Please Note!

Sportsman's Guide has renewed their advertising spot here on the right sidebar, but with a new promotion:

Find 380 ammo at SportsmansGuide.com

It wasn't all that long ago you couldn't find .380 ACP ammo anyhere, but now it's in stock at Sportsman's Guide at very reasonable prices!

That is all.

HDTV Bleg...

*sigh*

Well, it was inevitable. The big-screen projection TV that we've had as long as we've been in the house just isn't cutting it any more. It still works, but its days are definitely numbered - personally, I think Mrs. G. is just sick of seeing it squatting in the corner of the family room taking up valuable real estate. Personally, I'd just as soon let it die, then replace it with another TV we have kicking around the house, but I'm a distinct minority in the house in that regard...

I'm not a big TV guy; haven't really watched anything other than local news since "The Simpsons" started coming out on DVD. I catch the local news when I'm working out; other than that hour a day I don't watch television of any sort. If there's something I want to watch I'll either get the DVD or see it online - I have little patience for 99.9999% of the dreck that's on TV these days. It's sad when one reflects on the halcyon days of "The Dukes of Hazzard"...

But time, alas, marches on. Technology has advanced long beyond the projection TV currently fulfilling the needs of the G. family, rendering the large, ED209-like Panasonic little more than a cultural relic, our very own Easter Island monolith sitting our our living room. We're in search of something new, something shiny, something HDTV-like that we can use to broadcast the new opium of the masses directly into our vacuous skulls.

And now that Jay is through channeling Hunter S. Thompson, onto the original intent of this post...

What are some of the things we should be looking for in our search for a new TV? We have very simple, basic needs - play DVDs (although we might be tempted to switch over to Blu-Ray if the display is superior), hook up the Wii, etc. - we're not doing 3D or anything fancy. Are there certain brands to avoid? Brands to look for? Our current TV is a Panasonic and has endured 12 hard years with us, nearly 10 of which saw little people attempted to destroy it, so we're fans of Panasonic. Any other brands to look for? We're not looking to spend a ton of money, but we'd like to get something in the 46" - 60" range, with a budget of under a grand.

What options for entry-level HDTVs do y'all recommend?

That is all.

Gentlemen, Start Your Shredders!

US grand jury targets probation

Federal prosecutors are asking a US grand jury to weigh charges, including fraud, extortion, and conspiracy, in the widening patronage scandal that has staggered the state Probation Department.

US Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz has ordered probation officials to preserve all documents that could be used as evidence in the criminal probe, including e-mails, laptop files, BlackBerry text messages, and all of the agency’s paper records.

This is a friggin' made-for-TV movie here, folks. I've covered this one before, and it looks like not only is it not going away, it keeps getting worse. In fact, it's starting to look like we may continue our record of having the MA Speaker of the House resign before their term is officially over - it appears that our current Speaker Robert DeLeo was recommending his godson for a position in the Probation department currently under investigation. Oh, and also four political contributors who received jobs there as well. Nothing to see here, folks, just another in a long tradition of largess doled out by our political betters.

Should something actually come of this and DeLeo were to lose his position, he would be the fourth MA Speaker of the House in a row to leave office under a cloud of suspicion. He replaced Sal DiMasi, who is currently under indictment for rigging state contracts. DiMasi replaced Tom Finneran, who resigned and pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charges. And Finneran replaced Charles Flaherty, who pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges. If DeLeo were to resign his office as a result of this scandal, he would be continuing the fine MA tradition of being as crooked as a dog's hind leg and dumb enough to get caught at it.

At some point, you think they'd learn. "Gee, the last three guys who held this office got unceremoniously kicked to the curb for illegal and/or unethical shenanigans. Perhaps I should make an attempt to keep things on the level." Of course, that would fail to account for the gargantuan egos needed to survive on Beacon Hill, as well as plain ol' human nature - it's like we're hardwired to hand out the goodies when we're in a position of power or something... Now, DeLeo may very well have kept within the boundaries of the law - but it sure looks like there might have been some quid pro quo going on.

Or, as we like to call it in MA, business as usual.

That is all.

Irony So Thick It Could Give Blood...

Not Cool Say Some About S.F.’s Sit-Lie Law

A new law targeting those who hang out, and lie down, on the sidewalks and streets of San Francisco has some asking whether this city, known for its "love thy neighbor" attitude, has perhaps decided some neighbors aren't welcome.

In November, 53% of voters here passed Prop. L, which forbids people from sitting or lying on public sidewalks from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The ordinance is very similar to anti-sit/lie laws in Berkeley, Seattle, and other liberal cities, and received strong support from Mayor Gavin Newsom and Police Chief George Gascon.

Oh my. How positively... unenlightened of them! The vagrants, I'm sorry, unlicensed street performers, just want to exercise their right to mooch of the productive members of society! They just want to practice the ancient arts of panhandling, accosting, and the occasional mauling - who is the city of San Francisco to deny them their rights? It's like we woke up in George W. Bush's gulag, man!

Don't mind me, I'll be over in the corner slowly choking on the schadenfreude...

That is all.

More Productive Training Tool...

I reviewed a neat training aid from LaserLyte, the LT-PRO, last year. I was quite impressed with the LT-PRO, and stated as such in my review at the time - it really does make dry firing both more enjoyable and productive. LaserLyte has introduced a new product that will take this to the next level in dry-firing practice, the TLB-1 Laser Trainer Target:

Definitely on target

I had a chance to test this unit out briefly at the LaserLyte booth at the NRA convention in Charlotte NC this past May. The operation is very straightforward - using the LT-PRO (or the new caliber-specific laser trainers), simply aim at the laser target and fire. There are two areas to hit outside of the target itself - one for displaying hits, the other for resetting. You simply fire as many or as few shots as you would like, then hit display to show where the shots landed. When you want to start over, you reset the target. No ammo needed, no walking back and forth to the target, no hearing or eye protection necessary, and you can do this in your living room without violating any local ordinances.

I'm planning on another round or two of reviews on this training system. I'd like to get some video of the unit in action - seeing the pictures is one thing, seeing it being used is another entirely. The effective range is 50 yards - far more than I have available inside my house - so the ~ 40 feet or so maximum distance inside the house should be a piece of cake. From my limited time with the display unit at the NRA convention, using the unit is quite easy and actually really fun - it's a trip to the range only without dropping $20-$40 on ammo & targets *or* having to clean any guns afterward! The only drawback is that there's a 2" barrel minimum on the LT-PRO, so snubbie training will still have to take place the old-fashioned way...

In any case, I'm very eager to get some serious trigger time in with the TLB-1.

That is all.

Got Me Pegged...

PISSED sent the following link about the proper way to deal with recalcitrant computer hardware:

Printer problem in Iraq.

He prefaced the link with the statement:

This is how I picture you fixing things ;)

Actually, that's not far off - except I use a bayonet, since I don't have access to a belt-fed machine gun...

That is all.

Lunchtime Yums...

Just to make you hungry:

BACON LT

That's the granddaddy of all BLTs right there - it's made with bacon from a local farm (in the words of Brad_in_ma, who kindly provided the bacon: "You could have petted that pig a week or two ago"). Not only is the bacon fresh, but the bread is homemade - that's some of Mom G.'s world famous homemade bread, toasted and providing the starchy foundation upon which to build the perfect bacon, lettuce, and tomato sammich.

And now that you're all hungry and droolin', go have lunch...

That is all.

MA: More Likely To Drive Drunk Here...

