Hey,
I went to a Barbecue with my Long Beach girl last night. She asked a myriad of questions about my sordid past and then Sturgis surface and she started asking questions about the run to the Badlands, like, “Are you ready?”
I thought about one of the first rules in Buddhism about change. Everything changes constantly, so get use to use to it. Months ago four of us had a solid plan and a place to stay. Virtually, every aspect of this plan has changed except for me. I’m still going.
Let’s hit the news, then I’m going to ride the Mudflap FXR to the mountain and ponder the next change.
Sunday Post is sponsored in part by Las Vegas Bikefest.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND MARVEL STUDIOS CONFIRM PROJECT LIVEWIRE WILL APPEAR IN MARVEL’S AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
Announcement at San Diego Comic-Con Confirms Harley’s First Electric Motorcycle will Light-Up the Screen in Another Heroic Adventure from Marvel, Alongside New Street 750
SAN DIEGO (July 25, 2014) – Today at the San Diego Comic-Con, Harley-Davidson and Marvel Studios will introduce Project LiveWire – Harley-Davidson’s first electric motorcycle – to fans gathered at the annual international convention. Project LiveWire, which is featured in Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, will be the ride of choice for Natasha Romanoff (a.k.a. Black Widow) played by Scarlett Johansson, in an epic scene with Captain America in the film.
The addition of Project LiveWire to Avengers: Age of Ultron confirms months of speculation that Harley-Davidson and Marvel are, indeed, teaming up again. Harley-Davidson motorcycles – including the Harley-Davidson Street 750 featured in Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier earlier this year – have appeared in a number of Marvel movies and television shows over the last several years.
While not for sale, Project LiveWire is specifically designed to get insight into rider expectations of an electric Harley-Davidson motorcycle. In keeping with the company’s customer-led product development approach, Harley-Davidson is taking Project LiveWire to consumers across the country. Fans in San Diego will be able to ride the bike at the San Diego Harley-Davison dealership July 25-26 and provide feedback to help shape the future of Harley-Davidson’s first-ever electric motorcycle. To learn more about Project LiveWire and The Experience Tour, visit www.projectlivewire.com.
Set for release in the United States on May 1, 2015, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron is produced by Kevin Feige. Executive Producers are Louis D’Esposito, Jeremy Latcham, Victoria Alonso, Patricia Whitcher, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, and Jon Favreau.
REGISTER TO VOTE, GODDAMMIT–
Registering to vote is critical to preserving our Second Amendment rights. Michael Bloomberg and his anti-gun allies are committed to taking away our freedoms. You can protect your rights by registering to vote and making sure that your freedom loving family and friends are registered to vote.
One of the missions of NRA’s Freedom Action Foundation (NRA-FAF) is to protect the Second Amendment through a vigorous non-partisan voter registration program. This week, NRA-FAF announced the kickoff of its 2014 “Trigger the Vote” voter registration campaign and unveiled the redesigned Trigger the Vote website.
We encourage you to visit the new website, watch the new ad, “Father and Son,” and learn about the user-friendly tools to help gun owners and Second Amendment supporters register to vote.
Chris W. Cox President, NRA Freedom Action Foundation
HOW TO PREDICT A BODY SEARCH– I bet you spotted it right off!
Yep …. the suitcase doesn’t have a name tag on it
–Ray Russell
OREGON: MARIJUANA REGULATION MEASURE QUALIFIES FOR 2014 BALLOT– Salem, OR: Oregon voters will decide this November whether to approve a statewide initiative to regulate the commercial production and retail sale of marijuana. State election officials announced on Tuesday that petitioners, New Approach Oregon, had submitted enough valid signatures from registered voters to qualify the measure for the 2014 ballot.
The proposed ballot initiative (Initiative Petition 53) seeks to regulate the personal possession, commercial cultivation, and retail sale of cannabis to adults. Adults who engage in the non-commercial cultivation of limited amounts of cannabis for personal use (up to four marijuana plants and eight ounces of usable marijuana at a given time) will not be subject to taxation or commercial regulations.
Passage of the initiative would not “amend or affect in any way the function, duties, and powers of the Oregon Health Authority under the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act.”
Alaska voters will decide on a similar legalization initiative in November. Florida voters will also decide in November on a constitutional amendment to allow for the physician-authorized use of cannabis therapy.
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–Ujjwal Dey
Bikernet Overseas Editor in Chief
~ www.FreedomFiction.com ~ www.Orison.co ~ www.GoodNews.name
MOTORCYCLE ALERT, Fact or Fiction?– There is a safety community in Washington D.C. that is trying to destroy motorcycling as we know it with lies and half truths. This group is a quasi mixture of government and private safety driven organizations including The Center for Auto Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and the Governors Highway Safety Association to name a few.
All of these groups work to influence the government to enact stricter and stricter safety standards and laws. They all do this slightly differently from each other but they do have one common core; they hate motorcycles.
If they thought it was remotely possible for one minute that they could eliminate all forms of power driven two wheelers from the traffic landscape, they would try.
They try to alarm the general public with misinformation or partial information. They claim that motorcyclist fatalities have been on the rise since 2005 and that is true. Some years see a dip but for the most part motorcyclist fatalities have risen. There was an increase of 36 more fatalities between from 2005 to 2011, 4,576 to 4,612 respectively. However, bike sales and registration numbers are up and that tells a very different story. One that they don’t want you to hear.
A closer look at the numbers reveals the bulk of the story. They tell us that motorcyclists fatalities are on the rise but they never mention the number of motorcycles on the road, which is also increasing.
When we look at the numbers, they show the exact opposite of what the media, the government and the safety-crats are telling us. In fact, motorcycle fatalities are occurring on a much less frequent basis year after year.
Since 2005, fatalities have dropped from 73.5 motorcyclists per one hundred thousand registered motorcycles to 54.7. That is an almost 30% drop in fatalities in the exact same time period in which the fear mongers tell you fatalities are a growing problem.
All of the numbers used here are directly from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) website. Separating fact from fiction reveals the truth. Over six years 2.2 million motorcycles were added to the roads and we essentially kept the number of fatalities at a near static number. This is not exactly the end of the world, deathtrap-riding scenario that the powers that be would have you believe.
All this considering that the only difference is the Motorcycle Riders Foundation created a federal grant program to send money to the states to assist with rider education and share the road type campaigns. We have also relaxed mandatory helmet laws which goes directly against what they would have you believe.
Year Registrations Fatalities Fatalities per 100,000 registered
2005 6,227,146 4,576 73.48
2006 6,678,958 4,837 72.43
2007 7,138,476 5,174 72.48
2008 7,706,464 5,312 68.39
2009 7,883,446 4,469 56.69
2010 8,212,267 4,518 55.01
2011 8,437,502 4,612 54.66
During the August congressional recess remind your elected officials that since 2005, we have had states repeal helmet laws and have watched fatalities drop. The only significant change to the motorcycle safety world other than more motorcycles, is the National Highway Traffic Administrations motorcycle safety grant program. The same program that was supported by the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. This fund has dispensed money to every state and is used for motorcycle rider education and share the road campaigns.
In order to continue the fund we need Congress to pass another transportation bill. Please take advantage of the upcoming congressional recess by contacting your member of congress, attending events and town hall type meetings. Urge them to get to work on the highway bill.
Number of Days: 14 Nights / 15 Days
Number of Riding Days: 13 Days
Duration of Ride: Between 5 & 7 Hours a day on Average
Distance Covered on Motorcycle: 2700 Kms
Grade: Easy
Temperature: 15º C to 32º C
LMR Rating: **** / 5
Day 1, 20th Dec’14: ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive at Delhi’s airport, Our representative will personally meet you outside the EXIT gate of arrival terminal, holding a placard of your name. You will be transferred to your hotel. We offer an optional afternoon guided tour of Delhi. Welcome dinner party tonight in one of Delhi’s colorful local restaurants. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 2, 21st Dec’14: DELHI – MANDAWA (240 km)
Today we drive to Mandawa by Air-conditioned car that takes 4 Hrs to reach Mandawa. Mandawa is a world famous for its heritage Havelies and colourful fresco art. Thousands of tourists come here to see the open art gallery of Rajasthan & lovely Havelis. On arrival check-in Hotel & relax. In the late afternoon you will be introduced to our Royal Enfield 500cc Motorcycle & our road Captain will make you understand about the driving rules of India & how to handle Motorcycle in your Motorcycle tour to Rajasthan. Later take a warm up ride in & around village for about 2-3 Hrs & explore beautiful havelis in the region. Overnight stay in Hotel.
Day 3, 22nd Dec’14: MANDAWA-BIKANER (190 Kms / 4 Hrs Ride)
After breakfast, ride start to Bikaner. On arrival check into the hotel & relax. In the afternoon you will proceed for a sightseeing tour of Bikaner visiting Junagarh Fort, one of the most interesting forts in Rajasthan, with its sumptuously decorated interiors. Built in 1588 by Raja Rai Singh it is unusual in the sense that it was one of the few major forts of Rajasthan that was not built on a hilltop. Later we will ride to visit the National Camel Breeding Farm and see the incredible sight of a herd of camels returning back after grazing, with the spectacular desert sunset in the background. Set amid rolling sand dunes, this farm is set up to produce superior strains of camels both for domestic haulage as well as, even today, for military use. Come back to your hotel after your tour. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4, 23rd Dec’14: BIKANER-JAISALMER (320 Kms / 7 Hrs Ride)
After breakfast, get ready to ride on awesome route for Motorcycle trip through small villages set among desert oasis with deep blue vast open skies above to the horizon of golden sands. Wild camels and caravans of gypsies drift by as we are virtually alone on the roads through the desert. Our destination for the next two nights is the fantastic Ali Baba “Golden Fortress City” on the Pakistan – India border in the Thar Desert, Jaisalmer. On arrival in Jaisalmer, check into the hotel & relax.
Day 5, 24th Dec’14: JAISALMER-SAM SAND DUNES DESERT CAMP (40 Kms)
Morning after breakfast, start your sightseeing of Jaisalmer including the old town of Jaisalmer & visit Jaisalmer Fort, built in the year 1156 by Rawal Jaisal. Perched on 80m high hill, housing the entire township within its ramparts, it is the only “Living Fort” in India. Later visit beautifully sculptured Jain Temples of the 12th-15th century & after that visit magnificent Patwon Ki Haveli in the heart of the town & it is virtually the showpiece of Jaisalmer’s legendary architectural wealth
Later we ride down 40 km away from Jaisalmer through huge sand Dunes on both side of Road which gives you awe inspiring experience of Motorcycle Tour in Rajasthan. On arrival at Sam Sand Dunes camping site, check in camp & relax. Later enjoy Gala Dinner on dunes. Overnight in Camp.
Day 6, 25th Dec’14: JAISALMER-JODHPUR (320 Kms / 7 Hrs Ride)
Morning after breakfast we ride to Jodhpur, one of the world’s best known fortresses, we head south through the sand dunes to an ancient temple complex called Osiyan for a visit and fast lunch on our way to the fascinating desert city of Jodhpur, dominated by the Maharaja’s hilltop fortress called Mehrangarh. After the long day’s ride, we arrive at our hotel & relax. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 7, 26th Dec’14: JODHPUR-GHANERAO (160 Kms / 4 Hrs Ride)
After breakfast, will start sightseeing of Jodhpur on Motorbike toward to Hill to visit the Mehrangarh Fort (Majestic Fort), one of the most impressive & formidable structures anywhere in India. View of the city from the Top of the Fort is just incredible; from here whole city looks Blue. Nearby visit Jaswant Thada (also known as Taj Mahal of Jodhpur), a cluster of royal cenotaphs in white marble built in the year 1899 AD. It is an architectural landmark of Jodhpur. In the last we ride to visit the beautiful Umaid Bhawan Palace. It’s Royal Museum is one of the most attractive Museum in India. After that Ride toward our next destination called Ghanerao. Ghanerao is beautiful village & here we will stay in Royal Castle of this village. After Dinner, we have option for you to experience Motorcycle ride in night around the village & forest area. O/n in Hotel.
Day 8, 27th Dec’14: GHANERAO-UDAIPUR (130 Kms / 4 Hrs Ride)
After breakfast, get ready for Mountainous Motorcycle Ride toward Udaipur, this place is full of natural beauty, abundant water & natural protection afforded by the surrounding forests & Aravali
Mountains. It is also known as the “City of Lakes”. On arrival check into the hotel & relax. After Lunch, visit to City Palace a majestic architectural marvel towering over the lake & the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. At Sunset enjoy a boat ride around Lake Pichola, which offers spectacular views of the hills, palaces, temples & bathing ghats. Evening take a short walk in the colorful market of Udaipur. Overnight in Hotel at Udaipur.
Day 9, 28th Dec’14: UDAIPUR-BASSI VIA CHITTORGARH (190 Kms / 4 Hrs Ride)
After breakfast, start motorcycle ride to Bassi Fort enroute we will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Fort of Chittorgarh. It is the largest fort in India and the grandest in the state of Rajasthan. Chittorgarh is a symbol of the valour and the chivalry of the Rajputs. It was captured three times in its history and every time the men rather died in the battlefield than surrender to the enemy. They donned yellow robes and rode out in order to die by the sword. The women inside committed jauhar, collective were burning themselves on a pyre. Today the fort lies in ruins, but still its long lost splendour and majesty can be perceived. After lunch continue to drive Bassi Fort. On arrival, check in Hotel & relax.
Day 10, 29th Dec’14: BASSI-PUSHKAR (210 Kms / 5 Hrs Ride)
After breakfast, start Motorcycle ride to Pushkar. Pushkar is famous for its Temples, Lake, Ghats, Sand Dunes and Bazaar. There are small hills on the three side of Pushkar and the deep and beautiful lake on the other, which increase the beauty of Pushkar. On arrival, check into the hotel & relax. Evening enjoy the walk in Colorful Market of Pushkar. Overnight in Pushkar.
Day 11, 30th Dec’14: PUSHKAR-JAIPUR (130 Kms / 4 Hrs Ride)
Today we ride to Jaipur, popularly known as Pink City, the flamboyant & colourful capital of Rajasthan. With its rich & colourful past, resplendent with tales of valour & bravery, it is now one of the most important heritage cities in India. The city was founded in the year 1728 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber. It remains the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe, through nine rectangular sectors. Today we take an excursion to Amber Fort, the palace complex which stands to this date was commenced under the reign of Raja Man Singh. Overnight stay in comfortable & years old Haveli.
Day 12, 31st Dec’14: JAIPUR-RANTHAMBORE (190 Kms / 4 Hrs Ride)
After breakfast, get ready for wild life Motorcycle trip experience by reaching Ranthambore. On arrival in Ranthambore, check into the hotel.
Late afternoon visit the 10th Century’s Ranthambore Fort and enjoy the short nature walk. Overnight in Hotel at Ranthambore.
Day 13, 1st Jan’14: RANTHAMBORE
Morning & afternoon do the jungle safari with a naturalist guide in an open canter coach. Overnight in Hotel at Ranthambore.
Ranthambore national park; Located in south-east Rajasthan, where the Vindhayas and the Aravalli Hills meet, the Ranthambore National Park is bound by the rivers Chambal, in the south, and Banas, in the north. Characterised by rocky plains, flat hill tops, gentle slopes and precipitous cliffs, covered by
dry deciduous forests. Ranthambore is virtually an island rich in flora and fauna in an ocean of villages, farmland and over grazed arid land.
A haven for a multitude of wild animals, the park boasts of playing host to Royal Bengal Tigers, Leopards, the elusive Carcals, Hyenas, Sloth Bears, Wild Boars, Crocodiles and so on.
Day 14, 2nd Jan’14: RANTHAMBORE-AGRA VIA BHARATPUR (250 Kms / 6 Hrs Ride)
Morning after breakfast, we ride toward Agra via Bharatpur. On arrival in Bharatpur, we see off to our Bikes & Crew Members. Here in Bharatpur, will have lunch in Heritage Hotel & later we sit in car & drive to Agra. On arrival in Agra, check into the hotel & relax. Evening enjoy your farewell Dinner in a Taj View Restaurant. Overnight in Hotel at Agra.
Day 15, 3rd Jan’14: AGRA-DELHI (210 Kms /4 Hrs Drive)
Early morning enjoy the visit of India’s most celebrated monuments Taj Mahal in Sunrise, built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz, it’s also known as symbol of eternal love. Later back to hotel for breakfast & after that visit Agra Fort. After that drive continue to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, enjoy your farewell Dinner in a local atmospheric Restaurant. Later straight transfer to Airport for your return flight to onward destination
Special Promotional Offer:-
USD – 2800 Per Rider
USD – 2000 Per Pillion
Single Room Supplement: USD 550 Nett.
Package Cost Includes:-
14 Nights Hotel / Camp Accommodation on Twin / Double Sharing basis in 3* Category of Hotels.
Breakfast throughout the tour on Buffet in Hotels & Breakfast+Dinner in Camp at Sam.
All Ground Transfers from your arrival at Airport in India to till departure from India, sightseeing & overland journey by Air Conditioned Vehicle on non-riding days.
Latest Model of Royal Enfield 500 CC Motorcycle on all riding days.
Fuel for the Bike.
Experienced English speaking Motorcycle Road Captain for whole trip on his own Bike.
Experienced Royal Enfield mechanic with motorcycle all necessary spare parts.
First-Aid Medical kit.
Refreshment during rides like Packed Juice, Fresh Fruits, Biscuits, Chips, Tea, Coffee Etc.
Back-up Vehicle for your Luggage & Pillion Rider.
One Time Monument / Monastery / Temple Entrances.
The services of an English speaking guide on sightseeing days.
All required Video / Camera fees.
Farewell Dinner with Unlimited Beer.
Assistance by friendly, knowledgeable English speaking ground representatives from the moment you arrive in India until the time you leave.
All Currently Applicable Taxes.
Rates exclude:
International Flights, Lunch, Dinner, personal medical insurance (compulsory), Bike damage, extra drinks, visa fees and items of personal nature such as tips, laundry, liquor, extra drinks etc & anything which is not mentioned in included section.
For any query regarding this offer, please do feel free to get in touch with us.
–Bharat Singh…..
Handy+91-09871483018
Block-B, Office No. 34,
3rd Floor, Ramesh Nagar,
New Delhi-110015
Phone No: +91-11-25101303
Skype: legendarymotorides
[page break]
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–PRE-STURGIS ROLL-OUT THURSDAY NEWS FOR JULY 24, 2014
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=11809
Great job on the Thursday News! Really enjoyed Bandit’s ride-report on the new Indian. I’m looking at them myself. Uncle Monkey detailed exactly how I travel the roads less traveled.
That’s a great shot of Danielle from “Pickers”…would love to see more of her.
Thanks for all you do for our sport and lifestyle.
— Mike
Windsor, CT
p.s. the writer in the first section should use more spell-check…
Thanks, and I would love to point my old scrawny finger at someone regarding the spelling, but alias I’m generally the guilty party.
–Bandit
MRF COMPLAINT– Sometimes the people at the MRF are just idiots and it is SO FREAKING HARD to support them in anyway.
We are now paying higher taxes (cumulatively) than any industrialized nation in the world and it is killing our economic growth. State and Federal governments collect enough taxes to have roads as smooth as a baby’s ass. It is a question of allocation of our tax money. Anyone, who thinks more taxes is a good thing is just clueless.
“Senators Corker (R-TN) and Murphy (D-CT) have introduced legislation that would increase the federal gas tax twelve cents over the next two years and then levy the tax for inflation. This is a bold idea that is well overdue…”
WHAT??
They would respond that money cannot be reallocated from other funds or a general fund… ya de ya da. It is NOT true and only political neophytes would believe it.
–Da Commander
STURGIS RUN ALERT– Road Update from Eric Herrmann. Highway
89 from Buckhorn WY to Cheyenne Crossing is fine. Very few rocks and paved better than it was last year. No need to avoid.
–Patty
One of the aglets at the end of his shoelace contained a highly compressed irritant agent, primarily Chloroacetophenone—a mild but smoky form of tear gas.
“The aglet ,” I said. “And the little metal ring that reinforces the rim of the eyelet through which the aglet passes. We’re doing the physics of language, Shay.”
Origin:
Aglet is derived from the Middle French word aiguille meaning “needle.”
“Hot Sauce” Caps Off His 14-Year Professional Racing Career
“It has been a roller coaster since I started racing pro at the end of 1999 at Millville,” says veteran racer Ivan “Hot Sauce” Tedesco in announcing his retirement from RCH Soaring Eagle Suzuki this weekend. “I have had a lot of success… and a lot of failure. However, the one thing I can do is to walk away from this deal knowing I gave it my all every time I got on my motorcycle. In the end that’s all you can ask of a person — give it your all.”
Give it his all he most certainly did. Despite a plague of injuries, he was the 2004 125cc West Coast Supercross Champion (winning seven of eight races that year). He repeated as 2005 125cc West Coast SX champ and was also the 125cc Outdoor National Champion in 2005. However it is his role on the Motocross of Nations winning teams that are perhaps the high water mark of is illustrious career as Team USA beat the best in the world in 2005, 2006 and again in 2009!
After that, it was the move to the 450cc class. “I made the decision to go over to Suzuki to be teammates with Ricky Carmichael. I learned so much from RC. I am thankful for his friendship, the opportunity to train with him and the help his parents have always given me. They treated me like family and did everything they could to help. I had a successful rookie Supercross season finishing fourth behind Carmichael, Stewart and Reed.”
However a lot of heartache came after seven years that initial success in the 450 class, primarily due to injury. While Ivan enjoyed proving the pundits wrong, the time has finally come to call it a career almost 14 years to the day.
“It’s never easy to quit something you’ve done for so long, but the time has come where racing just isn’t the same as it used to be,” says Tedesco. “I always told myself when the day comes that I’m not competitive anymore; I need to walk away; that time is now.” However he won’t be going too far away from the RCH Soaring Eagle pits as he will continue to test the Suzuki’s and help get the bikes ready for the team’s future riders.
“From RCH’s perspective, we are honored that he finished out his illustrious career with RCH Soaring Eagle and on a Suzuki,” says co-principal Carey Hart. “We are grateful to have Ivan’s testing expertise for RCH moving forward… It just wouldn’t be the same not having Hot Sauce to spice things up around here!”
“I have nothing to be bummed about,” says Tedesco. “I can say I have never given less than 100% and have enjoyed proving people wrong. I’m grateful for the opportunities I have been given and the friendships I have made. I love dirt bikes and racing and look forward to finding my new career within the sport because this is what I love to do.”
“Thank you to my fans, who have always had my back and motivated me to keep going! I hope to see you all at the races soon,” concludes Tedesco.
SUNDAY GUN NUT REPORT: Colorado’s Experience Soundly Refutes Common Anti-gun Talking Point–
Last month, while addressing a group of Colorado sheriffs, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper spoke on the topic of the state’s 2013 measure outlawing almost all private transfers of firearms. According to the Denver Post, Hickenlooper told the sheriffs, “I think we screwed that up completely… we were forming legislation without basic facts.”
A new Associated Press report examining Colorado background check data in the first year of the new law proves the accuracy of Hickenlooper’s statement, and should (although likely won’t) end the repetition of an already discredited anti-gun background check factoid.
The report states that the Colorado Legislative Council, an offshoot of the state legislature that is tasked with analyzing legislation, estimated that 420,000 additional background checks would be conducted in the two years following the new private sale restrictions. This led the Colorado legislature to allocate $3 million to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to handle the anticipated increase.
However, the AP notes, “officials have performed only about 13,600 reviews considered a result of the new law — about 7 percent of the estimated first year total.” The article goes on to state, “In total, there were about 311,000 background checks done during the first year of the expansion in Colorado, meaning the 13,600 checks between private sellers made up about 4 percent of the state total.”
How did the Colorado Legislative Council get their estimate so wildly wrong? They relied on same bogus statistic (that 40 percent of gun transfers occur between private parties) which gun control advocates and the White House have been using to advocate for expanded background checks all over the country.
The 40 percent statistic is from a Police Foundation survey, the results of which were published in a 1997 National Institute of Justice report titled, Guns in America: National Survey on Private Ownership and Use of Firearms. The figure has been debunked repeatedly by the NRA and others, and even earned the President “Three Pinocchios” from the Washington Post’s fact-checker for his repeated use of the misleading stat.
Unfortunately, these public admonishments haven’t deterred gun control supporters from using this absurdly inflated figure. In November, Sen. Dianne Feinstein repeated the factoid in an opinion piece for the San Jose Mercury News. As recently as early July, the Brady campaign asserted in a press release, “Approximately 40 percent of all guns sales go unchecked.”
A May press release from Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety reiterated estimates “that 40 percent of gun sales occur without a background check in the U.S.” Even President Obama’s official website, whitehouse.gov, has a page for his “Now is the Time” gun control campaign that continues to claim, “Right now, federally licensed firearms dealers are required to run background checks on those buying guns, but studies estimate that nearly 40 percent of all gun sales are made by private sellers who are exempt from this requirement.”
The data from Colorado’s first year of restricted private transfers makes continued use the 40 percent figure untenable. Still, some gun control advocates might seek to blame Colorado’s low increase in background checks on scofflaws, and those unaware of changes in the law, circumventing the new restrictions. Even if these factors did have a role to play in the underwhelming check numbers, they could hardly be expected to raise the percentage of undocumented private transfers by a factor of 10.
Even if they could, it would merely weaken the case of the efficacy of private transfer restrictions. Evidence of background check avoidance would simply underscore NRA’s position that background check laws cannot affect the behavior of those who intentionally or unknowingly violate them.
Colorado’s expensive foray into background check expansion should serve as a warning to state and federal legislators as to the limited effect these laws can have, and the importance of collecting the “basic facts” before crafting legislation that inhibits the rights of their constituents.
Yet the tactics of gun control supporters are nothing if not shameless, so don’t expect them to relinquish the 40 percent myth any time soon. President Obama has openly embraced the confiscatory gun bans of Australia and Great Britain, and he and other gun control radicals realize they can’t achieve that goal without registration. “Universal” background checks are the next step in that direction, so for their proponents, the ends justify their dishonest means.
For everyone else, however, Colorado’s example is a resounding reminder that the war the proponents of “universal” background checks are waging is one of ideology, not one of facts, and it is certainly not in the service of “gun safety.”
5-BALL RACING UPDATE– Dan and Crew are addressing the issue and moving on…
Support our efforts, become a 5-Ball sponsor.
–Ray C Wheeler
Bikernet Performance Editor
wheeler@bikernet.com
200 Broad Ave
Suite 44
Wilmington, Ca 90744
831 594 7783 cell
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He yells out, “Hey boy, whatcha got there?”
The boy yells back, “Roll of chicken wire.”
The old man says, “What you gonna do with that?”
The boy says, “Catch some chickens.”
The old man yells, “You damn fool, you can’t catch chickens with chicken wire!”
The boy just laughs and keeps walking.
That evening at sunset the boy comes walking by and to the old man’s surprise, he is dragging behind him the chicken wire with about 30 chickens caught in it.
At the same time the next morning, the old man is out watching the sunrise and he sees the boy walk by carrying something kind of round in his hand.
The old man yells out, “Hey boy, whatcha got there?”
The boy yells back, “Roll of duck tape.”
The old man says, “What you gonna! do with that?”
The boy says back, “Catch me some ducks.”
The old man yells back, “You damn fool, you can’t catch ducks with duck tape!”
The boy just laughs and keeps walking.
That night, around sunset, the boy walks by coming home and to the old man’s amazement, he is trailing behind him the unrolled roll of duck tape with about 35 ducks caught in it.
At the same time the next morning, the old man sees the boy walking by carrying what looks like a long reed with something fuzzy on the end.
The old man says, “Hey boy, whatcha got there?”
The boy says, “It’s a pussy willow.”
The old man says “Hold on, I’ll get my hat.”
–from Bill Stratton
Brain Damaged Vets Kicked Out Of Group Home–
Ten brain-damaged veterans have been discharged from their special therapeutic group homes because Congress has failed to renew their rehabilitation program, The Wall Street Journal reported. The program expires October 6, but 53 veterans have been told by their Veterans Affairs office case workers that they’ll have to leave their private homes by September 15 if Congress doesn’t act. Meanwhile, the 10 discharges vets were sent “to nursing homes, state veterans homes or to live with family members,” according to The Journal.
The five-year pilot program was created to see if veterans with brain injuries would improve more with intense therapy. The VA hasn’t assessed how successful the program is, but “all indications are that the satisfaction is high among the veterans with the services they’re receiving, and they seem to be making gains,” Sharon Benedict, the program’s manager, told The Journal.
And while Congress is dragging its feet on renewing the group-home program, Rep. Jeff Miller, the chairman of the House VA committee, introduced a bill that would reduce the red tape veterans face when trying to access mental health services.
— By SFC Drake
–from Jim Torrez
DAV
FEDERAL ALERT: Congress Attempts to Undermine District of Columbia’s Decriminalization Law–Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD) has introduced an amendment to the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, which includes D.C.’s local and federal funds, to restrict the city’s ability to implement marijuana decriminalization and to hinder city officials from moving forward on further marijuana law reforms.
“What the amendment will do is prohibit not only federal funds but D.C. funds to be used to decriminalize marijuana under the current statute,” said Rep. Harris.
The Harris amendment recently passed the House’s Appropriations Committee in a 28 to 21 vote, with 27 Republicans and 1 Democrat voting in favor of it. The Appropriations bill now awaits action from the entire House of Representatives. If approved, it then has to pass a vote with the majority of the Senate, after which it still needs to be approved by President Barack Obama.
Harris’ rider was criticized by House Democrats across the country. Rep. José E. Serrano (D-N.Y.) called Harris’s amendment a misplaced effort by Republicans to appear tough on drugs. Rep. Serrano stated that Republicans’ interference amounted to D.C. “colonialism.”
Longtime marijuana law reform supporter Representative Jim Moran criticized the move stating that, “The D.C. voters elected people. They made the decision, and it seems to me that we ought to respect that. It just doesn’t seem right that the Eastern Shore of Maryland can reach over into D.C. and make laws for D.C. It’s not the way this country is supposed to function.”
This action was also decried by the Washington Post Editorial Board in a recent opinion piece, writing that “the only thing that seemed to matter to House Republicans as they trampled on the District’s home rule is that they could. As Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) baldly put it: ‘Whether or not we should do it, we can debate it, but we have the jurisdiction to do it.'”
District officials overwhelmingly approved legislation this spring to reduce marijuana possession offenses to a $25 fine-only offense. The new law is set to go into effect on July 17th, well before this amendment will be approved or implemented. However, passage of the amendment could jeopardize its continued implementation.
Please take a moment of your time to enter your zip code below and contact your elected officials to urge them to oppose federal government overreach into local DC laws.
THE TEASER TRAILER FROM CHOPPERTOWN–It’s Biker Movie Sunday and we wanted to let you know about a cool film that just came out called Road to Paloma.
It’s got a legit biker movie feel and we got permission to share some clips exclusively with the Choppertown family. It’s available in iTunes in the USA now and coming very soon everywhere else. If you dig the clips, download the movie HERE.
Have a super Sunday!
LET’S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE—I’m scrambling to finish a very cool Panhead bike feature from Mayhem Cycles in New Jersey. I would also like to put together one final Bonneville build report featuring our efforts with the Assalt Weapon trike with Kent Weeks, at Lucky Devil Metal Works in Houston, and the Bonne Belle, with Lee Clemens of Departure Bike Works in Richmond, VA.
Lee has been sick, and Kent buried under other projects. Let’s see what happens next.
In the meantime, I’m going to test ride the Mudflap girl to the Temple this afternoon. If all goes well, she’ll be ready for the run to Sturgis next week.
So hang on! I’m a judge for the History Channel Ultimate Builder show in Sturgis. Let’s see who I can piss off at this gathering. There will be four other judges and four contestants, including John Shope and Paul Yaffe. I really should watch the show, but I have a spy who takes notes.
Let me know what you think of it, and how it’s going. In the meantime I’m packing for the run to Sturgis. I’ll see you there.
I’ve locked in a 2014 Indian Classic from Indian of Charleston, South Carolina. Rich Worley came out and had a meeting with me. We are nailing down the details and he’s found an available model nearby. Here’s an example of one of his paint jobs. Reports will be flying at you weekly. Rich is going to deliver it by riding it cross-country. It may be the first, if Doc didn’t already do that last year. He rode one for 5000 miles around Sturgis.
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
