The Truth About Guns

The National Rifle Association is gradually moving away from its not-entirely-undeserved rep as a repository of OFWGs (Old Fat White Guys). The gun rights org’s decision to hire YouTube sensation Colion Noir as an official NRA spokesguy marked a sea change in the NRA’s modern marketing efforts. While we await a female African-American NRA front-of-the-house commentator (not to mention a Hispanic and openly gay team member), it’s important to realize that the NRA is reflecting the trend towards gun rights inclusivity (a.k.a., diversity), not creating it. You can see it at any urban gun range: men and women of color exercising their natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms. You can read it in our comments section. But you won’t see it or hear it in the mainstream celebration of Black History Month. Shame. As always, it’s a long road to freedom.

“If he had left his firearm in the car, we wouldn’t be here today. This would have never happened.” Assistant state attorney Manny Garcia, quoted in  Florida Man Is Denied Bail in Killing at a Movie Theater [via nytimes.com]

Texas federal prosecutors took a bite out of crime last week, when a former ‘McGruff The Crime Dog’ actor named John R. Morales was sentenced to 16 years in prison for drugs and weapons charges. Morales was paid to appear in a costume like this one as McGruff The Crime Dog, giving crime-prevention speeches and tips to children. His kibbles, er, troubles all started in 2011 when he was pulled over for speeding. . .

This traffic stop wouldn’t end with a ticket, though, because Morales had stupidly left the diagrams of his indoor marijuana grow operations sitting on the front seat of his car. After a police dog (a real police dog) alerted for the presence of drugs, officers searched the car and obtained a search warrant for Morales’ home.

There they discovered a two-room Among the ‘arsenal’ seized by police were 27 guns, 9,000 rounds of ammo, and a grenade launcher. I’d call that a &#821

The uneasy peace in Mexico’s Michoacán region was shattered last week when Zacán villagers discovered the severed heads of four residents in plastic bags left on a small terrace near the local church. [borderlandbeat.com pieced together a report from Facebook posts.] The Knights Templar cartel killed these innocents to remind the Mexican freedom fighters who’s in charge – and it ain’t federal troops (seen standing near the dumped body parts, in the picture after the jump). Zacán’s not far from Tingüindín. Two days two days previous, security forces discovered a mass grave in Tingüindín containing at least 20 bodies. And now . . .

The vigilante “self-defense” groups in Mexico’s Michoacán state on Satur

Eagle-eyed TTAG reader TF spotted a link to a U.S. Postal Service Solicitation for Assorted Small Arms Ammunition. It’s actually a pre-solicitation notice; the feds won’t tell applicants (or inquisitive journos) the calibers or amounts until the official solicitation is released. We did learn that the ammo’s for the “standard needs of the Postal Inspection Service and Postal Police.” The main reason that we bring this to your attention: to highlight the recently defeated attempt to strike down t

“One day after a 9-year-old boy was shot to death by his brother in an apparent tragic accident in Mattapan, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said the city will partner with the police department on a gun buyback program, in an effort to reduce the high number of guns circulating in the city,” boston.com reports. Circulating as in changing hands amongst the city’s criminal fraternity? No, of course not. That would be your alternate universe common sense gun control. What Mayor Walsh means by “circulating” isn’t exactly clear – to anyone other than himself. “The message for me is clear

A small but significant gun law reform has made it out of committee in Colorado on a rare unanimous vote. In many states, in order to pass “shall issue” concealed carry laws, irrational restrictions were included in the laws to horse trade for enough votes. Colorado was one of those states. In Colorado, once you had obtained a permit to carry a gun under your coat or in a pocket, you could only renew your permit in the county where you originally applied for the permit. If you changed your residence from Moffat county in the northwest, to Baca county in the southeast, you’d have to travel back to Moffat to renew your permit – in person – or go through the entire permitting process from the beginning in your new county. The modest reform under consideration would allow you to renew in either county . . .

The following was written by Karla Herdzik and is reproduced with permission.

Last Sunday I had a practice day to get ready for the upcoming 3-Gun Nation Pro Series qualifier match. (Because I sucked juuuuuussstttt enough last year that I missed the cut and have to requalify. But that’s beside the point.) It was a rough day. I shot a match the day before and spent the night in a hotel next to some very…ahem, noisy…neighbors, so I started the day pretty much physically exhausted and just plain angry that I couldn’t sleep and had to listen to their ruckus all night long. But I pulled it together. Thanks to the graces of hot tea, bacon, and a very patient boyfriend, I got my head in the right place and we got to practicing . . .

I practiced shooting my sho

In about a half an hour (2:10 PM Central), I’ll be on the air in Phoenix thanks to Kate Kreuger’s weekly radio show. We’ll be gabbing about the latest guns and gear, and possibly discussing some of the things I’m currently in the process of reviewing. You can listen live using a link on this page, and I do believe they’ll be taking calls if you guys have any questions. See you guys there!

It’s bad enough that the winter Olympics still features an event like the biathlon, combining cross country skiing and *gasp!* shooting. That can be overlooked, though, since it all happens out in the woods and who the hell really watches that anyway? But a gun – even a fake one – in figure skating? Seriously? Is nothing sacred anymore? That’s figure skating pairs team Marissa Castelli and Simon Schnapir (above) doing their James Bond-themed routine in the US championships. And yes, Schnapir is strapped. When they had the gall to repeat the performance yesterday in Sochi, the ever-watchful snarkmeisters at Twitchy wondered if little Bobby Costas would take the opportunity to lecture NBC’s audience on the shocking impro

americanrifleman.org reports that Field Editor Wiley Clapp was “part of an elite group of gun writers that wrung the Remington R51 out at the Gunsite Training Center in Paulden, Ariz.” Although TTAG doesn’t split its infinitives, we’re willing to boldly go where other gun writers go as well. Not this time. The world’s most popular firearms blog wasn’t elite enough for the Big Green gun junket. Even so, after some careful negotiations, we managed to secure a brace of R51s for test and evaluation. Nick’s running one for a full review. I’m putting one into the hands of a newbie for a comparo with the GLOCK brand GLOCK 42. Meanwhile, American Ri

“Mental lapses happen. Things happen. It’s an unfortunate mistake. Dwayne was not conscious that he was in school with a gun.” - Rev. James E. Giles rationalizing the arrest of SAFE Act supporter Dwayne Ferguson, Associates defend man who had gun in school [at buffalonews.com]

(h/t instapundit.com)

Two weeks ago, a Georgia bill that would have allowed concealed carry on public university campuses finally failed, after languishing in limbo for more than a year. But those who supported it haven’t given up the fight, not by a long shot. Rep. Rick Jasperse has introduced and sponsored HB 875 which would simply decriminalize concealed carry on campus entirely. Under the terms of the bill, licensed carriers found to be carrying on campus would no longer be subject to arrest, but only face a civil fine of up to $100. The bill would also. . .

lift the existing prohibition on concealed carry in bars and houses of worship. Both establishments would be able to prohibit weaponry if they chose to, but it would be a criminal trespass matter, not a firearms violation. The bill passed out of Committee on a voice vote, and will be considered by the full House soon

“Officer Kevin Kelly, 24, [somewhere in the photo above] was cited by San Francisco police and released for allegedly showing a gun to a server in an attempt to impress her about 2:40 a.m. Sunday at the 24-ho

Tiger McKee at tacticalwire.com writes:

There are a lot of different techniques used when fighting with firearms. Many apply regardless of the situation. Other techniques have specific applications, used in a well-defined context or particular situation. The problem arises when one technique is applied across the board for all situations. Technique is defined as the method of doing or performing an act. Some skills are the same regardless of the situation. For example, to shoot accurately you get the weapon pointing in the right direction, using the sights to the degree necessary for the accuracy needed, and press the trigger smoothly while keeping the sights on target. Remember, accuracy is defined by distance and size of the target. The more accurate the shot the more precise the sight picture and the smoother the trigger press . . .

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Our man ShootingTheBull410 recently ripped R.I.P. ammo a new one, twice, putting “the last bullet you’ll ever need” on a par with a .380 hollow point. But the hype is strong with this one. If marketing campaigns could kill, G2 Research wouldn’t even need to produce ammo. The hype has been so fantastic – literally – that we’re not surprised to discover an enterprising Texan attempting to cash-in. As tipster SD wrote: “I’m not sure if there

“Google Glass may soon become a favored tool for law enforcement agencies in the United States. The New York City Police Department’s massive and controversial intelligence and analytics unit is evaluating whether Google Glass is a decent fit for investigating terrorists and helping cops lock up bad guys. The department recently received several pairs of the modernist-looking specs to test out. ‘We signed up, got a few pairs of the Google glasses, and we’re trying them out, seeing if they have any value in investigations, mostly for patrol purposes,’ a ranking New York City law enforcement official told VentureBeat.” Cops wearing glasses with a heads-up display linked to a real time facial recognition system to ID and

Over at satireworld.com the floridly named Bargis Tryhol offers The Top 20 Things A Guy Should Never Say at a Gun Range. Many of his suggestions seem a little  . . . homophobic. An impression that’s not contradicted by a pic of Richard Simmons in a tutu. Something to do with his last name? Anyway, let’s right set Mr Tryhol straight (so to speak). What shouldn’t you say at a gun range? I’m going with “Nice 1911. Too bad it’s not a GLOCK.”

TTAG’s Chris Dumm recently blogged SIG SAUER’s BOGO (Buy One Get One) promotion. Mr. Dumm loved the idea but was less than optimistic about it chances in the marketplace. “Given the current scarcity of .22 long rifle ammo, this otherwise-brilliant promotion might not get the traction SIG is hoping for.” Sorry Chris, you couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s been so successful that SIG has been forced to tell frustrated consumers there ain’t no mo’. What’s more, an email from Commercial VP Bill Silver [after the jump] apologizes on behalf of the corporate mothership for not knowing where the ones that is, is. “SIG’s mark

Did you see our post kicking off a give-away of some of Can Can Concealment’s, uh, discreet carry gear? If not, you’re one of the few. Entries from gun-loving women have been clogging our in-box since we announced it yesterday. Getting creative, contributors have taken every approach from challenging to cheesecake. You can see all the snaps we’ve received on our Facebook page