By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
It's good to be a Mandarin in America these days. Mandarins are the class of people who have the largest megaphones, who get to lecture the rest of us about how evil we are for clinging to guns and Gawd, but who can break laws publicly and with impunity.
Take for example, Golden Throat Katie Couric's Yahoo-sponsored lecture on the evils of firearms. It turns out, according to Sean Davis at The Federalist, show producer Stephanie Soechtig broke federal firearms laws by conspiring with an employee to buy four firearms in Arizona, then moving them across state lines.
But as I have read firearms laws, Stephanie Soechtig wasn't the one who violated federal firearms laws, nor did the seller, whoever it was, who transferred the firearm to Stephanie Soechtig's employee, nor did the individual who received the firearm. Since it was a private sale, firearms laws were not violated until the moment the guns were taken across state lines.
Davis argues that moving the firearm across state lines without a background check puts Soechtig in legal jeopardy, but it is only the act of moving the firearm across state lines that puts her employee, not Soechtig, in a jackpot. Stephanie Soechtig's employee committed no crime until the moment firearm was moved across state lines. The crime was not for the purchase.
I hate when people like Davis point out incidents like this in this manner. Federal firearms laws, federal laws and the monstrously growing federal government are not the issue to Davis. That Soechtig violated unjust firearms law is.
Davis should quit the Federalist. He is a statist, not a Constitutionalist.
I think Soechtig should be congratulated for making the transfer in defiance of firearms laws. I know for a fact that Soechtig will skate, as will Couric and her co-conspirators. Call it the David Gregory standard of justice. If you ain't one of them, then you go to prison.
And no one will die in the snows of Oregon for their role in the conspiracy to violate firearms laws. No ambushes, no need to cover your crimes with state legislation.
Let's face it. Whether you wear a badge, a black robe, make your living in front of a microphone or a keyboard, it is good to be a Mandarin in the USA.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were mixed. Prices for rifle ammunition were steady.
Prices for used pistols were mixed on the low side. Prices for used rifles were mixed.
New Lows:
None
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: -.02 After Unchanged (10 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Bud's Gun Shop, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Mart, Store Brand, RN, Brass Cased, Reloads, .22 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 After Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Bud's Gun Shop, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Mart, Store Brand, RSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Bud's Gun Shop, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .16 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Rush Creek Ammo, Store brand, TMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .16 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2016))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Selway Armory, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Ammunition to Go, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .24 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (10 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, steel casing, .21 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .35 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, Steel Casing, FMJ, .34 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (11 Weeks))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Munire USA, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: TrueCaliber.com, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds (10 Box Limit): Ammomen, Aguila, RNL, .07 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Fast, Aguila, RNL, .07 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $556 Last Week Avg: $515 (+) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $476 (35 Weeks))
California (220, 219): Palmetto State Armory: $530 ($650 (1Q, 2015), $400 (39 Weeks))
Texas (300, 292): Mixed Build: $600 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (154, 156): DPMS: $550 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (47 Weeks))
Virginia (176, 173): Palmetto State Armory: $600 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $475 (3 Weeks))
Florida (367, 365): DPMS: $500 ($650 (49 Weeks), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $990 Last Week Avg: $1,049 (-) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (34 Weeks))
California (58, 55): DPMS: $1,000 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (44 Weeks))
Texas (86, 85): DPMS LR308: $800 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $800 (43 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (35, 36): DPMS SASS: $1,200 ($1,500 (1Q, 2015), $700 (36 Weeks))
Virginia (50, 45): CMMG: $950 ($2,750 (20 Weeks), $800 (31 Weeks))
Florida (61, 59): Smith & Wesson M&P 10: $1,000 ($1,950 (5 Weeks), $500 (34 Weeks))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $567 Last Week Avg: $637 (-) ($637 (2 Weeks)), $450 (45 Weeks))
California (32, 34): Saiga: $750 ($750 (2 Weeks), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (66, 71): Unknown Brand: $560 ($800 (21 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (51, 53): WASR 10/63: $625 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (42, 44): RAS 47: $500 ($700 (2 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (100, 101): Romak: $400 ($700 (14 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $385 Last Week Avg: $385 (=) ($489 (1Q, 2015), $296 (48 Weeks))
California (8, 9): Mossberg 464 SPX: $400 ($600 (12 Weeks), $180 (2Q, 2015))
Texas (13, 13): Marlin: $350 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (24, 24): Marlin 30AS: $325 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (11, 11): Marlin 336: $425 ($670 (5 Weeks)), $250 (27 Weeks))
Florida (17, 21): Marlin 336CS: $425 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $420 Last Week Avg: $414 (+) ($510 (9 Weeks)), $350 (32 Weeks))
California (180, 180): Rock Island Armory: $500 ($725 (12 Weeks), $300 (43 Weeks))
Texas (204, 200): Rock Island Armory: $400 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (41 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (173, 170): Tisas: $325 ($550 (2Q, 2015), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (129, 134): Rock Island Armory: $425 ($575 (18 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (281, 276): Tisas: $450 ($500 (17 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $252 Last Week Avg: $256 (-) ($358 (13 Weeks), $245 (7 Weeks))
California (185, 179): Astra A70: $350 ($500 (14 Weeks), $200 (30 Weeks))
Texas (288, 265): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $300 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (39 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (249, 253): Heritage Arms Stealth C1000: $225 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (46 Weeks))
Virginia (206, 210): Helwan: $189 ($425 (22 Weeks), $189 (9 Weeks))
Florida (494, 456): Taurus 709: $200 ($400 (12 Weeks), $220 (38 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $290 Last Week Avg: $310(-) ($399 (19 Weeks), $290 (CA:$293 (15 Weeks)))
California (89, 87): Ruger P944: $350 ($560 (21 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (127, 115): Smith & Wesson 4006: $300 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $250 (25 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (75, 76): Kahr CW40: $250 ($450 (9 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (57, 50): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $275 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (122, 130): Smith & Wesson: $275 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $200 (39 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (Pennsylvania)
Remington 760 BDL (Pump Action) Chambered in 30-06 Springfield