The disagreement: China is improving their power projection faster than you seem to be aware: they have four carriers in operation or very soon to be in operation, including two large deck carriers. While they would be under water almost instantaneously if they dared go after us while our nation command authority is in action, they would be dangerous if we had a societal meltdown. China, you may be aware, currently controls the Panama Canal, thanks to the generosity of Jimma Carter.
So a full-on Civil War is dangerous to us because the major threat powers - and the UN - would be quick to intervene in their own special ways if the US Government evaporates.
The only other credible scenario that I can think of is a partial melt where gangs run raids into good neighborhoods to steal and play with the inhabitants. While we have the Second Amendment, most of even the gangs with members with the IQs of tap water would understand that they would face a fusillade before they reached the first speed bump on our streets.
I am happy that you enjoy your ARs - but I am a Vietnam combat vet and I have a lot of bad experience with the M16 platform because aluminum batters easily, the chamber is inaccessible from the outside, and mud and sand can still jam that puppy up. Trust me.
M14/M1As are long and heavy but go off every time you pull the trigger - and kill reliably - no matter what. Not only that, if you wish to restrain rather than obliterate, that wood stock is quite effective. As I said earlier, 7.62 NATO punches through almost anything with lots of energy to spare.
I have a buddy who also served in Vietnam but in the army. He debated me once about the M16/M14 in Vietnam and told me "the M14 was too heavy for Vietnam". I told him that I wished that he told me while he was there so "I could have sent him a big, strong Marine to hold the rifle up for him". He hasn't spoken much to me since then...
And you as well sir. I would have quoted specific lines in my comment below but I cannot figure out how to do so.
Hah! I bet your friend was a little peeved after that :D I have read about the issues of the M16 in Vietnam and can imagine your hesitancy with the platform. Using that frame of reference I would probably agree with you. I personally plan to run a few setups - AR15, AR10, and AK47. For the latter, if our advesaries do step foot on the US, there will be plenty of spare parts and mags to be had :)
I am tangentially aware of China’s current capabilities but I don’t know if 1) that is enough of what they need to project power egfectively enough, and 2) if at this point they have any desire to do so. Recently a Chinese Admiral said that the best way to defeat the US was to sink two carriers in the South China Sea and they have the anti-ship missiles and hypersonic weapon systems to do so. They said that given that loss of men, the US public will turn against conflict. I think their view is that there is no need to do by force what we are doing through bad economic decisions and emerging cultural faultlines. Thus, I don’t think they risk open conflict.
So we definitely agree about their danger during a societal breakdown but I thing we just differ on the details. I find it had to imagine that they have the ability to maintain those supply lines for that distance, and even with a societal breakdown I think it is too dangerous for them. They are certainly targeting the continental US for propaganda though - American Partisan reported on them buying a radio station right across the Southern Border in Mexico for what can only be assumed as a “Voice of China” style broadcast center. And the Panama Canal piece is why I hate Carter. Now if we get hit with an EMP/cyber attack first, they only have to wait a year for most to die off and then they can sweep right in.
As for your other scenario, I question whether they would realize the danger or if bravado and ego step in and they think they are the baddest mfers in the area. Having a Community Defense Force would help deter them, but I think in a partial breakdown of civil society this may be the more common threat. I don’t believe we will see a full on Civil War but rather a Low Intensity Conflict and Insurgency between radical communist ANTIFA types and the right wing groups. If the $$ and supplies stop flowing though, systems disruptions will take the tinderbox that society currently is and ignite it.
Then again, who the heck knows what is going to happen. For me, I intend on plodding along with food stores and other supplies as I fervently hope none of it comes to fruition. I pray what I fear is coming does NOT come to pass, but I will be as ready as I can be if it does.
Appreciate the chat. I am always open to new viewpoints as it feeds into the brain and helps me either soldify or tweak my positions.