Maine Could Expand CCW Reciprocity: A bill signed by the governor directs the Commissioner of Public Safety to work in cooperation with the Attorney General to conduct a comprehensive review of other states' concealed weapon laws for the purpose of identifying and seeking other states with which Maine may enter into concealed weapon reciprocity agreements. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall report findings and progress to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety no later than January 1, 2008. Upon receipt of the report, the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety may submit necessary legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3183 --- NRA-ILA Alerts: Alerts for the various states are posted on the NRA-ILA website. http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/State/ --- From John Farnam: 21 July 07 Shooting in NM, from an LEO friend there: "Last week, a local armed-robbery suspect fled the scene via a car first, then on foot. Our officers gave chase. After negotiating several fences and walls, the lead officer and the suspect found themselves running along a shallow ditch. Before long, our officer overtook the suspect. Our officer attempting to holster his pistol and go hands-on. The suspect took advantage and attempted to grab the officer's pistol (SA 1911, loaded with Cor-Bon 230gr HP). Our officer responded by retracting his pistol. Then, from a close-engagement position, shooting with his strong hand only, he fired two rounds into the suspect's mid-section. Upon being hit, the suspect displayed scant reaction, and the fight continued. However, our officer was able to get away from the suspect's grasp. When the suspect attempted to re-engage, our officer, now firing from a conventional, Weaver, two-handed grip and stance, shot him five additional times in rapid succession. As our officer moved laterally and simultaneously reloaded, the suspect tottered and then dropped in place, DRT. Autopsy confirmed that all seven rounds fired by our officer struck the suspect in the mid-chest to lower abdomen. Five bullets were recovered, all fully expanded, from the suspect's body. Two exited and were not recovered, but the appearance of exit wounds confirmed that they had fully expanded also. Internal damage to the suspect's body was massive! There was no possibility of recovery. Neither of our officers were injured." Comment: All of us need to be mentally prepared to confront VCAs who will find your pistol, in whatever caliber, only mildly amusing! Multiple, rapid impacts may be necessary to get his full attention. We cannot stop inflicting blows until his will to fight is destroyed. It may take longer and involve more shooting than many of us believe it possibly could! /John (A few years ago, when I lived in a different city, I learned that a friend, the owner of the local gun shop, was referring students to my CWP courses with the advice, "Ignore all that kung-fu gunfighting Steve teaches and concentrate on the legal stuff." This incident points out that skills other than trigger control may be necessary in order to deploy the gun and to survive until the bullets take effect.) 21 July 07 Another Bear Story: "My family and I just returned from a camping vacation in UT. We camped within a mile of a recent fatal, bear/human incident. In the process, we were exposed to no end of bear-literature, posted USFS billboards, and contained within handout literature. The most obtrusive and amusing part was the 'What to do when attacked by bear(s)' paragraph. It recommended fighting back against bears with anything available, so long as it is utterly ineffectual! There was, naturally, no mention of firearms. Like all sane people, we ignored their 'advice' and appropriately armed ourselves." Comment: In all government literature, defending oneself with the only instrumentality that has any chance of success (guns), is "subject-non-grata." Being continuously prepared for violent, personal attack by going armed is also unmentionable. "They love us when we lose, but they hate us when we win!" /John (Again, the best strategy against a charging bear is to shoot to break the shoulders.) 23 July 07 Operator, the antithesis of Grasseater. Tomorrow morning, seventy million Americans will get into their cars and drive to work. Some, a minuscule fraction of one-percent, will never make it! They'll die, or be injured, in wrecks. The rest of us, while saddened when these things happen in our high-speed world, still need to face to the front and get where we're going! Modern, Western Civilization is chock-full of dangerous things, like cars, airplanes, electricity, rat poison, and guns. And, while an extremely small percentage of people, through carelessness, stupidity, or evil intent, will hurt themselves and others while misusing these things, the rest of us realize that, in order to take full advantage of what our Civilization has to offer, these things are unavoidably going to be part of our daily lives. We fully realize that we need to be careful, but we are determined to live a full and rewarding life, and that such a life is inexorably going to bring us into contact with hazardous things and dangerous circumstances. Risk attaches to everything. Who dare, prevail! Again, while we wish everyone would be careful and have only honorable intentions, we still insist of being able to get out, travel at high speeds, have electrical power at our fingertips, be free from rodent infestation, and be able to unilaterally, efficaciously defend ourselves, when necessary, from violent criminals. Yes, with all the unhappiness, pain, and evil in the world, THE REST OF US STILL NEED TO GET WHERE WE'RE GOING! In a world without losers, there can't be winners either. There is just enforced, dull, drab mediocrity, heavy- handedly imposed by powerful churches and nanny-state governments, the Shangri-La of Leftists! This is precisely what my ancestors, and yours, came to this Continent to escape! Independent Operators, dashing and daring, are necessary to make any civilization grow and prosper. Instead, the current crop of political candidates cater exclusively to losers, grasseaters, and criminals. In fact, they propose viciously punishing everyone who doesn't commit crimes, doesn't do stupid things, conducts their affairs with integrity and honesty, and prosper boldly and courageously. Personally, I'd rather they'd just say "Thank You," and leave it at that! The Great Barrier Reef, stretches 1,800 miles from New Guinea to Australia. Tour guides regularly take visitors to view the Reef. On one tour, the guide was asked, "I notice the lagoon-side of the reef is pale and lifeless, while the ocean-side is vibrant and colorful. Why?" The guide responded, "The coral on the lagoon-side dies early because the water is stagnant, offering no challenge for its survival. However, the coral on the ocean-side is constantly being tested by wind, waves, and storms. It has to fight for survival every day. As it is challenged and tested, it changes and adapts. It grows healthy, strong; reproducing, and thriving." It is the same with people. When we are challenged and tested, we come alive. Like coral pounded by the sea, we grow. Demands cause us to grow strong. Stress produces tough-mindedness and resiliency. Testing produces strength of character, faith, gratitude, and a peace that surpasses all understanding. We become Operators! Why would anyone want to be anything less? Nanny-state governments, while assuring naive grasseaters that they have to power to legislate all uncertainties out of life, will simultaneously try to stamp us out completely, but they will ever fail, even as they're failing now, despite their best efforts! They're afraid of us. We shouldn't be surprised! /John 24 July 07 Terms: The term, "grasseater" first came, as near as I can tell, from an obscure science-fiction novel about a race of intelligent, cat-like creatures who disdainfully referred to all other, less-aggressive, beings on their planet by that title. However, a friend, who is a practicing vegetarian by medical necessity, suggested this: "I delivered an impassioned speech many years ago. Afterward, a local farmer came up to me and said, 'I loved your speech, son, but referring to us as 'rednecks' is not helpful. Many of us who farm get sun-burned necks, but that does not mean we are against you.' Likewise, casually disaffecting warriors and future warriors is probably not helpful. The Second Amendment is a stand-along issue, not a meat-eater/vegetarian issue, nor a Republican/Democrat issue, nor a tree-hugger/oil-driller issue, nor even a pro-war/anti-war issue. Our goal, I believe, is to persuade as many as possible to see the Second Amendment our way. We need as many converts as we can get!" My friend is right! Of course, someone will be offended by anything we say. At the same time, we need to reach out to converts everywhere. So, I will be using the term "grasseater" less and replace it with VBC ("victim-by-choice"), which is probably more descriptive anyway. Yes, I am a "work in progress!" /John 25 July 07 Elaborations! Never inclined to leave well-enough alone, my ever-imaginative colleagues had submitted, in order to supplement "VBC" (Victim by Choice), the following: "VBB" (Victim by Belief) Those whose faulty personal belief systems enable predators to effortlessly, continuously take advantage of them. "VBS" (Victim by Stupidity) They never consider the consequences of (1) going to stupid places, (2) associating with stupid people, (3) doing stupid things "PSV" (Premium Select Victim) They make such a lucrative, irresistible target, they fairly invite victimization. "EOV" (Equal Opportunity Victim) "I'm not selective. Any predator will do!" . Finally, with regard to the term "Redneck," it needs to be replaced with "Agro-American," I'm sure we'll all agree. /John 26 July 07 A Failure of Government: In the wake of the savage, nauseating torture/murders of the Petit family in their upscale CT