The AK is a fascinating piece of work. Very few images are so widely recognised as this "rifle of the people" whis is hailed as one of mankinds best/worst inventions -depending on who you're asking- .
Now, the kalashnikov may be a great rifle, but it's not perfect. While its loose tolerances allow for only the most basic of maintenance, they do wear out and break down. The Iraqi armi uses AK-47 rifles and alike, but those are starting to date back to the 70's now, and are due for replacement.
It shouldn't be a surprice to anybody that America will be supplying the Iraqi armi with M16A2 rilfes and M4 carbines.
This will provide the Iraqis with a weapons platform that is effectively a symbol of the west, as well as binding them to a greater degree to the American presence. I hope they fare well, I really do. I also hope that the fighting will die down one of these days.
Hat tip to the couch /k/ommando's
Friday, February 29, 2008
Closing the castor bean loophole.
Ricin was recently discovered in a Las Vegas hotelroom.
Ricin, one of the deadliest poisons known to men, half a miligram of which can be deadly.
It would appear that somebody in a vegas hotelroom was extracting ricin from castor beans, I don't suppose he had any good intentions.
What struck me was this last bit:
Clearly, these beans are a threat to the general public, a madman might poison a cafeteria or resteaurant, killing dozens! Why aren't they calling for background checks and waiting periods for buying these killer beans?
Maybe that would just be insane, after all: millions of Castor beans pass hands on a daily basis, and never end up killing anybody. It would be madness to come down hard on this food. Guns however, with a 1-in-23000 abuse rate for homicide, maintain their position as fair game for politicians who want to act like they are keeping people safe.
Ricin, one of the deadliest poisons known to men, half a miligram of which can be deadly.
It would appear that somebody in a vegas hotelroom was extracting ricin from castor beans, I don't suppose he had any good intentions.
What struck me was this last bit:
- "ricin is not illegal to own, but is illegal if processed to be used for poisoning someone."
Clearly, these beans are a threat to the general public, a madman might poison a cafeteria or resteaurant, killing dozens! Why aren't they calling for background checks and waiting periods for buying these killer beans?
Maybe that would just be insane, after all: millions of Castor beans pass hands on a daily basis, and never end up killing anybody. It would be madness to come down hard on this food. Guns however, with a 1-in-23000 abuse rate for homicide, maintain their position as fair game for politicians who want to act like they are keeping people safe.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Don't bring a machete to a biker fight.
So, a group of thugs has been returing to this one club to rob it. They arm themselves with machetes.
The Bingo group told them to be quit in the past, as they couldn't hear the numbers being called. But this time, the robbers picked the wrong crowd to rob.
Two men armed with machetes barged in to find: well over four dozen of bikers, who took up chairs, chains tables and one of the thughs to defend their life and property.
The getaway driver got away, but one robber was hogtied and delivered to the police, another one also fled the scene, but was picked up by police nearby. I suspect it was easy to spot him, as he looked like he'd just been in a fight with 50 bikers.
I do believe "owned" would be the appropriate netspeak word.
The Bingo group told them to be quit in the past, as they couldn't hear the numbers being called. But this time, the robbers picked the wrong crowd to rob.
Two men armed with machetes barged in to find: well over four dozen of bikers, who took up chairs, chains tables and one of the thughs to defend their life and property.
The getaway driver got away, but one robber was hogtied and delivered to the police, another one also fled the scene, but was picked up by police nearby. I suspect it was easy to spot him, as he looked like he'd just been in a fight with 50 bikers.
I do believe "owned" would be the appropriate netspeak word.
Radioactive PSH
I just got back from the lab, we were working with benzyl alcohol, MTB ether, glacial acetic acid and a bunch of other, corrosive, toxic and carcinogenic chemicals.
Now, students in our grade are thought to be responsible enough to handle these chenical in a responsible way. -our teacher did pour one of our beakers down the drain, ficker I still wanted to extract that stuff! :p -
No reason to get hysterical about.
Now, not too long ago small children were actually encouraged to play with chemistry kits, growing an interest in one of the most importatnt sciences in our modern world. That keyboard under your palms? made out of plastic, filled with chemically prepared copper and other metals for example)
Then something changed: and playing with chemistry i suddenly equated to being a terrorist or drug cook in training.
Now, a Scottish school is evacuated because they discover some old radioactive samples used in science experiments.
Seriously, what were you expecting!? If they've been there for over a decade, just sitting there, then just send over somebody witha friggen geiger counter! Don't cordon off the entire area!
Now, students in our grade are thought to be responsible enough to handle these chenical in a responsible way. -our teacher did pour one of our beakers down the drain, ficker I still wanted to extract that stuff! :p -
No reason to get hysterical about.
Now, not too long ago small children were actually encouraged to play with chemistry kits, growing an interest in one of the most importatnt sciences in our modern world. That keyboard under your palms? made out of plastic, filled with chemically prepared copper and other metals for example)
Then something changed: and playing with chemistry i suddenly equated to being a terrorist or drug cook in training.
Now, a Scottish school is evacuated because they discover some old radioactive samples used in science experiments.
Seriously, what were you expecting!? If they've been there for over a decade, just sitting there, then just send over somebody witha friggen geiger counter! Don't cordon off the entire area!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Miami Rallies against assault weapons
Citizens rallied against assault weapons in Miami Florida.
People could be seen having a small clash of children chant phrases, at leat a dozen of people can be seen on the video accompanying the miami Herald report.
One of things people called for, was hold somebody other than the criminal accountable for crimes commited with assault weapons.
While I'm not sure exactly how this will curb crime, I'm sure that the organisers would be all to happy to explain it to you, if you call them using the contact info that isn't available.
They also claim that crimes comitted with assault weapons have gone up from 4% to 16% despite the absense of assault weapon legislation, and thus a legal definition of assault weapon which would be instrumental in compiling statistics on the subject.
On another note: you may need to drop your defensive rifle off at a gunsmith asap because it's broken.
According to Gorley, they are nothing more than "killing machine"s. So unless they have killed anyone recently, or they can be played with a record/CD player to reproduce the vocals of Rob Halford, your rifle is broken. Forget about varminting or target practice, it's a killing machine.
Yes that is a heavy metal reference, because I learned to win when I was young, so I'm never ever gonna lose.
People could be seen having a small clash of children chant phrases, at leat a dozen of people can be seen on the video accompanying the miami Herald report.
One of things people called for, was hold somebody other than the criminal accountable for crimes commited with assault weapons.
While I'm not sure exactly how this will curb crime, I'm sure that the organisers would be all to happy to explain it to you, if you call them using the contact info that isn't available.
They also claim that crimes comitted with assault weapons have gone up from 4% to 16% despite the absense of assault weapon legislation, and thus a legal definition of assault weapon which would be instrumental in compiling statistics on the subject.
On another note: you may need to drop your defensive rifle off at a gunsmith asap because it's broken.
According to Gorley, they are nothing more than "killing machine"s. So unless they have killed anyone recently, or they can be played with a record/CD player to reproduce the vocals of Rob Halford, your rifle is broken. Forget about varminting or target practice, it's a killing machine.
Yes that is a heavy metal reference, because I learned to win when I was young, so I'm never ever gonna lose.
I'm being censored again!
This time by a misguided censor who calles himself "riceman", and he's doing so in his post: "we're number one ... in gun deaths"
It's a well known text that has been written and re-written by countless of people with a dislike for gun rights. Start by denying that people who are beaten to death suffer, and that stabbing victims aren't really death, then select a bunch of countries where a lot of people are killed, but not by guns, and you're good to go:
You can now produce a graph picturing the USA as a horribly bloody country, while other countries (generally, only European countries are given much attention) are quit and peaceful.
The errors are huge here: conveniently ignoring people who are killed by other means than firearms is nothing short of dispicable, demagogy f the worst kind, juggling with human life to further a political point and then blaming it all on guns because ... you know, we're only talking about guns, and people who get stomped to death in Europe didn't really suffer as much as when they had been shot.
I adressed this issue in the past:
The murder rate is not a function of gun ownership!
