Fuck yeah, baby!
In a 5-4 decision (which the Brady Campaign whiny bitches are calling "the narrowest of margins" as if that matters somehow), the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that 2nd Amendment secures, not grants, an INDIVIDUAL right of the people to keep and bear arms, overturning the Murder Capitol of the United States' unconstitutional ban on handguns, as well as their unconstitutional requirement for disassembled firearms and trigger locks.
(Wikipedia has a good write-up on stuff.)
Most excellent- and itt only took us 74 years.
Of course, the corrupt Brady Campaign has wasted no time begging for more money to attempt to subvert this decision...
It's quite telling, though. Idiots like the Brady Bunch and their ilk continually complain that a decision like this would be horrible for the country.
Then Paul Helmke states:
[blockquote]“After the Heller ruling, as before, approximately 80 Americans will continue to die from guns every day. Our weak or non-existent gun laws contribute to the thousands of senseless gun deaths and injuries in this country that occur each year. We must continue to fight for sensible gun laws to help protect our families and our communities.”[/blockquote]
So, what he's saying is, there will be no change?
Two-faced pigfucker.
In what will likely result in my lynching by those pussy Garand enthusiasts, I need to get my hands on a nice Garand and one of these:
http://www.dpmsinc.com/store/products/?prod=649&cat=1785
Then, I just need to get an IBM M1 Carbine, one of the synth stocks for it, and have both it and the Garand stock krinkle-finished to match my M1A, and all will be well with the world.
:)
You know what? The next time some cocksucking black activist talks about how the black man never gets a fair shake, I'm going to cram my fucking foot up their ass.
T.I. pleads guilty to weapons chargesBy ERRIN HAINES, Associated Press Writer
Thu Mar 27, 3:24 PM ETATLANTA - Rapper T.I. pleaded guilty Thursday to federal weapons possession charges, and will receive a sentence that includes prison time after he completes a period of community service.
In the year that he is awaiting sentencing, T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, must complete at least 1,000 hours of a total 1,500 hours of community service, talking to youth groups about the pitfalls of guns, gangs and drugs.
He will be sentenced to serve about 12 months in prison after completing the community service, officials said. His prison time could be increased or reduced, depending on his fulfillment of the terms of the deal and good behavior, they said.
Harris, 27, who was dressed in a gray business suit, told the judge he understands the terms of the agreement.
He pleaded guilty to possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, unlawful possession of machine guns and possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
Harris is one of pop music's most successful artists. His sixth album, "T.I. vs. T.I.P.," was released July 3, debuting at No. 1. He appeared in the 2007 film "American Gangster," which starred Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.
U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said Harris will remain "under strict bond conditions" during the next year.
He said Harris' sentencing was deferred "to allow him to perform a unique and extensive program — at least 1,000 hours — of community service. That service will focus on using his high public visibility and his talents to tell at-risk young people about the mistakes he has made and to educate them about the dangers of violence, guns, gangs and drugs."
Nahmias said under the agreement, Harris will have to serve a year in prison and three years of supervised home detention, perform a total of 1,500 hours of community service and pay a $100,000 fine.
Failure to fulfill his obligations will net Harris a "much longer prison sentence," Nahmias said.
Harris spoke to the media briefly after the hearing.
"I'd like to thank God for blessing me with a second chance in life and success," he said, adding that he takes the charges against him very seriously.
"I'm looking forward to turning this negative time in my life into a positive," he said. "I know I have a long road of redemption to travel."
He was arrested Oct. 13, just blocks away and hours before he was to headline the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta.
Harris was charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, as well as possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He faced a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.
He was allegedly trying to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers. He initially pleaded not guilty, and has been under house arrest since he was released on $3 million bond on Oct. 26.
U.S. District Judge Charles Pannell Jr. must approve the deal.
Harris, who is co-CEO of Grand Hustle Records, grew up in Atlanta. His first taste of success came with his 2003 album, "Trap Muzik." In 2004, warrants were issued for his arrest on probation violations for a drug conviction, and he was sentenced to three years behind bars.
Excuse me, but, fuck you Nahmias, you corrupt piece of shit.
The ATF continues to railroad thousands of law-abiding citizens who have made an honest mistake (oh no, they didn't use a US-Made identical copy of a foriegn part in their rifle build!), or as is most commonly the case, no infraction committed at all, and they're imprisoned for the rest of their life, while this piece of filth gets off scot-free.
If he fulfills his community service (hours likely logged by himself or his manager), then he gets no jail sentence. What a fucking joke. MULTIPLE firearms, MULTIPLE silencers, all by a felon.
I am getting sick and fucking tired of this class of "celebrity", extolling violence, crime and indecency in their so-called "music", and continuing to get away with shit. These slimeballs shoot at each other in broad daylight, and they're out on their own recognizance, with "community service" to perform.
Words like "infuriated" don't even start to capture my emotional state at reading shit like this.
Campus security may be given gunsBy Staff Reporters
The 2009 legislature may be asked to allow campus security officers at public universities to carry weapons, a Republican state legislator says.
“I’m gratified to see the governor and higher education executives have finally seen the light on beefing up campus security in Oregon,” Rep. Linda Flores , R-Clackamas, said ina statement Friday.
She referred to new developments this week.
Friday the State Board of Higher Education discussed changes in state law during the 2009 legislative session which would allow campus security officers at public universities to be fully trained and carry firearms, according to Flores.
Earlier in the week, Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed an executive order creating a Task Force on Campus Safety in Oregon.
“Three more lives were lost in a shooting incident at Louisiana Technical College today,” Flores said, “another tragic reminder for all of us that we need to do more to protect our students, faculty and visitors on our college campuses.”
For the past year Flores has been pushing a proposal to elevate “special campus security officers” so they can have more authority and the authority to carry handguns. They are currently prohibited from carrying weapons on school grounds.
As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Flores pushed for passage of House Bill 3318. She said it was bottled up in committee last year in part because Oregon University System executives testified against it.
HB 3318 was brought to the floor for a vote and was approved 39-18 but died in the Oregon Senate.
Over the past month, public safety meetings have been held at the state’s seven universities. Flores said the higher education board may have now reversed its position and might allow campuses the option of enhancing their police departments.
Currently, Oregon State University contracts with Oregon State Police in addition to using campus officers. At the University of Oregon, Eugene police have an agreement to provide some law enforcement services, but there are also university officers.
The governor’s executive order reads in part: “Oregon campuses must have appropriately equipped and trained emergency responders available and prepared.”
The new task force is also charged with reviewing, “training of law enforcement officials and first responders to crisis situations,” among other items.
Now, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't firearms already banned at Oregon's public universities?
If they're banned, then nobody can bring a firearm on campus, because it's against the rules.
If nobody brings a firearm on campus, then why would campus police need firearms?
So, the local fun shop has an Australian Lithgow SMLE MkIII for sale.
This Enfield is SEXY.
I love the snub nose look of the thing, and it just FEELS right.
Unfortunately, I just can't justify spending $300 on something like this, when there's tons of other projects that need completed.
I need to win the lottery, dammit.
On a side note, I think my kitty is lonely. He's been waking me up in the middle of the night, meowing outside my door - however, if I let him in, he just meows to get out.
Jackass.
Theory Of Gun Control Meets Reality Of CrimeFriday, May 25, 2007
A May 15 story in The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) serves as a good reminder of how a person’s support for gun control often changes after a personal experience with crime.
State Representative Michael DeBose (D-12) of Cleveland was an opponent of Right-to-Carry, having voted against the measure twice. All that changed on the night of May 1, when he was confronted by two men, one of whom was wielding a gun. On that night, Rep. DeBose’s sense of security in his neighborhood changed, as did his view on lawful citizens being able to defend themselves.
Rep. DeBose was lucky—this time—that his running, screaming, and summons for help prevented him from being harmed. When asked how this recent experience may change the prism through which he views Right-to-Carry, Rep. DeBose was crystal clear: "I was wrong. I'm going to get a permit and so is my wife. I've changed my mind. You need a way to protect yourself and your family. I don't want to hurt anyone. But I never again want to be in the position where I'm approached by someone with a gun and I don't have one. There are too many people who are just evil and mean-spirited. They will hurt you for no reason. If more people were packing guns, it might serve as a deterrent.”
We welcome Rep. DeBose to the growing list of Right-to-Carry converts. While it is too bad it took a life-threatening situation to convert him, we hope he will share his experience, and his newfound respect for the right to self-defense, with his other colleagues who still don’t get it. It is our hope they won’t have to endure a similar experience to do so.
Well, no shit? I can't get behind that last paragraph enough. While it's great that this guy is now a pro-carry (and possibly more pro-2A) politician, he's still a fucking idiot if it took him this long to come around.
Hopefully, he'll do a LOT more to redeem himself. Ohio could use some help.
So, for the very first time today, I pulled my firearm on someone.
I was over in Corvallis (yeah, I know, best place to do it...), and some asshole on a motorcycle decided he wanted to be in the same lane that I was signalling to get into.
He zipped up forward, honked at me, and I got back in my lane.
For the next several blocks, he proceeds to rev back and forth past me, hurling insults and swearing, which, of course, I responded with a hearty "Fuck off, asshole."
Right about this time, a brake pad decided to stick on my rear wheel, making a horrible screeching sound.
The situation with Mr. Lunatic Motrocyclist coupled with an at-that-point unidentified issue with my vehicle, turning off of that road seemed like the best course of action.
I signalled, turned down a side street, and parked behind another vehicle to check my wheel.
Apparently, Mr. Lunatic decided to illegally cut across traffic to turn in behind me, parked his bike behind me, and got off, approaching my vehicle.
With this nutjob screaming at me, calling me names, swinging his hands/arms around, thrusting his arm/finger in my face, and getting closer each time - all the while, ignoring my multiple commands to "Get the fuck away from me! Get back on your fucking bike and leave!" I became rather nervous, and with this guy right outside my door, and his right arm dropping to his hip (keep in mind, my hip is where my gun is at, when I carry), I scrambled, grabbed my Glock, and put it in his chest.
Well, obviously, Mr. Lunatic's attitude changed. He called me a "crazy motherfucker", and proceeded to get back on his bike. I hollered that I was calling 911, and he hightailed it the hell out of there. I dropped my Glock on the seat, got out of the Explorer so that I could catch his license plate, and called the police.
So far, nothing "bad" has happened to me.
I was smart about things. I put my gun away, took off my jacket, shut my Explorer up, and stood about 20 feet away from it.
The police showed up, they were completely courteous, they patted me down, no cuffs or anything, and we spoke about the situation.
I gave them my report, and got lectured on all the different stuff about use of deadly force, and how, in their opinion, since he didn't display a weapon of any kind, I could conceivably get in trouble for menacing or brandishing a firearm.
They stated that since Mr. Lunatic hasn't called in a complaint, there would be no citation for me, since there was no victim.
Nevermind that *I* was the victim here.
I was told that I should have rolled up my windows and called the police, or that I should have driven off - the latter being an impossibility considering that I stopped too close to the parked care in front of me, and that Mr. Lunatic parked behind me, such that if I had attempted to drive off, I would have had to either ram the car in front of me, or back over the motorcycle behind me. Not wishing to damage someone else car (or mine), and not wishing to provoke Mr. Lunatic into further irrational behavior, I couldn't drive off.
The Sergeant who responded told me that I should review Oregon Revised Statute 161.209 and 161.215 (which he retreived the ORS numbers from a pocket reference he carries).
We discussed at great length the contents of those statutes, and I came away from the situation feeling that the responding officers themselves have less of an understanding of those statutes than I do.
ORS 161.209 states:
161.209 Use of physical force in defense of a person. Except as provided in ORS 161.215 and 161.219, a person is justified in using physical force upon another person for self-defense or to defend a third person from what the person reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force, and the person may use a degree of force which the person reasonably believes to be necessary for the purpose. [1971 c.743 §22]
ORS 161.215 states:
161.215 Limitations on use of physical force in defense of a person. Notwithstanding ORS 161.209, a person is not justified in using physical force upon another person if:(1) With intent to cause physical injury or death to another person, the person provokes the use of unlawful physical force by that person; or
(2) The person is the initial aggressor, except that the use of physical force upon another person under such circumstances is justifiable if the person withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to the other person the intent to do so, but the latter nevertheless continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful physical force; or
(3) The physical force involved is the product of a combat by agreement not specifically authorized by law. [1971 c.743 §24]
ORS 161.219 states:
161.219 Limitations on use of deadly physical force in defense of a person. Notwithstanding the provisions of ORS 161.209, a person is not justified in using deadly physical force upon another person unless the person reasonably believes that the other person is:(1) Committing or attempting to commit a felony involving the use or threatened imminent use of physical force against a person; or
(2) Committing or attempting to commit a burglary in a dwelling; or
(3) Using or about to use unlawful deadly physical force against a person. [1971 c.743 §23]
Now, I don't know about everyone else, but based on what happened, I feel that I was justified, under 161.209, to use physical force in defense of myself.
Addressing the three points of 161.215:
Addressing the three points of 161.219:
Fortunately, he chose to leave.
Now, as I said earlier - I was not cited, my firearm was not taken, and my CHL was returned to me.
The responding officers were nothing but polite (even if they seem to have a different interpretation of the law than what is written).
In fact, the younger officer who patted me down, after examining my pocket knife (which I did warn him about being clipped into my pocket), did warn me that a different officer, perhaps one a bit more over-zealous, could have confiscated my knife, and cited me with an illegally concealed weapon, as depressing the lock release allows one to open the blade one-handed with the force of gravity or centrifugal force (illegal in Oregon).
I hadn't realized my knife had gotten that bad, so now I don't carry that knife INSIDE my pocket.
Overall, I'm not HORRIBLY worried, but there is the possibility that Mr. Lunatic can call in, completely lie to the police, and I get hammered (based on the officers' statements to that effect, i.e. since he hasn't called in, there's no victim).
So, was I in the wrong here?
I really don't think so. I didn't bait the guy, I attempted to remove myself from the situation, which he refused to allow. He escalated the situation, and I truly felt a reasonably fear for my safety/life, when he got that close to my vehicle and dropped his hand to his hip, where I could no longer see it.
What say you?
Here you go:
http://www.kythri.net/files/McCarthy_xvid.avi
Tucker fucking rules.
It sounds bad, let's ban it!
Here's the story:
Neighbor Credited With Saving Beaverton WomanPOSTED: 5:13 am PDT March 29, 2007
UPDATED: 7:57 am PDT March 29, 2007A neighbor is credited with saving a Beaverton woman from a domestic violence attack.
Marc Leverett was allegedly assaulting his girlfriend inside their apartment on Southwest Valley Circle Wednesday morning when, police said, Todd Anderson stepped in.
Investigators said Anderson, who has a concealed weapons permit, grabbed his gun and kicked Leverett's door open.
Police said the man rescued Leverett's girlfriend and held him until officers arrived.
"Todd is a great guy. He's there to help and if he was able to save that woman, that's awesome," said neighbor Steven Depew.
The alleged victim in this case was taken to the hospital with several facial injuries.
In other news, perhaps the Fox 12 team should get CHLs themselves:
FOX 12 Crew Attacked In Downtown VancouverPOSTED: 5:28 am PDT March 28, 2007
UPDATED: 7:29 am PDT March 28, 2007A FOX 12 photographer was attacked while out on a shoot in downtown Vancouver Monday night.
Reporter Jamie Wilson and photographer Pete Franzen were working on a news story for "The 10 O'Clock News" when two men started harassing them, asking to be on TV.
"I said, 'Sorry, we're on a deadline,' and waved them away. They were obviously drunk and I kind of wanted to get them away from the van," said Wilson.
The men left but came back a short time later and urinated on the crew's van, said Wilson.Franzen said he confronted the men and that's when one of them, later identified as Eugene Nerton, hit him in the face and he fell to the ground.
Witnesses said Nerton then kicked and stomped on Franzen's back.
Two men, Clay Jenkins and Paul Swanson, who were in a bar nearby, ran to help when they noticed Nerton carrying a knife, they said.
"I saw the knife. I called 'knife' and Clay picked up the sign," said Swanson.
Jenkins said he picked up a sandwich board and started swinging it at Nerton, hitting him in the face twice.
"I tried to keep some distance and just try to get the knife out of his hand but he wasn't letting go and he wasn't backing down," said Jenkins.
Nerton appeared in court on Tuesday to face several charges.
FOX 12 has learned that Nerton has a lengthy criminal history. Wilson and Franzen said without the Good Samaritans stepping in, Nerton may have taken things further.
"I had no idea he was armed. I did not know he had a knife and I do not know what would have happened if they hadn't come in the street," said Wilson.
Franzen suffered a black eye, sore back and several cuts and bruises, but he is expected to be OK.
CHL + Blam Blam = Dead Criminals.
There is no better solution than that.
So, I'm watching the news tonight (KPTV Fox 12), and they just ran a story about how a CHL holder in Beaverton used his firearm to rescue a woman who was being assaulted by her boyfriend, and kept the assailant at bay until the police could arrive.
Of course, you won't see this story picked up. Never! We can't portray firearms and their owners in a positive light!
Worse, though, is that even though KPTV is a Fox affiliate, it almost seems like they're trying to keep this story down.
They broadcasted it on TV, but there's not a single mention of it on their website - while the website DOES have articles for all of the other stories on the news tonight.
I've emailed the web team to find out where the story is, and why it's not online - we'll see if we get a response.
SAY IT AIN'T SO!
Buyback has not cut gun violence: studyOctober 23, 2006 04:24pm
AUSTRALIA'S guns buyback has not reduced rates of gun murder or suicide, a new study says.
The paper, published in the British Journal of Criminology and written by pro-gun lobbyists Jeanine Baker and Samara McPhedran, found the buyback of 640,000 guns at a cost of some $500 million failed to make Australia safer.
That contrasts with the views of other studies and Prime Minister John Howard, who say the guns buyback has made Australia safer.
The buyback and tough national gun laws were instituted in the wake of the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, when lone gunman Martin Bryant armed himself with an arsenal of semi-automatic weapons and killed 35 people.
Self-loading rifles and self-loading and pump-action shotguns were banned, with a 12-month amnesty period for people to hand in their weapons and receive compensation.
The laws outraged farmers and recreational shooters but were widely accepted as necessary to stop future massacres.
The new paper disputes whether the laws have worked.
Ms McPhedran is the chairwoman of the International Coalition for Women in Shooting and Hunting, while Dr Baker is the South Australian president of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia.
They cited data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) to say the gun law reforms had not affected actual gun murder rates per 100,000 of population.
Neither could the reforms be shown to have altered firearm suicide rates because suicide rates by other means had also begun to decline in the late 1990s.
“Reducing the number of legally held firearms, banning certain firearms, and increasing the requirements that must be met to legally own firearms has not produced the desired outcome of a safer society,” Ms McPhedran said.
“We cannot say firearm suicide rates were affected by the laws. Social changes and emphasis on prevention initiatives appear to have lowered suicides using all methods.”
AIC figures point to a long-term trend in falling gun death which preceded the 1996 gun laws reforms and continued after it.
In the period 1991-2001 the number of firearm deaths in Australia, including murder, suicide and accidents, dropped by almost 50 per cent.
But University of Sydney public health professor Simon Chapman attacked the report, complaining aspects were “verging on academic dishonesty”.
Professor Chapman said the study failed to differentiate between gun deaths where one or two people were killed and the large-scale massacres that the tough gun laws were designed to prevent.
Prof Chapman said the best evidence that Mr Howard's gun laws were working was that there had been no mass shooting sprees since they were introduced.
The professor said the paper was based on “statistical smoke and mirrors”.
Go figure, huh?
So, Lebanon has this weekly auction thing on the outskirts of town that usually has some decent stuff - appliances, electronics, all kinds of crap.
We've been a few times.
Radigast relayed a message from his parents, who are regular attendees, that last Friday, they had a couple of rifles there, surplus military type stuff.
Not having any money whatsoever, we didn't go. We found out later that the two rifles, one of which was believed to be a Mauser, sold for $30/each.
Shat.
Well, this week, Radigast tells me that both the rifles are back, that the high bidder last week never showed up to pay for them, so the rifles got put back on the auction block.
We zipped down there to check them out, and I ended up making a couple other bids.
Spending a grand total of about $100, I ended up leaving with the following:
and last, but not least
All in all, not too shabby for what I paid.
I've been half-assed shopping around for a Mauser, just never did order one. Ammo is always usable, and while I don't have a rifle for the .303 right now, it's also on my list-o-surplus-stuffs.
Auctions rock. I need to keep about $100-$200 available for auctions in the future...
I realize that Mr. Only One Professional Enough To Handle A Glock 40 is old news.
I also realize that this interview with him happened in April, but somehow, I forgot to post about it.
Seriously, watching the video again, I'm incredulous.
This guy, Lee Paige, his attitude is outrageous.
He's upset that he can't speak about gun safety anymore? Well, duh, dipshit!
He's bent that people have made fun of him. He deserves to be made fun of.
He's pissy the video got released? Isn't he a public servant? As such, isn't that video covered under the Freedom Of Information Act?
Seriously, though, you gotta love some of the comments.
Apparently, his undercover work was impacted by the video - nevermind that he traveled around his area of operations speaking to the public, that would NEVER blow his cover.
And what's this "accidental discharge" bullshit, pal? It wasn't an accident, it was a negligent discharge.
He "cleared the weapon", but forgot to remove the magazine?
That's not an accident, that's fucking stupidity.
Die in a fire, Lee Paige, you've gotten what you deserve - ridicule and humiliation.
What a fucking idiot.
I've decided that since ammo is expensive, and I can't really shoot handguns and rifles here at the house, that I should take up archery.
We've got enough area, and since we're smack-dab in the middle of "The Grass Seed Capital of the World!", it shouldn't be too hard to get a couple dozen hay bales and stack them up for a backstop for arrows and bolts.
Only thing is, I know shit about archery equipment.
Any of you know anything about this stuff? Good brands, styles, models, whatever?
I think I'd like a compound bow, and I think I'd like a big burly crossbow that I could put a scope or some kind of optic on.
I'd like it to be practical, not cheap crappy stuff, and not stuff that I have to baby.
I take pretty decent care of my stuff, but I don't want something that I can't drop and kick around.
OK, waitaminute.
I just found this over at RCBS' site.
I thought Berdan-primed brass wasn't reloadable.
If that's accurate, why is there a decapper/deprimer?
What am I missing?
So, Steve, one of the roommates, is in the process of moving out.
He's getting rid of his 3rd Gen Glock 17, as he's looking for a smaller conceal carry piece.
Considering it's a virtually new gun, with only a couple of magazines down the pipe, and it comes with (2) 17rd mags, and an Uncle Mike's Kydex holster, all for $375, I had to snap it up.
Did I need another 3rd Gen G17? No, not really, but the price was sweet, and there's something nerdly cool about having matching handguns.
As things stand now, I have:
and now
I'm an addict, I know it.
Now I need another Beretta 92FS, and, possibly, another Ruger MkII and Smith 686-3.
It's sad, I tell you, SAD.
So, as I mentioned a few days ago, it seems my intent to build a Steyr Scout clone out of the funky ATI stock and a new Remington Mauser probably isn't going to work.
I figured I'd probably fall back to just buying a surplus 8mm Mauser, and cheaping out on things.
Then, my good buddy Not_A_Llama, who has nothing but unkind things to say about my hopes and dreams, pointed out that SARCO has cheap surplus Mauser 98 actions, and that Numrich sells .308 barrels for those actions for some rather decent prices.
Hot diggity damn.
Now I just need to get ahold of my local gunsmith and see what he'd charge to barrel and headspace one of those actions...
This is going to ghetto-rock so damned much.
You kick ass, NAL.
So, I mentioned building a Scout clone out of the new imported Remington Mausers and the ATI Mauser stock.
According to ATI, while the action is the same, "the gun is completely different" and it won't work.
Hrmm.
I'm going to have to do some more research on this.
Too bad Wal-Mart doesn't have a return policy on guns.
A nod to PDB for his post that informed me of the goodness that is Mauser. If you haven't read his blog, GET ON IT!
I've never been a huge fan of ATI, since their product line used to consist of virtually nothing but crappy stocks for AK's and SKS's - almost like a TAPCO gone rotten.
Then, a while back, they released this nifty looking stock for the Mauser 98 rifles.
Having been a fan of the Steyr Scout once I saw one and read up on Colonel Cooper's ideas and design behing the Scout Rifle.
At $1500+ for a .308 version, though, I start to question whether or not I really "need" one.
The ATI Mauser stock seemed like an intriguing idea. A $90 stock, a $100 surplus 8mm gun, and a $250 scope (the "real-deal" Leupold 2.5x Scout scope from SWFA), plus a few bucks for some rings, and presto, a cheap-ish Scout wanna-be, with the added benefit that it shoots cheap surplus ammo.
Of course, I could go farther - I could have the Mauser rebarreled in .308, which would be cool, but spending that kind of money on a surplus gun, even if it is the classic Mauser action seems, I dunno, wrong.
Then, earlier this week, I read PDB's entry about the new Remington Mausers.
They're not "American-made", in so much as Remington is apparently importing Serbian/Yugoslavian Mausers and bedding them in American wood, but they're brand new rifles, and they come chambered in a variety of calibers.
Now, a true Scout needs to have a 19" or 20" barrel, which means any surplus gun I picked up would need to have the barrel cut and crowned - an added expense.
The new Remington 798 in .308 comes from the factory with a 22" bbl - the extra 2" or 3" I do believe I could live with, over the 24" to 28" surplus guns.
MSRP is $599, which, as PDB mentioned, will probably translate to a price point of about $450 most places.
Yeah, it's more than a surplus gun, but it's .308, and it's brand new, which is kinda nice.
Now, all I need to do is get ahold of ATI and see if this will fit in their stock. The only other real issue is that the picatinny rail on these stocks isn't metal - it's glass-filled nylon. I really don't know how I feel about that. Theoretically, it should be pretty damned tough, and it should hold up to abuse, but metal always makes me feel better. The stock also doesn't have that neat Steyr integrated handguard bipod thinger, but that's not a deal breaker.
Oh well. I'm firing off an email to ATI right now - I'll keep ya'll updated.
Now, if you know me, you know that I consider SIG to be the finest firearms manufacturer in the world, second to none - not even HK.
Of course, SIG doesn't have a nifty-ass pistol-caliber carbine like the HK MP5, but when you're talking about the SIG P228, SIG P229, SIG SG-550, the SG-550 Sniper, or the SSG-3000, you don't NEED a pistol-caliber carbine - but if you ever make one, we'll love you even more.
There's few things for SIG to screw up anything with their concealable point-and-shoot artwork, but I discovered one such item.
You see, I love lasers. I think laser pointers are neat as hell, and while perhaps not "tactical", I just can't do without them.
When I was 18, and first decided that, someday, when I had money, I'd become a "gun guy", I latched upon a two-tone Glock 17 that I just thought was the neatest thing since sliced bread.
Now, keep in mind that this is when lasers first started getting put into guns. It was a new application of a technology, so things weren't pretty and nice - but a laser emitter glued to the trigger guard, and a big red button sticking out of the back of the frame - a button that fit into the web of my hand looked so damned cool.
Of course, I've grown up since then. And, the X-Files came out.
Like any heterosexual male, more of my attention was focused on Scully, rather than Mulder. When she first pulled out her SIG P228, I had a new love. Fuck that stupid Glock. Fuck it right in the ear. I wanted a SIG P228.
Right around that time was also when I had decided that a career in Federal Law Enforcement would be pretty cool, and I discovered that Scully's choice of firearm wasn't merely her good taste, but that the FBI issued all Special Agents a SIG P228. If the decision hadn't been made simply from the sexy lines of the P228, then that would have sealed it. If it's good enough for the FBI, it's good enough for this boy.
But, alas, what about a laser? Remembering the laser on the Glock that I had kicked to the curb, I grew sad. The P228, and any SIG for that matter, was far too sexy to carve up in order to mount a laser and all requisite hardware.
Then, I discovered Crimson Trace Corporation. Genius Lewis Danielson, a God Among Men, had answered my prayers - replaceable grips for a variety of different handguns, including most of the SIG line - replaceable grips with an integral laser and switch!
Oh, glorious day! A laser in my gun, with no permanent modifications to sully the beauty that is SIG!
A SIG P228 and LaserGrips were to be mine!
Almost.
You see, SIG couldn't keep up with demand from the feds for the P228, and removed it from civilian sales for a time. They offered the P229 to us civvies.
I was heartbroken.
But then I got better. I was still attached to the P228, but after reading all of the good things about the P229, and how it was, overall, a BETTER gun than the P228, it went a ways towards restoring my happiness.
I finally decided on a P229 in .40 S&W, rather than the 9mm variety. At that point, I wasn't sure if this would be my sole handgun/firearm purchase or not, so I wanted something a bit more than a 9mm. The ability to switch calibers from .40 S&W to .357 SIG simply by swapping barrels seemed real nice, too - an option that the 9mm P229 didn't give you.
Well, on that fateful gray and rainy day in November of 2003, I saw only blue skies and sun - I had purchased my first SIG P229 and a pair of LaserGrips for them.
I drove home, and preparing to install my new LaserGrips, grabbed my screwdriver - and discovered that the store had sold me a 9mm P229, rather than the .40 S&W that I asked for.
DAMMIT!
An enraged phonecall and a hasty trip to Salem and back later, I was now at home with my .40 S&W SIG P229, LaserGrips, and trusty screwdriver.
I was set.
Damn, those screws were tight.
Damn it all to hell, my screwdriver slipped, and the screw was now ganked up.
And there it was. Flat-head/standard grip screws on a gun that was, save for those damned screws, perfection.
A couple months later, I bought myself a matching P229 in .40 S&W, and another pair of LaserGrips, for all those times that I star in John Woo movies - and wouldn't you know it, I fucked up at least another screw on the new gun.
Damn it, damn it, damn it.
Of course, SIG doesn't really have a solution - I called.
They can sell me new screws, but they're the same as the ones I fucked up, which means I'll just end up screwing up the new ones. Screw that.
So, for the last few years, I've just dealt with crappy screws. It sucks, but you really don't notice them.
But you don't forget. Oh no, can't have that. Every time I clean my SIGs, I see the screws, and I lament their craptacularness.
Then, today, I remember a website I found when I first decided years ago that I would be a SIG owner: http://www.tjscustomgunworks.com/.
TJ does some amazing and interesting stuff with SIGs, and other makes/models of handguns. My tastes have developed (or simplified) over time, so I no longer desire one of his nifty-color anodized SIGs, but it's always fun to go look at the site.
There on the site, I discovered the answer to my screw woes:
YES! FINALLY!
When I bought my Beretta 92FS, I fell in love with the hex-head screws, and wondered why everyone else couldn't do the same thing.
As soon as I saw these screws, I immediately pulled up TJ's price list - and crapped my pants.
TEN DOLLARS PER SCREW! The damned SIG uses four screws to hold the grips, AND I HAVE TWO OF THE DAMNED THINGS.
I want to scream. I want to say "There's no fucking way that I'm paying EIGHTY dollars for some damned screws!", but I know that's a lie, unless I can find an alternate source.
I probably buy four at one point, then four at another point, but DAMN.
EIGHTY DOLLARS!
I'm just glad I don't have a two-tone gun or something, and need some of the satin or polished screws, at $20 each.
Daaaaaaaaaaaamn.
So, here's the editorial and letters to the editor regarding the fortunate death of Jeremiah "Jeremy" "Scrat" Daniel O'Sullivan, the criminal skater punk bitch who decided to break into the wrong house.
Hasso Hering, the editor of the Albany Democrat-Herald newspaper, the source for the articles posted yesterday, has already tried to partially direct responsibility to the home defender by stating:
The fatal shooting of Albany teenager Jeremiah O’Sullivan last Saturday should not have happened. Judging by the sketchy police account so far, the shooter might have been a bit hasty. But mainly it happened because a 16-year-old appears to have been engaged in crime.It sounds as though the police spotted the boy next to a stolen car at 3 in the morning. Instead of staying and being taken into custody, he ran into a nearby yard, where he was shot as an intruder.
Homeowners have a right to defend themselves, their homes and their families, and they can legally use deadly force if they have a reasonable fear of grievous imminent harm.
Maybe that was the case here. Maybe the shooter knew more than the police have said. In general, though, shooting at shadowy figures in the yard in the predawn gloom is not advised. What if it’s a member of the household coming home late after losing his key? What if it’s a neighbor who got drunk and got lost wandering around? What if it’s a friend of your kid showing up for a prearranged meeting that you’re not supposed to know anything about?
All the facts of this case will come out in due course. In the meantime, whether this shooting was justified is impossible to say. (hh)
Well, let's see, Hasso...
We know homeowners have a right to defend themselves - something that pisses you off to no end.
The man already knew it wasn't a member of the household, considering that all of those members were asleep, and that's why he had his gun out, to defend them.
Considering the assailant was in the act of breaking into the man's home, realistically, who the fuck cares if it's a drunk neighbor? Neighbor or not, if they're threatening the safety of myself or my family while illegally entering my home, they're getting dropped.
And finally, considering that his daughters, who were not only aged 8 and 10, but fucking ASLEEP, it's not fucking likely that they were going to have any unknown guests coming over.
What next, Hasso? How are you going to try to shift the blame to the innocent victim (and for those libtards that will probably read this, by innocent victim, I mean Gosnell, not the dead punk)??
Hasso, you disgust me.
Debbie Jones, of Albany, appears to be in possession of her faculties:
Teen’s death a tragedy for allThis weekend I read the article about Jeremy O’Sullivan. What sadness for all involved. I read what people had to say about him. Such positive comments about a boy who had his whole life in front of him. An entire life he will not experience because of a sad choice.
I was thinking this morning about he anguish his mother and father must feel. It occurs to me he came into the world like any other baby. How they must’ve eagerly awaited his birth and rejoiced with his arrival. How he must’ve been held and loved as I love my own. He must’ve had grandparents and an extended family that welcomed his life and loved him as well and now wrestle with the tragedy, the choice he made and what might have been.
My heart goes out to his family as well as to the gentleman who was protecting his home.
Debbie Jones, Albany
I'm sure the parents feel grief at the loss of their son, but I would sincerely hope that they never even consider placing any bit of blame on Gosnell.
J.D. McDonald, of Albany, is one of the double-talking dipshits we gun owners have come to fear - much like John Kerry holding his shotgun, and saying how he supports hunting:
Gun use is serious businessRecently our community lost a 16-year-old boy to yet another unnecessary use of firearms.
Some will easily say this young boy put himself in a position of harm, but the issues of gun ownership and the responsibility of how they are used are too often misunderstood.
I believe in the right to bear firearms. Proper use and handling of firearms should be mandatory for all gun owners and not just people wanting to obtain concealed weapons permits. Consequences and penalties should be stiff for misuse of firearms.
Too many times we hear in the news of a father mistakenly shooting his own child sneaking in the house late from a date or a guard dog escaping and mauling a neighbor. Not only are criminals a threat to our safety, our well-intentioned friends and neighbors can also be a threat.
Recently I was fishing on a local river; as a canoe with two duck hunters were approaching us, the person in the front had his shotgun lying flat across his lap with his hands on top of the gun, As the canoe passed by, the muzzle was pointed directly at me.
The hunter said, “You guys having any luck?” He was oblivious to the fact he was pointing a loaded shotgun at me from just a few feet away. Clearly this individual had no proper training in gun ownership.
As a young boy I wanted to go hunting with my family members and have my own gun. It was mandatory that I take a hunter safety course and learn the proper use of my gun. After shooting my rifle, my gun was unloaded, the clip removed, the bolt action removed and the gun placed in a case. Even then if the muzzle ever crossed paths with something that wasn’t appropriate the gun would be taken from me.
I have attended classes for obtaining a concealed weapons permit. After learning and hearing the issues involved in carrying a concealed weapon I decided it was not for me; it is very serious business. I never, ever want the responsibility of making a decision to take a human life. We live in a community with excellent law enforcement; I feel we have alternatives.
I do not have all the facts of this recent tragedy and am not in a position to make any judgments. I am not an expert in gun control or law enforcement, just a concerned neighbor as to how and when guns should be used. I will be watching with great interest how this case is approached by the district attorney and the effect it has on gun-related issues.
J.D. McDonald, Albany
Hrmm. First, he does nothing but make judgments, and then claim that he's in no position to make them?!
Also, notice the classic anti-gun liberal argument cloaked in his letter - "The police have guns, therefore, the homeowner doesn't need one to defend himself and his family."
By no means do I condone the irresponsibility of a gun owner that has a muzzle pointed in the direction of another, violating the main tenant of gun safety - Do not point your weapon at anything you do not wish to destroy - but I would question how exactly Mr. McDonald had any idea said shotgun was loaded or not.
What a twat.
Michael Harrison has an intriguing idea, after seeing pictures related to this story:
Put skate parks next to policeSeeing the graffiti in the skate park in your recent article and having personally seen drug deals while eating lunch at the park, I’m wondering if cities should locate skate parks next to their police stations in the future.
Michael Harrison, Albany
A novel idea. Not that Hackleman was ever a superbly great park, in part due to the crack houses nearby, but ever since the skate park was situated next door, the entire thing has gone down hill, with punks and druggies hanging out all the time.
When I worked in Albany, I used to eat lunch at that park. Nowadays, I wouldn't feel comfortable being there unarmed.
I'm proud to say that Gary Hartman lives here in Lebanon:
Weapons make us saferMr. J.D. McDonald, in his letter Friday, July 7, shows a concern for people mishandling guns and lacking in gun safety. That is definitely a problem in some cases with foolish or careless users of firearms.
But then he jumps quickly to the premise that the responsibility for a concealed weapons license is too difficult for him and that we can call the police in case of an emergency.
He cites numerous hypothetical occurrences of accidental shootings that he hears about, etc.
What he doesn’t say is that for every misuse there are probably hundreds if not thousands of times that a gun used in self-defense could have prevented a crime or risk to a victim, if they had one.
But many, like Mr. McDonald, prefer to avoid the responsibility or simply fear guns and would rather risk themselves, their family, and sometimes other lives or safety simply because they are afraid of firearms or don’t want to decide in a life-threatening situation.
The overloaded police can’t get there quickly in an emergency; that is a risky situation to contend with. Who would ever wish to be defenseless while they wait for help? With the safety of your loved ones at stake, wouldn’t you rather have some means of defense, the mere sight of which may frighten off a criminal? It doesn’t require shooting unless the danger is too great.
Responsibility is the thing that keeps society on the right path, whether it is a decision made by a person to do something unlawful or risky, or a decision to protect one’s family. Modern society seems intent on getting rid of any consequence for one’s actions.
I believe this fact has made things far, far worse; car thefts, chases, home break-ins, muggings, burglaries, street and bus attacks are now more common.
It would be doubtful that such risky and unlawful acts would be so prevalent if responsibility and uses of protection were not suppressed. And many foolish or avoidable incidents would hopefully not take place.
Gary Hartman, Lebanon
It's all about personal responsibility. I'm glad to know someone around here gets it.
Florinda Morris isn't one of them:
Shooting causes sleeplessnessI have had a hard time sleeping since I read the article of the shooting of Jeremy O’Sullivan. I did not know him nor have ever met him. I have not ever come across Mr. Gosnell either. The concern I have in the shooting is because it has never been OK to shoot a person in your yard.
There should be a charge of assault in the first degree in the teen shooting. I am sure there should be the reckless endangering another and the disorderly conduct as well for the homeowner. I spoke to a police officer from Arizona about this case, and they would have had to arrest Mr. Gosnell the morning of the shooting.
I thought that the assailant has to be in your house, threatening you; you have to be afraid for your safety or the safety of your family; and you have to tell them to leave.
The paper stated that the police had seen a male enter the backyard and then heard the shot. They did not hear any warning given to the boy. The heading of Sunday’s paper stated that the homeowner fired on the boy he thought was breaking into his house. You would think to try to break in you would have to be touching the house, not as in the quote further in the column that states the homeowner said “that he saw a person outside an open window in his fenced backyard and that the person appeared to be moving toward the window.” This is not attempting to break into the house.
As the paper continues to elaborate on this story, the press seems to be favoring the homeowner. What about the precedent this case is going to set? What about the justified anger that his friends feel?
This case is now up to the DA’s office. Let’s see if Albany will have different standards than that in the Oregon Revised Statues. This states “a person is justified in using physical force, other than deadly physical force, upon another person when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes it to be necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission by the other person of theft or criminal mischief of property.” I personally would not like to see Albany setting new interpretations of the law. I plan on living here for a long time and do not want to see any other youth die in this fashion.
Florinda Morris, Albany
Ms. Morris, I suggest you attempt to pull your head out of your ass, and educate yourself on Oregon's laws regarding self-defense and use of deadly force.
There is absolutely no requirement that a defender must "warn" his assailant of the impending use of deadly force. From a tactical and common sense standpoint, you'd be the stupidest person in the world to do so.
When you're faced with a threat on your life, you don't give your attacker the opportunity to kill you - you end their opportunity to do so.
And what about the precedent that this case is going to set? Let's hope that it sets a precedent of people learning that if they commit a crime, they could be choosing to end their lives.
Justified anger from this punk's friends? You dumb fucking cunt. There is no justification for the anger his so-called friends are feeling. This dipshit chose to break the law, and he paid the price for his decision. If the friends are looking for a target for their anger, perhaps they should look to a newly dug grave, or the accomplice of the resident of said grave.
I also notice that Ms. Morris quotes the Oregon Revised Statutes on deadly physical force.
She must have missed ORS 161.219:
161.219 Limitations on use of deadly physical force in defense of a person. Notwithstanding the provisions of ORS 161.209, a person is not justified in using deadly physical force upon another person unless the person reasonably believes that the other person is:(1) Committing or attempting to commit a felony involving the use or threatened imminent use of physical force against a person; or
(2) Committing or attempting to commit a burglary in a dwelling; or
(3) Using or about to use unlawful deadly physical force against a person. [1971 c.743 §23]
So let's see - this guy not only was using deadly physical force to stop the commission or attempted commission of a burglary in a dwelling, but also feared the use or threatened imminent use of physical force.
Albany isn't going to set any new interpretations of the law, which is good. It means that your interpretation isn't going anywhere after you pulled it out of your ass.
Jason Bolen provided a fairly decent reply:
Criminal activity is dangerousIn response to Florinda Morris’ loss of sleep over the shooting of Jeremy O’Sullivan (Mailbag, July 12), there is an important lesson for everyone to learn from this incident: Being somewhere that you don’t belong (aka, trespassing) can get you killed.
The facts that have been made public show that the blame for this boy’s death lies on the boy himself. This boy was apparently involved in criminal activities that led to his death. He was stealing personal property (a crime) and then ran from the police (another crime) and into the fenced private property of Mr. Gosnell (a third crime).
He was shot as he approached an open window (maybe his next crime?) where a woman and girl slept. Jeremy’s friends can stop being angry and learn an important lesson: Stay away from criminal activity and you’re less likely to be shot and killed.
I’m sure this is causing Mr. Gosnell many sleepless nights as well.
Jason Bolen, Lebanon
Let's re-quote that last bit there, this time, in big bold letters:
See how simple that is? Engaging in high-risk behaviors increases your risk of death. Minimizing high-risk behaviors minimizes your risk of death.
It's pretty fucking simple.
Get ready, people, this is going to be a long one.
So, I've held off on saying anything about this for a while, but no more.
Jeremiah "Jeremy" "Scrat" Daniel O'Sullivan is dead. One less criminal fucking punk to deal with. Kudos to Bruce Gosnell, Jr.
(And seriously, SCRAT?!!! Where do these dipshits and their friends come up with these stupid nicknames?)
The first news article, for those that may have missed it:
Albany teen shot, killedBy Jennifer Moody
Albany Democrat-HeraldJuly 02, 2006
Police say homeowner fired on boy he thought was trying to break into his house
Albany police are investigating a shooting Saturday morning that killed a 16-year-old Albany boy whom residents believed had been breaking into their house.
Jeremiah “Jeremy” Daniel O’Sullivan died early Saturday morning at Samaritan Albany General Hospital of a gunshot wound to the chest.
Capt. Eric Carter of the Albany Police Department said at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, police received a call from a resident in the 2700 block of 27th Ave. S.E. who said her home had been broken into and her purse, car keys and 2001 Buick Century had been stolen.
At about 3 a.m., police found a car matching the description in the 2400 block of 22nd Ave. S.E. at about 3 a.m. A male who had been standing beside a car ran toward the backyard of the home near the car. Moments later, Carter said, police heard a shot.
O’Sullivan was found in the yard of an adjacent home. He was taken to Samaritan Albany General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Carter said the homeowner heard a noise in his backyard and got up to investigate. He told police he saw a person outside an open window in his fenced backyard, and that the person appeared to be moving toward the window. He fired a single shot from a semiautomatic 9mm pistol out the window at the person.
The homeowners’ names have not been released. They were not injured. No charges were filed.
Asked whether police believed the resident was justified in using deadly force, Carter said: “I would say based on the initial information at hand, that’s why we didn’t make an arrest.”
However, he added, “The ultimate decision will rest with the district attorney.”
Carter said police have reason to believe O’Sullivan was not acting alone. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department at 917-7680.
Police cordoned off the home on the corner of 22nd Avenue and spent the morning taking measurements and photographs. As they worked, neighbors went by on bicycles or walked their dogs through the field behind nearby Periwinkle Elementary School.
Neighbor Ed Stitzel stood outside, watching the police. He said he hadn’t heard any disturbance during the night and that the neighborhood is generally quiet. “Nothing like this before,” he said.
Another neighbor, Gary Matney, said he and his wife, Jan, awoke early Saturday morning to what he thought were fireworks being set off. Gary went outside and saw the boy, whom he thought had sustained fireworks injuries. He asked the boy if he was OK, to which O’Sullivan responded: “Oh God, oh God, this is bad. This is really bad,” Gary said.
“I heard the ambulance come in, but I never heard it go out,” Gary added.
The Matneys said a father and two girls lived at the residence.
“We talked to them over the fence,” Jan said. The couple, however, was not close to those living at the residence, Jan said.
The Democrat-Herald couldn’t confirm the home’s owner. On Saturday evening, no police tape surrounded the residence, but the entry gate was locked. A message at the residence was not returned.
Gary believes the incident does not reflect what he considers to be a safe neighborhood. “Everybody watches out for everybody else,” he said.
Friends of O’Sullivan were mourning his death Saturday at the Albany Skatepark. There, they said, O’Sullivan was a skateboarder known as “Scrat,” a tall, skinny kid with short hair who liked both country and hip-hop and was loyal to his friends.
“One day I told him he had a cool hat. He said, ‘Oh, it’s too big,’ and he gave it to me,” remembered Nathan Hill, 25.
“He was a good kid. He never hurt anyone,” said Nick Harris, 16.
O’Sullivan frequented the Salvation Army Teen Center one block from the skatepark.
“He was there every night,” said Director Gaylyn Shay, noting that he often mowed the lawn.
Shay said more than 20 kids came to the center Saturday to express their grief. Skateboarders planned a candlelight vigil late Saturday night at the skatepark.
O’Sullivan attended the Albany Options School this past academic year, said Jane Marshall, a staff member at West Albany High School, where O’Sullivan was a freshman in 2004-05.
Marshall said she worked extensively with O’Sullivan on academic subjects.
“He was a kid who was quick to smile and had an endearing personality,” Marshall said. “He was always really grateful for any help I gave to him. It was a pleasure to work with him.
“I’m heartbroken about it,” she added.
Judy McCormick was the principal this year at Albany Options School, the school district’s alternative school.
“He seemed to like the small alternative environment better than the larger high school,” McCormick said. “It was good for him.”
McCormick, who is starting a new job Monday as principal of the Children’s Farm Home school, said she talked with O’Sullivan every day at the Options Schools.
“He was very respectful to me,” she said. “He was a nice kid.”
West Albany High School teacher Jodi Howell, who worked with O’Sullivan for about a year and a half, said O’Sullivan told her he was considering returning to West Albany High School.
“He was looking forward to that,” she said.
The conversation three weeks ago was the last time Howell talked to O’Sullivan.
“This is kind of a hard day,” she said. “He had a great smile, and that’s what I’ll remember about him. He wanted to laugh and have fun. He was a hard worker and very intelligent.
“Without all of the facts of the event, I can’t say about the choices he made, but I do know it’s a very big loss. He could have made something of himself.”
O’Sullivan’s body was taken to AAsum Funeral Home, where service arrangements are pending.
Democrat-Herald reporter Trevor Davis and online editor Graham Kislingbury contributed to this story.
So, I'll briefly comment here before posting the rest of the articles.
If this punk didn't steal the car, he was breaking into where it was dumped. The fact of the matter is, people who have nothing to fear from the police don't run from them. Those that run have a reason to run, and that reason is invariably that they're a criminal afraid of being caught.
Invariably, in situations like this, we also get all of the vermin's friends and acquaintances talking him up, about what a good person he was, and how he never hurt anyone, or never did anything bad.
You know, "good kids" don't go to alternative school. Alternative school isn't for kids who don't do their work, or have education issues. It's for people with severe disciplinary problems, and it's their last resort before expulsion.
So what we have here is a punk criminal who's a disciplinary problem at school. He steals a car, he runs from the cops, and he attempts to break into the home of a gun owner. Not the wisest choices.
But, hey, don't worry - there's a candlelight vigil!
Seriously, what fucking gives with that bullshit? What a great way to honor your supposed friend, mourning him by candlelight like a bunch of goth fucks.
NEXT.
Police still trying to put pieces togetherBy Carrie Petersen
Albany Democrat-HeraldJuly 03, 2006
Albany police are asking for information to help piece together the events leading up to the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy who was believed to have been breaking into a house early Saturday morning.
According to police, Bruce Gosnell Jr., 32, fired a single shot from a semiautomatic 9mm pistol at a person who was standing next to an open window outside his residence in the 2400 block of 22nd Avenue S.E. Gosnell told police the person, who was in his fenced backyard, appeared to be moving toward the window.
Gosnell’s wife and two daughters, 8 and 10, were also home at the time. One of the daughters was sleeping on the couch, according to police.
Jeremiah Daniel O’Sullivan was found in a neighboring yard and taken to the Albany hospital, where he died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
The shooting was related to an earlier burglary at a residence in the 2700 block of 27th Avenue S.E. Police were notified of the burglary in which a car was stolen at about 2:30 a.m. About a half hour later, a sergeant spotted the car near the Gosnells’ residence.
A male was standing next to the car and then ran into the Gosnells’ backyard. Police Capt. Eric Carter said investigators don’t know for certain who the male was, but they think it was O’Sullivan.
Police believe another person was already at the back of the house when the male next to the car ran into the backyard, Carter said.
Gosnell had heard noise in his backyard and saw the person, which is when he fired his gun, according to police. No charges have been filed against Gosnell.
As of this morning, no one else had been identified in connection with the events, but police believe at least one other person besides O’Sullivan was involved. The investigation continues.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Albany Police Department at 917-7680.
Once the police department has completed its investigation, the case will be reviewed by the Linn County District Attorney’s Office to determine if any charges will be filed.
During the day Saturday, a car kept traveling past the Gosnell’s residence and at about 8:40 p.m., Gosnell was threatened by three teens who knew O’Sullivan, Carter said. A fourth person remained in the car.
The teens were “agitated,” Carter said, and asked if Gosnell was the person who shot O’Sullivan. They gave Gosnell a picture of O’Sullivan. The teens left only after Gosnell said he was going to call the police.
As the teens were leaving, someone made a statement about Gosnell dying, Carter said.
Officers are providing extra patrols near the Gosnells’ house and are following up on the threat.
Bad form, Bruce. You're lucky that you've got good aim. Don't you know that it's always best to perform a double-tap on your assailant?
And you didn't shoot the punks who came by threatening you? Come on! One even made a death threat.
Perhaps Gosnell needs to be contacted about a group of us providing Minuteman-esque guard services for him and his family, until this blows over. These little skater punks don't understand that they're fucking with a guy that's already eliminated one of them, and has the means to do it again.
They also don't understand that most gun owners aren't too fond of the druggy criminal element that commonly frequents skateparks, and that gun owners are quick to help one of their own.
NEXT.
Police still investigating shootingJuly 05, 2006
Albany police are still investigating Saturday’s shooting in which Jeremiah Daniel O’Sullivan, 16, was killed.
O’Sullivan was shot by Bruce Gosnell Jr., 32, of Albany who had heard noises in his backyard, saw a person outside an open window of his home and fired a pistol, according to police.
O’Sullivan died at the Albany hospital of a gunshot wound to the chest. No charges have been filed against Gosnell.
Just prior to the shooting, police spotted a male running from a stolen car into Gosnell’s fenced backyard.
Police have said at least one other person was with O’Sullivan the morning of the shooting, however no one has been named.
Detective Sgt. Marv Hammersley said this morning that investigators have received some information from the public and are following up on leads.
Detectives are also working to identify the people who made a threat toward Gosnell on Saturday evening.
Anyone with information about the shooting or events leading up to it can call the Albany Police Department at 917-7680.
A memorial service for O’Sullivan will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Eleanor Hackleman Park in Albany.
So, police know someone was with the punk who got shot, but that person hasn't come forward. Wow, truly a great friend - along with your friend, you're responsible for his death, since you were trespassing and burglarizing another's property, but you're not man enough to step up and take the blame.
I'm so glad that my friends aren't spineless skater fucks.
NEXT.
The obituary (with picture of dipshit!):
Jeremiah Daniel O’SullivanJuly 05, 2006
Feb. 26, 1990 — July 1, 2006
Jeremiah “Jeremy” Daniel O’Sullivan, 16, of Albany passed away Saturday at Samaritan Albany General Hospital.
He was born in Albany, the son of Tim and Darla (Dowell) O’Sullivan. He grew up in Albany and had last attended the Albany Options School. Jeremy frequented the Salvation Army Teen Center and often acted as a barber for himself, his brother, Joshua, and his friends.
He loved to skateboard and enjoyed art and the outdoors. Jeremy was a loving son, a great big brother, and a caring grandson who was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. His family and extended family will forever cherish his memory.
Jeremy is survived by parents Tim O’Sullivan and Darla O’Sullivan; brother Joshua; grandparents Julia O’Sullivan, Bob Dowell, and Don and Linda Reiling; great-grandparents Ed and Marian Carter; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Eleanor Hackleman Park in Albany. Please feel free to bring a lawn chair or blanket. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army Teen Center in care of the funeral home.
AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements (www.aasum-dufour.com).
Not much to say. Quite surprised that there's not anything major in the obit about the "senseless death" or other such horseshit.
NEXT.
Shooting investigation continuesJuly 14, 2006
Investigators are still sorting through information related to the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Jeremiah O’Sullivan on July 1.
The case also involves a burglary that took place about 30 minutes before the shooting at a different location.
No charges have been filed.
“Basically we’re trying to sift through all the names,” Albany Police Capt. Eric Carter said.He said police have received lots of information and have a “long, extensive list” of people who may have been involved.
Police this week released a few more details about the burglary and shooting. Here’s what they say happened:
At about 2:30 a.m. July 1, police were notified of a burglary at a residence in the 2700 block of 27th Avenue S.E. The resident was sleeping when her home was entered and car keys and a purse were taken. A 2001 Buick Century was also stolen.
There is no connection between the resident and the person or people who broke into the house, Carter said.
Investigators haven’t said who it was that burglarized the home, but police spotted the stolen car about a half-hour later outside the house where the shooting took place.
A sergeant saw a male run from the car into a backyard on 22nd Avenue Southeast. Police think the male was O’Sullivan, but don’t know for certain.
“We found evidence that proves conclusively that there was another person in the backyard,” Carter said. He said he couldn’t say what that evidence was.
At the time of the shooting, O’Sullivan was standing on a freezer chest directly in front of an open, screened window of the house. The window was large enough for a person to walk through if he lowered his head.
Bruce Gosnell Jr., 32, who lives at the residence and who told police he had heard noises in his backyard, fired a single shot from a semiautomatic 9mm pistol from inside the residence. Gosnell was about 10 feet from O’Sullivan when he fired the gun.
O’Sullivan was found in a neighboring yard with a gunshot wound to the chest. He had used an ATV to climb over a 6-foot fence between the two residences, according to police. O’Sullivan was later pronounced dead at the Albany hospital.
Gosnell’s wife and two daughters, ages 10 and 8, were also home at the time of the shooting. One of the daughters was sleeping on a couch in a room adjacent to the room with the open window through which the gun was fired. A pit bull was inside the house, and another dog was outside.
Linn County District Attorney Jason Carlile said he has received and read some reports from police. He said the case is still under investigation and some evidence is being processed at the Oregon State Police crime lab.
By Carrie Petersen. She can be reached at 812-6114 or carrie.petersen@lee.net.
So - punk was about to break and enter into the home of a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record who feared for the life of his wife and two daughters.
He was awakened to this disturbance, grabbed his legally purchased handgun, and defended himself and his family from the threat he perceived.
As a result, a punk criminal, aged 16 years is now dead. A situation that could have been completely avoided had the punk criminal not been engaged in the act of breaking the law, and committing a felony.
A result that the punk criminal has himself to blame for it.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's post (yes, tomorrow!) for the editorial, letters to the editor, and my commentary on them.
So, straight from the horse's mouth (the girl at the gun counter at my local Wal-Mart, HAW HAW!), my local Wal-Mart will not be dropping firearms and ammunition, though, many will.
It'll be interesting to see which stores drop them, and which keep them.
I'll have to keep an eye on the Salem store in the middle of Little Tijuana, and compare it to the other two stores...
So, Tuesday, someone mentioned to me that Wal-Mart was going to stop carrying firearms.
What?!
The big conservative Wal-Mart chain getting out of the gun business?!
The person that mentioned it to me said that he heard that upper-management wasn't comfortable selling guns in a "family store" any longer.
If that doesn't sound leftarded, I don't know what does.
Now, while I can't confirm the "family store" bit, I can confirm that they're scaling down on gun stuff.
From AdAge:
'Store of the community'Wal-Mart is implementing what it's dubbed "the store of the community" strategy that will have it create customized experiences -- both in merchandise and in marketing-based on the profile of shoppers in the surrounding areas. The segments it's focusing on are Latinos, African-Americans, baby boomers, high-income and rural shoppers. As part of this, the retailer has already said it will stop selling firearms in about a third of its stores.
So, what? They're not going to sell firearms in areas with Latinos or African-Americans? Racist, or smart business sense?
From Roanoke.com:
ATTENTION WAL-MART SHOPPERSWal-Mart, the nation's leading seller of rifles and shotguns and Virginia's biggest seller of hunting licenses, has announced plans to stop carrying firearms in 1,000 stores located in suburbia.
I have no idea how many, if any, stores this will impact in Virginia. I do recall years ago there was a bunch of Best stores in Virginia that did a big business in guns and ammo. That chain, based in Richmond, decided to quit selling firearms. When it did, I didn't have much reason for going there. Before long, the chain was gone.
More recently, K-Mart stopped selling guns and ammo. You know what is happening to K-Mart.
I'm not saying that declining to sell firearms is a kiss of death for retail stores, but I believe it can be bad for business. If a hunter can't buy dove shells at a certain chain, well maybe he will go elsewhere to buy diapers for his baby, school supplies for his children, household goods for his home, supplies for his lawn and garden.
Could this be the death-knell for Wally-World?
I witnessed the demise of Best, and I'm seeing first hand the decline of K-Mart stores.
Wal-Mart is one of the last big-box stores to carry firearms. If they get out of the business, there won't be anyone but specialty stores to buy stuff from - at least in this area.
What are these guys thinking?
Now, truth be told - I've never bought a gun at Wal-Mart, but I've bought ammo there.
Wal-Mart carries Savage rifles, and I've been wanting to get a 10FP package, and based on prices, was probably going to get it at Wal-Mart.
I've got 4 Wal-Marts in close proximity to me. One in my town (Lebanon), and 3 more nearby in Salem.
With any luck, one of them will still be carrying rifles when it's time to get one. If they've got any luck, I'll still want to buy one from their retarded ass.
Stupid bastards.
So, the FN FS2000 is apparently out.
You can check it out here:
http://www.fnhusa.com/contents/cb_fs2000.htm
I'm excited, because finally we've got a bullpup rifle that's quality. Something that can be SBR'd to be a virtual clone of the full-auto version.
And then I start hearing scary rumors...
The barrel length is 17.4" - 1.4" over the legal requirement. Figuring that's required for the 26" overall length of the rifle, I was fine with that.
Then I found out the overall length of the damned thing is 29.1" long. What the fuck?
The barrel attachment is pinned - permanently. Not that it can't be chopped off, but who wants to chop their barrel?
The rifle twist is apparently slower than the much desired 1:7 twist.
There's a lot of reports of failing trigger groups.
There's reports that Wolf ammo won't cycle the thing, which doesn't really make a lot of sense, since I've never had Wolf underpowered.
It's a plastic gun, but it weighs more than an AR15.
Supposedly, FN isn't going to immediately make the F2000 optics available right now to the civilian market.
What the fuck have they done to this thing?!
You know what's sad?
The accessories that I still "need" for my existing firearms total up to a dollar amount about equivalent to the firearms I still "need" for my collection.
God, I need a job.
Bowers ATAS-45 Suppressor is too fucking sweet!
Right-click and Save Target As...
Download and watch/listen.
Fucking awesome!
Too bad suppressors are farther down my list of toys I want/need. :(
So, while I still like the idea of a Cavalry Arms based rifle, I had to look at things realistically.
Being on a fixed income means that projects like this are going to be fewer and farther between.
As money for projects is limited, I need to seriously consider what makes more sense.
Does it make sense to build a rifle, and purchase a new lower for that rifle, when I already have a complete Bushmaster lower with a 6-position telestock sitting here doing absolutely nothing?
Does it make sense to buy another complete rifle when I still have AK kits and parts waiting to be built?
Well - no. It doesn't.
I need to get AK's built.
The upper that I wanted to put together for the Cav lower can still be built. The beauty of the AR platform means that I can slap that upper on my Bushy for the time being, and when I feel like it, later, I can still buy the Cav lower.
So, now the decision is, do I build the upper, or do I have another AK (or maybe even two) built?
Or, instead, do I buy some magazines? Do I buy a Surefire forearm for my MP5 clone?
Tough call - accessories for existing arms, or more arms?
God, I can't wait until my training is complete, and I have a real income again.
Soooo...
I've been looking at some of these Cav Arms lowers...
Was thinking about building an ultra-lightweight carbine.
This lower, an M16/A1 upper with a 16" pencil barrel - maybe get the lower and the handguard in a tan color for that "desert" look.
Hrmm...
This could be a sexy little shootah.
Teen Shot in Fight Over Tater TotsLAST UPDATE: 3/14/2006 11:03:08 PM
Posted By: Walker RobinsonA teenager was shot Monday afternoon after he was arguing over tater tots with another teen, San Antonio Police said.
The shooting happened close to 5 p.m. at the Spring Hill Apartments off Raybon on the northeast side.
Neighbors told police the uncle of one of the boys told the teens to stop fighting. They were ready to stop, but investigators said a 20-year-old man would not let them.
“Another person out here in this apartment complex, I think wanted to see the young boys continue fighting,” Sgt. Rudy Cran with SAPD said.
The man then walked into a nearby apartment complex, grabbed a gun and started shooting, authorities said. He fired several shots into the living room where the boys were watching television, police said.
“One of those rounds hit the young man in the back,” Cran said.
The boy was rushed to University Hospital, officials said. His condition was unavailable Monday night.
The suspect remained on the loose Monday. Police were looking for him.
Randy: Napoleon, gimme some of your tots.
Napoleon Dynamite: No, go find your own.
Randy: Come on, gimme some of your tots.
Napoleon Dynamite: No, I'm freakin' starving! I didn't get to eat ANYTHING today.
Randy: [kicks the tots]
Napoleon Dynamite: Ugh! Gross! Freakin' idiot! *BANG BANG BANG*
I think it went something like that, personally.
So, this Friday should present an interesting movie.
Already, Hollywood has fucked it up.
Note first that I haven't seen the movie, but will this week.
According to IMDB, the character "V" has a "real" name of "William Rookwood".
In the comic series, V's true identity is never revealed, nor is his face ever shown.
Undoubtedly, we're going to see him unmasked in the movie, which is completely and utterly lame.
Evey, the other lead character (played by Natalie Idiot Portman in the movie), toys with the idea of unmasking V, but decides not to, as she concludes, the identify of V is insignificant, compared to the idea of V, and revealing that identity would diminish the idea.
That aside, I'll reserve further judgement until I see the movie.
What I will comment on are my predictions on the anticipated reactions.
I fully expect the left to start touting this movie as an example of why conservatives are evil.
You see, in the comic series, big bad evil "right-wingers" setup a fascist government in England, with the help of their corporate cronies.
They systematically eliminate racial minorities, homosexuals and "radicals" (i.e. those critical of the new regime) in a Nazi-esque pattern of concentration camps, medical experimentation, mass execution and, of course, the ovens.
Bad news, basically. Not a nice place to live.
Enter "V". A mysterious character dressed as Guy Fawkes, quoting Shakespeare, who begins eliminating key people in the government, and waging (what starts as) a one-man war on the fascist regime.
Here's where I see a problem with the anticipated reaction from the left.
The posters for the movie are emblazoned with:
Throughout the series, this is the idea that V is trying to convey, in his attempt at rallying the populace.
This is where the left is going to lose themselves.
In the series, the "right-wingers" seizing power is preceeded by a couple of major events.
In the early 1980's, Labour wins control of the Parliament from the Conservatives, and uses that opportunity to make the United States remove all nuclear weapons from British soil. This has the benefit of removing Britain as a target in the nuclear war that follows soon thereafter.
In real life (which the comic series is patterned after), the liberal British government (i.e. Labour), went through a systematic disarmament of the population, which continues to this day.
Personal ownership of firearms has been virtually eliminated, and now items such as kitchen knives ("potential weapons") are at risk of being restricted.
The "left-wingers" have made the people defenseless. Now, their government has zero reason whatsoever to be afraid of them.
They have paved the way for those big bad "right-wingers" to take advantage of the situation, and for events such as those portrayed in "V For Vendetta" to take place.
Take notice, those of you on the left.
People truly shouldn't be afraid of their government. For all your protestations that the conservative-led government under Bush is evil, and trying to take away our rights, there's one thing stopping them from doing so.
People like me. People like my friends and family. The same people that many of you have declared war upon, in your attempt to take away our firearms.
Right now, the government IS afraid of a large number of it's people.
If you want that to change, keep doing what you've been doing. Then we'll see just how much you like things.
All in all, the comic series is a remarkable example of the need for true Libertarian leadership.
I'll close this with another amusing observation.
One of the phrases you hear V saying during the preview is "Remember, remember, the fifth of November."
This is a reference to Guy Fawkes' Gunpowder Plot, where Fawkes and many others, in 1605, attempted to assassinate King James I and many other Protestant aristocrats by blowing-up the Houses of Parliament.
The entire first verse of the poem is:
Remember, remember, the fifth of November,
gunpowder, treason, and plot.
I see no reason
why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot.
Times, they are a-changin'.
Guy Fawkes Day, celebrated annually in Britain on November 5th, is a celebration of the foiling of Fawkes & Company's attempted assassination of the leadership of a fascist government.
Perhaps those of you in England need to seriously study your history, and start celebrating the attempt, instead.
Following up my post on February 15th:
Man gets probation, jail time for shootingBY CARRIE PETERSEN
ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALDAdam Bradetich, 23, who shot and wounded a burglar outside his Albany residence last summer, was sentenced this morning to probation and 30 days in jail.
Bradetich appeared in Linn County Circuit Court this morning and pleaded no contest to attempted second-degree assault.
The shooting happened about 3:20 a.m. June 20, 2005 outside his residence in the 600 block of Walnut Street S.W.
Prosecutor George Eder told the court that Bradetich had seen an acquaintance inside his house stealing items.
Bradetich pursued the burglar outside with a shotgun, and shot and injured the burglar while the man was trying to get away, Eder said.
Once police arrived at the scene, Bradetich cooperated with them, the prosecutor said.
Bradetich's attorney, Paul Kuebrich explained the incident this way:
Bradetich had fired the gun inside the house, but it didn't discharge.
Outside the residence, Bradetich racked the shotgun, while yelling at the burglar to stop, and the gun went off.
At that time, the burglar turned and came toward Bradetich, who fired a second time. It wasn't clear if it was the first or second shot that hit the burglar.
Linn County Circuit Judge Glen Baisinger sentenced Bradetich, who had no prior criminal history, to 36 months probation and 30 days in jail with credit for time served.
He also ordered the defendant to pay $4,384.89 restitution to the victim for medical expenses.
The victim, Lesley Eugene Autry, 21, suffered a wound to his left hand and arm, according to police at the time.
Autry was convicted in October of first-degree burglary. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and is now on probation.
(Original Source: Story not published online - click for scan from newspaper.
What an utter load of horseshit.
Autry, the burglar, convicted of first-degree burglary (all other charges - theft, assault and robbery - dropped), sentenced to 30 days in jail, and 36 months of probation.
Bradetich, with no previous criminal record, convicted of attempted second-degree assault, sentenced to 30 days in jail, and 36 months of probation.
This man has his fucking home invaded by a goddamned CRIMINAL, and in defense of himself and his property, HE GETS convicted of a felony, preventing his ownership of firearms for the rest of his life - making him a sitting duck when this Autry piece of shit comes back for revenge.
This is a joke.
It's a damned shame that Autry escaped with such minor injuries. Hell, it's a damned shame that Autry escaped with his life.
It's also a damned shame that Glen Baisinger is still sucking air. This corrupt motherfucker is quite possibly the worst judge in Linn County.
With any luck, he'll choke on his tongue the next time he falls asleep.
So, The Oregonian ran a story about Pat Wray on Monday.
Pat laments that the NRA is too pro-gun, and not pro-hunter enough, and as such, wants the NRA to get out of the hunting realm.
He claims:
I want them to get out of the hunting realm. They're stuck in an impossible conflict of interest.The NRA has become dependent upon money coming in from people who are primarily hunters. But the NRA has not truly represented hunters or the future of hunting. It's kind of sold us out.
<...>
Because where gun ownership and hunting diverge, the NRA will always come down on the side of guns, sometimes to the detriment of our future hunting opportunities.
Boo-frickin-hoo.
I swear, at times, we're our own worst enemy.
The NRA was founded as a pro-gun, pro-2nd Amendment organization.
Realizing that the threat to our 2nd Amendment-guaranteed rights weren't limited to the attack on military-styled rifles, handguns, etc., the NRA made a very successful campaign to attact a lot of hunters, because their bolt-guns and lever-guns are in just as much danger as my AR's and AK's.
This was a great strategy, but things didn't work out so well for the NRA.
The number of hunters attracted was astronomical. The problem is, most hunters don't give a rat's ass for anything but hunting rifles and shotguns, and therefore, if not supportive of things like the '94 Assault Weapon's Ban, were dangerously neutral.
These hunters soon found themselves at the helm of the NRA, and started pushing it's focus away from it's pro-2nd Amendment activities, and more towards hunting, environmentalism, conservationism, etc.
Not that these are bad things - these are most definitely things the NRA should be concerned about, but these are not things that should be it's top priority.
Now, people like Pat are all miffed, because hunting areas only open to the elite few now have the potential to be opened to a lot of people.
Sorry, Pat. You can't have it both ways.
A lot of us "common folk" are hunters (or wanna-be hunters), too, and we like the idea of making a lot more land accessible for us to get into and hunt from.
Of course, if you don't like the NRA's actions, you could cancel your membership - which wouldn't be the brightest thing, since they're one of the few organizations fighting (and some (including myself) would argue not fighting hard enough) for your ability to own your chukar guns, buddy.
Yep. You better believe it.
Introducing the "Super Sniper 10x42"
I've been looking for some glass for my Springfield M1A.
Found a group buy on ar15.com for this particular scope, which turns out to be what multiple branches of the military are fielding on their M14 rifles.
Very nice.
From everything I've read, it's a great scope, and it's a perfect "Mil-Spec" match for my M1A, so that makes me happy.
Life is pretty good!
Of course, now I've got to find a decent mount and some rings.
The mount I REALLY want, which is what is being fielded along with this scope, is $325.
Ugh.
Guns and SchoolsBarometer Staff Editorial
Last week’s school shooting in Roseburg was an unfortunate reminder that school violence is still a threat. In Roseburg, it’s fortunate that the one victim appears to be recovering.
Past instances have gone differently. In 1998, Kip Kinkel opened fire at Thurston High School just down the road in Springfield. He killed eight people and wounded more than 20 others. The Columbine High School shooting in Colorado came the following year.
Since those high profile incidents, Oregon hasn’t seen any major gun violence in its schools, The Oregonian reported Sunday. The story outlined what the state has done since the past incidents to prevent more.
Part of the solution, education officials told The Oregonian, has been an investment in tougher discipline when it comes to students with weapons, increased security on campus, prevention programs and crisis plans.
Among the specific cases outlined in The Oregonian story was the Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior at the University of Oregon, which has been working to improve the climate at schools using “violence prevention programs aimed at making all students feel safe and welcome at school.”
The Oregonian, citing statistics from the National School Safety Center in California, said killings on school campuses nationwide are down to 15 from 24 last school year. The center credits anti-bullying programs and problem solving programs for students.
We believe these efforts should be applauded, and the state and the country should continue to work to make students feel safe at schools. While increased security surely helps — think metal detectors or cops walking the halls — the greater societal problem needs to be examined if we want to continue to fight school violence.
We have to ask why some students resort to violence. There are many questions. What role does bullying play? How can we predict at-risk students? Why is our country prone to gun violence while others around the world are not — despite having loose gun laws and plenty of guns per capita?
We don’t have the answers, but the program at UO and others like it should continue to examine the behavior. Officials should embrace the findings and work to implement plans to keep students from resorting to violence.
In the Roseburg case, officials have said the shooter and the victim appear to have known each other, and that there may have been a rift between them. But just because this wasn’t a random shooting rampage, it is still a serious example of a national problem.
Although the details of the recent events are still unclear, another solution to school violence is common sense: Adults should be responsible with guns and keep them in safe locations.
I'm seriously amazed.
Perhaps OSU isn't as idiot liberal as I previously thought.
What happened at Thurston, and what later happened at Roseburg was a tragedy of the worst kind. Kip Kinkel shouldn't be in prison, he should be dead and worm food.
Vincent Wayne Leodoro should have been terminated by the police. As things stand, since he's only 14, he'll serve time - far too short and far too lenient of a sentence.
Already, some in Roseburg are trying to justify Leodoro's attempt at murder of another student, claiming that Monti was a bully, and had spit on another student.
Sounds like Monti needed a serious ass-whuppin', but shooting him carries things way too far.
Regardless of the apologists, Leodoro deserves to hang.
I'm happy to see that the Barometer goes so far as to only reiterate what they and we both agree is common sense: Adults need to be responsible with their firearms. If they don't feel they can trust their children, they should be kept where their children can't access them.
Roseburg student shotROSEBURG (AP) — A gunman shot a 16-year-old male student this morning in a courtyard of Roseburg High School and a suspect, also a male, was arrested, police said.
The victim, whose identity has not been released, “is doing very well, better than can be expected considering the bullet wounds,’’ Vic Fresolone, CEO of Roseburg’s Mercy Hospital, told Northwest Cable News.
Fresolone said the victim was hit three times in the torso and once in the elbow.
Surgeons were removing the last two bullets late this morning. Since the victim is only 16, Fresolone said, “he can tolerate this better than the rest of us can.’’
He said surgeons had repaired intestinal damage caused by the most serious of the wounds.
Police spokesman Sgt. Aaron Dunbar said the shooter appeared to be a student. Northwest Cable News said police described the shooter as also a 16-year-old.
The school went into a lockdown and was sending students home.
David Smith of Roseburg, who witnessed the capture, said the suspect had a revolver with a long barrel.
Dunbar said the shooting happened at about 7:45 a.m. and the suspect was cornered by police after fleeing the campus. He said the suspect pointed the gun at his own head before he was arrested.
The suspect was not immediately identified, and no motive for the shooting was disclosed. A nearby elementary school in the Douglas County seat also was locked down as a precaution.
Why is this punkass motherfucker still alive?
He didn't have the balls to shoot himself in the head, so the police there should have acted for him.
Instead, he's left alive, and this will be one more piece of ammunition for the gun-grabbers here in Oregon, and not one bit of a deterrent for any other would-be asshole high schooler that decides to bring a gun to school.
My only hope is, since this is in Roseburg, that he'll be tried as an adult for attempted murder, and executed.
Of course, we probably can't execute people here for attempted murder, so he'll become another drain on the state, and end up being released when he's 30.
Hopefully the victim will be waiting for him - and not get caught.
One of my new favorite websites, www.attackcartoons.com, had a few gun-related cartoons that I enjoyed, and figured I'd share here.
Check out the website for more, and on other topics!
Telfair fined for bringing gun on planeOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Trail Blazers fined guard Sebastian Telfair on Wednesday after a loaded gun was found on the team’s private jet at Boston’s Logan Airport.
The handgun was found in a pillowcase belonging to Telfair as the team plane was being prepared for a flight from Boston to Toronto, the team said in a statement.
Telfair explained to local authorities that the gun belonged to his girlfriend and that he had inadvertently grabbed the wrong bag when leaving for the team’s road trip.
“We did sweep the plane and we did find the handgun, and it was a loaded handgun,’’ said Jennifer Peppin, a regional spokeswoman based in Seattle for the Transportation Security Administration. “Once we got that we turned it over to the state police in Boston.’’
The gun is registered in Oregon to Samantha Rodriguez, Telfair’s girlfriend of five years.
The Trail Blazers left Portland on Feb. 7 for their five-game trip. The team was in Oklahoma City for a game against the Hornets on Wednesday night.
The matter was turned over to the Massachusetts Port Authority, which said no charges would be filed.
Portland coach Nate McMillan said Telfair would continue to play with the team. He said “everything has checked out as far as the Boston authorities and what happened.’’
“It was a mistake,’’ McMillan said. “... I’m sure he is embarrassed by the situation. There’s nothing he can do about it now except to make sure that he is aware of where his weapons are. He’s fine. He’s OK.”
Is there some kind of ban on having firearms on your private plane?
That's not what really bothers me, though.
What really bothers me is the line:
The gun is registered in Oregon to Samantha Rodriguez, Telfair’s girlfriend of five years.
Say what?!
There is no such thing as a gun registry. For years, we've been told that our paperwork is simply for the background check, blah blah blah, not a registry.
We've all known it to be bullshit, but this still annoys me.
Assault charge pending in burglary shootingBy Carrie Petersen
Albany Democrat-HeraldA man who allegedly shot and injured a burglar who had broken into his west Albany residence last summer is now facing a charge of second-degree assault with a firearm.
The shooting happened about 3:20 a.m. June 20, 2005, outside the residence in the 700 block of Walnut Street S.W.
Adam Michael Bradetich, 23, was indicted by a grand jury. He had been scheduled to appear Monday in Linn County Circuit Court, but the court date was set over to March 9.
The man who was injured, Lesley Eugene Autry, 21, was convicted in October 2005 of first-degree burglary and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 36 months probation. Other charges of theft, assault and robbery, all stemming from the same incident, were dismissed.
According to Albany police at the time, Autry entered Bradetich’s residence and stole electronic items. Bradetich allegedly chased Autry out of the residence and fired two rounds from a shotgun.
Autry sustained a gunshot wound to his left hand and arm, according to police.
A fire department dive team later recovered the gun from the Albany-Santiam Canal. Police said Autry had taken it from Bradetich and tossed it into the canal.
So, let me get this straight-
Autry burglarized Bradetich's home, Bradetich grabbed a shotgun, and chased Autry out of his home. As Autry was fleeing, Bradetich fired, twice, at Autry, hitting him at least once. Autry, now wounded, stopped fleeing, turned around, went up to Bradetich, took the shotgun away, and threw it in a canal?
Something doesn't sound quite right here.
I'm curious if Autry turned around and charged Bradetich, prompting the shooting.
I'm going to see about attending the trial/hearing and see what exactly is up with this crap.
Well, SIGARMS has announced the SIG 556 rifle.
After years upon years of us clamoring for a domestic SIG SG550/SG551/SG556, they give us this:
Yay, a cigar! (Get it? SIG AR? HAW HAW HAW.)
This is what we wanted:
