Once more it happened. The “authorities” had taken all the “proper” measures. Put in place all the “proper” laws, rules, regulations and controls. And then - well someone didn’t toe the line that they had drawn. It happens all the time, every day in fact - somewhere or several somewheres in the world. And yet one can predict the typical reaction of the sheeple - another call for more rules and regulations to control inanimate objects.
Northern Illinois. West of Chicago. One of the areas of the country in which the God given right to self defense has been limited by ignorant or malevolent (take your pick) authorities. And the results are predictable - some person in search of “revenge” or their “fifteen minutes” (hours? days? whatever the media will give them now) of fame takes an inanimate object and utilizes it to inflict death and destruction on unarmed people. And again, just as predictably, folks start blaming the object instead of the person who used it for harm.
Why are these things happening in precisely the places where folks think they should be “safe”? And their logic tells them that they are safe there, after all, don’t they have the rule of law to protect them? But as the founding fathers pointed out, a republic is only fit to govern a people that is morally, mentally and spiritually fit for freedom. It will not work for a people that have given up their moral, mental and spiritual obligations - which our current society has done for the most part. Where do you find a citizen who is willing to “call a spade a spade” when it comes to what is right or wrong? If one stands up to denounce homosexuality, abortion, sexual promiscuity or any other “sacred cow” then one is shouted down by the mantra of “we must be tolerant” - and so our society has become “tolerant” and given up their moral compass in exchange for the fluctuating, inconsistent and uncertain guidance of “anything goes”. Where do you find a person who takes time to think things through anymore? People want answers NOW - if at all. An excellent example is in the area of mathematical instruction. Kids are not being taught the very basic mathematical principles. They can rarely do any functions in their heads - it all has to be filtered through a calculator. And rather than knowing what is going on in the world around them, folks are mesmerized by the latest “American Idol” or other such “reality” show that has no bearing on real life. And when it comes to a right relationship with God - well folks either delegate that to the church or deny He exists at all.
When it comes to “ensuring safety”, there is no longer a consensus that safety is an individual concern. No one remembers the wise words spoken long ago: “He who gives up freedom in exchange for safety, deserves neither freedom nor safety.” One must be responsible in order to enjoy the fruits of freedom and ensure safety for oneself and one’s family. But our society teaches us that we are NOT responsible - unless taken to a court of law and forced to pay for another’s stupidity because THEY can’t be held responsible for their own stupidity (reference the McDonalds coffee case).
So “It ain’t supposed to happen!” but it will, time and again, until our society wakes up and realizes that inanimate objects are NOT the problem. The problem is that individuals utilize them incorrectly and other individuals are denied the means to defend themselves and others from them. It’s about people, people who have strayed FAR away from their Creator and who choose to violate His principles of conduct.
With 2008 being a presidential election year, we are now about past the middle of the active electioneering that’s been going on since last year. There’s a recurring theme I keep hearing from dyed in the wool members of the supposed “conservative” party and that is “Anyone but a Democrat!” It matters not what the so called “Republican” stands for, all they need to do is say “I’m a REPUBLICAN!” and folks will vote for them. But that’s not what bothers me the most, and is only partially the reason for this post.
What really “gets my goat” is the attitude that “We have to vote for the ‘lesser of two evils’.” The lesser of two evils - is still evil. Let’s see. On one side we have Democrats who are in favor of the sodomite agenda to demean and dishonor marriage by twisting it to include their unholy unions. And they are also in favor of executing unborn children who have done no harm to anyone. And they are in favor of prohibiting the free use of weapons by ordinary, upright citizens. And they are in favor of granting amnesty to the millions of foreign nationals who have violated our laws and invaded our land. On the other hand we have Republican candidates who are in favor of the sodomite agenda to demean and dishonor marriage by twisting it to include their unholy unions. And they are also in favor of executing unborn children who have done no harm to anyone. And they are in favor of prohibiting the free use of weapons by ordinary, upright citizens. And they are in favor of granting amnesty to the millions of foreign nationals who have violated our laws and invaded our land. So, what’s to choose from? Does it really matter which party drags the country into the mud?
