Babyface Finster

What's unfair about it? It's a simple reality. How do you think we got where we are today? I also don't see any good reason to lie down and give up what we have left simply because so much has been lost already. I concede that it is impossible to be a part of modern American society and not use many products made in China, Indonesia, India, etc. I will still take pains to find American goods when it is possible, and yes I am willing to pay a premium. It is possible to rebuild America's floundering industrial infrastucture. There are still options for more products than you would think. American flags, for instance.

Pretty sure Annin still makes American flags here in the US. The old plant in Verona is long gone, but I think they come out of Ohio now. Who knows how long that will last since so many Americans don't give a damn about where something is made as long as they can save a few bucks.

Just left about 10 minutes ago. Maybe I'll see you next time.

Make sure that is all it is. My PD sent a reference form that sounds just like the personal reference form. State that it is for firearms and asks the questions about character and suitability to own a firearm. My company refused to do anything with it, even after the detective said they simply had to verify employment. Thankfully, everything went through anyway but not until after numerous people in my company (my boss, the local HR manager, the VP of HR, the legal depatment, etc.) were made aware that I was seeking to own a firearm. A clear and unnecessary violation of my right to privacy. The detective was really great about the whole thing, but the system sucks and needs to change. BTW, unless there is something specific in your contract your employer is under no legal obligation to verify employment. I hate to say this, but I would probably lay low for a while if I were you. Once you get to know the people you work with a bit better you could discuss it informally with them. Others may have already gone down this road. I'm not saying you would lose your job over the application, but it might just put a black mark against you with those in authority. Can you discuss it ahead of time with your NJEA representative? I would think such a conversation would be confidential.

Do you have any "Beware of Dog" signs posted? Just curious, as I would hope that LE would not just barge in on fireworks complaint of they knew there was a dog present.

Years ago, I recall reading that the majority of motorcycle fatalities are single-vehicle incidents.

I think you'll regret buying a 250 crusier in short time. Take a look at the Honda Nighthawk 750. It is a standard and will be very comfortable for long trips. They are relatively cheap used, reliable and are pretty simple to work on for maintenance. You should be able to get better than 200 miles out of a tank. These bikes are not superpowered to get you in trouble but have more than enough power to keep you entertained. Not to mention the fact that I think the Nighthawk 750 is a great looking bike. Make sure you budget for the appropriate safety gear. Wear all the gear, all the time.

I do, for now anyway.

I would suggest buying it from whatever range you typically shoot at. Helps build the relationship and supports them as an ongoing enterprise. A buck or two either way on a few boxes of ammo is not all that significant to me to fret over.

Thanks for the opinions. The Midway bag look pretty good, but between the big white logo (don't know why, it just turns me off) and the shipping cost I'm not sure I want to go that route. Do they ever have free shipping offers? I saw this one at CTD http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/MOLLE-404 Looks pretty good and not too big. It's smaller and that might be a good thing for me. I don't plan to carry a ton of stuff. and if I have the space I'll probably end up lugging around things I will never need at the range. Decisions, decisions...

Good deal. Thanks for the rifle.

I was originally planning to just use a small gym bag I have lying around, but now I think I want a true range bag for better organization. Any recommendations? My criteria: 1) Will carry a maximum of 3 full-size pistols, butmost often will be 2. 2) Black. No camos or other colors 3) Prefer plain-Jane with no logos 4) Prefer nylon to canvas 5) Cheaper is better Thanks for the input.

Thanks, guys. I should have specified I was thinking in the morning. I'm tied up in the afternoon this week. I'll PM you guys sometime soon and try again. BTW, I mostly have .38 spl ammo at this point. I figured I might as well learn how to shoot straight before I try the heavy stuff. Lunker: I'd like to see a few ranges so I just might take you up on your offer sometime in September.

I'm a new shooter and was hoping someone might be heading to RTSP on Friday and would be willing to show me the ropes. I'll be bringing my GP100 and would prefer to start off with a few pointers instead of developing bad habits that will be harder to break later. I'm pretty open as to time of day.

Snake Plissken? I heard of you. Heard you was dead!

I'm gonna guess that you have nothing in writing from him regarding the buy-back. If so, it's your word against his. If I'm the judge in small claims court, my biggest question is why you would take them to a dealer to turn them in when you could just as easily have done it yourself. Not saying I don't believe you, but I think your case is weak unless you have the whole deal in writing. I would advise you to go talk to this guy and try to work something out. He clearly made a mistake. There's a good chance he will work with you to fix the problem. No sense in assuming the worst without at least giving this guy the opportunity to make it right.

Fade away as in the certification not being sought after or even desired by employers. The skill-set itself could still be of value, but could also end up in conflict with newer philosophies. Additionally, many of the companies I know of that were big into Six Sigma some years ago have largely abandoned it now due to high costs of implementation and the belief that the majority of the potential cost savings had already been realized. I just don't see this as a good endeavor to further one's career anymore.

I think this has already begun. I see fewer and fewer positions listed that mention Six Sigma belts, including within my onw company. Not sure what the new panacea will ne, but I'm pretty sure Six Sigma has begun to fade away.

You wouldn't call it ironic if you knew me.

Let's wait for some actual details to come in before we make any judgements. This only hit the news because it happened near a campus so the media jumps all over it. Most likely this was some career criminal attempting to avoid capture using an illegally obtained firearm. Just like what happens in every major city hundreds of times a year.

I think you took me the wrong way, Alec. In fact, my post was not strictly in response to you but also to the sentiment that the average Joe does not have the skills to CCW. I should have quoted more than just you. I know you're pro-2A, the problem is that the antis that matter to us are motivated more by irrational fear than true lack of facts. Any arguments you make, no matter how valid, don't do much to convince them. I choose to avoid getting into a debate about the finer points of self-defense, responsibility, crime statistics or anything else not directly related to the fact that the 2A guarantees me certain rights. Whether they like it or not. To engage on other issues (in my experience ) merely fuels the fire and makes them even more rabid about agruing against gun rights. It allows them to continue grandstanding on issues that are totally irrelevant to the 2A rights guaranteed us all. It doesn't matter if CCW would have done anything in the Colorado tragedy. My right was guaranteed before this crazy bastard and is guaranteed after. If the gun-owning community had been more adamant about these rights in the past we wouldn't have the useless, feel-good laws like OGAM, P2P, mag caps, etc. Once we got into the arguments of "Why does anyone need more than X rounds?" we gave the other side too much power and legitimacy. That's all I'm saying.

The whole argument is irrelevant. The right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the 2nd amendment. There is no requiremen that the citizen be trained or even capable with the weapon. Not much different than there being no requirement that a person be educated or even moderately well informed in order to exercise his 1st amendment rights. I would expect and hope that anyone who wants to carry would voluntarily undergo training, but I see no good reason for my/your rights to be denied due to the negligence of others who are irresponsible. When you even entertain this line of thinking you give a certain credibility to the antis' argument. I have no problem with very stiff punishments for those who violate the law while exercising this right, but the right is not to be infringed. Period. I would be just as outraged by some panicky, untrained CCW'er shooting an innocent bystander, but Constiutionally guaranteed rights are just that. Guaranteed. The cost of maintaining these rights can at time be appalling. The price we we pay by surrendering these rights is worse.

I see contacting the employer at all to be a problem. Employers are not legally required to confirm employment. Also, since employment is not a requirement to purchase a firearm, this is an irrelevant extra step that at best delays the process needlessly. There is zero need to verify employment. Period. I work for a large corporation that is super conservative, legally speaking. They no longer confirm employment. I'm sure I am not alone. So we need to sweat this and the retired/self-employed/unemployed (rightfully so) skip this step? This stuff needs to stop.

You know, if you don't mind driving as far as New Paltz, the Mohonk Mountain House is supposed to be top notch. My in-laws love the place.

It was up to you, but you should have gone to the Nevele. Take a look at the Peach Grove Inn in Warwick, NY. Never stayed there myself, but one of my wife's frineds raves about it. I'm sure there's horseback riding nearby and you won't be far from Greenwood Lake.