3/23/2007
If SCOTUS Affirms Parker
Assuming that SCOTUS actually hears <i>Parker</i>, and that they affirm the Circuit Court's ruling, what do you think will be the next piece of anti-gun law to be challenged in federal court? A) '86 new full-auto ban B) NFA $200 tax and local CLEO veto power C) State/local laws (like Chicago's ban, or NYC's onerous regestration fees and requirements), by getting the Second incorporated under the Fourteenth, like the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, etc. I mention these three because, if SCOTUS affirms that the Second protects an individual right, these laws are the most obvious infringements, and the federal laws especially wouldn't at that point require undoing massive amounts of legal precedent. A ban on new FA guns means most citizens can't get weapons that would meet the 'militia usefulness' test set out in <i>Miller</i>. The NFA tax means the .gov is taxing the exercise of a right, which is a no-no, and the CLEO veto power amounts to prior restraint. Challenging state/local laws would require establishing a new precendent, and overturning <i>Cruikshank</i>, but since at the time of the <i.Cruikshank</i> decision, the courts had not held that the 14th did not impose any of the limits laid out in the BoR on the states, and they have since done so, it shouldn't be that hard (unless you're trying to argue in, say, the 9th or 2nd Circuits.) What say ye?
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3/22/2007
The Long Delayed All-Army Report, Part I
No, I didn't die in the Georgia heat. I just haven't had much time for blogging since I got back.
First of all, one thing to note about the rifles used in the rifle portion of the matches (unlike Camp Perry, All Army does both rifle and pistol): these rifles where stock service grade M16A2s (mostly A2s, anyway-there were a small scattering of M16A4s and even a couple of M4s). The ones we used actually belonged to the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU), so their maintenance standards were better than most, but they were bone stock-no free-float match grade barrels, no match triggers, no match sights. And no special equipment either-no shooting jackets, shooting gloves, or 1907 slings. The only thing match grade was the Black Hills 77 grain Sierra Match King ammo (which, BTW, is some amazingly dirty stuff-50 rounds and your rifle was filthy.) And all matches were fired wearing BDU/ACU, helmet, and load bearing equipment of some sort. IBA with plates will be mandatory in 2008. Oh, and the pistols were all stock M9s. I hate the M9/Beretta 92.
So, on with the story. Our SGM is an old buddy of the AMU CSM, so he got us a couple of days of instruction with the AMU guys before the matches started. First day was pistols. I figured out two things: one, my grip on the pistol was totally wrong. And second, I have a nasty tendency to push the pistol when I'm shooting quickly, causing the muzzle to dive. My scores weren't so great, but I already knew I'm not that great a pistol shot. Oh, and shooting pistols from the prone sucks.
Next day was rifles. We got a quick class on how to use the old green combat sling from SFC Lance Dement-although we didn't know at the time who he was, just some NCO in his PT uniform. Then out to the KD range for practice. We started with 300 yard zero, which was something completely new to me. But, it can be done, much more easily if you've got someone to pull and mark targets. I don't think even the best spotting scopes can spot a 5.56mm hole in a black target at 300m.
The instructor also taught us a technique that worked pretty well, at least for me, with the Bullet Drop Compensator (that wheel on the rear sight that I didn't know what it did.) I think this technique is mainly useful for Army rifle matches, but from what I remember of the course of fire, would work for the National Match format as well. It's also quite simple. The 300m setting on the BDC is normally almost at the bottom-with not enough room to adjust all the way to 200m if you've got a true 300m zero. So, if you're shooting a match that only goes to 500 yards, simply zero (at 300) with the BDC at 400. As long as you know how many clicks for each yard line past 300, you're good to go, and you can drop as needed for 200. This won't work, however, if you plan on going past about 700 yards.
Then out to the 500 yard line. Wind was right in our faces, which, while great for getting a good zero, meant we would be in for a rude surprise a couple days later when we faced crosswinds. We fired about 20 rounds each, less than we'd have liked, but a rather nasty thunderstorm was moving in, so we hurried up to the 200 line to get in some positions (sitting and kneeling) practice before the storm blew us off the range. Only half our group got a chance at one position before the storm forced us off the range. (This same storm caused enough damage to bring President Bush to the area the next day.)
Next up: the rifle matches.
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