A few evenings back, right after the shooting in Orlando, I
heard Dianne Feinstein on the PBS NewsHour say, quite authoritatively I might
add, that assault weapons, specifically the AR-15, are designed for military
use and solely for killing people – “and shoot big bullets.” Apparently that was her basic answer to what
should be done to prevent other mass-murders.
Let’s just ban the AR-15. It just
made me cringe. Politicians, liberal
politicians principally, have a fall-back response to incidents like Orlando - banning
“military style” or “military grade” weapons – that way they don’t really have to define
or clarify whatever gun image they may have momentarily floating around in their
head.**
OK, my response would be that the genesis of all guns was
for military or combat use in one form or another. So I ask, what military are you referring
to? Is this in regard to World War I or
II or perhaps the Spanish American War? The
.45 caliber auto (1911) was quite popular in the Spanish American War. Or do you mean the Civil War and the Enfield
1853 Rifled Musket, and yes those guns did and do shoot big bullets.
It is just becoming idiotic.
It could be funny if it wasn’t for the fact that these people are
actually making laws that affect all of us.
Ladies and Gentlemen, wake up. The problem is that we have
no actual leadership in Washington. So
what do we do (my opinion)?
First, we use our military might to crush ISIS.
Second, we don’t admit any refugees from Muslim countries
without proper vetting / agreed upon by the FBI. Just common sense, don’t you think?
Third, American Muslins should be made to understand that
their cooperation is vital – that if they are not part of the solution, they
are the problem.
Fourth, new civil laws should be developed, as well as appropriate
criminal laws, to punish those who withhold information that could prevent the
FBI from identifying a potential terrorist.
Don’t we all get a little tired of the old refrain by family and friends
of the terrorist.– in that no one seems to have had any idea that the
mass-murderer in their midst could ever actually do anything like that. Nonsense.
Fifth, let’s set up a terrorist ‘hotline’ to receive information. Publicize it nationally and provide additional FBI personnel to follow-up.
Sixth, determine how and where ISIS is disseminating their
recruitment efforts and propaganda, as well as the latest information on what
new atrocity they have committed or planned.
And destroy that capability.
And yes, I have some less grand recommendations regarding
guns and gun ownership. Understand that
I do not buy many of the lame arguments tossed-about by politicians. However…
I do believe that we should stop selling large capacity gun
magazines that have no credible purpose in self-protection, hunting,
competitive shooting, or just plinking. How
many cartridges should a particular magazine hold, I will leave that to others –
but something reasonable. It’s time that
gun owners and the NRA made a good faith effort to compromise at some level.
Secondly, although this might surprise you, in my opinion AR-15s
and similar weapons like the Sig Sauer MCX Rifle, should be placed in a special
category – perhaps requiring additional licensing, background checks or extended
waiting periods for new purchasers.
Current owners should be ‘grandfathered.’ The AR-15 has become a SYMBOL to the unstable, potential mass-murderer. The AR-15 is no more deadly than many other
weapons on the market; but due to the fact it is continually publicized,
criticized, and discussed makes it the weapon of choice even to, or especially to, those who know
little about guns. As a result, those
intent upon mass murder do not have to spend their limited mental resources
selecting a weapon. And, could
potentially spend some valuable time asking themselves:
“Am I insane or what?” Currently,
the AR-15 has its own publicity agent – the news media. We can do something about this.
Well, that’s a start.
Let’s get to it.
**On the same PBS NewsHour program where Ms. Feinstein made
her comments, an ‘expert’ also appeared to explain the function and capabilities
of the AR-15 (as we now know an AR-15 wasn’t the particular weapon used by
Mateen. It was a Sig Sauer MCX Rifle). Said expert mentioned that the AR-15 makes a
devastating wound due to its tendency to “tumble.” That is a fallacy. Admittedly, the bullet, .223 caliber does
make a devastating wound. However, the
harm to the human body is caused by the velocity of the bullet, not a tumbling
effect. All bullets, of course can
deflect or compress if they strike something hard in the body such as bone.
True Nelson
