Chicago's Racist Basis for "Gun Control": ... The Bill of Rights was
originally intended to prevent a tyranny by the federal government. But
when the Civil War ended slavery, the Southern states passed the Black
Codes, which deprived African Americans of basic rights - including gun
ownership. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution was adopted in 1868 to
prevent states and localities from violating these rights. Today,
Chicago has its own equivalent of the Black Codes, which it argues is
constitutional because everyone is equally deprived of rights. In
Chicagospeak, an 1866 petition of freed slaves complaining that South
Carolina prohibited them from possessing firearms only sought "an
equality requirement." ...Guess who Chicago relies on? The racist
opponents of the Fourteenth Amendment. One was Senator Thomas A.
Hendricks of Indiana, later President Grover Cleveland's vice president,
who objected to blacks having "civil rights and immunities which are
enjoyed by the white people," including the right to bear arms. Another
was Senator Reverdy Johnson of Maryland, the lawyer for the slave owner
in the 1857 Dred Scott case, which refused to recognize African
Americans as citizens because it would give them "the full liberty of
speech . . . and to keep and carry arms wherever they went." Sen. Henry
Wilson of Massachusetts - who later became vice president under
President Ulysses S. Grant - complained that Southern militias were
"visiting the freedmen, disarming them," but the city of Chicago would
ignore the rest of Wilson's sentence: "perpetrating murders and outrages
on them." Is that okay? Enough of the historical company that Chicago
keeps. What does Chicago say to the Supreme Court about its gun ban
today? Enacted in 1982, it's quite a success: "Handguns were used in 402
of the 412 firearm homicides in Chicago in 2008." If that's a success,
what's a failure? ...
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/OpEd-Contributor/Chicago-versus-the-Second-Amendment-85683127.html
---
Idaho Firearms Freedom Act Introduced: The Idaho Firearms Freedom Act
has been introduced as H0589 by Rep. Dick Harwood. If passed, this bill
would create a confrontation at the federal level by making it legal to
possess a firearm in Idaho regardless of federal regulations PROVIDED
the firearm's use AND manufacture meet certain requirements, including
being manufactured in Idaho, with products produced in Idaho and stamped
"Made in Idaho." This makes 25 states with FFA bills introduced or
enacted. We're now at 50% of states that are involved with the FFA
movement to roll back Washington's power over states...
http://www.ammoland.com/2010/02/26/idaho-firearms-freedom-act-has-been/
---
Virginia Firearms Freedom Act Advances: Virginia Great news! Last month
we alerted you to a superb pro-gun bill pending in the Virginia General
Assembly. HB 69 recently passed the House of Delegates overwhelmingly
(70-29) and is now before the Senate's Courts of Justice Committee.
Introduced by Del. Charles Carrico (R-5) and known as the Virginia
Firearms Freedom Act, HB 69 is modeled after similar legislation which
has been successful in other states, including Montana - the first state
to pass such a law. The Firearms Freedom Act has a simple concept. HB 69
states that if a gun was made in Virginia, and then stays in the
Commonwealth, the federal government may not regulate it under the
Interstate Commerce Clause. (Because, you see, the gun was never part of
interstate commerce.) This is important because the Commerce Clause is
the "hook" that Congress has used to justify almost every single federal
gun control law. But with the passage of HB 69, the Commonwealth will
take a stand that guns stamped with the words "Made in Virginia" are no
business of the federal government...
http://www.ammoland.com/2010/02/27/firearms-freedom-act-advances-in-virginia/
---
Gun Owners Debate Nevada Sheriff: A town hall meeting intended to cover
the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's budget instead produced a
verbal sparring match over gun registration. Metro Police Sheriff Doug
Gillespie planned to discuss the economic challenges facing his
department. But, Gillespie spent a significant amount of time defending
Clark County's gun registration system. The blue card registration
system requires people to register their guns in Nevada. Sheriff
Gillespie says the system helps the department solve crimes, including a
murder case. "If it hadn't been for that (system), this crime would not
have been solved," Sheriff Gillespie said. "In my opinion, it is
justified, and it is useful." But, some of the people who attended
Thursday night's meeting have doubts. "How many crimes are solved every
year because of that," one person asked...
