H&H WireShots

White House cites progress on executive actions

WireShots Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:21:26 +0000

The White House says President Obama is close to completing a series of executive actions to address gun violence, but they are not a substitute for congressional legislation.

In a report issued Tuesday, the administration has “completed or made significant progress” on 21 of 23 executive actions that Obama outlined Jan. 16 as part of a major gun-control initiative.

“But Congress must also act,” the report says. “Passing common-sense gun safety legislation, including expanding background checks and making gun trafficking a federal crime, remains the single most important step we could take to reduce gun violence.”

With Obama in Northern Ireland for the G-8 summit, Vice President Biden will discuss the report in a speech Tuesday afternoon.

The Senate blocked a background check bill in April, thanks mostly to the votes of Republicans. Obama administration officials and Senate Democrats are trying to revive the bill by pressuring senators who voted against it to reconsider.

Gun-control opponents say the proposals are ineffective, and undermine the Second Amendment rights to gun ownership.

The Obama administration began pushing for new gun legislation after the Dec. 14 shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 students and six educators.

The new White House report listed the executive actions on guns taken by the administration.

Among them: Ending a freeze on federal research into the causes of gun violence, reducing barriers that prevent states from submitting certain records to the existing background check system, and easing the ways in which federal law enforcement agencies can trace guns recovered in investigations.

The report did not mention two other legislative proposals backed by gun-control supporters: A new ban on assault weapons, and restrictions on the size of ammunition magazines. Neither proposal has sufficient support in Congress as of yet.

The White House report says the president’s executive actions are designed to address several goals, including improvements to the existing background check system, law enforcement, and school safety, as well as promote responsible gun ownership.

This article was originally posted by
David Jackson, USA TODAY

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Securing Your Home and Property

WireShots Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:14:05 +0000

By: Ed Head

From Down Range TV

We had a search warrant but the drug dealer had done his best to turn his two-story home into a fortress. The windows were secured with burglar bars and the front door was massive. Further complicating matters, a security gate covered the door and a burglar bar cage enclosed the entire front porch. The cage had a single entrance, that being yet another barred security door with several locks. It looked like our dawn raiding party were going to have a tough time getting in. Few problems, however, resist the proper application of sufficient force, so the tow truck someone had thoughtfully commandeered was backed to the front gate. The hook was placed over the bars, everyone stood back, and the tow truck took off down the street with Mr. Drug Dealer’s gate. The raiding party ran inside, threw a ladder up to the second story balcony and easily entered through the unprotected bedroom door. It happened so fast that our quarry never made it out of bed.

The point of the story is, try as you might, making your home or apartment impenetrable is close to impossible. I once asked a friend, a SWAT breacher, if there was anything I could do to keep him out of my house and his answer was, “Not a chance”. High tech tools, explosives and brute force are going to defeat your best-laid security schemes every time. Yet, understanding this basic truth is the key to developing a security plan. Here’s the way I look at it: I know I can’t create a fortress, but what can I do to make it tougher for someone trying to get in? Are there things I can do to slow them down and force them to make enough noise to keep me from being surprised? Given that I’m not a criminal and don’t expect to be raided by the police, what are the threats I need to defend against?

Keeping the gate closed is a mild but effective
deterrent to animals and uninvited visitors.

Threat Assessment
A realistic threat assessment is the first step in developing a home security plan. Much will depend upon where you live, criminal activity in the area and the response time you can expect from police agencies. If you live in a densely populated city next door to a drug dealer your security concerns are going to be vastly different than they might be if you live in a rural area with minimal crime. Although the threat may be greater in the urban area the police response time is likely to be short, while in the rural setting it could be extended or non-existent. Planning to defend against an Apache attack helicopter will only cause you to waste resources you might better devote to a more realistic threat like the potential for burglary or a home invasion robbery.

Motion detector lights on the outside
of the home provide a deterrent.

Layering
The best defenses are those that start on the outside of the home. Where I live the property is fenced and the front gate is about 70 yards from the house. The simple precaution of keeping the gate closed is a mild but effective deterrent to animals and uninvited visitors. An infrared beam that sounds an alarm inside the house alerts us to visitors, trespassers or the UPS truck.

Your next layer of security involves outside lighting. A friend of mine built his home in a remote location and wired the house with a couple of switches next to his bed; one to turn on all the perimeter lights and the other to turn on interior lights in every room in the house except his bedroom. Pretty clever. Motion detector lights on the outside of the home will not only provide a deterrent, but will alert you to someone approaching the house under the cover of darkness. Security cameras, even those you can monitor from your smart phone, are becoming more affordable all the time and deserve consideration.

Replacing short screws with longer
screws is an easy security upgrade.

Moving inward, the next defensive layers are doors and locks. The simple precaution of keeping the doors locked is often overlooked. Doors should be reinforced with heavy-duty hinges and high quality locks. They won’t keep the door from being beaten in eventually, but they will make it harder for an intruder and give you more time to prepare. In most homes the hinges and lock strike plates are secured with short screws that barely penetrate into the door frame. Replacing them with longer screws is an easy security upgrade. Sliding patio doors can be secured with locks that go through the door track, or a piece of dowel or broomstick can be cut to length and dropped in the track to keep the door from sliding.

A “K-9 sensor” can be an invaluable security aide.

During my years in the Border Patrol we called dogs K-9 sensors because we could track groups evading us by listening to the barking dogs. Having a dog or dogs in the yard or a dog sleeping at the foot of your bed can be an invaluable security aide. Going outside the home to check suspicious activity is ill advised but you can give yourself an edge by letting the dog out ahead of you.

The Safe Room
In most homes the safe room is going to be the master bedroom. This is the place the family is trained to run to if trouble comes. It’s best if this room has a sturdy door and lock, a telephone and access to your home defense weapons. Other useful gear to keep stashed there includes flashlights (weapon mounted lights as well) and electronic hearing protection to help you hear what’s going on outside the room and to protect your hearing if you have to shoot. Even though you should have a phone in the safe room it’s a good idea to get in the habit of taking your cell phone to bed with you in case the home line is disabled.

The best defense is one that is thought out and planned in advance, has layers of protection and provides early warning. To me, securing the fort is a state of mind borne of anticipation, preparation, and habit.

About the Author:

Ed Head is a regular on Shooting Gallery and Down Range TV. He has worked for almost 30 years in law enforcement, first in the United States Air Force and then with the United States Border Patrol, retiring as a Field Operations Supervisor. During his Border Patrol career, Ed worked in a variety of patrol, investigative and training capacities. Ed has an extensive background as a firearms instructor, having trained thousands, ranging from beginners to police, military and special operations personnel. Having taught at Gunsite for 20 years, Ed first trained there under the world famous shooting school’s founder, Jeff Cooper, then later ran the school as the operations manager for more than five years. Ed lives in Chino Valley, Arizona, where he continues to teach and write.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

8 Ways to Convince Anyone to Go Shooting

WireShots Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:12:06 +0000

As passionate as shooters can be about protecting their gun rights, it’s important not to get too caught up in Us vs. Them thinking. Plenty of folks who don’t shoot might enjoy it if their concerns or misconceptions about firearms were addressed properly. Here are a few common arguments against shooting that could, if handled diplomatically, be broken and ultimately lead to a friend joining you on the shooting range for the first time.

I’m Afraid of the Recoil

Wouldn’t it be fun to get Grandma out to the range for an afternoon? But with her age, her size and that bit of arthritis in her hands, chances are she won’t have much fun running her grandson’s 12-gauge. If you have a friend or family member who is sensitive to felt recoil for one reason or another, then it’s time to crack out the .22s. Just about anyone can enjoy running .22 handguns or rifles with low levels of felt recoil. They can practice all they want because the ammunition is affordable. If they are sensitive to noise, then try ammunition like the CCI Quiet. This low-velocity cartridge offers a 75-percent reduction in noise compared to other .22 rounds, and is accurate to boot.

I’ve Never Been Shooting Before

In other words, “I don’t want to look stupid.” For those of us who grew up shooting, it’s easy to forget that we were once lousy shots ourselves. Luckily, we had someone patiently walk us through the process and provide encouragement and opportunities to improve. It’s not easy to learn a new life skill as an adult, especially if you think your buddies are going to laugh at you. Talk to your friend about what kind of shooting they would like to try if they had a chance to go. If they have no particular preferences for handguns or long guns, then set them up with a chance to try some of each in an environment where they can have a successful and positive experience. There’s nothing like seeing the smile on someone’s face when they hit the bullseye for the first time.

Guns Are Just for Killing

This can be one of the toughest arguments to take on. It should be handled with care since your acquaintance’s opinion may be based on a negative personal experience. If that is the case, then perhaps you should invite them to go bowling instead. However, several of the people I have talked to over the years who’ve held this view of shooting have locked on to violent, media-driven stereotypes and allowed this narrow set of information to shape their beliefs. The best conversations I’ve had have come from sharing positive personal experiences with shooting: the time spent with my family, the sense of accomplishment and all of the fun that shooting has to offer.

Gun People Are Weird

Luckily, this shooting stereotype, which was never valid, is rapidly losing steam. Record levels of gun sales over the last few years show that more people are shooting than ever before. While it is difficult to generate exact statistics of gun ownership, some indicators are available. When asked by Gallup Polls in 2010 if a gun was present in the home, 39 percent of respondents answered “yes.” This figure has fluctuated from 38 percent to 42 percent in polls since 2000, and has ranged between 36 percent and 51 percent since Gallup started asking the question in 1959. The NRA states almost half of U.S. households have at least one firearm. It’s hard to claim that having guns and going shooting is some sort of fringe activity when so many people choose to own them.

Shooting is a Guy Thing

The estimated 15 to 20 million women in the U.S. who own guns and participate in shooting sports would disagree. Shooting is a sport that anyone can participate in. Many shooting ranges provide ladies’ day events and classes geared towards women. Another way to make a trip to the range more comfortable for a new female shooter is to invite other women who are experienced with firearms to join you. This can be a big help in breaking the ice, and it’s a great opportunity to make new friends.

But I Don’t Want to Kill Cute Animals!

Some non-shooters may have the misconception that shooting is the same thing as hunting. Since they find the idea of hunting repugnant, guns are repulsive too. The common mistake in this situation is to try to change the individual’s mind about hunting. This can touch off a heated debate that is unlikely to lead to good feelings on either side. Instead, this would be the right time to point out all of the exciting shooting activities that are sports in and of themselves. Stationary paper pistol targets, long range rifle work using steel plates, and sporting clays are just a few of the activities that can be enjoyed on the range without harming any cute little critters.

Guns Are Dangerous

A more accurate statement is that firearms are potentially dangerous. It’s true that when misused or improperly handled, guns can cause serious bodily injury or death. But when you think about it, how many objects, devices and substances do we use on a daily basis that have the potential to harm us? Prescription drugs, butane lighters, electrical appliances, cleaning chemicals and automobiles are just a few of the items we must handle with care. If someone is concerned about being safe around guns, take some time to share with them the safety rules and procedures shooters use to avoid accidents or injury while transporting, handling, and shooting firearms.

I Hate the Outdoors

Not everyone is in love with the great outdoors. This may be especially true for individuals who live and work in metropolitan areas. The idea of slogging across muddy fields and sweating under the summer sun just to shoot a gun may be enough of a turn-off to keep this potential shooter at home (or at Starbucks). If your acquaintance doesn’t want their SUV to get all dusty, then find an indoor facility or a quality gun club to go to. This need for squeaky clean shooting may not be important to you, but it may tip the scales enough for your friend to give shooting a try.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

U.S. Rep Sam Graves (R-Mo.) Praised for Introduction of H.R. 2361, Protecting Americans Second Amendment Rights

WireShots Staff — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:06:49 +0000

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, today praised U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) for his introduction of H.R. 2361, legislation intended to prevent states and municipalities from enacting or raising taxes or fees on the purchase of firearms or ammunition.

“Congressman Graves is to be commended for introducing a bill to prevent one of the latest tactics of anti-gun politicians, that is pricing firearms and ammunition out of reach of responsible, law-abiding Americans through new taxes on the state or local level,” said Lawrence G. Keane, senior vice president and general counsel, NSSF. “We believe that such taxes are unconstitutional and, in effect, amount to a poll tax on the Second Amendment. We endorse H.R. 2361.”

Cook County, Illinois enacted a $25 tax on new firearms purchases earlier this year and had considered a tax on ammunition, as well. Legislators in several other states, including California, Maryland and New Jersey have introduced similar proposals.

H.R. 2361 is known as the Protecting Honest, Everyday Americans from Senseless and Needless Taxes Act, or PHEASANT Act.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Natalie Foster for NRA News: “Using the Abused”

WireShots Staff — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:43:16 +0000

In “Using the Abused,” NRA News Commentator Natalie Foster calls out anti-gun groups for only using domestic abuse to further their anti-gun agenda.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

NSSF Launches New Project ChildSafe Website

WireShots Staff — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:36:56 +0000

NSSF^® Launches New Project ChildSafe^® Website
Expanded site offers new tools to encourage firearm safety in the home

The enhanced site at www.projectchildsafe.org features several new interactive tools to help educate visitors on how to properly store forearms when not in use. Visitors can also make a commitment to be a responsible gun owner. Examples of these new tools include:NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation^® (NSSF^®) has launched a new Project ChildSafe^® website as part of its “S.A.F.E. Summer” campaign. The new site, and the campaign, are designed to focus attention on the importance of safe and responsible firearm storage, to reinforce that anyone who is going to own a firearm should respect it and secure it, and to provide educational resources that can help prevent firearm accidents and misuse.

