Clearing the Backlog

Well, DS Arms billed me. Unfortunately, I was short-billed by around $70 which means the hammer, trigger and sear (HTS) kit is probably back-ordered. I can't tell since their site isn't displaying the order contents nor does the e-mail they sent me. All I have is the confirmation screen I printed out when I placed the order.

The good news is being billed means the items they do have will be shipped. So the goodness I will receive includes other compliance parts, the tool I need to strip my lower, the DVD that will show me how to do it plus 5 20 round magazines and their pouches.

Assuming my HTS kit will eventually show up, I expect to place a follow-up order for a barrel, furniture and additional magazines. With this order, I have 9 20 round magazines. I'm debating if that is enough given they are $10 each. Not too bad under the circumstances.

On that topic, I have been thinking about the "investment vs. shooter" issue. Long-term, I argue any firearm in my cabinet is an investment. It is a tangible good that only increases in value over time provided it is properly cared for. I tend to shoot only a small subset of the guns I actually own but I like owning them all. As certain makes and models become scarce over the years, those occasional shooters become attractive items in 20-30 years. An $85 gun today could worth hundreds or even thousands in the future. Especially if I have a quantity of extremely rare ammunition for it, accessories and the gun itself in good condition.

Short-term, they're shooters. Not a single gun I own, save for the Martini-Henry presently, is solely intended to sit in the cabinet to look pretty. Even though "looks pretty" is one of the reasons I own them, I maintain ammunition stocks for each so at some point they can come out and play too. Even if it is only once.

No gun owner should have virgins in their cabinets.

With the gun show and the present buying madness, the subject of "if they're an investment, you should look at getting rid of some" came up. Although the idea of parting with a firearm bothers me greatly, I have thought about it. Specifically in the context of a permanent 1994 style "assault weapon" ban.

I overhead some stuff at the show that got me thinking. Although the market would be flooded with "banned" configurations leading up to such a law being passed, eventually the supply of desirable "pre-ban" guns would dwindle. Certain configurations would simply disappear or be sporterized out of all recognition. Look at a 1994 pre-ban versus post-ban FN FAL for a drastic example.

There are many collectors or shooters who would still want that "forbidden" configuration. And since the only ones available would be those in inventory or in owner's hands at the time the ban passed, it creates some interesting future opportunities.

Whilst I would be reluctant to part with any gun, I can see the potential at a little selective culling. I realized one of the rifles that would be a very good candidate for such an action in a permanent AWB future would be my CETME Model B. It is the rifle I am seen holding in my blog profile picture.

Why this gun? For starters, there aren't a lot of them as compared to an AR-15. Second, not a lot of them were ever modified to remove their flash hider. They just looked wrong when butchered in that way. Third, it is a .308/7.62x51mm caliber "battle rifle". Any collector or shooter of "black rifles" would need one to complete a set of the major "battle rifles". Those rifles being the CETME/G3, FN FAL and M14/M1A.

Hence why I own it. I am only lacking the M1A.

But in 10 years with a permanent AWB, I might consider parting with it. By then, any remaining dealer inventories will be depleted and the only ones in circulation will be like machine guns. Moving about in a perpetual Brownian motion moving through dealers from owner to the next in a never-growing, slowly dwindling supply. We come face-to-face with the old canard of supply versus demand.

If demand never slackens or increases as the availability of a banned object diminishes, prices will rise.

We've all heard stories about people selling pre-ban AR-15 and AK-47 pattern rifles for 2-3-4 times their purchase prices during the height of the 1994 ban. Simply because there was a fixed supply and someone simply had to have that collapsible stock and birdcage flash hider that was verboten. It seems ridiculous but people did pay $2000-$3000 for a $600 rifle.

That was during a temporary 10 year ban. Imagine if it was permanent?

I have the CETME in pre-ban configuration, two long bayonets complete with scabbards and 18 20 round magazines complete with belt pouches and rarer 5 magazine shoulder pouches. Essentially a "banned" rifle and 18 "high-capacity" magazines. Prices on the mags have already risen 500 percent since I originally bought them and are only continuing to rise. What would this combination be worth in its present condition (stored clean, oiled and unfired, 9/10 on the NRA scale) 10-15 years into a permanent ban?

Throw into that mix that I'm not a terribly big fan of the gun. I own it because I like how it looks and its caliber. I have no real plans to shoot it often and once the FAL is complete, probably not ever again.

Assuming gun shows are still in business thanks to Comrade President Obama, it would be a fun exercise to walk in with that on my shoulder a decade hence. I'm starting to think several thousand dollars would not be out of line if someone, dealer or private citizen, wanted that one remaining rifle for their banned guns collection.

If you haven't seen a "pre-ban" CETME./G3 pattern gun for a decade and one walks in the door in great condition, how would you react as a collector or a dealer? Probably just short of puddles on the floor. Perhaps even with puddles on the floor. Followed by offers in ever-increasing amounts.

By then, it might be worth breaking up the triad. If I could secure a nice chunk of change for the bank account and have some funds to add several additional "politically correct" members to the cabinet, it might be a worthwhile parting.

Just something to wonder about despite being a very depressing subject. I don't want to see my "evil black rifle" acquisition plans be scuttled. But I try to look for a bright side. At least DSA seems to be clearing the backlog so I have some Obama-hated forbidden gun stuff to look forward to.

Lesson Seven

CNN is running a cute little piece giving President-Elect Obama six pieces of advice from blunders made by past Presidents. I thought I would offer Mr. Obama another one.

Lesson Seven: Remember 1994

Clinton yet again. The Democratic majority through 1993 and into 1994 was pushing for a comprehensive "assault weapon" ban at the behest of anti-gun groups. The Democratic leadership thought this was a swell idea and their own internal reviews indicated, despite warnings from the outside, that the American public would not react too adversely to a ban on guns that were perceived as being evil, dangerous or unnecessary.

Despite the bill being watered down severely from its original intention, it was passed on September 13, 1994.

President Clinton had been sold a bill of goods as Congress learned much to their misfortune not two months later when public outrage oustered Democrats from their seats, including the Speaker of the House, and the Democratic Party lost control of Congress for the first time in over 40 years.

Clinton later acknowledged his support for the 1994 crime bill and its provisions was the reason why Democrats lost control of the House. It took 14 years for them to regain control.

Clinton's abuse of executive authority in pursuit of his gun control agenda is also a piece of advice. In 2001 Clinton also used executive orders to ban the importation of assault pistols and tighten licensing rules on gun dealers. Many accused Clinton of overuse of the executive power on gun control issues. In 1999 White House domestic policy chief Bruce D. Reed said, "The country is tired of waiting for Congress to respond to the tragedy in Littleton. The administration is going to do every thing in its power to make progress on guns.".

Just because you believe strongly in it, Mr. Obama, doesn't mean you have carte blanche to pursue such actions at will. Let the prospect of another 1994 haunt you as you may find your ability to do anything greatly curtailed. You often accuse President Bush of not doing enough in office. You may find yourself in President Bush's shoes if you do too much. And when you do, going the direction both Clinton and Bush have in their abuse of executive power is not a solution.

You have the naivete of President Kennedy, the fiscal policy of President Carter and the charisma of President Clinton. Keep that in mind because possessing all three simultaneously is not a recipe for Presidential success.

Ammo Duty Completed, Sir!

My wallet is calling me some vile names right now.

I have done my National Ammo Day duty and added just under 3300 rounds to the pile. The maxim with ammunition is "Stack it high, stack it deep.". I follow my own corollary on the topic of "If you can't stack it deep, go broad.".

I was at the gun show Friday afternoon at 1pm to get advance tickets. That was a good move given that by 2:30pm, 30 minutes before the doors opened, the line for tickets extended almost to the street in the adjacent strip mall. That was impressive. But since I had advance tickets, I was in the door and into a mostly empty hall at opening and leaving to put stuff in the truck not 20 minutes later.

Alas, I never get enough. I always find myself wanting to go back for more. It's one of the reasons I get a 3-day pass because I inevitably do just that. Anyhow, here's what I got for my efforts:

• 80 rounds of 8x56R
• 140 rounds of 7.62x51 NATO
• 164 rounds of .303 British
• 200 rounds of .30 Carbine
• 200 rounds of 6.5x55mm
• 500 rounds of .223/5.56x45mm
• 2000 rounds of .22LR

Grand total: 3284 rounds of shooting goodness.

I should have gotten more. At least another battlepack of 7.62 NATO and I should have cleaned out the guy who had the 8x56R. That stuff is so rare that it is worth buying whenever spotted. Especially given he was selling 10 round lots on the en-bloc clips for $9 each. The clips alone are worth $3-5 empty.

Some folks don't like the idea of having so many calibers because it gets hard to feed them. If you follow the idea of keeping 500-1000 rounds of each on-hand, it can become a real chore. That's the downside. The upside is that it allows you to tailor your shooting. If a given caliber is cheaper to shoot and more available than another, shoot that. You have options to choose from rather than looking at say .223, .308 and 6.8SPC and crying at the dollar bills disappearing downrange with every pull of the trigger no matter which one you're shooting.

Shooting many cailbers allows your spread the pain out and rotate them as needs and costs change. Not everyone is grabbing up .303 British or 6.5x55mm. I can afford to expend those and sit on the expensive .223 and .308 since they're cheaper to replace. A box here and a bandolier there adds up over time. The only problem is the gun shows are the only place I can really replenish those stocks so I hope future legislation doesn't put them out of business. Otherwise, I'm in deep trouble.

The .30 Carbine was the special case since I got it to replace previous expenditures and build a slight surplus over previous levels. Everything else was increasing stocks-on-hand.

Despite having dispensation to do so, I didn't come home with a new rifle. A decision I am partially kicking myself for. The dealer I bought my M1 Carbine from has had a French MAS-36 for the past few shows at a decent price. I have this weird thing for French weapons because of my interest in the Foreign Legion and I'd like to acquire a MAS-36 as well as a MAS-44.

I almost went back for it. I probably should have went back for it. If it is still there in February, I might play "Let's Make a Deal" on that and maybe the AG-42 he had in 6.5x55mm. That AG-42 was a beautiful rifle and in that caliber, it would be a wonderful complement to my M96.

Because I mostly have the black rifles I want, I can enjoy agonizing over the oddballs everyone is passing up in the frenzy to get the items that might be "banned" in the future. I did get a MagPul stock for my AR-15 carbine. So that was the only black rifle related purchase I made other than ammo.

Fondled a 7.62x39mm upper but opted against it. That was probably a bad decision. Time will tell and there's always 2009.

But I've done my duty. Kim du Toit will be proud.

Stream of Conciousness

I have been in a real punchy mood lately. I have been commenting on blogs the past couple days at a rate I never have before and have been enjoying it.

With the folks I have commented to (Robb, JTBolt, Mad Rocket Scientist, tgirsch and others), it would be huge fun to be at a table with you all surrounded by drink and appetizers and just having a good time bantering passionately back and forth. I think you'd all agree.

I'm punchy because every day seems to be bringing on more and more dread. I feel like I am bearing witness to the end of freedom. Obama's appointments are part of it. But it goes deeper. I sense that we are strapped to the back of a juggernaut that we can't stop.

The government no longer cares and haven't for a long time. To them, there is only one solution to any problem: money. They aren't interesting in fixing things. Just throw money at it. They're interested in placation. They no longer listen and do not care beyond their power and position. Our will and voice are fading away into noise to be tuned out.

No one no longer things about broader issues or even think issues through anymore. Look at these bailouts. No one is standing up and walking us through a plan. If they did, even people philosophically opposed to such things might still go along because at least they can see a plan and the fact some reasonable, logical thought went into it. But we don't. Just emotion and fear-mongering. And money.

We see it among ourselves. Look at what we are doing. Buying guns, ammo and parts like an apocalypse is coming. Is there? I don't know but I'm starting to think so. Are we are on a runaway train that is about to break lose and result in catastrophe for everyone aboard? Perhaps. You'd think so by what's going on in the market right now.

I read about real and imagined infringements of every right or concept we can think of and how it is only a matter of time before they come to pass. How can one not be depressed at the prospect of watching our lives and values slip away out of their grasp and out of our control? Yes, you might have yours but what does that say about us as a culture when we've retreated so far into a bunker mentality that we no longer care about tomorrow beyond food, shelter, our guns and what's on TV?

Our attitudes have changed. I commented rather forcefully at Robb's over police issues. My comments are heartfelt. Things like the elevation of police officer attitudes away from the average person and into an "us vs. them" or special privileged status is chilling. It should not be this way. But no one stands up to push back, to say "Enough, police! Start investigating and punishing misconduct that would land any of us in prison except you!".

Are we afraid? Or are we simply resigned to our Fate and just hoping we someone manage to keep what we have no matter how little it is?

Is this our future? Bloggers and freedom-minded folks reduced to Samizdat and occasional secret gatherings too frightened, cowed or just too hopeless to fight on. Crushed by Leviathan. I feel that desire to fight waning. I see all the wrongs in what is happening and I want to cry out. I cry out here but my audience is small. Do words even matter anymore? Does anyone even care about what I see them losing right before my eyes?

I'm fearing for the near-future of what might be. Of an Obama presidency that goes to the left and rams home every ideological desire under the sun. And even with an electoral switchover in 2010 and 2012, what then? Do you honestly ever see anyone in Government reigning themselves in? No Government in history has ever done that. Another move of the goalposts, another crack in the block of Liberty and we swing the hammer anew. Eventually the block will crumble after enough blows.

There is no awe and appreciation anymore. There is no honor. Everyone is willing to shift values for the sake of another bribe of the public, another beggar's handout, another slick pack of lies to further power and slavery along. We are slaves, I think, with the illusion of freedom. I think now we are simply being shown the reality of that illusion.

Still, I will fight. With words, with my voice. With everything I have until there is no way left. After that, I do not know.

I hope to never find out or be dead before it happens. It's depressing to think you'll be leaving a potential future child a world lesser than the one you had.

Got a Two-Fer

Well, I'm pleased with myself. I got a two-fer yesterday.

Thanks Robb for the Quote of the Day! The quote is in regard to hunters and other gun owners who don't see a problem with "reasonable restrictions" on non-traditional looking rifles up to and including bans on them. Sportsmen often don't care about gun uses outside of their own and many don't understand why anyone would want a magazine-fed, intermediate power semi-auto. In many places, it is illegal to hunt with them. They feel you only need one or two shots at most for any "need" so 20-30 shots and state-sanctioned as underpowered is not a sporting weapon to them. It's a killing weapon.

So they believe or advocate that it is ok to restrict such "useless" guns.

It is in that context that I offered the following statement:

"The only difference between a hunting rifle and sniper rifle is the target."

It is a true statement. It is not hyperbole. It is true because every single sniper rifle in use by the US military today is simply an accurized version of a commonly available hunting rifle. The M24 and M40 sniper weapons systems are based on the Remington 700. In fact, Remington will sell you basically the sniper configuration on request. You can also have the rifle built in either sniper configuration if you have the time and money to do it.

There is nothing secret or special about a sniper rifle. No top-secret military-only technology. No super scopes. No super-duper combat computers or fantasy crap you see from Hollywood. Anything the military bolts to the top of their sniper rifles you can buy as a civilian. That includes night vision scopes only a generation behind that was standard military issue not too many years ago.

So if you have $5000-$10000, you can have your very own M21, M24 or M40A3. Right down to the military color scheme.

The only thing that varies between a deer gun and a sniper rifle is what you put the crosshairs on. There is no magic barrier that prevents you from taking that scoped deer gun in the wood stock and traditional sling and using it to hunt people. It's been done. Starting in Korea and through Vietnam, the US military often bought civilian hunting rifles off-the-shelf, stuck a good scope on top and issued them as sniper rifles for field use. The Winchester Model 70 was a common choice for this in Vietnam.

