by John Lott

In the wake of the Colorado tragedy, Democrats in Congress have wasted no time introducing new gun control legislation. Today, Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy introduced a bill that bans the sale of ammunition online and by mail.

Last Thursday, six Senate Democrats proposed amending the cybersecurity bill to ban magazines holding more than 10 bullets. President Obama also promoted renewing the Assault Weapon Ban, announcing, "AK-47s belong in the hands of soldiers, not on the streets of our cities."

The reaction is understandable, but despite the best of intentions, the laws won't stop these attacks from occurring.

Take the Lautenberg and McCarthy proposed ban on online ammunition sales. The proposal would make rules for buying ammunition the same as for buying a gun. But the Colorado killer was able to legally buy a gun from a dealer and, under the proposal, he still would have been able to buy the ammunition. The requirement of a photo ID seems equally irrelevant in this case.

Editor's Note: The following article was originally published in the Ohio Farm Bureau's official newsletter, Buckeye Farm News. Republished with permission.

Here's a debate taking place in Ohio's hunting community. Ohio Farm Bureau currently doesn't have a position on this issue. What do you think?

Legalize pistol caliber rifles

Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania all allow rifle hunting in one form or another, the Buckeye Firearms Association noted in a proposal to legalize pistol caliber rifles for deer hunting in Ohio.

But the organization is quick to point out that these guns are not high powered rifles.

"There is a negative perception with pistol caliber rifles because people don't get past the word rifle without thinking high powered," said Dan Allen, a Buckeye Firearms volunteer.

According to Aaron Kirkingburg, a Buckeye Firearms leader, pistol caliber rifles are similar to pistols, with a longer barrel and a stock for stability. The group acknowledges that perception is an issue and that some education will be necessary.

In their latest attempt to protect whistleblowers from BATFE reprisal, on July 18 Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) sent a letter to BATFE Acting Director B. Todd Jones, asking him to clarify the comments he made in a video message sent to agency employees. In the video, entitled "Choices and Consequences," Jones states, "Choices and consequences mean, simply, that if you make poor choices, that if you don't abide by the rules, that if you don't respect the chain of command, if you don't find the appropriate way to raise your concerns to your leadership, there will be consequences."

In their letter, the lawmakers tell Jones that his message "could be interpreted as a threat" to whistleblowers, and remind him that BATFE employees have the "right to talk to Congress and provide Congress with information free and clear of agency interference or retaliation"--a right expressly protected by federal law. The congressmen made clear to Jones that they expect a written response to the letter no later than July 25.

U.N. ATT Conference Comes to an Impasse

The Conference on the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (U.N. ATT) has broken down and will not report a draft treaty to the member nations.

This is a big victory for American gun owners, and the NRA is being widely credited for killing the U.N. ATT.

For nearly 20 years, the NRA has worked tirelessly to warn American gun owners about the United Nations’ efforts to undermine the constitutional rights of law-abiding American gun owners by putting in place international controls on small arms.

NRA became a recognized Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and has monitored all U.N. activities that could impact on our Second Amendment rights. As a result, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre testified before the U.N. (2012 remarks, 2011 remarks) making it clear that the NRA would fight any international treaty that included civilian arms.

by Jeff Knox

I have to admit that I was skeptical about the U.N. ever getting their act together enough to construct an Arms Trade Treaty that they could all agree on, but I underestimated the level of cooperation attainable by that body when their target is liberty. With the terrorist-exporting state of Iran in a leadership role, the committee has been plowing down obstacles and rapidly moving toward an agreement. The final treaty language is expected to be released by the end of July, and the Obama administration has committed to supporting it – if it doesn’t interfere with their interpretation of the Second Amendment.

That's not a very big "if" when you consider that we're talking about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, both of whom have expressed support for the Second Amendment and in the same breath endorsed the idea of banning entire classes of firearms.

by Chad D. Baus and Jim Irvine

Ask any politically-minded gun owner who stays abreast of current events why they believe Barack Obama is anti-gun, and they will quickly respond with a litany of reasons, dating from his days in Illinois as a state senator and Joyce Foundation board member, as well as his days in the U.S. Senate. Most will also be able to rattle off examples of President Obama's anti-gun appointments, policy moves, and end with a lesson on the BATFE's Fast & Furious scandal. For the well-informed, Obama's status as a vehement gun ban extremist is without question.

Average Americans, however, and perhaps even too many average gun owners, don't visit Second Amendment-related websites like BuckeyeFirearms.org. They think they are members of the NRA simply because they bought an annual membership a few decades ago. They're they type of people who get fooled into answering a Mayors Against Illegal Guns poll's leading questions in such a way as to make it sound like "NRA members" support "common-sense" gun control.

by Larry S. Moore

Vintage is used to describe many things including wine, art, automobiles and firearms. For the Buckeye Vintage Skeet Championship, vintage is a step back in time for skeet shooters. Vintage skeet pays tribute to the heritage of skeet shooting and the fine shotguns of an earlier period. Vintage may define the best and most typical of an age. I like that definition for the sport of vintage skeet shooting because of the fine shotguns and the warm gentlemanly nature of the shooters I met at the championships.

Skeet is a shooting sport that was invented in the U.S. in the 1920's in New England as a way to keep shotgun skills sharp during the off season for the upland game hunters. The original shoots were held in a 360-degree circle but the shot falling all around was certainly a problem for spectators. It was soon changed to the semi-circle arc used today. The shooting sports in the 1920's and 1930's drew large spectator crowds. Many movie stars and celebrities participated in major shooting events. Ohio has long been a center of the shooting sports. The word skeet comes from the Scandinavian meaning shoot.

Hal Hare, who led the organizational efforts for vintage skeet, is President of Buckeye Vintagers. Hare is heavily involved with the National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA) serving as Chairman of the International Committee and the Vintage Skeet Committee. He explained, "Skeet is shot on a field from eight different shooting positions. Targets from the left are thrown from the high house and targets from the right are thrown from the low house. American skeet started using the low gun position which is off the shoulder and held the way a hunter would approach game when hunting over a bird dog. Sometime in the 1950's American skeet migrated to a precision sport with the gun mounted at the shoulder like trap shooting. International skeet is shot from the low gun position."

In New York this week, the U.N. Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty continued trying to draft a treaty to impose worldwide controls on small arms, including civilian-owned firearms.

The NRA has made clear its opposition to any treaty that includes civilian firearms, and continues to note that a majority of the United States Senate stands with American gun owners in opposition to such a treaty. We have led the effort to mobilize opposition to the treaty in Congress, and not only a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate, but also 130 House members, have voiced strong opposition to the treaty. Ignoring that reality, U.N. conferees are working to regulate not only civilian small arms, but also ammunition and firearm parts.

Anti-gun treaty proponents continue to mislead the public, claiming the treaty would have no impact on American gun owners. That's a bald-faced lie.

by Larry S. Moore

The annual NRA and Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) National Matches are underway. The First Shot Ceremony was July 9 and was attended by dignitaries from across the state. Buckeye Firearms leaders Larry Moore, Sean Maloney and Linda Walker, who is also on the Board of Directors of the NRA, attended the event. Ohio House Representative Ron Maag was among the invited special guests. Maag is well known as a strong supporter of the shooting sports and our Second Amendment freedoms.

Speakers for the First Shot Ceremony included Miss Judy Legerski, who is a Civilian Aide Emeritus to the Secretary of the Army and on the Board of Directors for the CMP. Legerski had the pleasure of introducing the keynote speaker Lieutenant General William E. Ingram Jr. who also fired the ceremonial first shot. Legerski noted, "We are indeed fortunate to have Lt. General Ingram here for the First Shot. He is a 'soldier's soldier' having served his country for more than forty years. He is the son of the North Carolina's thirty-seventh Adjutant General and served nine years as the North Carolina Adjutant General. He is a shooter and enjoys collecting weapons."

Lt. General Ingram noted, "I am honored to be a special guest and have the opportunity to fire the first shot. Each year the National Matches attract the finest shooters in our country. I am privileged to be in their presence. I can't imagine how many shots I've fired going back to my youth in recreational shooting and my Army career. I can tell you that no shot I've fired is more important than this one today. Growing up in North Carolina, I was taught to shoot by my Grandfather when I was probably six or seven years old. I learned firearms safety at that same time."

Lt. General Ingram noted the history of the matches, "The National Guard involvement with the CMP is strong. What is now the Office of Civilian Marksmanship was originally part of the Militia Bureau, which is now known as the National Guard Bureau. Ohio Adjutant General Ammon B. Critchfield saw the need for an improved firing area. He found the current site of Camp Perry while duck hunting in the marshes. His vision was an area where all the shots could be fired from a common line and directed toward the shoreline to maximize the light conditions. He oversaw the construction of the training and shooting facility. Camp Perry held the first events in 1907."

by Chad D. Baus

This year marks my tenth year as a Second Amendment writer. Throughout the years, I've covered far too many multiple victim public shootings.

Buckeye Firearms Association has always sought to be sensitive to the fact that these aren't just news stories - they are real victims with real families grieving painful losses. Unfortunately, in the hyper (and hyper-political) news cycle in which we live, there no longer seems to be any concern for giving time for the families (and the country) to pay their respects.

When once we criticized gun ban extremists for seeking to make political points before the bodies had been buried, it is now more accurate to criticize them for exploiting such events before the spilled blood has had time to dry.

In the case of the Aurora movie theater attack, the blame game from anti-gun media began very early indeed. Opponents of the Second Amendment were issuing press releases and going on the air within HOURS after news of the attack broke.