Connecticut Gun Laws

It didn't take them long. Last Friday, on the way home from work, NPR had EJ Dionne calling for gun control. He must carry his blood-dancing shoes with him at all times, to be able to start the Casualty Can-Can on such short notice.

So, lacking any new ideas in gun control circles, we can count on them to trot out the same old crap. With that in mind, let's look at Connecticut's gun control laws, courtesy of those paragons of freedom, the Brady Bunch (no link for them, fuck 'em).

- It scores 58 0ut of 100 points Only New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and California scored higher
- It requires background checks on long guns at gun shows
- It requires a state permit to purchase handguns
- It requires trigger locks be sold with all guns.
- It bans "assault weapons" with 2 or more "assault features"*

All this, and he-who-shall-not-be-named still managed to bring the crazy.

We definitely need to have a conversation, but not about gun control.

*I made that up, but it's accurate :-). Continue Reading

QOTD...

... comes via the quote machine Tam:

Complaining that a 1920s firearm may not have been drop safe when you were actively ignoring two or more of the Four Rules of firearm safety is like complaining that you drove your Ford Model A head-on into a brick wall and the airbags didn't deploy.

Yep

. Continue Reading

Tools To Consider For Your SHTF Plan

Today, M.D. Creekmore brings us Tools To Consider For Your SHTF Plan posted by Chad H.

It's a good list, including things like a Halligan Tool and PW can.

As with any list, the following applies:

your personal needs will determine what tools you should have

Stay safe, stay ready.

. Continue Reading

I Thought Kids and Guns Were a Recipe for Disaster

Well, don't tell that to this kid:

DRIGGS, Idaho -- An 11-year-old Idaho boy fatally shot a black bear on his family's front porch after he said it wouldn't leave.

I'm sure the bear was a misunderstood product of its society. And maybe the kid was compensating for something, too.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

Thanks to Curt for the pointer.

. Continue Reading

Picture/Quote of the Day

Courtesy of Oleg Volk:

That's what it's all about.

.

Continue Reading

Crimson Trace DVD Has Arrived

Remember that free DVD I talked about last month? It came in the mail yesterday.

Hosted by Michael Bane, it features such shooting luminaries as Julie Goloski (Go Army!), Ken Hackathorn, Todd Jarrett, and Wes Doss. And then there's Mark, the "bad guy" who gets shot all the time.

They cover sight picture, how to use the laser to improve your trigger control, low light situations, shooting on the move, on target from any position, and gunfight psychology,

Run time: Just over 30 minutes.

I learned things, and highly recommend this DVD.

.

Continue Reading

NFL Pro Athletes and Guns

Looks like Blackwater has identified a new revenue stream:

Blackwater Worldwide has started marketing a personal defense course for professional athletes, pushing firearms training just two months after NFL star Plaxico Burress shot himself in the thigh.

Damn fine move.

h/t Uncle

. Continue Reading

Pittsburgh Steeler Joey Porter on Guns

Looks like it's all "NFL on guns" here at the Alehouse this week.

ESPN has a story featuring Joey Porter, another victim of gun violence (shot in the butt in Colorado), talking about guns in the NFL. Although they frame the story as a defense of Plaxico, the meat of the story is about common sense gun possession.

First, here's what Joey has to say about Plax:

"It's tough out there so I'm not gonna say I condone what happened. It was a mistake by [Plax]. I know he wish he never did it. But I don't think it's as bad as everybody made it seem, either."

Sounds like a pretty fair description of the facts. What Plax did was dumb, and a result of both insufficient safety training and a poor attitude concerning firearms.

Joey then goes on:

"Everybody has their mistakes, but that's exactly what they are ... Until you've been in that situation, when you've been robbed at gunpoint or you've had a gun waved in your face or had your house broken into before or been carjacked, you really don't know what it's like."

Your commissioner doesn't know what it's like, I guarantee ya.

"I'm not saying I'm walking down the street with a handgun on my hip," Porter said. "I'm not doing it for show. It's not fun. Hopefully, in my lifetime, I never have to use it."

Why is it anti-gunners can't get that through their head? We don't want to use our gun, but we sure as hell don't want to die, either.

Like Porter says:

"I'd rather get caught and take the little penalty from the media, whatever the situation may be, than not have a chance to save my life,"

Damn skippy.

. Continue Reading

NFL Commissioner Goodell on Guns

Roger Goodell, channelling Mike Ditka, speaks out on guns:

"The real issue to me, is when the players feel they're unsafe, they shouldn't be there," Goodell said. "So get out, don't be there. If you feel the need to have a firearm to be someplace, you're in the wrong place."

No, Roger. The real issue is your players not acting like adults. They've been pampered and insulated for so long, they've never been told "no". They think life is what they see on TV, and what their sycophant "entourage" tell them it is.

