The Blame Game – Or – How to Stay in Your Lane

By

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November 16, 2018

Let’s play a little game, just between us physicians, shall we?

Are you offended by the implication that you, as a lawful prescriber, are to blame for the opioid epidemic? Are you tired of the government telling you how you should practice medicine–all because of the actions of the criminal and the irresponsible? Are you tired of being asked to jump through hoop after hoop in order to “prove” that you are a responsible and competent physician?

Are you guilty of nothing, but absorb the blame for everything that goes wrong in your profession, including the hundreds of thousands of deaths by medical misadventure every year? Are you annoyed by every essential oil peddler and idiot who went to Google University acting like they know how to practice medicine?

Welcome to the world of the responsible firearms owner!

We have submitted to background checks–every single time.
We have been fingerprinted for our concealed carry permits and submitted to additional background checks for that.
We have studied the Byzantine firearms laws which vary from state-to-state and even building-to-building, trying to be responsible and lawful citizens.
We have undergone mandatory classes and training for concealed permits. And many of us CONTINUE to train.
Some of us even get trauma response training, because we understand that bad things happen that aren’t our fault, and we want to be prepared.

Yet we have to listen to idiots every day expounding about firearms who know jack about how any of it actually works–including YOU.

We promote education and responsibility, but we also recognize that with a Constitutional Right, there are limits to how “mandatory” that education should be.

The NRA is the largest firearms education organization in the world. It also works to protect my civil rights from the actions of the emotional, and the well-meaning but misinformed–meaning YOU. Yet you demonize the NRA as if it were a billionaire exerting his will on the people (oh wait, that’s Bloomberg), rather than an organization of several million citizens working to preserve our civil rights.

While I respect the work that you do in the trauma bays and ORs of the country, you CHOSE that life. You chose to place yourself between human beings and death. It is an admirable path, but it also means that you only see a tiny slice of reality.

You don’t see the mother who kept her stalker ex-husband from killing her and her children–because she shot him at the door he just broke down.

You don’t see the child who hid cowering in a closet clutching a shotgun against household intruders.

You don’t see the million DEFENSIVE gun uses every year–because either you only saw the criminal perpetrator who was killed or wounded in lawful self-defense, or because the perpetrator fled when confronted with a firearm, resulting in zero deaths or injury to anyone.

You also chose the area of the country you work in. The fact that you chose to work in a large city with many social ills and a large amounts of criminal activity, rather than quiet Middle America does not give you special input into my or anyone else’s Constitutional Rights.

It is natural to become emotional when dealing with trauma as you do, but physicians, as scientists, are supposed to be driven by data, not emotion. Emotions can inform your response to individual families, but it should NEVER override logic and data leading to advocating for the removal of the civil rights of peaceful citizens. Lawful citizens did not cause the destruction in front of you, but seek to preserve the right to protect themselves from such a fate in self-defense.

Firearms are NOT a “public health issue”. Firearm violence is a criminal justice issue. Firearm rights are a Constitutional issue. A medical degree does not qualify you to speak in either realm.

Michigan Man Sentenced to Minimum 4 Years for Firing on a Lost Black Teen

By

Keith Finch

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November 15, 2018

Image Via the New York Times

Jeffrey Zeigler is going to prison

Zeigler, 53, a retired firefighter says he awoke to his wife, Dana Zeigler, screaming about a black man trying to break into their home.

Brennan Walker, the lost teen who was trying to retrace his bus route on foot to school (because millenial problems) knocked on the Zeigler’s door to ask directions.

Jeffrey’s response to to a teen who had knocked on the door and his wife’s alleged hysterics was to grab an over/under shotgun, run onto the front porch, and fire at the fleeing teen in what he described as “a warning shot”

Let’s break down the nearly unfathomably stupid poor choices here.

