Weapons of Choice: Beretta PX4 Storm

Kate Beckinsale (Underworld) with a pair of Berettas

Anyone who knows me is aware that of all European firearm manufacturers, I favor Beretta, Uberti, and Sig Sauer, in that order. As far as quality is concerned, Glock stands among those names of quality manufacturers; but not my personal preference because of its design and feel. Scuttlebutt is that the US Army may ditch the Beretta in favor of something else, possibly replacing it with Glock.

2015 Fishing Season and Annual Bass Tournament

While bass have performed their annual spawning in the southern states, like Georgia; here in Wisconsin the spawning has just begun. Just as the climate is different as well as water conditions between the North and the South, so is the presumption of what baits to use.

When I worked in the Sporting Goods department for the local Walmart, local fisherman in Wisconsin would insist that certain types of lures and rigs just won't work in Wisconsin where the bass species are smallmouth versus the primary largemouth bass rule in the southern states. I convinced some of them that their establishment of using only certain lures to catch smallmouth was just a consensus and was not based upon the reality of experience. 

Shooting Ranges: Target for Politicians and Building One With Safety in Mind

Apparently around the country anti-firearm politicians are using the indirect approach of their agenda to counter the Second Amendment and do what their proposed failed laws cannot do – make it so it is increasingly more difficult for gun owners to practice on ranges, both private and public. Rachel Alexander wrote an article published by Townhall concerning an historical gun range that has been politically and legally attacked for some time in Washington state, at least sixteen years. Rachel is the editor of the Intellectual Conservative and grew up in Kitsap County, Washington, so is familiar with the county's vendetta against this particular gun range.

A Gun Range Attack Archive is available HERE, documenting such activities around the country in different states. One of them in Illinois occurred when stray bullets damaged a neighbor's home while firing on a private shooting range. In this case, it is important for anyone wishing to have a private range on their property or already have one to know the best procedures and construction to keep a firing range safe, especially from stray bullets. 

Old West: Texas Jack Omohundro

Not as well known as Buffalo Bill Cody, John Baker Omohundro, known as Texas Jack, rode as tall in the saddle and a colorful figure of the Old West, 1846-1880.

John Wilson Vermillion, 1860

While this article is about Texas Jack Omohundro, an Old West hero, there were two men named “Texas Jack”, the other being John Wilson Vermillion (1842-1911) who was an outlaw and later a reformed Methodist preacher, who never lived in Texas. Born in Russell County, Virginia he also fought under the command of General J.E.B. Stuart. After the Civil War, Jack Vermillion went to Indiana where he married Margaret Horton in 1865. They moved to Missouri where Jack Vermillion became a Territorial Marshal for the eastern part of the Missouri Territory. Jack's wife, daughter and son died of diphtheria while Jack was away and he left for Kansas in the late 1870s. During that time he went to Tombstone, Arizona from Dodge City, after hearing the Earp brothers were there. It is thought Jack also knew Doc Holliday. He was enlisted by Virgil Earp as a deputy city policeman on 22^ndJune 1881, the day of the Tombstone fire, when Virgil was acting city marshal. Jack was hired to help keep law and order and prevent looting during and after the disaster. It is unknown how Jack Vermillion became known as Texas Jack because he had not been to Texas. Once he was asked why folks called him 'Texas Jack' and he replied: “Because I'm from Virginia”.

US Army M240 Contract and Recommended Products

FN M240

FN America was awarded a US Army contract for manufacturing M240 B, C, D and H machine guns, as well as spare receivers, December 2014. The delivery began in February 2015 that will cost $84.6 million.

Darrell Holland is a prestigious instructor at the American Gunsmith Institute, a life-long outdoorsman, survival expert, and master machinist. He has taught outdoor survival skills in Oregon and conducted seminars on shooting and survival across the United States for more than 18 years.

