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Memorial Day 2011

May 30, 2011 by 3 Comments

On the Memorial Day 2011, I’d like to thank all who have served in our armed forces for their dedication, their duty, and, most of all, for the sacrifices they have made for our country and our freedom. May they and their sacrifices never be forgotten.

I just spent three days at the LuckyGunner Blogger Shoot. Among the bloggers participating were a number of veterans. While I know I am missing a few, I had to the pleasure to get to know (and shoot) with Jim Curtis (Old NFO – USN), Rev. Kenn Blanchard (Urban Shooter podcast – USMC), Sean Sorrentino (A NC Gun Blog – USA & USN), Cargosquid (United Conservatives of VA – USN) and Anthony whose last name I missed (The Packet Man – USMC). Lest I forget, our host Mike Mollenhour (MJM’s Blog) served as an officer in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division.

To all of the above and veterans everywhere, I say thank you for your service.

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M3 Stuart Tank At Blogger Shoot (corrected)

May 29, 2011 by 2 Comments

Along with all the bloggers at the LuckyGunner Memorial Day Blogger Shoot, there were a number of WWII reenactors representing both German and American forces. The American forces had a couple of M3 Stuart tanks and a half-track. This video shows them in action against targets filled with Tannerite.

This video is the first that I’ve ever taken with my iPhone. I’m sure if I knew what the heck I was doing, it would have been a little better.

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LuckyGunner Blogger Shoot – Day 1

May 29, 2011 by

It was not a bad day.

I have a sunburned face, came in as the runner-up in the 2011 Best Gun Blog – Law category to the Instapundit, shot a boat load of free ammo, and got to shoot a variety of full auto guns. Yep, not a bad day.

I shot a full auto M-16A1, a Heckler Koch G-3, a Thompson M1 submachine gun, a German MP-40, and a Smith and Wesson M76 (a copy of the Swedish K submachine gun). I almost got to shoot a Browning BAR but it was having feed problems. I missed out on firing some of the crew-served machine guns and the H-K MP-5. My favorites were the Thompson and the Smith and Wesson M76. Both were controllable and have very little felt recoil. As someone commented, imagine what the price of the M76 would be if there were no Hughes Amendment. It was a very simple stamped gun whose production costs would be relatively modest.

I met and spoke with a number of bloggers. There were too many to name individually but I hope we can get a list so we can all keep up with one another.

I think we all had a great time and are very grateful that LuckyGunner.com put on the shoot and provided the ammo. I am excited that tomorrow I’ll be taking both a defensive pistol and a shotgun course with Tom Givens of Rangemaster. One of my goals for the year was to take a training course. That I can take classes in both handgun and shotgun makes it even better.

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Lenoir City, We Have Arrived

May 28, 2011 by

We arrived in Lenoir City, TN last night for the LuckyGunner blogger shoot. Despite being the start of the Memorial Day weekend, traffic moved along smoothly on I-40 even through the middle of Knoxville so we got here in about 2.5 hours.


The first person I ran into was Kenn Blanchard – A Black Man with a Gun – of the Urban Shooter podcast. I had just turned around from the check-in desk at the EconoLodge and there was Kenn! It was good to see him so soon after the NRA Annual Meeting. He rode with us to the pizza place to meet the rest of the bloggers along with Mike Mollenhour of LuckyGunner.


The place was crowded when we arrived. Lots of bloggers, podcasters, and others of our ilk. We shared a table with Old NFO (Jim Curtis), Sean Sorrentino, The Packet Man (Anthony), and Robert of My Tumultuous Adventure blog.  Linoge came in a few minutes later and we were also joined by Rob Reed who is the Detroit Gun Right Examiner. The very attractive Angela of LuckyGunner who did a superb job in organizing the event and the facilities was also with us.


There were a number of bloggers I didn’t get to meet but look forward to meeting them this morning.

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Status Of Concealed Carry In Illinois

May 27, 2011 by

Richard Pearson is the Executive Director of the Illinois State Rifle Association. He is on the front line every day in Illinois dealing with the legislature and fighting for gun rights. He released this yesterday regarding concealed carry and HB 148. Also, see Don Moran’s note that ISRA’s fight against the Cook County Assault Weapons Ban is continuing.

There has been a great deal of conjecture out there about what we are going to do after placing HB148 on postponed consideration. First let me explain what postponed consideration means.

It simply means the sponsor with drew the bill before the vote could be recorded. The bill is still alive and will be until the second Wednesday in January 2013. This means we can bring the bill back during veto session, next session, or next veto session.

