Posts Tagged ‘Guns’

Syria and Guns

Thursday, November 29th, 2012

OK. Thanksgiving break over.

I’ve come across a couple of blogs from the world of international conflict you may want to take a look at:

  • Brown Moses tracks developments in the Syrian civil War, with a special focus on the ordinance expended and captured there.
  • The Gun follows the more general word of international military arms, including transfer and use in combat.
  • Both are worth checking out.

    Sexy Girls (With Bad Judgment), Sexy Guns

    Monday, November 12th, 2012

    So it turns out that Paula Broadwell, purported mistress of (now) former CIA director David Petraeus, used to moonlight as a machine gun model:

    While not my favorite of the genre, who doesn’t like a woman who can handle a firearm? (Though she’s more in the “wouldn’t kick her out of bed for eating crackers” than “jaw-dropping gorgeous” category; then again, this seems sadly common in today’s Democratic sex scandals.)

    As for the video itself? Whenever a gun manufacturer starts talking about “revolutionary” designs, I start rolling my eyes. It’s an obvious PR/grant bait reel, and should be viewed as such.

    Texas Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-umbass) Actually Forgets the Second Amendment

    Thursday, October 25th, 2012

    There’s this thing called the Constitution. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. Fundamental law of the land, guiding document for the federal government, etc. Sorta important.

    There’s this section of it called “The Second Amendment.” “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Gives citizens the right to bear arms. Kind of a big deal. Especially in Texas.

    Perhaps someone needs to tell that to Texas Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-umbass), who actually managed to forget what the Second Amendment was during a debate:

    “I’m drawing a blank on the Second Amendment, but I think it’s the weapons, isn’t it? The NRA?”

    Note: This being the Internet and all, I think I should emphasize that the above actually happened. My snarky self didn’t invent it out of whole cloth. An incumbent Democratic congressman from Texas, who’s been in office since 1997, forgot the Second Amendment. “I’m drawing a blank on the First Amendment, but I think it’s the churches, isn’t it? The Pope? Any maybe newspapers?”

    There shouldn’t be a high school senior who doesn’t know what the Second Amendment is, much less a United States Congressman. Either Rep. Hinojosa is woefully ignorant of the Constitution, or else he’s suffering from some sort of debilitating mental illness. In either case, he’s unfit for office.

    Rep. Hinojosa has a Republican challenger in Dale Brueggemann. He has an uphill struggle against an entrenched incumbent in a district that went 57% for Obama, but I doubt he expected his opponent to make such a huge gaffe. I’m sure he would appreciate any help fans of the Second Amendment could throw his way.

    Assault Weapons Vital Topic Among America’s 23 Million Unemployed

    Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

    Hempstead, N.Y.: All across the country, millions of unemployed Americans expressed relief and gratitude that Obama finally addressed their most important issue at last night’s Presidential debate: assault weapons.

    “I’m glad Obama is finally tackling assault weapons,” said Barbara Rheems, taking a brief pause from brushing her teeth in the 1998 Honda Civic that has been her home for the last three years. “I think that’s the greatest concern facing our country.”

    “Thank God Nina Gonzales had the courage to ask about assault weapons,” said Richard Smith, an unemployed construction worker, speaking from the cot in his mother’s basement. “I can’t think of a single more pressing issue.”

    “Assault weapons terrify me,” said mother Gladys Castle, who was busy preparing an “Obama soup” made from pilfered ketchup packets for her three hungry children. “I’m afraid that at any moment they might burst out of closets and gun safes and start shooting people.”

    “Well it’s about time someone dealt with America’s biggest challenge, which is reinstating the Clinton-era assault weapons ban,” said Tom Feller, who spoke to us from behind his homemade cardboard WILL WORK ANY JOB/HAVE CHILDREN TO FEED/GOD BLESS sign. “The fact is that Americans just don’t need a weapon that has any two of a folding stock, a pistol grip, a bayonet mount, or a flash suppressor, and it’s high time we moved to disarm ordinary Americans citizens who purchased such weapons in a completely lawful manner.”

    A CNN poll of America’s unemployed showed that assault weapons were far and away the most pressing issue this election, with 78% citing them as their biggest concern, while those who said that their top issue was forcing Catholics to pay for contraception were a distant second at 19%.

    LinkSwarm for October 15, 2012

    Monday, October 15th, 2012

    Doing a bunch of stuff, so here’s a more-or-less random linkSwarm:

  • A funny thing happened on the way to the death of conservatism.
  • Romney might pick up one electoral vote in Maine.
  • Michael Totten and Sohrab Ahmari take down Tariq Ramadan.
  • In the Texas House, it’s a band of conservative brothers vs. Texas Speaker Joe Straus.
  • Journalist shocked that all his fellow journalists are suddenly spewing vitriol at him and calling him a traitor because he’s decided to vote for Romney. Also confirms the overwhelming liberal bias in the newsroom.
  • Police arrest members of the Mexican Mafia prison gang across the state, including one police officer in Houston who was providing them guns.
  • To Glock or Not To Glock, That Is The Question

    Thursday, August 23rd, 2012

    I got my CHL in the mail today. (When I have time I’ll try to do a post on the process of getting one for those who haven’t.) I currently have a Kimber .45, which I think is a bit heavy to use as a carry gun.

