Saturday Night Video

the "What He Said" edition

so anyway, Bill Whittle puts us some knowledge on the whole "gun" situation:
Read more »

Saturday Night Video

The "Things I am Curious About" Edition

so anyway, this:
Read more »

This is the post...

...in which your host does The Happy Dance™

so anyway, I stopped at Walmart on my way home from work this evening (because it had been almost 48 hours since I had been in a Walmart) and as per my usual, my first stop was the ammo case in the sporting goods section.  When I go there, there were a couple of clerks off-loading a cart full of ammo.  Jokingly, I asked if they had any .22LR, expecting to be laughed at.  The Walmart dude looked at me and said "The 330 round box or the 550?"

"The 550 round box.  How many can I have?"

Yes, my phone's camera sucks

The last time I was able to purchase .22LR was early in December. 2012.  The weekend after Thanksgiving, 2012, I bought a 550 round box of .22LR on a whim.  Days later, the Sandy Hook shooting occurred, and in the aftermath, all the ammo went away.

Today was the first time I've seen .22LR on the shelf in 15 or 16 months.  If the .22LR supply is returning, I see a Mossberg 715t in my near future.

more soon

Recoil Therapy

I has a happy.....

so anyway, I managed to get some range time in late this afternoon, long gun style.  I had planned on shooting the Ruger as well, but I was having too much fun with the SKS.  We'll get to that in a minute.

First of, the venue.  Island Lake Recreation Area, one of the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources not quite "State" parks. (42°30'52.55" N 83°40'34.07" W for my fellow Google™ Earth freaks).  It is spectacular.

$10 buys you all day access to the range

The range(s) are operated by a private outfit, but I haven't drilled down deep enough yet to provide any 411.  I'll get back to you on that.

The Island Lake Shooting Range is very professionally run, with one small caveat.  I show up in the clubhouse (there's no other word that describes it) with my shooter's bag full of shooter's shit and a SKS slung over my shoulder.*  Tits McGorgeous signs me in and takes my money.  Did I mention that I had a SKS openly slung on my shoulder?  I did?  Good, we can move forward.

So, I get down to the firing line to be told by the Range Officer that my rifle must be in a case to enter the range.  OK, "his" range, his rules.  But don't you think that Tits McGorgeous could have mentioned that shit (that my rifle had to be encased) when she checked me in?  The front desk should know the rules.

Speaking of range rules, their policy is six rounds at a time.  I showed up with a collection of magazines that hold considerably more that six rounds.  I spent a fair amount of time emptying ex-cap mags and loading stripper clips in six round increments.  Next time, I'll set the rifle up with the stock 10 rd box magazine and load out the stripper clips with 6 rd each

Anyhoo, mild inconvenience, overall, a great range experience.  I know now.

Second, I shot a lot better today with the SKS.  I had forgotten what a laugh-riot the SKS is to shoot.  I was having so much fun, half way through my second reload, I get tapped on the shoulder by the Range Officer and told to reduce my rate of fire.

 I'm still not posting any targets, but 50% of my hits.were in the black at 50 yards using iron sights.  Most of the slop was my lack of recent hands on run-time with the rifle (I hadn't shot it in years), and I still haven't figured out the eyesight thing.  Part of it was environmental: I was dressed for the air conditioned office, now I was outdoors, in direst sunlight, on an 83°, very humid afternoon and sweating like a pig.  Remember, kids: dress for success...

The other lesson that I quickly re-learned about the SKS is that the metal parts on the fore end (especially the gas tube) get really freakin' hot really fast.  I'll be adding a leather glove for my left hand to my range bag.

more soon

* In retrospect, I should have knowd.  The reason I left the case in the car is that as I was unpacking my stuff from the trunk of the Mighty Commuter-Mobile, there were a couple of shot-gunners returning from the range carrying uncased shotguns.  They opened their trunks, re-cased their shotguns.  I was thinking "good idea, why mess with taking the case when I can just sling my rifle.  One less thing to mess with on the range."

Turns out I choose poorly.  Still, Tits McGorgeous should have said something.

Notes from the week of 24JUN13

lotta stuff went unposted this week, gotta catch up...

so anyway, I apparently have issues that I need to address according to the soon to be ex missus.  It's a long story that I won't bore you with here.  As these issues reside between her ears and behind her eyeballs, I have little concern.  It's a developing story...

Enough with the personal crap, let's light this candle:

"It’s uncomfortable for a lot of people to hear this, but plugging your ears to it and pretending we’re dealing with good men when we’re dealing with cynical, self-serving rulers who use pragmatism as an intellectual crutch isn’t collegial or noble. It’s harmful and complicit." - Jeff Goldstein

My apologies, I failed to capture the url of the specific post, and Jeff's trackback link points to his front page.  Follow the link, scroll and read until you find that quote.  Time spent reading Protein Wisdom is time well spent.

Whittle: Afterburner:
Read more »

2A on the AM

Radio, that is....

so anyway, this may come as a surprise to you, but there's actually a conservative talk radio station in The Peoples' Republik of AnnArbor.  It's true!  WAAMTalk1600 broadcasts from the belly of the Beast and generally operates as a thorn in the side of the progtards, libtards, and University of Michigan professors (BIRM).

To further annoy the bleeding-hearts, WAAM recently added a program called Trigger Talk Radio to their Saturday morning line-up.  The show is on from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern every Saturday, and podcasts are available of past shows.

You can read the bio of the host, Dick Cupka, here.

WAAMTalk1600 has a "Listen Live" link at the top of their homepage (as Glenn would say "We'll it is the 21st century, after all") so you can listen from anywhere you have inter-web net-tube access.

The show is always interesting, and I learn something new each week.  The 04MAY13 show was particularly interesting, as the discussion was about the usefulness of putting you guns into a "Gun Trust", mainly for transfer to your heirs, but there are other reasons to do this as well. The next time your Doctor (who, if you like him, you can keep him...) asks the ACA-mandated "Do you have any firearms in your household?", you can look him in the eye and say "I do not own any guns" without perjuring yourself.

Give it a listen on Saturday morning.

more soon

Random Thoughts and things you should read about Benghazi

and some off-standard content...

so anyway, I managed to catch about an hour of the Benghazi hearings yesterday, and have been reading the inter-web net-tubes, as is my habit.  A couple of things caught my eye:

Polliwog ends her hiatus with a parable.  I've heard of something like this, but I just can't place it...

Ragin' Dave has absolutely no doubts about Benghazi.  I'm in the same camp.

Your first destination for anything involving the State Department, sorry, The Department of State should be Consul-at-Arms.  He has an "outsider's insider's view"  (as in: he's a Department of State Foreign Service Officer, so he knows how things are 'sposed to work; but he's outside the Benghazi loop):

"The Benghazi story certainly seems to have heated-up again this week, with three “whistle-blowers” reportedly coming forward to testify before Congress.

CAA has a few thoughts and observations, but first the caveats and digressions..."

Finally, Jeff Goldstein has had enough:

They sicken me in a way I cannot even put into words — and that’s saying something, given my occasionally-documented facility with the language.  These people are monsters of a sort, but even that appellation can do their rank cynicism and their easy disregard for conscience no real justice.

Read the whole thing(s)

In other "off-standard" news, I had an interview this afternoon that went very well, after which I went to the range and proceeded to shoot like a spastic retarded monkey on crack.  So I'm not posting any targets anytime soon.

more soon

Epic Rant on a new-found blog

You must read the whole thing...

so anyway, via Ragin' Dave of Peace or Freedom fame, we learn of Lurking Rhythmically.  She has a gun control rant up that you simply must read.  Culling out an excerpt really would not do it justice, so just go read it already.

Well, OK, if you simply must have an excerpt, try this:

"Because fuck you, that's why."

The astute reader will note that Lurking Rhythmically has been added to the blogroll in the sidebar.

more soon

A second lamp in the belfry burns

do you see it?

so anyway: The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere:
Read more »

Like Socialism, Gun Control has never worked anywhere it's been tried

see also: Chicago....

so anyway, I can't remember where I saw this today, but you need to watch this.  Fair warning: it's safe for work, but it contains some graphic images that may make you tear up (or get really pissed off).  It's a little over six minutes long describing the aftermath of Australia's gun ban.
Read more »

Guns Save Lives

it's true...

so anyway, this afternoon I was cleaning out my e-mail inbox and just for giggles, I actually opened an e-mail from the GOP.  How they got my address I'll never know; probably from signing some petition whilst less than sober.  The GOP's e-mail had a link to a Thomas Sowell essay that you should read.  A taste:

"The defensive use of guns is usually either not discussed at all in the media or else is depicted as if it means bullets flying in all directions, like the gunfight at the OK Corral.  But most defensive uses of guns do not involve actually pulling the trigger.

If someone comes at you with a knife and you point a gun at him, he is very unlikely to keep coming, and far more likely to head in the other direction, perhaps in some haste, if he has a brain in his head.  Only if he is an idiot are you likely to have to pull the trigger.  And if he is an idiot with a knife coming after you, you had better have a trigger to pull."

