Elite Iron’s Revolution Bipod is Incredible

Sometimes a company just makes great, innovative products and delivers on marketing promises. Elite Iron is one of those companies. Their top product in my mind is their New Revolution Bipod.

Is my experience indicative of the customer service?

Now, I must be honest, as I try not to leave out any of my initial impressions and set my readership up for failure or unexpected concerns. I don’t think EliteIron likes me. That is to say, they are very short, evasive and maybe they don’t realize how many people see my writing, between the many sites I write for. Every time I have tried to set up time for an interview or to get some specific insight for my readers, I’ve essentially been brushed off.

Don’t get me wrong: I can handle being brushed off if the reason is because you’re busy churning out incredible product and you have dedicated customer support for problems that do arise.  The concern I have, is that it doesn’t seem they quite have the customer service part worked out quite yet, if they do, then they REALLY don’t like me.

So, let’s hope they give me some better news in the coming weeks and months to prove me wrong, when I try to hook up with them to give my readership a more insightful review and technical information.

The Elite Iron Bipod is still amazing…Here’s why:

Either way, Elite Iron is making one of the best products on the market.

The Revolution Bipod by Elite Iron is better than any other high-end bipod on the market, it’s more adjustable, better for large barreled rifles and infinitely stronger than anything out there.  The problem with most bipods is that they are either too flexible or too rigid. Not to mention that most bipods are not nearly adjustable enough to be helpful in many more positions than prone.

Not only does the EliteIron Revolution Bipod offer nearly infinite adjustment, it also provides rigidity that is unmatched in the industry. The simplicity of this bipod is what makes it a great accessory, though.  I didn’t say it was cheap however: the Revolution bipod starts at $450 or so, and goes above $700.

Now before you lose interest, realize a bipod is the single most important factor in long range repeatability outside of the scope for most rifle platforms. Having one that you truly invest time and training in, will put you in a class of shooter that few can achieve.  Is the material worth the money you are paying for this bipod? No. But the research, design and quality very much are worth the money, given the other options you have for your long range precision rifle(s).

The pricing is heavy, but the benefits are also impressive; the Revoultion Bipod by Elite Iron features the following:

• The patent pending design looks better than most other bipods and shows it’s strength with its looks
• The materials are built to last with no exposed springs or stamped parts.
• The legs and bipod tubes are made from chromoly steel (4140) and the locks are (8620) cold rolled steel.
• The (5160) steel alloy springs are hidden and tensioned properly for long life.
• High grade steel hardware and Parkerizing on the parts allows good weather resistance.
• The mount is positioned at the optimal center of gravity on the bipod to ensure balance.
• The 2 lb version is built for extreme duty usage, and there is a lightened version weighing in at around a pound and a half.
• The Elite Iron bipod can be mounted on three different types of standard bipod mounts.
• The feet are bent to allow a multitude of surface contact options, when combined with the multi-positional bipod legs, a shooter can find a near endless supply of positions for steadying fire.

I’ll let the screen captures from the video produced by the EliteIron company of their Elite Iron Revolution Bipod, tell the rest of the story:

The Revolution Bipod from Elite Iron allows complex shooting scenarios to be made easier, like being between a rock and a hard place.

The Bipod allows 360-degree rotation, so you shouldering position can be changed and then locked into place.

The Revolution Bipod facilitates easy hanging or strapping positions from safe cover locations, like buildings.

The positions, feet, design, and build quality allows a large amount of flexibility with the Elite Iron Bipod.

I guess I’ll wait to see if Elite Iron softens their stance with me. Perhaps I’m just not in tune enough with the state of the industry currently to allow the company enough space?  All my other industry interviews have been substantially easier. I cannot comment on the customer service aspects of the business, but if their genius design work is any indication it’s probably going to be pretty good. This Elite Iron Revolution Bipod is a thing of functional beauty.

                          

Setting the stage for a Burlington, Vermont Gun Ban.

Burlington, VT city council has begun to enact the gun control initiative at the local level. This week, they proposed a law at the local level to “take action, as the federal and state governments had yet to do so”; the law would seek to ban “semi-automatic assault weapons” and “multiple ammo clips”.

It’s amazing the amount of traction a political ideology can garner with enough emotion involved.

But it works both ways.  Not only are there hardcore gun grabbers moving towards trying to ban semi-automatic rifles and standard capacity magazines, but now the Pro-gun rights side is fighting back.

Burlington, Vermont gun range Lamoille Valley Fish and Game Club, has decided to suspend its contract with the Burlington Police Agencies, for training. Previously, the Law Enforcement officers were using the gun club for training, to allow the officers to train on their own schedules and without restrictions. The Lamoille Valley Fish and Game Club have suspended this contract to respond to the Burlington city council’s choice to allow a “resolution” to be drafted to restrict semi-automatic rifles and standard capacity magazines in the city of Burlington.

The police chief has called the move unfortunate, but this resistance to the overt attack on the second amendment rights of citizens is proving that the majority does not favor a …”little protection by the state in exchange for the giving up of freedoms”.

What Do You Do to Protect the Second Amendment?

