New Heller Commemorative S&W

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Guntalk

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Special Revolver Commemorates Landmark Heller Decision

Sometimes things work out, and in this case, it's a home run! Three weeks ago on my Gun Talk Radio Show, I offered the idea of a presentation gun to be given to the six original plaintiffs in what started off as the "Parker" case, and then became the Heller case. That's the case where the U. S. Supreme Court ruled on July 26 that the Second Amendment is, in fact, an individual right, and the court threw out the total handgun ban in Washington, DC.

I'd love to say it was my idea, but I got the suggestion from a listener and Truth Squad member. I liked it, so I picked up the ball and ran with it.

Now, only three weeks later, it's reality. Even better, you can buy one.

On Sunday, July 20, I'll announce on the radio the new "D.C. vs. Heller" revolver from Smith & Wesson. It's the alloy frame model 442, which is a hammerless J-frame (the small frame) in .38 Special. It's very lightweight, with rubber grips. It's a perfect self-defense revolver.

Before I get into the details, let me tell you how it came about. I initially thought that a revolver was the way to go because Fenty, the mayor of D.C., has stated that the city will not allow anyone to register semi-auto handguns. The city classifies autoloaders as machine guns, which tells you how much they know about guns. Clearly, semi-autos are the most popular type of handgun being sold, so there is nothing unusual about them. Of course, this means is that the District will be sued...again...and will lose. Fenty should be impeached for wasting public money. But, I didn't want the six people who stood up to claim their Second Amendment rights to have to wait, so we went with a revolver.

I began the conversation with Smith & Wesson, and they immediately said yes. They didn't even know what they were committing to, but they liked the idea. A week ago my son, Ryan, and I were shooting video at the S&W plant for Gun Talk TV, and we met with Tom Taylor and Paul Pluff to discuss it. Tom suggested that rather than making just six of the guns, that they make a special gun and offer it for sale to everyone. A share of the revenue would be used to fund the lawsuits which are ongoing right now.

So, that's what we are doing. A portion of the sales will go to the Second Amendment Foundation, which has been instrumental in not only the Heller case, but in funding legal scholarship on the Second Amendment over the last 20 years. SAF filed suit against the city of Chicago (which has a ban just like D.C.'s) within minutes of the Supreme Court decision on Heller.

Click Here (http://www.guntalk.com/site88.php) to view photos of the special Model 442. You can see the neat laser engraving with the scales of justice, the date of the decision (June 26, 2008), and the words "D.C. vs Heller" on the scale. Note that the side of the scale holding "Heller" is weighted down -- the winner! There's also an engraving saying "The Right to Keep and Bear Arms" on the revolver.

The black finish on this gun takes laser engraving very well, and the engraved parts show up in a satin-silver finish. It looks great!

The revolver will be available for sale in early fall -- right around the corner. Honestly, I can't think of a better gift for yourself or someone in your family to note this critically-important blow for gun rights. I wouldn't claim that this will be a collector's item -- I don't think it will -- but it's going to be something special to have in future years.

I'm happy to have been able to push this through. Here's a big attaboy to the men and women who worked on this case for so long, and to the six D.C. residents who put their names on the lawsuit. Talk about having the "no shrug" attitude we talk about on the radio! They wouldn't take it anymore.

Listen in to Gun Talk for more information. We'll have Tom Taylor from Smith & Wesson and Alan Gottlieb from the Second Amendment Foundation on at 2:10pm Eastern time, July 20.

As we get more information about ordering this special revolver (expect a street price in the $450 range), I'll put it out on the air. You can buy a special gun and help continue the fight for gun rights. Not bad, indeed.
 
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Will it have the lock? Just kidding :)

I like the idea.

Having been a Chicago resident for a large portion of my adult life, I'm curious what will happen in the next few years.
 
Sounds good. It should come with a little accessory kit of tar and feathers for the city fathers if they continue to defy SCOTUS and the people.

Will there be a Barrett .50 version, too?
 
Most excellent, a part of our secular religion is made manifest in metal. Thank you for your part in this, and thanks to our friend Smith&Wesson.
 
Considering that the IL does absolutely nothing to hinder our 2nd amendment rights, you've lost me.
Also, trying to think of how irony would apply here, and I just can't see it. Please, enlighten me.
 
Use the search function and enlighten yourself. Enough has already been written on the subject.

David
 
the date of the decision (June 26, 2008), and the words "D.C. vs Heller" on the scale

Tom,

Not to pick nits, but even in abbreviated form it should be styled "D.C. v. Heller." Not "vs." The "v." styling is always used for the Supreme Court. The "vs." would imply a trial court level decision. Take a gander at the opinion or the briefs to see what I'm talking about, or any citation to a U.S. Supreme Court case.
 
I'm sure the search function will fail to mention proper irony.

And also, no. You brought it up, you lay out the logic. I'm not going to do the research to explain your point. If you think it's worth telling, then explain. Otherwise, can't be all that important to you.
 
Enough

Please leave the lock / no lock banter out. Open another thread for it.

It probably will have a lock, and that's just how S&W builds revolvers now. If you want a new J Frame without the lock get one of the upcoming no lock 642s or 37s mentioned in another thread here. If you want the Heller Commemorative S&W deal with the lock. For many this will be a collection piece that's never fired anyway.

All that aside I'm very happy that S&W is commemorating this historic event, and I'm happy that the street price is set to be in line with current 442s. Last, I'm very that they're doing all that and donating part of the proceeds to the SAF. Thank you for running with this Mr. Gresham, and thank you for making this revolver S&W.
 
Please leave the lock / no lock banter out. Open another thread for it.

Respectfully disagree. We should not allow any S&W thread not have something about the repugnant lock.

The squeeky wheel gets the grease.
 
Posting on an internet forum completely fails at qualifying as a squeaky wheel in the eyes of a company like S&W.

I wouldn't even bet my belly button lint that the decision makers at S&W even know this forum exists, let alone read anything here.
 
I wouldn't even bet my belly button lint that the decision makers at S&W even know this forum exists, let alone read anything here.

This is the best forum for gun people on the internet.

With this in mind, your opinion speaks to your underlying belief that the decision makers at S&W are not gun people.

It is very sad that you are probably right.
 
There is that, yes.
I've also learned from other hobbies of mine that the powers that be get tired of having to wade through all the nonsense posts in order to find that gold nugget of a good post, so they stop bothering with net forums on the whole.

For instance, one post explaining, in a well thought out, well written and logical manner, why one dislikes the IL, is worth vastly more than 37,000 posts that simply state the lock is disliked. Sure, those 37,000 posts let someone know here may be an issue, but they why is the important part. Otherwise, it's equal to little more than disliking the color blue, purely an emotional/irrational reaction.

What's worth even more is a hand written(or typed) letter that is physically mailed in. Thirty-seven thousand of those would be even better. ;)
 
This is a really nice idea, and I'm glad it's S&W doing it.

I'm not concerned with the lock so much as I am the choice of gun. Granted, there's nothing wrong with the 442 (I have one), but we're talking about a gun that celebrates a major 2nd Amendment victory.

That clearly calls for an N-Frame :)

For residents of the District, handguns are exclusively home-defense guns by law, so let's get S&W to do a commemorative .44.

Even better, since it's been just over 100 years, how about making a commemorative .44 Special Hand Ejector, maybe even a triple lock?
 
Matt,

I say keep the fire stoked.

You say that it is pointless and inhibits the enjoyment of related conversations

While I have no evidence to suggest that you are incorrect, I subscribe to the theory that even though it is an inefficient, and probably losing effort, we have to keep sweeping back at the dirty tide. For giving up is worse than losing.

Let us agree to respectfully disagree.
 
They should make a LadySmith version and send one to Sarah Brady

Can't agree with anything called "lady" be associated with Sarah Brady.

I might go along with sending her something in a "bullpup" configuration.
 
Sometimes things work out, and in this case, it's a home run!

I am as happy about Heller as anyone here, but comments like this concern me. We only won by a single vote, and the weasel gungrabbers are seething with animosity. It is only a matter of time until they attack the constitution again. We cannot allow ourselves to become arrogant over this marginal decision. Who knows, a few years down the road the SCOTUS could swing the other way.

Now back on topic... I think a commemorative revolver is fine and good so long as we remember that the fight to preserve our rights in life is never over.

"It's a journey, not a destination."
 
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