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Why Bayonet Lugs On ARs Are So Dangerous

December 12, 2023 by 2 Comments

I never understood the gun prohibitionists’ preoccupation with bayonet lugs on AR-15s. It seemed every one of their attempts at an “assault weapon” ban included this feature as a disqualifying feature. Only the US Marine Corps still has bayonet training in our military as the Army has abandoned it. The last major US military bayonet charge was during the Korean War. I will note the British Army did very effective bayonet charges in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mike Williamson examines a number of the bayonets for the AR-15/M-16 in his Sharp Pointy Things YouTube below.

I have a surplus M-7 bayonet as well as a surplus M-9. I think, without checking, my M-9 was made by LanCay and not Phrobis. That said, I am very envious of Mike’s modified Swiss Pioneer bayonet!

If you want to learn more about bayonet fighting, there are many free manuals on the Internet. You can bayonet training manuals for the armed forces of many countries including the US, Japan, and the UK. They make for interesting reading.

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Thoughts On NRA General Operations Changes

December 8, 2023 by 3 Comments

In the last couple of days I’ve talked to a number of people about the replacement (firing?) of Joe DeBergalis with Andrew Arulanandam as Executive Director of General Operations at the NRA. The people have included both current and former directors, former NRA staff, and outside observers. The one theme that constantly was brought up is the bylaw provision (Article V, Sec. 2 (f)) that the Executive Director of General Operations serves as the interim Executive VP/CEO if the Office of Executive VP is vacant. He or she would then serve until the next meeting of the Board of Directors.

One theory was that Wayne LaPierre wanted an absolute loyalist heading General Operations in order to approve his legal bills in case the New York court removed him as Executive VP and CEO. This is not to say DeBergalis was not a loyalist to Wayne. One person went so far as to say “his head was up Wayne’s ass”.

Another theory that plays off the one above is the Bill Brewer orchestrated the change and wanted “his guy” in that position. One person who had butted heads with Brewer said Arulanandam was an “acolyte” of Brewer. DeBergalis was not considered, I am told, as amenable to the whims of Brewer. Thus, if Wayne is removed, Brewer has someone in position to keep the money flowing to him until it all runs out.

As to the Board of Directors having any advanced knowledge of this move by Wayne, I was told there was none. Jim Shepherd of the Outdoor Wires confirms that in his post today.

Speaking with a current NRA board members, it seems there was no conversation -at least with them- regarding the abrupt decision. DeBergalis, a retired former New York police official, is a former Board member and longtime NRA supporter.

We’ve reached out to him -and others- and have gotten no response as of this writing. If/when we get any insight, we’ll share it with you.

Wayne was within his powers to replace DeBergalis. Article V, Sec. 2 (c) of the Bylaws explicitly gives him that power without any recourse by the Board unlike the Secretary or Treasurer who can only be suspended with pay.

From all I’ve read over the years and the anecdotes I’ve heard, Wayne is a weak man who has a hard time making a decision. He has relied over the years on others to lead him. This has included his one-time BFF Tony Makris, his wife Susan, his late mentor Angus McQueen, and now Bill Brewer. If I had to bet house money, I would say that Bill Brewer convinced Wayne that it was in Wayne’s best interest to replace DeBergalis with Arulanandam. That it was also in Brewer’s interest should go without saying.

The trial in New York begins a month from today and the Board meets in Dallas on January 5th. All I can say is that January will be an interesting month.

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A Day That Will Live In Infamy Plus 82 Years

December 7, 2023 by 2 Comments

My parent’s generation had the attack on Pearl Harbor while the tail end of Gen X and the early millennials had 9-11. Boomers like myself and the rest of Gen X never had a singular attack on our country that caused us to rush to recruiting stations to enlist.

Battleship row with torpedoes streaking toward the USS West Virginia

It is not like we didn’t have wars like the Vietnam War or the first Gulf War. We had incidents like the Cuban Missile Crisis and Iranian Hostage Crisis. But it was the Cold War for the most part and attacks and conflict were elsewhere. After Pearl Harbor we vowed never to be taken by surprise again until we were in 9-11. However, it was a group of non-state actors who perpetrated that attack while we were looking elsewhere. That finally taught us that evil and attacks could come from any direction.

