an inherently inaccurate rifle and has no sporting purpose what so ever? Sheesh...

Bob has another example of why we need to Enforce the Laws, Keep Criminals in Jail.

Need a recipe for rabbit?  Well here it is. That Wascally Wabbit - Hare Braising Adventures .  Once you have read the recipe, stick around and read more of what Brigid has to offer.  Great Sunday afternoon reading.

The Whited Sepulcher finds that even though Socialism Does NOT Lead To Marxism (not all the time anyway).  It often does lead to much worse.

And yes, Sylvester Stallone: Dumb as a Post and Hypocrite

The Second Amendment and the Modern World

David E. Young has written a post that covers, in a nutshell, the meaning and purpose of the Second Amendment based on the original understanding, and how that purpose fits into the modern world.

The Mason Triad Context of Second Amendment Development and Purpose

A snipped from his post to catch your interest:

The citizens in 1789 relied on flintlock firearms just as the soldiers of a period army. At that time, a standing army in time of peace was the face of tyranny. Today, the face of tyranny is just as common in the world, but is much more intrusive and dangerous, and is usually referred to as a police state. Americans have the constitutional right and duty to prevent the establishment of any police state in the United States. The people must keep their government under their control, which is accomplished, not by fighting, which is only a last resort, but by making certain that violations of the Constitution by those at the helm of government are challenged and reversed.

We the people have a duty and a responsibility to challenge violations to our Constitution.  We have been derelict in our duties.

State and Local Regulations, We Don't Follow no State and Local Regulations.

The city of East Cleveland, Ohio, is attempting to collect on citations against USPS drivers for running red lights and speeding in school zones.  The Postal Service is arguing that their drivers are performing an important task and do not have to follow local laws.

As reported by Jason Sickles, Yahoo!

Postal Service says it’s immune from local traffic laws


...Postal Service attorney Jennifer S. Breslin says two school-zone speeding citations and five red-light infractions by postal trucks in December should be ignored...


“However, as you are probably aware, the Postal Service enjoys federal immunity from state and local regulation,” she continued.

 Even the Post Office thinks their employees are above the common American.

A Sweepstakes for a Good Cause

The craftsmen of Louder Than Words are holding their 10th charity raffle.  LTW #10 is in support of Kara's Hope, a charity that is focused on assisting and supporting families who have children diagnosed with Holoprosencephaly (HPE).

For 2013, The Legendary Custom Gunsmiths

at "Louder Than Words"

Have Teamed Up With Kara's HoPE

To Offer the LTW # 10, Custom 1911

To One Lucky Winner!

This is one very fine 1911

Grand Prize Package Includes a Gorgeous

Custom 1911 Which Has Been "Smithed" by the "Who's

Who" of the Custom 1911 World,

Along With a Custom Carry Leather Set

The Craftsmen involved with this project include Ned Christiansen, John Van Zyck, Jason Burton, Tony Barnes & Brownells, CT Brian, Don Williams, Ted Yost, Stan Chen, John Harrison and John Ralston


Speaking of John Ralston, a firearm of this quality has to come with some quality leather.

Custom Shark Trimmed Holster & Mag Pouch Set, From John Ralston at 5 Shot Leather

All together that is one very nice package that it would be very hard to put a price on.

So head on over, purchase a couple raffle tickets, and support Kara's Hope. Who knows, you may be the one getting the winners phone call.

For information on the project build, go here.

Scissors and Blood Dancers

A lot of attention has been given to the recent Department of Homeland Security PSA on how to survive a mass shooting.  It seems that DHS feels that a pair of scissors is an optimum defensive tool against a goblin intent upon massive destruction.

S.A. Miller of the New York Post wrote Homeland Security has advice for confronting mass murders: scissors.

I am sure that you have seen plenty of commentary on this DHS video.

There is one thing in the article that really touched a nerve with me.

The video is part of the Obama administration’s ongoing campaign to reduce firearm violence in the wake of the horrific mass murder last month of 20 children and six teachers in Newtown, Conn., said a Homeland Security official.


Homeland Security has operated an active-shooter preparedness-training program for years, and the “Options for Consideration” video was in production prior to the Dec. 14 shooting in Newtown.

The video was released to coincide with President Obama’s sweeping proposals to curb gun violence in America, said the official.

The video, along with the AWB, was completed and ready to be released.  They were just waiting for the right "crisis".  This is why we consider many of these Anti's to be "Blood Dancers".  They wait in anticipation of mass killings, hoping that one happens soon so they can put forth their pet project.  While the blood was still wet on the walls in Connecticut, Senator Feinstein's office was in full battle mode, happy that they can finally, maybe, get an AWB on the Senate floor.  Same thing with the Brady Bunch.  The canned emails were written and ready to go.  They just had to add a couple specifics and the revenue generation push was a go.  None of these Anti's care about the families of victims.  They don't care about trying to curb the violence.  They see a tragedy and they see an opportunity to further their cause, make money and get their faces on the news.  Blood Dancers, dancing in the blood of our children.

A Reply From Senator Cornyn

I have been writing my Congress Critters via email and fax quite a bit lately to express my views on all the proposed gun control legislation that is on the books and in progress. 

My most recent communications have concerned the potential of mandatory background check legislation being submitted by Senator Tom Coburn and the Anti Gun Democrats.  I see mandatory background checks on all private firearm sales as being the "compromise" that actually makes it into law this year.

The following is Senator Cornyn's reply to my latest email:

Dear Mr. Rost:


Thank you for contacting me regarding federal firearms laws. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter.

As a strong proponent of the Second Amendment, I believe it is essential to safeguard the law-abiding citizen's constitutional right to own and use firearms designed for legitimate purposes such as hunting, target shooting, collecting, and self-protection. Restricting this right runs counter to the intent of our Founding Fathers, who expressly guaranteed that citizens would retain the right to keep and bear arms.

It is encouraging that the Supreme Court has upheld the will of our Founders and re-affirmed the ideals our country was established upon. The Supreme Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller provides a greater guarantee that Americans' Constitutional rights remain secure from federal government intrusion. I was proud to sign an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in that case stating an individual’s right to bear arms is fundamental. This historic ruling continues to have implications far beyond the District of Columbia. In 2010, the Supreme Court decided in McDonald v. City of Chicago to strike down the arbitrary gun ban in Chicago—and thereby affirm that the Second Amendment safeguards against state and local encroachments on the fundamental right to keep and bear arms.

As a former Texas Supreme Court Justice and Attorney General, I have firsthand knowledge of crime-fighting policies that work, and I believe that citizens' Second Amendment rights should not be restricted because of the actions of criminals. Rather, we must focus our attention on the source of violent crime: criminals who use firearms to commit crimes. I believe that strictly enforcing the law—and meting out tougher sentences for career criminals and those who use firearms when committing crimes—will reduce crime more effectively than gun or equipment bans, which primarily serve to take firearms away from law-abiding citizens.

I appreciate the opportunity to represent Texans in the United States Senate, and you may be certain that I will continue working with my colleagues to protect our Second Amendment rights. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN

United States Senator

517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov

A very good canned response, and I am certain that Sen. Cornyn will do what he can to oppose an Assault Weapons Ban and any magazine capacity limit legislation.  What was not mentioned in this email was any mention of opposing or supporting mandatory background checks.

It appears that there is a strong opposition to an AWB and magazine capacity limitations on the Hill.  It also appears that universal background checks are on the table.

Please write your Congress Critter and let them know that you oppose any legislation that hinders the private sales of firearms.  Let them know that mandatory background checks can only be accomplished with universal firearm registration and that we will not register our guns.  Be as forceful as you are comfortable, but let them know that you do oppose mandatory background checks on private firearm sales.

If you happen to support mandatory background checks, leave a comment.  Let us have some reasonable discourse.  Give me a chance to show you the error of your position.

Cabela's New Ad Campaign...

...is pretty effective.

Now if only the ammo fairy would come and fill their shelves.

The DC Ski Mask Ban

Criminals in Washington DC are using ski masks to 'mask' their identity.  The DC police just can't seem to get a handle on the situation, so something must be done.

From Andrea Noble of the Washington Times:

Ski masks, a fashion accessory to crime in D.C., may soon be illegal


...after reports of robberies committed by men wearing ski masks. The frequency of the robberies also has caught attention of police, who say one neighborhood crew is frequently purchasing masks at a local sports store for the express purpose of committing robberies.

"They clearly are a problem. Otherwise we wouldn't see it being mentioned in all the reports."...

The focus of the article is on the ski masks, and there really is no major effort in DC to ban ski masks, but the fact that it is being talked about shows just how ridiculous some of the discussions can get. 

One interesting factoid from the article, wearing a ski mask during the commission of a crime is a crime in DC.

D.C. law already ban individuals — ages 16 and up — from wearing masks in public under certain circumstances, such as while committing a crime or with “the intent to intimidate, threaten, abuse or harass any other person.” But prosecution under the law appears infrequent.

It seems criminals pay attention to ski mask control legislation just about as well as they follow gun control legislation.  Heck, the article even mentions a "two striker":

...two black men wearing ski masks got out of a gold Honda Accord and held a woman at gunpoint to steal her purse.

Head on over and read the article. some of the comments are well worth the time.

Senator Cruz at the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Guns

In case you missed it, here is Senator Ted Cruz in the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Guns.

Senator Cruz is making me very proud of the fact that I did financially support his campaign, and vote to make him our newest Texas Senator.

Police Departments Affected by Ammo Shortage

The ammo shortage is starting to affect some of the smaller police departments.  Erin Jones of KTEN reports:

Local Texas Law Enforcement Affected By Guns and Ammo Shortage

..."Last week one of the largest distributors of ammunition stated that they've sold the same amounts in the last two days as they've sold in the past seven years," Van Alstyne Chief of Police Tim Barnes said.

This news falls in line with what my normal ammo retailers have been telling me.  The pipeline is once again empty.  This looks to be even worse than the ammo drought when Obama was first elected, and the recovery will probably take even more time:

It's kind of a perfect storm. In the past 20 years there's never been an issue of getting ammunition. In times past we would place an order and it would be in within two to three weeks," Barnes said.

Right now suppliers are telling the Van Alstyne Police Department orders could take up to a year to ship...

A year for the LEO"s to get their ammunition orders delivered means that pipeline is pretty dry.  When people started buying up the AR's a friend purchased the last one Cheaper Than Dirt had at the time, the only problem was he could find no ammo.  I loaned him a couple hundred rounds and he has not been able to find any to repay me.  A couple hundred rounds is not really that big a deal, but the way things are going now I doubt I'll be able to do the same again any time soon.  Maybe when things settle down a bit folks will start needing some cash and some of that ammo in closets will end up back on the market.

Machine Gun Fire in the Skys Over Miami and Houston

Last week CBS reported Black Hawks Used In Military Training Exercise In Miami, and yesterday ABC reports Army drill scares residents on Houston's south side.

It appears that these were both multi-agency live action exercises that included the use of blank ammunition.  You have to wonder why the military is performing these types of exercises in urban areas in and around major metropolitan areas.

They are doing these exercises at a time when trust in the .gov is at lowest in my memory, and when such exercises would raise the most eyebrows.  There are mock up towns on .gov land far from the public eye that they could have used, so why Miami and Houston?

Interesting times.

NYC Police Commissioner Admits That Assault Weapons are Not the Problem.

Not really but...

Raymond Kelly is NY City's Police Commissioner.  Raymond Kelly wrote an editorial for the New York Post titled "Scourge of NYC’s streets".  Raymond Kelly is rabidly against the possession of firearms by anyone but an individual employed by law enforcement. I found this editorial quite strange, in Commissioner Kelly's rant against guns, he makes all of our points for us.  The editorial begins with a comment that has no bearing on the gun control debate and goes downhill from there.

While assault rifles serve no legitimate hunting purpose, and their ban would be a welcome advance after the Newtown slaughter, illegal handguns remain the weapon of choice for killers and other criminals in New York City.

First he states that assault rifles serve no legitimate hunting purpose.  You and I both know he is not talking about assault rifles, but rifles covered in the new AWB.  We also understand that it does not matter if they serve a hunting purpose or not, gun control is not about hunting.  I could take this opportunity to provide many examples about how AR platform rifles are used for hunting, but it really does not matter to this argument.

