H&R 923 Range Report

A couple of days ago, I became the surprised new owner of a Harrington & Richardson Model 923 revolver. I have often seen these inexpensive wheelguns on pawn shop shelves, and have been intrigued, but not enough to pay the $50-100 price they usually sell for. When one came my way as a gift, I could not turn it down. The nickel H&R 923 is a .22LR caliber nine shot revolver. It has a serrated trigger that delivers a double action pull greater than eight pounds. There is some stacking at the end of the pull as well. The grips are swirly brown plastic, and the hammer is operated via a coil spring. The little H&R has a hammer mounted firing pin, and a safety to prevent a blow to the hammer from discharging the weapon. The gun has fixed sights, and they aren't bad.

To load the little H&R, one must pull out the cylinder rod, allowing the recessed cylinder to drop out one side. The cylinder can then be loaded and reinstalled. The cylinder rod can also be use to expel the spent brass with the ejector star after shooting. The forcing cone of the barrel is totally within the frame. The cylinder gap is .010. The barrel is two and a half inches long. Once loaded, the little H&R would carry nicely in a home made pocket holster. There is no need to be pretentious with this gun, Hell, make a pocket holster out of cardboard and duct tape! Who cares as long as it works?

I took the little shooter to the range with a bulk pack of Federal ammo and my K-22 as a standard of comparison. Now, I know the H&R will not whoop a K-22, but the K-22 will definitely show how well I can shoot on a specified day at a specified distance. Considering that the H&R is not a target gun, but a cheap defensive weapon of last resort, I ran index cards out to ten feet. I shot both revolvers double action. I used a flash sight picture with both revolvers. The K-22 had an apparent advantage due to it's longer sight radius. This advantage was neutralized by the flash sight picture shooting however. The longer sight radius took more time to attain a sight picture. The shorter radiused H&R was quicker to the sights. As expected though, the K-22 out shot the H&R, but again, the only purpose of the K-22 was to determine the extent of my own abilities, and the limitations of the cheaper gun.

I hesitate to say what I was expecting, for fear of appearing to be a gun snob. Suffice to say, I was hoping to just return home with all my fingers and blood volume and perhaps get nine shots on my index card. The H&R could reliably do that at defensive distances. After five cylinders of ammo, and as the barrel began to heat up, this became more difficult, but it was easily attainable with a cold clean barrel. The H&R stayed on the paper. I was half expecting the H&R to cut me as I shot it. It did not. It never failed to fire, even when dirty. It did not spit lead due to poor timing. I was expecting an unpleasant gun to shoot. The H&R is not exactly ergonomic, but it shoots easier than a KelTec P-32 or a Walther PPK. Of course, a lot of that has to do with the caliber.

And finally, caliber is what it boils down to here. Does a person trust .22LR for self defense? I put 216 rounds downrange with this little pistol today. The H&R 923 never failed to fire. It kept all the shots in a 5X9 area, even when hot. It had no damage after doing so, and only required a general cleaning. It's not pretty, but it works. Unlike a semi-automatic, a revolver is what cajuns call a "guaronteed gonna shoot" gun. This gun costs around $100 new, around $50 used. A person could carry two for under $100, perform New York reloads and have 18 rounds of ammo on tap. That's something to think about. The question is, do you trust the stopping power of .22 Long Rifle, and how much accuracy do you need? These are difficult questions to answer. For some people though, the little H&R might give that answer.

Truth Massage at Drudge?

I find the photo of Jill Carroll selected by The Drudge Report to be rather curious. Looking at this photo, Miss Carroll could easily be mistaken for a US Marine by the uninitiated. She is wearing an olive drab T shirt, has conservative framed glasses on, and her hair is pulled back. Her smile is beaming.

Miss Carroll is not a Marine, however. She is an American freelance journalist who was kidnapped and held in captivity against her will. Carroll was the 31st foreign journalist to be kidnapped in Iraq since the Iraq War began in March 2003. She appeared immediately after her release in Arab garb clutching a Koran. She refused to be debriefed by US forces in Iraq. She refused military flights out of the country. She said she was treated well by her captors, and they never threatened her. She also said she did not know why she was kidnapped.

If after 3 months in captivity she still does not know why she was kidnapped, perhaps she should jump on the quickest transport out of Iraq. She obviously failed to eat her clue cereal for breakfast. The real question, however, is when was the Drudge photo taken? {Update: This photo was taken at the US Embassy after Miss Carroll's release}

Let us not forget, Miss Carroll, a journalist, was kidnapped in Baghdad's western Adil district while going to interview the senior Sunni Arab politician Adnan al-Dulaimi. Her interpreter was killed. Her captors, who called themselves the Revenge Brigades, had demanded the release of all women detainees in Iraq. They had threatened to execute Carroll if their demands were not met by a 26 February deadline. At least 230 foreigners, and thousands of Iraqis, have been taken hostage in Iraq since the US led invasion in 2003. Approximately 50 of these hostages have been killed by their captors and the whereabouts of another 90, including six Americans, remain unknown. Other Americans kidnapped in Iraq have been beheaded on video to make a point. Let us not forget that point. These people are thieves, liars and murderers.

Idiots With Guns #25

Morticia is back this week with her Mommy's S&W Model 19. As we can tell from her last graveyard escapade, she does not have the sense to unload her revolver.
Morticia is joined by Sherry again tonight, and they have a grand time listening to Marilyn Manson, smoking dope, and playing bad ass.
Tonight is different, however. They decide to let their photographer get into the act too.

The purpose of Idiots with Guns is not to humiliate, but to educate. Over the years we have seen photos of people who, upon picking up a gun, just cannot resist pointing it at something they should not, with their finger on the trigger. This is usually the camera, another person, or themselves. These photos are often difficult to google up, because of the pages they are shown on. If you have archived any of these photos, feel free to send them in to bayouroversATjamDOTrrDOTcom

The Four Rules
1. All firearms are loaded
2. Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you are not willing to destroy
3. Keep your finger off the trigger unless your sights are on the target
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it

A New Gun, an Old Memory

I gained a new gun today. It was quite unexpected. The Coroner contacted me and asked if I was interested. A swirl of memories enveloped me from the time I was a young nurse in home care.

She was a little black lady who sweltered in a one room apartment hellhole that summer. It was an old cinder block motel that had been converted to quarters for the disadvantaged and elderly. Window unit air conditioners had been removed, sold, and the resulting holes covered with cardboard and chuffs. The doors were screen door frames with cardboard scotch taped and stapled on. When I first saw her, she was sitting on a stool eating a bowl of Cheerios and water. There were as many roaches in the bowl as cereal. With each spoonful more vermin scampered up her arm and into her hair to escape her toothless mouth. She did not care. She was quite blind and psychotic, babbling along about Lazarus and twelve thieves. Adult Protective Services had closed her case because she said she liked where she lived.

She had neither family nor friends. I contacted the Coroner to have her removed. As the toilet flushed in the adjacent room, raw sewage spewed across her floor through a broken clay pipe. A crazed crackhead cursed the cold while warming his hands over a 55 gallon drum of burning garbage outside as the Coroner arrived. The slum lord later arrived at the psych ward to try to gain her release. My administrator assisted the slum lord in having her placed right back in the same hellhole. I was called on the carpet and threatened with my job. I told them they could have it.

Today, years later, as I hold her effects from that day, I realize she was not as unprotected as I once thought she was. I wonder, too, if she was as blind.

Range Report

Update on the Robert Davis Beating

On October 8, 2005, Robert Davis was videotaped being beaten by Robert Evangelist and Lance Schilling. Robert Davis was a private citizen in New Orleans checking on his property after hurricane Katrina. He asked a police officer about the curfew, since he did not want to violate it. Robert Evangelist and Lance Schilling were New Orleans police officers. They beat Mr. Davis until he lay bleeding into a French Quarter gutter.

Mr. Davis, a retired school teacher testified for over an hour in a grand jury indictment of three officers involved in his beating. Officers Robert Evangelist, 36, and Lance Schilling, 29, were charged with second degree battery against Mr. Davis, punishable by up to five years in prison. Evangelist was also indicted on a charge of false imprisonment, which carries a 10-year maximum prison term. Previously, the officers had each been issued a municipal summons for simple battery. While both battery charges are defined as the intentional use of force or violence, second-degree battery is committed "when the offender intentionally inflicts serious bodily injury" involving "unconsciousness, extreme physical pain or protracted and obvious disfigurement," according to state law. Officer Stuart Smith, 50, was charged with battery against a reporter. When a AP reporter held up his credentials, Smith grabbed him, jabbed him in the stomach and delivered a profanity-laced tirade. District Attorney Eddie Jordan declined to say whether he showed the video to the grand jury, but he called it "very important" evidence. When asked if the false imprisonment charge meant that Davis should not have been arrested, Jordan said that would be "a fair inference." Jordan went on to say the indictments "send a clear and unmistakable message that lawlessness will not be tolerated, whether by civilians or law enforcement officers."

