The Stories and Novels By Derek Ward
Borepatch has announced the date, time, and place for the second SWFBS. (We gotta come up with a better acronym.)
I had fun and met lots of new folks the first time around. This time I’m gonna bring Grandpa’s M1 Carbine. I picked up a couple new mags for it, and I need to see how they run.
John Richardson over at No Lawyers – Only Guns And Money is doing yeoman’s work on reporting. For those who don’t follow John’s work (shame on you), the NRA filed for bankruptcy protection for the explicit purpose of reorganizing as a Texas non-profit and evading New York’s investigation. Based on what I’m reading, let’s just say I’m highly skeptical this will work. I’m also highly skeptical that this will bring needed reforms to the NRA to make it more responsible to its members. You know, instead of the "Wayne LaPierre and Friends Slush Fund."
John brilliantly notes that of all the creditors listed, William Brewer’s law firm (the firm that’s been "representing" the NRA against its various legal challenges) is absent. Now, I guess it would make sense that while under legal siege, you would prioritize making sure your lawyers are paid. However, much has been reported about Brewer’s cozy relationship with WLP, that I’m suspicious.
The Second Amendment is not about hunting. It’s about the right to shoot at tyrants if they take over the government.
Disclosure: I met Sarah Hauptman way back in 2016 at the GRPC. I actually got to hang out with her for a quite a while. The funniest part was when she came over to where a bunch of us had congregated and said that my hat (S&W M&P) clearly said that this little group was probably “her people”. I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed the podcast she does with her husband Guns Guide to Liberals. I also am the proud owner of a Phlster Flatpack for daily carrying of a tourniquet. (Are you carrying a tourniquet? Why not?) Some of this may have shaded my excitement over Phlster’s latest announcement.
First, watch this:
This is a big step forward in letting people carry in their normal clothing without the need for heavy gun belts or the normal accoutrements. This is particularly of note for women, because women’s clothes suck for concealed carry.
My only real complaint is that it’s set up for appendix carry only at the moment, and I’m not comfortable with AIWB carry.
Still, if this interests you, here’s a link to order one.
This past weekend, Borepatch was nice enough to organize a blogshoot for a bunch of us.
Here is Borepatch’s initial AAR.
Here is some stuff from Miguel.
As for me, it was nifty to finally meet people who I only knew from the interwebz. It was also unusual for me, as this was done at an outdoors range. I’m used to shooting indoors, and not used to using unloaded flags. I was also unsure about when to shoot and when to be standing back. I’m also horrible about asking things. I’ll do better next. This is not a critique of the organizers, just my own foibles.
Overall, much fun was had. I also came back with more ammo than I left with due to a donation of 150 rounds of .32 from Divemedic. He no longer has a gun that shoots it, and I was more than willing to take it off of his hands.
Borepatch was talking about doing this quarterly, with the next one in February. It may also rotate locations to make it easier for others to attend.
All the details are here.
I’m looking forward to meeting up with some acquaintances (Hi Sean!), meeting some people I only know from the Interwebz (Hi Borepatch and Miguel!), meeting brand new people, and of course, demonstrating exactly how bad of a shot I am.
I am seriously debating whether or not to wear one of my kilts to the shoot. That will most likely depend on weather. And my personal courage.
First, let’s address a big issue. Suicide. It’s a horrible thing when someone loses all hope and decides that ending their life is the only way out. If you’re currently feeling that way, STOP READING THIS! Call the National Suicide Helpline at:
Now for the rest of the post:
I heard about this group on the Assorted Calibers Podcast (BTW, one of the podcasts that I give money for content – and you should too). Hold My Guns is working to help reduce suicide by giving gun owners a safe place to store their firearms if they’re going through a rough patch. Why is this important? Because those of us who are in the RKBA fight know that two-thirds of so-called “gun deaths” are suicides. The dirty, little secret? Gunnies are often afraid to get mental health because they’re worried that they will have their weapons taken away. AND IT’S A VALID CONCERN BASED ON WHAT SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL ORAGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE STATED/DONE BEFORE.
We need to help each other. Hold My Guns is an excellent step in that direction. Throw them some shekels (if you have any to spare.
From the website, to give you some context:
The suicide of a family friend was the catalyst for founding Hold My Guns (HMG). She was 18. After her death, heartbroken friends and family asked me, a youth rifle league volunteer instructor and certified Range Safety Officer (RSO), what can be done to help support gun owners and their family members during acute bouts of depression. Many asked why those who are suffering from an acute bout of mental illness (which can happen to anyone!) don’t simply give a firearm to a friend for safe-keeping – yet this is not always practical or legal. Solving the need for professional, legal, off-site firearms storage became my mission.
Over half of the suicides in the United States utilize a firearm. Taking a break from firearms during a mental health crisis seems wise, and is often advised by well-meaning individuals, yet it’s not as simple as it sounds and may even be illegal in some cases. In the state of Pennsylvania, for example, a gun owner cannot simply give a handgun to a friend for safe keeping. The friend must first have a license to carry. Even if the friend has a license to carry, they may not have adequate storage that secures the firearm from unauthorized use or damage. Further more, even if the friend has a license to carry and storage capabilities, they may not be someone who will respect the privacy of their friend. While some folks may have friends and family who meet these requirements, not everyone does.
It was important to me that the solution was not only a practical option, but also one that protected the individuals Second Amendment rights. Too often, gun owners are concerned about losing firearms rights and they avoid getting care out of fear of being asked about firearms by providers who do not understand the first thing about firearms or gun culture. Yet, unchecked concerns can escalate into interventions that endanger firearms rights such as involuntary commitment, “Red Flags”, and PFAs. It may feel like being in between a rock and a hard place: both in need of care but afraid to lose rights and firearms. In that vein, the solution needed to be voluntary, and one that empowered individuals to proactively seek the help they needed before private situations escalated into public ones. This proactive, supportive approach provides an option for distance from lethal means, while creating a pathway for trusted care, and helps to avoid interventions that can result in the confiscation of rights and property.
The Brother managed to find some digital copies of the old Punisher Armory comic series from the mid-nineties. For those of you who haven’t seen them, this was an infrequent series showing off the tools and guns of the Punisher along with his thoughts. It’s interesting to see how technology has progressed (sweet FSM, Tasers used to be huge). It’s also fun to see .40 S&W as it came into the market (and being called the .40 Action Express), as well to see ARs without all the rails and doohickeys mounted.
It’s also interesting to see how I read these comics. How much it reads much more like a mall-ninja (throwing knives, really?) rather than what I would expect from someone like the Punisher. They’re still great reads, but more for nostalgia than for real information.
If you are in a profession that is not tactical in nature, when you come to the range you should consider working from concealed. Maybe doing mag changes from your pockets, etc., and not throwing a couple of thousand dollars’ worth of fancy gear.
It’s been a while since I did a link post. And right now, I’m not in the mood to do a bunch of hard thinking.
First up, we have an article from Popular Mechanics musing if the Army’s super-secret 1,000 mile super gun could herald the return of the battlewagons. I’m skeptical, but I do like the concept of the battlewagons returning to dominance.
Next is a somewhat humorous post about a Portland gunfight in 1989 between Army Rangers and the Crips. Seems a young man in the Army decided to dabble in the real estate market, tried to turn a neighborhood around by documenting the criminal element, and when they came a-callin’, followed the important rules of gunfighting. Namely have a gun and bring all of your friends and their guns. In this case, the friends were members of the Second Ranger Battalion.
Finally, a local story about two men going to the burn ward after a bad thing happened while reloading. This kinda put paid to The Wife signing off on me having a reloading bench in the garage of the new house.