French gun control proven failed during the recent riots.

Watch these videos and be outraged.  ​ Criminals parading down the streets of France with illegal guns while law abiding citizens have no way to protect themselves.   There are many examples from all over the world proving that criminals will have guns, even if they are outlawed.  Last year, I wrote about a school shooting in Russia.  

America has the 2nd Amendment to guarantee our right to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Here's a must watch video of Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears responding to the shooting earlier this month outside of the Altria theatre after a High School Graduation ceremony.  She said: "Even if you took all the guns off the street, from the law-abiding citizens, the others who mean harm, who mean to kill and mayhem, they're going to have the guns." 

She's right of course, the way to prevent these crimes is to get tough on crime.   However, enforcing existing laws and keeping criminals off of the street is not what the left wants.  This article says:

"The shooting prompted a floor speech by U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, who called for her colleagues in Washington to legislate background checks and an assault weapons ban to protect children."

Assault weapon ban and background checks to protect children???  This is so stupid.   The shooter used a handgun, not what the left calls an "assault weapon."  He was also 19 and can't legally buy a handgun - though I only saw this referenced in one article out of the five I read about the shooting.  There are already background checks on ALL gun purchases.  

Here's a great article on Winsome Sears' appearance on the Bill Mahr show.  She is a strong pro-gun advocate and I love her comments in this article about women and guns.

What makes no sense, of course, is Mahr's comments:  "I mean, I do not like guns. I have guns. I do not like them. I always compare them to antibiotics. I never want to take one, but I’m glad they exist because I’m as small as some women," Maher joked.

Hopefully he's joking.  A gun is not very likely to do him any good if he doesn't like them and doesn't want to use them.  It sounds like he's hoping he can somehow rise to the occasion when his life is on the line.   Mahr isn't the only one though, I know several people who own guns for self-protection but have never been trained how to safely use them and never practice with them.   

If you own guns, please don't be like them.  Get trained on safe gun handling, marksmanship and self-defense and then practice regularly.

Several years ago, I wrote urging gun owners to lock-up their guns to keep them out of the hands of kids and prevent accidents.  Several incidents have brought this topic back to mind lately and my opinion has not changed.

First, I saw the report that North Carolina had two cases of guns at school on the same day!  Two different kids at two different schools appear to have brought a gun to school to show their friends.  One was a middle school student and the other one was only 6 years old!

Then, I got the following letter from the High School Principal of Powhatan County Schools here in Virginia (I added bold):

Good Afternoon Indian Families!
In the last two days, we received reports and found three weapons in locked student vehicles at Powhatan High School. Even though no threat of harm was made in any of the incidents, the mere presence of a weapon at school is a violation of the Code of Virginia and poses a potential danger to our school community. For each incident, staff, in conjunction with the Powhatan Sheriff’s Office, conducted a threat assessment. In addition, each incident resulted in student discipline and law enforcement being notified.  
We understand that there are community members who own weapons for a variety of personal and recreational uses outside of school time. We urge you to continue to talk with your children about personal and community safety, as well as the criminal and disciplinary consequences of bringing weapons to school. <remainder of the letter removed>

Even though we live in a pretty rural area, I was shocked by this letter.  I'm guessing these were similar situations of kids bringing guns to school show their friends (which is how the administration was informed).  Some high school seniors are adults and can purchase a rifle or shotgun.  I also know that most teenagers are capable of learning to safely handle and shoot guns because I've taught many to do so myself.  However, I don't think either of these is a good enough reason to let a kid have unfettered access to a firearm.  The good news is that that none of these recent incidents resulted in anyone getting injured or killed.   Hopefully, the gun owners involved will ensure their guns are no longer accessible to kids.

Last week I raved about Tippman Arms and how well they are handling the new rule from the ATF on pistol stabilizing braces.

Now Gun Owners of America and Tippmann have announced a partnership to help preserve our 2nd Amendment rights.  Check out the sweet-looking M4-22 Elite Tippmann is selling to raise money for the fight.  This is an excellent opportunity to get a lightweight, accurate and reliable rifle and support a good cause at the same time.   

While you are there, go ahead and join the Gun Owners of America!  It is important that we don't take gun rights for granted.  I'm a member of the GOA, NRA and VCDL.  If all U.S. gun owners would donate the amount of money they spend on one box of ammo per year to each gun rights organization, we would never have to worry about our rights being taken away.

Last month I wrote about the new ruling from the ATF on pistol braces.  This ruling has the potential to turn many law abiding citizens into criminals if it is allowed to stand.   I don't own any pistols with braces but, if I did, I would not register the gun as a short-barreled rifle (which would amount to accepting with the ATF's stance).   I would rather make them legal pistols or legal rifles.

I really love how Tippmann Arms is helping their owners comply.   They clearly explain how to make each type of their guns comply with the rule and are discounting the parts needed.  Notice that installation of parts AND shipping both ways is FREE! 

I've got a Tippmann Arms Elite rifle and it has really impressed me.  It is a high quality rifle, accurate, functions flawlessly and accepts many standard AR parts.  Seeing how the company has handled this situation will definitely ensure I buy more guns from them in the future.

My favorite part of the announcement from Tippmann:
"Here at Tippmann Arms we do not agree with this rule. We do feel it's important you know how not to stay out of trouble with the government.  Let the courts settle this issue."

Hard to believe that 2022 is over.  Do you have any New Year's Resolutions for 2023?  

I'd be privileged to assist if you'd like to learn to shoot as a new hobby or to prepare to protect yourself.  Our training calendar is open and I'm looking forward to another great year of training.  

If you are like the thousands of gun-owners who own a pistol with a stabilizing brace, I would recommend spending some time reading the articles below.  The ATF has issued a final ruling which basically declares pistols with stabilizing braces as Short Barreled Rifles (SBRs).  They aren't illegal but are highly-regulated by the NFA and require registration with the ATF.

I don't own any guns configured like this but I'm against the ATF changing the definition of guns whenever they want.  It is a dangerous precedent for the ATF passes a new ruling and suddenly thousands or millions of people who legally purchased guns are forced to register, turn-in or destroy their guns with no compensation.  

The ATF made a similar ruling with bump stocks during the Trump administration and I believe the Supreme Court recently disallowed  that rule.  It sounds to me like this new ruling will be challenged in court too but that will take years and gun owners may be stuck in-limbo.

ATF Posts Final Rule
​
Everything is an SBR

Brace Owners have 120 days to Register

Five Reasons Not to Register your Stabilizing Brace

The Pistol Brace Rule is a TRAP
​

Russia's strict gun-control policies didn't prevent an awful tragedy in Izhevsk last week where 15 were killed and 24 wounded in a school shooting.  The shooting took place at a school with first through eleventh grades.  11 of those killed and 22 of those injured were children.  The killer was a 34 year-old past student and he killed himself when his rampage was over.

According to the article, Russia has very strict gun control. "For example, handguns are banned from private ownership, as are automatic rifles and pistols. Certain rifles and shotguns may be owned, but private citizens must acquire a firearm license in order to own them."  

We aren't likely to get more details about what happened but it is clear that this guy was able to create a lot of carnage in a short time and likely not challenged by anyone who was armed.