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Amazon Prime Days

July 9, 2025 by

July 8th through 11th are Amazon Prime Days and there are some good deals out there. As I am a Amazon affiliate, I do earn a commission on items ordered through postings on this blog. However, it does not cost you any more. I cannot say I’ve used all the products but I do try to be careful about what I’d recommend.

First on the list is the Pelican Vault V770 gun case. It is a 51 inch case with rollers. At $135.96 it is a good deal. Indeed, I paid a fraction less for one sold by Harbor Freight. I did see many hunters last year at the Johannesburg airport with these exact gun cases. If they can handle international flights and baggage handlers, they will do a great job protecting your prized rifle(s). If you need a longer case, the 56 inch V800 is available for $183.96.

I am a big believer in the need to stay hydrated. For this, I really like the wide mouth Nalgene bottles that hold a quart of water or other liquids. I have a number of them and they last forever. During Prime Days, the Nalgene bottles are $13.30 or a bit more which is about $4 cheaper than places like REI. In addition, you have your choice of 32 colors. Personally, I like a clear neon colored bottle so I don’t misplace it.

Speaking of water and staying hydrated, you can never go wrong with the LifeStraw. It protects against 99.999999% of bacteria (including E.coli, Salmonella), 99.999% of parasites (including Giardia and Cryptosporidium), 99.999% of microplastics, dirt, sand and cloudinessProtects against 99.999999% of bacteria (including E.coli, Salmonella), 99.999% of parasites (including Giardia and Cryptosporidium), 99.999% of microplastics, dirt, sand and cloudiness. Looking at the prices, it is cheaper to buy the LifeStraw individually than in multi-packs. The price is only $9.95.

Storage of gear is always a consideration. I have a number of these Plano Storage Trunks. They roll, they are lockable, they are stackable, and they hold up. I know I have had mine for upwards on 8-10 years. I have stored everything from tactical gear to books in them along with everything in between. $32.29 is a good price for them. During the Prime Days, this is a good $10 less than from Walmart.

Hearing protection is an always useful item to buy when on sale. While I have used the Howard Leight electronic muffs for years, they aren’t on sale this year. That said, I don’t think I could go wrong with the Walker’s Razor Slims. If you don’t mind buying teal, the price is $29.33. The Complementary Spouse needs a pair and I know she wouldn’t mind wearing teal. If you insist on other colors, they are only a few dollars more. I like their slim design and their 23 db noise reduction rating. (Update: I ordered a pair of these headphones for the Complementary Spouse. They will pair well with her Women for Gun Rights aka DC Project t-shirt.)

Speaking of hearing protection, wearing noise canceling headphones made both of my 16 hour flights to Africa last year bearable. I used these Soundcore Anker Life Q20 headphones which had both Blue Tooth and noise cancellation. I found them comfortable and the battery lasted to Africa and back. There are more expensive noise canceling headphones like these from Bose but the Soundcore worked just fine for me. At $37.99, they are a deal. For a case, I used this one which is under $8. It has protected my headphones and has a place to keep both the charging and plug in jack cords.

What would the end of a day be without your “sundowner”. If in Africa, it is often a gin and tonic. In my experience, the key to a really good gin and tonic is not the gin but the tonic water. I love both Fever Tree and Q. During Prime Days, you can get a full case of Q tonic water with real quinine and organic agave for only $17.18. If you do a subscription, it is even cheaper. Compare this to the price at your local supermarket. Q tonic water comes highly rated and after two plus cases of it drunk myself, I’d agree.

That does it for tonight. As I find more deals, I will be posting them. In the meantime, I think I’ll be having a late sundowner made with Q tonic water.

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Stupid Tweet Of The Day

July 7, 2025 by

There are stupid tweets and then there is this which is extra stupid.

Yes, Keith Olbermann is a leftist shill but even so I would expect better from someone with his supposed education.

According to his bio, Olbermann is a graduate of the Hackley School and of Cornell University. The former is a highly regarded prep school that sends a number of its graduates to the most highly selective universities. The latter, Cornell, is one of the Ivy League universities which US News ranks at the 11th best in the United States.

