Just what we need...another Zumbo.

[Batteriesnare]

The whole premise of the article is that AR-15s "look" scary.

Man, I think they are gorgeous. I'm surprised no one is rushing to ban the AK, thats the scarier looking one to me.... and the A actually stands for automatic.

[GreenScoutII]

As far as I know, the Second Amendment doesn't say anything about hunting.

It says the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall NOT be infringed. It does not specify which arms.

In the 1770's, the British Brown Bess musket was the Kalishnikov of it's day. It was the assault rifle.

One must assume that our founding fathers knew and understood this when they spelled out the second amendment. IMO, they intended for the average citizen to be as well armed, with the same arms, as the average soldier.

Who cares what a weapon looks like? This sounds like come kind of appeasement or concession to the gun grabbers to me. I say, buy as many "assault weapons as you can. Tens of millions of gun owners armed with hundreds of millions of assault rifles sends a powerful message.

[Irving]

From the article:

I don’t think the argument is valid. After WW II, crazy terrorists weren’t running through the streets firing 1903 bolt action Springfields into the air.

No Arab terrorists were on the daily newscasts blasting people with the semi-automatic Garand after WW II.

It’s the AK-47 and its long history with revolution, riots and terrorism that’s the problem.

I just so happened to be reading the Wikipedia page about World War I for the past few days and came across this in the section about India's involvement. Seems some terrorism and guerrilla warfare was mentioned. Weird, maybe that stuff didn't wait to be invented until the AK-47 was invented.

From Wiki:

Indian independence movement

Further information: Third Anglo-Afghan War and Hindu-German Conspiracy
Bengal and Punjab remained hotbeds of anti-colonial activities. Terrorism in Bengal, increasingly closely linked with the unrest in Punjab, was significant enough to nearly paralyse the regional administration. Also from the beginning of the war, expatriate Indian population, notably in Germany, United States and Canada, headed by the Indian Independence Committee and the Ghadar Party respectively, attempted to trigger insurrections in India on the lines of the 1857 uprising with Irish Republican, German and Turkish help in a great conspiracy that has since become known as the Hindu German conspiracy. The conspiracy also made attempts to rally the Amir of Afghanistan against British India, starting a political process in that country that culminated three years later in the assassination of Amir Habibullah and precipitation of the Third Anglo-Afghan war. A number of failed attempts at mutiny were made in India, of which the February mutiny plan and the Singapore mutiny remain most notable. This movement was suppressed by means of a vast international counter intelligence operation and draconian political acts (including the Defence of India act 1915) that lasted nearly ten years.[66][67][68]
The Ghadarites also attempted to organise incursions from the western border of India, recruiting Indian prisoners of war from Turkey, Germany, Mesopotamia. Ghadarite rebels, led by Sufi Amba Prasad, fought along with Turkish forces in Iran and in Turkey. Plans were made in Constantinopole to organise a campaign from Persia, through Baluchistan, to Punjab. These forces were involved skirmishes that captured the frontier city of Karman, taking into custody the British consul. Percy Sykes's campaign in Persia was directed mostly against these composite forces. It was at this time that the Aga Khan and his brother were recruited into the British War effort. However, the Aga Khan's brother was captured and shot dead by the rebels, who also successfully harassed British Forces in Sistan in Afghanistan, confining British forces to Karamshir in Baluchistan, later moving towards Karachi. They were able to take control of the coastal towns of Gawador and Dawar. The Baluchi chief of Bampur, having declared his independence from the British rule, also joined the Ghadarite forces. It was not before the war in Europe turned for the worse for Turkey and Baghdad was captured by the British forces that the Ghadarite forces, their supply lines starved, were finally dislodged. They retreated to regroup at Shiraz, where they were finally defeated after a siege. Amba Prasad Sufi was killed in this battle. The Ghadarites carried on guerilla warfare along with the Iranian partisans till 191.[69][70][71][72]
Although the conflict in India was not explicitly a part of the First World War, it was part of the wider strategic context. The British attempt to subjugate the rebelling tribal leaders drew away much needed troops from other theatres, in particular, of course, the Western Front, where the real decisive victory would be made.
The reason some Indian and Afghani tribes rose up simply came down to years of discontent which erupted, probably not coincidentally, during the First World War. It is likely that the tribal leaders were aware that Britain would not be able to field the required men, in terms of either number or quality, but underestimated the strategic importance of India to the British. Despite being far from the epicentre of the conflict, India provided a bounty of men for the fronts. Its produce was also needed for the British war effort and many trade routes running to other profitable areas of the Empire ran through India. Therefore, although the British were not able to send the men that they wanted, they were able to send enough to mount a gradual but effective counter-guerilla war against the tribesmen. The fighting continued into 1919 and in some areas lasted even longer.

Looks like there was enough of what the author was talking about to at least make it into the history books. Wonder what kind of guns they were using.

[theGinsue]

All good arguments everyone. Basically, what it comes down to is you are either a supporter of the Second Amendment and all it stands for, or you aren't. There can be NO middle ground. I find it especially unforgivable for someone who has access to a large mass of people and uses their "respected" position to claim to be a 2A supporter and, in the same breath, describe why certain firearms should be restricted. I put these people up there with the crazies and those who are dangerously careless with firearms as teh greatest threats to maintaining our 2A freedom.

I work with a retired Marine who doesn't "see the need to have an AR-15". He owns several other guns, including an M1 Carbine, but somehow an AR is inappropriate?! I don't get the logic. I told him that if he doesn't think that he should have an AR then don't get one, but don't support the position of those who want to limit my right to have one.

During the Clinton Gun Ban, simple aesthetic/cosmetic changes that do not affect the function of the firearm would get a gun banned or labeled an "assault rifle". I found it interesting that people believe that adding a bayonet lug or a flash suppressor to a rifle could make it more dangerous than it was before the change.

I will always maintain the position that a frearm is only a dangerous tool when in the hands of the negligent or those with evil intent. If those with evil intent want to cause harm they will find a way to accomplish their goals - with or without a firearm.

[cebeu]

I've noted various links across the web referencing this, the drivel is forever captured. Welcome to infamy Darnell, you deserve it.

BTW - Contact the San Marcos Daily Record, remind them about accountability

Stan Woody: Publisher - swoody@sanmarcosrecord.com
Rowe H. Ray: Managing Editor - rray@sanmarcosrecord.com

[Pancho Villa]

Cooper said the final word on this (as he often did) in his article "This Problem of Image" available in To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth

[sniper7]

Last time I read it the 2nd amendment didn't include a damn thing about hunting. So what exactly does looks of my AR15 have to do with hunting since that isn't what my god given right to own firearms is about?

sounds to me like the guy is a snob and believes looks are what count.

Wonder what he would say about duck hunting with a saiga? Or hunting water buffalo or elephant with a barret .50 cal?

[Batteriesnare]

Come to think of it, if he's so focused on hunting arms, I hunt with my ARs....