Louisiana HB 1097 Signed

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco signed HB 1097 into law today. HB 1097, by Representative Eric LaFleur (D-38)is NRA-backed legislation granting civil immunity to crime victims who lawfully use force, up to and including deadly force, to protect themselves against a violent attack.

HB 1097 is the companion bill to HB 89 (also by Representative LaFleur), the Castle Doctrine bill, which created presumptions in law for the use of force against intruders in your home, car or place of business and explicitly states in law that you have no duty to retreat from criminal attack if you are in a place where you have a legal right to be.

HB 89 was signed into law by the Governor on June 2. Both bills take effect on August 15.

A Nickel Model 10 Snub

A couple of days ago I had swung into Amber's old pawn shop, now managed by Kenny, and discovered a rather scarce Model 10. Kenny had this nickel Model 10-5 snubbie priced at $179. Unfortunately, it wore some horrendous grips but the finish had just enough wear to make it a gun to continue using.

Looking at the pinned barrel and the level of workmanship, I suspected the hillbilly grips covered a C or a D prefix on the serial number. When I got the revolver home and removed the Bubba wood, I was rewarded with a D prefix, and a probable seventies era date on the revolver.

I used some 0000 steel wool and BreakFree to polish up the nickel until it glistened like a new dime. Next, I took off the sideplate to inspect the lockwork. The revolver housed some hidden rust in it's interior, but a bit of elbow grease got rid of it. I then lightly oiled the lockwork with BreakFree, and placed a dab of Tetra grease on the sear.

Digging through my box of spare grips, I was pleased to find a set of Seventies era magna grips with no serial number stamped inside. They would be perfect. Only the rear corner of one grip had to be massaged to achieve a fit that rivaled a factory set of grips.

Months ago, I had purchased an absolutely pristine Model 10-5 snub in blue, that I have declined to carry. It is just to perfect. This nickel snubbie will give me a perfect K frame revolver for carry. It's a crying shame they don't make them like this any more!

Idiots With Guns #38

Hector wanted to make certain he maintained his fashionable image when he bought his olive drab plastic fantastic.

Hector wasn't as concerned with hitting anything with his new pistol as he was concerned about looking intimidating. He had seen the gangsta point shoot technique many times in the movie theaters, so Hector knew how to tap into the right Billy Bad Ass attitude.......In front of a mirror, of course.


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 always 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 until you are ready to shoot
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it

Writing Tutor

Pawn Shop Circuit: A Nickel Smith

I went by the pawn shop where Kenny works this afternoon, and am I glad I did. Kenny still had his M&P resting in the case for $275, but beside it was a nickel Model 10-5 snubby. Kenny had priced the little revolver at $179. He said it was worth less, because the barrel was shorter. I said Hmmmmmmm.

The grips on the nickel Smith were bizarre. They looked like Jethro took out his Barlow knife and whittled up a pair of grips. Surprisingly though, they felt pretty good. The trigger was nice, and the bore was clean and bright. I did the Jim March Revolver Checkout on it. It checked good. The barrel was pinned, but the hillbilly grips obscured the serial number. Still, for $179 it did not really matter. I asked Kenny about the grips, and he immediately called them custom. I figured I had better stop while I was ahead. I asked for a 4473.

As I was filling out the form, Kenny asked me why I liked the old revolvers. I told him it is simple, that they are from another time, a time when hand craftsmanship meant something, and they are firearms that will never again be available new. Kenny looked at me kind of funny, so I said "Look man, it's like a '61 Chevy Impala convertible. These old guns are cool. They aren't like this now. They were better back then."

Kenny kind of understood that. He then asked me about the checks I had made on the revolver. Kenny said he had never seen that done before. I wasn't surprised. I told Kenny that most people don't really know how to check out a used gun. Kenny said "Well you sure know how to check one don't you?"

I replied "I know just enough to keep wanting another one, that's the problem!" I took my new revolver home and began to search through my grip box for some appropriate S&W wood.

Head's Bunker

Head, the Combustible Pontificator, is closing down the Bunker. If you love the AK and other Com Bloc firearms, you had better get over there and copy what you can.....Quickly......
Best of luck Head!

Pawn Shop Circuit: Finding Time

I was able to go by Dave's place after work today. Dave had sold his Bersa Thunder and Ruger .45, but the two Glocks still sat on his shelf. They are very attractively priced at $339 and $399, so I don't know why they haven't sold.

