UN Small Arms Treaty Response from Senator Saxby Chambliss

On July 22, 2011 By Tom LindsayIn Uncategorized

Last month I wrote about the UN Small Arms Treaty, which you may have read some about in other outlets, and probably got an email or two about.

I wrote my Senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, as well as my Congressman, Dr. Phil Gingrey.

I received an email from Senator Chambliss this morning that I’d like to share.

Dear Mr. L:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the United Nations Small Arms Treaty. It is good to hear from you.

On December 6, 2006, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 89, which is aimed to promulgate a new international treaty on the global trade in conventional arms. The resolution, “towards an arms trade treaty; establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms,” was adopted without the support of the United States, under the Bush Administration; however, the Obama Administration recently reversed this decision, and announced that the United States would support negotiations on the condition they were, “under the rule of consensus decision-making needed to ensure that all countries can be held to standards that will actually improve the global situation.”

Currently, there are preparatory committee meetings taking place in anticipation of a 2012 conference to finalize the treaty. In response to these meetings, Senator Moran (R-KS) sent a letter to President Obama and Secretary Clinton expressing strong concerns with the treaty. I joined him on this letter, and I will continue to closely monitor this situation. Should legislation come before the full Senate, I will keep your thoughts in mind.

If you would like to receive timely email alerts regarding the latest congressional actions and my weekly e-newsletter, please sign up via my web site at: www.chambliss.senate.gov . Please let me know whenever I may be of assistance.

As I said in my original post, there are enough pro-Second Amendment Senators that I doubt any such treaty would be ratified. I will keep in touch with him on this.

I await a response from the others but I will, of course, share them as they come in.

Podcast of the Week – The New Shooter Podcast

On July 21, 2011July 26, 2012 By Tom LindsayIn Podcasts, Review1 Comment

As you know, I’m always on the lookout for gun podcasts to make my 1-hour-plus commute tolerable. A new one I recently came across is the New Shooter Podcast, on the interwebz at www.newshooterpodcast.com, and on Twitter at @newshootercast.

Nick is the host, and he is what he says, a new shooter. He came to shooting recently, and decided to share that experience with the rest of us through the podcast medium.

So far, Nick has posted five episodes, and I’ve enjoyed all five. He starts, as a lot of gun podcasts, with a list of what he’s done with guns (an admitted homage to the Gun Dudes), news, and email feedback, then he moves into a main topic.

Topics have been varied. The first episode was a very interesting interview with a documentary filmmaker about her latest project, a film called A Girl and a Gun. Other topics included how to teach first time shooters, and the Zombie Shooters Association, which I reviewed some time back.

Nick’s style is easy and enjoyable. He presents a good amount of information on his topics. His interview style isn’t as polished as a TV new anchor, but he’s as good as most other podcasters, and I like it.

The New Shooter Podcast is a welcome addition to my iTunes subscription page, and to my commute. Thanks, Nick!

GunUp

On July 21, 2011July 26, 2012 By Tom LindsayIn Uncategorized1 Comment

I just got word that this blog is now part of the GunUp Blogger Network.

GunUp was started earlier this year as a gathering place for shooters of all backgrounds. In my mind, the site took off with the addition of Caleb Giddings as the Director of Community Relations. Caleb was a competitor on the first season of Top Shots, and runs Gun Nuts Media, the home of the Gun Nuts blog, and Gun Nuts Radio podcast.

In the words of CEO Dan Hall,

We believe that gun ownership transcends demographics. GunUp is not tailored to any one particular group of gun enthusiasts – if you like guns, we like you and you will be welcome at GunUp. One of our goals is to build a community that provides resources and education to prospective, new, and experienced gun enthusiasts in a safe and supportive environment.

It sounded like my kind of place, and I’m proud to be a part of it. Check it out.

Today’s Safety Class – Negligent Discharge

On July 20, 2011July 26, 2012 By Tom LindsayIn Safety1 Comment

Good day, class. Please settle down.

First, for those of you who asked, YES, there will be a quiz. Every day. But you won’t know when it is. And if you fail, you may not know it.

Second, for today’s class, I have brought in a guest speaker, a man named Derek “Tex” Grebner. Please pay attention to his video.

Someone please get the lights.

Okay, okay, okay. Settle down.

Lots of lessons to learn here, students.

First, never attempt a new pistol technique with a loaded weapon. Especially the first time. Or probably for the first 10 times. Do this very slowly, with a training partner, until you are both sure you can do it without any problem. Then do it another 20 times before you load up. Then do it s l o w l y.

To me, the second lesson is that this is why I don’t like holsters with retention devices on them. This whole thing happened, admittedly, because the first holster he used – with another gun – had a retention device that was in the same place as the thumb safety on a 1911. Bad design, no matter what. Your mileage my vary, but I won’t own one.

Third, if you don’t have a first aid kit in your range bag, get one. You should have one with you every time you go shoot. If you look on your syllabus, we will cover First Aid next week. Those of you who get queasy looking at blood, get over it.

I’m glad he came out of all this safe. And I’m sorry he’s going to spend the rest of his life serving as a warning to the rest of us. But that’s the risk we all take.

Class dismissed.

Oh, hey, please look out for the quiz later.