Quote of the Day

From Michael Bane:

Anyone who says they have a "middle path" in this fight means they're either stupid as a sack of rocks or that they think we are as stupid as a sock of rocks.

Michael is referring to the "I'm a hunter, but..." or "I'm a gun enthusiast but.." anti gun propagandist.  There has been a crap load of these quisling types hitting the editorial pages of late.  Michael gives us some more fodder for opposing these Fudds.  Give him a read.

AR-15/M4 Suitable for Personal Defense? DHS Thinks So

Last Summer the Department of Homeland Security submitted a Request for Proposal to supply 7000 rifles to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The scope of this contract is to provide a total of up to 7,000 5.56x45mm North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) personal defense weapons (PDW) throughout the life of this contract to numerous Department of Homeland Security components. This Statement of Work delineates performance criteria and testing to be used for the evaluation of the firearm.

 Note that DHS is looking for "personal defense weapons".  What are considered personal defense weapons for employees of our Department of Homeland Security?

3.0 REQUIREMENTS AND TESTING STANDARDS


3.1 General. DHS and its components have a requirement for a 5.56x45mm NATO, select-fire firearm suitable for personal defense use in close quarters and/or when maximum concealment is required. Only one specific nomenclature firearm from each Contractor shall be submitted for solicitation testing and considered for contract award.

So a short barrel M4 or M-16 is suitable for personal defense if the operator gets his check signed by Uncle Sam, but the semi-auto standard length firearm is not suitable for the rest of us?

And what magazines are necessary for personal defense?

3.21.2 The magazine shall have a capacity to hold thirty (30) 5.56x45mm NATO rounds.

If you read through the RFP you will see that DHS has determined that pretty much every feature on Feinstein's AWB list is necessary for a good personal defense weapon.
 The hypocrisy, it hurts.

HSCEMS-12-R-00011 Section C

Further background can be found here.

H/T to Firehand

Anonymous Hacks US Sentencing Commission

It seems that our Federal .gov is stepping on every ones toes these days.  Anonymous is stepping back.

Anonymous hacks US Sentencing Commission, distributes files

Summary: Late evening Friday, January 25, U.S. Sentencing Commission website was hacked and government files distributed by Anonymous in what the group calls "Operation Last Resort."

Head on over to read the article for background and the Anonymous video release with transcription.

The statement from Anonymous starts out with:

Citizens of the world,


Anonymous has observed for some time now the trajectory of justice in the United States with growing concern. We have marked the departure of this system from the noble ideals in which it was born and enshrined. We have seen the erosion of due process, the dilution of constitutional rights, the usurpation of the rightful authority of courts by the “discretion” of prosecutors. We have seen how the law is wielded less and less to uphold justice, and more and more to exercise control, authority and power in the interests of oppression or personal gain.

Spot on, and this trend does seem to have really increased over the last few years.

In this day of indefinite detention of American Citizens, warrantless wiretapping and the suppression of free speech, the demands of Anonymous seem very reasonable.

However, in order for there to be a peaceful resolution to this crisis, certain things need to happen. There must be reform of outdated and poorly-envisioned legislation, written to be so broadly applied as to make a felony crime out of violation of terms of service, creating in effect vast swathes of crimes, and allowing for selective punishment. There must be reform of mandatory minimum sentencing. There must be a return to proportionality of punishment with respect to actual harm caused, and consideration of motive and mens rea. The inalienable right to a presumption of innocence and the recourse to trial and possibility of exoneration must be returned to its sacred status, and not gambled away by pre-trial bargaining in the face of overwhelming sentences, unaffordable justice and disfavourable odds. Laws must be upheld unselectively, and not used as a weapon of government to make examples of those it deems threatening to its power.


For good reason the statue of lady justice is blindfolded. No more should her innocence be besmirked, her scales tipped, nor her swordhand guided. Furthermore there must be a solemn commitment to freedom of the internet, this last great common space of humanity, and to the common ownership of information to further the common good.

These are demands that I can support.  If any of the proposed gun control legislation makes it into law, the Justice Department will have to be very creative in how they come after us and due process will not stand in their way.

Earlier this month Anonymous did respond to the Obama gun control policies.

As one very smart person once said, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend".

The AR-15 Isn't For Women, McCarthy Says So

Carolyn McCarthy proves once again that she knows absolutely nothing about the firearms that she is so intent upon keeping out of the hands of law abiding citizens.

