Rule 308

Of Primary Importance Here In Virginia

2008-02-13T04:50:00.003-05:00

Spent a busy hour yesterday a.m. getting the voting precinct ready for action. By my watch we opened one minute late, but who's counting? Normally I place myself at the head of the line but this morning I fell in behind about a dozen folks waiting. That was more than usual for a primary, but not as many as I thought there would be.

I marked "Mitt Romney," in case you're wondering. Why? Because I have the luxury of knowing what the outcome will be, and I wanted to stage a little protest. I was not a die-hard Mitt fan, but I considered him the best of the viable choices, and I wish he had stuck it out. My thoughts on The Arizona Maverick can best be summed up as follows: My admiration for McCain the fighting man borders on awe; but my disdain for McCain the politician is just as deep. He has made too many deals with vile people, and bitten the hands that fed, or would now be feeding, him.

However, I have to agree with Our Favorite Beefy Afrikaner. Frau Klinton and Mr B. Hussein Obama must be defeated. So, you can lead me to the polls and make me vote. You just can't make me like it.

It Keeps Calling My Name, But I'm Going To Resist

2008-02-03T09:40:00.001-05:00

For now, at least.

Here's the reason why: after much thought, I've come to conclusion that the M1 Carbine is a great little piece and would be the perfect truck gun-- or house gun, or whatever gun-- if you had one already, or could pick one up for a hundred or two hundred bucks. Then you could, with very little effort, slap a rail and a good sling on it and you'd have not only a piece of history but a fine functional gun as well.

Since I can't get one for a couple hundred bucks, and I don't have one already, I realized that buying one now would be to take a step backwards so that I could take a step forwards. That would be great if I had a yen for a particular gun and the money to put toward it, or indeed if I already had one. Again, I don't have either.

So, instead, I'm going to take a step forward by sticking to my original plan for the next gun: an AK-clone, preferably the WASR-10. Rough and unrefined, but cheap and effective. Plus, it's a system I need to learn. I have my sights set on taking ownership on 15 April-- National Buy-A-Gun Day.

BTW... also on the gun topic, check out the video CT found. Outstanding!

That M1 Carbine Keeps Calling My Name

2008-01-21T14:19:00.000-05:00

I took Son & Heir in to Loudoun Guns the other day to soak in the atmosphere, when I spied with own covetous eye an M1 carbine, made by Inland. It called out to me, so I had to pick it up.

You know, I don't think I had ever really handled one before. I'll be damned if that wasn't a neat, light, handy little piece. Now I know why Farnam extolls its virtues as a solid "100-meter" truck gun, when paired with the new CorBon loadings.

Two other aspects appeal to me. The first is that it's a military antique, and so even though it's a magazine-fed military semi-auto, it doesn't suffer from the stigma attached to "black rifles" and AK clones. Nor would it be subject to bans and confiscations.

The second is that it's set up for the proper tactical carry, with port-side sling mountings. I would guess that just about any modern M4-sized two- or three-point sling would fit it.

Hmmmm...

The price tag on this one was $850, which squares with others on GunBroker.com.

Just the other day in a conversation with another Marine gunman, I said that I'd only get an original (i.e. WWII) M1, but wouldn't want to pay more than about $400 for it. Might have to reconsider.

The Tap Runneth Dry On Hop Pocket Ale :-(

2008-01-21T14:06:00.000-05:00

A gross shock awaited me at Old Dominion Brewery this weekend, where I went to fill the growler with Tuppers Hop Pocket Ale.

"We poured the last glass of that last Sunday."

"When are you getting more in??"

"We're not, at least not for a while. We're not making it any more."

Hellfire and damnation. That's like Remington saying, "We're not making .308 anymore." Both are commodities I try to acquire and consume in decent quantities.

According to the folks at ODB some issues with the owner of the recipe caused them both to turn off the taps. (It seems that Hop Pocket Lager is still being made, although it's not the same.)

I sent a plaintive note to Mr Tupper, who very kindly replied that he's hoping someone else will pick up the recipe and it'll be back in production soon, although he pointed out that the global hop shortage wasn't helping matters.

I replied that I was content to wait, hopefully, until a solution could be reached. I'll just have to make-do with second tier choices as, like the Loudoun County motto cryptically reads, "I Byde My Time."

Recommended Products and Services Across The Fruited Plain

2007-12-24T15:27:00.000-05:00

For my vast national and international audience:

Airtran: Cheap and on-time. I have flown with them exclusively to and from drill for all of this year (and part of the last). They are on-time pretty much as SOP, and early departures aren't unknown. They board and deplane quickly and efficiently, too, which can't be said for other airlines.

Gunbroker.com: Online gun shopping. Need we say more?

Smith & Wesson: Although I've by no means put my M&P-15T through an exhaustive test, so far I'm fine with it. It could use a few minor product improvements, but I think the company has hit on a good thing. And their customer service seems to be right on the mark.

Cabela's Ammunition Sales: Online ammo shopping! Delivered right to your doorstep. Ain't this a great country?

Recommended Products and Services in Northern VA

2007-12-24T15:17:00.000-05:00

As the year draws to a close, let me highlight some of the good people and quality gear I've run across here in Northern Virginia. (Another, more national post will follow.)

White Hat Chimney Sweep: Call Jay at 703.761.4333. He has more than taken care of us for a couple years now, since I installed the wood-burning insert.

Loudoun Guns: Good old local manly gunstore. If they ain't got it, they'll get it.

Blue Ridge Arsenal: Good old local indoor range. If it wasn't there, I don't know where I'd be shooting.

FPF Training: John Murphy's high-speed one-man-band operation. His courses would be a bargain at twice the price. Highly recommended.

Old Dominion Brewery: Directions are on the website, but the only sign to the place is on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, at about milepost 25.5. Great beer, good chow.

Partlow's BBQ: Outstanding barbecue joint, right on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, at milepost 27.5. Make it a day and hit ODB and then Partlow's. And then ODB again.

Healthy Kids Pediatric Center: Dr Davis, our pediatrician. If I had three hands I'd give her three thumbs up.

Blood On The Hunting Knife!

2007-12-24T15:01:00.000-05:00

I went out to some private land this past saturday afternoon, as the guest of someone who is a member of the club that leases the hunting rights there. It's near Warrenton, VA. I didn't see a thing, deer-wise, but my hunting buddy, Steve O. (VMI '87) nailed a doe with his 7mm Magnum. I asked him if I could do the gutting, since I'd never done it before and needed to know how. Plus, I really wanted to share in the success.

So, the hunting knife which had been bloodless since 2000 saw its first action. I did OK, I must say. I'm not sure I scored over a C-, but I felt good about it. We'll have the meat in about three weeks.

Other items of note from that day: Despite seeing no deer, I did have a delightful afternoon. About 200-300 meters from my stand was a large beaver pond, and from it flew the largest flock (skein?) of ducks I have ever seen. Normally I see them around here in pairs and threes, and if I see ten or tweleve I think that's a lot. Here, there were at least 60, probably more. What a sight. And a good education too-- I got to hear all of the calls and sounds they make, the quacks and the chuckles. Good stuff.

And it made me think again how important it is to conserve the existing wild lands even in suburban and semi-suburban counties. No wild lands, no wild life-- no beavers, no beaver ponds; no ponds, no ducks. Hunters are the best conservationists around. We need to be more vocal.

(And I *will* be getting one of these.)

Anti-Gun Stupidity in Colorado?

2007-12-15T14:39:00.000-05:00

OK, here's another item I saw while in Colorado Spring this past week-- "More Firepower For Security Guards?"

"...Next week, the City Council will decide whether to change an ordinance limiting guards to revolvers, and let them use semiautomatic weapons. Law-enforcement officers already carry semiautomatic weapons like the .40-caliber handgun, the 9-mm handgun or the AR-15 9-mm assault rifle."

The article is rife with idiocies, but none more stupid than the essential point, that the Colorado Sprimgs City Council sets arbitrary limits on what arms a security guard can carry. Like every gun control ordinance, this one is not rooted in common sense. If you are asking a guard to place himself (or herself!) in a position where he might have to employ deadly force, then shouldn't he be allowed to choose the weapon that he is most comfortable with?

Note that the article asserts that one is "outgunned" if armed only with a revolver. I don't think so; a .38 or a .357 is a very effective weapon, especially at the conversational distances that characterize most gunfights, and they probably have an edge over semi-automatics at longer ranges. They do require learning and mastering a different set of gunhandling skills, but that's a training issue, not a suitability issue. Remember that volume of fire does not constitute firepower; effective hits constitute firepower. I can't remember who said that-- it may have been Jeff Cooper himself-- but the truth of the matter remains.

The problem here is not that the city council says that you can only use revolvers, but that the city council places any limits at all on the choice of armament. If a security guard carries a .38 Special revolver and an M1 Carbine, but can make these guns perform up to their capabilities, then he's certainly not outgunned. But let him make the choice. It's his life at stake.

Anti-Hunting Stupidity in Colorado?

2007-12-15T13:36:00.000-05:00

Just got back from a week spent in Colorado Springs. Work, not pleasure, but I was able to hoist a few at a great brewpub downtown, Phantom Canyon. I can also recommend the Antlers Hilton, but not its attached brewpub, where the beer was a-w-f-u-l. The chow was ok but the beers were flat and tasteless, so much so that the waitress asked how I liked them and wasn't surprised when I said I didn't. Anyway, Phantom Canyon is right across the street from the Antlers, and has everything you want.

While there I took in some of the local news, which included of course the church shootings. Also dismaying, in its own way, was this-- "Elk To Be Shot In RMNP." Note that the headline reads, "to be shot," not "RMNP to open for limited hunting season." What this means is that the National Park Service will pay "sharpshooters" to cull the herd, because the current elk herd there is more than the land can support.

I say there's a better way to do it. Instead of paying people to come and cull the herd-- Capstick once wrote that culling was a "dismal business"-- why don't they get Congress to change the law, and then issue permits and tags by lottery to the TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HUNTERS WHO WILL PAY FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF HUNTING THERE. Right now, nonresident Colorado bull and cow elk tags go for $501 and $251 respectively. If we allow for, say, a five-to-one ratio in the number of permits and tags issued versus the number of animals actually taken, RMNP could put a big dent in the elk herd and raise a large sum each year. All of that money could go directly to that park, to improve and preserve the habitat. There would also be, as there is anywhere else big-game hunting is practiced, a substantial boost to the local economy.

The article says also that some of the meat will go to Indian tribes. To hell with that. The last thing those people need is more handouts. If the NPS won't open the park up to hunters nationwide, let them open it up to hunting parties from the Indian tribes. Now that would be something to see.

But I tend to think that the powers-that-be in the NPS won't want to hear any of it. I think that organization is riddled with anti-hunters and is one of the biggest obstacles to real wildlife conservation in the US today. This is all despite the facts in front of their faces. Sad but true, and I bet Teddy Roosevelt is spinning in his grave. Might have to write my Congressoids about this.

The Steyr Scout

2007-12-02T14:02:00.000-05:00

This post has been in the works for some time, spurred on recently by Countertop's mention of my rifle and Brother Rat BullNav's subsequent prodding.

I carry a Steyr Scout rifle in caliber .308 Winchester. (Yes, it's now properly the Mannlicher Scout but mine says STEYR.) It is an outstanding piece of gear, although one that is not as widely or well understood as it should be. This post is about how I came to own one, and why I think it's a damn good rifle.

A bit of history to get us started. I did not grow up shooting or hunting, so my real experience with firearms has been as an adult, and mostly in the military with open-sighted rifles. Thanks to the Marine Corps I had a good grasp of the fundamentals of marksmanship (although my scores didn't always show it), and the added benefit of no pre-conceived notions of what a basic 30-caliber rifle should be. Until I got the Scout, for example, I had not ever shot a weapon with a telescopic sight. Thus when I found myself looking for a 30-caliber rifle I was free to examine the options and give it some real thought.

When I began to peruse LtCol Jeff Cooper's Commentaries in 97 and 98-- looking for something specific on the M1 Garand-- I came across references to the "scout concept" and later the Steyr Scout itself. The discussions interested me, and I began to examine the concept more and more closely. What Cooper was driving at was the design and production of an idealized general purpose rifle, a weapon that combined several specific features into the proverbial better mousetrap. Such a weapon did not exist, except as a custom piece made at great expense and effort.

A rifle is an instrument, the purpose of which is to allow the shooter to be able to effect a decision at a given distance. Given that basic premise, and discounting the needs of specialized arms-- for biathlon, big game, or whatever-- what sort of rifle does that best for the practical range of potential targets? Better still, what features should the rifle have that will enable the shooter to achieve a first round decisive hit, on an appropriate target, under field conditions?

