Sports...Royals Baseball Academy. Not many people outside of Kansas City know the history of the Royals baseball franchise but if you do surely you have heard of the Royals Academy. It was an innovation of the new owner, Ewing Kauffman, back in 1969. For the baseball establishment it was revolutionary and bucked the traditional system of how you develop talent for your franchise. The gist of it was taking athletes that may not have ever played organized baseball (kids that were never scouted or drafted) and teach them the game along with giving them an solid education. Fourteen players emerged from the Academy to go on to successful careers in Major League Baseball including Frank White and Ron Washington. If you make it out to Kauffman Stadium for a game check out the Royals Hall of Fame (located behind Left Field) and the Academy exhibit. In the meantime check out the video below and learn some Royals History!
2nd Inning.
Kylie with Supergirl back in 2009.
Planet Comicon 2013...For many years since moving back to Kansas City in 2004, I would drag Gina to Planet Comicon, back when it was held in Overland Park, Kansas, then later with the kids. It's a fun time with plenty of folks dressed up as their favorite comic book/sci-fi/fantasy character that let you take their picture. There are a ton of comic books if you are looking for that one issue to complete your run of Batman comics or Action Comics or any title for that matter. You can also find various artists/writers of your favorite comics there to autograph or sell original prints. Along with the comic industry names you will also find many actors from some of your favorite sci-fi/fantasy movies & tv shows signing autographs. Over the years I have stood in line to get autographs from Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Kenny Baker (R2D2), and Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett). This year Planet Comicon moved to downtown Kansas City and I missed it but it sounds and looks like it was very successful and I would imagine downtown will be its home for many more years to come. If you are looking for a good time and by the looks of these pictures many had a GREAT time!
3rd Inning.
Highlights of the Brew Crew this week...This past week saw the Brewer clan purchase a Class C RV motor home. It has been goal of ours to get one which should allow us to have even more fun camping and travelling on vacations to destinations we had hesitated on due to high lodging expenses. To find the right RV, I compiled a list of them from online listings found on Craigslist, RVTrader.com, and a few other dealer websites. The wife and I ranked our top choices then went from there. The top choice was an RV at a local used car dealership in Riverside, Missouri. We took a long lunch and drove there to check it out. Opening the door and walking in we noticed little paw prints all over the counters and dashboard with little balls of fur on the furniture. Needless to say I couldn't convince the wife to open any of the cabinets for fear a rabid raccoon or cat would leap out and attack us. We did not purchase that RV...So, we moved on to choice #2 which was a Craigslist ad with no pictures. We called the number listed and set up an appointment to go view it in Overland Park, Kansas. The elderly couple selling the RV were very nice and full of information about the motor home. We had brought the kids with us to see it and both them and the wife fell in love with it. We purchased it a day later. Let the adventure begin!
4th Inning.
American History lesson...Battles of Lexington and Concord.On April 19, 1775, Tensions
between the American Colonies and the overbearing British Government reached a
breaking point when 700 British soldiers marched on Lexington, Massachusetts.
The initial resistance met with great peril, but the call to arms lead to more
and more Minutemen arriving from all of the local villages and farms to force a
British retreat from Concord.During
this retreat, the British kept to the road, while the American farmers fired at
them from behind trees, walls and any obstacle they could find. When the
British force returned to Lexington, they were met by a relief column. The
combined British units then headed for Boston. The Minutemen continued to
harass them the whole way.By the end of
the day, British casualties numbered 273, while the colonials suffered only 94,
18 of whom fell during the initial clash at Lexington. The American
Revolutionary War had begun.
5th Inning.
Two funny videos...This week's blog post is video heavy and here are two posted by JoBlo.com that had me rolling on the floor laughing my a$$ off (that's ROFLMAO for you youngsters)! Enjoy!
