Late blog posts today...

I have to run all over south Texas today, so the blog posts will be a bit late.

McAllen, Edinburg, Alice and finally Falfurrias.

Whoever thinks the earth is overcrowded needs to take a road trip through south Texas!

-end-

Harassment in Virginia

There is a story I saw today on hamptonroads.com concerning a protest by citizens of Norfolk, Virginia about a problem they have been experiencing with their local police department.

Titled "Gun-rights advocates stage protest at Norfolk council meeting", the author of the article summarizes the problem very quickly.

"More than 100 gun-rights advocates, most carrying handguns on their hips and wearing buttons saying "Guns Save Lives," came to the City Council on Tuesday night to protest what they called harassment of law-abiding gun owners by city officials. The protest was called by the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights group, after Chet Szymecki of Yorktown was arrested in June at Harborfest for carrying a gun."

The article continues...

"Szymecki was arrested for violating a city ordinance banning guns at Harborfest - an ordinance that officials now acknowledge violates state law. Carrying a weapon openly is legal in Virginia, even at a large gathering such as Harborfest. Once city officials realized their error, the charges against Szymecki were dropped."

It sounds very straightforward to me.

The article continues on about what happened in the meeting, with several citizens airing their grievances and some city council members expressing theirs. All in all, a fine working city government.

The police in Virginia have been known to do this kind of thing before, but as more and more citizens in Virginia remind their local municipalities that city laws are secondary to state laws, these harassment problems should start to fall by the wayside.

You know, maybe a class-action lawsuit would help speed things along. But that's another topic.

What I really want to point out is what did not happen.

More than 100 people showed up at a government meeting. Virtually everyone in this meeting was legally armed. Everyone was there to protest. Children were present.

… and nobody got shot?

Nobody put holes in the ceiling? Nobody shot someone they disagreed with? The town didn’t burn? Riots didn’t destroy the county? Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria?

OK, that last one was from Ghostbusters.

In all seriousness, all the second amendment assailants love to conjure up outlandish scenarios on firearm ownership. Kristen Rand of the Violence Policy Center in Washington, stated in an article in the Washington Post a few years ago about Virginia open carry that "Openly carrying weapons... is not a good idea. Everybody's packing heat and ready to engage in a shootout at the slightest provocation."

Of course they never have any evidence of this. Or any examples of previous occurrences. They never have any data to back up their claims that shootouts will be provoked down at the IHOP or Starbucks. But they insist the sky will fall.... any second now! Watch for it!

Second amendment assailants always fail to mention meetings like this. When everyday things do not go wrong. When a number of people gather in a public space and everyone gets along. While armed. Instances like what happened in Virginia never appear in their arguments.

When given a choice in their state to carry, people do so. And their government is still intact. Their buildings are still standing. Nobody has "engage(d) in a shootout at the slightest provocation"

Personal. Responsibility.

On a quick side note, somebody needs to tell California about these other states over to their right so stuff like this quits snaking through their government.

And on another side note, the author, Harry Minium, did a great job with the story. I did not pick up any pro or anti gun sentiments throughout the article. Just a great presentation of the facts. Now that’s a great writer!

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Stamping out the wrong problem

I’ve heard the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The road to ruin, therefore, must be paved with politicians.

California, once again, is trying to regulate firearms. In an article on hartfordbusiness.com, it states that the “California lawmakers next month are expected to vote on a measure that — if it passes — could greatly impact how handgun manufacturers across Connecticut and the rest of the nation assemble their deadly wares.”

I’m glad the author used ‘deadly’ in the first paragraph. Usually 2nd amendment assailants try to couch those kind of words in the third or fourth paragraph of their stories. Bravo!

The issue at hand concerns a proposal by California to initiate microstamping on all new firearms.

“The debate centers around a technique called microstamping, a technology that imprints the shells spit out from handguns with an identifying code. That code is linked to a traceable serial number, which could help police track down owners of a gun fired during a crime.”

Ah.

So let me make certain I understand this. All new firearms will be required to have this microstamp ability. So how does this microstamp work?

According to the article...

“Microstamping involves microscopically laser-marking the firing pin, the breech face and other internal surfaces of a gun with a specific, eight-digit code. When the gun fires, the firing pin slams into the back of the shell casing of a bullet, igniting the gun powder. By marking the pin, the code is emblazoned on the shell, which is spit out from the side of the gun, leaving a marked shell which could be collected and traced by police.”

Ah.

To be clear, its not a laser in the firearm that’s doing the marking. It’s a piece of metal inside the firearm that has been marked by a laser. And it “emblazons” a mark on the shell casing.

OK. That helps.

So…

What’s to stop a criminal from picking up the shells once they are through firing the weapon?

What’s to stop a criminal from filing off the microstamp on the tip of the marking pin inside the firearm so that only a smudge appears on each spent casing?

What's to stop a criminal from using a revolver? Revolvers do not eject cartridge casings after firing.

What’s to stop the criminals who engage in drive-by shootings? Those casings usually stay in the vehicle perpetrating the crime.

Who’s going to make certain the “emblazoned” pins in the firearm are still accurately stamping casings after 2 or 3 years?

Who is going to keep track of who owns the “emblazing” firearm?

What’s to stop a criminal from stealing a firearm legally registered to someone else and using it for a crime?

Oh wait, all those things would be illegal. Yeah. That will do it. Criminals don’t do things that are illegal.

That last two questions easily branch off into other topics.

First off, lets say John buys a firearm. Then a few years later, he decides to sell it to George. Who’s going to know George has the firearm now and not John? Or is there going to have to be a new tracking agency set up specifically for this purpose?

Now let’s say Bob has it in for John. Bob steals John’s firearm and discharges the firearm in an illegal manner. Bob makes it a point to leave the stamped shells behind. This new technology just incriminated an innocent person!

This is a poorly thought out solution to a personal responsibility question.

The article also says “complying with the law would add $200 to the price of a handgun. Since most consumer handguns sell typically for less than $1,000, that amounts to a sizable increase.”

No problem. The wealthy can always afford the law. It’s those who have restricted means that will suffer.

The article closes with the following…

“For much of its history, the presence of so many gun makers earned the Connecticut River Valley the nickname “gun valley.” Colt is here. Smith & Wesson is here. Sturm & Ruger Co. calls Fairfield its headquarters. Marlin Firearms was for years a mainstay north of New Haven. Numerous small machine shops throughout the region contract with those handgun makers to supply parts. It’s why the industry’s trade group is based in Newtown. With so much at stake here, the results of California’s vote are sure to have an echo in gun valley.”

So it’s 49 states against one? Well the answer is simple. Tell those political idiots in California to shove it. Don’t sell them any more firearms. Period. Not one. Sell them to all the other 49 states in the Unites States. Watch what happens.

I bet plenty of firearms will still be available in California. I bet none of them will be serialized. And I bet when there are no more firearm companies selling to California, the intelligent citizens of California might… MIGHT… ask their fine government why exactly there is still a firearm problem in their beautiful wine-lovin’ state.

Personal. Responsibility.

-end-

Revolver hammers

Hammers are in integral component of all firearms, but are most pronounced on revolvers. Although you can pull them back manually, this action also creates some legal problems concerning self-defense.



The hammer on a revolver was initially designed to be pulled back first in order to prepare the weapon to discharge. Now, revolvers do not require the hammer be pulled back first for the weapon to discharge. A normal pull of the trigger will automatically pull back the hammer and then release at its apex, causing the firearm to discharge.

Modern revolvers often do not even have their hammers exposed anymore. Instead they are covered in specially designed housing, making it easier to quickly pull a revolver from concealment.

A revolver with an exposed hammer is easy to pull back. Just place your thumb on the top of the hammer and apply pressure down and toward the rear of the revolver. The hammer will lower and you will notice the cylinder will rotate downward if you are looking at the revolver from the left side: counter-clockwise if you are holding the firearm. The trigger will also move from its initial position to the rear of the firearm as well.


IMPORTANT NOTE : DO NOT HAVE YOUR FINGER ON THE TRIGGER IF YOU DECIDE TO PULL THE HAMMER BACK. The trigger will also be in motion, and can be activated much easier than usual!

Once you have pulled the hammer back far enough, it will "click" in place. You can release the pressure on the hammer at this point and relocate your thumb to manage the grip on the revolver. In the photo below, you can see the trigger has moved MUCH further back than it was before. Pressing the trigger is MUCH easier with the hammer pulled back, and only requires the very slightest of pressure to discharge the firearm.



This position is much easier for the beginner to discharge the revolver, as it requires virtually no trigger pressure. Accordingly, since the trigger is in an easier position to discharge, special care and attention MUST be taken when the revolver is in this state. Remember the four rules!

When the hammer has been pulled back, you can also see the pin inside the revolver the hammer will strike as it falls with the press of the trigger. As mentioned before, centerfire ammunition requires a pin to strike the center portion for the cartridge to discharge.



HOWEVER the act of pulling the hammer back will have SEVERE consequences if you do so in the course of self-defense. The main reasons are time and effect. If you have time to pull the hammer back on the revolver, an attorney can argue you were NOT in imminent danger, as mandated by law for a private citizen to discharge a firearm, and were possibly doing so for effect. To threaten. To intimidate.

And it makes sense.

You don't pull out a weapon for self defense if there is ANY other option. If you could have walked away. If you had to take a hit. If talking was still an option. If you had ANY other reasonable option.

You don't pull out a firearm and threaten someone to "back off". You don't pull out a firearm and make demands. You don't pull out a revolver and pull back the hammer as a bargaining tool.

The only time you pull a firearm for self defense is when you have no choice and you have to use the weapon NOW because you know you are going to die if you do not. The only people who should ever realize you carry a firearm for self defense is the individual who was about to take your life a nanosecond before the firearm discharges.

And pulling the hammer back means you had time.

If you live in Texas, your concealed carry instructor will tell you the same thing.

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The U.S. is the most heavily armed country in the world

I just came across an article on newsandpolicy.com titled “U.S. most armed country with 90 guns per 100 people”.

It’s a quick article that starts off with the headline “U.S. citizens own 270 million of the world's 875 million known firearms, according to the Small Arms Survey 2007 by the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies.”

The article continues…

“There is roughly one firearm for every seven people worldwide. Without the United States, though, this drops to about one firearm per 10 people. India had the world's second-largest civilian gun arsenal, with an estimated 46 million firearms outside law enforcement and the military, though this represented just four guns per 100 people there. China, ranked third with 40 million privately held guns, had 3 firearms per 100 people. Germany, France, Pakistan, Mexico, Brazil and Russia were next in the ranking of country's overall civilian gun arsenals.”

That’s a lot of firearms! But does this have any bearing on the crime committed in those countries?

I took a quick jump over to Nation Master to look at the violent crime statistics per capita… specifically Murders (per capita).

It makes for a remarkable list…

#1 Colombia: 0.617847 per 1,000 people
#2 South Africa: 0.496008 per 1,000 people
#3 Jamaica: 0.324196 per 1,000 people
#4 Venezuela: 0.316138 per 1,000 people
#5 Russia: 0.201534 per 1,000 people
#6 Mexico: 0.130213 per 1,000 people
#7 Estonia: 0.107277 per 1,000 people
#8 Latvia: 0.10393 per 1,000 people
#9 Lithuania: 0.102863 per 1,000 people
#10 Belarus: 0.0983495 per 1,000 people

And the United States?

#24 United States: 0.042802 per 1,000 people

That’s interesting. The country with the most firearms in the world is #24 out of a total of #62 polled countries for murders per capita. And the other countries mentioned in the top tier of firearm possession?

India is 26th.

France is 40th.

Germany is 49th.

So the majority of the countries that possess the majority of the firearms in the world have a lower rate of murder per capita then those countries that have fewer firearms.

Whodathunkthat?

The article back on newsandpolicy also states something very thought-provoking…

“… many poorer countries often associated with violence ranked much lower. Nigeria, for instance, had just one gun per 100 people.”

Wow.

And as a quick closing observation, isn't it still very illegal to own a firearm in Mexico? How did they get all the way up to number 6 if nobody can legally have a firearm in that country?

Like the dead horse likes to say, even if a genie came and magicked all the guns away, evil people would still do bad things with knives, pointy objects, rocks, or even their own fists.

Guns are not the problem.

It all comes back to personal responsibility.

-end-

Bucking the system...

Normally I don’t mind getting packages in the mail. A little brown box at my door usually holds some ebay treasure or some shiny computer thing or a new automotive doohickey to keep me occupied all weekend. One particular box always makes me cringe, though.

The North American Hunting Club has been around for awhile. And I was a member of their club a few years ago. But I canceled my membership after a big problem I had with them.

Supposedly they sent me a book in the mail in late 2006. This book was part of a “trial” and if I liked it, all I had to do was pay for it. If I didn’t like it, all I had to do was send it back in their postage paid box and everything was even.

Thing is, I never received any package from them with a book in it. Plus, I never asked to enroll in any trial or subscription of theirs!

I was very surprised to get a bill in the mail from a collection agency, demanding payment be made for an item I never received. After a LOT of arguing and calls to and from their collection agency, it finally got settled when I called in the US Postmaster. I was ready to file an affidavit that I never received this item and I never wanted any kind of subscription junk from them in the first place.

That seemed to do it.

For awhile.

But every so often I get a box from them. It is stamped with their logo in the corner so I can spot it a mile away. And since I work at the store late, any packages I get during the day while I am at work are stacked by my door when I get home.

This month’s prize? A deer bust.

Now I love hunting. I love firearms. But I don’t like deer head monuments. Or antelope-horn chandeliers. Or cow-patterned sofas. One does not necessarily lead to the other.

Enclosed with the deer bust was a letter stating their terms.

“The Breen Buck – your first sculpture in this one-of-a-kind collection – is yours to preview absolutely free for 14 days!”

It takes some people 14 days of this sculpture on their desk to decide if they like it or not? I can tell you in 5 seconds.

The letter continued…

“Take some time to admire the detail of this intricately rendered sculpture… the details of the trophy and the fascinating story surrounding him.”

Looks like a little deer head glued on a plastic pedestal.

“The Breen Buck, which is available to you at a discounted Member price of only $19.00”

On the reply form, here are the options…

“YES, I accept the Whitetail Legends challenge! I acknowledge the fact that only select Members were chosen to preview these sculptures and I’m one of them. The BREEN BUCK sculpture is great. Here is my payment of $19.00. I’d like to preview a new sculpture in the North American WHITETAIL LEGENDS series about every other month, mine to keep at the regular Member price plus shipping and handling. Be sure to include my $15.00 Free Mystery Gift with my next shipment. I understand that I can cancel my participation at any time.”

…and…

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m returning the sculpture using your postage-paid label and want no further sculptures in the Whitetail Legends collection at this time.”

So let me get this straight. I didn’t ask for this. I definitely don’t want this. And a little deer head glued on a plastic pedestal does not fall under the “great” category for me. But my options are to pay $19 to keep it, or to take the time out of my day to go by the post office and send it back in its box with the postage label attached.

Isn’t this a little… I don’t know… wrong?

I called the North American Hunting club’s 1-800 number and again told them I want nothing to do with them and want my name removed completely from their system. No more packages. No more letters. Das Vedana. Arriverdecci. Ciao. Buh bye. This is the third time I made this call to them. Maybe this one will stick.

I also called the local postmaster, and they said “well, just put the postage paid sticker back on the box and send it back to them!”

Right. That part isn’t difficult to understand. And I am doing just that on my lunch break today. What I don’t like is how they can do this without any confirmation I got the thing they sent. How is that right?

For example, supposing somebody started a campaign to send out a pencil to a few hundred people in the mail. They tell them if they want it, to just pay $1 for it. If they don’t want it, just send it back with a stamp enclosed in each letter. But this dishonest somebody skips every other block and just sends a collection bill a few months after the initial ship date. Who’s going to have to deal with it?

I’m sure the North American Hunting Club is NOT doing this. I know they are an honest company and that somehow that book from earlier got lost in the mail. And that this deer head package is the last unsolicited offer I will get from them.

But seriously... what is to keep someone from abusing this tactic in the mail system? What is keeping one of those CD companies from sending a bad album to everyone and saying “hey, if you like this album, just pay $18 to keep it!” Or a seed company… “hey, if you like these tomato plant seeds, just pay $5 to keep it!” ??

Or should this just be filed under “bad experience”?

-end-

How to load a revolver with ammunition

The following weblog will illustrate how to load a standard revolver with ammunition. Even though the revolver used in the illustrations is an old .38, the information presented applies to all modern revolvers.

The first step in loading a revolver is to open the cylinder as mentioned before in a previous blog entry. Once the cylinder is open, tilt the revolver down slightly as shown in the photo below.



From there, drop in a cartridge of ammunition into one of the open slots in the cylinder as shown in the photo above. Different revolvers will have different numbers of available slots.

Continue to drop in cartridges in the open cylinder as shown in the photo below. Once the slots in the cylinder are full, you can proceed to the next step.




NOTE : You MUST use the correct ammunition for your revolver. .38 caliber revolvers only use .38 ammunition only. .22 revolvers use .22 ammunition only. .357 revolvers use .357 ammunition, but can also use .38 ammunition. And only newer revolvers can use ammunition specially designated as +P or +P+. Check with your local firearm dealer if you are not certain what ammunition your revolver uses. DO NOT LOAD AMMUNITION INTO YOUR REVOLVER IF YOU ARE NOT CERTAIN IT IS THE CORRECT TYPE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR MODEL

Once the chamber has been loaded with cartridges, press up on the chamber so that it moves into the frame of the revolver. Continue pressing until it "clicks" into place. You may also wish to move the cylinder slightly up and down once it has "clicked" into place to make certain it is seated properly. Once you close the cylinder on a revolver two or three times, you will know by feel when it is set in place.



In the movies, you may see actors snap their revolver chambers shut with a flick of their wrist once they are loaded with ammunition. This is a great way to send your ammunition flying out of the cylinder, and is also a great way to damage a firearm's internal mechanisms. Don't waste your time with it.

The revolver is now loaded. You can see a cartridge in the open space near the rear of the cylinder.



And, as always, remember the four rules!

-end-

Finished the mirror!

The process of migrating the weblog on huntersmark.com to huntersmark.blogspot.com is finally complete!

I learned quite a bit during this migration.

#1 - I need to run spell check before posting!

#2 - Photos that zoom in are better than thumbnail images.

#3 - I have not been serious about posting in the past.

Its the last one that really bothers me. I can see visually now, thanks to blogger's archive feature, that I have previously posted maybe one week out of the month. Single digit entries for five months.

That's not going to stand.

I have plenty of original content to put in the blog, and every day there is a new product for hunting and firearms enthusiasts. Its a PEBKAC issue. The Problem Exists Between Keyboard and Chair!

I finally have a decent "chain" in progress for August, and I really like how it is looks. Jerry Seinfeld's "Don't break the chain" idea really works. I'm going to keep it going, and August will be the last month of "missing" posts.

-end-

How to unload a revolver

This photo blog will illustrate how to unload a revolver and remove any cartridges of ammunition it may have in the cylinder. Although these photos are of my old .38 revolver, the information applies the same to Smith and Wesson, Taurus, and all other modern revolvers.

The first step in unloading a revolver, as in all firearms, is to remember the four rules.

#1 ALL FIREARMS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
# 2 NEVER POINT THE MUZZLE AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY
# 3 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
# 4 - BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

While all four rules are equally important, let me emphasize that while unloading a firearm, be certain to keep the firearm pointed away from any target AND your finger off the trigger at all times.

On most revolvers, you can quickly tell if the firearm is loaded by taking a peek near the cylinder on the left side of the firearm. If you see brass or similar casing shining out, chances are it has live ammunition in the cylinder.


The next step is to open the cylinder as discussed in a previous blog entry.

From there, once the cylinder is open, just push in on the extractor rod as in the photo below. Once you start to push in on the extractor rod, the cartridges in the cylinder will be forced out.


Keep pushing the extractor rod until the cartridges all fall out. You can tilt the revolver slightly to have the ammunition fall out easier. You do not have to push the extractor rod very far. Usually a press only halfway in is enough to have the ammunition cartridges fall completely out.


Once the cartridges fall out of the cylinder, release the extractor rod. It will snap back into position inside the cylinder and look like the photo below. That's it!


Revolvers are very easy for a newcomer to firearms to become adept with. Their opening and unloading procedures are very simple, always reliable, and require a bare minimum of effort and dexterity.

NOTE : When unloading a revolver that has recently been fired, take care when ejecting the cartridges. Chances are they will be very hot!

-end-

Opening the cylinder on a revolver

This brief photo blog will show how to open the cylinder on a revolver. This information can also apply to most revolvers for sale on the market today (IE: Smith and Wesson, Taurus, Rossi etc).

Opening the cylinder on a revolver is pretty much the only thing you will have to do when you want to load, unload, or check the status of your revolver. This is one of the main reasons revolvers are easier to operate than a automatic firearm for first-time gun owners.

And, as always, remember the four rules!

#1 ALL FIREARMS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

# 2 NEVER POINT THE MUZZLE AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY

# 3 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

# 4 - BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

While all four rules are equally important, let me emphasize that while opening the cylinder on a revolver, be certain to keep the firearm pointed away from any target AND your finger off the trigger at all times.

The first step is to push forward on the thumbpiece, as in the photo below.


While pressing the thumbpiece forward, use your opposing hand to cradle the revolver and press the cylinder out from the right side of the firearm toward the left side. When you do this, the cylinder will rotate out of the frame and come to a stop. In the photo below, I am using the thumb on my right hand to press forward on the thumbpiece, and the fingers of my left hand to press the cylinder out.


This next photo is a back view of the revolver with the cylinder open. Note that you can see the cartridges of ammunition in the cylinder. In a future blog entry, I will show how to add and remove cartridges from the cylinder of the revolver. You do not have to keep the thumbpiece pressed forward once the cylinder is open as in the photo below.


Important note: In some revolver models, the thumbpiece does not move forward, but requires that it be pulled BACK to release the cylinder. You can tell by the design of the thumbpiece which way it is designed to be used. If there is no "pattern" or set of grooves on the thumbpiece for your thumb to rest on, then it is most likely a rear-pull thumbpiece. For those models, just pull back on the thumbpiece and follow the same directions as before for opening the cylinder.

-end-

Revolver Terminology

I wanted to illustrate the basic components of a revolver, and decided to use my very old .38 to do so. This revolver isn't in the best of shape, but it has great sentimental value to me. Despite its age and appearance, it shoots fairly well.


Revolvers never jam, have stood the test of time as the first "personal" handgun, and can still be found everywhere. New revolvers still have the same parts and components this model has.



Starting from the top left going clockwise: The Front Sight is used in conjunction with the rear sight to align the firearm on target. The Barrel guides the bullet as it is discharged toward the intended target. The Rear Sight is used in conjunction with the front sight to align the firearm on target. The Hammer is used to strike the firing pin and discharge the cartridge in the firearm.

The Thumbpiece is used to release the cylinder from the frame to reload the firearm. The Frame is the firearm's framework. The Trigger discharges the weapon. The Cylinder holds the ammunition for the firearm and revolves the cartridges as they are used to the next round. The Extractor Rod is used to eject spent cartridges once the cylinder is open.

Looking at the other side of the revolver, you can see the Thumbpiece is not available. Like a magazine release on modern firearms, the thumbpiece is usually on one side only.


Revolvers are still outstanding carry pieces, and are great "first time" firearms. People who have problems with operating a slide on a modern automatic should consider a revolver because of their easier operation.

On a quick side note... in Texas, if you take your concealed carry certification test with a revolver, your license will restrict you to carrying a revolver only. If you take your concealed carry certification test with an automatic firearm, your license will allow you to carry both an automatic and a revolver.

