kudos to you, Democrat Paul Hackett

The other day I posted about how rifles are not great for home defense, and that shotguns should be used instead. This is not to say that rifles don't have their uses: hunting, target shooting, your constitutional citizen militia duties, etc.

Today I found a case of why using a rifle, even though it is physically a good choice in defense, is a bad political choice.

Indian Hill lawyer and former congressional candidate Paul Hackett - armed with a loaded assault rifle - chased down three men in a car after it crashed into a fence at his home in the early morning hours of Nov. 19.

His "assault rifle"? It was a semi-automatic AR-15. A rifle that you could pickup for anywhere between $600-2000 depending on what you add onto it. A rifle that is the civilian, semi-auto version of what our troops use. It's a great accurate rifle. Depending on how it's configured it can be a perfect long range varmint rifle or a fun short range plinker.

But, because it's a so-called "assault rifle", people are going to give him shit for this. If he had used a shotgun, he wouldn't be getting part of this heat.

Just look over at the left-wing Huffington Post, in the comments section, to see how he's getting grilled about this in the public mind. Some of the gun ignorance there is astounding, to say the least. It just shows again that people often fear what they don't understand.

The funny thing is that of all people for this to happen to, Hackett was one of the most well trained for the situation.

Hackett told police "he had done this about 200 times in Iraq, but this time there was not a translation problem."

Personally, I completely support what Paul Hackett did. I don't even have a problem with the fact that he used his AR-15. But the fearful mentality of this country, which has been force fed this idea that "assault weapons" are evil, makes people unable and unwilling to see that they do have legitimate uses.

Oh, and for the record, he ran as a Democrat. So kudos to him.

Closing the Gun Show Loophole

RICHMOND, Va. - Legislation introduced Monday would require private sellers at gun shows to obtain a criminal background check on buyers.

The measure would close the so-called gun show loophole, where licensed dealers are required to run background checks on anyone wanting to buy a gun, but unlicensed dealers - those selling guns from their personal collection - are not.

OK, first some background on gun shows. At every gun show that I've been too, you will find that nearly all the guns that are being sold by dealers setup along tables. These dealers are licensed by the government. When you buy a gun from them, you fill out some paperwork, which the dealer must keep for several years before destroying. The dealer is also required to call the state police and perform a criminal check. If you come up clean, then you can buy the gun.

Now, amongst this sea of tables & licensed dealers, you'll have a couple dozen guys who have their unloaded rifles slung over their shoulders, usually with a piece of paper taped to the gun with a price on it. These are the guys who are looking to unload their rifles. These are the so called "unlicensed dealers". These are ordinary people, who own guns, but for whatever reasons they want to sell off that old shotgun, or whatever. Currently, transactions between these people are not regulated, which is the "loophole" that oft gets talked about.

The problem is that a very small number of guns find their way into criminal hands via person to person sales, which sometimes occur at gun shows. What gun control advocates are calling for in this bill is the following:

Let's say Bob has a rifle and Joe wants to buy it from him. Bob & Joe would have to go to one of the many dealers at the show. They would pay the dealer $15, and the dealer would then run the background check on Joe. If it came up clean, then Joe could buy the gun from Bob. Otherwise, no deal. Either way, the dealer gets to keep the $15. However, if the deal goes through, then dealer must now keep that record on hand for the next 20 years. This, for a gun that they did not own, for a gun that they did not sell.

Now, let's say you're that dealer, and 20 years from now you get audited. It's already hard enough to keep the records straight and available for the guns that you bought and sold, but now you'd be required to deliver information on transactions that you merely acted as the mediator for. This is unfair.

Also, at most gun shows, the dealers are very busy calling in background checks for actual customers. If this law passed, I doubt that Bob and Joe would be willing to find an agreeable dealer who would perform the transaction and be willing to keep the paperwork on hand for the next 20 years.

Next, let's say Bob didn't go to the gunshow. Instead, he sold his old duck hunting shotgun to his pal Bill, who he has known for years. This would be illegal under the new laws.

Furthermore, many gun owners are very paranoid about licensing schemes, which in other countries have been used as lists for when gun confiscation is dictated by the government. Keeping a record of a civilian gun transaction on hand for 20-25 years, is in effect, keeping a list of all gun owners.

So, how would I fix this problem?

I would shift some of the burden here. Let's say that instead of that plan, we go with this: at each gun show, the state shall provide two police officers who shall oversee all person-to-person transactions. One of the officers will have a laptop, which will have a cellular wireless card, that will allow him to run instant background checks right then and there on the spot. From our example, Bob and Joe would go to the cops at the gunshow, and the state would oversee the transaction. The state should then only keep the paperwork on file for a period of no longer than 5 years. Because really, if the guy was going to commit a crime with his newly purchased duck hunting shotgun, he would have done it within the first year or two of ownership. After 5 years, he has proven to the state that he or she is a law abiding citizen. This would close the loophole, while providing honest citizens a means of safely transferring firearms to other law abiding citizens as they wish, while providing reasonable privacy protections.

Or at least, this is the best solution that I could come up with when plagued by insomnia.

Which Handgun Should I buy?

So you've decided to buy a handgun, oh the choices that you have. There is a huge variety of handgun styles, brands, and calibers; all of which are important. I'm going to try to make this simple for you though.

Calibers

There is an endless debate as to what caliber to use in a handgun. Most of this debate goes around how much "stopping power" a round has. Generally, the wider the bullet, the bigger the hole that it will leave in the body, the more likely the attacker will cease to be a threat. There are endless debates about this, so what follows next is pure opinion.

For semi-auto handguns, choose the largest caliber that you are comfortable shooting with. If you are comfortable with shooting pistols in 45, then fine. It's a great caliber, and it has plenty of stopping power. That said, it is murder on your hand when fired out of a small compact handgun. If you don't want to handle a 45, then get a 9mm.

For most people, a handgun chambered in 9mm is fine. Even my wife can handle shooting any of my 9mm handguns. For semi-autos, don't go with anything smaller than 9mm. If you want to get something in 40 cal, that's fine. But no 32's, 380's, or 9mm Markarov! They do not have enough power.

For revolvers, you have it easier. Any gun chambered for 357 magnum can also fire the lighter 38 special round, but not visa versa. Don't go with any smaller round than either of these, and only carry something larger if you're planning on defending yourself against bears.


Full Frame Autos

Full frame semi-autos are for people who can get away with carrying a gun on their belt, or in a shoulder holster under a jacket. If you can do this, then they can be great weapons for you. If you're buying a full frame auto, get something in 45. There are plenty of weapons makers out there that make clones of the classic "1911" style 45 that the US Army used for decades. These weapons only hold 7 rounds though. If you want a full sized auto that can hold 12 rounds, you have more choices. However, I am of the opinion that these weapons are too big to be realistically carried on a day to day basis, so I am going to recommend against them. Again, your personal situation might be different. If I was in a situation where I wanted the maximum firepower strapped to my belt, I'd probably buy one of these. Full frame autos are more accurate because they have longer, heavier barrels than compact models. Also, the heavier the gun, the less recoil you feel. Again though, it's a trade off between more firepower vs concealability.


Long Barreled Revolvers

Long barreled revolvers in 44 magnum or larger are for bear hunting, cowboy shooting, or pretending that you are Dirty Harry. They can be fun to shoot though. If you buy a revolver with a long barrel though, you probably won't be carrying it around for self defense. I own a long barreled single action revolver in 22 & 22 magnum because it's fun and it's cheap to shoot, but I wouldn't for a second consider it as a sidearm.


