Forwarded by a List Member:
My good buddy Will Graves is writing another book. This time he is
documenting the lives of average people and how guns fit into their
lives from childhood to adulthood. If you want to be in his book or
feel you have a good story to tell about guns in your life please
contact him at 410-987-7670. His email is
[email protected].
---
From GOA: Here's where we're at on socialized health care. The House
and Senate have passed ObamaCare bills, but the two versions are very
different. So, the bill can't go to the President until they iron out
the differences. Make no mistake about it. This legislation moves us
down the road towards socialism, and it will result in even more gun
owners being disqualified from owning firearms. We need to regroup and
renew our efforts to kill ObamaCare - an outcome which is still very
doable. Now, repeat this phrase over and over: A MORAL CESSPOOL. If we
are going to defeat the anti-gun ObamaCare legislation, these words are
going to have to be repeated millions of times over the next month....
(Linked page will allow you to send a pre-written letter or e-mail to
your Republican or Democratic senators.)
http://gunowners.org/a010710.htm
---
BOHICA: White House national security adviser James Jones says Americans
will feel "a certain shock" when they read an account being released
Thursday of the missed clues that could have prevented the alleged
Christmas Day bomber from ever boarding the plane... Senate Intelligence
Chairman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said a "very comprehensive no-fly
list" would be "the greatest protection our country has." In an
interview, she said the definition of who can be included should be
expanded to include anyone about whom there is "a reasonable suspicion."
("BOHICA," for those not familiar with the term, stands for "Bend Over,
Here It Comes, Again." Feinstein has also promised to reintroduce, at a
time of her choosing, a federal ban on cosmetically impaired firearms
and will no doubt support using the expanded "no fly" criteria, however
flimsy or erroneous, to ban firearm purchases from licensed dealers.)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-01-06-terror_N.htm
---
An End to the Lautenberg Amendment?: The Federal Court of Appeals for
the 7th Circuit recently accepted the Second Amendment as valid grounds
for reversing a conviction under the infamous Lautenberg Amendment,
barring possession of firearms from anyone ever convicted of a
misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. That's good news, but don't fire
up the band just yet. The actual conclusion of the 7th Circuit panel was
that prosecutors had failed to effectively argue that Lautenberg does
not violate the Second Amendment - which is a far cry from declaring the
law unconstitutional and throwing the case out. The court reversed the
guilty verdict and sent the case back to the lower court to give federal
prosecutors another chance to build a better case. Included in the
decision are rather detailed instructions explaining what arguments the
prosecution needs to make if they wish to prevail. Like a child's game,
the court said, "You forgot to say 'Mother may I' so try it again - and
this time say 'Mother may I.'" If prosecutors carefully apply the
lessons laid out in the 7th Circuit's order, the case should result in
another conviction that would then be upheld on appeal. On the other
hand, the court also dropped a hint or two for the defense...
http://www.ammoland.com/2010/01/07/an-end-to-the-lautenberg-amendment/
---
Chicago, McDonald and the Chicago PD: The law enforcement amici listed
below have a compelling interest in ensuring that the Second Amendment
does not stand as an obstacle to strong gun laws that help police
protect the public from gun crime and violence. - McDonald v. Chicago
Amicus Brief by Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, International
Association of Chiefs of Police, International Brotherhood of Police
Officers, and National Black Police Association. If one needs proof that
the Brady Campaign and certain bureaucrats want us to disarm and let the
professionals protect us, the above passage should suffice. There are
problems with this idyllic myth. For example, the Chicago Police
Department appears to have no intention of serving Chicago residents...
Bottom line:
* Chicago promotes gun control laws shown to be prejudicial against
Blacks.
* The National Black Police Association supports these policies, in
a modern version of Uncle Tom.
* Chicago PD claims it needs to spend more non-existent tax dollars
to correct a perceived lack of racial equality within the Department.
* Even with one of the highest police staffing rates in the country,
Chicago isn't addressing violent crime as well as other large
cities with lower staffing rates.
* These bureaucrats want more gun control in order to "help police
protect the public from gun crime and violence."
http://www.examiner.com/x-2879-Austin-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m1d8-Chicago-bans-guns-wont-provide-policing
---
Do as I Say, Not as I Do: North Carolina Senator R.C. Soles has been
indicted for shooting Kyle Blackburn. A grand jury has indicted R.C.
