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Shameless commercial plug - I am an NRA Recruiter and get a commission for signing up new NRA members.  But here's the deal:  Our 2nd Amendment Rights Count On It...

We need your help!  There is no doubt that the 2018 legislative session in the state of Colorado and the nation is going to be tough on gun rights.  There is still yet a lot of work to do to save our rights and our future as gun owners.  The new gun-friendly administration has been elected, but they are under fire and being attacked by those not friendly to our rights as citizens to defend ourselves.  In fact, those wishing to take back power have even promised groups such as the "Brady Bunch" that they are will work on new gun control measures behind the scenes now and enact them once they are in power.  And unfortunately, their newly emboldened base consists of some of the most anti-gun, anti-self-defense people in history. 

But we have a strong ally:  The hard work and dedication of the professionals at the National Rifle Association will ensure that we can take the fight against draconian and excessive gun control measures to those who don't want us to defend ourselves.  Watch this SHORT VIDEO about the NRA to learn more...  Then JOIN, as we move forward in 2018 to ensure that all of us enjoy our RIGHTS for responsible gun ownership, self-defense.

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The Second Amendment is second in importance only to the First!!!  Indeed, it's the Second Amendment that allows the general population to defend all the rest of them from any attempt at tyranny.

"While the people have property, arms in their hands, and only a spark of noble spirit, the most corrupt Congress must be mad to form any project of tyranny."

Rev. Nicholas Collin, Fayetteville Gazette (N.C.), October 12, 1789

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The following is a quote from James Madison sixteen (16) months before he introduced the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1789.

"Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of."

James Madison, The Federalist No. 48, February 1, 1788

My Philosophy

I believe that our Second Amendment rights afford us as law-abiding citizens the ability to own firearms, and we should be able to use the tools that we see fit to protect ourselves, our families, and our property.  The immortal and often debated meaning of the words of the Second Amendment "A well-regulated militia..." was intended to mean that all citizens have the right and responsibility to bear arms in protection of self, family, and country.  "Well regulated" at the time, meant well trained and disciplined.  We believe that the meaning and spirit of those words are just as relevant today.  Our citizens should be well trained, but "...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." 

"The Gonz" is a Fort Collins-based political and gun rights activist, NRA Certified Firearms Instructor, and Law Enforcement AR-15/M-16/M-4A1 Armorer, and NRA Recruiter specializing in fostering gun rights and firearms safety.  We emphasize firearms safety and are strong advocates of a law-abiding citizen's right to own firearms for self-defense, hunting, and sporting purposes.  If you live in the Northern Colorado area, please ask how I can help you with all your firearms training needs.  By joining the NRA today, you are helping me to muster the vital resources needed to ensure that these rights are here for our children and future generations to come.

"Evil" Rifle Features - Hand Grips

Why am I showing a video of rifles being modified to comply with California gun laws? Because with all the new talk about gun control, California is being looked at as the model for gun laws for the rest of the country. The sheer nonsense and poorly thought-out reasoning of all this is likely coming to a state/city near you, so I wanted to use their example to give you a preview of things to come. California is the home of some of the most Draconian and worthless gun laws in the nation, but it's not surprising that other states, in their haste to "do something," would quickly adapt their model.
There are various accounts in gun control lore about California Senator Diane Feinstein deciding what types of guns to try to ban simply by picking up a gun magazine and circling all the pictures of guns that had "scary" or "evil' features. Adjustable/foldable stocks, pistol grips, flash hiders, forward grips, detachable magazines, and even the infamous "barrel shroud" are all "features" of what she calls an "assault weapon" and all seem to make the gun more "shootier" to her. So she wants to ban these features. Actually, she wants to ban ALL guns. But that pesky U.S. Constitution keeps getting in the way.
“If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States, for an outright ban, picking up every one of them (every gun) Mr. and Mrs. America, turn ‘em all in. I would have done it.” - Diane Feinstein 
First off, these laws concerning firearms configuration are "engineered" by people who know nothing about firearms or firearms safety and are simply reacting to the fact that firearms are "scary" looking.  This is simply more of the "we gotta do SOMETHING" mentality, even if that something is meaningless or even dangerous.
The fact of the matter is that some of these modifications are just downright dangerous to the operator and those around him/her.  Things like certain handgrip modifications that make it easier to drop a rifle or fixed magazine modifications that make it more dangerous to clear certain types of firearms malfunctions all lend themselves to situations where people can get seriously hurt.  I'm not sure who the "experts" are that these people obtained when dreaming up these things, but I assure you that they just didn't think them through.  But I will discuss some of these modifications in more depth in separate posts.
So in this particular video, which mainly discusses "featureless rifles" and in particular different hand grips.  The issue with the handgrip, according to people like Diane Feinstein, is that it allows you to shoot the rifle "from the hip."  Really, Diane?  Is that your concern here? And I always thought that properly holding the rifle in a secure and safe manner would be a primary concern.  I want you to notice in this video how some of these grips just don't allow the operator to securely hold the rifle.  Dropping rifles is not what I call a safe practice.
If you don't have time to watch the whole video right now, at the very least, go to 12:55 in this video to listen to what Chris has to say about some of these ridiculous laws, and how they only penalize the law abiding.  Criminals and those with evil in their heart who want to shoot up Christmas parties, concerts, churches, or schools will not be following these laws.
Stay tuned for more information and more in-depth articles.  And stay involved!  Here in Colorado, we have a new legislative session coming up, not to mention the 2018 elections.  Now is not the time to go back to sleep.

