The NRA membership links are in place now on this blog as well as the EVC blog and the EVC home page, so all you faithful readers out there (Trevor) who aren't already members need to take advantage of the $10 savings now. Seriously, anyone who holds dear our second amendment rights should join, if for no other reason than to get a cool hat and window decal.
The Chief's blog was pretty interesting yesterday and got a lot of comments. Though most were positive, I figured there would be some people not too impressed by Tom's elation over catching someone who shoplifted a magazine.
Well, it's sort of crappy looking outside today. I suppose I'll get started on the SOP for the Ikes shooting range, at least for a while this morning.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Trying to Help
It seems I'm becoming more active with every passing day in the gun enthusiasts arena. On Saturday, I took the NRA course and test to be a certified Range Safety Officer. With that certification, and approval of the Ike's board, I will be able to use the 300 yard range on my own, or act as the Range Officer so that others may use the range under my supervision. I have also volunteered to write a set of standard operating procedures for the Izaak Walton League rifle/pistol/shotgun/archery/air gun ranges and their various events and competitions. That will be a rather time-consuming effort, I'm sure, and will require the help and approval of various members, officers, and board members at the club. Still, I am anxious to get started on it.
I also just became an official recruiter for the NRA. I can offer people $10 of the regular membership price, which is no big deal because you can usually find a coupon or some other special offer if you look. However, I get a commission on each new member I sign up, so I could offer another $5 rebate (so to speak) in addition. I also found out there is a $10 membership (called an associate membership) which still gets you the free hat and insurance on your guns and life, but you don't get the magazine or voting privileges. Not only that, but I can get people a lifetime membership for $750 rather than the regular $1K. If I were not quite so old already, I'd defiinitely consider that myself.
I'm not doing much so far as the EVC for the first district, but there just isn't much going on politically right now as far as 2A issues or elections. I'm sure things will heat up as we near election time and the legislature begins a new session.
I also just became an official recruiter for the NRA. I can offer people $10 of the regular membership price, which is no big deal because you can usually find a coupon or some other special offer if you look. However, I get a commission on each new member I sign up, so I could offer another $5 rebate (so to speak) in addition. I also found out there is a $10 membership (called an associate membership) which still gets you the free hat and insurance on your guns and life, but you don't get the magazine or voting privileges. Not only that, but I can get people a lifetime membership for $750 rather than the regular $1K. If I were not quite so old already, I'd defiinitely consider that myself.
I'm not doing much so far as the EVC for the first district, but there just isn't much going on politically right now as far as 2A issues or elections. I'm sure things will heat up as we near election time and the legislature begins a new session.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Meet the Sniper
The good news is that my kills-per-shot ratio in dove hunting this year is 1 to 1. The bad news is that I only saw one bird in range for a shot on opening day. The dogs and i went out to Wagon Train Lake on Tuesday between 10 and 11 in the morning; not the ideal time, I know. We walked across the dam and then through the wooded area on the southwest corner of the property. Coming back across the dam, I noticed a pair of doves fly down to the water's edge way up ahead of us. I watched, hoping they'd hang around until we got close enough for a shot, but they took off and landed again somewhere near the other end of the dam. They never appeared again, so we loaded up and drove to the far end of the property where there was some heavily wooded ground next to an open field of tall weeds (mostly fox tail, I think). We wound our way through the woods, but it was thick with spider webs. I'm not worried about spiders or anything, but I hate the way the damn webs stick to your face and clothing and such. So, we worked our way out into the field and headed back toward the truck. Presently, I spotted a dove drop down out of one of the trees and head across the field about 40 yds. out. I had no trouble putting the front sight on it since I got the new bright green fiber-optic job from Cabela's a week or so ago. Its mate left the tree just a little behind but dropped too low for me to get a shot at it until it was out of range.