Soles for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury,
a felony charge which carries a maximum sentence of 31 months in prison.
R.C. Soles, 74, shot Kyle Blackburn, a 22-year-old man, in the leg at
Soles' house; R.C. Soles claims he was acting in self-defense, and that
Kyle Blackburn was trying to break into the house. R.C. Soles, a
Democrat and North Carolina's longest-serving senator, was known for
being a gun-control advocate.
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/senator-r-c-soles-indicted-shooting-kyle-blackburn-2552626.html
Washington Man Imprisoned for Wife's Guns: A Bremerton man who refused
to plead guilty to a gun crime, despite being offered a deal that would
allow him to avoid jail time, was convicted by a Kitsap County Superior
Court jury on Wednesday. Luke T. Groves, 37, was convicted of two counts
of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm after a three-day
trial. He contends he wasn't notified that his 1990 burglary conviction
carried with it a lifetime firearms prohibition and he refused to take a
plea deal offered by county prosecutors... Groves called police in late
November 2008 after he returned home to find a broken window in his
Hewitt Avenue house. He says he told officers that his wife owned a
rifle and handgun. Nothing had been stolen from the home, but Groves was
arrested for being a felon in possession of firearms. He had been
convicted of breaking into a Shelton school in 1990. Groves moved in
with his wife, who owned the two guns, in 2003... During closing
arguments, Deputy Prosecutor Giovanna Mosca painted a simple picture for
jurors: Groves had the guns in his "dominion and control," and that was
enough for a conviction. Mosca used a metaphor to make her case: When
you rent a movie or check out a book from the library, "you don't own
it, but you possess it," she said... (G. Gordon Liddy, a convicted
felon, repeatedly points, publicly, out that he no longer owns any
firearms but that his wife does.)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/1019721.html#ixzz0bxW1smnL
---
Georgia RKBA Bill Advances One Step: A controversial bill to allow
licensed gun owners in Georgia to carry concealed weapons most places
other than the courthouse and the jailhouse is headed to a House
subcommittee for closer scrutiny after a lengthy hearing Thursday. Rep.
Rich Golick (R-Smyrna), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee on
noncivil matters, said a subcommittee will be able to "hash out" some of
the concerns about the bill, mostly centering on an expansion of the
rights of licensed gun owners to carry their weapons to churches, bars
and college campuses. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Tim Bearden (R-Villa
Rica), told committee members the existing law is "extremely confusing"
to gun owners and law enforcement. "It's time we finally clarify what is
allowable and what is off-limits," Bearden said. An overflow crowd
appeared at the hearing for the bill Thursday, including gun rights
supporters wearing orange badges that read: "Guns Save Lives." ...
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/gun-bill-advances-to-269660.html?cxtype=rss_news_128746
---
New Hampshire Gun Owners Protest Statehouse Ban: Guns-rights protesters
gathered in front of the Statehouse Wednesday, angered by lawmakers'
decision to ban firearms from the building and two other government
sites. There were about 50 of them, including Rochester residents
clutching signs that read "Criminals prefer unarmed victims" and "Nobody
ever raped a .38." They lamented what they say is another effort to
limit citizens' rights and questioned if a committee's decision actually
made lawmakers and the public less safe. But before the day was out, a
lawmaker who sought the ban said she wanted the panel to reconsider the
decision, which banned guns, other dangerous weapons and explosives from
the Statehouse, the Legislative Office Building and the Upham Walker
House. That was the goal of the protest, said Jerry Delemus, who ran for
mayor of Rochester last year...
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100107/GJNEWS_01/701079705
---
Backpedaling In Indianapolis: The notion that a new public safety
director from the East Coast has come here to disarm law-abiding
Indianapolis residents certainly comes as news to Mayor Greg Ballard,
who appointed him. The same reaction would appear to characterize the
City-County Council, which is scheduled to vote Feb. 1 on whether to
confirm Frank Straub. So far so good for common sense. But common sense
always is under fire when absolutist opponents of gun control detect
what they perceive to be a threat. Some folks of that view mobilized
after Straub told The Star's Editorial Board, "My own personal
perspective is we have way too many guns on the street and way too many
people that own guns." Straub has since offered clarification, saying he
begrudges only criminals with illegal weapons and has no quarrel with
law-abiding people owning all the guns they can legally procure. Will
that be enough for Second Amendment advocates? Well, they resent him for
supporting the defunct federal assault rifle ban. They even point with
alarm at his membership in the International Association of Chiefs of
Police. The police chiefs, believe it or not, think there are too many
guns in the wrong hands on our streets...
