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TGO Friends; Well, it is here again and probably none too soon for some of us and all too soon for others. This year has been... interesting... to say the least, but as I pause and think about the reason for Christmas, I am still very grateful and can say that the good still shines brighter than the bad is capable of blotting out. Even when I consider the loss of friends that our community has endured this year, I can confidently say that I still believe that we were better to have known them and enjoyed their company while we could, than we would be had that never happened. I am going to try to peel myself away from the Internet for the next few days and spend the time watching my kids and my first grandchild enjoy the wonders and mysteries of Christmas. I hope you will not be offended in the least if I say that I hope I don't see many of you on here for the next 36-48 hours either... but at the same time I wouldn't blame you a bit if i do. Let's face it: TGO is as much a group a close friends and honorary extended family as it is anything. Perhaps even more than anything else. So if we do happen to bump into each other here over the holidays... well, let's just enjoy the fact that we are merely being close to those whom we choose to be close to. After all, you don't get to choose your real family but most of us gladly make the choice to include each other here in our days and nights. As always, if you are unable to celebrate the holidays because of work - THANK YOU. No matter what it is you do, thank you. Whether it is working patrol as a police officer, a hospital floor as a nurse, doctor or some other role, a utilities company as an engineer or technician, an IT job as a herder of cats and conqueror of ones and zeros, or wearing the uniform of our armed services or some other first responder, or even as the clerk at a gas station or a waitress at a 24/7/365 greasy spoon... THANK YOU. Whatever your job, whatever your role, if it keeps you there instead of at home on Christmas, I appreciate you. For the rest of you, I hope that you find comfort, peace, relaxation and restoration in the days ahead. Whether you are surrounded by family or friends, or enjoying the peace and quiet of solitude, I hope that it is in a place that you prefer doing what you wish to be doing. MERRY CHRISTMAS, TGO! Thank you for being a bright spot in an otherwise dark year. Let's be sure that we are all here for each other in 2021. It's probably going to be more nuts than we can imagine. Yikes. On behalf of the moderating team, --David

To be fair, we do it everywhere as well. We tell everywhere else what they need to be doing. I care about as much what they think as they do what I think. Of course some are going to think it’s great. So be it. I quit worrying about what others think a long time. Only those looking for validation will give two craps what China thinks.

Guys, I can’t stress this enough. You don’t want to have to go to the hospital for anything right now. They’re overrun. Especially in the far eastern and western portions of the state - but here in middle Tennessee, too. I have a friend in the facility where @steelharp passed that is sending folks to the nearest bed they can get over two hours away in Kentucky. For the next couple of months, this load should probably affect your risk assessment for other activities as well.

I hope that each of you will be surrounded by ones you love - either in person or at a distance - some virtual. It’s a strange year for sure - but I pray that each of you will feel some of the peace of Christmas. For some, This Christmas is hard because of those you’ve lost - either this year or in years past. Know that you remain in my prayers - and I remember you and them - so many we’ve lost. I pray an extra measure of peace will surround you.

F@$k China and the horse their Government rode in on.

And I thought this was going to be a car thread.... My Prowler

Nothing new to anyone who bothered to look into Chinese policy would realize that they believe they have been at war with the US for at least 50 years. Not a shooting war, but they have been very active in subversion, spying, stealing technology, and buying influence.15 years ago I worked with some folks who were former NSA. We were in Dulles airport and they were pointing out the Chinese agents who were following congressional aides and other folks and listening in to bluetooth cellphone calls and copying data from their laptops. I was amazed at how clueless our people were. Nobody seemed to have any sense of worry that the information they were freely mentioning in their calls was being monitored. Just listening to the one side of the conversation you could hear as those idiots loudly talked on their phones was enough to let me know that they were saying things that really should have been controlled. It was no surprise to me to learn that thousands of Chinese Communist Party members were in high-level positions in our industry, research, and government.

This is in no way surprising, given the totalitarian nature of the Communist government in China. However, most of the world has no history of the "right to bear arms", and much of the world imposes restrictions, many severe, on private ownership and possession of guns. As such, many people across the world, not just those in dictatorships and under repressive governments, have little understanding of gun issues in the US, and honestly can't understand or sympathize with the existence of our second amendment, the number and prevalence of privately owned arms in the US, or our desire to maintain individual gun rights and privileges. Most see it as an anachronism not relevant to modern societies, leading to a wide gulf in how we and they view gun ownership, individual rights and the necessity of an armed citizenry ...

