My New Homepage

I can't believe that I maxed out the photo capacity allowed by Blogger, so as of October 2011 all new posts with photos are on new pages. The BRShooting Journal Homepage continues HERE.

The Obama administration quietly releases new documents on secret gun-running operation...

"...ATF agents say that in Fast and Furious, their agency allowed thousands of assault rifles and other weapons to be sold to suspected traffickers for Mexican drug cartels. At least two of the guns turned up at the murder scene of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry last December..." MORE

This makes Watergate look like child's play.

PETA plans porn website to promote message

If there was ever an question that PETA is nuts and out of the American mainstream, this proves it:

"...Rajt says the website will feature graphic videos and photographs. She noted that PETA has used porn stars and nudity to get its message across in the past. She says a pornographic site will allow PETA to reach a broader audience and that publicity about the site is just as important as the site itself... MORE

Coyote Attack Kills Great Dane In Newington, CT

"...The owner said the attack occurred in her backyard as she focused on a puppy. The Great Dane was at the end of its lead when the confrontation occurred with the coyote. The coyote did not maul the Great Dane, but there was a quick confrontation. The coyote then ran off into some nearby woods, where the owner said she has heard coyote pups making noise..." MORE

Carry your handgun. ~Bob

A related post: Texas Governor Rick Perry shoots, kills 'wily' coyote while jogging'

Anthony Imperato in East Hartford, CT

Anthony Imperato, the President of Henry Repeating Arms paid Cabela's in East Hartford a visit last Saturday.

Boycott Walgreens!

Pharmacist Fires Back at Gunmen, Fired By Walgreens 

In Benton Township, Michigan, two armed robbers wearing masks burst into a near-deserted Walgreens at 4:30 a.m. Drawing his own gun, Jeremy Hoven fired at the attackers and drove them off, saving not just himself but two Walgreens co-workers as well as the pharmacy's valuable prescription drugs. Hoven had a pistol permit and should be honored as a hero. Join me in boycotting Walgreens and letting them know why. Thanks!   ~Bob

WATCH THE VIDEO

CONTACT WALGREENS

My letter to Walgreens:
"I am the author of The BR Shooting Journal, a series of hunting and shooting blogs with over 200,000 hits. I am asking my readers to boycott your stores in support of Jeremy Hoven, of Benton Township, Michigan. Jeremy should be honored as a hero, and I'm sure the 80 million gun owners in America would agree. I am not looking for an explanation. I want a change in policy. Your stores are unsafe as this video proves, and I am thankful that at least one employee has the courage to take a stand against crime."

Mike Adams and his family honor the memory of 9-11

"This is how me and the kids ended our 9-11 observance"

This is how Mike Adams, his two youngest, Jake and Madalyn and oldest son Michael Jr. honor the memory of 9-11. This is what I call REAL Homeland Security. It gives me great joy to see young people exercising their Second Amendment rights. Thank you Mike. Mike is the author of the 'Up North Journal' website and podcast as well as being a great dad.

Why Hunt, Fish and Trap?

"Guns kill people like spoons make Rosie O'Donnell fat".

Recycle Your Squirrel Tails!

We recycle… but we don't want your old aluminum cans or plastic soda bottles. We do, however, want your squirrel tails. We need them to create hand-tied dressed hooks that do a great job catching fish. We know this for a fact because, here at Mepps, we've been recycling squirrel tails for about a half a century, and we recycle more of them than anyone else. This makes us some kind of recycling pioneer and we're proud of it.

We've tried hundreds of other materials, both natural and synthetic and nothing else works as well. Todd Sheldon discovered this in the early 1960's. While fishing the Wolf River with Mepps spinners, he caught his limit of trout and was heading back to his car when he met a boy who also had limited out fishing with Mepps. But, all of the boy's trout were larger than Todd's. This is not something easily accepted by any fisherman.
 

 Todd noticed the Mepps spinner attached to the boy's line had a tuft of squirrel tail tied to the hook so he began experimenting with dressed hooks. Bear hair was tried as well as fox, coyote, badger, skunk, deer, even Angus cow. But the only two tails that provided the pulsating action Todd was looking for were squirrel tails and buck tails.

Squirrel tail quickly became the dressing of choice for Mepps trout spinners, while larger spinners for trophy musky, pike and bass were dressed with bucktail. It wasn't long before Mepps Bucktails had caught more trophy musky and northern pike than any other lure in the world. We have been recycling squirrel and deer tails ever since.

"Squirrel Tails Wanted" reads the large carved wooden sign on Wisconsin's highway 45 north in Antigo. The sign amuses some folks, but it intrigues others so much they stop to find out what we're all about. This is fine with us. We welcome inquisitive visitors and offer weekday tours. Our favorite visitors are hunters who stop by with tails to sell. While we buy squirrel tails from individual hunters, almost all of our deer tails come from fur buyers or meat processors.

Processing both squirrel and buck tails is a lot of work. Upon arrival every buck tail must be trimmed to remove any body hair. Squirrel tails seldom need trimming, but they do need to be sorted and graded. All of the tails, however, need to be washed, not once, but several times. After drying, some are left natural while others are dyed brilliant hues. They are then carefully packaged and stored until needed. When needed, they are placed in the hands of a skilled fly tyer, where they become a Mepps dressed hook.

NOTE: Mepps is only interested in recycling tails taken from squirrels that have been harvested for the table. We do not advocate taking squirrels strictly for their tails. It is illegal to sell squirrel tails in the states of CA, ID, and OR.
 

Squirrel Tail Recycling Program Article in PDF Format

Squirrel Tail Payment Information

Most folks that send us squirrel tails double their value by trading them for Mepps lures. All-in-all, not a bad deal. They get a great day afield and get to enjoy the stew, too. Then they take the part they used to throw away, offer it to us to recycle and we send them Mepps spinners in return. What a deal!
Shipping refunded on 50 tails or more. Ship by UPS or First Class mail only. No refund on insurance charges or service fees charged by independent mailing services.
For all good quality tails we pay the following:

• Gray, Fox & Black Squirrel Tails
  • 16 ¢ each — under 100
  • 19 ¢ each — over 100
  • 21 ¢ each — over 500
  • 22 ¢ each — over 1000

• Premium Tails
  • 20 ¢ each — under 100
  • 23 ¢ each — over 100
  • 25 ¢ each — over 500
  • 26 ¢ each — over 1000

• Red Squirrel Tails (Hair at the base of the tail must be at least 1" long)
  • 8 ¢ each — under 100
  • 9 ¢ each — over 100
  • 10 ¢ each — over 500
  • 11 ¢ each — over 1000

Squirrel Tail Payment Information

Please follow these instructions carefully:

1. Tails are best on squirrels taken after October 1st.
2. Do NOT remove the bone from the tail. Deboned and split tails have no value.
3. Salt the butt end of the tail generously. Use either dry salt or dip in a strong saltwater solution.
4. Be sure the tail is straight before drying. Tails that dry in a curled position cannot be used.
5. Keep tails away from flies. Best storage is in a freezer. Do not send tails that have been exposed to flies.
6. Do not put tails in a plastic bag for storage or shipment. They could heat up and spoil.
7. The best time to ship is during cold weather months (Jan, Feb, & Mar). Dried squirrel tails may be shipped anytime.
8. Put your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and tail count inside each package.
9. Send your tails to:
      Sheldons', Inc.
      626 Center St.
      Antigo, WI 54409-2496
10. http://www.mepps.com/programs/squirrel-tail/

Jim's opening day of squirrel season

Hi, Bob This morning was very foggy. Woods were all misty and surreal. Fog means no wind, great to see any activity but also keeps the animals down a bit. Minutes after sneaking into the woods, I was quietly walking a trail and heard a 'snuffle'. Right there, not ten feet from me was a skunk! Decided to leave him alone and see what he did. He just was finding a place for the day, I guessed. Have seen coon near this spot before and, sure enough, there was one climbing around in the tree just ahead of me. Big one, but let him go too. Not in season. I don't kill just to kill. Snuck about another 70 yrds or so just enjoying the morning. Two squirrels right over me. Had the one lined up and ready to shoot but he jumped at the last second and saved his own life even if he didn't know it! Fox squirrels sure make the branches jump around a lot. Loved it. Sat for a while, and saw no movement so I continued in the little patch of woods. Came closer to the creek that is the border and decided to give the Flextone Mimic call a try. Put on the wounded cottontail and IMMEDIATELY had a hawk respond, screaming, and the blue jays and little 'pecker' birds were everywhere! Amazing how you think there are no animals near you for 100 miles and make a sound, and there they are! All you have to do is make the right sound! Again, loved it! There was some strange sounds that I didn't couldn't identify when I put on the baby coon but am sure something was close to me. Calling WORKS! For a little handheld unit, I am continued to be impressed by this thing. You think it's not that loud until you're in the woods, everything is very quiet, and then all the animals come to check it out. At least, the birds are the first to come. Great fun. Got too hot soon and was out of the woods by 9:30. Way early in the season, still time for many more walks. Best time of the year. BTW, didn't have to clean anything but the barn!      Jim~

Medal of Honor Recipient Presented With Custom Henry Rifle At Cheyenne Frontier Days

United States Army Veteran Sal Giunta was awarded the Medal of Honor on November 16th 2010 for his actions and bravery in retrieving wounded soldiers during an ambush by Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Mr. Giunta was presented with a one of a kind Henry Golden Boy rifle during a ceremony at halftime of the CBR Bull Riding Championship at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Mr. Giunta served two tours of duty, a total of 27 months. (photo courtesy of F.E. Warren Air Force Base collection)

Tips When Stopped By Police

If you're like most people who carry a firearm, you make an extra effort to obey every law in order to avoid drawing attention to yourself, or having an encounter with a police officer. It's a fact that some officers aren't familiar with gun laws, and may possibly over react to the situation. So what do you do should you be pulled over by an officer? This video will give you some good basic information, though local laws may differ. Check with your police department and research the web to make yourself familiar with local laws, but this video will give you good basic advice.

Tips When Stopped By Police

Bobcat in Southington, CT

From my cousin Roy today...

