The Right to Keep and Bear ... revolvers only?

[searcher451]

While attending the Utah concealed weapons permit class in Oregon a couple of nights back (good in 29 states, by the way), our instructor indicated that he was going to start offering special classes exclusively on the use of revolvers because he saw it as the emerging trend in gun ownership. He made the statement in a long string of advertisements for some of his other classes at the start of the session, but I asked him about his logic during the first break.

He replied that it all has to do with the Heller decision from this past summer and the District's legal response, declaring that all semi-automatic pistols with magazines are essentially fully automatic firearms. He believes (and he's no dummy) that the courts will eventually agree and will subsequently outlaw all semi-automatics, leaving us only with revolvers to protect ourselves.

I don't know that I agree; I don't know that I don't agree. But I did find it interesting food for thought and decided to share it here, in the event that others might want to weigh on.

 

[damien]

I don't agree with him. The Heller rationale was that common and ordinary guns are protected. Semiautomatics now outsell revolvers 3 to 1. Basing this on the demented rationale of the D.C. city council (the only city out of thousands in the USA that has banned semi-automatic handguns only) seem to be an incredible stretch of the imagination.

Anyway, the city council determined they they were on legal quicksand and reversed the rule your instructor points to. Semi-automatics legal are now legal to register.

http://www.dcexaminer.com/local/Council_eases_DC_gun_laws.html

The D.C. Council adopted emergency legislation Wednesday allowing residents to register semiautomatic handguns and keep the weapons unlocked and loaded in their homes and businesses.

Also, let me note two other phrases from your text:

he's no dummy

the courts will eventually agree and will subsequently outlaw all semi-automatics

If he thinks the courts will outlaw anything, he may be a dummy. The legislature might outlaw semi-automatics, but a court cannot. The courts may be called to determine the constitutionality of the law, but they do not legislate themselves. But again, I think the Heller decision actually puts a great impediment in the way of that, considering how it is written.

 

[44Magnum]

No. A pistol cannot be rightly classified as an automatic because it simply fails to match the definition of an automatic. I realize that wouldn't stop some from trying, but I can't imagine a majority going for it.

Besides, I've never in my life had anything I like become fashionable. Why would that start now?

 

[devilc]

Anything is possible.
Look at a lot of our Latin neighbors to the south.
They may carry but only NON-military calibers.
That is why Glock makes a line of .380 pistols.
Even a lot of fascisti nations have CCW.
75% of the time, all I carry is a SW642.

 

[Rubble]

I'm betting we will see the AWB come back without the sunset clause and I've also heard they'll go after semi-autos.


As far as home protection goes, a revolver is an excellent choice.
It can sit for years without a decay in spring tension and there
is nothing to jam. No safety. No magazine to fall out while your fumbling
half awake.

Just pick it up and start squeezing them off.

 

[heavyshooter]

^ Ditto to what Rubble said. I do not anticipate semi-autos being banned in any way. But I believe that the instructor should still offer the revolver class do to all of the above reasons.

 

[Kind of Blued]

It seems a lot of folks are saying that revolvers are great, and I agree. The point I'd like to make is that having a choice (i.e. freedom) to choose a revolver, or a VZ-61, or a pointy gun-shaped-stick for self-defense, is infinitely better than a default revolver.

 

[MAKster]

Since even anti-gun D.C. has finally acknowledged that Heller protects semi-auto handguns, the likelihood of a ban on semi-auto pistols is zero.

 

[Just Jim]

Since even anti-gun D.C. has finally acknowledged that Heller protects semi-auto handguns, the likelihood of a ban on semi-auto pistols is zero.

No offense here and not a personal attack. I just don't think you understand socialism. You have a right to own the handgun but they will make you lock it up so you can't get to it when you need it.

jj

 

[rocinante]

Damien I did not know about that D.C. city council change regarding semi automatic weapons. Thank you.

To the OP tell your buddy not to quit his day job and go into the prophet business full time.

 

[MAKster]

Switzerland and Israel which everyone loves to proclaim as pro-gun havens are socialist countries. You can also add Finland to that list.

 

[moooose102]

while i do not agree with him, i can certainly see our unfreinds in washington trying to eliminate high capacity magazines for our semiauto pistols. how would you like your 9mm to only have a 5 shot magazine. if they have their way, i can see them trying it. what really agrivates me is, the only people this will affect is the avearge law abiding citizen. the criminals will still have the 15-19 round mags. all the anti's are doing is stacking the odds in the favor of the criminals. WHY CAN THEY NOT SEE THIS?????

 

[hso]

all semi-automatic pistols with magazines are essentially fully automatic firearms.

As Damine points out, and any CCW instructor should have already known, that one's already been hee-hawed out the door.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

Just Jim:

No offense here and not a personal attack. I just don't think you understand socialism. You have a right to own the handgun but they will make you lock it up so you can't get to it when you need it.

IINM, this is one of the aspects covered by the Heller descision, per damien's post:

http://www.dcexaminer.com/local/Coun..._gun_laws.html

Quote:
The D.C. Council adopted emergency legislation Wednesday allowing residents to register semiautomatic handguns and keep the weapons unlocked and loaded in their homes and businesses.

Sam

 

[Just Jim]

Sam,

I have lived too long to believe the socialist are going to let people have guns without severe regulation. Show me a socialist and I will show you a gun grabber. I guess you never heard Obama talk about the constitution being outdated and shouldn't be followed anymore huh???

jj

 

[hso]

We've already established that the instructor the OP based his question on was mistaken/misspoke/misleading and that DC did abandon the attempt to block semiauto handguns after the Heller decision from SCOTUS.

Unfortunately we've also begun to drift.