Gun Business: Wal-Mart Loads Up With Guns in U.S. Stores
This week CNN.com reported that Wal-Mart has announced that it will be restocking many of its U.S. stores in an effort to combat slumping sales. It was in 2006 that the world’s largest retailer stopped carrying firearms in all but 1,300 stores.
Beginning soon Wal-Mart will carry long guns including rifles and shotguns in about half of its 4,000 stores, although handguns will only be sold in select stores in Alaska.
The stores that will carry the firearms will reportedly be in areas where hunting and fishing are popular, and CNN.com noted that a spokesman for the company indicated that the majority of firearms sold at Wal-Mart are made in the United States.
Background checks will be required for all purchases.
CalGunLaws.com: CRPA Foundation Submits Comments on ATF Study That Could Restrict Importability of Shotguns
From our friends at CalGunLaws.com:
The California Rifle and Pistol Association Foundation (CRPAF) has submitted a letter correcting and clarifying some of the areas of California firearm law addressed in a draft ATF Study that could result in banning the importation of self-defense shotguns.
Other issues raised by the Study are being addressed by organizations like the National Rifle Association. Read more
The Sun of San Bernardino Previews City’s First-Ever Gun Buyback Event
The Sun had some not so sunny ways to describe San Bernardino’s “first-ever gun buyback event.” The paper offered this introduction:
“Old rifles, pistols and shotguns can be traded for grocery store gift cards.”
This passage suggests that this “old” stuff is probably not worth much, so getting $50 gift card or even a $100 for an “assault weapon” probably sounds like a good deal. Of course the paper also had to throw in some feel good community human interests too with this quote from Lt. Keith Prostler:
“We’re going to be able to remove guns off the street and at the same time provide a holiday meal for that family as well.”
OK, the event didn’t happen yet (it is scheduled for December 18), so how is Prostler able to predict that this even will “be able to remove guns off the street?” That is a pretty bold statement in our minds, especially given the pittance that the city is offering for those “old” guns.
Book Review: Fine Shotguns – The History, Science, and Art of the Finest Shotguns From Around the World [Hardcover]
Guns are often called tools, and for many modern handguns and rifles this is very much the case. As such you don’t want the item to get scratched or dinged, but you know it comes with using it. Tools are meant to be used as tools after all. But there is an entirely different breed of firearms, those that are true pieces of art.
Author John M. Taylor explores these in his new book Fine Shotguns: The History, Science, and Art of the Finest Shotguns from Around the World (Skyhorse Publishing). Through 256 pages, which include dozens of color and black and white photographs he presents what makes a fine shotgun, exploring models from the United States, Austria, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Taylor offers a concise history of the firearms, and offers expert advice on evaluating and purchasing a high-end gun, including tips on how to avoid pitfalls.
He further looks at accessories that are available and gives advice on how to choose the perfect traveling case. The book, whilst aimed at collectors, offers enough applying information for those who do more window shopping that shooting. And for those on a budget this holiday, this book is the next best thing to a well-stocked collection.
$60
256 pages
Hardcover
B&W and Color Illustrations
Published: December 15, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-61608-089-1
Where to Buy:
Anti-Gun Zealot Says Changing Australia Gun Law “like pushing alcohol and tobacco on kids”
Roland Browne of the Gun Control Coalition in Australia was quoted by ABC.net.au (Australian Broadcast Company) comparing changing guns to alcohol and tobacco. He is challenging efforts to amendments to remove the “limit on the number of firearms for collecting and downgrading the classification of pump action shotguns.”
He said:
“I can’t see any good reason for this. It’s like pushing alcohol and tobacco and kids.”
This sort of anti-gun zeal is growing in America, and this should (hopefully) serve as a warning to American gun owners.
More Gun Buybacks – More Mainstream Media Information
The problem with gun buybacks is that not only do we believe that these seldom (if ever) actually get guns off the streets, but they spread misinformation. This week saw several such programs and here is a quick recap.
