...You get recognized at a gun show.
"Hey, are you Jay G of MArooned?"
"Why yes, yes I am!"
Consider my day made...
That is all.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
New Blogs!
Got a few more additions to the MArooned blogroll.
1. Michelle at My Life = Chaos Management (luuurve the title!). Described thusly: "Kids, guns, marriage, work and everything in between". Yeah. BTDT. Managing my own chaos in about the same manner...
2. Alan at SnarkyBytes. Alan's also a part of the Gunblogger Conspiracy, as well as part of the Facebook in-crowd.
3. Shrugged at Bear on a Bicycle. Found through my
Welcome aboard everyone!
Folks, I'll make my standard disclaimer again. I run a reciprocal blogroll here at MArooned. If you like my
That is all.
Friday Fun Thread: Fins to the Left, Fins to the Right...
BillH had an excellent suggestion for a Friday Fun Thread: Top 10 Big Fins.
Tailfins as an automotive decoration started in the late 1940s - the post-war era that saw the true boom of American automotive design. The name most often associated with tailfins would be that of Harley Earl, the man responsible for the design of both the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, and our number one Tailfin car. For this week's list, I'll post pictures rather than links simply to do greater justice...
Here we go!
1.
1959 Cadillac El Dorado.
2.
1958 Plymouth Fury (the astute observer will automatically whisper "Christine"...)
3. 
1956 DeSoto Adventurer
4.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air5.
1957 Ford Fairlane
6. 
1958 Packard Hawk
7.
1951 Buick LeSabre concept
8. 
1957 Chrysler Imperial
9. 
1967 Cadillac El Dorado
10.
1959 Dodge Coronet
Okay. I think we can all agree that tailfins are pretty much a 1950s concept...
That is all
Friday Gun Pr0n #96
Today's gun pr0n isn't a gun from the G. armory. It is, however, a gun I had a hand in the acquisition thereof... A while back, Mike wrote to me asking my advice on a carry gun - I posted about it here.
Well, lo and behold, Mike actually took my advice. He went out and bought one of the guns I suggested:
Mike even sent me a range report, which is so good I have to post it in its entirety:
That is all.
Well, lo and behold, Mike actually took my advice. He went out and bought one of the guns I suggested:
Smith & Wesson model M&P 340
Mike even sent me a range report, which is so good I have to post it in its entirety:
I can't tell you how pleased I am that you like the 340, Mike... I love my 360 (in fact, I've called it "The gun I couldn't do without"); I'm glad you like yours as much!Well I ran 100 rounds of 38 special through it and it was a Blast to shoot. Recoil is manageable and my hand feels just fine. I also ran 20 round of 357 goodness and light through it and I cleared the range with it. You talk about pyrotechnics. Almost 2 foot of flame out of the end of that with a standard FMJ Remington load and the noise stopped everyone in their tracks at the range. The blast from the gun had everyones targets doing the hula even at 10 yards! The folks next to me came over and wanted to know what in the hell I was shooting because the blast had knocked their target off the mount..
I let the two guys I was with shoot it with both the 38 special and 357 loads and the 357 loads had us laughing so hard we had to stop shooting and regain our composure. Its unreal in 357. Incredible Shock and Awe.
That gun with a 357 load is just insane and I absolutely love it.
The laser sight is going to take sometime to get used to. Right on the money right out of the gate but you have to teach yourself to ignore the sights and just use the laser dot. My brain was trying to use sights with my right eye and the laser with the left eye and that made my head hurt and didn't make nice groups. With the laser you can use both eyes again counter intuitive to everything we have been taught about sighting weapons. It will take some more trips to the range to get my brain wrapped around it. :>I can't thank you enough for all of your help with this (The range folks aren't so happy but they will get over it as soon as the smoke clears, their ears stop ringing all of the knocked down targets are retrieved and everyone comes back).
That is all.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
YHGTBSM, Pt 2
US mail days may need to be cut
Because, you know, when your business is down, the best way to crank things back up is to... cut back on services, right? Especially when you have competitors who work 24/7.
And another thing... What are those "rising costs"? The price of gasoline has come back down to normal levels. The Big Three are practically giving away cars. Could those "rising costs" have anything to do with, oh, say, the US Postal Union and the exhorbitant benefits afforded Federal employees?
First they came for the Superbowl, and I said nothing. Then they came for the USPS, and I was too busy laughing my ass off at the Superbowl to say anything about that. And whatever comes next, I'll most likely be too busy laughing like a tickled hermit about the USPS to care about that, either...
Maybe that's the plan - flood us with crap we don't care about so we don't notice when something really bad happens...
That is all.
WASHINGTON - Massive deficits could force the U.S. post office to cut out one day of mail delivery per week, the postmaster general told Congress on Wednesday.
Postmaster General John E. Potter asked lawmakers to lift the requirement that the agency deliver mail six days a week.
Faced with dwindling mail volume and rising costs, the post office was $2.8 billion in the red last year and, "if current trends continue, we could experience a net loss of $6 billion or more this fiscal year," Potter said in testimony for a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee.
Because, you know, when your business is down, the best way to crank things back up is to... cut back on services, right? Especially when you have competitors who work 24/7.
And another thing... What are those "rising costs"? The price of gasoline has come back down to normal levels. The Big Three are practically giving away cars. Could those "rising costs" have anything to do with, oh, say, the US Postal Union and the exhorbitant benefits afforded Federal employees?
First they came for the Superbowl, and I said nothing. Then they came for the USPS, and I was too busy laughing my ass off at the Superbowl to say anything about that. And whatever comes next, I'll most likely be too busy laughing like a tickled hermit about the USPS to care about that, either...
Maybe that's the plan - flood us with crap we don't care about so we don't notice when something really bad happens...
That is all.
Crimea River...
I'm sorry. I'm having a really hard time working up any sympathy for the following story:
Super Bowl taking a hit amid economic struggles
Playboy canceled its party? That's it. Time to press charges against Chimpy McHaliburton for wrecking the economy... 200 fewer media credentials to the Superbowl? Why, that's practically a war crime!
I'm sorry. I just have a hard time working up a lot of sympathy for the NFL here. Every year we're treated to a litany of "wow" press releases about how much tickets to the Superbowl are selling for; what each second of half-time advertising costs; the over-the-top everything that accompanies professional football's biggest event
And now we're supposed to feel sorry for them because they have to scale back?
Nah. Ain't gonna happen. Although I do have to admit, the cynic in me wonders if they're gearing up to apply for part of the $800 billion stimulus package recently rammed through by the unilateral Democrats... What the hell, right? We can always print more money, right?
Gah. I'm off to the range.
That is all.
Super Bowl taking a hit amid economic struggles
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - There were mountains of jumbo shrimp, and caviar everywhere. Muhammad Ali would show up, maybe amid a fleet of shiny Cadillacs. Five-star hotels were packed, and getting a dinner reservation for Saturday night was impossible. Finding a ticket for Sunday was even harder.
...
But in these tough economic times, it's easy to see: The Super Bowl is taking a hit, too. General Motors and FedEx pulled their TV ads, even though NBC lowered the price. Playboy canceled its annual party. Almost 200 fewer media credentials were issued.
"When I think of the NFL, I think of recession-proof," Cardinals lineman Elliot Vallejo said this week. "But that's not true anymore."
Playboy canceled its party? That's it. Time to press charges against Chimpy McHaliburton for wrecking the economy... 200 fewer media credentials to the Superbowl? Why, that's practically a war crime!
I'm sorry. I just have a hard time working up a lot of sympathy for the NFL here. Every year we're treated to a litany of "wow" press releases about how much tickets to the Superbowl are selling for; what each second of half-time advertising costs; the over-the-top everything that accompanies professional football's biggest event
And now we're supposed to feel sorry for them because they have to scale back?
Nah. Ain't gonna happen. Although I do have to admit, the cynic in me wonders if they're gearing up to apply for part of the $800 billion stimulus package recently rammed through by the unilateral Democrats... What the hell, right? We can always print more money, right?
Gah. I'm off to the range.
That is all.
What I Need...
You know what I could really use in the morning? A life-size animatronic version of myself who states the following at random intervals:
Alternately, I could appear in a PIP box on the TV and randomly shout the above. That would work for The Boy...
That is all.
"Eat your breakfast!"
"Stop fighting!"
"Leave her/him alone!"
"Hurry up or we'll miss the bus!"
"Don't forget your backpack!"
Alternately, I could appear in a PIP box on the TV and randomly shout the above. That would work for The Boy...
That is all.
MA Mindset...
We come across this sometimes on the various gun boards. 2A issues are looked at somewhat askew from those of us in the more restrictive states. Sometimes it's relatively innocuous, like forgetting that people in other states don't have to contend with bans on guns based solely on what's attached to them. Sometimes it's more insidious, like being opposed to open carry because it would involve a felony stop, SWAT team, and losing one's right to own a firearm forever...
It permeates the view on self-defense, with the added burden of knowing that, even in the most righteous shooting imaginable, the law-abiding gun owner who shoots another in self-defense is going to be in a world of trouble. Legal bills can easily run into the tens of thousands; civil suits even more - there's no "Castle Doctrine" in MA, that's for sure. Folks who plan drills to react to home invasion are sneered at derisively, as though it's any less likely to happen than a house fire.
There was something brought up that I hadn't considered, though. In states which severely restrict the practice of the Second Amendment, there's more of a "brotherhood" feeling to fellow gun owners. We don't tend to take our Second Amendment rights for granted, and we tend to be more likely to embrace our fellow gun owners. When I see a "SigSauer" sticker on the back of a car in a parking lot, I feel a tangible kinship with the person who owns that car. I can identify with the quiet defiance behind signalling one's affectation for things that go boom...
Besides, as I've mentioned before, this is my hobby; this is something I do because I enjoy it and it brings me pleasure. I derive countless hours of zen-like happiness from shooting, finding it relaxing and able to clear my mind of the day's worries. It's hard to be stressed out when shooting a large-bore handgun.
It also happens to be a hobby that could save my life. Coin collecting it ain't...
That is all.
It permeates the view on self-defense, with the added burden of knowing that, even in the most righteous shooting imaginable, the law-abiding gun owner who shoots another in self-defense is going to be in a world of trouble. Legal bills can easily run into the tens of thousands; civil suits even more - there's no "Castle Doctrine" in MA, that's for sure. Folks who plan drills to react to home invasion are sneered at derisively, as though it's any less likely to happen than a house fire.
There was something brought up that I hadn't considered, though. In states which severely restrict the practice of the Second Amendment, there's more of a "brotherhood" feeling to fellow gun owners. We don't tend to take our Second Amendment rights for granted, and we tend to be more likely to embrace our fellow gun owners. When I see a "SigSauer" sticker on the back of a car in a parking lot, I feel a tangible kinship with the person who owns that car. I can identify with the quiet defiance behind signalling one's affectation for things that go boom...
Besides, as I've mentioned before, this is my hobby; this is something I do because I enjoy it and it brings me pleasure. I derive countless hours of zen-like happiness from shooting, finding it relaxing and able to clear my mind of the day's worries. It's hard to be stressed out when shooting a large-bore handgun.
It also happens to be a hobby that could save my life. Coin collecting it ain't...
That is all.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Time-Sucking Vortex...
By which, of course, I mean Facebook... Wow, who knew mindless chatter and quizzes could hold my ADHD-addled brain's attention for minutes at a ti- hey, let's go ride our bikes!
That is all...
That is all...
23 Years Ago Today...
Twenty three years ago today, the space shuttle Challenger exploded some 73 seconds after launch. Until September 11th, 2001, it was the defining moment of my life; the one "what were you doing when" event that I thought would define my generation. Ronald Reagan was president, we were at war with the Soviet Union in a fierce battle of ideologies, and our scientific prowess was one of the many advantages we enjoyed over the Soviets. Sure, they may have been first to put a man into space, but we were the first to make space flight a routine occurrence.
Until the Challenger broke apart a little over a minute after takeoff.
Seven astronauts lost their lives that day:
STS-51-L crew: (front row) Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair; (back row) Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik. (from Wikipedia entry)
Rest in peace, STS-51-L crew. Your place in history is assured; your spot in my memory is eternal.
