Advertisement

How Societies Shape “Common-Sense Gun Laws”

(from crooked.com)

Of course, this thought experiment presumes some definition of “common-sense gun laws”.  The phrase has no generally accepted meaning.  Pacifists might imagine an army with no guns.  Black Lives Matter might imagine an unarmed police force.  American gun controllers imagine an American army and police force with guns, but keeping guns out of the hands of nearly all ordinary people.

To make this exercise meaningful to an American audience, let’s adopt the last of these illustrative definitions.  What would such a society look like?  We have but to look at the news coming from Venezuela and Mexico.  

Let’s look first at Mexico where the issue is crime (organized and not) more so than tyranny.  The 1924 Mexican constitution guarantees the right to keep arms but not to bear them.  The Mexican government vigorously enforces its sophisticated regime of gun control on ordinary citizens (i.e., those with no criminal background).  As a practical matter, no gun control is effective with respect to the “made men” of the various cartels.  They pass police and army checkpoints upon presentation of their cartel credentials.

The ordinary Mexican campesino or city dweller, is at the mercy of cartel shootouts, systematic organized crime and free-lancers whenever he steps outside his home.  There are only 4,000 individual carry permits in a nation of 125 million; i.e., a rate of 0.003%.  By comparison, as many as 17% of Americans in some states have carry permits; many more may carry in states with permitless carry. 

Next, turn to Venezuela.  The Venezuelan constitution secures no right to arms.  The current government confiscated all arms in the hands of heretofore licensed owners.  Only  official government military and police authorities as well as Colectivos—the government’s para-official “brown-shirts” —have arms; and, of course, the criminals who have not yet felt compelled to trade their guns for groceries.  

We see on the news impotent demonstrators running from or being run over by armored vehicles.  We viewed one instance of soldiers backing off when a demonstrator fired a pistol at them.  Once Jimmy Carter certified Venezuelan elections as free and fair, nothing remained to guarantee the natural right of the Venezuelan people to elect the “democratic socialist” of their choice to govern them by their peaceful consent.  The security of the state seems to be in the hands of foreign soldiers from Cuba, Russia and China. 

Do these two examples prove anything?  Of course not, in themselves.  They are simply contemporary cases with which we are familiar.  Each nation has its own culture and tradition.  We must roll up our sleeves and do some serious work to see whether there are any patterns across current nations or across history with a common civilization.  

Japan has extremely effective gun control.  Only state officers and the Yakuza (its native mafia) carry guns.  Hunters and marksmen keep and use guns under strict licensing.

Singapore has similarly effective gun control.  Only state officers and a couple thousand rich men have guns.  Gun traffickers are executed by hanging.  All physically fit males are trained to arms in mandatory military service and then disarmed when discharged.  The island nation is mostly benevolently and quite prosperously ruled by a popularly-elected Chinese president under what is essentially a one-party rule system.

Brazil has had very effective gun control.  Only state officers, a small number of professional security guards and criminals, whether organized or not, carry guns.  But violent crime is out of control.  This soon may change under its newly elected president. 

Switzerland has some gun control and mandatory military service, with retention of arms by reservists following active duty.  While guns are ubiquitous (still falling far short of US circumstances) its violent crime rate is among the lowest of all nations.

Israel has some gun control and mandatory military service.  Guns are ubiquitous, but under heavy state control.  Homicide and violent crime by the Jewish population is nearly unheard of.  

South and North Korea both have strict gun control.  One operates under a popularly elected democracy, the other seems to be a hereditary absolute monarchy.  One is prosperous and peaceful, the other is starving and warlike.  Both seem to be perfectly stable with no revolutionary fervor in evidence.

Carry on the survey to each reader’s personal satisfaction.  What sort of gun-control seems to “work”?  What sort of gun control seems to serve as a hedge against tyranny and uncontrolled crime?  

Bear in mind that a “hedge” may be best placed when there is no recognizable risk on the horizon.   Nor does a hedge necessarily provide an iron-clad guarantee against catastrophe.    The most salient question is whether the cost of the hedge is prudent or exceeds the cost of catastrophe factored by the probability of its occurrence.  

The history of crime and democide counsels that the cost of catastrophe, and probability of occurrence, must not be dismissed casually.  R.J. Rummel’s lifetime work accounted for 100 million civilian deaths by their own governments in the 20th century.  He coined the term “democide” to describe the phenomena, far more deadly than war has been for soldiers. 

Conversely, the cost of maintaining the hedge of a “well-regulated” (i.e., “effective”) armed populace to protect their sovereignty is—relatively—cheap. The United States, with our Second Amendment guarantee, may be the most prudently protected people for the least societal cost practical. 

.

.

—‘MarkPA’  is trained in economics, a life-long gun owner, NRA Instructor and Massad Ayoob graduate. He is inspired by our inalienable rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and holds that having the means to defend oneself and one’s community is vital to securing them.

All DRGO articles by ‘MarkPA’ 

The Marines Go For LPVO’s

USMC M38 DMR, Variant of the M27 IAR Service Rifle

Low Powered Variable Optics, commonly abbreviated as LPVO’s, have been making their presence felt strongly in the modern firearms and technology field for years now, and the Marines are onboard.

The Corps’ information request laid out some of the details the Corps is seeking in its new optic, which include up to eight times magnification and the ability to engage targets between 600–900 meters. –Marine Corps Times

The solistication is for up to 30,000 units, enough to widely equip the ground combat force’s M4s, M4A1s, and M27s across the fleet. LPVO’s have seen a drastic leap in durability, clarity, and their use in Special Operations has been a well documented success. Low and mid power scopes on service rifles are not a new development, but the standardization is.

The Marines are clearly looking into the future, beyond even their current weapon’s limitations, to maximize the capability of each rifleman, fireteam, and squad to be tasked into a variety of roles and excel. Detailed observant overwatch? Can do. Precision support? Got it. A raid/building entry? Got that too.

Several companies already offer LPVO optics that might fit the Marine Corps needs. Trijicon just debuted the VCOG in a 1-8x format. EOTech is launching a 1-8x VUDU. Nightforce offers the ATACR, a high power version is already in service on the Corps’ Mk13 Mod 7, and their lighter NX8 might work for the service rifles just fine. Sig Sauer could adjust their lineup and add a “Tango 8” to compliment the two Tango 6 optics that Army and SOCOM recently scooped up for their M110A1 and UGRI M4s. This list is just the obvious front runners, as long the company can make the optic the Marines require it could be produced by any number of high quality manufacturers.

Reading through the list of features is the typical dry government contract that covers the minutia we generally don’t think about. Everything is spelled out. For reference when reading, anything marked with a (T) is the minimum the Marine Corps is looking for and anything with an (O) is their goal. If a manufacturer cannot hit all the (T)arget criteria they will not be considered and being able to hit more of the (O)ptimal criteria is best.

