Assault Weapons Ban shot down in Senate.

On Tuesday, Harry Reid, leader of the Democrat-controlled Senate, dropped Diane Feinstein's Assault Weapons Ban from the gun control package proposed by the group.

The move by Reid is largely due to a lack of support for the ban, and a fear that including it in the full package could prevent ANY gun control laws from being passed. However, Feinstein intends to offer the ban as an amendment. Personally, I don't see this getting any traction.

Now we just have to worry about universal background checks (AKA de facto registration). The other laws proposed are measures which won't limit gun rights, and include strengthening the penalties for straw purchases and school safety aid.

This is, indeed, a triumph for freedom loving Americans, but we may not be out of the woods yet. A high-capacity magazine ban may still be on the table. At least we can expect AR prices to go down a little.

Defense Distributed granted manufacturing license.

A picture of the document taken from the Defense Distributed blog.

Defense Distributed, the organization which you probably know pretty well by now, has just been granted a license to manufacture firearms by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. I assume this means that they can now sell 3D printed firearms, since it is legal to "create" them without a license, but not legal to sell them. The license is a Type 7, which allows manufacturing of non-automatic firearms.

Apparently some of the politicians are catching wind of all this 3D printing news. Representative Steve Israel (D-Huntington, NY) has already introduced a ban on the 3D printing of gun magazines. The bill is in the drafting phase, and I don't expect it to go far, since 3D printing is not very well-known.

Anti-gun insanity hits schools nationwide.

You may have heard some of these recent news stories, but just in case you haven't here is a roundup:

• In Washington today, a six-year old boy was suspended for school because he was overheard for simply talking about toy guns (keep in mind, not real ones) with his classmates.
• Actor Joseph C. Phillips' 15-year old son's mental state was called into question by his school when he showed a picture of an airsoft BB gun to a classmate. The school also threatened police action.
• An entire county went into lock-down after a school doctor's office receptionist heard the words "school" and "shooting" on a student's voicemail while confirming an appointment. In reality, the voicemail message was actually a quote from the theme song to The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, which read, "And all shooting some b-ball outside of the school."
• A 7-year old boy at Park Elementary School in Brooklyn Park was suspended for allegedly chewing a breakfast pastry into the shape of a gun. The student claims that he was actually trying to chew it into the shape of a mountain, and a teacher ordered him to go to the principal's office. Recent reports also state that the school is offering counseling to any students who may have witnessed the traumatizing act. 

There are a few more stories like this, but I cannot recall them at the moment. This is just and example of the mass hysteria surrounding guns promoted by the mass media and government.

Gun manufacturers refuse to sell in anti-gun states.

The count is increasing rapidly. Magpul, Wilson Combat, Larue Tactical, Olympic Arms, Doublestar Corp., American Spirit Arms, Liberty Suppressors, Barrett Firearms, and numerous other firearms manufacturers are refusing to sell their products to the government in anti-gun cities and states. I would suppose this would primarily include law enforcement. This is a business risk, and it is great that these companies are putting their profits on the line to help the pro-gun cause. Now if only we could get some of the ammunition manufacturers to get on board with this, we would really have some leverage.

Defense Distributed fires 600 rounds from a 3D printed AR lower.

You may remember my earlier post regarding Defense Distributed, the group behind the Wiki Weapon project. So far, Defense Distributed has successfully produced magazines and AR lowers using 3D printers. However, until now, their lower could only fire several rounds before it shattered. Their newest edition is much more capable, and has been tested to over 600 rounds!

To most people, this is not a major accomplishment, since the lower receiver is only one part of the firearm. However, it is the most important part, since AR-15 lowers are the only part of the weapons that are actually legally considered a "firearm". The lower is the only part that is registered and serial-numbered. Therefore, by 3D printing a lower, one can create a gun which is not "in the system". Defense distributed has a video, as well as many other interesting photos of their magazines and guns on their blog.

Daniel Defense DDM4ISR 300

The DDM4ISR, Daniel Defense's new integrally suppressed rifle chambered in AAC .300 BLK will be released April 1st. The firearm was first introduced at SHOT Show this year, and features a permanently attached sound supressor on the end of its 10.3" cold hammer-forged barrel. The neat thing about the DDM4ISR is that even though it has a short barrel, the supressor is considered part of the barrel, therefore increasing its length to 16.145 inches. Because of this, the rifle is not considered an SBR, but will still need one NFA tax stamp for the suppressor.

The baffle core of the suppressor can be removed for cleaning with a tool that is included with the rifle. The rifle includes a 12-inch Daniel Defense Modular Float Rail, Magpul MOE stock, and a QD swivel point in the rear of the receiver.

The entire length of the rifle is 34.5 inches with the stock fully retracted, and it weighs 7.6 lbs. The MSRP is currently set at $3199.00.

Texas homeowner stops robbery, holds suspects until police arrive.

Just to give a taste of the good things that gun owners do every day in America, here's a story thanks to Guns Save Lives. This Wednesday morning, a Houston homeowner stopped a burglary in progress in his house, and then held the suspects at gunpoint until the police could arrive to arrest them.

The man, Randy Magdeleno, stated on KHOU that he walked into his house to find three juvenile criminals attempting to rob him. He quickly grabbed his rifle, not knowing whether the robbers were armed or not, and went into his kitchen. He caught two suspects downstairs, and a third upstairs. He then told them to lie on the floor. Magdeleno could not call 911 from his cell phone, so his wife called from her workplace.

Police later arrived and arrested all three suspects. More proof that guns can truly save lives and protect people, sometimes without the need for shots to even be fired.

Surface-to-air missile control?

The FIM-92 Stinger missile launcher

Rep. Gerald Connoly, a Democratic congressman for Virginia, has apparently expressed concerns that FIM-92 Stinger missiles need to be banned from civilian ownership.

What? That is probably what you're thinking.

Connoly stated:

“I have been accused of trying to dismantle the Second Amendment for simply asking whether high-powered, military-style semi-automatic firearms with large-capacity magazines — which were used in the D.C. sniper murders, the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, and the mass shootings in Aurora and Newtown — should be readily available to the general public. Or for wondering whether the Second Amendment applies to weapons such as the FIM-92 Stinger missile launcher, a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile platform capable of downing commercial aircraft.”

I'm as confused as you are. Stinger missiles are considered destructive devices, and therefore are already illegal for civilians to own.

As stated in the article on Guns Save Lives, this situation is a flashback to Jesse Jackson's comments about how semi-automatic rifles can shoot down planes and blow up railroads.

An analysis of the effects of Feinstein's AWB

The largest gun control bill on the table at the moment is obviously Senator Feinstein's propsed assault weapons ban, which is being endorsed in a campaign-style manner by President Obama. I thought I would take some time to explain some of the supposed "flaws" in this bill, and some of the little-known consequences it will have.

First off, the assault weapon ban ABSOLUTELY DOES violate the 2nd Amendment, and is unconstitutional. This is a result of the fact that the ban DOES involve confiscation, unlike what everyone is telling you. In this case however, it is not a direct confiscation, but a de jure confiscation. The bill prohibits the future sale or transfer of any so-called "assault weapons". Now, there is a grandfather clause, so you can keep an "assault weapon" if you already own one. However, because the bill prohibits future transfers, you can never sell that weapon or even give it to a relative. In the event that the owner of such a weapon dies, the firearm cannot be passed on to anyone else. Therefore, I would assume that the only option would be to destroy the weapon, or send it to the government.

Secondly, the assault weapons ban does not JUST ban the "blacklisted" weapons in the bill. If interpreted properly, the AWB will ban ALL semiautomatic rifles. The bill states that for a weapon to be banned, it must be a semiautomatic rifle equipped with one or more "military features," including a pistol grip. Later in the bill, a pistol grip is defined as essentially any form of grip that allows the user to hold onto the gun. This would include regular stocks, which would ban almost all semiautomatic rifles.

Lastly, the AWB contradicts itself, and proves just how stupid it is to ban certain types of weapons based on "scary features". As many of you know, the bill includes a "blacklist", which lists 157 specific models of guns that are to be banned. However, the bill also includes a list of 2200 weapons exempted from the ban, that would otherwise be banned. Many of these "exempted" guns are very similar or even nearly identical to blacklisted guns, and many even include several "military features". One example: The Ruger Mini-14. The Mini-14 is a semiautomatic rifle that can accept high-capacity magazines. In the AWB, the tactical variant of the Mini-14 is blacklisted, but the standard model is not. The only difference: One has a black, polymer stock, and one has a standard wooden stock.

Spread the word, and maybe even the anti-gunners will realize the futility and stupidity of this bill.

Obama endorses gun control in the city it failed in.

This Friday, Obama took his "campaign" for more gun control to his hometown, Chicago, also known as the most violent city in America. Also known as the city with the strongest gun control laws in the nation. Coincidence?

Nevertheless, the Preisdent stated:

"There was something profound and uniquely heart-breaking and tragic about a group of 6-year-olds being killed But last year there were 443 murders with a firearm on the streets of this city and 65 of those victims were 18 and under; so that's the equivalent of a Newtown every four months."

