RESPONDING TO RESPONDERS
Editor Dave Duffy tells me this blog is getting a good response. Being a Luddite who doesn’t know from blogs, I’ll take his word for it.
I’ve tried not to be intrusive to reader responses, and let everyone have their say. Lots of good stuff! A few comments do cry out for response, though.
Anyone interested in more on the Dillinger matter may find my reconstruction of his shooting death at the Biograph Theater in Chicago in 1934 to be of interest. It’s on the stands now, in the July/August issue of American Handgunner magazine, under the continuing “Ayoob Files” feature..
I mentioned that I was teaching in Harrisburg when the Heller decision was announced, and Jason the Saj commented that he’s from that area, and he was sorry he missed it. No sweat, Jason, we’ll be doing it there again next year. Stay tuned for date announcement at the Lethal Force Institute website at www.ayoob.com.
Speaking of Heller, Dex wrote, “Scalia’s trips to the metaphorical woodshed with Stevens and Breyer are the most entertaining part of the opinion.” I’ll second that!
In re: the discussion of the Hi-Point pistol, lots of folks made cogent comments about the value of low-price, entry level firearms. Armed Jew remarked, “I’d really like to see Mr. Ayoob put these critters through their paces on the range.” Been there, done that, bro. Found the most reliable (100% so) and accurate was Hi-Point’s .380 model. I’ve also noted here already, as did several who commented, that their 9mm carbine is particularly nice. I can also tell you that, according to dealers I’ve talked to, Hi-Point customer service is second to none.
When I sent in a dispatch from the Midwestern floods, Brogan was concerned about cops entering homes without warrants under those circumstances. He saw it as “…another Katrina wrapped in a different package.” I hear where you’re coming from, Brogan, but I have to say I didn’t see any trampling of rights here. In life-threatening disasters, emergency service workers – including police – have not only the right but the duty to check apparently abandoned dwellings to make sure there are no injured or infirm people inside who need to be rescued.
Lots of folks shared their personal thoughts on “grail guns,” and every one mentioned was a fine and desirable firearm. I only saw one I could help with: Heavyduty wrote that he’d love to own a round-butt, four-inch barrel specimen of the Model 681, Smith & Wesson’s fixed sight L-frame (.41-frame) .357 Magnum in stainless. Almost all those revolvers were produced with square butts. There’s hope, though: attached is a photo of one of my 686s, the more common adjustable sight version of the same fine revolver. This one had its grip-frame reconfigured to the round butt shape by ace gunsmith Bob Lloyd. I can’t find Bob’s address, but there are lots of good Smith ‘smiths who can do the same job on the still available (if increasingly hard to find) square butt Model 681. Some 686s in the 4”/round butt configuration were also produced by S&W for US Customs, and surface occasionally on the collectors’ market.
And finally, darn it, the bobcat never did come back. L
4” S&W 686 rebuilt to round butt configuration (grips are Hogue) by ace gunsmith Bob Lloyd, who also trimmed the cylinder latch, bobbed the hammer, and did an outstanding action job. This gun won the New Hampshire IDPA Stock Service Revolver state championship a few years ago.
July 14th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Mas,
You’re doing just fine with it from where I stand er, sit. Wouldn’t mind seeing a bit on the care and feeding of firearms for us noobs out here, though.
Keep up the good work.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Mas, I see that your 686 does NOT have the internal trigger lock mechanism. Would you be willing to use these newer Smiths with the lock for either home defense or CCW? I just have a queasy feeling about it. I would rather go to a Ruger 101 just because of that.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Oooooh, temptation!
Thanks, Mas -
July 14th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I’m going to quibble with you a bit, Mas, with respect to your comment about Brogan’s post, but I feel it is an important distinction that is usually not made:
In their OFFICIAL capacity, police and other civil authorities have “duty”, certainly, but no “rights”. Instead of “rights”, government officials (in their OFFICIAL capacity) rely on “authority”.
The difference is important: a citizen need not be able to offer justification to exercise his “rights”, and may do so at his sole discretion, yet a governmental official always has to be able to justify his actions based on a governmental interest or public need founded on a constitutional, common-law or statutory basis.