  • Interoperability.  The Squad Common Optic device should be interoperable with and cause no degradation in function to currently fielded host weapons. Squad Common Optic should be compatible with current visual augmentation systems, weapons accessories, lasers, and clip-on night vision devices using a MIL-STD-1913 rail interface as listed below: [Thermals, PEQs, GL Sights, Range Finders]
  • Major Components. Each Squad Common Optic should include the following major components:
    • Day Scope
    • Lens Covers
    • Reticle
    • Elevation Turrets/Caps
    • Windage Turrets/Caps
    • Operator’s Manual (hard and digital copy)
    • Quick Reference Guide
    • Required Tools
    • Scope Mount
    • Reticle Battery
    • Magnification Change Device 
    • Soft Protective Carrying Case
    • Lens Cleaning Kit with Bush and Lens Cloth
  • Weight. The Squad Common Optic should be less than or equal to 2.1 pounds (T), 1.4 pounds (O).  Weight is characterized as including the optic, mount, turret caps, and battery.
  • Size. The Squad Common Optic length should be less than or equal to 10.5 inches (T), 10 inches (O).  Length excludes the lens covers. Length is measured at the maximum extended range of adjustment.  
  • The Squad Common Optic should be able to positively identify and acquire targets at 600m (T), 900m (O).  Positive identification refers to the range at which a potential target can be positively identified by facial, clothing, weapon and vehicle features, or an activity.
  • Magnification Range. The Squad Common Optic should have no point of aim shift when adjusting through the entire magnification ranges. The Squad Common Optic should have a magnification range of 1X +0.05X to ≥8X magnification range.  
  • Adjustable diopter: The diopter should be adjustable from +2 to –2 diopters.
  • Diopter Locking Mechanism. A locking mechanism should be provided on the diopter setting to prevent inadvertent movement (O).
  • Adjustment Range. For all configurations, at least 15 Milliradian (mrad) (T), and 30 mrad (O) in Elevation and at least 12 mrad in Windage adjustment should be required. There should be hard stops at both ends of Windage and Elevation adjustment and no dead clicks. A dead click is defined as a tactile adjustment click that does not move the reticle.
  • Adjustment Increments. Each Squad Common Optic configuration should have adjustment increments less than or equal to 0.1 mrad Elevation and Windage (E/W). Adjustment increments on both E/W should be consistent in movement, tactile, and have no dead clicks and require no settling rounds. Settling rounds are defined as host weapon live fire that causes the reticle to move initially but stabilize after the live fire event.
  • Adjustment Accuracy. For Squad Common Optic, a less than or equal to 2% adjustment accuracy is required across the full travel in Windage and Elevation (T) and a less than or equal to 1% adjustment accuracy is required across the full travel in Windage and Elevation (O).
  • Windage/Elevation Caps. For Squad Common Optic, the Windage and Elevation turret adjustments should be covered with a threaded cap.
  • Field of View. At minimum magnification, possess a minimum field of view of 18 degrees (T), 20 degrees (O). At maximum magnification, possess a minimum field of view of 2.5 degrees (T), 3 degrees (O).
  • Eye Relief. All Squad Common Optic configurations at any magnification should have an eye relief of at least 3.1 inches (T), 3.7 inches (O).
  • Exit Pupil. All Squad Common Optic configurations at any magnification should have an exit pupil range of no less than 2.5mm to no more than 13mm. 
  • Resolution. The resolution for the Squad Common Optic should be 10 arc-seconds or less. The 30% contrast resolution for the Squad Common Optic should be 15 arc-seconds or less. 
  • Focus/Parallax Adjustment. The Squad Common Optic should have a fixed focus set at 150 meters ± 50 meters and be parallax free at the focus range.
  • Focal Plane. Configurations should be first focal plane and/or second focal plane. 
  • Reticles. 
    • All Squad Common Optic reticle configurations should offer Mil-Reticle patterns vice a Bullet Drop Compensator (BDC) style of reticle pattern.
    • All Squad Common Optic reticle configurations should offer an illuminated central aiming point no greater than 1.5 minute of angle (MOA) (T) or 0.5 MOA (O) that is visible during daylight conditions. 
    • All Squad Common Optic configurations should offer a variety of reticles (i.e., crosshair, German, duplex, Christmas tree, others). 
    • All reticles should be level with a cant of ± 1 degree (T) or no discernable cant (O) when installed in its MIL-STD-1913 compatible mount. 
    • Reticle should be usable in the event of degraded capability or no power situation. 
  • Future Reticles
    • Reticle. The vendor should allow for future reticle designs and operational needs to be included in the Squad Common Optic: Mil Dot, Milliradian Line, Ballistic, Velocity, and Grid hybrids. Graduated grid should provide a method that supports the ability to use Windage hold offs and Elevation holds and holdovers accurately. There should also be coarse and fine methods to quickly range targets. A method to allow for rapid engagement of moving targets should be provided on the main horizontal.
    • Configuration. There should be no changes to the Squad Common Optic design when changing to a new reticle other than the reticle itself.
  • Reticle Illumination. The reticle illumination should be accomplished using side mounted rotary knobs. The Squad Common Optic should have multiple intensity settings, two night vision goggle compatible settings, and tactile illumination off positions after each on position. Reticle settings should be able to be locked in place to provide for inadvertent power cycling in the field. Reticle should be powered by a single commercially available battery for at least 96 hours at highest illumination setting. The Squad Common Optic should allow for battery changes without removal from the weapon and without specialized tools.
  • Scope Mount. All scope mounts should be MIL-STD-1913 compatible. Various scope mount heights should be available. Any dissimilar metals should not interact and cause corrosion or damage when subjected to saltwater and other adverse environmental conditions.
  • Magnification Change Capability. The Squad Common Optic should incorporate an attachable (T) or integrated (O) field-adjustable magnification change capability that will allow quick magnification changes from minimum to maximum magnification without passing between the eyepiece and rail interface, hitting the host weapon, or interfering with the function of the host weapon.
  • Backup Iron Sights. The Squad Common Optic shall not require the removal of the host weapon’s front and rear iron sights. The front and rear iron sights shall be immediately useable upon removal of the Squad Common Optic.
  • Lens Accessories and Protection. All Squad Common Optic configurations should be delivered with detachable protective front and rear lens covers or caps. The Squad Common Optic should feature lenses made of durable scratch resistant hydrophobic material and non-reflective lens coatings (T). All Squad Common Optic configurations should provide lenses with sufficient abrasion resistance that they do not require lens covers (O).
  • Surfaces. External surfaces (except for light-transmitting elements) should be finished in a flat neutral non-black color that is non-reflective and corrosion resistant. All the exposed optics should have corrosion and scratch resistant coatings, which permit operation in salt sprays and blowing sand. All markings, coatings, finishes, and exposed O-rings should be resistant to paints solvents, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear contaminants, and Super Tropical Bleach (STB) decontaminant.
  • Signature Reduction and Counter Detection. The Squad Common Optic should be a dull, non-reflective, neutral, non-black color. The Squad Common Optic should not have an audible or visible signature.
  • Workmanship. All optics should be free of foreign matter such as dirt, fingerprints, dust, loose material, and moisture. All moving parts should move freely and not bind, creep, or stick.
  • Markings. 
    • All Squad Common Optics should be etched or engraved with visually distinct markings to include the serial and model number to be easily read. 
    • The serial and model number should be sequential, unique, and easily visible when mounted to the weapon (T). 
    • All Squad Common Optics should have point of impact adjustment markings and witness marks on the scope body and scope mount for scope alignment.
    • The Squad Common Optic serial number and manufacture date must comply with MIL-STD-130_.
      • Point of impact (POI) adjustment markings should be on the scope body near the Windage and Elevation adjustments. 
      • The witness marks should allow the operator to quickly and easily align and level the scope and scope mount to within ± 1 degree. 
    • Labels should incorporate a Unique Identification (UID) code. The UID should contain both the 2D barcode and human readable serial number together. UID construct #2 will be required. 
    • The Squad Common Optic should not have any original equipment manufacturer (OEM) proprietary markings

It’s quite a list but there are a few takeaways.

  1. The Marine Corps wants a durable 1-8x optic that is on the lighter and shorter end of available offerings today. Only a few sights are close to the current request.
  2. Second or First Focal plane will both be considered.
  3. Daylight visible illumination is a requirement, battery life must be 96 hours at maximum setting from a commercially available battery, likely a AA or CR123.
  4. They require the mounting solution designed so that there is a 1 degree or less cant once mounted on receiver’s MIL-STD-1913 picatinny rail. The mount will be available in different heights but the Marine should be able to quickly mount and level the scope to that 1 degree or less cant.
  5. The reticle is requested as a Milliradian (MRAD/Mil) pattern before including a bullet drop compensator (BDC) element like they have on the RCO ACOGs (TA31s) and SDO ACOG (TA11). It should also include leads for moving targets and be upgradeable on demand by the Corps to include Horus style “christmas tree” options without changing the rest of the optic.
  6. Controls should be capped to protect them from inadvertent adjustment, like the current ACOGs, with .1 Mil adjustment clicks and plenty of windage and elevation movement.
  7. The optic will be a neutral non-black color, likely coyote, to minimize its observable signatures.

The solicitation differs from the previous one in that it lists 30,000 units as the high end for procurement and not 186,000 which would be fleetwide adoption. The focus for the new optic will be first on the infantry and supporting ground combat elements, as makes sense.

The Marines are looking to start fielding the optic by 2021. I’m looking forward to seeing who steps up.

The Precision 5.56 AR: The MK12 SPR

The origin of accurizing the AR and the M4/M16 platform can be credited to GWOT, seen in the MK12. Prior to the MK12 Special Purpose Receiver AR’s, even shot for accuracy in matches like Camp Perry, were still very much an M16A2 standard. “Accurizing” the rifle was accomplished through weight and match grade iron sights.

The MK12 SPR was the gap span measure. Covering the span between dedicated sniper platforms like the M24/M40 (later the M110) and the M4/M16 service rifles. The MK12 offered more accuracy and precision, suppressor capable, greater observation capability, and a minimized rate of fire decrease over an optimized 5.56 effective range. The SPR closed off the glaring vulnerability using a bolt action as a primary would induce without removing a precision tool from the sniper team’s hands.

Instead of a spotter, a trained sniper also, being constrained to limits of an M4 with at an ACOG (at best), the MK12 allowed them a platform that nicely bridged the two worlds of precision and direct action. The sniper team could reach into either at will while equipped with the weapons.

In the Designated Marksman role it allows a precision tool to be added into the fireteam or squad mix. Shifting the ammunition loadout of a rifleman or severely altering their ancillary equipment is not necessary with a MK12, making it a literal drop-in solution with very little extra training necessary to utilize. There is often enough Mk262 ammunition in operation for sourcing it to be easy and obviously M855A1 or Mk318 will run in the rifle too.

Now we are seeing more and more optimized features come out on the AR’s as standard. Freefloated barrels and handguards, optimized gas systems for suppressed and unsuppressed use.

Optics Grade – From From Broke to Gucci

The Flex on Poors meme used to be kind of fun. A good way to poke fun at the guys claiming their Lorcin 25 ACP, or similar gun, was just as good as any other brand name gun. Like memes do, it got out of control. Way out of control. This is especially true when it comes to optics. Today we are going to talk a bit about the different optics grade, from hobby to professional grade and a bit in between.

There are too many people out with an “every gun and gun accessories has to have a serious and dedicated purpose.” Not every gun is made for taking Fallujah, and neither is every optic. For example, when I milled out an AR lower with an 80 lower jig and made a pistol with a 7.5-inch barrel in 5.56 was I really making a go to war gun? No. I was making something ridiculous and something ridiculous doesn’t need an 800 dollar Aimpoint Comp M4, a Burris, or a Vortex or a lower end SIG works fine.

This is what leads us into what’s basically 4 different optics grade. There is Junk, Hobby Grade, Budget, and Professional grade.


Making the Grade

Junk

Junk optics are those 30 dollar red dots you can get off Amazon any day of the week. Don’t be shocked, but they likely won’t hold up to recoil, won’t zero properly, will mount wobbly, and likely shift and move when shot. These optics are junk, suitable for airsoft guns and maybe 22s. They can cause more frustration than they are worth. These are namely optics from companies you’ve never heard of.

If you want to test your patience you might get a good one, but it’s unlikely.

Hobby Grade


Hobby Grade Optics are the affordable and reliable optics for your fun guns. These optics come from companies like Bushnell, Tru Glo, and even NC Star. These optics are not designed to be beaten up and exposed harshly to the elements or the recoil of something like a 375 H&H magnum. They are also not well suited for long range shooting, and I mean beyond a 1,000 yards. They are for plinking, maybe a budget competition set-up, and can even be a good choice for casual hunting. I toss Hobby grade optics on a lot of my fun guns.

This optics grade allows me to have all the fun of a red dot without spending a few hundred bucks. The Bushnell TRS 25 costs about 50 bucks and is perfect for my AR pistol, and my Ruger 10/22. My most dangerous target is rabbits in the winter.

Hobby Optics Should Offer

  • Consistent performance
  • No Issues Holding zero
  • In Spec rail mounts

Hobby Grade optics can be fun, even a little goofy. I won’t rely on them for much between hobby activities. No dangerous game hunting, not precision shooting matches, and obviously I wouldn’t trust my life to them.

Budget Optics

This optics grade are the lower side of professional optics and suited perfectly for home defense, defensive shooting, hunting, competition, and other more robust shooting activities. The main difference between these optics and Pro Grade optics is that these are not well suited for high endurance duty life. They are tough, but not war-proof. This level includes optics from Nikon, some Vortex optics, some SIG optics, Burris, Primary Arms, Nikon, and Holosun.


Several of these companies, like SIG and Vortex, make a mixture of prograde and budget optics. These optics can give you longer range potential on the variable side and are reliable enough for self and home defense.

I have a few of these for my PCCs, pistols, shotguns, and hunting rifle. These are great choices for a variety of tasks and they grant you a level of clarity, features, and options well above hobby grade optics. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them for home defense, but I’m not marching across the Helmand with one.

Budget Optics Should Offer

  • Excellent clarity
  • Consistent performance
  • Water, shock, and Fogproof design
  • Multiple power setting for electronic optics.
  • Glass Etched Reticles when applicable

I love budget grade optics for a few reasons, but one of the best is to see if you like a certain style of an optic before buying a pro grade. Let’s say I like the idea of an Aimpoint CompM4, but have never used a red dot. Should I just spend the 800 bucks on an CompM4 or try a Vortex at less than a quarter of the price.



This was my experience with mini red dot sights. I bought an affordable Burris to see if I liked this style of optic and if I wanted an optic on my handgun. I did, and now I’m choosing between an RMR or waiting for an SRO.

Professional Grade Optics

Here we go, this is where most of us want to be, but it is an expensive prospect to outfit all of our weapons with Pro Grade optics. These are the guys built for duty, built for abuse, and built to be the optic guys can go to war with and come back, and go again. These optics cost anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars. They are designed for Police Officers, Soldiers, Marines, Professional Shooters, etc. They are built to be dropped, bumped, and used under heavy recoil for years. Pro Grade optics come from companies like Trijicon, Nightforce, Aimpoint, Browe, and Leupold.

These optics will be expensive but should offer:

  • Water (submersible), shock, and fogproof
  • Bombproof Performance
  • An extreme level of clarity
  • Long Battery Life
  • Night Vision Compatibility
  • Specialized reticles for long range shooting
  • Glass Etched Reticles when applicable

I think most shooters, regardless of their profession, should have at least one Pro Grade optic on their go to war rifle. I keep a Browe around for my SIG 556R and that is my only Pro Grade optic at the moment. Maybe I need an ACOG for my M16A4 clone, but that’s about a grand so its not a major priority.

When it comes to choosing a Pro Grade optic you really have to identify how you are going to use the gun. A 4X ACOG on a rifle makes sense if you want something versatile for most engagements. If you are likely only going to be shooting less than 300 yards then a red dot may be a better choice. With the cost of these optics, you gotta make the right choice.

Your Grade

Finding the optics grade that fits your needs can be challenging and identifying use and budget versus need are the big considerations you’ll have to make. Understand what an optic’s limitations are and shop accordingly. Not all optics are equal, but not all guns need ACOGs.

Fundamentals Friday: Master Ken, Weapons Defenses

These fundamentals presented without commentary. Such fundamental techniques, when mastered at a level such as this, will undoubtedly save your life when the time is right.

Watch and absorb.

Now if you would like to start with a much more basic close quarters course. Extreme Close Quarters Concepts by ShivWorks has a curriculum that may fit the bill. The 20 hour course covers unarmed and armed confrontations at arms length distances. Pre-confrontation, during confrontation, with guns, with knives, with hands only.

It is not, for nobody can be, a discipline on the level of Master Ken. It will open up the training pathways to practical levels of readiness for an up close and personal self defense situation though.

Via ShivWorks

Must the Firearm Debate Be So Polarized?

(from news.vanderbilt.edu)

In a recent blog post a couple of shooters wondered if they could pass the Texas live-fire qualification—blindfolded.  They succeeded with respectable, though not spectacular, scores.  In their blog they pondered the value of such testing for government permission to carry a gun:

  • “[P]roficient enough to carry a handgun; . . .  what do you think about the state being involved in that process?”
  • “’Oh, I passed the test. The state says I’m qualified,’ when you clearly are not and you need more training . . .  to make you competent and safe with a handgun. The test doesn’t really do that.”

Should the tests be more rigorous, or abandoned altogether?  Might they do more harm than good by certifying less capable shooters, leading them to believe they are “qualified” when they are not competent?

These shooters were breaking taboos from opposite ends of the polarized debate over firearms.  Gun controllers brook no discussion of the terms by which citizens may carry guns.  Their objective is to outlaw gun carry, not to regularize it.  Rights advocates may brook no discussion of the terms by which citizens could be prohibited from carrying guns.  Controllers devote their debate to passing new prohibitions.  Rights advocates oppose most gun laws.

Under such circumstances, is there room in either camp for creative thought on how America might better regulate gun carry?

Presently, 42 states and the District of Columbia honor the right to carry.  A dozen do so without reservation, requiring no permit at all; thirty require a permit to carry concealed, which their laws mandate “shall be issued” to every qualified applicant.

Of the remaining 8 states, discretion is delegated to county officials. Some are fairly liberal in issuing permits while others issue none except under stringent prerequisites (or as political patronage).  Is this the way “rights” in America are supposed to work?   Voters can’t know why some are granted and others not without full transparency.

A critical question is whether the Constitution allows each state to exercise its “police power” to require a permit to carry.  If no one is issued a permit then the “right to bear arms” is rendered moot.  If everyone is eligible for a permit upon request then there is no regulation whatsoever. Is there some rational midpoint in this spectrum?

Perhaps a useful midpoint could lie in how a state “qualifies” its residents to bear arms.  Let’s step out of the box of imposing a hurdle that must be passed or else — the Constitutional right is denied.

Imagine a qualifying test in which the applicant would be scored but not held to a pass/no-pass  result.  Virtual reality scenarios could be presented and the applicant would be obliged to make laser gun shoot/don’t-shoot decisions under the artificial adrenaline rush. Correct/incorrect decisions in the programmed scenarios would be judged by lawyers specializing in self-defense law.

But, as always . . . Who will pay?  Today, such a virtual reality kit would be remarkably expensive; however, that should change in the future and there is already a case to be made for routine training and qualification of police in just such an environment.  Each police agency should be equipped with the technology for the primary purpose of training and testing officers.  Then, ordinary citizens could have ready access to the police equipment to qualify for a carry permit.

Nearly no civilian could earn a respectable score without training, which should appeal to the controller mentality. Yet any Tom, Dick or Mary could walk out of the testing forum with a permit emblazoned with his/her score.

Applicants would be told that their permit, with their qualifying score, would be presented to the jury at trial if they ever were involved in a shooting incident.  That would be sobering.  Any rational applicant with a low score would be eager to seek further training before beginning the practice of carrying a gun.

An important part of this would be the right of permit holders to retake the test when they think they will qualify with a higher score. In that way, further training would pay off with increased recognition of their skill levels.

But favorable to the rights mentality, there would be no specified score officially declared to be “passing”.  No government endorsement would be implied by your score.  The permit would serve only as a certification that at the time of application you did not appear in the state’s and Fed’s database of prohibited permit.  But your score would be evidence of your initial degree of competence.

States would publish aggregate data of scores “on the curve” (by percentile). For example, it might be known that 25% of permit holders scored above 80 (of 100 maximum); 50% scored between 40 – 79; 5% scored below 45 and chose to retain their permits; while 20% scored below 45 and elected not to accept (at that time) the permit to which they were Constitutionally entitled.

Could some such approach promote responsible gun carry?  Shouldn’t we discuss ideas such as this, despite (or because of) their contradicting both sides’ taboos?

How is this approach different from that taken by the dozen states that require no permit whatsoever?  How is it different from the 26 states that have no live-fire qualification prerequisite to being issued a permit?  How would it affect applicants with some physical impairment such as blindness?  Would these individuals seek applicable training in tactics (such as shooting only when in physical contact with an assailant) appropriate to their handicap?

This policy is highly unlikely to be implemented by any state.   But it is an illustration of the sort of idea that could be discussed in polite company—if there exists any such thing in the firearms debate.  It might lead to other proposals that could further break the stalemate.

Suppose that a no permit-required state (known as “Constitutional Carry”) implemented such a proposal.  Since no permit is required in such a jurisdiction, such a test would impose no impediment on anyone’s rights.  More cautious may-issue or even some shall-issue states might decide to grant reciprocity only to permit-bearers with a score above a certain mark– but that would not prevent permit bearers from carrying in their own states.

The firearm argument is frozen right now.  We the People cannot engage effectively under the fog of taboo.   Second Amendment advocates will not undertake a democratic search for meaning of the “Right to bear arms”. Without other movement, we are simply waiting, until five Supreme Court justices tell us what, if anything, that right means.

.

.

—‘MarkPA’  is trained in economics, a life-long gun owner, NRA Instructor and Massad Ayoob graduate. He is inspired by our inalienable rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and holds that having the means to defend oneself and one’s community is vital to securing them.

All DRGO articles by ‘MarkPA’  

Does Rifle Iron Sight Radius Matter?

When it comes to iron sights on a modern rifle it is becoming less and less apparent whether or not they are “necessary” equipment. With the reliability of modern optics and their superiority in increasing hit percentages across a wider spectrum of shooters iron sights are taking the bench.

So when setting up and prioritizing your mission specific gear and picking ancillary equipment priority. Where do iron sights go?

Does their positioning, especially in relation to the front sight, matter?

As Aaron over with Sage Dynamics demonstrates, having the sights on the rifle in a shorter useable configuration works. It will even work at a longer distance.

The iron sight question becomes about the gear priority. If you consider BUIS mission essential equipment in case of an optic failure (like I do, I run irons with everything still) then having them functionally on the rifle in the longest configuration that doesn’t interfere with your more important systems is fine. This could put your front sight post only halfway up the front rail of your gun, and that is fine. Reducing the radius will throw more discrepancy into your overall accuracy as you change the angles involved with utilizing your iron sights but it won’t make them unusable by any stretch.

The only situation in which your sight radius needs to be a critical component of your layout is if the iron sights are your primary method of target engagement. Meaning either you do not have an optic or that you are shooting in a situation, like a match, that requires iron sights.

In every defensive connotation, having a set of iron sights you are able to bring up if needed and that are zeroed because you check them is more important than whether or not the sight radius is 11″ or 13″.

I use them. I think you should too. Dust them off and shoot with them every once in awhile, I did last weekend. Layers of redundancy on something as critical as aiming are a safe bet.

