Congratulations to The Volokh Conspiracy, on their first emmy nomination.
Year: 2008
Fourth Fireworks
One of my neighbors around the corner seems to have cornered the market on contraband fireworks, because he put on a pretty impressive display. I heard a scream come from the guy, but I think it’s because he got sprayed with a glittery firework, because he resumed setting them off. Either that or he’ll wake up tomorrow with a hangover, and no thumb.
To everyone in my neighborhood lighting off contraband fireworks: your wonton disregard for laws against fun, and the politicians and buraucrats who wish to protect you make you great Americans.
Happy Independence Day!
A fine example of the art of “tagging” in the late 18th Century that I have managed to dig up ;)
June E-Postal Results
We have the results for our June E-Postal Match, Silhuetas Metálicas. Let me start off by apologizing to everyone for the extreme difficulty of this match! I scored what I typically score during my IHMSA matches, which is about half the animals, so it was a good approximation of the sport to some degree. Despite its difficulty, we have some shooters who would make pretty good silhouette shooters if they tried out an IHMSA match.
Class 1 – Rimfire, Iron Sights
| Shooter | Score | Pistol |
| Sailorcurt | 8 | S&W 22A |
| David N | 7 | Ruger Single Six |
| Mr. Completely | 6 | High Standard 103 w/4.5†Barrel |
| Danno | 41 | Ruger 22/45 |
| Merle | 4 | Ruger SSS .22 Mag |
| BillH | 4 | High Standard GB |
| Mr. Completely | 3 | Jennings J-22 .22LR2 |
1 Shot at 11 yards
2 An apt demonstration that Saturday Night Specials do have a sporting use, especially if you don’t mind running up really close to the target to “pop a cap” in the ass of the animal, which is about the only way you’ll increase the odds of hitting it. Still, I’d take a 3 shooting a SNS at 10 yards at those little things!
Class 2 – Rimfire with Optics
| Shooter | Score | Pistol |
| Yuri | 161 | Ruger 22/45 |
| Conservative UAW Guy | 15 | High Standard Supermatic Tournament |
| Mr. Completely | 13 | High Standard Supermatic Citation |
| Sailorcurt | 11 | S&W 22A |
| Sebastian | 10 | Ruger Mk.III Hunter 22/45 |
| Merle | 9 | Ruger Mk.II |
| LouG | 8 | Magnum Research Picuda, .22LR w/ 3x Scope |
| USCitizen | 3 | S&W 22A |
| USCitizen | 3 | Ruger Mk.III |
1Shot at 7 yards. Because Yuri shot at 7 yards, I would consdier him to be tied for first with Conservative UAW Guy
Class 3 – Centerfire Iron
| Shooter | Score | Pistol |
| Danno | 71 | Taurus PT-92 |
| BillH | 4 | S&W Model 39 (.38 Special) |
| Merle | 3 | Enfield No. 2 |
1Shot at 11 yards.
Class 4 – Centerfire with Optics
| Shooter | Score | Pistol |
| Merle | 8 | Dan Wesson 10†.357 Mag |
Class 5 – Rimfire Rifle, Iron Sights
| Shooter | Score | Rifle |
| David N | 6 | Marlin 39 Century Ltd. |
| Firehand | 6 | Martini Model 8 |
Class 6 – Rimfire Rifle with Optics
| Shooter | Score | Rifle |
| Firehand | 7 | Remington 512 (4x Scope) |
| Merle | 5 | Marlin M39A |
| Danno | 4 | Ruger 10/22 |
Bonus Class – Masochist
| Shooter | Score | Pistol |
| Mr. Completely | 36 | High Standard Supermatic Citation |
Thanks to all who shot in this month’s match. I wish I could have shot in more classes, but time was limited because of Bitter’s moving in this month, and also, once I got to the range, I realized I had left the bolt to my rifle at home! Otherwise I would have shot Rimfire Rifle, Iron Sights with all you guys. Sailorcurt is hosting the next match. Good luck to all!
A Lot to Do
Today our office is closing at 1:00, so there is little time for blogging. This Sunday I have an IHMSA match, where I’m hoping to shoot smallbore and field pistol. Field pistol means reloading some .44 special rounds. I’m trying a new load, so sometime before dark I want to get out and crony it. Getting some small bore practice in is also called for, I think. I’m also compiling the results of the E-Postal match, which will be up later today.
Breaking Down Stereotypes
Inquirer reporter Natalie Pompilio has written an article on the book Armed America by Kyle Cassidy. The reporter interviewed me for the article, but it doesn’t look like I made it into the final cut. But that’s just as well, since it turned out just fine without me. I also helped put her in touch with Dan, who I think made much better print than anything I had to say:
Daniel Pehrson, 26, bought his first gun for target shooting but began carrying one for personal protection. Recently, he was glad he did.
The Spring Garden resident was walking near Front Street and Girard Avenue when three teenagers surrounded him. One pulled a stun gun, zapped it a few times, and said, “Hey, check this out.”
“I drew my gun and they ran like hell,” Pehrson said, noting that the small pistol barely left the side of his leg. “It was a difficult and an easy choice. . . . The last thing on earth I want to do is think about hurting someone.”
What if, he wonders, it had been his girlfriend walking alone unarmed when the men circled? What if he’d been listening to his iPod and someone decided the $250 device was worth more than his life?
Pehrson runs a nonprofit organization – the Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association – that aims to provide information about the state’s nearly 500 pages of gun laws. In Cassidy’s book, Pehrson looks barely out of his teens, a pile of pizza boxes in a corner.
My congratulations to Ms. Pompilio on a very good article.
Clayton Cramer on Reno
I’m guessing we won’t be seeing Clayton at the Gun Blogger Rendezvous any time soon. Say what you will about Reno, but Washoe County has a hell of a shooting range. I’m not much of a gambler either, so that aspect of the city is no attraction to me. I did find the automobile museum to be worthwhile, as I’m assuming Clayton did as well.
More Heller Aftershocks
I’m hoping this means we can finally start having a serious discussion about violence in Philadelphia. It’s long overdue.
Hat Tip to Dave Hardy
Heller, The Next Generation
Dale Carpenter takes on a rather odd notion that technology will make Heller obsolete. I think it is correct to note that the second amendment isn’t limited merely to firearms technology, but to many things as well. In fact, I think the door is open for a Second Amendment challenge to many state and local laws that regulate or prohibit the carrying or possession of less-than-lethal weapons.
I am also doubtful that less-than-lethal weapons will supplant firearms, rather than merely supplementing them, which is how they are used in modern police work. Anything that’s effective at disrupting a person’s physiology or central nervous system enough to stop them in their tracks is probably going to be very likely to kill that person. Most critters, including humans, are tough to stop quickly without bringing them very close to death.
You Got Served
Apparently DeCosta and Franklin were both served papers, during a press conference, for the federal lawsuit surrounding the Atlanta Airport showdown. Excellent!