The Smith & Wesson Model 19 Combat Magnum

In 1954, Smith & Wesson asked Bill Jordan to design the ultimate revolver for a lawman. Jordan simply instructed the engineers at Smith & Wesson to take the K38 Combat Masterpiece and chamber it in .357 magnum. Thus, in November 1955, the 357 Combat Magnum was born. It was a lightweight K frame for easy all day carry, yet still had the power of .357 magnum. In 1957, the Combat Magnum was designated the Model 19, and cost all of $95, either in blue or nickel. The 357 Combat Magnum wore a Baughman Quick Draw front sight on a four inch barrel, and had a shrouded ejector rod housing. The revolver came with an adjustable rear sight and square butt walnut magna or target stocks.

In 1963, a six inch barreled version with a partridge front sight was added to the line up. In 1965, 150 Model 19-2's were ordered by the US Navy SEALs with four inch barrels and round butts. In 1966, a snubby two and a half inch barreled round butt version was placed into production. Three and five inch barreled Model 19s were produced, but they are exceedingly rare.

Because the Model 19 was built on a K frame, it has one compromise in it's design. It was beefed up in the yoke area and designed to shoot 158 grain lead .357 magnum ammunition. To clear the cylinder and ejector rod, the forcing cone on .357 magnum K frames has a flat area at 6:00. This area is prone to cracking when 125 grain .357 magnum ammunition is used. For specifics, click here or here for some of the best research. Of course, others disagree. The regrettable thing is no more Model 19 barrels are available, anywhere. If the forcing cone cracks, the revolver is basically a parts gun.

Last summer, I paid $279 for my four inch Model 19-4. It was absolutely pristine, a pinned and recessed masterpiece with a nickel finish. I admit I do not shoot a lot of magnum rounds through it. To me, it is a very nice, accurate .38 special revolver with a recessed cylinder and the ability to occasionally shoot 158 grain magnums.

Earlier this week, I found a six inch Model 19-4 for $239. I purchased it immediately. The rubber grips were well worn, so I swapped them for walnut magnas. I took it to the range, and with 130 grain .38 specials it shot cloverleafs in the center of my targets.

I've always wished the .38 special Smith & Wesson revolver cylinders were recessed, but the fellows at Springfield never saw the need. The Model 19 is accurate, damned accurate, with .38 special. With it's additional weight from the ejector rod shroud, and the slightly longer cylinder, it is easily one of the best handling revolvers I own. If I find a two and a half inch nickel Model 19, I'll make it mine as well!

71 Year Old Jarhead Justice

On June 27, 2007, at 11:00PM, John Lovell, a 71 year old retired Marine was finishing his sandwich at a Subway restaurant in Plantation, Florida. He legally carried a concealed handgun.

Suddenly, two masked and armed men burst into the fast food eatery demanding money. Lovell turned to see a gun stuck in his face. A masked man demanded Lovell hand over his wallet. Lovell intentionally dropped the wallet on the floor and refused to pick it up, saying he was afraid. The criminal then ordered him into the women's restroom. As he was being forced into the restroom, Lovell felt certain of the armed man's intentions. The survival instinct of the 71 year old Marine kicked into hyperdrive.

John Lovell drew his .45 caliber weapon and killed the first threat, 22 year old Donicio Ricardo Arrindell with one shot to the head and another to the stomach. He then shot the other masked man, 21 year old Fredrick Gerard Gadson in the chest. Cash was strewn and blood was splattered all about the sandwich shop. Officers found Arrindell face down, unresponsive, wearing sunglasses and a bandanna, with a gun near his left hand. Gadson was able to run nearly 300 yards into a nearby Bank Atlantic parking lot while trying to escape. Police found him cowering in the bushes.

Police are charging Gadson with armed robbery and murder. Gadson faces murder charges because, even though he did not shoot his partner, someone was killed while Gadson was committing a felony. Sweet, sweet justice.

Police said Lovell will not be charged in the shooting. There is a surveillance video of the incident, but police have not yet released it. Lovell has not spoken on camera after the incident.

Moral of story......Respect your elders. They might be more able to use the gun they carry than you are.

Link

The Truth About the Right to Carry

To the Range

Last night I cleaned and lubricated my newly acquired six inch Model 19-4. I also installed good old S&W walnut stocks on it. Today, it traveled along with my carry 1911s to the range for a workout.

The Model 19-4 shot tightly clustered groups, with no problems. Both single and double action was smooth and accurate. I shot mostly .38 special, with a couple of cylinders of .357 magnum. It's a sweet shooting six gun. I believe I did well.

The 1911 Crack

The one crack that doesn't mean a dead gun by Chris Byrne.

Pawn Shop Circuit: Target Magnum

After work today, I drove over to Neil's pawn shop to see what he had out. It had been a while since I last visited Neil. He kidded me about being lost as I peered through the glass countertop. Neil had a XD40, a Glock something or another, a Heritage Arms .22 revolver. Neil also had a hard chromed 9m Hi Power for $399, and a Charter Arms Undercover for $139. Not a bad selection, really, just not what I was scouting around for. Neil and I talked a bit and I bid him adieu.

I drove across town to Kenny's pawn shop, and Kenny beamed when I walked in the door. He chortled "I have an old Smith fer ya," and he pulled out a nickel plated 357. It was a Model 19-4 with a six inch barrel, and a partridge front sight. It was pinned and recessed. I swung open the cylinder, and examined the forcing cone closely with my bore light. Model 19s have a tendency to crack at the forcing cone when fed 125 grain ammo. Barrels are no longer available, so the forcing cone check is crucial. This Model 19 had a good forcing cone, so I shone the light on down the bore. The rifling was sharp. I pulled back the hammer to full cock, and tried to push it off the sear. It refused to be pushed off. Good.