"Bob, My son photographed this bobcat on West St. in Southington.---Roy"

Henry Repeating Arms Day, Sept. 17th, Cabela's East Hartford, CT

Front row center: Anthony Imperato, President/Owner
(with the Henry staff)

Henry Repeating Arms Day

Sept. 17, Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Gun Counter. Join Henry Repeating Arms owner Anthony Imperato as he displays and explains the rich history of his company’s firearms.

Store Address: 475 East Hartford Blvd. North East Hartford, CT 06118 GPS Coordinates: N 41° 45.21' W 72° 37.21' Phone: (860) 290-6200

My sister at the range

I honestly never thought I'd ever see my sister holding a gun, never mind looking like she's having fun shooting it. I told you you'd like it! I wish I could have gone shooting with her, but she lives on the other side of the country. I'm proud of you Claudia! Now I need to buy you an NRA membership.

Gun Makers Set Sights On Female Buyers

"For years, gun stores were predominantly patronized by men. But these days, shooting ranges and shops selling firearms are seeing more female customers than ever before, and that has them changing the way they do business..."  MORE

CT resident hunters already knew the Mountain Lion originated in upstate NY

"Cougar killed by CT car had passed through NY "

The latest bogus headline about the mountain lion which was recently killed in CT. 

"LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. — Environmental officials say a cougar killed by a car in Connecticut tramped through upstate New York last year, a rare sighting in a state where the big cats are believed to have been gone for more than a century.

Cindy Eggleston reported seeing the cat in her Lake George backyard in December. Her husband David, a former Department of Environmental Conservation colonel, and DEC officer Louis Gerrain took pictures of the tracks and gathered hairs...." MORE

What proof do they have that it "passed through" NY and didn't originate there? CT hunters have said for years that our mountain lion population came from upstate NY. Many believe they were put there to control the exploding deer and coyote populations, but that's just conjecture.

Just this week an guy who works in my office space informed me that a mid-size mountain lion, long tail all, passed right in front of his girlfriend's car a day earlier. 

We don't need any more proof DEP.

Desiree' and Ted Nugent ROCK!!!!

Desiree' is one of the few things that still make me proud to be from Connecticut. Have you ever seen anyone have more fun playing Rock'n Roll than this girl?!  GO DESIREE'!!

Product testing tomorrow

The weather doesn't look too promising, but I'm hoping to shoot rain or shine. I'll be testing out some new products for the .380. Check out my .380 page for the full story.

Police urge holster use after man shoots his own penis

"As Chandler residents Joshua Seto, 27, and his fiancée, Cara Christopher, walked over to a Fry's Food Store for refreshments, he tried securing her pink handgun in the front waistband of his pants. The gun fired, striking Seto's penis and continuing through his left thigh. The bleeding started immediately and was heavy, according to police dispatch recordings released Sunday..." MORE 

Now after you stop laughing, realize that there's a lesson to be learned here. ALWAYS USE A HOLSTER! ~Bob

Man holds would-be robbers at gunpoint until cops arrive in New Haven (video)

"NEW HAVEN — Brandon Kruse went out for some sushi and a beer on State Street, but instead found himself surrounded by three young teens. One punched him in the head.

Surrounded and believing he was about to be mugged, Kruse, a 29-year-old sales manager, pulled out his .40-caliber handgun — and ultimately helped police capture all three assailants... MORE

Bombshell: White House Knew About ATF Gunrunning Scandal

"A few weeks ago, I wrote about the ATF's "Fast and Furious" or "Gunwalker" scandal, which appears to reach the highest levels of the Justice Department. Read the whole magazine article here, but the short version is that the Justice Department knowingly allowed thousands of weapons to fall in the hands of criminals in Mexico that were then used to kill U.S. law enforcement agents.

Well, today a bombshell dropped. It's not just the Justice Department that looks culpable -- it looks like the White House was briefed on the operation as well..."  MORE

Considering that the White House has been using this information against the citizens of the United States to deprive them of their Second Amendment rights, I'm wondering if this is an impeachable offense? This makes Watergate look like child's play. ~Bob

Taking Care of Business

A Henry taking care of the varmints that are destroying a garden and hopefully another soon to be owner in the family. Henry H001 with CCI CB shorts at about 20 yrds first shot was clean. Now to get the rest plus a groundhog... One more thing, this is allowed to remove animals who are wreaking havoc on a garden, but they can not be kept (harvested). If it was a Deer a permit would be required. ~Jon

Now the DEP REALLY owes the residents of CT an apology.

Well, the DEP ran their tests and they can no longer use the excuse that the mountain lion killed June 11th in Milford was an escaped house pet. No, instead they are saying that this lion took a long walk from South Dakota to CT. In other words, they are once again saying that this was a freak, one of a kind incident.

Over the years the DEP has treated the citizens of CT as dolts, who are incapable of distinguishing a mountain lion from a coyote. There have been so many sightings that everyone knows that CT has a substantial mountain lion population. But even if they didn't, many people who called in sighting may very well have seen this mountain lion wandering through the state. At least to those people the DEP should apologize. They seem to forget that they work for us, and the citizens of CT are not here simply to write out their paycheck.

By the way, I was listening to 'State and Church' with Governor Roland and an older woman called the show who said that she and a friend clearly saw a mountain lion recently, which included a long tail. Boy, that one cat sure gets around!

"Esty: 'The journey of this mountain lion is a testament to the wonders of nature and the tenacity and adaptability of this species'...". To that, I can only respond, another political smokescreen and pure unadulterated BS!

Here are recent link to the story:
http://www.courant.com/news/breaking/hc-mountain-lion-dna-20110726,0,3798831.story

Judge: BlueTrail not responsible for alleged lead contamination, stray bullets

"WALLINGFORD- A three-year lawsuit was put to rest Friday when a Hartford Superior Court judge ruled that Blue Trail Range and its owner were not responsible for alleged lead contamination or bullet holes a local man said plagued his neighboring property.... MORE

BREAKING NEWS: Blue Trail Range Wins Lawsuits!

The Connecticut Superior Court has just ended the sensational and contentious lawsuits brought by Durham land owner Pasquale DiNatale against Blue Trail Range of Wallingford, ruling in favor of the range on all counts. Blue Trail was defended by the Law Offices of Martha A. Dean of Avon, CT, supported by Craig C. Fishbein of Wallingford, CT.

YAHOO!!!!!! Thank you Martha! Great work. This was important as you well know. Congratulations Blue Trail Range! ~Bob

My new .380 site

I can tell that the .380 is a caliber that has generated a lot of interest within the concealed carry community. For that reason I'm in the process of creating a devoted .380 page at http://brshooting-380-journal.blogspot.com/, which as you can figure is called 'The BR .380 Journal'. Expect to see a lot of range shooting photos, videos and stories, as well as ammo and accessory tests. This will be fun so check back as it develops. Looking forward to hearing from you under 'Comments'.

Field Testing Pro Hear II

Over the coming month I'll be field testing a digital sound amplifier and hearing protection unit by Pro Ears called Pro Hear II. If you follow this blog you know that I've been wearing a pair of Pro Ears Pro Muffs whenever revolver hunting or shooting at the range for the past few years. For Father's Day I received a cowboy-style NRA hat that I can't wear when shooting because the muffs don't work with it. I contacted Altus Brands and they recommended their Pro Hear unit. It looks similar to a small hearing aid that plugs into the ear with a tiny unit about an inch long that goes behind the ear.

The set comes with a good set of plugs that you use to block the other ear. If this works correctly, my right ear should hear amplified sound while filtering gunshots and the left ear will be blocked. I often shoot with large caliber guns on either side, so I always double plug (ear plugs w/ Pro Ears muffs over the top). Without both my ears are guaranteed to be ringing. I still have a hard time believing that these tiny units will replace a double-plug, but I'll test them and let you know how they work. If they don't do the job at the range, they should be great for hunting, especially when it's too hot to wear muffs. Check back for the test.

I got me a bigger mug!!

Thanks Claudia and Eddie for the excellent birthday cup! How did you have any idea that I'd like it?

First thoughts on the Ruger LCP .380

It's been a few years since I was issued my Connecticut Pistol permit. I came into the handgun market with very little experience. I qualified with a .45 in the military some 30 years ago, but that was the limit of my handgun experience. When I took the CT handgun course, I had the opportunity to shoot a .22LR revolver, a 9mm and a 40mm semi-auto. When the class ended we drove to the local range and each of us got to shoot about a dozen rounds through each gun. It obviously wasn't enough time to get the feel for the firearm and with plugs, shooting all around and 15 people waiting to shoot, there was no time for discussion with the instructor. How was I later supposed to make an educated decision on what type of gun to buy for concealed carry?

Not having anyone to discuss guns with, I went to a gunshop and asked a salesman for advice. BAD IDEA. He immediately steered me to a S&W .38 Special AirWeight and explained that this is the biggest seller for concealed carry. I ignorantly bought it and quickly discovered that the gun was no fun at all to shoot. I also couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the short sight radius on a 2" barrel. The salesman never had the courtesy to inform me that the lighter the gun, the greater the felt recoil.

I lived with this gun for a couple of years, shooting it regularly until I almost became used to the recoil. Installing a set of Crimson Trace Lasergrips on it improved my ability to hit the target immensely, though the dot couldn't be seen outside on a sunny day. I finally traded the .38 in for a Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum. It will function as a double-action house gun. It's heavier, easier to shoot, accurate, more powerful than the .38 Special, and it can also shoot .38 Special ammo. Now I have a great shooting house gun, but that still didn't solve my need for a concealed carry firearm.

Typical .380 LCP group at about 25' from unsupported standing position

A month or so ago my daughter and her friend were victims of an attempted car jacking which quickly changed their attitude toward guns and dad. Suddenly I was no longer a 'gun nut' and both girls wanted to quickly learn how to shoot. My buddy and I pulled together 8 handguns for the girls to try (I wish someone did this for me!), and one was a .380. I was amazed at the amount of power contained in that small package. I did a bit of research, comparing features, price and reliability and ended up buying the Ruger LCP .380, today being my first opportunity to test it.

SIZE AND CARRY
First let me mention the size. I couldn't ask for anything easier to carry. The gun can be dropped in the front pocket of your shorts and you will soon forget that you are carrying it. It's the perfect Summer carry gun.

