A Nurse with a Gun

Saturday, March 31, 2007

The Most Important Ingredient

A gun, ammunition, a concealed carry permit. Often, people believe this is all a citizen needs to carry a gun. Some recommend a cell phone, and a less than lethal means of self protection as well. It is true that to legally carry a concealed firearm, all that is needed is a valid permit. To gain this permit in most states, an applicant must have no felony record, pass minimum standards of marksmanship, perhaps attend an NRA sanctioned course, and submit affidavits attributing to their psychological well being. Many holders of a CCW believe this is enough, and legally, not much more can be required.

I, however believe that the responsible CCW holder should go further. What the law requires is the minimum standard. The mature person realizes that protecting oneself involves making quick decisions under extreme stress. When a firearm is introduced, the stress is often that of imminent death. This is an inherent and inescapable factor of self defense.

Many honest citizens have never actually faced violent criminals. Most people, are not familiar with the stresses that occur when they are facing immediate death or incapacitating injury to themselves. Indeed, most are not familiar with the stress that occurs when others nearby are facing immediate death. The mind short circuits, pares down perceptions to those needed to survive or escape. The body flies out of control as the sympathetic nervous system takes over. This is foreign mental territory for many.

Imagine driving down a tortuous highway at 75 MPH and suddenly losing the steering in your automobile. Now imagine accurately shooting your firearm under the same circumstances. Next, imagine making the decision to draw and fire your gun under the same circumstances. The decision whether to draw, let alone the ability to accurately hit your target is severely compromised by the threat of immediate death. What quickly becomes apparent is the importance of never losing your steering in the first place. Thus, preventing the escalation of conflict is more important than groupings from your pistol.

Several cases I have recently attempted to blog factually on, illustrate why I believe training under stress is important. Garrett Mallot recently became so stressed in a verbal altercation on a Houston bus that the shot his assailant. He now faces murder charges. At the very least, his life as a free man will be forever stigmatized. At worst, he will never walk free again. The facts of the Charles Chieppa case are still foggy, although he has been acquitted of any wrong doing. He will likely live the rest of his life as the man who shot someone in the back. The case of Jamie Buck is much more cut and dried, but an attacker does not always give his victim the luxury of being attacked with a sledgehammer in his own home in the middle of the night.

As carriers of firearms, CCW holders possess the means of taking a life to protect their own. This ability does not bestow any extra authority on the carrier, just extra responsibility. Death is an irreversible phenomena. Taking a life irreversibly changes the lives of many others.
Thus, good judgment under extreme stress is something every mature carrier of a firearm should strive for.

How does one achieve this ability? Some advanced trainers train students under stress. They PT their students, introduce a verbal barrage of conflict, and expect them to hit their targets. The stress of an instructor yelling in your ear does not equal the stress of impending death, nor do the scrapes of rolling on the ground among gravel and shell casings. Simunitions and paintball are often used in force on force training. The sting of non-lethal rounds does not equate when the practitioner knows he will soon be eating his dinner instead of receiving a toe tag at the morgue. Martial arts and boxing teach a person to function in unarmed conflict with a given set of rules, but rarely with an opponent of superior strength and skill who obeys no rules.

All of these training techniques help, but they leave out an important ingredient. Familiarity with lawlessness and death is that ingredient. I believe the best way to learn to face criminal activity and potential death itself is through stress inoculation. Contact your local Sheriff to see if he has a ride along program for citizens, and then join a deputy on patrol. Volunteer at your local hospital's emergency department. Watch and learn how professionals deal with extreme, life altering conflict every day. Experience the finality of death. Know what it is like to continue to function according to protocol and law when logic screams run or fight like hell. Then train hard with your firearm. Expect no quarter to be given, no laws to be followed, and try to avoid the conflict to begin with.

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You Gotta Be Kiddin' File

CHL Holder Shoots Man On Bus

Witnesses in Houston report a shooting on a Metropolitan Transit Authority bus at the 11700 block of Westheimer around 11:45 AM on March 28, 2007. According to statements, Garrett Mallot was entering the bus when Otis James Francis bumped into him. The bump escalated quickly into argument. The argument escalated to deadly force.

"That guy said he was going to kick my ass," Mallot told police. He stated he then pulled a knife and Francis repeated the threat. Mallot then drew a a .357 magnum revolver and shot Francis COM in front of more than 20 passengers. Francis then ran to the front of the bus where he collapsed and died. Garrett Mallot holds a license for a concealed handgun.

Gwen Guidry, a nurse on her way to work at Methodist Hospital stated, “We saw this big light and this big pop. My ears are still ringing. I tried to revive him. I did what I could. But it wasn’t happening."


“The guy bumped him,” said Effrom Mooring who was on the bus. “They exchanged words. The guy pulled out a gun and shot him. Just for bumping him.”

“Everybody started ducking and hollering. He just put the gun back in his pants and politely walked to the back of the bus and sat down,” said Troy Andrews.

Troy Andrews’ wife was on the bus. “He was gasping for air and there’s no way she (Gwen Guidry) could help him.”

On arrival at the scene, Houston police found a compliant Mallot in the rear of the bus, his hands raised. He had surrendered his firearm to paramedics who were treating another passenger for chest pain, and attending to the deceased Francis. Garrett Mallot was taken into custody, and has now been charged with murder. If convicted, he faces 5 to 99 years, or life in prison. Mallot's attorney, Alvin Nunnery, was not immediately available for comment.

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Thursday, March 29, 2007

Self Defense or Killing Over Property?

June 17, 2004. 4:00 AM.

Charles Chieppa, of New Bedford Massachusetts awoke to noise in his basement. Chieppa awoke Wilnick Thenor, a tenant who lived upstairs, then retrieved a loaded handgun and retreated to his backyard. There, he encountered Frank Pereira Jr. The facts after that are more fuzzy. Pereira was fatally shot by Chieppa. Witnesses claim Pereira was seen jumping a fence as he fled from the yard before expiring in the street. The state Medical Examiner's Office determined a bullet hit him in the back and exited his chest.

Fast forward to today. Charles D. ChieppaJurors needed just 3& ½ hours to determine New Bedford homeowner Charles D. Chieppa was justified in killing the suspected burglar in 2004. His defense attorney, Kevin J. Reddington, told the jury that his client, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, believed he was in mortal danger when he fired his gun that morning. "When you consider his state of mind, when you consider the circumstances, this was a justifiable homicide by a citizen protecting himself," Mr. Reddington said, "I like to think one of the objectives of this is it will give the Frank Pereiras of the world second thoughts before they enter a homeowner's property."

Of course, the dead burglar's family is making statements about how little Frankie was always a good boy, and how he would give you the shirt off his back. "Everyone has a flaw." they wrote in a statement. "Frankie was the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was a young father who supported his family working as a mechanic. There is not a day that goes by where we don't relive this nightmare."

They seem to ignore the fact that their little Frankie was in another man's home. One wonders what he might have been doing there. Was he repairing the man's automobile? Perhaps he was not working as a mechanic to support his family. Could it be he was not altruistically and anonymously distributing smelly flannel shirts about the town, bought with the leftovers of his hard earned money? Could it be that he was there to take another's man's shirt, another man's property, and if necessary another man's life? One really wonders what the hell this honest hard working mechanic was doing in another man's home at four o'clock in the damned morning! Bottom line: If Frank Pereira Jr. had been at home asleep, minding his own business and taking care of his family, he would likely be alive today.

