Thompson Woos Gun Owners: ...As Mr. Thompson, a former senator from Tennessee, struggles to make up for what even his supporters call a lackluster campaign, gun owners passionate about the right to bear arms is one group Mr. Thompson is counting on to bolster his efforts...After the gun show, Mr. Thompson, jokingly referred to one reporter as a "Yankee" before challenging Mr. Giuliani on what he said was a recent conversion to supporting gun owners' rights. "He never met a gun-control bill he didn't like until he started to run for president," Mr. Thompson said... http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/us/politics/25thompson.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin --- Bill Quick On Heller: My first take (I have to admit I'm shaking in my boots at the negative possibilities here, given that I thought the SCOTUS would dodge this one) is that the Court will find an individual right, but do so in such a way that almost no gun control laws currently in place are much disturbed, although pestholes like Chicago and San Francisco may be encouraged to permit their citizens to defend themselves once again. The whole issue of incorporation will be much discussed beyond the court as well, I expect...By the way, what a stinker of an issue this is for the Democrats and the left, eh? I think Hillary will have a Sister Souljah moment and come out in support of an individual rights interpretation... http://dailypundit.com/?p=28443 --- Oops, Wrong Karate Kid: Teenage brown belt Rebecca Kelly saved the day when her parents were attacked by a Taser-wielding junkie as they picked her up from a karate lesson. The pretty 13-year-old put her martial arts skills to the test after a drug-crazed yob lunged at her mother, Diane, 53, with the weapon, which temporarily paralyses people with a huge electric shock, as she waited in the car for her daughter. (No word yet from British authorities as to whether the teenager will face prosecution for excessive force.) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=495976&in_page_id=1770 --- Stupid Gun Tricks: Here's one if (a) you are addicted to smoking, (b) live in the desert and (c) have someone else paying for your ammunition. http://splodetv.com/how-light-smoke-your-ak-47 --- From John Farnam: 19 Nov 07 Mossberg M930, Autoloading Shotgun: During an Urban Rifle/Shotgun Course in OH last weekend, a student brought a brand-new copy of Mossberg's M930 Shotgun. It is the first one I've had a chance to actually use and observe on a range. Bottom line: The 930 is unusable for our purposes. Problems became apparent immediately as the student attempted to manipulate the gun. Once loaded, the entire magazine tube must be completely voided and then subsequently recharged all over again, in order to return the shotgun to Transport Mode (magazine tube charged, hammer down on an empty chamber, manual safety "off," (Transport Mode is often referred to as "Cruiser-Ready"). In addition, when attempting the load the gun, it continually double-stacked, causing two rounds to be released from the magazine tube into the receiver, simultaneously. After ten, frustrating minutes of attempting to come up with a viable handling procedure, we gave up and issued the student a Remington 870, which, of course, ran fine for the duration. Some years ago, Mossberg produced another autoloading shotgun, dubbed the "Jungle Gun." Now long-since out of production, we had nothing but trouble with it too. Mossberg is surely capable of producing functional shotguns, but this new 930 is utterly unsuitable for our purposes. Again, when making ostensible " police" shotguns, they need to talk with someone other than trap shooters! /John 19 Nov 07 Comments on adverse conditions, from one of our instructors: "During the Rifle Test last weekend, I was shivering because of the cold. I got chilled and just could not get warm. My discomfort made a big difference in my performance. It was difficult for me to concentrate on the task at hand. It was a combination of fatigue, cold, and exhaustion, both mental and physical, that made it nearly impossible to concentrate sufficiently to hold my sights on target. Here is what I learned: I need to do more training in the cold, wind, rain, mud, etc! I need to train when I am anything but comfortable, in fact, when I am miserable to distraction, and exhausted mentally. Training at that ragged end of the spectrum will develop mental toughness, the kind of icy determination I will need when the challenge comes to me at an inconvenient time and in an unhappy place!" Comment: An important lesson here! We do entirely too much "training" in the abstract, where we can concentrate completely upon what we're doing, because there is not a host of distractions clamoring for our attention and dividing our focus. The ability to concentrate on demand, to exert complete control over our own minds and thoughts, despite being submerged in brawling chaos, is a critical fighting skill, yet one that is scarcely known, much less regularly exercised, by most practitioners of our Art! "The occasional lightning flash that troubles the atheist is more important than the comfortable, smug faith of the 'believer.'" /John (Many people are familiar with the concept of stages of competence. "Conscious incompetence" describes the learner who is aware that he is not yet competent with a new skill. "Conscious competence" describes the learner who can perform the new skill if he can think about it. ""Unconscious competence" describes a level of skill where the practitioner does not need to think about performing the task. It is for those who have developed unconscious competence that the above remarks have the greatest meaning; unnecessarily harsh conditions may not enhance learning at the earlier stages.) 20 Nov 07 We attended the last day of the ITOA Show (Illinois Tactical Officers' Assn) today in Oakbrook, IL. Things of note: Chicago Police Department has, at long last, approved Glock pistols. Glock was frozen out of CPD for many years, because of several individuals up he food chain, who, for reasons known only to them, just didn't like the pistol. They're now out of the way, and Glocks are finally approved for general carry. CPD has also, finally, approved the 40S&W round. John Klein's (Sage International) replacement chassis for the M-14 rifle has been purchased by both the Marines and the Army. Designated the M-39 by the USMC, it is being issued to the "Designated Marksman" at squad level. It has rails for mounting accessories, along with a stock that is adjustable in length as well as height. Stock is also collapsible. A similar replacement chassis is available for the Mini-14, breathing new life into that gun as a patrol rifle. I've known John for many years, and everything he makes is top-drawer. My friends at Glock tell me that the G19 has superceded the G23 as Glock's current best seller. The 9mm, they believe, has reemerged at the defensive pistol caliber of choice, at least in the non-police market. The shift is at least partially due to recent improvements in high-performance ammunition available in 9mm. The G21SF has now largely displaced the G21. Most departments looking for a pistol in 45ACP specify the G21SF Friends with SIG report that many departments that had been using the DAK have abandoned it in favor of the conventional SIG system, now with the SRT (short-reset trigger) Ruger's new SR9 was on display and garnered interest. It's relatively low retail price, combined with its similarity to Glock, will insure at least some sales. Throwing flash-bang munitions into doors is now considered an obsolete tactic by most SWAT units. The current trend it to insert flash-bang grenades through windows, on the end of specially-designed poles. This is a direct response to many unintentional injuries, to officers, suspects, and bystanders alike, associated with thrown flash-bangs. ITOA, under the inspired leadership of Chief Jeff Chudwin, has established itself as the premier training organization in the Midwest. Good show, Jeff! /John (I have observed over time that some of my students who show up with .40's and .45's, which they have been comfortable shooting two-handed, under ideal range conditions, may no longer feel as comfortable when I have them shoot from compressed one-handed positions or other unconventional positions. It's comforting to see that others are also recognizing that, with modern ammunition, the 9x19mm chambering works fine, in a broader latitude of conditions.) 21 Nov 07 Interesting news about S&W's M&P Pistol, from a friend in the Philippines: "Smith's M&P pistols, in both 40S&W and 9mm, are doing absurdly well over here, all the more interesting when one considers that S&W pistols have, up until now, never enjoyed any appreciable presence in this part of the world! Despite a premium price-tag, distributors can't keep these pistols in stock. Filipinos are voting with their checkbooks and the M&P is rapidly moving to first place here, eclipsing Beretta, Browning HP, various Eastern European guns, and currently breathing down Glock's neck! I've managed to interview several end-users who have already had serious trigger-time with their M&Ps, and all return nothing but rave reviews. Positive comments center mostly on high reliability, pleasing ergonomics, and variable grip geometry. For our small hands, there is no longer need for a 'grip-reduction.' All attempts to make the pistol short-cycle, via limp-wristing, have failed. Spare parts are still scarce, as are spare magazines. Comp-Tac and Bladetech do ship holsters to our country, so at least we have viable concealed-carry options. Glock dealers have been compelled to lower prices!" Comment: Ten years ago, many (including me) predicted that S&W would be out business before 2000. How wrong we were! S&W, a grand American gun company, now with competent management, has surged back. They, at long last, have a major player in the M&P Pistol. Competition is good! When competent products go head-to-head, everyone benefits. /John -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .