Doing My Part To Stimulate The (Gun) Economy - 2013 Edition (Updated)

Herewith my annual listing of Black Friday or pre-Black Friday deals that are gun, knife, outdoor, tactical, or prep related. In the past I've posted this list later in the week but it seems that a number of retailers aren't waiting to Friday or even Thursday. I will be doing updates through the week as more of the deals are released.

I have included any coupon codes if needed. If you find others, please share them in the comments section.

If you know of other Black Friday sales, please share them in the comments section.

The Old Grouch Military Surplus

I'm giving my friend Tim the place of honor in this list. The Old Grouch's Military Surplus Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale Starts NOW! Deep Discounts On Select Items & 10% off everything else!

MidwayUSA

Begins Monday, Nov. 25th at Midnight CST and last for eight days.

Brownells

Begins on Thanksgiving at 12am CST and end at 11:59pm CST 12/2

Stag Arms

Sale is effective 12:01AM EST November 29, 2013 to 11:59PM EST Dec 1st, 2013. Most items are limited quantity. They will be selling a number of Stag Arms uppers including the 1H, 2H, and 3H. The doorbuster price on the 1H is $395.

Fight and Flight Tactical

Fight and Flight Tactical will be having a 20% off sale from 0001 on Saturday, Nov 30th thru 2359 Monday, Dec 2nd, for Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Discount code is “stayhomeblackfriday”

Crosman Airguns

BLACK FRIDAY: Benjamin Marauder .25cal – $499.99; Benjamin Marauder .22cal – $479.99; Crosman M4177 (black or tan model) & MK-177 – $59.99

CYBER MONDAY: Benjamin Marauder .177cal – $479.99; MAR177 upper for standard AR lower – $500; Crosman M4177 (black or tan model) & MK-177 – $59.99; …plus 20% off crosmantactical.com all weekend.

 Bass Pro Shops

The in-store event starts at Bass Pro on Friday at 5am. Their 6-hour sale includes a brick of Winchester .22 LR for $25 and a Ruger 10/22 with LaserMax for $299. They also have a 5-day sale starting on Wednesday which includes a Remington VersaMax for $1,199 and a Ruger 10/22 for $229. 

Cabelas

Black Friday starts at 5am on Nov. 29th. Doorbusters include a Ruger 10/22 with LaserMax for $249, a Sig Sauer 1911-22 for $349, and a Remington 700 ADL with scope for $499. See the preview ad here.

Dick's Sporting Goods

Given their wimpy response post-Newtown, I would not shop there if they were given away bricks of .22 LR and Colt ARs for free. You are on your own for them.

MilitaryGear.com

10% off and free shipping. Use promo code "SAVE". Starts on 11/24 and ends on 12/1.

Tactical Distributors

20% off sitewide with promo code "BF20". Starts Wednesday, 11/27 and ends on Monday, 12/2.

OP Tactical

OP Tactical will be running a Black Friday Sale from 12pm EST on 27 NOV until Midnight on 29 NOV. Use promo code "TDAY2013".

SORD-USA

Receive 25% off ALL products from SORD. Use promo code "BLKSVZ2012".

TacticalGear.com

 10% off and free shipping. Use promo code "BLACKFRIDAY". Starts on 11/24 and ends on 12/1.

Tractor Supply Co.

On Friday only, they will be selling the Cannon wide body safe for $699. Also of interest to hunters would be their Masterbuilt Electric Digital Smoker, trail cams, and a tent blind.

Daniel Defense

Daniel Defense is featuring rifle-mounted Contour cameras as well as other accessories at 40% off starting today through Monday, December 1st.

TNVC - Tactical Night Vision Company

The TNVC Christmas Sale is going on now through the end of the year. Use promo code "XMAS13" at checkout for substantial discounts on both night vision and lasers.

Gander Mountain

Friday-only specials include the Ruger LCP for $299, the Liberty Revolution 12 gun safe for $349, and the Bushmaster Carbon 15 for $799. Saturday-only deals include the Ruger LC9 with Crimson Trace LaserGuard for $549 and the S&W MP22 .22LR pistol for $379.

Academy Sports and Outdoor

Academy Sports has started early and is a running a pre-Black Friday sale that runs through Wednesday. Some of the items include the Remington VersaMax Sportsmans 12 gauge shotgun for $829, the Walther PPX 9mm for $399, and the Para-USA Expert .45 ACP 1911 for $579.

Sportsman's Warehouse

Their Black Friday sale starts at 6am. Among the items listed are Ruger SR1911s in both Government and Commander models for $599, the Garmin GPSMAP 62s for $199, and 1,000 rounds of Federal American Eagle 55-grain .223 ammo for $399.

Dunham Sports

Their Black Friday sale starts at 8pm on Thanksgiving and goes to 3pm on Friday. Among the items listed are a Bushmaster Optics Ready Carbine for $799, the Remington 770 for $279, and the Cannon Safari 36 gun safe for $549.

Big 5 Sporting Goods

Their Black Friday sale starts at 5am and goes to 4pm on Friday. Among their doorbusters is the Howa Whitetail rifle in either .308 or .223 for $619.

LaRue Tactical

Now through Christmas, they are holding their PolymAR sale. This is to celebrate the finishing of their polymer production facility. They are offering 25% off all individual polymer items and 35% off combo items.

UPDATE:

Botach

Black Friday sale starts on Tuesday and all Black Friday specials get an automatic 10% taken off when placed in the cart.

The Mako Group

Sale starts on Friday and continues through Cyber Monday. 30% off with promo code "BrightFriday". Items included are the Meprolight reflex sight and the steel E-Lander AR magazines.

Wilson Combat

The sales starts on Tuesday. Items include their excellent 1911 magazines, AR triggers, and holsters.

Sig Sauer

Black Friday sale will feature their Sig516 7.5" and 10" uppers. Other AR accessories are 20% off.

7.62 Design

Black Friday/Cyber Monday starts today (Tuesday). 30% off all products with promo code "PILGRIM13"

Surefire

Thanksgiving evening sale goes from 8pm until 11:59pm EST. Up to 50% off on select products with promo code "thanks50".

