Welcome, readers! It is time once again for the Carnival of Cordite, a weekly round-up of blog posts on the topics of guns, shooting, the Second Amendment, self-defense, hunting, and more.
If this is your first time visiting, please check out the rest of my blog.
And now, on with the show...
First things first:
I'd like to thank Uncle for getting me started with Blog Ads and creating the network for gun blog advertising. Now, I have my very first commissioned advertisement! Look over to the left, and you'll find the "peace through superior firepower" shirt. You need one! Click on it and see!
Thanks again, Uncle!
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Military matters:
Mr. Completely brings us sniper video. He also brings us updates on Buzz Robertson here and here.
And mASS BACKWARDS is supporting our troops!
Remember, our military is defending our rights. They swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and that definitely includes the Second Amendment!
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On crime, punishment, law, and order:
Following up on the most important issue in our lifetime, Of Arms and the Law has some inside information on the New Orleans gun confiscations. And, for now, there has been some injunctive relief.
Zeno Deb informs us that only 6% of violent crimes involve firearms:
[T]he 6% figure, if reported widely, would cut the legs from under the gun grabbers. Why focus on 6% of the problem? Why not look at the other 94%?
Why indeed? Could it be that politicians care less about actually solving violent crime than they care about regulating our lives in order to gain political power?
Do gun registries help stop crime? No. And not in Canada, either. Plus, they don't make economic sense:
As the critics warned at the time, costs have exploded. A program originally supposed to be self-sustaining financially after a modest upfront investment has now cost taxpayers at least $1 billion and perhaps as much as $2 billion.
Imagine what even a fraction of that amount could have done to boost the police presence and fund social programs aimed at at-risk youth in gun-plagued Toronto this summer!
Imagine, indeed!
The Blogonomicon has some imagination... He also recommends we all check out The Truth About Gun Control.
Of Arms and the Law has put together a video from a symposium on the Second Amendment. Worth noting: some big time Con Law experts from prestigious schools endore the "individual right" aspect!
In a post that is sure to cause controversy, Gunwatch reports that, in "peaceful gun-free" Britain, gun crime is on the rise, especially among minority communities:
Britain's inner-city streets are awash with guns. They are being used routinely by gang members to murder, intimidate and settle scores in scenes reminiscent of the 'hoods' of Los Angeles. Black people are just 10% of London's population, but 70% of shootings are now 'black on black': teenage squabbles over imagined slights, drugs and territory. Graeme McLagan investigates one horrifying case that began with nothing more sinister than two boys trying to chat up a girl. It sparked a cycle of gun crime and gang warfare that cost the police 5 million pounds to resolve.
It's too bad that, thanks to political correctness, it is impossible for authorities to admit that "black on black" crime is so rampant (or even exists); you can't solve a problem you are unwilling to acknowledge!
LADIES: if you wear a skirt to work, you need a leg holster!
The Great Lakes Shooting Sports Association has more on the castle doctrine in Michigan.
Of course, the castle doctrine law was passed in Florida. New contributor Left Brain Female offers her take.
Daniel has some issues with gun turn in programs. My take:
If you have a firearm that you no longer want, I will happily accept it. You have my word that I will never use it for any illegal activity. Please contact Gullyborg via blog e-mail to arrange pickup.
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On other socio-political matters:
Kit thinks that one way to improve public awareness of RKBA issues is to shift away from the "gun owner as hunter" image supported by many in the industry.
New contributor Outdoors Pundit thinks Eddie the Eagle should be more welcome in schools than some other, more well-known groups.
Here's a classic, but still funny, joke from No Speed Bumps.
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Continuing to follow up with disaster preparedness, and with another major hurricane having come and gone, The Freehold has lessons learned from Rita.
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Been to the range lately?
Irons in the Fire has some targets up. Not bad grouping, considering that at 50 yards, the little duckie is a small, yellow blur... More here. And there is still time to enter the Jack 'n' Jill e-postal match!