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Why Christian Trejbal Was Wrong



This is why Christian Trejbal of the Roanoke Times was wrong, very wrong, with his article.

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Coolidge Youth Out-Shoots Them All for National Title

By REYNA PISAÑO, Staff Writer March 27, 2007
COOLIDGE - In the Disney movie "Toy Story," classic cowboy doll Woody demands that his quick-shooting rivals "Reach for the sky!" Twelve-year-old Wyatt Dobbs of Coolidge used the same no-holds-barred mentality in order to out-shoot his rivals during the Single Action Shooting Society's National Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting March 7-9 and used his marksmanship prowess to secure the first-place trophy.

Wyatt is in sixth grade at West School in Coolidge. He was one of competitors in the "Buckaroo" age group for marksmen 13 and under. The SASS National Championship was held at the Ben Avery Shooting Range near Carefree Highway in Phoenix. Wyatt was required to fire two six-shot revolvers, cowboy style, a Winchester rifle and a double-barrel coach gun during the three-day and 12-stage competition. His score was based on his time and his accuracy. If targets were missed, Wyatt was penalized, with the judges adding time to his score.

Wyatt also managed to snag first place in the Period Costume contest part of the competition. "I always dress up like that" for meets, he said. "My grandpa gave me the chaps, and he said, 'I think you're going to win first place in the costume contest hands down.'" The requirements for the costume competition mandated that each contestant have an authentic replica of 1870s period dress. Wyatt's costume included a hat, vest, boots, suspenders, chaps and two holstered six-shooters.

One of the most remarkable things about Wyatt's win is that he has only been shooting in competitions for the past year. In the Buckaroo age group at the National Championships, Wyatt, who competes under the shooting alias Dust Devil Wyatt, was responsible for firing off five shots per gun, per hand, followed by 10 rounds with the Winchester lever-action rifle, and followed up by four to six rounds with the double-barreled coach gun.

Steve Scott, his grandfather, is the one who encouraged him to enter competition. "He is a world-class shooter," said Scott, who is also a competition shooter. "We brought him out there to Marvin Wuertz's place, and started practicing with the Dusty Bunch."

Wyatt began shooting after being intrigued by the programs his grandfather brought home from his marksmanship competitions. "I would see it," he said, "and I just always thought, 'That looks fun, I should try that.

"Then, me and him (Scott), we headed over to Casa Grande, to this fellow's place named Marvin Wuertz, and we decided to check it out. The next thing you know, my grandpa was on the phone, ordering new guns for us."

Now that Wyatt has been shooting for about a year, the competition schedule is pleasing to him. "We usually have matches every other weekend. I'm in Cowboy Action Shooting, we shoot single-action revolvers, we shoot a rifle and a shotgun, and it's timed, and we dress up like old-time cowboys. Whoever gets the fastest time, wins."

Each competition weekend brings the same routine. "When we have a match," he said, "what we'll do is, I'll go over on Friday, and we'll clean our rifles and get everything prepared. Then on Saturday, my grandpa will get everything all ready, and come and pick me up, and we'll go. It's kind of a good idea to get there early, because then you get a chance to look over all the stages. We are usually a little early."

Nerves don't really play a role for Wyatt during competition any more. "I just have fun, and be safe. If I win, that's even better! But if I lose, it's all right.

"It's my first year, so I don't want to be all like, 'I want to win first, I've got to win first!' I don't want to do anything like that. I just want to be relaxed." When he is not shooting in structured competition, Wyatt still keeps his eye on the real prize - being able to out-shoot his grandpa.

"One of my friends keeps asking me, 'Did you beat him yet?' because he really wants me to beat my grandpa. Sometimes I can get a better score than him and sometimes he beats mine, but his times are a little faster and a little lower. But sometimes I can kind of get down there, to where our scores are kind of even. But he's always a little faster than me."

While other parts of Wyatt's life may not be as black and white as shooting a great group (like, the sixth grade for instance - the fact that they have to switch classes), "It's kind of complicated," he said. But he knows that each weekend brings a new blank target and another chance to compete.

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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Funniest Forum Post in a While

Question:
What would happen to a pistol like the Glock if it was submerged in a container of drano (Drain Cleaner)?


Answer:
Since Drano is safe for plastic and metal pipes, I think it would only dissolve the hair clog in the barrel.

However, in just a few minutes a Glock fanboy will come by and post a link to a test where a Glock was put in a blender filled with Drano, sulfuric acid, Coca-Cola, pirahna, and 2 pounds of industrial diamonds. A CAT D8bulldozer was then dropped on it from 1000 feet. The owner picked up the Glock, chambered a 155mm HE round, hit a post-it note at 917 miles, and then proceeded to run 726,761 rounds of Wolf ammo coated with Gorilla Glue with no failures.


Thanks for the laugh Jorg!

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Monday, March 26, 2007

The truth about semi-auto firearms

The S&W Model 10

The Model 10. Even it's name is humble, the lowest numerical designation in Smith & Wesson's vast array of revolvers. The S&W Model 10, however, is often a glimmer of gold among a gun shelf of pyrite. The Model 10 can trace it's roots back to 1899 with Smith & Wesson's introduction of the first hand ejector on a K frame. Click to enlargeIn the first few years, the lockwork was changed several times, until the Model of 1905 4th change was arrived at. Variations of butt silhouette and barrel length were offered, as was caliber.

The Model of 1905 4th change, or the M&P, remained essentially unchanged until after World War II, when a short throw hammer was introduced. Minor changes, such as a new front sight, fewer screws in the sideplate, and rubber grips were to follow. For decades, it was the sidearm of choice for law enforcement. It is the ubiquitous revolver. Today, S&W still sells the Model 10, and it is not that much different from the Model 10's of old.

Because of the large number of Model 10s produced over the years, they can still be purchased used for a very reasonable sum, often in like new condition. Recently, I have noticed a decline in the numbers of Model 10s I see for sale locally. For years I purchased them for $150-$175. I am having to adjust my mental market value to $200 and above now, if I still want to buy Model 10s. That is fine by me too. The Model 10 is worth that, and it always was. In fact, it is worth more. It is ultra reliable, fires a defensive caliber, is accurate, and fun to shoot. That's a combination often absent in guns that cost hundreds more.

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Sunday, March 25, 2007

Sledgehammer Against a Gun

Millard Brandenburg was released from jail on Feb.2, 2007. Millard BrandenburgHe had two state prison terms on his record, one for a drug conviction and the other for failing to pay child support. During the past decade, Brandenburg had been cited into Hamilton Municipal Court on more than two dozen offenses including traffic citations, ethnic intimidation, aggravated menacing, drug abuse, assault, resisting arrest and forgery. He had been jailed for failure to comply with police orders. Seven weeks after he was released from jail, he showed up at Jamie Buck's home.