What is interesting about the above quote is the admission that "...illegal handguns remain the weapon of choice for killers and other criminals..." 

The commissioner goes on to state:

Ninety percent, or 2,493, of the 2,779 illegal firearms seized from suspects in arrests in the city last year were handguns.


By contrast, a total of 77 assault weapons were seized in arrests in the city, less than 3 percent of the total.

In only three of nearly 1,400 shooting incidents last year were ballistics associated with assault weapons.

There you have it, from the pen (so to speak) of NY City's Police Commissioner himself.  Assault Weapons as defined by Senator Feinstein are not the problem.

3 out of 1400 shooting incidents involved assault weapons.  That is pretty much the definition of statistically negligible.

So tell me again why it is so important to ban these firearms that are not used in shooting incidents?

The commissioner goes on to further demonize handguns and any free states that are close to New York.  He pretty much blames NY City's violence issue on Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida.

Criminals illegally acquire guns in these states, illegally transport them into NYC, illegally sell these guns to other criminals who use them in crimes (which by the way are illegal) and the only way this police commissioner can come up with to address this issue is to write more laws.  Yep, that'll work.

One last thing I found telling in this article:

We’re also focused on violence-prone street crews...

So the ultra violent street gangs who import drugs, run prostitution rings, illegally import firearms and run protection rackets are now "street crews"?

Maybe it is time to stop being so politically correct and start attacking crime at the source.  Leave the rest of us the hell alone.
You should go over and give the editorial a read.  This man is in a position of authority in one of the largest cities in the world, might be helpful to know how these Commissars think.

Question

Are the books Animal Farm, Fahrenheit 451, or 1984 still required reading in our high schools?

Contacting Congress Critters

Faxing is a very effective way to contact Congress Critters.  It puts paper in hand much faster than snail mail and does get the message to Representatives of districts other than the in which you live.

I have found an online fax service to be very helpful for all of my personal and political faxing needs.  The service I use is MyFax and I am very happy with the cost and quality of service.

Notes From the Sidebar

David comments on yet Another Bloodthirsty Gun Owner.  This time it's an armed wheelchair-bound Vet who uses a firearm to defend life and home.

The Bayou Renaissance Man has found some Relics of a long forgotten war.  There are some very interesting images of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos.

Let’s talk about background checks. Yes, we really do need to start focusing on potential mandatory background check legislation now that some prominent Republicans are starting to support this type of legislation.

The Old NFO has one example of a pro-gun argument that doesn't rely on "It's in the Constitution!" that effectively makes our point.  More Equal time... delves into the facts about the pre and post Australian gun ban statistics.  One that I found especially interesting is "Australian women are now raped over three times as often as American women."  Disarming the law abiding increases the victim pool for the violent.

Traction Control notes that Michael Bane Points Out “A Brilliant Article …” An excellent read.

Speaking of Michael Bane, the old coot things that The New World Sucks.  Codger keeps reminiscing about the good old days, way back in October of last year.

If you are looking for Sources on Original Second Amendment Meaning, History, Purpose, and Intent, there really is not better place to go than David E. Young's On Second Opinion Blog.

Brigid writes a moving post On Waiting - A Story of Adoption.

The Carteach posts a review of a Dragon Leatherworks Gunbelt..... Next to a quality holster, your belt is an indispensable part of your carry rig.  Quality counts.

Frank, a new contributor to The Firearm Blog, introduces himself with 40 Years of Gun Wisdom in 5 Easy Lessons. I am looking forward to reading more of what Frank has to share.

The LawDog offers A repost of his "Gun Control Cake" essay.  If you did not catch it the first time, head on over and read it now.   

Mike points out that there is a Direct Link Between Algeria Attack that Killed 3 Americans and Libya Attack that Killed 4.  Amateur hour at the State Department and in our Administration is helping to create this escalation of chaos.  A Republican President would have been forced to resign in embarrassment by now.  

Say Uncle refutes Noted Gun Expert Carolyn McCarthy: It’s Too Hard For Women To Use AR-15s.  He has some nice video to help make his case.  

And last, but not least, Murdoc offers a warning about The Stephen King eBook ‘Guns’.  If you want to put money in the pockets of the Brady Bunch, buy the book.

