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FROM THE PRESIDENT
It's been some time since I last addressed the membership. I am now going to ask for your help. Our spring gun show is coming quickly and we are in desperate of each and every member's help. These gun shows are the club's major fund raiser for the year. It takes a lot of work to pull them off successfully. The Gun Show will be held on March 6th and 7th, the first full weekend in March. In this Newsletter are some charts which show all the positions that need to be filled. In the past, a small group of members have done most of the work for these shows but, as of late, it has been more difficult to find help. I don't ask for help often, I know you time is valuable, but I need your help. Please look at the enclosed schedule and pick a time when you can work. Call one of the numbers listed so we can put you in that time slot. If calling is inconvenient, just put your name in a slot and drop it off at my place. Thanks in advance for your help.
John Goepfert
RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR
ARMS IN WISCONSIN
The right to keep and bear arms (RKBA) amendment for the Wisconsin Constitution has been resoundingly approved by the voters of Wisconsin.
In the November election, it was approved by a whopping 2 to 1 margin. We know that many individuals, in our club, in others, and in the Wisconsin Pro-Gun Movement, contributed much time and many dollars to assist in this effort. Next time something like this comes up, just remember that it CAN BE DONE, when the facts are presented and the voters of this state are mobilized.
SPRING GUN SHOW
As our president, John Goepfert, noted in his comments above, the Spring Gun Show is rapidly approaching. Many volunteers are needed to make this a success and the club is counting on each and every one of you. Please look at the schedules which need to be filled, found later in this newsletter.
Also, please remember that, in addition to the positions listed, we will also need volunteers for NIGHT SECURITY DUTY. If you have done this in the past, your experience is valuable and we hope you will participate again.
Gun Accidents Reach
ALL-TIME LOW!
The media probably won’t publicize this one much! In 1996, the last year for which statistics are available, fatal firearms accidents fell to 1134 or about 1 for every quarter million people. This is only about a third of what they once were. It’s also interesting that, since the high point, there are now about 4 TIMES as many firearms in circulation. Now, let’s see - what is it that the anti-gunners say - we have to reduce the number of guns in circulation to prevent all these tragic firearms accidents! This new low accident rate now puts firearms fatalities at about 1/3 the rate of "medical mistakes".
"WALK-IN" Sales at Gun Show
The club will initiate a new policy to help organize "walk-ins" at the Spring Gun Show. These attendees, who bring guns for sale at the show, are an important component of the show. However, some folks seem to take advantage of the opportunity which the Gun Show offers, by bringing in multiple firearms for sale. It has been decided that this is unfair to the vendors who pay rent for tables to exhibit and sell their wares.
Accordingly, all "walk-in" firearms will be recorded by owner, gun type and serial number. There will be a $5.00 charge per gun for guns sold to attendees.
If a gun is not sold, or is sold to a table-holding vendor, this $5.00 fee WILL BE REFUNDED!
Do as I say, NOT as I do
One of the proponents of "buy back" programs, in fact a founder of the program in Elkhart, Indiana, has been arrested for armed robbery and use of a firearm to commit a Federal felony.
ANNUAL MEETING - APRIL 11!
GUN SHOWS LABELED "LOOPHOLE"
President Clinton has urged Janet Reno and company, as well as the Treasury Department (BATF) to come up with proposed legislation and administrative actions to "close the gun show loophole". According to supporters of this idea, including HCI, gun shows are a major source of criminal guns and a place where people routinely buy illegal "assault weapons". Remember that "assault weapons" in the Clinton definition refers to future manufacture of certain guns with certain cosmetic, not functional, characteristics, such as a bayonet lug. Obviously designed to protect the public from bayonet charges by criminals.
This strategy was first announced immediately following the November, 1998 elections and repeated in Clinton's radio address on February 6, 1999.
Anyway, the truth is - and we must remind our legislators of this - is that gun show sales are subject to EXACTLY THE SAME FEDERAL LAWS AND REQUIREMENTS as gun sales in any other location. There is NO "LOOPHOLE".
Neither are guns shows, as described by the Violence Policy Center, a really rabid anti-gun organization, "tupperware parties for criminals". The U.S. Department of Justice’s own research arm has determined that there are about 12 times as many criminal guns coming from retail stores as from gun shows. In both cases, the major method is having a legal purchaser acquire the gun, then pass it along to the criminal. Both the original purchaser and the ultimate owner are committing FEDERAL CRIMES in doing so. The dealer is complying with all legal requirements.
It's very important that we let our legislators know what we think of the administration's attempt to abolish private transfers of firearms (that's the obvious intent). Spend a few minutes at your keyboard and contact:
E-mail:
Paul Ryan paul@ryan98.org
Russell Feingold russell_feingold@feingold.senate.gov
Herb Kohl senator_kohl@kohl.senate.gov
Web Sites:
http://www.senate.gov/~feingold/
http://www.senate.gov/~kohl/
http://www.ryan98.org
CCW - Miscellany
31 states now have adopted right-to-carry laws. Wisconsin has not, but such a bill is under consideration. Our own vocally anti-gun Attorney General Doyle has already begun to drag out the old "wild west" and "blood in the streets" slogans which preceded the Florida RTC law a few years back. For you neighbors, and for your legislators, the real truth is: RTC states, compared to the rest of the country, have a 24% lower violent crime rate, a 19% lower homicide rate, a 39% lower robbery rate and a 19% lower aggravated assault rate. There is a strong message there - we all need to help spread the word.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Keeping your "zero" can be a problem. Particularly at long ranges, almost any kind of change can cause potential problems, and these are not always easy to figure out!
Q. Last deer season, I carefully sighted in my rifle to print 2" high at 100 yards. I’ve been using the same ammo for a long time, so I knew this would put me just a little low at 200 yards. When we got to the field, I actually used a little bit lighter bullet. Checking the ballistics tables, it looked like it should be just a fraction of an inch higher at 100 yards and about an inch higher at 200 yards. Another guy in our party needed to sight in his rifle, so I took mine along just to keep him company. Couldn’t hit a thing!!! After some trial and error, I found out that I was COMPLETELY OFF THE TARGET at about 200 yards, on the high side. What’s up?
A. The ballistics tables only cover the flight of the bullet AFTER it leaves the muzzle. What you are probably seeing is the effect of barrel vibration. Every barrel vibrates with every shot. The vibration pattern changes when you change loads so the bullet may actually leave the barrel in a different direction with different loads. Look at the following pictures. Pattern "A" shows one pattern of barrel vibration. This one has a minor effect on impact point for most hunting circumstances.
Pattern "B" shows another typical vibration pattern in which a very small change in the pattern can have a tremendous effect on the impact point. Using this pattern, to be a full FOOT high in you example would only require about 5-6 thousands of an inch change in the barrel vibration between loads. Heavy barrels and some bedding methods reduce this greatly, but a normal sporter can have significant vibration.
Your experience points out a very important rule. ALWAYS SIGHT IN WITH THE SAME AMMO YOU WILL ACTUALLY BE USING IN THE FIELD!!
NICS - MIXED REVIEWS
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), initiated on November 30, has apparently leveled out at this time. Early on, many problems were encountered, including a complete crash of the system. In some areas, as many as 25% of inquiries were resulting in "delayed responses". At present, at least in the opinion of local dealers, the system seems to be working smoothly, with few delays and no system crashes. Phone lines will be in place at the Spring Gun Show for NICS checks and we can only hope that it works smoothly. NRA is requesting that dealers who encounter serious problems should fax the information to them at (703) 267-3918.
Apparently, the new system, even though created by the Brady Bill, is not enough. SURPRISE! Sarah Brady and HCI have issued a call to reinstate the waiting period which was precluded by the NICS. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is one of those pledging to introduce new legislation to establish a new national waiting period when Congress resumes a normal schedule of activities.
LAWSUITS AND COUNTER SUITS
Following the pattern set by the suits against the tobacco industry, several U.S. cities have initiated lawsuits against gun makers, retailers and industry trade groups to hold them responsible for firearms-related violence in their cities. Leaders in the onslaught to extort cash from the industry are Chicago and New Orleans, with St. Louis, Tampa, Portland (OR), Baltimore and Gary (IN) considering joining the New Orleans suit. Such suits are being considered in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.
Since these suits will not save a life or solve a crime, it's evident that the only driving force is a search for money, either in awards or settlements to avoid long and costly litigation. The simple logic which is missing in these "tobacco pattern" suits is that, unlike tobacco, properly stored and responsibly used firearms pose no risk.
The Second Amendment Foundation plans to file suits against Chicago and New Orleans in response to this frivolous grab for money.
ATTENTION, PLEASE!!
These are YOUR meeting notices! Please make a note of our upcoming meeting schedule at the range:
February 10
March 10
Annual Meeting - April 11
The club needs your attendance and participation at the monthly meetings! We know there are lots of other things to do in the summer, but your RCRPC meetings are important, too.
IN THE MAILBOX - - ZIP!
Hey - is anybody out there? The mailbox has been empty for a long time. Let's have a little help!
AS ALWAYS, HELP NEEDED!
We still need help from the members for items for the NEWSLETTER, including:
… Questions and topics for the Questions and Answers portion of the Newsletter. Whatever the topic, we'll do our best to find out the answer.
… Schedule for any instructional programs.
… Match results and standings for the Club teams as the season goes along.
… Comments, questions and criticisms of the or on any other shooting topic, even clips from other publications, if you think they are of interest to the membership.
+ DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTALS FOR THE NEXT NEWSLETTER IS MARCH 19, 1999
Bill Ruger - Words of wisdom!
During a Shooting Times interview about product liability and "unsafe guns", Ruger lamented the fact that "there are no laws against faulty politicians" - ‘nuff said!!
