Wednesday, May 29, 2013
2nd Amendment - A Natural Necessity
By Thomas P. Stefanucci (Greece)
While most animals in the wild have some sort of natural defense against enemies, man does not. Man has no claws, no venom, no razor-sharp teeth and no armor. Since the beginning of time, man has created tools to work the land, and weapons to protect himself from predators and aggressors. That’s why the Second Amendment reads “the right to keep and bear arms.”
It does not say that a person cannot carry a concealed weapon, or has to apply for a permit to own a gun; it says “the right to keep and bear arms” period. The evil people in the world will always have weapons and will always injure or kill other people. The population is just a flock of sheep to these people. The government is taking away the ability for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves.
It’s time our government gave us back the right to protect ourselves from the evil menaces in our world.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Is Ruger ideologically pure enough?
By Richard L. Johnson - 5/25/2013
Ruger is not politically pure enough according to one of my readers. But what does that mean, and is it a valid position? Is Ruger, or any company for that matter, ideologically pure enough for a “true” supporter of the Second Amendment?
A concerned reader responded to an article I wrote about Sturm, Ruger & Co. In the article, I reported that Ruger plans to open a third manufacturing facility for up to 10 brand new gun lines. I also reported the company wants to locate the new plant in a gun friendly community. The commenter stated, in effect, that the company was not politically pure enough for his dollar because the company’s headquarters are in Connecticut.
Connecticut is the home of many gun companies including Stag Arms, Mossberg, Charter Arms and Colt. The state is also home to other shooting industry associations including the National Shooting Sports Foundation, organizers of the annual SHOT Show. It is safe to say the state is rich in gun history.
However, Connecticut recently enacted new gun control measures. These new laws, like all gun laws, seek to abridge the rights of lawful gun owners. For this reason, some gun owners are encouraging gun companies to abandon the state for less-restrictive states like Texas or Montana. Such things are not easily accomplished, and certainly involve significant cost, assuming the company elects to take such action.
Ruger is not politically pure enough according to one of my readers. But what does that mean, and is it a valid position? Is Ruger, or any company for that matter, ideologically pure enough for a “true” supporter of the Second Amendment?
A concerned reader responded to an article I wrote about Sturm, Ruger & Co. In the article, I reported that Ruger plans to open a third manufacturing facility for up to 10 brand new gun lines. I also reported the company wants to locate the new plant in a gun friendly community. The commenter stated, in effect, that the company was not politically pure enough for his dollar because the company’s headquarters are in Connecticut.
Connecticut is the home of many gun companies including Stag Arms, Mossberg, Charter Arms and Colt. The state is also home to other shooting industry associations including the National Shooting Sports Foundation, organizers of the annual SHOT Show. It is safe to say the state is rich in gun history.
However, Connecticut recently enacted new gun control measures. These new laws, like all gun laws, seek to abridge the rights of lawful gun owners. For this reason, some gun owners are encouraging gun companies to abandon the state for less-restrictive states like Texas or Montana. Such things are not easily accomplished, and certainly involve significant cost, assuming the company elects to take such action.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Missouri: Strongest Defense of the Second Amendment in American history.
By Mike Maharrey - 5/26/2013
On May 8, the Missouri legislature approved arguably the strongest defense of the Second Amendment in American history.
If signed into law, HB436 will nullify virtually every federal gun control measure on the books – or planned for the future.
All federal acts, laws, orders, rules, and regulations, whether past, present, or future, which infringe on the people’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution shall be invalid in this state, shall not be recognized by this state, shall be specifically rejected by this state, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this state.
On May 8, the Missouri legislature approved arguably the strongest defense of the Second Amendment in American history.
If signed into law, HB436 will nullify virtually every federal gun control measure on the books – or planned for the future.
All federal acts, laws, orders, rules, and regulations, whether past, present, or future, which infringe on the people’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution shall be invalid in this state, shall not be recognized by this state, shall be specifically rejected by this state, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this state.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Remington UMC 9mm: Good enough for self defense?