So I would ask that hunters and sportsmen who don't see a "need" for AR-15s, AKs, FALs, G3 and other black rifles in the hands of private citizens to keep that statement in mind. Because all it will take are a couple of nutjobs shooting cops through the armor with regular hunting rifles for your gun rights to be in serious jeopardy.

Because then they will be labeled as "high-powered sniper rifles". What defense will you mount then? How will you convince a gun banner who hates ALL guns that your guns are somehow less dangerous than a semi-auto that fires a less-powerful, less accurate cartridge than your 7mm Remington Magnum game rifle?

So thank you Robb and others who chose to use my statement in the furthering of gun rights awareness everywhere. We are all in this together and those on the fence need to realize the threat is 360 degrees. It isn't just coming towards the black rifle owners.

So please use the expression. Get it out there as an effective comeback. Anything we can do to help each other. I'm pleased I get it right once in a while.

The other good thing was I listened to and participated in the Gun Nuts Radio show last night with Breda and Ahab (Caleb). I called in to help Breda with what special tools were needed to build an AR-15. To repeat, you need five tools: a hammer, pliers (which I forgot to mention), a set of gunsmith punches, an AR-15 armorer's wrench/multi-tool and a set of roll pin punches. The first three are mandatory. The last two make the job much easier. If you want to skip a tool, skip the armorer's wrench. For lowers, the only thing they are useful for is tightening the collar on collapsible stock buffer tubes or the stock screw on standard A2 stocks.

The roll pin punches, on the other hand, are a boon. The AR-15 consists of many little hollow pins split down the side. They are called, obviously, roll pins. These pins tends to deform as you drive them home with regular punches since they lack the strength of solid pins. They'll swell and bend. You're more likely to mar the receiver towards the end of hammering these pins home to force these widened ends into their regular sized holes.

The roll pin punches self-center on the hollow portion of the pin and spread out the hammering force to the edges. This prevents them from deforming and they don't slip off the way regular punches do. The pins go home much, much easier.

My first AR I did without them and I have the gouges to prove it. The bolt hold-open latch is the usual troublemaker. My second AR I did after buying a set of roll pin punches. I did it in half the time (experience is a plus) and without a mark. If you ever plan to do more than one AR lower in your life, spend the $15 and buy the roll pin punches. They'll pay for themselves.

Alas, I am cursed with a unique voice. So I'm the funny sounding guy talking about AR tools about 2/3rds of the way through the show. I suspect I'll probably call in again since I am full of opinions and not shy about sharing them. So if you want to know what the Armed Canadian sounds like in real life, give the show a listen. It was a good one.

Those were my two-fers for yesterday. Not bad at all.

It's Time for Q-Ships

Why on Earth are Somali pirates even still breathing?!?

You want to know how the "Golden Age of Piracy" came to an end back in the day? The various seafaring nations of the world hired privateers to hunt them down while they built up their naval forces. Once they had their naval forces, they sent their navies out to deal with the issue. No quarter was given. If you were caught sailing under a pirate flag, you swung from a yardarm at sea or from a gibbet ashore until the rotting flesh fell from your bones as a warning to other would-be pirates.

What do we do in the 21st Century when pirates seize cargo ships filled with small arms and heavy armor and a 300,000 ton oil tanker loaded with 100,000 barrels of oil?

Watch quietly and hope to negotiate a ransom peacefully.

Fuck that! I am stunned that President Bush hasn't issued a standing order to US Navy units in the area that any vessel observed carrying loads of armed men clearly not out for a day of fishing are to be engaged first and interrogated later. Preferably with .50BMG and 5-inch shells.

Seriously, what could it hurt? Public opinion? Who cares? He's on his way out anyway. Negative international opinion? Screw them. The Royal Navy issued orders to their captains to not capture the pirates for fear of having to hear their asylum claims.

What the fuck?!?

I'll tell you how I would respond as captain. Open fire on said pirates, bring aboard any survivors and shoot them in the head once aboard and interrogated for any useful information. It would be reported they died as they were brought onboard due to complications from their wounds. Throw the bodies overboard.

We don't have the asylum problem. This is in international waters. Put those masts to use and if you don't want to damage the equipment, nothing a chunk of steel tied to each breathing pirate survivor followed by a bullet to the head at the rail can't solve. There are centuries of historical precedent for this. To hell with "enlightened" attitudes. This doesn't require a "measured response". It doesn't require negotiation. These are thugs.

This requires grenades, bullets, shells and missiles. Reduce them to bloodstains and fish food. Tow the wreckage back to shore, beach it and douse the lot, bodies and all, in bacon grease. Then set loose a load of pigs to feast on the entrails.

Send a message the pirates will not be able ignore and fuck the tender sensibilities of the pussified European nations to afraid to act.

And if our Navy won't do that, it's time to bring back Q-Ships. Let Blackwater or even motivated private citizens buy up a few tramp cargo ships worthless for hauling cargo, arm them with small arms and light weapons and send them out to cruise the coast near juicy targets. When pirates approach, open fire or drop grenades over the side. Especially grenades. Imagine what a couple of grenades, especially white phosphorous, will do to a dhow full of explodey shit like RPG rockets. They won't get five steps up the ladder.

Repaint. Reload. Repeat.

A dozen or so of these private contractors and your pirate problem disappears. Literally. Do it right, in fact, and you won't even have to pay much if anything for the crew and weapons. I suspect you could find a lot of retired volunteers willing to supply their own arms, armor and ammo in exchange for an "adventure cruise" off the coast of Somalia. In fact, I'd argue you'd have more crew than ships to put them on and all highly motivated to succeed.

Those are the stories great-grandchildren just LOVE to hear.

Would be a great gig for someone with the right skills and attitude. Videotape them in action, stick it on YouTube and let the chips fall where they may. Eventually Somalia and other such areas will quickly run out of pirates. Especially if the US Navy gets off its ass and starts making "boom-boom" noises with their tin cans.

11 ships are presently in the hands of Somali pirates including the aforementioned cargo ship and oil tanker. If this was domestic, it would be treated as a kidnapping and SWAT would be sent in. The time for talking is over. Something needs to be done.

Any financial backers and volunteers?

The Coming Storm

Four days to the last Nation's Gun Show of the year in this area in Chantilly, VA. I scheduled a half-day off work to attend so I could get in line early. I think that is very prudent planning given the frenzied chaos I am expecting to see.

I predict two things for this show: 1) Practically no ammo available in .308, .223, 7.62x39mm and several common handgun calibers by early afternoon Saturday and 2) Good luck finding any semi-auto rifle that has a fixed or detachable magazine for anything less than premium prices and still be available by Sunday.

I've done some preemptive ordering. My 8x56R ammo showed up quite quickly from J.G. Sales. Great service there considering the present circumstances. So now I at least have all the members of my harem fed. My DS Arms order is still pending. Wait and see.

The list for this show is in flux. At a minimum, I need some .223. I did the math and realized that my AR-15s are on starvation rations. Roughly 300 rounds per gun on hand. That's unacceptable. That needs to increase to at least 500 rounds per. 7.62 NATO I'm actually in decent shape on since I haven't shot it but if you divide it out along similar lines, likewise roughly 300 rounds per gun (including the unfinished FAL).

So .223 and .308 are in the list. Only quantity varies. I'd prefer to not spend a small fortune on said ammo if I can wait until early next year to stock up again. Another 200-300 of 7.62 NATO and 500 of .223 ought to cover immediate desires.

After those two are out of the way, I can relax. I'd like another 120-240 rounds of 6.5x55mm Swedish. Preferably Igman 139gr FMJ. Decent factory ammo and my M96 likes it. Some additional of any of the milsurp calibers would be nice in even small quantity and more .30 Carbine to replace the rounds I fired at Quantico with the M1 Carbine recently.

