by Michael Bane of Down Range TV interviewed gunsmith Cory Trapp of Gunsite about the changes he has seen in 1911s as they come from the manufacturer over the past 20-30 years. We are lucky to be living in the age we are as the factory standard gun of today was the custom gun of the late 70s.
Month: September 2011
Cultivating The Local Media
We as gun owners need to stop seeing the media as a monolithic entity and, more importantly, always assuming that they are against us.
There is the elite media consisting of the networks, the cable news channels, and the major urban daily newspapers. Then there are local TV and radio stations along with the hometown newspapers. While the former is full of those who wish our Second Amendment rights were curtailed, the same can’t be said for the latter.
The local media is always on the lookout for a good story and they can be cultivated. If they say something stupid on the air about guns, it is most likely out of youthful ignorance rather than malice. Rather than jumping down their throats when they say the stupid stuff, seek to educate them. The results can be worthwhile.
A case in point. Sean Sorrentino of An NC Gun Blog has become friends with NBC-17 Raleigh’s Jackie Faye. After he did a blog post last week on the increase in Concealed Handgun Permits in North Carolina, he sent it along to her. The result was the on-camera story below.
I think Ms. Faye did a very fair story on the topic. If Sean hadn’t established a relationship with her earlier, the story about the double digit growth in Concealed Handgun Permits probably would not have been aired.
Thanks are due to Sean for taking the time to build that relationship with a local reporter. More stories like this one is what it will take to re-normalize firearms in American society.
Where Is Rose Mary Woods When Holder Needs Her?
Rose Mary Woods was President Richard Nixon’s personal secretary. She was the one officially responsible for the infamous 18-minute gap in the Watergate tapes. Whether she was the one who accidentally erased the tape or whether it was really an accident will remain one of the unsolved mysteries of the Watergate affair.
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| Woods demonstrating how she accidentally erased the tape. |
Given the newest batch of recordings released by Sharyl Attkisson of CBS News of ATF Agent Hope McAllister and gun store owner Andre Howard, Attorney General Eric Holder is probably wishing that a Miss Woods or a modern equivalent had erased these tapes.
Quote Of The Day
The quote of the day comes from David Codrea. In his National Gun Rights Examiner column, he looks at the extreme reluctance of the elite or mainstream media to even acknowledge Operation Fast and Furious as a scandal. According to Dartmouth College political scientist Brendan Nyhan, it isn’t officially a scandal until it makes the front page of the Washington Post and the reporter uses the word scandal.
So—if the only “official” media outlets willing to call “Gunwalker” a “scandal” are some jerkwater paper in racist, anti-immigrant Arizona, the Teabagger/Troglodyte-appealing Faux News and a CBS blog that isn‘t even getting air time on the actual network news program anymore (hey, I’m just trying to get into the mindset of the elite information gatekeepers), what chance do we flyover knuckledraggers have of getting the mighty Pravda on the Potomac to call an international criminal conspiracy resulting in untold human deaths and reaching across bureaus, agencies and departments and layers of lawyers at least to the Cabinet level a “scandal”?
Watergate Redux
It was under questioning by Minority Counsel Fred Thompson at the Watergate hearings that presidential aide Alexander Butterfield revealed the existence of tape recording devices in both the Oval Office and the President’s office in the Executive Office Building. These tapes provided the nail in the coffin to Nixon’s presidency.
Now more tapes are leaking out of the conversations between ATF agents and the owner of Lone Wolf Trading Company Andre Howard. These tapes seem to indicate a strong effort to conceal the details of Operation Fast and Furious as well as a strong disdain for Senator Grassley. The one item that was mentioned that I find particularly interesting was the assertion by ATF Agent Hope McAllister that she had a file that would cover her if the operation went sour. I wonder if she is still in possession of that file and, if so, have copies been provided to Congressional investigators.
The more I see and read of Project Gunwalker the more it reminds me of Watergate. Of course, no one died in Watergate nor was the press complicit for the most part in hushing up the scandal.
The excerpts of the tape and transcript are from CBS News.
EXCERPT 1
Dealer: Question: do your people have any confidence that you can forestall subpoena? Or is it still up in the air?
Agent: No, my understanding is person, the only people that can request a congressional hearing has to be a majority party. Grassley is a Republican.
Dealer: I know.
Agent: And as of right now…
Dealer: In the Senate right.
Agent: Yeh. And as of right now we don’t have any interest from anybody in the majority party to the extent that he’s shown interest. So even if you wanted to at this point unless he gets CUTS OUT somebody from the majority party to jump on board, he can’t…
Dealer: Not on his own no but you know Leahy and rest of ’em these people are snakes, they’ll do anything they can…
Agent: My understanding also is that the Attorney General’s office is supposed to come out little bit stronger…um…
Dealer: I understand that.
Agent: position…which may or may not, um, you know, help.
Dealer: I’ll tell you what I’ll give him that, he’s got f—ing b—s making that statement. I don’t wanna even go there.
EXCERPT 2
Dealer: Until something else happens they’re not stupid, Hope, they connect the dots.
Agent: No and you know and all that’s fine if Senator Grassley wants to come in and tell us show us how to work these cases more efficiently more effectively by all means.
Dealer: Don’t think Grassley, think Leahy.
Agent: Well, him too. I… I welcome him to come down and work…
Dealer: He’s an arrogant b—–d
Agent: So is Grassley though
Dealer: Chuck probably and I don’t know a thing about him other than from somebody else I’ve heard seems to be just somebody who’s hitching his wagon to any star to.. for his own aggrandizement.
Agent: Yeh
Dealer: You know that. He’s an arrogant
Agent: Yeh
Dealer: individual. Look he’s a United States senator there it is right there.
EXCERPT 3
Agent: That’s kind of what my suggestion but nobody thought that was funny like if I were a P.I. I’d put him on Grassley, I’m sure there’s a lot would go away. Actually my one suggestion was just tell him in a registered Republican. I’m sure if he knew that everything would be fine, they didn’t like that either.
Dealer: Well.
Agent: Alright.
Dealer: You gotta be, watch your back. I don’t trust these people around you one bit. You’ve been very lucky so far.
Agent: Again I’ll be more than happy to talk to somebody, they won’t let me, but more than happy to talk to anybody about the decisions we made.
Dealer: Hope, stay off the screen. You don’ t need this sh–. Neither does your husband.
Agent: Believe me I have…
Dealer: You gotta have a f—–g life man.
Agent: I have a file and…
Dealer: shhh
Agent: It’s all, it’s all public stuff I dont’ care.
Dealer: Well don’t even convey it in that. I’m sure you do. Hopefully this thing will subside…
Agent: You keep saying that but ?
Dealer: I know.
Dealer: You and I both know how bad it’s gonna get I won’t bull—t you you don’t bull—t me
Agent: Ha ha.
Dealer: my a– is up here and yours is here here but you’re covered I’m out in the open
Agent: Ha ha.
Dealer: God.
Project Gunwalker – Let’s Go To The Tape
Andre Howard of Lone Wolf Trading Company in Glendale, AZ is not stupid. After being forced to cooperate with the ATF agents runnings Operation Fast and Furious, he took the smart step to record some of his conversations with one of the lead agents in the operation, ATF Agent Hope McAllister.
These tapes have been turned over by Mr. Howard to the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General and to Congressional investigators. In the tape below obtained by Sharyl Attkisson of CBS News, Howard and McAllister are discussing the third firearm that turned up at the scene of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry’s murder. The transcript of the tape can be found on the CBS News website above.
If you may recall, President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder, and Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich have all said that that the DOJ Office of Inspector General should be the lead investigator into whether there was any wrongdoing in Operation Fast and Furious. Sharyl Attkisson reports today that the OIG is reported to have passed these tapes along to one of the subjects of the investigation – the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Arizona.
Law enforcement sources and others close to the Congressional investigation say the Justice Department’s Inspector General obtained the audio tapes several months ago as part of its investigation into Fast and Furious.
Then, the sources say for some reason the Inspector General passed the tapes along to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona: a subject in the investigation. It’s unclear why the Inspector General, who is supposed to investigate independently, would turn over evidence to an entity that is itself under investigation. The Inspector General’s office had no immediate comment.
I am speculating here but one explanation as to why OIG turned over evidence to the U.S. Attorney’s Office would be so as to coach their testimony whether before OIG investigators or before Congressional investigators.
The role of OIG in this investigation is and has been tainted from the very start. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) recognized this early on which is why he called for an assignment to an outside Inspector General in a letter to the head of Integrity Committee of the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency back in March.
UPDATE: The DOJ OIG sent a response to CBS on why the tapes were given to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona:
A spokesman from the Office of the Inspector General today said, “The OIG officially provided the United States Attorney’s Office with a copy of the recordings in question so that the USAO could consider them in connection with the government’s disclosure obligations in the pending criminal prosecutions of the gun traffickers. Prior to receiving the tapes, the OIG made clear that we would have to provide a copy of the recordings to the United States Attorney’s Office because they would need to review them to satisfy any legal disclosure obligations.”
