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The President will huff, and puff, and not much will be done in the end.  I do think that the intransigence of the gun community, along with the interest groups (NRA, GOA and the like) have brought us here.  We're holding onto the fish too tight, IMO.   It's been obvious that the leaders of the Democratic party have wanted background checks expanded to the point of universal.  But we've "held the line" because apparently that's important.  What it's also done has reduced any progress at the federal level in the last ten years to nil.  We're doing great in the states where we can (CA, CT, MA & NY are too far gone right now), but that only goes so far.  So, what could be done?   Ask yourself how much of an impediment a background check is.  I wouldn't call it an "infringement" and let's face it, neither would any court.  They aren't going away anytime soon.  So, why not accept it and trade it for something better.  If the community and interest groups gave them the okay, Congressional Republicans could offer universal background checks & closing the "gun show loophole" for something far more valuable to the shooting community: gutting Title II of the NFA.   If there was a deal on the table that exchanged universal background checks for removing SBR's and suppressors as Title II firearms, making an SBR something you can buy as easy as a 16" AR, and a suppressor just another item in the counter at your LGS, I'd take that deal any day of the week.  Democrats would be forced to take what they have been campaigning to get for decades, or explain why they said no.  But the current political climate has put any chance for a deal like that into the not happening category.    To me, the most important intent of the 2nd Amendment is that private citizens are able to own firearms of equal capability of the military and law enforcement that could be turned against them, thus creating a check of power.  If they have "assault rifles" those citizens who want to own one should be able to as well.  SBR's, suppressors, ect...the intent of the 2nd Amendment was for a citizen militia to be well armed enough.  I'd rather focus on that as priority #1.          And it's too easy to do that.  I bought my VP9 from a guy on M4C, had it shipped to my FFL and it took all of ten minutes to get a 1st time GO while I browsed their gun rack.

The Kim Davis gay marriage thread on top.  With the ninja cop disarming a motorcycle rider during a stop and Jade Helm (all threads combined) tied for 2nd.

  Yeah, I had an H2 buffer there, so I tried a carbine buffer and no joy.  This is the only BCG it's had in it, and it's run fine until recently.  Gas key is still good, and this is the upper I had the pinned on A2 sight/block taken off of.  It was shooting fine for a while, these problems are recent.  Gas block still looks like it's in good position.  So, I'll try the gas rings and see if that works.  Hoping it does.

I already ordered a four pack of replacement rings off of Amazon for like ten bucks.  Figure I'll swap the current rings with a set and see what happens.  My next step after that is to replace the gas block and tube.   Just a bit disappointed that it happened so fast.  Maybe because I've used this BCG in both the 16" and my SBR before I bought a Spikes BCG for my SBR?   OhShoot...the problems are off and on.  What I've found is the more I'm shooting that day at the range, the worse it gets. 

  With Japanese subtitles on the broadcast I trust?

So, I've been having some issues with my 16" AR recently. Basically a mix of failure to eject, failure to cycle properly, and failure to lock back after the last round of a mag. I tried 55gr, 62gr, 20rd mags, 30rd mags, carbine buffer, an H2 buffer at the range to troubleshoot it...and nothing. Today while cleaning it, the bolt caught my eye, and I think I found the problem. So, for those who see distressed AR's more than me, how the hell did this happen? It came new with a BCG in a PSA upper last year, and somewhere between 500-1000 rounds through it (I don't keep round counts, just a wide estimate). This seems way too soon for something like this.

  I've seen it.  But one movie over 45 years ago compared to the litany of books, movies, and TV specials in the last ten years doesn't compare.  Plus, the whole Bin Laden mission is still in the public mind.   Like Spots said, incredible people, but there are guys all over the SOF community doing just as much to keep the country safe, while not getting the same level of PR from it.  And that's how they prefer it.

  They aren't as well published, or Hollywood ready.

Communication breakdown between the source and the people writing the script.  They heard ammo, but what was really said was hair gel. 

Makes sense as I hadn't been to a TWRA range before June. What are they going to do, send an employee to spot check for permits at the unmanned ranges? Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk, because I felt that Oh Shoot wanted to know that particular bit of information.

CZ Scorpion, or a .300BLK upper to have for my current SBR. Both pending funds of course, and for the .300BLK, I can only really see doing it if I have the money for a can to go with it. Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk, because I felt that Oh Shoot wanted to know that particular bit of information.

I pay $8 every time I'm at Stones River Range. Is that what they mean? Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk, because I felt that Oh Shoot wanted to know that particular bit of information.

  I saw more articles from gun sites and the like than any traditional news source by about 10-1.  This was a rumor spun into a tizzy by paranoia.    Whatever he has will come out with the rest of the 2016 last year of his Presidency agenda at the State of the Union. 

Hope everyone on TGO has a great 2016. 

To raise my skill level when it comes to pistol shooting.

