Category: General Information

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Seems Like a Bad Idea…

Orion Entertainment is looking for a few, heavily-armed preppers for a new reality show.

The new show would showcase preppers who are stockpiling weapons and “…their chilling motivations…”  Orion wants viewers to be “…wowwed by the collection” of guns, knives, NVG and other armament owned by the prepper.

I obviously believe that guns should be a part of anyone’s disaster preparations.  But, I do not believe that guns should be the focal point of anyone’s preps.  In my mind, prepping should be balanced, seeking to address the most likely needs first and building out from there.  Guns and ammo are important: just not the main focus.

It seems to me that this new show will not help the prepping movement at all.  People who are seriously trying to prepare for any kind of disruption probably won’t learn anything from the show, while anyone who is not prepping will likely be turned off from the concept after being show that preppers are just “survivalist nuts” looking for World War III.

I haven’t seen any of Orion’s other work, but they do seem to offer good programing such as Grateful Nation (hunting afield with disabled vets) and Don’t Be a Victim (hosted by Gerald McRaney).  I hope this new prepping series doesn’t end up being what I fear it might.

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Guns of Total Recall

Total Recall Chiappa Rhino

It looks like yet another Hollywood remake is rolling off the line.  This time it is Total Recall.  Watching the trailer I spotted a few different guns that I thought were interesting:  the Chiappa Rhino and the KRISS Vector TDI.

The Rhino has that cyberpunk, retro-future look that seems to fit the mood of the new Total Recall.

Total Recall Chiappa Rhino

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ATF Facts and Trends

ATF logo

There were some interesting tidbits of information in “Firearms Commerce in the United States 2011” published recently by the ATF.

Manufacturing – There are 5400 licensed firearms manufacturers in the United States.  Going through my web browser’s bookmarks, I clearly have only a small fraction of that number on my radar.

ATF logo

It stands to reason that if the USA is built on small business, so is the firearms industry.  While not everyone is a Remington, Ruger or Smith & Wesson, a manufacturer doesn’t need to be massive to be profitable.  There are a lot of small manufacturers that are building custom rifles, race guns and other niche firearms.  Thousands of them, actually.

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Smith & Wesson Quarterly Report Offers Insights

Smith & Wesson Sigma
Smith & Wesson Sigma
Smith & Wesson Sigma
Smith & Wesson Sigma

The Smith & Wesson quarterly report for the period ending July 31, 2011 was filed yesterday.  Reading through these reports offers some amazing insights into the goings-on of a publicly traded company.

The reports can also make your eyes glaze over, and suck the will to live from you.  So to help you avoid such a fate, here are a few of the highlights.

The Good

For the quarter ending July 31, 2011, Smith & Wesson net product and services sales were up 18% ($14 million) to $91.7 million as compared to the same quarter the previous year.

S&W reported a “significant increase” in the sales from their Sigma line of handguns, which they attributed to the company’s “price repositioning strategy.”  Sigma handguns in both 9mm and .40 S&W are typically found in the $270-290 price range. At these prices, the Sigma offers an incredible value to the shooter on a budget.

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Don’t Kill Yourself: Gun Safety Tips

I feel the need to review the rules of gun safety with my readers.  Not that I think any of you don’t know them.  Actually, I think most of you could recite them in your sleep.

I’m more concerned about people who get so comfortable with guns, they no longer respect what they can do.  The moment you don’t respect the lethality of a firearm, and fail to follow the rules, you will most assuredly find yourself in a bad way.

Some of you know that I am a full-time cop with an urban agency in Florida.  Well, the first call out of the gate yesterday was for a real “gun guy” who failed to follow the rules.  The good news is he lived.  The bad news is he may not be able to use his left hand…or what’s left of it…after this little gun handling faux pau.  A .357 Magnum will do that, you know.

Let me try to explain the damage that one casual disregard of the rules made.  I don’t have photos for you, so I can only hope my words are enough to impress upon you to pay attention!

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