Shore News Today reported on a gun buyback in Pleasantville, NJ, where the police collected 257 handguns, 111 rifles and 97 shotguns. “In all, $29,730 was doled out to people,” reports the paper. Doled is a good word. But the paper also quoted Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel as saying, “Every gun turned in is another gun that can’t end up in the hands of a criminal.” This is a statement made all too often, and is insulting at best and an outright lie at worst. That is akin to saying, “every car could be used by a drunk driver.” If safety precautions are followed, few if any guns should end up in the hands of criminals, but anti-gun zealots and the mainstream media like to imply otherwise.
ABC6.com noted that New Bedford, Mass. also held a gun buyback, with the mayor being quoted as saying, “illegal guns are the weapons of mass destruction in our cities.” But the question do these buybacks really get guns off the streets? The reporting from ABC6.com never questioned this fact, only offering sound bites from those organizing the event.
Likewise, The Boston Herald also reported on the event, noting it was a “gun safety exchange.” Maybe they’re right, people were exchanging their safety for a few bucks. In this report it was noted, “Mayor Scott Lang sayst he program will make the city safer.” No counterpoint of course.
KLFY.com reported on the four Baton Rouge churches traded gas cards “to anyone turning in a handgun or assault weapon.” Of course the news outlet doesn’t really note what exactly is an assault weapon. But of course that is far from the only concern. The story notes, “The ‘Gas for Guns’ program targets illegally held of unwanted weapons.” Again, any proof that “illegally held” guns are ever turned in at these things?
Essentially, these events are reported on with little counterpoint and are human interest feel good stories. The truth is that these probably do little good, as they pay people a fraction of a firearms worth, likely get few if any illegal guns off the street, and never address the larger issue that the criminals remain on the streets.
Minnesota DNR to Auction Off Guns
Rather than destroying confiscated guns and other outdoor equipment, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will auction off these items this coming Saturday reports the Associated Press via KSFY. The items have been seized by officers over the past four years, and include “nearly 300 rifles, shotguns, and bows.” The proceeds from the auction will go to the DNR’s Game and Fish Fund.
For more information:
How Will Anti-Gun Groups React to New Chrysler Ram Truck?
During the recent economic downturn the mainstream media regularly noted that gun sales were up while sales of just about everything else remained sluggish. Of course the mainstream media also ignored the fact that the gun sales have been on a steady rise for the past 27-years but those facts probably got in the way of a good story. What will be interesting is how the anti-gun groups, and the mainstream media react to the a new Chrysler Ram Truck that is part o the Outdoorsman line?
AutoRevolution is reporting that these autos – as in automobiles of course, not automatics – will be fitted with The Mopar RamBox Holster, a lockable, watertight compartment that can be mounted on either side of a pickup bed. This is a $205 option, on top of the $1895 price of the RamBox feature, and it can be used to lock up two rifles or shotguns.
But anti-gun groups shouldn’t complain, because the way we look at it is simple. If guns are selling, shouldn’t this a feature to help get the cars selling again?
Who Guards the Guards: Gallaway Police Guns Gone Away
MyFox News in Memphis reported that several police issued shotguns have gone away in Gallaway, Tenn. The news site noted that the City of Gallaway if offering a $500 reward for information on the guns. The crime seems particularly brazen: Read more
Firing Back: Chicago’s Take on Long Guns
This week we’re seeing a lot of the fallout of last week’s Supreme Court ruling. Chicago has attempted to do an end run around the Supreme Court of the United States – the highest court in the land – by coming up with new and extremely vague laws.
One part we missed at first is only getting minor play in the mainstream media. So far we haven’t seen much pickup on it either, suggesting that it is something the city is trying to slip through. Numerous news organizations, such as Bloomberg Businessweek noted it however:
“The new law limits possession of handguns to the home and possession of long guns to places of business.”
Are we reading this right? Long guns can only be held in places of businesses? Is it just us, or does this statement make no sense? Most workers, blue collar or white collar, probably don’t take a rifle or shotgun to work. So exactly what “place of business” requires or is suitable for a long gun? This sounds like a way to make it so difficult and impossible to own such an item that people won’t bother. Nice way to get around the Constitution. Let the lawsuits begin.