The videotape shows an officer hitting Davis at least four times on the head. Davis twisted and flailed as he was dragged to the ground by four officers. One officer kneed Davis and punched him twice. The video also shows two FBI agents joining the police in beating Davis. Their role is being investigated by federal officials.

"Without this videotape, I'm sure this case would be swept under the rug," said Davis' attorney, Joseph Bruno. Davis has pleaded not guilty to charges of public intoxication, resisting arrest, battery on a police officer and public intimidation. His lawyer said this week he expects the charges will be dropped.

Evangelist and Schilling were fired after the beating. Smith was suspended but remains with the New Orleans police force.

Frank DeSalvo, attorney for the officers, claims the indicted officers used necessary force when arresting Davis. "For them to come up with these charges does more to undermine law enforcement than half the criminals running around the streets," DeSalvo said. "It's terrible, and we're going to fight it. They served up this mess, and we're going to make them eat it."

This dish is sounding like etouffee, and it looks like the roux is just about right........

Seattle in Perspective

Grisly Man
Lessons of a predator.
By Knute Berger

"Werner Herzog made a documentary about a hippie-dippy surfer dude who lived with grizzlies in Alaska. He petted them and gave them names like Mr. Chocolate until, one day, the "grizzly man" was eaten alive by one of his furry pals. The lesson, Herzog explained, was that it's dangerous to make friends with an indifferent predator.

The events of Saturday, March 25, convey something of the same message. Not that the enormous, bearlike Kyle Huff—6 feet 5 inches and some 280 pounds—was as obvious a danger as a griz, but he was a predator nonetheless. He stalked his prey, young people he'd met at a zombie-themed rave. These kids invited this oddball loner to party with them. He returned the favor by drinking their beer, smoking their pot, and then blowing them away with his 12-gauge shotgun and semiautomatic pistol. He killed six and wounded two critically. Then he blew his own brains out.

We're lucky he did. With our justice system, even with a conviction it's unlikely Huff would have wound up on death row, and even if he had, it would have been many years and many appeals before his date with a lethal injection or the hangman's noose. He did us all a favor.

Still, he left us with questions about why he became a cold and calculated killer who taunted his victims as he gunned them down. These unanswered questions would likely have remained had he lived..........

If you think gun control could have prevented this crime, consider that Huff's arsenal included a baseball bat and a machete. This guy was going to find a way to kill, no matter what.

There is evil in the world and no amount of legislating or second-guessing will snuff it out. An Alaskan grizzly might be a deadly predator, but it acts out of instinct for its own survival. We expect more of our fellow humans. Kyle Huff may have had his reasons for doing what he did, but even if we had the answer, it wouldn't save us from the stark reality that there are predators among us who feed on the innocent."

Give Mr. Berger's entire piece a read. Then send him a thank you.
kberger@seattleweekly.com

Vintage Leather & Steel

Smith & Wesson Model 17-3
in a lined Safariland holster

Day by Day

Pawn Shop Circuit: Hand Ejectors & Pizza

I strolled back Neil's place this morning to see what was new. Neil had been quite surprised when I failed to purchase the old .455 Hand Ejector he had displayed last week. This morning he asked me why I was not interested. I told him flatly, price. Neil was wanting $329 for a $200 gun. I explained that I might be interested if the revolver had not been polished and reblued, and if the hammer had not been bobbed. With those two hindrances, the old wheelgun just wasn't worth much to me. I briefly considered buying it, converting it to .45 Colt, and cutting the barrel to three inches, making it into a period carry gun. After all, it's value was destroyed anyway. Neil's premium price precluded that possibility, however. It would be just as easy to find a gun already converted that way for $329, or even a better condition .455HE. I'll just let that one sit and see how long it lasts.

Surprisingly, Amber still had her stainless Ruger MKII for $200. She had added a Raven 25 next to it. She was wanting $50 for the little pot metal atrocity. Amber thought that was a fair deal. I suppose it might be for somebody.

