Things continue to both pick up pace and seemingly slow down at the same time.
After making boisterous threats of immediate ground assault into Gaza, the IDF apparently has gotten cold feet and sobered up to the harsh reality that they would face inordinate losses and/or defeat. So now, they’re pretending to gather forces while re-evaluating the situation, and their chances. In the meantime, they’ve resorted to indiscriminately mass bombing civilians from the sky.
But major problems in mobilization have been revealed:
⚠️ The newspaper The Times of Israel announced that reservists who are mobilized into the ranks of the Israeli army face serious problems because they lack adequate uniforms and other equipment (⏺including elements of individual ballistic protection).
▶️It is stated that this problem is being tried to be solved independently in the People’s Republic of China (Aliehpress), but also that the USA has announced military aid that will relieve the logistics of the Israeli army.
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The Israel Defense Forces were not ready for large-scale mobilization of reservists and combat deployment in war conditions. This was reported by the Israeli portal Ynet.
The reservists gathered from all over the country were not provided with food, they did not have the equipment, basic necessities, and personal hygiene.
Volunteers have already announced a nationwide collection of necessary items for reservists who continue to arrive at collection points throughout the wartime state.
I’ve been paying close attention to the war in Israel and Gaza; watching a lot of footage. Came across some video of Palestinians — probably late teens/early 20s — throwing stones at vehicles in a chaotic protest on a road. This was, I believe, on Saturday, and it wasn’t clear to me whether the footage was real time or from recent protests.
Suddenly, one of the most active stone-throwers pulled up his right leg, his face knotted in a grimace of pain, and he began to hop away on his good leg. His comrades abandoned their pile of rocks and helped him down an incline and out of the frame.
I knew immediately what had happened: The stone-thrower had taken a .22lr round to the ankle or shin.
“Medics in the Gaza Strip have reported treating an influx of protesters who appear to have been deliberately targeted in the ankle by Israeli forces in recent unrest at the volatile boundary of the blockaded Palestinian enclave. At least one person has been killed and dozens more wounded since demonstrations by groups of young men, some of them throwing stones and molotov cocktails, began in mid-September.”
The Guardian being The Guardian, this was presented as a new cruelty inflicted by the Occupation on oppressed Palestinians.
Human rights groups say that such targeting procedures are unlawful as they allow the use of potentially lethal force with no immediate threat to soldiers’ lives.
They did get one paragraph of “balance” into the piece:
In a statement, the IDF said: “Over the past few weeks, the Hamas terror organisation has organised violent riots along the border fence, for purposes of harming Israeli security forces … It should be noted that the IDF resorts to live fire only after exhausting all available options, and only as necessary to handle imminent threat.”
For years, the IDF has been deploying integrally suppressed .22 caliber Ruger 10/22 carbines, originally as a “less lethal” option for riot control. They are also used as a “hush puppy” to take out dogs and lights in raid operations. Because Israel actually adheres to rules of engagement and laws of combat, the Israeli Judge Advocate General tested the effect of fire from the .22lr and reclassified it as a lethal weapon, which restricts its use.
But clearly, it was in the field in the weeks preceding the explosion of violence in Hamas’ Operation Al Aqsa Flood.
The use of a .22 in a sniper role at limited range, especially in urban environments makes a lot of sense. It’s comparatively quiet even unsuppressed, making it difficult for an enemy to determine where fire is coming from. Suppressed, it’s pretty close to silent; only the sonic crack of the bullet is heard. If your target is higher than the ankles, a .22 can be plenty lethal. Ask any emergency room doc.
Chechens deployed .22 snipers against Russian troops in urban combat in the 1990s, using makeshift suppressors made from plastic bottles — a technique depicted in the movie Shooter, based off of Stephen Hunter’s classic thriller Point of Impact. They were taking head shots.
The Russians took heed, and developed a purpose-built .22 sniper rifle, the Kalashnikov SV99:
The .22 LR SV-99 sniper rifle was developed as a precision small-caliber weapon for special forces snipers to silently engage enemy personnel and other targets at ranges up to 100 meters, as well as for training purposes.
For their part, the IDF now has an updated and upgraded Ruger to work with (seen in the top photo):
Countless threads on gun forums have flogged the topic to death and beyond, but it bears keeping in mind that the .22 is more than just a plinker.
He was only 63 years old when he died, But what a life he led! What with rising from genteel poverty, West Point, The War with Mexico, taking a part in the Indian wars, the war between the States & Command of the incrediable Army of Northern Virginia. Followed by a honorable surrender to overwhelming force.
Then President of a Southern University after turning down some profitable jobs. While encouraging the South to come to terms with the peace. I get tired just by reading ths!
Now I don’t really care what anybody else might say about him. But you could do a WHOLE lot worse than to use him for a role model. As I hold that unlike so many of us. The man talked the talk & REALLY walked the walk! Grumpy
California is always at the forefront of the national conversation on gun control, and Governor Gavin Newsom is a prominent figure in pushing for strict regulations. California’s plasticized Governor signed Assembly Bill 28 which directly assaults law-abiding American citizens’ by adding a state tax to firearm or ammunition purchases.
California Assembly Bill 28—
The federal government already imposes a 10-12% tax on all firearm purchases. But the new California law is the first time where a state will impose another tax on any person who wants to purchase a firearm or ammunition.
The relevant part of the law does the following things:
-impose an excise tax in the amount of 11% of the gross receipts from the retail sale in this state of a firearm
-impose an excise tax in the amount of 11% of the gross receipts from the retail sale in this state of a firearm precursor part
-impose an excise tax in the amount of 11% of the gross receipts from the retail sale in this state of ammunition
-require that the revenues collected be deposited in the Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Fund
-moneys received in the fund to be used to fund various gun violence prevention, education, research, response, and investigation programs
-require each licensed firearms dealer, firearms manufacturer, and ammunition vendor to register with the department for a certificate
-provide procedures for the issuance, revocation, and reinstatement of a permit
Newsom Thinks Owning a Gun is a Sin, and deserves a “Sin Tax”
The term “sin tax” is typically used to discourage certain behaviors or activities that are deemed socially undesirable, such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. However, it’s important to recognize that owning a firearm is a constitutional right protected by the Second Amendment.
Check out KSG Armory’s affordable holsters.
Applying a sin tax to firearms implies that gun ownership is inherently sinful or undesirable, which undermines the principles of our nation. It is a disservice to the millions of law-abiding citizens who exercise their right to bear arms responsibly and for legitimate reasons such as self-defense, hunting, and sport shooting.
A Burden on Law-Abiding Citizens
Newsom’s proposed gun tax unfairly targets law-abiding citizens. By imposing additional financial burdens on those who seek to exercise their Second Amendment rights, this policy creates an unnecessary obstacle for individuals who follow the law.
Criminals steal the vast majority of guns they use in crimes. This “sin tax” does not affect these criminals, only law-abiding citizens.
Furthermore, a tax like this disproportionately impacts lower-income individuals who struggle to afford the additional costs associated with gun ownership. This regressive approach contradicts the goal of ensuring equal access to self-defense for all citizens, regardless of their economic status.
Thanks to the Craiyon website for generating this image of California’s destructive leader, Governor Newsom.
An Ineffective Solution to Gun Violence
Advocates of the gun tax argue that it will generate revenue to fund programs aimed at reducing gun violence. While this may sound appealing in theory, it’s important to scrutinize the effectiveness of such a claim.
I recently wrote on how gun control advocates use the term “gun violence” deceptively to disarm law-abiding citizens.
Anyone who thinks “government programs” to study or reduce gun violence is sadly nieve. No matter how much money they throw at the problem of violence, it will fail because the progressive leaders in California don’t want to address violence. They just want to disarm their constituents. In this respect, they have been effective.
I am convinced that these programs will funnel a lot of money to bogus organizations run by friends and associates of California lawmakers, and do nothing to focus any real help to fix mental health, or address the lawlessness and broken California criminal justice system that encourages crime.
Finally
If you want to read the entire bill, you can do so here.
While the goal of reducing gun violence is undoubtedly a noble one, Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed gun tax is evil, misguided and counterproductive approach. For a leader to purposefully make the people they govern more vulnerable to criminals, while encouraging those criminals, is not just wrong, but it is evil.
I moved out of California in 2014, and I am so glad I did. I wonder how much longer will Californian’s put up with this type of garbage.
California Assembly Bill 28 unfairly targets law-abiding citizens, places an undue financial burden on those with limited means, and ultimately does nothing root causes of gun violence.
He was only 63 years old when he died, But what a life he led! What with rising from genteel poverty, West Point, The War with Mexico, taking a part in the Indian wars, the war between the States & Command of the incrediable Army of Northern Virginia. Followed by a honorable surrender to overwhelming force. 
