Headlines
All Activity
This stream auto-updates
- Past hour
-
Ben Kollenborn changed their profile photo
-
You may relate to the situations here, and having a security officer in the vicinity will protect you from physical danger and will also offer peace of mind. View the full article - Today
-
Gary Lance joined the community
-
PhhhphhhhhPHHhhPPhhhhLLT!! Inslee. - Yesterday
-
For most people, guns aren’t part of the job. Sure, they are for the police and those who sell them or repair them, but for most folks? Guns aren’t part of their day-to-day work. They may carry a firearm at work, but that’s for personal protection, not due to job requirements. However, some jobs supposedly control things tightly. Some would say as tightly as anti-gunners would like to control guns. Earlier, a friend of mine, who wishes to remain anonymous, recounted a tale of one job’s response to constraints not unlike a gun control activist’s most fervent dreams. So we are a department that only does stocking, order picking, packing, and shipping. I’m on the packing line. A few weeks ago our supervisor, a married lesbian [Yes, it matters. Bear with me], henceforth known as Supervisor, decided we, as a line, possessed too few utility knives and tried to order some. This resulted in her boss handing her a box of “safety” box cutters to officially hand out, and a box of actual utility knives that “don’t exist, and if I see them outside of that room, I’ll have to take them away.” Yes, Ma’am. We’ve been oh so very good about doing so. Every single member of our small department (less than 20 of us) is “molon labe” about our utility knives. Everyone knows the packing line possesses them because we use them the most, but everyone uses one at least once a day. We know where everyone stands on the issue. The packing line consists of a refugee from a war-torn country (Coworker 1), a single mother of biracial kids (Coworker 2), a Hispanic woman who’s married to another woman (Coworker 3), a gamer dude (Coworker 4), and me. The other people in the department are similarly of…demographics usually assumed to vote for a certain political party. Which is why I use those descriptors. Coworker 1 and Coworker 2 have already left for the day. In walks this higher-up we don’t usually see. If he saw us more often he might have recognized our silent preoccupation with our work as a sign that we were listening for all that we were worth. …He hands the Supervisor six utility knives, and lays out the new rules. All knives have a number. All knives must be signed out and signed back in by the end of the day. Supervisor will personally email him the logs every day. By this point Coworker 3 is looking at me and making “kill me now” motions. Coworker 4 is so wrapped up in his earbuds and podcasts, he has no clue what’s going on around him. Supervisor looks at us, and asks us if we use knives all that often. “Of course not. We’ve got no need for them.” Supervisor looks at the higher-up, says, “See, I’d be surprised if we sign out even one a day. Now, I have an idea for where to put the knives, we just need a pegboard right here, right where the security camera can see it.” She’s successfully gotten the higher-up to turn his back. Coworker 3 and I hide all of the knives, everyone’s, especially the one belonging to Coworker 2, which is hanging in plain sight with her name on it. I even elbow Coworker 4 and tell him to make his knife less f***ng visible. He asks me why. I tell him just to do it, we’ll explain later. Another coworker walks up while we’re doing this, asks us what we’re doing, we shut him up and tell him we’ll explain later. By the time Supervisor is done loudly talking about her ideas for knife security, all knives are hidden and we’re all conspicuously doing our jobs as expected. Higher-up leaves, totally ignorant of the fact that we are harboring unregister and uncontrolled knives. Supervisor makes sure we’ve successfully hidden our knives, which will never been seen outside of the room. No outsiders are to know. The rest of the department still at work is informed of the new rules, to the general consensus of “molon labe, but only if we’re stupid enough to let you know we have them.” Two levels of management are complicit in our continued possession of these utility knives. The moral of the story? With no notice and only using subtext and gestures, my small department managed to protect and hide unregistered *utility knives* from our company, and keep our armory to ourselves. That’s among core demographics of a certain political party. Yet there are people who think requiring all firearms to be registered and stored off-site with intensive tracking is ever going to work on millions of gun owners who will have plenty of warning. Also assuming that, unlike our management, all levels of government will actually go along with confiscation, instead of paying lipservice while looking the other way. The truth of the matter is, people who want or feel they need something will continue to obtain the item they need. Rules designed to keep it out of their hands won’t do a whole hell of a lot. This is especially true when that ship has already set sail. In this instance, people already had their knives. They refused to let management know they had them. Do you think that millions of gun owners in this country would automatically comply with such a requirement? Yes, it happens at the state level, but there’s something different about a state doing it. With states requiring registration, there’s still a vague hope that it’ll pass. Further, the state itself can only get so tyrannical before the federal government steps in to tell it to knock that crap off. In other words, state registration feels a bit safer, so they comply. But federally? That changes things. Additionally, those who do comply are only those inclined to follow laws as a general rule. Those who are generally disinclined to follow them–you know, people like criminals–won’t. They won’t register their guns. They won’t tolerate keeping them off-site and unloaded. They’ll do what they want anyway. The difference is, a lot of other people will join them in that. Just something for anti-gunners to consider as they continue their push. They should think about how they would react to a situation similar to the one above and then ask themselves, “Why would gun owners be any different?” The post A Job Site’s Lesson In Gun Control appeared first on Bearing Arms. View the full article -