I also got into Neil's place before closing. Neil had his office door ajar again, and I got a good look at the handguns hanging in hock on his pegboard. There was a large N frame sized snubby with a Hogue Monogrip, a pistol that resembled a Browning Buckmark, and a couple of service sized unidentified black pistols. Neil still had his Beretta Tomcat up for sale, and his selection of shotguns has reached it's pre-Katrina size. I keep waiting and hoping for another old Smith & Wesson from these gentlemen, but it's starting to look pretty darned slim.

I'm going to have to find the time to go by Kenny's.

Rule Four

Be sure of your target and what lies beyond it.

This is an interesting rule. Most people hear target and think of the range. They are reminded of the berm behind the targets. Making sure of your targets and backstop at the range is important, but Rule Four has greater implications.

In a crisis of fear Rule Four is often abandoned. It is, however, of the utmost importance. When in desperate fear for their lives, people will shoot at noises, at moving shadows, and at anything that moves. Shooting before identifying your target is fraught with danger. As shooters, we train to make skill play a greater role in our survival, and to decrease our reliance on luck. When we shoot at shadows and noises in a crisis, we negate our hard earned skills, and take a gamble with lady luck. The gamble not only wastes precious ammo resources, decreasing one's survival potential, but it can also destroy innocent lives.

Back in November 2005 I blogged about shooting through doors. I have met people who have killed family members by shooting through doors at unseen noises. I will never forget talking to a despondent man, an honorable man, who put a .357 magnum round through his 18 year old daughter's heart. He shot through a door at noises in the night that he thought were threatening. It was declared an accident. He never accepted that, and neither do I. It was negligence that took his daughter's life.

I knew a law officer who retired after thirteen years. In year twelve of his tenure on the force, he took the life of a child instead of the criminal he was pursuing. He never did reach acceptance of his error. Nobody could reach the depths of his anguish and help him escape his torment over his fatal error. He eventually took his own life.

These tragedies occur much more frequently than they should. They are often ruled accidents. I will not argue that, as I do not wish to increase the burden these unfortunate shooters must bear for the rest of their lives. We can learn from their errors though. We do not have to follow in their footsteps. Rule Four is the rule that prevents these tragedies. Incorporate it into your training. Be sure of what you shoot.

Finally, know the penetrating capabilities of your chosen weapon and ammunition. The Box o'Truth is an interesting grass roots website which explores ammunition capabilities in a no bullshit fashion. It is a simple task to do the same with one's own defensive weapons and ammunition. Killing or injuring an innocent person with a bullet that missed a threat and penetrated a wall is another occurrence that happens. These too, are often ruled accidents, but the psychological repercussions of taking an innocent life are difficult to bear. Knowing that it could have been prevented with better choices in ammunition and firearms can be potentially devastating. Whether the law holds you responsible for your bullet's destructive path or not, a person with a conscience will hold themselves responsible.

Identify your perceived threat and be sure you want to destroy it. The consequences of not doing so are too great.

More.

Gut Rumbles

The self proclaimed Bubba of Bombast has passed away.
He forged the path.
Godspeed Acidman.

Colt Supreme Commander

For those who have an affinity for engraved and inlaid Colts, CDNN now has the Supreme Commander ready to ship for a scant $1499.


*Stainless steel commander sized slide and frame with white dot carry sights
*Serial numbers US06-001 through US06-100; Only 100 produced
*Scroll engraving pattern with a "Supreme Commander" banner on the left side
*Right rear panel features a rampant Colt neatly concealed in the scrollwork
*A majestic Rampant Colt etched in 24 kt. gold adorns the top of the slide
*The limited edition grips are finely checkered double diamond hardwood with a distinct presidential seal and stainless hex head screws.
*Descriptive box insert and label

Rule Three

What is the quickest way to brand yourself as a gun neophyte at the gun counter or gun show? Picking up a gun with your finger on the trigger, that's how. Experienced gunnies watch trigger fingers, both their own and those of others. We are taught to index the trigger finger alongside the frame of the gun when handling or drawing a weapon. Some pistols, such as a 1911 have protrusions that serve as landmarks to help develop muscle memory for that finger.