 

PIERS MORGAN: I have an interview coming up with two young women who wrote a piece in which they said they wanted the rights of the AR-15 weapon at home because they feared they would be attacked and they wanted a gun that would guarantee they would murder or would kill their attacker. How do you respond to that particular argument, which is they believe under their second amendment right they should be allowed an AR-15?

CAROLYN MCCARTHY: I will tell you, if you talk to professionals, hunters and certainly sportsmen, they’ll tell you that’s not the gun to use. A rifle is more accurate. It’s certainly easier for a woman to be able to do that.

#1 - An AR15 is a rifle. 

#2 - Who give a rats ass what hunters and sportsmen think about what gun to use to defend your family and home.

#3 - It really is quite funny that on the day the Administration announces that it will by directive send women to the front lines of battle, this idjit states that women can't handle an AR15.

Well, Biden did say that they would be better off with a shotgun.  I guess the improved accuracy and reduced recoil of a 12 ga...

These are the folks who would use the full force of the United States .gov to remove the most efficient tools that we have available to defend ourselves.

H/T to the Washington Free Beacon

History and Founders Intent

Are you interested in the history of the Second Amendment?  Do you think it is important to understand the founders intent when they were writing the Second Amendment and including it in the Bill of Rights?  If so then you will be happy to know that David E. Young, one of the foremost authorities on this subject, is back to blogging.  On Second Opinion Blog is David's portal to sharing his wealth of information with the rest of us.  His post  "Second Amendment Intent / Right to Keep and Bear Arms Explained" is a good starting point on your quest to delve in to the history of the Second Amendment.  As David has said:

The facts of American history can end the never-ending dispute over Second Amendment intent, but only if they are understood and deployed to undermine and counteract the error based belief system of gun control proponents.

Head on over and learn some facts, facts that have helped the Supreme Court rule in favor of our right to keep and bear arms.

Gun Control - It's What You Do...

...when you don't have the intestinal fortitude or intelligence to face the issue of violence head on.  Feinstein announced the submittal of her latest and greatest Assault Weapons Ban today in a presser that has made all the news.  So far as I can tell, the actual text of the bill is not yet available for us common folk to read, all I can find is the bill summery on her website.

Basically the bill bans 157 firearms by name (these must be the especially evil Evil Black Rifles), and many others based upon what she considers a "military feature".  All AR's, all AK's and all Thompsons are banned by name.  She left off KRISS, but gets them with the 'military feature' ban.

What are these military features?

All semiautomatic rifles that can accept a detachable magazine and have at least one military feature: pistol grip; forward grip; folding, telescoping, or detachable stock; grenade launcher or rocket launcher; barrel shroud; or threaded barrel.

All semiautomatic pistols that can accept a detachable magazine and have at least one military feature: threaded barrel; second pistol grip; barrel shroud; capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip; or semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm.

All semiautomatic rifles and handguns that have a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

All semiautomatic shotguns that have a folding, telescoping, or detachable stock; pistol grip; fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 5 rounds; ability to accept a detachable magazine; forward grip; grenade launcher or rocket launcher; or shotgun with a revolving cylinder.

Plus "All ammunition feeding devices (magazines, strips, and drums) capable of accepting more than 10 rounds.

There is absolutely nothing on this list that does anything to address violent crime.  There is nothing on this list that will make a bit of difference to a goblin that wants to shoot up a school, or an ultra violent criminal who uses violence as a means increasing his power and supplementing his income.  If you want to stop violent crime, you need to stop the violent criminal.   

Senator Feinstein represents California.  We have a lot to thank California for when it comes to violent crime. The Los Angles area is the birthplace of many of our ultra violent street gangs. The Crips, the Bloods, SUR 13 and many others come from this area.  This gang culture has spread to every major city in the country along with most smaller ones.  So what has California done to stop this spread of violence?  Why they have gang summits, they start after school programs, they talk about this and they talk about that.  The prisons have a rotating door for even the most violent and the inner city schools are nothing more than gang recruiting depots.  This AWB that Diane Feinstein has introduced does nothing to address the gang issue, or the violent criminal issue.  Diane Feinstein refuses to address the root causes of our violent crime and refuses to do what is necessary to put a stop to violent criminals.  Instead takes what she believes is the easy path, the path that will accomplish nothing.  