Now, I know I’m generalizing and not all the candidates openly support the issues outlined above - but they ALL have abominable track records on one or more of the issues above, issues I’m convinced are of vital importance to the nation. And yet, when one says “Send me a truly conservative candidate who will obey and enforce the US Constitution, uphold moral values, secure our borders and decrease the interference of the Federal government in individual citizens’ lives” people tell me “If you DON’T vote Republican you’ll be putting a DEMOCRAT in the oval office!”
I’ve got news for the Republican party. If they want to REALLY do something POSITIVE and garner the support of the sector of the US population that holds onto traditional values -THEN QUIT TREATING US LIKE IDIOTS BY OFFERING UP LIBERALS IN CONSERVATIVE CLOTHING!!!! If the Republican party endorses a liberal candidate and tries to cram them down the throats of voters with strict conservative beliefs - they are the ones who will be responsible for keeping conservatives away from the polls. Telling us that WE are responsible for the failure of a liberal Republican to win the presidential race is like telling a woman that she is responsible for the actions of a rapist.
I’ve made it clear that I will not be kidnapped. I will not go along with evil men merely because they threaten my life. Nor will I go with them because they threaten the lives of someone else. I will not go along with them because I do not agree with what they are doing. If they kill someone else or if they kill me because I refuse to cooperate - THEY ARE THE ONES WHO PULL THE TRIGGER - NOT ME. In other words, any innocent blood shed is not by my hand but theirs. In the same way, those who offer up a liberal, pro sodomy, pro abortion, pro amnesty for law breaking aliens, pro higher taxes and anti second amendment (or any combination of the above) candidate and say “Vote for them or else” are giving me the same option as those who would attempt to force me to acquiesce to their demand to accompany them at the point of a gun. I simply will not be coerced into violating my principles.
To those who are running the supposed “conservative” party I say “Give me a REAL conservative or I’ll seek out my own. And so will others who are also tired of voting against someone. Give us a leader who will honor the Constitution and the foundations of our nation, give us someone to vote FOR, who represents our values from the heart - or YOU will be responsible for the continued downward spiral of the nation as we sink lower and lower into the moral abyss - one “lesser evil” at a time.
Here’s an interesting site. Thanks, Hobie, for putting it up on your blog. It was started by folks reacting to a quote about “people of the gun” who support the right to keep and bear arms. It’s pretty funny that something that was meant as an insult was embraced by those it was meant to demean. I like it. Goes along well with “christian” and “johnny reb” and other such “slights” that folks have born in the past - with pride. “The disciples were called “christians” first in Antioch” state the scriptures. So “people of the gun” is yet another insult that many are willing to embrace. Maybe I should send them a link to the Pistol Packing Preachers website…
Hoplophobia - An unreasoning fear of instruments (weapons). Hoplophobia is a term that was coined, if I recall correctly, by the late Jeff Cooper. It is an excellent term and describes well those who fear instruments more than the hands that wield them. The very heart and soul of the anti-weapon movement revolves around the idea that individuals are not responsible for their actions, rather it is the object that spurs the criminal to commit the act of violence. This is simply idiocy. It does not take into account the millions upon millions of owners of weapons who do NOT commit crimes of violence. Such an attitude is akin to looking upon all men as potential rapists - because, after all, they’re equipped to do so. Or considering all women to be potential prostitutes - because, after all, they are equipped to exercise that activity. And that’s no to mention the slap in the face of the billions of honest poor upon the planet when we are told that high rates of criminality are due to poverty. What about the billions of poor who do NOT commit crimes? Or the rich who commit crimes?
Criminal activity does not stem from availability of weapons. Nor does it stem from the presence or absence of the Y chromosome. Nor does it stem from poverty - or lack thereof. It stems from the “heart” of the criminal, from his or her way of thinking and manner of justifying his or her actions.
And yet, too many people fear the object, the implement, the instrument - rather than fearing the person who wields that instrument. The person who is capable of utilizing a firearm to commit a crime is also capable of committing crimes via other means. Many, many criminals have extensive “rap sheets” in which their criminal life is partially recorded. I say partially because all that’s there is what they’ve been arrested for or convicted of - not every thing they’ve ever done. And time after time you’ll see the same person guilty of utilizing anything from a broken bottle to a pilfered firearm to commit acts of violence. Often the same person will be guilty of physical aggression with a wide variety of objects, from their own hands to a pool cue to a broken bottle to a baseball bat to a firearm. So why are firearms singled out? Because of their perceived ease of use. And also too often due to the inclination of the people who vilify them to desire to use them themselves. It’s amazing to see the hypocrisy of the anti-weapon campaigners. Many of them have weapons themselves - and yet seek to deprive others of their lawful use. Why? Because of the evil that lays within their own hearts and their fear that others may have that same evil within.
