Been gone for a bit but here are some random gun things worth your time:

CounterTop addresses the newest bogeyman, assault pistols:

“This weapon is particularly worrisome based on its caliber and its ability to pierce armor,” said NYPD Inspector Michael Coan. “Although it may be useful for the military, we see no reason why a civilian should possess such a weapon.”

Of course, this pistol isn’t available to the public. Media hysteria in full effect, yo.

The Geek quotes Farnam on South Africa’s new gun registry:

What was fraudulently marketed as a benign “licensing” proposal has now shown itself to be a plan (and it was from the beginning) for the elimination of the private ownership of all firearms.

Tennessee is (once again) looking at legislation that states:

SB 0026* – Norris
Possession of firearms where alcohol is served. Allows a person with firearm permit to have a firearm in a building that serves alcohol if they themselves are not consuming alcohol and the owner of the establishment has not prohibited firearms on the premises. TCA Secs. 39-17-0000; 39-17-1305
Senate Status: Introduced 1/13/2005

And Les is back to his old tricks with Gun Links.

Reader Peter G, shoot me an email. I’ve lost your email address.

Went to the Evil Gun Show today. While I was there, I realized that I didn’t have the itch to buy anything. It’s not that I have enough guns (good heavens, no!), but I just don’t have anything on my Must Have list. Maybe I’m not thinking hard enough.

I did pass on something that I’m probably going to regret. I saw a Marlin Camp 45 Carbine. Now, I see the 9mm ones all the time, but this is the first one I’d seen in .45 ACP. I wouldn’t have hesitated, but it was a bit over what I had budgeted to spend at this show. Oh well, I’m sure it’ll be there the next time….

Say Uncle’s post on ballistic fingerprinting drew an Instalanche the other day. Kevin of the Smallest Minority follows that up with a comprehensive examination of why “ballistic fingerprinting” won’t work as advertised.

Kevin’s blog is stop #2 on Thibodeaux’s Daily Blogread, right after Say Uncle (of course). Great post, as always.

Mexican people endure quite a bit to come to this great nation of ours. They come here with a dream to work hard and earn a living. In Vegas that dream apparently involves standing on a street corner passing out pamphlets containing hardcore pornography that advertise in room strippers and escorts, which you should know translates as hookers.

I realize that Vegas is not a family oriented sort of town and is more toward the debauchery side of things, like gambling, drinking and nekkid (or partially nekkid) women. I could understand if they passed out a flyer that had a scantily clad lady on it with a phone number but they were passing out flyers with some pretty hard core stuff on it (we’re talking looks like she’d been hit with an axe type of stuff). These flyers litter the streets. You can’t step any where in Vegas without getting porn on your shoes.

A lot of families come to Vegas. You can see the teen and pre-teen boys walking with their families trying to look at the porn on the street while trying not to appear like they’re looking at it. I know, you never thought you’d hear me say it, but there ought to be a law.

BTW, I am blogging this from the Vegas airport which has what is apparently the slowest wifi on Earth.

All, what, one of you, right? My mom sent me a link to The Dead Pelican, which looks like a Louisiana version of The Drudge Report.

Louisiana news. It’s like a train wreck, sometimes. Enjoy!

We took Boudreaux to the doctor recently for his 4-month checkup. The doctor asked us several safety-type questions, including whether or not we had a swimming pool.

Haha, just kidding! She asked us if we had guns in the house. Of course, I understand that she’s only concerned for the boy’s safety.

Afterwards, I did a little research. According to the CDC, 71 children under the age of 5 died from firearm injury in 2002. That’s approximately how many die each year from drowning in the bathtub. She didn’t ask us whether we had a bathtub. According to the CSPC, “about 300” children under 5 drown in a swimming pool each year, “usually a pool owned by their family.” She didn’t ask us whether we had a swimming pool.

Also (from the CDC link above) in 2002, 32 children under age 5 died from “Adverse effects – Medical care.” So the good news is that doctors are only half as deadly as guns. That’s a relief!

You step away from the blog for a few hours and you get:

Instalanched
Threatened with legal action
And about a hundred comments and emails (no doubt due to the Instalanche)

I’m up $60, though.

Well, Les did. I miss Thursday gun links. Les asks: So, what guns are you buying in the new year?

