By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
An error from yesterday concerning the shooting in Wichita: the video that I contended was of the shooter practicing with his trusty rusty AK, which appeared to be on automatic fire, was in fact a semiautomatic being bump fired.
Reading the news coverage from Friday, local Wichita news said he had an "extensive criminal background". But none of his crimes were violent, although they may have been felonies.
Later I read there was a protective order out on him, which would prevent him from obtaining a semiautomatic over the counter or through the FFL system.
So, that leaves a kit build or a private gun sale as a means of obtaining the AK. According to US statues, however, if he obtained a kit and induced someone to build the rifle, whoever built it for him would be involved in an illegal transfer. That person is criminally liable. Not the shooter.
As I have said before, the issue is not if he has the right to own a firearm. I contend but for the criminal justice system imposing restrictions on him carrying a firearm, he does have that right. The issue, legally speaking, is the transfer.
If it was a private gun sale, then the only legal problem would be whether the seller knew Ford was a "prohibited person", according to our own Orwellian firearms laws.
Separately, a video posted on Facebook a few days ago showed a fella (he didn't identify himself in the presentation) from YouTube's Military Arms Channel testing how a set of five rifles, four 5.56x45mm and one AK, performed when left out in 10F degree weather after being sprayed with a water mist. The fella doing the testing loaded them all before conducting his test.
How did the rifles perform, and which one had the problems?
If you guessed one of the ARs, then you were wrong. The AK had the first two rounds misfire. When the host attempted to clear the malfunction by slamming a Magpul M4 style butt stock into the ground, the butt stock broke. Eventually, he cleared the jam and the weapon did fire.
The whole time watching the video, all I could think was, "Why would someone install a plastic butt stock on a rifle when plenty of other, far more durable butt stocks are available?"
Two years ago during the Bundy Ranch standoff, one of the major problems was the issue of firearms handling in an environment where everyone was armed. Mike Vanderboegh remarked at the time, along with his Oathkeeper hosts at the ranch, about issues such as muzzle sweeping, and how widespread problems were with firearms handling.
With regard to firearms handling, the news hasn't gotten any better for militias two years later. The gun was fired as it was being cleared.
And several years after the concept of the 21 foot rule for individuals armed with edged weapons, the concept is being revisited.
Meanwhile, the Aussies are horrified about the state of the 2nd Amendment in the United States. I guess the concept of the arsenal of democracy is as lost on them as it is on our own paid mandarins, who are attempting to reset policy so that it will include disarmament.
Freedom is messy and dangerous.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were mostly higher, while prices for rifle ammunition were mixed.
Prices for used pistols were mostly lower, while prices for used rifles were mixed.
New Lows:
None
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel, .26 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: SG Ammo, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .25 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Freedom Munitions, Store brand, FNFP, Reloads, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Freedom Munitions, Store brand, FNFP, Reloads, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Selway Armory, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .16 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Rush Creek Ammo, Store brand, FMJ, Reloads, .17 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Freedom Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .26 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .25 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2015))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Midsouth Shooters Supply, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ,, .23 per round (From Last Week: +.02 Each
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2015)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .37 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .37 per round (From Last Week: -.03 Each After Unchanged (5 Weeks))
7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Munire USA, Wolf WPA, steel case, FMJ, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Fast, Wolf WPA, steel case, FMJ, .23 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each)
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammoman, CCI, RNL .07 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 325 rounds: Cabelas, Federal, RNL, .07 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (4 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $536 Last Week Avg: $560 (-) ($616 (46 Weeks), $476 (22 Weeks))
California (197, 187): Mixed Build: $500 ($650 (1Q,2015), $400 (25 Weeks))
Texas (213, 215): Mixed Build: $500 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (46 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (112, 102): Mixed Build: $550 ($700 (45 Weeks), $300 (33 Weeks))
Virginia (133, 130): Mixed Build: $630 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $480 (11 Weeks))
Florida (298, 299): Smith & Wesson Model M&P15 Sport: $500 ($650 (35 Weeks), $380 (47 Weeks))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,072 Last Week Avg: $975 (+) ($1,359 (45 Weeks), $820 (21 Weeks))
California (41, 51): Armalite: $908 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (30 Weeks))
Texas (82, 81): Armalite: $1,350 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $800 (29 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (24, 23): DPMS: $1,000 ($1,500 (1Q, 2015), $700 (22 Weeks))
Virginia (33, 33): DPMS Panther Arms AP4 LR-308: $1,000 ($2,750 (6 Weeks), $800 (17 Weeks))
Florida (60, 49): DPMS: $1,100 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $500 (21 Weeks))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $559 Last Week Avg: $584 (-) ($626 (47 Weeks), $450 (32 Weeks))
California (52, 52): Saiga: $499 ($700 (49 Weeks), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (50, 51): Centurion C39: $525 ($800 (7 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (41, 37): WASR 10/63: $575 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (41 Weeks))
Virginia (37, 42): Zastava M70AB2: $545 ($625 (1Q, 2015), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (81, 74): VZ2008: $650 ($650 (45 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $395 Last Week Avg: $416 (-) ($489 (1Q, 2015), $296 (35 Weeks))
California (8, 8): Mossberg 464 SPX: $470 ($500 (30 Weeks), $180 (36 Weeks))
Texas (20, 18): Winchester Model 94: $325 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (20, 20): Winchester Model 94: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (8, 9): Winchester Model 94: $450 ($600 2 Weeks)), $250 (13 Weeks))
Florida (26, 25): Marlin 336W: $380 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (38 Weeks))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $450 Last Week Avg: $450 (=) ($500 (3 Weeks), $350 (21 Weeks))
California (159, 165): Rock Island Armory: $400 ($600 (1Q,2015), $300 (31 Weeks))
Texas (175, 169): Llama: $400 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (27 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (124, 126): High Standard 1911: $500 ($550 (42 Weeks), $300 (37 Weeks))
Virginia (126, 129): American Tactical 1911: $500 ($575 (4 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (285, 279): Taurus 1911: $450 ($500 (3 Weeks), $250 (50 Weeks))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $309 Last Week Avg: $326 (-) ($336 (48 Weeks), $268 (26 Weeks))
California (114, 124): Kahr CW9: $320 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $200 (16 Weeks))
Texas (179, 156): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $300 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (25 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (166, 164): Heritage Arms Stealth C1000: $225 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (32 Weeks))
Virginia (153, 166): Beretta PX4 Storm: $375 ($425 (9 Weeks)), $250 (32 Weeks))
Florida (297, 306): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $325 ($375 (4Q, 2014), $220 (25 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $361 Last Week Avg: $360 (-) ($399 (7 Weeks), $293 (3 Weeks))
California (82, 87): Springfield XD40: $425 ($560 (7 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (79, 84): Smith & Wesson M&P: $300 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $250 (11 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (60, 63): Smith & Wesson SW99: $300 ($350 (33 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (67, 67): Glock 22: $450 ($450 (42 Weeks), $275 (1Q,2015))
Florida (126, 124): Smith & Wesson SD40: $330 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $200 (26 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (Texas)
DSA RPD Chambered in 7.62x39mm
Chris Covert writes for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com and on Twitter.
