Congressional races to watch

On: By: admin

According to the Star Gazette, the NRCC is spotlighting three Congressional races as possible Republican pickups this fall in districts 1, 19 and 29.  That gives us these match-ups:

CD-1: F rated incumbent Tim Bishop v. Randy Altschuler.  Bishop is a longtime anti, Altschuler is an unknown quantity.

CD-19: F rated incumbent John Hall v. Nan Hayworth.  Hall accepted campaign money from the Brady’s but wasn’t actively promoting antigun legislation the last time I checked.  Hayworth struck me as being a RINO but does not have any position statement on her campaign website about guns.

CD-29: C rated incumbent Eric Massa v. Tom Reed.  Not sure what Massa did to earn his last NRA rating.  He seemed concerned about being perceived as being pro-gun in the past.  Reed is the Mayor of Corning, but his position on guns is unknown.  He isn’t a member of MAIG.

News of the day

On: By: admin

Some press mention of the Jan. 12 lobby day here and here.

Dick Nelson on events of the past decade, Part 1 and Part 2.

Sheldon Silver thinks Andrew Cuomo is going to run for Governor next year.

Daniel Donovan is considering running for state D.A. next year.  He’s not pro-gun:

“Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan wrote a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressing his opposition to a law that would allow holders of permits to carry concealed weapons in their state to carry one in another state …”

Microstamping in action

On: By: admin

California’s microstamping law goes into effect on January 1.  How’s it working out?

“… The law is on hold as state officials work out regulations governing how new guns will be approved …”

Should we be optimistic that will happen any time soon?

“… California regulators have approved far fewer semi-automatic pistols for sale in the wake of a state law that required new safety devices in 2006 and 2007 …”

I’ll take that as a No.  Are manufacturers going to comply or leave the market?

“… Now, with a new bullet-stamping law scheduled to take effect in 2010, the gun industry predicts it will introduce even fewer new models in California rather than install a device necessary to trace individual casings to a statewide database. “California will become like Cuba with cars,” said Lawrence Keane, senior counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which represents the gun industry. “You will only be able to get very old models of guns.” … Manufacturers say the microstamping technology is unproven and would add hundreds of dollars in new production costs to guns …”

Leave the market. Just as the antis intended.

Why Schumer keeps getting re-elected

On: By: admin

Why does Chuck Schumer keep getting re-elected?  Because he’s all over the place:

“… Sen. Charles Schumer is in Schenectady County today to complete his 11th year in a row of visiting all 62 counties in New York since he took office in 1999 …His office said this year’s tour included 13 trips to Albany; 16 to Erie; 17 to Monroe; 14 to Onondaga; and 22 to Westchester and Rockland counties. He made 11 trips to the North Country, 12 trips to the Southern Tier, 25 trips to the Capital Region, 25 trips to Western New York, 47 trips to the Hudson Valley, 26 trips to Central New York, and 25 trips to the Rochester-Finger Lakes.”

Giving credit where it’s due, Schumer is very, very good at being a politician.  He’s made it seem like he’s personally connected with everybody and everything.  He puts more effort into that than any other politician I know of.  You never know where he’ll show up next, but wherever it is, he’ll claim credit for whatever good thing is happening or show concern for whatever crap is going on and promise to fix it.

How to get an unrestricted NYC pistol license

On: By: admin

How do you get an unrestricted NYC pistol license? Have your own radio show.

Click here for full size image.

H/T to AR15.COM

Effectiveness v. Ineffectiveness

On: By: admin

My weekly e-mail from ammoland.com brings yet another “Compromise v. No Compromise” discussion.  These academic debates inevitably miss the point as this is the wrong question to ask.  When choosing which organizations to support, the most important question to ask is are they effective in implementing their agenda?

Everyone has ideas on how to solve the world’s problems.  Very few people take the time to think about how to put those ideas into practice.  Quoting the Founding Fathers is esoteric.  Unless an individual or group has a way of either getting sitting legislators to respect the 2nd Amendment as the Founders intended, or replacing those incumbents with new representatives, that individual or group is just blowing smoke.  Expounding esoteric answers when the votes aren’t there to make the change does not work.  Ideas count for nothing unless there is a will and a way to practically implement them.

With that in mind, these are the questions I think everyone should ask before supporting, especially financially, any organization:

  • Do they directly participate in the legislative process?  Do legislators actively seek their input when drafting bills and before voting on them?  Can they get their own ideas put into bill form, advanced through the legislature and signed into law?
  • Do they directly participate in the political process?  Do they have a PAC?  Do they raise money for candidates?  Do politicians actively seek their endorsement and does that endorsement carry any weight at election time?

Political activism is a finite resource.  There is only so much time and money people have to give.  I want to put mine into efforts that produce results.  What about you?

Amicone might run for SD-35

On: By: admin

Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone was one of MAIG’s biggest supporters early on, parroting whatever Mayor Mike was going on about at the time.  He’s term limited out and cannot run for re-election.  According to The Capitol, he’s considering running for State Senate against Andrea Stewart-Cousins:

“… GOP leaders have been in intense talks with Yonkers mayor Phil Amicone about the possibility of challenging Stewart-Cousins in next year’s elections, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. Amicone … is said to be strongly considering a run, and will likely decide early in the new year.  “They see Amicone as their best bet,” said a Republican operative briefed on the conversations. GOP officials have been courting Amicone for more than six months, and have promised to pour millions into the race if he decides to run … Amicone has also demonstrated an ability to appeal across party lines in heavily Democratic Yonkers. He has made the environment and public safety centerpieces of his public image, joining Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s anti-illegal gun coalition …”

Stewart-Cousins is no prize, having been endorsed by NYAGV.  She was also apparently unaware that Kimber is based in her district and employees hundreds of people.  It is my understanding that Kimber would move out of the state if microstamping becomes law and all those people would be out of a job.

News of the day

On: By: admin

I’m quoted in the 12/25 issue of NY Outdoor News for the upcoming “Sportsmen’s Day” in Albany next month.

Noise complaints directed towards the Northern Dutchess Rod & Gun Club look as if they’re coming to a head next week.  This has been going on for the past 6-7 years and demonstrates why it is necessary to be involved in local elections as well.

Is Onondaga D.A. William Fitzpatrick going to run for Attorney General next year?  Is Andrew Cuomo?

If you’re planning on buying a Leupold scope, make sure it isn’t counterfeit.

I got a free copy of “Keeping Your Family Safe: The Responsibilities of Firearm Ownership” to plug.  Like the other one, it looks like it would be useful for school reports and the like.