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Volunteer Firefighter to NY Gov. Cuomo: Why I Own an “Assault Rifle”
The Truth About Guns ^ | 10 January, 2013 | Kevin

Posted on 01/11/2013 1:32:16 PM PST by marktwain

I am a 19-year-old volunteer firefighter living in New York. I also own an AR-15 rifle that is ban compliant. This means that I have spent well over a thousand dollars buying and modifying the rifle to make it legal in NY State, something that people in other states with less violent crime do not need to do. My AR-15 is the best home defense weapon possible for me to own in NY. As I am not yet 21, I cannot apply for a permit to purchase a pistol. Even so, I believe that my rifle is perfect for me. I hope I never need to use it to protect myself or those I love, but I know that it is the best possible firearm to do so with. Why does a person need a semi-automatic rifle with a magazine that contains over 10 rounds? It is because it is the best thing available for me to protect myself and my family with. As a firefighter, I feel that all first responders should have the best and most protective gear and tools . . .

Even if I was not a firefighter, didn’t Governor Cuomo say in his State of the State speech that all citizens are first responders? I am the person that goes into your house when it is burning, so why should I not be able to protect myself in the best way possible? A semiautomatic rifle in .223 caliber is the best tool for a citizen to protect oneself at home against a violent person.

Why a semiautomatic rifle? There are several reasons why I believe that a semi-automatic rifle, specifically one in .223 caliber, is the best defensive weapon at home. Here is why:

It has been shown that a rifle shooting .223 is much less likely to cause collateral damage when compared to a shotgun or even a pistol shooting most common calibers. This means that a .223 bullet carries much less energy after going through a wall or window than a pistol bullet or a shotgun pellet. In the event of a missed shot, a .223 rifle is less dangerous than almost any other effective firearm. The round is also fairly small, much smaller than most other common rifle rounds, allowing for a person to easily fire without losing control of the weapon.

Also, because NY State forces law abiding citizens to swap a flash hider for a muzzle brake, my rifle is even more controllable. Basically, a muzzle brake reduces felt recoil and muzzle climb whereas a flash hider reduces the flash when firing, lessening the damage to a person’s vision in darkness. NY outlaws flash hiders. An AR-15 with a muzzle brake is perfect for most people, including women because it has less recoil than a handgun yet is more powerful and safe.

A shotgun has massive recoil and easily goes through walls and kills the people on the other side. A shotgun also fires multiple pellets that spread out when fired, greatly increasing the chances of injuring or killing any people behind the target. The semi-automatic in .223 is safer to use than a pistol or a shotgun.

An AR-15 or other semiautomatic rifle is simply more manageable to use in a house than most other rifles or shotguns. Most AR-15s, such as mine, have 16 inch barrels, and are considerably shorter than a shotgun. My rifle is 36 inches long. Most common shotguns have a barrel length of 26 inches and an overall length of 48 inches. A shorter rifle is much easier to use in a house and has much less area for a violent criminal to grab if attempting to take my weapon from me.

The pistol grip that is commonly pointed at as an evil feature also greatly increases my ability to maintain control over my rifle, both when shooting and in the event of a violent criminal trying to take it from me as I protect those I love. And no, it does not allow for “accurate spray firing from the hip.” Having a pistol grip would make my rifle illegal if the upcoming ban passes.

Why else is a rifle similar to the AR-15 such a superior home defense firearm?

Attachments. The design of an AR-15 allows for a person to mount a staggering variety of attachments to it. For example, my rifle has a holographic sight and a flashlight on it. Both of these things increase the safety of all people near me if I ever needed to protect myself and my family. My sight greatly helps me aim accurately in the dark or in bright sunlight. Most shotguns and many rifles are not able to have optics such as holographic sights mounted, making accurate and safe use in the dark extremely difficult and slow. The flashlight enables me to identify anyone in the dark, completely eliminating the possibility of friendly fire. Once again, most firearms cannot mount a flashlight.

The final advantage is the ability to use a magazine. I can easily check to make sure that I have ammo in my rifle. I can also easily swap for a full magazine if I do not. My magazines, which were rather costly to purchase because of NY ban on “high capacity” magazines produced after 1994 hold 20 rounds.

Why so many? My question to you is: would you rather have more than you need or not enough? Even if all I had were 10 round magazines, the fact that it can accept detachable magazines would ban my home defense weapon if the upcoming ban happens.

I have shot roughly 2500 rounds this year through my rifle and am completely comfortable with it. I have not injured, killed, or threatened anyone with it.

I used my own money to purchase and train with my rifle. I am a firefighter who doesn’t get paid to save people. I use the best possible tools available to protect you and your loved ones in an emergency, so why shouldn’t I be allowed to use the best tools available to protect myself and my loved ones?


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: ar15; assaultrifle; banglist; guncontrol; ny; secondamendment
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To: Conserev1
“ Because I can within the LAW.”

Nuff said!

And when they change the law, what then?

21 posted on 01/11/2013 4:46:57 PM PST by BfloGuy (Money, like chocolate on a hot oven, was melting in the pockets of the people..)
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To: Antihero101607

Good first words... I also applaud this young fire fighter for speaking out and we need more like these youngsters stepping up and calling out these liberal pukes.

I have an Eotech mounted to my Mossberg 590 Breecher loaded to the gills with #4 Buck and a bandelero on station next to it.

I sleep well at night.


22 posted on 01/11/2013 4:49:51 PM PST by eartick (Been to the line in the sand and liked it)
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To: Antihero101607

I’m a trapshooter, at our club the pattern boards have to be changed often and were using 12ga 1oz low brass 7s or 8s from about 13 - 15 yards and the boards are 1/2 inch exterior plywood.
I’m ok with them protecting the inside of my house


23 posted on 01/11/2013 5:10:58 PM PST by reefdiver
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To: marktwain

Cuomo responds: Screw you kid! I don’t give a rat’s ass about you or your rifle!


24 posted on 01/11/2013 5:23:28 PM PST by vette6387
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To: Antihero101607

Welcome to Free Republic. I hope your stay here is an informative and productive one.


25 posted on 01/11/2013 5:29:44 PM PST by Lazamataz (LAZ'S LAW: As an argument with liberals goes on, the probability of being called racist approaches 1)
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To: marktwain

Cuomo the homo.


26 posted on 01/11/2013 6:28:47 PM PST by crosshairs (They are only assault weapons in the hands of tyrannical governments and criminals. Ban both.)
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To: Biggirl
People will simply hid their guns, that is all.

And when they realize what a terrible mistake that was, it'll be too late.


27 posted on 01/11/2013 8:34:03 PM PST by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: wac3rd; NYer; The Mayor; GOPJ; stephenjohnbanker; Grampa Dave; sickoflibs; justiceseeker93; ...
FR Poster Hall of Fame nominee-----deserves a repeat.

"I can’t buy an AK-47 but DHS' Janet Nappy, Holder and Obama were fine giving them to Mexican drug cartels via Fast and Furious. The tyrants want Americans broke, sick and disarmed. ..... monitored, restricted, and in obeisance to their tyranical Govt Ruling Class."

"Obama is a lawless Communist Kenyan Muslim Thug. He cares nothing about our land, our ntl security, our constitution, our borders, our economy, our faith, or our safety. He is truly an anti-American criminal. We will be in POW camps if the 2nd Amendment is revoked."

===================================================

Freeper IbJensen posted: "The Obama regime has constructed an evil, monstrous govt that is the enemy of the people....it is illegitimate and operating far outside the parameters of the Constitution.....this evil entity has built up a support of mentally defective imbeciles---disaffected takers and losers---who look upon the regime as cash-rich Big Daddy."

PARA-MILITARY VOTE-CRAZED DEMOCRATS ARE ON THE MARCH Power-hungry para-military Obama/Democrats w/ patented voter fraud know-how have been empowered by 2012.

PERVERSE CORRUPT DEM THINKING IS REMINSCENT OF THE POST-CIVIL WAR ERA----Carpetbaggers---Northern invaders ----were prominent in Southern politics until 1875, but nearly all left under pressure from paramilitary organizations, then-described in history books as "the military arm of the Democratic Party."

The para-military Obama Dems work openly to violently overthrow established rule......using intimidation and assassination to turn out of office those they could not subjugate.

GENERALISSIMO OBAMA has a litany of remarks about the “invisible and permanent powers-that-be” (Repubs/conservatives) trying to harm a long list of "govt-dependent losers."

================================================

FREEPER ACTION MEMO---In 1875, Hiram Revels, a Mississippi Republican--and the first African-American US Senator-- wrote to then-Pres Ulysses S. Grant denouncing Northern invaders into the post-Civil War south for manipulating the Black vote for personal benefit, and for keeping alive wartime hatreds. (WIKI)

We need to get someone with integrity----like Cong Allen West (not reelected)----- to write letters to his colleagues, and to the media.

Cong West needs to do the following:

(1) decry the agitation and intimidation tactics being used by Obama's thugs,

(2) expose using hatemongering for personal gain,

(3) emphasize the illegalities WRT making threats,

(4) precpitate investigations into fraud and intimidation upon our electoral/legislative system by hate-mongers groups, and,

(5) determine the scope and dimension of subversion these activities are visiting on US ntl security.

28 posted on 01/12/2013 6:33:02 AM PST by Liz
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To: Antihero101607
If a 5-8 round magazine tube of #4 or 00 buck isn’t sufficient... you REALLY need to think about why there are/were so many people coming into your home in the middle of the night.

A Mossberg 500 is a great weapon for home defense. However, the threat is increasing of home invasions with multiple attackers, heavily armed gangs and cartels, and the increasing use of technology like Obamaphones that can gather a large mob of attackers quickly and at a target simultaneously, etc. There is also the probability that some shots you fire either miss or not stop an attacker. You will may well need more capacity than the Mossberg holds. A high capacity magazine fed rifle or pistol gives you not only more immediate firepower but quick reload capability. That is crucial in a fight to help even the already lop-sided odds against you. Remember, the attackers are always going to attack when they feel they have the advantage, not you.

I used to believe that a shotgun with wooden furniture would not be seen as an assault weapon, now I’m not so sure

The British (who have been doing an outstanding job of turning their honest population into helpless rabbits in a barrel) think so. There is no need to assume the people demanding gun control in this country would not go just as far as they and prohibit all firearms in the hands of the free citizenry if they can get away with it.

As fine a weapon as the Mossberg 500 is - and the fact the shotgun has seen effective military use for over 600 years - it does not diminish the fact it is a limited range weapon, not much improved than the British smoothbore muskets used by British regulars during our Revolution. Military technology has moved on. There is little doubt the Founding Fathers intended civilians to be armed with weapons at least as powerful and effective as those carried by a regular military force whom they may have fight and to have the ability to organize and mount an effective resistance to battle any potential tyranny.

As important as the defense of the home is, the Founders were concerned about larger threats, both foreign and domestic, which could enslave our people again if we did not have the means to resist. As the saying goes, the 2nd Amendment is not just about hunting deer. It is also not just about protecting an individual in his private space. It is about keeping our very lives and liberties secure from really BIG threats.

Therefore, modern, military pattern weapons widespread and accessible in the hands of the people is paramount to the survival of the Republic. Today, that would include semi-auto weaponry with high capacity magazines, as well as longer range rifles, first class optics, and even individual body armor. To not have "the best" puts the citizenry at an immediate disadvantage to predatory tyrants with regular armies, trained paramilitary forces, and even armed irregular gangs on their side.

That, of course, is the reason these tyrants want all guns not in their hands or those of their friends banned. It's not about "gun safety" - except insofar as it keeps them safe from effective resistance by an outraged citizenry as they proceed to loot our lives, our liberties, our rights, our property, and put us in the shackles of their own choosing.

That is the elephant in the room both sides are dancing around to avoid mentioning, yet is the main purpose for the 2nd Amendment.

"In a man-to-man fight, the winner is he who has one more round in his magazine" - Erwin Rommel

29 posted on 01/12/2013 8:11:55 AM PST by Gritty (We're gonna punish our enemies and weÂ’re gonna reward our friends - Barack Hussein Obama)
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To: Antihero101607
If a 5-8 round magazine tube of #4 or 00 buck isn’t sufficient for the job at hand, if there is enough of a threat to merit high capacity magazines especially in an HD situation, you REALLY need to think about why there are/were so many people coming into your home in the middle of the night.

Meh. I'll leave the speculation to you, and keep my 30 (and 60) round mags.

What Special operations units use 12ga shotguns for CQB?

30 posted on 01/12/2013 8:26:57 AM PST by Trailerpark Badass (So?)
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To: marktwain; Travis McGee; Godzilla; wardaddy; Squantos; Criminal Number 18F; Joe Brower; neverdem; ..
I saw the interview and while Piers was his normal inane self and Shapiro put forth a valiant effort, IMHO, he did a lot of damage that furthered the misperceptions of reality. He kept admitting the rifle used was an "Assault Weapon," which it clearly is NOT. There should have been more done by way of definitions and nomenclature as well as some side by side comparisons of available firearms.

As we all know the single sharp and defining feature that clearly identifies a TRUE "assault rifle" is that little three position selector switch resting on the left side of most standard American battle rifles we call the selector switch. The position lying to the extreme left of the range of movement is marked "safe," where the firearm cannot discharge. The vertical position is marked "semi" and here it aligns with the civilian AR platform. Here, every single pull of the trigger results in a single projectile exiting the muzzle, just like every single civilian firearm made. The position to the extreme right is marked "full," and this is the feature that indeed makes it a true "assault rifle." The ability to discharge the contents of the magazine with a single pull of the trigger without pause. A machine-gun.

That brings up the follow up point. Machine-guns are not banned for use in this country. All that is required is the payment of a tax and an extensive background check by the ATF and depending on whether you have a trust document you may need the signature of a senior law enforcement official. In any case in all the time since these firearms were controlled in this manner, GCA 1936?? Can't recall specific year.

Anyway in all that time only ONE holder of a lawfully owned and documented full automatic was ever convicted of using that weapon in criminal fashion and he was a law enforcement officer who had access to full auto weaponry anyway. Pretty good way of showing that the issues here aren't the firepower.

These are the points that should be made anytime the liberal left tries to assert their emotionally charged hysteria into the public discourse. Truth and specificity have to be our watchwords.

31 posted on 01/12/2013 10:01:27 AM PST by ExSoldier (Stand up and be counted... OR LINE UP AND BE NUMBERED...)
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To: ExSoldier
Please share with your liberal friends.


32 posted on 01/12/2013 10:05:02 AM PST by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: BfloGuy

Then I guess you would just have to have a little deceit in your life and grow some balls or become one of the lemmings!
That’s what!


33 posted on 01/12/2013 4:21:21 PM PST by Conserev1
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