Ruger Comes To North Carolina And Does Good

Ruger comes to North Carolina, builds rifles, and then does good for the community. Is this the picture of an evil company that builds “instruments of war” so that kids can kill one another on our city streets? Of course, it isn’t and Ruger doesn’t build instruments of war either. Instead it is the picture of a company that opens a new plant in a semi-rural location and then seeks to help out the community.

Though production wasn’t originally expected to begin at Ruger’s new Mayodan, North Carolina plant until the first quarter of 2014, it actually began ahead of schedule in 2013. Ruger is taking five of the Ruger American Rimfire Rifles that were produced in the first production run and auctioning them off for five local charities in the Rockingham County – northern Guilford County area. Ruger will also be making the rest of that first run of 1,000 rifles available for sale only in the Carolinas.

Ruger’s announcement regarding the charities and the link to the auction is below:

Ruger To Auction First Production Run Ruger American Rimfire™ Rifles From Mayodan, NC


March 14, 2014


In September 2013, Ruger finalized the purchase of a 220,000 square foot facility in Mayodan, NC. This was the Company’s first major expansion in over 25 years, and production was expected to begin during the first quarter of 2014. Production actually began late Fall of 2013! The boxes of the first 1,000 rifles were affixed with a special “First Production Run” sticker. Rifles with serial numbers 832-01001 through 832-02000 were the only ones to leave the factory with this special sticker. We are auctioning five of those rifles. The other 995 rifles were circulated through distribution in the Carolinas only.

The serial numbers of these auction rifles are: 832-01920; 832-01931; 832-01940; 832-01958 and 832-01960. The testfire date for all five is December 3, 2013. 100% of the proceeds from each of these auctions will be donated to the following five local organizations: Camp Carefree, Stokesdale, NC; the Salvation Army, Mayodan, NC; Reformers Unanimous, Stoneville, NC; the American Cancer Society, Rockingham Co., NC; and the Western Rockingham Firefighters Association, Mayodan, NC.

The Ruger American Rimfire™ rifle is made of alloy steel with a satin blued finish and features a 22-inch barrel, fiber optic front sight and adjustable rear sight. The stock is black composite and includes two interchangeable stock modules that provide comb height options for scope or sight use. It also features the detachable, flush-mounted 10/22® BX-1 10-round rotary magazine. Included in the auction is an original instruction manual, marketing materials and an extra “First Production Run” sticker. To learn more about this auction, visit www.ruger.com/auction.

Endorsements For The NRA Board: A Round-Up

I usually just compile the endorsements from folks I respect around the gun culture when it comes to the annual election of directors for the NRA Board of Directors. This time it may be a little different but more on that later.

The first endorsements I want to highlight come from gun rights attorney Dave Hardy. He has been in the gun rights movement for a long time, has worked for the NRA in years gone by, is a gun blogger, and is a respected Second Amendment scholar. Dave has divided his endorsements into indispensible and very important for the NRA.

His indispensible picks include William Dailey, Charles Cotton, Curtis Jenkins, Patricia Clark, and J. William Carter. Meanwhile his very important picks are Bob Viden, John Cushman, David Bennett, Joel Friedman, Allan Cors, Tom Avras, Anthony Colandro, Ken Blackwell, Todd Rathner, (sheriff) Peter J. Printz, Carl Rowan, and Roy Innis.

Lt. Col. Robert K. Brown, publisher of Soldier of Fortune magazine and a NRA Board members, has his own list which overlaps much of Dave Hardy’s list. His list includes Thomas. P. Arvas, J. William Carter, Alan D. Cors, John L. Cushman, William H. Dailey, Antonio Hernandez-Almodovar, Curtis S. Jenkins, Peter J. Printz, Todd J. Rathner, and Robert L. Viden.

David Codrea, National Gun Rights Examiner, and one of the journalists (with Mike Vanderboegh) who broke open BATFE’s Operation Fast and Furious, has endorsed just one person: Anthony Colandro of New Jersey.

Running as an independent after being turned down for consideration by NRA’s nominating committee, Colandro promises to be the type of director capable of shaking up paid staff’s heretofore unbreakable grip on the board, paving the way for other candidates who would reform management policies away from an unsettling trend of offering compromises, political deal-making, and questionable political ratings that has alienated hard core members and resulted in apathy for the director election process, estimated by Jeff Knox to only attract about seven percent of eligible members who even bother voting.

Jeff Knox of the Firearms Coalition and the son of the late Neal Knox didn’t have any endorsements last year. This year he has endorsed Anthony Colandro and Tracie L. Hill.

The main reason I am endorsing Colandro and Hill, aside from their credentials, is because the official NRA Nominating Committee didn’t. Both these candidates were nominated only by petition of the members. While the Nominating Committee slate includes many worthy candidates, I think it’s good to throw an outsider into the mix now and then.


Let me say that the NRA Board of Directors is, for the most part, a stellar group of dedicated and impressive individuals with a broad range of backgrounds, interests, and abilities. There are very few of them that I do not hold in the highest regard. Most have solid backgrounds in support of the Second Amendment, impressive credentials in the shooting sports, and have proven themselves as diligent workers and supporters of the organization’s goals and the membership’s best interests.

Read Jeff’s full endorsement for its great explanation of how the NRA elections work. Most of the incumbents will win by default. Upstarts like Anthony Colandro rarely win unless there is some sort of groundswell behind them.

To all of these plus those endorsed by the Nominating Committee comes a wild care: Rob Pincus. He has thrown his hat into the ring as a write-in candidate for the Board of Directors.

I have decided to throw my hat in the ring and run for the 76th Seat on the NRA Board of Directors! In order to qualify for this seat, which is voted on at the NRA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis this April, I need as many write in votes as possible as part of the General Election.

I strongly believe that a position on the NRA BoD will allow me to do more work to promote our rights and responsibilities related to firearms ownership!

You have until April 6th to get your ballot in. Historically, less than 10% of eligible voters participate… Let’s up the numbers and get those ballots in! Please spread the word!! #pincus4NRA

I am truly honored by the early support and encouragement that this announcement has brought in! I know that some of you have already sent your ballots in, but perhaps you know people who haven’t. Thanks Much!

Rob goes into more detail as to why he is he is running here.  He also explains how to do a write-in vote.

Michael Bane has given Rob his unconditional endorsement. As to why, he has this to say:

Why? Because Rob will always stand up…he eats, sleeps, breaths and, most importantly, believes in the Gun Culture and the RKBA. Perhaps most importantly, Rob can be a spectacular pain in the ass to the Powers-That-Be, and that is exactly the kind of person we need promoting our interests.

As I said in the beginning, I have never made an endorsement before. This time is different. Having a well-known self-defense trainer on the Board of Directors is, in my opinion, a much better thing than an old, out of office, politician or an actor. I don’t have anything against Tom Selleck or the Gunny and I fully expect them to be elected to the Board.

If we want the gun rights movement to expand, we need to get people on the Board who represent Gun Culture v2.0 and who can go head to head with the Shannon Watts of the world. We don’t need board members who list as one of their qualifications that they debated the Million Mom March. I’ve met Walt Walter of Flat Rock (NC) at the Asheville Rifle and Pistol Club and he’s a nice old guy but that is so out of tune with we face nowadays. I think Rob Pincus could do that.

To vote, you have to be either a Life Member or a Five-Year Member. Ballots must be received by April 6th.

UPDATE: Bitter has her endorsements up at Shall Not Be Questioned. They include William Dailey, Dan Boren, Joel Friedman, Patricia Clark, Todd Rathner, Allan D. Cors, and Antonio Hernandez. She notes that there is no need to fill in all 25 spots just because you can. I am in full agreement with this as is Jeff Knox who explains “bullet” voting in his endorsement above.