Cooper worked out the answers. His own experience coupled with a culling of various sources led him to conclude that the features of this idealized general purpose rifle could be boiled down to "handiness" coupled with enough power to knock down a target up to about 800 pounds. He wanted it to have the shortness and lightness of the old Winchester lever action, but with a more powerful 30-caliber round, since that sort of cartridge had proven itself across the 20th Century. And he wanted a short list of other features that could otherwise only be had by custom work, and which would enhance its utility for the single man operating alone. And that is what he got in the Steyr Scout. (See this site for a more detailed history.)

And that is what I like about the Scout rifle. I like the whole thing, not just its litany of interesting features. It really is a package wherein the whole far outweighs the sum of the parts. It's a rifle that's made to be taken afield and shot under field conditions. Carry it slung or at the ready, shoot it from various positions, engage targets from 25 meters out 300 (or beyond, depending on your skill), and then you'll begin to appreciate how handy and shootable it is. It mounts beautifully, and the longer eye relief of the scout scope allows you to track the target with your non-dominant eye in a manner not possible with the conventional scope. Every aspect of this rifle is geared toward the practical, to making this as useful an instrument as possible.

A few things pop out instantly about the Scout rifle. The first is that it's odd-looking. Yes, it is. So what? It's not built for looks. Next, that it's not a bench-rest rifle, although it's plenty accurate. If all you do is shoot it off the bench, you'll just end up saying, "What's the big deal?" People also notice how light and short it is, and wonder if that doesn't affect the accuracy. I assure you it does not. For practical accuracy under field conditions, you want to be able to place shot after shot into about a 6-inch circle out 300 meters, without any holdover. This is what the Scout will do, if you're up to the task. If you can shoot better than that, so can it. (Go here for more observations from Father Frog.)

I have seen and heard some objections to the price, which is around two thousand dollars. You get what you pay for, and a rifle is not necessarily something to go cheap on. At any rate, think of what you might dish out for, say, a Ruger M77 Frontier. Add in the scope and mounts, and the sling and swivels, and a set of ghost ring sights (installed by a competent gunsmith no less), and a modified magazine well, now you're in for way over a thousand bucks and you still don't have a real scout rifle. (Sorry, Ruger, we applaud your effort, but you missed the mark.) Nope, might as well spend the money on the real thing and be able to shoot it right out of the box.

In closing I'll say this: the best rating I can give the Steyr Scout rifle is that it rewards the shooter who knows how to shoot. That I can't always shoot up to its potential is my concern, but it has nothing to do with the rifle. It is ready and able to do whatever I need it to do. If you're interested in practical marksmanship, this is the rifle for you.

Scout Resources Online:

Mannlicher Scout at Steyr USA

Cooper's Commentaries (The rifle made its debut in Sept 97, but I suggest you Google "Steyr Scout" and follow every like that comes under Cooper's Commentaries. Many critical references to the project and buried throughout the issues, and it's fun to browse them anyway. I dare you not to learn something.)

Father Frog's Scout Rifle Pages (Indispensable)

Andy Langlois Rifle Leather (He made my Ching sling)

My report on the Gunsite General Rifle Course

More On The SCOTUS/DC Gun Ban Case

2007-11-27T20:47:00.001-05:00

OYEZ. OYEZ...

VFRMarine at HQ Legion weighs in on the DC gun ban case, and renders his considered legal opinion.

I remain cautiously optimistic.

Empty-Handed But Smiling

2007-11-24T15:37:00.000-05:00

Went out for a deer hunt this morning with Countertop. We emerged from the woods empty-handed, but nevertheless had a good time. It was my first time out this season, and I might only get one or two more so every chance counts.

Many thanks to CT for introducing me to another hunting spot.

Next time!

Shoot Or Don't Shoot?

2007-11-19T20:22:00.000-05:00

A self-defense scenario for you; tell me what your course of action would be.

You live in a fully developed suburb of a major east coast city. You take your dogs out in your own backyard in the middle of the day. A raccoon runs out from underneath the porch and attacks your dogs. While you try to separate the animals, the coon takes a nip at you. Assuming that you are carrying your pistol, do you draw and fire? Why or why not?

Think it's far-fetched? Think again. As improbable as it seems, it happened to one of my co-workers this weekend. Here are more facts-- He slipped and fell as he tried to get the dogs away from the raccoon and dislocated his elbow. He also did not have his gun, even though he owns one and told me that he wished he'd had it on him. He got nipped on the foot, and ended up stomping the raccoon to death, but the whole event lasted several unpleasant minutes. One of his neighbors just watched, apparently more worried about the raccoon than the human. By the time another neighbor figured out what was going on and summoned help, the animal was dead. So he was pretty much on his own for the whole thing. Now he has to wait for the results of the rabies test, and faces surgery on his arm. (Oh, and he lives in a very blue county of a red state, where gun use is rather frowned on.)

Again, is this a shoot or no-shoot situation? Why or why not? Reality-- it's not always cut and dried.

National Ammo Day!!

2007-11-17T07:59:00.000-05:00

Update, 18 Nov... I did my part-- 100 rounds of 5.56 Winchester white box at the gunshow today. :-)

Go. Buy. 100 Rounds.

Don't forget.

Good Gear: Slip2000 Carbon Killer

2007-11-12T11:26:00.000-05:00

I bought this stuff yesterday, having read good reviews of it. I'll be damned it worked as advertised! I dropped the small parts from my Smith & Wesson M&P15T and Springfield Armory 1911A1, as well as the whole pistol slide and carbine bolt carrier, into the container, let it sit for 5 minutes or so, and lifted them out. What carbon and old lube that hadn't already dropped off came off instantly after a light wiping with a rag.

It's good stuff folks, easy to use, easy to clean up, no harsh fumes, time-saving and effective.

It now carries the Rule 308 seal of approval.

Hunters Get a Fair Shake in Natl Geographic

2007-11-06T20:17:00.001-05:00

GREAT ARTICLE in the Nov 2007 issue of National Geographic.

I won't spoil it for you, but one quote says it all:

"The great irony is that many species might not survive at all were it not for hunters trying to kill them. "

Go and read the whole thing, bookmark it, print it, memorize it, email the link and send it to everyone you know.

Beware Nationalized Healthcare

2007-10-11T05:11:00.000-04:00

With the rise the junior Senator from New York as a Presidential contender, and the recent S-CHIP news, nationalized health care will again become a subject of debate. If you are hoping fervently for socialized medicine, or are even thinking, hey, that might not be a bad idea, I have a few words for you.

Remember that when you get socialized medicine, you then pay for the consequences of all sorts of bad behavior, even you yourself don't engage in these acts. You'll be shelling out your hard-earned cash for things like this:

Every drug addict who overdoses and goes into cardiac arrest, even though you don't do drugs.

Every drunk driver who wrecks his car and is intensive care, even though you're careful not to drink and drive.

Every smoker who scoffed at the warnings and lit up decades and now has nonfunctional lungs, even though you're a non-smoker.

Every strongarm robber who gets himself shot in the commission of a crime, even though you're not a criminal and have never menaced anyone.

Every fat body who didn't take care of himself and gets diabetes and heart disease, even though you keep yourself fit and almost never have to go to the doctor.

Every man or woman who rolls the dice and has unprotected sex with someone in a high-risk group and contracts HIV, even though you don't lead that kind of life.

Every woman who has an abortion, even though you're adamantly opposed to such a practice.

That's right, you'll be picking up the tab. By force of law. No questions asked, no alternatives. Think all of them will be paying for you??

And while you do, you can watch the supply of medical care go down, the quality drop, and the costs rise. Think your healthcare costs are high now? Just you wait!

Oh, and you can stand by for more intrusions like this.

Still think it's a good idea?

Newest Member Of The Family!

2007-09-11T20:12:00.001-04:00

Congrats to me!

Check 'er out...

:-)

A very appropriate way to commemorate 9/11, too.

Guess Who's Been "Dropping" In?

2007-09-05T20:24:00.000-04:00

Jack Landers of Rule 303 made a great discovery in far far southwest Virginia.

Hunters take note!

Nif-ty.

The UN-Ambiguously Worded Second Amendment

2007-09-04T19:48:00.000-04:00

DC has decided to fight the overturn of its [unconstitutional] ban on handguns. In the second paragraph, the authors refer to the Second Amendment as "ambiguously worded."

??

So I wrote them an email.

Gents:

I read your article today with interest and some amusement.

Why do you call the Second Amendment "ambiguously worded?" It's fairly clear. The wording is admittedly pretty 18th century, but the meaning is not hard to divine. And if by chance you need amplification, you can always refer to the writings of the Founding Fathers and the framers.

Did you supply that description on your own, or are you just using a handy label? Or did your editors slip it in?

Pray, tell.

Semper Fi,

j--- p-------

Think I'll get a response?

Update 2022 5 Sep-- No response.

Sunday Hunting In Virginia-- Will It Happen?

2007-09-03T13:39:00.001-04:00

Countertop has been following this issue doggedly, and has just found an old article in the Roanoke Times on the subject. I direct your attention there for one of the best rebuttals to the anti-Sunday hunting arguments yet written.

The commenter on that blog has it right-- "The state has no place enforcing/supporting the doctrine of any religion." Amen on that.

He has it right on several other counts as well. For me, opening up Sundays to hunting would vastly increase my available hunting days. In a given month I have about four days on which to hunt, that is, the four Saturdays. Knock off one for reserve duty. Knock off another because there's no @#$%ing way I'll be allowed to spend all three remaining days out in the field! So that leaves two days each month, at the most, for me to help support this time-honored pastime and do my part for conservation in Virginia.

I'm a church-going man myself, and I understand the arguments about keeping the Sabbath. However, I'd like to echo what the guy in the Roanoke Times said-- The state has no business enforcing religious doctine or bolstering church attendance. Allowing hunting on Sunday doesn't force you to forego church.

And finally, he has an excellent point on the Sunday hunting ban as a tool to restrict the accession of new hunters. All hunters should recognize the importance of that immediately.

As a compromise, I'd support a law that allows Sunday hunting only after 1200 on public lands, or starts out with lifting the ban for private land only.

If you agree with us, go sign the petition, and let your state legislators know too.

National Ammo Day (jr.)

2007-08-28T10:49:00.000-04:00

Don't forget-- today is Natl Ammo Day (jr.). Go out and get a box or two and give a big middle finger to the gun control lobby. Countertop and KduT have more.

I did my part about an hour ago.

Update: The package arrived saturday 1 Sep! Can't wait to start slinging them downrange...

Apologies For The Absence

2007-08-28T10:47:00.000-04:00

To all who visited recently and saw no activity, my apologies. I've been busy. (Always be sure to check Op-For too.)

jpp

On Second Thought, I Think I'll Stay In Loudoun

2007-07-22T15:53:00.000-04:00

Two posts ago I mused about Prince William's entirely laudable (and long overdue) crackdown on illegals. With this news out of Loudoun, I think I'll stay put now. (Trust the WaPo to make sure that the "critics" are front and center in any of these articles.)

And in today's WaPo comes a great article about a great citizen, of whom I had previously heard nothing: "Muscling A Web Site Into A Social Movement." The writer doesn't think he's so great, of course. "Among the ranks of the online martial artists who spin and strike across the so-called blogosphere, Letiecq is a virtual ninja, practicing character assassination, innuendo and exhortation with the skill of a black belt."

Not so fast. It looks to me like Letiecq is scoring some hits, nailing the group Mexicans Without Borders as a "Zapatista affiliate." The WaPo just refers to them as an "immigrant rights group." What's he doing, and what the WaPo and the other useful idiots don't like, is calling a radical a radical. He's pointing out the extreme left-wing influence in what pass for the legitimate representatives of the poor put-upon campesinos, (they're just here to make a living, don't you know). And they don't like it that more and more people are listening and paying attention, and demanding that their elected officials do something about it.

I'm with him. Those who want to move here and be Americans, come on in. We want you, we'll welcome you, and there's plenty of room and work for you. Those who want to migrate here in waves, and bring their ultra-left philosophies, their gooned up social institutions and their illegal tactics, we don't want you here. No matter how hard you work, you're not welcome. Go home. And don't expect us not to turn the power of our laws against you.

Good Range Session This Morning

2007-07-08T16:46:00.000-04:00

Household-6 gave me a liberty chit this morning and I chose to spend it at the range. I grabbed the Springfield Armory 1911 in its Comp-Tac holster, four loaded mags and a full box of ammo and headed to Blue Ridge Arsenal.

I only had a little time, so I got two B27 silhouette targets, unloaded at the firing line and commenced the warm-up dry-fire drills. Once I was satisfied that I was drawing and pressing smoothly, I reloaded and got down to business.

Not bad. Not the best, but by no means the worst. I was aiming for the cardiac triangle in the upper chest, not for the 10-ring, and the group showed very little lateral deviation. On the other hand, there was more vertical deviation than I wanted; none above the neck (except the head shots I wanted in the head) but a few dropped, oddly enough right in the X of the 10-ring. That's pretty much standard for me and it's a result of rushing the shot, looking over the sights and generally anticipating the trigger break. There was a good clump at the top of the shot holes, right where I wanted them at the apex of the 8-ring. In fact, the number "8" was shot out.

Practiced mag changes too-- that's a perishable skill-- and even was afforded the opportunity to clear a stoppage, which I promptly botched. I thought it was a failure to feed when it was really a failure to extract, and I neglected to cycle the round out. So I left a spent casing in the chamber and was rewarded with the proverbial click instead of a bang. Good lesson there.

Shoot more, shoot more often!

Prince William Floats an Immigration Crackdown

2007-07-06T20:34:00.000-04:00

Hell! This almost makes me want to move back to Prince William County.

Of course, the WaPo's designated open-borders traitor bitches and moans about it. FOAD, lady. (And the answer to your question is FOE, if they're here illegally.)

Good for PWC. Make 'em sweat.

Changes at Old Dominion Brewery

2007-07-01T14:12:00.000-04:00

OK, NoVa beer fans will know that ODB changed ownership some weeks (months?) ago, with a big brewery now having a controlling interest in what was a fully independent concern.

As a general rule, I resist change, especially when I think it will phuk up the proverbial free lunch. As a specific rule I loathe change when I think it will affect my normal routine, in this case my weekly growler.

That is how I viewed the change at ODB-- as a free lunch being prepped to get phuct up.

I'm pleased to say that I might be wrong (so far). The annual beer festival is gone (the usual site right by the brewery is now a construction zone), but they haven't gooned up the beers yet. The did change the menu a bit, and added a pretty good sunday brunch. I can still get Hop Pocket Ale, and if it's out I'll be happy to settle for New River Pale Ale.

Now, if they only had a shooting range next door instead of that ridiculous cheerleading place...

After-Action Report: FPF Training’s DHS I

2007-06-03T19:06:00.000-04:00

Following my scratch AAR below, here is a fuller treatment of what was a very busy, informative and illuminating course. Sorry if it’s a bit long, but it was a packed course.

Overview: This two-day course is designed to orient the student to the principles of effective self-defense, and then school him in the fundamentals of effective practical shooting at conversational distances. It is not meant to provide the be-all/end-all in the self-defense realm, but to establish a solid foundation from which one can maintain currency in shooting skills and put the principles into practice.

Gear: All systems go (see my B.A.G. Day list, I used all but the scotch). One correction—rounds expended were about 600, not 400. I got the two mixed up because I counted the remaining boxes in the case of 1000 rounds that I brought. I subtracted correctly but posted the wrong figure. (Yes, I am an artillery officer... manual gunnery was never my strong suit.) I’d like to remark that a course like this with a relatively high round count also tends to reveal gear issues that might not present themselves during your biweekly 50-round range time. Also, you get to see what others are doing and using, and can draw your conclusions.

Progression: The first four hours are spent in lecture on and discussion of the principles of self-defense, the mechanics of violent encounters, and the nature of violent offenders. Key points are the effective use of the Cooper Color Code and related techniques for recognizing what is brewing, and then avoiding it, deterring it, disengaging from it. Part and parcel of this is also recognizing that that despite your best intentions and actions, you might have to fight for your life. And that’s what the rest of the course is about—solving a problem that came to you, winning a fight that someone else started.

One element that John inserted into the discussion on violent encounters was Boyd’s OODA Loop. As a Marine, I had heard of the OODA Loop years ago and embraced it as fact. I had not, however, considered it as a tool to examine encounters with violent criminal actors. Yet, there it is. I didn’t fully grasp this fact until John pointed out that if you’re in the first “O” of the cycle while the violent criminal actor is in the “A” of his cycle, you’re screwed. If, however, the roles are reversed, you began the day in Condition Yellow, and while observing your surroundings you pick up on someone, then you can rapidly cycle through to decisive action. The OODA Loop and the Color Code work in tandem. This is a teaching point I had not encountered before.

The range work was, I’m pleased to report, entirely geared to the practical. We shot at ranges of 3, 5, 7 and 10 yards. The first few strings of fire were at small round bullseyes to work out the stupids, but almost everything else was at life-size “bad-guy-with-a-gun” targets. The emphasis was on smooth execution of the basic draw from a concealed holster, smooth presentation with a consistent firm grip, alignment of the sights on the vitals of the target, a cleared front sight post, a smooth press of the trigger, and a good follow-through. Almost every shot began with a draw and ended with a holstering. As with any practical marksmanship exercise, you realize quickly that haste makes waste, but a smooth application of the fundamentals will (surprise, surprise!) result in an effective hit on the target. SMOOTH is the key. Starting out slow gets you to smooth; going smooth results in the right kind of speed.

Needless to say, John runs a hot range. You are expected to come up on the line with a loaded weapon and a full magazine. And when you're off the line you're expected to refrain from "casual gunhandling," as he calls it, while still topping off magazines. Hot range is the way to go, if you're interested in honing your skills. It definitely sharpens your awareness and demands full concentration.

Anecdotal Point: While discussing the sterling merits of flight as a means of avoiding a confrontation that you see in the works while in a good Condition Yellow, John remarked that for one of the members of the class that option was “somewhat limited.” This man, a retired Army officer and a very good shot, had a prosthetic leg. Of course, it was all in good fun and everyone laughed, not least the man himself. However, John then brought up a good side point: This gent’s threshold for a perceived deadly threat is different from someone else’s. He can’t flee as easily, and he’s at a disadvantage in any defensive techniques using his hands and legs. Thus, he’s left with three options—stay at home (unacceptable), get out early (preferable but not always possible), or stand and fight. What popped into my mind was the true moral of that story—don’t pick a fight with a one-legged man, because you might get more than you bargained for.

Conclusion: This is not a course for the novice who needs to learn how to shoot. This is a course for someone who understands basic marksmanship, to learn the principles of personal defense and practical shooting, and to form a foundation for further study. For two days of quality instruction, the price is right, in fact it’s downright cheap. It’s also structured effectively with classroom lecture and range time. Were I conducting it, I might have saved some of the lecture items to use during water breaks at the range, but I understand why John does it this way and besides, it’s his class not mine. I can easily see myself taking this class again, and I strongly recommend it to you.

Quick Hotwash on FPF Training's Defensive Handgun Course

2007-05-27T20:01:00.000-04:00

Just finished up the two-day Defensive Handgun Course put on by John Murphy at Marine Corps Base Quantico. A more detailed AAR will be forthcoming, but these are the highlights:

1. Overall satisfaction: Very High. Met all my expectations and a little more. Double thumbs-up on classroom work and range work.

2. Rounds expended: 400-450. (PMC Bronze .45 ACP 230-gr FMJ, no problems.)

3. Gun used: Springfield Armory 1911-A1; only modification I have made is Simonich Gunner Grips. OUSTANDING combination, except for the old-style non-beavertail grip safety that allowed the hammer to bite the web off of my right hand. I lost a good bit of flesh on Day 1... actually that's not correct... I didn't really "lose" it as I know exactly where it went, and that was all over the spur of the hammer.

4. Other gear used: Comp-Tac mag pouches and holster, and Chip McCormick PowerMags. All performed up to specs, that is to say magnificently, and are keepers.

More to follow.

Port and Starboard??

2007-05-22T20:41:00.000-04:00

I got a nifty comment the other day in the Flashman post below. Seems like I have a "port-side" doppelganger in Rule-303! Another Virginia rifleman and homebrewer, and apparently a Breaker Morant fan too! The more the merrier.

Another Satisfied Gunsite Grad

2007-05-22T20:36:00.000-04:00

Ken from CA wrote to me several months ago after reading my post on the Gunsite 223 Carbine Course. I was pleased to offer some more thoughts and advice, and asked him to write back afterwards to let me know how it was.

And so he did.

"I just got back from the 223 Carbine course. My brain is still swimming with all the new skills I learned and all the old ones I was able to polish up. I was especially influenced by their insistence on staying in the fight... They have an amazing facility to work with. There were only 6 guys in the class, and all but me and one other fellow are in LE. I stayed at Little Thumb Butte B&B which was great."

Sounds like he had a grand time, as I fully expected he would. You can too.

Flashman!

2007-05-04T08:40:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Sir Harry!

Condition White: When "It Can't Happen To Me" Happens

2007-04-29T12:20:00.000-04:00

I promised last week that I'd address the events at Virginia Tech in due time, and so I will now.

First, a few observations. I am not at all surprised by the instant reactions of the usual suspects, such as the Roanoke Times, calling for not only tighter gun laws but an outright repeal of the Second Amendment. I for one would welcome a full-scale national debate on the issue, and I think I know which side would win. I started to reply to that particular paper, but stopped when I realized that the eyes and ears of its editors were closed; fine, I understand them quite well and recognize them for what they are, and we will agree to disagree. Besides, I think KduT disposed of them nicely with one word-- "asshats."

Now, I am surprised by the lack of a large and vocal movement on Capitol Hill and other places to enact new legislation to tighten the laws or ban certain guns, although fellow-travelers like Rep McCarthy (D, NY) are making noises. The stunning silence suggests that the blue party (and some in the red party) understand the issue and won't be flogged into hysterics. Or, it could suggest that the ugliness will come later. We'll see.

I'm deeply troubled that the shooter's mental history evaluation was never entered into the legal database, and that the relevant authorities appear not have tracked it well at all. By all rights he should have been legally tagged as mentally unstable, and removed from the university. That in itself would not have ensured that he wouldn't get a gun-- what controls do?-- but it would have shut off the legal-purchase avenue. Bottom line: everyone in the chain has to do his part to support the existing (and very good) laws. Time will reveal the details and tell what culpability, if any, will be assessed, but I know where blame doesn't lie, and that's with the law-abiding gun-owning population.

What troubles me the most is the pervasive effect of one of the more pernicious aspects of gun-control: that is, don't resist, call the cops, let someone else handle it. Wrong! Your personal security is always your responsibility, even when in a civilized society we delegate some powers to the police for general security. The police, no matter how devoted and skilled, can never be in a position to protect everyone at all times, in all places.

The casualties of that day were in what the late, great Jeff Cooper called Condition White. Cooper developed and taught psychological conditioning as one of the three legs of the combat triad, alongside marksmanship and gunhandling. (See here for a first-hand description, which you should read because I'm not going to explain it in detail.) But, as he pointed out, it serves just as well for general daily life, whether one is armed or not. In short, it makes good sense, and it can spare you some unfortunate experiences. The color code boils down to this: something bad might never happen to you, but betting that it won't is a losing proposition. What you can have is a method to condition yourself to a higher level of alertness that you can maintain indefinitely, and to prepare yourself to take certain steps in the event of an emergency. It allows you to turn, "Oh my God! I can't believe this is happening! What am I supposed to do??" into "This is ugly, but I knew it might happen one day, and I'm prepared for it." It's preparation, not paranoia, because it's based in a cold, hard appraisal of reality.

Having been assured that the university was a gun-free zone, that the responsibility for security lay with the authorities, and that one should never try to defend oneself, the VT victims naturally assumed that nothing could happen to them. Unfortunately, horribly, I'm certain they were all thinking, "This can't be happening to me!" right up to the very end. This is not to suggest that they in any way deserved their fate; none of them deserved to die. Rather, it is to illustrate how they had been lulled into a false sense of security, and had therefore adopted the worong mindset.

There was one exception. Professor Librescu, the hero of the hour, was demonstrably in Condition Yellow, even if he wasn't familiar with Cooper's color code. That he knew from close personal experience that this could indeed happen to him is the only rational explanation for his ability to trip the psychological trigger and act decisively. That he was possessed of extraordinary courage is true, and has been rightly been extolled, but what has not been discussed in the media is his mindset.

If there is one thing I hope the nation at large learns from this awful thing is to be prepared to act in the face of danger. Bad things happen to good people, but to be mentally prepared is to be armed against sudden emergencies, even if you're not physically armed (which you should be). Weapons are usually at hand, even in a classroom and even when you've been disarmed mentally and physically. A chair, a fire extinguisher, a heavy book bag, a cup of scalding hot coffee-- anything to blind the attacker and take him off his line of attack. Yes, it's risky, but isn't your life worth the risk?

Condition White is an inviting state of mind, but it's no way to live. Unfortunately sometimes it's a quick way to die.

B.A.G. Day 2007

2007-04-18T15:37:00.000-04:00

Albeit a few days late, I got into the spirit of B.A.G. Day this year, thanks to the repayment of the interest-free loan commonly known as a tax refund.

I got FOUR of these,

ONE of these,

ONE of these too,

TWENTY of these,

and I'll be getting a pair of these, (hey, if they're good enough for Det One...)

all in preparation for THIS.

