Update on my dealings with the Southern Poverty Law Center

Got a letter from the Southern Poverty Law Center today. I thought it was the long-awaited answer to the question I posed to them six months ago ("When did I go from being an ally to an enemy just for standing up for everyone's right to bear arms?") but it was not. They want my donation. I just resent my question along with a link to my earlier blog post about asking them in the first place.

I'm not expecting an answer and I hope they dont need my money.

EDIT:  I did get a response after asking why I didn't get a response earlier.  They thought it was odd that I was taking offense at this since they didn't specifically name ME in their article, but didn't say much after I poitned out that I am an RKBA activist, a group they specifically called out and that I felt betrayed by them for this.  They had no repsonse nor appology.  I am done with the SPLC.

Q4 2013 update

I am a horrible blogger.  Mental note, need to post up far more often...

Just a couple updates.

All of the financial documents have been filed with the State of Missouri and several manufacturers and distributors of VERY good equipment have a copy of our license.  Many have some decent initial buy-ins, typically $500.

First order as a company was placed with Ace Cases (www.acecase.com) who are purveyers of VERY nice bags and holsters.  It was a fund raiser for the Liberal Gun Club (www.theliberalgunclub.org) and $90 was raised for the club via Pro Range Bag purchases.  These bags are made here in Missouri, are VERY high quality and feature three pistol 'rugs' and a removable magazine holding shooting pad.  All seams are double stitched, all velcro is industrial quality and all zippers are reenforced.

Another great company is Unique AR's, (www.unique-ars.com) who make freefloat handguards for AR-platform firearms.  Their design is very good, they use a proprietary barrel nut that is easy to install and the handguards are all made of high-strength aluminum with custom cut outs.  If you buy one through my link or because you saw it recommended here, please do me a favor and let them know that "Olsen Training Group" sent you.

Maxpedition (http://www.maxpedition.com) is another company that we will be selling.  Their high end gear bags and morale patches will be available soon and I will post here as soon as they become available as well as what we will be stocking.  I can get them for less than MSRP.

For survival supplies, we will be a stocking Thrive merchant.  More info on that, my lovely wife will be running that portion of the business.

As well as running firearms safety/CCW training I will be building AR uppers for sale and will be selling black powder cap-and-ball pistols.   AR uppers will be built around Aero Precision/Surplus Ammo stripped uppers, barrels from a few different sources (Alpha Shooting Sports, Black Hole Products, SSE Machining) and Midwest Industries handguards.  The Cap-n-ball pistols will be Armi San Marcos gift sets and single pistols.

Exciting stuff is coming!

Well, I've gone and done it

I took an NRA Basic Pistol Trainer course over this past weekend along with Gun Safety in the Home and FIRST STEPS Pistol.

This means that I can get my MO CCW and train folks for FL and AZ non-resident and MO Resident CCW permits.  

I need to write a business plan as there are several things I plan on selling along side the training courses.

My working name for the company is Armed Liberal Training Company but I will probably go a different route as I plan on keeping politics out of my classroom.

EDIT:  company name is Olsen Training Group and temp web page is http://www.facebook.com/olsentraining .  I've decided to go with a name that is as politically neutral as possible.

Range Report #2 - hung-up buffer ends the day early

We made it out to Ultimate Defense (http://www.udrange.com) on 6/11/2013 and shot both the P238 we picked up on 6/4/2013 and my AR pistol.

First magazine (TAC powder 55 gr FMJ hand loads) worked great  four round rapid fire strings all stayed on paper and the majority were on target at 20m - Holographic sights feel like cheating! - but 15 rounds into the American Eagle 55gr FMJ the bolt recoiled behind the bolt stop and stayed there.  I removed the magazine (still had 15 rounds in it) and since the bolt hadn't gone back forward yet there was no round in the chamber.

I tried to lever the bolt free by yanking really hard on the charging handle to no avail.  Thankfully, the armorer at the range was able to free the buffer whose roll pin had worked loose just enough to hang up on the recoil spring.  Since the bumper on the buffer was VERY brittle and rather cut up I ended the day and ordered a new buffer from the Equipment Exchange on ar15.com.  I got the replacement buffer on 6/14 and my pistol is back in serviceable condition.

Now to try out the 55gr soft points I have loaded over 24gr of IMR 4064 powder I got at the Machinist Hall gun show last weekend...

Range Report #1 - it did not blow up!

Got out to a friend's private range on Saturday to both verify my build and my hand loaded ammunition as well as to teach my son to shoot.  It was an excellent day, 100% accomplished.

