I've been really busy working this Spring; gotta make hay while the grass green. The gun shop has generate ten dairies worth of material, but this is my first diary since HR 1022 got the guys all hot and bothered about the new Democratic majority taking away their "black guns."
For those of you that have never read one of these trips to the dark side, mellow out. I know our necks are red, our boots are worn, and our language is crude.
Today I will talk about the three guns every progressive should own, how to cook antelope, and why the rifle club recently switched to black guns for the youth program.
Last first, Chris Rock's fantasy of making bullets too expensive to shoot is fast becoming a reality in America. 30 06 ammo is pushing a dollar a round and the youth shooters program at the local gun club had to switch to the .223 round instead. This cut their cost per round in half, and at the same time required the sale of the club's M1 Garands and .30 06 ammo. I think the clubs actions show why black guns have surged in popularity in the last ten years. They are less expensive to own and operate than the old sporting standards the M1 and M1A. Initial cost is similar with all of the guns starting at about $800, but after that the cost of operating the M1 and M1A skyrockets because of the cost of ammo. A shooter that fires 5000 rounds a year will save hundreds of dollars shooting a black gun versus a old wood stock Garand.
This also points to a real flaw in the whole "assault weapons" debate. The wrong person with a hunting rifle, a Garand, or a "black gun" is dangerous. A nut with a 1911 with 8 rounds of .45 ACP is as dangerous as a nut with a Glock with 18 rounds of 9mm. HR 1022 is stupid. I'm glad it hasn't made it onto the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security agenda. It would not effect the availability of weapons. It would put a lot of money in collectors’ pockets as the pre-ban guns appreciated by huge amounts. It would probably shave 1% from the Democrats vote totals nationally and cost Democrats multiple seats in the Rocky Mountain West at the local level.
The guys at the gun shop are ready to buy into the whole gun toting meat eating progressive mantra, but the noise from the coasts is deadly. Look at the 47 co-sponsors of HR 1022; there are a couple of exceptions, but the vast majority of the cosponsors are from the coasts. Leave it to the states, and focus on health care, habitat preservation, the environment, energy independence, and the wage gap at the national level. Gun control is toxic in the Rocky Mountain West and it codifies a difference that does make a difference at great political cost.
Cooking game well is the toughest part of being a gun toting meat-eating progressive. You don't trust the food supply, so you have to fish and hunt for your meat. Halibut and Salmon are tasty enough and an annual pilgrimage to Alaska can ensure supply for about $17 a pound (more than a grocery store, but you get a vacation out of the deal), but game is "gamey." Antelope is really hard to cook well, but my buddy Glenn has the magic formula.
Marinate Antelope steaks in lemon juice for four hours. This breaks down the enzymes that cause the gamey taste. This works for Elk, deer, et al. Switch the marinade to a White Wine marinade for two more hours. French white from Bordeaux works best. Spice with pepper, salt, and thyme. Cook slowly on a grill at about 325 degrees for until cooked medium.
The three guns every progressive should own are a M1A .308 with a 2.5-8X 40mm scope, 12 Gauge Pump, and a .22. The guys at the gun shop had their explanation why these are the best guns for progressives, but I'd love to hear your choices and explanations.
