Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438

Why I mentioned propane...

For the past several years, at the start of the heating season, I have posted information and warnings regarding carbon monoxide. I spend a fair amount of time investigating and trying cases involving CO deaths and injuries. I wish I didn't need to repeat the warnings this year, but based upon the number of new cases I've seen this past year, it looks like the warnings are still relevant. So here goes. Carbon monoxide ("CO") is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas. It can be produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. It can be dangerous to humans, and even deadly, at certain levels and durations of exposure. It can be found in the exhaust of cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, generators, and anything else that uses an internal combustion engine, or burns fuel to prouce heat or hot water. Furnaces and boilers that have not received annual servicing are potential sources, as are charcoal or gas grills operated inside a house or garage. The tighter a house is built or insulated, the faster CO will accumulate. Faulty vent systems, corroded exhausts, abd seperated PVC piping can all allow excess levels of CO to escape into the living space. It is the ultimate silent killer, interfering with the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. Many victims are overcome quietly while sleeping, and never wake up. Early exposure symptoms (headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion) are often mistaken for flu and ignored. Hundreds die every year from accidental exposures. Some examples from my cases in just the past year: An entire extended family in CT was overcome by CO during the Christmas holidays. A 30 year old floor furnace was poorly maintained, and improperly modified by the homeowner; CO was literally pouring into the exhaust stream; the homeowner also improperly installed and modified the exhaust vent, effectively blocking the flow to the outside and causing fumes to back up into the house; in an effort to save money on heat, the homeowner also fully sealed almost all windows and doors with plastic sheeting, eliminating the infiltration of any fresh air into the house. Three family member died; two suffered permanent brain damage, and will consequently require lifetime care. A middle-aged executive in NH was overcome by CO in his condo, and died several days later while hospitalized; testing and investigation disclosed that the vent from his gas fired boiler was improperly installed and maintained, causing it to seperate and allowing the by-products of combustion to enter the home; improper adjustement of the boiler caused CO levels to be 100 times higher than as specified by the manufacturer. An entire family was overcome by CO in their NH home; the homeowner had installed his own high efficiency boiler, but had neglected to properly convert the boiler from natural gas to propane; a contractor improperly installed the boiler vent system, and CO was released into the living space. Fortunately, one resident was awakened and realized something was wrong; despite mental confusion, he was able to call 911 and a timely response by Police and Fire saved all residents from serious injury. There are some simple safety recommendations that arise from these and dozens of similar cases: Fuel burning appliance installations are jobs for PROFESSIONALS, as is the ongoing maintenace and repair of these devices; especially with the advent of high efficiency burners and computerized controls, this is no place for do-it-yourselfers. Some states REQUIRE that a licensed gas fitter perform all installations and service. Even if your state doesn't, it's good advice to hire a professional; Compressors, power washers, grills, space heaters, and other devices that burn gasoline, natural gas, propane, wood, coal or charcoal ALL produce CO, and have no venting systems; DO NOT RUN THEM INSIDE YOUR HOUSE, BARN OR GARAGE; Your appliances and the attached vents require yearly inspection and servicing by a professional; do not laugh this off; it is not a conspiracy to squeeze more money out of you; it is a necessity to save your life and the lives of your families; INSTALL CO DETECTORS THROUGHOUT YOUR HOUSE, and change the batteries as required; in every one of the cases summarized above, the homeowners either removed the batteries or allowed them to run down; batteries are CHEAP!!! I want to see you at a match, not at the scene of a CO accident. Stay warm. LL

Sure beats having to hand dig the garden..... i assume somebody filled a burrow with propane. LL

OK...we ain't got no such creature in any size around here; what is it? LL

Depends, Alpo.... Are we talking NCIS or Law & Order???? NCIS has better ballistics people.... LL

Thanks! Standing in Cabela’s with a clueless look on my face.... LL

Is it #10 or 11 percussion caps on Slix Shot nipples on an 1851 Pietta? LL

Well, that's it!!! I'm taking my mail elsewhere!!!! Oh...um...never mind.... LL

Not really. For those travelling through, or attending a MA shoot, unloaded, in a locked container or the trunk, or with a trigger lock, seperate from ammo. If you are otherwise a law abiding fellow, no real issue. If you are shady, have a record, or are involved in illegal activities, expect a delay. And either way, don't mouth off to the police.

Licorice! LL

Several years ago, I had a new CZ SxS in my trunk, headed from MA to CT to deliver the gun to Happy Trails for a bit of smoothing. It wasn't until I saw the "Welcome to Connecticut" sign that I realized that I was now in a state that did not honor my permits, and had no sympathy for out-of-staters caught with firearms. Slowed down so as not to give any troopers a reason to pull me over. Not a state to be taken lightly. LL

Or looking dreamily at Old Glory???? LL

Try this: https://www.shouselaw.com/public-nuisance.html Around here, "disorderly conduct" would be the more likely criminal citation. Some locales have specific statutes or regulations forbidding the display of gun-like hand gestures. Talk about trivializing the role of a police officer - sending him out to arrest a kid for pointing his unloaded finger "in an aggressive manner". LL

Oh, I think it had....

Man, that's one big quarter! LL

I've been collecting coins in a disorganized way for 60 years. My favorites are not worth a lot of money; they represent a relationship or a life event that is important to me. I have an 1874 Morgan silver dollar that was pressed into my hand when I was about 9 years old, at a Masonic church service in Philadelphia. I was sitting next to an elderly couple, who literally poured dozens of Morgans into the collection plate, and then gave me one for being a "good fellow" in church. That act of kindness started me on a life-long love affair with Morgans. I also have a bunch of early 20th century silver coins left to me by my mother; none is particularly valuable, but I think of her every time I look at them. I never had the budget to buy big-dollar coins, nor the inclination to troll coin shows or websites. But I love the surprise of finding an uncommon coin in my change. I've been buying silver proof sets and Silver Eagles for years, hoping that they will eventually give one of my future grandchildren the same thrill that I felt with that first Morgan. There is just something about the feel of a silver coin in your hand.... LL

Nothing like hard economic times to bring the old coins out again into circulation. Were the coins in the OP gold plated at the mint? I have a substantial number of Bicentennial dollars, halves and quarters, but have never seen any that came from the mint gold plated. There were a lot of plated, painted and otherwise altered Bicentennial coins produced by private companies; few if any are worth anything more than face value (and then some are worth less because they are defaced). LL

Stolen?? LL

Very intriguing.... https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/11/us/ar-15-guns-law-atf-invs/index.html LL

I think I would need a better reason to "black ball" a cowboy gun maker than an uniformed policy. Now, on the other hand, I would walk quickly away from a dealer who wanted to cut my barrels..... LL

Unless there is something very unusual in the laws of your state, I can think of nothing that gives a gun dealer the right to refuse to return your property or to demand that he be allowed to cut your barrels before he delivers the gun back to you. My first stop would be the police; my second would be my lawyer.

And that's all I have to say to that..... LL

Actually, lawyers typically offer advice. CEOs or owners run the business. Sometimes they follow the lawyer's advice, sometimes not. As a lawyer, I would have told the owner to return the gun unrepaired, but with prominent markings and warnings, documented and provably delivered to the gun owner. I would not have advised the business to deface or alter the gun. It's a tough call. Example: (1) Factory returns the gun, after deciding that it is unsafe, but does not make repairs or mark the gun in any relatively permanent way (as most folks here seem to believe should have been done); (2) the owner receives the gun from the factory, and resells the gun to an unsuspecting purchaser; (3) gun fails on the range, injuring the new owner (or an innocent by-stander); think vision loss, multiple surgeries, hospital bills, lost wages, disfigurement and permanent disability - a verdict potential in the 7 figure range. Who is responsible? I can see potential claims against (a) the factory, for not repairing the gun when they had it; (b) the factory, for not disabling the gun before returning it; (c) the factory, for not permanently and prominently marking the gun in such a way that the new purchaser would have been informed (like marking the barrels); (d) the original owner, for not passing on the danger warning and for selling a gun known to be defective and dangerous. Unfortunately, the original owner probably has minimal assets, and could not satisfy a substantial judgment. So, the prime target defendant is the factory. Can you blame them (and their lawyers) for trying to limit their liability? How many million dollar verdicts before their insurer cancels their coverage, or prices it out of range? How many uninsured claims before they are out of business? LL

Comisión Internacional Para la Observancia de la Ley - the Latino version of U.N.C.L.E. - as in "Man From".

Hey!! That's Gil Favor (Eric Fleming), the trail boss of Rawhide!! Cowboys in space!! LL