You will not see HB148 brought up again before May 31st ,which is the end of the Spring 2011 session. There is no way to do it and have any better results. Long before the vote it was decided that if the bill did not pass we would sue the State of Illinois over the inability of Illinois citizens to defend themselves outside of their home. Illinois is the only state that does not allow either open carry or concealed carry. We have now begun the legal challenges to the Illinois laws with the NRA. The is another challenge from the Second Amendment Foundation on a similar basis. Illinois is now facing two law suits over the inability of Illinois citizens being able to defend themselves outside their homes. Brandon Phelps the CCW sponsor warned the House of Representatives that they would be in court if the bill was not passed. Within seven days we delivered on that promise. If we get CCW by court order I am happy with that. If it comes by court order the legislature will have to still enact some legislation but they will find their hands are tied. We offered a good bill and they turned it down.

These lawsuits will take time to make their way through the court system. There is a great deal of work that goes into these suits every day before they are heard in court. It is not a simple thing to file a law suit. There is always on going work behind the scenes. Be patient.

We promised that in 2011 we would get a up and down vote on CCW and we did. We had
to probe and find out the other side’s strengths, weakness, and reactions. We have done that. There were a few surprises but not many. We have a lot of work to do in the next few months. This effort has taken a toll on our resources and our energy. We have to develop new strategies and reinforce old ones that work. We are not quitting. Remember we fiercely believe in the Second Amendment and the right to self defense. We will win this battle. As I reminded one of our opponents – “You don’t defeat us- we just fall back reload and attack again.”

Note by Don Moran, ISRA President: This summer will see a lot of activity in relation to HB-148 and all the pending litigation ISRA is involved in, Ezell v Chicago (Chicago range suit), Wilson v Cook County (Cook County Assault Weapon Ban), ISRA v ISP (FOID Privacy), and ISRA v Madigan (Carry suit). It is very important that we are able to contact as many of you and your friends as possible quickly when action is needed. I know you get tired of hearing it, but funding all this
requires constant vigilance as well. We’ve put on even more lobbyists this year and we are now involved in an incredible amount of litigation on behalf of Illinois firearm owners. When people ask you, who is the ISRA, or what has ISRA done for me lately, let them know all of the above, and then ask them what have they are doing for the fight RIGHT NOW? We need their help as well.

UPDATE: Wilson v Cook County, the ISRA’s suit seeking to overturn the
Cook County Assault Weapon ban, was granted leave to appeal by the Illinois
Supreme Court yesterday, meaning the Court will hear the case.

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In New Jersey, Some Justice Is Done

May 27, 2011 by

The Second Amendment Foundation sent out the following yesterday afternoon. The lead plaintiff in the lawsuit against the state of New Jersey, Jeffrey Muller was finally granted a handgun carry permit by Judge David Ironson. Back in March, this same judge had denied it. I’m not sure what changed the judge’s mind but it is about damn time.

NJ JUDGE ISSUES PERMIT TO PLAINTIFF IN SAF LAWSUIT

BELLEVUE, WA – A New Jersey judge today announced he will issue a gun permit to one of the plaintiffs in a Second Amendment Foundation lawsuit against several New Jersey officials for deprivation of civil rights under color of law, because applicants cannot show a “justifiable need” for a permit.

SAF Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb said today this “clearly indicates that our lawsuit is proper, and we are encouraged to press our case to its conclusion.”

Morris County Superior Court Judge David Ironson announced after a hearing in his courtroom this morning that a permit will be issued to lead plaintiff Jeffrey Muller. His application had languished for six months before Judge Philip Maenza, a defendant in the federal lawsuit, denied the permit without a hearing on the grounds that Muller did not have a “justifiable need.” Muller had been kidnapped by members of a motorcycle gang who threatened to kill him, in a case of mistaken identity. Several suspects have been arrested in that case, and Muller’s application for a permit had gained support from local and state police.

“Finally,” Gottlieb said, “one judge has done the right thing, but it took a federal lawsuit to make it happen. Our other plaintiffs are pushing ahead with the lawsuit so we can put an end to this practice once and for all.”

SAF is joined in the lawsuit by the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, Inc. and several private citizens whose applications for permits to carry have been denied generally on the grounds that they have not shown a “justifiable need.” One of the remaining plaintiffs is a part-time sheriff’s deputy, a second carries large amounts of cash in his private business and another is a civilian employee of the FBI in New Jersey who is fearful of attack from a radical Islamic fundamentalist group. They are represented by attorney David D. Jensen.

“We’re moving forward with this case,” Gottlieb stated, “because there are far too many people just like Jeff Muller whose civil rights have been cavalierly denied on the whims of a judge.”

Ian Argent has some comments on it here. As Ian lives in New Jersey, I think he has a better perspective than most.

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But What Will The Violence Policy Center Say?

May 27, 2011 by 4 Comments

Ruger is attempting to become the first firearms manufacturer to sell one million guns in one year. They issued the following release saying what happens if they meet their sales goal.


Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is proud to announce the “Million Gun Challenge” to benefit the NRA. Ruger pledges to donate $1,000,000 to the NRA if one million new Ruger firearms are sold between the 2011 and 2012 NRA Shows.

