The claim is that a poll of people who said they were NRA members support all kinds of gun control. And that those controls are reasonable, like banning sales to folks on watchlists. But 79% from the same poll say Obama will ban guns. Is that also reasonable?

More on the polls here, including bogus questions and NRA membership.

It’s odd to me. I talk to NRA folks and their internal polling doesn’t usually bear this stuff out. But, then, they’re polling actual members while MAIG is polling folks who say they are members.

The NSSF tells us about the bill:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009 (S. 941), introduced by Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT.), and H.R. 2296, introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) and Rep. Zack Space (D-OH), would strike a fair balance between providing ATF with additional regulatory powers while at the same time affording licensees more rights and due process in the regulatory process. The bill would allow ATF new powers to issue fines and suspend licenses of firearms retailers (as opposed to current regulations which only allow for license revocation). The legislation would also define what a “willful” violation is and provide for revocation hearings before an administrative law judge, rather than an ATF official.

A beginner’s guide

Because they have nothing better to do:

College football fans aching for a playoff system won a small victory Wednesday when a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee passed a bill aimed at bringing down the Bowl Championship Series.

I don’t like it so there ought to be a law.

You remember that MagPul FMG9 folding gun? Airsofters have made one. Video:

Cops question accidental shooting. Seems the gun fell, went off, and a woman was hit with six bullets.

SOCOM

Compact 1911

Stick187: I’m a fuckin’ American citizen and I give a fuck

For toy guns.

And there’s an awful lot of Tec-9 stuff lately:

A plainclothes police sergeant shot and killed an armed street peddler during a clash at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square Thursday morning, police sources said.

[…]

Sources said the sergeant shot the gunman, who was selling compact discs, after the suspect fired his own weapon, a loaded Tec-9 semi-automatic handgun.

That’s the second Tec 9 in a week in the press, which seems odd. I wonder if these are actually Kel-Tecs?

Update: AP says it’s a Mac-10 machine pistol. I still wonder why the press bothers identifying guns since they suck at it and usually get it wrong.

Can’t even watch themselves:

Prosecutors don’t understand how a fugitive wanted in New Jersey worked for the Homeland Security Department in Georgia despite a nationwide alert for her arrest.

But let’s put the law-abiding on a list!

Heh: What bands / musical artists are you surprised to learn they have more than one song. As in, each and every song sounds pretty much the same?

It’s kinda funny how Al Gore addresses his political opponents the same way global warming folks argue on the internet.

Funny face book moments.

MKS:

I’ve been speculating for quite some time now that information overload would reach a point where people would take steps to simplify their sources of information.One easy way to do that is to turn to the newspaper, both print and online.

I dunno. Seems to me that people take in so much noise that they have to let it out. Hence blogs, facebook, twitter, etc. I imagine soon that online newspapers (oxymoron) that allow instant reader input via comments and such will overtake those that do not. The papers that figure out people also want to be heard will succeed.

A news report here.

JayG:

I don’t want to see some scantily clad bimbo holding your gun/magazine/gun-related-widget like it was a turd while smiling and thrusting her silicone-enhanced breasts at the camera. I’d rather see a burly dude beating the ever-lovin’ snot out of it and it still working, but then again, I’ve always been a little weird.

Personally, I’ve always been a fan of the chicks and guns meme. But I more enjoy photos of women shooting who know what they’re doing (like this) as opposed to some chick in a bikini with an EBR.

Jay also takes issue with the gun handling. A valid concern, of course. But even those that know what they’re doing violate the rules on camera sometimes. Here’s the thing though. People take photos of guns and people with guns. In those photos, some rules are broken because of the shot that people are going for. If all rules of firearms safety were all strictly followed, we’d all go insane and there’d never be any movies made. For instance, rule #1 (all guns are always loaded) is, frankly, crap. I remove the magazine from my Glock, rack the slide to eject a round from the chamber, and the slide goes forward. I do not seriously believe that the gun has somehow automagically chambered a round since that violates all known laws of reality.

