Winchester 94: The Best-Selling Rifle Ever is Back

December 8, 2009

The first day back in the office after a long hunting trip is always a bust. I am invariably tired, worn out, unfocused and stuck dealing with emails, phone calls and nothing that is ever productive. That’s how my day started, just back from an Alaska brown bear hunt, but while I was sorting through all the offers to enhance my male parts and to sell me gold, a new email popped up with good news.

The Winchester Model 94 rifle is back.

Sort of.

Winchester announced today (October 21, 2009) that they are reintroducing the Model 94 with two high-end, high-dollar limited-edition rifles that will commemorate Oliver F. Winchester’s 200th birthday.

The Model 94 was originally called the “Model 1894.” This lever action rifle was a John Browning design and was important for a couple of reasons. First is because it introduced smokeless powder to the civilian world. The military was first to use smokeless powder with the .30-40 Krag in 1892. The Krag was also the first “small bore” military cartridge.

It didn’t hang around long, as the .30-03 replaced it in 1903 as a military cartridge. That was replaced by the updated version called the .30-06 (well actually, it was named “Cartridge, Caliber .30, Model of 1906”) three years later. But the Krag was significant as it introduced smokeless powder and small diameter bullets to the United States.

The new Winchester Model 94 is quite fancy. It's no longer a commoner's gun.

It was inevitable that the civilian world would follow suit and the Model 1894 Winchester was the rifle that introduced this new concept in cartridges and propellants to civilians. When it first shipped in early 1895, the Winchester Model 1894 rifle was chambered in two new, “cutting edge,” high-velocity, small-bore, smokeless powder cartridges, the .30 WCF or, as we came to know it, the .30-30 Winchester; and the .25-35 WCF, known best as the .25-35 Winchester. These were the first two smokeless powder cartridges ever offered to the civilian market in America, and they ushered in an unprecedented era in American rifle cartridges.

In less than a generation we witnessed the birth of some of our greatest hunting cartridges ever, cartridges that continue to be at the top of the popularity heap even today. While these two Winchester cartridges were the portal that transitioned American hunters from big-bore, low-velocity, black powder cartridges to the high velocity, small bore cartridges that continue to dominate our hunting rifle choices today; the Winchester Model 1894 rifle was the delivery system. For that alone this rifle will remain one of the most important ever in American firearms history.

The second reason the Model 94 is so important and historic and why it was such a tragedy when Winchester folded its tent and stopped production in January of 2006, is because with more than six million sold, the Model 94 is the most popular rifle in history.

It is common knowledge among gun guys that the .30-30 Winchester is even today one of the most popular cartridges in terms of sales numbers, and it was claimed without challenge for decades that the .30-30 killed more deer than any other cartridge in history.

That’s certainly not because of any magic ballistic powers the .30-30 contains. The truth is, it’s antiquated and underpowered by today’s standards. But, it continues to be in the top two or three of big game cartridges sold for one simple reason, the Winchester Model 94.

This was the perfect marriage. The rifle sold the cartridge, not the other way around, as with some other popular introductions. The Winchester Model 94 carbine is a slick handling, good feeling rifle that everybody loves. It was priced just right for the working man and it was durable and reliable. But, best of all, it simply felt right in your hand as you carried it. It probably didn’t hurt that for much of the rifle’s life America’s heroes were cowboys. Generations watched the Winchester lever action rifles deal with the bad guys in movies and television shows. It was the gun our heroes used and so it was the gun we used.

The .30-30 proved to be the best performer of the two new cartridges and quickly surged ahead in sales. The name also rolled off the tongue much better than .25-35 Winchester and so it was much cooler to say. Laugh if you must, but the marketing people will tell you that is an important aspect to success. But, without the Model 94 rifle the .30-30 Winchester would have been dumped on the junk heap of obsolescence years ago. Sure it is popular in other rifles, such as the Marlin 336, but without the Model 94 the .30-30 would never have lasted long enough to become popular in the Marlin.

Now it’s back.

But not in the classic Model 94 spirit. These rifles are fancy looking and priced for kings, not commoners. The limited edition Model 1894 Custom Grade rifle has a suggested retail of $1,959. The Model 1894 High Grade rifle’s suggested retail is $1,469. I expect they will sell out production quickly, but these new rifles are not in the true spirit of what made the 94 historic.

