This is an interesting video on how to buy a long gun in Japan.  All weapons are normally illegal in Japan.  Even swords are illegal unless they are the traditionally handmade ones which are considered art, not weapons.  I guess this is why Japanese tourists are so fascinated with firearms here.  It also goes over their hunting methods.

Some highlights I noted
A foreigner may have to study for the written test for a few months as it's in a formal/legal japanese writting style.
Only the permitted owner can handle the gun,  No one else can touch it.
For most Japanese, the class is their first time ever touching a gun.  Unless they used one overseas like a shooting gallery in Hawaii.
To buy a hunting rifle, you must first own a shotgun for 10 years.
There's an additional process to get your hunting license.
Foreigners can go through the process to get a gun.
There is one gun for every 300 residents in Japan.

The video: 

The US Supreme Court granted cert in two AWB cases, Viramontes v Cook County in Illinois and Grant v Higgins in Connecticut litigated by the Second Amendment Foundation, FIrearms Policiy Coalition, and Connecticut Citizens Defense League (Grant).  I expect to get a fierce ruling next June that will exceed that of the Wolford opinion.  It will also demoralize the HI legislatures attempt to pass a AWB, allow us to finally get rid of our pistol magazine ban, and get us on the path to get SBRs/suppressors later.

https://saf.org/supreme-court-grants-cert-in-saf-assault-weapons-cases/

The question before SCOTUS:  Whether the Second and Fourteenth Amendments guarantee the right to possess AR-15 platform and similar semiautomatic rifles.

Lawsuit saying the Hawaiian home lands 50% hawaiian blood requirement is unconstitutional as it's based on race.  This is different from the indian tribes as Hawaiian's were never federally recognized as a tribe.  Do you think it's unconstitutional or should be allowed somehow?

New lawsuit targets eligibility requirements for Hawaiian homes leases
The suit was filed by an Oahu resident who is not Native Hawaiian.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/06/03/new-lawsuit-targets-eligibility-requirements-hawaiian-homes-leases/

Nothing but the best for mom tonight.  On my journey of cooking the best steak, this is the top so far, along with being the best round steak I've ever made.  $6 top round roast didn't quite reach filet levels, but it's tender & juicy - the equivalent of a good New York Strip.  The cheapest steak was actually the bottom roast, but I decided to splurge on the extra 50 cents 'cause it's Mother's Day.  Would you like to know more?  Watch I turned a $1 steak into a $100 steak:

Cooked perfectly to medium with a crust this time!


$6 steaks, I could do this every week


I skipped the MSG, no Aji for me. And I have to figure out how to make compound butter.


Sharp knife first! I learned how to sharpen knives recently. Sharpall is the best mid-level diamond sharpening stone you can buy



Look at those beautiful $6 steaks



Drybrine and tenderizer for 6 hours, little bit of liquid smoke, and Wagyu tallow injection.


I feel like I could do botox injections on myself.


Clarified butter



Did a reverse sear in the oven. Using my virgin cast iron pan to sear and baste with butter, fresh garlic and rosemary


Finally putting my bacon press to use.

This place is giving free Stop the Bleed classes through June 2026.  It's about tournaquets, wound packing, etc.   It's only on the weekdays.  I'm taking it this Wednesday.

https://aedinstitute.enrollware.com/schedule?course=277832

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM (8 seats left)Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM (10 seats left)Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
Friday, May 22, 2026 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM (11 seats left)Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM (10 seats left)Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM (13 seats left)Daniel K. Inouye International Airport

TacCon26 Day 1
This was my second trip to TacCon in Dallas, TX for a weekend of self-defense classes and shooting from some of the top instructors in the US. You select from a list of 2hr classes during the 3 day weekend.  This is a popular gun conference hosted by Tom Givens by Rangemaster with 300 attendees.  There are other conferences like Active Self Protection - Bibles and Bullets, Girl and a Gun, and Guardian Conference.  It's a good opportunity to learn a bit of many different things.  Here's a quick summary of the classes I took and tips I learned
.
Tactical Anatomy/Range Emergencies Andy Anderson
Lots of gruesome photos of gunshot and impaled victims and how resilient the body is. Persons with faces blown off, rods impaled in their head, and shots to the brain survive and can still function. Emphasized shooting the "T" on the face for effective head stops. The spine is a thick protective bone that can deflect shots. Teach students where the heart is, front and back profile, so they can make a effective stop.
Vet Wrap(for animals) is a good cheaper alternative for self-adhesive bandage wraps in the aid kits. Also have water, eye wash, saline, or bactine to wash out wounds. Thin strips of ductape as an improvised suture for cuts. Both Benadryl and Pepsid to treat allergic reactions. Primatine Mist as an over the counter asthma inhaler. Solarcaine for bad sunburns. The hard cardboard corner protectors for new TVs & appliances can be used for splints. For remote ranges, get a site survey for emergency medical helicopters. Recommended online training at https://www.lonestarmedics.com.

Defensive Knife Greg Elifritz
I looked forward to taking this class as I have no experience using a knife. It focused on using a folding pocket knife for self-defense. Different methods to draw hold the knife. Effective places to stab and cut - groin, femoral, armpit, bicept, neck, collar. Methods to stab and cut. How to defend against grabs. I learned a lot in the 2 hour class. Knives are great companion to pepper spray: it's cheap, easy to carry, can carry almost anywhere, useful, and a backup if the spray doesn't work.

Active Shooter Problem Ed Monk
Ed Monk teaches active shooter instructor classes for civilians and law enforcement and they always sell out quickly. He also teaches church security. He researched many active shootings and has a general guideline of how many people get shot in the first few minutes of an incident, up to 24 within the first 3 minutes before police arrive. When advocating carry in schools and "gun free zones" ask what is the maximum acceptable number of victims. It should be zero. He went over how many shootings occurred, with and without resistance and there's a stark difference in the results. Lots of useful information to share with legislators.

Day 2 to follow



Cheap ammo sold there wish I could bring more back.  500 9mm for $97


Lots of gruesome pics which I can't show.  Can show this one of a civil war Soldier that took a musketball to the head and survived fine.


Cardboard corners for splints


Texas got some stiff penalties for carrying in a bar


Knife class outlining different holds and strikes.


Stats on active shooter encounters

Here's a poll to gauge awareness of the current firearms laws and lawsuits. Please respond to the poll by replying choices you DID NOT KNOW are currently in effect and any questions or notes in the comments.

Example:  Reply 1,4,7,10 for those you didn't know were in effect.

1.  HI CCW licenses are valid for 4 years
2.  HI CCW Licenses are good statewide in Hawaii
3.  WIth a HI CCW License, you may currently legally CCW in parks/beaches, places serving alcohol, private property w/o a guns allowed sign per Wolford v Lopez (as long as there isn't a "no guns allowed" sign present on private property)
4.  Honolulu PD Firearms is open to 6:30pm Wednesdays, Permit to Acquire from HI FFLs can be emailed to you, and HI FFL acquired firearms can be registered remotely.
5.  Switchblade/butterfly knives, batons, swords, and other non-firearm weapons are legal to carry (some are restricted to open or concealed carry)
6.  Firearms safety courses for Permit to Acquire are valid for 4 years and only if taken after Jan 1 2024
7.  Hunters Education courses do not expire for long gun Permit to Acquire
8.  HRS 134-9.3 If guns are left unattended in a vehicle, they must be in a secure impact/tamper resistant locked container and out of sight.
9.  The $150 CCW licensing fee can be waived for low income applicants
10.  Those with a misdemeanor conviction disqualifying them from possessing a firearm (besides domestic violence) can possess a firearm after 20 years has lapsed.
11.  I knew all of the above are currently in effect.

Once in a while I'll hear someone mention wasp spray for self defense.  In this video, it shows wasp spray is ineffective.  It's also illegal to intentionally use wasp and other sprays, with the exception of pepper spray, on people.

What movies or series do you recommend that's on internet streaming?

Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is on HBO Max and is a great series to watch.  It takes place before Game of Thrones and is a different type of story from the point of view of a normal person.  Dunk becomes a Knight with true morals living a poor man's life outdoors and with the goal of protecting the innocent when most other knights are corrupt or chase glory for themselves.  It's got great reviewsk very humbling and touches the heart, has great fight scenes, and is totally not woke.  I recommend subscribing to HBO Max for a month just to watch it.

Tips for using ratchet straps properly.  I learned a lot from it and takes a lot of frustration out of it.