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The Right Tool for the Job

By
Keith Finch
-

Use appropriate tools at appropriate times.

What do you use and when? This isn’t a stupid question. Sadly we are often made to feel stupid asking it. As men and women of action we are already supposed to know! Even if we don’t.

It’s simple, and no despite the machismo of IG Experts and Forum Operators, you are not expected to know.

You are expected to learn. Learning what tools you have and what tools you don’t is as critical as learning to use those tools.

The Tools to Have

1. Defense

A gun is excellent. So is a knife. Pepper spray is a spicy surprise. A taser is meh but better than nothing perhaps. Some hand to hand knowledge could get you out of a bind too. Just having a plan in case your situation goes sideways.

All of these defensive elements will have a level of relevance based on your individual situation. The key is knowing how and when to apply them. For that… training. Take a course and read then back to a course and then onto another book. Do not let your defensive tools become dusty, rusty, and stale.

2. Medical

First aid for punctures, scrapes, bumps, bruises, lacerations, heart attacks, seizures, and gunshot wounds. These things happen with varied frequency but they ALL happen. Being ready to deal with them, even as simply as calling 911 and effectively getting paramedics on the way.

Medical is about prior planning and knowing both the capabilities and limits of how you can respond where you are at. Be as effective as you can be and do not panic.

Now what is your plan to take your effectiveness to the next level? Are you missing gear? Training? Both? Set a plan to get it.

3. Communication

How are you set up to communicate. Who are your emergency contacts? No not your wife, husband, or mom for insurance purposes on a liability waiver. Who are you actually going to communicate with and how.

Example: A recent medical emergency with a friend of mine. This emergency was happening outside my view, occuring on the other side of the state. Emergency communication started between myself and my small coordinated ground. I tried local services but was routed away over and over by electronic phone trees. 911 being GPS based could not route me to his jurisdiction although they tried.

Using the internet, calling into local jurisdiction business where my friend worked, and getting the emergency dispatch direct phone line EMS was finally properly dispatched.

It was a coordinated effort to get help to our friend, who was on his own and unable to summon it himself.

The strength of the communication plan isn’t in checking boxes. A strong emergency communication tool can problem solve, collecting and disseminating information where it needs to be.

 

Veterans Day, 100 Years of the Armistice, Thank You All

By
Keith Finch
-

The 11th of November every year we set aside to give due honors. To those few who have taken the oath and stepped up to fight for this nation, we give this day.

A Joint Service Color Guard opens the Veterans Day ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 9, 2018. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the observance when an armistice between Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. William P. Coleman)

When a nation asked they said, “Send me.”

Men and women of every background, every faith, and every walk of life picked up a rifle to defend their homes, communities, and nation. Many take this for granted, some spurn their sacrifices.

 

We owe them our lives, liberty, and most sacred honor.

To All Whom Have Honorably Served This Nation, Thank You.

 

10 November 1775

By
Keith Finch
-

Today is the 243rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

Marines are eternal, there is nothing like them. Once made they can only be unmade by their own hand. Those who keep the faith forever uphold the legacy and tradition of our elite fighting force.

Happy 243rd Birthday Marines!

When Evil Walks Among Us

By
Dr LateBloomer
-

The past few weeks have been heart-rending ones when it comes to mass violence. There was a synagogue shooting in a place of worship (and a gun free zone). There was a yoga studio shooting in what was a place of peace (and another gun free zone). And most recently there was a shooting at country western bar hosting college students in a place of fun (and also a gun free zone).

The common thread here is evil men attacking innocent people in a place where they felt “safe”. Except they weren’t safe. They were sitting ducks in “gun free” zones – gun free for everyone except the shooter, that is.

The response to horrific acts of evil has always been to attempt to control evil by controlling the tools that evil uses.  But evil cannot be contained by removing objects from the hands of men – because those tools are also used by innocent men for peaceful purposes.

Attempts have been made to control Evil by identifying it BEFORE it acts. But evil does not usually wear an evil face. evil cannot always be picked out of a crowd in advance. This is why mass shooters have passed background checks before they commit their deeds of destruction.

The only viable path is for good men and women to resolve to take up the defense of other innocent life. It is a solemn responsibility and commitment that many in this country are not willing to undertake. Those people prefer to let government -and thus law enforcement – take on the role of protective parent, while they remain in a child-like submissive state.

Many people have been wrongly trained into a black and white view of violence. They believe that ALL violence is evil, and cannot imagine themselves using any form of violence even in a defensive role, even to save a member of their own family.

Many people naively believe that they can reason with evil and that evil men will respond to kindness, rather than strength. What these kinds of people refuse to recognize is that evil is NOT rational. It is selfish, and motivated by neither love nor logic. evil only responds to strength and force – the strength and force of good men willing to defend the innocent.

People fear that if they take up arms that they themselves will become “evil”. But virtually every major religious tradition maintains that it is not a sin to take a life if it is in defense of other innocent life – including one’s own. Despite his rhetoric, even the Pope himself has an army of Swiss Guard – armed with fully-automatic weapons – to defend him from attack.

There are no simple solutions for the actions of evil in the world. Controlling tools is “easier” than controlling human behavior, but that path is ineffective and naive. Controlling the tool only ties the hands of innocent men. What IS effective, when evil takes its deadly walk among us, is confronting that evil – where it stands and when it acts – with deadly force and nothing less.

12 Killed After a Man in California Attacks a Bar With Handgun and Smoke Grenade

By
Keith Finch
-

Image from The Blaze

Before midnight in Thousand Oaks, California a black clad gunman entered The Borderline Bar and Grill and open fired.

Entering, after allegedly shooting security at the bar, the man threw a smoke grenade of some manner and began attacking the attendees of the College Country Night with the handgun.

12 people are reported dead, including the Sheriff Sergeant Ron Helus who was the first officer to enter the bar responding to the shooter. The perpetrator is being reported as a USMC veteran known to local law enforcement using a .45 ACP Glock and CA Prohibited high capacity magazine.

The shooter was found dead inside the bar having taken his own life after being engaged by officers. 21 was the last reported count for wounded at this time.

Back to Back World War Champion! Garand Thumb Runs a NHC 1911

By
Keith Finch
-

We’re Nighthawk Custom Fans here at GAT. Full stop. We like their guns.

Mike over on his Garand Thumb Channel got his hands on one for a brief 4,000 round test… just a casual couple trigger pulls.

Check it out!

So Falls the West… I-1639 Passes in Washington

By
Keith Finch
-

By a 20 point margin the State of Washington voted in new gun control measures for its citizenry. The passed measure will pull Washington into line with the rest of the coast as gun control heavy.

Initiative – 1639 implements new restrictions, fees, waiting periods, and paperwork on the purchase and ownership of firearms. All of this done in the name of allegedly increasing the public welfare through safer streets and preventing mad men from grabbing guns.

These restrictions include waiting periods for purchasing semiautomatic assault rifles―as defined by the initiative—as well as increasing the minimum age to buy semiautomatic assault rifles to 21.

The measure would establish requirements for storage of all firearms. Section 13 of the measure, which would establish age requirements, was designed to take effect on January 1, 2019. The rest of the measure’s provisions would take effect on July 1, 2019.[2] [3]

Defining Semi Automatic Assault Rifle

Any rifle which utilizes a portion of the energy of a firing cartridge to extract the fired cartridge case and chamber the next round, and which requires a separate pull of the trigger to fire each cartridge.

“Semiautomatic assault rifle” does not include antique firearms, any firearm that has been made permanently inoperable, or any firearm that is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action.

“Universal” Background Check, Waiting Period, and Fee

Under the measure, no dealer will deliver a semiautomatic assault rifle to a purchaser until:

  • The purchaser provides proof that they have completed a recognized firearm safety training program in the last five years including instruction on basic firearm safety, secure gun storage, the safety of children and firearms, suicide prevention, safe handling, and state and federal firearm law; and
  • The dealer is notified in writing by the chief of police or sheriff in the jurisdiction of the purchaser’s residence that the purchaser is eligible to own a firearm and that the application to purchase is approved. Under the measure, the chief of police or sheriff must use the national instant criminal background check system established under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and other databases and information centers to determine whether a person is eligible to possess a firearm.[2]

They are using the same systems already in place for dealers to check on purchaser legality but adding an onerous paper trail.

