The Wandering Minstrel

The Better Half and I had to go to the pharmacy today to pick up some medication today. There is a magazine rack adjacent to the pharmacy I spotted this September/October edition of American Handgunner Magazine. On an impulse, I tossed it in the shopping cart and took it home.

I enjoyed reading several interesting articles about firearms and shooting. This just happened to be the 35th anniversary edition of their magazine and, as a matter of fact, this was only the first time I read their magazine. The publishers of Guns Magazine publish this one on a bi-monthly basis.

There is one article in this issue that interested me in particular. It is called The Ayoob Files - The Tucson Atrocity: Joe Zamudio’s Story. Of course, the author is Massad Ayoob, known to most firearms enthusiasts and the topic - the terrible shooting in Tuscon earlier this year.

Here’s a couple of excerpts:

Situation: A loser with a gun initiates mass murder … and you, with your concealed carry pistol, are nearby.

Lessons: Citizens who stand up and fight can stop the killing … but anti-gun media may still spin their heroism 180 degrees from the truth.

. . .

Joe was prepared to stop the killer with gunfire if he had to. He says today, “I was just truly blessed I didn’t have to pull my firearm. I didn’t have to go to that place. The guy who had the gun was the wrong guy, and I’m glad I didn’t pull a gun on him. I’m glad the people took him down when they did. He was heading in my direction, toward the Walgreen’s, coming my way; when I stepped out the door I might have been the next victim, or would have had to shoot him.”

. . .

No good deed goes unpunished. The gun-banners were out in force as soon as the story hit the newswires, dancing in the blood of the victims. Some in the media turned their sights on the Glock 19 pistol used by the killer, ignoring the fact that Representative Giffords herself owned one and was known to carry it, and the fact the Tucson police responded with drawn Glock 22 .40 calibers, their issue sidearm. Because three of Loughner’s five magazines, including the one in his gun when he opened fire, were extended to 33-round capacity, a ban on magazines holding more than ten rounds became a cause célèbre once again among the antigunners.

. . .

When others fled and played dead, Zamudio literally ran to the sound of the gunfire. He was ready to shoot if he had to, hand on Ruger and safety off, but was careful not to add to the panic. He superbly controlled what could have degenerated into a mistaken identity shooting. In grueling interviews since, some with reporters who had anti-gun agendas, Joe proved himself a powerful spokesman for the right of responsible people to carry guns for the protection of themselves and others. He was one among many heroes that terrible day in Tucson … but Joe Zamudio was our hero.

There is an on-line digital copy of this issue if you care to browse it.

The Better Half snapped this (clickable) photo of a sign along a scenic route north of town today. It appears that some folks get their target practice on public property.

C’mon guys - stay classy. The sportsmen’s club is more than happy to have you shoot at their facility.

By the way, click the image to see how beautiful the scenic route is.

The Better Half and I have watched every episode of Top Shot on the History Channel. The show is very entertaining, interesting and fun to watch. The second season, Top Shot Reloaded is no disappointment, with an entirely new array of weapons and competitions.

We did have one problem with the show, however. One of the competitors had a very annoying manner of being overconfident, a ‘know it all’ and ignoring advice from the show’s experts that are brought in to train the competitors in the use of weapons. Unfortunately, this competitor survived the earlier eliminations but last night, the dude was finally eliminated from the competition.

The eliminated competitor (I intentionally did not mention his name here) can be seen at the right side of the (clickable) image above - he’s the bald-headed guy holding the crossbow. Adios and good riddance.

I have no practical use for one of the 33 round magazines that Glock offers for the 9mm pistols, but I thought I would add one to my collection of stuff I don’t need for posterity. I logged on to my Cheaper Than Dirt account and shopped for one of the hi-cap mags. When I found it in the on-line catalog they promptly notified me that they were backordered. I logged in to Midway USA, went through the same drill and found that they were also out of stock.

So I assume that when it came to light that the deranged motherf**ker in Tuscon was using one of these, the anti-gunners started calling for bans on hi-cap mags. Just like the rush on ammo after the Obamination was elected, that the market demand for them went asymptotically skyward.

I ordered one anyway - if and when they are in stock the item will ship.

I found this interesting little “tactical racker’ while browsing the on-line version of the February 2011 edition of American Rifleman today. I’m getting a little older and this little gadget might make racking easier for me considering my mild case of arthritis, hence my interest. The device replaces the slide cover plate.

From the article:

The Racker can also be hooked onto one’s belt or boot heel, making it easier to chamber a round with one hand. It is machined from billet aluminum, is anodized in black, silver, blue or red, and it offers universal fit for 9 mm Luger, .357 SIG and .40 S&W Glocks. Another version for .45 ACP and 10 mm Auto Glocks is also available.

I think they’re a little pricey at nearly $50 but might be worth it for me. The website for the vendor given in the article is www.hatfieldsgunsmithing.com.

Lots of kids learned about guns and gun safety at a juniors small-game camp sponsored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and hosted by the Wickenburg Sportsmen’s Club. The event was open to all children between the ages of ages 8 to 18 with adult supervision.

The Better Half and I were at the Wickenburg Sportsmen’s Club attending the Range Safety Orientation class required of new members when the kids were shooting. The range campus was pretty crowded because of the event.

It makes us glad the see the positive attitude toward guns and shooting in our new town. What a dramatic contrast from California (and other liberal infected places) where kids get suspended from school for using their hands to make a simulated gun and saying “bang.”

The President of the Wickenburg Sportsmen’s Club found out after extensive research, that WSC owns 40 additional acres adjacent to it’s existing range. The 40 acres was acquired from the Bureau of Land Management by the Town of Wickenburg for the WSC for a shooting range way back in 1977. The Club is still mulling over how to use the land but a 1000 yard rifle range has often been mentioned.

A survey of all WSC property including the 40 acres took place this week. At the orientation last weekend, the range officer mentioned that the range would be closed on Wednesday January 12th after 11:30 AM for the survey. On the tour of the range, the RO jokingly said that the survey team had been offered Kevlar vests but elected instead for the option to close the range down.

Clickable image courtesy The Better Half - Trap and Skeet Range

It’s official - we attended the range safety orientation today, paid our dues and took a tour of the facilities at the Wickenburg Sportsmen’s Club. I’ll blog more about the club in the future. Meantime, The Better Half and I are watching NFL Wildcard Weekend. Stay tuned.