• Wilmette Handgun Ban Dead, 7-0 Vote Repeals Law
Wilmette`s handgun ban is dead. The village board voted Tuesday night 7-0 to repeal the 19-year-old ban, following 45 minutes of discussion and public comment.
• Dems pressured on guns
The National Rifle Association is putting the election-year squeeze on conservative Democrats, demanding that they buck their leadership to support a bill to erase more of the District of Columbia’s gun laws. Democratic gun rights supporters will risk losing their A-plus rating if they don’t sign a discharge petition to be filed Wednesday bringing the gun-rights bill directly to the floor.
• Ga. gun law stirs controversy
The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss, says he might pursue new federal legislation to restrict right to carry.
• Excuse Me While I Get My Gun
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the District of Columbia had violated the Second Amendment by making armed self-defense in the home impractical and banning the most popular weapons used for that purpose. Last week, the D.C. Council responded by unanimously approving a law that makes armed self-defense in the home impractical and bans the most popular weapons used for that purpose.
• Gun Rights For Felons?
The Supreme Court last month voided Washington, DC`s extreme gun ban as a violation of the Second Amendment. Now, across America, public defenders and other lawyers for rapists, robbers and murderers are filing motions contending that their vicious clients have a Second Amendment right to have guns. If this were correct, the Second Amendment would be a very bad thing. Happily, it`s not so.
• A Persistent Threat to Second Amendment Rights
In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court ruled that the District of Columbia`s highly restrictive ban on guns is unconstitutional. The ruling was anticipated across the nation. One would think that under these circumstances the D.C. government would get the message. Not a chance. The Washington D.C. City Council lives in its own world.
• Gun-Seizure Lawsuit
An outspoken Long Island gun owner`s home was raided by Nassau County detectives, who seized two dozen weapons he lawfully owns just one day after Rep. Carolyn McCarthy`s office made a 911 call about him.
• The Obama movement
Barack Obama no longer appears to be the leader of a movement that will herald a "new kind of politics"; he is instead just another candidate running for office.
• U.S. Humane Society has radical agenda
It’s unfortunate that news media and policymakers continue to mistake the wealthy and radical Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for a mainstream animal welfare group (“Help those who cannot help themselves,” 7/18/08). HSUS is a “humane society” in name only, pursuing the same fringe goals as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). It’s also far richer. And maybe a little smarter.
• Bill would boost hunting license costs 80%
The cost of some Pennsylvania hunting licenses would more than double under a measure introduced last week by the chairman of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee.
• Defenselessness is not a good feeling
Georgians should be thankful that they live in a free territory that fully embraces the Second Amendment. Not all Americans are so fortunate. Perhaps nowhere is this truer than in the nation`s very own capital. Deprived of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms for 37 years, Washingtonians only now have been granted the right to protect themselves within the sanctity of their home. And it`s about time.
• DC Flouts Supreme Court on Guns, as Washington Post Advised
The Washington D.C. City Council has created so many hoops for handgun owners to jump through before they can exercise their Second Amendment rights, they may require legal counsel just to identify what the hoops are. This sorry state of affairs is much to the satisfaction of The Washington Post, which called for just such an obstructionist policy in an editorial.
• Putting youth with opportunity
Among the many outreach programs the Colorado Division of Wildlife has attempted in its drive to attract more hunters and anglers, one of the most popular has been the Hunter Outreach Program.
• Court ruling raises gun law awareness
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that residents of Washington, D.C., have the constitutional right to own handguns was the first time that the land’s highest court had made a decision based on the Constitution’s Second Amendment. Many believe that precedent could spur more discussions of gun rights and gun laws nationally and here in Montana.
• Moms Against Guns given free billboards
Clear Channel Outdoor Philadelphia and Interstate Outdoor Advertising, two Philadelphia based firms have donated 27 billboards to anti-gun group.
• Elbit Systems and ATK Developing Laser-Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket (GATR-L)
by David Crane
defrev at gmail dot com
July 17, 2008
Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT) and Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) announced on July 09, 2008 that they'll be teaming up on the development of a laser-guided 2.75"/70mm Hydra rocket called the Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket-Laser (GATR-L).
GATR-L is being designed and developed to provide an affordable and cost-effective precision-strike/precision-kill capability for fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing aircraft (i.e. helicopters), and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) a.k.a. unmanned aerial system a.k.a. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms.
The GATR-L 70mm rocket (2.75" rocket) utilizes...
• Sabre Defence Industries Awarded M16 Rifle Contract (M16A3 & M16A4 Rifles)
The following is a Saber Defence Industries press release:
NASHVILLE, TN (July 15, 2008)- Sabre Defence Industries, LLC (SDI), a government contractor for the manufacture of machine gun parts and accessories and commercial XR15 rifles, is proud to announce that Sabre Defence has been awarded an IDIQ contract for a minimum of 4,952 M16A3 and 702 M16A4 rifles to support the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and foreign military customers. Nine bids were received with Sabre being only the third company in the 45-year M16 history, besides Colt and FN, to be awarded a contract to supply a Mil-Spec M16 to the U.S. government.
The M16 project will take place at Sabre Defence’s Nashville, Tennessee facility and is expected to be completed by end of December, 2010. Sabre’s growing reputation as a top quality manufacturer of XR model rifles in the commercial market will not be affected by the military contract. Production continues to meet demand of the highly accurate XR15A3 series rifles and new models are...
• The 6.8 Remington SPC as an Animal Control or Patrol Rifle Cartridge...
By Captain D.
July 15, 2008
Usually, a police agency does not spend a lot of time utilizing unusual calibers or cartridges in its rifles for animal control. My town, which is a first ring suburb of a major mid-west city, is in an area known for record class whitetail deer. To protect my administration, I will not identify myself or the location. My department has allowed me to cull three problem whitetail deer with my 6.8 Remington SPC (6.8x43mm Remington SPC a.k.a. 6.8 SPC) chambered custom bolt gun. From that brief experience, I have been able to formulate a few opinions on its suitability as a patrol cartridge. In addition to being an avid prairie dog shooter, I have also hunted big game in several states from New York to Montana to Texas and have taken over thirty-five head of big game in South Africa and Namibia.
The 6.8 Rem. SPC bullets used to date on all three deer have been Hornady’s factory loaded 110gr V-max load that measured right at 2600fps from my 20” barreled custom rifle. The unique thing about this bullet is that it is designed for varmints and a starting velocity of over 3000fps. By starting out much slower than its original design, it performs much like a standard Sierra GameKing or Hornady Interlock bullet and gave through and through penetration on all three animals.
The first deer, a 140 pound yearling buck, was shot at...
• Baghdad: Improvised Rocket-Assisted Munitions (IRAMs) Arrays Can Kill over Walls
By David Crane
defrev at gmail dot com
July 11, 2008
U.S. troops are having to contend with new improvised weapons known as Improvised Rocket-Assisted Munitions a.k.a. Improvised Rocket Assisted Mortars, or IRAMs for short. IRAMs a.k.a. "aerial IEDs" are configured in linear arrays in the backs of tractor-trailer trucks and are comprised of metal cannisters that contain the 107mm rocket-assisted munitions, and from which they're launched. IRAMs are launched via remote control.
Since an IRAM is ground-launched in an arced trajectory, it can be launched over barrier walls that surround security zones and U.S. military bases. This aspect, combined with the relatively large explosion and barrage capability, make IRAMs...
• DefRev Request: Looking for Info on Operational/Combat Performance of 6.8 SPC
By David Crane
defrev at gmail dot com
DefenseReview would like to get some operational/combat data, including anecdotal information, about the terminal ballistic performance of the 6.8 SPC (6.8x43mm SPC a.k.a. 6.8mm SPC) in combat. So we'd like to request the assitance of any/all U.S. military Special Operations and law enforcement SWAT/SRT personnel in this endeavor.
If you or anyone you know can provide information on this, please email us at defrev at gmail dot com. Defense Review will keep your identity confidential, unless you instruct us otherwise.
DefenseReview is requesting this information, because we...
• IWI Negev Commando LMG/SAW and Micro-Tavor MTAR-21 Bullpup Assault Rifle Demo
By David Crane
defrev at gmail dot com
July 05, 2008
DefenseReview got the chance to test-fire two Israeli combat weapons during the firing demonstration portion of NDIA International Infantry & Joint Services Small Arms Systems Symposium 2008, which was held at the Tac-Pro Shooting Center. The two weapons we fired were the IMI-developed select-fire Negev Commando Version LMG/SAW 5.56mm NATO (5.56x45mm NATO) and Micro-Tavor M.T.A.R. 21 5.56mm NATO (5.56x45mm NATO) bullpup assault subcarbine/SBR, both of which are being manufactured and marketed in Israel by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) Ltd., formerly a division of IMI (Israel Military Industries Ltd.). The IWI Negev Commando LMG/SAW is the compact Special Operations (SPECOPS) version of the IWI Negev LMG/SAW Standard Version, and the IWI Micro-Tavor is the compact subcarbine version of the standard IWI Tavor T.A.R. 21 5.56mm NATO assault rifle.
We should inform our readers right off the bat that we didn't get to put nearly as many rounds through either weapon as we would have liked. We did, however, enjoy firing them, and were generally impressed with their performance. We believe these weapons will...
• Happy 4th of July from DefenseReview!
DefenseReview would like to wish all of our readers a very Happy and Safe 4th of July. This is a particularly special one, due to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in D.C. vs. Heller that the Second Amendment (2nd Amendment) enumerates and protects an individual right to bear arms for the purpose of self defense. While there was no discussion of the Second Amendment's true core purpose of ensuring the ability of citizens (i.e. individuals) to protect their liberty from oppressive and/or tyrannical government forces, we'll take it.
We here at Defense Review are...
• Aimpoint BR8 Fire Control System (FCS) for Tactical Small Arms and Light Weapons
By David Crane
defrev at gmail dot com
We here at DefenseReview are big fans of Aimpoint products, particularly the CompM2 - M68/CCO (Close Combat Optic), CompM4 and Micro T-1 red dot combat sights, and the 3XMag magnifying optic. Aimpoint combat optics (optical sights) are combat proven and highly trusted by professional trigger pullers the world over, and for good reason. As the aforementioned products have demonstrated, the company isn't content to rest on its laurels, but rather is constantly innovating and developing new products that can assist the warfighter, LE professional, and civilian shooter.
That's why when Aimpoint's president, Lennart Ljungfelt, presented the Aimpoint BR8 Fire Control System (FCS) for infantry small arms and light weapons on May 22, 2008 during the Fire Control session at NDIA International Infantry & Joint Services Small Arms Systems Symposium 2008, it wasn't much of a surprise to Defense Review. Actually, DefRev missed Mr. Ljungfelt's lecture, but that doesn't mean we can't report on it. So, what's the BR8 FCS' purpose and how does it work?
The Aimpoint BR8 FCS is a...
• Fury and CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS/UAVs Armed with Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM)
By David Crane
defrev at gmail dot com
Speaking of sub-Hellfire-yield laser-guided missiles, Thales UK Air Systems Division (ASD) has introduced a new low-cost, lightweight multi-role missile called, appropirately enough, the Lightweight Multirole Missile (a.k.a. Lightweight Multi-role Missile)--or LMM for short--as a follow-on to the Starstreak Self-Propelled High-Velocity Missile (SP HVM) a.k.a. Starstreak Multi-role Missile (surface-to-air/surface-to-surface missile) and Starburst surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, leveraging technology from both platforms. The LMM can be deployed from/employed by both manned and unmanned fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter/rotorcraft systems.
According to Thales UK ASD officials, the LMM laser-guided multirole missile will be able to...
• Raytheon/EAI Laser-Guided 2.75-inch/70mm Hydra Rocket
by David Crane
defrev at gmail dot com
Back in May, DefenseReview learned that Raytheon is teaming with an Abu-Dhabi, UAE-based company called Emirates Advanced Investments (EAI) to create an advanced semi-active-laser-guided 2.75"/70mm Hydra rocket under the moniker "Laser Guided Rocket" (LGR).
The concept, of course, is nothing new. Back in September of last year, DefenseReview reported on the sudden demise of the BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) guided 2.75"/70mm Hydra rocket a.k.a. HELLFIRE Jr." a.k.a. "Mini-HELLFIRE" program, which followed the APKWS (no "II") program.
The goal of APKWS/APKWS II was to...
• NASA: Engineers vs. Bureaucrats
NASA hasn’t been in good shape for years. After NASA’s initial years of stunning success, the agency became bogged down in the same bureaucratic nonsense that makes a trip to the DMV take three hours. When NASA’s major cultural problems killed the seven astronauts in the Challenger, people began to believe that change [...]
• Deporting Our Best and Our Brightest
The Statue of Liberty contains a bronze plaque inscribed with the poem “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus.
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From [...]
• The U.S. Constitution Returns to D.C. ? sort of
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
In response to a Supreme Court ruling against them, the fascists in the District of Columbia Council passed new legislation [...]
• Reformation of an anti-Iraq War Democrat
Lanny Davis recently penned Confessions of an anti-Iraq War Democrat for The Washington Times.
Davis is a former special counsel to President Clinton and is a long-time Clintonista. Lanny recently worked on Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the Presidency.
Lanny Davis represents the “center left” in America. The Democratic Party has abandoned the center left, in [...]
• Censored John McCain Article
The New York Times refused to print an article by John McCain, partially because Senator McCain’s article did not define troop levels and timelines for withdrawl from Iraq.
This decision to censor Senator McCain was made by David Shipley, and ex-Clinton aide. This is the same person who recently decided to print a similar article [...]
• The American Broadcasting Corporation is un-American
This is old news, but I just found out about it.
ABC (The American Broadcasting Corporation) has instructed its news personnel not to wear patriotic symbols such as American flag lapel pins or red, white, and blue ribbons.
Quoting ABC “ABC News has asked its staff not to wear American flag pins in their lapels, or even [...]
• John Warner Needs a Lesson in Economics
Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia isn’t acting very Republican. John recently began agitating for the reintroduction of the national 55 MPH speed limit.
It seems that John wants the good people of our nation to save gasoline, whether they want to or not, by driving at 55 miles per hour.
John seems to have been [...]
• Unjust Laws
In 1748, Montesquieu noted “Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.”
In 1957, Ayn Rand wrote “There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes [...]
• Veterans for Freedom
Veterans for Freedom is an independent group of over twenty thousand American veterans who are actively engaged in supporting the cause of freedom. These good men are continuing the work they did as members of the United States Armed Forces by spreading the message of freedom to Americans and people across the globe.
VFF is [...]
• British School Children Punished for Refusing to Pray to Allah
We Americans find it difficult to comprehend the levels to which our European brothers and sisters have degraded themselves and their once proud culture. When we hear that 100 cars are set afire in France every night, it sounds completely unacceptable to us. Yet the French have come to accept those burning cars [...]
