The Shooting of Robert "Lavoy" Finicum / Let's Talk Tactics / Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Regarding the shooting of Robert “Lavoy” Finicum, let’s talk a little bit about tactics.

I, of course, don’t know all the details, or even most for that matter, of what lead up to the take-down of the ‘occupiers’ of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.  I think the action taken Tuesday, January 26^th, was potentially precipitous – and difficult to explain.  The FBI and other law enforcement agencies transitioned from an extended laissez-faire environment, involving the ‘occupiers,’ to a sudden, armed confrontation – which unfortunately turned deadly.  Of course, there was a lot of dialogue between the FBI and the principals within the Refuge compound prior to the take-down; but, strikingly, in my opinion, there was no gradual tightening of physical pressure on those individuals that were freely going and coming, attending community meetings, collecting supplies and encouraging other like-minded people to join the occupation.

I looked at the FBI ‘take-down,’ several times.  I do not consider this an ‘ambush’ situation as many have described it.  And, for those who haven’t seen it, I attached a link to the FBI video.

FBI VIDEO

The FBI description of the action depicted in the video, in short, was that the vehicle holding Finicum and three other individuals attempted to run a roadblock set up by law enforcement.  Finicum’s vehicle attempted to swerve around the roadblock, going to the left shoulder of the road, nearly ‘running over’ an FBI Agent, before getting stuck in the snow along the shoulder.  Finicum jumped out of the vehicle, yelling, with his hands up, something like “shoot me,”  “shoot me.”  Allegedly, although it’s difficult to see, Finicum reaches toward his left armpit (twice) before being shot down.  He does not brandish a gun.  However, the FBI found later that he had a loaded handgun under his coat – and opine that he was reaching for same.

OK, I’m not going to second guess this.  Finicum had stated publicly that he wouldn’t be taken alive.  He was known to be consistently armed (see picture above).  And, law enforcement, in a split second, exercised their best judgement.  Finicum’s actions were foolish, under the circumstances, and one might even describe them as ‘crazy.’  The FBI’s account, to my knowledge, does not say how many shots were fired – only that the officer who shot Finicum was with the Oregon State Police.

Let’s talk a little bit about the FBI Agent nearly ‘run over’ by Finicum’s vehicle.  What was the Agent doing in a position behind one of the cars used to block the road?  Only in the movies does a law enforcement officer stand behind his car with a fleeing felon’s car barreling down on him.  The video seems to reflect that the FBI Agent made a last second observation that he would soon be crushed under his vehicle if it was rammed by Finicum’s car.  He jumps to his right toward the road’s shoulder.  Then he sees that’s where Finicum’s car is headed; and the Agent tries to jump back.  It appears that the Agent might have been hit, but he was apparently not seriously injured.  He managed to walk away.

The shooting:  The FBI has given the public a rather grainy aerial video.  The OSP, as I understand it, sometimes wear ‘body cams.’  Are they available?  Why weren’t they released?

OK, Finicum jumps from his vehicle.  We see a law enforcement officer coming out of the woods (left side of road).  Finicum is facing away from this officer, towards where he apparently observes or believes the main law enforcement contingent is located (right side of road).  The officer from the woods is holding something, which is either a handgun, maybe a Taser.  Another officer leaves cover on the opposite side of road and approaches Finicum while pointing a handgun.  When shot, Finicum appears to turn somewhat to his left and falls away from the officer who came out of the woods.  Finicum then appears to slightly lift his right arm.  No weapon is observed.

Some might question where the law enforcement personnel were positioned.  An FBI Agent is nearly run down.  Other officers are on both sides of the road, with Finicum between them – a potential cross-fire situation.  Two officers leave cover for no apparent reason to confront Finicum.  Finicum makes an untoward movement and was shot and killed.

True Nelson

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge 'Occupation' / Robert 'Lavoy' Finicum Dies in Shootout

And, so it goes.  We might have expected some sort of gradual increasing of law enforcement pressure at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge; but, instead, it was sudden and violent – right out of the play book for the Bonnie and Clyde take-down.  This may have been correct and proper under the circumstances.  I don’t know.  It’s hard for any in the public to know at this point.  The FBI has been rather reticent.

