LearnAboutGuns.com 

A short but truly “priceless” video clip about self defense: Read the rest of this article »

As I’ve previously mentioned, crime in England has skyrocketed since their passage of strict gun control laws.  The criminals still shoot innocent citizens, and gun smugglers bring illegal guns into the UK just as illegal drugs are imported.  The criminals who are willing to commit violent crimes such as murder are just as willing to violate a relatively minor gun control law.  Tired of seeing law abiding citizens at the mercy of criminals, Graham Showell decided to do something: Read the rest of this article »

This video clip demonstrates the steps to disassemble and reassemble your Remington Mossberg 500 or Mossberg 590 shotgun, for cleaning.
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This video clip demonstrates the steps to disassemble and reassemble your Remington 870 shotgun, for cleaning.

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This video clip shows the Taurus Judge, a revolver chambered for .410 shotgun shells as well as .45 Long Colt. I also discuss the Taurus Judge in greater detail here. Read the rest of this article »

I’ve added a new “video clips” section to LearnAboutGuns.com, and the first video clip featured is that of the Auto Assault 12. This is a drum fed, gas operated, fully automatic 12 ga. shotgun.  Firing at 300 rounds per minute, this shotgun comes standard with a 32 round magazine.  The AA-12’s gas system absorbs a large portion of the recoil generated by fully automatic shotgun fire.  This combat shotgun is intended for military use, allowing soldiers to more effectively and safely clear a room: Read the rest of this article »

A criminal reportedly opened fire in a Knoxville, Tennessee church, where a group of children were performing a play.  The criminal, who used a shotgun, is reportedly thought to have targeted the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church because it is very liberal, and allowed gay ministers and gay marriages. Churchgoers dived for cover under pews, but nine members of the congregation were hit before a group of them managed to tackle the gunman as he reloaded. At least two people, Greg McKendry and Linda Kreager, were reportedly killed.  Jim D. Adkisson, the 58 year old suspected shooter, has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held on $1 million bail, according to city spokesman Randy Kenner. This tragedy shows the need for armed, law abiding citizens, who can quickly act in self defense: Read the rest of this article »

Purchasing a gun now is a prudent choice, given the fact that when you actually need the gun, it will be too late to buy it. I am not speaking of the world ending or other unlikely events (no, I don’t believe society will collapse any time soon) but rather about events that can and do happen, when it helps to have a gun: Read the rest of this article »

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has declared the Second Amendment protects the right of an individual to keep and bear arms, striking down the (failed) District of Columbia handgun ban. This article discusses what exactly the court held, and what that means for American gun owners: Read the rest of this article »

The pros and cons of pistol caliber carbines, which are rifles that have a relatively short barrel and are chambered for pistol cartridges, are discussed below: Read the rest of this article »

Everyone is welcome at the 6th Annual ISRA Range Open House!
Just west of Kankakee, IL on Saturday, June 21st 2008 - 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM
FREE PARKING! FREE ADMISSION! RAIN or SHINE! Read the rest of this article »

I see quite a few visitors searching for information on the size of shot in the various shotgun shells, such as 00 buck, #1 buck, #4 bird, etc., and the number of pellets in a one ounce 12 Gauge shell This article provides that information for lead shot. Read the rest of this article »

Different shotgun activities require different barrel lengths. This article addresses the recommended barrel lengths for various purposes, and the pros and cons of these barrel lengths. Read the rest of this article »

Gun control laws, especially the bans on so called “assault weapons“, tend to be highly technical in nature.  Such laws include arbitrary limitations on the length of barrels, the number of round a magazine can store, cosmetic features of the gun, etc.  This leaves the average law abiding citizen unaware that they might be violating the law, until they are  arrested.  Worse yet, some laws are rather vague, leaving even the most diligent and well educated citizen unable to determine if they are in violation.  Given the severe penalties in place for having a handgun magazine that holds one round to many, or a rifle barrel that is a half an inch too short, these laws are some of the most unjust currently on the books.  Below are some examples: Read the rest of this article »

In response to my articles on selecting a gun for home defense, taking a friend shooting for the first time, and facts about recoil, I have been asked how one can get used to the recoil generated by more powerful guns. Getting used to recoil is not too challenging, as this article explains. Read the rest of this article »

The Remington 11-87 is a gas operated, semi-automatic (autoloading) shotgun. I own an 11-87, and decided to write a review, which is shown below. Read the rest of this article »

The Streamlight TLR-2 is a combination tactical light and laser, which mounts on the accessory rails of handguns, shotguns, and rifles. My review of this well built tactical accessory is below: Read the rest of this article »

Chicago Alderman Richard Mell owns a variety of shotguns, rifles, and pistols, but forgot to re-register them, which makes the handguns permanently illegal and unregisterable under Chicago law.  Since he wants to keep his handguns, he is proposing a 1 month registration amnesty period.  The catch?  It would only apply to people who happened to have failed to re-register in the same time frame as him.  Chicago’s Mayor Daley endorses this plan, which is designed to benefit an influential alderman, while the vast majority of Chicago’s law abiding citizens will be left without the ability to keep a handgun to defend themselves. Read the rest of this article »

Shooting is a great sport for everyone.  I say that not just because it is fun, but because it does not have to have the same physical requirements as many other sports.  This allows a lot of people to participate and excel at shooting, even if they could not do the same in other sports.  Shooting is also great for the most physically fit among us, who are seeking a new challenge. Read the rest of this article »

Pump action shotguns and rifles are well suited to home defense, due to their reliability. An added benefit of pump action is that it makes storing the firearm in a relatively safe yet ready to use fashion easier. While this practice is likely obvious to those experienced with pump action firearms, it may not be as obvious for those more familiar with other action types, or those new to firearms. This article describes how to store a pump action firearm in a safe yet ready to use manner. Read the rest of this article »

Porting, which refers to the addition of holes near the end of a shotgun’s barrel, can be a good addition to your home defense or sporting shotgun.  There are some drawbacks as well, and this article addresses both. Read the rest of this article »

FN Herstal makes a variety of tactical shotguns which are designed for the rigors of police use, but are available to ordinary citizens. These shotguns are durable, reliable, and highly recommended by this author. My review of the FN Herstal pump action tactical police shotgun is below: Read the rest of this article »

I purchased a Remington 870 XCS Marine Magnum about a year ago, and have put about 3,000 shells through it so far. It has been broken down and cleaned about 30 times. Pictures of my Remington 870 XCS Marine Magnum can be seen here. I thought I would write a review of this shotgun, which is my favorite shotgun so far. Read the rest of this article »

Guns ownership and sporting use is a special hobby like no other.  And I’m not only speaking about the unique fun and physics that go along with responsible firearms use -  Whether you are interested in hunting, target practice, or collecting, firearms as a hobby require something that almost no other hobby requires: Read the rest of this article »

Lawfully purchasing a gun online requires only a little bit more work than purchasing most other items online, and this extra effort can be worth the price savings.  Other times, the exact firearm that the buyer wants might not be available locally, especially when the gun in question is no longer in production, or is a high demand item that is in short supply.  This article describes the relatively simple process of legally purchasing a gun online. Read the rest of this article »

I received an email from a reader of this site, telling me about the Taurus Judge, which is a revolver that can fire either the .45 Long Colt, or a .410 shotgun shell (often loaded with birdshot).  By chance I happen to have handled a Taurus Judge right before I read that email.  Below is is the email I received, along with my thoughts on the use of birdshot for home and automotive defense. Read the rest of this article »

Below is a how to guide on breaking down, cleaning, and reassembling a Remington 870, complete with pictures of each step. The shotgun pictured is a Remington 870 XCS Marine Magnum, but the steps will be the same for any of the Remington 870 family. The steps for other shotguns are similar as well. Read the rest of this article »

Guns provide a special type of security that cannot be equaled by police protection. This is true even for people who live in relatively safe, affluent areas, and enjoy the services of a well funded and professional police department. Allow me to explain why. Read the rest of this article »

There are a few basics of safe gun handling that everyone should know and abide by before they even consider touching a gun, much less firing one.  Safely exercising our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms requires that we be responsible, for our own safety and for the safety of those around us. Read the rest of this article »

Selecting the right ammunition for home defense use is vital to effectively stopping an attacker and reducing the risk of injury to innocent bystanders. This article addresses recommendations for shotgun, handgun, and rifle ammunition. If you’re unsure as to what type of gun to get for home defense, see this article. Read the rest of this article »

The federal government had an “assault weapons” ban from 1994 until 2004, and many state and local governments have enacted or considered enacted their own “assault weapon” bans. These bans make illegal many safety and utility features of guns, while not serving to prevent crime Read the rest of this article »

Gun terms defined: Read the rest of this article »

Those of us who own guns know that they tools worthy of respect, but not something to fear. Unfortunately many people who don’t own guns seem seem to have an irrational fear Read the rest of this article »

Many people purchase their first gun for home defense, and the question of which type of gun to pick is a common one. The three basic choices are a handgun, shotgun, or rifle. Of the three, I would recommend a Read the rest of this article »

I am relatively new to firearms and had trouble locating a gun store and range near my home, which is in the Chicagoland area Read the rest of this article »

I believe that firearms rights are a gender equality issue as well, and bans on firearms (especially handgun bans) are discriminatory against women. Allow me to explain why Read the rest of this article »

Below is a non-exhaustive list of reasons why I support gun rights and oppose gun control Read the rest of this article »

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Welcome! This site is dedicated to preserving the individual right of law abiding citizens of Illinois and the United States as a whole to possess firearms for self defense as well as sporting purposes. I created this site after recognizing the growing threat to our right to keep and bear arms, and hope to both dispel the myths surrounding guns and “gun crime“, as well as to provide useful information to those who already support firearms rights.

I also hope to persuade those who don’t currently support gun rights, through the use of polite and well reasoned arguments, including information about why I have a gun. I firmly believe that polite debate, which focuses on the issues and facts rather than on personal attacks and hyperbole, is what we as a society need when it comes to issues such as gun rights.

Information that may be helpful to people who are new to guns is available here too. This includes information on selecting a firearm for home defense, selecting the ammunition for home defense, firearms maintenance, legally purchasing a gun online, safe and responsible gun storage, reviews of various guns and accessories, etc.

I also have taken a few moments to address myths about gun stores and their customers for those in my demographic (African American).

Another goal of this site is to encourage my fellow firearms rights supporters to do their part to protect gun rights. This includes joining the NRA, the ISRA, and taking further action to help safeguard and expand our gun rights. Without the involvement of gun owners in the political process, the anti gun groups will succeed at taking away our gun rights.

Those who have a gun related question that is not already addressed by this site are encouraged to contact me, and I will likely be willing to write an article addressing the question. I’ve tried to write articles addressing many of the questions I can think of, however I’m certain there are many areas I have yet to address. Since the goal of this site is to “learn about guns,” feel free to ask away.

The Gun related book store and DVD store contains the books and DVDs which I recommend.

Finally, the discussion forum is a place to discuss and debate gun rights, self defense, various firearms, and related issues.

Main Categories:

Contact the Author - If you have any questions, concerns, suggestions for this site, or would like to have a polite and civil debate about firearms rights, I can be reached by email.

Gun and Accessory Reviews - Reviews of various firearms and accessories.

Gun-Related News - Regularly updated gun-related current events. Includes legislation, events that have taken place, and commentary.

Help Protect Our Gun Rights - You can participate in the political process to protect our 2nd amendment rights.

How-To Guides and Other Info - Getting started with responsible and lawful gun ownership in Illinois, along with technical information about guns, cleaning guns, etc.

Links - Links to other relevant sites.

Pro Gun Rights Articles - Articles discussing general firearms related issues, from a pro-firearms perspective.

Video Clips - Firearms related video clips.

Legally Buying Guns Online - Lawfully purchasing a gun online requires only a little bit more work than purchasing most other items online. The extra effort can easily be worth the price savings and wider selection. This article describes the relatively simple process of legally purchasing a gun online.

Gun Related Books & DVDs - Recommended gun related books and DVDs.

In recent years, the Cook County, Illinois commissioners have ramped up their efforts to prevent law abiding citizens from possessing firearms Read the rest of this article »