Save Space Camp!

I attended Space Camp in 1985, back before a lot of people knew it existed. (This was before the terrible, horrible movie of the same name made it a national name.) It was an amazing and formative experience for me, and not just because I won the Outstanding Camper award for the week I was there [/humblebrag], but also because it took my interest in space exploration and made it feel real and a possible career choice. 

(Ah, if only I had been better at math, I could have been a scientist. Or if my vision had been better, I could have been a pilot. Still, I think every kid wants to be an astronaut when they're little, and precious few of us make it.)

Unfortunately, Space Camp is in severe financial difficulties due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; nobody wants to go to camp and risk getting sick. As a result, they've lost 66% of their revenue and may close if they do not get funding. To that end, they've started a GoFundMe:

Space Camp has been on a mission for 38 years to educate and inspire students from all over the world about space and science, but now we need mission support.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we have seen a dramatic reduction in attendance at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center museum and Space Camp, leading to a significant decrease in revenue and operating capital. We reopened Space Camp after a four months closure but at greatly reduced number this summer. With limited admission from international students and school groups this fall and winter, we’re forced to close our weeklong camp programs again until April 2021. These ongoing challenges have meant a devastating loss of two-thirds of our revenue.

At this time, we have exhausted all funding possibilities, and without your support the U.S Space & Rocket Center and Space Camp will have to close in October. However, we firmly believe that failure is not an option, so we are turning to you. We need the support of our fellow science enthusiasts, Space Camp alumni and anyone who believes in the spirit of exploration to help all systems return to go.

Will you chip in today and help us raise $1.5 million? This will support us through the winter and allow us time to plan for a future filled with Space Camp and scientific discovery.  We have to save Space Camp, and we know that together we can reach mission accomplished. 

Please donate if you can, and share this campaign if you can't. This is an experience that all children should have -- the future of the human race is in space!

Raffle to Benefit Operation Blazing Sword

Hello everyone! Are you ready for some MARCH MADNESS??

By which I mean not the sportsball event, but rather a truly amazing raffle of awesome goodies of interest to gun owners which will directly benefit Operation Blazing Sword and Pink Pistols!

This amazing raffle starts RIGHT NOW and runs through April 3rd, with the winners being announced April 5th. Here's what we have:

$2 Tickets: Shooter's Grab Bag

A single $2 ticket gets you one entry into the "Shooter's Grab Bag". While that sounds miscellaneous, I promise you that it's filled with goodies that you'll want, such as:

Nine PMAG 21 GL9 Magazines 
(one magazine per winning ticket)

The PMAG 21 GL9 is a 21-round Glock 9mm handgun magazine featuring a proprietary all-polymer construction for flawless reliability and durability over thousands of rounds. Meeting the overall length requirements for a 140MM competition magazine, the PMAG 21 GL9 offers additional capacity without the need for expensive extensions.

The PMAG 21 GL9 is compatible with all full-size, compact, and sub-compact double-stack Glock 9mm variants with some protrusion below the grip. Made in the USA.




Three Daka Pouches 
(one pouch per winning ticket)

The Magpul DAKA Pouch was designed to bring organization to the dusty, dirty, and muddy world we work and play in.

The Medium Magpul DAKA Pouch is made from polymer-infused textiles that include welded seams and genuine YKK® water resistant zippers. Our construction methods and the materials we use mean these pouches are at home in hard-use applications like tool organization and bulk storage of reloaded ammunition, or lighter duties such as organizing your personal electronic accessories. Although they're not meant to be submerged, these water-resistant pouches will keep your items dry in most wet environments, making them a great choice for most outdoor adventures.

One PHLster $50 Gift Code
From the company that brought you the Flatpack TQ Carrier and the Pocket Emergency Wallet (both of which are part of my Every Day Carry), you get $50 to spend however you wish.

One Voucher for a Dark Star Gear Hitchhiker or Orion Holster

We don't know what kind of gun you want to holster, so you can pick one that fits your gun in one of two models, the clip-on Hitchhiker or the belt-looped Orion.

$3 Tickets: Shooter's Selection
Just like a Grab Bag, a single ticket at this level gets you a chance to win any of these select beauties that are sure to make you swoon:

Morgan Atwood Envoy Knife

Something discreet, for when you can’t have something not. The Envoy is a sleek double edged design, optimized for reverse edge use and conventional applications. Approx 6 1/4″ overall, with a 3 1/4″ blade. Hand ground from .250 G10, with hand carved Moon Crater texture, and sheathed in kydex saddle-stitched with 200lb Technora thread for a fully non-metallic package.

Victory Aegis Belt by Mean Gene Leather

The MGL “Victory Aegis” Belt utilizes the Ares Gear LLC. Aegis Buckle.  These belts are constructed with a dual layer of top grain leather. Giving a desirably stable belt to support holsters-either OWB or IWB- yet comfortable to the feel. Its combination of the two layers of 7/8oz and 8/9oz leather delivers just over a 1/4” thickness. The Victory Aegis belt is reinforced between the two layers to add strength and reduce the amount of stretching as time passes. Each layer is laminated together with industrial strength adhesives, as well as sewn together with #277 bonded threads. Chicago screws to secure the Aegis buckle. The MGL Victory Aegis belt is handmade using US leather. The outer layer is dyed while the inner layer has a clear finish. Finally, the edges are burnished, edge dyed and the belt is then rubbed down by hand with Ray Holes Saddle Butter. Available only in 1.5″ widths.


The victory Aegis belt will be made to order according to the winner's size and color preference.

Sentinel Concepts Revelation II Backpack
This backpack is designed to conceal a S.B.R. with Law Tactical Folder,  up to 10.5" barrel  up to 22.5"  with a 30Rd Magazine. From the OUTSIDE this is a basic backpack. It has a standard back pack appearance, NO MOLLE or Patch areas or Tactical appearance at all allowing you to blend into daily environments.







$150 Gift Code from Big Tex Outdoors
Big Tex Outdoors was started in 2014 to fill a gap that we believe existed in the firearms industry. Our focus is to provide the greatest selection of top-shelf gear at fair prices with the absolute best customer service in the business.





Magpul Bipod for M-LOK

The Magpul Bipod for M-LOK offers serious strength and versatility at a price that provides unmatched value. Our lightweight Mil-Spec hard anodized 6061 T-6 aluminum and injection-molded polymer bipod brings innovation in ergonomics, functionality, strength and value together. Its low-profile design conceals its internal mechanisms and hardware, smoothly brushing off snags and bumps. Optimized for rapid one-handed adjustments, the bipod quickly and quietly transitions between user configurations.

In the shooting position, it is easily loaded with stabilizing forward tension without fear of failure or warping. Its aluminum and stainless steel components, along with its injection-molded reinforced polymer, ensure years of dependable performance and reliability, all while shaving weight. It's extremely light weight, at just over 11 oz.

Magpul Hunter X-22 Stock

The Magpul Hunter X-22 chassis is an ergonomic, full-featured stock for the ubiquitous Ruger® 10/22® rifle. Made from high quality reinforced polymer, the Hunter X-22 features an ergonomic grip, adjustable length of pull and comb height to fit a wide variety of shooters, multiple sling mounting options, a non-slip rubber butt-pad, and M-LOK® slots for accessory attachment.

The Hunter X-22 fits standard Ruger® 10/22® .22 LR pattern rifles with no gunsmithing, and a reversible barrel tray ensures proper fit with factory pencil profile as well as heavy bull barrels. The Hunter X-22 is also compatible with the Thompson Center T/CR22.

Made in the USA.

Four PMAG D-60 AR/M4 Drums (one drum per winning ticket)


The PMAG D-60 is a durable, lightweight, highly reliable 60-round 5.56x45 NATO/.223 Remington* polymer drum magazine for AR15/M4 compatible weapons. With a larger capacity than previous PMAGs, the PMAG D-60 gives the shooter 60 rounds of ammunition, effectively allowing the same round count as two standard capacity 30-round magazines without requiring a critical reload.

The unique drum configuration keeps the height of the magazine manageable and allows for prone firing and easier storage. Features an easy-to-use loading lever, paint pen dot matrix for easy marking, and a rear window for instant capacity indication. 

Made in the USA. 


And now for the really good stuff:
All of these are separate ticket items, so if you want a chance to win all three you will need to spend a minimum of $25.

$5 Ticket: One-Day Tatiana Whitlock Class
The winner of this item will receive a voucher good for one day of training by Tatiana Whitlock. It is up to the winner to make arrangements to attend the class.


Tatiana Whitlock is a firearms instructor, hunter, and outdoors enthusiast residing in the majestic state of Maine. Tatiana works with men, women & youth to establish a real-world foundation of firearm skills, safety, and situational awareness. The training that she offers brings participants mindset out of the square range and into the context of daily life. Tatiana is an NRA BPI, RSO and Refuse to Be a Victim instructor.

$10 Ticket: Two-Day Sentinel Concepts Class

The winner of this item will receive a voucher good for two days of training by Steve "Yeti" Fisher. It is up to the winner to make arrangements to attend the class.

Sentinel Concepts is committed to bringing our students the most current and relevant firearms training based on their personal needs.

No two classes will have the same curriculum, as each class will be based on the students and their training goals in each class.  

Individual students’ goals, abilities, and skills will be the basis for each class’ instruction.  Each drill and exercise will build a solid surface for each student to develop a plan for their personal practice sessions and will enable them to diagnose their own mistakes, craft more efficient shooters, and effective weapon manipulator after the class and for years to come, by using proven and current techniques.

$10 Ticket: Dark Angel Medical DART Class and Trauma Kit

The winner of this item will receive a voucher good for a two-day Direct Action Response Training class and a Civilian-Standard level DARK trauma kit which will be given to them at the class. It is up to the winner to make arrangements to attend.

The time to learn to use your personal trauma kit is not when you or someone else is bleeding out!!! When life expectancy is measured in seconds and help is minutes away, will you know what to do? In our uncertain lives, that is a question that we all need to be able to answer a resounding, “Yes!” to. Dark Angel Medical, LLC, is proud to offer training and instruction in the use of the D.A.R.K. The Direct Action Response Training fills a niche between military self-aid/buddy care training and civilian EMS training and is geared towards those with little to no medical training or background. It provides the student with critical, need-to-know information, which can be utilized in a myriad of situations and stresses the ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ principle as well as our own principle of “Simplicity Under Stress”. The course is 2 days in length with a total of 16 hours of classroom work to include slide presentations, videos, question and answer sessions and hands-on practical skills application. A manual and all training aids will be provided. 

***There are no prerequisites for this class***

D.A.R.K., Complete Kit--- comes complete with pouch which has shear retention straps on either side of the pouch and a 1" PVC Medic patch, color matched trauma shears, Gen 7 CAT and Vacuum-sealed components to include:

1 pair Nitrile gloves, size L,

1 pair HALO Seals,

1x Nasal Airway,

1x 4'' Israeli Bandage,

1x QuikCLot Combat Gauze LE or ChitoGauze XR Pro(MIL-SPEC Kits contain QuikClot Combat Gauze MIL)

1x Compressed Gauze

1x Mylar Blanket

Polycarbonate Eyeshield (current USMC issue eye shield and is recommended by the Committee on Tactical Casualty Combat Care)

Total Value of Prizes: Over $3,000!

To enter the raffle, make a donation to Operation Blazing Sword via PayPal. Our address is donations@blazingsword.org. Be sure to specify how many tickets you want and in which category (Shooter's Grab Bag, Shooter's Select, Tatiana Whitlock, Sentinel Concepts, Dark Angel Medical). 

Winners will be notified by email and announced on social media on Sunday, April 5th. 

Members of the Operation Blazing Sword Board of Directors are ineligible to participate in the raffle (which is a damn shame, because I really wanted one of those D-60 drums).

Now, let's get ready to rafffffllllleeee!!!!!

Gunnies Helping Gunnies: Kevin Baker

Kevin Baker, of The Smallest Minority blog, has been diagnosed with hereditary liver cirrhosis and has been hospitalized. His daughter Jessica has set up a GoFundMe for his mounting medical needs, and I'll let her tell the story:

So here I am again. The first time Kevin requested that I removed it. At this point I got "the best wife in the world's" blessing. Kevin was admitted back to the hospital last night (8/15/18) after collapsing and having to be taken by ambulance to emergency. He had just gotten out of the hospital on Tuesday. His ammonia level is very high to the point that he is very confused. I am asking people for whatever help they can provide. Whether it be $1.00 or even just a prayer and sharing. This is a hard time for his wife who is his primary caregiver outside the hospital.

A little about my fabulous father. This is a man who took me under his wing when I was 15 years old. I was a troubled teen and he still provided the best care and attention that any teen could ask for. He taught me how to enjoy cars, how to drive, how to change a tire, how to check my tire pressure and gun safety/shooting. A lot of survival skills that many aren't blessed to be taught. All have had a huge impact on my life.

Fast forward to more current times. His health in the past few months started to decline rapidly. He had previously been diagnosed with porphyria. They then found Cirrhosis of the liver (hereditary). Later they found a bleeding ulcer in which he became very anemic. His liver condition is progressing at a high rate of speed to the point that he has now become very confused and cannot even use the technology that he needs in order to perform his work. He has exhausted his paid time off due to this. He keeps saying that he doesn't need help but he is a very stubborn individual who doesn't like burdening others with his problems and is too proud to ask for help. So here I am.

Kevin is well known for the gun matches that he held. He was very active in the NRA. He donated to may charities and had a heart of gold. He would seriously give his shirt off his back to any one who needed help even in his time of need. Some of you may know him through his Smallest Minority web page. He was well known for his publications. Some of you may be previous or current co-workers and know his dedication to his work and his pride.  I want this to reach as many people as possible even if all they can provide is their sincere words.

Sorry that his is so long but I cannot express enough how much this wonderful man has made a difference in my life and his family. He has always been the greatest support for his family and friends amongst many others. Please take a moment of your time to contribute whatever you can. If you can't donate please just say a prayer. These are by far the worst times we have ever seen him in.

Thank you a million! His grateful daughter,

Jessica

I can testify to Kevin's stubbornness. Late last month, he told me that he would need to withdraw his name from the list of Operation Blazing Sword's volunteer instructors due to health problems. He also told me he was selling most of his guns because he didn't expect to ever make it to the range again and because he needed the cash on hand for medical expenses.

At the time, I told him to set up a GoFundMe, but as Jessica testifies above, he's stubborn and refused, saying "I'm not at the point where I need help, I'm still working and pulling down a salary."

I'm happy that Jessica got her mother's blessing to post this. Please help Kevin if you can. Medical bills are awful, and if he's going to need a new liver that will increase his debt by a factor of 10 at the least.

How to Donate to Operation Blazing Sword

I have lost track of how many times someone has said "I want to donate to you, but I don't know how" or "You sell t-shirts? I had no idea!" To that end I have created a note on the OBS Facebook page, aptly titled How You Can Support Us, which details all the ways that you help us achieve our mission of teaching gun safety and operation to those who want to learn but aren't comfortable seeking conventional training.

The fact of the matter is that Operation Blazing Sword needs money to continue. We don't have a rich New York billionaire backing us, nor do we receiving funding from firearm manufacturers or the NRA. We get by with donations from people like you.

If every one of our 1,500+ volunteers across the USA donated $10 -- roughly the cost of a movie ticket -- then we would have FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. Can you imagine what we could do with that kind of money?

I can. And that's why I'm asking you to please donate to Operation Blazing Sword.

