Veterans Day - to the range we go and Applebee's we go! - Granite Grok

Veterans Day – to the range we go and Applebee’s we go!

As I noted here, the Youngest did not have to wait long to enjoy his first Veterans Day – well deserved.  So, what did this prior 101st Airborne soldier want to do?  Yes, go to the range and put some of my money downrange.  And he did send plenty of it to the far end of the range at Belmont Firearms.  I think this professional was pleased that his dad (who, like all sons, seem to harbor the idea that extreme cluelessness increases with the number of candles on the birthday cake) had chosen well.  This was also the first time I’ve had the chance to put a fair number of rounds down using the Vortex red-dot and 3X magnifier as well as continuing the break in of new Sig P220.

Note: when we went it, the storekeep was running around like a madman – it was busy!  The Youngest, TMEW and I shared a single lane – all of the others were full (note to self – start reserving before arriving!).  In talking with the manager, I asked if it had been busy all day – he said nothing but showed me a single slip that totaled over $15 K worth of guns, ammo, and accessories (yeah, there’s a full-auto in there).  That was the biggest but I noticed that there were a stack of such slips yet to be processed.  He said that since the election, especially with the news that the Obama Administration is now pushing the UN Small Arms Treaty (see after the jump), it has been insane.  He also said that they are getting a ton of requests for high capacity magazines and he listed off what was being ordered.  Guess it is time to restock again.

We left the range with smiles on our faces (albeit, a lighter wallet) and went to eat: Applebee’s was his choice. In celebration of the day, they had printed up a special menu just for the Vets.  I have to say, the staff was making sure to make a big deal of any and all Vets that came in the door;  I was rather surprised that even arriving just after mid-afternoon, the establishment in Tilton was packed.   The Youngest was one of the youngest one there but there were quite a few Viet Nam era vets enjoying beomg catered tp.  Yes, I would have to say that this was more than just a marketing deal as it was obvious that the staff was spending a good deal of time fussing over each and every Vet.  Many came with families / friends but there were quite a few that were sitting alone – I noticed that these folks received even more time from the staff to make sure that they and their service was appreciated by the house.  Lot’s of “THANK you’s” were heard all over.  And just as we were about to leave, a except for one – a WW II era vet came in and got swarmed.

As it should be.

Sidenote:

Within hours of re-election, the administration fast-tracked a treaty in the United Nations that transcends borders and tramples our constitutional right to keep and bear arms. It was no coincidence.

Elections matter: Obama is now using the ‘flexibility” that never having to run for re-election is giving him.

Less than 24 hours after President Obama’s re-election, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations helped move the U.N.’s Arms Control Treaty a step closer to enactment. America joined 157 other nations in voting Wednesday to finalize the treaty in March.

Wildcard – will US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unilaterally do away with the Senate’s filibuster rule that he praised and fought for when in the minority and will this treaty (which must be signed by 2/3rds of all Senators to be ratified) be the first to be the beneficiary of that?

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