StPatrick

I noticed that too, but still...keep the booger-hook off the bang button. Every gun is loaded. Never point a weapon at anything you don't intend to destroy. Always be sure of what is beyond your target. Words to live (in the most literal sense possible) by, 100% of the time. That said, it's a Model 94 in 30-30, so the man has good taste.

Don't worry; as the "it's Bush's fault!" meme falters over time, more scapegoats will be trotted out. I fully expect Holder, and possibly Bernanke (not to mention Raymond Odierno, with Iraq "timelines" falling apart) to fall on their own swords before the end of the administration in 2012. They'll never make it to the presidential campaign - for reelection purposes, baggage will be cast off. Until then, or the politcal landscape changes in such a way that firings are good for polling, the MFM and the perpetual campaign apparatus will continue their current behavior. Heads will roll only when events dictate that heads must roll. Hillary is safe at State. Even Captain Wonderful doesn't want the possibility of a primary challenge.

On the plus side, the ChiComs increased their holdings of US debt by 2% today, so I guess we can put off being Europe for a few minutes, since China likes us better. If the Eurozone continues to tank, we'll keep that spot...until the Chinese real estate bubble crashes next year or in 2012. Shanghai apartments are out of control, and the central planners have not been able to put on the brakes. Combined with what appears to be mostly artificial growth (i.e. selling millions of cars domestically with no increase in gasoline consumption), our house of cards may be built on China's house of cards.

Letters of Note: Is it best for the States to unite, or not to unite? In 1787, George Washington (after the war, but before the presidency), wrote a letter to his nephew, a Virginia delegate, on the importance of uniting the states as a formal country and ratifying the Constitution that had been completed two months prior. The language is difficult at times, but it's worth reading. Much of the spelling is phonetic, and the sentence structure is definitely not modern, but it's not much worse than most gun boards. At least there's some formality. ur gon 2 lik it iz all bout liberteez. It appears passage and unification was not so easy as the history books I learned from made it seem.

I was listening to Phil Valentine on my way home from work the other day, and he recounted a negative experience with Wamp he'd had...he then described his personal favorite in the race without naming names, and it sounds like he's a Ramsey guy. He managed to slip in negatives about Wamp and Haslam that wouldn't have been noted if you didn't have prior knowledge about the histories of each. Unfortunately, without naming names, his influence is not worth much to the uninformed. He and his early-morning counterpart Ralph Bristol aren't saying much of anything about the race just yet. Are the talk radio jocks pushing candidates, either obviously or quietly, in other cities (I'm in middle TN)? I'm really curious, because we're getting a republican governor in November, based on reading the tea leaves (no pun intended). This primary WILL decide who is the gov. in 2011.

I think the recent economic troubles in Greece provide an opportunity for the Tea Partiers and the Republican Party (if they choose to listen - I know Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor, and others are paying attention). For the last couple of years, the right in general has been arguing that the democrats have been leading the country on a path of European-style social welfare and statism. With the collapse of Greece, along with the impending collapse of the other PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece as mentioned, and Spain), the American public has a vivid and graphic example of what the future holds. Even our MFM can't hide what's happening over there. If the right is willing to show what our potential future holds, there's room for quite a bit of electoral movement*. *Until social security or medicare come up, of course. Then our pols see their shadows and vote for six more years of the status quo.

^^^I didn't see the above as a complaint, but maybe that's just my own biases as I read the words coming into play. Like you, I think it's a compliment. However, lots of people think that making money makes you less "just reg'lar folks", and that's a tag all our state lawmakers desire to have. It's perverse, but being successful can be a hindrance in local politics. If Chuck is a self-made man, that's a real argument in his favor - this state has made itself business and industry-friendly to its benefit. More, please...and if Irion is who you say he is, he may be just as good. It seems like a lot of good candidates aren't going to get elected this year due to highly competetive primaries. This is a good thing.

