Kiwi Commentator Claims Economy Will Trump RKBA in US Elections: ...Of
course everyone knows the NRA's position on John McCain - it was against
him before it was for him - and that it probably didn't want its first
minted candidate to be a winking and puckering cartoon character named
Sarah Palin. It has also lost constituency to its nemesis, the American
Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA), after failing to fight Mining
Law amendments tucked in the House Federal Budget Deficit Reduction Act
that allowed millions of acres of public lands treasured by hunters to
be sold to mining companies in 2005. But the NRA's real problem is the
Wall Street crisis... (And how many actual members dose AHSA have?
Perhaps more in New Zealand than in the US.)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0810/S00167.htm
---
South Dakota Democrats Win NRA Endorsements: ...In bagging a double on
NRA endorsements, the two Democrats edged out two Republicans who also
got "A" ratings and might typically expect to be favored by the gun
group. The GOP works hard to portray itself as the party of the Second
Amendment, and in many cases succeeds. But Johnson and Herseth Sandlin
scored through the power of incumbency and voting records likely to win
approval from the powerful gun-rights group and its potential campaign
clout in South Dakota... (I recall a conversation with a pro-RKBA
Democrat who was running for state senator in Arizona and could not
understand why the state NRA affiliate had only given her an "A" but had
given her opponent an "A+." Both had correctly answered all the
questions on the questionnaire but the opponent had an actual voting
record in the state legislature.)
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/10/12/news/top/doc48f18b163bd17141657568.txt
---
Disposable AK-47's: Orange County's latest murders reflect an alarming
trend for law enforcement: urban firefights with dozens of shots fired.
The shooters in Tuesday night's double killing outside a Pine Hills
apartment complex emptied two AK-47s into the victims and fled,
discarding the assault rifles, two handguns and a shotgun. "They just
disposed of them like disposable cigarette lighters, I guess, because
they're so easy to get," sheriff's homicide Detective Dave Clark said
Friday. "I mean, it's really unusual for people to leave stuff like this
behind..." (I sense a coming crescendo of calls for a new ban on
military look-alike firearms. I also note the lack of any AK-47's in the
photo and the indiscriminate mingling of the AK-47 and the AR-15 in the
video.)
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-shootout1108oct11,0,563660.story
---
Tangentially Related: The 3rd Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat
Team has spent 35 of the last 60 months in Iraq patrolling in full
battle rattle, helping restore essential services and escorting supply
convoys. Now they're training for the same mission - with a twist - at
home. Beginning Oct. 1 for 12 months, the 1st BCT will be under the
day-to-day control of U.S. Army North, the Army service component of
Northern Command, as an on-call federal response force for natural or
manmade emergencies and disasters, including terrorist attacks. It is
not the first time an active-duty unit has been tapped to help at home.
In August 2005, for example, when Hurricane Katrina unleashed hell in
Mississippi and Louisiana, several active-duty units were pulled from
various posts and mobilized to those areas... (Recall that as military
and out-of-state police "supported" local authorities in post-Katrina
New Orleans, hundreds of law-abiding citizens were disarmed. While
several states subsequently passed legislation banning such
confiscation, I doubt that it would be respected by federal troops.)
http://www.militarytimes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1568518
---
From John Farnam:
6 Oct 08
Urban Rifles:
At an Urban Rifle Course in NV last weekend, we had two students who
brought Kel-Tec SU-16s w/folding stocks (223). The rifle is attractive
because of the way it folds up for low-profile transport, and because it
accepts M-16 magazines. We're had a number of these rifles in Courses,
but reliability has been spotty. And, neither of the two we had with us
last weekend ran well. Feeding problems abounded, and acquiring a
consistent, stable cheek-weld and mount is difficult with the
abbreviated folding stock. They are far from the top of my List.
We had one SIG/556 which ran all weekend without a single hiccup. With
its folding stock, it transports well in a tennis-racket case. And,
with its forward-mounted Micro Aimpoint, it is extremely fast and deadly
accurate.
My RA/XCR in 7.62X39, also with a forward-mounted Aimpoint on a LaRue
quick-release mount, ran just fine too, as always. With its folding
stock, it fits conveniently into my OFA "Go-Bag," mentioned in a
previous Quip.
We had several ARs, one S&W M&P, one DSA, along with several others.
All but one was equipped with an Aimpoint, and all ran fine, however
students had to be constantly reminded to keep the dust-cover closed!