By: Richard L. Johnson - 5/19/2013
Every major ammunition manufacturer has at least one line of premium self defense ammo. Ammunition lines like Critical Defense, Gold Dot, Golden Saber and PDX1 all maximize the potential stopping power from a handgun. But those premium lines come with a cost.
Premium ammo is more expensive than traditional hollowpoint ammunition, sometimes a lot more. Many of the high-end rounds have special construction techniques and all of them have a lot of engineering time behind their development.
For anyone working within a budget, the extra cost of these ammunition lines simply may not be affordable. At more than $1/round in many cases, it becomes expensive to test your preferred handgun with the ammo to make sure it will cycle reliably and provide reasonable accuracy.
So the question is “Will cheap ammunition work for self-defense?” In at least one case, I say: “Yes.”
Every major ammunition manufacturer has at least one line of premium self defense ammo. Ammunition lines like Critical Defense, Gold Dot, Golden Saber and PDX1 all maximize the potential stopping power from a handgun. But those premium lines come with a cost.
Premium ammo is more expensive than traditional hollowpoint ammunition, sometimes a lot more. Many of the high-end rounds have special construction techniques and all of them have a lot of engineering time behind their development.
For anyone working within a budget, the extra cost of these ammunition lines simply may not be affordable. At more than $1/round in many cases, it becomes expensive to test your preferred handgun with the ammo to make sure it will cycle reliably and provide reasonable accuracy.
So the question is “Will cheap ammunition work for self-defense?” In at least one case, I say: “Yes.”
Monday, May 13, 2013
Colorado Democratic lawmakers face recall efforts for votes on gun control
Fox News.com - 5/8/2013
Colorado Democratic lawmakers who recently helped pass some of the toughest gun-control laws in the country now face the political backlash of recall efforts.
Two groups are targeting state Rep. Mike McLachlan and state Sens. Angela Giron, Evie Hudak and John Morse.
The Democrat-controlled legislature passed bills that ban magazines holding more than 15 rounds and require background checks for all gun transfers. They were signed into law in March by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Morse, the Senate president, pushed a more far-reaching proposal that called for holding owners, sellers and makers of assault-type weapons liable for havoc inflicted by their guns.
Colorado Democratic lawmakers who recently helped pass some of the toughest gun-control laws in the country now face the political backlash of recall efforts.
Two groups are targeting state Rep. Mike McLachlan and state Sens. Angela Giron, Evie Hudak and John Morse.
The Democrat-controlled legislature passed bills that ban magazines holding more than 15 rounds and require background checks for all gun transfers. They were signed into law in March by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Morse, the Senate president, pushed a more far-reaching proposal that called for holding owners, sellers and makers of assault-type weapons liable for havoc inflicted by their guns.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Was Hitler Really Anti-Gun Control?
Blog Moderator's Comment - In the face of wide spread coverage by the proponents of the 2nd amendment that Hitler initiated gun control as part of his policy to round up the Jews, gypsies, political opponents, etc, Salon.com published an article by Alex Seitz-Wald purportedly calling this contention a myth. Anthony Gregory brings some clarity to this contention. . .
By Anthony Gregory - 1/14/2013
A Salon.com article by Alex Seitz-Wald called “The Hitler Gun Control Lie” is making the rounds, purporting to challenge a myth Second Amendment enthusiasts spread that blames the Holocaust on Hitler’s policies of civilian disarmament. The thrust of the argument is that Hitler’s 1938 firearms law indeed ratcheted back restrictions from the Weimar era. But here is the most telling paragraph:
The law did prohibit Jews and other persecuted classes from owning guns, but this should not be an indictment of gun control in general. Does the fact that Nazis forced Jews into horrendous ghettos indict urban planning? Should we eliminate all police officers because the Nazis used police officers to oppress and kill the Jews? What about public works Hitler loved public works projects? Of course not. These are merely implements that can be used for good or ill, much as gun advocates like to argue about guns themselves. If guns don’t kill people, then neither does gun control cause genocide (genocidal regimes cause genocide).