Rule Three states "Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot." It can also be stated as "Get your God damned finger off the sonofabitchin' trigger!"

I am disgusted every time I hear some ignorant ass say "It just went off! The gun just went off!" This is childish, magical thinking unfit for an adult. Guns don't "just go off" any more than automobiles just start themselves and drive to the grocery store. Guns don't "just go off" and cameras don't just accidentally take photographs. Our world is full of automatic appliances. Coffeemakers brew up a cup of Joe to be ready for us in the morning, and electronics record our favorite television programs for our viewing pleasure. Guns are not automatic, and they do not "just go off!" They require a person to pull the trigger, or to somehow manipulate the action to ignite the primer that leads to the launch of a projectile. They require human input!

The problem with guns that "just go off" is that a person put their God damned booger hook on the bang switch. In other words, the gun is in the hands of someone who doesn't know what the hell they are doing. That same person is the very type of ignorant knucklehead that will try convince others of magical thinking after a negligent discharge. They apparently believe that cameras take photographs by themselves, and cars will go to the convenience store and pick up a six-pack if you just want it bad enough. Hell, if they want to, in their Peter Pan world, they can probably fly too!

So, why index the trigger finger alongside the frame of the gun? As human beings, we have evolved to have a five digit grasp. Four fingers and one opposable thumb. From infancy we have learned to lead our grasp with the index finger. It folds first around an object we grasp, and the remaining fingers follow. Of course, our index finger is also our trigger finger.

No matter how hard we train, under the stress of a real situation, we will revert back to our basic instincts. Unless we have trained our trigger finger to do something else, it will revert back to our basic evolution, to that five digit grasp. If we are suddenly alarmed, our natural response is to tighten our grasp on our weapon, be it a club, a spear or a gun. If our weapon is a gun, and that index finger is on the trigger, it will be pulled, and the gun will fire. If our trigger finger is alongside the frame of the weapon, it will stay put.

As firearms enthusiasts we train to make many motions involuntary. We strive to develop muscle memory through endless repetitions of the same motions and tasks, developing reflex actions that were not present before. There is one act that we must never allow to be involuntary. That is the act of pulling the trigger. The best way to prevent negligent discharges from occurring under stress is to train ourselves to keep our finger off the trigger until we are ready to shoot.

A prime example.


Another.

Keep your God damned booger hook off the sonofabitchin' bang switch!

Dating a K Frame

Dating a K frame by the ejector rod

Plat Lens

US Navy 1911 Slide on ebay

A slide from a M1911 with US Navy markings is up for bids on ebay.

Winning bid is US $1,625.00

Mother Lode of M&Ps

Some guys have all the luck.......
Click the photo to see the contents, visit the link to see even more...

Rule Two

Never let the muzzle of your gun cover anything you are not willing to destroy.

Rule Two is so easily said, yet so difficult to perform, especially with handguns. Rule Two will not prevent a negligent discharge, but it will prevent tragedy. Rule Two is the rule that will save your ass, and perhaps a life when you violate every other rule. Rule Two is the rule most often broken, even by experienced gun handlers. Rule Two demands further consideration, it is the final safeguard.

Violations of Rule Two can occur at the range, at the hunting camp, at the gun dealer's counter, when removing a firearm from a vehicle, when reholstering a handgun, or even when placing a weapon into storage. I confess to failing at Rule Two on occasion. I might be cleaning my guns, and notice my wife seated across the room from me, with the muzzle of a gun laying on the table pointed at her. Indeed, some carry methods violate Rule Two as a loaded pistol sweeps anyone who is behind the person using a horizonal shoulder rig. A holstered pistol, or a pistol laying on a table is no danger to anyone though. It is only when the firearms are handled that the potential for danger arises. Few people have swapped stories at a gun counter and have never been swept by a muzzle by a person unaware of the transgression. Some people will duck, others will curse and protest, and still others will never notice what took place.

The fact of the matter is, each of us will never know for sure how many times we have been swept by a poor handler of firearms. One thing is certain, however, for every accidental shooting, there was a person swept with a muzzle first. In some instances, the gun handler never knew the victim was there until after the shooting. To comply with Rule two, one must remember that bullets can travel great distances, and can kill after penetrating walls and other forms of concealment.

Even so, it is surprising how many shootings are ruled accidental rather than deemed negligent homicides in light of Rule Two. Several days ago in a nearby community, some children were playing with a handgun on a street corner. I am fairly certain it was a revolver, as the news reported a .38 caliber. A young boy was shot in the chest, killed, and the shooting was ruled accidental. I feel certain the shooter squealed afterwards "It just went off! I didn't know it was loaded!" Well, if he had not pointed the gun at his friend's chest, he still could have had his "accident" and his friend would be alive. If a negligent discharge occurs, Rule Two is the difference between life and death.

Because of Rule Two's lifesaving, last safeguard nature, all gun handlers should strive to incorporate it into their bones. Nobody wants to kill a friend, a child, or even an innocent stranger because they were careless. Truly, all it takes is one negligent discharge to demonstrate how important Rule Two really is. Rule Two is the final safeguard that separates embarrassment from tragedy.

Lowering the Price of the SW1911

A reader in Kalamazoo was quickest on the draw and purchased the laser grips from my SW1911 for $200. Thus the overall cost of this pistol has dropped to a more affordable $459. I was hoping for that when I placed the pistol on lay away months ago.

Serendipidy was the order of the day, as CDNN had the S&W logo rubber double diamond grips on sale. I ordered a set for $12.99 along with a Chip McCormick trigger and a few other parts to make the shipping worthwhile. I like the CMC trigger, as it is adjustable both for pre-travel and over-travel. I slicked things up a bit, and dropped it in. I did have to refit the grip safety tang to make it operate correctly with the more precise trigger. Other than that, it was a job as easy as a detail strip.

The Reckoning

If you haven't been to PawPaw's House and given his blog a bit of a read, then do so. You are missing something.

Idiots With Guns #37

Jessica was busy taking photos of her girlfriend with a pistol.

Her girlfriend accidentally pulled the hammer back, and Jessica wanted to make sure the dangerous firearm was not loaded.

A photographer can never be to safe when it comes to photographing firearms.

Uhoh........







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 always 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 until you are ready to shoot
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it

Hello

This post has now served it's purpose.

I am going to leave the photo as a reminder, the text is gone.

Nothing more needs to be said.

Judgement

"So let us be judgmental, for Heaven's sake! That equipment up between your ears, which was provided you by God, is there to make judgments. There are such things as good and evil. Think about them. There are such things as right and wrong. Think about them. If you do not make judgments about such matters, you are a moral blob, fit only for jobs which are better handled by robots." -- Jeff Cooper

Thank you Kathy. Thank you to the others who responded as well. I'm still going to dwell on this a bit.

If I could figure out a way to format a simple Yea or Nay poll with each IWG, that problem would be solved I think. I need a bit of time to carefully consider all the other aspects.

Uncle.

Apparently some of my readers think this young man deserves the benefit of the doubt. Surely he checked the chamber first before taking this photo. Since he surely checked the chamber, he should never be called an idiot with a gun. Let's not offend someone's little sensibilities!

Surely every young person who sees this photo and decides to take a similar photo for their My Space webpage will check the chamber of their gun too.

Yes, this young man is a fine example of safe gun owners everywhere, and what we should all aspire to be.

Reading through my comments, I believe Idiots With Guns has failed.

I will sleep on this one. Perhaps for a very long time.

Pawn Shop Circuit: 686 Gone

I stopped by Neil's shop today. He had sold the S&W 686 he had in the case. Neil still had the Beretta 3032, as well as a couple of other semi-autos. he asked how my SW1911 did, and I told him I was pleased with it, that I had found a potential buyer for the laser grips, and I believed I would come out of the deal OK. I was not disappointed to see the 686 go, I often wonder just what it's allure is. It is certainly one of the strongest .357 magnums ever built, but somehow, full lug guns just never appealed to me.

I did not get a chance to go by Dave's today. With work, I was lucky to hit Neil's shop.

Rule One

Rule One declares "All guns are always loaded".
Are they?
For some, the thought that they may not be is heresy. For others, the thought that all guns are always loaded is ludicrous.
Is a pistol loaded with the magazine out and the slide locked back? Most ranges stipulate a pistol laying on a table in such a fashion, where the Range Officer can see an empty chamber, is the only one safe enough to venture down range from. Likewise, a revolver with the cylinder swung out is considered to be a safe weapon. When the Range Officer is able to see daylight through all six chambers of a revolver, is it loaded? Is a pistol that is field stripped with the slide sent off to Novaks for new sights loaded? These are extremes, but Rule One does state that All guns are always loaded.