On Friday, March 24, 2007, Jamie Buck, a roofer, was sleeping when Brandenburg first smashed a sledgehammer into the window of his door. The home invader then burst inside his home, demanding money or jewelry. He then hit an alarmed Jamie Buck in the head with the sledgehammer.

The attack occurred in Hamilton Ohio. Thus:
Ohio Constitution (Article I) § 1.01 Inalienable Rights (1851)

All men are, by nature, free and independent, and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and seeking and obtaining happiness and safety.

Jamie BuckIn Ohio, there is no duty to retreat in your own home. Jamie Buck, with his life in immediate jeopardy, shot his assailant three times center mass, once in the left side, and once in the head. His kitchen was a bloody mess, but Jamie Buck was still alive. He then called 911, stating “This guy broke into my house....He tried to kill me with a sledgehammer, sir......He's lying dead in my kitchen.” Buck was eventually treated at Fort Hamilton Hospital for his injuries. Brandenburg received some nice toe jewelry at the Butler County morgue. An autopsy revealed alcohol in his bloodstream.

Earlier this week, Buck called for police during an incident at Bob's Cafe on Hooven Avenue. According to the police report, Mr. Buck stated he tried to stop an unidentified man from beating a woman. When he called for police he was attacked, forced to the ground and stomped. Buck suffered injuries to his eye, jaw, mouth and head in that incident, according to the official report. Hamilton police did not know whether the fight was connected to the break-in at Buck's home.

Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper states Buck was apparently defending himself, but he will wait for the Hamilton Police to complete their investigation.

Brandenburg's family is making several serious allegations, ranging from how many times the deceased was shot, to the relationship the two men had, to why he even went into Buck's home to begin with. Brandenburg's mother says "My son worked for the guy, he came to my house every morning. He picked up my son every morning......I am positive it is same guy."

"Five times," Brandenburg's sister Christian Bowling said. "That is ridiculous, one or two would have taken him down; one or two would have taken him down. He would have had plenty of time to escape."

"I am thinking that Millard was out at 1 a.m. looking for drugs," said Chris Wenz, Brandenburg's brother-in-law. "He knew that the guy owed him money and had drugs in the house."

Jamie Buck responded, "I am going to tell you right now, I don't know this guy, I never met him in my entire life. He broke into my house, tried to rob me, hit me with a sledgehammer. If I knew him why would he try and kill me?.......He was on something, he never went down......I was scared to death man." Buck cites a drug trafficking charge on his own record from 1991.

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Saturday, March 24, 2007

Pawn Shop Circuit: Three Rugers

I swung into Neil's pawn shop today to check out the handgun stock. Neil had a nice four inch tapered barrel Ruger MKII earlier this week priced at $199. I passed on it, citing the price. Today, Neil had lowered the price to $175, and had added another MKII, a 50th Anniversary Model to the mix. It was $175 as well. I recognized the pistol as one that had been on Neil's shelf in January. Perhaps someone had placed it on layaway and failed to pay. I did not ask. I simply examined the pistol and talked about other things. If the price drops to $150, I'll bite.

I went on to Kenny and Dave's pawn shops, and I found little that rang my chimes. I guess I'm still hoping for a 1911 to show up again, or perhaps an old M&P. Then, when I got home, and began reading blogs a bit, I found that PawPaw had purchased a Ruger MKII this morning. I feel a little better about leaving my two behind now. I can't get 'em all. I wonder what he paid..........

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New Orleans Residents Arming Themselves

By Mary Foster, Associated Press Writer
Fri Mar 23, 11:04 PM ET


NEW ORLEANS - Sixty-four-year-old Vivian Westerman rode out Hurricane Katrina in her 19th-century house. So terrible was the experience that she wanted two things before the 2006 season arrived: a backup power source and a gun. "I got a 6,000-watt generator and the cutest little Smith & Wesson, snub-nose .38 you ever saw," she boasted. "I've never been more confident." People across New Orleans are arming themselves — not only against the possibility of another storm bringing anarchy, but against the violence that has engulfed the metropolitan area in the 19 months since Katrina, making New Orleans the nation's murder capital.

The number of permits issued to carry concealed weapons is running twice as high as it was before Katrina — this, in a city with only about half its pre-storm population of around 450,000. Attendance at firearms classes and hours logged at shooting ranges also are up, according to the gun industry. Gun dealers who saw sales shoot up during the chaotic few months after Katrina say that sales are still brisk, and that the customers are a cross-section of the population — doctors, lawyers, bankers, artists, laborers, stay-at-home moms. "People are in fear of their lives. They're looking for ways to feel safe again," said Mike Roniger, manager of Gretna Gunworks in Jefferson Parish.

Citizens, the tourism industry, police and politicians officials have been alarmed by the wave of killings in New Orleans, with 162 in 2006 and 37 so far this year. A Tulane University study put the city's 2006 homicide rate at 96 slayings per 100,000 people, the highest in the nation. National Guardsmen and state police are patrolling the streets of New Orleans. In neighboring Jefferson Parish, which posted a record 66 homicides in 2006, the sheriff sent armored vehicles to protect high-crime neighborhoods.

In New Orleans, police have accused the district attorney of failing to prosecute many suspects. Prosecutors have accused the police of not bringing them solid cases. Some people are losing faith in the system to protect them.

Earnest Johnson, a 37-year-old chef who lives in Kenner, bought his first gun recently and visits a shooting range regularly. "Things are way worse than they used to be," he said. "You have to do something to protect yourself."

Kevin Cato, a 41-year-old contractor, bought a .45-caliber handgun for protection when he is working in some of the city's still-deserted areas. "But it's not much safer at home," Cato said. "The police chased a guy through my yard one time with their guns out."

In New Orleans, the number of concealed-carry permits issued jumped from 432 in 2003-04 to 832 in 2005-06. In Jefferson Parish, 522 permits were issued in 2003-04, and 1,362 in 2005-06. Mike Mayer, owner of Jefferson Indoor Range and Gun Outlet in suburban Metairie, said that despite the dropoff in population, sales are up about 38 percent overall since Katrina. Just how many guns are out there is anybody's guess. Gun buyers in Louisiana are not required to register their weapon or obtain a concealed-carry permit if they keep the gun in their house or car.

In a measure of how dangerous New Orleans is becoming, guns are finding their way into criminal hands at an alarming rate. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' "time-to-crime" analysis of the interval between the legal sale of a gun and the time it is seized in a crime investigation is five years on average around the nation, said ATF spokesman Austin Banks. In New Orleans, time-to-crime is six months, he said.

This sometimes happens because of "straw purchases," in which a buyer obtains a gun for someone not legally eligible to purchase one. Many guns also are stolen from homes and cars. While many are buying guns for protection, only two defensive killings of criminals by civilians took place in New Orleans in 2006, according to police. No charges were filed against the shooters. Westerman, an artist who lives in the city's Algiers neighborhood, is prepared to use deadly force. "I'm a marksman now. I know what I'm doing," she said. "There are a lot of us. The girl next door is a crack shot."