Compact Autos

The best two choices for concealed carry weapons are compact semi-autos and snub nosed revolvers. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. For compact autos, the first choice is which caliber. As before, I recommend either 45 or 9mm. The second choice is what type of safety device do you prefer? Some compact semi autos have a manual safety switch which prevents the trigger from moving. Others rely on a safety device which is disabled by holding the gun. This is achieved by either making a double trigger like on all Glock pistols, or as a plate on the rear handle that when depressed by gripping the gun, releases the safety. You can also choose to have no safety at all. Most compact autos have what are called double-action triggers. Double action triggers have a long, heavy pull. With these, when you pull the trigger, the first half pulls back the firing hammer (which may be concealed), and the second half releases the firing hammer (or striker system).

The next consideration in choosing a compact auto is the size and shape of the weapon. This is an intensely personal choice. You should feel comfortable gripping the weapon. If you don't feel comfortable gripping it, you might not fire it correctly. Before buying any weapon, I highly recommend at least holding it. If you can find a shop that will let you rent and fire it, then that's even better. Find something that you're comfortable with. Now here are some suggestions.

If having no manual safety doesn't bother you, and you'd like to have the smallest most concealable 9mm on the market today, then consider either the Kel-Tec P-11 or the Kel-Tec PF-9. Kel-Tec makes the smallest, lightest conceal carry handguns on the market today, and they are backed by a lifetime warranty. They are also some of the cheapest handguns on the market. The problem that I have heard about these weapons is that you need to polish & lubricate them properly in order for them to function correctly all the time. For the novice handgun owner, I wouldn't recommend them for this reason.

The next two obvious choices are the Glock 26 in 9mm or the Glock 36 in 45. They have that strange double-trigger safety (i.e. both triggers must be pulled in order for it to work) that I'm not a big fan of, but I know lots of people who love these weapons.

Personally I prefer a manual safety, which is why I own a Taurus Millennium Pro PT-111 in 9mm. They make them in 45 caliber too. The Millennium Pro is a lightweight double action pistol. It can hold 12 rounds of 9mm or 10 rounds of 45. It has a manual safety which I like, because I often carry this weapon in a pants or jacket pocket with no holster.

With all compact autos, you will need to practice with them to get comfortable and effective with them. Their shorter barrels make them less accurate, and their lighter frames make you feel more recoil. Both of these take some practice to get used to, but a few hours at the range will enable you to get proficient with them.


Snub Nosed Revolvers

Ah, the snub nosed revolver. The belly gun. They're old fashioned, only hold 5 or 6 rounds, and lack any other safety device beyond a double action trigger, but they're perfect for close range defense as a concealed carry weapon. As I mentioned before, if you get one in 357 magnum then you can also shoot 38 special out of it. So, get it in one of those two calibers.

With snub nosed revolvers, you really only have two big choices to make: whether the hammer is exposed or concealed, and whether the gun has a full grip or a short grip.

Here is what I own, it is a Smith & Wesson 642 in 38 special. It has a concealed hammer (also called hammerless) and a short grip. With the concealed hammer, it's double action only. If I had an exposed hammer model, like this Taurus Model 85, then I could manually pull back the hammer to have a shorter single action trigger pull. For comparison, here is a Taurus 444 in 44 magnum with an exposed hammer and a full grip.

The great thing about snub nosed revolvers is their size and weight. Some only weigh 13 ounces unloaded. They can easily fit in a pocket, or with the right holster they can fit in your pants and nobody can tell that you're carrying a gun. The problem with the lighter weight guns is that the recoil becomes a problem. Smith & Wesson makes a 357 magnum revolver that only weighs 12.5 ounces, but shooting 357 magnums out of it will give you blisters on your hand. A gun that is painful to shoot is a gun that you won't practice with. Therefore for most people, if you're going to get a snubnosed revolver, just get one in 38 special. Or if you are a glutton for punishment, get it in 357 magnum but only shoot 38 special out of it.

The biggest problem with snubby's is their effective range. With their short barrels (usually less than 2 inches) and light weights, they make it difficult to hit anything beyond 30 feet. The other problem is that you only bring 5 rounds to the fight. That being said, most defensive encounters take place at under 10 feet and involve less than 3 rounds.