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=12048507
The blue card may go because of budget problems. We (GONV) are working
that angle. The real obstacle is the NVSCA. They are the ones that lobby
every legislative session for anti 2nd Amendment bills. . . Increases in
fees (when none should exist) stricter gun control, etc. We need a new
Sheriff in Clark County. ...However, the law needs to be changed in the
legislature. So we need to apply pressure on those critters up in Carson
City. That is what we are doing until this session ends. (Clark County
is the only county in Nevada that requires [or conducts] handgun
registration. Las Vegas Metro PD is an entity of the sheriff's
department and patrols all of Clark County, with the exception of two or
three small cities that operate their own police departments. The
original concept behind creating the Metro PD was to guarantee funding
for patrol activity as the sheriff is not mandated to provide that
service. NVSCA is the sheriffs' and chiefs' association that sets CCW
standards in Nevada, including recognition of out-of-state permits.)
http://gonv.org/blog/2010/02/27/blue-card-sheriff-gun-registration/
---
Open Carry Demonstration at San Francisco's Presidio: Small groups of
armed Californians have been turning up at cafes and coffee shops with
handguns holstered to their belts to raise awareness about gun rights
and what they call unfair limits on concealed weapon permits. The
loosely organized "Bay Area Open Carry Movement" will gather in the
Presidio, a national park in San Francisco, on Saturday, just days after
a new law took effect allowing weapons to be carried in national parks
and wildlife refuges. David LaTour, a student at San Jose State
University, has been carrying his Springfield XD 9mm handgun on his hip
for about a month now and plans on attending the event, in which gun
rights advocates will be picking up trash in the park and, they hope,
talking to anyone interested in state gun laws. California allows its
citizens to openly display and carry unloaded weapons without a permit,
but many gun advocates complain that the state is too restrictive when
it comes to issuing licenses to carry concealed weapons. "I looked into
concealed carry permits, but unless you're well-connected it's
impossible to obtain," says Mr. LaTour. However, he says, "I personally
prefer open carry because of the visual deterrent." ...
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0227/Guns-at-Starbucks-Pushing-the-right-to-bear-arms-in-public
---
NRA-ILA Alerts: List member are encouraged to check the alerts for the
week, posted on the NRA-ILA website.
http://www.nraila.org/GrassrootsAlerts/read.aspx
---
Tangentially Related: Every dog owner will have to take a costly
'competence test' to prove they can handle their pets, under new
Government proposals designed to curb dangerous dogs. Owners of all
breeds would also have to buy third-party insurance in case their pet
attacked someone, and pay for the insertion of a microchip in their
animal recording their name and address. The proposals are among a range
of measures to overhaul dog laws in England and Wales being considered
by senior Ministers, who are expected to announce a public consultation
within weeks... (Will California be far behind? As a daily user of the
local dog park, I can say that a large proportion of dog owners don't
know that much about canine behavior. However, as I say a firearm
safety, "It's a matter for education, not legislation." How about a
pamphlet when you purchase the dog's first license?)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1254356/Now-Government-want-competence-test-dog-owner.html
---
From John Farnam:
22 Feb 10
Scenario-Based Training:
We just completed another weekend, Scenario-Based Training Program
(Airsoft) at the wonderful Safe-Direction facility in Addison, IL.
There is little point in beginning students attending these, but
well-trained Operators benefit immensely from exercising their skills
and judgement during a series of complex and demanding challenges,
involving their entire repertoire of skills. My experienced cadre of
actors are trained to draw-out specific responses, appropriate and
inappropriate, from students.
Attendees were all well-trained Gunmen, police and non-police, all of
whom carry regularly. Students succeeded brilliantly, and blundered
clumsily, learning and relearning with every episode.
My observations:
A group of college students were engaged in a river-rafting adventure
last summer in CA. One of them suggested the entire group visit a
nearby, notorious "nude beach." Naively expecting to see a herd of
glamorous movie-star look-alikes parading around in the buff, their
foolish hopes were dashed when what greeted them instead was a pathetic
gaggle of unattractive, fifty-ish, overweight, harry-crotched, males
wandering about aimlessly, hoping to be noticed. Sadly, they were!
Next day, when they recounted their distasteful experience to an older
and wiser member of the group (who had not been with them), he replied,
"Well, you dumb saps, what did you really expect to find there?"
It is called the "Unrealistic-Expectations" Syndrome, and it is just one
of several we cataloged last weekend.
Here are the others:
The "I-Feel..." Syndrome: How often we hear, "I just had a feeling...
I can't believe I was so wrong!" The advice we give to all is, "Gauge
your protective posture based on suspect capabilities, not suspect
intent." Guessing at someone's intent is always dangerous. Betting
your life on your guess is often fatal!