SUCCEEDING AGAINST
ALL ODDS
Sometimes, things succeed against all conceivable odds. In 1929, the year of the great stock market crash, Winchester Repeating Arms Co. was not producing any double shotguns. At that time, the company was in such bad financial straits that it was attempting to generate revenue by building everything from refrigerators to roller skates. No luck! Winchester continued to swim in red ink. Doesn't seem like a very good time to introduce a new shotgun model, does it?
They decided to proceed and design a gun which would compete in the market created by Parker, Fox, L.C. Smith and other for inexpensive, lower grade guns. In 1930/31 the Model 21 was placed in the market place - right in the Great Depression. Other doubles suffered badly in the Depression and many of them disappeared in those tough times. It was pretty bad timing for the Model 21. In addition, Winchester went bankrupt! Should have spelled the end of the 21.
However, John Olin (Western Cartridge) bought out the bankrupt company and kept the 21 in the line. Gradually, with Olin's backing, the 21 made inroads into a very tight market place and stayed in production until 1959. At that time, the gun's history was examined and it was found that the Model 21 had never made a profit!
What a history! Now we regard the 21 as one of the finest, and certainly the strongest, of American double guns. By any business standard, it should not have been started, should not have succeeded, and should have been removed from production many, many years ago. Instead, we now routinely see Winchester's "low grade" shotgun on the market for prices in the tens of thousands of dollars.
CLUB WEB PAGE
Randy Myatt is developing a Web Page for the Club. It can be found at:
http://www.ticon.net/~rmyatt/shooting/shooting.html
Take look! Randy is looking for ideas and suggestions for content and format. You can reach Randy with e-mail at rmyatt@ticon.net. Let him know what you think.
FRIENDS OF THE NRA EVENT
There will be a "Friends of NRA" banquet on April 7 and the Best Western in Janesville. A Social Hour, full dinner, silent and live auctions and raffles of guns and a framed wildlife print will highlight the event. This is a great fund raiser and supports NRA programs locally and nationally. Fully half of all money raised stays in our area to help fund range development, conservation research and the award winning Eddie Eagle gun safety programs in our schools. For information or tickets, contact Neal Nuber at 365-9459.
SHOPPING TIPS
Another reminder about where you spend your money. Please remember that every time you buy something, you cast a vote for the company and, indirectly, it's policies. Many anti-gun organizations, such as HCI and Cease Fire, Inc., receive support from corporations and/or their officers. Other companies actively support the anti-gun agenda. Some companies which fit one or more of these categories are:
the AMA
Burger King
Ben & Jerry's
Gap, Inc.
Good Housekeeping
Home Quarters
MTV Networks
National PTA.
Sarah Lee
Time, Inc.
Walt Disney Co.
Working Asset Long Distance
"Gun Free Mutual Funds"
Calvert Social Investment Equity
Calvert World Values Int'l Equity
Citizens Index
Domini Social Equity
Dreyfus Third Century
Parnassus
There is also a PLUS side. Check out the positive response in the American Rifleman, August issue, page 8 from:
Lowe's Home Centers
Also don't forget to support:
Applebee's of Janesville (a RCRPC supporter)
Pizza Hut (West side delivery - another supporter)
Keep this is mind the next time you're ready to buy something!
HCI STILL AT IT!
Just recently, Handgun Control, Inc., leading opponent of the 2nd amendment, issued the following amazing statement, in writing, "In South Carolina alone, over 250 fugitives were arrested in a three-year period, clearing over 400 outstanding warrants. The Brady Law in clearly effective in keeping guns out of the wrong hands." WOW - who can argue? One small problem - South Carolina has an Instant Check system, such as that supported by the NRA, and IS NOT A BRADY STATE!!
The TRADING POST
Every shooter has got some "stuff" he or she no longer needs ..... or is looking for something he or she has just got to have. Club members can put their own ads here in the NEWSLETTER.
WANTED Your ad for stuff you want to sell, buy or trade. Drop your ad in the suggestion box or send it in the mail.
BORDER PISTOL LEAGUE
The team is still looking for shooters. They are usually short of what they need for .45 and centerfire competition. The balance of the schedule looks like this:
March 4 at Elkhorn
March 18 Elkhorn here
April 1 at McHenry
April 15 McHenry here
May 6 Handicap Match at Beloit
May 20 Banquet at McHenry
READY FOR ANOTHER GUN SHOW?
Here's some upcoming ones in Wisconsin:
February 20-21 - Fort Atkinson, Capitol Banquet Hall
March 6-7 - Janesville, Rock County Fairgrounds, Rock County Rifle and Pistol Club
March 13 - Crivitz, Downtown, next to St. Marys Hall, American Legion Netzel-Zenz Post
April 2-4 - Antigo, County Fairgrounds, Wisconsin Sport & Military Firearms Collectors Association
April 9-11 - Milwaukee, State Fair Park, Wisconsin Sport & Military Firearms Collectors Association
Rock County Rifle and Pistol Club, Inc.
P.O. Box 815, 1029 South Jackson Street
Janesville, Wisconsin 53547