What possible threat was observed from the young Brennan Walker? He has the body language of a boy scout selling popcorn, not someone preparing to rush a door. There are plenty of ways to address someone from the otherside of a door that keeps you at advantage.
Why did Zeigler open the door to an alleged intruder?
Walker is beyond the driveway in full flight by the time Zeigler is on his porch and shouldering the shotgun. Any remotely feasible self defense argument is going to rely on perceived aggression at the moment you fire. Good luck trying to convince anyone that a teen trying to break the sound barrier retreating meets any standard for discharging that shotgun.
Zeigler alleged he meant to fire a “warning shot”. In Michigan there is no such legal thing and you need to abandon this concept.
When you realize you screwed up. Don’t change your story when the video is saying otherwise. You just look like more of bag of ass.

“Everything happened so fast, it was absolute madness, craziness,” Zeigler said.

Zeigler vehemently denies that he took aim at Brennan, claiming that he planned to shoot the gun up into the air, but he stumbled on wet pavement outside and his finger slipped from the trigger guard onto the trigger, and then the shotgun fired before he had intended it to.

The video proves this is absolutely false. Zeigler took aim, it looks like he tries to fire with the safety on, switches the safety off and fires. Furthermore nothing was happening fast, Walker is sitting on the porch waiting to talk to the residents of the home like millions of harmless interactions.

Caution is always warranted, nothing more.

Analysis

The video is damning. Zeigler lost control, he panicked. I cannot speak to any prejudice towards Brennan Walker but at best Jeffrey Zeigler lost control when his wife started screaming her head off.

Zeigler didn’t observe. He didn’t analyze anything in front of him.

Zeigler said his reaction was instinctive, after serving nearly 25 years as a Detroit firefighter. “We run toward danger, to mitigate it. That was my instinct, absolutely,” he said.

This is a poor excuse. I’d place a wager on your training, it never taught you to run in blind and stupid Mr. Zeigler. You would be excoriated for running into a structure fire that was about to come down on you or opening a door that was going to cause a flare up and worsen a fire.

“Run towards danger” is a catchy line for newspaper heroics just like Marines and soldiers “run towards gunfire”. It’s a shit legal defense.

He also testified that since the shooting, he’s regretted it every day.

“I wish I was awake and was the person to answer the door…I would’ve given him a ride to school, because I know it’s a long walk,” he said.

Aftermath

Jeffrey Zeigler is now paying the price for piss poor preparation. He didn’t know how to address his panicking wife. Additionally not knowing how to address a threat at his door. All of the bad decisions that could have been made were pretty much made.

This is going to cost him 4-10 years of his life. I personally believe his wife is culpable in this tragedy for freaking out about someone opening their outer screen door in the daytime, but Jeffrey fired the shotgun.

Don’t Be That Guy

Remington’s Master Blaster

By

Andy Grossman

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November 15, 2018

The Master Blaster

At a recent media event at the Remington ammunition factory in Lonoke Arkansas I had the pleasure of shooting some of the best firearms Remington has to offer. There was definitely one very unique gun we had the opportunity to shoot that stood out. The Remington MasterBlaster.

Purpose

A 5-foot-long by 5 inches wide, 100 LBS beast of a gun. An 8-Gauge industrial gun. The 8-gauge industrial gun is actually not a gun at all. It is actually classified as a tool and as a tool, the MasterBlaster has many different uses. One can think of it as a sledgehammer with a very long handle. A handle that can reach out around 300 ft accurately.

One of the uses for the MasterBlaster is for clearing out obstructions in a Rotary Kiln. The temperature inside one of these rotary kilns is around 3000 degrees. The material inside is sticky at that temperature and will start to form a ring or a clinker inside the kiln which will block the flow. You just stick the MasterBlaster in the end of the kiln and shoot the ring or clinker away. Without turning the kiln off and letting it cool for days then sending men in with hand tools to break up the rings or clinkers.

History

In the 1930’s, Kilns had to be shut down and cooled before workers with picks and bars were able to go in and painstakingly pry loose the buildup of rings, clinkers, balls, and snowmen. It was slow, difficult, and expensive. Kiln downtime eroded production efficiency and profits. The “Cement Gun” was Remington’s solution to this problem and their development of the 8-gauge shell revolutionized an industry.

Since that day Remington has continued to improve the industrial gun. Proving its worth in multiple industries. Remington’s latest industrial gun is the most effective, sophisticated Multi-industry tool of its kind. Built like an artillery piece, the Masterblaster industrial gun was developed to withstand the most severe kiln conditions. Four and a half tons of muzzle energy enable a three-ounce lead magnum or two-ounce and three once zinc payloads to deliver knockout punches accurately out to 300 feet. In addition, there is no industrial gun in the entire world that is more powerful, more accurate, and safer.

Shooting the beast

Upon walking out to the range, I was giddy with excitement. I had absolutely no idea what I was about to see when I got to the range. In the distance, mounted to a big metal stand that was secured to the wood frame work of the small shelter that stood over the firing line was a monster of a shotgun standing there pointing downrange. About 50 yards out sat a stool with a giant pumpkin atop.

Oh, hell yeah, this is going to be fun is all I could think the entire time as some folks from Remington explained how it all worked. Yes! It was time to go to the line and fire the MasterBlaster. walking up to the firing line, I turned the industrial guns traverse wheels to get it aligned with the pumpkin, grabbed the giant 3oz, 8-gauge slug and placed it on the loading platform of the MasterBlaster. My heart started pounding out of my chest as grabbed a firm hold of the operating handle and pushed it forward. The industrial gun almost seemed to thank me for feeding it when I threw that operating handle forward. The MasterBlaster was ready to go to work.

This beast should be named Gallagher because it really loved to “smash some fruit.” I looked at the range master and confirmed it was time. The MasterBlaster doesn’t have a traditional trigger. It utilizes a simple lanyard that you just give a little pull straight back. With that simple pull of the lanyard the industrial gun came to life with an earth-shaking bang followed by a whole bunch of laughter and child like giggles from everyone behind me.

Downrange was a different story. I aimed A little bit low, the stool burst into a barrage of splinters and the pumpkin shot straight up in the air. The pumpkin was wounded but not dead so it was time for shot number 2. We reset the range and fired again. This time the pumpkin was not so lucky. It exploded into a million little pieces and covered the range like a blanket. Needless to say, this 8-gauge industrial gun is like nothing I had ever seen before.

A beast designed out of necessity. The classic example of see a need fill a need. The industrial gun is not available to consumers so if you are not in an industry that you actually can use this MasterBlaster, you wont probably ever get the privilege of shooting one. If you are an industrial customer that needs more information on an industrial gun you can contact Remington’s Industrial 8-gauge Department located at Lonoke Arkansas. 501-676-4150.

Gone Hunting

By

Keith Finch

-

November 15, 2018

That’s it folks.

I’ll be back later. To anyone joining me in the woods, good luck and stay safe!

On Mass Shootings

By

Keith Finch

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November 14, 2018

How do we have a reasonable conversation about so unreasonable a topic as violence?

First, we need intellectual honesty. We need to look at the hard information even when it is unpleasant. We need to remove our bias for or pet solutions and accept the benefits and drawbacks of all options.

Until we do that we can’t have a reasonable conversation.

H. R. 7115 Introduced, Bans All Home Builds, Modifications, and Parts

By

Keith Finch

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November 14, 2018

No More Home Builds

H.R. 7115 called, disingenuously, the “3-D Firearms Prohibition Act” is an opening salvo from the Democrats that will, if passed, effectively eliminate your ability to build or modify your gun at home.

Your home built AR-15 on any lower, serialized or not, will now be impossible.

A BILL

To prohibit the sale, acquisition, distribution in commerce, or import into the United States of certain firearm receiver castings or blanks, assault weapon parts kits, and machinegun parts kits and the marketing or advertising of such castings or blanks and kits on any medium of electronic communications, to require homemade firearms to have serial numbers, and for other purposes.

Obviously targeting 3D printing and 80% builds, the text of the law also eliminates the ability to change any part of your firearm on your own. Why? You can’t legally buy the part. Factory stripped and already serialized parts? Nope. Can’t do those either.

SEC. 2. DO-IT-YOURSELF ASSAULT WEAPON BAN.

(a) Banned Hazardous Products.—Notwithstanding section 3(a)(5)(E) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(5)(E)), the following shall be considered banned hazardous products under section 8 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2057):

(1) A firearm receiver casting or firearm receiver blank or unfinished handgun frame that—

(A) at the point of sale does not meet the definition of a firearm in section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code; and

(B) after purchase by a consumer, can be completed by the consumer to the point at which such casting or blank functions as a firearm frame or receiver for a semiautomatic assault weapon or machinegun or the frame of a handgun.

(2) An assault weapon parts kit.

(3) A machinegun parts kit.

(b) Enforcement.—Subsection (a) shall be treated as a ban under section 19 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2068).

(c) Consultation.—In enforcing this section, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall periodically consult with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regarding effective strategies for and methods of enforcement.

The devil is in the details. Or in this case the definitions.

(2) the term “assault weapon parts kit” means any part or combination of parts designed and intended to enable a consumer who possesses all such necessary parts to assemble a semiautomatic assault weapon

You can’t buy a Geissele trigger. You can’t buy a new buffer or spring. You can’t buy a new takedown pin. You can’t buy any part that would allow you to complete a “semi-automatic assault rifle” as they are now all defined as “Banned Hazardous Products”

The title of the act is an insidious attempt to deflect from just how damaging the act would be to the modern market and your choices as a consumer.

(4) the term “semiautomatic assault weapon” means—

(A) a semiautomatic rifle or semiautomatic shotgun that has the capacity to accept a detachable ammunition feeding device; or

(B) a semiautomatic pistol that has—

(i) the capacity to accept a detachable ammunition feeding device; and

(ii) any one of the features described in subsection (b)

(b) Special Features Of A Semiautomatic Pistol.—The special features described in subsection (a)(3)(B)(ii) are—

(1) an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;

(2) a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer;

(3) a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand without being burned;

(4) a second hand grip;

(5) a manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; and

(6) a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm.

The bill is looking to cripple one of the most useful and enjoyable portions of the firearms market, end user customizations. The aftermarket would be crippled beyond repair. Licensed gunsmiths would have to perform every single part change you want done because you cannot purchase a ‘Hazardous Product’.

This bill has no chance in the House… until the house changes hands next year. Then the gun control proponents in Washington can push this into the Senate’s hands. They can shame the Senate for “doing nothing but offering thoughts and prayers” over gun control. It doesn’t matter that none of the shootings involved a 80% “Ghost Gun” or 3D printed weapon.

This is bullshit folks… It’s bullshit and it’s bad for you. Be sure to let your Congress folk and Senators know it.

The Brit’s Bullpup V3: H&K Awarded $95 Million for The SA80/L85 A3 Variants

By

Keith Finch

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November 13, 2018

The latest version of the UK’s bullpup service rifle is now awarded a full production contract

“A notice was issued on 28 October stating that the MoD intended to award NSAF Limited, a UK subsidiary of Heckler & Koch, a contract worth up to GBP75 million (USD95.6 million) to modify and supply 44,000 upgraded 5.56×45 mm SA80 rifles,” said Grant Turnbull, Janes International Defense Review.

The changes to the rifle include:

A more durable hardwearing coating in a “Flat Dark Earth” color offering better camouflage in a range of environments.
The A3 is 100g (approximately 1/4 lb) lighter than the A2 and has a more streamlined fore grip making the weapon easier to handle.
The A3 rifle has a bracket to secure new innovative low light sights which can clip on or in front of the day sight without the need to remove it. These sights are smaller, lighter and require fewer batteries whilst operating just as effectively in low light/night conditions.

In a world of military forces switching to M4 style conventional rifles the fact that Brit’s, along with the Israeli IDF and Australian armed forces, are fielding modernized bullpups may give the concept new legs.

The Right Tool for the Job

By

Keith Finch

-

November 12, 2018

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

-

November 11, 2018

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

-

November 10, 2018

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

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November 9, 2018

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

-

November 8, 2018

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

-

November 8, 2018

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

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November 7, 2018

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

-

November 7, 2018

Michigan Democrats On The Midterm Ballot Attend Election Night Party In Detroit — 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:

Roads
Health Care
Water
Government Accountability
Jobs
More Jobs
Urban Poverty
Retirement Tax Repeal
Women’s Rights
SJW Type Civil Rights items
Veterans Benefits
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.