Eurooptic vortex burris nightforce sale




teslong borescope digital camera barrel monitor


As an Amazon Associate, this site earns a commission from Amazon sales.









February 2nd, 2013

Green Beret Petition Calls for Wisdom in National Gun Debate

More than 1,100 current and retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers have signed a petition that advocates a rational, reasoned response to the events in Newtown, Connecticut. The Green Beret Petition cautions against “knee-jerk” legislation which would threaten the Second Amendment rights of American citizens. The Petition asks national leaders to recognize that the causative factors involved in mass shootings are complex. Hence banning certain types of firearms may not “solve the problem” at all.

The Petition makes important fact-based arguments. For example, the petition points out that sweeping gun bans adopted in the United Kingdom did not reduce overall gun-related crime — in fact UK gun violence increased after the gun bans. By contrast, gun violence has actually dropped in the USA despite a growth in gun ownership: “Overall, gun-related crime [in the UK] had increased 65% since the Dunblane massacre and implementation of the toughest gun control laws in the developed world. In contrast, in 2009 (5 years after the Federal Assault Weapons Ban expired) total firearm related homicides in the U.S. declined by 9% from the 2005 high.”

READ Full Petition (PDF file):
Protecting the Second Amendment — Why all Americans Should Be Concerned

The Green Beret Petition cautions that many current anti-gun legislative proposals may have no practical effect: “[I]f stricter gun control laws are not likely to reduce gun-related crime, why are we having this debate? Other than making us and our elected representatives feel better because we think that we are doing something to protect our children, these actions will have no effect and will only provide us with a false sense of security.”

Noting that reactionary gun ban legislation will not solve a complex problem, the Green Beret Petition suggests that national leaders must look more carefully at many factors:

Green Beret Petition Recommendations

So, what do we believe will be effective? First, it is important that we recognize that this is not a gun control problem; it is a complex sociological problem. No single course of action will solve the problem. Therefore, it is our recommendation that a series of diverse steps be undertaken, the implementation of which will require patience and diligence to realize an effect. These are as follows:

1. First and foremost we support our Second Amendment right in that “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”.

2. We support State and Local School Boards in their efforts to establish security protocols in whatever manner and form that they deem necessary and adequate. One of the great strengths of our Republic is that State and Local governments can be creative in solving problems. Things that work can be shared. Our point is that no one knows what will work and there is no one single solution, so let‟s allow the State and Local governments with the input of the citizens to make the decisions. Most recently the Cleburne Independent School District will become the first district in North Texas to consider allowing some teachers to carry concealed guns. We do not opine as to the appropriateness of this decision, but we do support their right to make this decision for themselves.

3. We recommend that Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) laws be passed in every State. AOT is formerly known as Involuntary Outpatient Commitment (IOC) and allows the courts to order certain individuals with mental disorders to comply with treatment while living in the community. In each of the mass shooting incidents the perpetrator was mentally unstable. We also believe that people who have been adjudicated as incompetent should be simultaneously examined to determine whether they should be allowed the right to retain/purchase firearms.

4. We support the return of firearm safety programs to schools along the lines of the successful “Eddie the Eagle” program, which can be taught in schools by Peace Officers or other trained professionals.

5. Recent social psychology research clearly indicates that there is a direct relationship between gratuitously violent movies/video games and desensitization to real violence and increased aggressive behavior particularly in children and young adults (See Nicholas L. Carnagey, et al. 2007. “The effect of video game violence on physiological desensitization to real-life violence” and the references therein. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 43:489-496). Therefore, we strongly recommend that gratuitous violence in movies and video games be discouraged. War and war-like behavior should not be glorified. Hollywood and video game producers are exploiting something they know nothing about. General Sherman famously said “War is Hell!” Leave war to the Professionals. War is not a game and should not be “sold” as entertainment to our children.

6. We support repeal of the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990. This may sound counter-intuitive, but it obviously isn‟t working. It is our opinion that “Gun-Free Zones” anywhere are too tempting of an environment for the mentally disturbed individual to inflict their brand of horror with little fear of interference. While governmental and non-governmental organizations, businesses, and individuals should be free to implement a Gun-Free Zone if they so choose, they should also assume Tort liability for that decision.

7. We believe that border states should take responsibility for implementation of border control laws to prevent illegal shipments of firearms and drugs. Drugs have been illegal in this country for a long, long time yet the Federal Government manages to seize only an estimated 10% of this contraband at our borders. Given this dismal performance record that is misguided and inept (“Fast and Furious”), we believe that border States will be far more competent at this mission.

8. This is our country, these are our rights. We believe that it is time that we take personal responsibility for our choices and actions rather than abdicate that responsibility to someone else under the illusion that we have done something that will make us all safer. We have a responsibility to stand by our principles and act in accordance with them. Our children are watching and they will follow the example we set.

Permalink News 4 Comments »
June 9th, 2011

California Legislature Seeks to Regulate BB Guns and Air Rifles

Shooters beware — another piece of misguided legislation is in the works in California. State Senator Kevin de León (Dem., Los Angeles) has introduced SB 798. This bill, if it becomes law, would ban Airsoft products, BB guns and pneumatic pellet rifles unless they are configured in solid orange, red, or green colors or fitted with transparent “furniture” such as found on toy guns. This law could apply to Olympic-grade, pellet-shooting air rifles as well. SB 798 could effectively embargo high-quality competition air rifles because the manufacturers would not create special colored versions just for California, and it is impractical to make barrels, sights, and adjustable stocks out of transparent plastics.

This is yet another example of poorly thought-out, foolish legislation being sponsored by gun-phobic California legislators. The bill passed from the California State Senate Rules Committee and has been sent to the California Assembly Public Safety Committee for consideration. Hopefully SB 798 opponents can convince Assembly members to kill this bill in Committee. CLICK HERE for SB 798 Current Status.

California State Senator Bob Huff has explained many of the flaws in SB 798: “I have some concerns about this bill and do not plan to support it. BB guns are potentially dangerous devices. Coloring them in bright colors will do little except give parents and children the impression that these devices are, in fact, toys. This creates confusion and hides the fact that they can cause serious injury or even potentially death if misused or improperly handled. This bill is another example of an idea with unintended consequences.”

If you want to help fight SB 798, you can add your name to a Petition created by Pyramyd Air. This Petition will be sent to all California Assembly members. The Petition states, in part: “Traditional BB and pellet guns are not brightly colored or clear and should not be — they can cause serious injury if misused. Airsoft guns have blaze orange muzzles, readily distinguishing them from firearms. The unintended consequence of SB 798 is that, because these products will be confused with toys, inappropriate use of these products, particularly in public, could result in injury death to the user, bystanders and police officers. I understand a similar proposal as SB 798 was rejected six (6) years ago by California’s State Attorney General because of these safety concerns.”

Senator De Leon SB 798

Permalink News No Comments »