By David E. Petzal

Before we get to the Veep, a couple of miscellaneous notes. First, for the permanent record, I consider Sarah Palin to be an exemplary sportsperson, a true American patriot, a leading intellectual of our time, and a speaker whose gifts are equaled only by those of Winston Spencer Churchill.

Last week, NBC-TV aired a series called “Flashpoint: Guns in America,” which was about what you might expect. The segment I had the bad luck to view was on the electronic safety devices that allegedly prevent a gun from being used by anyone but its owner. The narrator, Tom Costello, repeatedly referred to this stuff being installed in a rifle. The gun on screen, about which he was speaking, was a pump-action shotgun.

To Joe Biden. I enjoy watching politicians. Their antics are amusing in the way that the antics of chimpanzees are amusing, and entertaining in the way that films about serious criminals are entertaining. But my favorite is Joe Biden, who is in a class by himself. There are two ways to explain the Vice President: Either he was hit in the head, very hard, at some point in his life and hasn’t gotten over it, or else he has reached that state enjoyed by some senior citizens who will say whatever pops into their brains because they simply don’t give a s**t any more.

By David E. Petzal

For a number of years, I visited the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The show, which is held in a hideous rambling building originally intended to handle livestock, is a genuine monster. For a solid week, people in the tens of thousands come from near and far to grope sporting goods, book hunting and fishing trips, attend demonstrations, and generally see what is what.

ESS, as it will hereinafter be referred to, is put on by Reed Exhibitions. Reed is the world’s largest organizer of trade shows and the like; the firm handles 500 events in 39 countries in all phases of industry, and included among its clients are the SHOT Show. And, oh yes, Reed Exhibitions is British.

The Brits have never really understood America, and this centuries-old tradition was carried on in a manner that would have made King George III proud when Reed decided that MSRs—Modern Sporting Rifles, or ARs if you prefer—were not appropriate for the ESS and would not be present this year. (They were very much present at the SHOT Show because there, NSSF and not Reed says what will and won’t be exhibited.)

By David E. Petzal

Those of you who have filled out a Form 4473 since July 9th may have noticed a change in our beloved paper bulwark against crime and poor behavior. In addition to the checkoff box that asks your race, there is a new one that asks your “ethnicity;” specifically, are you Hispanic or Latino? This new box raises some interesting questions.

What’s the difference between Hispanic and Latino?

Why is the ATF interested?

If you are Hispanic or Latino, what then? Do ATF agents in full body armor and facemasks pay you a visit at 3 a.m.?

Some among you may consider this just more pointless nonsense from an agency that, on occasion, acts pretty oddly (See: Waco, massacre at, Fast and Furious, Kenyon Ballew shooting). I, however, view the new box as a first step in the evolution of the outdated, irrelevant Form 4473 into a Document for Our Time and, as a patriotic American, I would like to offer some new questions that are of real use.

By Phil Bourjaily

Our popular “We (Heart) Guns” target contest is back for the third year. The idea is simple: Shoot the special target insert in the July issue—or download a PDF of the target. First shoot it with a gun. Then shoot it with a camera. Submit the photo, and a panel of judges will pick the most creative shot as the winner.

Once again Smith & Wesson has donated a rifle as the first-place prize. For 2012, S&W have outdone themselves. This is not just any rifle, it is a Performance Center-tuned M&P15 5.56 hunting rifle (pictured here)  so nifty that my first thought on seeing it was: “Where’s mine?” 

Since the contest rules forbid me from entering, the rifle will never be mine but it can be yours. With it, you will be the terror of coyotes, zombies, and zombie-coyotes in your neighborhood. Ammunition isn’t cheap anymore, exactly, but on the other hand, digital "film" is free, so get to shooting and click here to enter your photos.

As always we will post a gallery of the best entries here on the site as we (and by “we” I mean our New York staff, not me and Dave) ponder the winner.