PISSED sent this one over the holiday weekend, another story of how the state of Massachusetts punishes criminals...

Driver allegedly drunk slams into 4 cars on I-93

MILTON, Mass. -- Police said a man was driving drunk north on Interstate 93 when he hit several cars. The man was out on bail on Friday night.

“Oh God, I’m just thankful that I’m alive,” said Sheila Hooker, who was hit by the alleged drunk driver.Hooker was the passenger in one of the four cars police said 24-year-old Rony Santos-Cruz slammed into while allegedly driving drunk up I-93 North.

Got that? He was out driving drunk on Thanksgiving evening, hit four cars on the highway while driving under the influence, and was let of out jail the next day. That's despite:

“Later it was discovered that the defendant had three other license numbers other than the one given to the trooper. They are all assigned to him with his name and date of birth and the status of all the licenses were revoked,” said the prosecutor.

Tell me, again, why this guy is out roaming the street? He's got at least four licenses assigned to him - four that we know about - and three of them are revoked? Isn't there some silly rule about, oh, only having one valid license at a time? Why does he have four licenses? Does he just get a new license when one is revoked? Like, for driving drunk too many times?

And yet the state of MA let him walk on a $1,000 cash bail...

That is all.

Dear Comcast...

If I could get online, I wouldn't need to contact your online customer service representatives. Telling me to go online - when your service has been down for three damn hours - just pisses me off.

Comcast Customer "Service" - because you suck and we hate you.

That is all.

MArooned Product Review: Michael's Custom Holsters Executive II, Redux

I’ve had an Executive II from Michael’s Custom Holsters for a little over a week now. I’ve had a chance to give it a little time on the belt, so to speak, and can add a more in-depth analysis of the holster to my initial impressions last week. I’ve had time to wear it out and about, from everyday errands to all-day sessions, with as much as twelve continuous hours of wear being part of the testing process.

IWB holsters for the Airweight Smith & Wesson J-frames are very difficult creatures to perfect. The small, light guns are perfect for pocket carry, and it’s very tempting to just grab a pocket holster with the 360 in it, toss it in the right front pocket, and call it done. Any IWB holster has got to be lightweight, unobtrusive, and user-friendly – if you have to think about it or manhandle it too much, it’s going to sit in the bottom of the holster drawer.

The Executive II isn’t going to sit in a holster drawer.

Comparing the Exec II to the DeSantis Nemesis, my go-to pocket holster, it’s only about a quarter inch wider and about the same length. The leather is thin yet sturdy, with solid molding and a “rough-out” construction for pocket holster duty. Michael designed this holster to be used in a pocket with the clips still attached – giving the user the option to move the holster from the belt to the pocket should the need arise. The rough-out construction – the “finished” side of the leather sits against the firearm while the “rough” unfinished leather is on the outside – anchors the holster quite nicely inside the pocket.

It carries equally well inside the waistband:

Executive II IWB closeup

It sits level with the belt line and is anchored firmly in place by the clips and the leather construction. The holster does not move once it’s in place; the grip is held tight against the body and does not print or bulge unseemly even while bending. The firearm is held securely at all times yet remains presents rapidly when drawn. The Executive II retains its shape even when empty on the belt – reholstering the firearm, even one-handed, is not only possible but simple. Here’s a longer shot of the holster in place:

Executive II IWB

A dark-colored T-shirt and I’d bet 98 out of 100 people wouldn’t notice this without a cover garment (not that I’d recommend it for anyone in a jurisdiction that disallows open carry, of course…) However, throw on a sweatshirt, oversized polo shirt, or other cover garment and you’re good to go. The holster isn’t going to move around or otherwise cause undue problems underneath cover, and has an added benefit: It’s tuckable.

Executive II tucked in

Not to get into a discussion on the tactical merits or drawbacks of “tucked” holsters (yes, they are harder to draw from than a holster that is not tucked; for carrying in unfriendly areas, though, the concealment really can’t be beat), but this is an excellent feature for those that favor the extra concealability of a tuckable holster. Looking at the picture, if I’d moved the clips under the belt rather than over that would be nearly invisible. As it is, no one notices the clips anyways – we’re so used to folks having two or even three different items clipped to a belt no one even blinks.

In closing, the Executive II by Michael’s Custom holsters is a hybrid that really does work well in both modes. Quite often, when an item is designed so as to appeal to two different segments, it winds up falling short in both areas; in this one rare instance, the Executive II shines in both areas. It is both a serviceable pocket holster as well as a solid inside the waistband holster, offering the wearer the option of switching between carry methods without having to contort or disappear into a phone booth…

My only contention – and I’ve discussed this with Michael and totally understand his reasoning – is with the clips. I prefer a Kydex or plastic clip as it reduces the likelihood of scratching cars/furniture/etc. in tight quarters; Michael warranties his holsters for life and prefers the longevity and durability of a steel clip. I can’t say I blame him for this - the clip really is the fail point for a holster, and it makes good sense to offer the strongest attachment method you can. Should you prefer a plastic or kydex clip, that’s an easy fix as well you can make in about 5 minutes with a simple flathead screwdriver.

All in all, I’m thoroughly impressed with the Executive II by Michael’s Custom holsters (and remember, they're on sale through tomorrow!).

That is all.

Not Far Now...

FarmDad in Gunblogger Conspiracy IRC chat sent me this link to our latest DGC addition:

Fatal Shooting Follows Fort Smith Home Invasion

FORT SMITH, Ark. -- Detectives said a suspect was shot to death after an attempted home invasion robbery. The Fort Smith police said shortly after 7:30 Friday night Chad Cancel, 27, entered the home at 8401 S. 30th Circle wearing a mask. Police said he came in through the front door, which was unlocked.

The homeowner, James Kennel, 69, told police Cancel had a semi-automatic handgun and fired one round into the celiling. Police said Kennel's wife was home at the time, as well as his 5-year-old grandson, and mother-in-law.

Assuming everything the homeowner says is correct, it sounds like a pretty airtight good shoot. Dude comes in, cranks off a round to intimidate the homeowners, then starts herding folks into one area. There's no possible good that can come of that. Fortunately, Grandpa wasn't going out like that and got his own firearm and rendered Mssr. Goblin room temperature... It's a good thing goblins are so stupid - he brought this guy into his bedroom, then went to check something out elsewhere in the house. He never thought he'd run into someone who'd fight back.

His mistake proved very costly indeed - something that should befall more goblins around the country.

Dead Goblin Count: 96

Side note: It looks like we're going to break 100 by the end of 2010 - we need one a week to hit triple digits by 12/31. There should be something to mark the occasion...

That is all.

Spirit of 76...

Vicious Circle #76 is up for your listening pleasure.

Please join alan, aepilotjim, Tracie, Breda, Daniel, OldNFO and your humble host as we discuss Thanksgiving horror stories, the continuing abomination that is the TSA, compare stories of misspent youth vis a vis driving endeavors, and otherwise shoot the bull for 3½ hours. Links referenced in this episode can be found here (I think we don't need to tell that it's NSFW...)

Is Vicious Circle. Is not safe.

That is all.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'...

Reader Chris sends us this unusual tale out of OR of a DGC addition:

Man shot by barista had criminal record

EUGENE -- Two men tried to rob a Dutch Bros. coffee shop Wednesday and police say one of them was shot dead by a barista.

The shootout took place about 9 p.m. at a Dutch Bros. near the University of Oregon campus at Franklin and Walnut.

Police identified the dead man as Sirus Combs, 27, of Eugene, and said he has an extensive criminal record. The name of the barista has not been released. Police described him only as a white man in his 20s.