My name is Joshua and I have lived in semi-urban environments for many years. I have traveled this country extensively living in wood lots on the edges of towns. In this article I’m going to tell you a little about myself and how I decided to live homeless by choice. Ill also talk about some of the urban survival skills that were beneficial to me along the way. I’ve been practicing primitive survival skills my entire life and a little over 15 years ago I decided to test abilities by moving to the wilderness to spend a year living primitively. I ended up spending two years out there and the details are listed here in an article called “Alone in the Wilderness or How I met God”. When those two years were complete I bought a few gadgets that would change my life. The most important one was a laptop computer. With this laptop I began making YouTube videos which became mildly popular (click here for my YouTube channel). I also started advertising myself as an instructor of wilderness skills and began teaching private lessons all over the country. That’s how my urban survival adventure began. Whenever someone would contact me for a private lesson, I would travel to their area for the class. When it was over I would find a woodlot or a wilderness area near town, preferably by a river, and set up camp for a while. I would go into town, occasionally, to use the internet at a coffee shop or at McDonalds. I would also take advantage of some of the resources that cities have to offer. One of those resources is food. We need meat to survive and the city offers us easier meat than the wilderness does. Food The rabbits in a city are much different than the rabbits in the wilderness. They are used to seeing people so they don’t flee so frantically like wild rabbits do. For me, this was a godsend. I could stalk a city park after dark and almost guarantee a meal. How I did this was with snares and a rabbit stick. Before dark I would walk the edges of a park and set a snare at every rabbit escape route I could find. Then, after the sun went down I would go into the field and run the rabbits, with a rabbit stick, into the snares. Once a rabbit was caught I would run over, step on its head, and pull the back legs, breaking its neck. I know that sounds cruel but it’s actually pretty instant. Squirrels are also much tamer in the city than in the wilderness. A squirrel pole with snares on it is almost guaranteed to get you food. However squirrels are active in the daytime so you have to be much more discreet if you are targeting them. I have been accosted and threatened by many people who think they are doing the right thing by protecting these animals. These hypocrites have no problem eating a burger from a factory tortured cow and they are a real danger to the urban survivalist. Another easy meat source near cities is the highways and roads nearby. If you check your “road kill trap line” every morning you can generally find fresh meat that is not too damaged, albeit slightly tenderized, for very little effort. It is a valuable resource that not enough people take advantage of. Homeless Of course most cities have a homeless population and cities that do generally have resources to feed the hungry. Churches and the Salvation Army offer meals and groceries for the homeless and I’m not ashamed to say I have taken advantage of them to some extent. However I must caution against becoming too familiar with the homeless people at these places, or becoming dependent on a handout. Homeless people can be dangerous. There is a lot of drug addiction and mental illness in the homeless community. I have personally experienced quite a lot of violence and a few close calls in the homeless community Violence is not the only threat though. There are plenty of nonviolent homeless folks as well but it’s still better to keep your distance. If people find out that your living a comfortable life they might want in on it and deplete your limited resources. SO my recommendation is to be kind but not inviting. Money Money is another useful resource in the cities. You won’t find much of it in the wilderness, that’s for sure. But in the cities there is money to be had if you are willing to work for it. There are a million ways to make money on the fly. You won’t get rich but you can get by. You can scrap metal, gather pallets, or you can do what I did. You can sell your crafts. I make money by selling baskets. I have learned that the key to selling baskets is you have to make them in front of the costumer. They want the story. When someone sees their basket and mentions it they have the story of seeing an eccentric homeless guy making them in the park. That goes for arrowheads, bark containers, or anything else you’re making as well. Sales quadruple when they see you making it. After a while in one location I would eventually sell another class and off across the country I would go. Sometimes I would hitchhike and sometimes I would take a bus. I have always tried to never own more than I could carry. Possessions are anchors that trap people in place and limit freedom and freedom is like a pearl of great worth. This article is just the beginning of a series I am writing about how to achieve freedom. I’ll be discussing urban survival skills in depth as well as primitive living skills. Finally I’ll be transitioning into homesteading skills as well. Thanks for tagging along. The post 10 Years Homeless by Choice appeared first on SIGMA 3 Survival School. View the full article
-
I’ve always been wary of people who hold up their love of hunting as a shield against criticisms that label them as anti-gun. Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester is such a person. He supported a Feinstein-backed bill that would have expanded the NICS system to include people on the terrorist watch list, even though the proposal was in response to the Orlando Pulse shooting and the killer wasn’t on the watch list. That alone is sufficient to label someone as anti-gun, in my mind. But Tester represents Montana, a state not really known for its liberal policies. How did someone like Tester get elected there? Well, he did it by using hunting as a screen, arguing that he understands it and all that jazz. However, for Tester, it seems hunting is something that only matters in election years. Montana Sen. Jon Tester, a red state Democrat running for re-election in one of the closest Senate contests this year, has campaigned as a big hunting proponent, sending out mailers to voters that show him on his farm with his gun in hand. “As we gear up for hunting season, Montanans know that hunting isn’t just a sport – it feeds our families, and it creates lifelong memories with our kids and grandkids,” Tester says in the campaign flier. “Montanans are lucky to have some of the best access, longest seasons and greatest hunting in the world.” But according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks records reviewed by Fox News, Tester hasn’t had a hunting license in six years. He last had one in 2012 – the same year he was last on the ballot. Records dating back to 2002 indicate that the agency had no records of Tester having a hunting or fishing license for 12 out of the last 16 years. In 2012, Tester had a resident conservation and fishing, antelope and hunting access enhancement license. The agency said it has no records yet of Tester having a license this year. Now, to be fair, Tester only implies he’s a hunter. He doesn’t explicitly say so, which his office is now using to justify the deception. The fact is, Tester is a fair-weather friend to hunters and gun owners. He was quick to side with Feinstein over a bill that would have barred thousands of innocent people from buying a gun with no recourse. Anyone remotely understanding of the Second Amendment would have recognized the problems with this right off the bat. The measure died, thankfully, but that doesn’t absolve him of his sins on this, especially since he last held a hunting license the year of his last campaign. The implication is clear. Tester holds up hunting as a shield, a way to pretend to be pro-gun without having to take a pro-gun stance. He doesn’t alienate the DNC and the more rabidly anti-gun folks in his state, but he makes Montanans feel safe and sound. Now, I don’t live in Montana, but I do think it might not be a bad idea of the good people of that state to take a long, hard look at the man representing them in the Senate. The post Anti-Gun Senator Campaigned On Hunting, Hasn’t Had License In Six Years appeared first on Bearing Arms. View the full article
-
I have been following A since the start. I am proud to say that. When the inducements begin it will be one of the great days in American history. WWG1WGA.
