A Clear Warning

Hurricane season is here, and Mayor Ray Nagin is still in office in New Orleans. Warren Riley is the Superintentdent of Police in New Orleans. Both men are implicated in the 2005 gun grab attempt after hurricane Katrina. Over a thousand illegally confiscated firearms are still being held by the NOPD. Today, The Second Ammendment Foundation stated their position clearly.

"If a devastating storm hits New Orleans, or anywhere else along the Gulf Coast or Atlantic Seaboard, we will expect the constitutional rights of citizens to be respected, not raped," said SAF founder Alan Gottlieb. "We're adopting a zero tolerance policy."

Gottlieb noted that the current legal action against New Orleans by SAF and the National Rifle Association has not yet been satisfactorily resolved. At one point, SAF and NRA attorneys were prepared to request a contempt citation against Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley.

"And we'll go forward with that if necessary," Gottlieb stated. "If Ray Nagin thinks his re-election gives him some sort of mandate to repeat last September's outrage, he is mistaken. We did not go to court on a lark. This is not some kind of elaborate joke. We're simply not kidding. Is there any part of that the mayor doesn't understand?"

Gottlieb did not rule out the possibility that SAF would call for Justice Department investigations of any gun confiscations, and the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in such an operation.

"The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was the first time in this country that the government ever moved to disarm citizens," Gottlieb said, "and it better be the last. We're letting Mayor Nagin and Superintendent Riley, and all other public officials in the hurricane region know that we will be watching them closely this summer."

Meanwhile, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections is at a loss to explain the increase in applications for concealed carry permits in Louisiana. Applications for the permits fell 15 percent in September 2005, after Katrina. Apparently everyone was getting the hell out of Dodge. Applications rose 20 percent in October 2005, according to Louisiana State Police, the agency responsible for administering them. Applications have since grown 34 percent to 195 in March and April 2006, State Police said.

"Interest in concealed weapons comes in spurts and usually follows an increase in violent crime, including armed robbery," said Capt. Bobby Font, who teaches the classes with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office. Yep, it seems as though this increase is following that pattern. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections finds the increase inexplicable. Go figure.......

Pawn Shop Circuit: Bubba's Victory

I went by Dave's shop today after work. The overpriced Colt Army Special still resided in Dave's case. Dave also still had the Firestar and the Glock 45 for sale.

Dave had also added a nickel K frame Smith & Wesson to his case. This old Smith had the half moon front sight, and the round end of the hammer axis through the frame beneath the cylinder release. The caliber was .38 Special, with a four inch barrel. It wore old plastic faux jigged bone grips. The action was the sweet long throw type.

The serial number told the story on this revolver. It had a V prefix, and on close examination, the filled lanyard loop recess could be discerned. This revolver was a hot rodded Victory Model M&P. Many Victory Models fell victim to kitchen table gunsmiths and chrome platers. Over the years, they were seen as a plentiful resource for guns to modify. The supply has just about dried up. There will be no more demilled Victory Models hitting the market in masse.

When I see a Bubba Victory such as this one, it makes me a little sad over what was lost. Dave was wanting $150 for it. I've purchased revolvers at that price and performed mini restorations on them. For $150 though, this nickel plated Victory was not a viable candidate.

Pawn Shops Are Evil?

Pawn shops are evil.
They prey on the poor and destitute.
Pawnbrokers are scummy, grubby hucksters.
They take advantage of widows and orphans.
Pawn shops fence stolen loot.
People who buy at pawn shops are like boats who chum sharks toward beaches filled with innocent bathers.

Pawnbrokers have always been the poor man's banker. By economic design, they are often located in the disadvantaged sections of cities. They are often seen as a victimizer of the destitute, and a fence for thieves. People who look at pawn shops this way have often never been in a pawn shop. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Pawn shops are actually well regulated and policed financial institutions. As gun dealers they hold a FFL license. As money lenders, they are governed by their state and the federal government. Most local sheriff's offices perform periodic inspections of pawn shop inventory, stipulated by law.

Historically, Queen Isabella of Spain pawned the crown jewels to finance Columbus’ voyage to the New World. Today, with the mass migration of people from hurricane zones and the high price of gasoline, as well as high unemployment figures, many more families are turning to pawn shops to survive. As many pawn shops change their look for a wider appeal, customers are often drawn by the quick loans at low interest rates. Pawnbrokers gauge how bad the economy really is, as small business owners arrive to pawn valuables and even automobiles for short-term loans. Construction workers pawn tools in times of little work. An area's economy can be quickly discerned by the number of power tools on pawn shop shelves. Financial experts say the pawn shops have found a niche by taking risks on customers that banks would turn down.

Items that had long been held dear are now turning up in pawn shops. At times, when I buy a nice gun at a pawn shop, I try to imagine the person who hocked it. Were they down and out? Were they traveling to a better life? Did they just want to get rid of a nuisance they inherited?

Payday loan kiosks require much more than simple collateral to make a loan. Pawnbrokers do not. Banks will not take a firearm as collateral for a loan so a family can buy gas for a trip to a better life. A pawnbroker will. The only reason the pawnbroker will take the gun as collateral is because he has a means of liquidating it if he must. Thus, the gun buyer at the pawn shop plays a vital role in the circle of economic realities. Because he buys, the pawn broker can sell. Because the pawnbroker sells, he can loan. Because the pawnbroker loans, the family in need can travel and eat. Buying guns from a pawnbroker does not victimize those who must pawn the guns. It enables the entire process, and helps those in need.

Trade In Time?

I have been giving some thought to trading my Grand Cherokee in on a Jeep Wrangler. Today I found a suitable Wrangler and test drove it in the rain. Little Darling and I had a blast running down flooded streets, through alleys and across a cow pasture.

The Wrangler performed fine, but I just could not see taking it in the shorts both money wise and space wise. It looks as if I will stick with my Grand Cherokee. It's almost paid for anyway.....

Carnival of Cordite #60

Carnival of Cordite #60 is up!

Memorial Day

I do not normally agree with Andy Rooney, but last night during his closing statement for 60 Minutes he made a powerful and accurate statement. I'll paraphrase it here. 'Those who died did not "give" their lives. Their lives were taken from them.'
That is a truth that only those who serve seem to understand. Nobody makes an "ultimate sacrifice". They are robbed of their future. Their potential is finished. Their future children will never be born. Everything they could have been, everything thing they could have done, every hope, every dream dies with them in the bloody mud of war. Nobody does that willingly, yet many still put on that uniform and go to other lands to fight for ideals they struggle to continue to believe in.
Honor the dead. Then thank a vet.
Don't forget what Memorial Day is all about.

------------------------------------------------------

*Smith, Paul R.
Rank and Organization: Sergeant First Class, United States Army
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith’s extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Third Infantry Division “Rock of the Marne,” and the United States Army.

Deciphering the Masterpiece

Long ago, Smith & Wesson began calling a select few revolvers Masterpiece. In fact, they had the audacity to name one of their revolver packages the Combat Masterpiece. That's a hell of a name. Combat Masterpiece. Presumptuous as hell, it sounds like it ought to be stepping into a professional wrestling ring wearing a lycra mask and a feather boa. What is this Combat Masterpiece?

After WWII, Smith & Wesson introduced an improved .38 Special revolver, designed for target shooting. It was designated the K-38 Target Masterpiece. Very quickly, law enforcement, and particularly the FBI asked Smith & Wesson to shorten the barrel to four inches and mount a Baughman Quick Draw front sight in place of the Patridge sight. This new variation quickly took over the police shooting competitions of it's day, and became the favored carry gun of many officers. It was dubbed the Combat Masterpiece.

My old weathered K-38 Combat Masterpiece is pictured at left. This is an imminently shootable gun. I consider it to be my finest shooting wheelgun. The trigger is absolutely incredible. The K-38 designation is simply that of a pre-Model number K frame .38 Special Smith & Wesson. The K-38 Combat Masterpiece became the Model 15 in 1957. The stainless Model 67 was also known as a Combat Masterpiece. There was also a .22LR caliber Model 18, which was known as the K-22 Combat Masterpiece.

The features that make up a Combat Masterpiece include:
Four inch ribbed barrel
Micrometer adjustable rear sight
Baughman Quick Draw front sight
Serrated front and back strap
Short fast action
Anti-backlash trigger

By contrast, the Smith & Wesson Target Masterpiece had a six or eight and 3/8 inch ribbed barrel coupled with an adjustable rear sight. Over the years, the front sight varied on the Target Masterpiece, but it was usually a Patridge type sight. Serrated front and back straps were standard on the Target Masterpiece. It was available in .22LR as the K-22 Target Masterpiece and later Model 17, and .38 Special to make up the K-38 Target Masterpiece and later Model 14. To make matters worse, there are also heavy lugged barrels on some Target Masterpieces, as well as a K-32 Target Masterpiece/Model 16. Pictured above is my Model 17-3 Target Masterpiece.

The Masterpieces of Smith & Wesson are not fancy. They do not have light rails nor mounts for red dot scopes. They are not trendy. They are classic. Many say that the Model 27 in all it's variations and lucious liquid blue finish is the pinnacle, the Mona Lisa, of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The checkered sight rail and jewel like blue of the Model 27 is indeed beautiful, baroque. There is, however an undeniable beauty in the simplicity of design, in the work of Mies van der Rohe and his contemporaries. Less is more. The Mona Lisa is not the only artistic masterpiece ever painted, and the Masterpieces of Smith & Wesson are indeed masterful renditions of purpose driven revolvers. They well deserve the title of Masterpiece.

Things I Learned In Surgery This Week.

1. All stains show on surgical green.

2. There isn't anything wrong with the bouffant head covering......I think.

3. Get the job done and bitch about it later.

4. It pays to know the layout of the supply room.

5. The seat of my pants might still be airborne while my ass is on the ground.

6. Name badge goes on a lanyard so it stays out of the laundry.

7. Crocs are not all they are cracked up to be.

8. Learn to recognize your co-workers by their eyes. Earrings work good too.

9. Wear a waterproof apron during cystoscopy.

10. It is all about the patient. Period.

How Gun Rags Write Articles

Click here for a hilarious illustration from Oxen.

Idiots With Guns #33

Jimmy bought himself a Glock. He went to an indoor range to shoot his new pistol. He wore ear protection. Jimmy did not want to damage his hearing.

Jimmy used Winchester FMJ practice ammo. He ate Wheaties for breakfast that morning. Jimmy's cholesterol is 167. He ran All State in track in high school. Jimmy kept a 3.85 GPA in high school and he is doing right well in pre-law.

Jimmy has a hot babe next door type for a girlfriend. He met her at the pool while swimming laps. He's starting to wonder if he might be in love. This time is different.

Jimmy took her to the range when he bought himself his new Glock. She wanted to take pictures. She loves Jimmy. Jimmy had never heard of four rules. Jimmy had no muzzle discipline. Jimmy could not keep his finger off the trigger. Jimmy is an idiot.

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

Miss Myra's Gun

Miss Myra had never been afraid of what the future held. When she was a child of eleven years, her father had handed her a revolver and instructed her to take care of her little brother and sister while he went to look for work. He never returned. For her, the future was always uncertain, but she knew it would come regardless, so she had no fear. When she reached her 89th year, she knew she could no longer live on her own, and she would have to go into a nursing home. She called me to come get the one thing she had held dear all of those years, her talisman against the dark and unknown future. Miss Myra gave me the gun her father had given his young daughter. She said she could not keep it, and she would not need it where she was going. She refused to let me pay her for it. I accepted her kind gift with reverence. I felt so undeserving, but Miss Myra told me she only wanted me to have it.

Miss Myra's gun is a Smith & Wesson M&P 4th Change in 32WCF. It still held five cartridges, which I removed that afternoon. Miss Myra had never fired the gun, but it made her feel safe all of her life. It was the one connection to the man who made her feel safe and had disappeared into the Great Depression.

Miss Myra's gun may be a rust flecked anachronism in an obsolete caliber to some, but to me it is very special. As I hold it, I am reminded of a brave little girl, who left school and got a job in the fields to support her two siblings. I am reminded of a young woman who saw her true love go to war and never return. I am reminded of a woman who went to the big city to make a life for herself from nothing, who eventually fell in love again, married, and who ran a greater distance with her life than most people can contemplate. Miss Myra never did give up. To give up was to die.

