M2

The story needs a few pics... And to SSgt Rhyner! Cheers! M2

OK, don't over-analyze this video, just watch it and smile...

M2 to the rescue! Cheers! M2

More news... Cheers! M2

Oddly enough, we were just discussing George Friedman this morning...and as most long-time users of this forum know, I am a big fan of STRATFOR... Cheers! M2

This is a bit old but I just found a hardcopy of this and thought it was worth sharing... On 10 July 2000, General Michael Davison, Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, opened the Second Annual Security Cooperation Conference in Crystal City, where he presented the theme "Perspective Is Everything" as an appropriate motto for the security cooperation community which finds itself confronted by a myriad of changes resulting from this new era of a global strategy accompanied by rapid changes in technology and new missions. Former Ambassador Edward L. Peck, the opening day speaker, seized on the conference theme on perspective to deliver a primer on the verities and vagaries of international relations. He delivered a powerful, insightful, thought-provoking and humorous lesson, using his "Peck's Postulates" to explain the four basic points that make every aspect of foreign affairs easily understandable. Consider yourself educated on foreign affairs! Cheers! M2

Wrong emphasis... I never said I would never get another 1911, I hope to but for the time being my priority is to find a Webley .455. And Timbonez, inasmuch as I would like to see the Webley you got, I know I am just gonna MF you for getting one before me! Cheers! M2

An 80's cover band... Cheers! M2

Right now I am kicking myself for not grabbing the Mk III I saw at a gun show last month, we have another one this weekend and I am hoping it will still be there. The average Webley .455 revolver is running between $600-800, depending on condition, markings, etc. Those that have a known history to them or that are in pristine condition are running up to $1200-1400. The newer ones, in .38 from WWII, are running a bit cheaper, $400 or so. I am not even bothering with looking at a shaved .455 as I am not interested in using moon clips and .45 ACP in it. I usually see one or two Webleys per show, but the small show I went to last weekend didn't have any. There were some decent deals on used M1911s, but I have four of those already and that's enough for now. Maybe after this weekend I will have a Webley in my collection as well! By the way, I am not restricting myself to the Mk VIs, I've learned that most all models are fairly reliable so I will grab whatever I can find that's in the right condition and at the right price. Cheers! M2

That varies by state, as does how you have to carry the weapon (locked, unloaded, etc). In Texas, "the officer is required by law to have what is known as 'reasonable suspicion' to delve further into the situation which presents itself after the officer has 'made contact' with the driver of the automobile." But the driver does not have to give consent to search their vehicle. Lawyers here recommend you do not give it! If you are searched anyway, there will be a video of the stop. The lawyers also tell you not to reply to questions, and to refuse to do any roadside sobriety tests or blow into any breath devices. Their reasoning is since you are going to be arrested anyway, it makes their job easier to defend you! I know the above may make you look guilty, but it is for your protection and your right. Just because a cop pulls you over doesn't mean you will be treated fairly, especially if you are found with a legal weapon in your car. I was pulled over once for speeding, and gave the officer my CHL but informed him I didn't have any weapons in the vehicle. That was a courtesy, as in Texas you are only required to inform the police if you do have weapons; and they will know you have a CHL when they run your license. Still, the cop got all excited when I said the word "weapons," even though I was informing him I didn't have any (I was on my way home from work, so no guns on base). It scares me to think of what he might have done had I had some (in Texas law enforcement officers have the right to disarm you at any time). And I will go ahead and state the obvious, and strongly recommend anyone who plans to carry a weapon through any state know what the laws are before doing so. Cheers! M2

There is now a BaseOps Wiki page on SIPRNET... https://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/BaseOps ...for any detailed discussions that may be sensitive or classified. From here on out, reference that site here and post the info there. It appears that the "powers that be" are allowing that site to exist, as it has already been edited by one of the moderators on there and it still exists. This is a test case to allow more information to be distributed to those who are cleared for and have the need to know the info, but also keeping this site within established OPSEC and DoD security guidelines. I appreciate everyone's cooperation and understanding... Cheers! M2

Nope, wrong-o Jenkspaz. It is your first salute as a commissioned officer by an enlisted person, and commissioning ceremonies have been followed up by a first salute ceremony for years. The coin symbolically acknowledges the receipt of respect due the new rank and position. It's origins are unknown, but the Air Force adopted it from the Army, and some reports say it dates back to the 19th century. Others hold that the tradition came from the British during the Colonial Period. The Navy also does it as do the Marines. Note that the coin of choice is a American Eagle pure silver dollar, which costs about $15-20. No SBA's, Sacagawea's or Presidential, quarter sized alloy dollar coins. Most people like to get the coin from the year of commission, but that is not a requirement. We had a SSgt at my AFROTC det who was well-liked, and the guy cleared numerous silver dollars at every commissioning. It is a tradition worth continuing. Don't fuck it up! Cheers! M2 p.s. KState_Poke22, as long as your friend can still legally wear his uniform (i.e. he was honorably discharged and he is within USMC standards of appearance), he can be in uniform as the recipient of your first salute. I confirmed that with the retired Marine Gunny Sergeant I work with. And let me be one of the first to offer my congratulations...

