In March of 2016, Free Market Shooter exposed the “Phoenix John Brown Gun Club”, which, according to many observers showed anti-Trump “counter protesters” showing up to a pro-Trump rally in Phoenix, Arizona openly carrying what appeared to be fake firearms:
The only reference to firearms training was in their “events” page, which had an event that took place on March 5th, titled “Introduction to Tactical Firearms”. It had 46 guests. There were no upcoming events, and the prior four events had absolutely nothing to do with firearms.
Not much of a “gun club” at all, is it? Would you really be surprised to find out that many of their members didn’t even carry real firearms to an “open carry” demonstration against a Trump rally?
The group has appeared to respond to criticisms of “LARPing” with fake guns by releasing a YouTube video entitled “Phoenix John Brown Gun Club – Range Day”. But this video ends up exposing not only the group’s laughable lack of experience with firearms, it all but confirms the (even more difficult to deny) accusation that their “open carry” demonstration did include several fake firearms.
The video (still up on YouTube when this article was published) is below:
And, for reference, the photos from the prior article Free Market Shooter article are featured here as well:
The shooting “range” in question during this video appears to be a spot in the desert. The “range” is littered with trash, as it appears PJBGC doesn’t bother to pick up after themselves. With a maximum distance of about 50 meters, most shooting takes place at what appears to be about 50 feet, if that… including the rifle “shootout” segments of the video.
Bear in mind, the US Army Field Manual on marksmanship indicates that the weapon is zeroed (sighted) at 25 meters, with qualified training taking place at 50 meters or further, and a maximum scored distance of 300 meters. Then again, even at the shorter distances, PJBGC doesn’t even seem particularly concerned with zeroing their weapons at all.
This is evident in their “shootout” starting at 2:09. I counted a number of shots completely missing the targets, at a distance that was no greater than 25 meters, most likely much closer than that. Bear in mind what the US Army Manual states on 25-meter “zeroing”:
After completing Phases I and II, the Soldier conducts a firing event (Table 7-29) to zero or confirm the zero on his weapon and reinforce the fundamentals of marksmanship. This firing event will be conducted on a 25-meter range. If the Soldier cannot zero within 18 rounds, the trainer recommends retraining, retesting, or possible removal from the course. After the weapon is zeroed, any additional rounds will be fired and the coach will observe the Soldier for deficiencies in his marksmanship fundamentals.
But don’t worry, certainly the PJBGC has other marksmanship qualifiers outside of the US Army Manual, right?
Take a closer look at two of the people who participated in said “shootout”:
The one on the left appears at many points throughout the video, including a bayonet “intimidation” charge which will be discussed later. He appears to be the same man who appeared in the above photos from the March rally in a blue shirt, and can be seen wearing what appear to be the same pants, shoes, bandana and accessory pouch at the PJBGC “Range Day” as he did in March, only with a white shirt this time.
What’s different about him this time besides the shirt? The firearm, of course… because at no point in the video does any “drum” magazine appear to be used at all, by anyone. In fact, the “blue shirt” man in question from the top “counter protest” photo (on the left) appears to be using the wooden SKS-style rifle carried by the guy on the right of the first photo throughout the entire “Range Day” video.
As for the one circled on the right? She is seen firing an AK-style rifle during the video, and when her rifle appears to jam, she appears to not only perform several “dry” trigger pulls, she also appears to have no idea how to clear the jam. Which is hardly surprising, as she is seen later in the video at 4:21 firing a completely different rifle, under supervision of a man in camo gear, who appears to supervise nearly all of the “Range Day” participants.
Yes, the SKS appears to be the one of the only real rifles from the entire group that appeared in the March photos above, as the others made no appearance whatsoever at the PJBGC “Range Day”. The only other exception is the large scoped AR-derivative rifle (note the ultra-lite stock) which would likely be designed for ideal use at 100+meters… being fired at a distance at no more than 10 meters. It appears to be fired by the dreadlocked red bandana girl from the above photos which also appears to be the rifle she she toted in March, at 1:08:
Notice: not only does she need to fire said rifle with supervision from the man in camo overlooking; just seconds earlier, the same exact rifle with the low-profile stock in question was seen being carried by another participant at the “arming table”, while she was standing right next to the person …
…and the rifle in question is later seen appearing to be fired by the above girl in red stripes during the other “shootout” at 5:14. If this is indeed a real rifle, it is almost certainly not owned by the woman who toted it at the open carry “counter protest”, even if the owner let her fire off a few rounds for appearance’s sake.
In fact, with the exception of the aforementioned SKS, and the scoped AR with the low-profile stock, none of the other weapons pictured at the “counter protest” appear anywhere in the “Range Day” video. While there are clearly many real rifles sprinkled into the group, three out of four of the “fake ones” in the second photo of the “counter protest” have all but confirmed to be fake after all, including the one carried in March by Mr. Bayonet Charge…
…who is the aforementioned “white shirt” guy who toted a fake gun at March’s “counter protest”, this time executing a “bayonet charge” on a thoroughly shot-up “Pepe the Frog” target with the SKS he is seen shooting earlier… of course, with supervision:
Do not take this the wrong way – there is absolutely nothing wrong with first-time and/or beginner shooters learning how to both handle firearms and the proper fundamentals of marksmanship. In fact, you’ll notice most shooters welcome first-timers to shooting ranges, and teach them how to handle firearms properly and safely… which appears to be the one thing PJBGC gets right – safe usage of firearms under controlled conditions. The more people who understand safe operation of firearms, the better off we all are.
Still, it was clearly far too easy to expose the inexperience and overall lack of firearms proficiency this “gun club” chooses to assign to itself, all while shooting a video intended to intimidate its adversaries. These are clearly beginners, with a glaring lack of general marksmanship skills, masquerading as a trained combat-ready group, openly carrying firearms in an attempt to show pro-Trump supporters just how tough they are… or in this case, aren’t.
Take note, PJBGC… real “gun guys” are not fooled. It is rather easy to see how capable (or incapable) you are with a firearm after watching your “intimidation video”. You can strap up and act tough, but you better be careful if you plan on making yourself a target… when the bullets start flying, that firearm you’re toting isn’t going to do you much good (beyond putting a big bulls-eye on your back) if you can’t fire it accurately. Of course, that all assumes the gun is even real in the first place, and not one of the fake ones exposed being carried in March.
But, good luck trying to explain that to PJBGC… in spite of the negative response they’ve received to this video, it is rather difficult for you to explain that to them – they made sure to disable comments for the video.