Finally, I drove back over to Dave's shop. I brought him a double cheese pizza and thanked him for the deal he gave me on my K-22. I've had the K-22 at the range a couple of times since last week, and it is one of the sweetest shooters I have owned. The revolver is an absolute joy to shoot. I never should have waited this long to get one.
Dave and his staff appreciated the pizza. It was the least I could do after a $200 K-22.

Wisteria

The wisteria across my front porch and back patio is in full bloom. The fragrance is absolutely intoxicating, as the blooms drip sweet nectar for the bees and hummingbirds. The scent is unlike anything else. It's a welcome change from the ordinary, as relaxing and comforting as a mother's touch.

Perhaps the world could benefit from more wisteria.

Huff's Arsenal

Courtesy of: Seattle Post~Intelligencer

Three shots a minute from an eight shot magazine huh?


Seven dead, two wounded. One concealed handgun and the willingness to use it could have saved lives.

Big freaking hat tip to Oxen.

Day by Day

Defenseless in Seattle

Early in the morning on March 25,2006, Kyle Huff returned to an all night party. He spray painted "NOW" on the sidewalk as he carried a shotgun and two bandoliers of 12 gauge ammo. Once inside, he went about creating a massacre of the party for no readily apparent reason. Huff's last act, when confronted by Steve Leonard, a sworn officer of the law, was to blow his own brains out with his shotgun. Police spokesman Sean Whitcomb stated police found an "assault rifle", multiple "banana clips" carrying 30 bullets each, a machete and several hundred more rounds of ammunition in Huff's automobile. Whitcomb said the gunman was "extremely dangerous" and it was fortunate there were not more victims.

Four young men and two young women were killed and two people were hospitalized in serious condition. The city of Seattle, in it's shock and grief, wonders what could have averted this tragedy. Seattle's Chief of Police, Gil Kerlikowske, has long been a fierce proponent of gun control. In fact, he was honored the previous day by CeaseFire, a radical anti-gun organization, for his diligence in opposing the second amendment.

Kyle Huff was charged with felony criminal mischief in 2000 after shooting a statue with a shotgun at an art exhibit. Kyle Huff was should have been a felon. Possessing a shotgun was should have been illegal for him. It was should have been illegal for him to possess a shotgun. Every weapon found in his car, if possessed by Huff, was should have been illegal. Gun control legislation did not persuade Kyle Huff not to obtain firearms. Gun control legislation did not dissuade Kyle Huff from going on a mad rampage. Only an armed officer of the law arriving on the scene stopped this massacre. Seven people died in Seattle, and more were injured and scarred for life. Anti-gun legislation did nothing to stop it.

This massacre was stopped by an armed response. Steve Leonard did not stop this massacre. An officer of the law did not stop this massacre. Only an armed response, by Steve Leonard, a sworn officer of the law stopped this massacre. If one, only one, of these party goers had been sober with a concealed handgun, the mass murderer could have been stopped sooner. Perhaps his would have been the only life lost that night.

But Chief Kerlikowske wants those evil guns off the streets. What is lost on Kerlikowske and others like him is the guns are not evil. The people wielding them can be though. An evil person armed with a firearm will not be stopped by legislation. They will not be deterred by legislation. They will only be stopped by an armed response.

Update:
On Nov. 21, 2000, police arrested Kyle Huff for shooting downtown sculptures with a shotgun and a handgun. Originally charged with felony criminal mischief, the charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor and small a fine. Link. The relevant passages above have thus been altered.

Seven dead, two injured. Huff had to reload at some time during his rampage. One armed citizen...........

Bubba Supreme!

Head had discussed a Bubba gun series, and it was decided that it might be insulting to some readers. However........I think even the Bubba or the Boudreaux who crafted this Bondo abomination would agree it's a total piece of crap. The Auction Arms description:

Remington 1917 30-06 Sporter
This rifle has got to win the "Where was his head at - Ugly Sporter" contest. The custom three wood varieties stock (If you count the grip cap.) has been fully bedded with some sort of compound. The sights have been removed. It has been drilled and tapped both on the receiver and near the muzzle. The wood on the bottom of the stock covers the magazine bottom. The bore is excellent and it is excellent mechanically. The head space is OK and we test fired it. If one wanted to try to find its prior owner and ask why, a driver's license (?) number has been thoughtfully provided on the receiver.

