The BR Shooting Journal HomePage

Welcome to the BR Shooting Journal

2010-11-09T22:14:00.000-05:00

It was a day like any other. The jobs were stacked high, deadlines tight and the pressure was on. The day had passed quickly as do most. It would soon be time to leave, and soon the day would repeat itself. For a few moments I escaped from the office, thinking about the great times I had as a kid hunting with my brother. Beginning at age 12, we would hit the woods with our long arms, enjoying the day hunting small game and pheasant. Memories took me back to an early winter squirrel hunt.

A light snow had fallen and we spotted a group of squirrels circling the top of a tree. Taking a seat, we lit up our smokes, scanned the branches and quietly waited. Within half an hour we left with 2 grays in the bag and a memory that would last the next thirty years. That day in work it dawned on me how much I missed that part of my life and I made the decision to take it back. That day launched this Journal, which has grown from a single blog to sixteen, recording my small adventures in the woods, fun at the range, lessons learned reloading, and the good people I have met. Welcome to the BR Shooting Journal!

As of 10/30/09 I have 100,000 hits on this Shooting Journal, yet I have very little idea who's out there reading it. It would be encouraging to get an email from you with as little as your name and state, letting me know that you're out there. This info will help me improve the blog, and I assure you I am not collecting email addresses and no one but me will see your letter. I've set up a special email box at brshooting@sbcglobal.net, so please take a minute to say 'Hello'.

Thanks! ~Bob

Urgent Alert: Ask Your U.S. Senators And Representative To Sign Amicus Brief Supporting Second Amendment Rights In The States!

2009-11-13T21:37:00.002-05:00

...The case is McDonald v. City of Chicago, and it will answer the question of whether the Second Amendment applies to the states—as the Congress clearly intended in the 1860s, when it adopted the Fourteenth Amendment to protect constitutional rights against abuse by state and local governments. This brief is an opportunity for today’s Congress to show just as clearly that it respects the Second Amendment’s importance to all Americans—not just residents of the District of Columbia and other federal territories....

The brief must be filed within the week, so we need your immediate help! On Monday through Thursday, please call your U.S. Senators and Representative, and urge them to sign on to this critically important brief, which will be a key part of the legal battle to protect the Second Amendment in the U.S. Supreme Court.

You can call your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121, and your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121... MORE

2009-11-11T12:35:00.000-05:00

Chicago Mayor Daley Blames Fort Hood On America’s Love Of Guns!

2009-11-10T18:57:00.005-05:00

What can one say about this corrupt jerk? I guess only his thugs can have guns.
...MORE

NRA-PVF Celebrates Landslide Victories In 2009 Elections

2009-11-08T10:49:00.000-05:00

The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund's (NRA-PVF) endorsed candidates for statewide office in Virginia -- Bob McDonnell (R) for governor, Ken Cuccinelli (R) for attorney general, and Bill Bolling (R) for lieutenant governor -- won handily in Tuesday's general election. The statewide candidates prevailed with 59 percent, 57 percent, and 58 percent of the vote, respectively. Additionally, 98 percent (58 out of 59) of NRA-PVF-endorsed candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates won their respective races... MORE

Pro-Second Amendment Resolution Passes Unanimously in the Wisconsin Assembly

2009-11-08T10:48:00.000-05:00

The case will address the application of the Second Amendment to the states through either the Due Process clause or the Privileges or Immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The case has major implications for the legality of restrictive gun laws not only in Chicago, but also in other cities across the

United States

... MORE

More 'Gun Free Zones' Killings: Gunman kills 12, wounds 31 at Fort Hood

2009-11-06T06:57:00.002-05:00

From personal experience I know that military personnel are not allowed to conceal carry on base. Once again we had another slaughter due to this stupid philosophy which claims that areas devoid of guns are safe. How many must die to prove that when only the bad guys have guns, it's deadly? ...MORE

Camouflage: The Original Green

2009-11-06T06:53:00.001-05:00

Hunters are the original environmentalists—the true stewards of the land. Hunters have acted as wildlife’s primary guardians all over this country and across the span of time. This is what some “green” groups just don’t get or dishonestly refuse to acknowledge. They cherish the millions of acres of habitat restored and protected by hunters; they reap the benefits of billions of dollars pumped into conservation by hunters; and they marvel at hunter-driven wildlife recovery and enhanced biodiversity. Yet, some shamelessly try to abridge hunters’ rights and close access to the land and wildlife with an ever-increasing barrage of radical legislation. This agenda flies in the face of the “green” movement’s own heritage.. MORE

Another good night for the Second Amendment

2009-11-05T20:46:00.002-05:00

Virginia: Either Deeds (B rating) or McDonnell (A) were sure to be a big improvement over outgoing Governor Kaine. Deeds lost the NRA endorsement by supporting closing of the (non-existent) “gun show loophole.” In the Attorney General race, Republican Ken Cuccinelli (A+) handily defeated a D-rated Democrat who advertised very aggressively on the gun show issue. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (A+) trounced an F-rated challenger... MORE

NRA looks to ban adoption agencies from asking about gun ownership

2009-11-05T20:36:00.001-05:00

The National Rifle Association is pushing legislation to ban adoption agencies from asking potential parents if they have guns and ammunition in the home. NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer said adoption agencies are violating gun owners' rights by asking about firearms in an adoption form. She said any request about gun ownership from an agency connected with government was tantamount to establishing a gun registry....MORE

Humane Society of the United States

2009-10-31T13:09:00.000-04:00

"...HSUS is big, rich, and powerful, a “humane society” in name only. And while most local animal shelters are under-funded and unsung, HSUS has accumulated $113 million in assets and built a recognizable brand by capitalizing on the confusion its very name provokes. This misdirection results in an irony of which most animal lovers are unaware: HSUS raises enough money to finance animal shelters in every single state, with money to spare, yet it doesn’t operate a single one anywhere.

Instead, HSUS spends millions on programs that seek to economically cripple meat and dairy producers; eliminate the use of animals in biomedical research labs; phase out pet breeding, zoos, and circus animal acts; and demonize hunters as crazed lunatics. HSUS spends $2 million each year on travel expenses alone, just keeping its multi-national agenda going..." MORE

Mont Shuts Down Wolf Hunting For Much Of State

2009-10-28T10:30:00.000-04:00

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) ― Wolf hunting will end after sunset on Monday across most of southern Montana after the region's quota for the predators was exceeded on the first day of the general hunting season. Public wolf hunts this fall in Montana and Idaho are the first since the animals were removed from the endangered species list earlier this year. Montana has a statewide quota of 75 wolves, including 12 for south-central and southeast Montana... MORE

Students carry concealed weapons in response to U-District crime

2009-10-28T10:24:00.001-04:00

UW senior Stanley Luong has a concealed-pistol permit and carries a handgun. He has also been robbed on four different occasions. Luong’s personal experience with robbery and crime in the U-District led him to create the Facebook group “University of Washington Campus Vigilantes,” with the intent to patrol the Ave with other students who had also obtained concealed-pistol permits.

“After something like that happens to you, you get really paranoid … and having a gun helps you move on,” Luong said. “You feel safer … like you’re in control of the situation or have some control if something happens.”.. MORE

Number Of Women Buying Handguns Increasing

2009-10-28T10:20:00.000-04:00

CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Local gun shop owners say they're seeing an increase in the number of women shoppers right now. The reasons, they say, are many, including the downturn in the economy and violence on the street. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, about 48 percent of people taking their first handgun seminars this year happen to be women. CBS 2's Pamela Jones reports on the growing trend... MORE

WOW! Read this one: Felons learning hard lesssons

2009-10-21T20:52:00.002-04:00

Felonious behavior is becoming more dangerous, if two recent incidents are any indication. During a home invasion on Oct. 5, one of the intruders was shot and killed by one of the occupants of the mobile home... We confess to harboring some reservations about the concealed carry law. Our fear was an increase in guns in public would result in more guns being displayed prematurely and/or more accidents.

“All the fears over conceal and carry have never manifested.” We concede the point."

White said recently: “All the fears over conceal and carry have never manifested.” We concede the point. Anecdotal evidence does not suggest an increase in accidents or unprovoked gunplay. The evidence, however, does show people defending themselves from harm. The message being sent to felons is don't bring a weapon to a crime unless you're prepared to accept the risk... MORE

Congress Passes NRA-backed Legislation Protecting Pocketknife Classification

2009-10-21T20:44:00.000-04:00

Fairfax, Va. – This week the United States Senate passed crucial legislation that will protect pocketknives used by tens of millions of Americans. The amendment, actively supported by the National Rifle Association, was included in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill and will keep pocketknives from being classified as illegal switchblades... MORE

INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION AGAINST THE ILLICIT MANUFACTURING OF AND TRAFFICKING IN FIREARMS, AMMUNITION, EXPLOSIVES, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIALS

2009-10-19T23:10:00.001-04:00

Read this...
CLICK

Firearms Industry Remains Critical of Governor Following Press Conference on Ammunition Bill

2009-10-19T19:53:00.001-04:00

...Those retailers who can afford to stay in California will be forced to substantially raise prices on law-abiding consumers who, under AB 962, will now be fingerprinted like common criminals simply for exercising their Second Amendment rights.”...“Like the layers of gun control California already has on the books, ammunition registration will do nothing to curb crime. It is silly, at best, to think criminals will stand in line to be fingerprinted to buy ammunition from licensed retailers. Governor Schwarzenegger has just created an underground black market for ammunition."... MORE

Oath Keepers pledges to prevent dictatorship in United States

2009-10-19T06:57:00.003-04:00

...Launched in March by Las Vegan Stewart Rhodes, Oath Keepers bills itself as a nonpartisan group of current and retired law enforcement and military personnel who vow to fulfill their oaths to the Constitution.

More specifically, the group's members, which number in the thousands, pledge to disobey orders they deem unlawful, including directives to disarm the American people and to blockade American cities. By refusing the latter order, the Oath Keepers hope to prevent cities from becoming "giant concentration camps," a scenario the 44-year-old Rhodes says he can envision happening in the coming years.

It's a Cold War-era nightmare vision with a major twist: The occupying forces in this imagined future are American, not Soviet.

"The whole point of Oath Keepers is to stop a dictatorship from ever happening here," Rhodes, a former Army paratrooper and Yale-trained lawyer, said in an interview with the Review-Journal. "My focus is on the guys with the guns, because they can't do it without them... MORE

http://oathkeepers.org/oath/

Proposed legislation protects hunters

2009-10-16T10:32:00.000-04:00

GRAYSON COUNTY TX-- A new Bill being introduced by Congressman Dan Boren is aimed at protecting the rights of sportsmen to have access to Federal land.

A new bill introduced by Congressman Dan Boren wants to increase the amount of federal lands that are open for the public to hunt on, at Hagerman wildlife refuge that is already the case where people are allowed to hunt a few times a year ... MORE

Schwarzenegger signs ammo-regulation bill

2009-10-13T22:46:00.000-04:00

(10-12) 18:28 PDT SACRAMENTO -- People buying ammunition in California will soon have to be thumbprinted and dealers will have to keep records of sales, under legislation that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law.

After vetoing similar bills three times since 2004, Schwarzenegger signed AB962 by Assemblyman Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, on Sunday, saying he now believes it will promote public safety... MORE

Why I carry a gun

2009-10-10T18:03:00.000-04:00

My old grandpa once said to me, "Son, there comes a time in every man's life when he stops bustin' knuckles and starts bustin' caps and usually it's when he becomes too old to take an ass whoopin'.
I don't carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed..
I don't carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.
I don't carry a gun because I'm paranoid. I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.
I don't carry a gun because I'm evil. I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.
I don't carry a gun because I hate the government. I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.
I don't carry a gun because I'm angry. I carry a gun so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.
I don't carry a gun because I want to shoot someone. I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon.
I don't carry a gun to make me feel like a man. I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.
I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because, unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate.
I don't carry a gun because I love it. I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.

"Police Protection" is an oxymoron. Free citizens must protect themselves. Police do not protect you from crime; they usually just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.

Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'."

...author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

Remember the average response time to a 911 call is over 4 minutes.

The average response time of a 357 magnum is 1400 FPS

Man Fired For Looking At Gun Web Sites

2009-10-10T08:03:00.002-04:00

It's not unusual for employees to be fired for browsing pornographic Web sites at work. But a Pennsylvania gun owner named Tony Jackson may have been the first person ever fired for looking at Web sites featuring gun parts... When Jackson was searching the Web for a replacement shotgun stock, supervisor Christie Vazquez -- who admitted in a subsequent deposition to being "very anti-gun" and had quarreled with him before about politics -- noticed what he was doing. Vazquez said she was scared because it was only a few weeks after the Virginia Tech massacre (see CBS News video), so she promptly reported her colleague's Web browsing to Planco's human resources department. Vazquez also informed the HR department that Jackson owned guns and was a member of the National Rifle Association...MORE

Sheriff describes raccoon "gang attack" on Lakeland woman

2009-10-06T00:23:00.001-04:00

Lakeland, Florida -- A Lakeland woman is recovering from serious injuries in the hospital after sheriff's investigators say she was "gang attacked" by five raccoons Saturday afternoon. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says 74-year-old Gretchen Whitted was trying to shoo the animals away from her front door when they suddenly attacked. "When she fell down, they enveloped her," said Sheriff Judd in a news conference called Sunday to warn the public of the aggressive raccoons. "She's literally bitten and scratched from face and the chest all the way down through the legs." ...MORE

Connecticut: Come out on Sunday, October 4 to the 2nd Annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser for the Blue Trail Range

2009-10-03T03:10:00.000-04:00

In order to help raise funds to prevent its closing, Blue Trail Range will be hold its second annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser on Sunday, October 4.

The Blue Trail Range is the only public outdoor shooting range in Connecticut and is in danger of being shut down. As you know, shooting ranges provide a valuable community service by providing law-abiding citizens with a safe place to shoot and your help is needed... MORE