Three-Peat Squared

Every year about this time I seem to be writing about the young women who play basketball at my alma mater. In 2011, they tied the North Carolina state record for consecutive state titles. In 2012, they broke the record for consecutive state titles. In 2013, they extended their record when they came from 11 down with five minutes to go.

And this year, they made it a three-peat squared. In other words, nine straight state championships in the NCHSAA 1-A women’s basketball category. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations record book, this puts them at number three on the all-time list for consecutive state championships in women’s basketball behind Milwaukee Pius XI and Dallas Bishop Lynch. Those schools are tied at 12 each.

The game itself was close with Bishop winning over Williamston Riverside by a score of 61-58.

The clock showed 5.2 seconds when Putman rebounded the second of two missed free throws from Riverside’s Kayla Jones, then weaved her way to the half-court line and let loose with a desperation shot from 47 feet.


The shot — dead on line — seemed to wedge momentarily between the backboard and the back of the rim. It came off softly, hit the rim again, and dropped in.

 You can see that winning shot below. All I can say is wow. And yes, I am a proud alumnus of Bishop McGuinness.

Update On Drake Case



Drake v. Jerejian is the New Jersey case that is a challenge to their concealed carry permit requirements. The case started out a long while ago as Muller v. Maenza and Piszczatoski v. Maenza. The case was appealed to the US Supreme Court in January.

On Friday, the state of New Jersey filed a brief opposing this petition to the Supreme Court. The state asserts that there is no reason for the Supreme Court to hear the case and that the Second Amendment does not preclude the state from requiring a justified need to issue a carry permit.

From the Second Amendment Foundation:

NJ AG OPPOSES SUPREME COURT
REVIEW OF NJ CARRY LAW

Today, the New Jersey Attorney General filed a brief in the Drake right to carry case, urging the U.S. Supreme Court not to take the case. Drake is the pending federal challenge to New Jersey’s unconstitutional carry law, brought by the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs (ANJRPC) and the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), who have asked the Supreme Court to hear the case.

At the heart of the lawsuit is the idea that citizens should not have to prove “need” to exercise a fundamental Constitutional right. New Jersey’s “justifiable need” standard requires the applicant to provide evidence of prior attacks or threats before a carry permit is issued by a judge – a virtually impossible standard for most people to meet.

Though less extreme in its rhetoric than in earlier phases of the case, the Attorney General in the brief essentially defends New Jersey’s carry law and tells the Supreme Court there is no reason for it to hear the case:

“[T]he Second Amendment does not prohibit New Jersey from requiring applicants to demonstrate a justifiable need before granting a permit to publicly carry a handgun. The justifiable need standard in New Jersey’s Handgun Permit Law qualifies as a presumptively lawful, longstanding regulation that does not burden conduct within the scope of the Second Amendment’s guarantee… Petitioners have failed to demonstrate that the Third Circuit’s decision here presents a question that warrants this Court’s discretionary review.”

While it is not unusual for an attorney general to defend state law, it is unfortunate to see such a blatant violation of fundamental rights be given legitimacy by bureaucrats.

“The right to defend yourself with a firearm outside the home, otherwise known as right to carry, has long been disparaged and denied in the Garden State,” said ANJRPC Executive Director Scott Bach. “We intend to change that with this lawsuit.”

“This case is extremely important because it may have a national impact on gun rights in all 50 states,” said SAF Executive Vice President and founder Alan Gottlieb. “This suit is part of our effort to win firearms freedom one lawsuit at a time.”

The Supreme Court will likely decide whether it will take the Drake case between April and June. We will spare no effort or expense to restore right to carry in the Garden State and protect that right all across America.

Daily Reads

I have a number of daily reads in addition to blogs. I often get ideas for my blog posts as well as items for the Polite Society Podcast from these daily reads. Below are some that I would suggest along with how to subscribe. Best of all, they are all free.

