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How big a Gun does Anyone Need?
American Thinker ^ | January 17, 2013 | Gary Henderson

Posted on 01/17/2013 8:29:38 PM PST by neverdem

The public discourse suddenly swirls angrily around this issue: How big a gun should people be allowed to own, with how many bullets? Despite all the furor, the question has a very simple answer. But it's the wrong question.

Even those who routinely carry a concealed weapon, and certainly many who don't, wrestle with the question, "How much firepower does anyone need?" Perhaps those who don't own weapons think the answer should be very close to zero. Those who know that many times each year violent attacks are stopped when someone simply shows a weapon understand that self-defense tools are legitimate and necessary, but still worry about where the line should be above that level.

Legislators are hurriedly drafting a variety of bills to answer the question, phrasing them in terms of how evil a weapon looks, whether it automatically chambers the next shell for you, and how many cartridges it can feed. For those more knowledgeable about guns, the real concern is with things far beyond the personal defense category: rocket-propelled grenades, for example, the sort of things jihadists bring to a party at the U.S. embassy.

Here are some simple, foundational ideas to help sort it out.

The first principle is that the federal government has no constitutional say whatsoever in the size or quantity of weapons maintained by the people -- because that very government is the most dangerous person in the room. The Second Amendment has one purpose: to ensure that "we the people" can withstand a tyrannical government, for perhaps the first time in history. The writings of James Madison (Federalist #46), among others, make that abundantly clear...

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: banglist; guncontrol; secondamendment
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To: neverdem

As soon as you respond to the troll “Why do you need...” you’ve lost right there. No different than the old “When did you stop abusing your wife?”

My response is: “Why the hell are you to define what I need and don’t need? Let’s go over to your house and *I’ll* decide what *you* don’t need and take it off your hands. How does that sound?”


61 posted on 01/17/2013 11:34:53 PM PST by expat1000
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To: varmintman

There is tons of interesting things we can get from military surplus websites including an old british destroyer.

About the nuclear weapons and chemical weapons, much of the government owns patents on, therefore I highly doubt we would be able to simply buy develop on our own. However, owning a howitzers, tanks, attack helos, air bombers with the bombs should not really be banned. It does get to a point to where of economics about what is most effective for a citizen to maintain. As far as being able to train on these, that is another dilema in itself. You would have to have a 200,000 acre ranch in Wyoming or something.

One thing people need to remind themselves though, what was the British army marching to Concord for? So when they ask stupid questions like “What do you need these guns for?”. They should think about this.


62 posted on 01/18/2013 3:04:20 AM PST by castlegreyskull
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To: varmintman

There is tons of interesting things we can get from military surplus websites including an old british destroyer.

About the nuclear weapons and chemical weapons, much of the government owns patents on, therefore I highly doubt we would be able to simply buy develop on our own. However, owning a howitzers, tanks, attack helos, air bombers with the bombs should not really be banned. It does get to a point to where of economics about what is most effective for a citizen to maintain. As far as being able to train on these, that is another dilema in itself. You would have to have a 200,000 acre ranch in Wyoming or something.

One thing people need to remind themselves though, what was the British army marching to Concord for? So when they ask stupid questions like “What do you need these guns for?”. They should think about this.


63 posted on 01/18/2013 3:08:21 AM PST by castlegreyskull
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To: varmintman
Are we less trustworthy than AQ??

I liked your point up until the end. I do not give a rat's ass what government trusts me with. They are not my momma. If government trust is the test, then we are all subject to the whims and supposed fears of Nancy Pelosi and Sheila Jackson Lee. Noooo thanks!

64 posted on 01/18/2013 3:15:05 AM PST by Teacher317 ('Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss.)
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To: cripplecreek

Hmmm....drum AND belt magazines. A bit hard to conceal, though.


65 posted on 01/18/2013 3:53:26 AM PST by Wonder Warthog
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To: castlegreyskull

>>One thing people need to remind themselves though, what was the British army marching to Concord for?

I find that Liberals shilling for gun civil rights infringements have no idea whatsoever.


66 posted on 01/18/2013 3:54:53 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: glock rocks
Just what is the implication here?.. my answer: Bigger than your women are used to, little man.

Insulting and mocking leftists is the way to go. A remarkable amount of leftism is nothing more than size envy, not just the size of your gun, but soft drink, hamburger, salt shaker, family, car, house. Envy is a side effect of vanity. Leftists are extremely vulnerable to insults, but conservatives are often too polite to use them.

67 posted on 01/18/2013 4:06:12 AM PST by Reeses
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To: FreedomPoster

“I find that Liberals shilling for gun civil rights infringements have no idea whatsoever.”

Sometimes I don’t think they really see it as a civil right at all. They see people who own guns as obama would call them as “bitter clingers”. They have their stereotypes of who owns guns and they want to do what it takes to make them as unhappy as they are. They do not look at it as a liberty issue. They will say things like well the Constitution was written in another time when we had Indians on the frontier. You heard it all.

However, I really think the sole reason why most liberals applaud this, is because they see it as a victory over Republicans and Conservatives nothing more. They really don’t consider the possibility that one day the TSA/FEMA army will be storming through their neighborhood rounding up party agitators and they might accidentitally be thrown into the box truck with the other “bitter clingers”. Or while this is happening they attempt to run for shelter to the last known person in their neighborhood with an “assualt rifle”. At that time it will be defined as a “Rider BB gun” with 5 pellets.


68 posted on 01/18/2013 4:17:42 AM PST by castlegreyskull
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To: neverdem

AS BIG OF A GUN AS ONE WISHES TO PURCHASE!


69 posted on 01/18/2013 4:51:34 AM PST by LibLieSlayer (FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!)
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To: neverdem
"How much firepower does anyone need?"

Currently, the question is how much firepower can I conceal. Once we get Open Carry this .32 will live out its life in my sock drawer and I'll carry my Ranch Hand .45 Colt. It only holds 7 rounds but they are 300gr @ 1050 fps so the need to Double Tap drops making an effective mag of 14.

"How much firepower does anyone need?"

When asked why he carried a .45 the old Texas Ranger said "Because the don't make a .46."

I can tow a 75mm Pack Howitzer behind my car but it would affect the Harly's handling too much.

70 posted on 01/18/2013 4:51:44 AM PST by Feckless (I was trained by the US << This Tagline Censored by FR >> ain't that irOnic?)
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To: mylife
Does a Woman NEED a 10 carat diamond ring to symbolize a union when a cigar band will suffice?

Do Dolly Parton and Bubbles LaRue really need them monster breasts?

71 posted on 01/18/2013 5:21:53 AM PST by trebb (Allies no longer trust us. Enemies no longer fear us.)
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To: mylife

Does Bill Gates or Warren Buffett NEED a house bigger than 2500 square feet? Do they NEED more than ten million dollars? Does Obama NEED a vacation a month? Do I NEED the damned federal government to stay in its freakin’ cage and leave me the hell alone? Damned straight I do, I need it like roses need rain, like squirrels need nuts etc. etc. etc.


72 posted on 01/18/2013 5:33:04 AM PST by RipSawyer (I was born on Earth, what planet is this?)
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To: Rebelbase

So...THAT is Henry, right? He probably just finished feeding the hogs.


73 posted on 01/18/2013 5:36:46 AM PST by RipSawyer (I was born on Earth, what planet is this?)
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To: castlegreyskull

“They have their stereotypes of who owns guns and they want to do what it takes to make them as unhappy as they are.”
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

That is it!!!!! I can’t recall ever knowing a real second amendment opponent who seemed capable of even the slightest enjoyment of just being alive. I on the other hand sometimes am grouchy and grumpy but I can appreciate the wonder of just being alive. I can watch a Bluebird in my yard and enjoy the experience more than a grouch like Obama can ever enjoy anything. Any picture of him where he seems to be smiling is more of an actual grimace or a look of arrogance, pride, scorn etc. I don’t recall ever seeing a picture where he looked like someone I would want within ten miles of me.


74 posted on 01/18/2013 5:56:12 AM PST by RipSawyer (I was born on Earth, what planet is this?)
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To: neverdem

             

75 posted on 01/18/2013 5:58:28 AM PST by tomkat ( .. shall NOT be infringed)
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To: MasterGunner01
BTW, did anyone know there are no laws regulating or prohibiting flamethrowers? Nothing says “stopping power” like a squirt of 2,200 degree Fahrenheit flaming jellied gasoline.

I once saw someone light up a can of starting fluid (ether) with a $0.79 Bic lighter. 10 foot diameter fireball.

76 posted on 01/18/2013 5:59:45 AM PST by Disambiguator (Gun ownership is pro-life.)
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To: yadent

“At the very minimum, whatever law enforcement possesses. After all, they are dealing with same unsavory citizens you and I have to live amongst. Plus ordinary folk have NO right to police protection.”

Well, you did use the words “at the very minimum”. So, guess you’re off the hook, sorta :)

Sadly, most police forces have gone to the 9mm for standard issue which is marginal at best for knock down/ killing power. However, it’s redeeming quality is that it’s easier to shoot by females and casual shooter which is the category most uniformed police fall in. And, being the first criteria of a shoot out is to hit the target, the 9mm gives these folks the best chance. And, that it will hold around 15 rounds as compared to say a 1911 which holds only 7 rounds. Just FYI, I am old school and carry some sort of 1911 variation most of the time. But, I am guilty of dropping my little Pocketlite 380 in my pocket from time to time, lol :)


77 posted on 01/18/2013 6:14:41 AM PST by snoringbear (E.oGovernment is the Pimp,)
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To: Psycho_Bunny

It is a right, not a need. It is as simple as that!


78 posted on 01/18/2013 6:19:42 AM PST by Revolutionary ("Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!")
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To: neverdem

.88 Magnum.

Left-hand Gun of Navarone.

Something big enough to shoot school buses into orbit.

“Planet-smasher superlaser” for my new Death Star.

That’d be a good start.


79 posted on 01/18/2013 6:24:45 AM PST by Dead Corpse (I will not comply.)
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To: neverdem

Dunno. I keep feeling the need for a 20mm anti-tank rifle, myself, say a Lahti. Or maybe a 14.5mm PTRS-41.


80 posted on 01/18/2013 6:31:46 AM PST by Little Ray (Waiting for the return of the Gods of the Copybook Headings.)
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