That Reminds Me

I haven’t bought my NC Sportsmans License yet this year. Even if I don’t get out hunting I do try to buy one to help support the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. In North Carolina, the Sportsmans License cover you for everything from fishing to big game hunting. The only thing it doesn’t cover is the Federal Duck Stamp and fishing in coastal waters.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation just published a new infographic that presents the economic impact of hunters and hunting. The estimated impact of hunting in America is greater than the revenue generated by Google – $38.3 billion versus $37.9 billion.

Gun Usuage And Death Stats

I don’t want you to think I’m on some sort of infographic kick or something but I just stumbled across this great infographic showing US gun usage, ownership, and death statistics. It shows that as the number of guns owned has increased by 50% gun-related crime has declined by 73%.

In terms of accidental deaths, you are 17 times more likely to die from a fall than you are from an accidental shooting. As an aside, if more people – especially youth – were taught gun safety, the differential between falls and accidental shootings would likely rise even more.

It can be seen full size here

Interesting Graphic On Gun Sales

A stock investing website, The Wall Street Cheat Sheet, had an article yesterday discussing the financial results for Ruger. The author of the article was looking at the impact of proposed gun control laws on gun sales.

The law of unintended consequences is hitting its mark with politicians and gun owners. Amid a push for tighter gun control laws over the past year, an increase in firearm sales is boosting the nation’s leading gun manufacturer.

 The article concluded that the big push for gun control post-Newtown was a big factor in the growth of gun sales.

The graphic below is from a presentation that Smith and Wesson made to stock analysts. It plots the monthly NICS checks for each calendar year from 2008 to the present.

And then there is this:

According to an analysis of the gun industry by the Associated Press, the federal government has conducted roughly the same number of background checks for gun owners and prospective buyers under Obama’s first term, as it did under George W. Bush’s first six years of presidency. For the first time since 1993, the number of federally licensed retail gun dealers in the U.S. increased in 2010 and 2011, adding 1,167 more licensed dealers.

I guess Obama really is the world’s best gun salesman. 

Misleading Infographic Of The Day

Normally, I like infographics. Used correctly, they convey a lot of useful information in an understandable format. However, they can be misused.

An example of infographic misuse is shown below. It comes from Mayor Bloomberg’s Illegal Mayors and their Demand Action project.

What the infographic doesn’t tell you is that Harry Reid (D-NV) set the bar at 60 votes for any amendment to S. 649 to forestall any efforts at a filibuster. It was part of the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill and to accelerate the discussion. Otherwise, there would have been 30 hours of debate and Harry Reid didn’t want the details of Manchin-Toomey subjected to that much sunlight.

Moreover, their argument that five senators representing four states which comprise 1.4% of the US population is specious. You could make the equally valid argument that the six senators from three states – Vermont, Rhode Island, and Delaware – put Manchin-Toomey over the 50 vote mark. These three states, by the way, represent a mere 0.8% of the US population.

Jame Taranto of the Wall Street Journal in his Best of the Web Today column calls these efforts “a thuggish majoritarian rhetoric”. It helps put this infographic – which is nothing but authoritarian propaganda – into perspective.

Infographic On Standard Capacity Magazines

I came across this infographic on Facebook this morning. It is from the American Preppers Network. It examines how long it would take to get off 100 shots with various sizes of magazines assuming 3 seconds per change and 1 second per shot. Of course, both changes and aimed shots could be made in less time with practice but it is a starting point.

Use this link to view the videos mentioned in the infographic.

Ham Radio Communications Cheat Sheet

I came across this infographic on Pinterest this morning. It was developed by the folks at OffGridSurvival.com and gives the new amateur radio operator something of a cheat sheet.

I found it very useful as I have my Technician Class amateur radio license. While I really haven’t really pursued it that much, I got the license and radio so as to be prepared. While a Katrina or Sandy is unlikely in western North Carolina, we do lose power, we do have flood situations, we do get the remnants of hurricanes, and sometimes we do get blizzards. It is nice to have some means of communication in those situations beyond smoke signals and semaphore flags.

I Don’t Do Just Guns, You Know

I came across this infographic this morning on saving for retirement. I thought with all the discussion about the so-called fiscal cliff and the various plans/schemes to solve the debt crisis it was timely. One of the proposals just so you know is to limit the amount of money that you can save tax-deferred in qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)’s and 403(b)’s.

how much to save for retirement
“How Much to Save for Retirement – Are You Ready?” – An infographic by Money Crashers Personal Finance

The Choice – Bad Versus Perhaps Coming Around

Ammo.net has released a new infographic which compares Mitt and Barack on gun rights issues and what they’ve done in the past. Let’s face it, both have things in their past which should rightly concern gun owners.

However, Obama has doubled-down and called for a new AWB as well as restrictions on “cheap handguns” while Romney has said we don’t need new laws. I’d rather take the guy who is coming around to our side than the one who still in his heart of hearts looks at us with disgust.

Shooting Straight: A Surprising Look At How Both Presidential Candidates Have Changed On Gun Control [INFOGRAPHIC]
Via: Ammo.net