Month: April 2013

Uncategorized

It Had To Be Those Gun Shops Along The Mexican Border!

April 9, 2013 by 7 Comments

The World Tribune is reporting that thieves broke into a Kuwaiti Interior Ministry warehouse and stole the entire contents.


The Interior Ministry said thieves broke into a warehouse and stole a
huge amount of firearms and ammunition. The ministry said 20,000 U.S.-origin M-16 assault rifles and 15,000 rounds for 9mm pistols were stolen.

“There were no guards during the break-in,” the ministry said on April
7.

The ministry said the target was a warehouse of the Interior Ministry in
Subiya. The statement said thieves broke three doors and removed the entire contents of the warehouse.

Of course, one wonders where these M-16s will now show up. If it is Mexico, will the Obama Administration still blame the mom-and-pop gun shops along the Southwest border?

Uncategorized

The First Firearms Company Announces Departure From CT

April 9, 2013 by 1 Comment

PTR Industries, maker of the HK clone PTR-91, announced today that they will be leaving Bristol, Connecticut by the end of the year due to Bill No. 1160. They are still evaluating offers from other states who, in their good wisdom, want a company like PTR in their state.

In my speculation as to who would be leaving first, I should put them up higher on the list than Stag Arms or ASC. Given that all of PTR’s firearms will now be banned in the state, they were one of the strongest candidates.

From their release:


A STATEMENT CONCERNING MANUFACTURING ENCOURAGEMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND PROTECTION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.

–
This past week an historic and highly controversial bill was passed by the State of Connecticut which will have far reaching consequences to the state, its citizens, and businesses. The bill we refer to is Bill No. 1160, AN ACT CONCERNING GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND CHILDRENS SAFETY. This bill purports to reduce gun violence by banning hardware responsible for less than 3% of homicides in 2011 ; and claims to increase children’s safety by restricting the ability of those most responsible for it – their parents – to defend them.

–
As a firearms manufacturing firm, our industrial roots reach deep in the State of CT. Along with other companies in the trade, we were deeply apprehensive at the hurried process to develop new gun laws and fearful that it would generate unintended consequences for our industry. On Thursday April 4th 2013, upon reading the full text of Bill 1160, our worst fears were confirmed. What emerged was a bill fraught with ambiguous definitions, insufficient considerations for the trade, conflicting mandates, and disastrous consequences for the fundamental rights of the people of CT.

–
The magnitude of the constitutional and economic importance of this bill is such that the disregard for public input (in the final version), and the haphazard production of the legislation should be insulting to any citizen or business in CT. It should be a shock to us all that such landmark legislation could be written in one week, and seen by no one (including the rank-and-file legislators) prior to its emergency certification. Having been present in the deliberations in both legislative chambers, it was clear that a majority of our legislators had not even read the bill – and those that had read it had only a cursory understanding.

–
The process with which this legislation proceeded, along with the language that resulted gives us no confidence that this will be the last violation of our rights in our beloved home state, and we only hope that this does not set a precedent at a national level.

–
The rights of the citizens of CT have been trampled upon. The safety of its children is at best questionably improved from the day of the tragedy that triggered the events that lead us here. Finally, due to an improperly drafted bill, manufacturing of modern sporting rifles in the State of CT has been effectively outlawed. With a heavy heart but a clear mind, we have been forced to decide that our business can no longer survive in Connecticut – the former Constitution state.

–
Furthermore, we feel that our industry as a whole will continue to be threatened so long as it remains in a state where its elected leaders have no regard for the rights of those who produce and manufacture its wealth. We are making a call to all involved in our industry to leave this state, close your doors and show our politicians the true consequences of their hasty and uninformed actions. We encourage those in our industry to abandon this state as its leaders have abandoned the proud heritage that forged our freedom.

–
Although PTR has not decided upon a specific relocation site at this time, over the coming weeks the company will be actively considering offers from states that are friendly to the industry. We hope to have a site identified within the next six weeks, and hope to have our move completed by the end of this year. We plan to keep our business partners informed on the status of our move throughout this process in order to affect a smooth transition.

–
We have extended the invitation to join us in the move to all of our employees, as well as all of our vendors. We are pleased to say that we currently have commitments to move from a majority of our employees, which includes ALL of our management personnel, engineering staff and skilled gunsmiths.

–
It is our hope and sincere belief that this move will represent a step forward for the company; and that by bringing our expertise and core personnel to combine with the business friendly policies, and a motivated local labor force from a state that respects industry and the second amendment that we can expand our operations and not only maintain – but increase the quality and reputation of our products.

–
Please direct any questions or inquiries to John McNamara, Vice President of Sales, at john@ptr91.com or at our main phone number.
__________________________________________________

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8

Uncategorized

Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Flattery

April 9, 2013 by 4 Comments

In a move that can only be considered imitating the National Rifle Association, Mayor Bloomberg and his Illegal Mayors plan to “grade” legislators on how they vote on gun control as well as their public statements.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the nonprofit group financed by Bloomberg (I), will unveil a scoring system Tuesday to award lawmakers grades of A through F, much like the National Rifle Association, which has derived much of its power by deploying letter rankings against politicians at election time. The group’s strategists briefed The Washington Post on the plans ahead of Tuesday’s announcement.

“For decades, the NRA has done an admirable job of tracking to minute detail how members of Congress stand on gun bills. We’ve simply decided to do the same,” said Mark Glaze, director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which is chaired by Bloomberg and is made up of more than 900 mayors from across the country.

 Glaze says they are trying to provide “guidance” to well-heeled donors who back gun control. The Washington Post notes that they are aiming this squarely at senators on the bubble in states like North Carolina and Montana. While their constituents do not back gun control, these senators depends on donations from states like New York and California to get elected or re-elected. This is the same threat that was used successively in Colorado against wavering Democrats.

The one thing that Bloomberg can’t imitate is the grassroots supporters of the NRA.

“The reason NRA scorecards are effective is that they have the weight of
approximately 5 million dues-paying members and tens of millions of
other supporters behind them,” NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said. In
a dig at Bloomberg, he added, “We’ll take that over the purse of one
billionaire any day of the week and twice on Sunday.”

 When I start seeing Friends of MAIG banquets and fundraisers, then and only then will I believe that there is significant grassroots support for gun control. Until then, I will keep pushing my legislators to earn their “F” from MAIG.

Uncategorized

More On The Pressure To Move Out Of Connecticut

April 9, 2013 by 1 Comment

CNN actually did a rather fair story on Mark Malkowski of Stag Arms and Jonathan Scalise of ACS and the pressure they are feeling to move their companies out of Connecticut. Listen to Malkowski describe the incentives other states are offering to move. It makes you wonder just who is running Connecticut if an industry which provides so many “good” jobs is suddenly treated like an “untermensch”.

I would not be surprised to see either or both of the companies relocate out of Connecticut within the next year.

Along these same lines, Jeff Soyer of Alphecca looks at New Hampshire and why it might not be a great place to move. As he notes, the state is rapidly changing due to the influx of former residents of Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Moving a firearms manufacturing facility to another state is an
expensive proposition. If a company decides to make such a decision,
it’s going to be somewhere where that company can be assured of steady
support for their company, products, and workers. The winds of change —
slight as they might be at the moment — in northern New England states
provide no reassurance of of that.

I think he makes a good point. 

Uncategorized

Cops Don’t Think Gun Control Will Stop Mass Shootings

April 8, 2013 by 1 Comment

The law enforcement website, PoliceOne.com, conducted a survey of over 15,000 current and retired law enforcement officers regarding their attitudes towards gun control. Not surprising to those of us in the gun rights community, an overwhelming majority of cops thought gun control measures such as a new AWB wouldn’t stop mass shootings.

