Supremes to Hear Heller on Tuesday: Despite mountains of scholarly research, enough books to fill a library shelf and decades of political battles about gun control, the Supreme Court will have an opportunity this week that is almost unique for a modern court when it examines whether the District's handgun ban violates the Second Amendment...The outcome could roil the 2008 political campaigns, send a national message about what kinds of gun control are constitutional and finally settle the question of whether the 27-word amendment, with its odd structure and antiquated punctuation, provides an individual right to gun ownership or simply pertains to militia service. "The case has been structured so that they have to confront the threshold question," said Robert A. Levy, the wealthy libertarian lawyer who has spent five years and his own money to bring District of Columbia v. Heller to the Supreme Court. "I think they have to come to grips with that." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/03/15/ST2008031502430.html?hpid=topnews Any Hints on How They Will Rule?: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/15/AR2008031502121.html?sid=ST2008031502430 --- No Charges Yet in Texas Shooting: Joe Horn reportedly shot and killed two men breaking into his neighbor's home last November. Nearly four months later, Horn hasn't been charged with any crime. Eyewitness News has learned, however, that could change in just weeks... KTRK legal analyst Joel Androphy points out, charges or not, an indictment against Horn is unlikely, and a conviction is even more improbable. "This is a defense lawyer's dream type of case, because you'll never get 12 people to say that he acted inappropriately," Androphy said. Androphy believes that's part of the reason prosecutors have yet to present their evidence to a grand jury and push for an indictment against Horn... http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6013534 --- Student Suspended for Out-of-School Threat: ...James, an honor-roll fifth-grader, was not sick. He was starting the 10th day of a seemingly indefinite school suspension for a threat he said was made in self-defense. Late last month, James said, a bully stalked him and his younger brother on their way home from school. To ward him off, James said he was going to go home and get a gun. That apparently ended the incident but began a 12-year-old's hands-on lesson on zero-tolerance policies in today's schools. Administrators, mindful of fatal shootings that have occurred on or near campuses across the country, say they must intervene swiftly and forcefully any time gun threats emerge... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/15/AR2008031502254.html --- Funding Cut Threatens Alaska Ranges: The fate of the state-owned shooting range in Fairbanks is up in the air after members of the Senate Finance Committee cut funds for the facility in a new version of the state's operating budget. The Fairbanks Hunter Education Indoor Shooting Range, located off College Road, is one of three state-owned ranges and is used for hunter education classes, school shooting programs and public shooting. The other two are located in Anchorage and Juneau...Committee co-chair Sen. Lyman Hoffman, a Democrat from Bethel, suggested in an interview that running shooting ranges was not really a state duty, and that it was unfair to have the ranges only in the three urban areas. "If it's good for the state, everybody should have access to them," he said. Hoffman said he wasn't looking for new facilities in rural areas, and just wanted the funding removed from the existing facilities. http://newsminer.com/news/2008/mar/15/senate-committee-pulls-funding-shooting-range/ --- Al Jazeera to Examine US RKBA: Dear MSSA Friends, A week ago I was approached by an independent TV journalist who had been contracted to do a Montana story for an international news network. The story, I was told, was about trying to explain the D.C. v. Heller case now before the U.S. Supreme Court, for which oral arguments will be this coming Tuesday. The Montana segment is to explain to an international audience why the RKBA is important in Montana - an important part of the culture of our Montana people. The international news network is Al Jazeera. Yeah, right. That's what I though, too. So, I did some research. Al Jazeera is headquartered in Qatar, and is thought by international observers to currently be the closest thing to freedom of the press that exists in the Mid-East. Plus, I learned, Al Jazeera has an English-only channel that is watched by 100 million English-speaking people around the globe, beginning to rival the BBC and CNN. My research also suggested that the journalist doing this story on contract for Al Jazeera is an American and a professional who has done work for CBS, NBC and other biggies. After several email interchanges with the journalist, Mike Kirsch, I got into a comfort zone and agreed to help with the story. I spent most of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with Mike and his nice camera lady Kelly. I drove them around and helped them get interviews with various people who had something useful to say about why the RKBA is important to us here in Montana. So, this Montana story is now produced, edited and prepared for broadcast. It will be available on the Internet from the Al Jazeera English Website. It will be about three minutes, and aired every hour from 6PM to 10PM, Eastern Time (should be 4 to 8 in Montana) on March 20th. You can watch this on the Internet at: http://english.aljazeera.net/English Their streaming news requires Real Player to be installed on your computer, so get that installed if you want to watch. Here's the tentative schedule: The Guns Across America "series" is set as follows: Guns in Illinois March 19 Mike Kirsch Guns in Montana March 20 Mike Kirsch Guns from the other side, Canada March 21 Jeremy Copeland Do I know what material made the cut for the three minutes about Montana? No. Do I know if it will portray us in a positive light? No. But, I believe it will be that way. We'll have to watch to find out for sure. Best wishes, Gary Marbut, president Montana Shooting Sports Association http://www.mtssa.org author, Gun Laws of Montana http://www.mtpublish.com --- From John Farnam: 10 Mar 08 Co-Witnessing? When a rifle's optical sight (usually 1X, or minimal magnification) and iron-sights simultaneously share the same sight line, the two a said to be "co-witnessed." In an age of rails, precisely aligning two (or more) sighting systems on the same plane has become a simple task. I'm not sure "co-witnessing" is the most descriptive of terms, but at this point it appears we are stuck with it. Presumably, when two sighting systems use separate sight lines (one directly on top, and the other cast off at a forty-five-degree angle), they are "split-witnessed." Co-witnessing is a good thing! (1) Operators can use virtually the same mount and cheek weld with either sighting system. Accordingly, effective use of both is readily available from nearly identical postures. (1,a) Deliberately mounting an optic well above, or just above, iron-sights usually renders an unsatisfactory result. When an optic is mounted too low, its bottom edge will block the line of sight between front and rear iron-sights, and iron-sights are thus rendered useless until the optic can be removed. Mounting optics far enough above iron-sights to permit their utilization usually places the optic too high for effective employment. And, even then, iron-sights are only marginally useful, as the scope body still blocks out much of the downrange area. (2) It facilitates, indeed encourages, continuous confirmation and re-confirmation that both sighting systems are adjusted correctly. Iron-sights can be easily compared with the aiming reticle of the optic, and visa-versa. Any time an Operator suspects a sight misadjustment, with either his optic or his iron-sights, one can be quickly compared with the other as the weapon is mounted normally. When both are aligned, he can be assured both are still adjusted correctly. When they are not aligned, one has obviously changed since the last confirmation. This confirmation technique is particularly useful when the rife or optic have been subjected to a blow, or the optic, or iron-sights, have been removed and subsequently reinstalled. (2, a) Iron-sights, correctly sighted-in and verified through live-fire, can subsequently be used to adjust an optic that is mounted, and co-witnessed, on the same rail, and visa-versa. It is my preference to sight-in the optic first, then adjust iron-sights accordingly, but the process works just as well in reverse. Ultimately, of course, all sight adjustments need to be confirmed through live fire. (3) It permits the Operator to default to iron-sights when the optic's reticle is no longer visible, because of a battery, electronic, lighting, or contrast issue. Such a default can take place instantly when iron-sights are deployed continuously. The default process will require a second or two when iron-sights are normally folded down. A useful compromise is leaving the front iron-sight continuously deployed, and the rear one normally folded down. (3, a) Unless the optic is frosted over or otherwise obscured, there is no need to remove it, even when it is non-functional, as co-witnessed iron-sights are altogether useable, through the optic. In fact, a crude, but effective, aiming technique can be accomplished via the front iron-sight and an Aimpoint with no reticle visible. The Aimpoint body itself can function as a large "ghost-ring," rear sight. The further forward the optic is mounted, the more positive this sighting technique becomes. Mark LaRue makes a wonderful quick-release mount for both Aimpoints and EOTechs. In addition, he makes mating risers, in various heights, that are designed to facilitate co-witnessing with nearly any railed rifle. In my opinion, there is no point in having a 1X optic on a rifle and not co-witnessing it with iron-sights, be they permanent or fold-down. Mark's system is what I use in order to successfully execute co-witnessing on all my serious rifles. Highly recommended! /John 11 Mar 08 Follow up on the subject of "co-witnessing:" Mark LaRue (LaRue Tactical), Dave Lauek (D&L Sports), and others who manufacture mounts and risers for co-witnessing 1X rifle optics don't make them so that iron-sights line up in the exact middle of the scope. Instead, they arrange for iron-sights to line up in the bottom-third of the scope. Most of us agree that this is the more satisfactory arrangement, as it gets the optic's aiming reticle, isolated and uncongested, above the iron-sight line. With EOTechs and Aimpoints, no matter how the operator moves his head, the aiming reticle will correspondingly move around in scope, but always be on targets, so long as the Operator can see it. Thus, when the Operator lowers his head slightly, he will able to position the reticle and iron-sights (assuming they're deployed) exactly on line. This exact alignment will always take place in the lower third of the scope. When he subsequently lifts his head slightly, iron-sights will remain in the lower third of the scope, but the reticle will return to the middle, and iron-sights will then no longer be "in the way." So, when I use the term "co-witness," I don't mean that iron-sights and optic reticle are necessarily exactly superimposed over each other in the middle of the scope, although I'm sure you can have it that way if you wish! As I indicated, the "bottom-third" set-up is the one preferred by the majority of us. /John (Seems like a pretty quick shift in preference, from March 10 to March 11. As I say on my website, "Common sense - don't leave home without it." Just because someone usually makes sense doesn't mean they will always make sense. Don't be afraid to ask questions and beware of anyone who resents them.) 11 Mar 08 They don't get it. They don't want to! With the massacre of innocents that took place in a suburban Chicago shopping mall in February still fresh on their minds, residents recently attended a meeting with the local PD. Nervous attendees wanted guidance from their police with regard to surviving the next such incident. What they received was profoundly unhelpful! What they received was hollow, emasculate, let's-all-be-good-little-victims, perfidiousness. It is all too typical! Victims in the incident had been herded into a back room by a gun-wielding armed-robbery suspect and then coldly murdered, one-by-one. Attendees wanted to know what to do when another such active VCA starts precipitously murdering innocent people. They were told: "We believe the best to do is be compliant..." "Conformity is safest...""If someone runs, it could make the robber madder..." " Do exactly as they state..., and don't be a hero." The political mood in Illinois is apparently so committed to the dogma of learned-helplessness and compulsory-victimhood, that police themselves are now actually advising citizens that it is their civic duty to passively allow themselves to be murdered by violent criminals and take no action to prevent it! If recent events are any guide, this "be-a-willing-victim"strategy will play right into the hands of murderous sociopaths, but none of this seems to concern leftist bureaucrats. Even the concept of "being a hero" is now denigrated and mocked as somehow unpatriotic! Amazing that American Citizens are being officially instructed that there is nothing worth fighting for, not even their own lives, not even the lives of their families! ... and this guidance" is being promulgated by public employees, who, paradoxically, are all bearing guns Their deeds belie their vacuous rhetoric! Their lives are apparently worth protecting. Ours evidently aren't. "Find out just what the people will submit to, and you will have found the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue until they are resisted, with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." Fred Douglass /John 12 Mar 08 About being willing victims, from an Instructor: "In Leftist philosophy, there are only dead heroes. The ultimate goal of the Left is death. Always has been! Our philosophic enemy is the delusive belief that man is a pathetic, iniquitous, incapable, leechlike being, worthy only of enslavement for his own good; with dying his only worthwhile accomplishment! The contrary: that each man is a magnificent creation, capable of amazing feats, with the purpose of living his life to the fullest and accomplishing and contributing everything of which he is capable, is the most powerful message we can promulgate. Ultimately, if Western Civilization is to survive, this must be the essence of our moral code. At one time, it was! Unhappily, in modern times, our society, and men in particular, has embraced the enslavement mentality. We have allowed politicians to disenfranchise us, bribing us with our own money! "...But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future..." Perhaps we all need to read the Declaration of Independence more often!" Again, from Fred Douglas: "Who profess to favor freedom, yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the roar of its many waters." /John 12 Mar 08 Safariland RLS (Rapid Light System): Competing directly with Surefire's excellent X300 Weapon-Light, Safariland is now marketing their amazingly clever RLS! The RLS fits on any under-rail-equipped pistol. However, when detached, the light is still eminently useable as a plain, hand-held flashlight. It clips on your belt and is low-profile enough to ride there. When mounted on the pistol, the light can be swung up nearly even with the barrel, on either the left or right side. Rapid-on and rapid-off, the RLS has some real advantages, and I'm using a copy now as my main, carry light. I have to hand it to Safariland! They've come up with a flashlight that solves a lot of problems at once! Recommended! /John (Remember that once the flashlight is mounted on the gun your are likely to be searching with the muzzle [e.g., violating Rule Two by pointing the muzzle at things or people you may not be prepared to shoot]. To some degree, with these high-intensity lights you may be able to reflect enough light off a floor or ceiling for illumination but this will likely only be the case indoors.) 14 Mar 08 Family affair in LA, from an LEO friend in the area: "Wednesday evening, two of our gang-officers, on foot-patrol in our most 'active' housing project, spotted a known gang-member who was in direct violation of our City's gang-injunction just by physically being there. Under this ordinance, any violation generates instant arrest. Being obviously familiar with our ordinance, the suspect immediately took off on a bicycle. Both officers are on our Station's running team and had no problem closing the distance. As they caught up with the suspect, he produced a pistol and, from under his arm (as he continued frantically peddling), started shooting backwards at our officers. Our officers both stopped, took aim, and fired at the fleeing suspect with their G22s. Firing a total of four rounds, they struck the suspect in the torso with all four. None exited. He wobbled, stayed upright for another second or two, and then fell off the bicycle. By the time the ambulance crew arrived, he was DRT. As other officer arrived, this kid's 'family,' consisting of over a dozen 'relatives' showed up and, as expected, created the usual, contrived, emotional scene commemorating their 'son-of-the-year.' Eventually, the crowd disbursed except for one, who identified himself as the decedent's father. He continued to create a one-man scene, cursing our officers and verbalizing threats. Our guys went about their duties, doing their best to ignore him. He was not arrested, because we were trying to be understanding by just letting let him blow off steam. We won't do that again! Without warning, 'dad' himself produced a pistol and began firing at our officers and detectives. Fortunately, our perimeter guys were alert and immediately gunned him down. This new suspect was subsequently transported and was last reported 'critical' by the hospital. None of our guys were hurt. As you may know, our overall violence rate here is exhibiting a slight downward trend, but gang-related violence is rising dramatically. We don't see it leveling off any time soon." Lessons: Don't relax too soon! Don't relax at all! Keep your head up and stay alert. When it's least expected, you're elected! At any crime scene, or other police activity, routinely set up security-in-depth. This means layers of protection. Evidence techs and detectives tend to get engrossed in the tedium of their tasks. Someone always needs to be "on watch." Never be part of, or anywhere near, any "protest," rally, demonstration, or other emotional gathering. When people around you become outwardly emotional, get out of there without delay! Long before bullets start flying, arrange to be somewhere else! In many parts of the Country, our civilization is descending into anarchy, as we see! No matter where you are, be alert, armed, ready, confident, particularly when you wear a uniform! Train continuously! Expect the unexpected. Never be "surprised." /John (Based on news reports, I believe that by "LA" John means "Los Angeles," not "Louisiana.") -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .