Don’t give up if a replacement firing pin is unavailable from your catalog suppliers. Instead, use these tips to solve the problem.

Here are all the items tested in Gun Tests magazine from 2011 back through 1999.

The group Media Matters for America hates NRA. Few organizations have more strongly proclaimed their disdain for our right to keep and bear arms and self-protection, says the NRA-ILA.

Lethal Force Institute’s Massad Ayoob gives a lesson on what to do if you are stopped with firearms in your vehicle. These essential tips will teach you how to safely interact with police when carrying a firearm while driving. (3:47).

Gun Reports - News

Michael S. Steele

Worrisome--New RNC Chairman Michael Steele on Gun Control

The Republican National Committee elected Michael S. Steele to be the 63rd chairman of the committee.

Michael Stephen Steele was born October 19, 1958. He is the first African-American to hold the position. Prior to this, Steele served as chairman of GOPAC and worked as a partner at the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf. He also served as lieutenant governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007.

However, his view on guns isn't as strong as many of us would like. In a Washington Post interview on Oct. 16, 2006, he was asked:

Post: Your views on gun control?

Steele: My views are pretty much in line with the governor's. I grew up under some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. You can have all the gun control laws in the country, but if you don't enforce them, people are going to find a way to protect themselves. We need to recognize that bad people are doing bad things with these weapons. It's not the law-abiding citizens, it's not the person who uses it as a hobby.

Post: Should people have access to buy assault weapons?

Steele: Society should draw lines. What do you need an assault weapon for, if you're going hunting? That's overkill. But I don't think that means you go to a total ban for those who want to use gun for skeet shooting or hunting or things like that But what's the point of passing gun laws if we're not going to enforce them? If you want to talk about gun control, that's where you need to start. We've got 300 gun laws on the books right now. At the end of the day, it's about how we enforce the law.

Reader Comments

Again we here semi automatic weapons being refered to as assault weapons. There is not a single military in the world thast uses a semi-automatic weapon as an assault weapon. Assault weapons have large capacity magazines and fire as automatic, in other words, pull the trigger and the weapons continues to fire round after round until you release the trigger. These are not available to the general public under the laws that we have on the books now. Why ban a weapon because it "looks like" an assault weapon? A baseball bat could be considered and assault weapon, maybe we should put a ban on these too.

We need leadership that knows what they are talking about rather than spout the reteric that the newspapers and nightly newscasters are trying to pass off on the public.

The RNC is forgetting about the people that put them there and getting away from traditional values. Tha's one of the reasons they did so miserably in the last elections.

Go back to our roots and lets regain our position as the real conservative party.

I for one will continue to cling to my bible and my guns until my last breath as did so many of our forefathers.

Comment by: weldon99 | February 5, 2009

Steele is a typical politician elite. He travels in circles far from reality, and certainly not in contact with anything that might be considered "mean streets," much less Main Street. Here's a nice, articulate, well intentioned fellow concerned only with advancing power for the Republican Party. Shoot a gun? Why, maybe, if former Vice President Dick Cheney invited him out for a nice day drinking and quail hunting on a private game preserve. But own a handgun for personal protection? Carry a concealed weapon? Buy an "assault" rifle for home defense? Come on, get serious! Nor will anyone like Michael Steele, as fine a person as he may be, ever understand those of us who do. For him, the idea of gun control and "sensible" gun laws are merely part of the political process and as American as apple subsidies.

Comment by: Undergraduate | February 5, 2009

the thing that bothers me the most is the term assault weapon and the use of it in the main stream gun media. assault weapons are controlled by the 1968 gun control act and therefore requires a person to go thru alot of government red tape before being able to own one. semi auto ar15, sks,ak47 style guns are not assault weapons. we have bought into the notion they are and we need to start educating people that these guns are not assault weapons because of the way they look. the true definition of assault is the threat to do bodily harm to a person. battery is the actual carrying out the threat. stop using assault weapon when referring to these guns and start using semi auto in its place and maybe just maybe the lie will be stopped. if we do not stop this ourselves we will be shooting our own self in the foot. how can we expect to win if we do this. start with the gun media and don't buy into the mainstream medias idea of what an assault weapon is or isn't.

Comment by: pa-cman | February 5, 2009

Those are some scary quotes from Mr. Steele. I was hopeful that the RNC would choose someone who is a true constitutional and fiscal conservative, but it appears that he is another elite politician. The second ammendment has nothing to do with hunting or skeet shooting, but recognizes the right of free people to defend themselves and their country.

Comment by: chuckr | February 5, 2009

I agree, the term assault weapon is a term the media likes to use to make guns sound more scary. They have all kinds of buzz words they use for drama effect. Most of facts are incorrect in their reporting, I don't know how many times I've heard 9 cal. or 40 mm semi-automatic handgun in the media. They are less concerned about getting the facts right and more concern about getting the story to push their agenda. True journalism is nearly dead in this country. What happened to the time when the media was the watch dog for the people. Now that almost all the media is controled by the liberals, only agenda driven stories are reported. Does anyone think its a coincidence that the RNC selected an African-American? I'm not racist, however I'm not going to ignore the big pink elephant in the room.

Comment by: Robert J | February 5, 2009

His views when applied to the proposed "registration law" H.R. 45 sounds really dangerous. Even his speech is unclear, "if you don't enforce them, people are going to find a way to protect themselves"??? He's been surrounded by armed guards so long that he doesn't understand that not everyone is protected. This doesn't sound good.

Comment by: dgray64 | February 5, 2009

In an obvious bid to counter "Obama-Mania," the GOP hastily picked a dark skinned person as their representative. Unfortunately, they forgot to pick an actual conservative.

Another shot to the foot---OUCH! Nice job, GOP.

Comment by: RackEmPunk | February 5, 2009

In an obvious bid to counter "Obama-Mania," the GOP hastily picked a dark skinned person as their representative. Unfortunately, they forgot to pick an actual conservative.

Another shot to the foot---OUCH! Nice job, GOP.

Comment by: RackEmPunk | February 5, 2009

Gun control laws of any kind have no place in our free society and I hoped that Michael Steele had shared that position as it was etched in our Contitution.

Now that that is out of the way, the Post did not ask Steele if he knew the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic weapon. They asked, "Should people have access to buy assault weapons?" Let's assume he understood the question. In the mean time, let's also show him where we stand, by renewing our memberships in the NRA and GOA.

Comment by: gunsdontkill | February 5, 2009

The ignorant always consider "Assault rifles" as extremely powerful. Actually they are quite anemic when compared to hunting rifles. After all they only have to kill a 200lb man compared to a 1500lb elk. Why don't our leaders sit down with the NRA or someone knowledgeable before they open up their big, fat, stupid trap. This ignorance applies to other issues as well.

Comment by: Mister E | February 5, 2009

I am a sixth degree black belt and could kill with my handa as easily as with a gun if I were in close. Does that make me an assault weapon? Should I be outlawed from living? I guess my Benelly semi auto will be yanked from me for duck hunting. It is so ridiculous it makes me puke. Who are these morons in Washington and who are the morons who elect them? -Jeff in NY

Comment by: rokudan | February 5, 2009

500 gun laws????????? Where did he get those numbers, last I heard there are over 20,000 gun laws across this great nation of ours. And they are obeyed by lawful gun owners every day.

There are several things I object to in this short 2 question and answer post. As with every one else I am opposed to the term "assualt weapons" as it makes all guns sound scary and that when you aren't looking they somehow sneak out of the house and do crimes. Also that as it was said, the Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting or skeet shooting. It has, as the Supreme Court said, everything to do with good people being able to protect their lives and that of their loved ones. Because with all of the gun laws here in NYC, the grand Nanny, Mayor Mike(notransfat/Ineedtoknowyourbloodsugarlevel/Iwillridyourfoodofsalt) Blowhard, can't protect a woman that has only a Certificate of Protection when her door is being broken down will feel sorry for her in front of the TV cameras.

Instead of gun control laws, how about just concentrate on ALL CRIMINALS, not just the ones that use a gun during a crime.

But somehow I would think that is way too simple an idea.

Comment by: Two Hand *SASS* | February 5, 2009

The new RNC Chairman is woefully uninformed on firearms. Why? However knowing that the political climate coming was near, I got mine. I'll be damned if they think they CAN COME THROUGH MY FRONT DOOR AND TAKE IT. YES FOLKS, SEMIAUTO RIFLES ARE NOT ASSULT WEAPONS, AND HERE IN GEORGIA SKS'S TAKE MORE DEER THAN ANYOTHE RIFLE. IT IS MY RESPONSIBLITY HOWEVER TO HAVE ALREADY THE WEAPONS TO DEFEND MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. THAT MEANS BULLETS AND MAGS. I THINK THOSE WHO HAVEN'T GOT EITHER RIFLES, BULLETS, OR MAGS BY THIS TIME, IT'S YOUR FAULT. LT. GOV. STEELE HOWEVER NEEDS A QUICK LESSON ON FIREARMS LANGUAGE, AND MAYBE A NEW LESSON ON WHAT", MAY NOT BE INFRINGED," MEANS.

Comment by: bigdon | February 5, 2009

It looks the Republican party is trying to commit suicide. If the party wants to make a comeback they must first purge the leadership of RINO's and get back to basics. The last two elections have been lost because the party has become "Democrat Lite" and has lost the support of the base. The Republicans can't expect to win if the people can't see a difference between them and the Democrats.

Comment by: Clyde B | February 5, 2009

The NRA has become a gun control organization bent on maintaining the increasing threat of gun control imposition to keep the membership activated to send money to them. They are not our friends. If they were, they would be working to overturn the GCA of 1968, the NFA of 1934 and the GCA reform act of 1986. If the gun control threat were removed, the NRA would not receive the money they do. Their only interest is to slow down the rate of gun control increase to continue the revinue stream into them. Can you not see that?

Comment by: RICHARD R | February 5, 2009

We need to contact our representatives and Mr Steele and tell them to support the 2nd Amendment and to kill H.R. 45 and all other gun control bills. I just posted this on Mr. Steel's blog, "I have only one other concern at this point. You, Mr Steele, are not strong enough on the 2nd Amendment. When H.R. 45 gets worked on in the House, encourage all republicans and democrats to kill it. It will not keep guns from criminals and it will make it easier for the liberal radicals to confiscate guns later on. Please protect our 2nd Amendment. Note also that you mentioned that no one needs an assault rifle. The liberals are calling semi-auto shotguns and semi-auto .22 rifles assault weapons. Thank you for protecting our 2nd Amendment." Everyone needs to take action and keep the capital phone lines busy.

Comment by: dgray64 | February 5, 2009

I agree with dgray64 and anyone else who supports fighting back on every encroachment. Remember, the reasons given by the gun control crowd are not meant to be logical, they are meant to support their conclusion. Stop wasting your time with logical refutations of their position. Keep coming back to the 2nd amendment; it is so clear that it should be simple to enforce if all 80 million of us speak up. How about now?

Comment by: RICHARD R | February 5, 2009

As a sportsman I am offended by the term assault weapon. I am even more offended when someone attempts to tell me what I need, or do not need to hunt with. Hunting is not a gift "from the sovereign" it is a birth right. I am a retired Sheriff and I have never seen a man killed by a gun. I have seen men killed by men who used a gun. I have no desire to harm another person but I will defend myself and my family. Mr. Steele please do not bother telling me what I can or cannot use while doing so.

Comment by: tomirhea@yahoo.com | February 5, 2009

QUOTE:"Richard R": "The NRA has become a gun control organization..."

That may shock a few people, but I think you're right on target. I'm watching the NRA's reaction to B.O.'s assault on the 2nd Amendment very closely.

Any wimpyness from the NRA and I'm done with them for good. I will double my support for the J.P.F.O., instead. I'm already a GOA and SAF member.

Read how the NRA told one of it's members that the NRA "didn't want to abolish the BATFE":

hollister sale is the place to go when you are searching for hollister clothing to wear when you hang out after school or want to go to the movies or to the beach. hollister outlet is youth apparel and you’ll find an exceptional selection of jeans, casual pants, including cargo and tear away models,hollister uk as well as Capri pants for warmer weather. They have a wide array of hollister clothes. The only thing Hollister Clothing doesn’t sell is dresses. But if you’re in need of a bathing suit or swim trunks, hollister store has just what you’re looking for cheap hollister. They also carry a nice assortment of jackets and fleece jackets with hoods, known as ‘hoodies” that are so popular with today’s teens. Hollister represents California and most of the hollister UK sale clothing features names associated with the state.

Comment by: loosee | February 8, 2012