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VCDL's meeting schedule: http://www.vcdl.org/meetings
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Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html
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1. VCDL on television about Regal cinemas searching bags and purses [VIDEO]
2. Logo for VCDL placed in Virginia Hunting/Trapping Guide by vaguntrader.com
3. August County Sheriff Candidate forum coming up on October 1st
4. REMINDER: Election day is under 2-1/2 months away and VCDL Lobby Day is less than 5 months away!
5. Bill in Congress actually refers to dangers in a “gun-free zone” !
6. Thanks to Richmond volunteers for helping at gun show!
7. Obama Administration goes to Mexico to discuss international gun-control via UN treaty
8. Loudoun County permit turnaround
9. Gun control: Eating steak with teaspoons
10. Martin O'Malley: 'Ban sale of assault weapons'
11. Gun control? Americans increasingly see more guns as solution
12. Learning to shoot long distance
13. Taurus settles defective handgun class-action for $39 million
14. PSA: SAAMI's guide to unsafe gun-ammo combinations
15. Action against Lucky Gunner over online ammo sales dropped
16. [WV] Woman saved lives by shooting possible serial killer [VIDEO]
17. What happens when regular people try to use guns in self-defense [VIDEO]
18. [NC] Charlotte pastor welcomes two new members: 'Smith and Wesson'
19. After Charleston, some churches lock and load
20. [LA] Pastors, priests take classes to protect their congregations
21. [LA] This could have prevented Lafayette movie theater killings
22. Huffington Post lists 7 companies that ban guns, 3 of which don't
23. You can build an AK-47 variant from scratch [VIDEO]
24. The "assault weapon" from 1780 [VIDEO]
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1. VCDL on television about Regal cinemas searching bags and purses [VIDEO]
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Regal cinemas has had a “no guns” policy for a while now, but they recently started searching purses and other hand-held containers. Gun owners, and others, have not responded well to be being treated like criminals, especially at the cost of going to the movies anymore.
They are not “frisking” anyone, just searching bags. I suspect they are actually more interested in looking for outside food and drink, which they prohibit, than they are looking for guns.
Women are the ones who take it on the chin with this policy, as their purses are getting searched by teenage employees who have no training in conducting searches.
Here is an interview I did with WTVR, television Channel 6 in Richmond, on this issue:
http://wtvr.com/2015/08/19/moviegoers-s ... l-cinemas/
or
http://tinyurl.com/nmpa7us
Bag checks coming to Regal Cinemas in wake of theater shootings
RICHMOND, Va. — A new police at Regal Cinemas means moviegoers will have their bags and purses checked before they enter the movie theater.
“I do think it’s an invasion of privacy, but at the same time, I think that we have to because this is a new world,” Katrina Flores said.
The movie giant recently announced new procedures for security reasons on their website:
“Security issues have become a daily part of our lives in America. Regal Entertainment Group wants our customers and staff to feel comfortable and safe when visiting or working in our theatres. To ensure the safety of our guests and employees, backpacks and bags of any kind are subject to inspection prior to admission. We acknowledge that this procedure can cause some inconvenience and that it is not without flaws, but hope these are minor in comparison to increased safety.”
Flores admitted that she doesn’t think anyone goes to the movies these days without thinking about the shootings.
The new bag check policy comes in the wake of the recent shooting in Louisiana that left three people dead and the 2012 shooting in Aurora, Colorado, that killed 12 and 70 others injured.
Though Regal Cinemas have not been under attack, they are the first theater chain to implement the new rule.
But the searches have triggered a debate over gun rights.
“I think it’s security theater move than anything. It’s not really going to deter someone from doing something evil,” Phillip Van Cleave said.
Gun rights advocate Phillip Van Cleave believes the policy may keep people away from the movies.
“It would really be anybody that objects to a private company searching them treating them like criminals,” Van Cleave added.
Van Cleave said he questions the person checking the bags qualifications and wants to know what specifically they are searching for.
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Another article on Regals new policy:
http://bearingarms.com/regal-cinemas-bl ... g-mothers/
or
http://tinyurl.com/num8c3f
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2. Logo for VCDL placed in Virginia Hunting/Trapping Guide by vaguntrader.com
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Brian Burklund, the owner of VaGunTrader.com, put the VCDL logo in an advertising section of the Virginia Hunting and Trapping guide.
Hopefully this will help VCDL to get some more name recognition within the huge community of Virginia hunters.
Here’s a link to the guide (VCDL logo appears on page 25):
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/re ... digest.pdf
or
http://tinyurl.com/o3cv5lh
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3. August County Sheriff Candidate forum coming up on October 1st
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If you live in Augusta and want to make sure your sheriff is good on guns, there is an Augusta County Sheriff Candidate forum at Staunton City Hall, in the City Council Chambers, set for 6:30 PM on October 1st. They are expecting 4 or 5 candidates to answer questions submitted to them individually, so have your questions ready!
For more information, contact Chuck Haggard at clhaggard@comcast.net
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4. REMINDER: Election day is under 2-1/2 months away and VCDL Lobby Day is less than 5 months away!
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Election day is Tuesday, November 3. This will be an election you sit out at your own peril.
The Senate of Virginia is hanging by a single thread right now and if it falls back to Democrat control, their anti-gun leadership will once again start killing pro-gun bills, while pushing the anti-gun agenda.
Also, get permission NOW to take off work, if you aren’t already off, for Matin Luther King’s Birthday holiday. That is when VCDL Lobby Day in Richmond will be held, starting at 8:30 AM at the General Assembly Building. The bigger the turn out, the better for protecting our right to keep and bear arms!
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5. Bill in Congress actually refers to dangers in a “gun-free zone” !
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Gun author Alan Korwin (Virginia Gun Owners Guide, amongst other books) notes in his most recent “Page Nine” email that a Congressional bill for the first time refers to “gun-free zones” and says they are dangerous on military property.
The significance, if this bill were to become law, is that at some point we can have a bill that declares ALL gun-free zones are dangerous, not just those on military property.
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6. Thanks to Richmond volunteers for helping at gun show!
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There was a VCDL booth at the Richmond Gun Show Aug. 22-23.
Richmond Gun Show Coordinator, Mike Wilburt sent me the following report:
While the traffic was slower during this late-summer gun show, we found it quite productive taking more new and renewal memberships than at the July show. Many show attendees were VCDL members and stopped by to touch base with their fellow members. Some put their names down to volunteer to work at our table for the November show. That's great!
Thanks to Doug Kinney, Tom Patton, Ron Chiarky, CJ Teets, Larry Hodges, Evan Smith, Bob Greene, Bill Graves, Randy Wachtman for doing a great job representing VCDL.
And very special thanks to my predecessor, Tom Ariel, for filling in for me on Saturday.
The local gun shows frequently offer attendees their first introduction to VCDL and what we do on their behalf to protect their gun rights. Our member volunteers are an essential part of making this introduction a very positive experience.
The next Richmond gun show is November 14-15 at the Richmond Raceway Complex. If interested in being involved, please contact me at gunshows.richmond@vcdl.org
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7. Obama Administration goes to Mexico to discuss international gun-control via UN treaty
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Thanks to member Bill Albritton for the link:
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government ... un-treaty/
or
http://tinyurl.com/pgktw5z
White House Revisits International Gun Control Via UN Treaty
by AWR Hawkins23 Aug 2015
Carsten Koall/Getty Images
The ATT was signed by Secretary of State John Kerry on September 25, 2013 but never ratified by the US Senate. Nevertheless, Gun Owners of America reports that Obama officials will be in Mexico City for the conference.
Breitbart News previously reported that the ATT is an international gun control treaty designed to be implemented apart from, or in spite of, the general framework of governance for countries that are signatories to it.
Thus, while it will not do away with the Second Amendment on paper, it will subjugate the Second Amendment to the ATT’s gun controls if Obama administration officials return and implement the plans they will discuss in Mexico City.
ATT was pushed under the guise of stopping “small arms [and] light weapons” from crossing borders. And when it was being discussed in 2013, Breitbart News warned that firearm registration must proceed from the ATT if it is to be enforceable. After all, how can agents tasked with enforcing this treaty ascertain the origin of smuggled weapons without a comprehensive registration on file?
Moreover, the NRA pointed out that the treaty all but calls for a registry from the start inasmuch as it requires “importing countries to provide information to an exporting country regarding arms transfers, including ‘end use or end user documentation’ for a ‘minimum of ten years.’” This information on “end users” is not only a de-facto international gun registry but one that could be “made available to foreign governments.”
Because of all these troubling aspects of ATT, Gun Owners of America (GOA) warns that the Mexico City conference is part of a plan “to bring back the framework for a global gun control regime.” GOA encourages every gun owner to call his or her US Senator and ask that they stand strong against any international gun control recommendations or regulations that the Obama administration pushes after the August 24 ATT conference.
We must be diligent, especially because Democrat Senators have already shown their willingness to subjugate the Second Amendment to the ATT. Forty-four Democrat Senators voted for the ATT in April 2013.
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8. Loudoun County permit turnaround
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Member Mike Amos emailed me this:
Good evening, reporting in from loudoun county. Submitted my CHP renewal app about 10 days ago. Received my new plastic chp in the mail today. Not too shabby on the turnaround time and no need to laminate. [PVC: Note that a few jurisdictions are actually using plastic cards for CHPs - much nicer that the paper stuff most of us get.]
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9. Gun control: Eating steak with teaspoons
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Member George Overstreet emailed me this:
From townhall.com: http://tinyurl.com/op4t285
http://townhall.com/columnists/susansta ... s-n2030862
Gun Control: Eating Steak with Teaspoons
by Susan Stamper Brown
July 27, 2015
President Obama told the BBC he's "stymied" because he's not gotten his way regarding gun control --yet. So, apparently we should just relinquish our guns during a Second Amendment burning ceremony on the National Lawn.
Obama's upset more Americans don't agree with his definition of "common sense" gun control. If Pew Research is correct, a majority of us lean more toward Lt. Col. Allen West's "index finger" definition whereby individuals should be trusted to call the shots. Pew says the majority of Americans still support gun rights.
Nevertheless, we should submissively fall in line, believing the government will protect us. And crazy people who prey on the innocent in gun free zones like schools, theaters, churches and military facilities will voluntarily lay down their arms, too. Sure.
Of course, we have no reason to protect ourselves from ISIS, although according to the FBI, ISIS-connected young Muslim men are radicalized in all 50 states. Nor would we ever need to protect ourselves against a tyrannical government like those crazy old white men, America's Founders, wrote about in the Constitution.
Oh, and we're supposed to believe Obama really wants gun control legislation to be passed the "old-fashioned" way, with Congress making laws, when he's already cranking out executive orders like a Chinese sweatshop?
Every time there's a mass shooting, we're told now is the time to hop on the gun control bandwagon. We're expected to ditch logic, facts, and common sense - or statistics proving gun control never works. We should overlook irritating facts like lawlessness prevails in places which already have stringent gun laws like in the president's hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Or Baltimore, Maryland, which, incidentally, made the "25 Most Violent Places in the World" list in 2013 and 2014, along with Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Baghdad, Iraq and Mogadishu, Somalia and Muzaffarabad, Pakistan.
I guess we should just chalk it up to coincidence when non-partisan groups like the Institute for Policy Innovation tell us that 16 out of 20 of the U.S. cities with the highest violent crime rates, like Baltimore, are run by Democrats. Must we overlook the possibility that the policies and practices of liberal leaders from the party that booed God during their 2012 convention inspire crazy people of all political leanings to do crazy things? Should we ignore statistics showing despite Maryland's highly restrictive gun laws, Baltimore's homicides increased in the first five months of 2015 by 43 percent, and non-fatal shootings by 82.5 percent? When recently asked about the chaotic mess that is Baltimore, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest says more gun laws should help. Help who? Might it be time to address that more laws won't fix a spiritual problem? People can't even keep Ten simple Commandments.
Are we really supposed to believe criminals care about regulations? China's a perfect example because it's largely illegal for private citizens to own and sell guns. Possession or sale of them leads to anywhere from a 3-year prison term to the death penalty. The Chinese government values human life like Planned Parenthood values babies, therefore, it's obvious these gun laws are not devised to protect citizens, but the other way around. Even still, crazy people find a way around the rules. As I've written before, the same day the Sandy Hook shootings happened, with no guns available, a crazy, knife-wielding Chinese man stabbed almost two dozen kids at a central China elementary school. He did that despite the fact the government had recently banned knives after a spate of deadly knife and cleaver attacks on school kids that left 20 dead and 50 wounded.
Take away guns and crazy people will use knives. Take away knives and they'll use something else until everyone's forced to eat steak with teaspoons.
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10. Martin O'Malley: 'Ban sale of assault weapons'
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Presidential candidate, and ex-Maryland Governor wants feds to ban “assault weapons” (again). He is a big fan of any and all gun control.
Member Bill Albritton emailed me this:
From breitbart.com: http://tinyurl.com/olf2xx3
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government ... -registry/
MARTIN O’MALLEY: ‘BAN SALE OF ASSAULT WEAPONS,’ LAUNCH ‘NATIONAL GUN REGISTRY’
by AWR Hawkins
July 26, 2015
On July 24, the day after John Russell Houser allegedly used a handgun to kill two people in Lafayette, Louisiana, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley called on Congress to ban “the sale of assault weapons” and “[establish] a national gun registry.”
He also said it is time to “[increase] inspections” on gun shops and mandate that gun owners lock up their guns in their homes.
Writing in The Boston Globe, O’Malley boasted of the gun controls he was able to pass while Governor:
In Maryland, we implemented some of the toughest measures in the nation to crack down on gun violence. The reforms we put in place included required licensing, fingerprinting, background checks, and safety training. We ensured that these requirements applied to all buyers, whether they were acquiring a gun from a dealer, a secondary sale, or as a private gift.
We took action to keep guns off the street and make them less deadly. We banned the sale of assault weapons and limited the size of magazines. And, if a firearm was lost or stolen, we required it to be reported immediately to law enforcement.
What a list: license requirements for firearm owners, mandated training, background checks, bans on assault weapons, and a ban on “high capacity” ammunition magazines.
O’Malley then suggested that the goals of Maryland at the time — when gun control was enacted — and the goals of the United States now should be one and the same.
Well, let’s see. How has gun control worked out for Marylanders? According to USA Today, not well. They report there were “43 homicides” in May of this year alone and a total of “116 homicides” in Baltimore through the first five months of the year.
To hedge his bets O’Malley points away from Maryland, pointing instead to the nation as a whole and claims there were 204 mass shootings “during the first 204 days of 2015.” That is a mass shooting a day.
How can Democrats claim a mass shooting a day? They list any shooting incident where at least two people are killed as a mass shooting. Thus, Adam Lanza’s heinous Sandy Hook attack, killing 26, was a mass shooting and Nidal Hasan’s 2009 Fort Hood attack, killing 13, was a mass shooting and John Russell Houser’s alleged July 23 attack on a Lafayette theater, killing two, was a mass shooting as well.
On January 5, 2014, Breitbart News reported that MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence’s Len Everett talked of how “mass shootings” are increasing every day. They also revealed that their new criteria for a mass shooting would be any shooting where two or more people were killed.
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11. Gun control? Americans increasingly see more guns as solution
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From washingtonpost.com: http://tinyurl.com/onejqnx
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the ... e-problem/
Gun control? Americans increasingly see more guns as the solution, not the problem.
By Amber Phillips
July 27, 2015
Gun control is still going nowhere in Congress. And in fact, with every major mass shooting in America, gun-rights supporters seem to be digging in even further -- and bringing the rest of America along with them.