Patton Oswalt on Parks & Recreation (hilarious show):
Movie I want to see...again. My top 10 Teen Comedy Movies of the '80s Countdown Part 5--'Revenge of the Nerds'. This may show my age but I remember a time when renting VHS videos was a new and cool thing to do. One of the first video rental stores before all the major franchises took hold in our neighborhoods was a small store in the Truman Corners shopping center in Grandview, Missouri. I can't remember the name but I do recall that one of the first movies I convinced my mom to rent for me and my buddies for a sleepover in junior high was 'Revenge of the Nerds'. A classic underdog movie that takes place on a college campus and pits a group of outcasts that form their own fraternity chapter, Lambda Lambda Lambda, and compete against the jock fraternity, Alpha Betas, for campus dominance with the nerds winning the final battle. It stars Robert Carradine as Lewis Skolnick (King Nerd), Anthony Edwards as Gilbert Lowell (two years before Top Gun), and Ted McGinley as head jock (prior to his famous role as Jefferson D'Arcy on 'Married with Children'). My favorite character is fellow nerd, Dudley 'Booger' Dawson (To this day I'm sure anyone that sees him on the street yells 'Booger' at him every time much to his pleasure). Lots of humor and hi jinks as each fraternity plays pranks on the other as they try to co-exist on campus. This is an R-rated movie so it's not a family flick but it is one you will remember just as much as you will remember Lewis' obnoxious nerd laugh! Trailer is below...Enjoy!
7th Inning.
Firearms Corner...This week I'll turn my attention to an accessory that most men who own/carry firearms on a daily basis might want to look into purchasing. The Tactical Kilt! It started out as an April Fool's Day joke but turned into a reality. Tactical gear is a hot item right now whether it is a firearm or firearm accessory or clothing attire. Go to your local gun shop or attend a local gun show and you will see several dealer tables devoted to tactical gear. I'll take two in Mossy Oak Break-Up please!
8th Inning.
FFL Factoid...(Continuing previous weeks' factoid with more info on the different types of licenses.)
Type 03--Collector of Curios and Relics (pertains exclusively to firearms classified as curios and relics, and its purpose is to facilitate a personal collection). It is NOT a license to buy and sell curios and relics, for collecting. Application fee and the first 3 years is $30.00. Renewal every 3 years is $30.
What is a firearm curio or relic per ATF.GOV?
Firearm curios or relics include firearms which have special value to collectors because they possess some qualities not ordinarily associated with firearms intended for sporting use or as offensive or defensive weapons. To be recognized as curios or relics, firearms must fall within one of the following categories:
Have been manufactured at least 50 years prior to the current date, but not including replicas thereof; or
Be certified by the curator of a municipal, State, or Federal museum which exhibits firearms to be curios or relics of museum interest; or
Derive a substantial part of their monetary value from the fact that they are novel, rare, bizarre, or from the fact of their association with some historical figure, period, or event.
9th Inning. Heckling...It is a lost art but when used properly is a great part of sports tradition.
This ole...College education. It has been 17 years since I made a decision to go back to college...out of state and away from my Kansas City family and friends. I had wasted a few years after high school attending then dropping classes at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) before hitting bottom with no job and no prospects for my future. I was leaning towards a Criminal Justice degree at UMKC so I thought I would stay in that area when looking for another school. Since my dad's family is from Arkansas I figured I'd check out schools in that state. After reviewing several schools I found Arkansas State University (ASU) in Jonesboro and their Criminology program (hey, Batman was a criminologist so who wouldn't want to pursue that degree) and decided it was the school for me. It also helped it was 2 hours from my grandparents home in Timbo, Arkansas. So, during the summer of 1996 I moved myself and all my belongings to my grandparents house and finished the summer helping out on their little farm before making my drive to Jonesboro for move-in day at the dorms.
Not knowing a soul on campus, I still found friends quickly through my dorm roommate and fraternity (see previous posts). I spent the first semester getting acquainted with the campus and getting acclimated to living in the South. I ended up working at an off-campus bookstore for a few semesters thanks to a fellow fraternity brother who also worked there but then I moved to a work-study job on campus. I received my work-study paperwork that had me reporting to the Reng Center Student Union. After spending my teen years working in my parent's restaurant along with a few other food service establishments I was not thrilled knowing I had to go to the location of the campus cafeteria to report for duty. After finding my supervisor, I was told I would be working in the new Campus Information Booth helping students, faculty, staff, and guests with any questions they might have about the Arkansas State University campus. It is at the Information Booth where I met my future wife. I continued to work at the student union through my undergraduate graduation and made many more friends through that interaction with folks from all over the college.