Today I was accused of writing things that are unhelpful to the second amendment, because I didn’t cover a story written by the mainstream media about the Utah Sheriff’s Association letter. The idiot that accused me of this must never have read any piece of my work. I’m a died in the wool patriot, who believes our strongest constitutional attribute is the second amendment.

My work is focused on things that others can do to compel others to protect these freedoms. The story of Burlington, VT, is among my favorite story lines. It proves that the grassroots work we do; the little decisions we make show those who would hold a large amount of power, what we are capable of doing when we are forced into positions we ought not be forced into.

Burlington, VT gun owners, Lamoille Valley Fish and Game Club, ALL AMERICANS, DO NOT give up the fight. What you are doing is showing the powers that be, that this fight will have casualties, in a metaphorical way only, let’s hope. This fight will not likely be worth fighting. The American people ought not to be pushed beyond our limits when it comes to taking away our freedoms. We may be a country of immigrants, but we are a country who chose this country because of its history, it’s liberty and its opportunity. DO NOT seek to take away those benefits of being an American. The love of freedom is in our veins. The Love of firearms is in our DNA.

Gun owners of Burlington Vermont; NY, and CA are under attack!

Burlington Vermont is under attack. It is but one fight on the Eastern front. California is under attack on the West Coast. D.C. leads the fight with their ridiculous proposed legislation. New York has actually sustained casualties in this fight. What are you going to do to flex your muscle?  Remember we have always been told: “you may be one, but you are powerful”. We can affect the movement, in this case: the upholding of liberties fought and won by our forefathers. It only took three percent to send the British packing in 1776. What will it take to keep legislators from continuing this fight? Let’s hope these boycotts of chicken wing restaurants, writing our representatives, and getting the work out stops these people before this fight escalates to something neither side wants.

I have lived by a singular motto for the past decade: “Don’t be right because you want to be, be right because you are.”

This means, you pick your battles and you fight when you have a legitimate reason to do so. The removal of our most important freedom is a legitimate reason to take action. Support pro-gun initiatives; join a lobbying group like the NRA or the Gun Owners of America. Buy guns, ammunition and parts. Talk with people with a clear mind, use facts not fiction, and take your emotion to the ballot box. Tell your representative that they will not be reelected without you, and that you will not support an unconstitutional ban on the modern musket. Americans ought not to have their Constitutional right trampled.

Read the Burlington, Vermont proposed gun ban document HERE.

                          

We hear a lot about Gun Control…

Are you as sick of this Gun Control rhetoric as I am?  The constant bantering of these political blowhards talking about “what’s best for America” or “what will make our kids safer”.  This junk has gone on for weeks now, with no real end in sight.  All the talk, all the hype, and most of all, all of the empty promises.  I’m pretty done with all of it.

But then I remind myself what it’s all about.  My freedom.  My safety.  My family’s safety.  More than that, my Liberty and my children’s Liberty.

I grew up in a home with several firearms.  I’ve hunted as far back as I can remember.  Now that I’m grown, I unfortunately don’t get to hunt or fish like I did years ago, but I’m trying to change that.  My son is my motivating factor for that.  I want him to experience the things that I did as a boy.  The joy of time in the woods or on the water experiencing what Mother Nature has to offer; the thrill of the hunt or the catch.  Most of all, I just want to spend quality time with my son as my father did with me.

And of course, I want my family to be safe.  We all do.  That, to me anyway, is the real heart of the matter.  Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Do those words ring a bell?  So as tired of this rhetoric as I am, I have to remind myself that I must stay vigilant.  I think too often that we, as citizens, forget that we do have that responsibility to educate ourselves, to inform ourselves, to be aware of current events.  We watch our evening news but then often quickly forget what was even broadcast.  We’re often more concerned about tomorrow’s weather report than anything else (something we truly have no control over anyway).  We become complacent with the nightly reports of violent crimes in our cities and of Washington bureaucracy. When it’s over, we move on to something else as if what was said doesn’t have anything to do with us.  The truth of the matter though, is that it all applies to us.  All of us, regardless of where you live.

We see the tragedies of Newtown and Aurora and think “how horrible” and “those poor people”, but what we’re probably also thinking is “glad that doesn’t happen where I live”.  I’m sure the parents of those twenty precious children thought the same way.  But it did happen where they lived, and, as we are becoming more painfully aware, it can happen where you live.  I can assure you I felt differently about things the next day I dropped my children off at school.

And so the political rhetoric and attacks began.  And we knew they were coming.  As soon as the news broke on that December day, gun stores across our country were flooded with customers, and they haven’t slowed down since.

Why is that?  I believe it is mostly because of the media hype and the manner in which they report.  Our televisions were filled with constant coverage sensationalizing these horrific acts, each reporter and news agency trying so desperately to be the “first to report” the latest twist of the sickening story.

Gun Control isn’t about Guns, it’s about Control

Not to be outdone by the media were our political “leaders”.  To me, this is the really sickening part of it all.  The liberal left attacked like a swarm of angry bees onto the “culprit” of these horrific events, the “assault weapons”.  The trumpets were sounded, and onto their political agenda horses they mounted.  They are charging hard and fast to ban these firearms that they so firmly believe are the real problem.  We all know that this is simply not true, and gun control is not going to be the answer to our problem.

