Another little present from the former administration on its way out the door . . . Obama White House Blocked Needed U.S. Arms Sale to Taiwan – “The Obama administration blocked a $1 billion arms sale to Taiwan in December that was needed to improve the island’s defenses despite approval from the State Department and Pentagon, according to Trump administration officials. The scuttling of the arms package was a set back for U.S. and Taiwanese efforts to bolster defenses against a growing array of Chinese missiles and other advanced weaponry deployed across the 100-mile Taiwan Strait. The action coincided with a controversial pre-inaugural phone call Dec. 2 between then-President-elect Trump and Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.”
The next time left coast cops claim they don’t have sufficient resources to fight crime, remember this . . . LA Sheriff to spend $300,000 on uniform hardware – “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is getting down to brass tactics. Sheriff’s officials are spending $300,000 on items they say would make deputies look more professional in their jobs and could help make them safer. But the taxpayer dollars won’t go toward tools such as higher-quality ballistic vests, backup guns or body cameras, all of which are optional items that deputies have to pay for on their own. Instead, Sheriff Jim McDonnell is spending the money on a minor cosmetic makeover of deputies’ uniforms: changing the color of their belt buckles and other metal pieces of gear from silver to gold. That way, the metallic bits — all made of brass — will match the gold-hued tie clips, lapel pins and six-pointed star badges that deputies already wear, McDonnell said.”
Night of the SAINT. Six competitors, three weeks, one champion.
EU approves tough new gun laws to battle terrorism despite OPPOSITION from Eastern Europe – “MEPs voted through new measures which will restrict access to military grade automatic weapons, which some member states farcically claimed were needed by “hunters” to carry out their hobby. In rhetoric more commonly associated with the American Bible Belt representatives from Eastern Europe lined up to argue that the move would take firearms out of the hands of the ‘good guys’.” And no, this wasn’t an opinion piece. That’s what passes for journalism in the UK.
MasterPiece Arms Introduces the MPA BA CZ-455 Chassis – “MasterPiece Arms (MPA), manufacturers of the MPA BA Rifles, Chassis Systems, Defender Pistols and Carbines, Suppressors and MPAR Rifles, is pleased to introduce the MPA BA CZ-455 Chassis. It was developed in response to many requests from MPA’s customers. The chassis is machined on MPA’s CNC Horizontal Machining Centers to exacting tolerances from 6061 aluminum. MPA’s unique pocketing system reduces weight and increases structural integrity of the chassis. At an astonishing 2.7 lbs. with no recoil pad, the BA CZ-455 Chassis will provide an excellent platform for the CZ-455 barreled action.”
Bill Would Let Police Seize Guns in Domestic Violence Cases – “The (Vermont) House Judiciary Committee is considering a measure that would have police temporarily remove firearms from the possession of people accused of domestic violence. The proposal, H.422, would allow law enforcement to remove a weapon from the scene and hold it for up to five days when a suspect is cited or arrested on suspicion of domestic assault. Supporters say the legislation could save victims of domestic violence from serious injury or death, arguing that data suggests victims are at greater risk in the period immediately after police involvement in a case. Others say the bill goes too far in allowing police to take personal property and could limit victims’ access to firearms for self-defense.”
Judge approves landmark Remington rifle settlement – “Turning aside objections from gun owners, legal experts and nine state attorneys general, a federal judge has given final approval to a landmark class action settlement involving some 7.5 million allegedly defective Remington guns. The ruling allows the owners of some of Remington’s most popular firearms — including the iconic Model 700 rifle — to have their triggers replaced free of charge.”
New from TorkMag – G-Block AR-15 to GLOCK (9mm and .40 S&W) magazine conversion for AR-15 magazine wells.
A question no one but an NPR affiliate would ask . . . California gun sales shattered records last year. Why? – “Californians bought guns at a blazing-fast pace in 2016, setting a record for the most guns ever sold in the state with 1.3 million. It was the first year Californians had ever purchased more than a million firearms. That’s according to data from the California Department of Justice’s Dealer Record of Sale system, which tracks gun sales in the state. Data the agency provided to KPCC shows that sales accelerated as the year went on.”
State lawmakers consider tax-free guns, ammo holiday weekend – “(Tennessee) state lawmakers are considering a bill that would create a sales tax holiday weekend for guns and ammunition. ‘It could potentially save you a lot of money,’ Tim Perry, a hunter, said. The bill would establish a “Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday” the first weekend in September. ‘I think it’s the perfect time to do it right before hunting season,’ Perry said.”
Preview of Girls With Guns Submissions – “If these pictures could speak, they’d say Girls with Guns is back and better than ever! From machine guns to grandmas and everything in-between, we’ve received a mix of Idaho’s proudest gun carrying females!”
Lowest Paid Kentucky Head Coach Is The Rifle Coach, He Still Makes $133,000 Per Year! – “Kentucky’s former baseball coach Gary Henderson made $577,000 in 2016, $150,000 more than the revenue earned from baseball during that season. The Wildcats’ track and field coach made $429,000, up from $108,000 in 2006. Did you know Kentucky had a rifle team? Coaching that is a $133,000 per year gig for Harry Mullins (above, center). Colleges will claim they can’t afford a restructuring of the amateurism model. They are spending considerable sums on salaries and facilities to make it look as though that’s the case.”