We should not fear inanimate objects. We should fear the latent evil that resides within a considerable portion of the population. And our goal should not be to remove weapons but rather to remove the desire to commit violence against others. And that can only come about by a change of mind.
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God Romans 12:2
The piece below was written as a “birthday post”. The idea of a “Birthday Post” was started by fellow Pistol Packing Preacher Charles Graff. In years past Charles would post a controversial subject, attacking some “holy cow” of the shooting sports in a well thought out manner. People would rise to the bait and the dust and fur would fly. Then he’d own up as to how it was his birthday and folks would realize they’d been had. Over the years others have attempted to follow his example, but few have shown his skill. Some would merely say something like “Hillary Clinton’s right. I’m going to destroy all my guns” or some other such transparent effort. As I type this it is the day before my 42nd birthday. I’ve been cogitating on what kind of post to put up for 364 days. Over the past week I’ve put some more thought into the matter and finally decided to “go for it”. I’m guessing that the post below will generate some heat from certain quarters - or it could actually get ignored. Only time will tell. My question at this moment is, “Do the guys know me well enough to realize it’s a joke?” Surely by now SOMEONE realizes I’ve got an extremely weird sense of humor. We shall see what we shall see, as the butler said when he looked through the keyhole.
And, furthermore, to show that I’m not a completely insensitive person, I DIDN”T post the original 2007 birthday post on the forum. First I asked a fellow conspirator and radical thinker about it. Well, ok, the posting won’t occur there. Instead, I put up the first piece which is immediately below this. It’s more of a general “birthday post” instead of the pot stirring one I’d typed up yesterday.
All the recent talk about flat guns has put me to cogitatin’ a bit about them. I know that Jeff Cooper was a real proponent of the bottom feeding 1911 family of firearms, but for serious, dependable, defensive work, the semi automatic just doesn’t cut it.The semiautomatic is plagued by a host of weak points which can cause problems when it is called upon to defend one’s life. The weakening of springs in the magazine lead to failures to feed and/or eject (depending on design), the easily deformed magazine lips which also provide feeding problems, the strength (or lack thereof) of the recoil spring which can cause problems for proper feeding, not to mention the need to run pretty much full bore ammunition through them to ensure that the slide will reciprocate properly, all are inherent design flaws.
For defensive use you need a gun that’s likely to go “BANG!” each and every time you pull the trigger. If you get a dud while shooting a semiauto, you need need both hands to run the clearance drill prior to continuing with what you were doing. On the range this is an inconvenience - in a firefight it can get you killed. Yes, you can learn to grasp the slide between your knees or use other means to clear a dud or other failure to function, but most of the procedures to do so are not very safe to execute, unfortunate word there, execute…
Yes, I’ve owned (still do) and carried semi automatic pistols - back in my wet ears years. In a 22 for plinking they are a blast and the jams and malfunctions are not too much of a hassle since they’re almost invariably used on the range and not in defensive situations. But for pure reliability? A good revolver will out shine any semi automatic in that department. You can load anything from wax bullet to full bore hunting loads and they’ll keep on tickin’ - with no fussing around with finicky springs, barrel ramps and other such nonsense. You can load any kind of bullet profile from round ball to full wadcutter to jacketed hollow points to shot loads - and it will feed and fire them all.
I know there’s no way some of you will give up your slide action flatguns, and that’s OK. But you really should consider the danger you expose yourself to by relying on them for defensive work. I guess the best way to sum it up is: “I sure hope you never have to bet your life on one.”
The original “2007 Birthday Post” can be found in the complete article.