Do You Twitter?
Do you use Twitter to follow the news and blogs? If so, you may want to consider adding me to your Twitter follow list.
I leave Friday for the Gun Rights Policy Conference in Chicago. I intend to both blog and Tweet extensively from the conference. Given the lineup of speakers, signing up for Twitter would be a great way to follow the action if you can’t be in Chicago.
If you look in my sidebar, you will see a section near the top that says “Subscribe to this blog”. Among the methods for subscribing is Twitter. You click on the button that looks like the one below and it will take you to my Twitter page. My Twitter ID is @jpr9954.
Thanks and I hope to have lots to report from Chicago in the never-ending fight for gun rights.
It Is Only Fitting
Copyright trolls Righthaven LLC and its owner Steve Gibson are in the crosshairs of Wayne Hoehn’s attorneys. Seems that Righthaven has an unpaid judgment against them and Hoehn’s attorneys are asking the U.S. Marshalls Service to seize their bank accounts for non-payment.
Attorneys representing Wayne Hoehn filed a motion Sunday asking the court to issue a writ of execution for Hoehn’s judgment against Righthaven after the group defied the court ordered payment due date last week. The motion states, “No stay prohibiting Hoehn’s execution of his judgment is in place, nor would any such future stay have retroactive effect.” It also states that the “Court is entitled to authorize the U.S. Marshalls to execute Hoehn’s judgment” through seizure of bank accounts.
That would be sweet justice because Righthaven’s campaign against bloggers was always about money and never about seeking justice.
H/T Sebastian
Fixed It For Them
AB 144 which bans unloaded open carry in California is sitting on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk awaiting either a signature or veto. The Brady Campaign opposes UOC because it scares rich white liberals buying overpriced coffee. That it may or may not deter a criminal is irrelevant to them.
Paraphrasing a quote by one of their spokespeople made to the L.A. Times:
Cop carry control advocates hope that California will now pave the way for the rest of the country to outlaw the practice.
“Openly carrying a cop on your back into Starbucks and other establishments creates a culture of fear and intimidation,” said Brian Malte, director for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Cop Carry. “It is irresponsible and dangerous.”
“People in other states look to see what California does,” he said. If Brown signs the bill, “other states will follow suit.”
My paraphrase of Brian Malte’s comment makes about as much sense as his statement does. The sad thing is that I realize it and he does not.
Webinar – Eliminate Hunting & Shooting Travel Hassles
The Professional Outdoor Media Association is sponsoring a free webinar on Tuesday, September 20th about traveling by air with firearms.
You can register for this free webinar by registering here.
Webinar Registration
DON’T LET AIRLINE SECURITY OR
ODD LAWS RUIN YOUR TRIPSorry sir, you can’t take that trophy rack on board; and the fee to put it in cargo is $150. Ma’am, this gun case does not meet airline standards, we can’t check it. Nope, you cannot bring that firearm back into the U.S.
The U.S. Travel Security Administration (TSA) strictly enforces regulations. Violations can result in criminal prosecution and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. Each airline/country also has its own rules and regs.
What should you do to circumvent big hassles? Act like a Boy Scout. Be prepared so you don’t find yourself in one of these positions or worse.
FREE TRAVEL WEBINAR
During a live webinar, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m. Eastern time, North American Hunting Club Executive Director and North American Hunter Television Show Host Bill Miller will teach you how to eliminate travel hassles.
Here’s a sample of what attendees will learn:
1) The most important thing to know about bringing guns back into the U.S.
2) Five measures to help ensure you and your guns/ammo, end up in the same place
3) The best travel gun cases
4) How to book hunting travel (airlines, hotels, etc.)
5) Tips for traveling with trophies and meat
6) Traveling with hunting dogs
7) Requirements for traveling with ammunitionThe heaviest focus of the webinar will be on airline travel and crossing borders. However, many tips also apply to interstate travel in private vehicles.
Over 30 years, Miller’s traveled for business and pleasure, to hunt and shoot. He’s traveled to:
• More than 40 states
• Nine Canadian Provinces
• Mexico
• South America
• Africa and
• EuropeMiller’s on the road more than 100 nights a year and 99.9% of the time he’s traveling with firearms, ammunition, game meat, trophy racks and even his hunting dogs. Learn his travel secrets.