It's unusual in that one doesn't normally associate baristas with 2A enthusiasts. Now, it's great that this gentleman was, as it appears that he was able to defend his life with his lawfully carried firearm. From the sparse reporting given, it's not clear who shot first, but it's pretty clear that the recently dispatched goblin had a firearm of his own and used it in the commission of the attempted armed robbery.

He met with armed resistance, and paid the ultimate price for his unlawful actions.

Dead Goblin Count: 95

That is all.

Just Because...

Every once in a while, we have to go back to the classics.



You tell 'em, Frank.

That is all.

Sickening, But Also Fascinating...

Politicians Who Own Stakes in Airport Scanner Companies

So which elected officials own stakes in full-body scanning machines now in more than 60 U.S. airports? And what are those individual investments worth?

We still can’t connect the dots to say that, because these Congressmen invested in these tech companies, than, ipso facto, those scanners were then put in place at airports across the country, now the subject of controversy.

The story points out that John Kerry has the most stock in L3, the company that brings us the pervoscan; but that's a little misleading. Kerry is, after all, the richest man in the Senate, (not to mention the most vain) so it's only natural that he have a wide variety of stock options that might include growth areas. And what better growth area than a business that supplies the US Government with a way to become even more intrusive then before?

And who better to know about meddling government bureaucracy than the senior senator from the Volksrepublik?

That is all.

Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?

TSA Worker Accused Of Assault Had Prior Record

ATLANTA -- Channel 2 Action News has learned a TSA security worker accused of abducting and sexually assaulting a woman had previously been convicted of misdemeanor harassment and stalking.

Randall King remains hospitalized following a suicide attempt. Police said last Wednesday, King agreed to drive a woman home from the airport. Instead, investigators said King took her to a MARTA station parking lot and placed novelty handcuffs on her.

The news report then goes on to list that the dude had nine different harassment/stalking charges, and had done time for skipping on court cases. Apparently this is not a sufficiently disqualifying event to preclude one from working for the Testicle Squeezing Authority. But as we all remember from former Senate Majority Leader Tom D'asshat Daschle, these are "professionalized" folks here - after all, they are federalized.

TSA: Another bad idea brought to you by George W. Bush and made intolerable by Barack Øbama...

That is all.

Thanks to PISSED for the link.

Getting Close...

Both reader Al and friend (and shootin' buddy) brad_in_ma sent me the following additions to the DGC:

Armed men die in home invasion

Miami-Dade police are investigating a Thanksgiving eve attempted robbery during which a condo-dweller surprised two armed intruders with his own gunfire, killing both.

One of the would-be robbers was shot and fatally wounded inside the East Perrine condominium. The other died of the injuries he suffered after he jumped out the third-story window, apparently trying to get away from the homeowner.

You know, that just fills my little black heart with happiness to hear. Two scumbags kick in this guy's door the night before Thanksgiving and get a volley of lead for their troubles. One is shot dead on the scene, the other dies after jumping out a third floor window trying to avoid his friend's fate. Two goblins, now room temperature, who will not be coming down for breakfast. Well, the second one might be coming down, once, the hard way...

And it's a two-fer, which brings us closer to triple digits before we even get into December...

Dead Goblin Count: 94

That is all.

Blogroll Additions...

Got a few new blogs to add to the blogroll today:

1. Brisket for Chucklehead. LC Scotty actually took the unprecedented step of actually e-mailing me to let me know he had MArooned on his blogroll. Amazing how that works...

2. Love's Laughing Locksmith. John B. also e-mailed me about reciprocating links. Two, count 'em two, two new blogs added, both taking the unorthodox step of actually telling me they had added MArooned...

3. Defends Her Own. Mupedalpusher describes herself as "a simple gal who likes guns, bikes, hunting, fly-fishing and spending time with my family. I feel strongly about my rights to protect myself and my family". Amen, sister!

---

Stop by and read these news blogs if you get a chance!

That is all.

Teh Funny, Robb Haz It...

I thought for a moment we were winning

Just go read. You can thank me later.

That is all.

Friday WTF...

Reader Jim sends the following head-scratcher out of the Volksrepublik:

Insanity! Teacher Bans Students From Bringing Pencils To School

"A Massachusetts school district superintendent said a memo banning sixth graders from carrying pencils was written without district approval.

North Brookfield School District interim Superintendent Gordon Noseworthy said Wendy Scott, one of two sixth-grade teachers at North Brookfield Elementary School, did not get approval from administrators before sending the memo to all sixth-grade parents, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported Thursday.

The memo said students would no longer be allowed to bring writing implements to school. It said pencils would be provided for students in class and any students caught with pencils or pens after Nov. 15 would face disciplinary action for having materials 'to build weapons.'

Words. Fail. Me. Pencils are "materials to build weapons" in this lunatic's world. What frightens me is that this sort of empty-headed, kumbaya singing, hemp wearing flower child is in charge of instructing children as opposed to safely being locked in a padded room where she clearly belongs. Being afraid of a frekkin' pencil because it could be used as a weapon? Yeah, that signals that key neurons aren't firing in that pointy little head of hers.

The tool is not the weapon. The person who wields the tool is the weapon. I'd rather face a sheep with a firearm than a wolf with a brick - the brick is infinitely more dangerous in the hands of one who will use it than the gun in the hands of one who will not. Those of us prepared to meet evil with resistance and violence of our own making are never unarmed - as long as we have fists, feet, and teeth we have more than enough tools to make life unpleasant. All better tools do is reduce the damage we will take in the battle - it's the decision to join the battle, or not, that determines whether a person is truly dangerous or not.

Someone afraid of a pencil has no place within 10 miles of a school building.

That is all.

Connect The Dots...

Coalition decries steep rise in killings

The Boston TenPoint Coalition chose Thanksgiving Day and a Roxbury convenience store where a mother of four was shot and killed last month to launch its 4th annual Season of Peace antiviolence campaign.

The nonprofit group aims to quell violence in Boston, where 70 people had been slain on city streets through Nov. 21 this year, compared with 45 for the same period last year. Gunfire had accounted for 55 of this year’s homicides, according to Boston police crime data.

This is in Boston, Massachusetts. Massachusetts has "may issue" gun licensing. Mandatory registration of any firearm purchased. Approved Handgun Roster. Assault Weapons Ban. A firearms license is required to own even a single piece of ammunition, yet the number of murders by firearms is on the rise. Mumbles may bloviate about the "easy" availability of guns outside of MA (overlooking the fact that it's a federal felony to provide a firearm to an ineligible person), but the simple fact is that this is not a gun issue - it's a criminal issue. Guns are tightly regulated, yet gang members have no problem getting their hands on all sorts of weaponry with which to perpetrate this violence.

What groups like TenPoint do is actually a lot closer to what we need to happen. They're getting the word out in the communities that violence is out of control; they're asking folks to talk to their kids about the violence in the street; they're raising awareness that this is a crime issue, rather than calling a press conference and blaming guns. They're doing something rather than gun control, which is what politicians do instead of something.

What jumped out at me was this:

“This year, there are a number of people who have been [killed] who are truly innocent victims,’’ Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley said, speaking at the late-morning news conference called to announce the Season of Peace campaign. “She was [at the store] at the wrong time.’’

This doesn't sound an alarm for anyone? This means that the gangs are getting more brazen - they're caring less and less about who gets hurt or killed in the crossfire. The gangs know that gang-on-gang violence doesn't get the same level of scrutiny as indiscriminate slaying; that if they only kill each other the police presence will differ from when bystanders get killed. Innocent victims get tearful press conferences; gangbangers do not. So what does this tell us? Obviously they're not afraid of getting caught and/or punished. And they know that there's precious little chance anyone's going to shoot back at them.

It's time we started making the criminals lives considerably more difficult, with a combination of policing the areas, putting the criminals in jail, and fighting back.

That is all.

Friday Gun Pr0n #191

Today's Gun Pr0n comes to us courtesy of commenter skidmark:

Another shot:
Any guesses on what this gun is? Read skidmark's description below:

Noticed that you included the COP .357 in your list of grail guns. Just wondered if you have ever heard of, let alone seen, the WSP Downsizer? (See attached pictures)

It came in .38spl/.357M, and .45acp. I have the .45acp model. (Yes, I'm bragging. So what?) The manual that comes with it says not to fire more than 5 shots during any 24-hour period. Probably has something to do with the recoil, no?

I have made over 3 times the purchase price with a little scheme -- I show you how to open it (some folks seem to have problems with the ball detent), load it, close it (need to push in the ball detent, not try to force the barrel past it), and then how to do all that again so you can ram a pencil or the like up the barrel to eject the used brass. Go from dry empty to loaded, shoot, eject, load again, shoot again, eject again and close up dry empty. I do it in 29.9 seconds or less. You do the same in 59.9 seconds or less. If you beat 59.9 seconds I give you a sawbuck - if you don't you give me a fiver. To date I have never paid out.

Here's some specifications on the WSP Downsizer:

Dimensions

Weight: 11 oz (312g)
Length: 3.25" (83 mm)
Barrel Length: 2.10" (53 mm)

Ballistics

Caliber: .357 Magnum, .38 Special (and, obviously, .45 ACP)
Capacity: 1 rounds

Interesting little gun - I'd like to give it a try someday...

That is all.

One More Thing To Be Thankful For...

...is living in a stable, secure neighborhood where stuff like this is unlikely to happen:

Is Your New Neighbor a Squatter?

In an upscale enclave in the San Fernando Valley, there's a new neighbor on the block. He drives a big Mercedes, sometimes a fancy SUV and residents say he's been living in a three-story mansion, which was empty and going into foreclosure.

Apparently this is becoming more and more common as the housing market struggles to return to some semblance of sanity. With houses sitting empty and unused, and the penalty for squatting seemingly zero, more and more folks are seeing "neighbors" moving into abandoned houses simply because they can. The story doesn't get into it, but one wonders how they got electricity, heat, and water into the house; the story claims the squatter produced a fake lease, but since utility bills are required to prove proof of residency, one would hope the bar would be higher than that.

Then again, this is CA we're talking about...

That is all.

Another story brought to us by PISSED in his quest for the elevated blood pressure level... ;)

The DGC Never Rests...

Bob S. was kind enough to send us the next addition to the count:

Wounded Homeowner Kills Intruder, Sheriff Says

PARKER COUNTY, Texas - A Parker County homeowner was injured early this morning after exchanging gunfire with an intruder, who later died, Sheriff Larry Fowler said.

...
According to Fowler, the shootout happened when the unidentified homeowner woke to his dogs barking, discovered that the back door open and then found a burglar inside the home.

Dogs. Effective early warning system. Guns. Effective goblin deterrent. That's your MArooned safety tip for Thanksgiving Day. Now, granted, once again the story is short on specifics, so it's hard to speculate exactly what happened, but the incontrovertible fact is that the goblin was armed and prepared to kill the homeowner. Perhaps the homeowner could have given the goblin what he wanted and gotten out of it with no injury - or he might have been shot dead in his bed as he cowered.

That's the thing - someone breaks into your house, you have absolutely no idea if they just want to grab the nearest expensive item and get out, or worse. They might be like the subhuman pieces of filth that murdered Kimberly Cates and hacked up her daughter - broke into the house with the express purpose of killing whoever was inside just so they'd know what it felt like to kill someone. There is no way to tell the difference when you're staring at someone who shouldn't be in your home at 2 in the morning. No way. Be prepared.

I'm not about to gamble my life - and the lives of the people in my house - on the benevolence of a goblin; I prefer to rely on Mssrs. Smith & Wesson.

Dead Goblin Count: 92

That is all.

Giving Thanks...

For almost 400 years we've set aside some time in the late fall to gather with friends and family, eat heartily, and reflect upon things for which we are thankful. Thanksgiving was first celebrated in 1621, and was made a national holiday during the Civil War:

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn't until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

What am I thankful for? I am thankful for many things. I am thankful for my family, my crazy kids without whom life would have no meaning (although it would be considerably neater and cheaper...) and my wife for putting up with me. I am thankful for my friends, those that I've known for years or mere days, meatspace and online. I am thankful for those that serve or have served on our Armed Forces keeping us safe from those who would do us harm. And I'm thankful that I live in the United States of America, where despite best efforts to the contrary we still have rights to keep free.

I'm thankful for blogging, for giving me an outlet to safely vent my spleen and my frustration with politics, stupid drivers, and intolerant people... I'm thankful (and, quite frankly, humbled and amazed) that folks stop by to read my humble scribblings and comment as they see fit. I'm thankful for all the freedoms we enjoy - speaking our minds without fear of government reprisal: keeping and bearing arms; being (somewhat) secure from over-reaching bureaucrats. For all the back-and-forth that goes on between the different political factions, we don't have roving bands of thugs indiscriminately slaughtering those that do not agree with them politically.

I'm thankful for the gunblogging community, for everyone that I've met at blogshoots, conventions, or online. I have yet to have a bad - or even mildly unpleasant - experience at any of these events - gunbloggers (and readers/commenters/lurkers) are some of the very best people out there. I've invited a number of folks into my home; been invited into many homes; and broken bread (and Pokemon) with countless dozens of folks, some I'd only met in person for the first time at the actual meeting. Thanks to the folks that have attended some of the blogshoots, I've gotten a chance to see, hold, and even fire hardware that's usually only seen in Hollywood movies or video games - and for a gunnie, that's pretty damn cool.

In short, I've got a lot to be thankful for - as do most of us. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

That is all.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

And of course, enjoy a Thanksgiving tradition:



Turkeys, of course, can fly - for short distances...

Happy Turkey Day Everyone! Get stuffed!

That is all.

Exceeding the USRDA of Cute...

My blogdaughter took her Sweet Daughter (SD) for some backyard airgun shootin'.

Much cuteness commences.

SD, I'm with you. That pistol just was not behaving properly. I know this because I have the very same problem with my own pistols some times... :)

Go, read, enjoy the cute!

That is all.

Headin' Towards One Hundred...

JP at Eyes Never Closed sends another entry to the Dead Goblin Count from RobbAllenland:

Deputies: Confronted jogger fatally shoots man

TAMPA - A man out for his regular nightly jog in Town 'N Country shot and killed someone who confronted him early this morning, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Thomas Baker, 28, said he was out running and was confronted by two males wearing dark clothing near Pinehurst Drive and Hickory Circle, deputies said.

After being punched by one of the males, Baker pulled out his .45-caliber handgun and shot one of them several times in the upper torso, deputies said.

Attacked by multiple attackers? You bet that's a reason to employ deadly force. Unless and until there's reason to suspect otherwise, this certainly sounds like a clean shoot - dude's out for a evening run and gets jumped by two goblins, he's got every right to defend himself. Often joggers/folks out for exercise are targeted by muggers because they're likely to have expensive personal audio equipment on their person; it sounds like this may have been the case.

