When You Wish Upon a Star ..., by L. Neil Smith

http://www.lneilsmith.org/wstar-2.html ^ | L. Neil Smith

[tpaine]

Great Writer, great concepts.

[DuncanWaring]

With 750 million firearms -- three quarters of a billion guns -- of modern design in working condition already in private hands in America today,...

Any idea where he came up with this number? It suggests 2-3 weapons for every man, woman and child in the country.

The most common number I've seen is roughly a third of that.

[Hegemony Cricket]

I am a criminal - I do not wear my seatbelt.

[Little Ray]

I got 12 myself...
More than I need, but not as many as I want!

[DuncanWaring]

Same here ... if you don’t count the rimfires.

[Ancesthntr]

The most common number I've seen is roughly a third of that.

I've seen 250 mm to 300 mm as the most likely figure, going up by about 5 mm per year. It ain't 750, but Smith's points still hold. And, better yet, whether its 250 or 750, the tyrant-wannabees still have to visit the bathroom and gobble Tums by the handful when seriously contemplating a ban...as the Founders intended.

I got 12 myself...

More than I need, but not as many as I want!

Different number, same problem. They seem to keep mating in the safe.

[rockinqsranch]

“The future isn’t what it used to be”=Yogi Berra

[MarkL]

Any idea where he came up with this number? It suggests 2-3 weapons for every man, woman and child in the country.

The most common number I've seen is roughly a third of that.

Many of us, right here on FR, willingly take up the slack for those who either can't or won't live up to their responsibility...

As was once quoted here, Q) "how do you know when you have enough guns?"

A) "If someone asks you 'How many guns do you have?' and you don't have to really think it over, you don't have anywhere near enough."

Mark

[Little Ray]

Not really.
Can you imagine a successful insurrection against helicopter gunships and tanks?
Think about it, the only thing we lack to suppress the ‘insurgency’ in Iraq is the will - and Iraqis have assault rifles and RPGs!
Do you think the politicritters would lack will in suppressing folks threatening their power and their lives? They’d do Ruby Ridge and Waco ten thousand times over to preserver their power.

[DuncanWaring]

Can you imagine a successful insurrection against helicopter gunships and tanks?...Do you think the politicritters would lack will in suppressing folks threatening their power and their lives? They’d do Ruby Ridge and Waco ten thousand times over to preserver their power.

After the first few reruns of Ruby Ridge and Waco a lot of those helicopter gunships and tanks would show up on "our" side.

[absolootezer0]

yeah. still simple. 90% of the fighting would be guerilla tactics. it won’t take too long before they have to abandon their tanks and gunships and go on foot.
besides, you don’t think a good portion of the army, faced with the order to kill, american citizens would defect and take their equipment with them? you don’t think there are veterans that are willing and able to take over the controls of any equipment out there?

[DuncanWaring]

Don't forget this classic:

What Good Can A Handgun Do Against An Army?

[6ppc]

It suggests 2-3 weapons for every man, woman and child in the country.

Slackers! ;^)

[6ppc]

They seem to keep mating in the safe.

LOL! Whenever I buy a new one I make sure I leave it in the safe for at least two months before my wife sees it. When she finally I can honestly say "Oh I've had that one for a WHILE!"

[Ignatz]

“The future isn’t what it used to be”-Yogi Berra

"Over it is not until it is" - Yoda Berra

[headsonpikes]

Glad to see you’re still on the right side of history, Dunc!

[Lurker]

I repeat, there wasn't any drug problem -- until your fellow voters, the bureaucrats, and the politicians created a drug problem.

And they manage to make it worse every single year.

L

[DuncanWaring]

When she finally I can honestly say "Oh I've had that one for a WHILE!"

My wife asked me "Why do you need so many rifles?". I asked her "Why do you need so many shoes?"

I actually got away with that one.

[DuncanWaring]

I try to stay on the right side of everything!

[tpaine]

"- I repeat, there wasn't any drug problem -- until your fellow voters, the bureaucrats, and the politicians created a drug problem. -"

And they manage to make it worse every single year.
L

Prohibitionism is a social disease.
I'm always amazed at how many FReepers defend the various types, "- travesties like alcohol Prohibition, business Prohibition, drug Prohibition, or weapon Prohibition. -"