January was a quiet month at Gunsite until the 20th when our first 250 Pistol class of 2014 began. Range Day on the 18th was a huge success with many bringing firearms they had received for Christmas and breaking them in with a few hundred rounds or more. Since firearms is a perishable skill, Range days occur every other month. Range day is open to anyone who has taken a one day pistol class or greater at Gunsite and wants to refresh their skills.
It is with great sadness that I tell you of the passing of Lisa ‘Mo’ Clausen, the caterer at Gunsite for 13 years, passed away from a heart attack January 22. Mo was 55 years old. In December Mo informed me, with tears in her eyes that she was going to stop catering our lunches after the end of December. Mo served Gunsite faithfully, diligently and reliably for over 12 years. Mo always delivered a quality product at a reasonable price. She always had a kind word and a smile for all of us. On several occasions when informed that someone was attending a class on a scholarship, she fed them without charge. Mo always looked out for our Vets classes and took special care of these folks inviting them into her home for dinner. We have been blessed and are proud to have shared her life for so long. May God Bless Mo and her family.
While the temperatures on the East coast plummet Prescott and the Southwest are enjoying spring like weather. There is still room in our Ladies Three Day Pistol class February 24-26. Our 250 Pistol class February 10-14 has 4 open slots left and our 270 General Rifle class has 6 slots to fill. Our March 3-7 Carbine class is almost full as well as the 250 pistol class March 10-14.
Although March 350 Pistol and 223 Carbine classes are full we still have a few openings in the March 250 Pistol classes (March 10-14 and 31- April 4), and our 556 Carbine class.
April classes are filling up fast with the EW (Edged Weapons) class and LRR (Long Range Rifle) already full. There are only a few slots left in the 260 followed by SATP (Shotgun Advanced Tactical Problems) and TT42 (Team Tactics for Two).
2014 brings us the celebration of Prescott Arizona’s Sesquicentennial (150th Birthday). Make your plans now to visit our little town the weekend of May 30th to June 1 and get in on the celebration. Take the 260 Shotgun class May 26-28 and the Shotgun Advanced Tactical Problems May 29-30.
I just returned from the 2014 SHOT show, the largest and most successful ever.The newest firearms we saw were from Remington R51 Sub-Compact pistol which was designed as a modern version of Remington’s original Model 51. The R51 uses a hammer-fired, Pedersen action with a locked breech and fixed 416 stainless steel barrels.
The other new firearm had people at the SHOT show standing in lines around the Glock booth to see their new single-stack .380ACP 6+1 called the Model 42. It is definitely a lot of gun in a very small package.
One of the newest reports that came out at the SHOT show last week is that Ruger will be allowing its handguns to fall off of the California “not unsafe” firearms roster. Ruger CEO Mike Fifer issued this statement clarifying the company’s situation in the Tarnished Golden State. We also learned that Ruger isn’t alone. Smith & Wesson will be allowing its M&P handguns to fall off of the roster as well.
Of course, this was the intended effect of the law. It’s not about allowing police “another tool to solve crimes”, but rather to dry up the supply of handguns available to law abiding Californians. Many people floated ideas about how to defeat micro stamping when the law was being debated. Their thinking at the time was to show legislators that the law is pointless as a law enforcement tool. The engineers in the crowd, however, pointed out that the law requires manufacturing techniques that are nonexistent. Furthermore, instead of making handguns “safe”, or make that “not unsafe” (Yes, that’s really how the law refers to the list!), irregularities in a gun’s chamber will eventually lead to a failure of the metal. But none of that registered with our betters in Sacramento. Why? Because safety and law enforcement weren’t the point of the law. The point was to control legal handgun sales in California thereby controlling the people. Ah yes… California is chasing us out the hard way, chipping away a little at a time.
New York is much smarter. The governor just stood up and said we don’t want you here, this is not your state. Over the last couple of years 4 million folks have left NY along with millions of tax dollars. Now they advertise on National TV that they want you to bring your business to NY while the governor is telling your typical business owner he is not welcome. Go figure.
Americans have awakened to the realization that they really do have only themselves to rely on when unrest rises to these levels. Hence, the most vibrant industry in these troubled times is our firearms industry with ever increasing sales and employment.
Why is it that when one is lying in a political situation it is forgiven by the media and pundits as “politics”? Shouldn’t we expect our leadership, above all others, to always tell the truth? Since when is not telling the truth acceptable. My mom always used ivory soap and my dad the strap to reinforce the necessity of telling the truth. Later the Marine Corps reinforced the virtues of truth telling. When Marines lie, men die. It is still true. That answers your question Madam Secretary (What difference does it make?).
Jeff Cooper has a famous quote from his book. “Speak the Truth”.
Until March, remember teach your children well. Take a youngster to the range this weekend.
Buz Mills
Gunsite Ranch
February 2014
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