President Pressured to Support Gun Control
In the wake of the Tucson shooting, gun control advocates are exploiting the tragedy and pressuring President Obama to support new firearms restrictions. Several members of congress, as well as liberal groups, are publically (and probably privately) pressuring Obama to swing their way. This comes at a time when the President is moving his political agenda more towards the center as the 2012 election approaches.
A bill proposed by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) would make it illegal to sell large-capacity ammunition magazines, similar to the one used in the Tucson shooting. Even former Republican Vice President Richard Cheney said in a recent interview with NBC that “maybe it’s appropriate” to limit magazine size.
Before becoming President, Obama supported most gun control laws, including the renewal of the ban on semiautomatic assault rifles. The administration isn’t giving up much information on the issue, only saying it is looking at different proposals.
Don’t be surprised if the President brings up the issue in next week’s State of the Union address.
Cert For Arrested Stranded Traveler Considered This Week
Being stranded at an airport for even a few hours is an inconvenience many American travelers have to endure. But in 2005, Greg Revell was stranded for 4 days because he was traveling with an unloaded firearm from Utah to Pennsylvania, with a connecting flight in New Jersey. 3 of those days were spent in various jails in New Jersey.
Revell checked his Utah-licensed gun and ammunition with his luggage in Salt Lake City and asked airport officials to deliver them both with his luggage in Allentown. The unloaded firearm was contained in a locked hard case and the ammunition in a separate locked hard case. An orange declaration travel tag was place with the gun.
His Newark flight landed late and Revell missed the connecting flight to Allentown, PA. The airline charted a bus to Allentown but Revell’s luggage had been mistakenly marked with Newark as the final destination. He gathered his luggage, including the firearm and ammunition, and spent the night in a hotel waiting for the next flight to Allentown. Read more
Sponsor Special: ‘Twas the Week Before Christmas so get a Machine Gun
‘Twas the week before Christmas with gifts to be got
Those who love history would love this a lot
It was a vintage weapon, a big Browning Gun
While it won’t really fire, it still is great fun
Used by our army, we showed we had fight
Merry Christmas Dear Shoppers, and have a good night
Original Item: Our best 1919A4 display gun ever. We have very few of these. The Browning 1919A4 was the definitive U.S. MG of WWII. The M1919 Browning is a .30 caliber medium machine gun that was widely used during the 20th century. The U.S. and many other countries used it as a light infantry, coaxial, mounted, aircraft, and anti-aircraft machine gun, especially during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Although it began to be superseded by newer designs in the later half of the century (such as by the M60 machine gun), it remained in use in many North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries and elsewhere for much longer. It is very similar in design to the larger .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Machine Gun, the “Ma Deuce”, which is also a Browning-designed weapon and is still in NATO service.
IMA is proud to offer a totally non-firing BATF approved display machine gun built from WWII era parts and constructed with precision detail. The top cover opens, the bolt moves, most of the original markings remain, this is easily the best display 1919A4 on the market today, if not the only. We also include an all steel new made M2 Tripod with pintle and 100 rounds of .30 ball cartridges in a disintegrating belt to complete your display.
These will not remain in stock for long; this is your final opportunity to own America’s most famous WW2 Medium Machine Gun.
U.S. WWII Browning .30 Caliber 1919A4 Display Machine Gun with Tripod & Inert Ammo
Media Misinformation: Sniper Rifle
Ever since the tragedy involving the “DC Sniper,” there has been a great deal of media misinformation on exactly what is and what is not a sniper rifle. To hear some in the mainstream media talk, a sniper rifles is some sort of magical weapon that makes it easier to shoot people.
While it is actually correct that a true “sniper rifle” is a finely made firearm that is more accurate than a normal off-the-shelf rifle, the truth is that the weapon itself doesn’t enhance the skills of shooting. In fact, a novice shot with a sniper rifle could actually be even less accurate because of the complexity of the firearm. Knowing how to use a scope takes a great deal of practice and understanding on various factors. Thus the bullet doesn’t magically hit where the cross hairs are aligned like in video games. Read more
Media Misinformation: High-Powered
Over the past year and a half since we launched FirearmsTruth.com, we’ve noted that the media misinformation often contains the same statements, words and other questionable points time and time again. For that reason we’ve decided to start a new feature that calls out these points and take a closer look.
To get the ball rolling, we’re going to cover the topic of “high-powered,” as this one seems to crop up time and time again. The media loves to use the term, “high-powered” as in “high-powered assault rifles” and “high-powered weapons.” The problem with this use of the adjective “high-powered” is that it isn’t being accurately used. Read more
GOP Take House, But Second Amendment Battle is Far From Over
We’re happy to see that the Republicans have taken control of the House of Representatives as the Grand Old Party as it is known tends to be friendlier to gun related issues. The people have spoke, and this wasn’t the result of some nefarious plot by the insidious gun lobby – which is how the National Rifle Association and other pro-gun organizations are painted in the mainstream media – to take control of the country. This was the will of the people, which includes hunters, shooters, collectors and just every day citizens that believe in the Second Amendment.
