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Gunpocalypse In California

May 16, 2016 by

A gunpocalypse will hit the California legislature this morning. A total of 10 bills will go to the Senate Appropriations Committee that seriously impact gun rights in California. These bills range from banning the bullet button and funding gun prohibition research at the University of California to setting up a database of ammunition buyers and confiscation of standard capacity magazines.

The California legislature obviously feels it is better to deal with these type of issues as a smokescreen to hide their inability to deal with their horrendous budget issues. Smoke and mirrors is a Hollywood tradition that the sponsors of these bills have learned well.

The Firearms Policy Coalition issued a release that lists each bill by number along with what it does. They have a page of their website that allows you to send a message on each bill. If you live in California, call your legislator. I hope you’ve already done it.

Second Amendment Advocates Fight Largest Gun Bill Hearing of the Year

SACRAMENTO – Monday, May 16th 10 anti-gun bills will be fast-tracked through the California State Senate Appropriations Committee. The hearing agenda includes four Assembly bills that were gutted and amended a week earlier in an effort by Democrats to avoid a full vetting by legislators. And even more outrageous is that three of those measures will meet their evil twins (Senate Bills containing the exact same language) and be voted on at the same time. “The only way to describe this full-on assault on gun owners’ civil rights is to call it what it is – Gunpocalypse”, stated Craig DeLuz, Legislative Advocate for the Firearms Policy Coalition.

“Democrats have given up on any illusion of respect for the process or the voice of the people”, said DeLuz. “The saddest part is that they are clearly doing this as a political ploy to undermine Gavin Newsom’s initiative on the fall ballot. It’s a battle royale to prove who’s more anti-gun-owner.”

Bills to be heard include:

• SB 880 (Hall): Bans common and constitutionally protected firearms that have magazine locking devices.

• SB 894 (Jackson): Victimizes victims by criminalizing the failure to report lost and stolen firearms.

• SB 1006 (Wolk): University of California taxpayer funding for gun control research.

• SB 1235 (Deleon): Restrictions on ammunition purchases, creates a DOJ database of ammunition owners.

• SB 1407 (Deleon): Retroactively requires serial numbers to be placed on firearms dating back to 1899.

• SB 1446 (Hancock): Confiscation of lawfully acquired, standard capacity magazines that can hold over 10 rounds.

• AB 156 (McCarty): Formerly dealt with global warming, but is now the same as SB 1235.

• AB 857 (Cooper): Formerly addressed greenhouse gasses, but is now the same as SB 1407.

• AB 1135 (Levine): Formerly centered around groundwater but is now the same as SB 880.

• AB 1511 (Santiago): Formerly dealt with energy conservation, but now criminalizes loaning of firearms between personally known, law-abiding adults, including sportsmen and hunters.

UPDATE: Here is an email sent out by the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms which includes the phone numbers of the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Call them.


Your Urgent Action in California
Needed! 




The
gun grabbers in California are on the attack again.

On
Monday, May 16th, a critical State Senate committee will be
hearing 10 extreme gun control bills. We must stop them
dead in their tracks

If these bills pass, they’re one
step CLOSER to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk.

We
can’t let that happen!

The bills up in committee
include a BAN on all “bullet button” firearms, a BAN on
ammunition sales, and CONFISCATION of your legally owned
firearms parts.

We need YOU to fight these bills
NOW!

There is no time to waste!
 

CALL
the Senate Appropriations Committee members listed below
now—ask them to vote NO on the anti-gun bills mentioned in
this e-mail.



UPDATE II: You can watch this train wreck live on The California Channel.

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There Are Sporks And Then There Are Tactical Sporks

May 16, 2016 by 3 Comments

You often get the plastic sporks (spoon with fork tines) in fast food restaurants. I’ve read that prisons use them a lot because it is hard to make it into a weapon.

CRKT makes a couple of sporks mixed with bottle openers and other tools. I have the one designed by Liong Mah and its quite handy. I keep it in my travel kit.