Defensive Use of Firearms Digest

The Defensive Use of Firearms Digest is a daily compilation put together by Stephen P. Wenger. It contains firearms and RKBA related news as well as items illustrating defensive gun uses. He always includes links to the original story along with a short pithy comment. It is delivered to your email address on a daily basis. He has just decided to split DUF Digest into three emails – national firearms and RKBA news, state level firearms and RKBA news, and defensive uses of guns. This reduces the likelihood of it being rejected by your spam filter.

To subscribe, go to this page.

John Farnam’s DTI Quips

Firearms trainer John Farnam of Defensive Training International has a daily email with his quips and commentary on everything from firearms to the Russian invasion of Crimea. It is well worth a read and always enlightening.

To subscribe, send John an email at JSFarnam AT AOL dot Com.  He will add you to the mailing list.

The Shooting, Tactical, and Outdoor Wires

Jim Shepherd has assembled a number of “wires” devoted to shooting and outdoor topics. Each issues of the various “wires” contains press releases from the firearms and outdoor industry as well as from various organizations. Also included are some very insightful editorials and training tips. The lineup of the Outdoor Wire Digital Network includes the Outdoor Wire, the Shooting Wire, the Tactical Wire, the Archery Wire,  the Dealer Wire , the Fishing Wire and the Birding Wire.

I subscribe to the Outdoor Wire, the Shooting Wire, the Archery Wire, and, my favorite, the Tactical Wire. They are all free and by subscription only.

To subscribe to the Outdoor Wire, go here.

To subscribe to the Shooting Wire, go here.

To subscribe to the Tactical Wire, go here.

To subscribe to the Archery Wire, go here.

There are a few more but this a start.

And For Georgia Readers

Daniel Defense is supporting efforts to repeal the ban on suppressors for hunting in the state of Georgia. To this end, they have developed a pre-composed email that will be sent to your local Representative and Senator as well as members of the Game, Fish, and Parks Committee.

Georgia is currently the number two state in the number of suppressors registered under the National Firearms Act. If Senate Bill 93 is passed, Georgia will become the 32nd that allows suppressors for hunting.

The link to the email is here.

For Illinois Readers

The Illinois State Rifle Association Political Victory Fund has made an endorsement in the upcoming Republican primary for governor.

The ISRA Political Victory Fund (ISRA-PVF) is proud to endorse Senator Kirk Dillard in the Republican primary for Governor. Along with Senator Dillard, Senator Brady and Treasurer Rutherford have been staunch, long standing proponents of the Second Amendment and the efforts of the Illinois State Rifle Association. It is clear, however, that Senator Dillard alone presents the best opportunity to defeat Governor Quinn in November. We urge you to vote for Senator Dillard in the Republican primary on March 18.

Three Times Is Enemy Action

“Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action”

Auric Goldfinger to James Bond in Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger.

It started with State Rep. Randy Dunn (D-Kansas City) who introduced House Bill 1940 into the Missouri House of Representatives. His bill would imposed a duty to retreat when faced with a threat. In effect, it would nullify the Castle Doctrine in the state of Missouri.

Dunn says his proposed bill has three main provisions.


“It would require a person to attempt to retreat if at all possible when facing danger,” he said.


A defendant must also prove they had no other option than to use deadly force as opposed to the prosecution as it is under the current statue. The third provision would disallow automatic immunity from a civil lawsuit for anyone who uses deadly force or shoots someone.

Then it continued with a move by Rep. Harold Mitchell (D-Spartanburg) to repeal South Carolina’s version of the “stand your ground” law. Mitchell, chairman of the SC Legislative Black Caucus, introduced the bill along with 17 co-sponsors. House Bill 4801 requires a duty to retreat anywhere except in a person’s home.

From The State of Columbia, SC:


The chairman of the state Legislative Black Caucus, backed by several ministers, former law enforcement officials and activists, has introduced a bill to repeal South Carolina’s “Stand your ground” law.