I was in Mr. Boyle's Calculus class when Eric Marquese came in with the news of the disaster. Eric was the class clown, a cut-up most famous for calling our hard-ass principal on the phone as "Trooper Marquese" and trying to get the school closed down during a snowstorm. Naturally we kept waiting for the punchline, thinking for certain this was a crude joke being played on us.
Until Mr. Boyle came into the room, ashen-faced, and confirmed Eric's story.
Since I was in the TV Production Club (yes, I was a geek, I freely admit it - I was also on the Chess Team and in the Sci-Fi Club, too), I had access to the TV studio where small TV monitors were kept. I remember walking out of class, even though it was clearly against the rules, and walking to the studio. Several others in the club had the same idea, and we hooked up a TV in the studio and watched the news.
I saw the Challenger break apart. Again and again and again.
And Mr. Boyle was standing over my shoulder, watching the news, trying stoicly to maintain his composure. Nothing was said about the breach of my leaving class; in fact, school was canceled after a short assembly on the tragedy. Our parents came to get us, all looking as ashen-faced as my teacher. Most of our parents remembered all too vividly the assassination of JFK, and were now re-living many of those same fears.
It was a black day in history, eclipsed later only by monumental human evil.
That is all.
(This trip down Amnesia Lane provided by this entry at Tam's...)
Moar Snow...
Forecast calls for anywhere from 3-10" of the white crap today (didja notice that "snow" is a four-letter word?). Even with every school on the eastern seaboard closed, there are still idiots galore on the road. About ten different cars all traveling at a blistering 15-20MPH. Once again, I feel the need to reiterate an important axiom: If you can't drive in the snow, stay the hell home.
Put more succintly, "Lead, follow, or get the fuck out of my way".
That is all.
Put more succintly, "Lead, follow, or get the fuck out of my way".
That is all.
The Time Has Come.
The Boy turns 8 shortly. I have decided that this is the year that he comes to the range. He's been expressing greater and greater interest in going to the range with daddy, which comes as a natural progression from getting his marksmanship badge in Cub Scouts for BB gun, getting his own Red Ryder, and watching daddy load up gear for a range trip.
We've been through the Four Rules - he knows them better than a good number of adults I know - and he's demonstrating greater and greater maturity in all areas. With proper guidance, I feel that he's ready to shoot his first firearm. We'll start small - I've got a single-shot Ithaca Arms model M-49 that should do the trick just fine. Once he shows me he can be careful and responsible with a single shot - and, most importantly, how he handles the gun after he's shot it - we can investigate other arms like the pump-action Remington 572 or the lever-action Marlin 39A.
Deciding when a child is ready to go shooting can be one of the harder choices to make. There's a lot that goes into the decision - is the child ready? Will they be safe? Can I devote the appropriate amount of attention to this task? Can they handle a firearm? If the answer to any of these questions is anything other than yes, then wait. Wait as long as you have to. There's another aspect, too; one that's an unfortunate by-product of our hoplophobic culture.
Are you prepared to deal with the fallout of people knowing you brought your child shooting?
For me, I'm prepared. I've armed my son with the most important thing of all - knowledge. He's not afraid of guns. They're not a "forbidden fruit", nor something to play with. I am not shy about my hobby and my passion; I don't hide my affiliations; nor will I ask my son to lie about his activities with me at the range. It's legal, it's fun, and as long as he enjoys it I'll be happy to bring him with me.
Besides, once he starts shootin' he can start cleanin'... That'll REALLY take the mystique out of it!
That is all.
We've been through the Four Rules - he knows them better than a good number of adults I know - and he's demonstrating greater and greater maturity in all areas. With proper guidance, I feel that he's ready to shoot his first firearm. We'll start small - I've got a single-shot Ithaca Arms model M-49 that should do the trick just fine. Once he shows me he can be careful and responsible with a single shot - and, most importantly, how he handles the gun after he's shot it - we can investigate other arms like the pump-action Remington 572 or the lever-action Marlin 39A.
Deciding when a child is ready to go shooting can be one of the harder choices to make. There's a lot that goes into the decision - is the child ready? Will they be safe? Can I devote the appropriate amount of attention to this task? Can they handle a firearm? If the answer to any of these questions is anything other than yes, then wait. Wait as long as you have to. There's another aspect, too; one that's an unfortunate by-product of our hoplophobic culture.
Are you prepared to deal with the fallout of people knowing you brought your child shooting?
For me, I'm prepared. I've armed my son with the most important thing of all - knowledge. He's not afraid of guns. They're not a "forbidden fruit", nor something to play with. I am not shy about my hobby and my passion; I don't hide my affiliations; nor will I ask my son to lie about his activities with me at the range. It's legal, it's fun, and as long as he enjoys it I'll be happy to bring him with me.
Besides, once he starts shootin' he can start cleanin'... That'll REALLY take the mystique out of it!
That is all.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Join In the Fun!
If it's Tuesday, it must be time for Gun Nuts Radio!
Join Breda and the other guy (just kidding, Caleb) for what will definitely be a lively discussion tonight:
(Emphasis mine)
Since I recently brought two more new shooters to the range, I just might have some input on this subject... ;)
See you at 9:00 PM EST!
That is all.
Join Breda and the other guy (just kidding, Caleb) for what will definitely be a lively discussion tonight:
Tonight on Gun Nuts Radio we’ll be doing a fun show - talking about tips and tricks to make you a better shooter. Breda will be talking about the differences in between training men and women, and I’ll take a look at the topic from the eyes of a competition shooter. As always, the show goes live at 9pm Eastern time, and your call ins are always welcome. You can join the conversation live by calling (347) 539-5436 - if you’re a firearms instructor or have experience teaching new shooters, we’d love to hear from you. If you’re someone who has had a positive or negative experience with an instructor, or you have a question for myself or Breda, please feel free to call in.
(Emphasis mine)
Since I recently brought two more new shooters to the range, I just might have some input on this subject... ;)
See you at 9:00 PM EST!
That is all.
Life Imitates The Simpsons...
8 Babies Born to Stunned California Parents
That is all.
BELLFLOWER, Calif. — Doctors methodically delivered a mother's seven babies, five boys and two girls, just as they had repeatedly rehearsed.Seems like someone's been watching episode 1107...
Then came the eighth.
That is all.
YHGTBSM*...
The honeymoon that ended before it began
Yeah, that sure sounds like a critical media intent on bringing down the new President. Ditto the "Obamalot" headlines after hisascension coronation inauguration (which was "historic", in case you missed it the 1,468,191 times the media mentioned it). I'm sure we'll start seeing headlines critical of The Annointed One's unilateral policies starting, oh, around the same time the sun burns out and becomes a lifeless ball...
I loved this line from the article, as it really lets you know where the writer is coming from:
Wow. Where do I even begin with this? The "middle class tax cut" that turned into the largest tax increase in US history is credit with spurring a boom? On what fucking planet? Off-hand I'd say the meteoric rise of the personal computer and the internet spurred the boom of the 1990s, a boom that came to an end as Bubba's stained presidency was in its twilight...
But no, I don't believe the Obama honeymoon is over. I think we're going to see yet another stunning turnaround as we did in 2000, where dissent magically became patriotic, military action against Iraq became bad, and government spending was something to worry about. With regards to Obama, I don't think the media's even finished strapping on the kneepads yet.
After all, they annointed him - it's up to them to make sure he doesn't fail.
That is all.
*You have got to be shitting me
Absolutely. If Obama wants to achieve a roaring, Canaveral-like lift off for his plan — and for his presidency — he needs to show that we have jettisoned “business as usual.” Bipartisan support is the way to do so.
Yeah, that sure sounds like a critical media intent on bringing down the new President. Ditto the "Obamalot" headlines after his
I loved this line from the article, as it really lets you know where the writer is coming from:
In the end it may not matter that much. In 1993, Bill Clinton passed his first and most important — and successful — tax bill without a single GOP vote in the House. The legislation is generally credited with having helped spur the Long Boom of the 1990s.
Wow. Where do I even begin with this? The "middle class tax cut" that turned into the largest tax increase in US history is credit with spurring a boom? On what fucking planet? Off-hand I'd say the meteoric rise of the personal computer and the internet spurred the boom of the 1990s, a boom that came to an end as Bubba's stained presidency was in its twilight...
But no, I don't believe the Obama honeymoon is over. I think we're going to see yet another stunning turnaround as we did in 2000, where dissent magically became patriotic, military action against Iraq became bad, and government spending was something to worry about. With regards to Obama, I don't think the media's even finished strapping on the kneepads yet.
After all, they annointed him - it's up to them to make sure he doesn't fail.
That is all.
*You have got to be shitting me
We Love Letters!
Today's letter comes from a young man named Ken who has a question concerning the byzantine MA gun laws:
Heh. Oh, Ken, are you in for a surprise... While MA may be (marginally) better than NJ for issuing CCW licenses, there's a lot more to the equation, as you surmise by the Approved Firearms Roster {spit}.
Here's my response:
I realize that this request is extremely MA-centric, but the exercise can be useful. Here's the situation: You've lost your mind completely and are going to move in the the People's Republik of Massa-fucking-chusetts. You can get pretty much anything you want from Smith & Wesson, Ruger, SigSauer, and ParaOrdnance as far as handguns go.
What would you buy to bring into MA? What guns would you absolutely have to have that aren't on the Approved Firearms Roster (or are on but not sold, like Glocks or Kahr Arms)? Remember that with the MA premium on "off-list" guns, you could pick up an extra gun or two to sell privately (yes, private transactions are legal in MA between licensed gun owners!)... For me, I'd pick up a Springfield Armory USGI 1911; a Glock 26, 27, and 36; a couple P3ATs and LCPs; several NAA mini-22s; and possibly a couple HKs.
What say you?
That is all.
Hey Jay G,
I really enjoy reading your blog, and the posts about MA gun laws have been particularly useful. I was hoping you’d be able to help clear up some of my confusion about the Approved Firearms Roster. I’m currently a grad student at [really smart college redacted] out here in [city name redacted].
I’m graduating this spring, and will probably be getting a job in MA. If I’m lucky, I’ll end up in NH, but right now there’s a good chance that I’ll be in Massachusetts. Currently, my legal residence is in New Jersey, which isn’t any better overall in terms of ridiculous gun laws, but at least there’s no approved firearms roster. The bad thing is, you have to apply for an individual permit for each handgun you want to buy, which takes anywhere from 2-6 months to be issued. I’m waiting on 2 permits right now, and planning on buying a couple of guns before I move to MA, while I still have almost free choice on what kind of handgun I can get. I’m on a bit of a tight budget, being a college student and all, so that influenced my plan as well.
[ed.: Got that? New freakin' Jersey has more options than MA for handguns.]
Originally, I had planned to buy a Kel-Tec P-3AT and a Taurus snubbie in .357(I know you’ve said S&W is better, but still, tight budget right now.). I’ve shot the Taurus before, but not the Kel-Tec, but I’ve heard good things on the internet. I figured that I could get a 1911 and a DAO autoloader of some kind after I moved to MA, and have a job with a paycheck. I looked at the Approved Firearms Roster, saw there were plenty of 1911 options from Para-Ordnance and S&W on the list, as well as the SIG 226/229 DAK (shot it before, liked it, but pricey). I planned on buying the Kel-Tec and the Taurus in NJ since they’re cheap, and not on the Approved Firearms Roster.
The part that I get confused about, and makes me wonder if I should change my plan, is the Attorney General’s handgun Sales Regulations (http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagoterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=AG%27s+Regulations&sid=Cago&b=terminalcontent&f=government_Regulations_940CMR16&csid=Cago). I just found out about these restrictions a few days ago, when a friend of mine pointed it out to me. My question is: do those regulations, specifically about trigger pull > 10lbs, mean that it’s impossible for me to buy any Single action autoloader (like a 1911) in MA? This would also seem to rule out any Sig with a DAK trigger (7 lb pull, according to the Sig Sauer website). If that’s correc t, and I can’t get those guns while living in MA, what would you recommend buying once my permits are issued? 2 handguns, not MA compliant, where cost is an issue. I’d like to keep total spending under 4 digits, if possible. A little more than that is feasible, but not preferable. What do you think?
