Showing posts with label military. Show all posts
Showing posts with label military. Show all posts

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Personal Defense Weapon

Well, look what we have here. Here is a government definition of Personal Defense Weapon. I have highlighted some things I find interesting and have added my comments in highlighted and underlined text.

https://www.fbo.gov/utils/view?id=09c3d5e933bc24416b752b57294a17b3

The scope of this contract is to provide a total of up to 7,000 5.56x45mm North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO) personal defense weapons (PDW) throughout the life of this contract to numerous Department ofHomeland Security components. Wow, 7,000 PDW for what purposes?

Here are a few of the key elements of a PWD as defined by our own government.

The firearm shall be able to be operated by a left or right-handed user without permanentmodification.

The action shall be select-fire (capable of semi-automatic and automatic fire). Hmm, but we cannot have automatic fire for defense?

The action shall fire from a closed bolt.
The action shall be gas operated.

The action shall have a bolt catch that automatically locks the bolt to the rear upon firing thelast round in the magazine. The operator shall be able to manually use the bolt catch to lockthe bolt to the rear with the magazine removed from the firearm. When the bolt catch isdepressed the bolt shall return to battery position.

The magazine catch shall securely retain the magazine in the magazine well. The magazinerelease shall be spring loaded and be designed to prevent inadvertent activation. The magazinerelease, when depressed, shall disengage the magazine catch and permit the magazine to fallfree from the magazine well.

The action shall possess a firing pin designed to prevent accidental discharges if the firearm isdropped.

The firearm shall be designed in such a way that the operator can clear a malfunction usingimmediate action without the use of special tools.

The firearm shall be able to be safely operated by a shooter wearing gloves.

The action shall be capable of accepting all standard NATO STANAG 20 and 30 round M16magazines (NSN 1005-00-921-5004) and Magpul 30 round PMAG (NSN 1005-01-576-5159). Well, seems that they need greater than ten round magazines for defensive purposes, but we aren't allowed that privilege. The magazine well shall be designed to allow easy insertion of a magazine.

The receiver top shall be equipped with an integral MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail for mountingsights and other accessories. But, we cannot attach any accessories to our defense weapon.

The firearm shall be capable of being field stripped without the use of special tools.

3.9.13 The firearm shall be designed so that components cannot be readily assembled incorrectly or inreverse, thus rendering the firearm inoperable.

  1. 3.10 Fire Control Selector.

    1. 3.10.1 The fire control selector shall have three positions; safe, semi-automatic, and automatic. Theselector shall have positions which are clearly labeled for the mode of fire.

    2. 3.10.2 The selector shall operate manually without binding from one position to another when thehammer is cocked.

    3. 3.10.3 The selector shall remain in place in each position under spring detent.

    4. 3.10.4 The selector shall be capable of being checked for position both visually and by feel.

    5. 3.10.5 The selector shall be movable between the mode of fire positions by the operator withoutmoving the firing hand from the shooting position.

    6. 3.10.6 The selector shall be designed to allow for operation by left and right handed shooters with noparts changes or modification.

  2. 3.11 Trigger

    1. 3.11.1 The trigger shall return to its normal forward position under spring action after partial orcomplete trigger pull.

    2. 3.11.2 The trigger pull shall not be less than 5.5 pounds and not exceed 9.5 pounds.

  3. 3.12 Overall Length.

    1. 3.12.1 The overall length of the firearm shall not exceed 30 inches with the stock fully extended.

    2. 3.12.2 The overall length of the firearm shall not exceed 20 inches with the stock fully retractedand/or folded. What, a collapsible and/or folding stock for a defensive rifle?

  4. 3.13 Weight. The unloaded weight of the firearm (without magazine) shall not exceed 7 pounds.

  5. 3.14 Barrel.

    1. 3.14.1 The barrel shall have a rifling twist rate of 1 in 7 inches.

    2. 3.14.2 The barrel bore and chamber shall have a corrosion resistant and wear resistant coating ortreatment that is equal to or better than chrome plating.

    3. 3.14.3 The barrel shall be equipped with a flash suppressor and/or muzzle brake. But, does a personal defensive weapon really need a flash suppressor? The muzzle devicewill be rated on its ability to reduce muzzle signature. It is desired that the muzzle deviseeffectively reduces muzzle rise during firing.

    4. 3.14.4 A minimum barrel length is not specified. It is desired that the barrel length be as long aspossible while maintaining the overall length requirements of Section 3.12.

  6. 3.15 Caliber. The firearm shall be chambered for 5.56x45mm NATO.

