1/14/2005
Into the Woods Again
It's that time again...time to take the troops into the woods for the end of cycle culmination exercise. Only now it's the new, improved, 7 day long version. And it's going to be cold, at least for South Carolina.
So y'all have fun, and make sure Feinstein doesn't try any funny stuff while I'm gone.
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Army Holiday Double Standard
EO and diversity stuff is a big deal to the Army. A huge deal is made of Black History Month, Hispanic History Month, Women's History Month, Asian-Pacific Islander Month, etc. Of course, there is no Men's History Month or European History Month.
This double standard extends to federal holidays, and the promotion thereof, as well. There are three federal holidays that are associated with specific people (four if you count Christmas)-Martin Luther King Day, President's Day (Washington and Lincoln), and Columbus Day. All three days are days off (unless you're in basic training, in which case you're SOL.) But only one of those holidays will have signs put up on post to promote it. Right now, near every enterance to Fort Jackson, you will find signs sporting the image of Rev. King. Next month, there will be no such signs with images of Washington and Lincoln, nor will there be any images of Columbus in October.
As a side note, I want to posit this thought: Rev. King was a great man, inarguably important in the history of our country, and I won't argue that he is deserving of a holiday in his name. But why does he get his own holiday, while Washington and Lincoln have to share one? Are we implying that Dr. King (and, for that matter, Columbus) is twice as important as Washington and Lincoln? No disrespect to Dr. King, but I don't think he's even close.
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1/13/2005
Pics of My First New Old Gun of 2005
Pictures of the VZ-52/57 I bought on Sunday. Sorry guys, none involving my wife this time. Although the boots holding up the rifle are hers.
Sling came with the rifle, although I have no clue as to it's originality or authenticity.
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Happy Gun Buying New Year
Les Jones' Thursday gun links returns in the 29th Edition.
My favorite link: "Questions for dads: what guns do you get out and clean when your daughter's boyfriend comes over?"
Since I don't have a daughter (yet) I can't really answer the question quite honestly, but I'll go with my Remy 870 home defender and my H&K USP Tactical.
Les also links to his own post, "What Guns Are You Buying This Year?"
My Wish List can be found below my blogroll, and I haven't really added anytyhing to it. Most likely for this year:
AK Klone, although I'm not as cool as Say Uncle, who's looking to build his own.
Bulgarian Makarov because I haven't bought a pistol in almost a year.
Ruger P512-because I still don't have a .22 plinker in my safe.
C&R guns...that's way to ticklish and unpredictable to get into. Those just seem to happen, like the VZ-52/57 at the gunshow.
Also, Big Army has informed me that I'm due to be moved this summer. If I get orders to someplace where it's tough to get things like EBRs, I'll do some stocking up before I move.
Finally, the gun I'd most like to get, even though the cost makes it not so likely: the Krebs KTR-03S.
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1/12/2005
More Guns, Less Crime
Zendo Deb links to an Investors Business Daily article, complete with graph that shows, in a picture even a progressive can understand, that as guns per capita go up, the number of crimes goes down.
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Clarification on the PRK Penal Code
Thanks to Cosmos7 at THR.
Turns out the section of the CPC quoted below is incomplete.
California Penal Code 12026 (b)
No permit or license to purchase, own, possess, keep, or carry, either openly or concealed, shall be required of any citizen of the United States or legal resident over the age of 18 years who resides or is temporarily within this state, and who is not within the excepted classes prescribed by Section 12021 or 12021.1 of this code or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to purchase, own, possess, keep, or carry, either openly or concealed, a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person within the citizen's or legal resident's place of residence, place of business, or on private property owned or lawfully possessed by the citizen or legal resident. (Emphasis added)
So, pretty much you are only free from the tyranny of the state, at least with regards to the gun-related activities listed above, as long as you remain on your own property. And don't try to purchase any new military-style semi-autos, .50 BMG rifles, or standard capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
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1/11/2005
Excellent Op-Ed on Proposed SF Handgun Ban
An excellent article today on SFGate.com. SFGate is reliably left-leaning, so I give them credit for publishing this thorough blasting of the proposed ban.
The author (interestingly named Cinnamon) does an extremely thorough job of pointing out the flaws of the proposed ban and the "reasoning" behind it. One point I found exceptionally interesting was this quote from state law, which sadly she didn't provide a link to:
"no permit or license to purchase, own, possess, keep or carry [a handgun], either openly or concealed, shall be required of any citizen of the United States or legal resident over the age of 18 years who resides or is temporarily within this state." (emphasis added)
"Keep or carry, either openly or concealed." Now, I need to study the rest of the Cal. Code on firearms, but that section there seems to me to read that requiring a permit for concealed carry isn't permitted. So why does the PRK have a permit system in place? More research is required.
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1/10/2005
I Love My Wife, Part VI
The gunshow was in town this past weekend. I was looking for a few specific guns (pistols, for a change), no accessories this time. Of course, I like to window shop at all the other things I'm not relaly looking to buy, but that bugs my wife a bit. My attempt to examine a Finnish M91 drew an eye roll and a "Didn't you just get one of those?" (She's getting better at telling them apart.)
The rest of the show was pretty much the standard, same vendors selling mostly the same stuff in the same sots. Did see one great bumper sticker for sale-"If guns cause crime, women cause prostitution"-but I'm not brave enough to put that on any vehicle I own.
Then, a few tables from the end of the last row, I spied something unusual. A Czech VZ-52/57, the 7.62x39mm version, only made for 2 years before production switched to the VZ-58 assault rifle. Private sale, $250. A little discussion with the seller, and her agrees to let it go for $230. I open my wallet, and I've only got $190. Crud.
Then my lovely and amazing wife asks, "How much do you need? My purse is in the truck. I can loan you $40."
So I've got myself a new old rifle. Did I mention how much I love my wife? Let me say it again: I love my wife.
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