I just read this weekend that Ka-Bar is coming out with a Tactical Spork. It has a handle based upon their Bowie-style Ka-Bar knife. Moreover, unlike your other sporks, this one has a serrated knife hidden in the handle.

I guess there is nothing that can’t be sold if it has the word “tactical” in its name. That said, if Ka-Bar has one at their booth at the NRA Annual Meeting, I’ll probably buy a couple since their MSRP is only $6.93.

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NRA Board Election: Show Horses Place, Work Horses Don’t

May 12, 2016 by 5 Comments

You may remember my round-up of endorsements for the NRA Board of Directors that I published here in mid-March. The results, while not official, are starting to trickle in.

According to Sebastian at Shall Not Be Questioned, Ted Nugent was re-elected to the Board but with a much lower vote. In past years, Uncle Ted has placed in the top one or two candidates. This year he came in at 18 out of 25 elected. (Update: See comment by Sebastian in the comment section.) Ted is what I consider a show horse. He is a celebrity who made his name in the entertainment field and who happens to be pro-gun. He is also prone to outrageous statements which might attract favorable attention in the rock music world but not so much in the real world.

In contrast to Ted is Sean Maloney of Ohio. He was endorsed by Jeff Knox, LtCol. Robert Brown, and Jim Irvine of the Buckeye Firearms Association. Sean was the 76th Director and is a work horse. He along with Tim Knight worked tirelessly at the grassroots on the recall elections in Colorado which succeeded in ousting  Bloomberg’s anti-gun minions Senate President John Morse (D-Colorado Springs) and Sen. Angela Giron (D-Pueblo).

As Jeff Knox pleaded, I “bullet voted” for Sean Maloney because I think the NRA Board needs more real grassroots activists. Sad to say but work horse Sean Maloney came in a handful of votes short. He announced it today on his Facebook page and also said he did not plan to run for the 76th Director position.

I have reprinted his announcement on his loss below. I am really sorry to see that a counter-productive show horse managed to get elected when a highly productive work horse fell short. However, as Sean says, “Everything happens for a reason, be that reason.”

Thank you to all of those who took the time to work, support, and vote for me to be your voice on the National Rifle Association Board of Directors. Because of you, I was a mere handful of votes short of reelection. Rest assured all of our efforts were worth it.

I have received dozens of texts; phone calls; and emails; pledging their support, asking me to run for the 76th seat, once again this year. After deep reflection, I have decided that I will not seek reelection to the NRA Board of Directors as its 76th member.

For me, politics at the grassroots level has always been a driving force in my life. Spreading the message of freedom to my friends, neighbors, and those I can personally touch, is the way I choose to make a difference. Watching as my push for good government exponentially spreads, helping people get started who have chosen to become active for in politics for the first time, is my driving force.

Friends, things happen for a reason, spreading the word throughout communities protecting the future of this Country, handed down by our forefathers, is the battle that lies ahead. In defeat I now have more time to concentrate on the biggest battle of my lifetime, the battle to secure freedom; the Presidency of the United States; and maintain control of both Houses.

We, as gun owners are the common thread, thinking back to the first Republican Primary Debate, 17 people were seeking our endorsement, 17 people with one common thread; a belief in our Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms. We as Second Amendment advocates are the common thread that will unify, and save this country from the progressive destruction that lie ahead under Hillary, Bernie or whoever is the progressive choice of the Democratic Party.

The forthcoming appointments to the Supreme Court of the United States; the very security of America all hinges upon what we do in the next few months. As Americans our fore fathers left it in our hands, the system of government they created rested the ultimate power with the people. It is time that we use the power so many before us fought, and continue to pay the ultimate price for.

In America there are an estimated 140 million households with guns; if we all join the fight; register to vote; then vote on Election Day, we cannot be defeated. Join the fight! It is as simple as voting and asking your neighbors to do the same for your candidate.

Everything happens for a reason, be that reason.

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NFA Trust Bleg

May 12, 2016 by 6 Comments

I have made the decision to set up a NFA Trust and buy a suppressor or two in advance of the ATF 41F implementation date of July 13th. I’m going the trust route for a couple of reasons. First, it will make estate planning easier as the suppressor will be passed on to the trust beneficiary without the need to pay another $200 tax. Second, other members of the trust will be allowed to use the suppressor without my being with them. It circumvents the potential constructive possession problem for the Complementary Spouse as she does know my safe combination. The issue of fingerprints and photos is irrelevant for my purposes but it is nice to be able to avoid it – for now.

There are a number of prototype NFA trust documents being offered on the Internet. You can get them from suppressor dealers like the Silencer Shop, manufacturers like Silencerco, and a number of attorney–related websites. The cost of these prototype documents are in the $99-199 range. This is a significant cost savings over the estimated $350-500 that an attorney would charge for a “custom” NFA trust. At last year’s Annual Firearms Law Seminar, the BATFE attorney from the NFA section offered some horror stories on NFA trusts that were set up without the hands-on assistance of an attorney.

Yesterday I took advantage of a Gearhog discount offer of a NFA trust for $49. This was a 75% discount off the normal price of $199 from www.199trust.com. This discount offer runs for another two days. My rationale was that I’d not be out of much money if I decided this trust document didn’t meet North Carolina trust law standards.

  1. Has anyone gone the prototype or prewritten trust route? If so, did you run into any problems?
  2. If you did go the prototype trust route, did you have it reviewed by a local attorney to make sure it met the trust law of your state?
  3. Would you suggest having a local estates attorney review the trust? 
  4. What were your reasons for using a trust instead of purchasing the NFA item as an individual? 
  5. If you went the prototype route, did you later have the trust rewritten by a local attorney?
I would love to know your experiences. You can either leave a comment below or email me at jpr9954 AT gmail DOT com.
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Presented Without Comment

May 12, 2016 by 3 Comments

I get a number of press releases from firearms manufacturers, tactical companies, and outdoor companies. With the NRA Annual Meeting fast approaching, this number is increasing. Below you will see a press release I got yesterday. I am presenting it without comment as any comment I’d make would be considered either snarky or snobbish.

2016 NRA Convention Invitation
Drop by booth 2662
 
MKS Supply, LLC, Dayton OH May 2016-
MKS Supply the exclusive marketer of Hi-Point Firearms and Inland
Manufacturing (.30 caliber M1 Carbine and new 1911s) invites all
attendees at the 2016 NRA Convention to drop by and see these and some
new (not yet released firearms).
 
So, if you are attending the NRA convention we hope you will stop by the Hi-Point/MKS Supply booth 2662
and talk guns with Charlie, Ron and the gang. You will learn about some
neat new things to come and see some really popular (and new model)
guns.
 
   MKS Supply, LLC
8611-A North Dixie Drive
Dayton, OH
45414
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Q&A On Flamethrowers With Charlie Hobson

May 10, 2016 by

Following up on his interview with noted flamethrower historian and technical expert Charles Hobson, Ian of Forgotten Weapons now has a question and answer session with him.

The questions by timestamp are:

  • 0:40 – Still in use today?
  • 1:15 – Hollywood realism
  • 3:02 – Effective historical use
  • 3:55 – Pressure and nozzle diameter
  • 4:57 – Use of fins to create laminar flow
  • 6:18 – Do they blow up if shot?
  • 7:28 – Maintenance and repair
  • 9:44 – Realism in “Saving Private Ryan”
  • 10:52 – Reproductions
  • 12:10 – Accidents
  • 14:07 – Field resupply of fuel in combat
  • 19:35 – Oxygen problems for the user
  • 20:32 – Modern improvements
  • 24:10 – Is there still a role for flamethrowers in modern war?
  • 26:35 – Lighting cigars from flamethrowers
  • 27:43 – Cost

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Grading California’s Legislature On Gun Rights

May 10, 2016 by

Just as not all Republicans are pro-gun rights, neither are all Democrats anti-gun. Though, I must admit that it is easier to find a pro-gun rights Republican in California than to find a pro-gun rights Democrat.

The Firearms Policy Coalition has just released their analysis of California legislators’ voting records. Unfortunately, there are a lot more F and F- grades than A and A+ grades. Such is the hellhole that is the California Senate and Assembly when it comes to gun rights.

The FPC release and link is below:

SACRAMENTO – Just as vote-by-mail ballots are about to land in mailboxes, the Firearms Policy Coalition is releasing their legislative report card for the 2015 legislative session.

Each legislator is graded based on how they handled priority legislation. Actions such as voting record, authorship and co-authorship of bills were included in the analysis of their records.

The highest scores in the California State Legislature belong to Republican Assemblymembers James Gallagher and Melissa Melendez, as well as Republican Senator Tom Berryhill, who all scored an A+ grade—and have been labeled Defenders of Liberty; a distinction that not only demands a stellar voting record, but also requires the member to actually author or co-author a pro-gun bill.

Other notables include top scoring Democrats Senator Richard Roth who received an

“A” and Assemblymember Jim Frazier with a “B”.

In contrast, Senator Hannah Beth Jackson, and Assemblymember Nora Campos bottomed out their respective houses scoring the lowest grade of “F-” and could be considered the most committed anti-gun owner and anti-gun rights Members of the Legislature.

View all of the grades at www.firearmspolicy.org/grades/2015-california-legislative-grades/

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Happy National Nurses Day

May 6, 2016 by 4 Comments

May 6th is the day that we celebrate National Nurses Day. It is the beginning of Nurses Week which concludes on May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightingale.

Unlike what you see on Grey’s Anatomy, it is the nurse who gives the shot and not the doctor. Unlike what you saw on Nurse Jackie, very few nurses are drug addicts stealing medicine from the patient. Unlike what you saw on Ben Casey or Dr. Kildare, nurses are not just subservient pretty little faces whose job it is jump when the doctor says jump. No, nurses are the professional health care givers who provide the backbone of our health care system. Much of their job isn’t exciting and doesn’t make for good television but is utterly necessary.

So on this National Nurses Day, I want to salute nurses everywhere and especially my own special nurse, the Complementary Spouse.

The Complementary Spouse, BSN, RN, MHS, CPAN

I am told by the Complementary Spouse that the only time she wore this white uniform with the pin and nurses cap was for this photo and at her graduation from nursing school. I won’t say what year she graduated other than to say it was in the last quarter of the 20th century.

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I Lied!

May 5, 2016 by 20 Comments

Basically, I’m an honest person. You ask me a question, I’ll give you the best answer that I know  how. That said, I lied yesterday.

I am switching internists. My old doctor, nice (and competent) though she was, never was on time. It drove me crazy to be the first or second person on the schedule and she was still late. So I switched.

When you are establishing a relationship with a new physician, they ask a lot of questions. Are you married? Who is your emergency contact? Are your parents still alive? Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera to quote Yul Brenner in The King and I.

So I am sitting in the examining room with the medical office assistant and she is going down the list of questions. She gets to a few she called “safety questions”. You know where I am going with this.

She asked, “Are there any guns in the home?” Rather than giving an evasive answer of “no comment” or asking “why do you want to know?”, I gave a clear, definitive “NO”.

I freely lied and I would do it again.

I was confirmed in my decision to lie when as the doctor was asking more medical history questions he stopped and apologized saying they were due to ObamaCare. I said I don’t have ObamaCare and he said they still force us to ask them. He was an experienced physician who had been practicing for many years and you could tell the bureaucratic oversight of his profession was driving him nuts. I know and he knows that somewhere some faceless bureaucrat sitting in some Federal agency will be data mining my responses.

As I joked with the Complementary Spouse later in the evening, I said we don’t have any guns in the home – we have firearms. On a serious note, I can’t tell you how to answer this question. I am firmly in the camp of it is none of their business. If you have to lie to protect your privacy and your Second Amendment rights, is it really a lie. Maybe yes, maybe no but you’ll have to let your own conscience be your guide.