A certain gun shop...

I haven't posted anything in weeks, nothing much to say I guess!
I was going to blast this certain gun shop on Facebook, and make sure everyone that I know never goes there again via my various online channels, but I decided not to.  I will vent my rantings here, leaving their name to be guessed at (unless you want me to tell you)!
I've been in there so many times, because everyone that works there is so friendly.  The owner is the problem, and I finally verified that fact yesterday.  I called up there and asked if they had any 1911 triggers with overtravel adjustment (don't get me started on the debate about the overtravel set-screw, just loc-tite or stake it and shut up about it)!  The person, a salesman I've dealt with before, said he would check with the gunsmith (who is the owner).  He came back and said he only saw 2, a black aluminum and an unfinished aluminum, each $29.  I thanked him for his time and went straight over.  When I got there I asked the first person I saw to see the triggers I called about, he went in the back and the gunsmith/owner came out...
The owner walks up to me and says "I'm the gunsmith, there's no such thing as an adjustable trigger".  I replied, "I'm sorry to bother you, my name is John and I called earlier.  I was told you have 2 triggers in stock that have overtravel adjustment".  Again the owner tells me there is no such thing as an adjustable trigger.  I pointed to a Springfield 1911 that was right under our noses, and said "you see that little hole in the trigger, there's a set screw in there to adjust the trigger's overtravel".  The owner then says, get this: "That is not to adjust anything, that is a screw that stops the trigger from travelling too far after it has disengaged the sear".  He said this in a very aggravated manner, and I was so blown away I didn't know what to say!  I just pointed at the Springfield again and said "do you have one in stock like that"?  He walked away without a word.  He came back out and dumped a handful of old, used 1911 triggers of various types on the counter and said "$29, take your pick".  All were old and used, some were rusted, and none had overtravel adjustment.  I said "do you happen to have any new ones"?  He then told me these WERE new ones!  I said "you have 2 triggers in stock here with overtravel adjustment, I called before I came and the salesman saw them somewhere".  The owner then waved his hand over the pile of rusted triggers and said "$29, take your pick".
Although I was internally fuming, I said "no thanks", and I also sincerely thanked him for his time.  I'm much too nice sometimes.

Another incident:
My father and I went in there looking around.  My dad saw an old Remington .22 that he liked, it was on consignment.  The salesman said the gunsmith checked it out thoroughly and aside from the visual wear it was in good shape.  My father decided to get it and he went up front to do the paperwork.  I was drooling over a FNH SCAR in .223 for awhile, and when I came up to the counter my dad was getting his credit card out.  I picked up the Remington he was getting off the counter, and just as he was handing the lady his credit card I said "hold up".  My dad looked at me and said "what"?  I handed him the gun and said "look down that barrel".
He said "well I'll be...".  The barrel was bent like a banana and then straightened back out, but not straightened back out enough!  My dad put his card back in his wallet and the salesman was giving me a dirty look as we left.  Really?  This incident may not have anything to do with the owner/gunsmith, but I'm gonna go with YES IT DOES.

Another incident:
I was re-working the old M1991A1 my father gave me.  I tentatively decided to get the frame and slide cerami-coated, which involved a complete strip.  The grip bushings were staked so I ruined them backing them out.  I decided not to re-work the finish on the gun so I needed to get 4 new grip bushings and 4 screws.  I called this gun store and they said they had the screws and bushings.  I told them I would be right over.  When I got there I stated that I called about the bushings and screws, and the salesman said "the gunsmith has them in the back, I will go get them from him".  Ok.  He was back there almost 20 minutes before he came out.  He came out with 2 little bags, one with 4 grip bushings and one with 4 grip screws.  Both bags were marked $16.99 with a sharpie marker.  Since I knew that was not the price, I asked the salesman "how much".  The salesman then proceeded to look at the ground and say "that's the price, the gunsmith marked it on there just now".  The dude couldn't even look me in the eyes.  I asked him if he thought anybody in their right mind would pay $35 bucks for 4 screws and 4 bushings.  He replied "no".  I said "man I'm beginning to think the gunsmith doesn't like me".  I thanked the guy for his time and proceeded to walk out.  One of the senior salesman stopped me and very quietly said "I'm sorry".  I told him it was no big deal and as I was leaving there were 2 other salesmen staring at the 2 little baggies in disbelief.