What the hell was this craftsman knucklehead thinking? Were drugs or alcohol involved? Did he just want to make damned sure nobody would steal his gun if he left it somewhere? Damn!

Day by Day

Pawn Shop Circuit: An Old S&W

I went to Neil's shop this afternoon on a little bird's advice. Neil had placed an old Smith & Wesson revolver under his glass. It was a large framed hand ejector with brass medallions. A bead of sweat popped out on my forehead as I asked to see it. It was an interesting gun in .455 caliber, with a lanyard ring. It had suffered a massive polishing and rebluing that removed all but the faintest hint of the S&W emblem on the starboard side.
Sadly, at some point in recent history an idiot had bobbed the hammer. The action was buttery smooth. Neil had it marked at $329. I was not prepared to pay that. I handed the gun back for several reasons. First, it wore a heavily polished rebluing job. All historical significance was tossed aside by the buffing wheel. Secondly, it was an obsolete caliber. Third, although complete and matching, someone had ruined this wheelgun with a hammer bobbing.

When I arrived home, I consulted The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson to see what I had held. It was a .455 Mark II Hand Ejector 2nd Model. In poor condition Supica listed it at $175, $225 in fair, and $260 in good condition. Handing it back was the right move.

Recognizing Threats

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post on the realities of surviving a gunfight. Much of my writing focused on the need to avoid the conflict. Many believe that they can avoid conflict by avoiding particular areas. This is not always the case. A person must go about one's life, and the criminal element does the same. A person may be more likely to be attacked in certain areas, but they can be victimized virtually anywhere. Indeed, they are often less prepared in their own element. Conflict avoidance requires threat recognition.

To recognize threats, one has to understand how the criminal mind works. The criminal is a predator. He (or she) sees the world as having two types of people.....Other predators and prey. Many honest gun owners like to think of themselves as "sheepdogs" but to the criminal, the sheepdog is simply another brand of predator. Like other beasts, it is a matter of survival for the criminal to prey on those weaker than themselves. To select the wrong victim is to become prey. If you want to survive in the criminal's world, you must be seen as a superior predator. Once you understand the criminal's thought processes, most attacks can be avoided simply by removing oneself from the victim selection process. There are several steps to victimization.

Intent
This is when the criminal decides to commit a crime. He likely has not selected a victim yet. Internally, however, the criminal has made the decision that he must fill a need, whether it be money to pay off his grandma's medicine bill, or cash to buy a bit of crack. He has decided to go to work. He may work alone, or with others, but like anyone else who goes to work, the working criminal's body language and demeanor changes. The criminal must disguise his intent, however, lest he be snared by the ultimate predator, the police. Thus, the working criminal lies in wait, like a lion in the grass, waiting for suitable prey. He is observant, and he will toss out bait to potential prey to see if he gets a nibble. Often, a criminal team will place the least threatening member in view to test potential prey while the others on the team remain hidden. He is not a fisherman, however, he does not require a nibble. The criminal is a predator. Failure to nibble at the bait is also a sign of potential prey. Remember, the only way to be left alone by this predator, or team of predators, is to be seen as a superior predator.
A superior predator may not attack, but they will always recognize other predators. If the criminal is recognized by someone he sees as an equal or superior predator, he will stay in the shadows as long as he or his territory is not threatened. If the recognition comes from someone he sees as prey, however, he begins to work in earnest.

Selection
The criminal, once he has observed a potential victim, will send out some test runs to determine if the person is indeed prey, or predator. These tests may be asking for a match, the time, or change. The initial tests all have one thing in common. They violate boundaries, and determine if the selected person will allow their space and generosity to be violated. The predator is mimicking a common panhandler to get in close, test the waters and position himself for attack. All of these persons are easily recognized by their inappropriate behavior and boundary violations. Like the fish who fails to recognize the moray eel on the reef, the person who fumbles for change with a predator has sealed their fate. The ruses are many and varied. I have seen crackheads target tourists and ask to get their pictures taken. I have seen balloon ladies that had accomplices working in the shadows. I have seen young women toss out lewd comments as their male accomplices tried to blend into the landscape. I have seen kids sitting on trash cans in housing projects while older gang members waited around the corner. I have even seen one teen lay on the side of the road in the projects waiting for a good Samaritan as his accomplices hid behind a dumpster. Like the anglerfish, these predators actively dangle lures to allow them to catch prey. To be seen as a potentially superior predator, one must simply recognize the threat, refuse to engage, and continue without alarm.

