When one of my favorite rifles does well under conditions, I like to share that.
Since Henry and Josh are running their SCAR 16 in a not so different way than how I run mine, I especially enjoy this demonstration of capability.
LPVO and smooth G trigger.
Author of course uses the more accurate and reliable FDE model.
Being able to confidently shoot to 650 out of any 5.56 with a reduced barrel (under 18″) and good ammo is a rifle with exceptional ability to compliment its shooter’s talent and skills.
Add to everything the very reliable and smooth operation of the SCAR rifles and you end up with an objectively fine platform.
The SCARs main detraction remains, and will likely forever remain, its cost of acquisition. Just like with the PTR91, you’re getting a system for a price tag and you can buy 3 PTR91 rifles for the price of a single SCAR.
Translated to a single user, that means you can buy a stolidly reliable AR-15 without any of the modern creature comforts rifles like the SCAR offer, and then add an equally high quality ancillary setup that covers slings, optics, and illumination.
There will always remain something to be said about the cost/gain of the highest quality firearms, just as their will remain things to be said of personal preferences. Every selection, and especially personal selections, are a balance of objective criteria and preferences. The SCAR excels in the objective criteria categories, but it has a price tag better than a lot of mortgage, car, and utility bills combined. Its physical characteristics might also be outside a users preferences.
If cost or characteristics on a rifle make it a no for you, then it’s a no. “Great rifle, but it costs too much for me.” is a perfectly valid backed opinion. The same can be said of H&K, KAC, LMT, LWRC, SIG and other high tier rifles that run well but come with a deep cost well.
If that means you run an 18″ Aero Precision with a PA SLx scope and a streamlight that didn’t break $2k all said and done, that’s a fine way to put something together too. An FN, or BCM, or IWI topped with a P4Xi and an older on sale Surefire with some internal preference mods like new trigger will dress out nicely for under $3k, probably.
But if you want to go all in because you want to, because you want the performance, it is only money and you can’t take that with you, then get the expensive gun and have some fun with it.
Because you can.
You don’t have to justify it with its extra 1.2% reliability or that its accuracy is better than the M4A1, just do it because you want to and the performance gains are a happy bonus.
So as to avoid any misquoting, misunderstanding, or general missing of anything, we will provide you with the text of the bill as written, before proceeding.
“This bill, beginning on July 1, 2023, would establish a firearm industry standard of conduct, which would require a firearm industry member, as defined, to establish, implement, and enforce reasonable controls, as defined, take reasonable precautions to ensure that the member does not sell, distribute, or provide a firearm-related product, as defined, to a downstream distributor or retailer of firearm-related products who fails to establish, implement, and enforce reasonable controls, and adhere to specified laws pertaining to unfair methods of competition, unfair or deceptive acts or practices, and false advertising. The bill would also prohibit a firearm industry member from manufacturing, marketing, importing, offering for wholesale sale, or offering for retail sale a firearm-related product that is abnormally dangerous and likely to create an unreasonable risk of harm to public health and safety in California, as specified.
This bill would also authorize a person who has suffered harm in California, the Attorney General, or city or county attorneys to bring a civil action against a firearm industry member for an act or omission in violation of the firearm industry standard of conduct, as specified. The bill would authorize a court that determines that a firearm industry member has engaged in the prohibited conduct to award various relief, including injunctive relief, damages, and attorney’s fees and costs.”
The promised functional definitions do not arise later in the bill, despite promises to the contrary. The closest we get is “reasonable controls” which is defined as a gun manufacturer taking “reasonable procedures, acts, or practices…” that will somehow stop straw purchases, prevent user loss or theft, and to abide by a “Firearm Industry Code of Conduct”, which sets out an equally poorly defined standard of behaviors that involve nebulous terms like “assaultive purposes”, “abnormally dangerous”. Surrounding this half-baked dictionary writ law, is a theme of generally establishing that a gunmaker who either produces products that are legal under the law, but effectively reduce the impact of their failed AWB. Also, anyone whose products are at any point involved in criminal activity after their legal wholesale or retail sale, is liable, and can be sued by functionally anyone who can claim to have been affected by gun violence, and every attorney employed by the state or local government. In addition, marketing by gunmakers is now subject to somewhat less vague, but equally punitive restrictions.
We recommend you read the text yourself. Most news articles hit on one or two major points, but I have yet to see any of them publish the truly buried lede, which is the final sentence of the bill. Perhaps Newsom and his comrades are more intelligent and aware than their vaguely worded legislative windmilling would suggest, because tucked in at the very end like a favorite stuffed animal is the following gem.
“If any provision of this act, or part of this act, any clause within this act, any combination of words within this act, or the application of any provision or part or clause or combination of words of this act to any person or circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions, clauses, words, or applications of provisions, clauses, or words shall not be affected, but shall remain in full force and effect, and to this end the provisions of this measure are severable.”
It’s almost like they know this was dead in the water before they wrote it, given Heller, McDonald, and Bruen. They have seemingly tried to obey the letter of those rulings while pissing on their spirit, and I expect everyone with an inch of skin in the California RTKBA movement is currently smelling the blood in the water and starving their lawyers to make them meaner for the upcoming fight.
Gov. Newsom reportedly said, when asked about the obvious potential for legal challenges “Bring it on, they’d be crushed.”. Well, be careful what you wish for, Governor. The wave of lawsuits coming to CA on the heels of this legislation may not be the one you were anticipating.
The topic came up in one of the gun groups I frequent and after the discussion I felt a post was in order. It was a good discussion.
What is a “Bag Gun?”
Superb acting by Ken Ross in this photo. I think The Division II had just released.
A bag gun, or a truck gun in some parlance, is a carriable carbine of some manner in a more discreet container that doesn’t scream ‘I am a person armed with a rifle’ upon casual observation. The bags are made to look like backpacks or gym bags, and sometimes are just that, but they pass as more mundane carriables while also holding a more capable firearm than your EDC piece.
How is a Bag Gun used?
Mostly?
For fun and for flex.
A bag gun, in most of our lives, is a conversation piece. It is. Don’t get mad.
Outside of professional circles, like the Secret Service or low profile LE event security, a discreetly carried carbine is not particularly useful. It ends up being a bunch of effort for no practical gain. Your EDC is your emergency tool and your bag gun is not your EDC, even if it’s around you daily.
Fun, certainly, but not useful.
What the Bag Gun becomes is a way to discreetly transport, again not ‘carry’, but transport a carbine into places and spaces where you don’t want everyone and their aunt knowing you brought a long(er) gun.
On vacation, staying with friends or family, at a longer event with residency or a place you are staying, wherever you might feel it handy to have fairly quick access to a more capable firearm in case of a sudden environment level shift in your safety status.
This is typically associated with a static location you can safely keep the carbine. Even if it remains in the bag, it has a storage point that you, and perhaps others in your party, know about in case anything in the bag is needed. The bag likely contains more than just the carbine too. Medical gear, restraints, less lethals, even typical items like electronics might be compartmentalized in the bag.
“Quick” draw?
You may or may not have seen a video, or reel, or TikTok of someone very quickly going from their allegedly “discreet” carry of a carbine, to the carbine out, and about, and ready to workout.
Cool for the Gram, certainly. They had fold away armor too.
The reality of these drills is more a proof of concept that a stored firearm can be prepared rapidly, not an actual ‘under time’ stressed draw for a fight. You don’t need to run Bill Drills from a bag to a set XX:XX time, you do need to run drills from the bag to make sure you can smoothly get the gun into readiness and identify snag points.
If you need to draw for a fight in progress, use your EDC. 100% of the time it will be faster, every time. Then at a safe moment prepare the carbine, if necessary.
The “quick” deployment showcases that you need little, not none, but little notice in order to ready the gun, and perhaps extra equipment with it, into an effective state because a fight, or openly detering a fight by being overtly armed, is imminently necessary and unavoidable.
Run Riot
If all of this is leading your thoughts down the path of ‘This sounds useful if my city breaks out in riots’, then you’ve stumbled upon the most likely use case for a non-professional user. Besides flexing that is.
Where you are at, the event or location you are attending, goes feral in a hurry and you need to get you and yours gone from this now suddenly unsafe space.
Bag Gun Setup
I have a few SBRs and “pistols” that can be used in the role, but I tend to default to my Zenith MP5 clone.
GAT Editor running a ‘Break Contact’ drill at a Teufelshund Tactical MP5 Operators Course
After shooting it with James Williamson a few years back, and discussions and shooting with Tom Alibrando, I just like it. It does the job well enough and checks the boxes I want checked.
Suboptimal? Maybe. But not in enough areas where I feel a particular need to go out and buy into a .300BLK Rattler, or a MK18 with a LAW Folder, or any other variation on the theme of compact carbine, the MP5 does the job fine.
I’ll get into why at the end.
The Bag
The Sentinel Concepts Revelation 2.0 by TUFF Products does a really good job of looking far more like commuter backpack than tactical gun transport bag. It isn’t perfect, nothing is, but it is comfortable and doesn’t scream ‘Gun Within!’
Vertx Commuter Sling XL 2.0
Longer bags able to accommodate more rifle, even broken down upper/lower, still tend to be out of place if they’re taller, longer, heavier looking than a school bag dimensioned bag. They can get away with life as adventurer, backpacker, hiker, camper bags, but any time you step into the world with this much gun carried on your person at some point you are going to start stretching someone’s limits of credulity.
Especially gun people who know what to look for. Things meant to carry guns tend to look like they’re meant to carry guns, at least to some degree. Things that aren’t meant to carry guns tend to be very bad at carrying guns because they aren’t structurally meant to do the thing you’re asking them to do.
So pick your bag based on the job. Is it a permissive but discreet environment where as long as you aren’t dragging in a pelican case covered in industry stickers you’re fine, or are needing deep concealment that people are going to dismiss as a regular backpack for clothes, laptop, and other daily devices?
Your answer selects your bag choice, and your bag choice will select your available firearms.
Opening the bag
The interior of the Revelation 2.0 conceals the gun in the back behind nylon, so opening the bag and having a computer, hoodie, or whatever in the front pocket can easily maintain the discretion. Any longer examination inside will tell an observer, “Hey! Another pocket!” so there is that. But the interior, like the exterior, avoids being festooned with MOLLE and in OD, FDE, MCT, or Multicam whatever.
Although tactical colors and patterns have their own fashion niche that isn’t always gun guys or gals, so it isn’t as much of a tell as some might thing.
Behind the nylon sits, surprise, the MP5!
Magazine in, chamber empty, sight on, light recently checked, no sling.
Magazine In
30’s fit comfortably, 20’s would probably be a little more smooth removing, I have yet to try the Magpul 50rd drum but I suspect that will work nicely as well and may become the go-to magazine.
Chamber Empty
“Why would you carry chamber empty!?
I’m not, my EDC is chambered and holstered as usual. This bag is a gun case, not a holster. I am uncasing and readying the MP5, not drawing it. One is accomplished swiftly and efficiently at need, but an immediate need will always be the EDC draw and not the gun in the bag.
The bag gun means I have a minute. How many minutes will determine what else comes out of the bag. Loading procedure on the gun is going to be the first thing after it clears the bag.
Sight On
Using a high efficiency dot or solid state reticle makes a quick look through the tube confirm my sight is working, adjust brightness real quick and continue.
If time is short, you know that you keep the sight ready to use so
If you keep the sight off, whatever, turn it on. However with battery saver tech on current sights there is no real need to conserve power.
Light
Light recently checked so that it will turn on when you ask it too, unlike your sight though checking your light might not be something you can do discreetly.
If you can, check it, but if not having recently checked it (and your sight) you should be ready to go.
No sling
In this instance I do not want a sling needing to be unwound or untangled, I am bring thing out because I might need it on very short notice and may not be in a position where slinging the gun brings me value.
30 Seconds Out
Again, the bag isn’t a holster. That said, you should be able to go from a stored weapon to a ready weapon with one full magazine in a 30 second window, checks included.
So if, hypothetically, you’re caught on a road heading right into a riot with no better way to go but through you can also put a gun in your lap (or equivalently convenient space) that has more staying power than your comfortable P365, G19, or J-Frame.
In short, you see trouble coming fast but you still saw it coming.
You’ll notice no sling, but you will notice QD sling points.
Time gives you options (and accessories)
You (or I) now have a functioning carbine in hand. We can handle the immediate problem and start taking the next steps.
If that immediate problem is continue preparing, we can further set ourselves up to support running the gun.
The next most accessible pocket gives me more magazines. I might be in a one magazine situation, hopefully, but I also might not, so having the time to stuff my pockets or place these in a more accessible location comes next.
This leaves me with the carbine and more ammo, but still no sling.
Fix that next, add the sling.
2 Minutes and Go
These extra steps are treated similarly to when you should tactically reload, time and opportunity. Getting the gun ready was the immediate thing you needed time and opportunity for, now these are additional time/opportunity/necessity steps.
Get moving.
Get to the spot where you can start putting these things back away and zipping the bag shut again.
Why 9mm?
In a world of .300BLK, 5.56 NATO 77gr, and 7.62×39, which all do fair in short barrels, why would I stick with 9mm?
A. I want to
We can just get that in right away, I want to stick with 9mm because I do. The same reason I am running an MP5 clone and not a modern MPX, I want to.
B. Size, Weight, Capacity
Fairly simple, I can keep 3-4 loaded MP5 magazines in the space of 2 rifle magazines. The gun is reasonably light. The gun is low recoil.
C. Concussion
While I know there are ways to run a can, and I will probably add a can to the extra equipment list, the bag is not conducive to running a can on the gun.
So if I am pulling this thing for real because I will need it, it is getting fired unsuppressed. It may also be getting fired inside a vehicle.
If you’ve never done that, it is loud an unpleasant. It is drastically louder and more unpleasant in rifle calibers.
