Kiwi wisdom

Our libertarian buddies down in New Zealand are wrestling with the

South Pacific versions of Gorebamaism. F'rinstance they link us to a site calculating the cost of ETS -- Emission Trading Scheme -- the local version of cap and trade. Among other things, the unworkable response to the nonexistent problem will add $21 to the cost of a sheep. That's baaaaaahd. Pendleton shirts are expensive enough already.

Another weekend, another show...

In Windom, Minnesota. This one is a miniature, usually about 70 tables but I've always managed to spend modestly and enjoyably there. It seems to attract a lot of hobbyists and tinkerers -- guys with interesting stuff they're just tired of or have no immediate use for. For instance, from a very similar little show recently:

I consider two grip safeties, a hammer and a mainspring a prudent purchase at $15. One of the grip safeties is GI, the other hollowed for a commander-style hammer.

There's no special want list for this show. I'll depend on the spirits to alert me to what needs buying. A brick of small pistol primers would be nice.

(The gratuitous book porn is just a response to Brigid and some other lady gunnies going on about how they're Irish and Celtic and all -- like I'm not or something. :) It's by Seamus McManus. It's fat and jammed with useful information presented in a style guaranteeing unreadability. Stick with Cahill.)

We are not alone

Libertarian allies abound. A New Zealand libertarian has a picture and comment on the Brit bobbies pottering about with automatic weapons

(From there you can get to the "Libertarianz," home page.)

Some gun nuttery economics

1. A libertarian is thrifty because rational self interest mandates getting maximum practical value for any expenditure.

2. A shooter understands that the stronger the hand/arm assembly, the better the shooting, ergo training weights are useful.

3. Copper is a weight, and is found heavily in pre-1982 United States pennies and, to a lesser degree, in U.S. nickels.

4. Confining the coins in a stout bag relieves the thrifty libertarian shooter of parting with them in order to purchase ferrous metal weights -- usually foundry iron which brings more than $1 a pound when cast into dumbbells.

The result of this reasoning is shown in the photograph. The Ruger in .45 Colt is dedicated to slaying the wily whitetail and weighs a little more than three pounds. The black bag is full of copper pennies and of nickels. It weighs a bit over five pounds. You hold it in your extended hand(s) in your favorite stance and thereby gain strength and endurance. And you have an appreciating asset rather than a rusting hunk of iron and a receipt from WalMart.