TMF

I agree to not being bossed around or treated as if there is a reason I'm up to no good. I've been asked some of these questions by very professional police officers during stops over the years (one of which I had weapons in the vehicle) and I always answered to the best of my ability. I know I don't have to answer, but I don't have anything to hide so I didn't see any reason to avoid or not respond to a question. Kinda like if I ask you "how many guns do you own?". You can say that you don't have to tell me that but that's kind of a dickish way to respond to a question. I don't have to tell anyone who I voted for, but I have no problem telling anyone who asks. If I didn't I wouldn't say "I don't have to tell you", I would just say "I don't feel comfortable answering that question." I have had one experience where I was treated by a LEO during a stop where I was treated as if I had just robbed a bank or something. I still cooperated to the best of my ability despite his unprofessional behavior. I didn't have to, but I didn't see it ending well if I decided to be difficult. It's not right what he did, so I wrote a letter. Maybe it didn't do any good, or maybe it was another strike against an officer that had a history of abusing authority. Either way, I don't think under any circumstance it's worth it to not answer a police officer's questions just because you don't have to. If you don't have anything to hide or feel uncomfortable discussing I don't see why answering simple questions should be such a problem.

Yeah, I figured the OP was suggesting this was a beacon to be DF'd so you locate the device base off direction and signal strength. If a GPS receiver/engine was to be incorporated in it in order to send lat/long positions via RF signal it would have to be significantly larger. Iridium makes a pretty small engine capable of transmitting to a satellite... small enough to fit in buttstocks of rilfes. However, the power source remains the issue.

Yes it is possible to make an RF beacon small enough to put in a weapon. The reason it hasn't been developed commercially for the purpose of tracking weapons is for two reasons: 1. Power: you can supply a 1/4 watt transmitter with 3v and enough mAh to last for a couple of days with some 3032 batteries, but it's transmit range would be VERY limited, not to mention, how would you initiate the beacon going off to indicate that it's stolen? 2. Cost: To make something like this it would cost much, much more than any rifle/pistol I have and I got some pretty nice stuff. There is no secret/classified technology on this. This is stuff that private companies develop for sale to LE Agencies and "Do it Yourself" spies. If the technology existed at a reasonable cost it would be commercially available because someone would make it.

Roger, I think that's how people get confused/paranoid not understanding the comms path. For example, if I put a gps engine in my computer and had a program to transmit it's position whenever it connects to the internet I could locate it globally but that doesn't mean it's talking to a satellite. I figured onstar was a direct satellite communications device, but I guess it would make more sense since it would be cheaper to use the GSM structure... users would just be screwed if they're out in the backhills of West Virginia.

Yes.

A gps engine and a satellite communications device (like onstar or iridium platform are two totally different things. So, if you pick up a garmin etrex/fortrex it is only "receiving signal from satellites. If you have a two way (I'm pretty sure this is how Onstar works) where they can determine your position it means that you are transmitting your position. A simple GPS puck itself can not transmit position, so if you pick up a NMEA puck from walmart and plug it into your computer for some kind of self tracking mapping application you can not transmit that position via puck; not only that, there is NO WAY to make a GPS puck transmit if it is not designed to. Iridium and Globalstar devices that are commercially available do have this capability, but they cost more and only work on devices designed for two way communication. So in short, the government is not keeping track of your position through your TOMTOM. If you have Onstar though you need to start wearing your tinfoil hat.

From the sound of it this is something that many military units already do for the purpose of inventory, and yes, the receiver must pass over the chip. Just think, an RF beacon is limited by it's battery power. Some of the smallest transmitters are 1/4 watt and still only have a range of a kilometer or two unless it's DF'd by aircraft (which I doubt will be used to locate a stolen weapon) and the battery will only last for a few days depending on the ping rate, so unless the transmitter had some kind of magnetic switch to activate it once it's removed from a stowed position it's not very reliable as a recovery asset. Besides, the equipment used to locate it would cost several times more than the weapon itself.

Roger, I think there were just a few folks with the attitude of "F*** the police, I ain't gotta say nothing".

I was assuming muzzle velocity was a given. 8mm and 7.62 x 54r have comparable muzzle velocities yet one is a little heavier, so in terms of stopping power: weight + velocity= stopping power. Of course, for a whitetail I don't think it makes a difference since you can't make something more dead than dead... unless it's a zombie whitetail, in which case only headshots count.

I'll be honest, I used to smoke weed a lot when I was younger all the way up until having a job with random drug screening. I liked marijauna but was mature enough at a young age to stop using so I could have a good job. I never used anything harder than that (even though in my late teens and early twenties I had many friends that used some harder stuff) simply because I knew narcotics to be inherently dangerous to use. I knew lots of people like that, so I think the idea of marijuana being a "gateway drug" is only true for weak minded people who can't make their own good decisions. I haven't smoked pot since, but if it was legal I would see no problem with smoking from time to time. I have the ability to do it now, but I have kids so I'm not into breaking the law and setting a bad example.

8mm is a heavier bullet but it don't know if that really will make much of a difference for taking down whitetail. As far as accuracy I don't know. I think it would be hard for an expert to say either way since so many were mass produced in different locations. I have a russian Mosin and I love it. Cheap and fun to shoot. If I would you I'd pick up a Mosin, if anything because they are cheaper to buy and cheaper to shoot. You can pick one up just about anywhere for around 120 bucks.

Whoa... just saw all the other posts from this guy. My dad has been a police officer for 30 years and can count on one hand the number of times he's pulled his firearm. This guy sounds like he's surpassed that number in less than a year just walkin' around.

You asking for a purpose other than plinking?

Awesome... mine was about the same but I don't hear that often from other folks.

I think that this falls into the category of "just because you can doesn't mean you should", ya know. If I get pulled over I tell a cop to pound sand 'cause I just pounded his wife. Is that illegal? I'm sure that can be twisted into disorderly or something, but otherwise I can do it. Buy why? Why be difficult if there isn't a necessity for it. We have all encountered at least one out of control LEO at some point (if not, go to New Jersey) but it doesn't do any good to argue or make an issue. If the LEO steps out of line, file a complaint and follow up w/ his supervisor. Write the mayor (I'm still waiting on response from the Mayor of Newark... WTF is a jughandle??) I just don't see any instance where being difficult with an LEO is going to end well or be worth it no matter how it turns out.

Yes!

I think everyone is capable of doing something stupid. I'm pretty experienced and comfortable with firearms, so if I accidentally shoot myself while holstering my pistol I'll look pretty stupid, but not incapable of owning a firearm or carrying it safely. However, if I shoot myself or someone else while doing something inherently unsafe, that indicates that I'm not capable of safely operating a firearm. So in this case, accidentally discharging a firearm in a public place because he was doing something unsafe (putting himself and others at risk) may demostrate his inability to safely handle firearms. I don't think taking away his right to possess a firearm is a second amendment issue at all. Felons can't have them because they have demonstrated a danger to society. The mentally challenged and some with a history of mental illness can't own a firearm. I don't think it's unreasonable at all to say that someone that has shown that they are a significant threat to others when in possession of a firearm should have that right curtailed. I don't think that puts anyone at risk of having their rights taken away that hasn't put themselves in that situation. If you're standing in front of a judge because you did something incredibly stupid with your firearm that put others in danger, then I have no problem with that judge taking your rights away. If the founding fathers meant for that right to be so strictly followed, then none of us should have any problem with handing Charles Manson a loaded AK-47 if he's ever released from prison. Now, I wasn't there to see what this guy did, but I'm assuming he had poor trigger finger placement during reholstering, so he simply got a lesson in humility and will be more careful next time, so maybe not completely incompetent, but the idea of whipping it out in such a public place/unloading/reloading shows a general lack of tact and common sense. Sounds to me like the idiot types at the range who thinks he's a scubagreenberetninjarangersealrambodelta operator, and makes me nervous to know they're carrying. Kinda the same way the 16 year old girl who's driving in the lane next to me, texting and driving at 70 mph on the interstate, making me concerned about getting my young children to where they're going in one peice. Certainly some idiot fingerf*cking his gun in the parking lot is gonna make me feel the same way.

I don't think the law aspect of it should be what is the deciding factor in respecting the wishes of a business owner. Same as "No Shirt, No Shoes" policies. Just because you can't be arrested or have charges pressed against you, if a sign says "No Guns" then the business owner's wishes should be respected either by not carrying or by going elsewhere.

I just don't see OC'ing that much when I'm out an about, so if this is like a restaurant or social gathering place I wouldn't put any sign up and just inform the customer to cover up on the rare occasions that someone is OC'ing. If it's as simple as putting a shirt tail over the weapon I don't see any reasonable HCP holder having an issue with that. Once again, everyone here is comfortable with other people exercising their TN HCP, but it's understandable that not everyone shares that comfort level. If the business owner believes that his customer base would be turned off by another patron OC'ing then it is within his best interest to adopt a policy of CC only.

I went out there for a 3 gun the other day and had a great time. I'm new to the competition stuff, but am looking forward to the next match I can compete in. Very relaxed and good times.

I've been accused of being a beer snob by family members for choosing not to drink at all when the only thing at the house was Busch. I love beer, but just can't enjoy Busch.

I always enjoyed beating the speed gun guys on the range with my stock Glock, but it would be more fun to beat them with a $100 Hi Point. Maybe I'll pick one up now... I might have a hard time finding a serpa holster for it though... whadaya think?

One that you plant after shooting. I was being a gun snob, which is about as bad as being a beer snob. I'm not proud of it but man, those things don't have a lot of curb appeal. I will say that years ago I had a buddy that owned one and he had no complaints, other than the rest of us making fun of him.

If I see someone open carry it doesn't bother me at all or make me uncomfortable. I understand that it makes many people who are not familiar with firearms very uncomfortable, and I don't think it is somehow my duty to educate them or change their opinion. I don't open carry for the same reason I don't wear loud t-shirts exclaiming my political opinions. Both are exercising my constitutional rights, but both are also drawing unneccessary attention to myself. I don't carry to make a statement or be an activist, I carry to protect my wife, kids and myself.

I really have no problem trading stories with other combat arms servicemembers, but I'm uncomfortable with telling them to people that haven't had similar experiences. It's not that I'm ashamed or it brings up bad memories, I just don't feel comfortable doing it. I think for the same reasons I don't like getting military discounts or having people thank me for something I don't think I deserve "thanks" for.