My little gun control rant.

[happygeek]

Say again? Have you not heard of Blackwater (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_Worldwide)? They were a private corporation with their own "private army" who was contracted by the government.

They haven't been big news since the wind down in Iraq and they since changed their name to Xe, but they were huge a couple years ago. The need for well trained and well armed security guards in Iraq for all sorts of things ranging from construction projects to embassies created a huge demand for companies like Blackwater. There were numerous other similar companies, Blackwater was just the most famous [or infamous].

By the way, Blackwater/Xe is also a privately held company, i.e. they don't sell stocks, i.e. they're not required to publish data on their income and such for the public to see and they don't have public shareholders to answer to.

 

[dmancornell]

What everyone keeps forgetting is the sheer cost of this stuff, which exerts a sort of "restriction" all its own.

Price inflation of firearms is largely driven by government over-regulation of manufacturers (criminal ATF stings), unconstitutional distortion of supply and demand (import bans and NFA34) and destruction of taxpayer property (cutting up the M14 stockpiles).

The deliberate destruction of the US dollar by the federal reserve and congress is also playing a role.

 

[happygeek]

The 14 grand I threw out there for a M2 is apparently how much the government pays for a M2 BMG. The 1,200 rounds of .50 BMG rounds from the earlier example worrying that his average joe neighbor would AD into his house would run another $3,600 or so. Ignoring the NFA and the 86 Hughes Amendment we're looking at a $17,600 price tag. This is before average joe tries to find a place where he can shoot .50 BMG rounds on auto, a range built for such a purpose would probably charge a hefty membership fee.

So yeah, we're still looking at something that pretty much self restricts itself to rich gun hobbyists.

Almost forgot, average joe's also going to need a tripod, which adds even more weight, bulk, and cost.

 

[dmancornell]

The 14 grand I threw out there for a M2 is apparently how much the government pays for a M2 BMG

The same government that pays $600 for toilet seats?

Besides, the issue here is not cost, it's the principle of not allowing a corrupt, fascist federal government to usurp your constitutional rights.

 

[happygeek]

Besides, the issue here is not cost, it's the principle of not allowing a corrupt, fascist federal government to usurp your constitutional rights.

Agree 100%.

I'm just trying to make the point that very few people would be running out to buy M2 BMGs if the 86 Hughes Amendment and the NFA were done away with. Ditto for miniguns, Mk19s, and all those other examples that people throw out there when they're arguing for the NFA: "would you be in favor of letting your neighbor own X!? What if he ADs!?"

A lot of people would probably get M4A1s though. I for one would love to own a M4A1 lower and a 22LR upper that could stand up to automatic fire.

Would your neighbor AD with a M4A1? How many people are ADing their AR15s currently?

 

[dmancornell]

all those other examples that people throw out there when they're arguing for the NFA: "would you be in favor of letting your neighbor own X!? What if he ADs!?"

Exactly, and I bet all the people making that argument are fine with government thugs owning the exact same weaponry, even though government has murdered far more people than any other entity in the last 100 years. It's not even close.

 

[stuckinsocal]

Hello guys and gals, I am a reader of forums and I was pressured by my conscience to join and post here on this topic. Its hard to believe gun people are willing to deny others of the same rights they enjoy.

I read comments all the time about how if you’re going to carry dress nice, heavily tattooed people and the like should be questioned about their firearm purely by judging their looks. (because it makes all gun owners look bad) Or the carry laws don’t go far enough and more training or schooling is in order to exercise a right. Again its hard to believe gun people reflect background checks, tax stamps or asking states for the right to carry as not being infringed on.

Too many personal opinions and not enough calls from gun owners to hold true to our forefathers. I’m not going to get into all the reasons TPTB want to remove arms from citizens, its clearly not a issue about public safety.
IT IS BASED ON FEAR OF THE ARMED CITIZEN.

Anyway I digress, The point I was getting at is this right belongs to all Americans. If a person commit’s a crime, then for the entire punishment his constitutional rights are temporary waved. Bottom line criminals should be locked up, if ever found rehabilitated and released all constitutional rights should be returned. Don’t you see what is happening? More and more petty crap is being labeled felony & is being used as gun control on American citizens.

Kinda sad to read our gun people on board after board backing to trample on the rights of their country men. Hard to believe especially from gun friendly folks that post in favor of citizens losing their fair rights because of a Government plan to make some people second class citizens which is what being a felon means. Look criminals should be locked away period. And if you’re not locked away then apparently you are not a threat and as such should not be treated like you are.

Don’t you find it funny a person can be rehabilitated pay their debt to society yet never ever be forgiven?
Yet expected to pay taxes but not vote, expected to live honorably but not totally free.
If that doesn’t stink to you, then your horse is too high to smell it.

Good first post and welcome to The High Road. Apparently many people don't seem to understand the idea of "paying your deby to society" anymore. As I understand it, you take your punishment and then you're free. You've paid your debt and now you're free to live like anyone else. You shouldn't have restrictions placed on your right to vote, keep and bear arms, free speech, etc. I think it's wrong and immoral.
I keep hearing all these "buts" in regards to mandatory training: But what if the guy doesn't know how to use his gun and shoots me? But what if....
That's all BS, and frankly, it's pretty pathetic coming from people who supposedly support the 2nd Amendment. In reality, they don't support it. Many supposedly pro gun people were against Arizona's Constitutional carry law because it doesn't require training. Why exactly should I consider them pro gun when they so blatently want to completely circumvent the 2nd Amendment? The answer is I shouldn't. You see the same thing coming from anti gun groups like the Bradys and from people in places like here in California. Really the only difference is that the Bradys are more extreme in that they want to restrict and circumvent the 2nd Amendment even more than a lot of "pro gun" people.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Yes, it says arms. The definition of "arms" is very vague. Do F16's count as arms? A line had to be drawn somewhere, and they chose full auto's.

You can own an F16.

OTOH were all supposed to technically be in militias but who is, so its a two way street.

2A according to how its been interpreted protects like kind arms to those in current military use. So in theory we should be able to own M4's and hunting rifles can be restricted since they are not protected. 2A isn't about hunting or self defense from criminals.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Say again? Have you not heard of Blackwater (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_Worldwide)? They were a private corporation with their own "private army" who was contracted by the government.

They haven't been big news since the wind down in Iraq and they since changed their name to Xe, but they were huge a couple years ago. The need for well trained and well armed security guards in Iraq for all sorts of things ranging from construction projects to embassies created a huge demand for companies like Blackwater. There were numerous other similar companies, Blackwater was just the most famous [or infamous].

By the way, Blackwater/Xe is also a privately held company, i.e. they don't sell stocks, i.e. they're not required to publish data on their income and such for the public to see and they don't have public shareholders to answer to.
__________________

But yes why mess around with guns when you can hire your own private army.

Didn't Blackwater spring from the old EO?