If the predator is engaged, a request for change quickly becomes a demand for a dollar, then a twenty, then a blow to the head as soon as the victim refuses. This kind of escalation is common with young gangs who quickly befuddle their prey with unrelated questions and demands from all directions. As the victim struggles with the insistent demands and questions, the gang will begin positioning itself for attack. These criminals work like sharks, first brushing their victim, then bumping it, and finally going after the victim is a swirl of blood and gore as others also jump in.

The most feared predator is the one who uses the silent selection process. This criminal watches the parade of people passing by, while trying to blend into the scenery. He wants to be neither seen or remembered. Once he recognizes and selects a victim, he knows he needs the right time and place to launch his attack. He may follow his selected victim to a more promising location. If he follows his victim, he knows that he must go unrecognized as a predator. He is the tiger in the jungle, relying on stealth to get close enough to quickly subdue his prey. Like the tiger, he leaves his lair to hunt. He may stalk his victim for long periods of time. He may lose interest in a selected victim that never knew he was there. He may follow the victim until the victim enters an area where an attack can be successful. If the time and place are already in his favor when the victim is selected, however, the victim will be like the fly who fails to recognize the chameleon among the leaves. Thankfully, these predators who use the silent selection process are not as common as other predators. They are, however, highly effective, giving the victim very little warning. The key to recognizing them is the last chance of conflict avoidance.

Positioning
The final indicator of an impending attack is positioning. Once positioning commences, the victim has been selected, and an attack is imminent unless immediate action is taken. Positioning is recognizable by escape routes being cut off if the attacker is alone. In the case of multiple predators, attackers will both surround and approach from vulnerable angles. This is the jackal approach to the hunt. Once it occurs, the only choice the victim has is to either fight for their life or pray for the predator's generosity. If the predator moves into position, he has already decided that his victim is prey. He will attack. The only thing that will stop the attack is the sudden realization he has made a fatal error and chosen a superior predator. Proof of this mentality is the many incarcerated criminals who believe their last victim somehow victimized them instead.

And this, finally, is where citizens arming themselves against criminals need to focus. Armed citizens like to think of themselves as sheepdogs. However, inside every sheepdog is a lineage that can be tracked back to the wolf. The sheepdog understands the wolf because he is a wolf with another purpose. He is a predator as well.

Day by Day

Carnival of Cordite #52

Carnival of Cordite #52 is up at Gullyborg!

Seattle's Top Cop Honored

Today at noon, CeaseFire, one of the most vehement anti-gun organizations in the country will honor Chief Gil Kerlikowske of the Seattle Police Department for his efforts in destroying the second amendment.

On January 3, 2005, it was reported that Chief Kerlikowske lost his Glock 26 when a thief broke into his unmarked Crown Victoria and stole it. Oops. The pistol has not been recovered.

"I don't have exact details as to where the gun was in the car, but I can tell you that it was secured in the car," said Seattle Police spokesman Sean Whitcomb. "It wouldn't have been available to anyone just wandering by." Police said the thief probably would not have known the Crown Vic was a police car, or that a firearm was inside. So, in other words, a Chief of Police's incompetence became a criminal's good fortune. CeaseFire has chosen to honor the Chief.

"Friday at noon, Washington CeaseFire is going to honor Chief Kerlikowske for his efforts to restrict the rights of law-abiding gun owners, when he can't even keep track of his own firearm," said Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Chairman Alan Gottlieb. "More than a year ago, the chief's personal 9mm Glock was stolen from his city-owned car, while it was parked on a Seattle street, while he and his wife were shopping. Such negligence should not be rewarded." Gottlieb noted that CCRKBA's $1,000 reward for the recovery of Kerlikowske's pistol still stands.

We are known by the company we keep.
More

Side-note:
Chief Gil Kerlikowske and Wayne LaPierre, CEO and executive vice president of the National Rifle Association discuss the sunsetting of the AWB Sept. 9, 2004.

"We know that people will buy them [high capacity handguns] and that unfortunately they will get stolen from their homes and out of their cars. And they are going to proliferate on our streets."
Chief Gil Kerlikowske, Seattle Police Department

How's that for a self fulfilling prophecy?

Idiots with Guns #24

Here is a Glock owner who lacks trigger finger discipline as well as gun handling knowlege. If you look down the well lit barrel, the absence of the firing pin hole, and the faint copper tone to the illuminated surface is startling. This gun owner has a good grip on his gun, but a poor grasp of gun safety.

The purpose of Idiots with Guns is not to humiliate, but to educate. Over the years we have seen photos of people who, upon picking up a gun, just cannot resist pointing it at something they should not, with their finger on the trigger. This is usually the camera, another person, or themselves. These photos are often difficult to google up, because of the pages they are shown on. If you have archived any of these photos, feel free to send them in to bayouroversATjamDOTrrDOTcom

The Four Rules
1. All firearms are loaded
2. Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you are not willing to destroy
3. Keep your finger off the trigger unless your sights are on the target
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it

Welcome Kansas!

These two women will finally be equal under the law. Qualified Kansans will be able to carry concealed handguns as early as January 2007 under a bill put into law today, despite Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ veto. "Having received the required two-thirds majority, this measure is hearby declared passed over the Governor's veto," House Speaker Doug Mays declared after the measure passed. Representatives throughout the House broke into applause.

The House overrode the Governor's veto, 91-33, today and 30-10 in the Senate yesterday. Both votes exceeded the two-thirds majorities needed to beat back a veto. Under the bill, Kansas residents 21 or older with no criminal background or history of mental illness or drug abuse could obtain a four-year permit after completing an eight-hour training course. The law takes effect July 1, but it will take several months to ramp up the administrative process to grant permits.

Sponsors Rep. Candy Ruff, D-Leavenworth, and Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, were pleased. “Kansans are going to be safer,” Senator Journey said. “Many criminals are rational human beings, and when they realize there is a good chance that they could get shot committing a violent crime, they’ll probably decide to do something else.”

Ruff said she pushed for the proposal at the request of two rape victims in her district. She said the law gives Kansans a choice. “If somebody feels a need or is compelled for their own individual reasons to carry a concealed firearm, now they can do so, if they are law abiding citizens,” Representative Ruff said.

Kansas becomes the 47th state with some form of Right-to-Carry, 35 of which are "Shall Issue" states. There are now only three states that do not allow any form of Right-to-Carry; Nebraska, Illinois and Wisconsin have yet to pass such self-defense legislation. Congratulations Kansas, on joining the free world!

Pawn Shop Circuit: Saving Money

I found time today to go by Amber's shop. She had a nice stainless slab sided Ruger MKII on the shelf. I don't need it, but it is going to be a deal for someone. Amber has it priced at $200. Amber also had a couple of black tactical type pistols lurking under the glass.

Neil had sold his Llama 45, as well as his Smith & Wesson 45. The only guns Neil had were the Astra Constable for $199, and the KelTec P40 for $179.

I did not go by Dave's place, maybe tomorrow. On a side note, a gun show is coming April 7,8 & 9. I'll cross my fingers that I won't be on call. I still have some money stashed away that I never spent on the last one.........

What's It Worth?

"What's it worth?" It is a question that many people who are new to gun trading ask. If it is asked of a dealer, he will give an answer that allows him to make a profit on resale. If it is asked of a collector his answer will be influenced by what he has seen like examples sell for. If asked of a shooter, his answer will be dependent on how accurate the gun is. If asked of a soldier, his answer will be related to the durability and reliability of the weapon. When the query receives an unsatisfactory answer, the questioner often recoils indignantly and accuses the person responding of trying to "rip them off". If the truth is told, it simply a matter of two people evaluating the same object of desire differently.

What these new gun traders fail to understand is there are no set prices for guns. There are price guides galore that tell what people have given in the past for guns. New gun traders often consider these guides to be absolute, often demanding that the other trader match prices shown in print. Price guides are not absolute standards. Even under the best circumstances, the listings are over a year old. When a company such as Colt ceases revolver production, the price guides will not reflect the ripple effect in Colt revolver (and S&W revolver) prices until it is past history. Price guides list what various guns sold for, on average, across the United States during a specific period of time prior to publication. If one wants to trade effectively in the gun market, then one needs to understand this, and stay ahead of the price guides. They are guides, not gospel.

Guns are not a commodity standard such as gold or gems. On the world market, even gold and gems have fluctuating prices. Should we consider guns to have a less volatile index than other commodities? No. In the United States, gun prices are affected by many variables. Of course there is supply and demand, but what drives the demand? One of the variables is advertisement. New gun prices are driven by desire, which is driven by advertisement. Crime rates and natural disasters affect supply and demand. New laws and bans on items such as full capacity magazines can affect demand drastically. Prices on different guns vary widely in different regions of the country. Indeed, some dealers make money just by buying in one area and selling in another.