An interactive quiz to help owners determine how safely their firearms are stored
An online pledge to practice and encourage responsible firearm ownership, shareable on social media
A new infographic designed to help firearm owners choose a safe storage option based on their lifestyle and needs
Links to information on where to get a Firearm Safety Kit in their area
Tools for law enforcement agencies looking to partner with Project ChildSafe in distributing firearms safety kits and encouraging firearm safety

“We want to do as much as we can to help responsible firearms owners become powerful voices in sharing safety messages with family members and others in their communities,” says Steve Sanetti, NSSF president and CEO.

With “SAFE” serving as an acronym for Secure your firearms when not in use; Be Aware of those around you who should not have unauthorized access to guns; Focus on your responsibility as a firearm owner and Educate yourself and others about safe firearm handling and storage, “S.A.F.E. Summer” is focused on equipping gun owners take responsible action to keep their families and communities safer, particularly while children are home from school and more likely to be unattended.

NSSF launched Project ChildSafe in 1998 (prior to 2003 the program was called Project HomeSafe) as a nationwide initiative to promote firearms responsibility and provide safety education to all gun owners. While children are a focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help young people and adults practice greater firearm safety in the home. The program has provided more than 36 million free firearm safety kits to gun owners in all 50 states and five U.S. territories. That’s in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included with new firearms sold since 1998 and continue to do today.

Project ChildSafe was originally supported by federal grants provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. Since 2008, when this funding was cut, the firearms manufacturing industry has solely funded the Project ChildSafe program through the members of NSSF.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Thompson/Center Rifles Issues Sweeping Recalls

WireShots Staff — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:06:42 +0000

Thompson/Center Arms has issued a blanket recall on all their Icon, Venture and Dimension bolt-action rifles. All of them.

The recall is for every Icon, Venture and Dimension rifle made through this month of June 2013, and it goes all the way back.

According to Thompson/Center, they’ve found cases where certain rifles’ safties don’t properly engage, and when the bolt is cycled, the safety switches off. These rifles still will not fire unless the trigger is pulled, they aren’t slam-firing or anything like that, but a safety that un-safes itself is a serious issue.

The press release could not be more serious. “STOP USING YOUR RIFLE AND RETURN IT TO THOMPSON/CENTER AT ONCE.”

“Because the safety of our customers is our utmost concern, we ask that you stop using your rifle until we have an opportunity to inspect the safety lever to ensure its proper function.”

Owners of Icon, Venture and Dimension rifles should contact the Thompson/Center customer service department. They will send you a pre-paid shipping label to have the rifle sent back to them at no cost to you.

Icon, Venture and Dimension rifles that have been inspected and found to have safeties that do not bind and function correctly will receive a small mark on the end of the safety lever, indicating that it has been inspected and passed.

If you’re buying one of these potentially-dangerous rifles from here on out, be sure to check the safety for the indicator to make certain that your rifle is safe. If the safety does not have the mark, be prepared to contact the Thompson/Center customer service department.

It is uncommon for a company to recall entire product lines like this, although for this particular issue it’s understandable.

The last company to issue a full recall on complete lines of their product was Caracal, after they had one case where a customer’s slide cracked at the ejection port, sending the rear half of the slide flying. Whether it was a case where one slide had a metallurgical fault or a design flaw, they pulled them all.

If you’re an owner of one of the Thompson/Center rifles that may have this problem, or you know someone who might be, make sure these guns get sent back to the factory for inspection. A safety that isn’t is a serious issue.

When companies issue recalls like this, are you more or less likely to purchase products made by them?

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Carnik Con uses science to compare the 9mm v. 45acp

WireShots Staff — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:56:25 +0000

Carnik Con uses science to compare the two:

An excruciating test and analysis, pitting the 9mm against the .45 acp. Learn the strengths and weaknesses of each cartridge as they are compared to each other at the CarniK Con Small Arms Development Area (SADA).

I like how the tests were fair and well controlled. That really would have sucked if they tried to stack the deck in favor of one.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

George Kollitides, Freedom Group CEO, Speaks Out on Gun Control

WireShots Staff — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:32:56 +0000

A Bushmaster M4A3 carbine. Firearms like the M4A3 were in focus following the Newtown shooting.

When a lone gunman killed 26 people in Newtown, Connecticut last year, the polarizing issue of gun control returned to the forefront of national debate. In the months following the tragic incident several states enacted new and stricter gun laws.

