David notes that Mayors Against Guns hasn’t updated their list of members to reflect certain changes.

Ya know, I’m one who is on record as stating that abortion should stay legal. But this ad is one of the more powerful ads I’ve ever seen.

A look at 10/22 magazine maintenance.

Another murder at VT.

And their mass notification system worked. 45 minutes after the incident.

Miss something this week? You could probably find it here.

Today is John Moses Browning’s birthday. Tam has a list.

Coburn to oppose Holder nomination because Holder is hostile to second amendment rights.

Stupid Gun Mistakes EVERY Writer Makes

GSG 1911 22LR pistol.

S&W SW99.

LMT MRP QCB Gas Piston/Op-Rod Carbines and SBRs in 5.56mm and 6.8mm

Kel Tec P32.

Giving Steve a grade, he rounds up his predictions.

I guess someone didn’t want to take a test: Authorities today found no guns at three Hamilton County schools that were searched by explosives detection canines as part of a gun-free school zone campaign.

A handy demonstration:

So, they fart rainbows, pee free healthcare, and poop marshmallows.

Man, if only they were made of bacon.

Olofson attorney on Lou Dobbs .

It should be clear that I am no fan of Obama. But I’m with Radley and, generally, approve this list of things he’s done in the first bit. Except the suspending Gitmo trials thing. After all, the issue with Gitmo is that they’re being held there without a, you know, trial.

Confederate Yankee: Despite numerous public claims in the past that he would leave gun owners alone, reinstating the Assault Weapons Ban and enacting other restrictions are very much on Barack Obama’s “Urban Policy” agenda. And offers some fact-checking.

Well, we knew that already. And it was not unexpected. Insty offers an observation:

Since “urban” is often used as a code-word for “black and hispanic,” is lumping gun control under “urban policy,” perhaps, you know, racist? Given the historic use of gun control to disarm minorities, that seems a fair question.

And it often means “poor” too.

Looking for either a fixed 4x or 3-9 scope appropriate for my Ruger 10/22 (and isn’t that a sexy 10/22?). Something inexpensive but decent enough quality for a 22LR. Suggestions?

Looks like there will not be another Senator Kennedy. Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn, you know, her, uhm, name, you know, from, uhm, consideration, ya know. Citing, like, personal reasons or whatever, ya know.

Personal reasons probably consist of a lack of public speaking classes in her area.

The anti-gunners and the press (but I repeat myself) would have you believe that this increase in gun sales is because gun nuts who already own guns are stocking up on more guns. I have to confess that I actually have not bought a gun since the election but that’s anecdotal. Turns out there’s quite a few new gun owners in the mix.

Chris points out something we gun nuts often forget: If you ask most people in this country whether we have gun control, they’ll say no we don’t. If you ask them why, they’ll say something like “because the NRA keeps it from passing.

It is a perception issue. Despite there being several tens of thousands of gun laws on the books, people think otherwise. That’s, generally I think, due to poor press coverage of the gun issue. Chris also offers an exchange he’s had in which he tries to educate people on the gun laws.

Continuing this trend, Rusty has advice on How to Talk to People About the Upcoming “Assault Weapons” Ban.

I prefer illustrating the point with pictures. And if words are your thing instead of pictures, here’s an op-ed I wrote for a Maryland paper on the issue of assault weapons.

Update: and how can I forget this quiz by Greg that would quickly dispel the notion that we have few gun laws to those less knowledgeable.

People freak out over the ballistics application for the iPhone.

Against handgun carry permit holders?

KT-68 AR-15.

Cornered Cat goes to SHOT.

S&W’s Piston AR.

This is always fun. You may be familiar with John Lott’s book More guns, less crime. Then the refutation of the work by Ayers and Donohue. Then the debunking of Ayers and Donohue. And now there is another refutation of Lott’s Work. Of course, it’s because we gun nuts are liars and not because of any cherry picking of data. So, what’s next? The Bellisiles drinking game?

Update: My sources tell me that this particular article isn’t a refereed publication. I’m no academic but academics tell me that matters.

