Talking Points.

WHEN DID WE GET TO THE POINT that we care what a bunch of East-Coast Media-whores think about the Second Amendment?

I do understand the relative importance of public figures like Sean Hannity and Michelle Malkin making statements in support of the Second Amendment.

Truly, I do.

Hannity Exposes Obama's Secret Plan to Confiscate Guns - YouTube:

But it's all just "talking points" to them.

To me, it's a way of life.

It's MY way of life .. and they hold it in their un-calloused lily white hands.
These people who know that whatever happens, they will always be protected.  What do they know?

Talking Points.
That's all it is to me.  Talking points.  And I'm not listening.  I know what I know.

Media coverage, face time, they get in front of the most convenient camera and just let it flow.  Good for you ... absolutely meaningless to me.

I'm SO tired of all this business.  They said, we said, she/he said ... it comes to a point where we who are only members of "fly-over country" realize we are nothing more than pawns to the 'greater' political controversy.

I don't want to HEAR what Hannity thinks. I don't care any more what he thinks than what that crazy-eyed wench from California who "Mister and Missus America, turn them all in" thinks.

All of those public figures are just figure-heads.  They are not real people, to me.

I don't know these New York Cosmopolitans REALLY think.   Their opinions aren't worth a bucket of spit to me.

I want to know what the people I spend my weekends with ... what they think.  Because I have watched them fire HUNDREDS of Thousands of rounds "down-range" over the past 50 years, and none of them have ever pointed a gun at me.

Sure, they could threaten me with their guns and all their ammunition ... and zillions of East Coast folks are aghast (if they were paying attention) at the amazing concept that people who have live guns in their hands are not automatically transformed into homicidal maniacs.

What a concept!

So I have only one thing to say to all those frightened people who are unable to understand that folks who have guns are not a threat to them, or to anyone who isn't trying to impose their wills on them:

Just go away and don't bother me, 

I promise I won't shoot you, one way or the other.

(Even if you are all a bunch of Idiots!)

Definition of "IRONY"

I know this has been blogged on gunblogger websites (*), but not everybody follows them.
And this is far too pertinent (or impertinent) to risk someone not reading the whole thing.  

Armed Drug Traffickers May Have Returned Fire in Paris Terrorist Attacks - The Truth About Guns:
(November 24, 2015)

The common refrain from gun loving people here in the United States following the terrorist attacks in Paris is that more good guys with guns on the scene would have saved lives. After all, if we can save just one life with concealed carry it will be worth it, right? There are some news reports circulating from foreign media sites which indicate that a couple people in that Paris restaurant were indeed armed and did in fact return fire, killing the terrorists and saving lives. There’s just one problem: they were reportedly drug traffickers.

* (H/T: Joel's Gulch)

The only thing stopping a bad guy with a gun is another bad guy with a gun?

Reading the comments section on The Truth About Guns (see the link) it's clear that gun-folks in America have a keen appreciation for the situation.

Don't expect this to play real big in the Liberal Press.
But ... pass it along. This is definitely Another Geek Moment!

Another "New Policy" from Tri-County Gun Club

Another "New Policy" from Tri-County Gun Club:

From another email, not from Columbia Cascade but as a courtesy from a TRI-CO member:

HEADS UP. For those of you that are shooting Tri-county Sunday, AND ARE NOT MEMBERS, you will NOT be able to get in using the old 6 digit code.

These codes are no longer being used, so they can keep non-members that are not with members from entering. Soooooooo, if a club member has NOT made arrangemnets [sic]to have the EXIT gate OPEN so you can drive in, you will want to pull to the LEFT and wait until you can TAILGATE someone inside. This goes for both gates. Once inside you will be OK to shoot the match. Members can only get in using their cards now, no more 6 digit codes. This goes for the police as well. The intent is to issue a match director a one day code that can be used for that match only, as codes will change daily. The club coordinator will then issue that code to all particapants in advance. HOW THIS WILL WORK has not been determined yet. GOOD LUCK, see you Sunday,

"How This Will Work" .. .sounds like a total disaster.

Frankly, I don't understand how a gun club can expect to stay in business if it deliberately makes it difficult for non-members to participate in 'public' matches.

Well ... okay, so they can become a strictly private club, which means that they don't actively encourage non-members to attend their matches.  Which, given their current ruling on the "Over The Berm" rule, is beginning to sound suspiciously like a hidden agenda.

Of course, much of their income currently derives from non-member fees at 'public' matches.  That seems likely to change, though.