This is news? Click here. Obviously, what the author of this article ignores in the last paragraph is that honest gun owners do not give guns to criminals, rather, criminals steal them. The ATF's "time to crime" ratio simply shows there are a lot of dangerous criminals on the loose and stealing guns in New Orleans. Perhaps honest people should buy guns to protect themselves there. The criminals, afterall, will use knives to ply their trade if guns magically disappear. Somehow, I don't think guns will magically disappear. They may legally disappear for honest, law abiding citizens, but guns will never evaporate.

Furthermore, often, crimes in which the criminal was deterred by the sudden realization his intended victim was armed with a gun and might kill him in self defense, are far higher than those reported. Only "two defensive killings of criminals by civilians" does not mean that many many criminals aborted their crime to go on to find another unarmed victim. The murder rate in New Orleans, 162 in 2006 and 37 so far this year, as stated by Ms. Foster, aptly demonstrates that criminals will find victims. I wonder if Ms. Foster knows how many of those 199 dead people had a gun? I would wager none of them did.

Ms. Foster needs to release her anti-gun bias. People are not as stupid as she apparently believes them to be. I think it's time for another "Chief Warren Riley Kiss My Ass Shotgun" in salute of Ms. Foster.

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Friday, March 23, 2007

Time Travel on Ebay!

Rare Vintage Civil War Era Holster for Colt 1911 Auto!
Owned and Worn by the Outlaw Billy the Kid!


Current bid: US $275,100.00

The seller states:
"Two years ago at this time I was privileged to offer at auction a magnificent antique holster previously carried by Union Army Major General Ardell "Butch" Bucheimer. This year I am pleased to be able to offer an equally magnificent specimen of museum quality. The story of my acquisition of this rare historical artifact begins in 1999. I was touring Europe with friends during September of that year, and happened to stay for the night at a remote French village by the name of Bonne, on the way to Geneva, Switzerland. At the Hotel bar, I struck up a conversation with an odd looking buck-toothed local, and though I had some difficulty understanding everything that was said, an answer to my query regarding the origin of the name of the place astounded me. I was told that the village was named after "Zee American outleau, Billy zee Kid" and that the village was actually founded by Billy's wife in the early 1880's.

The remainder of the story I heard that night was even more incredible, but over time and extensive historical research, I have come to believe it is true. It seems that contrary to popular belief, Billy Bonney was not a single man at the time of his death by the gun of Pat Garrett on July 14, 1881. He had, in fact, married a woman by the name of Maria Magdalena, in Santa Fe, NM, in March of 1881. The marriage ceremony was said to have been secretly performed by New Mexico territorial Governor Lew Wallace. I was told that Billy's (now pregnant) wife fled to France in the months following Billy's death at Fort Sumner, and eventually found her way to this area of France to gave birth to a son. It seems that to this day many of the residents of the village are direct descendents of William H. Bonney, although over time the name was Francofiled to drop the "y".

I struck up several friendships that night and continued to correspond with residents of the town over the years, eventually obtaining from one of them this fine holster reputed to be one of the last
remaining possessions of Billy belonging to the actual descendents of William H. Bonney. I despair to tell you what I had to give for this remarkable find, but suffice to say, I paid dearly. Although this holster is not Mexican carved or tooled in any way, it is beautifully embossed with the unmistakable "US" in oval (meaning "Union States"), as opposed to "CS" (meaning "Confederate States") It is also marked on the back with the historical name of Catney Enterprises. Louden Jacinto “Cat” Catney, whom I am given to understand was a noted saddle maker in Lincoln, New Mexico territory from 1852-1879, was rumored to have been awarded a contract by the US Government to produce holsters prior to and during the Civil War. Apparently this was an over-run or possibly a prototype that was given to Billy by Catney, to carry the prized, pearl handled 1911 Colt Auto Pistol that Billy wielded so effectively during the Lincoln County Wars. Catney soon after tragically lost his life in a mule shoeing accident.

Had he lived, would “Cat” Catney have achieved the fame and high reputation of noted leatherworkers like H.H. Heiser, Frazier, Gallup, F.A. Meanea, S.D. Myres or George Lawrence? We will never know. Does the fact that New Mexico finally became a state in 1912 lend further credence to the provenance of this wonderful example of 19th century leather-craft? You decide. This important historical holster is in remarkable condition for its age and would be a worthy addition to any collection. Up here on the Turquoise Trail, we believe in truth, justice and the American way. Please e-mail any questions you may have before bidding."


Yeah baby! I've got Alexander the Great's personal Beretta 92FS that he used to decimate the Ottoman Empire in the Falklands War. I couldn't find a buyer at the last gun show.....

Judging from the seller's responses to his questions, I just may place a bid.......

Q: Is said relic the very one which was hidden beneath the obelisk at Saint-Sulpice Church in France, dating back to the Merovingian dynasty? Well that means this sidearm carrier actually belonged to an even more important historical figure before Sir William Bonne. This is the holy grail of all sidearm chalices! Mar-24-07
A: This is an amazing revelation! If this connection is true, it could be the most startling and controversial historical discovery of the 21st century. And it would, of course, add inestimable value to the item.

Q: I have Billy the Kid's original Colt M16 he also used during that same time period. Many people do not know that the AR-15 / M16 was actually used by Union Troops in the Civil War, and that Billy was given one by then President Harry Truman. Since it is an orginal M16, I am sure a trade is out of the question...but just wanted to share the info. Mar-24-07
A: In a future auction I may be offering President Harry Truman's, "The buck stops here" original Buck knife. Watch for it.

Q: is that a lever action FAL Billy is holding in the tin type or is it a L1A1 Mar-24-07
A: Common belief holds that Billy carried a Model 1873 Winchester, possibly chambered in .38 Super to match his 1911 Colt Auto. But I have always felt there might be room for speculation there.

Q: Does this holster fit the semi auto version of the Colt 1911, Or the full auto version? Also, do you know what potential calibers of pistol this holster could carry? Mar-24-07
A: Either one in any caliber, although I understand that, like many pistoleros in the Southwest, Billy preferred the .38 Super, even though that ammo was difficult to obtain then (as it is now).

Q: The Civil War was in the 1860's Browning did not design the 1911 pistol until, well 1911, some 50 years later. Actually the holster looks to be a Chinese reproduction made out of water buffalo hide. Are you sure it wasn't made for Buffalo Bill when he toured the Orient? Mar-24-07
A: No Chinese connection here, but I may be listing a very nice prehistoric Chinese knife later this weekend that you may be interested in.

Q: I have always dreamt of owning Billy's holster, butI feel that this sale will end far beyond my price range. I could make a copy if I could get some leather from the strain of the cow. You dont by chance have any semen from the bull that fathered the cow do you? Mar-24-07
A: Not at present. Check my auctions next year at this time.

Q: i have a similar one, do you think it might be one of his wifes holsters? i also heard about his wife and heard she carried an engraved bushmastyr-bayture in 49 cal, with elephant ivory grips. did you hear anything that might confirm this? Mar-24-07
A: I am confident that the holster offered is unique. Possibly later in life, but during this period Maria was known to carry a Lefaucheux revolver in 12mm pinfire.

Q: This is truly an extraordinary find! In my personal collection I have Chaiman Mao's Lorcin and Ghandi's personal bayonet frog- I must also have this holster! Mar-24-07
A: I recommend that you bid early and often.