But the writing is on the wall, and we’re not out of the woods yet. Nor is it the time however to let down our guard. The Senate will still include a rogue’s gallery of anti-gun zealots including two Republicans: Senator-Elect Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), a co-sponsor in the U.S. House of Representatives of legislation to close the so-called gun show loophole, and Senator-Elect Dan Coast in Indiana had previously served in the U.S. Senate, voting for the Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban.
Key anti-gun Democrats retained their seats in the U.S. Senate as well, and these include Senators Chuck Schumer of New York and Barbara Boxer of California. New York was lso a special case as Kirsten Gillibrand was finally “elected” to the Senate (she had been appointed to fill Hillary Clinton’s seat, which she will now hold for two more years). Both Schumer and Gillibrand have been foes to gun owners, while Boxer has also been a supporter of gun control. The NRA-endorsed Christine O’Donnell was also defeated by Democrat candidate Chris Coons in Delaware, while Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), who was appointed to finish the term of former Senator Ken Salazar, was elected to a full term. He has co-sponsored gun show loophole legislation.
We happy that Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin) was defeated in his re-election bid, as Feingold has had at what best can be described as a mixed record on gun related issues, including voting in favor of background checks at gun shows.
But now is the time to think to the future, but to be on guard today. Only this year the EPA attempted to ban lead ammunition, while the State Department stopped efforts to allow the importation of American M1 made rifles from South Korea. These are both back door gun bans, and while the same mainstream media that sees the NRA as a cabal of evildoers bent on turning America into a Wild West, turn a blind eye to these efforts. Instead the media tries to say that the Democrats and President Obama have done nothing to impose new restrictions.
Except for the attempt to ban lead ammo, the blocked importation of those M1 rifles and the appointment of two fiercely anti-gun rights Supreme Court Justices. So while this is a time to celebrate our wins with the House, we should be remain on guard.
Gun Collecting: Nagant Model 1895 Revolver
One of the most unique vintage military revolvers is known for its use in Russia, but yet it was in fact a Belgian designed firearm. This was the Model 1895 Nagant revolver, which was in actuality developed in 1894 by Emile and Leon Nagant, two Belgian gun designers, who had previous experience with the Russian arms industry. Their development of the revolver coincided with the Imperial Russian Army’s need for a new sidearm, which the firm of Fabrique d’armes Emile et Leon Nagant designed and brought to production. The Nagant brothers were already well known at the Russian Court as they had previously helped design the now infamous Mosin-Nagant Model 1891 rifle.
The unique 7.62x38mmR
What makes this firearm so unique is that unlike other revolvers, it features a cylinder that moves forward before the hammer strikes the round, thus closing the cap from the cylinder to the barrel. Additionally, the Nagant M1895 further utilized a specially designed cartridge with a long case that featured a tapered mouth that keeps the bullet seated inside the case below the cartridge case rim. This was the 7.62x38mmR, which is also known today as the 7.62mm Nagant less commonly as the Cartridge, Type R. Together the features of the gun’s design along with the bullet configuration prevent gas leakage between the cylinder and the barrel, making this one of the only revolvers that could effectively be used with a silencer – although that wasn’t really a consideration when it was developed. To the designers, the deeply seated bullet within the cartridge of the case allowed for the velocity of the bullet to be increased by 50 to 150 feet per second. Read more
Gun Business: Olin’s Winchester Brand Helps Company Reload
Olin Corporation (NYSE: OLN) which operates two segments of business, chemicals and ammunition has relied on its Winchester brand ammunition to help the company weather a downturn in the economy. The company’s chemical business is powered by its Chlor Alkali products which include chlorine, caustic soda, sodium hydrosulfite, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, bleach products and potassium hydroxide. While both of its business segments are cyclical in nature the chemical business has been extremely difficult since 2008. For its Chlor Alkali business segment Olin’s 2nd quarter 2010 income before taxes was down 45% compared to a year earlier. 2nd quarter 2010 income was $26.1 million versus $47.6 million. Read more
Capitol Weekly Shows Anti-Gun Bias in Reporting on Gun Legislation
Maybe someone should tell the staff at Capitol Weekly, “The Newspaper of California Government and Politics” to watch some old episodes of Dragnet and just tell “the facts, just the facts.” The paper reported on “A graveyard for key bills at the 11th hour” and shows some serious anti-gun bias. Read more
San Francisco Chronicle Columnist Defends Gun Shop
In a column for The San Francisco Chronicle, Phil Bronstein compares Bosnia to the Golden Gate town, and notes that the San Francisco’s anti-gun zealots are fighting mad about the reopening of the High Bridge Arms gun shop on Mission Street.
He asks:
“Do we really need to make a high-caliber stink about reopening the only legal firearms sales outlet in the city, even in a nice neighborhood? No. The place has been a gun store for 50 years.” Read more