  7. 3.16 Pistol Grip.

    3.16.1 The pistol grip shall be a fixed, vertical pistol grip constructed of a durable material.3.16.2 The pistol grip shall be designed for use by right or left handed shooters. Okay, now we've gone too far. It also has that evil people killing pistol grip!

    3.17 Buttstock.

    1. 3.17.1 The buttstock shall be easily adjustable for length of pull.

    2. 3.17.2 The buttstock shall be either collapsible or folding. Collapsible or folding. Seems like I see a trend here.

    3. 3.17.3 The firearm shall be fully operational with the buttstock either fully extended and/orcollapsed/folded.

    4. 3.17.4 The buttstock, if a folding design, shall not readily move from the folded position.

    5. 3.17.5 The buttstock, whether collapsible or folding design, shall be able to be deployed using thenon-firing hand without removing the firing hand from the pistol grip.

    3.17.5 The butt plate shall either be serrated, checkered, or be manufactured from a non-slip material.

    1. 3.18 Forend.

      1. 3.18.1 The front forend shall incorporate MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rails on the top, bottom, and bothsides to accommodate the attachment of optics or accessories. A top rail and forend rail system. This is needed for a defensive weapon? What are they going to attach?

      2. 3.18.2 It is desired that the forend Picatinny rail sections be capable of being removed or added. Ifrail sections are removable, the sections shall be designed/constructed to not readily loosen.

      3. 3.18.3 The forend shall be constructed of durable, heat resistant material.

      4. 3.18.4 A one-piece monolithic forend/upper receiver is acceptable.

    2. 3.19 Sling Attachments.

    3.19.1 The buttstock shall have slots capable of accepting a 1 1⁄4” wide sling and/or have the capabilityto mount a removable sling attachment.

    1. 3.20 Finish.

      1. 3.20.1 The external finish shall be a non-reflective black, dark grey, or dark earth color.

      2. 3.20.2 The firearm exterior and interior shall be protected with a durable corrosion resistant coating ormade from durable corrosion resistant material.

      3. 3.20.3 The coating and materials shall be abrasive, impact, and chemical resistant equal to or greaterthan phosphated steel or anodized aluminum.

      4. 3.20.4 The interior and exterior surfaces shall be free of rough surfaces, voids, cracks or othermanufacturing defects.

    2. 3.21 Magazine.
      3.21.1 Magazines shall be compatible with standard NATO STANAG M16 design.3.21.2 The magazine shall have a capacity to hold thirty (30) 5.56x45mm NATO rounds.3.21.3 Two (2) magazines shall be supplied with each firearm shipped under contract. Why cannot I have 20 or 30 rounds for my defense?

      3.22 Sights.

      3.22.1 Front Sight Assembly.

      The front sight shall have a black or dark gray non-reflective finish. The front sight shall becapable of being removed and/or be a fold down design. The front sight post shall beprotected.

      3.22.2 Backup Rear Sight Assembly.

      The rear sight shall have a black or dark gray non-reflective finish. The rear sight shall have atleast one aperture of no less than 0.20 inches diameter. The rear sight shall be capable of beingremoved and/or be a fold down design. The rear sight shall be mounted at the rear of thereceiver. The rear sight shall not interfere with the mounting of optics. The rear sight shall beadjustable for windage and from at least 100 to 300 yards/meters elevation. But what are these 7,000 rifles going to be shooting at from 300 yards?


      This would be a similar weapon that is listed in the contract above.



      Well, there you have it. In our governments own words they have given us the definition of a personal defense weapon (PWD). It is good enough for their defense, but we are not allowed to have these for our defense. My question still stands....why does DHS need 7,000 of these rifles AND the 1+ billion rounds of ammo they have put out for contract? What are they expecting?

      Keep your powder dry folks.

 

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Friday, November 9, 2012

Veteran's Day 2012

Thank you to all that served....


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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The REAL Question that Obama Needs To Answer

This should be a must read before anyone in this country votes in this election.

From Matt Bracken:

Did Obama Withhold Cross-Border Authority?
Please help me.
I am trying as hard as I can to get out the word about cross-border authority (CBA).
I just can’t believe reporters don’t know enough to ask the right questions! It’s infuriating.

Libya, as far as standing down the rescue, is 100% Obama’s show, and nobody else’s. Only he can grant CBA, not Biden, not Panetta, not Dempsey, not Hillary, and certainly not Ham in Germany.

The entire episode is explained perfectly inside the context of not granting CBA. The CIA QRF in Tripoli? No problem, send them on the local Tripoli station chief’s say-so. He merely informs up COC that he has done so. CCs them so to speak. “This is what I am doing.” Ditto if Predators were in country, no problem using them.

But the big rescue air armada streaming toward Libya right away after the alarm got to Stuttgart and Africom? That has to stop. I believe at the 5pm meeting with Panetta and Biden in the Oval Office, he said, “No outside military intervention,” on the basis that the last report was the “lull” from the consulate, at about 1030 p.m. in Benghazi, when the attack appeared to be over and the situation stabilizing.
(As a soft exception, Obama may have authorized sending an unarmed Predator from outside of Libya, but I am thinking the two Predators were already in-country, and hence available to use within “no CBA granted” rules.)

“No outside military intervention” equals “no cross-border authority” and that constitutes “standing orders” until POTUS changes them. Nobody else can “un-decide” the POTUS decree. The rescue air-armada of C-17s, C-130s and SOF helos like MH-47 Chinooks and Pavehawks cannot proceed directly to Libya without CBA being granted, so instead they are all staged at Sigonella, Sicily.

USN ships are in position to “lilypad” helos for long over-water flights. Airborne tankers are coming into position. SOF forces in Sigonella are going over their gear for different contingencies. Fuming all night as officers keep checking in with operational commanders. “Hold in place, no rescue yet. We can’t find the President, it sounds like,” say the colonels to the majors and captains. 100s of military must know about this. I keep waiting for the conclusive whistle-blowers to come forward BEFORE the election. After won’t matter, it will be for the historians.

Panetta is falling on his sword for Obama with his absurd-on-its-face, “The military doesn’t do risky things” defense of no rescue. Panetta is destroying his future reputation entirely, to save Obama. The question is why? Loyalty?

Petreaus was probably “used” in some way early, about the supposed CIA intel link to the Mohammed video, and now he feels burned. So he conclusively said via his PAO, “The stand-down order did not come from CIA.”

Well, what is higher than CIA? Only White House. Obama, nobody else. Petreaus is naming Obama without naming him.

Now, as far as Obama / Huma Abedin / Valerie Jarrett etc actually wanting Ambassador Stevens dead, to terminate the end of the very dirty Libyan arms to Syrian AQ programs, I can’t speculate. Obama is not competent enough, I’m thinking.
But for sure, the ambassador going to unsecure Benghazi on 9-11 of all days stinks to me of a setup. You can bet Stevens would have told the Turks, “No, 9-11 is not a good day for us,” and stayed in Tripoli behind many high and thick walls. For him to go to dangerous Benghazi on 9-11 means the Turks totally insisted, but why would they care about the meeting date, unless they were in on a “hit” as the Judas goat?

Alternatively, ordering Stevens to meet the Turks in Benghazi on 9-11 may have come from down OUR chain of command. Stevens seems to have been wearing two hats as ambassador and CIA arms shipper. Moving between more-secure Tripoli, the Benghazi “consulate,” and the CIA “annex.” So orders to him might come down the State or the CIA commo channels, or both. I am unclear on his job title and true position, but either the CIA or State sends him final instructions. How this works with “dual-hatted” ambassadors, I haven’t a clue.

But Stevens meeting the Turks at the unsecure Benghazi “consulate” on 9-11 stinks to me of a deliberate setup. The Turks left the meeting and probably flashed their headlights to the attack team commanders lurking in shadows. A coded text, a word on a phone, meaning, “The ambassador is there, with minimal security: proceed with the attack plan.”

That is all pure speculation. What I know FOR SURE is that the big “stand down order” issue revolves around granting or withholding cross-border authority.

Every SOF officer and ops officer all the way up has this drummed into his head. We can make Obama respond to this question, even if reporters must shout it at him while he’s doing storm cleanup photo ops. If the reporters KNOW enough to ask the quesion.

That’s why I am shouting all over the internet about CBA.
I can’t believe cross-border authority permission is not one of the top discussion points about Benghazi.
That, and who “set him up” by sending him to Beghazi to meet the Turks on 9-11, with them leaving after dark.

And of course, down the road, was the military rescue-in-progress turned back because Obama actually wanted to make sure the consulate was wiped out? Is that why the spooks at the annex were refused permission to travel the under one mile to intervene? That would connect it all together, but for now, the best focus is on Obama either granting or withholding cross-border authority for the rescue.
 
Feel free to repost these musings of a long-ago SOF officer anywhere you please.


I posted this, so are YOU going to spread this to your friends?
PSD
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