This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: Guns

  • Mixed feelings post for Friday

    AmyJ sends us an article from Houston about Vic Stacy who stopped murderous Charles Ronald Conner who went on a rampage in his neighborhood, killing his two neighbors and their dogs for allowing the dogs to crap on his lawn in their trailer park. Connor had the first police officer on the scene pinned down with what the reporter calls an assault rifle when Stacy got involved;

    Stacy came out of his trailer and saw the officer was pinned down and wouldn’t have a clear shot. But Stacy felt he had a good angle and might be able to help with a lucky shot from his .357 magnum pistol.

    “And I thought he’s fixin’ to kill that boy,” said Stacy. “And that’s why I squared off and hit him in the leg and knocked him down.”

    Police estimate Stacy was shooting from as much as 150 feet away.

    “I saw him turn the gun around toward my direction and I saw him throw another one in the chamber and he took another shot at me. And that’s when I put three more in him,” said Stacy.

    Although I’m glad that Connor is no longer on this Earth to harm others, I’m sorrowful for the two neighbors and their dogs who are gone, too. I know how frustrated I get when I find dog crap on my lawn, but I can’t imagine being so mad that I’d kill anyone over it. And Connor meant to kill those people, because after David Michael House went down after the first shot, Connor stood over him and fired twice more.

    But congratulations to Mr. Stacy for hitting Connor even once from 150 feet – that’s good shooting by any standard with a handgun.

  • Going to “Batman” armed, Ohio man arrested

    There’s a story in Cleveland.com that’s linked in the LA Times about 37-year-old Scott A. Smith who was arrested in Ohio for bringing a scary-ass Glock to the movies to see the new Batman movie. And then he sat in the back of the theater, as if he was scared of being shot or something. I wonder why he’d think that?

    Anyway, he didn’t have a license to carry a concealed weapon, so I’m glad they picked him up. I want people who are trained properly and certified to carry concealed weapons, not everyone. But this is the part of the story that caught my eye from the LA Times;

    Scott A. Smith, 37, of North Ridgeville allegedly packed a bag with a loaded 9-millimeter Glock, extra ammunition clips and four knives for his trip to the movie theater, according to Cleveland.com.

    A search of Smith’s home following his arrest turned up additional weapons, according to another report on Cleveland.com. That report said those items included eight rifles and handguns as well as “survivalist’s gear” such as gas masks and bulletproof vests. The site additionally said that Smith was believed to have spent some time in the military.

    So, all of the elements for a crazy-assed shooter at the theater were there; he owned a Glock and he is a veteran, because Glocks are the chosen weapon of spree shooter veterans. Eight rifles and guns at home means nothing. But the fact that he had a Glock just proves he was plotting something dastardly. And let’s not even talk about his use of
    “extra ammunition clips”.

    “What concerns us is where he was sitting in the theater,” Arcuri was quoted as saying. “If he chose to do something there, all his potential victims were in front of him and he had an advantage over them.”

    It also gave him a tactical advantage over a shooter at the front of the theater, like Holmes in Colorado. He’d be close to the exits and he doesn’t have to worry about who’s behind him. And Holmes came in the emergency exits and faced the crowd when he started his spree. Smith worried the crew at the theater because he got there a half-hour early…I think there’s a household around these parts here which calls that “in Seavey time”.

    While I agree that Smith should be arrested for carrying a concealed weapon without a CCW license, the rest of that story is just bullshit. If the LA Times is scared of every veteran who owns eight or more firearms, sits in the back of the room and arrives everywhere a half-hour early, they’re surrounded.

  • Jewelry thieves thwarted by gun owner

    A 65-year-old jewelry store owner in Los Angeles took action when five would-be thieves overwhelmed shoppers in her store. You’ll want to set down any beverages near by and purge your mouth of any liquids before watching this video sent to us by James;

    I put the video below the fold because it was slowing the site down.

    (more…)

  • May Issue or No Issue? A Veteran’s Path to Getting a Legal Gun in NYC

    First, I’d like to give all the credit for this idea to Emily Miller of the Washington Times, for her very well-written series “Emily Gets Her Gun,” [1][2][3][4][5], (for a start), about her attempt, as a law-abiding citizen, to get a permit and a weapon in the nation’s capitol.

    Like Emily, with rising violence and crime in the streets, I don’t feel safe. My neighborhood had a serial rapist that the police never caught, and I’ve witnessed three muggings in the last year, all from too far away to help even when I started running to get up. I had to break up a fight between two machete-wielding homeless guys on a train armed with…my words, not the best choice. (For future reference, apparently if you ask “Is there a problem here, gentlemen?” they think you’re a cop.)

    I’m an Army veteran with an honorable record. I have numerous firearms qualifications and training. I’ve never been convicted of any crimes. I was arrested once as a juvenile for being in a park past curfew: charges were dismissed. I’ve had a few tickets for speeding, which I paid. I’m a decent shot. I know gun safety. And now, I’d like to obtain a firearm for my home and to carry with me to protect myself and my family.

