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This Just Doesn’t Make Sense To Me

November 18, 2013 by 9 Comments

This past Thursday the US Fish and Wildlife Service destroyed six tons of illegally-obtained elephant ivory. They destroyed it by running it through a rock crusher at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. The six tons of confiscated ivory were accumulated over the last 25 years.

The official purpose for destroying the ivory was “to crack down on international poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking” according to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s release announcing the destruction.

“Rising demand for ivory is fueling a renewed and horrific slaughter of elephants in Africa, threatening remaining populations across the continent,” said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. “We will continue to work aggressively with the Department of Justice and law enforcement agencies around the world to investigate, arrest and prosecute criminals who traffic in ivory. We encourage other nations to join us in destroying confiscated ivory stockpiles and taking other actions to combat wildlife crime.”

Some six tons of ivory were pulverized by an industrial rock crusher in front of some of the world’s most influential conservationists. Speakers included U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe; Ginette Hemley, Senior Vice President of World Wildlife Fund; Azzedine Downes, CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare; and Paula Kahumbu, Executive Director of WildlifeDirect. Remarks were also provided by Robert Dreher, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and Judy Garber, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

“By crushing its contraband ivory tusks and trinkets, the U.S. government sends a signal that it will not tolerate the senseless killing of elephants,” said Carter Roberts, President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund. “Other countries need to join the United States, Gabon, Kenya and the Philippines to take a stand against the crime syndicates behind this slaughter.”

“The destruction of the U.S. ivory stockpile speaks loud and clear to those who value ivory more than saving the elephant species from extinction,” said Downes. “IFAW commends the government’s action that underscores the critical role the United States can play in ending the illegal ivory trade.”

It should be noted that hunting of elephants in certain parts of Africa is 100% legal and that the importation of trophies (including tusks) from these elephants is permitted. Moreover, the importation of antique ivory is also legal and permitted.
 
I am against the violation of game laws and poaching. Whether it is an undersize redfish, an out of season brook trout,  or an African elephant taken by poachers using AK-47s, violations should be prosecuted.

That said, this just doesn’t make sense to me. How does destroying this ivory do anything to stop the poaching of elephants? This is especially true if, as the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service Dan Ashe notes, “rising global demand for ivory is erasing those hard-fought gains” against poaching. The basic laws of supply and demand would dictate that even if demand remains the same, the decline in supply will increase the price. If the actions of the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Obama Administration are causing the price to increase, would not this encourage poachers even more?

Perhaps I’m naive but it would seem to me that the use of proceeds from a controlled sale of confiscated ivory to fund more game wardens in Africa, to reimburse native farmers whose crops are trampled by the elephants, and to finance the prosecution of poaching organizations at all levels would do more to conserve and protect African elephants than pulverizing this ivory.

I guess my problem in understanding the rationale behind all of this is that I’m not a politician or a bureaucrat or work for a NGO.

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Quote Of The Day

November 15, 2013 by 1 Comment

Jonah Goldberg, writing in the National Review Online yesterday, has perhaps the best characterization I’ve ever read about the far lefty ne’er do wells at Media Matters for America. It comes from his article about President Obama’s backtracking on ObamaCare.

Media Matters for America — David Brock’s sweatshop for twentysomethings who couldn’t get an internship at the DNC

I think that about says it about a group whose sole mission seems to promote Obama, demonize the NRA and gun owners, shout “Koch Brothers”, and deny Operation Fast and Furious. Oh, yes, and to trash Fox News at every opportunity along with CBS’s Emmy Award winning investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson.

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October NICS Show Slight Decline

November 14, 2013 by 1 Comment

The October 2013 NSSF-adjusted NICS checks are in and they show a slight decline from the same month in 2012. Nonetheless, if you look at the chart of NSSF-adjusted NICS checks for the last 14 years, both 2012 and 2013 are substantially higher than prior years.

From the NSSF:

The October 2013 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,113,818 is a decrease of 0.5 percent compared to the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,118,994 in October 2012. For comparison, the unadjusted October 2013 NICS figure of 1,679,099 reflects a 4.6 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,604,743 in October 2012.

The next chart is quite interesting. It shows the last 12 months of year over year data. You can see the spike in December 2012 and January 2013 presumably caused the shooting in Newtown and the attendant rise in the call for more gun control. After that, it follows the more normal curve of trending down towards summer and then starting to show a rise as the hunting season arrives.

 

 As the distance from the tragedy in Newtown has grown, the year over year gains have diminished until in August and October they actually show decreases. I think that we are at a new normal with some months being higher and some months being less.That said, the slight increases and decreases will be at a much higher base than pre-2012.

While the NSSF-adjusted NICS checks are not a perfect correlation for gun sales, they are a good indicator of them. For the firearms industry the great growth spurts may be over and their backlogs decreasing but they are still producing at a level that is significantly higher than in the past.

