Back to EDC

A ridge from the Pacific moved in and pushed down over NorCal, and helped blow the smoke out while dropping temperatures a whole bunch. We went from a month of hundreds to a balmy high of 90 today, with a low of 60 at night! At least the Air Quality has moved from “Moderate” to “Good” in the mornings, although a layer of brown on the far horizon is still noticeable, and often the Valley (where we never more roam) is dark and occluded.
I’ve been weeding the mostly-dead pasture with a pick-axe, since trying to use a 12-inch screwdriver in the hard-pack at 90-degrees by 9:00AM was painful on my hands and I blew-up a few blisters.
There’s weird and nasty stuff that only grows at this time of year, and it all drops thorns or prickers, or nasty “cherries” that are like spiked Japanese underwater mines – except they break apart into smaller spiney units. The weeds have surprisingly deep roots despite the rock-hard ground, and interlock with each other to drop off seeds of more pain and destruction, so it’s easier to swing a pick that try to weed nicely – plus I can chuck the rocks I find along the fence-line. It’s good exercise and my weight is hovering at the 177lb mark.
House projects include cleaning out excess good-junk and donating it to Snowline Hospice, while the rest – junk like old paint goes to the dump. I’m gonna unload the old lawnmower and weedeater at a low price on someone who needs yard equipment.
And finally the woefully understaffed Sheriff’s Office texted to say my renewal was complete and to come by for pickup. Nice to be back in tow. The renewal began in April, and some staff left to take jobs with better hours. The needs of this flyover redneck County are mostly overlooked by the tourists who pass through on the way to vacation destinations, but for the Sheriff it’s good to have a self-reliant contingent, since windy roads and distant locations mean that response times are slow. You gotta be prepared to help yourself, before help comes for you.

More Winning, or the Stalemate Continues…

Ninth Circuit Upholds Preliminary Injunction Against Newsom’s Standard Capacity Magazine Ban

In another blow to Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom’s anti-gun agenda, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling in the case of Duncan v. Becerra on Tuesday, upholding a lower court’s decision to suspend enforcement of Proposition 63’s restriction on the possession of magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds.

Following the enactment of Proposition 63, CRPA attorneys sought an injunction against the magazine possession ban, arguing that the law violated the Second Amendment, as well as the due process and takings clauses of the United States Constitution. Federal District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez agreed, issuing a preliminary injunction just days before the law was set to take effect. California quickly appealed the decision.

On appeal, the Ninth Circuit held that Judge Benitez did not abuse his discretion, holding that he applied the correct legal standards and made reasonable inferences based on the record. But one judge on the panel disagreed. Responding to the dissent, the majority noted that it was not within the panel’s authority to re-weigh the evidence of the case, nor could it substitute its discretion for that of the district court. What’s more, referencing the Ninth Circuit’s 2014 ruling in Fyock v. Sunnyvale, which affirmed the denial of an injunction against a local magazine ban, the majority held that simply because a judge disagrees with another district court does not necessarily mean the district court abused its discretion on the matter.

Meanwhile, in the trial court, a motion for summary judgment is pending and a ruling on the merits of the case is expected soon. Regardless of the outcome, the case will most certainly be appealed again to the Ninth Circuit. But by that time, the Supreme Court will likely have a new Justice who respects the right to keep and bear arms as protected by the Second Amendment.

To stay informed on the Duncan case, as well as other important Second Amendment issues affecting California gun owners, be sure to subscribe to NRA and CRPA email alerts. And be sure to visit the NRA-ILA California dedicated webpage at http://www.StandAndFightCalifornia.com and the new CRPA webpage at http://www.CRPA.org.

Fighting Back

This from our friends at the California Rifle and Pistol Association (of which I am a Life Member – in addition to my NRA Life Membership), CRPA Attorneys File Lawsuit Challenging CA Ammo Restrictions – “On Thursday, April 26, NRA and CRPA attorneys filed an important lawsuit challenging California’s restrictions regarding the sale or transfer of ammunition.

On Thursday, April 26, NRA and CRPA attorneys filed an important lawsuit challenging California’s restrictions regarding the sale or transfer of ammunition. These restrictions, enacted in 2016 as part of the “Gunmageddon” bills and Proposition 63, require all ammunition sales and transfers to be conducted via face-to-face transactions at California licensed firearm dealers or licensed ammunition vendors. And beginning July 1, 2019, all ammunition purchasers will be required to pass a background check before taking delivery of any ammunition.

Leading the lawsuit is Kim Rhode, a six-time Olympic medal winner who uses specialized ammunition approved by the International Shooting Sport Federation during the competitions she participates in. Joining her are several other law-abiding California gun owners and the following out of state businesses who can no longer ship ammunition directly to their California customers:

Able’s Sporting, Inc. (also known as “Able Ammo”) – Located in Huntsville, TX, Able Ammo specializes in discount hunting supplies, shooting supplies, hunting firearms, discount ammunition, and other firearm related accessories. Visit their website by clicking here.

Ammunition Depot – Located in Boca Raton, FL,Ammunition Depot was founded by freedom-loving Americans who know that 1) It is every American’s right and responsibility to defend themselves, their family, and country; and, 2) without ammunition, none of that is possible. Visit their website by clicking here.

Sam’s Shooters Emporium – Located in Lake Havasu City, AZ (just outside of California), Sam’s Shooters Emporium celebrated 20 years of business as the largest indoor shooting range in Arizona. The owners of Sam’s Shooters Emporium, Sam Scarmardo and his wife, are dedicated supporters of the Second Amendment and both NRA Life Members. Visit their website by clicking here.

The lawsuit, titled Rhode v. Becerra, challenges the California’s new ammunition sales restrictions as a violation of the Second Amendment, Commerce Clause, and Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution. The lawsuit also challenges the restrictions as being preempted by the Firearm Owner’s Protection Act.

The filing of Rhode marks the fourth lawsuit filed by NRA and CRPA attorneys challenging the provisions of Proposition 63 and the other “Gunmageddon” bills. Once such lawsuit, titled Duncan v. Becerra, has already succeeded in obtaining an important injunction against Proposition 63’s ban on the possession of magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds. The other two lawsuits, titled Rupp v. Becerra and Villanueva v. Becerra (both of which challenge California’s “assault weapon” restrictions and registration requirements), are also seeking injunctions while those lawsuits are pending.

Help Us Protect the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
NRA and CRPA are not standing idly by as California’s new firearm restrictions begin to take effect, but WE NEED YOU to help us turn the tide. CRPA’s Grassroots (GO) project needs individuals to be the voices for the right to keep and bear arms in local communities. To learn more about how you can help in these efforts, visit https://www.crpa.org/programs/volunteers-grassroots/ or send an email to volunteer@crpa.org.
To stay informed on the Rhode case, as well as the other “Gunmageddon” lawsuits and other important Second Amendment issues here in California and throughout the nation, make sure you are subscribed to NRA and CRPA email alerts. And be sure to visit the NRA-ILA California dedicated webpage at http://www.StandAndFightCalifornia.com and the newly redesigned CRPA website at http://www.CRPA.org.”

Dos Vaqueros

I missed my Blogversary last Monday. Got the new 5-1/2 inch Stainless Vaquero out of the State’s 10-day wait clutches. So now I have a Light and a (short) Dark one. The matching Altamont grips look swell too. Now I don’t have to worry about multiple and various calibers at the loading table, it’s all one thing: .44-40 WCF.
Too bad about the Gunblogger Rendezvous, it seems to have gone away and I’m missing that get-together with fellow Gunnies. Except now I have new people to meet at my new Club.

Project Critter-Getter

The Butler Creek sling is one that mimics a military sling but is only 1″ wide, has awful little round keepers and shiny gold hooks, had to be smashed flat to get it through the sling swivel, and appears to be made out of material from James Comey’s purse. The scope is a now obsolete and discontinued Nikon 4×32 .22 LR rimfire. The rings and base are a mismatched (shiny/matte) mongrel 10/22 set from Leupold off eBay. The jury is still out on the sling, maybe I can find a decent used-one made from real leather.

10-day

So we got a week of clear-lookin’ weather and the Climate Pundits are panicking that the increased temperatures will accelerate the snow-melt and the Great Deluge will begin all over again. Perhaps they should have thought about that and the condition of the dams and levees before wasting a wad on the High-Speed Choo-Choo to Nowhere vanity-project.

I went to work fixin’ the other AR to depressing CA-spe and regain a functioning magazine release without the previously approved Bullet-Button. The Magpul Mossberg-SGA shotgun-stock (with a slightly longer bolt) hooked up to the Exile Machine Buttstock adapter and handles OK. Yeh it’s goofy looking but comfortable enough – and the Bravo Company backing-plate has a QD point on it so it hangs off the sling fine. I just had to move the light around to the other side so I could activate it without the now evil vertical fore-grip. Meh. There’s no end in sight to ideological stupidity in the One-Party Politburo Stupidslature, which is why we want out of California and form the 51st State of Jefferson! Yea-haw! If CA attempts to secede we are the best antidote – a new Red State, easily as viable as Idaho.

Bits and Funky Pieces

More heavy weather, so anyhow I was working on converting my now seldom-used Match Rifle to what I call a “California Neutral” condition – and it only took a couple things: an Exile Machine “Headbutt” grip-adapter and my old Mossberg shotty-stock, and lacking a backing plate on the A2 rifle-length buffer-tube, a 4-40 tap and a 4-40 x 1/8″ set-screw available at your local TrueValue hardware store. A dab of grease on the tap and the shavings are collected and wiped away. Take it easy and use your fingertips to guide the tap like a pencil, it only takes about seven threads in depth. Luckily I had a teeny-tiny allen-wrench to insert the set-screw. Remember to cut the spring because you don’t need as much length.



Yeh the rifle looks horrible and stupid but the grip is actually pretty comfortable and there’s my Mossberg stock back in action instead of sitting in a box under the table.

It looks stupid but returns to me a functioning mag release instead of the dreaded “bullet-button.”
You see, the raving bat-shit crazy nitwits in the One-Party Stupidslature got so wound up about the “bullet-button” that they issued a host of ridiculous and incomprehensible directives, some of which the pulled-back when threatened by the NRA and CRPA lawyers – but we always await further nonsense from the Moron League (and my apologies to real Morons).

Grandpa’s Other Hunter

This rifle was one he built, before there were AR-lego rifles. The Herter’s compensator is interesting and the scope is still clear and bright – just not modern. The wood is a nicely grained stick he inletted from a blank.
Too bad about the drill and tap, but if you want a scope that’s the only way – besides old MilSurps were not considered very useful as-is back in the day, and I’m guessing the most expensive thing on this at the time of the build was the brand-new scope. So to date this, how old is a one-inch Weaver K3 60 with a post and crosshair, marked “El Paso”? As far as the mounts go, I understand that these Split Ring Tip-Off mounts were introduced in 1953, and I read that in 1954 Bill Weaver came out with the 60 series. I think that is probably about the right era for this rifle.

Happy Lucky Gunner Christmas!

The Ranch received and unexpected and delightful gift from a friend: a 7.5oz “Bulletproof” Rocks Glass.
I must have missed the Naughty List somehow, thanks!!
Merry Christmas to everyone!

Meanwhile, rain…

Hat and Cat

I gots me a hay-ut.
And muh trac’tor.

Click to embigulize.