Here is what Jeff Cooper had to say about Rule One.

"There are no exceptions. Do not pretend that this is true. Some people and organizations take this rule and weaken it; e.g. "Treat all guns as if they were loaded." Unfortunately, the "as if" compromises the directness of the statement by implying that they are unloaded, but we will treat them as though they are loaded. No good! Safety rules must be worded forcefully so that they are never treated lightly or reduced to partial compliance.

All guns are always loaded. Period!

This must be your mindset. If someone hands you a firearm and says, "Don't worry, it's not loaded," you do not dare believe him. You need not be impolite, but check it yourself. Remember, there are no accidents, only negligent acts. Check it. Do not let yourself fall prey to a situation where you might feel compelled to squeal, "I didn't know it was loaded!"

Yet even Colonel Cooper, the founder of Gunsite and the modern technique of combat handgunnery allowed himself to be photographed violating multiple rules, of which he is the author! He later expressed regret for allowing a reporter to take that photo, and said it gave him a queasy feeling each time he saw it.

So at what point do you agree that a gun is unloaded? Do you constantly check your guns again and again like an obsessive compulsive checking his zipper? Do you get upset if the mailman leaves a package containing a new Kart 1911 barrel with the muzzle pointing in the wrong direction? Everyone who is going to be around guns has to reach a point where they can agree that a gun is safe.

I recall a time when I was newly married. Several friends and I were sitting around a table discussing a friend's new pistol. Each time one of us picked up the pistol, we press checked it, talked a bit while maintaining muzzle discipline, and put it back down. The conversation remained cheerful until my wife decided to clear the table to prepare for dinner. She had recently been taught by me to always check that chamber. She picked up that pistol, pulled back the slide, and was horrified to see a live round pop out. "It's loaded!" she shrieked.
"Yeah honey, it's been loaded all day." I replied. Everyone at the table knew the pistol was loaded. Everyone had checked it for themselves as soon as they laid a hand on it. Nobody was surprised because we all expected it to be loaded. Only my wife was surprised, because she assumed it must not have been loaded after so many people had checked it. Thankfully, she checked it herself.

So, here is my way. I consider all guns to be loaded until I, myself, have personally checked them. If that gun leaves my hand, I check it again when I pick it up. If I have been holding the gun and became distracted, I check it again. If that gun has been sitting locked in my safe, I check it again when I pick it up. If that gun has been in my holster all day, I check it again when I put it away.

The proper way to check a pistol is to drop the magazine, lock back the slide, and look into the chamber. Some people, including myself, will even place a finger into that empty chamber, as the tactile sense helps cement the memory of an empty chamber in the mind. For a hand ejector type revolver, the cylinder must be swung out and each chamber inspected. On a single action revolver, the gate must be opened and the cylinder spun around. A break top revolver must have the top opened. A shotgun requires that the chamber be opened and the chamber and the magazine checked. A bolt action rifle requires the bolt to be open. An automatic rifle requires the magazine removed and the bolt to be locked back. If I am handed a weapon that I do not know how to make safe, I do not accept it, unless the person handing it to me knows nothing about the safe handling of firearms. In those circumstances, and they do occur, I figure the gun is safer in my hands than theirs.

If I have just checked a gun's chamber, verified it to be empty, and it has not left my hands, I consider it safe. Notice.....Not unloaded, but safe. Not safe to point at anything and everything, but safe enough to dry fire. Safe enough to check the bore. Safe enough to carry out the many tasks a gun owner must sometimes perform that violate the four rules.

In the end, like Colonel Cooper says, what the gun handler wants is to never have to say "I didn't know it was loaded." To prevent that from occuring, you must know what you are holding. To know what you are holding, you must check the chamber yourself. Failure to do so could alter your life forever.

Grant Cunningham's thoughts
Rethinking Rule One
More

SW1911 with Laser Range Report

I took my second SW1911 to the range today. I purchased it, and another SW1911 simply because the price was so darned good. I never really expected both pistols to be so darned good.....but they were. Both pistols are boringly reliable. The firing pin safety functions without any felt resistance. The trigger is crisp and clean. I put 400 rounds of various ammo and reloads through this 1911 today with nary a hiccup. Nada. The pistol shot to point of aim unerringly, and it's ability to hit small dots at far distances greatly exceeded my own.