I’m not sure what I will get this year, however here’s my current wish list:

An AK (this I will definitely get this year). I’m torn between building one like this or converting a Saiga.

I’m also in the market for a pocket gun, though I don’t know which one.

I will also very likely build an AR15 in 6.8MM SPC, like this one from Mid South.

I’m also looking into a plinking pistol, such as a Walther P22.

And I want a suppressor to go with that Walther as well as my Ruger 10/22, like this one from Tactical Inc.

And the Springfield SOCOM looks pretty awesome.

And I want a New England Survivor in 308 Win, available at your friendly neighborhood Wal-Mart.

So, what are you getting?

But you think I am. In WordPress, I can publish a post with a future date/time stamp and it shows up when that date/time occurs. So, all this stuff you’re reading was written yesterday. The real SayUncle is currently at a secure and undisclosed location that may or may not involve gambling.

Non-blogging tomorrow may be light. Or not. I’m not telling.

John discusses the need for a new round. Also, here’s the article he’s talking about:

The 6.8x43mm SPC was conceived by a U.S. Special Operations soldier in a quest to improve the terminal ballistics of the M4 Carbine. The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and others assisted the Spec Ops team heading the project. Although the main objective was increased lethality, the new cartridge would go far beyond that in terms of accuracy and performance.

After selecting the .30 Remington as the parent case–a decision that required only slight modification to the M16’s bolt face–the case was shortened, given a new shoulder and blown out to maximum capacity for a new high-performance propellant. After testing a variety of bullets in 5.56mm, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm and 7.62mm, a bullet of 6.8mm was selected. This .270-caliber, 115-grain projectile has a ballistic coefficient of .350, offering optimum lethality and range.

Other neat stuff:

I can tell you that it provides one MOA accuracy out to more than 600 meters. It has a flight path almost identical to that of the .308 Winchester, less chamber pressure than the .223 and fits into the M16 magazine envelope. Tests in 10 percent ballistic gelatin show incapacitation as good or better than the .308.

The round is currently available commercially in limited supply. Once the market on it stabilizes, I may build an AR15 chambered in 6.8.

Or, you know, just annoy me.

10 – That 6’5″ black rapping cowboy.

9 – Nothing like heading to the head, having a seat, and realizing the toilet seat was been warmed for you.

8 – A while back, Yahoo’s front page was running an ad for Ellen Degeneres’ show. It featured a flash animation of her dancing. The sight of Degeneres shaking her man ass gives me the willies.

7 – The combination of powdered donuts and pickle juice.

6 – David Caruso

5 – That weird lady from Poltergeist

4 – Whenever someone uses the non-word hisself

3 – Men who, when at the toilet, piss directly into the water as though they’re delighted with the noise it makes. Guys, there is that little section in the bowl just above the water line and below the rim (make sure you keep it below the rim) that silences that sound. Geez, do you do that at a chick’s house when you’re picking her up for a date?

2 – Whenever someone pronounces et cetera as ek cetera. It’s a T not a K.

1 – Gum on sidewalks.

But made for a woman: Bruce emails a link to a gun for women only.

The Brady Campaign releases its annual grading propaganda:

Thirty-one states get a “D” or an “F” in measurements of the gun laws in those states, according to nationwide ratings released today by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence united with the Million Mom March in partnership with state-based gun violence prevention organizations across the nation.

In the eighth year of the release of the grades, only three states actually changed grades, two for the worse and one for the better. But a number of states strengthened laws linking guns and domestic violence, and others defeated the most extreme concealed weapons proposals such as allowing concealed guns in bars and schools. Overall, there is concern gun violence in some states could increase in 2005 because Congress failed to renew the federal assault weapon ban, which expired last fall, and many states with reasonable laws border on states that lack restrictions on assault weapons.

Sounds like a gain to me.

SayUncle is a fictitious name. No person by that name exists. It is an internet pseudonym some anonymous goober uses to post his opinions about life, the universe, and everything. Therefore, there is no PayPal, SunTrust, Ebay, nor any other account associated with an actual person whose name is Say Uncle.

My wife likes that show 24. Last night, we caught the season opener (thanks TiVo). The show takes place in real time. And the end of the episode, some bigwig was kidnapped (with a big shoot out) at the end with about a minute and a half left. Then part two kicks in at the next even hour and kidnapping crime scene is swarmed with uniformed police and EMT types. So, since this is real time, you’re telling me that the authorities got to this subdivision in a minute and a half?