The alternatives are either that their match participation will decline drastically and immediately (leaving them a long-term shortfall in their funding), or they can increase their annual dues.   Since these dues are already pretty darned hefty ($225 initiation fee, $170 annual dues) and an NRA membership is mandatory,  they may have to work hard to maintain their current membership let alone attract new members.

On the other hand, perhaps they're expecting that non-members will be strongly encouraged to join, given their new policy on gate-admission.

On the "Third Hand", given their new policy on 'over the berm rules' (which just resulted in their de-certification from USPSA, including the Columbia Cascade Section of USPSA),  they have cut themselves off from a program which results in tens of thousands of dollars in match fees alone, annually,  from both club matches and Level II and Level III USPSA matches.

Can anybody who still has a Tri-County Gun Club membership please explain this to me?  Just WHO is responsible for this Train Wreck at which was once the premium gun club in the state of Oregon?

Mayan Joke

One Mayan shows another his new batch of tequila and encourages him to drop what he's doing and drink some.

 

The other Mayan says, "Sure - I guess if I don't finish this calendar it won't be the end of the world..."

(Thanks and a HatTip to The G-Man)

Whew!
So .. I guess 2012 really IS only the end of the Mayan calendar, and not necessarily TEOTWAWKI.

The good news is ... well, see above.

The bad news is .. I hope nobody ever actually DRANK the kool-aid!

(Ordinarily, this would be a cue for me to research and write a Geek-Length essay about people who suicided based on their doomsday beliefs.  EG: Johnstown  and those flying-saucer believers.   But then I found that the "Heaven's Gate" webpage is still active online, and I decided that I'll just let you go there if you want to.)

For myself, I've always wanted to know what tomorrow brings, and I can't wait to see it.

On these days when the world does NOT end .. wow!  I'm really pleased about this.  I actually bought the movie 2012 to see what it might look like, and discovered that the first part is much more interesting than the last part.

Local Hero: Iain Harrison (Top Shot again)

Top Shot Winner Iain Harrison Reveals Hollywood Insider Secrets
Daily Bulletin

Once more from accurateshooter.com ...

Iain Harrison (2010 Top Shoot Champion) is quoted in an interview about the competition, and provides an "insider" viewpoint on the making of the Top Shot "survivor" series.

Iain is a Local Shooter, and I've enjoyed squadding with him from time to time ... even if I can't always spell his name correctly.

The man has a slightly manic sense of humor, and I enjoyed his interview. You may enjoy it, also.

See the detailed interview here.

Machine Gun Shoot at ARPC!

Here's an email I received this week:

Saddle Butte Machine Gun Shoot:
The Saddle Butte Machine Gun Shoot is May 15th and 16th.
Every year we get larger and better and it takes a lot of volunteers to make this a safe and enjoyable event. Volunteers will be needed to serve as Range Officers, balloon/target setters, tee shirt sales, setup/take down (Friday 14th and Monday 17th) and gate/parking lots. Anyone interested in helping please contacted Allen Eriksen at Eriksenor@aol.com (weekends phone 541-967- 4005). Please include your full name, phone number and days volunteering to work. This is a great way to get your work bond hours. Don't worry if you have little or no experience with Machine Guns. We will teach you everything you will need to know to help out.

You, of course, are not likely to volunteer to help out unless you are a member of the Albany Rifle and Pistol Club.

On the other hand, you should know that this event is taking place (happens every year, once in the Spring and once in Autumn) and that it is a heck of a good time.

ARPC members enter for free. All others, it costs the majorly big cost of FIVE (5) BUCKS!

There will be sub-guns and tripod-mounted guns (m-60 and the venerable Ma Deuce [video also here and here])




M60: 7.62 Nato caliber.

Belt fed, weighs about 18 pounds, fires at a rate of about 600 rounds per minute.







M2: .50 caliber
Belt fed, weighs about 100 pounds, fires at about 450 rounds per minute, effective range around 2,500 yards.



No, I can't guarantee that either will be there. I can only say that in past events, they HAVE been there.

What does it cost you to shoot it? My understanding is that you have to pay them for the ammunition. Which would probably be a lot less expensive with the M-60 than with the M-2. Whether there is an additional fee required, I can't say You'll have to go see it for yourself.

Personally, I'm planning to go just to get some really good pictures of people having a good time. And yes, if you have not ever shot a full-auto machine gun before, this is a good opportunity.

Oh, and there will be sub-guns there, too. We're talking the venerable tommy-gun and the m3 grease-gun, for starters. I have seen members of the Full-Auto club bring these to the range, as well as MP-5's.

Go here for more information, including directions to the range.