Altogether, not bad. Might even have some $$$ leftover for a bottle of THIS. :-)

Sick Child :-(

2007-04-18T12:20:00.000-04:00

We have just experienced our first real sickness with our almost two-year-old, not just a bout of not-feeling-well, but an illness that required treatment. Still does, in fact. That's got to be the second worst feeling in the world, to be unable to help your little one. Thank God we live here, where we can get the world's best medical care and relatively minor issues like ours aren't life-threatening. :-(

The Tech Shooting

2007-04-17T12:16:00.000-04:00

Yes, I will be making some comments. But not right now. I need to step back and make sure I say what I want to say.

In the meantime, I agree with Countertop here and here.

Answers To Comments About the Militia Proficiency Test

2007-03-20T20:23:00.000-04:00

Thanks everybody for writing in, although no one volunteered a 40-round, 100-meter qual course.

Here are some answers to the questions I got.

Anonymous-1, et al: this is for any able-bodied law-abiding citizen, military or no. In fact, I'd like to see it taken and passed by someone who's had NO military or police service.

Freeman: Driver's license is not to prove good conduct, but to put a face alongside a name and address, against a voter's card and cert. of good conduct. He who has a voter's registration card is a citizen in good standing. The license is simply an enabler.

Scooby: Ten rounds is fine. Ten rounds is what they gave me at Quantico in 1989 (back in the Old Corps), and then we started firing for score. If you get a good three-round group you definitely start adjusting. And thank you for mentioning dry fire! We had shitloads of snapping-in at Quantico, and it is truly the key to marksmanship. This test rewards someone who has gotten the training and maintains proficiency on his own. In other words, has made sure he is "well-regulated."

BullNav: I hope it would encourage people to get to know their friendly neighborhood service rifle! As Jeff Cooper said, the M16 might not be much of a rifle, but it's the one we've got and so we all ought to be trained to its use. Good on him who joins a club and seeks out the knowledge. I didn't want to use personal weapons in order to establish a clean baseline where skill and proficiency come before gear. Thanks, BR. Now, what about a 40-round, 100-meter qual course?

PoshBoy: Good points, I'd like to see a similar program today with the CMP or whatever it's called. Nothing mandatory here, just a voluntary test to see who can assemble, check, zero, shoot, disassemble, and clean the service rifle. I'd loooove to see it be part of say, voter registration, like it is in Switzerland. :-)

Anonymous-2 and -3: Again, no qualification, although that would be interesting. Militias do matter, because we, The People, ARE the militia. We "get" guns because we possess that right, and for no other reason. No person, and no piece of paper, allows or grants us that right. And yes, WILLINGNESS is the key here! He who is willing to accept the challenge of seeking out the training, securing the weapons, and maintaining his skills with them will find this a straightforard test.

Again-- anyone have any ideas on the course of fire?

A Proficiency Test for a Well-Regulated Militia

2007-03-17T09:17:00.000-04:00

The 2d Amendment states that a "well regulated militia" is necessary to the security of a free state. What did the framers mean by that phrase? They meant that the militia, i.e. the vast majority of the people themselves, have access to appropriate weapons and trained to their use so that they could quickly and effectively take up arms either on their own initiative or when embodied by order of the government.

In order to test how well the militia are in fact regulated, I'd like to see a test administered to them. It should verify a couple of important things: citizenship, good conduct, and basic knowledge of and proficiency with the main arm and sidearm currently in service (today, the M16 rifle or M4 carbine and M9 pistol). It ought to take about an hour and consume no more 50 rounds. I'd like to see it administered with stock weapons and ammunition by the National Guard, for the simple fact that they own a large supply of said weapons, and one cannot then say that the militia aren't "well regulated" after they've proven their abilities with those weapons! Plus, by establishing an equipment baseline it eliminates any advantage or disadvantage that would come with using one's personal weapons and ammo.

To prove citizenship and good conduct, the prospective shooter must report for his test with a driver's license and a voter registration card, and a certificate of good conduct from his local lawmen. He will also need ear and eye protection, and some means of carrying the proper magazines on his person; the set-up will be left to him.

He then moves on to the firing point where he is presented with a disassembled rifle or carbine. Within a prescribed time limit he assembles it and does a function check, and verifies that the sights are set to mechanical zero. He is issued with 50 rounds, which he loads into three magazines-- 10, 20, 20.

He then moves up to the firing line and under command, proceeds to BZO with a magazine of 10 rounds, for 200 meters. Range personnel will assist only by spotting the groups for him. If he can BZO in fewer than 10 rounds, he keeps those rounds and loads them into the remaining two magazines.

He then engages targets at 100, 75, 50 and 25 meters from different positions, under command, and within a time limit. The target remains stationary, the shooter moves forward to the next line or to the target when told to. There is no spotting from the range personnel, and the targets are scored only once, at the end of firing. The shooter will change magazines when required, without command from the range personnel, and will clear malfunctions as needed. Only in the event of bad ammo or a malfunction beyond his control will he notify range personnel, and if warranted will receive an alibi. (Any saved rounds from the BZO can be applied to this stage to help him cover pulled shots or misses.)

He then moves off the line, turns in his magazines, and under supervision resets the sights to mechanical zero, disassembles the weapon, and does a quick cleaning of the major parts. He then repeats the process with the pistol, of course without the BZO stage.

This is a pass/fail event. The shooter passes all stages in order to pass the event. Perhaps the only grade beyond "pass" will be an honorable mention for those who shoot exceptionally well. I think this is a good test, and a workable one, to establish that an engaged citizen of good character can take a service weapon, assemble it, zero it, and employ it within some basic parameters, then disassemble it and clean it.

What I need however, are the details on the qualification stages. What target do we use? How many rounds per string at each distance? What positions do we require? What's the time limit? What percentage of hits constitutes a passing score? What constitutes a hit-- anything inside the "vital area" of the target? What should the pistol stage consist of? Again, I want the target to stay put and the shooters to move toward it, to save time on scoring. The whole thing has to be SIMPLE and easily understood. I have my opinions, but I'd like to hear yours.

Send me your ideas!

Another Reason Why DC Needs More Guns

2007-03-17T07:44:00.000-04:00

Following Countertop's post yesterday on Why DC Needs More Guns, in which he points out that a juvenile predatory offender who went on an unopposed crime spree last year just received the minimum sentence-- or as CT put it, "the minimum f*cking sentence"-- here's the nth reason (where n equals any number equal to or greater than one million) why the law-abiding in DC need to recover their 2d Amendment rights.

'Pack robberies' plague affluent neighborhoods.

Read it all, and read it carefully.

If people, and especially youth, can't be made to respect the property of others, and they don't fear the law, they must be made to fear the citizens. Right now, they have no reason to respect or fear anything or anyone. Let the good citizens of DC, including all the good little liberals on the Hill, be armed, and let them put the fear of God into these animals.

The great Jeff Cooper used to point out that the piracy problem in the Caribbean was solved for good when the Royal Navy proceeded to kill all of the pirates. Simple, no?

Roanoke, VA: A Great Place to Live

2007-03-13T20:10:00.000-04:00

Except for the fellow-traveling hard-left fish-wrapper of a newspaper and its weasel-featured smarmy know-it-all f*ck-face columnists. (I know it well, I graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 1985.)

Smooth move, Trejbal. You did something that didn't need to be done, and in so doing you outed some people who really needed to maintain anonymity for their own personal safety. And I believe a few of them have made that plain to you. And get a clue, O Spotless Reporter-- concealed-carry permit holders are by definition law-abiding citizens, since they had to pass a background check to get the permit.

Comparing concealed-carry permit holders to registered sex-offenders? WTF?? They are criminals, we are not. How hard is that to understand?

I hope the Attorney General and the State Police are taking a long hard look at you, and your employers.

And, speaking of you... what's in your background that you might not want publicized? Address? Wife's name? Boyfriend's name? (You look like the type.) Kids' names and schools? I bet there are lots of people out there tracking that information down. Payback sucks, boy, but then again by the looks of you you know a lot about that.

Buh-bye. Hope you enjoy the fallout.

DC Gun Ban Plaintiffs Speak

2007-03-11T16:08:00.000-04:00

In today's WaPo is as sympathetic an article on the plaintiffs in the DC gun ban case, and their motivations, as we'll see from that paper. Although the authors never really come out and say it, I have a sense that perhaps they whispered to themselves, These people might have a point.

The plaintiffs are normal everyday people. They work, they obey the law, they're tired of criminals running rampant in a city that neither encourages nor allowes them to take the steps they need to defend themselves.

It is one of the most pernicious aspects of gun control, that such laws turn these people into felons, while failing to deter or punish the real felons.

Liberty for DC!

2007-03-09T18:41:00.000-05:00

(At last.)

Brother Rat BullNav nails it. We'll see how the DC council idiots spin it.

More to follow.

Update... an excellent thread at 10-8 Forums...

And another at Countertop, with a cool NRA banner...

If I wasn't already drinking, I'd head to the range to celebrate.

And now THIS?? I'm ready for a cigarette, if you know what I mean...

Regimental Signs

2007-03-08T13:33:00.000-05:00

Folks, I want to showcase the craftsmanship of a good friend and fellow Marine, Major Joe Winslow. Joe runs Regimental Signs, and produces oversized seals and plaques for military units, government agencies, police departments, companies and individuals. (He just delivered one to the White House Situation Room.) Here are some examples of his best work:

The logo of 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion for a memorial in the battalion CP at Camp Lejeune, NC:

A brass emblem for a memorial at VMI:

The seal of a police department. Note the excellent relief and "feel" to it:

Finally, look at WO Mike Fay's post on the Military Order of St Nicholas. Guess who made the medals and the certificates?? (In that photo are not only myself and Mike Fay, but Joe Winslow and Craig Covert too.)

If you, your unit or your organization needs work like that, Joe's the man to call.

2nd Amendment Education: We, The Militia

2007-02-25T13:22:00.000-05:00

(Yes, this is the first Rule 308 post in about four months. Op-For’s been keeping me busy. So much to talk about, so little time.)

Today’s topic is the militia, specifically what it is and what it isn’t, and why it’s important. Since those of you who really understand it will say, “Yeah, tell me something I don’t know,” this is directed at those who simply don’t know the militia is, in order to educate them. As for those who have been told what it is and why it is that way but still insist on believing otherwise, well, read on and see if your mind opens up a bit.

The definition of the militia is at the heart of the debate on the meaning of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution, which states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

Gun control advocates claim that it grants the States the right to establish and maintain military forces, today called the National Guard, and has nothing to do with individuals’ rights to keep and bear arms. Besides the obvious facts that only individuals, and not governments, possess rights; that no piece of paper grants a right but rather protects it; that the National Guard is a fairly recent invention that is armed, organized and ultimately directed by the Federal government as a reserve component (check out a Guardsman’s uniform—it says “US Army”); and finally that there is no way to say that this amendment strengthens the power of the state when the entire thrust of the Bill of Rights was meant to protect the people’s rights from the government.

Nope, it means nothing of the kind, as gun rights advocates, who are really civil rights advocates, will correctly point out. The militia is the vast majority of the citizens of this country, the law-abiding, engaged, able-bodied working men who stand ready to defend themselves and their communities, and who can be called into national service if the need arises. It's pretty much all of us. How do we know this? We ask the Founding Fathers. They reply through the very clear writings and commentary they left on he subject. (See here, and here to name only two sites.) Bottom line: the militia exists beyond the power of the government, it can be embodied by the government when necessary, but at other times it simply is. And it is up to the members of the militia to see to it that they are well-regulated, i.e. armed and trained and ready. The government just stands out of the way.

Still not convinced? Still believe that armed force is a state monopoly where citizens ought not tread? Where we should all leave it up the “professionals,” because of course they’re so much better trained than we are? Let me give you some food for thought, about another vital area of security and safety in America where the citizenry plays a vital role-- Jury duty.

Serving on a jury is akin to serving in the militia. It is a consequence and an obligation of citizenship. You might never be called upon to do it, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never be called upon, and while you can with some difficulty get out of it, there are consequences to saying you won’t do it. The jury pool is made up of sound-minded able-bodied citizens, and it specifically excludes certain types of people, criminals for one. Others who would be excluded from jury duty include, interestingly, lawyers and police officers. Why? Because they’re too close to the system and they serve it in other ways, oft-times as agents paid and directed by the state. An independent, non-professional jury is a check on the judicial power of the state in just the same way as an independent non-professional armed citizenry is a check on the overall power of the state. Prospective jurors are only called into service—embodied, as it were—when needed, and then dismissed when their work is done. It’s all part of being an engaged citizen.

So there you have it. I hope you learned something today, and I hope you pass it on to others, especially those who just don’t get it. The right to keep and bear arms is a right whether you exercise it or not, and it’s a vital part of the safety and security of this country.

October Snow at Whitegrass

2006-10-26T14:51:00.000-04:00

They're skiing at Whitegrass!

Can't wait to get up there, especially as I missed all of last season. Countertop, it seems, is also a devoted WG'er. He and I are going to try to get there soonest. (Armed, of course. :-) )

For further info, please see down on the right hand side the link to my outstanding article on subject-named cross country ski venue.