Deb notes that as gun ownership rises, crime drops. Of course, correlation does not equal causation but it does discredit the claim that gun control affects crime.

You’re kidding right:

Here’s a tip for Magalang, JC Watts, Armstrong Williams and the rest of you: quit taking money from rich white guys and berating your own people, and we’ll quit calling you out for the buckrakers that you are. Deal?

That’s from Oliver Willis, who is on the take from other rich white guys. I figured after the election, Willis might stop being such a hypocritical twit (after all, he had an election to lose). Apparently, that’s not the case.

I hope those rich white guys kept the receipt because they’re damn sure not getting any sort of quality for their money.

I found yet another web comic strip yesterday: Piled Higher and Deeper. I’ve been perusing the archives, and it’s bringing back some memories. It’s nice to know that my *mumble mumble* years of grad school weren’t terribly unusual, as grad school years go.

Via Two–Four, we learn this interesting tidbit:

If you’re ticketed by Green Bay police, you’ll get more than a fine. You’ll get fingerprinted, too. It’s a new way police are cracking down on crime.

If you’re caught speeding or playing your music too loud, or other crimes for which you might receive a citation, Green Bay police officers will ask for your drivers license and your finger. You’ll be fingerprinted right there on the spot. The fingerprint appears right next to the amount of the fine.

Police say it’s meant to protect you— in case the person they’re citing isn’t who they claim to be….Police say they want to prevent the identity theft problem that Milwaukee has, where 13 percent of all violators give a false name….Police stress that the prints are just to make sure you are who you claim to be and do not go into any kind of database; they simply stay on the ticket for future reference if the identity is challenged.

Oh well then…since it’s for our own good, I guess it’s all right. After all, they promise not to put it in a database or anything like that.

Like everyone who knew anything about guns predicted all along, the ballistic fingerprinting pipe dream doesn’t work:

A report by the Maryland State Police that recommends repeal of a law requiring collection of ballistic imaging information “shatters one of the favorite myths of gun control extremists,” the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) said today.

In its progress report on the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS), the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division recommends that “this program be suspended, a repeal of the collection of cartridge cases from current law be enacted and the Laboratory Technicians associated with the program be transferred to the DNA database unit.” So far, Maryland has spent $2.5 million over the past four years, with nothing to show for it. The report admitted, “Guns found to be used in the commission of crime…are not the ones being entered into” the system.

Turns out, that by enforcing the gun laws already on the books, murders decline:

Since February 11, 2002, members of the Memphis Police Department (MPD), Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have met weekly to review every arrest involving a firearm that occurs in Shelby County. As a result, 4,305 arrests have been reviewed. This has resulted in some 500 indictments in federal court and more than 150 guilty pleas in state court to “above-range” offers for illegally possessing firearms to avoid the higher federal penalties for firearms related offenses. In addition, since 2002, some 1,500 cases have been prosecuted for murders and robberies involving the use of firearms.

Go have a look.

A while back, I predicted Libertarian Girl would be a popular blog. I decided today to check back in on her. I was right. For a newer blog, she’s doing quite well and I played a small part in that. Kudos to her.

But this isn’t a post about that, this is a post about this:

This post is incredibly dumb.

So Miami Beach has a regulation against roadside vendors (and for purposes of this post their shall be no discussion of whether or not such a regulation is a good idea). Someone calls up and asks how to sell stuff on the roadside. Person answering the phone says you can’t.

But Michelle Malkin says the regulators are “boneheaded” because they should have seen how deserving the caller was of being given an exemption.

Then she calls Malkin a bonehead. I think that, as a Libertarian, her primary concern would be whether or not such a regulation is a good idea. Maybe I’m crazy, but I’m not so certain she’s a Libertarian. Of course, this being the blogosphere and all, I’m not so certain she’s a girl either (coincidentally, the Gender Genie is, though the score is close).

Apparently, somebody recently signed my email address up for these various pro-gun organizations newsletters. While I appreciate the thought, the fact is that I follow the gun issue pretty closely and by the time their newsletters get to me, I’ve probably already blogged about the issues in it.

