Uncategorized

Second Highest Adjusted NICS Checks On Record

February 12, 2013 by



The National Shooting Sports Foundation has posted their adjusted NICS checks for the month of January 2013 and they are astounding. Not only does this mark the 32nd straight month of increases compared to the prior period the year before but the numbers for January constitute the second highest month on record. Only the previous month of December eclipsed the January numbers.

The numbers:

The January 2013 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,790,154 is an increase of 94.4 percent over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 920,840
in January 2012. For comparison, the unadjusted January 2013 NICS
figure of 2,483,230 reflects an 81.4 percent increase from the
unadjusted NICS figure of 1,368,816 in January 2012.

94%! The anecdotal reports that I have read and heard about suggest many of the firearms buyers are first time buyers who have been spurred on in their purchases by the clamor for gun control since the Newtown shootings. As others have commented, just how many of these new gun owners are going to surrender a firearm that they have just bought at inflated prices? Precious few.

Looking at the chart below which compares the current period with the year prior period you can see a substantial increase starting in November 2012. While earlier months do show increases, it is nothing like the last three months and especially December 2012 and January 2013. If the NSSF-adjusted NICS checks are down in February 2013 compared to February 2012 I would speculate that it is tied to the low inventories in many gun shops.

As always I need to add the caveat that NICS checks are not a direct correlation with firearms purchases. Holders of concealed carry permits in a number of states do not have to go through a NICS check as the permit suffices for that. Moreover, states such as Kentucky, Iowa, and Michigan use the NICS system to do part of the background check for new carry permits as well as using it to check on existing permits. That said, the adjusted NICS checks are a good indicator of trends in firearm sales.

Uncategorized

Comm2A Goes To Federal Court Against Four Police Chiefs

February 12, 2013 by

Commonwealth Second Amendment, the Massachusetts gun rights organization, has filed suit in US District Court for the District of Massachusetts against four Massachusetts police chiefs. They allege that the chiefs have violated the Second Amendment rights by imposing unreasonable and unlawful licensing restrictions on the plaintiffs.

Comm2A filed suit in federal court against four police chiefs in Massachusetts alleging that they violated citizens Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.


With support from the National Rifle Association, Commonwealth Second Amendment (Comm2A) and six individual plaintiffs filed suit challenging the constitutionality of restrictions placed on the Licenses to Carry issued by police chiefs in the towns of Weymouth, Danvers, Peabody, and Worcester. The suit alleges that the plaintiffs were denied their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms because the defendants imposed unreasonable and unlawful licensing restrictions on the plaintiffs.


“The fact that there are 351 unregulated and arbitrary practices of issuing licenses in Massachusetts is ridiculous,” said Brent Carlton President of Comm2A. “No one would stand for it if it was arbitrarily determined who has the ability to access other rights granted by the Constitution such as free speech.”


In all six cases Chiefs determined that individuals who were otherwise lawfully suitable would be restricted from having a firearm for self defense. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit seek a declaratory ruling that the Massachusetts licensing statute and practices of the defendants that prohibit qualified citizens are unconstitutional because they prohibit qualified citizens such as the plaintiffs from carrying a loaded operable handgun for the purpose of self-defense. The suit also seeks to direct defendants to issue plaintiffs licenses to carry without restrictions that would otherwise prohibit the carrying of firearms for personal protection.

Commonwealth Second Amendment (Comm2A) is a grassroots civil rights organization dedicated to promoting a better understanding of rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The case is Davis v. Grimes and the complaint can be found here. The attorneys for the plaintiffs are Patrick M. Groulx of Melrose, Massachusetts and well-known Second Amendment attorney David Jensen of New York.

Uncategorized

I Find This Kinda Sad

February 12, 2013 by 1 Comment

Americans for Responsible Solutions has released their first ad in time for the State of the Union address tomorrow.

After watching it, I found it kind of sad and bordering on pathetic. I really have to question how much of what Gabby Giffords is saying comes from her own thoughts given her traumatic brain injury. That is, how much of this is Giffords as opposed to Mark Kelly putting the thoughts in her head and the words in her mouth.

We should remember that the young man that shot Rep. Giffords did pass a FBI-run NICS check before he bought his Glock. He may not have passed it if his aberrant behavior at the community college had been reported to authorities. Moreover, the Pima County Sheriffs Office was reportedly aware of the young man and his threats and did nothing. Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, a Democrat, preferred to blame the Tea Party and “inflammatory rhetoric”.

Uncategorized

Assaulted: Civil Rights Under Fire – Round 2

February 11, 2013 by

I have been tardy in getting this notice up. Kris Koenig of Dead Patriot Films has started another Kickstarter campaign to raise monies for post-production costs. The filming is done and they expect to release the film in March of this year.

From Kris:


Distribution

We will pursue a theatrical release of the film in March 2013 followed by distribution by Southern Oregon Public Television to PBS and PTV stations across the nation.
How will the funds be used?

Post-Production

Talent costs money and high-quaility, national level editors don’t come cheap; no matter how well the story is written, a bad edit will sink a film. Post-production also means meeting PBS engineering standards and practices. There are direct costs associated with a PBS review that the producer pays for on top of the overall production.

Then there are duplication costs, tapes, lawyers fees, insurance, and health insurance for the crew…on and on.

With your help we can produce a great film about a serious subject that affects lives, our civil rights, public safety and our liberty.

Risks and challenges

 We’re lucky to have an experienced editorial team onboard for this project. Jon Fischer (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1502707) our lead editor, is a highly respected reality TV editor, and will co-manage with director/writer Kris Koenig (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2861174) and producer Eric Katzenberg (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2890899) a team of assistant editors and production assistants to bring the vision of the script to a finished film.

Jon is concurrently working on other broadcast productions, so additional personnel is critical to help him execute the script on the editor. Not having the financial resources to secure additional talent will challenge us from being able to meet our production schedule of 60 days.

Since our initial funding here on Kickstarter, Kris and Anita Ingrao (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2871870) have traveled across the country to secure over fifty interviews of politicians, educators, lawyers, law enforcement, victims and gun owners to capture both side of this debate. Each of these interviews have been ingested into the editor and transcribed for the editor’s and writer’s use. All in 90 days!

This campaign is seeking “good money after good action” since our first Kickstarter success. It will be heartbreaking to limp to the finishing line 6 months from now after this debate is over in congress without our film having an impact in the discussion.

Finally, Kris was the overall manager of his last major project, 400 Years of the Telescope (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231285). This project involved over 125 individuals, a 9-month deadline from initial funding, and required the crew to film on five continents over six weeks. All while managing the creation of a PBS science special, full-dome planetarium program, a PBS affiliate outreach component,website development and original score performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. The $2.9 million dollar budget was highly controlled by Kris and whole project was delivered ahead of schedule. Kris has the experience to overcome production obstacles but he is only human. Sickness, injury or death are the only things, except funding, that will keep him from finishing this film on time.

As I said, I was tardy. They only have five more days to go. If you would like to make a pledge, go here. I made my pledge this morning. The pledge button is on the right hand part of the page.

Uncategorized

Who Cares About Jobs When Ideology Is At Stake

February 11, 2013 by 3 Comments

The gun prohibitionists in the Minnesota State House and Senate obviously don’t care about jobs if they are in the firearms industry. Otherwise, Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul) and her compatriots would never have introduced HF 241. This bill would make it a crime to “manufacture, import, transfer or possess an assault weapon” after its enactment.

The Freedom Group subsidiary DPMS/Panther Arms is located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It employs 115 employees. In the video below, Adam Bullard, Product Manager for DPMS/Panther Arms testifies before the Minnesota House Public Safety and Policy Committee on HF 241.

The only exceptions the bill provides for the exemption of the manufacture of “assault weapons” for sale to the armed forces or to a Minnesota law enforcement agency. Notice that says nothing about exempting out of state sales and that includes out of state sales to even law enforcement agencies.

Just like Remington is being courted in New York, I’m sure that DPMS/Panther Arms management is hearing from industrial recruiters in other states.

Uncategorized

Strong Hand Tactical Shotgun Reloads

February 11, 2013 by 3 Comments

There is always the argument about whether nature or nurture is more important. However, that argument is moot when you are dealing with pro-shooter Lena Michulek. That is because she is the daughter of champion shooters Jerry Michulek and Kay Clark Michulek. She has both good genes and good training.

This shows in the video below in which she shows how to quickly perform a strong hand tactical reload of a shotgun – and then proceeds to quickly knock down five plate targets. I like her reload technique and plan to get some dummy rounds to practice it.

Uncategorized

LaRue Tactical Steps Up And GRNC Asks Why Not More

February 10, 2013 by 10 Comments

LaRue Tactical of Leander, TX is well known for both their tactical accessories and their highly accurate AR-style rifles. On Friday, Mark LaRue, the owner and president, issued a notice stating his company would limit their sales to state and local law enforcement agencies to what the citizen of that state or locality was permitted to own or possess. In other words, if, for example, the residents of California or New York are limited in what they may possess due to “assault weapons bans”, then sales to the LAPD or NYPD will be limited to that as well.

Grass Roots North Carolina is starting a campaign to get other companies on board with this. Their position with which I agree is that the “Only Ones” should not be allowed to have special weapons that are forbidden to the average citizen by state or local law.


Do other manufacturers support the Second Amendment only when it’s profitable to do so?

The Second Amendment has always had fair-weather friends. LaRue Tactical, manufacturers of firearms and firearm accessories, is one company that will never be accused of being our fair-weather friend. When New York State passed its unconstitutional anti-gun law, LaRue swung into action. In a move reminiscent of Barrett Firearms’ banning of all sales to California law enforcement (http://www.thegunzone.com/rkba/rkba-50.html) after California banned .50BMG rifles, LaRue has stated that it will not sell anything to local law enforcement that it can’t sell to you and me.

In a news release dated 2-8-13, LaRue states:

Effective today, in an effort to see that no legal mistakes are made by LaRue Tactical and/or its employees, we will apply all current State and Local Laws (as applied to civilians) to state and local law enforcement / government agencies. In other words, LaRue Tactical will limit all sales to what law-abiding citizens residing in their districts can purchase or possess.

(http://www.facebook.com/LaRueAccuracy#!/LaRueAccuracy/posts/529849683721877)

Lest you think that LaRue, more famous for accessories than anything else, is making an empty statement, take a look at the AR style rifles they manufacture (http://www.laruetactical.com/rifles). New York banned them for sale to citizens, so LaRue won’t sell them to the NYPD either. Will other firearm manufacturers have the guts to stand up like LaRue and Barrett do?

The NYPD allows officers to select one of three firearms for duty carry: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Police_Department#Firearms):

• SIG P226 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIG_P226)

• Smith & Wesson 5946 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_5906)

• Glock 19 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glock_19#9.C3.9719mm_Parabellum).

All of these pistols are equipped with a greater than 7-round magazine, making them illegal for sale to law-abiding New York residents.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

• Send the following letter to SIG, Smith & Wesson, and Glock and ask them to follow LaRue Tactical’s lead. Tell them to adopt the same rule: If it can’t be sold to citizens, it won’t be sold to State and local government.

• Go to LaRue Tactical’s Facebook page and thank them for standing up for your Second Amendment rights: http://www.facebook.com/LaRueAccuracy#!/LaRueAccuracy/posts/529849683721877

Contact

Cut and paste email list: publicsafetysales@sigsauer.com, dgrier@smith-wesson.com, LE.info@glock.us

Deliver This Message

Suggested Subject: If it’s illegal for us, don’t sell it to police!

Dear Law Enforcement Sales Manager,

Recently New York rushed an ill-advised and unconstitutional law infringing on the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Other states are poised to write similar laws. I urge you to follow the lead of LaRue Tactical which has adopted this policy: If it can’t be sold to law-abiding citizens, it won’t be sold to state and local police agencies either.

There are 800,000 sworn police officers in the entire United States. The FBI reports a total of 2,495,440 NICS checks, and thus firearms sales, in January alone. Police sales are not your major business. It’s time for firearm manufacturers to send a clear message that you will not participate in the slow erosion of our Second Amendment rights.

(NICS numbers Source http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/nics/reports/20130205_1998_2013_monthly_yearly_totals.pdf)

Signed,

A Concerned Gun Owner

Uncategorized

Majority Of North Carolinians Support Armed Guards In Schools

February 10, 2013 by



A new poll conducted by the High Point University Survey Research Center found that a clear majority of North Carolinians approve of armed guards in schools. The survey conducted between January 27th and 31st surveyed 668 residents of North Carolina and has a 3.8 +/- margin of error.

The poll asked two questions regarding education and school safety. The first question asked whether the respondents felt that schools were more safe or less safe than they were ten years ago. A plurality of those surveyed – 42% – felt schools were less safe while 34% thought they were more safe. 24% of those surveyed thought there was no difference or didn’t know.

The poll then asked the following:

Some people support hiring more armed guards to help keep schools safe,
but other people have said that is not necessary. Do you think all
schools should hire armed guards?

55% of those surveyed thought all schools should have armed guards. This was the position of the National Rifle Association that many in the media as well as the President dismissed.

41% thought that not all schools should have armed guards. Notice this is different from no school should have armed guards. While the poll didn’t ask a follow-up question on this response, it would have been interesting to know how many in this 41% thought no schools should have armed guards versus those who felt that certain schools might need armed guards.

These results provide backing for the supporters of SB 27 in the North Carolina State Senate which would establish the position of school safety marshal. These would be specially trained persons permitted to carry firearms in schools.

Uncategorized

Huge Turnout Wednesday In Maryland For Gun Rights

February 8, 2013 by 3 Comments

When the Washington Post runs a story that says “Gun rights advocates marshaled one of the biggest crowds to descend on Annapolis for a bill hearing in years”, you know it was a big turnout. In other words, it was too big a crowd for even the anti-rights mainstream media to minimize.

While the question remains whether the Democrat-dominated legislature will listen to gun rights supporters or to Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) who is trying to vie with Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) of New York on gun control, the report from Maryland Shall Issue (see below) on the event gives some measure of hope on the issue.

Yesterday Maryland Shall Issue, in concert with the NRA, the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, staged the largest “Gun Day” rally in the history of our state – official state estimates count 4,000 pro-rights supporters who converged at our statehouse for a morning rally and afternoon hearings in the Senate.

We literally shut the place down. Soon after the hearing, I got a call from the MD Capital Police. They told us the building was already at maximum capacity and that fire code meant no more entrants.

This was more than a rally. Our people all showed up to attend the hearing and to testify. Even after locking out our many members, there would be more than 1,000 people in line to testify. Just getting your name on the list of witnesses took six hours. Every person stood in line, eager to get their voices heard. Unfortunately, the chairman of the committee – Senator Brian Frosh – is a the largest Gun Control Advocate in the state. He decided to unilaterally cut off testimony after 4 hours from each side. Even when reduced, the Gun Controllers ran out witnesses. They had them on the list to testify, but after 5 PM many were no where to be found. They were mostly government employees – it looks like their interest in Gun Control ended when the paychecks ran out. The Chairman eventually reduced “testimony” to nothing more than your name and town. That’s it. That was was his idea of how to let people petition their government. Our side went until they literally told us to leave. The last name was spoken at almost 10 PM.

We had an effect. Publicly many admit that licensing is dead; that registration is about to fail; and privately there is talk that even the AWB is at risk. They are splitting the Governor’s bill into smaller bills, because as of today they big one would not pass either chamber.

We are not guaranteed a final win on everything. But this was supposed to be a cake walk for them, and the people of this state are going to make them work for it.

Maryland Shall Issue has been asked what we would compromise – whether we could “throw them a bone.” We told them that we would not compromise a single right. They told us that means we could lose. Our membership is united: we would rather have all of our rights stolen from us, than to willingly give up even one.

Everyone keep us in their prayers. We are holding our line in this fight. Pray we hold it until the end.

Perhaps this testimony from Maryland-based gun maker Beretta as reported by the Washington Post might have some influence as well.

Jeffrey Reh, general counsel for firearm manufacturer Beretta, which has a plant in Accokeek, warned lawmakers that O’Malley’s bill, which outlaws 45 types of weapons and their knockoffs, could have a severe impact on the company’s business. He also said that because gun manufacturers in Maryland are required to register as firearm dealers, it’s unclear whether the company would still be allowed to export guns for sale in other states.

“We’re confronted with a state government that wants to ban the products we make,” Reh said. “Not surprisingly, we are concerned.”

Uncategorized

A Report On The Gun Rights Rally In Raleigh

February 8, 2013 by

Grass Roots North Carolina had a decent turnout in Raleigh for their Second Amendment Freedom Rally on Tuesday. Given it was in the middle of the workweek and that there are no major gun control measures expected to be passed by the North Carolina General Assembly, 600 to 1,000 people was a good turnout.

The report from GRNC is below as is the streaming feed from WRAL.

GRNC Second Amendment Freedom Rally

Observers estimate that—even on a workday—between 600 and 1,000 gun owners mobbed the legislature Tuesday at GRNC’s Second Amendment Freedom Rally. Held in the Halifax Mall, under the office windows of lawmakers during a legislative day, GRNC supporters delivered a coordinated two-fold message to legislators, the media, and the world:

1. At a state level, it is time to expand the 18-year success of our concealed handgun law to include restaurants, educational property, and other areas.

2. Absolutely nothing about federal gun control proposals is acceptable, and gun owners will not compromise on the issue.

GRNC volunteers made the difference

Organized by GRNC Director of Development Josette Chmiel, more than a dozen GRNC volunteers efficiently set up the event, signed up members, recorded photos and video of the event, and beginning at 10:00 AM, directed gun rights supporters to legislators’ offices. As hundreds of gun owners visited the offices of their House and Senate representatives as well the leadership of both chambers, the lime green “Guns Save Lives” stickers they wore seemed to flood the complex.

Politicians and media got the message

Unlike rallies held at unoccupied capitols on weekends, the media swarmed this event. Most Raleigh-area TV outlets were present, plus the Associated Press and National Public Radio. WRAL-TV ran live streaming coverage of nearly the full event on its website (to see it, check GRNC’s home page at www.GRNC.org). AP coverage of the event ran as far as San Francisco.

In addition to legislators who addressed the enthusiastic crowd, numerous others state lawmakers attended the rally, up to and reportedly including Lt. Governor Dan Forest (GRNC ****). Inside the legislature, representatives, legislative assistants, and staff were all keenly aware your presence.

Speakers energized the crowd

Opening the rally, Pastor Rod Chaney (who ran for House 50 in 2012 and earned GRNC’s highest 4-star evaluation), led the group in prayer by urging them to be drawn to action in defending the rights of free people. Josette Chmiel then got up to reiterate GRNC’s “no compromise” position. Jay Delaney, Executive Director of the Voter Integrity Project, spoke of the impact of voter fraud on gun rights.

Next, the keynote speaker and nationally renowned WPTF conservative talk show host Bill LuMaye discussed the historical perspective of the Second Amendment in preventing tyranny, describing how states should nullify unconstitutional laws and calling upon Republican leadership to “walk the walk.”

Other speakers included Rules Chairman Rep. Tim Moore; Sen. Andrew Brock, who called upon gun owners to be ever-vigilant and to stand and fight for the Second Amendment; former Rep. Glen Bradley; Sen. Jeff Tarte; and Rep. Larry Pittman, who described his proposed amendment to the North Carolina Constitution, which would strengthen the right to arms and would require the State to resist federal attempts to disarm the citizenry.

As rally participants became increasingly energized, GRNC President Paul Valone took the stage to remind them of the lessons of 1994, when “compromise” on relatively benign gun control proposals led to the introduction of the draconian gun ban known as “Brady II.” As the crowd’s fervor grew, he said:

“But make no mistake: These “reasonable” universal background checks are designed to create the beginnings of a national gun registration system. And registration is the necessary prelude to confiscation.

“So tell people who support this “reasonable” measure that the Clinton administration already tried to turn the National Instant Check System into a defacto gun registration system by failing to expunge transaction records, in violation of the law.

“They lied to us last time. Will we trust them this time?”

The crowd’s cry of “NO!” was so resolute that it not only rang but actually echoed off the windows of the Legislative Office Building.

Said Valone, “This is not 1994. Born of fire, scores of gun rights organizations like Grass Roots North Carolina have spent nearly two decades preparing for JUST. THIS. MOMENT.” Building to a crescendo, he said, “So now I want you to deliver a message that shakes the politicians behind these windows…”

The resulting three chants from the crowd, repeating with increasing volume to literally rattle legislators’ windows were:

“WE. WILL. NOT. COMPROMISE.”

See photos and video of GRNC Freedom Rally

Photos are available at: http://grnc.org/second-amendment-freedom-rally (Please note that photos showing only a few dozen participants were shot during setup for the event.)

The video of Valone’s speech is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR54-ixNm6s

Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler says private sales will continue

After GRNC dropped hundreds of emails into the office of Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, asking whether he would support statements made earlier by Agriculture Police Chief Joel Keith that private gun sales would no longer be allowed at state-run facilities hosting gun shows, Troxler’s office asked GRNC for a meeting. During the meeting, Troxler described complexities of safely holding gun shows at the state fairground, but promised that details were being worked out with gun show promoters to allow private sales to continue.

‘2nd Right’ rally

Patriot and Second Amendment supporter Rona Herman is helping to organize an assembly at the NC State Capitol in Raleigh to support gun rights. This assembly is being conducted concurrently with groups across the country who will gather at state capitols in support of freedom.

These coordinated demonstrations will take place Friday, February 8th from 10 am until 1 pm. The North Carolina contingent will gather in Raleigh at the Bicentennial Plaza, 1 East Edenton Street. Maps of the gathering area and parking are available here: http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=35.7816552&lon=-78.6383664&z=18&l=0&m=b. Ms. Herman is coordinating this event through Facebook. More information is available here: https://www.facebook.com/events/316601425126403/.

GRNC encourages members to participate in this coordinated, nation-wide event to support the right to keep and bear arms! Let our legislators know that we will NOT COMPROMISE OUR RIGHTS!