Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

You could have used that same product and those same video to show what a great country we have. You could have shown what unique freedoms we have and how those freedoms are not being abused and I would have gladly given you permission to use my video. Seattle King 5 Evening Magazine did that with this video: http://www.boomershoot.org/2005/KING5.wmv. But you didn’t do that. You merely demonstrated you are a Puritan–afraid that someone, someplace, is having fun. – Joe Huffman, Cease-and-Desist letter to John Bachman of WSBTV

Damn. That whole letter was beautiful, but that last bit? Classic!

Well, I’m Disappointed

I’m a pessimist by temperament. That way I go through life often pleasantly surprised and seldom disappointed, but seldom isn’t never.

Readers of TSM are probably familiar with this guy:


That’s Jim Scoutten, producer and host of Shooting USA, and a member (with his own forum) at AR15.com. Well, I thought I’d ask him about the possibility of Shooting USA covering Boomershoot:

Jim, have you ever covered or considered covering the annual Boomershoot in Orofino Idaho? I realize it’s probably far too late for this year’s (end of April) event, but I think this is something a lot of people would really enjoy seeing. There’s video at the link done by a local (well, regional) TV station to give you the flavor of the event, but it’s not enough for us gun-nuts.

I’m going for the first time this year, and I know that other ARFCOMers have gone in the past.

Hope to see you again at this year’s NRA convention in Phoenix!

The answer was not quite what I expected:

I’ve always thought there are some events that shouldn’t get National TV coverage.

When we’d like the public to think of competitive shooting to be like other mainstream sports.

Uh, right.

My reply:

Thus Knob Creek shouldn’t get national coverage?

Did you watch the King5 piece? (Windows Media file) I thought it was excellent, though short. Personally, I was amazed that a mainstream media outlet would be so positive about an event of this type. Joe Huffman, the organizer of the event, showed it to the NRA media relations rep at the last NRA convention, and she kept saying happily “Play it again! Play it again!”

One of the things that I think needs to happen is the renormalization of firearms and the shooting sports. Read sometime Hell in a Handbasket’s Confessions of a Deathbeast. This is what sixty years of slow-motion hate crime has done to what used to be a respected culture. It’s time and past time to start trying to restore that respect, or if not respect, at least neutrality instead of fear and loathing.

We can’t all be Bianchi Cup competitors or shoot at Camp Perry. Not all shooters want to go slay an elk or a bear. Events like this are for us common shooters who want a real challenge. I think they should get more coverage so perhaps there might be more of them.

But what do I know?

Ry Jones was equally disappointed less verbose in the thread, but made up for it in the comments at his blog.

Joe Huffman’s response, however, was piquant. By all means, read the thread.

UPDATE: Linoge has a pretty comprehensive post hitting all the high points, with links to everyone commenting on this tempest in a teacup.

Why Personal Honor Matters

Why Personal Honor Matters

New Trend In Sacramento: ‘Intentional Foreclosure’

SACRAMENTO (CBS13)

Linda Caoli helps lots of families on the verge of losing their homes, including a single mom working two jobs to pay her mortgage.

“She says Linda the house across the street, same model, with more upgrades sold in foreclosure for $315,000!” explains Linda.

Her client isn’t the only one thinking about ditching her house to buy the better deal across the street. A number of realtors CBS13 talked to say it’s already happening.

“Can you imagine if you had a same or similar home and your mortgage was half the price?” asks Linda.

This is how it works. Bob paid $420,000 for his home. Then he notices the house across the street, with more upgrades, and is selling for $315,000.

So Bob, who has pretty good credit, decides to buy the cheaper house. He can’t afford both, so then he walks away from his original home, letting it fall into foreclosure. That will hurt his credit, but he’s willing to take the hit for a more affordable home.

“Is it wrong to steal when you’re hungry? That’s an issue that a lot of people are trying to figure out right now,” says Linda.

Caoli is sympathetic, but she doesn’t endorse the practice of it. Other real estate agents we talked to were far more critical, calling them cheaters. They say the banks take a huge hit when their homes foreclose, and in the end, we all end up paying the price.

I’ve heard of people just walking away from their mortgages when they discover they owe far more than the house is currently worth, but this one is new to me.

There’s a thread at AR15.com on the topic, and here are some of the comments:

The turd here has finally circled the bowl and entered the sewage system.

Who cares … the people who continue to play by the rules continue to get the shit end of the stick. If you can find a way to work the system to your advantage, why the hell not?

I agree. Being honorable only makes you poor and sticks you paying for the costs of the less scrupulous.

I’m not in that situation.

But, I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t consider it if I was.

I come first. Plain and simple. If I can see a benfit in reducing my bottom line and not fucking myself over, I’m probably going for it.

There is a limit to honor. Especially when illegal aliens get breaks and I don’t.

Anyone who doesn’t see this is a fool.

A few months ago I would have said Bob was a piece of shit. Now I see him as smarter than me. The US seems to be on it’s way out as the country that we all know and love. All bets are off in this new country of hope and change.

I concur with the “turd circling the bowl” comment, myself. We’re a far cry now from “I could not love thee, dear, so much, loved I not honor more.”

Who is it that’s going to restore our lost Constitution again?

If you haven’t read it, I will again recommend James Bowman’s Honor: A History, a study of the death of honor in Western culture.

4:10 of Pure Physical Coordination

4:10 of Pure Physical Coordination

I just got this by email, and I realize that it was so two years ago, but just DAMN! Turn your sound on.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8f8drk5Urw&hl=en&fs=1&w=425&h=344]
Synchronized juggling. Now THAT should be an Olympic event!

Right Attitude, Bad Example

Right Attitude, Bad Example

I received an email this afternoon from a reader:

I’m just a random reader of your blog. I came across this newspaper clipping in an old album that my mother bought in a lot of antiques. Apparently the owner was a Los Angeles police officer. The clipping is from the LA Examiner, from 1935. I thought it was a great picture, and it kind of drives home how much attitudes towards guns and personal responsibility have changed.

Indeed it does. And it does more than that. James, if you’re ever in Tucson, I’ll be more than happy to take you to the range.

Here’s the picture:


The attitude is correct, but pointing all those guns at the camera? The photographer might have had a remote trigger. I doubt seriously he had a time delay. He was probably standing right behind the viewfinder. Every bang-switch has a booger-hook on it. And at least one of the Chief’s revolvers is loaded. There’s no reason to believe the rest were not. He was a brave (or stupid) man.

Is it any wonder that the rate of accidental gunshot wounding and death has declined (precipitously!) since the turn of the century until now it is at the lowest rate ever recorded – despite the fact that there are more guns in private hands than at any time in history?

The principle is correct, but the photograph? Yeesh.

My how attitudes have changed.