One Who Gets It
on 08/06/2007 at 02:44 PM
"If you speak the truth long enough, your word becomes law.”
Warner Erhart
Founder of EST (at least I think this is his - he borrowed from a lot of people)I hardly think I could have written that piece better. True, mandatory training is problematic when you consider that it is being presented as a limitation of a right, but like Mr. Christian, I’ll take this as pretty good anyway. Just as there are few limits on free speech, it is still a good idea to study a bit of English and ethics, philosophy, religion, history, current events and a lot more are still very useful in making the fullest use of your First Amendment rights.
In the final analysis, without the right of self defense AND the means to carry that out, you have no rights whatsoever.
You don’t need all that much training. Five or six hours at most if you’re a total newbie. You do need to practice shooting, and you do need to get your head on straight about the responsibilities.
I don’t think there should be a woman in America who doesn’t own a few guns.
Keep us posted on this guy Mr. Christian. Let’s see if he figures out Right To Carry and reciprocity too!
You have to wonder how many more good people will have to die at the hands of thugs and criminals before the rest of these wimps get it.
I agree with the idea of requiring traning. heck, we make kids take drivers ed, why not mandate hunter education? Not as a requirement to own, but as a mandatory stop in high school.
My wife is, no, WAS an anti gunner. I don’t blame her, she was shot and nearly died when she was five. After we moved to the country, she decided that she should learn how to shoot. we go out on the deck several times a month and shoot at cans etc. Currently we have a steel rabbit at 100 yds, and an old skillet at 50. The skillet looks like a screen door from all the holes. The rabbit is a standard target, lotsa dents.
I believe that all the gun control acts are unconstitutional, but in the interim, I’d favor a range requirement that every one go out once a month and familiarize for concealed carry, or qualify once a year. The either or option would be good. for qualification require that the person hit 20 of 50 at 30 feet. Sounds crazy, but most encounters will happen at close range. for familiarization, 50 rounds down range and see ya next month. I’d bet most people, given the chance would gladly go shoot once a month.Len KC, the answer my friend is blowin in the wind.
If you ask me, the gun-safety training requirement should be waived if you are currently in, or have been discharged from in the last five years from any branch of the military, or are currently working in law enforcement. Evidence of military service can be shown with your military ID or a DD 214, and law enforcement can be proven by showing your badge.
I don’t like the misnomer - Gun Nuts and I still wonder if it is a requirement or obligatory to put in a Bush bash - however the bigger point is that this is twice in a couple of weeks that rabid leftists started sidling over at least toward center but even staunchly in the right sphere on a couple of really important topics (guns and the Surge). . . not to mention any other area I might have missed while letting the plumbers take thousands of our hard earned money for a slight days work. . . Perhaps the moonbats are beginning to lose control or have entered areas that even the left considers too far gone to stand by.
Gun training - should be a requirement - even military and law enforcement might need a questionaire on gun safety - but simple common sense (which the left eschews and has rid our educational system of) is the watch phrase of guns, gun ownership and most especially any and all gun ‘laws’ - which I find truly humorous as Criminals eschew all laws - therefore where is the ‘power’ of gun laws? Only to make the law abiding less safe. Which was the point of this guy’s article. So I guess the left can wake up now and then and See The Light.
You and your spouse are home in the evening with the children in bed. Suddenly someone starts to kick the front door down and another is at the back door, breaking glass, trying to get in. You race for your bedroom and grab your 45 automatic you keep hidden in your closet, clip inserted with 7 rounds of Federal Hydra Shock hollow points. You race out to confront the invaders who have a knife and are after your wife. You point the gun at the thug, pull the trigger, and NOTHING HAPPENS. You rapidly squeeze the trigger as you begin to panic...nothing happens. You keep squeezing the trigger while hitting the gun with your other hand...why won’t it fire!!! Seeing your gun hasn’t fired, the animal slashes your wife and then he is after you; his buddy already coming at you from the other direction. You’re dead, your wife brutally raped, and children killed. What happened?
In your high state of anxiety and stress, you failed to rack the slide on your 45. You owned the gun but never practiced. You went through a training class 5 years ago when you purchased it but, after watching so much gun stuff on TV and in the movies, you thought you were an expert; they make it look so simple. It’s been a couple years since you’ve been to a range to shoot. You failed to Practice...Practice...Practice.
Fighter pilots are able to fly and fight in the most complex cockpits because they continually train. When they’re not flying, they’re practicing in simulators. The controls of a jet fighter are second nature they practice so much. The firearm you are depending upon to save your life should be second nature too. Knowing how to shoot isn’t enough. You’ve got to know what to do when it doesn’t fire. Practice...Practice...Practice.
No one should have a gun who has not been trained.
Just as one gets training in handling a boat, motorcycle, or car, one must learn how to use and safely store a gun.
I agree with the idea of requiring traning. heck, we make kids take drivers ed, why not mandate hunter education? Not as a requirement to own, but as a mandatory stop in high school.
And then most of #5. I can agree for the same reasons, and I can totally see remedial/refresher training every, say, 5 years. More if you wish, but that at least. And FOR THE SAME REASONS!
Bob F - thanks for pointing out why a pistol for home defense really ought to be a double action (DA) revolver. Just point and pull the trigger. Of course you’d have to keep it loaded.
I’d say the perfect home pistol would be a .44 Special or .45 Colt DA with a 4” heavy barrel, a small frame, and a good light trigger. Loaded with HPs or solid base wadcutters. Plenty of power but not too much, no instructions needed, small enough for any woman or preteen to use, and it makes a dandy club if necessary. I don’t know who makes such a gun, maybe Charter Arms?
For a longer weapon I’d go for a 20 gauge pump shotgun with a short barrel. Load it with high velocity #6 or #8 shot. Again, just about no instruction needed and its a package small enough for anyone to handle. And it makes an even better club than the pistol.
You know, if I read the second amendment correctly...everybody is REQUIRED to be a part of the militia. We all are mandated by the CONSTITUTION to have a gun and be a part of the armed militia to defend our country. Everyone.
Now we have made laws that take that away from criminals, but the rest of us have no excuse. It should be a mandatory part of every neighborhood for every able-bodied individual to muster and train with his or her local militia on a monthly basis. Freedom has responsibilities.
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