As pictured, this pistol is a little different from a factory gun. I swapped in a GI recoil system. This is a carry gun, and the full length guide rods just aren't appropriate in my opinion. I also got rid of the plastic Wilson magazine base pad, and installed a steel low profile pad instead. It's a little extra weight, but it allows the magazine to fall free quickly with mag changes.

The SW1911 is accurate and reliable, but there are a few things I will change if I keep the pistol (and I probably will). The laser grips do not work for me. I index my trigger finger using the slide stop pin as a guide. This obscures the laser when holding a bead on target. The best purpose of a laser, in my opinion, is to let a threat know he is in your sights, and potentially change the outcome of a lethal encounter before the trigger is pulled. If the laser is obscured until the finger is on the trigger, then that purpose is very very dangerous. Thus, the laser grips will be sold. I found S&W rubber 1911 grips at CDNN and placed an order along with a few other items to make the shipping worthwhile. If any reader is interested in the laser grips, shoot me an email at bayouroversATjamDOTrrDOTcom. Sorry Crimson Trace, it's a good product, but it doesn't work for me. The laser grips are now sold.

One of the additional items I placed on the CDNN order is a Chip McCormick trigger. I like the new CMC trigger because it allows adjustment of both uptake and overtravel. Before McCormick came out with this trigger, the only similar trigger on the market was the Dlask. It was expensive, but for some, including myself, worth the cost. The CMC trigger does the same thing for much less.

There are other things that I may change about this pistol. It has a lot of MIM parts. While not necessarily a bad thing, I prefer machined parts. Over time, these parts will be swapped out for machined steel, and as they are changed, the spotted zebra look will become plain old stainless. If I really get after it, I may bead blast off the silly lawyer warning on the dust cover. I hate insults to my intelligence like that.

Smith & Wesson obviously built this pistol as a mass produced gun. It may have a few "custom" features, but it is hardly a custom gun. Overall the fit and finish is excellent though. Little things, like not rounding off the edges of the front sight dovetail bug me, but then I have been called persnickity more than once. The bottom line though, is the SW1911 is a reliable, accurate weapon. I'll keep this'un.

Knife at a Gunfight

Early in the morning, on June 15, 2006, Willie Brown awoke to find a man in his bedroom doorway brandishing a knife.

"He said, 'Don't move, I got a knife.' I said, 'You got a knife, huh?' He said, 'Yeah.'" related Mr. Brown. "I reached under my pillow and came up firing my .38 Smith and Wesson. He said, 'Oops' and turned and ran down the steps. I followed and shot him again," the 74 year old Korean war vet continued.

The intruder bailed out of the window he used to enter Brown's two story St. Louis home and scurried across his yard. Brown then ran to his front door and fired a third shot as the burglar crossed his yard. Mr. Brown believes that shot missed. St. Louis Police did not identify the suspect, but said he was in custody. The intruder had stolen cash from a pair of Mr. Brown's pants, though Mr. Brown didn't realize it until later.

Capt. Henry Williams of the East St. Louis Park District police spotted a man speeding in a white Neon automobile. "He appeared to be heading right into me," Williams said. "He hollered out that he'd been shot. I took off behind him with lights and my siren on. At 40th Street and Caseyville Avenue, Washington Park police officer Wendell Wilson blocked him in. I took his car keys," Williams said.

Williams said he saw blood on the back of the suspect's red and white shirt. There was a bullet hole in the man's back. The suspect's condition was not immediately available and police refuse to state how many times he was shot. Mr. Brown said he believes he hit him with at least twice out of the three rounds he fired. East St. Louis Detective Ricky Perry, who is investigating the case, said police were called to Brown's home at 4:48 a.m. Brown's handgun was confiscated by police. Although it's not likely Brown will be charged, Perry said he would present the case to the state's attorney's office and let them make a decision. "My wallet was lying on the floor near the bed," Brown said, adding that he wanted his money back because it was all he had.

