Owen Guns Bulletin December 2014

“We” Not “I” = Power To Change Anything.

“No man is an island” by  John Donne

No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s
Or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
………………….
I dug the above poem out of my mind, as I had read it years before in the front of the Ernest Hemingway book “For Whom The Bell Tolls” and to get the wording right I found it in a library book. Then in 1981 it was printed in an article concerning Gun Laws and the shooters reaction to those laws in the first edition of Lock, Stock & Barrel. (every edition coming to the internet soon) I believed and still believe  it is very appropriate for Firearm Owners.

As having suffered under severe restrictive Gun laws in my early years of shooting I began hunting and competing with firearms in 1959 in the UK and was a Cadet in the 22^nd Cheshire Regiment, (before joining the Regular British Army Grenadier Guard in 1963) I could take my rifle and bayonet, (No ammo) to and fro the Drill hall in uniform on the No 8 Bus, yet had to leave my .22 small target rifle ( a heavy barrel Mossberg Mod 52) at the Small Bore Range, until the IRA broke into the armoury and stole all the Bren Guns, Lee Enfields, Sten Guns, 2 inch Mortars and everyone’s .22 target rifles including mine.
Having emigrated to a free Australia in 1967 I had enjoyed 14 year of freedom and did not want to lose it, so began the crusade that I am still pursuing. Since 1981, we have had some small victories, such as when Firearm Owners supported two pro gun candidates in Kingaroy and we took a blue ribbon (Bleke Petersen old seat) from the National Party and saw the impending Bill Gunn Police Ministers severe Gun legislation thrown out on that same night.
That proved to me that action worked.  A huge amount of work and money from a few people but we proved it can happen once.

Since the 1990s Firearm Owners have been flayed, hammered into factions, compressed into clubs where differences are exaggerated the enemy pick on, Pistols at one time, Semi Auto’s the next hunting the next and so on. They know there is Unity in Numbers and so pick us off one by one. For Queensland in 2015 we have the most important crucial election to our cause, one independent may have the balance of power, in Gympie we are going to have Mayoral and Councillor elections, due to resignations, these council elections will be closely monitored by major political parties as Council has to make a decision on the new Corella Shooting Complex, (sometimes incorrectly named Curra Shooting Complex as that is the name of the Forestry area and a town to our north) If the firearm owners push hard and have an effect in the March 2015 Council elections then that will effect the behaviour and promises of the Major Parties who are clutching at straws for their political existence.  

We the Six hundred thousand licensed firearm owners of Queensland can remain, the hunted, the prey that is constantly being imposed on, our money extorted from us, our rights, our firearms and our safety in our homes, removed. We can be looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives, waiting for the next police firearm audit, waiting till we are charged for having a round of ammo, not in its packet, begging and scraping, tipping our forlock like slaves every time we want permission to buy a firearm. Paying for PTA permit when we have already paid for a licence to own it, or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell, one inch at a time.

“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.” Joel A. Barker

Unfortunately, we only learn, when it is almost too late, that is when you start losing your rights, losing your property your hopes for the future, your rights to do and speak what you think in freedom.

In the last 20 years we have been minimalised, marginalised, told we are a minority and en- prisoned down in a deep hole of political correctness. Now it is time to claw our way up one inch at a time. We have to fight for this inch, claw and bite and pay for that inch, without effort it will not eventuate. We have to all, do this together we have to be like the snow. 

A snowflake is tiny, but look what it can do when it sticks together. We have to claw back our rights inch by inch, as we know when we put all of those other shooters clawed ‘inches’ together then we have a movement, that is going to make the difference between winning and losing, success or failure, and ultimately between living and dying.

Our fellow firearm owners have to begin to believe in one another, we sent out a few weeks ago our information on the Queensland Parliamentary E-Petition to stop the duplication of paperwork, time and money in stopping the imposition the Permit To Acquire applications when a person already has a justifiable lawful excuse by already having proved a need to get a licence in that category. We are grateful that it was also distributed by the Shooter Union and the Sporting Shooters magazine at the last time I looked 1680 people had signed the petition, in comparison with most of these formal E-petitions which are unlike the media surveys are very formal this figure is more than most. Still with over 600,000 licensed shooters in Queensland it is a diminutive amount, when we know we have 200 licensed dealers who would each have $200 hundred thousand dollars worth of stock on the wall waiting for the Permits to Acquire before Customers can collect and pay for them.
Please sign this today and encourage your wife, children and friends to sign and encourage their friends to do like wise.
 https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/apps/Epetitions/CurrentEPetition.aspx?PetNum=2339&lIndex=-1

Also we have hundreds of shooting clubs, every firearm owner in the State of Queensland has suffered under this Permit To Acquire system, every club or shop should have a poster on the wall encouraging everyone even if they don’t yet own a firearm to sign this E-petition its cheap and easy to do. Here is a link to the poster.

http://www.foaa.com.au/ammunition-to-send-to-politicans/anti-pta-queensland-parliamentary-e-petition/

We have till the 9^th of February 2015 to turn this 1680 into 16000 we have had so much aggravation from PTAs it should be the biggest Parliamentary E- Petition of all time. 600,000 licenced shooters and their friends and families it should turn into millions of signatories. Any large petition in this political climate will incline a government to make the change, or make the opposition into promising a change, but remember as we have learned from experience “promises’ don’t mean much after an election. We have to judge our politicians on past records.

One of the best ones is David Gibson MP who has put this E-petition up in the Queensland parliament, he has also been of great assistance since he was elected 8 years ago in our 15 year campaign to get the Corella Shooting Complex off the ground. Please give David a tick in the following survey as we want to encourage his to stand for parliament and not have him ‘retire’.

http://www.poll-maker.com/poll184616x487142C1-7?fb_action_ids=986543904696277&fb_action_types=og.shares&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B668716843244347%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.shares%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

MP David Gibson MP & Cr Shane Jocomsen presents Prizes at the Queensland Big Boar Hunting Championships 2014

——————–

Double Dealing Needs Correction, We need the Assistance of All Shooters.

Please read the following carefully as it is a history that has been complicated by local government intention.

The Story So Far.

In the mid 1990s the Local Council evicted the Service Rifle Club from the Victory Range Complex, to make way for a railway line that cut the range block in two. Council then evicted the Small Bore Club from one site on the Victory Range, leaving them un assisted to set up near the Gun Club. Council then wrote to the four remaining shooting clubs informing that they were limiting the leases to short term and that they had to find alternative site before 2008. During this period the Council attempted to remove the Shooting Clubs and use it for a Council Tip, failed, then tried to sell it to a developer for an industrial site, failed and then tried to sell it and the neighbouring stockyards to a housing developer and due to local public criticism failed again.

Council then introduced a provision in the Shooting club leases which allowed the CEO to give 60 days notice to leave there facilities. In 2012 a group of Green/Public Servants within Council and the local DNR (Cooloola Trail Alliance) used their influence to have the CEO of Council to terminate the lease on the Sporting Clays who had a lease on the Victory Range. Then they used Council/Ratepayer grant money to install cycle tracks around the clubs on the Victory Range complex and are pushing to remove the three remaining clubs from the site. Council endorsed the  Ross Planning Gympie Region Track Trails feasibility study which gives the Victory Range Complex and the new Corella site to the Cooloola Track and Trail Alliance, but earlier this year the Minister for National Parks has given an agreement in principle for it to be used for a Shooting complex.

Council Promised The Land To Both Sides.

1360 Shooting enthusiasts signed a petition to support the new Corella Range Complex, over 300 submissions (some from shooting organisation that have thousands of member) went to Council protesting the Councils duplicity. Then with further duplicity Council then engaged the same Ross Planning to do a Feasibility Study on the new Range Complex.     

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”  Henry Ford.

  
On the 10^th December 2014 Gympie Regional Council’s Acting Mayor Cr. Tony Perrett says  on one hand to the Media and the Public.

http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/aiming-for-a-new-facility/2483895/

“Council has today passed an important milestone in securing a clear direction for the future of our region’s shooters.’ The draft study contains several options and highlights associated costs to meet the long term needs of the region’s shooting clubs. ‘This study provides the foundation of an important blue print for the region’s shooting sports,’ Earlier this year the Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing granted Council in-principle support for a consolidated shooting facility in Curra State Forest north of Gympie. The purpose of this study was to satisfy the conditions of the Minister’s support, as well as assisting Council to understand the current situation before any decisions are made. This included determining the feasibility of locating a facility of this nature within the State forest and identifying the most suitable location, having regard to current use, the interests of all stakeholders and any site constraints.
Cr Perrett acknowledged, ‘it is important Council now seek feedback from the wider community in order to fully understand the views on each of the possible options and we welcome the views of all interested parties.”
Download the Range Feasibility Study Here
https://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/documents/40005057/40005560/Curra%20State%20Forest%20Shooting%20Facility%20Draft%20Feasibility%20Study%20and%20Options%20Analysis%20%28Draft%29.pdf

More Duplicity.

You will notice that the History, was not included in the Study and incorrectly works on the basis that Council has no plans to give notice to Quit the Victory Site to the Shooting Clubs, which is contrary to the already endorsed Planning Report from the same Ross Planning Co, they can hardly deny that they did not know of the previous report and its recommendations that gives the site to the Cooloola Track and Trails Alliance.
Besides naming the site incorrectly in the report the Curra Forestry instead of the Corella Forestry the report ignores one of the largest Shooting clubs in our area which for many years has been proactive in trying to establish this Range Complex, the Shooters Union, who have over 170 member in the local area, it also ignores the Cooloola Range Complex Association, (that represents 6 local shooting organisations) 15 years of voluntary work in establishing this site with the government, yet steals and uses 90% of the CRCAs Submissions to Government, the templates and club information to fill up its own pages, this Feasibility study cost the ratepayers $40,000. I would not pay $40. Dollars for it.
Instead of recommend a course of feasible action, it throws five alternatives back to Council with crazy Tattslotto figures of costings designed to put the whole project back in the too hard box. Totally, ignoring the CRCAs suggesting that once the clubs have tenure they can start work raise money and apply for grants and get the job done in the same way they have built the local shooting clubs from nothing fifty years ago to world standard facilities that they have now.

A Billion Dollar Revenue for Council.
No shooters want to move the current facilities, but as the Mayor Ron Dyne has admitted that Council want to sell the Victory Range Site for housing, near the centre of town 4000 housing blocks and the rates on them for eternity is a factor we cannot ignore. Council’s duplicitous charade to remove the shooting clubs without any compensation is the crux of Councils conflicting information. Please help by making personal submissions, or from your shooting organisation submissions to https://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/haveyoursay
Attn: Planning Strategy and Major Projects PO Box 155 Mary Street, Gympie QLD 4570
Email   planningprojects@gympie.qld.gov.au
Feedback received during this period will inform the considered in the preparation of a final report for Council’s consideration early in 2015.
If you need any further information please phone 07 54825070 and ask for Ron.    

Tasco 4x 32 Silver Antler Rifle Scope Thirty years ago we would have paid a $1000. for the same quality of vision and precision, a guaranteed leading optical manufacturer who warranties their products all over the World. They have a light gathering clarity that would have made those old dark Pecar’s appear like looking through a knot hole in fathers wooden leg. What’s more they are Waterproof. In 1970 during a storm in the Victorian mountains I can remember emptying my Pecar like a jug. It had a steel tube but it leaked like a sive.I was so disappointed I hunted Samba for years with open sites as I wanted reliability. I took the low priced option then and will always follow that example, at this price, I could afford to buy a spare one. $50. plus postage
We also have hundreds of others in stock, Just some examples are
Nikko Mountmaster  319×40 $65.20
Phoenix Sports 3-9×40 $85.00
Bushnell Banner 3-9×40 $106.30
Bushnell Trophy 3-9×40 $194.00
Burris                    3-9×40 $168.00
Trophy                  4×32 $44.65
Meopta           3-9×50 $685.00
Zeiss Terra   3-9×42   $612.00
Zeiss Ballistic 3-9×42 $688.50
Bushnell Elite 3-9×40 $390.00
Bushnell Elite Ballistic Reticule  $450.00

We Need Hero’s Like This.

A famous firearm owners President Teddy Roosevelt, said this about the people we need to come to the aid or our sport, our hobby our way of life. 
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Norinco Model 213 ‘Tokargypt’ 9 shot Semi Auto The Model 213 original basis was designed by John Moses Browning, the world famous firearm designer. In the late 1920s the Colt /Browning mechanism was redesigned by Russian, Feoder Tokerev, simplified for mass production and chambered in the powerful 7.62×25. It used the Mod 1911 swinging link, short recoil system. To enable easy maintenance the hammer and lock mechanism can be removed as a single assemble. To improve the Browning feed system the ammunition feed lips are machined into the frame rather than relying on pressed tin. Which on a battlefield where magazines lips do not get the best attention is a great advantage in reliability and makes the magazines cheaper to produce. It was an extremely tough, reliable and powerful pistol and was later modified by Hungary for export to Egypt this was known as the Tokagypt. The pistol differs from the Tokarev in being chambered for the 9mm Parabellum, and a fitted safety catch ,WHICH IS USELESS, and should be thrown away as they have a very reliable half cock safety.

