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Gaston Glock‚ the brilliant Austrian inventor‚ entrepreneur‚ and founder of one of the most successful firearms manufacturers in history‚ passed away Wednesday at 94. The cause of death was not immediatly announced. In 1963‚ as Europe was attempting to rebuild every aspect of its economy after the devastation of World War II‚ Glock founded Glock Ges.m.b.H to provide molding parts and components for several European authorities and companies from his facility in Deutsch-Wagram‚ Austria. His polymer molding products formed the handles of knives and shovels‚ curtain rods‚ doorknobs‚ grenade casings‚ machine belt links‚ and machine covers for newer wiring and tubing in the burgeoning age of postwar communications. In 1976‚ Glock noticed a contract opportunity published by the Austrian army for a new knife bayonet for its Steyr AUG assault rifle. Glock meticulously designed a knife of plastic polymer and steel from hilt to blade that‚ while simple in its design and production‚ was crafted to perfectly augment the AUG. Austria awarded Glock the contract‚ and with an order of 25‚000 knives‚ the engineer now had his foot in the door. By the turn of the 1980s‚ Glock was manufacturing knives‚ entrenching shovels‚ and other pointy objects for Austria’s police forces and army. Knives weren’t the only thing due for an upgrade in Austria’s military‚ however. The Walther P38 was outdated‚ and 1980 boasted far better 9mm service pistols from a host of designers around the world. The Steyr GB‚ designed in 1968 and from a manufacturer already working with the Austrian military‚ was favored to win the new contract posting. The Austrian Ministry of Defense’s specifications were exacting. The pistol was required to be self-loading‚ to fire the NATO 9x19mm cartridge‚ be ambidextrous‚ have a capacity of at least eight rounds‚ and be made of 58-or-fewer interchangeable parts that could be replaced without special tools. Unlike the SIG Sauer‚ Beretta and Steyr‚ whose pistol designs might have been hindered by‚ as historian Stuart Brown put it‚ “preconception or existing tooling‚” Glock built his design from scratch. The resulting pistol was christened the Glock 17‚ as his 17th invention. As Brown noted‚ “That the magazine capacity was 17 rounds was serendipity.” Glock’s pistol stole the show‚ easily outclassing SIG Sauer’s‚ Beretta’s and Heckler &; Koch’s submissions. He was awarded the contract for 25‚000 pistols and the Glock name was launched into both fame and infamy. American media discredited themselves over the Glock at first‚ claiming that it was an “undetectable plastic gun‚” which was “tailor-made for terrorism‚” due to a wild allegation that the Glock was invisible to metal detectors. That‚ of course‚ was silly. The Glock 17 is 83% metal‚ and every common pistol cartridge is built of both a metal bullet and metal casing. The movie “Die Hard 2” starring Bruce Willis famously goofed on its description of Gaston Glock’s creation. Willis’ John McClane character’s line will live on in the jokes of gun owners forever: Luggage? That punk pulled a Glock 7 on me. You know what that is? It’s a porcelain gun made in Germany. It doesn’t show up on your airport X-ray machines here‚ and it costs more than what you make in a month! Regardless of the initial coverage‚ Glock’s vision for firearms manufacturing changed the production and sale of firearms forever. The company has production facilities in Austria and Slovakia‚ as well as in Smyrna‚ Georgia. Annual sales regularly top $500 million globally‚ and in 2021‚ Forbes reported that Glock held an estimated “65% market share of handguns in the U.S.” That’s due to four key factors: ease of production‚ durability‚ price‚ and versatility. Every one of Glock’s more than 50 pistol designs is made in the same fashion as the Glock 17. Each can be taken apart‚ serviced‚ and put back together again with ease (if you know what you’re doing). They can take a fair amount of wear and tear that many other manufacturers struggle to achieve. Usually‚ quality and reliability that high result in an equally high price tag—but not so with Glocks. While many high-quality handguns run more than $1‚000 (and many‚ two or three times that‚ depending on owner preference)‚ Glocks tend to hang around the $400 to $700 price range—much more affordable for individuals who want a solid concealed-carry or home-defense weapon. It’s for that reason‚ in my opinion‚ that Glock has done more for personal defense than any man since Samuel Colt. After all‚ Colt’s handguns earned the nickname “the Great Equalizer” for a reason. With its ease of procurement and use‚ it was said‚ “Abe Lincoln may have freed all men‚ but Sam Colt made them equal.” Glock’s manufacturing and distribution of simple‚ reliable and inexpensive firearms have allowed millions to protect themselves and others. His brilliance in industry and ingenuity should be revered and taught. Rest in peace‚ Gaston Glock. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Inventor Gaston Glock’s Firearms Legacy Lives On appeared first on The Daily Signal.

This article originally appeared on WND.com Guest by post by Bob Unruh  It’s a victory for students who were ejected by the National Archives and Records Administration from a Washington‚ D.C.‚ museum for wearing T-shirts with pro-life messages. A report from the American Center for Law and Justice confirms the organization was assured such a situation would not be allowed to develop again. The ACLJ reported‚ “As we told you‚ at the start of mediation‚ our clients’ objective was to find out who was responsible for the targeting‚ how and why it happened‚ and to ensure that something like this does not happen again. We have achieved just that.” It continued‚ “In documents filed yesterday with the U.S. District Court in Washington‚ D.C.‚ the National Archives’ Chief of Management outlined the investigation conducted into the targeting of our clients following the events on January 20‚ 2023. The NARA official’s affidavit provided details about who was responsible for the targeting (a security guard hired by NARA and employed by Allied Universal) and outlined steps taken by NARA officials to ensure this doesn’t happen again and additional training provided to security officers.” The ACLJ reported further that‚ “the official investigation into the targeting is detailed in a report released by NARA and conducted by security for NARA‚ Allied Universal. Much of the ‘who‚’ ‘what‚’ and ‘how’ is documented by Allied in this report.” It was last winter as the annual March for Life was going on that students were trying to visit some of Washington’s museums. “Several government institutions targeted pro-lifers‚ kicking them out or forcing them to remove or cover up pro-life attire in violation of their First Amendment free speech rights‚” the ACLJ reported. The organization had sued the NARA “for targeting pro-life visitors‚” and the federal agency immediately agreed to an injunction halt the harassment. It also sought mediation. The ACLJ pointedly noted‚ “Ironically‚ the National Archives is the home of the Declaration of Independence‚ the Constitution of the United States‚ and the Bill of Rights‚ commonly referred to as the ‘Charters of Freedom.’ On January 20‚ 2023‚ our clients – a grandmother‚ a law student‚ and a high school student at a Catholic school – all visited the National Archives at different times that day to view these documents. To our clients’ horror‚ each was told by armed guards to take off their religious‚ pro-life apparel or leave the museum.” The security officer stunningly claimed the apparel would “incite others.” The report said‚ “The National Archives will also pay each of our clients a monetary sum in acknowledgment of the violation of plaintiffs’ rights and the harm caused to them. Our clients will also be granted special access to security video of the events that transpired at the National Archives on the day in question to confirm for themselves certain representations that have been made by NARA officials.” And‚ the NARA “has entered into a Consent Order and is ‘ENJOINED’ from prohibiting visiting members of the public to NARA facilities from wearing attire containing religious and political speech.” Copyright 2023 WND News Center

Portions of Manhattan’s East Side went under shelter-in-place orders after a steam leak forced emergency crews to shut down roads‚ restaurants‚ and businesses. Authorities expressed concerns about a possible asbestos exposure. “Several blocks in the area shut down spanning from East 42nd street all the way to East 57th‚” local media reports. WATCH: NEW – Portions of New York City Are Under Shelter-In-Place Orders Due to Possible Asbestos Leak "Several blocks in the area shut down spanning from East 42nd street all the way to East 57th" pic.twitter.com/P0nIHz92uc — Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) December 27‚ 2023 “The following street closures are highlighted on the map. Please avoid the area. Expect delays so plan accordingly and utilize alternate routes‚” NYPD Chief of Transportation Philip Rivera said. LATESTThe following street closures are highlighted on the map. Please avoid the area. Expect delays so plan accordingly and utilize alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/3elxyE2gIg — Chief of Transportation (@NYPDTransport) December 27‚ 2023 .@ConEdison Steam Emergency: Con Edison is advising anyone in the vicinity of E 52 St &; 2nd Ave to stay clear of the area for safety reasons and close all windows. — NYCEM – Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) December 27‚ 2023 NBC New York reports: The steam line issue started as a leak at East 52nd Street and 2nd Avenue around 2 a.m.‚ according to the Department of Emergency Management. The situation continued to worsen before it was capped around 6:45 a.m.‚ emergency officials said. Some streets in the area are closed‚ including 1st Avenue to Lexington Avenue from 51st Street to 54th Street and 51st Street to 54th Street from 1st Avenue to Lexington Avenue. Police also weren’t allowing people to enter the area‚ several New Yorkers attempting to get to work told NBC New York. While emergency crews were evaluating the area‚ the FDNY said residents were being asked to shelter in place in their apartments. Con Edison advised residents to close their windows and for the public to stay clear of the area around East 52nd Street and 2nd Avenue. First responders are providing escorts for residents to safely leave the area‚ according to the Department of Emergency Management. “Con Edison is responding to a release of steam at East 52nd Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues in Manhattan. The company is coordinating with New York City Emergency Management and other agencies‚” Con Edison said in a statement. “Con Edison crews shut down a portion of a steam main in response to the release. Environmental testing for possible asbestos is being conducted in the affected area‚ which includes East 51st Street from 2nd Avenue to 3rd Avenue and East 52nd and East 53 Streets from 2nd Avenue to Park Avenue. NYCEM advises residents of the area to shelter in place and other members of the public to stay clear of the affected area for safety reasons‚” the statement added. According to CBS News‚ preliminary tests indicated no signs of elevated asbestos levels. Per CBS News: There was a major disruption Wednesday to traffic‚ residents and the city’s steam system‚ which is the largest in the country‚ after a steam pipe ruptured‚ raising concerns there could be asbestos in the air. Crews have been working on the issue all day. The focus for investigators has been getting to the bottom of air quality concerns and figuring out the cause. Wednesday evening‚ Mayor Eric Adams said preliminary tests showed no indication of elevated levels of asbestos in the are. White smoke could be seen shooting from the street at Second Avenue and East 52nd Street resulting in the shutdown of several city blocks with a massive response.

The footage comes from the Soundstorm Festival in Riyadh‚ Saudi Arabia‚ where public entertainment events were banned until 2016

Former First Lady Melania Trump did not appear in family Christmas photos shared to social media due to her taking care of her sick mother.

Thousands of Democrats have switched their party affiliation to Republican in Pennsylvania.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez‚ aka Sandy Cortez‚ is back‚ making stupefying comments that make no sense. In the short clip below‚ she explained that there is no border crisis‚ just an imperialism and climate crisis. “You’re talking about the border crisis‚ or why aren’t you talking about it in this way‚” said Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with unfettered certainty. […] The post Good News! There’s No Border Crisis‚ Just an Imperialism Crisis appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.