By Chad Love

In the wake of this weekend's tragic shooting in Arizona, some are calling for a renewal of the 1994 federal ban on high-capacity magazines.

From this story on Comcast.net:
With few new details emerging at Monday's hearing, questions remained about what could have motivated someone to arm himself with a pistol and magazines carrying 33 bullets each, and rain gunfire on a supermarket parking lot crowded with men, women and children. A military official in Washington said the Army rejected Loughner in 2008 because he failed a drug test. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because privacy laws prevent the military from disclosing such information about an individual's application. The official did not know what type of drug was detected.
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By Chad Love

Iowans are beating a path to their local gun shops in the wake of a new law that allows most state citizens to acquire a concealed-carry permit.

From this story in the Chicago Tribune:
Gun owners and potential gun owners are flocking to sheriff's offices across Iowa in the wake of a new state law that requires sheriffs under most circumstances to issue permits to carry concealed weapons. According to The Des Moines Register, several sheriffs' offices reported receiving 10 to 20 times as many applications on Monday as they do most days. The new law, which took effect last Saturday, limits the discretion local sheriffs previously had in denying permits without explanation. Now, sheriffs can only deny applications for specific reasons, such as a prior criminal record or drug and alcohol addiction, and must provide a written explanation.

Thoughts?

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By David Maccar

Several stories have come through Field Notes this year about high school students who absent-midedly leave a hunting rifle or shotgun in their vehicle, thereby violating their school's zero-tolerance weapons policy, landing them with a suspension or even expulsion. An expulsion was overturned in California early this year and some Michigan teens were suspended in November. Here’s another forgetful young hunter in Montana who finds herself in a similar circumstance.

From this story on FoxNews.com:
On the morning of Dec.1, Demari DeReu drove to Columbia Falls High School in Montana and parked her blue-green Honda Accord in the lot, just as she does every morning. The 16-year-old honor roll student, class treasurer and varsity cheerleader walked in to school, forgetting entirely about the unloaded hunting rifle locked in the trunk of her car.

Later that day, there was an announcement telling students contraband sniffing dogs were scouting the parking lot, sparking her memory. She immediately told administrators that she’d forgotten to remove her scoped hunting rifle from the trunk following a Thanksgiving family hunting excursion. She was suspended from school for violating federal and state gun laws.
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By David E. Petzal

Yes, I know, we just barely survived the horror show of ll/2, but here’s another election that will mean something. Every year, the Outdoor Channel gives its own version of the Oscars to its most deserving shows. These are called the Golden Moose Awards, and The Gun Nuts, featuring Phil Bourjaily, Eddie Nickens, and myself, is eligible in the Best Series and Best New Series categories. If you think we are worthy, give us your vote. We’d do the same for you…or at least some of you. Click this link to cast your ballots.

About the other elections. No one has the faintest idea about what to do about anything and the hideous Chuck Schumer and the nightmarish Barbara Boxer are back. Harry Reid will be back, which is bad, but this probably keeps Schumer from being Majority Leader in the Senate, which is good. I was very sorry to see Christine O’Donnell and Linda McMahon lose. A witch and an accomplished groin-smasher would have brought some life to the Senate. - David E. Petzal [ Read Full Post ]

By Philip Bourjaily

I love this video, despite the dubious mini-cannon safety practices you see displayed here. The clip also reminds me that as a kid, I had a toy brass cannon that was a replica of a 15th century siege gun. It had a hole in the back for a nylon loop that connected to the spring plunger inside.  Sometime during my junior high years I cut the loop and removed the plunger. I found that a Ladyfinger firecracker slid down the barrel perfectly, and the fuse poked out the hole in the end. The bore was just over .177 diameter so I could drop a BB down the muzzle. It shot the BB hard enough to embed it in basement sheetrock at a range of 10 feet.

That one shot convinced me that it wasn’t an inside gun, unlike this guy who shoots up the basement, the computer monitor and the vodka supply. Enjoy the video, but don’t try this at home. [ Read Full Post ]

By Philip Bourjaily

I was at the local sporting goods store buying powder the other day when I overheard two guys looking at the pistol ammo.

“$40 bucks!” exclaimed one, reading the price tag on a box.

“It’s premium self-defense ammunition,” explained the other. “You get one shot stops.”

“Forget that. I’d rather shoot someone twice than pay forty dollars,” said the first.

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