How to Write About Firearms - A guide for liberal columnists who don’t want to sound stupid...

NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE ^ | January 13, 2011 | Robert VerBruggen

[Iron Munro]

I saw a comment yesterday in support of stricter gun control laws. The person said that Loughner hadn’t broken any laws up until he pulled the trigger, pointing out that he was in legal possession of the gun. I personally stand by the 2nd amendment but what should one say to someone who’s using that argument?

Here is the answer. Short, to the point, irrefutable:

[crazydad]

HELL FREAKIN YA!

[Still Thinking]

Must be related to Katie Couric, who, when talking with a gun expert during the D.C. shootings: "I understand that these rifles (Ar-15) are deadly because they have spirals [in the barrel].

Can I start calling her Blunderbuss Katie now?

[Zeppo]

Imagine if our “revolutionary” forefathers like Thomas Paine had never been allowed allowed to say; (Give me Liberty, or give me death!) but of course the MSM geniuses would define this slogan as a declaration of committing suicide. But should be deeply investigated and evaluated any way.

There are even pants-wetting libtards who have tried to change the NH state motto of "Live free or die" to something less "scary" (in their childish imaginations, that is)...

[Still Thinking]

“Live free or don’t!”

[Yo-Yo]

I glued a little plastic face of Hello Kitty to my Glock 19. Will that make it less scary to antigunners?

I don't know, but you certainly made it more scary to me.

[RoseyT]

Thank you all for your replies. This is why I love FR!!

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

"I saw a comment yesterday in support of stricter gun control laws. The person said that Loughner hadn’t broken any laws up until he pulled the trigger, pointing out that he was in legal possession of the gun. I personally stand by the 2nd amendment but what should one say to someone who’s using that argument?"

Following the logic of that assertion, then it also would follow that had Loughner been brandishing a knife of some sort, he would not have been committing a crime until he actually sank the blade into the flesh of one of his victims. In this case, the banning of all knives would be the logical parallel to banning all guns for Loughner's shooting. In neither case is "logic" applied logically...

[Atlas Sneezed]

The fact that they’re “semiautomatic” means they fire one bullet for each pull of the trigger

You hit on one of my pet peeves. By that description a bolt action rifle is semi automatic; even a single shot rifle.

---

Yes.

I’d say: The fact that they’re “semiautomatic” means they don’t need to be manually cocked between shots, in contrast to a bolt action hunting rifle, or an old style cowboy gun. Like ordinary revolvers, they fire only one round for each pull of the trigger.

I’d also add an section to this distinguishing between cartridges, bullets, and casings.

[StaffiT]

Useful conversation?

To the Left a “useful conversation” is when they want to register and then confiscate our guns and as a “Bi-partisan compromise” we just agree to incrementally give up more of our rights.

No thanks.

That’s like a “useful conversation” with the Islamo-fasicts that want to kill off 100 million of us and we agree to a “compromise” of just 50 million.

[SeeSac]

Never heard them referred to as “ single shot”, only “single action”.

My slip. I later referred to the Ruger's as single-six's.

[SeeSac]

The person said that Loughner hadn’t broken any laws up until he pulled the trigger, pointing out that he was in legal possession of the gun.

The dude had no respect for life OR for the law. Someone determined to kill is not going to worry about violating other lesser laws.

[Cyber Liberty]

FLR

[Eaker]

what should one say to someone who’s using that argument?

A person can intentionally drive into a crowd and kill people. While driving to the site they have broken no laws until they intentionally drove into the crowd. So should we ban driving?

They weren't impaired or speeding so why would a cop stop them? Thought crimes?

[Tijeras_Slim]

Explaining firearms nomenclature to journalists... a classic...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2sAFHBptJE

[Still Thinking]

I’d say: The fact that they’re “semiautomatic” means they don’t need to be manually cocked between shots, in contrast to a bolt action hunting rifle, or an old style cowboy gun. Like ordinary revolvers, they fire only one round for each pull of the trigger.

Even that's not quite right. I know you said "old style cowboy gun" but I think to most people that means "revolver" and there's plenty of double action revolvers (and both single and double action autos for that matter) that will fire with no more than another pull on the trigger.

I think the distinction has to be that part of the recoil from firing a round will load the next round if available, as opposed to a revolver, SA or DA, where your finger is doing the work of loading the next round. (Course there's recoil operated revolvers too, so it probably just ends up being convention anyway)

[thulldud]

Suggest gently that his pulling the trigger was the real problem.

You sound like one of those unreconstructed "bitter clingers" who seem to think that people just "do things" because they "want to" — "free will".

The fault is probably in your upbringing. If there isn't therapy for that, there soon will be.

(This post brought to you as a product of my own upbringing. Void where prohibited. Not available in all areas. MSRP does not include taxes, tag, and title. Your mileage may vary. Medication should be taken with plenty of water.)

[Oatka]

Must be related to Katie Couric, who, when talking with a gun expert during the D.C. shootings: "I understand that these rifles (Ar-15) are deadly because they have spirals [in the barrel].
Can I start calling her Blunderbuss Katie now?

Among other things. :-)

[Ladysmith]

EXCELLENT! Thanks for posting this!

[B4Ranch]

Good answer, Tom