Many gun control advocates made the push for banning “assault weapons” entirely on the basis that the Newtown shooter, Adam Lanza, had carried a 30-round semiautomatic rifle inside Sandy Hook Elementary School. The rifle, a .223 caliber model XM15, was produced by Bushmaster Firearms. The company soon came under fire from gun control supporters and even the private equity firm that owned it. Bushmaster remains a part of the Freedom Group, one of the world’s largest privately owned firearms and ammunition manufacturers. Shortly after the shooting, Freedom Group was put up for sale by its owner Cerberus Capital Management.

“It’s very easy to blame an inanimate object,” Freedom Group CEO George Kollitides told the Washington Times in his first interview since Newtown. “Any kind of instrument in the wrong hands can be put to evil use. This comes down to intent–criminal behavior, accountability, and responsibility.”

Kollitides has been personally accused by some media reports that blame his company and others in the industry for mass shootings. It reached such an extent that the Freedom Group CEO spent the last few months under the watchful eyes of private security. However, these inconveniences are not enough to make Kollitides step down or reverse his stance on firearms and the Second Amendment.

“At the time of Sandy Hook, Connecticut had a pre-existing ‘assault-weapon’ ban, which like all gun bans, was based on cosmetic features, which once again proves the looks of a gun have nothing to do with its effectiveness,” he said. “Any weapon in the hand of a criminal or those bent on destruction is dangerous. Bans don’t work. Preventing access and punishment work.”

Connecticut lawmakers recently passed into law several bills that would make its already stringent gun control even tougher. Efforts towards tightening firearms on a national level seemingly stalled since the Senate rejected a proposal to expand background checks in April, but experts expect that the fight is not over. On a state level, California and New Jersey are currently pushing their own gun-related packages through legislature. Kollitides believes that these proposals are steps in the wrong direction. Commenting for the first time on Adam Lanza’s spree shooting, Kollitides said that proper gun ownership and armed guards are the only things that could have stopped the killer.

“He killed the gun’s owner, stole her car, stole her gun and then went to a school and killed innocent kids,” Kollitides said in the interview. “No background checks could have prevented that. He illegally obtained the guns.”

Kollitides serves as a trustee of the National Rifle Association Foundation and is an avid outdoorsman with memberships in multiple hunting and conservation groups.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Tossed By A Tornado, S&W Handgun Sold At H&H Survives a Tornado-and Lasergrip Powers Up

WireShots Staff — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:46:48 +0000

Everyone knows the horrific power of a dark, monstrous tornado. When a powerful tornado (rated by the National Weather Service as an EF-4 with winds up to 200 MPH) ripped through central Oklahoma in May 2013, homeowner Pat Brand lost everything. He huddled along with 10 neighbors in a protective underground shelter as the violent storm roared overhead. When he emerged after the tornado passed, gone were his home, truck and a Smith &Wesson® handgun that was equipped with Crimson Trace Lasergrips®. Both the firearm and the lasergrips were purchased from H&H Shooting Sports in Oklahoma City.

“When I came out of that shelter, I was shocked to see everything I owned was completely gone,” stated Brand. “All I had then were the clothes and boots I wore when I went into that shelter. My home was gone down to the foundation, and so was my truck. Also gone was my Smith & Wesson handgun.”

That handgun-a S&W M&P® pistol chambered for .40 S&W-was later found more than 600 yards away from the site of Brand’s residence. The gun was so coated in mud that it was initially hard to recognize it as a handgun. The neighbor who discovered the pistol returned it to Brand who then took the questionable firearm to a local gun shop for cleaning. There gunsmiths began the cleaning process and were suddenly amazed to see the Crimson Trace Lasergrips activated when they grasped the firearm. The gun-and the Crimson Trace Lasergrips with Instinctive Activation ™-had survived the powerful tornado plus nearly a week outdoors in the rain and mud. Both passed the gun shop’s inspection and were determined to be fully functional-and the handgun was returned to Brand. The Lasergrips and handgun had survived a powerful tornado.

“Our products are tested in extreme conditions, including intense range testing, before they become a part of the Crimson Trace family,” stated Fred Karl, Crimson Trace Product Development Manager. “This is one test that we wished never happened, but surviving this terrible event only tells us we are developing the best product for the extremes of everyday carry and the toughest conditions that our loyal customers can throw at our products.” Crimson Trace products are well known for being durable and dependable. Precise engineering and design ensures that each model fits the frame of a handgun with exacting standards.

The devastating Oklahoma tornadoes in May 2013 resulted in tragic loss of life and huge financial losses for many families. If you would like to help Pat Brand and his family with recovery, a website has been created to aid them. Visit www.youcaring.com/oktornado.