neighborhood last week by two career VCAs, both on parole at the time, both of whom had already been convicted of multiple home-invasions and other violent crimes and had been in and out of CT's revolving-door criminal-justice system countless times, there are trends in the area that is curiously not being reported by the media. (1) Gun sales in CT and the entire area are way up! (2) Demand for installation of residential electronic security is also way up. The state's parole board, currently hiding under their desks, emerged only long enough to insist that they're all perfect and absolutely incapable of error. The public apparently disagrees! It has been graphically, nauseatingly demonstrated, once more, that CT's lumbering, fossilized parole system exists only to promote and protect itself and preserve cushy jobs for its custodians. Protecting the public is conspicuously at the bottom of its list of priorities. CT citizens are waking up to confront the fact that the State really doesn't care about them and that they really are "on their own." Vicious, depraved VCAs are being released from confinement every day, and, to no one's surprise, quickly, inevitably revert to type. Criminal-coddling politicians predictably throw up their hands and cynically claim there is nothing they can do, and still have the nerve to beg for your vote, and, of course, simultaneously insist on heavily-armed bodyguard staffs to protect themselves, all at taxpayer expense. VCAs have little fear from the "System," a system with which they have developed a comfy, symbiotic relationship. VCAs do have well-founded fear of armed police, and they are scared witless of armed householders. In fact, armed citizens, not any part of state government, are the real deterrent to violent crime. Dramatic presentations like "Law and Order," and other media sewage, are designed to persuade the public that violent crimes are all committed by upscale doctors, lawyers, and successful business people. It's a lie! Violent crimes, such as the one here, are committed by low-life career VCAs with a seamless pattern of criminal behavior; violent crimes they commit and recommit, over and over, with the apparent blessing of the state. Autocratic politicians obviously consider them a important resource, as they keep the citizenry frightened. Frightened citizens, they are convinced, are easily manipulated and deceived. As an individual, the sooner you come to terms with the foregoing, the more likely it is that you'll live through your next encounter with VCAs. As the Pedits discovered, "A bad neighborhood is coming to a place near you" In the end, it will come down to you, personally, and no one will help you. Today is a bad time to be unprepared! /John 27 July 07 Fiocchi 77gr 223! Manufactured at their facility in Missouri, Fiocchi is now making 77gr 223 hardball. The only other manufacturer making it is Black Hills, and nearly all their production is currently going to the Pentagon. This is the round that is slowly and quietly displacing the discredited 62gr "Penetrator," which is still officially in the System. Currently, Jensen's in Longmont, CO has a good supply, but they probably won't for long. Call them at 970 663 5994. The only other 223 I've seen that is available in quantity for less that $0.50/round is Serbian-manufactured. Jensen's has that also. Get it while it's hot! /John (The original .223/5.56mm round used a 55 gr bullet, intended to be fired out of a relatively slow-twist barrel. This combination makes a good anti-personnel round up to city-block distances, with poor penetration of common building materials [although it will penetrate soft body armor], making it a good choice for home-defense. Military requirements may differ and the 77 gr loads have gained favor, out of the current fast-twist barrels, in environments where the .223/5.56mm is required to perform the role previously performed by the .308/7.62x51mm.) Aug 07 News from SIG: Friends at SIG tell me the new P250 will be shipping in October. The 40S&W/357SIG version will be a thirteen-shooter (12+1, like the current 229). However, the 9mm version will be a seventeen-shooter (16+1), 226-capacity in a 229-sized-pistol! 9mm will go into production first, with 40S&W/357SIG to follow. I'll have a copy to test when the first batch comes into CONUS, and I'll report back. /John 3 Aug 07 More on the P250 "The P250 has a new trigger, neither a DAK, nor a DA/SA. It is a six-pound DAO (self-decocking). It is smoother than the DAK and is consistent from beginning to end. There is no stacking. The P250 is modular and simple. Easy to maintain at the user level, easy to keep running at the armorer level, the pistol only has 33 parts!" Comment: With this new service pistol, SIG has obviously directly targeted LE and military markets. To these end-users, (1) ease of user-level maintenance, (2) ease of parts replacement (armorer level), (3) ease of training, (4) and ease of safe and efficient use are the big selling points. Thus, consumers like