Free In Idaho!

Did the weather guy mention it was going to snow today?  Yeah, and he said it was going to be windy too.  He was right.  Couple of inches of snow, 35 degrees, and about a 28 mph wind… that’s what greeted the hardy souls who brought their toys out for the IAWCA St Paddy’s Day Shoot at Blacks Creek Range today.  And quite a crowd it was.  There were 21 shooters and a few guests registered today, which was a little surprising considering the conditions.  It was brisk, to say the least.

Ah. Fresh snow.  Sunshine.  A great range.  Lots of full auto shootie goodness.  What more can you want?  (don’t say “no wind and 59 degrees like last year”)  The vehicle target this year was a cute little import truck, sitting out just past the 100 yard line.  Tannerite embellishments were an added bonus.  The gentleman who donated the truck got the honor of taking the first shot, and he did himself proud with a direct hit on a tannerite target on his first shot.  Excellent way to start!

Subguns, short-barrel shotties, lots of suppressors, a couple pistols, some tripod mounted belt-feds, including a wonderful Ma Duece, a couple of BARs, many M-16s, and a bunch of interesting “foreign made” autos made up the bulk of the armorment.  This is an NFA oriented club, but of course there was plenty of semi-auto and old boltie action as well.  Something to interest everyone.  The M2 was a show stealer.   Not only did it burn up a lot of expensive .50 cal ammo, it started the little truck on fire.  Impressive.

About half the shooters froze out after the first round, so they packed up and left.  But the rest of us reset the water jugs and refrigerant cannisters that were still whole enough to shoot again, some “left-over” tannerite magically appeared, and we all went again.  I was impressed that so many rounds were used today.  And the newbies!  You can always tell someone who just shot an auto for the first time, their grin stretches all the way to their ears.  A great day was had by everyone. 

Many folks can’t believe that all this stuff, the machineguns, the “sawed off shotguns”, and the suppressors are legal.  Oh yes, they are.  The other day Joe Huffman told the story about folks at Boomershoot coming up to him to tell him someone was firing a machinegun at the shoot.  Yeah.  Cool isn’t it!  If you ever get a chance to make it to a full auto shoot, by all means do!  Celebrate the freedoms we have.

So, the coffee is made, my Sweetie and the dog are both asleep here on the couch beside me, so it’s time to do some Saturday morning reading.  Let’s see…

Fiscal baloney.  Yup.  Reason has “Five Lies About The American Economy“.

How can the American economy keep getting worse under the intensive care of an interventionist economic team almost universally praised for its brilliance? The answer may be that the Obama administration is dealing with a fictional economy, one that bears little resemblance to the economy the rest of us inhabit. And when the difference between fact and fiction becomes too apparent, they just make stuff up.

The American people don’t want it. But Obama doesn’t care. IBD has “Why The Health Bill Makes No Sense“.  But really, who needs 15 reasons?  The American people have said NO.  That oughta settle that.

Health Reform: So it’s come down to this — desperate Democratic leaders strong-arming members on the worst bill ever before they go home to explain to constituents why they decided to commit political suicide.

I was at the Sheriff’s yesterday getting my CWL renewed. A lot has changed in the years since I was there last.  Then it was a small desk tucked away in the back of the drivers license office.  Today the weapons permit desk has been moved out to the main lobby, and made much bigger. There are now two ladies working it because, let’s face it, they’re doing a lot of business. At 11am there were five or six folks behind me and two ahead of me. Only a couple of these were renewals, so the ranks of those carrying concealed is growing daily. Here’s a short article with some good tips for those just beginning.

So select the size of your pistol first and foremost, and base it on what you need in order to carry it 24-7, 365 days a year (all the time).

Something to think about, concerning the differences between libertarians and conservatives (esp neo-conservatives). Is Libertarianism Real Conservatism? Give this a read, see what you think.

Considering their new, radical definition, it’s easy to see why Rush and other mainstream conservatives don’t consider libertarians part of their movement — because they’re not. And while it remains to be seen how the irreconcilable differences will play out between limited government libertarians (whose numbers are growing) and big government neoconservatives (whose ideology still dominates), let there be no more ignorance about which philosophy is truly more alien to the historical American conservative movement — and let there be no further delusions about which philosophy was most responsible for creating it.

Did you know that 36% don’t pay any taxes at all now? Actually, when you think about it, it’s worse than that. How many of those 36% actually get cash payments _from_ the government? Spreading the wealth. If you tried to open a restaurant and fed 36% of your “customers” for no charge, how long could YOU stay in business? Here’s a couple of interesting charts on who pays taxes these days.

Well, enough of that.  It’s getting light out.  Time for some fresh eggs and bacon, then load some rifles in the truck and head for the range.  Hope you all have a great day!

Hmmm… so my eyeballs thought they’d get a jump on daylight savings time this morning and popped open at 4am.  Not bad, as far as that goes, since some mornings it’s 3am.  But on walking out to fire up the coffee pot, I noticed the white glow from the backyard.  Snow.  That’s pretty sorry.  Not only does it put the garden to sleep, it means the shoot at the range today wil be, uh, cold and mucky.  And if it starts raining after sunrise, a lot of folks will stay home…

Good for the weatherman though.  He’s been threatening snow all week but coming up empty.  He finally got a point on the board.

The Idaho Automatic Weapons Collectors (IAWCA) will be holding their first shoot of the year this Saturday.  The St Paddy’s Day Fun Shoot is, as the name says, a get out and shoot fun time, to blow off the cobwebs, so to speak.   As usual, shooters and spectators are welcome.  Range fee will be $20 for IAWCA club members, $30 for non-members.  Spectators are free.  You don’t need a full auto for this shoot either.  There will be both full and semi weapons, old military bolties, and probably a few high power rifles as well.  Among the usual “interesting targets” this year will be a pick up truck.

The event is this Saturday, March 13th.  Registration and set-up begin at 10AM, a mandatory safety meeting will begin at 11:30, and the first “commence firing” command will be given at noon.  Once again, the Black’s Creek Rifle Range just south of Boise will be the site.  Come on out!  See how long that pickup lasts against a couple belt-feds and a bunch of shoulder fired machine guns.  What else do you have to do Saturday, clean the garage?

Idaho joined Montana and Tennessee with its own version of a “Firearms Freedom” bill yesterday.  The Idaho Statesman reported

The House State Affairs Committee Thursday approved a bill that would make firearms manufactured and sold in Idaho exempt from national gun laws. That could include federal regulations requiring background checks on gun buyers.

The Spokesman Review had a bit more detail, particularly about the legislator’s intent to challenge the Federal government’s power

(Rep)Harwood told the committee, “This is automatically going to end up in a court case, that was the object of this bill. It’s not to control guns, it’s not to do anything, it’s to change. … To tell the state of Idaho we can run our own commerce, that’s what this bill is about.” Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, told the panel, “We want to take this to court, we want to create a controversy, and that’s where we’re headed with this. And Idaho will be part of a grander scheme.” The bill then was approved on a voice vote, with just two “no” votes.

The comments at the two papers indicate there are a number of folks who don’t understand the bill is about the struggle between the States and the FedGov, not primarily about guns. They don’t seem to care about the constitutionality of Obamacare, the ridiculous expense of the auto company takeover bailout, or the lack of actual job creation for Idahoans in such “pet politician projects” as the Mayor Dave Bieter Memorial Downtown Boise Trolley Car To Nowhere… but let a Republican Representative from a small town in North Central Idaho come to the table with a Firearms Freedom Bill and the bleating class are fairly vocal.

I don’t really have a dog in the “open carry at Starbucks” thing.  I’ve never given it much thought when I see someone open carrying a handgun, although even here in Idaho it isn’t an everyday thing.  I personally don’t open carry in town, but I do when I hunt or hike, especially if I’m carrying a pack.  It’s a matter of personal preference, and I just prefer to carry concealed.

My Sweetie and I took a few minutes to stop into a Starbucks yesterday afternoon.  Nobody knew there was at least one person in the shop with a concealed handgun, so no one’s worldview was threatened or challenged, and no one’s day was ruined.  As a matter of fact, if some of the other patrons knew there was an armed man in the place they might have been more at ease.  Another customer in the shop was dressed rather oddly, even for downtown Boise.  Bug Out Bag, black ninja pants, some sort of handheld radio clipped to the web gear on his chest, a sheathed knife, hardwood cane with metal handle, and a 24 inch riot baton on his belt… no, he was definitely not BPD (they have even cooler uniforms with badges).  At the risk of sounding unkind, he looked somewhere between “Mom’s basement” and “halfway house”.  I guess though, with him in the store, I could have open carried and no one would have noticed.

Mr Completely has the first ePostal handgun match for 2010 posted.  Go look.  Yeah, I know, I said I wasn’t going to shoot them anymore (hand tremor), but hey, I might have to give it another go.

From an interesting article about today’s Supreme Court hearing on the Chicago gun case, today’s quote is from lawyer Alan Gura

“Nobody has a legitimate reason to fear a faithful interpretation of the Constitution, and nobody has any legitimate reason to fear effective and complete protection of civil rights,” he said. “There are people who do fear what they might perceive to be a bad case following from the decision in McDonald, but the fact a future court might make an erroneous decision is no excuse to make an erroneous decision in this case.”

Hear, hear. (my bold, by the way)

Another article about the upcoming Supreme Court handling of the Chicago Second Amendment (and Fourteenth Amendment) case.   This is Alan Korwin over on the AmmoLand site.

Is Chicago obligated, under the 14th Amendment, to honor and respect your rights? It says no, it can do as it pleases and screw your rights, just like other abhorrent petty tyrants currently running loose without nooses in the United States. (FWIW, Illinois, Maryland and New Jersey filed briefs supporting Chicago, a total of three arguing against RKBA rights.)

I say, along with a huge chunk of this great country, that the states should be as totally bound to protect and safeguard the rights you have as an American citizen as all government should be. (38 briefs were filed in defense of our rights, including one by 251 congressmen and 58 senators). I go a bit further and say the bigots who have been denying and repressing your rights all this time belong in prison, but we’re not likely to go that far. This time.

That’s a pity… time seems to be running out these days.

Yeah, sometimes life gets very full.  My Sweetie and I have put more than 1000 miles on the truck over the last few days.  We took advantage of some easy weather to take care of some business in the north part of the state.  My apologies for the empty blog… the computer didn’t make the trip with us.  Yes, I planned it that way.  One of the goals this year is to actually “I can quit any time - I really don’t need it”.  Leaving the computer home was very nice. 

One of the things we found out is that right at the moment there isn’t near as much snow up north as there should be.  Very easy winter so far.  Here’s what it looked like last March at the Boomershoot site.  Here’s what it looked like Sunday.  Yeah, it can change in a minute up here, but so far, we’re more worried about a too early Spring than we are too much snow.

A felon with guns?!!  Oh No!

Anthony Ashley is being held in the Ada County Jail on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm after police found 20 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition in his North End home.

Police say they are still investigating how the 49-year-old Ashley was able to get the guns, since as a convicted felon, he is not permitted to have any. Police officials say there is no indications Ashley was selling guns and the case is still under investigation.

He’s “not permitted”. That’s all there is to it.  There’s a law!  How did he get them?  He’s not playing fair. Waaaaaaa….

You know that creeping wussiness has invaded the Gem state and taken up a large and growing presence in Boise, centered, ironically enough, on the North End. So it is humorous that this guy makes the paper but the 6 other guys also in the County lockup for “felon in possession” did not. This guy lives in the North End.  Hmmm.  Perhaps that’s just coincidence though?

Maybe it’s the tremendous hoard of ammo he had? 5000 rounds! Goodness, who does he think he is, Venezuela or something? Who needs more than one bullet? 5000. Wow. If his 2 rifles were .22’s and he had a couple bricks for each, that leaves 3000 rounds for his 16 handguns and 2 shotguns. That’s less than 2 boxes of WWB from Wal-Mart for each.  Definitely, the guy is a menace.  We oughta have another, more powerful law.

People. Get. A. Grip.

Take a minute to go through the arrest record and the inmate list on the Ada County Sheriff’s website. Read what all those hundreds of folks are in for. We don’t have a problem with guns and bullets in Idaho, we have a problem with criminals in Idaho. Burglary. Child molestation. Assault. DUI. How about a little real concern where it is due? Let’s not get all worked up over some guy’s guns. Let’s get worked up over the fact that there are hundreds of really bad people out there.

Or is that inconceivable in Boise?

(Bonus chuckles are to be had in the comment stream to that article.)

UPDATE: this evening the paper is reporting that at least 5 of the weapons were stolen from cars

Police discovered Wednesday that at least five of those guns, valued at $4,500, were stolen from vehicles parked in the Boise area over the last few months. Police say Ashley forced entry, like smashing windows, to get into the cars. “Detectives want to remind citizens that leaving weapons in a vehicle, even in a locked vehicle, is a risk no one should take,” Sgt. Jeff Basterrechea said.

I have to agree. And what I said earlier about bad guys on the street? Yup, got it right here

Ashley has convictions for robbery, grand theft by possession, and illegal possession of weapons in Wisconsin, Idaho, Arizona, and California, beginning in 1980, according to Boise police reports and Idaho court records.

The laws don’t stop it, and the whole idea of “rehabilitation” is a joke. Be careful out there!

Noticed this meme (yeah, I’m late) at Say Uncle.  Here’s a photo I took a year ago.  It’s in the blog files but I can’t seem to remember where I used it in a post.  Same pockets today.  I’ve been practicing with something else as a primary carry but I’m not ready to switch yet.