I've taken my MkIII apart many times, after shooting lord knows how many rounds, and I still have to use a punch to start the process. Not only does the MkIII family teach marksmanship, they teach patience as well. I'm pretty much at the point where I'll strip it again about 9,000 rounds from now. I heard they run well dirty anyways, and mine sure hates a bath.

I'm not scared of Jews and Catholics either...well said Jamie. If it's a 10 commandments issue, Moses and the stone tablets makes it into everyone's holy books. I'm scared of judges that use their feelings and emotions to expand or constrain laws as they are written, or to reinterpret the Constitution. If you really want to get excited about diversity, what about culture and geography? Ours is a very big country, but only one justice (Kennedy) is from outside the northeast, being from California. Even he went to an Ivy League law school. If Kagan is confirmed, all nine justices will have been granted their JDs from the following three schools: Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. I don't give a fig for "diversity" arguments, but if you were to make one, I'd think that a good one would be that the next court will have 8 of 9 justices from the northeast, and all 9 attended law school up there. Ours is a big country, and our geographical differences often mean more than our differences in race and religion. Geography, I think, influences common culture more than religion. For instance: if you're a white male, who do you have more in common with: the black family down the street, or any single member of the Supreme Court? Again, I don't care about background re: judicial appointees, just their philosophy, but the "6 Catholics, 3 Jews, and 0 Protestants" line made me think. Your thoughts, fellow gun nuts and undesirables?

I agree with the libertarians on many issues, but as a political movement they're very difficult to support. Their message of individual freedom and self-reliance is as American as apple pie. Unfortunately, their voting base, as we've seen from the folks who coalesced behind Congressman Paul in '08, is focused on issues that don't move the American electorate. Until the libertarian party as a whole moves beyond their primary issues of the gold standard, legal marijuana, and a non-interventionist foreign policy, I'll continue to believe they're tilting at windmills. I'm no fan of the republican party, but you have to start somewhere. At this point, I believe that any vote cast for a 3rd party is an unintended vote for the current House and Senate leadership, whom I cannot support and wish to see sent home crying. Madame Pelosi and Sen. Reid (actually Dick Durbin or Chuckles Schumer will be taking his place, hopefully, since Harry is about to be unemployed) need to be removed if only to prevent our President from following through on his agenda of national transformation. As I said, I agree with much of the libertarian platform, but voting for them anytime soon is a vote against telling our Commander in Chief to "keep the change".

I'm leaning towards Ramsey, but don't know enough about him beyond pro-2A history...is he any more or less a narcissistic nutball than any other pol? FWIW, I've picked him because even though all the candidates are decently conservative, Wamp and Haslam have issues (DC connections, MAIG, respectively) that give Ramsey the edge. It's pretty much a single-issue level of support, based on 2A history, and doesn't run deep. One of these three is going to be the next governor, so I want to support the right guy. Am I wrong, dudes?

Many large businesses address their "no weapons" policy during new employee orientation, and require the new hire to sign a legal document stating that they understand, and will comply with, company policies. Even without a legal posting, this creates grounds for instant termination due to willful violation of company policies. As far as rights go, if they own the parking lot, they get to tell you what's in it; it's the same as your right to decide who and what is allowed in your house. As a disarmed corporate drone myself, I don't like it, I wish some kind of solution respecting my rights and my employer's rights could be found, but I choose to live with the status quo because groceries don't buy themselves. The first guy or girl who figures out how to untangle this problem is my next hero.

I'll second (or third) TruGlo TFOs. They are a bit larger, but if they won't have an effect on holstering or draw, based upon whatever rig you are going to use, check them out.

I'll second tntnixon - if you can do a travel gig, middle TN is short of labor for cleanup and demo, and WAY short of people who can rebuild. If you're amenable to short-term dislocation, I'll pass your info on to people I know in construction...I can't say whether or not it will help, since I don't know their situations, but I'd be happy to try. PM your resume or CV.

I gotta say...I'd try it. The only thing missing is some cheddar cheese. I've yet to find many foods that don't get better after bacon and cheese get thrown on top.

