The chief reason the Tennessee Firearms Association and the NRA went after TN House Caucus Chair Debra Maggart was because she prevented every gun bill that made it out of committee from being heard on the house floor. Presumably, this was on orders from Speaker Harwell. Maggart was primaried because she spent so much time working with us to get a Republican Majority, only to cast us aside once she actually got it. Harwell has never been a friend to gun owners, and never pretended to be, so her stance didn’t shock us. With Maggart, it was personal.
Maggart wasn’t the only incumbent Republican who lost their primary. Seven other incumbents are looking for new work today.
Speaker Harwell narrowly defeated conservative Glen Casada for the speaker position two years ago, so there was a good chance that he would win this year.
Except he’s decided not to challenge Harwell. That’s unfortunate, because it means that we likely won’t get much done in the next two years with Harwell as speaker.
I guess I’ll be spending the next two years working on someone to primary her–unless she changes her spots.
This is a Smith and Wesson .32 revolver with a low 5-digit serial (20xxx). It was recently handed down to me. My grandmother’s father bought it used in 1920. Best I can tell it was made in 1904. Click any to embiggenate.
It’s probably valued at $200, but worth a hell of a lot more than that to me.
Commenter “Brad” over at Bob Owens’ place gives an absolutely beautiful response to those people who think that the ill-conceived federal assault weapons ban would have done anything to stop what happened in Aurora:
Let it also be said that even if the killer had used a weapon which complied with the Feinstein AW ban, the outcome would not have changed. The proof of this is the 1999 Columbine massacre, where the primary murder weapon was a Hi-Point 9mm carbine using a supply of loaded 10 round magazines.
http://acolumbinesite.com/weapon.html
Armed people vs unarmed people are what enables massacres. Not flash-suppressors or 20-round magazines. The Hi-Point 9mm carbine was designed to comply with the Federal AW ban. I don’t think a magazine greater than 10 rounds capacity even exists for the weapon. Yet it is perfectly suitable for slaughtering unarmed victims.
I was going through some files on the recently undead server, and found some stuff you guys might enjoy.
I’m a giver.
That is a suppressed, short barrel, full auto M4…in .458 SOCOM. I want to have it’s babies.
That one on the top? Custom .338 Lapua Magnum, “chambered in $5 bills” says the owner.
So nice!
Unfortunately, you’d have to feed it. If I recall correctly, it’s about $65 per 20 round box.
Post-May dealer sample Uzi.
It’s little brother. Also full auto.
Thompson SMG, another M4 (in 5.56), and an MG42.
And yes, it’s all full auto.
Note, however, that he didn’t actually wait around for the cops to show up and kill him. Nor did he try to go out in a blaze of glory when the police finally caught up with him came to pick him up after he confessed to a FedEx worker
Also, this wasn’t what I’d call a “thug bar” where you’d expect drug-related violence to break out. We see that all the time. This was a sports bar filled with college kids. That kinda kills the “just don’t go to those kind of bars” argument that our opponents kept trotting out.
No good info on what kind of weapon the shooter used. The press is reporting it was an “assault rifle” but I’d also seen reports that paramedics claimed it had created small-caliber wounds. My guess is a Ruger 10/22 with a 30rd mag. That would explain the high number hits, but zero fatalities.
He also shot someone about an hour before this, and set two fires at his former place of employment.
Oh, and just in case it comes up? He was a prohibited person. Shocking, I know.
It’s inexpensive, bright, AND has tons of 4 and 5 star reviews on Amazon. The light is also clean, unlike some other cheap lights. I’d prefer an LED version, but apparently I can get a drop-in replacement reflector to convert it if I decide I really want to. If the xenon bulb doesn’t survive the first range trip, I’ll try that.
More details and gigantic pics below the fold… (more…)
So… as I alluded to in the post I made yesterday, I have a problem. I believe that I’ve stated that WizardPC is an enabler of this problem (I’ve purchased a few guns off of him, and he’s been the indirect cause of a few other purchases). With that said, I ended up going with him to the gun show on Saturday.
I was pretty sure I was safe from making any purchases. I had just bought the Bersa .22 a couple weeks back, and didn’t really feel the need for something new. I’m always on the look out for an IBM M1 carbine, but the likely hood of running into one of those is low. I underestimated the dangers of gun shows.
