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With the Parks' restrooms at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC closed, a truckload of portable restrooms of the sort used at construction sites was donated by private citizens. NPS Rangers blocked these from being unloaded. “The President has instructed us to shutdown this site,” explained NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis. “As everyone knows, our efforts have been thwarted by aged veterans breaching our barricades. We certainly can't reward this disobedience by allowing bladder and bowel evacuation facilities near the Memorial.” Jarvis scoffed at the notion that this could be construed as vindictive. “Hah, these guys faced worse when...

As readers will know, the US Forest Service has issued and unprecedented and unnecessary order to close over a thousand privately-funded campgrounds that don't take one dime of Federal money (example here).  All the 100+ parks we operate in the US Forest Service have been ordered closed.But there appears to be more to this story.  There are several groups that operate parks on National Forest lands under agreements nearly identical to ours who appear to have been exempted from the closure order. Large corporations that run ski resorts and certain other large resort properties on National Forest lands have been...

The guns have been silent at American Clarion for the past two days, laid low by a devastating fall blizzard in West River South Dakota. Power has been intermittent and completely out during that time. The snow started Friday morning with overnight rain transitioning directly into snow. It was sticking and becoming slushy right away, and not long after daylight Friday morning, the power started to come on and go off, come on and go off. By late Friday afternoon, the snow was starting to pile up: more than a foot in many places in the Rapid City area. At...

The problem is not made any better by so called experts in the field, who fuel the myth that they are feeding themselves in the wilderness. I vividly remember watching Andrew Price, host of A-Z of Bushcraft in one of the episodes, waking up in the morning, walking a few feet next to camp, gathering a few berries, and then turning the the camera and saying “breakfast is served”. Ray Mears, aside from his excellent series, Wild Foods, has numerous instances where he gathers meager resources and then implies that his food requirement have been met. Of course, none of...

Here is my letter to my Congresspersons: Senator John McCainSenator Jeff FlakeRepresentative David Schweikert Help! Administration Orders Shut Down of Privately-Operated Parks in National ForestParks that require no Federal money, and actually pay rent to the Treasury, are being required to close Sirs:My company, based in North Phoenix, operates over 100 US Forest Service campgrounds and day use areas under concession contract. Yesterday, as in all past government shutdowns, the Department of Agriculture and US Forest Service confirmed we would stay open during the government shutdown. This makes total sense, since our operations are self-sufficient (we are fully funded by user fees...

Well, the 50th is in the books. The same kid won, but he was riding a different horse. There was good, there was bad, and there was not a lot of ugly, thankfully. Let’s get started with the review. The UWRC (AKA Unlimiteds) competitors were few and far between, with only 15 racers showing up for race week. But, the big iron was there. Returning champ, Strega, along with Voodoo, Rare Bear, Czech Mate, 232 and Dreadnaught all have the pedigree. All of them could win; nearly all of them HAVE won. But, it was Bob Button’s year --- finally.

More shooting and showing the cool little XDs in 9mm, as well as a reminder about the recall. I'm anxious to get this pistol back from Springfield, as it is definitely a fine shooter.http://www.springfield-armory.comhttp://www.springfieldrecall.com

In cleaning out my deceased brother in law's things, I found a Ka-Bar with USMC stamped on it in what looks like the original sheath, WWII era. It's in pretty good shape but needs restoring. Anything I need to know as I set about the task?

Chicken Alaska…no, it’s not some savory culinary dish a la chicken alexander but rather a small gold mining town with a population of 17.The members of this town were treated to a rather rude awakening when their little slice of the last frontier was descended upon by a cavalcade of Federal and State agencies.  Or more accurately, the Federal Agencies descended while bringing on some token State agencies in order to make it look less like an invasion and subjugation of state sovereignty.This raid, in which the agencies involved (10) nearly outnumbered the residents of the town (17) is somehow...

The Bloomsburg Fair has decided to reverse their policy of banning guns at the event following enormous feedback and threats of boycott.Facebook pages calling attention to the ban and calling for a boycott had attracted thousands of fans in a matter of days.According to NewsItem.com, President Paul E. Reichart said the board will not be checking for or banning lawfully concealed weapons.“While we cannot prevent those who want to commit unlawful acts, we recognize those who are law abiding citizens and will continue to handle it on a case-by-case basis,” he said. “As far as we’re concerned, it’s a dead...

Young women are emerging as the new face of gun ownership in the U.S., with a new survey indicating young females are taking up arms now more than ever, comprising one out of every five shooters in the country. The National Shooting Sports Foundation report, released this month, indicates women between the ages of 18 and 34 are purchasing guns at a drastically higher rate, causing analysts to take note of a shift in America’s gun culture. . . . The cause of this rise is largely the subject of speculation, although Second Amendment advocates claim it has something to...

It's that time again. The crews are making the final touches on the race planes and the pilots are testing and growing more focused every day. The drama that is Air Racing is ready to play out in front of our incredibly loyal fans. Let’s take a look at who will be there and what to expect...

Something that’s no the usual. Not an AR, Not 5.56 . . . something interesting:“Just got my Mini back from John at Great West Gunsmithing and wanted to show it off.  I know you all like to see your suppressors on unique hosts and I can’t find many people that have a SDN-6 on a Ruger Mini in 6.8 SPC.  Enjoy the pictures.I had the barrel cut to 14.5″ and the Blackout FH pinned on.  He also remounted the front sight, bedded the action, tuned the trigger, and installed a recoil buffer.  I’m pleased to say the least, and...

MUST SEE MAFFS 6 146 AW CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD ON THE #RIMFIRE AUGUST 22 6 P.M. HI-DEF VIDEO WATCH FULL SCREEN MUST SEE MAFFS 6 ON THE #RIMFIRE 22 Aug 13 1750 Video Description: MAFFS 6 146AW Channel Islands Air National Guard working the #RimFire for US Forest Service and CAL FIRE View Full Screen

So, my good friend Johnny Walker is in Kodiak, Alaska teaching kids how to ride horses and shoot guns while riding horses. He had to rent the horses for his project and the deal was, he had to help the rancher round up some cattle first. Seems like the bears were eating too many of them.Johnny: “What do you do when you see a grizzly?”Rancher: “Shoot ‘em. Shoot everyone I see.”Johnny: “What do you shoot them with?”Rancher: “My two, forty, three.”Johnny: “Really? Why do you use a .243?”Rancher: “Well, I can find ammo for it anywhere and at anytime. And,...

When I first heard the reports of a pistolero making a long shot, stopping a mass murder and saving the life of a police officer a year ago, I knew that I would work to find the details if the possibility were offered. I found that opportunity and was able  to answer many of the questions that came to mind at the time. After I had interviewed Vic Stacy, I told him that I would wait until the Grand Jury  delivered a no bill before writing about what happened. This is the story of the Peach House Gunfight ....

More details emerge about the case in Arizona where deputies refused to ID themselves and demanded that a citizen disarm. Several questions were brought up on Gun Watch that seemed deliberately ignored in the original stories.  Now we have some of the answers. First question, was the vehicle a marked sheriff department vehicle or was it unmarked? From an AP story on Yahoo: According to court records, the deputy and his partner stopped their vehicle, then flashed their headlights and honked their horn, a common practice used by law enforcement to trick drug smugglers into thinking the car is...

Richard Malley helps patrol the sparsely populated Arizona desert to spot Illegal aliens.  He has been arrested for refusing to surrender his rifle to deputies who refused to show their ID.  The story says that Richard Malley is accused of aggravated assault for allegedly pointing his rifle at a deputy.   From  abc15.com: GILA BEND, AZ - Authorities arrested an Arizona Minuteman for allegedly pointing a rifle at a deputy over the weekend. According to court paperwork, 49-year-old Richard Malley and two other men who are part of the Minuteman militia were patrolling the desert just east of Gila...

The bear was known to the hunters, and had even been given a name.  It was shot when it advanced on their camp after the attack. The caribou had been shot by the hunting party that Mr. Tuttle was with.  More details will emerge, I am sure.     I wonder if he was armed when he was attacked.    From citytalk: Mr Tuttle told Mr Bowerfind he was walking to the caribou carcass when the bear attacked him on Alaska's remote Brooks Range. "The only thing he remembers is hearing a grunt and a grumble from the brush, and...

An unknown citizen in Selma Township, Wexford County may be the hero that stopped near term bear attacks in Michigan this last week. On Thursday,  12 year old Abby Wetherell was jogging in Haring Township when she spotted the bear.   It was about 9 p.m.   She started to run faster, but bears can run twice as fast as people can.  The bear easily ran her down and knocked her over.  Abby was able to get up and attempt an escape, but the bear knocked her down again and mauled her. A neighbor heard Abby screaming and was...

Officials in Florida recently discovered an Albino form of the elusive, heretofore undocumented Hispanocreepiasscrackiosaur.

In the Tampa Tribune  there is a long, interesting article about a young man walking across the U.S.A.  It was a very positive experience for him.   About halfway through, he casually mentions that he had to use a previously concealed weapon to stop an attack: In Albuquerque, N.M., he was approached by a half-dozen members of a street gang, who began yelling at him to get off their sidewalk. They got belligerent, refusing to let him pass. “They just exploded in anger,” he said. He was reluctant to say what exactly happened next. “I have a concealed weapons permit,” was...

This sow and four cubs are part of an exploding bear population Quoted below are comments from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area chat group (BWCA).  It shows an interesting cultural divide in this country.   The first poster is willing to be oblivious to some dangers, the second offers to increase the first poster's skill level, but that would never happen without a change in attitude. The old saw about a conservative as a liberal who has been mugged comes to mind. This is of some interest  to me because I have inside knowledge that I do not have permission...

More than a dozen armed police raided an animal shelter after air surveillance documented that the facility was providing care for an abandoned fawn named Giggles in Kenosha, WI as reported by Colleen Henry for WISN: ""it was like a SWAT team,' shelter employee Ray Schulze said." Apparently, it's against state law to rescue wildlife. The fawn was taken away in a body bag, and will be killed. Meanwhile, the Mexican drug cartels have taken over vast swaths of public land throughout Wisconsin, and grow operations worth $70 million have been uprooted from the state's forests over the last four...

With all the drama surrounding the transition from the old Unlimited Class to the new, the fans are forgetting about the other five classes of racing. I've decided to give focus this month’s column on the other classes, the innovators and racers who we don’t hear about on the forums. Who they are and what to look for this year – but let’s start with why the fans aren't as enamored with these classes, and why maybe they should be. Air Racing through the years was always about technical advancements -- especially for civil aviation. Among the first races in...

Something was caught on tape in Mission, British Columbia, not far from Vancouver. The video appears to show a hominid in the distance, although not many details can be seen. [video embed]

A San Francisco man was acquitted Thursday of breaking into his ex-fiancée’s house and assaulting her new lover before getting sprayed with bear mace by a shirtless neighbor. The two had met in a hacky-sack circle in early February and announced plans to marry just two weeks later, Streets said. But the relationship quickly turned tumultuous, Streets said, and the pair broke up on March 25. Hall took his few possessions and moved out of his fiancée’s home and into a tree at Mclaren Park. But as Hall climbed the tree and attempted to sleep that first night, he became...

It has been a rough week. Most of us in the Prescott area have been walking around as though we entered a bad dream, not quite believing what transpired on that hill in Yarnell. We may have tried to pick ourselves up, go to the rodeo, watch the parade and then the tragic reality jolts us back to a state of sorrow. We are trying to absorb the whole thing, accept the facts, but in churches around town yesterday, many of us sat waiting for comfort, and maybe even answers from someone with divine knowledge. "God, why did this happen?"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu8US6YAcoYSharing with you a personal experience that I had with law enforcement while concealed carry. I strongly believe that this topic should be mandatory discussion for every concealed carry class. This overview of the "stop" and interaction with the officer should give you some guidelines and protocol to follow when this happens to you. It could also be of benefit to law enforcement personnel as well. My desire is not to reveal the municipality where this transpired. The comments in this video (including text responses to viewers) represents my personal opinion only. I am not an attorney and cannot provide...