-end-

Followup on WWI veteran's march of 1932

In a previous blog entry, I mentioned Reason magazine had a cartoon article on the right to own a bazooka.

One panel of the cartoon, on page 3, mentions the great march of World War One veterans on Washington in 1932. The cartoon states that all 200,000 individuals were armed, and all they wanted was their pensions.

The cartoon took a few liberties on what really happened.

According to the Wikipedia article on the event, only 31,000 soldiers were present, along with their family and friends. That’s not quite 200,000 soldiers. However, what happened next was quite startling.

Quoting directly from Wikipedia…

“The marchers were cleared and their camps were destroyed by the 12th Infantry Regiment from Fort Howard, Maryland, and the 3rd Cavalry Regiment under the command of MAJ. George S. Patton from Fort Myer, Virginia, under the overall command of General Douglas MacArthur.

The Posse Comitatus Act, prohibiting the U.S. military from being used for general law enforcement purposes in most instances, did not apply to Washington, DC, because it is one of several pieces of federal property under the direct governance of the U.S. Congress (United States Constitution, Article I. Section 8).

Dwight D. Eisenhower, as a member of MacArthur's staff, had strong reservations about the operation. Troops carrying rifles with unsheathed bayonets and tear gas were sent into the Bonus Army's camps. President Hoover did not want the army to march across the Anacostia River into the protesters' largest encampment, but Douglas MacArthur felt this was a communist attempt to overthrow the government and thus exceeded his authority.

Hundreds of veterans were injured, several were killed, including William Hushka and Eric Carlson, a wife of a veteran miscarried, and other casualties were inflicted.

The visual image of U.S. armed soldiers confronting poor veterans of the recent Great War set the stage for Veteran relief and eventually the Veterans Administration.

By the end of the rout:

* Two veterans were shot and killed.

* An 11 week old baby was in critical condition resulting from shock from gas exposure.

* Two infants died from gas asphyxiation.

* An 11 year old boy was partially blinded by tear gas.

* One bystander was shot in the shoulder.

* One veteran's ear was severed by a Cavalry saber.

* One veteran was stabbed in the hip with a bayonet.

* At least twelve police were injured by the veterans.

* Over 1,000 men, women, and children were exposed to the tear gas, including police, reporters, residents of Washington D.C., and ambulance drivers.

The army burned down the Bonus Army's tents and shacks, although some reports claim that to spite the government, which had provided much of the shelter in the camp, some veterans torched their own camp dwellings before the troops could set upon the camp. Reports of U.S. soldiers marching against their peers did not help Hoover's re-election efforts; neither did his open opposition to the Bonus Bill due to financial concerns. After the inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, some of the Bonus Army regrouped in Washington to restate its claims to the new President.”

I want to re-iterate something I think is very important in this article…

“The Posse Comitatus Act, prohibiting the U.S. military from being used for general law enforcement purposes in most instances, did not apply to Washington, DC, because it is one of several pieces of federal property under the direct governance of the U.S. Congress (United States Constitution, Article I. Section 8)”

O.K. Important safety tip.

In today’s political-paranoid climate, can you imagine what would happen if there is ever an assertive million-man march on Washington today?

I did not say hostile… no intent to overthrow anything or break any laws of any kind. Just assertive. A great number of people, all showing up legally armed, and insistent on a specific change happening.

I wonder if history would repeat itself.

-end-

Reason's right to own a bazooka

Reason magazine recently had a brief article on the right to own a bazooka.

It’s a quick read, and even though it is in a four-panel cartoon format, it makes a great factual presentation.

You can find the article by clicking here.

Personally, I think the last panel commentary by the author sums up the gun control issue perfectly…

“I’m not a “gun nut” obviously, and I don’t want to own one. But I’m lucky to live in a time and place where I don’t feel I need one. And if I ever do feel the need, I’d like to arm myself as I see fit without being branded a “criminal”.”

Take a look at the website, and drop the author a line at

peterbagge@earthlink.net

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England's underworld gun trade

Even in the country with the strictest laws on firearms, there are still problems on the streets.

An article written by the Telegraph titled “The Underworld Gun Trade” discusses how an underground system of "armourers" has emerged in England. These people smuggle, convert, or completely forge new firearms for sale. But not for private citizens, of course.

“Handguns are the weapon of choice for criminals on the street and they are relatively easy to obtain, even for teenage gangs – the challenge for many is to get the ammunition.”

Surprisingly enough, homemade ammunition has found its way into the markets as well.

The article goes on to state smuggling of firearms from other countries is how most of these items make it to England. “Replica” models are even easily converted to fully functioning models by gunsmiths, and are often traded among criminals or held for shared use by members of a gang.

So why mention this article? Isn’t this a problem for England and their firearm laws?

I like to look at England’s gun laws as a case study for what not to do in America. Because even though that government has banned almost everything... every component, part and accessory that can possibly be made for a firearm, there is still an element that finds a way around it.

The criminal element.

In my opinion, people with ill intentions, given enough resources and time, will find a way around anything.

And, as I said before, even if someone could magic away every weapon ever made, criminals would find a way to reproduce them. To manufacture them. To smuggle them in from neighboring countries. And to use them.

Laws that restrict firearm sales and manufacture do nothing to deter the individuals intent on using them. Laws that restrict firearms only make the individuals who could have had the ability to protect their home and life from these criminals easier prey.

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Reassembly of a Springfield XD

This brief photo weblog will illustrate how to re-assemble a Springfield Armory XD series pistol that has been disassembled on a intermediate level. Although similar to reassembly of other kinds of pistols, the XD series has a few minor differences worth illustrating.

Although very similar to the Glock reassembly procedures, putting a Springfield XD series pistol back together has a few differences worth mentioning.

First, drop the barrel into the slide and then re-insert the spring on top. Note that the spring needs to catch on the far ridge of the barrel. Its a small notch right below the main notch.



Now align the ridges on the frame with the ridges on the slide and pull the slide straight back on the frame. Just like you are going to cycle the firearm. Once the slide has been pulled back to the SLIDE STOP LEVER, press the slide stop lever up to hold the slide in place.


