Conversely, if you want off my ping-list, let me know.
And my apologies for any redundant pings.
Only the police and the military have any need for handguns.
Molon Labe!
And when confronted with the choice between food and renewing NRA membership or answering the Free Republic fundraising drive--we don't hesitate.
Whereas Dick Gephardt's mother is choosing between prescriptions and bingo.
"Fifty Caliber Institute Update Gun Grabbers on the Attack
In this update:
1. VPC uses liberal media allies for new attack on the 50
2. City of Long Beach, CA passes ban on 50 sales
3. Election 2003 What are the results for the 50?
1. VPC uses liberal allies for new attack on the 50
If you want to scout out any potential enemy activity by the VPC, all you have to do is scan the New York Times. Preceding nearly every anti-gun effort launched by the VPC is a timely article in the New York Times about the subject.
This practice held true over the weekend, when the Times ran an anti-50 piece, digging up the same old recycled and tired VPC arguments about the 50.
There is now new event to trigger this reporting, no new incident with a 50, its simply the result of a cozy relationship between a couple of Americas most extremist anti-gun groups, the Violence Policy Center and the New York Times.
But VPC didnt stop with their gun banning pals in New York, the also farmed out a bogus article through a subscription publication that purports to provide news about aviation safety.
This so-called aviation safety article read like a bad screenplay, as it described the dangers of 50 caliber rifles being wielded by terrorist sniper teams who target jetliners parked on the runway, igniting fuel tanks with fireball inducing explosions.
Despite the best efforts of VPC and their allies in the press to produce a terrorist how to manual, the only danger in the scenarios put forth is that they have all the makings of a really bad action movie.
The reality is that there never has been a documented attack on US jetliners or military aircraft anywhere in the world with a 50 caliber target rifle.
Terrorists seem to prefer the SA-7 heat seeking shoulder fired surface to air missile, which happens to be available on the black market for less than many 50 caliber target rifles, has ten times the range and is far easier to use.
But reality, facts, logic and sound judgment are no barrier to those seeking to grab headlines by grabbing your guns.
Thats why liberal Democratic Senators pushed through legislation extending a ten year ban on x-ray invisible plastic guns that can evade airport metal detectors and x-ray machines.
With these devices existing only in the imagination of anti-gun extremists like Ted Kennedy and Chuck Schumer, its no wonder that the threat they pose is beyond imagination.
The Fifty Caliber Institute has been hard at work preparing a thorough debunking of the ridiculous claims made by VPC.
Weve been working with experts in aviation, the oil and chemical storage industry, experts in ballistic armor, as well as current and former members of Americas special operations community to compile the most authoritative data on the subject.
These unimpeachable sources have provided us with clear and convincing evidence to refute the lies put forth by those seeking to ban these rifles.
Were in the process of preparing this report for publication, in cooperation with other noted experts from the gun rights community and will share it with you as soon as possible.
2. City of Long Beach Passes 50 Caliber Ordinance
Long Beach, CA recently passed an ordinance that bans the sale or transfer of 50 caliber rifles within city limits, as well as a resolution supporting the efforts for a statewide ban.
The Fifty Caliber Institute had worked diligently to fight the Long Beach proposal, and we lost in a narrow one vote margin. Since blocking the statewide ban this summer, the Fifty Caliber Institute has been busy with a number of local efforts to ban or restrict the 50 caliber target rifle.
3. Election 2003 How the results affect you and your guns
A number of states held off year elections this November which will impact the debate over 50 caliber target rifles. California replaced a Democrat supporter of gun control with a Republican supporter of gun control.
On its face, this offers no change to the status quo of gun rights, however the extremely partisan nature of this fight in CA might allow for slight improvement.
Governor Arnold has a lot of learning to do when it comes to California public policy issues, and firearms rights are included. While the Governor has indicated a willingness to support a 50 ban, his office may be more receptive to reasoned discussion than that of Governor Davis.
Well be fighting hard, but not holding our breath.
Republican victories in Mississippi and Kentucky will offer gains for gun owners. Both Republican candidates held stronger pro-gun views than their Democratic opponents.
More important than the impact on gun rights in just those two states is the impact of these gains on the national Democratic Party. Lately it has been the talk of Capitol Hill that Democrats are learning to avoid the gun control issue like a bad case of SARS!
Perhaps some key gun victories in states that used to be governed by Democrats will reinforce that view.
On the down side, anti-gun Democrats won control of the New Jersey Senate. This chamber had been split 50-50 on party lines and now is in complete Democrat control. New Jersey has seen attempts to ban 50s and will likely be a target for gun grabbing in the near future.
Stay tuned for more information that affects your 50s and your rights!
Sincerely
John Burtt
Chairman
Michael Marks
Executive Director" Fifty Caliber Institute