The support for McCain’s conservative credentials came as former U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth traveled the state telling Republicans that McCain can’t be trusted to support issues important to them.
Hayworth has attacked McCain’s record on gun rights, saying the incumbent has supported restrictive legislation, including a measure to close the so-called "gun-show loophole" that allows private sales of weapons without background checks.
The NRA, however, said McCain’s overall record is friendly to gun owners, despite past disagreements.
"You have demonstrated a proven commitment to our Second Amendment rights," NRA Political Victory Fund Chairman Chris W. Cox wrote to McCain.
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The letter cites McCain’s opposition to bans on assault weapons and handguns in the District of Columbia, as well as his support for a law prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers when their weapons are used in crimes.
Hayworth countered with an endorsement of his own Thursday from former NRA president Bob Corbin, who also served as Arizona attorney general.
"For 12 years while he was in Congress, J.D. maintained a perfect ‘A’ rating from both the NRA and the Gun Owners of America," Corbin said in a statement released by Hayworth’s campaign. Read more.
The shooting occurred about a week after an 80-year-old Army veteran used a handgun to shoot and kill an armed burglar who had broken into his home. In both cases, the weapons violated the city’s 28-year-old handgun ban, but police so far have declined to press charges.
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this month on the constitutionality of Chicago’s gun ban, and many believe the justices will strike it down. But, while those on both sides of the gun-rights debate eagerly await the verdict, the decision is essentially irrelevant for many who live in Chicago.
By one expert’s estimate, there is a handgun in as many as 100,000 city households, despite the ban. And gang members or those with misdeeds in mind aren’t the only ones who have them. In some neighborhoods, otherwise-law-abiding citizens feel forced to violate the gun ban, they say, to protect themselves and their families.
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"You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do," said a DVD salesman from Marquette Park, who has two daughters and said he bought a handgun after two thugs shot him during a recent robbery attempt. "I think people need guns to protect themselves."
Pinpointing how many handguns are in Chicago isn’t easy, said Jens Ludwig, a University of Chicago professor and director of the university’s Crime Lab. There’s no government data tracking them, illegal guns by nature are not registered, and a random survey would be like "calling people up and asking them if they engage in any other illegal behavior, like snorting cocaine or beating their kids," he said.
But based on a study that Ludwig and other experts conducted in 2007 on Chicago’s underground gun market, he roughly estimated that as many as 100,000 Chicago households could have handguns.
"Judging from the available data, there are apparently a lot of people in Chicago who feel strongly enough they need a gun for protection that they’re willing to ignore the ban," Ludwig said.
The report’s authors estimated about 1,400 black-market gun sales occurred each year in the Grand Boulevard-Washington Park neighborhood, "or about one sale per year for every 30 people living in this very high-crime neighborhood." In interviews with more than 100 non-gang members ages 18 to 21 who owned guns, the report found the price was $250 to $400, a serious mark-up above legal prices. Read more.
The accuracy and reliability that have made the 1911 an American icon now shine brighter than ever. Features include a crisp trigger, dovetailed front and rear sights, precision-machined slide and frame, and available fine-checkered American walnut grips.
The new Model 1911 R1 is truly the finest blend of exacting craftsmanship and out-of-box performance available today. Every element is produced with ultra-tight tolerances on equipment representing the height of modern technology.
The result is a sweet-shooting advancement of a legendary design we’re more than proud to put our name on.
The Remington Model 1911 R1 is manufactured with pride and precision, to the exacting standards you’ve come to expect from Remington. Right here in Ilion, New York.
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The new Model 700 SPS (Special Purpose Synthetic) Tactical AAC-SD centerfire rifle, chambered in 308 Win., features the time-proven Model 700 action.
The number one choice of police and military marksmen and one of the most popular bolt-action rifle series in America, with some of the latest performance-driven features including a threaded muzzle. This mid-year introduction to Remington’s expanding line of tactical rifles and shotguns is designed to impress from the bench or in the field at a very affordable price.
At the core of the 700 SPS Tactical AAC-SD is the machined solid-steel, cylindrical Model 700 receiver design ensuring uniformity, strength and solid bedding area. Unique to this precision rifle is the 20-inch heavy-contour clean barrel, threaded to accept AAC and all 5/8-24 threaded flash hiders, muzzle breaks and suppressors. The tactical-style carbon steel, hammer-forged barrel is the perfect balance between handling in tight spots and delivering pinpoint accuracy. With a twist rate of one in 10 inches, this rifle is optimized for accuracy. These specialty, bolt-action rifles are shipped with a thread protector installed.
The rock-solid barreled action is bedded into a well-designed, Hogue® Overmolded® Ghillie Green pillar bedded synthetic stock with a semi-beavertail fore-end for added stability. This soft-touch, sure-grip stock is extremely comfortable for extended, long range shooting and assures a positive grip in both stressful situations and inclement weather. The dual point pillar bedding guarantees a solid interface between the action and stock to help insure cold bore accuracy and prevent point of-impact shifts. Add Remington’s X-Mark Pro externally adjustable trigger, designed to “break like-glass” and set at 3 ½ pounds from the factory, and this rifle delivers surgical-like accuracy.
Other key features include receiver drilled and tapped for the addition of optics; distinctive, laser engraved “Tactical Rifling 1 in 10” roll mark; convenient hinged floorplate magazine with 4-round capacity; non-reflective, black oxide external metal finish; and sling swivel studs.
Available in the widely popular 308 Win chambering, the Model 700 SPS Tactical AAC-SD with Threaded Muzzle is the perfect tactical bolt-action rifle and available at a very affordable price.
The U.N. claims that guns used in armed conflicts cause 300,000 deaths worldwide every year, an inordinate number of which are the result of internal civil strife within individual nations.
The solution proposed by transnationalists to keep rebels from getting guns is to make the global pool of weapons smaller through government action.
According to recent deliberations regarding the treaty, signatory countries would be required to "prevent, combat and eradicate" various classes of guns to undermine "the illicit trade in small arms." Such a plan would necessarily lead to confiscation of personal firearms.
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This may seem like a reasonable solution to governments that don’t trust their citizens, but it represents a dangerous disregard for the safety and freedom of everybody. First of all, not all insurgencies are bad.
As U.S. history shows, one way to get rid of a despotic regime is to rise up against it. That threat is why authoritarian regimes such as Syria, Cuba, Rwanda, Vietnam, Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone endorse gun control. Read more.
Buy them both. Magna-tips on the left and Wheeler Engineering on the right. One for the bench and one for the range.
As your humble author was working on this column, it occurred to him that he, long ago, wrote a similar article for this publication. But that’s okay, ‘cuz this one’s better. This month, we want to briefly discuss the tools that the new gunsmith should shell out the initial dough to purchase, and those that he can or may be able to do without. As such, there really aren’t a whole lot of these initial tools, so they will be broken down by section below, with recommendations based upon personal use.
Unfortunately, common tools, like standard screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, and the like have limited use on the bench of the gunsmith. For gross (as in large, not as in yucky) operations they work well, but they are not necessarily suited to the precision work demanded when working on guns. Likewise, fine precision tools like those used in the electronics industry, while great for fine control of springs and pins and stuff, simply aren’t tough enough to last for long under the heavy-handed abuse of the average overweight, under-exercised gunsmith. Fortunately there is a thriving special industry of overpriced (sometimes), overbuilt (often), and convenient (always) tools for dudes to blow their paychecks on.
Hammers
Here are the four slammers the smith will need for 99% of his slamming.
You will need a hammer or four. The first is the most used and thus the most important and essential smasher to acquire. Brownells has a great model that is simply adorable, a 1-inch nylon/brass headed item, weighing about 6 ounces. You will use it every day, and it is the most suited for the most common punching and driving of small pins and parts that you will encounter.
It will wear down and require dressing, the brass head will expand and need to be pounded or turned back into shape, and the nylon head will start to look like it went on a date with a cheese grater. If you can get spare heads, do it. Eventually it will expire and you will be forced to get a new one. Strangely, it is a very inexpensive replacement. For as much as it is used, Brownells should double the price and really make it profitable.
Buy a rubber deadblow hammer for heavier soft work. This is your second hammer.
The third hammer to get right away is a heavier steel model. Many smiths use a standard ball-peen hammer to help loosen those hard-to-move super-tight pins. The typical gunsmith’s tool bench is the home to a 1-pound steel that is quite easy to control and has the necessary mass to overcome all but the most stubborn interference-fit inertia.
The old adage, “Don’t hit it harder, use a bigger hammer,” is oh-so-true in Gunsmithtown. The harder you hit something, the less control you have, and inevitably you will ruin your tools and the piece you are working on. You know, the workpiece that belongs to someone else.
