Gearing Up

The Brady Campaign won 95% of their endorsed races for political candidates in the recent mid-term elections and democrats won control of the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. Across the country state legislatures suffered similar reactions at the state levels and as a result, several states that were classified as 'gun friendly' are no longer secure for the rights of gun owners. There is no way for us to put a "cheerful" spin on those results for gun owners in America.

Visualize this: Henry Waxman from CA will be the new chairman of the House Reform Committee. John Conyers from MI will be the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. The state of Washington now has a 2/3 Democratic majority in both houses of their legislature. Each of these changes by themselves would present serious problems to our shooting sport, but together these changes present a potential for a catastrophe for the sport we all love.

The reasons for the election results no longer matter. We all need to get past that to the job at hand, and it looks like we will have our hands full for at least the next two years. This is going to be a difficult time, but we need to stick together and do what has to be done so we can hold onto our rights. Like I said, we need to get by this and get ready for a fight to save what is legitimately ours. Our constitutional rights.

Our focus here at FCI will be toward preventing the loss of rights by fifty caliber shooters wherever we can help out. However, we will join together with all the gun rights organizations to try to educate our legislators and the American public on all the issues relating to gun rights in America. That being said, I cannot emphasize enough how important it will be for all gun owners everywhere to join together and get ready to take a stand on the issues that will be coming up. We will try to keep everyone advised of the issues that will be affecting us the most, but there will be times when our message to you will be in support of other gun rights organizations out there fighting as we are. As far as we are concerned we are all in this together and there is room for all opinions.

What We Are Looking At

Alan Korwin, author of Gun Laws of America has published the 'hit list' the democrats have in mind for us for the next five years. I am reprinting it here. Please review this list and just try to get some idea of exactly what kind of problems we will be facing in the near future.

…It's time to remember what the Democrat party generally seeks regarding guns and gun rights. (This list and more is available at his website, http://www.gunlaws.com.)

The democrat-backed Brady group and similar outfits have been quiet about guns because they wanted to win the election, and impose their goals on your rights --

THE FIVE YEAR PLAN:

1. National Licensing of all handgun purchases.

2. Licenses for Rifle and Shotgun owners.

3. State Licenses for ownership of firearms.

4. Arsenal Licenses (5 guns and 250 rounds of ammunition).

5. Arsenal License Fees (at least $300.00, with a cap of $1,000.00).

6. Limits on Arsenal Licensing (None in counties with populations of more than 200,000).

7. Requirement of Federally Approved Storage Safes for all guns.

8. Inspection License. (Gun safe licenses, yearly fee for spot inspections).

9. Ban on Manufacturing in counties with a population of more than 200,000.

10. Banning all military style firearms.

11. Banning Machine Gun Parts or parts which can be used in a Machine gun.

12. Banning the carrying of a firearm anywhere but home or target range or in transit from one to the other.

13. Banning replacement parts (manufacturing, sale, possession, transfer, installation) except barrel, trigger group.

14. Elimination of the Curio Relic list.

15. Control of Ammunition belonging to Certain Surplus Firearms. (7.62x54R and .303).

16. Eventual Ban of Handgun Possession.

17. Banning of Any ammo that fits military guns (post 1945).

18. Banning of any quantity of smokeless powder or black powder which would constitute more than the equivalent of 100 rounds of ammunition.

19. Ban the possession of explosive powders of more than 1 kg. at any one time.

20. Banning of High Powered Ammo or Wounding ammo.

21. A National License for Ammunition.

22. Banning or strict licensing of all re-loading components.

23. National Registration of ammunition or ammo buyers.

24. Requirements of special storage safe for ammunition and licensing.

25. Restricting Gun Ranges to counties with populations less than 200,000.

26. Special Licensing of ranges.

27. Special Range Tax to visitors. ($85.00 per visit per person).

28. Waiting period for rentals on pistol ranges.

29. Banning Gun Shows.

30. Banning of military reenactments.

Given these predictions by Mr. Korwin for firearms in general, what do you think the Brady Campaign has in mind for fifty caliber owners?? That's right!! When I tell you we have our work cut out for us, I mean it. We're all in this for the long haul and we need to stay focused on our job.

Letters to the Editor

CA-Thanks for the newsletter and keeping us informed about 50 cal. legislation and search warrants. I am the one who sent you e-mails about Jerry brown's tv ad. I sure hope he does not win; his goal is to not have 50 cal weapons in Cal. If he wins I think I will do as you have done move out of Cal. I and my wife have lived here for 42 years together. My wife was born here and I moved here in 1960. Thanks again.

CA-I have read your latest newsletter and there are some errors in it. First you say that when the Peoples Republic of California storm troopers break into your home to enforce unconstitutional and therefore illegal laws one should "just do everything the nice police officer tells you to do when he tells you to do it". In this regards you are wrong as that is the same as saying "just do everything the nice British redcoat tells you to when he tells you to do it" In 1776 on Concord green our ancestors did not politely obey the British but instead answered force with force! While it's true you could not take out all the police, you could kill a few before they took you out. That way at least one can die like an American fighting tyranny.
    The other thing you said that made no sense was you statement "Our goal is not to criticize law enforcement". When police officers in this country obey unconstitutional and therefore illegal orders, they are no better than the secret police of Communist Russia or the Gestapo of Nazi Germany. They are jack booted thugs who deserve to be shot! A police officer who is a patriot will refuse to obey such orders.

AZ-Thanks for the informative newsletter. The news from California is just disgusting. I was a Deputy Sheriff in California for twenty-five years and retired nine years ago. I would have found it impossible to assist in those kinds of police actions against gun owners that are going on there. The first thing I did upon retiring was move to Arizona, were there is still some sanity when it comes to gun ownership. Ten minutes in almost any direction from my house puts me in the National Forrest were I am able to shoot. I am truly blessed.

CA-Dear Mr. Burtt. I had the brief pleasure of meeting you at Angeles Ranges some years ago at the potluck lunch in the clubhouse below and hope we can meet again someday. I really appreciate all your efforts in these situations we are facing and very much appreciate the newsletters you are sending out.
    I have a couple comments about the latest newsletter. You mention pyrotechnic rounds for shotguns as being illegal but in fact they are legal to own. Here is the copy and paste of my findings:
12301. (a) The term "destructive device," as used in this chapter, shall include any of the following weapons:
(1) Any projectile containing any explosive or incendiary material or any other chemical substance, including, but not limited to, that which is commonly known as tracer or incendiary ammunition, except tracer ammunition manufactured for use in shotguns.
(2) Any bomb, grenade, explosive missile, or similar device or any launching device therefore.

I also highlighted launching device because many people may have recently purchased parts kits to assemble California legal FN-FAL style rifles. Many of these kits include what is called a combination muzzle device. This device serves many uses. Blank firing adapter, flash hider, and most importantly, a rifle grenade launcher! I suggest anyone owning this item destroy it immediately or modify it by turning down the outer diameter making it incapable of such use. Its dollar value is nil and definitely not worth the risk.

CA-John, I can't believe what I just read, the M2/3 isn't considered an AW per Kali law!!!

12278. (a) As used in this chapter, a ".50 BMG rifle" means a center fire rifle that can fire a 50BMG cartridge and is not already an assault weapon pursuant to Section 12276, 12276.1, or 12276.5, or a machinegun, as defined in Section 12200. (b) As used in this chapter, a ".50 BMG cartridge" means a cartridge that is designed and intended to be fired from a center fire rifle and that meets all of the following criteria: The M2/3 is only considered a firearm and not a rifle, has no pistol grip, flash hider…

CA-Dear FCI, It has recently come up that the crew served weapons such as the M2HB and 1919A4 are not "rifles" and therefore should not be effected by California state regulations such as the .50 BMG rifle ban, the assault weapon ban and short barreled rifle restrictions (Federally the ATF has conceded this point with regards to SBR restrictions and 922 compliance which only effects rifles and they classified these weapons solely as firearms). All of these bans are specifically designated as "rifles". The definition of rifle in 12020 (20) is clear to specify only shoulder fired weapons, if this definition can be also be applied to the .50 BMG and AW bans, AB50 would be limited. With the .510 DTC cartridge almost neutralizing the effects of AB50 on shoulder fired weapons, it would be nice to remove the last visible effects of AB50 and get the M2HB available in this great state once again. What is the possibility of FCI getting a clarification on this issue from the California DOJ? I hate to think I registered my M2HB voluntarily, but when I look at the regulations it appears that might be the case. Thanks for your time.

Editors Note: FCI has asked for a clarification on the point made in these 2 emails

NH- MR. JOHN BURT OR WHOM EVER, HOW COME NONE OF THIS INFO EVER HITS THE NATIONAL LEVEL MEDIA? I KNOW THE NEWS IS BIG TIME LIBERAL, BUT I WOULD HOPE SOMEONE COULD SLIDE SOME REPORT IN SO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY COULD CATCH WIND OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR BROTHERS IN CALIFORNIA. NO ONE HEARS ABOUT THIS AND WHEN I INFORM MY FELLOW SOLDIERS THEY FIRST THOUGHT I WAS SCREWING AROUND WITH THEM BUT I GAVE THEM CONFORMATION BY LETTING THEM VIEW YOUR SITE. FOR THE MOST PART WE ARE VERY UPSET AT THE FACT THAT WE DEFEND OUR COUNTRY, OUR WAY OF LIFE, AND OUR CONSTITUTION, AND HERE ARE THESE UN-AMERICAN BASTARDS ATTACKING LAW ABIDING PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG. WHERE IS ARNOLD, WHO MADE HIS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WITH THE USE OF WEAPONS AND UNREALISTIC VIOLENCE , AND HE SHOULD BACK THESE JERKS DOWN, BUT APARENTLY HE MUST AGREE WITH THIS POLICY OR IT COULD NOT EXSIST. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. MY HOME IS IN N.H. AND EVERYBODY HAS FIREARMS OF ONE TYPE OR ANOTHER, BUT YOU KNOW THE POLICE ARE FRENDLY TO THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IF THEIR ASS IS ON THE LINE THEY CAN COUNT ON THE ARMED CITIZENRY TO BACK THEM UP. MY STATE ALSO PASSED A LAW THAT ALL MEN AND WEOMAN BETWEEN 16- THUR 65 ARE MEMBERS OF THE N.H. STATE MILITIA, I BELIEVE THAT I AM LIVING IN THE LAST AMERICAN STRONGHOLD.

AMERICA CAN SLEEP SAFE IN THEIR BEDS AT NIGHT BECAUSE ROUGH MEN STAND READY TO DO VIOLENCE ON THEIR BEHALF.

Unknown-You're not saying how the Gestapo is picking its targets. What is the case?

Quote of the Day:

From one of our readers in FL: It is historically correct that only a small percentage of the people recognize the symptoms of a dying freedom. The majority of the people usher in its death with thunderous applause until they realize what it was they were killing. And then, and only then, do they realize that the cost of freedom is blood. And once it is lost only blood will bring it back.

Editors Note: We know everyone is very interested in any developments regarding the search warrant situations in the Los Angeles, CA area. We have no new information at this time and unless there is another search warrant served, we don't expect to be able to report any additional info regarding our two members who were served. If that changes, we will surely report to you what we are able.

As you can see from some of our 'letters to the Editor' we have been criticized for our position on this matter from some of our members. We don't really care about that, in fact we expect it. Our goal here is to be as responsible as we can in reporting what is going on around the country. The fifty caliber community is a tiny microcosm of influence in the shooting community. We realize we are vulnerable and all we are doing here is trying to "do all we can" to hang onto our rights, but we are going to do it responsibly. The entire Board of Directors of FCI is solidly united on that position. We hope you appreciate our position.-JB

Other Activity in the .50 Caliber Community:

The 'Big Sandy' in Arizona

For the past five or six years, whenever we could get away, Teri & I have been attending a hosted "machinegun shoot" over in Arizona. I just completed a trip to the "Big Sandy" shoot and wanted to share some photos with you. Many years ago the shoot was held adjacent to a dormant volcano crater on private property about 40 miles north of Flagstaff, AZ. This shoot was 'by invitation only' when we first started attending and turned out to be one of the "who's who" of the full auto community with some of the most exotic and most expensive firearms we had ever seen. The firing line at that time was about 1/4 mile long and you bought a 10' X 10' shooting space for about $100. Teri & I got involved because of our good friend Bob McBride who is the President of the Rocky Mountain Fifty Caliber Shooters Assn (RMFCSA) http://www.rmfcsa.org/ Bob is a great friend and has an incredible reputation as one of the top guru's in the full auto community. (But that's a whole story all by itself!)

Anyway, the shoot we used to call "The Crater Shoot" has now evolved into a new shoot called "The Big Sandy Shoot" and has been relocated near Wikieup, AZ. The promoters of the old Crater Shoot reorganized and decided to try to make a go of it from a business standpoint and they now host several "shoots" a year at a site they have purchased out in the Arizona desert. They call themselves "MG Shooters LLC". This group is the brainchild of two highly motivated men who are two of the most dedicated shooters I have ever met, Kenton Tucker (top photo far left) and Ed Hope (photo at the left).

I mention this amazing shoot to all of you because it provides a safe and legal alternative to what is happening to our friends in CA. Teri & I travel almost 1100 miles from OK to attend the shoots and it is much closer to you folks who are stuck in the Gulag (CA). You will meet a very good group of people who are dedicated supporters of the 2nd Amendment and who like to go out have some fun!! You need to know there are some very strict rules in place for the safety of everyone who attends and if you can't behave yourself, don't bother coming because ED & Kenton have a staff of off duty cops and firemen who will toss your butt out if you cross the line. Otherwise come and enjoy yourself. The scheduled shoots and the costs involved will be posted on their website. http://www.mgshooters.com/ They are looking to expand their involvement to the shooting community and Ed & I have discussed setting up some kind of "50 Caliber Fun Shoot" at their site. Right now the availability of time slots to hold a 'fun shoot' is very flexible and I would recommend to all of my old friends in the "SoCal Desert Club" (you know who you are) to take a good look at the opportunity this might present. (questions?-call me (405) 769-7851)

This year my good friend Mike Strong (retired Tucson, PD) and I made the trek to 'Big Sandy' hauling Mike's newest toy. A full sized, exact replica 1861 three inch (3") Parrot Rifled Artillery Field Piece. (*note-To all of you artillery aficionado's reading this, if I wrote this wrong I apologize. I'm not an old cannon cocker!) You can't believe the looks I got driving up to Wikieup hauling Mike's gun behind my truck on a flatbed. What a hoot. We had a ball and his gun was one of the big attractions on the firing line. We fired about 35 rounds from it all weekend including two rounds very similar to the rounds fired during the Civil War.($25 apiece) Mike created less expensive lead rounds by melting lead and pouring it into a mold. The design of the lead round is very similar to a .177 pellet for a pellet rifle, only these weigh five pounds (5 lbs) each.

I hauled my bowling ball mortar and my TNW Semi-Auto M2 HB out to the shoot and between us we had people stacked up behind our shooting spot all day every day. However, the biggest attraction by far was a fully operational (including main gun) tank destroyer (photo top left) that was trailered in on a flatbed from Idaho. The owner of this piece of American History fired about 40 rounds from the main gun over the weekend and gave a demonstration of how quick and agile this little puppy can move. I was impressed as was everyone there.

If you can ever make it out to one of these events, you need to put it on your agenda. If you just want to watch they will sell you a "spectator" badge or if you want to rent & shoot some full auto guns all you have to do is buy a "Shooters" badge. Big Sandy is a place where you can come and shoot anything and you can shoot all the tracers or incendiary you want. Nobody will criticize you for being a member of the shooting sports and you will learn a lot and meet some really nice folks.

Skip Talbot at SHOT Show 2005 M-3 Donated By TNW Firearms

S.H.O.T Show in Orlando, FL

If you're not aware of it the annual S.H.O.T. Show is coming up in January and it will be held in Orlando, FL this year. The Fifty Caliber Shooters Assn., Inc. (FCSA) will be hosting a booth at the show this year and if you are a .50 BMG shooter or owner we are inviting you to come by our booth at the show and introduce yourself. As you can see from the photo we've had some pretty distinguished people stop by the booth in the past and we'd love to meet you. If you're not a member of FCSA we'll twist your arm a little to encourage you to join our great club and to join NRA.

Win This TNW Semi-Auto .50 BMG

Time is running out to get involved in FCI's current fundraising activities. The drawing for this beautiful M3 will be held just before Christmas. This beautiful hand made piece of equipment is valued at $10,000! You can check it out on our web site at: http://fiftycal.org/eventsM3.php

Each coupon is $25 or you can buy increments of $100 at a time. Because each $100 contribution will get you five (5) chances to win this beautiful piece of American history!! You can enter the drawing by going to the FCI website and printing out a coupon and mailing it in, or you can process a contribution using a credit card right there on our website.

John Burtt, Chmn
Fifty Caliber Institute
NRA Board Member