Optic Selection: Sightmark Pinnacle

Sightmark Pinnacle Scope

This past summer I fell in love with my new “Go-To” firearm, the Robinson Armament XCR-M.  If your unfamiliar with this platform check out my previous articles, you won’t be disappointed.  I ordered my rifle with long distance shooting in mind.  The XCR-M is accurate, stable, and low recoiling, however it needs a good optic to expand its capabilities as a precision long range rifle. Selecting the right optic is not an easy task.  A quick google search for “rifle optics” gave me hundreds if not thousands of possibilities.

Best way for me to narrow down the search result was to identify the role the firearm and optic combined would fill. What did I want to accomplish with the scope?   Being a highly competitive person who thrives on competition, I was drawn to The Precision Rifle Series. To be competitive I had to find the right optic to compliment the accuracy and ease of shooting provided by the XCR-M.

My rifle and optics combination needs to make consistent, repeatable hits at 1000yds.  A conventional red dot optic won’t cut it for this type of shooting. My criteria for selecting the right optic might be slightly different than yours.  As I age I find I need a little more magnification than I used to.

Defining the Optics Purpose

Knowing I needed something with more magnification than my classic 3-9 hunting scope, I narrowed my search to scopes with at least 20x magnification. I tried an SWFA fixed 20x scope and really liked it at first, however I found it has a weakness.  Targets closer than 200 yards were difficult to acquire quickly.  In a competition speed is life. One needs to quickly acquire and identify their targets.  Thus the need for a variable magnification optic that can identify targets up close and at distance.

Secondly, I needed the right optic to have ultra clear glass from edge to edge. If the glass has any distortion, fog, or glare it becomes difficult to identify and make precise hits. Different manufacturers achieve clarity differently. Many manufacturers rely on special coatings to keep the distortion and glare to a minimum while others only use the best materials. Usually the higher the price the clearer the glass.

Important Features In My Search

The reticle is another critical feature. Typically this comes down to user preference. I prefer a Mil-Dot reticle which will allow me to adjust quickly for windage and elevation.  Instead of changing the magnification between shots I can just holdover. A huge time saver when shooting a stage.

Adjustment knobs, turrets, are also very important. I prefer turrets to be calibrated to match the reticle. It is possible to get a Mil-Dot reticle with turrets in MOA. Not something I prefer. If my reticle is Mil-dot I want my turrets in Mil-dot as well. If possible I want to be able to lock the turret at my rifles zero. Allowing me to reset the rifle to zero between every stage and adjust for distance quickly.

The elevation turret is the most used so it needs to be sturdy and precise. If a target requires a 5 mil adjustment it should adjust it precisely 5 mils. If it were to adjust 4 mils this time and 4.2 mils the next time my shots would turn into misses. Especially at extended ranges.

Tube diameter is also important. Typically a scope with a larger tube has more elevation and windage adjustment. It allows for more light transition, making the target clearer under varying light conditions. Common scope diameters are 1”, 30mm, and 34mm.

Optic Requirements

With the above information in my head I set out to find the right optic for the job. I don’t have an unlimited budget so the expensive scopes are out of the picture. Although I really want all the features found in the $3000 to $5000 scopes they are unrealistic for me to look at.

I started my search for something with ultra clear glass, a clean easy to use reticle, and precise turret adjustments. I looked for something that had plenty of elevation adjustment, but I was willing to use a 20 MOA base if I couldn’t find what I wanted in my price range.

A friend got his hands on a Sightmark Pinnacle 5-30×50 Riflescope. He told me it was exactly what I was looking for and within budget. I was impressed. It has a 34mm tube, adjustable turrets calibrated in .1 mil, and magnification up to 30x. The glass is super clear. Looking at my house from across the corn field I could clearly read the house numbers above the garage. It looked and felt sturdy, but would it perform on a gas piston gun on targets out to 1000yds?

Range

As to eliminate any human error while sighting it in and testing the precision of the turrets I did all my work at 100yds. I did not bore sight it so I knew it would take a few shots to get on paper. The first few were a good 2 feet low. A few twists of the turret and it was hitting paper.

Adjusting the turrets I they felt solid and crisp. Every click seemed perfectly spaced. The clicks were easy to hear and feel. Once my hits were centered I set the zero in the turret. To test their ability to return to zero after every use I quickly and violently cranked it all the way up and all the way back to zero several times. Surely if there were any slippage it would show up when I re-confirm my zero.

The next 3 shots all hit the center of the target. The turrets held up to the abuse and the scope retained zero. I also like to pick up the rifle by the scope and shake it violently. I want to see if the scope will hold up to being bumped or shaken, especially during transport. It passed that test too.

Thoughts on the Pinnacle

The reticle of the Sightmark Pinnacle is extremely crisp. The lines are solid and smooth. The Mil-dots are easy to see. Holdovers were simple. Just pick a dot and that’s where it hit. One big advantage that was not on my list is a illuminated reticle. I have the choice of red and green with varying intensities for different light and weather conditions. Sometimes my eyes have difficulty with a lit reticle. They tend to get fuzzy or show ghosting. The Pinnacle did exhibit any ghosting while at the range. The reticle kept the shots right where they were supposed to be.

I found I like the magnification set between 15x and 16x as this seems to be the sweet spot where the reticle fills the entire lens. This is right in the middle of its range and would be a good spot to keep it as adjustments either way are quick, easy, and repeatable.

The 50mm objective lense allows for lots of light to pass through the scope. Even in low light conditions I was able to see my hits at the full 30x magnification.long range optic mounted on XCR-M

A quick internet search shows most places sell the Sightmark Pinnacle for around $1200. When you compare its features and ease of use to other scopes in the same price range The Sightmark Pinnacle is a no brainer. If it did not say Sightmark on it I would have thought it was a Nightforce or Vortex. The price point leaves lots of room for me to afford ammunition, and have a little left over for a Kestrel. Look for a review of the Kestrel in the future

Conclusion

Overall I am incredibly pleased with this offering from Sightmark. It passed all of my tests with flying colors. It held zero, turrets adjusted precisely, the glass is clear, and the reticle is crisp. I wish the finish were a little more durable. My scope developed a scuff mark during shipping that did not buff out, and seemed pretty easy to scratch.

A few slight blemishes does not affect how it functions. It is a Tactical scope designed to deliver precision in any conditions. It is recommended by the National Tactical Officers Association, and I put my stamp of approval on it as well.

The Art of The Gun Deal

Armslist, Tacswap, GunBroker, and our LGS… How to work a gun deal with proper etiquette.

Look at me readers.

Look.

Stare through the pages of the interwebz and look at me so I know that you are paying attention.

Have you found a gun somewhere that you wanted but did not want to pay the sticker price for? Of course you have. You figured you could save a few bucks, maybe a significant few, if you just asked about it.

Now… how did you ask the question?

  1. What is your best price?
  2. What is your bottom dollar?
  3. What is your absolute lowest price?

If any of those formats was how you asked the question of the selling party, I need you to get up and go find a mirror. Look deep into your own eyes in that mirror and repeat these words…

“Never again.”

Now slap yourself so you remember your oath.

Asking the seller to haggle against themselves is not haggling. It’s lazy, disrespectful, and a shit thing to do. If you have an offer in mind, make the offer. The seller has already told you what they want for what they are selling, it is on the price tag.

The gun deal process goes in these steps.

  1. Read the price tag and decide whether you will pay that or make an offer. If offer then proceed to step 2.
  2. Make an offer. Do so politely and realistically.
  3. They can make a counter offer, accept your offer, or decline your offer.

If you make a polite and reasonable offer it will likely be accepted. If you are polite but the offer is unacceptable they will likely offer a counter offer or state they cannot move on the price. You then have the opportunity to get the gun you want for the listed price or decline the purchase and have a nice day.

By asking the ‘bottom dollar’ question on the gun deal you are not dealing. You are telling the seller to eat their list price and make up another for you. You are not even offering the courtesy of an offer you thought about. Making an offer shows integrity, it shows intent, it means you are engaged in the transaction. Telling the seller to give you a new price because you’re… you? That’s a big no.