Not pictured in the graph are countries with a REAL homicide problem, Mexico, South Africa and Colombia, their values are0.9 3.8 and 8.6.
the "more guns mean more murder" is only true if you cherry pick you countries. If you limit yourself to the US, Canada, Finland and Yemen, then you can see the homicide rate drop linearly with gun ownership. But if you start taking other countries into account, then you should see that this is not universally true, and guns have very little to do with murder.
I put that little bit in a spotlight with an even earlier post: exploring how many guns are abused?
With an abuse rate of one out of 21 000, it should be clear that it's not the massive amount of guns present, but the people willing to abuse them.
It's a well known text that has been written and re-written by countless of people with a dislike for gun rights. Start by denying that people who are beaten to death suffer, and that stabbing victims aren't really death, then select a bunch of countries where a lot of people are killed, but not by guns, and you're good to go:
You can now produce a graph picturing the USA as a horribly bloody country, while other countries (generally, only European countries are given much attention) are quit and peaceful.
The errors are huge here: conveniently ignoring people who are killed by other means than firearms is nothing short of dispicable, demagogy f the worst kind, juggling with human life to further a political point and then blaming it all on guns because ... you know, we're only talking about guns, and people who get stomped to death in Europe didn't really suffer as much as when they had been shot.
I adressed this issue in the past:
The murder rate is not a function of gun ownership!
Not pictured in the graph are countries with a REAL homicide problem, Mexico, South Africa and Colombia, their values are0.9 3.8 and 8.6.
the "more guns mean more murder" is only true if you cherry pick you countries. If you limit yourself to the US, Canada, Finland and Yemen, then you can see the homicide rate drop linearly with gun ownership. But if you start taking other countries into account, then you should see that this is not universally true, and guns have very little to do with murder.
I put that little bit in a spotlight with an even earlier post: exploring how many guns are abused?
With an abuse rate of one out of 21 000, it should be clear that it's not the massive amount of guns present, but the people willing to abuse them.
Monday, February 25, 2008
So out walking the dog tonight ...
I saw a crew of suspected burglars get bust.
We're walking the dogs when a police van comes blazing through, lights flashing but no siren. We were slightly puzzeled by this untill we got to the end of the road, where we saw that two vans had cut off a white car, and the van rushing through our street was the last car in a box-in roadblock.
The neighbour who was out walking with me saw a drawn handgun, so the cops must not have been messing around (cops get suspended around for just drawing their gun without good reason)
We walked on, ten minutes later, at the opposite end of the block we found a familliy standing outside their home, saying somebody had just tried to break into their home, and they'd called the cops. They'd seen a white polo flee the scene.
So after assurig those people that our local precinct was on the job, we went home.
Police officers can't be everywhere at the same time, and they can't always get to you in time, but they try! And by times: they are succesfull in catching a predator.
Cheers!
We're walking the dogs when a police van comes blazing through, lights flashing but no siren. We were slightly puzzeled by this untill we got to the end of the road, where we saw that two vans had cut off a white car, and the van rushing through our street was the last car in a box-in roadblock.
The neighbour who was out walking with me saw a drawn handgun, so the cops must not have been messing around (cops get suspended around for just drawing their gun without good reason)
We walked on, ten minutes later, at the opposite end of the block we found a familliy standing outside their home, saying somebody had just tried to break into their home, and they'd called the cops. They'd seen a white polo flee the scene.
So after assurig those people that our local precinct was on the job, we went home.
Police officers can't be everywhere at the same time, and they can't always get to you in time, but they try! And by times: they are succesfull in catching a predator.
Cheers!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Box of truth features the FN-FAL
When you mention Belgium, most people will associate it with beer and chocolate. Gun enthousiatst however may think of another of our specialties: the design and manufacture of assault rifles that spark hype from the moment the first press release is made public.
Long before the internet allowed for 15 y/o fanboys to get all jumpy about the newest line of futuristic guns that would look neat in online deathmatches, FN was already pumping out one of the most famous weapons of history, the FN FAL.