You say "don't be there", but Dunta Robinson was in his own home when he was robbed. As was Sean Taylor, of course.

Saying "don't be there" is similar to Nancy Regan's "Just say no". In real life, it doesn't work that way. You might start by getting the NRA to conduct some firearms safety classes. If that's too big a step, start out with Eddie Eagle and work your way up.

Education, not prevention, is the key to keeping your players healthy, and alive.

As I related here, there are NFL players who have their heads on straight. Too bad yours isn't.

. Continue Reading

Early Morning Quickies

Here are a couple quick links to start your day.

Yuri has a must-see video. Here's a hint: Someone gets shot, for real.

The Arizona Rifleman has thoughts on "silencers" and the Brady Bunch.

Silencers are not illegal. In case the bold print wasn’t enough, let me repeat: silencers are NOT ILLEGAL.

That's not what the Bradies say.

.

Continue Reading

Security in the NFL

ESPN has a series of stories written by NFL players concerning security in the NFL. It's called "Living Scared". while I wonder a bit at this title, the stories themselves are compelling.

Titans Center Kevin Mawae:

If I had to guess about our locker room, I'd say it's fifty-fifty when it comes to gun ownership. I don't own a handgun. I have a hunting rifle. My job is to protect my family. If someone comes into my house? Game's on.

Texans Cornerback Dunta Robinson:

I never owned a gun, never thought I needed a gun—until I was robbed at gunpoint in my own home.

....

I've heard the league say you don't need a gun. But if you haven't been in my situation, you really can't answer that question. I would never use a weapon in the wrong way or look for trouble. But I'll tell you this: I will protect my house.

Jaguars Running Back Fred Taylor:

League officials tell us we need to take measures to protect ourselves. But the NFL says we can't have guns in the facility, even in the parking lot. Crooks know this. They can just sit back and wait for us to drive off, knowing we won't have anything in our vehicle from point A to point B.

There's more, go check it out. One story leads to another.

Thanks to August West over at MCM for the pointer.

. Continue Reading

Negligent Discharge

It happens to the best of us.

Had it happen to me, about 15 years ago, as I was getting back into shooting. I wish I could say it was not my fault, but it was, 100%.

The details are a little fuzzy, but it was at the range of the Ft. Bliss Rod & Gun club. Luckily, while I may have not followed rule number 3, rule 2 kept anything tragic from happening.

. Continue Reading

Quote of the Day

Folks, you own every bullet that comes out of your gun and everything it touches. If you can't control exactly where it lands, you have no business toting a pistol in public.

Tamara K.

. Continue Reading

IDPA Partnering with First Shots Program

Caleb has the skinny.

I think it's a perfect fit.

. Continue Reading

Does Owning a Gun Make you Safer?

I just want to take the time to mention this debate site. The goal there is open and honest debate on gun issues.

As to my answer to the question, put me squarely in the "no" column.

Owning a gun doesn't make you safer. All it makes you is a gun owner. Safety is an individual responsibility.

.

Continue Reading

Training, Memphis Style

Paul Simer has been taking some training here locally.

Part 1 - Sounded good.

Part 2 - Not so much.

In comments at Part 2, PDB says (emphasis mine):

I think Rangemaster is suffering from having to stratify their syllabus to accommodate all the multiple belt, er, level programs to keep extracting money from trainees. One thing Tactical Response has going for it is that they don’t have “basic” shooting programs, because “there’s no basic or advanced gunfight!”.

That's a Quote of the Day, right there.

. Continue Reading

They Just Can't Do It

The press, that is.

They can't do a story about guns (in this case gun safety) without telling a tale of tragedy:

Ramon Swanson would have loved to meet Eddie the Eagle.

His mother's careless friend with a loaded pistol made sure that would never happen.

They also can't give the NRA props. That Eddie Eagle guy?

Germantown Police Patrolman Andy Griffith (yes, that is his real name) makes it his mission to prevent these kinds of stories. He and his mascot, Eddie the Eagle, visit local schools to teach kids a simple motto on how to deal with guns:

STOP! DON'T TOUCH! LEAVE THE AREA! TELL AN ADULT!

Any mention of the NRA?

Nope, not a peep.

. Continue Reading

Really Good Info

Xavier has a great piece on situational awareness.

Gunfighting is not about guns, it's about fighting. You must be willing and able to fight, and fighting is about survival.

Yup.

Thanks to Roberta for the pointer

. Continue Reading

Ruger SR 9 Recall Update

Via The Gun Shots:

(click to enlarge)

(h/t to SayUncle)

.

Continue Reading

'Splodey

Thirdpower shows us what happens when you don't remove the boresight.

Ouch. Continue Reading