Month: April 2023
China launches patrols in the Taiwan Strait, orders inspections of ships as Taiwan says it will not comply
Taiwan instructed ships to contact the Taiwan coast guard if they encounter a patrol
The Chinese government announced a three-day series of patrols in the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, ordering that any ships in the area stop for inspection or even boarding.
Taiwan’s maritime authority rejected the order, filing a complaint with Chinese authorities, and has urged its shipping companies to ignore such inspection orders and notify the Taiwanese coast guard immediately should it receive one.
“If the mainland side insists on taking one-sided actions, it will create obstacles to normal exchanges between the two sides. We will be forced to take corresponding measures,” Taiwanese authorities wrote in a statement.
The areas impacted by China’s inspection order could impact passenger and fishing vessels as well as commercial and shipping vessels.
CHINA VOWS ‘STRONG’ MEASURES AFTER MCCARTHY MEETS TAIWAN’S TSAI ING-WEN
The Chinese government has sent out patrols to inspect and even board vessels traveling through the Taiwan Strait, but the island has refused to comply. (Getty Images)
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul was asked about China’s threat to stop Taiwanese ships on Wednesday, saying he was aware of Chinese naval forces surrounding the island.
“[Intimidation is] what they do,” McCaul, R-Texas, told Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie. “And we’re not going to be deterred by this intimidation if the PRC, communist China, decides to start blocking the Taiwan Straits, that is an act of aggression. And I believe it’s not it is not sustainable or acceptable.”
“I do know that there are three aircraft carriers surrounding the island right now, and we know that they are they have certain plans, whether they carry those out. I don’t know. But I think that would be a very unfortunate mistake on the part of the Chinese Communist Party,” he continued, adding that he could not confirm what the Chinese plans were.
The Chinese escalation comes one day after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. China had vowed to take “strong” measures if the two leaders went through with the meeting.
“We will take resolute measures to punish the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and their actions, and resolutely safeguard our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement Thursday morning.
PELOSI PRAISES MCCARTHY’S ‘LEADERSHIP’ AFTER TAIWAN MEETING
McCarthy and Tsai each gave carefully-worded statements during their meeting at the Reagan Library in Southern California. The pair spoke highly of the relationship between “the people” of Taiwan and the U.S. The language seeks to avoid complications arising from the Taiwan Relations Act, which stipulates that Taiwan and the U.S. cannot have formal diplomatic relations.
“America’s support for the people of Taiwan will remain resolute, unwavering and bipartisan,” McCarthy said at a news conference.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen rebuked China with a meeting in Southern California. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Chinese military has grown increasingly aggressive in the Taiwan strait in recent months. (Lin Jian/Xinhua via AP)
Our friends over at San Diego County Gun Owners did him the liberty of having a gun violence restraining order filed against him, and requested that his CCW permit be revoked. Something he’d surely want done to others.
SDCGO, acting on behalf of their members, and of course on behalf of Fletcher’s ideology – that he strongly holds onto – penned a scathing letter to the law enforcement officials of Fletcher’s district checking in on the status of a GVRO being issued.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan
San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez
San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott
San Diego Police Chief David NisleitLaw Enforcement Leaders:
As you know, there are many current laws concerning firearms with which our organization disagrees and we continue to work to get them overturned. I believe we all agree, however, that special treatment of elected officials should never be tolerable.
Last week, a lawsuit against Supervisor Nathan Fletcher was filed, which includes accusations of sexual assault and battery, sexual harrassment, and other illegal behavior. It is not unusual for those accused of this level of illegal activity to have their concealed carry permit (CCW) revoked and a gun violence restraining order (GVRO) filed to remove all access to their firearms.
In addition to the lawsuit, Supervisor Fletcher released a statement stating that he is too mentally unstable to continue with his campaign for State Senate and that he is entering treatment for addiction.
The purpose of this letter is to ask for an update on the progress made to revoke Supervisor Fletcher’s CCW and to file a GVRO against him. He has been vocal about his support for GVROs and for heavily restricting CCW holders; especially when they are accused of violent Crimes.
I look forward to any progress update you can provide me.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Schwartz
San Diego County Gun Owners PAC
Whoa, talk about a bombshell. Fletcher’s office did in fact announce he intended to self-admit into a rehab program on March 26, 2023.
Supervisor Nathan Fletcher will check into a treatment center this week for post traumatic stress, trauma and alcohol abuse. He has also decided to forgo a run for State Senate to focus on his health. Supervisor Fletcher has released the following statement:
“For many years, I have been suffering from devastating post traumatic stress associated with combat piled on top of intense childhood trauma that has been exacerbated by alcohol abuse. While I have shared some of these challenges publicly, they run much deeper than I have acknowledged. Outwardly, I have projected calm and composure. Internally, I have been waging a struggle that only those closest to me have seen; the detrimental impact on my relationships, mood, and inability to sleep.
“I have to seek help. With the recommendation of my therapist and the insistence of my wife, this week I will be checking into an extended inpatient treatment center for post traumatic stress, trauma and alcohol abuse. I have no doubt I will not only make a full recovery, but will come back stronger, more connected and present. However, it is clear I need to focus on my health and my family and do not have the energy to simultaneously pursue a campaign for the State Senate.
“I am grateful to the full love and unconditional support of my wife, family and friends.”
While Supervisor Fletcher will be on medical leave from the County of San Diego. Our office will continue to serve the constituents of the Fourth Supervisorial District.
Not long after that announcement, on March 28, 2023, is when case number 37-2023-00012828-CU-OE-CTL was filed with the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. The suit named Figueroa vs Fletcher involves plaintiff Grecia Figueroa, a 34-year-old woman who immigrated from Peru. Figueroa was formerly employed by the Metropolitan Transit System in San Diego, and was fired the same day Fletcher announced a run for California State Senate. The complaint alleges that Fletcher engaged in the following behaviors:
- Defendant Fletcher Begins to Stalk Ms. Figueroa Online
- Defendant Fletcher Surfaces on Ms. Figueroa’s Social Media Account
- Defendant Fletcher Reveals that He Wants Sex from Ms. Figueroa
- Defendant Fletcher Lures Ms. Figueroa to His Hotel
- Defendant Fletcher Sexually Assaults Ms. Figueroa on Multiple Occasions
- Ms. Figueroa Is Abruptly Terminated from MTS on the Same Day Fletcher Announces His Run for California State Senate
- Defendant Fletcher Tries to Silence Ms. Figueroa by Threatening to Destroy Her Reputation and Sue Her for Extortion if She Vindicates Her Rights
That’s a filet of what the complaint alleges Fletcher engaged in. The complaint further stated – and this is a graphic depiction of a sexual assault, so be forewarned – among many of the sexual assaults that Fletcher allegedly engaged in, one particular situation that allegedly occurred is very alarming:
On December 1, 2022, during an MTS Executive Committee meeting, Fletcher messaged Ms. Figueroa from his phone while he was conducting the meeting. In the message, Fletcher asked Ms. Figueroa to “come say hi” and to meet him in the adjacent conference room after the event.
When Ms. Figueroa arrived at the room, Fletcher asked her to close the door and then sexually assaulted her a second time – this time grabbing her breasts underneath her blouse, pulling off some of her clothes, exposing her breasts, and putting his mouth on her nipple, while forcefully shoving his hand back and forth over her vaginal area.
Ms. Figueroa was shocked, scared, and humiliated – not only from being sexually objectified, but from the reality that this was happening in an MTS conference room, immediately adjacent to the MTS Boardroom where a committee meeting had just concluded. This was simply not something Ms. Figueroa was comfortable doing. She (again) pushed Fletcher back, told him she was too nervous, and insisted that he stop or she would leave, at which point Fletcher allowed her to put her clothes back together.
Two days after the complaint was filed, Fletcher announced on Twitter his intention to step down from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors:
The strain on my wife and family over this past week has been immense and unbearable. A combination of my personal mistakes plus false accusations has created a burden that my family shouldn’t have to bear. I will be resigning from the Board of Supervisors, effective at the end of my medical leave…
Would Fletcher qualify for a GVRO? Considering the complaint also includes allegations of threats against Figueroa, “These discussions were short-lived, however, because Fletcher soon resorted to threats of bullying, intimidation, and defamatory legal action against Ms. Figueroa if she ever brought her story to light,” Fletcher certainly could fit the bill of someone that should have a GVRO executed upon…in addition to the many allegations of violent sexual assaults and alleged stalker-like behavior.