Codified in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) regarding pistols already, this measure expands the law to include all firearms and semiautomatic assault rifles as well.[2]

  • If an applicant has an outstanding warrant for their arrest from any court for a felony or misdemeanor, a dealer must hold the delivery of pistols and semiautomatic assault rifles until the warrant is served and satisfied by a court appearance.
  • If a police chief or sheriff has reasonable grounds based on open criminal charges, pending criminal proceedings, or outstanding warrants, and if the records have not been reported or entered sufficiently to determine whether or not the person is eligible to purchase a firearm, the local jurisdiction or state may hold the sale and delivery of a firearm for up to thirty (30) days to verify records.
  • An applicant for the purchase of a firearm must sign and deliver an application to the dealer which includes the applicant’s name, address, date of birth, race, gender, driver’s license number or state ID number, a description of the firearm and manufacturer’s number.

The application to purchase a firearm would, under the measure, be required to include the following warning:[2]

CAUTION: The presence of a firearm in the home has been associated with an increased risk of death to self and others, including an increased risk of suicide, death during domestic violence incidents, and unintentional deaths to children and others.[4]

In the Revised Code of Washington, a signed application to purchase a pistol constitutes a waiver of confidentiality so that any inquiring court or law enforcement agency may request a mental health institution or other health care facility to release information relevant to a person’s eligibility to purchase a pistol. The measure expands this provision to include the application for and purchase of semiautomatic assault rifles.[2]

The Fee associated with this will be an additional $25.00 at the point of sale. The waiting period will be 10 days beyond the date of application for purchase.

Firearm Storage

Under the measure, a person who leaves a firearm in a place where a prohibited person (someone who is prohibited from firearm possession under state or federal law) could potentially gain access to the firearm would be guilty of community endangerment, a class C felony, if a prohibited person gained access to the firearm.

Additionally, every place where firearms are sold would be required to display the following sign, in block letters (capitalized) and at least one inch in height.[2] Under the measure, violators will be guilty of a class 1 civil infraction and could have been fined up to $250.

WARNING: YOU MAY FACE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION IF YOU STORE OR LEAVE AN UNSECURED FIREARM WHERE A PERSON WHO IS PROHIBITED FROM POSSESSING FIREARMS CAN AND DOES OBTAIN POSSESSION. [4]

21 and Up Only

Under the measure, a person under 21 years of age is not be able to purchase a pistol or semiautomatic assault rifle. Persons between the ages of 18-21 are only able to possess a pistol or semiautomatic assault rifle under the following conditions:[2]

  • in the person’s residence,
  • in the person’s fixed place of business,
  • on real property under the person’s control,
  • or for the specific purpose of moving to a new place of residence, traveling to and from the allowed locations, and selling or transferring the firearm in accordance with other provisions.

 

Michigan’s Governor Elect Whitmer – Politically Silent on Guns

By
Keith Finch
-
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 06: Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer attends a Democratic election-night party on November 6, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Whitmer defeated Republican Bill Schuette to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Michigan’s Governor Elect did not run on guns.

Gretchen Whitmer is not a 2nd Amendment ally for the state by any means but Gun Control didn’t take a stage position on her platform.

Her website cursorily mentions the proverbial lines about background checks, bump stocks, etc.

1. Not allow guns in our schools (open or concealed), unless the person carrying is trained, licensed, and wearing a uniform.
2. Ensure universal criminal background checks.
3. Allow for extreme risk protection orders
4. Establish effective waiting periods for gun purchases
5. Prohibit gun possession for violent crimes, including those with felonies or misdemeanors for domestic violence and stalking convictions
6. Ban bump stocks that increase rate-of-fire on semi-automatic weapons
7. Increase resources for safety in schools

But guns didn’t make it into her major push.

These did:

  1. Roads
  2. Health Care
  3. Water
  4. Government Accountability
  5. Jobs
  6. More Jobs
  7. Urban Poverty
  8. Retirement Tax Repeal
  9. Women’s Rights
  10. SJW Type Civil Rights items
  11. Veterans Benefits
  12. Opioids

Guns were downplayed. Whitmer is a Gun Control proponent, make no mistake, but the situation in Michigan is one at this moment where guns are not high political capital.

Michigan residents need to be wary however. If the capital gain or opportunity arises at crisis Whitmer will likely take full advantage to curtail gun rights in the Mitten State.

The Blue… Puddle

By
Keith Finch
-

Election Night 2018 has settled down.

The Democratic Party has, as predicted, gained some ground by taking the House of Representative majority. The Senate is kept in Republican hands creating the predicted legislative gridlock.

Pro gun legislation will be fought in the House, unless concessions are made that neuter the effects, or enough districts are pro gun by necessity due to voter base.