Overcoming inertia requires force. Force is applied with a hammer using speed or mass. Mass is easier to control and far more effective, hence the 1-pound hammer for moving the tapered front sight pins on an AR. Which brings us to the fourth hammer … the Hammer of the Gods. Thor called his “Mjolnir.” I call mine Pickles. Use the 16-pound sledge hammer to beat the ever-living crap out of that old .22 from the thirties that has no value, doesn’t function, and continues to reside in your shop for the sole purpose of relieving frustration. Plus, its effect on box elder bugs has to be seen to be believed.
Screwdrivers
Buy the Magna-tip 58-bit Master Super set, and the thin bits sets from Brownells. Use these for your bench. Very, very high quality tools. If you want a range set to allow you to show off your sexy gunsmithin’ to the hot chicks at the range, buy the Wheeler Engineering 89-piece set from Midway USA. It has several specialty bits that turn three-handed 15-minute jobs into two-handed three-minute jobs.
Punches
Discount sets have their place. But not in the gunsmith shop. Great success has been gained with Starrett punches from Brownells. Also get roll pin punches and those cute little hollow-nosed pin starter punches.
Other Stuff
Polish, polish away. A high speed rotary tool will make you a very happy little tinkerer. Just use it with control and intention. It can also pave your pathway to abject failure and doom.
Get a high quality Dremel type tool. I’ve yet to find one that will stand up to hard use, most being of the hobbying variety. Be prepared to replace this one yearly. Once you have one, though, it is hard to get along without. For some unknown reason, motors and electricity have this funny way of making work easier. You will use this for grinding, polishing, buffing, hogging out stocks for glass bedding, and who knows what else.
A variety of hand files are a must. The models available at your local home supply store are generally of adequate quality, as long as they are the expensive ones. Large bastards, mills, and the little needle files are all needed.
Ceramic or Arkansas polishing stones are essential for trigger work and other fine material removal.
One interesting and miniscule tool to acquire, or make, is a firing pin protrusion gauge. You may not actually need this one right away, but you will need it eventually. Worn firing pins, or badly manufactured firing pins, will cause headaches and this little doozy will help you figure out if either is the case. This tends to be needed on older guns with heavy mileage, and there are a whole lot of those out there.
Get several sets hex wrenches. Preferably ball ended. Without a doubt, get metrics. You’ll need those to handle all those crappy ChiCom red dot sights that are flooding the market. Invaluable tools, they are must haves; and be prepared to order extras after you lose or break a few.
Finally, at the risk of alienating all those manufacturers in the ether of Gunsmithtown, most of the jigs, rigs, and nice-to-have gadgets are not really necessary for immediate accumulation. That’s not to say they are useless, because they are often very handy and make the job more efficient. They just tend to be pricey, and the average dude should put off getting them until he knows he will get his money’s worth.
Lube and Cleaner
Commonly found solvents and lubes, and a couple greases. All have their purposes in the workings of a firearm, and all work at least reasonably well. The perfect lubricant and the perfect solvent have yet to be discovered.
It would be a good idea to get a parts cleaner, and maybe a small ultrasonic tank. Overall, you may find that your selections of bore cleaners, lubricants, and the like will be determined by your nose, or specialty. A lot of guys get positively high off of Hoppe’s #9, which is okay since it works quite well, and you might as well enjoy your work. Some people think its odor is too strong. Well too bad for them. They may then gravitate toward Tetra’s line of cleaners and lubes, which have a completely different aroma.
Fortunately, the great majority of the cleaning solvents and oils in Gunville are reasonably or greatly effective at the tasks for which they were produced. However, my experience with the “green” environmentally friendly, non-toxic selections has been disappointing. If I can drink it and not die, it has no business touching my guns. Gun solvents should be like coffee: great to smell, but revolting in taste, and capable of stripping copper from barrels, and cells from esophageal linings with equal ease.
Conclusion
All of this stuff can be purchased for well under 10 C-bills. Between these tools and those discussed in next month’s column, the new-born gunsmith can accomplish the vast majority of the everyday jobs. And this shouldn’t put him out too much dough if it turns out not to be his cup of tea. A lot of guys just do this kind of thing casually, fewer as a career, and many others try it and change their minds. Starting out small and wise like this will absolutely benefit anyone.
This article appeared in the April 12, 2010 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
"The Alaska Firearms Freedom Act frees Alaskans from overly bureaucratic and restrictive federal firearm regulation, and allows our state to assume the responsibility for regulation," said Rep. Mike Kelly, the lead sponsor on the plan endorsed by lawmakers in the recently closed session of the Alaska Legislature.