Thanks for taking the time to read this very long email,
Ken
Heh. Oh, Ken, are you in for a surprise... While MA may be (marginally) better than NJ for issuing CCW licenses, there's a lot more to the equation, as you surmise by the Approved Firearms Roster {spit}.
Here's my response:
Good morning Ken,
Thanks for the kind words about the blog. It's heartening to hear that the "next generation" (How the HELL did I get so damned old?!?!?!) is interesting in the shooting sports and the Second Amendment in general.
As for the Approved Firearms Roster, well, in many cases your guess is as good as mine. There are plenty of guns that are on the Roster - Glock, for instance - that are not available for sale from a dealer.
The process, as near as I can figure out, is that a firearm manufacturer will give the required number of firearms to the testing agency and, once they pass, get put on the MA Approved Roster. After that, they can sell the guns, except that the AG can and will arbitrarily and capriciously decide that Gun "A" is acceptable to sell but Gun "B" is not. There's no rhyme or reason to it, and it has frustrated and discouraged many gun makers from selling in MA.
Which is EXACTLY why they do it...
Pretty much everything from Smith & Wesson is available for sale. This bodes well for your 1911 urge - S&W makes an excellent, excellent 1911 at an affordable price. ParaOrdnance is also well-represented in MA if you want a double-stack 1911 (or they also have single-stack versions); additionally, AutoOrdnance makes an entry level 1911 that is an inexpensive choice if you want something to tinker with.
The trigger pull greater than 10 pounds has to do with guns with no safety - obviously the 1911 doesn't apply. The Sig DAK isn't for sale in MA, but IIRC, you can purchase a regular SA/DA Sig and have SigArms do the conversion if you are so inclined. Me, personally, I like the SA option.
Remember, the AG regulations *ONLY* pertain to what a licensed FFL can sell you.
As for what to get, I'd suggest you look at Glocks or XDs - those command a PREMIUM on the used market in MA. The P3AT is a good choice, but I would recommend you investigate the Ruger LCP as well. It's a little more expensive, but it's better constructed. I've got a P3AT and love it, but if I were doing it again I'd get the LCP instead. Forget revolvers, really - You can buy a used S&W all day long in MA, and new S&Ws and Rugers are plentiful. It might be $100 more than a Taurus, but you'll appreciate having the gun $$$ for something you can't buy in MA.
(Side note: I'd counsel you to look into moving to NH and commuting - if you're going to be getting a job in the Worcester area, that might not actually be that difficult...)
And if you happened to move to MA and brought in a Kahr Arms K380, and then happened to get tired of it after a (short) while, I'd be happy to take it off your hands... :)
With your permission, I'd like to post your request on MArooned to see what other options people can come up with. I have a number of MA readers, and they might be able to make some other recommendations I haven't covered here. Obviously the standard disclaimer applies - I wouldn't use your last name, of course, but I would like to post your e-mail if that's okay.
In any case, I'm on the North Shore if you're interested in going shooting some time. I've got some non-MA Approved firearms (including the P3AT) if you're interested in shooting them.
Good to hear from you, and let me know on the post. I hope I've given you some good advice here, and hope to offer more!
Regards,
Jay G.
MArooned
I realize that this request is extremely MA-centric, but the exercise can be useful. Here's the situation: You've lost your mind completely and are going to move in the the People's Republik of Massa-fucking-chusetts. You can get pretty much anything you want from Smith & Wesson, Ruger, SigSauer, and ParaOrdnance as far as handguns go.
What would you buy to bring into MA? What guns would you absolutely have to have that aren't on the Approved Firearms Roster (or are on but not sold, like Glocks or Kahr Arms)? Remember that with the MA premium on "off-list" guns, you could pick up an extra gun or two to sell privately (yes, private transactions are legal in MA between licensed gun owners!)... For me, I'd pick up a Springfield Armory USGI 1911; a Glock 26, 27, and 36; a couple P3ATs and LCPs; several NAA mini-22s; and possibly a couple HKs.
What say you?
That is all.
Monday, January 26, 2009
More Wish List Material...
Add this to the "if they make it, I'll buy one" list:
.327 Federal Magnum-chambered, L-frame S&W revolver with scandium frame/titanium cylinder, 2" barrel, round butt, eight-round capacity.
That'd be a reason to move up from a J-frame...
That is all.
.327 Federal Magnum-chambered, L-frame S&W revolver with scandium frame/titanium cylinder, 2" barrel, round butt, eight-round capacity.
That'd be a reason to move up from a J-frame...
That is all.
Random Riffs...
Just some random tidbits from the daily jaunt around the news desks...
*House Speaker Sal DiMasi To Resign Tuesday - the guy was just re-elected Speaker like three weeks ago, and now he's resigning? The question is not "Did they catch him with a dead hooker?" but "Just how many dead hookers did they catch him with?"... Maybe he can join Tommy Finneran in requesting pardons... This is now the third MA Speaker of the House to resign in a row. That's gotta be a record of some sort...
*House Speaker Sal DiMasi To Resign Tuesday - the guy was just re-elected Speaker like three weeks ago, and now he's resigning? The question is not "Did they catch him with a dead hooker?" but "Just how many dead hookers did they catch him with?"... Maybe he can join Tommy Finneran in requesting pardons... This is now the third MA Speaker of the House to resign in a row. That's gotta be a record of some sort...
*Monster truck crushes promoter at event - Truckasaurus' whereabouts still unknown. He is considered wheeled and dangerous. What's most interesting is this comes less than a week after the promoter was touting the safety record of monster truck racing - then he stepped in front of one of the trucks... Remember folks, Darwin will not be denied.
*Covenant coach who beat Dallas Academy 100-0 is fired - file this under "stuff I don't get". While everyone wants to feel sorry for the underdog, what gets left out is that this coach brought the winning team back from a 2-19 record and was sticking up for allegations that his girls acted "shamefully". But they needed a scapegoat, so...
*Democrats try to lower economic expectations - what, you expected Obama to actually, you know, deliver on those campaign promises of rainbow-farting unicorns? Yeah, yeah, it's all Bush's fault, blah blah blah. See how that works for you in 2010 if all you can offer is excuses. Maybe our new Treasury Secretary can save us some money by giving us tax tips on how to ditch paying...
*Macintosh turns 25 - Many still living in parents' basements... Sorry, sometimes ya just gotta go for the pure snarky goodness... Any minute now a fanboy will come along to remind us that Macs don't have anti-virus software because they don't get virii. Of course, the rejoinder is always the same - with only, what, 5% market share, who'd bother writing virus code for Macs anyway?
*Impeachment trial to proceed without Ill. governor - man, the news from IL just keeps getting weirder, doesn't it? Blago says he wanted to nominate Oprah - Oprah freakin' Winfrey - for Obama's seat, now he's not even showing up for his trial. What's next, a slow-speed Bronco chase?
*TORRE RIPS 'A-FRAUD' & BOSS' BRASS BOZOS - let me just state, as a proud MAhole, the following statement regarding this news: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Gee, A-Rod's an underperforming prima donna? Bet you're real glad you "stole" him away from the Sox, eh Georgie boy?
Who needs comedy when real life is this freakin' bizarre?
That is all.
New Shooter(s) Report
At the beginning of the month, I was contacted by a gentleman wishing to take advantage of my open invitation to go shooting:
While we waited for a range to free up, I gave my quick safety spiel and made sure we were clear on general range etiquette and "what to do if" situations (jams, FTE, etc.). I had brought some snap caps for demonstration and gave a quick overview of the operation of both revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. As Jack's e-mail mentioned, they had both taken the NRA course, so most of this was simple review - but there's no such thing as too safe when it comes to introducing a new shooter IMHO.
I brought four guns for this range session:
Smith & Wesson Model 17 in .22LR for rimfire revolver;
Smith & Wesson Model 422 in .22LR for rimfire semi-automatic;
Ruger Security Six .357 Magnum for centerfire revolver; and
Colt 1991A1 for centerfire semi-automatic.
Normally I'd have brought the SigSauer P226 for a centerfire semi-auto, but Jack requested a 1911-variant "for old time's sake" from his days in the Corps. Can't say I blame him.
We started out in the rotation shown above, with me taking the first round of shots, then Mary Ann, then Jack. Both Jack and Mary Ann shot extremely well for (long time) returning and new shooters - on the silhouette targets we started on, only a small handful of shots went outside the 9 ring for all four guns! Interestingly enough, once they had both shot all four guns, there was little interest in the rimfire offerings - they both had a distinct preference for the centerfire experience over the plinkin' .22s. Y'know, there are worse things...
Mary Ann seemed to prefer the Ruger Security Six with .357 Magnum:
End result? Well, I'll let Mary Ann's Quote of the Day speak for itself:
We're already making plans to get together again once the snow melts for some rifle shooting and some evil orange clay killing at the gun club. And for some reason, I suspect there will be a .357 Magnum wheelgun and a 1911-style semi-auto in their future once they get their permits.
For those keeping score (*cough* Greg), that's another two new shooters - I think we can safely count a forty-year span as new...
That is all.
My wife and I just took the NRA Home safety Course and are applying for a firearm permit. I have handled firearms before in the Marine Corps back in ’61 to ’65, however my wife has never been near a firearm before. When we get our permits we are going to get firearms. My wife wants to try some out on the range before hand so we would like to take you up on your kind offer. Please let me know when it would be convenient for you.This past Saturday we got together for some shooty goodness. I met Jack and Mary Ann at the local public range - we would have met at my gun club except that: a) It's currently buried under about 2 feet of snow; and b) it'd be rather difficult getting Jack's wheelchair down the stairs to the basement range at the club. So we met at the local range, a place I've been going to for almost 20 years now. It's under new management, and they've made some improvements to the place.
While we waited for a range to free up, I gave my quick safety spiel and made sure we were clear on general range etiquette and "what to do if" situations (jams, FTE, etc.). I had brought some snap caps for demonstration and gave a quick overview of the operation of both revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. As Jack's e-mail mentioned, they had both taken the NRA course, so most of this was simple review - but there's no such thing as too safe when it comes to introducing a new shooter IMHO.
I brought four guns for this range session:
Smith & Wesson Model 17 in .22LR for rimfire revolver;
Smith & Wesson Model 422 in .22LR for rimfire semi-automatic;
Ruger Security Six .357 Magnum for centerfire revolver; and
Colt 1991A1 for centerfire semi-automatic.
Normally I'd have brought the SigSauer P226 for a centerfire semi-auto, but Jack requested a 1911-variant "for old time's sake" from his days in the Corps. Can't say I blame him.
We started out in the rotation shown above, with me taking the first round of shots, then Mary Ann, then Jack. Both Jack and Mary Ann shot extremely well for (long time) returning and new shooters - on the silhouette targets we started on, only a small handful of shots went outside the 9 ring for all four guns! Interestingly enough, once they had both shot all four guns, there was little interest in the rimfire offerings - they both had a distinct preference for the centerfire experience over the plinkin' .22s. Y'know, there are worse things...
Mary Ann seemed to prefer the Ruger Security Six with .357 Magnum:
End result? Well, I'll let Mary Ann's Quote of the Day speak for itself:
"I'm hooked!"Heh.
We're already making plans to get together again once the snow melts for some rifle shooting and some evil orange clay killing at the gun club. And for some reason, I suspect there will be a .357 Magnum wheelgun and a 1911-style semi-auto in their future once they get their permits.
For those keeping score (*cough* Greg), that's another two new shooters - I think we can safely count a forty-year span as new...
That is all.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday Afternoon...
Question to ponder:
Or is it just me?
That is all.
Why is it that a really good day (like yesterday) is almost invariably followed by a day full of teh suxxor?
Or is it just me?
That is all.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Gunnie Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Took two new shooters to the range today (full report - with pictures - on Monday!). While we were there, a 20-something came in with his girlfriend in (fearful) tow. He rented a 9mm pistol, bought a couple boxes of ammo and some silhouette targets, and started blasting away.
