Official MM Firearms Thread

[CaptainHenreh]

Can you explain to my wife why, as a good American, I should own a firearm?

Why doesn't she want you to own a firearm?

Anyway, allow me to quote myself:

written during the AWB period, by much respected police officer Massad Ayoob:

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It's an excellent defense of civilian possession of an automatic (I tend to use "machine gun" as the law does when referring to "one-trigger-pull:many bullets" firearms) centerfire rifles.

As gerald mentioned (and Evan made an excellent metaphor for) the Second Amendment is NOT about hunting. It's also not just about overthrowing a tyrannical government, it's about the common man being responsible for common defense: the unorganized militia, who in the end is responsible for his own safety, and, if he chooses, the safety of his neighbors.

To quote a section from the article above:

At the time, the Japanese Empire certainly understood [the power of an armed populace] as it drafted plans to invade the mainland United States. In 1960, Robert Menard was a Commander aboard the USS Constellation when he was part of a meeting between United States Navy personnel and their counterparts in the Japanese Defense Forces. Fifteen years had passed since VJ day, most of those at the meeting were WWII veterans, and men who had fought each other to the death at sea were now comrades in battle who could confide in one another.

Someone at the table asked a Japanese admiral why, with the Pacific Fleet devastated at Pearl Harbor and the mainland US forces in what Japan had to know was a pathetic state of unreadiness, Japan had not simply invaded the West Coast.

Menard would never forget the crafty look on the Japanese commanderÔÇÖs face as he frankly answered the question. You are right, he told the Americans. We did indeed know much about your preparedness. We knew that probably every second home in your country contained firearms. We knew that your country actually had state championships for private citizens shooting military rifles. We were not fools to set foot in such quicksand.

The second amendment does not allow, but demands that the citizens be responsible for the safety and security of country and constitution, against enemies foreign and domestic.

Civilian ownership of firearms is a safeguard against Tyranny, and an effective means of protection of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Owning and operating a firearm is, frankly, one of the most American things you can do. It is a few freedoms we nearly exclusively enjoy compared to many other countries, and the framers of our constitution, having just fought a long and bloody battle against a foreign oppressor, knew precisely what they were doing when they set up the freedom to bear arms along with the freedom of speech and religion.

But I repeat myself.