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WWIII? With Iran? Not really…

By
Keith Finch
-

This analysis of an assault on Iran is from prior to the New Year dust up and the death of Soleimani and his Iraqi militia commander buddy. But the reality is that force estimates haven’t changed. Capabilities haven’t changed. The current on hand military forces haven’t changed.

War with Iran, realistically, is one sided. The United States forces aren’t limited in their capacity to win these fights, just by what casualties would be taken in the process. Even with a united Iran resisting on the magnitude of Imperial Japan the United States could win this fight. But unity within Iran and under the regime is nowhere near the levels seen amongst the Imperial Japanese. Despite the control exercised by the government of Iran, there is widespread dissatisfaction that has flared in protests in recent history. The likelihood of Iran devolving into disparate factions during a ground war and kicking off another insurgency problem is the most problematic.

Factions would be grabbing up their own little micro empires and exploiting offered resources from the U.S. and coalition forces. Each neighboring nation would want to exert their influence on a restructured Iran, just like Iran has done with Iraq.

In short. A short, violent, devastating fight where we leave at the end offers us the best chance for low casualties. Staying within Iran after poking holes and making a power vacuum is where the risk increases. This wouldn’t be a casualty free fight, but it would be heavily one sided.

Virginia. All in Anti-2A? Or seeing what sticks and poking the bear?

By
Keith Finch
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A brace if new gun control bills have come forward in the hottest hot zone of the second amendment at the moment. Virginia is throwing down more and more ridiculous rule submissions. Are the anti-gunners there really going for broke or are they stirring the pot hoping for aggressive comments from us and to see if they can pass some “reasonable commonsense” middle ground measures. It smells fishy.

House Bill 567. Indoor shooting ranges; prohibited in buildings not owned or leased by the Commonwealth or Federal Government.

An exception is made for stand alone buildings the employee less than 50 people on the premises. Which… probably qualifies most stand alone ranges. But anyone who leases space from a larger facility with other businesses is hosed, unless they only cater to law enforcement and can prove it.

This stinks of a nonsense bill. Something submitted hoping to get an angry reaction. I don’t know the number of ranges that lease such space but from a 10,000 ft elevation view the biggest slash here is into private commerce under the ostensible notion of protecting locations where lots of people work. The language is aggressively anti-2A and anti-business while providing an exception they can point to as being “very reasonable” to stand-alone privately owned locations with small staff.

HB 568 Carrying or storing firearms in motor vehicles and vessels

An aggressive lock-up secure storage provision for Virginia residents transporting firearms in their vehicle. Attached is a civil penalty up to $2,500. Exception provided for concealed licensees.

This stinks of punishing the victim in event of theft.

It also removes the provision that grants the vehicle owner the ability to carry a concealed weapon within their vehicle because it is their vehicle. An extension of protecting themselves on their property. Certain states respect a person’s vehicle as an extension of their home and Virginia is looking to close that extension to anyone not with a concealed carry license.

HB 569 Reciprocity

Virginia could be tossing its new list of reciprocal rules for an older version and tightening who would qualify. Interesting note on the 24 hour access rule for verifying out of state permits and notes based around revoked permits by the state of Virginia.

This bill feels like more noise, similar to 567. The language feels like government busy work, for the most part, that stacks redundancy onto already prohibited persons. It shifts reciprocal agreement responsibility to the Attorney General. The language in this bill feels like procedural shuffling.

It’s placement feels like it is trying to provide cover 568 and 599, along with the Assault Weapon Ban and Training Bans proposed in earlier submissions.

HB 599 Carrying on Commonwealth Facilities, Owned or Leased

Buildings owned or leased by Virginia would be firearm free zones. No firearms, ammo, silencers, frames, receivers, nothing. The language does say ‘building’ and not ‘property’ which would make state parks a problem too (although any state building at a park will now be). Penalty is misdemeanor conviction, fines, and imprisonment.

Buildings would be posted as prohibited at public entrances.

Noise

This feels like tack on counter posts to the fact that the majority of the counties just gave them the bird. Here are more rules for the to rail and be mad about, and yet these ones don’t have the deep teeth of the others so the anger looks far more unreasonable. Who would sanctuary from a safe storage requirement?

I wouldn’t be surprised to see these bundled into a legislative packet of some sort to try and sneak the more palatable in with the less. An eye still on Virginia folks.

PSA: If you’re going to any of the legislative rally sites, protests, etc… wear a suit… not a plate carrier.

SIG MCX Virtus, AR Evolved and NGSW Progenitor

By
Keith Finch
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The SIG MCX isn’t a “new” platform anymore, it is but it isn’t. Even the Virtus Variant which took into account as series of minor improvements, most notably the M-LOK handguard. The one and only Garand Thumb shows off one of the pistol variants above. The CoD fans will recognize the ‘M13’ moniker.

Makes for a good lead image and you all can knock 25 minutes off your day too.

The MCX is the logical NGSW Choice

Of the three systems it is my firm belief that Sig’s MCX system holds the best chance of winning the Army solicitation and introducing a system and caliber change into the armed forces small arms doctrine.

The reason, it is still simple. The MCX just takes good small arms concepts and lays them out well. There is nothing drastically radically different in the weapon, just parts that are well placed to do their jobs based on decades of experience.

If the three NGSW weapon pairs (rifle and light machinegun/automatic rifle) were dropped into the hands of US Soldiers and Marines today and ammunition distributed, the teams with the Sigs would figure theirs out first. They would be able to operate them, maintain them, and troubleshoot them to a very high degree intuitively from the M4 and M16.

And that is good. The M4 and M16 are considered the practical pinnacle of 5.56 firearms tech. Yes, I love my SCAR, favorite rifle bar none, but on an arms issue scale it works so well because it springboards off the M4. Sig is capitalizing on the strengths of the M4. Hell the MCX, as is, is the literal expression of that acknowledgement.

The MCX is an M4/AR with an optimized operating parts group, that’s it. They built a space efficient short stroke gas piston group that exists without drastic dimensional changes to an AR’s upper receiver mass. Exteriorly speaking, It’s an ambidextrous AR. Charging handle, magazine release, bolt release, etc.

The new NGSW variants chambered for .277 Fury (their 6.8mm submission commercial load name) is more of the same. Their belt fed is an ergonomically superior package but it won’t be a mystery for more than a few moments to anyone who has seen an M4 and an M249.

That. Is. Huge.

The NGSW’s practical success will be in jumping the small arms tech forward while not hindering the proficiency curve. The Textron submission, because of the internal complexities, makes me wary. The drastic ergonomic change for the General Dynamics submissions, if the internals are simple, make it a better option but not the best. If the Sig 6.8 round delivers on the performance goals the platforms are the clear integration winner.

We don’t have live data on how any of them are running though. Just that they passed certain developmental lines set out by the DoD. The operating system we have the most practical data on is the MCX, and while it isn’t flawless (since nothing is) it has been adopted departmentally, most notably in Great Britain. I’ve seen MCX’s go down in training under high round counts, that isn’t unique either since plenty of AR’s have failed too. These are machines.

The data on the MCX is strong, realistic, and internationally tested. My bet is on SIG and I’m looking forward to digging into the systems (If I can) at SHOT.

Gun Policies on Base, DoD vs State

By
Keith Finch
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For the past year, if you had a Concealed Carry permit and a Department of Defense ID, you could keep your personal firearm locked in the car when you came to the base at Offutt. The 55th Wing Commander will prohibit that practice as of January 2 so you won’t even be able to bring your personal firearm on site. If you do, you’ll need to check it at the gate.

The Commander implied that the locked personal handguns aren’t necessary anyway since he has full confidence in the security forces squadron defending the installation.

I’m sure the commander of those young men and women murdered by Nidal Hasan on Fort Hood also would’ve said they had confidence in the security . That’s what commanders say, it’s a cookie cutter vote of confidence in other commands presenting a unified front. There is no circumstance where a commander wouldn’t publically make that statement about the security of their base and their troops.

And it’s probably got a grain of truth. The security forces wing are probably competent at their jobs, and were they deployed forward to guard an airbase overseas would probably be just fine at it.

But Offutt is in Nebraska… Those gate guards are waving Karen, Steve, Geoffrey, and Michelle onto base for their work day, not set to repel a hostile force or an angry mob of locals. That’s the fact. Perimeter security on domestic bases deal with domestic day-to-day traffic. Threats will be communicated by BOLO, texts, updates, and security condition. The perimeter security will be most able to respond if they are the target.

If its an active shooter getting into the base, the defense in depth is usually mobile patrol. Response will be directly dependant on where those patrols are in relation to the threat.

Policy and Law

Federal bases remain, for the most part, prohibited locations for carrying concealed. Carrying personal arms while in uniform is against DoD policies, this is in accordance with federal law. Soldiers who own weapons but live on base housing have regulations about the use and storage of their weapons, most are prohibited from the barracks.

State National Guard soldiers are a different matter. As state troops, not Federal, they can be authorized by the governor to carry personal weapons. Michigan is one such state. The rules only apply within the state and when not under drawn weapons but this policy allows for a workday standard defense in depth for state troops.

Small state armories do not have the established perimeter defenses of most federal facilities, however larger state run bases do have similar setups. This leads to an interesting intermixing on JMTC facilities where the state personnel on base and state native troops can be armed and federal troops training at the facilities cannot be.

Does it make sense? Yes and no.

Bases are complex population centers like any other municipality. They are additionally staffed by troops, people charged with preparing to fight on the nation’s behalf. This adds the complexity of weapon systems and training, and securing both those, to the normal population center equation.

The state allowing concealed carry for personnel increases the defense in depth of those state facilities by having more armed personnel covering the space. It increases the odds that any given location, if attacked, will have immediate armed support. Federal facilities must contend with their internal policies and staff to cover. The number of private arms on the base at the ready however does increase the number of opportunities for accidents, a fact commanders are extremely cautious over.

That reason, more than any other, undoubtedly drives the decision by the Offutt commanding officer and most others who, if they have latitude to grant their troops personal arms in any manner, do not.

No, Virginia, There is No Santa Claus

By
DRGO
-
(from coloribus.com)

Those who seek to disarm us have an uncanny ability to ignore reality.  The Richmond Times Dispatch piece by Josh Horowitz, the executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, plumbs new depths of distortion on the road to the opening of the 2020 Virginia General Assembly, accusing law-abiding gun owners of all manner of mayhem. Unsurprisingly, all the supposed sins of the gun owners were committed instead by his liberal cronies. 

The piece opens with misdirection: 

“On Nov. 5, gun violence prevention won in Virginia. The issue propelled Democrats to complete control in the commonwealth. For more than a decade, efforts to strengthen Virginia’s weak gun laws and prevent the more than 1,000 annual gun deaths in the Commonwealth have been rejected, dismissed and ignored by Republicans and their extremist allies in the gun lobby.”

What is “gun violence prevention”?  To a gun owner, the rules of gun safety and safe storage when not in use so exist to ensure that guns can be used safely.  This supposed “issue” didn’t propel anything, Bloomberg’$ million$ did.  This was a midyear election and sadly our side didn’t show up. “Strong” gun laws endanger civilians by creating more “gun free” zones and more restrictions on concealed carry.

He then rolls out the tired list of virtue-signaling interventions that do nothing but infringe on gun owners:

“Virginia needs universal background checks, extreme risk laws and other policies that will keep our families, schools and communities safe.”

Although the Governor’s public standing has swung from “must resign” to “all good here”, he is at least consistent in that his proposed infringements would have done nothing to stop the tragedies that ostensibly inspired them.

Horowitz then pouts about gun owners copying his side’s playbook:

“Those jurisdictions that support the concept of Second Amendment sanctuaries have publicly stated that they will not enforce or abide by state laws — in this case, gun violence prevention laws — that they, not a court, consider unconstitutional. In essence, they will not follow or respect the rule of law. They will not comply with democratic norms. They are ready to dismiss elections entirely and rely instead on mob rule, intimidation and heavily armed anarchy.”

