Frank Talk about Guns (email from Brownells)

Like it or not, these are strange times. We still have high unemployment nearly everywhere. We've been handed the largest debt in the history of the world by our president. The UN is working hard to put together an Arms Trade Treaty that has all the appearances of severely restricting our rights granted under the Second Amendment, and both Ms. Clinton, our Secretary of State, and Mr. Obama have signaled they would sign it if approved by the Senate. The corn and bean belt throughout the Midwest is suffering from the worst drought conditions since 1956, which is going to affect food prices since these two crops are the main source of food for our meat and egg producers. And, the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world in 2012 according to some. Wow – kinda makes you want to think seriously about self protection, concealed carry and some serious survival planning.

(Interesting point about the Senate ratification of this UN ATT. I read from a reliable source that treaties submitted to the U.S. Senate require approval of two-thirds of Senators present to be ratified. Wonder what happens if it's brought to the floor at 0200 hours when most against it are absent and the few there are for ratification and two-thirds of them vote in favor of it.)

So, I wanted to devote these comments to concealed carry and self protection – but from a slightly different point of view. You all know that you have to get your CCW through the proper channels in your state. You may have to take training, may have to show proficiency with your handgun at a range, and may have to meet other criteria. All states except Illinois have this provision with some more or some fewer requirements. For those of you in Illinois, you can only work on/with your elected legislators to try to get something passed to allow you access to concealed carry.

But, did you think about how this current political arena or better yet the UN's ATT might affect your ability to use your firearm for your own protection once you have the permits to do so? As I said earlier, our current leadership is willing to throw the Second Amendment under the bus. The marketplace is watching all of this very closely, and we suggest you do too. If the ATT is not ratified, my guess is that the UN - in its infinite wisdom - will continue the process somehow by some means, and will keep the concept alive to be brought up again when it feels it might have a chance for ratification by the US Senate. In any event, the marketplace is going to react – ratified or not. We feel there will be a large growth of new gun owners seriously shopping for fear they will have only a few more opportunities to ever purchase a gun again. And current owners who want to expand their collection will buy to be sure they get what they want to have before something comes down. Or depending how it plays out, the market may react by going into "buy it now mode" for ammunition of certain calibers to be certain to have something to shoot in the guns they've purchased. We truly expect this to focus on the AR-15 or similar semi-auto rifles and concealed-carry pistols, and their respective ammunition.

There is currently a run on ammunition, and we've talked about the shortages in earlier WebBench Articles. As we look further into the causes for this scarcity, it all appears to point to the lack of brass from the major manufacturers. We understand they are trying to catch up, but currently to no avail. We understand part of the issue is that because of the high cost of raw materials, scrap is being searched for. And, we're told the extremely high cost of new lead makes it prohibitive for low-cost production, making scrap and re-cycled lead in high demand – more than is available, driving up the price – which may contribute to the shortage of low-cost bullets. We're told, though, the the availability of cases is the true problem in all of this mix.

Alternatives sources for cases are being sought throughout the world, and the marketplace is trying to fill that gap for the low-cost 5.56, .40 and 9mm rounds which are in such hot demand right now. From all indications, we feel demand will likely far outstrip supply for the next 12-18 months.

Now is the time to be smart and aware. Check your own supplies to see what you have squirreled away. Check all the gun shops and ammo sources around. Scan the web repeatedly and find sources for the ammo you want. Stay flexible in your choices if you can. Don't get caught up in the "I gotta buy it now 'cause I can always sell it later for a profit" game. It didn't work the last time there was a shortage; it won't play out in your favor this time, either. The factories will catch up. They're trying their durndest to do so, and they will win. Just lay in enough to keep your guns and you happy.

As for handguns and conceal carry-type firearms, there is a wondrous selection out there to chose from. As for AR-15 parts, the bolt carriers right now are almost impossible to get – but they are being made at the absolute manufacturing capacity of one of the major producers. We have them in and out of stock, but the best way to fill your needs is to get on the back order list. Usually what comes in is not enough to meet the numbers on that list. But they do come in. And your turn WILL come.

We've all been through this before. So keep up with what's going on. Best source for updates on what's going on and particularly the UN is the NRA/ILA Email Alerts – go to www.nraila.org and go to the very bottom of any of the pages and click on "Contact Us". A page opens where you can register and then click on the box that says "Sign up to receive NRA-ILA Email Alerts". You'll get the daily alert which I read faithfully to stay current. By the way, if you are not already an NRA member, now would be a super-excellent time to become one. They are, after all, the largest and strongest lobbying group supporting our Second Amendment and the rights it grants us under the Constitution. Just remember, if it were not for the Second Amendment, the First Amendment could become meaningless.

Ya know, the wifey thought I was nutty when we lived back in Pa and I was buying case after case of 556; back when it was $179, back when Colt prebans were $440 new. She doesn't think it is nutty anymore. My problem is I never shoot them anymore, they are all in vault. Nowadays we hunt with 6.8s, 338 fed, and pretty quick, I'll have a new 308 Scar to kill moose & caribou with.

I don't see the shortage, but I reload for all my hunting ARs; FMJs just go right through and ya feed the wolves. No joke, buy a 6.8 stag and you'll say good by to your old 556 ARs. I load 29 grains H322 with 110 grain ttsx and getting over 2700 on the chrono; have killed bou out to 550 yards with that sweet little shooter with horse shoe/red dot Acog. I also really like the SSA brass and they seem to always have what I order. Getting away from the 556 with ARs seems to improve availability, but mainly for reloaders. Seriously, I have real peace of mind in the fact knowing that my grandkids will be getting their fresh meat with the ammo I took care of before they were even born.

And get outta of Pa, dyin place for sure and there's much nicer, freer country all over America than back east.

“We need to bankrupt this government”. I believe that has to definitely be in the cards for us soon. We have to seriously start considering the refusal to file tax returns and pay taxes to starve this unconstitutional,marxist/islamist,anti-individual Freedom and Liberty Beast, known as the Obama administration.

"No joke, buy a 6.8 stag and you'll say good by to your old 556 ARs."

Hey Eska, what's a 6.8 stag? I haven't found info on it. Is it what others are calling the 6.8 SPC cartridge, maybe, and are you talking about a Stag Arms (CMT, Connecticut) rifle/receiver? I like handloading, BTW. Thanks. Also, BTW, how's recoil with the 6.8 you're referring to? Light enough for quick second target acquisition after firing (e.g., for our womenfolk to use)?

I started my daughters on the 6.8 spc; pretty much like the 223 but it shoots a .277 110 grain bullet. It’s my plinkin gun for wood at high water in the Yukon and have killed wolves, bear & lots of caribou with same gun. Once you shoot it, you’ll stop shooting the .556, no joke. We hunt off snowmachine & 4 wheeler with 2 point slings, works well enough.

“the ultimate vote has to be 2/3rds of the total number of Senators.”
No. The Constitution (Article 2, Sec.2) states:”provided two-thirds of the Senators PRESENT concur”. To pass anything, the Senate requires a quorum, which IIRC is fifty-one. So two-thirds of that would be 34. That's why the treaty process is risky when dealing with our rights. Some of those bas*&^%ds would sign our rights away in a heartbeat.

An unfortunate sign of how politically charged our nation has become, that merchants are now openly discussing such things. I have also noted this in kids -- most ten year-olds today have more political awareness than most people twice that age thirty years ago, myself included.

But as the left has continued its endless drumbeat of agitation, corruption and increasing arrogance, I suppose it's only to be expected.

They have been sowing the wind for a very long time now.

Back in 1965 I traded a Colt Challenger, which is a version of the Woodsman, for an excellent 1903A3 and 1000 rounds of Lake City Match. Of course it was 30-06. The rifle also had a Redfield receiver sight and Sourdough front.

The trade was pretty much an even one but now I would think I got way the best of it. Ammo really has gone up faster than inflation.

...I think no matter how many are there for the vote, the ultimate vote has to be 2/3rds of the total number of Senators.
Stop thinking (which means you're actually guessing) and know!
Simply read the Constitution!
Right there in black and white and you're guessing!?

@ Constitution of the United States

Article II, Section 2
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and...

Not meaning to rag, but your comment shows your true ignorance, SuziQ.

"There are millions of people that buy ammo online ... too many to track.

Don't you believe it. If you read up on what the NSA is doing, it will raise the hairs all over your body. The new SIGINT facility they are building has sufficient storage capacity to handle all electronic communication ON THE ENTIRE PLANET....FOR A CENTURY.

If the data is stored, it can be "mined" at any time in the future. As processor speeds, decryption, and other algorithms get more powerful, more use will be made of more and more of that stored info.

There are ways to give feedback without being a complete jerk.
How was I being a jerk? Simply telling someone to know what they're talking about instead of guessing at it, especially when it's such a core Constitutional matter, is being a jerk in your book?

I don't doubt the government's ability to track purchases, but they would have problems going after all the people that purchase ammo online.

The numbers are on the side a gun owners.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/150353/self-reported-gun-ownership-highest-1993.aspx

So I do not worry about the government coming after my guns. With that said, I do not like the government collecting information about me.

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