^^^I support the NRA, but that doesn't mean I trust them. Proximity to DC seems to twist a group's convictions. I'm particularly dismayed by the "scorecard" play cited in Sun's article. I have a bit of trouble getting behind an org that keeps score based on their perceived successes in spite of legislative wins in the favor of their membership. I'll continue to support the NRA, but I may need to look into GOA and TFA in the meantime. If they're right by me, I might just peel that eagle sticker off the back of the Blazer until such time as the NRA gets back to the mission at hand, and quits the political scorekeeping.

^^^Why I live in Williamson County.

Gents (and ladies, of course), I am excited. A very good friend of mine has invited me to hunt deer with him on his family's land in Ohio. It's a shotgun hunt, and I'll take care of that part easy, since I've been meaning to buy a good all-around shotgun anyway; adding a slug barrel and sight will be too much fun to contemplate (you all understand completely, I'd guess). I need help with the other gear necessary to make a hunt decently comfortable. The big shotgun hunt up there is the week after Thanksgiving, so it will likely be just above freezing and wet. What do you recommend in the way of a good pair of boots and outerwear? I have some nice TN-appropriate Gore-Tex boots, but they're not insulated, so I've got to upgrade those. Since this is likely to be an annual deal, I don't want to go cheap, but neither do I want to break the bank on the flashiest thing out there. The last pair of serious cold weather boots I owned were rubber Sorels with felt liners - I'd like to do better, because we'll be covering miles through brush (more of a stalk hunt than a stand hunt). I don't own any hunting clothing - my outerwear is for skiing. Please send recommendations on what you'd wear if it was 35 degrees and sleeting. Most of the boys up there wear Carhartt coveralls with a plastic blaze orange vest. Your thoughts are appreciated, Patrick

A little carmex in the nose about 1/2" all the way around the inner nostrils (basically, if you can pick it, coat it, then don't touch it) prevents nosebleeds; start a day before exposure. When I lived up north I did it all the time. If the smell bothers you, go with vaseline. I like carmex because it makes those annoying occasional sores in the nose go away fast. I've heard Neosporin will do the same.

I'm loving the "Girls and Guns" graphic in the top right at the start of the video. Apparently you're all pink, angry, and scary. Also angry...And really scary, with a side of terrifying eyebrows. Unrelated note: the commenter that goes on and on about getting emotional, etc. should be ignored. Crazy people kill despite societal controls; hormones and weapons are tertiary concerns at worst. She does female gun owners a great disservice. Keep carrying; I hope to get mom and my sister on board soon.

Superposed, You're on the right track. Every golf pro I've ever met had this piece of relationship advice: "never try to teach your wife / girlfriend how to play". There's too much stuff floating around unless you're a good teacher, and my guess is that shooting works in a very similar manner. A good teacher can be had affordably, and if she doesn't like it, there's no ego damage to the man ("If I was good, she'd get it"), nor shame for the lady (for "not living up to expectations" as though she should be a crack shot because he loves to shoot). Cheers to you; I hope your plan works.

Since it hasn't been said, welcome to Tennessee! I hope you find the many differences between this state and NJ to your liking overall.

Double post; I swear it was Comcast's fault or something.

For you, Jim, and Jack, who asked as well: Good Chief Ronny embarked on a program of greatly increased traffic stops as a way to reduce crime (or increase revenue, depending on who is asked). LEOs used the stops to initiate car searches, etc. It all sounds good, until you hear what the officers who have to actually practce his mode of law enforcement have to say. The Nashville Scene had a cover story which outilined his approach here: Chief Ronal Serpas Plan for a Safer Nashville Is to Pull You Over Early and Often | Features | Nashville Scene Read the article and draw your own conclusions. Most around here aren't going to cry themselves to sleep. Good luck in NOLA, Chief.

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus got themselves a nice write-up on weeklystandard.com today: Concealed Carry on Campus | The Weekly Standard It's just an article, but it says a lot for SCCC if they're getting print from an opinion leader like TWS - the Standard is a serious heavyweight when it comes to the intellectual right.