From an NRA-ILA email:

WASHINGTON: Attend Critical Gun Bill Hearing this Wednesday in Olympia

Two anti-gun bills are scheduled to be heard by the House Judiciary Committee this Wednesday, February 13. This hearing will begin at 8:00 a.m. in House Hearing Room A of the John L. O’Brien Building in Olympia. Please attend this critical hearing and express your opposition to the following bills:

House Bill 1588, sponsored by state representatives Jamie Pederson (D-43), Mike Hope (R-44) and 36 other state representatives, would criminalize the private sale of firearms. HB 1588 is nothing more than a regulatory scheme which would create a huge burden for law-abiding citizens. It would require that anytime you sell any firearm to a family member or friend, you will have to go through a gun dealer or law enforcement agency and pay a $20 fee (tax), with no guarantee of timely processing. Additionally, while Concealed Pistol License (CPL) holders are currently exempt from having to undergo a background check when purchasing a firearm from a dealer, there is no provision in HB 1588 extending that CPL exemption to private sales. For more information on this misguided measure, please see our previous report.

House Bill 1676, sponsored by state Representative Ruth Kagi (D-32) and thirteen other state representatives, is a so-called “child access prevention” bill which would single out the storage of firearms for criminalization under certain circumstances.

Today, fatal firearms accidents are at an all-time low. Firearm storage legislation ignores the fact that Washington gun owners are extremely responsible with their firearms and that firearms are involved in a disproportionately low number of fatal accidents among children. Children are about thirteen times more likely to die as a result of drowning, thirteen times more likely to die by suffocation and about seven times more likely to die in a fire than to be fatally injured with a firearm in the state.

Not only is HB 1676 misguided in that it is demonizes firearms, it is also unwarranted. Washington’s current reckless endangerment statute already provides a remedy to address the rare incident of negligent storage. More significant, however, is the civil remedy available which provides for civil action by the parents of a minor child who is injured or killed. The prospect of losing your own child, or facing civil litigation brought by the parents of a young victim, should serve as greater motivation to store firearms responsibly than the criminal penalty provided in this legislation.

It is critical that you contact your state Representative TODAY and express your opposition to HB 1588 and HB 1676.

You may also contact your state Representative by calling the toll-free legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000.

An interesting article from the Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020325837_legislaturegunsxml.html

Some excerpts:

Carrying guns on the Capitol campus has long been allowed in Olympia. It’s seldom discussed, rarely criticized and speaks volumes about the debate over gun control this session.

In fact, Washington’s Capitol is one of the few in the country with no restrictions on firearms.

Of the 42 states that responded to the survey, only Washington, Texas and Kentucky indicated they had no restrictions on carrying weapons at their capitols. Eight states allowed people with concealed-weapons permits on campus, and the rest restricted firearms to law-enforcement and security staff.

Interesting to note the folks that support banning firearms on campus even though there has NEVER been an incident. Shows the predisposed bias (hoplophobia) that some inherently have against firearms - even though they are just inanimate objects.

She is one of our Senators. She represents CA. She writes and votes on legislation (although by her own admission doesn't read it first). And as she says:

I know the Constitution.

Well. She doesn't. And she doesn't even know she doesn't.

From http://michellemalkin.com/2013/02/10/constitutional-scholar-nancy-pelosi/ which has video:

“We avow the First Amendment. We stand with that and say that people have a right to have a gun to protect themselves. in their homes and their jobs, whatever, and that they — and the workplace and that they, for recreation and hunting and the rest,” Pelosi inarticulately told Wallace."

Apparently we have the right of workplace recreation and hunting.

If you haven't contacted your legislators yet, I urge you to do so immediately. I have posted the letter I wrote as a sample, as well as links to finding and contacting your legislators.

My sample letter: http://fortreg.com/firearms/?p=2715

Automated letters are great and certainly better than nothing but I believe that a personally crafted letter to your legislator will have most impact. The folks processing these letters can tell the difference between a one-click response and one that is actually written.

Several folks have expressed that they do not know what to write. Below I have included what I wrote and sent to my Senators and Representative. Interestingly only (1) responded back at all (not even auto-generated replies from the other two).

Feel free to use it as you like or take pieces from it. You may not agree with everything I say, or feel it reflects your tone -- I simply hope that it gives you ideas to craft your own. If nothing else please contact your legislators!

CA has just introduced draconian legislation to best even NY's recent laws. The time to act must be now!! It just takes a few clicks!

Who is your Representative? Find out here -> http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

Who are your Senators? Find out here -> http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Here's what I sent to my legislators:

Dear Senator, I am writing in opposition to S.150 et al. Rhetoric on both sides is heated/debated so I will keep this brief.

1. Criminals don't obey laws. You are punishing lawful gun owners.

2. This is a supposed response to the Newtown Shooting. However, nothing in this bill or any proposed legislation would prevent this in the future (No bans, background checks, etc.) See #1 above. Even VP Biden has stated this and says that since public mood has changed is a good opportunity to push gun control. Ironically, CT already has many of the proposed controls in place. The Newtown shooter violated multiple laws, adding more would change nothing. If his mother did not have the firearms to steal (remember he killed her over) he would have found alternate means of destruction. He was not hindered by a "gun free zone." The worst U.S. school massacre was done with an explosive device - not a firearm.

3. This Bill is poorly written and ambigious. The military-like features provision is very interpretive. In particular the "pistol grip" definition could fit any firearm. It specifically bans "thumb-hole" stocks--I am not aware of ANY military firearm that uses a thumb-hole stock. These are cosmetic restrictions. What's next? All semi-autos like Australia?

4. A 10-shot magazine ban is arbitrary. Folks fear that it is just a stepping stone and will be reduced. Not so crazy when you look at NY's recent passage of a 7 shot limitation, now followed with similar bills in NJ, CT, Minn. In fact, there is a bill in CT to limit magazines to 1 shot!

5. A lot of folks are proposing confiscation (see NY's original draft) and the passed legislation requires that >7 shot mags be turned in or shipped out of state! Ex Post Facto? No grand fathering? It is not much of a stretch to think of the potential that once their "registry" of firearms is up and running that they simply rule that owners do the same thing.

6. Last but not least, the Constitution. I know this is hotly contested but I will quote James Madison, the man who wrote the Bill of Rights, from the Federalist Papers: "Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." The Founders knew what they were doing.

Additionally, I think that if a school decides that it wants armed security, police, or even wants to purchase metal detectors that we should help. The arguments that the kids will be traumatized are silly -- they go to the bank, mall, concerts, sporting events, airport now without a second thought.

Thank you for your time.

This illustrates that Senators Feinstein and Boxer live in LA LA LAND. They are asking as a sign of how the people want gun control for civilians AND law enfocement to lay down their arms!

“The Senators feel the best course of action is to remove all weapons from law enforcement and private citizens so no one else gets hurt,” said a Senate communications intern. “When the gunman realizes that nobody else is armed, he will lay down his weapons and turn himself in…. that’s just human nature.”

Throughout the day, Senators Feinstein and Boxer made desperate pleas for their California constituents to turn in their guns and not confront the crazed gunman because this would be a perfect test of their anti-gun proposals.

Here is a great article/source: http://cleowaller.blogspot.com/2013/02/feinstein-and-boxer-ask-californians-to.html?spref=tw

and http://www.palookavillepost.com/2013/02/07/feinstein-and-boxer-ask-californians-to-lay-down-their-weapons-during-statewide-manhunt/

Glock Gen4s get a lot of flack for using a captive dual-recoil spring.
Ironically, Gen3s used them also but they were limited to their subcompact line: 26/27/etc. and also the much larger (although still called sub-compact) 29/30, etc. Other companies have quietly adopted them too, including S&W. I wonder how long until other companies adopt them for their full size pistols?

Now there have been some problems with the Gen4s dual-springs when used in the full-size pistols. It appears it has more to do with trying to use the same spring for multiple calibers. Something that Glock is famous for - instead of another part they slightly vary the mass/weight of their slides and use the same Recoil Spring Assembly (I will use Glock's acronym "RSA" here out).

The fix? A new recoil spring. According to Glock this was to reduce perceived/transmitted recoil to the shooter but also to reduce "battering" to their pistols. During their Armorer's course they specifically listed the 40 S&W as hard on pistols. They didn't say it but they implied that law enforcement guns had to be replaced/rebuilt mroe frequently than they would like.

You may have seen me refer to this captive system as the SeeCamp recoil system. SeeCamp was a pioneer in sub-compact pistols. They built a pistol and the dual-recoil system that actually works. I have attached their patent 4201113 from 1980. LINK to PDF: US4201113. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any actual pics.

The Glock 26 RSA from http://www.southernoutdoorlife.com/mouseguns/glockall/stripped.jpg:

But Glock isn't the only one. Let's take a look at a few others in no particular order...

Colt Defender from: http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc177/DoubleAction77/Defender/000_0005.jpg

Kimber (Aeigis, CDP, etc): http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i160/thegerk/Colt%20Automatics/Colt3inchDefenderRecoilsAssemblytopKimber3inchRecoilAssemblybottom.jpg

STI: http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i64/tideclean/DSC00842.jpg

S&W 659: http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz62/prsabordo/smith%20and%20wesson/102_6394.jpg

Rohrbough: http://gunsgunsguns.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/4-Rohrbaugh-disassembled-300x176.jpg

S&W Shield: http://gunsgunsguns.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/8-disassembled-step-4.jpg

Springfield XDS: http://gunsgunsguns.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/10-disassembled-passive-safety-300x181.jpg

I include the S&W 3rd non-captive but still dual spring because it is similar (secondary spring is used as a buffer): http://www.vintagepistols.com/images/4506-4.jpg

Along somewhat similar notes Colt has been using dual springs for a while. Both the Delta Elite, Officers, and Mustang use dual springs of different weights and circumference so that one fits inside the other.
Colt Delta Elite: http://www.gunblast.com/images/Colt-DeltaElite/DSC05149.JPG

Colt Mustang: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQjUzH8knvW6eFf7seTPqfZ1VtZjAvwOKWfuwbrVjzQIZI3VZG9uA

ParaOrdnance P10: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/sv1cec/reviews/POcarry9/IMG_1139.jpg

So you can see that Glock is not alone in using the SeeCamp as "inspiration." All from a design and a sub-compact pistol made over 30 years ago! Glock, AFAIK is one of the few to put them into a mass production full size pistol. One has to wonder too...the S&W M&P Compact uses a standard single spring RSA. However, the Shield as we can see uses a dual-spring. hmm..

in the downloads section!

Trijicon has an official price list for the first time! The night sight discount is minor, but the scopes are pretty significant.

CZ/Dan Wesson appeared to be pretty close to full retail to me. We are also told that you can only order what is in stock. I know that Dan Wesson is still closed due to their recent fire so I suspect nothing is orderable.

The Mossberg price list appears to be pretty good, although I haven't compared them to retail. The price on the Silver Reserve II makes me want one :)

I haven't looked at the EOTech yet but it is traditionally very good.

Not to be outdone by NY as the most restrictive state regarding firearms CA has introduced a new draconian bill:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/02/08/gun-confiscation-bill-introduced-in-california-we-can-save-lives/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

From: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_22544460/californias-state-senate-democrats-roll-out-big-gun

The 10-bill package constitutes the single largest gun control push in decades in the Golden State, which already boasts some of the nation's strictest gun laws. It joins equally controversial proposals from Assembly Democrats that would regulate and tax ammunition sales and consider taking the state's 166,000 registered assault weapons from their owners.

I heard that next for consideration was a complete ban on birthday candles to follow (and expand) on Australia's model: http://world.time.com/2013/02/07/australian-kids-face-birthday-candle-ban-to-prevent-spreading-germs/

Hi,
I have some updates to post but today is a tribute to my beloved black lab Abby who tonight lost her year long battle to kidney disease.

She was the best dog a person could have. She was beloved and will be missed.

RIP beautiful Abby

Collection of un-organized Abby pics: Abby Photo Library

In NY it is (or soon will be) the law. Massachusetts has a proposal for similar legislation and now Minnesota joins too with HF243:

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0243.0.html&session=ls88

I guess it is better than the CT bill I saw that attempts to limit firearms to a SINGLE shot! Seriously: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/TOB/S/2013SB-00122-R00-SB.htm

If you haven't contacted your legislators yet -- I urge you to do so. These a real threats!