Posted on 04/11/2012 8:15:11 AM PDT by marktwain
I spent my Easter at a shooting range about an hour west of my home. My wife had to work and I did not have plans to see family, so had some extra time to occupy myself with. I decided to put that extra time to use breaking a shotgun I purchased about a month for home defense. While my shoulder handled the 2 1/2 inch target shells pretty well, the 3 inch magnum 00 buckshot I shot pretty much made it raw.
While on my way to and from the range is a drive down a Mississippi country highway that takes me through mostly timberland and cattle country. While on that drive I got to thinking why I love guns so much. Was it because I liked the sensation and the sounds and smells of an explosion? If it was, I can get that thrill by using fireworks and I don’t buy fireworks. While I do enjoy shooting, the enjoyment alone obviously can’t be the reason why. I’m also not a hunter, so obviously that’s not why I own guns. The reason why I own firearms is simply because I can.
All throughout history, what has distinguished a free man from a slave or even a subject is the ability to possess and own weapons, or as the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution puts it, “to keep and bear arms”. You’re probably asking yourself, “how is this relevant in an age of tanks, drones, jet fighters, and other high-tech weapons?” Well, all those fancy weapons are controlled by people and all people die just the same once you strip away all the fancy technology. There are numerous examples of that in the 20th and already in the 21st century from France to Afghanistan. Subduing a free people, especially a well-armed people, is still very difficult.
Now the three types of guns you should own are; a .22 Long Rifle caliber weapon for simple and cheap marksmanship practice, a home and/or self defense weapon(s), and a militia duty weapon (aka a homeland security rifle).
The .22 caliber weapon is a must for any gun owner and as a matter of fact, it should be your first gun. Ammunition is cheap, usually less than $20 for a brick of 550 rounds or so. Both rifles and pistols are manufactured in that caliber. It is not only a good, cheap caliber with low recoil to learn how to shoot with, but you can also use a .22 to hunt small game such as rabbits and squirrels and for pest control in rural areas.
The next one on the list is a home and/or self defense weapon. For home defense, the best option in my humble opinion is a 12 gauge shotgun, either pump or semi-auto. However, a double barrel “coach gun” type works just as well and .410 bore also works well, with lighter recoil than the 12 gauge. I’m not too familiar with self-defense shells for 16 or 20 gauge to say anything either way. In addition, a handgun works well enough in a home defense situation and if you can get a model that is easily concealed, you’re really winning. I strongly urge my readers that choose to carry concealed weapons to please research and follow all applicable state and local laws.
Finally, there is your militia service weapon or your homeland security weapon. Yes, I am using the dirty “m” word and here’s why, because it’s appropriate for this type of weapon. Thanks to the outstanding propaganda effort by the so-called mainstream media, most people when they hear the word “militia” think of a bunch of anti-government, white supremacist nutjobs running around in fatigues espousing conspiracy theories and running around with guns. While these so-called “organized” groups do exist (and you should stay away from them, by the way, for many reasons), that is not what a militia is. A militia is simply an armed, volunteer body of men and women defending their community and country in a time of crisis. We have had the militia all throughout American history and they were generally under state and local control until 1903 when the National Guard created. The reason for having a militia are for arranging local defense in a Katrina-type situation when law and order have broken down.
Now what are “homeland security rifles”? They are semi-automatic, high magazine capacity rifles such as the AR-15 and its clones, the AK-47 and all of its derivatives, the FN FAL clones, and many other types of rifles on the market today. Another good choice is the M1 Garand which is an eight-shot capacity rifle used by the US during World War II and available through the Civilian Marksmanship Program. If you cannot afford these weapons, a military surplus bolt action rifle or even a .30-3o lever action rifle will suffice.
To answer the question why I own guns is to me, they are as much of a civic duty of citizenship as voting. It demonstrates that I am willing to be self-sufficient and I am willing to help protect my community and nation and my fellow Americans like a sheepdog guards the herd of sheep against the predators. Just as some people should not vote, gun ownership is not for everyone. If you choose to exercise that right, you have a moral obligation to train with your weapons and teach your household gun safety. But if you do exercise your right to keep and bear arms, you will become a freer and more self-reliant citizen, instead of a subject of the state.
What about an AR-15 modificed to .308?
I load 2 3/4 inch tactical buckshot except for the last round in my 12 ga. That's 3 1/2 inch magnum buckshot, and I am confident that I'll know it's my last round as soon as I pull the trigger. I don't worry about getting distracted and losing track of how many times I've pulled the trigger. I also don't worry that I'll empty a shotgun so many times that my shoulder is sore from those magnum shells. If I have to empty the weapon that many times, I've got bigger problems than a sore shoulder.
You could do that. I won’t because the AR-15 is a light rifle and the .308 has pretty stout recoil. Ammo is also going to take up a lot more room and be much heavier. Size and weight of 7.62 ammo was one of the reasons the Army went looking for a smaller assault rifle caliber in the first place. A study done decades ago by the Army concluded an 8 man squad with M16s and full combat load was as effective as an 11 man squad with M14s. Finally, the last gun on my home defense/SHTF arsenal is a Remington 700P sniper rifle in .308. At 2 to 3k for a decent one I have to wait a while for that one.
LOL, even a BB to the eyball will stop just about anybody.
I liked it. A good thing to show someone on the fence.
It’s a tedious process. You will have to go to your local police department, or the local state police if your town does not have a local polic force, and pick up a fire arms identification card application. They will instruct you on how to fill out the form. You will need two character witnesses who will be sent a form to fill out and mail back and you also will have to make an appointment with a third party contractor to be fingerprinted (this will cost you a little more than $60.00). The process can take one to three months depending on your police department.
If your intending to purchase a handgun you will need a permit which runs $2.00 each. They are good for three months after which they expire. You can only purchase one handgun in a thirty day period. You will be charged an additional $18.00 afterwards if you desire to obtain another handgun permit after your initial permit(s) have been acquired (again waiting the one to three months. Also you will have to supply the names of two character witnesses again.
The state of New Jersey has the most restrictive firearms regulations in the country. I have not tried but I understand it is very difficult to get a concealed carry permit.
I've heard "over-penetration" mentioned time after time, and you know what? In a real-life gunfight, the majority of the shots fired miss the target entirely-- so I consider that "over-penetration" is simply not a valid concern.
My main concern is that my weapon will be effective against an attacker. If I shoot, I will do so because it's a Life and Death situation. I must stop my assailant or I will die, so I want a weapon and ammo that makes big holes and leaves big exit wounds. The possibility that someone downrange may stop a stray bullet is fairly remote, but the chances of losing a fight due to poor penetration is a real possibility.
I'm keeping my .357 loaded with Hydrashoks and my 12-ga with #1 buckshot. Good for a minimum of 12" penetration in ballistic gelatin, effective when used as directed.
“I’ve heard “over-penetration” mentioned time after time, and you know what? In a real-life gunfight, the majority of the shots fired miss the target entirely— so I consider that “over-penetration” is simply not a valid concern.”
I’m not necessarily worried about over-penetration of the target threatening my life. I’m worried about the bullets that hit or miss the target which go through the remainder of the house causing damage to people. In some cases the would exit the house and endanger the neighbors.
If you aren’t concerned about whats behind your target then you aren’t a responsible gun owner.
“I’ve heard “over-penetration” mentioned time after time, and you know what? In a real-life gunfight, the majority of the shots fired miss the target entirely— so I consider that “over-penetration” is simply not a valid concern.”
I’m not necessarily worried about over-penetration of the target threatening my life. I’m worried about the bullets that hit or miss the target which go through the remainder of the house causing damage to people. In some cases the bullets would exit the house and endanger the neighbors.
If you aren’t concerned about whats behind your target then you aren’t a responsible gun owner.
I’m not just an owner, I’m an advocate. I don’t treat my interest in firearms as some dirty secret.
Nor will I allow ignorance, or outright fraud, to go unchallenged.
If you don’t know, I can point you in the right direction.
If you don’t like firearms, and just don’t care... Go on your way and the best of luck to you.
If you work actively against my Rights, I will come down upon you like the fist of an angry God. It is the least you deserve.
We're not talking about target shooting. I'll be concerned about it after the gunfight is over, if I survive.
23 years ago today my 16 year old son was brutally murdered with a 2 ft section of fence post, by a sociopath, who ambushed him on his way home from school..just to see what it felt like to kill. And consigned me to eternal pain in my heart. You never get over losing your child to a killer.
No one marched, no one protested, they just plea bargained 1st degree murder down to 2nd and 20 years, of which I fought for every one of the 14.5 years he served, longer than my Jeremy lived on this earth.
WHICH IS WHY I AM A GUN OWNER TOO.
Heaven Got Another Angel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hASQH9EfQA&feature=related
I’m sure your children and neighbors appreciate it.
God bless you, there’s nothing worse than losing a child and the ‘manner’ makes worse!
The only thing holding them back is the sure knowledge that whitey tends to be heavily armed.
An AR-15 can’t be modified to .308, the .308 cartridge is just too long. But someone has already thought of the solution and made the AR-10. The biggest problem with them is that they tend to be finicky and magazines are expensive at $60 each. For what it cost you for an AR-10 you can get a M1A with many mags or an FN FAL with a bunch of mags and a bunch of ammo.
You could get a shot out Mauser and build your own sniper rifle. A nice barrel, a decent trigger, custom stock, a decent scope, a few more tricks and your are set.
Some give the lame argument that the Garand only holds 8 rounds. With practice, you can be reloaded in under 3 seconds.
You could get a brand new Serbian Mauser made before WWII, from Mitchell’s Mausers for only $299.
I have the same rifle except it was slightly used. It is a perfectly good Mauser. The machining appears to be equal to some of the other better makers. The stocks are not as pretty as the German walnut ones but the wood is supposed to be very tough. Some even claim it is teak.
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