Legislative Happenings I Missed

Posted on August 3, 2005 by Professor Booty

Well, I didn’t actually MISS them, I just didn’t read the fine print.

From the Geek w/a 45 comes his report on the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act that came out of the Senate last week,

What a difference a year and an election makes!

.50 bmgs aren’t even brought to the altar for sacrifice, the few amendments that ended up attached don’t substantially change anything {although by the way the GOA is squawking, you’d think that door-to-door confiscation had been approved}, and the Senatorial gun bigots got their butts whipped red and handed to them on a stick.

I’ll be listening to GOA Chairman, Larry Pratt, on his radio show Live Fire on the Right Talk internet radio network the next time he comes on to see what his beefs are, but for now, I am quite happy, especially after the GWA45 points out these blurbs,

(a) Findings- Congress finds the following:

(1) The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

(2) The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the rights of individuals, including those who are not members of a militia or engaged in military service or training, to keep and bear arms.

Read that last part again.

I think that is the most useful phrase to come out of the Senate in years, quite literally.

Now try these ones,

(2)

To preserve a citizen’s access to a supply of firearms and ammunition for all lawful purposes, including hunting, self-defense, collecting, and competitive or recreational shooting.

(3)

To guarantee a citizen’s rights, privileges, and immunities, as applied to the States, under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, pursuant to section 5 of that Amendment.

Oh hell yeah!

Someone has been listening and doing some actual reading and researching of the roots of the Second Amendment as well!

Now if they could just get rid of the ‘Stupid Phone Call’ law, I’d be truly happy.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Legislative Happenings I Missed

Bargain Alert

Posted on August 3, 2005 by Professor Booty

So I received the July/August Natchez Shooters Supplies mini-catalog in the mail a couple weeks back. I’m looking through it for deals, and I see an advert for a set of Bushnell Powerview Roof Prism 10×42 Binoculars. I had heard some good reviews of these particular items from the guys at the range so when I saw the $39.95, knowing that others had paid close to $75, I quick-like-a-rabbit sent an order out for them.

My main reason for doing this is that I’ve gotten tired of hauling my spotting scope w/tripod out and around when I’m only shooting at 100yds. I figured that 10x will be just fine for seeing .30cal holes in paper at 100yds and losing almost 10lbs of stuff to carry around will be very nice.

After waiting for what seemed like forever (actually 13 days), I got them on my doorstep. I opened up the box o’ stuff I ordered along with the binocs (new rear rifle bag and a new scope and rings for the 10-22) and got to looking at everything.

I set the other stuff aside and took a good long look at the Bushnells. They were somewhat smaller than I had thought they’d be, but also lighter, which is good. They had the same amber colored coating on the front glass as the Burris Black Diamond 8-32×50 rifle scope that is on Barak the Boomershoot rifle and the fit and finish looked quite good, so I took them outside.

Wow, this isn’t the Bushnell I remembered; clear, with precise knob movement and no perceivable distortion anywhere in the glass. I knew these would be going to work with me that night.

The lot where my employer built its operations center is close to twenty acres in size and there are few streetlights, and none in the back portion of the property. After midnight, while I was taking a break, I took the Bushnells out for a looksee. The amber colored coating on the Burris 8-32 does a good job of gathering light so I figured the binocs would have the same capabilities.

Duh, almost twice the lens area equals almost twice the light gathering. I was 100 yards away from the back corner, watching the feral yard cats hunt. Them cats are some fast mofo’s, let me tell you. These are the closest things to actual night vision I’ve seen and I highly recommend them.

Now, having always favored the ‘night life’ and having been ‘nocturnal’ for close to five years now, I’ve got some decent natural night vision built up, so your milage may vary, but I doubt by much.

Next up in optics for the Kid, this bad boy from IOR Valdada to replace my semi-El Cheapo spotting scope to better suit me at next years Boomershoot. Then I’ll probably invest in some actual night vision equipment.

I was going to post a pic of the new equipment on the 10-22, but not now with this dial-up connection. Look for it as soon as Comcast fixes me up.

Posted in Kewel! | 3 Comments

I Want to Start a Discussion

Posted on August 2, 2005 by Professor Booty

On surveillance equipment in the public square.

With the failed bombers in the 07/21 attacks having been captured last week and over the weekend with help from London’s extensive matrix of cameras, there is going to be a push in the coming weeks and months by the ‘leaders’ of cities across the country of installing their own array of cameras to under the guise of catching the bombers who will inevitably come to America.

I think we should start talking about this now so as to get our points and counter-arguments ready for the discussion.

My contributions are these:

1. The only reason the cameras were of any use in catching the failed bombers is precisely because they failed, which is a rarity. Otherwise, the cameras only serve to show the carnage of a suicide bombing in real time.

