STEPHEN CAMP - BERSA 380 acp & MORE

UPDATED SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2008

NEW YORKER: NEW COVERT OPS INSIDE IRAN

With mother Stanley Ann Dunham. In his own autobiography Obama writes, 'How and when the marriage occurred remains a bit murky, a bill of particulars that I have never quite had the courage to explore.' (His father was still married to his first wife Kezia in Kenya at the time.)

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ELECTION 2008
WorldNetDaily

Bill Clinton: Obama
has to 'kiss my *&%!'

Former president's rage still so great
even loyal allies shocked by attitude
--WND

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Top US commander briefed on IDF’s four-front strategy in potential Iran war context

June 29, 2008, 9:08 AM (GMT+02:00)

Top US commander Adm. Michael Mullen sees for himself

The visiting Chairman of the US Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen, carried out a guided tour of Israel’s borders with Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip over the weekend. It was led by the IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and OCs Northern and Southern Commands, Maj. Gens. Eisenkott and Galant.

He was briefed on IDF tactics in a war on all these potential flashpoints in the context of a comprehensive conflict with Iran and then held long conversations with defense minister Ehud Barak and Ashkenazi.

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that it is very unusual for the top American commander to carry out a close, on-the-spot study of Israel’s potential war fronts. It was prompted on the one hand by skepticism in parts of the US high command of Israel’s ability to simultaneously strike Iran’s nuclear installations and fight off attacks from three borders while, at the same time, Adm. Mullen showed he was open to persuasion that the IDF’s prospective tactics and war plans were workable.

Military circles in Washington, commenting on the large-scale air maneuver Israel carried out with Greece earlier in June, have opined that 100 warplanes are not enough for the Israel Air Force to destroy all of Iran’s secret nuclear sites; more than 1,000 would be needed. Israel military tacticians in contact with US commanders have countered that, while Iran’s secret nuclear locations are scattered and buried deep, still, every chain has weak links and is therefore vulnerable.

The tough threats issued by Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Mohamed Ali Jafari on Saturday, June 28, were prompted by the Adm. Mullen’s Israeli border tour, word of which was flashed to Tehran by Syrian-Iranian observation posts inside Syrian and Lebanese borders.

(The Sunday Times added that Iran moved its ballistic Shihab-3 missiles into launch positions, with Israel’s Dimona nuclear plant among its possible targets.)

Saturday, DEBKAfile reported:

The IRGC chief, Mohammad Ali Jafari issued Tehran’s toughest and most explicit threats yet in response to recent reports of Israeli preparations to strike Iran’s nuclear installations.

Hinting at an American attack, he said: “If there is a confrontation between us and the enemy from outside the region , definitely the scope will reach the oil issue.”

After this action (of imposing controls on the Gulf waterway), the oil price will rise very considerably,” he said.

Speaking to the Iranian newspaper Jam-e Jam, Jafari differentiated between Iran’s responses to possible American and Israeli attacks.

The oil weapon would be applied in reprisal for the former – “and this is among the factors deterring enemies”, he said, while “Israelis know if they take military action against Iran… the abilities of the Islamic and Shiite world, especially in the region, will deliver fatal blows.”

Jafari noted that Israel was in range of Iranian missiles.

He said Iran’s “allies in the region” could also retaliate, referring to those living in “Lebanon’s heartland of South Lebanon,” without naming Hizballah.

US forces were “more vulnerable than the Israelis” because of their troops in the region. “Iran can in different ways harm American interests, even far away,”

Jafar warned Iran’s neighbors not to let their territory be used.

“If the attack takes place from the soil of another country ... the country attacked has the right to respond to the enemy's military action from where the operation started," he said.

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Bersa Thunder .380 with Corbon 80-gr. DPX Ammunition

By Stephen Camp

The .380 ACP continues to fill pockets or holsters among private citizens lawfully carrying during the turbulent crime-filled times in which we live. Though "ballistically challenged" when compared to the delivery of full-power 9x19mm or even .40 S&W in similar size handguns, the 9mm Short still has a fairly significant cadre within the shooting community. If not a primary weapon, it is frequently on duty as a back up gun or "BUG".

I suspect that it remains a popular handgun because at .380 ACP pressures, the pistols chambered for it are straight blow back. The combination of forces from the recoil and mainspring must be overcome by momentum imparted to the slide when the weapon is fired, and the bullet and gases begin forcing their way out the barrel. There is no other mechanical locking system as on more powerful weapons such as the 9mm, .38 Super, or .45 ACP. This makes it possible to produce and sell 380-caliber pistols a bit cheaper than for an equivalent quality 9mm.

Anyway, the little things are still popular, but some see a problem with the 9x17mm, a.k.a. .380 ACP, and that is expansion versus penetration. Folks fearing too little penetration to reach the vitals from any angle at which the body might be struck, use FMJ. They get penetration, but at the cost of expansion. It is generally accepted that traditional 95-gr. FMJ @ 950 ft/sec or so yields about 14 to 16" in 10% ballistic gelatin. This exceeds the 12" minimum set forth by the FBI for effective handgun penetration. The problem is that tissue collapses on what is already a small wound channel. If shots are accurately delivered, the 380 ball might very well suffice, but it is also generally accepted that the cartridge is not a ballistic powerhouse compared to many other defensive rounds.

On the other side of the issue, we find people who use frangible rounds. These can vary from pre-fragmented loads such as the Glaser Safety Slug to other exotics designed to either completely disintegrate within the target to JHP bullets, which expand and tear a wider permanent wound cavity. The problem is that when these bullets expand, penetration is frequently in the 7 to 9" range…and this bothers some people.

Evidently, the good folks at Corbon were listening and have completed work on their .380 DPX. This standard pressure load uses a solid copper alloy bullet with a large hollow cavity. It has been tweaked by Corbon to provide both expansion and still meet the FBI's 12" minimum. The term "DPX" means Deep Penetrating X-bullet; the bullet is made by Barnes of rifle X-bullet fame.

Here we see the 80-gr. Corbon DPX flanked by Federal 90-gr. JHP (left) and the same company's 95-gr. FMJ (right). FMJ is considered the most reliable ammunition in some semiautomatics and hollow points having a rounded ogive that mimics ball can aid in reliable feeding. The Federal Classic JHP shown is such a round, but notice that the DPX is also shaped such that in most guns, it should feed without problems. Always test any defense gun with ammo to be used for "serious purposes." The DPX round has a LOA of 0.949".

It is well known that bullets with sharp edges can dig into aluminum frames if the magazine doesn't position them at an upward angle. The Bersa had no problems with the Corbon DPX. There was no gouging of the frame that constitutes the lower portion of the gun's feedway. This can be as much a function of magazine as ammunition shape, but with two separate magazines, this Bersa suffered no dings or gouges from 40 shots using this new ammunition. For those interested the hollow point measures 0.169" wide at the mouth and 0.206" deep.

I opted to test this ammunition using the Bersa Thunder .380 ACP pistol. The gun is completely stock. It was chosen because it seems to be an up-and-coming favorite for people opting for its caliber and can usually be had at around $200.00. In my limited experience with the gun, it is well worth the tariff and apparently others feel the same way. I also picked it as this gun has the shortest barrel length of my very limited .380 collection. The motivation for this is to test the Corbon ammunition at the lower end of the velocity envelope with what I had access to. My particular Bersa usually runs about 30 to 50 ft/sec slower than my Walther PP or FEG PMK 380 handgun.

The only pistol used in these informal tests was this bone stock Bersa Thunder. Two factory magazines were used and both worked fine.

Shooting: The pistol was shot for function and groups at two distances. At 10-yards, the gun was first fired with Winchester 95-gr. FMJ to establish POI vs. POA. Five rounds of the 80-gr. DPX were then fired at the same target.

These groups were fired using a two-hand hold from a standing position at ten yards. Holes that are circled were made with DPX. The Winchester 95-gr. ball made those that are marked with straight lines. At this distance, it is apparent that with this gun, the two loads' points of impacts overlap. Each group consists of 5 shots.

This 5-shot group was fired at 15 yards using a two-hand hold and a rest. It was fired from a seated position. It is evident that the DPX load groups plenty well, striking just a tiny bit high for a dead-on sight picture. Most would agree that this is plenty close enough for the purpose that this ammunition is intended.

Ten rounds were chronographed. They were fired 10' from the chronograph screens and figures obtained are listed below:

Low Velocity (ft/sec): 1055

High Velocity: 1084

Average Velocity: 1067

Extreme Spread: 28

Std. Deviation: 9

I do have neither the money nor the temperature-controlled setting to use 10% ballistic gelatin. For that reason, I used two other mediums. These were water and "wet pack". The latter was plain newsprint that was soaked for 24 hours until super-saturated and allowed to drain for 30 minutes before firing. Both of these will stop bullets more rapidly than the gold standard gelatin, but some inferences can be made, I think.

Here are two .380 ACP 80-gr. DPX bullets that were fired from the Bersa. The one on the left was fired into water. The one on the right impacted the soaked newsprint. Expanded diameters are quite similar, but the one fired into the wet pack is slightly smaller. This appears not to be due to less expansion, but because of the denser medium forcing the petals slightly more rearward. Notice each of the expanded bullets has not attempted to turn nearly inside out, as can some rapid expanders. I believe that this aids in the bullet's penetration capabilities. The bullet that impacted water measures 0.724 x 0.734 x 0.354" tall and weighs 79.9 grains. The DPX that was fired into the wet pack measures 0.708 x 0.715 x 0.332" tall and weighs 80 grains. This is very consistent performance, something for which DPX bullets are noted.

Some other ammunition was fired into the wet pack as well for purposes of comparison. Penetration depths are listed below. The wet pack was 10" thick.

Winchester 95-gr. FMJ: 10" + (It completely penetrated the stack and went into the ground.)

Federal 90-gr. JHP: 5 3/4"

Corbon 80-gr. DPX: 5"

Remington 102-gr. Golden Saber: 4 "

Corbon 90-gr. JHP +P*: 4"

Remington 88-gr. JHP: 3 1/2"

*The Corbon .380 JHP currently sold is not rated +P. This is some older Corbon that I had on hand and it clearly is so marked, both on the 50-round box and on the cartridge case. Chronographed against newer 90-gr. Corbon JHP, I find no difference in chronographed speeds from the Bersa. I have no hard facts on why the earlier ammunition was given the +P rating.

I am going to go out on a limb here and anticipate that the DPX will penetrate approximately 12" of calibrated 10% ballistic gelatin. Note that the Federal 90-gr. Classic JHP penetrated a bit deeper. Checking the works of several researchers, I found that this expanding bullet often penetrated roughly 14" of ballistic gelatin. I think that part of this can be found in the bullet's inconsistent expansion, at least from the Bersa. That load only averages 969 ft/sec from my Bersa while it gets 1033 ft/sec from my FEG. I like the load, but I never got two to expand quite the same, regardless of the test medium …when using the Bersa.

On the left is the Federal Classic 90-gr. JHP. This is a standard pressure load that has been around for years. Averaging about 969 ft/sec from my Bersa, the expansion was irregular and erratic. No two recovered bullets were the same. Often, expansion was not nearly to this degree. On the right is Corbon's 90-gr. JHP +P. It expanded consistently in the wet pack and usually shed its jacket. The DPX cannot shed its jacket, as there is none. From the Bersa, the Corbon averaged 1050 ft/sec on the nose.

Of the ammunition fired in my informal tests, the most consistent was the Corbon 80-gr. DPX and Remington's 102-gr. Golden Saber. The lighter DPX did penetrate deeper. In ballistic gelatin, the heavier Golden Saber usually penetrates between 9 and 10 inches. The 1" deeper penetration in the same medium by the DPX probably means it will get another couple of inches in the gelatin tissue simulant. Time will tell. From my gun, the 102-gr. bullet averages 855 ft/sec. I was disappointed not to have any Hornady XTP ammunition in my meager stash of .380 ACP ammunition. It would probably give it a good run for the money with regard to penetration, but normally does not reach nearly the same expanded diameter. The XTP usually goes to about 1.5 times its original diameter. I like the XTP quite a lot, but I do think that the DPX is probably going to do a bit more damage.

From the Bersa, this load was accurate and reliable. Note that Corbon lists its velocity at 1050 ft/sec. Even the lowest measured velocity exceeded it by 5 ft/sec. It has been my experience that Corbon ammunition almost always exceeds nominal listed speeds.

Observations: Corbon DPX ran smoothly through the Bersa with no hesitation whatsoever. It did not ding or gouge the frame portion of the feed ramp and ejection was positive and fairly uniform. Edges of the fired primers were rounded and there were no overt signs of high pressure. Though only forty shots were fired in today's testing, the ammunition seemed quite reliable with the two magazines used.

I noted no unusual problems in cleaning the gun's bore, something I have not been able to say when using Barnes X-bullets in certain rifles. At normal handgun speeds I do not think this will present any concerns whatsoever.

Frankly, I was surprised to see that this light 80-gr. bullet penetrated as much as it did. I expected about 3 1/2 to 4" penetration. Perhaps the spaces between the sharp, stiff "petals" enhance its ability to drive deeper while still causing a wider permanent wound channel that ball for sure and many hollow points in this caliber. I think the fact that the expanded bullet doesn't flatten out might help in this regard as well. Whatever the reasons are, the ammunition penetrated better than I expected. Hopefully, those with more sophisticated testing methods will be reporting soon. If their results show that the .380 DPX gets 12" or more penetration, I'd probably go with this load over any other in this caliber.

Sounds like the "magic bullet" thing doesn't it? Nope! I don't think the .380 can be made into a "stomper" caliber that can compete toe-to-toe with considerably more potent rounds, but I absolutely do believe that this load enhances its ballistic capability. To my layman mind, it appears that trying to use the "best" ammunition one can in a given caliber is a good thing, but rather than trying to make that caliber something it is not, accept its limitations, but learn to use it quickly and accurately.

The results are nowhere near in as this is being written, but I am hoping that Corbon's DPX can be shown by serious researchers as capable of both sufficient penetration as well as expansion. Were I going to carry a .380 for serious purposes today, it would be loaded with DPX…assuming reliability.

I think Corbon's entire line of DPX ammunition is going to prove itself very fine performers and suspect strongly that this latest addition will not disappoint.

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards chief threatens to hit US, Israel, block Persian Gulf if attacked

June 28, 2008, 1:53 PM (GMT+02:00)

IRGC chief Mohammad Ali Jafari

DEBKAfile reports: The Guards commander, Mohammad Ali Jafari issued Tehran’s toughest and most explicit threats yet in response to recent reports of Israeli preparations to strike Iran’s nuclear installations.

This week the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullent and Chief Naval Operations chief, Adm. Gary Roughead were in Israel to discuss coordination on the Iran front.

Hinting at an American attack, Jafari said: “If there is a confrontation between us and the enemy from outside the region , definitely the scope will reach the oil issue,” said the IRGC commander to the Iranian Jam-e Jam newspaper.

After this action (of imposing controls on the Gulf waterway), the oil price will rise very considerably,” he said. The Iranian general’s words may push rocketing oil prices even past the current $143 record per barrel, energy experts calculate.

Jafari clearly differentiated between Iran’s responses to possible American and Israeli attacks. The oil weapon would be applied against the former – “and this is among the factors deterring enemies,” he said.

“Israelis know if they take military action against Iran… the abilities of the Islamic and Shiite world, especially in the region, will deliver fatal blows.” He noted that Israel was in range of Iranian missiles.

He said Iran’s “allies in the region” could also retaliate, referring to those living in “Lebanon’s heartland of South Lebanon,” without naming Hizballah.

US forces were “more vulnerable than the Israelis” because of their troops in the region. “Iran can in different ways harm American interests, even far away.”

Jafari warned Iran’s neighbors not to let their territory be used.

“If the attack takes place from the soil of another country ... the country attacked has the right to respond to the enemy's military action from where the operation started," he said.

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Invading troops in Holland in 1940 immediately nail up posters annoucing a ban on all firearms.
From Die Deutsche Wochenschau, May 15, 1940.

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Closeup of the Holland poster banning guns. Citizens had 24 hours to surrender all firearms to the Nazis or face the death penalty. Printed in German on the left and Flemish on the right. For translation, see sidebar. From Die Deutsche Wochenschau, May 15, 1940.

Regulations on Arms Possession in the Occupied Zone 1. All firearms and ammunition, hand grenades, explosive devices and other war materiel are to be surrendered. .....The delivery must take place within 24 hours at the nearest German military administrative headquarters or garrison, provided that other special arrangements have not been made. The mayors (heads of the district councils) must accept full responsibility for complete implementation. Commanding officers are authorized to approve exceptions.

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Barack's father, Muslim, hard-drinker, was married three times, attended Harvard and returned to Kenya. Obama claims he was an atheist, but he was raised Muslim and was given a Muslim burial at Barack's family's request.

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IT'S MY PARTY, I'll CRY IF I WANT TO

TIME TO PREPARE OR YOU LOSE

UPDATED - FRIDAY - JUNE 27, 2008

WEAPONS OF CHOICE
WorldNetDaily
NRA's next target:
Re-arming Chicago
2nd Amendment lawsuits
take aim at firearms limits
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Nuclear missiles could blow up 'like popcorn'

By Duncan Gardham, Security Correspondent

Last Updated: 7:02AM BST 26/06/2008

A design flaw in Britain's nuclear arsenal means that warheads could set off a chain reaction "like popcorn" if they were accidentally dropped, according to Ministry of Defence documents.

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The New York Times reported last week that those companies, Chevron, Total and some smaller companies were set to receive no-bid contracts from Iraq's Oil Ministry. According to the paper, such deals "are unusual for the industry," and the companies prevailed over more than 40 others, including some from Russia, China and India.

In March 2001, two years before Iraq was invaded, Cheney met with top executives from Exxon Mobil Corp., Shell Oil Co., BP America Inc. and others on his infamous secret Energy Task Force.

Kucinich seemed to accuse participants in that meeting of plotting the invasion of Iraq. There's no indication that the participants discussed military action, although documents later released showed they did eye Iraq's oil fields.

The White House convinced the Supreme Court to let it keep secret the proceeding's of Cheney's task force, although the Washington Post later revealed most of its activities.

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THE FORGOTTEN WAR

TROOP DEATH TOLL IN AFGHANISTAN HIGHEST SINCE WAR BEGAN

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Isaiah Chapter 17

א מַשָּׂא, דַּמָּשֶׂק: הִנֵּה דַמֶּשֶׂק מוּסָר מֵעִיר, וְהָיְתָה מְעִי מַפָּלָה.

1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

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'Muslim countries vying for influence, expecting Israel to give up holy site'

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Posted: June 25, 2008
9:39 pm Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2008 WorldNetDaily

Temple Mount

JERUSALEM – A number of Arab states quietly have sent intelligence agents to infiltrate the Temple Mount to determine how they can obtain more influence over Judaism's holiest site, informed security sources told WND.

"It's possible in the coming two years a deal will be made that transfers the Temple Mount out from Israeli hands," said a security source. "The Arab countries are vying for influence, since they think controlling the site means big prestige in the Muslim world."

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Alaska’s Gull Island Oil Fields Could Power U.S. for 200 Years

By Mark Anderson

“Crude oil is the real ‘currency’ of the world,” said Lindsey Williams at a gathering of the Midwest Concerned Citizens group in Kansas City on July 22. But Americans will never hear about huge oil and gas reserves in the United States, which, if ever tapped, would bring today’s fuel prices at least as low as $1.50 per gallon and make America more energy independent.

As a Baptist missionary in the 1970s, Williams said he rubbed elbows with members of the world’s power elite—who boasted of detailed 30-year and 50-year plans to control the flow of oil and information.

A huge quantity of crude oil and natural gas exists under Gull Island, located in the waters of Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, says Williams. He cited key British Petroleum memoranda and related the statements of upper echelon oil officials who told him that Gull Island would be kept under wraps, limiting domestic supplies so Americans would someday see prices hit up to $10 a gallon at the pump.

“Every issue in the world today relates to crude oil,” said Williams. The U.S. occupation of Iraq and the saber rattling about attacking Iran fit into the crude oil matrix.

Iran is being targeted because it’s one of several countries that want to use their own currencies for oil sales, rather than using the U.S. dollar. Williams told AFP that any country that doesn’t want to “play ball” with the U.S. government and the financial and oil interests is, in essence, put on a hit list.

The United States, he said, learned that Iran intended to form its own bourse and not use the dollar for oil sales. Therefore, the notion that Iran is a menacing “almost-nuclear” country was trumped up, presented as fact via the corporate media and Iran is now in the crosshairs.

Other nations wanting more independence from U.S. meddling include Norway, Venezuela, Nigeria, Bolivia, Sweden and Russia.

The 30-year plan, which was first proposed three decades ago and is nearing fruition, included smug assurances from oil officials that the United States will triple its crude-oil usage and alternative fuels will not be allowed to gain enough ground to make a difference. They also noted that all foreign oil production will be scaled back to the United States and that Americans soon will pay $4 to $5 a gallon at the pump and could pay as much as $7 to $10 down the road.

In the early 1960s crude oil was selected as a tool of world control, Williams said, adding, “What we pay at the gas pump is a form of taxation.” The American consumer’s dependence on crude oil thus far has enabled people from foreign oil-producing nations to buy T-bills (U.S. treasury notes) in order to support the U.S. national debt and continued deficit spending. The need to support that debt puts the U.S. government in a bind, forcing Americans to remain dependent on foreign oil.

Williams, as a chaplain in 1970 when the trans-Alaskan oil pipeline was finished, ministered among the pipeline workers. However, as time passed he made a favorable impression with the top brass and was asked to improve worker-company relations. Next thing he knew, he said he was sitting at meetings of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and various meetings of oil executives over a three-year period.

He told AFP that the IMF-World Bank acts as a middleman between oil producing nations and refineries. In so doing, they set oil prices, he said.

The big event in that three-year period was in 1977 when an Atlantic Richfield oil executive told him, “We have just drilled into the largest pool of oil in North America—[and] in the world!”

That pool was Gull Island. It was said that there was enough natural gas to supply America for 200 years. But to this day, “not one drop” of that oil has been released to American refineries, Williams said.

Williams said the executive had warned him that the Gull Island find was highly classified. Do not repeat any of this, he was told. Obviously, that warning did not stop him.

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PEOPLE IN LA LIVING IN CARS

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Having lost her job and her three-bedroom house, Darlene Knoll has joined the legions of downwardly mobile who are four wheels away from homelessness. She is living out of her shabby 1978 RV, and every night she has to look for a place to park where she won't get hassled by the cops or insulted by residents. "I'm not a piece of trash," the former home health-care aide said as she stroked one of five dogs in her cramped quarters parked in the waterfront community of Marina del Rey. Amid the foreclosure crisis and the shaky economy, some California cities are seeing an increase in the number of people living out of their cars, vans or RVs. Acting on complaints from homeowners, the Los Angeles City Council got tough earlier this year by forbidding nearly all overnight parking in residential neighborhoods such as South Brentwood. But some people are just crowding into other parts of the city, including the seaside community of Venice, where dozens of rusty, dilapidated campers can be seen lined up outside neat single-family homes. The stench of urine emanates from a few of the vehicles, and some residents say they have seen human waste left behind.

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Exclusive: Syrians and UN nuclear inspectors play hide and seek

June 26, 2008, 11:10 AM (GMT+02:00)

Olli Heinonen led nuclear watchdog inspection in Syria

DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources report that the three-man International Atomic Energy Agency team which inspected the El Kibar site bombed by Israel last September, returned to Vienna Wednesday, June 25, with soil and building materials samples gathered secretly without Syrian knowledge. From the Syrians they received different samples said to have been collected at a site which they insisted was a military facility under construction.

During their four days in the country, Olli Heinonen, IAEA deputy director and leading negotiator with the Iranian authorities, and his team interviewed Syrian army officers and men presented by Damascus as having been employed at the facility. They denied it was a nuclear reactor and possessing nuclear credentials themselves. But, according to DEBKAfile’s intelligence sources, the inspectors countered with their own list of officers, scientists and technicians – not only Syrians, but also Iranians and North Koreans employed in building the facility.

The Syrian side denied this and refused the inspectors permission to interview people on their list.

Last week, British, German and Israeli publications released new information from Israeli intelligence sources according to which the El Kibar reactor was intended to be a component of Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s use of plutonium in its weapons projects was to be concealed by having it produced in Syria.

Wednesday, June 25, the London daily, the Guardian, quoted an adviser to Israel's national security council as saying: "The Iranians were involved in the Syrian programme. The idea was that the Syrians produce plutonium and the Iranians get their share. Syria had no reprocessing facility for the spent fuel. It's not deduction alone that brings almost everyone to think that the link exists" – implying that Israel had evidence.

DEBKAfile adds: War tensions between Israel and Iran have shot up in the last few days on the strength of reported Israeli preparations for an attack on Iran’s nuclear installations. By linking Syria’s destroyed reactor to Iran’s nuclear program, Israeli officials were saying in effect that the attack on an Iranian nuclear installation had already taken place …in Syria.

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WELCOME TO THE NO BS ZONE OF TEDDY JACOBSON

Joy Of Being 'Liberated'

I am going to try again and make this appeal to you to start to hoard what you need in order to survive the coming onslaught of FAMINE, DROUGHT, POSSIBLE IMPLODING OF OUR COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD, DETERIORATION OF OUR WATER SUPPLIES, ETC, ETC, there is no end to what I see.

Go to www.ismi-gunsprings.com
The owners name is MARC COSAT and he specializes in Chrome Silicon Springs for Firearms. His toll free number is 800 773 1940

He has at this point in time the following springs for sale;

SW "J" FRAME HAMMER SPRINGS
SW "J" FRAME REBOUND SLIDE SPRINGS

BERETTA RECOIL SPRINGS - 14 & 16 lbs (13 lbs is factory standard)

AR15 MAGAZINE SPRINGS - 30 & 40 ROUND SPRINGS AVAILABLE

HK P7 RECOIL SPRINGS - 22 lb rating (21 lb. is factory standard)

HE ALSO HAS WIDE SELECTION OF GLOCK RECOIL SPRINGS.

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YOU MUST GET A FOX 40 OR A STORM WHISTLE FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER. YOU CAN BUY THEM FROM www.amazon.com
OR YOU CAN DO A SEARCH ON GOOGLE FOR THEM, DO IT NOW. IF YOU BECOME STRANDED, YOU CAN ONLY YELL FOR HELP FOR A FEW MINUTES AND NO ONE WILL HEAR YOU, THESE WHISTLES HAVE A DECIBEL RATING OF ABOUT 120.

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YOU MUST GET A WATER FILTER FOR YOUR FAMILY. IF YOUR WATER BECOMES CONTAMINATED YOU WILL DIE. I LIKE ANY OF THE "KATADYNE" WATER FILTERS. BUY AN EXTRA FILTER CARTRIDGE. YOU CAN BUY A DECENT WATER FILTER FOR ABOUT $65.00 OR THE HIGHER YOU GO JUST GIVES YOU A MORE IMPROVED WATER FILTER ELEMENT. THESE CAN BE BOUGHT THROUGH AMAZON.COM OR www.rei.com
YOU MUST HAVE CLEAN WATER FOR YOUR PETS. DO IT NOW.

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IF YOU DO NOT OWN A GUN YOU CAN BUY SOME MACE PEPPER SPRAY "GEL" FORMULA. THIS HAS A UV DYE IN IT AND DO NOT EVER BUY JUST THE LIQUID AS IT WILL COME BACK IN YOUR FACE IN A WIND WHEN USED OUTDOORS. THIS IS A MUST FOR ALL WOMEN. TO LOCATE THIS PRODUCT DO A SEARCH ON GOOGLE. DO IT NOW, A LARGE CAN RUNS ABOUT $13.00

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YOU MUST HAVE KNIVES AND MY FAVORITE KNIVES ARE COLD STEEL AND BENCHMADE AND KERSHAW IS GOOD BUT THE STEEL YOU BUY IS CRITICAL. D2 AND 154CM STEEL WILL HOLD A GOOD EDGE. ITS HARDER TO OPEN MANY COLD STEEL KNIVES BUT THEY ARE RAZOR SHARP AND ARE VERY GOOD FOR THE MONEY. SPYDERCO IS ANOTHER GOOD KNIFE AND SOME COMPANIES ARE USING SV30 STEEL WHICH HOLDS A SUPERIOR EDGE. YOU WILL NEED MORE THAN ONE KNIFE. I SUGGEST YOU BUY A DIAMOND TWO INCH BY SIX INCH PLATE THAT YOU CAN SHARPEN YOUR KNIVES IN MEDIUM GRIT.

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ALL OF YOU SHOULD HAVE "ANTI RADIATION TABLETS" ALSO CALLED POTASSIUM IODIDE. THIS WILL ONLY COVER YOU FOR ONE TYPE OF RADIATION POISONING BUT ITS A START. YOU CAN BUY THIS PRODUCT FROM www.ki4u.com
THIS PRODUCT IN SMALL DOSES CAN ALSO BE GIVEN TO PETS.

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AMMUNITION PRICES ARE SKY HIGH AND THEY ARE GOING TO GET MUCH HIGHER. THE LONGER YOU WAIT, IT WILL BE TOO LATE. IN MY OPINION ITS BETTER TO HAVE A CREDIT CARD BILL AND GET WHAT YOU NEED NOW BEFORE ITS TOO LATE. A BOX OF TOP OF THE LINE FEDERAL CARTRIDGES IN 45 ACP IS $35.00 FOR 50 ROUNDS AND CLIMBING.

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I SUGGEST THAT THOSE THAT USE HIGH CAPACITY HANDGUNS AND RIFLES GET SOME EXTRA MAGAZINES NOW IF YOU CAN EVEN FIND THEM. WHEN YOU GET YOUR NEXT PRESIDENT ELIMINATING THIS PRODUCT MAY BE AT THE VERY TOP OF HIS AGENDA.

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IT IS CERTAINLY WORTH WHILE TO INVEST IN RELOADING EQUIPMENT, I AM TALKING ABOUT JUST THE BASICS AND NOTHING FANCY. ALL YOU NEED IS A SINGLE STAGE PRESS AND A MECHANICAL SCALE AND A SET OF DIES FOR WHAT EVER CALIBER YOU WANT PLUS THE SHELL HOLDER. SOME PEOPLE MAY WANT A POWDER MEASURE. DO NOT BUY ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES AS AN "EMP" DEVICE WILL PUT YOU OUT OF BUSINESS.

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BUYING RELOADING EQUIPMENT DOES NOT END THEIR BECAUSE YOU WILL NEED CASES AND ESPECIALLY PRIMERS WHICH COME IN FOUR BASIC SIZES AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE MAGNUM PRIMERS FOR HARD TO IGNITE POWDER. A POUND OF POWDER HAS 7000 GRAINS AND FROM THERE YOU CAN FIGURE OUT HOW MANY ROUNDS OF A PARTICULAR LOAD YOU CAN MAKE WITH EACH POUND.
YOU WILL NEED AT LEAST 3 RELOADING MANUALS WITH CURRENT DATA.

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FLASH LIGHTS - VERY IMPORTANT - THE BEST FLASH LIGHTS FOR THE MONEY ARE DEBATE ABLE. IF YOU NEED JUST A GENERAL FLASHLIGHT THEN A STREAMLIGHT PRODUCT WILL WORK FINE. SUGGEST YOU BUY LED BULBS. IF YOU WANT A STROBE TYPE FLASH LIGHT TO IMMOBILIZE AN ATTACKER YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES EITHER A HIGH DOLLAR BLACKHAWK "GLADIUS" AT ABOUT $200.00 OR YOU CAN GET A VERY SUPERIOR "FENIX" FLASH LIGHT FOR ABOUT $70.00 THEIR NEW "CREE" BULB IS EXCELLENT.
ANY QUESTIONS EMAIL ME.

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YOU MUST HAVE PROPER FIREARMS AND CLEANING PRODUCTS. I WILL NOT GO INTO ANY DETAIL, BUT BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING YOU MUST ASK ONE QUESTION AND THAT IS CAN I GET PARTS AND SPRINGS FOR THE FIREARM THAT I AM ABOUT TO PURCHASE. IF THE ANSWER IS NO - THEN DO NOT BUY THAT MODEL OR BRAND.

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YOU MUST ALL HAVE YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL DISASTER BAG WHICH WILL CONTAIN EXTRA EYE GLASSES AND CLOTHING AND MEDICATION. I SUGGEST YOU BUY PRODUCTS TO STOP BLEEDING, THESE ARE AVAILABLE. I WOULD KEEP A WIND UP WEATHER RADIO AND A SET OF WALKIE TALKIES IN THERE ALSO. ANYTHING YOU MIGHT NEED FOR AN EMERGENCY. SOME PEOPLE EVEN KEEP NIGHT VISION OPTICS OR THE NEW SONY DIGITAL NIGHT VISION WHICH IS NOT THAT EXPENSIVE. WATER PURIFICATION TABLETS. BAND AIDS OF ALL KINDS AND HAVE SOME OVER THE COUNTER ASPIRIN OR TYLENOL, ETC.

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MUST READ THIS
http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?search=is+california+cursed

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Chaos Erupts As Storm Victims Try To Get Food Stamps

Dozens Wait For Hours Outside Offices

POSTED: 4:20 pm EDT June 20, 2008

UPDATED: 6:32 pm EDT June 20,

-- Chaos erupted outside Family and Social Services Administration offices in Indianapolis Friday as storm victims lined up to receive emergency food stamps.The state has been giving out the stamps for the last six days, but police were called to some offices Friday as people waited in line for hours, Call 6's Rafael Sanchez reported.The FSSA office at 4720 Keystone Avenue was overwhelmed by demand, and several people got confrontational. Lines began forming as early as 5 a.m.

"I was seriously affected by the storm. I lost everything, and I'm listening to people in line and they really didn't even need it," said Nikki Loyd. "They weren't even affected by the storm."The offices at 3500 Lafayette Road were also swamped by requests for help as people from all over the county waited their turn.The calm broke when employees told them that they would take applications for people who live in eight zip codes in Lawrence and Warren townships -- areas most affected by storm damage.Tempers flared and workers quickly lost control of the situation.

Police were on standby to calm a crowd quickly becoming unruly."Today, if you're not in these two zip codes, sorry about your luck," said Debra Pankow. "This is just crazy."Officials told Sanchez that the confusion was created by a manager's e-mail about what documentation people had to provide to prove that they qualified for help.Because of the extent of recent storms, assistance is being doled out on the honor system. People are signing an affidavit that says they are telling the truth. Anyone who would like to report fraud can call 800-446-1993.

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« German police patrol Frankfurt’s international airport after arresting three native Germans planning a terrorist attack, Sept. 5, 2007.
(Martin Oeser/AFP/Getty Images)

White Europeans Training in Pakistan Terrorist Camps

June 25, 2008 | From theTrumpet.com

Islamic terrorists are recruiting a new, hard-to-detect weapon in their war against the West.

A new breed of al Qaeda terrorist could already be on the loose. He is much harder to detect and crosses borders with impunity. Dozens of white European converts to Islam have been trained in terrorist camps in Pakistan’s tribal regions over the past few months, according to U.S. intelligence sources cited by abc News.

“They’re recruiting operatives from Europe. Why? If you’re from Europe, it doesn’t require a visa to fly to the United States,” said Mike McConnell, the director of National Intelligence, in a speech in March. “So if you can get a disgruntled person in Europe to come to Pakistan to be trained in how to buy something commercially—hydrogen peroxide—[and] use it in a particular way, you could have mass casualties in the United States [or Europe] greater than 9/11.”

According to a threat assessment report published by the office of the director of National Intelligence, Western recruits have been arriving in Pakistan since mid-2006.

There is evidence that some of these terrorists have already gone operational. Two native Germans were suspects arrested in a September 2007 plot to murder American soldiers in Germany. U.S. officials are investigating whether they were trained in Pakistan.

An April Europol report also noted that an increasing number of Europeans traveled to Pakistan for training and “were later involved in, or suspected of, terrorist offenses in the EU.” cia Director Michael Hayden, in a speech in April, said the recruits “wouldn’t cause you any concern or draw your attention if they were in the passport line at Dulles with you. I mean, they look Western and they fit in. So that’s one, the continued intent to attack, training to attack, using Western operatives.”

Because of this, al Qaeda is actively seeking recruits of non-Middle Eastern origin.

The United States has the power to defeat radical Islam, but it lacks the will. Al Qaeda, on the other hand, possesses both the willpower and the resources to inflict tremendous damage. Along with a strong will, recruiting and training white Europeans gives al Qaeda a great advantage in its war against the West. To learn more about the central reason America will not win its fight against radical Islam, read “Why We Cannot Win the War Against Terrorism.” •

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At the Brink of Nuclear War-U.S. vs. Russia

June 24, 2008
Hawk

THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA WERE NEARLY AT THE BRINK OF NUCLEAR WAR ON FRIDAY JUNE 20 2008 AND THE WORLD'S POPULATIONS WERE UNAWARE OF IT, SAVE FOR THE LISTENERS OF THE Q-FILES RADIO PROGRAM AND THOSE IN THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE RESPECTIVE MILITARIES, INTEL AGENCIES, AND GOVERNMENTS INVOLVED.

AT APPROXIMATELY 4:15 P.M. EASTERN TIME AN URGENT REPORT WAS RECEIVED FROM AN EXPERT HAM RADIO OPERATOR LISTENING IN THE CLEAR TO U.S. MILITARY SHORTWAVE CHANNELS. A 180 CHARACTER EMERGENCY ACTION MESSAGE WAS BEING BROADCAST AND BEING REPEATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR U.S. MILITARY STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL UNITS RECEPTION. MULTIPLE AIRBORNE COMMANDS WERE UP ECHOING THIS MESSAGE AND RADIO TRAFFIC BECAME HOT AND HEAVY AND ALL POINTING TO SOMETHING VERY TENSE GOING ON IN THE ATLANTIC REGION.

THIS ALERT WAS NOT UNEXPECTED,AS THAT MORNING A RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT LAVAROV HAD WARNED THE U.S. AND ISRAEL NOT TO ATTACK IRANIAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES AND THAT WARNING WAS VERY SPECIFIC AND THE LANGUAGE WAS VERY STRONG BUT IT APPEARS PROBABLY MISREAD IN ITS GRAVITY. WE ALSO KNEW THAT RUSSIAN BOMBERS WERE TO BE ACTIVELY PATROLLING THE NORTH ATLANTIC REGION AND ALSO OFF ALASKA INTO THE ARCTIC CIRCLE AREA.

HOWEVER, THIS SITUATION CONTINUED TO ESCALATE IN TENSION AND SHEER AMOUNT OF RADIO TRAFFIC SO THIS INFORMATION WAS SENT TO STEVE QUAYLE AS HE BEGAN HIS RADIO BROADCAST THE Q -FILES ON INTERNATIONAL SHORTWAVE AND THE WORLD WIDE WEB TO MILLIONS OF LISTENERS. BY THEN WE HAD CONFIRMED THAT EXTENSIVE ACTIVITY INVOLVING RUSSIAN BOMBERS AND STRATEGIC SUBMARINE ASSETS WAS ONGOING ALL OVER THE ATLANTIC. CONTINUAL UPDATES WERE THEN FORWARDED TO STEVE QUAYLE ON AIR AND HE WAS ABLE TO WARN HIS LISTENERS OF THIS THREAT TO THE U.S. IN NEAR REAL TIME. DETAILS OF THE ALASKAN/ARCTIC/PACIFIC RUSSIAN ACTIVITIES WERE NOT KNOWN TO US.

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An Iran Attack Scenario
- A Catastrophe

The finishing touches on several
contingency plans for attacking Iran

By David DeBatto
6-24-8

"Israel has said a strike on Iran will be "unavoidable" if the Islamic regime continues to press ahead with alleged plans for building an atom-bomb." (London Daily Telegraph, 6/11/2008) "Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany joined President Bush on Wednesday in calling for further sanctions against Iran if it does not suspend its uranium enrichment program." Mr. Bush stressed again that "all options are on the table," which would include military force. (New York Times, 6/11/2008) We are fast approaching the final six months of the Bush administration. The quagmire in Iraq is in its sixth painful year with no real end in sight and the forgotten war in Afghanistan is well into its seventh year. The "dead enders" and other armed factions are still alive and well in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan again controls most of that country. Gas prices have now reached an average of $4.00 a gallon nationally and several analysts predict the price will rise to $5.00-$6.00 dollars per gallon at the pump by Labor Day. This, despite assurances by some major supporters of the decision to invade Iraq that the Iraq war "will pay for itself" (Paul Wolfowitz) or that we will see "$20.00 per barrel" oil prices if we invade Iraq (Rupert Murdoch). One thing the Pentagon routinely does (and does very well) is conduct war games. Top brass there are constantly developing strategies for conducting any number of theoretical missions based on real or perceived threats to our national security or vital interests. This was also done prior to the invasion of Iraq, but the Bush administration chose not to listen to the dire warnings about that mission given to him by Pentagon leaders, or for that matter, by his own senior intelligence officials. Nevertheless, war gaming is in full swing again right now with the bullseye just to the right of our current mess ­ Iran. It's no secret that the U.S. is currently putting the finishing touches on several contingency plans for attacking Iranian nuclear and military facilities. With our ground forces stretched to the breaking point in Iraq and Afghanistan, none of the most likely scenarios involve a ground invasion. Not that this administration wouldn't prefer to march into the seat of Shiite Islam behind a solid, moving line of M1 Abrams tanks and proclaim the country for democracy. The fact is that even the President knows we can't pull that off any more so he and the neo-cons will have to settle for Shock and Awe Lite. If we invade Iran this year it will be done using hundreds of sorties by carrier based aircraft already stationed in the Persian Gulf and from land based aircraft located in Iraq and Qatar. They will strike the known nuclear facilities located in and around Tehran and the rest of the country as well as bases containing major units of the Iranian military, anti-aircraft installations and units of the Revolutionary Guard (a separate and potent Iranian para-military organization). Will this military action stop Iran's efforts to develop nuclear weapons? Probably not. It will probably not even destroy all of their nuclear research facilities, the most sensitive of which are known to be underground, protected by tons of earth and reinforced concrete and steel designed to survive almost all attacks using conventional munitions. The Iranian military and Revolutionary Guard will most likely survive as well, although they will suffer significant casualties and major bases and command centers will undoubtedly be destroyed. However, since Iran has both a functioning Air Force, Navy (including submarines) and modern anti-aircraft capabilities, U.S. fighter-bombers will suffer casualties as well. This will not be a "Cake Walk" as with the U.S. led invasion of Iraq in 2003 when the Iraqi Army simply melted away and the Iraqi Air Force never even launched a single aircraft. Not even close. If the United States attacks Iran either this summer or this fall, the American people had better be prepared for a shock that may perhaps be even greater to the national psyche (and economy) than 9/11. First of all, there will be significant U.S. casualties in the initial invasion. American jets will be shot down and the American pilots who are not killed will be taken prisoner - including female pilots. Iranian Yakhonts 26, Sunburn 22 and Exocet missiles will seek out and strike U.S. naval battle groups bottled up in the narrow waters of the Persian Gulf with very deadly results. American sailors will be killed and U.S. ships will be badly damaged and perhaps sunk. We may even witness the first attack on an American Aircraft carrier since World War II. That's just the opening act. Israel (who had thus far stayed out of the fray by letting the U.S. military do the heavy lifting) is attacked by Hezbollah in a coordinated and large scale effort. Widespread and grisly casualties effectively paralyze the nation, a notion once thought impossible. Iran's newest ally in the region, Syria, then unleashes a barrage of over 200 Scud B, C and D missiles at Israel, each armed with VX gas. Since all of Israel is within range of these Russian built weapons, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and virtually all major civilian centers and several military bases are struck, often with a result of massive casualties. The Israeli Air Force orders all three squadrons of their F-16I Sufa fighter/bombers into the air with orders to bomb Tehran and as many military and nuclear bases as they can before they are either shot down or run out of fuel. It is a one way trip for some of these pilots. Their ancient homeland lies in ruins. Many have family that is already dead or dying. They do not wait for permission from Washington, DC or U.S. regional military commanders. The Israeli aircraft are carrying the majority of their country's nuclear arsenal under their wings. Just after the first waves of U.S. bombers cross into Iranian airspace, the Iranian Navy, using shore based missiles and small, fast attack craft sinks several oil tankers in the Straits of Hormuz, sealing off the Persian Gulf and all its oil from the rest of the world. They then mine the area, making it difficult and even deadly for American minesweepers to clear the straits. Whatever is left of the Iranian Navy and Air Force harasses our Navy as it attempts minesweeping operations. More U.S casualties. The day after the invasion Wall Street (and to a lesser extent, Tokyo, London and Frankfurt) acts as it always does in an international crisis ­ irrational speculative and spot buying reaches fever pitch and sends the cost of oil skyrocketing. In the immediate aftermath of the U.S. invasion of Iran, the price of oil goes to $200.00 - $300.00 dollars a barrel on the open market. If the war is not resolved in a few weeks, that price could rise even higher. This will send the price of gasoline at the pump in this country to $8.00-$10.00 per gallon immediately and subsequently to even higher unthinkable levels. If that happens, this country shuts down. Most Americans are not be able to afford gas to go to work. Truckers pull their big rigs to the side of the road and simply walk away. Food, medicine and other critical products are not be brought to stores. Gas and electricity (what is left of the short supply) are too expensive for most people to afford. Children, the sick and elderly die from lack of air-conditioned homes and hospitals in the summer. Children, the sick and elderly die in the winter for lack of heat. There are food riots across the country. A barter system takes the place of currency and credit as the economy dissolves and banks close or limit withdrawals. Civil unrest builds. The police are unable to contain the violence and are themselves victims of the same crisis as the rest of the population. Civilian rule dissolves and Martial Law is declared under provisions approved under the Patriot Act. Regular U.S. Army and Marine troops patrol the streets. The federal government apparatus is moved to an unknown but secure location. The United States descends into chaos and becomes a third world country. Its time as the lone superpower is over. It doesn't get any worse than this. Then the first Israeli bomber might drop its nuclear payload on Tehran. David DeBatto is a former U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, Iraqi war veteran and co-author the "CI" series from Warner Books and the upcoming "Counter to Intelligence" from Praeger Security International. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=view Article&code=DEB20080623&articleId=9437

"HANDGUNS"

Handgun

(Redirected from Handguns)

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"Pistol" redirects here. For other uses, see Pistol (disambiguation).

"Pistols" redirects here. For the football team, see Pueblo Pistols.

A Browning 9x19mm Hi-Power

Ordnance pistol of the French Navy, 19th century, using a Percussion cap mechanism

Derringers were small and easily hidden.

A Taurus PT145 pistol disassembled.

A handgun is a firearm designed to be held in the hand when used. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from their larger cousins: long guns such as rifles and shotguns, mounted weapons such as machine guns and autocannons, and larger weapons such as artillery.

Some handgun subtypes include single-shot pistols, revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, and fully automatic, or machine pistols.

The overlapping variations in meaning of the words "pistol" and "handgun" are discussed below.

Contents 1 Nomenclature variations 1.1 Multiple senses of the word "pistol" 1.2 Etymology of "pistol" 2 Types of handguns 2.1 Single-shot pistols 2.2 Multi-barreled pistols 2.3 Revolvers 2.4 Lever action pistols 2.5 Semi-automatic pistols 2.6 Machine pistols 3 Operating mechanisms 4 Semi-automatic pistols vs. revolvers 4.1 Advantages of revolvers 4.2 Advantages of semi-automatics 5 Advantages of handguns versus shoulder firearms 6 Disadvantages of handguns versus shoulder firearms 7 Handguns and gun politics 8 Other related info 9 See also 10 References 11 External links

Nomenclature variations

Multiple senses of the word "pistol"

The word "pistol" is often synonymous with the word "handgun". Some handgun experts make a technical distinction that views pistols as a subset of handguns. In American usage, the term "pistol" refers to a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel, making pistols distinct from the other main type of handgun, the revolver, which has a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers. However, Commonwealth usage makes no distinction at a technical level—"pistol" may refer to revolvers, semi-automatics, or muzzle-loading/cap-&-ball handguns. For example, the official designation of the Webley Mk VI was "Pistol, Revolver, Webley No. 1 Mk VI", and the designation "Pistol No. 2 Mk I" was used to refer to both the Enfield Revolver and the later Browning Hi-Power semi-automatic.^{[1],[2],[3],[4]}

The first pistols were made as early as the 15th century, however the creator is unknown^[5]. By the 18th century, the term came to be used often to refer to handheld firearms. Practical revolver designs appeared in the 19th century, and it was in that century that the (sometimes-observed) technical differentiation in usage of the words "pistol" and "revolver" developed.^{[citation needed]}

Etymology of "pistol"

Hand Cannon from the Chinese Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

The word "pistol" is derived from the French pistole (or pistolet), which has these possible origins:

• From the Czech pistole and this one from the Czech píšťala (flute or pipe, referring to the shape of a Hussite firearm), via Middle High German pischulle and Middle French pistole.
• From the city of Pistoia, Italy, where hand-held guns (designed to be fired from horseback) were first produced in the 1540s.^[6]
• That early pistols were carried by cavalry in holsters hung from the pommel (or pistallo in medieval French) of a horse's saddle.

Types of handguns

The general types of handguns are listed below in their order of historical appearance. Each type can be classified into many subtypes. Some of these types can also be differently classified using the general distinction between muzzle-loading firearms (loading from the front of the barrel) and breech-loading firearms (loading from behind the barrel).

Single-shot pistols

Western European handgun, 1380. 18 cm-long and weighing 1.04 kg, it was fixed to a wooden pole to facilitate manipulation. Musée de l'Armée.

Single-shot pistols are the theoretically simplest pistols. The earliest handguns were single-shot, muzzle-loading guns with ignition provided by inserting a smoldering match cord into a touch hole. As such, they were essentially nothing more than miniature cannons, small enough to be handheld.

Improvements followed in subsequent centuries, as various types of locks (ignition devices) were invented. In the matchlock, the separate match cord was affixed to a spring-loaded pivot which could be tripped by a trigger. In the wheellock, a mechanism analogous to that used in today's cigarette lighters replaced the smoldering match cord. In the 17th century, the flintlock, which strikes a flint against steel, appeared. (The flintlock, amazingly, remained state-of-the-art for some two hundred years.) In the 19th century, percussion caps were developed, followed shortly by modern integrated-primer cartridges, and hammers therefore traded their flint for firing pins.

Single-shot pistols are not completely things of the past, as they have continued to be built (for various reasons) throughout the breech-loading era. However, for most applications, the single-shot handgun has been replaced by revolvers and semi-automatic pistols.

Multi-barreled pistols

Not long after the very beginning of firearms, inventors began experimenting with multi-barreled weapons in the quest for the ability to fire more than one shot before needing to reload. Not surprisingly, all types of firearms were included in their efforts, from volley guns to analogously devised handguns. Before anyone developed a practical capability for delivering multiple loads to one barrel in quick succession (which is how repeating fire is usually accomplished today), they were aggregating multiple loaded barrels into one place.

Some examples of such handguns are:

• Duck's-foot pistols
• Derringers
• Pepper-box guns (variously referred to as pepper-box pistols or pepper-box revolvers)
• Howdah pistols, often made from double-barrelled rifles.

Revolvers

A 1930s vintage Enfield revolver.

With the development of the revolver in the 19th century, gunsmiths had finally achieved the goal of a practical capability for delivering multiple loads to one handgun barrel in quick succession. Revolvers feed ammunition via the rotation of a cartridge-filled cylinder, in which each cartridge is contained in its own ignition chamber, and is sequentially brought into alignment with the weapon's barrel by a mechanism linked to the weapon's trigger (double-action) or its hammer (single-action). These nominally cylindrical chambers, usually numbering between five and ten depending on the size of the revolver and the size of the cartridge being fired, are bored through the cylinder so that their axes are parallel to the cylinder's axis of rotation; thus, as the cylinder rotates, the chambers revolve about the cylinder's axis.

There is a hybrid form of the revolver, known as the automatic revolver, which combines the revolving chamber concept of the conventional revolver with the recoil-harnessing, self-cycling ability of the semi-automatic pistol.

Lever action pistols

These were less popular and common than revolvers. Almost all examples of this type of pistol come from the 19th century. One example of this type would be the Volcanic Pistol.

Semi-automatic pistols

Compact semi-automatic Smith & Wesson .45 ACP Chief's Special — Model CS45

Walther P99, a semi-automatic pistol from late 1990s

Luger or P08 Parabellum, used by the German military from 1908 to 1945 (among other handgun models)

The next development in handgun history after a practical revolver was the development of the semi-automatic pistol, which uses the energy of one shot to reload the chamber for the next. Typically recoil energy from a fired round is mechanically harnessed, however larger calibers may also be gas operated (e.g. Desert Eagle). After a round is fired, the pistol will cycle, ejecting the spent casing and chambering a new round from the magazine, allowing another shot to take place immediately.

Some terms that have been, or still are, used as synonyms for "semi-automatic pistol" are automatic pistol, autopistol, autoloader, self-loading pistol and selfloader.

Machine pistols

A machine pistol is generally defined as a firearm designed to be fired with one hand, and capable of fully automatic or selective fire. While there are a number of machine pistols such as the Glock 18 and later models of the Mauser C96, these are rare; the light weight, small size, and extremely rapid rates of fire of a machine pistol make them difficult to control, making the larger and heavier submachine gun a better choice in cases where the small size of a machine pistol is not needed. Most machine pistols can attach a shoulder stock (the Heckler & Koch VP70 would only fire single rounds at a time unless the stock was attached); others, such as the Beretta 93R, add a forward handgrip. Either of these additions technically create a legal non-pistol under the US National Firearms Act, as pistols are by definition designed to be fired with one hand. The addition of a stock or forward handgrip is considered a design change that creates either a short-barreled rifle or any other weapon, and therefore such additions are generally only found on legal machine guns.

Operating mechanisms

Single-action (SA) handguns have a trigger whose sole function is to drop a pre-cocked hammer to discharge a cartridge. For revolvers, the popular Colt Peacemaker of Old West fame is typically thought of. Its hammer must be manually cocked for each shot. For auto-loading pistols the Colt 1911 or Browning Hi-Power are typical examples. They must be cocked for the first shot, but subsequent shots are cocked automatically due to the racking of the slide. These types of guns typically have a very light and crisp trigger pull, making for more accurate target shooting.

Jericho 941 F (DA), 9 mm with magazine removed

Traditional double-action (DA) handguns have a mechanism that can be either pre-cocked, like the above single-action gun, or can be fired with the gun uncocked. In this case, the gun has an additional mechanism added to the trigger that will cock the gun (and rotate the cylinder in the case of revolvers) as the trigger is pulled. Once the trigger is pulled far enough, the hammer is released and the gun fired. For autoloading pistols the self-loading mechanism will also re-cock the hammer after the first shot is fired so that subsequent shots are fired single-action. For revolvers, each shot is fired with the hammer initially uncocked unless the shooter manually cocked the gun. Popular auto pistols in this category include the Walther P38 and Beretta 92. These guns typically have a longer, heavier trigger pull for the first shot then light, crisp pulls for subsequent shots. Popular revolvers include the Ruger Redhawk and Smith & Wesson Model 629. These have comparatively long, heavy trigger pulls for all shots unless the revolver is manually cocked.

Double-action only (DAO) handguns do not have the ability to be cocked and is usually evidenced by a lack of either the hammer spur or the entire hammer. A typical autopistol in this category is the Ruger KP93DAO and Taurus Millennium, and a typical revolver is the Smith & Wesson Centennial. All pistols in this category have a long, heavy trigger pull for all shots.

Pre-set triggers are only on autoloading pistols. In this case the pistol mechanism is always partially cocked while being carried and during firing. The partially-cocked firing pin or striker is not cocked enough to cause an accidental release to discharge a cartridge, adding to the safeness of the design, but is cocked enough to remove much of the trigger pull and weight of a purely double-action pistol. These types of pistols do not have external hammers and do not generally have a decock function. Common pistols in the category are the Springfield Armory XD and the various forms of the extremely popular Glock. The trigger pull of these guns is between double-action and single-action pistols. Pre-set triggers may or may not have a second-strike feature on a dud cartridge.

Some automatic pistol models such as the HK USP Universal Self-loading Pistol come in a variety of mechanism types and can be easily changed by a gunsmith for both left- and right-handed shooters and for different operating mechanism and safety features.

Glock introduced a new "Safe Action" mechanism that is neither a single nor double action.^[7] The action is not cocked, rather the firing pin is pulled back by the trigger, resulting in the first and subsequent trigger pulls all being the same and the weapon also being safer.

Semi-automatic pistols vs. revolvers

Both revolvers and semi-automatic pistols have prominent places in the world of handgun applications today. For over a century, however, a debate has continued as to which one is better for which particular application and why. Each has its place, although personal preference is as large a factor as the following variables:

• reliability (likelihood of jams; how to recover from jams; how to recover from misfires)
• degree of user training needed
• degree and frequency of gun cleaning needed
• ammo capacity
• speed and ease of reloading
• bulkiness with regard to concealment
• weight
• center of gravity
• storage issues

Advantages of revolvers

Colt King Cobra revolver.

• Ease of use: Revolvers are truly point and shoot. No safeties or complex procedures inhibit putting a revolver into action. Semi-autos require several steps to place them into action, allowing room for error in critical situations.
• Reliability: Blockages and jams are virtually impossible in a revolver. A dud round is cleared by a simple pull of the trigger. Several types of blockages and jams are possible (and fairly common) in semi-autos. With semi-autos one must rack the slide, or possibly more extensive action to clear a jam, which takes the pistol out of the shooting position. See Tap Rack Bang.
• Ruggedness: Revolvers have a simpler, more rugged and robust design.
• More stopping power: The largest and most powerful handgun rounds are rimmed rounds for revolvers only, owing to their sturdier design.
• Revolvers will easily fire blank ammunition. Most semi-autos will not fully cycle with blank cartridges, causing jams. Semi-auto pistols must be specially modified to properly cycle with blank ammunition, as in the case of prop weapons for cinema. This modification renders them incapable of firing any other cartridge type.
• Spent cartridges are kept in the cylinder whereas a semi-auto ejects them. This is useful for reloaders.
• Storage: Revolvers and speedloaders can be stored loaded indefinitely with no issues. Semi-auto magazines have springs under tension when loaded. These springs may weaken and fail to load the cartridges effectively if the magazine has been stored loaded for long periods.
• More variety in ammunition: Revolvers can chamber virtually any cartridge, including wadcutters, which will jam a semi-auto. This makes revolvers more appealing to many sport shooters. Additionally, revolvers can load certain interchangeable cartridges, those with identical calibers but different case lengths. Interchangeable cartridges include .22 short/long/long rifle, .357 magnum/.38 special, .44 magnum/.44 special, and .45 Colt/.410 shotshells (on some, check first).
• Better Accuracy: Sights are mounted to a fixed barrel, theoretically allowing greater accuracy.
• Easier to determine if loaded: bullets in a loaded revolver are readily apparent. An unloaded semi-auto is often visually identical to a loaded one.
• Easier to clean and maintain: Revolvers have few exposed moving pieces and do not require disassembly. There is no risk of loss or breakage of pieces with a revolver. Semi-autos must be disassembled for cleaning, which may be difficult and risks losing or breaking vital pieces in the field or in darkness.
• Speedloaders: Speedloaders are quicker and easier to fill than magazines. Speedloaders and magazines load their weapons with comparable speed, but speedloaders are bulkier. Also see advantage under "Storage" above.

Advantages of semi-automatics

Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic.

• Larger ammo capacity: semi-automatics typically carry 7 to 17 rounds; most revolvers carry only 6 rounds, although some carry 7, 8 or even up to 10 in .22 caliber. Some jurisdictions limit the magazine capacity on handguns to 10 rounds, largely negating this advantage in these places.
• Better combat reloading: Magazines, while slower and more difficult to fill, are simpler to place into operation and more ergonomic to carry than speedloaders.
• Quieter: With similar ammunition, a semi-auto is typically slightly quieter. Flash and noise can be suppressed. Noise and flash suppressors are ineffective in most revolvers due to noise and flash escaping the gap between the cylinder and the barrel.
• Less expensive ammunition: semi-autos often fire standard military ammunition, which is more readily available and cheaper thanks to extensive mass production. However, popular revolver cartridges such as .38 Special are comparable in their cost and availability to popular autoloading cartridges such as 9mm Parabellum and .45 ACP.
• Autoloaders have a significantly slimmer and easier to conceal frame as they do not suffer from the bulge produced by the revolver's cylinder.
• Some contemporary automatics are made of light-weight materials, (such as polymer) making them lighter and more comfortable to carry for long periods. Polymer frames are impractical on revolvers, and the weight savings would be minimal as the main sources of weight are the barrel and cylinder which cannot be polymer.
• The nature of most semi-auto's operation makes the trigger pull much easier after the first round is fired, allowing for quick and accurate follow-up shots. Revolvers will always have strong trigger pulls unless the hammer is cocked before each shot, which greatly slows the shooter's rate of fire.
• Most semi-autos incorporate an external safety switch, which is a visual and tactile cue that the weapon is safe. However, newer revolver designs have incorporated hammer blocks and other safety mechanisms making them as safe as comparable autoloaders, even without an external safety.

Advantages of handguns versus shoulder firearms

In comparison to longer guns such as shoulder firearms (rifles and shotguns), handguns are smaller, lighter, and easier to carry. Since firearms don't rely on the user's strength, they put weaker individuals on an equal defensive footing; when Colt produced the first practical repeating handgun, it gave rise to the saying "God created men, but Colt made them equal".^[8],[9]

Since using a handgun only requires one hand, whereas long guns often require both, that leaves a handgun user with a free hand. One example of where this is an advantage is with tactical lights, where the light and handgun can be used independently or in coordination; mounted lights, as used on long guns and submachine guns, don't allow the light to be pointed independently of the firearm.

Another important tactical consideration in the context of civilian self-defense is maneuverability. An attacker in close quarters with the defender could more easily wrestle a long gun's muzzle to a position where it is not covering him, or could more easily wrestle the gun away from the defender, whereas a handgun offers little to grab, and would be more likely to still be covering some portion of the attacker during the struggle.^[10]

Disadvantages of handguns versus shoulder firearms

Handguns are often considered self-defense weapons for use under 50 yards (46 m). While a handgun in the hands of an experienced shooter may be effective at distances greater than 50 yards (46 m), a handgun cartridge is much more limited in its energy capacity than many long gun cartridges.

Many rifles are able to achieve bullet velocities of over 3,000 feet (910 m) per second, but rounds for handguns are rarely capable of achieving velocities over 1,500 feet (460 m) per second. Thus, long guns are generally more powerful at any range, and especially more effective at longer ranges than handguns.

A shooter is generally able to achieve considerably greater accuracy with a long gun than with a handgun. This is due partly to the longer distance between the rear and front sights, partly due to a more stable hold attainable with a long gun, and partly due to the higher muzzle velocity, which reduces the bullet travel time and thus reduces external effects on the bullet such as gravitational drop and wind.

Handguns and gun politics

Many handgun models are easily concealed on a person—a trait that is useful both to people wishing to bear arms for self-protection and to criminals wishing to carry a handgun for illegal purposes. For these reasons, handguns are a particular focus of debates on gun politics, and in many jurisdictions their ownership is much more heavily regulated than that of long arms.

In the United States, the legal basis for the right of individuals to own handguns is the second amendment, a part of the U.S. constitution. The details, exceptions, and controversies relating to this are beyond the scope of this discussion. Legislation controlling how handguns are carried is the province of the state governments. Open carry is permitted in 41 states with a mixture of licensing requirements.^[11] Most states (currently 48 of 50) allow some form of concealed carry by citizens meeting training or other requirements. 39 of these states, called "shall-issue" states, require issue of a permit if there is no compelling reason not to issue a permit (such as a prior felony conviction, a restraining order, or history of mental illness). Generally, in a shall-issue state, if a person cannot obtain a concealed weapons permit once training requirements are met, that person also cannot lawfully own a firearm. The remaining 9 states, called "may-issue" states, may deny a permit for any reason, usually at the discretion of local law enforcement. In the United States, a person must be 21 years of age to purchase a handgun or ammunition intended for a handgun from a federally licensed dealer, which is higher than the age requirement of 18 for rifles and shotguns.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, civilian ownership of almost any handgun has been outlawed since the Dunblane massacre of 1996; the only exclusions were single shot, rimfire, and muzzleloading pistols; all cartridge firearms were later banned in 1997. Air pistols are still legal, however, those with energy levels over 6 foot pounds (8.1 joules) (half the limit for air rifles) are classified as firearms.^[12][13][14]

Civilian ownership of handguns in Australia is legal, but heavily restricted. Handguns may not be owned for self-defense purposes (Target shooting, collecting, and occupational reasons for farmers/gun dealers are, by and large, the only legal reasons for handgun ownership), and anyone wishing to possess a handgun must obtain a firearms license and observe stringent storage regulations.

In Canada, ownership of handguns is restricted and subject to registration. Guns with a barrel length of 105 mm (about 4.14 inches) or less and handguns that fire .25 or .32 caliber ammunition are classified as prohibited. Some users are allowed to possess a handgun or rifle classified as prohibited (automatic and certain semi automatic firearms) if the firearm was owned and registered before the law came into effect on December 1, 1998. ^[15]. A Possession and Acquisition or a Possession Only Licence is required to own all firearms. Permits to carry concealed weapons are rarely, if ever, granted to non-law enforcement personnel ^[16].

In Israel, handguns are the only type of firearms that most private citizens may own. They are licensed for self-defense purposes to eligible individuals. Current regulations limit licenses to one handgun and 50 cartridges per licensee.

In Pakistan, citizens in the Punjab and the Sindh are subject to strict gun control regulations and may only carry a gun as long as it is concealed, even if it is with a bodyguard. Also the display of armory in public was banned and is subject to fines of up to 50,000 Rupees. Citizens must also register the gun and obtain a license for it. Many classes of precision (such as sniper) rifles are banned - the more precise the gun the less chance you have of obtaining a licence. In Balochistan and NWFP, however most of the urban population owns a vast amount of automatic and sophisticated weaponry which includes the SVD Dragonov sniper rifle and semi-automatic weapons such as the HK MP5. The AK-74 assault rifle and Desert Eagle pistol are also in high demand. This upsurge is due to increased militant activity in NWFP's tribal areas with citizens looking for ways to protect themselves. These developments have led to tight controls on guns and heavy fines for even firing a single round at any time in a public area. An automatic FIR (First Information Report) can be registered by the police if you are caught firing shots in the air; this is done to avoid stray bullets which may lead to someones death.^{[citation needed]}

See the main gun politics article or the article on concealed carry in particular for more details on this debate.

Other related info

In the 1780s, Alessandro Volta built a toy electric pistol ^[17] in which an electric spark caused the explosion of a mixture of air and hydrogen, firing a cork from the end of the gun.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Pistols

• Blowback
• Concealed carry
• Gun
• Handgun effectiveness
• Machine-pistol
• Pocket pistol
• Small arms
• Semi-automatic pistol
• Antique guns
• Target shooting
• Weapon
• List of pistols

References

1. ^ Stamps, Mark; Skennerton, Ian (1993). .380 Enfield Revolver No. 2. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-139-8.
2. ^ Maze, Robert J (2002). Howdah to High Power. Tucson, AZ, USA: Excalibur Publications. ISBN 1-880677-17-2.
3. ^ Skennerton, Ian (1997). Small Arms Identification Series No. 9: .455 Pistol, Revolver No 1 Mk VI. Gold Coast, QLD, Australia: Arms & Militaria Press. ISBN 0-949749-30-3.
4. ^ Smith, W.H.B. (1979). 1943 Basic Manual of Military Small Arms (Facsimile). Harrisburg, PA, USA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-1699-6.
5. ^ Pistol, Britannica.com.
6. '^ The War Office (UK): Textbook of Small Arms (1929), page 86. H.M. Stationery Office (UK), 1929.
7. ^ Glock Pistols (August 20, 2003). Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
8. ^ Cary, Lucian (1961). The Colt GunBook (Fawcett Book 447), Greenwich, CT, USA: Fawcett Publications, p. 3.
9. ^ Hosley, William (1999). "Guns, Gun Culture, and the Peddling of Dreams". Robert Merrill Muth, Jan E. Dizard, Stephen P. Andrews Guns in America: A Reader: p. 47, New York: NYU Press. ISBN 0-8147-1879-5. Retrieved on 2006-11-16.
10. ^ Ayoob, Massad F. (1983). The Truth About Self-Protection. Originally published by Police Bookshelf, Concord, New Hampshire. Republished by Bantam Books., p. 333. ISBN 0-936279-13-3.
11. ^ OpenCarry.org, a state-by-state map of open carry laws.
12. ^ United Kingdom Air Rifle Law & Safety Reference
13. ^ [http://f4bscale.worldonline.co.uk/gunlaw.htm Safety and the Law in the U.K.
14. ^ Air Rifles Code of Practice (revised July 2007)
15. ^ RCMP fact sheets on firearms
16. ^ Canadian Firearms Centre paper comparing Canadian and American gun laws
17. ^ VOLTA's INSTRUMENTS: ELECTRIC PISTOL

External links

• Interactive Illustrated Pistol
• Handgun Database
• Handgun Database Video and Review

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handgun"

Categories: Pistols | Law enforcement equipment

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Why Jews
must oppose
gun control
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More than 800 wildfires burning in California...

« A lightning storm ignited more than 800 wildfires in California on June 22.
(iStockphoto)

California Hit by “Unprecedented” Lightning Storm

June 24, 2008 | From theTrumpet.com

While parts of Southern California endure a heat wave that is breaking decade-long records, northern California just got lit up by an “unprecedented” lightning storm. Is California suffering a weather curse?

In some sections of Southern California the thermometer breached 120.2 degrees Fahrenheit last week. The scorching temperatures withered vegetation and sent long lines of traffic flocking toward the beaches.

More ominously, the triple-digit temperatures overwhelmed parts of the electrical grid, causing blackouts on Friday, as air conditioners drew record amounts of energy.

The record temperatures are exacerbating the dry conditions plaguing much of the state, which is currently suffering from two years of drought-like conditions.

But while the southern part of the state is baking under the sun, the northern part of the state is roasting over the fire.

An unforeseen lightning storm ignited more than 800 wildfires according to California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection assistant regional chief Del Walters. “We didn’t get real lucky with this lighning storm. It wasn’t predicted … and so we got hammered.”

Walters says officials are continuing to locate new fires. He said the storm was “unprecedented” due to how long it lasted and the high number of lighting strikes, which numbered between 5,000 and 6,000.

After initially being informed on Sunday that over 520 fires were burning, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said it was “quite shocking” to learn that by Monday morning there were over 700 fires raging. Moments later an aide updated him with the latest total of 840. Governor Schwarzenegger has called for assistance from Nevada and Oregon, to help contain the blazes that have burned thousands of acres and are threatening more than a thousand homes.

The rate at which disasters are piling up in California is leading commentators to conclude that the California dream is dead. Unfortunately, much of the media coverage continues to be obsessed with the red herring that is man-made global warming. For the real reason California is being cursed, read Gerald Flurry’s articles “Is California Under a Curse?” and “California Disasters Continue—Why?”

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Flood Damage to Midwest Soil May Block Replanting

US: June 20, 2008

CHICAGO - Midwest US farmers with flooded fields may find that soils have been damaged too much to plant this year even if the waters recede quickly, agronomists said Wednesday.

Fields that have been underwater for close to a week were facing damage that could give farmers headaches for years. "There has been a tremendous amount of soil erosion," said James Fawcett, a field specialist in southeastern Iowa with Iowa State Extension Service. "The fields will not be as productive as they have been in the past." Fields along flooded rivers will have to be cleared of sand and debris before they can be planted again, Fawcett added. And it will take a long time for some fields to dry even if the standing water subsides soon. "We have areas where it is going to take six months before it is going to dry out," said Palle Pedersen, extension agronomist at Iowa State University. "The worst areas are the river bottoms where ... we have had a lot of water sitting for a long, long time." But conditions have dried out enough on higher ground to allow some farmers to replant soybeans or spray and fertilize their fields despite watery "potholes," agronomists said. About 20 percent of Iowa's corn crop was either ruined or is in serious jeopardy, Iowa State University agronomist Roger Elmore said. The remaining 80 percent is not in good shape. "This is a tough time for corn growers as you look at the amount of acres that are flooded and that are in need of replanting," Elmore said. Affected farmers face a dilemma: spend the money to replant and reap perhaps half the normal yield, assuming there is not a summer drought or early frost, or accept crop insurance payments. TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE? Farmers that are able to replant fields that have been damaged by the flooding were taking a risk that yields will be severely reduced due to the late planting date. "For sure, they are out on a limb with this crop," said Emerson Nafziger, extension agronomist at the University of Illinois. Any corn planting that can be done immediately faces yield reductions of 50 percent or more due to the shortened growing season for those plants. Normally, corn planted in central Illinois and Iowa after May 15 loses about a bushel of yield per acre each day. But flooding has also washed out nitrogen fertilizer, a key corn-yield booster, from planted fields. Corn also can be damaged if it does not reach the crucial pollination phase before scorching summer temperatures arrive. But even if fields are dry enough, farmers cannot just switch intended corn acres to soybeans, which can be planted until the end of the first week of July. Many growers have applied herbicides to fields where they had planned to plant corn. Those herbicides can be harmful to soybeans, so farmers may have to let those fields remain bare for this season. Farmers have been counting on high cash prices and good yields this year to make up for sharp increases in input costs ranging from fuel and fertilizer to higher land rents. (Reporting by Mark Weinraub, additional reporting by Kay Henderson in Des Moines; editing by Peter Bohan and Jim Marshall)

Story by Mark Weinraub

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE

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MALACHI CHAPTER 3

יג חָזְקוּ עָלַי דִּבְרֵיכֶם, אָמַר יְהוָה; וַאֲמַרְתֶּם, מַה-נִּדְבַּרְנוּ עָלֶיךָ.	13 Your words have been all too strong against Me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say: 'Wherein have we spoken against thee?'
יד אֲמַרְתֶּם, שָׁוְא עֲבֹד אֱלֹהִים; וּמַה-בֶּצַע, כִּי שָׁמַרְנוּ מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ, וְכִי הָלַכְנוּ קְדֹרַנִּית, מִפְּנֵי יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת.	14 Ye have said: 'It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked mournfully because of the LORD of hosts?
טו וְעַתָּה, אֲנַחְנוּ מְאַשְּׁרִים זֵדִים; גַּם-נִבְנוּ עֹשֵׂי רִשְׁעָה, גַּם בָּחֲנוּ אֱלֹהִים וַיִּמָּלֵטוּ.	15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are built up; yea, they try God, and are delivered.'
טז אָז נִדְבְּרוּ יִרְאֵי יְהוָה, אִישׁ אֶל-רֵעֵהוּ; וַיַּקְשֵׁב יְהוָה, וַיִּשְׁמָע, וַיִּכָּתֵב סֵפֶר זִכָּרוֹן לְפָנָיו לְיִרְאֵי יְהוָה, וּלְחֹשְׁבֵי שְׁמוֹ.	16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke one with another; and the LORD hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name.
יז וְהָיוּ לִי, אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, לַיּוֹם, אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה סְגֻלָּה; וְחָמַלְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם--כַּאֲשֶׁר יַחְמֹל אִישׁ, עַל-בְּנוֹ הָעֹבֵד אֹתוֹ.	17 And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in the day that I do make, even Mine own treasure; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
יח וְשַׁבְתֶּם, וּרְאִיתֶם, בֵּין צַדִּיק, לְרָשָׁע--בֵּין עֹבֵד אֱלֹהִים, לַאֲשֶׁר לֹא עֲבָדוֹ. {פ}	18 Then shall ye again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. {P}
יט כִּי-הִנֵּה הַיּוֹם בָּא, בֹּעֵר כַּתַּנּוּר; וְהָיוּ כָל-זֵדִים וְכָל-עֹשֵׂה רִשְׁעָה, קַשׁ, וְלִהַט אֹתָם הַיּוֹם הַבָּא אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יַעֲזֹב לָהֶם שֹׁרֶשׁ וְעָנָף.	19 For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall set them ablaze, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
כ וְזָרְחָה לָכֶם יִרְאֵי שְׁמִי, שֶׁמֶשׁ צְדָקָה, וּמַרְפֵּא, בִּכְנָפֶיהָ; וִיצָאתֶם וּפִשְׁתֶּם, כְּעֶגְלֵי מַרְבֵּק.	20 But unto you that fear My name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall.
כא וְעַסּוֹתֶם רְשָׁעִים--כִּי-יִהְיוּ אֵפֶר, תַּחַת כַּפּוֹת רַגְלֵיכֶם: בַּיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה, אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת. {פ}	21 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I do make, saith the LORD of hosts. {P}
כב זִכְרוּ, תּוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה עַבְדִּי, אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי אוֹתוֹ בְחֹרֵב עַל-כָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל, חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים.	22 Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances.
כג הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ לָכֶם, אֵת אֵלִיָּה הַנָּבִיא--לִפְנֵי, בּוֹא יוֹם יְהוָה, הַגָּדוֹל, וְהַנּוֹרָא.	23 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.
כד וְהֵשִׁיב לֵב-אָבוֹת עַל-בָּנִים, וְלֵב בָּנִים עַל-אֲבוֹתָם--פֶּן-אָבוֹא, וְהִכֵּיתִי אֶת-הָאָרֶץ חֵרֶם. {ש}	24 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers; lest I come and smite the land with utter destruction. {P}

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