Former Texas governor Rick Perry, a 2016 GOP presidential candidate, argued after last week's deadly shooting at a Lafayette, La., movie theater that Americans should be allowed to bring guns into movie theaters -- and everywhere else -- to prevent such crime.
It's an echo of a familiar theme from NRA head Wayne LaPierre. "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," LaPierre said frequently amid the more recent gun-control debate.
And most Americans agree with this logic, according to a 2014 Pew Research Poll. Since the 2012 Newtown, Conn., massacre of 26 people, including 20 school children, the poll found a nine-point rise in the number of Americans who think gun ownership could "protect people from becoming victims of crime."
The post-Newtown shift was most significant among Republicans, whose support for gun ownership in the two years since the attack rose from 63 percent to 80 percent.
The poll also marked the first time in two decades of Pew surveys that more Americans supported gun rights rather than gun control (though public opinion had been shifting that way for years).
Increasingly, Americans see guns as the answer -- not the problem -- to mass shootings.
Powerful and well-organized pro-gun lobbies like the National Rife Association have long been taking advantage of this shift in public opinion to ensure no new gun restrictions pass Congress. Their well-mobilized and politically active group of supporters is one of the reasons a post-Newtown universal background check bill failed in the Senate, despite overwhelming support in polls testing the specifics of the proposal.
Huge majorities of the public and gun owners continue to support background checks, despite the rise in opposition to gun control in general. (Although Americans also largely don't think we need new gun laws or that much can be done to prevent mass shootings.)
In fact, the pro-gun-rights lobby is so powerful and its voters so active that Democratic senators who support gun laws tend to reverse their positions before reelection, a 2014 research paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research found.
Background checks are back in the news now. Lafayette shooter John Russell Houser passed a background check to buy a gun despite a history of mental illness because he was never involuntarily committed. And an FBI record-keeping error allowed accused Charleston shooter Dylann Roof to buy a gun despite the fact that he had a criminal record.
But as we wrote on this blog this month, these revelations likely won't move the needle on gun debate.
Both sides can -- and are -- using these two most recent incidents to argue their points: Gun-control supporters say they prove that the background check system needs to be revamped and expanded, while gun-rights supporters say a slip in the system does not a trend make.
It's even clearer that gun laws likely won't change when you zoom out to Americans' overall feelings on guns; with every mass shooting, in fact, we seem to be embracing the idea of more guns rather than fewer.
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12. Learning to shoot long distance
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Member Terrell Prudé, Jr. wrote this item.
From sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com: http://tinyurl.com/oa58e6u
http://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun. ... eport.html
Learning to Shoot Long Distance
By C. Terrell Prudé, Jr.
July 27, 2015
(Picture - 5-inch group at 900 yards The ammo used to do it)
Howdy folks, "Cowboy T" here, San Francisco Liberal With A Gun!
See those pictures up there? Wouldn't you like to be able to do that at long distance?
Recently I took a long-range shooting class put out by the folks at BangSteel.com. According to them, they can have you ringing a 18x24" steel target reliably out to 1,000 yards and even farther, even if you've never shot that kind of distance before. In their words, "you can successfully engage targets at 1000 yards with a rifle you may have purchased at Walmart." That sounded like quite the claim, there.
So, I decided to find out if that's true.
I'm a very good test case for this, as it happens. First, I am a firearms enthusiast. Second, I've never done anything like this before; up to then, the farthest I'd ever shot was 50 yards. Third, I'm naturally inquisitive and curious and enjoy a new challenge.
And finally, as a social Liberal, I do believe, and must believe, in the entire Bill of Rights, most certainly including the Second Amendment to our Constitution.
It's a right, not a privilege. It never has been about "hunters and sportsmen" as some of our politicians today like to claim. Remember that.
But since we are talking (primarily) about hunting game animals here, some might say, "hey, typical 'deer hunting' distances on the East Coast are in the neighborhood of 100 yards! Why should you want to learn how to shoot accurately at ten times that distance?"
Fair question. Here's my answer.
Well, it's the same reason that runners wear ankle weights when training. If you can score a hit at 1,000, you can score a hit at 100 with ease. As anybody who's good at what they do will tell you, there's no such thing as "overtraining". Also, the Appleseed folks have pointed out that an American Rifleman back in the day could hit "a man-sized target with iron sights at 500 yards." I thought, gosh, if that's true, then with telescopic sights, 1,000 should be possible.
And besides, you never know. It is possible that one may indeed find one's self in a "have-to" situation. Let's hope that never happens, but as the Boy Scouts say, "Be Prepared." There's a reason I still practice those Boy Scout knots and such, and when I needed that knowledge, I was sure glad I had it. Same with this.
Besides...sounds like fun!
As it happens, I do have a rifle that I purchased at Walmart, a Ruger American Rifle in .308 Winchester. They had these rifles for $297 at a Black Friday sale. Additionally, I have a Remington 700 ADL—the type with the blind magazine—that I bought for $349. This is the "Varmint" type with the thicker and heavier 26" barrel. Since both are budget rifles from reputable companies, I felt that they would be good tests of BangSteel's claim.
They make some suggestions as to how to equip one's rifle for the class. A 15 to 20 MOA riflescope mount, they say, is pretty much mandatory for reaching way out there (I found this to be true). An alternative would be the Burris Signature Series scope rings, the ones with the available shims of 0, 5, 10, and 20 MOA in pretty much any direction you want. Since, as a former Boy Scout, I believe in "Being Prepared", I got both...just in case.
They also suggest that a budget riflescope will work fine for the course. There is, of course, the possibility for some—oh, how did they put it?—ah yes, "pedigreed piece of crap."
So, they make several recommendations, based on their experience. I happened to have two scopes in 3-9x40, a Redfield Revolution and a Leupold VX-1. Given Leupold's reputation, I figured both of these were good, solid choices for under $200, shipped. The Redfield went on the Ruger American (the so-called "American Revolution" package), and the Leupold went on the Remington 700.Here are the gun platforms, in detail. We'll start with the Ruger.
Ruger American Rifle in .308 Winchester, 22" sporter-profile barrel
Nightforce Standard-Duty Picatinny aluminum scope mount, 20 MOA
Burris Signature Zee rings with 10 MOA inserts
Redfield Revolution 3-9x40 with Accu-Range reticle (similar to Turkey-Plex)
Harris 9-12" bipod
Cheap rifle sling from Walmart
Hornady Match ammo, 168-grain A-Max
Total cost of the platform: $698.
And now for the Remington.
Remington 700 ADL Varmint in .308 Winchester, 26" Heavy Varmint barrel
ECW Picatinny aluminum scope mount, 20 MOA
Burris Signature Zee rings with 0 (zero) MOA inserts
Leupold VX-1 3-9x40 with traditional Duplex reticle
Harris 9-12" bipod
Cheap rifle sling from Walmart
Federal Gold Match ammo, 168-grain Sierra MatchKing
Total cost of the platform: $738.
Both rifles are bone-stock, no sanding out of the barrel channel, no shimming, no bedding, none of that. Straight off the shelf. Everything on both rifles was torqued to proper specs, and the scope base screws were blue-Loctite'd to prevent slippage. Those mounts weren't going anywhere.
Also note that all of this equipment was brand-spanking-new. Neither rifle had ever been fired outside of the factory. The rings, mounts, bipods, and riflescopes had never been used. I was going into this with totally new gear. And that was the point. Can a newbie learn how to hit a target at 1,000 yards, with gear he just bought, on a budget?
It seems that the answer is, "yes".
(Picture - A 5" group at 900 yards with a "cheap rifle")
The first thing we did was to get the rifles zeroed in at 100 yards. Since both scopes were new, they still had some "settling in" to do. So, we exercised the windage and elevation adjustments to help smooth things out.
Another thing we found is that even though the Redfield Revolution is rated for 56 MOA total of adjustment—and that this figure is accurate—the scope likes it better if you don't push the elevation adjustment quite to the limit. Specifically, we had a little trouble holding zero consistently at distance. See, to reach way out there, you need to do about 35 to 40 MOA of adjustment from the 100 yard zero, even with a 20 MOA scope base. That puts the internal optics tube very close to, and even possibly touching, the "outer" scope tube (the one you put the rings on). Due to how most riflescopes are constructed, you can see this especially when you need to adjust windage. So, that's why we applied the 10 MOA Burris shims, to give the scope's internals a little "breathing room" that way. From then on, the scope held zero rock-solid.
Interestingly, even though the Leupold VX-1 is rated for only 52 MOA of adjustment, we didn't need to add the 10 MOA Burris shims on the Rem 700. Observed ballistics told us that the bullet was coming out at a higher velocity; the 700 ADL did in fact shoot a little bit flatter. We believe this is because the Federal Gold Match ammo may be just a little warmer than Hornady's Match ammo (we weren't using Superformance), and the extra 4" of barrel compared to the Ruger American probably also helped out a bit. So, we stayed with the 0 (zero) MOA inserts.
The instructors, Dan Newberry and his son, Forrest, taught me how to read the wind by looking at the grass and the tree foliage. They also instructed me on whether the Coriolis Effect (the Earth turning underneath you) matters at all. It does, a tiny bit, but not enough to matter; the biggest challenge is reading the wind with precision. That takes practice, as I found out. Why does that matter? A 5 mph crosswind will push a bullet about 4.5 MOA, which is, for practical purposes, 45" at 1,000 yards. That's almost four feet. You will miss your target if you don't account for the wind; the Coriolis Effect is maybe 2% of this, so it's negligible. Maybe it matters at 2,500 yards, but not at 1,000.
Also, humidity doesn't hardly matter. You can shoot in the rain without significant effect, and since it was a rainy morning, this was demonstrated. But air density does matter, which means air pressure (determined mostly by altitude) and air temperature must be accounted for. Now, this is not negligible, and Dan showed me how to account for that when determining how far to spin the riflescope's dials.
So, once we got the zero going, we checked things at 200 and 300 yards, then back to 100 yards, to verify that the scope's adjustments were tracking properly. They were. This is Leupold we're talking about, after all.
When I started, I didn't know Jack Squat about how to read the wind or hold over for it. But after two days of instruction, both on the range and in the "classroom", I was reliably hitting just over 1 MOA groups, with either rifle platform, no matter how far I shot. My best group was 0.5 MOA at 900 yards, with the Ruger American. With the Remington 700, I hit a just-over-1 MOA group at 1,100 yards. And I feel like I could do it again.
(picture - A 14" group at 1,100 yards, Yes, that is "scope eye" from yesterday--oops)
Thanks to Dan, I now have some "truth tables" for both of these rifles with this ammo. It will be neat to see what they will be able to do with a handload tuned for them, and I am in the process of developing those handloads now.
So, given both gun platforms, which would I choose for which task?
Well, the Ruger American is light and handy. It comes to the shoulder pretty quickly for that reason, and you can manoeuver around the woods pretty much all day with it, without too much concern of it getting snagged on something or getting tired from its weight. I can run with it if I have to. But because of that, it does have more recoil than the "Varmint Barrel" style rifles. It's not what I personally would call objectionable, but it's worth noting, especially for new shooters. But boy, can this rifle shoot. In a woodland hunting situation or a "have to grab something NOW" situation, I'd probably take the Ruger.
The Rem 700 ADL Varmint is not as light, not as handy, and thus easier to shoot and get back on the target. I wouldn't want to have to tote it all across the woods. Being as tall as I am (I'm a pretty big guy), the barrel length wouldn't be objectionable, but most people aren't nearly 2 metres tall! So, that's probably a concern for shorter folks. Additionally, you will start feeling that weight after a while if you're traipsing through the woods with it. But...if I were to teach someone long-range riflery, I'd pick the 700 ADL Varmint every time, precisely for that reason. The extra weight makes it a pleasure to shoot all day. It's like going from a light-weight Honda Civic to a Mercedes E-class in that respect.
I also need to point out the advantages of hold-over points on some modern riflescopes. Many hunters prefer the traditional Duplex reticle, and it has worked very well for decades. Probably millions of game animals have fallen to hunters using the Duplex reticles. Even at distance, you can get the job done with one. But it is easier to do more precise holdover if you've got a reticle with holdover points, like the Accu-Range reticle or similar. Mil-dots will also give you that functionality. So, for distance work, having compared traditional duplex to a slightly "busier" reticle, I'll take the sightly "busier" reticle.
"But Cowboy T, what about the Nightforce, Schmidt & Bender, US Optics, and Swarovski gear? What about the custom actions from Surgeon and the Krieger barrels, bedded in McMillian riflestocks and Accuracy International chassis? Are you knocking that gear?"
Ay caramba...yes, I've actually had people ask me that! So, let's address that now.
The answer to that assumption is an emphatic, "NO, I would NEVER knock such gear; it's very good stuff." If you can afford it, go for it! But remember, we're talking about a distance hunting setup here. Neither of the setups described here will ever win a "Tactical Match" competition or anything like it. That's not the purpose, nor the point. Rather, the point is to be able to hunt and make ethical shots on game animals at a distance, if you need to, with off-the-shelf gear available to most people, i. e. practical riflery. Emphasis on the word, "practical" here. And learning how to do that was accomplished here.
The biggest challenge, again, was learning how to read the wind. Elevation, that's actually pretty easy. It's a matter of practice. When you're out and about, one good thing to do is to just watch the wind, watch the grass and the trees, and see how well you can gauge the windspeed.
I am now a member of the 1,000 Yard Club.
And if I can do it, you can do it. Remember, all of this was accomplished with "budget" gear. This is stuff you can find in just about any gun store. So, if you've been thinking about it and thought you had to spend megabucks to do it, you don't. It is actually affordable, so give it a try and see what you think of it. You may be pleasantly surprised, just as I was.Safe shootin’!
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13. Taurus settles defective handgun class-action for $39 million
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Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:
From thefirearmblog.com: http://tinyurl.com/pjakrxs
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015 ... 9-million/
Taurus Settles Defective Handgun Class-Action for $39 Million
by Nathan S.
July 28, 2015
In a case that almost made it through the cracks TopClassActions reports that Taurus agreed in May of this year to settle a class-action lawsuit brought over nine handgun models, including six of the PT Millennium models. In response to common practice, Taurus legally does not admit to wrong-doing, but has agreed to pay $30 million to the Class members and agreed to “enhanced lifetime warranty and training for the firearms.”
According to Grand View Outdoors:
“The settlement agreement covers nine Taurus models, including the PT-111 Millennium; PT-132 Millennium; PT-138 Millennium; PT-140 Millennium; PT-145 Millennium; PT-745 Millennium; PT-609; PT-640 and PT-24/7?
The suit was brought on by plaintiff Chris Carter, a deputy sherriff in Iowa. As part of the settlement, Taurus will further pay $9 million in attorney’s fees.
Carter alleged in his class action lawsuit that the Taurus pistols in question “contain a drop-fire defect that may cause the pistols to fire when dropped from a normal height, and a false safety defect which allows the pistols to unintentionally fire even when the manual safety lever in in the ‘on’ or ‘safe’ position and the trigger moves rearward.”
Carter is a deputy for the Scott County, Iowa, sheriff’s department. He filed the class action lawsuit after his own Taurus gun fired while he was working one day as a narcotics agent and he dropped his gun on the ground in the middle of a pursuit. When the gun fell, it fired even though the safety was on. However, no one was shot, only a car was hit.
According to the class action lawsuit, Taurus was aware of the defects in their guns since 2007. In addition, the class action lawsuit also cited lawsuits that Taurus settled over injuries that allegedly occurred from unintended discharges. Also, the Sao Paulo State Military Police in Brazil reportedly recalled 98,000 Taurus firearms in 2013 because the alleged trigger problems.
The Taurus class action lawsuit charged the Brazilian gun maker with suppression, failure to warn, violating the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and state consumer protection laws.
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14. PSA: SAAMI's guide to unsafe gun-ammo combinations
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Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:
From thefirearmblog.com: http://tinyurl.com/q84u2tu
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015 ... binations/
PSA: SAAMI’s Guide to Unsafe Gun-Ammo Combinations
by Nathaniel F
July 25, 2015
It should go without saying to never use ammunition in your firearm that is not written on the side of the firearm… Well, except in cases like .223 and 5.56, where the two are semi-interchangeable [PVC: Actually they are NOT interchangeable; you can fire .223 in a firearm chambered for 5.56 mm, but not the other way around], or in the case of .38 and .357, where one is compatible with the other, but not vice-versa. So “feed a gun only ammo it’s chambered for” is a good handy rule of thumb, but as always things are just a little bit more complicated than that. There are a whole host of resources available on the internet talking about ammunition-chamber compatibility, but one thing that isn’t as thoroughly discussed – for obvious reasons – is the bad combinations. Fortunately, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute, better known as SAAMI, publishes a document annually covering some of the worst common ammo-firearms combinations which should be avoided in all circumstances. The document is hyperlinked above for reading at your leisure, and below is what SAAMI says about the list:
The discharge of ammunition in a firearm that is not designed to shoot that ammunition can be dangerous and can result in serious injury or death to the user and/or bystanders, as well as damage to the firearm. This unsafe condition is caused by an excessive build-up and/or release of high-pressure gas in a firearm’s chamber, barrel and/or action beyond which the firearm is designed to withstand. Therefore, in the interest of safety, you should use only ammunition of the caliber or gauge designated by the firearm manufacturer for use in that firearm. Markings indicating the correct caliber or gauge of ammunition to be used in a firearm are usually found on the firearm’s barrel, frame or receiver
One way to verify that you are using the correct ammunition is to check the head stamp on the ammunition to confirm that it matches the caliber or gauge markings placed on the firearm by the firearm’s manufacturer. Some types of ammunition do not have markings on the head stamp of the cartridge. In that case, check the original ammunition packaging to determine its caliber. If you have any doubt about the caliber of the ammunition, you should not use the ammunition until you have it examined by a qualified person who can determine its caliber. Remember just because a round of ammunition can fit into a firearm’s chamber, barrel or action does not mean it is safe to use that ammunition in the firearm.
Due to the availability of many different shapes and sizes of ammunition and firearms, there are countless unsafe ammunition-firearm combinations such that a comprehensive list of unsafe combinations is neither feasible, nor practicable. Below is a list of some unsafe combinations that are well known because of somewhat similar chamber and ammunition dimensions.
If the caliber or gauge is not clearly marked on the firearm, or if it appears the original markings on the firearm have been altered or modified in any way, do not use the firearm as serious injury or death could result to the user and/or bystanders, as well as damage to the firearm.
Similarly, SAAMI has not published voluntary recommended practices or procedures for re-chambering of firearms. It is possible the re-chambering of a firearm may not have been done properly or may not have been properly marked on the firearm. If the caliber or gauge marking is missing or altered in any way, you should not use the firearm. You should instead have the firearm examined by a qualified person to determine what caliber or gauge ammunition can safely be used in that firearm.
Stay safe, folks!
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15. Action against Lucky Gunner over online ammo sales dropped
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Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:
From wbir.com: http://tinyurl.com/q7y6n3v
http://www.wbir.com/story/news/2015/07/ ... /30495515/
Action against Lucky Gunner over online ammo sales dropped
by WBIR Staff, WBIR
July 21, 2015
(WBIR) - A group fighting against guns and gun violence in America dropped its latest legal fight Tuesday against a Knoxville-based ammo company.
Prosecutors say convicted Colorado theater killer James Holmes bought ammunition used in the shooting from www.luckygunner.com.
Earlier this year, the Brady Center organized a lawsuit against Lucky Gunner, saying the company should have known Holmes was "a danger to society."
A U.S. District Court judge in Colorado tossed the lawsuit, called it "propaganda" and said Holmes' online ammo purchases did not violate any federal laws.
He also ruled plaintiffs should reimburse Lucky Gunner for legal fees.
The plaintiffs appealed that ruling, but dropped it today.
In a statement Lucky Gunner said, "We took the Brady Center's assault against us and the Second Amendment very seriously. Our goal was to protect our livelihood and to protect the 2nd Amendment rights of Americans to responsibly buy and sell ammunition online."
Lucky Gunner was awarded more than $100,000 in legal fees. The company is donating that money to Second Amendment rights groups.
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16. [WV] Woman saved lives by shooting possible serial killer [VIDEO]
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Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:
From wtkr.com: http://tinyurl.com/qgfjpcg
http://wtkr.com/2015/07/27/woman-saved- ... olice-say/
Woman saved lives by shooting possible serial killer in the head, police say
BY TRIBUNE MEDIA WIRE
July 27, 2015
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Detectives across the country are re-examining cold cases after a possible serial killer was shot to death while allegedly attacking a West Virginia woman, CBS News reports.
That woman managed to kill 45-year-old Neal Falls, who investigators believe is connected to a string of murders in Ohio, Illinois and Nevada.
Charleston Gazette-Mail reports Falls had responded to an ad for an escort on Backpage.com. When he arrived at the home of a woman who asked only to be identified as Heather on Saturday, July 18, she said things quickly went from bad to worse.
Heather said minutes after she opened the door, Falls started beating and strangling her. She said he held a gun in one hand and held her by the throat with the other. Heather managed to grab a rake in an attempt to fight off her attacker.
“He put the gun down to get the rake out of my hand and I just grabbed the gun and shot over behind me,” Heather said as she gestured over her shoulder.
That one shot hit Falls in the head and he was killed.
“He was going to shoot me. He was going to kill me,” Heather said.
Heather ran out of the house and flagged down a neighbor, who called 911.
“She had to defend herself and she shot him and he’s in the kitchen,” the woman told dispatchers.
Heather can be heard in the background saying, “He pulled a gun on me.”
“He pulled a gun on her. She’s got cuts and stuff all over her,” the neighbor told dispatchers.
When investigators responded, they found a cache of weapons inside Falls’ SUV including knives, a machete, axes, a sledgehammer, shovel, plastic trash bags, bleach, and a bulletproof vest. They also found four sets of handcuffs in his pockets.
“What comes to mind when you look at those items is a serial killer kit,” said Lt. Steve Cooper, who was the Charleston police detective who responded to the scene .
Cooper said the items, Falls’ methods and his previous known locations may tie him to the murder or disappearance of nine women in three states.
Falls lived in Las Vegas for eight years and worked at Hoover Dam. During that time, four women disappeared. Three of those women’s bodies were later found dismembered.
Authorities said all of those women, most like Heather, advertised online.
“I believe that Heather saved lives and hopefully we’ll be able to bring some closure to some other families, too,” Cooper said. “If she didn’t fight back, she most certainly would be dead.”
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17. What happens when regular people try to use guns in self-defense [VIDEO]
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Prince George's County Police Department, Maryland, is using taxpayer funded resources for an anti-gun study. The study includes a video that is geared towards police. In essence they are asking regular citizens to play police officer without any police training and the surprise is that the police do better! Who would’a thought?
In the first scenario, a carjacking outside the vehicle as the person walks up to the car. The police officer is, of course, trying to apprehend the criminal, as is his sworn job. The citizen could just flee, or throw the car keys off a little to the side and flee while the bad guy is busy retrieving them, etc. But the citizen was not given that option and had to engage.
In the second scenario, a convenience store robbery, the police officer attempts to stop the robbery. A citizen could have easily just observed unnoticed without actually attempting to stop the robbery. Again, the citizen was expected to act as if he is a police officer and shoots one bad guy and misses the other and gets killed. In the second run of the scenario, the citizen DOES remain hidden and does not shoot. That works, but would generally not be acceptable for a police officer.
In the third scenario, someone is stealing some property, the police officer asks the suspect for ID and the suspect throws a box toward him and runs, unarmed. The video claims the officer didn’t shoot, but it sounds like he did to me, but missed. The citizen, again acting more in a police officer capacity by trying to approach the bad guy, shoots and misses the unarmed bad guy, too. Again, there is no need to approach the bad guy, just call 911 and let the police handle the situation.
Member Brian Sheaffer emailed me this:
From washingtonpost.com: http://tinyurl.com/pb9qbb4
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/won ... f-defense/
Watch what happens when regular people try to use handguns in self-defense
By Christopher Ingraham
July 28, 2015
In the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting, the National Rifle Association proposed putting more guns in schools. After a racist shot up a Charleston prayer group, an NRA board member argued for more guns in church. And now predictably, politicians and gun rights advocates are calling for guns in movie theaters after a loner killed two people at a theater in Louisiana.
The notion that more guns are always the solution to gun crime is taken seriously in this country. But the research shows that more guns lead to more gun homicides -- not less. And that guns are rarely used in self-defense.
Now a new study from researchers at Mount St. Mary's University sheds some light on why people don't use guns in self-defense very often. As it turns out, knowing when and how to apply lethal force in a potentially life-or-death situation is really difficult.
The study was commissioned by the National Gun Victims Action Council, an advocacy group devoted to enacting "sensible gun laws" that "find common ground between legal gun owners and non-gun owners that minimizes gun violence in our culture." The study found that proper training and education are key to successfully using a firearm in self-defense: "carrying a gun in public does not provide self-defense unless the carrier is properly trained and maintains their skill level," the authors wrote in a statement.
They recruited 77 volunteers with varying levels of firearm experience and training, and had each of them participate in simulations of three different scenarios using the firearms training simulator at the Prince George's County Police Department in Maryland. The first scenario involved a carjacking, the second an armed robbery in a convenience store, and the third a case of suspected larceny.
They found that, perhaps unsurprisingly, people without firearms training performed poorly in the scenarios. They didn't take cover. They didn't attempt to issue commands to their assailants. Their trigger fingers were either too itchy -- they shot innocent bystanders or unarmed people, or not itchy enough -- they didn't shoot armed assailants until they were already being shot at.
The researchers released some fascinating video comparing how regular citizens and trained police officers performed in the scenarios. In the carjacking scenario, for instance, the police officer draws his gun, takes cover, and issues verbal commands to the would-be carjacker. [video]
By contrast, here's what one average citizen did: [video]
The civilian just stands there, holding her gun limply at her side. She doesn't begin to raise it until the assailant has already fired his first shot.
In the armed robbery situation, again the officer ducks for cover and waits until bystanders are out of the way before engaging the assailants. [video]
By contrast, here's how one civilian fared: [video]
The study, of course, has its limitations. Seventy seven participants is a very small sample size, for instance. But its conclusion should be fairly uncontroversial: if you want to be able to use a gun in self-defense, you should be trained in how to do so. The NRA has long emphasized the importance of training and safety in personal firearms use, and offers a series of courses dedicated to self-defense.
The NRA likes the idea of training so much that it's floated the idea of mandatory firearms training for school children. On the other hand, it's opposed laws requiring mandatory training for gun purchases. Many states allow concealed carry without any training or permit for people as young as 16. Most states don't require gun owners or purchasers to even be licensed, much less trained. And a handful, like Arizona, have passed laws prohibiting localities from imposing their own training requirements.
There's a lot of middle ground between "repealing the Second Amendment" and "requiring school children to pass firearm training." Requiring gun owners to be trained and licensed, similar to what we require of say, automobile drivers, may be in a middle area that more people could agree on.
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18. [NC] Charlotte pastor welcomes two new members: 'Smith and Wesson'
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Member Mark Shinn emailed me this:
From breitbart.com: http://tinyurl.com/plvurde
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government ... nd-wesson/
CHARLOTTE PASTOR WELCOMES TWO NEW MEMBERS: ‘SMITH AND WESSON’
by AWR HAWKINS
July 24, 2015
Pastor Brenda Stevenson says she does not believe church-goers in Charleston would have been easily killed if they had been armed and she is going to lead by example and arm herself in the pulpit.
Stevenson, who is pastor of New Outreach Christian Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, said, “Like I tell everybody – just welcome two new members, Smith and Wesson.”
According to WCSC 5, Stevenson will “take the pulpit with a gun by her side [in August] for the first time.” She says she never thought about it before Charleston, but now believes that attack “may have been stopped if someone inside could have fired back.”
Stevenson said, “I do not believe nine people would have gotten shot or killed. I talked with my husband and I said, ‘Honey, we need to get a gun.'”
She said someone could walk in at any minute with a gun “because you don’t know where people’s minds are. They’re losing their jobs, they don’t have food to eat and they’re looking to take it out on somebody.”
Stevenson said her gun is currently on lawaway, as is ammunition and a cleaning kit to go along with it. She added, “They’re going to think it’s my Bible case, because I sit back here,” but she made clear the case will be holding her two new members instead.
Stevenson said, “When it starts hitting home, it’s time for you to protect your own.”
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19. After Charleston, some churches lock and load
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I have some comments imbedded in the article below (in square brackets “[ ]”).
Member Clayton Rhoades emailed me this:
From chesterfieldobserver.com: http://tinyurl.com/pcroadz
http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/new ... _load.html
After Charleston, some churches lock and load
By Rich Griset, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
July 29, 2015
In the aftermath of the Charleston, South Carolina, shooting that left nine dead last month, many churches are taking measures to beef up security. But some worry houses of worship may be taking things a bit too far.
Last week, The Celebration Center, a nondenominational storefront church near Chesterfield Towne Center, hosted a concealed carry handgun class. Attendees paid to attend the class, which was open to the public and accompanied by the National Rifle Association’s “Refuse to Be a Victim” seminar earlier in the day.
The classes were taught by David and Dee Dee Van Buren of TAC-Solutions, a company they own together. The husband and wife have belonged to the church for 15 years and have conducted classes at other churches for the past eight years.
“The main thrust of what we do is talk about the civil and criminal consequences of using this type of weapon,” said David Van Buren, a retired Richmond Police Department officer of 26 years. “My personal belief is if you use that weapon and you have done something wrong, whether it is civil or criminal, you will pay a huge price for it. You’re going to go to jail, and you have the opportunity to lose everything.”
Those who attended his concealed carry class were issued a certificate of completion, which can be used to apply for a license through circuit court. Van Buren says it’s the Second Amendment right of churchgoers to carry firearms, but it’s more important for a church to have an emergency plan and a trained security team.
“They need to be trained on what to do and what not to do and let them handle it,” says Van Buren, who has been a firearms instructor for 35 years. “To me, that’s the appropriate response. You don’t want something getting out of hand because someone didn’t understand the law.”
In hosting the class, lead pastor Danny Meads said he wants to ensure that his church, which has between 150 and 175 members, is prepared in the event of an active shooter. Meads says the church has a security team, some members of which already carry concealed weapons.
The class comes at a time when the legality of carrying a weapon into a Virginia church appears to occupy a gray area. State law says that “any person carry [sic] any gun, pistol … or other dangerous weapon, without good and sufficient reason, to a place of worship while a meeting for religious purposes is being held at such place he shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor,” punishable by a fine of up to $250.
Though not legally binding, in 2011 then- Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli stated in an advisory opinion that the right to self-defense and personal protection satisfied the requirement of “good and sufficient reason.” The opinion also states that places of worship can restrict or ban firearms. [PVC: Every year that goes by with that opinion unchallenged by the General Assembly, the opinion has more weight. I, personally, carry at church based on this opinion.]
Inquiries made to the Virginia attorney general’s office for clarification were not returned by press time. Van Buren advises congregation members to ask their religious leader for permission before bringing a weapon to a place of worship.
Lori Haas, director of the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence’s Virginians for Responsible Gun Laws campaign, says that requirements for a concealed carry permit are too lax, especially compared to the hundreds of hours of training required for police officers. [PVC: This is Lori, who is not a police officer, showing some ignorance of exactly what the police are taught during those hundreds of hours. Only a tiny fraction has to do with guns. Most of it covers a variety of laws, especially traffic laws and general laws covering the more common crimes, as well as things like how to do an arrest, handle prisoners, fill out traffic tickets, appearing in court, etc. None of that is of any use to a regular gun owner. We only have to know gun laws and self-defense laws.]
“We feel that the current regulations regarding concealed handgun permits in Virginia are woefully inadequate in regard to training,” said Haas, referencing online concealed permit classes that count toward a permit. “The notion that someone can sit in front of a computer and learn about firearm safety and be considered able to physically, actively handle an active shooter situation is fantasy.”
Haas got involved with gun violence prevention after her daughter was shot twice during the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre. She disagrees with the decision to host a concealed carry class at a church.
“Places of worship should be just that,” Haas said. “The answer to gun violence is not more guns and more people carrying guns. The answer is to keep firearms away from individuals that have demonstrated … dangerous behavior.” [PVC: Well, Lori, since there is no way to actually keep guns out of the hands of bad guys, more people carrying guns is indeed the answer!]
In the wake of Charleston, concern has been strong enough that law enforcement agencies have begun to host seminars for keeping places of worship safe. On Aug. 26, Chesterfield County Police will hold an event titled “Safety Conference for Places of Worship.” The free conference is intended to host up to two individuals per place of worship and to discuss planning for an active shooter, building security and senior safety among other topics.
Chesterfield Police Cpl. Scott Gordon said the event was scheduled after places of worship reached out to the police department in the wake of the Charleston shootings.
“This is kind of just getting them interested and letting them know what’s going on out there, some things to be aware of, some things to think about,” Gordon said, adding that the department will also offer further training at individual places of worship on request. “The main thing is just to be aware of your surroundings, and once you get inside one of those facilities, know where the exits are.”
Lora Beck of Dinwiddie attended the class last Saturday at The Celebration Center.
“I thought it was very informative,” said Beck, who found out about the class via Facebook. “It should be a class that more people know about, especially women.”
While she’s unsure about purchasing a gun, Beck says she’ll probably take private gun lessons and join the NRA.
“I still haven’t decided whether I want the responsibility of having one in my home or having one in my car,” said Beck. “[The shootings are] spreading around now, plus I want to be a voice somehow in keeping guns in the hands of the American people.”
For Meads, the class is about keeping his congregation safe.
“It’s happening all around us; even locally we’ve had incidents,” Meads said. “It’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when.”
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20. [LA] Pastors, priests take classes to protect their congregations
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Member Mark Shinn emailed me this:
From concealednation.org: http://tinyurl.com/onddkjh
http://concealednation.org/2015/07/past ... regations/
Pastors And Priests Take Concealed Carry Classes To Protect Their Congregations
by James England
July 24, 2015
FRANKLINTON, LOUISIANA — In what is either a sign of the best of times or the worst of them, a group of pastors and priests from across Louisiana have gathered together to complete the range requirements to get their concealed carry permits. WWL-4 covered the story.
“Churches left their doors open all the time so people could go in and pray if they needed to,” said Fr. Mark Templet with St. Peter the Aleut in Abita Springs. “Now, you don’t know what kind of people might be coming through the door and what they might do.”
The group – all comprised of religious leaders and their wives – completed a weekend long seminar in how to properly conceal and use a concealed carry firearm for the defense of themselves and potentially their attendees.
It belays a harsh reality unto which religious leaders are faced with in light of the Charleston massacre. And many understand that their actions may not be entirely understood or sympathized with by the community they intend to serve.
“I’ll probably have some that won’t like it, but again when it comes to a situation, I feel like they would be more than happy that it would be there if we need it,” said Pastor Raymond Garcia from Brockdale Apostolic Church in Tylertown, Miss.
“We need a plan,” said Garcia. “We never know what we’re going to be faced with. And I want to be a part of it just like I feel like we need to be ready for the coming of the Lord.”
The free course, called “Pistol-packing Preachers” class, is aimed at fulfilling Louisiana state requirements for knowledge of gun laws, escalation of force, and proper use and handling of a firearm. The organization that hosted the course offers it freely to clergy and their spouses once a quarter.
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21. [LA] This could have prevented Lafayette movie theater killings
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Here is a call for an ever more invasive government that would allow a disgruntled ex-spouse, ex-friend, or just a plain enemy to strip you of your right to keep and bear arms ex-parte (without you or your lawyer being present to represent you) and force you to go to court to get your right back.
I know this will come as a shock, but the author of this idea, Josh Horwitz, is executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. Gun-control groups continue to look for something, anything, that can be used to disarm us and we had best be on our toes.
EM Dave Hicks emailed me this:
From cnn.com: https://tinyurl.com/oroo644
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/26/opinions/ ... attanooga/
This could have prevented Lafayette movie theater killings
By Joshua Horwitz
July 26, 2015
(CNN) Following Thursday's tragedy in a movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana -- in which a gunman killed two people and wounded nine others -- America is once again searching for answers to how such a massacre could have been prevented. At this point we can hardly go a week without a high-profile mass shooting in this country, and the slaughter in Charleston and Chattanooga is still fresh in our minds.
The gun lobby's response of "more guns" is predictable (and critical to its industry's financial prospects), but Americans who are truly concerned about this violence are asking a different question: How can we keep those who are in crisis, and at an elevated risk of violence, from obtaining firearms?
A policy recently enacted in California, the Gun Violence Restraining Order, or GVRO, would seem to hold enormous promise for those looking to stop the next gunman before he can carry out his plans.
The GVRO is based on the same principle as a domestic violence restraining order. It would allow family members and/or law enforcement to go before a judge and request that guns be temporarily removed from an individual who is likely to be dangerous toward himself and/or others (while allowing for due process).
Notably, a GVRO does not rely solely on mental illness as a marker for violence. As research shows, the overwhelming majority of individuals with mental illness will never be violent toward others (the risk of self-harm is far greater). Stronger indicators of risk include a history of violent behavior, domestic violence and drug or alcohol abuse.
The GVRO became law in California following the 2014 mass shooting at the University of California-Santa Barbara in Isla Vista. The gunman in that case, Elliot Rodger, had been subject to a welfare check, but law enforcement had no authority to remove his guns. California lawmakers, to their credit, acted quickly and decisively to prevent the next tragedy from happening.
Like Rodger, recent mass shooters have also exhibited warning signs before obtaining firearms. Accused Charleston gunman Dylann Roof had run-ins with the police and was arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and trespassing at a local mall.
In March, an off-duty police officer questioned him about loitering and found parts for an AR-15 rifle and six 40-round magazines in his car. Roof also reportedly had a tendency to get drunk and tell his friends about his plans to commit mass murder. After one of these rants, a friend took his gun away, only to return it the following day. A friend said Roof told him his mother also temporarily took a gun away from him, but she had no means to prevent him from buying another one.
In Chattanooga, 24-year-old gunman Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez had a long history of depression, having being treated for it as young as 12 or 13. In adulthood, his behavior became troubling as he struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. In 2013, he lost a job at a nuclear power plant in Ohio after reportedly failing a drug test. Earlier this year, Abdulazeez had a DUI arrest. He wrote regularly in a diary that revealed suicidal thoughts and a desire to become a martyr. His father knew his son was stockpiling guns, and he was concerned about it, according to The Washington Post.
And now we have Lafayette shooter John Russell Houser, a 59-year-old man with a documented history of violence and mental illness. It appears that nearly everyone who came into contact with Houser saw him as a threat. In 2006, he was denied a concealed carry permit by the Russell County, Alabama, sheriff following an arson arrest. In 2008, Houser's mental health deteriorated, and he was involuntarily committed. He was the subject of a protective order sought by his wife that same year. During this period, she removed all the firearms from their household out of fear for what he might do.
A society whose citizens can no longer peaceably attend church, see a movie or study in school is a society that can no longer call itself free. To state the obvious, James Madison and our Founders did not ratify the Second Amendment so that men such as John Russell Houser could obtain guns, legally or otherwise. Preventing killers like this from arming to the teeth is imperative if we are to "insure domestic Tranquility" as envisioned by our Constitution.
That begs the question. What if South Carolina, Tennessee and Louisiana had put a GVRO policy in place? Family and law enforcement in each of these cases saw the red flags, and in Houser's case they had taken some steps. What if state legislators had provided them with a new means to intervene and disarm their loved ones before the shooting ever started?
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22. Huffington Post lists 7 companies that ban guns, 3 of which don't
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None of the seven business chains listed in the Huffington article actually ban guns, so I disagree with the article below that only three don’t do so. The businesses in the article ASK that you don’t carry, but don’t post the store and don’t want employees enforcing the policy. The policies were really just a game to make the Demanding Moms go away, without really changing anything.
I’m not letting the Demanding Moms win this one - I still visit those stores and carry as usual since none of them actually bans guns. Your mileage may vary and you may choose to boycott those stores. That’s fine, too.
Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:
From breitbart.com: http://tinyurl.com/q8u43ce
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government ... hich-dont/
HUFFINGTON POST LISTS 7 COMPANIES THAT BAN GUNS, 3 OF WHICH DON’T
by AWR HAWKINS
July 24, 2015
Huffington Post recently reported a list of 7 companies “that don’t want guns in their stores.” However, three of those companies allow concealed carry, and one of these three allows open carry as well.
Here is HuffPo’s list of companies that allegedly don’t want guns in their stores: Whataburger, Chipotle, Panera Bread, Sonic, Chili’s, Starbucks, and Target.
And here is the first problem—the very first company on the list, Whataburger, only bans open carry in their restaurants. They still allow concealed carry. Moreover, the AP describes Whataburger president and CEO Preston Atkins “as an avid hunter with a concealed carry license.”
Here is the second problem—on the same day that Target CEO John Mulligan “respectfully [requested] that guests not bring firearms into Target,” the company’s PR group manager made sure to stress that Mulligan’s request did not amount to a prohibition. On July 2, 2014, she said pointedly, “This is a request and not a prohibition.” Because of this, on July 3, The Washington Post ran the following headline: “Target announces but won’t enforce gun ban.”
The third and biggest problem with the list is that Starbucks never banned open carry or concealed. Persistent claims to the contrary are disingenuous at best.
Following Moms Demand Action’s 2013 campaign to get guns banned from the company’s stores, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said the coffee giant was not going to ban guns in its stores, but he did ask that customers quit carrying guns in the open just to make a point.
On September 18, 2013, the AP reported that Schultz even indicated that customers who continued to open carry would still be served. He simply asked pro-gun customers to be less flamboyant in the way they handle the issue.
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23. You can build an AK-47 variant from scratch [VIDEO]
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Member Joel Cox emailed me this:
From universityofguns.com: https://tinyurl.com/oytjk7d
http://universityofguns.com/you-can-bui ... hould-you/
YOU CAN BUILD AN AK-47 VARIANT FROM SCRATCH – BUT SHOULD YOU?
In this part one of an instructional/discussion video, DIY veteran (and former Marine) “USMCDoc" discusses the illustrious process of building an AK-47 variant from scratch. In it, he dispels the myths, the rumors, and the horse crap in favor of pointing out the important whys for each type of build.
This is a multi-part series, so be prepared for several hours of mostly discussion with some actual show-and-tell. If you’re serious about building an AK-47 variant from scratch, then you have every reason in the world to watch this series from start to finish and follow his advice. However, if you’re looking for a down and dirty – check out the video right below this paragraph.
The Blank Receiver
Before you really can go anywhere with an AK-47 variant build, you’re going to need to machine the receiver. Now, before you do this – check with YOUR state and localities laws. If you EVER want to sell or transfer this item, you will have to go through the FFL process with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
If you decide you want to make the trigger housing group fully automatic or selective firing, you’re going to need an NFA. That’s also non-negotiable in terms of federal law. So, when you are building your AK-47 variant, keep all those things in mind.
Why Is A Homemade AK-47 Variant So Essential?
The AK-47 is one of the most reliable and easily fabricated semi-automatic rifles in existence. It’s main competitor, at the time, was the FAL equivalent which was adopted by many NATO partners. The FAL is complete horse rubbish. It’s not very hardy and it’s much more difficult to operate than most AK-47 variants.
And the other major competitor (at the hayday of AK-47 manufacturing) was the CAR-15 (AR-15, civilian equivalent; M-16A2, military equivalent). The CAR-15 is indisputably one of the best medium range battle rifles on the planet. It uses a smaller bullet size (5.56 mm) than the AK-47 (7.62x39mm) and – with only iron sights and some windage – can reach out and touch someone at 500 yds. What’s not to love?
AR-15s are SEVERELY overpriced and their stock Mil Spec parts can sometimes be garbage.
There is literally no reason on this planet stock AR-15s should be this expensive.
Soooo… You can either spend $1300-1500 building an AR-15 from parts the right way or $850 stock base. From the $850 base model, most AR-15 owners who actually intend to use their AR-15 at the range and as a home-defense weapon, will spend upwards of $1,200 upgrading that rifle through after-market parts.
Screw all that. An AK-47 built from the bottom up will serve you just as well - if not better. You can still add all the bells and whistles that make the rifle “tacticool” while actually being just as effective (if not more so) than a tricked out AR-15 variant.
So, building an AK-47 from the ground up is a fraction of the cost of doing the same with an AR-15 and can accompany all the tricks and ponies every mean motherjammer wants with his rifle.
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24. The "assault weapon" from 1780 [VIDEO]
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Member Sue Ward emailed me this:
From bearingarms.com: https://tinyurl.com/p5zxb5h
http://bearingarms.com/assault-weapon-1780/
The “Assault Weapon” From 1780
by Bob Owens
July 26, 2015
The Girardoni (also spelled Girandoni) air rifle was a very advanced design adopted in 1780 by the Austrian Army. While the standard arm of the day was a single-shot flintlock, the Girardoni offered a massive firepower advantage to the men who carried it. The guns (designed by Bartholomäus Girardoni, of Vienna) had a magazine capacity of 22 round balls, which could all be fired within 60 seconds. The balls were .46 caliber, weighing approximately 153 grains, and were propelled at 400-450 feet per second. They were rumored to be silent, but actually had a loud report (although quieter than gunpowder firearms). One of these rifles was carried by the Lewis & Clark expedition into the American West.
The Austrian Army used them for a relatively short time – they were taken out of service by Imperial order in 1788, and issued back to Tyrolian sniper units only in 1792. The reasons for their replacement were more logistical than the result of any actual shortcoming with Girardoni’s design. The problem was that they required special training to use (compared to a normal firearm), required specially trained and equipped gunsmiths to repair and maintain, and difficulty maintaining them in combat conditions. Dr. Robert Beeman has written an outstanding illustrated article on Austrian airguns in general and the Girardoni in particular, which I highly recommend for anyone interested in more detail on these fascinating weapons:
http://www.beemans.net/Austrian%20airguns.htm
However, I am privileged to be able to share with you this video of an original 1780 Girardoni put together by Luke Haag for presentation at the 2014 AFTE conference in Seattle. Mr. Haag does a great job explaining the operation of the gun, its capabilities and accessories.
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VA-ALERT is a project of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
(VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization
dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to
Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.
VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org [http://www.vcdl.org/]