-
For some reason, Democrats figured that Sen. Ted Cruz was vulnerable, that his seat in Texas was somehow up for grabs. They were sure that the Lone Star State was ready for more things like gun control. Apparently, none of these Democrats had ever been to Texas. Poll after poll claimed that Cruz’s opponent, Beto O’Rourke, was challenging the former presidential candidate. This information, in turn, seemed to encourage O’Rourke to continue talking about all kinds of things that usually don’t fly in Texas. You know, things like gun control. After all, I’m not sure O’Rourke has ever met a gun control policy he didn’t like. And how well is this working out for him? A new poll released by Quinnipiac University Tuesday shows Democratic Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke down nine points in his race against Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Fifty-four percent of likely voters said that they would support Cruz in the election, compared to 45 percent who said they would support O’Rourke. The two candidates have overwhelming support within their parties: 94 percent of Republicans would vote for Cruz, and 94 percent of Democrats would vote for O’Rourke. Independent voters support O’Rourke by 51 percent. O’Rourke also has the youth vote, as a majority of voters between 18 and 39 would support him. Ninety-seven percent of black voters are also in favor of O’Rourke, and 54 percent of Hispanic voters are supporting him. However, Cruz has wide margins of support among white voters. A majority of Cruz voters said that the economy and gun policy were the most important issues to them in the election. O’Rourke is a supporter of gun control. A majority of O’Rourke voters said that the most important issues to them were health care and the Supreme Court. Cruz voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. He is also a critical vote in the potential confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. A recent NBC News/Marist College poll found O’Rourke only four points behind Cruz, trailing him with 45 percent to Cruz’s 49 percent. In other words, O’Rourke is trailing. Further, we’ve seen plenty of evidence that polling in recent years has skewed left. Whether that skew is intentional or due to some outside factor is irrelevant. The polls seem to routinely claim that left-leaning candidates and positions are doing better than they do on election day. That means there’s a good chance that O’Rourke is even further behind than these polls indicate. However, here’s an interesting line from the above quote: “A majority of O’Rourke voters said that the most important issues to them were health care and the Supreme Court.” Now, I’m not interested in talking health care or SCOTUS at the moment. What I am interested in is how O’Rourke supporters don’t seem to be prioritizing his anti-gun stance as all that important. This fact goes along with something I’ve noted several times in the past, and that’s how anti-gun voters tend to prioritize other things over gun control, while pro-gun voters tend to prioritize gun rights over other things. This information is yet another data point that seems to support that. And with that in mind, it will be hilarious to see O’Rourke lose, lose big, and wonder just how he went wrong by being anti-gun in the state many consider the most pro-gun state in the country. The post Anti-Gun Stance Clearly Not Helping O’Rourke appeared first on Bearing Arms. View the full article
-
The National Rifle Association has been vilified by pretty much every left-leaning politician for months now. Somehow, an organization doing what its members demand is somehow evil, and the group becomes worthy of scorn. Even when the NRA is barely involved in something, it seems anti-gun crusaders feel justified in fighting its activities just because there’s some flimsy tie between the organization and whatever else. In this case, we have the governor of Washinton refusing to sign marksmanship awards–something every other governor in the country does–because the event was registered with the NRA. Governor Inslee is doing something unbelievably petty. Back in 1903, there was a group that started in our nation called the Civilian Marksmanship Program. They would get together and have shooting competitions. It was for a while under the auspices of the Department of Defense. Here in Washington, they have a couple of groups that go and compete in marksmanship — the Washington State Rifle and Pistol Association, and the Washington State Police Pistol Association. This organization always holds an annual banquet, where the top shooters — both civilians and law enforcement officers — are given certificates signed by the governor. Most states do this every year. It’s known as the Governor’s 20. “The Governor’s 20 has been around for years — it’s a competition of law enforcement officers [who] are competing for skills,” Jane Milhans of the Washington State Rifle and Pistol Association told me. This year, however, Governor Inslee’s office sent this letter ahead of the banquet. “The certificates that were signed last May will be the final certificates signed by the governor … Governor Inslee is no longer able to support any program affiliated with the National Rifle Association (NRA), due to the organization’s obstructive efforts to undermine common sense gun safety measures, including those that enjoy broad public support. We understand competitors will be disappointed by this decision; however, the Governor [sic] believes constructive conversations and meaningful action around gun safety are necessary to better protect our families and communities.” But isn’t that a principled stand? I mean, if Inslee believes that the NRA is really that vile, then shouldn’t he make a stand? Well, not really. You see, the NRA’s involvement is minimal. Let me tell you the extent of the NRA’s involvement. The organization that runs this is just a little 501 (c)(3). They only register these competitions with the NRA so the shooters can get classifications if they set national records and so that the NRA can set a common set of standards for each state’s competition. “The big focus and emphasis [of the NRA] is all on safety, and even the NRA … will provide training to smaller law enforcement agencies that don’t have the manpower for a training department,” Milhans said. In other words, because the NRA is also a body that standardizes these competitions as well as defends our right to keep and bear arms, Inslee won’t sign marksmanship certificates for his state’s best shooters. These are the people demanding we work with them? Why? All I see out of them is vindictiveness and pettiness. Worse yet is that this doesn’t impact the NRA. It’s not being hurt by this. Instead, it hurts the shooters who earned their status as the state’s top shooters. You don’t create “constructive conversations and meaningful action around gun safety” by refusing to conduct a traditional act because there are some loose ties between the contest and an opponent organization. In fact, because of this action, I see even less reason to try and work with people like Inslee. It’s clear that their approach is “my way or the highway,” and when it comes to my rights, that’s not remotely viable. Pettiness in politics isn’t new, but it’s rarely been quite this grotesque. The post Washington Governor Too Petty To Sign Marksmanship Awards appeared first on Bearing Arms. View the full article
- 1 reply
-
- 1
-
-
Elizabeth Paier changed their profile photo
-
Defense Distributed’s Cody Wilson, the man who led the fight against the State Department, and now against various states, to get 3D-printed gun files onto the internet, is now facing a sexual assault charge against a minor. The shocking development comes from a local report (via KVUE ABC). Cody Wilson, the Austin man who owns controversial 3D-printed gun company Defense Distributed, has been accused of sexually assaulting a child, an affidavit obtained by KVUE reveals. During a forensic interview with the Center with Child Protection on Aug. 27, the victim told counselors she met Wilson through the website, SugarDaddyMeet.com. Court documents show Wilson used the profile, “Sanjuro,” and told the victim that he was a “big deal.” During the conversation, he also identified himself as “Cody Wilson.” Police said the two exchanged cell phone numbers and continued their conversations using the Apple iMessage service on her phone. The alleged victim’s age is not specified, but the affidavit reportedly shows the girl is under the age of 17. According to the report, Wilson allegedly met the girl at a coffee shop before driving her to a hotel in a “black Ford Edge four-door sports utility vehicle with a license plate that matches one registered to Wilson’s business, Defense Distributed.” “The victim then told police that Wilson took her to the Archer Hotel at 3121 Palm Way. Surveillance cameras captured the two using the valet service, in the lobby and in the elevator,” KVUE reports. The victim, who is not named, gives the room number at the hotel where the sexual assault allegedly took place. After the alleged sexual assault, the victim claims that Wilson paid her $500. As of now, Wilson is not in custody. It sounds like Wilson is about to be wrapped up in two major legal battles. As Tom reported earlier, Wilson’s legal battle to post his 3D-printed gun files to the internet is ongoing. In recent developments, Wilson and Defense Distributed are now teaming up with the Second Amendment Foundation to sue more states that are blocking Wilson and his company from posting the files. Though they can’t be posted to the internet by Wilson, the blueprints are still widely available online. Wilson is also selling USB drives that contain the 3D-gun files, as the court did not prohibit him from distributing them entirely. The post Defense Distributed’s Cody Wilson Charged With Sexual Assault appeared first on Bearing Arms. View the full article
-
Ever since the horrific events in Las Vegas almost a year ago, bump stocks have become the bane of anti-gunners’ existence. They’ve campaigned against them left and right, despite them having been legal for years and precisely one crime having been committed with them, but none of that matters. After Vegas, a handful of states passed laws banning the devices in typical knee-jerk fashion. Now, one of them is demanding those who purchased bump stocks to turn them in immediately. Authorities are not offering to pay for the now-banned devices, but those caught with them could risk up to one year in prison and $1,000 in fines. With Vermont’s new law banning the sale and possession of bump stock is set to go into effect Oct. 1, the State Police announced Monday that they will offer an anonymous collection program for the devices. “In compliance with that law, the Vermont State Police will allow members of the public to voluntarily surrender their bump-fire stocks anonymously at any of the 10 VSP barracks in the state,” Capt. Timothy Clouatre said in a release. “People may turn in the devices during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.” The devices were outlawed in the state after lawmakers approved S.55, and sent it to Republican Gov. Phil Scott to sign in April. The sweeping anti-gun law placed a limit on magazine capacity for handguns and rifles, upped the age to buy all guns in the state to 21, and outlawed bump stocks and similar devices. Those who have the devices after the law takes effect in October will be liable to as much as a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. There is no path to legal ownership and no reimbursement program for the forfeited property. Good luck seeing them all. Because bump stocks weren’t considered firearms, there are no records kept of who purchased them. Gun stores can’t comb through 4473s and look for who bought them so they can hand this information over to law enforcement. There’s no way for Vermont to know just who bought what and when. So they’re having to use the honor system. There’s a problem with this, though, and it’s not a difficult one to foresee. Namely that the people most likely to use the bump stock illegally are also people that aren’t likely to comply with a demand to turn in bump stocks. In other words, it’ll take bump stocks from the people who aren’t a problem while likely leaving them in the hands of people who are. Just like all other gun control measures. If the honor system is good enough to collect bump stocks, then why is a bump stock ban even necessary? Well, it’s not. Like I said, before Las Vegas, there had been no crimes committed with them. Since Las Vegas, there have been no crimes committed with them. In almost a year, no one has used a bump stock in an illegal manner that I can recall, despite the whole world seeing the horrors unleashed with one. It’s almost like they’re not the threat the anti-gunners claim they are. For folks in Vermont who have bump stocks, I’m not going to tell you to hold onto your bump stocks. I can’t advise you to do anything illegal. But I can say that if you go Molon Labe over this one, I’m sure not going to blame you either. Yes, I believe in following the law, but I certainly understand making a stand on principle as well. The post Vermont Police Demand Gun Owners Turn In Bump Stocks Immediately appeared first on Bearing Arms. View the full article
-
Attached is a PowerPoint used to deliver Antiterrorism Level 1 training (basic personal protective measures and terrorism awareness.) You may use it to build your own antiterrorism/terrorism awareness program. Also attached is MCRP3-02E Individual Marine's Guide to Understanding and Preventing Terrorism which can be required reading. I wouldn't recommend using FM 3-37.2 Antiterrorism. That field manual really focuses more on doctrine. It is useful for an intelligence member though, as it discusses threat assessments, criticality assessment, and other similar tools. MCRP3-02E Individual's Guide for Understanding and Surviving Terrorism.pdf Military - Antiterrorism Level 1.ppt
-
Hope this brightens your day: Anyone wishing to join a Prepper group in Southwest (Savannah) Georgia; Please reply to this post. A truckload of tortoises crashed into a trainload of terrapins. It was a turtle disaster. A mother-in-law visits her son-in-law before leaving for a trip. They are sipping coffee and chatting. Suddenly, the mother-in-law looks at the clock and jumps off her chair exclaiming, "It's already 3 pm! I'm about to miss my train!" She begins to put her coat on in a hurry. At this moment the son-in-law's six-year-old daughter runs up to her and before her dad can do anything, she says, "Don't hurry Granny, Daddy set the clock two hours ahead." No matter where you go, there will always be two groups of people: Ones who likes you and ones who do not like you. Be encouraged by the ones who do and pray for the ones who don't. Dark new world by Henry Foster & JJ Holden – Excellent great story PLUS prepper information. Preppers should rely more on Knowledge then “Stuff/Products/Gadgets”. Things can be lost or stolen, knowledge can not. If you read one chapter a night (20 minutes) (on wild edible/medical plants) you will be an expert in a year. Plus be able to feed your family when SHTF. Would You Survive Scott
-
Hope this brightens your day: Anyone wishing to join a Prepper group in Southwest (Savannah) Georgia; Please reply to this post. A truckload of tortoises crashed into a trainload of terrapins. It was a turtle disaster. A mother-in-law visits her son-in-law before leaving for a trip. They are sipping coffee and chatting. Suddenly, the mother-in-law looks at the clock and jumps off her chair exclaiming, "It's already 3 pm! I'm about to miss my train!" She begins to put her coat on in a hurry. At this moment the son-in-law's six-year-old daughter runs up to her and before her dad can do anything, she says, "Don't hurry Granny, Daddy set the clock two hours ahead." No matter where you go, there will always be two groups of people: Ones who likes you and ones who do not like you. Be encouraged by the ones who do and pray for the ones who don't. Dark new world by Henry Foster & JJ Holden – Excellent great story PLUS prepper information. Preppers should rely more on Knowledge then “Stuff/Products/Gadgets”. Things can be lost or stolen, knowledge can not. If you read one chapter a night (20 minutes) (on wild edible/medical plants) you will be an expert in a year. Plus be able to feed your family when SHTF. Would You Survive Scott
