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By Dave Workman If you keep a gun in your car, you may be pushing your luck, as a new report from the Council on Criminal Justice says gun thefts from automobiles “rose sharply” during a five-year study period between 2018 and 2022. Among its key findings, the Council report noted, “The rate of guns […]
The post Report: Increasing Gun Thefts from Vehicles appeared first on Liberty Park Press.
I’ll be joining one of the Heavy Hundred for half an hour today at 4:00 pm Eastern. Go to the Armed American Radio website to listen/watch live or find a station near you.
The post Armed American Radio first appeared on The War on Guns.
Over the summer, former city councilor Catrina Stackpoole, who is gay, minced no words. “We welcomed you,” she told the Muslim members of the city council. “We created nonprofits to help feed, clothe, find housing. We did everything we could to make your transition here easier, and this is how you repay us, by stabbing … Continue reading "Coming Soon, to a Caliphate Near You"
The post Coming Soon, to a Caliphate Near You first appeared on The War on Guns.
While we see many very blue states passing laws which prohibit local law enforcement’s participation in immigration and deporation efforts, we have to wonder, would they show the same reluctance with assisting ATF if they were running through their state confiscating guns? [Watch] Or just cooperating with them through other enforcement efforts…Nobody on the left … Continue reading "Good Question"
The post Good Question first appeared on The War on Guns.
Now, the question is why? Plenty of gun companies have a page for “the only ones”, but those are typically companies like FN and Daniel Defense and others which offer select fire AR15 variants and in FN’s case, belt fed machine guns as well. But why Glock? They only make pistols. Pistols aren’t NFA or … Continue reading "Following a Long Tradition"
The post Following a Long Tradition first appeared on The War on Guns.
Why Flavor Flav Says the US Must Ban Firearms Now … I fear for my kids when I drop them off at school. Our schools aren’t safe and our kids aren’t safe. This is because gun protection laws are weak. Guns are falling into the hands of the wrong people. I would know. I went … Continue reading "Gun Criminals for Disarming You"
The post Gun Criminals for Disarming You first appeared on The War on Guns.
Over 34 studies of jury behavior, 7397 participants, White jurors show essentially 0 racial bias, while Blacks have strong bias in favor of their own race. [More] See…? [Via WiscoDave]
The post Damn White Supremacists… first appeared on The War on Guns.
Fact is, most firearms innovations have come from outside the government. [More] Which is why “in common use at the time” can go from being a winning strategy in some circumstances to a trap more fundamental ones. Face it: Every new idea starts as a monopoly. Why our “gun rights leaders” seem deliberately indifferent to … Continue reading "Uncommon Use at the Time"
The post Uncommon Use at the Time first appeared on The War on Guns.
Part of me thinks “Opening salvos of CW2.” Perhaps, but another part thinks this is what those manipulating the predictable have planned before the midterms, the administration to horrify the normies, and the Democrats hoping to create martyrs and amplified outrage. I guess all three outcomes are not mutually exclusive. [Via Michael G]
The post Pavlovian Optics first appeared on The War on Guns.
"While experts say the National Weather Service issued alerts in a timely manner over the weekend, the deadly incident carries warnings about what could happen if the NWS and NOAA are not properly staffed and funded in the future."
So what actually caused insufficient warning? 7/10/25 ABC News:
"At 4:22 a.m. on Friday, as Texas' Hill Country began to flood, a firefighter in Ingram – just upstream from Kerrville – asked the Kerr County Sheriff's Office to alert nearby residents, according to audio obtained by ABC affiliate KSAT. But Kerr County officials took nearly six hours to heed this call."
The warning was "bureaucratized." I generally trust local governments more than remote entities but they are not immune to corruption (as Caldwell, Idaho voters are discovering) and incompetence.
Kentucky State Police Trooper James Cameron Wright has finally been indicted by the feds for multiple civil rights violations, which were not only known by his chain of command, but some of which were personally reviewed and approved by the literal head of the Kentucky State Police. This includes beatings, perjury, and more. [Watch] Sounds … Continue reading "We’re the Only Ones Approved Enough"
The post We’re the Only Ones Approved Enough first appeared on The War on Guns.
We are NYC rabbis who support Zohran Mamdani – Here’s why [More] History repeats itself: The Mensheviks enjoyed a lot of support among the Jews—among two classes of Jews, that is. Martov and a large number of the Menshevik leaders—most of them—were classic representatives of the intelligentsia of Old Russia in its Jewish version, who … Continue reading "Kapos 2.0"
The post Kapos 2.0 first appeared on The War on Guns.
