This time, at the LA times. Being opportunists, this is spun as though it wouldn’t happened if, by golly, they had more resources. So don’t cut our budget, please. In fact, give us more money.

The shoulder thing that goes up

Discussion of whether or not NFA taxes are tax deductible. This is one reason why I tell other gun bloggers to blog about their gear. Because then your hobby is a business expense, presuming your blog generates revenue of some sort.

Pretty egregious tale of some guys with cameras v. the Miami police. Police begin harassing the guys for recording them.

King5 discovers the over a year old story of the ATF classifying an airsoft gun as a firearm. As I’ve said all along, if it can be done, let’s see it done.

Reporter goes to SHOT. Poops pants.

M18A1

Doublestar’s new 308 AR.

AAC 300 Blackout integrally suppressed. In the second vid, voices sound louder than the gun.

45 Wet Silencer

From Coal Creek Armory on facebook:

We are hearing that the importer of the Saiga 12 shotguns has ceased importation while waiting for the official ruling by the ATF. There are a limited number of these firearms already in the pipeline for distribution and we will be getting as many as available to us just as soon as they are available. Call now – 865-966-4545 – if you would like to be put on the list.

I never really wanted a Saiga. Until now.

Creative kid:

No one would ever abuse them:

An immigration officer tried to rid himself of his wife by adding her name to a list of terrorist suspects.

He used his access to security databases to include his wife on a watch list of people banned from boarding flights into Britain because their presence in the country is ‘not conducive to the public good’.

Not just for NPR any more.

It’s illegal to break the law while breaking the law.

A bit back, a senator sends letter asking why ATF is letting guns into Mexico. Now, 17 senators send letter telling ATF they do not have the authority to implement reporting requirements for multiple long gun purchases. Having lawful authority hasn’t really stopped them before.

Once again:

On Jan. 31, the Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier announced it would conduct a carbine competition to determine which commercially available carbine represents “the best value in meeting new requirements.” To that end, an “industry day” for small-arms manufacturers has been scheduled for March 30 to seek feedback and answer specific industry questions before issuing the final solicitation in May 2011.

“The Secretary of the Army has directed us to determine the most effective, accurate and reliable individual weapon available for the Soldier,” said Col. Douglas Tamilio, Project Manager Soldier Weapons. “This will be the Army’s first full and open carbine competition in the modern era. We’re challenging industry to develop the next generation carbine and we’re looking forward to the results.”

ETA: More from the Wall Street Journal, with a pictorial history of US military rifles.

UT student is approached at night. Lets them know he is armed and then calls police. His landlord then tells him that having a gun on the property is not allowed, no doubt implying that it is better the guy had been robbed instead. Recently, TN’s AG opined on exactly that issue and, basically, if it’s part of the rental agreement, then landlord’s can prohibit ownership of weapons on their property. I’m as pro gun as you can get but if you agreed to it, you are bound by it. There is the curious case of the exception to owning if “authorized by law”. I don’t know what that means. Possession of firearms is authorized by law. Carrying is authorized by law if you have a permit.

Odd case.

Fox picks up on the story:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms — the agency tasked with keeping U.S. guns from being smuggled to Mexico — has come under fire for allegedly allowing firearms to cross the border into Mexico.

Last Friday, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) sent a letter to the ATF stating that his office had “received numerous allegations that the ATF sanctioned the sale of hundreds of assault weapons to suspected straw purchasers, who then allegedly transported these weapons throughout the Southwest border area and into Mexico.”

The WaPo picks up on it too but with a rather passive voice:

Whistleblowers who have contacted a U.S. senator allege that federal agents allowed guns, including the AK-47s, to be sold to suspected straw buyers who transported the weapons throughout the region and into Mexico.

A look at some of the testing.

Of sites that do unauthorized broadcasts of the Super Bowl. Guess that means we’re safe from terrorists now?

No, the kind you invest in. Via Jeff.

All those NYPD negligent discharges the result of destroying the gun culture.

I have one of those. I used it to clear out some brush behind our fence this summer. Does a good job.

Someone emailed me after yesterday’s post this from amazon. A transformers MP3 player.

In Canada, house seized for telling a Muslim their lunch smelled bad.

Para Ordnance TTR

If you look hard, there’s a rifle.

AAC Pilot 2

A look inside Taliban gun lockers.

Ruger SR556

This morning, I actually saw a Chevy Volt on the road. At least, I think I did. This marks the first time a more environmentally friendly car didn’t look stupid. Still won’t buy one or any vehicle from a car company that got bailout money.

Update: Maybe not:

The Volt at West is not for sale — not yet.

Charles West, dealer principal of West Chevrolet, said GM is only marketing the Volt in select areas of New York, California, Michigan, Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas. West purchased the new Volt from a dealer in D.C. who had several in stock.

The DEA agent who became a laughingstock for shooting himself had a success in court:

Earlier this week, Lee was able to successfully get the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to overturn a December ruling terminating his original lawsuit.

And his suit is moving forward. If you don’t want to be embarrassed for poor gun handling, try following the rules. Keep your booger hook off the bangswitch and don’t point it at yourself.

Whoever released the video should get a medal. It’s a good reminder to follow gun safety rules.

From amazon:

Mentioned the DHS center calling the ACLU terrorists. David Rittgers welcomes them to the club, with a round up of other groups accused of being terrorists.

Since half the country is covered in snow and Al Gore is blaming it on global warming, it’s time for a tactical snowman contest.

This contest is unfair to those of us who until recently were enjoying temperatures in the mid 60s.

In Germany, a politician is jailed for calling someone an ass.