-
Joe Porter changed their profile photo
-
Ever since the Trump administration dropped it’s challenge to Cody Wilson’s decision to post files for 3D printers on his website, the anti-gunners have gone freaking nuts. They’re absolutely convinced that it will be the end of the republic as we devolve into a war-torn failed state, all because some people can build some gun without saying, “Mother may I?” to the government. Nevermind the fact that people have been building them for years or anything. Anyway, the battle has now landed in court, with several states suing to prevent the distribution of the files by Wilson. Of course, by now those files are in thousands of computer hard drives, so Wilson doesn’t have to share them. In response, though, gun rights advocates started suing states. Now, they’re suing even more of them. Gun rights advocates announced on Monday night that they expanded their suit over whether gun schematics can be published on the internet to include representatives from new states. The Second Amendment Foundation, in cooperation with 3D-printed gun pioneer Cody Wilson’s company Defense Distributed, added New York governor Andrew Cuomo, Pennsylvania governor Thomas Wolf, Delaware attorney general Matthew Denn, and Pennsylvania attorney general Josh Shapiro to their suit. They accuse the defendants of “unconstitutional prior restraint” for their efforts to block the publishing of gun files, including those with instructions for printing gun components on 3D-printers, despite the State Department settling with the plaintiffs to allow their publication earlier this summer. “Under the color of state law, the Defendants are denying us our civil and constitutional rights by waging a coordinated and politically fueled campaign to censor Defense Distributed,” Alan Gottlieb, executive vice president of the Second Amendment Foundation, said in a statement. “What these public officials are attempting is an unconstitutional exercise of prior restraint. They are trying to prevent Defense Distributed and its founder, Cody Wilson, from exercising free speech.” The suit accuses the government officials of abridging Wilson’s First Amendment rights, Second Amendment rights, due process rights, and equal protection rights as well as violating the Commerce Clause and attempting to supersede federal laws. Their brief said government officials are specifically targeting Wilson’s company because they don’t like his message. Wilson has repeatedly argued for these files being free on First Amendment grounds, not Second Amendment grounds, which is clever. He’s building upon the long-held notion that code is speech, and what are 3D printer files other than bits of code. Further, he’s not wrong. I have all the files myself. They’re just sitting there. I can’t shoot them. I can’t do anything with them except use them to build a firearm (I really need a 3D printer). At this point, they’re not guns and shouldn’t be treated like firearms. They’re just bits of data. In other words, they’re free speech. Once they’re used to create receivers, then we have actually firearms and the Second Amendment kicks in. These states, by trying to shut down Wilson’s Defense Distributed from sharing the files, are trying to restrain free speech. That argument is far more likely to win in courts than the Second Amendment grounds, I suspect. I can’t wait to watch this blow up in these states’ faces, though. The post Lawsuit Over 3D-Printer Files Expands To More States appeared first on Bearing Arms. View the full article
-
Chris Garcia changed their profile photo
-
Deputies from the Colorado-based Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) were forced to shoot and kill a man who drew a pistol during a traffic stop. The DCSO recently released body camera and vehicle footage of the incident. Watch the footage above. RELATED STORY WATCH: Police Officer Shot in Leg, Kills Suspect in Denver Shootout Colorado Deputies Forced to Fire On Aug. 31 at approximately 4:41 p.m., two deputies initiated a traffic stop after a vehicle made an unsafe turn right in front of them on Highway 85 approximately 20 miles south of Denver. According to police, the vehicle was occupied by two adult females and two adult males. Upon investigation, police learned the female driver “was the restrained party listed in a protection order protecting a male.” That male, identified as 61-year-old Paul Askins, matched the description of the right rear passenger. Police questioned Askins, whom they said was uncooperative in providing his legal name. After several failed attempts to identify him, deputies asked Askins to step out of the vehicle. When he did, police said Askins emerged with a pistol pointed at deputies. As the video shows, the deputies quick drew their sidearms and shot Askins multiple times, fatally wounding him. According to police, Askins had two active warrants out of El Paso County, Colo., at the time of the shooting; one for 2nd degree burglary of a building and the other for Failure to Appear. The post WATCH: Man Gets Fatally Shot After Drawing Gun on Colorado Deputies appeared first on Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews. View the full article -
Michael Kehoe changed their profile photo
-
Popularity of the 300 AAC Blackout continues to track upward as Remington’s capacity to produce factory fodder caught up with demand for this reborn cartridge. Since the 300 Blackout’s production is still a fraction of 5.56 NATO ammunition, though, its price is relatively high in comparison. Handloading is a prime option to feed your 300 Blackout and save some money. To that end, we’re providing a few favorite loads you may wish to try yourself. RELATED STORY 5 High-Quality AR Pistols Available in .300 Blackout Basically, the 300 AAC Blackout (300 BLK) is a .300 Whisper with a longer chamber throat lead. The .300 Whisper’s throat measures .050, while the 300 BLK measures .100 of an inch. The longer throat allows the safe use of trimmed and sized 5.56mm NATO brass without the malfunctions associated with thicker-walled brass. Finding cheap military 5.56mm NATO brass to cut down for 300 BLK ammo is much easier than necking up .221 Remington Fireball brass, too. Reloading 300 Blackout: Feeling The Pressure Another issue associated with this cartridge is how much pressure is needed to cycle a direct gas impingement system without “over gassing.” This comes into play when considering the use of fast-burning powders that expend their gas energy in the first few inches of the barrel. AAC’s thoughts on the matter center on using a non-adjustable carbine-position gas block, and finding powders that perform well with that gas block’s position. Other firearms manufacturers believe that an adjustable gas block at the carbine position will address the issue, while others believe that an adjustable gas block in the pistol position is the answer. Other considerations come into play when loading for the 300 BLK. It’s not enough to keep velocities below the 1,080 fps threshold at sea level when loading subsonic rounds; they will still be too fast to keep noise at acceptable levels when using a suppressor. Loads need to average 100 fps slower to assure subsonic launch, and stay “whisper” quiet. I have learned that an adjustable gas block allows “tuning” the amount of gas that operates the weapon through extensive testing over the years, shooting 300 BLK from a DI AR. This comes in handy when switching from subsonics to high-velocity loads. Over the past several years I have worked up loads for no fewer than 10 different direct impingement ARs chambered in 300 Fireball/.300 Whisper/300 BLK. Every load and weapon combination won’t fit in the allotted space for this article, so I’ll focus on a select few loads from a couple of rifles. Reloading 