Now I didn’t have a prep school and Ivy League education. Nonetheless, I did have a very decent one at my small Catholic high school and my little Quaker liberal arts college. I also know that both my favorite English teacher in high school, Chuck Sullivan, and my favorite English instructor in college, Mildred Marlette, would have looked at me like I was stupid if I had said such a thing. Fortunately, I never gave them much reason to think that.

Given Olbermann and I are rough contemporaries who were educated in a time before grade inflation and with higher classroom standards, he either thinks his followers are that stupid or he is suffering from some sort of brain eating amoeba. That is the only way I can explain this level of idiocy in a tweet.

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Happy 136th Birthday, FN

July 4, 2025 by

Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre was formed on July 3, 1889 to make military rifles for the Belgian government. Formed in Herstel, Belgium, their first rifle was the Model 1889 Mauser.

The rifle was chambered in 7.65×53. It was not until New Year’s Eve in 1891 that the first of 150,000 of these rifles were delivered to the Belgian Army.

According to their history, the company diversified into making ammunition and later bicycles to get them through slow times. It was this last endeavor that led to a fortuitous partnership with none other than John Moses Browning.

In 1897, FN sales manager Hart O. Berg traveled to America to learn about bicycle technology developments. While in Hartford, Connecticut, he ran into a past coworker, one John Moses Browning, who was still working with Colt, and wanted help manufacturing a new self-loading pistol.

As I said, a fortuitous partnership without which we would not have such classics as the Auto-5 shotgun, the Model 1900 semi-auto pistol, and the Browning Hi-Power as perfected by Browning’s protege Dieudonné Saive.

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It Is Only A Matter Of Time

July 3, 2025 by 4 Comments

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill passed the House today and will be sent to President Trump’s desk for signature. He wanted it before the 4th of July and he got his wish. The vote was 218-214 with two Republicans, Tom Massie (R-KY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), joining all the Democrats in voting against the bill.

Sec. 70436 of the bill removed the transfer and making taxes on silencers, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, and any other weapons. The $200 tax is retained for machineguns and other destructive devices. The effective date will be the beginning of calendar quarters 90 days or more after the enactment of the bill. If I am calculating that correctly, then the tax goes to zero on January 1, 2026 given we have already started the 3rd quarter of 2025.

Once President Trump signs the bill then the real fun begins. The NRA, the American Suppressor Association, the Firearms Policy Coalition, and the Second Amendment Foundation issued a joint statement today stating their intention to sue.

Joint-NFA-LetterDownload

SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut had this to say:

“The NFA is nothing more than a tax scheme which has imposed an unconstitutional burden on Americans since 1934,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “The registration of these items was only justified as the means to ensure taxes on them had been paid. With the One Big, Beautiful Bill zeroing out the tax for silencers and short barreled firearms, the registration scheme serves no other purpose than to create an unlawful barrier to keep people from exercising their Second Amendment rights. Our intention with this new lawsuit is to completely remove these barriers.”

UPDATE: The NRA just released these statements from President Bill Bachenberg, EVP Doug Hamlin, and ILA Director John Commerford.

“NRA worked throughout the reconciliation process on Capitol Hill to protect and strengthen the right to keep and bear arms,” said NRA President Bill Bachenberg. “Elections have consequences, and thanks to pro-gun majorities in both the House and Senate, American gun owners are seeing real results. A new era has begun in Washington, D.C., and the NRA is deeply grateful for President Trump’s unwavering support for our constitutional freedoms.”

“Congress has delivered a game-changing victory for gun owners – reducing the cost of a tax stamp for suppressors, short-barreled firearms, and ‘any other weapons’ to $0,” said Doug Hamlin, NRA Executive Vice President & CEO. “I thank the many NRA members and gun owners who contacted their Senators and Representatives urging them to protect Second Amendment rights. NRA looks forward to President Trump signing the One, Big, Beautiful Bill into law and building on his legacy as a champion for law-abiding gun owners.”

“Congressional Republicans took action to eliminate a nearly century-old punitive tax designed to discourage the lawful purchase and possession of constitutionally protected arms,” said John Commerford, Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA). “NRA-ILA applauds the leadership in both chambers for getting the One, Big, Beautiful Bill to President Trump’s desk. While removing the tax is a significant step forward, it is only the beginning. We remain committed to our ultimate goal: ending the unconstitutional National Firearms Act.”

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Ruger Buys Kentucky’s Anderson Manufacturing

July 1, 2025 by

Sturm, Ruger just announced that they were buying Hebron, Kentucky based Anderson Manufacturing. As I read their press release below, it appears that while they will discontinue the Anderson brand and the associated products Ruger will use the plant and its employees to expand their manufacturing base.

Neither party has released the terms of the agreement or the amount of monies involved in the purchase.

From the press release:

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is pleased to announce the asset purchase of
Anderson Manufacturing, a manufacturer of firearms and firearm accessories based in
Hebron, Kentucky. This strategic purchase includes Anderson’s manufacturing facility
and machinery and will provide Ruger the opportunity to work with a skilled and
experienced workforce, strengthening its production capabilities and expanding its
product offerings.


Located in a firearms-friendly region, the facility brings valuable expertise in the
production of both firearms and aftermarket parts and accessories – areas that
complement and enhance Ruger’s existing offerings.


“This acquisition is an incredible opportunity to advance our long-term strategy and
expand Ruger’s capacity,” said Todd Seyfert, President and CEO of Ruger. “We’re excited
to welcome members from the talented team at Anderson Manufacturing and leverage
their knowledge and infrastructure to better serve our customers. This move reinforces
Ruger’s position as a leader in the industry, and reiterates my focus on continued
growth, even as others scale back.”


Ruger will not continue the Anderson Manufacturing brand or its firearms products.
Instead, the Company will integrate the facility’s capabilities into its broader operations,
with a focus on launching new products, expanding Ruger’s popular product lines and
growing its established accessories business.


Customers, distributors, and partners can continue to expect the high standards of
quality, reliability and service that define the Ruger brand. This acquisition underscores
Ruger’s commitment to American manufacturing and its mission to deliver innovative,
reliable products to the firearms community.

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Canada Day

July 1, 2025 by

July 1st is Canada Day. Personally, I prefer its older name of Dominion Day which was only changed in 1982 to the newer Canada Day. The day is meant to commemorate the confederation of Canada that occurred on July 1, 1867. That was when the Province of Canada (Upper and Lower Canada), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick formed a confederation. Other provinces such as Manitoba and Prince Edward Island joined in later years.

There are many things I love about Canada. This includes its natural beauty and most of its people. Indeed, my first girlfriend, Pat, was a Canadian who I met at a camp put on by the National Wildlife Federation. She was from the Niagara Escarpment area of Ontario.

There are also many things that I detest about Canada. This would include their gun control regime, their approval of euthanasia, their former Prime Minister, and much of the Liberal Party apparatchiks.

Despite President Trump’s desire to see them as the 51st state, real or not, I am not much in favor of a union of the two countries. That said, I would agree to make Alberta the 51st state if they were to secede as they are more conservative, have great hunting and fishing, and, of course, oil. As to the rest, no.

Could you imagine trying to integrate the Quebecois? That is, a bunch of grumpy, never satisfied, Canadians (or Canadiens as they would demand you spell it) who speak an antique version of French.

Non!

I think I shall celebrate Canada Day by either watching John Candy’s Canadian Bacon or re-runs of The Red Green Show.

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Plan B

June 28, 2025 by 3 Comments

Now that Senate Majority Leader John Thune has kowtowed to the Left’s Deep State Operative aka the Senate Parliamentarian on needed reform to the National Firearms Act, it is time for Plan B.

According to a text I received this morning from John Commerford, Executive Director of the NRA-ILA, the tax on silencers, short barreled rifles and shotguns, and any other weapons has been lowered to zero dollars in the text of the bill. Additionally, they will be exempted from the excise taxes of the Pittman-Robertson Act. However, all of these items will still be subject to all the laws and regulations of the National Firearms Act including registration. This also means you have to ask ATF for a “mother, may I” permission slip to cross state lines even temporarily with your short barreled rifle or shotgun. Silencers and AOWs are exempt from that requirement.

As my friend Miggy Gonzalez said on Facebook, “We were hoping for a free steak dinner, but we are getting a side of large fries for a Happy Meal instead.”

A coalition of the groups fighting for NFA reform which included the NRA, the American Suppressor Association, GOA, SAF, FPC, and others released this statement yesterday.