As a libertarian, I actually would argue that the violence of Hitler’s statism can be seen in such areas as his militarized police forces, and the totalitarian potential of a heavily policed society is one reason I’ve been so critical of America’s police.
By Anthony Gregory - 1/14/2013
A Salon.com article by Alex Seitz-Wald called “The Hitler Gun Control Lie” is making the rounds, purporting to challenge a myth Second Amendment enthusiasts spread that blames the Holocaust on Hitler’s policies of civilian disarmament. The thrust of the argument is that Hitler’s 1938 firearms law indeed ratcheted back restrictions from the Weimar era. But here is the most telling paragraph:
The law did prohibit Jews and other persecuted classes from owning guns, but this should not be an indictment of gun control in general. Does the fact that Nazis forced Jews into horrendous ghettos indict urban planning? Should we eliminate all police officers because the Nazis used police officers to oppress and kill the Jews? What about public works Hitler loved public works projects? Of course not. These are merely implements that can be used for good or ill, much as gun advocates like to argue about guns themselves. If guns don’t kill people, then neither does gun control cause genocide (genocidal regimes cause genocide).
As a libertarian, I actually would argue that the violence of Hitler’s statism can be seen in such areas as his militarized police forces, and the totalitarian potential of a heavily policed society is one reason I’ve been so critical of America’s police.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Texas House passes legislation to protect Second Amendment rights
Pasadena Citizen News - 5/7/2013
AUSTIN – On Monday (May 6) the Texas House of Representatives passed a series of bills designed to protect the 2nd Amendment rights of Texas citizens. State Representative Wayne Smith (R-Baytown) co-authored each bill that passed.
The 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of American citizens to keep and bear arms and prevents the federal government from seizing firearms from law-abiding citizens without cause. Recently, however, the federal government has considered enacting measures that challenge this protection based on questionable constitutional grounds.
“As a strong defender of the U.S. Constitution and our individual freedoms, I am proud to have co-authored several bills that protect the 2nd Amendment rights of Texas citizens,” said Smith. “As the federal government continues to discuss measures that could infringe upon the 2nd Amendment, the Texas legislature is fighting back on behalf of law-abiding Texans.”
The Texas House of Representatives passed the following 2nd Amendment bills today:
House Bill 1076 seeks to proactively protect the 2nd Amendment rights of Texas citizens and the ability of our law enforcement officers to protect the public. The bill makes federal laws that restrict firearm ownership unenforceable within the state’s boundaries.
House Bill 1314 seeks to prevent the encroachment by the federal government on 2nd Amendment rights. The bill prevents the enforcement of federal laws that exceed the federal government’s constitutional authority by creating a new offense for the unlawful seizure of a firearm.
House Bill 972 will allow concealed handgun license holders to carry on the premises of public institutions of higher education. The goal of HB 972 is to provide students, faculty, and visitors on educational campuses the 2nd Amendment protections that may be necessary in life-threatening situations. The bill includes an “opt-out” provision that allows schools to reject participation.
House Bill 1304 seeks to remedy any ambiguity surrounding the proper concealment of a handgun by protecting a license holder from being penalized for accidentally displaying a handgun.
Representative Wayne Smith represents Texas House District 128, including Baytown, Deer Park, La Porte, Crosby, Highlands, Morgan's Point and a portion of Pasadena.
The Beretta Pico: Possibly the thinnest concealed carry gun available
By Richard L. Johnson - 5/6/2013
Beretta showed off the all new Pico pistol at the National Rifle Association Annual Meetings & Exhibits last week in Houston. This new gun is a subcompact pistol that is clearly aimed at the concealed carry market, and offers some features not commonly found on this class of pistol.
The new Pico is a tiny, subcompact pistol chambered for the .380 ACP and .32 ACP cartridges. As with many modern handgun designs, it has a polymer frame and stainless steel slide and barrel. The gun is double-action-only and fired with a traditional hammer, not a striker.
