Viewpoints

Some years ago, I sold two guns that I now regret selling. I used my Walther GX-1 22 LR for five years as a collegiate 3-position shooter at Texas A&M, competing all over the country and in Japan. As a working adult in New Jersey, I also shot it in a weeknight league in northern New Jersey and in a league that shot at West Point. Additionally, I had an LGR air rifle by the same manufacturer, using it to compete in the NCAA championships, where I met the really good shooters.

Like many others, this really excellent article refers to the presumed suitability of the shotgun for home defense, particularly the 12 gauge. Frankly, unless the defenders all have donned appropriate ear protection, the shotgun's blast (especially 28 gauge and up) probably will 'take out' their hearing and, of course, permanently disable any unfortunate pets. Therefore, not only is the pistol-caliber carbine more appropriate, the best would be subsonic, especially a 45 like those covered, equipped with a silencer. An alternative would be a suitable sidearm, also silencer-equipped. For home defense, it's worthwhile to go through the Federal hoops to obtain a silencer or silenced-firearm.

Like many others, this really excellent article refers to the presumed suitability of the shotgun for home defense, particularly the 12 gauge. Frankly, unless the defenders all have donned appropriate ear protection, the shotgun's blast (especially 28 gauge and up) probably will 'take out' their hearing and, of course, permanently disable any unfortunate pets. Therefore, not only is the pistol-caliber carbine more appropriate, the best would be subsonic, especially a 45 like those covered, equipped with a silencer. An alternative would be a suitable sidearm, also silencer-equipped. For home defense, it's worthwhile to go through the Federal hoops to obtain a silencer or silenced-firearm.

(GunReports.com) -- As most decent people are watching the stock market gyrations and following our federal government’s mismanagement of both monetary and fiscal policy, our nation is entering an unpredictable phase. I’m sorry to say that, based on history, things are going to get worse. Just look at London, England, where four nights of rioting hooligans have resulted in the deployment of an extra 16,000 police officers in an attempt to stop the looting, vandalism, destruction, assaults, and robbery. My response to “flash mobs”? GET A GUN.

Patrick B. Pexton, the Washington Post's so-called ombudsman, defends his meal ticket's work on barely reporting Operation Fast & Furious. His unsurprising bottom line: 'No news outlet covers every story perfectly. Nor do they reach the conclusions that ideologues on the left or right want. But The Post has acquitted itself well on Fast and Furious.'

The Second Amendment Foundation today applauded both the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the National Rifle Association, the latter joining with J&G Sales of Prescott, AZ, for filing federal lawsuits against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives over a new reporting requirement aimed at gun dealers in four Southwest States.

The U.S. should be ashamed that its laws would allow high-capacity gun magazines used in the Norwegian massacre to be sold and shipped overseas, says a New York congresswoman seeking to restrict use of such magazines.

In another effort to undermine the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, President Obama is quietly trying to adopt the United Nations’ international gun control restrictions. Basically, they are trying to disarm the American people.

Watch as Larry Potterfield, Founder and CEO of MidwayUSA shows how to safety handle a gun on the sporting clays field. The proper use of eye and ear protection is covered as well as using the correct ammunition. Safe gun handling is emphasized with specific examples unique to the sporting clays field.

Ruger is one of the most aggressive companies at rolling out mid-year new products, and 2011 offers a bumper crop of new guns in the pipeline. Two new handguns caught my eye. The SR40c (directly below) is the compact version of the striker-fired SR40 pistol. The Ruger SR40c pistol has a 3.5-inch barrel and an overall length of 6.85 inches. The pistol weighs 23.40 ounces and features a height of 4.61 inches, with the same 1.27-inch-wide grip (across safety levers) as the full-sized SR40. It also has a fully adjustable 3-dot sight system and an integral accessory rail that accommodates most lights and lasers.

I just received my July issue and read the article, 'Aluminum, Polymer, and Steel 45 ACP Semiautos Square Off.' For the uninformed, the reviewer has unfairly evaluated the Glock 36. He mentions the G36 magazine is thicker than that for the 1911. What is probably more important for personal defense is the pistol width. The max width of the Glock itself is nearly a half-inch less than that of the Colt. He expressed 'caution' for the unsupported chamber in the Glock barrel, as it is a concern, stating that '+P loads should be used sparingly.' This is downright misleading. Documented personal experience and online forum comments from actual Glock owners would summarily refute such a ridiculous assertion.

I just received my July issue and read the article, 'Aluminum, Polymer, and Steel 45 ACP Semiautos Square Off.' For the uninformed, the reviewer has unfairly evaluated the Glock 36. He mentions the G36 magazine is thicker than that for the 1911. What is probably more important for personal defense is the pistol width. The max width of the Glock itself is nearly a half-inch less than that of the Colt. He expressed 'caution' for the unsupported chamber in the Glock barrel, as it is a concern, stating that '+P loads should be used sparingly.' This is downright misleading. Documented personal experience and online forum comments from actual Glock owners would summarily refute such a ridiculous assertion.