Chris Knox addresses the GRPC on Border Violence and the Second Amendment
I’ve posted the written text here . The video is below.
Category Archives: Informative
For lack of a better title.
Jeff Knox: GRPC ’09
One of the challenges of GRPC is the fast pace and very short time allotted to each speaker. The topic of my panel was "Expanding Self-Defense and Right to Carry." The point I wanted to make is that we, as a movement, have fallen into bad habits of using the language of our opponents to frame the debate and by so doing we weaken our case. When we use phrases like "arming teachers" and "arming students," or say things like "responsible, licensed citizens should be allowed to carry guns in National parks…" we are undermining our own position. There should be no debate about whether you have the right to defend yourself and your family. There should be no question whether you have the right to have the means available to effectively accomplish such defense if needed. Therefore there should be no talk of "allowing" or of "arming," but rather talk of "banning" and "disarming." It is wrong that the means for effective self-defense is banned from college campuses simply because they are college campuses. It is wrong that qualified students and faculty who take responsibility for their own protection everywhere else in their lives are disarmed simply because they are on a college campus.
If we wish to expand self-defense and recognition of the right to carry, the first thing we must do is make sure that the language we use to frame the debate recognizes these as RIGHTS, not priviledges.
California – Back to the Future?
Arnold Signs AB 962
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signs AB 962. Ammunition record-keeping was one of the planks of the 1968 Gun Control Act that was proven not to work and repealed with the 1986 Firearms Owners Protection Act. Count on similar pushes across the country. Friends in Arizona consider blowing bridges across the Colorado River. If you don’t see the video click the Read More link.
Jeff Interview – Guns in School!
There is a young man putting together a documentary about the battle for our rights. The working title is "Not Without a Fight" and he recently interviewed me for the film. Here is the second of two clips from that interview he has posted on Youtube. In this clip, I talk a little about guns and growing up, including a story about taking a Mauser "Broomhandle" to school. Man I was a lucky kid! (Click the title above or the "Read more" below to see the clip.)
Jeff Interview – Belgian Corporal
There is a young man putting together a documentary about the battle for our rights. The working title is "Not Without a Fight" and he recently interviewed me for the film. Here is the first of two clips from that interview he has posted on Youtube. In this clip, I talk a little about Dad and his conversion from a casual gun owner to a gun rights advocate and how his core belief effected me growing up. (Click the title above or the "Read more" below to see the clip.) Continue reading Jeff Interview – Belgian Corporal
VA Lobby Day 2009
Representing The Firearms Coalition at Lobby Day, January 19, 2009, Richmond, Virginia.
Click "Read More" to watch video.
The Khyber Pass Gun Markets
Documentary of the arms markets in the tribal regions on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Gutsy move on the part of the filmmaker to go into this area. He obviously has connections. I’d be scared to death of accidents arising from the abundance of sloppy gun handling, nevermind the threat of bad guys. Something goes wrong and find out just how far from home you really are. Click the Read More link below to watch. Continue reading The Khyber Pass Gun Markets
The Shoulder Thing
Noted firearms designer Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D. NY) tap dances around the fact that she does not know what her own bill does before falling on her face. Not sure whether to categorize this as informative or as laughable.
Click the Read More link to watch.
The Truth About AK47 Firepower
In 1989 Larry Pratt of GOA and Neal Knox tried an experiment using an exciting new technology that had just become available: VHS video tape. They hauled an AK47 and a bunch of other guns ranging from a pair of 9 mm pistols to a 12 gauge shotgun for a demonstration of comparative ballistics. The target? a bunch of watermelons. The watermelon is a good target for this demonstration because it's something everyone is familiar with (as compared with ballistic gelatin which many people have seen on TV, but few have handled), and reacts pretty spectacularly.
The size of the watermelon splash is a fair indicator of comparative power based on comparisons of ballistic tables. The AK's 7.62×39 round yields a splash comparable to the .30-30 and the .30-'06 provides a pretty spectacular show. But the 12 gauge loaded with No. 4 shot steals the show as it transfers virtually all of its energy to the watermellon yielding the tag line of the video: "There was no grenade in that watermelon!" My kids have gotten a kick out of watching their grandad say that line since they were in pre-school.
Leroy Pyle Explains Assault Rifles
Former San Jose police officer Leroy Pyle in another dated, but still very current video demonstrates the cosmetic features that make an "assault rifle."