In the photo above, I am using my right thumb to push the slide stop lever up in place. My left hand is pulling the slide back.

Now, with the slide locked back, press down on the slide disassembly lever. It should move down into the groove of the slide and body. In the photo below, I am using my left index finger to push the slide disassembly lever down.


Now all you have to do is push down on the slide stop lever.


Once you do that, the slide will cycle forward, and the reassembly of your Springfield Armory XD series firearm will be complete.

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Disassembly of a Springfield XD (intermediate)

This brief photo blog will illustrate the disassembly of a Springfield XD series firearm on an intermediate level for cleaning and inspection.

At this point, disassembly of a Springfield XD series firearm is very similar to the intermediate disassembly of a Glock. The first step is to disassemble the XD as mentioned in a previous blog entry.



Now that you have the XD in two pieces, take a look at the slide. In the front portion of the slide, just like the Glock firearm mentioned earlier, there is a large spring. This is the RECOIL SPRING. Just pinch at the front and far end of the spring and use your other hand on the barrel as a stabilizer.


With a moderate pinch, the recoil spring should be loose enough to pull up and away from the slide. Do keep a good grip on it as it has been under pressure and may want to fly off.


Once you have removed the recoil spring assembly, set it aside.


There is one more component to remove from the slide. The last step is to remove the barrel. There are no restraints on this component, so you can just grab it and lift it right out.


The disassembly of a Springfield XD series firearm is complete at this point.


You should not require any further disassembly, and the firearm can be completely cleaned at this stage.

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Disassembly of a Springfield XD

This photo blog entry will illustrate the basic disassembly of a Springfield XD series firearm for maintenance and cleaning.

The first step is to always remember the four rules.

#1 ALL FIREARMS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

# 2 NEVER POINT THE MUZZLE AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY

# 3 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

# 4 - BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

In an earlier blog entry, I showed how to unload a Glock firearm. Unloading a Springfield XD firearm is very similar to unloading a Glock. Its the disassembly of the firearm that's different.

To unload a Springfield XD firearm, just like a Glock, you first release the magazine, then free the magazine from the firearm, and then pull the slide back to release any ammunition that may be in the chamber.

Once you are certain the firearm is not loaded, proceed with disassembly by locking the slide back. In the photo below, I have moved the slide back with my left hand and am pressing the slide stop lever up with my right hand.



Here's where the Springfield differs from the Glock on disassembly. Once you have locked the slide back on an XD firearm, you want to find the SLIDE DISASSEMBLY LEVER near the front left of the firearm. In the photo below, I have my thumb on the slide disassembly lever. You can also see in the photo above there is a small track on the main slide of the firearm directly above the slide disassembly lever.


Just push up on the slide disassembly lever and it will pop up into the track and point upward on the frame just like it is in the photo below.


Once the slide disassembly lever is moved up, to proceed with the disassembly, you need to push the slide back slightly toward the rear of the firearm. When you are pressing the slide back slightly, lower the SLIDE STOP LEVER. Then guide the slide gently back forward. In the photo below, my left hand is on the slide and my right thumb is pressing down on the slide stop lever.


Have I mentioned the four rules lately? To proceed with the disassembly, you will need to press the trigger. Do this with the firearm pointed in a safe direction.


After pressing the trigger, the slide will move forward and off the frame easily. Just grip the slide with one hand the the frame of the firearm with the other have and move the slide forward and off.


The basic disassembly of a Springfield XD firearm is complete!


You can see it was similar in many ways to the disassembly of a Glock.

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XD magazine differences

All current Springfield Armory XD series handguns come with two very different magazines. This photo blog entry will briefly review the two types and illustrate the difference that an extended magazine makes.

For the Springfield armory XD sub-compact model series, the standard magazine is fairly short. Shown inserted in the firearm in the following photo, this particular model holds 9 rounds of .40 (caliber) ammunition.


The benefits of using this magazine are primarily its small size. It helps the sub-compact conceal easily under clothes or in a shoulder bag, fits flush with the bottom of the frame, but still allows for a decent amount of ammunition to be carried in the firearm. However, as you can see in the photo above, some people will have problems with obtaining a full grip on the firearm with the shorter magazine in place.

In the following photo, you can see I switched out the standard magazine for the extended magazine. This magazine not only holds two more rounds of .40 (caliber) ammunition than the compact magazine, but is also much easier to comfortably hold and also makes the firearm feel like its full size counterparts.


The full grip and extended ammunition capacity are a trade off for the ability to easily conceal the firearm, though. With the extended magazine in place, I find I have to use speciality holsters to keep it out of sight and larger compartments in travel bags as well. In an earlier blog entry, I discussed magazine extenders that can be added on to firearms to make holding the firearm more comfortable. This is the second kind of magazine extender - the type that actually adds ammunition capacity. With the XD series, you actually can have the best of both worlds.

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Confirming charitable organizations

I think everyone gets those letters in the mail. A well assembled presentation, printed on decent paper stock, kindly asking you for a small tax-deductible donation to help their cause. I think one of the greatest things you can do as a human being is to give well to charity. But you also shouldn't walk blindly into anything.

A great tool I have found to help filter through charities is on the IRS' website.

The IRS has a publication specifically designed for listing and reviewing tax-deductible charities.

From the introduction of the publication...

"Publication 78, Cumulative List of Organizations described in Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, is a list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions. This online version is offered to help you conduct a more efficient search of these organizations."

This list from the IRS is constantly updated with all the legal and documented charities that registered with them. If you take a quick look at their website, you can search for charities by name, city, state or country. If you see the charity you searched for listed in the results field, you can be 100% certain it is a legitimate organization.

The direct link to the search field can be found by clicking here.

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Price of rising ammo in The Dallas Morning news

The Dallas Morning News has a pretty decent article on the rising cost of ammunition on their website today.

The headline is a real groaner... "Price of ammo to shoot up". But aside from that, the article is accurate on the current state of ammunition sales.

