James from HellInAHandBasket points out an awesome article in the Associated Press about today’s challenge to Chicago’s 28 year old handgun ban:

CHICAGO – A couple worries that burglars who tried to break in when the wife was home alone will return. A retiree fears the drug dealers and junkies just outside his window will attempt — again — to steal what he spent a lifetime earning. And a businessman wants to protect himself as he could when he was a police officer.

On Tuesday, the four will take their seats inside the U.S. Supreme Court as their attorneys argue a lawsuit that bears their names: David and Colleen Lawson, Otis McDonald and Adam Orlov.

The four plaintiffs are not stereotypical gun rights advocates. They don’t represent the agenda of any national group or organize rallies. Instead they represent average Chicagoans — the kind of people that opponents of the city’s ban say should be allowed to protect themselves from gun violence.

Full Story – HERE

CNN Showing both sides of the story here:

Full CNN article – HERE

I applaud the kindness of Diane Latiker with her “Kids off the Block” program, I think that is great that those kids have a place to go to escape gun violence.  She supports the handgun ban because she “would rather something be in place then nothing be in place”.  I’d be willing to bet that all those 200+ people that are represented in her memorial did not did at the hands of law abiding citizens.  This is one of those criminals do not care about the law type things, where it’s easy to see that banning handguns in Chicago does not make them any harder for criminals to get.  It is the regular person that needs to protect themselves from the criminals.

Although I don’t live in Chicago, I anxiously await the outcome of McDonald v. Chicago (08-1521).

A repeal of the ban would be a huge Second Amendment victory.

After telling my FaceBook friends they could shoot my T.V. if the Saints beat the Redskins, they showed up in full force after the Saints won in OT 33-30.

• Beer – check
• Guns – check
• Ammunition – check
• No hearing protection – check
• Imitation football helmet to run head first into T.V. with, after you shoot it into a million sharp pieces – check
• Video camera to document the events for posting on youtube – check

Most of the pictures I had seen of short barreled shotguns were your typical Mossberg 500 or Remington 870’s… seen one you’ve seen them all.

But then I came across this:

It’s a sawed off Franchi – Renaissance Sporting 12 Gauge.  This bad boy sports dual 3″ chambers in an over-under configuration, top notch walnut furniture with well placed cut checkering, a gold-embellished trigger, and lots of engraved scroll work. MSRP – $2249

Here it is in its pure form:

I would love to be able to afford $2249 on a Franchi Renaissance Sporting to do this.  The unfortunate reality is that short barreled shotguns lack utility in everything but personal protection and home defense.  Spending that much money, only to hack off 50% of the gun, is reserved for those with deep pockets and strong stomachs.

A man is seeking to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs And Border Protection

The agent conducting the interview says:

“Your qualifications all look good, but there is an attitude suitability test that you must take before you can be accepted.”

Then, sliding a pistol across the desk, he says:

“Take this pistol and go out and shoot six illegal immigrants, six drug dealers, six Muslim extremists, and a rabbit.”

“Why the rabbit?”

“Great attitude,” says the agent. “When can you start?”

Source: Unknown

The costs on this chart obviously aren’t adjusted for inflation.  Interesting though nevertheless.

If the first amendment was treated like the second amendment…

Any speech using 10 or more foreign words would be a felony.
(Firearm law 922(r) restricting 10 or more foreign gun parts from the 1989 import ban)

Anyone convicted of a felony or convicted of misdemeanor domestic abuse or assault is not allowed freedom of speech or religion and must rely on the government to provide speech and religion for them.
(1968 gun control act)

Any speech or religions that are done in a scary tone or feel are banned.  Any assembly that looks scary is banned.
(1994 Federal Assault Weapon Ban that went after mostly cosmetic features)

Before engaging in new free speech you must pass an instant background check by a government authorized free speech dealer.  Sorry, if your name is like someone else prohibited from speech and religion, it is up to you to prove you’re not that person.
(NICS instant background check and Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993)

