Sunday, March 12, 2017

Colt's New Agent 1911 -- Why Can't I Buy One In California?



Dear Friends,

Have you ever had a chance to buy something but didn't, then later kick yourself in the ass for not doing so. Well, that's the way I'm feeling about not buying a Colt New Agent 1911 when I had the chance. I waited too long and later found out that I couldn't buy it. 

Why can't I buy one? Well, it has to do with the new Colt 1911s not being sold in California anymore. Colt rifles are accessible to residents of California, and so are Colt Single Actions, but not the Colt 1911 or any of its versions including the Colt New Agent.

In May of 2015, believe it or not, the California DOJ's endless list of banned rifles, shotguns, and pistols that have been labeled "assault weapons" includes almost all Colt 1911s. It's true, I'm now finding out that almost every Colt 1911 is banned in California.

I find it interesting that California now has two lists, their Drop List and their Assault Weapons list. The Colt New Agent met the requirements of the Drop Tests and was sold up until recently. But Colt would not re-engineer their semi-autos to put the California state-required little red flag on the slide like Smith & Wesson and others have on their California Compliant guns. And while Colt sees California's demands as unreasonable, California has put Colt's semi-autos on its Assault Weapons list. Basically, Colt has been driven out of California.

And while I was told by one firearms dealer that the Colt Commander model #04691(?) is thought to remain on the "approved" roster of both lists, I really haven't been able to determine which Colt 1911 is acceptable for sale to regular law-abiding citizens and not just to law enforcement. Of course, these pistols are also not to being sold to law-abiding citizens with CCW permits who have undergone background checks.

I've checked with a number of firearms dealers in Northern California, and all tell me the same thing. Colt semi-auto pistols fell of the "approved" handgun for sale list, the California Drop List, and are now determined to be an "assault weapon." To me, this is just a way for anti-2nd Amendment, anti-Constitution, gun control Democrat crazies in California to disarm law-abiding citizens. 

And for those who have taken the time to defend the Democrats saying it's not them who are trying to take away our guns in California, you either obviously don't live here -- or you don't understand that the Democrat Party controls California no differently than the Communist-controlled the Soviet Union. This is a "one-party state" with Democrats in complete control of what becomes law. The Leftists are in charge here, and they see the U.S. Constitution and an armed citizenry as a threat to their "rule." Yes, rule.

How is it that the State of California can break the law and legalize marijuana, which is illegal under federal law, yet at the same time make guns illegal under State law which is legal under federal law?

When I was studying for my degree in the Administration of Justice/Criminal Justice, I remember being taught about the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It states:

Amendment XIV

Section 1.

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Isn't that what the State of California is doing? Isn't the State of California curtailing my privileges and immunities as a citizen of the United States? Fact is, it doesn't take a lawyer to see the State of California is breaking Federal law. But does that matter to anyone in government, especially in the California State Capitol controlled by anti-gun Democrats? No, it doesn't.

And what does any of this have to do with my wanting a Colt New Agent .45 ACP? Everything!

I took a look at the Colt New Agent and liked the lightweight, the grooved sights, the lack of sights that grabs on to one's clothing when drawing it, the standard slim design, and ergonomics of the 1911A1 design. I believe that this pistol is perfect for a concealed carry weapon for me as a citizen exercising my Constitutional rights under the 2nd and 14th Amendments.

It is perfect for someone like myself who likes the 1911 .45 ACP and wants one when exercising my rights as a law-abiding American citizen. Yes, a law-abiding citizen with a concealed carry permit who went through the classes and did everything correctly, including undergoing a background check, to exercise my rights.

Fact is, the whole pistol looked to be well thought out. It fills a niche in the concealed carry market which is pretty void of good 1911s specifically designed as carry-pistols.

Today, it seems that many 1911s out there are made for competition shooting with enormous front and rear sights. Many of those are not made for quick up-close work where one defending himself or herself cannot go into a Weaver Stance and take the time to use those bulky sights.

It is just my opinion, but it has been my personal experience that if you have the time that it takes to drop into a Weaver Stance and sight in, then you may also have the time to maneuver away from the dangerous situation. But since the vast majority of gunfights take place within 3 to 7 feet of one's assailant, most have only a second to get your weapon out and into action.

Frankly, most folks don't have the time to drop into a Weaver Stance and sight in. Most have to go with just getting a general sight picture. And no, that hasn't changed in over 40 years from when I was first trained for such encounters.

Also, that's the same reason why back in the late 1800s, lawmen were opting for the shorter Colt Sheriff's Model SAA instead of the longer standard 7.5-inch barrel Colt Single Action Army of 1873. A shorter barrel means you have a less cumbersome weapon to get out and into play when you need it in a hurry. I wrote about this in The Buntline Special vs Colt's Sheriff's Model when I addressed the myth of the so-called Buntline Special.