Read the whole thing (it's not a long piece).  As per his usual, Sowell is spot-on.

more soon

WOOT! doesn't even begin to cover it

I'm finally LEGAL...

so anyway, as of about 3:30 this afternoon, I can legally carry a concealed firearm.

Slightly redacted

I stopped in to the Post Office to check my mail whilst running errands this afternoon, and found a letter from the County Clerk in my mail.  My heart sank, I had just dropped the application and was fingerprinted like a common criminal on 04MAR13, they told me at the time that it would be the end of April "before a decision was made".  Receiving something from the County Clerk's office in less than three weeks was shocking and spoke of pending doom.

I cut open the envelope to find a single sheet of paper and (surprisingly) a card.  The card was my CPL ID card, pictured (albeit redacted) above.  The letter from the Clerk was basically "here it is, you're good to go, let us know if anything is incorrect".

So, kudos to the Washtenaw County Clerk's Office for under-promising and over-delivering.  I had dread fears of applying for a CPL in The Peoples' Republik of AnnArbor*, and expected a flaming metric ass-ton of grief over petitioning the local government to exercise my fundamental human right of bearing arms.

I've coveted this for decades.  I'm finally legal.

more soon

*I do not live in The Peoples' Republik of AnnArbor, I'm just outside the wire.  The Peoples' Republik of AnnArbor is the County seat.

Shocked, but not really surprised

it's an odd combination...

so anyway, I was in the local Walmart this afternoon, and per my usual, I went straight to the ammo aisle and found this:

Completely empty ammo case, Walmart, Saline, Michigan

Completely bare shelves.  To the left of the case is where they display the shot shells, they're mostly gone as well.

I struck up a conversation with an older gent (I'm 50, so "older" to me is mid to late sixties) about the lack of available ammo.  It was almost like he'd been reading Supply Side Politics 2.0.  He went on about how he wasn't going to the range because he wasn't sure he could replace the ammo.

As we were talking, another older gent (see definition above) walked up and shook his head at the empty ammo case.  He joined right into the conversation, leading off with something about the "Government buying up all the ammo".  We were having a regular Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (of three) when the Walmart guy came down the aisle.  The three of us starting peppering him with questions, most of which started with "What The Fuck..."

As it turns out, the glass door on the ammo case broke and they had no way to secure the ammo, so they moved what little there was to the back room.  Not that they had much ammo to begin with, but there you are.  Look at the (admittedly bad cell-phone) picture again:  there's no glass on the left had side of the right hand side of the case (Read that again..slowly.  It actually does make sense).

Whilst I'm not a conspiracy theorist, I'm a firm believer in the James Bond Goldfinger line of "...once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times it's enemy action...".  If any of you out there across these fruited plains sees or hears of ammo being pulled because of a "broken ammo case" please let me know by posting a comment on any post here at Supply Side Politics 2.0.

more soon

Activity and Accomplishment

Today I had both...

so anyway, I used up another of my 2012 carry-over vacation days today and took care of my CPL business with the County.  You'll remember, the last time I made the attempt, things did not go as planned.

To be honest, I expected a cold welcome at the County Clerk's office in the Peoples' Republik of AnnArbor.  I was pleasantly surprised with how the clerkette handled the transaction; she was professional and actually pleasant about the matter at hand.  Ten minutes and $105 later, I was on my way.

A note on my time spent at the County Clerk's office: the guy in front of my was applying for a concealed carry permit.  The guy behind me was, too. Read on.

So, I was then off to the Washtenaw County Sheriff Department, to be finger-printed like a common criminal.  I was fifth in line.  Of the four in front of me, three were there to be finger-printed (like a common criminal) for a Concealed Pistol Licence.  The other one was there to pay off an eight-year old traffic citation (guess who took the most time?).

I washed my hands as instructed and took a seat.  Shortly, I was beckoned into the finger-printing room, where the Deputy took my finger-prints.  Making small talk with the fetching Deputy, I asked her how often she was taking finger-prints for prospective CPL applicants.  She said "From when I get here in the morning, to when I go home at night, I'm finger-printing CPL applicants."

In making more small talk with the Deputy, I said something to the effect of "....I've been meaning to get my CPL for years....." to which she replied "well it's good to see you've decided to stop slacking off".

more soon

Another Success

twice in one week...

so anyway, I had reason to stop at the local Walmart this evening and, as is my habit, my first stop was the ammo aisle.  The Sporting Goods guy saw me coming and said "You want the 9mm?"

Seriously You Guys*, it was like being Norm Peterson: walking into a bar and they put a beer in front of you before you even sit down.

Sure, it's steel cased Soviet crap, but that's 150 rounds of practice, right there

So, it looks like there'll be some range time in my near future.

more soon

*"Seriously You Guys" is a running gag over at Ace of Spades HQ

Success!!!

I take my victories where I can find them...

so anyway, I was tasked with stopping by the local Walmart to pick up a few things this evening, and as per my usual, my first stop was the ammo aisle.  The Sporting Goods crew at the local Walmart all recognize me by now, as I walked up The Guy said "Still nothin'.  All we got in were a couple of boxes of .38 target rounds."

I can shoot .38.  I bought both boxes

So, (NEO, I'm lookin' at you) range day is back on, albeit wheel-gun intensive.  I still need to prove out my home-made gun-smithing job on the Tokarev M213 (Chinese copy of a Soviet design that they stole from John Moses Browning) 9mm, but I'm running low on 9mm (but I still have more than the local Walmart, 'cause they gots nothin').

more soon

Virtual SoTU (Updated)

more good stuff from Bill Whittle...

so anyway, I haven't even watched this yet, I'm posting on the strength of Whittle's reputation.
Read more »

Lack of Resources (Updated)

is harshing my mellow*...

so anyway, I recently had arranged to meet a friend at the range for a little "recoil therapy" after work.  As it turned out, I had to cancel because The Stoopid Business™ demanded more than ten hours of my time that day.  I called my friends and cancelled, and promised to re-schedule the recoil therapy session.

Now, I'm not so sure that I'll be rushing back to the range any time soon.  Witness the ammunition shelves at the local Walmart.

I'm not in a big hurry to turn the ammo I have into smoke and noise unless I know that I can replace it.  I do not have that confidence.

Every time I'm in a store that sells ammo, I check the shelf and buy anything that I can shoot.  I haven't been able to buy any ammo for over two months.  It almost makes me want to go out and get something that will chamber those .22LR Stingers or those .177 HMR rounds.  Having no discretionary funds prevents me from doing so.
.
So, until I can replenish ammunition, it looks like I'll not be getting any practice in.


more soon

* h/t to Cold Fury for the turn of the phrase

20130216 1310

Mark your Calendar

and pack a lunch....

Click through.  Forward it on.  Be there.

more soon

Firearm Appreciation Day

which, for me, is any day that ends in "y"...*

so anyway, Saturday was "Firearm Appreciation Day", a day were those of us who understand the intent and importance of the 2nd Amendment where to support the people of the gun: firing ranges, gun shops, etc. Like "Chic-Fil-A Appreciation Day", without the calories.

I did my "cash money" Firearm Appreciation Day on Friday, spending damn near $100 on ammo, range time, and gun accessories (in that order).  Had the wankers at the County Clerk's office been open, I would have spent twice that amount, plunking down $105 to apply for a carry permit, then to be sent to the County Sheriff's office to be fingerprinted like a common criminal.  I'll forego the 11,000 word rant on how much it pisses me off the have to petition the County, pay monies, and be treated like a common criminal just to exercise my Constitutionally guaranteed Right.

A few observations from my personal "Firearm Appreciation Day":

First, at the range: despite shooting like a spastic retard on meth, I had a grand time.  Recoil Therapy is good for the soul.  Upon exiting the airlock, I was pleasantly surprised to see the store packed with people.  I smiled.  There were a couple of collections of college-age guys, with what had to be their Mom; a "Starbucks barista" looking chick, shop rats (this is the greater Detroit Rock City area, after all), senior citizens, and kids that looked (to me) to be too young to vote.  All clamoring for range time, all hail fellows well met (and I mean that in the most appreciative way, not the wikipedia way).  I walked right onto the range at 1:00 PM, when I checked out they were telling people there was a 90 minute wait for a lane (and they have eight lanes).

Second, at Cabela's:  here it was, 3-ish on a normal Friday afternoon, and they were lined up two and three deep at the firearms counters.  I saw a couple who looked to be in their early forties, buying "his & hers" Remington 870 shotguns.  In fact, there were numerous couples trying to find a firearm that they both would be comfortable  with.  Lurking amongst the crowd, four or five times I heard someone say something to the effect of "I've never owned a gun before" or "This will be my first gun" or something similar.  These phrases were almost invariably followed by something to the effect of "...but I need one now..." or "...but now it's time..."

People are waking up.  It's about goddamn time.

more soon

*I stole that line from Andy over at AoSHQ