The "Feet-in-Cement" Syndrom: No one is immune from this, and it must
be addressed constantly. When we confront anything unexpected, our
tendency is to stop where we are, plant our feet in cement, and then
gawk interminably at whatever is currently confusing us. We have to
train constantly to keep ourselves in motion and keep our head up.
Whatever you're doing, do it while moving!
The "180-Degree" Syndrome: No one is watching your back! You have to be
your own partner, your own back-up. There are 360 degrees to a circle,
not just 180! You need to think of yourself as being in the center of a
sphere. There is more to it than just the Equator!
The "Stand-in-the-Open" Syndrome: "Cover" is an attitude! Constantly
presenting your attacker with a nearly impossible target is the key to a
long and happy life! Who have been involved in active military
situations rarely break cover. The less experienced naively walk into
the open in order to "get a better view," "let him see my gun," "so that
I can address him more clearly," and a host of other dubious reasons.
For one, I have scant
interest in a "fair" fight!
The "Get-Closer-When-They-Don't-Appear-to-Understand-Me" Syndrome: It is
common, when a suspect does not appear to understand our attempts to
communicate with him verbally, for us to take a step forward, and then
repeat the command. With each non-response, we robotically take a step
closer. We should be moving in the other direction!
The "Stay-on-the-Trigger-too-Long" Syndrome: Many otherwise competent
students, when they make the decision to shoot, get on the trigger and
stop shooting only when they notice they are in slide-lock. This
practice routinely generates numerous entry wounds in the back of the
suspect! When a violent criminal, menacing though he may have been
seconds earlier, clearly no longer represents a threat, the law requires
us to stop shooting. Most suspects, when shot via pistols, don't drop
instantly to the ground. In the vast majority of cases, they run away!
Continuing to shoot at them, as they run, is likely going to generate a
real criminal-justice-system problem for the shooter!
The "I'm-Confused,-Let's-All-Take-a-Break" Syndrome: "Taking a break"
only works when we all agree on it. Just because you're ready for a
break doesn't mean the fight, and all involved, will go along with you!
In fights, there are no scheduled "breaks!" Whatever happens, you going
to have to fight through it. No worthy opponent will ever give you a
chance to catch your breath!
The "What-Am-I-Really-Seeing?" Syndrome: What you're seeing is a
historical snapshot! In most cases, you don't get to know what lead up
to it. In most cases, you don't know much more than you do know. So
many times, what we think we're seeing is nothing like what it really
happening. Don't jump to conclusions!
The "My-Good-Faith-Efforts-Will-be-Recognized-as-Such" Syndrome: Dream
on! Whatever you choose to do, or choose not to do, it won't be
perfect. There was probably a better way. You just didn't think of it
in time. When you choose to become involved in a situation, the law
requires you to do so in a "non-negligent" manner, whatever that means!
The "Once-Down-Down for Good" Syndrome: Dream on some more! When shot,
some suspects do fall to the ground. Seconds later, they are often back
on their feet and dangerous as ever. When a suspect goes down, it does
not automatically mean that you can safely ignore him from that point
forward!
The "Everyone-Will-be-Impressed-with-My-Gun" Syndrome: Brandishing a
pistol often impresses people and causes them to mollify their
threatening behavior (at least rational people). Conversely, criminal
suspects, particularly when suffering from chemically-induced mental
illness, are routinely unimpressed. Definitive verbal challenges often
assist them in reevaluating their position!
We are scheduling another such Program in Addison, IL this Spring.
Many, it seems, believe they will benefit from this kind of intense
challenge!
/John
24 Feb 10
Close call!
This experience from a friend and well-known trainer:
"Last week, I conducted a low-light Pistol Program with a local PD SWAT
Team.
The Lieutenant in charge of the Patrol Division asked me to teach the
section on flashlight-technique to his cadre of Patrol Sergeants. They
all showed up during the SWAT Team's lunch break.
One sergeant, when he attempted his first shot (G22), was rewarded with
a 'click,' instead of a 'bang!' When he ejected the recalcitrant round
and chambered a fresh one, he got the same result.
When I subsequently broke-down his pistol, I discovered a fractured
firing-pin/striker. Rare, but certainly not unheard-of. The really
scary part is that it was subsequently revealed that it had been three
months since his last Qualification. That was the last time this
particular pistol is known to have functioned normally.