“Our goal is to present the NRA with a check for one million dollars during the 141st NRA Annual Meeting in St. Louis next April,” said Ruger CEO Mike Fifer. “This substantial donation would reflect a record-breaking feat in the firearms industry, as we believe no company has every sold one million firearms in a 12-month period. With the help of our loyal customers, we hope to make history and to share that accomplishment with the NRA.”

I’m sure that Josh Sugarman and Kristen Rand at the Violence Policy Center are jumping up and down for joy thinking that they have just been vindicated. They have been saying that the NRA is just a tool for firearms manufacturers and that is why the MidwayUSA’s, the Rugers, the Glocks, etc. “subsidize” (i.e., donate money) to the NRA. I wonder what they will do once they realize that this means another million firearms in the hands of freedom-loving, Second Amendment backing Americans?

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Legislating A Non-Existent Solution

May 26, 2011 by 3 Comments

The New York State Assembly just passed the micro-stamping bill and sent it to the State Senate according to the NRA.

Micro-Stamping Legislation Passes New York Assembly

Thursday, May 26, 2011

On Tuesday, May 24, Assembly Bill 1157 passed in the New York Assembly by a 84 to 55 vote. The bill has been delivered to the state Senate and will be considered in the Senate Codes Committee.

Introduced by state Assemblyman Michelle Schimel (D-16), A1157 would require all current semi-automatic pistols in production and all newly designed semi-automatic pistols delivered to any licensed firearms dealer in New York to mechanically stamp an alpha-numeric or geometric code that would imprint the make, model and serial number onto the cartridge case when the gun is discharged. This bill would vastly increase the cost of these firearms and will likely result in firearms manufacturers not selling new handguns in New York. Of course, that is the ultimate goal of this legislation.

A1157 would also require micro-stamping on all new semi-automatic pistols sold in New York after January 1, 2013 or whenever the State Police receive notification from one or more “micro-stamp job shops” that they can produce micro-stamp structures on two internal surfaces of a semi-automatic pistol for $12 or less, whichever occurs later.

Gun control advocates know that micro-stamping is unproven technology, is easily circumvented, and will be very costly to gun owners. Desperate to pass a bill and create a loophole, this legislation would do nothing to safeguard gun owners from the costly, unproven gimmick we know as micro-stamping. Enemies of the Second Amendment are determined to pass New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s pet project at any cost.

If you live in New York, please contact your state Senator and respectfully urge him or her to OPPOSE A1157. Contact information can be found here. Perhaps they can be the voice of reason.

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They’re Back

May 26, 2011 by

The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence had its Twitter privileges restored about an hour ago. They seem to be making up for lost time. Their last Tweet said:

CSGV’s promise to victims and survivors of gun violence: We will NEVER stop standing with you, including when you… http://fb.me/W4KQK9WQ

This linked to their Facebook page where they implicitly accuse gun rights activists of harrassing, intimidating, and threatening these poor sheep.

One of the definitions of intimidate is to “to overawe or cow, as through the force of personality or by superior display of wealth, talent, etc.” If one uses a superior argument with CSGV and their followers, I guess you would be guilty of intimidation. I can live with that.

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Grassley Threatens Hold On Justice Nominees Over Lack Of Answers On Project Gunwalker

May 26, 2011 by

Senator Chuck Grassley can be like a bulldog when he is after information on governmental wrongdoing. He was the first member of Congress to push for answers on Project Gunwalker and he isn’t stopping.

Both FoxNews and The Hill reported yesterday that Grassley is threatening a “hold” on Justice nominees due to a lack of answers from the Justice Department on Project Gunwalker. As I’ve noted here many times, Senator Grassley has submitted numerous information requests and has gotten little cooperation from the Justice Department.

Currently, Justice nominess for Solicitor General, the head of the Office of Legal Counsel, and the head of the National Security Division have passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. These and others could be held up if Senator Grassley puts a hold on them as is his privilege under Senate rules.

From FoxNews:

A Grassley aide told FoxNews.com on Wednesday that three Justice nominees recently sent to the floor could be the first to get caught up in the dispute.

They are Donald Verrilli, nominee for solicitor general; Virginia Seitz, nominee to head the Office of Legal Counsel; and Lisa Monaco, nominee to head the National Security Division.

“Those would be possibilities,” Grassley spokeswoman Beth Levine said, adding that her boss could put a hold on virtually anybody in line for a job at Justice over his concerns. The three nominees she named just happened to be voted recently out of committee.

“He’s reserving the right to hold up nominees,” Levine said.

From The Hill:

Grassley told The Hill that the DOJ officials have not been forthcoming on his requests for documents. If they continue to be unresponsive, Grassley said, he will hold Obama’s judicial nominations hostage.

“We’re just getting stonewalled,” Grassley said in an interview. “The next step is we’re going to hold up nominations until we get their attention.”

Given the dismissive attitude shown by Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich to these matters, it may well take a blunt weapon like putting holds on all nominees to get his and Eric Holder’s attention.