Cats, Guns, and National Security

Detachability of magazines is a key component in most "assault weapon" definitions. With them, the "evil features" are verboten. But with fixed magazines, those features are permitted. As a result, this writer as far back as Heller promoted the idea of stripper-clip-fed fixed magazine rifle in military caliber as a "Militia Rifle" to split the difference and secure some baseline militia firepower, though in most recent years my writing has focused on detachables. Below is an option for AR systems: A device that side-loads a magazine through the ejection port. It is larger than a stripper clip, and nearly as expensive as a full-blown magazine , and so obviously not (as) disposable. Yet, it does work. And given American ingenuity, clever thinkers and designers will no doubt improve on the concept if the current (August 2022) bill passes into law. It may eventually be necessary for some, especially those seeking to acquire AR-pattern arms, to make a choice be...

These alterations. especially the first one, would probably fail: This is downright vengeful and deliberately targeting both the AR operating system and the Thordsen company for developing a once-NY-compliant workaround. TEXT: “(49) The term ‘pistol grip’ means a grip, a thumbhole stock or Thordsen-type grip or stock, or any other characteristic that can function as a grip. For those devoted to the AR, your choices for new manufactures would be a choice between featureless or top-feed into a fixed magazine. As for various tricks and workarounds on the issue of detachability, be careful and keep in mind the many failed efforts by California 2A hobbyists , and my one simple adage: "If you think you've gotten around a gun law, you're probably in violation of it." In a lot of restrictive States, all it takes is a word from the attorney general for some such thing to hit the ban list. I remember one system that was legal for a few months: A tripped-out AR with no stock w...

In TDF 227 , I pointed out that the 2022 gun bill would not allow for transfer of "high-capacity" magazines at all, and so now was the time for judicious acquisitions of them. However, the "semiautomatic assault weapons" affected by the bill will require going through dealers to transfer. I explained in TDF 230 about the dangers in how this is to done. In addition, some storage requirements in the bill may require acquisition of safes, and affect where these items are kept, or even handled. Open storage and "storing at a friend's place" may not be an option anymore. And so, for those of you who are TOTALLY fudd, it's advisable that you determine what if any affected arms would be suitable for your situation, with an eye toward possible future outcomes of society. This in no way counteracts this series' repeated discussion of featureless  military-grade  arms as (still) viable on the modern Militia battlefield.   Yet, some of those higher-en...

In the past few editions, TDF has discussed the scope, impact, and even one mitigated element of the bill currently (August 2022) going through Congress. It is notably far less draconian than the post-Sandy Hook proposals of Feinstein and others: No taxes, direct registrations, or confiscations, and even as pointed out in TDF 229  the higher-than-usual maximum capacity limit ( no geldings for most of us! ). These are good, obviously, as they help buy time and hold the current level of firepower for the hope of reversing the bans and regulations in the future .  The flipside of this, though, is that it is also a smarter move on the part of gun-banners than in the past. The sociopolitical Left has two big psychological advantages over conservative in terms of tactical activism: They find it easier to think beyond themselves, and they don't have the same aversion to step-by-step, two-steps-forward/one-step-back strategies. In this current bill, we see the first advantage in the ...

From the Definitions section of the bill : Two definitions of "semiautomatic assault weapon" : A semiautomatic rifle that has a fixed ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than 15 rounds, except for an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition. A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed ammunition feeding device that has the capacity to accept more than 15 rounds. Definition of "large capacity ammunition feeding device" : The term ‘large capacity ammunition feeding device’— “(A) means a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device, including any such device joined or coupled with another in any manner, that has an overall capacity of, or that can be readily restored, changed, or converted to accept, more than 15 rounds of ammunition; and “(B) does not include an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.”. It...

 

In the 1990s, many "prepper" and "militia"-types turned to .308 due to the 1994 magazine freeze. If you have fewer rounds, then you need to make the most of each round. That in part is the rationale behind my suggested "Homeland Defense Rifle." The end of that freeze has, though, spoiled many 2A practitioners, and between that and having watched too many "A-Team" reruns, they think lighter 5.56/.223 is the way to go. My hope is that recent legal turns will make them think more in the 1990s way in this regard But even barring that, the generations coming behind us very likely will do so. If the gun bill recently (July 2022) passed by the U.S. House of Representatives becames law, not only will it freeze the number of civilian-legal "high-capacity" magazines in private possession, it will also apparently bar their transfer to other private parties. In other words, YOU can have what's yours, but your children and children's childre...

TDF has long made a point of preparing for seizure or taxing of "high-capacity" magazines. The bill which recently (July 2022) passed the House of Representatives includes no seizure or taxing of weapons or magazines, and grandfathers in possession of current ones, but it does not allow for transferring a hi-cap (though the weapons themselves can be). So, now's the time for some judicious acquisition of magazines over 15 rounds. Keep in mind the taxing and seizure remains a possibility until President Trump or another pro-gun leader obtains power, so count your dollars and cents as to how much you might invest. For rifles, 10-round mags remain tactically viable, so focusing evaluation on pistol magazine inventories is especially advisable. TDF has in the past taken the position that pistols hold a special symbolic and tactical priority in RKBA preservation.  Furthermore, yours truly has suggested to his pro-gun Senator that an attempt be made to exempt pistol-caliber mag...