“Troops Could Vanish Like Squid”: New Bio-Inspired Camo Lets US Soldiers Evade Sight And High-Tech Sensors Instantly [More] So… will it be available to We the People…? [Via bondmen]
The post Squid Game first appeared on The War on Guns.
Veteran Dem Operatives Behind ‘Conservative’ Group Supporting Nebraska Independent Dan Osborn [More] So… he’s really a Democrat wearing a mask. Speaking of red flags: He said that he was a supporter of the Second Amendment, though added that he supports “common sense gun laws” like “red flag laws.” Ah, “Sentence first, verdict afterwards!” That’s a … Continue reading "That’s a Big Red Flag"
The post That’s a Big Red Flag first appeared on The War on Guns.
That’s entertainment! Go over to the YouTube post for plenty of amusing comments. [Via Wirecutter]
The post We’re the Only Ones Clownish Enough first appeared on The War on Guns.
From that point, it would be up to the faithful, if the greater church were told, to follow the Prince of Peace or, say, the peaceable Book of Mormon example of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, who buried their weapons of war and never retrieved them because they didn’t want to shed blood and offend God, to decide … Continue reading "Let the Predators, Tyrants, and Commies Kill You for Jesus"
The post Let the Predators, Tyrants, and Commies Kill You for Jesus first appeared on The War on Guns.
ACSO deputies initially responded to a 911 call reporting a stabbing in the 100 block of Old Quarry Road at about 2:20 a.m. Saturday, according to an ACSO release. As deputies headed to the scene, people at the Old Quarry Road residence started to bring the stabbing victim, 26-year-old River Scott May of Mount Sidney, to Augusta Health.
On the way to Augusta Health, the vehicle transporting May in the 2500 block of Springhill Road met deputies, and Staunton Augusta Rescue Squad personnel arrived to assist with life-saving measures. Those efforts were unsuccessful, the release said, and May was pronounced deceased at the scene.
While at the Springhill Road location, the driver who had been transporting May told deputies he shot the person who stabbed May. Deputies responded to the original location on Old Quarry Road, where they found a man dead from an apparent single gunshot wound to the head.
More Here
Just after 8:15 p.m. Saturday night, a hit-and-run crash occurred at 2nd Avenue and Hull Avenue, and the driver at-fault fled the scene on foot. Two members from the other vehicle searched for the fleeing driver, the police said.
The searchers found the fleeing driver accompanied by a 30-year-old male who had a baseball bat around 9 p.m. near Ohio Street and University Avenue. One of the searchers, a 21-year-old male, allegedly shot the 30-year-old out of fear once he raised the bat. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries, police said.
On the evening of Saturday, July 5th, Natrona County deputies responded to a “shots fired” call at Alcova Reservoir, roughly seven miles north of the Carbon County border. Once at the scene, deputies found that a group of campers had engaged in a heated argument after several individuals tried to prevent one member from driving under the influence.
According to a media release by the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office, the intoxicated man, later identified as a Colorado resident, allegedly pointed a rifle at another individual who tried to stop him from getting into his vehicle. In response, the second male, who is from Casper, fired his handgun.
The intoxicated male with the rifle and an unidentified female bystander were each shot once in the leg. Both victims were transported to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Nation’s largest teachers union votes to sever ties with Anti-Defamation League over Israel support [More] Then we have David Hogg splitting the Democrat Party… So, naturally, the Republicans, not wanting to feel left out, screwed us on suppressors and short barrels, and upped the disgruntlement by playing Emily Litella with the Epstein files…
The post And There Was War in Heaven first appeared on The War on Guns.
Congratulations to Mark Walters of Armed American Radio for being selected by TALKERS Magazine, “The Bible of talk radio and new talk media” as one of the top hundred hosts. [More] You can hear all about it here.
The post The Heavy Hundred first appeared on The War on Guns.
A federal judge ruled that a 76-year-old former Chicago alderman accused of bribery and lying to the FBI is unfit for trial, saying it would have an “adverse effect” on her health. [More] Using that rationale, anyone up on a capital murder charge could make the same claim. Corrupt Chicago Democrat politicians: Say it ain’t … Continue reading "The Chicago Way"
The post The Chicago Way first appeared on The War on Guns.
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Cheers!
