All posts by Chris Knox

The Knox Update

Practice, Practice, Practice…

The Knox Report

From the Firearms Coalition

Practicing Politics

By Chris & Jeff Knox

(Manassas, VA, 8 April, 2010) Conditions have lined up for 2010 to be the year of the perfect electoral storm.  But in order to create the kind of storm the Republic needs, one that cleans out an insubordinate and defiant Congress, GunVoters and pro-rights activists need to get organized.  The time to start is now.  Just as my friend, noted author and radio host Dave Ramsey says about saving money, it’s never too early to get involved in politics, but it’s better to get involved late than not to get involved at all.  Whether you’re reading this in May, or October, you need to take action.

There are many ways to participate in the political process and all of them are important.  The first, and most fundamental, is to vote.  Make sure that you are registered to vote and that you show up on Election Day.  Dismiss the excuses.  I’ve heard them all and they are all lame.

Continue reading Practice, Practice, Practice… →

The Knox Update

Industry Support of Rights

The Knox Update

From the Firearms Coalition

The Firearms Industry and the Second Amendment

By Chris Knox

What follows is an excerpt from Neal Knox – The Gun Rights War, a compilation of columns and essays by my late father Neal Knox.

“The State of New York about a year ago enacted a very drastic firearms law, known as the Sullivan law.  This law was intended to stop crime, and statistics show that there has been more crime in that state than ever.  Crime conditions even got so bad that enterprising concerns in New York are issuing insurance policies against loss by holdups.  The presidents of seven burglar insurance companies have petitioned the state legislature to repeal the Sullivan Law.”

There’s no doubt what that writer would think about New York’s law today, almost three-quarters of a century after he wrote that pamphlet “Concerning Revolver Legislation.”

Continue reading Industry Support of Rights →

States

Upcoming Events

Two Important Events Coming Up!

Second Amendment March April 19!

Join Jeff Knox and Second Amendment supporters from around the nation as we rally on the National Mall in downtown Washington, DC from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM next to the Washington Monument.  Plan to be there all day if you can, but if you can only make it for a couple of hours that helps too.  Let’s send a message to Congress and the President that the Constitution matters – all of it – and they’d better keep their hands off of our rights!

There are also a number of rallies planned for State capitols around the country in conjunction with the national Second Amendment March.  Get the full schedule of events at www.SecondAmendmentMarch.com and get involved!

 

Grass Roots North Carolina Dinner Friday, May 14!

Featuring Heller and McDonald lead attorney Alan Gura.

If you’re planning to attend the NRA Convention in Charlotte next month, be sure to plan to make the GRNC Dinner a part of your plans.  It promises to be an enjoyable and informative evening including the opportunity to learn about the carefully choreographed campaign being waged in the courts to reestablish the Second Amendment as a fundamental right.  Along with Alan Gura, speakers include Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, Paul Valone, President of GRNC, and The Firearms Coalition’s own Jeff Knox.

Don’t miss this great event!

Tickets are only $50 and all proceeds go to benefit the work of Grass Roots North Carolina – the leading rights lobby in the state – and their Remember in November project which distributes voter guides to over 100,000 registered voters before each major election in the state.

For more information go to www.GRNC.org or call (704) 907-9206.

The Knox Update

Disarmed Discomfort

The Knox Update

From the Firearms Coalition

Discomfort with the Comfort of Skill at Arms

By Jeff Knox

(Manassas, VA, March 11, 2010) Dr. Ignatius Piazza, founder of Front Sight Firearms Training Institute, is fond of talking about “the comfort of skill at arms.”  It’s not only a part of his sales pitch it’s also an integral part of the overall philosophy taught at the school.  It is an important concept because having full confidence in your own ability to handle almost any serious encounter that might arise is a very comfortable feeling.  Of course that comfort must never be allowed to slip into complacency or cockiness and that too is emphasized in Front Sight training.  The comfort of skill at arms removes anxiety and makes the world a much more inviting, less threatening place.  There is a downside to the comfort of skill at arms though and that is the intensified discomfort of being disarmed. Continue reading Disarmed Discomfort →

The Knox Update

Armed Bureaucrats

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The Knox Update

From the Firearms Coalition

Disarm the Bureaucrats

By Jeff Knox

 

(Manassas, VA, March 19, 2010) There is nothing unusual about a federal agency buying guns, particularly a federal agency with law enforcement authority, but when that federal agency is the Office of the Inspector General for the US Department of Education, well, that rightfully raised a few eyebrows.  The EDOIG put out a solicitation seeking 27 Remington 870, 12 gauge, pump shotguns with 14 inch barrels and Knoxx (no relation) adjustable, recoil reducing stocks.  The document went on to explain that the 14in Remington 870s are the “only shotguns authorized for ED based on compatibility with ED existing shotgun inventory, certified armor and combat training and protocol, maintenance, and parts.” Continue reading Armed Bureaucrats →