While this is true, none of the new gun laws Obama is pushing for, most notably Feinstein's assault weapons ban, would do anything to stop gun violence in Chicago. Out of the 12000 or so gun deaths every year in the US, only about 300 are from rifles, and an even smaller number than that are caused by so-called "assault weapons". It is clear that Chicago's main problem is not AR-15s, it's gangs. Until the windy city gets control of its street gangs, the gun violence will not stop, no matter what laws are enacted. Gangsters don't buy guns legally from their local sporting goods store.

Obama is currently pushing for a large gun control legislative package, which would include universal background checks, a ban on high capacity magazines, and or course, the AWB.

12-gauge AR Shotgun

If you were getting tired of the Saiga-12, there is now another option for a semi-auto, box mag-fed shotgun. Intrepid Tactical Solutions has released the AR-12, a 12-gauge AR-15-style upper that fits standard AR-10 lower receivers. A larger, 8-round magazine has also been developed to fit the shotgun shells. The rest of the AR remains unchanged, aside from requiring a stronger, stiffer buffer spring.

The only main problem with the AR-12 is the requirement for specialized ammo. Standard 12-gauge shells do not work well in box magazines, primarily because the rims on each shell make them difficult to stack. Therefore, Intrepid Tactical Solutions actually designed a new, proprietary round just for the AR-12. The full-polymer construction shell features a "retracted" rim, and a round nose cone. While this is a great idea, I'm not sure how well this new ammunition will fair. Intrepid Tactical Solutions has stated that it has formed a partnership with a major ammunition manufacturer to produce the "RAS-12" shells, but the requirement of proprietary ammo is a bit of a setback in my opinion, and we all know too well that it's not easy for a new type of ammunition to catch on.

TrackingPoint rifles: Tech that makes everyone accurate

TrackingPoint, Inc. is a company based out of Austin, Texas that has developed a weapon system that "locks on" to your target, and decides the best time to take the shot by itself, as shown in this demonstration video.

The system features a computerized scope, which initially just displays a magnified view with crosshairs. The shooter lines up the crosshairs with the intended target, then "tags" the target. A small red box will appear around the target, and as the riflescope moves, the dot will remain on the same place on the target. Next, the scope computer calculates a "firing solution" taking into account distance and windage. The shooter must simply align the crosshairs of the scope with the box, and pull the trigger. The rifle will not fire until the crosshairs are aligned. Within a distance of 1000 yards, shots fired will hit within a hands width from the target, giving the average person sniper-like accuracy.

Currently, TrackingPoint is working on producing three rifles: One chambered in .338 Lapua, and two smaller rifles chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum. No retail prices have been announced, but there are rumors of $15k-$20k prices.

Remington R12

Remington has introduced a new tactical variant of their innovative Versa Max shotgun, which featured gas ports in the chamber and just ahead of it, forming a regulation system that utilized the shotgun shells themselves.

The R12 is produced by Remington Defense, therefore it is only for sale to military and law enforcement. However, I'm sure we can expect a modified civilian version for sale soon. Remington is currently selling two models of the R12: One with a traditional stock (shown above), 18" barrel, ghost ring sights, and a 6+1 capacity; and one with a 14.5" barrel, open sights, 5+1 capacity, and a pistol grip stock. The latter, designated the R-12E (Entry) is most likely intended as a breaching or close-quarters shotgun.

Sphinx SDP Compact 9mm

Sphinx Arms has announced that they will begin distributing their SDP Compact 9mm pistol in the first quarter of 2013. The SDP Compact is a new Double/Single-action 9mm handgun. It has a 3.7 inch barrel, CNC-machined steel slide, and a 15+1 capacity. The SDP Compact utilizes and uncommon two-part frame design. The upper frame is composed of aerospace-grade aluminum with Teflon inserts, and the lower frame is constructed a temperature and corrosion resistant polymer.

The Sphinx also features an ambidextrous decocking lever, front and rear sights, and an under-barrel picatinny rail. The handgun comes with three separate back straps for different hand sizes.

The MSRP of the SDP Compact is $1295.00.

Celebrities endorse and speak out against AWB

Paul J. Richards / AFP - Getty Images

Yesterday, Chris Rock, Tony Bennett, Adam Scott and Amanda Peet endorsed Obama's gun control plan at a press conference during an event led by Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Tony Bennett, as well as Adam Scott (from Parks and Recreation) specifically referenced the Newtown massacre.

Perhaps the most disconcerting was the blind loyalty expressed by Chris Rock, who stated:

"The President of the United States is ... our boss. ... The president and the first lady are kind of like the mom and the dad of the country, and when your dad says something, you listen! And when you don't, it usually bites you in the ass later on."

This mindset is the reason that we Bill of Rights supporters need to prevent this ban from making it through. On the positive side, Bruce Willis and Ice-T are on our side. Willis stated:

"I think that you can't start to pick apart anything out of the Bill of Rights without thinking that it's all going to become undone."

Ice-T expressed similar concerns in an interview after the Aurora shooting.

RIP Chris Kyle

As you may know, Chris Kyle was killed last Saturday at Rough Creek Lodge shooting range in Erath County, Texas.

I would like to offer my most sincere condolences for this true American hero.

Chris Kyle was a sniper in the United States Navy Seals on Seal Team 3 and served for four tours of duty. He shot and killed 160 insurgents in the Iraq War, which earned him the nickname "The Devil of Ramadi." His longest shot was 2100 yards, fired from a .338 Lapua Magnum rifle. Throughout his service career, Kyle has been shot twice, and has survived six IED explosions.

Kyle is the author of the book "American Sniper," which describes his experience as a sniper in the Naval Special Warfare Command. Kyle also formed a partnership with the FITCO Cares foundation, and founded the Heroes project to help disabled veterans and their families.

I remember reading that when Kyle published his book, he was hesitant to publish the number of people he killed. Instead, he wanted to focus on the people he had saved by eliminating his targets.

Once again, I offer my condolences. Rest in Peace, Chris.

Milwaukee Sheriff releases PSA: "You have a duty to protect yourself."

Image via Gary Porter/AP/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke has released a radio PSA in Wisconsin telling citizens to arm themselves in case the police do not arrive on time.

In the PSA, Clarke is quoted as saying:

"I'm Sheriff David Clarke, and I want to talk to you about something personal...your safety. It's no longer a spectator sport; I need you in the game, but are you ready? With officers laid-off and furloughed, simply calling 9-1-1 and waiting is no longer your best option. You can beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed, or you can fight back; but are you prepared? Consider taking a certified safety course in handling a firearm so you can defend yourself until we get there. You have a duty to protect yourself and your family. We're partners now. Can I count on you?"

This announcement has sparked quite a controversy, while tensions are already very high given recent events. Some critics on the anti-gun side claim that it is "irresponsible" and that Clarke is merely acting as a mouthpiece for the gun lobby. However, in many cases, what Clarke says in the PSA is a fact: When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.

3D printing could nullify magazine bans.

You may have heard of the latest advances in the field of 3D printing. If not, here is the basic rundown: 3D printers are machines that function like a CNC machine for milling metal or wood. However, instead of milling out the object from a solid piece of material, 3D printers form the object from scratch by melting plastic, and "printing" a 3D object. By printing separate parts, one can produce entire assemblies of parts.

There has been increased interest in 3D printing in the firearm community, especially because of one organization known as Defense Distributed, or the Wiki Weapon project. The ultimate goal of this project is to produce a fully functioning AR-15 rifle from 3D printed parts. Defense Distributed has already succeeded in producing a functioning AR lower, but the component broke after several shots, due to the weak plastic it was constructed from. While current hobbyist printers are restricted to plastics, we can assume that as this technology matures, we will begin to see printers capable of constructing significantly stronger plastic parts, or even printing metal parts.

While the printed AR may have been failure (if you want to look at it that way), the Wiki Weapon project has successfully produced a completely printed 30-round AR magazine, which survived a full unload of its ammunition.

If this technology further matures and becomes more and more affordable, magazine and gun bans may become completely useless. Defense Distributed used a very expensive high-quality printer to produce the AR mag, but they are currently working on a design that can be produced on cheaper hobbyist/in-home printers.

Citations:
http://hackaday.com/2013/01/15/print-your-own-30-round-ar15-magazine/

Chiappa Triple-Barrel Shotguns

The Chiappa Triple Threat on display at SHOT.

Chiappa is an import company known for its "unusual" firearms, such as their unique and unconventional Rhino revolvers. At SHOT Show this year, they didn't fail to impress, with the introduction of the new Triple Crown and Triple Threat shotguns.

While they are certainly not the first to attempt to improve upon the traditional break-action shotgun by adding additional barrels, they are the first mainstream company to do so, and their triple-barrel 12-gauge is the first to receive major attention in the gun community.

The new Triple Crown and Triple Threat are produced by Akkar Silah Sanayi Ltd. of Turkey. The Triple Crown is a a full-length sporting gun with a standard stock, and the Triple Threat is designed for self-defense, and is equipped with either a standalone pistol grip or a full-length stock that can transform into a pistol grip. Both shotguns can accept Rem choke tubes, and come with five choke tubes.

Once again, Chiappa completely rethinks a tried-and-true concept like the revolver or break shotgun, and improves upon it. I am looking forward to hearing more about this shotgun.