I attended ASU on a full-time basis from the fall of '96 through the 2nd summer semester in 1999 (no semesters off even during the summer) and earned my Bachelor's degree in Criminology. At that point, with my wife deciding to go to graduate school at ASU I also went down that path to a post-graduate degree. There was no graduate degree involving Criminology so I turned my interests over to the Political Science department and their Public Administration program. During my semesters of graduate study I encountered times of giving up and quitting the program but through my interest in a particular class project I found my reason to stay. The project involved an examination of the wet-dry county issue (yes, ASU was in a dry county meaning no alcohol) in the State of Arkansas which was a hot-button issue in Jonesboro. This study turned into a joint-paper with two of my professors that I presented at a couple of state political science association meetings in Illinois and Arkansas and which ended up getting published in a scholarly journal. In May of 2001, I completed my degree requirements and walked across the stage to receive my Master's degree in Political Science.
My time at ASU was not over just yet. Upon graduating I found myself on the doorstep of becoming a police officer in Arkansas but changed gears and returned to campus to teach freshman 'Introduction to American Government' in the fall of 2001. So, after 5 years I went from freshman to instructor. The years in Jonesboro will always have a special place in my heart. The city has changed so much since 2002 when my wife and I moved to Memphis but we will always remember it as a special place that saw us become adults and begin our life together.
2nd Inning.
Random facts about me...I believe my wife and kids are afraid of the toilet paper roll holder and due to that fear never put a new one on it after it's all gone...I believe in Jesus while also believing in aliens, dinosaurs, and evolution...I believe the majority of humans are morally good people...I believe that diversity makes our nation stronger...I believe any flavor of cola can be made better with cherry flavoring...I believe every man should be able to have a mini-fridge as a nightstand for a quick beer when you jump in bed...I believe we as a species need to focus our efforts on space exploration fast because this planet is not getting any bigger but our population sure is...I believe two requirements for the perfect sandwich are bacon and cheese...I believe a family that watches cartoons together stays together...
3rd Inning.
Firearms corner...A brief history of police side-arms in the United States. I was reading one of my latest issues of 'Guns and Ammo' and came across an article that was a good little history lesson on the evolution of the police side-arm. This evolution started with firearms purchased by the officer themselves due to departments not issuing them. You see the police officer go from a small caliber revolver to larger and larger caliber revolvers to the semi-auto pistols which are the standard today. Calibers started with the .32 then to .38 to .357 to .45ACP, to 9mm, then to .40. The two major manufacturers involved in the ever-evolving police side-arm race were Smith & Wesson and Colt. Several iconic handguns were developed with the police market in mind during the 20th century such as the Colt Python (used by Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead) and the Smith & Wesson Model 29 (used by Dirty Harry).
It wasn't until the 1970s did we see other manufacturers make their presence known and these included Sturm-Ruger (Security Six) and Beretta (Model 92). The 1980s/90s saw the semi-auto pistol attain dominance in the police market with the introduction of the Glock Model 17 and its revolutionary design. Once Glock saw success other manufacturers such as Sig Sauer and Springfield Armory introduced high-capacity pistols aimed at becoming the standard for police pistols. When the 2000s arrived Smith & Wesson unveiled their new M&P line of semi-auto pistols that has seen success with many departments. Good article and history lesson!
4th Inning.
Articles of the week.
Hollywood censorship...An interesting read on censorship in modern-day Hollywood. With the history of censorship issues in Hollywood and the blacklisting scandals through the mid-20th century you would think Hollywood would be leading the fight against any form of censorship.
Business of guns...A simple video to explain the economic aspects of the firearms and ammunition industry in the United States.
Shepherds and sheep..."Too many among today's intellectual elite see themselves as our shepherds and us as their sheep. Tragically, too many of us are apparently willing to be sheep, in exchange for being taken care of, being relieved of the burdens of adult responsibility and being supplied with "free" stuff paid for by others."
Black Leaders...We need to listen to minority leaders that know about working hard, not making excuses, and overcoming obstacles in life...all of which has lead to their success. They are out there and we need to get them to stage so they can speak.
The DH belongs in both leagues...I say put the DH in the National League and raise the pitcher's mound back up to 15 inches. Thank you and you are welcome!
Police survey...One group that has not had a consistent (or any appearance in some cases) presence during the gun control hearings is the police. "In March, PoliceOne conducted the most comprehensive survey ever of American law enforcement officers’ opinions on the topic gripping the nation's attention in recent weeks: gun control. More than 15,000 verified law enforcement professionals took part in the survey, which aimed to bring together the thoughts and opinions of the only professional group devoted to limiting and defeating gun violence as part of their sworn responsibility."
A Protest on the Left...Take a bunch of communists, mix in a group of cop-haters, add a pinch of Black Panthers, and top it off with an angry woman wearing stolen theater 3D glasses with the lenses popped out and you have a great recipe for disaster or fun!
A survivor...The modern day Paul Reveres are those who have lived under and escaped oppressive regimes only to find freedom once they made it to our shores. "A man who escaped communist Cuba gave an impassioned defense of the rights of his adopted country Friday, saying “only [his] death” will stop him from speaking out about freedom and the Second Amendment, which he says are one in the same."
We are not alone..."A crowd-funded documentary scheduled for theatrical launch April 22 is beginning to get some buzz for a trailer it released on YouTube in late March.
In the trailer are clips showing what is said to be a 'humanoid of unknown classification.'”
5th Inning.
American History lesson...Wacky and Bizarre facts about U.S. Presidents.
6th Inning.
Desert Island exercise...You are stranded on a desert island for the rest of your life and are given the choice of one person to spend that time with (cannot be your spouse), five books to take, 5 movies to take, and 5 CDs to take with you.
5 Books:
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Extreme Edition
Where the Red Fern Grows
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
The Dark Knight Returns
5 Movies:
Forrest Gump
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Anchorman
Shawshank Redemption
Disney's Swiss Family Robinson
5 CDs:
Elvis' #1 Hits
Def Leppard's Hysteria
Johnny Cash--Live at Folsom Prison
Eddie and the Cruisers Soundtrack
American Graffiti Soundtrack
Co-Stranded with: Alyssa Milano.
7th Inning.
Movie I want to see...again. My top 10 Teen Comedy Movies of the '80s Countdown Part 4--'Back to the Future'. Here we have Michael J. Fox (during his 'Family Ties' years) portraying Marty McFly, a teenager that is accidentally sent back in time, through the use of a DeLorean time machine built by his older friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, where he meets his parents and must find a way....back to the future. This movie launched Fox's career into super stardom but many people don't know that the actor, Eric Stoltz, was the original choice and filmed many scenes before being replaced by Fox who had to re-film those scenes. If you haven't seen this movie then either you have been on another planet or in a coma for the past 30 years. This is a classic sci-fi/comedy that spawned two sequels and a now-closed simulator ride at Universal Studios in both Florida and Hollywood. With lots of humor and catchy lines, it is a fun movie you can watch with your family. You can buy this in a boxed set with the sequels which I need to do since I don't own this one (becoming a pattern with this countdown!). Trailer is below...Enjoy!
8th Inning.
FFL Factoid...(Follow up to last week's factoid
with more info on the different types of licenses.)
Dealer Type 02.--Pawnbroker in firearms other than destructive devices (includes: rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, gunsmith activities, and National Firearms Act (NFA) weapons if you apply for and purchase a Class 3 License). Application fee and the first three years is $200. Renewal every three years is $90.
9th Inning. Baseball Rule #1...There is NO crying in baseball!
Highlights of the Brew Crew...Well, last Friday was the last day of the girls' Spring Break, so I worked a half-day then took them to lunch and a movie. We headed to the Ward Parkway mall and grabbed lunch at Chick-fil-A then headed over to the theater to catch 'Oz' while enjoying the leather recliners (word of caution--those recliners are VERY comfortable and will make you sleepy!). Great movie and recommend it to anyone....On Sunday, we celebrated Easter by going to services at the local Catholic Church (I am not Catholic nor am I a part of any organized religion although I believe in Jesus and God, but my wife is Catholic and we are raising our children in that faith). Lucy, my 18 month old, became a bit cranky even for the cry room so I stepped outside with her and chased her around the lobby. After church we headed over to my aunt's house in Grandview, Missouri for lunch with 70+ Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents, and siblings. After lunch we had an Easter egg hunt for the little kids and I must say Lucy really enjoyed the candy!...On Wednesday, Kylie's volleyball season kicked off with her first practice. She was really excited for the season to start after playing her first season last fall. A big shout-out to her coach, Sarah Elkins, for creating a fun learning environment that has captured Kylie's interest to stay active in sports...Also, this week I got word that my registering to be a Girl Scout so I could accompany my daughters on a field trip to Jefferson City via Amtrak was all for naught as the trip was cancelled. No badge for Jeremy...