http://www.indystar.com/article/20100107/OPINION08/1070375/1291/OPINION08/Gun-enthusiasts-shoot-blanks
---
Wisconsin Bill Would Restrict Hunting by Felons: State Representative
Jeff Smith is working on a bill that would prohibit felons from
purchasing a gun hunting license. He began working on that bill after a
close friend was shot and killed while hunting in 2006. The bullet that
killed his friend was fired by a felon. It's against the law for a felon
to carry a gun, but they can still buy a hunting license. Smith says
it's a hypocrisy that needs to be corrected. "It gives the impression
that, go ahead you can buy this firearm license," said Rep. Smith, "but
don't use it." ...Rep. Smith also consulted with the DNR on the
legislation. The bill calls for the creation of three new hunting
licenses for felons. One would be a bow-only license for turkey hunting.
A second would be a bow-only license for bear hunting and the third
would be an air gun and bow hunting license for small game. Smith hopes
to formally introduce the bill by the end of January. (Where I live,
poaching is a fairly common practice, particularly among long-term
residents. I really doubt that a felon who already owns a firearm
illegally will be stopped from hunting by lack of a hunting license. But
the bill feels good...)
http://www.wqow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11787701
---
Rule Five Reminder: Authorities are searching for a D.C. police
lieutenant's service weapon that went missing after a carjacking in
Prince George's County, multiple police sources said. Veteran police
officer Lt. Ronald Netter told investigators that his weapon was stolen
while his vehicle was stopped late Wednesday near Temple Hills, law
enforcement sources told The Examiner. Police used K-9 units Wednesday
night and Thursday to try sniff out the missing gun. A teenage boy has
been taken into custody in the case, police said. The teenager denied
stealing the gun and said he knew Netter personally, said police sources
familiar with the ongoing investigation. The loss of his gun could be a
problem for Netter because this is the third time he has lost his
service weapon, according to two sources within the Metropolitan Police
Department... (Rule Five: Maintain Control of your firearm. It's hard to
say what really happened here but it points out the hazards of stashing
a firearm inside a vehicle when it could be worn on the person.)
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Authorities-probe-officers-claim-that-service-weapon-was-stolen-80997787.html
---
Disabled Shooters Get Good Press: ...STARS, which stands for Success
Through Adaptive Recreation and Sports, is expanding to include
competitive shooting. The program is run by Sitrin Health Care in New
Hartford [CT], which offers rehabilitation and long-term care among
other health services. The STARS recently hosts a shooting workshop led
by Vanessa Warner, manager of disabled shooting services for the
National Rifle Association of America. Warner covered the basics of
safety, as well as the positions and adaptations participants could use
in order to shoot competitively. Marc DePerno, director of the Sitrin
STARS, said there was "great energy (and) great enthusiasm" at the
workshop. Participants said that they enjoyed shooting, and would like
to participate in future workshops. As a Paralympic sport, competitive
shooting allows participants to excel and progress to a high level -
something participants said they look for in a sport. (Founded in 2001,
U.S. Paralympics, is a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee
specifically for people with physical disabilities.) ...
http://www.uticaod.com/pennysaver/x1437802100/Taking-their-best-shot
---
A Refreshing Commentary: ...The turning point for me, however, came
during college. I had begun taking guitar lessons with an instructor who
had a legendary status in our region. His band had opened for Aerosmith
on a recent tour, and I was awestruck. He epitomized cool. We soon
became fast friends, and he introduced me to his hobbies as an
outdoorsman. We went fly fishing in Penn's Creek. And to my surprise, he
not only owned a small arsenal of guitars but firearms as well. Soon
enough, Bill became my own personal Ted Nugent. On one gorgeous Fall
afternoon, he took me to the local shooting range, and it was there that
I fired my first semi-automatic pistol. It was a revelation. From that
point forward, I broadened my view. These days, I think differently
about the Second Amendment. I now know that the conventional wisdom
about firearms is often wrong-headed. You would think that gun control
would automatically reduce violent crime, but that wouldn't be true...