Midwest Gun Works

The promotion starts on Thanksgiving and continues through Monday at midnight CST. Use promo code "BLKFRI" to get free mail shipping on orders under $100 and free UPS Ground on orders over $100.

CalGuns Foundation Store

To celebrate their grand reopening, they are offering free shipping on all orders over $20 and have many items on sale. Even better the proceeds go to support Second Amendment efforts in California.

Gun Digest Books

50% off all Gun Digest books now through Sunday, Dec. 1st.

LA Police Gear

Using promo code FRIDAY11 gets you an additional 11% off through 11/28/13.

UPDATE II: More and more sale notices are being sent out by stores and manufacturers. I'll try to keep up with as many as possible.

Gunsite

Their proshop is offering free shipping on anything ordered through them over the weekend. More importantly, they are offering class discounts.

Gunsite’s ‘Training’ Black Raven Weekend sale is $200 off any 2014 class. Simply fax your application to 928-636-1236 or mail it in with a postmark of November 29– Dec 1, to 2900 W. Gunsite Rd. Paulden, AZ. 86334 or email it to coordinator@gunsite.com. We will not be in the office on Black Raven Weekend, however we will honor all applications received those days.

Nosler

This Cyber Monday, take advantage of amazing deals on Nosler Rifles! Both new and factory refurbished rifles will be available at prices that won't last. Contact Shawn Finley at shawnf@nosler.com or 800-285-3701 ext 1028 to reserve your rifle--but orders will not be accepted until Monday December 2nd, 2013 at 8:30am PST. Limited to on-hand rifles only.

Barrett Rifles

Cyber Monday sale includes their REC 7 5.56 upper and REC 7 mags in 6.8 SPC.

Wing Supply

Black Friday sale includes Mossy Oak Duck Blinds for $239, Drake Interceptor camo pants or shirts for $24.95, and a lot of other duck hunting gear. Sale goes until 12/4.

Bravo Company

Their Black Friday is Going Hot sale includes demo/scratched uppers for $74.95, Surefire 100 round mags for $139, and a lot of other stuff.

Ruger

Their Pre-Black Friday sales include holsters from Blackhawk, fiber optic sights for the LC9/LC380, and magazines.

Red State Tactical

 Sale includes a number of Daniel Defense uppers, High Speed Gear mag pouches, and the Blue Force Gear Vickers VCAS Sling.

Core Rifle Systems

Free shipping on all orders Friday through Sunday. Includes a number of 300 Blackout uppers and rifles plus Magpul MOE sets for $99. All orders are entered in a raffle to win a Core Rifle in 300 Blackout.

Galco Gunleather

Use promo code "BLACKFRI13" to get 20% off of everything, Thursday through Sunday.

London Bridge Trading

Running from 27 November and ending on 3 December.  70% off all universal camo items in stock. Also they are selling their coyote large wheeled loadout bags for $49. These normally sell for $520.

Vermont's Barre Army Navy

Free shipping on orders above $99 and 20% off of everything if you take their customer survey.

Brous Blades

All in-stock fixed blades are 30% off.

Uncle Sam's Retail Outlet

Save 40% on your whole order on Nov. 29 and 30. (Has great military surplus coming straight from DoD warehouses.)

FNH-USA

Use promo code "BLACKCYBER" to get 15% off of soft goods. Excludes firearm accessories. Also buy 3 20-round SCAR 17s mags and get a free T-shirt 11/28 until 12/1.

LaRue Tactical Black Rifle Days

Free shipping on all orders over $200.

Many more tactically oriented Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals can be found at Soldier Systems compilation of deals found here.

Meddlesome Democrats Want Federal Action On "Stand Your Ground" Laws

In theory, the police powers have traditionally been reserved for the states in our federal system of government. Police powers are those concerned with the health, safety, and welfare of the people. Intrusion by the Federal government into these areas which have been traditionally reserved to the states has grown over the last century. And now, a group of meddlesome Democrats want to intrude even more.

Yesterday, a letter was sent to Attorney General Eric Holder asking for the Justice Department to gather more data on justifiable homicides where the Stand Your Ground defense was invoked. This effort is led by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) in the Senate and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) in the House. Other signatories include Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL).

From TheHill:

The group is also seeking data on other variables of such killings, including their location, information about who in the altercation was armed, the kind of weapons used and reasons they were justified.

“We believe this information would prove extremely useful in helping to evaluate the laws that govern the use of lethal force and in quantifying the impact of such laws on public safety and civil rights,” the lawmakers wrote to Holder...

The lawmakers are also asking the Justice Department to sponsor research through the National Institute of Justice related to trends in justifiable homicides and state-by-state analyses of the impacts of different variations of "stand your ground" laws.

Durbin, citing existing research, said the laws have led to increased violence.

The letter includes a request to order research by the National Institute of Justice into instances of "lethal force by individuals have been issued a concealed carry permit" and whether such use of lethal force resulted in any prosecutions. They also are demanding research into whether variations in concealed carry laws have a "statistically significant impact on the incidence and outcome of uses of lethal force."

In my opinion, this letter should be seen as not only an attack on self-defense laws but also on our Second Amendment rights. Given who is spearheading this attack, Dick Durbin and Elijah Cummings, you have to wonder if it is really about public safety and civil rights and not about midterm elections and energizing black voters. That, and protecting gangs such as the Black Guerrilla Family in Baltimore and the Latin Kings, Conservative Vice Lords, and Gangsters in Chicago.

The Logic Of Violence

Billy Johnson is one of the newer NRA News commentators. He is also, in my opinion, one of the more erudite and cerebral of their commentators. His latest commentary discusses the logic of violence.

The public and policy makers clamor for an end to violence. Unfortunately, they usually focus on a tool used in the commission of a violent act. That tool is a firearm. By focusing so much on the tool, the root cause of the problem is never defined nor understood.

Johnson says that most violence has a logic to it. That logic could be the use of violence to achieve social standing as in a gang dominant culture or it could be the use of violence to achieve immediate celebrity and infamy as in rampage murder. By understanding the logic of violence, Johnson contends we could use that knowledge as a tool to reduce violence.

Watch the video and then watch it again. It is not a flip or breezy video about the stupidity of the gun prohibitionists. Rather it is an intellectual argument that forces you to think. Armed with this knowledge, we can make a better argument of the ways to reduce violence in our society and in our streets.

Colion Noir on "Gun Safety"

Colion Noir, in his latest commentary for NRA News, takes on one of my pet peeves. That is, the renaming of gun control and confiscation as gun safety (sic) by the gun prohibitionists, the mainstream media, and the White House. If they want to talk about gun safety, they need to be talking about Colonel Cooper's Four Rules.

Proposals for universal background checks, a new assault weapon (sic) ban, and magazine bans have nothing to do with actual gun safety. When the gun prohibitionists use the term "gun safety" they have the same intent as when they used the term "gun control".

As Colion Noir says, thinking that all they have to do is change the name shows they have the same amount of respect for us that they do for the Second Amendment. In other words, none.

Comment Of The Day

The comment of the day actually comes from this past Saturday. Sebastian had a post on the Melissa Bachman non-controversial lion hunt that has been made into a hate-filled cause ce'le'bre by the world-wide anti-hunting element. Sebastian pointed out the hunting variation of the "I'm a gun owner but..." rationale.

Clayton Cramer had this great comment in the comments section:

Whenever I run into a Fudd, I remind them of one really ugly fact: most of us “extremists” are trying to defend gun rights because of self-defense. If the right to protect yourself from a murderer, rapist, or robber isn’t sufficient reason to own a gun, what makes you think that having a gun for entertainment is going to be a good enough reason?

We all hang together, or we will most assuredly all hang separately.

While a counter-argument could be made that a firearm is necessary to feed one's family, very few people in this country exist anymore on what they hunt or what they gather.

Clayton's assertion that we need to hang together is spot-on. I rarely hunt anymore but I'll defend both meat hunters and trophy hunters against the PETAfiles. I just ask that they try and return the favor.

Confirms Why We Shouldn't "Glorify" Rampage Killings

Investigators in Connecticut released a report yesterday concerning the December 2011 murders in Newtown. It says the shooter was "obsessed" with mass murders.

From the Wall Street Journal:

During their search of the (redacted) home, law-enforcement officials found a spreadsheet that tracked mass murders over the years, including the names of the assailants and information about each incident. They also found a "large amount of materials relating to Columbine shootings" as well as a "computer game titled 'School Shooting' where the player controls a character who enters a school and shoots at students" and "commercial movies depicting mass shootings," the report said.

Stephen Sedensky III, state's attorney for the Judicial District of Danbury, CT, who led the investigation said they may never conclusively know the killer's motivation "despite the collection of extensive background information on the shooter through a multitude of interviews and other sources."

However, the shooter's obsession with mass murders in general and Columbine in particular serves to prove Ari Schulman's contention that the media-driven publicity of these killings only serves to feed the next killer.

I Can Suggest A Better Placemat

Soon to be former Mayor Bloomberg and his band of Illegal Mayors have an odd suggestion for a placement for your Thanksgiving Dinner. See their tweet below:

This thanksgiving, help set the table straight! Use this placemat: http://t.co/lVeCzYnmCO
— Demand Action (@DemandAction) November 25, 2013

You can see a better picture of their gun prohibitionist's propaganda in the picture shown below:

I can make a better suggestion that is more appropriate and that will protect your table from spills of gravy, wine, or any other liquid that might get on the table. Not only will it protect your table but it will be educational. Get a few different ones and you make Thanksgiving a gunny education!

Go old school:

Or go new school:

An Ideal Christmas Present

I came across these "Guildsman's Shears" on Pinterest. They belong to Aerosmith's Joe Perry who I understand is quite the knife/blade collector.





I think these would make a great gift for anyone who sews. I could see the Complementary Spouse repelling home invaders with a pair of these and then return to quilting.

Natalie Foster - "Profit"

Natalie Foster dissects the "greedy gun company" myth in her latest NRA News Commentary video. She discusses how uninformed people might be taken in by the gun prohibitionists' claim that gun companies only care about the bottom line and don't care about people or safety.

Of course, as Natalie notes, gun companies don't put profit over safety. Moreover, most gun companies are family run companies and that these companies care about their customers.





As I've said many times, the move by NRA News to offer viewpoints from younger commentators such as Natalie and ColionNoir is a smart one. It shows that the gun culture is not a monolithic culture made up of old redneck white guys. That stereotype might work for some markets but it is a myth and these videos effectively challenge it.

Trigger Finger Discipline

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has released another of their training tips videos. This one is with Adam Painchaud of the Sig Sauer Academy. In this video, Adam demonstrates a training technique for working on your trigger finger discipline so that you will press and not jerk the trigger.

He is using a single action pistol but it would work with any pistol that doesn't have a magazine disconnect. Adam starts by loading a round in the chamber and then removing the magazine. He then takes an aimed shot and then lets the trigger reset. The shooter follows this up with a dry fire aimed shot. If your front sight wobbles on the dry fire shot, you have found your accuracy problem.

What's Up With Alamance County

Alamance County, North Carolina is considering a ban on all firearms in county buildings. Currently, only concealed weapons are banned. However, they are reacting to two non-incidents where an open carrier went in to pay their tax bills at the Tax Collector's Office.

These individuals went in, paid their bills, and left. They were not like some open carry protesters carrying a slung shotgun or rifle but merely carrying a pistol on their hip. Open carry has been legal in North Carolina since the early 1920s based  upon the North Carolina Supreme Court case of State v. Kerner.

Grass Roots North Carolina has issued an alert on the moves by county commissioners to consider the ban.

COUNTY TO DISCUSS GUN BAN

The Times-News is reporting that Alamance County Commissioners are considering a comprehensive gun ban in County Buildings. Not known for being an anti-Second Amendment group, it may seem perplexing that Alamance County leaders would consider such a thing. Apparently, the discussion springs from a couple of recent incidents that are only remarkable in the fact that they are not “incidents” at all.

On a couple of occasions, citizens going about their daily business had stopped in to county offices to pay their taxes. While doing so, they happened to be open-carrying firearms. There has been no suggestion that the citizens acted strangely or threateningly in any way, and it’s worth noting that it is perfectly legal to open-carry in Alamance County buildings. To summarize the situation: no incident occurred, and no laws were broken. However, to be fair, it should be noted that some taxes were paid. So, where’s the problem?

