Someone posted earlier that the SO folks don't care about a 10-round ban. Well, alot don't! And it can be summed up by me misquoting someone who posted it on an auto vs wheelgun tread, we don't watch that much tv!
I hired in to IDOC 15 years ago. I got my first real exposure to NO IL at the training center and then working six months at Statesville and Joilet. On ragne week, the SOs didn't complain about the S&W M64 revolver and the six rounds of +p 38 special it held. NOs bitched and moaned about it! They wanted their "9s". They wanted A BUNCH of ammo! Its not that we down in SO don't want more than ten rounds, its just that we would feel real bad about missing ten times and needing more shots! If I can't stop him in the two or three rounds I first get off, then I ain't staying around! And as far as carrying a wheelgun while transporting inmates, we took the Mini or a shotgun! Those were the first line of defense, and should always be so! We had the M64s (great weapons BTW) on our hips, but the longguns were laying across our laps! Alot of SOs were given a rifle or shotgun as their first weapon. It was for ducks or squirrels. It could feed you, and it could protect you. A handgun is looked on as a neat thing to have, but if I had to reach for a handgun or a rifle, I'm reaching for a longgun period!
Another thing about a ten round limit....do you remember the feel of a JMB Hi Power? The slim grip and balanced feel? Or how about a STAR BM? Now image one of these hi cap "wondernines" slimmed down instead of a fat grip and a hollow mottom part of a mag. Or the Hi Power slimmed down by more than 20%.......or the STAR BM coming back! I carry a small 5-shot wheelgun, half of the ten round limit. I feel ok. If I don't, the 30/30 or SKS is in the trunk or behind the seat.
SO folks are also pretty much poor! Our arsenal might include a single shot shotgun that we had growing up, no you can't buy it cause the boy is going to need it soon. And a 22 rifle of some sorts, almost always a Marlin 60 or Ruger 10/22 or something from way back when you could stop down at Sears or JCPenneys and buy a longgun. If its got a scope on it, it sure didn't cost as much as the gun or bigger than a spare tire. And a good pump 12ga, 28-30" barrel. If you are "well to do", you might have a 20"ish deer barrel for it also. But its a smooth bore, no screw in chokes around here. If a handgun is included, its a 38 wheelgun. Do we feel that's all the weapons one should own, no, its all the weapons we can afford right now! We're scared to buy anything, cause we might have to pawn it next week for truck repair or dr bills.
Jerry