USS Arizona’s forward magazine exploding

I’m glad we never had another attack like Pearl Harbor. I do wish we as a country could be as united as we were back then but the world is a different and less innocent place now. In a world dominated by mass communication, whether over the airwaves or the Internet, the posters below seem almost naive. Unfortunately.

Finally, remembering Doris “Dorie” Miller, the Complementary Spouse and I visited the Doris Miller Memorial in Waco, Texas last October. It lies in a park along the Brazos River.

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A PR Flack In Charge Of NRA General Operations?

December 6, 2023 by 1 Comment

You have to be f’ing kidding me. The NRA trial in the State of New York starts in approximately one month and Wayne LaPierre picks now to replace Joe DeBergalis, Executive Director of NRA’s General Operations, with the organization’s PR flack. What in the hell is going on?

Photo: WAVE 3 News

This went out today:

Effective immediately, I have appointed Andrew Arulanandam as interim executive director of NRA General Operations, replacing Joe DeBergalis. We wish Joe and his family all the best.

Andrew has more than 23 years of experience with the NRA, working for the Association and NRA-ILA. He currently serves as the managing director of public affairs. During his career, he has assisted with a wide range of corporate initiatives, messaging and crisis communications programs, and events at the local, regional, and national levels. He held numerous senior leadership positions in private and public organizations before joining the NRA.

Please join me in congratulating Andrew on his new position and in thanking Joe for his service to the NRA.

Wayne

I started hearing a rumor about DeBergalis being ousted yesterday but could not get a confirmation. Now I have nothing against Andrew Arulanandam other than I can never pronounce his name properly but this makes no sense whatsoever. His expertise according to his LinkedIn profile has always been politics and communications strategy.

As I said in the first paragraph, what the hell is going on in Fairfax? And why now?

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Be Aware When Renewing Your NC CHP

December 3, 2023 by

Grass Roots North Carolina recently sent out an alert on an issue that has come with renewals on North Carolina Concealed Handgun Permits. It seems some mental health organizations are trying to bill the permit holder for the mental health records check. This violates state law.

Here is what GRNC has to say about it:

It has come to our attention that some Mental Health Companies have been billing individuals that are renewing permit a fee for doing a records check.

Don’t fall for it.

Submitting the bill is a violation of NC law.

In the 2015 Legislative Session GRNC was instrumental in changing the NC CHP statute pertaining to the renewal of Conceal Handgun Permits. It reads as follows:

NCGS § 14-415.15 “The sheriff shall make the request for any records concerning the mental health or capacity of the applicant within 10 days of receipt of the items listed in G.S. 14-415.13. No person, company, mental health provider, or governmental entity may charge additional fees to the applicant (emphasis mine) for background checks conducted under this subsection.”

Send the invoice back and tell them to submit it to your sheriff’s office. 

So if you are renewing your permit, be aware and don’t be conned into paying for the records check when state law forbids it.

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Hello, LaGrange; Goodbye, Ilion

December 2, 2023 by 2 Comments

After 217 years, Remington is leaving Ilion, New York. RemArms LLC, the post-bankruptcy successor to Remington Arms, announced yesterday that they will be closing down the plant in Ilion and moving all operations to their new location in LaGrange, Georgia. The Ilion plant will close in March 2024.

From the Utica Observer-Dispatch:

“I am writing to inform you that RemArms, LLC (“the Company”) has decided to close its entire operations at 14 Hoefler Avenue, Ilion, NY 13357 (the “Ilion Facility”),” begins the letter ending two centuries of history. “The Company expects that operations at the Ilion Facility will conclude on or about March 4, 2024. The Company did not arrive at this decision lightly.” 

The layoffs should take place between March 4 and March 18, wrote Brian Wheatley, director of benefits and compensation for the firm in Kernersville, North Carolina, to officials with the United Mine Workers of America. 

The 270 workers at the plant are represented by the United Mine Workers of America. After saying the union had worked tirelessly with the company, the workers, and local officials to keep the plant open, they are calling this move a “slap in the face”.

The union contends that:

“The simple fact is that RemArms will never be able to match the experience and dedication of the workers in Central New York, who for generations worked in this plant and kept this company alive.

“We urge RemArms LLC to reconsider this decision and explore alternative solutions that would allow the Ilion plant to remain operational. The extensive cleanup for abandoning this plant could potentially cost the town of Ilion and the state of New York a massive amount of money.

Last November, Georgia officials including Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) welcomed the news that Remington was moving their global headquarters to LaGrange as well as building an “advanced manufacturing operation” there. Remington also planned to put a R&D center in LaGrange as well.

Village of Ilion Mayor John Stephens told the Albany Times-Union that he was not surprised by the news.

Stephens said the pending move became clear over the last few years as more and more models of firearms production were pulled out of Ilion and moved to LaGrange, Georgia.

Currently, he said, the company still makes its popular 700-model hunting rifles and shotguns in Ilion. Previously, the factory also made firearms for police and military use.

Ilion is hoping to find another tenant for the historic Remington plant given the need to warehouse space in the region.

Remington posted a video announcement by CEO Ken D’Arcy of the decision to consolidate in LaGrange. In his announcement, D’Arcy made note that Georgia has been welcoming to the firearms industry. He said keeping the old plant going was becoming cost prohibitive and that legislative environment in New York was a major concern.

I don’t think any observer of the firearms industry is surprised by the news. Perhaps the real surprise was that they actually restarted the Ilion plant after the bankruptcy given its age and the toxic nature of New York politics. Losing a major employer always hurts and it especially hurts in such a small town as Ilion.

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Out Of Africa

December 1, 2023 by 2 Comments

The movie Out of Africa featured Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. The movie won to win seven Oscars including wins for Best Picture and Best Director in 1986.

© 1985 – Universal Pictures

The movie was based upon the book of the same name (#commission earned) by Isak Dinesen which was the pen name of Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke, The movie and the book are an account of her life on a coffee plantation in Kenya, her marriage of convenience with Baron Bror von Blixen-Fiencke, and her affair with dashing British aristocrat and professional hunter Denys Finch Hatton.

On December 9th, Rock Island Armory is auctioning a Mannlicher-Schoenauer 1905 redone by George Gibbs that has been attributed to Denys Finch Hatton. It comes with a case, ammunition, and, most importantly, documentation. It is in .256 Gibbs Magnum caliber. The pre-auction estimate is that the rifle will sell for between $15,000 and $25,000.

From Rock Island Auctions

Here is how the rifle is rated by Rock Island Auctions:

Fine as used in the bush of Eastern Africa, with 60% plus of the blue finish remaining on the metal surfaces, a few areas showing spotting and mild oxidation, and mild overall handling evidence. The stock has been repaired with a professionally made plate creating a mechanical hold around a crack off the right side of the action. Otherwise the stock shows numerous mild dings and scratches, high edge wear, and overall sharp checkering. The case is very good. Much of the ammunition appears to still be factory sealed and the rest appears to be very good. The magazine box is slightly loose, otherwise mechanically fine. Rifles with stories like this one do not often come along, do not pass up the opportunity to own this historic rifle from one of the most famous hunter of the “Golden Age” of safari hunting in Africa!

Rock Island has put together a short video in which they discuss the provenance of the rifle, Denys Finch Hatton, etc.

If I were a very wealthy man which I’m not, I could see this rifle gracing my walnut paneled trophy room. As it is, a man can dream, can’t he?

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Was Stabbing In NC High School Self-Defense?

November 29, 2023 by 1 Comment

This past Monday there was a mob attack on a student at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School. The aftermath left a 15 year old student dead and another 16 year old in the hospital with stab wounds. The 14 year old who did the stabbing has been charged with murder. Video of the incident has been making the rounds on the Internet. In that video you can also see a number of students filming the attack with their cell phones. I don’t know if any of those videos have been uploaded.

The 14 year old charged with murder was the intended victim of the mob attacker and not the instigator of the attack. His family is arguing that it was self-defense and that he was targeted as a result of an earlier incident involving his older sister and mother. The mother, Cherelle McLaughlin, asserts that she warned school authorities when she dropped her son off at school that he would be targeted for defending his sister. Wake County school officials have not responded as to whether they had prior warning.

As attorney Andrew Branca has said there are five elements to be able to claim self-defense. Moreover, all five must be met or the claim fails. Those elements are avoidance, innocence, imminence, proportionality, and reasonableness. He goes over these in details in his seminar which I have taken, online, and in his book The Law of Self Defense: The Indispensable Guide to the Armed Citizen, 3rd Ed. (#commission earned)

Branca posted a video today examining in detail the video of the attack as well as the news reports on the incident. He also examines the felony murder rule and the duty to retreat regarding this attack. His conclusion was that that 14 year old who was attacked acted in self-defense and was legally using deadly force.

I am embedding the video below. The video is a bit over 1 hour long. Even if you don’t want to watch the whole video, I would try to watch the first 30 minutes. It really is worth it.

There is, of course, the question of the knife in school. His mother has asserted elsewhere he didn’t bring one to school but got it while there. I don’t know if that holds up or not. As Branca noted, just as with Bernie Goetz in the subway attack years ago, he may be found to have acted in self-defense but still found guilty of a weapons charge. NCGS § 14-269.2 (d) would make it a Class 1 misdemeanor for him to possess “any sharp-pointed or edged instrument” on school grounds.

This is a sad incident all around for all involved. That includes the victim whose life has now been unalterably changed forever and the family of the attacker killed. For a magnet school that prides itself on being an International Baccalaureate high school, the level of violence in it is reprehensible. It has the highest rate of violence of any school in Wake County. Moreover, students there were three times more likely to experience or witness violence than other Wake County students.

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NRA Trial Date Set (Updated)

November 28, 2023 by 2 Comments

Because last week was Thanksgiving Week and it was devoted to family I missed seeing a court notice in the New York AG’s lawsuit against the NRA. It dealt with jury selection and the trial start date.

Judge Joel Cohen has ordered that jury selection begin on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024 in the late morning. Jury selection will continue day to day until a jury is selected. It will take place in Room 300 of the New York State Supreme Court Building located at 60 Centre Street in Manhattan.

The trial itself will start at 9:30am on January 8th, 2024 in the same courtroom.

Oh, to have the free time (and money) to fly to New York and stay throughout the trial. I don’t know if the trial will be televised but will check on it.

UPDATE: I probably should have checked on this first before originally posting the above. However, I just assumed New York, like most states, had some provision for the audio-visual coverage of most court cases.

As what often happens when you make an assumption, I was wrong.

From Politico:

Trump’s case again highlights how New York has among the most restrictive laws in the nation banning cameras and broadcasts inside the courtroom in most proceedings, a law that dates back to the 1930s. The state Legislature has barely tinkered with it since then. Only Washington D.C. is more stringent on media coverage inside the court, according a report last year by the The Fund for Modern Courts, a nonpartisan nonprofit.

The Village Sun adds that the law banning cameras and recording devices in the courtroom stemmed from the Lindbergh kidnapping trial case in the 1930s.

While there is a bill pending in the New York Senate and Assembly that would allow televising of court proceedings, it has been referred to committee where it remains. Interestingly, the bill is opposed by the NY chapter of the ACLU on the grounds that there is no provision for a defendant to preclude televising a trial. They contend this could impair a criminal defendant’s right to a fair trial.

I guess we will have to rely upon news reports, sketchy as they will be, to know what is going on in the trial day to day.

UPDATE II: NRA In Danger has more on what to expect in the trial now that a date has been set. If what was quoted from a motion transcript carries over to the trial, and there is no reason to expect it won’t, this is not going to be pretty. Even the most ardent backers of Wayne should be cringing over all the dirty laundry of his that will be aired. The old excuse of “well, Wayne told me it isn’t true” just won’t cut it anymore. Those who listened to it and excused his actions should be hanging their heads in shame as they must accept some responsibility for the perilous state of the organization.