There is this city in Northern California where everyone is licensed to carry weapon. The crime rate dropped substantially thereafter.

Yep, I am aware of the problem of 'self defense' and how it can put you into deep water....and the book sounds interesting, I shall look for it.:)

Thanks Mark

Cab83 - I grew up in Montana blowing holes in everything I could. Believe me, I know about guns.

My last hunting experience: Shot a whitetail. He headed off zig-zagging around like deer sometime do after being shot in the heart. Found him an hour later, he was still alive. Walked up to him and he raised his head and looked at me, laying there 3 feet away, with blood pouring out of his side. I had to shoot him again, of course. I haven't eaten red meat in 20 years now.

One weekend when I was 17, 3 buddies and I went out in the hills shooting. 2 of them got drunk and started shooting at my buddy and I. This went on for probably 2 hours. Clinging to river banks, swimming down river under water, all while being shot at by a 30.06 and a 45mm. Listening to the bullets fly by my head, watching the ground near my feet explode.

No thanks, you guys can keep your guns and all that they stand for. I have a more peaceful idea about what life should be like for my son. Maybe I have my head in the sand and I'm not being realistic, but I just don't think life has to be that way. We live in the US, for God's sake, not some third world country.

I wouldn't have called those guys "Buddy's" I hope as you have grown older you are more selective in choosing your friends.

The USA government has bin stable for so long it is hard for anyone to imagine that tyranny could exist in this country. Maybe one can only think of it in the abstract at this point, however if U do disarm the people, sooner or later it will happen. There are allready large changes taking place where the economy of a country is no longer a soverign issue. Large corporations are becoming abstract nations onto themselves.

Yep - I think the world will be just fine without automatic assault rifles:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/02/senate.guns/index.html

Motion, don't take this wrong but your post made me laugh out loud:) I pictured a scrawney young version of your avatar still wearing the wig scrambling along a slippery clay bank for your life as bullets fly overhead. Kind of like deliverance Motion style, I am sure it was/is not funny to you but damn... Thanks for the story.

Assualt Weapons are a Political Football used by the Liberals for Political Traction...Assualt weapons are used in very few crimes even when legal. They are for the most part expensive, and are too big and bulky for your average robber to use.

The issue is the use of VIOLENCE as a means of resolving conflict or differences in America, and not whether you own a gun or not. America is and has been a violent society that fosters violence as the means to resolve differences. End of Story.

Word, yo.

maybe i am rehashing, but isnt the "ban" expiration date coming up?

Cliff,
Yes. The expiration is coming up in September, I think.

Troy

Tabs, if I was to buy one pistol mostly for home protection, but maybe also for shooting range fun, what would be the best pistol to buy?

Pistols aren't so hot for home protection. Get yourself a 12GA pump with a cruiser kit. Load it with buckshot-slug-buckshot-slug etc.. As far as pistols for fun shootin, shoot several and see what ya like. I went w/.45 for a variety of reasons but a .40 was my second choice. If you do go with a pistol for the home make sure ya get something the little lady dares to fire:) Most are ok with a 9mm. JMHO

oh yea. go to a range (with the wife) get comfortable with your weapon and ask questions.

Except for the small issue that the AWB (assault weapons ban) only discusses Semi-autos. You see fully auto or "machine guns" have been tightly regulated since 1934.

The AWB is silly and ineffective.

It did however cost the democrats 9 seats in the Senate and 54 seats in the House after Clinton signed it in '94. So, I guess it wasn't a total loss after all..........

Just in case you didn't know what an "assault weapon" is, the feds have detailed it for you:

A rifle having a detachable magazine that has at least 2 of the following features qualifies:

1. Folding or collapsible stock
2. Pistol grip
3. Bayonet mount
4. Flash suppressor or threaded barrel
5. Grenade launcher

Thank god we can't have a grenade launcher seeing as how grenades are already tightly regulated as explosive devices, and the loss of the bayonet mount has stopped the ever out of control "drive by bayonettings".

I feel safer already.

The sad part is that our government is no more interested in "gun safety" than they are in border control. Well I guess until the AWB "sunsets" I will have to be happy with my SAR-1 (looks just like an AK-47), (3) FALs, Remmy 870 and pistol collection. Of course I am looking to add an M1A if you guys have any leads on them. Amazing, the MBR (main battle rifle) for the military for decades (M-1 and variants) and it's not even "on the list".

Sorry for the rant and "hijacking" Tabs.

www.awbansunset.com

If you're interested.............

No Problem Pete. I do it all the time.

I think a GLOCK in 40 S&W is the way to go in the way of a pistol. The gun & caliber is prefered by Law Enforcement, The gun is state of the art.

careful, pistol bullets are not stopped by drywall. i would opt for a shotgun with bird shot in the house. all "wet work" in a home is typically at a range of seven feet or so. at least that is what i think the cop typically train at. i personally am a sigsauer guy. easy to shoot, accurate as hell. 9mm. but tabs is right the 40 would be the better stopper. i think if i caught someone coming into the house, i would call the cops and take up a defensive position, maybe the bathroom. and just wait. i wouldnt go looking for him/her. unless i found him/her halfway into my window in an awkward position, then i would just use a chair or something.

Motion, i liked your story too :)

TABS, if the ban on automatics is lifted ( or expires), would the people that are buying them now at the high prices, take a bath on their investments?

cliff

Prices would definately come down, things that U can't get new now like. magazines, would become available again. So $115 for a 15 round Glock magazine would drop back to retail.

Ironically the only time Assualt Weapon sales went through the roof was when the laws banning them were passed. Then everybody had to get one before it was too late.

My wife and I both carry .38 S&W's. They are perfect and can acurate at up to 21 ft easily. I agree for the home at night, nothin' better than a pump 12 gauge.

Phil,
Unless you are planning to spend several hours on a range learning to shot your new handgun, and then an hours practice a month to maintain that, I suggest a .38 cal revolver. It is easy to shoot, easy to load and unload, and easy to tell when you have loaded it. Pull the trigger and it shots. With an auto loader, it requires you to follow a loading procedure exactly every time to assure that there is a round in the chamber. That only comes with practice and self confidence. Under combat conditions, you are not going to have time to try to remember how to use your autoloader.
As far as using a shotgun, try standing in your hallway and turning around, or walking around your house.
With a 38, using hollow points, the bullet will be expanded by wallboard and building materials faster than with a full metal jacket bullet. It will just make a bigger hole in your wall.
BUT, the biggest thing in owning a gun for self defensive is that you must train yourself mentally to accept that you WILL use it if necessary, and what those "fire/don't fire" conditions are. For me those are that if someone enters my house when my wife and/or children are there, then I will fire to protect them from a direct threat or failure of the intruder to retreat away from them. If its just me, then it will require direct action against me for me to fire. This is not a game and the worst thing that can happen is for you show a gun and then not be able to use it because you're afraid of pulling the trigger. This may sound extreme to some of those on line here, but if you cannot say out loud to your wife that you want a gun to "kill" an intruder, then I suggest that you reframe from buying one for self defense.
terry

Yes the 38 Revolver is a good choich..six quick, realiable rounds. I had forgotten about that choich. You can buy a good used Colt or S&W 38 for around $250.00, and have an acurate firearm to go target shooting as well. I suggest a 6 inch barrel in that concealment is not an issue with home defence. Colt Officers Models, Offical Police, Troopers, S&W model 14's & 10's are all good buys.

For those of you who lean toward the anti-gun believers, do a search for the "Militia Act of 1792". This is still the law of the land. You are a member of your State militia if your
-citizen of U.S.
-between 18 and 45 yrs of age
- NOT a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard
You are REQUIRED to
-register at your local board
-supply your with a rifle of the standard caliber of the U.S. Military and have 24 rounds of ammo, plus other equipment
-report for training (the word "regulated" in the 2nd Ament. meant " trained" in 1792)
Additionally, the Sup Ct. has already ruled that only those firearms that have a military, police or self defence use, are covered by the 2nd Ament. That means hunting rifles are NOT protected. Now, do you understand why the gun grappers are trying to create 2 groups of firearms? If they can ban the so-called assault weapons (a word that was created by the anti-gunners), then it is a simple task of getting local, state or the federal gov't to outlaw hunting rifles.
Well now you have my 2 cents worth on that subject.
Terry

Terry,

Thanks for the info.

.38! come on. you can atleast pick up a .357 magnum and load the .38 fodder. and have some versatility in the mix.

pepper spray...

Well, I'm more of a .45 cal Colt 1911 man myself, but going "cocked and locked" is not what i would recommend to the average joe to keep for self defence. The .357 cost lots more then a .38, even if your running .38's thru it.
Safety and ease of use dictates a revolver for these conditions. If the bullet misses the flame and noise will do the bad guy in.
As far as the pepper spray, why bother with the stuff available to the public.

if was to buy pepper spray for home use. i would get that can of stuff at the outdoor stores used for bear attacks. when i was younger, i got maced by my sister. dropped me like a pile of turds. and then later i got peppered by the same crazy sister. (she is nicer now :)). i think she actually invented pepper spray. she made the stuff she hit me with. hell any pistol would work in the hands of someone that knows what they are doing. proper training. and practice.

cliff