Are You a Hunter or Sportsman Who Supports the New AWB? Well I Have News For You.

I keep seeing these editorials and comments to the news that indicate the writer is a hunter, sportsman or gun enthusiast who supports the Second Amendment, but... The commenters then go on to give their support to Obama's "common sense" gun control efforts.  If you are one of these Quislings who purport to support both the Second Amendment and an Assault Weapons Ban, you are giving the Antis' the keys to your gun safe also.

Here is a nifty little tidbit from the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013.  Part of the definition of a banned assault weapon is:

A semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm

Did you catch that?  Any semi auto version of an automatic firearm is covered under Feinstein's new AWB.

 

Is your gun exempt?

 

Not if it is a version of John Moses Browning's greatest creation.  The M1911.  The 1911 is not specifically exempted so is banned as a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm.  Yes, Colt did develop a fully auto M1911A1 back in the '30's.  John Dillinger was quite fond of his.

 

So what if your particular pet firearm is specifically exempted, how much do you think it would take to remove that exemption?  Once the ban is passed, tightening it up will be no effort at all.

 

We really do have to stand together to defeat all of the proposed gun control legislation, each and every bit of it.

 

H/T to Robert Farago for coming up with the text to the new AWB

Senator Coburn Working With Anti Gun Democrats

Senator Tom Coburn, Republican from Oklahoma, is working with the Anti's on the first piece of anti gun rights legislation to hit the Senate. 

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) is working with Democratic senators on a bill that would mandate background checks for all gun buyers, with some limited exceptions.

Ed O'Keefe has posted in the Washington Post that "Tom Coburn talking with Democrats about background check bill"  One of the Dems that Senator Coburn is working with is Chuck Schumer, a rabid Anti.

This is what I have been afraid of from the start of this latest assault on the Second Amendment, the compromise that gets passed instead of the Big Bad Bill that everyone is fighting against.  A bill like this gives Congress Critters who allegedly support our rights an idea that they can pass something that won't piss us off too awful much, and make the Anti's happy that the next goal of their agenda has been achieved.

The article quotes Sen. Coburn as saying:

"If you transfer your car, you have to have a license to transfer, it has to go through that. That’s a responsibility of freedom. I have no problems with us making sure that we don’t allow guns to get in the hands of either felons, or people who are a danger to themselves or other people. … I’m willing to work with Manchin and Schumer on that, and going to.”

First, there is no innate human right to own a car.  Second, what is he talking about needing a license to transfer a car?  Are these politicians really that ignorant of life in America? 

Does anyone really think that requiring law abiding American citizens to go through a background check to transfer a firearm between family and friends will do anything at all to keep firearms out of the hands of violent felons?  Criminals steal guns.  Criminals buy guns from other criminals.  Criminals are kind of known for breaking the law, hence the term criminal and felon.

Mandatory background checks will not keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

Mandatory background checks will prevent someone from purchasing a firearm as a gift for a family member.

Mandatory background checks will do nothing to address violence or the violent.

Mandatory background checks will interfere with the passing down of family heirlooms from on generation to another. 

How many non violent criminals will a mandatory background check law create?  I see a very large swell of civil disobedience as the otherwise law abiding choose to ignore this new law.

And last, but not least, how is the .gov going to enforce this law?  There are 10's of millions of firearms in the hands of American citizens.  In free states, the .gov has no idea who owns what.  Just think for a second of what the .gov will have to do to try and bring us into complience.  At a minimum there will have to be registration.  Inspection will most likely come after registration.  Firearm owners will have to submit to random, unannounced and warrant less searches to ensure they only own the firearms that are in the registry.

Mandatory background checks are going to be portrayed as "reasonable" and "common sense" when they are neither.

Contact Senator Coburn, let him know that we will not abide by any new firearm legislation coming out of the Senate and that we will remember those who actively work against us.

Washington D.C.:

172 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-5754
Fax: 202-224-6008

Tulsa:
1800 South Baltimore
Suite 800
Tulsa, OK 74119
Main: 918-581-7651
Fax: 918-581-7195

Oklahoma City:
100 North Broadway
Suite 1820
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Main: 405-231-4941
Fax: 405-231-5051