Mother is putting food on the table for the Sisters: she shot her first deer using our nuisance permit.

just wondering how the range time was, what accomodations were decent nearby, how training was, helpful tips.

Al Qaeda ripping off freedom lovers -- savages nonetheless, no matter they hide and steal and mimic the call of freedom lovers. Spring 2012: al-Qaeda’s English-language online magazine, Inspire, published an article called “It Is of Your Freedom to Ignite a Firebomb,” which featured instructions on how to build an incendiary bomb to light forests on fire. "Fire Wars – Forest Jihad in America" Algemeiner, June 15, 2013 (thanks to Ken) American focus on the NSA “leaks” diverts attention from real existential threats and economic devastation that for now affects mostly the West. The fire raging in Colorado Springs forced...

Heresy: Fundamentals Combat Riflecraft, Part Three (Or, “Two Will Do….Except When It Won’t!) June 11, 2013 There is a false truth present in the “tactical” shooting community that has been around for decades. This lie goes back to the old mythology of “one-shot stops” and the mantra of “I’ll only carry a pistol if it starts with point-four.” That lie is the misguided faith in a two-shot default response to a bad guy problem that requires a ballistic solution. This used to be taught as the “double tap.” Based on conversations I’ve had with supposedly “trained” tactical shooters, including numerous “instructors,”...

6/10/13 Cache contents? Well, seems like more than a couple of you have intentionally cached some survival type supplies in case of emergency--some buried in the ground, more stashed at the home of a family member or friend. I received a few questions about what exactly to put in a cache, so I wanted to cover off on a few basic strategies as I see 'em. Here, we're not going to delve into the dedicated weapon's cache, where weapons are stored and concealed for use at a future date. That one explains itself. So, onto the other kinds of...

I have a pest control issue concerning rats that live in trees. What sorta air rifle is recommended for this sorta thing? I want something cheap but powerful enough to be able to take down a varmint in one shot... Any suggestions, and no I don't want a convention gunpowder rifle as I already have one of them.

Alexander Wolfe wrote an excellent post today discussing Go Bags and Bug Out Bags. I am going to talk about my thoughts on 'lines' of gear. In doing so we will talk about go bags/ assault packs/ get home bags and such.  First line gear is the most basic survival and defensive gear. You really shouldn't be leaving home without it. Military- Survival gear (knife, fire, etc) and weapon with reload. For most deployed personnel the weapon is an M4 variant but that doesn't really matter. Civilian- EDC/ Survival gear and potentially CCW pistol with reload. You can see mine...

The gun was small and light, the training wheels of firearms. The .22-caliber, single-shot Crickett rifle turned deadly on Tuesday, officials in Kentucky said, when a 5-year-old Cumberland County boy shot and killed his 2-year-old sister in what the coroner described to a local paper as “just one of those crazy accidents.” The toddler was shot when the boy was playing with the rifle, as Kentucky state police said in a statement. The gun, a type of rifle made specifically for kids, had been given to the boy as a gift last year and kept in a corner, and the...

Gov. Sarah Palin waves to a crowd of 6,000 on her way to the podium to speak at the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting in Houston, Texas. The National Rifle Association has been vilified by a slanted media. The law abiding, patriotic group has been painted as the bad guy on the heels of Sandy Hook and other acts of violence. Leftist politicians have lied about the NRA and they’ve exploited children every step of the way to create a false narrative. If any group needed a boost it is the NRA. Well, that boost came in a big...

Why the 50 Meter Zero? Rourke linked to an excellent pictorial about ballistic trajectories from different zero's over at M4.com. Let's look at the trajectory using a 25 meter zero. If you look the bullet path is 8 inches high from roughly 125m to250m. This is a real problem. This is enough of a problem that folks will miss targets. In fact that is what happened. My informal understanding of the development of the 50 meter zero is as follows. Dudes were missing Tango's in the 100-150 meter range which was pretty close to the max range guys found themselves...

