Web Page Update: I recently added what amounts to a book review at: http://www.spw-duf.info/emperor.html#hammer --- "AWB" Bill Resurfaces In Massachusetts: For the second year in a row, two Massachusetts legislators are attempting to extend that state's ban on "assault weapons" to those individual ones that had been grandfathered under earlier laws. http://www.massnews.com/2005_editions/5_may/51205_assault_weapon_ban_pushed.htm --- Handgunning In Bulgaria: A New Zealander describes his experiences at a Bulgarian shooting range. Not exactly the most technically correct article I've ever read. http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/lethal-weapons/id_11341/catid_47 --- From John Farnam: 16 May 05 Important note on holsters, from one of our instructors: "I recently purchased a new pistol, like yours, and made an accompanying purchase of a kydex IWB holster. As expected, the pistol fit into the holster perfectly. I set off to the range to test the ensemble last weekend. To my surprise and dismay, when I attempted to draw, I discovered the holster wanted the pistol more than I did! Pulling on the gun with as much strength as I could muster simply caused my entire belt, trousers and holster to rise up toward my armpit, with the pistol stubbornly remaining stuck in the holster. Several attempts, and I abandoned the effort and removed the holster from my belt. Removed from my body, the gun slid out of the holster with barely a catch. With the naked eye I could see no reason for the problem. Mystified, I repeated the exercise with the holster back on. Same result. The pistol would not budge! Adjusting tension screws had no effect. I set off to my office (my student is a dentist) and re-inspected with magnifying lenses and a bright light. What I discovered was that this pistol comes with a sharp edge around the inside of the trigger guard. The pressure exerted on the holster by my belt pressed the inside surface of the holster against this sharp edge and gouged a small ledge into the kydex. This ledge locked the pistol into the holster so securely that the gun could not be removed as long as the ledge was engaged by the pressure of my belt. As soon as the holster was removed, the pressure was released, the ledge disengaged, and the gun would release. Solution was simple. Five minutes with a dental handpiece (Dremel tool would work just as well), and I removed the sharp edge on the trigger guard. I also buffed the ledge off the inside of the holster. Gun/holster combination has functioned perfectly ever since." Lessons: Sharp corners and edges on carry guns are bad for the shooter, but great for the photographer! Guns with sharp edges and corners photograph better than do practical guns, which have been "de-horned." Crisp, clean lines are always more aesthetically appealing than are rounded edges. In fact, rounded edges look soft and out of focus in promotional ligature, and thus marketing people don't like them. Unfortunately, manufacturers, wanting to sell guns, often listen to marketing consultants rather than to customers! If, like me, you don't enjoy bleeding when handling new guns, now you have an additional reason to de-horn your pistol before carrying it. De-horning is something that should be done at the factory, but it is an expensive, labor-intensive, finishing step, and gun companies don't like running their costs up by including it. Happily, any competent pistolsmith can de-horn your gun at reasonable cost and quickly. Highly recommended! Thoroughly testing new equipment before betting your life on it is also a good idea. I'm glad my student discovered this problem at the range, not during his first gunfight! /John -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .