Russian Handguns ......Move to liberalise their laws

I am told their is a law moving within one of the Russian dumas to liberalise their laws to allow the carrying of handguns within their legal "state." Russian guests at our B-17 Museum here in Tucson have told me that lawlessness has reached such a level that gun-crimes are beyond the capabilities of the local Russian police to handle them.
     The "bill" before the Duma (I don't know if I have that spelling right) says that all citizens must have firearms training before acquiring a pistol, a small fee,and free bullets are being discussed.
      The Russians I have encountered are a little hesitant about it, but do see the necessity of it as most are frightened of being unarmed in the face of the viciousness of the "outlaws" they say break into their homes and terrorize their women.
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Union General Dan Sickles

This is something that was told to me by someone who is a self-styled "Civil War" expert. Someone who teaches the subject occasionally at Gettysburg College, site of the tidewater battle.
     So there, enough of the qualifcation.
     Unknown to many, me included, I was told that General Sickles was, off-stage, a little difficult when given direction. Read: I don't like being told what to do.
     He damned near sunk us at Gettysburg Battlefield, but, luckily, the command Geenerals planned properly and saved the day on the final defense of Cemetery Hill, no thanks to General Dan.
     More about that later.
.     So, as the story told to me goes, when General Dan was away, going his own damned thing, Scott Key's kid was across the street doing the Mrs. Quite a lot, so I was informed.
     The Mrs, as the story goes, had no objection.
     General Dan finally got word of the above in between firing off his own guns somewhere, rode back to DC, hung out down the street and watched the kid crossing the street and entering his house and prompting shot the interloper dead on his steps.
     No, no trial, no big deal. Apparently, as was the day, his skills were needed at the front more than at the end of a rope so justice is as justice was in 1864
     What do you call that? Compassionate Passion?
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The Late Andy Rooney in a B-17

We all probably know that Rooney flew two missions on a B-17 during World War II. He was based in England and flew over over the English Channel into the first mission into Germany.
     It was in a wing of 500 B-17s that struck Wilemshaven, a location that manufactured ball bearings. As most men know, those components are vital to making engines.
     A B-17 has two decks in the nose: the top deck is the cockpit where the pilot sits in an almost cocoon like left-seat. On his right is a rather wide panel of buttons, lights, dials and switches wedged between he and the co-pilot on the right side of the compartment, also wedged in to the other side of the small space. In between them stands the flight engineer who doubles as the top turret gunner.
    In the lower deck, right under the three men are the navigator, sitting on his office chair, at his desk,and in front of him, in the nose is the bombardier/machine gunner.
    Andy Rooney was only 24 when he was assigned as a reporter for Stars and Stripes newspaper to doa story about Ameicas first strike into Germany's heart land. As he described it, he was not very nervous - right up until the navigator keeled over blue in the face from lack of oxygen.
    Rooney was in modern parlance, just short of a peace activist, admitting in his book that he had flirted with Socialism back in his day. And, when you read his book, "My War," one can easily discern his political leaning. He was photographed for the cover standing in front of a load of 1000 pound bombs in Class A uniform, holding a rose. We got the message, Andy.
    He hated most of the Generals, particularly General Patton, claiming credit for being one of the "nagging " reporters who always chased him for negative comments.
    In the cramped lower deck of the navigator/bombarder's quarters, Rooney was strapped into a tight spot on the right bulkhead between one of the yellow oxygen tanks and an aft  bulkhead at the end of the small compartment.
    About 45 minutes before the IP, they were jumped by all the enemy fighters in the world and the shooting started. The navigator collapsed. Rooney called up to the 20 year old pilot asking instructions. The pilot told him what to do and he did it, his oxygen mask iced up. Andy cleared it, got him back on his feet, breathing, and shooting both .50 caliber machine guns in minutes.
    The mission was successful, the pilot said that Andy probably saved the airplane and Rooney got a medal for it. He was geniunely embarassed about it.
     Rooney flew another mission out of another English base which he described as uneventful. To get a true picture of Andy Rooney, I recommend picking up a copy of his book, My War. It will turn around your mental picture of the man.
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