It worried me that day, when she gave me her revolver. It had meant so much to her, and to face the unknown in a nursing home without it must have been frightening. I went to see her the next day, to make sure she was OK. She was adjusting well, smiling and playing dominos. A week later, Miss Myra was gone. She was right, she did not need her Daddy's revolver where she was going. Sleep well Miss Myra, sleep well.

Nursing Shortage?

I saw on CBS News tonight the same old story about there being a nursing shortage in hospitals across the US, and how patients, you and I, are placed at risk as a result. The risk is real. The reasons presented are fallacy. The health care administration featured in the piece blamed the problem on not enough nursing instructors to man the schools, therefore not enough nurses graduating.

Bullshit.

The problem is that more nurses leave the profession every day for greener pastures than there are nurses to replace them. Why do nurses leave the profession as a whole, and why is there a mass exodus of experience from the hospital floors?

Lack of professional respect.

Lack of professional respect is the number one reason cited over and over again from the nurses who leave nursing. No respect from physicians. No respect from supervisors. No respect from administrators. No respect from patients and their families. There are other reasons, of course, long hours and low pay contrasted with the stress of life and death responsibilities immediately come to mind. Both of these reasons for leaving, however, are simply illustrations of the fundamental and pervasive lack of respect.

If the health care system really wants to change the direction it is going, then there is a huge step that must be taken. There is a huge shift of perception that must be undertaken. Nurses must be given the respect they deserve for the job they do. I am not talking about a basket of candy on Nurses Week either. Failure to give nurses respect will simply have these intelligent and able professionals using nursing as a means of gaining a degree that will accord them better pay and respect in another field.

Jesse Macbeth Speaks

Stop the Lies
Iowahawk Guest Commentary
by Jesse Macbeth
Iraq War Veterans Against Google
Breakfast Shift Associate, Wendys of Tacoma

How to Avoid Getting Caught as a Fake Veteran

Jessie MacBeth has been quickly and ably exposed as a liar and a fraud. Now, from Meaningful Distinction, here is how the next useful idiot can avoid the same fate.

Hell, Jessie even made Wikipedia. Let's hope his excursion into fraud precludes him from ever obtaining a job above flipping burgers or swabbing bathrooms.

Pawn Shop Circuit: Time to Teach

I had not been back to one of my favorite pawn shops since Amber had been replaced with a cylinder slinging baboon. I got out of hospital orientation indoctrination early today, and I found myself driving past that shop, so I went inside. Kenny was still behind the counter. He still had the boogered up S&W Model K-200. He also had a nice Smith & Wesson M&P in the case, and I asked to see it. As he removed it, I asked that he keep the cylinder closed. Once I had it in my hands, I laid it across the fingers of my left hand and released the cylinder with my right thumb. I pushed the cylinder open with the second and third fingers of my left hand. The revolver was unloaded. Then, I asked Kenny if he had noticed how I did the task.
"Not really" said Kenny.
I explained how whipping the cylinder open places a great deal of stress on the yoke as it impacts the frame, often causing permanent misalignment. I explained the same thing occurs when the cylinder is slammed shut. Then, I went through Jim March's Revolver Checkout, explaining to Kenny what I was doing each step of the way. The old M&P checked out fine, but the price, $275, was a bit steep for me. I gave it back to Kenny, who then asked if anything was wrong with the revolver.
"Not really," I replied, "Just the price."
Kenny started to speak, but before he could say anything, I interjected "...But someone will buy it for that." That seemed to satisfy Kenny, and I wished him a good day.

Neil had sold his little Colt Junior. It went so fast I started to wonder if I was wrong about it. I hate that feeling. I was later relieved when I looked it up and saw my memory had not failed me. Nothing else was new at Neil's place. I started to drop some money on my SW1911, but I held off.

Dave had sold his Taurus snubbie. He still had his overpriced Colt Army Special. Dave had also added a Glock in 45ACP. It looked fatter than Glocks usually are, but maybe it was just me. I didn't ask to see it, Glocks do nothing for me. Both Neil and Dave were saturated with musical instruments. Their jewelry cases were full as well. The only thing lacking was a supply of window unit air conditioners. Dave said he sold his last one today.

Update on the Danziger Bridge Massacre

In the confusion immediately following hurricane Katrina, the NOPD made headlines striking back at criminals looting their city. Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley declared his officers shot at eight people carrying guns on the Danziger Bridge, killing five or six snipers.

The autopsy report of Ronald Madison, 40, a mentally disabled black man killed by the police on the Danziger Bridge on September 4, 2005 in New Orleans has been made public. It appears Mr. Madison died as the result of being shot in the back. Madison was only one of several who were shot by police on that bridge that day.

This contradicts testimony by a police sergeant who claimed the victim turned toward officers and was reaching into his waistband when shot. "Clearly he was shot from behind," said famed New York pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, who examined the body for the family's lawyer. A prosecutor said the case will go before a grand jury and acknowledged the investigation includes the possibility of police wrong doing.

A lawsuit was brought against the coroner of Orleans Parish to gain access to Madison's autopsy report. At a court hearing on that lawsuit in New Orleans, the coroner, Dr. Frank Minyard, verified the handwritten autopsy report obtained by news media as one prepared in his office by a pathologist on his staff who listed the wounds as being located in the victim's right back. Under cross-examination Dr. Minyard testified those five wounds in the back "were entrance wounds, yes."

Dr. Michael Baden, chief forensic pathologist for the New York State Police, discussed his own observations when he examined Ronald Madison's body for the family lawyer last fall. Asked if Ronald Madison could have been facing the police when shot, Dr. Baden said, "Absolutely not."

No weapon was found on or near Ronald Madison's body.

Guns and Knives

H&R 923
Prison shank
Two bucks.

Jessie Macbeth

Ready to get pissed? Some burger flippin' punk has made a video impersonating an Army Ranger and is spreading lies claiming he was forced to commit atrocities in Iraq. The Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) are the apparent sponsors of this scum bag, flashing their name across the bottom of the screen in his "interview". It's one thing if legitimate veterans who have served desire to speak out. It's another thing when activists manufacture new identities to give their movement a aura of legitimacy it would not otherwise have.

So, how does one know Jessie Macbeth is a fraud? The photo of him on his wall in his "Ranger" uniform is wrong. All wrong. Hell, he is wearing the beret backwards! The beret flash should be over his left eye. His camo is the wrong pattern, his sleeves are rolled wrong. He wears the exact same shirt in the interview as he wears in the photo. The camo pattern is exactly the same. He claims to have 2 different types of combat badges, CIB and CAB. CIB is for Combat Infantry and CAB is Combat Action, you get one or the other, not both. He uses every cliche ever uttered in a feeble attempt at establishing credibility. I'm sure he cannot state the name of his CO, his XO or his platoon leader because of national security issues or some bullshit story like that. He would do better putting panties on his head and claiming to be Iraqi.

So why should Americans both for and against the war in Iraq work to expose this sack of shit? Because his fraudulent video will be used by the enemy to inspire others to kill our soldiers. Whether you are for or against the war in Iraq, an American should be for the men who serve this country. Therefore, you cannot fall in line with these liars and scoundrels who produce tapes of false accusations represented as fact and still call yourself American. These tapes will no doubt be used by the enemy to recruit more followers to kill more Americans. Jessie Macbeth is more than a liar, a poser and a fraud. He is complicit in the killing of any American who dies in combat on Iraqi soil after the release of this film.

How does it feel Jessie? Knowing that your lies may have recruited one more insurgent to kill an American serviceman must make it hard to sleep at night. Yeah, you participated in the killing of innocent people, just not the ones you claim to have harmed. It's time to call bullshit on this fraud and shut him down. Jessie, who was your CO? Hell, if it's a matter of national security, what was one, just one of your dead buddy's names? No answer huh? I didn't think so.

Update--------------
Iraq Veterans Against the War says (via email): "The film needs to come down now if it hasn't already. No one checked with IVAW before using our logo, no one did any kind of fact checking, and Jesse wasn't authorized to speak like that on our behalf."

Peacefilms.org has removed the fraudulent video and replaced it with a nice topographical image of the world. Looks like the shitbirds are trying to create distance. Let nobody forget who gave little Jessie his platform for his lies.

One More Update-------------
The US Army checked on Jessie MacBeth’s claimed service. It turns out, not surprisingly to anybody with their head out of their ass, that MacBeth has no Army service record anywhere. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Period. His claims were fabricated from delusions within his own twisted, inadequate mind, and spiced up with a sprinkling of cliche's obtained from Hollywood films. Jessie MacBeth is a despicable little pencil necked liar who is a discredit to the stain on his mother's mattress. Here is a direct quote by Army spokesman John Boyce:

“Initial research by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg shows no Soldier with the name of Jesse Macbeth having ever been assigned to the Special Forces or the Army Rangers -- which are, in fact, two separate disciplines. This appears to be some sort of hoax. No Soldier by that name at Fort Lewis to our knowledge, in the past, either. Of course, the line about "go into the Army or go to jail" is vintage TV script not heard since the 1960s. There are also numerous wear and appearance issues with the Soldier's uniform -- a mix of foreign uniforms with the sleeves rolled up like a Marine and a badly floppy tan beret worn like a pastry chef. Of course, the allegations of war crimes are vague, as are the awards the Soldier allegedly received.”

A Final Update:
The DD214 of Jesse MacBeth.
One month and 13 days in the US Army.
Case closed.

A Custom Colt Carry Gun

This Colt Compact was a standard black parkerized pistol when I purchased it at a gun show last year. It was in like new condition, and the $400 asking price did not faze me. Since that purchase, this little 1911 underwent a slow but deliberate transformation by my hand. It was already a very accurate little shooter, so I kept the Colt barrel. The trigger was immediately swapped out for a Dlask unit, and a proper trigger job was performed. I installed a plain Ed Brown grip safety and extended thumb safety. The original plastic polymer mainspring housing was traded off for an Ed Brown checkered chunk of steel. A Ted Yost retro rear sight was used. The recess in the original Colt front sight was filled with gold.

The big change was made with the addition of a EGW melt bushing along with a Clark Custom reverse recoil plug. The thin stock bushing is known to crack on Colt Compacts, and the tab retaining the recoil plug has been known to shear off, sending the recoil assembly downrange in a embarrassing display of design inadequacy. The EGW bushing and Clark reverse plug make certain that that will never occur on this pistol. The EGW bushing also protects the barrel crown. Once I had the mechanics of this pistol where I wanted them, I dehorned it, screwed on Pearce double diamond rubber grips, and had a two tone teflon finish applied.

I still prefer my Government sized Sistema as a carry gun, but the Compact is a reliable alternative, and a nice option to have when needed.

The Ammo Can

Check out and support The Ammo Can Carnival. In the words of WTF, "I am basically doing this for myself, not to compete with any other carnivals out there on the same subject matter. I am doing this also so there can be one place on the internet that myself as well as others can go to find great posts about the one topic my readers all feel the same about - our firearms."

Good show! When is the next one?

A New Day

Today I start. I go to the basic hospital orientation indoctrination. I get to sit in an auditorium, in a sea of newly minted RNs and LPNs, and be told how lucky I am to have a job in the midst of a nationwide nursing shortage. I will hear about wonderful retention rates in spite of a massive nursing hemorrhage out of the hospitals. I will be told how happy they are to have us, and review all the policies and procedures. I will learn the mission statement.

I must not forget my personal mission statement. Get adequate, secure, stable cash flow so my family can flourish. Obtain zero deductible, 100% payment insurance. Learn another highly marketable aspect of nursing to build my professional portfolio with, so I will be that much more lucrative in three years. Learn the entire perioperative world, learn what makes it tick, because I'm going to be running that son of a bitch in five years.

Other things that happened on May 22:
2004 - The U.S. town of Hallam, Nebraska, is wiped out by a powerful F4 tornado that broke a width record at an astounding 2.5 miles wide. It also killed one local resident.
1968 - The nuclear-powered submarine the USS Scorpion sinks with 99 men aboard 400 miles southwest of the Azores.
1960 - An earthquake measuring 9.5 on the Richter scale, now known as the Great Chilean Earthquake, hits southern Chile. It is the most powerful earthquake ever recorded.
1915 - Four trains collide in the Quintinshill rail crash near Gretna Green, Scotland, killing 227 people and injuring 246; the accident is found to be the result of non-standard operating practices during a shift change at a busy junction.
1819 - The SS Savannah leaves port at Savannah, Georgia, United States, on a voyage to become the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The ship arrived at Liverpool, England on June 20.

He Won?

Even Ray Nagin can't figure this shit out! He wrung his hands and cursed the feds while the city under his watch flooded and thousands became parched after days on rooftops while dead bodies floated in the flood waters. How in the hell could he get re-elected?

It's time for a bunch of idiots to return to the punch bowl before the next hurricane season arrives. Maybe Darwin will prevail at last........

This Damn House

"Honey......It's a historical house in a historical district..... All the fixtures are original to the home. It's a beautiful home with 14 foot ceilings and it's on the National Historic Register........."

Norm Abram and Tom Silva can kiss my wet PVC glue stained butt. Let me inform the young men who are house shopping with thier soon to be or newly married spouse of a little fact.....Old houses suck. If you enjoy spending your weekends repairing obsolete crap that was cobbled together 50-100 years ago with bubble gum by Bubba's Fly by Night Plumbing and Carpentry Ingenuity Company, then buy an old house.

Yeah, the landscaping is established...........and boring into the clay pipe to the sewer main. One of my first homeowner jobs eight years ago was replacing 90 feet of old clay field pipe with schedule 40 PVC. The damned pipe was three and a half feet underground! Still, it was better than calling Rotor Rooter every month. My house was a rental for over thirty years. The previous owner did things like repair pipes with old automobile radiator hoses and clamps. I have found wiring held together and insulated with band-aids. Band-aids! He didn't care, as long as he could do it for nothing, do it quick, and shut up a complaining tenant for another month.

Today I replaced the fill valve in a toilet, and repaired pipes to a sink that were slowly leaking in the den. It should have been a simple job, over in under an hour. I knew better, I scheduled the entire day to get this crap done. Now, the job is done. Right. Finally. Young husbands, if your house shopping wife starts to watch This Old House or other programs of that nature, turn off the television. Shoot the tube if you have to. It ain't worth it!

The Firing Line

Thank God! It's back!
Thanks to all who fought to make it happen!

List for Today

1. Change oil and filter on Jeep.
2. Remove nursing supplies from Jeep.
3. Spray backyard with cypermethrin.
4. Wash and put away clothes.
5. Fix pipes in small bathroom.
6. Repair toilet in larger bathroom.
7. Cut back shrubbery in side yard.
8. Trim wisteria on pagola.
9 Reset fish lights.
10. Replace toilet seat.

DC Sniper Rifle

"The Bushmaster rifle used by convicted sniper John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo is seen at the Montgomery County Judicial Center after it was entered into evidence in the murder trial of Muhammad, Wednesday, May 17, 2006 in Rockville, Md. Muhammad, who is representing himself, is on trial for the six killings in Maryland during the Oct. 2002 Washington area sniper spree.(AP Photo/Chris Gardner, Pool)"

Idiots With Guns #32

Excuses:
"It wasn't loaded."
"I bet they used a remote control for that shot."
"How do you know a person was holding the camera?"
"It could have been done with mirrors."
"Don't worry, it wasn't loaded."
"He's my ex-husband, it's OK."
"Shit!"



There are hundreds of ways to rationalize doing the wrong thing. It's easier to just not do the wrong thing.

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 me.

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

Are You With Us Or Against Us?

"When the Second Amendment is only as good as your mayor or your police chief says it is, the NRA must take action," states Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice-President of the NRA.

Today, a line has been drawn in the sand. A gaunlet has been thrown down. In government, either you stand with the 2nd amendment or you oppose it. Soon, there will be stiff penalties for infringing on the 2nd ammendment rights of law abiding Americans. The National Rifle Association is issuing a challenge to our nation's mayors and police chiefs. They can sign a pledge that they will never take the guns from their constituents. Simply sign a pledge. Refusal to sign makes any gun owner wonder under what circumstances they would advocate the forcible confiscation of firearms from law abiding citizens.

May the gun grabbing incumbents be warned. Thousands of voters are watching. Mayors and police chiefs can simply declare, in writing, that they will never order the confiscation of weapons from law abiding citizens. The NRA is pointing to a dotted line, and placing the pen in their hand. If they refuse to state their position, in writing, gun owners will know exactly where they stand. Period.

The confiscation of firearms from residents of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is the seminal force for this challenge. If any person has any doubt that these gun confiscations occured against law abiding citizens, at gunpoint, watch the testimony of multiple victims on film, soon to be released by the NRA. Patricia Konie is only one of many. Naysayers were wrong. It happened in the United States. Hundreds of victims of confiscations. Thousands of guns taken. No receipts.

Mayors and police chiefs across the United States have become the latest pawns and advocates for gun control organizations. Other politicians try to keep their gun grabbing ways hidden from view. Expect some gun grabbing politicians to try to play the game and sign on and then continue as before. For those mayors, the NRA has a swift response. Jail. The NRA's chief lobbyist, Chris Cox, explains the group will introduce legislation that makes it a criminal act to seize firearms from law abiding citizens. "If you're in a position of public authority and you use it to forcibly disarm law abiding citizens, you're not going to get your hand slapped or pay a fine or get a good scolding from some judge in a few months down the line. You're going to be arrested on the spot and you're going to jail."

Today, elected officials are attending fund raisers and rallies organized by the Brady Campaign and other anti-gun groups. Catch phrases like "illegal guns" and the "right to hunt" are being bandied about. Make no mistake. SOS. It's the same old shit. The end goal is the eradication of privately owned firearms. At the point of a gun if need be. As you listen to your local politicians spew their sound bites, ask yourself.......Where do they really stand on your right to keep and bear arms? They are either friend or foe. They are either with us or against us. There is no middle ground. And now, they can put their position in writing........If they have the balls to do so.

Pawn Shopping Secrets

Quite a few people have emailed me about my pawn shop circuit, wanting to know which shops I frequent, and how I do it. Pawn shopping is a lot like fishing. When you leave home, you never know what you might catch, but the catch is only half of the fun. If a person does not enjoy garage and estate sales, they will not enjoy pawn shopping. I'll list a few secrets.

First, like a good fishing spot, you must know where to go. Maw & Paw shops are seldom lucrative for firearms. Frequently Paw is a collector on the side, and the shop simply feeds his habit. Nicely priced pristine firearms will never make it to his shelf. He will have a nice selection of Lorcins and other crap guns though. Maw and Paw see a pawn shop as a means of making money both by loaning money and selling collateral. Thus their Lorcins will be priced above market value. Paw expects everyone to spend twenty minutes negotiating price. Even if he acts like he doesn't, Paw enjoys haggling. It makes him feel superior in his dusty fiefdom. I will occasionally stop in one of these shops, just to look, but I never expect much.

The best pawn shops for gunshopping will make money primarily off loans. The collateral is merely a means of loss prevention in these shops. These are frequently the larger franchise pawn shops. Look for one that has a motivated manager who is not a gun guy. These fellows will usually be late twenties to early thirties in age. In these shops anything used as collateral must be placed up for sale if the loan goes sour. The prices are set by the amount loaned on the item, which may have been determined by Blue Book value, or simply by how much the customer requesting a loan needed. Usually, in a franchise pawn shop, there is a 7-14 day waiting period before an employee can purchase an item just out of pawn. Thus, if you are checking their shelves a couple of times a week, you are likely to see goodies.

If you are an old gun connoisseur, finding a manager who uses an out of date Blue Book and who does not appreciate the subtle variations in models can yield big catches. This is how I managed to find a S&W Model of 1899 for $69, a SW1911 for the price of a Springfield Mil-Spec, and a S&W Pre-Model 10 for $89. I do not try to haggle on these deals, I just smile and buy. Of course, I also find guns like Neil's S&W 455 HE that are overpriced in my opinion. I simply let those lie. If the manager makes a bad decision on collateral's worth, then I want that pistol in the case looking at him when he starts to price the next one. I will simply look it over and try to educate my eye. If the manager or salesman seems to be receptive, I will let him know what I see. Being able to see the silk purse in a sow's ear is a skill worth developing, but so is recognizing a sow's ear priced like a silk purse. One thing I never do, however, is bring a gun back in after it has been cleaned up. Even if asked, I remain evasive about what I think an item is worth after refurbishing. That's my business. I do not ask what they paid. That's their business. I consider what a gun is worth at the time of purchase only, not what it might turn into once refurbished.

I do not expect to be able to negotiate on price much at franchise pawn shops. The store manager might be able to knock off taxes, but the corporate management follows them pretty closely, especially on guns. Once an item is entered into the computer system, the value is pretty much fixed. That occurs long before I see it on the shelf. If a store manager discounts prices again and again with the same customer, he appears to be doing sweetheart deals to the upper echelons of management. He will soon lose his job. I want that manager with the 1999 Blue Book and no interest in guns to keep his job. I'll gladly pay his prices. Having him pricing guns is worth more than $20 off some pistol.

Another key factor is checking the shops with regularity. I have tried to leave my pager number at several pawn shops, but I have never been paged. Leaving pager numbers works better for estate liquidators and gun shops. Pawn shops tend to follow a simple routine of removing the item from hock and placing it in the sale inventory and waiting. I make it a point to check my favored spots several times each week. Pawn shopping is truly like fishing in that regard. The man with the most time on the water will likely bring home the most fish, simply because he has found the best spot and he was there when they were biting. I am thankful to have a job that allows me to drive past my favorite shops each day. Some days, I just have a feeling, like ESP. I get to know the managers, and they know me too. I will walk in, take a quick look at the gun case, and say a quick hello. On days when the manager is engaged with another customer this can take less than a minute or two. If he sees me pause and call him over, he knows he has a likely sale. Otherwise, I leave him alone unless his shop is empty and he is lounging around.

Finally, know the value of guns in your area that grab your interest. Like any used gun shopper, a successful pawn shopper must learn to independently appraise a gun's worth to himself. This means more than simply finding it among Blue Book listings. Most guns are not unique, and prices can vary widely according to which region of the country the gun is in. Blue Books give a national average. I keep a journal of interesting guns I have found in my area, as well as their location, prices and condition. I include used guns I have purchased and also those I left behind at pawn shops, gun shows, and private sales. A well kept gun journal can become a very good supplement to the Blue Book, and it can even prevent you from making purchases you may later regret. Often simply writing a find down in the journal instead of buying prevents "gottahaveit" fever. My journal has seldom steered me wrong.

So there you have it, a successful pawn shopper is like a successful fisherman. He has gone fishing often enough to learn where to go. He goes to places where the fish are. He has learned through experience the places that will waste his time, but he keeps an eye on them anyway, just in case they should change. A successful fisherman does not go fishing for a 4 pound largemouth bass. He goes fishing for what he can catch that day. Sometimes it's bass, other times it's bream. He will also jug for catfish. He goes fishing frequently, and when he comes home empty handed, he tries again. Yep, pawn shopping is a lot like fishing, and almost as much fun.

Related page: Xavier's Gun Show Rules (they apply to pawn shopping too!)

Nickie Goomba

Nickie Goomba has passed on in Northern Tuscany.
Thank you, Nickie.
Rest in peace.

Pawn Shop Circuit: Juniors & Snubs

I swung into Neil's shop today and placed another $40 on my Winchester 1894 on layaway. I still owe a bit on the second SW1911 as well, but I'm going to wait until my job transition is complete before dropping a C note or two on it. Neil had brought out a Colt Junior, complete with it's box. It was an interesting little .25ACP pocket pistol, with a fluted barrel and original grips, but Neil was asking $350 for it.

The Colt Junior is not a Hartford gun. It was actually made in Spain by Astra and sold under the Colt name. It is not a Colt 1908 Vest Pocket pistol. Considering that it is in a caliber that I do not stock, that I would never carry it, and a KelTec P32 whips it's tail anyway; for $350, someone else can buy it. Neil still had his Astra Constable as well. It seems more and more Nawlins pistols are popping up.

Over at Dave's shop, a Taurus Model 85 .38 special snubbie had been added to the line-up. Many people swear by Taurus as a maker of firearms, but for the price, I would just as soon buy a used Smith & Wesson.

A pocket gun is often the best way to pack heat in the humid Summers of Louisiana. For several years, as soon as the weather turned warm enough for shorts and sandals, my carry mode has switched from a IWB holstered 1911 to pocket carry with a J frame. Dave was wanting $189 for this revolver, and it will be an adequate pocket gun for somebody. With it's Uncle Mike's boot grips, it is ready to go.

Real Health Breakthroughs

Legally Owned Guns Do Far More Good than Harm

Bullets vs. Bull manure, part two

Guns: The best health insurance
by William Campbell Douglass II, MD

In the last Dose, I posted that earlier in American history, a Winchester rifle was the most potent health insurance (it was the only kind, really) most people could get. I also alluded to how this might still be the case today...

Seriously, folks - despite all the mainstream's trumped-up claims about the dangers of firearms (the one about a gun in the home being more likely to harm the homeowner than a criminal cracks me up), the real statistics firmly cement the fact that legally owned and carried guns do far, far more good than harm.

Cases in point, from public records: In U.S. states that DON'T ALLOW law-abiding citizens to pack heat without restriction...


There are 89% more violent crimes than in states that allow "concealed carry" (that's gun-speak for being legal to carry a hidden firearm on your person)
There are 127% more murders than in states that allow concealed carry
There are 25% more rapes than in states that allow concealed carry
There are 96% more aggravated assaults than in states that allow concealed carry
There are 106% more robberies than in states that allow concealed carry.

Let me be clear about these numbers: They aren't statistical tricks cooked up by firearms manufacturers or gun lobbyists. They're from a methodologically rigorous analysis of 100% PUBLIC RECORDS of crime rates per 100,000 citizens across all 50 U.S. states, scientifically compiled by a respected Yale legal research scholar (they're all published in an excellent book called More Guns, Less Crime - a great read).

And these are only a few of the mountains of statistics showing how vital guns can be to good health - in terms of making sure you're around to enjoy good health, that is!

As for statistics damning guns, there are virtually no credible ones to be found, despite what the meddling, spineless busybodies on the political left (and in most pediatricians' offices) say. I've written before about the October 2003 Centers for Disease Control report summarizing studies that found no conclusive evidence that gun control laws reduce crime or suicide (Daily Dose, 11/25/2003). All these numbers prove without any possible doubt that the Founding Fathers had the right idea when it came to slinging lead. Keep reading...

****************************************************

Phrased another way, the argument in defense of unlimited concealed carry rights for U.S. citizens - rights we already have under the Constitution, mind you - shakes out like this, according to the unbiased public numbers in More Guns, Less Crime...

In the seven-year period following the adoption of such laws, U.S. states that allowed unrestricted (or virtually so) concealed-carrying of handguns enjoyed an average:

27% reduction in violent crime
31% reduction in murders
16% reduction in robberies
26% reduction in aggravated assault
8% reduction in rapes
See what I mean when I say guns are as lifesaving as most any drug - and a powerful health insurance policy in their own right? And believe me, I know people don't want to hear that (especially most doctors), but facts are facts. I just might have to write a book of my own about it. I've already written a few about the unwarranted maligning of cigarettes, UV light and DDT...

My advice: If you don't already have a gun, get one. And if your state allows concealed carry, carry one. The numbers (and the Constitution) are on your side.

Shooting you straight, as always,

William Campbell Douglass II, MD

Link.

Thank you Doctor! Print this article to give to your physician the next time you are asked if you own guns.

If your physician wants to educate you on firearms safety, you may want to provide your physician with a copy of this form.

Victory Snubbie

.38 caliber serial number V668586 with a two inch barrel.
100% rearsenal parkerized finish with original grips.
Auctioned off for $230 at Cowan's.

A two inch Victory is very scarce, and commands a premium three times over the cost of a four inch Victory. Thus, this revolver should have sold for $1400-1500. Why did it not? Because it is a fake. The hammer is a Model 10 hammer. The frame lacks the hammer pivot pin being exposed underneath the cylinder latch. Thus, it is a later frame and it should not have a V prefix serial number. Therefore, the serial number has been altered. Bad juju.

Click the pic to compare this fake to a real Victory Model, and be careful. Know what you are buying.

Pawn Shop Circuit: Changing Faces

I went by Amber's shop to see what was on display this morning, and Amber was not there. As I gazed at the handgun case for a moment, a young, overweight black man waddled over. I introduced myself, and he said his name was Kenny. There wasn't anything of great interest in the case, just the butchered Smith & Wesson .38/200 British Service revolver and a couple of plastic pistols.

I asked where Amber was, and Kenny told me she went to work for a bank. Damn. Kenny went on to say that he gets in good handguns all the time. I started to tell him I never saw him before in the past two years of checking this store several times a week, but I let him go on. He asked me if I was interested in anything. I pointed to the old Smith and said that a revolver like that at the right price could usually lighten my wallet.

Kenny removed the old cut down revolver from the case, and opened the cylinder. "Well this one's only $350," he said as he flipped the cylinder closed in a move that would make Bogart proud. I cringed. He pressed the cylinder release and with another flick of the wrist, clacked the crane against the frame reopening the cylinder.

As he extended the handgun towards me, I did not know what to say. I did not accept it, I just stood there in shocked disbelief. Finally I said quietly "Don't do that."

"Why not?" asked Kenny, and he Bogated the revolver closed and returned it to the case. Then he removed a Sigma. "This is what all the cops are using. It's like a Glock, only better because it's made by Smith and Wesson. They are calling it the M&P. That stands for Men and Police." I started to ask if women were allowed to purchase this pistol, but I refrained. Kenny locked the slide back, held it over his head and hit the slide release, dropping the slide from full lock on an empty chamber. As Kenny brought the pistol back down, he swept my face with the muzzle. I took the pistol from his hands and locked the slide back again. The magazine and chamber were empty. "I can get you into this one for $275," Kenny ventured.

I laid the pistol on the counter. I did not have time to teach today. I simply growled "Don't you ever point a gun at me again." With that, I turned and left.

What's Wrong With This Pic?

Teenage girls with guns. Teenage girls with guns in school. Teenage girls with guns in school at night. Teenage girls with guns in school at night in California!

Say hello to the Victory Corps! Say goodbye to all we have lost. Learn more about the Victory Corps at No Quarters.