It is entirely understandable – in a way.  Law enforcement authorities were under increased pressure to act.  The Oregon Governor weighed-in with the U.S Department of Justice demanding some sort of resolution by the FBI.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe the Governor was anticipating or demanding what ultimately occurred.  It’s just that the complete, at least apparently so, inaction on the part of the FBI baffled and frustrated everyone including the Governor – who was undoubtedly being briefed by the State Police on a daily basis.  This would indicate to me that the Oregon State Police, the other principal law enforcement agency, was just as mystified as the rest of us.

Well, Ammon Bundy and six or seven other principals in the occupation are now in jail, held without bail.  One of the principals, however, is in the morgue (Robert LaVoy Finicum) – shot by law enforcement.  The exact circumstances of that shooting have not yet been released.

The siege continues.  There are still some hardcore hold-outs.  The FBI is telling them that they are free to leave; but that isn’t actually realistic.  Many of those still inside the Refuge headquarters have been almost certainly implicated in numerous crimes, including felonies.  The FBI doesn’t have the authority to issue them a ‘get out of jail free’ card.  The occupiers know this.

Road-blocks and checkpoints are now in place.  Why road-blocks were not put in place weeks ago – I have no idea.

Robert "Lavoy" Finicum pictured above.

True Nelson

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge / Current FBI Procedural Directive (Stop and Interrogate) Boot-Leg Copy Obtained

If you read my previous post, you will have noted that I gave the FBI and their local law enforcement compadres my recommendations for what they should be doing.  They, however, decided against my plan, at least for the time-being.  The FBI does have formalized directives issued to the on-scene agents and support personnel.  And, I was able to obtain a copy of the FBI’s current plan.

The FBI has decided that daily briefings on the actions of the ‘occupiers,’ and the collection of massive background data is sufficient for now.  It must be said that the FBI’s plan is and has been somewhat frustrating to the public, as well as Oregon Governor Kate Brown who noted the ‘standoff’ has been ‘pretty darn costly to Oregon taxpayers’ ( I think the latest figure was $500,000).  The FBI’s Special Agent-in-Charge, nonetheless, would find the Governor’s complaints rather uniformed and puerile; and would undoubtedly counter with ‘whatever the Oregon taxpayers have paid-out, the feds have spent ten times that amount.’

My source is keeping me apprised of the FBI’s investigative efforts regarding ‘MalBirdRef.’  It is the FBI’s custom to designate a case name that will facilitate and focus in-house communications; hence the case name ‘MalBirdRef.’  The following recently obtained SOP should clarify much of the public’s concern about whether or not the FBI is actively and credibly involved in resolving the ‘occupation’ of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.  In that Bureau procedural directives can be somewhat confusing to the uninitiated, I have included my own explanation of each directive – my comments in italics.

MalBirdRef Standard Operating Procedures / Effective Instant Date

All investigators (FBI and Local Law Enforcement support personnel) objectives:  Identify, conduct background, interview when possible and fully document information concerning the following persons-of-interest (POIs):

Under this directive’s objectives, of particular concern are visitors, supporters and potential Bundy converts, from the following states.  Vehicles registered in those states should be stopped and a field interrogation conducted to determine the reason for the driver being in Oregon, and specifically in Harney County.  Applicable States:  Montana, Idaho, Nevada and New Hampshire.

True’s explanation: Montana, Idaho and Nevada are ‘Red’ states bordering Oregon; and moreover Nevada is Ammon Bundy’s home state and potential supporters might follow him to Oregon.  New Hampshire was added to the stop and interrogate list because of the State Motto on their vehicle plates – “Live Free or Die.”

Stop and Interview:  Any operator and passenger of a four-wheel-drive truck (Ford, Chevy, Dodge) holding two men and no women.  Foreign made four-wheel-drive trucks are considered low priority, unless other directives apply.

True’s explanation:  Two men together (not that there is anything wrong with that)… objective unclear.

Stop and Interview:  Men with beards, particularly untrimmed beards and associated slovenly appearance, driving older model vehicles, or in some instances stolen government vehicles.  Baseball caps worn backwards are a negative indicator.  Cowboy hats are a discretionary call.

True’s explanation:  Seems pretty clear to me.

Stop and Interview:  Drivers of any vehicle bearing a military theme license plate or other similar identifiers.  This directive would also apply to personal apparel, indicating the driver is or was a member of the military, or simply thinks military apparel is cool.

True’s explanation:  Most current FBI Agents were never in the military and are highly suspicious of those who would volunteer for that kind of duty.  Furthermore, they understand that many military members have been traumatized by their experiences and are therefore unpredictably confrontational and prone to join right-wing organizations like the VFW.

Stop and Interview:  Driver of any four-wheel-drive vehicle flying the American Flag.

 True’s explanation:  It’s believed that flying the American flag in this manner is highly questionable behavior indicating neurotic patriotism and instability.

Stop and Interview:  Driver of any vehicle bearing identifiers that said driver and/or passengers are religious extremists.  (Church of Latter Day Saints is the exception to this directive to avoid aggravating Wildlife Refuge occupiers.)

True’s explanation:  Religion is always a touchy subject, particularly in this instance – so, I better skip-it here.

Stop and Interview:  Any individual displaying guns, weapons or associated paraphernalia, to include gun racks in rear windows of vehicles; unless the driver is a ‘certified’ member of the Wildlife Refuge occupation.  In that eventuality, he or she should not be bothered in that such contact could lead to a confrontational situation.

True’s explanation:  Do I have to explain everything to you?

True Nelson

Ammon Bundy and his merry men vs. the Sheriff of Malheur (Part 2) Why don't officials oust Oregon occupiers?

There was a good article by Maxine Berstein, in the Wednesday edition of The Oregonian – titled ‘Why don’t officials try to oust Oregon occupiers?’  An interesting and relevant question to ask.  Furthermore, it appears that many residents in and around Burns, Oregon, and those in close proximity to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, are wondering the same thing.  I, too, wonder.

I’ve been to the Refuge area – just last summer in fact – spent about four days over there.  It was beautiful, prairie-like and remote – great place for bird watching and catching a glimpse of wild mustangs.  Oh, and one other thing, the best hamburger I can recall having was served to me at the Diamond Hotel, located in the very small town of Diamond.

Environmental conditions at the Wildlife Refuge can be bitterly cold this time of year – life threatening if one is exposed to the elements.  Currently, roadblocks could be tough duty for the law enforcement personnel assigned, but possible.  Controlling access from all directions into the Refuge, including overland access, nearly impossible.  That said, the current weather is a contributing factor in controlling most access to the Refuge buildings.  That will last until the cold temperatures ease-off in late February or March.  However, when spring arrives – if nothing is done by law enforcement – the current take-over of the Refuge could become a regular three-ring circus, with people arriving from all over the country to join the festivities.

So what could /should be done?  Law enforcement has to gradually take control.  Accordingly, local access has to be restricted.  How?  I would suggest that access to the Refuge by reporters or some others would require a permit from law enforcement.  The area around the Refuge, say approximately one square mile should be designated ‘No Trespassing,’ and that authorized access would only be granted with a permit.  This would put the authorities back in some semblance of control.  Now, it seems to appear that law enforcement is uncertain, indecisive and helpless – that Ammon Bundy is in the driver’s seat.

What if someone enters without a permit?  Well, this is not a perfect system; but some efforts need to be made to identify trespassers.  This might require a continuing law enforcement presence in the area to monitor roads.  Have the National Guard set up some temporary facilities so that law enforcement personnel, monitoring the roads, can have some comforts and protection from the elements on a 24 hour basis.

Overflights with cameras might be another option.  What about satellite monitoring?  If, nonetheless, some individuals insist upon entering, even when advised not to, or actually sneak in, those individuals would be subsequently cited for trespass and face arrest upon leaving the occupied Refuge area.

I would suggest that some reporters be given a permit and allowed to enter the Refuge and talk to Bundy and his associates – allow Bundy a voice – as well as to monitor conditions inside.  I would suggest that basic comfort supplies be allowed to enter the Refuge with a permit – food, clothing, etc.  I would suggest that no guns or ammunition or liquor be allowed to pass the checkpoint.

Of course, the other option is sitting back and hoping Ammon Bundy and his associates get tired and go home – before hundreds of people converge on the area in the spring – to include Bundy supporters, various militia members and survialists, tourists, mental cases, you name it.

In the meantime, without some action on the part of law enforcement (other than talk) there is a high probability that other facilities will be taken over.  Come spring, the real fun could begin.

True Nelson

Ammon Bundy and his merry men vs. the Sheriff of Malheur (Part 1)

Am I the only one who can’t make heads or tails about what Ammon Bundy is attempting to accomplish with the takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge administration building.  Yes, I’ve read the newspaper articles; but to me it still doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.  And, when you take over federal property, attempting to intimidate the authorities with guns, doesn’t that make you a ‘terrorist’ (if at very least a terrorist with a small ‘t’)?  Perhaps, if Bundy could boil his demands down to a brief, coherent, published manifesto, we could all think it over.

It really is kind of funny.  Did you see the picture, today, of the armed militant with the Pacific Patriots Network on the front page of the Oregonian newspaper?  Boy, that guy is right out of central casting for a Chevy Chase movie.  Question:  Do any of these guys have actual jobs?  Yes, of course, that’s none of my business.

On the other hand, I completely understand that this whole matter could suddenly turn deadly serious (Wounded Knee, Waco and Ruby Ridge).

As an FBI Agent, I spent a couple of months at Wounded Knee and have some knowledge of what a siege situation is like and how it can turn from bad to worse.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not entirely on the government’s side.  They have dictated, encroached and overly regulated entirely too much on property rights.  I could go on for a good while – potentially boring every reader into a coma.

It could be said that the federal government’s regulations put the Oregon timber industry out of business.  Towns dried up and died.  Good paying jobs were lost.  Why?  Because some egg-head back East decided that a former worker in an Oregon plywood mill could just as easily subsist on the salary he potentially could make at McDonalds or Jiffy Lube.  And, or, he could go to a community college at age 50 and learn how to become a plumber’s assistant.

Oh, and, whatever happened to the Spotted Owl?  It’s living happily in the virgin Oregon forests I would assume.

I worked many years for a large forest products company as their Western Region Security Manager.  As a corporate employee, I was headquartered in Portland and was responsible for eleven western states.  But, let’s just take Oregon for example.  When I started with the company there were 10 or 12 mills, plus various facilities and timber operations throughout Oregon with literally thousands of employees with pretty darn good jobs.  As my own ‘early retirement’ grew near, I happened to be the last employee with the company still in Oregon.  I had been retained to provide a security presence for all the closures and terminations.

Regarding the Malheur imbroglio, I have some thoughts on what law enforcement and the FBI are probably now thinking.  Top of the list almost certainly:  ‘Let’s not let this situation blow up in our faces.’  To use a metaphor, it’s a carefully orchestrated dance.  The FBI provides the music for now, but Ammon Bundy is leading.

To be continued…

True Nelson

Mark Zuckerberg / Facebook Billionaire / Extends Invitation / Muslims Welcome Here!

Interesting recent comment from Mark Zuckerberg (compassionate to a fault and incidentally a multi-billionaire), he stated:  “… add my voice in support of Muslims in our community and around the world as the leader of Facebook I want you to know that you are always welcome here.”

Of course, the rest of us know or should know, that the very gracious Mr. Zuckerberg and his family are continually surrounded by high-tech security systems and armed guards.  So, they don’t (of course) share all the same concerns as the majority of Americans regarding potential terrorist attacks.

Moreover, Facebook is a business requiring massive participation from people who have little else to do with their time.  And, there are billions of Muslims out there who are current or potential customers. Ka-Ching!

Zuckerberg has extended an invitation for them to come here.  With all his money, why doesn’t he go and live there?

True Nelson

Syed Rizwan Farook's father describes his son's beliefs. And no surprise there.

Have you ever noticed, that in almost every instance when there is a ‘terrorist attack,’ relatives and friends of the perpetrator invariably say something like:  ‘Gosh, I never noticed anything unusual about him.’  This, of course, is self-serving, even logical.  After all, no one wants to admit that the person they knew gave indications that he (or she in the most recent tragedy) was a danger to themselves and to others.  Who wants to be ridiculed by the news media, for not doing something to prevent the murder of innocent people?

So, it was interesting and highly unusual to read some of the statements by Syed Rizwan Farook (father of the San Bernardino terrorist of the same name, Syed Rizwan Farook).  The elder Farook was interviewed by an Italian reporter with the publication La Stampa.

• "He (the father) said he (the terrorist Syed) shared the ideology of al-Baghdadi to create an Islamic state, and he was obsessed with Israel, the father told a reporter in an interview outside the home of his other son, Syed Raheel Farook, in Corona, Calif.”
• "I kept telling him always: stay calm, be patient, in two years Israel will no longer exist, the elder Farook told the newspaper.  Geopolitics is changing: Russia, China, America too, nobody wants the Jews there."
• “The father said his family was destroyed when his son sided against him with his equally religious mother.  Rizwan was the mama's boy (the father said), and she is very religious like him.  Once we had a dispute about the historical figure of Jesus, my son yelled that I was an unbeliever and decided that marriage with my wife had to end.”