D. Carbine, not Caliber
Here’s a bit of advice for those chasing the min/maxer angle on this whole thing.
After reminding everyone that this is mostly a flexercise because it is fun, in the event you’re using this in the actual emergency you built it up for your most drastic change in your capability to fight, protect, and otherwise project force to your advantage was by going from a handgun to a shoulder fired higher capacity weapon.
You became more accurate, with more rounds on hand, probably faster, and your physical presence as a fighting force to be reckoned with changed. You’ve changed how you’re showing up to the fight and that could help avoid the fight. Now there’s every chance in the world that riding toward that fight in an APC with an armed and armored squad wouldn’t avoid that fight, but you’ve set yourself up for the last ditch avoidance of what looks to be unavoidable as best you can.
The July 4th weekend granted me a nice opportunity to kick my feet up and relax. I started early, taking Friday off, which proved advantageous. A little show called the Terminal List premiered. I’ve been awaiting the premier since the early tease from Chris Pratt on Instagram. I enjoyed the novel and met the author fairly quickly one year. He was very humble and kind and autographed my copy of Terminal List.
So when Friday night rolled around, I settled in with a Guinness, my lovely wife, and dived in. The series is streaming in its entirety on Amazon Prime and is eight episodes, roughly an hour long each. I dived in quite content and happily finished it in a single weekend.
The Terminal List was the first book published by Navy SEAL Jack Carr. Jack Carr served 20 years as a SEAL and served as both an enlisted man and an officer. He retired as a Lieutenant Commander and became an author with a total of five books starring his protagonist James Reece. James Reece is a SEAL because writing what you know is a valuable strategy.
The Terminal List – A Revenge Tale
I love a good revenge tale. It’s one of my favorite genres, and that’s what gripped me originally about the Terminal List. Jack Carr said he wrote the word revenge on a piece of paper to act as his guiding light while he wrote the novel. I’ll try my hardest not to spoil the show, so I’ll keep things vague.
James Reece is an LCDR and troop leader who nearly meets his end when a mission goes bad. He and another team member are the sole survivors of their SEAL team. After returning home, his wife and child are killed, and he’s plagued by hallucinations, headaches, and false memories. His world is unraveling, and it’s all being done to him by outside forces.
Once Reece realizes this, he decides revenge is the only option left. Thus we get the story of James hopping from palace to place, uncovering a conspiracy that leads higher than he could have ever imagined. He travels internationally even to take names off his Terminal List.
After reading the book, I knew what would happen, but I still appreciated how they made Reece an unreliable narrator. He has a brain tumor that is making him slowly lose his grip. If I hadn’t read the books, I could see myself doubting the main character and his interpretation of events.
Actors Taking the Wheel
It must be terrifying turning your character over to an actor. Surprisingly Chris Pratt did very well as Reece. He gives a great performance, especially when he doubts his sanity and in the dark moments of the show where revenge is all that matters to him. He’s akin to less crazy Anton Chigurh in drive and will.
Another standout is Constance Wu, an intrepid reporter who wisely questions everyone, including our hero. She’s a bit of a double agent but dedicated to the truth. To the point where she doesn’t necessarily believe anyone.
Taylor Kitsch plays Ben, Reece’s close friend and former SEAL compatriot. He’s a CIA Ground ops guy but also seems to be a bit of a hard-partying surfer. He’s Reece’s main partner throughout the series and helps him repeatedly as he crosses names off his list. Taylor is great in the role and occupies it with a laid-back gravitas with an undercurrent of violence.
Other than those three, not a lot of actors get to shine. Everyone delivers a solid performance, but their characters aren’t very interesting. Sean Gunn owns his small role, but the book and the series focus on Reece as a character, leaving some characters and actors in his wake.
The Sound of Thunder
The Terminal List keeps things simple. The story isn’t exactly new, but it’s well-told and doesn’t get convoluted or overstay its welcome. The Terminal List does a great job of moving through the story headfirst and without much restraint. Eight episodes seem to be the perfect length and keep the show from bogging down like way too many streaming shows do these days.
My main problem and complaint is this ultra-dark filter Amazon seems to have put over the show. Sometimes you can’t see anything, and it’s ultra annoying. The first episode has the worst case when the SEAL team infiltrates a series of tunnels. I couldn’t even tell what had happened.
The Tactics
One thing that impressed me about the Terminal List is the action. The actors are well trained and handle firearms brilliantly.
The show’s creators wisely sought out real veterans as advisors in the show. This includes SEAL Jared Shaw, who Pratt worked with on Zero Dark Thirty and befriended. Kitsch played a SEAL in Lone Survivor, and in that experience, he worked with real Life SEAL Ray Mendoza, who also advises on the Terminal List. SEAL Kevin Woulard acted as an advisor and the stunt coordinator.
This vast swath of experience made sure the actors looked authentic, and it.. The guns and gear they pick are all top of the line and make a ton of sense. Pratt rocks a BCM rifle with an Aimpoint and a Cloud Defensive OWL, and Ben Edwards uses the Beretta 1301 outfitted with Aridus Industries gear to great effect. We even see a pair of the SEAL favorite Winkler axes.
It’s impressive to see Pratt reload a Glock like it’s a reflexive function or Kitsch do a slug select drill with his shotgun. They don’t just reload when they run empty. They reload every chance they have, which is a good idea in a gunfight. If you are not moving or shooting, you should be reloading.
Little things stand out, the plate carriers don’t hang low, slings are used, and the little things that most shows and movies ignore go a long way in the Terminal List.
The Terminal List
I enjoyed the Terminal List. It’s a great little psychological thriller with good action and solid performances. If you approach it blindly, I think a few of the twists will get you. It’s not a 1-for-1 remake of the book, so even readers will have some surprises.
NEWINGTON, N.H., (July 14, 2022) – SIG SAUER, Inc., is pleased to announce the official Grand Opening of the SIG Experience Center (SEC) on the campus of SIG SAUER Academy in Epping, New Hampshire.
The SIG SAUER Experience Center is a state-of-the-art facility bringing the SIG brand to life in an exciting, hands-on, immersive way. The SIG Experience Center is home to the SIG SAUER Flagship Store, the SIG SAUER Academy Shooting Facility, the SIG SAUER Museum, the exclusive members-only Club 1751, along with a complete conference and events facility. The SIG Experience Center serves as a true extension of the SIG SAUER brand and serves as the corporate showcase to the world.
Ron Cohen, President of SIG SAUER, Inc. was joined by The Honorable Asa Hutchinson, Governor of the State of Arkansas – home to the SIG SAUER Ammunition manufacturing operations — dignitaries from the State of the New Hampshire, and the leadership, employees, and distinguished guests of SIG SAUER to officially cut the ribbon and open the SEC.
“The SIG Experience Center marks the next phase in our company’s evolution, and we are immensely proud to have the opportunity to share the excitement of our brand and our accomplishments with the world,” began Cohen. “The timing of this facility is serendipitous as over the next eighteen months we will begin to deliver one of the largest small arms contracts in U.S. history, the Next Generation Squad Weapons to the U.S. Army. The museum at the SIG Experience Center (SEC) affords us the opportunity to share the story of our military beginnings in 1751 to our emergence as a modern defense industry leader transforming squad level weapons for the U.S. Army and world with the XM5, XM250, suppressors and hybrid ammunition.”
To celebrate the opening and achievement of the SIG Experience Center, the SIG SAUER Academy will be hosting a Grand Opening Celebration kicking off on Friday, July 15, 2022 and Saturday, July 16, 2022 from 10:00am to 9:00pm each day. The festivities include an events stage with presentations from Team SIG professional shooters, product walk-throughs, including the Next Generation Squad Weapons, and a live acoustic concert with country artist and SIG fan Brantley Gilbert on Friday evening. Additional events include signings with local sports legends including Boston Bruins Brad Marchand and Kevan Miller, also of the hunting company March & Mill Co., and former New England Patriot Adam Vinatieri, a vendor village and raffle opportunities. For a complete schedule visit sigsauer.com.
“The economic development benefits of this facility are substantial, and our Grand Opening Celebrations are the start of our commitment to host events and opportunities to bring visitors to the New England region from all over the world, create new jobs, and share the SIG Experience. This is just the beginning, and we could not be more excited about it,” concluded Cohen.
The SIG Experience Center is located on the campus of the SIG SAUER Academy at 231 Exeter Road in Epping, New Hampshire and open daily from 8:00am to 9:00pm.
About SIG SAUER, Inc. SIG SAUER, Inc. is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, suppressors, airguns, and training. For over 250 years SIG SAUER, Inc. has evolved by blending American ingenuity, German engineering, and Swiss precision. Today, SIG SAUER is synonymous with industry-leading quality and innovation which has made it the brand of choice amongst the U.S. Military, the global defense community, law enforcement, competitive shooters, hunters and responsible citizens. Additionally, SIG SAUER is the premier provider of tactical training and elite firearms instruction at the SIG SAUER Academy. Headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, SIG SAUER has over 2,900 employees across eleven locations. For more information abo ut the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.
Although I did not realize it at the time the purchase of the Remington V3 Tactical was a timely acquisition.
They were affordable at the time, just a few years ago, and today they are very difficult to come by and pricey. If you do find this rugged and businesslike shotgun for sale here are a few words on performance.
There are quite a few good quality automatic shotguns on the market today. Some are designed gor sporting use, others well suited for 3-Gun competition straight out of the box. The Remington V3 Tactical, a shotgun based on the proven V3 sporting shotgun, is among these quality choices. While I have used the Remington 870 pump action and Remington 11 87 automatic as emergency guns for many years, the V3 is superior in every way to these classic formidable shotguns.
The V3 is a gas operated self loading 12 gauge shotgun. The V3 is famously reliable with 2 ¾ inch and 3 shells, from game loads to heavy buckshot. The V3 uses a gas regulation system that is innovative and effective. More of the gas ports are exposed with low brass short shells. The system simply uses whatever gas is generated efficiently. This makes training possible with lighter less expensive shotgun shells. Another advantage is that the V3 kicks less than many shotguns. While I do not consider the Remington 1100 a hard kicker the V3 kicks less. The system uses relatively small recoil springs as the gas is bled into a gas block. If you are familiar with the Benelli M4 system the V3 operates on a similar principle.
The V3 Tactical features an oversized bolt release and safety. Speed and positive handling are the goal. The loading port is enlarged for fast and easy loading. I have occasionally made a very fast reload with two shells at once. The young and fast may do the same with three shells, or even a quad load. I am not saying the V3 will allow this feat without a tremendous amount of practice but there is no shotgun faster than the V3 when it comes to a speed load in my hands. The operator is most important, the V3 compliments a trained shooter.
The V3 also features an enlarged ejection port. This makes for positive ejection and ease of speed loading a shell into the chamber. The rotating bolt head is a positive feature. The V3 also features a wide trigger and an extended bolt handle.
The shotgun tested features XS sights. The rear sight is a cross between a true speed sight and a rifle sight and the front ramp sets in a dovetailed base. The XS sight combination offers a good balance between speed in rapid work with buckshot and precision with slug loads.
The barrel is 18.5 inches long. The magazine is an extended type with a seven shell capacity. The forend and buttstock are synthetic with a good abrasion and adhesion. I don’t fire my shotguns as much as rifles and handguns. Just the same, in the past three years I have fired about five hundred shells in this shotgun getting the feel of it and attempting to master its handling. I have fired cheap shells and the best types of buckshot. There have been no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject.
The Remington V3 handles quickly, with a good natural point. The shotgun as issued with its open choke will center buckshot on the target to 15 yards, a bit longer with some loads. Compared to a pump action shotgun the V3 is much faster to a follow up shot, transverses between targets quickly, and offers lighter recoil. I have used a good deal of the Federal Flite Wad buckshot load. This load seems to hold the tightest pattern of any shotgun load I have tested. I have also fired a good quantity of the Federal non toxic lead free frangible training buckshot. While it is designed to break up on steel targets making for safe training it would serve for home defense as well.
It is good to learn the point of aim and point of impact with slugs. The V3 has been carefully tested with Federal Tru Ball slugs to 50 yards. It isn’t unusual for the V3 to put three slugs into four inches at this range- excellent results. I find the V3 as good a choice as any shotgun for defense use. I am hoping it will become more available soon.
Remington V3 Tactical Semiautomatic Shotgun Specs
Manufacturer: Remington Arms; remington.com Type: Gas-operated autoloader Gauge: 12, 3-in. chamber Magazine Capacity: 6 rounds Barrel: 18.5 in. Overall Length: 39.5 in. Weight, Empty: 7.63 lbs. Stock: Synthetic Length of Pull: 14.0 in. Finish: Black oxide receiver and barrel, black stock Sights: XS Low Profile rifle sights Safety: Crossbolt Trigger: 6.03-lb. pull (as tested)
I wish I had more time to read, and I wish I had more time to train with firearms. Sometimes I don’t have enough time for both, and that’s when I try to combine the two. I recently finished T.A.P.S. by Patrick McNamara. Patrick McNamara, aka Pat Mac, is currently a firearm instructor but is also a 22-year veteran of Army special operations. This includes time with the Army’s Premier Special Mission Unit, aka Delta force.
As the name applies, T.A.P.S. is the Tactical Application of Practical Shooting and is a guidebook for tactical shooting. This isn’t your typical guide to shooting for the individual. This book was more or less written for law enforcement agencies and military forces who are looking to start or improve a training program. It’s a book written for firearm instructors more than individuals, but I think it has something for everybody.
T.A.P.S. Inside the Information
T.A.P.S. presents the information throughout the guide very simply but also concisely. Each chapter is fairly short and doesn’t waste much time breaking down various concepts. Everything is presented with rapid-fire, fast-paced energy, which seems to match Pat Mac’s energy.
Each chapter is just a few pages that don’t meander or slowly walk you through every little thing. Instead, here are the safety rules, here’s why they are important, and how to present the information to the person you are training.
The book is fairly short, and I read through it in one day. It’s not a technical manual but a down and dirty breakdown of various concepts related to training. T.A.P.S. presents the information in a very logical order. We get introduced to training and some brief concepts, then safety, then fundamentals, creating standards, and more and more until we get to the back half of the book.
The Back Half of T.A.P.S.
In the back half, we get a ton of drills, courses of fire, and even some IPSC courses. These drills and training portions are built for the individual and even for team efforts. The team drills and training are perfect for law enforcement and military units and can be nice if you’ve got a group of friends dedicated to hard-core training.
Some of this training will be more difficult to accomplish than others. This is especially true if you are an individual and need to have access to a 300-yard range that allows movement.
Although some of the drills and courses of fire are very clever and I hope to get a few friends who are willing to try them out. They are very competitive-driven, and that always adds in a flair of pressure.
Always Thinking
One of the running themes throughout T.A.P.S. is thinking. Think, think, think, and Pat Mac really stresses on shooters making decisions on the fly with a gun in their hand. One of my favorite lines from the book is: “Understands that TTPs are SOPs with a shelf life.”
Evolve, learn, and constantly educate yourself on what’s new and what works is a key takeaway from the book.
T.A.P.S. isn’t going to be well suited for new shooters. They won’t find much use here, and as mentioned, it’s aimed at instructors, trainers, military members, and police officers looking to create a program. With that in mind, it’s not a program but a book aimed at giving you the tools to create a program.
With that said, there is plenty of good information for the individual shooter in the manual. Lots of great drills, great explanations, and a good mindset are portrayed throughout the book. T.A.P.S. takes shooters and makes them self-aware. For the meager price tag, it demands T.A.P.S. is well worth the cost.
TAMPA, FL, July 12, 2022 – Meopta Sport Optics is now shipping the new MeoPro HD Plus binoculars. Available in 10×42 and 8×56 models, this Gen 2 version of the award-winning MeoPro binocular line features an upgraded HD optical system, delivering sharper, brighter images and better contrast than previous models. The edge-to-edge clarity, wide field of view, and outstanding low-light performance make this mid-priced line a top choice among hunters seeking high performance and value.
The focus wheel has been redesigned for a smoother, faster, and more precise focus. The modern exterior, with durable rubber armoring, provides a better and more comfortable grip in all weather conditions. The lightweight magnesium alloy body is built to withstand the most brutal hunting conditions and is tripod adapter ready. Twist-up eyecups are metal with a soft rubber exterior, making them extremely durable and comfortable while eliminating the risk of breakage. They are also designed for easy removal and cleaning.
“The new MeoPro HD Plus binoculars deliver an improved user experience,” said Erik Muller, Product Specialist, Meopta Sport Optics. “The advanced lens coatings and new optical system deliver outstanding low-light performance, allowing hunters to see fine details in challenging conditions. Improved handling and comfort are also key upgrades.“
Meopta’s MeoShield anti-abrasion lens coating offers added protection to exterior lenses while the MeoDrop hydrophobic lens coating easily repels rain. The diopter adjustment is located under the right eyepiece. Both models are nitrogen purged, shockproof, and fully sealed for fogproof and waterproof performance in the most demanding conditions. Like all Meopta optics sold in the United States, they are backed by Meopta’s Lifetime Transferrable Warranty.
MeoPro HD Plus
10×42
8×56
Magnification
10x
8x
Objective Lens Diameter (mm)
42
56
Field of View (°)
6.2
6
Field of View (ft at 1,000 yds)
325
314
Eye Relief (in)
.59
.68
Close Focus (ft)
9.8 ft
7.2 ft
Exit Pupil Diameter (mm)
4.2
6.7
Dioptric Comp
+/- 4.0
+/- 3.5
Weight (oz)
22.9
36.3
Length (in)
5.42
7
Depth (in)
1.92
2.62
Width (in)
5.00
5.6
Retail Pricing:
MeoPro HD Plus 10×42 $649.99
MeoPro HD Plus 8×56 $799.99
About Meopta
Meopta has been producing high-end European optics for more than 89 years and is a leading manufacturer & partner to many of the world’s finest optical brands. Meopta conceives, develops, and manufactures precision optical and electro/optical systems for semiconductor, medical, aerospace, and military industries as well as for consumer markets.
My youngest kiddo loves knives and weapons in general, so whenever a holiday comes around, he gets me a knife or some kind. Often a ridiculous, somewhat silly knife. Not quite fantasy knives, but knives that can teeter on odd. This year for Father’s Day, he chose a Bowie knife from Cold Steel, specifically the Wild West Bowie Knife.
Cold Steel makes a ton of bowie knives, which is new to me. I figured most bowie knives are cheap, crappy imports from no-name companies. Cold Steel is one of my go-to’s when I want an odd but well-made knife. After glancing through the catalog of Cold Steel bowie knives, I agreed with my little guy’s selection. The Wild West Bowie knife is a massive beast of a blade that harkens back to the classic knives that populated western movies and TV shows of yesteryear.
Digging Into The Wild West Bowie Knife
This big beast has a massive 10.75-inch blade has some heft to it. It’s 2.4 inches wide and 4.7mms thick. It weighs 23.1 ounces. It’s beastly and mean and awesome. When you first pick it up, you feel the weight of the knife and realize it could chop like an ax if necessary.
The exaggerated clip point tip makes it easy for thrusting and stabbing, and the big belly makes it a solid little slasher and deep cutter. The massive blade makes it more akin to a short sword than a knife, but it’s just short enough to strap to your belt without drama.
The handle features Rosewood scales that bolt onto the grip and provide a nice fat, shock-reducing grip. At the top of the handles sits an S-shaped handguard perfect for preventing slip and, of course, blocking and parrying. At the bottom of the blade sits a pronounced ledge to keep your hand in place.
Cold Steel went with an affordable and good enough 1090 carbon steel. It’s not the toughest or the most corrosion-resistant option, but it will likely work fine for this massive blade. All the extra steel built into it will provide plenty of strength and a rigid design. It’s quite sharp and sharpens easily.
With the Wild West Bowie knife, you get a big leather sheath that certainly has that classic appeal. At the bottom sits a leg strap to make it easy to secure. This will keep the Wild West bowie from swinging around on your leg when you rock and roll through Dodge City.
The Wild West Bowie In Action
The Cold Steel Wild West Bowie is a big meaner chomper. Jim Bowie’s knife was a fair bit different than what we picture as a bowie knife, but I prefer this more imaginative version. Jim Bowie famously killed a man and nearly chopped the arm off another after being shot and stabbed a few times at a Sandbar during a duel.
With that in mind, I put an open challenge on the Book of Faces to meet at a sandbar in the Gulf for a knife fight. I figured this would be the best way to test the knife. Unfortunately, no one responded, and I wasted boat fuel looking crazy.
Anywho I went home and took my frustration out on my yard. Spring and now summer have turned my yard into a jungle. With that in mind, I went into action loaded for bear…or well overgrowth. I used it almost like a combination of a machete and hatchet. I had palmettos, low limbs, vines, and more that needed chopping.
The Wild West Bowie and I went at it. As a chopper of branches, it can take down some finely sized ones without much difficulty. The lighter and more balanced nature does make it easier to chop when sitting at the top of a ladder. My home insurance was ticked about some branches touching my roof, and they varied between three to five inches, and it cut right through them with a few good chops.
The palmetto bushes are thin but easy to chop through. I cleaned up plenty around the yard. I won’t say the Wild West Bowie is as efficient as a machete or an ax, but it’s a great in-between.
Summer Fun
After a quick wash, my next opponent was a watermelon the kids intended to eat. I lopped it almost cleanly in half with a solid and satisfying wack. The kids all thought it was hilarious. I continued to chop the watermelon into bite-size chunks using the massive knife. It cleanly cut right through the thickest portions once the first cut was made.
It’s split, chopped, and delivered a great deal of fun for three young kids and their young-at-heart dad. The Cold Steel Wild West Bowie clearly isn’t an EDC option, but it’s a fairly efficient tool. It’d work well in the woods as a do-it-all and probably work fairly fine in a fight on a sandbar. Plus, it’s just all kinds of cool.
Raven Concealment have been the known go to for covert magazine pouches. With their new release of Lictor pouches they hit the nail on the head again by offering both rifle and pistol pouches that have the smallest footprint on the market with a very easy tension adjustment system.
Small Footprint/Construction
Probably the most important fact/feature about these Lictor Magazines are the design of the pouch itself. Due to the pouches being plastic injected molded instead of pressed kydex these pouches are entirely one piece. One piece pouches have less failure points and hardware which also means less snag points. IE covert..
Ergonomics
The G9 Lictor pouches specifically feature two relief cuts for easy access to the magazine. In other words, the cut gives you space to allow your finger to actually gain purchase on the body of the magazine.
The AR Lictor pouches have an unapparent funnel top shape to add into ease of stowing the magazine. The pouches allow both rounds forward or to the rear.
Both pouches are fully ambidextrous.
Modularity
The Lictor Magazines are truly modular as they ambidextrous, magazines can be loaded rounds forward or back with no issue, and the pouches will accept a variety of magazines including both USGI and Pmags.
Due to the modularity these pouches have been able to be used as both under the sport coat for work but also during matches or practical shooting classes.
Personally, I used the Lictor AR Mag pouch at a Green Ops LPVO class and it worked great as it was not bulky and I could just slip it over a standard inner belt. I also used the pistol pouches when running AIWB during a USPSA indoor match at NRA HQ, also slipped over a standard belt. Both gave me easy tensioned draws yet I didn’t lose a magazine during the longer stages with more movement.
The Lictor AR pouch tucks the mag close to the body.
Belt Attachment
The Lictor can attach to both standard dress belts or Molle/Pals belts. It comes shipped with a 1.5″ belt clip that simply fits over your belt with easy on/off donning. Compared to other clip designs, this one is very well designed as it actually stays put yet isn’t bulky.
The belt clip can be removed to fit other aftermarket design clips that will attach to Molle/Pals if you see fit.
Note: The belt clip will not fit tightly over 1.75″ belts.
Easy on and easy off of the belt using the standard belt clip.
The Tensioning System
To adjust the tension on both the rifle and pistol pouches all you will need is a screwdriver with no worry of losing pieces. The system entails a captured screw and spring. Simply go through the cut out hole on the belt piece, turn the screw, and the piece will tighten up to fit both polymer and steel magazines. No parts lost, nothing to remove to get to the phillips screw, and no damage to magazine.
Note: Due to a small access hole on the belt you will need to use a standard phillips small screwdriver, not an attachable bit. The bit and driver will be too fat to fit through the access hole and you can damage the screw and/or belt clip.
The tensioning will work so far as allowing the magazines to be stored rounds forward or bag, and will fit everything from Glock magazines all the way to steel Walther PDP mags. Remember, these were designed to be on someones belt under a sport coat with no intention of them being removed unless absolutely necessary. They will get TIGHT but can also be set to be run OWB with less tension for easier removal and replacement of the magazine.
Note: The photos on RCS website doesn’t feature the new design of belt attachment with the access hole for the tensioning screw. The access hole belt clip will come attached to your ordered pouches.
Josh Shaw running the Lictor AR magazine pouch while teaching a Green Ops rifle class. Pouches tensioned for both USGI and Pmags. Mounted on a standard belt with standard belt clip.
While writing an article on the British Bullpups, I gained a new appreciation for British small arms design, especially during World War 2. Following this path eventually takes you inside Station IX, the SOE, and the numerous experimental weapons designed to repel the Nazis in Europe. This led to multiple experimental designs that looked to improve the British armaments. Today we are looking at two experimental SMGs that could’ve been quite interesting to see on the battlefield.
What is the SOE and Station IX
SOE stands for Special Operations Executive. Think of it like USSOCOM, but British and in World War 2. They aimed to reak havoc across Europe and made life difficult for anyone flying a Nazi flag. Inside the SOE was something known as Station IX. Station IX sounds like it’s straight from James Bond, and Q could have certainly worked there.
Station IX dreamed of famed weapons like the Welrod, but that’s not all. Along the way, they started seeking a means to arm their soldiers and resistance fighters with an affordable, close-range, rapid-fire weapon. The Brits were currently using the Sten gun, but it was too cheap. There were factory errors, reliability issues, and a tendency to discharge accidentally.
While we all know the Sten served until the war’s end, the SOE tried to replace it with a few experimental SMGs. Namely the Norm Gun and the Welgun.
The Norm Gun
The Norm Gun came first, and it’s got the best name for an SMG. I just imagine it telling a very long-winded joke with no punch line instead of going bang. In reality, the Norm gun was named after its creator Eric Norman who worked for BSA but developed the gun for the SOE.
The Norm gun was an open bolt, blowback-operated 9mm SMG. Nothing surprising there. What was interesting was how the weapon was charged and cocked. Instead of a charging handle, a slide was present, much like a handgun. This slide was retracted to open the bolt and prep the gun for fire. This also exposed about a 4-inch gap which exposed the guts of the gun to the mud and muck of the battlefield.
There was no safety on the gun, just a fire selection. The stock was mounted to the pistol grip and was fixed. It seemingly offered no support to the shooter. Normand mounted a side grip to the right side of the gun, which is rather odd for right-handed shooters. Their left hand would apparently go under the gun and grip the pistol grip.
It sounds off, but hell might have been effective. The SOE only ever made two prototypes of the Norm gun. The SOE found the gun to be too expensive to produce.
The Welgun
Coming off the Norm gun, the SOE experimented with the Welgun. SOE contracted with engineers from Birmingham Small Arms to produce another affordable, close-quarters fighting weapon. The Welgun was an open bolt, 9mm, submachine gun that used 32-round Sten gun magazines.