    My instructor was big on the Glock, which I know a lot of people use as a carry gun and has some improvements over the M1911. So I thought I would ask my CHL-holding rreaders: 1. What concealed carry gun do you favor, and why, and 2. What experience (if any) have you had using a Glock?

    And speaking of CHL classes, here’s Karl Rehn of KRTraining on what to bring to class to make your instructor happy.

    Cute Japanese Girls Fire Guns

    Monday, August 20th, 2012

    (Been under the weather today, so instead of actual news and analysis, you get this.)

    Having been to Japan, I can assure you that, despite the many modern similarities between our two countries, there are indeed important differences:

  • Japanese law prohibits its citizens from buying any of the awesome guns the United States manufactures.
  • The United States has a distinct lack of Maid Cafes.
  • Is there anything that can be done to bridge this cultural gap?

    Yes. Yes there is.

    Important safety tip: Never fire more gun than you can handle.

    All those are in Japanese, but we’re really talking universal languages here.

    Tomorrow: Content that looks a lot less like the sort of video you could order from one of the ads in back of Soldier of Fortune magazine circa 1985…

    (Hat tip: Ace of Spades.)

    That’s a Hunka Hunka Hunka Blazing Steel

    Wednesday, August 15th, 2012

    Quick followup to last week’s story on the auction of three of Elvis Presley’ guns, which went under the gavel yesterday. The results (all prices include buyer’s premium):

  • A Field King Boxed Semi-Automatic Pistol chambered in .22 long rifle went for $5,000.
  • A Savage Arms Model 99A Takedown .250-3000 caliber Lever Action Rifle went for $4,062.50. .250-3000 isn’t a caliber I’m particularly familiar with, so here’s the Wikipedia entry for it.
  • And the gun I highlighted, a Colt .357 Magnum Python Double Action revolver went for a hefty $13,750.00.
  • Quick Update on Shooting Near Texas A&M

    Monday, August 13th, 2012

    There was a shooting near Texas A&M earlier today. Here are a few nuggets of information gleaned from Dallas Morning News and WFAA’s Twitter feed:

  • A constable has been killed.
  • This was not a random shooting, it occurred while officers were serving an eviction notice, so it’s not a classic “spree shooting” like Aurora.
  • It did not occur on Texas A&M campus, but rather a few blocks away (despite which, the active Twitter tag is #tamushooting).
  • Multiple other people have been shot; I read six, but that might not be accurate.
  • The shooter is in custody.
  • More details when they occur.

    In the meantime, as Dwight has already implored CHL holders to do, “Carry your damn guns, people.” Also, here’s firearms instructor Karl Rehn on what to do when faced with an “active shooter.”

    Update

  • We now have the name of the dead office: Brazos County Constable Brian Bachmann was killed in line of duty while attempting to serve an eviction notice.
  • Seeing reports of a second civilian death.
  • Update 2

    Seeing reports that a third person has died, and also that the suspect has died. Not sure if those are one and the same. News reporting that the third person dead is the shooter.

    Update 3

    Sgt. Jason James, spokesman for the Bryan Police Department, confirms to The News: Three were killed during today’s shooting, including, as mentioned below, Brazos County Constable Brian Bachmann. Also killed, he says: a male civilian and the shooter.

    Right now, James says, another female bystander is hospitalized at the College Station Medical Center; her condition is unknown. Also, says James: “An officer injured during the gunfight is hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.” Two more officers, he says, were injured — “but not through the initial contact” with the gunman.

    Update 4
    The bystander killed was Chris Northcliff, 43. Suspect killed was Thomas Caffall, approx. 35, divorced.

    Elvis: Shows Us Your Guns!

    Friday, August 10th, 2012

    I’m not particularly an Elvis Presley devotee, but this Heritage Auction’s offering of Elvis memorabilia is pretty interesting. I linked to that page because it has three of Elvis’ guns, including his .357 Magnum Colt Python double action revolver. “Elvis was well known in the area as a gun shopper. Also included is an Affidavit and Certificate of Authenticity signed by Presley’s friend Joe Esposito stating, in part: “One of Elvis Presley favorite guns to target practice in the backyard of Graceland with the ‘Old Smokehouse’ as a bullet stop was this Colt Python, 357 magnum, CTG Serial # E 13450. He liked it because the gun didn’t have a big kick.'”

    All the Elvis auction lots go under the hammer Tuesday, August 14.