Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: Handgun Ownership Rising Most Quickly Among Women
Posted: September 22, 2016 Filed under: Guns and Gadgets, Health and Social Issues, Self Defense, Think Tank | Tags: 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, 2nd amendment, American Journal of Public Health, Civil Rights, Concealed carry, Concealed carry in the United States, Firearm, Gun rights, Handgun, Harvard, Public health, Self-defense, Texas, Women 1 Comment
The almost amusing part of the report, however, was the seeming shock registered by the people at Harvard involved in the study.
Jazz Shaw writes: We hear repeated stories of how gun ownership is on the rise, but who are the people buying the guns? (We’re talking about legal purchases here obviously. The motives and opportunities for criminals are another issue.) It’s a complicated question because there is no “generic” lawful gun owner in the United States.
[Read the full story here, at Hot Air]
But Time Magazine is looking at one particular segment of American gun owners this week and it’s women who purchase a single firearm… specifically handguns. And the most common reason given is self-defense.
According to a new survey by public health officials at Harvard and Northeastern universities, women are more likely than men to report owning a gun for protection. The research, conducted in 2015 but previously unpublished, was recently obtained by The Guardian and The Trace.
The data shows that, compared to men, American women are more likely to own a single handgun (as opposed to multiple guns). And as fewer men purchase guns, the proportional presence of female gun-owners is on the rise. Forty-three percent of individuals who own just a handgun are women, with almost a quarter of those women living in urban areas. The Guardian noted that female gun-owners were more likely to live in urban areas than their male counterparts, and called the data “the most definitive survey of US gun ownership in two decades.”
A couple of decades ago this might have been seen as a shocking trend, but in 2016 it seems rather obvious. Men have been buying guns in larger numbers for a long time, but shifts in the social paradigm have made it far more common for women to catch up in this area. Read the rest of this entry »
Full Scale Non-Stop Global Panic Update: Obama’s Cyber Meltdown Keeps Getting Worse
Posted: June 23, 2015 Filed under: China, Global, War Room, White House | Tags: Background check, Bill Gates, Chinese Hackers, CIA, Edward Snowden, exclusionary analysis, Federal Personnel Files, Global Panic, Hack, Handgun, Job Growth, Obama administration, Office of Personnel Management, OPM 1 Comment
When the Administration disclosed the OPM hack in early June, they said Chinese hackers had stolen the personal information of up to four million current and former federal employees. The suspicion was that this was another case of hackers (presumably sanctioned by China’s government) stealing data to use in identity theft and financial fraud. Which is bad enough.
Yet in recent days Obama officials have quietly acknowledged to Congress that the hack was far bigger, and far more devastating. It appears OPM was subject to two breaches of its system in mid-to-late 2014, and the hackers appear to have made off with millions of security-clearance background check files.
These include reports on Americans who work for, did work for, or attempted to work for the 
Administration, the military and intelligence agencies. They even include Congressional staffers who left government—since their files are also sent to OPM.
This means the Chinese now possess sensitive information on everyone from current cabinet officials to U.S. spies. Background checks are specifically done to report personal histories that might put federal employees at risk for blackmail. The Chinese now hold a blackmail instruction manual for millions of targets.
These background checks are also a treasure trove of names, containing sensitive information on an applicant’s spouse, children, extended family, friends, neighbors, employers, landlords. Each of those people is also now a target, and in ways they may not contemplate. In many instances the files contain reports on applicants compiled by federal investigators, and thus may contain information that the applicant isn’t aware of.
Of particular concern are federal contractors and subcontractors, who rarely get the same security training as federal employees, and in some scenarios don’t even know for what agency they are working. These employees are particularly ripe targets for highly sophisticated phishing emails that attempt to elicit sensitive corporate or government information. Read the rest of this entry »
YES: Gun-Control Propaganda Fails, Texas Legislators Approve Licensed Open Carry Bill
Posted: May 29, 2015 Filed under: Breaking News, Politics, Self Defense | Tags: Concealed carry in the United States, Dan Patrick, Democratic Party (United States), Handgun, Open carry in the United States, Republican Party (United States), Right to keep and bear arms, Texas, Texas Senate, The Dallas Morning News 2 Comments
Next Stept: Governor Abbott’s Desk
AUSTIN – Open carry in Texas is just a signature away from becoming law, as the House and Senate voted in rapid succession on Friday to send the contentious bill to Gov. Greg Abbott.
Open Carry just passed in both the Texas House & Senate. Next destination: My Pen. #txlege #tcot @NRA
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 29, 2015
The measure – backed by Republicans and a few House Democrats – would allow licensed Texans to openly carry handguns in belt or shoulder holsters. And Abbott, a Republican, has said he will sign open carry into law. Read the rest of this entry »
BREAKING: Texas House Gives Final OK to Open Carry of Handguns, Bitches
Posted: April 20, 2015 Filed under: Breaking News, Law & Justice, Mediasphere, Politics, Self Defense | Tags: America, American Civil Liberties Union, Austin, Civil Rights, Dallas, Gun rights, Handgun, handguns, Houston, Houston Chronicle, Open Carry, Open carry in the United States, Pistols, Police officer, Republican Party (United States), Second Amendment, Self-defense, Texas, Texas House of Representatives Leave a commentBREAKING: Texas House gives final OK to open carry of handguns http://t.co/2uedQXCK31
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) April 20, 2015
[VIDEO] GLOCK 43 Single Stack 9mm (Extended Cut)
Posted: March 25, 2015 Filed under: Guns and Gadgets, Self Defense | Tags: .380 ACP, 9×19mm Parabellum, Conceal Carry, Concealed carry, Firearm, Glock, Handgun, Pistol, Self-defense, Trigger (firearms), YouTube Leave a commentNew Glock Commercial Shows Everyday People Carrying Everywhere
The wait is over. The G43 is our new single stack 9mm pistol. The G43 is the most highly desired and anticipated release in GLOCK history. Designed to be the favored back up or last resort option for both civilian and law enforcement use, this subcompact slimline design is the perfectly balanced answer to your everyday concealed carry needs. It is ultra-concealable, accurate and comfortable for all shooters regardless of hand size.
Self Defense Update: Texas Senate Approves Concealed Handguns In College Classrooms
Posted: March 18, 2015 Filed under: Law & Justice, Self Defense | Tags: Austin, Civil Rights, Concealed carry in the United States, Gun rights, Handgun, Open carry in the United States, Rape, Second Amendment, Self-defense, Sexual abuse, Texas, Texas Senate 1 Comment
Closing the Victim Loophole
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Senate has given preliminary approval to allowing concealed handguns in college classrooms, a day after passing a measure allowing open carry of guns most everywhere else in America’s second most-populous state….(read more)
Animated: How a Handgun Works
Posted: December 17, 2014 Filed under: Guns and Gadgets, Science & Technology | Tags: 1911, Animation, Beretta, Graphic, Handgun, Pistol, Semi-automatic, United States Armed Forces, United States Army 2 CommentsThe model 1911 handgun is named for the year it was formally adopted by the U.S. Army – and while it was replaced as an official service weapon in 1985, it’s still massively popular. Various manufacturers have created their own take on the 1911, but its basic function and operation remains in place over 100 years after its inception.
(more)
REWIND: Police Cameras of the 1950s
Posted: August 15, 2014 Filed under: Crime & Corruption, History, Mediasphere | Tags: 9×19mm Parabellum, Camera, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Handgun, Pistol, Semi-automatic pistol, technology, Trigger (firearms) 1 Comment
Doryu 2-16 Pistol Camera ~ This realistic automatic pistol-shaped 16mm camera was developed for police and surveillance tasks in 1954, and was produced until 1956. – atomic-flash – mudwerksmudwerks
People from Other Countries List What Surprised Them About Coming to the U.S.A.
Posted: August 6, 2014 Filed under: Entertainment, Food & Drink, Guns and Gadgets, Health and Social Issues, History, Humor, Mediasphere, Religion | Tags: America, Bible, Boston, Chocolate, Christianity, EUROPE, Federal Bureau of Investigation, God, Handgun, Obamacare, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, religion, stereotypes, Tourism, travel, United States 2 Comments
With Helpful Commentary From An American, Yours Truly
That’s quite a list!
First, lets touch on the ones that I, a native of the U.S.A., agree with, or can relate to. Then we’ll get to some corrections and minor disagreements. Lets begin!
Slang
Is slang unique to the U.S.A? That’s news to me! But, I can’t disagree. A product of diversity, poor public education & rich teachers unions, multi-linguistic confusion, terminal hipness, and bad manners.
Jogging
True! Not only does everyone in Boston jog — all 636,479 of them — everyone in America jogs. Every day. Even babies jog. Don’t you? We started in the 1970s, and the fad just never ended! We love it.
Huge serving portions, ice water, baby seats, baby strollers, giant cars, obesity, general safety, wastefulness, etc.
Check, check, check, agreed, those are things many of us observe, too.
Sensitiveness towards race and religion
Those are two unrelated things, but linked by a common desire to not offend.
Sensitiveness towards Race
Yes, it’s a touchy issue here. Well-intended people don’t want to offend, so extraordinary caution is the default position. The stakes are high. One could lose their livelihood, social status, apartment, friends, savings account, and library card, if they accidentally say the wrong thing. Especially when a recording device is on.
Additionally, the guilt narrative has been successfully transferred from one generation of innocent people to subsequent generations of innocent people, the actual guilty oppressors being inconveniently long-dead.
To complicate things, not-so-well-intended people sometimes like to indulge in fake outrage, pretending to be offended. Sometimes for self-amusement, other times to practice their grievance theater performance skills, other times to lay the foundation for serious litigation.
But the good news is, these rules only apply to native-born Americans. If you’re a first-generation U.S. citizen, resident alien, or visitor to the U.S., you’re granted honorary immunity. You can say goofy things that would otherwise be heard as loaded with offensive racial meaning, and it’s not taken personally. It’s a free pass. Enjoy it! Just don’t overuse it. They’ll eventually catch on, and make you feel guilty.
Sensitiveness towards Religion
Not so much! We’re quite free to mock religion! So long as it’s Christianity, Christianity, or Christianity. If it’s not one of those three, then we have to check with our cultural advisors first.
Okay, that concludes the agreeable things. Now, let’s get to work. These are things visitors should know!
Tipping
Even if it’s unfamiliar, or peculiar, by your standards, most of us are obligated to know some basic customs of places we visit. And enjoy learning that, as part of the travel experience. It’s elementary travel advice, and basic good manners.
Of course, you can do like many foreign visitors do, and pretend to be ignorant, as a perfect excuse to not tip. It’s worked for millions of our guests. Feel free to use this excuse. Or, failing that, complain that ‘the math is too hard”, so you can tip less. Also, if you’re tipping the person who cut your hair, you’re getting your haircut at the wrong place. Read the rest of this entry »
BREAKING: Victory in Palmer v. D.C. ‘The Court finds that the District of Columbia’s complete ban on the carrying of handguns in public is unconstitutional’
Posted: July 26, 2014 Filed under: Breaking News, Law & Justice | Tags: Court, District of Columbia, District of Columbia v. Heller, Handgun, Illinois, Moore, Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, Washington DC 4 Comments
Just in: For Reality-Based Litigation, alangura writes,
Justice never sleeps…. not even on a Saturday afternoon, when this opinion was just handed down.
In light of Heller, McDonald, and their progeny, there is no longer any basis on which this Court can conclude that the District of Columbia’s total ban on the public carrying of ready-to-use handguns outside the home is constitutional under any level of scrutiny. Therefore, the Court finds that the District of Columbia’s complete ban on the carrying of handguns in public is unconstitutional. Accordingly, the Court grants Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment and enjoins Defendants from enforcing the home limitations of D.C. Code § 7-2502.02(a)(4) and enforcing D.C. Code § 22-4504(a) unless and until such time as the District of Columbia adopts a licensing mechanism consistent with constitutional standards enabling people to exercise their Second Amendment right to bear arms.4 Furthermore, this injunction prohibits the District from completely banning the carrying of handguns in public for self-defense by otherwise qualified non-residents based solely on the fact that they are not residents of the District.
In 2012, I won Moore v. Madigan, 702 F.3d 933 (7th Cir. 2012), which struck down Illinois total ban on the carrying of defensive handguns outside the home…(read more)
[VIDEO] ‘The Last Round You’ll Ever Need’
Posted: January 27, 2014 Filed under: Guns and Gadgets, Self Defense | Tags: .45 ACP, Ammunition, Daily Caller, Firearm, Giuseppe Macri, Guns, Handgun, Home invasion, Huffington Post, Mother Jones, Radically Invasive Projectile, Self-defense Leave a comment
New copper bullet EXPLODES on impact
Anything with a name like “Radically Invasive Projectile” will undoubtedly interest loyal punditfromanotherplanet readers. Including firearms enthusiasts, pyrotechnics hobbyists, law enforcement officials, reformed home-invasion hobbyists, concerned part-time burglars, probation officers, ballistics video aficionados, women sharpshooters, men sharpshooters, gun-haters, gun-lovers, anxious Mother Jones readers, NRA members, Huffington Post crybabies, gun grabbers, gun store clerks, retired military personal, security guards, teachers, and elected officials. And, well, folks who enjoy watching stuff blow up. In concrete. Or gelatin. In slow motion.
[Deals on Shooting Supplies and Fireproof safes at Amazon]
The Daily Caller‘s Giuseppe Macri reports:
G2 Research’s Radically Invasive Projectile (R.I.P.) copper-tipped bullet makes a stunning explosive mess in the company’s new promotional video, and it’s hard to image the effect on people being much prettier.
Smith & Wesson Unveils .460 Caliber Zombie Warning System : The ‘Backpack Cannon’
Posted: January 22, 2014 Filed under: Guns and Gadgets, Self Defense, The Butcher's Notebook | Tags: Backpack Cannon, camping, Daily Mail, Glock, Gun, Handgun, Self-defense, Smith & Wesson, Taurus Judge, Washington Times, YouTube, zombie apocalypse 1 Comment
Is that a cannon in your backpack, or are you just glad to see me?
“It’s a very comfortable gun to shoot”
Wow. This got my attention. For fans of the Taurus Judge “Public Defender”, this is a welcome addition to the “shock-and-awe” subset of Super Handguns. Before I bought my first handgun (a Glock) a friend directed me to the Judge, for all the wrong reasons, as it turns out (shooting shotgun shells out of a pistol increases the chances that even in a panic, you’ll hit your target, even if the weapon is completely impractical, and don’t even think about conceal-carry) but mainly because he was interested in it, too. It was getting a lot of buzz, that first few years, and continues to get a range of reactions: A. It’s a solid, respectable handgun, good for a nightstand, home protection B. It’s a novelty, often dismissed as foolish, not essential. C. Holy cow I want one.
Smith & Wesson ‘Backpack Cannon” ammo: The really tall guy, on the left, is a .460 caliber bullet.
I suggest checking out some YouTube videos of the Judge blowing up watermelons, or various discarded home appliances, if you’re curious to see one of these large-caliber revolvers in action. Step aside, Judge. There’s a new kid in town. Enter the Backpack Cannon.
My thinking is, if Smith & Wesson is getting in the game (or maybe they’re already in, I haven’t been following closely) it’ll surely be an attention-getter. Note: Cannon balls not included. The Washington Times has an item about it:
Cheryl K. Chumley writes: Smith & Wesson has unveiled the monster of all monster handguns at the recent “Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show” in Las Vegas: A .460 caliber beast with a 3-inch barrel, high-visibility sights and a synthetic shock absorber on the handle — a likely necessary addition for so much firepower.
The manufacturing company is billing it as “great for a back-up gun, or for hunting,” and has dubbed it the “Backpack Cannon,” The Daily Mail reported.
Reminder: 4 Concealed Carry Compromises to Avoid
Posted: January 20, 2014 Filed under: Self Defense | Tags: Compromise, Concealed carry in the United States, Daily Caller, Gila Hayes, Gun Digest, Handgun, Human security, Open carry in the United States, Self-defense 2 Comments
From The Daily Caller, good advice. We touched on this last December, but it’s worth covering again.
Gila Hayes, for Gun Digest, writes: If you carry concealed, eventually you’ll be tempted to compromise one of these four things. Don’t give in—avoid them at all costs.
We make hundreds of decisions every day. Be sure the decisions you make enhance your safety.
[Check out Concealed Carry for Women, a new book by Gila Hayes, and other self-defense books, at Amazon, or Click Here to Get Your Copy from gundigeststore.com]
This includes avoiding dangers, and it means having a way to defend against that which you cannot avoid. Playing a guessing game that tries to predict when trouble may strike is foolhardy.
Habitually and regularly carrying a gun for personal defense whenever and wherever legal is a sensible decision.
You must persevere even when carrying a gun for personal defense is inconvenient, uncomfortable or when doing so opens you up to criticism. Falling prey to a predator is considerably worse than any of those discomforts.
The four compromises to avoid, after the jump Read the rest of this entry »
Gun Test: Ruger SR40
Posted: January 15, 2014 Filed under: Guns and Gadgets, Self Defense | Tags: Gun, Gun Digest, Handgun, MSRP, Ruger SR series, Safety (firearms), Suggested retail price, Trigger (firearms) 4 Comments
The Ruger SR40 is a striker-fired handgun that offers a host of unique features, exceptional reliability, great ergonomics, and excellent accuracy. It is also modestly priced, with an MSRP of only $525.
Steve Gash, from Gun Digest writes: Recently, the SR40 and SR40c were introduced in the super-popular .40 Smith & Wesson cartridge. This makes a lot of sense, since many justifiably think any defensive caliber ought to begin with a “4.”
Both frame sizes have their place, depending on the intended use. The compact models shave about .64-inch off the barrel and 3.1 ounces off the weight of the standard models. This is not to say the standard models are big. They’re not, but they are a bit larger than the compacts. All four versions have a coordinated set of synergetic features that produce a comfortable, efficient, and reliable shooting system.
The Ruger SR40 is striker-fired and offers a host of unique features, exceptional reliability, great ergonomics, and excellent accuracy. (I might mention that it is also modestly priced, with an MSRP of only $525.)
It features a glass-filled nylon grip frame. The pistol fits my hand like a glove, and—praise be—its angle is exactly the same as a 1911, important to those of us trained on the old .45. When I raise the SR40 to shooting position, the sights are pointed right at the target.
[PHOTOS] Top 10 Handguns in the U.S.
Posted: January 9, 2014 Filed under: Guns and Gadgets, Self Defense, U.S. News | Tags: Florida, Fugitive, Georgia, Glock, Handgun, Tommy Lee Jones, Washington Times 3 Comments
Actor Tommy Lee Jones was a Glock devotee in “The Fugitive.” The wildly popular make just cracked the top 10 in U.S. production at it’s Georgia facility.
Kel Tec. The Florida-based manufacturer produced 90,177 pistols in 2011.
Glock. The Austria-based company made 23,752 handguns at its Georgia plant in 2011.
Actor Mel Gibson in his role as Beretta-toting LAPD Detective Martin Riggs in the “Lethal Weapon” series.
More – Photo Gallery – Washington Times
Analysis: Why Opposition to Gun Control has Increased over the Last Half-Century
Posted: November 26, 2013 Filed under: Guns and Gadgets, History, Law & Justice, Self Defense, U.S. News | Tags: Bob Martinez, Bryan Caplan, Gallup, Gun control, Gun politics, Handgun, Law, Michael Barone, United States 1 Comment
One of the fastest-growing segments of society taking gun safety classes: Women
Michael Barone writes: Economist Bryan Caplan notes that support for gun control — specifically, banning handguns or pistols — has decreased dramatically since the 1950s and 1960s. Back in 1959 Gallup reported that 60% of Americans favored banning possession of “pistols and revolvers,” while now 74% oppose banning “the possession of handguns,” except by police.
Caplan seems puzzled by this substantial change in opinion. I think it’s explainable by two developments.
(1) Violent crime roughly tripled between 1965 and 1975. As Caplan’s graph of Gallup’s results shows, majorities came to oppose handgun bans during this period. Americans saw more need to protect themselves.
(2) The success of laws permitting citizens to carry concealed weapons, starting with the Florida law in 1987 (thanks, Gov. Bob Martinez). Many, including me, predicted that this would lead to gunfights on the street and over traffic altercations. Those predictions have proved wrong. It turns out that ordinary citizens who can demonstrate that they know how to handle guns do so responsibly — just as they handle cars (potential weapons, after all) responsibly as well. The very few exceptions make news.
Top 6 Pocket Guns
Posted: November 12, 2013 Filed under: Guns and Gadgets | Tags: Gun, Handgun, Kahr PM9, Overpressure ammunition, Ruger LCP, Ruger LCR, Smith & Wesson, Sturm Ruger & Co., Suggested retail price 2 Comments
Richard L. Johnson writes: One of the most convenient ways to carry a handgun for self-defense is in a pocket. With the right sized gun and a good pocket holster, a gun can ride comfortably and unnoticed in all but the tightest of pants.
Here are my top six guns for pocket carry.
Kahr PM9/CM9 – I think it is hard to beat the Kahr PM9 and CM9 pistols for pocket carry. They offer exceptional reliability and accuracy with a smooth trigger and good sights.
Like all of the guns on this list, these pistols are double action only. Both are chambered in 9mm, and use six round magazines. Unloaded, both guns weigh less than a pound in part due to their polymer frames.
The PM9 and CM9 are substantially the same gun, with the CM9 being the lower cost version. The CM9 uses a number of MIM parts instead of machined parts, a conventional barrel instead of a match grade one, and a pinned front sight instead of a dovetailed one.
I personally own a CM9 and have gotten great reliability with it. The added machining of the PM9 is nice, but I am satisfied with the CM9. MSRP on the PM9 is $786, while the CM9 is $517.
10 advantages of the Glock
Posted: September 26, 2013 Filed under: Guns and Gadgets, Self Defense | Tags: 9×19mm Parabellum, Glock, Gun, Handgun, Polymer, Recreation, Revolver, Shopping 3 Comments
By Patrick Sweeney, Gun Digest
According to Corey Graff, Gun Digest’s editor, Master Gunsmith Patrick Sweeney is no starry-eyed fanboy of the Glock. Just read his new book, Glock Deconstructed, and you’ll see why. But even Sweeney, who authored 1911: The First 100 Years—and countless other articles on the Glock v. 1911 debate—could not discount the advantages of the Glock auto pistol. Here are his top 10 from the Gun Digest Book of the Glock.
Reliability
In those preceding years, the other pistols had in many cases been manufactured to a less demanding standard. They had been made when precision meant hand fitting, and everyone expected pistols to be somewhat less reliable than revolvers. Soon the “hand-fit vs. reliability” debate would sputter out, but until then, Glock was first. The level of reliability that Glocks demonstrate can be approached and matched by other pistols, but there is a definite advantage in being first.
Durability
Here Glock has a definite advantage. The polymer frame shrugs off impacts that would dent or crack other frames made of aluminum or steel. Unless you’re willing to make your handgun excessively bulky (and thus solid) it won’t be as durable. And that heavy, who’d want it?
Weight
The Glock’s big Glock advantage is its weight. Or lack thereof, really. The standard G-17 tips the scales empty at a feathery 22 ounces. Comparable pistols come in 25 to 30 percent heavier, and revolvers must be quite compact to beat the Glock. Big revolvers can’t do it; small or airweight can; but they all lack capacity. Read the rest of this entry »
Backfire: Editor of NY paper that published map of gun owners gets canned
Posted: August 11, 2013 Filed under: Mediasphere | Tags: December, Doug Powers, Gannett Company, Gun control, Handgun, Journal News, New York, Newspaper Leave a commentby Doug Powers
In December of last year, a suburban New York newspaper, the Journal News, caused quite a stir after publishing an interactive map that showed the names and addresses of every person in two counties with handgun permits:
In reaction to backlash to the paper’s publication of the names and addresses of people permitted to keep handguns at their homes for personal protection, the newspaper hired armed security guards. The paper was then the recipient the “Piers Morgan Award for Lack of Irony Awareness.”
And now, karma by way of Bearing Arms blog via Ace of Spades:
Gun owners were outraged and those who had information published felt threatened. Inevitably one owner’s house was broken into by burglars and though his guns were thankfully locked in a gun safe, the safe and house were damaged during the incident.
It’s been a long time coming, but finally, according to the Rockland Times, editor Caryn McBride has been fired along with 17 other journalists working at Journal News.
Now that they’re looking for new jobs, at least they have a map showing where the people least likely to help them reside.
via Michelle Malkin
pundit from another planet 