Now, that is not to say there are no situations in which asking for “your” price is wrong. There are plenty. Those situations are with people you have a relationship and rapport with. Your local gun store might cut you a consistent deal because you are a regular customer. Your friend might give you the friends and family discount on a new or used item you’d like. I’ve been the giver and recipient of both those circumstances.

There is, however, nothing more presumptuously rude than a total stranger demanding you retag your for sale item just for them. In the same vein, making a polite offer is the very essence of sales and should be expected.

You are adults. Man, woman, or attack helicopter the hell up and do the work of negotiation! Talk, deal, be polite.

This rant brought to you by being asked two dozen times to bottom dollar a few guns I’m selling.

It’s not fun when that ammo can is running on empty. Double check your stock and refill before your next class, match, range day, or just in case. Don’t let the visible bottom of an ammo can stop you from shooting the new gun you just got with the Art of the Gun Deal.

The AAP’s Mission Creep

(from emagui.eu)

[Ed: Mission creep has been defined as “taking a group away from its original goals and objectives through expansion.”]

As has become the norm, I got an email recently from the American Academy of Pediatrics making a “statement” about the California synagogue shooting. That letter from the AAP President can be found here.

My first reaction was, “Why does a group of pediatricians feel the need to make a ‘statement’ about such an event? Did anybody ask them what their opinion was? Or are they just desperate to stick their noses where they don’t belong? . . . Again. Would they have bothered to make a “statement” about a stabbing?”

What followed were several paragraphs of self-righteous spew, patting themselves on the back for their “advocacy” which they use to “enlighten those in positions of power” and “lift up those who cannot speak for themselves”.

The letter also talks about “our collective work to counter religious and racial discrimination”. Uhhhh, that’s “our work”? Really? I thought my work was—you know—the Practice of Medicine. I don’t know about you but I never got any training in residency on how to run a social justice campaign. Talk about mission creep!

Then there is the last paragraph . . .

“Speaking out is not enough; we must also act. There are common-sense gun safety [sic] policies that can help make communities safer from gun violence—we must support and urge Congress to pass such policies. Gun violence prevention has been a longstanding priority at the highest levels of the Academy. We will keep urging action from our elected leaders until we see real progress.”

Really? We must? I thought California already had some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. But that didn’t stop the bad guy from trying to shoot up a synagogue, did it?

There is no mention of the recent bit of research printed in—drum roll please—our own journal, Pediatrics. This found that parental disengagement played a large role in boys and adolescents becoming involved with gangs and carrying guns.

That right there is some actually useful research into “gun violence”, folks! Did you bother to read your own journal? Nope, because bad parenting being a contributing cause of “gun violence” does NOT fit the narrative.

Did the AAP issue an additional “statement” about all those unarmed Venezuelan protestors being run over by military vehicles because they didn’t have any guns with which to defend themselves from their own government? Surely those are people who should be “lifted up” too, don’t you think? Nope. Crickets.

These people are so intoxicated by their own saccharine self-righteousness that they are blinded to reality and even to their own published research. When ideology and emotion trumps science and fact, there is a major problem—especially with an organization which is supposed to follow “evidence-based” principles. Am I close enough to retirement that I can tell them to pound sand yet?

.

.

DrFrau2sml

—’Dr. LateBloomer’ is the pen name of a female general pediatrician (MD, MPH, FAAP) who enjoys competitive shooting sports, including IDPA, USPSA and 3-Gun.  Evil semi-automatic firearms are her favorites. 

All DRGO articles by ‘Dr. LateBloomer’

2020: Cory Booker Goes For Gun Control

Image via Reason.com

Cory Booker, Senator from New Jersey and chasing the Democratic nomination for President, is the first in the field to go hard promising gun control. The controversial issue has been a losing proposition for democrats all the way back to the 90’s and it’s curious that Booker, who is only polling between 1-3%, would choose the divisive issue to try and garner greater favor from a wider base of voters.

Democratic presidential hopeful Cory Booker on Monday unveiled a sweeping plan to reduce gun violence that includes establishing a national gun licensing program, limiting individual purchases of firearms to one per month, and placing a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

It’s the tired list of “reduce gun violence” diatribe including the classic attack on the NRA, a skree against assault weapons and high capacity magazines, universal background checks, monthly purchase limits, and a national licensing program. Because none of those are infringements on a constitutionally protected right, right?

Booker contends that if Americans need a license to drive a car they should also be required to have one to buy and possess a firearm.

I always miss that part of the constitution, right next to the first amendment somewhere I think, where the right to licensed vehicular modes of transport are enshrined.

Licensing, and thereby taxing, a right reduces its accessibility to the poorer segments of society who are also more likely to need it in their personal defense. The same group supporting this would lose their everloving minds if anything close to a poll tax was proposed. A voting license with a hefty fee and background check attached to it? That would make heads explode.

But according to Booker it is perfectly acceptable, among the other list of infringements, and it’s about time we got around to that “common sense” gun control.

“My plan to address gun violence is simple – we will make it harder for people who should not have a gun to get one,” Booker said.

He aims to enact gun control by making it overall harder to get a gun for everyone [Booker purposefully didn’t add], especially the poor, at risk, or those under immediate threat. It’s just a simple fact that Booker and candidates like him do not accept the right to keep and bear arms as a right, they conceptualize it only as a privilege under the best of circumstances and an epidemic under many others. The lip service they pay to that legally enshrined human right of self protection is getting thinner and thinner every election cycle.

The 2019 NRA Annual Meeting – DRGO Summary

(from armsvault.com)

That was the week that was.

Even in its ordinary aspects it was another terrific experience: 15 acres of booths, displays, demonstrations, freebies, giveaways, and meeting and greeting many old friends and making many new ones. Scores of thousands of people all united by one important thing—devotion to the sustenance and expansion of the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

Dr. John Edeen and yours truly attended on behalf of DRGO. Each year we run into more people who already know about us, who are members, and who tell us how they appreciate our representation of rationality in medical and epidemiologic research, so sorely missing in most officially published “research” into “gun violence”.  That helps all of us at DRGO realize the worth of our mission and charges us up to keep at it.

How often can we see our Vice-President and President speak? As credentialed members of the press (in fact, as temporary members of the “White House Press Pool”!) we got to watch them, Senators, Governors and activists close enough to tell which was which in the 63,000 seat Indiana Pacers’ Lucas Oil stadium.

A very meaningful moment was the presentation of the inaugural Roy Innes memorial recognition, posthumously, to the family of Otis McDonald whose unwavering insistence on his rights led to the momentous SCOTUS decision known as McDonald v. City of Chicago, confirming the application of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms throughout all these United States. The award will continue to be awarded to those who contribute the most to bringing underrepresented groups into the fight for this aspect of civil rights.

But now to the most exciting and consequential parts.

As we all have been learning, several threats to the integrity, and possibly the future, of the NRA are about to collide. Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York where the organization was formed and incorporated in 1871, has declared his intent to close it down if possible using all of the state powers available. He has already informed financial organizations that New York will view them askance for trying to do business with NRA. New York’s attorney general Letitia James is investigating questions of malfeasance and impropriety in NRA’s financial management. She could use her findings to decertify the organization and destroy it. NRA is suing New York state on the basis that its actions are censorious and depriving it of First Amendment rights to free speech, which is a potentially powerful argument.

Simultaneously, questions have arisen about the vast sums NRA has been paying its chief contractor, Ackerman-McQueen, since the 1980s. A-McQ is an advertising agency based in Oklahoma that provides “public-relations work, marketing, branding, corporate communications, event planning, Web design, social-media engagement, and digital-content production” for NRA. This includes all sorts of marketing, but A-McQ also puts on the meetings, and owns NRANews, NRA’s very media identity. Upon this becoming a public issue, NRA sought greater detail justifying A-McQ’s billings, which A-McQ declined to provide. NRA is now suing A-McQ, which is counter-suing.