Reports

DOD and ATK Back Down

ATK and DOD Reverse Course

Military Brass Destruction (again) Halted

The on-again, off-again program to destroy once-fired brass appears to be off with strong statements by both DOD and ATK that the apparent revival of the program was based on dated information and reaffirming the company’s commitment to the Second Amendment and its civilian customers.  The Defense Department meanwhile responded the halt in shipping brass into surplus channels was merely a review.
Small arms cartridge cases are identified as a sensitive Munitions List item and were held pending review of the policy relating to the category of items in which cartridge cases were included. Upon review, the Defense Logistics Agency has determined the cartridge cases could be appropriately placed in a category of government property allowing for their release for sale.
 
ATK responded to MSSA’s queries here:
and DOD Responded to NRA queries here:
Thanks to Ammoland for helping us stay current.

Immediate action needed!

Halt destruction of military brass!

The following important release from our good friend Gary Marbut needs your immediate attention.  Once-fired military brass is being destroyed again and this time the enemy is in our own industry.  ATK Techsystem, manufacturers of powder and ammunition is buying up brass from base commanders and destroying it to keep it off of the civilian market.

This scheme is going to need consumer response and congressional intervention to stop it.

Please help to spread the word.  Repost this article and link back to it at www.FirearmsCoalition.org, and contact friendly Senators and Representatives asking that they join efforts to require the DOD to sell brass for reloading rather than burning tax dollars to shred it.  Thanks to our good friend Gary Marbut of the Montana Shooting Sports Assocation.

Military Cartridge Brass Destruction 2010 – Round 2

by

Gary Marbut, President, Montana Shooting Sports Association

The cure that was arranged by Montana Senators Baucus and Tester to fix the intended military destruction of once-fired cartridge brass last year appears to be suffering from a fatal end-run.

Interested persons will remember that a year ago, helpful intervention by Montana’s senators persuaded the Department of Defense to rescind a fresh DoD directive to military installation commanders requiring them to destroy once-fired brass prior to selling it at auction into the civilian marketplace for ammunition reloading and other purposes.

Continue reading DOD and ATK Back Down →

The Knox Update

McDonald at SCOTUS

The Knox Update

From the Firearms Coalition

Deciphering the Court

Deciphering Your Rights

By Jeff Knox

(Washington, DC, March 5) Oral arguments in the Supreme Court case of McDonald v. Chicago were an interesting show on March 2. (Read the Transcript here.)  Most of the Justices made their positions on applying the Second Amendment to the states – and what mechanism to use to do it – fairly clear from the outset.  Most observers agree that the Court will declare that states must recognize a fundamental right to keep and bear arms.

Continue reading McDonald at SCOTUS →

Chris's Blog

VPC and the Spock Theory

I recently discovered this in draft form.  It’s old, but not out of date.

Many years ago my father talked frequently about what he called “the Spock theory of government.”  No, not the pointy-eared Spock; Star Trek had not appeared on TV yet.  He was referring to Dr. Benjamin Spock, the baby doctor who wrote the standard Boomer parenting manual.  I doubt that Dad ever read Dr. Spock.  My well-learned habit of calling him “Sir” indicates that if he did, he didn’t act on many of the doctor’s theories. 

According to Spock (as understood by Neal), parents should “never punish a child for improper behavior, just keep harmful things out of his reach.”  The theory underpins Prohibition, both the Volstead Act of the 1920’s and the modern drug prohibition, and every gun control law.  The government, especially that portion of the government represented by the Democratic Party, sees itself as the parent of a fractious and unruly bood of children, also known as We the People.  African-Americans in particular fit in that category.  As evidence, I submit a “study” from Josh Sugarmann’s Violency Policy Center:

“blacks, like all victims of homicide, guns — usually handguns — are far and away the number one murder tool. Successful efforts to reduce America’s black homicide toll must put a focus on reducing access to firearms.”

 

Chris's Blog

Arizona Washington’s Birthday Match

Who would guess that the oldest continuously running rifle match in the country is the Washington’s Birthday Match in Arizona?  The match has run since 1892.  The famed National Matches at Camp Perry are a 20th Century invention, having only run since 1907.  The would-be historian in me wants to compile a record book to document it. 

I’ve seen what it takes to bring off an event like this:  It’s a lot of dang work!  Bill Poole, Highpower Chairman of the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association has been making it look easy for years.  I know it’s not, and I appreciate it!