Let’s add some local context about law enforcement.  Several local prosecutors have thumbed their noses at our marijuana laws, either by continuing cases without findings before dropping them, or not pursuing them at all. It is the policy of northern Virginia counties to not cooperate with ICE detainers. Where does he think that Second Amendment supporters got the idea of “sanctuary”? From other liberal politicians who have been obstructing criminal investigations by offering “sanctuary” to illegal immigrants.   Now that we are using this to uphold a Constitutionally enumerated right, the gun grabbers yell foul.

Then came outright lies accusing uncompromising gun owners of treason:

“The rhetoric surrounding Second Amendment sanctuaries is morphing in a disturbing way. It is becoming more radical and dangerous for the citizens of Virginia. There are now localities discussing deputizing members of their citizenry to rise up against the state government. Anti-government rhetoric is being spread on gun message boards and blogs about the impending armed uprising against gun violence prevention champion Gov. Ralph Northam, House and Senate leadership, and the new Democratic majorities.”

Culpepper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins stated he would deputize county residents so that they could keep their guns—not to rise up against state government.  No uprising is being planned, armed or otherwise.  In fact, even though it is entirely lawful to carry long guns to the Assembly, the Virginia Citizens Defense League—the no-compromise statewide advocacy group—has attendees not to bring guns to the Capitol for Lobby Day.  From VCDL President Phil Van Cleave: 

“Long Guns

“If you are asking how you can help with VCDL’s mission, carrying long guns at Lobby Day is not helpful—it is a distraction. VCDL’s important messages inevitably get lost as the press rushes to get pictures of anyone carrying an AR or AK. The stories then become about the rifle, not VCDL’s agenda. You can set your watch by it. Long guns are not easy to carry in a crowd, either. VCDL needs its voice heard loud and clear in order to able to stop the onslaught of gun-control bills.”

Regarding rhetoric, let’s remember who is doing the escalating.  First, the Governor suggested that outright confiscation was in the works:

“When asked directly about whether he is supportive of confiscating ‘assault weapons from gun owners’ Northam replied, ‘That’s something I’m working [on] with our secretary of public safety. I’ll work with the gun violence activists, and we’ll work [on] that. I don’t have a definitely plan today.’ “

Then Congressman McEachen suggested that the National Guard could enforce gun control laws the Assembly passes:

“I’m not the governor, but the governor may have to nationalize the National Guard to enforce the law. That’s his call, because I don’t know how serious these counties are and how severe the violations of law will be. But that’s obviously an option he has.”

If Horowitz attended a Second Amendment Sanctuary Hearing before a county Board of Supervisors, he’d see how orderly consideration is being given.  For example, in Prince Edward County, the Board established clear ground rules for the 650 attendees: three minutes per speaker, and an equal number of speakers for and against (15 each).  After finding only seven who would speak against, the board cut off further comment, and read two proposals. One was more worded more compellingly than the other. A majority voted for the stronger of the two.  There were no threats of violence, merely serious civic engagement. 

Virginia’s government needs to be guided by facts, not ideology.  Violent crime using guns is endemic to inner city areas where gangs and the drug trade thrive.  Disarming law abiding law-abiding citizens will puts them at greater risk.  The risk of suicide by gun (or any means) requires mental health interventions, because disarmed persons with suicidal ideation can find other means.

Please come to two Virginia Gun Lobby Days coming shortly: with the NRA on January 13 and with VCDL on January 20.

Stopping authoritarian government from stealing our natural rights does not come as a gift or easily, ever. Do not back down!

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–Dennis Petrocelli, MD is a clinical and forensic psychiatrist who has practiced for nearly 20 years in Virginia. He took up shooting in 2019 for mind-body training and self-defense, and is in the fight for Virginians’ gun rights.

All DRGO articles by Dennis Petrocelli, MD

Why Choose a Gun?

By
Keith Finch
-

Every time this particular TED talk crosses my feed I like to share it. Peter van Uhm, in 2011, gave a TED talk in Amsterdam on why he chose to take up the gun. To take up arms and learn that discipline in order build a peaceful world alongside the writers, artists, doctors, and scientists who normally populate the TED stage.

He remarks on the unique privilege of people in the audience being uncomfortable with a gun, on that stage in front of them in the hands of their own military commander. It was good, in a way, that they felt discomfort. It meant they lived in a nation not at war, something Peter’s father did not have the luxury of when Nazi troops took the Netherlands.

There was an older meme. First world problems.

The freedom from the necessity to know the discipline of arms is a first world problem. The incredible privilege that our corners of the world are so safe, because of the discipline of arms, that small professional militaries and police forces are the norm.

How unique is that in world history? Peter explains. But he also has a very European perspective. It is, in its own way, subject to the biases inherent in that semi-isolation of Western European societies and smaller more homogenous groups. His perspective is well reasoned and introspective, and it is important to hear and understand.

Agree? Not with everything. Having a legal monopoly on legitimate force is not the same as a government monopoly. Equally, acknowledgement that the sliding scale of incentives that use of force is on is not perfectly rational or predictable as all parties using that scale do not think the same. Each participant is assigning values to various options at their disposal, these values are not equally assigned person to person, they are highly subjective to the motivations of the group.

Variable 87, DeSantis Nylon

By
Keith Finch
-

For a company known for making quality leather without breaking the three figure price point (minus specialty items) DeSantis SKUs into other holster materials from time to time as well. The Variable 87 is one such venture and they use nylon to accomplish it.

Variable™ 87 is a new light weight IWB holster made from 1060 Ballistic Nylon, closed cell foam and lined with slick pack cloth. It is also fitted with the DeSantis Tuckable 360® clip for unlimited cant adjustment and integrated sweat shield.  This feature allows operator to wear this holster on any part of the waistline. The #M93 is built in 5 different sizes to accommodate today’s most popular concealable handguns. 

Playing of their Variable 13 title, an ambidextrous leather configurable, the 87 comes in at half the cost and available in a variety of frame fitments. The smaller pistols like the G43, Sig P365, and Springfield Hellcat are catered toward by the 87 and its tuckable IWB setup.

DeSantis looks to comfortably accommodate the end user and account for all tastes in firearms. I expect the variable line to keep growing and I will probably try one out on this Hellcat I’ve got.

M855A1 EPR and the NGSW

By
Keith Finch
-

One of the things that the NGSW is looking to enhance is the individual shot lethality of the combat rifle, and now that we know a little more about the program is seems that the new 6.8mm rounds are looking to springboard off earlier developments… specifically in 5.56 with the M855A1.

Interior of a 6.8 prototype, specifically the Telescoped Case Textron.

The 5.56 EPR and 7.62 EPR rounds, M855A1 and M80A1 respectively, have a projectile design that does two things. One, and probably the most publicized aspect, was it was a “green” round that didn’t use a lead projectile. Environmentally friendly lethality. The second and more important aspect was being a more accurate, consistent, and terminally effective round.

Both A1’s accomplish this by upping the pressure, and thus the velocity, of the rounds are at the high end of their safe pressure spectrum. The projectile’s tips are hardened steel and that, combined with the increase in speed, give it very good penetrative capabilities.

The new 6.8mm, in all three submissions, have high velocity, energy, and penetrative capabilities, greater than those of 5.56 and 7.62 rounds. The greatest limitation of current weapons is the physical limits of their calibers. We’ve pretty much optimized what we can do with 5.56 rifles and it’s pretty good. To jump the weapons capabilities we need to change calibers. The 6.8 solutions are designed to use that same maximization concept, but without the old limitations of a 5.56 case or rifle interior loading limitations.

Building around a projectile and to meet a velocity requirement allowed Sig, Textron, and General Dynamics a wider methodology to solve the equation. Of the three, I think Sig’s makes the simplest and most likely candidate for success. A fairly conventional case but formed in a way to maximize its capacity for powder and then placed within a variant of its well liked MCX Chassis in a “.308” length action.

The result, an updated carbine and automatic rifle/machine gun that closely resembles what the M4 feels like, runs like, and weighs, while increasing the effective range closer to a kilometer, or perhaps beyond. Also giving it an increased range envelope for armor defeat.

Science. Ballistics. Effective range on targets based on hit percentage. Effective range against armor. It’s a fun topic.

New! Ruger 57 5.7x28mm Pistol for 2020. Now we have like.. 4 guns that use that round.

By
Keith Finch
-

 

So, 5.7 is coming back. Stargate fans gonna be excited!

The full-sized and full-featured Ruger 57 handgun was announced just in time for the New Year and comes with an FN competing 20+1 capacity.

The 5.7x28mm, made by FN during the “PDW” craze that also gave us the MP7 from H&K and its 4.6mm, is a fantastic and funny little round. These came about as the result of a request for weapons capable of defeating certain body armors and were theorized and developed to be used by Personal Security Detail personnel and those working in confined spaces, like tankers. This all came to naught as military’s were reluctant to field another ‘rifle’ specifically for vehicle crews with highly diminished capabilities over their service rifles. Instead we made smaller AR’s and it has worked out well.

But the guns did find some success in the PSD roles, like with the Secret Service… and against the Goa’uld.



Yes, I wanted one too… thanks Richard Dean Anderson.

Where the Ruger 57 separates most from the FN Five-seveN is in price, with the Ruger carrying an MSRP of $799 against the FN’s $1,435. This makes a Ruger/AR57 combination a very economical alternative to a Five-seveN/PS90 combo, if you just have to have 5.7mm.

Speer is even working out a Gold Dot round which will make both 57 and Five-seveN owners happy.

“The Ruger-57 is destined to become one of America’s favorite handguns,” said Ruger President and CEO Chris Killoy. “This pistol is soft shooting, accurate, powerful and just plain fun to shoot.”

The Ruger 57 has a windage and elevation adjustable serrated rear sight and a rapid acquisition fiber optic front sight. The slide is drilled and tapped for use with a separately available optic adapter plate to keep things in line with Red Dot trends. A Picatinny-style accessory rail for lights and lasers and a ‘Secure Action’ fire control with what Ruger terms a “short, crisp trigger pull and positive reset.” Neat.Ruger 57

For fans of the zippy little 5.7 who haven’t been able to justify the cost of FN’s offering(s) this will play to your hearts. It looks well thought out with an eye and ear towards the modern trends. If it runs well I’m sure the increased demand for 5.7 may see more rounds and an uptick in P90/carbine offerings trickle in too.

But I suspect this will still be very niche in the grand scheme.

Do a Beryl Role.

By
Keith Finch
-

A few friends and I have been on about AK’s in 5.56 recently. Especially with available guns like the Rifle Dynamics RN NATO, US friendly to feed AKs have a solid place in our market. However I recall one of the original masters in this space did not originate for our benefit. It was the Polish and their Beryl and the role that rifle would play post Soviet Union.

The Beryl was Poland’s big move with small arms, signaling their return to the fold of Western Europe with NATO. Prior to that the Polish were using AKMs and 74 variants, classics from the cold war. In an intelligent move the country decided their armed forces would modernize on a platform they already knew from the base production level to the individual soldier. And then, export them too!

The Beryl was adopted in 1996 and has seen modernization efforts inline with other western military forces to keep up with the use of modern equipment. Rails, adjustable stocks, the usual.

However currently the rifles have about a 50% total permeation within the Polish armed forces and most are still bone stock iron sight units from the original variant, not the C or D models. Not a single one I saw had so much as a light or a red dot during my personal time spent alongside the Poles in a NATO mission a year back. US Troops are spent well on,

But the rifle itself one of the first notable adaptions of the NATO round to the AK. Now that had been done before, including by the Polish themselves with the Tantal. Other notable examples include Romanian WASR-3 rifles. It had been toyed with but the Polish were the first to buy in big and grab tens of thousands of 5.56 AKs instead of continuing the “Nyet! Rifle is Fine!” stagnation.

And on that. Enjoy 9-Hole Reviews well weathered test of the Beryl! Also go follow them. For science! Do it…

Iran Quds Revolutionary Guard and Hostile Iraqi Militia Leaders Start 2020 with a Bang

By
Keith Finch
-

Drones are fun.

The Global War on Terror has shaped modern gun culture. You can see it in everything. What Glock does SOCOM use? What M4 variant is the current hotness with the SEALs? The Marines use this ACOG! And so on. But with the cool down to skirmish level events all over the Middle East it wasn’t clear where the Military would be focusing its future tech.

Oh sure, the NGSW program and future tech from frigates to F-35 fighter planes were shifting focus to “near peer” forces like China. But the gunfights and skirmishes are still happening in the Middle East. And Iran is the pusher of so many of those buttons it isn’t funny. Iran has supported everywhere they believed they could put pressure on us through militants and have been actively involved behind the scenes in every hot spot there for the past 2 decades. All while remaining officially outside acknowledged military engagement.

Kind of like when the Russians just casually strolled into Ukraine but forgot their patches. That’s been Iran’s favorite method of participation.

Well Iran poked, again. We poked back. Iran shoved at the Baghdad embassy. We blew up their general and the commander of his favorite pet militia in Iraq.

More desert warfare for us? Probably. Full blown blitzkrieg? Maybe, depends on how well Iran plays chicken. U.S. Troops have known for years that Iran would probably need a punch in the gut at some point. There it was. Factions in Iraq will praise us for it, who’ve suffered under Iranian pressure. Those who had something to gain from Iran will not.

Someday someone bright in the Middle East will be in power and realize that putting on the show of ‘pushing’ the world’s largest military power out of the region is probably a bad idea. Just quiet down and they’ll leave. Stay quiet and they’ll stay gone. Stay quiet a little longer and they’ll come back… but with like tourist money and stuff.

Qassim Suleimani, killed by Drone Strike. Worst regional tourist manager ever.

The U.S. is far from done in the desert. So our industry here is still going to see desert focused tech. FDE for everyone!

Happy Friday, Readers.

Gun MEME REVIEW – 2020 Jack Wilson Edition

By
Keith Finch
-

Greetings GAT Readers!

This is the way

Let’s get into it shall we. Brandon Herrera, has the round up on the Jack Wilson memes. The Texas Hero who took a shotgun wielding assailant down with a headshot at a rather incredible distance.

He also revived .357 SIG and reaffirmed Traditional Double Action (TDA) carriers like myself that our pieces still do work. P229 gang!

Blaser USA Transitions to Blaser Group

By
Keith Finch
-

San Antonio, Texas (January 2, 2020) – Blaser USA, the official U.S. importer for Blaser, Mauser, Sauer, Rigby and Minox, is now operating under the new name of Blaser Group.   The name change is a key component in the global branding strategy of the portfolio of companies in the L&O Hunting Group.

“The transition from Blaser USA to Blaser Group reflects a significant milestone in establishing consistent branding around the world. In all key markets, Blaser Group will represent our fine German and English brands” said Jason Evans, CEO of Blaser Group (USA division). “All U.S. consumer brand strategies and business operations will remain unchanged.”

Blaser Group recently added the new Blaser R8 Ultimate and Ultimate Leather to its renowned line of bolt-action rifles.  The R8 features a straight-pull action and is among the world’s fastest and most modular hunting rifles. 

London gunmaker John Rigby & Company has released a new limited edition ‘W.D.M. Bell’ model of their Highland Stalker rifle, paying homage to adventurer Karamojo Bell.  The African big game hunter is celebrated worldwide as an advocate for accurate shot placement using smaller caliber rifles, a technique he perfected by the dissection and study of the skulls of elephants he shot, namely with his .275 Rigby.  This limited run of only 50 rifles is the first in Rigby’s new Heritage series and will be offered in .275 Rigby, like Bell’s original rifle.

About Blaser Group                

The Blaser Group is the official U.S. importer for iconic German firearms brands Blaser, Mauser and J.P. Sauer; English gunmaker John Rigby & Co.; and Minox optics.   Established in 2006, the company which is based in San Antonio, Texas works with over 200 authorized Blaser Group dealers across all North American states, with this figure continually growing. Today the Blaser Group’s industry-leading product portfolio includes bolt-action, combination rifles and over-and-under shotguns designed specifically for game hunters and competitive target shooters. Its custom shop offers exclusive engravings, design work and custom finishing for bespoke guns. With recent innovations, Blaser Group has gone on to expand its product portfolio into cutting edge optics and accessory lines. For more information about the company and product lines, visit: www.blaser-group.com. 