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT US

• SHOP VIA OUR AMAZON LINK: We are a registered charity with Amazon Smile. It costs you absolutely nothing to use our link, and we receive a percentage of your purchases as a donation. Here’s the full URL if you want to copy and paste it into a bookmark: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/81-4230880
• SELL FOR CHARITY ON eBAY: If you’re a seller on eBay, you can help raise money by selecting a percentage of your proceeds to go to us. Here is our eBay For Charity page. 
• SUPPORT US ON HUMBLE BUNDLE: If you buy from Humble Bundle, please select us as the charity you support. Here’s a link to a great cybersecurity deal!
• BUY OUR MERCHANDISE: We have an online store where you can buy Operation Blazing Sword branded t-shirts, stickers, mugs, and more!
• DONATE ONLINE: We are a PayPal confirmed charity. Donate online here.
• MAIL A CHECK: Make it out to Operation Blazing Sword and mail it to 800 Belle Terre Parkway Suite 200-302, Palm Coast, FL 32164.
• EMPLOYER DONATION MATCHING: Many employers will match their employees’ charitable donations via paycheck deductions. Operation Blazing Sword is registered with both Benevity and GuideStar. If your company uses a different organization to distribute charitable giving, let us know and we will register with them!
• TEACH SOMEONE HOW TO SHOOT: We are a 501c3 tax-deductible charity (our EIN is 81-4230880) and any expenses you incur (range fees, equipment rental, cost of ammunition, etc) teaching someone who has contacted you through our organization are considered a donation. Per Treas Reg 1.170A-13(f): 
• Generally, if a donor makes multiple contributions during the year, each of which is less than $250, no substantiation form is necessary. Nevertheless, the donor must observe the minimum recordkeeping requirements, such as retaining canceled checks or simple contributions. 
• Donors who incur out-of-pocket expenses of $250 or more when rendering services to a charitable organization and intend to deduct these expenses must also obtain written acknowledgement from the organization. The acknowledgment for expenses incurred need only describe the services provided by the donor and the value of good services provided in return (or a statement that none were provided); it need not include the date of the services. 
• To obtain written acknowledgement from us, scan or photograph your receipts and email them to erin@blazingsword.org.

In Memoriam: Christian Jack Scheel 7/7/17 – 3/6/18

Art Scheel, also known as "Anti Tango", suffered a devastating loss this week when his 8 month old son Christian died.

Here's the story in his own words.

I can't even begin to process this. I've never had children, so I don't know what kind of love that is, or what kind of fear a parent has for them. I call it a slippery, spherical tragedy; like trying to pick up a greased bowling ball, it's something I cannot grasp... and yet, I'm still struck ill by this terrible thing, which tells me that what the Scheel family is going through is immeasurably worse.

Like many of you, I have this urgent desire to help, to comfort, to do something, anything, but am frustrated by the separation of distance between them and me and the knowledge that anything I do will be just a bandaid on an amputated limb.

Still, if you're like me you'll want to do something to help. Here's what you can do:

• There's a GoFundMe to pay for the medical bills and the funeral. Funds are always useful at a time like this. 
• If you'd prefer to donate directly, I have been informed by Meghan, the lady who started the GoFundMe, that there is an America First Credit Union for Art and his family and that you'll need the account name and account number to donate:
  • Account name: Arthur Scheel 
  • Account number: 9100280 
• If you're local and want to give direct aid, or if you want to send something physical to the family (such as flowers, toys for the two older boys, etc), please email Brandon Kuhn at Utredneck AT gmail DOT com or message him via Facebook if you're FB friends. Brandon knows the Scheel family, is local, and is active in their church, so he's our Boots On The Ground man. He knows what they need and what they don't, so talk to him before sending anything. 
• Offer sympathy, support and love to the Scheel family on Art's Facebook page. If you find you can't post to that page, write it on my wall and I'll tag him. 
• Pray, if you're the praying type, for peace and healing upon this family. 

Thank you. 

Gunnies Helping Gunnies: Athena Burkhead

Hi. I’m Athena Burkhead, the daughter of David Burkhead, the Writer In Black.

My parents are going through a divorce right now. My father wants to keep custody of me, and I want to stay with him for very good reasons that I cannot legally talk about.  Due to the lawyer’s fees involved, my father and I are financially struggling.

Our family of two needs money in order to be able to support itself, which is why I’m starting this fundraiser. $6,000 ought to cover the costs of the custody and divorce.

We need help immediately. My father has gone into debt to keep custody of me. I love him and don’t want him to go bankrupt , but I don’t want to live with my mother, either.

I don't want to be taken away from my father. Please help us.

I don't know all the details (it's none of my business), but what I do know of the situation has convinced me that Athena needs to be with her father instead of her mother.

Tell you what, I'll just quote the other people who know more.


Key words: Rescue Operation. 


Key words: Athena needs to stay with her father, at all costs.


Key words: The mother is best described as a monster.


Please help keep a teenage girl with her loving father. You can do this in the following ways:

• Donate to their GoFundMe campaign. 
• Give directly via PayPal to dburkhuad@yahoo.com (the misspelling of his last name is intentional; this is David's earmarked PayPal account set up expressly for legal fees). 
• Buy David's books on Amazon. He gets money and you get a book! 
• David's books* are also available on Kindle Unlimited. That means if you have a KU account, you can read them for fee. (Don't worry, he still gets paid.)
• Share this fundraiser so that other people see it!

In only 48 hours we've managed to raise half of our goal! I'm certain that we can raise the other half over the weekend. 

Plus, if you donate $100 or more, you get to pick an 8x10 print from Oleg Volk's gallery to be drop-shipped to you (where available - Oleg can't drop ship to every country).

If you donate $200 or more, you get to pick a 16x20 print from Oleg's gallery!

So please, donate and share today! Thank you!




 *All of the ebooks over which he has control, that is. The Sword & Sorceress anthology is the only one not available in KU because it's the only one over which he has no control.

Save Oro

https://www.gofundme.com/saveoro

Oro is a gay Muslim who has fled persecution in Tunisia. He is now in Egypt and hopes to move to a western country that will accept him instead of trying to kill him for his sexuality. The funds contributed to his GoFundMe account will be sent to him as soon as he is able to find an apartment, and will be used to help him get started living on his own or possibly to go to school elsewhere - he wants to attend the New England Culinary Institute and become a chef.