The bill would not do away with residents’ longstanding right to defend themselves with deadly force while inside their homes, vehicles and businesses, Rep. Harold Mitchell, D-Spartanburg, stressed at a Thursday news conference at the State House.

But the bill – which has 17 co-sponsors in addition to Mitchell – would eliminate the “Stand your ground” legal defense used by those who use a knife or gun to kill or wound people in public places, then claim they used deadly force because they feared for their lives.

“‘Stand your ground’ is ‘last man standing.’ What we want to do is go back and protect people in their homes, their vehicles and their place of business,” Mitchell said.

And finally, the Detroit’s chapter of the National Action Network is seeking to a referendum measure put on the November ballot in Michigan that would repeal that state’s “stand your ground” laws. According to Fox 2 Detroit, the group was headed today to the state capitol in Lansing to lobby lawmakers to repeal “stand your ground”. I have no doubt that they will find a sympathetic lawmaker who will do their bidding and introduce such as bill.

The National Action Network referred to above is run by the Rev. Al Sharpton who led a rally in Tallahassee yesterday to repeal that state’s “stand your ground” law. The move to repeal “stand your ground” laws is also supported by Attorney General Eric Holder despite the fact that a study in Florida found that African-Americans benefited from using that state’s law as a defense at a rate out of proportion to their numbers in the population.

As to who is coordinating this attack on both the castle doctrine and stand your ground laws, I’m not sure. However, seeing these efforts in states as disparate as South Carolina, Michigan, and Missouri leads me to believe that some sort of coordination is going on. While the Rev. Al can raise hell with his rallies, I just don’t see him as being behind legislative efforts. It doesn’t fit his profile.

If you have seen similar efforts in your state, let me know in the comments or pop me an email.

UPDATE: It seems the Demanding Mommies have a petition against stand your ground laws according to their Facebook page. Given that they are now merged with Bloomberg’s Illegal Mayors, perhaps, and I say just perhaps, this is the next Bloomberg initiative. The curious thing is that all the efforts we have seen so far – Missouri, South Carolina, and Michigan – are African-American led efforts and I just don’t see much solidarity between them and the suburban Demanding Mommies.

CBS News – Back In Good Graces With The White House?

There had been some hope for CBS News. They seemed to be the only one of the old Big Three networks that seemed willing to say anything negative about the Obama Administration. This was especially true in the reporting of investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson who won an Emmy for her reporting on Project Gunwalker.

Politico reported this afternoon that Attkisson and CBS News had parted ways.

CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson has reached an agreement to resign from CBS News ahead of contract, bringing an end to months of hard-fought negotiations, sources familiar with her departure told POLITICO on Monday.

Attkisson, who has been with CBS News for two decades, had grown frustrated with what she saw as the network’s liberal bias, an outsize influence by the network’s corporate partners and a lack of dedication to investigative reporting, several sources said. She increasingly felt that her work was no longer supported and that it was a struggle to get her reporting on air.

I imagine the foul-mouthed little fascists that run the White House Office of Communications as well as the flacks at the Justice Department are jumping up and down with joy over this development.  The fellow travelers in the newsroom at CBS News who cringed over Ms. Attkisson’s objective reporting must be overjoyed that her dissonant voice is gone.

As for Ms. Attkisson, she will continue working on a book with the tenative title, Stonewalled: One Reporter’s Fight for Truth in Obama’s Washington.

Comment Of The Day

The comment of the day comes from trainer John Farnam of Defense Training International. John is well known for his “quips”. In today’s “quip”, John is discussing the language our opponents use like “governmental interest” and “public safety” and how the police “need” semi-automatic firearms with standard capacity magazines while we don’t.

Regarding semi-auto M4 carbines, John has this to say:

In a final act of hypocrisy, M4s issued to state police are always
called “Patrol Carbines” Those exact, same M4s, when owned by private
citizens, are always called “assault weapons.”

I think that captures the essence of the argument about the perversion of language by our opponents.