Yes, despite the 30 additional pounds and funny mustache, I still hold my commission despite being retired. "Separated" officers most likely resigned their commissions when the separated, so as far as I know they cannot administer the oath of office. Cheers! M2

Fogo I flew from Florida to Texas with guns before I even had my license. It is exactly as you stated, unloaded and locked in a solid container within your luggage. Just tell them when you check in, they will inspect the weapon(s) to ensure they are in compliance, then you get a little card that goes in on top of the container and that's it. It is really easy but allot for an additional 20-30 minutes at the airport. It probably won't take that long, but it is better just in case. Oh, and I carried ammo within the container but I believe that may not always be the case. As for transporting without a license, I think it is the same in most states that a locked, unloaded weapon is legal. Back before Texas had reciprocity with Alabama, whenever we drove to Florida I would have to stop before we crossed the state line, unload and lock my handgun in the trunk of the car. Then once we got to into Florida, I dug it out and reloaded it again. Just check the law in Illinois, this looks like a good place to start. This is what the state police say... I know there's be discussion on the FOID card previously, and that same web site has more info such as non-residents and what to do when you pass through a community with an ordinance that prohibits firearms or handguns. Hope that helps, and don't stay in Illinois too long! Cheers! M2

Figuring they were $150 or less a few months ago, that sounds about right... Cheers! M2

To preempt any questions, the MC-12 thread has been temporarily set to invisible due to a question concerning sensitive information being posted in it. We moderators will review and adjust the thread as necessary, and will bring it back online as soon as possible. In the mean time, everyone who was posting in that thread needs to review the 'OPSEC and this site' thread which you can do conveniently by clicking on the aforementioned title (it is linked). If you want to go into detailed discussions on this airframe and there is even the remotest possibility that what you post is sensitive, then take it to NIPRNET or even SIPRNET. If there is even the slightest chance it is classified, then DON"T POST IT on this unclassified forum! If there is any question as to what is being posted is sensitive, the mods will err on the side of caution and delete it. Don't bitch about it as that is our jobs, and if you like BaseOps then you can thank the mods for the thankless job of making sure it doesn't get shut down completely. Honestly, I wish we could start a version of this forum on SIPRNET and direct people there. In all seriousness, I may take a look at doing so on Intellipedia or some other forum on there, just to have one central place where these discussions could occur without the risk of causing an OPSEC violation. But in the mean time, curb your enthusiasm for posting information that may catch the attention of those monitoring this forum. It's not just the mods on here who are watching what is being posted... Cheers! M2

Personally, I don't like the compact version over the full-sized XD. Why? Well, for one, as you mentioned, I don't like the decreased capacity the shorter magazine provides. Secondly, while you can use a full-sized magazine in one with an extension, I have found those tend to pinch during reloads and that can be a distraction. Lastly, I have no problems concealing the full-sized XD, even in short and t-shirts it is easy to hide with an IWB holster. But if you think that a mere inch or so off the grip is going to make that much of a difference when carrying concealed that you would carry less rounds because of it, then the Compact should be your choice. Outside of that, the two shoot the same; but I prefer a Service model over a Tactical, the latter just feels nose-heavy to me; or maybe it's just the Service feels extremely well balanced in my hand. Cheers! M2 p.s. Timbonez I am also a fan of revolvers, as I previously mentioned I am in the hunt for a Webley in .455; but there are several erroneous or omitted points in your argument. For one, most modern polymer semi-automatics are about as reliable as revolvers. As a matter of fact, my most unreliable pistol is a .38 revolver. You may note I mentioned earlier my dislike for small M1911s for self-defense. I think the reduced size impacts their reliability somewhat, as it is not what JMB intended. Even the full-sized M1911s can be a little unreliable, especially when using SD ammo. But the XD and Glocks are near perfect in their performance, and the old argument that revolvers are more reliable than semi-autos is just that...old! Secondly, it is definitely harder to conceal a revolver than a semi-auto, simply due to design. And where some may think that the lack of a safety would be an advantage, it can also be a disadvantage. It is much easier to AD a revolver than a semi-auto. And the XD series, my favorite semi-autos, have natural safeties meaning the second you grip it and pull the trigger, all safeties are off. The do not require an additional action, which is why they are my preferred weapon of choice. Lastly, the difference in capacity between a revolver and a semi-auto is significant. In some cases, we are talking about twice as many rounds. And reloads are slower and harder for revolvers for the average shooter. But don't just take my opinion, go out and look at what law enforcement, government and the military use these days. Do you see many revolvers? No. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out why...

BSD I would recommend either renting or borrowing handguns to shoot to determine which feels best. A second option is to go to a gun show where you can handle (but not fire) numerous models. You will get a good idea of what you like and dislike. Once you've got a short list, go online and do some research. I will save you some time on the Springfield XD series as it is like by nearly everyone who shoots one. Personally, where I love my M1911s, they are a little less reliable and, since they are single stacked, hold less rounds so I rarely use carry one for self-defense. I would also steer clear of smaller M1911s as in my experience they tend to have even more problems with FTF/FTEs than their normal-sized brethren. As for caliber, that is an individual choice. Some like larger, slower rounds such as the .45 ACP, others like faster, smaller rounds such as the 9mm. But I would recommend buying something that is common, i.e. skip the 10mm or .45 GAP. For semi-autos, 9mm, .40 and .45 are the wisest choices in my opinion. Lastly, talk to gun owners. Most likely there are a lot in your squadron, but some people don't talk about guns as much as others. Where I work now there is a large number of gun owners, and we commonly talk or go shooting. Some people are experienced, others less so, but everybody helps everyone and it has been a great way for me to shoot a lot of guns I normally wouldn't have had the opportunity to shoot. Also, I've won several people over to the XD simply by letting them fire mine. If you are ever in the San Antonio area, let me know and we can meet up at the range. Hope that helps, I am sure others have some more good advice to add... Cheers! M2

I too agree with this, and most Americans do as well. Surveys in 1999 and 2000 by CBS, Zogby, Time, the Associated Press, ABC, Washington Post, and CNN all showed the majority of Americans believe enforcing existing laws is the best solution to gun violence. None of these surveys showed a majority favoring new or stricter gun control laws. However, I am very doubtful that the current administration will settle for this solution, as it does not show they are taking "action" against "assualt weapons," a term which is vague in and of itself. No, I believe Pelosi is trying to put the pro-gun lobby off the scent of their true intentions. It is basic deception, and something commonly used in politics. Don't fall for it. Cheers! M2

Fogo I hit two WalMarts yesterday on my way home. One had a few boxes of ammo for a couple of calibers, to include two 50-round boxes of WWB in .45 auto. The second has zilch for handguns. The lady behind the counter said she gets the occasional delivery, but it sells quickly. Cheers! M2

OK, I don't want this thread to spiral into a political discussion; so let's make our points and move on. And here's mine! History has proven that gun laws do nothing to stop the use of guns in crime! They only affect law-abiding citizens and if anything, gun laws favor the criminal as they decrease the likelihood that a person can defend themselves with a gun if the government restricts their ability to own one (in violation of the Second Amendment). Once again, go do your homework, a good source of info is Gun Facts web site where they have already done a lot of research on this. Politicians pass gun laws because they appease the ignorant sheep that believe it will decrease crime, despite proven evidence that actually the opposite occurs. If anything, all gun laws do is cause many law abiding citizens to technically become criminals as believe in their constitutional rights and choose to illegally own a weapon instead of handing it over. Break break In one of our CT reports today there was mention of a Walther PP series recall… Anyone who has one of these handguns should go to the recall web site and check their serial numbers against those listed. Cheers! M2

From AFA... Godspeed! Cheers! M2

There were Japanese, Slovak, and Afghan studs in that class?? Cheers! M2

Slacker Nice Colt, I've got my late-Dad's 1954 Colt .357 Magnum (pre-Python) that I love to shoot but it spends most of its time in a display case... Cheers! M2

g2s You've got 250+ posts on here and you don't use the search function? Sorry dude, big time fail! Secondly, you deserve the lashing because it is February! Mustache madness doesn't start until March! You should be sporting a flattop this month, and not blatantly cheating by growing a mustache early for next month's competition! Lastly, I deleted your duplicate thread, and will merge this into the already robust 'Died thread. You owe me a beer, and not that crappy stuff you're drinking now! Cheers! M2