In short, no silencer legislation. No movement on the NFA. Federally, nothing is likely to generate any shift in the status quo. Political points will be scored and fingers will be pointed by both sides.

A tragedy will now be able to kick off talk of an Assault Weapons Ban or similar legislation again in earnest that could make it out of the house. Actions along those lines are still likely to die in the Senate but a large enough event could result in action reaching President Trump’s desk. If the political winds favor the bill it could become law.

Gun control has become more likely but it remains unlikely at a national level.

“A man’s rights rest in three boxes. The ballot box, jury box and the cartridge box.” -Frederick Douglass

By
Keith Finch
-
Frederick Douglass, ca. 1879. George K. Warren. (National Archives Gift Collection) Exact Date Shot Unknown NARA FILE #: 200-FL-22 WAR & CONFLICT BOOK #: 113

It is the 6th of November, 2018. It is election day. You as a citizen have a right and a duty. Exercise this right and make your voice heard in your current and future interest.

Go Vote.

 

Social Media Check Before Gun Purchase?

By
Keith Finch
-
LAWMAKERS PROPOSE SOCIAL MEDIA HATE SPEECH CHECKS BEFORE GUN PURCHASES – From Newsweek

New York legislatures are drafting a bill that would require law enforcement to scan the last three years of your social media postings for “hate speech” before you could legally purchase a gun.

Eric Adams, the president of Brooklyn Borough, and state Senator Kevin Palmer are currently writing the proposed legislation, which would give law enforcement authorities the power to check an individual’s social media accounts and internet search history before they are allowed to buy a gun.

“A three-year review of a social media profile would give an easy profile of a person who is not suitable to hold and possess a firearm,” Adams explained.

And violate all of their free speech and privacy rights. But who needs those, right? We’re talking about guns! Scary guns!

“If the police department is reviewing a gang assault, a robbery, some type of shooting, they go and do a social media profile investigation,” the borough president pointed out… Completely ignoring the fact that an assault, robbery, or shooting are all crimes and purchasing a firearm is not.

No mention on what will qualify as “hate speech” that is not already covered under other criminal definitions, like making threats of harm. This leaves the search completely open to interpretation. No infringement danger here folks, nothing speculative or violative of rights in the least.

Been to Breitbart in the last 3 years? No gun. Shared an off color or dark humored joke? Banned from ownership. Shared a frustration with traffic, a coffee shop, a gym, or any other location and went a little edgy? Because you were venting on social media, no constitutionally protected right for you.

The Gerber Covert Auto

By
Travis Pike
-

For a long time, I was never a knife guy. I liked knives, and I always had one, but I never had several. A knife was a tool to me, and collecting knives meant less money collecting guns. I’ve hit a bit of a snag though and that comes in the form of automatic knives. I’m drawn to them and my collection of them has grown quite a bit in the last year. My newest is the Gerber Covert Auto.

The Gerber Covert auto is an automatic knife, aka a switchblade, with a side deploying blade. Auto knives come in two configurations, out the side, and out the front. Out the side systems tend to be a little cheaper and a bit more robust. Let’s peep some specs of the Gerber Covert Auto.

The Covert Auto come in both a mini and a full size, and I do own both. Today we are going to be reviewing the Gerber Covert Auto full size. It all comes in a variety of color options with the choice for a fine edge or a serrated blade. I went with the fine edge because I wanted a knife that was simple to sharpen, and I was planning to do much cutting through rope or twine.

The Covert Auto Specs

Length Opened – 8.7 inches
Blade Length – 3.78 inches
Weight – 5 ounces
Steel Type SPM S30V

The Blade

Let’s talk blades, as a major draw to me, was the Covert Auto’s faux spear blade and faux double edge design. The Covert Auto has two signatures on the blade, one being Rex Applegate and the other W.E. Fairbairn. These two men are legends in their own right but most people know them from the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife. The Covert Auto’s blade is based off the blade of the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife.

A better phrase to use would be inspired by rather than based on. I say inspired because the blade is only a single edge. This is necessary on a folding knife since one side does have to stick out a bit. The read end of the blade has a textured portion for resting your thumb for standard pocket knife duties as well, so it is a bit of a departure from the fighting knife design.

The blade is made from S30V steel. S30V steel is best described as average, which may be underselling it. It’s great for edge retention and corrosion resistance, but it’s not what I’d say is the best at anything. It’s a good steel and it does help keep the Gerber Covert Auto priced under $150. Auto knives are rarely cheap, and this is one of the more approachable prices for those looking to get into the auto knife game.

The Grip and Opening Mechanism

The grip is anodized aluminum and built to a similar spec to the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife. It’s completely symmetrical and is great for the type of grip men like Sykes, Fairbairn, and Applegate preferred, a type of fencing grip designed for deep and brutal stabs. The grip is thin and easy to use with a hammer grip, an ice pick grip, or really any way you can contort your hand to.

Covert Auto
Fencing Grip

The knife’s opening mechanism is a spring loaded system that deploys the blade with the push of a button. The button is located right where the thumb naturally falls with a fencing grip. The button springs the blade into action as well as allows the user to unlock and close the blade.

Covert Auto
Hammer Grip

The deployment button does have a sliding safety device that mimics a gun safety in a lot of ways. The most obvious being a small red dot meaning the safety is off. In the upward position, the knife’s safety is engaged when downward the safety is disengaged.

Safety off

The safety also acts as a blade lock. If you engage the safety with the blade opened the blade is locked into place and cannot be closed until the safety is deactivated and the button is pressed.

Safety On

The placement of the safety and deployment button are very well thought out. It rapid and natural to deploy to pop the safety off, deploy the blade, and then lock the blade into place.

Why An Auto Opener?

To be honest an auto opener is great for a number of tasks when you have a second hand occupied. The ability to open the knife with one hand allows your second hand to hold something that needs cutting without releasing it or increases the safety of making cuts while climbing everything from a ladder to a mountain. From a self-defense perspective an auto-opener is quick into action, but so is any number of speed style knives.

To me, these fast, manual opening folders are like a California neutered AR 15. They work, and they are a workaround for dumb laws, but at the end of the day, I want the real thing. The Gerber Covert Auto is the real thing and an affordable entry for those looking for their first auto-opening knife. They do make a manual folding model, but again it’s like a California legal AR.

 

Wilson Combat: 92G Vertec/Brigadier Tactical

By
Keith Finch
-

Wilson Combat is now offering the Wilson Combat-Beretta Brigadier Tactical 92 with a Vertec-grip frame conversion. This conversion, performed by Wilson Combat reduces the size of the frame to the significantly smaller Beretta Vertec size which is ideal for shooters with smaller hands or who prefer the straighter, more 1911 style grip.

Wilson’s skilled gunsmiths reduce the grip frame to Vertec size, checker the backstrap to match the front and complete the process with a frame refinish in matte Black Armor Tuff. This pistol comes standard with indestructible Black Cherry G-10 grips.

“Being a serious Beretta collector, I have always considered the 92G SD the best model ever produced, but almost too expensive and rare to shoot. I feel fortunate to have been able to work with the fine people at Beretta USA to produce a pistol that, in my opinion, is an improved 92G SD. Having Beretta USA build my dream 92 series pistol is awesome and I’m very happy that a lot of people will be able to enjoy this fine pistol model.” -Bill Wilson

This model is exclusive to Wilson Combat and available direct from Wilson Combat or from Wilson Combat Premier dealers only. Not available for purchase to MA residents.

  • Available Calibers: 9mm
  • Magazine Capacity: 15 Rounds
  • Barrel Length: 4.7”
  • Overall Length: 8.3”
  • Weight Empty: 32oz
  • Weight Loaded: 38oz

OFFICERS ATTEND 2ND ANNUAL ‘BACK THE WOMEN IN BLUE’ PRESENTED BY GLOCK

By
A Girl and a Gun
-

AUSTIN — A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League (AG & AG) hosted eleven law enforcement officers for the 2nd Annual ‘Back the Women in Blue’ Presented by GLOCK. The event took place Sept 25-28, 2018, in north Texas at the Texas Handgun Academy in Dallas and Mission 160 Range in Whitewright. Participants included female officers, deputies, constables, and troopers representing large municipalities, rural counties, and state agencies from five different states.

“It was extremely gratifying to see a tremendous amount of support for the badge that I’m very proud to put on every day to protect and serve my community,” said Officer Meghan Vold of the Park Forest (IL) Police Department. “Every day, in every city and town across the country, police officers are performing vital services that help make their communities safer. Being afforded stellar training like this aids us in carrying out our mission with honor and integrity.”