300 Blackout: The Loki Patrol Now-defunct Loki Weapons Systems built a Patrol Rifle with an adjustable gas block in 300 BLK for an article I wrote several years ago. It was built with a Satern button-rifled barrel with the gas block in the carbine position. With select loads this rifle prints 0.75-MOA five-shot groups at 100 yards, so I added it to my collection. The powders used for this article didn’t show much difference between “pistol gas,” and “carbine gas.” In brief, the powders used for this article required the adjustable gas block screws to be turned out four full turns on the Loki to cycle subsonic loads. High-velocity loads cycled well with the gas screw turned out one full turn. Reloading 300 Blackout: DoubleStar The latest 300 BLK carbine adding to my load database is a DoubleStar wearing a 16-inch barrel. This rig sports a full-length skeletonized handguard and a minimalist buttstock. Of significance, the non-adjustable gas block resides in the pistol position on the barrel. This carbine would be used to gather data on Hodgdon’s new CFE BLK powder, which is formulated specifically for 300 BLK subsonic loads. Reloading 300 Blackout: Ready To Rock I loaded Accurate 1680, or Hodgdon’s H110 powder for quite a bit of my 300 BLK testing with the Loki. Cases were primed with Federal Small Rifle Benchrest primers. An AAC .30 caliber Cyclone suppressor was mounted for all testing, and an Oehler 35P chronograph recorded velocities. Shooting was conducted from a concrete reinforced bench, and five-shot groups were fired at 100 yards. The 220-grain Sierra Match King (SMK) is the gold standard in bullets for the BLK. Most other bullets were seated just shy of the magazine’s maximum length, but a few bullet profiles had to be pushed past the ogive to improve feeding. The Loki’s adjustable gas block screw was typically turned out four full revolutions to allow enough gas to cycle and lock the bolt back on subsonic loads. Full-power loads cycled properly with the gas block screw turned out one full turn. The few loads listed in this article just scratch the surface of viable performers. Reloading 300 Blackout: Loki’s Loads Trying to match what I believe as a duplicate for Remington’s 220-grain factory load, I placed a SMK on top of 10.8 grains of Accurate 1680. I used trimmed and formed .223 brass. The average velocity was 992 fps, with standard deviation of 16 fps, and an extreme spread of 51 fps. The smallest group measured 0.753 inches, and the average for the first 10 groups was 1.213 inches. Sierra Match King 210-grain bullets on top of 9.2 grains of H110 averaged 1,025 fps. The ES was 44 fps, and the SD was 19 fps. The smallest group was 0.998, with the average measuring 1.44 inch. The 210-grain SMK loaded on top of 10.8 grains of A1680 averaged 1,009 fps, and the SD was 19 fps. The smallest group measured 0.976, and the average went 1.768 inch. The 210-grain Berger VLD’s on top of 10.5 grains of A1680 averaged 2.09 inches, with the tightest measuring 1.766. Average velocity was 922 fps. The SD measured 19 fps, while the ES was 63 fps. Hornady’s 208-grain AMax on top of 10.8 grains of 1680 averaged 994 fps. The ES was 115 fps, and the SD was 34. The average group size measured 1.75 inch, while the tightest was 1.697 inch. One of the tricks I’ve been taught when loading the AMax for subsonic loads is to pull the plastic tips out of the bullet to allow seating the bullet out further, as well as improving its terminal shock force. Reloading 300 Blackout: Further Loki Testing The Hornady 208-grain AMax and 9.4 grains of H110 was a tad too fast. The average velocity was 1,069 fps, but the load’s extreme spread of 96 fps put a few rounds above the sound barrier. The average group size measured 2.21 inches, with the smallest at 1.039 inch. Hornady 155-grain AMax loaded to an average of 1,960 fps, and the SD was 19 fps. Groups averaged 1.786 inch. The smallest group measured 0.899. I really like the idea of shooting heavy cast bullet loads in 300 BLK, owing to the economy they provide. Factory bullets cost between 30 and 45 cents each, but I have nearly five tons of smelted wheel weights that I can turn into projectiles. Since my casting equipment has long since recovered its initial startup cost, and my lead didn’t cost any more than the fuel to drive my truck to pick them up and smelt them, my final cost is about two cents per round. I’ve included two loads here. The first load consisted of a 200-grain RCBS silhouette bullet that consisted of a 3:1 ratio of clip-on wheel weights and pure lead. The actual weight was 208 grains, and they were sized .309. Averaging 1,009 fps from a charge of 10.2 grains of A1680, the average group size measured 2.1 inches. The tightest group measured 0.998-inch from the Loki. The standard deviation of 19 fps made this an excellent cast bullet load. Lyman’s 210-grain round nose mould produces a final weight of 212 grains with an alloy of three parts pure lead and one part clip-on wheel weights. The same 10.2 grains of A1680 averaged 978 fps from the Loki. The smallest group was 1.123-inch, with the average just under 2 MOA. Reloading 300 Blackout: DoubleStar Test Jumping over to the DoubleStar and Hodgdon’s new CFE BLK powder, I worked up a load for the 110-grain Barnes TTSX, which is a dandy whitetail and hog bullet. I settled on 23.5 grains of CFE BLK, which produced 2,280 fps average velocity with an SD of 18 fps. The best group measured 0.890, while the average hovered around MOA. RELATED STORY 5 Suppressor-Ready 300 Blackout Rifles Moving to subsonics, I loaded 11.5 grains of CFE BLK to get an average velocity of 1,016 fps. An SD of 20 fps and acceptable extreme spread kept the bullets subsonic in 80-degree weather. I’ve had this rifle shoot rather tight groups with this bullet at 100 yards with other powders, but it leaves evidence of wobble on targets. It will leave tear patterns in the target that indicate an unstable bullet, and shooting with this powder proved no different. At 200 yards, groups open up and I’ve had a few keyhole. Even so, I was able to shoot a 1.125-inch group at 100 yards. Stepping up to the 220-grain Sierra Match King, I found a sweet spot with 11.9 grains of powder. It averaged 982 fps, which seems to be a threshold for truly quiet suppressed loads. And, it continued to cycle the action reliably. The SD was 14 fps, which helped the load print MOA groups. The tightest measured 0.890 inch. Reloading for the 300 BLK is easy and enjoyable. Additional loads are listed in the chart below, so check them out, too. Performance: Loki Weapon Systems .300 BLK Bullet Powder Velocity SD Group Berger 210 VLD 10.2 g A1680 922 19 1.766 Hornady 155 Amax 20.2 g A1680 1,990 18 0.899 Hornady 155 Amax 18.0 g H110 2,204 21 1.736 Hornady 208 Amax 10.8 g A1680 995 34 1.697 Hornady 208 Amax 9.4 g H110 1,069 29 1.039 Lyman 210 RN/3.1 Pb:WW 10.2 g A1680 978 44 1.123 Nosler 125 Ballistic Tip 20.1 g A1680 1,929 16 1.283 RCBS 200-SIL/3:1 Pb:WW 10.2 g A1680 985 19 0.998 Sierra 135 Match King 20.2 g A1680 1,960 17 1.103 Sierra 210 Match King 10.8 g A1680 1,009 19 0.976 Sierra 210 Match King 9.3 g. H110 1,158 17 0.620 Sierra 210 Match King 9.2 g H110 992 16 0.753 *Velocities determined with an Oehler 35P chronograph 10 feet from the muzzle. Smallest five-shot groups at 100 yards, measured in inches. Standard deviation of loads was rounded to the nearest whole number, and average velocity was for 10 shots. All testing was conducted with an AAC Cyclone suppressor in place. Performance: Doublestar .300 BLK Bullet Powder Velocity SD Group Barnes 110 TTSX 23.5 g CFE BLK 2,280 18 0.890 Hornady 208 Amax 11.5 g CFE BLK 1,016 20 1.125 Sierra 220 SMK 11.9 g CFE BLK 982 14 0.890 *Velocities determined with an Oehler 35P chronograph 10 feet from the muzzle. Smallest five-shot groups at 100 yards, measured in inches. Standard deviation of loads was rounded to the nearest whole number, and average velocity was for 10 shots. All testing was conducted with an AAC Cyclone suppressor in place. Average velocity from Delta Company Arms AR upper. AAC’s barrel produced an average of 1,114 fps, which is supersonic. This article was originally published in “The Complete Book of Reloading” 2018. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com. The post Reloading 300 Blackout and Testing Loads in 2 Different ARs appeared first on Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews. View the full article