Carnival of Cordite #59

Carnival of Cordite #59 is up at Gullyborg.

Day By Day

AR Thoughts

Sooner or later she was bound to notice. The CDNN and Brownell's catalogs open on the desk to the AR parts and accessories should have been a big clue. Over the past two days I have been researching options, dreaming of building my own AR. The Colt uppers in CDNN are looking very good. Ever since I bought a AR at Dave's, the AR bug has been crawling through my brain nipping it's nether regions.

I had held off on owning an AR for years. I had smirked at the tactical Rambo types who refused to serve Uncle Sugar but coveted the equipment of the military. When I finally found an AR in my price range, though, I bought it. I shot it, painted the armory number of the last EBR I carried on it's butt, and became gut-hooked on the possibilities.

My wife-mate is a lover of old C&R rifles. She likes old walnut and blued steel. She goes for the shabby/chic look with them, the more beat up, the better. Purveyors of Mausers love to see her coming. This morning she went in my gun room to put away some patches she had cut. She saw the AR.

"What the hell is that?"

"Oh, it's a used rifle I found."

"You found it?"

"Well, Yeah, I found it used, but I had to buy it."

"Cool! When do I get to shoot it?"

I love my wife-mate. I demonstrated the manual of arms to her, and saw that she really needed an adjustable stock to handle the rifle well. It is also kind of heavy for her. She is a bitty thing, after all. I can't bring myself to remove the stock with the armory number from my AR, so that leaves but one option.........A Carbon 15. I love my wife!

Pressure

My blood pressure was too damned high at my re-check. The employment nurse informed me I would have to show proof that I was under the care of a physician for my BP prior to orientation.

I thought about just calling in a few favors, but then decided to be a straight arrow and go do what I should do anyway. I left and attended to my AM dressing changes, and by 10:30AM I was cooling my heels in Dr.O's waiting room. I had last seen Dr.O back in 2002. My wife had convinced me to see a physician back then. Before that, I had seen a doctor when I was processed out of the Navy in 1991.

I had watched Dr.O practice in the hospital when he was a young doc in town and I was a young nurse on the floors. I had been impressed. O would really try to ascertain the root of a patient's problem, not simply treat apparent symptoms and move on. He spent more time than any other physician I have ever seen dealing with patients. He was a physician who practiced for the love of medicine rather than the check it provides. At least that's how I recalled it.

Dr. O's staff agreed to work me in before lunch. As I sat in his waiting area filling out forms, I realized I did not have my insurance information with me. I gave my wife a call, and asked her to bring it. Thank God for my wife. I was at a slow boil in Dr.O's waiting room. The idea that an employee health nurse could obstruct any further progress towards a job in surgery based on a blood pressure of 154/94 made me furious. 45 minutes passed. My wife finally arrived. Thank God for my wife.

We waited for another 45 minutes, until every person left the doc's waiting room. Even the drug reps were worked in before us. That pissed me off. Finally, my name was called, and I went back to see Dr.O.

He was a bit grayer than I remembered, but still the same man. He sat with me during his lunch break, asking the right questions to get at the source of my high blood pressure. Since I knew the questions, I also knew the answers. When he brought up SSRI's I told him there is no way in hell an anti-depressant will pass my lips. He made a couple of parries with the notion, but I blocked any option of an antidepressant. I am fundamentally opposed to them.

He wanted a CXR, a Chem 20, CBC, UA and a EKG. As Dr.O ate a po'boy sandwich, his staff drew blood, shot film, and wired me for electrical activity. I took a look at the EKG. I was in NSR with no QRS or ST aberrations. Good. See there? Healthy as can be. Dead eye Dick Cheney might have problems, but not Xavier!

Dr.O also wanted a ECST. I told him that would have to be scheduled in June. He asked which cardiologist I wanted on board, and I chose Dr.C, another doc who I had watched as a new kid on the block and for whom I held a great deal of respect. Finally, Dr.O prescribed a angiotension II receptor antagonist. I couldn't have done better myself. He gave me a bag of samples, and I prepared to leave. My wife asked for something that showed I had been there. Thank God for my wife. The window woman gave her a copy of Dr.O's progress note with an illegible signature, and my wife requested that it be stamped. The window woman was evasive, but my wife was persistent. She finally got it stamped. Thank God for my wife. I tossed the progress note on my dashboard among the other pre-employment papers, kissed my wife, and drove off to complete the rest of my workday, two and a half hours behind schedule.

Tax Gun

On a brighter note, I'm depositing my tax refund check today........and paying my state taxes. It looks like there will be more than enough left over to compensate for the EBR, making it my true tax day gun.

Getting the Arm Read

I go back in this morning, early, to get my Mantoux read and another BP check. No coffee this AM.
The Mantoux is non-reactive. I'm not sure of the consequences of having HTN on employment, but it shouldn't stand in the way. Hell, the last time I worked for this horse pistol, my hair fell out in patches. That's stress.

Idiots With Guns #31

Let there be no doubt. Those are hollowpoints.
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

Pawn Shop Circuit: Evil Black Rifles

It's rare that you see evil black rifles on pawn shop shelves, even in gun friendly Louisiana. Thus, when I entered Dave's shop and spotted a AR-15 on the rifle rack, my attention was captured. I am hardly what one would call an AR connoisseur, although I have been open to purchasing one if it could be found at the right price. Dave showed me a rifle that had been out of pawn a scant 45 minutes. It was a DPMS flat top carbine with a carry handle attachment. It wasn't fancy, but it was solid and it came with six 30 round aluminum magazines. Dave was wanting $650 for the entire package. That seemed like a pretty fair deal to me, as I had seen prices on AR's at gunshows, and I knew they started around $800. Still, I could not buy without dickering a bit, so I asked Dave if he would take $600 out the door and give me his usual guarantee. Dave clicked his tongue, smacked his lips, and thought about it for about 30 seconds, then he did a bit of mental addition, and said OK. Suddenly, an AR was coming home to meet the AK.

The Best Gun For A Woman

Asking what is the best gun for a woman is like asking what is the best woman for a man.

Kathy Jackson has launched a jewel of a web-site, The Cornered Cat, which is dedicated to women and the shooting sports. Give it a look and stop asking silly questions.


Big Hat Tip to Tam