The rift
Zumbo’s fall highlights a fundamental concern of the NRA and many champions of military-style firearms, according to people who follow the organization closely. They do not want American gun owners to make a distinction between assault weapons and traditional hunting guns such as shotguns and rifles. If they did, a rift could emerge between hunters, who tend to have the most money for political contributions to gun rights causes, and assault-weapon owners, who tend to have lots of passion but less cash.
There are expensive and moderately priced version of each. Assault rifle owners don’t have less cash, they just have less tolerance for the NRA’s ass-dragging. I’m not a member of the NRA. But, once per year, I send them a check or don’t depending on how I feel they’ve handled the gun issue (hint: sporting purpose, guys).
Now, hunting weapons can be pricey and hunting gear can be too. But, in terms of guns, evil black rifles can get pricey. To wit, the running price tag of my 9mm AR-15 when all is said and done (this is from memory, so I could miss something – and I’m waiting for a tax stamp):
Lower Receiver 120
Mag Block 120
Magazines 75
EOTech Holographic Weapon Sight 350
YHM Railed Forearm 110
YHM Forearm Mounted Flip Up Front Sight 80
YHM Flip Up rear sight 80
Vltor mod stock 170
Tango Down VFG 25
Surefire G2 Nitrolon 32
Mount for Surefire 19
Upper receiver 425
9mm buffer 16
9mm hammer 12
Lower Parts Kit 50
NFA Tax (short barrel) 200
Gunsmithing (cut barrel and re-crown) 65
GG&G Single point sling adapter 15
Sling 6
Total 1,970
Not counting a suppressor and adapter (another $800ish) that I’ll get in the future. And I go through more ammo than a fudd. And I probably forgot something.
And, while reading Kim’s, I saw this:
The Zumbo Incident is as dead as last year’s politician’s promise, and beaten to death more than the JFK assassination. That will be all on that topic, I think: please drive through.
I concur. I’m done with it. The only reference to Zumbo in the future from me will be its proper use as an internet verb ranking up there with Fisk and Dowdify.
February 27th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Spendy. My new 6.8spc AR cost me about $700. Range report to be posted in the next week or so.
February 27th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
If they did, a rift could emerge between hunters, who tend to have the most money for political contributions to gun rights causes, and assault-weapon owners, who tend to have lots of passion but less cash.
I suspect this characterization holds true in the aggregate. It’s not so much that individual hunters/sportsmen have more money than individual SayUncle types. It’s just that there are a lot more of them, so in total, they’re the side of the lobby that generally gets the attention (and therefore is needed).
March 14th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
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