Almost as well known as the AR15 and AK47, hardly as well spread but respected equally, the FAL is today still, a world class rifle.
The box of truth, old faithfuls site devoted to disspelling firearm myths has devoted a page entirely to this piece of history.
I would like to encourage you to read up some of the site, he's got some mighty interesting information in there!
Long before the internet allowed for 15 y/o fanboys to get all jumpy about the newest line of futuristic guns that would look neat in online deathmatches, FN was already pumping out one of the most famous weapons of history, the FN FAL.
Almost as well known as the AR15 and AK47, hardly as well spread but respected equally, the FAL is today still, a world class rifle.
The box of truth, old faithfuls site devoted to disspelling firearm myths has devoted a page entirely to this piece of history.
I would like to encourage you to read up some of the site, he's got some mighty interesting information in there!
In America, school be cruel to you!
After lunchroom employees found $180 unaccounted for, they strip searched a pair of minor kids (13) in the middle of said lunchroom. The missing money was later found to have been in it's place all along.
These are police state tactics in a place that should be safe for you children, a horrible invasion in both the privacy and integrity of children by people who are in no way authorized or qualified for it.
Heck, they were incompetent at the job they *were* supposed to be doing in the first place.
Then you've all heard about this on other blogs:
A school indoctrinating children with communism using legos.
And don't even get me started on the ideas that some schools and programs teach children about guns, drugs and sexuality ...
Make sure you talk to your children and teach them what's right, before they're all grown up.
These are police state tactics in a place that should be safe for you children, a horrible invasion in both the privacy and integrity of children by people who are in no way authorized or qualified for it.
Heck, they were incompetent at the job they *were* supposed to be doing in the first place.
Then you've all heard about this on other blogs:
A school indoctrinating children with communism using legos.
And don't even get me started on the ideas that some schools and programs teach children about guns, drugs and sexuality ...
Make sure you talk to your children and teach them what's right, before they're all grown up.
Sebastian on the news.
You've read his blog, heard him on cam&Co perhaos, now you can see Sebastian from pro-gun progressive speak up and explain his case on television footage.
It should be broadcasted a bit harder in my opinion: reporting crime, doing the right thing and beng a good witnedd is "bringing trouble upon youself" by certain government employees. If you don't know why us gun-rights activists strive for liberal concealed carry laws, please take your time to read the story of this man who has invested a lot of his time in trying to clean up his neighbourhood, and was rewarded by vandalised property, death threats and people in a post of power telling him "tough luck".
If you don't believe CCW can work, please read about Labidous story, and how it all turned out.
The Carry of a Concealed Weapon can save lifes, and can increase the safety of an entire neighbourhood. It's not a magical ward against criminal activity, but it's stopped more crime than gun free zones have.
It should be broadcasted a bit harder in my opinion: reporting crime, doing the right thing and beng a good witnedd is "bringing trouble upon youself" by certain government employees. If you don't know why us gun-rights activists strive for liberal concealed carry laws, please take your time to read the story of this man who has invested a lot of his time in trying to clean up his neighbourhood, and was rewarded by vandalised property, death threats and people in a post of power telling him "tough luck".
If you don't believe CCW can work, please read about Labidous story, and how it all turned out.
The Carry of a Concealed Weapon can save lifes, and can increase the safety of an entire neighbourhood. It's not a magical ward against criminal activity, but it's stopped more crime than gun free zones have.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
When gun grabbers run.
Some people can be debated with quite well, regardless of a difference in point of view, they are open to differing ideas, and willing to discuss them.
Badthing is one of those people. Though I do not agree with her, I love commenting on her posts, and I like to read her replies too.
One of her recent posts got a massive amount of replies, a lot of them from "awalk", a typical "I use big words, so I'm more credible than the next person" gun grabber.
So, at the end of over 170 responses, she sais:
Selected reading:
This is what you're up against: bigoted people who look down upon you as uneducated, single minded fools who know nothing else but to repeat NRA mantras.
Badthing is one of those people. Though I do not agree with her, I love commenting on her posts, and I like to read her replies too.
One of her recent posts got a massive amount of replies, a lot of them from "awalk", a typical "I use big words, so I'm more credible than the next person" gun grabber.
So, at the end of over 170 responses, she sais:
- have a feeling this thread has seen its day. I do want to offer some advice.
Keep pressure on pro-gun....do not let them wiggle out. Stay on the topic of weapons...endlessly.
Also frame the debate as a full topic covering weapons both large and small. Do not allow them to sink FURTHER into systemic causations making debate harder. The reason why systemic causations are so deadly is that they are hard to address! So when they give very weak causations, drive them back into a debate covering a wide range of weapons.
They will endlessly - ENDLESSLY- seek to run for weaker causations….so just framing the debate might take DAYS….heck, weeks. Once they have accepted your frame……fire at will at targets in the open.
Also frame your debate in terms of freedom and rights. For example, arms control is an embrace of the citizen’s right to address their tools when the tools are a method of harm.
They will eventually break and come out with some of the most freakish things on this planet.
Also pro-gun supporters often debate in a very structured manner(think armored tank) They endlessly use the same terminology and the same jingoisms, so to speak. For example, how many times have you heard, “guns don’t kill…people kill” or a similar phrase?
Or the term "Law abiding?"
New outlooks, terms or methods of debate really hinders their ability (think flexible fast tank killer) For example, the word “causation” really freaks them out. They have not come up with a collective jingoism to address “causation” as of yet. They basically do not know how to handle the term.
What is a systemic causation?….read the book “Whose Freedom” If you get the book, you will understand the thinking of conservatives on a very fundamental level.
Or you can email and I will send you a short rendering.
Good day all……I am off to the wild blue.
I likely will not be back....I just want to straighten a few things out...and defend a peson who I think is kind hearted.
best wishes....peace always.
Selected reading:
- Keep pressure on pro-gun....do not let them wiggle out. (...) Good day all……I am off to the wild blue. I likely will not be back
- For example, the word “causation” really freaks them out.
This is what you're up against: bigoted people who look down upon you as uneducated, single minded fools who know nothing else but to repeat NRA mantras.
Good cop bad cop Detroit
I don't know if I should think of this as funny, but it made me giggle a bit anyways.
A patrol officer was trying to pull a dine-and-dash at the buffalo wings resteaurant, trying to avoid a $75 dollar bill. When confronted by the staff, he pulled rank, identifying himself as an officer before leaving.
He was promptly arrested by other cops.
He's now lost his job and is facing a charge of defrauding an innkeeper.
Serves him right!
I'd like to congratuate all of those law enforcement officers out there who are continuing to do a great job. Both me and other gunbloggers often post about abuses committed by people unworthy of their job, but we realize that they are but a minority, and the majority of all policemen are hardwoking people whose essential work often goes unnapreciated, unnoticed even.
A patrol officer was trying to pull a dine-and-dash at the buffalo wings resteaurant, trying to avoid a $75 dollar bill. When confronted by the staff, he pulled rank, identifying himself as an officer before leaving.
He was promptly arrested by other cops.
He's now lost his job and is facing a charge of defrauding an innkeeper.
Serves him right!
I'd like to congratuate all of those law enforcement officers out there who are continuing to do a great job. Both me and other gunbloggers often post about abuses committed by people unworthy of their job, but we realize that they are but a minority, and the majority of all policemen are hardwoking people whose essential work often goes unnapreciated, unnoticed even.
Why it's a good idea to keep tabs on your children
I've lashed out before at the government for acting because "they know what's best for us". The government is not a machine bent on enslaving the population, despite certain elements of corruption or incompetence, they do try to do what's best for us ... or what they believe is best for us.
Now, in no way equating the government-citizen and parent-child relationships, citizens are adults who are expected (sometimes without merit) to be able to take care of themselves and act responsibly.
Children however do not always know what's best for them, and sometimes they put themselves at great risk without knowing it themselves. This is when parents must step up and take action because they should know what's best for their children.
Why the long intro? Because I hate sounding like a hypocrite. I'm not going to tell one group of people to back off even if they know what's best for us, then tell another to take actions because they know what's good for their children.
People deserve privacy, and so do children, but not unlimited privacy. In the case of children, it may prove to be important to keep tabs on your kids internet traffic, as was recently brought to point by this story.
Short version: a 13 y/o attracted the attention of a 22 y/o with her myspace page. Said adult came over and "had sexual intercourse with her without her consent"
Yeh, thirteen.
It's important to keep your children out of trouble, this could mean teaching them to say no to drugs, proper safe-sex procedures or abstinence (good luck with that one), what to do when they come across a firearm.
Keeping quiet about a hazard only increases the risk, so act before it is too late because a ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure ... if there is a cure.
Now, in no way equating the government-citizen and parent-child relationships, citizens are adults who are expected (sometimes without merit) to be able to take care of themselves and act responsibly.
Children however do not always know what's best for them, and sometimes they put themselves at great risk without knowing it themselves. This is when parents must step up and take action because they should know what's best for their children.
Why the long intro? Because I hate sounding like a hypocrite. I'm not going to tell one group of people to back off even if they know what's best for us, then tell another to take actions because they know what's good for their children.
People deserve privacy, and so do children, but not unlimited privacy. In the case of children, it may prove to be important to keep tabs on your kids internet traffic, as was recently brought to point by this story.
Short version: a 13 y/o attracted the attention of a 22 y/o with her myspace page. Said adult came over and "had sexual intercourse with her without her consent"
Yeh, thirteen.
It's important to keep your children out of trouble, this could mean teaching them to say no to drugs, proper safe-sex procedures or abstinence (good luck with that one), what to do when they come across a firearm.
Keeping quiet about a hazard only increases the risk, so act before it is too late because a ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure ... if there is a cure.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Nice mall ya got there ... wanna keep it secure?
A mother and daughter were found dead at the Boca Raton mall, in Coral springs Florida.
This gave rise to the idea that the mall might not be very secure. Fortunately, the police are only a phonecall away!
Well ... not exactly: the Coral Springs police departement is trying to get the mall to hire off-duty police officers as security agents ...
So ... they're suggesting that the mall hire people who are already paid by tax money to keep the general population safe, people who have failed to control crime in the area. Oh right I forgot: the police don't have a legal obligation to keep us safe, so ... we must pay them to do so now?
I do not like where this is going.
UPDATE
the article linked to seems to have dissapeared ... not impossible as it has been quite a while.
Here is another one:
This gave rise to the idea that the mall might not be very secure. Fortunately, the police are only a phonecall away!
Well ... not exactly: the Coral Springs police departement is trying to get the mall to hire off-duty police officers as security agents ...
So ... they're suggesting that the mall hire people who are already paid by tax money to keep the general population safe, people who have failed to control crime in the area. Oh right I forgot: the police don't have a legal obligation to keep us safe, so ... we must pay them to do so now?
I do not like where this is going.
UPDATE
the article linked to seems to have dissapeared ... not impossible as it has been quite a while.
Here is another one:
- “Over the last three years, the police department has dedicated one officer to your property every day, at our expense. In November of 2007, I personally met with mall management to discuss our security concerns as it related to the upcoming holidays. I was assured that Simon Properties would be more than willing to increase the security at the mall during these holiday hours by hiring additional off duty police officers,”
Parents prevent fight, are arrested.
Here's another bit for those who think thw US should be more like the UK:
They didn't peruse the best course of action by placing the two under "citizens arrest", and I can see why they could be charged with assault. It would have been better if they would have informed the police, ideally they would have gotten there in time. Less ideally, a juvinile gang could have been arrested.
On another note: nine months seems an awefully long time to figure out that pressing charges was not in the publics best interest.
- Two fathers have condemned the criminal justice system after they were arrested and thrown into a police cell for trying to prevent a fight involving a gang of youths.
They didn't peruse the best course of action by placing the two under "citizens arrest", and I can see why they could be charged with assault. It would have been better if they would have informed the police, ideally they would have gotten there in time. Less ideally, a juvinile gang could have been arrested.
On another note: nine months seems an awefully long time to figure out that pressing charges was not in the publics best interest.
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