More on Kerry’s Assault Weapon
Alphie reports that Kerry’s camp is claiming that Kerry’s Chinese assault weapon is really an old bolt action:
[A campaign spokesman] said the gun had no make or model markings on it and that Mr. Kerry “got it from a friend years ago,” adding that such rifles were first manufactured in Russia more than 100 years ago and were used by the North Koreans and the Vietcong….
Though the comment was presented by Outdoor Life as part of an “exclusive interview with the two presidential candidates,” four pages that included many long, conversational answers using first-person pronouns, Mr. Meehan said Mr. Kerry’s portions were written by his staff. A public relations representative for Outdoor Life did not respond to a message seeking comment.
Show us the rifle, Senator. And as Alphie says:
Did the enemy really use 70-year-old guns or did they use the ones flooding across the border from China? Whatever, one thing is sure: Kerry sure does hire some blundering idiots for his staff. I wonder who he plans to put in his cabinet?
So, again, Kerry proves that he, marketing himself as a pro-gun candidate, doesn’t know much about guns. I have to wonder, if he really thinks an old bolt action is an assault weapon, does he want those banned as well?
September 27th, 2004 at 10:30 am
Well, as much as I would love to find Kerry with an unregistered Chicom AK, it is possible that the guy has a Mosin Nagant M44, indeed of a line of Russian guns commonly used in VietNam. They are very common, and were popular with vets as bringbacks. The Chinese did make them as the Type 53 Rifle (iirc the name). The original design dates to 1891. Info on the rifle is all over the web, they can be had for about $75. I’d be a schlock to promote my own site, but there’s info there about the M44 that might be helpful.
The Mosin Nagant rifles are really in no way an assault rifle, and if Kerry claims it is his favorite rifle I can give him that, at least he’s got something right about guns, the Mosins are underappreciated and worthy shooters.
But how sweet it would be if it turned out to be a Chicom AK? Even an SKS. Show us the rifle Kerry!
September 27th, 2004 at 1:27 pm
Head:
While true, if he did bring it back into the country, I believe that’s a violation of Military Regs, and the ’68 GCA.
But I don’t think anybody would call it a ChiCom Assult rifle, accidentally….
So it brings up the question, especially if it has “no markings” – where it came from, how he got it into the country.
September 27th, 2004 at 1:38 pm
Good point, the fact that he called it an assault rifle is suspect to begin with, then to claim its an old bolt action is even more suspect. More waffles. Order UP!
September 27th, 2004 at 7:48 pm
An actual Russian M44 “should” have markings indicating what armory it’s from, etc. I suppose it is possible that the ones that made their way to ‘nam could have been “cleaned.” A chinese Type 53 though, I have never seen, but wouldn’t be suprised if they didn’t have markings.
Either way though, how the hell would someone call a Mosin an Assault Rifle?
September 27th, 2004 at 10:54 pm
Well since he was the one pushing a bill that would have called a shotgun an assault weapon I have no doubt that he would call a bolt action rifle an assault rifle.
He’s an idiot.
September 28th, 2004 at 12:57 am
Two guns and the only one he shoots is an over/under shotgun. Now we know what Kerry carries “hunting deer while crawling around on his belly”. Shoulda said the bolt action.