R.C. Car Pictures

Since I am desperate for readers eager to please my blog friends, here are some additional pictures that I took of the R.C. cars.

Jumblerant, hope you enjoy these.


It took some skill to get the cars around the curves with any decent amount of speed.

The track wasn't far from the lake, it made a tremendous back drop for some of the shots.


Just about every component that can be changed on a real race car could be changed on these cars. Here is a close up of one of the 2 cars.

Most of the time we were running only 1 or 2 cars, my host invited me back out when his brother in law brings out more cars.....they often 4 cars at a time.

Last image of the car sliding through the curve. That took more skill then I had to drift the cars that way.

Quote of the Day

From Chief Justice Roberts on "the case of the bungling bank robber".

From Fox News:

If criminals want to avoid the penalty for accidental gunfire, they can:

"lock or unload the firearm, handle it with care during the underlying violent or drug trafficking crime, leave the gun at home or — best yet — avoid committing the felony in the first place"

Imagine that, not doing the crime if you can't stand to do the time. No felony crime, not additional sentence for using a firearm during that crime...what a concept.

Term Limits -- Yes or No?

On various occasions I've seen the call for the American people to enact term limits for politicians.

While I can understand the desire to limit the time a person can spend in office, I wondered if legislation was the right approach.

So, in my first "soap box" post, I will tell state that I don't think term limits are a good idea.

First, we would see good politicians (yes, there are a few) affected as well as bad politicians. Isn't that something we rail about in gun control laws, Except in gun control the laws usually impact the law abiding more then the criminals. I'm not sure that would be the case of term limits, I think there are more bad or mediocre politicians that will be effected then good ones. Still, the idea is one size doesn't fit all. That is one of the aspects I can't agree with, having statutory time constraints would limit our freedom to choose who we want to represent us. Not being able to vote for someone is a limitation of our right to choose. Besides, we already have term limits, if we choose to use them. Simply vote the bums out of office.

There are also some other drawbacks to the idea of term limits that aren't as readily apparent. There is a learning curve on how to be an effective politician. If we never let the politicians stay in office long enough to figure it out, we will always be saddled with people trying to learn their job instead of doing it. Most term limits would allow each individual office holder long enough to learn their jobs, but the institutional memory and effective would suffer. We need people who have been there long enough to teach the best practices to the new people. That can only be accomplished if we aren't churning through the office holders every 3rd or 4th cycle.
Term limits would also increase and entrench the existing bureaucracies, actually limiting our ability to make change. Since each office holder would have to hire a new staff or deal with the existing bureaucracy, those unelected folks would gain more power, more control over the system - with out being accountable to the public via election.
I also think that term limits would increase, not decrease, voter apathy. People could take a "wait them out" approach to politicians. Knowing there is a limit on how long someone can stay in office might reduce the motivation to try to get them out of office earlier.


Now since I don't want to be accuse of not offering any solutions, I'll make some suggestions on what we can do instead of term limits.
First, Limit the gerrymandering that occurs. Don't allow politicians to draw district lines in order to guarantee election. This can be done through legislation or it can be done by getting involved in that process.

Second, most of the (federal) Congressional structure has been created by them. Let's elect people who will change up that system. Especially the system of rewarding loyalty, vote buying, etc with prominent or influential committee positions. Let's create a lottery system that randomly assigns people to the committees. This reduces the power and ability to block legislation, creates opportunities for representatives to learn about different areas. In the business world, this is simply called cross training. Also, we can continue to work on reducing the power of representatives to create earmarks for their district.

Third, we can talk to our representatives. We can let them know what is important to us, not just assume they know. We can't provide ideas, suggestions, even party platform planks. We can let our voices be heard in constructive ways, not just complaining about things we don't like. I've been as guilty of this as anyone. I've only called, written or emailed my representative when they did something I didn't like. Getting used to the idea of regularly communicating with the elected officials takes a little getting used to, but doesn't it give more weight to an idea if the elected officials hear good news from us as well as the bad?

Fourth and most importantly, we can start long before the highest levels of government. We can vote for people who represent the values we share, we can vote for people who will either do as they promise or they don't get elected again. All this can be accomplished at the local, county and even state level.
The state and federal representatives of tomorrow get their start at this level. Most of the local or regional elections are controlled by a very small number of voters. It is easier to influence people on a smaller scale then to try to change their behavior after years in office and at higher levels.


Local elections are fast coming up, do you know what is on the ballot, who you are voting for?

Leave a comment, let me know your opinion.

A Very Special Day

I want to wish a very special person, my wife, a Happy Birthday today.

She also shares this birthday with her mother. So another Happy Birthday wish goes out to my mother in law.

To both of these special ladies, thanks for being in my life

Youth Day at the Range

The private gun range conducts several outreach programs a year. This month it was the Annual Youth Day.

According to the interim reports that I've received, it was an unconditional success. Nearly 330 people showed up, approximately 240 youths, to see demonstrations and participate in some live fire.

The club members volunteered not only their time, but also their personal firearms and ammunition to provide the youths with a chance to try the following : Bench rest rifles, Skeet, Trap, Rim-fire Rifles, and Black powder rifles; both muzzle loaders and cowboy action style.

The fun started after a introductory safety course that everyone had to attend. Whether they were shooting or not, everyone learned the 4 rules of safety and the range safety rules before they stepped foot on any range. Proud to report it was, as expected, an accident free event.

The club also provided snacks and lunch for everyone.

Most of the youths were members of local Scout Troops being introduced to firearm before they head to summer camp later this year.


I continue my nearly uninterrupted trend of failing to provide pictures. It really helps if you plan on taking pictures to remember your media card.

This year was even better attended then last years. Here is the picture from last year.


In other related news, somebody who should know better has volunteered to take over as Membership Secretary for the Club. Last report was approximately 2,000 members with about 1,300 being active. Should be fun.

Update -- Now for the numbers. We had 230 youth, along with 147 adults that included 49 club members on the range, in the kitchen and 20 NRA Instructors on the firing lines. We shot over 3000 rounds of shotgun and over 7000 rounds of 22 caliber ammunition.

Simply fantastic showing by the club members. I also want to make sure my part in this was clear....I was mostly as a participant not a volunteer. I helped out in the morning getting everyone registered, but for the rest of the day simply went along with the program. I brought my youngest son and a nephew out for the program. They had a great time and might be signing up my son.

Increasing Gun violence?

Since I need to post today, I thought I would respond to MikeB302000's post about increasing gun violence.

Nonfatal firearm-related violent crimes, 1993-2005

Year.........Incidents..........Rate per 1K...............%.........Homicide Rate

1993......1,054,820....................5.91....................11..................10.1
1994......1,060,800...................6.0......................11.....................9.6
1995.........902,680...................4.9......................10.....................8.7
1996.........845,220...................4.6.......................10....................7.9
1997.........680,900...................3.6.........................9....................7.4
1998.........557,200...................3.0.........................8....................6.8
1999.........457,150....................2.5.........................7....................6.2
2000........428,670....................2.4.........................7....................6.1
2001.........467,880...................2.3.........................9.....................7.1*
2002.........353,880...................1.9.........................7.....................6.1
2003..........366,840..................1.9.........................7.....................6.1
2004..........280,890..................1.4.........................6....................5.9
2005..........419,640...................2.0........................9....................not listed

So, does it really look like there is Increasing Gun Violence?


Mike asked:

Is this guy and his newspaper a shill for the anti-gun movement? Do you think these stats are cooked, as they say?

The numbers aren't cooked, there are that many deaths per year, but the population is increasing each year. Firearm related crimes are falling or holding steady each year. So why do the gun control advocates continue to try to scare people with increasing gun violence?

Another point to consider in this is the fact that more and more states are relaxing their restrictions on concealed carry. Now, if firearms are the problem and more people are carrying legally and firearm related crimes are going down.....what does that say about the truthfulness of the gun control crowd?

Training Drill Requests

Okay folks,

I'm turning to the experts or at least those with more experience than I.

I'm looking for two types of training drills; those I can do at home and those to do at the range.

I want to improve my consistency and accuracy.

At home, I know to dry fire and practice getting the trigger to break as a surprise. I have heard to put a penny on the front site to help keep the site on target.

Those are the types of drills and training tips I'm looking for, what else should I do?

About me

Well, I figure if I haven't ran everyone off by know, you might want to know a little about me.

To start, I'm the son of a Air Force Vet so I grew up moving constantly. I was born in Illinois but don't hold that against me (joking). We lived in many states and even overseas in Turkey until Dad retired in 77.

We moved to the Dallas area where I went to high school. Typical nerd, science geek in school into chemistry and science. Did the typical hobbies as a kids, mostly nerdy stuff - reading, model rocketry, home chemistry sets (don't worry , eyebrows grew back and the explosions weren't that loud). I'm of the generation that played our video games in Arcades. We were the second family in the neighborhood to get PONG. I was also active in Scouting, going all the way through till 18, but didn't get my Eagle.

I worked the traditional high school jobs, something I highly recommend for everyone. It really teaches a person what they DON'T want to do for the rest of their lives. I did lawn care (in Texas summers - I melted), the next year I tried painting home exteriors with my Uncle (in Texas summers - I melted), also worked fast food for most of 2 years. All great jobs for some people, I just found out that I preferred different ways of making a buck.


After high school, I wasn't ready for college and because my parents were divorcing they weren't willing to pay even if I was. So, I joined the Air Force for 4 years. Spent the time working with flight crews as an Air Crew Life Support specialist. Working on helmets, oxygen masks, g-suits, NBC warfare gear, survival training. A thoroughly enjoyable time where I gained maturity and learned to take responsibility for myself. I left the service to come home and go to college.

I found a job in the plastics industry that helped accomplish that goal. Spent a few years there, working the grave yard shift. That gave me time to go to school during the day time, play volleyball in the evenings and still work 8 years. <>. Was never any good at volleyball, but enjoyed it. Kept up the reading, mostly science fiction but was into a wide variety.

Then changed jobs still in the industry. Again a job that helped me with my degree. After a little time off when I moved to working days. Hey, do you know you can have a social life if you work the same hours as most people???? I didn't until I started working days again.

Finally found a university that offered an accelerated program in Business Management to get my Bachelor's degree. That was prompted by meeting a very wise, very lovely lady who wouldn't let our relationship go past dating until I had my bachelor's.


Now, I'm the luckiest man in the world to steal a saying. I'm married to my best friend. We married in 2002 and I gained 3 wonderful kids in the marriage. I don't and won't hear them called my "step" kids. I tell people the only steps in my house are the ones leading to the attic.
I'm also blessed with great in-laws. I'll save that for later but it isn't just something I have to say, I mean I really am blessed.

My mom still lives in the area and is remarried to a great guy. My father remarried and divorced twice. He was living in Mississippi 3 year ago when he suffered a severe bout of respiratory failure - surprise still smoking at being diagnosed with emphysema can do that for you. Dad wasn't the easiest person to live with growing up or up until that episode, but there was a tremendous change in the last 3 years of his life. Dad passed away early last month.

I have a good job in a different industry, working with really good people in a small private company. Since I'm not sure who will be reading this, I'll not name names or say much about my job. I don't think there will be problems, but for now, I'll be cautious.

I got into blogging and 2nd amendment advocacy fairly recently about 2 years ago. Cliff at OneUtah has a lot to do with it. There was so much misinformation being passed off as the truth, I decide to say something and kept at it just so the anti-freedom, pro-ignorance crowd aren't spread misinformation unchecked. It's been fun and I've met quite a few good people online.

Well, that is about it. More to come later as I think of it or the statute of limitations expire on various exploits :)

Range Report

Short Report - I'm a newbie, it shows, I stink.

Now for the longer report:

Made it to the range last night as the last two people out there were packing up and leaving. Wow, it was awesome to have an entire shooting club to myself. Of course, this was a very good thing because no one could see how badly I shot.

It also reinforced the need for safety, because I was all alone. I exercised extreme caution and forced myself to follow all the rules. End result a completely safe and injury free session of recoil therapy.

Unfortunately for all 3 of my readers, my laptop is down and that has the only xD card reader in the house, so no pictures. (notes to self, fix laptop, buy USB card reader).

Started off with the Taurus Millennium Pro PT-145, new gun, new sights, new shooter and I was lucky to be able to stay on the 8.5"x14" Target at 7 yards.

Started getting the hang of it at the end, but I'll need to put many many rounds down range. Oh Darn :)


After that switched to the Ruger, GP-100, using .38 specials. Did better, much better with the traditional and familiar sights on this revolver. Shooting double action, I had about an 8" group after 36 rounds. Shooting 12 rounds single action, approximately 4" groups, both at 7 yards.

I really noticed how bad my eye sight is and how my glasses affected my shooting. I wear bi-focals and to get the sights clear I was tilting my head back. I think this was why I was shooting low.

So, back to dry firing at home. Need to investigate what I can do with my glasses to make a difference. Any other advice for a newbie?

Not all things equal

Via SayUncle comes this little gem.

The Contra Costa District Attorney Bob Kochly has decided that do to budget cuts, his office will not prosecute all crimes.

I didn't have much problem with it until I got to this point

For misdemeanors, we will continue to review and file the following types of cases:

1. All DUI cases;

2. All domestic violence misdemeanors, including domestic violence restraining order violations;

3. Misdemeanor weapons cases if the weapon is a firearm (e.g., 417, 12025, 12031). Conversely, we will no longer review or file any non-firearm misdemeanor weapons cases (e.g., 653k, nunchuks, dirk or dagger, billy, etc.);

7. Cases of assault with a weapon and some degree of injury will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for filing, but must also be presented in person to the appropriate misdemeanor filing deputy by your agency (no drop-offs).


Guess some weapons are more equal then others. Does the District Attorney not care that a prohibited person was found with a weapon as long as it isn't a firearm?

Guess they might prosecute if there was an assault and some injury, care to bet which cases won't be prosecuted? (Hint, it might be NON-FIREARM WEAPON Cases).

This is especially disappointing seeing considering that 90% of all violent crime is committed without using a firearm.

Is this going to encourage criminals to NOT use firearms, perhaps?
Is it going to encourage criminals to commit more non-firearm related crimes, perhaps - probably. Criminals know the risk/reward equation very well. When you have a District Attorney announcing his intention not to prosecute non-firearm related crimes, it certainly lowers the risk.

Please leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Debunking Availability Part 1

I suppose if this is supposed to be a gun blog, I might as well talk about firearms. So here goes with what I hope to be the first of a series looking at statistics.

MikeB302000 actually posted some evidence to support his claim of "more guns, more everything".

His contention, and many gun banners like him, is that the more firearms there are the more deaths, accidents, crime, and I think they even claim firearm ownership causes more sunspots and graffiti, but I'm not sure.

So I decided to look at the rates of firearm ownership, poverty level, homicide by firearm rates and firearm related death rates.

All you scientific types out there, please feel free to correct me and help me understand this better.

(bear with me - this is the first time I've tried to post something like this

I created this spread sheet to compare firearm ownership with Homicide Rates, Firearm related deaths for all reasons (suicide, homicide, legal) and a single other factor...the percentage of people living in poverty by state.

Using the M/S Excel functions, I ran the correlation rates for those factor. I make no claim to be an expert (hardly any statistical knowledge) but basic understanding says that if two random factors have an impact on each other, there should be a higher degree of correlation.

			State Homicide Age - Adjusted Rate All Intentions Age - Adjusted Rate Firearm Ownership % % people living in poverty Alabama 7.28 16.07 51.70 15.50 Alaska 3.24 17.20 57.80 9.20 Arizona 6.43 15.68 31.10 13.80 Arkansas 5.60 15.65 55.30 17.60 California 5.22 9.48 21.30 13.20 Colorado 2.58 11.41 34.70 9.80 Connecticut 2.04 5.35 16.70 8.80 Delaware 3.96 8.88 25.50 8.50 District of Columbia 21.58 23.27 3.80 16.80 Florida 3.85 10.01 24.50 12.30 Georgia 4.80 11.83 40.30 12.00 Hawaii 0.43 2.17 8.70 9.70 Idaho 2.03 13.88 55.30 10.50 Illinois 4.40 7.93 20.20 12.50 Indiana 4.22 11.13 39.10 10.20 Iowa 0.93 6.70 42.80 9.70 Kansas 2.30 9.22 42.10 10.70 Kentucky 3.78 12.96 47.70 15.40 Louisiana 9.98 18.66 44.10 17.00 Maine 0.57 7.68 40.50 12.20 Maryland 7.85 11.90 21.30 8.60 Massachusetts 1.71 3.41 12.60 9.80 Michigan 5.05 10.63 38.40 12.10 Minnesota 1.73 6.93 41.70 7.00 Mississippi 6.31 16.05 55.30 17.70 Missouri 5.17 12.90 41.70 10.90 Montana 2.10 16.93 57.70 14.30 Nebraska 1.70 7.70 38.60 9.90 Nevada 5.13 16.32 33.80 10.20 New Hampshire 0.63 6.54 30.00 5.70 New Jersey 3.56 5.14 12.30 8.20 New Mexico 4.29 13.92 34.80 17.50 New York 2.70 5.18 18.00 14.40 North Carolina 5.23 12.78 41.30 14.80 North Dakota 0.45 8.97 50.70 10.30 Ohio 3.74 9.60 32.40 10.80 Oklahoma 4.15 13.18 42.90 12.60 Oregon 1.92 10.64 39.80 11.70 Pennsylvania 4.61 10.82 34.70 10.40 Rhode Island 1.84 3.60 12.80 11.30 South Carolina 5.66 13.81 42.30 14.00 South Dakota 0.91 10.11 56.60 12.50 Tennessee 6.26 16.03 43.90 14.90 Texas 4.39 11.07 35.90 16.40 Utah 1.31 9.66 43.90 9.60 Vermont 1.28 6.72 42.00 8.80 Virginia 4.70 11.51 35.10 9.80 Washington 2.37 8.76 33.10 11.70 West Virginia 3.37 13.80 55.40 16.10 Wisconsin 2.95 8.45 44.40 10.20 Wyoming 2.10 13.53 59.70 9.60
			Mike points out: The States designated "high gun" are eleven with total population of 28.5 million, as follows: Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, South Dakota, Arkansas, West Virginia, Alabama, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota and Kentucky. (designated in green above) and The States designated "low gun" are five with a total population of 26.2 million, as follows: Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. Designated in red above. So what are the correlations: The correlation factor for All Intentions and Firearm Ownership is 0.4438. The correlation factor for Homicides and Firearm Ownership is -0.2295. It seems there is a higher correlation for suicide and firearm ownership then there is for Homicides and firearm ownership. This has been discussed many times; people who are serious about suicide will often chose a firearm because they know it will work. Those that are reaching out or unsure will choose less effective measures. Now for the interesting part. The correlation factor for All Intentions and the % of Poverty is 0.5952 The correlation factor for Homicides and % Poverty is 0.5088. Hmm, maybe it is not firearm ownership that is the biggest factor but something else? Poverty perhaps? I, and most of gun bloggers, realize that correlation is not causation but doesn't it point us in a direction that might actually lead to changes? If we focus on the causes of poverty, might not that lead to a reduction in the reasons for some crimes...including firearm crimes?