Thanks to Rob Leahy of Simply Rugged for the link to the Dissident Frogman’s postabout the recent blunder by the AFP in which they showed two cartridges in the hand of an old woman that purportedly were “bullets” fired at her house by US forces. If you take a look at the Dissident Frogman’s video you will see a well executed educational video designed to demonstrate the difference between a CARTRIDGE (shown in the AFP’s picture) and a BULLET (what would have struck the house of the woman if indeed US forces HAD fired at her). The only piece missing from the Dissident Frogman’s video is an actual, fired bullet to demonstrate exactly WHAT should have been shown if they wanted to fake the scenario in a reasonably credible way. Wait! Perhaps there’s a reason! Perhaps the Dissident Frogman desires to entrap the AFP into faking another such picture, this time showing the empty cartridge cases and claiming that THESE are the “BULLETS” that hit the house! THAT would be just TOO hilarious!
It was a grand old tree. We never ran a line around it to get the circumference but eyeballing it showed it to be at least 50 feet around. It wasn’t tall, compared to a Sequoia, but you could have cut a hole big enough to drive a semi through it if you wanted to - and could have gotten a semi in there to drive through it. In many ways that tree symbolizes part of my life. It stood unmolested by man for centuries - and then in a short period of time it was quickly hewn down and destroyed.
I was raised on the frontier. Araguaína was a “jumping off” town when we moved there the year I turned 8. Folks from all over came to town and then “jumped off” into the gold fields, the jungle, the newly opened cattle country and many other destinations. The main street of town was full of general stores where you could buy anything from gun powder to chewing tobacco to hand tools seen only in museums in the US - yet still sold in brand new condition to the settlers of the new land.
There was a small stream flowing down below the cliff where my Uncle Jim lived. It was full of “rabo de oro”, “cará” and “piába”- fish that would have cost a pretty penny in pet stores in the US. A short piece of six pound test, a size 22 hook, some cooked rice and we were good to go on a fishing expedition. Eventually we got cane poles, larger hooks and other bait, but those early outings taught me the basics of catching fish.
Sling shots were common. The most coveted by me was one that my cousin had - made from the inner tubes of the early earth moving machines that carved the Belém - Brasilia highway through virgin jungle. Something changed in the rubber they used and by the time I could pull one that source of rubber was worthless for our purposes. So surgical tubing propelled projectiles through forked sticks as we hunted the woods around and through town.
Dad acquired a lot “way out of town”, part of an old pineapple plantation that had gone to seed. There he built a house that forms the background of some of my fondest childhood memories. It was a good half hour walk or so across to Uncle Jim’s place and we’d get together with the cousins when possible. The area around the house was full of small game. Quail, various rodents, tiú lizards and countless smaller birds were our quarry. The lizards plagued our chickens, raiding for eggs and chicks. Dad kept the old 22 in the washroom where it was easy to hand with a full clip of ammo to try and put a dent in the marauders’ population. Possums also had a taste for chicken and provided some interesting episodes in our lives.
Some of the kids found an old chair with metal legs that someone had tossed into the weeds. The legs tapered down from the seat towards the floor and were very thin walled. The boys cut off a leg from the discarded piece of furniture, hammered the narrow end closed and bent it over then used a nail to fashion a flash hole. They bound it to a cut out board with inner tube rubber, loaded it with black market black powder and a few lead balls then touched it off with a match. It made a glorious “BOOM!” and emitted beautiful clouds of aromatic smoke and scared the black birds that were the target - while causing no damage other than ringing in their ears.
Well, we figured out that what they were doing was inherently dangerous. They could kill themselves that way! So, surely we could improve on their invention and come up with something safer - and yet more fun! In the meantime they went and blew up the first gun - by using the contents from a Brazilian firecracker for propellant. Bits and pieces surfaced, but a great portion was lost forever, even the hole blown in the sand pile where they’d rested it for the last shot soon vanished. Then they took a “36 gauge” (410) brass shotgun shell that one of the kids swiped from his dad’s hunting pouch and fitted it into the end of another leg from the discarded chair. They rigged a piece of iron in a U shape go guide a “firing pin” powered by a huge band of rubber. Upon the first firing the shell split - opening up and wedging itself inside the chair leg. From then on they loaded it like a muzzle loader - a muzzle loader with Berdan primers rather than percussion caps or a flint lock. With each shot the Berdan primer would fall out to be replaced with another that would be tapped in with the flat of a knife. Then they’d load it up like a muzzle loader for the next shot.
