Month: January 2011

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New ATF Form For Reporting Multiple Rifle Sales

January 10, 2011 by 2 Comments

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has put the draft version of Form 3310.12 online. It is the form that will be used by FFL’s in the Southwest to report multiple sales of certain rifles.

The draft form is virtually identical to the form used to report multiple sales of handguns. That form, ATF F 3310.4, differs in one important way from the draft form to be used to report multiple sales of certain rifles. The difference is that the report of sales of semiautomatic rifles with a detachable magazine in calibers larger than .22 will not have to be reported to local law enforcement authorities unlike multiple sales of handguns.

I guess one should be thankful for small favors if you are a resident of the Southwest.

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Vultures

January 10, 2011 by 2 Comments

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was shot this morning (approx. 10am PST) at an event in Tucson, AZ. The latest news reports have her in critical condition following neurosurgery with doctors optimistic about her recovery.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge John Roll and five other were killed. In addition, 18 others including the Congresswoman were wounded. The suspected gunman, Jared Lee Loughner, is in custody. As others have noted, he sounds like a garden variety nutcase.

The Brady Campaign wasted no time in getting out a press release talking about gun violence and doing something about “the conditions that make it too easy” for things like this to happen.

Tragic, Horrifying Shooting of Congresswoman and Other Americans at Grocery Store in Tucson

Jan 8, 2011

Statement from Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke:

“Our hearts and prayers go out to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her family, and to all of the other victims who were shot and killed at a Tucson grocery store today. Members of our staff have met the Congresswoman and we are deeply saddened and horrified by this tragedy. We find it unacceptable that when Americans and our elected leaders are assembling in public places, their lives are at risk from gun violence.

We also are deeply concerned about the heated political rhetoric that escalates debates and controversies, and sometimes makes it seem as if violence is an acceptable response to honest disagreements.

We, as Americans, can and should do more to restore civility to our political discourse and we can and should do more to address the conditions that make it too easy for dangerous and irresponsible people to disrupt and destroy the lives of innocent Americans, and political leaders who are simply trying to serve their communities and our country.”

This is a time when all should be praying for the recovery of all the wounded and for repose of the souls of those killed. To use such a tragedy to push a party line or make an ideological point is beyond the pale. There is a name for those who would do it.

Vultures.

UPDATE: As Sebastian points out, Helmke is also dancing in the blood of the victims over at HuffPo. Helmke is even more explicit in that post.

UPDATE II: Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY4), never one to miss an opportunity, is reported by Politico ready to introduce new gun control legislation.

One of the fiercest gun-control advocates in Congress, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.), pounced on the shooting massacre in Tucson Sunday, promising to introduce legislation as soon as Monday.

The irony is that Gabby Giffords would probably vote against this bill.

Sebastian has more on this as well as attempts by Philadelphia Congressman Bob Brady to clamp down on free speech.

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Wanted – Field Organizer For Arizona

January 8, 2011 by 5 Comments

The Brady Campaign placed the following help wanted ad on idealist.org.:

Field Organizer – Arizona

Posted on: January 6, 2011

Posted by: Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

Job Announcement
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

Field Organizer
Based in Tucson, AZ

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence seeks a dynamic field organizer to help build the gun violence prevention movement in key areas of Arizona to build momentum to pass stronger gun laws at the federal level.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
Ø Educating key groups and constituencies on gun violence issues using available health and law enforcement data, through meetings, written materials, websites, Facebook and other relevant sources,
Ø Utilize existing national programs, resolutions, timely state legislative issues or gun issues in the news to help recruit new advocates and groups to our issue,
Ø Build and/or utilize local grassroots organizing and communication structures in key legislative districts in Arizona to facilitate the activation of constituents on the gun violence prevention issue supporting federal legislation,
Ø Conduct outreach to key constituencies including Hispanic, college and university students, law enforcement, faith, and victims of gun violence through one-on-one meetings, group meetings, attending community and university/college meetings,
Ø Coordinate activities and share information with other gun violence prevention organizations/structures in the state.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
· Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
· Demonstrated fluency in Spanish
· Professional or volunteer experience in the field of organizing (electoral, union, community, canvassing, etc.)
· Excellent organizational skills
· Excellent interpersonal skills, both one-on-one and in groups
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills
· Good computer skills
· Self-motivated and able to function independently as well as in a team
· Availability for possible weekday evenings and weekends
· Have access to a car, have a valid drivers’ license, and willing to travel in designated project areas
· Physically able to do outreach and carry meeting supplies
· Demonstrated cultural competence
· Commitment to sensible gun laws
· Able and willing to work from home