If you are familiar with the Nano, some of the Pico’s features will look familiar. In fact, the name Pico comes from the metric measuring system, just like the Nano. Pico is the next smaller unit of measurement from Nano. The Pico is even smaller than the Nano, hence the name.
This gun is thin. Really thin. As in 18mm thin. For those of you (like me) that are stuck on inches, that works out to be just shy of 0.71” wide. For a concealed carry gun, width is a big deal and this gun is really aiming for the minimalist description. I don’t know if that is the thinnest pistol in current production, but it has got to be one of the thinnest.
Beretta showed off the all new Pico pistol at the National Rifle Association Annual Meetings & Exhibits last week in Houston. This new gun is a subcompact pistol that is clearly aimed at the concealed carry market, and offers some features not commonly found on this class of pistol.
The new Pico is a tiny, subcompact pistol chambered for the .380 ACP and .32 ACP cartridges. As with many modern handgun designs, it has a polymer frame and stainless steel slide and barrel. The gun is double-action-only and fired with a traditional hammer, not a striker.
If you are familiar with the Nano, some of the Pico’s features will look familiar. In fact, the name Pico comes from the metric measuring system, just like the Nano. Pico is the next smaller unit of measurement from Nano. The Pico is even smaller than the Nano, hence the name.
This gun is thin. Really thin. As in 18mm thin. For those of you (like me) that are stuck on inches, that works out to be just shy of 0.71” wide. For a concealed carry gun, width is a big deal and this gun is really aiming for the minimalist description. I don’t know if that is the thinnest pistol in current production, but it has got to be one of the thinnest.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Colonial Cannibals and African Goats -1609
Blog Moderator:
NRA: Not About Guns, about Control. . .The central theme at the recent NRA convention was not about guns per se, but about control and responsibility.
This expands their mandate from the narrow focus of the 2nd amendment and guns to a larger platform that includes freedom (life and liberty) and the singular right (in the entire world) to self defense and self determination through private property.
Consequently, going forward from time to time when 2ndamendmentpa.com feels that a story, although it might not be literally about guns or the 2nd Amendment, might be of interest to our audience. . .we will publish it.
The following article by Glenn Harlan is such an article as it touches on two issues related to the 2nd amendment. . .American's exceptionalism as expressed by self-determination and free enterprise as expressed by self defense.
Colonial Cannibals and African Goats
By Glenn Harlan Reynolds - 5/6/2013
Last week, the story that starving settlers at the Jamestown colony America’s first English-speaking settlement appear to have resorted to cannibalism got a lot of attention. It even led columnist Walter Shapiro to tweet: “It complicates the myth of ‘American exceptionalism’ if evidence of cannibalism has been indeed found at Jamestown.”
But Shapiro is wrong. The Jamestown story doesn’t complicate the “myth” of American exceptionalism this was over a century and a half before America existed as a nation. In fact, it underscores two key founding principles of that exceptionalism: private property and free enterprise.
NRA: Not About Guns, about Control. . .The central theme at the recent NRA convention was not about guns per se, but about control and responsibility.
This expands their mandate from the narrow focus of the 2nd amendment and guns to a larger platform that includes freedom (life and liberty) and the singular right (in the entire world) to self defense and self determination through private property.
Consequently, going forward from time to time when 2ndamendmentpa.com feels that a story, although it might not be literally about guns or the 2nd Amendment, might be of interest to our audience. . .we will publish it.
The following article by Glenn Harlan is such an article as it touches on two issues related to the 2nd amendment. . .American's exceptionalism as expressed by self-determination and free enterprise as expressed by self defense.
Colonial Cannibals and African Goats
By Glenn Harlan Reynolds - 5/6/2013
Last week, the story that starving settlers at the Jamestown colony America’s first English-speaking settlement appear to have resorted to cannibalism got a lot of attention. It even led columnist Walter Shapiro to tweet: “It complicates the myth of ‘American exceptionalism’ if evidence of cannibalism has been indeed found at Jamestown.”
But Shapiro is wrong. The Jamestown story doesn’t complicate the “myth” of American exceptionalism this was over a century and a half before America existed as a nation. In fact, it underscores two key founding principles of that exceptionalism: private property and free enterprise.