Holy Crab Cakes, Hon'!

2006-10-25T19:41:00.000-04:00

The Washington Powst endoorsed Bob Ehrlich for Governor!

Elections: Promises, Promises

2006-10-05T12:22:00.001-04:00

I view with detached amusement political ads from DC and Maryland, where of course I do not live and cannot vote. Few if any of the candidates in either place are real conservatives and so I just sit back and watch the various strains of liberalism compete with one another to buy the votes of the populace.

One ad in particular struck me recently: A college diploma sits on a shelf high up on a wall. Two or three little kids try everything to reach it, but they just can't. Why, oh why, is it out of their reach? Won't someone help them?

Like the deus ex machina comes Super Candidate, Martin O'Malley, mayor of Baltimore (surely one of the filthiest and most dangerous cities on the east coast). I'll help you, children! he seems to be saying as he gently lifts it down for them.

The voice-over and the text then inform us that O'Malley-- let's call him MO'M-- will freeze tuition rates at state universities so that a college education is afforable to all. Let's hear it for MO'M! A genius! What a powerful and enlightened man! Why, he's one of the five best mayors in the country!

But can MO'M freeze the basic economic forces that act behind all prices and costs? Does MO'M understand basic economics? If he doesn't, what's he doing in public office? If he does, why is he ignoring realities? Worse still, he's making promises on the back of future generations, who will have to pay for the "frozen" tuition rates, as well as the other unintended consequences of his ignorant socialist policies.

Choose wisely, Maryland.

LtCol Jeff Cooper, R.I.P.

2006-09-26T19:54:00.000-04:00

Sad news from the high desert of Arizona: LtCol Jeff Cooper, father of modern practical shooting, has died.

Read my tribute at Op-For, and another great one at The Other Side of Kim. Posts on my two trips to Gunsite are listed to the right under "The Best Of."

A singular, great man has gone. His enduring legacy, Gunsite, thrives, and his words endure in his books and Commentaries.

jpp
Graduate, Gunsite 270 and 223

(memorial photo from the Gunsite homepage)

Sept 11th 2001

2006-09-10T11:32:00.000-04:00

I have written a commemorative post on a 9/11 historical coincidence at Op-For.com, for those of you with a mind for history. It is something that we can all take heart in while we remember our own dead.

I close with the words of Pat Rogers, NYPD vet and US Marine:

Never Forget Those Who Died

Never Forget Those Who Killed Them

This Is Why Maryland Has A Crime Problem

2006-09-08T10:21:00.000-04:00

I believe it's not a stretch to say that the counties of Maryland near the nation's capitol have a crime problem. Most public figures in that state think it's a gun problem, even though they already have some of the most restrictive gun laws around. No, the root of their crime problem apparently is that they don't treat their criminals like criminals.

I love to skewer the WaPo but today they did a damn good job of uncovering the outrageous preferential treatment a high school football star is receiving, even though he's accused of armed robbery.

There are too many good quotes to include them all here, but I will have to use one:

"I'm just going to go out and prove what I can do on the field," Lazear [the accused armed robber] said. "People can say whatever they want to say to me, but after one play they're not going to be talking anymore. A player is a player no matter where you are. That's my philosophy. I'm just trying to put this all behind me."

You're 17, and you're an accused armed robber. You don't rate a philosophy. Apparently, few if any adults in his life are willing to tell him that.

Shame on that high school for letting him play, and shame on any adult who doesn't take him to task for it. Kudos to the judge and the WaPo reporter for standing up.

Psst, hey Maryland! It's not the guns, it's the criminals.

2d ANGLICO VMI Blogger in Iraq

2006-09-04T07:53:00.000-04:00

By way of Andi's World, I found Captain Charlie at Lightning From The Sky. Not to be confused with Op-For Charlie, Capt Charlie is a Marine officer in Iraq, serving with a team from 2d ANGLICO. Go to his site and learn all sorts of things.

And yes, he is a VMI grad too. :-)

Potato Guns

2006-09-03T08:37:00.000-04:00

From today's WaPo, an amusing article on potato guns, about the most positive coverage we'll get from them on why men shoot things. And notice that the byline is from Fauquier County, VA, not from some squalid gun-banning socialist hell-hole like Maryland.

Load 'em up with sweet potatoes and you can go on a YAM-page! Ha, ha, ha.

jpp

To All Who Shall See These Presents...

2006-09-02T16:34:00.000-04:00

Greetings.

Since I just got promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps Reserve, I thought I'd invite you to a virtual wetting-down (now in progress)...

Buy Belevedere instead of Grey Goose, and support the Poles. Buy any good scotch, and support the Brits.

What I Learned From Hurricane Katrina

2006-08-30T08:24:00.000-04:00

Having been inundated by the surge of media coverage on the year since Katrina, I'm sure you're tired of it. But perhaps not. Here's my little commentary on What I Learned From Hurricane Katrina:

1. Don't live anywhere that is below sea level and in close proximity to the sea.

2. Don't live anywhere that is below sea level and in close proximity to the sea AND is prone to violent tropical storms.

3. If you ignore 1 & 2, be prepared to GTFO and fend for yourself.

4. Make sure your state and local authorities are not corrupt and incompetent.

5. If your state and local authorities are corrupt and incompetent, and you know it, don't expect them to become suddenly clean and efficient and save you in your hour of need. See #3 above.

6. If all else fails and you are stuck in a natural disaster that hits your home that is below sea level and in close proximity to the sea, and you had no plan to fend for yourself, and your famously corrupt and incompetent state and local authorities left you high and dry-- sorry, LOW AND DROWNED-- don't make the same mistakes over again.

And don't demand that the rest of the country bail you out indefinitely. Help you out, yes, and do everything we can to alleviate your suffering and get you back on your feet. But listen to you complain while you make the same mistakes over again? Sorry. No can do.

Sound harsh? Sorry, it probably is.

Small Farms and Hunting, Pt 2

2006-08-28T07:18:00.000-04:00

Following what I wrote a short while ago about the need to preserve small farms and the role that hunting can play in that effort, I see in the September 06 American Hunter an article that helps make my point: Will the Average American Hunter be Fenced Out?

At the rate we're going, it looks like YES.

The author makes the point that as land values rise, small holdings are bought up by developers or rich urbanites, neither one of whom is hunter-friendly. A self-compounding problem is created: green space is destroyed, game loses habitat, hunting is further marginalized. The rich are free to hunt their larger holdings, if they choose, but many do not. Game loses again because there is no hunting.

I wonder how we stop it.

I want to raise my son in that traditional lifestyle but we don't own land. The Va Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries has provided some good public hunting lands nearby, but those don't fill the demand fully. What I want is a small place to hunt close by, where we form a friendship and a partnership with a landowner, where we are welcomed as stewards of the land and the game, and where he and I both take an active role in preserving natural land and older ways in an increasingly urban setting.

Too Many Consuls, Too Few Captains

2006-08-16T16:01:00.000-04:00

Macaulay’s great poem, “Horatius at the Bridge,” reminds me so much of the current state of the American nation. (The text version of the story is here.) Horatius was the soldier, “the captain of the gate” who guarded the key bridge over the Tiber in ancient Rome. This was long before the Empire; behind him was a citizen army; over all were the Senate and the Consuls. (I seem to remember Manchester writing that the young Winston Churchill memorized that whole poem, and the great man certainly filled the role of Horatius to Great Britain in the darkest days of World War II when they manned their bridges in the nick of time.)

The poem tells us how the Etruscan potentate, Lars Porsena, grew tired of what he saw as Rome’s insolence, in reality Rome’s assertion of its independence and liberty. The Romans had just expelled their king and had opted for a republic; Posena saw that as a threat to all kings. At the head of a powerful force and with a Roman traitor—“false Sextus”—by his side to serve as his satrap following what he assessed would be an easy victory, he marched forth.

The Etruscan horde of 90,000 advanced, terror and pillage marking the progress of its march. The Roman government did little if anything to check the enemy’s advance, even though the Consul correctly identified a decisive measure: drop the bridge over the river. The commanding hill of Janiculum with its important temple was taken, and its “stout guards” were killed. Stout the guards may have been; sadly, the governing class proved less than that, and the hand-wringing continued. Presently, the enemy army was seen advancing toward the bridge. Even though he knew what had to be done, the Consul asked openly, “What hope to save the town?”

One soldier, Horatius, recognized opportunity amid the turmoil. If the bridge were lost, so would go the town, but if the bridge could be held then the city had a fighting chance. He saw that at the bridge’s head three men might hold off the entire enemy army for a time. He stood up and volunteered to go, and asked for two to go with him.

The good captain’s action galvanized the city fathers, and shaken from their funk they organized an effort to wreck the bridge while the three soldiers bought them time. Those who failed to see to their defenses when it was easy were now compelled to extreme measures, gambling now on the ability of three men to hold the only remaining defense.

As we know, Horatius and his wingmen did indeed keep the bridge, neatly dealing with the half-dozen Etruscans who imprudently came forward to challenge them. And behind them the bridge demolition had succeeded; the two soldiers dashed back across but before Horatius could follow, the structure collapsed and he was trapped. With singular sang froid, he ignored demands to surrender, turned his back and leaped into the flooded river. He surfaced and swam to shore, though weakened by wounds, to the thunderous cheers of his fellow citizens and even the Etruscans.

The story reminds me so much of the current state of the nation. Defeatism seems to have taken hold of a large part of the electorate; I wonder if they won’t float the campaign slogan, We Can’t Win, So Why Even Try? Ostensibly responsible officials know what has to be done but do nothing about it. No foreign army is laying waste to our countryside today, but we have battle at the end of our bridge nonetheless. The far end is far overseas, where a small number of volunteers are keeping their posts against tough odds. At home our people wring our hands, and in some cases extend our own legal protections to our sworn enemies. Traitors march openly in our capitol. Like the Romans before us, we appear wracked by doubts, not about how to fight the battle but if.

Let’s hope we elect the right men in November, who will not only hold the bridge but cross it and defeat the enemy before they can get close. Right now, we’re in a stalemate of our own making. Right now, we seem to have too many Consuls in charge, and too few Captains.

***

ps: Following the great advice of the evil Chinese general in The Manchurian Candidate, there is a humorous twist here on this story. Anyone in the military who has ever seen an award get downgraded to an ass-chewing will get a laugh out of it.

Preserving the Land: Small Farms and Hunting

2006-08-15T19:28:00.000-04:00

From my good friend Bill in Boulder, with whom I attended the Gunsite rifle course about three years ago, comes this outstanding link:

“Killing Endangered Species to Save Them”

From there you should also go to the original article, “Sacrificial Ram”.

These are points true conservationists have been making for years. As I read those articles, I thought of a recent op-ed in the WaPo, “Meat Eaters without Guilt,” which offered conscientious meat-eaters a more palatable alternative, pardon the pun, to mass farming.

Lady, you want real free range meat with a side order of clean conscience? Try hunting.

I say we revive thatgreat old tradition, and the sooner the better. It thins out the deer herds (we need that too), it puts meat on the table, it immerses us in the wilderness and reminds us where we came from. It is a great opportunity for fathers and sons (and daughters) to spend some clean and healthy days in the outdoors, away from the asphalt and the malls and the video games. It fits beautifully with small scale agriculture and offers family farmers another source of revenue. It helps keep nature alive and well in the face of urban encroachment.

And in the county where I live in northern Virginia, we are in great need of a plan to keep nature alive and well.

MAJ Fridley and the Class of 08

2006-08-05T11:24:00.000-04:00

I want to say WELCOME HOME and GOOD WORK to all the men of the Army reserve 80th Division who have just returned from a year in Iraq. Many steps forward, some steps back during this year, but the advances are due to soldiers like them.

One of them is my BR, MAJ Mitch Fridley VMI '89. Here's an article he wrote some weeks ago that I wanted to save until he was home safe and sound. In the photo below you can see him during the convoy he described. In his hand is a little ingot of metal he took with him, and that he sent back to the cadets of the class of 2008, who had it melted down so that a little of it could go in their rings, which they will receive this fall.

The best missions are those that go off without any contact. There aren’t many incidences of glorious combat in Iraq. There’s not much closing with and vanquishing the enemy on the field of battle. There’s nothing romantic about remotely improvised explosive devices exploding underneath a HMMWV, or sporadic gunfire from a neighborhood that usually doesn’t hit anything and when it does it doesn’t penetrate our up-armored vehicles. So on my recent mission into Baghdad to assist the Iraqi Police Services with several construction projects, I was more than happy to be able to report that we didn’t have any contact, and we did have a very successful day in support of our command’s mission, and therefore, really, of America’s mission in this hellish sandy country in the middle of the Middle East.