Brady Campaign is an equal opportunity employer.

I guess the Brady Campaign would disagree with my characterization of constitutional carry as being “sensible”. Too bad.

However, this ad does give a good idea of areas that the Brady Campaign plans to target in an effort to curtail gun rights – college students, Latinos, liberal church groups, and law enforcement.

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NRA Opposes Traver Re-nomination

January 8, 2011 by

From the NRA-ILA:

NRA Strongly Opposes Obama’s Re-nomination Of Anti-Gun-Leaning Andrew Traver To Head BATFE

Friday, January 07, 2011

This week, President Obama re-nominated Andrew Traver to be director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Obama first nominated Traver on November 17, 2010, but the Senate Judiciary Committee failed to act on his nomination.

Last November, NRA strongly opposed Obama’s nomination of Traver. Our strong opposition has not changed.

Traver has been deeply aligned with gun control advocates and anti-gun activities. This makes him the wrong choice to lead an enforcement agency that has almost exclusive oversight and control over the firearms industry, its retailers and consumers.

Please contact your U.S. Senators and urge them to oppose Andrew Traver’s ill-advised nomination to head BATFE. You can call your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121.

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White House Puts Hold On New ATF Multi-Rifle Sales Reporting

January 7, 2011 by 5 Comments

According to a story from Reuters, the White House and the Office of Management and Budget are delaying the implementation of the ATF’s new “two-a-day” reporting rule that was supposed to start at the beginning of the year in the border states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

The White House Office of Management and Budget was expected to approve the emergency rule change on Wednesday. But an official with direct knowledge told Reuters that “ATF’s information collection request is still under review,” and declined further comment until the “deliberative phase is concluded.”

Of course, Paul Helmke of the Brady Campaign expressed disappointment and hoped that this was only a temporary delay. He termed it a “common-sense” policy and added:

“Dealers are already required to report multiple sales of handguns and this is just implementing the same thing for long guns,” Helmke told Reuters.

“It shouldn’t be that much more of a burden on anyone in terms of paperwork and data collection, and it could help save lives … It seems like a measure that should be fairly noncontroversial.”

At the heart of this “delay” is stiff opposition from gun rights groups and their allies – including Democrats – in Congress. The Montana delegation has been particularly vociferous on the issue.

The Gunleaders.com Blog has the documents submitted by ATF to OMB in justification of their reporting rule. The ATF estimated that the cost to FFL’s would be nil since most would fax it in and that the new reporting rule would have no impact on small businesses. Unless the ATF is providing a toll free number there is a cost. Moreover, the overwhelming majority of gun shops in this country are not the “big box” stores but rather small businesses.

If the White House is wavering on this, now is time to put more pressure on them. Call, fax, write, or email both your Senators and your Congressman opposing this “emergency” requirement that is only supposed to last 6 months if one believes the Federal Register. Note that in the documents submitted to the OMB by ATF, they are saying one year.

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Bionic Ear For Soldiers … And Hunters And Shooters

January 7, 2011 by

Etymotic Electronics’ Blast Plug enhances low sounds and attenuates the high decibel sounds that can harm hearing. The report above is from the Consumer Electronics Show currently in progress in Las Vegas. The only downside I can see to the Blast Plug is the price. $450-499 depending upon the model is pricey. I can wear my Peltor Tactical 6S muffs and get much the same effect.