Beyond that, I'm going to have to let circumstances guide me. I have no idea if uppers of every type will be in short supply. Or accessories. Part of me would like to get a Hakim, FN-49 or MAS-36. But I fear anything that fires semi-auto with a magazine will be in short supply. Even the oddball milsurps.

Such crazy times.

On a less trying note, I've done firearms familiarization lessons for five people in the past week. Both were within a couple days of each other and will be followed up with range trips in the near future. One was a brand-new intro and the other was out-of-family instruction to help teach. They had handled firearms before but never received proper instruction on the Four Rules, maintenance, proper handling and the like.

One of the people I taught was the 16 year old stepdaughter of a co-worker who wants to be an FBI agent. So I tailored the intro to that goal with the full frame .45 and AR-15s. Both types of firearms she would encounter in such service. The Sig P220 was very well received. By the end of the intro, she was able to load, aim and unload the pistol by herself whereas she couldn't handle the slide at all when first starting out. Just took some practice. After that, she couldn't put it down.

I'd call that a raging success. Even the 7 year old liked the little P22. New shooter reports will be forthcoming as soon as I complete them. Right now, I've only done the handling portion so it doesn't yet count, Greg.

I'm having a rough week. Just is what it is. Politically, just taking a deep breath and waiting to see what happens. It's hard being a little person knowing you are essentially powerless beyond expressing your opinion in the hopes what you fear will not come to pass. Hopefully there's a couple million like-minded little people who will be doing the same thing.

More will follow.

"Worse Than You Can Possibly Imagine..."

I just got off the phone with DS Arms. My order status changed to "Backordered" and the items on the list disappeared. Not knowing what that meant, I gave them a call asking to see how bad it was.

The fellow I spoke to was friendly and certainly willing to talk! Quite hurriedly too. He told me DSA was at least 10 days behind on order processing and shipping. I told him that was okay as I was just looking for a ballpark and that I wasn't complaining. When I said that, he told me how bad things are and I'd say his statement reflects well on the gun community as a whole.

He said, "With the exception of a few jerks, most people calling in have been pretty cool and understanding about the whole thing. That's what happens when you elected an anti-gun President and right now, things are worse than you can possibly imagine.".

Those were his words: "Worse than you can possibly imagine.".

He went on to say that he couldn't even imagine what it was like at Bushmaster or other AR manufacturers right now. He gave the impression that DSA was beyond swamped. In that good way but they have so many orders right now that meeting speedy expectations is no longer an option. I asked about the availability of a few specific parts and basically he hoped that order would be fulfilled given their first priority is to complete rifles on order.

He was very apologetic about it and fortunately, I'm pretty easygoing. Unlike some of their customers, I understand exactly what is happening right now and I'm willing to cut them some slack.

But he's right. If a premium FAL builder can't keep up in their market segment, what on earth is going on inside the offices at Bushmaster or Stag Arms? If I had any skills, I'd want to be filming a documentary at these companies right now. Something tells me we're witnessing history in the making right now.

Strangely, they have the barrel I want in stock. The one part I had worries about getting they have. Apparently, DSA doesn't sell a lot of medium contour FALs. It's really for target shooting and hunting rather than tactical applications. If you want a 16 or 18 inch tactical pattern FAL, order now. You might see it sometime in 2009.

My God though. We've gone off the deep end but in a good way. I'd like to thank gun owners for keeping it classy though. Sounds like you're being pretty understanding under the circumstances and not calling up places like DSA screaming at them to sell them something NOW.

I wished DSA well on their booming business. Find me another industry where the customers will do that and do it politely for the most part?

Still, "worse than you can possibly imagine.". I thought you might want to know that.

Can I Ask a Stupid Question?

I need to ask a supremely idiotic question here....

Why is everyone scrambling to buy stripped AR-15 lower receivers on the chance of a future AWB ("assault weapon" ban)?

I've come to the conclusion that there is no rationale behind it with the exception that if you don't have an EBR (evil black rifle), why not use this as an excuse to buy one? And I say excuse because it would be no different than if you decided to do it at any other time.

Otherwise, all I'm seeing is a big herd mentality without a lot of thought behind it.

The reason I say that is if you look at the two potential models for a new AWB, lowers are the least of your concerns. HR.6257 is a straight-up re-enactment of the expired 1994 AWB. It bans features and also disallows transfers of an "assault weapon" to others in a banned configuration. Stripped lowers have no configuration. So the only value of a stripped lower is profit potential. If that is the reason, so be it. But be honest about it because stripped AR lowers were available just as readily after 1994 as they were before during the original "ban".

The profit potential evaporates after an HR.6257 type ban since the lowers will still be manufactured and sold. There is no inherent sales value in a "pre-ban" versus "post-ban" lower.

If you're fearful of HR.6257, don't buy lowers; buy banned pattern uppers and standard capacity magazines. Get all the evil features you can on each lower and then sell them after such a ban and make a tidy profit. Lower prices will stay steady. Pre-ban upper prices will soar. Same goes for 10+ round magazines. Stockpile 20 and 30 round magazines and sell them for $50 a crack. Nice, tidy 300 percent profit.

To quote George Carlin: "You're doin' it wrong!".

Now, if you're fearful of HR.1022 and stockpiling lowers for that, well, you're in a different boat. You see, that law is much more insidious in that it bans not just features but the receivers themselves that could be assembled into a banned configuration at any time! Transfers are apparently still permitted but only through a licensed dealer. That is all fine and wonderful but largely useless since HR.1022 would effectively ban the manufacture of AR-15 lowers altogether!

So even assuming everyone is stockpiling AR lowers to sell them at a profit after HR.1022 were to go into effect, it is a symbolic gesture since an examination of the law reveals it would be practically impossible to assemble the lower into a banned configuration.

An "assault weapon" under HR.1022 is a semi-auto capable of accepting a detachable magazine and has at least one evil feature (not at least two like in HR.6257) consisting of "a folding or telescoping stock", "threaded barrel", "pistol grip", "forward grip" or "barrel shroud". Tell me how it is even possible to build an AR-15 without at least two of these features? I can think of few ways which I will detail in my analysis of HR.1022.

The irony of HR.1022 is it bans safety features. But HR.1022 is contradictory because it says frames of banned firearms are forbidden from manufacture but low-capacity, fixed magazine designs are not. California-legal AR-15 anyone? So HR.1022 bans stripped lowers on one side but I suspect if manufactured out of the factory with the fixed ten-round magazine, the evil feature restrictions do not apply. How long do you think it would be after manufacturers clued into this that a "clarification" would be issued by the BATFE under an Obama administration to stop the practice?

And that's just for starters.

In the end, stockpiling AR lowers in the event of an HR.1022 type law might be Pyrrhic because it reserves to the Attorney General the right to ban any firearm from civilian possession they see fit if it used for law enforcement or military purposes. In other words, if the AG don't like it, they can ban it and they don't need a reason. Competition and hunting are not valid reasons for it not to be banned. Yes, the AG would have the authority to shut down Camp Perry with the stroke of a pen.

Oh, and just to make sure, HR.1022 bans "conversion kits". Which are defined, by the way, as any group of parts, assembled or disassembled, that could create a banned configuration at anytime. That one paragraph utterly guts the AR-15 upper industry. Gone. Bankrupt.

Having stripped lowers is useless under HR.1022 unless you have all the uppers to put on them prior to the law going into effect. Otherwise, forget it since you won't be able to build the uppers later. Going to be really tough to turn a profit on lowers if the purchasers can't do a thing with them after the ban is in effect.

Ammo purchases I understand from the standpoint of get it now because it ain't getting cheaper. That makes sense but the rush to clear store shelves hasn't exactly kept prices down, you know? By panicking, you're making it more expensive for everyone.

So I'm not really getting into this frenzy. The only ammo I've bought was some 8x56R for my Steyr M95. Not exactly stuff most folks are after. At most, I may buy an upper or components for one. But I was planning to do that anyway and I can wait for the irrational folks to empty their bank accounts first.