2nd inning.
Sports...My favorite sport is baseball. I grew up playing it and idolizing many of the players on the Kansas City Royals. This was during the era of Royals dominance in the American League West (I still believe the team should have lobbied to stay in the West division when Major League Baseball switched to 3 divisions in each league). The players I grew up with were George Brett, Frank White, Willie Wilson, Hal McRae, John Duke Wathan, Dan Quisenberry, Larry Gura, Dennis Leonard, Paul Splittorff, Darrell Porter, Jamie Quirk, U.L. Washington, Amos Otis, Darryl Motley, Bud Black, Buddy Biancalana, Danny Jackson, Mark Gubicza, Charlie Leibrandt, Bret Saberhagen, Steve Balboni, Jim Sundberg, Dane Iorg, Lonnie Smith, David Cone, Kevin Seitzer, Kurt Stillwell, Bo Jackson, Danny Tartabull, Jim Eisenreich, Kevin Appier, Jeff Montgomery, and Brian McRae. Those years during my youth were filled with games at the then called 'Royals Stadium" (later changed to Kauffman Stadium and named after the original owner) that was always packed and had the excitement of a playoff caliber team every time they took the field. Going to the park and seeing that huge scoreboard with the crown made a lasting impression on me and during the years I lived away from KC I could always remember it. The stadium had a turf field back then and the team was built around speed and they always seemed to deliver.
I was a devoted fan until the '94 strike (the Royals last good team that had a chance at the playoffs) and then I really turned to football and the Kansas City Chiefs. The greed on both parts of baseball, owners vs. players, convinced me that the 'fan' was the last thing on their mind so I obliged and lost interest for the first time in my young life. My interest would finally return due to a great man and great baseball ambassador by the name of Buck O'Neill and I'll devote some time to him in a future post. With Buck bringing me back to baseball and Royals baseball I felt like a kid again although this time the Royals were much, much worse and were the laughingstock of baseball. As a near-40 year old, most of the players are obviously much younger than me and it's a weird perspective to have now but thanks to the efforts of General Manager, Dayton Moore, the players taking the field will hopefully turn things around and my children will start to idolize these Royals.
As the players came and went and retired, there are several memories that I have that are simply related to the stadium and the crowds that were there when I went to the game. I remember seeing a drunk lady that was very excited during the game and after a big play by KC she jumped up out of her seat with beer in hand (which due to the law of physics the liquid shot out like a volcano and came raining down on those sitting next to her) then frantically and hysterically plead with the police that came down to discuss the complaints of those around her that were now drenched in Bud Light. I remember the time my parents took me and several of my friends to a game and during the game we went wandering and picking up the souvenir cups to take home and at the end of the game a friend of mine, Robert Cram, had two stacks of cups in each hand that towered above him but as we exited the stadium some drunk a$$ comes running from behind us with both arms out like an airplane and chopped down Robert's stacks and sending cups all over the place. I remember back when Yankees fans visited the ballpark they were REALLY shown the ire of Royals fans with boos and heckles and curse words (if you are a true Royals fan you HATE the Yankees!). One last memory I'll share has to do with my stepdad. Back then he worked for a lawn & garden company that rented golf carts and were rented to the Royals. He would take me with him to the stadium on nights that he had to go pick them up after the games. I would get to go down in the bowels of the stadium under the spiral ramps and drive one up and then he would let me drive around the park and all over the parking lot. I even remember the staff giving us home run balls (back then there were no seats behind the outfield walls so home runs were not always available for keeping by fans unless they were hit in the outfield corners where the old GA seats were at that time).
"In the bullpen, there's no definite mood. Anything goes down there as long as you remember 3 basic rules: No women are allowed, don't do crossword puzzles in the open, and hide the food." - Royals reliever Dan Quisenberry (1983)
3rd inning.
Movie I want to see.Iron Man 3. So, in less than a month the 3rd installment of the Iron Man franchise will hit theaters across the country. As one of Marvel Comics' 'Big Three' which includes Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor, it has been interesting to see that the most troubled character of the three has been so successful on the movie screen, but, I guess, that rings true over on the DC Comics side as well with Batman who is part of DC's 'Big Three' which includes Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Casting Robert Downey Jr. in the role of Tony Stark was a home run for Marvel and he has carried the Marvel Phase One project. (Who wouldn't want one of those Iron Man suits?) Well, the plot for Iron Man 3 has Tony battling the Mandarin as part of the Extremis storyline from the comics. The Mandarin has a set of magical/mystical rings (one for each finger) that each hold a specific power (his character was sort of mentioned in the first movie when the terrorist in the mountains mentions the 'Ten Rings' as their group name). In addition, Tony builds more Iron Man suits for specific situations and the audience will be treated to those as the trailer shows. If the trailer is any indication, you should expect lots of explosions and lots of Iron Men. Win-Win!
4th inning.
American History Lesson...On April 6th, 1917 the United States Congress declared war on the German Empire and officially entered World War I. Since the war started, President Wilson tried to keep the U.S. neutral but due to the actions of Germany we joined the Allied Powers that included Great Britain, France, Italy, Russia, and Japan. Germany was part of the Central Powers along with Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. The war began in June 1914 when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Upon Ferdinand's death the dominos started to fall with various nations lining up to support their allies. World War I introduced the world to new types of warfare that included chemical weapons and aerial bombing. For a good history lesson on the war check out the PBS link here. If you are ever in Kansas City, please take time to visit the National World War I Museum.
5th inning.
Firearms corner...Background investigations.
Unless you have been off the grid living in your doomsday bunker since last November you should be well aware that background checks to purchase firearms is a current hot topic. So, I want to spend a moment and examine the subject more closely and hopefully shed some common sense on the subject.
First, let's address the two types of sales--Private versus Dealer.
Private sales do not require a background check. These include such sales as a neighbor who sells his hunting rifle to another neighbor, a father who sells his handgun to a daughter who is living by herself, or a mother who sells her late father’s shotgun to a trap shooter or duck hunter. These would also include sales via the Internet from such sites as Armslist, GunsAmerica, Gunbroker, or Midwest Gun Trader.
Dealer sales do require a background check. These include such sales as when a customer goes into a gun shop (big box retailer or local shop) or purchases from a home-based dealer such as myself. Dealer sales also include those that occur when a dealer places an online ad on one of the gun selling websites mentioned above.
Dealer sales require a buyer to complete a Form 4473 and a call to the FBI-NICS system or via the Internet to the FBI-NICS system. The firearm can only be transferred if a Proceed is granted by the NICS system.
For a Dealer Internet sale, a good example is if a resident of Kansas City bought a gun from a store in Memphis, the FFL in Memphis would send the gun to an FFL in Kansas City. Once it arrived, the buyer would pay a fee for shipping, taxes on the gun, as well as any mark-up for services. They would also have to submit to a background check just as if he had bought the gun off a shelf in Kansas City.
For a private sale via the Internet--if both the buyer & seller live in the same state, typically they will meet at a specific location and complete the transaction in person. But if the buyer & seller are from different states, the seller must ship the firearm to an FFL in the buyer's home state (this is conducted through the seller taking the firearm to an FFL in their home state where the FFL would ship to the buyer's FFL)
Second, let's address these two types of sales at a gun show.
Private sales would occur if a patron that is attending the gun show is carrying around a gun with a for sale sign and another patron purchases it. There is no background check for this transaction.
Private sales would also include if the patron carrying around a gun for sale sold it to a dealer at the show. But if the dealer wants to turn around and sell that firearm then a Form 4473 and NICS check would be required.
Dealers set up tables with many firearms of all types for sale. If any patrons wish to purchase one of these firearms then a Form 4473 must be completed and a call to the FBI-NICS system or via the Internet to the FBI-NICS system.
Third, let's address the '40%' figure that President Obama and many politicians on the left keep using to address how many firearms sales are being conducted without a background check.
The data being referenced is implying that 40% of all new gun sales are conducted without a background check. Which is not true. To buy new guns you either have to be a dealer and buy wholesale or be a customer that purchases from a dealer and therefore has to undergo a background check. Now you could be a customer who purchases a new gun then turns around and sells it but if you try to sell it for more than you paid why would someone pay you when they could go to a dealer and get it cheaper (an obvious exception to this rule is if something is in high demand and short supply but then again if it happens it will happen very little due to the nature of short supply). You could also sell your new gun cheaper than what you paid at the dealer but then you are losing money and that is ignorant (an obvious exception would be someone that made an impulse buy and after their spouse reminded them that they could not afford it they have to sell it quick to get some of their money back before other bills come due). You could sell it for the same price you paid which doesn't make sense either (why would you go wait in line, go through the background check, then sell it for no profit?). But the fact remains, if you are making a habit of buying new guns only to turn around and sell them then that would probably qualify you as an unlicensed dealer or as a Straw Purchaser and both are against the law.
The data being referenced is from a study that was conducted from a 1997 Institute of Justice report, written by Philip Cook of Duke University and Jens Ludwig of the University of Chicago. The study was based on data collected from a survey in 1994, the same year that the Brady Act requirements for background checks came into effect. In fact, the questions concerned purchases in 1993 and 1994, and the Brady Act went into effect in early 1994 — meaning that some, if not many, of the guns were bought in a pre-Brady environment.
The survey sample from the study being referenced was just 251 people. (The survey was done by telephone, using a random-digit-dial method, with a response rate of 50 percent.) With this sample size, the 95 percent confidence interval will be plus or minus six percentage points.
If the 40% figure is suppose to represent private sales how can anyone know how many sales are being conducted through private means when there is no data due to the sales being private?
Is the data being referenced implying that 40% of all gun sales are being conducted illegally? If so, then that is not true (see point above to understand this).
Fourth, and final points I'll make about the supposed risk our country faces with private sales.
Since the 'Assault Weapons Ban' expired in 2004, a multitude of manufacturers have started making Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs; AR-style rifles). From the major manufacturers to start-ups (and the mom & pop gun makers are plentiful), they either make the complete rifle or make the upper/lower receivers or any and all accessories you can put on the rifle. Even with the expanding sales line for these type of rifles and their accessories, violent crime has gone down.
Gun sales, across the board, since the ban expired in 2004 have increased every year, but especially during the Obama administration, all while violent crime has decreased.
With the proliferation of guns being made and bought which could end up being resold without a background check through a private transaction you would think that violent crime, but more specifically gun crime, would be skyrocketing, but it is not. Therefore, the 'universal background check' issue should be null and void.
Movie I want to see....again. My Top 10 Teen Comedy Movies of the '80s Countdown..Part 3. Weird Science. So, this past weekend Time Warner Cable provided a free HBO/Cinemax weekend to its KC subscribers and guess what was on??? Well, Weird Science of course. It stars Anthony Michael Hall (after his role in 'The Breakfast Club' and prior to his stint on Saturday Night Live--you knew he was on SNL, right?), Robert Downey, Jr. (early in his career and prior to joining Anthony Michael Hall on SNL--you knew he was on there too, right?), Kelly LeBrock, and Bill Paxton. The movie's plot involves two geeks, Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith(who didn't act in anything beyond 1991 and is now a History Professor), who devise a plan to create a woman through a computer program only to have the woman, played by LeBrock, become real with special reality-altering powers. LeBrock teaches the geeks to be confident and to face their fears when confronted with danger and embarrassment which leads to them getting the girls. Another funny flick and a must-own DVD which I also need to track down for my own collection. The trailer is below. Enjoy!
7th inning.
Music...The greatest rock band of all time is Def Leppard. That is my opinion...live with it. The summer of 1988 I started to listen to them and became a fan with the release of 'Hysteria'. I had their concert t-shirt with the image to the left. I give credit to my fandom to MTV back when they actually played music videos and for having their 'Top 20' countdown every afternoon. I recall going over to my friend's house during that summer and seeing that 'Pour Some Sugar on Me' was #1 the entire summer. The band members include Joe Elliot(lead singer), Rick Allen(one-armed drummer), Rick Savage(bass guitar), Phil Collen(guitar), Steve Clark-deceased, and Vivian Campbell(took Steve's place).
Def Leppard is a special band to me due to being my first rock concert. It was the summer of 1988 and on the evening of August 9th, I was in attendance at the old Sandstone Amphitheater with my good buddy, David Peterman, and my parents (buzzkill). So, there we were two soon-to-be 8th graders rockin' out in the lawn section as Europe opened the concert with some 'Final Countdown' but then out came Def Leppard and the place exploded. One memory I have of that concert is of my mom almost getting into a fight with a couple of younger gals (women...they never get along). Cut to December 19th 1992, Def Leppard is back in KC but this time at Kemper Arena with their 'in-the-round' tour for 'Adrenalize'. Guess who is with me this time minus the parents???--David Peterman. It was one of those rare times when a band with a new album/cd out and you knew the songs. While we rocked out to the new stuff they had yet to play the old hits. After playing many of their hits from previous albums, to include Hysteria, they still hadn't played that one everybody was waitin' on. Then Joe asks the audience if they are ready for something sweet...the place went wild knowing 'Pour Some Sugar on Me' (video below) was coming up. Great night with a great band!
**Side note--I remember being in the 8th grade and getting into an argument with a Metallica fan over who was the better drummer, Rick Allen or Lars Ulrich. I think that conversation ended with a "Fu$% Lars! Rick Allen and his one arm could beat him any day!"
8th inning. FFL Factoid...(Follow up to last week's factoid with more info on the different types of licenses.)
Type 01--Dealer in firearms other than destructive devices (includes: rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, gunsmith activities, and National Firearms Act (NFA) weapons if you apply for and purchase a Class 3 License. Application fee and the first three years is $200. Renewal every three years is $90.
9th inning.
Baseball is here! The 2013 season is upon us!
10th Inning. Baseball movie poll...With 38% of the votes Field of Dreams was chosen as the 'Best All-Time Baseball Movie'. Major League received 25% followed by Bull Durham, The Sandlot, and A League of Their Own each with 13% of the vote.
Planet Comicon 2013...For many years since moving back to Kansas City in 2004, I would drag Gina to Planet Comicon, back when it was held in Overland Park, Kansas, then later with the kids. It's a fun time with plenty of folks dressed up as their favorite comic book/sci-fi/fantasy character that let you take their picture. There are a ton of comic books if you are looking for that one issue to complete your run of Batman comics or Action Comics or any title for that matter. You can also find various artists/writers of your favorite comics there to autograph or sell original prints. Along with the comic industry names you will also find many actors from some of your favorite sci-fi/fantasy movies & tv shows signing autographs. Over the years I have stood in line to get autographs from Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Kenny Baker (R2D2), and Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett). This year Planet Comicon moved to downtown Kansas City and I missed it but it sounds and looks like it was very successful and I would imagine downtown will be its home for many more years to come. If you are looking for a good time and by the looks of these pictures many had a GREAT time!
Highlights of the Brew Crew this week...This past week saw the Brewer clan purchase a Class C RV motor home. It has been goal of ours to get one which should allow us to have even more fun camping and travelling on vacations to destinations we had hesitated on due to high lodging expenses. To find the right RV, I compiled a list of them from online listings found on Craigslist, RVTrader.com, and a few other dealer websites. The wife and I ranked our top choices then went from there. The top choice was an RV at a local used car dealership in Riverside, Missouri. We took a long lunch and drove there to check it out. Opening the door and walking in we noticed little paw prints all over the counters and dashboard with little balls of fur on the furniture. Needless to say I couldn't convince the wife to open any of the cabinets for fear a rabid raccoon or cat would leap out and attack us. We did not purchase that RV...So, we moved on to choice #2 which was a Craigslist ad with no pictures. We called the number listed and set up an appointment to go view it in Overland Park, Kansas. The elderly couple selling the RV were very nice and full of information about the motor home. We had brought the kids with us to see it and both them and the wife fell in love with it. We purchased it a day later. Let the adventure begin!
