Yesterday, a friend of mine's nephew was trying to show off a gun (his family didn't know he had one) to his GF. He put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. He died last night at the hospital. He was 18 years old.
I agree with cc_rider that we need gun safety!! How does an 18 yr old buy a gun? Probably off the street from someone for cash.
Sad. Very sad.
Years ago, I wanted to demonstrate to a girlfriend just why it's standard procedure to leave an empty hole in the cylinder of a revolver. We were at a friend's cabin, and I explained that we do that because, if something like this happens . . . BANG! Mutual screaming, cussing, underwear-changing, and an eventual finding of the bullet inside the stove pipe ensued. I'm alive (and so's she, far as I know) because it was ingrained in me from my very youngest days that you always point a gun in a safe direction.
Training is key. And some proof against even idiocy.
Sorry to hear this. Some of the best advice I've gotten when it comes to guns is to ALWAYS assume it's loaded. That means, don't point it at yourself or at others.
Yep. That's the first rule. The second? ALWAYS CHECK to make sure it's NOT loaded. If you don't know how, ASK.
When I take people out to shoot, I make sure they know (and follow) those rules. Whenever you pick up a gun, even if you just set it down, CHECK FIRST to make sure it's empty. NEVER trust someone else to check for you: if it's in YOUR hands, YOU check.
I do not understand how this could possibly withstand legal scrutiny. 'Executive Orders' are not 'Laws', and cannot be enforced as such. You do not have to be a Constitutional scholar to see this violates the separation of powers, regardless of the particular issue. Worse, it involves items specifically enumerated in the U.S. Constitution, i.e. firearms. It's a non-starter, and the Administration would do well not to waste any political capital on it.
I do not disagree with the intent, and would not mind seeing stricter controls on gun ownership. Attempting to legislate through Executive Order is the wrong way to go about it though.
Yesterday, a friend of mine's nephew was trying to show off a gun (his family didn't know he had one) to his GF. He put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. He died last night at the hospital. He was 18 years old.
I agree with cc_rider that we need gun safety!! How does an 18 yr old buy a gun? Probably off the street from someone for cash.
Sad. Very sad.
Sorry to hear this. Some of the best advice I've gotten when it comes to guns is to ALWAYS assume it's loaded. That means, don't point it at yourself or at others.
Deputy Attorney General Designate David Ogden is circulating a draft of an executive order in which, among other things, firearms possession would be severely limited to people over 60.
An assistant to Ogden told us, "It appears that in these changing times, it is no longer necessary to allow the elderly to be armed. With all of their physical ailments and increasing senility, to leave them in control of a deadly weapon would be ludicrous."
While the Executive Order may sound too powerful, experts in Constitutional law state that it is not actually un-Constitutional.
"It's a question of wording." states Columbia Law Professor, Dr. John Braxton. "The Constitution forbids the Congress, that is, the legislative branch, from passing any laws infringing on gun ownership. The executive branch is not included in this proviso. As long as the Congress doesn't get involved, it's technically a non-issue."
The Justice Department was tossing the idea of a gun ban for seniors during the Carter and Clinton Administration, but public opinion stopped these initiatives. Now, the Obama White House believes differently.
An unnamed aide close to Ogden agreed to talk on the condition of anonymity.
"Clinton and Carter didn't have as much of a mandate as President Obama. They were both Southerners, and the Second Amendment was sacrosanct to their constituents. However, President Obama comes from a new sort of politics, where divisive issues like firearms do not apply to him."
"Quite frankly, it's a shame that no one has had the good conscience to have done this already. It's a simple process, and the majority of the American people will understand it and follow the law."
The enforcement mechanism for this particular executive order has not been published. It is likely that the confiscation of weapons will be similar to Great Britain's handgun ban, in which citizens willingly gave the weapons to police.
It is expected that the executive order will be given around July 1, when senior-related gun deaths reach their peaks.
The aide to Ogden stated: "For eight years you see the rolling back of regulation, and crime has skyrocketed. In fact, in Massachusetts alone, murders have risen 50% since 2002. Armed robbery has also risen dramatically. With such circumstances, we must act boldly."
I do not understand how this could possibly withstand legal scrutiny. 'Executive Orders' are not 'Laws', and cannot be enforced as such. You do not have to be a Constitutional scholar to see this violates the separation of powers, regardless of the particular issue. Worse, it involves items specifically enumerated in the U.S. Constitution, i.e. firearms. It's a non-starter, and the Administration would do well not to waste any political capital on it.
I do not disagree with the intent, and would not mind seeing stricter controls on gun ownership. Attempting to legislate through Executive Order is the wrong way to go about it though.
Yesterday, a friend of mine's nephew was trying to show off a gun (his family didn't know he had one) to his GF. He put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. He died last night at the hospital. He was 18 years old.
I agree with cc_rider that we need gun safety!! How does an 18 yr old buy a gun? Probably off the street from someone for cash.
Yesterday, a friend of mine's nephew was trying to show off a gun (his family didn't know he had one) to his GF. He put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. He died last night at the hospital. He was 18 years old.
I agree with cc_rider that we need gun safety!! How does an 18 yr old buy a gun? Probably off the street from someone for cash.
Deputy Attorney General Designate David Ogden is circulating a draft of an executive order in which, among other things, firearms possession would be severely limited to people over 60.
An assistant to Ogden told us, "It appears that in these changing times, it is no longer necessary to allow the elderly to be armed. With all of their physical ailments and increasing senility, to leave them in control of a deadly weapon would be ludicrous."
While the Executive Order may sound too powerful, experts in Constitutional law state that it is not actually un-Constitutional.
"It's a question of wording." states Columbia Law Professor, Dr. John Braxton. "The Constitution forbids the Congress, that is, the legislative branch, from passing any laws infringing on gun ownership. The executive branch is not included in this proviso. As long as the Congress doesn't get involved, it's technically a non-issue."
The Justice Department was tossing the idea of a gun ban for seniors during the Carter and Clinton Administration, but public opinion stopped these initiatives. Now, the Obama White House believes differently.
An unnamed aide close to Ogden agreed to talk on the condition of anonymity.
"Clinton and Carter didn't have as much of a mandate as President Obama. They were both Southerners, and the Second Amendment was sacrosanct to their constituents. However, President Obama comes from a new sort of politics, where divisive issues like firearms do not apply to him."
"Quite frankly, it's a shame that no one has had the good conscience to have done this already. It's a simple process, and the majority of the American people will understand it and follow the law."
The enforcement mechanism for this particular executive order has not been published. It is likely that the confiscation of weapons will be similar to Great Britain's handgun ban, in which citizens willingly gave the weapons to police.
It is expected that the executive order will be given around July 1, when senior-related gun deaths reach their peaks.
The aide to Ogden stated: "For eight years you see the rolling back of regulation, and crime has skyrocketed. In fact, in Massachusetts alone, murders have risen 50% since 2002. Armed robbery has also risen dramatically. With such circumstances, we must act boldly."
Fubared keyboards I trade for cold beers. It you blew your beverage of choice all over the screen and it shorted out, that's beyond my advertising & promotion budget for this month, so yeah, you'll have to sue.
My registered office is in Nunavut. I'm there every second Friday. Serve me there, 'kay?
edit: the bestest part is the comments!
Old American saying— "you can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead fingers"
New American saying —
"You can have my gun when your body armored, steroid crazed, drug dealing SWAT team kicks down my door and takes it, after shooting all my pets"
Another fine example of the press' total lack of knowledge about all things firearm related. The shortage is of ammunition or cartridges, not bullets. The bullet is the projectile that leaves the muzzle; only a part of a cartridge.
An assault rifle is a select-fire weapon capable of fully automatic fire. These are regulated by the BATF as Class III and require a $200 stamp of approval and an extensive background check to own.
That's per year, per weapon. It makes Class 3 gear prohibitively expensive for the average person. However it IS possible: if you are determined to own Class 3 firearms, well, that's just the hoops you've gotta jump through. Not so different from a driver's license...
There has been much fuss over so-called 'assault rifles' versus 'hunting rifles'. In some cases, the only actual difference between the two is appearance. A perfectly legal semi-automatic rifle can be reconfigured to LOOK like an 'assault rifle': synthetic stocks, rail systems, etc. But since there was such a panic over 'assault rifles', anything that LOOKED like a full-auto rifle got tagged, even though the function was perfectly legal.
There is even a kit to convert the lowly Ruger 10/22 into a 'bullpup' configuration, with a short (legal) barrel and reconfigured trigger mechanism. Looks sorta like an Uzi. Absolutely legal, although it doesn't look it.
There are other weird quirks too, like cut-down barrels. Some people have made pistols based on the 10/22 mechanism. But here's the thing: that particular mechanism cannot EVER have had a rifle-length barrel mounted on it. You say Huh? That means you cannot go to the store and buy a 10/22 rifle, take it home and install a pistol grip and pistol-length barrel: from a legal standpoint it's considered the same as cutting the barrel off. BUT if you order a bare receiver (firing mechanism), pistol grip and short barrel, you can build a 10/22-based pistol, all completely legal. Two identical guns, one is legal and one is not. Sorta weird, but that's how it works.
That's 'cause we aren't interested in emulating some aspects of American society. Besides, we Canucks are mostly polite about it - that and we settle our differences with terse words and snowmobile drag races.
how effective is that against bears?
I would imagine it's very effective...bears are horrible at driving snowmobiles.
Henry Pierson Curtis | Sentinel Staff Writer February 10, 2009
*snip*
Another fine example of the press' total lack of knowledge about all things firearm related. The shortage is of ammunition or cartridges, not bullets. The bullet is the projectile that leaves the muzzle; only a part of a cartridge.
An assault rifle is a select-fire weapon capable of fully automatic fire. These are regulated by the BATF as Class III and require a $200 stamp of approval and an extensive background check to own.
Henry Pierson Curtis | Sentinel Staff Writer February 10, 2009
Selling bullets may be the most secure job in Florida as long as supplies last.
After months of heavy buying, gun dealers across the state are experiencing shortages.
Some say it began with the election of President Barack Obama. Others say it's about the economic downturn or fear of crime. Whatever the reasons, ammunition has been selling like plywood and bottled water in the days before a hurricane.
"The survivalist in all of us comes out," said John Ritz, manager of East Orange Shooting Sports in Winter Park. "It's more about protecting what you have."
Demand for bullets is so strong that suppliers are restricting deliveries.
"Where we used to get 20 to 30 cases , we may get two to three cases now," said Vic Grechniw of Florida Ammo Traders in Tampa. "The supply just isn't there. . . . Everybody is pretty much rushing out to get their hands on whatever they can."
Most in demand is handgun ammunition, including 9 mm and .45-caliber for semiautomatic pistols and .38-caliber for revolvers. Clerks at local Walmart stores, including Apopka and Kissimmee, say those sizes, along with .22-caliber, are on back order at the chain's warehouses.
American gun owners buy about 7 billion rounds of ammunition yearly, according to the National Rifle Association. It has been warning its several million members that Obama favors raising taxes on bullets to make them prohibitively expensive.
"Anecdotal evidence certainly suggests that the demand for ammunition is continuing to increase, and that is certainly attributable to gun owners' concerns with the current administration," said Ted Novin, a spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association representing 4,700 members.
The scarcity of bullets piggybacked on more widely publicized sales of assault rifles.
"Everybody kind of got caught with their pants down," Larry Anderson, manager of Shoot Straight in Apopka, said about the demand for bullets, which surprised even longtime gun dealers.
Each day he spends one to two hours on the phone talking to suppliers to buy ammunition for Shoot Straight's store and shooting ranges in Apopka, Casselberry and Tampa.
"We're fortunate with the buying power we've got and the connections we've got," Anderson said.
Despite being able to buy 100,000 rounds at a time, Shoot Straight can't find any copper-jacketed bullets for .380-caliber pistols, popular as concealed weapons. The shops have adequate supplies of other calibers.
"You've got to beat the bushes and take deals," Anderson said. "Now I take whatever I can get instead of being finicky."
National chains are seeing the same increased levels of customers buying guns and ammunition in recent months, said Larry L. Whiteley, a spokesman for Bass Pro Shops.
"Why, we don't know," he said.
One major regional manufacturer, Georgia Arms, has seen bullet sales jump 100 percent since the November election.
"People are just stockpiling," said company spokeswoman Judy Shipley. "A gun is just like a car. If you can't get gas, you can't use it."
Georgia Arms sells more than 100 types of ammunition for handguns, shotguns and rifles at gun shows from South Florida as far north as Virginia. It now cautions online buyers, "Attention: Due to a huge increase in demand, our shipping times have been delayed 5-7 weeks on most orders. Please be patient with us and know we will fill your orders ASAP."
Demand has been so strong for all things gun that the Oak Ridge Gun Range south of Orlando is moving to a new, larger range in three weeks.
"It used to be you'd order bullets and get them in the next day. Now it can take a couple of months," said owner John Harvey, who has seen demand for state concealed-weapons classes increase 300 percent since the election.
"I haven't been able to get any smaller concealed guns that I'd recommend come in in two months," Harvey said. "Basically, Smith & Wesson is out of Smith & Wesson."
The latest surge is pushing already high costs still higher.
"It was going up long before the political thing got started," Drew Huy, owner since 1981 of Ammo Attic in Melbourne, said of prices that have increased as much as 40 percent in recent years.
He and other dealers, including Ritz, attributed rising costs to shortages of brass, copper and lead brought on by the industrial consumption in India and China. In addition, rising fuel prices dramatically increased shipping costs for ammunition, heavy by nature.
"I'm spending a lot more on it now than I was selling it for two years ago," Ritz said. At his shop in Winter Park he has seen the cost of bullets rise as much as 10 percent every three months for the past two years.
Suppliers to law-enforcement agencies are doing better than retail shops.
"We're in good shape," said Tom Falone of Florida Bullet in Clearwater, who sells Federal and Spear brand ammunition to police departments and sheriff's offices. The only slight problem has been obtaining .40-caliber bullets, and those are delivered within 30 days.
"I called about .22 the other day, and they had 12 million rounds in the warehouse."
The funniest stuff is the comments.