The gun was a conventional blowback design built to be a little fancier than the Sten gun. It used a folding stock that overfolded, meaning it went over the top of the gun. With the stock folded, the weapon was only 16 inches overall. The reported firing rate of 500 RPM made it controllable, especially in 9mm.
The Welgun originally had some rough testing, but over time they ironed out the issues, and it seems that the SOE was excited about the weapon. However, the Sten Mk 4 was adopted instead. There was no listed reason as to why the project was canceled.
It is known the Welgun saw limited combat, including an SOE trooper who sprayed a German staff car with the gun. In that situation, the gun jammed, but it was later found out to be due to an armorer damaging the weapon.
The SOE And SMGs
The submachine gun was the weapon to beat in WW2. The portable firepower it offered was unlike anything else and helped create maneuver warfare as we know it today. There were tons of great SMFs in the war, but not all were winners, and not all made it to the front lines. The SOE had some good ideas, but not all made it to the front.
Would you just look at that glorious moustache. Revel in its classic buddy cop movie vibes.
That covered, the subject of the video is also a rifle I’ve been trying to get my hands on to go with our MM11.
During the battle rifle blitz of the 50’s and 60’s post WWII, after the US had strong armed the NATO allies into adopting ‘totally not 30.06’ by promising to use the FAL, and then going with the ill tempered M14 instead, Germany also looked at the FAL and said, “Yes, this is very nice. But I like this instead.”
After saying this they pointed to the prototype STG45, which took all they had learned on the STG44 but used the later to be famous roller delayed recoil operation in the place of traditional gas operated system.
What resulted was the G3, which replaced the G1 FAL, and was an easy and inexpensive to export rifle that helped H&K earn its name. Yes, once upon a time the reason the roller-delay guns were produced was because they were cheap. Don’t think about it too hard while looking at the H&K SP5 price tag.
But you can consider it when looking at the PTR91. This US made reproduction, on the HK specs, of the 7.62 German battle rifle has been leading the industry on an affordable and reliable battle rifle for years, and even in today’s price market they are still the least expensive and highest quality way to get into a 7.62 fighting gun.
I would look askance at any AR pattern or FAL pattern 7.62 that costs what the PTR does, but I have no such qualms on the PTR. Even with a modern M-LOK handguard and optics rail, the PTR91 MSRPs under $1,400. Following typical retail pricing logic the cost will likely be just over $1,000 in most instances for a modernly furnished 7.62×51 NATO rifle, sporting a 16″ or 18″ barrel and freefloated. Magazines are cheaper than PMAGs too in many spots, including the new production KCI’s.
Will it be as accurate as a tuned KAC or LMT?
No.
Not it’s job. It’s job was and is to serve as a 7.62 fighting rifle of acceptable accuracy, rugged reliability, and easy maintenance.
Will it be heavy?
Yep.
Grow stronger, it isn’t that heavy. Even with a chonk optic like an LPVO, a light, and a loaded magazine, I doubt it breaks 15lbs. If you’re keeping it trim using a dot it is probably closer to 11lbs, loaded. The weight also helps eay recoil, not an insubstantial consideration on a .308 WIN gun.
All this to say what I suspect Mike says in the video, this is a viable fighting rifle to this day for circumstances where a 5.56 might not be. Those circumstances could be supply, environment or terrain, threat type, or just simple preference. I, once upon a time, poo pooed the 5.56 as a mere poodle shooter and waxed poetic on the superiority of the 7.62 as a ‘Rifleman’s’ cartridge… because of reasons.
Mostly FDE SCAR reasons.
Now my thoughts on 7.62 have soured, but nothing about it that I liked do I now dislike. I just discovered we had the knowledge and ability to shoot superior ammunition and we didn’t because we’re stubborn. That part of 7.62 NATO’s existence annoys me, the rest of the round’s performance is fine. It is actually a really good round at the distances, about 100 or 200 yards further, that 5.56 covers and it delivers substantially more energy to the target per trigger pull.
Where 5.56 says get to cover and stay there, 7.62 in the same range envelope can often declare, “F*$& your cover!” and break it apart.
In short, were I without a rifle and needing a rifle and the PTR91 was available, it would be grabbed without hesitation or debate. If its a choice between rifles, it isn’t top of my list against modern platforms like the SCAR or MCX SPEAR by any means. In comparison, an M16A1 that happened to have a light on the handguard and red dot on the carry handle wouldn’t be my choice if a more modern 5.56 carbine was available either, I just wouldn’t feel undergunned with one.
I’d want to run rounds through it, like any rifle, to make certain in runs alright too.
You see, that is where I believe we have a failure in certain communications about preferences and capabilities.
If given my preference, I will choose certain rifles like the SCAR 16/17 or Tavor X95/7. I personally like those rifles quite a bit and have spent a bunch of time shooting and training on them. I will also choose certain optics I like and lights I like, if given access to night aiming solutions like lasers I will have preferences there too.
But I don’t judge the capabilities of a system based upon my preferences, I do it based upon if it can do the job I am asking of it and how well. It may suffer from limitations but unless those limitations prevent the rifle from doing the things that I need it to do that isn’t deal breaker.
So I judge firearms in a vacuum. Where the other option is no rifle or no handgun, how well does this do the thing I need?
“But Keith, any rifle is better than no rifle when you need one!”
True. But that isn’t going to stop me from pointing out the deficiencies or limits of a given rifle even if it is otherwise capable. The PTR91, like the whole H&K roller locked series, suffers from being designed for a category of humans whose hand size doesn’t exist, for example. Andre the Giant might’ve been able to smoothly move the selector on a G3 or MP5, but I can’t without breaking my firing grip, getting an extended lever, or replacing the housing entirely with something like the Magpul.
A lever action .357 with a dot and a light is better than a sharp stick too and capable in a fight, but it doesn’t have the staying power of any of the H&K roller locks.
In short, two ways to judge a gun: Objectively and comparatively.
Objectively is, ‘Does the rifle do the job I need it to do?’
Comparatively is, ‘Does the rifle do its job better or worse, especially for me and my preferences, than another rifle?’
Former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, was assassinated early this morning. Gun laws being so strict in Japan, it was shocking to many, but the first inkling that something truly unusual was going on was the volume of smoke accompanying the shots, and the awkward size and shape of the weapon.
As it turns out, this was a homemade gun, something we might call a “zip gun” built to function as a shotgun. He didn’t even use shotshells, but rather seems to have made his own black powder muzzle loading shotgun. The police have recently reported that he’d made several such weapons, some with as many as 9 barrels. He also had made his own bombs, likely also black powder, but decided against using them as he felt explosives were less reliable than a volley of shot at close range.
Guns being nearly nonexistent in Japan, the fear had been surrounding 3D printed weapons, or those smuggled into the country. The unfortunate actions of a man motivated to political violence for reasons still unknown has reminded us all that firearms are, at their core, a 700 year old technology. The gun used to end Abe’s life was, aside from the reportedly electronic ignition, functionally identical to a 14th century “Handgonne” used by medieval soldiers. This is not rocket science, and the parts and materials necessary to build even significantly more complicated weapons are readily available to anyone with the will to make it happen, gun control or not.