Illinois, Marijuana, and Guns

By
Keith Finch
-
Image via CNBC, also covering the law change

Illinois followed the national trend and legalized recreational marijuana use with the New Year. But, as is still the question in all states with legal use… what about guns? Federally marijuana remains illegal. Now the FBI and DEA aren’t doing backflips to shut down in state operations and are just kind of in a holding pattern until it finally gets taken care of at the Federal level too. But it is still illegal.

The Illinois State Police have also issued ‘guidance’ on what they will do for legal residents who are FOID card holders since federally marijuana is still prohibited.

According to a Facebook post by the ISP, “The Illinois State Police will not revoke Firearm’s Owner’s Identification Cards based solely on a person’s legal use of adult use cannabis. Pursuant to both State and Federal law, a person who is addicted to or a habitual user of narcotics is not permitted to possess or use firearms.”

That isn’t what line says. The line on the 4473, question 11e, currently terms it, “Unlawful user of, or addicted to”, not a habitual user. That is a state interpretation from Illinois itself. It sounds like Illinois will be enforcing the Federal provision only if it is also in violation of the state provisions under the new Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. This is, of course, within their prerogative and seems to be the unwritten interim agreement. But it isn’t the law.

A FOID card will be revoked by the ISP, “where it is demonstrated that an individual is addicted to or is a habitual user of cannabis.” It will also be revoked for those who violate certain provisions of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, according to the ISP.

Like stated above, violations of the state rules will be considered most egregious while Federal rules will receive… acknowledgement is probably the best term for it. But the full book could still come down on anyone in violation of the statues so, Illinois be careful.

Traipsing Alone

By
Dr LateBloomer
-
When the only footprints are yours.

I saw a meme online on New Year’s morning. It spoke of the value of a traipse through the woods hunting – whether one got one’s limit of game or not.

I like the word “traipse”. I do a lot of it. It means more or less to wander aimlessly.

One of my favorite things to do is traipse through the woods alone. I’m not a true “adventuress” like some of the gals out there. I don’t live in the Rockies and hunt elk on horseback while camping at elevation. But I do enjoy a good wander through familiar territory alone.

I was raised on a patch of 40 acres, and as a kid I would often go on a wander alone down to the pond, or just through the woods. I knew vaguely where I was, so I was never worried about getting lost. I just ambled aimlessly – listening to the leaves crunch, looking at bark and moss and deer poop and such. It didn’t have a “purpose” per se, but it did in the end serve a purpose. It was good for the inner “me”.

That inner me is still fed to this day by that kind of traipsing. These days I do more picture-taking than I used to. But photos can’t capture the smell of the fresh air tinged with pine, damp earth, and leaf mold. The photos also can’t record the “white noise” of the breeze blowing past my ears, or the chatter of squirrels, the scolding of jays, or the screaming of a red tailed hawk as he circles in the currents overhead.

Being alone is what facilitates the experience for me. When I’m with someone else – even my daughter – there tends to be conversation. Although that can be pleasant too, and it’s nice to be able to point something out and say “Isn’t that cool?”, I find that I miss too much when I’m with someone else. When I’m alone, I hear, I smell, I see, and I “feel” so much more. 

Maybe that doesn’t make sense to extroverts, but I’m not one of those. My inner life craves quiet, peace, and introspection. I didn’t get enough of that this past year. Because of certain financial pressures I worked too many days, and didn’t take nearly enough time off. I didn’t get enough woods traipsing, and by the end of the year I could feel it – I was mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. 

This year I aim to fix that. I need to plan more alone time in the woods. I need to put it on my calendar and work it into my schedule purposefully. It doesn’t matter if I’m toting a rifle and actually hunting or just wandering with my woods revolver on my hip – I have found the experience to be too important to my mental and emotional well-being not to MAKE the time for it.

I’m an introvert – and a traipse through the woods is just what the doctor ordered!

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