I kept my eye on the area the first dove dropped but didn't really expect to find it in the thick growth. I could hardly see the ground and had no idea where the dogs were except when they came close enough for me to hear them. I stopped about where I thought the dove came down and saw the weeds moving around just a few feet away. I found Sienna there wagging her tail and eyeballing the dead bird just inches from her nose. God, I love dogs! I let the other two sniff it when they finally figured out where we were. Mocha didn't care much, but Murphy wanted to bite its head off. It's probably not a wise thing to do, but I fried the little critter up and fed it to the dogs once we got home (one small bite each with Sienna getting the lion's share since she found it). Then, I spent about an hour cleaning the weed seeds from the dogs coats and my sneakers.
Wednesday, my son and i went out to Pawnee Lake to practice on some clay pigeons. I should stick to doves. We didn't actually count, but I'd guess we hit somewhere between half and two thirds of our attempts. My cheek is still a bit sore, but my shoulder held up surprisingly well.
The Saltdogs won the second home playoff game after getting their butts kicked in the first one by the Wichita Wingnuts. I have to wonder if they have a factory there that makes wingnuts, or if they just chose that name for the consonance effect. I guess it's no worse than making up something like Saltdogs. The third game is tonight at 7 pm in Wichita. Go Dogs!
I kept my eye on the area the first dove dropped but didn't really expect to find it in the thick growth. I could hardly see the ground and had no idea where the dogs were except when they came close enough for me to hear them. I stopped about where I thought the dove came down and saw the weeds moving around just a few feet away. I found Sienna there wagging her tail and eyeballing the dead bird just inches from her nose. God, I love dogs! I let the other two sniff it when they finally figured out where we were. Mocha didn't care much, but Murphy wanted to bite its head off. It's probably not a wise thing to do, but I fried the little critter up and fed it to the dogs once we got home (one small bite each with Sienna getting the lion's share since she found it). Then, I spent about an hour cleaning the weed seeds from the dogs coats and my sneakers.
Wednesday, my son and i went out to Pawnee Lake to practice on some clay pigeons. I should stick to doves. We didn't actually count, but I'd guess we hit somewhere between half and two thirds of our attempts. My cheek is still a bit sore, but my shoulder held up surprisingly well.
The Saltdogs won the second home playoff game after getting their butts kicked in the first one by the Wichita Wingnuts. I have to wonder if they have a factory there that makes wingnuts, or if they just chose that name for the consonance effect. I guess it's no worse than making up something like Saltdogs. The third game is tonight at 7 pm in Wichita. Go Dogs!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Lions and Tigers and Theirs (Oh my!)
The poll on the left is the first one I've tried one on this blog. I see that I have a mistake in the question (using "their" instead of "there"), but I cannot edit it once someone has voted. I thought about removing it, especially since I voted twice, but someone would probably be upset and say I took it down because it wasn't showing what I wanted to see. Actually, I'm surprised to see there were any more votes on it. Probably some NFOA members, which is fine, but I have no way of knowing. The final result won't prove anything anyway, except the feelings of those who have come to my blog (if even that).
I'm thinking I'll take the dogs out for an opening day dove hunt. I'll have to go in the middle of the day, since I slept in and I'm going to the Saltdogs game tonight. I'll miss the best two times of the day, but maybe I'll still see a dove or two and be able to try out my new fiber-optic sight.
I'm thinking I'll take the dogs out for an opening day dove hunt. I'll have to go in the middle of the day, since I slept in and I'm going to the Saltdogs game tonight. I'll miss the best two times of the day, but maybe I'll still see a dove or two and be able to try out my new fiber-optic sight.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Me and Dennis Leary
I guess, if the shoe fits, I've got to wear it. Then again, if doing what I do makes me an a**hole, then I'm proud to be one, just like Dennis is. The NFOA members didn't heed the warning from their so-called webmaster and continued their personal attacks on me so I posted my last comment last night and bid them adeu. Then, the webmaster emailed me to let me know I was banned from their forum (sort of like firing someone after they quit). He actually came here to my blog and copied one of the responses to a comment that he claimed was a personal attack on all NFOA members. Of course, he didn't bother to post the body of my blog for that day, which would have explained, and perhaps mitigated the comment, for those who only saw what he copied and pasted on their forum.