Caleb brings the truthiness:

If you’ve ever met a serious gun owner that claims to have never violated one of the 4 Rules in his or her life, that person has either owned guns for less than a day, or they’re a liar. The 4 Rules are actually elegant in that you need to be breaking at least two of them simultaneously for something bad to happen

True. And, aside from the four rules, people break the other rules as well. Here’s me and junior shooting without eye protection.

Also, when we gun bloggers attended the ParaUSA event, Todd Jarrett gave us an in classroom session. In that session, he handled a gun. He took precautions, of course, but he did have his finger on the trigger to illustrate technique and he dry-fired the gun. Prior to that, he cleared the gun and showed it clear to no less than four people. You can take reasonable gun safety steps for the purpose of taking photos and videos and for training. In fact, there’s even a safety guide made just for that.

And it’s not even for photos. If you’ve ever dry fired, you’ve broken a rule. If you holster your weapon in an IWB holster, you’ve broken a rule. If you draw from a shoulder holster, you’ve broken a rule. When you pull the trigger on your Glock before you disassemble it, you’ve broken a rule. Boresighted your rifle on your kitchen table, you’ve broken a rule. It goes on and on.

Exercise caution and use your head.

Remember, allowing those with handgun carry permits to carry on campus is a bad idea:

Criminal justice instructor Michael Minto was leaving the Kaplan Career Institute in Swatara Township on Monday night when he spotted a man being stabbed, police said.

Minto pulled his gun and ordered the attacker to drop his knife, police said. The attacker fled, and authorities said Minto’s actions likely saved the life of Dillon Mitchell, 30, of Harrisburg.

Express Police Supply is giving away one S&W M&P per month through June.

Icicles can kill you and are hunted mercilessly.

And The Shoulder Thing That Goes Up may be my favorite name for a blog.

It’s the cover up:

Phoenix Police Spokesperson Tommy Thompson said in a press release this week that officers responded to a call at Arambula’s Phoenix home, but “after entering the residence, one of the officers mistakenly shot the armed home owner.” Arambula now alleges while at his home that night, officers conspired to cover up the mistake. Michael Manning, Arambula’s attorney, said the 911 tape helps prove the claim. “The sergeant says, ‘don’t worry about it, I got your back,'” said Manning.

The Wicker amendment was a success:

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today announced that his effort to allow Amtrak passengers to transport firearms in secure, checked luggage has succeeded, following inclusion of the provision in year-end spending legislation finalized by congressional negotiators last night.

The Amtrak provision, based on an amendment successfully offered to the transportation spending bill by Sen. Wicker in September, directs Amtrak to begin allowing passengers to transport firearms in checked baggage within one year of the bill’s enactment. This will give Amtrak passengers the same right as airline passengers to transport firearms in secure, checked baggage.

Guns, Holsters and Gear has a look

A body armor stopping power diagram.

An apparently crazy person talks about hunters. Bitter is not amused.

heh

That gun from Taurus that made it through quality control with some issues that was mentioned yesterday is for sale here.

Tricked out Uzis.

A look at the NRA Firearms Museum’s movie guns.

Sig 250 before and after

History Channel is looking for you and wants to pay you $100K*:

If you are skilled with a pistol, rifle or any other firearm, you could win $100,000 in prizes on TV’s biggest marksmanship competition show. The History Channel and the producers of The Ultimate Fighter are looking for anyone with mind-blowing shooting skills and a big personality to take on exciting physical challenges with multiple guns and mystery projectile weapons.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a professionally trained shooter or a self-taught average Joe (or Jane!). As long as you’re in good physical shape, have mastered a firearm and can adapt to new weapons and demanding physical situations, you could be America’s first “Top Shot.”

I note with humor that this was emailed to me by Michael Bane (whose surgery went well and made him look like a pirate). Included on that email distribution list were the likes of Jesse Abbate and Todd Jarrett. Because, you know, I’m clearly in their league when it comes to shooting.

In other news, another cool show about shooting. The mainstreaming of the shooting sports continues!

* in prizes

Apparently, attractive scantily clad women attract athletes. Who knew? Pics of what they might look like here.