I see legislation like this even locally.  We have an increase in the number of stolen cars.  Instead of finding and shutting down the chop shop or the gang that is running these cars down to Mexico, the city passed a law outlawing warming up your car in the morning or leaving it running to keep the AC on while grabbing a quick something at the store.  Yes, leaving your car running is stupid, but until lately not criminal.  It is easier for the police to ticket us than it is to stop the criminal.  Another example is graffiti.  the homeowner can receive a larger fine for not promptly removing graffiti than the juvenile graffiti "artist" may receive for painting it in the first place.  Again, it is just easier to punish us than stop crime.  

There is another thing that really irks me about this bill.  Some folks are exempt.   Listed in the exemptions is "...and retired law enforcement"  Why?  So even retired LEO's are better than us common Citizens?  Yes, I know, this exemption was put in to appease the Law Enforcement Associations that came out in support of this bill. They are not affected by it, even after retirement. 

If this bill is passed, and the ultra violent remain ultra violent and the criminals keep on keeping on, what's next?  The obvious answer is more bills, more restrictions on law abiding gun owners until there are no longer any more gun owners who can call themselves law abiding.  

One last thing.  They keep saying this is not confiscation.  The bill summery indicates that magazines with a capacity of over ten rounds will not be transferable.  If you can't legally transfer them, then the .gov will end up with them.  Sounds a whole lot like confiscation to me.

The Latest Magazine Ban Legislation

H.R. 138, a bill to "To prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and for other purposes" now has 48 cosponsors and a companion bill introduced by Frank Lautenberg in the Senate.  This bill has started to gain some traction in both the Congress and the Media.  It is being portrayed as "Common Sense" and they keep referencing a Washington Post / ABC Poll that supposedly indicates that 65% of Americans support legislation restricting magazine capacity.  If this polling data is anywhere near accurate, we have our work cut out for us.

This is a short bill so I can post it in its entirety here:

H. R. 138

To prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 3, 2013

Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York (for herself and Ms. DEGETTE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act'.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON TRANSFER OR POSSESSION OF LARGE CAPACITY AMMUNITION FEEDING DEVICES.

(a) Definition- Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (29) the following:

`(30) The term `large capacity ammunition feeding device'--

`(A) means a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device that has a capacity of, or that can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition; but

`(B) does not include an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.'.

(b) Prohibitions- Section 922 of such title is amended by inserting after subsection (u) the following:

`(v)(1)(A)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), it shall be unlawful for a person to transfer or possess a large capacity ammunition feeding device.

`(ii) Clause (i) shall not apply to the possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device otherwise lawfully possessed within the United States on or before the date of the enactment of this subsection.

`(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to import or bring into the United States a large capacity ammunition feeding device.

`(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to--

`(A) a manufacture for, transfer to, or possession by the United States or a department or agency of the United States or a State or a department, agency, or political subdivision of a State, or a transfer to or possession by a law enforcement officer employed by such an entity for purposes of law enforcement (whether on or off duty);

`(B) a transfer to a licensee under title I of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 for purposes of establishing and maintaining an on-site physical protection system and security organization required by Federal law, or possession by an employee or contractor of such a licensee on-site for such purposes or off-site for purposes of licensee-authorized training or transportation of nuclear materials;

`(C) the possession, by an individual who is retired from service with a law enforcement agency and is not otherwise prohibited from receiving ammunition, of a large capacity ammunition feeding device transferred to the individual by the agency upon that retirement; or

`(D) a manufacture, transfer, or possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device by a licensed manufacturer or licensed importer for the purposes of testing or experimentation authorized by the Attorney General.'.

(c) Penalties- Section 924(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(8) Whoever knowingly violates section 922(v) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.'.

(d) Identification Markings- Section 923(i) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following: `A large capacity ammunition feeding device manufactured after the date of the enactment of this sentence shall be identified by a serial number that clearly shows that the device was manufactured after such date of enactment, and such other identification as the Attorney General may by regulation prescribe.'.

Note in the bolded section that this legislation does not just cover detachable magazines.  This legislation covers any magazine that even has the potential of holding more than 10 rounds with the exception of attached tubular .22 cal. magazines.

