The Shoulder Thing That Goes Up blog.

US Practical Shooting Association:

The 2010 pistol shooting championship season kicks off with the U.S. Practical Shooting Association’s (USPSA) Area 6 Pistol Championship and once again Georgia-based firearms maker Glock has been named the overall match sponsor. The Area 6 region includes the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

This marks the 4th year that Glock, whose pistols are popular with many competing in the Production and Limited-10 divisions, will be the main sponsor of the match.

It runs April 16 through 18 at the South River Gun Club in Covington, Georgia. Around 325 shooter are expected to compete in six divisions.

Read the full release for more details.

Jim Shepard’s editorial in today’s Outdoor Wire concerns tomorrow’s Nonnative Pet Amnesty Day at Miami’s MetroZoo:

“Our main purpose is to give pet owners an alternative to releasing nonnative animals into the wild,” says Jenny Tinnell, FWC biologist. “It’s illegal to release a nonnative animal into the wild in Florida, and it could be detrimental for the animal and the environment.”

People can come to the zoo and surrender exotic pets they can no longer care for, free of charge, with no questions asked.

“A licensed veterinarian will examine all surrendered pats,” says Tinnell, “if they appear healthy, we’ll try to place them with willing qualified, adopters.”

I’ve posted on invasive species before, particularly iguanas and boas.

Every time I do, I get all sorts of commentary and email from iguana and boa owners who think I should be shot (literally) for suggesting that invasive species in Florida be hunted. They seem to have trouble getting their little minds around the idea that I’m not talking about family pets but feral animals that little-minded people have put into an environment where they aren’t welcome.

This “amnesty” program, which has a number of dates in a number of cities throughout Florida is great way for people to get rid of pets that they don’t want without doing more harm to the environment. Between this program and some generous hunting allowances, maybe the invasive animal situation could be brought back under control.

Checked this new Daniel Defense grip out at SHOT:

Daniel Defense Convert Grip (with and without pressure pad extension)

The flat side is for solid mounting of pressure pad switches for lights, lasers, and such. It can rotate 360 degrees so the switch is where you want it.

The part with the switch area can be removed completely, shortening the grip to a stubby (left, above).

Below is a shot of the separate components:
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Another one of the cool things I checked out at the SHOT Show was the new full-length version of Mesa Tactical’s Saddle Rail with SureShell carrier:

Mesa Tactical Full Length Saddle Rail for Remington 870

Available with or without 4, 6, or 8-shell carrier. It can clamp on either the barrel or onto a standard factory magazine extension.

Even with the 6 shell carrier, it was surprisingly light.

More info here.

Very tempting:

Umarex HK MP5 A5 in 22LR

From Umarex Arms.

Umarex HK MP5 A5

Caliber: .22LR
Weight: 5.9 pounds (without mag)
Overall Length: 26.8-33.8 inches
Barrel Length: 16.1 inches
Barrel Twist: 1 in 13.75 inches
Grooves: 6
Operation: Blowback
Front Sight: Interchangeable Posts
Rear Sight: Adjustable Wind & Elevation

Comes with a 25-round or a 10-round magazine. Should be available in June. An SD model will also be available. I’ll get pics up of that one soon.

Another shot of the A5 below:
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Big brouhaha over New Dorp boy’s tiny toy gun

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A 9-year-old New Dorp boy earlier today learned there is no wiggle room in the Department of Education’s “no toy gun” policy — even if the toy gun is just two inches long.

Patrick Timoney, a fourth-grader at PS 52, South Beach, was nearly suspended after playing with LEGOs during his lunch period because one of the action figures was carrying at toy machine gun.

He and his friends had planned a playdate with their respective toys, and were sitting around the cafeteria table when the principal walked in and saw the action figure carrying the fake gun.

While the action figure was a standard LEGO policeman figure, the brand of the gun could not be determined.

The brand of the gun could not be determined? Um, it’s not a gun.

It’s not even one of those life-sized replicas. It is one of those tiny things for Lego action figures. Similar to this:

The principal told the parents that she considered the little piece of plastic suspension-worthy, but a call to a security administrator resulted in only the little piece of plastic being confiscated and given to the boy’s parents.

A message left for Principal Evelyn Matroianni was not returned. However, Margie Feinberg, a spokeswoman for the DOE, said there is a no-tolerance policy when it comes to fake guns because they are considered harmful to the school community.

If someone put this in a movie about public schools it would be dismissed as a fiction. (Hat tip to the reader who sent this in.)

UPDATE: Comment on the NY Firearms board about the uncertainty over the brand of gun:

What about the year of manufacture, lots of potential laws broken here, hard to tell from the pic, but if that thing is not pre-ban, the student is looking at some felonies for sure.

Hilarious.

Found on the web:

Glock Monster

NSSF release:

In a year when one word, “fewer,” described life in America — fewer jobs, fewer home sales, fewer purchases — hunters were responsible for generating a welcome “more” category, as hunting license sales rose by 3.5 percent in 2009 in states that make up NSSF’s Hunting License Sales Index.

The 12-state index comprises several states from four main regions of the United States. Nine of those states recorded hunting license sales increases from January through December of 2009 over the previous year, according to Southwick Associates, a research firm that monitored the license sales information.

States in the index include Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. Astute readers will note that this is only 11 states, not 12. The release listed Tennessee twice.

I’m not sure what the 12th state is. Maybe Michigan in the midwest area? I’ve sent an email to the NSSF and will let you know if they get back with me.

If this increase among the index states carries over to the nation at large, it’s pretty big news. Hunting has been considered a stagnant part of the shooting sports (growth-wise) for several years and this increase would be a welcome change.

UPDATE: The NSSF responded this morning. The 12th state is Kansas.

Must. Not. Get. Jealous.