Why Can't The North Rule The South?: The Boston Globe whines that states like Massachusetts can't make their prohibitionist laws work so long as southern states don't similarly restrict the RKBA. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/09/04/gun_control_efforts_weaken_in_south/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+National+News --- Taser Incident From LASD: Interesting case from yesterday. Occurred in Palmdale, got the info from my brother who is involved in the Palmdale/Lancaster Sheriff booster's group. PF At our board meeting of the Sheriff Boosters this morning, our PAC commander relayed the story of an incident that went down here in Palmdale last night. Not sure if it has made its' way through the channels to you yet. This is how it was related to me. Deputies responded to a report of a suicidal woman with a knife. Deputies formed a perimeter around the house with deputies evacuating children from the house at the rear while two deputies faced the woman in a front hallway. There was a designated dep with a taser ready and another with weapon drawn attempting to communicate with the woman. The woman turns abruptly and walks down the hall only to turn back just as quickly and raises the knife over her head as if to strike. The deputy with the taser instantly reacts and fires his darts. The darts strike the woman, one in the abdomen and one in the chest....the woman immediately erupts in flames!! The deputies grab the screaming woman and drop her to extinguish the flames and are successful in doing so with no injuries to either the deputies or the suspect. The Sgt. on scene immediately secures the taser and bags it for investigation. Ambulance is called and while waiting, the deputies perform a cursory inspection of the woman's garments. No noted alcohol smell, no flammable liquid on her shirt, no alcohol breath.....nothing....no evidence as to why the woman Ignited with the taser. The woman was transported to the hospital and meanwhile the Sheriff's personnel are attempting to figure out just what the heck happened. Arguments flare over the cause and insistence that "Something" flammable had to be on the woman's clothing or the taser had a major malfunction. About this time, the Sgt. on scene gets a call from the hospital. When examining the woman the ER staff found butane lighter in the woman's bra with a small hole in it where the taser dart struck it releasing all the butane stored in the lighter! --- From The Firearms Coalition: Attention Texas!! Our friend Damaso Torres of Students for the Second Amendment contacted us with news about a fantastic event that is running into a few difficulties. Last year Students for the Second Amendment and their College Firearms Instructor Program hosted a Shooting Sports Camp that drew over 550 parents and children at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio. This year they're expecting even more participants to show up as well as many from the media. The difficulties I mentioned are Money, Ammo, Clay Birds, and People... It seems that the program is just a little too successful and some of the help they were counting on has backed out or fallen through. The event date is approaching rapidly - September 24^th - so the need is now! If you, your club, your company, or your friends in the industry can provide assistance in any form, please contact Damaso immediately. Damaso Torres 210-674-5559 dTorres@sf2a.org Need: Cash (insurance cost over $700), .22 ammo, 20 gauge ammo, and clay birds Damaso estimates they will need about 5000 rounds each of .22 ammo and 20 gauge target loads as well as 5000 clay birds. If you are able to help, or if you have a Scout troop, church youth group or other kids that would like to participate, please let Damaso know immediately and let him know that we sent you. Also, be sure to let us know about your contribution/experience. Yours for the Second Amendment, Jeff Knox Director of Operations The Firearms Coalition Washington D.C. September 3, 2005 - 11:15pm It has just been announced that Chief Justice William Rehnquist has died at his home in Virginia. Our deepest sympathies go out to Justice Rehnquist's family. Justice Rehnquist was one of the more conservative members of the high court and his passing creates an immediate imbalance on the court and it is likely that the Court will convene with only eight members. That would mean that controversial cases would probably not be heard during the deficit but there is no guarantee of that. Sandra Day O'Connor remains on the Court until her replacement is confirmed by the Senate which could occur in just a couple of weeks. While Justice Rehnquist was expected to retire soon, his death comes as a surprise and raises many questions about the confirmation process of John Roberts, the nomination of a new Chief Justice and nomination of a replacement for Rehnquist. One of the more disturbing suggestions has been nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor to become Chief Justice... We would much prefer to see a more conservative nominee both for the Chief Justice position and the now open seat on the court - both of which will require Senate confirmation hearings. The spin that is immediately obvious is that Rehnquist was so conservative that he shifted the Court from a "moderate" position to a distinctly "conservative court" - suggesting that the 'Rehnquist Court' was way off to the 'Right' and that it needs to be brought back to the center with nominations of 'moderates' for both the open Associate Justice position and the Chief Justice position. The political jousting is going to be interesting to watch and could be some of the most important history to be written during your or my lifetime. As Thomas Jefferson stated in 1821 and we reported in the latest edition of the Hard Corps Report: "The germ of dissolution of our federal government is in . . . the federal judiciary; an irresponsible body (for impeachment is merely a scare-crow) working like gravity by night and by day, gaining a little today and a little tomorrow, and advancing its noiseless step like a thief, over the field of jurisdiction, until all shall be usurped from the States." Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Mr. Hammond, 1821. We will of course be monitoring the situation closely and keeping you posted. Yours for the Second Amendment, Jeff Knox --- From John Farnam: 29 Aug 05 Excellent comments on the "pretty vs reliable" gun issue, from a friend in the industry: "...most gun buyers are not acquiring guns for the reasons you and I do. Gun manufacturers will predictably produce and market what the majority will purchase, and most potential pistol buyers, even institutional ones, are gullible, confused, and unsophisticated, as we all know. High-end 1911s are a case in point. Many buyers demand meaningless accuracy to a point where it overshadows our correct idea of functional ability and robustness. Another example is awkward, oversized controls that look cool in glossy ads and make bragging points with others who are equally uninformed, but make life in a concealment holster impossible. Fighting rifles are often in the same boat. Made to sell, they leave the factory with superfluous attachment points, because buyers insist they be able to hang everything on them except a water supply. Of course, these rifles are then too heavy and maladroit to be carried anywhere but in a car, to and from a range, but most buyers own them solely to impress their friends, not their enemies! Gun makers, big and small, believe they have to build at least some esoteric toys that air-heads think they want. It is your job, as well as mine, to enlighten them. We need to do better!" Comment: I agree. I only hope world history will be patient with us! /John 29 Aug 05 On "preferred weapons" of criminals: "Last week in NM, mentally disturbed John Hyde went on a rampage, murdering a state worker, two employees of a local motorcycle shop, and two Albuquerque police officers. Hyde used an antique Webley revolver, manufactured in 1918. With the Webley now clearly the 'weapon of choice' of homicidal maniacs, we should expect legislation to ban further production, sale, importation, or possession of such 'assault revolvers.' This incident reminds the rational among us that firearms are just tools, and, as such, a minor part of the equation. Determined individuals have frequently achieved formidable results using mundane weapons, while others fail to perform less demanding tasks, even though better equipped. No doubt the two officers slain by Hyde carried sidearms superior to his Webley. Too many students are obsessed with firearms, accessories, and ammunition, when they should be focused on improving their own skills and mental preparedness." Comment: Put another way: Too many spend their time looking for an excuse to lose, instead of spending it finding a way to win. /John 30 Aug 05 Armorer tips to keep your 1911 running, from a good friend and armorer. Nearly all bobbles will be traced to one or more of these issues: CLEANLINESS. Do not believe the old wife's tale "Guns shoot better dirty." They don't! LUBRICATION. Follow recommendations in the owner's manual for guidance on lube points. Get them all! Keep oil and grease away from places the manual advises to leave dry. RECOIL SPRINGS. Treat them like an oil change! They need to be replaced at least once every two years, depending on how much the gun is used. Don't use wimpy springs designed for weak, target ammunition. Serious, high-performance ammunition calls for robust recoil springs. BARREL LINK. The link must move, by gravity alone, when you invert the barrel. Stickiness in barrel links is usually caused by burrs and/or lack of lubrication. Easily fixed. MAGAZINE CATCH. The catch must be free from stickiness and grit. MAGAZINES. Magazines must drop free from the frame when the magazine release button is depressed. Empty magazines must lock the slide to the rear. Weak magazine springs are common culprits. The interior of the magazine body must be clean. Traditional, seven-round magazines are best. There are a number of "extra-capacity" magazines available. None are recommended. TRIGGER. The trigger must drop free from frame when the frame is moved from horizontal to vertical. Once again, sticky triggers are easily fixed. HAMMER AND SEAR. Both hammer and sear must rotate fully and freely on their respective pins. MAINSPRING. The mainspring must not bind in its housing. SLIDE AND FRAME. Remove all parts from the slide and frame. The slide must freely fall from the frame. Tight slide-to-frame fit is unsuitable for serious guns. EXTRACTOR (internal). Extractor tension must be sufficient to hold a live round while the slide is rotating. The extractor tunnel must be clean. FIRING PIN. The firing pin must protrude from breech face and return without binding. To function check, drop a pencil, eraser end first, down the barrel from the muzzle (unloaded pistol). Point the pistol upward. Press the trigger. The pencil should launch from the barrel at least a foot into the air. AMMUNITION. Even factory ammunition needs to be inspected before using it to charge magazines. Comment: Adherence to the foregoing may well keep you out of a body bag. Take care of your equipment! /John (Is it just me or does the preventive maintenance list for 1911's seem longer than that for most modern autoloading pistols?) 