Tag Archives: Health

The Lead Trojan Horse.  

Lead contamination is dangerous situation that we shooters all worry about – or should be worried about!  I work at an indoor range.   We go to great pains to make sure that exposure to lead is as minimal as possible.  Every day we clean each range bay, and we use state of the art HVAC and air filtration systems to keep the air clean.  Not just to make the range comfortable, but to keep everyone safe as they enjoy their experience.
Lead particles can get everywhere.  In your hair, your clothes, all over your guns, and all over your hands.  We always encourage our patrons, guests, and friends to wash their hands after shooting.  But there is one area that gets neglected, that we don’t think about.
Our Range Bags.
Think about it.  It’s right there on the firing line with us.  We go into the bag all the time for ammo and magazines… and it’s catching some of everything we throw down range.  Powder and Powder Residue, Brass at times… and lead particles.
As dirty as your hands can get, you grab that range bag.  Then, you go and wash your hands, and then you grab your range bag again to take it to the car.  At home, you wash your clothing, shower, and then you grab your range bag.  Your hands could be getting contaminated with lead even before you shoot for the day.
Let me ask you this; when was the last time you cleaned your range bag?  You don’t have to answer that.  I’ll be honest.  I don’t think I’ve ever cleaned my range bag!  How much lead have I been bringing into my home?
Make cleaning your range bag a part of your shooting schedule.

Leave our Military Alone

First it was Michelle Obama, with a captive audience of US Soldiers basically telling them that they are all fat and need to eat salads.
Don’t worry, you’ll be a veggie guy soon.” She quipped.
What?  They are our Warriors.  They need MEAT… They need PROTEIN.  Forget the Salads unless they ask for it and give them steaks with sides of bacon.   We need our military strong and scary ferocious.  Salads… WTF?  Does she think for a minute that anyone of those Soldiers would have been there if they had not been ordered to?

And now there is this “SS” Controversy.   To these Marines, the SS badge means Scout Sniper… and unless you are a Scout Sniper – Shut the hell up about it.  This is their right to be proud of the achievement of becoming one.  Unless you work at a Gun Shop and meet 543 Scout Snipers every day that is.  The Marine Scout Sniper Program is one of the US Military’s Elite groups.   I trained with some Marine Scout Snipers at “Long Range International” and let me tell you, they were really and truly the best shooters I have ever had the honor to spend time with.
Unless you are a part of it, you have no right to force your ignorant opinion about the matter.   Why do I say Ignorant?  Because the “SS” Badge has been used for decades and no one says crap about it.  Hot Rodders call it “Super Sport”.

Aging Eyes.

As those close to me know, I’ve had issues with my eyes since about September 2010.  Specifically my right eye… and specifically going blind in it.  It’s been getting better and it’s now doing just fine.  Today I spent some time at the Optometrist.  I am pleased to report that my eye is back to full health with good blood flow and it’s only just like any other guy my age. Which means the lenses in my eyes are slightly cloudy, which is usual, and I have a hard time focusing far and near, again usual… and my eye’s astigmatisms are about the same.  The downside though is that while I don’t need bi-focals now, I will probably need them next time I come in.  So later next week I’ll be able to pick up my new glasses, with new frames, and I’ll bet much of my headaches will be remedied.

Growing old sucks.