Courts can and usually do overturn the actions and decisions of public officials if they cannot offer some legitimate justification for their deeds derived from at least one of the above sources .
Stay Safe!
July 15th, 2008 at 12:41 am
I’m very glad that you did not encounter rights violations where you were and truly commend fire, police, EMS and countless others for getting out there and keeping people safe. Thank you one and all for what you do!! I also agree in life-threatening disasters, emergency service workers – including police – have not only the right but the duty to check apparently abandoned dwellings to make sure there are no injured or infirm people inside who need to be rescued.
My problem was what happened in areas that were relatively undamaged by the flood. Flood waters in a lot of cases only reached a few feet into the main floor of the house and receded after a day or two. Aside from flooded basements and other water damage to valuables, the structural integrity of houses were intact.
The video I posted clearly shows the water to be gone and even verified by a statement of one of the crews patrolling the streets. We then see doors being broken open on houses that were locked and otherwise intact, not abandoned.
One incident was caught on camera where a home owner was angry that his front door was broken down with out so much as a knock to see if anyone was home. It was followed by a heated exchange with the officer who told him that if he didn’t go back inside his house and stop harassing the team, he would be escorted out of the area.
I know it in disaster situations things are not always cut and dry. I also know that that it is sometimes necessary to enter houses by force. In scenarios like this where houses were locked and intact forced entry should be questioned.
The broken doors on once secured houses are now open to looters; home owners that were there when their homes were invaded could have mistaken the intrusion as a looting attempt and fired upon the crews. There is also the cost of replacing the doors and windows the crews broke to gain entry.
The danger of utilities can be addressed out side of buildings. Gas can be shut off at the mains and electricity to the area from sub stations. A knock to check and see if there was some one home would have been a good start. If it was locked and otherwise undamaged braking down the door should have been questioned. It would have been an easy thing to do rather then a blanket braking in of doors and could have prevented a lot of ill feeling between rescue workers and home owners.
Forgive me for being a bit uneasy about this. I still have a bad taste in my mouth after seeing illegal door to door gun confiscations from residents of homes which were in the high and dry areas and completely unaffected by hurricane Katrina.
~Brogan
Once again here is the video I mentioned:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONAudPPhum8
And The Untold Story of Gun Confiscation after Katrina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-taU9d26wT4
July 17th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Mas,
Years ago I used to follow the writings of you and Evan Marshall in regards to guns and ammo, and based my choices on your writings and studies.
With all the different caliber/bullet choices out there I was wondering if you would do something similar online. I’m “corn-fuzzled” about what to select for my 9mm. I’m stuck between the 115 Grain CorBon DPX load and the old 9BPLE. The BPLE is easier for me to get. I’m also wondering how it compares to the Gold Dot 124 Grain +P load that NYPD uses?
Thanks Mas, and for all you’ve done in regards to self defense and gun rights. Take care and stay safe.
Biker
July 18th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Long Island Mike: I’m not a big fan of internal locks on powerful revolvers.
Norm from Alaska: Your terminology is better than mine. Thanks. I think we’re all on the same wavelength.
BikerRN: The 9BPLE load proved itself thoroughly over the years with Illinois State Police and Border Patrol, and to this day, with DeKalb County in the Atlanta area. I’m on tour in the Pacific Northwest at the moment, and Federal 9BPLE is what I have in the Glock 17 I’m carrying. The 124 grain Gold Dot +P and 127 grain Winchester Ranger +P+ at 1250 foot-seconds might have a slight edge on it in terms of the FBI protocol testing, but a 115 grain hollow point at 1300 can be expected to get you home at night.
Best to all,
Mas
July 18th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Thanks Mas.
I guess I’m looking for that “magic bullet” when their really isn’t one. I’ve been carry the 125 Grain Magnum loads off duty for so long that I think it’s a “Death Ray” when I know it’s not.
I Guess I just bought in to the marketing “hype”, but still, it’s a dang good round, the old 125 Grain JHP in .357 Magnum.
Biker