Also note that magazines (and firearms with attached magazines with the potential to hold greater than 10 round) that are owned at the time the legislation becomes law are grandfathered in, and that they are not transferable.  This means that you can not sell, trade or bequeath your private property.

The legislation attempts to buy off the police organizations by excluding retired LEO's from this ban.  That exclusion is a kick in the teeth to every other American citizen.

This law will do absolutely nothing to curb violence.  The criminal element who buy, sell and steal firearms are not going to start restricting magazine capacity.

This law is unenforceable.  There are 10's of millions of standard capacity magazines in private possession right now.  No registration, no serial numbers, no proof of who owns what, when or where.  The tax dollars that would be necessary to attempt to enforce this law, and prosecute anyone arrested under this law would be prohibitive.

This law will reduce a citizen's ability to defend themselves.  Yes, it may very well take more than 10 rounds to defend your family and yourself from a goblin or a group of goblins.  Why do you think LEO's carry sidearms with standard capacity magazines?  They know that during conflict the more the better.  If a police officer needs more than 10 rounds on hand to defend himself, then I need more than 10 rounds to defend my family.  This my friend is why magazine capacity limitations infringe on my human right to defend myself and my family from harm.

The law won't work.  The law is not enforceable.  The law limits my ability to defend my family and my home.  This law needs to be defeated.

The CIA Gets a Pass

The Washington Post published an article today that  goes to show how numb we American citizens have become to our .gov breaking the rules.  Major violations of the Constitution are just an interesting paragraph in an article about the CIA and drones.  Just the title of the article should catch everyone's eye and make us take note. CIA drone strikes will get pass in counterterrorism  ‘playbook,’ officials say.  The title pretty much covers the story.  The Administration has developed a 'playbook' that is supposed to govern when and how we use drones to assassinate people, and the CIA doesn't have to play by the book. 

Yes, you did read that correctly.  Now if you have been keeping up with the drone news, you pretty much already knew this.  What surprises me is just how blatantly open they are about it now, and that they have no fear of reprisal of any kind.  If you are in Afghanistan or Pakistan, and someone puts your name on a CIA list, drone operators are instructed to kill you and anyone around you.  American citizen?  No matter, just as dead as the next name on the list.

The CIA is exempted from following the rules outlined in the playbook:

U.S. officials said the effort to draft the playbook was nearly derailed late last year by disagreements among the State Department, the CIA and the Pentagon on the criteria for lethal strikes and other issues. Granting the CIA a temporary exemption for its Pakistan operations was described as a compromise that allowed officials to move forward with other parts of the playbook.

Right now the CIA does not even have to know who they are killing, just that whatever is happening looks suspicious.

The discussions surrounding the development of the playbook were centered on practical considerations, officials said. One of the main points of contention, they said, was the issue of “signature strikes.”


The term refers to the CIA’s practice of approving strikes in Pakistan based on patterns of suspicious behavior — moving stockpiles of weapons, for example — even when the agency does not have clear intelligence about the identities of the targets.

Here is where it gets scary.

Among the subjects covered in the playbook are the process for adding names to kill lists, the legal principles that govern when U.S. citizens can be targeted overseas and the sequence of approvals required when the CIA or U.S. military conducts drone strikes outside war zones.

They have already killed American citizens with drone strikes, and they will continue to do so.  Why do they assassinate American citizens without the due process afforded by the Constitution?  Well, because they are Terrorists. Yep, Terrorists.  Since they are Terrorists who just happen to be American citizens, killing them with a drone strike instead of giving them a court trial saves the American tax payer a dollar or two.

No big deal, except for the fact that there are a few in our War Colleges and the Administration who use the term Terrorist when referring to folks like us, folks who take an active part in supporting the ideals of the US Constitution.  The most recent study labeling Patriots as Terrorists comes from West Point's Combating Terrorism Center.  This study is called "Challengers From the Sidelines - Understanding America's Violent Far Right". Who makes up the "Violent Far Right"? The author lists three groups.  "...a racist/white supremacy movement, an anti-federalist movement and a fundamentalist movement." It looks like they cast a pretty large net here, but not really.  In defining the three groups, the author lumps the fundamentalists in with the white supremest. "Lastly, the fundamentalist stream, which includes mainly Christian Identity groups such as the Aryan Nations, fuse religious fundamentalism with traditional white supremacy and racial tendencies" So we have the anti-federalists sandwiched in between two white supremacy categories.  Who are these anti-federalists?

They also espouse strong convictions regarding the federal government, believing it to be corrupt and tyrannical, with a natural tendency to intrude on individuals’ civil and constitutional rights. Finally, they support civil activism, individual freedoms, and self government.

 Yep, you did read that correctly.  Catch a chill yet?

This was not the first article of its type to come out of a war collage, just the most recent.  Heck, the Department of Homeland Security commissioned a study that indicated that the political Right was more of a threat to the United States than Islamic Extremism.
So, it is ok to assassinate American citizens just because someone in political power states that they are terrorists?  One has to wonder when the first drone strike is launched within US borders?  Maybe they won't use drones, just an FBI hit team with a kill list.  Can't happen here?  Who would have thought we would assassinate Americans over there?

Notes From the Sidebar

Links to a few posts from my friends on the sidebar.

John over at the Texican Tattler has comments about all the Rantin' and Ravin'! going on during this latest episode of the gun control debate.

The Firearm Blog  Shows us the new KRISS Multi-Caliber K-10.  I am a very big fan of the KRISS and am looking for a way to get one into my safe so new news from KRISS is always interesting to me.

Old NFO asks Did anybody else see this one???  He is talking about H.R. 226, a bill - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against tax for surrendering to authorities certain assault weapons. First I've heard of it also.

Peter, the Bayou Renaissance Man, has an excellent commentary on The struggle for gun rights - and for America.  In this article Peter points out that "Unfortunately, our opponents flatly disagree with Mr. Adams, and with us.  To them, the Bill of Rights is not only fully negotiable;  it's actually irrelevant in terms of politics.  It's an anachronism, something out of the past like the dinosaurs - and just as dead.  This is precisely why they proclaim, loudly and frequently, that the Constitution is a 'living document', to be reinterpreted according to the understanding of the modern world rather than cast in stone.  That also means they don't need to go to all the trouble of generating a Constitutional amendment, and having it approved - they can simply alter the way they understand and apply the document." Head on over and read the rest of his commentary, it is well worth your time.

Brigid shares thoughts and a story in Tools that Bind, Tools that Free. 

My old friend Fits makes me want to break out the prints for the .22 Gatling gun I've always wanted to build with his story from San Juan Hill, Arms In Battle: The Gatling.

Tam shares a poem and some solid comments on mandatory background checks in
It's Fun Show Time!

Because YOU are reading THIS is an empowering essay on truth and freedom found over at To Which I Replied.

The LawDog answers A question from a Gentle Reader: "And yet these sorts of atrocities are happening more and more. What is currently being proposed seems like over reaction on both the anti and pro gun sides, but what would you suggest?" You will just have to head on over if you want to read LawDog's answer.  What, you haven't clicked the link yet?

Mike notes that Obama's Gun Control Orders Ignore Larger Problem of Gang Violence.

Torrance highlights Obama's next drone war with Gold Digging: Will Mali be Obama’s Afghanistan? A well researched and written glimpse of what's next in the War on Terror.   The above is just a taste of some of the great information you can find by browsing the links on the sidebar.

T.L. Davis's Open Letter to the President

David Codrea points to an open letter penned by T.L. Davis.

Open Letter to the President Barack Obama

This letter is well worth your time.  Read it, think about it, let me know your thoughts and then share it with your friends and family.

Happy Gun Appreciation Day

This is the gun in my safe that I appreciate the most. It is my Grandfathers Winchester Model 94 - 30 WCF.

It is not the best picture, but it is an awesome rifle. My Grand Dad, William Wallace Cook, carried this rifle in a scabbard when he was a ranch hand in Montana and California. It was in the cab of his Combine when he followed the wheat, and it was his go-to gun if ever needed to defend home and family. This is one of our family heirlooms that I will pass down to my kids and grand kids. One day, when I have the extra cash laying around, I will send this rifle off to Turnbull Manufacturing for a full restoration.  A Turnbull full restoration is a good chunk of change, but well worth it for an heirloom firearm.

I want to be the one who determines who I pass my family heirlooms off to.  It does not matter if that heirloom is my Great Grandmothers knot work, my Grandfathers Model 94, my favorite tools, or even an AR15 that I happen to find special.  The .gov has no business interfering in my decisions about who I leave my private property to.  When you hear Obama and the Anti's talking about Universal Background Checks or Closing the Gun Show Loophole, they are talking about inserting the .gov into the transfer of private property between two free citizens.  The Death Tax has all but killed off the successful family farmer, and a universal background check will break the tradition of passing down family heirlooms for many families.

