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April 4th, 2005 Gunblogging - Here's an even-handed article on concealed carry bills around the nation, and the effect recent gun violence is having on them. I'm still having trouble believing its from the NY Times. Fedora Tip to the Instapundit. For today's GPOD, we have the brand-new M107 sniper rifle (slow link as I write this, YMMV. Try here if it's too slow for you).
A real reach-out-and-touch-someone piece. Fires a bullet half an inch wide with more power a mile downrange than Dirty Harry's gun at the muzzle. It's cartridge dates back to WW2 and earlier, and its the same caliber weapon as the M2 heavy machine gun. Its mission is anti-materiel and anti-personnel support of infantry units in need of long range, precision fire. The genesis of this caliber as a sniper weapon dates back to Vietnam, when Carlos Hathcock set up an M2 with a scope and managed to hit a bicyclist loaded with weapons for the Viet Cong 2,250 meters away - roughly 1.4 miles. In between Vietnam and Desert Storm the caliber stagnated as a long range tool, but Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc. took up the development independently and produced the M82 for the Marines. It was used on a test basis in Desert Storm and found favor with the troops. After a decade and change of development, enough change was poured into the gun to make it a real combat weapon. The contract for the weapon was awarded in September 2003, and until now the weapon has been issued on an as-urgently-needed basis since then. It is now in full material release, with fielding complete in 2008. Good Things Can Come From DST - My dislike for Daylight Saving Time is well known, but Blackfive has managed to find a silver lining in the whole affair. I wish they did this here in Tucson. Understanding Our Parents' Generation - The Vietnam era in American History can look bewildering to those of us born after it. When I was in High School AFJROTC our instructor, Col. Berry, related a story about the era that transpired more than a decade after his return from there. His wife had brought home a Jane Fonda exercise video. He discovered it, took it outside, and burned it in his barbeque. When his wife went looking for it, she asked him where it was. He told her what he did with it, at which point she immediately apologized. "I completely forgot. I'm sorry." He forgave her, and that was the end of that story. Blackfive expresses similar sentiments. It is difficult for my generation to understand such things, let alone feel them ourselves. Perhaps what we should remember from this weekend's celebration of the life of the Pope is that he reconciled the Catholic Church and the nation of Israel, two seemingly intractable religions. The simple statements of forgiveness and repentance should go hand in hand, not remain permanent strangers. Sincerity may be questioned, but repentance, demonstrated over the long term by actions, dispels such questions. For her part, Jane would do well to follow Blackfive's advice. If she's truly repentant she will, and it will be easy to tell. All Pope, All The Time - Every cable news network is doing 24-hour Pope to Pope coverage. For the answers to just about every question you might have about the Pope that the Big Media won't answer check out Papal Transition. I won't comment on the death, since most of what I feel has been expressed in other venues, except to say this. You shall know them by their fruits, and Karol's fruits were good. I hope his successor follows in his footsteps. |
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This site is copyright 2001-2005 by Matthew Maynard. All rights reserved. All your trademarks, copyrights, insignia, and other distinguishing characteristics are belong to you. Sharks in suits make for good joke material. Don't leave a mess on your way out. Links to external websites are valid at the time of article authoring and may decay as time goes by. But we'll always have Paris. The opinions on this site are those of their author and do not represent anyone else's views. That is, unless and until you agree with them, at which point they become yours as well. Opinions expressed in the comments belong to the comment poster and may be edited for content. Play nice with others, since you want them to play nice with you. |
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