What's scary is if this is the panic we're seeing before Obama is even sworn in, what is it going to be like if one of these laws makes it the House floor for a vote? Gun shows are going to need armed security just to keep order and even then, I suspect a gun show will look like a supermarket the day before the nuclear holocaust strikes.

Never thought I see The Day After panic happen in the absence of mushroom clouds.

"Life is entertainment." as the great, late George Carlin said.

Never Forget

I would like to expand a little on my Remembrance Day post from yesterday.

Given I am from Canada, I view Veteran's Day, as you call it here, a little differently than most Americans. I don't know how things are done here or were done when other 30 something year old Americans were in school. For me, Remembrance Day was the same affair year after year for as long as I can remember.

We wore poppies. Close to 11:00am, we would be herded into the gymnasium for readings of "In Flander's Fields" and be reminded of the sacrifices of Canadians in wartime. We would be reminded of the significance of the day and the fact it relates to the Great War (World War 1) and was later expanded to cover later wars of Canadian participation. There are no Vietnam veterans for us.

At 11:11am, we observed two minutes of standing silence in remembrance and honor for those who had fallen.

Out in public throughout the day and in the days leading up to November 11th, you would see members of the Royal Canadian Legion selling pin-on poppies to passersby for small donations. Drop in a quarter, take a poppy and pin it to your coat.

There are a few things about Canada I do miss and this is one of them. That small act of honoring our vets by observing that moment of silence and wearing of the poppy is a tradition that can help shape you as a citizen. That connection to what it means to be free, the duty of a citizen and the costs of their sacrifices our society pays to enjoy that freedom is forged between generations with such traditions.

America is no worse in this regard, just different. I tried to get a poppy pin to wear leading up to November 11th here and I found it difficult to do. I wasn't able to do so in time. It would probably raise a few eyebrows as to its significance to those unfamiliar with its meaning.

I fear too many children don't truly understand why we have holidays such as this. Back in Canada, it wasn't a day off from school to enjoy. There was a purpose behind this day and you could sense the solemn purpose behind it.

Today, November 11th is something of a bittersweet day for me.

A good day because it evokes one of my most honored moments of my life. Look at the last photo in my previous post with the Canadian soldier, rifle on his foot and head bowed. He is an honor guard for the memorial.

When I was 15 as an Air Cadet Corporal, I was assigned to the color and honor guard of our unit. That year on November 11th, I was asked to stand post at that position on our Cenataph for Remembrance Day. This is quite a special honor since there are only two such posts. Our World War 1 Cenataph was across the street from the city armory so it was a short march. Two of us on honor guard with Enfield rifles on the raised corners overlooking the granite path leading to the memorial and two cadet flag bearers at attention on the ground before it flanking the wreaths.

We had to hold that position for over two hours while the Mayor and various veterans groups came to lay wreaths at the Cenataph. The rest of the cadets were formed up to march for our Remembrance Day parade through downtown and ending at the armory as they passed us by. Then and only then would our Flight Sergeant come to relieve us. Upon which we would form back up into our four-man color party and march back across the street for dismissal.

It was cold and misty that day and you try to shiver without being visibly cold to anyone looking at you. This is November in Canada, after all. You had to be a statue, a frozen, silent guardian. You got good at analyzing the shine on your boots during that time and the minutes would tick by like hours. You were aware of the cold steel of the rifle buttplate through your thin white gloves, hands numbing and the white rope lanyard looped on your shoulder feeling heavier and heavier as time wore on. You were eternally grateful for the cup of hot chocolate offered to you in the warmth of the armory afterwards.

I wouldn't trade anything to have done anything else on that day. It remains to this day as one of my most cherished moments of my life.

How does one explain the feelings that come with such an experience to someone who has been removed from the tradition and honor such holidays are meant to recognize?

Would a fifteen year old today even understand or would they think you insane for deliberately wanting to do something so uncomfortable and pointless from their point of view?

It is a bittersweet day because November 11th is the day my grandfather died four years ago. So I never forget this day. In a sense, it is a fitting day for his passing since he, like so many of our grandparents, was a veteran of World War II. I can think of no greater honor than this day of remembrance and thanks for the sacrifice of a veteran than to die on that same day. I think my Grandpa would be pleased that is he remembered fondly on a day we are supposed to remember our veterans.

I have his medals and a picture of him in uniform. I was my one request of my mother when he died. With them is a small poppy pin. It is my personal memorial to the day and to my family who served.

Never forget.

The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae

Panic and Discovery

I am not succumbing to the panic buying. I will take opportunities to stock but I am not going out of my way to acquire anything that wasn't already on the immediate list. Just shuffling things up and down on the list.

So the only order I've made is for a can of 8x56R for my Steyr M95. I figured that caliber won't exactly be flying off shelves. Been meaning to order some for awhile now and decided that I'd rather order and know I can get than gamble on any being around at the gun show in two weeks. The dealer that was my best bet on getting 8x56R wasn't at the last show and I don't know if he'll be there at the next one.

You should never have a firearm that you don't have ammo for unless it is strictly for collection. Even then, it never hurts to have a small quantity on hand. Ammo and accessories with a collector's item do increase its value.

Just thought I'd mention that I am not trying to fuel this fire. I can be patient the things I need I can wait for. If it takes a month, fine by me.

I was driving back from lunch and was thinking about a comment Sebastian made on leaving your comments for the Obama administration regarding gun control (and to stay away from it). Along the lines of if they'll figure out who you are and make it easier for you to lose your guns.

Got me thinking about the bigger picture. What if someone from the Government figures out I have a blog and decides to bring it to the attention of the FBI during my citizenship background check? Although I tend to appear anonymous, it would not take any major effort to figure out who I am.

Given that, it makes me wonder if anything I've written about over the past 18 months would be construed as sufficient to call into question whether I should be granted citizenship? I don't think I've ever stated I want to overthrow the government. I am critical of the government and its policy approaches but that is different. I would argue that I have acted in the role of a responsible, engaged citizen.

I do think an immigration judge reading through these pages might express concern and dismay over my dislike for strong central government but I would respond that in the positions I do hold of individual liberty, strong property rights, personal responsibility, limited government and the desire to simply be left to prosper or fail on my own that I am upholding the best in American traditions and values.

Whether a judge or bureaucrat would agree would be a different story. My hope is it never has to come to that.

But it was something that popped into my head given the likely change in direction on American domestic policies from where they stand now.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Transition Gun Policy: So Much for Respecting Our Rights

Obama has his transition policy up on his website. Of course, it contains the Democratic Party position on guns straight from their platform:

- Address Gun Violence in Cities: As president, Barack Obama would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade.
- Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals who shouldn’t have them.
- They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof.
- They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent, as such weapons belong on foreign battlefields and not on our streets.

I want to address each in turn.

The Tiahrt Amendment issue is a complete fucking lie. At no time does Tiahrt prevent any law enforcement agency from accessing trace data. All Tiarht does is restrict that use of the data to legitimate law enforcement purposes only. Police departments are free to natter back and forth at each other at length regarding a gun used in a crime and where it was traced to.

What Tiahrt does prohibit is disclosure of that data to others outside law enforcement. In other words, any of us with an agenda. Gun control groups would use trace data to argue streets were being flooded with guns while conveniently leaving out the fact the gun in question was stolen 11 years prior and was found in the hands of a convicted felon. Then they would use that data to sue gun makers since they had complete details on the gun including the dealer it was sold to and the private information of the law-abiding person who purchased it.

So all the Tiahrt does is limit the use of the data to those who need it and no one else. It's a pretty minor and reasonable law.

So Obama is outright lying when he supports this.

I would also point out to you that the Tiahrt Amendment needs to be renewed annually or it expires. The Democratic Congress that Obama wants to repeal it has passed it twice. Obviously Congress understands the issue better than naive, inexperienced Mr. Obama does. Take note of the fact that Pelosi has been in charge of Congress and she's never expended political capital to remove the Tiahrt language. Even the BATFE opposes repeal of Tiahrt. It is one of the few times you'll see a lot of gun rights folks and the BATF in full agreement on something.