  That was in April when the budget is a concept more than it's a reality.   The President's budget submitted a request for $168.8 billion.  Skipping forward past the mind numbing budget process, the final approved amount was, if this article represents the total amount, $166 billion.  Compared to 2015, when the VA budget was $163.5 billion, that's an increase, even if a small one and not what the President, OMB and VA wanted.  Compared to 2009, when the VA budget was $97.7 billion, and it's a hell of an increase.   The devil is in the details, and with the VA budget, it has to be looked at as mandatory and discretionary spending since "the budget" is divided into those two separate items, plus a capital budget for things like buildings and repairs.  The combined number is called the VA budget.  This repeats for every department in the federal government.  Anyhoo...   Mandatory is what gets paid out by law to those who qualify and are approved, like my use of the GI Bill, and is basically an if they qualify for it they get it benefit spending that auto adjusts every year.  The total amount isn't subject to much drama unless there are changes to the amounts authorized, which rarely happens downward.  To say we're spending less if that number goes down without a change in the law would be like saying the VA is spending less on veterans after I'm done with school.  It's not really true, I'm just not taking the money I'm authorized since I don't need it after getting a degree, or the benefit expired and I no longer qualify.   Discretionary spending is what they spend on all the optional items, like how many doctors, nurses, case workers, clerks, ect... to employ, and how many supplies to stock the hospitals and offices with.  That's what shows if they are actually raising the budget or not.  For FY 2016, the VA discretionary budget was approved in the Senate at $71 billion, a rise from $68 billion in 2015.

  I think that the 'right track/wrong track' question is one that is too simple to deal with the complexity of the myriad issues our country deals with.  In my mind, we're doing well on some areas, need to improve in others, and need to overhaul the way we operate on others.    In general though, I think we're doing good, despite the prognostications of doom and gloom that justify shows of which advertising time is sold for.  Having seen a decent bit of the rest of the free world, and some of the oppressed world, America is good to go in my mind.

  Oh, believe me...I could not care less about someone so sick and twisted as to be convicted of felony level animal abuse.  They're stealing nitrogen & oxygen that could be better taken by the animals they abused on top of their crimes as far as I'm concerned.   It's what a precedent like this can bring about once the Social Justice Warrior crowd can leverage it to their wants that has me shaking my head.  Bad laws often start against those we hate the most because "they deserve it" before they are turned against the public at large.

  One conviction database, where you can enter a name and get search results, I can get behind.  Separate "look at what they did" ones based on moral outrage, not so much.

  They're using my tax dollars to do it.  I'll have my say, thanks.

  Big difference between public record where you have to put in a modicum of research, and easily searchable website like they set up.  The former is designed to be a matter of record while the other is meant to be queried by the public with ease.  If this gets challenged, intent will be the focus of if it's out of bounds with the 8th.

  That is a huge problem.  The how to solve it part is where you realize that there is no easy solution.  Government enforcement is out of the question, and government encouragement through things like the tax code is a slippery slope.  You can't just ostracize single parents, or kids from broken homes either.  Once upon a time, it was a financial necessity to stay as a family unit, but a lot of people were trapped in loveless homes there as well.   Like I said, huge problem, no easy solutions.

While I get the intent, I can't see how this is a good thing overall.  The address listing especially.  That's inviting some kind of vigilante justice.   The child sex offender registry I understand as a matter of common sense to allow parents to be informed about dangers in their immediate area.  The need in public interest is there.  But it's not like you let your dog run around the streets with other dogs to play during the day.  This is just public humiliation, and I'm wondering if it would survive a challenge under the Eighth Amendment.

I think we're just changing, and change is rarely accepted by 100% of folks.  Different in action, but not in theory from the changes of the 30s, then the 60s.  Just a cultural shift...as before, the Republic will survive.  But those who feel that "their America" is going away will feel bad about it.       I just go with one consistent standard.  The actions of individuals don't define the demographic for me.  People who obey the law and go about their lives don't make for good news stories, gun owners and Muslims alike.       Social Security (which includes everything under it) accounted for is going up as the boomer generation retires.  It's also the single biggest item in the federal budget at over a trillion dollars, and is funded by the special taxes for it.  All the reasons add up, but yeah, it's running out of money because the funding for it won't be able to keep pace with the payments, which are mandated by law.    As for Food Stamps, the money is there because it's a discretionary spending program and has been reauthorized by Congress every year.  Also, saying that group doesn't work for the money isn't accurate.  My family was on food stamps when I was a kid.  My father was working an honest job driving cross country in an 18-wheeler during that time.  I remember having my apartment packed up the day after the 2012 election, and the movers told talked about how they voted for Obama because they were worried Romney would cut food stamps.  Hard to make a case they aren't working for a living and doing their part for society.  Is there abuse, sure.  But there are also a lot of people using the program to get by while working hard, but necessary jobs.       Show me how we're cutting benefits to veterans?  The VA budget trend line is decidedly up over the last decade.  Just for myself, I'm having about $20k a year in tuition and housing costs paid for by the VA while I'm in school full time.   As to the size of the military, don't focus on the size of the force, focus on capabilities.  The Army doesn't need as many troops unless we plan on more ill advised occupations, the Navy isn't getting into ship to ship battles, and the Air Force has focused more on drones than manned aircraft in recent years.   Force size is a constant refinement.  What really matters is that SOF hasn't taken any big cuts, but has actually grown, as it should for the wars we fight today.

  I don't think the timing is political in any way.  The holiday release schedule this year was pretty packed with Star Wars and the rest, so if I was promoting this movie, I wouldn't want to be lost in that shuffle.  When you look at it from a "when will people notice this movie and come see it" standpoint, waiting until after all the other blockbuster movies died down a bit makes sense.