Any speech or work with more than 10 sentences per page is forbidden, any peaceable assembly with more than 10 people is also banned.
(Hi-Capacity Magazine bans in the Assault Weapon Ban and in many states to this day)

‘Freedom of Speech’ was only meant to be applicable to movable type presses.  The founding fathers didn’t foresee television, radio, photographs, telephones, film, or the internet.
(The idea that the 2nd amendment only applies to muskets)

You cannot exercise free speech or religion on federal property or at a school.
(Section 930. Title 18, United States Code and the Gun Free School Zone Act of 1990)

Any religions, peaceable assemblies, camera, computer, telephone or free speech enabling device made before 1986 is available to use by the general public.  Any made after 1986 is only available to law enforcement.
(Closing of the NFA machine gun registry in 1986 by Regan with the Firearms Owner’s Protection Act)

A legal Polaroid camera from 1972 is now worth over $10,000 because you can’t get any new ones after 1986.  Sure you can get an illegal one, but you risk a 10-20 year felony conviction if caught.
(Market effects of the 1986 registry closure)

You can follow any religion, read any book, talk about whatever you like AFTER you pay a $200 tax to the government and pass a background check.  If you decide to buy more books, try another religion, or talk about something else, you must pay another $200 and go through another lengthy background check.
(National Firearm Act of 1934)

You CANNOT have free speech no matter what in Washington DC, it has been this way since 1977.
(Washington DC handgun ban)

Concealing free speech/religion is only permissible in some states and only after you have spent $100 and attended a state mandated course on how to speak/worship properly.  Though in some states you can’t conceal or display your speech or religion at all outside of your home.
(Conceal Carry Legislation and open carry laws)

You cannot have free speech if you are under 18 and you can’t worship anything until you are 21.
(Age restrictions on buying long guns and handguns)

If you wish to exchange free speech with a citizen in another state you must involve a government sanctioned free speech dealer to ensure they are allowed that type of free speech in their state.
(1968 Gun Control Act which mandates a FFL be needed for interstate gun purchases and transfers)

Source:  reoiv.com

R Lee Ermey from the History Channel show Lock & Load:

Making your own:

What I Did:
I started off with my favorite set of ear plugs The Com-fit AB corded ear plugs. DB 26 rating.

Then took my Px4 outside and fired 2 rounds into the hillside as to retrieve 2 spent .40 s&w casing (winchester 165 gr target ammo; 100 rnds $30 @ walmart). all my other brass i pawned at the gun shop for a few bucks.

Took a small nail; and hammer (because im too lazy to dig out my fathers reloading equipment) and gently taped, from the inside, removing the primer from both shells.

using a drill bit fed into the hole in the ear plug (ment for the cord) and put the ear plug into the casing, bit thru the primer hole, and filled it with hot glue from a glue gun. (WARNING CASING WILL BECOME HOT; use a vice or gloves when doing this step)

now on the .40 i had to drill the primer hole out a slight bit as it was too small for the cord to fit through. i then threaded the cord in thru the rear of the casing and viola…. spent casing ear plugs. novelty and hearing protection brought together as one.

Note: cord is NOT needed; but helpful to keep from loosing them. Also it helps secure the ear plug into the casing as it might slide back out after the glue settles (in testing it was rare but did happen; some super glue on top of this wouldn’t go amiss; however with the cord i don’t have that problem at all)

Source – mXm Community

He’s Putin, and he wears his hearing protection however he feels like:

The gun he is pictured above appears to be a Makarov PM variation which is chambered in 9×18mm – wiki page

Another picture from the same range visit:

The above gun is a Stechkin APS – wiki page

Putin has become known as a real outdoors man in recent years, and is often pictured fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and also handling guns at various events such as this:

The Russian hardman took advantage of a tour of the Construction Design Bureau in Tula earlier this week to handle some of the merchandise on display – namely, several very menacing-looking guns. – LINK