Articles by Herschel Smith

Washington Examiner.

The majority-Democrat state Senate passed legislation that would restrict monthly gun purchases, expand background checks on firearms, and allow localities to ban guns in certain designated areas.

Senate Bill 69 amends Virginia law to restrict citizens’ ability to purchase more than one handgun per month, Senate Bill 70 requires mandatory background checks for all private sales of guns, and Senate Bill 35 requires localities to ban guns at public events.

Although Democratic Sen. John Edwards struck the assembly’s most controversial legislation, Senate Bill 16, which would have prohibited the sale, possession, or transfer of an assault rifle, many Republicans believe the House of Delegates will pass the similarly worded House Bill 961, which bans the purchase or possession of assault rifles in Virginia.

Soon to be signed into law, I’m sure.  Limits on gun purchases, universal background checks, and laws to disarm the public at certain events and locations.

Next up – bans on AR-15s.

Via David Codrea, the VDCL sued the governor Ralphie “Kill babies and give me all your guns” Northam over his ban on guns in the state capital.

VCDL Sue VA Governor over Lobby Day Gun Ban Springfield, VA – In response to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s gun ban before Lobby Day, Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) announce the filing of an emergency injunction to overturn the governor’s illegal ban. Erich Pratt, GOA’s Senior Vice President, stated the following: “Governor Northam is behaving like the royal governors who long preceded him. He has arrogantly and brazenly tried to restrict the rights protected to Virginians by the First and Second Amendments. “For this reason, Gun Owners of America is joining VCDL in asking the courts to issue an emergency injunction forbidding the enforcement of the Governor’s unlawful ban. The Lobby Day rally is held annually with thousands of participants and without incident. The only difference this year is that, in response to the Democrats’ attempt to eviscerate the Second Amendment, a much larger crowd is expected. “GOA is arguing that the Governor’s actions violate the Virginia and U.S. Constitutions, as well as, a 2012 state law which strictly limits the governor’s ability to ban guns in a state of emergency.”

But it didn’t work.

A Virginia judge has ruled in support of a state of emergency Gov. Ralph Northam (D) put in place on the state capitol Wednesday to temporarily ban guns ahead of a rally scheduled for Monday.

Northam declared a state of emergency citing “credible intelligence from our law enforcement agencies of threats of violence.”

What?  You didn’t really expect a black-robed tyrant to be true to your God-given rights, did you?

So now you’re cordially invited (or not) into a city where you know they’re busing Antifa thugs in, and yet you can only come if you’re disarmed.

Remember what I’ve said about being in confined spaces and around crowds.  And remember what I recommended that you being doing instead of this.

I’m not a prophet, so I can only ponder the good and bad that may come from all of this and try to recommend wisely.

Via reader Fred.  News from L.A.

You learn two things from this video.  First of all, Coyotes have lost their fear of other Coyotes and now work in packs.  This is learned behavior, along with an admixture of Wolf DNA.  Don’t go out unarmed.

Second, cats.  Even when I walked my 90 pound Doberman Heidi (before she passed away), when she tried to screw with local cats I always pulled her back.

I’d say to her, “That cat will claw your eyes out girl and I’ll be walking a blind dog.  Learn what you can mess with and what you can’t.”

I would have turned her loose on Yotes, other dogs, or two-legged assailants.  Not cats.

Good Lord, I miss my girl.  So much.

News from Virginia.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Portsmouth is one of the latest localities to send a message to lawmakers in Richmond in support of Second Amendment rights.

City Council voted 4-3 in favor of passing a resolution of support of the Second Amendment resolution, which declares Portsmouth a “Second Amendment Constitutional City.”

Mayor John Rowe, Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke and council member Shannon Glover voted in opposition. Rowe said he believes in sensible gun legislation.

The meeting started at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber and went past 11 p.m.

Speakers addressed city leaders for several hours. The council chamber was packed full, with people watching on monitors and more downstairs on the first floor watching.

But one of the most talked-about moments in Tuesday’s meeting: Councilman Nathan Clark showed up wearing an AR-15 rifle.

The councilman said he did this to make a statement about his stance on the proposed gun laws. In a letter to citizens, he said the new legislation is ludicrous and he says he plans to defend the oath to the Constitution that he swore to as a law enforcement officer.

“The newly proposed gun legislation for the state of Virginia is ludicrous,” the letter reads. “The legislation will make criminals of lawful citizens and gun owners. Again, I am a law enforcement officer, and if this legislation is passed, I will also be made a criminal.

“Taking away the rights of our citizens not only puts them in greater danger, but the act is unconstitutional. Criminals have always and will always break the law. We must punish the existing criminals for their actions, and not take away the means of defense from law-abiding citizens.”

So the voters now have three people who need to be booted to the curb.  One good thing about all of this is that the controllers have to self-identify.

I don’t normally link him up, but this is a fairly nice rifle and he has a good experience with it.  It looks like he’s shooting Wilson Combat 350 Legend magazines, and his accuracy looks good.

Uncle.

Grip angle and natural point of aim will not make you a better shooter.

A gun feeling “good in your hand” also will not.

I’ve been a practicing registered professional engineer for a very long time.  But until recently I had not studied ergonomics and biomechanics, and things like pronation and abduction, axis of action, first, second and third class levers, resistance to circulation, kinetic chains, etc.

I would have been more likely to accept these pronouncements before I engaged in my recent study.  Now, not at all.

I don’t think an experienced shooter should try to bias another, which I wouldn’t do anyway.  Readers have always known that I recommend you shoot what you like, feel comfortable with enough to practice a lot, and get good with what you like and can afford.

I shoot .45 ACP better than I do 9mm and .40.  I don’t know why, because I’ve shot a lot of ammunition, but it’s the way it is, after tens of thousands of rounds.  I also shoot a 1911 better than I do a double stack design.

Here I probably know why.  With the gnarled up knuckles of my fingers from RA, I get good purchase on the slimmer frame of a 1911 easily and efficiently.  If you don’t suffer from RA, you have no basis to comment on what I need to shoot efficiently, whether grip angle, frame design, length of pull, or whatever.

A 1911 isn’t for everybody, and a Wilson Combat pistol isn’t for me because I can’t afford one.

Ergonomics does exist, and it’s a science all its own.  I recommend folks schedule an encounter with the study materials.

Either way, it’s always a little oddball to me when somebody says (a) there is only one way to do this, and it’s my way, or (b) nothing matters, not even the things you think matter, because I say so.

This is a remarkable document, a complete slapdown of the controllers.  I’m surprised it happened where it did (California).  Here’s an excerpt.

Everytown contends that its brief will provide the Court with the historical backdrop necessary to evaluate the Second Amendment challenges to firearms regulations. Id. at 3. However, this is not a perspective beyond what Defendant’s attorneys could provide on their own. Moreover, like Giffords Law Center, Everytown’s partisanship is apparent.  The Court finds that the amicus brief may prejudice Plaintiffs on the trial level because the brief allows Defendant to have a proverbial “another bite of the apple” due to partisan influence.

The document is linked here (2020-1-14-jones-order-denying-amicus-motions).

Very good and informative video.  I did well enough in chemistry to do well enough in metallurgy to pass my coursework, but not enough to become a metallurgist.  I sort of regret that.

It comes mighty close.

Two identical bills that require universal background checks completed by federally licensed dealers for all firearm transfers have been introduced in the Missouri House by State Representative Ashley Bland Manlove and State Representative Greg Razer. House Bill 1529 and House Bill 1676 would even require two sportsmen to use a licensed firearm dealer and undergo the background-check process to temporarily loan a firearm for hunting purposes or even simply handing their gun to someone momentarily.

Although the language in this legislation would allow family firearm transfers without a licensed dealer, these bills fail to provide exceptions for loaning firearms to non-family members for hunting purposes or common acts of safety in the field and everyday use at the range. The language in HB 1529 and HB 1676 would make it unlawful for an experienced hunter to allow a friend to borrow a firearm for hunting or target shooting without first going through a licensed dealer, even if the owner of the firearm is present.

I don’t like the focus on hunting.  Hunting is a subset of activities that shouldn’t be subject to background checks.  Another might be loaning a firearm to a friend for purposes of self defense, or practice.  Or in other words, everything.  Because the RKBA is a God-given right.

Via reader Wynn A.

I agree with John.  It’s a stunning cinematic experience.  Go see it. I’m not a movie-goer. I may see one every two or three years. But this one is worth it.