By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Back in the bad old days of the dead tree press, it was said that California leads the nation in trends. And it had for a good long time, at least in positive trends.
Now California is leading the nation into a descent into madness with 10 new gun control laws which tighten state gun control even further. Among the proposals are background checks and a statewide database for ammunition purchases/owners.
This newest drive is part of a nationwide effort which will follow Hillary Clinton should she wind up in the White House in January. You can tell because noted firearms experts such as Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric, for all intents and purposes Golden Throats who know what's best for you, much better than you.
As to Couric's claim that a "silent majority" of firearms owners want more gun control, I have zero doubt about that. You can see it even in Arms List, where about 15 to 20 percent of all sales listings require a background check by the seller.
This goes to Arms List's refusal to clean up their own sales lists, including gun shops who list their wares privately. Those shops are required by federal law to require a background check as a condition of sale. That requirement makes the private gun sale category meaningless because once the firearm is sold via a background check the sale is no longer private, but has been recorded for the government by the seller.
Individuals who require background checks as a condition of sale and gun shops should be required to list their sales as a vendor.
Individuals who require their gun sale through a background check are the exemplar of what Couric is taking about. People who believe that the rights enumerated on the Constitution apply to them and them alone. Everyone else can be left with nothing just as long as they have their rights. The left has been using this false sentiment against gun owners for decades now to tremendous effect.
Over at Knuckledraggin My Life Away blog, I guess blogger Ken Lane decided to start a fight about the AK vs AR comparisons. Some amazing reader's comments came from that post.
A taste:
Torpex
typical rifle cost AK win
ammo weight AR win
ease of tear down and maint AK win
long range accuracy AR win
typical skirmisher ranges 50 – 300 yds draw
quality ammo availability and choice AR win
barbie-dollability AR win
Bottom line the age old debate will continue. Thank god Kenny threw out the bait. There will be a bunch of responses to this one. ps I am an AK guy after a seeming lifetime with the AR platform as marksmanship instructor in the MC. For me the KISS principle rules all. :)
Glenfilthie
Thanks for saying that, WC. All I know is that 9 times outta 10 … When one squad with ARs is going at it with another with AKs …. The guys with the ARs win. The AK belongs to the third world and they can have it.
Boner
Above is a link from Tactical Response when Reid Henrichs was an instructor there. One video on youtube does not win the argument but it does give you a starting point and you can go on from there. But you wont. You have spent to much “sexifing” your vietnam’ war machine and been telling yourself and others for far to long and its become a point of self accomplishment in your mind.
I’ll keep training.
badanov
I luv my AK.
Sorry.
I get so emotional sometimes.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were mixed. Prices for rifle ammunition were mostly unchanged.
Prices for both used pistols were mixed, while prices for used rifles were lower across the board.
New Lows:
Virginia: .223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic): Smith & Wesson: $475
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: FedArm, Store Brand, TMJ, Brass Cased, Reloads, .24 per round (From Last week: +.01 Each)
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Eazch After Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Marketplace, Leadhead, RNFP, Brass Casing, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Bud's Gun Shop, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .16 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Rush Creek Ammo, Store brand, TMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .16 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2016))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: SG Ammo, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .25 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2015))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, steel casing, .21 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .37 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, steel casing, FMJ, .34 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks))
7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Top Gun Supply, Russian military, Steel Case, FMJ, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: TrueCaliber.com, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 weeks))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammomen, Aguila, RNL, .08 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds (2 Cases Max): Cabela's, Remington, RNL, .07 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $504 Last Week Avg: $559 (-) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $476 (33 Weeks))
California (223, 211): Mixed Build: $545 ($650 (1Q, 2015), $400 (37 Weeks))
Texas (292, 287): DPMS Panther: $500 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (153, 144): Mixed Build: $550 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (45 Weeks))
Virginia (163, 151): Smith & Wesson: $475 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $475 (CA: $480 (22 Weeks)))
Florida (361, 342): Smith & Wesson:: $450 ($650 (47 Weeks), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $949 Last Week Avg: $1,075 (-) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (32 Weeks))
California (51, 53): Bushmaster: $1,000 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (42 Weeks))
Texas (82, 80): DPMS LR308: $800 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $800 (41 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (37, 29): DPMS SASS: $1,200 ($1,500 (1Q, 2015), $700 (34 Weeks))
Virginia (45, 47): CMMG: $950 ($2,750 (18 Weeks), $800 (29 Weeks))
Florida (63, 62): DPMS: $799 ($1,950 (3 Weeks), $500 (32 Weeks))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $572 Last Week Avg: $552 (-) ($626 (2Q, 2015), $450 (43 Weeks))
California (38, 37): Zastava NPAP: $600 ($725 (9 Weeks), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (74, 70): Unknown Brand: $560 ($800 (19 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (51, 55): IO: $600 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (38, 41): CAI AMD 65: $500 ($650 (9 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (95, 99): Saiga: $600 ($700 (12 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $377 Last Week Avg: $342 (-) ($489 (1Q, 2015), $296 (46 Weeks))
California (9, 10): Mossberg 464 SPX: $400 ($600 (10 Weeks), $180 (49 Weeks))
Texas (18, 17): Marlin: $350 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (21, 23): Marlin 30AS: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (12, 8): Marlin 336W: $360 ($670 (3 Weeks)), $250 (25 Weeks))
Florida (19, 21): Marlin 336: $425 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (50 Weeks))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $402 Last Week Avg: $431 (-) ($510 (7 Weeks)), $350 (30 Weeks))
California (182, 182): Rock Island Armory: $525 ($725 (10 Weeks), $300 (41 Weeks))
Texas (201, 204): Springfield: $400 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (39 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (166, 159): Rock Island Armory: $325 ($550 (2Q, 2015), $300 (49 Weeks))
Virginia (139, 135): Llama: $380 ($575 (16 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (271, 269): Rock Island Armory: $380 ($500 (15 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $264 Last Week Avg: $277 (-) ($358 (11 Weeks), $245 (5 Weeks))
California (181, 181): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $350 ($500 (12 Weeks), $200 (28 Weeks))
Texas (254, 262): Taurus PT111: $260 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (37 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (227, 234): Kel Tec P-11: $225 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (44 Weeks))
Virginia (182, 196): Helwan: $189 ($425 (20 Weeks), $189 (7 Weeks))
Florida (447, 438): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $300 ($400 (10 Weeks), $220 (36 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $330 Last Week Avg: $320 (+) ($399 (18 Weeks), $293 (14 Weeks))
California (83, 85): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $375 ($560 (19 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (118, 105): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $275 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $250 (23 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (83, 79): Kahr CW40: $250 ($450 (7 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (45, 48): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $400 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (127, 131): Springfield XD 40: $350 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $200 (37 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (Pennsylvania)
Beretta Stampede Chambered in .45 Long Colt
Chris Covert writes for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com and on Twitter. 
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