Too bad for the goblin - but not the DGC - that his intended victim had something even more expensive than an iPod - a .45.

Dead Goblin Count: 91

That is all.

Holy Nutballs, Batman!

Both Stretch and PISSED sent me this link. Apparently I'm the go-to guy for raving lunatics. No, I don't know why. And stop snickering.

California Man Had Bomb Factory In His Home, Say Prosecutors

A California man accused of robbing banks and assembling what may be the largest cache of homemade explosives ever found in the U.S. was ordered held on $5 million bail Monday.

George Djura Jakubec, a 54-year-old unemployed software engineer, pleaded not guilty to two bank robbery charges, 12 felony counts of possessing destructive devices and 14 counts of possessing ingredients to make destructive devices. He faces up to 40 years in prison.

Okay, first off, why wasn't isn't there a charge for the gardener he blew up? I can totally understand the bank robbery charge, but why no attempted manslaughter/depraved indifference/anything to do with the carelessness that could have cost someone their life? As for the explosives, while I understand that it is illegal, it shouldn't be. When you can drive up to any petroleum distribution center in America and buy an extremely flammable liquid capable of causing explosions all on its own, isn't it a little silly to regulate solid explosives? Not to mention that you can buy 20 pounds of propane with nothing more than a simple Andrew Jackson...

It's just so arbitrary, I think that's my big problem with it. We have such a hard-on for solid explosives yet there are dozens if not hundreds of other items that can cause similar destruction that you can purchase without a second thought. 50 grams of PETN is a federal felony; 20 pounds of C₃H₈ and no one bats an eye. You put PETN, RDX, styrene, butadiene, n-octyl phthalate, and n-phenyl-2-naphthylamine together and you're going to jail; you mix 4-8% alkanes; 2-5% alkenes; 25-40% isoalkanes; 3-7% cycloalkanes; l-4% cycloalkenes; and 20-50% total aromatics (0.5-2.5% benzene) and you're going to the mall.

Now, granted, once you start getting to the point that you're knocking over banks to support your explodey addiction, it's time for the authorities to come find you and fix what ails you. But is there a significant difference between someone that stockpiles explosives and someone that has 25 ARs and 10,000 rounds in magazines? We have someone in our community who works with explosives somewhat extensively and has yet to harm anyone (except perhaps the feelings of Sarah Brady et al). Many of us have gun collections that would induce absolute PSH in the media - heck, a good chunk of us carry at least one of those guns with us when we're out and about around town!

As long as your actions aren't hurting anyone else, it's hard to see why they should be illegal - because something might happen if someone decides to break numerous other laws is a poor reason to ban something from possession.

That is all.

Good Deal Alert!

Remember the holster that I reviewed on Monday?

Michael's putting it on sale.

Starting now, for the next seven days, between the two Tuesdays framing in Thanksgiving will be special at The Holster Site. For these seven days, you will be able to order The Executive II in black leather with white nylon stitching for 25% off the listed price. I probably won’t ship it this week, but if you place and pay your order, I’ll hold the price. I’ll even do my best to ship before Christmas.

For the modest price he's asking (which includes shipping!), you get a custom-made holster made by a member of our gunblogging community. This a dual-use holster (tuckable IWB plus pocket carry) that is available for a wide variety of small handguns, and all sales support a local artisan. He'll even work with you if you want to order it as a gift for the special gunnie in your life (wives, husbands, take note - nothing saves "I Love You" like a handmade holster under the tree).

Go take advantage of this offer - you won't regret it.

That is all.

Overheard at the Breakfast Table...

From TheBoy, to me:

You swear a lot and you're boring and dull...

[Rodney] No respect, I gotta tell ya [/Rodney]

That is all.

Okay, *THIS* Is Cool!

Friend and blogshoot attendee Andrew sent me the following link to his latest project:

SWEET!!!

(image from American Weapon Systems)

This is quite possibly the coolest receiver I've ever seen.You can order one on their handy dandy order form - heck, if you're a New Hampshire resident you can drive on over to them and pick one up at the shop! I can't get one - they're considered a pistol (!) unless you build it into a rifle, so I'd have to have it made into an AWB-compliant rifle first. Of course, there are much worse fates to befall someone...

Heh. I wonder if they need anyone to review their wares?

That is all.

There's No Kill Like Overkill...

Fighters scrambled as DC airspace rules violated

(CNN) -- Two F-16 fighter jets briefly took to the sky over Washington on Monday after a small passenger aircraft violated the capital's airspace restrictions, according to military officials. A portion of the White House grounds was briefly evacuated during the incident.

The passenger plane -- a Cessna 182 -- was intercepted by the F-16s at 2:19 p.m. EST, a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command noted. The plane was escorted to an airport in nearby Manassas, Virginia, where it landed at 2:32 p.m. EST.

Now, I completely understand the need to maintain strict control over the airspace above Washington DC, don't get me wrong. It's entirely appropriate that the jets were scrambled and the small plane was brought down under guard. DC airspace is heavily regulated even prior to 9/11, and in this day and age anyone flying anywhere near our nation's capitol had better be very familiar with the areas to avoid.

That said, I'm trying to picture an F-16 trying to maintain airspeed with a Cessna - kinda like a Ferarri trying to intercept a riding lawn mower.

That is all.

File Under "D" for "DUH"

Democrats far outspent GOP as races loomed

In the final days of the fall campaign, the Democratic State Committee overwhelmed its Republican counterpart with a massive amount of spending that helped the dominant party snuff out any GOP hopes of gaining statewide or congressional offices, despite the hospitable political climate for challengers and outsiders in much of the country.

New reports filed with the state show that from Nov. 1 to Nov. 15, the state Democratic Party outspent the Massachusetts Republican Party, $475,641 to $21,147. In the prior month, the Democrats had outspent the GOP by more than 2 to 1, $2.4 million to $1.1 million, as both parties invested heavily in advertising to support their gubernatorial candidates. Since January 2009, the Democratic Party outspent Republicans by $5.9 million to $2.6 million.

You mean the Democratic party, that bastion of the little guy, threw around money like there's no tomorrow? In Massachusetts? A state that's voted reliably Democrat for many generations? If that doesn't send a message, I don't know what will. When the Democrat party has to focus its efforts on states like Massachusetts, it ought to make the powers-that-be sit up and take notice.

Now, I fully expect that the message will be taken completely the wrong way. I expect the Democrats to clamp down extra hard on those that might even think about straying off the reservation - look for increasing attacks on women and minorities who don't hew to the party line. As for the GOP, well, I fully expect The Stupids to start marching even further left, completely ignoring the basic fact that, given a choice between real Democrats and pretend Democrats, people will choose the real thing every time. I expect neither party to take the right message home; the difference is that the Democrats will alienate the moderates while the GOP will alienate the party faithful.

2012 should prove to be a most interesting election indeed. Things have not been progressing according to plan - those meddling Tea Partiers for instance - and the economy is the 800 pound gorilla that will make or break Øbama's re-election hopes. If things turn around in the next year or so, the bad times behind us, Øbama should have smooth sailing to a second term; if we're still seeing double digit unemployment in January 2012 Barry ought to polish the ol' résumé his ownself... I don't buy into the "Hillary! is going to challenge Øbama for the Democrat nomination" noise that's floating around - internecine squabbling will doom the party, and Hillary! is shrewd enough to know that.

May you live in interesting times indeed - I just hope we can get through them in one relatively intact piece.

That is all.

Get Ready for Grunge!

Because the DGC enters the 90s! Reader Jonathan sends the following link (which he got from Unc):

Suspect killed in S. Knoxville home invasion robbery, shooting

KNOXVILLE — One suspect is dead and another is being sought by police after a reported home invasion robbery and shooting tonight in South Knoxville that also left a resident of the house wounded, authorities said.

According to Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk, the officers responded to the incident at 210 Colonial Drive at 8:47 p.m. When officers arrived they found one suspect dead inside the residence and a male resident of the home wounded, DeBusk said. The unidentified resident was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with what police termed non-life-threatening injuries.

Again we have multiple invaders. If your home defense plan doesn't account for more than one goblin, you are not fully prepared. There were signs of a struggle inside the residence and what appears to be a wife/SO and a small child present as well - it certainly sounds as though the homeowner was caught by surprise but acted accordingly. Terminating one goblin and sending another running for his life while receiving injuries is pretty darn impressive, and since this happened in TN (a.k.a. Free America), it's likely the homeowner will be cleared of any charges.

Mess with the bull, you get the horns.

Dead Goblin Count: 90

That is all.

UPDATE: It gets interesting. Unc links that the Mrs. was the one what did the shootin'. Emptied a .357 Magnum into the bastard from what the story says. Good shootin' ma'am.

Life Imitates "Men In Black"...

Method to erase traumatic memories may be on the horizon

Soldiers haunted by scenes of war and victims scarred by violence may wish they could wipe the memories from their minds. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University say that may someday be possible.

A commercial drug remains far off — and its use would be subject to many ethical and practical questions. But scientists have laid a foundation with their discovery that proteins can be removed from the brain's fear center to erase memories forever.

Why is is that I read this story and I hear this exchange in my head:

Jay: Did you ever flashy-thing me?
Kay: No.
Jay: I ain't playing with you, K. Did you ever flashy-thing me?
Kay: No.

Allusions to cheesy (but fun) Will Smith movies aside, the implications are pretty staggering. The possibilities for good from this - helping victims of horrific crimes forget what happened, or helping soldiers recover from the horros or war - are limitless. Unfortunately, so are the possibilities for evil - the mind balks at the sheer volume of petty problems that could be caused with a device that removes memories. It could be used as an alternative to prison - or simply be the most effective lobotomy to date. We need to tread very carefully here as this discovery plays out.

Do we really want to let the memory-erasing genie out of the bottle?

That is all.

Tough Question...

Reader Robert e-mails in a doozy of a question:

I'm looking to buy a used bolt action rifle in .308, around 700 dollars. Leaning towards a Model 700 action, but was wondering if I could ask for you and your readers suggestions. (I'd really rather have an AR-10, but that's currently out of my price range).

There's a few assumptions I think we need to make with this sort of question. First, odds are this price range isn't going to give us a rifle with ½ MOA at 500 yards - maybe 1 MOA on a good day, sure, but not a consistent sub-MOA. You can find accurate rifles in this range, certainly; adding in the "used" factor one might be able to find something close to a precision rifle. Secondly, whatever the intended use (hunting, competition, etc.), there will be need of glass of some sort - that can be addressed later, of course, but whatever rifle is chosen should have the ability at least to be scoped. And lastly, while "tactical" might be the aim, it's unlikely that bull barrels, composite stocks with adjustable rests, etc. will fall into this price range.

There's two basic paths that can be taken here:

1. Find a milsurp rifle in .308 and use the difference in purchase price (a used K98 in .308 should run ~ $300 - $400) to drill & tap for a scope mount, smooth out the trigger, re-crown the barrel, etc. Or you might luck out and find one that just needs a scope mount and spend the difference on quality ammo. This path is pretty much hit-or-miss, and if Robert is looking for something off-the-shelf obviously not the path he should take.

2. Entry level factory rifle. In this range, Savage and Remington are the first rifles to come to mind, with Browning, Howa, Ruger, and others also in the running. Most manufacturers offer something in this range; which rifle one ultimately ends up with is up to the end user's whim as much as anything. Let's take a look at a half-dozen different rifles:

Browning A-Bolt. Several models of A-bolt in .308 fall in this price range, with the Micro-Hunter the most economical of the Browning offerings at $739 MSRP. Specs from the Browning website:

Receiver - Steel, Low-luster blued finish, Glass bedded, Drilled and tapped for scope mounts • Barrel - Low-luster blued finish, Free floating, Hand chambered, Target Crown • Action - Bolt-action, 60º bolt lift, Non-rotating bolt sleeve, Adjustable trigger, Detachable box magazine, Hinged floorplate, Top-tang safety • Stock - Satin finish walnut, Sized for smaller shooters, Checkered • Features - Sling swivel studs installed, Recoil pad

Ruger M77. Most of the Hawkeye offerings come pretty close to the target price, with the Hawkeye Standard the closest at $827 MSRP. Specs from the Ruger website:

Stock:	American Walnut	Finish:	Hawkeye Matte Blued
Sights:	None	Weight:	7.00 lbs.
Barrel Length:	22.00"	Overall Length:	42.00"
Material:	Alloy Steel	Length of Pull:	13.50"
Twist:	1:10" RH	Grooves:	6
Capacity:	4

Howa M-1500. The Thumbhole Sporter variant actually falls below the price range with an MSRP of $621. Specs from the Howa website:

• Howa® M-1500 Thumbhole Sporter Rifle
• Manufacturer Number: HWR44003
• Action: Bolt
• Caliber: 308 Winchester
• Barrel Length: 22 Inches
• Capacity: 5
• Trigger: Adjustable
• Safety: Three Position
• Length: 42 1/2 Inches
• Weight: 8.3 Pounds
• Stock: Nutmeg Laminate/Thumb Hole
• Finish: Blue

Weatherby Vanguard. The Vanguard Synthetic is the least expensive rifle in the group, with prices starting at $439 MSRP. Specs from the Weatherby website:

Caliber	Barreled Action	Approx. Weight (1)	Overall Length	Magazine Capacity (2)	Barrel Length/ Contour	Rifling	Length of Pull	Drop at Comb	Drop at Heel	Monte Carlo
.308 Win.	RH 24"	7 1/4 lbs.	44"	5+1	24" #2	1-12"	13 5/8"	7/8"	1 1/4"	1/2"

Savage 11. Both the 11 and 111 series of Savage bolt-action rifles fit the requirements; the 11 FCNS has been chosen as a representative with an MSRP of $656. Specs from Savage website:

Series:	Hunter	AccuTrigger:	Yes
Sights:	Drilled and tapped for scope mounts	AccuStock :	Yes
Magazine:	Detachable box	Stock material:	Synthetic
Barrel material:	Carbon Steel	Stock finish:	Matte
Barrel finish:	Satin	Stock color:	Black
Barrel color:	Blued	Action:	Short

Remington 700. The 700 SPS is a middle-of-the-road variant with an MSRP of $639, leaving it pretty square in the middle of the Remington 700 offerings. Specs from Remington website:

The Model 700™ SPS™ features an improved, ergonomically designed synthetic stock for better handling and enhanced overall functionality. The carbon steel barrels are clean without sights and receivers are drilled and tapped for scope mounts. All exterior metalwork features a matte blued finish. Standard amenities also include a hinged floor plate magazine, and swivel studs. Key Features:

• Improved, ergonomically designed synthetic stock
• Sling swivel studs included
• Legendary Model 700™ action
• Drilled and tapped for scope mounts

---

So there's a roundup of a quick half-dozen bolt-action rifle offerings in .308 Winchester. I'm sure I've missed another dozen or so rifles, as this is a very popular configuration it seems. Most of the rifles listed above can be had in many different variants, most running from blued steel and wood stocks to stainless actions & barrels and synthetic stocks. How the rifle is configured is entirely up to the user; you are limited only by your imagination and your budget.