"The Interstate Commerce Clause is used by the federal government to regulate firearms that cross state borders. The Alaska Firearms Freedom Act makes it clear that Alaskans will be responsible for firearms that are made in Alaska, for use in Alaska, and have ‘Made in Alaska’ stamped on them.
"Outdoorsmen, hunters and all Alaskans defending and feeding their families, and protecting their property, should welcome this new law," he said.
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The law also requires the state to defend any Alaskan who is "prosecuted by the federal government under their authority to regulate interstate commerce."
"We welcome Alaska into this states’ rights liberty march," said Gary Marbut of the Montana Shooting Sports Association.
He’s been called the godfather of the movement for his work on the original state Firearms Freedom Act that took effect last year in Montana. Read more.
Of the Charlotte Marriott City Center, where signs posted during the NRA convention made inadvertent criminals of conventioneers, Thomas promised signs had already been removed.
But on Tuesday, signs at Marriott properties – including the Charlotte hotel – remained in place while Marriott executives became “unavailable” for, according to office receptionists, a litany of conflicting reasons. Meanwhile, Charlotte Marriott Director of Loss Prevention Sammy Jones refused to comment on the status of signs.
Some gun rights supporters are now expressing concerns that the claim by Thomas was merely a dodge to deflect the thousands of e-mails and phone calls pouring in from around the country. In addition to the mounting boycott “going viral” on gun forums, it was featured by nationally syndicated radio host Tom Gresham on “Gun Talk.”
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But evidence suggests a more sophisticated corporate disinformation campaign in operation: By putting out the false message that Marriott is removing signs, the corporation sought to have gun rights activists do its bidding by putting out messages to that effect on Internet forums.
Those of us who have spread the “Marriott is pulling signs” message are, in fact, spreading their disinformation. To counter their effort, see “Immediate Action Required” below.
MARRIOTT CEO LINKED TO ‘COALITION TO STOP GUN VIOLENCE’ In what might explain Marriott International’s decision to prohibit lawful firearms in all of its hotels, a reader recently discovered a link between its Chairman and CEO J.W. Marriott, Jr. and a longtime gun control organization, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, formerly the National Coalition to Ban Handguns.
Run by longtime anti-gun activists Michael Beard and Joshua Horowitz, CSGV’s recent agenda includes registering private gun sales at gun shows, banning semi-automatic firearms, mandating “microstamping” of firearms and generating propaganda against lawful concealed carry.
A March 10, 2010 press release by Marriott lists Mr. Marriott’s accolades and “achievements,” including the following:
“Mr. Marriott is actively involved in various boards and councils including…the board of trustees of the National Urban League…”
Among many left-wing causes advocated by the National Urban League, it is listed prominently among members of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. Does J.W. Marriott, Jr. know his charitable efforts are being used to undermine your rights? Read more.
This represented a radical re-interpretation of the Gun Control Act that has been on the books for more than four decades, and will likely cost businesses, and gun owners, more money.
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), “As a consequence [of the new ruling], legitimate business-related shipments will now require the recipient to complete a Form 4473 and undergo a Brady criminal background check. In many instances, these requirements will force shipments to a third party, thereby lengthening the process and the time that the firearm is in transit.”
NSSF continued, “BATFE officials have acknowledged this is a radical change from BATFE’s long-standing interpretation that this was not a ‘transfer’ under the Gun Control Act that was set forth in a 1969 ruling… and further clarified in a 1972 ruling. In other words, BATFE is now saying its long-standing rulings, issued shortly after the Gun Control Act was enacted, were wrong.”
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“For more than four decades manufacturers have shipped firearms to agents for bona fide business purposes. BATFE is unable to identify a single instance during the past 40 years where a single firearm shipped in reliance upon BATFE’s rulings was used in a crime.
This unwarranted reinterpretation of the law will cause significant disruption and additional costs for industry members and increase the cost of doing business, while doing nothing to advance public safety.” Read more.
ROSSVILLE, GA (WRCB) — It has been nearly two months since Gary Anderson shot a man that broke into his home. His first television interview is with Channel 3 Eyewitness News.
Anderson was upstairs when the men came through the back door. Andersongrabbed his gun and ran down stairs to the kitchen. There he came face to face with the two intruders. Jenkins ran out the front door. Anderson says he shot Wallace after the man pinned him up against the wall.
“I’d never taken that pistol out of that night stand in four years,” said Anderson, “but I got it that day and I’m glad I did.” Read more
A Lake Forest woman shot a dog after it attacked her 6-year-old daughter outside their home Wednesday morning, authorities said.
Thegirl and the woman’s 3-year-old daughter were walking to a neighbor’s house on a quiet cul-de-sac when a dog, thought to be a boxer or a pit bull mix, attacked the older girl, said Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino.
The woman tried to scare the dog away by yelling and stomping, but whenthat failed to work, she got a 9-millimeter Glock semiautomatic pistol from the house and shot it once in the neck, Amormino said. Read more
ROAN MOUNTAIN — A Roan Mountain man shot and killed his stepfather on the back porch of his residence Friday morning after he said his stepfather threatened to break into his house with an ax and cut off his and his wife’s head, according to police.
The initial investigation by the Carter County Sheriff’s Department indicated the man was trying to break into the home when he was shot by the homeowner.
Carter County deputies Lt. Patrick Johnson and Sgt. Kenny Cornett responded at 12:18 a.m. to a call about an intruder trying to break into the residence at 309 Sawdust Trail. Upon arrival, the deputies found Gary D. Parker, 46, 305 Sawdust Trail lying on the back porch. He was suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head A short time later the Carter County Rescue Squad arrived and the paramedics were unable to find any signs of life.
A sheriff’s department news release said the investigation revealed that Parker had been “very confrontational, threatening and belligerent with his neighbors for some time.” Witness statements and evidence at the scene indicated that Parker was trying to break into the residence of Jonathan and Ashley Townson at 309 Sawdust Trail. Parker was said to be using an ax to break in.
Parker allegedly threatened the Townsons saying “he had an ax and was going to cut their heads off,” after he had broken through the back door. Townson had a rifle in the residence and he used it to shoot and kill Parker, according to the sheriff’s department release. Read more
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The attempted theft of a Wave runner led a juvenile to kill the suspected thief with a shotgun.
Miami-Dade police are investigating whether a juvenile armed with a shotgun was justified in killing an intruder who tried to steal his family’s wave runner.
During the confrontation, the unidentified juvenile shot Reynaldo Muñoz, 20, in the head, and he died at the scene, police said. Muñoz’s girlfriend has been charged with felony murder for her participation in a crime that caused the death of another.
The attempted burglary happened about 2:30 p.m. Saturday when Muñoz and Carolina Lopez, 19, drove to Pelican Marine Harbor Marina in Miami Shores. He parked his truck, and Muñoz put his own Wave runner in the water, navigating it to a waterfront home at 9275 N. Bayshore Avenue.
Police said he then jumped into the water and started walking along a concrete seawall onto the property. As he removed the family’s Wave runner, he was “confronted by the homeowner who armed himself with a shotgun in an attempt to protect his family,’’ the police affidavit said. Read more
TACOMA, Wash. — Tacoma police are calling a fatal shooting self defense after a homeowner shot two burglars who were trying to break into his home, killing one burglar and wounding the other.
The incident happened around 4:40 a.m. Monday at a home in the 400 block of South 38th Street.
Neighbor Trudi Mann woke up to sounds of people arguing next door, then heard two gunshots.
“A little before four, I heard gunshots and at that point called police,” she said. “It’s scary. My kids are grown, but I told my son I’d be a little concerned. He keeps our garage really locked up.”
Tacoma police said the homeowner was woken up by dogs barking. He had been a victim of burglaries recently and went outside to investigate.
The man spotted two burglars trying to break into his garage and home.
“He was armed, held them at gun point. And at one point while he was detaining them, both subjects charged at him. He fired at both and hit both of them, ” said Mark Fulghum, Tacoma Police Department. Read more
A reported argument among housemates at 5545 Xanadu Street proved deadly, with Denver Health staffers unable to revive a man transported there on Saturday night after being shot.
However, Denver Police aren’t calling the incident a murder. Instead, they characterize it as an act of self-defense.
At this point, neither the dead man nor the alleged shooter has been identified. No charges have been filed to date.
Update: At this point, the Denver Police Department continues to characterize a Saturday night shooting at 5545 Xanadu Street as an act of self-defense. Now, however, we know the identity of the man who died in the incident.
The Denver coroner’s office has ID’d him as Gary Chavez, 51. Cause of death: a “penetrating gunshot wound of the abdomen.” Read more
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