The return of the Model 1894 is a wonderful thing, but it didn’t become the most popular rifle in history by selling high grade walnut and embellished engraving. This is the working man’s gun and these two are not in a working man’s budget. In fact, I would be shocked if any of these new rifles ever shoot a white tail.

Will the plain, vanilla Model 94 return? The word I have from a Winchester representative is yes. But, he couldn’t say when or for what price. It’s also going to be made in Japan by Miroku. They make high quality firearms, but will the American cowboy (and we gun guys are all a little bit “cowboy”) accept a rifle made in Japan?

My guess is it will depend on the price. If they bring back the Model 94 rifle that became famous, that is a simple, functional, well made carbine for a reasonable price, we won’t care where it’s made and will buy it again. But, if the falling dollar leaves it priced too high, I predict the Model 94 is in for a rough time and will be fighting for survival.

This may be the rebirth of an American legend. Let’s hope it can survive.

New Jersey Legislators to Vote on One-Handgun-Per-Month Changes

Brian McCombie

December 7, 2009

As the National Rifle Association (NRA) noted, “The Committee voted unanimously to approve A4304, clarifying the original language by exempting the transfer of handguns among licensed retail dealers, registered wholesale dealers and registered manufacturers; or transfers of handguns from any person to a licensed retail dealer or a registered wholesale dealer

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or registered manufacturer. As it stands now, the current law exempts sales between licensed gun dealers but not purchases by licensed dealers from firearm distributors or manufacturers which under New Jersey law are classified differently.”

The NRA alert continued, A4304 will now move to the full Assembly and is scheduled for a vote on Monday, December 7th. It is important that you contact your legislator and respectfully urge them to support A4304.

Source: NRA-ILA

GOA: Obamacare is Anti-Gun

Gun Digest Editors

December 7, 2009

The spectacle on the Senate floor — in connection with the anti-gun ObamaCare bill — is disgusting. The Senate is debating socialized health care right now, and some Republicans may be ready to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

This alert is long, but it is necessarily so. Here's the situation as it stands right now on the Senate floor:

* Harry Reid is pushing a $3 trillion bill with over $500 billion in new deficits. But he is trying to conceal the deficits with accounting fraud on a scale which would put anyone else in prison for the rest of his life.

* Reid's bill would restructure the American economy in a way that has not been seen at any time during our lifetimes — but is being shoved down the throats of the American people before they can even comprehend the magnitude of the problem.

* Harry Reid took six weeks to write his legislation behind closed doors, but is trying to force the Senate to pass the bill in no time at all. FYI, the Constitution envisions an important role for the U.S. Senate in crafting legislation, but nowhere mentions Reid's “secret” meetings to coerce and bribe senators.

“Okay, okay” you say. The fact that Harry Reid comes across as a lying politician is not news. But there is another problem: Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has adopted a losing strategy that will, unfortunately, help speed up the passage of Harry Reid's anti-gun health care bill.

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The Senate can do little without every senator agreeing to do it — or at least not objecting to its being done. Hence, you hear about “unanimous consent requests.” This means that every senator agrees to considering a particular amendment or, at least, to voting on it at a particular time.

The thing about these requests is this: They almost always make it easier for the bill to pass.

Hence, we are at the point where WE SHOULD STOP ALL UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENTS TO FURTHER REID'S HEALTH CARE FREIGHT TRAIN.
And a single senator can do this by simply saying: “I object.”

But instead, Mitch McConnell has already started allowing amendments to be offered which will let the Senate Democrats “clean up” the bill … just enough to get it passed by the Senate.

We need to stop this sort of deal making. We need to stop these requests which grease the skids for Harry Reid's freight train.
And, in particular, we don't want to clean up this diabolical monstrosity. We want to kill it.

So our message? Kill the bill. Kill the bill. Kill the bill.

AND NO MORE UNANIOMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENTS TO FACILITATE THAT BILL'S PASSAGE.

We don't want Mitch McConnell to try to make himself look good by pretending to be a “non-obstructionist.” We want Senate Republicans to move heaven and earth to protect Americans from Harry Reid's scheme of bribery, fraud and dirty politics.

ACTION: Contact your two U.S. Senators. Tell them to object to any further Unanimous Consent agreements to further the ObamaCare freight train.

You can use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at https://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send a pre-written message to your Senators — the appropriate e-mail will automatically be sent to your Senator, based on whether he is a Republican or Democrat.

—– Pre-written letter for Republican Senators —–

Dear Senator:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has agreed to Unanimous Consent agreements which allow for amendments to be offered to ObamaCare — a strategy that will, unfortunately, have the effect of providing Democrats just enough votes to “clean up” this anti-gun bill and get it passed.

We need to stop this sort of request which helps grease the skids for Harry Reid's freight train.

And, in particular, I don't want to see this diabolical monstrosity cleaned up in a way that makes the bill just “good enough” to get 60 votes. This bill would restructure the American economy in a way that has not been seen at any time during our lifetime. I want to see this bill killed outright.

So my message? Kill the bill. Kill the bill. Kill the bill. NO MORE UNANIOMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENTS TO FACILITATE THAT BILL'S PASSAGE.

I don't want Mitch McConnell to try to make Republicans look good by pretending to be “non-obstructionist.” I want Senate Republicans to move heaven and earth to protect Americans from Harry Reid's socialist scheme.

Sincerely,

—– Pre-written letter for Democrat Senators —–

Dear Senator:

The spectacle on the Senate floor — in connection with ObamaCare — is disgusting:

Please oppose this diabolical monstrosity.

Sincerely,

Source: Gun Owners of America

Colorado University Votes to Keep Concealed Carry

Gun Digest Editors

December 7, 2009

At Colorado State University in Fort Collins, public safety experts and the president's cabinet support a gun ban.

Before the decision is made, however, the school wants to hear what students think.

Wednesday night, the student governing body voted 21-3 in support of keeping CSU a conceal-and-carry campus. Five student senators were absent or did not vote.

The student leaders will now submit their resolution to the CSU president for consideration.

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Author of the bill, CSU Junior Cooper Anderson said, “We wrote this bill because we felt that a student should have the right to self defense on campus. We don't believe that crime stops at a campus' borders.”

CSU spokesperson Brad Bohlander says the Public Safety Team and the president's cabinet are united against the issue.

“More availability and more access to weapons on a highly populated college campus can potentially lead to more negative incidents,” Bohlander told 9NEWS.

Besides Utah, where universities aren't allowed to ban guns, CSU is one of only a handful of universities across the country allowing concealed weapons.

CSU has never had a violent gun incident on campus. Read more

Source: 9News.com

Florida Gas Station Robber Shot in Self-Defense

Eric Puryear

December 3, 2009

Police say that at around 9:20 PM, a robber entered the Chevron gas station in Cocoa, Florida and pointed a handgun at the manager while demanding money.

The manager reportedly grabbed his own gun from below the counter and fired in self defense, striking the criminal and causing him to flee to the parking lot, where he collapsed. Police are said to have arrived to find a suspect laying the parking lot, suffering from gunshot wounds to the abdomen.

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The suspect was airlifted to a hospital for emergency surgery, where he was listed in critical but stable condition. Neither the gas station manager nor any other innocent people were harmed. Speaking about this self defense shooting, Police Spokesperson Officer Barbara Matthews reported stated “He absolutely had the right to defend himself.”

Unarmed individuals can suffer a terrible fate when a criminal robs them, even if they fully cooperate with the criminal’s demands. The same is true for those who try to run from the robber. Read more

Source: Self-Defense Examiner

Police: Gunshot Victim Left at Tucson Hospital Tied to Suspected Home Invasion

Gun Digest Editors

December 3, 2009

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The man was injured during a home invasion that occurred Wednesday morning in the 2800 block of North Raime Place, near North Silverbell and West Grant roads, said Sgt. Diana Lopez, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.

The man was dropped off by unknown individuals at a family member’s house, and the family member took him to St. Mary’s, Lopez said.

The man was then transported to another hospital, where he is in serious condition, Lopez said. Read more

Source: azstarnet.com

New Hampshire Home Invaders Shot By Victim

Gun Digest Editors

December 3, 2009

Residents say it’s a normally quiet neighborhood, but Wednesday night police say three men forced their way into an apartment and attacked a man and woman inside. At least two of the robbers had handguns and were allegedly threatening the couple. At some point the male resident got hold of his own handgun and got into a scuffle with the intruders. Shots were fired and one of the robbers, Nathan Stringfield, 23, of Berlin, was hit and died at the scene.

Next-door neighbor Joe Gauthier was doing his dishes when the gunfight broke out.

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“I’d just shut the water off and I heard a gunshot so I ran to the side window which faces that building and looked out and saw a man on the ground there,” Gauthier said. “He was just lying there and the girl was screaming.”

Officials say the woman was the girlfriend of the man who lives in the apartment. She was inside when the armed intruders forced their way in.

“Once they went inside they assaulted the resident inside the apartment. The male resident managed to get his own firearm and that’s when the struggle and gunfight ensued,” N.H. Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeff Strelzin said.

The second intruder made it down the street and ran a few blocks on Western Avenue before going into a building. That’s where police found him suffering from multiple life-threatening gunshot wounds. Read more

Source: thearmedcitizen.com

Four Cool Tactical Tools You Need!

Dave Morelli

December 3, 2009

Ever since man began walking upright, there always has been the kit. It is an organized container that carries needed tools to do a specific task. We have developed these kits in different varieties such as a survival kit, fishing kit, all the way to “everything but the sink” kit. The idea of the kit is to have the most amount of usable tools that take up the least amount of space and will do the greatest number of tasks.

We still in these modern times look to technology to get the necessary tools in kit form so we always have them with us when we need them. My personal reason for using the kit mentality is I don’t have enough brain cells left to always remember the stuff I need to do the job.

A prime example of this is the Leatherman or multi tool. With one of these on your belt you could rebuild an engine if you need to. In the police and firefighting trade there are some cool little tools that make those pesky emergency situations easier and they are small enough to fit in places where they are hardly noticed but always ready.

BlackHawk’s Hawk Hook is a great little rescue tool for breaking out windows and cutting seatbelts. I hope you never have to use it, but if you need it, you should have it.

One such tool is the Blackhawk HawkHook. This is a powerful but tiny rescue tool that is nearly unnoticeable clipped to a belt or pocket. For police and firefighters, who come across vehicle accidents, it can be used to break windows and cut seatbelts quickly.

It is designed to break side window glass and won’t work on windshields, but usually this is all a person needs to do to gain access to the vehicle.

I remember breaking many a side window to get to children locked in vehicles on hot days. Back then, the PR-24 baton made short work on the side window but was over dramatic and risked showering the child with glass.

The pyramid tip of the HawkHook gets a crack started and a smart strike with the screwdriver tip to break out enough glass to unlock the door or get your arm in.

The hook blade is sharp and with a good pull at a 45-degree angle, seatbelts can be quickly cut by pulling them tight away from the passenger and slicing through. The advantage over a lock blade knife is it is almost impossible to accidentally cut a struggling accident victim while cutting the seatbelt. It will also turn screws and can be used as a small pry tool and it can open bottles.

AR gear is always in style. This multi-tool fits right inside a standard hand grip. Everything you need.

Another cool tool that fills the wasted space in the AR pistol handle is made by Samson Manufacturing called the Field Survivor Tool.

This is kind of like a multi tool for the AR and it fits right up to form a watertight seal and twist-on fit in the handle. The base of the tool is serrated to make a better strike tool with the pistol grip if needed and it has some slots that will fit magazine feed lips to bend them back if they get out of whack.

Inside is a variety of useful stuff on a hinge like a Leatherman. First the tool is a cleaning kit, it has a wire with a threaded end that can be dropped though the barrel with a brush or jag attached.

It also has a small vial that will contain a one shot supply of lubricant or cleaning solvent. Some other uses are a screwdriver tip, cotter pin removal hook, and carbon scraper.

Ever wonder where a sight adjustment tool is when you need one? Well there will always be one around when this tool is stuffed in the pistol grip. Also included is a broken shell extractor.

This is the best use of the hollow pistol grip since the replacement handle that had a door so the operator could store useful items in it.

Not only can you adjust the feed lips with the slits on the bottom, but there are two slits that are spaced properly so you can gauge the adjustment. This will verify the correct radius.

The line will also indicate where the feed lips will end. Magazines are the biggest cause of failures to feed and fire. Keeping these lips tuned up is a definite reliability factor.

Both of the above tools are available from Brownells. One thing I will say about Brownells is their ability to have the best variety of items in stock. During this AR gun and parts shortage, Brownells has been very reliable in having stuff and if they don’t, they get it rather quickly. Keep it up, guys.

Another cool tool is the weapons-mounted light from Streamlight, the TLR-1. This 80 lumens LED gun mounted light is a lot of bright in a small package. It is small enough for a handgun, but in CQB on a carbine it will light up the bad guy’s life.

The ambidextrous switch has momentary and steady on/off utility and run time is 2.5 hours on two lithium batteries. It will fit in existing light bearing holsters and is not much size or weight to worry about on the fore rail of a carbine.

Streamlight also makes a replaceable switch cap for the TLR-1 that will accommodate a wire and pressure switch so the operator can activate the light from a comfortable position on their carbine. This gives the option of putting the light as far forward on the carbine as possible and still be able to activate it with the off hand. Some folks like to have the switch on the pistol grip for gun hand operation and the pressure switch option makes it happen.

The fact that the light can be used on a carbine or a railed pistol gives it dual utility. This is always a plus. The TLR-2 offers the same options but also incorporates a laser sight into the light.

One last tool I have room for is a safety tool. Not so much officer safety, but safety to our family and friends. After all, the biggest reason we believe in the Second Amendment is protection of our families and ourselves.

I am a firm believer that education about firearms is the first measure to prevent accidents with guns in the home. This education starts with teaching young people about firearms and what they are capable of and they must be treated with respect.

The other side of the education is knowing that sometimes that may fail and it isn’t worth risking your children’s life on. Taking the extra step to make sure firearms are secure when not in use is educating ourselves to the responsibility of firearm ownership.

The Streamlight TLR-1 offers 80 lumens and a couple cool switch options that make it very handy. You’ll like it.

The argument of securing a firearm in the safe is; it isn’t accessible quickly enough when you need it. I keep the majority of my firearms in the safe, but my carry gun is either with me or close by, ready if I need it.

I am at a stage of my life that I don’t have any young children around anymore but I may have grandkids one day or friends that have kids visit occasionally. Even in my situation, I think of keeping my home a bit more kid friendly.

All guns need to be secure! The individual gun safe (IGS) is a good happy medium for keeping the gun secure and readily accessible. LockSAF makes a gun safe that is operated with fingerprint identification and can be programmed to facilitate several operators. How James Bondish!

I really am resistant to battery operated equipment keeping me from my guns but I have had this safe around for a while now and am getting pretty comfortable with it.

The safe also has a keyed entry if the battery goes bad, but if the battery is changed occasionally, like a smoke detector, it shouldn’t be a problem. Just part of the responsibility of owning a gun.

The LockSAF Indvidual Gun Safe is a great way to keep guns secure, yet accessible. It uses fingerprint technology to allow access.

Another aspect of the LockSAF is if you only store the gun in the home, because you live in an anti-American city that doesn’t allow you to protect yourself when you leave the house, your pistol is secured should you surprise a burglar when returning home. It may keep him from using your gun on you or responding police.

I will take the pistol out of the safe or at least open the door at night to make it quicker to get to if I am awakened by an intruder, but during the day when there might be kids around and I am awake, it can be locked in the safe.

The LockSAF operates on a nine-volt battery and has ample room for more than one handgun and some ammo. (Back to the kit mentality, everything needed in one place.)

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Learn more about tools for the tactician by ordering the Gun Digest Book of Tactical Gear.

After it is set up and programmed the user only has to touch the button and slip his or her finger into the slot and the safe pops open in a second or two.

I know that word “program” bothers some of us old timers, but it was really easy to do and I accomplished it in a few minutes after reading the instructions. (I know, another distasteful thing for guys to do.)

From attending the firearm to keeping it safely secured in the home there are tons of gadgets to sift through and it sometimes is hard to figure which ones have merit and which ones we can do without.

Without a doubt these four COOL TOOLS will find a place in any armed citizen’s or emergency service person’s tool box.

This article appeared in the November 23, 2009 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. Click here to learn more about this issue. Click here to subscribe.

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Supreme Court Schedules Major Gun Rights Case

Gun Digest Editors

December 2, 2009

Oral arguments in the lawsuit, McDonald v. City of Chicago, will be held on the morning of March 2, 2010. A decision is expected by late June or early July.

It's also worth noting the amicus briefs that have been filed in the last week or so in support of the Second Amendment Foundation and other groups challenging Chicago's handgun restrictions.

There are at least 30 of them — ably reposted at ChicagoGunCase.com — plus two unaffiliated ones filed by the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund and the Brady Center To Prevent Gun Violence. (The NAACP wants to ensure that any decision won't jeopardize other civil rights, and the Brady folks argue that even if the Second Amendment applies to state gun laws, the justices should adopt a deferential approach that lets nearly all of those laws survive.)

This article isn't long enough to summarize all of those briefs. But the highlights include:
* Thirty-eight state attorneys general believe that the Second Amendment protects an individual right against infringement by state and local governments: “Unless the ruling of the court of appeals below is reversed, millions of Americans will be deprived of their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms as a result of actions by local governments, such as the ordinances challenged in this case.”

* Law enforcement instructors and trainers, in a brief written by David Kopel, highlight original research including what happened after South Carolina re-legalized handgun sales (crime fell) and Chicago enacted a ban (crime rose). Kopel runs the numbers and concludes: “Chicago after the handgun ban is much more dangerous, relative to other large American cities, than was Chicago before the ban.”

* Philosophy and sociology professors offer a break from a legalistic argument to stress the right of self-defense. An excerpt: “To the Founders, the right to be armed was an integral part of the right to self-defense, as is illustrated in a 1790 lecture by an original member of this Court, Justice James Wilson. Justice Wilson was a law professor, member of the Constitutional Convention, and the primary author of the Pennsylvania Constitution. He explained the right to use deadly force to repel a homicidal attacker as a natural, inalienable right.”

* In what may come as a bit of a surprise, dozens of California and Nevada prosecutors believe the Second Amendment must apply to states, saying “the fundamental rights embodied in the Second Amendment deserve the same protection afforded other fundamental rights.” (Note San Francisco, home of the failed-in-court handgun ban, is not one of them.) Read more

Source: cbsnews.com

Chicago Gun Case Brief Shows Brady Campaign Unreasonable

David Codrea

December 2, 2009

[T]he Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms should not prevent citizens, through their elected representatives, from enacting the reasonable laws they desire and need to protect their families and communities from gun violence.

What they're saying in the Chicago case is essentially the same thing they said in the Heller Washington D.C. case: Gun bans are “reasonable” and consistent with the Second Amendment proscription that “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

This does not surprise anyone who has been watching these Brady characters for any length of time. After all, we're talking a group that–in spite of putting on a kinder, gentler public face via a name change–still internally identifies itself by its original name: Handgun Control, Inc.

We're talking about a group that's founder admitted:

We're going to have to take one step at a time, and the first step is necessarily — given the political realities — going to be very modest. . . . [W]e'll have to start working again to strengthen that law, and then again to strengthen the next law, and maybe again and again. Right now, though, we'd be satisfied not with half a loaf but with a slice. Our ultimate goal — total control of handguns in the United States — is going to take time. . . . The first problem is to slow down the number of handguns being produced and sold in this country. The second problem is to get handguns registered. The final problem is to make possession of all handguns and all handgun ammunition-except for the military, police, licensed security guards, licensed sporting clubs, and licensed gun collectors-totally illegal. Read more
Source: Gun Rights Examiner

The Reasonable Man Behind the Seattle Gun Ban Lawsuit

Gun Digest Editors

December 2, 2009

The legal term pro se (meaning someone who forgoes a lawyer in order to represent themselves in court) is normally a handy way of identifying a kook. Someone who's crazy. A person usually only goes pro se after they've been turned down by every litigant in a tri-state area or because they think their case against the NSA can only be properly argued by the person actually being buzzed by the black helicopters.

Encountering a pro se plaintiff who's not nuts is rare. Which makes Bob Warden an anomaly.

And about thirty minutes ago he answered a call from The Daily Weekly and proved himself to be anything but crazy.While most people were still recovering from post-Thanksgiving gluttony hangovers, Warden and his adult son were out on a day trip. Their first stop: the federal courthouse, where they filed the lawsuit. Their second: Greg Nickels' house, where Warden's kid knocked on the door and served the mayor's son with the suit.

“Some families go shopping on Black Friday,” says Warden. “My family does this.”

Warden understands the conclusions most people would draw if they just heard a skeletal version of his story. Man walks into public place armed with pistol. Sues city. Must be one of those gun-nuts, right?

“If I didn't know me my knee-jerk reaction would be the same thing,” says Warden. “But I'm just someone who saw an opportunity to challenge what is a blatantly illegal thing.” Read more

Source: blogs.seattleweekly.com

PROTECT: Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s Assault on Guns

Kurt Hofmann

December 2, 2009

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today introduced the PROTECT Act, legislation to preserve records of gun sales for longer periods of time to aid law enforcement officials in preventing gun crimes and terrorist acts. Under current law, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) must destroy these records in most cases within 24 hours of allowing a gun sale to proceed.

Interesting, isn't it, that Lautenberg's own press release describes the proposed legislation's purpose as being “to preserve records of gun sales for longer periods of time . . . “–but the title of the bill refers only to “terrorist and criminal transactions”? That's pretty clear testimony to what Sen. Lautenberg thinks of gun buyers. Granted, “PROGS (Preserving Records of Gun Sales)” isn't nearly as catchy an acronym, but that's probably not a criterion to which much importance should be attached.

So how, specifically, would Sen. Lautenberg's proposed legislation “PROTECT” us?

Sen. Lautenberg’s legislation, the Preserving Records of Terrorist & Criminal Transactions (PROTECT) Act of 2009, would:
require the FBI to retain for 10 years all records related to a NICS transaction involving a valid match to federal terrorist watch list records; and

repeal the requirement that other background check records be destroyed after 24 hours, and instead require that the records of all non-terrorist transactions be maintained for 180 days.

Remember, the “federal terrorist watch list records” are riddled with errors, generated with precious little (if any) concern about due process, and that the appropriateness of one's presence on the list is not easily challenged, because of the lack of transparency. Read more

Source: St. Louis Gun Rights Examiner

Gun Digest the Magazine December 21, 2009

Gun Digest Editors

December 2, 2009

Gun Digest is the source for firearms news, pricing and guns for sale. Readers benefit from in-depth editorial expert advice, show reviews and practical how-to instructions. Subscriptions are the First Amendment way to stand up for your Second Amendment rights. Click here to begin your subscription to Gun Digest.

Inside This Issue

• There’s a great big difference between things we need and things we want. M.D. Johnson has a few ideas that fit into both categories.

• It’s not about guns, but humanity, writes Kevin Michalowski in his “Editor's Shot” column. Click here to read it.

• Book Review: Trap & Skeet Shooting

• Rifles: Lazzeroni

• Shotguns: Ithaca Gun Co.

• Handguns: IXL

• Troubleshooting: The Landmann .22 Mag

• NRA Update: Student Beats Unlawful Code

• Precision Handloading: Factory Ammo Worth Looking At

• Precision Shooting: The Journey to Precision Shooting

• Towsley on Target: Double Check Your Loads

• Special Tactical Gear: For LE and Personal Defense

Jury Cites Thermal Imaging in Gun Conviction

Gun Digest Editors

December 2, 2009

“When it comes to making our streets safer, we’re going to use every single tool at our disposal,’’ Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said in a statement. “Science and technology are advancing every day. Bringing those advances into the courtroom is part of our mission and our responsibility.’’

The defendant, Jose R. Rodriguez, 25, was convicted of illegal possession of a loaded gun and unlawful possession of ammunition. He was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in jail. His lawyer declined to comment.

The case involved a Bullard T1 Commander, a thermal imaging camera that records heat output the way a conventional camera records light. The technology was designed for the military and has become commonly used in firefighting.

In this case, it was used by officers who chased Rodriguez in January, after he allegedly fled when officers tried to question him. According to police, officers saw him walking down Whittemore Street clutching his waistband, and they grew suspicious.

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At one point, the officers saw Rodriguez stretch out his arm as if he had thrown something. He was taken into custody.

While retracing his path, police recovered a 9mm semiautomatic Smith & Wesson handgun from the snow.

That is when officers used the Bullard camera, allowing them to determine that the firearm had just been discarded; the gun had retained the heat of the person carrying it, making it appear lighter than its surroundings. Read more

Source: boston.com

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The Consequences of Deadly Force – Part 2

Michael Bender

December 2, 2009

Deadly Force: You need to be in immediate fear of bodily harm.

Michael Bender of the Personal Protection Academy demonstrates defensive handgun technique, but stresses the legal and financial consequences of a defensive gun use (DGU).

Reasonably in immediate fear of death or great bodily harm. Hmmmmm. Sounds kinda squishy. Legalese. Let’s parse that a bit.

Many states call these threats forcible felonies … aggravated assault, various types of murder and manslaughter, kidnapping, rape, sexual abuse of a child, arson, robbery, burglary … really any felony offense that involves use of force or violence against a person so as to create a substantial danger of death or serious bodily injury.

Here’s something we all need to keep in mind. Reasonable fear is in the eye of the victim … in other words, in the eye of the one who is scared.

What’s going to be most relevant is that the victim had a reasonable perception and a belief that the threat was real, regardless if after the event it was found that the attacker’s gun wasn’t loaded, or was a toy, for a couple of common examples of how foolish folks get shot by the Po-Po.

Keep this in mind, too. The Wolf doesn’t necessarily have to be threatening you with a gun before you’d be justified in threatening or using one on him. Big strong wolf attacking a smaller and weaker victim … great disparity in capabilities. In such a case, the smaller person might be justified in employing a firearm to avoid being maimed or killed.

Same thing with multiple attackers and a single defender.

Also keep in mind that an intended victim would only be justified in using deadly force against mere physical force in circumstances where the attacker’s physical force might prove deadly or crippling.

Lots to keep in mind!

Here’s more. It’s the threat of bodily harm, not having been harmed, that’s essential.

You don’t need to wait until you’re maimed before you can use or threaten force to defend yourself, if you perceive yourself to be in reasonably in immediate fear of death or great bodily harm.

Has to be immediate fear … this thing is coming down right now … he’s not stopping! And that’s quite different than, “Joe, next time I see you, you’d better have a gun.” Or, “I’m going home and will be right back with my baseball bat.” Not immediate. Plenty of time to get to safety, get out of Dodge, or call the police.

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I recommend using Reasonable Man thinking … Reasonable Woman Thinking … Reasonable Juror Thinking … as a means of helping to define threats and justify self-defense actions.

Simple test: To justify force ask yourself if a Reasonable Juror would have the same or very similar perspective of the event, if he or she were in the same situation … same time … same place.

Woops! Not everyone is going to see an event the same way. So it’s my guess there’s a fairly wide swath of grey here, and that an intended victim’s force decision need not be perfect … but would have to be objectively reasonable to a Reasonable Juror, given the totality of the circumstances.

I want you to keep this in mind, too. We Sheepdogs can’t use our good old 20/20 hindsight to get our butts out of a legal jam if we make a faulty decision to use, or threaten to use, deadly force.

If the police find 10 machetes or loaded guns in your attacker’s car or even concealed on his person, after the event, and one of these weapons was not used to threaten you during the event, the law will not let you use that information as justification for shooting someone in self-defense, or threatening them with deadly force, based on the existence of a weapon that wasn’t known to you at the time you acted with deadly force.

More simply said … You can use the knowledge you have before your gun goes bang, but nothing you learn after.

Bottom line on all this … Make certain you can articulate to a Trier of Fact that you were reasonably in immediate fear of death or great bodily harm.

That’s all I have for you this time around. The next DGU Advisor topic will discuss the third condition … No lesser force will do.

Please feel free to pass this DGU Advisor on to friends, family, and colleagues.

Be safe out there, Sheepdogs.

For more information about Michael Bender and the Personal Protection Academy, call Toll-free (888) OK SHOOT or (888) 657-4668 or visit www.PPA-WI.com.

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