We also had a Micro-Aimpoint-equipped Kahr M1 Carbine. This is the
second M1Carbine we've seen so equipped. It too ran fine all weekend,
and it's owner passed his Practical Test. He has a good supply of
Cor-Bon DPX for it!
One student used an iron-sighted 30-06 Garand, and he was good with it!
From shooting, to moving, to reloading, he was practiced and competent.
The original Garand, considered a "relic" by some, is still a formidable
weapon in the hands of the accomplished! The Garand is big and heavy,
at least by today's standards, so we don't see a lot of them, but, when
we do, their owners know what they're about, without fail!
With Western-style "peep" rear sights, we sometimes see shooters
mistakenly sighting over the rear sight, instead of through it,
particularly when fast shooting is required. It happens even among the
experienced. The result is, of course, a shot that goes way high.
Under similar circumstances, shooters sometimes mistake a protective
wing on the left or right of the front sight post for the front sight
itself, sending shots way to one side or the other. Even "simple"
iron-sights are far from fool-proof!
Students of history clearly see that we are headed into exciting times,
and they also know that a capable urban rifle, along with competent
accouterments, and correct and well-practiced rifle skills, are all
going to be indispensable accessories among the wise and awake for the
foreseeable future.
Most who become aware, usually for the first time, of what a competent
Operator can accomplish with his urban rifle, from that point forward
never want to be without one!
/John
(Folding stocks can be troublesome. I have come to regard telescoping
stocks, which I believe were initially a response to the buffer tube on
the M16/AR-15, more in terms of "adjustable" than "collapsible." The
addition of cylindrical storage compartments, sized to accommodate extra
lithium 123 batteries, greatly improves the cheek weld with this type of
stock. While I believe that they are now offered by others, I first
became aware of them as part of the VLTOR
[
http://www.vltor.com/index.html] modular buttstock system. I suppose
that different folks have different concepts of an urban rifle. Some,
who may envision a need to shoot into vehicles and through light walls,
may opt for rifles chambered in .308 [7.62x51mm] or .30-06 [7.62x63mm],
such as John Garand's M1 Rifle. Those who feel that such penetration may
be excessive in a defensive role in an urban environment may feel better
served by carbines chambered in .223 [5.56x45mm] or its Soviet
equivalent, 5.45x39mm. Still others my feel that the older Soviet
7.62x39mm chambering splits the difference. While courses such as the
one described by John tend to focus on semi-automatic military or
military-style rifles and carbines, I feel that it is a good idea to be
equipped with at least one lever-action carbine, as insurance against a
ban on the latter. These can be had in chamberings from .38 Special and
357 Magnum [comparable to the .30 M1 Carbine cartridge] on through
30-30 [a bit more powerful than the 7.62x39mm cartridge] and beyond,
into such heavy-hitters as the venerable .45-70.)
7 Oct 08
On local gun shows, from a friend in CA:
"At a local gun show in San Diego last weekend, a number of guns were
stolen. Some were snatched during the day, at the busiest time. Teams
of thieves used distraction tactics.
After the show closed, lights were turned off, and supposedly an alarm
was set. Next day, it was discovered that more guns had been stolen
during the night. The alarm never sounded, and I'm not even sure it
even works! These thieves are professionals. They travel in groups to
gun shows in every corner of the Country.
'Security' at gun shows is poor. Most proven precautions, such as using
dogs to confirm everyone is out of the building, have been eliminated in
order to lower costs.
This is a serious quandary, and it is not being reported, even in the
gun-press."
Comment: With current world-wide suspense, guns represent an extreme
high-density valuable, and their value and attractiveness to thieves
appreciates with each day.
Guns need to be "adequately secured" (whatever that means!) every
moment. When not carried on your person and thus under your direct
control, they must be continuously protected from unauthorized access.
While I'm not likely to offer security advice to gun-show organizers, I
can recommend to individual gun-owners that they invest in a gun-safe
and use it conscientiously to keep guns, and other high-density
valuables, continually secure.
Thieves want to get their hands on your guns. We all need to view them
as the authentic valuables they are!
/John
(In the past I have mentioned that I use a lightweight, portable locking
box, with a cable attachment, for short-term storage of handguns inside
my vehicle. Arguably, it may also be suitable for use for use in hotel
rooms and similar venues. I recently learned that a list member
[
http://shop.mnpistolclass.com/category.sc?categoryId=2] offers them for
a better price than the source from whom I purchased mine.)
--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