Kenny was watching my actions closely. He finally asked the particulars of my checks, so I explained the steps as I went through Jim March's Revolver Checkout. Kenny asked me what I thought the gun was worth. The rear sight had a bit of rust on it, as well as a ding on the left side of the blade. The rubber grip was worn, but I prefer wood anyway. I flipped over the tag and read $239. I told Kenny "I figure this one is worth $239 today." Kenny grinned. We went through the gun purchasing protocol, and I drove away with a nickel Model 19-4 on the passenger seat of the Jeep.

Rebuilding a Springfield Mil-Spec

Rebuilding a Springfield Mil-Spec 1911 by Chris Byrne

Oldest Headshot

A nearly 500-year-old skull sports the telltale signs of a gunshot wound from an antique firearm. The find, discovered recently in an Inca cemetery near Lima, Peru, was the victim of a Spanish musket, according to a detailed analysis. That makes the skeleton the oldest documented gunshot victim in the New World and possibly the first person in the Americas ever to have been killed with a firearm, experts say.

National Geographic grantee Guillermo Cock led the team that uncovered the remains. "We thought it was a person killed recently, 5, 10, or 20 years ago," Cock told National Geographic. "We didn't expect the individual would have been killed by a bullet 500 years ago."

The skeleton is one of 72 buried at the site under what must have been chaotic conditions, without the usual Inca reverence for death. experts say. The bodies were not facing the right direction, and they had been tied up or hastily wrapped in a simple cloth and buried at shallow depth, without the usual Inca adornment. Many of the skeletons were also victims of terrible violence, showing signs of being hacked, torn, or impaled. "We were not expecting to find as many traumatic injuries as we have so far," said bio-archaeologist Melissa Murphy of Bryn Mawr College.

Analysis of a plug of bone recovered intact near the skull showed the man was killed with a firearm much less forceful than modern weaponry, and the projectile's concave imprint is highly suggestive of a musket ball. In addition, detailed microscope examination of the skull and plug showed fragments of iron, a metal commonly used in Spanish ammunition.

"This gave us positive evidence that this individual died during conquest and was killed by gunfire," said Guillermo Cock, leader of the expedition that uncovered the mass Inca grave where the gunshot victim was found. "We have traces of iron on the edges of the bullet entrance and we have exit damage in the face caused by the bullet leaving the head."

The Importance Of Vision

Taken from Franconia New Hampshire Police Cpl. Bruce McKay's cruiser, a dash cam video shows the May 11 confrontation that led to the police officer's death and that of the driver he had just stopped, Liko Kenney. After shooting the law enforcement officer, Kenney twice drove over his body. Kenney is subsequently shot and killed by a citizen, Gregory W. Floyd, who grabbed the officer's sidearm while coming to his aid.

It starts with the first of two traffic stops on Route 116. McKay pulls over a small car for speeding and having an expired registration. Two heads are visible through the car's rear window. The driver appears to be talking to the officer. Two minutes later the coupe pulls away, followed quickly by McKay's police sport utility vehicle.

A mile and a half down the road, McKay overtakes Kenney, crossing the double yellow line, backing up and turning several times until the cars are nose to nose. Kenney reaches out and points, as if asking McKay to back up. A pickup truck behind them has stopped in the road. Kenney backs into a dirt driveway, but McKay doesn't stop. He drives the SUV into the coupe, bumping and pushing it into a gravel parking area backed by farm equipment and fields. Kenney's hands are up now, and the video, mostly silent, blares suddenly with the sound of a siren.

Events then happen quickly. Kenney leans his head and arm out of the window and waves. McKay walks into view toward the faded blue coupe. He sprays mace at the driver, confidently turns his back and walks out of view of the camera. Kenney leans out again, a firearm now in his hand, and rapidly fires seven shots, striking Officer McKay four times.

Kenney tried to escape. He drove over McKay's body twice, but did not get far. He was shot dead moments later by Gregory W. Floyd, a discharged Marine who seized up McKay's gun in a bid to protect him. In a summary report, prosecutors declared Officer McKay was justified in using non-deadly force on Kenney, partly because of a violent confrontation between the two men four years earlier. The attorney general also ruled that the shooting of Kenney by Floyd was justified.

As tragic as this murder is, there is much to be learned, or at least reinforced. What was the overriding mistake that Officer McKay made as he went about his duties? He underestimated his adversary. He had a history with this individual. He thought he knew what to expect. He sprayed Kenney with mace, and then he turned his back on his adversary. By turning his back, McKay gave Kenney the opportunity to pull a gun and fire it again and again, unopposed. McKay was cocky. You can see it in his last movements. He was complacent. He gave up the initiative. He thought he had resolved the encounter. He learned too late that he was wrong. He died as a result.

Seize the initiative. Never give it up. Never underestimate your adversary. Never, never take your eyes off your adversary. When you do so, you make yourself defenseless to his attack. Your first line of defense is your vision. Use it. You cannot react to what you do not see. By the time you hear the gunshots behind you, it's too late.

The Acceptable Face of Ignorant Bigotry

This kind of bald faced bigotry would be ludricous if so many people did not buy into it.
The folks at Guntards are right on target.

Pat Brown blogs on the subject. It seems she was taken out of context.
It seems too, that she is a stand-up gal.

Smith & Wesson Box on Ebay

From the seller:

A Smith & Wesson No. 38 Automatic Ejector box from the 1800's. The box is in near mint condition with much of the gold leaf still present.The outside of the box is green with hardly any wear showing. The inside has a little staining due to placement of the pistol (I would assume) when the box was still in use. This auction is for the box only. There is a little wear on each top corner of the label as shown in the pictures and there is one small flake gone on the top, about the size of comma in a sentence. This is a remarkable find for the true collector. It is original and guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

Winning bid: US $1,094.00

Newbie?

New to shooting? Go to Paul Simer's website and read this. I will be writing a similar page soon. Excellent work Paul!

Guns on Ebay!

This is ballsy! Look closely, it's a Registered Magnum with a humpback hammer for $100 on ebay!

