There’s a commercial that plays locally on the radio which I’ve heard a number of times but never really listened to. Yesterday I finally listened to it, and something caught my attention.
“…ARs, AKs, and truckloads of ammo…”
I’m not really sure what came after that, because I was busy calling moving companies to get me as far away from this state as humanly possible. I’m thinking Quebec would be a nice spot.
The second amendment is a bit murky with the all the commas and dependent clauses, but I think there’s one thing we can agree on: none of us needs an AR-15. What legitimate purpose is there, outside of mercenaries and soldiers, for a fully automatic assault rifle? I can’t even think of a joke, because it’s so out there.
Handguns and rifles can be easily seen as defensive weapons. There’s nothing defensive about an uzi.
Andrew Thomas
They aren’t fully auto. Full autos are illegal. The AR-15 is a semi-auto rifle.
Michael
Andrew,
The AR-15 is indeed a semi-automatic, just like many .22 rifles and any number of shotguns.
However, fully automatic weapons are not illegal, just insanely expensive (over $10,0000) and encumbered with additional paperwork, fees, background checking and fingerprinting. By law, civilians may not own or transfer fully-automatic weapons which were not registered before May 19, 1986.
More from authorGreg
Let’s correct factual errors before continuing to the philosophical errors.
As, Andrew said, an AR-15 is a semi-auto rifle. He is wrong that fully automatic weapons are illegal, but they are so restricted as to be basically inaccessible to the common man. The supply of fully automatic weapons has been closed, so the only ones available are those already registered and taxed under NFA ‘34, GCA ‘68, & Volkner-McClure ‘86. We can get into the wrongness and history of these laws and racist nature of state laws at another time.
The idea that you should only own or buy what you “need” would offend many people. I didn’t “need” the filet mignon I ate this weekend, because ground beef would do. You don’t “need” a corvette when a Ford Focus would do. Further, I owe no one a legitimate purpose for what I buy or own so long as I don’t violate their rights, but if you insist I do, then please google “Bonus Army” and the “Battle of Athens, TN” so that you will have examples of those w/ and those w/o arms to examine. If protecting yourself from the govt. isn’t your cup of tea, but only self defense is reason enough, then it might serve to know that a handgun is a tool to allow you to get to your rifle, which is a more effective weapon to defend yourself with.
“People who object to [privately-owned] weapons aren’t abolishing violence, they’re begging for rule by brute force, when the biggest, strongest animals among men were always automatically ‘right.’ Guns ended that, and social democracy is a hollow farce without an armed populace to make it work.” – L. Neil Smith
Alison
“Handguns and rifles can be easily seen as defensive weapons. There’s nothing defensive about an uzi.”
If I have to defend myself, why should I apologize for what weapon I use?
Charles
If the government ever comes to my door, I’ll be calling all of you over.
I was wrong about the semi-/fully-auto statement. Thanks for filling me in.
I’ve got no problem with people owning guns. I’ve got no problem with uzis. I don’t think guns cause violent crime.
I also don’t think that we should only be limited in our purchases to things we “need”. That was rhetorical flourish. But this commercial wasn’t about defense. The tone of the ad was more flippant than ads about shoe inserts and fixing cats.
Do we have the right to own weapons? Yes. Do they have to be for the express purpose of defending ourselves? No. Is it reasonable to be disgusted by a gun commercial that could have just as easily been for candy or kids toys? I think so.
Alison
In all honesty, I wouldn’t care for that type of commercial either. But I am uncomfortable handling the firearms we own and I think an uzi might be the perfect answer!
Charles
Alison, you’re awesome.
Alison
What’s awesome is the way you young people can whip out your thoughts in very little time! When I started to enter my first comment, there was only one comment from Andrew. In the time it took me to get in 3 little lines, Michael and Greg put in their much bigger info! I wish I could do that!!!
(and Sweet Pea is absolutely adorable)
Alison
Hey, I got an iPod touch for my birthday and I just downloaded an app called “Shotgun Free.” I thought you might like to know that now I can load and shoot and nobody has to die! It even has sound effects. It’s pretty cool! Now my co-workers and I can shoot problem patrons at the library and get a big laugh- a real stress-buster!
Charles
Yeah, I’m never coming to your library.
Parker
Charles, I have to disagree with you completely on your stance above.
I ran across this while doing a quick search for Volkner McClure.
If you wish to defend yourself with a pistol, that’s fine. They make lousy weapons, really. People survive being shot with pistols all the time.
A rifle is a much more effective tool for defense. Jeff Cooper can be considered the Godfather of Modern Defensive Shooting. He loves his 1911 pistols and also referred to them as a tool with which you fight your way to your rifle.
If I have to use a rifle to protect myself and my family, things have gone really badly, about as badly as they can for the moment.
Why on earth would you or anyone else wish to bet your family on an ineffective tool when you have the freedom to use something far more effective? An AR15 or an AK47 are both easy to shoot well and have the proven ability to effectively end violence quickly in capable hands.
If you are not comfortable with this for yourself, I can live with that and even respect it. It is a personal choice. But just as I’d be willing to bet you’d prefer not to take a four hour trip on a motorcycle and sidecar in the rain with your kids, I’m not as comfy betting on an XD45 when I can have an AK in the same context.
Besides, if you’ve never experienced the fun of shooting an AR at multiple targets and hitting them all, first time out, you really are gypping yourself of a fundamental American experience. Not many countries have this fundamental freedom, and to not take advantage of it, you may as well cash in your freedom to Tweet as well.
I do appreciate how quickly you swapped out of fear/ reactionary mode above. Take it one step further
Charles
You’re right in a lot of ways.
I think I would have reacted differently to a differently toned commercial. The ads for Ideal Feet are more serious than the ads I’ve heard for this shop. This was on a level of a “Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!” ad for a monster truck rally.
I won’t understand the recreational use of guns anymore than I’ll understand people who get a buzz from long runs. But I think that firearms are a more serious issue than this commercial implied.