Relatedly, the web of connections between NRA and A-McQ is coming into light. NRA’s celebrity president Oliver North has been paid millions by A-McQ to produce documentaries, though has only come up with two. Wayne Lapierre, NRA’s 28 year executive director, is not only paid $1.4 million a year, but has received over $230,000 in wardrobe subsidies for the past 13 years. His contract also reportedly includes a golden parachute, assuring him $1 million yearly upon his retirement to continue serving as a consultant to NRA. Is any of this play to pay? NRA has announced that it is reviewing all this internally. It’s attorneys say there is nothing illegal of improper.

At Friday’s NRA-ILA Leadership Forum speeches were led off by North, who was in good form. Lapierre spoke later, and looked nervous. He was not on stage thereafter (though this was Chris Cox’s party, as NRA-ILA’s director).

We learned that day of an exchange of letters between North and Lapierre. North had asked for Lapierre’s resignation, and announced he was forming a special committee to do internal oversight of  the NRA—A-McQ conflicts. His goal seemed to be to shake up the organization and establish new leadership, which by now many members were wanting.

Lapierre called this extortion, saying that North had said that A-McQ would release damaging information about his leadership and staff, and refused to resign. On Saturday, at the actual annual meeting of members, the 1st Vice-President read a letter from North explaining his absence (the President normally chairs the meeting). He had learned he would not be endorsed by the Board of Directors for the usual second one year term, so he resigned as President.  It was not clear whether he also resigned as a Board member. Lapierre was present throughout the meeting and in his usual strong form again.

Like any large formal gathering, the Annual Meeting is normally pro forma, adjourning soon after minutes are approved and announcements are made, leaving any motions for the Board to decide on subsequently. But this weekend the first motion to adjourn was strongly defeated by the members voting. A number of members called for a discussion of the financial and linkage issues there and then. This got somewhat sidetracked by a motion to go into “executive session” (meaning that only members could stay). This became a proxy for the question as to whether these matters should even be discussed with the general membership outside the Board, which has dealt with them confidentially so far.

Concerned members like Adam Kraut (who came in second for the 76th Board seat that is always elected at the Annual Meeting) and Rob Pincus spoke in favor of the executive session, i.e., for public discussion of the problems in order to accelerate solutions. Established figures like previous NRA presidents Jim Porter and Marilyn Hammer spoke against, citing the need to avoid informing parties to legal action of details that would come out publicly thereby.

On a personal note, I’ve spoken with several respected Board members who have no connections with A-McQ or the substance of the other questions in the air. They are serious, responsible people who affirm that they are pursuing answers internally and will do whatever it takes to right this ship and steer it back on course.

The motion to enter executive session was defeated and shortly after Kraut made a new motion to adjourn, which the membership overwhelmingly approved. It was clear that nothing else was going to be accomplished there on these subjects. However, the leadership of NRA became thoroughly aware that there is major, broad-based worry by the membership about what has happened and how it is being handled.

The transition of yearly terms took place following the Annual Meeting at the Board meeting on Monday. The election results for Board seats were confirmed. All the new endorsed officers were elected and Lapierre was unanimously asked to continue as Executive Director. He in turn reappointed Cox as the NRA-ILA director.

So where does all this leave us, the grass roots supporters and activists for the RKBA?

These are critical battles being fought, and beyond the fact that the NRA itself is worth saving, it’s not clear what else should or will happen. The organization is certainly far more important than who leads it at any given time. Josh Powell, NRA’s chief operating officer about whom there had developed a lot of distrust, had already been replaced.

Whether now or later, and as effective a leader as he has been, Lapierre is aging and there will ultimately be a succession. Will Cox inherit the world of NRA from Lapierre? NRA-ILA is not very involved in these conflicts with NRA. Does there need to be a clean sweep of all top leadership? Should NRA bring at least its media activities under its own direct control? These shows and personalities are the most visible faces of NRA.

The divorce of NRA and Ackerman-McQueen is unfortunate and will be messy, but is probably overdue. Neither party can really kill the other.

The legal (if perhaps unconstitutional) attacks on NRA by New York state are much more threatening to NRA’s existence. Besides its public visibility as the 800 pound gorilla of Second Amendment activism, it makes enormous investments in training programs all across the country. It has a deeper, wider and more committed base of supporters than any other civil rights or non-profit organization. It’s a big target, whose fall would change the “conversation” about guns dramatically, and not in our favor.

No one knows the answers yet. But this was the most dramatic week in NRA history since the 1977 “Cincinnati Revolution” and its founding in 1871. NRA’s goals and purposes have changed several times during its history, and we could be seeing the start of another tectonic shift.

Stay tuned to see what happens. As the gunfighters say: “This ain’t over yet!”

.

.

Robert B Young, MD

— DRGO Editor Robert B. Young, MD is a psychiatrist practicing in Pittsford, NY, an associate clinical professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

All DRGO articles by Robert B. Young, MD

Ladies Pants for Mother’s Day

Women's pants are now designed with the input of the end user and built to fit women's bodies.

            With Mother’s Day approaching, now is a good time to look at a few clothing options for female shooters. Over the last few years we have seen women’s clothing become one of the fastest growing sectors of the outdoor industry. This only makes sense with more and more ladies participating in action shooting. Two of the leaders in this portion of the market are 5.11 Tactical and First Tactical offering a wide range of clothing for women.

            5.11 Tactical has the most complete clothing line offering everything from outerwear to footwear. If you are looking for a cargo style pair of pants with clean lines the Stryke is a good choice. The Stryke is made from 6.76 ounce Flex-Tac fabric is tough, washes well, and wears like iron. While they have are semi-fitted, there is no binding when moving. This is fit comes from the Flex-Tac material they are manufactured from. Flex-Tac is a four way stretch fabric that virtually eliminates binding, especially with the diamond gusset crotch.

Strykes are ideal for range use; be it competition or agency qualifications.

           Even though the pants have a fitted waist, they have proven to be comfortable all day without any binding or chafing. This is du mainly to the wide waistband and Flex-Tac material which gives as you move. You will find they run true to size and thanks to a generous zipper they are easy to slip on and off. Strykes are offered in sizes 0-20 in a regular (31”) and long (35”) inseam and in black, khaki, storm, TDU green, tundra and dark navy. I have worn the male version of Strykes since the debutted and they still look like new. Lisa tells me material did not pick up stains from the red clay when she was in Puerto Rico post Maria with FEMA.

This view shows you ll the pockets on the Stryke, this is what makes them a favorite for competition or duty.

For those prefer a jean style pant, the Wyldcat is for you. Lisa found these pants ideal for travel and in the field with FEMA. Coupled with a t-shirt they are perfect casual attire. These pants scream fashion not gun. They are sized 0-16 in regular and long inseams. Colors are black, khaki and grenade (a shade of gray).  For comfort in all activities they are made from cotton/polyester/elastane stretch sateen with Microsand finish which is stain resistant. These pants fit like a glove, yet they allow for virtually unrestricted movement.

The rear pocket can carry a cell phone or an AR magazine.

The Wyldcats look good, but they were built for function. You will find th belt loops allow for proper holster placement and they are wide enough to fit fashion belts or a pistol belt. There are seven pockets, two truly functional rear patch pockets that set up on your butt so you can put items like a phone, wallet, etc in them. The right rear has a low profile pocket above it designed specifically to carry a phone or other item. The front slash pockets are deep enough to carry a 3″ clip-it knife, keys, etc. On each thigh there is a slash pocket that can carry an AR magazine, small wallet, pretty much anything you need easy access to.

As you can seen Wyldcats have plenty of pockets and look good.