Mr. Brown spent 13 years in the US Army. He said he was a special forces member in the Korean War. He said he knows the suspect could have stabbed him, but he was never worried because of his military training. He said that during the Korean War, he kept his rifle, a M1911A1 pistol and five grenades with him while he slept in the trenches. "I might be old, but I am not slow. And I ain't afraid to take one down. I shot him in the shoulder, I believe. I think he might be through breaking in people's houses for a while," Brown said. The home invasion "messed up my whole day." Mr. Brown stated, "I was supposed to paint my daughter's house and take a friend to the doctor."

Willie Brown has lived at the same address for 30 years. He never experienced crime at his home until a few weeks ago when someone took two ladders from his yard. "I don't know why these young people won't get a job like I did when I was their age," Mr. Brown said. "I cut grass."

Thank you for your service Mr. Brown, both in Korea and St. Louis.

Travis Tomasie

To answer the questions on why Travis did not make Idiots With Guns:

You will note that on each of the IWG pics, at least two rules are being violated. All of them have a finger on the trigger. Most show gun handling that is so ignorant that it makes the educated gun handler wonder if they took the time to check the chamber. In some, it is obvious that the chamber is loaded.

Another consideration of the IWG series is whether the pictures have any redeeming value beyond "Hey look at me being Billy Bad Ass with a gun". That is a universal theme in Idiots With Guns. Oleg Volk often takes photos of people with fingers on triggers, some with guns pointed at the camera. I do not consider these IWG material because of their redeeming value for advancing the RKBA cause. My Space photos with your thug boyfriend's gun do not have the same redeeming value. Indeed, if I were to shoot this same video of myself demonstrating my mediocre reloading talents, I would show the world what an idiot I was. There would be no redeeming value to my video other than to show even a putz like me can jam a magazine into a pistol given enough time.

Travis does not have his finger on the trigger. He is obviously adept at gun handling. He is one of the top IPSC Shooters in the world and was a member of the US Army Marksmanship Unit. The top shooters of the world watch Travis reload and say "Damn!" All this tends to make me believe he checked the chamber not once, but probably several times before shooting this video. There is also the redeeming value of showing just how quickly a mag change can be done. Something to aspire to.

Thus, Travis failed to make the IWG cut.

Thank You

Many thanks to the generous reader who sent me polymer furniture at no cost for the Tent Sale Remington. The old wood was soaked with motor oil, and quite nasty. The new stock and forend are now installed. I have decided that this shotgun will go to a New Orleans family in need once it is completed, along with some instruction, of course. Thus it becomes the Chief Warren Riley kiss my ass shotgun. Next, hopefully I can trade off the ribbed barrel for a slick barrel that can be easily cut down, or even possibly a barrel that is already 18 inches. Yep, I know the ribbed barrel can be cut down as well, but I prefer to swap if possible.

Again, many thanks to Scott for the furniture. It will go to a good cause.

Pawn Shop Circuit: Paid Off Layaway

I went by Dave's shop first this afternoon. Dave still had his two Glocks, and he had placed a Bersa Thunder and a Ruger KP90 in the case to keep them company. The Bersa was $179, the Ruger was $350. None of Dave's offerings really appealed to me.

I drove on over to Neil's. Neil has the same guns, a Beretta Tomcat and a S&W 686. I had the hankering for a new and different gun, and I had my layaway SW1911 paid down to just over $100. Back in February I was amazed to find not one, but two SW1911s in mint condition under Neil's glass. One was priced at $489. I bought it immediately. The other, with laser grips, was priced higher. It was $659, so I placed it on lay away and nibbled away at the price whenever I had a little extra jingle in my pockets. It was a good deal as well, and if I sold off the laser grips for $200, the actual price of this pistol would become less than the first.

I wondered to myself back then why I needed these two pistols. I figured they would be excellent trade fodder for a WWI Colt at some point, and until then I could enjoy them. The first SW1911 proved itself to be one helluva gun, and I am hoping for the same results with the second. Some of the features of the SW1911, like the zebra finish, I do not care for. It is, however, a very good rendition of a modern 1911. I pulled out $115, paid off the pistol, and took it home.

Range Report soon.

Idiots With Guns #36

Sammi was a real cutie pie wearing her boyfriend's hunting cap and posing like Charlie's Angel with his Glock.

Sammi did not know that placing her finger on the trigger deactivated the pistol's only safety.

Once that safety was deactivated, the only safety left was what Sammi had between her ears.




Uh oh....


