PrisonPlanet.com Reads Way Too Much Into CNBC Story
This week ConvergEx Group Chief Market Strategist Nicholas Colas noted on CNBC that America’s were buying more guns, and worried about security. But over a PrisonPlanet.com they took this story and added:
“Americans are acquiring guns, silver, and food stamps at record levels in reaction to the crumbling economy, trends indicative of a fearful public who are struggling financially and preparing for potential mass civil unrest in the aftermath of a total economic collapse.”
But that isn’t what Colas said. He noted that in addition to firearms, silver coins sales are up. People don’t buy silver coins if they think there is going to be a total economic collapse! He was also quoted on CNBC as stating:
“The consumer is still on pretty shaky ground. Confidence [is] still not all that strong, the intention to spend, still [is] not all that strong.”
That is a very far cry from fearing that next month we’ll be living like the Road Warrior! This panic mode from PrisonPlanet simply borders on the dangerous .
Huff and Puff Gives Platform for L.A. Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of the City of Los Angeles took to the Huffington Post to rant and rave, and promote the group’s anti-gun report that notes that “Crime Guns Crossing Borders and Taking Lives.”
Of course Villaraigosa is quick to note:
“The report analyzed crime gun trace data from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and paints a portrait of states around the country that are the top sources of guns recovered in crimes. In 2009, the ten states that supplied the highest rate of crime guns were Mississippi, West Virginia, Kentucky, Alaska, Alabama, South Carolina, Virginia, Indiana, Nevada, and Georgia.”
What you don’t hear from the mayor is that, as with the situation with guns recovered in Mexico, only a percentage of firearms from crimes are ever actually traced. So this “study” is highly questionable at best.
Maybe Los Angeles would be better too, if not only guns from those states didn’t travel to the city, but if tourists from those states stopped spending their dollars on all things made in the City of Angeles. Just a thought.
Gun Collecting: IMA Offers an Alternative for Machinegun Collectors
A British Lanchester Machinegun
Owning a piece of history is something special. Owning a piece of history that is actually a machinegun requires a lot of special paperwork and hassle. The alternative is to get a historic item that doesn’t actually fire. While that might seem like half the fun is missing, think of half the fun you get for having a fantastic display item – one that is generally legal to own and still looks quite impressive.
International Military Antiques (IMA) is one of the premier sellers of such historical items, as well as other unique oddities and collectibles. We talked to owners Christian and Alexander Cranmer about their business, how they got started and what the future might hold for collectors. Read more
Upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee: “Firearms in Commerce”
Next Tuesday the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its hearing entitled “Firearms in Commerce: Assessing the Need for Reform in the Federal Regulatory Process.” The hearing will take place at 10:00am in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. There will be a live webcast of this hearing.
We’ll be sure to report following the hearing.
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: “Firearms in Commecre”
National Gun Collectors Association Holds Gun Buy Back
Most of the time gun buybacks sound like a bad deal. Citizens are urged to hand in “old guns” for a gift card or a pittance in cash, and too often taxpayer money is used to support these events. But WTVO 17 via MyStateLine.com reported on a quite different type of buyback.
This event was held this past weekend by a group called The National Gun Collectors Association, which claims to have been partnered with a group called The International Military Collectors Association, and instead of just handing out a gift card, the group’s spokesman actually said they have a panel of experts and connections with dealers and collectors to make offers on firearms as well as military items. Essentially this was a large “motel buy,” a common dealer type event where an individual rents a room, places an add calling for items and waits for people to come by.
While we weren’t able to find any information about either of the aforementioned groups, it is nice to see that the emphasis was on collecting, not destroying the firearms.
Concealed Carry: A First Person Account From Colorado
In June, my wife & I relocated back to Colorado from the state of ‘there outta be a law’ (also known as California.) Colorado is much friendlier to gun owners than California. For example, every firearms purchase or inheritance that I made in California required registration with the California Department of Justice. In Colorado, I have to register zero firearms per CRS 29-11.7-102 which prohibits gun registration by the state or any local government. Read more
Should the Charleston Police Keep Inventory Records of Legally Owned Guns?
The Charleston Police Department is trying to combat crime in a few unique ways, including offering monetary incentives up to $100 to information on illegal guns, as well as the usual calls for individuals to hand in unwanted guns. But the city’s police are making a step that might seem to be crossing the line. Read more
Buffalo Business First Editorial Fails to Look at How Guns Save Lives Too
In a rant-filled editorial for The Buffalo Business First, Gary Burns doesn’t pull any punches. He states clearly: “killing – that’s what guns are for.” He goes on to cite several examples of tragic shootings, but fails to offer so much as one example of how a firearm saved a life. Thus he never notes, “protection – that’s always what guns are for.” Read more
Statesman Journal Calls for Guns to be Sold Not Scrapped
Time and time the mainstream media reports on gun buybacks, gun amnesties and other events were guns are collected and destroyed. The media seldom considers the historical value, and it almost never considers the monetary value of these items. So we’re pleased to see that some in the MSM actually have a similar thought to our thinking that maybe seized guns could be sold. Read more
WaPo Still Somehow Blames the United States for Mexican Cartel Woes
For The Washington Post David Ignatius writes, “how can it be possible that after 18 months in office, President Obama still has not appointed a director for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.” Ignatius then goes on to write this statement:
“Mexico is reeling from a drug-cartel insurgency that is armed mainly with weapons acquired in the United States.” Read more
