Possible Record Nebraska Buck - Pic: NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Richardson County, Nebraska --(AmmoLand.com)- Practically every deer hunter walking into Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium this week wants to see the picture.

They’ve already heard about the buck through online hunting forums, text messages or word-of-mouth. They know it was checked in at the aquarium.

So far, no one has been disappointed, said Tony

Korth, aquarium director at Schramm Park near Gretna.

“Everybody’s saying ’state record’ right now,” Korth said Wednesday. “It’s hard to say.”

The 38-point whitetail generating the buzz was shot Saturday by a 24-year-old Texan hunting on private land in Richardson County. On Wednesday, Wes O’Brien told the Journal Star his trophy has received a preliminary score of 281.

The rack’s official score won’t be determined for 60 days. During the so-called drying period, antlers will shrink a little.

So it remains to be seen if the O’Brien buck will top a famous set of antlers from a deer killed 47 years ago in Hall County by bowhunter Del Austin of Hastings. Commonly called “Old Mossy Horns,” the Austin buck scored 279 7/8 , ranking it not only first in Nebraska, but a world record for a whitetail taken by archery.

“I don’t care if he doesn’t get any records. He’s amazing to me,” O’Brien said of his deer.

Read full story….

Hat Tip: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

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Deer Hunters Abuzz About Possible Record Nebraska Buck

New Jersey Fish and Game

Trenton, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- The New Jersey DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife proudly unveiled the second edition of its New Jersey Wildlife Viewing Guide at the national Watchable Wildlife Conference in Avalon, New Jersey on October 7.

The completely revised Guide is a key to opening a window on the world of watching wildlife in New Jersey and provides detailed descriptions of 104 of the state’s best places to see wildlife.

NJ's 2nd Edition Wildlife Viewing Guide

The Guide leads readers on an exploration of New Jersey’s distinct landscapes, diverse habitats, and unique flora and fauna. Beautiful, full-color photographs proclaim New Jersey’s natural grandeur and provide snapshots of what awaits visitors at each viewing site. A three-tiered rating system alerts readers to those must-see locations throughout the state. Other features include driving directions, amenities, trail information, contact information and web addresses. A special section discusses tips and techniques to increase the likelihood of seeing wildlife.

The New Jersey Wildlife Viewing Guide makes a great gift for anyone who has an interest in the outdoors and is a perfect stocking stuffer for the holiday season. The guide retails for $14.95 plus $5.05 tax, shipping and handling and can be purchased online at www.conservewildlifenj.org/support/cwf/publications.html

or by sending a check or money order for $20.00 to: NJDFW, Wildlife Viewing Guide, PO Box 400, Trenton, NJ 08625-0400. Viewing guides can also be ordered by phone.

Wholesale pricing for Guides purchased by the case can be viewed at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/prod_guide.htm .  Call 609-984-6012 for questions or to  order.

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NJ’s 2nd Edition Wildlife Viewing Guide

Xtreme Shooter Patrick Flanigan

Shooting USA Impossible Shots

Franklin, TN --(AmmoLand.com)- Tier One Media, LLC has announced Shotgun Exhibition Shooter Patrick Flanigan is joining the Shooting USA Impossible Shots Television Series in 2010.

“Signing Patrick as the newest member of the Impossible Shots Exhibition Team is the perfect move to support the success of our top rated show,” said Jim Scoutten, Executive Producer of the Shooting USA Series. “Patrick brings his youth, enthusiasm and his world records to delight the audience. We know we’ve got entire families tuning in weekly,” Scoutten said. “So adding a young shotgun performer will continue to entertain the younger members of the audience.”

Patrick Flanigan said: “Joining the Impossible Shots series will help me connect with the next generation to educate and encourage their shooting and hunting involvement. It is my dream to someday see any or all of the shooting sports recognized as a professional sport on the same level as baseball or football. My shooting campaign is promoting the shooting sports as a professional sport, as I am living proof you can make a career out of your shooting passions.”

Scoutten said he’s been watching Patrick develop his exhibition career over the past few years.

“He’s not only grown to be a great entertainer in his personal appearances, he’s also documented six world records in exhibition shooting. If we just show you his records, we’ll have an extraordinary series of shows. We couldn’t be more pleased that he’s joining the team.”

Scoutten says, Exhibition Shooters are challenged by the Impossible Shots series to keep thinking up new shots to amaze the audience. We’ve seen a lot of shooters over the years burn-out, running out of ideas and skill.

“Patrick Flanigan represents the new generation with new ideas, new records, and the extraordinary shooting skills to carry the tradition well into the future,” Scoutten said.

Patrick Flanigan joins Exhibition Shooters Bob Munden, Byron Ferguson, Jerry Miculek, Gil “Cisko” Guerra, and George Sutton as a contributor to the Shooting USA TV series hosted by Brian Speciale. Shooting USA’s Impossible Shots airs year round on Outdoor Channel entertaining an average viewership of 3.2 Million fans per month.

Website: www.PatrickFlanigan.com

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Xtreme Shooter Patrick Flanigan Joins Shooting USA’s Impossible Shots

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Staff Sgt. Travis Tomasie, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, displays the correct way of transitioning a shooters body through a course of fire Nov. 7 at Krilling Range. Tomasie and the rest of the USAMU's Action Shooting team held a camp for junior action pistol shooters from all over the country, as kids from California, Idaho, Arizona, and North Carolina, among others, descended on Fort Benning to learn from the best in the world and meet new friends. (Photo by Michael Molinaro, USAMU PAO)

United States Army Marksmanship Unit

FORT BENNING, Ga. —-(AmmoLand.com)- Junior shooters from across the country descended on Fort Benning Nov. 6-8 as the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s Action Shooting team hosted a junior camp at Krilling Range.

With two national champions, a two-time international sniper champion and a previous attendee at the camp among the instructors, the opportunity to learn from the best was a chance 48 of the top up-and-comers in the growing sport of action shooting couldn’t pass up.

“I needed more training, and my Mom thought if I came here I would meet new friends and have a lot fun,” said nine-year-old Lee Wills, the camp’s youngest participant and a native of Gainesville, Va.. “She was really right.”

The kids were picked to attend the camp after a thorough selection process, said Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Hampton, the camp director. Each junior had to meet certain criteria such as being a ranked U.S. Practical Shooting Association competitor or able to show that you have a good deal of shooting experience.

“This isn’t a beginner’s class,” Hampton said. “By no means is it geared to teach you the fundamentals. Our goal is to help grow the sport.”

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Pvt. Shane Coley, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, instructs juniors on the proper techniques of reloading the weapon Nov. 7 at Krilling Range. Coley and the USAMU Action Shooting team held a junior camp for 48 juniors Nov. 6-8. Coley himself was an attendee just last year and joined the Army after his positive experience at the camp.

Once the juniors met the criteria, they had to submit an essay on what they wanted to gain from coming to the camp and also what the second amendment means to them. Many submissions included a fondness for the Army and desires to one day join the ranks.

“I wanted it to be something that was personal and heartfelt but also something that they’d have to spend a little bit of time to research and understand,” Hampton said. “If you have nine-year olds who can write you a two-page essay on the second amendment, they probably want to show up. It was designed to be a litmus test on how dedicated they were.”

The attendees had the opportunity to learn from the best. Sgt. Daniel Horner, who recently won the Multi-Gun National championship in Boulder City, Nev., worked with the juniors on drawing and accuracy. Sgt. 1st Class Robby Johnson, a two-time International Sniper Competition champion, gave a block of instruction on the introduction to the rifle. The attendees also learned movement techniques, transitions, and reloads.

“I was here last year and had lots of fun,” said Mark Saffery, a 13-year-old from Jacksonville, Fla. “I’ve been competing for three years now. This camp is the best part of the year. We get to learn something from every AMU mentor. They are so awesome and really great guys.”

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- 13-year-old Justin Saffery of Jacksonville, Fla. makes his way through a course of fire while being followed by Sgt. 1st Class Robby Johnson of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Nov. 8 at Krilling Range. The USAMU hosted a junior camp for 48 of the top action shooting youths in the nation, instructing them on a variety of techniques and concluding with a competitive match. (Photo by Michael Molinaro, USAMU PAO)

Instructing them on reloads was a familiar face. Pvt. Shane Coley, the newest member of the USAMU, attended the camp in its inaugural year last fall. Before attending the camp, he had no plans on joining the Army. That all changed rather quickly.

“It helped me so much when I came here,” Coley remarked, who arrived at the USAMU after completing basic and advanced individual training a mere three weeks ago. “I got to meet a bunch of new people in the sport, but I also had great mentors and great teachers in the Soldiers on the team.

“I really wanted to prove to them that I could be here. After the world championships last year Sgt. 1st Class Hampton came up to me and we talked. And now I’m here. It is a little weird because a lot of these guys are my friends, but I have to set boundaries. I want to teach them and instruct them. This is a great camp and these kids realize how valuable it is.”

This is a tricky time of year for the Action Shooting team to hold the camp. Soldiers compete in their national championships in late October, and the Fort Benning Three-Gun challenge, which they host, is held the first weekend of December. But it’s a no-brainier for Hampton and his Soldiers to continue bringing the kids back to Krilling Range and keep growing the sport that they all cherish.

“I believe in two things: one, if you’re going to do something you need to go ahead and do it and, two, if you got momentum keep it going because it’s hard to get it started again,” he concluded.

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- 13-year-old James Wall of Parma, Idaho fires on a target under the watchful eye of Sgt. Lee Dimaculangan, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. Wall and 47 other children attended the USAMU Action Pistol junior camp Nov. 6-8 at Krilling Range, receiving instruction on reloads, transitioning, draw and accuracy, movement, and an introduction to the rifle. (Photo by Michael Molinaro, USAMU PAO)

About USAMU:
The USAMU’s mission is to raise the standard of marksmanship proficiency and combat readiness throughout the Army by sharing knowledge gained from competing and winning in national/ international competitions, research and development and advanced training programs while enhancing the Army’s recruiting effort through an active public information and public relations program. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, Michael.Molinaro@usaac.army.mil or www.USAMU.com . The U.S. Practical Shooting Association is a nonprofit membership association affiliated with the International Practical Shooting Confederation, which is comprised of approximately 67 nations.

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USAMU Holds Action-Packed Junior Shooter Camp

Waronguns.blogspot.com

War on Guns

Northeastern OH - -(AmmoLand.com)- AmmoLand.com’s featured Gun Blogger of the Month, for November 2009, is the The War on Guns Blog at www.waronguns.blogspot.com.

The War on Guns Blogs is the personal blog of David Codrea, National Gun Rights Examiner for Examiner.com, Co-founder, GunTruths and Citizens of America. His commentary has been featured in GUNS AND AMMO, HANDGUNS and GUNS magazines (where he is a featured columnist). Other work of his has been featured on numerous freedom-oriented Internet sites and, to his surprise,  he has become a much followed Gun Rights activist who is changing minds on the War on Guns!

War on Guns Blog Interview:

Q: What is your Blog’s Official Name?
A: The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance
waronguns.blogspot.com

Q: What is your Name?
A: David Codrea

Q: What is your Online Name that you may post under?
A: I generally post under my real name. On some social media sites, I post as dcodrea.

Q: Where are you located?
A: Northeastern OH.

Q: What is the point of view or purpose of your blog?
A: No-compromise/no sacred cows gun rights activism mixed with social commentary, argument, and occasional twisted humor.

Q: How long has your Blog been active?
A: Since Jan. 2005

Q: What do you do for a living or is your blog a full time job?
A: The blog pays nothing–well, that’s not quite true–I think I make a couple hundred bucks a year off of Google ads that never seem to relate to the subject matter. I also am a paid columnist for Guns Magazine and Examiner.com. Stuff I do that’s not gun-related I keep separate.

Q: Do you have a specific agenda or goal of your blog?
A: To point to hypocrisies and injustices, and to encourage gun owners to adopt creative ways of responding to them. And also to attract/nurture like minds.

Q: Do you have any other digital sites?
A: Yes, I am the National Gun Rights Examiner for Examiner.com.
www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner
and my Guns Magazine columns appear at
Gunsmagazine.com

Q: What is one thing that you want your readers to know about you?
A: I do this primarily for me.

Q: What was the best thing you did on your blog that go the most reaction from your readers?
A: I don’t consider successes based on reader reactions. I’m happy to help nudge the dialog in the direction of what some would call a more “radical” insistence on having our rights recognized.

Q: What was the worst thing you did on your blog that go the most reaction from your readers?
A: I just don’t think in terms of bests and worsts. There will always be those who don’t like what I do or the way I do things. I truly don’t let it bother me.

Q: Obviously since we are featuring you your blog is Pro gun? What do you think the outlook is for the future of gun rights in America?
A: Without a major social upheaval, which history shows us can happen to any people at any time, I believe we’re looking at some expansion on the status quo, with continued federal, state and local efforts to advance “reasonable restrictions.” In other words, I don’t believe any group in power voluntarily cedes it without some form of “or else” disincentive. I fear all that needs happen for an infringement to stand is for the Supreme Court to refuse to hear a challenge and for gun owners to accept it.

Q: What is your favorite firearm and why?
A: I guess my M1 Garand. It’s fun, plus I appreciate its history and ingenious design, and have never once hurt my thumb.

Q: What hunting or shooting sports hobbies do you have?
A: When I get time, I enjoy introducing new people to shooting more than any other aspect of it.

Q: Of the topics you cover what do you enjoy writing about the most?
A: I always get a kick out of letting rights abusers know what I think of them. And it’s fun to expose celebrity hypocrites and ignorant propagandists masquerading as journalists.

Q: What things would you like to do or expand in your blog to in the future?
A: The blog itself will probably stay as is for a while. I’ve got a domain name for it but it’s still on blogspot, and I suppose I could jazz up the template, but I’m really more into substance than appearance and it’s just not a big enough priority for me, especially with the focus on writing daily Gun Rights Examiner columns.

Q: What would you like to say to those that are anti gun or maybe just unsure of the purpose of guns in our society today?
A: I don’t try to change minds. There are plenty out there trying to fill that niche, and that’s not for me. I will encourage and welcome those with open minds. If I can get them to dip their toe in the pool, then maybe wade in and splash around, some will venture into deeper waters. But my function is to say what’s on my mind. If it resonates with some, fine. If it doesn’t, I’m not going to let them impede my efforts.

Q: What parting remarks or comments you would like to make or promote?
A: I’d like to ask those who regularly read my stuff, those who think they get value from it. to help me promote it by sharing links. The Examiner column in particular has proven to be quite an interesting adventure. I started out with a local column just over a year ago and it has now expanded to a national column with other Gun Rights Examiners in 16 cities. That has potential to reach an even wider audience, but we can’t do it alone–we hope our readers will share links and an intro paragraph with their friends in emails, on blogs, forums, etc (but please don’t republish the entire column or people won’t visit our pages.) And don’t forget to check out Guns Magazine every month.

Thanks for the opportunity to introduce myself to your visitors here. I appreciate it.

The War on Guns Blog is a great place to check out daily for Davids’ personal comments and quick notes on The War on Guns.

Visit: WarOnGuns.blogspot.com

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The War on Guns – Notes from the Resistance

Starline Brass Ammunition Production

Starline Brass

Sedalia, MO --(AmmoLand.com)-When you are known as the “Maker of America’s Finest Brass” you can relax and enjoy the successes of over thirty years in the shooting sports industry, right?

Starline brass does not think so!!

They continue working hard to make the best even better.

Starline recently invested in several pieces of equipment to better serve the needs of their customers and to ensure continued superior quality.

Starline Brass's Anneal Machine

Starline Vice-President Robert E. Hayden secured the purchase of a belt annealer and other production related equipment in August of 2009.

“It is rare to purchase a piece of equipment that can both improve efficiency and consistency at the same time.” said Hayden. “We have done just that at Starline.”

Starline anneals between each draw to ensure the correct metallurgy in every piece of brass they produce. This machine cuts the process time in half, while improving the consistency of the grain structure of the brass. This results in both a higher rate of production and a better brass case.

Cutting production time could not have come at a better time. Customers are pleading for quality reloading brass and Starline is working around the clock to provide just that. They have also added additional draw presses and material handling equipment this year to increase the rate of production.

Employees oversee Starline Brass's New Draw Press while working hard to keep up with Ammunition Production

About:
Starline is a leader in the development, production and worldwide distribution of both standard and unique brass calibers for handguns and rifles. The company offers customers more than 80 different calibers. Orders can be placed by calling toll-free 800-280-6660, or on the Starline web site at www.starlinebrass.com. In most cases, orders are shipped within 24 hours. Visit www.starlinebrass.com

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Starline Brass Purchase Improves Ammunition Production Efficiencies

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Maryland --(AmmoLand.com)-Also ending quietly last month was the Maryland Sportsmen’s Association, not quite 10 years old, the result of hunter apathy and sloppy paperwork.

Without the anti-hunting policies of the Parris Glendening administration to fire up the grass roots and with legislation breaking its way, MSA lost a lot of its raison d’etre.

“Nothing bad was happening. There were still little fights, but nothing scary,” said Wendy Donahoo, MSA’s final president.

Even worse, the founding fathers of MSA neglected to incorporate the organization, something that didn’t come to Donahoo’s attention until it was too late. When a group of hunters legally took the name for its club, MSA no longer had an identity.

At its zenith, MSA was the umbrella organization for sportsmen’s clubs statewide, with a membership of more than 5,000.

What did it accomplish?

• It lobbied successfully for the bear hunt, Sunday hunting and increased bag limits.
• It helped bridge differences between archery hunters during the creation of crossbow regulations.
• And in 2000, when budget cuts closed two state campgrounds in Western Maryland just before the start of deer season, MSA volunteers kept them open.

Now, there’s nothing left. And nothing is just what hunters are going to get. As a smart friend of mine said Friday:

“Now is not the time to park the car and walk away. Now is the time to keep the foot on the accelerator.”

The animal rights community already has taken notice.

Here’s my prediction:

• Expect heavy incoming rounds.
• Expect some serious anti-hunting legislation next session.
• Expect lobbyists in bear suits in the halls of Annapolis.
• Expect to lose some hunting opportunities.

And you know what, hunters? You deserve it.

About:
NJOACF Council Members: Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA

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The Sad Death of Maryland Sportsmen’s Association

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- She used to cry when her father came home with a dead deer.

Now she’s the first woman hunter to bag an elk in Tennessee in at least 144 years. Tami Miller of Franklin, Tenn., hopes her story will inspire other women to take up hunting.

“It’s hard to get a babysitter at 4:30 in the morning but the experience of hunting is worth the trouble,” laughs Miller. “My husband introduced me to hunting. It has definitely enhanced our marriage and our family life. It’s something we can share, something that brings us all together in the outdoors. I wish more women would try it.”

She added, “Hunting is exciting. It’s empowering and it’s beautiful. When you’re out there at sunrise, and it’s so quiet you can hear a leaf falling from a tree, it’s priceless.”

Miller and her husband, both avid conservationists and supporters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, in October participated in the state’s first elk hunt in modern times.

Elk disappeared from Tennessee in 1865 following years of habitat changes and unregulated hunting. In the 1990s, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and RMEF began an historic effort to restore a wild herd to the Volunteer State. By 2009 the population had expanded enough for hunters to take five surplus bulls. Four permits were awarded via random drawing, one via auction on eBay.

Knowing that auction proceeds would fund elk and habitat conservation, Andrew Miller didn’t mind paying $17,700 for the permit—or giving the permit to Tami as a special gift.

“My husband and I scouted together through September and October and I grew more and more excited about the hunt. The historical aspects were always on my mind. I thought about the women who walked these hills a long time ago, hunting for elk so their families could survive. I felt honored to represent them,” said Miller.

When the hunt day arrived, Miller joined the four other hunters—all male—in a group elk camp co-sponsored by RMEF and staffed by volunteers.

“I was a little worried about being accepted. I wondered if the men would think I was pushing my way into their fraternity. But everyone was supportive and wonderful. I met so many great people who really wanted me to succeed,” she said, adding, “I was actually surprised at how many people were watching to see how the woman hunter would do. In my hometown, girls and women that I didn’t even know were coming up and wishing me luck.”

When all four of the men killed their bull on the first day, but Tami hadn’t even seen an elk yet, anxiety simmered as she worried about letting people down.

“Hunting isn’t all about getting an animal but I didn’t want to be the only hunter who didn’t get an elk. I probably should have prayed for help finding a big bull. But, the next morning, as my husband and I hunted together in a beautiful place, with the colors of fall all around us, the stress melted away and I just thanked God for this day,” she said.

At dusk, after a long stalk, with her husband and two friends by her side, Miller finally steadied crosshairs on a bull elk, an animal many times larger than her. She was nervous. As her husband had taught her years before, she drew two deep breaths, then held the third and squeezed the trigger.

When the rifle spoke, the elk was hers.

“When I started hunting, I knew it would be fun to get outdoors with my husband and watch him doing something he loved, but I wasn’t sure I could kill an animal. Since then, I’ve learned that I can be a provider, too. I can bring food home to my family,” she said.

Miller’s 5×6 certainly wasn’t the biggest bull in the Tennessee woods but it will always symbolize an enormously important part of her life:

“Marriage is about sharing things, and, for us, hunting has become one of those things.”

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

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Tennessee Elk Huntress Hopes to Inspire More Women

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn –-(AmmoLand.com)- According to the most recent Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Collection Report, released by the Department of the Treasury, firearm and ammunition manufacturers report excise tax obligations to be more than $122 million in the second calendar quarter of 2009, up 52 percent over the same time period reported in 2008.

This dramatic increase follows a 43 percent increase in excise tax obligations from the previous quarter (1Q, 2009) and 12 straight months of significant increases in FBI background checks – another strong indicator of firearm sales. Excise tax obligations over the last reported 12 months (July 2008 through June 2009) were more than $419.8 million, an increase of $105.9 million (33.7 percent) over the preceding 12–month period (July 2007 through June 2008). The year’s substantial increases in background checks and federal excise tax obligations began just prior to the 2008 elections and flourished despite a worsening economy.

Manufacturers of firearms and ammunition pay a federal excise tax — a major source of wildlife conservation funding — on all firearms and ammunition manufactured (11 percent on long guns and ammunition and 10 percent on handguns).

The report, which covers the time period of April 1, 2009 through June 30, 2009, shows that $33.5 million was due in taxes for pistols and revolvers, $42.3 million for long guns and $46.1 million for ammunition. Compared to the same quarter in 2008, excise tax obligations were up 44.4 percent for handguns, 51.3 percent for long guns and 57.5 percent for ammunition.

Translation to sales:
Using the latest reporting data as an indication of retails sales, a projection of $1.14 billion was generated in the second quarter (calendar year) of 2009. Please keep in mind that although excise taxes are one of the best indicators of industry performance, they only reflect what excise taxes the manufacturers have filed and do NOT reflect retail mark-up and final retail sales.

• Pistols and revolvers: $33,552,785.73 / .10 = $33,552,857.30 = $335.5 million for handguns
• Long guns: $42,373,696.86 / .11 = $385,215,426.00 = $385.2 million for long guns
• Ammunition: $46,157,400.88 / .11 = $419,612,735.27 = $419.6 million for ammunition

Total retail sales estimation for the quarter: $1.14 billion

Firearms & Ammunition Excise Tax Collections

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

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USA Buys $1.14 Billion Dollars Worth of Firearms in 3 Months

No Guns Allowed

FirearmsCoalition.org

Manassas, VA --(AmmoLand.com)- How does it make you feel when you start to walk into a business and see a “No Guns” sign prominently posted? Are you angry? Offended? Indifferent?

How do you react? Do you just turn around and take your business elsewhere? Complain to the management? Just ignore it and go on with your business?

Virginia Citizens Defense League

The members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League take “No Guns” signs as personally offensive and they let their offense be known – to the business, to fellow VCDL members, and anyone else who’ll listen – or read a web page.

VCDL maintains a list of anti-rights Virginia businesses on their web site, www.VCDL.org, and encourages gun owners and rights supporters to avoid these businesses except to let them know that their policy is offensive. VCDL has actively pursued this position for several years while they have simultaneously grown to become the most politically active and effective rights organization in the state.

So when the 7th District Republican Committee decided to hold a major fundraising rally in a location which is prominently posted “No Guns,” VCDL let the Republicans know they weren’t happy. When the Republicans held the annual event in the same anti-rights location every year for the next several years, disregarding VCDL’s repeated objections, many at VCDL began taking the Republicans’ choice as an insult. When the Republicans refused to change venues – even though VCDL offered to help sponsor the event at a different location – VCDL got mad.

On October 17th about 250 VCDL protesters gathered in a shopping mall near the Innsbrook Pavilion, the private, anti-rights event center where the annual Republican Roundup was being staged. The well organized protest included a moon-bounce and other distractions set up for the kids, an airplane towing a “Guns Save Lives” banner, and even a hot air balloon proclaiming the same message. Local shops, restaurants, and hotels welcomed the protesters – who were mostly openly carrying sidearms – and even offered special discounts. A good and safe time was had by all.

The Chairman of the 7th District Republican Committee has previously told people who complained to him about his choice to use the anti-rights facilities that while he and the Republican Party strongly support the Second Amendment, price and convenience trumps principles. And he’s sticking to his No Guns. Even as there were almost as many people outside protesting as there were inside rallying, the chairman announced that the event would again be held in the same location next year. The level of base callousness and simple stupidity is just staggering.

This up-scuttle echoes a larger issue of misunderstanding between the activist, rights community and the general public – sadly often including many gun owners. When a business posts a “No Guns” policy they are making a political statement whether that is their intent or not. They are also denigrating and insulting lawful gun owners – particularly those who choose to carry. A “No Guns” sign serves no useful purpose beyond these insults and political posturing because the only people to whom such signs apply are the most conscientious and responsible gun owners. Criminals and the irresponsible simply ignore the signs and do exactly what they would have done without the signs, except with perhaps a greater sense of security knowing that conscientious, law-abiding gun owners have disarmed or gone somewhere else.

Gun owners and rights supporters who are not angered and offended by these “We Don’t Want Your Kind” signs posted on businesses they frequent are being as thoughtless and insensitive as the businesses themselves. These “No Guns” signs should elicit the same reaction from gun owners and our friends that “Whites Only” signs did among blacks and civil rights supporters in the 1960’s. They are a personal insult and an assault on our liberty and anyone who can’t see that is simply choosing not to. That appears to be the case with the leadership of Virginia’s 7th District Republicans. One must wonder whether they would continue using the same facilities if the sign on the door read “No Jews” rather than “No Guns.”

Posting a “No Guns” sign is not a business decision about patron safety nor is disarming just a minor inconvenience. Such signs are a political statement and an insult and they should never go unanswered. The Firearms Coalition offers Merchant Education Cards which make it easy to let businesses know why they’re losing our business. They are available at www.FirearmsCoalition.org.

Neal Knox Associates – The most trusted name in the rights movement.

About:
The Firearms Coalition is a loose-knit coalition of individual Second Amendment activists, clubs and civil rights organizations. Founded by Neal Knox in 1984, the organization provides support to grassroots activists in the form of education, analysis of current issues, and with a historical perspective of the gun rights movement.

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The ‘No Guns’ Sign Insult – What if the Signs Read No Jews?

Ar15 Hunting Rifles

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Whether you’re a hunter, target shooter, own a firearm for self protection or don’t own a firearm at all, the National Shooting Sports Foundation asks you to be informed about AR-15-style rifles.

These rifles are often mislabeled “assault rifles” or “assault weapons.” They are neither.

Nevertheless, many hunters and shooters and the general public confuse AR-15-style rifles, which are civilian sporting rifles, with military rifles because they look similar to each other.

“Groups wanting to ban AR-15-style rifles have for years purposely spread misinformation about these firearms to aid their cause,” said Steve Sanetti, president of NSSF.

“We must work harder to help protect the right of hunters and sports shooters to own the firearms of their choice, including semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns, for lawful purposes. Gun owners everywhere can help correct the misinformed, whether it’s a friend, fellow hunter, elected official or the media.

NSSF is assisting this nationwide campaign by issuing the Modern Sporting Rifle Fact Card as a resource.”

Use the fact card for your own reference, pass it on to individuals or groups, or post the information on blogs and Web and social media sites.

The pocket-size fact card is available to read or download as a pdf at www.nssf.org/msr.

Here are the facts:

• AR-15-platform rifles are among the most popular firearms being sold. They are today’s modern sporting rifle.

• The AR in “AR-15″ rifle stands for Armalite rifle, after the company that developed it in the 1950s. “AR” does NOT stand for “assault rifle” or “automatic rifle.”
• AR-15-style rifles are NOT “assault weapons” or “assault rifles.” An assault rifle is fully automatic — a machine gun. Automatic firearms have been severely restricted from civilian ownership since 1934.
• If someone calls an AR-15-style rifle an “assault weapon,” he or she either supports banning these firearms or does not understand their function and sporting use, or both. Please correct them. “Assault weapon” is a political term created by California anti-gun legislators to ban some semi-automatic rifles there in the 1980s.
• AR-15-style rifles look like military rifles, such as the M-16, but function like other semi-automatic civilian sporting firearms, firing only one round with each pull of the trigger.
• Versions of modern sporting rifles are legal to own in all 50 states, provided the purchaser passes the mandatory FBI background check required for all retail firearm purchasers.
• Since the 19th century, civilian sporting rifles have evolved from their military predecessors. The modern sporting rifle simply follows that tradition.
• These rifles’ accuracy, reliability, ruggedness and versatility serve target shooters and hunters well. They are true all-weather firearms.
• Chamberings include .22, .223 (5.56 x 45mm), 6.8 SPC, .308, .450 Bushmaster and about a dozen others. Upper receivers for pistol calibers such as 9 mm, .40, and .45 are available. There are even .410 shotgun versions.
• These rifles are used for many different types of hunting, from varmint to big game. And they’re used for target shooting in the national matches.
• AR-15-style rifles are no more powerful than other hunting rifles of the same caliber and in most cases are chambered in calibers less powerful than common big-game hunting cartridges like the 30-06 Springfield and .300 Win. Mag.
• The AR-15 platform is modular. Owners like being able to affix different “uppers” (the barrel and chamber) to the “lower” (the grip, stock).
• And, they are a lot of fun to shoot!