Training included behavioral analysis, body language cues and pre-attack indicators, communication skills, team building, situational decision-making skills, and advanced firearms skills. Range time culminated with Simunitions scenarios to allow officers put their training into practice. With significant support from GLOCK, ammunition provided by Federal Premium, targets provided by Action Target, and scenario cars provided by Beard’s Towing, AG & AG was able to provide the the training materials, range fees, hotel, and all meals for the officers.

Lead instructor Heather Eckert is the owner of E4Defense, which sponsored training for the event. Heather holds multiple certifications, including Master Firearms Instructor in Shotgun, Patrol Rifle, and Handgun; RBT/Force on Force; and Specialty Training Certifications. She is an active member of ILEETA, IALEFI, and IAWP, and is a Texas DPS PSB Level III Instructor. Detective Josh White is an Army Veteran, Texas Peace Officer, TCOLE Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Force on Force Instructor, and DT Instructor. He is Double Brown belt in Shuri Ryu Karate and Blue belt in Tae Kwon Do.

“The friendship bonds and camaraderie I made this week will stay with me forever,” said Sergeant Kimberly Gill of the Sunset Valley (TX) Police Department. “The incredible generosity of the event sponsors and the gracious efforts by A Girl & A Gun was awe inspiring.”

AG & AG is scheduling additional training events for female officers, as well as a training course designed specifically for wives of LEOs, whose lives face uncertain dangers due to the nature of their spouses’ careers. For more information, visit AGirlandAGun.org/back-the-blue.

About A Girl & A Gun

A Girl & A Gun (AG & AG) is a membership organization whose events have been successful stepping stones for thousands of women into the shooting community and fostered their love of shooting with caring and qualified instructors to coach them. AG & AG breaks barriers for women and girls in the area of self-defense and in pistol, rifle, and shotgun shooting sports by welcoming beginners to learn the basics of safe and accurate shooting and providing experienced shooters with advanced-level opportunities. The club has more than 5,500 members in 48 states and hosts recurring Girl’s Nights Out at more than 180 ranges throughout the nation. Learn more at AGirlandAGun.org.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/officers-attend-2nd-annual-back-the-women-in-blue-presented-by-glock/

“Common Sense” Gun Control

By
Keith Finch
-

The aftermath of Tree of Life in Pittsburg has been predictably followed.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, 12:02 p.m. ET Saturday: “We have been saying ‘this one is too many’ for far too long. Dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harm’s way.”

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), 2:14 p.m. ET Saturday: “Thoughts and prayers are not enough—Congress must finally act on commonsense, bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation.”

Former President Barack Obama, 5:54 p.m. ET Saturday: “We have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun.”

But no one, on their life, can seem to put forward a plan that does anything other than vaguely hope that this version of infringements will stop the bad folks from doing bad things.

There is only one way gun control proponents can acquire the thing they desire. They eliminate due process concerning firearms.

The Legal Hot Item

The current hot legal trend are so called “Red Flag” laws which allow immediate action against an individual who is reported as being a threat. The specifics vary from law to law but most make law enforcement or family the reporting entity. Local LE can then, in theory, seize all weapons from said individual.

This theory will never and can never work to perfection or even great effect as there are too many workarounds in place. The cops could simply miss a weapon. Unless NICS is updated too they could purchase another. They could have a weapon with a friend or relative or acquire one from a friend or relative.

All this blatantly ignores this person’s right to due process of some sort. If their weapons should be seized they should probably be hospitalized too in some manner of monitored care setting. That also runs heavily into involuntary incarceration without adjudication and all kinds of due process firestorms too.

As well meaning as the intent is the complexities involved with execution will make it window dressing. Actually influencing either violent crime or suicide will take social efforts, not mild tool access shifts. These are actually just rehashes of systems already well established to the degree.

The Wish List

Let’s quickly hit the generalized gun control wish list followed by why it won’t work.

-Background Checks: Already in existence for legal transfer from dealer to customer. “Universal” will not be and never be universal. Knowingly selling to anyone prohibited or straw-purchase are already crimes.

-Assault Weapon Ban: Rifles account for only a couple hundred casualties annually and removing a subset of rifles, even with immediate effect by force, will not remove or even drastically alter the threat from individuals who can use another tool. Define ‘Assault Weapon’.

-Magazine Ban: Hundreds of millions in circulation. Marginal to negligible effect on lethality even with 100% (impossible) societal removal.

Therefore the three ‘piece de resistance’ items on the gun control list are, at their most altruistic, ineffective. At their most sinister they are blatant controls against the law abiding alone.

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