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 always 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 until you are ready to shoot
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it

Guns & Knives

AR-15
Machete
Big assed flashlight

Pawn Shop Circuit: Glocks and Smiths

I went in to see Dave today. He had sold the double action S&W pistol, and had added another Glock to his case. Today Dave had two Glocks, priced at $339 and $399. I did not bother to see what models they were. They were just black tactical tupperware to me.

Over at Neil's, the door was ajar to the office, and I could see several handguns on the pegboard inside. One of interest appeared to be a Smith & Wesson revolver with a Hogue grip and a two inch barrel. Of course Neil could not let me handle it, but I did see it waiting to come out of hock. Neil still had his Beretta Tomcat for $179 and his S & W 686 for $399. The 686 just does not trip my trigger the way it does some fellows.

I also found the time to drive by Kenny's, formerly Amber's place. Kenny still had the M&P in his case priced at $275. Kenny had apparently sold the cut down and chromed Victory that was in his case. I wondered if he got the $350 that had been on the revolver's tag. Somehow, I doubt it. At some point I would like to get a chopped and customized Victory, just to further my vintage concealed carry gun collection. I only expect to pay around $125 for one though, and I require it to be .38 Special. That might be a tall order to fill. Dave had one for $150 recently, and I'm kind of kicking myself for not getting it. I want one that has been converted to a snub though. I'm hoping to make a trip over to Shreveport soon, and I will hit the pawn shops there again. Perhaps I will get lucky.

North Hollywood Shootout

I'm changing this post to a simple link to the video. I could not figure out how to deactivate the autoplay.

Light Blogging Ahead

Work is demanding.

Mass Destruction of Weapons

It's enough to make a Com Bloc Collector sniffle....

Remington Revitalization

I spent the afternoon cleaning up the old Remington 870. It was an easy shotgun to tear down and reassemble. This is no doubt part of the 870's popularity. It appeared the previous owner of this shotgun had used burned motor oil poured down the barrel as a lubricant and then stood the gun up in the corner to ferment. The stuff was crudded up every where, and in places had to be chipped off with a screwdriver. Breakfree CLP disolved the crud better than brake cleaner. The one good thing about this lubrication fiasco is the shotgun was very well preserved. A twig broken off in the woods somewhere formed the magazine limiter. The neck of the stock is oil soaked, but it will likely be swapped out anyway. I lubed the trigger group, placed a dab of Tetra on the sear, and reassembled the gun for later enjoyment. If I can find a decent deal/trade for a synthetic stock and 18 inch non-ribbed barrel, I will have what I need to make another home defense shotgun.

Bob Munden

Critical Mass

Mike asked me a very salient question concerning my recent purchase of a Remington 870 for $70. "Do you have a point in your collection where you reach critical mass and must sell or trade off?"

Well, honestly, no. I have no set point where I will sell. I did make the decision that I would trade or swap to obtain a firearm that was more desirable, but I will not liquidate guns if my collection reaches a specified number.

Why did I buy a Remington 870 if my preference is first a Mossberg and then a Winchester? I prefer the control layout of the Mossberg pump shotguns. I prefer the upward position of the shell lifter on the Mossberg. The Mossberg has two extractor claws. Many other reasons to chose the Mossberg can be found here. The Winchester pump is a strong second choice for me because it just feels better than the rest. It comes to sights right for me. So why did I finally buy a Remington 870 that was priced at $70?

It is undeniable that the 870 is the most popular defensive pump shotgun. It is the overwhelming choice of law enforcement. It's steel receiver can take the punishment dished out in a police cruiser. There is a plethora of aftermarket accessories available for the 870. The Remmy gun is essentially a blank canvas that a customizer can use to build the tactical defense weapon of his dreams.

People often ask me for recommendations on which type of gun to buy. I, like most people, feel comfortable recommending what I am familiar with. I am not comfortable failing to recommend the Remington without having given it a chance. Thus, when I found one for $70, I bought it. I have long suspected that the Remington 870 was popular among police because of the steel receiver. The general public, I surmised, simply followed suit, as they usually do, when it comes to self defensive weaponry.

Thus I bought the $70 Remington 870 as a means of educating myself; to potentially solidify my preferences in shotguns; to justify my recommendations in shotguns; but most of all, to challenge my own conclusions with empirical evidence. For $70, that was a no brainer. I can always get $70 for it once it has served it's purpose for me.