Thompson Woos Gun Owners: ...As Mr. Thompson, a former senator from
Tennessee, struggles to make up for what even his supporters call a
lackluster campaign, gun owners passionate about the right to bear arms
is one group Mr. Thompson is counting on to bolster his efforts...After
the gun show, Mr. Thompson, jokingly referred to one reporter as a
"Yankee" before challenging Mr. Giuliani on what he said was a recent
conversion to supporting gun owners' rights. "He never met a gun-control
bill he didn't like until he started to run for president," Mr. Thompson
said...
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/us/politics/25thompson.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin
---
Bill Quick On Heller: My first take (I have to admit I'm shaking in my
boots at the negative possibilities here, given that I thought the
SCOTUS would dodge this one) is that the Court will find an individual
right, but do so in such a way that almost no gun control laws currently
in place are much disturbed, although pestholes like Chicago and San
Francisco may be encouraged to permit their citizens to defend
themselves once again. The whole issue of incorporation will be much
discussed beyond the court as well, I expect...By the way, what a
stinker of an issue this is for the Democrats and the left, eh? I think
Hillary will have a Sister Souljah moment and come out in support of an
individual rights interpretation...
http://dailypundit.com/?p=28443
---
Oops, Wrong Karate Kid: Teenage brown belt Rebecca Kelly saved the day
when her parents were attacked by a Taser-wielding junkie as they picked
her up from a karate lesson. The pretty 13-year-old put her martial arts
skills to the test after a drug-crazed yob lunged at her mother, Diane,
53, with the weapon, which temporarily paralyses people with a huge
electric shock, as she waited in the car for her daughter. (No word yet
from British authorities as to whether the teenager will face
prosecution for excessive force.)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=495976&in_page_id=1770
---
Stupid Gun Tricks: Here's one if (a) you are addicted to smoking, (b)
live in the desert and (c) have someone else paying for your ammunition.
http://splodetv.com/how-light-smoke-your-ak-47
---
From John Farnam:
19 Nov 07
Mossberg M930, Autoloading Shotgun:
During an Urban Rifle/Shotgun Course in OH last weekend, a student
brought a brand-new copy of Mossberg's M930 Shotgun. It is the first
one I've had a chance to actually use and observe on a range.
Bottom line: The 930 is unusable for our purposes.
Problems became apparent immediately as the student attempted to
manipulate the gun. Once loaded, the entire magazine tube must be
completely voided and then subsequently recharged all over again, in
order to return the shotgun to Transport Mode (magazine tube charged,
hammer down on an empty chamber, manual safety "off," (Transport Mode
is often referred to as "Cruiser-Ready"). In addition, when attempting
the load the gun, it continually double-stacked, causing two rounds to
be released from the magazine tube into the receiver, simultaneously.
After ten, frustrating minutes of attempting to come up with a viable
handling procedure, we gave up and issued the student a Remington 870,
which, of course, ran fine for the duration.
Some years ago, Mossberg produced another autoloading shotgun, dubbed
the "Jungle Gun." Now long-since out of production, we had nothing but
trouble with it too.
Mossberg is surely capable of producing functional shotguns, but this
new 930 is utterly unsuitable for our purposes. Again, when making
ostensible " police" shotguns, they need to talk with someone other than
trap shooters!
/John
19 Nov 07
Comments on adverse conditions, from one of our instructors:
"During the Rifle Test last weekend, I was shivering because of the
cold. I got chilled and just could not get warm. My discomfort made a
big difference in my performance. It was difficult for me to
concentrate on the task at hand. It was a combination of fatigue, cold,
and exhaustion, both mental and physical, that made it nearly impossible
to concentrate sufficiently to hold my sights on target.
Here is what I learned: I need to do more training in the cold, wind,
rain, mud, etc! I need to train when I am anything but comfortable, in
fact, when I am miserable to distraction, and exhausted mentally.
Training at that ragged end of the spectrum will develop mental
toughness, the kind of icy determination I will need when the challenge
comes to me at an inconvenient time and in an unhappy place!"
Comment: An important lesson here! We do entirely too much "training"
in the abstract, where we can concentrate completely upon what we're
doing, because there is not a host of distractions clamoring for our
attention and dividing our focus. The ability to concentrate on demand,
to exert complete control over our own minds and thoughts, despite
being submerged in brawling chaos, is a critical fighting skill, yet
one that is scarcely known, much less regularly exercised, by most
practitioners of our Art!
"The occasional lightning flash that troubles the atheist is more
important than the comfortable, smug faith of the 'believer.'"
/John
(Many people are familiar with the concept of stages of competence.
"Conscious incompetence" describes the learner who is aware that he is
not yet competent with a new skill. "Conscious competence" describes the
learner who can perform the new skill if he can think about it.
""Unconscious competence" describes a level of skill where the
practitioner does not need to think about performing the task. It is for
those who have developed unconscious competence that the above remarks
have the greatest meaning; unnecessarily harsh conditions may not
enhance learning at the earlier stages.)
20 Nov 07
We attended the last day of the ITOA Show (Illinois Tactical Officers'
Assn) today in Oakbrook, IL. Things of note:
Chicago Police Department has, at long last, approved Glock pistols.
Glock was frozen out of CPD for many years, because of several
individuals up he food chain, who, for reasons known only to them, just
didn't like the pistol. They're now out of the way, and Glocks are
finally approved for general carry. CPD has also, finally, approved
the 40S&W round.
John Klein's (Sage International) replacement chassis for the M-14 rifle
has been purchased by both the Marines and the Army. Designated the
M-39 by the USMC, it is being issued to the "Designated Marksman" at
squad level. It has rails for mounting accessories, along with a stock
that is adjustable in length as well as height. Stock is also
collapsible. A similar replacement chassis is available for the
Mini-14, breathing new life into that gun as a patrol rifle. I've known
John for many years, and everything he makes is top-drawer.
My friends at Glock tell me that the G19 has superceded the G23 as
Glock's current best seller. The 9mm, they believe, has reemerged at
the defensive pistol caliber of choice, at least in the non-police
market. The shift is at least partially due to recent improvements in
high-performance ammunition available in 9mm. The G21SF has now largely
displaced the G21. Most departments looking for a pistol in 45ACP
specify the G21SF
Friends with SIG report that many departments that had been using the
DAK have abandoned it in favor of the conventional SIG system, now with
the SRT (short-reset trigger)
Ruger's new SR9 was on display and garnered interest. It's relatively
low retail price, combined with its similarity to Glock, will insure at
least some sales.
Throwing flash-bang munitions into doors is now considered an obsolete
tactic by most SWAT units. The current trend it to insert flash-bang
grenades through windows, on the end of specially-designed poles. This
is a direct response to many unintentional injuries, to officers,
suspects, and bystanders alike, associated with thrown flash-bangs.
ITOA, under the inspired leadership of Chief Jeff Chudwin, has
established itself as the premier training organization in the Midwest.
Good show, Jeff!
/John
(I have observed over time that some of my students who show up with
40's and .45's, which they have been comfortable shooting two-handed,
under ideal range conditions, may no longer feel as comfortable when I
have them shoot from compressed one-handed positions or other
unconventional positions. It's comforting to see that others are also
recognizing that, with modern ammunition, the 9x19mm chambering works
fine, in a broader latitude of conditions.)
21 Nov 07
Interesting news about S&W's M&P Pistol, from a friend in the Philippines:
"Smith's M&P pistols, in both 40S&W and 9mm, are doing absurdly well
over here, all the more interesting when one considers that S&W pistols
have, up until now, never enjoyed any appreciable presence in this part
of the world!
Despite a premium price-tag, distributors can't keep these pistols in
stock. Filipinos are voting with their checkbooks and the M&P is
rapidly moving to first place here, eclipsing Beretta, Browning HP,
various Eastern European guns, and currently breathing down Glock's neck!
I've managed to interview several end-users who have already had serious
trigger-time with their M&Ps, and all return nothing but rave reviews.
Positive comments center mostly on high reliability, pleasing
ergonomics, and variable grip geometry. For our small hands, there is
no longer need for a 'grip-reduction.' All attempts to make the pistol
short-cycle, via limp-wristing, have failed.
Spare parts are still scarce, as are spare magazines. Comp-Tac and
Bladetech do ship holsters to our country, so at least we have viable
concealed-carry options.
Glock dealers have been compelled to lower prices!"
Comment: Ten years ago, many (including me) predicted that S&W would be
out business before 2000. How wrong we were! S&W, a grand American gun
company, now with competent management, has surged back. They, at long
last, have a major player in the M&P Pistol.
Competition is good! When competent products go head-to-head, everyone
benefits.
/John
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