I kept thinking to myself Self, the press is really inundating me with coverage of the Obama ascension. Then I thought Well, that’s probably normal since electing a new president is kind of a big deal. So, probably nothing to it. Via Insty, turns out, I was maybe wrong:

President Barack Obama’s inauguration generated an unprecedented 35,000 stories in the world’s major newspapers, television and radio broadcasts over the past day — about 35 times more than the last presidential swearing-in — a monitoring group said on Wednesday.

Well, Bush’s second term probably wasn’t as big of a deal since it was just more of the same. I wonder what the comparison would be in coverage to Bush’s first term. Speaking of more of the same, The Daily Show does the Hope & Change thing.

Here in the next 20 minutes or so, we’ll hit the 3,000,000 visit mark. Cool.

So much for the Vice Fund being “recession-proof.” Oops!

What are people still buying in these tough economic times? Forbes has a list. Noticeably absent is firearms. And we know they’re selling like hotcakes.

Obama Inaugurated, Ex-Klansman Collapses

Via Billy.

Another Fourth Generation Glock Pic. Another here.

H.R. 17 – Citizens’ Self-Defense Act of 2009

To protect the right to obtain firearms for security, and to use firearms in defense of self, family, or home, and to provide for the enforcement of such right.

H.R. 45 – Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009
To provide for the implementation of a system of licensing for purchasers of certain firearms and for a record of sale system for those firearms, and for other purposes.

H.R. 197 – National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide a national standard in accordance with which nonresidents of a State may carry concealed firearms in the State.

H.R. 257 – Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act of 2007
To prevent children’s access to firearms.

H.R. 442 – Veterans’ Heritage Firearms Act of 2009

To provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes.

H.R. 495 – Southwest Border Violence Reduction Act of 2009
To authorize additional resources to identify and eliminate illicit sources of firearms smuggled into Mexico for use by violent drug trafficking organizations, and for other purposes.

From OpenCongress.

In Texas.

Design, configure, save, print, price and buy an AR-15 with Brownells AR-15 builder. That is too cool.

Lots of pics.

And Happy Birthday to John Moses Browning. Or maybe not.

Guncrafter 50 GI units for Glocks and 1911s.

Rusty looks at the moonbat predictions.

Also, where is my rainbow farting unicorn that pees healthcare?

Joe again looks at the correlation between crimes and Brady Campaign grades.

Interesting case over at Volokh’s place.

Rob Pincus: The “Must Have” item from SHOT 2009…

I like the laser idea but, honestly, what’s the point of a bayonet on a pistol? CZ offered one a few years back. And I was surprised they were selling as well as they were.

Update: I guess my humor was a bit dry prompting Rob to leave a comment. So, I should clarify that I do like the new rear sight laser from LaserLyte. And was making fun of the bayonet, which Rob says they sold out of pretty darn fast.

Flashlight mount.

Paul was busy at SHOT Show cornering competitive shooters and the like to interview them about practical shooting. Some audio for your listening pleasure:

Practical Shooting Report: Chris Edwards & GSSF: GSSF [...] has probably put more shooters into the Practical Shooting arena than any other program. Yes. It’s definitely the gateway to competition.

Practical Shooting Report: Bob Vogel

Practical Shooting Report: Jessie Abbate

Practical Shooting Report: BJ Norris

Pratical Shooting Report: Tactical Solutions’ Tom Hines

Practical Shooting Report: S&W’s Julie Golob

They have a gun section now. It seems that, like the various Examiner columns, that folks are figuring out that people like to read about guns.

From Rich Hailey.

The God action figure. Now, with AK-47. No kung-fu grip?

Since they banned guns, it’s kinda stabby over there. So, students are wearing stab-proof vests.

Kent Williams sexual harassment allegations.

Nothing new but the package. From the White House’s new web site comes the gun policies, buried in the urban policy section (more of that Cheyenne/Chicago nonsense we keep hearing about?):

Address Gun Violence in Cities: Obama and Biden would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent.

So, they either don’t understand the Tiahrt amendment or are being untruthful. Even ATF says that the amendment does not prohibit law enforcement access to trace data. And support for the ban on weapons that look like assault weapons? So, they support your second amendment rights by wanting to restrict your second amendment rights. Gosh, I don’t know why gun sales are up so much.

Meanwhile, they claim to support sportsmen.

A historic first? Beats me. But interesting:

Has a president ever publicly acknowledged (in a neutral fashion) the existence of atheist Americans?