There are several ways of looking at gun values. Some ways are from a seller's point of view, some ways are from the buyer's viewpoint.

Guns have no intrinsic value past their use as projectile launchers. In that realm of thinking, a Colt Gold Cup has the same value as a Hi Point 45. Both will launch a .45 caliber bullet into space. Period. That may sound like heresy to some, and to tell the truth, it pains me to say it. The guns do the same job though. A buyer who approaches the market with this view will find himself quickly ostracized and ignored. When the levees break and looters roam the night however, this view prevails.

In a more normal marketplace, the price of specific firearms is driven by desire. There are some guns that will always illicit a higher desire in the marketplace than others. These include any guns that were issued in wartime. M1911s, Colt 1917s, Victory Model M&Ps, and yes, eventually the Beretta M9. The prices of these wartime guns are often low simply because the production was extremely high. The interest never wanes, however. When a politician such as Bill Clinton comes along and destroys all the M1911s available for disposal, the resulting price spike of those remaining examples outside his destructive power can be significant. Other guns, such as pinned and recessed Smith & Wesson revolvers may have a higher desirability because they are seen as being of superior quality. Registered Magnum revolvers enjoy both the quality and historical aspects, and thus command top dollar in the marketplace.

As seen on the gulf coast however, the firearm marketplace can change drastically with the weather. If a New Orleans resident owned a Registered Magnum in August 2005, he might gladly trade it for a Glock 22 and two boxes of ammo a month later, and say "Thank you sir." In a time of crisis, the desirability of a firearm rests solely on it's ability to defend life and property. If the Registered Magnum owner held out for $1500 along with that Glock, or perhaps three more Glocks, he would have been laughed at in the wake hurricane Katrina. During natural disasters, capacity, durability and firepower mean everything. What the gun might sell for next year means very little if you might not make it to next year yourself.

For me, I understand that a gun is worth only what I can sell it for when I need money and few people are buying guns. I am, however, affected by the aesthetic and historical qualities of a firearm. I find pleasure in owning and holding a historical firearm just as my wife finds pleasure in antique furniture. I like to shoot my guns just as she likes to set an antique table with antique china and silver. I will pay more for a gun with a history or even a gun with alterations that interest me from an aesthetic viewpoint. To others, these guns may be worthless. I am not buying for investment, however. I am buying for enjoyment. Thus I only buy what I like, and I decide whether I like it. I will pay a premium to get what I like. Thankfully, I often do not have to. That makes it all the more enjoyable.

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K-22 Box and Tools on Ebay

A Smith & Wesson K-22 Masterpiece box in excellent condition with tools. I paid $199 for my K-22 revolver.

Current bid on this cardboard box: US $304.91

Winning bid: US $356.33

Rimfire Roundup #7

Rimfire Roundup #7 is up!

Day by Day

A State of Denial

After hurricane Katrina, John Carolan decided not to leave his half destroyed home in the Garden District of New Orleans. Armed with a handgun, and a supply of food and ammunition, he was one of the "hold outs" who were targeted by the likes of Eddie Compass and Warren Riley.

Men like John Carolan had every right to remain in their homes. They had every right to arm themselves against the lawless gangs that roamed the dark nights after hurricane Katrina. They were not suspicious of law enforcement officers roaming during the day wearing riot gear and riding on tactical vehicles. They thought the officers were there to help. For many honest homeowners in New Orleans, that was a mistake.

Many gun owners outside of New Orleans were skeptical of the early reports of gun confiscations. Then as video showing confiscations emerged, many skeptics maintained the illegal gun confiscations were not widespread. Now, after the Big Easy has admitted to hiding over 1000 firearms that were taken from private citizens, it is difficult for even the most obtuse skeptic to maintain a state of denial.

Over a thousand firearms were seized by law enforcement officers in New Orleans, and tossed into storage. Not one gun was cataloged. No inventory was performed. No receipts were given. Now, after five months, when the confiscations have been wrenched into the light of day for all to see, the City of New Orleans has decided to let anyone who can prove ownership have their property back. How nice. Perhaps Ray Nagin believes this gesture might result in the illegal confiscations being forgotten. No way Ray.