Completely oblivious to the fact that his girlfriend was not having a good time.
Then he hands her the gun. She looked at it like one would look at a toilet plunger after a bad weekend at og's. She took a shot. Had you placed a Madagascar hissing cockroach in her latte I doubt she'd have looked more ill-at-ease. She took another shot.
She put the gun down. "I don't like it!"
He shrugged and picked it up and emptied the magazine. Rapid fire, the best you could say for "accuracy" is that all rounds impacted the target (at 5 yards). She jumped every time the gun barked, spooked by the sturm und drang of this unfamiliar device. It was so bad the proprietors of the range came out and asked if they'd like to rent a .22. The boyfriend declined.
"We've shot 9mm before" was all he grunted.
I loaded up my S&W Model 17 and handed it to the young lady. I gave her a quick synopsis of revolver operation and how to line up the sights. She asked me to take the first shot - the gods of pistol shooting smiled on me, and the round impacted DFC. I handed the gun to her, moved to the side but still within arm's reach for support, and let her finish the cylinder.
"Oh! That's much better!" was her reply. As all five rounds landed in the center of the target (the center, mind you, which her boyfriend hadn't touched with three and a half magazines...)
The guy working the counter came back with a Ruger Mark III and two boxes of .22LR. The rest of the time there, the two of them shot the bull-barreled Ruger and complimented each others' shots. When I left with my two new shooters (that I started on the S&W Model 17 and 422, both .22s), the boyfriend had returned the Mark III and rented a GSG-5.
They were both smiling ear-to-ear as we left.
Total for the day: Two new shooters from my group, possibly a third in the young lady I introduced to the wonders of rimfire goodness. Life. Is. Good.
And then I get home and check my e-mail. A gentleman who asked my opinion on a new carry gun took my suggestion, bought a gun, and took it to the range - and loved it. One of my earlier new shooters has applied for his MA LTC - and is excited about the fact that he may be getting an unrestricted license.
It has been a banner day in Jay's gunnie universe.
That is all.
Completely oblivious to the fact that his girlfriend was not having a good time.
Then he hands her the gun. She looked at it like one would look at a toilet plunger after a bad weekend at og's. She took a shot. Had you placed a Madagascar hissing cockroach in her latte I doubt she'd have looked more ill-at-ease. She took another shot.
She put the gun down. "I don't like it!"
He shrugged and picked it up and emptied the magazine. Rapid fire, the best you could say for "accuracy" is that all rounds impacted the target (at 5 yards). She jumped every time the gun barked, spooked by the sturm und drang of this unfamiliar device. It was so bad the proprietors of the range came out and asked if they'd like to rent a .22. The boyfriend declined.
"We've shot 9mm before" was all he grunted.
I loaded up my S&W Model 17 and handed it to the young lady. I gave her a quick synopsis of revolver operation and how to line up the sights. She asked me to take the first shot - the gods of pistol shooting smiled on me, and the round impacted DFC. I handed the gun to her, moved to the side but still within arm's reach for support, and let her finish the cylinder.
"Oh! That's much better!" was her reply. As all five rounds landed in the center of the target (the center, mind you, which her boyfriend hadn't touched with three and a half magazines...)
The guy working the counter came back with a Ruger Mark III and two boxes of .22LR. The rest of the time there, the two of them shot the bull-barreled Ruger and complimented each others' shots. When I left with my two new shooters (that I started on the S&W Model 17 and 422, both .22s), the boyfriend had returned the Mark III and rented a GSG-5.
They were both smiling ear-to-ear as we left.
Total for the day: Two new shooters from my group, possibly a third in the young lady I introduced to the wonders of rimfire goodness. Life. Is. Good.
And then I get home and check my e-mail. A gentleman who asked my opinion on a new carry gun took my suggestion, bought a gun, and took it to the range - and loved it. One of my earlier new shooters has applied for his MA LTC - and is excited about the fact that he may be getting an unrestricted license.
It has been a banner day in Jay's gunnie universe.
That is all.
Don't Look Now...
...But today's a very special day on some porches...
How ironic is it that you missed St. JMB's by mere hours?
That is all.
Happy birthday, Tam!!!
How ironic is it that you missed St. JMB's by mere hours?
That is all.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Blogroll Additions
Two new places of interest to add to the MArooned blogroll:
1. Gun Nuts: The Next Generation. Caleb linked there heavily during his awesome SHOT Show coverage, and I noticed that he was kind enough to link MArooned there. I should have added Gun Nuts sooner, as it's a gateway to access the Gun Nuts Radio Show every Tuesday night at 9:00 PM. If you're not listening, you really should be - also be sure to join us in the Chat room (if you can find it) for a veritable who's who of the gun blogosphere. Oh, and a weird biker dude with a foul mouth from MA...
2. The Endive. Just from their mission statement alone I was intrigued:
I appreciate snark and sarcasm as much as the next guy, and the Endive looks to be a conservative's version of some other humor site named after a root vegetable... Take a look - it's good for a chuckle!
That is all.
1. Gun Nuts: The Next Generation. Caleb linked there heavily during his awesome SHOT Show coverage, and I noticed that he was kind enough to link MArooned there. I should have added Gun Nuts sooner, as it's a gateway to access the Gun Nuts Radio Show every Tuesday night at 9:00 PM. If you're not listening, you really should be - also be sure to join us in the Chat room (if you can find it) for a veritable who's who of the gun blogosphere. Oh, and a weird biker dude with a foul mouth from MA...
2. The Endive. Just from their mission statement alone I was intrigued:
The mission of The Endive is a simple one. Our mission is to give you a good, cheap laugh - usually at someone else’s expense. We have no shame, no one is safe, and we will not stop until you laugh (or get pissed).
But wait! There’s more to it than that! What’s the one common thread we see in all forms of entertainment, be it television or internet? It’s all pretty freaking liberal. As a matter of fact, the liberal slant on our TV shows and news programs is so entrenched that we take it for granted daily. Sure, lots of us are happy with that. Yay you. Lots of us are a little sick of it and watching Fox News 24/7 just doesn’t do it for
us.
I appreciate snark and sarcasm as much as the next guy, and the Endive looks to be a conservative's version of some other humor site named after a root vegetable... Take a look - it's good for a chuckle!
That is all.
Catchin' On!
...In more ways that one. Rustmeister alerts me to yet another righteous shooting.
North Houston resident disarms, kills burglar
Good guys 1, Bad guys 0
Dead Goblin Count: 6
That is all.
North Houston resident disarms, kills burglar
Homicide detectives are still investigating an overnight shooting in which a resident of a north Houston apartment said he disarmed a burglar and killed him with his own gun.Like Rusty says, the antis always tell us not to use a gun because it'll be taken away and used against us...
The shooting occurred about 10 a.m. [ed.: I assume they mean PM if it's an overnight shooting...] Thursday at the Worthington Apartments at 1350 Greens Parkway, KHOU Channel 11 reported. Police said two residents reported that they came home and found that two men had broken into their apartment.
One of the intruders had a gun, which was wrestled away from him during a struggle with the residents, police said. The resident fired, killing one of the burglars, while the other ran away, police were told.
Good guys 1, Bad guys 0
Dead Goblin Count: 6
That is all.
Friday Fun Thread: Off-Roadin'!
This week's automotive fun thread centers on gettin' dirty. Here are ten vehicles that are good to go in the mud or snow - four- or all-wheel drive cars, trucks, SUVs that don't mind getting mud in their flaps.
So without further ado, here's the list!
1. Jeep CJ. Oh yeah. There's no other vehicle that even comes close to the #1 slot of "vehicles to take when the road... isn't." For over 60 years Jeep has been synonymous with off-road, recent attempts to civilize the Wrangler notwithstanding. There's a reason it's called the Jeep Jamboree...
2. HMMWV. The original Hummer, not the frou-frou specialty crap that GM decided to foist on an ever-gullible public. Approach angle of 54º. Independent suspension. Capable of fording up to 5' of water. R-r-r-r-r-r-r! (Tim-the-toolman-Taylor-esque grunt inserted for good measure...)
3. Toyota FJ40. I had an Organic Chemistry professor in college who owned an FJ. He had it stocked to the rafters with survival gear and sundry. Thought the world was going to end at any given moment (remember two things: a) this was during the Cold War and b) he inhaled a lot of benzene...). Plus it's compatible with the GM small block V8.
4. Lamborghini LM. A four wheel drive, V12 SUV with 444 horsepower and a top speed of 120 MPH. What's not to love? Need another reason? It got Time Magazine's panties in a bunch and was number 40 on their 50 Worst Cars list...
5. Land Rover Series 1. Okay, this one makes this list primarily for the scene in "The Gods Must Be Crazy" where one winds up hanging from a tree.... *AND* it's got a Power Take Off unit. How cool is it that you could use your LR for a lawn mower?
6. First generation Ford Bronco. Top off. V8 at the ready. I don't care who you are, this is a sweet lookin' truck that's equally at home on the trails or on the beach. As with everything else in the 1970s, the redesign made it much larger and bulkier, and traded the fully removable roof for a smaller rear section.
7. Porsche 959. Okay, this one might not be the best choice for running the Jeep Jamboree, but it *has* won the gruelling Paris-Dakar rally (on its second try, but hey...). Show up with one of these beauties at a road rally and watch the WRX and STi owners cringe...
8. Third generation Chevy pickup. This is the base platform for building a serious off-road monster - with the option of engines ranging from the nigh-indestructible small block 350 to the monster 454 to the 6.2L Diesel, there's an engine to suit whatever you want to do. Put in a 6" lift, toss on 38" Mickey Thompsons, and you're good to get stuck miles and miles from civilization...
9. Jeep Wagoneer. Jeep off-road capability. Seating for 7. For dinner. Fake wood paneling. This is the vehicle to have if you want to take the whole (Brady Bunch) family off-roading...
10. Subaru WRX. Okay, got a soft spot for rally cars. Sue me. It's still a decent choice for something that'll go good in the snow, still haul all your kids and groceries, and doesn't reek of econobox like a Civic or Corolla...
Okay, so there's my list of favorite off-road type vehicles. I'm sure in my haste I've forgotten some really good cars or trucks, so remind me what's missing.
That is all.
So without further ado, here's the list!
1. Jeep CJ. Oh yeah. There's no other vehicle that even comes close to the #1 slot of "vehicles to take when the road... isn't." For over 60 years Jeep has been synonymous with off-road, recent attempts to civilize the Wrangler notwithstanding. There's a reason it's called the Jeep Jamboree...
2. HMMWV. The original Hummer, not the frou-frou specialty crap that GM decided to foist on an ever-gullible public. Approach angle of 54º. Independent suspension. Capable of fording up to 5' of water. R-r-r-r-r-r-r! (Tim-the-toolman-Taylor-esque grunt inserted for good measure...)
3. Toyota FJ40. I had an Organic Chemistry professor in college who owned an FJ. He had it stocked to the rafters with survival gear and sundry. Thought the world was going to end at any given moment (remember two things: a) this was during the Cold War and b) he inhaled a lot of benzene...). Plus it's compatible with the GM small block V8.
4. Lamborghini LM. A four wheel drive, V12 SUV with 444 horsepower and a top speed of 120 MPH. What's not to love? Need another reason? It got Time Magazine's panties in a bunch and was number 40 on their 50 Worst Cars list...
5. Land Rover Series 1. Okay, this one makes this list primarily for the scene in "The Gods Must Be Crazy" where one winds up hanging from a tree.... *AND* it's got a Power Take Off unit. How cool is it that you could use your LR for a lawn mower?
6. First generation Ford Bronco. Top off. V8 at the ready. I don't care who you are, this is a sweet lookin' truck that's equally at home on the trails or on the beach. As with everything else in the 1970s, the redesign made it much larger and bulkier, and traded the fully removable roof for a smaller rear section.
7. Porsche 959. Okay, this one might not be the best choice for running the Jeep Jamboree, but it *has* won the gruelling Paris-Dakar rally (on its second try, but hey...). Show up with one of these beauties at a road rally and watch the WRX and STi owners cringe...