Someone else there accused me of not posting his comments to my blog in order to make me out a hypocrite (I guess) for expecting to be allowed to post dissenting opinions on their forum, and not allowing them on mine. However, he must not have known how to make a comment here and done something wrong, as I (the moderator) never was notified of a pending comment.
I suppose some of them have read my blog here and taken offense at some of the things I said, even though I never named any names when I characterized some in the association as people who might put gun owners and 2A supporters in a bad light to the public in general. I guess if the shoe fits, they must wear it, too.
I would welcome debate on most any issue. Many of them claimed to enjoy a good debate, too. However, rather than bring up counter points and arguments of their own, many of them resort to ridicule and harassment. If any of them want to come here and make a civil comment that is aimed at supporting a contrary opinion rather than simply bashing those they don't agree with, I'd be happy to post them.
There are a number of NFOA members who are willing to debate the issues, and know how to do it properly. I don't mean to characterize the entire organization poorly. As with many types of public forums, those who speak the loudest and most often are usually at the extremes, or those who want change rather than the status quo. Therefore, they don't truly represent the whole very well. My apologies to any NFOA members who have not displayed the rude behaviors and intollerance I have ascribed to some in the group.
I see someone voted on my poll for the no restrictions option; most likely one of the NFOA members since Trevor is about the only other person reading this stuff. Not that I could say what his vote might be, but he would probably also make a comment supporting his stand. I must admit that I voted a second time, just to see if the "poll gadget" I added would allow it. Apparently, it does not allow multiple votes from the same computer, but probably has no way of knowing if the same person votes from different computers (which I did). So the results are skewed, but I'm thinking it's not going to mean much anyway with only two voters so far.
I'd really like to have the ability to conduct some polls where the results had real meaning. There are often questions that come up where I suspect how most people feel, but it is only my suspicion (which could be entirely wrong). I would really like to know how people feel about many issues, and there aren't always scientifically designed polls out on the subjects that concern me. I think I could write the proper questions so as not to bias the poll, but I need a way to get a truly random, or otherwise appropriate sample to survey.
Someone else there accused me of not posting his comments to my blog in order to make me out a hypocrite (I guess) for expecting to be allowed to post dissenting opinions on their forum, and not allowing them on mine. However, he must not have known how to make a comment here and done something wrong, as I (the moderator) never was notified of a pending comment.
I suppose some of them have read my blog here and taken offense at some of the things I said, even though I never named any names when I characterized some in the association as people who might put gun owners and 2A supporters in a bad light to the public in general. I guess if the shoe fits, they must wear it, too.
I would welcome debate on most any issue. Many of them claimed to enjoy a good debate, too. However, rather than bring up counter points and arguments of their own, many of them resort to ridicule and harassment. If any of them want to come here and make a civil comment that is aimed at supporting a contrary opinion rather than simply bashing those they don't agree with, I'd be happy to post them.
There are a number of NFOA members who are willing to debate the issues, and know how to do it properly. I don't mean to characterize the entire organization poorly. As with many types of public forums, those who speak the loudest and most often are usually at the extremes, or those who want change rather than the status quo. Therefore, they don't truly represent the whole very well. My apologies to any NFOA members who have not displayed the rude behaviors and intollerance I have ascribed to some in the group.
I see someone voted on my poll for the no restrictions option; most likely one of the NFOA members since Trevor is about the only other person reading this stuff. Not that I could say what his vote might be, but he would probably also make a comment supporting his stand. I must admit that I voted a second time, just to see if the "poll gadget" I added would allow it. Apparently, it does not allow multiple votes from the same computer, but probably has no way of knowing if the same person votes from different computers (which I did). So the results are skewed, but I'm thinking it's not going to mean much anyway with only two voters so far.
I'd really like to have the ability to conduct some polls where the results had real meaning. There are often questions that come up where I suspect how most people feel, but it is only my suspicion (which could be entirely wrong). I would really like to know how people feel about many issues, and there aren't always scientifically designed polls out on the subjects that concern me. I think I could write the proper questions so as not to bias the poll, but I need a way to get a truly random, or otherwise appropriate sample to survey.
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