Q: If I was to bid and win, do you know if I could donate this to the Smithsonain for a tax write-off? Mar-23-07
A: I am almost certain that you could.

Q: Is this holster black color or white? It looks black in the picture, but then I thought, maybe that is really the photo negative and the holster is really white. I would be very interested in the holster if it is white color, as it would match my shoes. Mar-23-07
A: It is indeed black. The picture of Billy is the reverse tintype.

Q: I am currently in possession of Pat Garrett's broomhandle Mauser stock used during his execution of Mr. Bonney. Would you consider an even trade for the holster? Mar-23-07
A: That is a tempting offer. However, I would have to check ebay auction terms and conditions to see if that could be arranged. I will advise.

Q: does this holster have the ultra-rare belt hanging hooks??? Mar-23-07
A: The ultra-rare belt hooks are intact.

Q: Does the auction include the correspondence from the French person who sold you this valuable holster? This correspondence would surely add value in the display of this rare item. Mar-23-07
A: Copies of all available correspondence can be provided to the winning bidder upon request.

Q: How does Billy Bonney who was killed in 1881 weild a Colt 1911 pistol in the Lincoln County Wars, when the said Colt pistol was not in existence until 1911? Are you interested in purchasing the M1911 that Billy carried? Mar-23-07
A: Coincidentally, I have recently entered into preliminary negotiations with the Bonne Ancestral Trust to acquire Billy's 1911 colt. As you probably know, Colt 1911 pistols manufactured prior to 1911 have negative serial numbers, and Billy's has an fairly high negative number.

Q: Have you done a leather sample yet, to determine the age and sex of the animal it was made from? Mar-23-07
A: I checked into that, but unfortunately, a comprehensive lab test cannot be performed without severely damaging the holster. However, based upon the suppleness, underlying lighter color and texture of the leather, I would guess it was made from the hide of a 3-4 year old non-angus cow (not bull) of medium stature in good physical condition.

Q: I am very interested in this rare holster. How much will you take to end the auction early? Mar-23-07
A: Although I appreciate your offer, I regret that no amount of money could tempt me to end this auction early. I adhere very strictly to ebay policy on this.
Heh!

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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Pawn Shop Circuit: MKIIs and 1911s

I drove over to Neil's shop this afternoon, to see if he had any new gegaws on the shelf. As I walked in, he was processing a 4473 and a customer was at the counter. I spied a Browning over/under on the shotgun rack, and waited patiently for Neil. How any customer could have missed that, I'll never know. Once he was off the telephone, Neil walked over to his customer to return his ID, and tell him he passed NICS. Then Neil retrieved the Browning from the rack. Damn.

With the shotgun out of the way, I began to scan the handguns. Neil had a Glock, another plastic gun, I think a Sigma, and a four inch Ruger MKII. It was a clean pistol, but Neil had priced it at $199. This was a bit high for me. Perhaps I need to adjust my mental price gauge a bit for Rugers. Now that the MKII is history, I do expect to see an increase in their used prices. They are good, and popular guns. They are fun as hell. You certainly get your value for that money. The problem is, I already own several. I looked the pistol over and decided I did not need it.

Another pistol that I am looking forward to see in pawn shops is Springfield's GI45. Thus far, I have seen one stainless GI45, priced at $350, and I purchased it immediately. If I can find parkerized GI45s in the $300-325 range, I might just go broke. I am expecting them to eventually become common in the hock shops because they are not flashy, and .45ACP ammo is increasing in price.

I headed over to Kenny's to see if the Model 38 he had described had come out of hock. It had not. None of Kenny's handguns had moved. Not surprisingly, the hard chromed Hi-Power was still there for $600.

Over at Dave's shop The Norinco M1911 was still for sale. Dave had sold both the Glocks for $350 each. I ignored the growing line of shotguns on Dave's rack, and I paid him another $100 towards my SW1911PD. $138 more to go. I'm holding out for Buy a Gun Day.

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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Learning Lessons

"Mr. President, the National Rifle Association leadership has stated repeatedly that a ban on assault weapons is ineffective and unnecessary. They assert that guns labeled as assault weapons are rarely used in violent crimes and that most people use them for hunting. However, despite these repeated assertions, the list of people speaking out against assault weapons continues to grow.

Jim Zumbo, an outdoors entrepreneur who lives in a log cabin near Yellowstone National Park, has spent much of his life writing for prominent outdoor magazines, delivering lectures across the country and who starred in a highly rated TV show about big-game hunting. Jim has been an NRA member for 40 years, and, according to his Web site, has appeared with NRA officials in 70 cities across the country. This relationship changed drastically when Jim expressed his commonsense opinion on assault weapons. Last month, after learning that some hunters were using assault weapons to hunt prairie dogs, Jim expressed his thoughts in his personal blog on the Outdoor Life magazine website. He wrote:

Maybe I’m a traditionalist, but I see no place for these weapons among our hunting fraternity. I’ll go so far as to call them ‘‘terrorist rifles.’’

He continued by stating that in his:

. . . humble opinion, these things have no place in hunting. We don’t need to be lumped into the group of people who terrorize the world with them, which is an obvious concern. I’ve always been comfortable with the statement that hunters don’t use assault rifles. We’ve always been proud of our ‘‘sporting firearms.’’

The reaction from NRA officials was swift and callous. They immediately severed all ties with Mr. Zumbo. His TV program on the Outdoor Channel was canceled, and his longtime career with Outdoor Life magazine ended. In addition, many of his corporate ties to the biggest names in gun making, such as Remington Arms Co., were terminated.

Jim Zumbo has worked for years to improve the image of outdoorsmen. As he put it:

As hunters, we don’t need the image of walking around the woods carrying one of these weapons. To most of the public, an assault rifle is a terrifying thing. Let’s divorce ourselves from them. I say game departments should ban them from the prairies and woods.

We all owe Jim Zumbo a debt of gratitude for his forthrightness, his honesty and his courage. We must put the safety of our communities first by taking up and passing sensible gun legislation that includes renewing the assault weapons ban."

Sen. Carl Levin, US Senator from Michigan and Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, March 20, 2007 S3347


Yes, Mr. Zumbo's words were used against us.
No, not much has been done by Mr. Zumbo to counteract this.

Mr. Zumbo's words are history, and he has slipped into irrelevance. Had he acted quickly, he may have been able to stop the damage that was done. Instead, he failed to see the problem, again and again, making excuses instead of making a difference.

I hold no ill will towards Jim Zumbo, but each time he is brought up again, we give him, his words, and his forced apology more credence than they deserve. Let him drift off into obscurity.

Note that it was not the NRA who rose up against Mr. Zumbo, as Sen. Levin stated, but an internet force of gun owners to be reckoned with. There is a lesson in this for us all. There is a lesson for Mr. Zumbo, obviously. There is a lesson for the NRA. There is a lesson for Sen. Levin and other politicians like him. Finally there is a lesson for gun owners. Who will learn their lesson? That is the real question.

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Monday, March 19, 2007

Sudden Jihad Syndrome

I recently read an article by Larry Pratt, Executive Director of Gun Owners of America, entitled Perspectives: 'Sudden Jihad Syndrome' - A reason to carry firearms for self-defense.

