One of those moments where I really love this job.
Open Carry Derp shirt
I saw this earlier at ENDO, and couldn’t possibly believe it was a real think, but as it turns out, it absolutely is. This is the site selling what can only be described as the dumbest gun-related shirt I’ve ever seen. I honestly didn’t believe this was a real thing at first, but the internet did not disappoint me, and there it is.
Let’s talk this one through for a moment without having the OC trolls show up and get butthurt. I am not saying that Open Carry is stupid; and although I disagree with OC as a political lever, that’s neither here nor there in a discussion of this shirt. See, when I’ve been critical of OC in the past, it has almost always been because Open Carry is frequently used by “activists” simply as a tool to get people to pay attention to them. “LOOK AT MY GLOCK” screams the OC activist in desperate need of validation, which normal, reasonable folks that also Open Carry just go about their business with their guns on.
This shirt is for the guy that wants attention. That’s just the end of the discussion. It’s not clever, it doesn’t promote intentional discussion, it’s a stupid gimmick designed entirely to get people to do a double-take as you stroll through the mall sheepdoggin’ the high school girls at Hot Topic.
Seriously, if you want to Open Carry, just carry your gun. Don’t make a big production of it. This shirt is right there in “making a big production” category. For the 20ish bucks this shirt would cost, wouldn’t it be easier to just make a sign with markers that says “I have no common sense”?
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Selects Smith & Wesson® M&P® Pistols
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (August 26, 2013) — Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: SWHC), a leader in firearm manufacturing and design, today announced that it has been awarded a firearms contract from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) for new service firearms from the Company’s M&P Pistol Series. As part of a five-year contract, the LASD will purchase Smith & Wesson M&P9 pistols which will replace currently issued non-Smith & Wesson firearms. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department fields approximately 13,000 sworn and non-sworn personnel who are issued duty handguns.
Serving as the second largest local policing agency in the United States and the world’s largest sheriff’s department, the LASD currently lists over 18,000 active duty employees. Composed of over 9,000 sworn deputies and 8,000 professional staff members, the LASD provides general service law enforcement to 43 municipalities that encompass more than 3,000,000 citizens. Formed in 1850, the LASD has a prestigious track record of aligning itself with superior products and companies to better assist and protect California residents.
James Debney, President and CEO of Smith & Wesson, said, “The decision by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department represents a significant milestone in the history of the Smith & Wesson M&P Pistol Series. The LASD has long been characterized by its high performance standards and comprehensive testing procedures for duty equipment. We view the department’s selection of the Smith & Wesson M&P9 as an endorsement of the winning attributes of the pistol as well as the professional services that support it.”
Widely known throughout the law enforcement community for its objective testing procedures and high standards, the LASD procured samples of the Smith & Wesson M&P pistol for testing and evaluation. After rigorous testing against a wide range of competitive products, the M&P pistol delivered superior results in the areas of quality and reliability. The M&P pistol was noted for its high-grade professional features and ability to accommodate individual officer preferences. The LASD will begin issuing the M&P9 pistol chambered in 9mm upon the completion of the department’s transitional requirements.
“It is the goal of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to provide our personnel with the highest quality law enforcement equipment available. The partnership between Smith & Wesson and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has provided a duty handgun with modern attributes and capabilities critical to enhancing the safety of our sworn personnel and the communities we serve,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy D. Baca.
In addition to supplying the department with new duty side arms, Smith & Wesson will support the agency with a variety of services including armorer classes and transitional training. The M&P9 pistols supplied to the LASD include standard features such as customizable grip inserts, ambidextrous operating features and the ability to disassemble the firearm without pulling the trigger.
Debney concluded, “The ability of our M&P Pistol to meet the high standards of the LASD and many other law enforcement agencies is a direct result of the commitment to quality and performance that is shared by all of us at Smith & Wesson. We are proud and honored to support the men and women of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who dedicate themselves to the tireless support and protection of their communities.”
For more information on the robust line of M&P Pistols, please visit wwww.smith-wesson.com.
About Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC) is a U.S.-based leader in firearm manufacturing and design, delivering a broad portfolio of quality firearms, related products and training to the consumer, law enforcement, and military markets. The company’s brands include Smith & Wesson®, M&P® and Thompson/Center Arms(TM). Smith & Wesson facilities are located in Massachusetts and Maine. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com.
Reader feedback requested
This week I’ll be touring the Walther and Umarex facilities to see their current product line as well as some new stuff that hasn’t been released yet. While I obviously won’t be able to talk about the new stuff until it’s actually out, what would you, my dear readers like to see from these tours? What guns from Walther tickle your fancy that you’d like to me to get up close and personal with?
Let me know in the comments of by emailing [email protected]!
Beginner’s Moving & Shooting Course
What are your Labor Day plans? This week I have an opportunity to shoot on some private land in the North Georgia mountains. I am too excited about it! Rather than using this gift of space as just another trip to an outdoor range, I feel I must use this opportunity to the fullest. Therefore, I’d like to create a number of drills that I will be able to run solo, but will use the space to the fullest. I’d like to practice a number of skills with which I currently have limited experience, and then I’d like to try moving and shooting for the first time.
Journalist “integrity”: how heavily did The Atlantic edit felon John Lennon’s article?
On Friday, I pointed out convicted felon John Lennon’s article that the Atlantic ran, which made an eloquent, if emotional case for gun control. It was thoughtful and well-written, which is exactly what I’ve come to expect from the Atlantic.
It turns out that the reason it was so thoughtful and well-written is because it appears that the article was edited heavily by the staff at the Atlantic. See, an eagle eyed reader was able to point us to author John Lennon’s online dating profile on the website “plenty of fish.” Revulsion at the concept of convicted felons being allowed access to dating websites aside, the reason that this dating profile casts doubt on the quality of the Atlantic’s piece is simple – the “About me” section of the profile. I’ll let you read it for yourself in all its execrable detail:
I’m a NY City kid, grew up in both Manhattan and Brooklyn. I come from a good working class family, who are very supportive. I’m mostly Irish, tall, dark and handsome… winks and smiles. When discussing my past, Iam candid. In brief, I entertained a shallow, dopey lifestyle, and wound up with a whole slew of time, I do take full responsbility for my crimes. Accapting life on life’s terms was important to me. I’m sober, I don’t smoke, I exercise and try to live mind, body, and soul. im spiritual(not religious),does sound a bit cliche, but it works for me. Overall,I’m at a good place in my life; Im content. I would even venture to say-I’m happy. I mean, I’m not walking on clouds or anything As you can imagine, Attica can be a morbid place, but I try to detach from the physicality of it all and focus on my individuality. Education is awesome. I consume myself with reading and learning. I’m an avid student of the financial markets. However, I’m versatile, we can vibe and correspond about anything. I’d like to hear about your interests and goals and accomplishments. Writing is cathartic, so write and I’ll listen. Which brings me to materialize from this; I suppose I want to experience a relationship I’ve never experienced, but belive I deserve . So, if you’re funny, independent, ambitious and willing to break away from the norm, drop me a line. John Lennon (04A0823)
Attica Correctional Facility
Box149
Now, it is entirely possible that the inmate, since writing this profile, has spent considerable amounts of time in the prison library, taken classes, and learned how to write a professional, thoughtful, and intelligent article. I have to acknowledge that possibility, but at the same time it’s not nearly as likely as the possibility that the professional editors at The Atlantic took Lennon’s rough draft and sculpted it into a piece of anti-gun propaganda that would better fit their needs.
I’ll leave it up to you to decide what you think is more likely. Do you think that a convicted felon educated himself to the point that he could write the piece in the Atlantic, or do you think that the editorial staff at the Atlantic ghost-wrote the majority of the article to serve their own purposes?
Colt Defense Announces Senior Management Change
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Colt Defense LLC, a leading developer and manufacturer of small arms for the global military, law enforcement and sporting markets, today announced the appointment of Dennis Veilleux as President and CEO effective immediately. Mr. Veilleux was most recently President and CEO of New Colt Holding Corp., which was acquired by Colt Defense last month. Mr. Veilleux replaces Gerald R. Dinkel, who will remain on Colt Defense’s Governing Board.
Commenting on the leadership transition, Governing Board Chairman Daniel J. Standen said, “During his tenure as CEO, Gerry Dinkel has been instrumental in Colt’s transformation into a more diversified business, including the recent completion of the acquisition of New Colt Holding Corp. We are grateful to Gerry for his valuable contribution to the Company and look forward to supporting Dennis Veilleux as the new CEO of the re-unified Colt. Dennis has 27 years of experience in the firearms industry and has achieved considerable success in his stewardship of New Colt Holding Corp.’s growth in the commercial firearms market. We believe this succession positions Colt Defense well to address the different opportunities and challenges faced by the business.”
About Colt Defense LLC
Colt Defense LLC is one of the world’s oldest and most revered designers, developers and manufacturers of firearms and small arms weapons systems for military, law enforcement and sporting uses. Colt Defense LLC and its predecessors have supplied firearms and small arms weapons systems to the United States Government, the Canadian Government and other governments throughout the world for more than 160 years. The Company’s portfolio of products and services continues to meet evolving global military, law enforcement and consumer requirements. Colt Defense’s facilities are located in Connecticut and Ontario, Canada. More information on Colt Defense LLC is available at www.colt.com.
Felons for gun control
The Atlantic has a piece up written by a convicted felon serving 28-Life on why we need to tighten our gun control laws. It’s actually a fascinating look inside the mind of a truly damaged person, once you get past the appeals to emotion and incorrect assumptions. You can read the entire article here, and I suggest you do.
What’s most insightful about the article isn’t the arguments for gun control, but rather the fact that despite saying that he accepts responsibility, you never get the feeling that the author really does. Here’s an example:
I’m where I belong. But without a gun I would not have killed (emphasis added). Like most misguided, impulsive youth in America, I was emotionally and socially retarded, with a killing machine on my waist.
It could be argued that I’m cherry picking this one line to make a point, but the problem is that quote comes in the author’s closing argument. He’s wrapping up the article, and trying to make his final point…and that point is that if it wasn’t for those darn guns, he never would have killed anyone. The specificity of his remorse is also interesting, because he suggests that he’s sad for killing the person he went to jail for killing, but still blames the gun for the crime ultimately. He also doesn’t even begin to express remorse for the multitude of other crimes he committed.
So what are we to make of this article? It would be easy to casually dismiss it as “another scumbag for gun control” because in many ways that’s exactly what it is. But doing that runs the risk of closing off any avenues for refuting the powerful emotional argument made by the article. The first time I read through it, I thought pretty much what I wrote above, “here’s another scumbag for gun control”; the second time I read it I realized that this article would resonate very well with the sort of people who we need on our side in the ongoing gun control debate.
That’s the subtle genius of the article. It’s not written for hardcore policy wonks like us, and it’s not written for hardcore gun control advocates, either. It’s squarely aimed at people whose thoughts on gun control are “criminals shouldn’t have guns” and who otherwise don’t have much of an opinion on the whole thing. In other words, the majority of America. It’s a fairly thoughtful and well-written piece, and that makes it most unlike the screeching lunacy you usually get from pro-gun control types. The best way to talk about an article like this quite simply to use facts – the same as always. The facts about straw purchases, gun theft, and even gun crime are on our side. Calmly stating facts (not beating people over the head with them) is always a better response than trying to argue past emotion.