What's With all the Hammer Violence?

Hammer violence seems to be becoming an epidemic these days.

From The Smoking Gun: Run On Guns Has Now Forced Poor Robbers To Stick Up Banks At Hammerpoint

And also locally via NBC 5: Robber Beats Dallas Clerk With Several Hammers


It shouldn't be long before the White House directs the CDC to study the causes and effects of hammer violence and asks our doctors to quiz us on how many hammers we own and exactly where we keep them.  Anyone can walk into pretty much any general merchandise store in the country and purchase a hammer without even having to show ID or proof of age.  Hammers are everywhere.  I haven't seen any studies, but from my own experience I can pretty much deduce that most households in America own at least one hammer.  What are we to do?

A Good Defense is a Strong...

We Gunnies have been content with the status quo for far too long.  Only when the Anti's make a direct attack on what we see as our current rights do we mobilize to defend those rights.  We cannot always play defense.  No military, team or cause can win long term without going on the attack.  If we always wait for the Anti's to make their move, the Anti's will be the only ones to score.  Each score for the Anti's further erodes our rights.  We need to go into attack mode.  We need to strive to overturn laws that restrict our natural rights at both the state and federal level.  The Anti's are launching the largest and most aggressive assault on human rights in recent American history.  We need to fight back by doing more than play defense.

When they submit Assault Weapons Ban legislation, we submit legislation to repeal the Gun Control Act of 1968.  When legislation is submitted to regulate magazine capacity, we move to remove silencers from the NFA (National Firearms Act) and amend The Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 to allow the sale of machine guns manufactured after 1986 to civilians.  Background checks on every firearm transaction? Only if passing that same background check is a requirement for all federal elected officials and employees to maintain employment, we repeal the Lautenberg Amendment, ensure that the rights of our military returning from war are not restricted due to treatment for PTSD, and that minimum sentences of at least 15 years w/o parole are applied to all violent gun related crimes.

The Anti's attack, we go on the defense.  We organize and defend.  We worry if this is going to be the time they succeed in turning us into felons with the stroke of a pen.  It is well past time we went on the offencive and started regaining ground lost over the last eight decades.

Come on Over to Texas

Jim Forsyth via Reuters reported that "Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has a message for New York gun owners: Come to Texas, and bring your guns with you."

This is really pretty funny.  Shortly after NY passed the most draconian (I know, been using that word way too much lately) gun laws in the nation, our AG started a Face Book, print and electronic ad campaign.  Here is one of the images he is using on FB:



I posted an idea on FB the other day about a great new business opportunity brought about by the new NY gun laws:

Out of state firearm storage. Live in a state run by Quislings who don't trust law abiding citizens with guns? Want to ensure your heirloom firearms stay in the family? For a low monthly fee you can store your guns in the free state of Texas. Air conditioned, secure, and private firearm storage available. Your firearms will always be available for in person pickup by you or your representative. In the event of the Zombie Apocalypse, you will have 10 days to get here before you guns are used to help save humanity.

You know, the more I think about it, the more this sounds like a very reasonable business opportunity.

One quick note for all y'all coming to Texas from repressive coastal states.  Please either stay out of the voting booth or vow to never vote for the same crap that destroyed the states you are leaving.  Thanks.

Edit: Rick is kinda ruining my evil capitalistic plans by offering free storage to NY gun owners.  How the heck am I ever going to become a 1%'r when do-gooders keep offering my viable options for making mega dollars for free?

Magazine Clips Illustrated

A great illustration of magazine clips, what is ok and what is not.

Thoughts From Today's Anti-Gun Proposals From Our President

Took an earlyish lunch at work today and watched the Dog and Pony show put on by the Obama/Biden public relations team.  I have to hand it to President Obama, he sure can speechify when he wants to.  Hair was tented the proper shade of grey to portray the fatherly image, face well made up and properly stern looking for the occasion, and all the appropriate props for such a momentous occasion. Yes, this was a momentous occasion.  The President of these United States asked us to forgo our natural right to self defense.  He basically demanded that we give up the most efficient tools available to defend ourselves, our families and our property.  Obama said over and over again that this was just "common sense" and that we needed to "do it for the children".  Hell, he even brought out the old "if it saves just one life" bit.  The teleprompter failed at providing new material.  You would think that the PR firm that did such a good job of setting the stage could have come up with something new.

So what did our President propose today?  Like I said, the same old BS.  Obama called for a new and improved Assault Weapon Ban and limitations on magazine capacity.  I left my notes at work so don't have his exact words handy but he said something along the lines of "...weapons that belong in the theater of war do not belong in a movie theater."  Like I said, I don't have my notes but that is close enough.  I tell you what, if you sent our military into battle with AR15's, they might be a little pissed.  Outgunned and pissed.  We keep beating this drum, and the media keeps ignoring us.  AR15's and the civilian versions of all other military style firearms are just that, civilian versions.  Look alike guns that function the same as any other semi-auto firearm out there.  AR15's are neat because you can personalize them like the old Chevy 327.  Everyone makes aftermarket parts for the AR15.  Why are so many aftermarket parts available?  Because the rifle is so popular.  The detachable magazine makes it a very efficient life, home and property defence weapon.  Not so easy to truly master, but easy enough to become handy with.  Our President also wants to limit magazine capacity to 10 or less rounds.  I do believe that pretty much every modern day semi-auto handgun, with the exception of a few "slim" models, smaller than .45ACP comes standard with magazines with greater than a 10 round capacity.  Why is that?  Well it is for the same reason that our police forces like to carry smaller caliber handguns with higher capacity, more available firepower = more chances that you will survive a gun fight.  Magazine limitation laws will not stop violent crime.  There are literally 10s of millions of standard capacity magazines in circulation right now.  Criminalizing these magazines will only transfer a large number of them into the hands of criminals, and reduce the ability of the law abiding to defend themselves.

Next on the list is the call to criminalize the private sale of firearms.  One of the tenants that Americans hold dearest is our right to private property.  I have firearms that have been in my family for three generations.  I want to choose who I leave these heirlooms to.  I am a free citizen of these United States.  If I choose to sell a firearm to a friend, it is no business of the .gov.  At one time I held a Top Secret security clearance.  I have had several FBI background checks for both civilian work and for my Texas CHL.  That really does not matter because as a citizen, I have the right to dispose of my private property as I wish.  The criminal element will ignore magazine limitations just as they ignore all laws.  I do believe that many current law abiding citizens will become criminals with the stroke of a pen if this type of legislation ever became law.

The last bit of legislation that I recall Obama demanding is a strengthening of laws against straw purchases (someone purchasing a gun for someone who can not pass a background check).  The laws we currently have on the books are pretty onerous, but they can be improved.  The only problem is that they are not often enforced.  I also find it very ironic that the same Administration and Justice Department that facilitated the transfer of well over 2000 of the exact same guns that they want to ban to the ultra violent Mexican Drug Gangs fairly ironic.  Seriously folks, the Fast and Furious program that was instituted by the Justice Department resulted in the deaths of over 300 Mexican citizens.  These guns were used to kill kids, beauty pageant winners, civil authorities and an American Border Patrol Agent or two.  The criminals who did this are going to lecture me about gun laws?  I don't think so.

We also learned today that the inferred 19 Executive Orders to be signed by Obama became 23.  On a positive note, these EO's were not nearly as onerous as what was leaked via trial balloon the past few days before this presser.  I promised a friend that I would comment on the EO's this evening, but I do owe my lovely wife some time.  Also, there are some very good thoughts on these issues here, here and more on my sidebar.  The only thing I can add is on EO 15 - Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies. Look for a push to require smart gun technology and micro-stamping. Two horrid ideas that I will Fisk when they pop up.

You know what you have to do.  Contact your Congress Critter and give them the support they need to oppose this legislation. Do it today.  Obama did a good job of calling out the Anti's during this midday event.  We have to do a better job of countering both the Administration and the Media.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the day our Illustrious Leader will surround himself with children as he announces the proposed anti gun legislation he wants to sign into law, and the 19 or so Imperial Proclamations he will put into place via Executive Order.  I'm half tempted to take off from work tomorrow just to watch Obama as he hammers away at the cornerstone of our freedoms.  How far will he go with his latest EO's?  Will he add semi-auto rifles to the NFA and require a Form 4, $200 and ATF approval for each gun?  Will he just outright ban the purchase of any semi-autos until legislation can be written and passed into law that suits his fancy?  I don't know, but I do feel a chill coming from the Hill and it has nothing to do with the weather.