The sergeant in question indicated that his pistol had not been fired,
nor received any maintenance, since. Sometime in there, the striker
broke. Thank God he never had to fire it in anger during those three
months!"
Comment: I have seen this more than once, with all brands of pistols.
The way to insure you can always defend yourself with gunfire:
(1) You must shoot regularly, at least once a month, (2) habitually
field-strip, clean, examine, and lubricate your pistol(s), and (3)
regularly carry a back-up pistol.
In this day and age, the foregoing is the kind of mistake we can't
afford to make!
/John
(It is doubtful that the striker broke while it was sitting motionless
in a pistol that was not being fired. Exercise maintains muscles and
periodic training maintains skills. I fail to see how repeated fring of
firearms makes them more reliable, once they have been broken in and the
trigger-related parts have smoothed out. Periodic cleaning of firearms
is a good idea and should be accompanied by a function check [more
below]. A breakage will usually occur while a firearm is being fired,
hence it is best to inspect and check during the subsequent cleaning
process, not at the next range session.)
25 Feb 10
Follow-up on maintenance of carry pistols:
From a friend with a Metro-PD in MI:
"Our lieutenant bought a Colt Cobra (snubby, six-shot revolver) shortly
after joining the Force. I'm not sure where he got it, but he carried
it as a back-up for the last twenty-five years of his police career. He
continued to carry it, now as his only gun, during his retirement years.
In all the years he owned it, it was never checked-over by an armorer,
nor was any maintenance ever performed on it, nor did the lieutenant,
nor anyone else, ever fire it.
Years later, while in his seventies, he was walking in the woods near
his retirement cottage. On a whim, he decided to finally fire his
little revolver (for the first time) at a discarded pop can.
It did not fire, not the first time he pulled the trigger, nor the sixth!
A local gunsmith examined it the next day and discovered that the
lieutenant's revolver did not have a firing pin, and apparently had
never had one! A subsequent investigation revealed that the gun had
been used as a trainer and had thus been rendered sterile, decades
earlier. Obviously, up until that moment, no one had ever noticed!
This officer had been carrying a non-functional pistol for over thirty
years, and never knew it, nor, I'm sure, even suspected it!"
Comment: He was lucky to have gotten away with it! Who are that
nonchalant in our time, probably won't!
Jim Garthwaite, eminent pistolsmith and my good friend, suggests the
"Pencil-Check" on all pistols after any kind of maintenance has been
performed, and routinely even when maintenance has not been performed.
The pencil-check will confirm that the firing-pin is functioning as
designed and will therefore reliably dent primers with enough force to
dependably generate normal ignition.
Unload the pistol first. Then, point it upward (assuming that is a safe
direction). Drop down the bore a pencil, eraser first, so that the
eraser comes to rest over the firing-pin hole on the bolt-face.
Press the trigger. When the firing-pin hits the eraser, the pencil will
jump out of the barrel at least far enough to clear the muzzle. That is
prima-facie evidence that the firing pin is intact and functioning normally.
When the pencil doesn't move, or only jumps an inch or two, the
firing-pin is broken, defective in some other way, or the firing-pin
channel is so clogged with grime that the firing-pin cannot move as
designed. In any event, the pistol is out of action and should not be
carried.
A competent armorer needs to check-over all your serious guns at least
once a year. As owners/carriers, our duty is to shoot our guns
regularly, and perform user-level maintenance (including the
pencil-test) diligently.
Take care of your guns, and they will take care of you!
/John
(I'm not sure if "pistol," as used above, is intended to include
revolvers. The pencil check described is easily performed with a
revolver that can be cocked, to be fired in single-action mode. It is
more difficult to perform in a double-action-only revolver because if
the pencil is inserted into the barrel with the hammer down, it will
keep the cylinder from rotating. Function checks include more than the
pencil check. In a pistol they include checking the function of the
disconnector and in a revolver they include checking the timing. Learn
how to perform these checks. Learn which parts are the most prone to
breakage and checks screws to ensure that they have not shot loose.
Larger law-enforcement agencies generally have factory-certified
armorers to perform that annual check or repairs as needed. Private
citizens may not have similar access. Learn to perform at least basic
maintenance on your firearms. Gunsmithing books and videos are available
for many firearms and instructions for disassembly and reassembly are
often available online. Make sure that you have a good set of
screwdrivers in the appropriate sizes and any other more specialized
tools you feel you may need. Brownells
[
http://www.brownells.com/Default.aspx] is the "gunsmith's supermarket"
but some of the items they sell may be available cheaper elsewhere,
particularly if you don't qualify for their FFL discount.)
26 Feb 10
Range Incident, from a Trainer in SA:
"We were at the range earlier today, doing cover drills. I was using my
personal set of steel plates as targets, as these are wonderful in terms
of instant feedback to the student. Nothing sounds quite like a bullet
striking hard metal!
Like all competent steel targets, my particular set is made of hard
armor-plate, and I have been using them for a number of years now,
without incident ... until today!
Our Range has a 15m 'stop wall' in back, which is actually a natural
sand-dune that we have incorporated into the range complex. As always, I
was directing affairs from behind a line of shooters.
Suddenly, it felt as if an invisible attacker had taken a swing at my
face, but hit the visor of my baseball cap instead, causing it to drop
forward over my eyes and knocking my safety-glasses askew.
Simultaneously, I felt something drop onto my right boot.
When I recovered, concluded that I was unhurt, and replaced my cap and
glasses, I looked down to find a single, in-tact bullet lying on the
ground between my feet. Upon inspection, it appears that the bullet hit
one of my steel plates right on the edge, scraping off a roll of brass
jacketing in the process. The rest of the bullet continued downrange,
ultimately hitting the sand. However, it found just the right angle off
the sand stop to be deflected straight up, to eventually drop down onto
my head!
It left quite a dent in the brim of my cap, and a nasty scar on the lens
of my safety-glasses!
Of course, it is always difficult to describe what didn't happen, but I
am persuaded that, had I not been wearing my cap and glasses, as
prescribed, I would likely have suffered a sizeable cut and bruise to my
forehead, along with significant injury to my eye.
In any event, I was none-the-worse for ware, and we continued training
as if nothing had happened. But, I did take a moment to re-remind
everyone to keep their safety equipment on, all the time they are on the
range!"
Comment: All legitimate trainers require baseball caps, glasses (with
side-protection), and hearing protection of everyone, participants and
non-participants alike, on the Range. For one, I also encourage long
pants, long-sleeved shirts, and substantial shoes/boots. For any number
of reasons, skin needs substantive protection, and exposed skin needs to
be minimized. I don't, for example, allow sweat-pants, Lycra, nor Spandex!
Unfortunately, our Industry is often our own worst enemy with regard to
this issue, as many in it are still fond of producing ads and magazine
articles showing glamorous, spandex-clad models shooting away, while not
wearing glasses, nor baseball caps. Editors and publishers of all gun
magazines need to immediately impose a hard-rule that no photo,
demonstrating such blatantly unsafe practices, will ever be accepted for
publication, except when specifically used to illustrate a bad example!
I, even today, go to military ranges, even some police ranges, where
people are blithely, naively shooting away, often at steel targets as
described above, without glasses. I've even been on ranges where
participants are required to wear body-armor, but not safety-glasses.
How stupid can we get?
This is absolutely insane, and should never be allowed!
Nearly all range/training injuries are preventable, with competent
procedure and good safety equipment, both required of everyone!
We have enough enemies already!
/John
(Shooting steel targets is fun and great training thanks to the instant
feedback given by the sound of a hit. This auditory feedback is often
enhanced by the visual feedback of the target falling, swinging or
spinning. However, I have seen and felt enough impacts from ricochets
off steel targets and target frames that I forgo the use of steel
targets. I even make it a point to build my target frames of wood.)
28 Feb 10
"I've known many who fearlessly yearn for a fight, when the enemy is far
away. Few continue to so yearn, when the enemy is close!"
US Grant
In my friend and colleague, Phil Messina's, new and wonderful book,
Warrior 101, Phil affirms,
"Fear is the friend to those who try to embrace it,
the enemy of those who try to conquer it, and
the tormentor of those who try to avoid it"
Once again, Phil helps us all to articulate, to ourselves and to others,
core values we are trying so hard to preserve, advance, and teach to the
next generation.
His new book is filled with such wise and wonderful guidance.
Recommended!
/John
(This is the first I have heard of Phil's book. Phil is the real deal
and has helped discard a lot of the chaff and introduce more of the
wheat into the world of police "defensive tactics," which is the
euphemism for empty-hand training. This book appears to focus on
mindset. Recognizing that some list members are put off by term "warrior
mindset," I doubt this book will be a disappointment for those who are
not. I will be ordering a copy
[
http://www.modernwarrior.com/warrior101.html] as soon as this mailing
goes out.)
--
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
