Firearm manufacturing

More fun w/ statistics.

As usual, claims that ownership, hunting, manufacturing between such and such dates tend to be exaggerated and/or the dates specifically chosen to make an argument. This is clearly shown in the classic case of the VPC claiming that the numbers of firearm owners have been declining. Obviously this is not even close to being the truth.

The same can be said about firearm manufacturing which is supposedly in decline. Particular dates are always chosen and terminology used to show the desired results. So I decided to take a look at the data from the BATFE which is available for the years 1998-2000.

Looking at the total numbers, it does show a drop of a little under 53,000 firearms manufactured during that period. Looking at the individual types produced during the years shows a different story however:


So Handguns and Rifles vary with a slight trend upwards, revolvers remain very stable, while shotguns decreased significantly but have stabilized over the last few years.

Looking back another decade using data from Shooting Industry Magazine reports continues to show a varied history. From 1987-2006 one could say that US firearm manufacturing increased by nearly 90,000 firearms but that would still bely the wide swings in manufacturing over the last 20 years from a peak of 5.16M in 1994 to a ebb of 2.9M in 2001. That trend shows a slight drop in handgun(combined w/ revolvers) and shotgun manufacturing but a significant increase in rifles. The sales figures over the last two years seem to imply that we're still on an upward slope for manufacturing.

And these are just US numbers w/o taking into account the +/- 250K exports or +/- 1.25M imports every year.

On Closer Examin(er)ation

Not only has David Codrea's Examiner column gone national and his Cleveland spot continuing under another author, LA Examiner now has a firearm rights column.

At the same time SF is discussing dropping its handgun ban.

Perhaps the state is not a complete loss.

Ray Schoenke says Nothing...

After a 2 month hiatus, he comes back to brag about his election victories. Still nothing on what he or his group is actually doing though.

Why?

Because his group is doing exactly that. Nothing. Their whole purpose is to get anti-gun candidates elected under the guise of 'supporting hunters and shooters' and to attack the NRA.

"I'm a Big Boy now!"

So says Senatorial hopeful Burris.

Better than Ringling Bros.

My letter to the General

In response to his paper as noted by Irons in the Fire and SayUncle:

Gen. McCaffrey,

In regards to your report from December regarding crime in Mexico, I would like to make some corrections to your assertions that military grade firearms are being smuggled into the country from the United States.

To legally purchase a Class III firearm, one needs to follow all the regulations of the 1934, 1968, and 1986 firearm acts. This includes a background check, $200 tax stamp, licensing, and registration through the BATFE. No new fully automatic or select fire weapons have been added to this registration since 1986. The cheapest firearms cost over $2500 with AK-47's averaging $5000 ea. Licensed dealer rarely have more than a few in stock at any one time if at all. RPG's, Grenades, and other heavy weapons are not available through any firearm dealer unless they are licensed for explosives as well, also not common. What the Mexican authorities are facing from the US are semi-auto only clones of military firearms, commonly known as 'assault weapons'.
Since every firearm of any type needs to undergo an NICS check from a licensed dealer, a purchase of "a hundred at a time" would flag the buyer and warrant an immediate investigation by the BATFE.

If you have direct knowledge that this is not so and dealers are actually selling fully-auto firearms and high explosives 'out the back door', it should be brought to light and these dealers indicted.

If the authorities are facing these types of firearms from the cartels, and I have no doubt they are, they need to look south, not north, and to their own house for the reason. Numerous Mexican officials have been caught in the US attempting to purchase firearms while the entire system, as you have stated, is rife with corruption. Which would make more sense, finding officers or soldiers who are willing to accept a bribe for them to 'lose' their weapon or leave an armory door unlocked, or travel to the US to try and find a very uncommon class of weapon costing thousands of dollars? The very existence of the "Zeta's" should answer that question.

Regards,
Thirdpower

Not a perfect letter but let's see if he responds.

Late X-mas

The magazines and frog bought w/ my X-mas money came today.


Two Hungarian 20 rd Tanker magazines for my SAR-1 and a Romanian leather AK-47 frog from AK-47s.com

View From the Kitchen

Looking up.

Is This Really a Suprise to Anyone?

SIH, SaysUncle, Michael Bane, The Shooting Wire, RobbAllen, and I'm sure others are reporting that there's noises about a new AWB is in the works as punishment for opposing the LightBringer.

Well duh.

We've already seen how vindictive this administration is when they attacked TV stations for running NRA ads. Anyone who thinks that the Obamessiah WOULDN'T go after firearms were just deluding themselves to justify their opposition to Bush. IIRC, Bill Schneider had a couple of running bets w/ posters over on New West. Methinks he's going to end up being sorry he made them. I'll place money on not hearing a word from 'hunting and shooting advocate' Ray Schoenke of the AHSA.

Two Forums added

One is the G/K43 Community Forum. These are the fine individuals who helped me out on details regarding my Mauser rifles.

The second is a new forum started by TexasFred. The United States Gun Owners Association. Politics, Gun Porn, Gunsmiths, Sales/Trading, the works.

Springfield Gun Show

Went to meet the Armed SchoolTeacher. Apparently we got our days crossed as he was there Sat. while I was there today (Sun). Oops.

I did, however, get a chance to talk to Tom Shafer at the Sangamon County Rifle Assoc. booth. He runs a local pro-gun cable show ( Wed. at 7:30pm Springfield Ch 4) and has been spending his time watching the Blago impeachment hearings. We chatted about Blago and Burris for awhile and I was pleased to give him some additional info to present on his show. Notably how Blago gave a gun control speech on the steps of the hospital he was blackmailing and Burris's hypocrisy on firearms. I gave him a UMPC patch to recognize in a small way all the hard work he does.


Also got a chance to talk to Ron Corzine of the ISRA and booth volunteer Terry.


Today was busy but I was told that yesterday it was packed w/ a line out the door. I picked up a stock extender for my SAR-1 and a frog for the bayonet I got at another show a few weeks ago. Had I had more funds, I would have walked out of there w/ (receipts for ) many new toys (damn waiting period).

Both fit most nicely now.

508

The final tally for murders in Gun Free Chicago. An over 15% jump in comparison to last year.

Congratulations on a job well done Mayor Daley.

Taking your Change

WASHINGTON -- A 50 percent increase in gasoline and diesel fuel taxes is being urged by a federal commission to finance highway construction and repair until the government devises another way for motorists to pay for using public roads.

The National Commission on Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing, a 15-member panel created by Congress, is the second group in a year to call for higher fuel taxes.

So the push for more fuel efficiency combined w. a recession has led to decreased revenue from gas taxes. Who would'a thunk it? So of course the response is a call to tax the sh*t out of us some more.

To bad we can't throw gas into the harbor.

Selective apologetics

Via Armsed and the Law Safe (oops), we discover an apology letter for the "Ban All Guns" nonsense the other day. Both he, Pistolero, Kevin Baker , and others have taken her to task either in the comments and/or their blogs but their is one area they missed on in their replies to her.

The sh*tstorm that hit Zumbo wasn't mostly about the guns not being good for hunting, that's just a non-thought out opinion, it was that he called them terrorist weapons and that they should be banned. My reply:

Your analysis of the Zumbo affair is not entirely complete. Through your own link he did much more than state that he felt "Assault Weapons" weren't good for hunting. That is merely and uneducated opinion. What really got the sh*tstorm to hit was his statement that they were 'terrorist rifles' and that they should be banned from outdoor activities.

That showed not only a level of ignorance and elitism from someone who was a 'lifelong hunter' but also gave ammunition to all the anti-gun groups. Within a few weeks, the Brady Campaign and others were repeating his words as the voice of hunters in the US.

Calling a firearm an "assault weapon" in no way makes it more or less accurate. There are many different configurations of the many models out there, hunting, home defense, target shooting, etc. What it boils down to is that an 'assault weapon' is merely a semi-auto firearm that has cosmetic features similar to some military firearms. They function no different than any other semi-auto.

The Rev. spoke out in ignorance and hostility and was responded to in kind. Many gun owners are tired of being called terrorists and criminals because they choose to be gun owners.

Update: Seems that being polite and presenting counter information isn't as effective as she claims.

That's really all I have to say on the subject. I'm not going to answer any more comments on it. Sorry, I'm just out of time and interest.

Translation: Facts don't matter so please don't present them if they don't fit my worldview.

What will they do now?

Nutball sites like Democratic Underground, MoveOn, Huffpo, and Daily Kos have had a hayday the last 8 years feeding their severe cases of Bush Derangement Syndrome. While I am in no way a fan , these poor deluded souls are now going to be relegated to what the "Rightwing" sites have had to deal w/, only being able to reference the past for mistakes of the current administration and cries of 'obstructionism'. I'm seeing it already. Continuing references to Palin and McCain as if they're still relevant, 'but Bush did XYZ', etc. etc. They'll be able to play that game for awhile, but it will get old quick as the incoming administration starts making its own flubs and foibles.

What they're really going to hate is the traditional pattern of the media and celebrities. They've raised the Lightbringer to that status, now w/ him in the spotlight, it's time for them to knock him down. Everytime he takes a crap, the 'mainstream media' will be there to count the corns and anal-yze the texture. Recent reports have stated that he's already grating at the attention which will only make them even more determined to pressure him. Nothing sells better than a celebrity throwing a fit or having a breakdown.

Will they look critically at their own party during this period or will they stay quiet and support their own 'dear leader w/o question? That's been a regular attack against the Stupid Party.

What will they do?