Commentary

Last week the Ohio Supreme Court struck down a Clyde city law that banned people from carrying concealed guns in public parks.

U.S. District Judge John R. Adams sentenced Antrinna Collins of Cleveland, to 48 months imprisonment for violations of federal firearms laws.

Getting a good buy on midrange-priced products, such as over-under shotguns, can be difficult because of scarcity, and it’s always a challenge to convert MSRP into a reasonable selling price. Such is the case with the Beretta Silver Pigeon II, which Gun Tests magazine tested in its September 2007 issue.

Gun Tests said of the Silver Pigeon, _ìthe Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon II Sporting is a traditionally styled and typically proportioned sub-gauge. Trim in stock, wrist, receiver, and fore-end, the gun is a symmetrically shrunken version of the 12 gauge. ìPerhaps the greatest testament to this gun_s speed was that all our test shooters came off the sporting clays course liking the gun for that sport, but wanting to head directly for the skeet field. And, indeed, this gun excelled beyond the others at the more regimented sport._

In the test, the SPII listed for $2950. But prices for similar guns on GunBroker.com show wide variations off MSRP.

The gun in Auction # 110246420, listed by Tucker Gun in Atlanta, had a “buy now” price of $2950, or MSRP. The opening bid was $400 less, or $2599. The auction had two days to run on Tuesday.

Another GunBroker.com listing, # 109384437, had a similar gun to the one Gun Tests evaluated, but in 28 gauge. On sale by Gander Mountain in Green Bay, Wisconsin, it is a new Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon V 28 gauge with color case-hardened receiver. With 3 days left on the auction, the high bid was $2001, which didn_t meet the reserve. The Buy Now price was $2799.

Forjas Taurus S.A. announced September 9 its acquisition of the manufacturing and distribution rights of all Rossi products, including the famous Model 92 lever-action rifle from Rossi Firearms S.A.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence praised Sen. Barack Obama's choice for vice presidential running mate, Sen. Joe Biden.

From a statement by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on the Supreme Court's decision on DC vs. Heller, June 26, 2008:

The Browning BPS Special Steel Field Model Pump 20 Gauge was tested as a used gun in the April 2008 issue of Gun Tests magazine. Counter Price at Dury’s Gun Shop in San Antonio: $370. Was that a good price for the gun? A price check on GunBroker.com suggests it was.

WASHINGTON D.C., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- A strong majority of likely voters disagree with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on firearms and self-defense related issues, according to a just-released ATI-News/Zogby poll.

Gun owners, beware. Hidden in Barack Obama's MTV-style acceptance speech was a message that should send chills up the spines of everyone who values not only the right to own a gun, but the very right of self-defense.

The upper assembly of the Fabrique Nationale Herstal SA (FN) FNC rifle is classified as the receiver of the firearm for purposes of the Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, and the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53.

The Houston Chronicle has reported that Harris County District Attorney Ken Magidson has asked for a legal opinion from Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to see if assistant DAs can be prevented from taking handguns into courtrooms.

Gun Tests magazine recognized this in the January 2007 issue, when the magazine staff wrote that the 45 ACP was a Best Buy. “Ten rounds of big bullet with a full-size grip highlight this low-priced street fighter. A thumb safety and Heinie sights are plusses in our book.” A recent check of www.Gunbroker.com showed a couple of choices for the gun, both of which were substantially below the MSRP quoted in that issue—$421.