Cowboy Blob had a sucky day.
A friend of Blog Idaho had a good day at the Nevada Senior Olympics!
Now THIS is a range report! New contributor Kirk is talking 1000 yard competition. There are a ton of great photos of beautiful competition rifles. A teaser photo wouldn't do it justice, so go over there and see for yourself.
Dr. Phat Tony has a different sort of range report. There be explosions!
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In the market for a gun?
Les Jones warns us that prices are going up on CMP Garands, and cautions that with a limited supply, they won't be available for ever.
New contributor Xavier Thoughts encourages you to get a shotgun for your primary home defense weapon.
On the same vein, Baboon Pirates has a primer on choosing a handgun for concealed carry. One thing I'd like to add:
If you are going to carry a concealed handgun, you need to be ready to use it. More importantly, if you are going to use it, you have a responsibility not only to yourself or to those you are protecting, but to all the innocent bystanders who might wind up a casualty, to PRACTICE and PRACTICE OFTEN. Nothing will scar you for life more than playing the hero and drawing your weapon in defense, only to miss the goblin, kill an innocent bystander, and have the uninjured goblin get away with harming the loved one you wanted to protect. So you need to choose the handgun that FITS YOUR HAND. Anyone can pick up any handgun and fire a few practice rounds. But if your gun is a bad match for your hand, lots of practice will hurt, and that means there is a risk you won't practice. I cannot overemphasize the importance of choosing a gun that feels good in your hand.
Wadcutter joins the ranks of devoted CZ-52 fans:
Toys in the Attic is very enthusiastic about his Marlin 336:
Uncle is talking holographic sights.
Mr. Completely likes the Ruger Single Six:
Hell in a Handbasket has a post up on the gyrojet:
Not sure what that is?
The gyrojet was a radical new firearm design that was introduced in the 1960’s, and it’s one of those neato ideas that have an endless fascination for most gun enthusiasts. Instead of firing bullets, the gyrojet launched miniature rockets.
That's right. ROCKETS. And possibly someday guided ammo?
Hell in a Handbasket also wonders what is the most famous firearm? (Follow the links to all 3 categories)
And finally:
You can find more guns than you can shake a stick at, thanks to the Gun Show on the Net!
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Blog of the week award:
Of Arms and the Law! Not only does David Hardy have up the posts already mentioned, but several more great reads, including news from Great Britain, the latest from the Brady Bunch, another symposium at George Mason, and more. Read it all.
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Discussion question:
In light of the recent anti-war activity and the protest-warrior responses, is there a correlation between supporting the Second Amendment and supporting the Global War on Terror? Are you pro-gun but anti-war? Please discuss in the comments below.
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That wraps up this week's Carnival of Cordite. For CoC archives and other information, please see our main site. And the stay abreast on all the other excellent blog carnivals, see the Ubercarnival from The Truth Laid Bear.
If you would like your work to be featured in the next Carnival of Cordite, send a link to:
c a r n i v a l o f c o r d i t e A T h o t m a i l D O T c o m
or, use the handy Carnival Submit Form from Conservative Cat.
See you all next week. Until then, keep your powder dry!
Just found your website, thanks to Michelle Malkin. I finished Freakonomics last month and the authors are claiming that laws allowing concealed weapons are not the primary reason for the drop in crime. I have not heard this drivel previously. They seem to think it is related to a drop in the youth population. Any thoughts other than it is Bravo Sierra?
Posted by: Duane | Saturday, 01 October 2005 at 02:53 PM
The drop in youth is part of te reason for the drop in crime, longer sentances are another part. The rise in concered carry is yet another part. So is the raise in the economy.
You see, Duane, there are just too many parts for anyone to say that one thing is responsible.
Posted by: Peter | Saturday, 01 October 2005 at 07:38 PM
Maybe the drop in crime is related to the shift in public ideology towards conservatism and away from liberalism...
Posted by: Gullyborg | Monday, 03 October 2005 at 10:49 AM