    Only one problem: New York City, and Mayor Bloomberg. Mayor Bloomberg has never been a fan of guns, but in the wake of the Aurora shooting he’s gotten even more nuts.

    My goalposts may move, but here are my starters, which certainly don’t seem unreasonable to me:

    Would like to acquire (but do not currently possess):
    legal permits to have one rifle and one handgun in a NYC residence,
    NYC concealed carry permit for a handgun.
    rifle: M16 or something similar – it’s what I know.
    handgun: 1911, widely acknowledged as the finest gun ever made.

    For those who are easily amused, I’m the “token lefty” on this site. I was a precinct captain for Kerry. I have only the barest familiarity with the process of obtaining a gun in this country.

    So hold onto your beer and watch this shit.

  • Cream always rises to the top

    Cortillaen sends us a Fox News article from his new station in Japan that trumpets the return of the M1911A1 .45 caliber pistol to arms rooms across the Marine Corps. Apparently, the Corps has placed a $22.5 million order for the iconic handguns;

    Colt Defense, based in Hartford, Conn., will supply as many as 12,000 of the 200,000 U.S. Marines with semi-automatic, tan-colored M45 Close Quarter Battle Pistols, and they will include spare parts and logistical support. The gun has long been the weapon of choice for special operations agents, thanks to its reliability and the stopping power of its massive bullets.

    I was disappointed with the Army when they bought the Beretta, it made no sense whatsoever, except to make us pantywaists like the Euro-wienies. I spent some time with the XVIIIth Airborne Corps pistol team in the late 70s and learned what an awesome weapon the old 1911 was.

    I’ve always owned at least one except when I lived where handguns weren’t allowed and most everyone I know owns some variation. I have two; a government model in .45 and a Colt Double Eagle in 10mm.

    At least the Marine Corps is smarter about the weapons their troops carry.

  • Maryland gun plot foiled

    Prince George’s County, Maryland police have seized a man and his guns after he threatened his employer, Pitney Bowes that “I am the real Joker, and I’m going to blow everyone up”. According to the Crofton Patch the police took Neil Edwin Prescott’s 25 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition after they verified with their records that he was indeed a gun owner.

    When they got to his home, according to officials, the suspect was wearing a “Guns Don’t Kill People, I Do” T-shirt. Police decided to get an emergency petition from a judge to detain the suspect.

    The man was taken into custody without incident at 3:20 a.m. Friday on Parkridge Circle in Crofton, according to Chief James Teare of the Anne Arundel County Police Department. He was transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center for examination.

    NBC News reports that the feds got involved, too;

    A police database showed that Prescott had 13 guns registered in his name. Officers from the Anne Arundel County police, the Prince George’s County police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a warrant and searched his home in Crofton, about 25 miles from Washington, on Thursday night.

    Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

  • Another Concealed Carry Success Story

    Seems we have another case of a lawful citizen stopping a criminal with one of those “immoral” concealed weapons.

    In Salt Lake City, an individual apparently walked into a Smith’s (a regional grocery store chain in the West) and bought a knife. He then went to the store’s foyer, pulled his knife, and began stabbing people. Two people were seriously injured.

    A third individual in the area apparently decided not to wait for police to arrive and took matters into his own hands. He pulled his firearm, pointed it directly at the man wielding the knife, and told him to drop his knife or he’d be shot.

    The knife-wielder complied. He was subdued by Smiths’ employees and shoppers, and turned over to the police when they arrived.

    Concealed carry by law-abiding citizens is a good thing. Because when seconds count – like they did here – your local police are only minutes away.

  • Tactical or Practical?

    Jonn asked that we post!

    In the wake of the Aurora shootings I’ve been re-appraising my own skill set. Toss in TSO’s trip down HIS memory lane and I realized there was room for some geezer ruminations here. And a question or three.

    First let me offer some background if I might. Been shooting since I was a very young teen, and used to do some hunting. First formal training was in The Boy Scouts (I think) and involved an M1 Garand chambered for .22 LR.

    Later on in the Navy I received formal training on what one would expect in the mid to late ’60s – .45, M1, M14, M16, MA Deuce, and an air cooled 30 cal MG (forget the name). Training was cursory… field strip, clean, and target shooting to “qualify”. Fired or crewed once or twice in real life situations ie small craft warnings, etc. And, for instance, standing watch in Da Nang harbor, or the like, with a loaded M1 and and/or a loaded .45. Some Navy types will be going Huh? Always wound up in the Weapons Division. Long story, but for another time. Got pictures!

    To be accurate I also was gun captain on a 5 inch mount, AND carried a chromed 03 with a chromed bayonet (GLakes Drill Team).

    –

    Forward in time to now. I have firearms, and a range on site. I can’t say I practice religiously (whatever that means), but I can plink with the best, if not as loud. Jonn likes hand cannons.

    Now for the questions… assuming you are NOT currently serving?

    How often do YOU practice? Do you wear ear/eye protection always? Have you compared your competency with or without such? I suspect it might matter? Indeed, that first flinch might be important.

    Lastly… I’m considering a visit to PFT. Might be a sort of pipe dream, but is it practical for a geezer who plinks regular, AND doesn’t get out much?