As recent as last night, the President reiterated that Islam is a ‘religion of peace.’  OK, I guess it depends upon one’s own interpretation.  I’m not sure where the President got his interpretation of fundamentalist Islam; but maybe he is just telling us what he wants us to believe – you know, keep the lid on things until he can exit stage right (or left).

True Nelson

Mass Murder by Islamic Terrorists Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik / San Bernardino, California 12/2/15

San Bernardino, California:  The mass murder by Islamic terrorists (Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik) is on everyone’s minds.  It’s the hot topic of discussion around the proverbial watercooler.  In fact I had a lengthy discussion with friends this morning at coffee.  The San Bernardino situation, chaotic at first, is beginning to come into focus.  I’d just like to make a couple of comments.

Working in corporate security, after leaving the FBI, ‘workplace violence’ prevention was always a priority of my job.  The Fortune 100 Company that I worked for at the time sent me to the best schools and seminars on the subject.  Seminars that were presented by prominent psychiatrists and experienced law enforcement personnel.  I learned a lot.

When the first reports of the shooting in San Bernardino were released, it was immediately clear the incident was a terrorist act and not ‘workplace violence.’  If it had been workplace violence, it would have been an action entirely without precedent.  Law enforcement knew this.  The FBI knew this.  It kind of surprised me – no not really I guess – that initially the Obama administration and indirectly the Justice Department and the FBI (to a certain extent) parsed words – hoping, I imagine, that it was workplace violence; and not a terrorist attack.

Why?  Simply put:  ‘Workplace Violence’ is a finite event.  A ‘terrorist attack’ is an infinite event, far more serious, and lacking in any clear resolution.  A ‘terrorist attack’ is a symptom, an indicator of more to come.

The only other thing I would like to mention, at this time, is extending my sincere compliments to law enforcement for their competent and courageous handling of this tragic situation.  Very well done.  Something to tell your grandkids about.  You not only stopped these terrorists, but undoubtedly prevented some other equally devastating events planned by Farook and Malik.

True Nelson

An Apology about my Previous Post / “President Obama, you are wrong!”

If you read my previous post (prior to my subsequent correction), you will have noted that I obviously confused Serbia with Syria.  I was attempting to state my personal, and I believe justifiable, opinion that Syrian Christian refugees should be given priority for admission to the United States.

I don’t, of course, have an editor to read my stuff.  I was tired and grand-kids were visiting.  Grandchildren have a way of disturbing one’s focus – as most grandparents could attest.  That said, I referred to Serbia rather than Syria.  I do know the difference.  And, I have corrected the error.

As an aside, Serbia’s population is approximately 90% Christian.  To my knowledge they are not being persecuted because of their faith – as is the case in Syria.

In addition to my apology for maligning the wrong country, someone close to me said that my comments about President Obama were unkind and just plain mean, and that I shouldn’t have said them.  Said someone might be right.  Barrack Obama is currently the President and deserving of due respect.  However...

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

True Nelson

President Obama, you are wrong! Syrian Christian refugees should be given first priority.

I disagree with the President.  We should give priority to Christians fleeing persecution in Syria. And I’ll tell you why.

I suppose that I should say, up front, that I am an Agnostic (with some spiritual tendencies I suppose).  Oh, I know, no one particularly cares; but it does give a certain frame of reference to my comments.

First, I’m convinced that Americans will face increased security risks with the importation of Syrian refuges.  Some say 10,000 Syrian refugees.  Some say 100,000 or more.  And, yes, there will be some radical Muslim extremists among them – no doubt about that.  ISIS will use the refugee situation as an opportunity to import terrorists (sleepers) who will strike when the opportunity presents itself.  Come on, think about it, why wouldn’t they?  Americans are generally pretty gullible, hobbled by their penchant for political correctness – and ISIS is well aware of that fact.  On the positive side for us, this situation will be far worse for the Europeans.

Why should Christians receive priority?  Well, we are basically a Judeo-Christian nation – and have been since our founding.  Moreover, United States Law gives priority to those refugees fleeing religious persecution.  Who has suffered the most, been murdered, tortured, raped and enslaved by ISIS solely due to their religious belief?  Yes, of course, the Christians.  Are not they the ones we should help first?  The President has said such ‘discrimination’ would be against everything that the United States stands for.  He is wrong.

Can Syrian Christians be positively verified as such?  I’m not sure, but I believe they (Syrian Christians) are fairly clannish and have been generally residing in certain areas of Syria.  Someone, probably a Syrian expert, could probably identify a Christian refugee – as opposed to a Muslim refugee.  Should this be an absolute qualifier for refugee status and admission to the U.S.?  No, some Muslims, principally parents with children, should also be considered for admission after appropriate vetting – a second priority.  Unaccompanied Muslim men between approximately 20 and 50 years of age should be the last priority for admission to the U.S.

I heard the comment bandied-about that 23 million Americans believe that President Barrack Obama is a Muslim.  I don’t know where they dug-up that statistic; but let’s just say that the statistic is true.  I don’t happen to believe the President is a Muslim.  On the other hand, I don’t happen to believe he is a Christian.  Being perceived as a Christian was just one more concession the President had to make in order to pursue his political ambitions.  No, my opinion is that when the President thinks about a higher-being, he simply looks in the mirror.

True Nelson

'Gun Control' / Why Discuss? / Nobody is Listening

After reading an article in the LA Times by Jonathan Zimmerman – well, it really caused me to pause and consider.

What so impressed me about Dr. Zimmerman’s (who is a professor at New York University) article?  It was interesting, about ‘gun control,’ and a little bit different take.  Dr. Zimmerman made the observation that whether you’re a gun advocate or a gun control proponent, we are generally wasting our time attempting to argue the finer points of the ‘gun control’ issue.  In other words, nobody is listening – certainly no one whose views are the opposite of yours.  He compared the ‘gun control’ issue with ‘Prohibition.’

Zimmerman said:

“… a book by a University of California – San Diego sociologist named Joseph Gusfield convinced me that Prohibition wasn’t really aimed at ridding America of beer, wine and whiskey.  It was instead a ‘Symbolic Crusade’ by native-born Protestants, who seized on prohibition to affirm their historic dominance over immigrants and Roman Catholics.”

“… this controversy isn’t really about guns, any more than Prohibition was about drink.  It’s about different ways of seeing the world and – most of all – about who will gain the symbolic upper hand.”

“The question brings us back to Gusfield, who reminded us that politics are a battle for symbolic as well as material advantage.  Even if alcohol prohibition could never make America ‘dry,’ it made its adherents feel as if the country was still theirs.”

If this is true, and it may very well be true, there is no point for me to belabor the many issues and potential problems associated with gun control.  After all, no one, other than some in the choir, are listening to me anyway.

Nonetheless, I’d still like to make a couple of comments.  And, oh yes, I wanted to tell you why I left the NRA.

• You can't ban 'assault weapons' if you can't define what they are.  They are basically a semi-automatic rifle.  The simple description of  'military style' just won't cut it.
• Were you aware that rifles are seldom used in crime - maybe two percent of the time - if that?  Assault weapons, whatever your definition, are hardly ever used.
• High capacity magazines could be banned, but they are even less commonly used in crime – particularly in a rifle.  Semi-automatic pistols often hold 10 to 14 rounds.  To reduce that capacity would require a redesign, and ‘grandfathering’ millions of pre-existing pistols.  Any legislation along those lines would have minimal effect on crime.  Moreover, ammo magazines can be switched within a matter of seconds.
• Background checks on all gun sales is theoretically possible; but there is no evidence said action would have a meaningful effect on crime.  Gun owners, to sell guns, would be at the mercy of gun stores; and they could, potentially cheat, or extract maximum profits from average gun owners who are attempting to comply with the law when selling a gun.  It would, as a result, create a gun ‘black market’ even larger than the one that already exists.
• Universal gun registration would cause a civil upheaval bigger than prohibition.  Honest citizens would become criminals.  And current criminals would benefit all around, be emboldened, and undeterred in their previous activities.
• Bottom line:  The real answer is strict enforcement of the current law.  Note my blog’s sidebar – Three Laws for Effective Gun Control.

Why I left the NRA:  The NRA was running a quarter page advertisement for a ‘Street Sweeper,’ large capacity ammo-drum shotgun (depicted above) in their monthly magazine.  This gun has only one purpose, anti-personnel.  It cannot be used for hunting or any sporting events that I’m aware of.  It was extremely poor taste on the part of the NRA in that the ‘Street Sweeper’ would only appeal to someone who is, in my opinion, a few bricks short of a load.  Should it be banned?  I guess it could be said that it is no more deadly than a regular shotgun.  I just felt the ad was over-the-top offensive; and I couldn’t believe the NRA needed the advertising money that badly.  I just wasn’t sure that I could even be a fringe member of the organization – until, that is, the NRA starts exercising at least a modicum of discretion.

True Nelson

Umpqua Community College Mass Murder (Part 6) / 'Assault Weapons'

Relevant to some recent school shootings, my topic for this posting is ‘Assault Weapons.’

This is a subject that drives gun owners right up the wall.  Why? Because ‘assault weapons’ have become such an over-worked cliché generally bandied-about by those, including politicians proposing laws, who cannot define what they are actually talking about.

To describe 'assault weapons' simply as ‘military type’ guns only exposes the lack of knowledge of the speaker.  All guns have a military genesis – all guns.  Guns were initially invented and developed to kill people in war; and it was only later that they were used for hunting and sport.  And, one could say the same about any number of common devices in use today, as well as some domestic animals; all of which were first and principally developed and promoted for the purpose of human conflict.

Generally speaking, I hope we all understand that many guns are already banned or not available to the American public.  Some of these can be obtained or displayed under very restrictive conditions and licensing standards.  All automatic weapons are banned.  What does that mean?  Well, an automatic weapon is generally a rifle type weapon (could be a pistol) that fires more than one round (a burst) ‘automatically’ when you pull the trigger.  In other words a ‘machine gun.’

Some in the public are familiar with the Thompson Sub-Machine Gun from movies of the ‘gangster era,’ (Pretty Boy Floyd, John Dillinger, and Baby Face Nelson.)*    In this context, it is sufficient to know that ‘machine guns’ (automatic weapons), of all varieties, have been banned for many decades – as they should be.  In more recent times, for reference purposes, the military version M-16 is an ‘automatic.’  That, too, is generally banned – not sold, and not legal to possess.

What is legal?  Well, ‘semi-automatic’ rifles, pistols and shotguns are legal to possess.  What does that mean?  ‘Semi-automatic’ is one trigger pull, one round fires (self-loading).  Some might immediately respond, ‘So what, it will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger.’  Yes, you are right in that regard.  However, the point is that semi-automatic weapons have been around for approximately 150 years and have been commonly used for hunting and sport most of that time.

The military’s M-16 (fully automatic) has a civilian counterpart called the AR-15 (semi-automatic rifle).  They look the same, but they are not.  Many hunters like the AR-15 for various reasons – principally for its durability.  On the other hand, most hunters would prefer other semi-automatic rifles and/or shotguns for their craftsmanship, quality, and performance.

So, what is the difference between the present-day, civilian-owned, so-called ‘assault weapon’ and other semi-automatic rifles, shotguns and pistols?  Functionally, there is no difference.  It is all about cosmetics.  All have the same ‘killing’ potential in the hands of a mentally deranged shooter.

What then is the argument against civilian owned ‘assault weapons?’  Well, basically, there is no valid argument.  Unless, you are talking about an illegal bootleg, modified, or stolen military weapon.

If you are a gun control advocate, and a gun owner should ask you why you hold a position against guns, in an attempt to engage you in civil discourse, be prepared to answer coherently.  Please don’t automatically use the vague, meaningless statement, ‘We should ban all 'assault weapons’ or, even worse, in my opinion, ‘We should ban all guns.’  If this is the sum of your incoherent comment, you will only have accomplished exposing your lack of understanding of the issues, or dare I say your ignorance.

Magazine capacity for semi-automatics is another issue.  And here, in my opinion, gun control advocates have a valid argument.  We’ll talk more about this.

Addendum:  Above Photo:  Top is a common semi-auto hunting rifle.  Bottom is the semi-auto AR-15.

True Nelson

* Baby Face Nelson is no relation, I’m happy to say, – his actual name was Lester Joseph Gillis; and he was responsible for the murder of three FBI Agents.  Gillis was later killed by FBI Agents in a shootout.  If you had lived in that period, and happened to meet Gillis, you would have required a ‘death wish’ to address him as Baby Face.  He did not like that nickname.  It was given him, reportedly, because of his small stature and child-like face.  The Nelson part was due to an alias he once used.