I’ve always kicked around the idea of having a wheel gun beyond my Heritage Arms .22 SA revolver. I actually talked to some folks recently that I thought my next purchase was going to be a .38 special or .357mag, but couldn’t decide on the size/barrel length/etc. One of the thoughts that I’ve had was that it would be cool to pick up a revolver and a Marlin lever in .357. That would make me lean towards a single action. Then I ran across this:
So Shiiiinnnnnyyyy
It was literally at the last table at the show in a display box with some random stuff. I quickly noticed the price tag of $350, and had to investigate. I knew nothing about revolvers (heck, had to ask the good folks on #gunblogger_conspiracy where S&W stamped the model number), but I knew it was a good price considering what I had seen and it seemed in good condition. Some money and a hand shake latter, it was following me home.
It’s a Smith&Wesson Model 13 with a 4″ barrel. It’s chambered in .357 and is the 2nd revision, which means it’s within a couple years of being the same age as me. The previous owner decided to install some Pachmayr “Gripper” grips that really do a good job of comfortably fitting my hand.
Even though the weather was supposed to hit right at 100 degrees, I decided to hit the range and try it out. I stopped by Walmart, and picked up a box of WWB .38special semi-wadcutters and a box of Remington Express .357mag hollow points, and headed to the range. I warmed up with some rounds through my .22 SA revolver and then decided to pull the new guy out.
I started with .38special. It was very pleasant to shoot. It was also extremely accurate. Granted, I was shooting at 7 and 10 yards, but I was keyholing multiple groups and they were all going roughly where I wanted them to. Then I tried the .357. That was pain.
Of course, I must blame a good bit of my issue with the .357 rounds on the user. Before this, the only centerfire revolvers I had shot was the odd snubby launching .38special. I wasn’t quite ready for the jump in recoil from the .38 to .357. I was expecting something similar to the jump from 9mm to .40 or possibly .45. This was considerably more. To add to the issue, I managed to pinch the pad of my trigger finger between the trigger and trigger guard on one of the first shots of .357. This meant that my accuracy went all to hell the rest of the day. I have since talked to a couple of revolver guys who have assured me that my experience (other than the pinch) is normal and you do get used to it.
The action of this revolver is very smooth. The double action is sufficiently heavy without being obnoxious. The pull is also consistent enough that you can deliberately squeeze the trigger and choose when it breaks. The single action, on the other hand, is incredibly light. Coupled with the complete lack of slack, it meant that the gun would discharge almost instantly after I decided to squeeze the trigger at all. Between the two modes, I’m actually more accurate in double action mode than single due to how easily it discharges in single action mode. The sights are fixed, but seem to be dead on and wouldn’t need adjustment.
I did have two issues while at the range. The first was that the ejector somehow got on top of one of the .38 cases so that I had to manually yank it out. The second was that the ejector rod started to unscrew and make it difficult for me to pop out the cylinder to load/unload it. I suspect that the two issues are related and it’s nothing that a little Locktite can’t fix.
Now my issue is that I need to convince Naienko that I need to buy that Marlin .357…
A few things that aren’t worth their own posts, but that I wanted to mention anyway:
I finally got around to ordering the UTG Defender Tactical Xenon Flashlight Brass suggested in my Weapon Light Bleg post from…April. Should be here by Monday. I figure at $35, if it works, great! If it doesn’t seem very robust, I’ll throw it on my .22 trainer and get a better one.
I finally got around to installing the APEX RAM and DCAEK in my M&P9 yesterday. I didn’t install the USB that comes with the DCAEK, because it require removal of the rear site. Since, as my friend Reese informed me, IDPA stands for “I Don’t Practice Anymore” I don’t want to futz with the sights and then not verify zero before I shoot a match. The next one is in 9 days and I don’t see myself getting in some range time before then.
It has been 5 years since I became Debt Free. I paid off my student loans on July4th, 2007*. It seems longer that that.
I have been given my great-grandfather’s .32 S&W revolver. It was bought used in 1920. Near as I can tell, it was made in 1904. Not sure it’s ever been cleaned, though. Pictures coming soon.
*And 11 months later, I got married and we did it all again with her stuff. We have been debt free about 2 years now.
)
to convert it if I decide I really want to. If the xenon bulb doesn’t survive the first range trip, I’ll try that.