His company, Holland's Shooters Supply, Inc., is offering an excellent product called the Lightning Strike Fire Starter.You can purchase it at Amazon. It is not cheap at $62.50, but it does everything it is advertised to do and built to last. It is the last fire-starter you will probably purchase.

PJ Media: The "Brownshirts Are Back"

PJ Media points out that the “Brownshirts are Back” …

What is happening in American universities today has a clear historical parallel. In his seminal history The Coming of the Third Reich, Richard J. Evans explains how, in the early days of National Socialist Germany, the universities became centers of Nazi indoctrination in which students collaborated with stormtroopers (brownshirts) to terrorize dissenters …

Wisconsin Senate Passes 48-Hour Handgun Waiting Period Repeal

Wisconsin Senate Bill 35 passed on a voice vote and Governor Walker has already stated that he will approve the measure to end the 40-year-old outdated bill.
ALSO:  Ohio now recognizes all valid conceal-carry permits from all states.

Brief History of the American Gunsmith

John M. Browning examines his creation - BAR

The gunsmith is an icon of American tradition as well as a foundation of the American history of firearms. Many know about the great gunsmith of all time, among many professionals around the world: John Moses Browning. He is most famous and remembered because he invented more firearms and their actions than any other gunsmith in world history.

April 21st: SB 35 Scheduled for Vote - Repeal 48-Hour Waiting Period

On April 21^st, Senate Bill 35 is scheduled to be considered by the Wisconsin state Senate, sponsored by Senator Van Wanggaard (R-21) that will repeal the 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases. It is a move to update legislation to match the Second Amendment concealed carry law. The law, first enacted in 1976, was passed before background checks were processed. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) makes the 48-hour waiting period unnecessary - wasting time for the purchaser and the dealer. SB 35, when passed and signed by Governor Scott Walker, will allow a licensed firearm dealer to transfer ownership of a handgun following notice from the Department of Justice that the purchaser has passed a background check and not prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Contact your state Senator and respectfully urge him or her to vote YES to the passing of SB 35. If your state rep or senator has already committed to passing this important bill, then do not hesitate to contact him or her and thank them.

NRA in the News - April 2015

NRA Annual Meeting in Nashville had a record turnout (close to 80,000), as reported by NRA-ILA news video:

Weapons of Choice: Ruger SP101 Revolver

The Ruger SP101 double-action revolver has been around for awhile and popular. Ruger upgraded it and re-introduced the .327 Federal Magnum cartridge [Model #5773] for this popular revolver that is available in .22 LR, .38 Special, .357 Magnum and now .327 Magnum. Also new is its recoil-reducing grip in with checkered and engraved walnut inserts. It still comes in stainless steel. The .327 Magnum and .22 LR comes with fiber optic adjustable rear sight. The .357 Magnum lineup of 2.25” and 3.06 barrels come with a black ramp front sight with fixed rear sight; and a 4.20” barrel with fiber optic front and adjustable rear sights. 

MSRP runs from $679 to $719, depending upon which model you purchase. (Model #5773, #5765, #5718, #5719, #5720, #5771, and #5737)

New US Army Desert Warfare Training Center at Fort Hood, Texas

NTC-MOUT, Fort Irwin, California

The importance of training is paramount when it comes to the military. The Army Times has announced there will be a new Desert Warrior Course at Fort Bliss, Texas likened to the US Army Jungle Training Center, Fort Sherman, Panama turned over to Panama in 1999. The Army Times stated:

...soldiers will hone combat tracking, night land navigation, live-fire drills and myriad of other tasks. ...the course will fill a gap in small-unit tactics after more than a decade of counterinsurgency-focused operations. … Many lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan, such as countering IEDs, will be incorporated. … The course will feature basic patrolling and medical skills with an emphasis on issues that arise in the desert, said Capt. Mark Walden, leader of the detachment tasked with training the students. … The inaugural Desert Warrior Course is scheduled to kick off June 1 at Fort Bliss.