For novice shooters, a compact auto might be a better choice because it gives you 10-12 rounds. Personally I carry my revolver everywhere, but when I know I'm going into a bad neighborhood, I try to carry the auto.

Again, this is an intensely personal choice. I've tried to give some guidance here, but the right handgun for you will probably be different than what the right handgun is for me. I hope that I've helped some people by at least pointing them in the right direction with these two articles. Before you buy any handgun, be sure to at least hold it, and if possible, try it out. If you've never shot a handgun before, find a gunshop with an indoor range and ask them about getting lessons. Buying a handgun that you'll never practice with, that sits in your closet, in its case, does you no good.

And last of all, if you simply do not feel comfortable owning a gun, then don't. Carry a knife or some pepper spray instead. Confidence in yourself and in the weapon is a must if you choose to carry for your protection.

What Gun Should I Buy?

I get asked that question sometimes by people who are new to guns, so I think it's time to dedicate several posts to this question.

The first thing when considering a firearm purchase is, "what will I need it for?" because that is what determines everything else. So, I'll try to break this down into several categories.

Most people who want to buy a gun do so for "self defense". Well, what do you mean by self defense? Do you mean you want a gun to defend your home with? Or do you want something that you can carry with you? Or something that can have multiple purposes, like hunting & home defense? The question really is, do you need a handgun, a shotgun, or a rifle?

Rifles

A rifle? Most people do not need rifles. There, I've said it. Do I need a rifle? No. Do I own a rifle? Yes, several actually. Rifles are made to shoot things at long distance, generally at 100 or more yards. There are very few self defense encounters that necessitate the use of a rifle. The only obvious one is combating a "lone gunman" type of attack, as in the case of Charles Whitman; where a deranged lunatic takes up a position and begins slaughtering people, and a few men who happened to have rifles in their cars were able to return fire. Since I already own a rifle, I really should keep one in the trunk of my car, just in case, but I don't because I haven't been able to justify that level of paranoia to myself yet. There have been other cases where a rifle could be handy in self defense, but they are rare. Using a rifle for home defense is fine, but you have to keep in mind that the rounds will penetrate multiple walls before stopping. Then there is the entire public relations thing. Let's say you were in New Orleans after Katrina, and you had to defend your house from armed looters who wanted to kill you, rape & kill your wife, and take all your food. Let's say that you shot and killed one of them. It's completely legal to do this. And eventually the media might even report it. But let's say you defended yourself with an AK-47, and the media found out. My gut instinct is that CNN wouldn't be kind to you about it, and that you'd have more of a legal or PR fight to clear your name than if you had used a common shotgun. That being said, I'd still probably reach for my AK instead of my shotgun in that situation. Rifles are good for hunting, target shooting, and for being part of the citizen militia.


Shotguns

Shotguns are great. They are the most versatile weapon available to the citizenry, and they don't usually have the same stigma as the dreaded "assault rifle". The great thing about shotguns is their versatility. You can buy slugs, buckshot, or birdshot; and there is a staggering variety of rounds.

For self defense, shotguns have one purpose: home defense. Buckshot has the best stopping power of any round when used at close range, which is exactly what you'd need it for when defending your home. Some guys say to use birdshot because it won't kill the intruder. This is wrong because birdshot will not cause a deep enough injury to stop an attacker. Birdshot is for birds, buckshot is for intruders. For the newbie, a slug is a large single bullet meant for deer hunting at close range. Buckshot is a load of 30 caliber round bullets, usually packed 9 to a load. It is meant for taking out deer sized animals at close range. Birdshot is for small birds, squirrels, or skeet shooting. They also make special loads for turkey or duck, but don't consider those for self defense either. Buckshot is the best for close range self defense. At close range one round of buckshot is like shooting somebody 9 times with a 9mm handgun. Unlike popular myth, you still have to aim with a shotgun, but you don't have to aim hard. In other words, just point the damn gun where you want it to fire, and you'll hit it, but don't think that you can just wildly spray from the hip and hit anything with it.

If you're going to buy a shotgun, I suggest going with the old standard pump action. You can buy one relatively cheaply, and it doesn't matter what brand you buy. For defense, you can buy one in either 12 gauge or 20 gauge. Recoil will suck either way, so you might as well get the 12 because it will give you more power and more metal.

The great thing is that if you buy a shotgun for home defense, you can also use it for fun things like skeet shooting or hunting. If you've never gone skeet shooting, go do it. It's loads of fun. If you live in Northern Virginia, you're blessed. Go checkout the Manassas Park shotgun range. I think they'll even let you rent shotguns there, and they have guided instruction.

The bad thing about shotguns is that you can't exactly walk around with one in your pocket. So while a 12 gauge pump action shotgun might be the best home defense weapon, it is not the best choice for somebody who can only afford to buy one gun and wants to have protection wherever they go. For this, you'll need to buy a handgun.


Handguns

If you want self protection for you and your family whether you are in your car, at the grocery store, or at home, then you'll have to buy a handgun of some sort.

The topic is so important that I'm going to dedicate a whole separate post to the issue of "which handgun should I buy?" For now though, I just want to cover the basics.

With handguns, there is a staggering variety of choices. The array of choices is overwhelming to most people. The key is to keep reminding yourself, "what do I need this gun for?"

You are not Dirty Harry, nor are you Leon the Professional. You might want to go out and buy a long barreled 44 magnum, but how are you going to carry it? Open carry is legal in Virginia, but it is not in many states, and even where it is legal, you'll get plenty of funny looks if you walk around doing your grocery shopping with a hand cannon strapped to your belt.

This is why I recommend that if you're going to buy a handgun, buy one that you're willing to carry with you. Personally, I own several handguns. The first handgun I bought was a full-sized Taurus PT-99AF, because I wanted one that looked like the classic Beretta 9mm that I'd seen in movies. With the wisdom of age, this was not a good purchase. Large frame handguns are great if you can hide a gun in a holster on your belt, covered with a jacket, but good luck trying to do that in 90 degree heat in the summer. Large frame, long barreled, high capacity handguns are made for people who need to have a gun on their belt. Now, if you're going to go hiking in bear country, or you're a cop, then fine; wear a gun on your belt. You need it. For the rest of us though, the only handguns we should be considering are in the concealed carry or compact size.

As for what handgun you should buy, that'll be covered in the next post.

Unsafe Gun Owners

As a gun owner, it pisses me off to know that there are people out there who don't handle their firearms in a safe manner. As a Libertarian, I know that legislating safety won't work.

Case in point. On New Years Eve this year, I was standing out on my back porch listening to the sounds of ships blowing their foghorns, citizens setting off firecrackers, and idiot gun owners shooting off their guns into the air. Of these three activities, only one is legal in VA.

Firecrackers, mortars, bottle rockets, and roman candles are all already illegal here in VA, so people just drive into the nearest state where they aren't and buy them. Setting them off is illegal, but only marginally enforced.

Then there are the people who fire their guns into the air on NYE or the 4th of July. Now...if you live in the country, and you want to fire your shotgun into the air in a safe direction, then fine. Do so. Your little metal pellets won't go more than 200 yards at most before they come back to the ground. But if you own a pistol, and are firing off those rounds into the air, know that they do infact come back down. A neighbor of mine had a window in her car blown out by a stray bullet this New Years.

Firing a gun in an urban area is generally already illegal unless used in self defense, and I bet that most of these goofballs that do it have been drinking already, which is also a felony offense.

So, I don't have any delusions about being able to prevent this sort of thing except through reasoned argument. So if you must fire off a celebratory magazine, please do so into the ground where it won't hurt anybody.

QOTD

"Show me a man who wants you disarmed, and I will show you a man who plans to do something to you which you would not allow if you had any means to prevent it."

-- L. Neil Smith