Word on the hill it that acting ATF director Kenneth Melson will resign under pressure sometime this week. Melson is a former U.S. Attorney so he has some allegiance to DOJ. Just how much he may have to Eric Holder might be tested in coming weeks.
While Melson's ouster is hopefully only the first victory for us, the bad news is who Obama may place in Melson's chair. Andrew Traver currently heads the Chicago ATF office and, like Holder and Obama, is staunchly anti-gun. He's worked closely with the anti-gun Joyce Foundation and helped the news media deliberately blur the distinction (see video) between civilian rifles and fully automatic weapons. Of the civilian-bought AK variant bought for the linked article above, Traver said "You just pull the trigger and you can mow people down". As he loaded a 30-round magazine, Traver told NBC news "It'll empty this entire magazine in about 3 seconds." Further, he said the weapon "is so difficult to control, their bullets often get sprayed beyond the intended targets".
Of course, the video shows that Traver didn't demonstrate a semi-automatic civilian AK model, but a Class-III fully automatic AK. So, certainly it is going to be difficult to control by someone who has never fired a full-auto weapon before. And it's going to mislead the public into thinking anyone can walk into a gun shop to buy a machine gun.
Meanwhile, ATF agents commented on CleanupATF.org on Traver. One agent described him as a mediocre bureau chief and another said he never had an original idea or thought. Others described him as a lightweight, someone who curries favor to get ahead rather than solid performance on the streets. This is the kind of man Obama wants leading the ATF. This does not bode well for gun owners, dealers or the industry.
Write, phone, fax or e-mail your congress critter and demand they refuse to confirm Traver. Not because the NRA doesn't like him, but because Traver lacks the qualifications to stop the abuses of the ATF and reform the agency.
Now Do I Have Your Attention?
So Ugly It's a Modern Art Masterpiece¹
Taurus brings us yet another new polymer framed revolver, like the Ruger LCR and S&W's new Body- guard .38. In terms of beauty, it ranks second behind the Chiappa Rhino for ugliness. But for many, it might be a worthwhile purchase. The Model 85-PLYB2 is a 5-shot .38 Special +P revolver that tips the scales at 18.2 oz. Sights are fixed, of course and the hammer semi-shrouded for pocket carry. The 2.5" barrel gives a little more velocity than typical snubby .38's. With the MSRP set around $445, this gets you a small revolver with a street price under $400. I'll let you know when I get my hands on one how it performs.
¹ Apologies to R. Lee Ermy and the cast & crew of Full Metal Jacket.
Book Suggestion
There are a thousand and one gun books and videos out there. But I'm going "off track" slightly due to the interest in our "survival bag" article. If you are at all worried about some kind of survival scenario or major collapse, you need to read this book:
One Second After - by William Forstchen
This book details the after effects of a real and plausible disaster. One which, frighteningly enough, almost no one is prepared for. The book follows a family in the southeastern U.S. after America is attacked by electromagnetic pulse weapons. With high-tech electronic circuits burned out, civilization comes to a stop. The book is a realistic portrayal of what one man and his family have to face in order to survive. How their local community reacts and what kinds of edicts can be expected. There are lots of hints at the kinds of things you'd need to survive and some of the social upheavals you probably wouldn't think about.
Something on your mind? Drop me a line here.
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