Holidays
We took a couple days off last week for Thanksgiving. (Can you take off when you’re retired?) Hope everyone had a good one. And don’t expect a newsletter on Christmas or New Year’s Day either!
- On Bein’ Thankful [American Handgunner]
Speaking of holidays, some staff members at an Ohio nursing home dressed as deer (sort of), and invited residents to “hunt” them with Nerf guns. Great fun. And all this time I didn’t think nursing homes were any fun. Like Jeff Foxworthy says, there are rednecks everywhere.
What’s on tap for the Biden/Harris administration?
Well, according to GOA, Biden’s first priority is to add 11,000,000 Democrat-leaning illegal aliens to the voting rolls. And there’s more:
- Gun Grabbers Demand Unprecedented “Executive Actions”
- Tucker Carlson: Joe Biden and his gun-grabbing, open-borders, soft-on-China advisers
TWO U.S. Senate races in Georgia.
We understand that the Left is currently leading in the polls. Also, gun-banning racist space cadet (spacist?) Mark Kelly has been sworn in (by a purple-haired colleague) to the U.S. Senate seat in Arizona. These two Georgia seats are CRITICAL. Please donate generously. Again.
If the two Georgia races result in a Democrat majority, they will make Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York the new majority leader, paving the way for possibilities like ending the Senate filibuster that requires 60 votes for most legislation, packing the U.S. Supreme Court by adding radical revisionist justices to offset the high court’s current balance, approving statehood for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in order to add four more Democratic senators, federal legislation mandating ballot harvesting to ensure that gun grabbers retain a permanent majority, passing measures such as the Green New Deal and “Medicare for All,” and slashing spending for the military and law enforcement.
We also have a report that at least four major Democrat groups are currently working to get Northern Democrats to move to Georgia for a day, vote, and then leave, which is a felony – something in which the Left seems to be well versed.
Related politics
Extremely anti-gun U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has been pushed out of her role as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee by Democrats who don’t think she is evil enough.
We have word that the number of libertarian presidential votes received in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania exceeds Joe Biden’s margin over Donald Trump in all those states, meaning that had the libertarians in each of those states voted for Mr. Trump, he would have been reelected. I told y’all not to vote for a third party candidate.
Judiciary
The U.S. Senate has confirmed the nomination of Taylor B. McNeel of Pascagoula to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi. McNeel will be the 228th federal judge confirmed to a lifetime appointment by the Senate since President Donald J. Trump took office in January 2017.
Litigation, lots of it.
Two separate cases dealing with Second Amendment challenges to federal and state gun laws have recently been decided by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and now both lawsuits will head to the Supreme Court.
Regarding the Folajtar vs. United States case above concerning the lifetime ban on nonviolent felons possessing guns, Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephanos Bibas noted that a radio talk show host can become a felon for uttering “any obscene, indecent, or profane language by means of radio communication,” opening a bottle of ketchup at the supermarket and putting it back on the shelf is a felony in New Jersey, and so is “reading another person’s email without permission” in Pennsylvania.
The Firearms Policy Coalition and two individuals have filed a new federal Second and Fourteenth Amendment lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia, PA, its Police Commissioner, Danielle Outlaw, and Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Robert Evanchick, challenging their laws and policies that infringe law-abiding individuals’ right to bear arms in public. The City’s Gun Permit Unit was recently shut down, denying citizens the ability to obtain the permit required for them to carry a gun.
Similarly, the FPC and three individuals filed a new federal Second and Fourteenth Amendment lawsuit against Allegheny County Sheriff William P. Mullen, the County of Allegheny, and Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Robert Evanchick challenging their laws and policies that infringe law-abiding individuals’ right to bear arms in public after Sheriff Mullen, the County of Allegheny, and their Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office closed the Firearms Division.
Second Amendment attorney Reed Martz, representing Gun Owners of America and an individual, has filed a federal lawsuit in Alabama against the U.S. Department of Justice, challenging the ATF’s refusal to accept Alabama’s CCP permits as a legal alternative to a NICS check for a gun purchase.
The Second Amendment Foundation and its sister organization, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms have filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court challenging the state of Maryland’s ban on common semiautomatic rifles. The case is Bianchi, et al. v. Frosh, et al.
Attorneys representing the Second Amendment Foundation, National Rifle Association, two Washington state gun retailers, and three private citizens have filed an appeal brief with the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in their challenge of gun control Initiative 1639, a measure adopted two years ago in the Evergreen State.
Pro-gun groups piling on.
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a search was illegal: A San Francisco police officer saw a car with no plates parked at a gas pump. Unable to approach the driver’s side, he walks up to the passenger’s side, opens the door, and leans in to talk to the driver. Upon discovering that the driver has a suspended license, the officer arrests the driver, and an inventory search of the car turns up a handgun. The driver is convicted of being a felon in possession. But opening the door and leaning into the car violated the Fourth Amendment, so the evidence is excluded.
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of appeals has held that a former police officer in Glendale, California has standing to sue the city of Los Angeles as well as individual police officers who melted down hundreds of firearms from his private collection after they were seized in a criminal investigation. He’s seeking $4.8 million for permanent deprivation of his civil rights.
NRA admits that current and former executives used the group’s money for personal benefit and enrichment.
But we all knew that. I am inclined to agree at least in part with anti-gun New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), who said, “Mr. [NRA EVP Wayne] LaPierre’s reimbursement of just a fraction of the millions he personally profited from indicates how the NRA went unchecked under his leadership.” And I wonder why the IRS investigation is not in the news.
Meanwhile, the Everytown gun ban group is afraid that Donald Trump, Jr. may take over NRA’s EVP position from Wayne LaPierre. Junior denies it, but we can always hope.
The pinnacle of idiocy?
“Guns have no place in shopping malls or other places in which crowds of people gather. Mayfair has a strict no-gun policy. If the shooter had complied with that policy, no one would have been hurt yesterday.” – Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Mayor Dennis R. McBride, the day after the Nov. 20 Mayfair Mall shootings when eight people were injured.
No mention of the shooter complying with the “policy” of not shooting people, or the fact that the suspect, a 15-year-old boy, both possessed and carried his gun illegally. But we can expect calls for more gun control for the lawful, since criminals don’t comply with laws.
Massacre
An attack on farm workers in northeast Nigeria last weekend blamed on Islamic jihadists left at least 110 dead. The report says it was the deadliest attack on civilians THIS year, and that the attackers tied up their victims and slit their throats. My understanding is that gun control laws in Nigeria are extremely restrictive, essentially allowing only licensed people to own a gun, and limiting those to single shot or double barrel shotguns.
Miscellaneous
Enemies
Thomas Moyer, Apple’s head of global security, was charged with bribery for allegedly promising to donate iPads to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office in exchange for concealed-weapons permits, according to an indictment made public last week. Apple’s sprawling headquarters in Cupertino, California falls within Santa Clara County and is staffed with security. Two SCSO officers were also indicted (see below).
Apple CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly in the past called for more gun control laws, describing our current freedoms under the Constitution as “insanity.” Apple (which includes icloud.com, mac.com, me.com, etc.) has also been blocking delivery of pro-gun communications similar to this newsletter for a few years.
Anti-gun durnfool Ed Stack, 65, is stepping down as CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. after three decades at the helm of the retailer he built into a national chain and then led into the gun ban cesspool. Stack, who is Dick’s biggest shareholder (perhaps one could say biggest Dick), will stay on as chairman and chief merchant. I will stay on the Boycott Dick’s bandwagon.
The Only Ones
A yearlong investigation has found that more than 200 firearms went missing from the Philadelphia, PA Sheriff’s Office between 1977 and 2015. Philadelphia, the city and county share the same borders.
Santa Clara, CA, Undersheriff Rick Sung and Capt. James Jensen, who allegedly requested bribes in exchange for the issuance of elusive CCW permits in that county, have been indicted, along with the chief of Apple’s security.
A federal lawsuit claims Jackson, MS Police Commander (Ret.) Donald Gater pointed a loaded pistol at the head of a female detective when she asked him about an investigation. If true, that is a crime. No word on any criminal charges.
A polio-disabled 70-year-old man battled with a home intruder as 18 Broward County, FL, deputies waited down the street after responding to his 911 call. That seems to be the SOP in Broward County. John Farnam calls this “Tactical Loitering.”
Scott Elliott Russell, a master officer with the South Jordan, UT, Police Department allegedly kidnapped a member of his own family on Thanksgiving Day in what police described as a “paranoid” episode.
Warriors
Veterans
The Trump administration has granted every U.S. military veteran and Gold Star family in the United States free access to national parks, wildlife refuges and other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior.
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Revolver lessons
Personally, I prefer a lightweight Charter .44 Spl. or 6-shot Colt D frame .38 snubby over the typical 5-shot .38 models, but wouldn’t argue with a .327 Federal Magnum or .357 Remington Magnum if you don’t mind the fireworks.
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Dr. Lott moves
Last month, economist and author Dr. John Lott, 62, left the Crime Prevention Research Center, a nonprofit group he founded seven years ago, to take a job as a senior adviser for research and statistics at the Office of Justice Programs – a U.S. Department of Justice division that awards $5 billion in grants each year to states, police departments and nonprofit groups. The office also conducts research into the causes of crime and gathers statistics on criminal justice topics, which is right up Lott’s alley. But we wonder what President-elect Biden will have to say about Lott’s candor about citizen gun use.
Lott’s role as president of CPRC was turned over earlier this month to Andrew Pollack, who emerged as a prominent pro-gun voice after his 18-year-old daughter Meadow was killed in the shooting massacre at the gun-free Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in 2018.
Meanwhile, the Everytown gun ban groups are “furious” over the news. Good.
A Capitol idea
But of course the Constitution says nothing about government officials carrying guns, while it does guarantee the right of ordinary people to do that.
Another idea
If I recall/understand correctly, the law requires that FFLs which go out of business must either transfer their “bound book” gun sales records to the ATF, or to another FFL.
A lot of people don’t want their records sent to ATF. But I suspect that a lot of FFLs don’t have any interest in acquiring more records for which they would be responsible, unless they’re also acquiring the business.
So, what if the NSSF or a similar organization (maybe the Cody Firearms Museum, etc.) acquired the appropriate FFL licenses for the sole purpose of being a private repository for those defunct dealer records?
Sales
USA Today reported that there were 186,645 NICS checks on Black Friday 2020, making it the fourth-highest one-day total for NICS checks on record.
Ammo
How much ammo could an ammo maker make, if an ammo maker could make ammo?
Why?
I figured out why Democrats don’t like guns. It’s because the government doesn’t give them away.
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Hunting
The Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is lamenting the too-fast growing deer herd in the state and the fact that harvest by hunters is down, which they say will lead to overpopulation problems. I suggest they get rid of their pages of onerous, unnecessary, and difficult-to-remember deer hunting regulations.
Hunting safety. Be careful up there.
Duck hunting in the South
Video originally posted here.
Obit
RIP Walter Williams (more here).
Industry news
GSM Outdoors, a multi-brand manufacturer of specialized hunting, shooting, and gear, has acquired the Cold Steel knife company.
GunBroker.com will begin collecting sales tax as a marketplace facilitator.
Recalls
Smith & Wesson has issued a safety recall for some M&P Shield EZ pistols manufactured this year, due to potentially cracked hammers which can fail to fully engage the sear, causing the round to fire, cycling the slide, and potentially resulting in multiple discharges without depressing the trigger.
Sig Sauer, Inc. has issued a safety recall for all CROSS Bolt-Action Rifles currently manufactured, after discovering that some of them exhibit a delayed discharge after the trigger is pulled. (Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.)
Products
Federal Premium’s Force X2 12 gauge load, which uses nine 00 buckshot pellets engineered to split into two pieces on impact, promises to create up to 18 wound channels. The problem is, when tested in 10% ballistic gel, the penetration averaged 9.5 inches. Use solid buckshot.
Remember last time we mentioned that Geissele Automatics is now selling re-branded D&H AR-15 magazines? Well, here are the D&H originals for just $10 each.
Federal Premium has its new Swift Scirocco II centerfire rifle hunting loads lineup available in nine calibers. The Scirocco II’s features include a bonded jacket, polymer tip and high ballistic coefficient.
Ruger’s latest press release says the company looks “forward to reintroducing Marlin rifles in the latter half of 2021.”
In the meantime, Henry Repeating Arms has announced lots of new rifle and shotgun model variants for 2021, updating all of its steel-framed rifles with side gate loaders. ‘Bout time.
Alliant Powder has released its new “410” flake propellant specifically designed for .410 bore skeet and field loads. It’s claimed to have the usual advantages, plus excellent charging characteristics while minimizing annoying loading press charge bar leakage.
Royal Tiger Imports has announced that they have located a trove of M1 Carbines in Ethiopia and were able to purchase a number of these weapons and import them into the U.S. They are listing the weapons on their web site. Some are offered with original magazines, slings, and/or oilers.
Jim Cirillo’s book, “Tales of the Stakeout Squad,” is again available, and expanded.
Steiner Optics TOR Series of Pistol Lasers and Light are now available.
Sig Sauer has announced that all of its future suppressors will be constructed by additive manufacturing (3D printing), with their first being the new MOD-X9, a designated 9mm pistol suppressor printed from titanium with a user-configurable modular 8-baffle design weighing 8 oz.
A new Bob Lee Swagger novel entitled “Targeted,” by author Stephen Hunter is due out August 3, 2021.
Quotes
“If three criminals invaded your home, endangering the lives of you and your loved ones, are you such a sharpshooter that you could take them all out with a clip holding ten bullets?” – Thomas Sowell
“FFL’s should be able to sell guns by mail without seeing the customer if it’s so safe and secure to vote by mail without seeing the voter!” – U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)
“For those of us who work in marbled halls, guarded constantly by a vigilant and dedicated police force, the guarantees of the Second Amendment might seem antiquated and superfluous. But the framers made a clear choice: They reserved to all Americans the right to bear arms for self-defense.” – SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas
