AR15.com Newsletter - Issue 1401 - January 2014

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Issue 1401 January 2014

AR15.com News Here we are slipping in a newsletter before the end of the month... SHOT Show consumed a good part of our time this month and is covered in our forums with a few highlights below. Even with all those new products and companies, by far the biggest highlight for me was the opportunity to get together with Texas Governor Rick Perry and his staff at SHOT. Our governor brought his Secretary of State, Director or Economic Development & Tourism, and Director of Aerospace, Aviation, and Defense among others. The fact that these folks took the time to attend the annual firearms industry show speaks volumes and reinforces the fact that Texas is where we belong. ARFCOM staff with Texas Governor Rick Perry and Texas Secretary of State Nandita Berry. Speaking of which, right after SHOT we flew straight to New York to get the last bits of our gear out. Working in below zero temperatures, the weather was as uninviting as the business climate. We loaded two full moving trucks with everything we had left, and began our long drive back home to Texas. During that time, NY Governor Cuomo made the remarks in which he said "right to life, pro-assault weapon, anti-gay" conservatives have "no place in the state of New York." Don't worry- we won't be coming back Mr. Cuomo. All I can say is that we're glad to be home. Just in time to catch the television ads where New York tries to entice companies with 10-year tax-free incentives. I'll tell you what- I'd rather pay my fair share to a state that appreciates business and citizens and puts that money to good use than free-load for 100-years in NY. I guess that's the difference in how we think. Anyway, lots of new content in this newsletter: products back in stock as well as new products, big GUNSTRUCTION update coming up, NRA news and the year in review, as well as the usual training tips and videos. Look for lots more in 2014. Rockcastle Update 2014 begins with news that our involvement in our very successful ARFCOM/Rockcastle-Pro AM 3 Gun event down in Kentucky as all good things do ....has come to an end. We wish the good folks at the Rockcastle Shooting Center all the best as they continue to provide some of the very best competition in the country. As we look towards what the future will bring, we would like to take a minute to thank all of our sponsors, competitors and ARFCOMMERS that made this event one of the most successful in the country! Because of you, we have accomplished our goal of bringing the excitement of 3 Gun competition to the masses. Together, we brought the very best competitors together with those who were just starting out to give them an opportunity to "learn" as they competed in a friendly atmosphere. We broke ground by encouraging young and "old" alike to participate as well as offering the very first all female "competition" within a "competition" event last year. As is ARFCOM's mission, we availed our "Wounded Warriors" and "Adaptive Shooters" to an unprecedented opportunity to enjoy the event in an competitive manner... and did so proudly. Through the efforts of our success, we also made perfectly clear to our legislators throughout the country, that our beloved "Black Rifle" was in "common use" and proved our favorite firearm had "sportability" and then some. Look for upcoming events in 2014 particularly in our new home State of Texas. Thank you all for a job "well done!" As we turn the page on our involvement in 2013, we look to 2014 as an opportunity expand ARFCOM's presence in similar events to achieve similar results...Stay tuned ARFCOM...we have only just begun! GUNSTRUCTION Update January 30th will see the release of our much awaited Multi-Caliber patch, with iPhone, iPad and Android apps soon to follow! REMINDER: GUNSTRUCTION Is giving away a FREE RIFLE every month in our "Build it, Win it" initiative. This month's sponsors are BLACKFORGE and CMC Triggers. All you have to do is build an AR15 with a BlackForge Lower Receiver, a CMC Trigger and keep the budget at $1975 and you could win! For more details visit http://www.gunstruction.net/contest. SHOT Show Review The 36th SHOT Show ran January 14 to 17, 2014 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center. Attendance figures eclipsed last year's total by the second day of the show and finished at more than 67,000, an increase of 5,000. Below is a brief list of what we thought were some of the more interesting items, though we did not get a chance to see the entire show once again. SHOTGUNS This was apparently the year of the semi-auto shotgun, with a number of interesting concepts. Rhino The Rhino shotgun is built with no cast or forged parts, top of the line finishes, and is built on Rhino's AR-10 platform so it's directly interchangeable with their .308. That means you'll be able to pop two pins, take off the 12-ga upper, throw on the .308 upper, swap mags, and rock and roll with a sniper rifle in a matter of minutes. www.rhinoarms.com Fostech Origin-12 The Fostech Origin-12 features a quick change barrel, forward charging handle, ambi controls, in-line detachable 8/20/30rd magazines, last round bolt hold open, 3-point trigger finger position, infinite gas block adjustment, and a multi-caliber receiver. www.fostechoutdoors.com UTS15 The UTS-15 tactical shotgun is a 12 ga. pump action shotgun with two 7-round alternately feeding or selectable magazine tubes. The UTS-15 has a 28.3" overall length with a 18.5" barrel, chambered for 2 ½" , 2 ¾" and 3" magnum ammunition. Constructed primarily of fiber reinforced injection molded polymer the UTS-15 weight only 6.9 lbs, for quick pointing and easy handling. The top mounted picatinny rail allows for the mounting of a wide variety of both iron and optical sights, which coupled with Beretta style barrel threading for choke tubes allows the UTS-15 to adapt to any situation. www.utas-usa.com Crye Six12 The Six12 is a bullpup shotgun that holds six rounds of 12 gauge in a revolving cylinder. The Six12s are designed to mount to AR platform rails as well as a standalone weapon, and will come with barrels in 12.5, 18 and 22 inch lengths. www.cryeprecision.com RIFLES Serbu SU-15 This is a self-contained piston-operated upper receiver with the main action all contained above the barrel in the upper. This means the lower does not require a lower receiver extension which allows for a folding stock to be used. It also uses standard AR barrels, and has a standard AR price point. www.serbu.com Nemo .300 Win Mag AR The first .300 Win Mag AR rifle. Compact, rugged, durable, portable, CQB, overwatch. Light enough to pack around all day, short enough to stow and maneuver. Knock down power and accuracy of the .300 Win Mag, but still gentle enough to shoot off the bench. www.nemoarms.com OPTICS IR Hunter The IR HunterTM thermal weapon sight features true rifle scope ergonomics with familiar, MOA-accurate, control turrets instead of buttons. Shooters will be amazed by the exceedingly crisp image produced by athermalized Germanium optic, the FlirTM thermal sensor, the Mil-Spec Kopin TM SVGA 800x600 pixel Digital Micro- display and the easy to use DFCTM Digital Focus Control. www.irhunter.com ATN SmartHD Optics The ATN X-Sight weapon scopes are powered by the new revolutionary ATN Obsidian Core that runs a suite of sensors to cover all your needs. Perfect clarity in day or night, GPS, Geotag, WiFi, E-zoom, Record HD Video/Images, Compass, Gyroscope, Smart Shooting Solutions, and much more. This optic represents the inteligence that can be put into optics of the future. www.atncorp.com Tracking Point AR Speaking of smart optics, TrackingPoint created the first smart rifles known as precision guided firearms. Smart rifles utilize jet fighter lock-and-launch technology enabling anyone to engage targets at extreme ranges. www.tracking-point.com MISC AM-TAC Precision .416 Hushpuppy The AM-TAC 416 Hushpuppy is the hardest hitting and flattest shooting purpose built subsonic cartridge for the AR-15 platform. It hits with greater authority than a 12-gauge shotgun, but gives the shooter a point-blank range of over 200 yards on a man-sized target all from standard 5.56 magazines. www.am-tac.com Inteliscope The Inteliscope is a device that allows you to mount your smartphone (Apple or Android) to your rifle and brings critical ballistics and environmental insight to the shooter in real time. Detailed review will be posted once we've had a chance to work with it in the field. www.inteliscopes.com Colt Sword Colt's Sniper Weapon & Observer Reconnaissance Devices (SWORD), promises to bring power, data, and navigation connectivity to a single rifle. This is perhaps the leading example of how data on the battlefield can be obtained, shared, and used in real time. www.colt.com For more coverage, we have a forum dedicated to the SHOT Show with a lot more content including the exclusive videos sponsored by Brownells.   Training "Watch Your Muzzle" We hear ad nauseam about, "be sure of your target, what's left, right & around it..." But do we ever train this awareness-based discipline? What if critical shots were required to be made with teammates or 'no shoots' in close proximity to threats? Here's the answer. www.PFCtraining.com 3-Gun Essentials Shooting a Rifle From Awkward Positions Pro Tip By: Chris Andersen, 3-Gun Nation Pro Shooter It has happened to all of us at one time or another. You end up in an odd or uncomfortable shooting position on the clock in a big match and it ruins your stage. You can't get steady, you loose your patience, or you are not able to get a good sight picture: Any one or all of those things can force you to push too hard, which is a recipe for disaster while the clock is ticking, especially with long rifle shots. Rocks, tree limbs, wobbly barricades or anything else a devious match director can dream up are a recipe for disaster if you don't prepare properly. Here are a few of the practice routines I use to insure I don't get caught off guard. Shooting Barricade Drills Barricades with multiple available shooting positions are a must have if you are serious about training with your rifle. Drills run on barricades like the V-Tac wall etc. offer endless possibilities for improvement. So if you haven't already, build a practice barricade with openings and ledges offering multiple shooting positions. You won't regret it. Timed drills that force you to shoot from multiple bad positions give you a way to chart your progress. This sort of practice will not only improve your ability to shoot from an odd position, but will also sharpen your skills at getting in to the best position for that particular shot quickly. You can do these drills not only at the range, but in dry-fire practice at home. Bad support It is very easy to get to the range and shoot from perfect prone positions or off of a bench, but resist that urge. You hardly ever have that opportunity in real matches, so your practice sessions should reflect that. Be sure to take the time to practice unstable positions, cramped positions, the harder the better. I actually remove bolts from my practice barricade to make it unstable to add difficulty to my practice sessions. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone and you will find that comfort zone expands very quickly. Shooting lane drill If you are only able to practice at a more conventional range with shooting lanes it can still offer the opportunity to hone this skill. On slow days at the range try transitions between multiple lanes on the firing line: off the side of a shooting bench, the back of a chair, a sandbag on the ground etc. I like to arrange a different shooting position in multiple lanes and run transitions between them on the clock. Avoid taking a sight picture before running the drills and change the shooting positions up to add difficulty to each shot. This will force you to adapt remain patient. Patience is a virtue All of this practice is setting you up for the most important aspect of shooting from a difficult position. Visual patience. That means taking the appropriate amount of time to insure a first-shot hit on your target. Taking the shot too early, or before you are in a stable enough position can spell disaster when shooting from a tough spot. Putting these drills on the timer will show you how just how costly. Resetting for a follow-up shot can take forever when you are curled up in a ball or shooting from an unstable tree branch etc. So being as perfect as possible is very important. You should constantly be striving for one-shot hits in practice. Accept nothing less. With the off-season in full swing, now is the perfect time to get that practice barricade built and start using it in your dry-fire sessions. And then take it and your new training drills to the range when it gets warm. Put the time in and you rifle shooting vastly improves next season! Chris Andersen is a 3 Gun Nation Pro Shooter for Team Vertx and regular contributor to AR15.com and 3GunNation.com. Look for his articles and videos every month in the ARFCOM Newsletter to help improve your performance in 3 gun competition. Direct Action 2014 NRA Board of Directors Election Given the tremendous pressure the existing NRA Board of Directors have been facing in their duties and in acknowledgement of their achievements, AR15.com supports the following incumbents and candidates for the 2014 NRA Board of Directors Election: William H. Allen Thomas P. Arvas David E. Bennett J. Kenneth Blackwell J. William Carter Ted W. Carter Patricia A. Clark Allan D. Cors Charles L. Cotton Anthony Colandro John L. Cushman William H. Dailey R. Lee Ermey Joel Friedman Roy Innis Curtis S. Jenkins Josh Powell Peter J. Printz Todd J. Rathner Carl T. Rowan, Jr. Leroy Sisco Robert L. Viden, Jr. Linda L. Walker Howard "Walt" J. Walter Please take the time to read their biographical information to learn more about each candidate. Pride and Prejudice? Hollywood Mogul Aims to Attack NRA with New Film Hollywood producer and Obama mega fundraiser Harvey Weinstein used an appearance on The Howard Stern Show to announce what he billed as a new anti-NRA movie, reportedly titled, The Senator's Wife. During the interview, Weinstein called NRA a "disaster area" and said of the film, "I'm going to make a movie with Meryl Streep, and we're going to take this head-on. And they're going to wish they weren't alive after I'm done with them." Weinstein indicated that the movie is also intended to decimate the gun industry and leave viewers thinking, "Gun stocks, I don't want to be involved in that stuff. It's going to be like crash and burn." (We'll leave it to you to decide whether ordinary people, or just entertainment tycoons, normally leave a movie pondering stock portfolios.) The comments were brought about by a discussion of Weinstein's project based on the novel Mila 18, which chronicles a Jewish uprising in German occupied Warsaw, Poland, during World War II. Speaking about the film, Weinstein remarked, "It's not a Holocaust story, as much as it's Jews with guns, it's my whole philosophy... It's the idea that when injustice is that great you just can't march into the camps." This prompted Stern, a gun owner and carry permit holder, to ask Weinstein if he owns a gun. Weinstein replied that he does not, stating, "I don't think we need guns in this country. And I hate it." Yet though Weinstein professed a desire for Americans to be disarmed, he expressed further support for armed resistance to genocide, making clear he would "find a gun, if that was happening to my people." The idea that "finding" a gun when genocide is already underway is preferable to recognizing the right of people to have them in first place is perhaps evidence that Harvey Weinstein has not carefully thought through his position on gun policy. But don't take Weinstein's ardent statements to mean that he actually foregoes armed self-defense, as the wealthy producer fully avails himself of hired security. In 2012, following an extortion attempt against Weinstein, a source shared with the New York Post, "[t]he Weinsteins have always had intense security and been on high alert because of the movies they make." The paper also noted that while producing The Master, a film that received opposition from some in the Scientology community, Weinstein "beef[ed] up his own security." And a New York Times account of Weinstein's 2013 Golden Globes after party described a scene where, "Harvey Weinstein appeared... amid a retinue of security." An entire retinue of bodyguards is outside the purchasing power of most Americans, but contrary to what Weinstein might think, their personal safety is no less important than his. Unfortunately, this penchant to utilize private security personnel while working to limit access to the tools of effective self-defense for those of lesser economic stature is pervasive amongst the most wealthy gun control supporters. Further, Weinstein makes a rather laughable candidate to self-righteously lecture the rest of the country on the evils of guns and those, like NRA, who promote lawful and responsible firearm ownership. Weinstein has accumulated much of his fortune (and platform to bloviate publicly) producing movies with depictions of violence so graphic and sensational that some must be seen to be believed (not that we necessarily recommend that). While we apologize in advance for these descriptions, these include, among many others, Kill Bill (a revenge fantasy in a which the protagonist hacks her foes in pieces with a Samurai sword), Halloween (2007) (a more graphic remake of a film that helped popularize the "slasher" genre of horror movies), Piranha 3DD (naked bathers and carnivorous fish, with all the consequences that suggests) and Rambo (2008) (an "action" film that depicts rapes, beheadings, disembowelment, a mortar attack on a defenseless village, people being burned alive, and a Christian missionary being fed feet first to a pig). While the 2008 Rambo installment in particular vividly portrays violence of nearly every sort, it may well have the dubious distinction of containing the most over-the-top gun fight ever portrayed on screen. In the finale, Rambo literally liquefies and dismembers wave after wave of human adversaries with a .50 cal. machine gun. Normally, we would not make such claims without linking to primary sources, but that would obviously not be appropriate in this case. We understand Weinstein has a First Amendment right to release movies with such content, and we're not here to act as film critics. Nevertheless, it's hard to characterize the above films and similar Weinstein fare as serious meditations on the nature of violence, while it's easy to imagine who their real target audiences might be. According to one film critic, for example, "'Piranha 3DD' is a low-budget, softcore 3, destined to make a quick detour to DVD so sneaky, testosterone-propelled teens can easily subvert the R-rating." To suggest that Weinstein might be a hypocrite, in other words, grossly understates the case. Apparently, Weinstein himself acknowledges this to some degree, as in July of 2012, following the tragic shooting in Aurora, Colo., the producer told The Huffington Post, "I think, as filmmakers, we should sit down--the Marty Scorseses, the Quentin Tarantinos, and hopefully all of us who deal in violence in movies--and discuss our role in that." Nevertheless, it's not clear whether such "discussions" (if indeed they occurred) suggest any remorse, or merely led to further deals to produce more of the same violent content. Besides the planned NRA film, Kill Bill Vol. 3 and Halloween III are now in production. (As this alert was being readied for publication, a media report quoted Harvey Weinstein as claiming he would henceforth forgo exploitative violence in his films. Whether that is true, only time will tell. In any case, this won't change his prior repertoire, or diminish the fortune it has earned him.) 2013 NRA-ILA Year in Review 2013 was a year full of challenges and opportunities for our Second Amendment rights. While our opponents made some progress in a handful of states, we secured many of our own state level victories, as well as beating back one of the best coordinated and best funded attack on our rights in the U.S. Senate. Here is a summary of the top stories brought to you in 2013 by the ILA Grassroots Alert. This coming year, with mid-term elections and the recurring assaults on our freedom, will require even greater resolve to "Stand and Fight" with NRA in defense of the Second Amendment. JANUARY In response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook, President Obama launched an unprecedented attack on our rights. Using the same tired rhetoric and disproven theories, the president used children to play on the emotions of the American people in order to solicit support for congressional anti-gun measures. NRA attended the White House Task Force Meeting and vowed never to compromise on the rights enshrined in the Second Amendment. After the meeting, the NRA stated: "We will not allow law-abiding gun owners to be blamed for the acts of criminals and madmen. Instead, we will now take our commitment and meaningful contributions to members of congress of both parties who are interested in having an honest conversation about what works -- and what does not." U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced S. 150, a massive ban on commonly-owned semi-automatic rifles, deemed "assault weapons," and magazines defined as "large" or "high capacity." NRA continued to stand and fight against "universal" background checks and the "Manchin-Toomey" bill. Legislators in Connecticut, New York, and Colorado introduced sweeping anti-gun bills. FEBRUARY The Reverend Jesse Jackson continued his descent into political irrelevance by asserting that semi-automatic firearms could "blow up railroads." He stated he supported Sen. Feinstein's "assault weapons" ban because, among other things, such weapons could "shoot down planes," thus endangering national security. President Obama again used emotion-based arguments during his State of the Union address, reiterating his support for the "assault weapons" ban and "universal" background checks. He ignored a report by his own Department of Justice that concludes the proposals before Congress would be unlikely to have an effect unless they were made even more restrictive. Vice President Joe Biden gave the people of America an example of his thoughtful consideration of issues when he offered up the theory that all one needs for self-defense is a double-barreled shotgun. He went on to say that he had advised his wife to react to home-invaders by going out to the balcony and firing two shots into the air. Biden failed to explain how this dangerous action, which is illegal in most states, justified ignoring the precise wording of the Constitution. MARCH From Obama's reelection, to an emotional State of the Union address, to poorly written gun control bills in Congress, the American people weren't sure how long they'd be seeing guns and ammo on the shelves. With the high demand caused by what many believed was impending restrictions came a shortage of ammo, and with the shortage came many a rumor of large government buy-ups and ammunition control conspiracies. NRA continuously tracked the issue and dispelled the various rumors surrounding it. NRA continued to lobby against S. 150, informally known as the "Assault Weapons" Ban, as it was heard and passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The anti-gun media continued its campaign of falsehoods and rumor-mongering. NBC falsely reported that NRA would not oppose "universal" background check legislation. NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox set the record straight by stating that NRA opposes criminalizing private firearms transfers between law-abiding individuals, and therefore opposes an expansion of the background check system. Two of Washington's most vocal anti-gun advocates, U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Vice President Joe Biden, made clear their agenda to destroy our constitutionally-guaranteed Second Amendment rights. In a conference call organized by "Mayors Against Illegal Guns," Pelosi stated that it was "not the end of the day for this issue." Biden, referring to S. 150 and the "universal" background check proposals, said: "Let me say this as clearly as I can: this is just the beginning." APRIL The general assembly at the United Nations passed the Arms Trade Treaty only to be met with strong opposition from members of the U.S. Senate. In a preemptive move, 53 Senators endorsed an amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2014 that established a "deficit neutral fund" to oppose America's entrance into the treaty. On April 11, the U.S. Senate voted to move forward with debate and votes on S. 649, the "Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013," more commonly known as the "universal" background check bill. Amendments to this bill included a ban on commonly- owned firearms, a "high capacity" magazine ban, and the infamous "Manchin-Toomey" compromise." All proposals were defeated in an epic display of NRA members' grassroots commitment to freedom. Our favorite, now-former Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, did not let consistent defeat on his various gun control measures keep him from offering his interpretation of the Constitution in order to give the government greater power to "protect" its citizens. "The people who are worried about privacy have a legitimate worry," Bloomberg said during a press conference. "But we live in a complex world where you're going to have to have a level of security greater than you did back in the olden days, if you will. And our laws and our interpretation of the Constitution, I think, have to change." MAY NRA hosted another successful and productive annual meeting in Houston, Texas. We saw our members' strong dedication and involvement in the fight to protect our Second Amendment at the NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop. The Workshop was attended by many of NRA's Officers, who came to thank the members in attendance. In a report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), a component of the Justice Department, research showed that firearm homicides in general, and violence at schools in particular, have decreased substantially during the last two decades; the percentage of homicides committed with firearms has decreased; and only a tiny percentage of state prison inmates imprisoned for gun offenses obtain their guns from gun shows. More news ignored by the mainstream media, Obama, and the rest of the established anti-gunners. JUNE President Obama took a whopping $10 million of the tax payer's dollars and directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to a "gun violence" research agenda. The purported goal of this effort was "to improve knowledge of the causes of gun violence, and strategies to minimize the public health burden of gun violence." We reported regularly on the extreme cases in which school officials bizarrely and overzealously enforced their school's "zero-tolerance" policies. One case, however, trumped all others. A seven-year-old student in Baltimore was suspended from school for two days for biting a breakfast pastry into a shape that the teacher thought looked like a gun. School administrators officially denied an appeal to have the suspension removed from the 2nd grader's permanent record. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg's anti-gun group, "Mayors Against Illegal Guns", listed Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the mastermind of the Boston Marathon bombing, among the names of those "killed with guns" during their "No More Names" anti-gun tour. Unlike the above-mentioned breakfast pastry incident, a battle against "zero-tolerance" was won when a criminal charge against Jared Marcum, also known as the kid who wore the NRA t-shirt to school, was dismissed. Marcum was charged with obstructing an officer after his teacher demanded he remove his t-shirt that read "Protect Your Rights," with a picture of a semi-automatic rifle on it. The charge against Marcum could have resulted in jail time but, thankfully, a West Virginia judge agreed that Marcum did not deserve a juvenile record from the incident. JULY U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder did not let a propaganda moment go to waste when he attacked "stand-your-ground" self-defense laws after a Florida jury acquitted George Zimmerman. Holder attacked the laws during a speech at the NAACP's annual convention. NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox responded on behalf of NRA saying: "The attorney general fails to understand that self-defense is not a concept, it's a fundamental human right. To send a message that legitimate self-defense is to blame is unconscionable, and demonstrates once again that this administration will exploit tragedies to push their political agenda." Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) showed us her thorough misunderstanding of the Constitution when she urged members of Congress to uphold it by passing gun control! Pelosi reminded Congress of their oath to "protect and defend" the Constitution in her bid to enact draconian gun laws that would have, themselves, trampled upon constitutional rights. NRA reached an important milestone in a long-term campaign of helping to establish concealed carry laws in all 50 states with the enactment of the Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act. True to form, Governor Quinn initially vetoed the measure, but the legislature overrode the veto to make Illinois the 50th state to have some legal recognition of the right to carry a firearm in public for self-defense. HB 183 had passed in the state legislature in May, after an extension of a deadline to comply with a ruling from the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued on December 11, 2012. That ruling had invalidated Illinois' total ban on carrying firearms for self-defense outside the home, but the court stayed its order for 180 days to allow the legislature to change the state's laws. While the final Act was not an unqualified success for either pro- or anti-gun constituencies, it marked an important step forward for recognition of the Second Amendment in the Land of Lincoln. AUGUST A poll released by the Pew Research Center found that those who prioritize Second Amendment rights were more politically involved and donate more money to political causes than do their anti-gun counterparts. Liberty-supporting citizens were also more likely to have contacted their elected officials to voice their opinions. "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" took a page out of Vice President Joe Biden's defensive tactics book when MAIG's Executive Director Mark Glaze offered some self-defense advice on MSNBC. When Chris Matthews asked what one should do in a situation where someone is attacking you with an ax handle, Glaze first stated that there are other ways than a gun to resolve the situation, such as "talk." Matthews asked, "Well, how do you talk to a guy with an ax handle? How do you talk to a guy with an ax handle?" Glaze replied, "Well, you fight him. You run away. You deescalate the situation." We've gotten used to Piers Morgan flaunting his flabbergasting ignorance on the issue of the Second Amendment. After he patronizingly referred to our Constitution and Bill of Rights as "your little book," one would think he couldn't possibly top that, and yet he did. During an interview with military history expert A.W.R. Hawkins, Morgan asserted that more gun ownership leads to more crime. Hawkins countered with proven statistics, noting that Virginia had recently experienced a large increase in gun ownership, yet a large decrease in violent crime followed. Morgan then counter-claimed that, according to the FBI, Virginia had the highest murder rate in the United States in 2009. In fact, the FBI's 2009 Uniform Crime Report completely refutes Morgan's assertion, demonstrating that Virginia ranked 26th among the 50 states in murder, with a rate 12 percent lower than the national rate. Biden announced that the president will use his executive authority and provisions of the Arms Export Control Act to deny future applications, by private importers, to import "surplus military weapons" for sale to private citizens. Lest there be any confusion, in this instance "surplus military weapons" means rifles, pistols and shotguns, and excludes fully-automatics, which haven't been legal to import for sale to private citizens since 1968. Additionally, BATFE issued a proposed rule to require FBI fingerprint-based background checks on the trustees and beneficiaries of corporations and trusts that acquire NFA firearms. SEPTEMBER On September 25, President Obama's designs on international gun control came closer to reality, as Secretary of State John Kerry signed the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty on behalf of the Obama administration. NRA strongly opposes this treaty, which clearly jeopardizes the right to keep and bear arms protected by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. NRA filed a "friend of the court" brief in support of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union challenging the National Security Agency's (NSA) phone records surveillance and metadata collection program. Through the program, NSA could have access to information that could be used to identify gun purchases and gun owners, despite federal laws prohibiting firearm registries. A historic victory for gun owners took place in Colorado when Colorado Senate President John Morse (D) and Senator Angela Giron (D) were recalled from office. What began as a grassroots effort quickly became a national issue and even got the attention of Michael Bloomberg, who donated mass amounts of money to keep Morse and Giron in office. The message of the constituency was simple: legislators work for the voters, not the other way around. Morse and Giron were respectively replaced by Bernie Herpin (R) from Colorado Springs, who sports an "A" rating from NRA-PVF, and NRA-PVF "AQ" rated and endorsed George Rivera (R), from Pueblo. OCTOBER The U.S. Senate and House continued to make their strong opposition to the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty known when both houses released concurrent, bipartisan letters pledging their opposition to the ratification of the treaty. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) led a bipartisan group of 50 Senators and submitted a letter reiterating to President Obama that the Senate overwhelmingly opposes the ratification of the ATT and will not be bound by its obligations. Led by Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Collin Peterson (D-MN), the House released a letter similar to the one released by the Senate; it was signed by 181 representatives--over 40% of the House. Michael Bloomberg took his "protect me from myself" campaign to Virginia. The anti-gun billionaire put a considerable amount of money behind "F"-rated gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe (D), and sponsored several anti-gun ads lying about the "gun show loop hole" and attacking "A" rated candidate Ken Cuccinelli (R) for his consistent pro-gun stance. McAuliffe prevailed, setting the stage for well-funded gun control efforts in the Commonwealth. NOVEMBER Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee titled "Stand Your Ground Laws: Civil Rights and Public Safety Implications of the Expanded Use of Deadly Force." Sen. Durbin made it clear that his intentions were to further pursue his attack on "Stand Your Ground" and self-defense laws generally through cynical and exploitative demagoguery. Two students at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, were put on probation for the "infraction" of displaying a legally-owned firearm to stop a potential home invasion by a convicted felon. The students lived in off-campus, university-owned apartments and were unaware that having a firearm on the premises violated a Gonzaga policy against possessing firearms on university-owned property, whether or not that property is located on campus. The firearm was confiscated the day after the incident and the students were suspended. New York Police Department Commissioner Ray Kelly showed us how anti-gun elitists really think when he requested a team of six armed NYPD detectives to keep him and his family safe in civilian life. It was reported that each detective would make about $120,000 a year, a salary paid by the taxpayers of New York, the very ones whom Kelly wants to keep unarmed. Kelly is a strong supporter of Mayor Bloomberg's sweeping gun control initiatives., However, he apparently doesn't mind armed protection when it benefits himself. DECEMBER Organizing for Action (OFA), a supposedly non-partisan, grassroots group (but in reality a subsidiary of the Obama administration), sent out an email encouraging supporters to hold events advocating gun control on the one year anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It didn't take long for Bloomberg's "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" and "Moms Demand Action" to jump on board and release ads exploiting the heinous crimes committed on December 14, 2012, and again using emotional manipulation to promote their gun control agenda. We encouraged the submission of comments--along with submitting NRA's own comments--in opposition to the BATFE's proposed rule requiring chief law enforcement sign-offs and background checks for a large and ill-defined group of "responsible persons" associated with NFA trusts. Hopefully, the overwhelming public opposition to the proposal will force the Obama administration to reconsider this poorly conceived effort that would only serve to further burden law abiding gun owners. In the closing hours of 2013, Judge William M. Skretny of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York issued a decision in a legal challenge to New York's recently-enacted gun control law, commonly known as the SAFE Act. While the Act's changes to the law are anything but safe for law-abiding gun owners, several aspects of Judge Skretny's decision represent important victories for the Second Amendment. One of the most important parts of Judge Skretny's decision is that it invalidated the Act's bizarre and unique requirement that magazines used and intended primarily for self-defense be loaded with no more than seven rounds of ammunition. At the same time, the decision let stand other onerous aspects of the law, including most of its expansions to New York's prior "assault weapons" and "large capacity" magazine bans. The fight will thus continue to vindicate the rights of competent, peaceable New Yorkers to own and use some of America's most common and popular Second Amendment arms. newsletter advertising Giveaways Each month in the newsletter we give away an NRA bag filled with NRA and ARFCOM goodies. Prize is awarded randomly to recipients of the newsletter who click on the embedded links. All you have to do is click on some of the links in the newsletter to qualify, and each month the previous month's winner will be announced. This month's winner is: Verne Contact us within 30 days to claim your prize. Benelli 3-Gun Shotguns The ARFCOM-built Benelli 3-Gun Edition is back in very limited numbers. If you didn't get a chance to order in the past, this is your chance to get in on the best deal out there on a competition ready M2. Both 21" and 24" models are available, but quantities are very limited. Benelli 3-Gun Shotguns : $1599 Billet Uppers The ARFCOM Billet Upper Receivers are once again available for order in limited quantities. These are stripped (include FA and dust cover assembly) uppers so you can build off of, or swap with an existing receiver in your upper. Constructed of 7075 aluminum and Type III Hard Anodized, these were designed to be a perfect complement to our billet lowers, but they will fit and match a standard mil-spec forged lower perfectly as well. Billet Upper Receivers : $174.99 BD-Series Handguards Used on our forged rifle builds, these free float handguards are being made available stand-alone by request. Offered in both a quad and smooth finish and in 9" and 12" lengths, all are CNC machined from 6061 aluminum forgings with mil-spec 8625 hardcoat anodized finish, and laser-engraved T-markings. Smooth-rails accept add-on rail sections from various manufacturers. BD-Series FF Handguard : $150.00 14.75" 1/9 M4 Barrels This barrel features an M4 profile and carbine length gas-system, and is nitrided inside and out for an ultra-durable finish, accuracy and long life. Chambered for 5.56mm NATO, with 1-9" right-hand twist cut rifling. Includes pre-installed barrel extension, with M4 feed ramps and locator pin. Gas port is drilled and muzzle is pre-threaded to accept 1/2"-28 accessories. 14.75" M4 1/9 Barrels : $139.00 GUN DIGEST Photo Gallery: 10 Hot New ARs from SHOT Show 2014 VIDEO: The Haley Strategic Jack Carbine Built by BCM Win an Operator III Rifle from Rock River Arms NRANews: Commentators Commentators Episode 38 "Think for Yourself" with Austin Weiss I get it; I deal with it every day. The older lady clinching her purse a little tighter as I walk by, or the stares from the older couple as they talk about my tattoos and stare like I can't hear or see them. Some of you are probably looking at me confused or maybe even concerned. Why am I talking gun rights? It might be a shock to some, but I have never been arrested. As a gun collector, I've had my background checked more times in one month than most people have in their entire lifetime. I'm a blue-collar welder/fabricator. I'm no different than any other hard-working American. I run a custom car and bike shop called The Garage, Inc. My team and I design, build and restore bikes and fulfill any other crazy requests my clients may have, from custom Segways to horse chariots. As a small business owner knows, this can require working late and alone to get the job done. That's what originally made me get a gun in the first place. I've always worked late nights and in some not so great neighborhoods when I first started out. So why am I telling you all this? Because I'm a citizen of this nation who wants to keep his right to bear arms. The next generation of gun enthusiasts will come in various looks, as you can see. But I am on the same page as the over-under shotgun guys I shoot with on Wednesday nights, as my hunter friends are, all the way to the personal protection guys I train with. Guns statistically do more good than bad, and unfortunately the government has their own agendas to remove these "killing machines" off the streets. But not one proposed law would do anything but affect us law-abiding citizens. People want to blame the tool used, not the person behind the tool. I say we ban evil. Better yet, let's ban "assault evil." It doesn't matter what we do or what bans we put into law. There will always be evil. We just can't ban EVIL. Guns have always been a part of the American way. If we want to keep our rights, we all need to come together and stand as one. I don't care what nationality, age or religion you might be. If you're pro-gun and believe in our Second Amendment right, then we the people have to stand side-by-side and push back. Wake up. Pay attention. Every day lawmakers try to find some way to stop us law-abiding citizens from having the right to bear arms. Do your own research. Don't listen to the news. They put out what works for them; they have to sell the news. Don't believe the hype. People judge me the same way they judge guns. It's because they don't want to take the time to check the facts for themselves. NRA-ILA: Latest Updates Detroit Police Chief Agrees: More Guns, Less Crime Except among dyed-in-the-wool anti-gun fanatics, it is a commonly accepted fact that Right-to-Carry laws not only do not cause crime to increase, they may deter violent crimes. It is also firmly established that people who have carry permits are statistically more law-abiding then people who do not. And the number of RTC states and carry permit holders reached all-time highs as the nation's murder rate fell to nearly an all-time low. Feinstein Uses Brady Bill Anniversary to Push for "Universal Checks" Last week was the 20-year anniversary of President Bill Clinton's signing of the Brady Act into law, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) used the occasion to urge readers of the San Jose Mercury News to go along with requiring background checks on private transfers of firearms. A "groundbreaking gun-safety law," she called the Brady Act. US District Court Strikes Down Chicago's Unconstitutional Ban on Firearms Sales Today, Judge Edmond E. Chang of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, ruled that the City of Chicago's ordinance banning virtually all sales and transfers of firearms inside city limits violates the Second Amendment and is therefore unconstitutional. In his ruling, Judge Chang noted the Second Amendment right to "keep and bear arms" includes the right to acquire firearms. New York Elitists Ray Kelly and Mayor Bloomberg Think Their Safety is More Important than Yours Outgoing New York Police Department Commissioner Ray Kelly has long been anti-gun. And, as a minion of anti-gun New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, he is, naturally, an outspoken proponent of Bloomberg's gun control initiatives and agenda. But guess what? When he leaves office and reverts back to just being an "average citizen," Kelly wants for himself, what he would quickly deny to you: Self-defense in the form of armed protection. NEWS & ISSUES January 29, 2014 - Obama says will continue gun control push without Congress January 29, 2014 - Virginia House votes to overturn Sunday hunting ban January 29, 2014 - Vermont: Gun control debated in Burlington January 29, 2014 - House bill proposes greater respect for gun rights in Georgia January 29, 2014 - South Carolina kicks back ban on gun concealed carry in restaurants LEGISLATION January 29, 2014 - Kansas: Comprehensive Pro-Gun Bill to be Heard in House Federal and State Affairs Committee January 29, 2014 - Maryland: Annapolis Update! Pro-Gun Bills Making Progress; Pro-Second Amendment Event Days Away January 29, 2014 - Tennessee: Multiple Pro-Gun Bills Pass Senate Committee January 29, 2014 - Indiana: Firearm "Buyback" and Destruction Prohibition Legislation Passes Senate January 29, 2014 - Indiana: Columbus to Consider Firearm Registration Ordinance

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