Another Incident:
One of the first times I went in this gun store was to buy some ammo.  I get all my practice ammo at wal-mart, and I get all my duty/carry ammo at gun shops or the police supply.  I wanted some Speer Gold Dot .45.  I went in there and they had it, they have a pretty good ammo selection.  I even brought it up to the cash register and set it down, then I saw the price.  $49.99.  Thats 20 rounds people.  I said "oops that's not right", leaving the cashier wondering what I meant.  I put the box back and started looking at the other ammo.  It was ALL $49.99!  I was amazed!  The only box of .45 ACP they had that was not $49.99 was Winchester white box, it was $39.99.  Guess what?  That's the exact box I buy at Wal-Mart for 19.97!  I haven't been there for ammo since...

You probably wonder why I keep going back, huh?  Well, we have a mutually beneficial relationship with them at work.  They send a lot of people our way, and we send a lot of people there for handgun purchases.  We also buy a lot of ammo from them (9mm at $9.99 for 50 rds.) as a way of saying "thanks, we value the relationship".

Today's trigger fiasco has ended my personal quest at doing business with these guys.
I'm going to have to stay out of there aside from our "business relationship"...

Interpretations

I have been working, mentally, the last few days trying to "let go" of a specific negativity that creeped into my mindspace.  There is a common belief in today's world that Christianity is hypocritical and full of double-standards.  It's easy to see where this majority vote comes from.  Christians are saved, but we still sin.  This is a long study in itself but can be summed up fairly easily.  We, as Christians, will sin.  We are not free from sin, every human on this planet will sin.  Christians are free from the "power" of sin and the "ability" of sin to have a foothold in our minds.  This is simple on one hand and very complicated on the other.

I have a problem with denominations and interpretations...  This is the other main reason, in my opinion, for the negative view of Christianity today.
"Christians just pick and choose various Bible verses that suit them at any given moment", a comment I've heard/read so many times by unbelievers.  Guess what, they have a valid point!  Different denominations focus on different topics and interpret the Bible in different ways.  Jesus is the bottom line, and many denominations have missed the boat completely.
God did not intend for us to break off into different sects and label ourselves based on different interpretations of His Word.  Just the thought of how many different types of Christianity there are makes me sad.  There is only one Church on this entire planet, most people don't realize that.  I was completely lost in my walk with Christ until I started spending time with a theologian 5 years ago.  I'm no expert and I'm not better than anyone else.  That being said I must say the "God thing", as a whole, is pretty simple.
If you want to twist around words and meanings, the Bible is a VERY EASY place to do just that.

A quote from facebook that I appreciated:
Going to Church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Liberal Agenda in full force

I'm so tired of hearing about gay rights...
The liberal agenda has been pushed to the point of absurdity.
We are so focused on protecting homosexuality that it's politically incorrect to speak the truth about it! Where's the freedom of speech for the type of God fearing, conservative people that actually founded this country? Homosexuality is, believe it or not, in the same category as beastiality and pedophelia. It's a sexual deviance just like any other sexual deviance.  Don't even start with the argument "well, animals and kids can't consent to sex".  It doesn't matter if there is one person sinning, or 2 in agreement to sin.
Just because our world is full homosexuality does NOT mean we should start embracing, protecting, and perpetuating it!  I have no hatred towards homosexuals, I have an inability to accept the fact that people choose to live in sin, and then start bashing Christians and other groups that don't support and accept them!

Ever wonder why these Homosexual topics always end up being about God? Because homosexuality is a sin, period. I can't understand why this is even in the news every week.
And PLEASE don't get me wrong here!  I sin too, almost every day, and my sins are not any better than yours.

Welcome to the Page

I'm a weird, opinionated guy and I like to talk about/debate almost anything worth the time.  I enjoy hearing different insights and perspectives from others.  I am not fearfully focused on being politically correct like most people, so I may say some things people find offensive, but that's just me.  I don't plan on a large group of loyal followers and I'm not out to shake things up too much.  Besides, most people don't want to hear my demented thoughts anyway...  I thought it might prove fruitful to erect a place for me to talk to myself and the occasional person with the fortitude to engage me.