8. Third generation Chevy pickup. This is the base platform for building a serious off-road monster - with the option of engines ranging from the nigh-indestructible small block 350 to the monster 454 to the 6.2L Diesel, there's an engine to suit whatever you want to do. Put in a 6" lift, toss on 38" Mickey Thompsons, and you're good to get stuck miles and miles from civilization...
9. Jeep Wagoneer. Jeep off-road capability. Seating for 7. For dinner. Fake wood paneling. This is the vehicle to have if you want to take the whole (Brady Bunch) family off-roading...
10. Subaru WRX. Okay, got a soft spot for rally cars. Sue me. It's still a decent choice for something that'll go good in the snow, still haul all your kids and groceries, and doesn't reek of econobox like a Civic or Corolla...
Okay, so there's my list of favorite off-road type vehicles. I'm sure in my haste I've forgotten some really good cars or trucks, so remind me what's missing.
That is all.
Sing Ho! For the Birth of a Genius
Tam reminds us that today is the birthday of John Moses Browning. PBUH. She's got a run-down of firearms that were blessed by the hand of JMB; take a look at the list and see how many of his designs reside in your gun cabinet.
I've got five:
Winchester 1894
Winchester 1890
Winchester 1897
Remington Model 11
U.S. M1911
Happy Birthday, Mr. Browning.
That is all.
I've got five:
Winchester 1894
Winchester 1890
Winchester 1897
Remington Model 11
U.S. M1911
Happy Birthday, Mr. Browning.
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #95
Today's gun is yet another one of the, well, different guns in the G. armory. I was chatting with Caleb in the Gunblogger Conspiracy forum, and he was talking about some of the possible handguns he'd like to get. One of them was the Walther version of this:
Until I got my G30, this gun was my cold weather carry gun. It's a little thick to hide in the summer, but when I could get away with a sweater or a vest, it was the go-to CCW piece. It's relatively light (~ 24 ounces), shoots well, and has been utterly reliable - thousands of rounds, mostly cheap FMJ, and not a single failure of any kind.
Question for those in the know: Is this the kind of gun that would be good for something like IDPA? I feel bad because this is too good a gun to just languish in a safe, but if I want to shoot 9mm these days I've got the Sig P226. If this is something that would work for a shooting sport I'll hold onto it; otherwise it may find its way to the auction block to put some $$$ into the gun fund...
That is all.
Until I got my G30, this gun was my cold weather carry gun. It's a little thick to hide in the summer, but when I could get away with a sweater or a vest, it was the go-to CCW piece. It's relatively light (~ 24 ounces), shoots well, and has been utterly reliable - thousands of rounds, mostly cheap FMJ, and not a single failure of any kind.
Question for those in the know: Is this the kind of gun that would be good for something like IDPA? I feel bad because this is too good a gun to just languish in a safe, but if I want to shoot 9mm these days I've got the Sig P226. If this is something that would work for a shooting sport I'll hold onto it; otherwise it may find its way to the auction block to put some $$$ into the gun fund...
That is all.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Can I Just Say...
...that if I see or hear about Obama's "historic inauguration" one more time, I'm gonna puke?
That is all.
That is all.
Automotive Calendar
No, not one of these:
But how you tell periods of time in your life by the car you were driving...
I was chatting with a friend last night, and describing one time when I got pulled over as a teenager. I knew I was 19-20, because I was driving my Buick Regal. Talking with friends about the infamous TGIFridays bar fight, I knew it was 1997 because I was driving my Caddy then. Another friend chimed in that he remembered his son's age because he bought a new car the year he was born.
Then we had to go and buy a Honda and screw all that up - we've had the car for almost 10 years and it shows no sign of letting up...
That is all.
But how you tell periods of time in your life by the car you were driving...
I was chatting with a friend last night, and describing one time when I got pulled over as a teenager. I knew I was 19-20, because I was driving my Buick Regal. Talking with friends about the infamous TGIFridays bar fight, I knew it was 1997 because I was driving my Caddy then. Another friend chimed in that he remembered his son's age because he bought a new car the year he was born.
Then we had to go and buy a Honda and screw all that up - we've had the car for almost 10 years and it shows no sign of letting up...
That is all.
Back-to-Back!
Wow. If there's anything that'll warm the cockles of your heart on a cold January day, back-to-back righteous shootings have to rank pretty high up the scale...
Dallas burglary suspect fatally shot
{pause for catcalls and war whoops to die down}
You mess with the bull, you get the horns. No tears need be shed for this vicious little bastard; let us hope that there will be a happy ending for the gentleman who ended his criminal career. Although the story does say "The case will likely be referred to a grand jury", this is Texas, after all, and we would expect the shoot to be ruled clean...
Good guys 1, bad guys room temperature.
Dead Goblin count: 5
Link kindly provided by Mule Breath. Thank'ee, good sir!
That is all.
Dallas burglary suspect fatally shot
DALLAS -- A suspected burglar died Wednesday from wounds received in a shoot-out in the 300 block of West Hobson Avenue, according to authorities.
A man in his early 50s stopped at his mother's house to drop off a news paper when saw the front door kicked in and found a 17-year-old male inside. The man's mother left the residence earlier in the day.
The teen, Gabriel Flores, drew a gun and pointed it at the man, and the son -- who has a concealed handgun license -- drew his gun, police said. Flores fired and the son shot back, striking Flores once, police said. He died shortly after arriving at an area hospital, police said.
{pause for catcalls and war whoops to die down}
You mess with the bull, you get the horns. No tears need be shed for this vicious little bastard; let us hope that there will be a happy ending for the gentleman who ended his criminal career. Although the story does say "The case will likely be referred to a grand jury", this is Texas, after all, and we would expect the shoot to be ruled clean...
Good guys 1, bad guys room temperature.
Dead Goblin count: 5
Link kindly provided by Mule Breath. Thank'ee, good sir!
That is all.
Headbangus Interruptus...
You really, really want to piss me off on my ride to work? Cut me off while I'm rockin' out and reliving my misspent youth to Metallica's "Seek and Destroy"... Sure, there's no hair left to thrash around while head-banging, and I'll probably be sore tomorrow morning, but there's nothing quite like the Joe Satriani-inspired strains of Kirk Hammett's youthful guitar thrashing to get one's morning kicked into overdrive. And then some pusbag in a Camry blows through the stop sign and goes and ruins it all.
Hope you cut off a Fung-Wah bus with shitty brakes next time, asshole...
That is all.
Hope you cut off a Fung-Wah bus with shitty brakes next time, asshole...
That is all.
Kiss My WHAT?
Dems want apology from Lieberman
Obama promised to "reach across the aisle." What he failed to mention was that it wouldn't be with the hand of friendship or even reconciliation, but with the iron fist of wrath... Or is this Obama's America, where slavish adherence to political persuasion trumps one's judgement and longtime friendships? Is this the look of things to come - back your party, regardless? Doesn't exactly bode well for "changing the tone", does it?
Shorter post: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Hopenchange my hairy Italian ass...
That is all.
WASHINGTON -- A day after Barack Obama was sworn in as the nation's 44th President, the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee called on Sen. Joe Lieberman to apologize to him for having backed his Republican opponent in the 2008 campaign.
Last month, the Democrats declined to censure Lieberman for having supported Republican John McCain. Rather than ask him to remove himself as a registered Democratic voter, they decided instead to send a letter expressing their anger.
Obama promised to "reach across the aisle." What he failed to mention was that it wouldn't be with the hand of friendship or even reconciliation, but with the iron fist of wrath... Or is this Obama's America, where slavish adherence to political persuasion trumps one's judgement and longtime friendships? Is this the look of things to come - back your party, regardless? Doesn't exactly bode well for "changing the tone", does it?
Shorter post: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Hopenchange my hairy Italian ass...
That is all.
Interesting, Part II...
Day Two of the Obama administration. Still no unicorns. Or rainbows.
That is all.
UPDATE: Breda has pictures!
That is all.
UPDATE: Breda has pictures!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Don't Mess with Texans, Either...
Resident kills burglar at NW Houston apartments
Moral of the story: Don't bring a handgun to a shotgun fight...
Be sure to read the comments to the story, too. There's not a lot of sympathy for the poor unfortunate who got the dirt nap. Seems that people [clap][clap][clap] in the heart of Texas don't have a lot of sympathy for home invaders.
Good guys: 1, Bad Guys, 0
Dead Goblin count: 4
That is all.
One man was killed and another ran for his life early today after they broke into a northwest Houston apartment and were met with gunfire from one of the residents, police said.
Detectives this morning were trying to identify the man who was killed by a shotgun blast [ed. 00 buckshot to the face will hamper identification. Who knew?] about 3:15 a.m. at the Shadow Creek Apartments in the 7500 block of Pinemont near Hollister.
The two men who live in the ground-floor apartment told officers they were preparing to watch a movie when they heard a loud noise. Their front door was suddenly kicked open and two men burst into the apartment, one of them holding a revolver, police were told.
Moral of the story: Don't bring a handgun to a shotgun fight...
Be sure to read the comments to the story, too. There's not a lot of sympathy for the poor unfortunate who got the dirt nap. Seems that people [clap][clap][clap] in the heart of Texas don't have a lot of sympathy for home invaders.
Good guys: 1, Bad Guys, 0
Dead Goblin count: 4
That is all.
Check It Out!
Chris from Opposing Views sent me an e-mail letting me know that they now have a new information center dedicated to gun issues called the Gun Center. They've also got a "Recommended Links" section (which I hope will find MArooned included soon! hint hint, shameless link whore that I am...)
Go check it out - it looks promising!
That is all.
Go check it out - it looks promising!
That is all.
BOHICA...
From the source:
"Repeal the Tiahrt Amendment" - blatant lie, as law enforcement is already able to access gun trace information. What the Tiahrt Amendment does is restrict non-LEO access.
"Closing the gun show loophole" - ending private transactions, as there is no gun show loophole that's not also the "in your living room" loophole.
"Making guns... childproof" - One can only assume this means through some magic and mystical hopenchangey technology that has yet to be invented. Of course, I suppose it could mean providing funding for programs like Eddie Eagle to educate children about gun safety. And monkeys could actually gain flight out of my posterior...
"Making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent" - I'm certain they're going to provide all kinds of empirical data about how crime rates plummeted from 1994 to 2004 and then skyrocketed from 2005 to present, right? I mean, we've had plenty of time to gather data, and we should be able to show a clear correlation between "that shoulder thing that goes up" and increased crime in the wake of the AWB expiration.
I'm sorry. I can't be optimistic with patent lies, ignorant drivel, and pathetic attempts to "do it again, only harder". The next four years do not bode well for the Second Amendment community, IMHO, and we will need to forever be on our guard. Keep bringing new folks to the range; keep the pressure on your local and state congresscritters; join as many pro-freedom groups as you can; and be prepared for the worst.
(And in related news, Tam posts her reaction to this same posting. As one might expect, she's got the snarkier take on it...)
That is all.
Address Gun Violence in Cities: Obama and Biden would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent.Let's see...
"Repeal the Tiahrt Amendment" - blatant lie, as law enforcement is already able to access gun trace information. What the Tiahrt Amendment does is restrict non-LEO access.
"Closing the gun show loophole" - ending private transactions, as there is no gun show loophole that's not also the "in your living room" loophole.
"Making guns... childproof" - One can only assume this means through some magic and mystical hopenchangey technology that has yet to be invented. Of course, I suppose it could mean providing funding for programs like Eddie Eagle to educate children about gun safety. And monkeys could actually gain flight out of my posterior...
"Making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent" - I'm certain they're going to provide all kinds of empirical data about how crime rates plummeted from 1994 to 2004 and then skyrocketed from 2005 to present, right? I mean, we've had plenty of time to gather data, and we should be able to show a clear correlation between "that shoulder thing that goes up" and increased crime in the wake of the AWB expiration.
I'm sorry. I can't be optimistic with patent lies, ignorant drivel, and pathetic attempts to "do it again, only harder". The next four years do not bode well for the Second Amendment community, IMHO, and we will need to forever be on our guard. Keep bringing new folks to the range; keep the pressure on your local and state congresscritters; join as many pro-freedom groups as you can; and be prepared for the worst.