We do not need cameras to tell us who blew up since bomb forensics experts can tell us that just like they can tell us what material the bomber used.

2. We cannot rely on the cameras to show us the face of the bomber, post-explosion, so as to identify him and his possibly terror ties. Any person with a few brain cells bouncing around can figure out how to make up a disguise that will foil a machine like a camera. A wig and/or fake mustache is easy enough to find and wear to avoid identification.

3. There will never be enough people to be able to watch every live camera on a monitor, so the camera itself will not deter anyone bent on their own destruction and as we have seen in the rise in rates of crime in the UK, the cameras aren’t even detering anyone from killing someone for their iPod.

I don’t consider anything I do outside of my home as ‘private’. Whether it is singing while I’m driving or holding my wife’s hand while we walk down the street, anyone can video tape me and I’m OK with that, provided they are not the government.

Private companies running security cameras or collecting data to figure out how to be more effective in selling, promoting or using their product is just A-OK with me. I’m a capitalist, what can I say.

But the government is a totally different beast entirely, and I mean the term ‘Beast’ in the most affectionate sense of the word. What use does watching me serve the government that is in my best interest?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

None. Nada. Nein. Zed. Zero. Zilch.

Please leave any contribution to the discussion you would like to make either in the comments or in my email box at analogkid – at – softgreenglow – dot – com.

Posted in Life in the Atomic Age | 7 Comments

e-Postal Match Follow-Up

Posted on August 2, 2005 by Professor Booty

To start, I got an email from Brass (aka Ryan) with his target that showed he shot an 84/100. Why his email never got to me is still a mystery to both of us, although I’m leaning on the side of either his firewall or mine blocking the absolutely huge pic file.

Being a good sport, Brass is not putting up a fuss and plans on doubling his efforts for the next e-Postal Match to be announced next Monday.

I will be deleting all entries from the last match out of my email on Friday, so if you sent me the only copy of your target and want it sent back, let me know by then.

Next up, we have Rivrdog and Cowboy Blob asking questions about Mr. Completely’s e-Postal Match for pistols.

While the Mr. is in Alaska doing some fishing, he did stop by and leave an answer of sorts:

Rivrdog:
I do not have an alternate target for the current handgun match, althogh the next target will be more conventional. The random distribution of the fly targets was part of the challenge, as you could not easily move across the page and reference from your previous shot placement. Each fly is located either higher or lower than the previous one. The next handgun target will be more conventional, and will also be 8.5 × 11, and will also be downloadable from the web.

I don’t know what to tell you, RD, other than those range guys are honestly and truly anal retentive if they won’t allow such an innocuous target such as this one.

The Mr. didn’t answer the Cowboy’s question, so I guess all I can say is Kinko’s my good man. Or maybe a buddy with a printer? You’ll need a friend’s rifle in an upcoming rifle e-Postal Match, so breaking the ice by asking to use their printer may not be a bad idea.

And finally, I will make an official announcement shortly, but I will be spending the weekend of the 20th and 21st of August in the northwest corner of Oregon along with the Rivrdog, Jerry the Geek and some other NW bloggers. If you are within or even near that particular realm of the country and have those days free, be ready to join us for some shooting the paper and shooting the shit.

Posted in Have Gun, Will Travel | Comments Off on e-Postal Match Follow-Up

Say something nice about Islam

Posted on August 2, 2005 by Professor Booty

Rivrdog started a meme and hit me with it and now that I have a spare moment, I shall do exactly that and then explain what I have to say:

Islam requires its followers to be physically modest.

The vast majority of moon worshipers are a modest people. The men must have beards and wear the little hats or a turban or some type of head covering. They must also cover up their bodies to an extent that most American’s consider overly modest.

The women are required to wear clothing covering them from chin to toe. More devout female followers of Mohammed take to wearing veils and head scarves and, in extreme circumstances, they wear the full burkha.

While modesty is hardly a Muslim contstruct, being found widely in Judeo/Christian societies as well, in today’s America, it is a bit rare.

But why is this ‘Saying something nice about Islam’, you ask?

First off, modesty in the western world is becoming more and more uncommon, kind of like the gentleman taking off his hat when entering a building or in the presence of a lady. Heck, calling a woman a “Lady� is becoming rare too.

Unlike what the liberals will tell you, modesty does have its place; like at the beach.

I don’t want to see someone built like Michael Moore in a speedo or Babs Streisand at the beach in a thong, but in America you can see that everyday at just about any beach (sorry about those mental pictures. Check this weekends posts for a cure).

Muslims are smart enough to cover up their ugly and hairy men. And their ugly and hairy women for that matter.

As an attempt for extra credit, I would also like to state that I think Islam punishes their criminals well. Their idea of crime needs to be worked on though.

So there, two things about Islam that I spoke nicely about. Do I get extra credit Rivrdog?

Posted in Life in the Atomic Age | 2 Comments

e-Postal Match Scores

Posted on August 1, 2005 by Professor Booty

Today is the day I happily get to announce that Mugwug of Moral Flexibility.Net is the winner of our first e-Postal Match by scoring an 82/100 using his highly modified SKS.

akmc_postal_02.jpg

I would also like to add that he is a Canadian. That’s right folks, we all lost to a Canuck.

But that, in and of itself, isn’t such a bad thing. Mugwug pretty much built this rifle by hand as his AZR (Anti-Zombie Rifle), so he knows it inside and out. AND, I might add that also knows how to shoot it.

Also, since his firearms are registered uniquely to him via his government’s boondoggle of a registration program and he has nothing along the lines of a Second Amendment, there is a chance of his government coming around and wanting him to hand over the weaponry, at which time he’ll need those skills.

Either that or he’ll need fast feet to get south of the border to the open arms of America.

I would like to, at this time, take a moment to thank all of the folks who participated. Please do not let this drill slip out of your consciousness as short range carbine skills are a very necessary item AND the fact that I will be returning to it in future months to see if we have improvement and maybe get different winner.

I also hope that you will stop by next Monday for the next rifle task in the e-Postal Match series. I am going to steal the term of the guy who gave us the idea for these matches and permission to use his platform, Og the Neanderpundit.

The term to describe next week’s task is ‘Killiards’.

Think about that and let it sink in. After you do that for a while, get your scoped guns out and cleaned and stop by here on Monday the 8th of August.

Also remember that you still have a week left to shoot and send in your targets for Mr. Completely’s handgun e-Postal Match.

Thanks again everyone. I have posted everyone’s scores below the fold so you can see where you stacked up.
Continue reading →

Posted in Have Gun, Will Travel | 4 Comments

Pin Shoot AAR

Posted on August 1, 2005 by Professor Booty

Pin Shoot AAR

As the saying goes, “my worst day at the range is better than my best day at work�.

Actually, I put that to the test on Saturday. Pics are at the bottom, my sad, sad story starts here.

I arrived early and got my stuff ready to go and helped set up for the day. I had gotten off work at 0515 and caught the 0700 ferry to the island. The drive, complete with newly burned CD’s, was fantastic. It was when the 0900 start time rolled around that the day went to hell.

I entered with my 1911 and my CZ83 in 380ACP, both in the centerfire iron sight class and during qualifying, I actually shot faster with the CZ, which I found odd. The trouble was that I absolutely could not slow down enough to shoot effectively. The bowling pins seemed to have gone down to half size and my shots just weren’t connecting worth a darn. Instead of going five for five or six for five, I was going nine and ten for five.

Disheartening to say the very least.

I entered on the grid in the seventh slot for the CZ and the ninth slot for my 1911 out of a field of fourteen folks, which I don’t consider too bad, seeing as how I was competing against folks with full on weighted and compensated race guns and competition reloads.

First up with the CZ versus a gentleman with a 1911. He took me in two straight as I was racing with myself instead of him. Oh well, no time to fret since I’m up again, this time with my 1911.

Again, I was racing myself and lost in two straight.

Oh well, I was really only there to see what my reaction to the buzzer was anyway, so I didn’t go away broken hearted. I knew I needed better equipment to compete when I arrived (a concealed carry pistol is not going to win against a six inch longslide gun, especially with my rusty fingers) and I really needed to get to the pistol range and sight in my Ruger 22/45 after putting the new sights on.

With the new sights the gun was hooting six inches high and six inches to the right. Adjustments made and I’m still shooting to the right. More adjustments, still in the same spot to the right. Check the sights to make sure everything is tight, and it is. No matter what I did I couldn’t get bullseyes with the new sights, I was always shooting inch to the right.

Oh well, times up, the rimfire classes are starting and I needed to go qualify. I keep repeating ‘It’s you, dummy. Shoot from right to left and aim just left of center’ over and over as I made my way there.

Then I get up to the line and bang, nothing happens. I can’t hit a pin, no matter where I aim. I’ve got people behind be telling me I’m hitting low so I aim higher and while I’m even with the pin, I’m sill missing it. I check for loose sights againt after my first qual table, but everything is on tight with no movement, so I figure it is just me and I slow down a bit, but that doesn’t work either, I just can’t hit shit.

I somehow managed to get through my four qualifying tables, twenty pins in eighty rounds makes me almost just want to pull up stakes and un-ass the area to save myself further embarrassment. But alas, I stuck with it.

To my extreme further embarrassment. I got knocked out in two with a ratio of fifty rounds for ten pins. I boxed up my Ruger and threw it in my R2 unit (quite literally) and cursed for a good 15 minutes. I don’t mind losing in a fair match, which it was, I just cannot stand that I was dumb enough to try and shoot with untested hardware AND that I tried to do it after being awake for 24 hours straight.

I’ll be working hard trying to find out what my major malfunction was as soon as I can get out to a range. Until then, my shadow shall not darken the range gate on competition day.

Anyway, now for the pics.

Ladies first, here is Pegi with her Ruger.

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FYI, Pegi is who took me in two rounds in the rimfire class.

Next up is Mrs. Completely, aka KeeWee

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Here is our good man Lou G with his Ruger

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And last but certainly not least, Mr Completely himself, taking out his third pin top and setting up the last two.

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Taking the day off

Posted on July 31, 2005 by Professor Booty

Yesterday’s performance at the pin shoot was, in a term, piss poor, and I’ll have a report on that tomorrow, with pics.

Today is going to be a day of doing nothing for me, although I’m sure that I’ll screw that up somehow too.

I’m still waiting for an answer from the good Professor on his whereabouts. I wish I could say that this isn’t like him, but it must be the third or fourth time I’ve known him to meander off and stay out of contact in the years that I’ve known him.

Speaking of the years I’ve known him, I think I’ll see if I can accelerate his return with a tale he hates to have told; How he and I became aquainted.

He doesn’t really ‘hate’ it, but it does annoy him quite a bit.

You see, around the mid 90’s (probably late 94/early 95 or so) Booty was dating a girl named Hannah. The Professor was still a semi-professional photographer then, working odd jobs to keep food on the table and taking photos to meet girls and maintain his equipment.

As it tuned out, I too was dating Hannah, but it took us both about three to four months to figure out that she was playing a game with the two of us. You see, she was a damn near total psycho and drama queen. She would drop subtle hints and leave clues that would lead us to each other, which it inevitably did.

Unfortunately for her, neither of us really cared. The Professor has never looked for a long term relationship from any woman and I was seeing another girl on the side of Hannah and we were both getting tapped by her rather regularly, so we sort of had a meeting of the minds and decided to see how long we could play her out.

That wasn’t the smartest thing two guys have ever done. After another month or so, she wanted a confrontation out of us and when we refused, she hit the ceiling like a bunker buster.

It was so funny to watch that the Professor and I went out of her apartment laughing our asses off and on to the bar down the road where we got monkey faced drunk.

And the rest, as they say, is history and we’ve been in contact regularly ever since.

Since Booty was a photog, he has, lets say, a multitude of photos of his past girlfriends and most of his hook-ups.

Including Hannah.
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Posted in Kewel! | Comments Off on Taking the day off

Up and Gone

Posted on July 30, 2005 by Professor Booty

Howdy all.

I am taking off to go shoot some pins and hopefully kick some butt. I am sad to say that I haven’t been in contact with Professor Booty yet this week though.

I sent him an email on Wednesday to let him know I have his new sign-on ready to go, but I still haven’t heard back from him and my phone call was recieved by his voice mail.

I’m not really worrying though, I’m sure that him and his latest hydrotherapy pupil are just hard at work, trying to get her over the hump or something of that nature.

But, because it is almost to be expected ’round these parts, I found something that I hope will substitute for his posting and placed it below the fold.

Wish me luck at the pins and have a good day. We’ll talk to you tomorrow.

AK
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Posted in Kewel! | Comments Off on Up and Gone

New Gear

Posted on July 29, 2005 by Professor Booty

I’ll be going out to Whidbey Island again this weekend to try my hand at knocking down bowling pins as fast as I am able. I’m planning on entering into the centerfire classes with my 1911 for the first time in longer than I care to mention and I may just put my .380ACP CZ-83 to the test as well if they’ll let me.

As for the rimfire class, I’ve gotten tired of not being able to hit an object an inch and a half wide and five inches tall from 25ft at speed so I went and bought an upgrade for my Ruger 22/45 Target Model.

New sights!

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The front sight is from HIVIZ and is as near to trick an item as I have ever put on a pistol. The sight base is the same size as the stock one, but has two hoops which hold the colored fiber optic insert. It came with six different inserts; a green set and a red set, and each set of colors has three different diameters ranging from 3/32 to 1/8.

Rather cool, if I do say so myself.

But that is not all!

I also ordered a new rear sight insert from One Ragged Hole. It came with two inserts, one that is 7/32 in diameter and one that is 9/32.

I have put the big insert on the front and the small insert on the back. When the pin crosses in front of the sights, BANG, pin goes down.

Hopefully anyway, because I’ll be shooting Mr. Completely’s ‘Flies’ target for the pistol Postal Match later that day too.

Posted in Have Gun, Will Travel | 3 Comments