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And Here I Thought I Was Being Frugal

November 13, 2013 by 3 Comments

Buying ammunition when it is on sale or even just before an announced (or unannounced due to current events) price hike to me just makes sense. It appeals to my innate sense of frugality.

It also, I am informed, now makes me and thousands of others like me guilty of “suspicious activity” that might “indicate pre-operational terrorist attack planning or criminal activity.”  This is from a joint Department of Homeland Security and FBI “Roll Call Release”.  The example given to justify calling this suspicious activity was the case of the Norwegian killer who murdered a number of children at a summer camp back in 2011.

(U//FOUO) Possession of large amounts of weapons, ammunition,
explosives, accelerants, or explosive precursor chemicals could indicate
pre-operational terrorist attack planning or criminal activity. 

Really?

They also referred to “military-grade weapons”. I guess that would mean my Swiss Schmidt-Rubin K-31 rifles as they are actual Swiss Army surplus not to mention my Garand and Springfield 1903A3.

Given I found this due to a story on Off Grid News I wondered if this was just some sort of “survivalist” paranoia with little documentation. No, it isn’t.

The DHS-FBI bulletin does include this disclaimer at the end:

(U//FOUO) Constitutional activities should not be reported in a SAR or
Information Sharing Environment (ISE) SAR absent articulable facts and
circumstances that support the source agency’s suspicion that the
behavior observed is not innocent, but rather reasonably indicative of
criminal activity associated with terrorism, including evidence of pre
operational planning related to terrorism. Race, ethnicity, national
origin, or religious affiliation should not be considered as factors
that create suspicion (although these factors may be used as specific
suspect descriptions).

 After all the hyperbole contained in Roll Call Release, one has to wonder just how many police departments in many areas will even notice the “constitutional activities” disclaimer.

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What I’m Reading

November 13, 2013 by

I read a lot. Just ask the Complementary Spouse when she wants to get my attention!

I tend to have a number of books going at the same time. Currently, I’m reading three books that I hope to review for the blog.

The first is by well known Second Amendment attorney and scholar Stephen Halbrook. The Independent Institute has just published his book “Gun Control in the Third Reich: Disarming the Jews and ‘Enemies of the State'”. From the publisher’s blurb:

Based on newly discovered documents from German archives, diaries, and newspapers of the time, Halbrook presents the hidden history—in a readable but well documented, scholarly manner—of how the Third Reich made use of gun control to disarm and repress its enemies and consolidate its power.

The book covers the historical periods of the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich leading up to World War II. The book then presents a panorama of pertinent events during World War II regarding the effects of the disarming policies. As Americans’ right to bear arms becomes increasingly challenged, it is a caution to all who debate these issues.

The second book I’m reading is a short book by British publisher Osprey Publishing. They tend to do a lot of military history and weapons-related books. This one is entitled “The Book of Gun Trivia” and it is written by Gordon Rottman. I’ve learned a lot from what I’ve read so far.

The final book is about forward air controllers and their work with the Studies and Observation Group (SOG) in Vietnam. One of the places that my father was stationed in Vietnam was Cam Ranh Bay where he ran a small Army airfield. That is what spurred my interest in this book. Da Nang Diary was originally published in 1991 and is now being republished by Casemate.

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Gunny Writes On Getting “Squared Away Like A Marine”

November 13, 2013 by

I know that R. Lee Ermey – the Gunny – is one of the more popular celebrities at the NRA Annual Meeting. He usually can be found signing autographs at the Glock booth and there is always a long line to get autograph.

He has recently written a book on how what he learned in the Marine Corps helped him succeed in Hollywood. The book is entitled, “Gunny’s Rules: How to Get Squared Away like a Marine”. I have posted the publisher’s release on the book. As soon as I have finished reading it, I will post a review.

From Regnery Publishing:

WASHINGTON, D.C.—“If you’re reading this book, you probably know me well enough to know that I don’t mince words, gild lilies, or play politically correct games,” says R. Lee Ermey, a.k.a. “The Gunny,” iconic star of Full Metal Jacket, TV host of Mail Call and Lock N’ Load, and former Marine Corps Drill Instructor. “If you want it straight, damn straight, you’ll get it here.” Too many Americans are overweight, under motivated, and expecting their dream lives to fall right into their laps.

In Gunny’s Rules: How to Get Squared Away like a Marine (Regnery Publishing; Hardcover; November 11, 2013; $27.95), Ermey holds nothing back, revealing how he got his life “squared away” and how readers can do the same if they are willing to get off the couch and follow instructions. From lessons learned in his beloved Marine Corps to his film career and the making of Full Metal Jacket, Ermey will surprise even his most loyal fans with stories and insights from his journey as The Gunny.

Ermey’s fiery exhortations are a kick in the backside for folks to whip their lives, careers, families, and bodies into shape.

In Gunny’s Rules you will learn:

  • The inside story of how The Gunny grew up in the school of hard knocks and how the Marine Corps made him a man and prepared him for success in civilian life.

  • How The Gunny talked his way into the movie business—and into a starring role in Full Metal Jacket.

  • Why having a job and a paycheck should be goal number one in life and dependence on unemployment checks and food stamps is like quicksand.

  • How The Gunny keeps fit in a time when too many people are overweight—and why impressions are against those who are.

  • Leaders earn their stripes—nobody is born a leader. Leaders evolve by gaining responsibility a little at a time, learning, and striving to get better.

  • “Major malfunctions” happen, and life isn’t a cakewalk. When things go against you, learn from the experience, tighten up the ship, and move on.

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US Consumption Of Lead By Product

November 12, 2013 by 7 Comments

With the numerous stories including mine regarding the closure of the Heculaneum, MO primary lead smelting facility, I thought this chart would be helpful to put the consumption of lead for ammo into perspective. The chart is from IndexMundi which got it from the US Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program.

For 2010, lead used in shot and bullets comprised 4.6% of the total lead used in the United States. This was down from 5.26% in 2009.

TABLE 5———–
U.S.
CONSUMPTION OF LEAD, BY PRODUCT1— —
(Metric tons,
lead content)———–
SIC2 code Product 2009 2010
Metal products:
3482 Ammunition, shot and bullets
67,900 65,700
Bearing metals:
35 Machinery except electrical W W
371 Motor vehicles and equipment W W
37 Other transportation equipment W W
Total 1,100 1,230
3351 Brass and bronze, billets and
ingots		 1,370 1,410
36 Cable covering, power and
communication		 (3) (3)
15 Calking lead, building
construction		 (3) (3)
Casting metals:
36 Electrical machinery and
equipment–		 W W
371 Motor vehicles and equipment W W
37 Other transportation equipment W W
3443 Nuclear radiation shielding W W
Total 15,900 16,400
Pipes, traps, other extruded
products:
15 Building construction 1,130 990
3443 Storage tanks, process vessels,
etc.		 (4) (4)
Total 1,130 990
Sheet lead:
15 Building construction 16,300 16,000
3443 Storage tanks, process vessels,
etc.		 W W
3693 Medical radiation shielding W W
Total 25,400 23,400
Solder:
15 Building construction W W
Metal cans and shipping
containers		 W W
367 Electronic components,
accessories, and other electrical equipment		 6,160 6,130
371 Motor vehicles and equipment W W
Total 6,450 6,420
Storage batteries:
3691 Storage battery grids, post, etc. 389,000 478,000
3691 Storage battery oxides 750,000 806,000
Total storage batteries 1,140,000 1,280,000
27 Type metal, printing and allied
industries		 (3) (3)
34 Other metal products5 5,790 8,800
Grand total 1,260,000 1,410,000
Other oxides:
285 Paint W W
32 Glass and ceramics products W W
28 Other pigments and chemicals W W
Total 10,100 9,760
Miscellaneous uses 12,200 13,700
Grand total 1,290,000 1,430,000
W Withheld to
avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included in appropriate totals.
1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits;
may not add to totals shown.
2SIC Standard Industrial Classification.
3Included with -Metal products: Other Metal products.-
4Included with -Metal products: Sheet lead: Building
construction- to avoid disclosing company proprietary data.
5Includes lead consumed in foil, collapsible tubes,
annealing, galvanizing, plating, electrowinning, and fishing weights.

Looking at where raw lead is found, data from the US Geological Survey shows that Australia has the greatest proven reserves of lead. China which has the second largest amount of reserves of lead is actually the largest miner of lead accounting for about half of the world’s yearly production in 2012. The United States has only the 6th largest reserves in the world.

Kurt Hofmann makes an excellent point in his post about the Herculaneum smelter closure. He notes that the possible squeeze in lead for bullets might be felt even more keenly due to the Federal ban on many other materials for use in handgun ammo.

Perhaps, perhaps not, but regardless, the squeeze is likely to be felt quite keenly by gun owners. All the more keenly because of longstanding federal law banning the use of many other materials in the construction of bullets used in “handgun ammunition.” If lead is unavailable/unaffordable (and now verboten, to California hunters), and if a great many other possible bullet materials are illegal, the remaining options are both few and of limited utility.

And what, anyway, is “handgun ammunition,” you ask? Excellent question. Handguns have been built in nearly every caliber that rifles have, including the .50 BMG and the .600 Nitro Express. It seems apparent that any caliber that can be fired from a rifle can also be fired from a handgun, given a shooter with sufficient tolerance for recoil (and, in many cases, for impracticality).

And that means that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can, if it chooses, ban bullets made with tungsten alloys, steel, brass, etc., in virtually every caliber. It is hardly difficult to imagine the BATFE, especially under an administration like this one, choosing to do precisely that.

And therein lies the rub when it comes to reduced US production of primary lead.

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A Really Cool View

November 12, 2013 by

Thanks to The Firearm Blog, I came across a really interesting website today. It is dedicated to Curios and Relics. The website is called C&Rsenal and they are out of Charleston, SC.

They have a project going in which they take photos from the point of view of a shooter looking through the sights. The photos are of both common and rather rare firearms. They have everything from a Springfield 1903A3 to a Danish Madsen (Portuguese Contract) to a French Chauchat Mle.1915.

You can see some of them in the photo below:

C&Rsenal also has a number of prints of various firearms stripped down to the individual component level. These are also really cool.

If you have an interest in old firearms, I’d suggest checking them out. You won’t be disappointed.

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ABC’s 20/20, David Muir, The Armed Citizens Project, and “Amanda”

November 11, 2013 by 8 Comments

The Armed Citizens Project will be the focus of a story about guns in America scheduled to air on ABC’s 20/20 program sometime in December. Specifically, host David Muir sat down with a group of 12 single mothers who had received 12-gauge shotguns as part of the program.

“Amanda”, one of those 12 single moms, describes her participation in both the interview and with the Armed Citizens Project in the most recent episode of The Squirrel Report. She said Muir asked hard questions and she gave him back hard answers. Some of her answers must have been a little too hard for Muir as he changed the subject rather than continue his line of questioning. It will be interesting to see how ABC edits this. Amanda said that Muir’s anti-gun bias was quite evident.

The Squirrel Report is a weekly podcast hosted by Alan of Snarky Bytes, Breda of Breda Fallacy fame, JayG, and WeerdBeard.

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Rampage Killings And Media Complicity

November 11, 2013 by 3 Comments

What the media tends to call “mass shootings” are more appropriately called “rampage shootings” according to a review article by Ari Schulman in the Wall Street Journal. Far from being senseless murders as the media and politicians characterize them, they are a “kind of theater” whose purpose is terrorism minus the political agenda.

Mass shooters aim to tell a story through their actions. They create a narrative about how the world has forced them to act, and then must persuade themselves to believe it. The final step is crafting the story for others and telling it through spoken warnings beforehand, taunting words to victims or manifestos created for public airing.

What these findings suggest is that mass shootings are a kind of theater. Their purpose is essentially terrorism—minus, in most cases, a political agenda. The public spectacle, the mass slaughter of mostly random victims, is meant to be seen as an attack against society itself. The typical consummation of the act in suicide denies the course of justice, giving the shooter ultimate and final control.

We call mass shootings senseless not only because of the gross disregard for life but because they defy the ordinary motives for violence—robbery, envy, personal grievance—reasons we can condemn but at least wrap our minds around. But mass killings seem like a plague dispatched from some inhuman realm. They don’t just ignore our most basic ideas of justice but assault them directly.

The perverse truth is that this senselessness is just the point of mass shootings: It is the means by which the perpetrator seeks to make us feel his hatred. Like terrorists, mass shooters can be seen, in a limited sense, as rational actors, who know that if they follow the right steps they will produce the desired effect in the public consciousness.

Moreover, rampage killers tend to be competitive. They want their acts to be more violent and more destructive with more casualties than previous mass shootings.They use as their template for planning their acts the media reports of prior rampage killings according to researchers who have studied it.

Schulman says that rather than try to understand what motivated individual killers in Tucson or Newtown or Aurora, treating it as a contagion or epidemic allows us to find ways to disrupt the spread. Research into suicide and the role of the media in covering it gives some suggestions on how to disrupt it.

The major thing is that the killer needs to be deprived of an audience. They crave the attention that their acts will get from the mass media. It is one of the reasons that I make a conscious effort in this blog to never publish the name of the shooters in mass killings. I may refer to them as “the shooter” or “the murderer” but I refuse to give them the publicity that they craved.

Schulman has a list of suggestions for the media and the police.

  • Never publish the shooter’s propaganda
  • Hide their names and faces
  • Don’t report on biography or speculate on motive
  • Minimize specifics and gory details
  • No photos or videos of the event
  • Talk about the victims but minimize images of grieving families
  • Decrease the saturation
  • Tell a different story

While I don’t agree with Schulman’s conclusions regarding firearms, all in all this is an excellent article that needs to be read. As Schulman concludes, “If we can deprive him of the ability to make his internal psychodrama a shared public reality, if we can break this ritual of violence and our own ritual response, then we might just banish these dreadful and all too frequent acts to the realm of vile fantasy.”

The full article can be found here.