-
As far back as the 1850s, Colt began offering silver plating and gold-washed cylinders, hammers and triggers as options on its percussion pistols and, later on, 1870s cartridge conversions. Gold plating (or gold wash) was usually added to engraved guns. Over time, silver plating wore thin on the high edges and tarnished unless well cared for. However, with the introduction of nickel plating, the average revolver could be given a finish almost impervious to rust and corrosion from gun powder (if modestly maintained) while providing a smoother, more durable finish than a blued revolver. Nickel-plated sixguns were also easier to wipe down and keep clean. RELATED STORY Peacemaker Predecessor: Remembering the 1871-72 Colt Open Top Colt began offering nickel plating as the standard finish on its single-action line in 1877. On the Rockwell hardness scale, nickel plating is around 40 to 45 HRC. Heavier electroless nickel plating, which came into popular use in the 1940s, is 50 HRC. Of course, HRC ratings are based on plating over steel, not aluminum alloy, which is used for manufacturing the Colt-licensed Umarex CO2 Peacemakers. The hardness of aluminum actually falls into the HRB category, but HRC and HRB ratings do overlap, and the hardness of nickel plating on aluminum is not significantly lower. It was the proven durability of nickel plating that prompted the U.S. cavalry to specifically issue nickel-plated Colt Peacemakers to its scouts. This was often the reason many cowboys preferred nickel over blued guns as well—they were easier to maintain on the trail. The flashiness of a nickel gun wasn’t always the foremost reason. Many lawmen also chose nickel-plated guns over blued models. For example, Bat Masterson owned a total of eight Colt Peacemakers, all of which were nickel plated. Many well-maintained nickel-plated Colts from the 1870s and 1880s have survived in almost 100-percent condition for more than 120 years. Umarex Colt Peacemaker: Nickel & Gold Colt offered a variety of extras for its standard models, including several grades of factory engraving, high-polished blued finishes, nickel plating and several combinations, including bluing with a nickel-plated cylinder, hammer and trigger, and nickel with a gold-plated cylinder, hammer and trigger. Gold plating could also be added to the ejector housing and ejector rod if ordered. If you had the money, Colt had the options. These same options could also be added at the customer’s request by specialty retailers like Schuyler, Harley & Graham in New York City. Tiffany & Company was also a major retailer of custom engraved and finished Colt, S&W and other premium revolvers from the 1860s to the mid 20th century. Umarex’s nickel and gold Colt CO2 models are very much in keeping with that tradition. In the 1870s, a 7½-inch-barreled Colt Peacemaker sold for around $18. Nickel plating was an extra $2 to $2.50, and gold plating could add another $2 to $3. In creating its superb CO2 Peacemakers, Umarex and Colt did not wait long to introduce nickel-plated models back in 2015, and late last year they added a nickel and gold, 7½-inch-barreled, pellet-firing model stocked with attractive aged faux-ivory grips and inlaid Colt Peacemaker medallions. As non-engraved handguns go, this is one sharp-looking revolver and only $20 more than the all-nickel 7½-inch-barreled model. Umarex Colt Peacemaker: Quick Draws In filming a Western, a little added drama is needed, especially in a gunfight, and in fact, if one were wearing a long duster, it would have to be thrown back to clear the holster. In my action sequence drawing the Umarex Colt Peacemaker, the flaring coattail adds to the effect as it would in a film or even here in a still photo (shown at right). And there really weren’t “fast draws” in the Old West. The holsters just weren’t designed for it, especially in the 1870s. They were built to cover and protect the gun from the elements. Guns sat low in the holster because the throat was cut shallow to cover almost all of the triggerguard, like the copy of an 1870s holster I’m wearing in the photos. It was copied from an original by Chisholm’s Trail. The best way to increase your speed with a period-style holster is to wear it in a crossdraw position and sweep the gun across your waist. Pulling a 7½-inch-barreled shootin’ iron from a vertical holster on the strong side takes a long motion before you can rotate the barrel upward. That’s why you see a lot of cowboys (mostly in films) wearing their holsters slung low on the hip. You rarely see this in period photos. The crossdraw sweep cuts the drawing time down a little if you’re fast enough; it’s really a personal choice. Umarex Colt Peacemaker: Quick Draws On TV Most gunfights in the Old West were slow, and more often than not, guns were already drawn before any shooting started. Sometimes that was enough to prevent it from starting at all if everyone had their wits about them. The quick draws like we see on TV and in movies is mostly exaggerated, and back in the days of the great black-and-white TV Westerns, quick draws were done from specially designed holsters with most of the triggerguard exposed by a deeply cut-down throat and a contoured pouch that allowed the gun to be cocked while it was still in the holster. That was part of the secret. Richard Boone in Have Gun, Will Travel was a master of the quick draw. Most of the Warner Brothers TV Western stars all used the same fast-draw rigs designed by Hollywood quick-draw expert and gun coach Arvo Ojala. Pellet Power The trigger pull on this latest two-tone 7½-inch-barreled Umarex is nearly a hair trigger, averaging 1.73 pounds. The average velocity for this pellet-firing Umarex is rated 400 fps, which is pretty decent for a CO2 pistol. RELATED STORY A Look at 2 Colt Model 1861 Revolvers Owned By Colonel Custer For the short series of tests I did for this article, I started by timing my draw and first shot. The fast draw is, of course, based entirely on my skill level; I am by no means at competition level when it comes to fast draws. My average time to draw and fire was 0.8 seconds. (I also ran the same test with a 5½-inch-barreled Umarex Colt Peacemaker, and my time was 0.5 seconds.) The second part of the test involved shooting at a full-sized cardboard B-27 silhouette target. Holding the nickel and gold Umarex on targets 30 feet away, I put six rapidly fired rounds into a 1.5-inch cluster and created a second almost-matching group measuring 1.51 inches, all in the 10 and X rings. Shooting from the hip at 10 feet, I fanned off six shots that grouped into 1.75 inches, a little low and left of the bullseye. Of course, there’s no recoil with the Umarex Colt Peacemaker, so it’s a little easier to be accurate, especially when fanning. If you are into Cowboy Action Shooting, practice sessions with this 7½-inch-barreled CO2 Peacemaker (especially indoors) is time well spent honing your drawing and aiming skills. Umarex Colt Peacemaker Nickel & Gold Specs Caliber: .177 Barrel: 7½ inches OA Length:12¾ inches Weight: 36.16 ounces (empty) Grips: Faux-ivory Sights: Fixed Action: SA, CO2 Finish:Nickel plated, gold Capacity: 6 MSRP: $170 For more information, visit umarexusa.com and pyramydair.com. This article was originally published in “Guns of the Old West” Summer 2018. To order a copy and subscribe, visit outdoorgroupstore.com. The post Gun Review: Umarex Colt Peacemaker Nickel & Gold appeared first on Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews. View the full article
-
Joie joined the community
-
You nailed that; damn if I haven't heard [and seen] about enough of her lately. Her and Maxine Waters need to taken out on the ocean and never returned, like Pussy on the Sopranos... -
How do you know when Dianne Feinstein is lying? Her lips are moving.