101 years ago, today: On July 10, 1924, Denmark took sovereignty control of Greenland as Norway ended its claim. (Public domain photo by Markus Trienke.) JWR’s Comment: I wonder which nation will control Greenland in 2034, and in 2124… — July 10th is also the birthday of British novelist John Wyndham. He was born in 1903 and died March 11, 1969. Harris was a good friend of fellow novelist Samuel Youd (1922-2012), who wrote under several pen names, including John Christopher. Both men were famous for writing what are often called “cozy catastrophies”. Several of Wyndham’s novels and short stories …
The post Preparedness Notes for Thursday — July 10, 2025 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
In my two recent SurvivalBlog articles, I made suggestions about the equipment you’ll need in your GHB (Get Home Bag), BOB (Bug Out Bag), and your INCH (I’m Never Coming Home) kit. What was not covered was travel and the conditions you might encounter. Traveling is austere conditions is the subject of this two-part article. What is common to both parts is the weather. Traveling will not be easy. Reality check: traveling and resting in austere conditions will not be a sightseeing nature stroll or a “glamping” trip. You must pay attention – all the time. If you are out …
The post Traveling in Austere Situations – Part 1, by Dr. Rick appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, further examination of A.I. and aerial drone technologies. The Force-Feeding of AI on an Unwilling Public An insightful essay by Ted Gioia, over at The Honest Broker: The …
The post The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
“The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy.” – Elbridge Gerry
The post The Editors’ Quote of the Day: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
The One Big Betrayal in the One Big Beautiful Bill [More] Fireams News colleague Darwin Nercesian notes cowardice and weasel-wording instead of fidelity to principles and promises. The exchange with the Thune flack expecting praise shows how tone deaf these people are. I wish this had come out before my latest AmmoLand piece was published– … Continue reading "One Big Beautiful Befuddlement"
The post One Big Beautiful Befuddlement first appeared on The War on Guns.
Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich Gets Engaged to Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in Lavender Field in Provence (Exclusive) [More] So much for “conservative Fox News“… Why isn’t he being prosecuted for Logan Act violations? [Via Andy M]
The post Gun-Grabbers in Love first appeared on The War on Guns.
Gun Owners of America (GOA), Gun Owners Foundation (GOF), and the State of Missouri have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to immediately block enforcement of Jackson County’s sweeping gun control ordinance targeting young adults. [More] But…but…but without it, Audie might get a gun!!! The cognitive dissonance… it burns…
The post An Age-Old Question first appeared on The War on Guns.
By Dave Workman A trio of gun rights entities has joined forces in an effort to convince local New Jersey municipalities to refund applicants the municipal portion of a $200 permit-to-carry fee, using the example set recently Englishtown, which adopted a rebate resolution. Under the Englishtown resolution, $150 of the state-levied fee is returned to […]
The post NJ: Gun Rights Groups Join Forces to Promote Carry Permit Refund appeared first on Liberty Park Press.
→ Strawberries +53%
→ Oranges +37%
→ Squash +31%
→ Beef +30%
→ Carrots +30%
→ Cabbage +29%
→ Roasted or ground coffee +19%
→ White rice +17%
→ Potatoes (4.54 kg) +16%
→ Frozen broccoli +14%
→ Frozen corn +14%
→ Infant formula +12%
→ Frozen peas +12%
→ Almonds +11%
→ Salmon +11%
→ Apple juice +10%
→ Tea +9%
→ Meatless burgers +8%
→ Orange juice +6%"
I really do not want to see our cousins starve to death. If only they had a way to stop idiots in charge of their government.
Today and tomorrow are this year’s “Prime Days” on Amazon.com. For members of their excellent “prime” service, they are discounting thousands of items site wide. It’s kind of like the sales you would see on “Black Friday” or “Cyber Monday.” Some really good bargains are available. You have to be an Amazon Prime member […] I was cutting a 4.25" x 3" rectangle of CFC and once again the 1/8" carbide emdmill without a flat for the endmill holder to lock down dropped loose, I think because I was cutting too fast, provoking vibration. (25 inches/minute at .001" cuts.) Fortunately, it had completed the last cut when it fell out. This time 1 inch/minute. Slow, but I can safely leave it running and do something else. I am tempted to mill a flat on the shank. Apparently, small carbide endmills usually lack a flat. It is possible to make a flat with a diamond tool. I do not have one. I believe you can cut carbide with carbide. At worst, I break the endmill that needs the flat. These are not hideously expensive and arrive next day.