So is this! It's a S&W Model 17

Here's another, a Charter Arms

And another, a German Luger Dated 1939

Hurry before they disappear!

Serious Bling!

This set of collectible 1911 grips are made from 208grams of 14K gold base panels encrusted with 9.65 carats of diamonds and 52.6 carats of natural rubies.The diamonds Clarity is VS2 and the color rating is D. Pistol not included.

Started at $29,000.00

Buy Now Price: $44,000.00

CHL Names Published In Ohio

The Sandusky Register of Sandusky Ohio has decided to publish the names of concealed handgun license holders.

As gun owners and CCW holders, we have been through this bullshit before with newspaper editors who care more about their circulation than lives.


The Sandusky Register's office is at:
314 West Market Street
Sandusky, OH 44870-5071
Mon-Fri: 8am to 5pm

Phone
(419)625-5500
1(800)466-1243 (Toll Free)
Mon-Fri: 8am to 7pm
Sat-Sun: 7am to Noon
Holidays: 7am to 10am

Matt Westerhold, Managing Editor
(419)609-5866
mattwesterhold@sanduskyregister.com
225 East Ave Elyria, OH 44035-5634
(440) 329-7157

But.........
Why talk to Westerhold when you can talk to his boss, David Rau?
21 Belted Kingfisher Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
(843) 671-3225

Oh, and the publisher of the Sandusky Register is:
Douglas D. Phares
3216 Angels Way
Sandusky, OH 44870-5995
(419) 621-1726

Let these reckless sociopaths know what you think!

Self Defense in Mississippi

D’IBERVILLE (AP) — Authorities say they aren’t likely to file charges against a woman accused of fatally shooting her husband until a grand jury looks at the case. The shooting happened early Friday morning.

Police say that during a heated argument, Gene Hudson pointed a gun at his estranged wife. She pulled out her own gun and fired, according to police.

Police found Hudson, a 52-year-old Moss Point man, in a “large pool of blood” around 1:30 a.m. Friday, said Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove. Investigators believe Hudson’s estranged wife, whose name has not been released, shot him several times after an argument at her home, according to a written statement from Harrison County Sheriff George Payne. She was not injured.

Police found Hudson on the ground down the street from his wife’s home, according to sources. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, according to a www.sunherald.com article. Harrison County Sheriff’s Capt. Ron Pullen said investigators are continuing to look into the case, but it’s unlikely any arrest will be made before a grand jury review. “I’m not calling it self defense at this point, but there was enough evidence there that suggests we should let the grand jury look at it,” he said.

It's far too early, and I am in possession of far too little information to draw any conclusions on this occurance. One pearl of wisdom can be plucked from the muck, however.......Guns are not a tool of negotiation. Don't pull a gun on someone unless you are prepared to use it. They may pull their own firearm, and righteously kill your dumb, indecisive ass.

Note For Stupid Criminals:

It's best not to tattoo a bunch of ignorant crap all over your face. It makes you easy to recognize. Dumbass.

Best thing, this cop killing dirtbag had his firearm taken away from him by a citizen not afraid to act, a Mr. Eric Fullerton. Great job Mr. Fullerton!

Vu Kim Son's "Dust of Life" 1911 Grips

On the other side of the world is a businessman I admire greatly. Mr. Vu Kim Son is an old school craftsman and businessman from Vietnam who fashions items for sale out of bone, horn, ivory, pearl and leather. His website, Kimson Handicraft Co. Ltd. displays a wide variety of wares for consideration.

When Mr. Kim Son decided to branch off into handgun grips, he had a problem. The restrictive government of his homeland would not allow him to own a gun, not even a discarded frame, to use as a model to work from. Undeterred, Kim Son first worked from blueprints of a 1911. When the blueprints proved to be flawed, friends in the United States mailed him a set of Alumagrips. Mr. Kim Son then had all he needed.

Approximately a month ago, I reviewed Vu Kim Son's 1911 grips for the first time. Those were buffalo bone grips. After work last week, I found a notice on my mailbox that another package awaited me at the post office. It was five days before I was able to leave the hospital before the post office closed. When I was finally able to pick up the package, I saw that Mr. Kim Son had sent me another pair of grips to review.

This set was his "Dust of Life" grips, fabricated from buffalo horn. Kim Son Handicraft Co. manufactures horn grips from the tip of the buffalo horn, and area that is naturally thick and stable. Other cheaper and inferior grips are freqently made from the thinner areas after the horn is flattened, which causes shrinkage problems later on. By using the tip of the horn, Mr. Kim Son prevents this impermanence. On his "Dust of Life" grips, Mr. Kim Son chose to allow some of the rough texture to remain, creating a beautiful contrast between the rough natural and the highly polished surfaces of the material. When I first saw Mr. Kim Son's handgun grips, I found these grips in particular, to be the most attractive. I openly wondered if the rough surface would provide a better grip on the gun during recoil.

I decided to place a set of the "Dust of Life" grips on the pistol I shoot the most. I unscrewed the rubber grips from my SW1911PD, and dropped Kim Son's grips into place. As expected, the fit was impeccable. Mr. Kim Son uses brass inserts in the screw holes to reinforce the material, preventing damage from frequent installation and removal. This is really unnecessary, but nevertheless, a very nice detail.

I took the pistol shooting after church, a not uncommon practice in Louisiana. I ran 400 rounds through it. The day was hot and humid, and I was sweating, not to mention cussing. The grips did not loosen under the pressure of rigorous use, but I found myself wanting the rubber grips I had removed. The "Dust of Life" grips did not give the same level of purchase as the rubber when in sweaty hands. I was not surprised, very few materials would exceed the "grippiness" of checkered rubber under those conditions. There is a reason tires are not made of buffalo horn.........

I placed the other set of horn "Dust of Life" grips on a Colt Commander. They, too, fit perfectly. The edges were parallel to the pistol lines, and the spacing of the screw holes was dead on. Earlier, Mr. Kim Son had made the magazine release indentation a bit tight, causing binding on some pistols. This is not surprising, since he did not fully appreciate the function of that indentation, not having a 1911 to examine first hand. He has now fully resolved the issue, leaving ample space for the magazine release to operate.

Whereas the rubber grips that I prefer on a working gun provide an unsurpassed gripping surface, Mr. Kim Son's "Dust of Life" grips provide something the rubber does not. The lining of a sports coat slides smoothly along the horn grips, providing excellent concealment. The same fabric tends to find traction on rubber grips. The "Dust of Life" grips are also exceedingly beautiful. I like the visual tension created between the polished and natural textures. The depth of these grips is difficult to photograph, but it seems as if you are gazing into smoked glass. The lustre is deep and lasting. I encourage readers to click on the photos provided to view the enlargements.

Mr. Kim Son has done an exceptional job in the manufacture of these 1911 grips. I sincerely hope he finds a distributor in the United States and I wish him all the best in his endeavors.



Update: It seems as if Kim Son has disappeared and has stiffed several people who helped him, never sending them the grips he promised. Caveat emptor.

JC Higgins Colorflow

I've been having a blast riding bikes again. Regular readers may notice more bike posts, less gun posts. That's because I have been riding and building.

There is something unique about building your own bicycle or motorcycle, and then riding the crap out of it. Years ago, my first bicycle was one I built myself from trash parts other people had thrown away. Today, I again rode a bike I had built from recycled parts.

This bicycle is a JC Higgins Colorflow frame, with a Monark dual springer front fork. The crankset is Schwinn, and the saddle is a Brooks B72 leather suspension. The wheels and rubber are mismatched, chrome in front, white in the rear, but who cares?. At some point, I may checker the rear wheel. I opted to not repaint the frame. I like the scratched up and rusted patina of the steel frame.

The bike rides smooth as silk, with the straight front forks being incredibly nimble. I almost put some wider rubber on, but I am glad I did not.




The finished velocipede.

Ugliest Dog

Meet Elwood. Yep, that critter is not just ugly, it's damned ugly. Elwood is so ugly he was almost put to sleep for........ugliness. Now that's uncommon ugly in an ugly breed of dog!

On the home front, Ilsa has recovered nicely from her cadmium escapade.

Beauty School Robbery

Don't try to rob black beauticians in Shreveport Louisiana!

From the Shreveport Times:

June 15, 2005
By Francis McCabe

It was a beauty school knock-out.

An armed robber brandishing a revolver and some tough talk entered Blalock's Beauty College demanding money Tuesday afternoon. He left crying, bleeding and under arrest, after Dianne Mitchell, her students and employees attacked the suspect, beating him into submission.

Mitchell tripped the robber as he tried to leave and cried aloud "get that sucker" as the group of about 20, nearly all women, some wielding curling irons, bludgeoned him until police arrived. "You can tell the world don't mess with the women here," said the 53-year-old who manages the Shreveport beauty school in the 5400 block of Mansfield Road. Jared Gipson, 24, of Shreveport was charged with armed robbery, Shreveport police said. He will be booked into the City Jail once he is released from the hospital.

"He received several lacerations to the head and was taken to LSU Hospital in Shreveport," spokeswoman Kacee Hargrave said. "Nobody else was seriously injured besides the suspect." About 3 p.m., the workers and students sat around the beauty salon, recounting their tale, like warriors after a great battle. A little before noon the students and workers were cleaning up when the robber walked up quietly behind Mitchell and said, "This is a holdup," she recalled.

"I thought it was someone just playing, but then I saw that big old gun. He said 'get down big momma.'" The robber, a tall, thin man wearing a handkerchief over his face and a skull cap, barked out orders to the other people in the school to get down on the floor, Mitchell said. As the group complied, some of the women began to cry. The robber didn't react kindly, telling one of the women she would "be the first to go," Mitchell said.

After collecting any money the people had on them, the robber pushed one of the employees, Abram Bishop, into the back of the room. "I thought 'Oh my God, he's going to shoot him,'" Mitchell said.

But instead the robber ran toward the front door to escape. That's when Mitchell raised her leg. It was enough to trip the robber, who dropped the gun and tumbled into a wall. Bishop jumped on the man's back, driving him into the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Mitchell rallied her students. "We moved some furniture after that," she yelped with joy as she retold the tale.

Arming themselves with curling irons, chairs, a wooden table leg and clenched fists, the women attacked. Blood and urine splattered from the victim; stains adorned the white pants worn by many of the beauty school students. Crying in pain, the robber tried to crawl away from the students, Mitchell said.

"I grabbed his legs and wouldn't let him go. I pulled him back. He wasn't going to get up out of here and tell everyone he robbed us. When he came in here, he knocked down a beehive and sent the bees flying all over."

Sharon Blalock, owner of the school, said she couldn't be prouder of her students and employees. "They just whooped the hell out of him."

Sgt. Kevin Crow, head of the Shreveport police armed robbery unit, said he was happy no one was hurt but was quick to point out that not all of these situations end well. "Legally you can always defend yourself if you feel threatened," Crow said. "But is this the best idea? No. Any time you are going against a guy with a gun, you have to ask yourself if your life is worth risking over some material item you have in your store or on your person. When it works out it's great ... but when it doesn't, usually the results are pretty tragic," Crow said. The gun, police learned later, was not loaded. But there was no remorse from the students.

"He got what he deserved," Renae Collier, 26, said. Collier's engagement ring was broken at some point during the melee.

"I'm just relieved he didn't get away," student Gladys Woods, 24, said. "He probably would have come back if we didn't stop him."

Police are continuing their investigation into the incident, suggesting it might lead to more charges against Gipson. "He will be looked at as a suspect in other robberies in the area," Detective J.E. Cromer said. The Family Dollar in the 2600 block of Hollywood Avenue and a Chevron gas station at the corner of Hollywood and Hearne Avenue are two other businesses in the area that have been robbed recently. Early Tuesday, before the robbery, Mitchell had gathered her students and told them they needed to watch out for one another. "It's like we were saying in class, we have to stay together as a team," Mitchell said. "You can tell any prospective students, Blalock's Beauty College has got your back."