Teddy Roosevelt’s Winchesters.

A Boss Who Tells it Like it Is …

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn’t pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country. However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.
Read the rest of this entry »

Wow.

David Hardy:

(1) The only supply-side gun control that would have a chance of affecting crime is a ban and confiscation, all this toying around with assault weapons and similar issues is mere symbolism that affects nothing. (2) Anyone who thinks a ban and confiscation would work is delusional.

From the Second Amendment Blog Bash site:

So far, that’s what pro-Second Amendment bloggers have accomplished in only a few weeks. One dozen bloggers have recruited 55 new/upgraded/extended NRA members since November. On average, that’s 4.5 more NRA members per blogger than we had before the start of this little contest.

It’s the last day for the the specials.

I can’t decide if it’s the all the hope or all the change.

Today is inauguration day. A new president. A historic first in that a black guy will be president, which is pretty remarkable if you consider the events of the last several decades.

Unfortunately, I think the loyal worshipers are in for disappointment. The high hopes seem unrealistic. The change will be nearly nonexistent. And the guy is gonna have it rough. I mean, several states are bankrupt; Mexico is about to go Tango Uniform; India and Pakistan are having a dick-measuring contest; staple industries are in the crapper; if Hamas doesn’t stop shooting rockets into Israel, the Israelis are going to turn it into a crater; the .gov thinks that printing money and handing it out is going to fix every thing; and on and on. About the only positive I can think is that tomorrow the press will probably stop talking the economy down.

Who’d want the job?

We can all thank George Bush and the six years of Republican-controlled legislature for the biggest, most expensive, most intrusive, and wasteful federal government we’ve ever had. They took it, shook it up, and are now handing it off to their opposition. Good job, guys.

But good luck, Barry. We’re gonna need it.

Local Blogger Rich Hailey has a piece in the local newspaper about teachers and guns.

Meanwhile, the teens weigh in. Of course, if folks thought teenagers’ decisions mattered, they’d be allowed to enter into contracts.

Antiques and blackpowder guns are not classified as firearms, under federal law. That’s why you can order them by mail, get them without a background check, or saw off a front stuffer shotgun to your heart’s content. It’s also, apparently, a way for those in NYC to defend themselves.

Lots of stuff from Frank James.

More pics than you can shake a stick at. And prior year SHOT Show pics here.

All things SHOT from Gun Blast.

Via Insty, comes the revelation that We now have more poeple employed in government than manufacturing.

Or, man, I like some Evil Black 22LR Rifles!

Tactical 22LR rifles that look like other tactical rifles have been around for a bit. Some folks have made to resemble AR-15s, such as Spike’s Tactical various 22LR products – notably this very sexy ST-15, a short barreled rifle. There is also the Evolution Stock from RB Precision to give your 10/22 an Evil Black Rifle look and ProMag introduced the Archangel, which is also a way to dress up your 10/22.

One of the trends this year, highlighted at shot show, is the increase in tactical 22LR rifles that based on AR-15s. And other platforms as well. Such as:

S&W M&P15-22. A picture here. A snazzy, M4 looking 22LR.

Also, the Colt/Umarex M4 22 was introduced at shot.

And even Sig Sauer is marketing a 22LR version of their 556 called the Sig522LR.

A good idea for getting some trigger time in without the cost of 223 ammo. Good stuff.

Update: and how can I forget the GSG5.

An interesting case. David sums it up.

The law they’ve tried to pass before snubbing the federal .gov on gun laws is back. Joe has the details.

PDB: Do not attempt to catch a dropped gun. Let it fall!

I don’t know that it’s worth adding a fifth rule to the four rules since rule three (keep your boogr-hook off the bang-switch) seems to address that.

No, not the auto industry. The state of California:

If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger were to fire every employee in state government tomorrow, it would easily patch California’s enormous deficit, right? Not even close.

But surely shutting down all state prisons would do the trick? That, too, would only get him about a quarter of the way there.

Now what if he were to close every prison and cut off funding for health care and other services for the poor? Now we’re in the ballpark.

When you try to be all things to everyone, you eventually wind up being nothing to nobody.

Armalite rifles.

What everyone needs: an iPod Touch mount for your rifle.

