How Hunting And Fishing Helps Our Economy
I was reading an article the other day and was amazed how hunting and fishing greatly boost our economy in Texas. There are 2.7 million hunters and fishermen in Texas which is more than the whole population of our largest city of 2.1 million people.
State and local tax income from hunting and fishing alone brings in $415 million. This industry also provides 65,000 jobs in Texas related to the hunting and fishing industry.
There is also $4.1 billion spent annually on hunting and fishing which is much larger than Texas’s second-largest agricultural commodity which is the cotton industry which produces $2.3 billion. However, the hunting and fishing could be in jeopardy because of animal rights activist which are well funded all over the nation along with frivolous lawsuits and the exploiting of the Endangered Species Act. Millions of dollars have also been spent by these groups for emotional advertising which shows to be very effective in Michigan, Minnesota. Wyoming and Wisconsin. Michigan has already disallowed dove hunting in their state. Wyoming can no longer control their wolf population by hunting. These activist groups would like nothing better than to infiltrate the state of Texas and control our wildlife.
There are 18 states that have already passed right to hunt and fish amendments which show to be effective.
Texas has two bills that are currently making their way through their legislature that would provide constitutional protection of our hunting and fishing rights. These bills are the HJR 61 and SJR 22 bills.
No matter what state you live in or whether or not you hunt or fish, we need to all sick together and fight against these activist from trying to take away our American rights. They do not understand that the animal population is controlled by hunters and fishermen. If not for them, only starvation awaits animals which seems to me to be animal cruelty.
The First Gatling Gun
Richard Gatling invented and patented one of the first machine guns which was the Gatling Gun in 1862.
His gun was the first practical, rapid-firing machine gun developed in the United States. It could fire about 600 rounds a minute. It was used only to a limited extent during the Civil War.
An endorsement from General Horatio Wright, after seeing the weapon fired, he wrote a report which recommend the Army test it further. In his report he included the following statement: “I have examined … the invention known as the ‘Gatling gun’ and it seems to me to possess much merit.”
Despite the endorsement, and many successful tests, the Union Army never really adopted the gun.
By the end of the Civil War, the War Department took interest in this technological marvel and rather than fading into obscurity Gatling and his famous battery gun patent became an indelible part of US combat history.
Russia became the first foreign purchaser of Gatling Guns in 1862 with the purchase of 100 Guns at a cost of $1500 each. Literally hundreds of Gatling’s were later manufactured in Russia under license. Russia actually built and had more Gatling Guns in the service than any other country in the world. There are reports that these battery guns were still in service on the China border during World War II.
Improved models became standard equipment for the U.S. Army and Navy in the Spanish-American War. Without a doubt, the Gatling Guns finest moments in U.S. combat had to have been during the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, and the Boxer Rebellion in China at the turn of the century. At Santiago, the battle of Bloody Ford, three Gatlings were credited with laying down 18,000 rounds of ammunition in less than 8 minutes, saving countless American lives.
On February 26th, 1903 Richard Gatling died at the age of 84. His Gatling Gun company was to follow shortly thereafter. With the introduction of the Maxim machine gun, the death bell had also tolled for the Gatling Gun. In 1911, Colt produced the last gun. In 1915, the last US military manual was printed for them and they became obsolete by year’s end. Most U.S. Gatling guns were eventually melted down for the brass scrap. The name Gatling nearly faded from history. However, in 1947, the U.S. Air Force commissioned General Electric to develop a rapid fire cannon for aircraft. Out of the mothballs came the Gatling Gun.
The Favorite Gun Of The Old West
I always thought that the preferred gun of the old west would be the pistol (6 six shooter) or a rifle. But from what I have been reading, I was wrong. The most influential gun was the shotgun such as the 1889 Remington curl hammered double barrel.
The double barrel shotgun (sometimes called “scattergun” because it was loaded with numerous lead pellets) was the easiest load, easiest to operate and the cheapest to buy. It was very versatile in use. It could be used for putting food on the table by shooting fowl, small game and larger game when loaded with buckshot (large pellets).
If ever in a gunfight in those days, they did not even need to aim to hit the target and the enemy new that.
Everyone respected the damage the shotgun could do at close range with the many lead pellets it sprayed out. Moments before the legendary “Gun Fight At The OK Corral”, Virgil Earp gave his trusted shotgun to Doc Holiday in exchange for Holiday’s cane that he was carrying.
The expression “riding shotgun” was derived in 1919 from the (then called) “stagecoach guards or shotgun messengers” which sat next to the driver of the stagecoach. They were hired to protect the stage from being robbed by bandits when they were carrying valuables such as money or gold in their strong boxes. The guard typically carried a short (or sawed-off) 12- or 10-gauge double-barrelled shotgun, loaded with buckshot. This was a most effective weapon in use against pursuing riders. Such weapons were sometimes referred to as “messenger shotguns” or, more commonly, “coach guns” (a name still used today). To some extent these weapons also carried over to use by private guards in trains with strongboxes or safes, where they were again effective.
The reliable shotgun was also the early settler’s home security as is today.
The Legendary ‘Henry Rifle’
I have always been impressed with the Henry Rifle every since I was a kid watching western movies.
I remember a scene when the outlaw did an evil act, he jumped on his horse and rode off as fast as his horse could run, trying to get away from the cowboy hero. The hero would slowly go to his saddle holster to pull out this long barrel Henry Rifle. He then would slowly cranked down on the lever to load a 44 caliber rimfire bullet in the chamber which sounded like shaking a bucket of bolts. He then would gently place it over his saddle to steady his aim, calmly turn his head over his right shoulder and spit out a large amount of tobacco juice. With the outlaw slowly fading out of site (looking like he was a mile away) and thinking he had gotten away, the shot was fired. A few seconds you could see the outlaw bite the dust.
The Henry Rifle was invented in the late 1850’s by Benjamin Tyler Henry and was the most important firearm in its day with its repeating lever action, breach loading with a magazine feed that held 16 rounds and 1 in the chamber. It had a rate of fire of 28 rounds per minute. It made a name for itself on the American frontier of the 1860’s to the 1880’s. It became the most all time legendary firearm in American history. As the old saying goes,“load on Sunday and shoot all week long.”
It was a sought after rifle of Union solders during the Civil War. For a solder, owning one was a sense of pride. As for Confederate solders, most could not afford one. Although the Union army did not supply their troops with the ‘Henry’, the solders that could afford one purchased their own. Later in late 1863 to early 1864 the U.S. Government did purchase about 3,140 of this sought after rifle mostly for its cavalry units.
Today, it has been reported that the most recent sale of a first model Henry Rifle brought an astonishing $207,000.
Texas Gun Law Without Having A Concealed Handgun License
If you are a Texas gun owner and do not have a concealed handgun license, like myself, you can still legally carry a gun with you under certain conditions.
As quoted from the General Firearms Laws of The State of Texas it is generally illegal to carry a handgun outside of a person’s own premises. However, a person may carry, either open or concealed, in a non-threatening or alarming manner, a shotgun or rifle.
However even with a handgun, in Texas, there are several places where a person may possess a handgun legally without the benefit of a Texas Concealed Handgun License (CHL). These places include:
1. A person’s residence or other real property under their control.
2. A person engaged in lawful fishing, hunting, or other sporting activity on the immediate premises where the activity is conducted, or is en route between the premises and the persons’ residence or motor vehicle, if the firearm is a type commonly used in the activity.
3. A person’s private motor vehicle or watercraft if the handgun is concealed, and the person is legal to possess a firearm, is not a member of a street gang, and is not engaged in the commission of a crime greater than a Class C misdemeanor traffic or boating violation.
4.While storing a loaded firearm, it must be in a place which cannot be accessed by a child under the age of 17, or secured with a trigger lock if there is reason to know that a child under 17 may gain access to the firearm.
I hope this information is helpful to firearm owners in Texas.
Rules for a Gunfight
I received this interesting information and thought I would share it with you.
Various Concealed Carry Instructors have laid out some shooting tips to consider if you ever catch yourself in a gunfight.
RULES:
1. The first and most important rule is have a gun and know how to use it.
2. The main reason police carry guns is not to protect you but to protect themselves.
3. There are two enemies that a gun has and they are rust and politicians.
4. It’s always better to be judged by twelve than be carried by six.
5. If you feel you are being theatened by someone or something, never let them, or it, get within arm’s
length of you.
6. Always win if your ever in a gunfight. That is the most important rule. A gunfight is a deadly struggle and there is no such thing as a fair fight, so cheat if necessary.
7. Never tell someone “I’ve have a gun.” If you need to use deadly force, the first sound they hear should be the safety clicking off.
8. 911’s average response time is 23 minutes; the response time of a .357 magnum is 1400 feet per second.
9. If you’re in a gunfight:
If you’re not shooting, you should be loading.
If you’re not loading, you should be moving.
If you’re not moving, you’re dead.
10. If you carry a gun, people may call you paranoid. That is incorrect. If you have a gun, what do you have to be paranoid about?
11. You can say ‘stop’ but a large bore barrel pointed at someone’s head is pretty much a universal language.
12. Never leave an enemy behind. If you have to shoot, shoot to kill. If you end up in court, yours will be the only testimony.
And always remember this quote from America ‘s premier Founding Father:
“Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands
around reloading” — Thomas Jefferson
A Tribute To The BB Gun
We all need to stop a moment and give tribute to an invention known as the BB Gun. It has taught millions of young kids gun safety, how to hunt and shoot at targets.
As a young boy growing up in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, some of my fondest memories was shooting my Red Ryder BB Gun.
I remember one day in the early 1950’s my brother and I were each sitting at a window in our garage with our guns pointing out the windows waiting for a clear shot at any sparrow that landed on a nearby fence. All of a sudden, a sparrow lit on the barbed wire fence and both of us cocked or guns and aimed carefully at what we thought was a big game target. I don’t remember if he hit the sparrow with his BB gun or not, I know I couldn’t have because I was shooting my stopper gun. You see, my brother was 7 years old and I was 6. Since he was 1 year older, our parents allowed him to own a BB gun before me. I was like “Ralphie” in the wonderful Christmas classic movie “Christmas Story”. I could not wait for that year’s Christmas so I could get my own BB gun and retire my trusted carbine stopper gun.
When Christmas morning finally arrived, my brother and I quietly entered the room where the Christmas tree was and on my side of the tree, there it was in a box with Red Ryder’s name and picture on it. This was one of the most memorable Christmas mornings I can remember.
I know I am not the only one that has had this wonderful experience owning your own BB gun and hopefully not the last. Thank you Daisy Mfg. for making this great and memorable product for so many kids and for so many years.
Locking Gun Storage, A Necessity For Gun Dealers
Locking Gun storage is a necessity for gun dealers, gun stores, pawn shops, etc. I was reading the other day that it is has been reported that tens of thousands of guns every year are discovered to be missing from inventories of licensed dealers across the country. They may have been stolen, misplaced due to negligent keeping of records, or illegally sold without the proper documentation. The reason is remains unclear. Whatever the reason, this could put the public at great risk if these firearms end up in the hands of the wrong people.
It was reported that missing firearms from gun stores is a large number. Between 2004 and 2011 the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm Agency) reported nearly 175,000 guns were unaccounted for during compliance inspections of gun dealers inventories. It was also reported that only a small percentage (19%) of firearm dealers inventories were inspected in 2012. There are an estimated 60,000 gun dealers within the United States and only an estimated 600 inspectors. So you can see why this is a problem. Gun stores and dealers themselves are not universally opposed to having their inventories checked. However, it is reported that the NRA argues the requirement of (licensed) firearm dealers to maintain and keep an accurate inventory would be an unduly burdensome on law-abiding gun stores and dealers. But on the other side of this issue, the lack of well maintained gun inventories by firearm dealers also makes it very difficult for investigators to trace down a stolen firearm when it is used in a crime.
I guess I can see both sides of this situation. My solution to this problem is a simple one. All gun dealers do their best to keep all of their firearm inventories under lock and key while on display with some sort of locking gun storage device such as lockable gun racks and/or locking gun rooms when not on display.
Gun Safety First
Gun safety for all hunters is what I consider the most important rule in the sport of hunting. I live in Tyler, TX and our local news paper is the Tyler Morning Telegraph who has (who I consider) one of the best outdoor writers in our state. His name is Steve Knight. With his permission, I have used a portion of his latest, as of this date, editorial and wanted to share it with all hunters.
“To be honest, I would rather hunt alone in a place where there is not as much to shoot then in a crowd where there is game everywhere.
I understand accidents happen. I just don’t want to be involved in one.
Over the years I have found myself in some scary situations while hunting. Because of that I tend to reduce my chances of getting shot by only hunting with people I know very well. To this day the group I hunt with announces to everyone that their rifle is unloaded and bolt is open when approaching or getting in a truck.
We don’t have to, but this way the hunter leaves no doubt in his mind or ours that the gun is safe.
That is something you may not learn in a hunter education course, but when you take one you do get the building blocks for what makes a hunt safe and a hunter safer.
Believe it or not the opening of dove season is just eight weeks away, and there is a lot to do in a quickly shrinking amount of time. Nothing may be more important than taking a hunter safety course.
Sure you can put it off until later in the fall, but you know what it going to happen. An opening day is going to sneak up and someone who needs the course is not going to have it and there isn’t going to be a course around because the demand for hunter education in Texas is growing. And that is good news for hunters and their safety”.
Hunter education courses are offered in lot of states and also on-line to promote gun safety while hunting.
A Safe Gun Storage Solution That Could Solve Your Problem For Unsecured Guns
A safe gun storage solution for your firearms is very important in today’s society.
It is a chaotic world we live in today when there seems to be a school shooting or other mass murders just about every few weeks. This appears to happen when some deranged idiot wakes up one morning and decides to gear up with a rifle and or handgun (most likely stolen) with a large supply of loaded clips and decides to go out for revenge and see how many people he can take out before shooting himself. This appears to be the pattern over and over again. Lets make one thing very clear, I do not blame the guns for this sort of behavior.
Sometimes, but not all of the time, these episodes may be avoided if firearms are secured within the home of gun owners to deter gun theft or securing them from someone they suspect within the household that may have a mental condition.
I know every gun owner may not have the room space available or cannot afford a $500 to $9,000 gun safe or vault to lock up their firearms. There may be another gun storage solution to this problem. There are a few other locking devices available such as locking wall gun rack that is made of steel to deter gun theft, secure firearms away from children and also limit your personal liability from having unsecured guns within your home.
Ownership of firearms comes with serious responsibilities especially when it involves children who are curious little people. It is possible for small children to mistake a real gun for a toy gun or water pistol and the outcome could be a serious tragedy. To sum it all up, gun owners need to have a safe storage device for all firearms in their homes.