So, on your next trip to your local bookstore, go to the periodicals
section and check out an up-and-coming publishing phenomenon. The
subtitle of the publication is "The Soul of the New South." The
magazine? "Garden and Gun." The next time you see a gun rack in the back
window of a pickup truck, think again. That person just might be
responsible for preserving civilization as we know it.
http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20100108/COLUMNISTS21/1080304
---
The GSG-5 Sequel: Umarex USA, the leader in firearm replication,
introduces the first official Heckler & Koch (H&K) replicas. The
dedicated .22 long rifle (LR) platform is not simply a knock-off but a
new, licensed, economically-priced reproduction available in a 416 and
MP5 Tactical Rimfire. Umarex USA will become the official H&K replica
22 LR United States importer following a new licensed agreement between
manufacturer Carl Walther Germany and H&K. The tactical-style rifle is
recognized for its growing popularity and demand in the States. The new
licensing makes the .22 LR version affordably available for rimfire
shooters as well as centerfire shooting enthusiasts who own tactical
guns... (List members may recall that it's only been two or three months
since German Sport Guns and its American importer reached a settlement
with HK and stopped producing their .22 LR GSG-5 copy of the HK MP5.
Umarex also produces a licensed .22 LR version of the Colt M4, on which
I have seen one very negative report. One list member opines that the
22 versions of all these guns will have the favorable effect of, in the
words of the Heller decision, placing more military-look-alike firearms
into "common use.")
http://www.ammoland.com/2010/01/07/heckler-and-koch-22lr-replica-rifles/
---
Attention Mousegunners: Ammunition To Go appears to have Speer Gold Dot
380 ammunition in stock, in the more cost-effective 50-round boxes. A
slightly reduced price is available at the second link for case
quantities (500 rounds).
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/product_info.php/pName/50rds-380-auto-speer-le-gold-dot-90gr-hp-ammo/manufacturers_id/24
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/24/products_id/1281
---
Tangentially Related: ...In 2008, Jordan requested that INTERPOL
apprehend 12 Europeans that Jordan had charged with "blasphemy" (a crime
under Jordanian law) in connection with the 2005 publication in Denmark
of the "offensive" cartoons about Muhammed. Last week, Israeli military
officers, scheduled to visit the U.K. on official business, canceled the
trip for fear of being arrested for a "war crimes" charge brought by
Iran in a British court arising out of the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
Should Americans worry that INTERPOL will start arresting Americans in
America who have blasphemed the Prophet, defended America against
radical Islam, or otherwise run afoul of foreign law? On December 31,
the New York Times ran a story that conservative concerns about INTERPOL
were baseless. The story quotes White House spokesperson Christina
Reynolds "There's nothing newsworthy here." The story explains that "If
a foreign country issues an arrest warrant for a person inside the
United States, it is up to the United States government, based on its
own laws, to decide whether to apprehend the suspect." Well, let's peel
that onion back a few more layers. First, the Secretary General of
INTERPOL is an American, Ronald Noble. Mr. Noble led the Treasury
Department review of the 1983 siege of the Branch Davidian compound in
Waco, Texas. The review concluded that (to use Janet Napolitano's
phrase) the system worked. Or, to adopt a Bushism, heck of a job, guys! ...
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=35109
This past year was a banner year for new Amateur Radio licensees.
According to ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, the FCC issued more
than 30,000 new ham radio licenses. "In 2009, the demand for Amateur
Radio exam sessions remained elevated and is still running at a higher
rate than before the FCC's restructuring of the license requirements in
2007," Somma said. "This high level of exam session activity has
produced an elevated influx of new applications, far outpacing recent
years." A total of 30,144 new licenses were granted in 2009 - an
increase of almost 7.5 percent from 2008. In 2005, 16,368 new hams
joined Amateur Radio's ranks; just five years later, that number had
increased by almost 14,000 - a whopping 84 percent! Read more here.
(Amateur radio offers an individually maintained medium of communication
that is likely to remain viable when the internet and cell phones are not.)
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2010/01/06/11278/?nc=1
--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
The tactics and skills to use a firearm
in self-defense don't come naturally
with the right to keep and bear arms.
http://www.spw-duf.info
