Posted on 01/11/2008 11:51:14 PM PST by epow
Outrage of the Week!
Friday, January 11, 2008
This week's outrage comes courtesy of columnist Bernd Debusmann of Reuters News Service, and an article he recently penned. This story, masquerading as a legitimate news article, might as well be an anti-gun organization's press release. Debusmann premises his piece on the argument that the American gun culture is "fading slowly," that gun ownership is declining, that support for stricter gun controls has been growing steadily, and that those in favor of stricter gun control laws represent a majority of the public. The source for this information is, not surprisingly, Josh Sugarmann of the vehemently anti-gun Violence Policy Center (VPC). And where did Sugarmann get his spurious information? From the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), a group who received grant funding from yet another anti-gun group, the Joyce Foundation.
Contrary to Debusmann's (read: Sugarmann's) assertions, statistics show that the number of privately owned guns is at an all-time high. The number of gun owners is at an all-time high. And the number of states with Right-to-Carry (RTC) laws is also at an all-time high, up from 15 in 1991 to 40 today.
No one should be surprised by an increase in the desire for self-defense following incidents such as 9/11 and the illegal gun confiscations that occurred in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This premise is supported by statistics from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which has noted an increase in the sales of guns, particularly handguns, in recent years.
Support for stricter gun control has also declined, despite Debusmann's claims. Notably, a recent poll by Gallup concluded that support for gun control is declining. And according to a 2007 Zogby poll, 66% of the American voting public rejects the notion that new gun control laws are needed.
None of the above indicates a fading American gun culture. For Debusmann to declare otherwise just doesn't pass the "straight face" test. His claims are not only untrue and laughable, they're outrageous.
An American tradition continues generation after generation!
Cost is also a factor since the SKS is not one of my often used rifles, and I 'm on a very limited gun and shooting budget now that I'm retired.
And it's gonna continue on my property as long as I am physically able and kids are around who want to learn the basics of shooting and will obey the safety rules that MUST me obeyed.
Of course my time here on this ball of dirt is limited by my age, and even if I live on another decade or more some liberal anti-gun president's JBBATFT (Jack-Booted Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Thugs) may cart me away at any time in cuffs and an orange jumpsuit for daring to introduce young skulls full of mush to the pleasures and security benefits of shooting and handling firearms.
BTW, assuming your screen name indicates your military status, thanks for serving our country. I know you weren't dragged kicking and screaming into the Corps, you had to be willing to be in to get in.
Are fundamental human rights, recognized by the constitution, now subject to opinion polling?
That’s just so sick.
Thank you for those most excellent links.
P1ss on the left!
I am not a coward, I once helped a police officer who was being attacked by an intoxicated individual that was trying to take the officer gun from him. I did not have a gun with me at the time, but I had to assist the officer. I did so without hesitation and placed my life in jeopardy. I will not make that mistake again, I will be armed and ready.
Molon Labe
It’s less than 150 feet from my back property line to the curb. Iron sights work just fine for me at that range.
Scopes are useful in most other cases and I have a few rifles mounted with them but it’s better to practice with the ones I plan on using the most - if need be.
It’s interesting to pace of distances around your yard and inside your home. Take those paces to the range and set up some targets. “This one is from the back door to the shed door”, “door by the dining room to the front door” etc.
That's what I have heard from others who have tried that rig. I guess I'll just forget the scope idea, my Chinese wonder weapon is not accurate enough to take advantage of a scope anyway. I do good to bust a water filled 2 liter plastic soda bottle at 100 paces with it, but when I do get lucky the spray of water really excites the kids who are watching.
I'm just slightly on the large side myself, 6'-190 lbs, but I'm also 70 years old with two debilitating diseases and I know that I can no longer physically fight a much younger assailant of almost any size on anywhere near equal terms. I have had a carry permit for the last 10 years, and if I'm ever seriously attacked even by an unarmed but considerably younger attacker I won't waste time and risk my life trying to trade punches, I'll go straight to my weapon and whatever happens next will be up to the attacker.
There are a few advantages to being old and in less than good health. In most cases a jury would not convict me for defending myself or a family member with deadly force against a much younger and more physically able unarmed attacker, and I doubt that a prosecutor would bother trying to put me away if there was credible evidence or testimony that I was under what a normal, rational person would perceive to possibly be a life threatening attack when I resorted to deadly force in self defense. After all, this is GA where the castle doctrine is law, and people have the right to use deadly force in defense of life or limb at any place where they have a right to be.
There are a number if receiver covers for the SKS that come with mounts built in so that the scope sits aft of the bolt and there are several inexpensive ComBloc scopes available. Some are decent, some not
They’re not here in California, of course, as we can’t be trusted with such things here.
Michael Frazier
I like the slogan, the tat is a little big for the old curmudgeon.
I’ll stick with the black panther on my forearm, I got in ‘48 while in the US Navy. ;)
Yes, I know YOU didn't say that. The article said that.
:):):)
The planned massive assault on firearm ownership by many Dems in 1994 was directly responsible for not only the surprise Republican victory in Congress but the avalanche of concealed carry permit procedures in many states. If they want a repeat they will get it.
They’re not here in California, of course, as we can’t be trusted with such things here.
I suppose CA considers the old SKS to be an assault rifle. Simonov designed the SKS in th early years of WWII before the term "assault rifle" was applied to rifles, and as we all know an assault rifle has full auto capability and SKS didn't have that feature from the beginning and never did later on.
But try explaining that to a government bureaucrat or the average man on the street and all you would get is a blank stare. In their minds, and I use that term loosely in the case of bureaucrat, any gun that doesn't have to be broken open and reloaded by hand after every shot is a deadly assault weapon designed only to kill as many people as possible in the shortest length of time.
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