What sets these pants apart from other ladies “tactical pants” are the legs. They are taper cut to tuck into the tops of a fashion ankle boot. When you look closely at the outer seam you will notice a zipper from the knee to the ankle. This allows the pants to become a boot cut pant for freedom of movement if you choose to wear the Wyldcats as a range pant. You can also wear these pants tucked into a fitted high boot when zipped or over the shaft of a western boot unzipped. As you can see 5.11 Tactical has put a lot of thought into the fit and function of the Wyldcat. These pants are tough, functional and designed for the active modern woman.

If you prefer a truly low profile tactical pant, the Mesa is it. The Mesa has low profile zipper thigh pockets that look more like trim than a pocket. There are traditional slash front pockets and rear patch pockets to carry most anything from a wallet to AR magazine. The front pocket’s slash is flat at the bottom to allow a clip-it knife to lay flat. You can easily stash an AR magazine or smart phone in the rear pockets. To ensure you do not lose your phone, I would zip them in the thigh pocket.

The thigh pocket is functional and adds a touch of design to the Mesas.

When it comes to comfort you will be hard pressed to find pants that beat the Mesa. The DWR polyester elastane fabric is four way stretch. The eight inch tapered pant leg allows for easy on/off while giving you a fitted look when worn. The extra wide rear belt loop keeps them from sagging when you are wearing a pistol. You will find the width of the waistband and the padding makes this waist one of the more fitted comfortable on the market today.

As you can see 5.11 Mesa pants look good for casual wear too.

I have on good authority that the fabric is comfortable for all day wear, even when it is flying a desk. It was also told these pants wash well after surviving the rigors of grandkids and their spills. I say this because as much as we would like to spend days on the range or out hiking, the reality is not every one is Laura Croft nor can we spend everyday at the ranget. The Mesa can be had in sizes 0-20 in regular and long lengths. You can choose from black or major brown

5.11 did not forget those who want jeans; the Defender Flex Slim Fit Jeans should suit your needs. Unlike teenage slim fit, these pants are not second skin tight. You would be hard pressed to tell the Defender Flex Jeans from popular brands. They have traditional riveted front slash pockets, with a front “watch” pocket in the right front. The rear pockets are patch style with magazine pockets at the bottom of the waist band. The rear pockets have stylish stitching and a flag logo on the right pocket.

Defenderflex Jeans pockets look like any other pair of jeans.

While the Slim Fit Jeans do not not have eight inch leg zippers, they will are easy on/off thanks to the 76/24 cotton poly blend, 10 ounce T400 stretch fabric. If you wear boots these will tuck neatly and comfortably into the shaft,odds are they will not fit over thh shaft of cowboy boot. Blouses tuck neatly into the waist without feeling snug thanks to the fabric’s stretch.

For daily wear the Slim Fit Jeans are ideal. My oldest friend in the world is a former EMT and now an emergency dispatcher for an international airport and she wears hers regularly. She says these jeans do not wear you out sitting for eight to twelve hours like traditional cowboy style denim jeans do. More importantly they give you freedom of movement when you need to knee, climb or any other daily activity. She tells me unlike the Mesa’s; the Slim Fit Jeans are not stain resistant to the spills and oops of pre-school grandkids…pre-treat before washing.

You can find them in black on the 5.11 website, but they can be had in a couple shades of denim on other clothing sites..  Size wise you can choose from 0-16 in short, regular and long lengths.

I have been told by two ladies I trust with my life that all four pairs of these pants work well for work, casual, range and travel wear. They were worn by one who does disaster relief for FEMA. In her travels they were worn cleaning up in some of the worst conditions one can encounter after fires and hurricanes. She gave the Wyldcat and Stryke rave reviews . The other is a dispatcher for emergency services at an international airport. Prior to that she was an EMT for over a decade, so she knows what a profession expects from clothing. Both the Meas and Defender Flex Jeans survived one of the worst things life can throw at them; three grand kids and sitting all day. Poor fitting pants will wear you out when you are sitting all

Over the last several years 5.11 Tactical has gone through many changes; some good, some bad. Vastly improving their women’s lines has been for the good. They have worked hard to bring women clothing that looks good and functions in all conditions. These four pairs of pants should serve you well no matter what you are doing. Thank you 5.11 Tactical for help with beauty shots.

The Art of the Dynamic Sten II

With sweet background music

Mike over at GarandThumb, the resident Air Force Plaid Clad gun guru, takes on the Sten gun from WWII. I’m on a WWII kick recently so here I am sharing the findings of my entertainment seeking brain.

The simple guns of the WWII submachine gun category are an interesting group. Most look like a variation on a can of caulk with a nozzle that happens to shoot bullets. Full info here, summary below

The STEN (or Sten gun) was a family of British submachine guns chambered in 9×19mm and used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces throughout World War II and the Korean War. They had a simple design and very low production cost, so they were also effective insurgency weapons for resistance groups.

STEN is an acronym, from the names of the weapon’s chief designers, Major Reginald V. Shepherd and Harold Turpin, and EN for Enfield.[4][5] Over four million Stens in various versions were made in the 1940s.

The Mark II was the most common variant, with two million units produced. It was a much rougher weapon than the Mk I. The flash eliminator and the folding handle (the grip) of the Mk I were eliminated. A removable barrel was now provided which projected 3 inches (76 mm) beyond the barrel sleeve. Also, a special catch allowed the magazine to be slid partly out of the magazine housing and the housing rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise (from the operator’s perspective), together covering the ejection opening and allowing the weapon and magazine both to lie flat on its side.

Winston Churchill with a Sten Mk II in Shoeburyness on 13 June 1941.

The barrel sleeve was shorter and rather than having small holes on the top, it had three sets of three holes equally spaced on the shroud. To allow a soldier to hold a Sten by the hot barrel sleeve with the supporting hand, an insulating lace-on leather sleeve guard was sometimes issued.[12] Sten Mk II’s in German possession were designated MP 749(e), the “e” signifying “englisch”. Some Mk IIs were fitted with a wooden stock as this part was desirable and interchangeable with the Mk V. Also, the Spz-kr assault rifle uses the receiver and components from the Sten Mk II.

Regular Mark II:

  • Overall length: 762 mm (30.0 in)
  • Barrel length: 197 mm (7.8 in)
  • Weight: 3.2 kg (7.1 lb)

The successor to this gun in British service was the Sterling

Modified versions of which were made famous in…

Star Wars… here’s the last 4th be with you pun, I promise.

Intergalactic Space Force Appreciation Day

Readers,

On this auspicious morning all across the nations.. across the cosmos.. on this day we gather to honor those fine men, women, wookies, mandalorians, vulcans, sangheili, and all who began the modern Space Force process.

These fine volunteers, using their time, talents, and resources have pushed forward beyond the normal bounds of various services and the requirements of day-to-day life. They have sought the training to reach a higher level of readiness.

To face new challenges, threats, and trials they use the latest in Terran systems developed from brilliant minds around the world.

Space Force Prototype Service Carbine… also maybe a Tavor X95… maybe..

Emerging threats are numerous and varied, their shapes are malleable and evolving. So too the readiness of these volunteers adapts.

No Force Like Space Force!

If you feel the calling as these people have. If you too wish to prepare for the Flood, Zentradi, Borg, or Spaceballs… even a more practical ‘home invasion’… then join the Space Force voluntary training, offered and available, on the nearest date and place you can.

More information on individual avenues of training exist here, here, and here.

Would You Like to Know More?

It’s not fun when that energy cell are runs empty. Double check your stock and refill before your next class, match, range day, or galactic crisis. Do not let Space Force down!

And of course, everyone, May the 4th be with you.

Check out IWI Academy (and thank to them for nerding along) at the link and Widener’s for the ammo to go. It’s summer time so kick off this training season.

Grab a seat in class and hit the range, see you there!