The VPC has kicked in to full blown hysteria mode on SKS rifles:

SKS assault rifles like the one reported by police to have been used in an ambush shooting on Sunday, January 9, to murder one police officer and critically wound another in Ceres, CA, are a primary threat to law enforcement, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) reported today. In 2004 at least six law enforcement officers were slain by SKSs. In the wake of the shooting, the VPC called on President George W. Bush to use the Administration’s executive authority over firearm imports to ban the import of all foreign-made assault rifles. Such an action would not require Congressional approval. The Bush Administration has specifically authorized the importation of SKS assault rifles made in Albania and the former Yugoslavia.

The VPC notes the SKS was not covered by the recently expired assault weapons ban and say that is why the ban should not only be renewed but strengthened. As a side note, I have been trying to find executive order in the Constitution. It’s not there in case you wanted to know.

Meanwhile, a local shooting involves and SKS rifle as well. The press keeps calling it a cheap AK47 knock off, which is not the case. Of course, the press still thinks Chai Vang used an SKS when he used a Saiga (which actually is an AK47 knock off).

A Murfreesboro paper has an article on Ronnie Barrett who said the 60 Minutes piece on 50 calibers misleads:

“I fear Diaz played ’60 Minutes’ right down where he wanted them,” said Barrett. “The effect the segment had is it left people thinking there is a dangerous gun out there that legislation needs to be done against.”

In defense of the legality of his product, Barrett cited the media war waged in the 1980s by anti-gun activists bent on banning “Saturday Night Specials,” another term for small, easily concealed pistols. When that failed, they attempted to ban assault-style rifles, which held up in the courts but expired in 2004. Now they have a new target, he said, a rifle that has made headlines for its effectiveness and versatility in Iraq and other combat theaters.

“There’s other cartridges that would blast through half-inch steel plate,” Barrett said, referring to the ability of his rifles to punch through armor at long distances. “What they didn’t tell you on the ’60 Minutes’ interview is there are cartridges right on the heels of the .50-caliber.”

Michael Bane is all over the 60 Minutes piece. Just keep scrolling.

Also, here’s Alexander Hamilton on gun control.

Sad news. The Council Bluffs pit bull ban will stand:

A Pottawattamie County judge Monday rejected an effort to stop enforcement of a pit bull ban. Dan Curnyn filed the lawsuit in an attempt to stop Council Bluffs’ new ban on pit bulls, saying his dog “Marley” is anything but vicious.

“You’ll get hurt if you trip over her in the middle of the night,” Curnyn said.

Marley is diabetic, blind and crippled, but under the new ordinance, Marley must be licensed and insured for at least $100,000, which she is. Curnyn must have a “beware of dog” sign, and a 6-foot fence around his yard, which he does.

Even though Marley is in compliance, the new law prohibits Curnyn from getting a new pit bull.

In other news, Pit Bulls are mean and sticky:

“It’s just wrong,” said Zachary Straight. “I understand there might be a few viscous ones. I ain’t saying there aren’t some vicious ones. But I don’t understand how they can come up with an ordinance and put all the pit bulls out.”

All is not lost as the bill will be enforced until a final ruling:

Even though the judge denied the temporary restraining order, he did set a trial date to decide whether to permanently enjoin the city from imposing the pit bull ban. It will be heard June 2.

I’ve been watching that TV show Conspiracy? that comes on one of the history channels. It’s pretty entertaining. So far, I’ve seen one that ties Muslim terrorists to the OKC bombing, one on the moon landing being faked and one on the RFK assassination.

I talked about the OKC one before.

The RFK one is pretty interesting. Apparently, there are allegations of an LAPD cover up and there were tapes played of the police investigators telling witnesses who were being interrogated that they didn’t see what they said they saw. What they thought they saw was a woman in a polka dot dress and a man fleeing the scene saying we shot him. Police reports were changed to make the statements say they shot him. One guy was saying that (Sirhan)² was a brainwashed assassin programmed to forget the incident after it happened.

The moon landing one was interesting too. People claim that the flag blowing in the wind is a giveaway since the moon doesn’t have any wind. Also, if you speed up the tapes of the astronauts frolicking on the moon, it looks just like someone running.

The show also presents debunking of the various conspiracy theories. It’s good entertainment.

Looky, y’all. Blake is back.

Completely unrelated but which spelling is correct: Ya’ll or Y’all?

Yes, Chuck, there should be a special place in Hell for people like that.