Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Gun Grabbing? Why Yes, I Was Just Thinking About That!


With gun control legislation coming to a head in Congress this week, I know you people are just dying to know my stance on the issue, right?

Ha. Of course not. You come to me for "sports" and I should keep my idiotic political opinions to myself.

Right. Check.

Okay then, I am not going to talk about guns, I'll talk about logic and emotion and instead.

First, emotion.

Emotionally, guns scare me. One pull of a trigger and basically, you or anyone you point it at is D-E-A-D.

Geezus. I can't handle thinking about that for more than a few seconds.

But logically, I know that it's very very very very important that I am permitted as an American citizen to own them. The reasons for this don't even need listing, because you know all the reasons by now.

Currently, I own zero guns. Well, check that. I own two pellet guns, an airsoft gun, and probably a few dusty squirt guns collecting spider webs in the garage.

I don't hunt. I have a robust alarm/security system. So I don't currently NEED any guns.

Yet, I am now going to go buy some guns. Three of them, in fact.

A short barrel shotgun. A handgun. And a sweet, sweet, scary-handle-with-all-the-military-trimmings looking semi-automatic "assault rifle."

Why?

Logic.

Even if the current legislation goes nowhere, it is clear to many of us, that politicians who just want to "do something" after a terrible mass shooting and make themselves "feel better" by passing a law, are going to keep coming and keep coming after people like me who might want to own guns.

Therefore, buying three guns is a wise investment. Their "value" (both in real dollars and the intrinsic "ownership utility" of said instruments) is never going to be LOWER than it is right now.

Logic.

I will learn to fire these guns at the range with my brother, who is very well versed in the ol' 2nd Amendment. I will take a course. I will lock them in a big ass safe somewhere very secure in my house. I will not worry for one second that they will fall into the hands of my kids by accident or that I will decide to "check out" one night just because I'm loopy on Captain n' Diets and Mike Shanahan just ran RG3 into a broken leg again.

Emotion and logic.

The emotion of the pro-gun-control crowd, is actually spurring logical people like me, to become gun owners for the first time.

So now they have me to deal with too.

Good work, everybody.

For you current gun owners, I am ready and open for buying suggestions. Try not to haze me too much for joining the club.

18 comments:

  1. Quality and cost efficient pump action shotgun, like remington 870 or mossberg 500. Just the sound of a pump cycling will send anyone running. No criminal wants to stay and see if you're serious! There are lots of assault rifle options, but don't bother with a ton of bells and whistles. Iron sites will be fine. They are a ton of fun to shoot. There are a million handgun options. Longer barrel is easier to shoot, shorter is easier to conceal. Revolvers are considered more reliable, but automatics hold more rounds and are easier to reload. You can't beat a .45 caliber 1911 for pure bad-ass history and fun. 9 mm Walther PPS is a great carry pistol. I would also recommend both a .22 rifle and a bull barrel .22 pistol for target practice. Cheaper to shoot and less recoil. I was like you, not from a gun background, but my kids got me into it and I have a great time shooting with them. Follow all the safety rules rigorously. It requires exactly the same care as driving a car

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  2. Purchasing guns is like getting a new set of golf clubs. In order to get comfortable with them you need to practice with them and get that comfort with using them. If you leave them sit in the vault you will loose your comfort with them. Get out to a range/club and try different brands (my preference is Sig Sauer) and get what is comfortable for you. And make it a family learning experience because you never know when that front door gets busted open and your life may depend on it.

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  3. I can see the logic in buying a handgun and or a shotgun that has some utility in self defense or hunting. I see no logic in buying an assault rifle. There's no utility for that weapon other than the cheap thrill of shooting it at the range, which I imagine will wear off rather quickly. Anyone who says otherwise has watched Red Dawn too many times.

    Also, I think your logic about the the guns never being cheaper than they are now is flawed. There is a huge gun bubble in this country right now that will pop the minute Obama leaves office, and he is leaving office eventually.

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  4. Your logic for getting several guns is the same as many people who are buying them now including my 70+ year old Dad who has never owned one in his life. It is a sad state of affairs in this country when every issue in our country involves only polar opposites. It seems like there is no room for productive dialogue but knee jerk reactions like the gun control legislation pushed through here where I live in Colorado. Some of these politicians who are at the center of the gun control debate do not even understand the mechanics of guns (look up Diane DeGette) and think you can't reload magazines with ammunition.

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  5. Background: I've been shooting on and off since I was 7 with a BB gun, graduating to .22 a couple years later. A few years back I moved to a state more friendly to firearms (read: less liberal) and now own multiple firearms. I legally concealed carry on an almost daily basis. I am a civilian working for a large local law enforcement agency, and I've learned much from the officers I work with.

    First: "The sound of the pump cycling" will not scare anyone. It will alert the bad guy or guys to your location. Leave it loaded so the first sound they hear is the last sound they hear.

