February 28, 2010
Attorney General Eric Holder states that the administration will seek a permanent “assault weapons” ban and other gon control measures.
The Obama administration will seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 during the Bush administration, Attorney General Eric Holder said today.
“As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons,” Holder told reporters.
I will pick apart some of the things that he is attributed as saying in the article:
- The AR15 is now one of the most common rifles in the USA. Part of the Heller decision was that firearms in common use can not be banned. Thus, this would fail the test. The same can probably said for other firearms they seek to ban.
- The infamous “cop killer” bullets – This usually refers to ammunition designed to pierce body armor, which is already illegal to sale to civilians. The only other thing I can think they are referring to is rifle ammunition. Except for SWAT teams, police officers generally don’t wear body armor that can stop rifle ammunition. The reason is simple, it is extremely unlikely that a street cop will face rifle fire. The only other round I can think they would be wanting to ban is 5.7×28mm round. This round is often called a “cop killer” round because it was originally offered in an armor piercing configuration. Before the law changed, they stopped selling the armor piercing version of the round.
- The gun smuggling to Mexico – This has repeatedly been proven to be a red herring. The vast majority of weapons in the drug cartels’ hands are stolen from the Mexican military (these were sold to them legally and with US government support). So, of course they show up as coming from the USA. Their is weapon smuggling. But, it is not the major source of cartel weaponry.
- The “gun show loophole” – There is no loophole for gunshows. This is the right of every day citizens to transfer property between each other without government interference. These transactions are still illegal if the seller knows, or even has reason to suspect, that the buyer can not legally possess the weapon. Any firearms dealer at a gunshow has to still perform background checks on any buyers. Just because they are not in their normal storefront location does not change the law.
- Right now many Second Amendment rights supporters are willing to give Democrats the benefit of the doubt right now. If the administration and/or party leadership manages to strongarm the Democrats in congress into passing this legislation. The next elections will make the Republican take over of Congress in 1994 look mild by comparison. Most likely, unless the Republicans completely screw up their choice for President, the next Presidential election would also go to them. The fact is, the majority of people in this country do now see gun control measures as being useless and strongly object to them. The Democrats who have been elected to Congress recently have largely been put there with understanding that they will not pass gun control. If it passes, it might destro the Democratic party for a long time.
A not inconsequential side note. The companies that produce the assault weapons (and all of the side gear), employ a good number of Americans in well paying jobs. In the current economy, passing a new AWB will hurt the economy.
Posted in: 2nd Amendment, AR15, America, BATFE, Fascism in America, Government, Heller, Obama, President, Supreme Court, Tyrrany, civil rights, discrimination, firearms, politics, weapons –
February 27, 2010
There is talk of setting up steampunk shooting matches. This has definite possibilities. It will be done with 22lr pistols and rifles that have been safely modded to have a steampunk look.
The same post that has this information also has a link to Boneshaker. This is a book that combines steampunk and zombies. I might have to get this book.
February 21, 2010
Yesterday, I ran across a deal I could not pass up. Academy had a Stevens 200 rifle in 223 for $229. This is $70 less than the normal price just about everywhere. The rifle is manufactured by Savage Arms with the main difference between it and their much higher priced tifles being the lack of their accutrigger system. To give you an idea, I can buy an aftermarket trigger for less than $100 and still come out at least $100 less than the equivalent Savage rifle. I mounted my Vortex Crossfire 4-12×40mm scope on the rifle and took it to the range today after giving it a good cleaning. Being that it was raining, I chose to go to the local indoor range which limited my shooting distance to 50 yards.
At 50 yards I was getting 4 shot groups that quite literally had the holes touching each other with Hornady 55grain VMax ammunition and Ultramax remanufactured 55grain full metal jacket ammunition. Unfortunately, my reloads of 75grain Hornady VMax bullets over 22 grains of Ramshot TAC powder were all over the place. I believe this is due to the 1 in 9 twist of the barrel. To solve this problem, I plan on eventually changing the barrel for a 1 in 7 bull barrel when funds allow.