Ilsa Update

Ilsa would like all the concerned readers to know that she is feeling fine, her kidneys are functioning well, and she will never again eat cadmium yellow oil paint.

She would also like to direct dog owners to this web site concerning common items that are poisonous to dogs.

Man Fired For Righteously Bearing Arms

Jacksonville, Florida--------When a neighbor screamed she'd been shot, Colin Bruley grabbed his shotgun, found the victim and began treating her bloodied right leg. Tonnetta Lee survived Tuesday's pre-dawn shooting at her Jacksonville apartment, and her sister and a neighbor praised Bruley's actions. But his employers, the same people who own the Arlington complex where Bruley lives, reacted differently. They fired him.

Bruley, a leasing agent at the Oaks at Mill Creek, said he lost his job after being told that brandishing the weapon was a workplace violation, as was failing to notify supervisors after the incident occurred. He'd worked at the Monument Road complex since December and for the owner, Village Green Cos., since 2005. Bruley said he was too shaken to call his supervisor immediately after the incident, which occurred just before 2 a.m., but planned to eventually do so. He also said he was acting as a citizen, not an employee, and shouldn't have been punished for trying to protect himself and others. He never fired the shotgun.

"I was expecting work to give me some kind of commendation," said Bruley, 24. "I was totally blown back. It was a crisis that most people don't go through."

Andrea Roebker, the company's director of public relations, said "We're not in a position to discuss any employment issues outside of [with] the employee. She declined to comment further, citing confidentiality rules.

A complaint Bruley said was given to him by his supervisor Tuesday said he violated several company policies found in an employee handbook. Those procedures were also explained in a recent meeting and an e-mail, the complaint said. One policy prohibits any type of weapons being used in the workplace. The complaint cited him for "gross misconduct." "Colin demonstrated extremely poor judgment in responding to this situation," the complaint said. "Colin's failure to immediately report this incident ... could have serious ramifications to the property, its associates and residents."

A police report said the shooting followed a domestic quarrel involving Lee, 24, and her boyfriend. Bruley said he was dozing off in his apartment when he heard Lee's screams. He said he then grabbed a 12-gauge shotgun he uses for protection and hunting. Bruley said he found the woman bleeding heavily. He handed the shotgun to a neighbor, tied a tourniquet around her right leg and waited for police and rescue to arrive.

"I was kind of in a state of shock. I had blood all over my body," Bruley said. After emergency officials took Lee to the hospital, Bruley returned to his apartment and tried to settle down, eventually falling asleep. He said he could have called his supervisor but didn't think she could do anything at the time. He said he was called into the office about 9:30 a.m., gave his account and then left. He said he was called back that afternoon and told he was fired.

Neighbor Kevin Courson joined Bruley at the crime scene when he saw Bruley had a gun for protection. Courson said he is incensed by the dismissal. "Here was a guy trying to do a good deed. He wasn't trying to hurt nobody," said Courson, 31.

Erica Jenkins, Lee's sister, said Bruley should still have a job. Lee couldn't be reached to comment despite several messages left with her sister and mother. "If it wasn't for him ... she could have lost her leg or died," said Jenkins, 19. "He put his life in jeopardy for someone else."

Bruley said he is considering contacting a lawyer about his dismissal, but will first look for another job and possibly another home. He promises he won't shy away from aiding others in need. "If I'd lose my job again for helping some girl's life ... I'd do it over and over," Bruley said.

jim.schoettler@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4385

Figures.............

but then.........

91%

Yellow Dog Ilsa

Sometimes carsickness is a good thing. This evening, Ilsa, my German Shepherd puppy, ate a tube of cadmium yellow oil paint.

Cadmium is a poison that destoys kidney function as well as liver function. Ingestion of cadmium is associated with salivation, choking attacks, persistent vomiting, abdominal pains, spasms of the anal sphincter, vertigo and loss of consciousness. These effects have been observed mainly in individuals exposed to high levels of cadmium in food.

This demanded rapid intervention, before the ingested paint passed the pylorus. I put Ilsa in the Jeep, and began driving about the neighborhood to induce vomiting. Meanwhile, my wife called the vet. As I swerved along the road, jinking right and left, swooping into alley ways to get some air time, with Ilsa retching up mustard colored vomit, my cell phone rang. "We need H2O2!" my wife said. I told her to draw some up in a 60cc cath tip syringe as I made my way back to the house.

Once back at the house, I jammed the syringe into the dog's gullet and gave her 30ccs of hydrogen peroxide before she jerked away. She gave me a "What the hell did you do that for?" look and promptly up chucked foamy yellow tinged emesis. I gave her several more doses, spacing them out two to three minutes apart until she could vomit no more.

Finally, Ilsa had to endure possibly the worst intervention in her little doggie mind. She needed a bath. She got her bath, and is presently sequestered in the bathroom wondering how art could be so traumatic. I believe she is now more likely to take up the oboe rather than oil painting.

For the next few days, I will watch her, make certain she urinates without problems, and has no bloating. I expect she will be fine.

Incessant Barking

Regular readers will remember the Idiots With Guns series and they may have also noted a dwindling of Pawn Shop Circuit posts over the past couple of months. I'm slowing down on the blog. It seems as though it is just incessant barking. The struggle to post at least once a day is gone. Perhaps I should just post when inspired.

Hey guys, there's a lot of good stuff in the archives, go look! I'm taking a break for a while.

Layers of Response by John Farnam

Years ago, Jeff Cooper delineated the "Color Code" and the "Principles of Personal Defense" in an effort to provide us with a logical model for one's thinking on the subject of mental preparedness. I'd like now to go to the next step and apply the same logic to the issue of personal appearance and demeanor, as we all agree that, in the domestic defensive environment, avoiding a fight is preferable to winning one.

Layer One: Nonattendance. The best way to handle any potentially injurious encounter is:
Don't be there. Arrange to be somewhere else. Don't go to stupid places. Don't associate with stupid people. Don't do stupid things. This is the advice I give to all students of defensive firearms. Winning a gunfight, or any other potentially injurious encounter, is financially and emotionally burdensome. The aftermath will become your full-time job for weeks or months afterward, and you will quickly grow weary of writing checks to lawyer(s). It is, of course, better than being dead or suffering a permanently disfiguring or disabling injury, but the "penalty" for successfully fighting for your life is still formidable.

Crowds of any kind, particularly those with an agenda, such as political rallies, demonstrations, picket lines, etc are good examples of "stupid places." Any crowd with a high collective energy level harbors potential catastrophe. To a lesser degree, bank buildings, hospital emergency rooms, airports, government buildings, and bars (particularly crowded ones) fall into the same category. All should be avoided. When they can't be avoided, we should make it a practice to spend only the minimum time necessary there and then quickly get out.

"A superior gunman is best defined as one who uses his superior judgment in order to keep himself out of situations that would require the use of his superior skills."

Layer Two: Functional invisibility. We all need to practice to art of "being invisible." It is in our best interest to go our way unnoticed, both by potential predators and by the criminal justice system alike.

Whenever I travel, particularly to foreign countries, I endeavor to be the one that no one notices; no one recalls; no one remembers. I silently slip through the radar, leaving no trace, a nameless, faceless tourist. When in any public place, I try to be clean and well groomed, but I never wear bright colors, any kind of jewelry, or anything shiny. I smile a lot, but talk softly and as little as possible. As we say in the law enforcement business, "Courteous to everyone. Friendly to no one."

Loud talking, bright colors, Rolex watches, etc will consistently accumulate unwanted attention. On the other end of the spectrum, tattoos, poor grooming, loud and offensive language, a slovenly appearance, etc will also garner unwelcome notice.

Layer Three: Deselection. Any successful predator has the ability to quickly screen potential victims, focusing in on the ones who look as if they will make good victims and rejecting those who either (1) look too strong for expedient victimization or (2) don't conveniently fall into any particular category.

When invisibility fails, we need endeavor to be consistently deselected for victimization. We do this by making it a habit to appear alert, uninviting, self-confident, and strong. At the same time, we never loiter or appear indecisive. We are always in motion.

"Weakness perceived is weakness exploited!"

Layer Four: Disengagement: Our best interests are not served by any kind of engagement with potential predators. Successful disengagement involves posturing, bearing, verbalizations, and movement. It is in our best interest to disengage at the lowest reasonable force level, but we must simultaneously be prepared to instantly respond to unlawful force with superior force.

Potential predators, as they attempt verbal engagement, should be politely dismissed. Bearing and eye contact should always project strength and confidence. We should continuously be moving off the "line of force." We should be observant in every direction, giving potential predator duos and trios the distinct impression that they will not be able to sneak up on us.

When predators are confused, they are unable to focus sufficiently to carry off their victimization. Therefore, never let a potential predator seize the agenda. Don't answer his questions, and don't stay in any one place very long.

Disengagement, separation, and exit are our immediate goals when we have been selected or are being seriously evaluated by predators. However, if there is to be a fight, the best one is a short one. If a predator menaces me with a gun or a knife, I know that, before it is all over, there is a good chance that I will be shot or cut. However, within that prison of circumstance, I also know that the faster I can end the fight, the less hurt I'm going to get! If there must be a fight, I must explode into action, moving smoothly and quickly, in an effort to confuse and overwhelm my opponent before he has a chance to process all the information I'm throwing at him.

Ultimately, we must "have a plan." Potentially dangerous encounters must be thought about in advance. Decisions must be made. Skills must be practiced. Confusion, hesitation, and vacillation will always attract the attention of predators and simultaneously stimulate predator behavior.

Real Nurses

Thanks Doc. I needed that.

Men in Nursing

Hat tip to Babs

When to Walk Away

When NOT to buy a pistol by Chris Byrne

I'd Rather Be Alive and Safe

Paris Jail Song

Jeff Cooper on Home Defense

February 1990--"Of course the California gun ban is wrong in principle and should be repealed at the first opportunity, but if house defense is your primary purpose, do not overlook the Lupara--a short-barreled double 12-gauge shotgun with exposed hammers. If your object is to defend your hearth and home, you can almost certainly do it better with that than with an Uzi or an M16."

Bike Dancing

Gun Manners

As with all things, politeness and good manners are the sign of a superior individual, and this includes gun handling. While we must all follow the "4 Rules" there are some additional behaviors that mark a mature and responsible shootist. Be a gun gentleman/lady, and not a gun slob.

Don't touch another person's firearm without permission.

Don't ask if a person is armed.

Don't ask if the owner has ever been in an armed confrontation.

Don't ask to "see" a firearm that is being carried by someone.

If allowed to examine another's firearm, especially a prized or valuable one, try to keep your fingerprints off the metal and if you do accidentally leave fingerprints let the owner know so that they may be removed to prevent finish damage if so desired.

Clear a firearm and lock the action open before handing a firearm to another person, and ask the owner of a firearm to do so before they hand it to you, no matter what the owner claims.

If unfamiliar with the operation of a particular firearm, ask the owner to demonstrate and to "show clear" before you handle it.

Don't drop an autopistol's slide on an empty chamber, nor "flip" a revolver's cylinder closed.

Don't drop the hammer to "test" the trigger without the owner's permission.
If allowed to fire someone else's firearm offer to pay for the ammunition., or return the favor and offer your firearm to be fired.

If you are allowed to borrow a firearm for an extended period of time, return it on time, and return it cleaned and lubricated, even if it was dirty when you received it.

Don't criticize another's firearm nor start telling them what it needs to be "better" unless they ask for your opinion.

After a shooting session, pick up your brass, targets, and clean up your area.

Fr.Frog

Lance Schilling Dead

Lance Schilling, a former New Orleans police officer indicted for the videotaped beating of Robert Davis on Boubon Street has apprently taken his own life. Schilling was found Sunday in a suburban Metairie home. An autopsy showed he died of a gunshot wound to the roof of the mouth, Jefferson Parish coroner's office said.

Schilling's attorney, Franz Zibilich, said he was saddened by his client's death. He said he believed the suspected suicide had no connection to the pending trial, which had been set for June 29, 2007. The former officer faced five years behind bars if convicted of second-degree battery.

Anti-Gunner Loses His Guns

Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of racketeering, money laundering, soliciting bribes, and obstruction of justice. Jefferson gained the attention of a Virginia U.S. attorney's office for allegedly accepting bribes to steer business to a communications firm in Nigeria and soliciting bribes to benefit various companies owned by his family. He is free on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond. He took an oath affirming he would make future court appearances in lieu of paying the bond. You gotta love Louisiana politics. But it gets better.......

Rep. Jefferson, who has achieved a grade of "F" from the NRA for his anti-gun record, strives to disarm his constituents, but not himself. Jefferson admitted to keeping rifles and shotguns in his home and was forced to surrender them in response to his indictment. "I've been hunting since I was 10 years old," he told the judge. Jefferson's attorney, Robert Trout, will take possession of his guns and passport.

Rusty Bike Auction

After seeing another vintage bike go for $500+ on ebay, I spotted this rusty relic, supposedly a 1920's Schwinn. I'm just curious how high it will go........The seller states:

1920's Boys 28x 1 1/2" Schwinn? Bicycle, Even Though It Doesn't Have A Badge Or Any Paint Left, I'am Almost Certain This Is A Seldom Seen 1920's Schwinn Motorbike, It Needs To Be Restored But Will Be Worth The Effort, Having It's Original Tank and Carrier, This Was An Old Delivery Bike Used In Penns. For Many Years, Don't Miss This Rare Offering, The Buyer Pays $65 Fed Ex Ground Shipping In The US, This Is A No Reserve Auction So Bid To Own As always the bike should be greased and adjusted before riding. The tires are shot and the seat is worn.

Winning bid: US $255.01

1941 Dayton Deluxe

Well, I thought I might bid on this auction for a while.......Nice bike.......It has all the good stuff.......Full length tank, good seat, good paint, all original, fork trusses, headlight, streamlined.........then the bidding began......

Winning bid: US $516.00

I'll pass....I think I'll look for a Schwinn Heavy Duti.....

The Aboriginal Bike

When my wife first brought home a "new to her" bike, I was skeptical. It was an old Murray or Montgomery Wards bicycle, with a broken tank light, and dry rotted tires. The tires did hold air.

We worked together to clean up the greasy relic, and I replaced the half eaten seat that was on it. The handlebar grips were likewise swapped out. For a while, I looked at the broken headlight lense, and tried to arrive at a solution. Finally, I decided to ditch it, and the headlight fixture began to take on the appearance of an African mask.

I removed the fixture, popped out the lenses, and filled the headlight recesses with fiberglass. When dry, I cut the slits to mimic the appearance of the eyes on tribal masks in Africa. I drilled out the surrounding area, and my wife wove rattan to make the fringe surrounding the mask. My little daughter contributed the happy meal monkey,whose eyes light up a firey red when a button on top of his head is pushed.

Finally, the rest of the bike looked rather bare. I began to look at aboriginal "dream time" dot painting, and saw it as amotif that might compliment the bike. While my wife was involved in other activities, i broke out the white and red paint and went to work. Once finished, the bicycle blended into a cohesive whole. Now, all I need is a didgeridoo!

Self Defense in Oklahoma

SALLISAW — Authorities are investigating the overnight shooting death of a man who broke into the home of his estranged wife. Witnesses told police that Robert Andrew Wolfe, 49, broke into the Sallisaw residence and attacked Kimberly Opal Davis with a baseball bat. Davis grabbed a pistol and shot Wolfe, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokesman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said it appears the shooting was justifiable. “She shot and killed him while he was breaking into her home,” said OSBI Assistant Director Jon Loffi. “It apparently will be a self-defense shooting.”

Good call Director. Good shot Ms. Davis.

Better Than Ballet!

Outstanding!

Idiots With Guns # 71

The makers of this video discuss it here.

The purpose of Idiots with Guns is not to humiliate, but to educate by promoting civil discourse about firearms safety. Every gun owner has seen people who, upon picking up a gun, just cannot resist pointing it at something they should not, with their finger on the trigger. Whether done through ignorance or absent mindedness, the results of these actions can be tragic. Many photos of guns being used dangerously are available on the internet. It is my hope that Idiots With Guns will transform these photos from dangerous examples of improper gun handling to the stimulus for discussion that promotes gun safety.


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

Danziger Bridge Massacre Testimony Released

Defense attorneys for seven New Orleans police officers accused of shooting a group of people after Hurricane Katrina will be given the complete testimony of two witnesses to the state grand jury that indicted the officers on charges of murder and attempted murder, a Criminal District Court judge ruled Thursday. Chief Judge Raymond Bigelow said in his ruling that federal law requires some of the information in the transcripts be made available to the defense. District Attorney Eddie Jordan's office already provided the defense with redacted copies of the testimony, which blacked out information the office believed the law did not compel it to disclose.

But Bigelow ruled that made the transcripts essentially unreadable. "To cut and paste would dilute the ability of the reader to understand the testimony in this very complex case," he wrote. While grand jury testimony is typically secret, Bigelow noted in his ruling that the trial court judge is given the discretion to determine whether the material should be disclosed. In every criminal case, prosecutors are required to turn over evidence to defense attorneys that is favorable to the defendant, as well as evidence that can be used to discredit a prosecution witness.

Bigelow gave Jordan's office until Thursday to turn over the copies to the defense team or decide to ask the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal to review his decision. Prosecutors at the hearing declined to respond to the ruling, and an office spokesman did not return a phone call.

The shootings on and near the Danziger Bridge on Sept. 4, 2005, left two men dead: Ronald Madison, a 40-year-old man with the mental capacity of a child, and 19-year-old James Brissette. Four people were also severely wounded in an onslaught that the survivors have described as an unprovoked hail of bullets from police officers who did not identify themselves. The police have maintained that they shot at the people on Danziger Bridge only after rushing to the bridge after hearing a radio call about officers in jeopardy and then being fired at. Two of Madison's siblings attended Thursday's hearing and expressed dismay that the grand jury testimony would be made available. "Little by little, this is really violating the justice system," said Romell Madison.

Townsend Myers, the attorney for officer Michael Hunter, said he believes the decision will help the defense. "This gives us the opportunity to use the testimony at trial," he said. In a reflection of the complex nature of the case against the seven New Orleans Police Department officers, Myers and two other defense attorneys have already reviewed all of the transcripts of every witness before the grand jury, but they weren't given copies to prepare for trial or to use as evidence. The unusual arrangement was agreed to by Jordan's office in April.

Attorneys for Hunter, Sgt. Kenneth Bowen and officer Ignatius Hills looked at the transcripts in Bigelow's chambers. The attorneys were looking for evidence to support their contention that the three officers should not have been indicted because Jordan compelled their testimony before the grand jury in exchange for immunity. Bigelow has yet to rule on a motion to dismiss the charges against the three officers because of the immunity. After looking at the testimony, the defense lawyers thought the statements of Tony Humfleet and Lance Madison contained information that all the lawyers should see because the two civilian witnesses to the shootings contradicted each other, according to Bigelow's ruling.

Defense attorneys have also said Lance Madison, whose brother was fatally shot by an officer in front of a motel at the foot of the Danziger Bridge on Chef Menteur Highway, made statements to the grand jury that contradict ones he made before a judge less than a month after the shootings. Lance Madison was arrested after the shootings and booked with firing at the police, although the state grand jury later cleared him of any wrongdoing. At a bond hearing in late September 2005, Madison testified about his experiences on the bridge.

At least one defense attorney has pointed out that Lance Madison, in that hearing, described walking over the bridge with his brother and initially being shot at by six teenagers before the police arrived on the scene and also began shooting. The Madisons had been walking over the Danziger Bridge after a failed attempt to reach their mother's house in flooded eastern New Orleans. They had been staying at Romell Madison's dental office on the Gentilly side of the bridge.

Former officer Robert Faulcon faces a first-degree murder charge for the shooting of Ronald Madison, as well as another count for the shooting of Brissette. Bowen, Sgt. Robert Gisevius, and officer Anthony Villavaso also face first-degree murder charges for shooting Brissette.

The four officers also face a number of attempted-murder charges, along with Hunter, Hills and officer Robert Barrios, for shooting at people who were either wounded or not hit.

Good Deal!

Chris got a new pistola.
$699.
Ted Yost.

Good things happen to good folks.
Yeah, I'm jealous!

A Convert

It's funny how a gun can instantly change your perspective on things, make you wish you could rewrite history. State Rep. Michael DeBose, a southside Cleveland Democrat, discovered this lesson the night of May 1, when he thought he was going to die. That's the night he wished he had that gun vote back.

DeBose, who had just returned from Columbus, where he had spent the day in committee hearings, decided to take a short walk up Holly Hill, the street where he has lived with his wife for the past 27 years. It was late, but DeBose, 51, was restless. The ordained Baptist minister knew his Lee-Harvard neighborhood was changing, but he wasn't scared. The idle, young men who sometimes hang out on his and adjacent streets didn't threaten him. He is a big man and, besides, he had run the same streets before he found Jesus - and a wife. That night, he just needed a walk.

The loud muffler on a car that slowly passed as he was finishing the walk caught his attention, though. When the car stopped directly in front of his house - three houses from where he stood - he knew there was going to be a problem. "There was a tall one and a short one," DeBose said, sipping on a McDonald's milkshake and recounting the experience Friday. "The tall one reached in his pocket and pulled out a silver gun. And they both started running towards me. At first I just backed up, but then I turned around and started running and screaming. When I started running, the short boy stopped chasing and went back to the car. But the tall boy with the gun kept following me. I ran to the corner house and started banging on Mrs. Jones' door."

It was at that point that the would-be robbers realized that their prey wasn't worth the trouble. Besides, Cheryl, DeBose's wife, and a daughter had heard his screams and had raced out to investigate. Other porch lights began to flicker on. The loud muffler sped off, and DeBose started rethinking his gun vote. DeBose twice voted against a measure to allow Ohioans to carry concealed weapons. It became law in 2004.

DeBose voted his conscience. He feared that CCW permits would lead to a massive influx of new guns in the streets and a jump in gun violence. He feared that Cleveland would become the O.K. Corral, patrolled by legions of freshly minted permit holders. "I was wrong," he said Friday.

"I'm going to get a permit and so is my wife. I've changed my mind. You need a way to protect yourself and your family. I don't want to hurt anyone. But I never again want to be in the position where I'm approached by someone with a gun and I don't have one." DeBose said he knows that a gun doesn't solve Cleveland's violence problem; it's merely a street equalizer. "There are too many people who are just evil and mean-spirited. They will hurt you for no reason. If more people were packing guns, it might serve as a deterrent. But there obviously are far deeper problems that we need to address," he added, as he suddenly seemed to realize he sounded like a gun enthusiast.

They say the definition of a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged. DeBose's CCW application will bear some witness to that notion.

Courtesy of Phillip Morris, Plain Dealer Columnist
To reach Phillip Morris:
pfmorris@plaind.com, 216-999-5086