I have a few... The very best of which is a Winchester 94 in .30-30 made in 1974. Simply because it was my dad's rifle, and it's a very good rifle. Got some post '64 freckles and such, but it's for the most part in awesome shape and IMO the lines of the 94 just make it a beautiful gun. Let me see if I can dredge up some pics here. Here's the '94 This is an 1892 takedown with the octagon barrel dating around 1922 - in .44-40 of course. Here we have what I feel is the best purchase dollar for dollar one could make in the firearms game. A Henry Golden Boy in .22LR Here's one I picked up at the Appalachian Fairgrounds about a month ago. Winchester 9422 Legacy in .22 magnum. Pretty sure it's unfired. And finally we have what I consider to be my Tennessee deer rifle - unsuccessful as of yet. But anyway, a Henry Big Boy in .44 magnum. This is a wonderful gun! But.... the title of the thread, favorite lever gun. My dad's '94 of course.

Yes.

Well, one doesn’t have to agree with the way things are being handled to be able to accept that the pandemic is a very real and serious issue. 9/11 was obviously a huge tragedy but one doesn’t have to agree with the aftermath of 9/11 to feel sadness and respect for the tragedy itself.

It's a shame so many people don't mind having blood on their hands by helping kill off half a million of us. But Murica! Freedom! - OS

I agree. They are ALL playing a game with us.

Merry Christmas!

The ATF are standing down, for the moment. Don’t believe they’re anywhere even close to done. They’ll be be back, and soon. https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/general-notice/sb-criteria-withdrawal-notice-12-23-20pdf/download?fbclid=IwAR0L4A8Uk2PoKv3TMfkpwfzWabN9w7uUN9JD0DDQzU5rOYBBFJJIzE2XNSk

Shut off their internet access and they won’t be listening to that.

And..The classic as always

I don't think China would engage the US in a war with guns as the cost in human life would be too great for both sides. They will try and conquer the US thru economic and technological means, which the maroons in DC have turned a blind eye to. Businesses want to do business with China because they will make money, but they will lose their soles and technology to China.

And I disapprove of the way China treats Uyghurs. I’m not sure anyone cares what I think.

Excuse me while I pull out my tinfoil hat..... I'm gonna call BS. Its been a while sine I've been there, but the hospital in Turkey Creek used to be a customer of mine...they were never full, not once, during this entire scamdemic. Remember the refrigerated trailers stacked with dead bodies the national news kept talking about? Yeah, that was a scam, too. I asked a former co-worker of mine who still see's 2 of those accounts in EastTN, I'll report back what he tells me from on-the-ground reporting....

China is the largest threat our country faces. If our dip#### politicians are successful in disarming us, either because China is controlling their puppet strings directly or indirectly, we are screwed. Never forget that Japan was fearful of our "rifles behind every blade of grass" during WWII. So is China.

Of course it’s a problem for them when a country they are trying to overrun has armed citizens, or their own that they are trying to kill get armed. Part of the justification for using the Atom Bombs on Japan came from the high estimates on casualties we would incur trying to invade Japan due to armed citizens. I don’t think China or Russia either one is an immediate threat to us militarily right now. But China is certainly more of a threat to our economy. The incoming administration is refusing to address the claims made against Joe’s involvement with China. We deserve an explanation, and we aren’t getting it; so he’s compromised on the China issue in my eyes. Of course we will see what happens. I feel the same why about how China feels about our laws that I do about the gun laws of other states; I don’t give a rolling rip down a razor blade what they think; and in our country I care what the state of Tennessee does. As Hozzie stated; we get in everyone’s business about nuclear weapons. If I was running a country I would want and expect to have nuclear weapons to protect my country. I wouldn’t care what the U.S. or the U.N. thought about it.

Seeeeeeeesms legit.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I never pick my dogs. They always either just show up or the find my wife and she brings them in. Never had a bad dog....

It sucks for the UT players but honestly Army deserves it a lot more than we did. I'm glad the cadets get to play after winning 9 games they deserve it.

They are going to make the NFA there is no doubt in my mind. If they waive the tax stamp fee I'll just have some SBR and SBS.

Welcome

I think this was a check to see if the public was still asleep like they have been for the last 4 years Unpopular opinion time: The only reason Republican voters paid attention and Republican legislators got involved is that Biden is President elect. If Trump had been re-elected, this would have sailed right on by like the bump stock ban with a lot of excuses being made why its some 4D chess maneuver or just plain not a big deal.

This.

I agree, they'll be back with a vengeance. I don't trust any of our so called leaders regardless of the letter beside their name.

I dunno, it looks a little........Siggy to me. Congratulations man, proof right there that a 2 and an 8 definitely make a 10!

Hospitals are full. Here in Knoxville I do know that one a friend of mine works at has suspended all but essential operations and is coverting an entire floor to Covid patients. A well known Memphis DJ, Chris Jarman, passed away last week. Not clear on the entire story between what I’ve seen what the news reports (heart attack) and some noise on FB, but basically he needed ICU and there was none available locally. He did not survive the 100 mile drive to a hospital that could accommodate. This situation is no joke. People that need immediate emergency care for non-covid issues may very well die when normally they would not.

china is and will be our bain for a good bit. "Get a shotgun" joe will kiss @#$ from day one.

Its modern day holocaust level stuff and the lack of coverage it gets is a disappointment.

Allright, time to eat crow: Morristown hospital is currently hit pretty hard. Heated tents in the parkinglot with room for about 100 beds. Staff in the kitchen said they are above max (building) capacity. Turkey Creek still dead (according to the girls that prep the produce).

As stated above, target pistols are designed around standard velocity ammunition. Since .22 pistols are all blowback operated, the only thing keeping parts from slamming together during operation is a little spring. Overpower that spring and bad things happen as metal parts hammer against each other. Rugers are built like tanks and a little .22 is not going to damage them. Most target pistols are not as strongly built. Another piece of advice; any .22 pistol designed prior to ww2 will also probably not do well with anything more than standard velocity. Keep your prized Colt Woodsman or Target fed on Standard Velocity only. Finally, the reason target pistols are currently designed around standard velocity ammunition has to do with the inherent accuracy of bullets that do not exceed the speed of sound. When a bullet travels past the 'sound barrier', it goes through a shock wave. If it loses velocity before reaching the target, it goes through that wave again. Depending on muzzle velocity, and other factors, that second passage can happen in as few as 25 yards. Passing through the shock wave can disturb the path of the bullet slightly. Bullet design has a huge factor on how much this occurs. Typical round-nose .22 bullets tend to be more affected than sharp spitzer bullets.

I can say the very same words!!!

New tonight(Channel 5?) reported crime stats way up in Donelson Area. A cop was shot at while answering a call recently it said. And woman killed there very recently also. Times they are a changing guys and gals. Be diligent. Be alert. Be armed.

My drive is close to 1/4 mile long, I got us a drive way alarm. It "sees" the steel from the vehicle to set it off. Wireless as well. So animals wont set it off. Dakota Alert DCPA-4000 Wireless Driveway Alarm System - DCR-4000 Receiver and DCPT-4000 Vehicle Detecting Probe Transmitter with 50-FT of Direct Burial Cable Have not had a vehicle get missed, even the mower sets it off.

We were walking through humane shelter and Ginger picked us. She wasn't even close to the type dog we "wanted". Best dog I've ever had. But then they've all been the best for that time in my life.

16 pounds of badass! Well she thinks she is......

Saw it last night and am looking at it again with my fancy Nikon Aculon A30 binoculars.

Didn't go out and see it but saw some fantastic pics of them on facebook.

I'm not sure how passing a toothless bill with no legal merit sends a message to anybody, but whatever floats their boat, I guess ...

A Kentucky boys song. John Prine Performs ‘Paradise’ with Marty Stuart - YouTube Edited to add; I lived in E KY at the time John was talking about. Where I was born. I remember the picture of "Pebody's Worlds Largest Shovel" john talks about in this song. They called it a Steam Shovel in the newspaper article. It could load a heavy off road dump truck with one scoop, so they reported. Peabody Coal Co actually tried to block the recording of this song. It told of what they were doing to the land in Muhlenberg county. KY, later, forced Peabody to reclaim the desolate land. Now everyone hunts large deer on some of those lands. John died from Coved this year. This is a good example of real life depicted in art.

The world is in new and unknown territory with this virus. Therefore everything we try to fight Covid is trial and error. I would rather go through extremely minor inconveniences until we can contain the virus and come up with a reliable vaccine as opposed to continue denying the lethality of the virus while people suffer, die or have to live with lifelong side effects of having contracted the virus. Wearing a mask is a minor inconvenience. Every time my son complains about something I remind him that young people his age are serving all over the world in conditions that suck. The small sacrifices the country is being asked to make are nothing. Yet here we are. Does everyone who gets covid have to die for this to be a “legitimate” pandemic?