Gun & Prepping News #12

  Just some articles that caught my attention for one reason or another:

•  Jon Low has posted a new Defensive Pistolcraft newsletter. As always, he has a plethora of links to different articles, notes and commentary, and more. A couple comments that stuck out:

     Tim Larkin says, pain does not work.  The bad guy won't feel any pain.  (Neither will you.)  And it's not just because of drugs. 

 
     So you must destroy eyes, break joints (Hock Hockheim), break bones, tear ligaments, tendons, and muscles; in order to incapacitate the bad guy.  Because pain doesn't work. 

 
     Often, bullet wounds don't work.  You must hit (destroy) vital organs (brain, spine, heart, major arteries [aorta, carotid, brachial, femoral, etc.], et al).  

     I used to think that full metal jackets were good, because at the time, I was shooting through a lot of barriers.  But, now days in my present job, it is far more likely that I will not be shooting through barriers.  And the need to avoid pass throughs dictates the use of modern hollow point ammo. 

 And:

     Just because you're right handed does not mean you are a right handed combat shooter (and vice versa).  [Similarly for eye dominance.]  I recently had an in depth conversation with a psychologist (Ph.D, M.D., clinical practice, director at a teaching hospital) concerning my experiences and my student's experiences in training.  [He asked me not to use his name because there are political implications that he would rather not have to deal with.]  

     Generally speaking, the left and right hemispheres of your brain are physically connected and communicate.  This connection varies from person to person, as do all things with humans.  (In the past, surgeons would cut the connection between the hemispheres to prevent the signals from bouncing back and forth between the hemispheres as a cure for epilepsy.)  However, in high stress situations things are different.  (I will spare you the technical details, because to properly understand would require background knowledge which would require academic training.)  The left and right hemispheres will not necessarily process the event the same way.  So how the right hemisphere processes the killing of the bad guy may be different from how the left hemisphere processes the killing of the bad guy.  So the physical behavior may be different.  If there is psychological conflict / tension (technical terms in the field, not terms of art) the physical behavior may to miss the shot so as not to hurt the bad guy.  Whereas if the hemisphere is comfortable killing the bad guy, there won't be any inhibitory behavior.  All kinds of thoughts, subconscious and conscious, can interfere / inhibit / excite the behavior.  [I'm not going to mention all of the subtleties because they went over my head.]  
     One hemisphere of your brain may not be able to make the killing shot.  So, you should give the task to the other hemisphere of your brain.  Generally speaking, the left hemisphere of your brain controls the right side of your body and the right hemisphere of your brain controls the left side of your body. 

      Vision is a little different.  The left field of vision from both eyes is processed by the right hemisphere.  The right field of vision from both eyes is processed by the left hemisphere.  

     I'm going to stop writing now before I go off on tangents and because as John
Farnam says, "Make your point and then shut up."  

• Greg Ellifritz has posted this week's Weekend Knowledge Dump. Some of his linkage: carry options for women; lessons on gun fighting from Wyatt Earp; the January 2025 Rangemaster Newsletter; one handed reloading tactics; cleaning airguns; why "Israeli carry" (i.e., loaded magazine but no round in the chamber) is not actually useful; and more. Be sure to check it out.
• "First Impressions: Henry Repeating Arms LASR"--NRA Family. Lever action rifles have seen quite the resurgence in popularity the last several years, including the introduction of more "tactical" rifles for home defense. While most of the tactical lever actions are simply rifles and carbines with an MLOK forestock thrown on, or provision of a Picatinny rail for mounting optics, we've also seen some that are designed to take AR magazines. This appears to be the case with Henry's Lever Action Supreme Rifle (LASR), which is initially being offered in 5.56 NATO and .300 BLK and ships with  a 10-round PMag magazine and a 5-round limiter so it can be used for hunting. Although the rifle was announced in January 2024, it is now being shipped to dealers. The MSRP appears to be $1,299.
• Speaking of lever actions:  "A .30/30 Is All You Need (If You Know How to Hunt)" by Richard Mann, Field & Stream. The provocative title aside, Mann makes the interesting observation that at 100 yards using some pretty standard hunting ammunition, the .30-30 will have better penetration and expansion than hunting loads for the .30-06 and .308. That is, he relates, "[a]t that distance [i.e., 100 yards], your typical 150-grain .308 Winchester hunting bullet penetrates about 19 inches and deforms to a frontal diameter of around 0.55 inch. The same conventionally designed but heavier 180-grain bullet from a .30/06 will push to around 22 inches and expand a little wider, to about .6 of an inch." But, a 150-grain from a .30-30 at that same range will penetrate 23 inches and expand as much or more than the .308 or .30-06. Moreover, it will do this with only 13 foot-pounds of recoil energy from a 7-pound rifle. "That’s 6 and 11 foot-pounds less than the .308 and .30/06, respectively." The remainder of the article discusses some .30-30 history, its effective range and using skill to get inside that effective range, as well as the best bullets and commercial loads to use.
• In the same vein: "Brush-Busters Are Back!"--American Rifleman. The author uses the term "brush-busters" to refer to larger caliber round nose or flat nose rifle cartridges such as the venerable .45-70 and .30-30, or newer “straight-wall” offerings such a .350 Legend, .360 Buckhammer and .450 Bushmaster. The author's primary thesis is:

 So, if “brush-busting” cartridges don’t get through brush much better than anything else, what good are they? Here are a few thoughts: They hit game hard and deliver high-energy payloads. I’ve gotten many letters and emails from hunters who want their deer down on the spot. Often, they hunt smaller properties or hard-hunted public land, so they need to be able to anchor their game. The new, old and resurrected brush-busters can do this. My sense is these cartridges are coming back, along with renewed interest in the all-American lever-action. Effective, yes, but limited in range.

But, related to this, the author argues that a lot of hunters (perhaps the majority) only need a rifle effective to within 100 to 200 yards due to hunting in thick woods or on small plots of land. And for the same reasons, need something that will quickly drop game so that it doesn't run off into the woods or a neighboring hunting plot and be lost to the hunter. The author then goes into the ballistic considerations (including terminal ballistics) that make these fat, heavy bullets so effective on game, before discussing specific cartridges. 

• On the other end of the caliber spectrum: "The Rimfire Report: Is .21 Sharp Taking Rimfire Anywhere New?"--The Firearm Blog. An excerpt:

    Despite what you might assume about it, the .21 Sharp cartridge actually has its own dedicated mission statement that lies outside of simple terminal performance. The new 21 Sharp cartridge is actually purposefully designed to eliminate limitations and problems caused by the standard heeled bullet that the common and affordable .22LR case uses. The parent .22LR case remains the same but the projectile now sits entirely within the inside of the case (a 0.210” diameter). 

    Heeled bullets [used in the .22 LR] pose a number of deficiencies especially when compared to more modern cartridges like .17 HMR and .22 WMR. First and foremost is the aerodynamic efficiency of said heeled bullets. The required shape for .22LR bullets leaves a vast majority of available projectiles with a very poor ballistic coefficient. Not only does this make the bullet bleed off velocity faster, but it also limits both the long-range accuracy of the round, as well as the versatility of bullet design and composition - .21 Sharp has none of these drawbacks and adds a few positives as well.

• "Ruger SFAR, Small Frame AR-10 Review"--The Truth About Guns. This is another rifle that has been out for a while, but the author is just publishing a review. If you remember, this is a design by Ruger that shrunk an AR-10 type of rifle nearly down to the size (and weight) of the standard AR-15. But beyond shrinking the rifle, Ruger has also made changes to make it a good suppressor host including an adjustable gas black and adding vents in the bolt carrier and barrel extension in order to keep the excess gas away from the shooter’s face. 
• Senator Mazie Hirono (Hawaii) is ghoulishly using Veterans' suicides as an excuse for pushing a bill that would limit magazine size (apparently for all those suicides that require 30-rounds). Another example of how Democrats are both stupid and evil. 
• "What to Do When Someone Knocks on Your Door Late at Night"--Ask A Prepper. You don't want to blow off a night time knock completely: emergency personnel from law enforcement, a fire department, or a utility company may have legitimate reasons for waking you up; or it could be someone you or a member of your family knows with a legitimate reason for coming to your door late at night or early in the morning. Conversely, as the author points out, criminals may knock to determine whether anyone is home (or awake) before attempting to force an entry. In any event, the author goes over some tips on keeping you and your family safe as you attempt to ascertain who is there and what they want.
  
• "CPAP Battery Solutions 2"--Blue Collar Prepping. This is an article from a few years back. In a prior article, the author had gone over her power requirements, some ways to reduce the power requirements, and a few other considerations, but had not settled on a solution. This article addresses her choices. She has selected a Rockpals Freeman 600 powerbank for storing and feeding electricity to her CPAP machine, and is considering the Rockpals SP003 100W Portable Solar Panel for emergency charging. She acknowledges that one of the main reasons for the Rockpals powerbank was the cost: $500 normally through Amazon (she was able to save over $100 more due to a sale).
• "Poll Reveals Half of Americans Unprepared for Lifesaving Actions in Emergencies"--Red Tea. The article relates that a poll conducted by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, which involved 1,005 participants across the United States, found that just 51% of Americans know how to perform hands-only CPR, only 49% felt confident in their ability to help in cases of serious bleeding, and only 56% believed they could assist someone who was choking.
• "Simple Gas Storage Rotation Plan" by Pat Henry, The Prepper Journal. Although Henry recognizes that fuel requirements will vary, he suggest a minimum of 20 gallons (i.e., a full tank of gas). Henry has six 5-gallon containers for a total of 30-gallons which he rotates through the year. He numbers each container (1 through 6) and at the end of each month when he is down to about a half-tank of gas in his car, he dumps the fuel from whichever container is up in rotation into the gas tank and then refills that container. That way he makes sure that none of his fuel is more than 6 months old. He has other suggestions and tips as well, so be sure to check it out. 
• VIDEO: "How to Open a Can without Can Opener - Zombie Survival Tips #20"--CrazyRussianHacker (3 min.). Basically, he flips the can over so the lid he wants to remove is on a piece of concrete block, grinds the top on the concrete block for 20 or 30 seconds, flips it right-side up again, and then squeezes the sides just under the lip until the lid comes loose. 
• "How To Make A Black Drawing Salve For When SHTF"--Ask A Prepper. The author points out that staying alive post-SHTF is more than a matter of food, and brings up the danger of an infected cut or other wound. 

    ... One of the best creams, or salves, as they are sometimes called, to fight infections in wounds, is the “Black Drawing Salve.”

    It’s called black because of the charcoal used in it and the word “drawing” refers to its job, i.e. to “draw out” the infection from wounds it is applied to.

    The Black Drawing Salve can be used to neutralize toxins and ease out splinters and other foreign objects that find their way under your skin. This salve can also help you survive by reducing inflammation from cactus spines, embedded glass shards, bee stings, tick bites, spider bites, thorns, and even ingrown hairs.

The article then goes on to discuss the ingredients and the recipe for the salve.

Two Attacks--Two Electric Vehicles

While news is still dribbling out about what appear to be terror attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas, there was one detail that struck me about both suspects: they used electric vehicles in their attacks.

    First, the Las Vegas incident. Per Red State, "Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old Army veteran, allegedly rented a Cybertruck in Colorado Springs, where he resides, before driving it to Nevada. Authorities report that he loaded the vehicle with firework mortars, gasoline cans, and other flammable materials." 

    And news reports concerning Shamsud Din Jabbar, the terrorist behind the New Orleans' attack, indicate he used a Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck, also rented. Jabbar had apparently placed two explosive devices (or possibly three) in the French Quarter of New Orleans, but there was at least one recovered from his vehicle. The Guardian reports, as to the latter: "Investigators discovered a corresponding remote in Jabbar’s truck, which also had mason jars containing a clear liquid consistent with explosives in his truck."

    We've all probably seen some of the horrific fires associated with electric vehicles when the batteries are ruptured and ignited (see, e.g., this video), although EV makers have made significant strides to make their batteries safer. Did Libelsberger and Jabbar specifically rent electric vehicles and stow explosives and/or flammables in them hoping it would result in an intense fire?

The Enrichment Report #15

 A selection of articles showcasing the benefits of diversity, equity and inclusion:

• I guess Canada has decided to not cut off energy and trade with the United States: "Canada pledges beefed-up border, immigration restrictions to appease Trump"--Reuters.  
• DEI in operation in NYC: "NYPD’s $400K-a-year top earner Quathisha Epps is retiring early as astronomical overtime pay is investigated: sources"--AOL. 
• So how did Epps get approval for that much overtime? "NYPD’s top cop Jeffrey Maddrey abruptly resigns after allegedly demanding underling perform sexual favors — including ‘kiss his penis’ — in exchange for overtime"--New York Post. 
• More: "Complaint accuses New York City police chief of 'quid pro quo' sex harassment"--6ABC Action News.  

In addition to the accusations of quid pro quo sexual favors and sex harassment that led to the Friday evening retirement of Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, Lt. Quathisha Epps alleges in a complaint a wide-ranging scheme to manipulate overtime-reporting procedures dating to the tenure of Police Commissioner Edward Caban.

She says that Maddrey exploited her emotional and financial vulnerabilities and her history of childhood trauma to coerce her into performing unwanted sexual favors in exchange for overtime opportunities.

• More: "NYPD lieutenant who raked in $200K in OT wants suspension revoked after Jeffrey Maddrey sexual abuse allegations"--New York Post.

• "Hollywood loves #diversity — except when it comes to Israel and Jews"--New York Post. From the headline, you would think that Jews were being passed over for acting roles, director and producer positions, or forced out of positions as film and television executives. But, no, it is just a complaint that not enough Oscars are going to Jews. But, as my next entry shows, they have no one but themselves to blame.
• "Who said Jews run Hollywood?"--The Times of Israel. Yes, from Israel's top newspaper: 

    The most influential person in Tinseltown is Jewish. Or so says The Hollywood Reporter. Bob Iger, the chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, tops an inaugural list of 100 prominent players that the show biz publication released this week.

    Iger captured the title for his savvy leadership at the helm of the world’s largest media company, according to THR.

    And if Hollywood’s many other most powerful Jews were ever a secret, they certainly aren’t now. This “nachas parade” of creative and financial influencers is an insider’s look highlighting everyone from execs and producers, to directors, creatives, stars and their reps.

    Packed with familiar surnames, it might be considered at least a partial Jewish “Who’s Who.” It also includes brief interviews and highlights specific achievements as “big wins” and “big bets,” because, as every macher knows, that’s what it takes to make it in Hollywood.

• Related: "Top 300 JEWISH Hollywood Actors You Need to Know"--Actors Data Comparison (17 min.).
  
• I wonder when we will see a movie about this? "US Government denies FOIA request for sealed USS Liberty records. 57 year old files to remain classified."--Citizen Watch Report. 

    The USS Liberty incident was an attack on a United States Navy technical research ship (a spy ship), USS Liberty, by Israeli Air Force jet fighter aircraft and Israeli Navy motor torpedo boats, on 8 June 1967, during the Six-Day War. The combined air and sea attack killed 34 crew members (naval officers, seamen, two marines, and one civilian NSA employee), wounded 171 crew members, and severely damaged the ship. At the time, the ship was in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula, about 25.5 nautical miles (47.2 km; 29.3 mi) northwest from the Egyptian city of Arish.

    Israel apologized for the attack, saying that USS Liberty had been attacked in error after being mistaken for an Egyptian ship. Both the Israeli and U.S. governments conducted inquiries and issued reports that concluded the attack was a mistake due to Israeli confusion about the ship’s identity. Others, including survivors of the attack, have rejected these conclusions and maintain that the attack was deliberate. Thomas Hinman Moorer, 7th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, accused President Lyndon B. Johnson of having covered up that the attack was a deliberate act.

• "Busted thieves baffled by ‘new laws’ in California that make shoplifting a felony, police video shows"--New York Post. They were not aware that Proposition 36, recently passed by voters, undid some of the soft-on-crime actions of California politicians.
  
• With this type of service, she didn't deserve a tip: "Pizza delivery woman stabs pregnant customer 14 times in front of young child — all because she didn’t like her tip: cops"--New York Post. The pizza delivery driver was named as Brianna Alvelo, 22, who apparently didn't appreciate the $2 tip she was given.
• Refugees welcome: "The rise of Marseille's 'Algerian mafia': How ruthless gang used teenage hitmen to surprise enemies and burned targets alive in brutal reign of terror that saw them take over city's drug network in a year"--Daily Mail. The article begins:

    The brutal DZ Mafia has taken over Marseille's drugs network and asserted its dominance on the city's streets through merciless contract killings, cementing its status as one of France's most feared and powerful gangs in a matter of months.

    The highly successful crime syndicate has employed an 'expansionist agenda', officials have warned, often recruiting children, including from middle-class backgrounds, through social media platforms like Snapchat to help carry out the hits.

    Attracted by the high earning potential, one boy, who was recruited as a driver, reportedly helped the gang with several killings in exchange for cash which he spent on a car and clothes. 

    He told police that he decided to leave the gang when he had earned enough money - a staggering €20,000 - adding that by that point he felt by that 'a little too many' people had died.

    Prosecutors believe DZ was behind as many as 40 drug-related murders in 2023 - 80 per cent of the total number that year - as it waged war against a rival gang, the Yoda.

    While the number of killings almost halved in 2024, prosecutors have claimed that this is because the group had already established its authority by striking fear into its enemies.

    DZ, short for Dzayer, meaning Algeria in the Berber language, has openly claimed violent attacks as their own since they first gained public and police attention for a gruesome murder in March 2023.

    The gang posted pictures of the burning body of a victim in the Busserine housing estate in northern Marseille, proudly displaying their tag - DZ Mafia - alongside it. The gang's campaign of terror has continued since.

• "Illegal migrant who set woman on fire on subway was deported under Trump but snuck back in"--Daily Mail. The illegal alien and suspect is Sebastian Zapeta-Calil from Guatemala. Although there seems to be a lot of sources claiming she was a 29-year old white woman named Amelia Carter, Newsweek reports that this is a hoax and that the identity remains unknown. What is clear is that video seems to show a Transit Police officer walk by the burning woman without rendering aid.  
• More: "Horrifying images show maniac Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, accused of burning woman to death on NYC subway, watching her burn before telling cops he doesn’t remember it: sources"--New York Post.
  
• "Migrant gangster seen in drag trying to escape police after violent torture of Colorado couple"--Daily Mail. "Niefred Jose Serpa-Acosta, 20, a known TdA member living in Aurora, Colorado, wore a wig and a lady's knit hat, hoping police would believe he was a she and not detain him last week," reports the article. He is accused of tying up and beating a Venezuelan couple for hours. 
• "Knife-wielding Tren de Aragua gangbangers are repeatedly attacking border crossings in desperate move to force their way into US before Trump takes office"--New York Post.
  
• "ICE: Wrong-way driver in crash that killed Las Vegas officer was ordered to leave US"--3 News Los Vegas. "Fernando Jimenez-Jimenez, 31, was a citizen of Mexico who entered the U.S. twice in 2019, a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told News 3 in a statement."
  
• "Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom considering ways to help illegal migrants dodge Trump’s planned mass deportation"--New York Post. 

An internal memo being circulated within Newsom’s administration calls for the “creation of an Immigrant Support Network comprised of regional ‘hubs’ to connect at-risk individuals, their families, and communities with community systems — such as legal services, schools, labor unions, local governments, etc,” according to Politico.

• "Border Czar Mayorkas Admits He Could Have Blocked Migration Flood"--Breitbart. According to the article, Mayorkas stated in a CBS interview on December 22 that he “would have taken executive action more rapidly,” if he had known in 2020 that the Republicans would reject his January 2024 border bill.
• "No SSN, no problem, says Massachusetts credit union"--Tyfone. "SouthCoast Federal Credit Union in New Bedford, Massachusetts, will now open accounts for immigrants that do not have social security numbers." They will require the immigrants to present proof of address and a passport, however.
  
• "‘Christianity is Paganism’: Florida Imam Warns Muslims Against Wishing ‘Happy Holidays’ to ‘Pagan’ Christians"--Breitbart. Per the article, "In his Friday, December 20, sermon at the Masjid As-Sunnah mosque and Islamic center serving the Orlando, Florida, area, the American-born Abu Usama delivered a scathing critique of Christianity, declaring it polluted with pagan practices, while urging Muslims to remain steadfast in their identity."
• "Saudi Man Who Mowed Down 200+ People Was Reportedly Mad At Refugee Treatment In Germany"--Daily Wire.  

    German law enforcement officials were repeatedly warned by Saudi Arabia that a man who drove into 200+ people at a Christmas event in Germany on Friday night was dangerous — warnings that Germany’s leftist government ignored.

    CNN reported that the chief of the Magdeburg Public Prosecutor’s office, Horst Walter Nopens, said that 50-year-old doctor Taleb al-Abdulmohsen may have been “disgruntlement with the way Saudi Arabian refugees are treated in Germany.”

    He is accused of driving a car down a road that was completely packed with people who were at a Christmas market in Magdeburg. At least 5 people have died and more than 40 had life threatening injuries.

    Saudi Arabia sent three warnings about the suspect to the German government, warning that he had posted extremist views online and was a threat to their security. Saudi Arabia first warned Germany about the man in 2007, just one year after he entered the country, and requested in 2007 and 2008 that he be extradited back to Saudi Arabia.

• More: "Christmas Market Attack Suspect Was a Saudi Arabian ‘Leftist’ Asylum Activist Promoted by BBC: Reports"--Breitbart. 
  
• "Germany: Muslim ‘asylum seeker’ arrested for plotting jihad massacre at Augsburg Christmas Market"--Jihad Watch.  
• "New Year's chaos on the streets of Germany as five people are killed and 400 arrested with police and firefighters attacked with fireworks"--Daily Mail.
  
• "Gay couple who showed off picture-perfect family gets 100 years in prison for horrific rape of adopted sons"--New York Post. "William and Zachary Zulock, 34 and 36, were each sentenced last week to 100 years in prison without the possibility of parole, the Walton County District Attorney’s office announced."
• "Parents Of Female Students Outraged After Boy Parades Around Girls’ Locker Room Naked, Exposing Himself At Westosha Central High School"--Kenosha County Eye. According to the article, "[m]any girls, some or most which are freshmen, approached the gym teacher, Miranda Hopkins. Hopkins told the girls that the boy 'identifies' as a girl, so they have to let him have access."