I’ve been busy

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For the last week the tension at work has steadily increased. I came home at 3:00 AM on Saturday morning and was back at it by 8:00 AM. I went to sleep at midnight last night and was working again by 5:30 this morning.

From Thursday morning until this afternoon I had not checked checked email.

I finally have my stuff under control and am trying to catch up on a few things on the home front.

There are hundreds of blog posts that I probably won’t get caught up on for a week. There are over 400 unread news alerts about various things that I’m going to just mark as “read”. If something important happened that I missed out on I’ll probably eventually see it on one of the blogs I read.

Now, I’m going to take a nap.

Gun cartoon of the day

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As if it has ever happened at any gun show, NRA convention, a gun range, and any other place where nearly everyone has a gun.

It only takes one solid data point to disprove a hypothesis and we, over the years, have millions of solid data points. Do they have even a hint of one?

Quote of the day–James Madison

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Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.

James Madison
[And this is why those that wish to govern us also attempt to keep the masses ignorant. It is only by enforcing ignorance that they can become our rulers.–Joe]

Gun cartoon of the day

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There is no clue this artist has heard of the specific enumerated right to keep and bear arm. There is no clue they understand that evil is enabled by gun control.

They did do a fairly good job of rendering the guns so I guess I can’t insist they are totally clueless.

Quote of the day–Justice Antonin Scalia

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We are aware of the problem of handgun violence in this country, and we take seriously the concerns raised by the many amici who believe that prohibition of handgun ownership is a solution. The Constitution leaves the District of Columbia a variety of tools for combating that problem, including some measures regulating handguns, see supra, at 54-55, and n. 26. But the enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table. These include the absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home. Undoubtedly some think that the Second Amendment is outmoded in a society where our standing army is the pride of our Nation, where well-trained police forces provide personal security, and where gun violence is a serious problem. That is perhaps debatable, but what is not debatable is that it is not the role of this Court to pronounce the Second Amendment extinct.



Justice Antonin Scalia
June 26, 2008
District of Columbia, et al., petitioners v. Dick Anthony Heller, No. 07-290, Page 64
[It’s not the role of our legislators or the executive branch either. The only legal way for them to try is through a constitutional amendment and even that has some serious problems because the formation of the union was dependent upon those first ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights.–Joe]

Gunnies be Patient

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I’ve seen it before and let it go, but today I ran into several variations of, “Once you get the sights adjusted, this gun is very accurate” in different places on gun forums and product reviews.


Serious shooters should know the problem with that assertion, but not all shooters know it.  These were shooters making the assertion after all.


Accuracy and sight adjustment (or zero) are not the same thing.


(Joe uses the term “sight angle” or “indicated sight angle” which makes more sense when you think about, which of course he has)


Accuracy is the ability of the firearm system (the gun itself, the ammo and the sighting system) to place shots consistently.  The sights could be “off” considerably (bullets impacting far from the point of aim) and that gun is just as accurate as if it were putting your bullets exactly at the point of aim.


The difference is in sight adjustment, but that in itself has nothing to do with accuracy.  Accuracy = consistency.


It has been said that “Sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious.”  — George Orwell  (Thank You, Walter Williams, for pointing that out)


You intelligent men have your assignment, then.  Carry on.

Gun cartoon of the day

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The Million Mom March stated their beliefs as:

All Americans have the right to be safe from gun violence in their homes, neighborhoods,
schools, and places of work and worship. All children have the right to grow up
in environments free from the threat of gun violence. Gun violence is a public
health crisis that harms not only the physical, but also the spiritual, social,
and economic health of our families and communities. The availability and
lethality of guns make death or severe injury more likely in domestic violence,
criminal activity, suicide attempts, and unintentional shootings. It is possible
to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by gun violence with
reasonable, common sense policy.

With such a warped sense of what a right is, or can be, it is no surprise they didn’t last long. Now the Million Mom March essentially no longer exists (it’s “officially” part of the failing Brady Campaign) and the NRA is stronger than ever.

Who’s the moron now?

Quote of the day–Fred Hoyle

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I concluded, unhappily, I had been born into a world dominated by a rampaging monster called ‘law’ that was both all powerful and all stupid.

Fred Hoyle
[The most recent info about the TSA is what reminded me of this. But every waking minute of any day would also qualify.–Joe]

Gun cartoon of the day

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I think this was published during the active reign of the Beltway Snipers.

It’s not funny. There is not even a hint of an element of truth in it. What is the point other than to demonize the NRA?

Would this be appropriate if it “NAACP” or the name of a gay rights organization were substituted for “NRA”? After all, the snipers were people of color and probably were gay. But there is no evidence either of them were members of the NRA.

Quote of the day–Peggy Chenoweth

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In all of the years since I have become an amputee, I can honestly say that I have can’t think of a more upsetting and humiliating experience than what I endured at the hands of TSA at the airport.

…

No person should be subjected to this level of humiliation.

Peggy Chenoweth
May 31, 2010
Humiliation… And Now I’m Angry
See also the video from a local TV station on the incident.
[H/T to an email from Breda.

Read the rest of the story to find out they peered into her four-year old’s diaper because he talked to his mother. Your blood will boil.

I also have a story to tell soon when I’m not so swamped with things at work. It’s from a cousin of Barb’s who works with explosive as part of her job. It’s about the time she has spent in jail, how the TSA ignores her blasters license, how she has missed planes, it’s terrible and it’s all for show. And, unfortunately, it’s all my fault.–Joe]

Judge Faces Death Threats

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We learn from Bayoubuzz, via Michelle Malkin that U.S. District Court Judge Martin Feldman, who told Obama his power is limited, is now receiving death threats;



“Last night, Feldman served as a celebrity judge at a cooking contest at a school gymnasium in Uptown New Orleans. Due to the threats, Feldman was accompanied by a federal marshal security team.

It is a sad indictment of our society today that a judge with such a sterling record of integrity and service to his country would be subject to such threats. Feldman was appointed to the federal bench by President Reagan in 1983. Today, he is in the eye of a political hurricane unlike anything he has ever experienced.”


A sad indictment of our society today?  Not my society, thank you.  Leave me out of this.  This is about the Left.  And it’s not an “indictment” of the left so much as another in a very long string of verifications of the left’s mindset.  It’s also a vindication of the American Founders’ ideas.  See; they knew our government would try to seize power unconstitutionally.  That’s what happens as a matter of course.  That’s why they took steps trying to prevent it.  After having taken these steps, they also knew things would come to blows once in a while.  Those who lust for power simply cannot help themselves, and they routinely resort to threats and violence.  That’s what political power is at its fundamental level, after all– threats and violence for the purpose of taking our treasure and trampling our liberty.


That being said; an actual death threat most likely means that the person making the threat isn’t going to act.  Otherwise they’d just go for it without all the talk.


Judge Feldman; I hope you’re packing heat, and know how to use it.


He’s accused of being a tool for the oil industry.  I suppose anyone who favors liberty and human rights (asuming the judge does– I don’t know) is a “tool” for this, a “tool” for that, and a “tool” for any worthwhile activity, so long as that activity doesn’t violate anyone’s rights.  We’ll see if the good judge can make that argument with such clarity, or if he’ll cough, splutter and squirm like a Republican.

Includes Shoulder Thingy That Goes Up

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I haven’t used this gun in a while, so I’ve decided to offer it for sale.


This is the eeeeevil Striker 12, made by Sentinal Arms and sold by Penn Arms.  It has a 12″ barrel and a threaded muzzle with a split shroud-nut/thread protector designed to allow a custom-made, threaded muzzle device if one were inclined to have such a thing made.


It’s a DAO (double action only) twelve shot revolver.  The cylinder is not to be confused with a drum magazine.  It has 12 firing chambers (up to 2 & 3/4″ shells only. you could probably chamber 3″ shells but if you fire them, the rest of your day, and many after, might go poorly).  For some measure of protection from the high velocity gasses that escape the cylinder gap, the cylinder is inside a steel enclosure, which is why it could be confused with a drum magazine.  The Striker’s double action differs from that of most revolvers, in that the cylinder is rotated by a spring and controlled by a simple, beefed-up, clockwork style escapement mechanism rather than by the force of pulling the trigger.  The trigger cocks the enclosed hammer and operates the escapement.  Trigger pull is rather long and heavy.  Even so, it is equipped with a cross-bolt trigger safety behind the triggerguard.


To load; drop in a shell just as with any single action revolver, then press the thumb tab on the back of the boxlock frame to advance the cylinder one chamber, drop in another, repeat until full, then raise the loading gate.  Wind the cylinder by turning the wing nut on the front of the cylinder arbor and you’re ready to go.


You aim it by sighting down the groove in the top strap to pick up the front sight, similar to the 1858 Remington Army revolver.  The cylinder will index clockwise, lowering the loading gate automatically as you pull the trigger back to fire, and then release.  As you pull the trigger again, the first empty is now in position for ejection.  There’s a small, static feature in the back of the barrel, directing gas from the cylinder gap into the just-fired chamber,  which blows the empty out of the gun with no mechanics at all– just gas.  It works swimmingly.  When the last round is fired, you eject the one remaining empty with your off hand using the ejector rod, which is reminiscent of the old West style single action cat-ridge six-shooters.  If the cylinder was wound tight before you started shooting, you still have enough spring energy to load all 12 chambers as indicated above, whereupon you wind it again for shooting.  It will index approximately 27 to 29 times per wind, or thereabouts– I forget.


There is a hole in the top strap that could be threaded for installation of a custom-made optic mount, if you were so inclined.  That, with an Aimpoint Micro or some such, would make for a nice home defense or truck gun, methinks.


You can get 12 rounds off pretty quick, but at a lower rate than from the more conventional autoloader.  After that, it is a bit slower to load, and then you wind it.  If you fail to pull the trigger all the way back, as happens with the uninitiated now and then, or with weaklings, or when you’re squeezing the trigger and then decide not to shoot, you will have indexed the cylinder anyway, skipping one loaded chamber, leaving a loaded shell in that chamber.


This is one of the very few guns that have both a barrel shroud AND a shoulder thingy that goes up (included at no extra charge).


Push a button on the left side of the grip/boxlock frame, and the shoulder thingy goes up, around, and locks into the deployed position.  Unlike an AK underfolder, the buttplate deploys under spring tension– no extra manipulation required.


This (ahem) exquisite, hand assembled fowling piece is truly just like a work of art– simple, cheap, crude, the government has its hands all over it, and no one really understands it though we all pretend to understand anyway because it’s cool.  I bought it as part of a “You Ban it, I Buy it” program I started back in the ’90s.



I’ll take thirteen hundred for it, which, for transferable, functional art is cheap.  NFA rules, blah blah blah, 200 hundred dollar tax, yadda, yadda..  Yes; in their mighty wisdom, benevolence, and dedication to American Principles, the geniuses at F-Troop have declared this 12 gauge, 2.75″ shotgun to be in the same legal category as towed artillery;




If you live here in Idaho I’m told the in-state transfer of artillery or 12 gauge shotguns is easier, or cheaper, or something.  Plus if you’re local, we can take it out and burn some nitro first (fire before you acquire).  Still; fingerprints, photos, background check, CLEO, wait, etc…for the transfer, just so you know who’s owns this country.


It also comes with a nice wooden alto saxophone case (violin cases are so yesterday) with rugged polymer covering and steel draw-latches, into which it fits like they were made for each other, which they were.  I just never got ’round to lining the bottom of the case with velvet.


It is warranted to be in marvelous condition right now.  Though used, it looks nearly new and functions as new.  There are some minor handling marks, but they wouldn’t put off even the most discriminating, upper-crust Striker 12 aficionado.  It won’t break unless you’re stupid.  Original owner’s manual included.

Gun cartoon of the day

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This is being extremely selective in the studies quoted such that only those that support their agenda are mentioned–even if those studies have been refuted. It then becomes a willful lie (explained in Chapter 8 of How To Lie with Statistics) by extending the studies correlation conclusions by flat out saying correlation means causation.

Quote of the day–Adolf Hitler

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We are freeing men from the responsibilities of freedom, which only a few men can bear.

Adolf Hitler
[This is attributed to Adolf Hitler by a few people but I am of the opinion that this might be “too good to be true”. I cannot find it in a speech or writing of his. But then my reference materials are limited to English and mostly on the web.

Still it could easily be the slogan of politicians in this country for the last 80 years. The so called “freedom” from want and and “freedom” from fear are the classic examples. The many others which have followed such as the welfare state, government run health care, bans on recreational drugs, and repressive firearms laws are mostly just details of the implementation.

But once the politicians come to the realization some people resist the Utopian vision through their own “selfish desires” and that the ultimate freedom from responsibility is achieved in death we then find ourselves back to Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Pol Pot.–Joe]

Gun cartoon of the day

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As if the tragedies were the responsibly of the NRA and completely ignoring the fact that in nearly all mass shootings the victims were disarmed by their governments and left essentially defenseless. It is the NRA that works to enable the victims to protect themselves via training and repeal of the laws that made them defenseless. The NRA attempts to solve the problem created by the government and this artist attempts to turn public opinion against the NRA and prevent the NRA from saving lives.

Quote of the day–Samurai maxim

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Tomorrow’s battle is won during today’s practice.

Samurai maxim
[This is true of USPSA, IPDA, and steel challenge matches too. And even more importantly it is true of your encounter with a thug who wants your money or your life.

Note that the maxim has nothing to do with the hardware you carry. The caliber of your gun, the number of rounds you carry, and the terminal characteristics of the bullet are far, far less important than your training and your practice.–Joe]

Don’t let them be lonely

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With membership and donations down it the people at the Brady Campaign must be feeling lonely and unloved. They often claim we have no empathy and are cold heartless killers. I think the time has come to show them they are wrong.

The are having a Happy Hour on July 13, 2010. By then the McDonald decision will be out and they will have to do a lot of drinking to be happy and they will probably be almost alone.

The location is in D.C. here. Tickets are $30 so I don’t advise spending the money to actually socialize with them while they are drinking. Anti-gun people are so violent anyway who knows what they will do if they get drunk. I suspect they will have a private room anyway.

I was thinking protesting their presence at the restaurant would be a nice way to give them some attention. If the Beacon Bar and Grill were allowing the KKK to hold an event wouldn’t that be a legitimate protest target? I’m of the opinion that anytime a group organizes and conspires to deny others their rights they deserve a attention.

Show up in your finest Celebrate Diversity, Heller Kitty, and (by then) McDonald Kitty t-shirts. Make up a few signs and refer potential Beacon Bar and Grill customers to other fine establishments nearby.

Gun cartoon of the day

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Actually there are some similarities in gun ownership and worship. But it not in the way the artist portrays it here. It seems pretty clear to me that the artist is scornful of the concept of gun ownership and recognizing our inalienable right to keep and bear arms.

The similarities are that both are specific, enumerated, rights guaranteed to be protected by the U.S. Constitution. Both are essential for a free society to remain free. And of course both have cults, fringe leaders, have silly arguments over unimportant details like which is better a Glock after being baptized in the river, or a 1911 after being sprinkled with Holy Water.

If they would just think of us a religious group with gun ownership being the only criteria for membership in the church it would make things a lot easier and simpler for them to understand (I am not the first to suggest this but I can’t remember who I should give credit to). Simple is important because so often they have problems understanding even when you use simple words and concepts.

Imagine what that would mean: The Church of Gun would be the single largest church in the country, no taxes when you worship at a recognized range, and membership wouldn’t mean you were perfect–I would just mean that you were saved.

Quote of the day–David Codrea

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On the one hand, I want to give you props for partially doing the right thing, and on the other, I’m not sure I want someone who can’t be trusted with a gun handling my food.

David Codrea
Pizza Hut gun policy change reflects larger societal attitude
June 20, 2010
[I’ve said something similar before about a can of gasoline and a book of matches. But the idea is much older than my first post where I mention it in October of 2004. I first heard the essence of it from an employee of mine who gave credit to his father. That was in about 1994. Who knows how long he had been saying it or where he heard it.

What I find interesting is they never try to refute it. They just ignore it.–Joe]

Gun cartoon of the day

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As if this has ever happened except in the minds of the anti-gun bigots.