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

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Get the Facts About AR-15-style Rifles

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Trenton, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- Regardless if you are a democrat, republican or independent – if you are someone who prioritizes your enjoyment of fishing, hunting and the quality of our forests you should consider the following: The Corzine administration has neglected (or perhaps in some instances, intentionally extinguishing) many of entities that oversee fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, etc.

If you’re a hunter you might be interested to know that on the list of Governor Corzine’s charitable trust contributions there is $13,000 to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New York. On its website ASPCA NY states: “the ASPCA is opposed to hunting animals for sport, even if the animals killed in this way [hunted] are subsequently consumed.”

As for fishing, the Corzine Administration circumvented historical precedent by precluding the rightful involvement of recreational and commercial fishermen in the nomination process of a representative to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The result was the replacement of a seated recreational representative member with a delegate supported by environmental activist groups.

Below is additional evidence of how New Jersey’s outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen have fared under the Corzine administration. What will the quality of our lives be with respect to fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, etc. after another four years? Each of us has the opportunity to decide on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Mr. Christie has been vocal about his support for the outdoor community during his campaign speeches, statements on his website and during a personal interview he granted me. He attended a NJOA council member meeting to address the concerns of fishing, hunting, diving and forestry clubs and agreed to be the main speaker at last Saturday’s Rescue Our Outdoor Rally.

Mr. Christie has also received the endorsements of the Asbury Park Press, Press of Atlantic City, Courier Post, Home News Tribune and Philadelphia Inquirer.

The NJOA has done its homework and I trust each of you is doing yours. Our choice is Chris Christie for governor. Remember, election day is November 3rd. The governor’s race is very close and there is too much riding on the next four years for us to be complacent. The outdoorsmen/women of NJ can make the difference – remember, there are 650,000 of us, which is approximately 15% of all voters.

Corzine Administration Report Card: Wildlife Management:

Bears
The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife is mandated to protect and manage all wildlife in the state. In fulfillment of this responsibility, the agency is charged with managing the growing black bear population not only to safeguard the public but also for the benefit of the black bear population in relation to available habitat and ecosystem balance.

The Corzine Administration replaced commonly accepted, science based bear management methodology with a policy that attempts to manage the behavior of people. The use of educational materials and secured trash, typically utilized to augment the use of a bear population management through hunting (to minimize bear/human conflicts) has instead been used to the exclusion of hunting.

As of August 2009, black bear vs. human incidents in New Jersey shows the number of serious encounters continues to rise and includes two incidents in which bears approached or chased children. Overall, there have been 2,153 calls about bears this year with several months of reporting still remaining.

A total of 1,306 bear-related incidents were reported to the DEP in 2006, compared to 1,407 in 2007 and 2,151 in 2008. The effect of growing bear populations, the nature of the animal to be very territorial with large home ranges, the localization of bear populations in the Northwest corner of the state and bear habituation appears to be a cause of increased bear/human conflicts.

Additionally, at the same time that bear activity was escalating the Corzine administration was preventing population control it reduced funding for Black Bear management from $850,000 in 2006 to $573,000 in the current year’s budget.

Councils:
The Fish and Game Council and Marine Fisheries Council play a vital role in the management of New Jersey’s fish and wildlife resources. The councils help to create and finalize each year’s hunting and fishing regulations and enable the professional and scientific management of these resources. Members of the councils are appointed by the Governor.

The Corzine Administration has neglected to adequately maintain the integrity of the composition of the two councils. Vacant seats have been left unfilled and replacements are needed for those with expired terms. The eleven member Marine Fisheries Council presently has eight members serving in expired terms and one unfilled seat. The Fish and Game Council has only eight of its eleven seats filled and five of those members are serving in expired terms.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is responsible for management of fisheries in federal waters which occur predominantly off the mid-Atlantic coast. The Corzine Administration circumvented historical precedent by precluding the rightful involvement of recreational and commercial fishermen in the nomination process. The result was the replacement of a seated recreational representative member with a delegate supported by environmental activist groups. The selection appears to be a part of a federal trend to exclude certain stakeholders (recreational and commercial fishermen) from fishery management. This is clearly in opposition to the intent of the Magnuson/Stevens Act.

There is also a report from Sierra Club stating that Governor Corzine made a commitment to reform the Fish and Game Council. It should be noted that no changes have occurred as of the date of this report.

Division Fish and Wildlife:
Funding for the Division of Fish and Wildlife has for over 50 years been supported by the revenues from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. In 2005 these dedicated funds were supplemented by a general appropriation of $4.2 million because of significant increased public responsibilities. Under the Corzine administration this appropriation has been steadily decreased to $1.6 million this year. Although deer hunters contributed an additional $1 million to the dedicated fund in 2007 due to changes in deer permit fees this was offset by an equal reduction in the appropriation.

The status of the Fish and Wildlife staff is of even greater concern to the NJOA. Since 2006 the staff has lost 50 professional managers and conservation officers (25%) while the remainder of DEP has experienced only a 10% reduction and the upper administrative staff has actually increased. Also, Fish and Wildlife could loose an additional 25% of its staff due to retirements. This will create a large deficit in experience and institutional knowledge.

Marine Fisheries Administration
The Marine Fisheries Administration, responsible for managing the resources of a multi-million dollar industry with over 10,000 jobs, provides recreational opportunities for over one million anglers that contribute in excess of $100 million in state tax revenues – conversely, it is one of the most poorly funded and staffed on the Atlantic coast. This year the marine fisheries budget was reduced to an all time low of $1.8 million.

Not only has the Corzine administration failed to adequately fund and staff marine fisheries management, in 2009 the Secretary of the Treasure authorized the withdrawal of funds from four dedicated shellfish management accounts totaling $850,365. These dedicated accounts were specifically established by previously passed legislation. There is a history of overlooking the importance of adequately funding the state’s marine fisheries program for recreational anglers and future generations.

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office. NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org

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Gun Owners Ask Why Chris Christie for Governor?

BATFE

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)-We at Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership recently received the document that is copied below for your convenience.

We would respectfully ask the BATFE to either validate these assertions or refute them in detail.

Our organization has had a long and disconcerting experience with the agency you now head. We would suggest that you might seek to bring a refreshing era of candor and honesty…and, if possible, a substantial dose of legality… to the BATFE. You can certainly start by examining the following carefully compiled expose in detail, and then tell Americans if you are truly planning a national gun registry.

(JPFO’s open letter continues below)

For nearly 20 years, contrary to the Intent of Congress and in violation of 18 U.S.C. 926(a), BATF has been quietly building a massive Firearms Registration System for Firearms, Firearm Owners and Firearm Transactions.

The Firearms Owners’ Protection Act, signed into law in 1986, specifically forbids registration of firearms records at 18 U.S.C. 926(a):

“No such rule or regulation prescribed after the date of the enactment of the Firearms Owners’ Protection Act may require that records required to be maintained under this chapter or any portion of the contents of such records, be recorded at or transferred to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or any political subdivision thereof, nor that any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions or dispositions be established.”

When a firearms dealer, importer or manufacturer dies or otherwise goes out of business, all the Acquisition/Disposition records (the “Bound Book”) kept by the business must be delivered to the BATF Out-of-Business Center. Currently (according to the 2010 BATF Budget Submission), over 1.2 million records per month are being received by the BATF Out-Of-Business Center.

Most recently, on August 25, 2008, BATF implemented Ruling 2008-2, allowing Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders to keep the Acquisition/Disposition “Bound Book” on a computer. However, when the FFL goes out of business, he must provide a computer file (digital file) and file layout to the ATF Out-of-Business Records Center - in addition to a printout of the “bound A/D book”. Since BATF kindly allows dealers to also record antique firearms in the A/D book, these records are also being turned in to BATF.

Obviously, BATF intends to make use of those digital records. The digital file includes the Name and Address of every Buyer and every Seller for each gun, as well as the Name, Make, Model, Caliber and Serial of each firearm. In fact, each set of Out-of-Business digital records is precisely a system of registration of firearms, firearm owners and firearm transactions specifically prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 926(a).

BATF has not revealed what they are doing with these files.

In 1992, BATF began creating a computerized “index” (based solely on firearm serial number) to the microfilm Out-of-Business records, called the “CARS” system (Computer Assisted Retrieval System), as reported in a 1995 letter to Tanya K. Metaksa of the NRA. Since there are so many duplicate serial numbers, this system must have been woefully inadequate for tracing.

By 2004, BATF aknowledged the existance of an automated Microfilm Retrieval System (MRS) containing information on 380 million firearms with an additional 1 million firearms added per month. This system had been enlarged to contain not only firearm serial number, but manufacturers and importers as well.

More recently (since at least 2005), ATF has been converting microfilmed dealer out-of-business records to “digital images” of the records. It is not clear whether this is a digitized “picture” file, or an actual digital record of the acquisition/disposition. However, regardless of the method of storage, and whether access to the detail record is automated or manual, this system is precisely, in fact, a system of registration of firearms, firearm owners and firearm transactions specifically prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 926(a).

From the 2005 Appropriations Bill:

” Conversion of Records. The conferees recognize the need for ATF to complete the conversion of tens of thousands of existing Federal firearms dealer out-of-business records from film to digital images at the ATF National Tracing Center. Once the out-of-business records are fully converted, search time for these records will be reduced significantly. The conference agreement includes $4,200,000 for the ATF to hire additional contract personnel to continue the conversion and integration of records.”

However, this same Appropriations Bill also states:

“Provided, That no funds appropriated herein shall be available for salaries or administrative expenses in connection with consolidating or centralizing, within the Department of Justice, the records, or any portion thereof, of acquisition and disposition of firearms maintained by Federal firearms licensees:”

Similar provisions have been contained in every annual Appropriations Bill between 2005 and 2010.

The Firearms Tracing System (FTS) contains firearm tracing information from all traces performed since 1989. The data includes Multiple Sales reports (ATF F 3310.4 with names and addresses), all guns that were “suspected” as being used for criminal purposes, as well as the detail results from all traces (which would certainly include Name and address of all known sellers and purchasers). Suspect guns include, for example, individuals purchasing large quantities of firearms (collectors?) and dealers with “improper” record keeping. Once a gun is traced, even in error, the data is kept in the trace file.

Whether all these records are being combined into a huge data base is unknown. Regardless, each of these are a system of registration of firearms, firearm owners and firearm transactions specifically prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 926(a).

Implications of this registration system are huge. These records can easily be sorted to report on all buyers of .223 and 5.56mm rifles – or all buyers of .50 BMG rifles.

BATF is so proud of their Firearms Tracing System [FTS], they offer on-line access to the records by another system (eTrace) on the internet – world-wide! BATF offered world access to the eTrace System in a United Nations Marking and Tracing Workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya in December, 2007, Lomé, Togo in April, 2008, Rio de Janeiro in June, 2008, and other locations. In 2007, BATF reported some 10,000 individuals representing over 1620 law enforcement agencies around the world (now over 2,000 agencies) had access to our firearms data. Now, information on your guns (and you!) is directly available to 10 foreign governments (including strong cooperation with governments having known corruption issues, such as Mexico and Columbia), and trace requests have been received from 58 foreign governments (some with terrorist connections).

As BATF has been placing increasing importance on their tracing function, they have been creating more firearms registration records. We need to question their statutory authority for automating the tracing process. Originally, the tracing process was intended to be handled by phone calls to the manufacturer or importer, followed by calls to the distributer, and finally to the dealer. By increasingly computerizing this process, BATF has created a massive system of registration of firearms, firearm owners and firearm transactions specifically prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 926(a).

The question is, is it the BATAF’s ultimate goal to have a tracing system and a registration system of every firearm and every firearm owner in the United States?

There you have it, Acting Director Melson. This seems to us at Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership to be a methodical and carefully researched presentation, but perhaps you can prove us wrong.

The reason we at JPFO are making this an open letter, which will be widely disseminated on the Internet, is because BATFE has a sordid history unlike nearly any other Federal agency. The BATFE brought America Ruby Ridge and Waco.

More recently, people now under your leadership blatantly framed David Olofson with light primer ammunition to get his lawful rifle to fire like a machine gun. You, being a forensics expert, should understand more than anybody how patently unlawful and dishonest this testing procedure was, and continues to be.

But these travesties, no matter how grave, are truly overshadowed by the ominous plans outlined above. Perhaps you might wonder why concerned, freedom loving Americans would be suspicious of a Federal government that knew where to find every privately owned firearm…and do so with lightning speed and efficiency via a computerized database. And why would you want to share this data with foreign powers?

Are we being “hysterical”? Are we being “paranoid”? Frankly, I don’t think so.

So, Mr. Melson, what is your detailed response to our inquiry?

Jews For The Preservation Of Firearms Ownership

About:
Jews For The Preservation Of Firearms Ownership Mission is to destroy “gun control” and to encourage Americans to understand and defend all of the Bill of Rights for everyone. Those are the twin goals of Wisconsin-based Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO). Founded by Jews and initially aimed at educating the Jewish community about the historical evils that Jews have suffered when they have been disarmed, JPFO has always welcomed persons of all religious beliefs who share a common goal of opposing and reversing victim disarmament policies while advancing liberty for all.

JPFO is a non-profit tax-exempt educational civil rights organization, not a lobby. JPFO’s products and programs reach out to as many segments of the American people as possible, using bold tactics without compromise on fundamental principles.

Visit www.JPFO.org

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Secret ATF Firearms Tracing And Registration System Exposed

Brownells.com

Montezuma, Iowa --(AmmoLand.com)-Brownells, the Montezuma, Iowa-based gunsmith supply business proudly announces that 21 of its products have been selected by the American Pistolsmiths Guild to receive their coveted Seal of Approval.

The products, ranging from Brownells 1911 Auto Slide Fitting Set (#080-745-000) to the complete Smith & Wesson Armorer’s Service Kit (#080-722-010) were all submitted to the Guild for approval and met the rigorous standards set by the organization for quality. You can see all the products at brownells.com/americanpistolsmithsguild.

Company CEO Frank Brownell told us, “The Seal fits exactly with the Guild’s mission of increasing professionalism in the industry. We’re just so honored that a number of our products earned the Seal. I’m sure Jim Clark Sr. would be pleased to see the organization he founded taking such a positive step forward.”

Brownells Awarded Pistolsmith Guild Seal

The American Pistolsmiths Guild established rigid standards for quality and lasting value, which all its members must meet and maintain, over 30 years ago. At a recent annual meeting, members realized no standards as strict as those of Guild members existed in the firearms and related industries.

As a result, members voted to establish a team to evaluate and test products against quality and functional standards as stringent as the Guild sets for membership. All products submitted for consideration must be of domestic manufacture.

Those passing the team evaluation will gain an official American Pistolsmiths Guild Seal of Approval. The Seal is not awarded in perpetuity. At pre-established intervals, the product must be resubmitted for a reevaluation. A decrease in quality will be cause to revoke any use of the Seal in association with the product. For further information on the Pistolsmiths Guild and the Guild Seal of Approval, e-mail tenring@texas.net

About:
Brownells is the world’s largest supplier of firearm parts, gunsmithing tools, reloading equipment and accessories. Stocking more than 30,000 items, the company supplies armorers, gunsmiths, and shooters worldwide. All of their products are backed by a 100% satisfaction, unconditional, lifetime guarantee. For more information, or to place an order, call 800-741-0015 or visit Brownells.com

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Brownells Awarded Pistolsmith Guild Seal for 21 Products

AmmoLand.com

USA --(AmmoLand.com)- A an old retired colonel, once said. “Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident.”

This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another.

Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.

I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me it is like the pretty, blue robin’s egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without its hard blue shell. Police officers, soldiers, and other warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful.? For now, though, they need warriors to protect them from the predators.

“Then there are the wolves,” the old war veteran said, “and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy.” Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.

“Then there are sheepdogs,” he went on, “and I’m a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf.”

If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep.

If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf.

But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed

What are you.. Sheep, Wolf or Sheep Dog?

I am Sheep Dog! – AmmoLand

Read Daves excellent article  “On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs” – Dave Grossman author of “On Killing.”

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I Am SheepDog and Refuse Sheephood

North Carolina Police Chief Harvests Giant Gator

AmmoLand.com

Lake Marion, SC --(AmmoLand.com)- On the last day of South Carolina’s Public Alligator Harvest Program a thirteen foot two inch alligator was harvested from Lake Marion in Calhoun County near Stump Hole Landing.

The alligator weighed in at one thousand sixty pounds and measuring 13 feet, 2 inches. It took approximately two and a half hours to get the gator secured and ready for dispatch. Once secured the harvest tag holder dispatched the gator utilizing a Glock .357 Sig Handgun.rp

SC Gator Weighing 1,060 Pounds And Measuring 13 Feet, 2 Inches

This was a total group effort and each participant played a vital role in the alligator harvest. The participants were a diverse and interesting group and are listed as follows.

• Terry Chavis, Windstream Service Tech.
• Wendy Heckle, Fire Chief, St. Matthews Fire Dept.
• Tyler Garrett, Student, First Assembly Christian School
• Gregg Antley, Special Agent, SC Law Enforcement Div.
• Donnie Porth, Corner, Calhoun County
• Lin Shirer, Asst. Chief, Elloree Police Dept.
• Preston Avinger, Chief, Elloree Police Dept. (Tag Holder)

All harvest reports are not complete, but the alligator is currently believed to be the largest ( With combination of length and weight) killed this season.

For four hours, the group searched areas in and around Stump Hole Landing hoping to see signs of gator activity.

Lin Shirer said that at around 4 a.m., the group was getting ready to head home “when Wendy and Terry shined some eyes in a cove.”

The crew approached the cove and used a rod-and-reel to launch a snatch hook into the gator. The men said they initially thought the alligator was about a 7-footer. The gator crept along the lake bottom “for hours” after Antley struck him with a harpoon, Shirer said.

Nearly two hours had passed when the gator surfaced for a moment – just long enough for Shirer to get a glimpse of its immense head. He quickly determined the critter was much larger than they originally believed.

By 6 a.m., the men had secured the gator with three harpoons and a snatch hook. Avinger said once the alligator was secured, it was shot it in the head with a Glock .357 Sig handgun.

Next, the crew attached the gator by its head to their boat and towed him to Stump Hole Landing, a process that took more than two hours, Shirer said.P

1,060 Pound SC Gator was Big Enough for 7 Men

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South Carolina Police Chief Harvests Giant Gator

Brownells Expands Firearms Product Listings

Brownells.com

Brownells.com --(AmmoLand.com)- Brownells has added hundreds of new products which are available exclusively on their newly upgraded website, www.brownells.com.

Full lines now offered include Bushnell Trophy Series Scopes, HiViz Sights, Otis Technology cleaning products, Hawkeye Borescopes, plus Pro Ears and Radians hearing protection.

According to company president, Pete Brownell, “This expansion is part of our mission to provide our customers with the most complete selection of quality products possible.”

Brownell continued, “We’re going to keep expanding the line in the future by offering select full lines to our customers, this is just the beginning!”

About:
Brownells is the world’s largest supplier of firearm parts, gunsmithing tools, reloading equipment and accessories. Stocking more than 30,000 items, the company supplies armorers, gunsmiths, and shooters worldwide. All of their products are backed by a 100% satisfaction, unconditional, lifetime guarantee. For more information, or to place an order, call 800-741-0015 or visit Brownells.com

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Brownells Expands Firearms Product Listings

Ride Fast & Shoot Straight Gun Blog

Ride Fast & Shoot Straight Gun Blog

San Francisco Bay, CA - -(AmmoLand.com)- AmmoLand.com’s featured Gun Blogger of the Month, for October 2009, is the Ride Fast & Shoot Straight Blog at www.ridenshoot.blogspot.com.

The Ride Fast & Shoot Straight Blog has a great mix of gun topics and is representative of many gun blogs worth keeping an eye on for his mix of unique posts and California flavor.

Ride Fast & Shoot Straight Blog Interview:

Q: : What is your Blog’s Official Name?
A: Ride Fast & Shoot Straight

Q: What is your Name?
A: Ride Fast (anonymity explained below)

Q: What is your Online Name that you may post under?
A:Ride Fast

Q: Where are you located?
A: San Francisco Bay Area

Q: What is the point of view or purpose of your blog?
A: Promotion of human rights, primarily the right to self defense, gun ownership, shooting and a little scooter trash stuff once in a while.

Q: How long has your Blog been active?
A: Since February 2007.

Q: What do you do for a living or is your blog a full time job?
A: I was working as an Investor until the markets melted down, now I’m cowboying, a lowbrow word for entrepreneur which really means I’m scratching for income doing various things. I worked at the a premier biotechnology company as an automation engineer for 22 years before all that.

Q: Do you have a specific agenda or goal of your blog?
A: To promote guns and self-defense for what they really are, tools and a human right. Guns are just tools, they can be used for many things, including just fun.

If I become an Internet hundred-thousand-heir, that would be great. OK, a ten-thousand-heir would do.

Q: Do you have any other digital sites?
A: I’m on Twitter (http://twitter.com/Ride_Fast).

Q: What is one thing that you want your readers to know about you?
A: I’m just another normal person who might be your neighbor, or the guy in line behind you at the store. I love my family and my country. If I didn’t, why would I be willing to defend them?

Q: What was the best thing you did on your blog that go the most reaction from your readers? A: Deconstructing the lies, half truths and anti-gun propaganda often brings the biggest reactions (in hits, links and comments), I got 10K hits a week on such as: Guns scare journalists or expressing my sometimes controversial views: The Superiority of the American Gun Culture
but what I enjoy most is when I am able to reach someone who is either negative on guns or sitting on the fence.

At a “Fun Shoot” last year, as an instructor, I introduced a good dozen people to shooting for the first time. The youngest was about 16 and the oldest about about 70! They had a great time and profusely thanked me. It was pretty cool (and really exhausting, but worth it).

I noticed how many new shooters commented on how nice I was. That is because of the propaganda machine I’m working against. Portraying gunny’s as scary, mean people.

Q: What was the worst thing you did on your blog that go the most reaction from your readers? A: Oddly, the worse thing was probably the blog itself. Some enemies (in the HOA, nothing to do with the blog) discovered my blog and decided to use it against me. They combed through hundreds of posts and cherry pick a couple to complain to the local District Attorney about me, see:

A visit from the city’s finest – Updated 040707
Nothing too bad came of it (I got three new readers, the police officers that investigated!) but it shows the environment here in lefty California.

Q: Obviously since we are featuring you your blog is Pro gun? What do you think the outlook is for the future of gun rights in America?
A: Improving. The Heller case was key, the next ones are even more important. I think (and hope) the American people are waking up to the nanny state agenda. Gun rights people have been fighting the leviathan for decades and the gun banners can’t get away with it without at least everyone knowing about it. As people notice the government is trying to control every little things in their lives, they’re getting more and more active about.

Q: What is your favorite firearm and why?
A:That’s a hard question, like asking me what my favorite tool is.

• Sidearms – Most accurate and fastest with the 1944 Colt M1911A1. I carry (when I can) a 2000 Heckler & Kock USP Compact .45 ACP.
  
• carbine&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brownells.com%2F' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>carbine – 1980(?) Auto-Ordinance Thompson M1927.
  
• Rifle – My new project – 1943 Enfield No. 4 Mk.1
  
• Shotty – Mossberg 500 12 ga. I have a Savage 16 ga., but I confess to having never even fired it.

Q: What hunting or shooting sports hobbies do you have?
A: Making a working gun out of one that isn’t, target shooting, Steel Challenge (!), trap, skeet, long range rifle shooting. There are a lot of guns I want and will get, money permitting.

Q: Of the topics you cover what do you enjoy writing about the most?
A: Victories! New shooters, expanded gun rights, guns, new technology and leprechauns. OK, I lied about one of them.

Q: What things would you like to do or expand in your blog to in the future?
A: Get some paying advertisers, move off blogspot and stay current in the expanding communications universe. I mentioned I’m on Twitter, I see no use for Facebook but I am paying attention to new tech.

Q: What would you like to say to those that are anti gun or maybe just unsure of the purpose of guns in our society today?
A: Guns are not icons of evil, they are inanimate and take ALL direction from the human that is holding it. Blaming the tool for the actions of the person is childish. If your anti-gun, or just unsure of their role, you should learn about guns. Learn to shoot (or at least try it) to start. You’ll probably find that it’s fun. Big fun.

If you’d like to try shooting, contact me and I’ll either take you shooting myself or help you find someone who will. Gunnys are generally some of the nicest and most generous of people.

Q: What parting remarks or comments you would like to make or promote?
A: Some people seem to find anonymous blogging suspicious. I would love to blog under my real name. The reason I don’t is the hysterical society I currently live in. In the oh-so-uber-liberal San Francisco Bay Area, being a gunny can be a real liability. People call the police on you without honest reasons, I’ve had co-workers try to smear me by rumor and malicious hazing. I cannot afford to jeopardize my career possibilities any more than I already have. It’s bigotry, plain and simple. Hell, it’s probably illegal, but there it is.

The Ride Fast & Shoot Straight Gun Blog is worth visiting for a good dose of pro gun content and day by day comments from a Leather wear-in California gunny.

Visit: www.ridenshoot.blogspot.com

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Ride Fast & Shoot Straight – Guns and Bikes Whats Not To Like

Professional Outdoor Media Association

WASHINGTON, D.C. --(AmmoLand.com)- Hunting communications were a central focus of the United States Supreme Court on Tuesday as the Justices heard arguments in the case U.S. v. Stevens, 08-769.

At issue in the case is a 1999 federal law that makes it a crime to create, sell or possess videos and other depictions of cruelty to animals. The case arose over the conviction of a Virginia man, Robert Stevens, who received a three-year prison sentence from a Western Pennsylvania court for selling videos that included scenes of hunting with dogs. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the conviction, stating it was in violation of Steven’s First Amendment rights.

In addition to working with the Washington, D.C., Jones Day Law Firm to file an amicus curiae brief on behalf of its members, the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), headquartered in Johnstown, Pa., coordinated a larger group of amici from a wide range of constituencies, including numerous large organizations and more than 600 individual journalists, outdoor industry professionals and sportsmen.

POMA Executive Director Laurie Lee Dovey was in the courtroom to hear the arguments.

“The Justices were highly engaged,” Dovey said. “Clearly, their queries were focused on testing the limits of the First Amendment. The questions were direct and at times extreme.

“Patricia Millett, the plaintiff’s attorney, represented Mr. Stevens, the hunting and fishing industry and traditional outdoor sports journalists at the highest level,” Dovey added. “Patricia understands how the statue could criminalize the communication and promotion of legal hunting and fishing activities. She directly argued the overreach and chilling effects of the existing statute.”

Testing the wide net cast by the language of the law, hunting-related questions were debated. Deputy Solicitor General Neal Katyal often stated hunting imagery did not fall within the parameters of the statute. Justice Antonin Scalia seemed to disagree. Scalia concentrated on the language in the statute that says, “… a visual or auditory depiction … in which a living animal is intentionally maimed, mutilated, tortured, wounded, or killed.”

“Kill” has one meaning, which is kill,” Scalia told Katyal, plainly indicating concerns about the legal actions of hunters. Katyal responded with a statement citing cruel killing versus hunting. Scalia countered with a question about an accidental low shot on an animal by a hunter, which he said was completely legal. Justice John Paul Stevens also asked about bow-and-arrow hunting or hunting with knives. Katyal backpedaled, saying, “So, there may be certain hunting examples that fall within it (the law).

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg looked at another aspect of the law, the separation of the filming of a criminal act and participation by a photographer in a criminal act. The abuse of the dog and the filming of the act are different, she said. The abuse would go on with or without the photographer. The comparison being made was to image-makers in child pornography cases – where the photographer is an actual participant in the criminal act.

In response to questions by Justice Stephen Bryer about Congress simply writing a statute that actually aims at the “frightful things they were trying to prohibit,” Millett agreed Congress must use a scalpel, not a buzz saw, when crafting statutes that restrict free speech.

Justice Samuel Alito posed the most difficult hypothetical of the day to Millett. He asked if the First Amendment would cover “a human sacrifice channel”. The discomfort in the courtroom was palpable.

Taking a few moments to collect her thoughts, obviously taken aback by the extreme nature of the Justice’s example, Millett responded.

“I don’t want to watch this channel, and people should fight with their wallets and their votes and not support these things,” she said. “But, under the First Amendment, if the only rationale Congress is giving is we are here to shield your eyes for you, we will make this censorial decision, it has got to find some basis to think that was never freedom of speech under the First Amendment, in the way that obscenity was. You don’t get to make it up as you go along. We are interpreting a constitution.”

The United States Humane Society, which pushed the original prosecution of Robert Stevens, claimed this case was and is about animal cruelty. POMA, National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, National Media Coalition, American Society of Media Photographers, National Press Photographer’s Association and dozens of other groups, which filed amicus curiae briefs in the case, strongly disagreed. They defined U.S. v. Stevens as a First Amendment case that could have potentially devastating consequences on journalists and Americans’ right to information.

A decision could come sometime after the first of the year, but the Court’s final deadline is July 1, 2010

The Statute – 18 U.S.C. § 48

(a) Creation, Sale, or Possession.- Whoever knowingly creates, sells, or possesses a depiction of animal cruelty with the intention of placing that depiction in interstate or foreign commerce for commercial gain, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(b) Exception.- Subsection (a) does not apply to any depiction that has serious religious, political, scientific, educational, journalistic, historical, or artistic value.
(c) Definitions.- In this section-
(1) the term “depiction of animal cruelty” means any visual or auditory depiction, including any photograph, motion-picture film, video recording, electronic image, or sound recording of conduct in which a living animal is intentionally maimed, mutilated, tortured, wounded, or killed, if such conduct is illegal under Federal law or the law of the State in which the creation, sale, or possession takes place, regardless of whether the maiming, mutilation, torture, wounding, or killing took place in the State; and
(2) the term “State” means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

About: POMA
The Professional Outdoor Media Association is a group of individual communicators and Corporate Partners who believe in, defend, support and promote the heritage of hunting, fishing, shooting and traditional outdoor sports through writing, photography and other means. By doing so, members hope to educate the general public about these sports and encourage more participation in them. The organization serves the membership by helping members grow professionally, improve their skills, better their working environments and enhance their businesses.

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Hunting is Focus of Supreme Court Arguments

Bass Pro Shops

WASHINGTON, DC –-(AmmoLand.com)- At its second annual Capital Conservation Honors, held near the group’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership recognized the achievements of some of the sportsmen-conservation world’s brightest stars and launched a fundraising effort honoring the legacy of former TRCP chairman and co-founder Jim Range.

The gala event featured a keynote address by Douglas Brinkley, professor of history at Rice University and best-selling author of The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America. Congressman John D. Dingell of Michigan was awarded the TRCP’s Sportsman’s Champion Award for his leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives on legislation to protect our nation’s waters and wetlands and to provide funding for fish and wildlife adaptation strategies in climate change legislation. Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops and a lifelong conservationist, was presented with the TRCP’s Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award.

“The TRCP’s Capital Conservation Honors recognizes the best of the past, present and future of conservation in America,” said George Cooper, TRCP president and CEO. “Reflecting on the lives of giants such as Theodore Roosevelt, John Dingell, Johnny Morris and Jim Range showcases the great achievements that sportsmen have made in the name of conservation – yet also lights a path forward by illustrating how much remains to be done to assure the future of our shared natural resources and our great sporting traditions.”

Throughout his success, Johnny Morris has remained an ardent conservationist and is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Sport Fishing Institute’s Fisherman of the Year award, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies President’s Award, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Conservationist of the Year award, the Master Conservation award from the Missouri Department of Conservation and the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Hunting Heritage Award. He was inducted into the International Game Fish Association’s Hall of Fame in 2005 and has been named one of the 25 most influential people in hunting and fishing by Outdoor Life magazine.

“Conservation of our outdoor resources remains a cornerstone of our company,” said Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops. “I am humbled by this honor and pledge to continue carrying on the legacy of sportsmen-conservationists like Teddy Roosevelt and Jim Range.” Morris served for 6 years on the Board of Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife foundation with Range.

Past TCRP Chairman Jim Range

Jim Range, who passed away in January, was memorialized with the official launch of the Jim Range Conservation Fund. A hero of modern conservation, Range was instrumental in the crafting and passage of a string of landmark natural resource laws, including the Clean Water Act. Range served on the boards of directors for Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, the Wetlands America Trust, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, the American Sportfishing Association, the American Bird Conservancy, the Pacific Forest Trust, the Yellowstone Park Foundation and the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust. An original board member and chair of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Range also was a White House appointee to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, the Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Council and the Valles Caldera Trust.

Range’s dedication to the conservation of fish and wildlife in support of the nation’s sporting traditions remains entrenched in sportsmen’s lives through the TRCP. The TRCP’s establishment of the Jim Range Conservation Fund assures that Range’s conservation legacy as directed through the mission of the TRCP endures and will be perpetuated through the group’s ongoing efforts on behalf of American hunters and anglers.

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the TRCP is a coalition of organizations and grassroots partners working together to preserve the traditions of hunting and fishing.

About Bass Pro Shops Group:
Bass Pro Shops -56 retail stores in 26 states and Canada visited by over 100 million people annually, international catalog and internet retailing, American Rod & Gun wholesale division selling to over 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide, Outdoor World Incentives also selling Bass Pro Shops gift cards through over 132,000 retail outlets across America and a restaurant division with 26 locations.
For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog call 1-800-BASS PRO.

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TRCP Honors Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris

State Representative Kent Sorenson (R-74) (Left, in suit) and IGO's Executive Director Aaron Dorr (Right) explaining the REAL Right-to-Carry bill to 2nd Amendment supporters at the gun show.

Iowa Gun Owners

Iowa - -(AmmoLand.com)-Our goal was to spread the message of Iowa Gun Owners to like minded 2nd Amendment supporters in Iowa as well as obtain petitions to the Iowa State Senate urging the Senate to vote on the REAL Right-to-Carry bill.

(After receiving a tie vote in the House last session of 49-49, our next goal is to obtain a vote in the State Senate so we can inform you, our members, where your State Senator stands on the 2nd Amendment.)

Our booth at the show was a tremendous hit! Iowa Gun Owners succeeded in obtaining over 500 signed petitions to the Iowa State Senate from Friday night through Saturday afternoon!! That’s 500 new people who are now aware that there is a No Compromise gun rights group in Iowa at last, dedicated to fighting for their right to keep and bear arms. Many of these people joined as regular dues paying members as well.

Iowa Gun Owners was also pleased to have State Representative Kent Sorenson drop by and meet some of our members and friends!

At the show we met a lot of interesting people from the Central Iowa region. All are tired of Iowa’s terrible gun laws. One of these people was a woman from Eastern Iowa. Originally from Austria, this woman has lived in Iowa for the past 18 years and has no criminal background of any kind. She told us that she was born in Austria, right after it was freed by Allied Forces in 1945.

While having no personal knowledge of that time, she vividly remembers her parents and neighbors telling her about the gun registration and eventual confiscation initiatives that preceded Austria’s takeover by the Axis forces.

She told us that she supports our work 100% because she can see the gun laws in the US and in Iowa heading right down that road unless we organize and stop them now!

Oh yeah, and her sheriff won’t give her a permit to carry either because he doesn’t think the Constitution mentions anything about carrying weapons for self-defense.

The overwhelming message we took away from Des Moines is that the people of Iowa are sick and tired of a permit system that requires law abiding citizens to beg permission from the government to be able to defend their families.

The excitement at the No Compromise philosophy of IGO’s REAL Right-to-Carry bill was contagious. We had doctors, line workers, pastors, laborers, farmers, and even some law enforcement officers (yes, in full uniform) sign our petition and join our organization.

For all the members that came by and introduced themselves to us, thank you. It is a big encouragement to meet our members in person.

Our next gun show is in Council Bluffs. Dates are October 9 and 10, 5-9pm on the 9th and 9am-5pm on Saturday and it’s being held in the Westfair Amphitheatre (22984 Highway 6).

This will be an important show for us because as we press ahead to obtain a vote on our bill in the State Senate, Senator Mike Gronstal, Majority Leader of the Senate from Council Bluffs, will be a major obstacle to overcome. It will be vital to have grassroots pressure ready to bring to bear on him in the form of petitions during the session.

So if you live in the area of South West Iowa, and especially if you are in the Council Bluffs area, please come out and meet us!

Yours for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms,

About:
Iowa Gun Owners (IGO) was formed in January of 2009 to combat the oppressive gun laws in the State of Iowa. IGO does not believe that you, as a law abiding citizen, should have to beg permission from the government to be able to defend yourself and your family. That’s why we are working so hard to get a Vermont/Alaska style carry law passed in Iowa. In these states, unless you are a convicted felon or otherwise barred from possessing weapons, you don’t need a permit to carry a gun for self-defense! Join us now!

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Iowa Gun Owners has Successful Gun Show in Des Moines

Supreme Court

Supreme Court

Washington, DC - -(AmmoLand.com)-Supreme Court will hear the Chicago gun ban case to determine if the Heller decision is incorporated to the states.

The Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether strict local and state gun control laws violate the Second Amendment, ensuring another high-profile battle over the rights of gun owners.

The court said Wednesday it will review a lower court ruling that upheld a handgun ban in Chicago.

The Supreme Court last year struck down Washington D.C.’s gun ban, but the question remains whether states and local governments fall under the same requirements.

Cases against Chicago challenge several gun laws, including the city’s ban on handguns. After the Supreme Court ruled in the D-C case, suburban Morton Grove, Wilmette, Evanston and Winnetka dropped their gun bans.

SCOTUS Blog for more.

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Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Chicago Gun Ban Case

National Shooting Sports Foundation

California --(AmmoLand.com)-Your help is needed to defeat them! Please contact Gov. Schwarzenegger at 916-445-2841, via fax at 916-558-3160 or 916-445-4633 or via e-mail at http://gov.ca.gov/interact and urge him to veto AB 962, SB 41 and SB 585.

NSSF engaged in a prolonged battle in the California Legislature, but unfortunately on the final day of session, three anti-gun bills narrowly passed. The bills include: ammunition registration (AB 962), added retailer paperwork (SB 41) and prohibitions on firearm and ammunition sales at the Cow Palace exhibition center (SB 585).

NSSF and the California Association of Firearms Retailers (CAFR) urge all gun owners in the state to contact the governor’s office and respectfully urge him to veto these anti-gun bills.

Once again, the business environment in California will become more difficult for retailers during a time when the state is in desperate need of revenue.

More information on the bills:

AB 962 – Would require that firearms dealers and other vendors of ammunition keep a registry of all buyers of handgun ammunition. The bill would also ban all mail order and Internet sales of handgun ammunition and reloading components.

SB 41– Would further burden firearms retailers by requiring additional paperwork and documentation on the date of delivery of all firearms to a buyer. This bill equally affects consumers of firearms as the increased dealer costs would be passed along to the purchaser.

The bill also requires dealers to sign and to obtain the signature of the buyer or other transferee of a handgun on the Department of Justice Dealers Record of Sale (DROS) form indicating that the handgun has been delivered and the date upon which the delivery was made. It would further require dealers to date and sign a form stating that the buyer of a rifle or shotgun had taken possession of the gun.

SB 585 – Would prohibit the lawful sale of firearms and ammunition at the Cow Palace exhibition facility near San Francisco, located in Agricultural District 1-A, and would make a violation of that prohibition a crime. Its purpose is to ban gun shows at the Cow Palace and to set a precedent for the banning of all gun shows at other state-owned facilities where many sportsmen buy firearms and ammunition.

In California all firearms bought and sold at gun shows must be transferred through a federally licensed firearms retailer who is required under federal and state law to run a background check on the prospective buyer.

It Is Critical That Everyone Contacts The Governor’s Office Immediately.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

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Three Anti-Gun Bills on Governor’s Desk – Urge Governor to Veto Bills

Arizona Citizens Defense League

Arizona --(AmmoLand.com)-In just a few days, pro gun bills that were signed by Arizona Governor Brewer back in July of 2009 will become law.

The following are a few key pro-rights bills, that you should be aware of, that will become effective after midnight on September 30, 2009.

.

Defensive Display – Clarifies and codifies the defensive display of a firearm, such as:

• exposing or displaying a firearm in a manner that a reasonable person would understand was meant to protect the person against another’s use or attempted use of unlawful or deadly physical force
• verbally informing another person that the person possesses or has available a firearm
• placing the person’s hand on a firearm while the firearm is contained in a pocket, purse or other means of containment or transport.

( http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/49leg/1r/bills/sb1243s.htm )

Parking Lot Vehicle Firearm Storage – Prevents any private or public employer, property owner, etc., from banning any person from keeping a firearm in a locked vehicle in a parking area on the property, with specific limited exceptions.
( http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/49leg/1r/bills/sb1168h.htm )

Restaurant Carry – CCW permit holders may carry concealed handguns in establishments that serve alcohol providing there is no signage prohibiting firearms and the person carrying the firearm does not consume alcohol.
( http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/49leg/1r/bills/sb1113h.htm )

These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. Join today! http://www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html

About:
AzCDL believes that the emphasis of gun laws should be on criminal misuse and that law-abiding citizens should be able to own and carry firearms unaffected by unnecessary laws or regulations. AzCDL was founded by a group of local activists who recognized that a sustained, coordinated, statewide effort was critical to protecting and expanding the rights of law-abiding gun owners. As a like-minded coalition of activists, the AzCDL founders were instrumental in the successful passage of the first major improvement to Arizona’s CCW (concealed carry) laws since they were instituted in 1994.

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New Arizona Gun Laws Effective September 30, 2009

Chiappa 22 caliber 1911 Clone Pistol

Dayton, OH --(AmmoLand.com)-Dayton, OH, September 2009 – Yes you read right, a complete .22 caliber 1911 .45ACP clone pistol for under $300!

For a price under most 1911/.22 conversion units MKS Supply, Inc., is making available a fantastic buy for gun owners across the country.

“We feel this affordable, accurate, reliable pistol will be exceptionally received by those who want a 1911 ACP clone in the popular, affordable and fun .22 LR rimfire round.”

Details
This is a full size clone of the standard 1911 .45 ACP. The weight is less than the original 1911 because both the slide and the frame are constructed of aluminum alloy. The lighter slide in particular also allows for reliable functioning it has much less mass for the recoil action of the diminutive .22LR round to function.

The internal components of the 1911-22 are all steel of course. The barrel is fixed to the frame to provide better accuracy. The fixed barrel also eliminates some not necessary parts found in the original .45 which was designed for full disassembly due to battlefield conditions.

Finish on the slide and frame is a tough flat black oxide finish. MKS Supply is also going to make available models with olive drab and desert tan powder coated slides.

magazines are made of industrial-grade polymer and have been proven in extensive testing to be incredibly reliable as the polymer forming process ensures they are identical thus eliminating steel assembly and fit variances. And yes, MKS Supply will offer extra magazines at a no-gouge price around $20 MSRP.

Specifications:

• Stocks (grips): Walnut with laser cut checkering.
• Sights: Dovetail rear-drift adjustable sight (like original military sights).
• Barrel length: 5-inches.
• Physical dimensions: Same as the standard 1911.
• Weight: 32-ounces (a standard military 1911 .45ACP is approximately 40-ounces).
• Models: Standard black finish, olive drab finish, and desert tan finish.
• Magazine capacity: 10-rounds. One magazine is included.
• Warranty: Full-year parts and labor.
• Manufacturer: Chiappa U.S.A., Dayton Ohio.

Consumers and dealers may gain more information by going to www.1911-22.com NOTE: The website is currently under construction and is expected to be up by about October 5th.

MKS Supply can be contacted directly at: MKS supply, Inc, 8611-A north Dixie Drive, Dayton OH 45414. or by calling 937-454-0363 or 877-425-4867.

Visit Charter Arms at the SHOT Show. Booth 15549

About:
MKS Supply is proud to be a part of the American traditions of gun manufacturing—and gun ownership. We will partner responsibly with gun makers, retailers and enthusiasts to maintain those traditions for the future.

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Chiappa .22 Rimfire 1911 Semi-Auto for $299

USAMU at Fort Benning Shooting Match

United States Army Marksmanship Unit

FORT BENNING, Ga. —-(AmmoLand.com)- Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit shot their way onto the medal stand today at the 2009 International Rifle and Pistol Fall Selection “Champion of Champions” matches at Pool International Shooting Complex.

Sgt. 1st Class Eric Uptagrafft won first place in the Men’s Rifle 50-meter prone event and was followed by Spc. Joseph Hein, USAMU. Uptagrafft scored a perfect 600 to advance to the final round and outlasted his USAMU teammate. Former USAMU Soldier Steve Goff rounded out the top three.

In the Men’s 50-meter free pistol match, three 2008 Olympians battled for first place. Brian Beaman came out on top, defeating Sgt. 1st Class Daryl Szarenski of the USAMU, and Jason Turner.

The competition continues with Men’s and Women’s Air Pistol, and Men’s and Women’s 3×20 and 3×40 rifle events on Thursday and Friday. Shooters are attempting to qualify for spots on the national team to compete in the 2010 World Championships as well as multiple World Cup events in 2010. The event runs through Oct. 1st.

USAMU Soldier Wins in Men’s Rifle at Fort Benning Shooting Match

About USAMU:
The USAMU’s mission is to raise the standard of marksmanship proficiency and combat readiness throughout the Army by sharing knowledge gained from competing and winning in national/ international competitions, research and development and advanced training programs while enhancing the Army’s recruiting effort through an active public information and public relations program. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, Michael.Molinaro@usaac.army.mil or www.USAMU.com . The U.S. Practical Shooting Association is a nonprofit membership association affiliated with the International Practical Shooting Confederation, which is comprised of approximately 67 nations.

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USAMU Soldier Wins in Men’s Rifle at Fort Benning Shooting Match

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech --(AmmoLand.com)-Our self-defense rights are under fire here at Virginia Tech, and we’re asking for your help in protecting them. The “Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention” is holding its first event of the semester, and they are making it clear that their idea of preventing violence is achieved by disarming good people.

The event involves a screening of ABC’s horribly-biased 20/20 special “If I Only Had a Gun” (see critiques at the end of this letter) followed by a panel discussion with Q&A – and of course, the panel is loaded with anti-gun folks.

[PVC: They are ALL anti-gun - Josh Horowitz, Andrew Goddard, Lori Haas, and Omar Samaha. Leave it to the antis to be dishonest by loading the entire "panel" with those who agree with only one side.]

So, since the show is biased and the panel is loaded, in response we need to load the audience with people who understand and respect the right to bear arms and the right of self-defense.  I understand this is short notice, but since we just learned of the event, we too are having to make adjustments to attend.  If you can make time on Thursday night for this, here’s what we need people to do:

1. Expert Speakers — If you are a CHP instructor, police officer, lawyer, author, or otherwise trained and knowledgeable supporter of Second Amendment rights and issues, we need you to speak up and engage the biased “panel” that they have arranged.
2. Audience Supporters — They claim they already have 50 attendees to their event that aims to disarm everyone in the name of “peace and non- violence” – we need to greatly outnumber them and show that the large majority of Americans support the right to bear arms. We need you to listen to the discussion and applaud for those statements that you support. Please email us quickly to let us know you’re coming (sccc@vt.edu ).
3. Helpers and Coordinators — Since we expect a lot of people will come to the event who are unfamiliar with the campus, we are asking people to coordinate and carpool if possible to help everyone find their way around. Also, we may need people to help hand out information and direct people to the event at Squires Student Center.

Event info: Thursday, Sept 24th 7-9pm (please arrive 30-60 min early to ensure good seating) Haymarket Theatre, in Squires Student Center on Virginia Tech campus (http://www.uusa.vt.edu/eventServices/ticket/venues2.php#haymarkettheatre ) Open to the public, respectful attire requested, 500 seats available, and handicapped accessible Also see the attached brochure on event

Event host: “The Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention” and “Students for Non-Violence” http://www.cpsvp.vt.edu/index.html – Note that nowhere in their goals and mission do they talk about guns – are they trying to hide this part of their agenda, but it’s coming out in their first major event?

A few of us attended their first meeting, as we were interested in the organization, but they directly attacked our group while we were in the room saying that we wanted to “give out guns to unstable students” – what a lie!

Notwithstanding, if you attend, please be respectful of everyone regardless of whether or not they agree with you. Make points succinctly and clearly, be respectful and courteous, and let them be the ones to lose their cool when they see how that their objectives are based on false premises; keep your cool just like you do when you are carrying. Also, remember that we all have the same goal – to make the world a safer place – we just disagree on how it should be done. We are just going to show that our side has a lot more support and reason behind it! [PVC: Ken is being overly generous.  Their real goal is not about safety, but dictating and controlling the lives of others.  Their trickery in setting up this loaded "panel" discussion is absolute proof of that.]

We hope to see you there, please bring others along with you, and send any questions, comments, and RSVP’s to sccc@vt.edu. Also, please forward this post to other supporters right now – we need everyone! This event is BIG so please make arrangements to make it out – our rights are under attack yet again.

About:
SCCC at Virginia Tech (SCCC at VT) is a local chapter of the national organization, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC), founded to organize locally and to address issues specific to the university and the state of Virginia. Membership is currently based off of the Facebook group, with over 200 members.

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Pro Gun and CCW Holders Needed to Attend Anti Gun Event at Virginia Tech

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)-The trustees of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance are excited to announce that we are endorsing Mr. Chris Christie for Governor of New Jersey.

Mr. Christie has pledged his commitment to our state’s conservation efforts and environmental stewardship. In return, it is imperative that the outdoor community provide their full support to Mr. Christie.

During the past two years the outdoor community has made great strides in advancing legislation in New Jersey. In doing so we have reached out to both sides of the political aisle and the majority of democrats and republicans have responded. Of course, it is always important to build relationships with any legislator interested in conservation, regardless of political affiliation.

However, anglers, hunters, trappers, foresters and ocean ecologists are presented with a greater challenge than moving legislation – the agencies charged with environmental stewardship are being gutted, financially raided and the science needed to properly manage our natural resources is being influenced by political agendas. In fact, we are witnessing the use of animal rights initiatives as the basis for establishing policy in the name of natural resource management. These initiatives are an abdication of our government’s role to ensure environmental stewardship and public safety. This must be immediately reversed.

The trustees of the NJOA strongly believe that initiating change at the top will best address the greater challenges that face all of us. There is risk, but it is the type of risk that we must be willing to accept if we are to return natural resource management to the capable hands of those committed to the precepts of conservation.

The NJOA endorsement of Mr. Christie is an act of leadership by the outdoor community; a message that states we are unwavering in our commitment to conservation, and that we are ready to rebuild the framework of a healthy ecosystem. To this end, Mr. Christie has personally pledged his commitment to work together with the outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen of New Jersey.

The future you want for your outdoor enjoyment depends on your involvement. Please join us and “get out the vote” for Chris Christie.

It is simply the right thing to do.

Thank you,

NJOACF Council Members:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA

Chris Christie for Governor

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NJOA Endorses Chris Christie for Governor

Delta Waterfowl Mentored Hunting Program Takes Off

Deltawaterfowl.org

Bismarck, N.D.—-(AmmoLand.com)- The seeds of John Denker’s love of waterfowling were sown when he was a young boy working as his father’s field apprentice in and around his hometown of Quincy, Illinois.

“I was affectionately called the bag boy, the kid who picked up the birds, typically a mixed bag of ducks and geese, and hauled them back to the vehicles after the hunt,” said Denker, 28. “I loved to be outside and wouldn’t sleep the night before just knowing we were going. With my Dad, I got to be one of the guys, and those early days spurred my love of waterfowling that has only grown as I’ve gotten older.”

Denker, vice chairman of the Illinois Prairie Chapter of Delta Waterfowl, is following his father’s example by passing on his love of waterfowling and its many traditions. On October 23 and 24, the Illinois Prairie Chapter, in partnership with the Clinton Lake Waterfowl Association, is putting on its first mentored youth waterfowl hunt. The weekend event will have plenty of hands-on education (hunting tactics, conservation, safety, ethics and more) and a morning hunt, after which there will be bird-cleaning demonstrations and a cookout.

“I’m worried about the trend away from waterfowling and the outdoors in general with our kids,” said Denker. “As waterfowlers and conservationists, we have to give back—in fact, it’s our obligation—and that starts with the next generation. With our youth event, we’re trying to get kids off the couch and away from their video games and into the outdoors.”

The Illinois youth hunt is one of roughly 70 mentored hunts that Delta Waterfowl chapters and volunteers are putting on across the U.S. this hunting season. The goal is to use mentors to connect kids and adults to waterfowl hunting’s rich culture and heritage—a heritage that’s loosing more and more of its constituency every year. According to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, waterfowl hunter numbers from 2001 to 2006 dropped 27 percent.

“That big of drop in hunter numbers is a conservation crisis in the making,” says Delta Senior Vice President John Devney. “The goal of our mentored hunt program is to build a bigger constituency around the issues of affecting waterfowl and waterfowl hunting. If we don’t, our heritage will suffer, plain and simple. We have to have a voice to address the critical issues facing ducks.”

Some Delta youth events have already gotten underway across the U.S. Devney said he recently attended the Third Annual Utah Delta Waterfowl youth fair at the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, organized by the Great Basin Waterfowlers Chapter. He said 263 children 15 and younger participated in the educational and skills-training event, in preparation for the state’s youth waterfowl hunting day.

“It was one amazing experience to see that many kids in one place learning about waterfowl and waterfowl hunting,” he said, noting that more than 425 people, kids and adults, attended. “It was a tremendous, tremendous event.”

While youths are the long-term solution to hunter recruitment and retention, Delta Waterfowl is also reaching out to adults and families. Last year, for example, Delta’s West Dakota Waterfowlers Chapter (Minot, N.D.) and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman program sponsored the state’s first women’s mentored waterfowl hunt and workshop. Fifteen women attended. This year’s women’s-only workshop is slated for September 26 and 27 in Minot.

“It was one of the best experiences I’ve had as a waterfowl hunter and I didn’t even pull the trigger,” said Delta Regional Director Scott Terning of Bismarck, who served as a mentor for the hunt.

Terning said the two-day workshop included instruction on waterfowl identification, firearms safety and shooting, hunting tactics and ethics, and waterfowl conservation, among other topics. The morning hunt was followed by instruction on bird cleaning and preparation.

“We even went out scouting and explained where they can and cannot hunt,” Terning said, whose group of four women killed 13 drake mallards and three blue-winged teal. “A big part of waterfowl hunting is developing hunter-landowner relationships, and that’s something we believe was important to teach.”

Brook Johnson, a Minot State University student, attended last year’s women’s workshop and said it was a transformative experience. “It was an awesome, awesome time, and I recommend it to all women,” said Johnson, a Delta member. “You hear all this talk about preserving wetlands and grasslands and you really don’t understand why until you get out in the field and experience hunting firsthand. The women’s mentored hunt really put that into focus for me.”

Johnson said the workshop hooked her on waterfowl hunting.

“I’ve already been out for the early goose season and can’t wait until the duck opener,” she said. “I’m probably going to hunt more than my guy friends.”

To learn more about hunting participation and the issues affecting it, read Delta Waterfowl’s five-part magazine series called the Vanishing Hunter at www.deltawaterfowl.org/media/magazine/archive/vanishinghunter/part1.php

About:
Delta Waterfowl provides knowledge, leaders and science-based solutions that efficiently conserve waterfowl and secure the future for waterfowl hunting.

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Delta Waterfowl Mentored Hunting Program Takes Off

Brownells Three-Gun Competition Case Demo Video

Brownells.com

Brownells.com - -(AmmoLand.com)- Brownells Three-Gun Competition Case is built for the three-gun competitor or any shooter who needs to transport a rifle, shotgun and pistol safely and comfortably, without juggling multiple cases.

The roomy, fully padded main compartment easily accommodates a scoped rifle and a tactical shotgun, separated by a full-length padded divider that prevents any contact between the guns. Adjustable straps of tough nylon with hook-and-loop fasteners let you cinch down both long guns to prevent shifting during transport. Outside, three roomy zippered compartments provide plenty of space for spare magazines, cleaning supplies, eye/ear protection, and other gear.

One pocket includes a removable, soft-padded pistol rug. Adjustable, padded shoulder straps let you carry the case like a backpack. Straps are positioned for proper weight distribution for maximum mobility and minimal fatigue. Adjustable, quick-release chest strap keeps the shoulder straps from slipping. Reinforced carry handles include a leather wrap and are double-stitched around the case to ensure they won’t tear off.

SPECS: 1000 denier Cordura® nylon shell, black or coyote. 48” (1.2m) long, 12” (33cm) wide, 5” (12.7cm) high. Exterior Pockets – Two (2) 15” (38.1cm) long x 10” (25.4cm) high x 2” (5.1cm) deep, and one 11” (28cm) long x 9” (22.9cm) high x 2” deep. Pistol Rug – 14” (35.6cm) long x 10” high.

• Mfr: BROWNELLS
• Price: $209.99
• Made in the U.S.A.

Made In The U.S.A.  Click her for more info on Brownells Three-Gun Competition Case

About:
Brownells is the world’s largest supplier of firearm parts, gunsmithing tools, reloading equipment and accessories. Stocking more than 30,000 items, the company supplies armorers, gunsmiths, and shooters worldwide. All of their products are backed by a 100% satisfaction, unconditional, lifetime guarantee. For more information, or to place an order, call 800-741-0015 or visit Brownells.com

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Brownells Three-Gun Competition Gun Case

Frank B - Brownells.com

Brownells.com - -(AmmoLand.com)-We’ve been doing some “reality checks” around here last week, trying to get a handle on how our industry is doing and how we need to prepare for the upcoming year.

As we look back, it would seem that most all of us in the industry have had a fantastic run of business. Our industry has been recognized by shooters, non-shooters and even the economic whiz-kids on Wall Street, as one of the very few bright spots during this economic downturn.

You probably saw it in the huge volume of sales starting right at the election in November, 2008, peaking somewhere around Easter, 2009 and then sliding back closer to the traditional summer slow-down we always see.

In doing our analysis here, we asked ourselves the following three questions and tried to come up with answers. You might want to stop a moment and with a fresh cup of coffee, ask yourself these questions about your business and how you feel about your future.

1. Is this “Obama Gun Sale Bubble” over?
2. Is demand for firearms and ammunition coming down to the standard demand curve for our business?
3. What can we do for the remainder of 2009 and all of 2010 to match or beat those high sales in the “Bubble” months of 2008-09?

We came up with some answers, which I’ll pass along to you, but they really are only our opinions from our viewpoint. Hopefully you will find something in here which will be beneficial to you in your business.

We believe the insane demand level for tactical firearms is over and future demands for these products will come back down to the industry norms. Keep in mind, though, there have been a huge number of non-traditional firearms buyers making purchases of AR-15’s. So there are a lot of customers out there who will still want to accessorize and modify one of the world’s most versatile and popular platforms. Definitely still a market for AR-15 “stuff”, but a much softer one for the basic platform itself.

The conceal carry/home defense market, however, is starting to heat up and right now is the beginning of a “short boom”, not as significant as tactical rifles, but one nonetheless. We don’t know how much leg this market can get under it or how long it might run. It is getting lots of play right now in the gun press, so take a look at how you can get into it modestly and watch it closely.

We strongly believe the reloading and ammo markets are still underserved and have strong growth ahead of them. It will take longer to get these markets back to a norm because the primer shortage. The deep fluctuations/price increases in the metals markets from which most of these ammo components are made – lead, copper, brass has an impact on availability and prices. Our industry’s share of these markets is not even a wrinkle, and we have neither control nor any leverage we can bring into play. We just have to wait for the metals markets to settle out.

Shotgun and hunting markets did not seem to have the favorable run-up as the tactical weapons market. From what we think we see, there might be some returning strength. It looks like reservations for hunts have still to recover. We definitely expect those to slowly come back, but quite possibly not until folks are more comfortable the economy has settled down and a general recovery is underway. Hunts are discretionary, more easily put off.

For net results for 2009, don’t focus too much on beating year-over-year numbers. Our last year was way out of the norm. Instead focus on the year’s sales number. With the history we’ve had, it would actually be acceptable to have a 0% growth year in 2010 – it all depends when your fiscal year ends and where the “Obama Bubble” fell. Sometimes it’s just nice to have survived and to be able to move on!

Brownells.com

About:
Brownells is the world’s largest supplier of firearm parts, gunsmithing tools, reloading equipment and accessories. Stocking more than 30,000 items, the company supplies armorers, gunsmiths, and shooters worldwide. All of their products are backed by a 100% satisfaction, unconditional, lifetime guarantee. For more information, or to place an order, call 800-741-0015 or visit Brownells.com

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Brownells – Frank Talk About Guns September 2009

National Rifle Association

New York, NY --(AmmoLand.com)-Over the past few months, NRA-ILA has received hundreds of e-mails warning us about “SB-2099,” a bill that would supposedly require you to report all your guns on your income tax return every April 15.

Like many rumors, there’s just a grain of truth to this one. Someone’s recycling an old alert, which wasn’t even very accurate when it was new.

There actually was a U.S. Senate bill with that number that would have taxed handguns — nine years ago. It was introduced by anti-gun Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and it would have included handguns under the National Firearms Act’s tax and registration scheme. This has nothing to do with anyone’s Form 1040, of course.

Fortunately, S. 2099 disappeared without any action by the Senate, back when Bill Clinton was still in the White House. We reported about it back then, just as we report about new anti-gun bills every week. Now, it’s time for gun owners to drop this old distraction and focus on the real threats at hand.

To read a story by NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox on this and other rumors, please click here.

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.

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Clearing Up the Rumors: The Truth About The Gun Tax Bill

Remembering 9/11 Least We Never Forget!!

AmmoLand.com

New York, NY - -(AmmoLand.com)- Evil men attacked the U.S.A. on September 11, 2001.

It was a day in hell for all of us. An unthinkable attack by sick, satanic, evil cowards.

I had off that day and was sleeping late when my wife called and told me to turn on the TV.  I turned on my television, and saw the 1st twin tower on fire. Just a few minuets later I watched as the second plane flew into the tower. It was horrifying. I was shocked, numb, in disbelief, deeply saddened, and greatly angered. I had been in the towers many times.

I only live 45 minuets just outside New York City, down the jersey shore.  I had friends and family working in Manhattan that day.  My brother was working in a law office in Manhattan at the time, luckily for all of us he did not go into work that day. Many people who live in my town were killed by these twisted terrorist.

The town where I live is the last stop on the train line out of NY City.  The thought of  cars covered with flowers in the train parking lot for friends and neighbors that did not make it home to their family’s still makes me choke up and feel emotional.

As I stood on the beach that evening with my then six year old daughter I can still remember seeing the vast plumes of smoke drifting out across the ocean to the north of us and the hushed, shocked, talk of adults while children laughed and played in the warm September surf completely unaware of an event that would change America and not for the better.

God bless our missing friends and family. You are in our hearts and prayers.

Remembering 9/11 Least We Never Forget!!

Remembering 9/11 Least We Never Forget!!

Remembering 9/11 Least We Never Forget!!

Remembering 9/11 Least We Never Forget!!

Remembering 9/11 Least We Never Forget!!

Remembering 9/11 Least We Never Forget!!

Remembering 9/11 Least We Never Forget!!

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Remembering 9/11 Lest We Never Forget!!

Kahr Arms New PM9 Pistol

Kahr Arms

PEARL RIVER, NY –-(AmmoLand.com)- Kahr Arms is proud to introduce a new model of their popular PM9 pistol.

The new model, available as the PM9193 and PM9193N, includes a loaded chamber indicator and external safety feature.

Loaded Chamber Indicator -The new model is designed to provide physical indication if there is a casing loaded in the chamber.

The product is designed with a lever mounted on the top of slide. The lever is marked as Indicator in red lettering.

When a shell casing is chambered the casing pushes the lever upward and out of position.

The operator will visually see the lever as it is raised up.

Also the operator will be able to feel the indicator as being out of its normal resting position as it will not be flush with the top of the slide, thus warning the operator that the firearm is loaded.

External Safety -The new model has, in addition to the internal safety, an external safety that will prevent the firearm from firing when the safety is in safe position.

The product has an external lever with two settings. When the lever is pushed up the Red dot is visible; the firearm is in the armed position and ready to fire with the pull of the trigger.

When the lever is pushed down, the Red dot is hidden and the firearm is in safe position and will not function with the pull of the trigger. The safety works in the following sequence. When the lever is in down (Safe) position the connecting cam on the lever pushes the trigger bar out of position thus disconnecting it from the cocking cam.

Thus, even when the trigger is pulled, there is no contact between the trigger bar and the cocking cam and thus there is no fire. When the lever is pushed up (fire/armed position) the cam moves out of place and the trigger bar moves up, again connecting with the cocking cam and ready to fire with the pull of the trigger.

Kahr Arms New PM9 Pistol

This new model PM9 is introduced to comply with certain state regulations for firearms. The standard model PM9 will also remain available for purchase.

MSRP for the PM9193 is $924. The PM9193N has an MSRP of $1049.

Visit www.kahr.com to learn more about the PM9193, PM9193N and other Kahr products.

About:
Kahr Arms, an innovative firearms manufacturer, was founded on fifteen years of manufacturing service in precision metalworking industries. Kahr incorporates the inherited professional, technical expertise into all of its operations.

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Introducing Kahr Arms New PM9 Pistol

Pintail Ducks

Deltawaterfowl.org

BISMARCK, N.D.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Lost in the euphoria over the 2009 breeding-population survey was the sobering confirmation that prairie Canada is no longer the continent’s leading producer of ducks.

This spring, for the first time ever, more total ducks, more puddle ducks, twice as many pintails and even more redheads settled on the U.S. side of the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) than the Canadian side.

“Prairie Canada is no longer King of Continental Duck Production,” wrote President Rob Olson in the fall issue of Delta Waterfowl magazine, adding, “From a Canadian duck guy’s perspective, that stings me more than a little.”

While most of the continent’s duck hunters probably don’t care where their ducks come from—so long as they come—Canada’s sagging productivity bodes ill for the long-term future of ducks and duck hunting because it contains two-thirds of the PPR’s nesting habitat.

Wrote Olson: “In spite of the stunning losses of wetlands and shockingly low hatch rates due to unnaturally high levels of predation, Canada still possesses most of the breeding grounds for ducks and most of the remaining wetlands.”

This year’s dramatic shift in breeding-duck numbers seems to confirm what some scientists have long suspected: The U.S. is exporting surplus ducks to Canada, propping up Canada’s breeding population.

“Recent studies suggest there is a large-scale movement of birds from areas of high production, like northeastern North Dakota, to areas where duck production is reduced, like prairie Canada,” said Dr. Frank Rohwer of Louisiana State University in a related magazine article.

Mallards tend to return to areas where they were raised, and when Rohwer, Delta’s scientific director, noticed few juvenile ducks showing up in the U.S. population, he launched a research project to find out why. Young mallards were fitted with radio transmitters in late summer and tracked the following spring. “Most of the marked females returned to the U.S., where they had been raised,” Rohwer says, “but they quickly dispersed great distances.”

Wetland availability determines how many ducks settle in a given area, and this year, says Rohwer, an abundance of wetlands allowed birds that were hatched in the U.S. to nest there rather than being forced to disperse.

“There’s no question we (the U.S.) are a net exporter of ducks,” says Ron Reynolds, who heads up the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET) in Bismarck. “We’re producing surplus ducks that are redistributing to nest in other areas.”

Researchers have long known that productivity was higher on the U.S. side of the PPR than in Canada. Reynolds says the eastern Dakotas make up just 7 percent of the total survey area but produce more than 20 percent of the total ducks. “In the 1990s and early 2000s, the eastern Dakotas were as high as 27 percent,” Reynolds says.

An even more telling number is the percentage of puddle ducks that settle in the eastern Dakotas. This year 40 percent of the mallards, pintails, gadwalls, blue-winged teal and shovelers from the entire survey area, which includes everything from Alaska to the prairies, set up housekeeping in the eastern Dakotas. If the rest of the U.S. PPR is included, 46 percent of puddle ducks settled in the U.S.

Reynolds says the unprecedented buildup of ducks on the U.S. side of the breeding grounds was the result of a late-breaking winter and near-record wetland numbers in the Dakotas. “Ducks had a strong, pent-up demand to settle—the clock was ticking—and they settled in the Dakotas,” he says.

But the U.S. share of nesting puddle ducks has been climbing for two decades. Since 1986, through wet years and dry, the U.S. side of the region has attracted 4.06 ducks for every pond counted in the survey, 46 percent more than Canada’s 2.74 ducks-per-pond.

The year 1986 is significant because that’s the first year the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) began converting cropland to grass cover in the U.S.

CRP, Swampbuster and the federal duck stamp, which secured more than 90 percent of the permanently protected breeding habitat in the U.S., are three important reasons productivity in the U.S. has surpassed Canada.

Canada doesn’t have a CRP-like program, and scientists there confirm a 6.7 percent drop in productivity since the 1970s, most of it attributable to wetland losses ranging from 4.9 to 7.6 percent since 1971.

Reynolds says wetland losses in the U.S., which were once extremely high, slowed after CRP and Swampbuster, which denies crop subsidies to farmers who drain wetlands, were approved.

In addition to the 5 million acres of high-quality nesting cover provided by CRP, the program also protected almost 800,000 acres of wetlands. A Farm Service Agency (FSA) evaluation confirmed some 200,000 acres of “cropped wetlands” are embedded in CRP lands and another 592,000 acres of non-cropped wetlands exist in or adjacent to CRP fields.

Reynolds says the improved function of these CRP wetlands allow them to carry 20 percent more breeding ducks than other wetlands, and the productivity of surrounding landscapes increases as well.

CRP makes up 6 percent of the land area but attracts 30 percent of the nesting ducks.

“That’s pretty amazing,” says Reynolds, who conducted research showing that CRP was responsible for an average of average of around 2 million incremental ducks between 1992 and 2004. “On the wet years, it was probably twice as many,” he says. “And that’s to say nothing of the future generations of ducks that accrue like interest earned on a savings account.”

“The shift in breeding numbers points to a need to protect CRP and the other programs responsible for ducks produced in the U.S., and find innovative ways to restore Canada’s declining duck production,” says Delta Senior Vice President John Devney.

Foremost among those programs, he says, are CRP, Swampbuster, the federal duck stamp and the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA) and legislation discouraging the breaking of native prairie.

Just as important, he says, is making Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) a national program in Canada.

“If we lose some of the critical programs in the U.S. without shoring up production in Canada, duck numbers are going to decrease. That’s why it’s imperative that duck hunters get behind these programs.”

About:
Delta Waterfowl provides knowledge, leaders and science-based solutions that efficiently conserve waterfowl and secure the future for waterfowl hunting.

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Where Do Ducks Come From? Answer Shocks Hunters

The entrance to Prvi Partizan Amunition Factory as seen on Thursday night.

Prvi Partizan Ammunition

Belgrade, Serbia --(AmmoLand.com)- At least six people, possibly seven, were killed on Thursday evening in a series of explosions at the Prvi Partizan Ammunition munitions factory at Uzice in western Serbia, police said.

Police, firefighters and the military sealed off the area around the Prvi Partizan ammunition factory in the town of Uzice, some 100 miles west of the capital Belgrade, said Deputy Interior Minister Predrag Maric.

“Rescuers found six bodies inside an ammunition loading facility. That’s the death toll. The injured people have been admitted to hospital,” Mr Maric said.

Another 10 people were hospitalized due to injuries in the four explosions at the Prvi Partizan ammunition factory in the town of Uzice, some 200 km southwest of the capital Belgrade, the Serbian national television reported.

The TV report said that the explosions occurred around 10 p.m. local time (20:00 GMT) Thursday in an underground part of the factory. Police said firefighters had put out the resulting fires and there is no danger of more explosions.

Mr Maric said firefighters had “doused the fires and there is no danger of more explosions”. He did not elaborate about the causes of the blast pending the end of the initial investigation.

An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the explosions.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic was on his way to the site, said a ministry spokeswoman.

Prvi Partizan is Serbia’s largest ammunition factory. It produces military and hunting ammunition as well as gun powder and explosives.

Prvi Partizan, which employs around 600 people, has been Serbia’s major ammunition factory for 80 years, producing military and hunting ammunition as well as gun powder and explosives.

None of the machinery at the plant was damaged, but other damage was caused by activation of the sprinkler system which resulted in a flood that will delay production. It is estimated that production and shipping will be delayed approximately 2-3 weeks.

Serbian defense industries have stepped up production in past two years, mainly exporting to Iraq, Libya, the United States and Burma. The total value of export deals in 2008 exceeded $600 million.

Serbian Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac said last week that Serbia had secured a $100 million export deal for weapons and military equipment to Iraq.

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6 Killed In Blast at Prvi Partizan Ammunition Factory

Total NICS Background Checks Report

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- Data released by the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) reported 1,074,757 checks in August 2009, a 12.3 percent increase from the 956,872 reported in August 2008.

So far that is roughly 9,076,205 gun bought this year! The total is probably more as NICS background checks may cover the purchase of more than one gun at a time.

This latest jump in background checks show that Americans are solidly in-favor of keeping firearms in the hands of law abiding citizens and clearly shows that proponents claiming the USA wants more gun control are blatantly wrong.

Gun Owners Say No to Gun Conrtol with their Wallets
The increased trend of Americans buying firearms at a record pace was once thought to be a one time fluke caused by fears of the new Obama administration expressed lust for more gun control. But now 10 months in and the wrongly named “fear buying” has now become the norm as law abiding US citizen exercise their constitutional right to keep and bear firearms by the millions every month with no sign of slowing down.

The bulk of the buying has been concentrated on the following types of guns or calibers:

• Semi Auto Handguns
• Revolvers
• Ar15s and all variants of the Black Rifle
• .50 Caliber

1.17 Guns for Each Person
Conservative estimates of legally owned guns in the USA put the number at 355,029,250 million guns in the USA. That is 1.17 guns for everyone in the USA and if you listen to the liberal press they are all assault weapons. God bless anyone who tries to invade the USA…

Crime Rates Falling
The most stunning in all of this is that we have not seen an increase in crime, murder rates have fallen across most of the USA and Americans have shown that they can be trusted with firearms ownership.  This is directly in contrast to what the national media and gun control supporters would have us believe.

Gun owners you are clearly the majority!

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1,000,000+ Guns Added to American Homes in August

OpeningDay.Ducks.org

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited – -(AmmoLand.com)- September has arrived and waterfowl hunters have a smile on their faces.

Duck numbers are up and opening day is drawing ever closer.

At Ducks Unlimited, we can’t wait any longer. Today is our “Opening Day” and we want to celebrate it with you!

Starting today, you can visit the First Flight: Opening Day Web site at openingday.ducks.org. Back by popular demand, this site is the premier online resource dedicated exclusively for serious duck hunters. There will be new content every day, so check it out to gear up, prepare, share information and take advantage of the ultimate waterfowl hunters’ resource.

There’s really too much to list, but below are just a few of the features you’ll find this year:

• DU’s Waterfowl Migration Map
• Hunting reports from across the United States & Canada
• Tips, tactics and strategies from the pros
• The latest waterfowl hunting gear and guns
• Blog entries from DU staff and partners
• E-cards, wallpaper and much more

We’re also excited to announce the first ever DU video contest. Be sure to take your camera to the blind this season and share your hunting experiences with other passionate waterfowlers. We want to see your tips, traditions and everything in between. Ten prizes will be awarded to finalists and the grand prize winner will receive a brand new Beretta Xtrema2 shotgun. Click here to watch a video for more contest information.

The First Flight: Opening Day experience is brought to you by Ducks Unlimited and our sponsors: Federal Premium, Realtree, LINE-X, Hevi-Shot, Beretta and Winchester Ammunition.

Opening day is coming. Get ready. Get excited. We’ll be with you every step of the way.

About:
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with more than 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands − nature’s most productive ecosystem − and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.

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Opening Day is Today at OpeningDay.Ducks.org

NFA Gun Trust Lawyer Blog

NFA Gun Trust Lawyer Blog

Jacksonville, Florida - -(AmmoLand.com)- AmmoLand.com’s featured Gun Blogger of the Month, for September 2009, is the GunTrustLawyer.com.

Is technically a legal blog that covers National Firearms Act gun trust law, NFA news and NFA related events dealing with gun trusts law. It is written by Jacksonville, Florida Gun Trust Attorney David M. Goldman.

Topics coverd include :

• Assault Weapons Trust (3)
• Class 1 Firearms (51)
• Class 3 Firearms (66)
• Class 3 SOT – Dealers (1)
• Criminal Penalties (10)
• Curios & Relics (8)
• Destructive Devices (DDs) (50)
• FAQ’s (76)
• Firearms Articles (37)
• Firearms Case Law (14)
• Form 1 – 5320.1 Manufacture (7)
• Form 20 – 5320.20 Transportation (2)
• Form 4 – 5320.4 Transfer (17)
• Gun News (34)
• How to Purchase a NFA Title II (Class 3) Firearm (29)
• Machine Guns (62)
• NFA Pictures (4)
• National Firearms Act (64)
• Short-Barreled Rifles (SBRs) (59)
• Short-Barreled Shotguns (SBSs) (60)
• Silencers (59)
• Title II Weapons (63)

The NFA Gun Trust Lawyer Blog is a great resource for anyone looking to purchase any weapons covered under the National Firearms Act of 1934.

GunTrustLawyer.com Interview:

Q: What is your Blog’s Official Name?
A: NFA Gun Trust Lawyer’s Blog

Q: What is your Name?
A:David M. Goldman

Q: What is your Online Name that you may post under?
A: Gun Trust Lawyer

Q: Where are you located?
A: Jacksonville Florida

Q: What is the point of view or purpose of your blog?
A:Provide information on various state laws and the National Firearms Act and how to purchase, own, and transfer firearms within their state.

Q: How long has your Blog been active?
A: 18 months, but we started as an offshoot from the Florida Estate Planning Lawyer’s Blog. Total around 2.5 years

Q: What do you do for a living or is your blog a full time job?
A: Estate Planning, Probate, Asset Protection Lawyer

Q: Do you have a specific agenda or goal of your blog?
A: Continue to build and represent Second amendment rights of individuals and business entities in the United States.

Q: Do you have any other digital sites?
A:YES, http://www.JacksonvilleLaywer.pro http://www.FloridaEstatePlanningLawyerBlog.com and we also have http://www.JacksonvilleCriminalDefenseLawyerBlog.com

Q: What is one thing that you want your readers to know about you?
A: Second career lawyer who like to help people be successful in their business interests and asset protection. I was a serial entrepreneur in the computer industry until deciding to help people protect their assets.

Q: What was the best thing you did on your blog that go the most reaction from your readers?
A:Instructions and downloadable examples for ATF Form 1, Form 4 and Form 20 http://www.guntrustlawyer/form1.html http://www.guntrustlawyer/form4.html http://www.guntrustlawyer/form20.html

Q: What was the worst thing you did on your blog that go the most reaction from your readers?
A:Once in a while we make a mistake on a state law, or the law changes. We appreciate when we have the opportunity to correct or enhance our website.

Q: Obviously since we are featuring you your blog is Pro gun? What do you think the outlook is for the future of gun rights in America?
A: I am hopeful that 2A rights will continue to be defined and apply to the states through incorporation.

Q: How did you get started specialzing in NFA guns?
A: A local gun store approached me and asked me to review the quicken trust they had been using. They were concerned about creating liability for themselves and their clients. After reviewing the trust and seeing the many problems with traditional trusts, I offered to fix the issues. They agreed and the first true gun trust was created. Many have used traditional trusts and some claim to have NFA language but none to the extent that we do. We now have more than 75 lawyers in over 40 states that help people plan for disability, death, and succession with firearms related issues.

Q: Who are the typical owners of NFA guns?
A: Surprisingly we see many police officers and high net worth individuals who own them. Generally as soon as people find they are legal, they want them.

Q: What is your favorite firearm and why?
A: I love the Thompson Machine Gun, I just love the way it looks. I know its not accurate and hard to control. I recently purchased a 6MM fully automatic air gun for my son that is a replica of the Thompson Machine Gun, I think its his favorite also.

Q: What hunting or shooting sports hobbies do you have?
A: When I lived in Texas, I use to shoot a lot and have been deer and quail hunting. Recently we have begun to explore skeet shooting.

Q: Of the topics you cover what do you enjoy writing about the most?
A: How to protect yourself from the ATF and how it might be interpreted.

Q: What things would you like to do or expand in your blog to in the future?
A:We are looking at ways to modify the trust to do things that have never been done with a trust before.

Q: What would you like to say to those that are anti gun or maybe just unsure of the purpose of guns in our society today?
A: Guns don’t kill people, criminals kill people. If it goes much beyond that, I agree to disagree.

Q: What parting remarks or comments you would like to make or promote?
A: The best way to teach someone to shoot is with a silencer. If they are legal in your state, you should try one.

The NFA Gun Trust Lawyer Blog on the web at www.GunTrustLawyer.com is well worth the read by any one looking to purchase NFA Firearms or anyone interested in owning a real “assault weapon” not to be confused with the black rifles falsely named assault weapons by the uneducated gun hating press.

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NFA Gun Trust Lawyer Blog – Covering National Firearms Act Gun Ownership & Gun Trust Law

Below is an article by Bob Williams. A certified forester, Bob currently consults with a wide range of private and public landowners for their forest planning, primarily in New Jersey. He is a member of the Pinelands Forest Advisory Committee within the Pinelands National Reserve. Bob is also Director of Forestry for the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Conservation Foundation.

MODIS satellite image from 2:25 PM on May 16 2007 of smoke from the Pinelands fire, courtesy of NASA

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Pine Barrens, New Jersey - -(AmmoLand.com)- Since 1978, when the U.S. Congress created The Pinelands National Reserve, the Pine Barrens of New Jersey have been under the regulatory jurisdiction of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, which is charged with its protection. Spanning 1.1 million acres, the reserve is the largest open space on the eastern seaboard between Boston, Massachusetts, and Richmond, Virginia. It lies next to the most concentrated highway, rail, and air-traffic corridors-and the most densely populated region-in America. But if you stand on Apple Pie Hill, the highest spot (209 feet) in the Pinelands, what will you see? Not turnpikes, not trains, not airports, not people; only forests-a canopy of trees that stretches as far as the horizon.

The primary trees are pitch pine (Pinus rigida) and oak (Quercus sp.), along with Atlantic white-cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) that trace forest streams. Cranberry bogs, teacolored rivers, a few meadows, and white sand roads punctuate this landscape. Pine and pine-oak forests are home to thousands of animals and plants, like the common yellowthroat warbler (Geothlypis trichas), turkey beard (Xerophyllum asphodeloides) with its striking white flower, and the blue Pine Barrens gentian (Gentiana autumnalis). While there are no natural lakes, wetlands (including streams, bogs, and cedar swamps) cover more than 385,000 acres, or 35 percent of the reserve. Historically, these natural resources gave rise to important industries. People used bog iron for cannonballs and household goods, sand for glass, and wood for shipbuilding, charcoal, lumber, paper, and fuel. Its dense pine
and oak forests, cedar and hardwood swamps, pitch pine lowlands, bogs, and marshes give the region its essential and distinctive character.

Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan

When adopted in 1979, the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) recognized the unique vegetation of the Pinelands more than any other feature. The CMP also acknowledged that proper forest management of the Pinelands forests would increase their economic value and, simultaneously, preserve and sustain the overall ecological character of the Pinelands. The CMP had it right 30 years ago, yet since then little forest management has occurred on the landscape. Lack of periodic disturbance-combined with extensive fire exclusion policies-has dramatically reduced habitat suitability to sustain several threatened and endangered species, such as the northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus), timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), and once- common species such as ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus).

Ruffed grouse, classified as “common to all woodlands” in the Pinelands region in 1979, are now all but extinct there. This will be the second grouse extinction in the Pine Barrens since the loss of the heath hen (Tympanuchus cupido cupido) there in 1870, and should be an alarm that something is wrong in this fire-adapted, disturbance-dependent forest ecosystem.

A protectionist interpretation of the public policy to “preserve” the Pinelands has all but eliminated active management of the forest resources. In addition, fire suppression policies have further diminished the beneficial effects of fire in this highly fire-dependent forest ecosystem. On private lands, an ecological approach to forest management has allowed some forest management to move ahead.

Land Dimensions, the company I work for, has implemented and completed projects throughout the Pinelands that clearly demonstrate how forest management can be a crucial tool for sustaining critical habitat for a wide range of both common and rare species.

The Pinelands Region supports several globally threatened forest ecosystems. The pitch pine/shrub oak forests are highly dependent upon frequent fire events, yet most stands have been fi re excluded for 40 to 60 years. Fire exclusion has eliminated critical habitats for several rare or endangered moth species and has degraded habitat for northern pine snakes. Mechanical forest thinning has both enabled the safe return of fire and demonstrated the great potential for an ecological forestry approach. These thinnings mimic the top-killing effect of fire that results in a more open habitat needed by many rare or endangered plant and animal species.

These projects have also reduced wildland fire concerns and have mitigated the public’s health-and-safety concerns with regard to catastrophic fire. For example, on the Zemel Forest, a 1,600- acre, privately owned woodland located in the heart of the pitch pine-shrub oak forest type, the ecological approach to forest management that we have used shows promising results.

This woodland had been fire excluded in excess of 50 years. The pitch pine was thinned to remove 70 to 90 percent of the dense overstory, retaining trees of varying sizes in a random pattern across the project site. The dense overstocked shrub oak under the pine overstory was mechanically severed at ground level to enable it to re-sprout, similar to the effect of fire. The purpose of this treatment was to restore the open barrens structure in order to allow the regeneration of the native herbaceous and shrub plant communities.

Several rare species of Lepidoptera require this open habitat to feed on oak. Additionally, species such as northern pine snake utilize these critical open habitat areas for foraging,
basking, and/or nesting. The result of this silvicultural treatment after 15 years has been to restore and maintain native forest community types, and create a condition to allow fire to be returned to these stands in a safe fashion. Without fire, these stands will gradually regenerate back to the overstocked fire-excluded condition they were in previous to treatment. Fire will set back significant areas of pine regeneration. It will also sustain the plant community as a whole, thus sustaining this globally threatened forest system.

Atlantic White-Cedar

Another globally threatened forest ecosystem found in New Jersey’s Pinelands region is Atlantic White-Cedar, important both ecologically and economically for sustaining a viable forest management program in the Pinelands. Atlantic white-cedar provides habitat for several endangered or threatened species, such as Hessel’s hairstreak (Callophrys hesseli), Pine Barrens tree frog (Hyla andersonii), timber rattlesnake, and several endangered plants, including swamp pink (Helonias bullata). Dr. George Zimmermann of Stockton College has been engaged in a long-term (18-year) research project on the ecology, management, and regeneration of Atlantic white-cedar, a project that enabled the New Jersey Forest Service to establish the New Jersey Atlantic white-cedar Initiative Steering Committee (ISC). Comprised of a wide range of professionals and stakeholders, ICS developed the Atlantic White-Cedar: Ecology and Best Management Practices manual for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

One of the primary objectives of this cedar initiative is to have a net gain of cedar forest type on the landscape. Atlantic white-cedar continues to be lost to uncontrolled wildfire, beaver flooding, natural tree succession, wind storms, and what appears to be insect damage. Another objective of this cedar initiative is to sustain a wide range of age-class structures across the landscape. Presently, most cedar stands are in the 60 to 80 year age class with few older age-class stands and minimal acres of younger stands. Tens of thousands of acres of this forest type are in need of management and treatment. To sustain the crucial spatial heterogeneity of this landscape, treatments have to be economically feasible. Since Atlantic white-cedar grows in wet soil conditions, operations are difficult and expensive, but they can be done. The landowner of the Ruggeri Stewardship Forest has successfully restored 15 acres of red maple to a healthy, fully stocked stand of Atlantic white-cedar along the wild and scenic Great Egg Harbor River by blending these young groups of whitecedar with several older remnant groups in his forest. Atlantic white-cedar is an early successional species and prefers full sunlight to optimize seed germination and tree growth. Additionally, cedar does not tolerate competition from woody shrubs or hardwood overstory; thus, brush control measures must be ongoing. Lastly, cedar does not tolerate over-browsing by high populations of whitetailed deer. Deer fencing is a typical postharvest treatment. One landowner quickly moved from electric fencing to coated metal deer exclusion fencing for greater success.

The range of natural variability of Atlantic white-cedar forest stands is significant. It can grow in dense monoculture stands, as well as stands of open wetland savanna types supporting many rare and endangered plants. In open savannas, many herbaceous plant species are being lost to tree succession. Again, lack of fire is the likely cause. An
ecological approach to managing these areas through the judicious removal of cedar timber in defined time frames has saved many rare plant populations. We have successfully restored Atlantic white-cedar on more than 17 privately owned forestlands, and operations are underway with many more. Anyone who visits New Jersey and sees one of these magnificent forests remains impressed.

Our forest management projects within the Pinelands National Reserve are required by regulation to “preserve native Pinelands forest types.” This goal can be difficult and expensive to achieve. However, after 20 years of managing forests in this unique landscape, I believe that successful economic utility is not mutually exclusive with protecting and
sustaining the unique biodiversity of this forest system. It’s now clear to me that an ecological approach is essential to sustaining our nation’s first national reserve, the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.

NJOACF Council Members:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA

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Ecological Approach to Managing Forests in the NJ Pine Barrens