Ohio: 3-Year-Old Shoots 1-Year-Old

In Ohio, a three-year-old picked up an unsecured handgun and fatally shot a one-year-old boy. Response by the Cleveland Police Chief, Calvin Williams, was epic:

Everybody has to know [that] this fascination with handguns, not just in the city, but in the country, has to stop. We need to take a long look at what we're doing on the state, local and national level to keep these guns out of our communities.

This is a case of a parent not taking proper precautions. The tragedy was caused by a careless parent allowing a three-year-old boy access to a loaded firearm; but to the mindless and those seeking stronger control over rights and liberties of the People – the solution is to take away firearms from everyone. If the child caused injury or death with another object, say a power tool, is the answer to ban power tools from everyone except licensed contractors?

Organizations who protect the Second Amendment, the NSSF and NRA, for example, constantly stress safety and common sense when handling and storing firearms. Three-year-old children, children in general, are curious. Responsible parents keep a watchful eye on their little ones and ensure they cannot have access to things that can be harmful.

The real criminal here is a parent not being a responsible owner of firearms – take firearms away from her, not everyone. There is a child now who will be emotionally and psychological scarred because of non-parental supervision. Another child needlessly died. 

Please, if you decide to own and use firearms, constantly implement and be aware of safety issues – and teach children about firearm safety and never touch one without permission of adults and their supervision.

King Abdullah II: "Total Badass"

King Abdullah II is the national leader of Jordan and interesting fellow, eldest son of King Hussein whose mother is British-born Princess Munaal-Hussein [Antoinette Avril Gardiner] who met King Hussein during the filming of Lawrence of Arabia. Abdullah's father allowed his troops to work as extras on the film and visited the production site several times. Abdullah's mother is active in the development of nursing in Jordan.

His grandfather established the modern monarchy of Jordan that has a Parliament. Initially educated at a Muslim school, he studied at educational institutions in the UK and US and served in a British army elite unit. 

Arming Yourself With Facts

Just before the election of 2012, firearm sales increased because many Americans feared a massive ban would occur. Sales boosted again, along with ammunition that caused a depletion in the manufacturer's ability to meet the demand of both the government and increased civilian sales, after the push for more draconian gun control in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre. Much of that caused by the misinformation of the media.

According to the Washington Times:

The American firearms industry is as healthy as ever, seeing an unprecedented surge that has sent production of guns soaring to more than 10.8 million manufactured in 2013 alone — double the total of just three years earlier. … Indeed, interest in guns appears to be at an all-time high in California, which shattered its previous record for gun-purchase background checks last month, with nearly 200,000 processed, suggesting a vibrant firearms market in the country’s largest state.

FBI Alert: ISIL Attacks on Blogs

In an FBI alert, it reports that there is a:

Continuous Web site defacements are being perpetrated by individuals sympathetic to the Islamic State in the Levant (ISIL) a.k.a. Islamic State of Iraq and al-Shams (ISIS). The defacements have affected Web site operations and the communication platforms of news organizations, commercial entities, religious institutions, federal/state/local governments, foreign governments, and a variety of other domestic and international Web sites. Although the defacements demonstrate low-level hacking sophistication, they are disruptive and often costly in terms of lost business revenue and expenditures on technical services to repair infected computer systems.

An Unabashed Plug for The Patriot Post

It is April 2015, 240 years after the opening volley fired at Lexington and Concord that brought the American Revolution, achieved at great cost on both sides; whose victory enabled the Founders to create the greatest republic in the history of civilization, a nation was born that once was a role model for liberty. 

Our nation was the first to establish a written set of laws that promoted a limited government that became the Constitution of the United States and a contract between government and the people called the Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments to the US Constitution.

Mark Alexander is the founder of the first Liberty publication on the Internet established 19 years ago just before I first started publishing my essays and articles in a simple Internet journal. Mr. Alexander first named his publication The Federalist, today known as the Patriot Post, a publication that exists solely upon voluntary financial support refusing to use the IRS tax code of a nonprofit organization because it was not meant to be under the influence of the bloated federal government.