I find the idea of "Sudden Jihad Syndrome" as coined by Daniel Pipes on March 14, 2006 in the New York Sun to be laughable. Calling it a syndrome gives it an aura of professional acceptance that it does not deserve. It is neither a psychiatric diagnosis, nor a psychological diagnosis. It is not listed in the DSM IV. It is merely a bigoted observation of events based on data that is skewed, while other significant data is ignored.

It is normal for people to want explanations for events that lead to tragedy. Bigots use this desire to demonstrate deceptive reasoning in the unreasonable, to further their personal agendas. As free thinking people, we must guard against this. Are we to assume there is a Sudden Texas Woman Syndrome in response to Andrea Yates? Are we to assume that the "N" word sets black Americans off in an uncontrollable rage? Should Colin Ferguson walk free because of Black Rage? What about Air Rage? Road Rage? Office Rage? Even Thomas Junta, who killed a fellow father at their sons' hockey practice in Massachusetts, was said to be suffering from a variant of the "rage" syndrome, Rink Rage.

There is a very real danger in this. Like Black Rage, the "N" word factor, and a host of other spurious para-psychological concepts, SJS is very likely to be used in courts of law to demonstrate that the criminals who commit these acts are not competent to stand trial, or were legally insane when they committed their crimes. This is unacceptable. We must remember that while most states require sophisticated tests based on psychiatric and/or psychological testimony, the testimony is evaluated by a jury of laypersons or a judge without psychiatric training. We simply cannot allow killers to avoid prosecution because a crackpot bigoted theory some writer conjures up is used by a psychologist whose only practice is providing testimony for defense attorneys.

We must remember that we are a nation of tolerance. When we toss our tolerance aside, we cease to be the nation our forefathers fought and died for. We have American citizens who are Muslim, who strive diligently every day, to be productive citizens. I personally work with three devout Muslim physicians who save and repair American lives. This SJS idea is as insulting to them as telling me I am a member of the KKK because I am a white Southerner. I would be ashamed to dignify the concept by even asking them their opinion of SJS while we had our hands bloody in a patient's abdomen.

The willing use of this spurious concept to justify relaxed CCW laws by Larry Pratt tells me a lot about where I want my money going in support of the 2nd amendment. It will not be to GOA. In February, 2005, Mr. Pratt wrote another article, Why Do Criminals Break The Law? In that article, he assigned responsibility of crimes to the criminal's choice to commit the crime. In fact, Larry Pratt wrote, "Also, criminals are quick to pick up on psychological jargon and get good at feeding it back to the practitioners. In other words, crooks are good at scamming mental health workers. If someone thinks they are nuts, not a crook, and that will get them out of jail, then, they quickly learn to sound as if they are mentally ill........Until criminals choose to change, they will be criminals and the rest of us make a huge mistake to ignore that simple fact."

It seems to me that Larry Pratt needs to remember that criminals are criminals because they commit crimes, not because they practice a certain religion. Bigoted concepts like SJS need to be shown for what they are, lest criminals walk free rather than pay for their crimes.

Does SCS, or Sudden Criminal Syndrome, of any sort occur? Or is there a period of escalation in actions and thought processes that allow the person who was once law abiding to become a mass murderer? If there is a period of escalation then there are markers one can look at to predict and prevent the danger before it occurs, if we consider the problem rationally.

Conversion to dogmatic religious beliefs of any sort is one indicator that a person of any race or religion is embarking on a path towards murder. The religious fervor may seem like a causative factor under quick observation, but under scrutiny it is often found that the homicidal impulse was already there. The religious dogma simply gave the previously law abiding citizen the twisted internal justification to commit heinous acts of violence, not in his own name, but in the name of his God.

The urge to commit mass murder is often brought on by feelings of inadequacy and persecution, with a desire to be remembered for something, anything. The religion only gives the killer the ability to resolve this internal conflict while transferring the responsibility from himself. Any religion will do. If there is no religion immediately available, Goth culture, Hip hop culture, PTSD, any of these excuses will do. Hell, you could even say the so-called Gun Culture provided the justification and vehicle towards murder.

Do we want Sudden Gun Owner Syndrome to be used as an excuse for murder? If we continue along this path, that door is open. It's time to condemn such notions all together, and hold all criminals personally accountable for their actions.

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Thursday, March 15, 2007

The Untold Story of Gun Confiscation After Katrina

Philadelphia Self Defense

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Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Save the 2nd



Imagine........One Day..............Fifty-one rallies in fifty state capitals and one in DC.

Go here to learn more.

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Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Fair Play

Say hello to Christian Trejbal. On March 11, 2007, this so called journalistic scumbag published the names of concealed handgun permit holders in Virginia, along with their addresses.
Trejbal stated: "I can hear the shocked indignation of gun-toters already: It's nobody's business but mine if I want to pack heat. Au contraire. Because the government handles the permitting, it is everyone's business."
In the interest of fair play, Christian Trejbal's address is available. Write him at:
Christian J Trejbal
675 School Lane
Christianburg, VA 24073
His email is christian.trejbal@roanoke.com.

The Roanoke Times, which Trejbal used to publish the list can be reached at:
201 W. Campbell Ave.
P.O. Box 2491
Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491
Main Switchboard: (800) 346-1234 or (540) 981 3340

Play nice.

Hattip to Ravenwood and the Rott.


More.........
No bomb at editorial writer's home
By Donna Alvis-Banks and Paul Dellinger


Tuesday, March 13, 2007 UPDATED 5:59 p.m.

The mysterious package that was delivered today to Roanoke Times editorial writer Christian Trejbal's home and prompted the closing of a Christiansburg street turned out to be full of blank mailing labels and cardboard mailers.

School Lane was closed, a state police bomb squad was called and at least some neighbors were evacuated after Trejbal, who attracted a deluge of criticism with a column about concealed carry firearms permits, found the package during a lunch-time trip home. Trejbal has received threats in the wake of his Sunday column, which celebrated open government and public records and was accompanied by an online database listing the about 135,000 Virginians who are licensed to carry concealed firearms. The information is available to anyone who inquires at county courthouses, or can be obtained on a statewide basis from Richmond.

Angry responses poured into the paper's message boards after the column ran, with readers complaining that putting the database online would make it easier for thieves to find weapons to steal or for abusive spouses to track down partners who'd acquired weapons to protect themselves. The Roanoke Times removed the database from its Web site Monday afternoon due to concern that it might include names that should not have been made public, president and publisher Debbie Meade said.

Lt. Mark Sisson of the Christiansburg police said today that Trejbal said he definitely didn't order the package "so we're going to take every precaution."

Susan Thomas, who lives near Trejbal, called him a good neighbor, but said he had upset people with his columns. She and others who live in the neighborhood were confused as police arrived at his home.

"We don't have any idea what's going on," Thomas, 64, said as the bomb squad examined the box. "... I saw a yellow truck this morning. They delivered a package this morning. It said DHL on the side. ... Then I saw all the police cars. I asked them, 'Should we be concerned?' and they said 'Just give us a minute.' A minute has been two or three hours."

The box was full of blank mailers and labels from shipping company DHL. Wendy Parmalee of DHL's Blacksburg office said the box sounded like something that went to new customers and she was not sure why it was delivered to Trejbal.


Kinda jumpy there Christian? Just remember that the people whose personal security you compromised are decent, law abiding citizens, not the sex offenders you equated them to.

Finally........

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The Clinton Gun Ban Story

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Monday, March 12, 2007

D.C. Circuit Upholds 2nd Amendment

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Sunday, March 11, 2007

James Randi explains homeopathy

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Saturday, March 10, 2007

22s at the Range

I packed up some .22LR handguns and a couple of bricks of ammo and headed to the range this morning. Click to enlargeI had a hell of a good time. There is nothing quite like punching tiny holes close together, especially when done with a high quality handgun.

People often question the wisdom of buying a .22 handgun. I question the wisdom of not doing so. Some people shy away from spending too much on "just a twenty-two". Nonsense. Why skimp on a handgun that you will shoot more than any other? I tend to collect accumulate rimfire handguns, and I am not reluctant at all when it comes to dropping some cash to get a nice one.

The .22 handgun is perfect for learning and reinforcing the fundementals of marksmanship. The ammo is cheap, and the recoil is negligible. The accuracy of a fine .22 handgun is precise. Plus, they are a hell of a lot of fun.

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Friday, March 09, 2007

Progress in D.C.

Mayor Adrian Fenty of Washington DC is pissed. Today, a federal appeals court overturned the District of Columbia's handgun ban which had been in place since 1976. The District of Columbia claimed the Second Amendment right to bear arms applied only to militias. In a two to one decision, federal judges struck down that unconstutional bullshit. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit also threw out the district's requirement that registered firearms be kept unloaded, disassembled and under trigger lock.

Mayor Adrian Fenty says the decision "flies in the face of laws that have helped decrease gun violence" in the city. He says the city will appeal, and that in the meantime, the law will be enforced.

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Thursday, March 08, 2007

What's Old Is New Again

Firehand has rediscovered a lost secret from John Moses Browning to reduce 1911 recoil.

It seems the Army thought the 1911 was too difficult to hand cycle the slide with the hammer down. As expected, manipulating the mechanics to acommodate user weakness resulted in functional weakness of the mechanism.

Chris Byrne gives his thoughts as well.
More on altering percieved 1911 recoil through firing pin stop manipulation can be found here.

Evolution Gun Works stocks the part. Fifteen bucks and a bit of file work, and Bob's your Uncle.

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Pawn Shop Circuit: Glocks Galore

It had been a couple of weeks since I hit any pawn shops, which is a long time for me. My hopes were high as I strolled into Neil's shop this afternoon. Neil's handgun case only held a Ruger semi-auto, and a Glock 26. The Glock was priced at $325, which is pretty good, if you want a Glock.
Neil also had a lever action Winchester .22 rifle on his rack. I asked to see it, and it seemed to be in pretty good shape. Unfortunately, I did not make a mental note of the model number. Neil had it priced at $89, and the rifle seemed to be in decent shape. I just did not need another .22 rifle. Heck, I can't hardly feed the ones I presently own. I handed it back to Neil.

Kenny's hard chromed Hi-Power was still for sale at $600, as well as a couple of Ruger single action revolvers. Kenny had sold the stainless S&W revolver, and he did not have the rumored Model 38 out for sale.

Over at Dave's shop, the Norinco M1911A1 was still up for grabs. Dave also had a Glock or two in the case. Glocks would seem to be the ultimate pawn shop gun. They are dead nuts reliable, the finish wears like iron, and at the $300 mark, they hold their value well. Dave had both his Glocks priced at $349.

Alas, I am not a Glock fan though. I've owned them, but they never did grow on me like the old 1911 did. I still have a SW1911PD on lay away at Dave's, so I gave him a hundred bucks towards it. I'll probably get it out on April 15th for Buy A Gun day.

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Wednesday, March 07, 2007

We're the Government -- and You're Not

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Tuesday, March 06, 2007

My Last Zumbo Article

February 28, 2007


Mr. Alan Gottlieb, Chairman
Citizens Committee for the
Right to Keep and Bear Arms
12500 N.E. Tenth Place
Bellevue, WA 98005



Dear Alan:

They say that hindsight is always 20-20. In my case, hindsight has been a hard teacher, like the father teaching the son a lesson about life in the wood shed.

I was wrong when I recently suggested that wildlife agencies should ban semiautomatic firearms I erroneously called “assault rifles” for hunting. I insulted legions of my fellow gun owners in the process by calling them “terrorist rifles.” I can never apologize enough for having worn blinders when I should have been wearing bifocals.

But unlike those who would destroy the Second Amendment right to own a firearm – any firearm – I have learned from my embarrassing mistake. My error should not be used, as it has been in recent days by our common enemies, in an effort to dangerously erode our right to keep and bear arms.

I would hope instead to use this spotlight to address my hunting fraternity, many of whom shared my erroneous position. I am a hunter and like many others I had the wrong picture in mind. I associated these firearms with military action, and saw not hunting as I have known it, not the killing of a varmint, but the elimination of the entire colony. Nothing could be further from the truth, but I know from whence it comes. This ridiculous image, formed in the blink of an eye, exerts an unconscious effect on all decisions that follow. In seeking to protect our hunting rights by guarding how we are seen in the public eye, I lost sight of the larger picture; missed the forest for the trees.

My own lack of experience was no excuse for ignoring the fact that millions of Americans – people who would share a campfire or the shelter of their tent, and who have hurt nobody – own, hunt with and competitively shoot or collect the kinds of firearms I so easily dismissed.

I recently took a “crash course” on these firearms with Ted Nugent, to learn more about them and to educate myself. In the process, I learned about the very real threat that faces all American gun owners.

I’ve studied up on legislation now in Congress that would renew and dangerously expand a ban on many types of firearms. The bill, HR 1022 sponsored by New York Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, is written so broadly that it would outlaw numerous firearms and accessories, including a folding stock for a Ruger rifle. I understand that some of the language could ultimately take away my timeworn and cherished hunting rifles and shotguns as well as those of all American hunters.

The extremist supporters of HR 1022 don’t want to stop criminals. They want to invent new ones out of people like you and me with the simple stroke of a pen. They will do anything they can to make it impossible for more and more American citizens to legally own any firearm.

Realizing that what I wrote catered to this insidious attack on fellow gun owners has, one might say, “awakened a sleeping giant within me, and filled him with a terrible resolve.”

I made a mistake. But those who would use my remarks to further their despicable political agenda have made a bigger one. I hope to become their worst nightmare. I admit I was wrong. They insist they are right.

Enclosed, you will find a check that is intended to be used to fight and defeat HR 1022. I also hope it inspires other gun owners to “do as I do, not as I say.”

I’m putting my money where my mouth should have been, and where my heart and soul have always been. I know the Second Amendment isn’t about hunting and never has been. My blunder was in thinking that by working to protect precious hunting rights I was doing enough. I promise it will never happen again.

I don’t know what lies over the horizon for me. I am not ready for the rocking chair.