I am now addicted to the immediate response from shooting at AR500 steel targets.  Paper and shoot-n-see plastic bullseyes are boring in comparison.  When you hit, you hear it.  When you miss you see the dirt cloud from the berm.  Bowling pins are almost as fun.  ;)

I also got to use my new optic, an EOTech EXPS3-0.

I got my new optic in a weird way for me.  I won it.  Field and Stream is working along with EOTech to celebrate EOTech's 1 millionth manufactured optic milestone by giving away one set of EXPS3-0/G33 magnifier per month to a lucky entrant to their mail-in sweepstakes.  I am the March 2012 winner.  Since I currently have an A2 upper the magnifier is not something I needed right now, so I sold it for a bit less than retail but was able to use the money from it's sale to finish paying off the 2000 Impala.  Win/win!

I had a forward mount that attached to the carry handle and put the red dot somewhat co-witnessed with the iron sights but the rail is way out of spec and the EOTech will NOT mount to it.  I have a new/used mount on it's way to me from an eBay purchase which should work MUCH better.

I had hoped to get pics of the kiddo shooting, pics of my wife shooting and video of my AR but the phone ran out of juice and I forgot to pack our camera.  Fortunately, my friend was gracious enough to give us an open invitation to return at any point.

My son is eagerly awaiting his 10/22, which I hope to have purchased for him before the end of summer.

Howler's Den calls out pro-gunnies on the EO's from POTUS

Holwer's Den called out a couple guys on ARFcom in regards to the negative response that the Executive Orders that President Obama laid out earlier this year.

Here's the rebuttal I posted which may or may not be posted to their site, I have no idea if they actually allow more discussion than other anti-gun sites do.  I have been banned from several for being 'a shill for the NRA' or being 'off message'.  These are my opinions of the EOs that I have shared on several other forums and FaceBook pages since they were first published. 

"A rebuttal:

"1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system."

This makes sense to me and falls well within the purview of the POTUS' abilities; all Executive branch agencies should work together. This is an internal 'play nice' from their boss/our Employee the POTUS.

"2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system."

How is the Federal government allowing government bodies to violate HIPPA a good thing? Please, explain this to me. If someone was adjudicated and forcibly remanded to state mental healthcare, this is a public record so HIPPA has no bearing. this is what the NICS is interested in. Or is this going to allow fishing expeditions based upon privileged doctor/patient information?

"3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system."

This should mean that states that have been conforming (such as Missouri) the whole time that NICS has been around should be rewarded. Somehow I don't see that happening and instead I see this as trying to 'slap around' states who are non-compliant. Considering that the NICS has been in place for a couple of decades, there has been plenty of time for states to send representation to the federal level to get this repealed. "game on" as it were to the non-compliant states.

"4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks."

#4 is rather troubling considering the continuation of US PATRIOT Act and the failure of indefinite detention to be removed from NDAA 2011 as well as several other actions and threats made by the executive branch over the last 12+ years. 'Domestic terrorist' lists similar to the 'no fly' list that has zero oversight?

#5 is somewhat ok, I'd rather see a federal database that is publicly searchable for recovered stolen/seized firearms. Verification of ownership and access to their Right to Keep and bear Arms is fine, but looking at the 'List' in #4 this could be troubling if determination of ownership of a specific type of weapon puts one in a 'restricted' class.

If #13 includes a recommendation from the DoJ to NOT allow plea deals in cases where any weapon was used to commit a crime, I'd be ok with that as long as Castle Doctrine and no duty to retreat come into effect and DA's are unable to go after defensive gun use when employed by those who are not barred from using their 2nd Amendment right to self defense with a firearm.

The EO's in and of themselves are relatively benign but looking at the direction that we have been going since the Oklahoma City bombing and 9/11 they can been seen in a negative light. The other issue is that even if the current Administration does nothing to curtail rights, who is to say that future ones won't?

Oh, if you want to publish my personal information, feel free. I am the interim Chairman of the Democratic Gun Owners' Caucus of Missouri, a member of the Blue Steel Democrats and run the blog at www.armedliberalinmo.blogspot.com so any publicity or additional memberships you want to send my way, please feel free. ;)

My wife is an immigrant from Canada who is working on her Citizenship so I am not doing anything that would impede her progress.

Again, this is the view of someone who identifies as a Liberal, feels that Civil Rights are held by no one if anyone's are disrupted and disagrees that we need as much federal government as we have.

Thanks,
Armed Liberal in MO"

Oh yeah, they did respond.  A very polite "Thanks, but we disagree".  They seemed intrigued that there are Liberals who tend to vote Democrat yet actually *LIKE* firearms.  The shock!  ;)

They also posted some personal info on other blog posts of RKBA activists.  I'm not sure why they did that, it seems that it would potentially put folks in harm's way but I am not sure if that would be the folks whose family and addresses were printed or those who would seek to do them harm...

Note sent to Southern Poverty Law Center

Hi Daniel, I'm not sure if you remember myself or my wife W. but we are concerned about the 'Patriot' report. 

Do we fit your current definition of Domestic Terrorists?  We do not feel that the federal government has any right to say who I can sell my private property to and have been working to increase the enjoyment of folks' Natural Rights to self defense.

I am an advocate for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  Much like the rest of our Civil Rights, minority access has historically blocked either by force of law or by the cost of entry.  While I do not fit their demographic, I agree 100% with the Deacons of Defense and the Black Panther Party for Self Defense (the old school one, not the recent hate group) that everyone who has not separated themselves from their rights.

Backing gun restrictions is saying that Bull was right to block MLK's application for a concealed carry license.

Please think carefully about any response you have on this issue.

Thanks,
'Armed Liberal In Missouri'  (I did use my real name)
Former Asatruar, current gun rights advocate.

______

Years ago, my wife and I were actively supporting the SLPC.  Now, they have released a paper on 'domestic terrorism' which defines Second Amendment supporters as teh same as John Birch Society or other Right Wing groups.

They may have just lost my support.  I am awaiting their response and will post it here.

Book of Grudges

A long time ago I had a different hobby.  It was Warhammer Fantasy and I played the Dwarf Kingdom.  GW Dwarves are a surley lot and their High King is transported around on a special throne.  This throne was made of a book, the Book of Grudges.

This is my Book of Grudges.

Over the past year of building my AR pistol, I have run into several companies that just did not want to take my money.  Either they would say something stupid and I'd get into a 'FaceBook/Email Rumble' with them or they would have something negative on their website that I took issue with or else esposed some political belief outside of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms that I just could not support.

Today, that was Molon Labe Industries.

There is a graphic going around stating that the major mass murders of the 20th century were Liberals.  They put this up on their site and I stated an objection to it.  I made the statement that this is not the time to try and divide the RKBA community by Conservative/Liberal lines.  Their supporters continued that screed and I ended up unliking their page after I suggested that they post their anti-Liberal bias directly on their website and that I had helped close to 40 AR's be started to be built via a group buy of stripped lowers.

I will not be buying any of their 2.5 million projected polymer magazines on the primary market.  I may buy them on the secondary market but even that is in doubt.

They are now on my list of Traitors to RKBA.  We need to bring all of the activists that feel that our civil rights include the Right to Keep and Bear Arms together to keep the pressure on Congress and our state assemblies or else the bullshit laws that will accomplish nothing but the loss of control to the GOP at all levels. 

Any company that espouses a love of firearms ownership need to either be clear about not wanting Liberals to support them or any of their causes or else they need to play nice.  We Liberal gun owners catch enough crap from our 'fellow' liberals that feel that we should die due to our enjoyment of firearms or wanting to have effective tools available for our self defense. 

While the Conservatives are doing a great job of voicing their dissent, Democratic elected officials tend to listen more to their base.  If we fall silent on this issue, there is a good sense that it would be seen as 'consent'.  With no Liberal support, the war to retain our Right to Keep and Bear Arms will be a lost cause.

Just something for anti-Liberal Conservatives to consider.

You need us as much as we need you on this issue.  Help us be able to be good example to others who have not considered the reasons why we are fighting for this issue and you will have our support.

Where we are at today.

Ok, time for an update. After the number of times I've dropped this blog into conversations on FaceBook I feel the need for an update.

AR pistol build is not as stalled out. As a way of saying 'thanks' for running a group buy of their new lowers, a very new AR manufacturing company in Florida is sending me one of their first bolt carrier groups. Now I just need to get that 12" barrel on order from Surplus Ammo (Black Hole Ordinance).

Folks, we are deep in a horrible situation. Ammo supplies are starting to come in but no primers will be available until either July or August. Powder and bullets are also in short supply but are starting to trickle back in.

Many factors have lead to where we are at today. Fear/Uncertainty/Doubt has been sewn by both sides of the gun restrictions argument. Folks that never considered owning an AR platform firearm have spent two or three times MSRP to get them, magazines are trickling out, companies like Cheaper Than Dirt! have gouged customers on the cost of previous stock and ammunition has flown off the shelves.

I was close to getting rid of my project. Thankfully that does not seem to be happening now.

The truly odd thing was the run on .22lr ammo. It seems that a lot if folks felt it was the End of Days...

I'll get more into my thoughts and feelings of discussions I have had and friends/foes I have made on FaceBook and other online communities at a later date. I'm having too nice a day to do so.

Update to AR Pistol build

Here's where my build stands now.  All I need is a bolt carrier group, barrel and gas tube.  Not bad for 6 months and a lot of help from other folks.  I didn't build this on my own.  ;)

Parts so far:
Smith & Wesson M&P15 stripped lower  - Bud's Gunshop, transfered through M&M GUns, St Peters, MO
Cerro Forge A2 upper - Kurt in Russellville, MO
Carbine buffer tube - eBay
Carbine buffer & spring - Mark's Guns, MO
Magpul MOE handguard - eBay
Magpul AFG2 - eBay
Magpul 5-slot rail - eBay
Cerro Forge A2 front sight base - Kurt in Russellville, MO
Noveske KX-3 muzzle device - Kyle in Iron Mountain, MI
CMMG lower parts kit - Cabela's mail order
Pearce 1911 Grip Frame and hard rubber stocks - M&M Guns, St Peters, MO
Ambi rear plate - eBay
Charging Handle - Equipment Exchange on ar15.com
Round hand guard cap - Equipment Exchange on ar15.com
Delta Ring group - Equipment Exchange, ar15.com
Barrel nut - msc used gear seller at St Charles, MO gun show

Once I get this finished, I will get video of me shooting it.

Obama Operatives are invading gun forums!

It seems that either the fevered brain of Joe D'Alessandro has snapped or some NRA-ILA memo is being sent around to 'out' the 'operatives'.  I have been unable to dig up anything on this aside from realguns.com facebook page.  I thought he was kidding, so I put it out there that I must be an Operative since I fit the bill that the NRA-ILA is putting out there.  The above was the response I got.

The truth is, I love guns.  I go to a lot of forums where there is a tendency to blame Liberals for all the anti-gun laws that are out there.  Since I refuse to vote for a former Governor who made MA 'Assault Weapons' ban permanent, I have to back the guy that signed the NDAA and whose AG is a slime bag.

Within minutes of the exchange I grabbed in a screenshot, all of my Facebook posts on RealGuns.com's page were deleted.  I don't know if that was a function of my 'unFriending' the site or if Joe D'Alessandro edited them out.  Frankly, I don't care either way.

The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is something that I am passionate about.  I'm not too big a guy to admit that my feelings were hurt quite a bit when I was told that all the work and effort I have personally put in to get more Liberals to at least consider going to a gun range was a waste and driven by a politician that I barely tolerate.  It really sucks when a site that claims to want to extend RKBA ends up being nothing more than someone that says 'sorry, that's not for you due to your politics'.

If folks like D'Alessandro want to ignore the rapidly growing segment of gun owners that do not fit in the ILA's narrative then they will not have us as allies in the fight to keep our guns where they belong, in our hands and not the shredder.  

An email that was sent to the Democratic National Committee

Since the Platform has now been amended to include God and Israel, why not make some more changes?
In an email that we sent to the DNC, the following changed verbiage was suggested:

"Firearms. We recognize that the individual right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we will preserve Americans' Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation, much of which is already in place. We understand the terrible consequences of gun violence; it serves as a reminder that life is fragile, and our time here is limited and precious. We believe in continuing the honest, open national conversation about firearms. We will focus on effective enforcement of existing laws, especially strengthening our background check system, and we can work together to enact commonsense improvements—like exploring the use of a BIDS-type system, encouraging responsable gun ownership and proper storage options—so that the number of guns falling into the hands of those irresponsible, law-breaking few can be reduced or eliminated."

Information on BIDS can be found here: http://www.gunlaws.com/BIDS%20v.%20NICS.htm One concern is that the BIDS list would be handled like the TSA's "no fly" list, but that can be avoided by utilizing the current methods of resolving NICS inaccuracies on a Deny result.

As a party, we have come a LONG way from where we were in '94 on this issue. Removing the Right to Keep and Bear Arms as a wedge decisive issue would remove the teeth from anti-Liberal groups such as the GOA and NRA-ILA. The '94 Assault Weapons Ban did nothing to stem the tide of gun related crime and in fact caused a plateau of crime while it was in place based upon a study of the FBI UCR data from '94 through '04 which then has declined steadily again after the expiration.