The NRA-ILA release on the survey is below:

FAIRFAX, Va. – PoliceOne.com released today the results of an extensive survey of about 15,000 active and retired law enforcement officers of all ranks and from departments ranging in size from less than 25 to more than 1,000.

These results strongly show that law enforcement officers do not support President Obama’s gun control agenda. They do, however, strongly support the Right-to-Carry by law-abiding Americans. The survey respondents are united in their desire for politicians to focus on keeping firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill and to reject unconstitutional gun control measures that infringe on Second Amendment rights.

“The American people, and particularly the members of law enforcement, want politicians in Washington to stop pursuing a failed political agenda and get to work fixing our broken mental health system, improving school security, and getting criminals off the streets,” said the executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, Chris W. Cox.

The following are some key findings:

  • 99 percent said policies other than an “assault weapons” ban are most important to prevent mass shootings.


  • Almost 96 percent said that a ban on standard capacity magazines would not reduce violent crime.

  • More than 91 percent stated that the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime should have stiff, mandatory sentences, and no plea-bargains.

  • More than 91 percent stated they supported the Right-to-Carry by law abiding Americans.

  • More than 81 percent said that “gun buy-backs” do not reduce gun violence.

  • 80 percent believe legally armed citizens can reduce casualties in incidents of mass violence.

  • Nearly 80 percent said that a ban on private transfers of firearms between law-abiding citizens would not reduce violent crime.

  • More than 76 percent indicated that legally armed citizens are important to reducing crime.

  • More than 76 percent support the arming of trained and qualified teachers or administrators who volunteer to carry a firearm.

  • More than 70 percent said that a ban on “assault weapons” would not reduce violent crime.

  • More than 70 percent opposed the idea of a national registry of legal gun sales.

  • Nearly 68 percent said magazine capacity restrictions would negatively affect them personally.

  • More than 60 percent said that the passage of Obama’s gun control legislation would not improve officer safety.

Click here to read the complete survey: http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/p1_gunsurveysummary_2013.pdf

Uncategorized

Win Free Guns And Ammo

April 8, 2013 by

If there is anything more likely to infuriate a gun prohibitionist, it would be an offer to win free guns and ammo. Fortunately for us, Aaron at Weapon-Blog likes to infuriate the prohibitionists and publishes his monthly list of contests.

This month’s round of contests has everything from custom 1911s to 500 rounds of 5.56 to AR magazines.

Go here to peruse the list. Make sure to thank Aaron for providing this service on a monthly basis. It takes some time and effort to compile all of this info.

Uncategorized

GRNC On S.374 And S.649

April 8, 2013 by

Grass Roots North Carolina issued an alert last night regarding the pressure that is being put on Sen. Kay Hagan and five Republican senators to support gun control. They note the ads being run by MAIG and petitions being gathered by OFA. GRNC has some suggested messages to send to Hagan and to the other senators.

From GRNC:


MAIG & Obama radicals pressuring Hagan & others

As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vows to bring S. 649, the latest “universal background check” (read that “registration”) bill to a vote as early as this week, Bloomberg’s “Mayors Against Illegal Guns,” Obama’s “Organizing for Action, and the media have begun a full court press to pass whatever gun control they can foist on the American public.

In fact, North Carolinians “Against Gun Control” just dropped 39,000 petitions, presumably gathered by Obama’s radicals at “Organizing for Action,” on Hagan. In response, the National Coalition to Stop the Gun Ban forged by GRNC and others is running a campaign against Hagan and 5 other senators.

S. 374 & S. 649 would make you a criminal

There is nothing benign about “universal background checks,” which are gun control code words for “universal gun registration.” Not only would S. 649 open the door for registration, it and similar bills under consideration would make it a 5-year federal felony to:

  • Leave town for more than 7 days, and leave your wife, partner, or roommate at home with your guns;

  • Lend a gun to a friend to take shooting or to go hunting;

  • Loan a gun to your mother if she lives at a different residence;

  • Hand a gun to someone at a gun club which is not a shooting range;

  • Teach someone to shoot on your own land, if you hand them the gun; or

  • Fail to report a gun as lost or stolen within 24 hours, even if you are on a hunting trip deep in the woods and are unable to do so.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

  • CALL & EMAIL SEN. KAY HAGAN IMMEDIATELY at 202-224-6342 and by CLICKING HERE or going to: http://www.hagan.senate.gov/contact/ and deliver the message below.

  • CALL @ EMAIL Sen. Richard Burr at 202-224-3154 and by CLICKING HERE or going to: http://burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm and deliver the message below.

  • Call and email senate Republicans Pat Toomey (PA), Chuck Grassley (IA), Tom Coburn (OK), and Mitch McConnell (KY)

  • DONATE TO GRNC: In the next two days, GRNC will be sending 30,000 automated telephone alerts to gun-owning voters. THIS DOESN’T COME CHEAP. Please help with the effort by CLICKING HERE or going to: http://www.grnc.org/join-grnc/contribute

CONTACT INFORMATION

Sen. Pat Toomey (PA), 202-224-4254, email HERE or at: http://www.toomey.senate.gov/?p=contact

Sen. Chuck Grassley (IA), 202-224–3744, email HERE or at: http://www.grassley.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm

Sen. Tom Coburn (OK), 202-224-5754, email HERE or at: http://www.coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactform

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY), 202-224-2541, email HERE or at: http://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

To Hagan:

Suggested Subject: Don’t Support Universal Background Checks/Registration

Dear Senator Hagan:

You recently expressed support for the type of “universal background checks” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to bring to a floor vote as early as this week. You’ve also been pressured by Michael Bloomberg’s misnamed group, “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” and President Obama’s “Organizing for Action.”

But I live in North Carolina. They don’t. I am one of the 300,000 gun-owning North Carolina voters who will follow the recommendations of Grass Roots North Carolina and the 39-member “National Coalition to Stop the Gun Ban” they have formed.

More importantly, *I* am the one who will work to remove you from office if you fail to: (1) Vote against any “motion to proceed” on S. 374, S. 649 or whatever other thinly disguised gun registration bill hits the Senate floor, and (2) Support efforts to filibuster such legislation.

I would suggest you act like your political career depends on it, because it does. I will be closely monitoring your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,

To Senate Republicans:

Suggested Subject: Don’t Support Universal Background Checks/Registration

Dear Senator:

I am one of the hundreds of thousands of gun-owners who follow recommendations of the 39-member “National Coalition to Stop the Gun Ban”. They have formed to oppose any and all gun control.

More importantly, *I* am the one who will work to remove you from office if you fail to: (1) Vote against any “motion to proceed” on S. 374, S. 649 or whatever other thinly disguised gun registration bill hits the Senate floor, and (2) Support efforts to filibuster such legislation.

The National Coalition to Stop the Gun Ban will not accept any “compromise” on competing universal gun registration schemes — not between Sens. Charles Schumer and Tom Coburn, not between Sen. Joe Manchin and the NRA, and not the “alternative” being put together by Sen. Chuck Grassley. We have long ago learned that “compromise” in the gun debate defines a process in which we lose less freedom than under our opposition’s original proposal, but we still lose.

Uncategorized

Vote On Switchblade Repeal In Texas

April 8, 2013 by 1 Comment

This weekend Knife Rights issued an alert regarding a repeal of the ban on switchblades in Texas. They are asking that those who reside, work, or travel to Texas contact the legislators below urging their support for HB 1862 which would repeal the ban.

I’m glad to see that Knife Rights is working so hard on the second front for the Second Amendment.


In Texas, Knife Rights supported HB1862 has been scheduled for a hearing this Tuesday, April 9, before the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. HB1862, sponsored by Representative Harold Dutton Jr., will repeal the antiquated, senseless ban on the possession of switchblade (automatic) knives in Texas. Knife Rights lobbyist Todd Rathner is on his way to Austin to testify on this important bill and he needs YOUR help!

If you live, work or travel in Texas, PLEASE Call and Write EACH of the Committee Members TODAY and urge them to vote in favor of HB1862.

Chairman: Rep. Abel Herrero 512-463-0462 abel.herrero@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Stefani Carter 512-463-0454 stefani.carter@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Lon Burnam 512-463-0740 lon.burnam@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Terry Canales 512-463-0426 terry.canales@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Bryan Hughes 512-463-0271 bryan.hughes@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Jeff Leach 512-463-0544 jeff.leach@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Joe Moody 512-463-0728 joe.moody@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Matt Schaefer 512-463-0584 matt.schaefer@house.state.tx.us
Rep. Steve Toth 512-463-0797 steve.toth@house.state.tx.us

Whether writing or calling, all that is necessary is to simply ask them to vote in favor of HB1862. Keep it POLITE, short and to the point.

Uncategorized

I, For One, Wouldn’t Miss The Old SOB

April 8, 2013 by 3 Comments

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) had previously announced that he planned to retire at the end of his term in 2014. However, if this article from Politico is accurate, he doesn’t plan to return to the Senate this coming week – or maybe ever.

On Friday night, with the Senate still in recess, Lautenberg released a statement announcing he would be out next week. Lautenberg did not make clear any return date.

“I regret that I will not be returning to Washington next week as I continue treatment for, and recuperate from, muscle weakness and fatigue. My physician continues to advise me to work from home and not travel at this time,” Lautenberg said in a statement issued by his office.

Lautenberg added: “I am disappointed I will not be present for the opening of the debate on gun legislation in the Senate. It is an issue I am deeply passionate about, and my victories over the gun lobby are among my proudest accomplishments. I am, however, gratified that my legislation to ban high-capacity ammunition magazines will be one of the key amendments offered to this bill.”

I’m not disappointed nor do I think anyone who believes in the Second Amendment is going to be disappointed if Lautenberg never returns.

The Politico article goes into the timing of a potential early retirement. If Lautenberg retires before late August, an interim senator would be appointed to serve until November 2013 at which time a special election would held. If it goes beyond that time, the interim senator would serve out the remainder of the term. It is presumed that Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) would appoint a Republican to serve as the interim senator. That said, if the Republican senator holds similar views on guns to that of Christie, it would be no gain for gun rights.

H/T Todd

Uncategorized

Note To Demand Action – We Aren’t That Gullible

April 7, 2013 by 2 Comments

Demand Action to End Gun Violence (sic) is a project of Mayor Bloomberg and his Illegal Mayors. This week they have been tweeting a “breaking” message about a new 50-state “analysis of gun violence”.

I’d like to believe that no one would be so gullible as to believe this “analysis” was unbiased and accurate. The sad reality is that this report from the Center from American Progress, a “progressive” research and advocacy group, has been picked up by a number of media outlets including MSNBC. I guess given the record of the media running with sham stories I shouldn’t be surprised.

The first indication that this is a biased report is who wrote it. The authors – Arkadi Gerney, Chelsea Parsons, and Charles Posner – all have links to either Bloomberg or Obama. Gerney preceded Mark Glaze as the executive director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Parsons was general counsel to the New York City
criminal justice coordinator prior to coming to the Center for American Progress. Finally, Posner worked for a Democratic polling group and Organizing for America prior to coming to CAP. To think that any of these authors would put out a report on guns that could pass the smell test is ludicrous.

The second indication that this report is a sham is the reliance on data and ranking from groups such as the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the Violence Policy Center, and MAIG. While they do use some data that is valid, how they twist is not.

Finally, you need only read the “recommendations” to understand that this “analysis” was not at finding the truth but to promote advocacy for more gun control. They want universal background checks, a definition of “dangerous people” that goes far beyond felons and the mentally ill, a ban on “assault weapons and high-capacity magazines”, and stronger laws against trafficking.

 This report is proof positive that the old saw that “figures lie and liars figure” is true.