The 142nd National Rifle Association Annual Meeting is roaring into Houston for four days of seminars, rallies, prayer breakfasts and country music jam sessions, starting Thursday. The speaker lineup would make any Fox News junkie's heart skip a beat with appearances by conservative politicos and pundits ranging from to Sarah Palin and Rick Santorum to Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. Hell, even Oliver North of Iran-Contra fame will be on hand to sign copies of his new novel. And yes, don't worry . . . The Nuge will be there in all his Cat Scratch Fever glory for a scheduled...

We recently learned that the Blue Angels, the USAF Thunderbirds, the Golden Knights and all the Military Demo Teams have cancelled their entire Airshow season due to the Sequester. The Military will not take part in Airshows in any way – not static displays, not flying, nothing. This information has sent the Airshow Industry back to their drawing boards to see how they can move on from here. The Military Demonstration Teams are an enormous draw for these events. Military Teams can increase attendance by up to 30% while bringing many attendees from long distances which increase tourism for their...

Right now, way too many lawmakers in Washington flat-out refuse to face the facts when it comes to climate change. We're never going to make real progress on this issue unless members of Congress get serious. Instead, some of them have made a habit of publicly mocking it. We thought it was time to call them out for denying what's basic science. Watch this embarrassing video of climate deniers in Congress -- and say you're ready to help hold them accountable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=biUc0D6_UPA The science matters in this. That's the message way too many people in Washington need to hear right...

I thought that some here might be interested. CNBC (and while yes, it is part of NBC/MSNBC) of late they have been airing many informative, and balanced investigative shows in the evening hours ( after the markets close). Given that a great many FReepers have a passionate interest in firearms, I thought I'd post this FYI. Links below to the program's website, and a review:

A 76-year-old Massachusetts man is facing weapons charges for shooting a bear in his backyard. Richard Ahlstrand of Auburn Massachusetts shot the bear when the 400 lb. animal attacked him as he was tending the bird-feeders he keeps on his property. According to Massachusetts authorities, Ahlstrand should have called animal control officers to handle the wayward bear. “The State employs professionals trained in safe animal removal,” Rufus Bustard, spokesman for Massachusetts Attorney General. “A phone call would have brought these professionals to the scene within a matter of hours.” Bustard dismissed Ahlstrand’s assertion that he had only seconds to defend...

Under criticism for handing over personal data on farmers and ranchers to environmental groups, the Environmental Protection Agency defended its actions as “cost-effective under current budget constraints.” “Normally, we’d harry these despoilers of the environment ourselves,” said Bob Perciasepe, Acting EPA Administrator. “But with the budget being hemmed in by the sequester we have to seek other ways of achieving our objectives. We saw arming these environmental groups with potentially useful information as a way of multiplying or leveraging our forces. We thought we’d get more bang for the buck, so to speak.” if you missed any of this week's...

Slideshow of various ceremonial guns presented to various presidents.

A Massachusetts man is facing charges of illegal possession of a firearm and failing to secure a weapon after using a shotgun to kill a bear that began chasing him in his own backyard while he was stocking his bird feeders. The man in question is 76 year old Richard Ahlstrand of Auburn Massachusetts and the bear was 7 feet tall and pushing 400 pounds. But despite the reasonable fear that a 76 year old man might feel in such a situation, the local prosecutors have gone after Mr. Ahlstrand with a vengeance. When he went out that afternoon, he...

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is actively shopping for a drone that would "stalk hunters," the organization said Monday. The group says it will "soon have some impressive new weapons at its disposal to combat those who gun down deer and doves" and that it is "shopping for one or more drone aircraft with which to monitor those who are out in the woods with death on their minds." The group says it will not weaponize the drones, but will use them to film potentially illegal hunting activity and turn it over to law enforcement. "The talk is...

Anyone who has any doubt about how much people love firearms wasn't trying to find a parking spot anywhere near Expo Center on Saturday. Individuals from all over the United States and even some foreign countries were at the fairgrounds to attend the Wanenmacher's Tulsa Arms Show, an event that continues on Sunday with a session from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Show manager Joe Wanenmacher said the semi-annual event usually draws between 35,000 to 40,000 people over the course of a weekend. He said he wouldn't be surprised if attendance reached 50,000 by closing time on Sunday. Wanenmacher said...