Bushmaster Precision Marksmanship Rifle.

M1 Carbines with folding stocks.

S&W Nightguard 310.

Today, Al Gore dumped a whopping 1/64th of an inch of global warming on parts of East Tennessee. So, naturally, everything is shut down and people are freaking out.

I’m thinking about upgrading my dishwasher. I don’t want to break the bank, and will probably go with a black model rather than stainless. Apart from that, I’m wide open to suggestion. I’m replacing a low-end 24″ Kenmore unit that’s extremely noisy and doesn’t work very well. It came with the house.

My only real requirements:

1) It works well.
2) It’s relatively quiet.
3) It’s energy-efficient.
4) It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Any suggestions?

Michael Bane sums up SHOT:

The transition to a tactical market is clearly complete…as one wag said, you couldn’t swing a dead cat on any aisle without hitting an AR or accessory.

18 inches of scope on 20 inches of barrel.

Stopping the signal!

Via David.

Caleb:

Todd Jarrett is faster than my camera

Lots of stuff to make the tactical kiddies drool.

Post-Heller DC: D.C. Metropolitan Police Department has published a new 15 page guide to owning and registering a firearm in the District of Columbia.

RNS: In the post-Nordyke panel, the attorneys’ worst-case scenario still had our side seeing the 9th Circuit panel voiding Cruikshank and incorporating the 2nd Amendment against California (and the other 49 states), thanks to Heller.

Just in time for the inauguration. I’m guessing it will be as effective as a No Gun sign.

On Tacticool:

I did the tactical/homeland security/law enforcement section for the better part of the day. The upsurge in interest in anything related to the “tactical world” is nothing short of amazing. There are an untold number of vendors that specialize in clothing. You can’t count the number of rig, pack, and sling manufacturers. I won’t even get into the weapons systems that are being promoted by both major and minor armament dealers. I have seen, handled, and disassembled more suppressors today, than in my whole life previous to the shot show.

Not much new for hunters:

Seriously, what IS new?

OK, maybe I’m jaded. Maybe after coming to seven SHOT Shows in as many years, the impact just isn’t what it was. I mean, I see all the signs up there over these products proclaiming “NEW FOR 2009!”, but when I look, I think I mostly see the same old things. As my new friend and temporary roommate, Albert Rasch said, “how many ways can you slice a piece of cheese?”

I suppose if I were more into “black rifles”, I’d be pretty fired up over all the things that are going on out there. The tactical and law enforcement area is hopping and running over into the rest of the Convention Center. Heck, even Woolrich is getting in on the tactical market!

Dave Kopel has a report.

Big round up at ar15.com.

Lots of video reports here.

Glock to make 10mm versions of their SF pistols.

Ruger tactical.

Speaking of Glocks, an Aimpoint mount for them.

The Glock carbine kit. Would require an NFA tax stamp. But pretty cool.

Sig 226 Blackwater Tactical.

Remington Snipers.

What everyone really wants to see: Booth babes. More here.

Taurus 738 TCP pistol

S&W M&P15 MOE

LMT MRP 308 rifle

Cool gizmo you want but cannot have: Knights Armament Chain SAW. Speaking of, ’nuff said.

Big guns.

M1As

PTR 32 KF (7.62×39mm G3)

Now that is a gun.

Another victim of gun violence.

From Joe’s visit to a gun shop: One has to wonder if we had put that much money and effort into defeating Obama in November would we have succeeded?

Pics of Kevin’s 260 Remington. Range report here.

1930s video of a man testing bullet proof glass by shooting it. While his wife holds it.

Students’ Sense Of Security Shattered By Gunman On Campus

I have lots of stuff regarding SHOT to post. But busy day.

Cool:

Outdoor Channel, America’s Leader in Outdoor TV, has acquired the leading firearms and shooting sports online portal, Down Range Television (DRTV). Founded by Outdoor Channel personality and journalist Michael Bane and cowboy action shooter Marshal Halloway, www.downrange.tv is one of the most successful online communities for shooting and firearms enthusiasts with a robust offering of video, active forums and industry coverage.