I have CC'ed other Gun Owners' Caucuses from OR, AZ and TX to keep them appriased of our suggestions from here in Missouri.

Thank you for placing Firearms in the Civil Rights portion of the Platform where it is a much better fit."





Yours for a Democratic Victory,
Erik Olsen
Interim Chairman

This is the text of a blog post that I put up on the Democrats.org site for the DGOC of MO.  The message was CCed to the other Gun Owners' Caucuses around the country and they were in agreement.  

If GOP pundits and Israeli S-PACs can change things from the outside, perhaps Democrats on the inside can make changes as well.  Diane Fienstein will object, but she is but one voice in the party.  Her lack of willingness to learn about this issue is a splinter in the eye of responsible gun owners everywhere.

Democratic Gun Owner's Caucus of MO is GO!

After several months of trying to figure out how to get a Gun Owner's Caucus set up, it's done.  Here in MO it is easy, just start a group and get members, no formal decree from the state Democratic Party is needed.

Democratic Gun Owner's Caucus of MO on Facebook is the facebook presence, we already have a few Missourians and several other folks from other states as well.  While we may not have time to really throw our support in favor of specific candidates for November, I have personally reached out as Interim Chairman of the Caucus to the Democrats in the State Senate and have the full support of Marie Chappelle-Nadal who is the Senator from my home district.

If you or anyone you know who owns firearms in Missouri, is a registered voter and tends to vote Democrat please tell them about this group. 
Feel free to email any ideas, comments or questions to democraticgunownersofmo@gmail.com

The DNC has dropped gun restrictions from the national platform, let's make sure that pro-gun Dems get elected in our state.  The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is neither a Conservative nor a Liberal right, it is a human one.

NRA-ILA ice cream social

On August 4th I was invited to go to an Ice Cream Social at the new NRA-ILA office in St Charles, MO. I signed in but did not take the 'Vote Obama Out' sticker that they were using to track who had signed in. They now have my name, address and the new email address for my volunteer position with the LGC.

There were some very earnest folks there. I did hear terms bandied about that I had anticipated hearing such as "socialism", "anti-gunners" and "Liberal" used as negative terms.

What I did learn was that despite being told the contrary, my perception of the NRA-ILA being vocally Republican was correct. I don't think that there has been a Democrat (non-DINO) in a place of leadership since the
ILA was formed.

When the NRA-ILA is willing to allow non-Conservative views to be expressed as part of their platform or at least not spending members' money on Conservative issues, I will consider joining.

Buffer tube installed

I fixed the issue I had with the front pivot pin detent without having to buy anything new or fancy.  I found a steel nail that was 3/32" in diameter and cut a length of it that would work as the detent.  Installation of this improvised detent pin went far better than the one supplied by CMMG.  Front pivot pin is now working as designed.

At this point, the last bits I need for my lower is the buffer (going with an "H" carbine buffer to start with) and the buffer spring.  Once I have those, I'll get a few cans of Rust-Oleum 'nutmeg' and 2-3 cans of clear flat enamel.  After the paint dries, I'll be wrapping the buffer with coyote 550 paracord.  I may add some red paracord into the mix to show off the weave pattern, not sure at this time.

Current plan for the upper will go one of two ways.  Either I'll drop $350 + S/H on a DSArms 11.5" flattop upper w/bolt carrier group or I'll part an 11.5" upper together.  It just depends on finances.  Odds are that I'll be parting one up with parts from Surplus Ammo which would cost more in the long run but would mean less money put out at once.  Since I have the vice blocks for the upper assembly as well as a good armorer's tool from ATI, I'm not worried either way.

Why not in Missouri.

Arizona, Oregon, Nevada, Texas.  What is it that these states have that Missouri does not have?

A Democratic Gun Owners' Caucus.

Traditionally, Missouri is a red state largely due to the wedge issues that seperate the Conservative 'hinterland' from the Liberal urban areas.  Gun ownership (the individual right to bear arms) should not be one of the wedges used to keep this state's Democrats from public office.

I have been in contact with several of my elected officials.  It troubles me that I hear the familiar 'whistle words' of 'gun show loophole', 'assault weapons' and so forth.  These are just buzzwords made popular by pro gun restriction forces such as the Brady Group and Mayors Against Illegal Guns.  These terms need to be removed from the lexicon of OUR elected officials as they are code words for 'no private sales of personal property' and 'modern firearms'.

So far, my efforts have not produced much traction but I am digging in and will continue to post up when I have more information on the Missouri Blue Steel Democrats.

Why does a Liberal use the Gadsen Flag as an image?

Why does a Liberal use the Gadsden Flag as an image? 
Isn't that the image of the Tea Party? 

Not really.  The yellow field backed Gadsden flag was started to be used by the Tea Party movement to show that they were fed up with the direction that the USA was taking after a black man was elected to the POTUS.  I held that symbol in very high esteem for most of my adult life and hated that a group that I found so disagreeable 'co-opted' it. 

At that point, I decided that as a counter-point symbol, the First Navy Jack should be used by Liberals, especially those of us closer to Classic Liberalism than Progressivism to show our lack of trust in the Establishmentarians that created the Tea Party Movement as well as the same demographic that is controlling both the GOP and the Dems. 

We've seen since 2010 that the ONLY THING that the TP Congress members want is NOT less government (none of these junior Congress critters are forgoing their expense accounts or running smaller staffed offices and have done nothing to effectively shrink the Federal government)but to get the sitting POTUS out using any means necessary such as government shutdown threats and scorched earth tactics.  It seems that they are worried that if this POTUS looks good.

I am a bit of an odd duck.  I see the Federal and State governments as necessary villains to assist individuals in their ability to keep their personal rights as well as to provide those things that individuals may not be able to provide for themselves, such as public schooling, health care facilities, common defense and emergency services.  I also see Corporations the way that Thomas Jefferson did. An Aristocracy of Corporations, indeed.

I close with the last political note from that great man, sent ahead to the 50th anniversary of the signing of that beautiful act of Treason, the Declaration of Independence:

“May (July 4) be to the world, what I believe it will be -- to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all -- the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form (of government) which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God.”

Post-February wrap-up and updates

Well, the no-spend February wasn't as profitable but we did manage to get things back on track.  No real savings but some items that we've needed for some time have been purchased and we've cut back our 'eating out' a fair bit.

Back in January I traded some .40 S&W brass and a 1/2# of fresh Unique powder for a set of RCBS .223 full-length sizing dies so I can reload .223 ammo for my upcoming AR-15 rifle build.  I had the dies in my hot little hands for less than a day before I stuck a case.  Long story short, I've contacted RCBS support a few times and still have not gotten the replacement spindle that they have been promising me since January 25th.  I broke down and bought the X-spander spindle from Cabela's.  Since that point, I have now sized and expanded several hundred pieces of .223 PMC, Federal and Lake City brass.  Now to get a pound of Ramshot TAC powder and some Hornady VMAX 62-grain bullets...after I get a scale that is more accurate than the used RCBS 5-0-5 scale that I have.

I guess I'll send the 5-0-5 to RCBS to have them check out and recalibrate if needed.  While I have heard many good things about thier customer service over the years, my experience has been less than stellar. 

The lay-away Smith & Wesson M&P 15 lower reciever that I have on hold for me at Bud's Gunshop in Lexington, KY should be in my possession before I turn 40 at the end of the month.  Then it's $69 for the lower parts kit, $54 for the stock and recoil spring with another $400-$500 for the upper.  Or, I may just order a rifle kit from either www.akpartskits.com or www.model1sales.com.  Or both, there are still cheap stripped lower recievers out there...

Merry Christmas

In my quest to no longer be a non-firearm owner, I now have a Smith & Wesson M&P15 stripped lower on lay-away with Bud's Gunshop in Lexington, KY.

Once that along with a few bills are taken care of, my wife's SIG 238 Rainbow and my Rock Island Tactical .45 will go on lay-away.  breaking up gun payments over 90 days means taht you don't ahve to settle for guns you don't want.

Starting to get worn down

For months I've tried to be the 'Liberal Outreach Person' for the 'Right to Keep and Bear Arms' issue.  I think that I am no longer going to attempt to 'reach out' to the more conservative gun owners to try and bridge the gap on this issue.  They seemed determined to marginalize all Liberals into the 'gonna grab our guns!' camp.

I feel that my efforts on this front have been wasted.  Yes, I have met several folks who are able to comprehend that RKBA is NOT just a 'conservative' voice but many many more just don't 'get it'.

I am going to focus instead on reaching my fellow Liberals on this issue to show that this is a Civil Liberties issue and not just a bunch of gun-crazy xenophobic rednecks.