Posted on 06/03/2010 5:20:05 AM PDT by marktwain
A pistol is only good for fighting you way to a rifle.
Its a common quote, often attributed to Jeff Cooper and other well-known tactical experts.
In todays increasingly complex battlefield, and in times of economic collapse and the shrinking legitimacy of the state, we often find that rules of thumb once taken for granted have been turned upside down. Perhaps its time we reconsider the tactical utility of pistols.
Perhaps the biggest fallacy held among modern patriots, militia groups and survivalists is the idea of SHTF. This isnt to say there wont ever be SHTF type situations, but the idea that one day everything is going to be perfectly normal and the next day life is utter chaos its just not going to happen.
Those in government are usually too smart for that. Even when the whole rotten system is collapsing around them, they are pretty good at finding ways to keep things seeming normal for just a little longer to stay in power.
A survivor of the Argentine economic collapse, Fernando FerFAL Aguirre, wrote all about his experiences on various internet forums and blogs. He eventually published a book and has his own blog. He describes what its like to live in an economic collapse, and how in some ways life goes on while in other ways it doesnt.
Much of what survivalists in the states believe is turned on its head by his experiences.
Some of what he shared sheds a lot of light on the pistol vs. rifle argument:
(Excerpt) Read more at itakeliberty.com ...
Great picture of Frank! I think that the closest I ever saw him come to taking aim with his trusty sidearm.
There's a time and place for every type of weapon.
"The people" should have exercised their second amendment rights at that point and dispatched the errant 'authorities'. The had no right, NO RIGHT to confiscate weapons from the general public. Period.
""...being necessary for the security of the FREE STATE, the Right to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.""
The had no right, NO RIGHT to confiscate weapons from the general public. Period.
####
I agree and so does the Supreme Court. However, facing large groups of armed solders, U.S. Marshals, state or local police, few people are willing to die defending their freedom.
One of the worst parts of that whole affair is that after the Supremes ruled, the Justice Department didnt charge anyone with violating the federal law against violating peoples civil rights under color of law. Nobody was ever brought to justice for those crimes.
“Perhaps the biggest fallacy held among modern patriots, militia groups and survivalists is the idea of SHTF. This isnt to say there wont ever be SHTF type situations, but the idea that one day everything is going to be perfectly normal and the next day life is utter chaos its just not going to happen.
Those in government are usually too smart for that. Even when the whole rotten system is collapsing around them, they are pretty good at finding ways to keep things seeming normal for just a little longer to stay in power.”
But that is foolish thinking, imo. The gov’t is too smart for chaos to break out? The crap won’t hit the fan? The failure will be gradual?
No one knows this, especially with the present admin and congress.
A handgun certainly has it’s uses when the failure hits, but it’s not a rifle. Rifles are rifles, and pistols are pistols. You don’t ever want to wish you had a rifle.
If you know there is going to be a gun fight, always bring a decent rifle with you, even if you have a handgun with you already.
If they got within pistol range of me, I did something wrong, imo.
Your evident sarcasm is noted. ;-)
The Israeli naval commando boarding party thought non-lethal paintball guns were the way to go too. They ended up using pistols and live ammunition to take their assailants down.
bookBUMP
During WW2 we air dropped a small single shot .45 to the resistance with about 10 rounds each. It was called the Liberator FP-45. The idea was Frenchy would slide up to a Nazi, pop one off close range and take his rifle and ammo. So the pistol is used to fight your way to the rifle.
Did you know that William Conrad, the author who played detective Frank Cannon was the voice of Marshall Matt Dillon on the old “Gunsmoke” radio show long ago?
I have heard a replay on the radio of an interview Conrad did once in which he talked about an amazing blooper he made on “Gunsmoke”. Marshall Dillon was talking with a hangman and he was supposed to say, “I can always tell when a man has been hanged by you because he is so well hanged.” Instead he said, “I can always tell when a man has been hanged by you because he is so well HUNG.”
The point of the guy in the article is that, even in a SHTF scenario, we will not descend into "Mad Max / Thunderdome" anarchy all at once. There will be a period of greatly increasing street crime. It will be a period where you will probably still be going to work and to the store, but in an environment where you may be ambushed by muggers.
In such an environment, you are not going to be going to work with a slung battle rifle. You would be going about your business with a concealed pistol, and maybe something heavier in your vehicle.
And marks you as the FIRST person that needs to be taken down.
Pulse rifle in the 40 Mw range.
Always use the right tool for the job. Always have enough tools on-hand to do a variety of jobs.
Back in those days, if you called someone gay, it only meant they were happy. Society and those who want to get a laugh or say things to one person so others can't really understand what they are talking about have completely twisted our language around to a point where you can get in trouble for saying something that was perfectly innocent 40 years ago. About 10 years ago, a white gay man who worked for the District of Columbia was on break with some black women. He cleverly decided to use the word "Niggardly" while talking about spending cut backs. The black women didn't understand him since it was a term that had not been used due to it's sound since Civil Rights, and before the week was over had him fired. In a matter of months, he successfully sued D.C. for millions of dollars for firing him for the use of a word that had a harmless meaning... Personally, I think the "burning ember" knew what he was doing all along.
I won’t what?
I know for certain that if there is anarchy, such as after major riots or a CAT5 hurricane, and I’m in a gunfight to protect me and mine with only a pistol, I will indeed wish I had a decent rifle.
With a rifle in your hand, the bad guys are going to need a lot better cover...and they’ll need to be a lot farther away, if they don’t want extra holes in them.
Many things which provide cover for a 9mm pistol round, do not provide cover at all for rifle rounds.
The idea that anarchy won’t happen quickly is foolish, imo. Anyone over thirty has seen it happen quickly.
Good points.
The collapse, if it happens, will be less Mad Max and more down town Detroit.
My mother quoted a movie to me once.
Once.
Thanks! With a lot of help from my friends, as the Beatles used to say! ;-)
FerFAL
The Terminator: Phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range.
Pawn Shop Clerk: Hey, just what you see pal.
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