But what is our problem in this country, and more importantly, what is the answer?  To me, those are the real important questions.  Why do certain individuals amongst us decide to pick up a firearm and seek to destroy human life?  Especially vulnerable human life, such as our children in their schools.  I don’t have a real answer to this question, other than this: There is evil amongst us.  And it is everywhere.  There is no community, no matter how large or small, that is exempt from this fact.  We can point fingers wherever we like, from Hollywood to video games or anti-depressant medications, the bottom line remains the same.  There are those people amongst us who have an evil mind, an evil heart, (in legal terminology) a “depraved indifference” for the welfare of others.

The truth for me was that I have known this for years.  I work as a firefighter/paramedic and see it all too often.  From domestic assaults, drunk drivers, or abuse and neglect of children or elderly, there are individuals in our society who just seem to not care the impact on others of their actions.

So what do we do about it?  The liberal left believe they have the answer by ridding our society of these awful “assault weapons”.  For many citizens, on the surface, this seems a logical approach.  But those of us with the rationale to think this answer through know that this simply will not work.  We know that stopping the production and sale of a few specific models of rifles, shotguns, and handguns will have virtually no impact whatsoever on our safety.  There are simply too many firearms already in existence in our country, an estimated 300 plus million guns.  Bans on these types have weapons have been tried before, with almost no success whatsoever.  If these bans worked, then how did Columbine happen?

What does gun control have to do with removing Crime?

Not only do these liberal politicians think that banning a few guns will work, but they also believe that they are not violating the Second Amendment.  So many of them stand firm in the belief that the Second Amendment applies to the military or to hunting.  I’m no historian, and I certainly wasn’t there when the Second Amendment was drafted, so I cannot say with absolute certainty what was on the minds of our Founding Fathers when they wrote those words.  But when you step back and look at all of their work, it becomes fairly clear to me their intention.

A new government was being formed to rule over this newly found nation.  A nation of people who had shed blood to free ourselves from the rule of a King.  There are many writings from the men of this time which make it pretty clear that they desired a form of government that was not all encompassing and controlling of its people (i.e. a “tyrannical” government).  They believed strongly in “states” rights and, more importantly the rights of the individual.  Ever wonder why our nation is called “The United States of America”?  The power of government was supposed to be at the local level, at the state level, and at the control of the people.  “A government for the people, by the people, and of the people.”  The first ten amendments to our Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights.  But the Rights of who, the government or the people?  Does the First Amendment protect the government’s right to free speech or freedom of religion?  Does the Fifth Amendment protect the government from double jeopardy or loss of liberty without due process?  No.  Without any doubt these amendment apply directly to the individual.  Why or how then, could it possibly be interpreted that the Second Amendment applies to the government’s right to maintain a military force?

As for the hunting argument, this is almost as absurd.  Hunting for food was not a luxury nor was it a “sport”, it was the way of life.  I doubt seriously the Founding Father envisioned our modern conveniences of the grocery store.  Why would they even consider the need to protect the right to provide food for the table?  If that were true, I think the Second Amendment would read more like this: “A well armed citizenry, being necessary for the sustenance of all people, the right of the hunter to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”.

A politician shall not infringe on our Gun rights

But that’s not what it says.  Not even close. And we know that’s not what it means or even implies.  This was confirmed by the landmark case Heller v. District of Columbia as recently as 2008.  Bottom line, it is a right guaranteed to the people, a choice to be made by the individual, not the government.  It is your right to choose whether or not to have a firearm in your home for whatever reason, self-defense or sporting purposes.  It is the right of the parents to decide whether or not they want armed security in their schools and, if so, what that looks like (police officers, uniformed security, or concealed carry administrators, etc.).  A decision to be made by the individual and at the local levels, not by the Federal government.

Responsible Gun owners are a better solution than so-called gun control

As gun owners, we have a huge responsibility to properly handle our firearms.  To possess them and carry them in compliance with our local laws, to make sure they are secured from theft or the hands of children, and to use them safely and wisely, always respecting their power and capabilities.  But now our responsibilities do not end there.  For if we truly value our rights and wish to see it continue, we have the additional responsibilities to educate those in our society that are not familiar with firearms, that are confused about their function and capabilities.  It is our responsibility to debunk the erroneous labels of “assault weapons”.  It is our responsibility to be aware of what our elected officials, both at our state and federal levels, are doing to either attack or protect our rights.  Do not take it for granted that “someone else will do it” or that “my Congressman wouldn’t support that”.  Write them and demand that they support your rights!  Join the NRA.  Join your local gun range.  Buy a gun, or buy two!  Help avoid gun control. Whatever you do, do something to help ensure that “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”!

                          

Senate Bill 124 isn’t about Gun Safety and Safe Gun Storage.

A Missouri Lawmaker is proposing a gun-centric bill in state senate which seeks to force parents of school aged children to disclose whether they own a firearm or not. The law would seek to punish gun owning parents who either do not disclose, or who do not store firearms safely and properly.

My personal take on safe gun storage and Gun Safety.

Anyone who has listened to me on audio in interviews about gun control/gun rights or who has read my pieces on gun safety knows I am a HUGE proponent of proper safety, including being much more intense about the proper storage of firearms in protective safes or by other means to make it very difficult for legal guns to be stolen and used as illegal guns. Furthermore, I want our children to be safe. The accidental discharge or misunderstanding of firearms leading to a death of a child is in many cases preventable. It is my belief that mandates for proper gun safety and storage in the home are among the ONLY legislative ideas I could wholeheartedly get behind.

Too many (one is too many, with something like this) children die, due to poor firearm storage or bad safety training or negligent gun owners. That does not mean that such an occurrence is rampant, per se. My position does not indicate that I think all guns are unsafe.

I will clarify my thoughts on the matter:

ALL Guns are capable of killing people. Children need to be monitored and trained sufficiently around firearms, and NO CHILD should be left unattended with a firearm until they are sufficiently capable of making good decisions and handling themselves at the same level as most responsible gun owners. I believe that NO ADULT should be making decisions on behalf of their neighbors or friends to allow someone else’s child to be around or have guns around them, without the permission of that child’s guardian.  Children are capable of using firearms safely, but it is OUR responsibility as adults and parents, and most importantly, responsible gun owners, to ensure that they remain safe at all times while around firearms. This includes the safe storage of firearms, and separate storage of ammunition within reason.

Many Pro-gun people will see my position above as extreme, but as a personal choice this is how I feel. I’m not advocating that we mandate this, but I suggest it as a good rule of thumb for those with children and guns who do not want to see accidents happen. There is a difference between trusting your children and exercising your right as a parent to control their access to things that could hurt them.  I’ll finish my position by saying: I have children and I work with children around guns often. I have never had a concern by following these rules and it seems to instill in a child a sense of understanding and comfort. They know that I trust them; they know they will be safe, and it encourages them to ask those questions they would otherwise feel they are bothering you with.

One more gun law that doesn’t solve a problem

Unfortunately, what is seemingly a step in the right direction with this proposed legislation is lost on the registration clause and full disclosure that many private citizens simply aren’t comfortable with. I don’t like talking about my safe location, the intricacies of my gun collection or the amount of ammunition I keep. I wouldn’t feel comfortable telling that information to a school representative anyway. Furthermore, I can barely trust (in many cases I do not trust) some school officials and teachers to properly educate my children, WHY WOULD I allow them to be trusted with information that could be used to target me for theft or violence or gun confiscation.

That’s the problem with legislators. They don’t think through the problems before they offer solutions. What could be an excellent starting point to promoting less theft of firearms and more gun safety for law abiding gun owners and their families is lost on the fact that the lawmakers cannot get past their incessant need to be controlled and watched over.

I for one do not need someone to know that I own a firearm for me to be responsible with it. I do not anticipate that my best practices of gun safety in the home will result in an accidental shooting, a fatality or a theft of my legal guns to be used in illegal crimes.

I for one do not need a nanny to watch over me and my liberties.

YES, I am FOR promoting gun safety and proper training, as well as comprehensive communication about the potential dangers of guns and their safe handling with children as it becomes appropriate. I would even like to see legislation that helps to keep our guns out of thieves and criminal’s hands. But I’m not sure how that would be administered, under the current thought process.   I want there to be as few deaths as possible by guns of our children. But I will state again, it does not seem that children are dying at an unheard of rate by guns in the home as we saw years ago. I am always for furthering the cause of safe gun handling, storage and usage.

Missouri Bill 124 does nothing to help gun safety

Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal introduced Senate Bill 124 into the Missouri state senate this week, proposing that Missouri lawmakers make it a crime for parents not to tell their children’s schools that they own firearms in the home. While her intent might be honorable (who knows, perhaps it’s not), her execution of a plan for heightened gun control is lacking. She indicates that the proposed law would make it possible to fine parents $100 if they do not report the firearms they own to their children;s schools. But what does this do to deter crime, deaths by accident or the obtainability of firearms by children? It seems like a revenue source for the state and at only $100, it’s a poor one at that.

Have our children’s lives been reduced to such a minuscule value?  We would likely never know that a parent was negligent in their “duty” to report, until after a child already has a gun, has been hurt by a gun or tells a teacher that the gun exists in the home. At that point, the safety of that child ceases to be the driving factor of this proposed legislation. It’s entirely possible, that the parents who would fail to report their guns and who would allow a child to possess a firearm without oversight are among the most likely to have children capable of discharging and killing themselves or other with that gun which ought to be safely stored. It is those parents which do not take safe gun storage or gun safety seriously.

That makes this proposed legislation completely feckless. It is without teeth, without benefit and seemingly, overtly ridiculous.

No matter how you view it, you cannot say that the major benefit of this legislation is to prevent crimes. It seems an emotional and cross partisan attempt at getting information about private citizens.

We don’t owe our government full disclosure, it is they who owe it to us.

I hope this bill gets shot down quickly, and then Missouri lawmakers attempt to enact meaningful and realistic legislation to reduce crime, mitigate gun safety concerns and keep guns out of schools and the hands of criminals and those who have mental conditions like the most recent school shooter.

If I had my way, I’d probably mandate that a collective be started to further the safe gun storage and gun handling practices already well-known by responsible gun owners to try to educate and prompt new gun owners into themselves becoming more responsible. Instead we are stuck with bogus legislation that misses the mark completely. When will we ever learn?

                          

New Named Firearms for Gun Ban

The newest “Assault Weapon Ban” list of named firearms is below:

Unfortunately, the very lazy and very overbearing legislators involved in the writing of this proposed legislation included terms like “All XX types” to denote whole classes of firearms, they are also noted below. This list is compiled directly from notesheets provided at the press conference by Dianne Feinstein on the morning of January 24, 2012. This list seems to have inaccuracies, including a list of firearms under the “All AR types” even though they are not similar to AR platform firearms, etc. The models named are listed as per Senator Feinstein’s Document.

Named Firearms (proposed rifles to be banned) on 2013 Gun Legislation

Rifles:

“All AK Types” including the following:

AK47; AK47S; AK-74; AKM; AKS; ARM; MAK90; MISR; NHM90; NHM91

Specifically named AK type variants: Rock River Arms LAR-47; SA85; SA93; Vector Arms AK47; VEPR; WASR-10; WUM; Izhmash Saiga AK; MAADI AK47 and ARM; Norinco 56S, 56S2,84S and 86S; Poly Technologies AK47 and AKS

“All AR Types” including the following:

AR10; AR15; Armalite M15 22LR Carbine, Armalite M15-T; Barrett REC7; Beretta AR-70; Bushmaster ACR; Bustmaster Carbon 15; Bushmaster MOE Series; Bushmaster XM15; Colt Match Target Rifles; Doublestar AR Rifles; DPMS Tactical Rifles; Heckler and Koch MR556; Olympic Arms; Remington R-15 Rifles; Rock River Arms LAR-15; Sig Sauer SIG516 Rifles; Smith & Wesson M&P15 Rifles; Stag Arms AR Rifles; Sturm, Ruger and Co. SR556 Rifles; Barrett M107A1; Barrett M82A1; Beretta CX4 Storm; Calico Liberty Series; CETME Sporter; Daewoo K-1; Daewoo K-2; Max 1; Max 2; AR 100; AR 110C; Fabrique nationale/FN Herstal FAL, LAR; 22FNC; 308 Match; L1A1 Sporter; PS90; SCAR; FS2000; Feather Industries AT9; Galil Model AR and ARM; Hi-Point Carbine; HK91; HK93; HK94; HK PSG1 and HK USC; KelTec Sub 2000; SU-16 and RFB; Sig AMT Sig PE-57; Sig Sauer SG550 and SG551; Springfield Armory SAR-48; Steyr AUG; Sturm Ruger Mini 14; Tactical Rifle M-14/20CF.

“All Thompson Rifles” including the following:

Thompson M1SB; Thompson T150D; Thompson T1B; Thompson T1B100D; Thompson T1B50D; Thompson T1BSB; Thompson T1C; Thompson T1D; Thompson T1SB; Thompson T5; Thompson T5100D; Thompson TM1; Thompson TM1C; Umarex UZI Rifle; UZI Mini Carbinel UZI Model A Carbine and Model B; Valmet M62S, M71S and M78; Vector Arms UZI Type; Weaver Arms NightHawk; Wilkinson Arms Linda Carbine.

Named Firearms (proposed pistols to be banned) on 2013 Gun Legislation

Pistols:

“All AK-47 types” Including the following:

Centurion 39 AK pistol; Draco AK-47 pistol; HCR AK47 pistol; IO Inc. Hellpup AK47 Pistol; Krinkov Pistol; Mini Draco AK47 pistol; Yugo Krebs Krink Pistol.

“All AR-15 types” including the following:

American Spirit AR-15 pistol; Bushmaster Carbon 15 pistol; Doublestar Corp. AR pistol; DPMS AR15 pistol; Olympic Arms AR15 pistol; Rock River Arms LAR 15 Pistol; Calico Liberty Pistols; DSA SA58 PKP FAL pistol; Encom MP9 and MP45; HK model SP89 pistol; Intratec AB10; Tec22 scorpion; Tec9 and TecDC9; KelTec PLR16 pistol.

“The Following MAC Types”:

MAC10; MAC11; Masterpiece Arms MPAA930 mini pistol; MPA 460 Pistol; MPA Tactical Pistol; MPA Mini Tactical Pistol; Military armament Corp. ingram M-11; Velocity Arms VMAC; Sig Sauer P556 pistol; Sites Spectre.

“All Thompson types” Including the following:

Thompson TA510D; Thompson TA5.

“All UZI Types” including:

Micro UZI

Named Firearms (proposed shotguns to be banned) on 2013 Gun Legislation

Shotguns:

Franchi LAW12 and SPAS12.

“All IZHMASH types” including the following:

Izhmash Saiga 12; Izhmash Saiga 12S; Izhmash Saiga 12S EXP01; Izhmash Saiga 12K; Izhmash Saiga 12K-030; Izhmash Saiga 12K-040; Taktika Streetsweeper; Striker 12

Proposed 2013 Gun Legislation is an attack on the Second Amendment

It’s quite obvious that other (already banned by previous major firearms acts) are registration required belt fed semi-automatic/fully automatic rifles.

Additionally, it’s quite obvious that they intended to be as broad, general and uninformed as possible to ensure there was flexibility to add more named models later, or to be inclusive of whole types of firearms.

Additionally, the other parts of the assault weapons ban as proposed by Dianne Feinstein are as follows:

• Ban certain semi auto firearms with detachable magazines
• Limit magazine capacity to ten rounds or less
• Defines a technical description of an “Assault Weapon”

It’s clear this fight is for real. Those speaking at the press conference including Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey made it clear they would use inaccurate and unrealistic talking points and “facts and figures” as well as their “expert opinion” to “educate” people who would support such bans and removal of Constitutional Freedoms.

This is the biggest attack on the Second Amendment of this generation.

                          

The Future of the Second Amendment

Whenever one of our constitutional rights is threatened, even vaguely, people tend to speak up.  One group wants one thing, and another wants the complete opposite.  Right now, as you are all too aware, the Second Amendment has been thrust into the spotlight.  Various groups are trying to voice their opinions—much of it becoming garbled and distorted as it filters its way through various channels.  Some want the Second Amendment repealed, others wanted it amended to feature tighter restrictions on firearms, others want more clarity in the meaning of its wording, and then there are those who believe it is fine the way it stands.  It’s certainly a discussion that needs to be had as we develop and advance as a society, but sometimes when it comes to the arguments, debates, and discussions, it seems were stuck in state of adolescence.

The Demonization of Firearms and Those Who Own Them

In the wake of this country’s tragic shootings (and, really, shootings that happen worldwide), the extra attention makes it the perfect time for proponents of stricter gun control, regulation, or those who favor repealing the Second Amendment to vocalize their opinions and demonize firearms.  This causes the various topics we should be talking about, such mental health care, to largely side-stepped.  We’re giving to much attention to the weapons, not the carrier of those weapons.  In some cases, this shift of focus makes sense, specifically when that carrier is dead, either by his own hand or responding law enforcement, and people need to direct their emotions and the blame.

Another issue we should be talking about is gun safety and education.  Today, it’s likely that at least one child will be accidentally killed or critically injured by a mishandled firearm.  It happens all too often.  It doesn’t help that too many kids (and adults, as well) have gained everything they know about guns from sources such as video games, TV, and movies.  While requiring mandatory gun education is impractical, bringing up the topic of education into the national debate on gun control my help stem some of the demonization that is occurring.

A National Gun Registry

In the search for answers to the questions of what to do about gun violence, the subject of a national gun registry has been thrown around to a significant degree.  In short, citizens who purchase and own guns would be required to register each one and possibly be subject to fingerprinting and a file photograph.  While this isn’t a terrible idea on paper, it might be useful, for example, for local law officials investigating an individual’s weapon ownership status before going to their place of residence.

Regardless, people are asking, “What’s the point of a national gun registry?”  Many try to rationalize it in the context of the recent shootings, perhaps associating a national registry as a means to prevent such incidents or track gun owners.  Ultimately, however, that can’t be the case.  Having a person and all their weapons in a registry isn’t a preventative measure for anything.   People who want a gun are going to get a gun and they’re going to use it for whatever purpose they desire, whether they’re a law abiding citizen who merely wants to protect his or her family or whether they’re an emotionless sociopath.

The Future of Gun Ownership

The gears in the nation’s capital are turning and the future of gun ownership in America remains uncertain.  It’s safe to say that despite the actions taken by Congress or the Executive Office, the citizens will remained armed.  What isn’t safe to say is what those citizens will be able to legal purchase going forward (or the more extreme of America’s elected officials get their way and manage to enact legislation that allows for the confiscation of certain firearms).  What might become of magazines capable of holding more than 6 rounds?  What about semi-automatic firearms?  Or the weapons many people already legally own?  There are still too many questions that aren’t going to be answered soon, but as long as there is media attention on gun violence and control, the debate will rage on.

                          

The Second Amendment Debate heats up

Gun Free Zones, Buffalo Wild Wings and the Second Amendment…

Buffalo Wild Wings has apparently decided to lose out on hundreds of thousands of dollars, to make a political statement. Obviously they didn’t take the Chick-Fil-A course on “Making political statements while improving your bottom line”.

Thousands of former patrons have bombarded the Restaurant’s facebook and other social media with their thoughts on the subject of Buffalo Wild Wings being a gun free zone.

This isn’t a new stance, but recent attacks on the Second Amendment brings the fight to this choice by upper level management.

It’s ridiculous really: does BWW not realize that a vast number of sports and UFC fans are happy gun owners and prefer not to be dragged into the political fray until it counts. Well now it will count. These sports loving, buffalo sauce flinging and gun toting, law-abiding citizens that once spent part of their paycheck every Monday or Friday or Saturday or Sunday on your Buffalo Wild Wings, no longer think it’s important to catch a game there.

There comes a time where one’s personal safety, or even JUST the perception of safety, becomes more important than selling out your standards. (Most Times this is the case)

At risk of sounding less like an investigative journalist and more like a bandwagoneer, I will admit, I stopped looking after 15 minutes, for a catalyst as to why B-Dubs (Buffalo Wild Wings) ever put the “Gun-Free Zone” signs up.

Be Prepared for a fight if you are Anti-Gun in the next couple of years. Most Pro-Gun people are hellbent on outing anti-gun policies, people and ideologies. If you can’t afford to have that laundry aired out, you ought to be on the other side of the debate. Trust me, I’ll do whatever I can to bring attention to the gun argument. I’m just one of millions who will, and I’m among the most tame of the group.

Buffalo Wild Wing’s PR and Market Research people aren’t very good at their jobs

What I didn’t do, was ignore the overwhelming support for concealed carry rights, as shown by former restaurant patrons.

Now on the surface one might be able to argue that this is not a second amendment argument because concealed carry is not an explicitly overt, guaranteed Constitutional right. But beneath the surface, the powers that be at Buffalo Wild Wings have not intelligently weighed their options here. While not overtly spelled out in the U.S. Constitution, the right to defend oneself is an underlying message of the entire document. Law Abiding citizens who choose to carry concealed and are permitted to by law, are vastly well trained, deterrents to crime (specifically gun crime) and have prevented many crimes in the recent past. For the management to exclude those who believe in the right to bear arms for defensive purposes, whether overtly or unknowingly, the Buffalo wild wings brand has diminished its appeal to mainstream America.

I would expect a precipitous drop in the sales and revenue figures in the coming months, with a huge impact certain to be factored in by the stock analysts who cover the stock of BWLD (the Buffalo Wild Wings NASDAQ ticker symbol). You can almost guarantee that within 4 months, the impact of losing a very large sub-demographic of their customers will have a definitive impact on their shareholder value. These aren’t the types of mistakes that sink companies, but they are the types of mistakes that require apologies, heavy PR restructuring and those which lose a lot of money that never needed to be lost.

It’s a Mistake for Buffalo Wild Wings to Designate itself as a Gun Free Zone

Let’s examine why this was a mistake:

Let’s assume that the most common reasons led to the political decision to disallow guns on premises; i.e. they have a political viewpoint they want to clarify. If this is the case, then they should be crossing their fingers that they have impressed whomever they intended to, because this will be a bumpy ride for the company.

If that wasn’t the catalyst, perhaps they are fearful of ending up in the news as a place where someone was killed or where gun violence took place. Considering that there has not been a large amount of Buffalo Wild Wings active shooter situations since their opening, they perhaps acted prematurely. It’s been proven in several studies that one major deterrent to mass public shootings is the chance that there are concealed carriers in that venue. Additionally, CCW holders are statistically proven to improve the odds that a mass shooting situation will end with less death than those situations without them involved.

Furthermore, it’s not about whether or not Buffalo Wild Wings wants something. It’s about what their customers will tolerate and support. Sure, you might impress some on the left of the gun control argument up front, but in the end, your brand caters vastly to those on the right side of the gun rights argument.

Judging by the way these viral “buycotts” usually go, there will be a substantial negative impact to the bottom line for Buffalo Wild Wings.

Judging by the reaction within the last day or two on just the social media pages of BDubs, this will not end well.

Judging by the massive influx in new gun purchasers, excellent media campaigns by gun industry groups and the recent upswing in sales of firearms; this situation is about to escalate for the worse for Buffalo Wild Wings.

I’m not advocating that you boycott Buffalo Wild Wings. But I am advocating that you understand the impact to the second amendment argument that this precedent set by BWW, has.

Your thoughts on Buffalo Wild Wings Gun Stance?

I would encourage you to voice your opinion with your wallet, on social sites and amongst friends.

Here are the facebook, twitter and youtube pages for BWW:

https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloWildWings

https://twitter.com/bwwings

http://www.youtube.com/buffalowildwings

Here is the contact page for BDubs:

http://www.buffalowildwings.com/contact-us/

Don’t forget: Hooter’s has better birds, better wings and better sauce, not to mention they claim to be a Family Restaurant. (Except in TN, where guns are banned at Hooters too).

                          

NY Gun Control Legislation: The “NY SAFE” Act

Governor Andrew Cuomo still seems to think that the second amendment is about hunting. He went on a tirade just days before passing the harshest gun control laws in the history of the United States.  This tirade included the rant:

“I say to you forget the extremists. It’s simple — no one hunts with an assault rifle. No one needs 10 bullets to kill a deer and too many innocent people have died already! End the Madness Now! Pass Safe, Reasonable gun control in the state of New York!”

Well, firstly, we all know, the progressive tactic to yell and rant, is effective with their progressive sheep, but it’s starting to be realized by the centrists, that progressive policies don’t work, regardless of how “feel good” or emotion grabbing they seem to be.

The 2nd Amendment is NOT about Hunting

More importantly: The Second Amendment is NOT ABOUT HUNTING! Whoever believes the Second Amendment is about hunting or sport shooting HAS NOT READ THE SINGLE SENTENCE WHICH REPRESENTS THE SECOND AMENDMENT! Whoever believes that the Second Amendment is about hunting or sport shooting has not taken a remedial history class inclusive of the American Revolution.

The second Amendment was drafted in the time period when state leadership and private citizens had fought and won their freedoms from a Monarchy and ruling body that sought to control their every move. These founding fathers and early patriots KNEW that at some time in the future the threat against absolute liberty would or could surface. As a result, they realized that having access to arms in similitude to those who would threaten to limit their freedom, was PARAMOUNT to restoring or maintaining freedom.