The requirements, per California Code, Penal Code – PEN § 18175, to be fulfilled for a GVRO, a petitioner must prove the following:
(1) The subject of the petition, or a person subject to a temporary emergency gun violence restraining order or an ex parte gun violence restraining order, as applicable, poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to themselves or another by having in the subject’s or person’s custody or control, owning, purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm, ammunition, or magazine.
(2) A gun violence restraining order is necessary to prevent personal injury to the subject of the petition, or the person subject to an ex parte gun violence restraining order, as applicable, or another because less restrictive alternatives either have been tried and found to be ineffective, or are inadequate or inappropriate for the circumstances of the subject of the petition, or the person subject to an ex parte gun violence restraining order, as applicable.
The letter sent by Michael A. Schwartz, San Diego County Gun Owners PAC’s Political Director, does hit the high notes on Fletcher’s eligibility for having his permit to carry revoked, as well as having his firearms removed from his possession. Fletcher, being accused by someone that alleges they would be retaliated against if they spoke out, paired with his own self-described instability, could be considered a danger to the alleged victim and himself. Further, one of the requirements in order to get a California permit to carry, as illustrated on the San Diego County Sheriff’s webpage for permitting, is that “The applicant is of good moral character.”
Granted, all that we’re talking about concerning Fletcher are allegations, with no due process rendered yet. Unfortunately for him, that’s all that’s required for him to be red-flagged. We can assume that Fletcher has been a proponent of subjective criteria like “good moral character,” something that’s forbidden according to the NYSRPA v. Bruen decision, as well as Heller. But, this is the law and situation in California, and Fletcher, having shown his support for subverting the rights of San Diego County residents, must be held to the same exact standards of the rest of the peasants. What’s in the complaint – allegedly – does not make Fletcher, what a reasonable man would consider, to be of “good moral character.”
In the past, Fletcher has championed many different restrictions on the Second Amendment. Reading his statements, one can gather that he’s been fully indoctrinated in how to use the weasel words of gun-grabbers.
Fletcher was in support of banning so-called “ghost guns” in the county and forcing storage rules, and noted in 2022:
“Enacting stronger safety measures for gun storage and reducing the possibility for more unregulated firearms to be distributed in our neighborhoods is another important step toward fulfilling our obligation to help protect San Diegans from unnecessary gun violence,” said Chair Fletcher. “I want to thank Councilmember Marni von Wilpert who authored and passed “ghost gun” legislation in the city; and City Attorney Mara Elliott for her trailblazing “safe storage” policy, for inspiring the ordinance we passed today.”
Also in 2022, Fletcher specifically spoke about storage mandates imposed on the residents of San Diego:
“Safe firearm storage saves lives and prevents gun violence,” said Nathan Fletcher, Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “Last year we introduced the measure. Earlier this year the rules were finalized, and now we’re delivering on our promise. The common-sense, safe storage guidelines that go into effect in our unincorporated areas will keep families safe, especially children.”
Fletcher spoke about his support in voting to be able to sue gun manufacturers, something that goes against the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act:
“We have added another tool to our fight against gun violence in San Diego County,” said Chair Fletcher. “Today we have put our County in a position to take action against multimillion-dollar companies that profit off of people buying deadly weapons, but historically have never had the responsibility of making sure the wrong people don’t purchase them. Our efforts today will help to create greater accountability.”
Nathan Fletcher is no friend to civil liberties. Cherry-picking examples of his disdain of the Second Amendment can go on and on. Given the very serious allegations that have surfaced against him, he probably should be divested of his right to keep and bear arms – according to laws and ideologies he supports. Naturally, and confidently speaking for Bearing Arms, we here believe in the right of due process. There are major issues with laws that Fletcher supports. But, he does support them and should have to live under the same exact standards of everyone else.
Where does this put the citizens of San Diego, or California at large? Nowhere. That’s where. Fletcher, a gun-grabbing political hack, is playing the victim and snuck away to rehab. Whether or not Fletcher has a substance abuse problem is really of no consequence. Fletcher will have to one day face his accuser, and will or won’t be held accountable. According to the allegations, it does appear a criminal case should also be opened. Will that happen? Who knows.
What is likely to happen to a hypocrite like Fletcher is that he’ll come out the other end of this one day and be back in politics in no time. We’re talking about California of course. All he’d have to do is relocate to San Francisco, and he’d be good to go. Let’s hope I’m wrong about that. At a minimum, Fletcher deserves a spoon full of his own medicine and the San Diego County Sheriff’s office, et.al. should act on revoking Fletcher’s carry permit, as well as confiscate his guns. Then we’ll see if some animals are more equal than others.
Nathan Fletcher, wishing you well as you navigate your road to recovery. Disgraced. And hopefully disarmed.
Tune into Schwartz discussing the situation HERE, or in the embed below:
Nicolas Cage fires a Glisenty pistol. A still from the 1989 Italian drama film A Time to Kill, directed by Giuliano Montaldo. The film is set in 1936 during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. Filmed in Zimbabwe. Based on the novel of the same name by Ennio Flaiano
“They hope to take us alive, children!” They don’t know that there are three of us now. I’ll give you parabellum. We will retreat to the mountains. Can you cover us?
– I can not…
“12 chairs” I. Ilf and E. Petrov
– I can not…
“12 chairs” I. Ilf and E. Petrov
stories about weapons. In all countries, sooner or later, the same thing happened: a person appeared (and sometimes more than one) who came up with the idea to make his own successful model of small arms and thereby gain fame, respect and money. At the same time, the desire to do very often turned their heads so much that the samples they received were not only no better, but much worse than the original models, which they were guided by as objects to follow! Moreover, it also happened that even the military turned a blind eye to their shortcomings, just to get their own, “national” weapon, for which, however, they later had to pay. In Italy, for example, in 1910, two such pistols appeared at once. And that’s what we’re going to tell you about today.
Pistol “Glisenti” M1910. Right view. Overall length: 206 mm. Barrel length: 95 mm. Weight: 800 g. Magazine: 7 rounds. Caliber: 9 mm. Muzzle velocity: 270–305 m/s. Externally, the gun does not look at all as elegant as the same Parabellum. The handle looks too wide, the bolt box is also clearly oversized. But the trigger guard is too small and could well be larger and … more convenient. Royal arsenal. Leeds
The first of them is the Glisenti, officially known as the Glisenti self-loading pistol mod. 1910, which was produced by Sochieta Siderurgica Glisenti. It was developed by Abiel Betel Revelli, an officer in the Italian army in 190-1903, and already in 1906 the company purchased the necessary machinery and equipment in the UK to start its production, but for a number of reasons was forced to sell all rights to the production of the Metallurgical Company in Brescia.” But the name behind it remained the same. Initially, it was designed to use a 7,65 × 22 mm cartridge with a bottle-shaped sleeve. And such a model appeared already in 1908 under the unofficial name Glisenti Modello 1906. But the military did not like it. They demanded to increase the caliber to 9 mm. But the design of the pistol was not designed for the powerful German cartridge 9 × 19 mm Para, and therefore it was decided to use its own cartridge of exactly the same size and caliber, but with a charge of gunpowder reduced by 25 percent. This is where it all started…
Scheme of the device of a pistol with a branded bakelite handle
Soon the pistol was adopted as the main pistol of the Italian army, but for many years the old 10,35 mm Bodeo revolver mod. 1889, which was produced until the 1930s.
Detailed diagram of the Glisenti pistol
The new pistol had several rather strange and incomprehensible features at once. A mechanism of this type was rarely found in other models: it used a semi-free shutter, in which the barrel and receiver moved back when fired. Moreover, the shutter began to move until the barrel stopped, having passed about 7 mm. In this case, the barrel was held in place by a rising wedge-shaped lock, which fell as soon as the bolt began to return forward to send a new cartridge into the chamber.
Pistol “Glisenti” M1910. View from above. The upper surface of the shutter with the extractor spring is clearly visible. Royal arsenal. Leeds
It is difficult to call such a design successful. Firstly, the bolt was designed in such a way that, when moving back, it almost completely opened the pistol mechanism, which, of course, increased the likelihood of sand and dust contamination (especially in places such as the deserts of North Africa). Secondly, the trigger mechanism on it was self-cocking, so in order to fire from the Glisenti, it was necessary to press hard on the trigger, which first cocked the drummer, compresses the mainspring and only then released it. Because of this, the trigger had too long a stroke, and the production of a shot required considerable effort, which made it difficult to aim properly.
The pistol with the side plate of the frame removed is in the photo above and, in addition, turned upside down. It clearly shows the milled groove for the shutter in its rear part. It is clearly seen that it is attached to the frame at only two points, and only in one of them, namely the front, the mount is fixed! The bakelite cheeks of the handle were so fragile that, as soon as they broke, they were immediately replaced with wooden ones. Photo http://littlegun.be
But the strangest detail in this pistol (and you can’t say it any other way!) Was its frame. Usually, paired grooves or protrusions are milled in it for the movement of the shutter. The Glisenti had only one groove on the frame, on the right. But there was a groove on the left … too, otherwise the gun would not have worked, but for some reason it was on a removable plate, which was screwed to the frame with just one screw! This was supposedly invented so that the shooter had free access to the pistol mechanism and could easily disassemble it. And he really easily understood, it was only necessary to remove this plate by unscrewing the fixing screw in front. It is only known that any screw connection weakens over time, because the thread wears out.
Here it is, the very fixing screw of the side plate, right under the barrel. Royal arsenal. Leeds
With prolonged shooting, such a mount often weakened, and the plate could move aside at the most inopportune moment. That is, if you do not follow the screw and do not periodically tighten it, the gun could “self-sort” when fired with all the ensuing consequences. But be that as it may, the Glisenti pistol remained in production until the very end of the 1920s, and the Italian army used it until 1945.
Pistol “Glisenti” and a holster to it. Photo https://www.rockislandauction.com
By the way, if you accidentally load it with an ordinary 9-mm cartridge, when fired, it could well collapse with the most unfortunate consequences for the shooter. And confusing these cartridges, by the way, was quite easy.
The gun was patented even in China…
That is why in 1912 a model called “Brixia” appeared again: stronger and heavier (950 g), smoother, without a fuse and with a more reliable shutter locking system, but still it was not strong enough for continuous use. 9mm Parabellum cartridge.
Pistol “Vitali” M1910 Terni. View from the left. Photo http://littlegun.be
The second pistol in a series of Italian losers in 1910 was designed by the Italian officer Giuseppe Vitali, who participated in the creation of the Vetterli-Vitali rifle. He also designed the Vitali M1910 Terni automatic pistol, but almost nothing is known about him. Moreover, it is not known even to such a weapons specialist as Ian McCollom. Again, outwardly, the gun looks like a damaged Mauser K96. The bolt and barrel move together for a short distance before they unlock and the bolt continues to coast back to eject the empty case and load a new cartridge into the chamber. The design uses a large external trigger, which is hidden between the side walls of the U-shaped bolt, probably so that it does not cling to a holster or clothing.
Pistol “Vitali” M1910 Terni. Right view. The shutter is moved. Photo http://littlegun.be
The pistol was loaded from a 6-round clip, which for that time was already becoming an anachronism. The 7,65-mm caliber was also not of particular interest, since at the same time in Switzerland, the Parabellum of the same caliber was in service, much more perfect in every respect.
Scheme of the device of the gun “Vitali” M1910 Terni
However, the highlight of the design was not at all the combat characteristics of this pistol, but … operational, as in the case of the Revelli pistol. It was enough to unscrew the L-shaped screw with a pear-shaped head in the back of the frame on the right, as the pistol opened on a hinge tripled in front of the trigger guard, like “clamshell revolvers”.
Pistol “Vitali” M1910 Terni. The pear-shaped head of the fixing screw is clearly visible. Photo http://littlegun.be
Why this was done is unclear. This did not add any convenience in using Vitali. Moreover, due to the high-lying line of the barrel, even when firing with weak cartridges, he had to experience a strong overturning moment. Apparently, all these “cumulative characteristics” led to the fact that very few such “Mausers” were made, and no information about them and their creator has reached us.
The pistol is folded out. Photo http://littlegun.be
It is quite obvious that thanks to this design, it was more convenient to lubricate his trigger and take care of the pistol as a whole than for the German Mauser. But despite this, the gun “did not go.” Nobody liked it and nobody used it!
- Author:
- Vyacheslav Shpakovsky
