Tony_Tarantula on 6/10/2017 at 17:30
Quote Posted by Renzatic
Everyone knows it's the open carry people who are the crazy ones. You know the type. They swagger into the local Circle K with a big ass revolver strapped to their hip, order a pack of chew, then stand in the corner, trying to get people to make eye contact with them so they can launch into a tirade about their rights.
I can understand concealed carry, especially if someone live in a dangerous neighborhood. Like you, I know a few people who do have a license to do so, and they're far from crazy. But those people who walk into Wal-Mart sporting a tacticooled up super customized extended magazine AR15 (with the obligatory holosite kit installed) strapped to their back for all to see? They're either overcompensating for something, or are really desperate for attention.
Also, I don't think those people own a single article of clothing that doesn't have a skull on it.
I'll actually agree with you there. I have a few friends that do it (biker types mostly), but I always thought it was kinda weird. I used to have a conceal carry and probably would be smart to get a weapon and do it again...and I'm professionally trained in the use of firearms so I have a bit of a different perspective than most here. Open carry is something I view as a tactical liability because people know you have a weapon (which makes you an immediate target), people might go for it if you're carrying it, and it can put people on edge which may lead to escalating a situation further than is necessary. If you ever have to use one surprise is of the essence.
And why the hell carry an AR-15? Most self defense situations take place at extremely close range anyway so the odds of being able to pull the weapon off a back strap and effectively use it quick enough are unlikely. Pistols are better because they're concealable, quicker to draw and use, and a slower, larger caliber pistol round has much more stopping power which is key if...let's say you're getting charged by some freaking huge dude with a knife who may or may not be strung out on crack.
If safety is a concern for whatever reason the general rule of thumb is to use a pistol, in the largest caliber that you can both shoot accurately under duress and conceal carry comfortably.
Quote:
Of course things didn't quite work out as intended. The tribulations of the 20th century proved the necessity of a professional military, and our militias are a bunch of anti-government guys with big beards who spend most of the time posing for pictures with their guns drawn in front of upside down American flags. Funny, that.
It's more doable than people think to drawback the national Army. National Guard units fall under the control of the states, and typically have the full range of equipment that the Active Duty military has access to up to and including fighter aircraft. In the event of a large scale war they already have the logistics and command structure in place to activate as combined arms Brigades and Divisions. Usually that' the unit level at which an Active Duty unit deploys for a campaign.
I think there's a huge case to be made that dramatically downsizing the active army and buffing up the state National Guards would have some significant benefits in both reducing the hegemonic, insulated military culture that has emerged (typical career military officers are 3rd generation military these days), reduce the power of the defense lobby, and shifting US policy away from the state of perpetual war that Bush and Obama have created.
Renzatic on 6/10/2017 at 17:56
Wow, we're actually finding common ground here!
I know people who have claimed to want a big semi-auto rifle for home defense, and my first response is "why?" Unless you're finding yourself in a situation where you have to lay suppressing fire on roving hoards at a 150 yards from the comfort of your front porch, an AR15 is nigh useless for home defense. A handgun might not look as scary, might not give you that same sense of overinflated confidence, but it'll be 1000x more effective if some random crazy stranger decides to kick open your front door to invade your home.
Rifles are unwieldy in close quarters. All they'll accomplish is giving an intruder something to grab onto when they jump around the corner to invade your personal space.
...and no, you don't need a goddamn Mk19 Desert Eagle, either.
jkcerda on 6/10/2017 at 18:42
Quote Posted by Renzatic
Everyone knows it's the open carry people who are the crazy ones. You know the type. They swagger into the local Circle K with a big ass revolver strapped to their hip, order a pack of chew, then stand in the corner, trying to get people to make eye contact with them so they can launch into a tirade about their rights.
I can understand concealed carry, especially if someone live in a dangerous neighborhood. Like you, I know a few people who do have a license to do so, and they're far from crazy. But those people who walk into Wal-Mart sporting a tacticooled up super customized extended magazine AR15 (with the obligatory holosite kit installed) strapped to their back for all to see? They're either overcompensating for something, or are really desperate for attention.
Also, I don't think those people own a single article of clothing that doesn't have a skull on it.
THOSE clowns are like chihuahuas , all bark & no bite, they generally don't go full retard because they don't want to be shot and they know they will be someone's GF if they land in jail.
Goldmoon Dawn on 6/10/2017 at 18:45
Quote Posted by Gryzemuis
I know America is a big country. I've mostly been in California (Silicon Valley). I've been a few times for a week in Washington DC and in North-Carolina. And I've visited other places (LA, Florida, Minneapolis, Memphis, etc). I know there is a huge difference between the two Coasts and everything in between.
The people I used to work with (collegues, customers) were all highly educated people, with very good jobs. Probably mostly Democrats. And even those people I've sometimes heard say the weirdest things.
Quote Posted by Gryzemuis
Americans want violence. And they are scared. They think violence is the answer to everything.
The issue here, yet again, is you one, two, and three percenters.
Yes, most of you guys are temporarily/indefinetly "important", and a very few of you are actually needed, but I represent the rest of the 99%, lmao. All this BS you see on the news/world stage, does *NOT* reflect the hardworking everyday American.
And thanks to TTLG, I now have the rare insight into the 1% mentality, and it is kinda scary. Unsettling in its abhorrent ignorance.
Draxil on 6/10/2017 at 18:53
Quote Posted by Renzatic
Wow, we're actually finding common ground here!
I know people who have claimed to want a big semi-auto rifle for home defense, and my first response is "why?" Unless you're finding yourself in a situation where you have to lay suppressing fire on roving hoards at a 150 yards from the comfort of your front porch, an AR15 is nigh useless for home defense. A handgun might not look as scary, might not give you that same sense of overinflated confidence, but it'll be 1000x more effective if some random crazy stranger decides to kick open your front door to invade your home.
Rifles are unwieldy in close quarters. All they'll accomplish is giving an intruder something to grab onto when they jump around the corner to invade your personal space.
...and no, you don't need a goddamn Mk19 Desert Eagle, either.
A plethora of experts and people with experience disagree with you, says the internet. The AR platform is easy to use, accurate, easier to keep rounds on target, has less recoil, a larger magazine, harder to be turned on the owner in close quarters combat... the list goes on. When you see photos of SWAT teams or the military clearing houses, are they carrying pistols or an AR platform weapon? The best weapon for home defense is the weapon you've practiced with, are familiar with, and are comfortable using.
Renzatic on 6/10/2017 at 18:54
It's a weird place I find myself in. I acknowledge gun ownership as a right, while believing that 50% of the people who exercise it regularly aren't really responsible enough to do so, while 5% of those are so crazy, they shouldn't even be allowed to hold a library card, let alone a gun.
It's no wonder I'm so damn bitter these days.
Also, NO MEMES! THEY'RE OBNOXIOUS AND DUMB! :mad:
Renzatic on 6/10/2017 at 18:58
Quote Posted by Draxil
A plethora of experts and people with experience disagree with you, says the internet. The AR platform is easy to use, accurate, easier to keep rounds on target, has less recoil, a larger magazine, harder to be turned on the owner in close quarters combat... the list goes on. When you see photos of SWAT teams or the military clearing houses, are they carrying pistols or an AR platform weapon? The best weapon for home defense is the weapon you've practiced with, are familiar with, and are comfortable using.
You're talking about highly trained professionals who have been taught to handle myriad situations with their rifles. For your average person, the extent of their training begins and ends with "well, I spent a couple hours being taught what does what, and shot a few rounds at the range."
...for those people, a handgun is a much better option for home defense.
jkcerda on 6/10/2017 at 19:01
Quote Posted by Renzatic
It's a weird place I find myself in. I acknowledge gun ownership as a right, while believing that 50% of the people who exercise it regularly aren't really responsible enough to do so, while 5% of those are so crazy, they shouldn't even be allowed to hold a library card, let alone a gun.
It's no wonder I'm so damn bitter these days.
Also, NO MEMES! THEY'RE OBNOXIOUS AND DUMB! :mad:
memes rule, others drool..................
anyways, here is something that passed in CA that could help out
(
http://www.independent.com/news/2014/sep/02/elliot-rodger-bills-pass-legislature/)
Renzatic on 6/10/2017 at 19:18
That wouldn't have helped with Paddock. No one expected him to do anything, until he did, and then most who knew him personally were surprised to know he did it.
It's weird having a random guy like this show up and do so much damage with no real motive behind his action. It's like we, as a nation, can't even process violence unless there's a political bent to it these days. I see so many people on Facebook and the news trying their best to make him out to be Antifa, a Nazi, an ISIS sympathizer, a Democrat, a Republican, whatever. They're so desperate to blame some larger group for his actions, they refuse to accept that all this lies on Paddock, and Paddock alone.
I guess we're doing this because conspiracies are, in a weird sort of way, comforting notions. Political groups and shadowy organizations can be exposed, quashed, and quelled. You have an easily identifiable enemy to keep an eye out on, to align yourself against. But what can we do against some nondescript guy on the street who decides one day, entirely on his own, to take the lives of dozens of people? People like Paddock are as random as lightning on a cloudless day. You don't expect them, and there isn't much you can do to defend yourself against them.