Armor Concepts

Gun Control Terminology Primer

The problem with many of the gun control advocates we are hearing from right now is that they don’t even understand the first thing about firearms, much less the “features” that make them so irrationally frightened of firearms.  They want to control (more like “abolish”) that which they don’t even understand.  If a gun looks scary, they want it banned.

So for all the rabid and ill-informed gun control advocates out there – perhaps I can help you out a bit.  Here is a primer for you on the common terms and phrases you like to throw around, along with their actual meanings.

Assault Weapon:  This is a gun-grabber favorite.  “No one needs an ASSAULT WEAPON for self-defense.”  Well – here’s the deal: In order to truly be an “assault weapon,” the firearm needs to be fully automatic.  The guns you are referring to are nothing more than semi-automatic weapons made to look like their fully automatic (or select fire) military counterparts.  These guns don’t even have the cyclic rate ability to sustain the rate of fire of one of the military grade weapons.  Perhaps that’s why they jam so much when mass murdering lunatics, who themselves have little to no knowledge of firearms operation, experience so many jams.  Fully automatic weapons are extremely difficult to acquire by civilians.

Gun Control:  Why do you keep advocating for “gun control” thinking it is a way to “get guns off the streets” as you so often pronounce?  When a person is killed by a drunk driver, I don’t hear cries for “Car Control.”  How about if we practice “criminal control” or “gang control” or “illegal immigrant control” instead?  Let’s enforce already existing laws and get criminals off the streets.  This “gun control” term more accurately refers to keeping a proper grip, good trigger control, and placing shots accurately on target.  Better check the news:  The cities with the highest “gun control” in the context that you speak of (i.e. Chicago, New York, Washington DC) are the cities with the highest murder and violent crime rates.  Try again on that one.  

High Capacity Clip (Magazine):  First of all, they are not clips.  They are magazines.  At least get the terminology right if you’re going to try to legislate them.  A 30 round magazine for an AR-15 rifle is a STANDARD CAPACITY magazine.  A 16 round magazine for a Springfield XD pistol is a STANDARD CAPACITY magazine.  These are not high capacity magazines by any stretch of the imagination.  And where do people, who are lacking firearms knowledge to begin with, get off telling others how many rounds of ammunition they are allowed to have with which to defend themselves?

Military Grade Weapon:  See “Assault Weapons” above.  These civilian grade look-alikes are NOT military grade weapons.  No soldier would be caught dead with one in the field of combat.  Again - The guns you are referring to are nothing more than semi-automatic weapons made to look like their fully automatic (or select fire) military counterparts.  These guns don’t even have the cyclic rate ability to sustain the rate of fire of one of the military grade weapons.  Perhaps that’s why they jam so much when mass murdering lunatics, who themselves have little to no knowledge of firearms operation, experience so many jams.

Shooting From the Hip:  This phrase is Diane Feinstein’s favorite for why we shouldn’t have rifles with pistol grips.  Two things, dear:  1) I can shoot my hunting rifle (which doesn’t have a pistol grip) from the hip.  2)  Shooting from the hip is one type of “retention position” shooting that is commonly taught for legitimate defensive shooting purposes.  Try again.

Silencer:  Well – they are not silencers.  They are suppressors.  Why it is that suppressors made it into the list of NFA controlled items, I’ll never know.  A suppressor is nothing more than a muffler for a firearm.  In fact, suppressors make shooting safer, as they cut down on the amount of noise that can cause hearing damage. 

Well Regulated: Oh yes.  The gun grabbers like to point to the fact that the Second Amendment says that only “Well Regulated Militias” are allowed to have guns.  Either that or they say that “Well Regulated” means that we are SUPPOSED to enact strict firearms controls and regulations.  Well – this is a clear display of not only their complete lack of knowledge about firearms, but a complete lack of knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and our founding history as well.  “Well regulated” back in the day simply meant that the citizenry should be well trained in the proper use and deployment of firearms.  Since the militia was (and is) made up of all able bodied citizens (men back then, and I argue everyone today), then we are all responsible for knowing how to operate firearms and use them defensively.

Don’t ask me why I NEED a particular firearm, magazine, ammunition type, or anything else.  I can own them because of the Bill of Rights.  Not the Bill of Needs, the Bill of Wants, or the Bill of Desires. The Bill of RIGHTS!  Quit trying to impose “feel good, do nothing” measures to ban things that you have no knowledge of in the first place.  Do your homework and come back with an informed opinion, why don’t you?  Then maybe we can have an honest debate about gun control.  I’ll still tell you why you can’t take my guns away, but at least it will be a more informed argument for you.

Oh – and by the way – YOU’RE WELCOME!