Item #2 is vague, vapid posturing. What laws can he possibly propose that would do that stated task better than the system we have today short of something very intrusive? He's also lying here since Obama has NEVER supported a single pro-gun measure up to and including armed self-defense in the home.

The best way to keep criminals from having guns is keeping them in places where guns are difficult to make it into their hands. Places like PRISON.

Item #3, the famous "gun show loophole". I find it fascinating that the Federal Government is going to involve itself into an issue that is strictly an intrastate matter. I wonder how state legislatures will view the Federal government in interfering in how they manage private property transactions between their law-abiding residents?

And if they only limit it to gun shows, which I think they will do if they attempt it to avoid making the issue huge, it will be a "feel good" measure since private sales can take place anywhere. Otherwise, this one becomes a big poke at the states and their authority to manage their affairs within their own borders. Whether they would go to the mat on the issue remains to be seen.

As to the whole childproof guns thing, go ahead, give it a try. This sounds like a backdoor attempt through language manipulation to repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms act which protects gun makers and dealers from third-party liability. That, or smart guns. Which don't work and none exist.

Then lastly, we have our old "friend", the "Assault Weapon Ban". Do these people honestly think 1994 can't happen again?!?

Just because it is listed as an item doesn't mean they'll necessarily address it.

As I've stated, I want them to go ahead and expend the political capital upfront. I want Obama to actually have to go toe-to-toe with the NRA and every other gun rights organization and person out there without the cover of the Chicago political climate. He's not in Chicago anymore and his beliefs about what he thinks is right in that climate no longer apply. If he's all about "change" and "unity", he's going to have to agree to let certain dogs lie no matter how mangy he may view them.

Otherwise, I want him to come out swinging on every pet socialist/fascist idea he has and work on getting it passed so I can see this Congress shattered in the 2010 elections and him thrown out on his ass in 2012. I want the country to see the character, or lack thereof, of this man. He might be a good father and husband but that doesn't necessarily make him a good leader. Even despots love their families. The more to the left he shows himself to be, the more likely it is we'll be able to defeat him.

I am placing an enormous amount of confidence in the ideal that Congressional polticians are first and foremost political animals whom the majority realize gun control is a losing issue for them in keeping their jobs. This time, an AWB won't be an experiment or conditioning. It will be seen for what it is: control.

We have ten years of the last failed policy and no data to point to that it was effective. None. Nothing. All the politicians have to fall back on is ideology and the sooner we see the true nature of the that, the better off long-term we'll be.

Of course, I'm not a good predictor of political future but I think I have a good handle on the shrewd, corrupt and self-preservation nature of politicians. Pissed off constituents tend to vote for their opponents.

I'll start to panic and eat the crow after Inauguration if some of this stuff is attempted. Hopefully when he asks in a meeting why gun control isn't being pursued, someone will tell him, "Because you're not at the Joyce Foundation anymore, Mr. President. This is America, not Chicago.".

We can only hope for such courage.

I need to stop this and get back to gun blogging, America vs. Canada experiences, writing and the like. There's only so many ways to beat the dead horse that is politics.

Search Term Terror

I know I'm small-time in the blog world but my traffic has gone up quite a bit in the past week. I've been checking the referral logs and I thought you might want to see the search terms that are landing people here. Some of the terms include:

obama is going to take our guns
Obama's first act in office constitution
obama awb
biden ammo tax
can the government take my guns
H.R. 6257
is barack going to take my guns

See a theme here?

I'd call it a pretty much a foregone conclusion that most people don't believe the Democrats are going to stay away from gun control despite protestations from the Obama faithful to the contrary. Since people seem to be asking, here are my optimistic and pessimistic views of Obama/Biden on gun control once they take control.

Optimistic

I think Congress, regardless of what Obama/Biden want, realizes gun control is a political loser. Especially the so-called "Assault Weapon Ban". I don't think they are going to expend political capital on overt gun control efforts like this to "ban" a class of weapons that are much, much more popular now than when the first law was passed 14 years ago. Times have changed.

If not, then I would like to take this moment to welcome a new Republican Congress in 2010. And that's only if HR.6257 passes which is a straight-up 10 year re-enactment of the '94 AWB law. Passing just this "piss me off" law would destroy an Obama Presidency quickly and validate every single thing that has been said about him but all the Obamabots have dismissed as him as being too smart and acting as the "great uniter" to do.

At no time will your guns be registered or confiscated. It would be a "feel good" measure only to appeal to the leftist Democrat ideology and I predict such an act will kill them in 2010 and 2012.

Pessimistic

We're fucked. Forget HR.6257, they're going to try and ram HR.1022 on us instead. Given the level interest in potential gun legislation, I think an analysis of HR.1022 in an immediate future post is necessary. I have one partially completed that I should finish and post. No promises but I think people should see what would be in store for us. HR.6257 is pleasantly benign compared to the abomination that is HR.1022.

Even they don't go for the gold star of HR.1022, they'll use the rogue power of the BATFE to enforce every regulation on the books with stepped-up inspections, harassment and crackdowns. There are numerous ways through the ATF and the Attorney General to make gun owners lives miserable.

Fully expect the creation of an illegal registry using existing Form 4473s with a response of "So what are you going to do about it?" when it comes to light, violation of 18 USC 926(a) notwithstanding. Expect ammo taxes, encoding and ammo purchase registration requirements at point of sale that were repealed with FOPA'86 come to the fore. And expect gun owner licensing to be serious proposed and pushed along with storage requirements, safety requirements, arsenal license and perhaps out-and-out requirement to turn in banned weapons.

Despite the fact I think some of these would be struck down 10 years from now under Heller, it would set back gun rights probably decades.

It would be self-destructive behavior for the Democrats. I don't need to point out the firestorm that the 2010 and 2012 elections would become. If it really went to the mat and pushed the ideological divisions in this country further, it could tear the country apart.

Advice

If you have the means or the desire to acquire an AR, AK, SKS, FAL, G3 or other "scary looking" rifle and/or any semi-automatic handgun and you don't have one now, place an order or purchase one in the next six months along with 1000 rounds of ammunition. Just so you can become one more positive tick in the "people who are gonna be pissed off" column when it comes time for your representatives to answer for their actions.

Join the NRA even if you disagree with them (I do). They will be on the front-line to stop any action before it can gain traction. You don't join the NRA by buying a gun. You don't join by going to a gun show. You don't remain a member if you join once. It is an annual membership like any club. $25 per year (discounted) is a box of ammo. Use that box of ammo to support the gun rights troops on the front lines.

It would warm my hearts to see the member count at the NRA go from 4 million to 6 million in the next year. See if we can make it happen. That alone will go a long way into putting the fear of joblessness into many Congressional Representatives.

Hopefully this helps some of you who asking such questions. I want to get a more detailed answer for you as soon as I can polish it up.

maryland gun laws and threaded barrels

This was an odd one to pop up in the search terms. Honestly, there are no laws in Maryland against having threaded barrels. They tried to pass one a couple years ago that would have made threaded barrels lethal and dangerous but it never got out of committee.

So go ahead and own guns with threaded barrels in Maryland all you want. The only purpose they serve is to hold on flash hiders, muzzle brakes and suppressors. If you want one for a suppressor, knock yourself out, fill out the paperwork, pay the tax and plink away. Contact a Maryland Class III/NFA dealer for more info.

What branch of the armed services did Bill Cosby serve in

The US Navy. He does a bit on this in his stand-up movie "Bill Cosby: 49".

And lastly, I totally forgot I wrote this! A bit dated and I pounded it out in a moment of frenzied inspiration like most of my writing. It has been getting more than few hits. Sadly, I think some of my hyperbole is accurate. It is up to Obama to prove me wrong.

That's it for now.

Good for the Goose, Good for the Gander

Since the rest of the world seems ecstatic at the rise of Obama to the Presidency, the expectation is in their minds that those war-mongering, pesky, ignorant, brutal Americans won't be butting their noses where they don't belong. Given his stated intention to hobble the military, bloggers are already reporting people planning to leave the service rather than re-enlist. Given the way a socialist Obama and Congress view the military as an evil thing, I can't blame them. I'd be physically ill at the thought of having to obey the orders of this new C-in-C.