TIKKA.
 

The Tikka T3 Lite has an all-black stock and a blued barrel. The light but sturdy T3 True Body   fibre glass reinforced polymer stock is pure Sako innovation. The straight stock combines high   performance with light weight ease. Positive checkering provides for comfort and firm grip in all  weather conditions.  In most calibres $985. Tikka Hunters, or Stainless models are more  expensive. Plus post.

For the latest Design features  and accuracy Thompson/Centre Venture have won a huge reputation, they guarantee to shoot within 1 inch moa.  We have these in most calibres but unfortunately when we replace this stock the new price will shock everyone. $695. while they last.

Armed Under & Over 12 gauge $775.

Remington Model 7600 Pump Action .308 w 22 inch barrel. $1350.  Any Inquiries on any products phone 07 54824099 or 07 54825070 or email owenguns@spiderweb.com.au

 Any Inquiries on any products phone 07 54824099 or 07 54825070 or email owenguns@spiderweb.com.au

Gun Books Make Great Presents, Are Easy To Post and with years of use and enjoyment. Our Best Selling Book is Australian written and produced with the Australian Shooting conditions in mind “The Range Officer Handbook” pay by Pay Pal see Bulletin Special Announcement Page CLICK HERE As already purchased by members of all Shooting Organisations. Some have even bought two copies one for home and one to take to the club. See Book Reviews by Nick Harvey in Sporting Shooters and Guns Australia in our new Gun Book Category.

“It’s a week since I received a copy of “Range Officers Hand Book” and since that time I am nearly at the half way mark. I’m amazed at the at the number of subjects you have covered making it one of the most informative books to be added to my collection. It must have taken you a considerable amount of time and experience to publish the book with information not available in other popular Gunsmith manuals. I would recommend the book to “Range Officers” and anyone interested in the sport of target shooting and hunting.” Regards Gene M Cornford P.O.Box 288, Kaeo 0448 N.Z. Firearms Gunsmith, Dip M.G.S +Member of American Gunsmithing Assoc. The Range Officers Handbook is an encyclopaedia or omnibus of firearms and ammunition and the use of them, it has:- • 90 pages of Information for Range Officers, • 239 pages on Coaching to Win, • 110 pages on Air Rifle History &Training, • 33 pages on hitting Clay Targets, • 34 pages on Reloading Ammunition, • 6 page of Contents, • 18 pages of Index, • 38 pages of Old into New, ( Chronological History of Firearms) • 23 pages of Glossary of Terminology on Firearms and Optics • Over 1000 drawings and photographs. • Over 530 pages in a A4 stitched colour hardback., Some, hopefully will read it cover to cover, others will pick a heading out of the Contents pages and read a chapter or two, but no matter how much you know about shooting, reference material is always needed, as even people who rate as genius cannot retain everything. The real ability is being able to find out quickly and easily. You can check that you have the correct terminology, in the Glossary, check the Index and go straight to the right page. This book can be used as an information tool for a lifetime of shooting. $75        Signed by the author (state who you would like it dedicated to) plus $10 postage Australia wide. The Range Officers Handbook pay by Pay Pal see Bulletin Special Announcement Page Click Here        Any Inquiries on any products phone 07 54824099 or 07 54825070 or email owenguns@spiderweb.com.au

 If you want to order by mail Phone 07 54825070 have your card detail handy. To subscribe to this newsletter add your email address to the Newsletter sign up field in the right menu column.
FREE FOR ELECTRONIC DOWNLOAD Here is a free Christmas Present a Free book, Download this Book the ‘US Army Pistol Trials 1907. http://www.forgottenweapons.com/wp-content/uploads/manuals/1907pistoltrials.pdf To get more free books from Owen Guns go to Owen Guns Facebook http://www.facebook.com/OwenGunsCLICK the ‘LIKE’ button, in the top centre of the page, or the site will not interact with you. Then you can add, articles, web pages, video’s, photos etc.

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