The Second Amendment is slightly vague on purpose. The founders of this free country could not anticipate what potential rulers would be capable of. Similarly, they could not anticipate what technology or changes in military arms could come to be. The Second Amendment was written as an amendment to the original governing document, as a fully inclusive amendment to allow ALL delegates and constituents the rights MOST LIKELY TO AVOID FUTURE CONCERNS with the Constitution of the United States.

You see, the states did not trust a centralized government with too much power and NEEDED the ability to remove threats by such a body should that body seek to destroy the liberty of the people.

EVERY founding father opined at one time or another, on the Second Amendment. ALL of the founding fathers agreed on the importance of a free citizenry to have the ability to defend themselves against those who would seek to control them or take away their God Given Freedoms. Almost all of them agreed that the Second Amendment was a God Given Right.

The importance of the Second Amendment was proven in the Revolutionary war. The importance of the Second Amendment was proven thereafter in every major international conflict and with every dictator killing their country’s people. The importance of the second amendment has now been downplayed to suit an emotional reaction to a horrible crime, which really has nothing to do with the second amendment.

The Modern musket (our nation’s Military’s rifle the AR-15) is what allows the free citizen the ability to dispel and repel attacks against them by any organized attack on their liberties, whether it comes from a foreign power or one domestic.

2013 NY Gun Laws: 2nd Amendment Challenged by NY SAFE ACT

Governor Andrew Cuomo, has evidently not read the Constitution, nor does he give any credence to the founding father’s ideas, no matter how incredibly accurate they have been to this point in our history. Andrew Cuomo, in his state of the state speech has alluded to his ideology as being a superior ideology to that upon which this nation was founded.

He says:

“This is New York, the Progressive Capitol! You Show them how we lead!”

This shows his ignorance to the original founding ideals of this country. It alludes to his new-fangled and unrestricted ideology bent on reversing the role of government compared to the Constitutional mandates.

Andrew Cuomo has in the time between his state of the state address and today, passed the most restrictive, progressive and Constitutionally defeating legislation in the history of the United States. In doing so, he knew he had little chance of passing such legislation without ram-rodding the regulations through the congressional bodies. He did not allow the mandatory three day discussion period. He did not think about the consequences and he left open the ability to further tighten the legislation.

The important points of the 2013 New York Secure Ammunition & Firearms Enforcement Act, are as follows:

Three major points of the NY SAFE ACT:

• Banning of all semi-automatic rifles with more than a single military characteristic (i.e. pistol grip, detachable magazine, flash hider, etc.)
• Banning of all magazines over the 7-cartridge threshold (any magazine capable of housing more than 7 rounds is now illegal)
• Instant background checks and a registry of ammunition purchases(ers)

Other points of the NY SAFE ACT:

• Mandatory mental health reporting when a doctor feels a patient could be a danger to others
• A state registration for handguns and “assault rifles” as defined by the new legislation, including a once every five years, re-certification for ownership
• Universal background check to disallow sales outside of a background check, like person to person face to face sales at gun shows, etc.
• Harsher penalties for those who kill a first responder
• An extension of the metal health based law “Kendra’s Law” making treatment mandatory for mental health patients under specific circumstances
• Safe storage laws for those households which have a banned person living in them.
• Harsher penalties for possession of firearms on school grounds or on a bus with school aged children
• Harsher penalties for usage of illegal guns and for gang members using firearms

I’d like very much to say that EVERY point on this new legislation is ridiculous, but I personally believe there are a few good points here. Unfortunately they were thrown in as bartering chips to grab republican congressional votes and ensure the passage of this law.

For example, the tougher penalties are excellent deterrents to crime. The clause requiring a safe in the homes where banned users of firearms reside is a very common sense approach, I might even back publicly in lieu of ridiculous gun control laws, though I think more clarification is necessary.

The first responder penalties are excellent provisions. It’s sad that it takes gun control legislation to allow such a regulation to be piggybacked into existence.

The mental health laws (with the exception of the mandatory reporting) are solid provisions.

The annoying structure and ridiculous tenets of the 2013 New York Secure Ammunition & Firearms Enforcement Act are made significantly more provocative and derisive to those who would defend the Second Amendment by the initial flaws (outside of the obvious), of the act.

Would you believe that the law was so poorly written and so swiftly enacted as to make illegal the guns carried by ALL of New York State’s law enforcement officers? Yes, that’s correct; the law did not properly exempt the duty weapons of New York’s law enforcement community. How crass and arrogant must a law maker be, to systematically remove the rights of its constituents in such a way that they do not even allow for certified and trained law enforcement officers to be exempted from such rules? How ridiculous must we be to allow representatives to represent us, who would take away our rights as ensured by the Constitution, a document which has governed us and allowed our unprecedented growth and success as a nation for the better part of three centuries?

Will these 2013 New York gun laws be challenged?

You bet they will; already constitutionality is being challenged. The leaders on the right side of the argument are petitioning the SCOTUS to hear the matter and such an answer would be heard within the next year, surely.

Outside of all of the extremes of this scenario, there were several laws broken, in the passing of this legislation. The mandatory review process was bypassed, and the viability of these laws is already seeing heavy challenge.