RECOIL AND ACCURACY
Recoil and muzzle rise is minimal. Much less than a .38 Special and the gun fit my hand well. With the airweight I was lucky to hit a paper plate at 25 feet from a standing position. With the .380 I was consistently getting groups of two or three inches at 25 ft. I was very impressed.

PROBLEMS
The only problem was that I got a stovepipe almost every time I fired off the last round in the magazine. I'm guessing it's because the gun needs to be lubricated and it isn't broken in. I heard that it will take 300+ rounds to do that. The jams were easy to clear. I was careful not to get sloppy in the wrist because I've heard that most jams in these small guns are the result of limp wristed shooters. If the gun recoils with the slide, the case can't eject properly.

CLEANING
This is my first semi-auto, and it only took a minute to disassemble the gun for cleaning. Push the slide a tad rearward and pull a pin with a small screwdriver. The slide, barrel and spring come off and it couldn't be easier to clean. This handgun can be thoroughly cleaned in about 5 minutes, where a .38 revolver could take a half hour.

FINAL THOUGHT
I was very impressed with this little gun. As of today, I really like it and I'm looking forward to getting out again soon to shoot. I'll keep you updated as I break the gun in and try a variety of ammo and pick up a few accessories.

 For more, visit my new .380 page!

No wonder I love my Henry's so much! A look back to my childhood...

They're not Henry's, but close enough!

Big-cat activist gives own theory on mountain lions

...Based on his own observation of a "big cat track" in Clarence Fahnestock State Park ("It wasn't a bobcat track," he said) and the recurring reports of mountain lions in Putnam and beyond, the Mahopac expert discounts the explanation that every mountain lion supposedly wandering the wilder fringes of suburbia is a formerly captive animal... wardy, a nurse, and her husband, a teacher, watched a mountain lion in their yard in December. The couple live off Nichols Street, near protected state and New York City watershed land.

"My husband and I could not believe what we were seeing, but it was a completely unobstructed view, and the animal stood still for quite a while, swishing its long tail back and forth," she added... MORE

A Comment from Bob~

I'm beginning to hear comments in the press that there's something not to be believed about the recent slew of mountain lion sightings. Some are claiming that group hysteria is responsible.

The fact is that sightings are reported from person to person, hunter to hunter, and called into the DEP on a regular basis. These reports rarely make the press because they are not taken seriously. When I reported a close encounter with a mountain lion right outside the DEP office a few years ago, no one contacted the media for a follow-up. The DEP didn't even bother stepping out their door and walking a minute down the wooded road to verify my report. I was treated like an ignorant child who couldn't figure out the difference between a dog and a cat (read the letter below). I'm betting my report never was put to paper or spoken of beyond the person who answered my call.

As far as this being a recent trend, don't you believe it. Mountain lions are out there, and they are numerous. Keep an eye out and be careful when predator calling, especially when alone. Watch your children in the woods, while hiking along paths and walking down back roads where you live. Conceal carry when possible but never shoot unless attacked. Carry a camera and look for prints and evidence after a sighting. Don't keep the information to yourself. Report it to the press. Stay safe. ~Bob

The following is a response to a recent report that I emailed into the DEP after I was warned of mountain lions being spotted in the area where I walk. This was not far from the area of my own sighting. You decide. Part of this email has already been proven wrong by the recent road kill.

Mr. Rich,

I would not let the possible presence of a mountain lion stop you from walking where you want to. As I said we do not have a wild population in this state or any state within 1000 miles. People mistake deer, coyotes, bobcats and other animals for mountain lions all the time. We have investigated at least a 100 alleged mountain lion sightings over the last 10 years or so. All turn out to be bobcats, coyotes or other
animals. I assure you, at a quick glance a bobcat can look like a small mountain lion. People often see a trailing back leg they mistake for a long tail. People that have spent their entire lives in the woods have sent us pictures claiming it was a mountain lion.......all of them turn out to be bobcats upon our inspection. We pick up 30-40 bobcats, 10-20 bears, 60-70 fishers, and thousands of deer each year on the roads of
this state. We have never picked up a mountain lion. We have never been given an actual picture of a mountain lion (imagine this with all the trail cameras out there). We have never been given a picture of a track that even resembled a mountain lion track. Talk to a biologist in any nearby state and they will tell you the same thing. As far as the horse, a bear can do a number on a horse (although they rarely attack livestock) I assure you, we do not have a wild population of mountain lions in CT. Hope this helps,


Jason Hawley
Furbearer/Bear Program
CT DEP Wildlife Division
Sessions Woods WMA
Burlington, CT
860-675-8130
jason.hawley@ct.gov

Necropsy to be done on mountain lion killed in Milford

"...It was also revealed this week that scat samples -- animal droppings -- found in Greenwich earlier this month are from a mountain lion, Gardner said... There have been several mountain lion sightings in Greenwich and throughout the state this month, with the latest coming Monday when a driver reported seeing one in Tolland... MORE

DEP's stance on mountain lions disquieting

"...Keep in mind that until the DEP had an actual dead mountain lion in its possession it maintained there were no such cats -- cougars, pumas or ghosts of the forest -- living in the Land of Steady Habits... the DEP, without any scientific backing from the mountain cat carcass, thinks we should believe these two sightings so close together are of one and the same animal. That's illogical. And dumb. The public is better served if our environmental protection folks warn us to pay attention to our surroundings, keep a close eye on wandering tots and tell us how to better fend off an attack if we find ourselves in the vicinity of these cats... MORE

'Credible' Report Of Mountain Lion In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD—

Paul Hiller was on his way to work Friday morning when he saw what he's certain was a mountain lion cross the road about 100 feet ahead of his car.
Hiller, Fairfield's chief fiscal officer, has seen a lot of photos of mountain lions in recent days and is certain what he saw about 8:20 a.m. Friday was a mountain lion...

DEP spokesman Dennis Schain said the agency investigates all reports, but has not substantiated any sightings. DEP also continues to believe the mountain lion killed in Milford had been in captivity but escaped into the wild. There is no native mountain lion population in the state, Schain said... MORE

WHEN WILL THE COVER-UP END?! OK DEP. If you are so positive that there are no mountain lions in CT, open the hunting season on them. What do you have to lose? Or maybe you're afraid that once we get out there with predator calls we will start stacking them like firewood on your doorstep.

Check out yours truly on the Maximum Eyewear page

Maximum Eyewear.com posted these mugshots on their page to promote my shooting and reloading goggles. CLICK THIS LINK to visit the site where you can get a good look at these fine products. They're nice people who sell good stuff. Check it out, and tell them I sent you!

They're Everywhere: NBC crew spots mountain lion in Bethany...

"Two NBC Connecticut staff members spotted what appeared to be a mountain lion in Bethany on Tuesday morning. Photographer Dave Mulligan and reporter Brynn Gingras were traveling north on Route 63 in Bethany around 7 a.m. when an animal that looked like a mountain lion darted across the road from the woods. They braked to avoid hitting the animal and reported the sighting to the state Department of Environmental Protection..." MORE

Another Mountain Lion Sighting in CT!

What's it going to take the the DEP to admit that we have a mountain lion population in CT? I'm waiting for them to tell us that it's the same one that was killed a few days ago and it resurrected from the dead... My buddy just corrected me by saying that cats have 9 lives. Ya! That's the ticket!
Greenwich Mountain Lion Reportedly Spotted Again: Police
The publicly accessible trails at a 300-acre wildlife sanctuary in northwest Greenwich were closed Sunday following a reported sighting of a mountain lion on a private property that abuts it, officials say... READ THE STORY

EVEN THE CT DEP CAN'T DENY THIS MOUNTAIN LION SIGHTING!

State police photo

MILFORD, Conn. -- State police were investigating an accident that occurred Friday night on Route 15 in Milford near exit 55. Police said a Hyundai Tucson operated by Sigred Lacson of Newington was traveling in the left lane when it struck an animal. The Department of Environmental Protection confirmed the animal was indeed a mountain lion and was deceased at the scene. The driver was uninjured. Officials have not said if the mountain lion was the same one that was spotted on Wednesday in Greenwich.
http://www.wfsb.com/news/28205779/detail.html

The DEP owes me and many others an apology for treating us like idiots over the years for reporting mountain lion sightings, claiming that there are no mountain lions in the state of Connecticut. If you follow this blog you know that I sighted one at close range about three years ago, and the DEP has the audacity to say that I saw a bobcat or a coyote. I don't know about you, but I learned the difference between a cat and a dog before I could walk.

There's obviously a cover-up going on. I suggest that the DEP stop playing games with the citizens of this state (who pay their salaries) and take action immediately to warn those walking or recreating in the reported areas.

I've been stopped twice while walking the block during breaks at work by salesmen making sales calls. One warning came just a month ago by a salesman who said he had three sightings in recent days. About a year ago, another salesman stopped me and told me his story. He said he had gotten out of his car to make a sales call when all of a sudden he spotted a mountain lion come out of the treeline and sit in the middle of the road. He said he was so afraid that he went into the lobby of the nearest building.

I called the DEP right after the most recent contact and they once again blew me off with the same excuse; that the salesman saw a coyote or a bobcat. It's obvious that they must believe that none of the state's residents are as smart as people who work for the DEP.

A new High School was recently built down the street from where these sightings took place, and young people regularly walk back and forth from school down these roads. If a student ends up getting mauled, I guarantee that excrement will hit the fan. I suggest that the DEP come clean.

How much would you like to bet that the official DEP statement will be that this was an isolated incident of an escaped house-pet? It won't work.

...DO I KNOW THE DEP OR WHAT?!...
"On Wednesday, after the sighting in Greenwich, the DEP issued a press release saying: "Based on photographs taken of the animal and other evidence, it appears that the animal is a mountain lion that has been held in captivity and was released or escaped."

I was thinking, if the DEP is so sure that this is the only mountain lion in the state, why don't they simply open up the season on them? According to the DEP, hunters would just be wasting their time and they would have nothing to lose. On the positive side, the sale of guns, ammo, camo, calls and such would increase. Instead of watching TV, sportsman will be getting exercise moving gear around the countryside during the time of year when nothing but coyote and chucks are in season. Or maybe, they're afraid that if we get out there blowing distress calls, we might start revealing what's really going on out there.

R. Lee Ermey shoots a Henry

Took this off my TV while watching 'Lock N' Load'

A flintlock poem by Scott Allen. Enjoy!

"A Poem from my brother....If any one is planning to get into flintlock rifles, this one is for you." ~Steve Allen

Read on my brother and you shall see of the trial of the flintlock and your younger brother me.
The research was solid the idea was sound but the devil was in the detail was what I have found.
With visions of Boone twirling in my head the rifle would get the meat I would get the bread.
The gun was purchased and was all apart, but I would assemble and polish with love in my heart.
With willing hands and good intentions I labored along without bad premonitions.
The day finally came to fire the grand old dame so I headed out the door to predestined flintlock fame.
I opened the lock and brushed with a feather,then I inspected the flint snug in fine leather.
I measured the powder with the skill of a surgeon, then I rammed down the ball without any urging.
Then with the small horn I filled the pan plum,but on passing the flint I split open my thumb.
With my thumb in my mouth the bleeding can't last, but the neighbor sure stared as he slowed when he passed.
When my thumb was all wrapped and the pan with dry prime, I looked at the target and knew it was time.
With eyes all asquinty I steadied my nerve, I looked down my sights with nary reserve.
The trigger was tightened and then fell the cock, white smoke then billowed but just from the lock.
The sinner was lowered to see whats amiss, then looking at the touch hole I heard a slight hiss.
The silence was shattered with a whiz and crack, and the flash from the touch hole turned my eye black.
The ball was unaimed and found a flat rock in its going, and upon its return it found my soft loin.
My eye is healing and will open a little,my pod is still swollen and it hurts when I piddle.
My thumb is draining and red and smells rank, it may just fall off from infection I think.
The rifle is stored my afflictions will pass, and the whole Dixie Gun Works can kiss my modern ass...

Love it! Thanks Scott and Steve! It's not all that often I come across a poem about a rifle. In fact, I have NEVER come across a poem about a rifle. I hope you consider writing us a Henry poem! Thanks again guys. ~Bob

ONE TRILLION

"CCI makes 1,000,000 rounds of .22 LR ammo daily. If you figure about 250 workdays a year, it would take four years to make a billion - and 4,000 years to make a trillion. So when the government says "We're 7 trillion dollars in debt" I hope this puts things into perspective." (Thanks to American Handgunner Magazine)

My daughter's first shoot

Up until last week my 21 year old daughter and her friends showed zero interest in my love of firearms, hunting or shooting, and in fact, it had become a joke in my house that dad's become a gun nut. I said "until last week". Friday my daughter (a 3rd year college student) contacted me and said that she and her long time friend were interested in looking into getting handgun permits. As you can guess, I was eager to give them the opportunity to give shooting a try, especially since I have gained so much enjoyment from it over the years, and I feel so strongly about the vital importance of the Second Amendment... CLICK HERE for more, and to see the video.

Dances with Wolves

It's taken me about 21 years to finally get around to see this film. There were some excellent Civil War scenes that you will enjoy if you're a Civil War buff like I am. The reason that I'm posting this is because Kevin Costner's rifle is a Civil War Henry. Here's a LINK to the movie, a shot I took off the screen and another the I found on the web. It's a movie worth watching, though I doubt it's very factual. They portray both the Native American Indian and the White Man as having both good and bad, until the movie's end. American soldiers are then portrayed as total idiotic barbarians who shoot wolves while laughing like drunken sailors who can't hit the broad side of a barn. They literally wipe their backsides with art and fine literature, while the Indians are portrayed as sensitive, peaceful and fun-loving people who want nothing more than to smoke their peace pipes and make love. I found the liberal bias to be nothing short of revolting. I recommend watching the film until you see the Costner shooting the buffalo with the Henry. Then turn it off.

Winchester '73

"Perhaps the pinnacle in the series of Anthony Mann/Jimmy Stewart Westerns, Winchester '73 stars Stewart as obsessed cowhand Lin McAdam. The trouble starts when McAdam wins a valuable Winchester 1873 repeating rifle in a shooting contest -- which his brother instantly steals. This leads to a picaresque series of adventures as McAdam journeys far and wide to track down the weapon. Shelley Winters, Tony Curtis and Rock Hudson co-star."

I'm not a big fan of cowboy movies, but this movie is excellent. There's even Henry's in it. It's the only cowboy I've ever seen where the star is a rifle, and Jimmy Stewart is better than ever. You can stream it on NetFlix. ~Bob

Gun-Free Zones, an Invitation for Tragedy

This paper was sent to me from Sara Adler, a member of 'Students for Concealed Carry on Campus' (SCCC) at CCSU. I agree with you 100% Sara. Thanks very much for all your efforts to promote gun rights in CT. ~Bob

Do you feel safe on campus? Now I understand that we have New Britain Cops stationed on our campus and they do a great job, but they cannot be everywhere, all the time. That would just be improbable. Many of you do not know about the crimes, some of them violent, that occur on this campus. Often most rapes are not recorded as the victim does not want anybody to know what happened to them. Lately there has been an increase in ‘e-mail crime alerts' on campus. To me, this shows an indicator that we are not safe from exterior threats. There is no magical gate that differentiates between college campuses and public land. Which begs the question of how do we protect ourselves? How can students, faculty and staff protect themselves from anybody that wants to do us harm? As it stands today, the State of Connecticut allows citizens, who have a permit to carry a firearm, to carry their personal firearms in most areas (barring post offices, government buildings, public K-12 schools, etc) but Central and other schools have regulations that state that you cannot possess a firearm on their campus, marking it a “Gun-Free Zone”. When I hear the term “Gun-Free Zone” I chuckle, because there really is no such thing. To clarify, a “Gun-Free Zone” is intended to bar any and all firearms from a specific location (with exceptions for the police). Basically it is a sign that says “nobody here has a gun, we are all completely defenseless, come attack us;” it is an invitation. I firmly believe that “Gun-Free Zones” do not work. Let us take a look back at shootings that have unfortunately occurred in the past ( Mall shootings, Virginia Tech, Columbine etc). It obviously didn’t work then, so who is to say that it is ever going to? I am part of an organization called Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC). We believe that allowing permit holders to be able to carry their firearms on campus will decrease the incidence of campus crime. This has been proven that more guns in the hands of law abiding citizens, has a direct correlation to a decrease in crime (such as Utah State allowing campus carry, which resulted in the decrease of campus crime). I am not advocating that every student be handed an M-9 when they register for classes, rather, all I am asking for is that permit holders who already carry on a daily basis, be allowed to continue carrying while attending classes. This is not going disrupt classes or even be noticeable, as it is concealed carry. Meaning that nobody else knows that you are carrying; it is not something that is seen. The permit holder will have their gun in a holster, safely away from the public eye. What you may not know is that in Connecticut 2-10% of the population carries, which means that when you go do your shopping at Stop&Shop, or gas up your car at Shell, there are people carrying their own personal firearms around you, and you don't know it, nor does it affect you in any way or even put you at risk for that matter. During the week of April 4-8th, there will be students walking around with Empty holsters visibly on their body to show that all we have to protect ourselves with is an empty holster; we cannot fill it with a means to protect our lives against deadly force. These participants will be involved in the National Empty Holster Protest. This will be the third year that Central will be part of this nationwide event that is put on by SCCC, it is done through Centrals own Riflery and Marksmanship club, which will be going into its 4th year in the fall. For those of you who are interested in joining, we meet every Tuesday at 7pm, check our Facebook club (Riflery and Marksmanship) or ccsurifleryandmarksmanship@gmail.com for more information.

PETA Killed 94 Percent of Pets in Its Care in 2010

According to its 2010 “Animal Record,” filed with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, PETA killed 94 percent of the cats and dogs in its shelter last year. PETA rationalizes that “open-admission shelters” like the one it operates provided these 2,200 animals with “a painless release from a world that does not want them.”... MORE

Armed Beauty Queen Fatally Shoots Intruder in Florida Home Invasion

When a burly ex-convict forced his way into a posh Florida home last week, he had no idea what awaited him -- a 25-year-old beauty queen with a pink .38-caliber handgun. Meghan Brown, a former Florida pageant queen, shot and killed 42-year-old Albert Franklin Hill during a home invasion March 12 at the 2,732-square-foot house she shares with her fiance in Tierra Verde, Fla.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/22/armed-beauty-queen-fatally-shoots-intruder-florida-home-invasion/#ixzz1HNuVGVww

The legislators at the capital tomorrow should read this before they attempt to limit our magazine capacity to ten rounds. What if there were three assailants?

Connecticut lawmakers attack the Constitution!

Connecticut is attempting to pass a bill Wednesday that will limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds. It's as unconstitutional as giving free speech rights but limiting possession of paper to a single sheet. Gun owners need to organize or we'll end up like Libya without an America to rescue us. Get on the phone and start emailing NOW!! Considering that the vast majority of those who govern the state are liberal democrats, we will lose this right if YOU don't take action NOW! If this passes, what will we lose next? Semi-autos? Carry rights? Ammo possession limitation? You think it won't happen? Just wait. I personally don't own anything that holds over 10 rounds, but this is a local attack on the constitution and personal freedom. It must not pass.

The person who kicks in your door at night is not going to limit the number of rounds he carries to 10, and I doubt that the security that protects the governor and his family will either.

To find your legislator, click here.
To contact the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, click here.


If you were not able to attend or watch on CT-N, you can view the video here.

CCDL UPDATE

As of late yesterday SB 1094 died in committee. This was without a doubt the most excessive anti- 2nd Amendment Bill in Hartford since Micro-stamping was introduced several years ago. It certainly could not have been defeated without the efforts of the members of this organization (CCDL) calling, writing and testfying. We would like to thank the members of the Judiciary Committee for seeing this Bill for what it really was, and other members of the General Assembly that heard our voices as well.
We also would like to mention the efforts of the NRA, CCS, and certainly the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

Support the construction of the Naugatuck, CT shooting facility

Support the building of the new shooting range in Naugatuck, CT. The presence of shooting ranges and libraries are proof that the Constitution is still alive and well and we still live in the land of the free. Make more noise than the left which is opposing it. Let our support be heard! Get the word out.


CLICK HERE for the story