M2

I would say it is the Blues… But you are also correct in being a little paranoid that the anti-gun lobby will try to exploit these recent incidents. But what you need to counter their rhetoric with are a few facts. For one, get and read a copy of Gun Facts. The people that put that document together do their homework, and it is hard to argue against the information. Secondly, consider supporting a pro-gun lobby. The NRA is one of the largest, but there are others such as the Gun Owners of America. Support those who support the Second Amendment. Lastly, counter their argument that two of these recent shootings occurred in states that have some of the strictest gun laws in the country, California and New York. If the anti-gun argument is that more laws are the solution, then why didn’t the laws stop these two incidents from occurring? The truth is that gun laws don’t stop crime, they only stop law-abiding citizens from legally being able to defend themselves, their families and their property. We would all love to live in a world where there is no violence or crime, but the reality is it will never be that way. As such, citizens must be empowered to protect themselves as well as others. Our founding fathers had the foresight to see this (albeit for other reasons, namely tyranny), but those principles of the right to bear arms are just as critical today as they were over 230 years ago. The removal of guns from society does not make it a safer world, in fact, just the opposite. Hitler banned guns in Nazi Germany, as did Stalin. In the end you have to resign yourself to the fact that the ignorant shall remain that way. About the only time someone from the anti-gun side crosses over to the pro-gun side is when they, a family member or a close friend is the victim of a violent crime; and even then they still tend to blame the gun and not the person using it, the same way you can blame a car for the accident caused by the drunk driving it or, as the old joke goes, Rosie O’Donnell’s fork for her being fat. In the end, it all boils down to these fourteen critical words: "…the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." Since every member of the Armed Forces takes an oath to support and defend the Constitution, consider it your duty to protect the one amendment that keeps this country safe… Cheers! M2

Seriously, you actually thought that a couple of Air Force officers were being disrespectful towards the national anthem, during retreat, and on base?

Yet the AP just put out another article on the alleged smuggling of arms from the US into Mexico... Mexico trying harder to catch smuggled US guns This was in yesterday's Texas Homeland Security Briefing. Fucking journalists! On a related note, this was sent to me today. It is an old list but still a good one...enjoy! Cheers! M2

Dude First, thanks for the pic from NY! The photog said they would send me a copy, but you know how lazy those bastards are! Secondly, as for Mexico securing their border with the US, how in the hell can we expect them to do it when we can't do it ourselves? I know it would work best if both sides made an effort, but even our ability to date has been less than impressive. I attribute that to a lack of trying, as there is no way we couldn't seal our border unless we weren't giving it our full measure. So, until we take it seriously, how can we expect them to? Cheers! M2

Stay out of anything with Trump's name on it...or at least don't gamble there. Cheers! M2

Feel free to send it my way... Cheers! M2

Yeah, but many times you are going to pay out the ass for it! For example, this weekend we went to two gun shows here in San Antonio (God Bless Texas!), and the cheapest I could find .380/9mm Kurz ammo for my P3AT was $30 for a box of 50 rounds of FMJ! Fuck me, that's more expensive than the .45 ACP I've bought. Luckily, the guy I bought the Kel-Tec from had a box of 50 rounds back home that he brought in and sold to me for $13 (what it cost him), plus an extra 7 rounds of JHPs he had left over. The P3AT is not a shooter's gun anyhow, so I won't put many rounds through it. I bought it as a BUG, for the wife to occassionally carry, or for when I mountain bike or run and carrying a .45 just isn't practical. For that it is near perfectly designed...small, light and smooth! Cheers! M2 p.s. The local Wallys, Bass Pro Shop, Dick's Sporting Goods and Sportsman's Warehouse have all been out of pistol ammo. There wasn't much of the more common calibers at the gun show either, except for reloads which I don't buy.

What cougar are you talking about? The link goes to an article titled: Man charged with drunk driving on bar stool -- Cops: 28-year-old wrecked stool powered by a deconstructed lawn mower... Cheers! M2

Dude, it's Vegas! The question isn't what you can do, it's more what you can't; and there's not that much that you can't do! You'll know what I am talking about when you get there; but don't plan on getting any sleep during your stay... Cheers! M2

It almost appears that they have... Cheers! M2

Got this from the AFA President via email this morning… Cheers! M2 Way to go Booger!

I know the search function doesn't do well with aircraft designations, so I am going to cut you a break; but the next time do a Google search on the aircraft in quotes (e.g. "RC-26) followed by "site:https://www.flyingsquadron.com"'>https://www.flyingsquadron.com" So the Google box (what a cool term, eh?) would look like this: "RC-26" site:https://www.flyingsquadron.com And the you will see it's already been discussed here and here. See this notice as well, it has some contact info. Also, Stiffler can provide some firsthand insight, so try PM'ing him. And don't forget, if it is sensitive/FOUO/classified etc; don't post the info on this forum! Cheers! M2

Got my account today, it is pretty cool! Cheers! M2

Anyone hear back from them on your application? I put mine in two days ago, and haven't heard squat back yet... Cheers! M2

God bless Ted Nugent, part deux!

God bless Ted Nugent!

The answer is "it depends." I did see a USAF first lieutenant cross-commission into the Navy as he was trying for a SEAL slot. I think he retained his rank but lost his TIG, or something like that because, oddly enough, it was way back in 93! It can be done, although it is rare and tough to do. Of course, much of it matters on which service you are transferring to. The Army had a Blue-to-Green program during the Air Force's recent "force shaping," but they would have had to immediately promote me twice to make me even consider it! Cheers! M2 p.s. The Army has more on Interservice Transfers here...

The backpedalling begins... Cheers! M2

Yep, I gotta add that I was quite impressed with Hacker's employment of the term...but was it correctly used? Cheers! M2

Well, in response to Champ's post, I will throw in my 2¢ for AMU. All online, and both 8- and 16-week course (I've tried to take more of the former, as although they are a bit tougher, getting the credit in half the time is nice). Classes are a mix of exams, papers and online exams; the course I am in is nothing but discussion groups so you write a 1-2 page submission then a critic of someone else's work and either a defense of your own work or other comments in another posting. No exams, no paper, just the discussion group work for this class. The downside is that every class I have taken has a heavy reading load. I mean several hundred pages a week, up to 400-500 during some weeks. And since I am a meticulous note-taker, I go through the material slowly, so it means a lot of time in the evening reading. But usually the family is watching TV, and I am close by and just put on some headphones to drown out the noise and listen to some Yahoo Music station (Chill Out works for me, as does Smooth Jazz). But since I am being company-sponsored for this second masters, I am not sure it USAF TA covers it. Classes are $275/hr, and if I recall the cap is $250/hr; so much like Troy it will cost you more, but this time a mere $75 extra per class. Plus it is all online, and since it is a military-based school the professors understand that things happen and they accommodate those situations easily. I had to go TDY during the final week of a course, so I emailed the professor and he game me a month extension to get a paper in. I got it done in less than a week, as I wanted it finished before the next semester started; but those kind of extensions are common. And if you wonder if the degrees are marketable, just consider that my company was willing to pay for a second masters for me. Of course, I incur a one-year "ADSC" for each, and it is a reimbursement after the course is finished and not the tuition paid up front like TA, and I still have to buy my own books; but figuring it is almost an additional ten grand they will be paying me to go to school, it must be worth it to them! Cheers! M2

Most of my first masters was in the classroom, for my second one it is all online. Honestly, I preferred the latter. As such, ERAU or AMU would be my choices. The University of Phoenix is another option, but it is expensive... Cheers! M2

Chairborne Thanks for the input, I was wondering if one of these--Magazine Finger Grip Extension for the Kel-Tec P3AT--would help with the grip... Cheers! M2

Yeah, I've found mag extenders on eBay for about ten bucks; that'll be a necessary addition if I buy it. I am leaning towards doing so as I think it is a good BUG/throw-away gun, something I don't mean leaving in the car when I got places I can't carry. Now, tell me about that great deal on a Python! I love the .357 Magnum I have, but as it is a "family heirloom," I keep it displayed more than taking it to the range. Cheers! M2

Y'know, UTFSF doesn't just apply to posting in this forum....

OK, an opportunity arose today and I am looking for some opinions in addition to the one I already have. I was riding back from a company meeting with a colleague and I mentioned I was looking for a small pistol for the wife. He said he had a Kel-Tec P3AT he was looking to sell. He said I could borrow it for a while to see if I wanted it, so I picked it up from him on my way home. I have shot this pistol before, only a few rounds but I remember I wasn't initially thrilled with it; but as most of you know I am a diehard .45 fanatic so anything smaller really doesn't whet my appetite (except for my late father's pre-Python Colt .357 Magnum, which is an excellent revolver to shoot!). Yet, since I've been handling it this afternoon I am thinking it would make for a great pistol for the wife or even a BUG for myself. On one hand, I can't get over how small and mousy the thing is. I mean, it is about half the size of a M1911 (or even smaller); but on the other hand, it weighs only 11 oz empty and is only 3/4" thick and can easily be carried almost anywhere (such as in a pocket). It has no safeties but only holds 7 rounds. The guy is only asking $215 for it, and it shows a little wear but I don't think it has more than a hundred or so rounds down it. So, if anyone has any firsthand experience with this particular gun, I'd like to hear your thoughts. Cheers! M2