Tom Ferda, a sports columnist of some kind, took issue with Codrea’s gun column. He displays his ignorance on the topic at hand and is then corrected. So, obviously, it’s us crazy gun nuts out to get him. In comments there, he asserts that:

The aggressive responses to my opinion and comment are the exact reasons many citizens want guns to be taken out of the hands of hard-core advocates–we fear you will use them just to get your points across.

Yeah, that makes sense. You use harsh words and have guns so, no doubt, you’re going to kill me for disagreeing with you. Perfectly reasonable. If you’re an idiot.

In CO: Counties Can’t Keep Up With Concealed Carry Applications

On the right side, I took an ad for an anti-gun book. I plan on using the money to buy ammo. Discuss.

Michael Silence asks about the appropriate web-fu for the location of links. I imagine that one day there will be rules introduced in the Harbrace Handbook or some other school book by a bunch of English majors with not much else to do to govern how one is to handle linking items. Said English majors will also be driven batty by the preceding sentence.

0%: When 19-year-old Deshawn Wright saw his mother threatened by two masked men, he grabbed a small floor heater and hit one of the men in the head with it, fatally injuring him, authorities said.

I don’t get the fascination. Seriously. Not at all.

To the right, he’s some sort of everyman, regular Joe bringing a middle class clarity to everything from taxes to the middle east. He’s almost elevated to saintly pundit status for the conservative crowd. He got a cool job out of this deal.

To the left, he’s an evil shill of the right who should be destroyed for having the audacity to be standing there when Obama happened to want to ask him some questions.

To the press (but I repeat myself), he was worthy of having his personal records ransacked by local political hacks (who then lost their jobs) because he was a threat to Obama. The country watched as they attempted to dig up every bit of dirt on a regular Joe that they could.

Seriously, why is he perceived as such a threat to the left? And why is he perceived as so awesome to the right?

I really don’t get it.

Blogger Kurt is now writing the St. Louis Gun Rights Examiner. Cool

Breda:

Ken Blackwell needs seven guns because that’s the number he has to have before he buys his eighth.

Bitter has a new media crush on Browning.

Seems so:

In summary, he knew he owed the taxes and Social Security. He was given a separate check each year to pay for them. He signed a form acknowledging he owed the taxes and would pay them using the extra money from the extra check. But he didn’t pay them until he was caught. Instead, for four years he pocketed the extra tax and Social Security checks as a bonus that totaled $45,000.

Man goes elk hunting. Bags feral llama. In other news, there are feral llamas?

Lots of gun porn. Lots of stuff to mention. Instead of a bunch of small posts, here’s one big one.

Here’s the SHOT Show Flickr page.

First photos of the Fourth Generation GLOCK? Hardly.

Walther PK380. And here are the specs.

Day one gun porn. With shiny gold gatling gun.

Smith & Wesson M&P 15 .22 LR

The M22: [made] in response to what American shooters said they wanted in a target and shooting pistol. Looks like a Glock and a Walther had sex and this was the child they produced.

Magpul Massoud 7.62×51mm rifle

More Day one gun porn.

Round up of SHOT show videos. Dick Heller is there.

First photos of Civilian SCAR 16S

Colt ARs.

More as I get them.

And that settles it. I’m going next year.

Part 7

Stephen Halbrook is on the case:

Independent Institute Research Fellow and attorney Stephen Halbrook is among the witnesses testifying, arguing that Holder’s reputation as a steadfast opponent of Second Amendment rights makes him an unfit candidate for the job.

Meanwhile, Holder is pulling the Obama shuffle and saying even if he wanted to regulate possession of arms that he cannot because of Heller:

Attorney General-designate Eric Holder conceded during his confirmation hearing Thursday that the government’s options for regulating the possession of firearms have been narrowed in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2008 ruling that the Second Amendment ensures an individual right to bear arms.

“Reasonable restrictions are still possible,” Holder said, including measures such as a ban on the sale of what are called “cop-killer” bullets.

Brady Score versus murders committed with a firearm

Says the Shooting Wire:

Crimson Trace Corporation, Inc, the Oregon-based manufacturer of LASERGRIPS® laser sights, filed suit in U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon against LaserMax, Inc. of Rochester, New York to address LaserMax’s infringement of four United States patents.

Crimson Trace seeks court-ordered injunctive relief and unspecified damages for patents assigned to the company related to laser sighting devices for firearms.