As always, look for the bright side in bad things. To me, this seems like a golden opportunity for us to flip off the rest of the world. If Obama hobbles the military to the point they can't leave their barracks here for a training march without being short of gear, how in the Hell are we going to be able to do anything elsewhere? I don't necessarily agree with isolationism but I think it might be an unintended consequence of a military-hating Obama.

So in a couple years, with ships tied up due to lack of funds or having maintenance drawn out, combat experienced vets gone and tanks and vehicles sitting unused for a lack of spare parts, when a natural disaster or conflict comes along somewhere in the world, call for someone else to help you. Go cry to the fucking United Nations to save you.

Because then, there will be no Navy, Army or Air Force to render humanitarian aid. I'm always amazed at the vitriol expended against the USA when it is doing something some socialist lickspittle doens't approve of but they jump for joy when the Stars and Stripes appears on the horizon when a typhoon is finished reducing an island somewhere to splinters and we ask for nothing in return.

It won't be our problem anymore. Because now you'll have a socialist just like you in the Oval Office who will take that big, bad, evil military away to make flight paths safe for his unicorns. Don't whine, you got what you wanted Europe and the rest of the world. A US uninvolved in the promotion of BushHitler evil of the world. This is what you wanted, after all!

I'll enjoy watching Obama sputter and stumble when he has to explain to some Commie he sympathizes with in Africa on why the US military can't redistribute the aid he wants to provide because he just got told it will take a minimum of 180 days to get ships and equipment ready to sail.

The world won't be able to complain because they'll have gotten exactly what they wanted! Us not involved and away from their affairs. But they'll complain anyway. Can't please anyone. I only feel bad for our men and women still in uniform then having to endure under such policies.

Got to look for those silver linings anywhere you can find them.

It Sure Is Dark Down Here...

Well, he won. I guess America liked the nice, deep hole and decided to see what it was like to leap in.

Oh well, no use crying about it now. It is what it is and we'll just have to deal with each issue and attempted infringement as it comes.

I received but a single instruction from my fiancee: "Don't go overboard". She knows I'm upset and how I feel this is going to go under an Obama administration. I made it clear months ago that if this scenario came to pass, I would be placing orders. That time has come. If anything, this has gotten my priorities regarding firearm purchases in order.

Two have leaped to the top in additional to ammunition purchases. On ammo, I plan to double the amount of .223/5.56mm I have on-hand. More 7.62 NATO and 6.5mm as well. Just prudent planning there.

On firearms, a new upper is now a top item as well as a spare 16" barrel and parts to repair my existing ARs. Definitely leaning towards 7.62x39mm for this upper. I want a nice middle-power 200 yard carbine. I'm also going to double my existing number of magazines.

The FAL needs to be completed. The receiver has been sitting in my cabinet while I've brooded over configuration. I was going to do a mostly DSA build but I think I may need to compromise on that in order to have the parts in hand prior to Inauguration. I don't want to take a chance on something like HR.1022 passing before I order since that legislation would make those parts immediately illegal (since they would constitute a "conversion kit" in order to assemble an assault weapon into a disallowed configuration. This same legislation would also drive AR-15 upper makers out of business.). I can shave a lot off the costs by selecting the minimum number of compliance parts that I need to meet 18 USC 922(r) requirements.

There are 17 parts in an FN FAL. To make it US compliant, I need to eliminate at least 7. That boils down to: receiver, hammer, trigger, sear, barrel, gas piston, flash hider, pistol grip, stock and handguard. I have the receiver and the gas piston.

I wanted to do a configuration reminiscent of the G1 FAL with the long slotted flash hider. In the end, I will probably opt for a Belgian pattern with the short tubular flash hider. It at least gives me the option of being able to affix a bayonet (always a requirement in a proper 'battle rifle').

I could even eliminate the barrel and use one of my Imbel barrels. That cuts $250 out right there. I could easily do this FAL on the cheap. By "cheap", well under $800 including the cost of the DSA receiver itself. Thoughts?

From there, I don't know. I can't go out and buy an M1A. I'd be shot with it as soon as I got it home.

We have 2-3 months before any legislation would begin rolling through Congress. I want my ducks in a row by then.

Depressing.

Last Minute Prediction

Just a last minute prediction before I head home.

If this election is close, within perhaps 1% of each other, I fully expect to be a whole range of debates, challenges, recounts, lawsuits and so on. I don't think either candidate is going to concede until the last ballot is counted. This one is going to the mat and may take weeks to fully resolve if there isn't a clear advantage in the results.

With the polarization that this election has created, who would be surprised? I will not be surprised tomorrow if we are into a multi-week nailbiter on "who actually won" and all the punditry and analysis that will entail.

Just wanted to get that out there.

Balancing on the Precipice

An anonymous commenter posted the following on yesterday's post:

I have no problem, with Obama being black (although he really isn't); what I strenuously object to is the fact that he is RED.

Sir or madam, kudos right there!

So what if Obama wins today?

I'm not quite the pessimist that Tam is. I happen to agree that it is one possible outcome and one that I certainly hope doesn't come to pass. Then again, if it does, I've just become the neighborhood's best friend.

Assuming we start out tomorrow at the beginning of a new nightmare, there is hope. We know Obama's beliefs, his views. The big question rotates around whether he actually believes his own rhetoric. How much of it he believes and how much he feels that his election isn't so much that but an ascension, then we have varying degrees of problems.

I explained to my boss during one of our many lunchtime political conversations that my primary fear of Obama is him trying to act on his beliefs. That if he really thinks he can accomplish what he thinks he can solely from the Oval Office then this is getting messy fast. He disagreed saying Obama would move to the center. My retort was simple, "What if he doesn't?".

What if he decides that in order to correct the abuses of George Bush, he needs to use the powers that Bush claimed for himself to "do the right thing". How much power could he wield through Executive Orders? Congress certainly wouldn't challenge him for the most part. How far would he push it?

On gun rights, he could hurt us without having to have Congress do a damn thing. Despite the predictions of many and despite Pelosi and Reid, I think Congress is a much shrewder political animal than he is. Even if they win additional seats, it would be a stretch to call it a "mandate". If they do, I hope they try to act upon it early. Go for another AWB, try to ban concealed carry, ban ammunition that can pierce armor. Please.

For those of you thinking I am nuts, I'm not. I want them to get right out there and try it. Then I want you to remember the backlash Congress received over immigration reform and the financial bailout. You don't think with these unholy forces aligning like something out of a fantasy novel that every single gun rights organization won't be watching them like hawks? The NRA alone will have people pouring over every single bill looking for poison pill amendments that some Democrat snuck in hoping to pull a fast one on us.

I think Congress is smart enough to know that 2010 is a very real possibility of them losing it all if they push. But if they believe they can do no wrong, let them at it here and now. Get those cards on the table so they can be destroyed in 2010 and Obama can become a 1-term lame duck President.

I am confident in our ability to organize and to send the message loud and clear to Congress that the One's rise can result in their fall if they don't listen to their constituents.

If you want to worry on gun rights, worry about judges and appointments. I can easily see the BATFE suddenly becoming really interested in upping inspection of FFLs and more importantly, C&R holders. They generally don't do inspections of C&R holder inventory or storage but they reserve the right to do so. I would expect Obama to start "encouraging" such inspections as a means of harassing people he thinks shouldn't be allowed to engage in door-to-door purchases of firearms which include handguns and evil semi-auto rifles.

I would also expect the approval process for a C&R license to slow down dramatically.

Also note that the Attorney General can make life miserable for gun owners by him simply declaring certain imported weapons not having a "sporting purpose" under GCA'68. Do you think an Obama appointed AG wouldn't look for every ounce of authority he/she could find to impact gun rights and ownership indirectly? If you don't think so, I have two words for you: Janet Reno.