(And in related news, Tam posts her reaction to this same posting. As one might expect, she's got the snarkier take on it...)
That is all.
Wish List...
Okay. All this coverage of SHOT Show last week has got me drooling...
Now, living in the Volksrepublik of MA, where I am subject to not only the insidious AWB (coming soon to a state near you courtesy of the Obama administration!), but also the approved firearms roster, I'm passing on (almost all of) the rifles. And most of the pistols. However, several caught my eye...
Smith & Wesson 9mm 1911. Whoa. S&W makes a mighty fine 1911 to start with. Add in that most (all?) of their handguns are MA-compliant, and it's quite probable that this fine gun might be available here behind the red curtain. Hmm, a single-stack 1911 with 10+1 capacity to practice with... Hmmm...
Smith & Wesson model 310 Night Guard. Damn, but that's a sexy lookin' wheelgun. Load with hot 10mm loads for home defense or walking in the woods, practice with inexpensive .40 S&W FMJs at the range. What's not to love?
SigSauer P238. (thanks to Gun Nuts for the pic). Call it a Mustang for the aughts if you will, an updated and refreshed version of Colt's 1911-based single-stack .380 ACP pocket gun. Sure, it's not practical, as it's the same capacity as my P3AT but heavier, thicker, and longer. But it's 1911-based!!!
Remington model 7615. Apparently there's now an all-black version of what was formerly a camo- or wood-only rifle. Takes AR-15 magazines, of which I have a bunch. Looks like it would be a right fun plinker - and I'm a sucker for pump-action rifles...
That's what caught my eye from the coverage of SHOT Show this year. I'll admit to not paying as much attention as the next gunnie, as I'll only wind up frustrated and angry at the lack of offerings for those of us trapped in gun-unfriendly states. Of course, once the Annointed One gets his way and the AWB is reinstated (and tightened, of course), we'll all be in this together, won't we???
That is all.
Now, living in the Volksrepublik of MA, where I am subject to not only the insidious AWB (coming soon to a state near you courtesy of the Obama administration!), but also the approved firearms roster, I'm passing on (almost all of) the rifles. And most of the pistols. However, several caught my eye...
Smith & Wesson 9mm 1911. Whoa. S&W makes a mighty fine 1911 to start with. Add in that most (all?) of their handguns are MA-compliant, and it's quite probable that this fine gun might be available here behind the red curtain. Hmm, a single-stack 1911 with 10+1 capacity to practice with... Hmmm...
Smith & Wesson model 310 Night Guard. Damn, but that's a sexy lookin' wheelgun. Load with hot 10mm loads for home defense or walking in the woods, practice with inexpensive .40 S&W FMJs at the range. What's not to love?
SigSauer P238. (thanks to Gun Nuts for the pic). Call it a Mustang for the aughts if you will, an updated and refreshed version of Colt's 1911-based single-stack .380 ACP pocket gun. Sure, it's not practical, as it's the same capacity as my P3AT but heavier, thicker, and longer. But it's 1911-based!!!
Remington model 7615. Apparently there's now an all-black version of what was formerly a camo- or wood-only rifle. Takes AR-15 magazines, of which I have a bunch. Looks like it would be a right fun plinker - and I'm a sucker for pump-action rifles...
That's what caught my eye from the coverage of SHOT Show this year. I'll admit to not paying as much attention as the next gunnie, as I'll only wind up frustrated and angry at the lack of offerings for those of us trapped in gun-unfriendly states. Of course, once the Annointed One gets his way and the AWB is reinstated (and tightened, of course), we'll all be in this together, won't we???
That is all.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Appeasing the gods of Comedic Pairing...
Fiat and Chrysler sign alliance plan
It is quite possibly the world's most perfect automotive merger:
My
Old
Plymouth
Ain't
Running
Fix
It
Again
Tony.
A match made in heaven!
That is all.
ROME (AP) -- Fiat and Chrysler said Tuesday they have agreed to form a strategic alliance that would give the Italian auto empire a 35-percent stake in the troubled U.S. carmaker and could eventually bring it full control.
The deal means Chrysler, which is fighting off bankruptcy and struggling to sell less fuel efficient larger models, would have access to new markets and cheaper, more environmentally friendly technologies.
It is quite possibly the world's most perfect automotive merger:
My
Old
Plymouth
Ain't
Running
Fix
It
Again
Tony.
A match made in heaven!
That is all.
Fait Accompli.
Well, the die is cast. The Disney trip has been booked. Flights have been arranged. The G. family is going to Disney World the first week in June. Robb? Greg & Beth? Jay? (Apologies to any other FLA bloggers I've inadvertently omitted...) Anyone up for a meet & greet? I'm always looking to add more names to the list of "Bloggers I've Met"...
I don't know who's in more trouble, us... or Walt Disney's megalocorp...
Anyhoo... Thanks to everyone who posted on my initial post, or e-mailed me, or PM'd me with suggestions (and yes, Ross, I *will* give you a call some evening - or, even better, get together with you at the range this spring - to pick your brain). I'm certain that I'll have about a zillion more questions, and not all about Disney itself - for example, I haven't flown since 9/11, and have no idea how the security theater has changed the "experience" of flying since I last braved the skies.
We'll be staying in the Pop Century "value" resort and relying on Disney's ground transport to and from the airport and to the individual theme parks, so there won't be any "unsanctioned" vacationing. We'll be in Orlando for 8 days, with 7 days theme park admission, so we will be bouncing between theme parks like largish sunburned ping-pong balls all week long. I imagine after a week of shepherding two young children around the land of the mouse I will be about ready to dive into a large vat of bourbon...
Current plan is to run through all the parks once, then hit Magic Kingdom and Epcot as needed on subsequent days. We're going to try to take at least a half day off, where we lounge around the pool and relax rather than rush, rush, rush. Of course, no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy, err, mondosuperfuncorp... We'll have our dog-eared copies of Birnbaum's Disney Guide (thanks Brad!) to guide us (and, most likely if I know myself, I'll have printouts of all the suggestions people have made as well!).
The only question left, then, is what caliber is best for Rodents of Unusual Size?
{snerk}
That is all.
I don't know who's in more trouble, us... or Walt Disney's megalocorp...
Anyhoo... Thanks to everyone who posted on my initial post, or e-mailed me, or PM'd me with suggestions (and yes, Ross, I *will* give you a call some evening - or, even better, get together with you at the range this spring - to pick your brain). I'm certain that I'll have about a zillion more questions, and not all about Disney itself - for example, I haven't flown since 9/11, and have no idea how the security theater has changed the "experience" of flying since I last braved the skies.
We'll be staying in the Pop Century "value" resort and relying on Disney's ground transport to and from the airport and to the individual theme parks, so there won't be any "unsanctioned" vacationing. We'll be in Orlando for 8 days, with 7 days theme park admission, so we will be bouncing between theme parks like largish sunburned ping-pong balls all week long. I imagine after a week of shepherding two young children around the land of the mouse I will be about ready to dive into a large vat of bourbon...
Current plan is to run through all the parks once, then hit Magic Kingdom and Epcot as needed on subsequent days. We're going to try to take at least a half day off, where we lounge around the pool and relax rather than rush, rush, rush. Of course, no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy, err, mondosuperfuncorp... We'll have our dog-eared copies of Birnbaum's Disney Guide (thanks Brad!) to guide us (and, most likely if I know myself, I'll have printouts of all the suggestions people have made as well!).
The only question left, then, is what caliber is best for Rodents of Unusual Size?
{snerk}
That is all.
Computer Question...
With desktop systems selling for under $400, is it even worth re-installing Windows on our six-year old franken-PC?
I mean, I hate to be wasteful and all, but do I really want to do a complete re-installation of everything on a machine that, quite frankly, has seen better days? The DVD drive has never worked properly; the CD drive is on its way out; the monitor is over 10 years old; basically, it's just not worth re-habbing this machine IMHO.
Not when I can pick up a new computer and monitor for under $400. For a little over $500, I can get a Dell system with some upgrades (basically the same specs as our current laptop) that I can put in the office upstairs as our "main" computer. Ever since we got the laptop, we've gotten dependent on having two computers in the house (and I'm starting to seriously consider one of those Acer Eee micro-laptops for home and mobile surfing and blogging...). Our old computer is definitely on its last legs, having undergone yet another bout with a virus/spyware infestation concommitant with multiple hardware failures (the monitor *and* keyboard just gave up the ghost and we are currently using the monitor and keyboard that came with the HP Pavilion we bought when we moved into the house ten years ago).
Besides, I can bring the old PC and monitor to the Cub Scout electronics drive in May and get a tax deduction. The hard drive, of course, will be brought to the sooper-sekrit range in free America and properly taken care of (they can't access your private information if the hard drive has a .308" hole through it)... Honestly, I can't see a good reason for limping the old machine along, knowing that it's currently obsolete and only getting more so every minute...
So... Anyone got a good reason to hold onto the new computer?
That is all.
I mean, I hate to be wasteful and all, but do I really want to do a complete re-installation of everything on a machine that, quite frankly, has seen better days? The DVD drive has never worked properly; the CD drive is on its way out; the monitor is over 10 years old; basically, it's just not worth re-habbing this machine IMHO.
Not when I can pick up a new computer and monitor for under $400. For a little over $500, I can get a Dell system with some upgrades (basically the same specs as our current laptop) that I can put in the office upstairs as our "main" computer. Ever since we got the laptop, we've gotten dependent on having two computers in the house (and I'm starting to seriously consider one of those Acer Eee micro-laptops for home and mobile surfing and blogging...). Our old computer is definitely on its last legs, having undergone yet another bout with a virus/spyware infestation concommitant with multiple hardware failures (the monitor *and* keyboard just gave up the ghost and we are currently using the monitor and keyboard that came with the HP Pavilion we bought when we moved into the house ten years ago).
Besides, I can bring the old PC and monitor to the Cub Scout electronics drive in May and get a tax deduction. The hard drive, of course, will be brought to the sooper-sekrit range in free America and properly taken care of (they can't access your private information if the hard drive has a .308" hole through it)... Honestly, I can't see a good reason for limping the old machine along, knowing that it's currently obsolete and only getting more so every minute...
So... Anyone got a good reason to hold onto the new computer?
That is all.
Showoff...
When Life Gives You Snow, Build An Igloo!
Hmmm. We've certainly got enough snow 'round Casa del G...
That is all.
A man in Minnesota has such an excess of snow in his backyard that he called on some professional help to build an igloo.
Hmmm. We've certainly got enough snow 'round Casa del G...
That is all.
Good Day, Mr. President
It's here. Barack Hussein Obama's inauguration day. The day we've feared ever since that fateful night in November when he beat John McCain like a rented mule. The day he puts his hand on the Koran Bible and takes the oath of office*. George Bush is gone, relegated to "former President" status just like Bill Clinton. It's time for the Kos Kids, DU denizens, and all the other Bush haters to quietly fade away, and the black helicopter/tinfoil hat brigade who thought Bill Clinton was going to declare martial law in the wake of Y2K to return to their keyboards.
Well, I say, on this day, Welcome, Mr. President. I will give you exactly as much leeway as the MSM did for George W. Bush and not a farthing more. I'm skeptical of your ability to lead us, as you've never held any position longer than a few scant months before moving on, and as such are completely and utterly untested. You've thrown countless supporters, advisers, and long-time friends and allies under the bus the second it becomes politically expedient, indicating you don't care for silly things like loyalty, friendship, or consistency.
One thing I will not do is claim that you are not my President. I didn't vote for you, that's for certain; in fact, I actively worked to prevent you from reaching this goal. However, yours was the victorious campaign, and as much as it pains me to admit, you are our next President. I will not, as many of President Bush's detractors have over the past eight years, root for America's enemies to triumph nor for America's economy to falter so that you can be blamed for it.
No, sir, it is up to you to succeed or fail on your own. While the press has elevated you to lofty heights as the great healer of our country's very soul, eventually you're going to need to actually lead at some point (not rule, notice...). You will need to actually stake down an honest-to-goodness position on things (other than "What Bush did was wrong, m'kay?").
And we'll be watching. The whole world will be watching. How you handle this, your turn in the limelight as the leader of the free world, will be entirely up to you and the people you have chosen to advise you. Given those choices, I'm not holding much hope.
Here's hoping I'm wrong, Mr. President. For America's sake.
That is all.
*I kid, I kid...
Well, I say, on this day, Welcome, Mr. President. I will give you exactly as much leeway as the MSM did for George W. Bush and not a farthing more. I'm skeptical of your ability to lead us, as you've never held any position longer than a few scant months before moving on, and as such are completely and utterly untested. You've thrown countless supporters, advisers, and long-time friends and allies under the bus the second it becomes politically expedient, indicating you don't care for silly things like loyalty, friendship, or consistency.
One thing I will not do is claim that you are not my President. I didn't vote for you, that's for certain; in fact, I actively worked to prevent you from reaching this goal. However, yours was the victorious campaign, and as much as it pains me to admit, you are our next President. I will not, as many of President Bush's detractors have over the past eight years, root for America's enemies to triumph nor for America's economy to falter so that you can be blamed for it.
No, sir, it is up to you to succeed or fail on your own. While the press has elevated you to lofty heights as the great healer of our country's very soul, eventually you're going to need to actually lead at some point (not rule, notice...). You will need to actually stake down an honest-to-goodness position on things (other than "What Bush did was wrong, m'kay?").
And we'll be watching. The whole world will be watching. How you handle this, your turn in the limelight as the leader of the free world, will be entirely up to you and the people you have chosen to advise you. Given those choices, I'm not holding much hope.
Here's hoping I'm wrong, Mr. President. For America's sake.
That is all.
*I kid, I kid...
Monday, January 19, 2009
Blind Pig... Acorn...
President George W. Bush Grants Commutations
HFS. Shrub did something right. Good on ya, W...
That is all.
WASHINGTON – On Jan. 19, 2009, President George W. Bush granted commutations of sentence to two individuals:
COMMUTATIONS:
Jose Alonso Compean – El Paso, TexasOffense: Assault with a dangerous weapon, and aiding and abetting, 18 USC § 7, 113 and 2; assault with serious bodily injury, and aiding and abetting, 18 USC § 7, 113 and 2; discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, 18 USC § 924; deprivation of rights under color of law, 18 USC § 242.Sentence: Nov. 12, 2008; Western District of Texas; 12 years in prison, three years of supervised release following the prison term, $2,000 fine.Terms of commutation: Prison sentence to expire on March 20, 2009, leaving intact and in effect the three year term of supervised release with all its conditions and the fine.
Ignacio Ramos, a/k/a Ignacio Ramos Jr. – El Paso, TexasOffense: Assault with a dangerous weapon, and aiding and abetting, 18 USC § 7, 113 and 2; assault with serious bodily injury, and aiding and abetting, 18 USC § 7, 113 and 2; discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, 18 USC § 924; deprivation of rights under color of law, 18 USC § 242.Sentence: Nov. 13, 2008; Western District of Texas; 11 years and one day in prison, three years of supervised release following the prison term, $2,000 fine.Terms of commutation: Prison sentence to expire on March 20, 2009, leaving intact and in effect the three year term of supervised release with all its conditions and the fine.
HFS. Shrub did something right. Good on ya, W...
That is all.
More "You Might Be A Gun Nut"...
If your neighbor stops his car at the end of your driveway, motions you over, and says,
"I know you know how to get guns"
You might be a gun nut.
He's looking to buy an M1A and was asking advice. I counseled him to go to Bruce's good friend Gene at State Line Guns in NH. He hadn't realized he could have a NH dealer order him a new rifle. As I explained, they can transfer a long arm from a NH dealer to a MA resident so long as the long arm does not run afoul of the MA AWB. And I want to shoot it...
That is all.
"I know you know how to get guns"
You might be a gun nut.
He's looking to buy an M1A and was asking advice. I counseled him to go to Bruce's good friend Gene at State Line Guns in NH. He hadn't realized he could have a NH dealer order him a new rifle. As I explained, they can transfer a long arm from a NH dealer to a MA resident so long as the long arm does not run afoul of the MA AWB. And I want to shoot it...
That is all.
Behind Enemy Lines, Part II
I had intended Part I to cover the myriad gun laws of Massachusetts, but it quickly became clear that covering all of the MA gun laws in one post was an exercise in raising my blood pressure. I settled for covering four of the largest bones of contention, so to speak, the Four Horsemen of the MA Apocalypse for gun owners. In Part II, I'll cover some of the other extraneous bullshit thrown in the face of the MA gunnie.
HR45 is what got me to thinking about this series of posts. Lots of gunnies in the blogosphere have been posting excerpts of HR 45 and the horrors it entails. As I read the requirements that HR45 would make law, it struck me just how many of them are already in place here in Massachusetts:
As I said in comments at Unc's, with the exception of the "Failure to maintain or permit inspection of records" section, every single one of those requirements is already in place in MA.
Every. Single. One.
Y'all can laugh at us here in MA all you want. Barack Obama and his decidely anti-gun administration (Eric fucking Holder as AG? Are you shitting me?) are going to implement MA-style gun control on the entire country. I figured I'd cover a small handful of other regulations under which the Second Amendment supporter must suffer as a denizen of Massachusetts.
Safe storage. Mass has "safe storage" requirements whereby one's firearms must be kept in a "secure container" when not on one's person. Obviously this should be addressed as part of the Heller decision, but my grandkids might grow old waiting for someone to bring it up in MA. In a nutshell, all guns must be locked in a case or have a trigger or cable lock through the trigger or action. Makes it real convenient when you hear the glass breaking downstairs and you only have a couple of seconds to get the key to the gun safe...
Mail order ammo/parts/magazines - Good luck. The Attorney General's office has made it their own personal jihad to aggressively and maliciously go after any company that offers ammunition for sale via mail order in MA. Basically, the AG's office insists that any company selling ammo in MA have a MA storefront, and levies insane fines against companies that ship in to MA. They have then used these fines to get certain mail order companies (think CTD) to agree to suspend shipment of ALL gun parts and accessories. Check the list of shipping restrictions for any mail-order house and see what won't ship to MA - that's what you won't be able to buy once Obama's Hopenchange sweeps o'er the land.
Transport - Unlike many states, you cannot keep a loaded firearm in your glove box or center locking center console. A loaded gun must be carried on your person (assuming you have the proper permit; otherwise the gun must be transported unloaded, with ammuntion stored separately (IOW, a loaded magazine outside of the gun but locked in the same box is considered the same as having one up the pipe...). (law) MA theoretically will honor the 1986 FOPA (as opposed to, say, NYC), but it's generally a crap shoot as to whether or not someone passing through MA with a firearm and no MA non-res permit ($100 a year, BTW) will get proned or not...
Registration - Here's the actual section of Mass General Laws (MGLs) pertaining to firearms registration:
Got that? If you buy or sell a gun privately; lose a firearm; destroy a firearm; have a firearm stolen from you; or otherwise cause a firearm's ownership to change hands, you need to send a form into the "Criminal History Systems Board" or face a possible felony. These forms are generally available at the local police department, but good luck getting someone who knows where they are or a PD that keeps them in stock.
Ammo limits - this one isn't a criminal regulation, but I'll refer the reader to Part I's section on the "suitability" clause. Under these regulations, you're limited to 10,000 rounds of rimfire ammunition, 10,000 rounds of centerfire ammunition, and 5,000 rounds of shotgun ammunition. You can apply to your local fire department for a permit to possess more than this number, but good luck finding someone who even knows the regulation you're trying to follow...
I'm sure one of my MA readers will pop in with a handful of other idiotic regulations we have to deal with, so I'll close with thesefour five intrusions on our Second Amendment rights.
That is all.
(UPDATE: Added links to relevant laws and edited my poor counting skillz)
HR45 is what got me to thinking about this series of posts. Lots of gunnies in the blogosphere have been posting excerpts of HR 45 and the horrors it entails. As I read the requirements that HR45 would make law, it struck me just how many of them are already in place here in Massachusetts:
TITLE I--LICENSING
Sec. 101. Licensing requirement.
Sec. 102. Application requirements.
Sec. 103. Issuance of license.
Sec. 104. Renewal of license.
Sec. 105. Revocation of license.
TITLE II--RECORD OF SALE OR TRANSFER
Sec. 201. Sale or transfer requirements for qualifying firearms.
Sec. 202. Firearm records.
TITLE III--ADDITIONAL PROHIBITIONS
Sec. 301. Universal background check requirement.
Sec. 302. Failure to maintain or permit inspection of records.
Sec. 303. Failure to report loss or theft of firearm.
Sec. 304. Failure to provide notice of change of address.
Sec. 305. Child access prevention.
As I said in comments at Unc's, with the exception of the "Failure to maintain or permit inspection of records" section, every single one of those requirements is already in place in MA.
Every. Single. One.
Y'all can laugh at us here in MA all you want. Barack Obama and his decidely anti-gun administration (Eric fucking Holder as AG? Are you shitting me?) are going to implement MA-style gun control on the entire country. I figured I'd cover a small handful of other regulations under which the Second Amendment supporter must suffer as a denizen of Massachusetts.
Safe storage. Mass has "safe storage" requirements whereby one's firearms must be kept in a "secure container" when not on one's person. Obviously this should be addressed as part of the Heller decision, but my grandkids might grow old waiting for someone to bring it up in MA. In a nutshell, all guns must be locked in a case or have a trigger or cable lock through the trigger or action. Makes it real convenient when you hear the glass breaking downstairs and you only have a couple of seconds to get the key to the gun safe...
Mail order ammo/parts/magazines - Good luck. The Attorney General's office has made it their own personal jihad to aggressively and maliciously go after any company that offers ammunition for sale via mail order in MA. Basically, the AG's office insists that any company selling ammo in MA have a MA storefront, and levies insane fines against companies that ship in to MA. They have then used these fines to get certain mail order companies (think CTD) to agree to suspend shipment of ALL gun parts and accessories. Check the list of shipping restrictions for any mail-order house and see what won't ship to MA - that's what you won't be able to buy once Obama's Hopenchange sweeps o'er the land.
Transport - Unlike many states, you cannot keep a loaded firearm in your glove box or center locking center console. A loaded gun must be carried on your person (assuming you have the proper permit; otherwise the gun must be transported unloaded, with ammuntion stored separately (IOW, a loaded magazine outside of the gun but locked in the same box is considered the same as having one up the pipe...). (law) MA theoretically will honor the 1986 FOPA (as opposed to, say, NYC), but it's generally a crap shoot as to whether or not someone passing through MA with a firearm and no MA non-res permit ($100 a year, BTW) will get proned or not...
Registration - Here's the actual section of Mass General Laws (MGLs) pertaining to firearms registration:
Section 128B. Any resident of the commonwealth who purchases or obtains a firearm, rifle or shotgun or machine gun from any source within or without the commonwealth, other than from a licensee under section one hundred and twenty-two or a person authorized to sell firearms under section one hundred and twenty-eight A, and any nonresident of the commonwealth who purchases or obtains a firearm, rifle, shotgun or machine gun from any source within or without the commonwealth, other than such a licensee or person, and receives such firearm, rifle, shotgun or machine gun, within the commonwealth shall within seven days after receiving such firearm, rifle, shotgun or machine gun, report, in writing, to the executive director of the criminal history systems board the name and address of the seller or donor and the buyer or donee, together with a complete description of the firearm, rifle, shotgun or machine gun, including the caliber, make and serial number. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall for the first offense be punished by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 and for any subsequent offense by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years.
Got that? If you buy or sell a gun privately; lose a firearm; destroy a firearm; have a firearm stolen from you; or otherwise cause a firearm's ownership to change hands, you need to send a form into the "Criminal History Systems Board" or face a possible felony. These forms are generally available at the local police department, but good luck getting someone who knows where they are or a PD that keeps them in stock.
Ammo limits - this one isn't a criminal regulation, but I'll refer the reader to Part I's section on the "suitability" clause. Under these regulations, you're limited to 10,000 rounds of rimfire ammunition, 10,000 rounds of centerfire ammunition, and 5,000 rounds of shotgun ammunition. You can apply to your local fire department for a permit to possess more than this number, but good luck finding someone who even knows the regulation you're trying to follow...
I'm sure one of my MA readers will pop in with a handful of other idiotic regulations we have to deal with, so I'll close with these
That is all.
(UPDATE: Added links to relevant laws and edited my poor counting skillz)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Range Trip...
Kicking around last night, it dawned on me that I hadn't been shooting since I brought my new AR to the range. With the copious amounts of snow we've been getting, plus arranging a fabulous (and expensive!) Disney vacation, the range has been kinda pushed to the back burner for now.
Until last night.
Y'see, my gun club has a four-station, 50' indoor range. It's what attracted me to this club as opposed to the less-restrictive and closer club down the street (although, to be fair, my club really isn't too bad). Now, it's not quite perfect - it's a simple steel plate angled 45º to the ground that drops bullets into a sand pit, so we can't shoot jacketed or magnum ammo (jackets split and fly back, magnums dent the steel). Fortunately, the G. armory is very well represented in .38 Special and .22 Long Rifle calibers, so I packed up my trusty S&W Models 17 and 19 and headed to the range. At 9:30 at night.
Life. Is. Good.
First couple of targets were definitely off - it had been quite a while since I shot indoors, and had a pretty noticeable flinch with the .38 Special. With a bit of practice (and doubling up hearing protection), I settled in and started working on my shooting. I started off with some double-action .22LR shooting at 25':
Then I tried my hand at single action shooting, first with the Model 19:
It was a good trip. I seriously love that Model 17... The Model 19 I think I'm going to have to alter a tiny bit - black front sight + black rear sight + black target + smoky .38 special wadcutters = can't see shit. Little bit of orange paint marker on the front sight ramp ought to rectify that post haste. I think I'll bring the Model 422 for some target work and the Snubbie from Hell™ for some defensive drills the next time I go.
Shooting stuff, even if it's just paper targets, is fun.
That is all.
Until last night.
Y'see, my gun club has a four-station, 50' indoor range. It's what attracted me to this club as opposed to the less-restrictive and closer club down the street (although, to be fair, my club really isn't too bad). Now, it's not quite perfect - it's a simple steel plate angled 45º to the ground that drops bullets into a sand pit, so we can't shoot jacketed or magnum ammo (jackets split and fly back, magnums dent the steel). Fortunately, the G. armory is very well represented in .38 Special and .22 Long Rifle calibers, so I packed up my trusty S&W Models 17 and 19 and headed to the range. At 9:30 at night.
Life. Is. Good.
First couple of targets were definitely off - it had been quite a while since I shot indoors, and had a pretty noticeable flinch with the .38 Special. With a bit of practice (and doubling up hearing protection), I settled in and started working on my shooting. I started off with some double-action .22LR shooting at 25':
Then I tried my hand at single action shooting, first with the Model 19:
It was a good trip. I seriously love that Model 17... The Model 19 I think I'm going to have to alter a tiny bit - black front sight + black rear sight + black target + smoky .38 special wadcutters = can't see shit. Little bit of orange paint marker on the front sight ramp ought to rectify that post haste. I think I'll bring the Model 422 for some target work and the Snubbie from Hell™ for some defensive drills the next time I go.
Shooting stuff, even if it's just paper targets, is fun.
That is all.
In More Global Warming News...
It's all the way up to 21ºF this morning. Feels like a heat wave after the negative numbers of the past couple of days. Of course, that means it's snowing. Again. This is like the fifth or sixth time we've gotten substantial (>6") snow in the span of a month. The last time I can recall getting this much snow was in the early 1990s (I remember because I was commuting to UNH, about an hour away, at the time, and snow turned a 55-minute commute into a 3 hour ordeal...)
Obviously, I blame George Bush and his evil Halliburton weather machine.
I'm glad that Barack Obama will heal our planet so that we only get precipitation between the hours of midnight at 5 AM, and the temperature will vary from 60-80ºF year-round. And pink unicorn farts will power our micro-cars to get us to and from our mandated 25 hour-a-week-or-less jobs paying $50/hour. And giant talking broccoli stalks from the planet Weembo will mow our lawns for free...
That is all.
(Think I need a new category: Sunday Snark)...
Obviously, I blame George Bush and his evil Halliburton weather machine.
I'm glad that Barack Obama will heal our planet so that we only get precipitation between the hours of midnight at 5 AM, and the temperature will vary from 60-80ºF year-round. And pink unicorn farts will power our micro-cars to get us to and from our mandated 25 hour-a-week-or-less jobs paying $50/hour. And giant talking broccoli stalks from the planet Weembo will mow our lawns for free...
That is all.
(Think I need a new category: Sunday Snark)...
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Congratulations and Felicitations!
To Marko, the erstwhile Munchkin Wrangler, on his 6th anniversary.
That is all.
Congratulations Marko and Robin!
That is all.
More of These, Please
Robbery suspect shot, killed in East Atlanta
Got that? Good guy puts down bad guy.
{pauses for cheering to subside}
You'll like this, though. The story gets better:
Situational awareness. He haz it.
It sounds like he had a plan - when he exited the vehicle, he used the door to push the attacker back and disorient him. Sure looks like it worked - it gave him time to gain a proper sight picture and do this:
Which is exactly what should be done in a defensive shooting. Shoot until the threat is no longer a threat.
Victim selection: UR doin it rong.
Good guys: 1. Bad guys: 0
Dead Goblin Count: 3
That is all.
A robbery suspect was shot and killed by his intended victim outside an East Atlanta Village bar late Wednesday, Atlanta police said Thursday.
Got that? Good guy puts down bad guy.
{pauses for cheering to subside}
You'll like this, though. The story gets better:
Believing the man was going to beg for money, the passenger rolled down his window a few inches, Willis said. But he had a strange feeling about the man, so he grabbed his gun from the glove box and put it on his lap, Willis said.
Situational awareness. He haz it.
He asked the stranger what he wanted, and noticed the man was reaching for his waistband or pockets, the detective said. Instinctively, the passenger shoved open his door, knocking the suspected robber back a few feet, Willis said. The woman started screaming.
The man got out of the truck and the suspected robber raised a weapon at him, Willis said. “When he saw that, he just started shooting,” the detective said.
It sounds like he had a plan - when he exited the vehicle, he used the door to push the attacker back and disorient him. Sure looks like it worked - it gave him time to gain a proper sight picture and do this:
The man shot the suspected robber five or six times, in the stomach and chest, Willis said. The robber did not fire any shots.
“He just got the jump on him,” Willis said of the victim. “He told me he fired until the guy was no longer a threat to him.”
Which is exactly what should be done in a defensive shooting. Shoot until the threat is no longer a threat.
Willis said the man’s accuracy was impressive. In an interview later, the man told Willis that his brother used to shoot firearms competitively and taught him to shoot.
Victim selection: UR doin it rong.
Good guys: 1. Bad guys: 0
Dead Goblin Count: 3
That is all.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Friday Fun Thread: Ragtops!
When I put out the call for thread ideas a while back, as soon as I started getting some really good ideas in comments, I thought of one myself. Today's fun thread is going to center around the best ragtops on the market. Now, a couple of caveats: These are convertibles that are, for the most part, accessible to the general car market. Sure, the Lamborghini Gallardo convertible is an impressive piece of Italian supercar, but it's also $400K. Also, these are current-ish cars - otherwise the 1950s and 1960s would simply dominate.
With that said, here's the list!
1. Mazda Miata - let's face it, the Miata single-handedly revived the two-seater ragtop that all but died out with the last of the MGBs. Small, nimble, albeit a bit girlish, the Miata brought back *fun* to the motoring public.
2. Mustang GT - the last of the American muscle cars is also the last of the American muscle convertibles. At least until Mopar wises up and makes a Challenger drop top...
3. Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice - Let's face it, the offerings from GM in the drop top department recently have been pathetic - no Camaro, not even a stinkin' Cavalier Z24. Then they rolled out these two and (at least partially) redeemed themselves.
4. Nissan 350Z - I've always been a fan of the Datsun/Nissan Z family, from the 240 right up through the current 350. The 300Z had a limited number of convertibles produced, but it wasn't until the upgrade to the 350Z that they became commonplace.
5. Cadillac XLR - this is what the Allante was supposed to be. Built on the Corvette frame with the 320 HP Northstar V8 under the hood, the XLR has a top speed of 155 MPH...
6. Honda S2000 - Honda's first rear-wheel drive car in 30 years, the S2000 got off to a poor start sales-wise with insane mark-ups and delivery issues. Released to celebrate Honda's 50th year of sales, the S2000 recaptured the sporty S series of cars and brought performance back to the Blue...
7. Mercedes Kompressor 230 - what's not to like about the first retractable hardtop since the Ford Fairlane? With sharp styling, the hook of the hardtop you didn't need to store in the back of the garage, and the Mercedes nameplate, the SLK 23o was a big hit in the ragtop world and spawned many future retractable hardtops.
8. Chrysler Sebring - speaking of retractable hardtops, the latest incarnation of the Sebring has such an option. It's an affordable, roomy convertible with plenty of options, and represents a quantum leap for Mopar from the Dodge 600 convertible...
9. Toyota MR2 Spyder - from the days of the "door wedge", the MR2 really came into its own with the Spyder variant (convertible top). Sadly, much like the Supra before it, Toyota killed off the MR2 Spyder right after they got it right... Apparently the partnership with GM had its disadvantages...
10. BMW Z3 roadster - If it seems like I'm shamelessly pandering to Tam, well, it's because I am... Actually, the Z3 makes the list on its own merits, being the first BMW roadster in modern times as well as the first BMW made in the US.
So there's my list of Top Ten favorite modern convertibles. As always, feel free to rebut or add in comments.
That is all.
With that said, here's the list!
1. Mazda Miata - let's face it, the Miata single-handedly revived the two-seater ragtop that all but died out with the last of the MGBs. Small, nimble, albeit a bit girlish, the Miata brought back *fun* to the motoring public.
2. Mustang GT - the last of the American muscle cars is also the last of the American muscle convertibles. At least until Mopar wises up and makes a Challenger drop top...
3. Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice - Let's face it, the offerings from GM in the drop top department recently have been pathetic - no Camaro, not even a stinkin' Cavalier Z24. Then they rolled out these two and (at least partially) redeemed themselves.
4. Nissan 350Z - I've always been a fan of the Datsun/Nissan Z family, from the 240 right up through the current 350. The 300Z had a limited number of convertibles produced, but it wasn't until the upgrade to the 350Z that they became commonplace.
5. Cadillac XLR - this is what the Allante was supposed to be. Built on the Corvette frame with the 320 HP Northstar V8 under the hood, the XLR has a top speed of 155 MPH...
6. Honda S2000 - Honda's first rear-wheel drive car in 30 years, the S2000 got off to a poor start sales-wise with insane mark-ups and delivery issues. Released to celebrate Honda's 50th year of sales, the S2000 recaptured the sporty S series of cars and brought performance back to the Blue...
7. Mercedes Kompressor 230 - what's not to like about the first retractable hardtop since the Ford Fairlane? With sharp styling, the hook of the hardtop you didn't need to store in the back of the garage, and the Mercedes nameplate, the SLK 23o was a big hit in the ragtop world and spawned many future retractable hardtops.
8. Chrysler Sebring - speaking of retractable hardtops, the latest incarnation of the Sebring has such an option. It's an affordable, roomy convertible with plenty of options, and represents a quantum leap for Mopar from the Dodge 600 convertible...
9. Toyota MR2 Spyder - from the days of the "door wedge", the MR2 really came into its own with the Spyder variant (convertible top). Sadly, much like the Supra before it, Toyota killed off the MR2 Spyder right after they got it right... Apparently the partnership with GM had its disadvantages...
10. BMW Z3 roadster - If it seems like I'm shamelessly pandering to Tam, well, it's because I am... Actually, the Z3 makes the list on its own merits, being the first BMW roadster in modern times as well as the first BMW made in the US.
So there's my list of Top Ten favorite modern convertibles. As always, feel free to rebut or add in comments.
That is all.
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