Moms Unleash Their Anguish, Anger; Thousands March to End Gun Violence, Renew Assault Weapons Ban

WashingtonPost ^

[Pikamax]

Moms Unleash Their Anguish, Anger Thousands March to End Gun Violence, Renew Assault Weapons Ban

By Eric Rich and Theola Labbé Washington Post Staff Writers Monday, May 10, 2004; Page B01

Several thousand people, most of them women, gathered on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol yesterday for the largest gun-control demonstration in four years, a loud and calculated effort aimed at forcing President Bush to renew the soon-to-expire federal ban on assault weapons.

The rally lacked the star power, and certainly the numbers, of the first Million Mom March in 2000, when hundreds of thousands of women flooded the Mall on Mother's Day. Organizers this time put the crowd at close to 3,000, a figure that could not be confirmed because police no longer estimate crowd sizes.

But the smaller turnout was expected, organizers said, and sufficient to kick off a nationwide campaign aimed at renewing the ban before it expires Sept. 13. The moms, who have joined with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, hope public pressure will force Bush to stand by campaign pledges supporting the extension of the popular ban.

[Nateman]

Notice at how the RAT mouthpieces are not turning up the volume on this story? It's because Gun Control made them lose congress and now they realize it!

[Squantos]

Inside of a home the pattern on a shotgun is about 2 inches at normal small home ranges of 6 to 20 feet. A longer barreled rifle or shotgun can be wrestled from you a lot easier with leverage .

I'm not sure of you depth perception problem being medical or not or just a comment as to your perception of your own ability.

That aside EAA makes a very good double barrel 20 gauge shotgun called the bounty hunter II that is very short (legal) and easy to handle and load and gives you 2 shots. A small stock sock of 6 rounds of spare ammo fits easily and is a fine home defense rig.

No bells , buttons or complex levers to learn or pump just KISS defense tool.

Hope I helped ya ......Stay Safe !

[Fiddlstix]

Bang

[Lion Den Dan]

what kind of gun would makes sense

Ma'am, the solution is to pick one and buy it. If you are not pleased or it is not quite right or not right for the occasion, buy another one. You usually don't have just one pair of shoes, no reason to have just one gun.

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

Never ceases to amaze me how no one blames an automobile that a drunk was driving, but they sure will blame a gun.

[Morgan's Raider]

Hey, Dan! Don't see ya posting much lately, or maybe i'm just reading the wrong threads. When are you gonna have another ammo-burning, summer-sausage eating gathering up to the farm?

[Travis McGee]

Only well-trained and trustworthy police and military units need these weapons of war!

[GoLightly]

Thank you so much for your help!! A shorter weapon makes a lot of sense. Why double barrel, rather than a semi-automatic? Price? A limit on the lengths they're made? The KISS deal?

Last time I used any firearm was over 20 years ago & I had trouble hitting a tin can about 30 feet away with a shotgun. Hitting it with a 22 was out of the question.

When I look at an eye chart to check for depth perception, I just don't have any. Glasses don't seem to help, though one would think they should. I have never been able to see something closer or farther away on any eye chart I've ever looked at. Something has to be far enough away for me to gage the size of the thing as being smaller or I wouldn't be able to tell. I overcompensate distances when I drive. IOW, I sit at stop signs when I'm not sure an oncoming car is far, far away. That always makes me popular with anyone unfortunate to be stuck behind me at a stop sign. lol

[TheLion]

"Never ceases to amaze me how no one blames an automobile that a drunk was driving, but they sure will blame a gun."

We kill over 40,000 per year on the roads.....damn things should be banned!

[Lion Den Dan]

I fear the festivities are over for this place as I sold it. Did not do an event in 03 as we were in the selling business and in 04 it was gone. We still live on it until 06.

We bought a ranch in western ND and will initiate festivities there in 07 on a grand scale. Stay in touch.

[GoLightly]

I hate to tell ya, but I *hate* buying shoes.

[Squantos]

KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid as when your scared or angered the KISS principle is best for manipulating anything under stress thus the reason a double barrel break open shotgun vs a pump or semi-auto shotgun which are just not as simple for the novice shooter to handle.

If you plan to train and or practice a lot then a pump or semi-automatic is fine but for a simple no bells or whistles scattergun the EAA Bounty Hunter II in 20 gauge will give you 2 quick shots, low recoil and with a #5 turkey shot load will not get ya sued by the neighbors for making a new hole in both sides of their home if ya have to shoot while inside "your" home.

About 280 to 350$'s for the double barreled shotgun. Easier to operate as ya push a lever, the barrels will break open , drop in 2 rounds of ammunition, close it and push the safety to fire position and yer ready to pull one or both triggers to defend yer casa......

Shotguns have a barrel lenght legal limit for the average everyday user of 18 inches. The overall lenght of any shotgun or rifle right now must be 26 inches or longer I believe based on ATF current rules.

Hope I helped with so stuff you understand. Ask if ya don't.

Stay Safe !

[HiTech RedNeck]

I register near zero on depth perception tests but that does not create a problem with close calls in traffic, because I visualize it as how the vehicle is progressing along the length of the road rather than how "far away" it is.

But anyhow for targets, why should depth perception matter unless you're so far away that the drop of the projectile is a serious factor (it won't be at distances inside a normal home).

[KneelBeforeZod]

meanwhile, women outside San Francisco are gearing up

SP-101?

[GoLightly]

Practice would be mandatory, no matter what I get. If you're gonna do something, do it right or don't bother. I can't remember having too many problems learning how to operate my ex's semi-automatic, though as I said, it's been a long time. Bet if I ask my Pa to go shopping with me, he'll have one around for me to use.

[Ichneumon]

Okay, what the heck's up with her expression?

[GoLightly]

You're right about gaging traffic that way. In traffic going slower city or town speeds, it's never been any kind of problem. Start getting into country, freeway speeds, I'll wait if I'm not sure.

Don't know why it should make a difference in shooting. It's the only reason I could think of to explain why I'm such a lousy shot. lol I guess I'll have to get myself to a range to find out.

[PoorMuttly]

"this Mom spent a portion of this day pondering what kind of gun would makes sense for me"...

I applaud this...as it deals with the reality of common survival...not lots of fancy words, and political points-grabbing spin B.S.

: there is NO question that the facts are IN...and modern-day America says that that the ".357 Revolver" is the proven, hands-down favorite for personal self-defense. Period.

Period.

As a professional handgun-carrier for over 30 years, I pull no strings. I carry a 9mm single-action Browning every day of my life...and it has proved itself my reliable representative many times...but I judge it against the .357 in my heart and mind...as the Benchmark of effectiveness, and reliability. I have opted for shot-capacity...a Military requirement...11 shots, then a quick reload...and absolute reliability to feed anything called "9mm"...that I can find...= My Gun. Note that I am not considering the .45 ACP. The superior .45ACP hits harder up close...but does not reach the longer range, flatter-shooting, deeper-penetrating, more rifle-like 9mm. Were it not for my personal "desire" to penetrate auto glass, doors, grilles, walls, "whatever"...and cause serious trouble "across the street"...I would use the .45ACP. The 10mm and .45Colt certainly do the job better...but are unusual. Now take note :

The .357 will "do the job" at any reasonable pistol range you can connect with....and the 9mm will hit there with a lighter bullet...but more often, if you pull the trigger enough times. Are you willing to do this....pound the hell out of your assailant until he hits the ground crumpled and helpless...?...or do you want to shoot and stop. The .357 works. The 9mm is "marginal". Do not dream. The 9mm is small (weak) compared to a .357 or even +P.38 from a 4" barrel. Ask any Cowboy. They know. Carry a .45ACP or .45Colt if you can...first choice. It is THE "stopper," which is the whole point. But what is made..offered....BIG .45's....and SMALL .357's. There.

You want a small, naturally-pointing, simple, reliable gun. You grab it, point, and it shoots where you're looking...and hits with enough punch that the story's over.

.357.

---

I travel in "bear country." I carry a .44 then, as a compromise between stopping power and "social" punch....like the .357/9mm with more punch...but if expecting more "social" entanglements...choose a .357 with HEAVY bullets...158...170...180 gr. soft points or lead...and feel "well armed," even with a short barrel. In fact...the shorter the barrel...the heavier the bullet I use..and it hits like an anvil. So .357 is "it". You will NOT go wrong.

Get a snubbie .357.

If you want a "Defense/Survival/War handgun....get an "L-Frame" S&W revolver..a 7-shot life-saving machine..

It shoots as fast as an auto...but inherits the "six-for-sure" reputation...and is an intuitive mechanism. "You will know what to do". For handloaders..the L-frame has a longer cylinder than the N....44 cylinder...so heavier bullets can be loaded in it....a real cannon.

Get a .357. Stop messing around. Wake up from a dead sleep...and you'll know how to shoot it.

When I have to sleep on a "Security Job," I use a REVOLVER....and most times it it a .357 Magnum. Waking up to a complicated mechanism is a pleasure I would like to spare you from. Get a Revolver. Period. This is from a PROFESSIONAL "Automatic" man. "Six for sure" is a big statement. Hear it.


[so, Muttly...what have you told this nice person...?]...other than the M1911 .45ACP WWI/II pistol is the best choice...but REAL BIG...and not what this Lady wants.....

...get a Smith & Wesson (or equivalent, they tell me) .357 Chief's Special...............or an "L-Frame" fightin' gun.

BEST if you buy a SQUARE-Butt CHIEF...and if you get a 3 to 3 1/2" barrel...all the better ! Make NO mistake...the SQUARE BUTT shoots better, points better, draws better...saves your life better...than any "bananna-grip"...! They conceal better...but the square-butt SHOOTS !

[PoorMuttly]

Ping, compatriots !

"Cut through the complexity" advice needed here.

A great opportunity to man the Bully Pulpit and give some straight-shootin' simple guidance, from proven experiance.


[BTW...this is the same advice I gave my Mom]

[GoLightly]

If I found I could hit anything from a reasonable distance, I'd love to go with a handgun. I'm not sure I could. Guess I won't know until I try.