So, which .308 boltie would you recommend for Robert?

That is all.

So Geeky I Just HAVE to Have It!

The World's Most Dangerous Librarian sent me a link to this little piece of geek kitchenware that I simply must have:

(picture from this site, where you can purchase one)

It's quite possibly the single geekiest thing you could have in the kitchen with which to cut a pizza, surpassing even this...

That is all.

I Concur...

The right way to honor Ronald Reagan

Washington (CNN) -- We're approaching the 100th anniversary of the birthday of Ronald Reagan: February 6, 2011. It's time to begin thinking seriously about an appropriate national commemoration of this good man and great president.

To date, the main attempts to honor Reagan in the nation's capital have gone askew. A government office building second in size only to the Pentagon? An airport from which Washingtonians cannot fly to California? These do not seem very appropriate monuments to a president who fought bureaucracy and yearned for home.

Frum proposes a memorial to the victims of communism, which certainly seems appropriate. Despite the best attempts of the left to pretend that Reagan had nothing to do with the fall of the Iron Curtain, he's a central figure in the fall of the Berlin wall and the crumbling of the Soviet empire. Reagan out-spent, out-bluffed, and just plain outlasted the Russians in our war of ideologies. He showed the world that capitalism, while far from perfect, at least made accomodations to the human nature - as opposed to communism, which either hid human nature (in the inner party workings) or crushed it under a military boot.

The world saw the contrast: the United States, that paean to capitalism, had Elvis, Disneyland, the Corvette, and men landing on the moon in the post WWII time frame. The Russians had secret police, gulags, Ladas, and Sputnik. Hardly a fair contrast. From a military standpoint, we learned from our mistakes in Vietnam just as the Russians invaded Afghanistan; while both nations stockpiled nuclear weapons, the United States didn't require its people go hungry in order to accomplish this aim - rather, our defense contractors employed hundreds of thousands of Americans working overtime to keep up with demand.

In short, Reagan's vision of people living under freedom rather than the Red Curtain helped liberate a good chunk of Eastern Europe. As it turned out, we didn't have to defeat the Russian bear, we merely had to wait it out - eventually, the system proved too costly to survive, and the state-sponsored communism as practiced in the Soviet Union was shown to be untenable. People yearn to be free - Reagan knew this instinctively - and when efforts are made to countermand this most basic principle, it is destined for the ash heap of history from inception. Reagan knew that the communism as practiced by the Russians was not a viable long-term strategy, and chose to accelerate their demise by pushing them on spending and spreading their forces too thin.

Erecting a museum that showcases the truth about the enemy he faced down would be a fitting tribute to the man who defeated the Evil Empire indeed...

That is all.

It's Not About the "Gun"...

...it's about the "Control" that's important in "Gun Control."

Two dead, two injured in Jamaica Plain restaurant shooting

Two people were killed and two were injured after a shooting on Jamaica Plain’s bustling Centre Street last night, police said.

One of the victims was taken into police custody before he died, said Boston police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll. He suffered from “possible stab wounds,” she said.

This happened in Boston, Massachusetts. Massachusetts. Home of the "toughest gun laws". Where you are "more likely to live" because of those toughest gun laws according to the genius behind the AHSA. Massachusetts requires a permit simply to own a handgun - a permit that can be denied for any reason whatsoever, mind you. The City of Boston - and it's surrounding communities - does not issue concealed carry permits. Period. (Well, unless you're rich, famous, and/or well-connected, but that's fodder for another time)...

I'm not a betting man, but I'll put up $50, payable to the Joyce Foundation, that the person who did the shooting in this case did not have a valid unrestricted MA LTC.

It's about control, folks. Always has been, always will be. Making the good, honest people jump through hoops to get a magic permit from the government to exercise an enumerated right has nothing to do with curbing crime and everything to do with keeping the subjects in line. Every statistic out there shows this to be true - places with draconian gun control have out-of-control crime rates; those that have liberal concealed carry policies simply do not. Making someone apply for a permit to carry a firearm doesn't magically make them a better person; it's about damned time we stopped pretending it did.

Here's a question for you: How many Smith & Wesson J-frames are sold in Wisconsin and Illinois? How about Kel-Tec P3ATs? Unless every single one of them is going to an LEO, then you've got folks buying concealable firearms in states that - by decree - have zero provisions for concealed carry. I think we can all agree that if there were an epidemic of otherwise lawful folks getting involved in shootouts (the "Wild West" BS we see both in the linked article and in the myriad pro-gun-control drivel) that it would be front page news; it would be the irresistible concatenation of "if it bleeds it leads" and the liberal anti-gun agenda splayed out in black and white print for the world to see.

But it doesn't happen. A permit doesn't make someone any less inclined to go on a shooting rampage. Requiring a $100 "safety course" isn't going to turn a violent thug into a choirboy. Anyone not prohibited from owning a gun should be able to carry that gun - because the cold, hard reality is that they already can. If you can walk into a store and purchase a handgun, you can carry it - the legality of whether you should or shouldn't is your own personal risk assessment. The statistics do not in any way, shape, or form bear out the concept that folks start shooting each other over parking spaces or minor personal affronts - provided those folks are law-abiding, honest people to begin with (in other words, the very people who would go through the trouble to get a concealed carry license).

We're reaching the wrong audience in so many ways. The folks that get carry permits have been shown over and over again to be the most law-abiding citizens in the population. Making this demographic submit to further intrusions is beyond pointless - and yet the thugs and criminals continue to get firearms and use them in crimes with very little punishment. We blame the tool used - "Approved Firearms Roster"; "Assault Weapons Ban"; "Saturday Night Special" - while absolving the criminal of all guilt. And, more often than not, of most punishment as well - MA has a law on the books, the Bartley-Fox law, that requires a year in jail for any infraction of firearms laws. To the best of my knowledge there have been zero prosecutions.

Call it pessimism, but I fear there are more gun control measures in the works. We have seen nothing but contempt for the common man from the current administration, from the unwanted ØbamaCare to the many bailouts to the ever-intrusive (and ineffectual) reach of the Federal government - it's only a matter of time before they try to further disarm the peasantry. Øbama served on the Joyce Foundation, one of the many anti-gun groups actively working to effectively repeal the Second Amendment. He has repeated stated his views plainly and clearly that he supports Federal bans on concealed carry; that he supports handgun bans and arbitrary limits on how many firearms can be purchased in a period of time.

And yet the news reminds us, on a frequent basis, that gun control is a complete and utter failure. Those that wish to acquire guns despite criminal records to the contrary will acquire them by theft or fraud; alternately, Weer'dbeard has an entire category of posts devoted to stories of folks killed with weapons other than firearms. We as a species are remarkably adaptive and can either steal guns, make guns, or simply use other objects if we truly want to cause death or destruction to our fellow man. Passing pointless laws that only hinder the honest and law-abiding does nothing for safety, nothing for security, and everything for further eroding away our rights.

I mean, we peasants simply cannot be trusted with such dangerous weapons, right?

That is all.

A Modest Haul...

I didn't go as crazy this year for National Ammo Day as I have in years past:

300!

200 rounds of 7.62X39mm and 100 rounds of .45 ACP. G-d's own pistol caliber and some food for the newly refurbished AK-47 clone seen last Friday. Most of this will wind up getting shot this coming weekend, with friend, commenter, and all-around mensch brad_in_ma taking in some much-needed recoil therapy. Prices are still awfully high - this steel-cased ammo was $5/box of 20 for the 7.62X39mm (which I remember not all that long ago being able to get for ~ $100/1,000 rounds) and $15/box of 50 for the .45 ACP (used to be $24/100 rounds for brass-cased Winchester White Box).

But at least it's in stock - they even had .380 ACP! - which is more than you could say for two years ago...

That is all.

MArooned Product Review: Michael's Custom Holsters Executive II

I was chatting with Evyl Robot in Gunblogger Conspiracy chat a few weeks back about getting him some more exposure for his holster business (check out the special on belts he's running - that's a smokin' deal for a quality belt). I offered to review a holster of his choice (there is simply no truth to the rumor that I begged...) and after some chatting via e-mail he offered to send me an Executive II holster for the Smith & Wesson J-frame revolver (in his words, "a great holster for the snubby from hell").

I'll let Michael tell you about the Executive II:

Specs:
*Convertible holster which serves well as a pocket holster or a tuckable IWB holster, available for most pocket-sized guns.
*External leather flesh provides excellent secure placement of the holster in the pocket or in the waistband.
*protective flap aids in comfort and protects the holstered gun from body sweat.
*Hand-formed, finished and stitched by machine in Kevlar thread.
*LIFETIME WARRANTY

Here's what I received:

Executive II from Michael's Custom Holsters

The holster arrived with everything you see in the picture - even the black drawstring bag, which I thought was a nice little touch. I have the proverbial drawer full of holsters (actually, I have three...), and a little thing like a handy bag in which to store the holster really helps to set this apart. It also comes in handy when the clips and hardware are removed for pocket carry, as everything can be stored inside the bag so they don't wind up rattling around loose in the holster drawer...

Here's what it looks like with the Snubbie from Hell™ safely ensconced therein:

SfH Meets ExecII

The fit is superb - since the holster is "rough-out" for pocket carry, the finished leather on the inside takes a firm mold of the gun and allows for a rapid draw. The rough leather on the outside holds it firmly in place when used as a pocket holster as well as IWB (and the "ER" is a cute touch, too). The small size and light weight of the holster, combined with the double clips, means that when it's used as a inside the waistband holster it stays put and you don't even realize it's there.

The construction is truly top-notch - this is a polished, professional holster. The leather is firm without being overly thick; the molding is exact; the clips have enough give to move with the holster yet still anchor it firmly in place. I wore it a little bit over the past weekend and have a very favorable first impression - it truly is tuckable, and with a large shirt disappears even without a cover garment. I'm going to wear it pretty extensively over the Thanksgiving break and get some pictures of it in use (but don't expect to see much, because it really does disappear). I'll post a follow-up review with some thoughts on how it works day-to-day in about a week's time.

So far, though, I'm eminently pleased with the Executive II from Michael's Custom Holsters.

That is all.

More MA Miracles...

An agency where patronage is job one

By any measure, Deirdre I. Kennedy was an outstanding candidate for chief probation officer at West Roxbury District Court. A Wellesley College graduate with two master’s degrees, Kennedy was a streetwise veteran of the Dorchester courthouse who spoke fluent Spanish. She was also a proven leader who had run an antidomestic violence program that won nearly $8 million in federal grants.

But, in the closed world of the Massachusetts Probation Department, dazzling credentials scarcely matter. Probation Commissioner John J. “Jack’’ O’Brien chose the 73-year-old father of a state legislator instead, doing a favor for then-House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran, one of O’Brien’s key political mentors, who said he sought the promotion for James J. Rush as a “capstone’’ to the man’s 41-year probation career.

Read the whole article. You know it's bad when the Globe exposes it. Running a state agency like one's own personal fiefdom isn't new, nor endemic to MA by any means. But damn, we take it to the next level. We don't mess around with small departments or anything - this is the Probation department, where all those criminals that our revolving door justice system lets go after serving a tenth of their sentence.

It's the kind of department where you want to have competent, compassionate people who know what they're doing employed in the upper and lower ranks. It's exactly not the kind of place you want know-nothing hacks whose only qualifications are donating the right sums of money to the right people or simple lineage. However, that seems to be exactly how the department was staffed.

Welcome to Massachusetts, where you're a felon for having a shell casing stuck in your boot without an FID, but don't worry - some hack who has no clue whatsoever about the justice system workings will oversee your probation.

That is all.

Sunday Morning Stupid

'Ghost train' hunter killed by train in North Carolina

(CNN) -- The facts: On August 27, 1891, a passenger train jumped the tracks on a tall bridge near Statesville, North Carolina, sending seven rail cars below and about 30 people to their deaths.

The legend: On the wreck's anniversary, the sounds of screeching wheels, screaming passengers and a horrific crash might still be heard. You might also see a uniformed man with a gold watch.

Apparently on the anniversary of the crash, a group of folks thought it would be a neat idea to hang around on the bridge and wait for the "ghost train". They were trespassing on train company property, but the bigger problem was that no one thought to consult the real train schedule:

Instead, a real Norfolk-Southern train -- three engines and one car -- turned the corner as it headed east to Statesville, about 35 miles north of Charlotte, authorities said.

One person was struck and killed by the real train, and another was injured when she was pushed off the bridge in an attempt to save her. While it's a shame that someone lost their life over something as trivial as trying to catch a glimpse of a "ghost train", it's even more shocking that no one in the entire group thought to check on the possibility that a real train might be coming through. To be standing on a high railroad bridge in the middle of nowhere without checking whether any actual trains were coming by, though, is positively Darwinian...

Okay, I'm done railing about this one...

That is all.

Borepatch Send-Off Dinner Live Blog

Sitting in the Brewery Exchange with Mr. & Mrs. Borepatch, Mr. & Mrs. Doubletrouble, Colin, and Libertyman. We're waiting for SCI-FI & B. to arrive and the gang's all here!

Why do we have to lose someone to have a reason to get together?

That is all.

Update: SCI-FI and B finally showed up...

Update: Quote of the night- "We have found the intersection of the gunblogging and thespian communities and it involves flesh wounds."

- Borepatch

Update: Scandal!!! Borepatch don't know Heatmiser!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Super Mega Mondo Blogroll Update...

Okay, it's been a while since I've added folks to the blogroll - mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. I've got quite a few blogs to add, including a new blogson. Let's welcome the following new folks to the blogroll:

1. The Feral Irishman. This a triple add - not only have I met commenter and frequent provider of blogfodder PISSED, but it seems as though he's claiming me as his blogfather. I'm all verklempt!

2. The Holding Cell. RedneckMP is a Gunblogger Conspiracy denizen and an active member of the US Armed Forces (thank you for your service) currently stationed in Hawaii.

3. Not a Tango, nothing to see here. Tango is another Gunblogger Conspirator and all around good chap.

4. Tranquility Lost. Hmmm. Shaved head biker who likes guns and cars. I have no idea why he blogrolled me...

5. Greasy Gears. I sense a pattern here - hunter, gearhead, and all around interest in things what work.

6. ViolentIndifference. VI took the highly unorthodox approach of sending me an e-mail to let me know I was on his blogroll. It's surprisingly effective...

That's a hint to anyone out there that has MArooned on their blogroll but is not represented on the ever-expanding list to the right...

That is all.