Articles by Herschel Smith

As you know, gun confiscations were threatened by governor Mapp prior to hurricane Irma (he called it “seizures”).  Then he vacillated and equivocated and said that seizure doesn’t really mean seizure.  I’m sure he equivocated because of the negative attention he got from mainland U.S.

There are continuing reports of trouble on St. John and other locations throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Fox News calls it a looter’s paradise, and the Miami Herald also has a good report.  There are many, many more.  I have written the author of the Miami Herald article (Jim Wyss) to see if he knows anything about whether guns were actually confiscated prior to, during or after the hurricane.  I have not heard anything back.  I don’t expect to.

I also wrote the nice woman who authors the blog News of St. John and asked her if she had any personal knowledge of such confiscations.  Of course, she got back with me immediately.  Imagine that.  A blogger responded immediately, the MSM writer ignored me.

At any rate, Jenn of News of St. John told me that she had heard that something like that was going to happen but didn’t have any direct knowledge of it, and had no experience with it herself.  I asked her to inform me if she learned anything else.

But it occurred to me that whether guns were confiscated or the islanders simply didn’t have them because of an oppressive gun control scheme, the end result is the same.  They had no means of effecting self defense, and hence, the fear and terror through which the peaceable and law abiding men and women live.

This is something I intend to keep tracking as I have the time.  If any of my readers find reports on what actually occurred prior to, during or after the hurricane, please send them to me or link them in the comments.  I cannot imagine a better object lesson for why you need guns than this.

UPDATE:  Jim Wyss of the Miami-Herald replied to my note.

Dear Mr. Smith,

Thanks for your note. The short answer is I have no idea if firearms were collected before the storm, and it has been incredibly difficult to get a hold of anyone since I left the islands on Monday. However, Gov. Mapp is holding a press conference today in St. Thomas and I’m hoping he’ll address some of these concerns. As you are probably aware, there are a lots of rumors (hopefully erroneous) about armories being raided, etc.

Best of luck,

Jim Wyss

Latin America Correspondent Miami Herald Bogota, Colombia

Thanks to Jim for the reply.  I really appreciate it.  Unfortunately, I don’t put much stock in the press conference or anything communicated by the governor.  What interests me are reports from the ground by people who were there, or people who are still there.  I’m also interested in what happened with gun stores (are there any on St. John?) and the N.G. armory.  It may take a FOIA request to find out this last part, since any theft of the armory will have to be cataloged.

As always, I’m still supremely interested in whether guns were confiscated, and whether they actually expended effort going door to door demanding that peaceable people hand over their only means of self defense during a time when they (the government) should have been preparing for the storm.  I’m also interested in gun control laws on St. John.  Again, this is as good an object lesson as any imaginable.  If the reports are accurate, St. John was dystopia after the storm.  Now, let’s examine the role of weapons in the aftermath.

Prior:

Apocalyptic News From The U.S. Virgin Islands

Hurricane Irma Survivors Face Looting And Violence

U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Orders Confiscation Of Weapons In Advance Of Hurricane

Salon:

Silencers are seen by the gun industry as a great way to recruit new customers, because the devices make guns less scary to children.

“For new or younger shooters, using a silencer means being able to focus on marksmanship fundamentals and enjoy the overall shooting experience with considerably more comfort,” the 2017 catalog for Advanced Armament Corporation explained.

Donald Trump Jr., who is a big fan of silencers, concurs. Last year, in a video interview with Joshua Waldron, the CEO of a silencer manufacturer, Don Jr. said that silencers were great at getting “little kids into the game.”

Yep.  That’s what it’s all about – revenue.  It isn’t really about a less dangerous shooting experience, one that protects your hearing.  It isn’t about getting a better cheek weld on the butt of your rifle because you don’t have to knock your head into those idiotic ear muffs.  It’s all about money.

There are several things that we should point out about this simpleton’s article.  First of all, she doesn’t believe in the market.  If something doesn’t live up to the hype, it will die off in the marketplace.  If it isn’t wanted by the public, it won’t continue to be manufactured.  But not according to her.

Second, she believes that you are idiots.  She believes that whether you need something or not, you will buy it with a little coaxing by somebody – who knows – the NRA, the gun manufacturers (who do not fabricate suppressors anyway, other companies do that), or whomever.  It’s all just a revenue stream to them.  You will throw away your hard earned money on trash because somebody else has a scheme to rob you with worthless products.

So she is there to protect you.  The market works because you will buy it, but the market doesn’t work because you can’t discern the difference between needful products and those that aren’t.  It is not a needful product because you have ear plugs and ear muffs.  But it is needful because it might make the shooting experience more enjoyable and entice kids to learn to shoot.

And the main objection she has is that it’s just a revenue scheme.  Or if you continue reading, that it will make the jobs of police harder because it will fall into criminal hands and cause mass shootings.  Or that it will prevent you from hearing the sound of gunfire and running away.  Or something.

Good Lord.  Do they have editors over at Salon or has this just become a total trash bin of word salads for the gun haters?  At any rate, such is the confused thinking of the collectivists.

News of St. John.

I’m scared. Those are words I never thought I would write when referring to St. John. But I’m scared. We’re only four days into this mess, and we’re hearing some awful things. For starters, Joe’s Rum Hut was broken into the day after Irma hit. The ATM was stolen. They attempted to get cash out of the register, but it was empty as Joe’s closed for season earlier this month. The ATM next to Cruz Bay Landing was stolen. The ATM at the ferry dock was stolen. Scoops has been broken into. St. John Insurance has been broken into. They hold almost all of the insurance policies on this island. Makes you wonder the intentions of that burglary, doesn’t it? Dolphin Market in Coral Bay was looted the very first night. The very first night. We heard this morning that the Customs building in Cruz Bay was broken into and that guns were stolen. We heard that there was at least three robberies at gunpoint on Gifft Hill. This is not St. John anymore. I’m not sure what it is. What I do know is that I am scared. My friends are scared. And we don’t know what to do.

Last night I was able to go home. What I failed to mention was that we had to install a bar on the inside of our door so no one could break in. This is our new reality. Last night, for the first time since moving here, I was afraid to walk down the streets of Cruz Bay. And it was only 6:30 p.m. People are getting desperate, and desperate times call for desperate measures from some unfortunately. We are only on day four. What’s going to happen next?

I have seen absolutely no aid today except a few boxes of MREs walking down the street. I haven’t seen one helicopter land today. We hear help is on the way. Let’s hope so. We need the military. We need men and women guarding our streets with guns. Our police force does nothing. They sit in their cars and yell at people over the loudspeaker. I kid you not. They’re not even helping with traffic in areas where it’s needed. You know who is? Our homeless people. Our homeless people are directing traffic, and our police are not. Let that sink in for a minute. Several police officers can be seen constantly at Ronnie’s Pizza – our new cell phone spot – and they’re scrolling through Facebook rather than patrolling our streets. Im (sic)shocked they actually got out of their cars for that. I took pictures and I cannot wait until I have internet so I can share them with the world.

We need help. We need the United States government to step up. We need military. We need security. We all survived this monster storm. But will we survive the aftermath? No one knows. And that’s not me being dramatic at all. That, unfortunately, is the new reality of St. John. This is no longer paradise. This is no longer my happy place.

Ah, the wonderful police.  People still believe the myth that the police are there to protect and provide security.  It’s all a lie, so says the U.S. court system.  Understand that.  Your life depends on it.

Neither is it the job of the U.S. military to protect you or your family.  That’s your duty, your responsibility, your God-given right.  These poor people are in a place where they cannot effect that security because guns are not allowed for the peaceable and law abiding citizens, only the criminals.

I’m always of two minds when I hear reports like this.  On the one hand, I have compassion (what normal man wouldn’t have compassion for these people or people in situations like that), and I want the criminals killed.  Not imprisoned, but killed.

Similar thoughts sweep over me when I hear of criminals and gangs dominating cities where gun control is king.  I feel especially sorry for those who want to defend their families but can’t because they live in places where the collectivists rule.

On the other hand, there is nothing more basic and dutiful that the protection of family and life, and if you live in a place where that protection cannot obtain because the collectivists rule you, then you need to get out of there.  That goes for the U.S. Virgin Islands, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, California or Hawaii.

Relocating, pulling up roots and leaving is hard, and nearly impossible in some circumstances.  But you either have to fight the good fight and win, or you have to leave.  Fighting the good fight and losing, while no reflection on you or your character, is the same as not fighting at all.  Either way, you lose and cannot effect the protection of your family.

At some point, you have to be willing to cut your loses and move on.  I feel sorry for the woman writing the blog.  I’m sure her report is accurate.  I feel compassion for her plight.  But if change doesn’t come, and very soon, she has to cut her ties to the place and people and move on.

Shooting Illustrated has a very informative article on revolver disassembly and cleaning.  It’s worth reading in full, and it’s also worth sending this link to yourself and referring to it later with an email search (which is what I do).

It has very good pictures (I learn visually) and also recommendations for revolver tools.  I’ll be using this advice in the future.  If anyone has additional counsel for revolver disassembly, maintenance or cleaning, please fill in the details in comments.

David Codrea:

“Why haven’t we seen movement over either 38 or 2909 since the horrific events in Virginia?” Walters asked, noting the Republicans control the House and the Senate and both Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appear to be blocking bills advancing the right to keep and bear arms.

“You know what?” Massie replied, “The Speaker told me he didn’t think the timing was right. And I think this is the exact timing to bring this bill.”

Paul Ryan is a traitor.  This isn’t a change or shift for him.  He has always been a gun controller in the superlative degree.

It’s nice to see that David got a mention at Instapundit.

From The Guardian:

Survivors on Caribbean islands shattered by Hurricane Irma begged the world for food, water, shelter and rescue on Saturday as they faced down armed looters and the prospect of a fresh onslaught from strengthening Hurricane Jose.

[ … ]

From the Virgin Islands, survivors painted a picture of desolation and violence, but warned that the situation could deteriorate if aid did not arrive fast. “There is nothing left, I don’t think people will believe the severity of what happened. There is no water, no food, no supplies, no transport. You can’t get from one part to another unless you walk,” said Giles Cadman, who lives on the islands part-time and has been part of a remote relief network that sprang up in the wake of the disaster.

Here’s another report.

Looters started raiding hotels and shops in St Maarten after the Category 5 storm battered the island on Wednesday.

Those remaining in the Dutch territory said the situation was like a ‘civil war’ as looters armed with guns and knives descended on vulnerable locations.

And now for the U.S.

As Hurricane Irma lashed Florida with heavy winds and rain, TV stations captured groups of people breaking into stores.

Footage from WPLG Local 10 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, shows multiple people breaking through the front window Simon’s Sportswear, entering the store and walking out with various items.

According to WPLG Local 10, the looters had also broken into other stores in the nearby area, including Footlocker and CashAmerica Pawn Store.

Good grief.  Shoes.  And now one final report from reader Joe.

“Isabelle, who was born in Toulouse, has been living on the island of Saint-Martin in the Antilles for 25 years. This doctor, who is currently on holiday in Toulouse, normally, thanks to her job, has nerves of steel. But since yesterday, she is in total panic and is calling for help because she fears for the life of her husband and son who are on the Antilles island that has been ravaged by Hurricane Irma.

“My husband and my son are in danger of being killed, like a large part of the population. It’s civil war there. We have started to hear some talk in the media about looters who cleaned out the shops after the hurricane, but it’s still very far from reality. Gangs of thugs have robbed the customs house, which was badly damaged, and have stolen the stocks of weapons that were there. Since Thursday evening, they’ve been moving back and forth across the island wearing masks and hoods attacking the houses that were still standing where the inhabitants had taken refuge,” she says, on the verge of tears.

“I had them on the phone last night. They are paralysed with fear. It’s around our house where they’ve barricaded themselves with six friends who are at our home because their villa was destroyed,” she continues. “They can’t go out. They say the attackers are moving around in gangs of ten, it’s completely lawless and they’re ready to shoot to get food or money.”

Her statements are confirmed by the testimonies of other residents of the island, who tell on social networks of gangs who are smashing in the doors of houses saying, “Whites out.”

The criminals have the weapons, and note that guns were confiscated by the authorities prior to the event (or at least, it was threatened).  Of course, the confiscation, if it happened, affected only the peaceable and law abiding, but that’s the way it’s always intended when guns are “controlled” or confiscated by anyone.

Don’t ever give up your guns and fight to keep them as if your life depends on it.  Because it does.

It’s been light posting for several days and may be for a few more, depending on whether power outages affect me.  I’ve been trying to do a bit of hurricane preps.  Of course, I am not affected like those in the direct path of Hurricane Irma and I won’t be, Lord willing.  Pray for them.

John Farnam:

I don’t see a return to hammer-fired pistols with manual decocking-levers any time soon. That era is long-over.

Double-action revolvers still work just fine, but have their limitations.

And, the dwindling 1911 crowd will be around for a long time to come, but every year, they all get one year older!

So that’s the way it is, huh?  Cheap plastic junk is perfect but revolvers have “limitations?”  Those who shoot 1911s are dying off?  We 1911 shooters get a year older every year, but the shooters who choose cheap plastic junk have found the fountain of youth and will live forever?

Or maybe this is just click bait and exaggeration.

Via reader Fred, SJ:

“I could hear bones crunching, just like you read about,” said Tom Sommer, as he recovered in a Montana hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

There’s a picture at the link.

Good Lord.  This guy was probably without medical attention for four hours.  I’m sure it hurt.  You have to admire him for endurance and determination.  As for deploying the bear spray to end the attack, I’m sure a .44 magnum or .454 Casull would have ended it too.  I guess they didn’t have time to deploy the guns because of the closing time of the bear assault, if I read the report right.

I guess the lesson is that you’d better watch your six (and all other azimuths) in big bear country, continually.

From TFB.  1000 lumens.  Maybe it’s just me, but I think we’ve beat the lumen horse dead.  There’s essentially no difference between 800 lumens and 1000 lumens to me, or even less than that.  They are all so bright that it can blind you when the light scatters off of walls, especially if the walls are white.

Here’s what interests me.  A simple tactical light.  As they grow more powerful, they have also grown more sophisticated.  In a high stress situation a person won’t be able to go through the various settings to select the right one unless it’s pure muscle memory, and it won’t be muscle memory unless you use that light all the time in tactical situations.