The mission of the Multi-national Security Transition Command – Iraq is to rebuild, organize, equip, train, and mentor the Iraqi Security Forces. This means not only the forces themselves but the infrastructure for that force, to include the police. Right now across Iraq, my command is overseeing the construction (or reconstruction) of 190 police stations and over 70 military facilities. As you can imagine, this requires “hands-on” quality control, and we have a J-7 office of engineers that travel out to these sites and check on their progress (or lack thereof). Any time we travel outside of the secure International Zone, there is significant requirement for security, and we travel in armored HMMWVs sporting .50 cal machine guns, and when we dismount at a site, the majority of the people are scanning sectors and rooftops while the “primaries” conduct whatever surveys or business they need to conduct. With the myriad of missions we need to make, we are always looking for people to go along and provide security for the primaries. As a member of the J3 Operations section, I could provide some command and control, give my boss some situational awareness of an operation “outside the wire”, and provide some of the aforementioned security.

So, on the morning of 09 May, I found myself “back seating” in a J7 convoy to check on four different construction sites in the Red Zone. On one hand it was a routine mission, but on another hand, no mission over here is routine, and these four construction sites for the Iraqi Police are critical to the future security of Baghdad. We rolled at 0730 and headed north up Route Force to the Al Ghazalia Police Station in northern Baghdad. This station was full of cheerful Iraqi policemen (IPs) and a bunch of beat up Toyota trucks, which are the standard mode of transportation for the IP. The station is considered in pretty good shape by Iraqi standards, although someone new to this war zone would be reminded of barnyard from biblical times. It’s been blown up twice and we are trying to get it rebuilt. My biggest concern, as a member of the security detail, was the large warehouse across the street that has been recently and frequently used by snipers to fire into the police station. Thankfully there were no bad guys in it this day.

Some words about the convoy that we traveled in to get out to these sites and around the city; Americans own the roads. Our four HMMWVs in tight single file formation speed through city streets at 50mph, sirens blaring, and gunners up in the turrets waving traffic out of the way. The locals pull off the road. If they don’t pull over, they risk getting shot. One big truck that didn’t move for us had an M16 round fired in the road next to it – they moved over. If we run into a traffic jam, we immediately jump the curb and “swim upstream” into traffic to get around the jam. We executed this maneuver a half a dozen times on this day. Just being in a convoy is a nerve-wracking experience. Everyone is intense, scanning the roads for potential suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) and snipers. Even without being attacked, in the 120 degree heat and constant high-level of alert, we are worn out after a day on the road.

Our next stop was the Al Risallah IP station outside Abu Ghraib. Very similar to the first station, and we were pleased to see that the local contractor was making progress and the IPs were satisfied – even though the work is rudimentary and all done by hand. After lunch we cut through the secure area around Baghdad Airport and Camp Victory and the V Corps headquarters and stopped at the Waleed National Police site.

Iraq has National Police in addition to local and city police. This group is more similar to what we would call SWAT, and some of them have armored vehicles. This was a much larger facility and there is an American transition team assigned to train these National Police. We were checking the progress on a multi-million dollar barracks complex. It was clean and air-conditioned, and they were even using power tools and back-hoe. When you put into perspective the amount of money and energy and risk the Americans and the Coalition are putting into building this nation, it is astounding. But, it really all comes down to things like our little group out there in the middle of Baghdad making sure its happening, and the American National Police training team living and working with the Iraqis.

The last stop on our trip was the FPS (Facilities Protective Service) Academy across the river from the U.S. Embassy (soon to be the old American Embassy). This is where FPS officers are trained to provide security and defend Iraqi national infrastructure. These officers will be assigned to the various ministries to protect and defend everything from the oil pipelines, power plants, and national monuments, to ministerial buildings. I found a group of Iraqi Police and FPS officers and gathered them around to take a picture with me and my piece of metal. With my broken Arabic and their broken English, it was pretty much impossible to explain to them what the small piece of metal was and why it was important to take a picture. But, Iraqis love picture taking and they were happy to join in.

After one more harrowing trip around the Ministry of Interior where people get blown up almost weekly, we entered back into the Green Zone and back to the compound. It was long hot day, but essential to building this country. Someday, hopefully, we can all look back on this country and tell our grandkids, “I was there, I helped build that.”

Disabled Marine Vet Mugged in Bethesda

2006-08-05T11:22:00.000-04:00

This is shocking, but all too believable given the state of society in the Washington DC area, where the criminal element neither respects the law and the police nor fears the public.

Savages.

What’s also entirely believable is that the MARINE FOUGHT BACK, if I heard him right on the new yesterday morning. One leg, one arm, and more heart than most able-bodied young men in America today.

Semper fi, brother. Whatever money you lost, I’ll be happy to make good for you.

Richmond Police Officer (and US Marine) Saves A Life

2006-08-02T07:58:00.000-04:00

From WRIC:

"A Richmond Police officer who rescued a 5-year-old boy from the James River over the weekend is speaking one-on-one with 8News.

Officer Anthony Paciello tells us he was driving by the Pony Pasture area on Saturday when he heard cries for help. He went to investigate and found a mother and father desperately trying to hold their young son's head above water.

Officer Paciello jumped into the river and dislodged the boy's foot that had gotten wedged between the rocks in the river.

"I started feeling around and found that he had velcro sandals on and was able to unstrap the back and the front of them and his foot slid out of the shoe enabling him to come up out of the water and got him up on the rocks and everything and he was crying. It was a good cry. He knew he was crying that he was safe then," Paciello said.

"Officer Paciello is a 2-year-old veteran of the Richmond Police force."

Officer Paciello is also SERGEANT Paciello, formerly a cannoneer with Battery H, 3rd Bn 14th Marines, my old unit. When I was CO of that unit he was the best of the best, and I'm damned proud of him. Good work, Marine!

(Thanks to Gunny D for the tip.)

jpp

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!

2006-07-30T07:12:00.000-04:00

H/T to Blackfive for the link to this good article in USAToday (of all strange places) on a Marine marksman in Ramadi.

The most interesting part is that he pegs his Catholic faith to his mission. As a practicing Catholic, I say AMEN! Wanton killing like, say, strapping bombs to teenagers and sending them into marketplaces to kill civilians, is no part of religion. Defending yourself and your fellow men against wanton killing is something entirely different.

I cherish a secret hope that one day, the Church will recognize what is going on and give a greater voice to the cause of civilization over savagery. Remember the Knights of St John? And what of the good old, head-bashing saints like Spain's patron-- St James the Moor Slayer?

jpp

Seattle Shooting

2006-07-29T22:15:00.000-04:00

Michelle Malkin has a large post on the Angry-Muslim-Shoots-Jews incident in Seattle.

(I had to search for the article this morning on quaint and amusing local paper. I see now that it has been elevated from the three headlines under "Nation," about two-thirds down the page, to the "More Headlines" about halfway down.)

Honestly, I'm surprised that incidents like this haven't happened even more often.

In Israel they guard against this by having most people armed and being very watchful. I wonder if any of that occurred in tres-lefty blue-state Seattle. Probably not.

The shooter will probably plead some sort of mental defect. I think I know what that mental defect is, but it ought not be a defense...

It's war, folks. WAR. DO YOU GET IT??

jpp

If we shall not do it, no one will do it in our place.

2006-07-29T08:40:00.000-04:00

Got to Blackfive and read the words of an IDF company commander about to go into Lebanon.

These people know what they're fighting against and what they're fighting for.

jpp

The Greatest TEWT Ever

2006-07-27T20:02:00.000-04:00

Professional military education of a different sort, from Bugles And A Tiger by John Masters; the memoirs of a young British Army officer serving in a Gurkha regiment in India in the 1930s.

A selection from Chapter 11…

“We discussed a problem which tradition said was set to officers about to qualify from the riding school of the French Army at Saumur. I didn’t believe the tradition at the time, but it is true; a couple years ago I had the opportunity of confirming it from a French general and cabinet minister. When the French officer had passed all his tests in horsemanship and horsemastership, he still had another trial to undergo before was passed as a true cavalryman, Frenchman, and heir of Murat. He was allotted three horses, three bottles of champagne, three whores, and a cross-country route of thirty miles. He had to cover the course in all particulars in three hours. The problem was, obviously, in what order should he tackle his fences? We reached no agreement on a single plan to solve the problem presented in this interesting TEWT…”

Disaster Prep: It’s That Time Of The Year Again

2006-07-27T19:59:00.000-04:00

The recent heavy rains here in the DC area and the official onset of hurricane season got me thinking about disaster preparedness again.

Countertop was apparently thinking along the same lines, and has a good post and some links.

Father Frog posted a very good-- and sobering-- set of reports on the Katrina aftermath by a correspondent who made it a point to be prepared for just such an event, yet was nearly overwhelmed by folks who weren't.

John Farnam also posted a great list of items to have in your car or truck at all times: “I can't say it too often: You're on your own! Never depend upon a "system" or upon anyone else to care about your welfare more than you do.” (Look under 17 Feb 2004.)

These are the main points I gleaned from the sites above, and from other reports:

1. Get your whole family ready to exist for a set period of time without assistance in basic daily needs. The length of time depends on you and your situation. Think necessities, not luxuries. You want to be able to handle daily existence without being a burden to anyone and without being a target for anyone.

2. Update your preparations regularly; what you set aside six months ago for your infant son isn't very useful now. This goes for documents too. Insurance policies, licenses, etc… are they current or expired?

3. Don't advertise too much of your preparations, or you might get some unwanted attention from friends, neighbors and the authorities.

4. Arm yourself—what, you haven't armed yourself??—and do it now. Have a back-up set, throwaway guns, in case the authorities decide to confiscate them. And practice with all of them.

5. It doesn’t take much to create an emergency situation, and the problem doesn’t have to be in your neighborhood, or even in your county. Think about what can happen that will upset your status quo, and what you can do to mitigate the consequences.

6. Make a comprehensive but flexible plan. Decide now which circumstances make it is best for you to stay put and which will tell you it’s best to get out. And once the time comes to act on that decision, do what you planned. If you decide to get out of the area, make sure you have a definite destination in mind, that your prospective hosts are aware and approve, and that your vehicle is prepared to get you there.I must admit that although our family is in a better position than we were a few months ago, we’re still not fully prepared yet. As I know from years of contingency planning and readiness exercises, it’s a constant struggle to get prepared and stay prepared, but the effort (or lack of) is always repaid in the end.

jpp

Cats That Look Like Hitler???

2006-07-26T20:18:00.000-04:00

Yes...

CATS THAT LOOK LIKE HITLER.

jpp

Hey, Counter-top!

2006-07-22T18:33:00.000-04:00

CT, if you're reading, let's do a shoot, a NoVa blogger-blast. What say you? (Great posts lately too.)

And anyone else too, like 30-06 and Tom The Redhunter... email me at vmijpp at hotmail dot com.

jpp

I'm Back

2006-07-22T18:26:00.000-04:00

To all my devoted readers-- all twelve of you :-) -- I apologize for my absence. Two things have kept me away.

1. My writing project kicked into some last-minute high gear, and I found myself devoting almost one hundred percent of my waking hours to it. I'll have more on that soon.

2. I went TAD on a one-week course at Little Creek: the JTAC Primer. JTAC is Joint Terminal Attack Controller, which is what you are if you are trained to call in close air support but you're not an aviator. Only aviators can be FACs; others can be JTACs. I have now completed the entry-level JTAC training to allow me to continue with live controls and other formal instruction. It was a damn good course, and not a gentleman's course either.

I promise to post more regularly. In the meantime, check out Op-For where I also post under the nom-de-blog "Maj P".

jpp

Been Workin'

2006-07-09T16:54:00.000-04:00

Been offline for the last week... lots of things going on at work, plus this weekend I've been taking care of some landscaping and filling in for John and Charlie at Op-For.

jpp

The 4th Of July: On Liberty And Freedom

2006-07-03T13:34:00.000-04:00

Frequent readers will know that I am a big fan of LtCol Jeff Cooper. Among the many subjects he addresses is the difference between liberty and freedom. He points out that the terms are not interchangeable; they are two different conditions. Liberty is a political condition, freedom is a physical condition.

As with so many other issues, I stand with Cooper.

One of the greatest things we can say about Liberty is that it isn’t an –ism. Liberty requires no creed, has no silly little red book, professes no tenets, encourages no class warfare, and issues no manifestos. Liberty is the condition where a free citizen goes about his business as he sees fit, under his own abilities and in pursuit of his own goals. Liberty is just normal life. In yesterday’s edition of my quaint and amusing local paper, there was a very good article on Canadians living here in the U.S. One of them wrestles with self-doubt: has he betrayed “his country’s socialism” by coming here for higher pay and lower taxes? No sir, you haven’t betrayed it, you gave it the middle finger. You chose normal life over a contrived system that limited your opportunities. Stop worrying about it. You chose Liberty over an –ism. Welcome to America, sir. (And btw, get out of Maryland; it's pretty socialist too.)

Liberty as a political condition has an equally attractive economic twin: free enterprise. Let’s not call it capitalism, let’s just keep it simple. It is “free” in that it is unfettered except by the basic rule of law, but it's not a free-for-all. And “enterprise”—what a great word! A venture by an individual seeking to make his fortune, be it across a continent or just down the street. Think of the innumerable daily economic liberties we enjoy. They go hand in hand with political liberty.

Freedom is just the absence of restraint. The man who just broke out of prison—or the man who was just released from prison—is free, but he cannot enjoy liberty. He is in a very limited position to pursue his life. Look at it another way: when the Saddam statue was pulled down in Baghdad in April 2003 (by a U.S. Marine reservist, I’d like to point out), the inhabitants of that city were free, but they had no Liberty. Their freedom descended into chaos, violence and lawlessness, but not only because there was no civil power to enforce the law. Rather, it was because they could not govern their own passions and actions. The basis of Liberty is truly self-government. A true state of Liberty requires few laws and a relative handful of men to enforce them, because the population is not inclined to break the law in the first place.

I believe that when the founders talked about Liberty, they meant exactly what they said. “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” is a wonderfully straightforward call. The Founders meant to appeal to an educated, engaged, self-governing people. I believe that that is what America still stands for.

So I’ll stand with Cooper, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson. Liberty is what I want, and it is what I’ll fight for.

Guns, Guns, Guns

2006-07-02T11:15:00.000-04:00

The 4th of July weekend is a fine to time to think about, discuss, and shoot GUNS. Besides, it'll keep my mind off the closing of Thoroughbreds. I have a modest armory: a .22 rifle, a Remington 870 12-gauge, a CVA 50-cal muzzleloader, a WWII M1 Garand, a Taurus .357, and the twin prizes of the collection, a Springfield Armory 1911 .45, and the mighty .308 Steyr Mannlicher Scout.

It is true that you cannot operate more than one weapon at a time. Yet, I want more.

After years of resisting the urge, I’m looking at an AK. (Cooper says that the AK is not a citizen’s weapon, by which he means a rifle, but a peasant’s weapon. However, he points out, it is a system in use throughout the world and has much to recommend it in terms of simplicity, reliability and durability. One correspondent replied to me with, “It goes bang when you pull the trigger, every time.”) Several people have recommended this one to me, a Roamnian WASR:

I’d like to turn my 870 into this (and then of course buy a new one for fowl and turkey), a Wilson Combat Border Patrol model:

I really want one of these, a Ruger .22 Single Six:

Yes, one of these too, a Bushmaster or some other M4gery:

And thanks to good reviews and a new line of ammo that increases its capabilities (via John Farnam), I think one of these would be a good acquisition, a Kahr Arms M1 Carbine:

And of course then I’d have to attend more courses, like the Gunsite shotgun course and any number of AK courses. Not to do so would be a shame. :-)

Anything else? Ok, maybe one of THESE... finally, a good use for golf balls.

jpp

Thoroughbreds Grill, R.I.P.

2006-07-02T09:56:00.000-04:00

I went yesterday, growler in hand, to a great local establishment, Thoroughbreds Grill and Brewing. There weren’t many cars in the lot, but I thought well, maybe it’s just an off-day. When I got closer I saw the blinds were drawn and the patio furniture was gone. Uh-oh. Sure enough, a sign on the door said, “Closed, gone bankrupt.”

DAMN.

This has happened to me before. I was a regular at Virginia Beverage Company in Old Town Alexandria, where I had a mug and even picture on the wall.

I really liked Thoroughbreds. I liked the food, I like the staff, I liked the beer. And they liked me. I was recognized when I came in and got great service. I had a nice little ritual: I would come in on a Friday night, and get my growler filled with 50 Cat IPA. I could (and did) drink that ale by the liter. The cost was $7.06 so I’d give them $10.06 and call it even. Sometimes I had son-and-heir with me, and I would say to him, one day you too will enjoy this. The whole thing was extraordinarily pleasant and comfortable. I can’t tell you how upset I am.

jpp

Well SHIT, Let's Just Turn 'Em All Loose

2006-06-29T10:48:00.000-04:00

My quaint and amusing local paper is crowing about a significant set-back in the War to Rid The Earth of Goat-Screwing Heathens:

Supreme Court Blocks Bush, Gitmo War Trials

Fuck me to tears. You mean some Yemeni, Bin Laden's driver and bodyguard, has standing to sue in the US Supreme Court?? And win??

TVZMM is on it too, and has some good links.

I'm disgusted. What the hell is wrong with this country?

jpp

A Big Fat Negative to UN Gun Control

2006-06-28T13:03:00.000-04:00

Thank God we have some patriots at the UN. Via TVZMM comes this very welcome piece of news.

"A remarkable thing happened at the United Nations yesterday. We, the United States, told the world “no”. The messenger was Robert Joseph, the Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Speaking before the dozens of nations that have gathered for the review conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Joseph told the world in no uncertain terms where the United States stood.

"“The U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of our citizens to keep and bear arms, and there will be no infringement of those rights,” he proclaimed to the dignitaries and functionaries. “The United States will not agree to any provisions restricting civilian possession, use or legal trade of firearms inconsistent with our laws and practices.”"

The most brilliant words in it are, "The U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of our citizens to keep and bear arms;" not "grants," "gives," or "extends." As it does also the rights to free speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press.

We need more diplomats like Mr Joseph and Mr. Bolton. Let's make sure we elect the men who will appoint them.

Amen. And just in time for the 4th of July.

jpp

Tactical Convoy Supplies

2006-06-27T13:08:00.000-04:00

My good friend and fellow Marine, Major Joe Winslow, has come up with a great idea, based on his time in Iraq. He is making and selling signs for tactical convoys, that tell the locals to keep away and be careful. Here's one of them:

Simple, brilliant. If you're interested, go visit Joe's site. He has them ready to go in several languages and sizes. Anything he does is quality work.

jpp

Yeah, But That's What Bears Do

2006-06-27T07:57:00.000-04:00

I saw this article, Fed-Up Germany Kills Its Only Wild Bear, in my quaint and amusing local paper today.

"Bavarian authorities said they regretted the outcome but blamed Bruno [das bear] for forcing their hand. They said the bear had failed to show enough fear or respect for humans and was repeatedly wandering into Alpine villages in search of food."

Yeah, but that's what bears do.

As Jeff Cooper says, bears are a magnificent adornment to the wilderness and should be welcomed. However, they're not cute and cuddly little toys. They roam around in search of food, and they're big enough to get what they want.

Yet more evidence that old Europe has lost the bubble.

jpp

Airborne!

2006-06-26T20:51:00.000-04:00

Spent the weekend down in Fayetteville, NC, attending the change-of-command for a great friend and Brother Rat (will post more on that shortly).

We took his kids to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayette-nam. (I'll be damned but that place has a nice downtown.) That museum is worth a visit by every American who has even the faintest interest in the amazing and still ongoing history of the Army's airborne and spec ops warriors.

And get this-- it's right across the street from the Amtrak station. NO EXCUSE NOT TO GO. Do it now.

jpp

I Will Be Seeing This Movie

2006-06-21T10:21:00.000-04:00

I haven't been to a movie in ages, but I will go see this film:

Islam: What The West Needs To Know

Review to follow.

jpp

We're In It, Let's Win It

2006-06-18T13:41:00.000-04:00

I was recently taken to task—and also taken aback—for posting an editorial in the Roanoke Times, by a good friend of mine who is over in Iraq now. His opinion carries weight, since he has been there for a year now and has seen much from his post. He is also a thinking engaged citizen-soldier. Since the debate is of central importance for us all, I think it only right that I set forth my opinions on the issue and let them stand on their own merits.

My friend thinks that the war in Iraq is a gross mistake, that it is a waste of money and worse still a waste of American life. Whatever good we have done is now more than made up by the harm we are doing. He thinks that we should be fighting terrorists in their lairs in other lands, and if we are to be doing good works in the realm of humanitarian ops, there are better places to do them, Sudan being one.

This is what I think. It is not meant as a riposte to one who whose friendship I value greatly, but a statement of my beliefs and positions.

1. That there is no “war in Iraq” and “war in Afghanistan.” There is only The War. Iraq and Afghanistan are two of its campaigns; at present the most active overt ones. There are others: the Horn of Africa, the Philippines, and naval operations in foreign waters. Still others are being fought in ways and places that will remain secret for any years.

2. That the War did not begin on 11 September 2001. It began, in its immediate form at least, in February 1993 with the first bombing of the World Trade Center (and arguably years before). While we treated that and other subsequent incidents—Khobar Towers, the embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the USS Cole—as criminal matters, we failed to see them as acts of war. Our responses not only did not punish those responsible, but by their inadequacy actually encouraged further attacks. Also, we did not ask for this War; it sought us out.

3. That the War in its present form is but the latest manifestation in the age-old struggle between the West (formerly European Christendom) and the Middle Eastern, Muslim world. Various powers have carried the standard for each side; it is now the turn of the U.S. to act for the West. It is a struggle between our civilization and an astonishingly retrogressive ideology which combines the most objectionable features of an aggressive proselytizing religion with the social and economic features of modern totalitarianism.

4. That the War is absolutely worth fighting. Our opponents are implacably hostile to us, and would convert, enslave or kill us they see fit. They allow no sort of let’s-agree-to-disagree co-existence. If we do not fight today in Baghdad it does not mean that we will fight next week in Boston, but it does mean that we will take a step backwards and give our enemies breathing room. We should be engaging the Muslim world in all quarters, by diplomatic, economic and cultural means when possible, but by military means when necessary. Nowhere should the extremists go unchallenged, from al-Anbar to Zamboanga. Don’t like oil at $70 a barrel? Imagine it at twice that; imagine U.S. and allied merchant shipping unable to ply the seas without fear of attack; imagine American tourists unable to go to Europe because militant Muslim populations have made it unsafe to do so and have cowed the governments of the countries where they live.

5. That in failing to find distinctly labeled stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, we also found, almost by accident, the real weapon of mass destruction: the seething body of discontented, mis-educated, unemployed males, whose sole outlet for dissent is in voluntary destructive acts, and who are preyed upon and exploited by wily, conniving clerics and politicians. They exist in a dysfunctional society, the roots of which go back centuries. To win the battle against those forces will be to score a lasting victory for the human race and protect our own security and prosperity. To quote General McCaffrey, “Our aim must be to create a viable federal state under the rule of law which does not: enslave its own people, threaten its neighbors, or produce weapons of mass destruction.”

6. That the War effort ought to engage and involve the entire U.S. population. Right now, the military and the intelligence community are the ones doing the fighting. Every arm of the federal government should be involved, spearheaded by the State Department. Citizens need to be told and shown that the danger is real, it is potent, and it is the job of everyone to do his or her part. Those who are not in the armed forces have many options open to them, from local first-response units to volunteer organizations dedicated to disaster preparedness and relief. They can also vote. There needs to be a strong national consensus on the War, how to fight it, and why it must be won. It seems to me now that there is too much talk on if to fight the War, and why.

Father's Day

2006-06-18T09:36:00.000-04:00

Here's to you, Dad.

Love,

j

Interesting Gun What-Ifs

2006-06-15T13:45:00.000-04:00

Ever wondered how hard it would be to shoot a padlock open? I had not, I admit, but the answers intrigued me nonetheless.

I've been thinking of doing a test to see how long my 1911 .45 would continue to fire if I started out with it clean and lubed but didn't clean it along the way. And then do another test with it clean but dry. At least it would be a good excuse to blast some rounds downrange.

I do know some guys who have shot into car windshields and engine blocks to see what would happen-- not in the redneck sense, but in the practical sense. The results were instructive. Apparently there is considerable upward deflection of the rounds through the windshield, and it's harder than you might think to do any damage to an engine block with common small arms ammunition, like the 5.56. I'd like to try those tests myself.

jpp

Countertop Issues His Manifesto

2006-06-10T17:34:00.000-04:00

And it's good.

I'd say I'm about 98% in line with him.

But I never considered myself a true libertarian, rather a conservative with a strong libertarian streak.

Either way, CT no speak with fork tongue.

jpp

Support Michael Yon

2006-06-10T17:19:00.000-04:00

Michael Yon is one of the certified blog-masters. His dispatches from Mosul and now Afghanistan are second to none.

He needs our help. Unscrupulous publishers have taken the five-finger discount on one of his photos, and apparently have reneged on an agreement.

Go here and let them know what you think.

jpp

Pia Punk-slaps Pissant Press People

2006-06-08T21:50:00.000-04:00

Pia in NoVa takes the press to the woodshed in defense of the U.S. Marines.

Wouldn't We Like To Know...

2006-06-08T21:39:00.000-04:00

Wouldn't we like to know how our pal AMZ is faring right now?

Is he

a) enjoying 72 virgins?

Or is he

b) enjoying a red-hot poker up his ass down in the ninth ring of hell?