To summarize, Shinzo Abe was shot to death in a country with gun laws that make New York look like Texas, with a homemade shotgun you could assemble with $40, a trip to Home Depot, and an hour of your day. You can’t stop the signal, once it’s out there, for good or ill.
Oh… oh no. Not the ‘Veteran Expert’ ploy already. The best most veterans achieve, unless they take to this field in stride and with a passion for it, is ‘proficient’ and their marksmanship badge level means little. But thank you for your service nonetheless, sir. It is appreciated.
Continue please.
We are a great nation, even with our faults, which we know exist, as we continue to discuss and debate about them and then discuss them again.
I can agree with this. Whole heartedly. But this is the natural state of human society, it is alive and it changes. We emote, and we discuss, and debate, and agree on things, and disagree on other things. This is life. We progress, even if you don’t believe certain things are progress by your moral compass, the human trend is overwhelmingly positive. We are healthier, wealthier, and more knowledgeable than we have ever been. The information age is consistently showing light into the still dark corners of human comprehension and we’d merely deluded ourselves into believing we were further than we were, not that we haven’t come far.
We have major crises that are tearing at the core of our nation, which we must face, discuss and reason with to come to a sensible solution — but I digress before coming to the point.
It is okay to wander in your thoughts.
We’ve constantly gone to foreign shores to correct the tyrannies forced upon the humanity of sovereign nations.
Umm… about that…
We were not always successful in our endeavors, but we did our duties well, in unity and with honor.
Our troops have often conducted themselves with utmost professionalism in their missions, but let’s not pretend that the United States has not done wrong in recent conflicts. There were a myriad issues of various sorts in the conduct of both the Iraq and Afghan campaigns even if Saddam and the Taliban were more than worthy of being crushed militarily for their sins.
We performed these humanity-saving tasks because we worked in unity. In working in unity, we stuck to the point of what we could accomplish and what our goal was.
We did not. That was among the most crippling of problems was lack of endgame and exit strategy. In World War II we certainly did very very well in both the military campaign and reconstituting Europe afterwards, but remember that wasn’t purely altruistic as we were fortifying against the Soviets.
We are in deep discussions concerning the public safety of our nation and the illegal use of firearms. We have not been unified, and we have not moved toward a common goal. We have made up our minds that we are right, and we do not listen to possible agreeable solutions. We love our guns and have a long history of hugging and hanging on to them.
We also have a knowledge of history that isn’t as sugar coated as the one you’re mentioning above. We know that all government, even ours, is a calculated risk and must be balanced against. We know that government is incapable of ensuring our absolute safety and that the suggestions of various prohibitions are more effective at filling their election warchests and not solving violence.
One major issue that sparks fire in our discussion of gun control and safety is the ability that nonmilitary or non-law enforcement people are able to obtain assault weapons.
Because the military and law enforcement, especially law enforcement, have proven themselves so worthy of our full faith and confidence?
Yes, this is just one gun, and all guns can kill.
Yes, they can. A weapon in the hands of a evil motivated person, one who is unopposed, is a significant public threat.
We will always have lawful, legal gun owners in this country, and it is their right, as the Second Amendment states; however, the assault weapon is the only gun that needs to be regulated as far as its distribution is concerned.
Okay
The assault weapon was designed to cause the most casualties and lethal wounds during an assault in combat, and it has no reasonable recreational purpose.
Minus the five I listed above, or collecting which is also recreational, no reasonable purpose?
Tell me you do not know, or remember, how warfare is prosecuted without telling me you know? You tell me that an assault rifle is a devastating weapon of war. The personal defense weapon of the individual trooper is one tiny cog in the arsenal of warfare, and while important, real fighting is done with high explosives and movement, armor and air power, the ability of a squad to complete an attack is granted by the assault rifle, it is the combination of efforts that allow you to move where you need without your opponent being able to. Your force counters and controls their force.
The rifle is one small method of force and injury in combat and it is equally offensive and defensive as the needs of the individual troop shifts.
It is for this reason it is exactly the weapon the 2nd Amendment is to protect, the individual arm most effective at defense or offense as the justifiable need of the individual or community arises.
It does not need a “reasonable recreational purpose” because the rifle’s purpose is not recreation. It is to fight. People fight for illegitimate reasons some time, that does not invalidate other folks legitimate right to fight at need.
No one is coming for all of your guns, as it is declared in many debates, because in this country, the Second Amendment gives us the right to bear arms.
Oh? No one?
Thankfully, thanks to the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision, it looks like you’re right, sir. But we still have a long series of fights in the courts to win while we all get called bitter clingers, and gun nuts, and any other number of derogatory terms that invalidates our existence as second class.
Sticking to the point: Let’s take the assault weapon(s) off the market and use the money saved by not purchasing that gun to buy gas.
Wow…
K.
Gas is expensive guys, so let me propose we remove the a weapon type I clearly don’t understand, for reasons I barely fathom but feel are correct, with evidence that isn’t evidence, so that bad things will keep occurring but I feel that I did something about it. Like changing my Facebook photo background.
No, I’m not saying showing solidarity with a cause via media is wrong. It isn’t. I’m saying people assigning artificial over-importance to it is old and a waste of all our time.
Prohibition doesn’t work.
Sorry.
Evil people do not ask your permission to commit atrocities with things you have the right to, nor does that alter your right to them. By that thing existing we are not giving anyone permission to sin, we need to stop acting like we are. By owning alcohol and a car you are not permitting nor condoning reckless driving. By owning a rifle you are giving noone permission to act to evil.
Like a dog that’s too smart for its own good, Comptroller and hopeful Governor of Maryland Peter Franchot thinks he’s figured out a way to circumvent the highest court in the land: Just ignore it! To be fair, this pro-level strat has actually worked a few times, but those were Presidents, and both are regarded by history as fairly heavy handed. To suggest that our noble Comptroller has the balls of Andrew Jackson, or the calculated strategic mind of FDR seems a bridge too far.
While “Lets pretend reality is the way I like it” might not normally be much of a campaign strategy, Maryland is an unusual political animal. Its very own Baltimore Sun has described the state as a “Liberal Paradise“, and Baltimore’s last Republican mayor, Theodore McKeldon, left office in 1967. Not only that, McKelden was the last Republican mayoral candidate in Baltimore to get more than 25% of the vote. At the state level, Robert Ehrlich’s 4-year tenure during Bush II’s administration was an anomaly in an uninterrupted line of Democratic Governors spanning from the end of Spirow Agnew’s term in 1969.
Suffice it to say, Maryland is precisely the sort of place one can suggest throwing this conservative Supreme Court the finger, and get political traction with it. How he plans to deliver, however, is another matter. One suspects that like most politicians, he will promise the impossible, and deliver little, but our friends over at the FPC would likely be happy to educate him on how legal reality tends to react when you ignore it.