New York just passed the most draconian of anti-gun laws in this country.  These are laws that just 6 months ago we would have thought impossible to get passed, even in NY.  What's worse is the fact that it was Republicans that made this possible. Granted, most Texas Democrats are a bit to the Right of NY Republicans, but still...

The speed in which Coumo accomplished this fiat will give the Administration the idea that the same can be done nationwide. 

Tomorrow will come, let's see what it brings.

The War of Words

I think we've lost it.  While we quibble over the definition of Assault Rifle or the difference between a magazine and a clip, the Anti's are garnering public support for draconian anti-gun and anti-freedom legislation.  Do you honestly think that the  President of the United States, or Eric Holder (Head of the Justice Department for crying out loud) don't know that an AR-15 is not an Assault Weapon?  The Anti's have been at this for decades.  Josh Sugermann and the Brady Bunch know the difference between a clip and a magazine just as well as you and I.  I'll bet they get a chuckle each and every time one of us call them out on the misuse of terms.  We argue over terminology, they use soundbites to turn the Orwellian public against us.

It may help our cause to explain these issues to less educated gun owning Americans, but it really does us no good in the grand scheme of things.  The same uninformed public that Voted Obama into a second term as POTUS will enable him to get a large chunk of the legislation he is after.  They don't care if the gun on the news is a full auto BAR or a poodle shooter semi auto.  All they see is the Evil Black Rifle.

Obama does not have to run for election again.  Obama could care less about the political future of anyone on the Hill, he will throw them all under the bus to accomplish his goals.  Obama has spent a good chunk of his adult life fighting against the Second Amendment.  Fast and Furious was a gun control gambit.  Our Justice Department facilitated the transfer of well over 2000 firearms from American gun shops to Mexican drug gangs.  The increased violence on the Mexican side of the border was to be the impetus for stricter gun control laws here in the United States.  Over 300 people have been killed by ultra violent goblins using these guns, many thousands live in fear of these drug gangs.  Two things hindered this plan to use the violence in Mexico as a cause to restrict our rights.  First Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed by thugs using Fast and Furious guns, and second, Bloggers David Codrea and Mike Vanderboegh forced this issue into the public eye.  Do you think an Administration and a Justice Department who would do something as atrocious as Fast and Furious would hesitate to use any other means at hand to take our guns?

So stop bemoaning the fact that the media calls your AR-15 an Assault Weapon, embrace the fact that it is an Evil Black Rifle and stand up for your rights no matter what they call it.

Why Does Anyone Need an Assault Rifle

This 6 minute video pretty much says it all.

Wyoming House Bill 104

Wyoming H.B. 104, a Firearm Protection Act, will be an interesting one to follow.

H.B. 104 is "AN ACT relating to firearms; providing that any federal law which attempts to ban a semi-automatic firearm or to limit the size of a magazine of a firearm or other limitation on firearms in this state shall be unenforceable in Wyoming; providing a penalty; and providing for an effective date."

From the bill:

(d) Any federal law, rule, regulation or order created or effective on or after January 1, 2013 shall be unenforceable within the borders of Wyoming if the law, rule, regulation or order attempts to:

(i) Ban or restrict ownership of a semi-automatic firearm or any magazine of a firearm; or

(ii) Require any firearm, magazine or other firearm accessory to be registered in any manner.

This bill amends Wyoming Statute 6-8-405. Offenses and penalties; defense of Wyoming citizens, also known as the "Firearms Freedom Act".  This is the infamous Wyoming law that makes it a crime to enforce Federal firearms law against Wyoming residents who own firearms that are manufactured in Wyoming.  The Firearms Freedom Act was signed in to law and is now in the Ninth Circuit.

So, right now Wyoming law states that a Wyoming firearm manufacturer can produce fully automatic firearms and sell them to Wyoming residents without filing paperwork with the ATF.  Problem is, until the courts clear this up, owning an unregistered fully automatic firearm will still most likely get you tossed in prison for a long time.  On a positive note, your name will end up as a plaintiff when the case goes to the Supreme Court.