-
Sam: If you have not located an active unit yet, then you might consider checking out Texas State Militia on the M.M. site; they've got members all over Texas-not just Houston. Max
-
E14C0429-31FF-4940-9ACF-7993382D9D04.jpeg
Mark Hatleli commented on ImTexan's gallery image in Memes
If you look close there is not a gray hair on BO yet....meaning the swooning crowd hasn’t figured out what a looser he really is at this early stage. We all know now though don’t we! -
Adam Garrity changed their profile photo
-
TIMOTHY GRASSO joined the community
-
There’s no one fix for school shootings. Anyone with half a brain will tell you that, regardless of where they stand on the gun issue. There will always be evil people who will try and use schools as the prime location for their murder sprees. The only way to prevent that is to abolish schools, and since that’s not remotely a viable idea, we have to look elsewhere. In Illinois, some private schools have taken to placing alarms in schools that will notify the police if pulled. Over 20 Illinois private schools have installed emergency alarms that notify police in the event of an active shooter, according to the Chicago Tribune. The blue boxes were installed over the summer as parents and administrators worry about the mass murders that took place in Parkland and Santa Fe last year. “[Parents] really, sadly, are aware of this possibility,” said Rachel Gemo, head of St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Chicago’s North Side. “They are not immune to what they hear on TV.” The system was developed by a company called BluePoint Alert Solutions and works like the fire alarm systems students are already familiar with. The light blue box is stamped with the word “Police” and includes a pull-down handle to notify authorities in case of an emergency. Even though most teachers, administrators, and students have cell phones, BluePoint says their system saves precious seconds that might be wasted fumbling with a phone. In addition, the BluePoint system includes building alerts that notify occupants of danger. I don’t disagree here. After all, we still have fire alarms despite the prevalence of cell phones. During high-stress events, fine motor skills degrade, and dialing a phone is a fine motor skill. Yanking a handle down on an alarm, however, is a gross motor skill. Anyone with hands can accomplish that during a high-stress event. But if they think this is sufficient, they’re deluding themselves, seriously deluding themselves. It’s like the old saying, when seconds count, the police are just minutes away. This isn’t a slam on law enforcement, either. The police would love to be there and prevent these atrocities, but they can’t be everywhere. The odds of them being in the exact spot at the right time are so slim as to be nonexistent. They have to respond to the aftermath. And that’s even with these alarms. Instead, these alarms need to be part of a more comprehensive approach to school security. Speeding up response times in addition to hardening the schools will make a significant difference in keeping students safe from these horrific events. Arming teachers would be far, far better, but I’m not sure that’s even a remote possibility in Illinois, even for private schools. My sincere hope, though, is that these schools don’t look at this and think, “Good enough.” While I support law enforcement and know they’ll do all that they can to protect the children, they’re not the solution here. They may want to be, but realistically, there has got to be so much more done. But it is a start. The post Illinois Installs Police Alarms In Schools To Combat School Shootings appeared first on Bearing Arms. View the full article
- Last week
-
Dianne Feinstein doesn’t think AR-15s are common firearms. Somehow, she’s convinced that only a handful of people own and shoot these guns on a regular basis. At least, that’s what she’s previously indicated in her deluded effort to try and claim the Heller decision doesn’t cover AR-15s. Well, the National Shooting Sports Foundation has some numbers that prove just how wrong Sen. Feinstein is. Figures researched by the National Shooting Sports Foundation show that just over 16 million semi-auto rifles such as AR-15s and AKs have been produced or imported into the country since 1990. Combing through figures from federal regulators and verifying the break out against companies who make selected semi-auto rifles with detachable magazines, termed modern sporting rifles by the industry, the group says guns like the AR and AK are white hot with consumers. “Modern sporting rifles remain the most commonly purchased rifle by Americans today,” Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president, told Guns.com. Keane explained the guns are popular in large part due to the inherent modularity of such platforms, which provide the ability to customize them to fit the individual owner and the wide variety of needs they can fulfill. “They are offered a wide variety of calibers and the design of the firearm allows beginners to quickly master safe and accurate marksmanship skills,” he said. “Modern sporting rifles are the choice for millions of Americans for hunting, recreational target shooting and self-defense.” Subject to a federal ban on “assault weapons” that ran from 1994 through 2004, the NSSF found that the number of MSRs dipped to a low of just 70,000 produced and imported in 1996, but has been climbing ever since. By 1998, even while the ban was in effect, the figure doubled to 145,000. By 2003, the last year of the ban, the numbers of guns broached 380,000. Five years later, with the election of President Obama, numbers hit 633,000. Then, in 2009, a solid 1 million. In 2013, following the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut and a wave of gun control legislation both proposed and enacted: 2.3 million. Why it sounds like these are pretty damn common firearms, doesn’t it? That’s because they are. They’re among the most popular firearms in the country, to the tune of 16 million produced. That doesn’t count CETMEs, FALs, and M1As produced that fill a similar niche. It also doesn’t count the other 5.56 semi-auto rifles developed to get around various state restrictions on so-called “assault weapons.” In other words, these types of weapons are all over the place. My guess is that you’re easily looking at 20 million rifles with tactical applications in civilian hands, and that’s probably low. Based on the Heller decision, these guns should be protected. Not that it’ll stop anti-gun zealots from doing their level best to undermine our efforts and claim these are dangerous and unusual firearms that need to be kept out of the hands of private citizens. Frankly, I’m glad to see these rifles are common. I urge everyone to have one or two of these bad boys, if not more. They’re legitimately fun for the whole family, and they make all the right people’s heads explode. What’s not to love? The post Are AR-15s Common? Feinstein Says No, NSSF Provides Evidence Otherwise appeared first on Bearing Arms. View the full article
-
Nick Miceli Jr. changed their profile photo
-
Maybe it would be better if people running for office had to go through a mental health screening. I'd flunk the majority of them.
-
Welcome aboard from Texas! Even though I'm on the other side of the country, it's good to have you out there. Stay dry and be safe. Max