NRA: We Will Never Surrender Our Guns
By Associated Press - 5/6/2013
HOUSTON -- A leader of an influential gun rights lobbying group implored members Saturday to never give up their weapons in the wake of recent gun control efforts in Congress that he said will "destroy us and every ounce of our freedom."
The National Rifle Association is holding its convention at a time when the gun rights group finds itself in a national fight over gun control in Washington, D.C., and state capitals around the U.S. The NRA had a major victory regarding gun control with the defeat last month in the U.S. Senate of a bill that would have expanded background checks for gun sales. But it lost ground in some places as several states passed laws expanding background checks and banning large ammunition magazines after December's mass shooting at a Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school that killed 20 children and six educators.
A defiant Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's executive vice president, said the "political and media elites" have tried to use December's school massacre and other recent ones "to blame us, to shame us, to compromise our freedom for their agenda."
"We will never surrender our guns, never," LaPierre told several thousand people during the organization's annual member meeting, which is part of the yearly NRA convention being held this weekend in Houston.
HOUSTON -- A leader of an influential gun rights lobbying group implored members Saturday to never give up their weapons in the wake of recent gun control efforts in Congress that he said will "destroy us and every ounce of our freedom."
The National Rifle Association is holding its convention at a time when the gun rights group finds itself in a national fight over gun control in Washington, D.C., and state capitals around the U.S. The NRA had a major victory regarding gun control with the defeat last month in the U.S. Senate of a bill that would have expanded background checks for gun sales. But it lost ground in some places as several states passed laws expanding background checks and banning large ammunition magazines after December's mass shooting at a Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school that killed 20 children and six educators.
A defiant Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's executive vice president, said the "political and media elites" have tried to use December's school massacre and other recent ones "to blame us, to shame us, to compromise our freedom for their agenda."
"We will never surrender our guns, never," LaPierre told several thousand people during the organization's annual member meeting, which is part of the yearly NRA convention being held this weekend in Houston.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Film Studios Say New York Gun Law May Ban Props
By Thomas Kaplan - -5/1/2013
Officials in the movie and television industry say the new laws could prevent them from using the lifelike assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that they have employed in shows like “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and films like “The Dark Knight Rises.”
Twenty-seven film and television projects, including programs like “Blue Bloods” and “Person of Interest,” are now in production in New York State using assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, according to the Motion Picture Association of America. Industry workers say that they need to use real weapons for verisimilitude, that it would be impractical to try to manufacture fake weapons that could fire blanks, and that the entertainment industry should not be penalized accidentally by a law intended as a response to mass shootings.
“Weapons are part of our history as a culture as humans,” said Ryder Washburn, vice president of the Specialists Ltd., a leading supplier of firearms for productions that is based in Manhattan. “To tell stories, you need them.”
Young Voters Aren't Sold on Gun Control
By Susan Milligan - 5/1/2013
Young people have helped push the gay marriage issue to the forefront, with so many voters 30 and under supporting marriage equality that Republicans have been forced to accept – or at least re-examine – the matter. Sticking to an anti-gay rights agenda could cost the GOP votes down the road, and many Republicans are wisely seeing that on a purely political basis, things need to change.
The same trend, however, is not mirrored on the matter of gun control. According to a recent study by Harvard University's Institute of Politics, voters aged 18-29 are not clamoring for more gun control, even after the tragedies in Colorado and at Sandy Hook elementary school.
Young people have helped push the gay marriage issue to the forefront, with so many voters 30 and under supporting marriage equality that Republicans have been forced to accept – or at least re-examine – the matter. Sticking to an anti-gay rights agenda could cost the GOP votes down the road, and many Republicans are wisely seeing that on a purely political basis, things need to change.
The same trend, however, is not mirrored on the matter of gun control. According to a recent study by Harvard University's Institute of Politics, voters aged 18-29 are not clamoring for more gun control, even after the tragedies in Colorado and at Sandy Hook elementary school.
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