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Delivery Difficulties: Despite the fact that these mailings are
currently split into five separate lists, to ensure that each mailing
has fewer than 100 recipients, I am getting an increasing number of
rejection notices for entire groups of addresses. Lately these have been
mostly for Comcast, Yahoo and Hotmail accounts. Now I see that Yahoo and
AOL are planning on charging "postage" for bulk mailings. If you stop
receiving these mailings, check your spam box,
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/technology/05AOL.html?_r=1&ei=5094&en=adc81ef8bbdf0746&hp=&ex=1139115600&partner=homepage&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin
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No Surprise Attacks?: Those familiar with my book or website will recall
that I place mental awareness as the highest priority in self-defense.
Here is another perspective on the concept.
http://www.policetraining.net/newsletter-2-2006.htm#article-1
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Some Neighbors Protest Machine Guns At Nuclear Lab: The pending
installation of a modern version of the Gatling gun at Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory has some nearby residents more worried
than the prospect of a terrorist attack, against which they are intended
to protect.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/04/BAGM8H2IH51.DTL
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Accidental Discharge: This report, with the identity of the reporter
redacted, comes via the International Association of Law Enforcement
Firearms Instructors. It is the second incident of this nature of which
I am aware. It appear that these jackets have either drawstrings or
zipper pulls with "plugs" attached, located at the sides.
This incident involves a Sheriff's Deputy in Louisiana this past week.
He went to the range and was shooting with a raid jacket (with a draw
string) as their policy dictates. He was using a paddle holster with
his duty carry weapon and often uses the same holster for duty carry.
He completed the qualification, reloaded the weapon for duty carry and
holstered his weapon at the range. When he holstered his weapon the
draw string attachment became lodged in trigger guard. This deputy then
went some period of time and went home. When he removed the paddle
holster the draw string pulled tight and discharged the weapon with the
firearm in the holster. The deputy was shot in the outer thigh and
buttocks. The deputy will be fine.
Definitely a freak accident, but something we should all be aware of, as
we shoot with similar jackets.
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From John Farnam:
1 Feb 06
FN/SAW
I had the opportunity to shoot a SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) last
week. I've handled them before at the factory in SC where they are
produced, but this was the first time I've actually operated a copy.
The weapon gets mixed reviews from the front, but there is a lot to
like! It is light (for a GPMG). Barrel changes are nearly as fast and
convenient as with the FG42. Much easier and requiring less exposure
than with the M60, and the barrel comes with a handle, so no asbestos
glove is necessary. The gun fires from both from a disintegrating belt
or from an M-16 magazine.
Of course, the 223 round is not what we would like it to be, but the gun
itself has a lot going for it.
When in Vietnam, I discovered the M60 to be unsatisfactory. I had two
copies assigned to my platoon (G Co, 2/7), and their crews were suburb,
maintaining them constantly. Even then, we couldn't keep them running.
I never depended on them! I sincerely hope this new gun does better,
and, when it does, I hope we can get it in a heavier caliber. In the
interim, my impression remains positive!
/John
2 Feb 06
SAW comments, from friends in the system:
"At twenty pounds, the SAW is too heavy for a "light" (223) GPMG,
particularly when used in urban fighting where one must climb up the
outside of buildings and jump in and an out of windows and over walls.
Additionally, the SAW's continuous and vexatious maintenance issues are
reminding us all of the old, M60! Regular users are unhappy with the
SAW. For example, the plastic feed drum, that link ammunition comes in,
never stays secure. It falls off regularly. The Marine Corps is nxious
to replace the SAW. I don't think it will be in our system much longer.
Regarding heavier calibers, the superb FN/240G medium (308) GPMG (that
replaced the M60 over ten years ago) really shines. Wonderfully
reliable. Everyone loves it. We need a bunch more of them!"
Comment: Maybe a new family of reliable small arms will ultimately
emerge from the current, confused state of affairs. We need useable and
reliable rifles, pistols, and GMPGs, in calibers with range,
penetration, and terminal effect that are genuinely suitable to modern
military challenges. At present, we are far from where we need to be,
in all three categories, and we are impatient with the agonizingly slow
pace of forward progress (and we all should be!). The next great, world
conflagration is going to be upon us sooner than most think, and we dare
not enter it with inferior small arms.
/John
(The National Firearm Act of 1934, its amendments and related
regulations and restrictions have done much to suppress the development
of new machine guns by American inventors. Note that both guns discussed
are foreign designs.)
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
