How they roll in the Land of Lincoln . . . Illinois Measure Could Force Many Gun Dealers Out Of Business – “A gun dealer licensing scheme—set for consideration the week after next in the Illinois state Senate—is so restrictive that it could run many honest Prairie State gun dealers out of business. According to NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, Senate Bill 1657 creates an onerous gun dealer licensing scheme within the state. ‘While the purported intent of this legislation was to enhance ‘responsible business practices,’ this proposed legislation only proves that the intention is to close as many federally licensed firearm dealers (FFLs) as possible,” stated an ILA legislative update.”
What is a robot doing with a gun in space? . . . Russian Humanoid Robot ‘Fedor’ Learns to Shoot Using Both Arms – “Humanoid robot F.E.D.O.R., set to fly into space in 2021, is now capable of shooting using both of his arms, according to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. ‘The robot of the F.E.D.O.R. platform showed skills of firing using both arms. Currently the work on fine motor skills and decision algorithms is underway,’ Rogozin wrote on his Twitter. According to Rogozin, training to shoot is a way of teaching the robot to instantaneously prioritize targets and make decisions. ‘We are not creating a terminator but artificial intelligence which will have a great practical importance in various fields,’ he added. It is expected that ‘Fedor’ will help astronauts work in open space and serve at the station.”
Of course they did, it’s Chicagoland . . . Elgin (IL) rejects gun club geared toward women – “The Elgin City Council voted against measures that would have made way for a gun club with a range and store geared toward women, but a procedural move could allow the issue to come back for a vote. However, the man behind the Fox Valley Shooting Club along McLean Boulevard said Thursday morning he wasn’t sure about his future plans.”
Police trying to trace gun after teen kills himself live on Instagram – “Forest Park police say a teenage boy accidentally shot and killed himself while his friends were watching him on social media. Police told Channel 2’s Nefertiti Jaquez they are still trying to track down where the boy got the gun and are trying to trace it back to the owner. Malachi Hemphill was 13 years old. Investigators said he was playing with a gun while broadcasting on Instagram Live, when the gun went off in what appears to be an accident, killing the teen.”
Cartridge of the Century: The .38 Smith & Wesson Special – “The new medium-frame (known as the “K-frame” in Smith speak) revolver from S&W aped the swing-out cylinder and manual ejection of the Colt, causing it to be referred to as the “Hand Ejector” as opposed to the older top-break Smiths which automatically ejected the spent shells when broken open. Instead of chambering the new revolver in the .38 Long Colt, S&W developed a new cartridge of the same diameter but with the bullet weight upped from 150 to 158 grains and the powder charge likewise increased from 18 to 21½ grains of black powder. The resulting round, dubbed the .38 Smith & Wesson Special, boasted a serious performance increase.”
Calling all cars . . . Merriam police investigating overnight burglary of gun manufacturer, say several firearms missing – “Merriam police this morning are asking for the public’s assistance in gathering information about the overnight burglary of a firearms distributor and manufacturer. Merriam Public Information Officer Darren McLaughlin said officers responded to the scene of the burglary at Signature Manufacturing in the 9800 block of W. 67th Street after an alarm went off around 2:30 a.m.”
Preemption update . . . Senators advance bill that would end local gun regulations in Nebraska in favor of state law – “Nebraska lawmakers signaled Wednesday they intend to pull rank on local elected officials when it comes to regulating guns. The Legislature voted 32-12 to advance a bill that would require state law to override municipal gun regulations in Nebraska. Supporters of the measure narrowly defeated a filibuster by senators who argued cities and villages ought to control gun possession in their communities.”
Remington rifle settlement in question as gun owners appeal – “Two owners of allegedly defective Remington Model 700 rifles say they will seek to block a landmark class action settlement approved by a federal judge last month, arguing the agreement does not go far enough. That means the fate of as many as 7.5 million allegedly unsafe guns is once again in question. The settlement covers the iconic Model 700 and a dozen other Remington models with similar designs.”
Another argument for national reciprocity . . . Marine to go to prison after friend grabbed his gun – “Six years ago, (Hisashi) Pompey was visiting family in New Jersey when he decided to go out to a nightclub with a friend. He had just left a training exercise where he was teaching other Marines how to use guns. He went to get his bag out of a friend’s car when his friend came up to him with blood on his face. He had been in a fight. The friend grabbed Pompey’s gun, which was in his holster. The gun was legally registered in Virginia, but laws banned the gun in New Jersey. The state has some of the toughest gun laws in the country.”
Trump has been easing Obama-era gun restrictions. You just may not have heard. – “With little attention, President Donald Trump’s administration has been quietly loosening firearms restrictions in the United States after successfully seeking the support of gun owners on the campaign trail. His agencies narrowed the definition of “fugitive,” a change that cuts the number of people who’ll be included in a database designed to keep firearms from people who are barred from owning them. Federal officials have also signaled that they may no longer defend the Army Corps of Engineers’ ban on carrying loaded firearms and ammunition on federal lands.”
