I don’t get much of a chance anymore to listen to the radio — too busy with the business of living — but this one came up the other day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJe754cLbok

Seemed apropos.

An actor, whom I once admired and who shall now remain nameless, has opened his mouth and opined that our Second Amendment is meant to keep slaves oppressed.

Not sure how “…the right of The People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed” can possibly be interpreted to anything other than what it says.

Obviously, there’s a substantial Reality Distortion Field in and around Hollywood that’s causing people to see things completely the wrong way.

Methinks he’d do well to jump over and read Massad Ayoob’s latest (also spotted here). Particularly this part:

Dr. King kept guns in his home to protect himself and his family. After firebombing and numerous death threats by racists, his application for a permit to carry a gun was denied by the “may issue” white power structure in that time and place.  Let the holiday that celebrates this man’s life include some reflection on the importance of the Second Amendment.

We must recognize Dr. King’s commitment for equal rights for all people by exercising our rights.

Do not fall for this gimmick. The IRS is trying to buy your rights from you.

Let’s say you have a Bushmaster XM15 that you picked up for, say, $700 — and you think you’ll hand it over and take the $2000 credit and figure you’ll just go buy two more DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. It’s a trap.

This bill, like any other that seeks to limit the rights of the citizenry must be defeated.

Here, in pictures — each worth a thousand or more words — are an assortment of thoughts on why a citizenry must never submit to registration, limitations, bans, or any other efforts to disarm them.

Arms in private hands keep the citizenry safe from tyrannical, genocidal, murdering governments.

Never trust anyone who tells you that you’re not allowed to defend yourself — they certainly aren’t going to defend you.

It’s debatable whether Yamamoto ever actually made that statement. But the premise is reasonable.

I think the politicians in America are using Mein Kampf as an instruction manual.

And every opportunity I have, I implore those who will listen, if even for a moment, to open their eyes and see reason.

No.

No.

Good advice.

At a public cost of something like $20 a box for common FMJ versus $50 for JHP, most people lean toward FMJ for target and practice use but only load JHP for regular carry. But if one has the budget, it’s always advisable to practice with what you’ll carry. As long as they’re spending somebody else’s money, they’ll buy the good stuff. Still, this is something to think about.

My interests are evolving.

Lately, I’ve been pining over a 20″ 6.8SPC upper (with matched BCG)… and perhaps some inexpensive fixed glass to go with it.

For glass, I’m thinking about the SWFA 10x. Price is tolerable and I hear the quality is surprisingly good for that price point.

Then there’s the issue of magazines and cartridge availability — or rather, the lack thereof on both counts.

I suppose this year is the one that I’ll need to invest in some reloading equipment, but I know very little about it other than what I want, versus what I can afford.

I want a kick-ass progressive press with all of the automatic options. But I don’t have money or space to dedicate a workbench to such a venture. What, with the startling decrease in the size of my paychecks and all.

I can afford maybe starting with a hand press.

My requirements are: inexpensive, reasonably good quality, compact enough so all of the gear (minus consumables) can fit into a medium-sized toolbox.

So, here it is: where in the world do I start?