The bottom line is ain’t nobody that happy on our side of the fence while the other side is enjoying the fact that their Deep State Operative came through for them. That, and as Diamondback notes, John Thune is a “Temu knockoff of Mitch McConnell.” You would think that with how Elizabeth McDonough just dissed the entire GOP majority of the Senate Finance Committee that the Republicans might show more spine and less squishiness. A guy can dream, right?

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Lasswell, Animal House, Oliver Twist, And The Big Beautiful Bill

June 27, 2025 by 17 Comments

Harold Lasswell was one of the icons of political science of the 20th century. Not content to be one of the founding fathers of political psychology and policy sciences, he was one of the earliest to recognize that mass communications was worthy of scholarly study. Long before modern political science devolved into trendy genres like feminist theory, queer theory, and fill in the blank theory, Lasswell was studying propaganda and had invented content analysis to search for patterns within it.

Lasswell wrote over 30 books and somewhere near 250 scholarly journal articles. This is a massive output by any measure. That said, the one book that always caught my attention was an early work entitled, Politics: Who Gets What, When, and How. (#commission earned). This is because I have always had a Lasswellian view of politics at its most basic. It is about the fight by both the elites and the masses to see who gets the spoils along with the countervailing fight by their opponents to keep the spoils for themselves. You can gloss up politics with all sorts of theories but it always comes back to power and the spoils that come with it.

This morning we learned of the infuriating ruling by the Senate Parliamentarian, an appointed and not elected official, that the inclusion of parts of the Hearing Protection Act and the SHORT Act violated the so-called Byrd Rule. This was notwithstanding that the US argued that the National Firearms Act did not violate the Second Amendment because it was a “revenue measure” in US v Miller. The Parliamentarian, Elizabeth McDonough, argued the NFA was a regulation and not a tax which is utter bovine manure.

Making matters worse, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) who controls McDonough’s appointment has indicated he does not plan to challenge her ruling.

I see Thune as acting like Kevin Bacon’s character in the movie Animal House. What Thune seems to forget that he would not even be Senate Majority Leader if gun owners had not provided the margin of victory in key Senate races in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Montana.

The question is what to do now as well as what not to do. Gun owners should not do is be like Oliver asking for more. It is time we stop groveling!

The first thing we should be doing is calling our US Senators and letting them have it for kowtowing to the parliamentarian appointed by none other than Harry Reid. Call 202-224-3121 and ask for the offices of your two senators. Keep the pressure up and let them know that merely stripping the NFA reform provisions out of the Big Beautiful Bill is not going to cut it. Here is the list of those up for reelection in 2026. They should be the first targets of your call.

Here are the options as I and others see them:

  • Do nothing – definitely possible given the Senate
  • Fire Elizabeth McDonough – probably not going to happen
  • Have J. D. Vance overrule McDonough as President of the Senate – possible
  • Leave the regulatory aspects of the NFA in place and lower the tax to zero or $1 – wimpy but likely
  • Rewrite the provisions to try and get past the parliamentarian – maybe
  • Set the tax at $1 and preempt all the state’s that ban NFA items – suggested by Kostas Moros

Stephen Gutowski of The Reload thinks that McDonough will neither be fired nor overruled. His argument is that doing so may endanger the sacred tradition of the fillibuster.

While the Majority Leader can fire the parliamentarian or the Vice President can overrule their decisions, there are good reasons that’s happened so rarely. It all has to do with the filibuster. Since reconciliation is a special Senate process designed to allow budget bills to avoid the 60-vote filibuster threshold–but only budget bills. So, the process is designed to root out anything that doesn’t primarily have a budget impact.

In other words, the process is designed to protect the legislative filibuster.

He very well may be correct. Stephen goes on to add that if McDonough is overruled or fired by the Republicans it will be due to other items stripped out of the bill and not the NFA items. In other words, no matter how important these items are to the gun community – and they are – they just don’t seem that important to the Republican senators.

That is a perception that needs to be changed. The time for going before Congress on bended knee is over. Every 2A organization from the NRA to state level groups needs to mobilize their members to say hell no. As I said in the beginning referring to Harold Laswell, politics is who gets what, when, and how.

We know what we want and we know we want it now.