Something to Check Out

Amidst the Noise, an NRA News Commentator, is doing a documentary on the media misrepresentation of violent crime rates. Check it out. I've already backed it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kwKCMsviv8

Bad Numbers

Apparently statistics relating to mass shooting events have been either "tweeked" by the FBI or misrepresented by the media.
You have to read all the way to the end to get "misrepresentation" viewpoint, but whichever one is true, the fact that one of the most emotion grabbing types of crime has been made to appear more prevalent - a definitely political move - makes it evident that important statistics must be carefully reviewed for fraud whenever they are published.

Hillary Clinton's Email

Here's hoping that this manages to end her political career. With everything that she has been involved with so far, establishing a record of corruption and dishonesty, her political career should have been cut short years ago.
Her continued survival as a viable political candidate is evidence that the American political and legal system is damaged.

Why I love the Mosin-Nagant

The Mosin-Nagant is one of the longest serving rifles the world has ever seen. First entering service in 1891 as the standard infantry rifle of the Russian Empire, it is still in service with insurgent groups, the Finnish military (somewhat modified as the 7.62 Tkiv 85, but undeniably a variant), and possibly some Russian law enforcement. There have been an estimated 36,000,000 produced by Russia/USSR alone, and while not all countries' production can really be counted towards the total (Finland continues to use already produced parts for its guns, including receivers taken from captured Russian weapons), millions more were produced in various countries. With this long history of use, its no surprise that Mosins of one variant of another have been used in every major war since its adoption. At a minimum (Soviet/Warsaw Pact M44s and Chinese Type 53s) any Mosin Nagant is a piece of Cold War history, issued to Eastern bloc armies, militias, and affiliated insurgencies and terrorist organizations, while others may have seen service in WWI, the Russian Civil War, the Finnish Civil war, the Winter War, WWII, the Continuation War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and/or one of the various internal conflicts of the Warsaw Pact. While still in use in Afghanistan and Iraq, you aren't likely to run into a rifle used in either conflict due to US soldiers no longer being allowed to bring back "trophies".
Mosins are used by civilians for a variety of purposes, from target shooting to hunting. The 7.62x54R round can be had for as little as $0.20 a round, making it one of the most affordable rifles to shoot, and with proper ammunition, the Mosin can be used to take down even the largest game in the US.
As a defensive rifle, Mosins generally suffer compared to more modern battle rifles such as the FN FAL, AR15, and AK, due to its limited magazine capacity and lower rate of fire.
Even so, multiple Mosins may be had for the cost of a single more modern rifle, and in a really sticky situation the gun makes a very good war club or, with the addition of a bayonet, a spear, making it a good choice for outfitting a fixed defensive position, bug out bag, or even a platoon of friends on a budget.
The Mosin's issues are more than made up for by the cost of the gun and its ammunition. At current prices, even the most cash strapped can afford to own and regularly shoot a Mosin. Stockpiling ammunition is well within the realm of possibility for most individuals, meaning that, with a little bit of prior planning, you can easily have enough ammunition to last for years.
While harshly criticized for accuracy, the Mosin is considerably more accurate than most give it credit for (as long as the gun is in good condition). The gentleman in the video is hitting steel at 944 yards, without a scope.
Every man should own at least one Mosin, the budget battle rifle.

Current prices range from $139 all the way up to ~$700 for a 91/30 PU sniper. "New" production Mosins are not currently available in the US (Molot produces "new" Mosins for the hunting market in Europe by modifying existing Soviet Era guns).

Just a little fun in the Desert... With Milsurp firearms

Polarization of Foreign Policy?

From CBS:

Former White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer, who just left his job at the White House Friday, told "CBS This Morning" co-host Charlie Rose that the country is "at a very dangerous point in our polarization of foreign policy."
Pfeiffer thinks the letter is an attempt to undercut President Obama's authority.

That's cute. They think that the Senate doesn't have the final say on foreign policy. The president can sign treaties, but only the Senate can ratify them, and until the Senate ratifies a treaty, it has no force of law.

The US Constitution
Article 2 Section 2 Paragraph 2 (referencing the Executive power to make treaties)

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

F*** NO!

Mr. Bush, we do not want you to run for president. We do not want or need a third Bush in the White House. For starters, you'll be stepping into the shoes that you're dad and brother have vacated. If you win, you'll be creating a dynasty. In addition, your family record is one of social conservatism, fiscal liberalism, and increasing statism. Your father entered office saying "No New Taxes", but raised taxes while he was in. Your brother signed the Patriot Act into law, placing security ahead of freedom. There is no place for you in the Oval Office.

"Controversial" Ammo Ban is Temporarily shelved!

From FOX News:

ATF shelves controversial bullet ban proposal

I'd just started the article when suddently:

The agency said in a statement on Tuesday it would not seek to issue the final guidelines "at this time." The proposal pertained to M855 "green tip" ammunition, used in the AR-15 rifle, which regulators looked at banning because it can pierce police body armor.

In addition to M855, every other 5.56 NATO cartridge in existence will go right through normal police body army, which is generally rated Type II or IIIA. Type IIIA armor is only rated for up to .44 magnum which, at its best is over 1000fps slower than 5.56 NATO out of an 8 inch barrel. That extra velocity means that "soft" armor can't stop it. No rifle round is going to be stopped by anything less than a Type III hard plate, which is fully capable of stopping a lot of incoming 5.56 NATO, no matter the composition of the bullet.
In addition,  M855 doesn't even meet the current definition under the law to be considered armor piercing, due to its lack of "a jacket comprising 25% or more of the weight of the projectile" and the fact that its core is partly lead (the law requires that the core be comprised wholly of one or more hard metals, such as steel or tungsten)
This little gem near the end showed just how much research the articles author did:

The weapons would still work without the M855s but they would no longer be capable of firing body-armor piercing ammo.

M855 is no more or less capable of penetrating body armor than any other 5.56 NATO round. Type IIIA and below is effortlessly penetrated, and Type III and above just laughs at it.

The other thing of note in the article:

The ATF said it would instead wait until Americans have finished commenting on the federal regulations and evaluate their comments and suggestions before "proceeding with any framework."

The fight isn't over yet. Keep on emailing those Congresscritters and let them know just what you think.

Clinton Convenience aka Corruption and Poor Security

Hillary Clinton's private email showcases corruption and poor data security.
From the BBC:

Mrs Clinton said no classified material was sent from the private account and said her use of personal email was permitted by the state department.
"I fully complied with every rule," she said.
But she said she had discarded thousands of personal emails, including ones about planning her daughter's wedding and her mother's funeral.

If she'd fully complied with every rule she wouldn't have used a private email for one of the most sensitive jobs in the world. Did you know that not all sensitive information is classified, that snippets of unclassified data can be combined into classified knowledge, and that, depending upon your job, it can be really easy to take classified information for granted and let it out in conversation with close family (this is why, if you have a spouse, your spouse must be eligible for whatever clearance you receive, even though they'll likely never receive a clearance).
In addition, given her previous track record, anything she says has to be taken with a (large) grain of salt. I'll believe that no classified information was sent using her private email, that she really turned over all the relevant emails and that she hasn't already deleted all the incriminating emails when she proves it in a court of law.