I plan on eventually replacing the stock with either a Boyds Featherweight thumbhole stock, or a Richards Tactical thumbhole stock. Though the first thing I need to do is replace the trigger. Its pull is extremely heavy. I might try using some of the tricks I’ve seen for lightening the trigger online. But, I think I will be happier with a good adjustable trigger.
I am also looking at dremeling a bit of the stock away from the barrel. The barrel is free floated in the stock. But, the left front of the stock is touching the barrel. I am also probably going to try my hand at painting the stock. Though, I am happier with the tan color of the plastic over the standard Stevens gray color you usually see.
This is going to be my project rifle. Some guys rebuild cars. I am going to try my hand at rebuilding rifles.
Overall, if you are looking for a cheap bolt action, I heartily recommend the Stevens.
February 10, 2010
“Violence is the last resort of the incompetent”–Asimov
“You’re correct, the competent use it before it’s the last resort”–Pournelle
February 5, 2010
The Southern Poverty Law Center is now equating those who support the Second Amendment with racists. This irritates me to no end. They ignore the fact that gun control laws in this country began as laws to keep firearms out of the hands of minorities. This march is not targetted at just Obama. It is targeted at all parts of the federal government as a message that we will not stand for infringement of our rights. If the NAACP/LULAC/NOW or any other rights groups marched on Washington, would they be saying that it is not needed because Obama has no intentions of restricting their rights? I have a real problem with how they are saying because the Second Amendment rights movement has won a few victories we should sit down and shut up.
February 3, 2010
The NRA has endorsed Rick Perry for Texas Governor. Don’t get me wrong. He has been a strong supporter of gun owners’ rights. However, there is a more ardent supporter of the individual right to bear arms, Debra Medina. By endorsing Perry now, they have shown that they prefer to support the safe option. If they wanted to endorse Perry, they should have done so after the primaries. This shows that the NRA really supports the status quo, not strengthening support for our Second Amendment rights.
January 31, 2010
The Intellectual Property Fight That Could Kill Millions
The hothouse environment of Indonesia is ground zero for a potential bird flu pandemic. But a fight over ownership of flu genes is blocking the efforts to track deadly infections on the move.
….
Of the 141 human bird flu cases in Indonesia reported to the WHO, 115 people have died, a death rate of more than 80 percent. Put another way, bird flu in Indonesia is about 8,000 times as deadly as the swine flu virus now making the rounds, according to global health expert Laurie Garrett of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City.
As frightening as these statistics seem, the figures are based on spotty reporting from Indonesia’s Health Ministry, which means the actual number of infections and deaths might be substantially higher. Through the first three quarters of 2009, Indonesia failed to report any flu cases at all, even though the Food and Agriculture Organization (a body of the United Nations that monitors avian influenza in birds) has found the infection to be deeply entrenched among fowl in 31 of the country’s 33 provinces and endemic in Java, Sumatra, and Bali.
Now, if this spreads to the first world, will it be as deadly? Most likely it won’t. However, it will be much more deadly than swine flu.
January 30, 2010
I went to Bass Pro Shops to look at a rifle I’m thinking of getting. After waiting an unreasonable amount of time (in which several other people gave up), I gave up. Apparently, it takes 3 people to help 1 person buy a shotgun. I’ll just take my business elsewhere.
January 30, 2010
Osama Bin Laden calls for renewed action against the USA because of global warming
CAIRO – Osama bin Laden sought to draw a wider public into his fight against the United States in a new message Friday, dropping his usual talk of religion and holy war and focusing instead on an unexpected topic: global warming.
The al-Qaida leader blamed the United States and other industrialized nations for climate change and said the only way to prevent disaster was to break the American economy, calling on the world to boycott U.S. goods and stop using the dollar.
So, I think I will burn some stuff this weekend to increase my carbon footprint.
January 23, 2010
As some of you may know, I’m a fan of apples (the fruit, not the electronics). Well, I found the Wood’s Cider Mill website. They sell boiled cider, cider jelly and cider syrup. All of these products are made by boiling fresh pressed cider over a wood fire and condensing the product. I’m thinking I might be making an order in the near future. I’ve been seeing some cooking shows using their products, and I want to try some of the recipes (and some of my own). I think I might be able to make a killer pork loin with a cider glaze. Also, the boiled cider apparently can be used as an apple juice concentrate.
