In what may be the ultimate parody of the age, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has prepared a medal to issue to the BATmen of Waco (so help me!) I have seen it pictured in the press. It is in the form of a star. Shouldn't we refer to it as the "Herod Star?"
- Jeff Cooper
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Well, it is Kalifornia!
Ok .... this probably breaks at least a few of California's insane gun laws, but I don't really see a problem:
The article mentions that the woman was selling to people 'off the street' at all hours. Federal law does not proscribe this (it's the infamous 'gun show loophole' you hear about). If you own a gun, you can sell it. Sounds to me like she was liquidating her father's collection.
And out of 24 weapons seized, 2 ....... 2 .... were stolen - all though it's not clear whether the woman stole them, or they simply had been stolen at some point. But why sweat the details, right?
After all, journalists wouldn't lie, would they?
pm
A 36-year-old Redondo Beach woman accused of fencing her father's guns along with stolen firearms was arrested at her home Wednesday by Long Beach Police.Hmmmm, 'fencing' seems like a harsh term for selling something you presumably own.
The article mentions that the woman was selling to people 'off the street' at all hours. Federal law does not proscribe this (it's the infamous 'gun show loophole' you hear about). If you own a gun, you can sell it. Sounds to me like she was liquidating her father's collection.
And out of 24 weapons seized, 2 ....... 2 .... were stolen - all though it's not clear whether the woman stole them, or they simply had been stolen at some point. But why sweat the details, right?
After all, journalists wouldn't lie, would they?
pm
Friday, November 13, 2009
What would you do?
I was listening to Vicious Circle #25 (again!), and a thought's been whirling around in my brain, having to do with Title II/Class III NFA items.
Since the purported reason the NFA exists is to raise revenue (the only way it's legal), I suggest a strategy that rests on increasing revenues actually collected. I have a couple of scenarios.
First, the Hughes amendment of 1986 must go. There is no difference between an imported semi-automatic and one that has the requisite # of domestic parts to qualify as 'not imported'. And here is where the increased revenues come in.
We must, as a free country, be allowed to make new fully automatic weapons and engage in trade, thereby increasing revenues. Along with that, the tax amounts should be adjusted downward, to encourage more traffic in class III weapons, as such:
1. Destructive devices tax to remain $200.
2. Full auto weapons to come down to $50-75
3. Supressors need to come down to $20
4. Short-barrel weapons need to come off the NFA list
Or maybe tax amount equal to a % of the purchase price up to a maximum of a small amount (smaller than is currently the case).
Or cank the Hughes amendment, allow the making (or purchase) of new full auto weapons, and take SBR's and suppressors out of the NFA (these items would still be subject to the normal excise tax, and you can make an OSHA/environmental health argument for supressors).
I've seen select-fire FN FAL's available (new to qualified law enforcement) for around $2000. This will be a plain-jane model, typically carbine length. And you can get an M-16/4 style for around the same.
But a transferrable FAL will be upwards of 5 grand. And due to the Hughes amendment, the supply has been fixed; an economists' nightmare.
And there would not be any shortage of economists who will make it known that allowing free trade in these weapons will generate much more in tax revenue than they are currently generating.
And when the BATFE balks, then we can start asking pointy questions, like 'You only want revenue, not a de facto ban on a class of weapons, do you?'. Especially since there are only (I think) 2 instances of legal full auto weapons ever being used in a crime.
And ammo manufacturers should get on the boat as well, because there's no greater need for ammo than with full auto weapons!
And I think that it's time for the NRA, GOA, JPFO, and SAF to get their asses in gear and make this happen. Someone needs to generate rational talking points that are quick (sound-bitey) and make sense. They also need to have rebuttal arguments ready for the inevitable shit-storm the Left will unleash. And have designated congresscritters to speak to the media ...... ones who can make the arguments and not do anything stupid on camera.
You know, do the things you'd expect advocacy groups to do.
Input, please! Expand, revise and extend these remarks!
pm
Since the purported reason the NFA exists is to raise revenue (the only way it's legal), I suggest a strategy that rests on increasing revenues actually collected. I have a couple of scenarios.
First, the Hughes amendment of 1986 must go. There is no difference between an imported semi-automatic and one that has the requisite # of domestic parts to qualify as 'not imported'. And here is where the increased revenues come in.
We must, as a free country, be allowed to make new fully automatic weapons and engage in trade, thereby increasing revenues. Along with that, the tax amounts should be adjusted downward, to encourage more traffic in class III weapons, as such:
1. Destructive devices tax to remain $200.
2. Full auto weapons to come down to $50-75
3. Supressors need to come down to $20
4. Short-barrel weapons need to come off the NFA list
Or maybe tax amount equal to a % of the purchase price up to a maximum of a small amount (smaller than is currently the case).
Or cank the Hughes amendment, allow the making (or purchase) of new full auto weapons, and take SBR's and suppressors out of the NFA (these items would still be subject to the normal excise tax, and you can make an OSHA/environmental health argument for supressors).
I've seen select-fire FN FAL's available (new to qualified law enforcement) for around $2000. This will be a plain-jane model, typically carbine length. And you can get an M-16/4 style for around the same.
But a transferrable FAL will be upwards of 5 grand. And due to the Hughes amendment, the supply has been fixed; an economists' nightmare.
And there would not be any shortage of economists who will make it known that allowing free trade in these weapons will generate much more in tax revenue than they are currently generating.
And when the BATFE balks, then we can start asking pointy questions, like 'You only want revenue, not a de facto ban on a class of weapons, do you?'. Especially since there are only (I think) 2 instances of legal full auto weapons ever being used in a crime.
And ammo manufacturers should get on the boat as well, because there's no greater need for ammo than with full auto weapons!
And I think that it's time for the NRA, GOA, JPFO, and SAF to get their asses in gear and make this happen. Someone needs to generate rational talking points that are quick (sound-bitey) and make sense. They also need to have rebuttal arguments ready for the inevitable shit-storm the Left will unleash. And have designated congresscritters to speak to the media ...... ones who can make the arguments and not do anything stupid on camera.
You know, do the things you'd expect advocacy groups to do.
Input, please! Expand, revise and extend these remarks!
pm
Felon with what?
A convicted felon with a gun? Unpossible!:
Listen, Brady thugs ..... criminals will have what they want, no matter how many laws you pass to deny them.
pm
Stickney's sentence also includes time for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.I thought this couldn't happen?
Listen, Brady thugs ..... criminals will have what they want, no matter how many laws you pass to deny them.
pm
Gun Rights Examiner
David Codrea has this article in today's Gun Rights Examiner:
‘There are really only two rules in life,” he tells us, “1. Do not initiate, or accept, force,” and “2. Keep your word.”
Might have to add to my reading wish list.
pm
Cooper QotD
Ian McFarlane, our man in Botswana, reports that the bureaucracy in that third world country has performed as expected by lousing up its new hunting regulations. They took so long to decide on what everything that was to be done was going to be done that it was impossible for the outfitters to sign up clients in time. They have now gone back to the previous system, which worked very well, but, of course, invited tinkering by the pencil pushers.
The African nations realize, of course, that hunters are a better source of income than tourists, but when you start turning things over to committees it is unreasonable to expect good results.
- Jeff Cooper
The African nations realize, of course, that hunters are a better source of income than tourists, but when you start turning things over to committees it is unreasonable to expect good results.
- Jeff Cooper
A reasonably good report
Here's one that looks good on the surface, but indicates how our constabulary has drifted to justify it's own existence:
There's really a lot wrong with this, once you think about it.
The alledged perp stole, and bought drugs, but in todays society, that's not 'bad' enough. We have to add other charges like trafficking (one gun?). because he 'trafficked' in stolen property, and that property was an evil gun!
This fellow did what drug addicts do ....... they steal to support their habit.
Wonder what would happen if drugs were decriminalized, and cheap?
pm
According to the criminal complaint, 27-year-old Christopher Eagle allegedly told police he brought a handgun to the home of 19-year-old Adam Sellers and exchanged it for heroin on Oct. 30.He stole the pistol from his brother, and traded it for drugs; now he's a 'trafficker'.
There's really a lot wrong with this, once you think about it.
The alledged perp stole, and bought drugs, but in todays society, that's not 'bad' enough. We have to add other charges like trafficking (one gun?). because he 'trafficked' in stolen property, and that property was an evil gun!
This fellow did what drug addicts do ....... they steal to support their habit.
Wonder what would happen if drugs were decriminalized, and cheap?
pm
Sometimes you just can't run
This didn't show up in my news today, so I've stolen it from Kevin:
Investigators said an intruder who was trying to get into the home of a mother of three Tuesday night was shot and killed.Sometimes you just have to say 'None shall pass'.
It helps if you have the means to make it stick!
pm
image by Oleg Volk
Unpossible
From the indychannel.com comes this unpossibility:
I agree with David Codrea - if you can't be trusted with a firearm, then you can't be trusted without a custodian.
pm
Police confiscated dozens of guns and more than 10 pounds of marijuana Thursday from a man they described as mentally unstable.Questions 12e and 12f on form 4473 are germane in this case: is he addicted to drugs, and has he ever been adjudicated a mental defective, because if he bought these weapons from a dealer, he may have met the letter requirements, but certainly not the spirit of the law.
I agree with David Codrea - if you can't be trusted with a firearm, then you can't be trusted without a custodian.
pm
Gun control activists really don't get it
From the Chicago Tribune comes this nugget:
I know it's tedious, but this bunch isn't smart enough to win ......
pm
"There is some strange notion that handguns are safer in the hands of police officers than anyone," said Northbrook activist Lee Goodman, noting the high stress levels associated with the job.So now they're saying that even Only Ones® aren't allowed to have off-duty weapons!
I know it's tedious, but this bunch isn't smart enough to win ......
pm
They just won't stop
Those wacky Mexicans ...... they just never stop!
I want to know what percentage of the total come from this country, and what percentage come from, oh, say Russia ..... or Pakistan. Or how many come from the Mexican military (who's supplied by the United States government).
I thought we'd fought this battle ......
pm
Mexican officials want a ban, saying that 90 percent of guns seized in drug crimes in Mexico and submitted for tracing to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives originate in the United States, including most assault rifles.Well, at least they're getting closer to the truth, just not close enough. With all the caveats and conditions to that statement, you'd almost think there was some sort of conspiracy or something.
I want to know what percentage of the total come from this country, and what percentage come from, oh, say Russia ..... or Pakistan. Or how many come from the Mexican military (who's supplied by the United States government).
I thought we'd fought this battle ......
pm
Get out .... get out now!
The firearms situation in the UK has officially gotten out of hand:
Paul Clarke, 27, was found guilty of possessing a firearm at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday – after finding the gun and handing it personally to police officers on March 20 this year.
So what, exactly, is a subject supposed to do upon finding a gun?
If it were me, I'd save it for the inevitable hard times coming!
pm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)