I am an avid gun owner. I love hunting and have guns for self defense as well. I was raised around guns and spent a few years in the military. I love guns and love shooting.
Amen Paymaster. Glad to have you on board BTW.
Bruce - You're totally right about that video of PBS. Just about everything they said in there was incorrect in one way or another and was purely propaganda. Like the part about the bullet being designed to tumble and cause maximum damage. That was an issue in the early M16 variants in Vietnam because the rifling twist was too slow to stabilize the bullet in flight, and as a result we now have the 1:7" or 1:8" rifling twist for heavier (longer) bullets so they'll stay on target for better accuracy. The "tumbling was a flaw and not created to maximize damage. If they wanted more damage Uncle Sam would've stuck with the 30 caliber M-14 that the M16 replaced. In fact, the Geneva Convention does not allow bullets designed for expansion and that's why we currently use full copper jacket bullets. Other bullets such as hollow points, soft points, ballistic tips, etc., like are used for hunting would be far more lethal on human beings. Current military ammo is designed to take opposing forces out of the fight but not to obliterate them, because an injured soldier is a far bigger liability than a dead one for armies that care for their wounded like most conventional armies are assumed to do. Sorry for rambling but I could easily pick apart all the propaganda like this that is out there, and I do every chance I get.
One of the Fox News commentators, I can't remember which one, but she said she was in favor of guns and concealed carry, but that "assault" rifle should be restricted because they are not needed for sporting purposes. I beg to differ. I'd bet money the SUV she drives in New York City isn't "needed" to get around town or kids to the soccer games either. Who is she to decide what we "need" or don't need. For family protection, shooting military rifle matches, or 3-Gun matches I want the best I can get, and IMO that is the AR-15, M-14, and M1 Garand. I'm really turned off when others dictate to me what I "need."
Again sorry for the long winded post, but the unique freedoms we have in this country are very near and dear to my heart and I believe what sets us apart from the rest of the world. I'm all for cooperation with the UN, other countries, etc., when it leads to a better world, but as a general rule I think they should be following our founding principles instead of the other way around.
