Commentary

Washington Times Columnist Cites Gun Control as ‘Toxic’ Issue

According to the chief political correspondent for The Washington Times, Gun control has emerged as the toxic issue of the 2008 presidential campaign, especially among Democratic blue-collar and labor-union households.

FactCheck.org Flubs Obama Gun Fact Check

FactCheck.org is an excellent project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. It a non-partisan organization which provides factual evaluations of the claims of and about political figures. I have cited it in my own writing, and will continue to do so. However, that FactCheck has a well-deserved reputation for accuracy and good judgment does not mean that its work is infallible, as the The Volokh Conspiracy has pointed out previously. The Encyclopedia Britannica also has a well-deserved reputation for accuracy and impartiality, but the Britannica sometimes contains errors or overstatements.

When Obama Wrestles with Heller

November’s presidential election won’t just determine who will reside in the White House for the next four years—it could also determine the future impact of the recent Supreme Court Heller decision on your Second Amendment rights.

Sporting Arms Industry Statement on Failures of Ballistic Imaging Database

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI)--an association of the nation's leading manufacturers of firearms, ammunition and components based in Newtown, Connecticut--has released a statement in response to an AP article about the failure of New York and Maryland's ballistic imaging databases.

Federal Firearms Licensing Center Moves to Martinsburg, West Virginia

Effective October 1, 2008, BATFE’s Federal Firearms Licensing Center will begin its permanent transfer of function from Atlanta, Georgia to Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Outrage in Ohio: Self-Defense Hero Persecuted by City of Cleveland

On September 18, 2008 the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that under state law R.C. 9.68, municipalities may not infringe on the broad statutory and constitutional right to carry firearms. Within a few days, this opinion saw application in courtrooms around the state. Hopefully, Damon Wells, the young man in Cleveland who shot at thugs in self-defense last year, killing one, will benefit from the ruling.

Factcheck.org Criticisms of NRA Obama Ad Are Flawed

FactCheck.org supposedly exists to look beyond a politician's claims. Ironically, in its analysis of National Rifle Association materials on Barack Obama, these so-called 'FactCheckers' use the election year campaign rhetoric of a presidential candidate and a verbal claim by one of the most zealous gun control supporters in Congress to refute facts compiled by NRA's research of vote records and review of legislative language.

Obama Campaign Threatens Legal Action Over NRA Ads

Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign has sent threatening letters to news agencies in Pennsylvania and Ohio to stop airing ads sponsored by the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF).

Fun with the Stoeger Coach Gun

The Stoeger Coach Gun comes in several variations, so finding one for the right price can be a challenge, since it’s not always clear exactly which model is which when you’re shopping.

Ohio Supreme Court Strikes Down Public Parks Gun Ban

Last week the Ohio Supreme Court struck down a Clyde city law that banned people from carrying concealed guns in public parks.

Female Firearm Trafficker Sentenced to 4 Years

U.S. District Judge John R. Adams sentenced Antrinna Collins of Cleveland, to 48 months imprisonment for violations of federal firearms laws.

Shopping for a Beretta Silver Pigeon II on GunBroker.com

Getting a good buy on midrange-priced products, such as over-under shotguns, can be difficult because of scarcity, and it’s always a challenge to convert MSRP into a reasonable selling price. Such is the case with the Beretta Silver Pigeon II, which Gun Tests magazine tested in its September 2007 issue.

Gun Tests said of the Silver Pigeon, _ìthe Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon II Sporting is a traditionally styled and typically proportioned sub-gauge. Trim in stock, wrist, receiver, and fore-end, the gun is a symmetrically shrunken version of the 12 gauge. ìPerhaps the greatest testament to this gun_s speed was that all our test shooters came off the sporting clays course liking the gun for that sport, but wanting to head directly for the skeet field. And, indeed, this gun excelled beyond the others at the more regimented sport._

In the test, the SPII listed for $2950. But prices for similar guns on GunBroker.com show wide variations off MSRP.

The gun in Auction # 110246420, listed by Tucker Gun in Atlanta, had a “buy now” price of $2950, or MSRP. The opening bid was $400 less, or $2599. The auction had two days to run on Tuesday.

Another GunBroker.com listing, # 109384437, had a similar gun to the one Gun Tests evaluated, but in 28 gauge. On sale by Gander Mountain in Green Bay, Wisconsin, it is a new Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon V 28 gauge with color case-hardened receiver. With 3 days left on the auction, the high bid was $2001, which didn_t meet the reserve. The Buy Now price was $2799.

Bringing ‘Lawfare’ Against Glock

Perhaps you’ve seen local news stories in your area about so-called “Glock switches,” which are more accurately described as “autosears.” They are added to...