    1. Remington 870 or Mossberg 500
    - Stay away from the Mossberg 500 if you're going to put a pistol grip on the shottie. Why? The safety on the 500 is on the top of the receiver and unreachable without breaking your grip.
    - Forget your "short barreled" shotgun idea if you don't want to pay the feds a $200 tax stamp. Stick with an 18"+ barrel. Better patterning, more controllable, and easier to use like a club when you run out of ammo (and you will, it's a shotgun)
    2. Good luck finding an AR or AK in today's market. If you do happen to find one, you still won't find ammo.
    - "Assault rifles" is a term bandied about by the ninnies on the national news. Get some education. Start with these two videos:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8YuPPWuGW8
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix_ed4YxUT8
    3. Glock. Why? It goes bang. 65% of US police departments trust it. The M&P series from Smith & Wesson is a quality second choice, and many high-speed-low-drag guys are starting to prefer them. Stay away from the 1911s - for your first gun, you don't want something that takes tuning or is incredibly complicated to take down. The Glock is just 34 parts (or 36, depending on how you count), goes bang out of the box, and requires FAR less upkeep than a 1911. Get a 1911 when you want a fancy, show-off gun. (I love 1911s, but I don't have the money for them, and I'd never consider one for personal protection.)
    - I'd recommend a Glock model 19 (9mm) or model 23 (.40 S&W). You'll have an easier time finding .40 ammo, and the .40 gun can be converted to shoot 9mm cheaper than converting the 9mm to .40. If you can't find ammo, you've got a glorified paperweight that makes clicking noises.
    - The 19 and 23 are the same physical size - "compact". It's a good size for concealed carry (if it's legal in your area), and it's got a rail section for attaching a weapon light which makes it good for home defense.

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  6. ...continued:

    Speaking of home defense, every weapon you plan to use for that purpose NEEDS a weapon light attached. Why? Target identification. That weapon light could be the difference between ending your wife's life mistakenly and a tentative laugh together a few days later. NEVER use the weapon light for searching, but ALWAYS use it for target identification. Two common choices are the Streamlight TLR-1 and TLR-3. Lasers are cool, but you're better off spending your money on night sights and ammo (for training/practice).

    Do yourself a favor and try to find a Ruger 10/22. Few will argue that it's one of the best non-military-style rifles available. Cheap ammo + reliable gun = more fun than egging your neighbor's car. Plus, it doesn't look all "mean" and stuff, so the wife & kids might actually want to try it.

    Finally, the four Life Safety Rules. Know these like you should know the Ten Comandments:
    1. All firearms are always loaded all the time
    2. Never point a firearm at anything you do not intend to destroy (the laser rule)
    3. Keep you finger straight and OFF the trigger until you are on target and are prepared to destroy that which you are pointing at (keep your booger hook off the bang button)
    4. Always be aware of your target's foreground and background (somebody going to walk in front of your shot, and consider over-penetration).

    Research material:
    http://www.ar15.com
    http://www.defensivecarry.com
    Youtube:
    - Nutnfancy
    - Bigshooterist
    - hickok45
    - MrColionNoir

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  7. Czabe, I'm with you, I also have never owned a gun, but I too am looking to purchase a couple as well.

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  8. Czabe: I'm what you would consider a liberal, and I own a gun. welcome to the club! A good pump-action remington rifle is all you need. Like the poster Tristan said, that noise will send shivers up anyone's spine and tighten a few sphincters. The other stuff are good investments, not sure of the practicality, but worth getting.

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  9. Buy a dozen guns, you boob. The proposed legislation is not about keeping responsible people from owning guns, even if they're unreasonable enough to think that any politician is going to keep coming and keep coming for their personal property. That's paranoia, not logic, and your purchases will serve to keep the fear cauldron boiling. Any such politician -- and none exists because there are too many other issues to divert attention -- would be an extremist, and extremists don't last in politics. Get a grip

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  10. Here with you Czabe...just took a course over at Silver Eagle in Loudoun County and planning on getting a SW M&P as my 1st handgun.

    Our politicians are complete idiots!

    The only people this legislation will hurt will be the law abiding citizens. Soon the good citizens of this country will be defenseless and the criminal element and the government (is there a difference) will run rampant.

    Sorry for the rant, I've got to get back in line to receive my free foodstamps, welfare, healthcare, cellphone this month from my savior government officials...

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  11. I have a 9mm handgun Smith, looking to get a CC permit and will probably get a 380 backup for that. Also, will probably buy a shotgun at some point as well. Obviously not a shortie, but a multi shot pump. I'm not a big gun-guy but the trending is clear. larrymize is just plain wrong on this. While I'm never on board with the Feds increasing their scope on ANYTHING, I do like that crazies can maybe now be id-ed since the "feel good juice box" crowd insisted on mainstreaming them some time ago. Crazies are truly the only common thread with recent massacres. Gun avalability had nothing to do with these past events, nothing. Crazies did.

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  12. AR 15's are a good weapon, easy to use, clean, maintain and update. Many parts are available aftermarket. Be sure you buy a MilSpec (built to military specifications, not a real select fire "Army gun"). That will allow you to confidently purchase aftermarket parts and accessories and be sure of proper fit. S&W M&P 15 is an excellent choice. Capable of firing both 5.56 mm and .223 Rem (cheaper ammo usually). Fully MilSpec and highly reliable and well built.

    For pistols, I am a fan of the Springfield XD series. More comfortable grip than a Glock, and you can purchase one in 45 ACP that is still CCW usable due to compact size. I have the XD compact 45 ACP. As for caliber, 45 ACP is the preferred side arm ammo of Spec Ops due to stopping power and reliability. The .40 is used by most law enforcement due to the increased ammo capacity for a similar weapon. 9 mm is good for target shooting and competition, but less useful in defense scenerios. Always remember that a pistol is like a pair of shoes. Just becasue one is comfortable for me, does not mean it will be for you. Hold and examine multiple brands and configurations before you buy. Ideally, rent one at a range and test drive it to be sure you like it. Most modern semi-autos are good weapons, simple to take down and clean, and available in multiple calibers. Choose what fits YOU best.

    Welcome to the club!!!

    PS - with the right ammo load, an AR 15 is very useful as a deer rifle (contrary to popular belief). You do not need to fire a huge round to take down a white tail, you need the right ammo and good aim. Huge rounds are for poor shots to make sure they kill what they shoot. Don't let anyone tell you an AR has no practical value...it is also a wonderful home defense weapon with the right ammo load, and much more intimidating than a shotgun. Also allows you to mount lights, lasers and other close quarters defense accessories with ease. I own one, and love it. Best weapon in my inventory.

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  13. Paranoia will destroy ya', or it might kill someone you love. Czabe, you have more chance of killing one of your family members than an intruder.

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  14. My recommendation is more or less what some of the other people have posted... For a shotgun, I recommend a pump action shotgun. Remington, Mossberg, Benelli all make good stuff. A good pump shotgun is like a hammer: It's always going to work. Find something that fits you, otherwise you'll just hate it... As for length of barrel, 18.5" (which is plenty short) is as short as the feds will let you go before it becomes a Class 3 weapon that requires a $200 tax stamp. In regards to the person who said a pump shotgun won't scare someone off, they are wrong... I've seen first hand that the sound of a pump action is enough to change someone's mind.

    For a handgun, I really like a 1911 pistol in 45acp. I paid $400 for the one I have, but you can spend upwards of $2000 for the custom-shop ones. If you like the plastic guns like Glock, take a look at Springfield's XD series. Again, find something that fits your hands, and don't worry about recoil of the bigger round. Revolvers are nice in that they too are a hammer...

    As for a semi-auto rifle, I've built all of mine from parts. There are a LOT of brands out there. With some, you are paying a premium for the brand... Options are plenty, but simple is nice.

    If you are only looking to do this as an investment and for weekend shooting, then you don't need to worry about a light system... If you decide that you want something to keep in the nightstand, then pick up a good, high output light... Knowing what you are about to shoot at is paramount, and being able to blind the bastard first gives you the upper hand.

    A 22 caliber rifle (and pistol) is fun to shoot at the range, but ammo has been tough to find at a decent price. Hell, ammo in general has been tough to find at decent price lately.

    Steve, email me directly if you want to discuss this in greater detail, I'd be more than happy to help.

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  15. Czabe...

    Remington 870 12 ga. shotgun. Inexpensive (comparatively) and reliable.

    As for handgun, the most important things for me are reliability and comfort (how it fits your hand). Nothing tops Sig Sauer for this.

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  16. oh...and don't let indecision on "what to buy" turn you off. At most gun ranges you can rent any number of an enormous variety of firearms (especially handguns) and go put a few rounds threw them at the range. Find what you like instead of taking a gamble on what someone else says.

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  17. Alarm system? Yes, an alarm system works great at keeping people out. You must have the type that stops the intruder from breaking down your door or coming in through a window and then detaining them there until law enforcement arrives in say 20 or 30 minutes. Alarm systems are great for making you feel better about your security but don't do anything else except let you know that someone actually was in your house and is now long gone with your "stuff". The only thing that deters or stops a crime is the use or implied use of force, whether that be hand to hand or through the use of a weapon. You're smart to want to arm yourself Steve, but train with whatever weapon you choose until it becomes like brushing your teeth. And along with the training becomes having the will, the "balls" to actually use a weapon when presented with an immenent threat of great bodily harm or death. If you're not prepared to use it and then deal with the aftermath then don't even purchase a firearm. I wish you all the best.

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  18. Do exactly the opposite of what Joe http://youtu.be/Ia4csoQLvGY Biden says

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