So we purchased a piece of 1/2″ galvanized iron pipe and a threaded cap. Using tools from my uncle’s shed, we cut threads on the pipe, fitted the cap and ran a block of wood in front of it to bring the breach forward of the last bit of exposed thread. In front of the block of wood we drilled a touch hole. It was then fastened to a block of wood in which we cut a groove as a “barrel channel” and usually fired via a piece of firecracker fuse or toilet paper with us hiding behind a tree. We then began loading with increasing charges of powder and proof firing. At 2″ of black powder the barrel cracked - right at the threads. So we backed off 75% and declared a 1/2″ of black powder to be our working load in the forthcoming shoulder fired muzzle loaders. Prior to testing to destruction we even tried using the cannon on game - your’s truly being the “chosen one” to aim at an iguana up in a tree and getting whacked good in the shoulder when the cannon shot out of my hands backwards. And no, the iguana wasn’t even grazed by our load of shot.
My cousin obtained a full brass 28 gauge shotgun shell from a local store. We then used epoxy glue to fasten it in a new piece of 1/2″ pipe. First he put a wad of paper in the shell with a string around it. He coated the shell with glue on the outside and slid it into the pipe. Holding the pipe vertical he pulled the wad out, thus smoothing out any remnants of glue left in front of the shell and left the pipe standing vertical to dry. He picked a piece of mahogany and cut it out in rifle shape. The mechanism was cut from thick aluminum and bent into a box shape. We never got a good trigger setup invented and had to hold the firing pin back and release it to fire the piece. The barrel was held in place with a couple of wide pieces of bicycle inner tube.
Mine was similar, only dad saw what I was doing and made me put a cap on mine. I ground the cap down a bit, flattened it on the back and drilled a hole big enough to reach the primer to allow decapping and recapping the piece. My stock was made from jatobá, a very dense Brazilian hardwood. Needless to say, it didn’t recoil much - as far as I could tell. That stock absorbed the recoil beautifully. But then Mom found out about the guns and they got retired to save the peace.
At that time one could buy a muzzle loader for about $5 at the open air market. There was plenty of black powder around in various brands and configurations. Although the national gun laws were quite strict one could obtain about anything one could wish for - if one had the $$$. Even a kid could walk into some stores and walk out with 100 grams of FFFg black powder, a bunch of lead and even full brass shells and Berdan primers or percussion caps - as long as he had the $$$. Fire crackers were common, as long as your finger and full of powder. There were “mortars” which were cardboard tubes with coarse powder at the bottom that launched firecrackers into the air a hundred feet or so where they’d explode.
One time we purchased a box of mortars (12) and took half the box apart to make one giant mortar. We made a stiff paper tube by rolling paper around a pipe and gluing it. Then we used a smaller pipe to roll a smaller tube to contain the explosive powder. The projectile carried the full load of powder from the six destroyed mortars. We only used half the propellant to launch it, saving the rest for use in our muzzle loaders. As luck would have it, July 4 fell on a Sunday that year. We had a long and busy day and no chance to celebrate. That night we got home about 9:00 and immediately set out to launch our invention. We propped the tube up, lit the extra long fuse and bugged out, back towards the house. The launch came with a satisfying “WHOOOOOMMMMMPPPP!!!” and we saw the fuse on the projectile as it sailed up and up, at least twice as high as the usual mortar. It reached the apex and suddenly let go with a window rattling “BOOOOOOM!!!!!” - waking the neighbors that had moved in a while before. Well, we didn’t feel to bad about that part since they didn’t feel bad about hosting parties ’til the wee hours of the morning.
In those days doctors were few and far between. The common folk often had no means of paying a doctor. Our family developed the means of treating many of the most common illnesses, for ourselves and others. The pharmacies would sell you anything you needed and reading gave us a knowledge of the drugs and their appropriate uses. Later, when my wife and I lived east of there, we were the only ‘medical personnel’ some folks ever saw. Our first aid kit’s contents dressed many a wound and provided relief for everything from amoebas to headaches.