31 Aug 05 Comments on 1911 maintenance: "Every comment applies across the board, regardless of make or model. We treat our water heater, furnace, even our cars with a large dose of neglect. As a result, they fail from time to time. Such failures are irritating, but usually not fatal. This is a serious issue, my brother and sister warriors. When you treat your fighting tools with disrespect, neglect, and indifference the result may well be fatal, and you won't get a second chance! Many are neither qualified nor competent to own or use guns. They need to get a spear or something else their minds can handle. Don't join that herd. Don't wait for an issue to rear its ugly head. Stay ahead of it, alert, awake, prepared, and trained. Anything less is dangerously foolish, and disrespects our creed." Comment: Can't put it better! /John 31 Aug 05 Disaster in New Orleans. Lessons for all of us: Currently, New Orleans is a non-functioning city. Likewise for the surrounding area. Public order has completely broken down over thousands of square miles. No utilities. No services. No food/water. No sanitary facilities. No way to communicate. No way to get out. Total anarchy! Everyone there is on their own and will be for the foreseeable future. They'll be lucky to live through it! Death toll will likely exceed that for 9/11. Ripple effects throughout the entire nation are substantial and will steadily grow. We are all going to feel the effects. This has never happened in America anywhere near this scale before. Some parts of New Orleans will never be rebuilt, nor should they be. This is not a Hollywood screenplay. It is happening, for real, right now, right here in America! This civilization cannot absorb many more blows like this one. Mercenary gangs of looters, carjackers, and other criminals, many armed, are terrorizing anyone they can find. Swarming into business, homes, even hospitals, looters are bypassing food and drink to steal television sets, jewelry, and computers. Police and National Guard are unable to respond. Residents will have to protect themselves and their property by themselves, any way they can. We can only pray their firepower and training are up to the task. If not, they're toast. Nobody can help them. A friend in the fuel distribution business in OH tells me there is no crude flowing north. Disruption in the supply chain will last for weeks, at least. He advises all of us to fill up. During a televised interview yesterday, a reporter asked LA's governor how the people currently housed in the Superdome were going to be evacuated. She mumbled incoherently and then defaulted to typical, political double-talk. When pressed, she became exasperated and finally blurted "We're in crisis mode now, and we don't know what we're going to do". How inspiring! Sad that, in our democracy, so many mumbling, bumbling bureaucrats like this one are in important, executive positions for which they are obviously unqualified. If you're wondering if there is a point lurking in all this, it is that this massive disaster serves to illustrate how we, and only we, are individually responsible for our health and safety. PREPAREDNESS CAN NEVER BE RETROACTIVE. We all need to be self-contained, and important decisions to that end must be made by each of us right now, and acted upon unilaterally, rather than listening to elected grasseaters and waiting on them to make decisions for us. /John 31 Aug 05 Comments on the catastrophe in New Orleans: "Real reason the Superdome is being evacuated is that there have been so many assaults, robberies, and rapes, everyone has concluded it is unsafe to remain there." "Firearm section of Wall-Marts have all been cleaned out by gangs of looters. Bands of armed VCAs are freely roaming the city now, committing violent crimes at will, unafraid of interference from police or the NG." "My mother is here with me in Baton Rouge. We are running off a generator. There is enough juice for lights, fans, and the refrigerator, but not enough for central air. My brothers are staying at their homes to protect them from looting, which is rampant. No one begrudges the hungry for taking food, but these people are taking everything of value except food, including appliances, athletic shoes, and booze. They are also committing rapes and assaults. Both my brothers have found it necessary to point shotguns at roaming bands of looters. Fortunately, the looters immediately thought of somewhere else they needed to be! They're impressed with firepower, little else. Gunshots can be heard throughout the area. One can call the police, but they're not coming." "Real life is different from the square range, eh? In real life, tough guns rule! After a beautifully-blued, tightly-fitted, tack driving 1911 rusts shut, the owner might be looking for a good spear. He'll surely need something, considering the antics of the disturbed classes down here! "I've decided to change my procedure for going to back-up pistol. I will now retain my primary pistol rather than jettisoning it. Tossing the only other gun I have into two feet of dirty water is a bad idea when no help is coming for the foreseeable future. Same with reloading. I'm making the permanent transition to military reloading, rather than speed reloading. Give the current direction of world history, I've come to believe these changes in personal tactical doctrine are necessary." /John 2 Sept 05 ... as anarchy descends: In order to address the anarchy, lawlessness, and mob violence that has spread, unchecked, throughout the entire New Orleans region this past week, LA's governor Blanco has said of the newly-arriving NG, "They have M-16s, and they're locked and loaded. These troops know how to shoot and kill, and they are more than willing to do so, and I expect they will." Tough talk, a mere five days late! If looters, arsonists, vandals, and other VCAs had heard that warning from the beginning, and had then been gunned down without hesitation, on sight, by local police, little of the present chaos would be seen. For decades, local and state officials in the area considered violent criminals "cute." After all, as is the case in most metro areas, it the votes of the criminal class that keep many local politicians in power. Corruption was tolerated. Criminal conduct was winked at. The welfare/handout mentality was encouraged, as unproductive people voted themselves all kinds of benefits. Now, the city gets to sleep in the bed it has made! The lesson here is that good people, no matter where they live, need to be well supplied, heavily armed, and well trained, lest they fall victim to a suddenly broken infrastructure and hoards of newly-enfranchised VCAs. The world is filled with dangerous vermin, as we see. The anemic veneer we laughingly call "civilization" is paper thin. Be unprepared at your peril! /John (Interesting news report from Australia: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0%2C5478%2C16483597%255E2862%2C00.html) -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .