Month: April 2011

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From The Country Formerly Known As GREAT Britain

April 13, 2011 by 2 Comments

It is hard to believe nowadays that at one time the sun never set on the British Empire. In other words, that little island nation of sailors and merchants had grown into an empire that stretched around the globe. Of course it didn’t happen overnight and it certainly couldn’t have happened without men and women full of vigor and of stout courage.

They must be rolling in their graves now.

In a news report today from that nation formerly known as Great Britain comes a report that fire extinguishers are being removed from communal areas in flats (apartments buildings in American English) because they are considered a safety hazard. The hazard comes not from juvenile delinquents spraying the extinguishers in the faces of little children and old ladies. No, the hazard is that they will encourage people to use initiative and fight a fire.

The life-saving devices encourage untrained people to fight a fire rather than leave the building, risk assessors in Bournemouth decided.

There are fears that their recommendation, which has seen the extinguishers ripped out of several private, high-rise flats in the town, could set a national precedent.

Under the Fire Safety Order of 2005, fire assessments must be carried out to ‘eliminate or reduce risk as is reasonably practical’.

While private citizens have challenged this and residents are fearful of fire as a result of their removal, some are actually defending this move.

Dorset Fire and Rescue defended the move, saying: ‘Obviously, in some cases, an extinguisher could come in useful but, with new building regulations, every escape route should be completely fireproof.’

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents backed their removal because different extinguishers should be used on different types of fire.

 I guess I shouldn’t be so surprised at the creeping nanny-statism of the UK. After all, if you defend yourself against armed intruders with even a piece of wood, you’ll probably do more time than the intruder.

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I Am Shocked!!!!

April 13, 2011 by 6 Comments

The Violence Policy Center just released a new report today condemning the National Rifle Association for accepting donations from those in the gun industry. They also condemned the “round-up” or “add-a-buck” programs. They are calling both types of these programs “Blood Money”. The so-called research report is called Blood Money: How the Gun Industry Bankrolls the NRA.

By the estimates of the Violence Policy Center, the NRA has received between $19 million and $52 million since 2005 from the gun industry. The largest single contributor is MidwayUSA. While I know Larry and Brenda Potterfield are quite generous with their own money, I imagine the biggest part of the donations from MidwayUSA comes from customers like you and me. It comes in the form of many, many small donations when we tell Midway to round up our order and send the difference to the NRA.

The other major thing that the Violence Policy Center neglected to mention is the number of dues-paying members the National Rifle Association has. It is in the neighborhood of 4 million life and annual members. If the average dues per member was only $25, this would generate $100 million in revenues annually. Since annual dues are actually $35 per year, the $100 million is probably a low-ball figure.

I guess when you don’t have dues paying members and subsist on handouts from the Joyce Foundation ($4.635 million since 2003), you tend to ignore the financial impact of dues paying members. According to VPC’s 2009 IRS Form 990, they had no members and a reported $924,927 in revenue. $585,000 of their 2009 revenue came from the Joyce Foundation. If I were the Joyce Foundation, I’d start to question if I was getting my money’s worth.

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Firearm Owners’ Protection Act Of 1986

April 13, 2011 by 2 Comments

Dave Hardy, attorney and legal scholar, has done gun rights activists a great service. He has posted and updated his legislative history of the Firearms Owners’ Protection Act of 1986. As he notes:

A large portion of what we today regard as the Gun Control Act of 1968 — and virtually all of its safeguards and protections — derives, not from the legislation of 1968, but from the amendments known as the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act, pushed in the House by Rep. Harold Volkmer, and in the Senate by Sen. James McClure. That statute extensively rewrote the earlier law, expressly overruled six Supreme Court decisions construing it, and negated about a third of the case law which had arisen under it.

Having an understanding of the Act – and what it took to get it passed – is important if we want to continue to pass legislation to preserve, protect, and advance our Second Amendment rights.

Dave deserves a great deal of thanks for the hard work that it took to assemble this history of FOPA. Much of the data and historical information was buried in various government documents. Out of this morass of historical documents, Dave has assembled something that is readable and understandable.

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Constitutional Carry Passes Montana House

April 13, 2011 by 1 Comment

From the NRA:

Permitless Carry Passes Montana House; Pending in State Senate

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Today, the state House voted 69 to 29 to adopt the Conference Committee report for NRA-supported House Bill 271. Sponsored by state Representative Krayton Kerns (R-Laurel), the current language of HB 271 simply says that the prohibition on concealed carry does not apply to “a person who is eligible to possess a handgun under state or federal law.”

Existing law allows any person who can legally own and possess a firearm to carry it openly, either loaded or unloaded, anywhere in the state, including within city limits. Additionally, law-abiding citizens are authorized to carry firearms concealed, without a permit, anywhere outside city limits. Law-abiding citizens do not suddenly turn into criminals when they cross the arbitrary boundary into a city. It makes no sense to allow them to carry concealed without a permit on one side of the line but not the other!

HB 271 is still pending for a vote in the state Senate to concur on the Conference Committee report. Please contact your state Senator TODAY and respectfully urge him or her to support the Conference Committee amendment to House Bill 271. Legislators can be reached via phone at (406) 444-4800 and via e-mail by clicking here. If you need help identifying your state Senator, please click here.

Thank you for working hard to ensure that HB 271 becomes a reality!

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“Assault Clips”?

April 12, 2011 by

The newest ad campaign from the Brady Campaign.

With their attack on “assault clips”, the Brady Campaign is responsible for more sales of Glock 18 magazines and their clones than probably any other factor since the beginning of the year. I know I bought 5 Korean Glock 18 clones a couple of months ago – and I don’t even own a 9mm Glock!

As for the Brady Campaign’s new video, I think the slogan should be:

The Brady Campaign. Promoting Poor Marksmanship Since 1974.
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Interesting In A Rifle Geek Sort Of Way

April 12, 2011 by

I never quite understood how mil-dot scopes worked. I assumed – wrongly – that it had something to do with the military. Actually, the mil is short for milliradians and has more to do with geometry as with the military.

Ryan Cleckner of the NSSF explains how to use a mil-dot scope to estimate distance as well as how to do the calculations. Ryan was a sniper with the 1st Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment. I think when it comes to sniping he might know a thing or two.

The video is about 20 minutes long but I found myself watching the whole thing.

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HR 1445: Removing EPA’s Authority To Regulate Lead In Ammo (Updated)

April 11, 2011 by 2 Comments

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) introduced HR 1445 on Friday. This bill would, according to its title, “prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating, based on material composition, any type of firearm ammunition or fishing tackle.”

While the text of the bill is not yet available, I am assuming it is directly aimed at the lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, Project Gutpile, and others to ban lead in ammunition and fishing tackle. These groups have a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to force the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate (ban) lead as a toxic substance.

The Shooting Wire had a feature story today on a report just released by the American Bird Conservancy that seeks to link lead and mortality in California condors.

This survey, conducted by scientists at the University of California/Santa Cruz, the University of Wyoming, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service is “especially important and unique” according to Dr. Michael Fry, an avian toxicologist and Director of Conservation Advocacy for the ABC, not just because it cites lead as a major factor, but it “cites lead ammunition specifically.”

Dr. Fry contends the survey provides the smoking gun, if you will, that dismisses a key argument from the ammunition industry: the lack of specific data to identify a source or sources of lead poisoning. This survey, he says, “connects the dots between condor deaths and lead ammunition.”

HR 1445 is currently co-sponsored by eight representatives from both sides of the aisle.

Rep. Broun’s biography has this to say about his interest in hunting, fishing, and the Second Amendment.

Dr. Broun participates in many diverse organizations and activities ranging from politics and religion to cooking and sports, including: the National Rifle Association, Gideons International, Rotary International, Trout Unlimited, Gun Owners of America and University of Georgia President’s Club. He was the founding President of the Georgia Republican Assembly, and President of the Georgia Sport Shooting Association (the NRA state affiliate). Dr. Broun is an avid outdoorsman, having a passion for conservation, hunting, fishing, and Second Amendment rights.

It also notes that he was a volunteer lobbyist for Safari Club International.

As soon as the text of this bill becomes available, I will post it. I don’t know if Rep. Broun knew of the “study” before introducing his bill but it was certainly timely.

UPDATE: Here is the text of HR 1445:

H.R.1445 — To prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating, based on material composition, any type of firearm ammunition or fishing tackle. (Introduced in House – IH)

HR 1445 IH

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1445
To prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating, based on material composition, any type of firearm ammunition or fishing tackle.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 8, 2011
Mr. BROUN of Georgia (for himself, Mr. BOREN, Mr. ROSS of Arkansas, Mr. ALTMIRE, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. REHBERG, Ms. JENKINS, and Mr. MILLER of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL
To prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating, based on material composition, any type of firearm ammunition or fishing tackle.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FIREARM AMMUNITION AND FISHING TACKLE.

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may not prohibit, limit, or control, based on material composition, any type of firearm ammunition or fishing tackle.

I am sure it is no coincidence that this bill was filed just after the National Shooting Sports Foundation had its annual Congressional Fly-In on April 6-7. Industry leaders converged on D.C. to remind lawmakers about the role the firearms industry plays in the economy as well as the importance of the excise taxes in paying for wildlife conservation. If this bill is any indication, it looks like it was successful.

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Rats Leaving The Sinking Ship

April 11, 2011 by 5 Comments

On Friday, Sen. Chuck Grassley’s office released a letter sent to ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson. In the letter was a somewhat shocking revelation – that Assistant Special Agent in Charge George Gillett was now claiming whistleblower status and had been talking to Grassley’s and Issa’s staff.

Now, a second agency employee has chosen to disclose that he has had protected contacts with Congress. George Gillett, through and in conjunction with his legal counsel, is cooperating with this investigation. Mr. Gillett is the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Phoenix field division, and Committee staff’s direct contacts with him are an essential component of our inquiry. He has articipated in two preliminary meetings jointly with Senate Judiciary Committee staff and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee staff. As you know, retaliation for such communications is prohibited by law.

Gillett, as ASAC of the Phoenix Field Division, has been deeply involved in Operation Fast and Furious from the start. If anyone had access to all the secrets, it would be Gillett who reportedly had the day-to-day oversigtht of Operation Fast and Furious in Arizona.

To emphasize the importance of Gillett becoming a whistleblower, let me put it in terms of the Watergate scandal. Gillett coming forward is the equivalent of a H. R. Haldeman, a John Ehrlichman, or a John Mitchell going to Sen. Sam Ervin’s Senate Watergate Committee and rolling over on President Richard Nixon. All three of those men went to prison rather than divulge what they knew.

Vince Cefalu, a veteran ATF Agent who has suffered at the hands of ATF management for criticizing them, had this to say in the L.A. Times about Gillett and his role.

..said Gillett would be able to provide crucial information on who approved the operation. He will also be able to say to what degree ATF supervisors deliberately allowed guns bought by known “straw purchasers,” acting on behalf of Mexican drug cartels, to be “walked” into Mexico under the eyes of ATF agents in an attempt to arrest higher-level suspects, Cefalu said.

Gillett “has the key to all the skeletons in the closet. You can rest assured he’s going to be pointing the finger at everybody but himself,” Cefalu said. “I should also add that I’m disgusted by the fact that only to protect himself is he coming forward. We came forward when we didn’t have to, and we’ve taken a beating for it. He’s coming forward with a lawyer, and he’s going to glide through it with some kind of immunity.”

The L. A. Times also reported Gillett’s attorney Peter Noone as saying “that Gillett had received death threats before making the decision to cooperate.” The agents seeking reform at CleanUpATF are scoffing at that and have this to say about Gillett and his being a “whistleblower”.

George Gillett is no Whistleblower.

Whistleblowers are people who know of corruption or criminal acts and for moral and ethical reasons risk their careers and reputations to report that to higher authorities. George Gillett has used his power to destroy Whistleblowers.

John Dodson and Darrin Gil are Whistleblowers. Gillett is what is known in the world of criminal investigations as a snitch. He is a rat who only cooperated and came forward with information after his own ass was on the line. Don’t be mistaken, it was for no other reason.

Do not for a single second use the names of Dodson and Gil in the same sentence with Gillett. Gillett does not deserve the respect or honor of trying to do the right thing.

George Gillett is a corrupt, lying, evil hearted government employee who hides behind a badge and a gun and an GS-15 title. If one person out there whether you be in favor of CleanUpATF or against it can dispute that claim then post up your response and I ask the Webmaster to allow it to stand.

Gillett represents everything bad about ATF management and carries himself with the smug arrogence of knowing that he will always land on his feet because he is protected by his bosses. If nothing else, he is smart and knows exactly how to play the system and exactly how long he can ride the train before he has to jump off.

Gillett has been allowed to destroy careers and reputations while Bill Newell and ATF headquarters protects him. He has become known as the most retaliatory supervisor in ATF history and trust me, that takes a voluminous amount of retaliation to carry that title.

As I said in the title of the post, rats leaving a sinking ship.

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Ruger 1911?

April 11, 2011 by 1 Comment

There have been rumors of a Ruger 1911 floating around the gun forums since at least 2007 according to a quick Google search. Nothing has come of those rumors. That is, until now.

Steve at The Firearm Blog has posted a cover photo from the June 2011 Shooting Times magazine. It features a Ruger 1911 on it. According to his post, the Ruger 1911 is shown in stainless and is similar in appearance to the Remington 1911R1 Enhanced.

My guess is that Ruger had planned to announce the new pistol at the NRA Annual Meeting little more than two weeks from now in Pittsburgh.

I’ll have to check the newsstands for a copy of Shooting Times today. Most magazines these days are on the shelf 1-2 months ahead of their cover date.