Life on the frontier was wonderful. We could hunt and fish anytime we wanted. Freedom was a way of life. And that was the curse. Yes, we were limited in some ways, but the freedom, OH the freedom! Each one had to take care of one’s self, and the consequences of stupid decisions were often swift and brutal. One learned to get out of trouble one had brought upon one’s self. Yes, folks would lend a hand when needed, but self reliance was a way of life. Our dads were raised in the SW US and also knew the taste of freedom. How I enjoyed hearing their tales of life back then, and to me they passed that enjoyment of freedom - along with the curse.
You see, once you’ve known freedom you are not content to live under the laws of those who hate and fear freedom and self reliance. Once you’ve known self reliance - how can you submit to relying upon others? When you have a chronic problem, why should you go to a doctor when you know what he’ll prescribe anyway? When a mad dog enters your yard, why call the police rather than deal with it yourself?
So to this day it is hard for me to submit quietly to laws passed by folks who fear self reliance and freedom. Oh, I’m a law abiding citizen but when laws show idiocy I will say so. “Safety” “Security” - when one gives up freedom to obtain either, one gives up both and freedom as well. Neither in matters of politics nor religion do I see a need to think myself less a man than any other nor do I feel a need to depend on others to tell me what to think or how to live. Nor do I respect anyone due only to their education or income. I want to know, can they survive when things get tough? Is there an innate sense of manliness or are they all bluff and bluster with no true character? Will they attempt to use their position or wealth to lord it over others - either in times of plenty or, worse, in times of need? Experience shows that many of those who seek refuge in excessive laws and wealth WILL attempt to lord it over others when push comes to shove - and even in the daily grind of “normal life”. In the meantime, a country boy CAN survive - as long as he learned reliance on self and his Creator.
Rob Leahy, of Simply Rugged holsters, sent me one of his pancake holsters to use a while back. It’s a simple affair, made from thick, strong cowhide with slots cut for one’s belt to run through. The leather covers the revolver from the muzzle up to over the hammer. The gun rides high, allowing for easy concealment under an un-tucked shirt or a vest. The PPPPPP rides in the Simply Ruggedpancake probably at least 80% of the time. I’ve found this to be the most secure way of carrying the pistol right at hand. The close fitting of the holster to the gun allows for a snug fit. You can do summersets and not lose your piece. And yet, the lack of a retention strap allows for a quick draw with no fumbling to release a snap or strap. This mode of carry provides protection for the pistol, secure, discreet carry and the means of self protection right at hand.
Thanks, Rob, for this effective means of carrying the PPPPPP! You make a great product.
A correspondent sent me the links to the following videos. An air powered machine gun that fires 32 caliber bullets at a decent rate and velocity. Sounds intriguing, to say the least. And the videos look interesting too. The “Home Gun Smith” has the plans for sale on their site.
Here’s more info from the e-mail I received:
The CASELMAN works under 3.000 psi air; muzzle velocity is 790-800 fps (in .308/7.65mm, .355/9mm, and .451 calibers); rate of fire 600 rpm; with a single air charge it´ll shot 100-105 times within this range of power; in .451 caliber, using 225 grains bullets (NOT round balls) it´s muzzle energy is 311 foot pounds. We can be sure it is as accurate as the best closed-bolt submachineguns of the same caliber, using similar (pistol) bullets, something like 100-120 meters. It is a closed-bolt weapon, and since airguns are ever more accurate than any firearm, it is not hard to imagine that. Of course if we pick the best bullet (weight, profile, hardness) to our rifling path and barrell lenght, and we build with the utmost care the gun, magazines, and load with care each magazine, we´ll get even better accuracy with the Caselman AMG.
Well, here you have it - the reason why everyone should be disarmed. After all, weapons are dangerous to people like this guy. It’s logical that they should be banned, prohibited, forbidden. Thanks, Hobie, for bringing this to my attention. I’m VERY convinced now!
Over the past week I’ve put some more thought into the matter and finally decided to “go for it”. I’m guessing that the post below will generate some heat from certain quarters - or it could actually get ignored. Only time will tell. My question at this moment is, “Do the guys know me well enough to realize it’s a joke?” Surely by now SOMEONE realizes I’ve got an extremely weird sense of humor. We shall see what we shall see, as the butler said when he looked through the keyhole.