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Neighbor News

Yard Sale: The legendary guns of Hammerli, Walther, SIG, Steyr and others

This yard sale, July 12 of this year, originally planned for Highland Park, likely will take place in Zion due to the time frame for overturn of mutiliple HP laws that appear to be unconstitutional.

One HP Patcherite felt that Zion was too far beneath him to attend an event there, even though the quality and content of the event are at the highest level ever seen in North America.

The discussion is quoted here:

"
Steve S. June 21, 2014 at 12:43 PM Like most things over the last 100 years, we have evolved for the better, we let women vote, we have civil rights, we are less barbaric and we also know that the current residents have the right to set local laws, if the current residents don't like what's going on, they vote.

James, what is your point in all of this? You have your gun show in Zion, if HP residents want to see them they can go to Zion.

alan donahue June 21, 2014 at 12:50 PM Steve, just like a communist/liberal/obama sympathizer to make such a wild set of suggestions. First, letting women vote was one of the worst mistakes this country has made in the last 100 years.

Second, Zion is an absolute dump and no serious HP'er would be caught dead there.

HP should have their own gun show.

James Clerk Maxwell June 21, 2014 at 01:15 PM

Interesting. Annie (Oakley) also felt women should not be allowed to vote.

 Mr Donahue has a very good idea about the HP gun show, which was what the Historical Society had planned, and tried x2 already. The second was nixed by the defunct gun owners registration ordinance. I'll ask Nikita about having the show in HP if there is a last second federal court decision overturning the HP ban. The sales ordinance is a separate "law". It might be included in the same overturn, or not. If not, then the sale technically would be transacted through Zion to obtain an FFL transfer (currently precluded in HP).

IL procedures at this time do not facilitate background checks on non-FFL transfers, which would be needed otherwise for an HP sale. That would require trips by the purchaser to Zion for the filing and pickup.

Regardless of ones views about Zion, the FFL holder there has the exclusive regional distribution agreement for these guns when they are discontinued from testing use. The reason for that is that he also is the only, or at best one of the few gunsmiths in the area with the required skills to maintain, adjust, and repair these guns in a truly expert manner.

Lastly, it is interesting to hear the views that residents of Winnetka and Kenilworth hold about HP, echoed in this blog. Even the police department there refers to HPers as "those people" with the same implication as third worlders who should not venture beyond their borders. The world in its own mirror? "

Some of the finest officers serving under me in the DoD were from Kenilworth, Winnetka, and Glencoe, and a few from Wilmette. 

This suggested: Mr Donahues comments might be an instance of the proverbial  "out of the mouths of fools and babes comes the greatest of truths" and that perhaps residents of Glencoe, Winnetka, or Kenilworth might not mind a trip to lowly and reprobate Highland Park (if the exhibit is held there) or actually very nice Zion as an alternative.

The guns available are for the target shooter seeking perfection, but also are useful for concealed carry, defense, collections, and a variety of other uses 

For police and security work, in the US, their deployment generally is limited to specialty units of Defense and Naval Intelligence field operations.  They are far beyond anything the FBI and SEALs have available in accuracy and  quality.  For domestic police and security work, they are useful in the specific situations were not more than one shot per intended target can be used, where the objective is to cause either no personal injury to the target or keep that injury highly specific, where no bystander injury can occur, and where bullet overpenetration would preclude use of a firearm.  They are especially useful indoors, in crowded areas where many people are present and are not the targets, when multiple targets are present and all must be disabled in rapid fire, where a handgun must be used at distances exceeding 25 yards, and where low noise is required.  Instances include schools, stores, public gatherings, homes, museums, and wide open areas (distance).

The links to the HP webpage, that includes more information about the guns are

http://highlandpark.patch.com/groups/opinion/p/unenforceable-assault-weapons-ban-in-highland-park?nc... 

and

http://highlandpark.patch.com/groups/buy-sell-trade/p/yard-sale-banned-in-highland-park-part-2

Two links were required for all the images, which reflect about a third of what will be available at most.

Technical discussion of the basic physics, mathematics, acoustic and materials engineering of the guns, the legal issues in concealed carry and weapons use, and sociologic issues will be available.  Staff included weapons and defense exports, as well as a very nice lady to assist women in finding the optimal gun for their use, to permit kids (accompanied by responsbile adult) feel at ease, and for general information.

Any gun transfer is FFL-mediated only.  No private sales, even if you have an FOID card.  No law enforcement discounts.  For a few of the guns, discount or intermediate term loan is possible for educational youth related groups.  For a few police deparments, additional restrictions apply due to local requirements.  Ask first regarding those. 

Email to Nikita@alum.MIT.edu for any desired information including the specific gun list, or approximate prices.  Magazines sold only with purchase of the corresponding gun(s).

The attached poster lists the most likely, Zion address and prints as a half page pdf.  The location is along Sheridan Road, in a very nice area near the central park.  The gun show will be held in the yard behind the main gun store.

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