As for the 1911, I love my 1911s and I own a couple of them. But frankly, I don't own any that can realistically be used for International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) or United States Pistol Shooting (USPSA) competitions. The reason is that I do not own target guns designed to be "race guns." I own basic close-quarter self-defense guns. Yes, no-frills self-defense guns like my Colt Series 70 and my Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec pistol which I just love and carry.

As for the Colt New Agent, it got my attention when I first looked at it as a lighter option to my Rock Island Compact .45 ACP.  While I loved the lighter weight, I really liked the "trench sights" which is a "grove" running the length of the slide. Yes, the perfect kind of sight to prevent the gun from snagging on clothing or even a holster.

And when all you need to get is a general sight picture, Colt New Agent's sights are plenty suitable for anything within 20 yards. And like my Rock Island Compact, the Colt New Agent's 3-inch barrel is perfect for easy concealment.
I like carrying a pistol made of metal and not plastic. And no, I don't care that it is a bit heavier than the Glocks that everyone seems to be carrying these days. I know the 1911 and I cut my teeth on them in the Marine Corps. And if you're like me, and maybe learned how nice a 1911 is when you were in the military or shooting your Dad's, or Granddad's, then you really would like one of these Colt New Agent 1911s. And yes, you too can have one if you want to buy one. That is if you live in just about any other state but California!

And there's the problem. Why should every other American be able to buy one, but not the people here in this state? Frankly, this is all just bullshit and the sort of thing that makes people do things that they don't want to do.

For example, businesses don't want to uproot their workers and leave California, but a lot of businesses are fed up with the over-regulation in California and are simply moving out. The same goes for law-abiding tax-paying citizens. Many of us don't want to uproot our families, but many are moving out.

Of course, once in another state that allows one to have full ownership of their rights as an American citizen then they can exercise all of their rights as an American. And that, well that goes directly to why this truly pisses me off.

Why do I have to sell my home and move somewhere else just to be able to have all of the rights granted to me as an American citizen? Why is it that I have to either move or break the law and buy one illegally if I want to own a firearm that is on the market legally in most states? And how is it that California can get away with denying me my rights as an American?

I have had to update this article because I've gotten some emails telling me to simply accept the way things are even though it's not right. And friends, that's part of what pisses me off. It's the politics behind this. The gun in question is not sold for political reasons, and I know that I can buy a firearm very similar to it made by other makers.

But why should I since this pistol is not an "assault weapon" and has already met California's required "Drop Test"? It is simply a scheme to deprive guns to citizens. It is simply a way around the law and for the gun control Democrats in charge of California to get their way. It is simply an attempt to deprive Americans in California of guns and subsequently our ability to exercise our Constitutional rights.

No, I don't think this is right at all.

Tom Correa


8 comments:

  1. California is a hostile neighboring communist country.

    I won't even violate its airspace.

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  2. Well maybe you should just move already. Seriously who would want to live in a place like that?

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  3. Bravo! Your commentary is always a fresh breath of sanity. The State of Jefferson is/was a great idea. Unfortunately, the movement has slowed tremendously recently. I believe this to be due to folks just getting disgusted and merely moving to another non-communist state. I was born and raised in California, all of my friends and family, except those who have fled, are here. It is hard to imagine moving and starting over somewhere else but it is looking like it is something my wife and I are going to have to do. Hell, the once beautiful and bountiful North State is going to be a tree-less desert soon anyway.

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  4. What they don’t know won’t hurt them. Get what you want.

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  5. What they don’t know won’t hurt them. Get what you want.

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  6. What they don’t know won’t hurt them.

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  7. I'm so lucky I don't live in California. Don't get me wrong. I like the state and I would like to visit the state, but I just don't like their laws. I mean, what kind of state would allow you to buy a Colt Single Action Army revolver but not a Colt 1911? At least Florida doesn't do this. I don't really own any guns but if I did, I would own at least one or two Ruger Wranglers, A Colt Sheriff's Model if I can find one, A Ruger New Vaquero, A Colt Single Action Army revolver, a Winchester 1873 rifle, a Colt Bisley revolver, a Merwin and Hulbert revolver, a Smith and Wesson Schofield, a Winchester 1887 shotgun, a Winchester 1897 pump action shotgun, a couple of flintlock pistols, an 1851 Navy Colt revolver, a Colt Paterson revolver, a Pietta revolver, several Uberti firearms, a Webley revolver, an Iver Johnson revolver, a Smith and Wesson Safety Hammerless revolver, a Remington 1875 revolver, a Remington 1890 revolver, and a replica of Marshal Dillon's gun from "Gunsmoke". Good luck banning those. But one thing I won't do is live in California. I know they would take these guns away. I'm just saying. If I had any guns, I wouldn't let California or D.C. try to take them. Unless it's from my cold dead hands. God Bless America. And don't forget to support the men and women in uniform in both the military and law enforcement.

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