Taking guns away from law abiding citizens has never reduced crime.
Leave me a comment and let me know if you agree or not.
13 January 2008
If Everone Had A Gun, All Things Would Be Equal
A drill instructor in the National Guard convicted in a Wisconsin federal court of illegally transferring a "machine gun"
Hattip to Len Savage
Mr. Olofson, a Drill Instructor in the National Guard, was asked by Robert Kiernicki to teach him how to shoot a firearm. Olofson did and from time to time would let Mr. Kiernicki borrow his oldest AR-15 , go to a public range and target practice. He always returned the firearm and on his third time at the range after 120 rounds down range the rifle sputtered three times and jammed. The Law enforcement on the range swept in...
The rifle in question seized now by the ATF; It was sent to Firearm Technology Branch (FTB), the testing Arm of the BATFE. They examined and test fired the rifle; then declared it to be "just a rifle". You would think it would all be resolved at this point, this was merely the beginning. The Special Agent in Charge Jody Keeku asked FTB to re-test the firearm and this time use soft primered commercial ammunition.
FTB has no standardized testing procedures, in fact it has no written procedures at all for testing firearms. They had no standard to stick to, and gleefully tried again. The results this time..."a Machinegun". ATF with a self admitted 50% error rate pursued an indictment and Mr. Olofson was charged with "Unlawful transfer of a machinegun". Not possession, not even Robert Kiernicki was charged with possession (who actually possessed the rifle), though the ATF paid Mr. Kiernicki "an undisclosed amount of money" to testify against Mr. Olofson at trial.
At the same time Mr. Olofson was being charged with "Unlawful Transfer" because the rifle malfunctioned and had a M-16 trigger, disconnector, and hammer; calling it an AR-15 with M-16 trigger parts (not the parts that make a machinegun). The ATF removed "a machinegun" from the NFRTR or NFA registry, claiming it was an AR-15 with M-16 parts, therefore NOT "a machinegun". I have the documents, I can prove this.
The court was never shown this information. When Mr. Olofson's Attorneys requested the court compel the ATF to provide this and other documents that proved his innocence to the court. The ATF Chief Counsel's Office told the court the documents contained tax information (federal excise tax stamp for $200) and the court was prohibited from seeing them. All documents were kept secret from the Honorable Judge Clevert and the rest of the court. Even the letter from the ATF to the manufacturer of Mr. Olofson's rifle from 1986, which mandated a "safety recall" due to the rifle going "full auto" if it malfunctioned. ATF Chief Counsel told AUSA Haanstad, who then told the court "The Court will have take our word, that the documents in question contain tax information and contain no exculpatory evidence".
It gets even worse...
AUSA Haanstad claimed the law does not exempt a malfunction. He claims that it states "any weapon that shoots more than once without manual reloading, per function of the trigger is a machinegun". To clarify when I was on the stand, I asked him "Are you saying if I take my Great Granddaddy's double barrel out and I pull one trigger and both barrels go off, its a machinegun?". He went back to the law (United States Code, Section 5845 (b)), and claims "any weapon that shoots..."
If your semiautomatic rifle breaks or malfunctions your are now subject to prosecution. That is now a sad FACT. I guess we know now what Senator Kennedy meant when he said he looked forward to working with Mike Sullivan on Gun control issues, after his committee approved him for full Senate vote.
To those in the sporting culture who have derided "black guns" and so called "assault weapons"; Your double barreled shotgun is now next up to be seized and you could possibly be prosecuted if the ATF can get it to "fire more than once".
Hey, but don't worry. The people testing it have no procedures in writing and the testing will be in secret. Also if you know of information that proves YOUR innocence, maybe the ATF won't claim that it's tax information at your trial and prevent YOUR judge from viewing it.
Are you next up on the menu?
Len Savage-President
Historic Arms LLC
12 January 2008
Frigday Night Dinner at the DoubleTapper's Sabbath Table
Friday evening in synagogue I ran into a few of my neighbors kids home on weekend furlough. Being as their parents get first crack at them for dinner (they don't get to see their boys for weeks at a time), I invited them to pop in at the DoubleTapper's Sabbath table for some delicious dessert and conversation.
We ate, swapped stories and they filled me in on the latest insider info. I won't go into detail, as most of what they do is classified, but suffice to say that dessert with IDF's commandos is always a good way to spend a quiet Sabbath evening. They told me of the latest Hand-2-hand combat training, shoot houses, weapons practice, and more.
I'm posting a loosely related video here for you to get an idea of who grows up in a typical suburban Israeli neighborhood.
I will say that when you screw up in the IDF they're still as creative as they were in my day at punishments. I got to retell my experience of digging a cubic meter grave for the piece of paper with my infraction written on it. The "Infraction Funeral" took place at first light, after a grueling night of sprints, crawling through the desert, and digging with a tiny field shovel.
Ah memories...
10 January 2008
Video - According to the United Nations "Guns are the Root of All Evil"
I couldn't even begin to explain how a video like this make me feel. After all, I do live in the only Jewish country in the world. Most of the worlds holocaust survivors live here and Israel is the fourth largest arms manufacturer in the world.
Traditional Jewish Wedding (with guns)
I just got back from one of my neighbor's kids wedding. It's always a crap-shoot accepting wedding invitations. You never know who they're going to seat you with, what they'll serve for the meal, or if you'll be in the mood for festivities after RSVPing months in advance.
At a Jewish wedding the music traditional, the dancing is separate (men and women dance on separate dance floors) and they are usually fairly predictable. The Wedding hall was a 45 minute drive away. The live band was Ok, the food was decent, but what made the evening was as follows...
After the marriage ceremony, as we were getting ready to take our seats for the meal, up walks Alex Metz, back from the filming of the Israeli version of the reality show Survivor. Alex, a former elite commando in the IDF, is 47 years old, 6'2", in incredible shape and is a full time personal trainer and survivalist.
He shook my hand with his powerful grip and said, "I'm glad that you're here. I feel much safer now". I told him, "If I'd have know you were coming, I might not have carried all 85 rounds of ammo for my Glock this evening." We both laughed and started talking workouts, guns and politics. Mrs. DoubleTapper rolled her eyes. She had left her Glock 26 at home for the evening, as her Fobus holster didn't match her evening ware, and may have felt a little left out of the conversation.
Just then a neighbors son walked up and said that if wasn't going to be doing any more dancing, would I mind holding his weapon while he took a turn on the dance floor. He handed me his full auto M4 Flattop, with M203 grenade launcher, Trijicon Parallax A.C.O.G. scope, Surefire flashlight, and a really cool sight made by IWI just for the M203. 
Unfortunately I didn't have a camera, so I found this picture on line.
Unfortunately I didn't have a camera, so I found this picture on line.Mrs. DoubleTapper was not amused when the rest of our local counter terror team showed up and began checking out the M4. Later, when the M4's owner came to reclaim his weapon I asked him about the new scope and found out that it had just been issued today. Missing from the M4 were iron sights, a laser sight, and a bunch of other stuff that comes standard issue with the new Tavor.
There are hoards of accessories available for the M4/M16. Let me know what you've tried and what works for you.
All in all it turned out to be a relatively fun evening and definitely worth blogging about.
L'Chaim and Mazal Tov to the bride and groom.08 January 2008
Assault Weapons Blamed Again
Living in Israel, where all guns are regulated equally, reinforces the ridiculousness of the basic American Media premise that gun related crime is the fault of the gun. In my neighborhood there are few unlicensed gun carrying adults and there have been NO reported gun related crimes of any kind. "Assault Weapons" are the favorite whipping boy of the media.
What is an assault weapon anyway?
Glossary:
- ASSAULT WEAPON
Any weapon used in an assault (see WEAPON and ASSAULT).
- ASSAULT
A crime of violence against another person. Assault refers to the threat of violence caused by an immediate show of force. Assault is often defined to include not only violence, but any physical contact with another person without their consent (i.e. Pushing, Slapping, Hitting, and Spitting)
- WEAPON
Webster defines it as "an instrument of offensive or defensive combat." Thus an automobile, baseball bat, bottle, chair, firearm, fist, pen knife or shovel is a "weapon," if so used.
Only a few days left to vote for American Hero Award
If you haven't had a chance to vote for the American Hero Award or just want to read their stories...
http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/hero_vote.html
07 January 2008
LT G's running Army translator
Hat Tip to LT G for the Military Jargon Translator from the new http://kaboomwarjournal.blogspot.com/
For those of you that don't speak grunting acronym:Ranks:
- PVT, PV2- Private
- PFC- Private First Class
- SPC- Specialist
- CPL- Corporal
- SGT- Sergeant
- SSG- Staff Sergeant
- SFC- Sergeant First Class
- MSG- Master Sergeant
- 1SG- First Sergant
- SGM- Sergeant Major
- 2LT- Second Lieutenant
- 1LT- First Lieutenant
- CPT- Captain
- MAJ- Major
- LTC- Lieutenant Colonel
- COL- Colonel
- GEN- Stars, stars, and more stars
Acronyms:
- OPSEC- Operational Security
- PLT- Platoon
- OP- Observation Post
- PL- Platoon Leader
- PSG- Platoon Sergeant
- CO- Commanding Officer; Company/Troop Commander
- FOB - Forward Operating Base
- AO- Area of operations
Military jargon:
- Jody- The non-military guy who is back home with the military guy's wife/girlfriend. Jody leads a simple, soft life, and vengeance upon him will be swift and merciless.
- Fobbit - A term used to describe soldiers who never leave the wire, also known as the FOB. Originally used as a derogatory term, it has evolved into a term most often used by fobbits themselves.
- Terp - Interpreter.
Chicago (and Cook County) to Ban Handguns
From Jeff Sawyers Blog - http://Alphecca.com/
We already know that in Chicago, it’s nearly impossible to legally own a handgun. Now, the move is on to ban most gun ownership in the entire of Cook County. The Illinois State Rifle Association has pointed to this legislation — still in the proposal stage — and everyone should be alarmed. First, a whole new arduous registration for all firearms is required. Second, even if your firearms are already registered, they must be “reregistered.” Third, a whole class of “assault weapons” is banned from registration. Lastly, any handgun that fails for the following would be banned even if currently registered:
Sec. 58-132.5. Unregisterable firearms.
No registration certificate shall be issued for any of the following types of firearms:
(a) Sawed-off shotgun, machine gun, or short-barreled rifle;
(b) Firearms other than handguns, owned or possessed by any person in the County prior to the effective date of this Ordinance which are not validly registered prior to the effective date of this Ordinance;
(c) Handguns, except:
(1) Those validly registered to a current owner in the County prior to the effective date of this Ordinance, and which contain each of the following:
(i) A safety mechanism to hinder the use of the handgun by unauthorized users. Such devices shall include, but shall not be limited to, trigger locks, combination handle locks, and solenoid use-limitation devices; and,
(ii) A load indicator device that provides reasonable warning to potential users such that even users unfamiliar with the weapon would be forewarned and would understand the nature of the warning;
So, if your handgun does not contain a loaded chamber indicator, you’re screwed and have to turn your gun in to the sheriff. That’s almost all handguns manufactured more than a few years ago.
I’m sure this will make Barack Obama happy since it’s his district and he’s on record as favoring a ban on all semi-automatic firearms.
In a separate proposal, all gun shows in Cook County would be banned and also most gun stores. That last is accomplished by the following zoning requirements:
Sec. 54-154. Limitation on concentration.
(a) No deadly weapons dealer license may be issued to any person seeking a license to operate a gun shop in the County which will be located within ten miles of any other gun shop within or outside of the County as measured from the property lines of the respective properties.
(b) No deadly weapons dealer license may be issued to any person seeking a license to operate a gun shop in the County which will be located within one mile of any public or private school or public park as measured from the property lines of the respective properties.
Is it even possible to find a suitable property for a shop — commercially zoned — that isn’t within a mile of a school or park?
06 January 2008
The New IWI Tavor makes it's debute, in my kitchen!
Lots of our neighbors kids are currently serving in the IDF. One of the new inductees in the IDF's basic training for the Givati Infantry Brigade stopped by my house Thursday evening for a quick visit while on his way home for a weekend furlough. After feeding him some of my wife's famous lasagna (we always feed our servicemen) he gave me a dry demo of the new Tavor Commando and let me try it out.
The Tavor was created by IWI to replace the Vietnam War era M16 rifles (look at my picture on the right) that the IDF has been using almost forever. The Tavor has a lightweight polymer receiver and handles really well. I ran through a few of our standard practice maneuvers and found the Tavor to be a real treat to handle.
The controls are well placed and it uses standard 30 round M16 magazines. It comes equipped with MARS optical gun sight and you can mount a night vision scope behind the MARS and not have to re-zero. The Tavor also has a visible targeting laser and flip-up back-up iron sights that are both co-witnessed with the MARS optical gunsight's red dot reticle.
Take a look at a video of the Tavor as seen on TV.
Taser party anyone???
Taser parties are a great place to buy a Taser for Self Defense.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/01/04/taser.party.ap/
If you've never been Tasered, watch this!
01 January 2008
30 December 2007
Review of the new Masada Rifle
Steve has written another blog post at the firearmblog.
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2007/12/22/magpul-interview-the-masada-firearms-industry-and-internet-marketing/
Self Defense deemed legal in MO, with a Florida Carry Permit
From the December 28, 2007 St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
A Domino’s pizza deliveryman who shot and killed a would-be robber in Pagedale has a valid permit to carry a weapon and appears to have acted in self-defense, according to St. Louis County police.
The driver, who works for the Domino’s franchise nearby in University City, delivered an order at 7 p.m. Thursday to a phony address in the 6500 block of Julian Avenue, where two armed men announced a robbery. The driver pulled his own pistol and fired shots, striking one of the robbers.
Brian Smith, 19, of the 600 block of Ferguson Avenue in Ferguson, was pronounced dead at the scene, said officer Tracy Panus, the department spokeswoman. The other gunman fled. Police arrested a suspect this afternoon and booked him pending application of warrants, she said.
Panus said the driver may have been fired upon, but was not wounded. She said officers found a pistol at the scene that hadn’t been fired.
The driver surrendered his own weapon and showed officers a concealed-carry permit from Florida. Panus said officers verified the permit this afternoon.
Panus said Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch’s office will review the police reports but added, "It doesn’t appear to us that (the driver) did anything wrong."
26 December 2007
another test post
100
actual size
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21 October 2006
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