I think I know the answer. What say you?

jpp

DOG BITES MAN: SOMALIA DESCENDS INTO VIOLENT CHAOS

2006-06-06T08:19:00.000-04:00

John and Charlie say this is not a good thing.

Michelle Malkin agrees.

I must be honest. My first reaction was, "Gee, it couldn't have happened to nicer people." I see John and Charlie's points, and I think we're going to have to do something about it. But, I think that something ought to be purely punitive, and ugly into the bargain. I did two tours in Somalia back in 93 and 94, and I saw first-hand how they completely botched the opportunity they had, and not only bit but mangled the many hands that fed them.

You want sharia? Have it, be my guests. But I bet you won't like it.

And don't be surprised if this gets you more unwanted attention from the world's civilized nations. And it'll be done (or should be done) solely in self-interest, and not from any misplaced humanitarian impulse. Let the Quakers go hand out grain. I'm tired of it.

Somalia. DON'T GET ME STARTED.

jpp

PS: This book has a pretty good account of our unit's first tour there.

O Canada! (Do You Get It Now??)

2006-06-03T15:25:00.000-04:00

Good work by our cousins north of the border. It looks like they forestalled some truly nasty operations.

Note the following, gleaned from the article linked above:

1. They had more ANFO than McVeigh and Nichols used to blow up the federal building in OKC.
2. They were "mainly Canadian citizens".
3. They were targeting sites in Ontario.
4. They appeared to have been inspired by Al-Qaeda but have no direct links to it.

I'm very glad that the Mounties and the CSIS nipped these idiots in the bud, and I hope this serves as a wake-up call to our great neighbors to the north.

Which brings me to my next point. I would gladly welcome greater military participation in the war by Canadian forces. They're good; small, but high quality. We tend to think of Canada as a nation as being peacenik-y, which is true to an extent. But their forces are on the same level as ours, the British and the Australians. For a very good look at Canada's best and brightest in Afghanistan, go see this post on Michael Yon's site. It's an eye-opener. Yes, as the one soldier says, they do have a long warrior tradition. (See here for more evidence. And don't forget about McBride; he knew all about Canada's fighting potential.) I look forward to the day when I can say to a Canadian soldier, "Welcome aboard. What took you so long?"

jpp

VMI Alumnus in Iraq to American Public: "Don't Give UP"

2006-06-02T19:21:00.000-04:00

Go to Op-For for a post by yours truly and a link to a great commentary article by a good man in Iraq. John Phillips knows all about the Tenth Step. He lives it every day.

jpp

Violence in DC

2006-05-29T14:02:00.000-04:00

UPDATE: Apparently what the National Mall needs is a few good men patrolling the grounds, minding their own business! That ought to clean the place up. (HT to Blackfive.)

Unpleasant events on the National Mall of late.

This sort of thing ought not be happening in gun-free DC!

But it does.

And here's why. When you prevent the law-abiding citizen from seeing to his own defense, you invite crime. You leave him and his family defense-less.

jpp

Memorial Day 2006

2006-05-29T09:35:00.000-04:00

Pause for a moment today to remember those who have gone forth to do battle for this country, and for those of them that didn't come back.

Magnificent tributes here, here and here.

jpp

ps: photo courtesy of arlington cemetery website

US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle

2006-05-23T20:06:00.000-04:00

I long ago lost any fascination I ever had with modern naval vessels, having floated four different times during my initial five and a half years on active duty. However, a sailing ship still gets my attention, and this one most of all.

She tied up at the Quantico pier (yes Quantico has a pier), earlier this morning. I understand she is on her way to DC for the Coast Guard Commandant’s change of command. I had seen her once before, on the same mission back in 1990, ghosting up the channel near Ft McNair in a light fog. What a sight to behold. I’m thrilled that the Coast Guard keeps her afloat and sailing. It almost makes me want to go back to sea.

I took a brief tour of her, ably guided by Lt Mark Braxton. She is a beautiful ship, and the crew pays close attention to keeping her that way. Everywhere I went the crew—mostly cadets—were hard at work getting her ready for the change of command. I was warmly greeted by the XO and the Captain. The admiral’s cabin and the wardroom are fine examples of old-world nautical craftsmanship, something we’ll never see again beyond the ultra-expensive private yachts. It was a memorable afternoon.

jpp

PS: A good read on life on a modern (?) sailing vessel can be found in The Last Grain Race by Eric Newby. (Yes, that ship is now a floating restaurant in Philadelphia.) When I saw the cadets aloft on the yardarm, I thought of Newby's tale. Better them (and him) than me!

Beer And The Redhunter

2006-05-22T20:13:00.000-04:00

Had a most enjoyable evening last night with none other than Tom the Redhunter. A zesty fellow, he regaled me with tales of friday night battles against the Code Pinkos at Walter Reed. We resolved to gather more frequently, and invite all NoVa bloggers to join in.

So Long, NoLa

2006-05-21T14:58:00.000-04:00

They had the opportunity to change, but they threw it away.

Instead of taking a long hard look at their problems, they chose to embrace the past, and in so doing have sentenced themselves to a new life of corruption, incompetence, and gross malfeasance.

I will not give a single cent to any more reconstruction or relief efforts. NoLa-ans have made their bed. Now they can go lie in it. Have fun!

Fairfax Police Shooting

2006-05-21T11:34:00.000-04:00

This is a rough subject, but I have a few words to say on it. Questions are surfacing, from several quarters, about why so-called assault weapons are legal, the ban on them having lapsed last fall. I expect calls for a re-instatement of that ban to surface soon, and despite the emotions involved those calls need to be addressed firmly.

The question I have relates not to the weapons but to the shooter. What was he doing out on bond? He clearly was a danger to himself and society. I have extracted this timeline from an article in the WaPo, dated 19 May 06, “Shooter Languished Between Delusions, Despair,” by Paul Duggan:

“On April 16, Easter, he said, the parents took Kennedy [the shooter] to Woodburn, an outpatient facility. After being examined and sent home with medication, Kennedy was back at the center two days later. That time, the acquaintance said, Woodburn officials called other psychiatric facilities to find a bed for him and arranged for him to be admitted to Potomac Ridge…

“He stayed at Potomac Ridge for about seven hours April 18 before climbing out a window in the early evening. After carjacking a Toyota by bluffing that he had a gun, he drove from Rockville back to Centreville, to the ex-girlfriend's house.

“"He just started going off on one of his weird conversations... He right away told me he stole the car. He said he had gone to some mental hospital and was being treated like an animal, and he couldn't stand being there." She urged him to surrender to police…”

“Baker [another friend of Kennedy’s] said he and two other young people at his home persuaded their troubled friend to turn himself in, and those two teenagers followed Kennedy as he drove to the [Fairfax County Police] Sully station.

“The experience of being locked up seemed to aggravate Kennedy's mental instability, said his friends and the acquaintance who has spoken with his parents. Besides his brief stay at Potomac Ridge, Kennedy spent about 66 hours in the Fairfax County jail, then a night in a Montgomery County cell after he was extradited there on the carjacking charge, before he was released on bond April 22.”

Operative phrase: RELEASED ON BOND APRIL 22. Although I’m not a member of the criminal justice system, I understand why we have bail and I also understand the constraints the system operates under. However, I think that when you have a young man who has escaped once, hi-jacked a car and exhibits all the signs of being dangerously unbalanced, you need to keep him locked up in the proper facility.

God bless the two officers who died, and God bless those who are out on patrol now. We should all ask tough questions from our local authorities on how similar cases are handled. Dangerous persons are far less dangerous to society when they aren’t free to act.

Hey, How Come HE Has All The Fun??

2006-05-13T10:58:00.000-04:00

OK, I really like Michael Yon's work, but this is too much.

I wish *I* were a famous mil-blogger.

jpp

My Sentiments Exactly

2006-05-11T17:49:00.000-04:00

RINO-in-Chief, and full-time fiddler while the Republic burns, scores again!

Idiot.

Mr Davis, switch parties. Really, please do. It'll be better for everyone.

jpp

Deer Me!

2006-05-05T08:37:00.000-04:00

An interesting article in today’s WaPo on the ongoing battle to control deer herds in the DC suburbs.

A couple of points caught my attention.

First, suburban Marylanders appear to have no common sense. (Some NoVans aren’t much better, but the malady is more widespread in the blue state across the river.)

““I'm so petrified to leave my house that I've become a prisoner in my own bedroom," said Kim Thompson, whose back yard borders the park where Norman [the man employed to cull the herd] shoots deer. It's not sharpshooters she's afraid of, however, it's the deer, which are notorious for darting in front of cars."

“Her husband, Joe, shook his head. "I don't want bullets whizzing around here," he said. "I'm much more afraid of guns than any deer."” Ma’am, why are you “petrified” of the deer? Are you an idiot or just employing hyperbole? I admit that deer on the roads are cause for caution, especially where there are too many of them, but it’s hardly cause for alarm. Sir, I’m not sure where to start with you.

And we meet other stalwarts of the Old Line State:

“Tom Morton, 62, a graphic designer, said he doesn't see a need to kill deer. “I just hate to see the poor things be shot,” he said. “Why can't they just load their guns with tranquilizer and take the deer somewhere where they can live happily ever after?” Because, sir, that just transfers the problem. You have a problem with large numbers of the creatures, and relocation isn’t the answer (as if it was even feasible). And no animal lives happily every after, anywhere. This is reality, not Disney.

“My goodness, they use bullets?” asked Pasternak, 35, an economist with the U.S. Department of Labor. “A high-powered rifle right behind our house? I can't imagine anyone would support that.” (Grasseater!)

Fortunately, there are folks quoted in the article who do see the light, and who do support the efforts. Unfortunately, I think they are a minority in suburban MD.

Moving right along, as Kermit the Frog might say, we come to this:

“The construction boom has destroyed deer habitat, forcing the animals to wander in search of food. Suburban greenery offers the highly adaptable deer a new habitat, one with few predators.” Damn right it has, and this in my opinion is one of the primary reasons to cease the construction boom. You see, I like the deer. I like to see them in the mornings and the evenings. I want there to be places close to me where the deer can live undisturbed and I want places close to me where I can hunt them, too. More development, less habitat; less habitat, more problems. Preserve places for the creatures to live, allow selective hunting, and you’ll have healthier and stronger deer herds on lands that can support them, and you’ll have homeowners whose gardens are relatively safe from consumption and who have no reason to be “petrified” of deer accidents. Keeping some land in suburbia open to hunting also preserves and promotes an honorable and much-needed way of life: hunting.

Hunting, not killing. Hunting, practiced by those who revere and treasure wildlife, takes by removing some animals but gives back by conserving the land and the water. Culling the herd, at night and with technological superiority, is just killing. We might have to do it now, because of the state of things, but culling is just killing. It is, to quote (if I remember correctly) the great African hunter, Peter Hathaway Capstick, “a dismal business.” (Interesting point: Capstick grew up hunting and fishing and revering the rural life in… northern New Jersey.)

One of the very nice ladies I was working the polls with on Tuesday told me that she lives in northern Loudoun county, in a community that is still somewhat rural (though not for long). When she moved there, she was “anti-hunting.” Pretty quickly, she saw what an absence of hunting does to a deer herd. Now, though she doesn’t hunt, she’s all for it.

A couple new posts at my temporary HQ, Op-For.com

2006-05-04T09:57:00.000-04:00

Go check 'em out.

jpp

May Day! May Day! May Day!

2006-05-01T19:39:00.000-04:00

(sorry, i tried to post this the other night but blogger didn't cooperate. and i see, much to my delight, that some politicians are getting the word...)

May Day! May Day! May Day! That's the old distress call. I think it's entirely appropriate for this day, 1 May 2006.

So, the illegals protested. No surprise, they said they were going to do it, and they did it. I just saw a report on Fox News, and the reporter (in Denver) said, "You've got to think that the politicians here at the state capitol are hearing the protestors and their message..." or words to that effect.

Note to Colorado politicians, and to politicians everywhere. THEY protest. WE vote. THEY are lawbreakers. WE are citizens. THEY don't rate a say in this country's affairs. WE do. DID YOU HEAR THAT??

Unbelievable. Time to write the elected officials again.

jpp

ps: Look for me guest-blogging at Op-For.

Will on Webb

2006-04-30T09:15:00.000-04:00

In the opinion section of today's WaPo, George Will analyzes Mr Webb.

This reminds me of a Marine on the rifle range who's so eager to score an expert rating that he chases the bullseye and blows all his shots. Webb was a Democrat until Jimmy Carter (understandable, that). He served under Reagan until force structure reductions didn't go his way, so he resigned. He supported Chuck Robb once but then crossed over to support George Allen, against whom he now runs. He wouldn't shake John Kerry's hand but voted for him! He likes gay rights and abortion, and guns; that's not something you see every day. The guy's all over the board.

Regarding Iraq, I suspect that if he'd been part of the policy team that formed and executed the plan, he'd be out in front of it right now. Just a thought.

Bottom line: he wants to get elected.