The gist of the problem is summarized in the third paragraph of the article. "The price increases began after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, then were compounded by a double whammy: the war in Iraq, which pushed up overall demand, and growing industrial powers such as China, which bid up the cost of needed raw materials."

The article goes on to say that some hunters are now making their own ammunition. That's a fact I can attest to from the customers I have coming in asking for re-loading parts and supplies as opposed to cases of new ammunition.

As a dealer, my cost to purchase ammunition has risen considerably. Its an increase I have had to pass on, but everything I get in still sells out. However, as some of my customers have pointed out, it is quickly becoming more economical to keep brass from the range and take the time to re-load it at home.

You know it is getting bad when even the white box ammunition at Wal-Mart has gone up in price.

There really is nothing to reloading, and when I get a good bench and reloading press of my own, I plan to photo-blog the process.

Beware of the cheap cheap ammunition, though. I am of the firm opinion you always get what you pay for. I would rather save up and get high-grade name brand ammunition with proven track records. It is always better to hit your target with one expensive round than miss with a dozen cheap ones.

The article is available through this link.

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Springfield Armory XD striker status indicator

This brief photo-blog will illustrate what the striker status indicator is on the Springfield Armory XD line of firearms. Like the loaded chamber indicator, this feature is another reason the Springfield is my daily carry of choice.


All Springfield Armory XD firearms have a striker status indicator. Located on the rear of the slide, there is a area that indicates whether or not the slide has been cocked back or not. In the photo below, the striker status indicator pin is not visible in the back of the slide. This firearm has not had the slide cocked back.

In the photo below, you can see the striker status indicator pin protruding from the back of the slide. It is a small metallic pin that stands out against the dark colored slide.


When the pin is sticking out of the rear of the slide as it is in the photo above, the slide of the firearm has been cocked back. Once the trigger is pressed, the indicator pin will return inside the slide housing.

Another great feature of this indicator is that you can feel with a quick brush of your finger whether or not the firearm has been cocked back or not. The indicator protrudes enough so you can easily feel its position, but not so far that it interferes with holstering or concealment.


Just because the indicator is out does not always mean the firearm is loaded, though. Always act on the four rules regardless of the striker status indicator says.

...and boy do I need to clean my XD.

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Springfield XD loaded chamber indicator

This photo blog will briefly illustrate the loaded chamber indicator on the Springfield Armory XD series pistol.

This is my "daily" firearm of choice. It is a Springfield Armory XD .40 Sub-Compact. The short magazine makes it very easy for me to keep on my person as my concealed carry, and the .40 is a good caliber to have. I can swap out the compact magazine (in place in the photo below) with an extended magazine so all my fingers can wrap around the grip, but that makes it a little harder to conceal in the holsters I have.


On top of the slide of the Springfield is a loaded chamber indicator. This is on all the Springfield Armory XD series pistols and is extraordinarily handy to have. In the photo below I have my thumb pressing against the indicator.


The loaded chamber indicator tells you if there is a cartridge in the chamber. When there is a cartridge in the chamber of a Springfield Armory XD series firearm, the indicator will raise above the base of the frame very slightly. When the loaded chamber indicator is up, that means there is a cartridge in the chamber of the firearm, and the firearm is ready to fire. If the indicator is down, or flat against the frame, it means there is no cartridge in the chamber of the firearm.


You can visually see this indicator's position from a good distance, and best of all, you can tell by quickly brushing your finger over the slide if the firearm is ready to be discharged or if the slide needs to be pulled back to load a round. That's very handy for low-light situations and for keeping your eyes on the target.


Its also obvious form these photos that I need to clean my XD!

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Congress and the 50 caliber question

A little while ago, several members of congress proposed a "Long Range Sniper Rifle Safety Act". Bear in mind, this is an idea from congress. Anything with "safety" or "security" or "children" in the title is not necessarily a good thing coming from these people.

The gist of the bill, as listed on congress.org, is as follows...

"Long-Range Sniper Rifle Safety Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code and the firearms registration provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to classify the .50 BMG caliber sniper rifle as a destructive device. Modifies the definition of "rifle" to include a weapon intended to be fired from a bipod or other support. Directs the Attorney General to implement regulations for notice and registration of .50 BMG caliber sniper rifles as destructive devices and require the registration of unregistered rifles within seven years after the enactment of this Act."

Now with 11 co-sponsors, this bill is still on the floor waiting for review.

I wonder if this .50 BMG rifle was singled out because of the recent featuring of this rifle in several popular movies this past year. The last gun ban started off focusing on the AK-style rifle. Why not re-visit that stance? The AK packs a massive punch and is available all over the United States. Why all the focus on .50 BMG rifles all of a sudden? .50 BMG rifles are not easy to come by, and the ammunition for these rifles is very expensive. Plus, they are massive rifles. Much larger than most 7.62, .308, or other similar rifles with a good deal of power behind them. So why the intense focus on this particular rifle?

Admittedly, the .50 BMG is an incredible weapon, but labeling it as a "destructive device"?

Destructive devices are explosives. C4. RPGs. Things that do not need to be pointed directly at a specific target to destroy it. If you aim one foot to the right of a target with a .50 BMG and fire the weapon, your target will be just fine. If you aim one foot to the right of a target with an RPG, chances are your target will be damaged. That's a destructive device.

Aside from completely missing the boat on what a destructive device is, under this new proposal, the definition of a rifle will be changed to include not only firearms used off the shoulder as support, but also "from a bipod or other support".

Its that "or other support" part to watch out for. Sometimes I use my opposing hand to steady my handgun when I fire at a target at the shooting range. Would that be considered an "other support"? Seriously.

How about a sling or holster to hold a firearm to your body as you walk through a field? That sounds like "other support" to me. I didn't see any barrel or stock length requirements or any kind of specific measurements for any firearm in the bill, so who gets to define what "other support" is?

Finally, all .50 BMG rifles will need to be registered as destructive devices. Right now, to register as a owner of a destructive device, you have to adhere to very, very strict regulation by the government. Multiple thick books concerning detailed regulations and very stringent rules that must be followed to the letter. Plus the background check for destructive devices is even more exhaustive than the check for a Federal Firearms License.