Bill Codifies New Endowment Tax Rates
Private colleges with fewer than 3,000 students are exempted from the tax, up from the current floor of 500.
| Endowment Value Per Student | Rate |
|---|---|
| $500,000 to $750,000 | 1.4% |
| $750K to $1.25M | 4.0% |
| $1.25M to $2M | 4.0% |
| More than $2M Yes, if you have $2 million per student endowment, you are a hedge fund that dabbles in education. "One of the major changes ties colleges’ access to federal student loans to students’ earnings. Programs that fail to show their graduates earn more than an adult with only a high school diploma could be cut off from loans. One rough analysis found that fewer than half of two-year degree programs would pass the earnings test, but community colleges are less reliant on loans." Yes, if a degree in Victim Studies only generates the same income as not going to college, it is arguable that whatever the benefits of such a degree are to an individual or the society as a whole, it probably does not justify federal assistance. If it really makes you feel better, pay for it yourself. | 8.0%" |
So, I'm seeing where Trump, Bondi, Patel, et al, is saying that there is no Epstein list. The guy was implicated in sex-trafficking, and his gal Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking, and there is no list? No file of clients? If we don't know who the clients were, how can we be assured that sex-trafficking was happening? I understand that the victims were young girls, but who were the Johns? The administrations answers beg for clarification.
Now, I'm hearing a lot about that nutjob that the Democrat party nominated for mayor of New York. Good for them. Who cares? I love nowhere near New York. The one town I live near, I can't tell you who is mayor. I just don't care. Likewise for the mayor of any other burg in the nation. Mayoral politics are local politics, and I ain't local. Or for that matter, the mayor of Buttcrack, NV or Armpit, MS. Just don't care.
The calendar tells me it is Wednesday. For some reason this week, my internal calendar is shifted. It's out of sync. Weird. Thankfully, the tropics re quiet. I've been checking the National Hurricane Center every day. Historically, August and September are the busy months. I hope it is a quiet season.
Check out Headstamp Publishing’s extensive catalog of excellent books: https://www.headstamppublishing.com/home-forgotten As Sweden experimented with updating the AG42 Ljungman in the 1950s, one of the intermediate patterns was the fm/54. This took the 7.62mm NATO short [...]
The post AK fm/54: Prototype Swedish Paratrooper Rifle first appeared on Forgotten Weapons.
In June of 2025, gun sales dropped 5% from June of 2024, according to the adjusted National Instant background Check System (NICS) as calculated by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, (NSSF). The number of adjusted gun sales totaled 1.06 million. This is the 71st month where the adjusted NICS numbers were over a million. The adjusted NICS numbers are calculated by the NSSF by taking the total number of NICS checks for the month, as supplied by the FBI, then subtracting the number of NICS checks for firearm permits and firearm permit rechecks. May, June and July tend to be the lowest numbers for NICS checks of all the months. As June numbers are only 60 thousand above 1 million, it is uncertain if the number of sales for July of 2025 will be over a million. We will know in about a month.
Over the last 12 months, only three months have had greater numbers of firearm sales than the month from the previous year, although the overall drop in the other nine months is not large. The number of people with confidence in the Trump administration to look after the best interests of the United States is much improved compared to the Biden administration. The number of total NICS checks diminished by 2.5% from June of 2024, half as much as the adjusted number of firearm sales.
The firearms sales numbers are an estimate, because one NICS check can be used to purchase more than one firearm, and about 1 million people have permits which can be used as a substitute for a NICS check, as obtaining the permit already required a NICS check.
The economic numbers for the United States are strong. President Trump's policies appear to have worked in diminishing the nuclear threat from Iran, coordinated with Israel. The Russia/Ukraine war continues, as President Trump attempts to bring about a ceasefire. The unsustainable spending and debt are at least acknowledged. There is a plan to deal with them. The Congress is so addicted to spending that a greater Republican majority will be needed to make the large cuts required. The Big Beautiful Bill has passed. It will take some time to determine all of the effects. It appears the tax on National Firearms Act (NFA) silencers/suppressors, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, and any other firearms will be reduced to zero dollars. The tax on machine guns and destructive devises remains at $200. There will likely be lawsuits filed attacking the viability of a tax law regulating constitutionally protected items for zero tax income. The bill contains this language, as sent to President Trump:
SEC. 70436. REDUCTION OF TRANSFER AND MANUFACTURING TAXES FOR CERTAIN DEVICES. (a) Transfer Tax.--Section 5811(a) is amended to read as follows: ``(a) Rate.--There shall be levied, collected, and paid on firearms transferred a tax at the rate of-- ``(1) $200 for each firearm transferred in the case of a machinegun or a destructive device, and ``(2) $0 for any firearm transferred which is not described in paragraph (1).''. (b) Making Tax.--Section 5821(a) is amended to read as follows: ``(a) Rate.--There shall be levied, collected, and paid upon the making of a firearm a tax at the rate of-- ``(1) $200 for each firearm made in the case of a machinegun or a destructive device, and ``(2) $0 for any firearm made which is not described in paragraph (1).''.
The NFA reform shall apply:
to calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
If President Trump signs the Big Beautiful Bill on July 4th, 2025, according to this correspondent's reading of the calendar, the changes will go into effect on January 1, 2026. This may have the effect of dampening silencer/suppressor and short barreled rifle and shotgun sales during the next six months, as people wait to take advantage of the NFA reform.
The world appears a bit more stable during the Trump administration. The domestic situation appears more rational. The economy appears to be doing better.
This correspondent expects firearm sales in July, as estimated by the adjusted NICS, to be very close to 1 million firearms.
©2025 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
A 911 call was made shortly after midnight on Saturday. The Coroner’s Office says the shooting occurred after an argument on Colonial Drive near Easley.
First responders found 44-year-old Clyde Eugene Davis III shot multiple times. The coroner said Davis died from his injuries at the scene.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said Davis threatened to kill his father and tried to strangle him in bed while armed with a weapon prior to the shooting.
Deputies responded around 8:30 p.m. to the home along Deer Run Road, where the homeowner’s son was holding the alleged burglar — Mitchell Platt, 37 — at gunpoint after shooting him in the leg.
The homeowner’s son had noticed a rear door was left open and armed himself with a revolver after then entering the home and reportedly hearing strange noises, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
After the man called out to see if anyone else was in the home, Platt allegedly emerged from a hallway and charged toward him, prompting the man to fire a single shot into Platt’s leg, the release states.
MILWAUKEE — A suspect was killed just after 11 a.m. Friday in an exchange of gunfire during an armed robbery in the 2600 block of W. Townsend Street in Milwaukee.
The suspects attempted to rob the victim at which time gunfire was exchanged between the suspects and the victim.
A bunch of States have State Dinosaurs?
I guess that since it's true that nobody's Life, Liberty, or Property are safe when the Legislature is in session, I have to approve of all the time that went into passing these bills.
July 8, 1386: Battle at Sempach: Swiss militia pikemen defeated the troops of Duke Leopold III of Austria. — On July 9th, 1755: The Battle of the Wilderness (also known as the Battle of The Monongahela) was fought. — On July 9, 1776, the US Declaration of Independence was read to George Washington’s assembled troops in New York. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 119 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, …
The post Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — July 9, 2025 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) Two is one right? In addition to the filter in each kit, a water purifier was included. The difference between the pair is that a filter is uses mechanical or physical means to restrict the passage of solids (dirt or microorganisms) to achieve safety. A purifier in contrast uses chemical or ultra-violet methods to sterilize water. The Aqua Research H2gO purifier uses brine (here it is table salt dissolved in water) electrolysis to generate a concentrated chlorine solution that is mixed into your source water to disinfect it. This is very similar …
The post Preps Starter Kits for Reluctant Families – Part 2, by A.F. appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Something is rotten in The District Of Criminals. On Tuesday, Johnny B. posted some news and memes on the now-it-is-claimed, ahem, “It never existed” Epstein client list: URGENT! We need to talk about PAM BONDI AND THE EPSTEIN LIST. Also see the video commentary by Dr. Steve Turley: Here’s The TRUTH about …
The post SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
“The physician can bury his mistakes, but the architect can only advise his client to plant vines —so they should go as far as possible from home to build their first buildings.” – Frank Lloyd Wright, as quoted in the New York Times, 4 Oct. 1953, sec. 6, p. 47.
The post The Editors’ Quote of the Day: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
Why is Ghislaine Maxwell in prison? She was convicted of child trafficking and procurement, but now it's time for that to be overturned.
Jeffery Epstein now officially committed suicide for no reason at all.
So Ghislaine must not have done anything, because nothing was done, no crimes were committed, no wealthy or prominent people were involved in sexual escapades with underage girls, everyone is innocent.
Why was Jeffery Epstein even arrested? It must all have been a unfortunate mistake. He couldn't have been involved in a conspiracy or been blackmailing clients because there weren't any. He didn't even have a list to work from.
And somebody needs to really apologize to the Duke of York, Prince Andrew.
"The client list is sitting on my desk right now to review,"
Attorney General Pam Bondi, February 2025
I see no point battering my head against OpenSSH. However, I have reached the point where:
smbclient //192.168.4.42/linuxcnc -U clayton%mypassword
gives me access to the Windows directory. Butsudo mount -t cifs -o claytoncramer@192.168.4.42 /mnt/linuxcnc
asks for the same password and rejects it.
Several syntax errors in the mount command. Solved. I wish Linux utilities were a little more specific about where and what is the error.
Then I discovered that I could not write in linuxcnc from Linux. I verified permissions were wide open on Windows and 777 on linuxcnc. It turns out the /etc/fstab entry needed file_mode=0777,dir_mode=0777 as well. Before I forget all this, I need to reboot Linux and make sure it still works.
I love pancakes, both the kind you cook on a griddle and the kind you wear on your belt.
Remember that J-frame I got back on June. Yeah, that one. I needed a holster to carry it and I've always loved a good pancake holster. I've worn kydex and the other synthetics, but what I wanted was a nice leather holster that was simple and comfortable.
So, I went over to Simply Rugged and bought a Sourdough pancake holster. I had it border-stamped to give it a little class. They told me that it would be four weeks and it came in yesterday.
Mostly for benefit of other amateur machinists.
I need to cut some pieces from a 6"x6" CFC plate. At first glance, I did not have enough Y-travel to get to the near edge of the plate to zero the Y axis. Nor could I cute this plate in half on the chop saw because there was no obvious way to clamp it down. How did I do this last time? I added another spacer block to get the spindle far enough from the column.
For a recent cigar and bourbon pairing, I reached for a couple of familiar old friends: Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Bourbon and the Oliva Serie V Melanio.
The Isaac Bowman is produced by A. Smith Bowman Distillery, located right here in Fredericksburg, VA. Despite the distillery’s proximity, their core expressions can be surprisingly hard to come by — even here in Virginia. The Isaac Bowman Port Finish, fortunately, is generally found on store shelves, but that doesn’t make it any less desirable.
I’ve long been a fan of port-finished bourbons as companions to full-flavored cigars, and the Isaac Bowman is no exception. The bottle bears no age statement but is believed to be aged in oak for 4 to 5.5 years, followed by a 3 to 6 month finish in port barrels sourced from both Virginia and Portugal (using a mix of American and French Limousin oak). It’s bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV).
The port influence is immediately evident on the nose, offering notes of dark cherry, sweet apple, and vanilla. The palate carries those same port-aged qualities forward — delectable hints of sweet fruit, brown sugar, creamy vanilla, and a touch of mild spice. The finish is long, warm, and very satisfying.
The Oliva Serie V Melanio has made more than a few appearances in these Musings and on my Instagram feed. I can’t recall a time when I didn’t have either the Serie V or Serie V Melanio — usually in several vitolas — resting in my humidor. It’s a versatile, well-rounded cigar that pairs just as well with whiskey as it does with beer or coffee.
This cigar features an Ecuadorian-grown Sumatra wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos, including Jalapa-grown ligero. Medium to full in body, it delivers a beautifully balanced profile of peppery spice, caramel, coffee, sweet nuts, and chocolate. The lingering mouthfeel is creamy and smooth.
This particular stick was from a box of Robustos I purchased in April 2024. It was brimming with the expected rich flavors and maintained an excellent, cool burn from start to finish.
The combination of the cigar and the port-finished bourbon was an absolute delight — perhaps one of the best pairings I’ve enjoyed in recent memory.
Cheers!
On July 1, 2025, in the Southern District of California, Federal District Judge, the Hon. Cathy Ann Bencivengo has ruled the State of California must modify their law to allow non-residents to apply for concealed carry permits. The logic is clear. At the time of the founding their was no requirement banning non-residents from carrying weapons for self-defense. Judge Bencivido stated:
The sole issue in this case is whether the Constitution requires California to allow nonresidents to apply for a concealed carry weapons (CCW) license. Plaintiffs, who are not California residents, complain that they are prohibited from carrying a firearm for self-defense when they visit California.
This correspondent believes the issues in this case are much broader, but this correspondent is not the District Judge.
The State of California contended that bans on licenses for carry were common for non-residents. For example, from the Defendants brief:
Nineteenth century law further reflects this historical principle. In 1880, the City of Brooklyn promulgated a law providing that “[a]ny person twenty one years of age and over . . . who has occasion to carry a pistol for his protection, may apply to the officer in command of the station house of the precinct where he resides, and such officer, if satisfied that the applicant is a proper and law abiding person” shall recommend that the Commissioner of Police issue him a permit.
It appears to this correspondent the time frame of the laws in question are much too late to be considered relevant. Judge Bencivido has issued an order granting partial summary judgement in part to the plaintiffs. From the order:
V. CONCLUSION
For the above reasons, the Court grants Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment as to their facial challenge pursuant to the Second/Fourteenth Amendment and denies the request for relief pursuant to the Privileges and Immunities Clause. The parties are ORDERED to meet and confer and submit a proposed order for an injunction consistent with this order within 30 days.
In August of 2024, Federal District Judge Garnett ruled California must issue concealed carry permits to non-residents in some cases. Judge Garnett's District Court is in the Central District of California. The cases have considerable similarities. This does not mean they will come to the same conclusions. This case, in the Southern District of California has broader implications, in the opinion of this correspondent. In 30 days we should see the proposed order if both parties are willing to agree to one. The Trump administration's active protection of rights which the Second Amendment covers is bound to have an effect on the proposed order.
States banning carry by non-residents is coming under increasing scrutiny. In Massachusetts, the State Supreme court dodged the issue. On May 2 of 2025, Attorney General Bondi sent a letter to Pennsylvannia reminding them of their requirement to issue permits to nonresidents. From the letter:
I write with concern that county sheriffs in Pennsylvania are administering the Commonwealth's Uniform Firearms Act in a manner that denies the right to bear arms to out-of state residents. This practice is unlawful under Pennsylvania law. It also raises serious concerns under the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms in public, as well as the Privileges and Immunities Clause, which prohibits discriminating against out-of state citizens by denying them the exercise of fundamental rights.
Analysis: State laws which prevent law abiding people of the United States from exercising the rights protected by the Second Amendment are obviously unconstitutional. The requirement of a permit in order to exercise these right has not yet come before the Supreme Court. It is difficult to see how a fundamental, enumerated right can legitimately be infringed upon by requiring numerous fees, background checks, and waiting periods. It is plausible all of these infringements will eventually be struck down as unconstitutional. The current court cases are incremental steps in that direction.
©2025 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
Pace said the Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) received a call just after 3 a.m. from a resident reporting a prowler had been spotted and shots had been fired. WCSO deputies arrived on the scene to find an adult female on the property of the caller. The resident, who admitted to shooting the woman, said she was on his property near a shed-like structure.
Pace said the woman was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released, adding no arrests have been made and the matter will be turned over to the Warren County District Attorney’s Office for possible review by a grand jury.
SLED said when deputies arrived, they encountered a man who had set fire to his apartment.
Investigators said the man was armed when he left the apartment, and that led to an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and a deputy.
No one was hit by the gunfire.
Authorities said the man then ran to a nearby home, where the homeowner shot him during an encounter.
The man was detained and taken to a hospital, but there is no update on his condition.
The baby's mother, who was in the pickup truck, explained they followed the sedan to exchange information after the crash.
She then noticed someone coming from behind a home with a gun in her hand.
Crime Insider sources say a woman in the truck was yelling, "I've got a baby in the car, I've got a baby in the car," but shots were fired anyway.
"I was screaming, 'It's a baby in the truck,'" she told CBS 6. "She passed the gun to her boyfriend or whoever he was and he started to fire at the truck. I crawled out of the passenger seat and grabbed my child and started walking down the alley."
A man in the truck returned fire, hitting the person in the sedan in the leg.
On July 8, 1741, Theologian Jonathan Edwards preached perhaps the most famous of all American sermons, titled: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. It was preached at Enfield, Connecticut, during The Great Awakening — July 8, 1816: Frost reported in Waltham, Massachusetts during a “year without a summer”. This was attributed to a massive volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in the previous year. Something similar had happened in 1709, with even longer-lasting economic effects. But the cause of the Great Frost of 1709 has not yet been firmly established. — Today marks the birth of actor Kevin Bacon …
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For years, my father and father-in-law would tell us that they had everything under control to handle the natural disasters common to their areas. Healthy pantries, stored gasoline and propane, plenty of firewood, tractors to clear debris or snow, four-wheel drive vehicles for movement and most importantly generators for their wells and freezers. Yet, after each big weather event both of them would tell of what they didn’t quite have ready or of supplies that they should have had. I got into the practice of calling them before inclement weather to ask if they had water and fuel ready or …
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This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, news about some Rainbow Trout stocking. (See the Idaho section.) Idaho IDFG to stock nearly 150,000 rainbow trout throughout Idaho in July. o o o Mudslide closes US Highway 95 north of Riggins. o o o One dead, multiple people hospitalized after crash south of …
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“Toute nation a le gouvernement qu’elle mèrite.” Translated: “Every country has the government it deserves.” – Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821)
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What is the effective date of the repeal of NFA taxes (if not of the NFA itself?
SEC. 70436. REDUCTION OF TRANSFER AND MANUFACTURING TAXES FOR CERTAIN DEVICES.
TRANSFER TAX.--Section 5811(a) is amended to read as follows:
''(a) RATE.--There shall be levied, collected, and paid on firearms transferred a tax at the rate of--
''(1) $200 for each firearm transferred in the case of a machinegun or a destructive device, and
''(2) $0 for any firearm transferred which is not described in paragraph (1).''.
1 455 (b) MAKING TAX.--Section 5821(a) is amended to read as follows:
''(a) RATE.--There shall be levied, collected, and paid upon the making of a firearm a tax at the rate of--
''(1) $200 for each firearm made in the case of a machinegun or a destructive device, and
''(2) $0 for any firearm made which is not described in paragraph (1).''.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.--Section 4182(a) is amended by adding at the end the following: ''For purposes of the preceding sentence, any firearm described in section 5811(a)(2) shall be deemed to be a firearm on which the tax provided by section 5811 has been paid.''
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
By that standard, the new law goes into effect on January 1 (enacted and signed into law July 4, 90 days from that October 2, two days into the third quarter, fourth quarter begins January 1).
In related news, GoA and others have brought a lawsuit challenging the registration requirements that remain. It will pose some interesting issues. NFA was based upon the taxing power (in 1934, there was a lot of doubt about how far Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce extended, and could it reach simple possession of an item inside a state). Now that Congress has repealed the tax, can it still require registration? I have no idea, this is 100% new ground. I cannot think of another case where there is no tax, but still a requirement to file a tax return. Nor of one where a law enacted under the taxing power had the tax repealed. Can the government now shift to arguing the tax return requirement is justified under the Commerce Clause, when Congress did not invoke that authority? This may be the first time that question has been asked.
Long, long ago when Jimmy Gerald Ford was the President, my first full-time job was writing telemetry software at Jet Propulsion Labs for what was eventually renamed Voyager 1 and 2. I wish that I could say that I up to the task, but I was 18 and lacked the emotional maturity for the job. I received a Mariner Jupiter-Saturn T-shirt, of which I am very proud.
That T-shirt is now in the sentimental rag bin. I would like one again. I cannot get a decent image from it or my briefcase from back then. I was able to find a low resolution image:
JUNIOR SPORTS MAGAZINES INC. et al. v. Bonta (9th Cir. 2025). My friend Don Kilmer has been chasing this absurd case for a couple years. California passed "—a statutory scheme that bars firearm advertising that 'reasonably appears to be attractive' to minors..." These idiots cannot even pass laws. What is "attractive" advertising to minors?
This is not primarily a Second Amendment case. It was decided on free speech grounds. The 9th Circuit ruled again California two years ago, remanding the case back to district court to be reheard consistent with that decision. (By the way, appellate courts do not directly strike down laws; they tell the trial court to rehear the case consistent with their decision.
We earlier held that Section 22949.80 of the California Business and Professions Code—a statutory scheme that bars firearm advertising that “reasonably appears to be attractive” to minors—violates the First Amendment. Junior Sports Mags. Inc. v. Bonta, 80 F.4th 1109 (9th Cir. 2023). On remand, the district court declined to preliminarily enjoin subsection (b) of Section 22949.80, which prevents the firearm industry from compiling or using personal information of minors for marketing purposes. Junior Sports Mags. Inc. v. Bonta, 2024 WL 3236250, at *8 (C.D. Cal. June 18, 2024). We reverse the district court and clarify that our constitutional analysis applied to the entirety of Section 22949.80.
There was nothing subtle about that 2023 decision; you could hear the anger during oral arguments. The decision uses language more direct than usual:
We REVERSE the district court’s order denying in part the motion for a preliminary injunction and REMAND with instructions to issue a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the entirety of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22949.80. [emphasis added]