I’m going to devote every ounce of my energy to this battle. I will remind my fellow hunters that we are first, gun owners. Whether we like it or not, our former apathy and prejudices may place that which we love, hunting, in jeopardy. I will educate fellow outdoorsmen who mistakenly think like I talked, even if I have to visit every hunting camp and climb into every duck blind and deer stand in this country to get it done. I was wrong, and I’m going to make it right.


Sincerely,
Jim Zumbo


Jim Zumbo has earned my respect.

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Monday, March 05, 2007

Cool Gun Photo

Mitt Romney on the AWB and the 2nd Amendment

Update on the Nagin Contempt of Court Ruling

From the NRA, Fairfax, VA- Today, attorneys for the National Rifle Association of America received a check from New Orleans City Attorney Joseph Vincent DiRosa, Jr. who was ordered to pay partial legal fees and costs to NRA's attorneys for expenses incurred. Mr. DiRosa's delaying tactics were called "wholly unprofessional" by Federal District Court Judge Carl Barbier.

While we are grateful for this small payment, we remain steadfast in our belief that the City of New Orleans continues to be in contempt of court and must make every effort possible to return the wrongfully and illegally confiscated firearms to their rightful owners.

Every ruling thus far by the courts has reinforced the fact that the Second Amendment applies to all law-abiding Americans, including law-abiding residents of the City of New Orleans.

This is in direct contradiction to the absurd claims made by the Nagin Administration that the Second Amendment somehow did not apply in New Orleans.

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Albert

I don't like cats. When he first started yowling at night under my bedroom window, I threatened to shoot him. Instead, I set a live trap on the porch and caught him. He was about the ugliest cat I had ever seen, with an infected white eyeball protruding from his skull. I was about to relocate him accross town, when my wife decided he needed a friend.

She took him to the vet and had the eye enucleated. I wanted to name him Popeye, but my wife would not allow it. He was dubbed Albert. In the cold, he had a hard time deciding if he would come inside, but he would relent if the temperature dipped below freezing.

At first, I put up with the feline. Over time though, Albert grew on me, and he seemed to favor me over all others. He would hop in my lap when I sat in the porch swing, purr and slobber out the right side of his mouth. In the warmth of sunshine, he would roll, and he loved a tummy scratching. He protected his territory from other tomcats, and he became a fixture on our porch.

About two weeks ago, Albert turned up missing. It has been cold out, and he has disappeared. At first, I thought one of the ladies of the neighborhood had taken him in, as tomcats often have several sources of support. After checking, I learned that was not the case.

He has not returned home. I have not found him despite searching. I only hope he did not get into another cat fight and become blinded. Godspeed Big Al.

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Sunday, March 04, 2007

This Damned House

The pipe had apparently leaked for some time. The sill was weakened as a result. Yesterday, as my wife washed dishes, I noticed a torrent of water rushing from between the clapboards outside of our home. This morning, I cut away clapboards to gain access to the pipes.

PVC under the sink was joined to lead pipe, which was then, in turn joined to cast iron. The lead pipe had burst. I replaced all the lead pipe with schedule 40 PVC, and then decided to leave the clapboards off so the wood could dry.

Unfortunately, once I cured the leak, I encountered a clog that was further down the line. I climbed up on the roof to access the vent with an electric rotary snake, and after 45 minutes or so of roter rooting, the drains ran clear.

Next up........Repairing the sill. Don't watch This Old House with your wife while in the real estate market. It isn't worth it!

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Idiots With Guns #69

I have kind of let Idiots With Guns slide off into obscurity from my blog. This was for several reasons. It was a difficult idea to explain. With each post I stated that the purpose was not to humiliate, but educate. Apparently many readers thought I was trying to educate those who took their ill conceived photos. That was not the case. The education was there for the viewers of the photos if needed, through discussion and comments.

I was surprised to learn that at least two gun forums banned links to my blog because of Idiots With Guns. They thought the photos glorified bad gun handling and provided fodder for the Brady Bunch.

Idiots With Guns posed a management problem. If I routinely made the posts on Friday, I needed to stick with that. That is tough when you work as well as blog.

Finally, there were the incessant questions of why Jeff Cooper and others did not get depicted on IWG, even though they allowed themselves to be photographed in similar ways. I even received attachments of other bloggers pointing guns at the camera, with demands that I publish those too, as Idiots With Guns.

Well, here is the deal. Idiots With Guns is coming back. The photos and videos of Idiots With Guns are done to promote discussion about gun safety. If you want to, join in the discussion. If you disagree, definitely comment. I'll publish IWG when I want to. I will determine which photo or video gets used. I encourage your participation. Idiots With Guns is about gun safety, but it is not the last word on the subject. I am certainly no gun safety guru. I learn from discussing these concepts, just as others do. At the very least, I want to dilute the Billy Bad Ass persona the subjects of these photos try to depict themselves as, by using them as an example of what not to do with a gun. So.......With that in mind, here we go again.....

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

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Saturday, March 03, 2007

Blogging Today

I left the computer in the middle of writing this morning. Instead of completing another article, I went shooting. I'm glad I did.

There is a tranquility and peace in the quest for self improvement on a target. Carolyn McCarthy, Jim Zumbo, David Petzal, and all of the other pests melt away into obscurity for a few blissful moments while bullets pierce paper.

I suppose I could write about what I shot, which guns, what caliber, but I will not. I could write about my technique, or perhaps what drills I ran, but I will not.

Instead, today, I am just going to suggest that my readers go shooting as well. As you spend your day enjoying the second amendment, ask yourself where you stand. How important is this freedom we cherish? Rededicate yourself to it's preservation.

Friday, March 02, 2007

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Jennifer's First Time



After a day or two, I still cannot watch this video without smiling. Jennifer's grin is totally engaging, and I finally realized why. Jennifer's smile is the smile of the person suddenly empowered.

Thank you Oleg!

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News Flash!: Rapists Don't Obey No Gun Signs!

Tips sought in assault of teen in Toledo park

Toledo Ohio police are seeking information through the Crime Stopper program about the sexual and physical assault of a 16-year-old city girl on Thursday at Highland Park in South Toledo.
The teenager was approached by two suspects about 7 a.m. as she was putting air into a tire on her vehicle at South Avenue and Spencer Street, police said. She was shoved into the vehicle, robbed, and forced to drive to the nearby park at South and Champion Street, where she was assaulted. A black handgun was brandished, police said.

After the assault, a passerby helped the girl. She was treated at Toledo Hospital.

One suspect was described as white or possibly Hispanic, 17 to 19 years old, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, with a thin build, brown eyes, thin nose and lips, and dark peach fuzz above his upper lip. His bottom teeth were crooked. He wore a black baseball cap turned to the right, a light blue, hooded jacket with multi-colored print, and black pants with yellow straps at the knee and ankle and the insignia "M+FG."

The second suspect was described as white, 15 to 16 years old, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, with a thin build and light-colored eyes. He was wearing a red baseball cap turned to the right, a tan "bubble-style" jacket, blue jeans with orange straps and the "M+FG" insignia, and possibly white tennis shoes, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stopper program. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Go figure....Highland Park has No Guns signage posted. No Guns Signs designate rapist and criminal territory. Don't those people have any couth, any respect? Damn.........

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