Wishing All a Very Merry Christmas

I wish all a Merry Christmas from the Old Glory Shoppe, and I would like to remind folks the reason for the season with this quotation:

"2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Amazing World-Wide Support for Nepal Earthquake Victims

AmeriCare relief worker in Nepal

As you must be aware by now, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Tamang, Nepal with great devastation, over 6,000 dead. Over the past couple of days, searchers look for victims still buried in the rubble whose agonizing silence brings no hope of saving anyone else buried.

Nepali immigrants – naturalized citizens (estimated at 30,000) in United States are concentrated in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey with smaller populations in Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois, and California. There are 5,000 Nepali in the Queens district of New York City. A makeshift candle shrine has been put up to honor the dead and missing in the aftermath of the worst earthquake of this century. It is hard to believe that a week has passed (April 25th) since the quake hit, but I am sure the time has been slow for the victims.

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.

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:

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. 

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.

In the News: State Legislation and National Firearm Topics (Mar 2015)

Florida [Palm Beach Post] … the Florida state senate approved a bill that will allow people fleeing from disaster to carry their firearms with them legally. The bill ensures that what happened during the Hurricane Katrina disaster in Louisiana circumstance where national guard and local law enforcement went house-to-house collecting firearms and confiscated firearms from people leaving the area by motor vehicle or boat – clearly a Second Amendment violation. President GW Bush did nothing about it and the media ignored it. The bill is heading for final passage in the House that gives people permission to carry firearms without a concealed weapons permit for the first 48 hours following a mandatory evacuation order. Once citizens are housed in a shelter, firearm carry policies apply. People will have to find refuge other than schools and public buildings if they intend to bring their firearms with them because of the no tolerance policies of those places.

Case of Desertion: American Justice on Trial

It is a fact that over the decades American people have learned not to trust those operating OUR government; and just as the mainstream media is tied into the progressive movement, it stands to reason that it is “ditto” for the world of so-called journalism.

Major broadcasts plastered National Security Adviser, Susan Rice pictures and videos of her explanation of the Benghazi incident as blame upon a video on YouTube. It was the same when she praised US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl as serving “with honor and distinction” after he was exchanged for five prisoners of Guantanamo Bay. 

Condolence To Cyclone Pam Victims

Cyclone Pam has hit Vanuatu northeast of Australia and reports state that the capital city of Port Villa is 96% destroyed. Red Cross, Save the Children, and disaster relief UN agencies have begun distributing food and providing emergency shelter for the victims of one of the worst storms ever. Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia have provided aid flights to the little democratic republic. The cyclone formed on March 6^th east of the Solomon Islands and intensified to Category 5. The little island nation has suffered a complete communications breakdown and fresh water shortage with 90% of its infrastructure destroyed. Twelve have died, but more may be reported. Fiji was not in a direct path of the tropical storm and New Caledonia issued a precautionary alert. After hitting Vanuatu, the storm makes its way toward North Island, New Zealand. 

Heroes: Dakota Louis Meyer, United States Marine Corps

Dakota Louis Meyer, born on June 26^th, 1988 in Kentucky, is a veteran of the US Marine Corps and recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions during the Battle of Ganjgal, Kunar Province, Afghanistan on September 8, 2009.

Meyer's MOH citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 8 September 2009. Corporal Meyer maintained security at a patrol rally point while other members of his team moved on foot with two platoons of Afghan National Army and Border Police into the village of Ganjgal for a pre-dawn meeting with village elders. Moving into the village, the patrol was ambushed by more than 50 enemy fighters firing rocket propelled grenades, mortars, and machine guns from houses and fortified positions on the slopes above. Hearing over the radio that four U.S. team members were cut off, Corporal Meyer seized the initiative.

Wisconsin SB 35: Passes Committee and for Senate Vote

NRA-ILA photo

Before I announce a landmark bill passing the Wisconsin senate committee, I would like to make a point about the Second Amendment versus those who think that if firearms do not exist in public life there would be none or little crimes of violence or accidental deaths …

Let us replace firearms with the motored vehicle and what you would think if, in order to purchase a vehicle, because they can be dangerous in the wrong hands, a person must …

• Wait for 48 hours to pick up the vehicle even though that person has a valid driver's license. Included in that waiting period is an extra fee to the state government for their time and effort of hindering your freedom.
• Motor vehicle cannot be purchased with a maximum speed of 30 mph., because the faster one goes, the more damage occurs.
• Fuel tanks on motor vehicles can only be five gallons, because the farther one goes there is a chance for bodily injuries and death.
• Only certain vehicles can be manufactured because the consensus states that certain vehicles make people want to do unlawful things.
• Only law enforcement and the military will be allowed to have vehicles that are beyond the aforementioned mandates.

Remington Defense Builds Sniper Systems

M40A5 Sniper Rifle - Mountain Warfare Training Center

Remington Defense division announced that production is starting to fill an order from the Department of Defense for 443 Precision Sniper Rifles (PSR) chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum and 446 PSR caliber conversion kits in both .300 Win. Mag and .308 Win.

Remington Defense is also providing the US Marine Corps 2,000 modular stocks, spares, and magazines for the M40 Sniper Rifle.

FN America Awarded US Army Contract

M240B

FN America [FN Herstal] has been awarded a new indefinite contract by the Department of the Army to build M240B, C, D, and H machine guns and spare receivers. The contract includes four one-year ordering periods not to exceed $84.6 million.

FN has produced more than 2 million firearms for the US Armed Forces since 1989 at the Columbia, South Carolina factory. FN also produces M4/M4A1 carbines, M16 rifles, MK19 grenade machine guns, M249 SAWs and the MK-46 and MK48 machine guns.

The M240 series machine gun has been used by the US Armed Forces since the late 1970s, mostly by the infantry with modified models used for ground vehicles, watercraft, and aircraft. It has been a reliable medium belt-fed machine gun that fires 7.62mm (.308 caliber) ammunition issued with an extra barrel. They are known for their quick-change barrel system when barrels get too hot. It is usually fired from an integrated bipod, a vehicular mount, or an M192 tripod. The updated M2 tripod is mostly used by the US Marine Corps. It has a maximum firing range of 3,725 meters (4,074 yds) and uses a non-disintegrating DM1 or disintegrating M13 linked belt. The rate of fire is 750 to 950 rounds per minute, a gas-operated, open bolt system.

Veterans Administration In The News

It is difficult to fire a government employee, more difficult than the private sector, it seems that applies to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Indianapolis, concerning an email sent by a manager at the clinic, reported by the Indianapolis Star and Stars & Stripes …

The email obtained by The Indianapolis Star contains photographs of a toy Christmas elf posing as a patient in what appears to be the hospital's transitional clinic for returning veterans. In one photograph, the elf pleads for Xanax. In another, he hangs himself with an electrical cord. The woman who sent the email is Robin Paul, a licensed social worker who manages the hospital's Seamless Transition Integrated Care Clinic. The clinic provides returning veterans with transition assistance, including mental health and readjustment services. …

Controversy Continues Over Green-Tip Ammunition - Too Late, Already Banned

As you probably know, the Obama administration, specifically the ATF, is considering a ban on ammunition painted with a green tip. It specifically applies to the AR-15 rifle. Their reasoning is that the ATF considers it “armor piercing”, which was banned in the 1980s.

Before the consideration, green-tipped ammunition was popular because it was cheap. Now 100 rounds cost $90.

ATF has announced it is accepting public comment about the proposed change until March 16^th. You can send your commentary to APAComments@atf.gov, or send comments by fax or postal mail.

Wisconsin in the News

Our governor here in Wisconsin, Scott Walker, is a potential candidate for the primary campaign for the presidential election of 2016. The Progressives [Democrats] must view him as a threat because their media folks are trying to find any dirt they can discover about him or make up from misinformation, gleaned from facts. The only thing they can come up with was that he did not complete college.

The Amazing Cephalopod in the News

Wikipedia file photo

The amazing octopus was featured in a news story a few hours ago, so I thought to share it with you.

While in the Mediterranean area for 4.5 years, one of my favorite dishes was octopus salad, a favorite among the locals in Greece, Spain, and Turkey as well as other Mediterranean restaurants who serve it as their specialty for tourists.

The octopus is a remarkable creature, member of the invertebrate family of species, cephalopod mollusc, Octopoda; it is one of the most intelligent and adaptable creatures found in marine waters. It defends itself by expulsion of ink and using camouflage, as well as the ability to jet quickly into hiding places. Having a hard beak that can break hard shells of crabs, they are also venomous, but only one specie is known to be deadly to humans: the blue-ringed octopus. There are about 300 species, which is one-third of the total number of known cephalopod species.

Prime Minister of Israel to Visit Next Month to Address Congress and Americans

Keith Koffler wrote an article about Prime Minister Netanyahu and his visit next month to address Congress.

President Obama has insulted Israel and their prime minister since 2009. Our president is more cordial to Iran's leadership, whose Islamic clerics have declared war upon the United States, funded and supported Jihadists, and whose agenda is to destroy Israel.

PM Netanyahu is coming here to make a case to Congress and the American people about saving his country, and as Koffler wrote: “And ours”.

Netanyahu and Israel's intelligence believe that Obama's deal with Iran will not stop its nuclear warfare program; indeed, it will boost it.

Airline Traveler Gets Upset at Security Checkpoint

It seems that people in the United States are not the only ones who get upset over stupid regulations and actions of airport security.

A traveler at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia, got upset when he was asked to remove his belt. So he went above and beyond and removed every bit of clothing including his watch, but left his socks on.