A self-proclaimed ain’t one of them no-gun nuts wrote this article. Some selected excerpts follow to illustrate media ignorance of gun laws and guns:

Every good American needs a rifle to bring home deer and rabbit and squirrel to cook up for supper.

We all need to defend our homes and families from them tourists–um, I mean terrorists.

Ok, useless rhetoric. Whatever.

My question is this:

Why do we, in the general public, need flash suppressors to go after Bambi or fend off some teenage kid trying to swipe our Sony Trinitron?

It’s called the Bill of Rights not the Bill of Needs.

Flash suppressors are used in combat so the enemy can’t pinpoint a night shooter’s location by the flame from the muzzle. Technically, flash suppressors are illegal, but the public can buy “flash hiders” that do just about the same thing.

Uhm, wrong. Flash suppressors are used to disburse the flash to the sides of the rifle instead of straight ahead so that you can maintain site picture without being temporarily blinded by the muzzle flash. A flash suppressor/hider does not actually hide nor suppress a flash. Flash suppressors are not illegal. They are only illegal if on a semiautomatic rifle, made after 1994, that accepts a detachable magazine, and has one of the following characteristics:

Bayonet lug, pistol grip, or telescopic/folding stock.

And why do we general public types need 50-caliber sniper rifles that can kill a man at a range of up to a mile with a round that would blow a hole in a tank at long range?

The most experienced shooter cannot hit a stationary target at a range of one mile. Bear in mind that 22 caliber rifles state clearly on the box that the small 22 long rifle bullet can travel one mile. And at 35 meters, the 50 claiber rifle will penetrate one inch of steel, which is significantly less than long range and the penetration is much less than the five or so inches of armor tanks have. And lets not forget in colonial times the good old Kentucky rifle was popular in calibers of 65 to 70.

Anyway, I mean, is Bambi on steroids now? Was she exposed to gamma radiation, like the Incredible Hulk?

Gun rights are not about hunting but don’t take my word for it:

“The fundamental force behind the Second Amendment is to empower the people and give them the greatest measure of authority over the tyranny of runaway government.” – U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer, 2002

“By calling attention to ‘a well regulated militia’, the ‘security’ of the nation, and the right of each citizen ‘to keep and bear arms’, our founding fathers recognized the essentially civilian nature of our economy. Although it is extremely unlikely that the fears of governmental tyranny which gave rise to the Second Amendment will ever be a major danger to our nation, the Amendment still remains an important declaration of our basic civilian-military relationships, in which every citizen must be ready to participate in the defense of his country. For that reason, I believe the Second Amendment will always be important.” – John F. Kennedy, April 1960

“That rifle on the wall of the labourer’s cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It our job to see that it stays there.” – George Orwell

“The Second Amendment is not about duck hunting, and I know I’m not going to make very many friends saying this, but it’s about our right, all of our right to be able to protect ourselves from all of you guys up there.” – Dr. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, appearing before Representative Charles Schumer’s committee hearings on the assault weapons ban

“Americans have the right and advantage of being armed- unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.” – James Madison

“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!” – Ben Franklin

“The said Constitution be never construed …to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.” – Samuel Adams

“I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.” – George Mason, during Virginia’s Convention to Ratify the Constitution (1788)

“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe.” – Noah Webster, Principles of the Federal Constitution, Philadelphia, 1787

“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” – Thomas Jefferson

You can reach the author (MICHAEL ZITZ) of the article at mikez@freelancestar.com or at 540/374-5408

Posted in uncategorized on October 27th, 2003 by SayUncle | RSS 2.0 |