It’s reported that some county employees expressed that they were “scared” by the presence of the lawfully armed citizens paying their taxes. So now, based on the feelings of a few individuals, the Commissioners are considering an all-out gun ban. That would be a gun ban on the very property that is funded by the taxes that these citizens came in to pay. The irony is striking.

When asked about the non-incidents, Sheriff Terry Johnson stated:

“I am a believer in a man’s right to bear arms, but you don’t walk into a county building with a gun strapped on the side of you.”
> Which is it? Do the people have the right to bear arms, or don’t they? If Sheriff Johnson truly believes in that right, and intends to honor his oath to protect it, you’d think that he would be incensed that the County Commissioners would even consider a gun ban. One might even point out that Sheriff Johnson himself frequents county buildings, presumably with a gun strapped on his side. The irony is snowballing.

Unfortunately, Alamance County buildings are already posted against concealed carry, which means there is only one option left for citizens to legally bear arms if they need to pass through that particular public space. An additional restriction, one on open-carry, would establish a de facto 100% gun ban, and that would surely call into question Sheriff Johnson’s and the Commissioners’ commitment to the rights of the citizens they serve. However foolish and ineffective it may be, property owners have every right to ban guns from their private lands and structures. Such is the nature of private ownership. However, if there is any place where the Bill of Rights is clearly applicable, and ought to be non-negotiable, it is on public property. County officials are elected and hired to serve the citizens of the county. It is the citizen who has the right to bear arms, and he or she has the right to do so primarily on public property, for the very reason that it is public—the citizens own it. If the County Commissioners claim the authority to infringe on this right, one can only wonder what’s next.

A gentle prompting may be needed to nudge the Alamance County Commissioners in the right direction. Surely, once they hear from their supervisors (the people), they will recall what it is they are charged with protecting, and whom they are charged with serving. Below, you’ll find contact information and a message that can be used to communicate your concerns to the County Commissioners.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

E-mail the Alamance County Commissioners. Below you will find a recommended e-mail message you can use. Also, under ‘Contact Info,’ you’ll find a copy-paste e-mail address list for the commissioners.

CONTACT INFO

Copy & Paste *e-mail list for the County Commissioners:
blashley62@yahoo.com; tkm@triad.rr.com; lhmassey@bellsouth.net; timdsutton@hotmail.com; timdsutton@justice.com

*No e-mail address available for Commissioner David I. Smith
His mailing address is:
PO Box 1854
Burlington, NC 27216

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: "No Gun Bans on Taxpayer Owned Property"

Dear Alamance County Commissioners,

I have recently been informed that there has been discussion among the County Commissioners about establishing a gun ban in county buildings.

With that in mind, I’m writing to remind the Commissioners that the citizens of Alamance County have a right to bear arms, and it is particularly on public property where this right ought to be recognized and protected. I respectfully insist that County Commissioners not machinate to deny Alamance County citizens their Second Amendment rights. Of course, I assume that you are a supporter of such rights, but passing an ordinance establishing a gun ban in county buildings would, unfortunately, prove my assumption incorrect.

To remain consistent with the supreme law of the land, and as a show of respect to the citizens you serve, I ask that you discount any thoughts of a gun ban on taxpayer-owned property. I will be monitoring your actions on this issue via alerts from Grass Roots North Carolina.

Respectfully,

Technology Shouldn't Be Allowed To Trump The Second Amendment

The Wall Street Journal had an article today about the development of so-called smart guns and how this may trigger a decade old law in New Jersey. In 2002 New Jersey passed a law saying that within three years after a so-called smart gun is available for sale on the US market and that the state's Attorney General has certified it as reliable, then all new handguns sold there must have that technology.

BATFE has approved the German-made iP1 Pistol by Armatix for importation into the US and it is expected to hit the market by the end of the year. It has also be certified for California's handgun roster. The iP1 pistol uses a RFID chip which requires communication with a special watch. In addition, the "Intelligun" from Kodiak Industries in Utah which uses a fingerprint-scan is also about to come to market.

"The technology is here," said Nicola Bocour, a director at Ceasefire NJ, a gun-violence (sic) prevention group. "Apple is using biometrics with its smartphones. Guns are next."

Backers of New Jersey's law and signed by then-Gov. James McGreevey hope it would cut down on suicides and firearms accidents, especially those involving children. "Our thought was that the bill, if passed, would save lives every year, without infringing anyone's rights," said Stephen Teret, a professor of public health at Johns Hopkins University who helped New Jersey craft the law.

The New Jersey law specifically exempts law enforcement from having to use personalized guns. If the law's authors thought the technology not reliable enough for law enforcement use, then why is it considered good enough for the public?

Professor Teret is quite mistaken if he thinks this law doesn't infringe "anyone's rights". The technology isn't free. The iP1 Pistol costs $1,400 while the Intelligun grips from Kodiak cost $399. How is requiring a citizen to pay for expensive technology in order to exercise an enumerated right not an infringement? Did not the US Supreme Court say in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections that a poll tax infringed upon the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment? How, pray tell, is requiring expensive technology, which may or may not work, not the functional equivalent of a poll tax?

I won't get into the downsides of the technology which I think are numerous or the adverse self-protection potentialities of it. I would point to a recent poll that states a wide majority of Americans oppose the technology and doubt its reliability. This is a technology that, in my opinion, has limited use and is not one that I'd stake my life upon.

"Somebody Lower Than A Snake's Belly"

Early this morning, a group of masked armed men robbed an assisted living facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They restrained the staff and then stole TVs and other valuables from the elderly residents.

About 1:30 a.m., three to four men entered the Clare Bridge Retirement Home at 275 S. Peace Haven Road, pulled out their guns and restrained employees, police said. The men, who had their faces covered, are alleged to have then gone into the rooms of the residents and stolen televisions, jewelry and other items, police said.

One resident had to be treated for a minor injury, according to police.

Police have not said how the men entered the facility. There were no visible signs of a break-in. Visitors must ring a bell in the foyer, and are allowed in by an employee. Employees must enter a security code to get in.

I think I've heard about damn near everything now. I just cannot conceive of an armed robbery of an assisted living facility. All I can say is that I hope most of the residents slept through it. The elderly need to be respected and not terrorized.

I agree 100% with C. D. Williams whose wife was a resident at the retirement home and lived across from one of the rooms that was entered.

Williams said his wife is fine but that he is upset that anyone would break into a retirement home.

“It’s somebody lower than a snake’s belly, and that’s pretty low,” he said. “You don’t know where to go to be safe.”

I don't think it would be cruel and unusual punishment for the robbers, if and when they are caught, to be flogged or caned in the public square. In a spirit of moderation, I'll save boiling in oil for the robber who injured the resident and not the whole gang of them.

UPDATE: Clare Bridge is owned by Brookdale Senior Living Solutions. According to their corporate website, this facility in Winston-Salem is strictly for the care of Alzheimer's and dementia patients.

Now I'm really pissed off. My mother suffered from dementia during the last few years of her life. I saw a proud, smart, and fiercely independent woman reduced to a shell of her former self. Mistreating the elderly who suffer from dementia is on par with abusing a retarded child. Only the scum of the earth would do it.

Let's Hope This Helps Solve The Shortage of .22LR Ammo

I got a press release today from Norma-USA. They are the American distributors for Swedish ammo maker Norma. The release announced that they would be importing a new brand of .22 LR ammo for sale in the US.

As anyone who has gone into their local Walmart knows, .22 LR ammo is scare to nonexistent on the shelves. Norma is well-known for making fantastic ammo and I expect this .22 LR ammo to be no exception. With a MSRP of $4.99, Norma-USA TAC-22 is also reasonably priced for what it is.

Let's hope this helps to ease the shortage of .22 LR on dealer's shelves. It is available by mail order from both Grafs and Midway USA.

Fat Chance Of This Happening

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation's Bullet Points for November 18th, a coalition of groups has requested that Attorney General Eric Holder apply the "'sporting purposes' exemption to the definition of armor piercing ammunition set forth in the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA)."

The letter accuses ATF of sitting on petitions from ammunition manufacturers for exemptions for ammo made from materials such as brass and copper. While these materials fail the composition test set forth by the Gun Control Act of 1968, the law does provide an exemption for products clearly intended for sporting purposes. Long range target shooting and hunting would both clearly be sporting purposes.

The letter from these groups (seen below) makes a good case for why such ammo should be granted an exemption. That said, I don't think there is a chance in hell of Eric Holder pushing ATF to act on these petitions. Not only is Holder anti-gun, he tries to portray himself as pro-cop which would cause him to rule out any ammo that could be considered "armor piercing". It is a sham but it is what it is.

AWCP HolderLetterRE Ammo by jpr9954

Johnny Returns To Chasing Ambulances

Former senator, failed presidential candidate, and famous philanderer Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is reportedly going to shun politics and return to practicing law.

The National Law Journal reports that:

Renouncing any further political ambitions, former U.S. senator and two-time Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has returned to the practice of law, confident that potential clients and juries will look past the personal transgressions that pushed him from public life.

Edwards is joining forces with his daughter Cate and former law partner David Kirby to launch EdwardsKirby, a plaintiffs firm with a public interest focus.

One of the most successful trial lawyers in North Carolina history, Edwards, 60, said Monday in an interview with The National Law Journal that practicing law is "what I was born to do."

Edwards had a fairly successful personal injury practice in which he won 54 cases with awards of $1 million or greater. His former practice was primarily North Carolina based. However, this new firm will be taking cases from across the country.

The original partnership practiced primarily within the state of North Carolina, but the new firm is national. Edwards said he anticipates going to trial around the country—and he wasn't concerned about his ability to connect with non-Tar Heel jurors.

"I didn't come to talk about politics, but I know from politics that we can do it anywhere," he said.

Also, the original firm primarily handled cases involving catastrophic injury and death, while the new firm has a broader portfolio. Kirby said the focus would be on three areas: civil rights and discrimination; consumer rights and protection; and safety, including medical malpractice and product liability.

"This firm intends to limit its practice to a selected group of cases that hopefully will not only have impact on individuals involved, but have a broader impact on the law," Kirby said.

While Edwards made his fame and fortune in the Tar Heel State, at least we can say he isn't a native. That distinction falls to South Carolina. Thank goodness for small favors.

McAuliffe Loves His Fringe Supporters

Let's face it. In terms of gun prohibitionist groups, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence is a fringe group. They want to think they are in the big leagues but most politicians don't pay them no never-mind. That is, until Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) came along.

From the NRA-ILA:

Only a couple of weeks after narrowly winning his bid for Governor of Virginia, NRA-PVF “F” rated candidate Terry McAuliffe appointed the Virginia State Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Lori Haas, to his 54-member “bipartisan” transition team.

CSGV advocates measures such as criminalizing the private transfer of firearms between family and friends, banning commonly owned semi-automatic firearms and ammunition magazines, imposing a deeply flawed microstamping system, revoking concealed carry laws and repealing self-defense laws.

Despite claiming support for the Second Amendment, Haas’s appointment to this position to help assemble his Administration sends a very clear message to gun owners and sportsmen in Virginia that their rights are already under attack in Richmond.

As Bitter noted yesterday, elections have consequences.

This Just Doesn't Make Sense To Me

This past Thursday the US Fish and Wildlife Service destroyed six tons of illegally-obtained elephant ivory. They destroyed it by running it through a rock crusher at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. The six tons of confiscated ivory were accumulated over the last 25 years.

The official purpose for destroying the ivory was "to crack down on international poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking" according to the Fish and Wildlife Service's release announcing the destruction.

“Rising demand for ivory is fueling a renewed and horrific slaughter of elephants in Africa, threatening remaining populations across the continent,” said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. “We will continue to work aggressively with the Department of Justice and law enforcement agencies around the world to investigate, arrest and prosecute criminals who traffic in ivory. We encourage other nations to join us in destroying confiscated ivory stockpiles and taking other actions to combat wildlife crime.”

Some six tons of ivory were pulverized by an industrial rock crusher in front of some of the world’s most influential conservationists. Speakers included U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe; Ginette Hemley, Senior Vice President of World Wildlife Fund; Azzedine Downes, CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare; and Paula Kahumbu, Executive Director of WildlifeDirect. Remarks were also provided by Robert Dreher, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and Judy Garber, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

“By crushing its contraband ivory tusks and trinkets, the U.S. government sends a signal that it will not tolerate the senseless killing of elephants,” said Carter Roberts, President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund. “Other countries need to join the United States, Gabon, Kenya and the Philippines to take a stand against the crime syndicates behind this slaughter."

“The destruction of the U.S. ivory stockpile speaks loud and clear to those who value ivory more than saving the elephant species from extinction,” said Downes. “IFAW commends the government’s action that underscores the critical role the United States can play in ending the illegal ivory trade.”

It should be noted that hunting of elephants in certain parts of Africa is 100% legal and that the importation of trophies (including tusks) from these elephants is permitted. Moreover, the importation of antique ivory is also legal and permitted.
 
I am against the violation of game laws and poaching. Whether it is an undersize redfish, an out of season brook trout,  or an African elephant taken by poachers using AK-47s, violations should be prosecuted.

That said, this just doesn't make sense to me. How does destroying this ivory do anything to stop the poaching of elephants? This is especially true if, as the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service Dan Ashe notes, "rising global demand for ivory is erasing those hard-fought gains" against poaching. The basic laws of supply and demand would dictate that even if demand remains the same, the decline in supply will increase the price. If the actions of the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Obama Administration are causing the price to increase, would not this encourage poachers even more?

Perhaps I'm naive but it would seem to me that the use of proceeds from a controlled sale of confiscated ivory to fund more game wardens in Africa, to reimburse native farmers whose crops are trampled by the elephants, and to finance the prosecution of poaching organizations at all levels would do more to conserve and protect African elephants than pulverizing this ivory.

I guess my problem in understanding the rationale behind all of this is that I'm not a politician or a bureaucrat or work for a NGO.

Quote Of The Day

Jonah Goldberg, writing in the National Review Online yesterday, has perhaps the best characterization I've ever read about the far lefty ne'er do wells at Media Matters for America. It comes from his article about President Obama's backtracking on ObamaCare.

Media Matters for America — David Brock’s sweatshop for twentysomethings who couldn’t get an internship at the DNC

I think that about says it about a group whose sole mission seems to promote Obama, demonize the NRA and gun owners, shout "Koch Brothers", and deny Operation Fast and Furious. Oh, yes, and to trash Fox News at every opportunity along with CBS's Emmy Award winning investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson.

October NICS Show Slight Decline

The October 2013 NSSF-adjusted NICS checks are in and they show a slight decline from the same month in 2012. Nonetheless, if you look at the chart of NSSF-adjusted NICS checks for the last 14 years, both 2012 and 2013 are substantially higher than prior years.

From the NSSF:

The October 2013 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,113,818 is a decrease of 0.5 percent compared to the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,118,994 in October 2012. For comparison, the unadjusted October 2013 NICS figure of 1,679,099 reflects a 4.6 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,604,743 in October 2012.

The next chart is quite interesting. It shows the last 12 months of year over year data. You can see the spike in December 2012 and January 2013 presumably caused the shooting in Newtown and the attendant rise in the call for more gun control. After that, it follows the more normal curve of trending down towards summer and then starting to show a rise as the hunting season arrives.

 

 As the distance from the tragedy in Newtown has grown, the year over year gains have diminished until in August and October they actually show decreases. I think that we are at a new normal with some months being higher and some months being less.That said, the slight increases and decreases will be at a much higher base than pre-2012.

While the NSSF-adjusted NICS checks are not a perfect correlation for gun sales, they are a good indicator of them. For the firearms industry the great growth spurts may be over and their backlogs decreasing but they are still producing at a level that is significantly higher than in the past.

And Here I Thought I Was Being Frugal

Buying ammunition when it is on sale or even just before an announced (or unannounced due to current events) price hike to me just makes sense. It appeals to my innate sense of frugality.

It also, I am informed, now makes me and thousands of others like me guilty of "suspicious activity" that might "indicate pre-operational terrorist attack planning or criminal activity."  This is from a joint Department of Homeland Security and FBI "Roll Call Release".  The example given to justify calling this suspicious activity was the case of the Norwegian killer who murdered a number of children at a summer camp back in 2011.

(U//FOUO) Possession of large amounts of weapons, ammunition, explosives, accelerants, or explosive precursor chemicals could indicate pre-operational terrorist attack planning or criminal activity. 

Really?

They also referred to "military-grade weapons". I guess that would mean my Swiss Schmidt-Rubin K-31 rifles as they are actual Swiss Army surplus not to mention my Garand and Springfield 1903A3.

Given I found this due to a story on Off Grid News I wondered if this was just some sort of "survivalist" paranoia with little documentation. No, it isn't.

The DHS-FBI bulletin does include this disclaimer at the end:

(U//FOUO) Constitutional activities should not be reported in a SAR or Information Sharing Environment (ISE) SAR absent articulable facts and circumstances that support the source agency’s suspicion that the behavior observed is not innocent, but rather reasonably indicative of criminal activity associated with terrorism, including evidence of pre operational planning related to terrorism. Race, ethnicity, national origin, or religious affiliation should not be considered as factors that create suspicion (although these factors may be used as specific suspect descriptions).

 After all the hyperbole contained in Roll Call Release, one has to wonder just how many police departments in many areas will even notice the "constitutional activities" disclaimer.

What I'm Reading

I read a lot. Just ask the Complementary Spouse when she wants to get my attention!

I tend to have a number of books going at the same time. Currently, I'm reading three books that I hope to review for the blog.

The first is by well known Second Amendment attorney and scholar Stephen Halbrook. The Independent Institute has just published his book "Gun Control in the Third Reich: Disarming the Jews and 'Enemies of the State'". From the publisher's blurb:

Based on newly discovered documents from German archives, diaries, and newspapers of the time, Halbrook presents the hidden history—in a readable but well documented, scholarly manner—of how the Third Reich made use of gun control to disarm and repress its enemies and consolidate its power.

The book covers the historical periods of the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich leading up to World War II. The book then presents a panorama of pertinent events during World War II regarding the effects of the disarming policies. As Americans’ right to bear arms becomes increasingly challenged, it is a caution to all who debate these issues.

The second book I'm reading is a short book by British publisher Osprey Publishing. They tend to do a lot of military history and weapons-related books. This one is entitled "The Book of Gun Trivia" and it is written by Gordon Rottman. I've learned a lot from what I've read so far.

The final book is about forward air controllers and their work with the Studies and Observation Group (SOG) in Vietnam. One of the places that my father was stationed in Vietnam was Cam Ranh Bay where he ran a small Army airfield. That is what spurred my interest in this book. Da Nang Diary was originally published in 1991 and is now being republished by Casemate.

Gunny Writes On Getting "Squared Away Like A Marine"

I know that R. Lee Ermey - the Gunny - is one of the more popular celebrities at the NRA Annual Meeting. He usually can be found signing autographs at the Glock booth and there is always a long line to get autograph.

He has recently written a book on how what he learned in the Marine Corps helped him succeed in Hollywood. The book is entitled, "Gunny’s Rules: How to Get Squared Away like a Marine". I have posted the publisher's release on the book. As soon as I have finished reading it, I will post a review.

From Regnery Publishing:

WASHINGTON, D.C.—“If you’re reading this book, you probably know me well enough to know that I don’t mince words, gild lilies, or play politically correct games,” says R. Lee Ermey, a.k.a. “The Gunny,” iconic star of Full Metal Jacket, TV host of Mail Call and Lock N’ Load, and former Marine Corps Drill Instructor. “If you want it straight, damn straight, you’ll get it here.” Too many Americans are overweight, under motivated, and expecting their dream lives to fall right into their laps.

In Gunny’s Rules: How to Get Squared Away like a Marine (Regnery Publishing; Hardcover; November 11, 2013; $27.95), Ermey holds nothing back, revealing how he got his life “squared away” and how readers can do the same if they are willing to get off the couch and follow instructions. From lessons learned in his beloved Marine Corps to his film career and the making of Full Metal Jacket, Ermey will surprise even his most loyal fans with stories and insights from his journey as The Gunny.

Ermey’s fiery exhortations are a kick in the backside for folks to whip their lives, careers, families, and bodies into shape.

In Gunny’s Rules you will learn:

• The inside story of how The Gunny grew up in the school of hard knocks and how the Marine Corps made him a man and prepared him for success in civilian life.
• How The Gunny talked his way into the movie business—and into a starring role in Full Metal Jacket.
• Why having a job and a paycheck should be goal number one in life and dependence on unemployment checks and food stamps is like quicksand.
• How The Gunny keeps fit in a time when too many people are overweight—and why impressions are against those who are.
• Leaders earn their stripes—nobody is born a leader. Leaders evolve by gaining responsibility a little at a time, learning, and striving to get better.
• “Major malfunctions” happen, and life isn’t a cakewalk. When things go against you, learn from the experience, tighten up the ship, and move on.

US Consumption Of Lead By Product

With the numerous stories including mine regarding the closure of the Heculaneum, MO primary lead smelting facility, I thought this chart would be helpful to put the consumption of lead for ammo into perspective. The chart is from IndexMundi which got it from the US Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program.

For 2010, lead used in shot and bullets comprised 4.6% of the total lead used in the United States. This was down from 5.26% in 2009.

TABLE 5-----------
U.S. CONSUMPTION OF LEAD, BY PRODUCT1-- ---
(Metric tons, lead content)-----------
SIC2 code		Product		2009		2010
		Metal products:
3482		Ammunition, shot and bullets		67,900		65,700
		Bearing metals:
35		Machinery except electrical		W		W
371		Motor vehicles and equipment		W		W
37		Other transportation equipment		W		W
		Total		1,100		1,230
3351		Brass and bronze, billets and ingots		1,370		1,410
36		Cable covering, power and communication		(3)		(3)
15		Calking lead, building construction		(3)		(3)
		Casting metals:
36		Electrical machinery and equipment-		W		W
371		Motor vehicles and equipment		W		W
37		Other transportation equipment		W		W
3443		Nuclear radiation shielding		W		W
		Total		15,900		16,400
		Pipes, traps, other extruded products:
15		Building construction		1,130		990
3443		Storage tanks, process vessels, etc.		(4)		(4)
		Total		1,130		990
		Sheet lead:
15		Building construction		16,300		16,000
3443		Storage tanks, process vessels, etc.		W		W
3693		Medical radiation shielding		W		W
		Total		25,400		23,400
		Solder:
15		Building construction		W		W
		Metal cans and shipping containers		W		W
367		Electronic components, accessories, and other electrical equipment		6,160		6,130
371		Motor vehicles and equipment		W		W
		Total		6,450		6,420
		Storage batteries:
3691		Storage battery grids, post, etc.		389,000		478,000
3691		Storage battery oxides		750,000		806,000
		Total storage batteries		1,140,000		1,280,000
27		Type metal, printing and allied industries		(3)		(3)
34		Other metal products5		5,790		8,800
		Grand total		1,260,000		1,410,000
		Other oxides:
285		Paint		W		W
32		Glass and ceramics products		W		W
28		Other pigments and chemicals		W		W
		Total		10,100		9,760
		Miscellaneous uses		12,200		13,700
		Grand total		1,290,000		1,430,000
W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included in appropriate totals.
1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2SIC Standard Industrial Classification.
3Included with -Metal products: Other Metal products.-
4Included with -Metal products: Sheet lead: Building construction- to avoid disclosing company proprietary data.
5Includes lead consumed in foil, collapsible tubes, annealing, galvanizing, plating, electrowinning, and fishing weights.

Looking at where raw lead is found, data from the US Geological Survey shows that Australia has the greatest proven reserves of lead. China which has the second largest amount of reserves of lead is actually the largest miner of lead accounting for about half of the world's yearly production in 2012. The United States has only the 6th largest reserves in the world.

Kurt Hofmann makes an excellent point in his post about the Herculaneum smelter closure. He notes that the possible squeeze in lead for bullets might be felt even more keenly due to the Federal ban on many other materials for use in handgun ammo.

Perhaps, perhaps not, but regardless, the squeeze is likely to be felt quite keenly by gun owners. All the more keenly because of longstanding federal law banning the use of many other materials in the construction of bullets used in "handgun ammunition." If lead is unavailable/unaffordable (and now verboten, to California hunters), and if a great many other possible bullet materials are illegal, the remaining options are both few and of limited utility.

And what, anyway, is "handgun ammunition," you ask? Excellent question. Handguns have been built in nearly every caliber that rifles have, including the .50 BMG and the .600 Nitro Express. It seems apparent that any caliber that can be fired from a rifle can also be fired from a handgun, given a shooter with sufficient tolerance for recoil (and, in many cases, for impracticality).

And that means that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can, if it chooses, ban bullets made with tungsten alloys, steel, brass, etc., in virtually every caliber. It is hardly difficult to imagine the BATFE, especially under an administration like this one, choosing to do precisely that.

And therein lies the rub when it comes to reduced US production of primary lead.

A Really Cool View

Thanks to The Firearm Blog, I came across a really interesting website today. It is dedicated to Curios and Relics. The website is called C&Rsenal and they are out of Charleston, SC.

They have a project going in which they take photos from the point of view of a shooter looking through the sights. The photos are of both common and rather rare firearms. They have everything from a Springfield 1903A3 to a Danish Madsen (Portuguese Contract) to a French Chauchat Mle.1915.

You can see some of them in the photo below:

C&Rsenal also has a number of prints of various firearms stripped down to the individual component level. These are also really cool.

If you have an interest in old firearms, I'd suggest checking them out. You won't be disappointed.

ABC's 20/20, David Muir, The Armed Citizens Project, and "Amanda"

The Armed Citizens Project will be the focus of a story about guns in America scheduled to air on ABC's 20/20 program sometime in December. Specifically, host David Muir sat down with a group of 12 single mothers who had received 12-gauge shotguns as part of the program.

"Amanda", one of those 12 single moms, describes her participation in both the interview and with the Armed Citizens Project in the most recent episode of The Squirrel Report. She said Muir asked hard questions and she gave him back hard answers. Some of her answers must have been a little too hard for Muir as he changed the subject rather than continue his line of questioning. It will be interesting to see how ABC edits this. Amanda said that Muir's anti-gun bias was quite evident.

The Squirrel Report is a weekly podcast hosted by Alan of Snarky Bytes, Breda of Breda Fallacy fame, JayG, and WeerdBeard.

Rampage Killings And Media Complicity

What the media tends to call "mass shootings" are more appropriately called "rampage shootings" according to a review article by Ari Schulman in the Wall Street Journal. Far from being senseless murders as the media and politicians characterize them, they are a "kind of theater" whose purpose is terrorism minus the political agenda.

Mass shooters aim to tell a story through their actions. They create a narrative about how the world has forced them to act, and then must persuade themselves to believe it. The final step is crafting the story for others and telling it through spoken warnings beforehand, taunting words to victims or manifestos created for public airing.

What these findings suggest is that mass shootings are a kind of theater. Their purpose is essentially terrorism—minus, in most cases, a political agenda. The public spectacle, the mass slaughter of mostly random victims, is meant to be seen as an attack against society itself. The typical consummation of the act in suicide denies the course of justice, giving the shooter ultimate and final control.

We call mass shootings senseless not only because of the gross disregard for life but because they defy the ordinary motives for violence—robbery, envy, personal grievance—reasons we can condemn but at least wrap our minds around. But mass killings seem like a plague dispatched from some inhuman realm. They don't just ignore our most basic ideas of justice but assault them directly.

The perverse truth is that this senselessness is just the point of mass shootings: It is the means by which the perpetrator seeks to make us feel his hatred. Like terrorists, mass shooters can be seen, in a limited sense, as rational actors, who know that if they follow the right steps they will produce the desired effect in the public consciousness.

Moreover, rampage killers tend to be competitive. They want their acts to be more violent and more destructive with more casualties than previous mass shootings.They use as their template for planning their acts the media reports of prior rampage killings according to researchers who have studied it.

Schulman says that rather than try to understand what motivated individual killers in Tucson or Newtown or Aurora, treating it as a contagion or epidemic allows us to find ways to disrupt the spread. Research into suicide and the role of the media in covering it gives some suggestions on how to disrupt it.

The major thing is that the killer needs to be deprived of an audience. They crave the attention that their acts will get from the mass media. It is one of the reasons that I make a conscious effort in this blog to never publish the name of the shooters in mass killings. I may refer to them as "the shooter" or "the murderer" but I refuse to give them the publicity that they craved.

Schulman has a list of suggestions for the media and the police.

• Never publish the shooter's propaganda
• Hide their names and faces
• Don't report on biography or speculate on motive
• Minimize specifics and gory details
• No photos or videos of the event
• Talk about the victims but minimize images of grieving families
• Decrease the saturation
• Tell a different story

While I don't agree with Schulman's conclusions regarding firearms, all in all this is an excellent article that needs to be read. As Schulman concludes, "If we can deprive him of the ability to make his internal psychodrama a shared public reality, if we can break this ritual of violence and our own ritual response, then we might just banish these dreadful and all too frequent acts to the realm of vile fantasy."

The full article can be found here.

Happy 238th Birthday, USMC

On this, the 238th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, I'd like to offer my thanks to all Marines, present or past, for their service.Semper Fi!

And what would be better for Devil Dogs seeking adventure and travel than to ride a leopard jaguar.

And in a more serious vein, here is the Commandant's Birthday Message which salutes the men and women of the US Marine Corps and their service to our nation. I do notice Gen. Amos still uses the knife hand to get his message across.

Freebies

It is that time of the month again. Aaron at the Weapon-Blog has posted his updated list of contests offering firearms and ammunition as prizes.

Checking this month's listing, I see Glocks, 1911s, a Sig, and a Bond derringer. Oh, and how could I forget someone is offering a Hi-Point C9 pistol as a prize.

On the rifle side, there are a number of AR-15s including one from Daniel Defense. There are also some muzzle loaders for those interested in black powder shooting.

You can find all the contests here.