Classifying this rifle as a destructive device will dramatically increase the associated costs of owning this rifle, and by proxy, force some owners of this particular rifle to surrender it just out of financial necessity.

You can read the text of the bill here, or by clicking the link in the summary post of the bill.

Hopefully this bill will remain dormant. It looks like the bill's supporters are going to wait until there is a great majority of their peers to try and push it through. Or they may try to slide it through under another bill that has a more broad appeal. Regardless, this bill is bad news. Poorly written, dramatically overreaching, and completely misguided.

Then again, it is from congress.

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Armed America by Kyle Cassidy - a detail to know

On the front page of MSNBC today was a photo essay link to the new book by Kyle Cassidy titled "Armed America: Portraits of Gun Owners in Their Homes".

Although the book is gaining a lot of publicity, there is one little thing I do not think anyone has picked up on yet.

In the sidebar on the MSNBC page, the author states "in 1999, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives estimated that there are about 215 million guns in America--at least one firearm in half the households in the country. The anti-gun Brady Campaign, however, puts that number at 192 million guns."

Quick math problem. Lets assume the lower estimate of 192 million guns is correct. If the author photographed 200 individuals out of 192 million, what percentage of gun owners is that?

200 * 100 = 20 000

20 000 / 192 000 000 = 0.000104166667

Wow.

One ten thousandths of a percent.

His book is on Amazon.com and has been reviewed as a fair book concerning firearm ownership. One reviewer link says "The Washington Post had nice things to say about Armed America in the Sunday Books section on July 29th, 2007. Excerpt: "...highly political, even polemical. The question is, in which direction? Each picture in Armed America could be a pro-gun advertisement -- or an anti-gun poster. That's what makes the book so riveting.""

Just bear in mind, as wonderful and incredible as the book has been reviewed by both pro and anti gun advocates, all the author's hard work is for far less than one percent of the total gun ownership in this country.

Something to ponder while reading his book.

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The 2008 presidential candidate's views

Want a quick overview on what each of the candidates for the 2008 Presidential election stand for?

I just found a website that has a table of hot topic issues on the left column and all the current 2008 Presidential candidate names on the top row. Each intersection lists whether that particular candidate opposes, supports, flip-flops or just never made public their views on that particular hot topic.

The page is located at http://2decide.com/table.htm

Take a minute to look at this site. Only Brownback, Huckabee, Hunter, McCain, Paul, Richardson and Tancredo oppose a new assault weapon ban. Seven out of eighteen candidates. Every other candidate supports implementing a new assault weapon ban. Five of those seven candidates are also against background checks for firearms!

Homeland Security, Abortion, Gay Marriage... its all in that chart.

Another website that builds off the information in that chart is located at:

http://www.dehp.net/candidate/index.php

On that site, you can pick your key issues from a pop-up menu, and the website will generate a list of candidates who most closely match your criteria. Try it out! I was surprised on who my choice to vote for should be.

Take a look at both of these websites to get informed on who your best choice to vote for will be in the upcoming elections.

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Ebay says no more firearm part auctions

There's nothing like the smell of cheap publicity.

After years of allowing firearm parts and accessories to be sold on their website, and well over three months after the Virginia Tech shootings, Ebay made an announcement that they are no longer going to offer, support or list auctions for firearm parts or accessories.

Here's the email from way back on July 30th...

"***Message from Matt Halprin – New Listing Restrictions on Gun Parts***

Hello everyone…In mid-August, we will be updating our Firearms, Weapons and Knives Policy to place more restrictions around gun-related items. Once these changes take effect, we will prohibit listings of any firearm part that is required for the firing of a gun. This includes items like bullet tips, brass casings and shells, barrels, slides, cylinders, magazines, firing pins, trigger assemblies, etc. Please read the Firearms, Weapons and Knives Policy for more details on our current policy.

As you may know, eBay does not allow the listing of any items which are regulated by individual states or the federal government; however, there are still a large number of firearm-related parts that are legal and are widely available in retail stores. These items have also historically been allowed on eBay.

After learning that some items purchased on eBay may have been used in the tragedy at Virginia Tech in April 2007, we felt that revisiting our policies was not only necessary, but the right thing to do. After much consideration, the Trust & Safety policy team – along with our executive leaders at eBay Inc. – have made the decision to further restrict more of these items than federal and state regulations require.

This new update continues to encourage safety among our community members and brings our policies in the U.S. and Canada in closer alignment with our existing policies in other markets around the globe.

Sincerely,

Matt Halprin
Vice President, Trust & Safety"

This "new update" only encourages ebay customers to stick their head in the sand. Safety is fortified by knowledge. By ignoring the fact there were thousands of firearm accessories and parts listed on their site before, they fail to see this horrible tragedy at Virginia Tech was the result of a demented idiot who should have put the business end of the firearm in his cranium first. Ebay had nothing to do with this moron's actions, and neither did the individual(s) selling the parts on the auction site.

How many vehicles has Ebay listed on their website? What happens when one of the thousands of vehicles they have listed is involved in an accident? Will they send another email saying that since one of the vehicles purchased on Ebay "may" have been involved in a terrible accident, they are going to restrict the sales of all vehicles and vehicle parts?

And how about all those knives? I typed in "knife" just now in the Ebay search bar and the results came back with over 23,000 results. All were grouped under a listing titled "Knives, Swords and Blades"

Knives, Swords and Blades. Hey Ebay, what were swords used for again? Back in the BC-Roman-dark ages time? I forget. Its been awhile. And knives under the "Militaria" section... shouldn't that be spelled "Military"? Or is that a special way of addressing this section so it doesn't have to be banned as well?

Back to the dead horse for a second... my point is even if you could magic away all the firearms in the world, people will still do rotten things to each other with knives, pointy objects, rocks or whatever is immediately available.

Its all about personal responsibility.

There are plenty of other stores and auction sites online that sell firearm parts and accessories, but with Ebay leaving the arena with their tail firmly tucked up between their legs, I think for all their good intentions, they are establishing a terrible precedent.

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