Currently, the Patriot Post has a donation campaign going on to support its cost of operation called the 2015 Patriots' Day Campaign. Please visit that site and provide an online donation, even if it is a small amount. It is worth the support as Mr. Alexander and his staff fight continuously to resurrect the constitutional republic that the Founders created and hoped would last. If you would rather send your donation by mail, click HERE.

Become a Patriot and on behalf of the Patriot Post and Mark Alexander, and myself who has been a supporter since 2001, I thank you in advance.

IRS, Gun Control, and a Fair Tax System

Lois Lerner, former IRS official will not be charged with contempt of Congress by the Justice Department despite the fact she refused to testify at a congressional hearing investigating her role in denying or delaying applications for tax-exempt status of the Tea Party and organizations for limited government. It comes to no surprise because government officials are rarely prosecuted for clear violations of the people's liberties and/or unethical misconduct; yet federal prosecutors process criminal charges against whistleblowers. John Kiriakou is a good example. He was a whistleblower concerning the CIA's use of torture and was the only one prosecuted.  

Myth and Conception of Suppressors

The federal government has, over the decades increasingly passed legislation that puts it in control of the people and many laws and regulations counter the fundamental freedom of choice that the Founders encouraged, but did not mention it specifically when putting together what became known as the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

Progress has been made in the protection of rights clearly established in the Second Amendment, but there are laws and regulations that should not have passed by federal and state government. Recently, Wisconsin did away with the useless draconian law that forbade hunting with a crossbow, despite allowing bow hunting during prescribed season. Hunting permits make sense because it limits hunting to a season and is tailored toward the population of hunted animals. It prevents like what happened in Wisconsin when turkeys became extinct in certain areas because of open hunting, and hunting itself prevents overpopulation of animals that creates a problem concerning disease and starvation for lack of food.

Governor of Kansas Signs New Conceal Carry Law

NRA-ILA ...

Kansans already have the right to carry a firearm openly without a permit, as long as they are not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. However, under current law, if a firearm becomes covered by a coat or if a woman prefers to carry a firearm for protection in her purse, he or she would need a concealed carry handgun license. The new law simply extends permitless open carry to permitless concealed carry, allowing law-abiding gun owners to protect themselves and their loved ones in the manner that best suits their needs. Kansas’ permitting system remains the same under the new law. People who obtain permits still enjoy the reciprocity agreements that Kansas has with other states. 

ALSO:  Campus conceal carry opponents blame victims.

In the News: 3 April 2015

$1.73 billion VA Hospital, Colorado Springs

Aurora, Colorado … The US Army Corps of Engineers are taking over construction management at the new Denver veterans hospital after an internal investigation discovered that the project is $1 billion over budget. It is a hospital that should never have been built. Recommendations for the VA to create a liaison with private sector hospitals and clinics would be more cost efficient and veteran patients would not have to travel far to get medical treatment and medications required. It is another example of inefficiency of a government bloated with bureaucracy and rift with wasting tax-funded dollars. I have encouraged the gradual change from VA hospitals to liaison with private sector hospitals for more than ten years. Yet, Congress will not listen. Veterans on the average have to travel at least 40-50 miles to get to a VA hospital in every state. In the past, the excuse was that medical personnel at VA hospitals and clinics are trained to address veteran health problems; but that is absurd. Major city medical staff deal with gunshot wounds regularly, and psychiatrists in the private sector are completely capable of treating patients with combat mental stress. The hospital in Colorado is costing $1.73 billion to build and that cost does not stop because maintenance will be required.

April Fool's Day

Today is what folks call “Fool's Day” and although many believe it should be a day set aside for Obama and his cronies, they are really not truly fools – they know what their agenda is.

But, seriously, I wondered how many know how this day came about?