If you are an ally of the LGBTQ community, please donate so that he can begin a new, productive life. Under Sharia law, being gay carries the death penalty.

If you're concerned about his religion, don't be. I've talked to Oro. He's friendly to Jews and Christians. He loves Western culture and shares our values. By helping him, you are supporting love and inclusion and fighting hatred.

Update on the Onstotts

Sabra has written about her experience here.

Big thanks to everyone who has donated to their fundraiser!

Here's an updated needs list:

• curtains
• flatware
• pots & pans (pref. stainless steel, but they aren't going to be picky)
• school supplies (not much, but Sabra does homeschool Marie year-round pretty much)
• books; a fire hose went in through the window where the book case was, and there was heavy smoke damage there as well (Sabra & the kids read mostly sci-fi/fantasy; anything used is great -- adult level or stuff along the lines of Dork Diaries for Esther and super simple beginner books for Marie)
• stuffed puppies, kitties, and bunnies (just a few)
• yarn 
• cloth diapers (probably definitely a need at this point)

They've had several offers of clothes and they think everyone but Lewis and maybe Erik are taken care of.

Checking In From the ATL

Hi everypony!

I admit that I've been quiet this past week -- big hugs and thank-yous to everyone who checked in on my to ask if I was all right! The truth of the matter is that no, I wasn't all right, but I was taking care of myself and getting better.

On April 14th (the Friday before last), a good friend of mine named Donavan Lambertus passed away. Don was a fellow Traveller grognard (go check out his vector scaleable Quick Decks, they're amazing) and also helped out with data entry during the crazy early days of Operation Blazing Sword. His death really affected me, and it intersected with my monthly bout of feeling blue and not wanting to deal with anyone or anything, and so I just took the week off in order to get the space needed to retain my sanity.

Unfortunately, there may very well be silence from me for another week; fortunately, it's for a much happier reason. I'm in Atlanta right now, staying with friends and getting a makeover in preparation for the NRA Annual Meeting. When the meeting starts, I'm going to be quite busy; not only wll I be oohing and ahhing at all the nifty stuff on display, I'm also going to be meeting with people in order to spread the word about Operation Blazing Sword (and hopefully get some corporate sponsorship for it as well). Oh, and I'm also scheduled to appear on Cam & Company during the convention. On camera. No pressure, right? [Erin begins doing combat breathing exercises to prevent panic]

Speaking of meeting people, if you're at NRA this year (or if you live near Atlanta) and you'd like to meet me, send me an email or a PM on Facebook or leave a comment below and let's schedule a time and place to meet!

One more thing before I go: I'm pleased to announce that the Operation Blazing Sword storefront is now carrying my signature "Concealed Carry is herd Immunity Against Crime" design for both dark and light shirts. We also have stickers, and they're only $2.50 each!

All proceeds go to my charity, so please buy early and buy often!

Operation Blazing Sword Patches

I believe there was a desire for Blazing Sword patches?

This is a prototype of a 4" tall printed canvas OBS patch:

If you would like one, please contact William Hilton at baca.strings@gmail.com. Orders will be accepted through the weekend -- he's placing the production order on March 20 -- so get yours now!

Each patch costs $9 each and includes shipping. Any overages will be donated to Operation Blazing Sword. 

EDIT: the deadline has been extended until April 3. 

$10K for 2A

What is 10K for 2A? If you're a regular listener of the GunBlog VarietyCast, you should already know. If you aren't, well, just listen to this clip:

For those readers who don't have the patience to listen to a video, the idea is that Sean wants to attend the Gun Rights Policy Conference 2017 in Dallas, TX but can't afford the cost of the trip. So much like we did last year, where we promised that if folks donated money for the hotel room, plane ticket for Sean and gas money for me that Sean would wear a purple pony shirt for the entirety of the conference, we're doing the same thing -- but on a much larger scale.

By "much larger scale", we mean that if we can raise $10,000 plus trip expenses, then in exchange for attending:

1. Sean will dress as "the love child of Pinkie Pie and the Joker", to use his own words;
2. That $10K will be donated evenly among pro-gun rights organizations. 

So that covers what's in the video. Here are the new and newsworthy developments:

My way to GPRC 2017 is already paid 
Now that I'm Diversity Outreach Coordinator for Florida Carry, they have said they will pay for my flight and hotel room. This means that the expenses have already been reduced.

Your 10K for 2A donation is tax-deductible
Operation Blazing Sword will be accepting the donations, and everything after expenses will be donated to various state and nationwide gun-rights organizations. Because OBS is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charity founded to advance gun education and gun rights, it's perfectly legal to donate to us with the understanding that we can donate to other pro-gun right charities and/or nonprofits so long as they aren't PACs or lobby groups. Clearly, OBS is going to keep some of the donations, because it's a pro-gun rights charity, but it won't keep all of it.

Obligatory legal statement: "Funds raised in excess of expenses needed to get Sean Sorrentino to Gun Rights Policy Conference 2017 will be utilized by Operation Blazing Sword to further firearm education and firearm rights, which may include specific national or state-level firearms civil rights organizations, but until we have definitive understandings with those organizations our lawyer advises us to state that Operation Blazing Sword will distribute the funds to one or more reputable and charitable firearms civil-rights organizations as determined by the Operation Blazing Sword Board of Directors.”

Donations can be sent here

• If you wish to donate online, use our PayPal link: paypal.me/OpBlazingSword
• If you wish to send a check, please mail it to
  Operation Blazing Sword, Inc
  800 Belle Terre Parkway 200-302
  Palm Coast, FL 32164

Designate your donations "for 10K for 2A" 

If you don't, we'll just assume this was a standard donation to Operation Blazing Sword, which will help us but won't count toward Sean's total. 

If you donate to 10K for 2A, you consent to us sending your donation elsewhere
I'm sure this is a big "duh" to everyone who has been reading, but I need to state it explicitly for legal purposes.

If we don't meet our $10K goal
Sean doesn't get to attend GRPC 2017, and whatever has been donated under the 10K for 2A banner will be divided up (some will be kept by OBS, see above) and sent to various national and state-level charities and nonprofits. 

TL;DR Version

1. Donate money to humiliate Sean Sorrentino. 
2. Deduct your donation from next year's taxes. 
3. If enough money is raised, Sean dresses up for GRPC. 
4. Either way, your donation go to further gun rights and education. 

It's a win for everyone (except maybe Sean). 

Final Reminder for the Amy Dillon Benefit Raffle

I mentioned the Amy Dillon Benefit Raffle last month, but in case you missed it -- or in case you meant to enter, but forgot about it -- or in case you didn't have funds because you were saving for Christmas -- or maybe you just want to enter again to get another shot at winning this sweet rifle...

... I want to remind you that you have only 24 hours left to enter the drawing. The deadline for entry is noon tomorrow (Dec 29), Mountain Standard Time.

To enter, all you have to do is go to Amy's GoFundMe page, donate $25 or more, and forward your receipt email to ADillonBenefitRaffle AT gmail DOT com. Each $25 counts as one entry. 

And even if you don't win the rifle, there are still other great prizes to be won, including signed books by such noted authors as Larry Correia, Sarah Hoyt, Michael Z. Williamson and Andrew Branca. 

Donate to help a firearms instructor and fierce 2nd Amendment advocate! You might just win something really neat for your trouble!

Your Good Deed of the Season

I received this via Facebook message, and you know how much of a sucker I am for helping good people:

Erin I have a favor to ask of you, a small one.

I have a friend who lives in SC, she's a retired Marine Drill Instructor, currently a full time firearms instructor for Palmetto State Armory. Does metric tons of volunteer work with DC project, SC carry, GA carry, etc.

She was out of town working when Hurricane Matthew hit. Her house was flooded and she lost damn near everything she owned. No flood insurance because she didn't live in a "flood zone".

She lost most of her clothes, personal possessions, even her service uniforms were all ruined, appliances, every piece of furniture, all the flooring, trim, doors, and even the drywall had to come off from the floor up 4 ft.

In order to help raise funds for her GoFundMe campaign I have gone through friends and we're putting together a sweet custom AR-15 package that is being raffled. I'll include the link to the FB page with all the info on it.

Would you please help me get the word out and direct people to the page so we can start getting donations in for her? Each raffle entry is $25.

https://www.facebook.com/AmyDillonBenefitRaffle/

So not only do you get to do a good deed by helping someone who was a victim of a natural disaster AND who is gun owner, but you also get a chance to win a cool gun while so doing!

What kind of cool gun, you ask?

• Spike's Tactical forged Mil Spec receiver set
• 16" Mid length gas barrel from Palmetto State Armory
• Primary Weapons Systems Muzzle Brake
• 15" Free Float Handguard
• Low Profile Gas Block
• Mil Spec Bolt Carrier Group
• CMC 3.5# Single Stage Trigger
• Seekins Precision Magazine release, Ambi Safety Selector, and Bolt Catch 
• Magpul Carbine Stock and Pistol Grip
• Warne SKEL Scope Mount
• Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x Scope
• Custom Cerakote by Vigilante Arms of South Jordan UT

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Go to Amy's GoFundMe page and make a donation. Each $25 donated will be one raffle ticket. Donate more to get more entries.
2. Forward your receipt from GoFundMe to this email address. You will receive a confirmation email from the prize coordinator.
3. Watch this page for updates and the announcement of when the drawing will take place.

I asked the person who sent me this when the drawing would be, and he responded "No exact date as it depends on people's travel schedules. Between Christmas and New Years though."  So that gives you a solid month and a half to donate to this raffle, help make a Marine's Christmas come true, and maybe even pick up a nice big of swag for yourself!

Help Me Ponify Sean Sorrentino aka Operation Briarpatch

Jeez, Erin, do you have to give a code name to everything you do?

Yes.

Why?

Because it makes me giggle!

So for those of you who don't know. on this week's GunBlog VarietyCast my co-host Sean Sorrentino said -- on the record, in front of everyone (around the 30 minute mark) -- that if someone gave him the required $500 to attend, he would wear a purple pony shirt of my own design.

I reckoned that he's probably need three shirts, since Florida is freaking hot this time of year and conventions are sweaty, and he probably didn't want to wear the same stanky t-shirt for all three days.

As it happens, either people really want Sean to attend, or they really want to embarrass him, because as of this writing we've already received enough donations to cover his plane ticket and our hotel room. So now it's fallen on me to make shirts for him.

Special Super Bon Bon sized thanks to Sean's friend John Doughty for using his awesome skills to not only create a ponysona for Sean, but also to design a lovely logo suitable for putting on a shirt! John has saved me a TON of time and the end result looks better than anything I would have made.

Also, be sure to go to my Facebook page to vote for a name for Sean's ponysona!

So now I'm sourcing shirts for Sean, and here's what I've come up with.

I can get three of these from Allied Shirts for $56.35 and free shipping. But while they're nice shirts, I get the feeling that Sean won't wear them very often. But I'd much rather get just two of them for $37.57, and have the third shirt be a nice embroidered polo, like this one from Queensboro:

Some of you may well be wondering "But Erin, why are you getting a nice embroidered polo when you can just get a third t-shirt and be done with it for $56.35?" And that is an excellent question.

If I don't get enough contributions, then that's what I'll do. But my reasoning here is twofold:

1. If we make it a very nice polo shirt, then Sean may not pay attention to the shirt he's putting on an inadvertently wear ponies to work or to a political function. And that will be HILARIOUS. 
2. To meet the $50 car minumum for embroidery, I'd need to add an additional shirt to the order. And honestly, I'd like to have a pony polo shirt as well, featuring my ponysona (Powder Flash) in complimentary colors. There's an evening reception the first day of the Gun Rights Policy Conference, and Sean and I would look quite spiffy wearing our "team uniforms". You want me to look spiffy, don't you?
   
   Besides, unlike Sean I'd wear mine all over the place, like to the NRA Annual Meeting or the Big 3 Media Event. And if I ever have another TV interview like I did with the BBC, I'd wear it then as well!

I realize that this nearly doubles our total, but the shirts are REALLY nice and Sean has promised to wear his to all day and even be filmed wearing it. So please donate to my t-shirt fund and I will have a really nice shirt and Sean can be publicly embarrassed!

Any additional money will go defray my food and gas costs to get there, and any extra after that will be donated to helping Charles "Dustbury" Hill with his medical expenses.

Thank you very much!

Remembering Dawn

The world lost a warm, gentle, beautiful soul this past Saturday.

Dawn Faust Bibby, two-time cancer survivor, lost her third battle with it at 7:15 AM, August 6. She was taken from us far too soon; she easily had another 30 years in her of giving love, kindness and joy back to the world. Dawn was an extremely positive person, and if you don't know who she is, then I encourage you to visit her Facebook page to see what kind of things are being said about her. It's safe to say that a woman like her deserved her own fan club, and I'm pleased to see that she has one.

She died with grace, courage, and dignity, surrounded by loved ones who were able to say goodbye to her before she passed. That closure is something that not many people get, but her time in hospice gave her family nearly a week to make their peace with her passing. She even determined she was not going to die on her brother's birthday, and by God, she kept her promise.

This generosity and self-sacrifice was completely in keeping with her nature. Dawn was an amazing woman: she welcomed me into her home when I was having an anxiety attack about my appearance; she accepted me in all my weirdness, and encouraged me to be myself despite what others thought of me; and by being comfortable around me, she helped me to become more comfortable in my own skin. She would dismiss that as a nothing gesture, but I can never consider anything which takes my feelings into account as trivial. I'll never be able to pay back all that she's done for me, even though I know she'd wave her hand and say I had nothing to repay.



Her one concern, though, was for her husband John Bibby, who some of you may know in the gun community as Precision270. Dawn was a social butterfly and had immense social outreach; John is far more withdrawn and doesn't make friends as easily as she. Dawn's greatest fear was that after she passed, John would find himself without friends to help him through his grief and struggles to rebuild his life without her. I promised Dawn that John was my friend and that I'd always be there for him.

Right now, John's need is financial. He lost nearly a month's worth of work just by taking Dawn to various cancer treatments, and he hardly left her side during her final days. Now that he's gone, the Amazon business that they ran together is without its chief motive force, so he's lost nearly half his income. I don't know how much of the funds that were raised for her cancer treatments are left, but I know that hospitals and hospices aren't cheap, and she needed a fundraiser in the first place because her insurance coverage was being... well, not to put too fine a point on it, but they were being complete and utter assholes.  And now, John has to take what is left to cremate his wife, have a memorial to celebrate her life, and try to get on with his.

If you'd like to help, I ask that you donate to the GoFundMe campaign with instructions that John use the money to get back on his feet. It's what Dawn would have wanted.

I'll miss you, Dawn.

This is what love looks like.
They were an incredible couple, truly meant for each other. 

Gunnies Helping Gunnies: Let's Beat Cancer a Third Time

The gun community is no friend to cancer.

Between Kilted to Kick Cancer and the various friends and family members we have lost to it, I believe the general consensus toward it (as elucidated by Barron) is "Fuck cancer sideways with a rusty chainsaw."

If you feel that way as well -- congratulations! Now's your chance to do something about it!

Help Dawn Faust Bibby Beat Cancer

Not only is this woman one of us (as is her husband, John), but she's already beaten cancer twice. Won't you please help her beat it a third time?

Photo by Oleg Volk; gun is Kel-Tec CMR-30. 

In 2009, I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. I beat it -- but it cost my 401k plan, my job, my home and a husband of 6 months. His parting words were, "This cancer thing is not what I signed up for. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll be gone when I get home”.

In 2014, an MRI found 22 metastatic tumors in my brain. My local doctors gave me 6 months to live. Thankfully, I found Dr. Aizik Wolf in Miami who is a magician with Gamma Knife. He destroyed every tumor in my brain and 18 months later there is no cancer in my brain nor any cognitive impairment.

Now in 2016, I need your help to beat cancer a third time. I have been diagnosed with advanced tumors in my lungs, bones and liver. Again, the local doctors have written me off. Another physician in Miami, Dr. Beatriz Amendola , has the ability to beat this with a procedure called Varian Edge . This machine combined with drug therapy is greatly effective. However, my insurance company has denied coverage, If I want to live, I must pay CASH. The Varian Edge alone will cost at least $150,000. There will be CT scans, PET scans, MRIs, the drug regimen, co-pays and of course transportation and time away from work for my husband.

This is why you are so important. By donating to this fund and by sharing my message you inspire me to fight even harder and you will make the finances of what needs to be done possible. With your help I can beat this disease again. I am a survivor. I have a great husband who has been my champion through this entire cancer journey. Please help me have more time to enjoy with this great man and the love we spent a lifetime to find. I have a caring support structure, four amazing kids, fabulous friends and a tremendous will to live. What I need today, is your help raising money and getting the word out. Please help if you can, no amount is unappreciated or too small.

If any excess funds are raised, they will be donated to St. Baldricks Children's Cancer charity. Because cancer in kids is inconceivable!!

Please donate if you can. I have.

Boosting the Signal

I shall leave it to Oleg to get into the specifics, but here is the short version:

Alexis Nicole is an 8 year old competitive shooter.

On Friday, 11 March, her grandfather Tryce (and the male role model in her life -- no father is present) was driving her to practice when there was an accident. He was killed at the scene, but Alexis suffered only minor cuts and bruises.

There is a donation page to help this family. All money will go to Alexis' family (via her mother, Stephanie), and will help with the burial, memorial services, medical expenses and whatever else they need to get through this harrowing time.

I have donated. Please find it in your heart to donate as well, if you can.

That day arrived far too soon. 

Gunnies Helping Gunnies: Mark Alger

The Smallest Minority has the details, but the short version is that fellow gunnie and friend of the blog Mark Alger was laid off two weeks before Christmas and needs an emergency cash infusion that can tide him over until the royalties from his second novel come in.

He's a good guy. Slip him some dosh. Or buy his first novel, The High T Shebang, on Kindle for just $2.99!

Following Up on Nicki Kenyon

About 2 weeks ago I posted that fellow gunnie Nicki Kenyon needed financial assistance to help her evict two squatters (one of them a convicted child molester) from her house.  I am pleased to report that, as of this writing, Nicki is over halfway to her goal.

Nicki is all out of bubblegum. 

In order to sweeten the pot, my brother-from-another-mother Oleg Volk has announced that between May 18 and June 1, the highest contributor will get a poster print of their choice. All you need to is:

1. Donate to the fundraiser. 
2. Email Oleg with your amount and date of donation. 
3. Indicate which photo you wish to have posterized. 

As I mentioned in my previous post, any money which Nicki does not need for legal fees or other expenses (I have a feeling the squatters are going to trash the place before they're evicted) will be donated to a charity for homeless veterans. So no matter what happens, you know it will be used for a good cause! 

Gunnies Helping Gunnies: Nicki Kenyon

Nicki Kenyon is the dynamite gal who blogs at The Liberty Zone and contributes the Foreign Policy for Grownups segment on the Gun Blog Variety Cast.  If you've read the one, you know that she's incredibly sharp-witted (in both senses of the word -- she's so inventive with her invective that she's managed to make me blush on occasion), and if you've listened to the other, you know that she's incredibly smart and on-point. She's also managed to raise a daughter who has since become a Marine, and in her copious amounts of free time (when she's not working two jobs) she also rescues Saint Bernard dogs.

Basically, I'm proud to call Nicki a friend, and I want to be exactly like her when I grow up.

The thing is, though, she's been the victim of exceptionally crappy luck as of late, and so she needs our help. I encourage you to read about it in her own words...

• The Virginia “Justice” System
• On Losing Hope
• On Theft

... but here's the TL;DR version:  Nicki has a house that she's trying to sell, but the people who were renting it from her have 1) Stopped paying rent, 2) are actively sabotaging her attempts to sell it, and 3) have lied in court in order to keep staying there (without paying rent) until a trial can, hopefully, force them out. 

Oh, and most importantly, the husband is a convicted child molester (which Nicki didn't know at the time she let them rent, obviously). 

So now Nicki has to raise funds in order to retain a lawyer so that she can force the squatters out, all while continuing to pay a mortgage on a house she can't sell until this is over. Since she clearly needs financial assistance, a friend started a GoFundMe fundraiser on her behalf. 

Here is what's in it for you to contribute:

• The satisfaction of helping a sister gunnie, an Army veteran, and strong pro-gun voice on the internet. That's both "voting your politics" and good karma all at once. 
• The good clean fun of kicking thieving, child-molesting scum square in the nuts. Who knows, if Nicki wins the trial decisively he might even go back to jail for fraud and perjury. 
• The knowledge that if she gets more money than she needs. she will donate the excess money to charity for homeless veterans. 
• The personal gratitude of Nicki, her husband Rob, and myself. 

But wait! There's more!

Maybe you don't want to just give money away. Maybe you want to get yourself a little something, too? Well, say no more! How would you like the chance to win a fabulous prize?  How would you like TWO chances??

 Dennis Badurina, of Dragon Leatherworks, is auctioning off these handsome 1911 holsters individually, with ALL PROCEEDS being donated to Nicki's defense fund.

What's more, these are special edition holsters!  You will notice the special "Sad Puppy" debossing done to the leather, meaning that not only will the winning bid be donated to Nicki, but you will also   make whiny SJWs cry just for bidding.

I believe the proper expression is "Shut up and take my money"?  Well, here's where you go to shove money:

• Right Holster
• Left Holster

These holsters are for 5" 1911s, and the auction ends in 6 days.  Bid now, bid often, and bid knowing that doing so pisses off all the correct people and the money goes to a great cause!

And once again, here is the GoFundMe URL.  Please contribute!