I don't need to comment on judges except to say to expect a lot of 2A challenges to never make it out of their courts on the basis that Heller will be twisted, folded and mutilated into inapplicability as an anomaly. It will take years for the Supreme Court to finally grant cert for one or more of these. I don't think Obama can stop the 2nd Amendment renaissance but I sure think he can slow it down.

The fun part is this notion of riots. Yup, there's going to be riots alright. If he loses, the next week or two will be fun to watch. I did take note of the fact there is a subsidized housing complex not a mile down the road from the house. Should enough people there decide to lose their minds and begin to act stupid then decide that the local strip mall and adjoining neighborhoods have plenty of cars to torch and flip, I'm prepared. Avoid the house with the dingo in the backyard barking his head off with the fellow in the body armor and CETME with bayonet affixed sitting on the porch. Just a hint of friendly advice. Yes, the rifle will be loaded and those are extra magazines in the vest over the body armor.

In fact, I'd argue just get out of the entire neighborhood before I start handing out AR-15s, bolt guns and other assorted semi-autos like candy to the neighbors. Yes, even the ones who voted for Obama. They don't deserve to have their property destroyed by a bunch of thugs and children and I will help them to defend it.

And there will be riots if he wins too. Huh? Those riots won't occur I predict until sometime in the spring. Right around the time that all these folks who somehow think that they will finally receive what they deserve for decades of oppression! Mortgage paid for, free medical, free car with gas and so on. Give it six months and let the disappointment mount that they aren't going to get what they "deserve". Once that realization sets in, expect Reverend Wright, Jesse Jackson and others like them getting out and organizing their communities to demand change. I suspect we will hear nothing about it on the news up until the moment portions of Chicago, Washington DC, PG County, Detroit and so on come apart for no apparent reason. I wonder if that is the crisis Biden was referring to?

And if they do get what they think they deserve, there will be riots of a different sort. If Congress actually rams through some kind of reparations for slavery at the behest of the One, the other 85% of the country is going to riot. With phone calls, letters and hopefully out and out civil defiance. We'll go John Galt at that point. Hell, I would expect a large number of armed citizens to protest on the Washington Mall at that point, gun laws be damned.

All of these things are weatherable. Having Obama in the White House is not going to be pleasant but provided he actually goes to the center and we, the voting citizenry, keep the leash on tight, we'll survive. A few years of bad policies and onerous regulation that will disappear in 2012 I think we can endure.

What we won't endure is Obama actually trying to rule by executive fiat in the belief that his position is unassailable and that Americans actually want him to act as King, not President. Who knows, maybe they do? I can agree with Kevin, Robb, Greg and others that Americans want socialism and to be babied. If so, God help us. That is my one true fear. The fear that he really will stay to the left, having had it kept secret by a complicit media, and then go forth become an American Lenin. I truly fear he will try to use Bush's usurped authority for "good". And I don't think Congress will challenge him until too late and because he will have stuffed the benches, citizen challenges will get shot down for lack of standing.

If that happens, I have no predictions. People accuse Bush of being a dictator. I think Obama may become one. He may do it for nobly stated reasons but in the end I think he is corruptible. Corruptible in the sense of absolute power. If Obama believes he actually has the power and tries to exercise it, I fear he may tear this country apart as Tam states.

That is my fear. Everything else I believe we can fight a holding action on with a few tactical defeats here and there. An AWB would suck but if it was a straight-up re-enactment of the '94 "ban" for 10 years (which I suspect will have to be a compromise as no one will accept a permanent one), we could manage. But I don't think Congress is going to touch it. And if they do, they're so far out of touch with the pulse of the nation that we are already lost. If so, it will only be a question of time.

If it starts to happen, will the media turn on him? I've never understood what they stand to gain by having him elected. Fairness Doctrine? Doesn't that cut both ways? If conservative reporting was required to air "balancing" viewpoints, wouldn't liberal outlets have to do the same? If so, they would be hurt more by the Fairness Doctrine than Rush Lumbaugh or Bill O'Reilly. Unless they see themselves as creating history with an Obama victory. Ok, if he wins, what then? Unless the plan is to change their names to Washington Pravda or New York TASS, I can't see how the media benefits from an out-of-control Obama and Congress.

In the end, I think people are going to be terribly disappointed with Obama as President. They will have projected all their "hopes and dreams" onto his blank canvas and will learn too late the cardinal rule of elections: Once they have your vote, you no longer matter to them. I don't think Obama has the capacity for compromise that politics require. I do feel he will try to act on his beliefs and quash anyone who speaks against him. The only question is whether the People will care.

I hope I'm wrong.

And if John McCain wins, my views on how things will play out is much simpler...

Thank God!

We'll know soon. Get out and vote!

To the Edge We Go

With the election tomorrow and yours truly consigned to the sidelines this time, all I can offer are my predictions on the outcome. Tomorrow I plan to be sitting in front of my computer, TV off and doing my best to kill virtual battleships for the greater glory of my corporation in EVE Online. Or avoiding radioactive raiders in Fallout 3. Either way, I am going to try and resist the urge to get upset at the TV and just wait for the results on Wednesday.

I was asked by a friend how I thought the election was going to turn out. He also asked why. I found his inquiry into my rationale for why I thought it would turn out the way I think it will that I think it bears repeating here for you.

I believe John McCain will win this election 51% to 49% versus Obama of voters who cast votes for these two candidates. I say that because third-party candidates don't factor into this.

As to why I think this, my own personal views aside, I give you the two reasons I gave him.

First, at their heart, I believe the majority of Americans whether urban or rural in nature share an inherent conservatism. Not in conservative politics but in the basic value that what they earn is theirs and doesn't belong to others. They may not articulate this view publicly and may, in fact, state the opposite to any who will listen. But I think deep down in the quiet privacy of their thoughts, Americans don't accept notions of wealth redistribution and "social justice". I honestly think they see those concepts for the socialism/Marxism they represent.

Even today, decades after McCarthy, Americans have a visceral dislike of Communist concepts and I do think they can see the folly in its close cousin, socialism.

In the privacy of the voting booth, I think many who think Obama might be a swell guy with great ideas will vote against him and probably lie about it later to their friends because of the views he holds. He goes against the grain of the American fabric.

As for the second reason, I make no apologies. I do believe the other reason John McCain will squeak by with a victory is I think there are enough people in this country, for whatever reason, are not ready to have a black President.

There. I said it.

Some of it will be racist. You're a fool to believe that there isn't bigotry, hatred or intolerance still alive and well in country. It is human nature. The best we can do is strive to minimize it to the best of our ability. I'll never understand racism but I do believe it will be a factor.

The rest of it will be from a failure to identify with black culture. Frankly, I don't get black culture for the simple fact I don't understand the idea of elevating ignorance and victimhood to virtues. Especially given I'm from a country where these types of racial divisions don't exist. Remember, there is no Civil War in Canada. So I just plain don't get it. I also think that alot of Americans don't get it either.

I really think there is an "us and them" mentality and I don't think some people are comfortable with that gap. They don't know what someone from a culture they aren't familiar with will do in the big chair given our exposure to black culture is either exagerrated, artificial or stereotypes or it is wholly negative courtesy of the nightly news and Cops.

I don't think America is quite ready to cross that threshold. At least not with this candidate. I would argue that if it had been someone else like Condalezza Rice, the election would be a shoe-in. But not with something who is both black and clearly leftist in his views and outlook.

America, I feel, can't accept both in the same package. We have enough white leftists in positions of power with whom we have decades of experience and history to see how that has turned out. With Obama, we have none of that. I do think that if Obama wasn't black, he would have been finished as a candidate long ago. The media would not have supported and sheltered him otherwise.

So there you have my election prediction. Tomorrow I see if it comes true and I pray that I am on the right side of history. Because if not, I think we will find ourselves sitting on the edge of the Abyss looking in, wondering how deep the hole is and figuring out whether we will leap off.

Vote your conscience tomorrow. But do vote no matter whom you choose.