Scary Stuff

Right now there is a proposal, by the Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) agency, to expand the definition of a "Switch blade" knife. This new definition is broad enough to encompass an estimated 80% of pocket knives currently in the United States (basically any knife that can be opened with one hand). This proposal was made a bit over 2 weeks ago, this shows how quietly it has been moving. So quietly the mandatory 30 days open for comments has almost expired (June 21st is the last day). On top of this only snail mail can be used to file a comment, no emails nor phone calls.

Folks this is pretty scary stuff. Quietly the laws are changed, and suddenly you can be charged with a federal weapons violation that you did not know you had committed (which, by the way would be a felony and take away your right to own a firearm). Think I am being an alarmist? I hope I am, but how quickly and quietly this is moving is quite disconcerting.

Here is a copy of the proposal as it stands now. Write you repersentatives, tell them that they should oppose this attack on the second amendment. If you wish to send in a comment to the CBP send it here:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Office of International Trade
Regulations and Rulings
Mint Annex
799 9th Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20229

Attn: Intellectual Property and Restricted Merchandise Branch

RE: PROPOSED REVOCATION OF RULING LETTERS AND REVOCATION OF TREATMENT RELATING TO THE ADMISSIBILTY [sic] OF CERTAIN KNIVES WITH SPRING-ASSISTED OPENING MECHANISMS

Remember the window for comments on the proposal ends June 21 (which is a Sunday so the actual effective end is June 20).

Thanks to kniferights.org for this heads up

Who ya gonna call?

After a long day of work, I decided to spend the afternoon at the local firing range. While there I met some of the local Sheriff's department, nice guys. After expending 3 or so hours sighting in a few rifles and a shot gun, I returned home. First thing, clean the firearms.

I was interrupted by a telemarketer. Usually I just hang up, but the opening line caught my attention.
"Sir, what would you do if someone suddenly broke into your home? Would you have time to call the police?"

"Yes, I imagine I would have time to call them."

The woman seemed confused by this answer, but continued trying to make the sell.

"But sir, police usually take 10 to 15 minutes to respond, with our security system they would be on the way automatically"

"Ma'am, trust me it is not an issue."

Confusion again
"Do you already have a security system sir?

Grinning I cycle the slide of the shotgun I had just put together.
"Yes ma'am, I do.

Sometimes universal timing just works.

Then and now

"This year will go down in history! For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!" -Adolf Hitler 1935


`(1) IN GENERAL- It shall be unlawful for any person other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to possess a qualifying firearm on or after the applicable date, unless that person has been issued a firearm license--

`(A) under title I of Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, which license has not been invalidated or revoked under that title; or

`(B) pursuant to a State firearm licensing and record of sale system certified under section 602 of Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, which license has not been invalidated or revoked under State law.

`(2) APPLICABLE DATE- In this subsection, the term `applicable date' means--

`(A) with respect to a qualifying firearm that is acquired by the person before the date of the enactment of Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, 2 years after such date of enactment; and

`(B) with respect to a qualifying firearm that is acquired by the person on or after the date of the enactment of Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, 1 year after such date of enactment.'

-Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009 (Introduced in House)



Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. -George Santayana

Traipsing through the past

Took a bit of an outing Saturday. Went down the old Richmond chuch (an old civil war church) near Macon Georgia. Getting down there only took 30 minutes, so no big trek. Not an impressive building, just a little old church down a old country road. I ran into an old timer and his wife while I was there, he was a bit of an amatuer historian. I got to learn the past of the church and quit a lot about the family names on the graves. All in all quite an outing. I will post some of the pictures on my photoblog when I get a chance to go through them.

Long days

I know it's been a spell since I've posted. What can I say, things have been quite rough. I am now state side again. Since returning I have had my great uncle's stroke, my mother's inprisonment, my father's congestive heart failure, getting an apartment, getting my belongings moved in, and allergies (the cherry on top) to deal with. So I think it's understandable that the blog has slipped abit.

On the up side things are finally getting under control. This weekend is the first since I've been back that I'm actually able to take some time and relax abit. Really can't wait.

The world keeps spinning

Between getting ready to move from Korea to the US, then from the US to Canada, then from Canada to Poland, doing my taxes, work, and finding out my mother will be in jail for the next two years... I really have nothing left at the moment, and am very burnt out.

Electric Cars

In this age of Global Warming (or Man Made Climate Change) Alarmism, the electric car is reemerging. I am glad that this is happening, I for one would love a car that has instantaneous maximum torque (it's a guy thing). Unfortunately the technology is not really ready for a convenient electric car.

The range provided by these cars is very limited, the high end ones topping out at 220 miles (under ideal conditions) with a 3.5 hour recharge (using a Tesla Motors High Power Connector). This means that long trips are out of the question. The more affordable ones have a range topping out at 25-100 miles with 8 to 10 hour recharge times (with very limited carrying/towing weights). This makes them very impractical if you live in a rural environment.

Research needs to be put into development of improved batteries and fuel cells to make the electric car more feasible. Infrastructure also needs to be incorporated to standardize the battery/fuel cell shape and output. This would make it possible to pull into a station and change out your battery if you are running low on a long trip. Until serious development is accomplished the electric car will remain only in large cities, and playthings. I really hope that this will change, because I would like an electric car especially one that looks like the Tesla.