chiefs of police and military units have no use for complicated, temperamental pistols that are difficult to train with, hard to keep running, and prone to NDs. Hence, (1) Manual decocking levers and manual safety levers are out. (2) Assiduous, tedious fitting of parts by a gunsmith is out. (3) Inconsistent triggers are out. (4) Arduous, complicated field-stripping and reassembly is out. (5) Tiny, fragile parts are out. SIG deserves a lot of credit for fearlessly moving forward on these issues. The P250 will be a hot item when it arrives! /John (The DAK trigger is a curious animal. It has two reset points. If the trigger is allowed to go forward only until the first click, the ensuing trigger stroke for the next shot is short but slightly heavier than if it is allowed to go all the way forward for a longer stroke. This is not a problem for the inveterate double-action revolver shooter and I actually had to have that feature pointed out to me by the SIG representative. The newer DAO trigger sounds like an advancement but I have one beef with SIG pistols - I dislike the placement of the slide-lock/slide-release lever at the top of the left grip panel. I may be in the minority in that I still consider this control to be a slide-release lever, favoring its use over the normally two-handed slingshot-release technique. In any case, SIG's placement of this control makes it unfriendly to left-hand operation in either role and I am a firm believer in ambidextrous capability.) 3 Aug 07 Near-incident, from an LEO student, who is a patrol sergeant with a large, rural SO: "Late this afternoon, I responded to a complaint of an aggressive coyote. Residents reported that the animal was prowling their neighborhood and belligerently confronting homeowners. Upon arriving, I parked my beat car near a local railroad right-of-way, grabbed my Mossberg 590, and proceeded down the siding, figuring I would position myself where the coyote would likely be traveling. I instructed my partner to park in the same place and trace my path, coming up behind me. Sure enough! I immediately spotted the coyote walking slowly down the siding and away from me. I shouldered the shotgun and brought the sights up onto the animal. Range was forty meters, and I was using Federal 'Flight-Control' 00 Buckshot. Well known for tight patterns, I calculated I could take out the coyote, and pellets that missed would expend themselves harmlessly downrange. I had a clear shot, or so I thought! Just as I tightened up on the trigger, I noticed the coyote looking over his shoulder, not at me, but at something else. I hesitated. Suddenly, at about half the distance between the coyote and me, and on a direct line, my partner burst out of the bushes! The coyote ran away, never to be seen again! I lowered my muzzle, returned my finger to register, and took a breath! Partner smiled and waved at me, conspicuously unaware of what nearly happened! When I confronted him, I related that I had nearly shot him, because he was nowhere near where he was supposed to be. He was surprised and began rationalizing about how he saw neither my beat car nor me, even though I had radioed my exact location a few minutes prior. I concluded the conversation with the admonition that we both needed to improve our communication skills, while we still can! Lessons: Communication: Just when you explain something as directly and clearly as you think humanly possible, you will discover everyone who heard you hasn't the foggiest idea of what the hell you're talking about! One-sided communication is an assassin, and it nearly succeeded here! Of course, absolute knowledge is impossible, but, to the greatest extend possible, KNOW YOUR TARGET, what is behind it, and what is between it and your muzzle. There is no such thing as 'friendly fire!' Target fixation: Common with hunters stalking game, target fixation will prevent you from noticing other important cues. For example, the coyote was looking at my partner the whole time. It was never aware of me. I couldn't figure out why the animal kept looking over its shoulder in my direction, as I was down-wind and quiet. I should have put two-and-two together much sooner than I did. But, I was concentrating so hard upon my quarry, I failed to see other important clues. No harm done, but important lessons learned!" /John (Shades of the Dick Cheney hunting mishap! It's hard to say if the double-action trigger of the Mossberg 590, unique among modern shotguns, may have contributed to the fortuitous delay in completing the trigger stroke. The incident does point out the downside of the use of buckshot in shotguns - at longer ranges stray pellets may present a danger to unseen innocents downrange. One list member correctly suggests that shotguns in police use should have slugs as the primary load, with the option for the officer to transition to buckshot prior to entering tighter quarters, where distances will be limited and slugs may overpenetrate.) -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .