Guns

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Written by Michael Z Williamson

Created: 27 December 2015

Some figure came out of somewhere recently (eminently believable, but I don't know the source) that the US has passed 1.1 guns per capita.  This is cause for rending of clothes and gnashing of teeth among a certain segment, which is fantastic.

The correct minimum number of guns for the US is 1.25 billion.

Let us assume 250 million adults.

EVERY adult should have a shotgun.  They are cheap, reliable, the ammo is inexpensive, and with several different loads on hand it is versatile, able to hunt anything from quail and squirrel to deer and elk.  With the right loads, they stop home invaders dead in a puddle of goo. There are custom mods you can make so it can take any of the Big Five game in Africa.  https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197214 

Next, one should acquire a sidearm of choice, for portability, use in close quarters, and personal defense. Along with this, you need a similar framed .22 for less expensive practice (and hopefully again soon, cheap practice, when idiots and greedy assholes stop hoarding).

A lot of urbanites likely don't need a rifle--the shotun will cover what they need.  Still, it's worth having one just in case.  And, to go with your primarly rifle, you need another .22 for additional practice.

That's five, per adult.  

There should be two bricks of .22, about 200 shotgun shells, and at least a crate (500-1000 rounds) for the sidearm and rifle.

Given that shooting should be taught as early as a child can understand the basic safety rules (typically between 4 and 8 ), then there's room for more, and of course, different types of shooting require different types of weapons.

350 million is a start, but only a start. Americans should possess at least 1.25 billion firearms, likely closer to 2 billion, and at least 1200 rounds of ammo on hand in between range trips.

Only a coward with a small penis would argue for less.

 

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Written by Michael Z Williamson

Created: 15 December 2015

The gun haters are hysterical, and will make up any ridiculous claim possible. You probably recall Sarah Brady claiming "assault weapons" were designed to be "rapidly and accurately spray fired from the hip," which is like claiming a beer can is designed to be "rapidly and accurately consumed by shaking and popping."  For some reason, the Army still insisted on sights on M16s, and taught me how to use them, rather than this amazing accurate spray fire from the hip technique.

 

But onto the present day.  Someone has got their anti-intellectual moral corruption and cowardice into Amazon.

This is the note I received on an item I sell:

Hello from Amazon.

We are writing to let you know that the following detail pages have been removed from our catalog:

ASIN: B007FH65PA, SKU: 5F-B4TA-FPQS, Title: "factory original steyr m95 5 shot stripper clip"

This product has been identified as a speed loader designated for use on an assault weapon. Amazon policy prohibits the listing or sale of assault weapon parts and accessories. For more information, see the Seller Help Page related to weapons http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=help_search_1-1?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200277700&qid=1449268848&sr=1-1.

For more information on our policies, search on "Restricted Products" and "Listing Restrictions" in Seller Help.
**Action Required: Within 48 hours of this notice, please review your remaining listings and make any changes necessary to ensure compliance with our policies.

Failure to comply with this request may result in the removal of your selling privileges.

We appreciate your cooperation and thank you for selling on Amazon.com.

Amazon Services

Please note: this e-mail was sent from a notification-only address that cannot accept incoming e-mail.Please do not reply to this message.

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I responded:

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 Their response, within the hour:

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 I was not satisfied with the support, and responded so, with expanded documentation.

There was no reply.

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One can contact Amazon directly at the CEO's office, which should then trickle down to the appropriate department.  I sent this: 

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 Dec 9

Dear Jeff,

Customer service refused to reply to me.

Per the below message from Amazon, there are several problems.

1:  The Steyr M95 is a 120 year old, 5 shot, bolt action rifle. Some models are so old that ATF doesn't even consider them firearms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannlicher_M1895

2: While "assault weapon" is a political term that varies by jurisdiction, there are no jurisdictions in the world that would identify the Steyr M95 as an "assault weapon."  In fact it was out of service before the first assault rifle entered service.

3:  An en bloc clip is a MAGAZINE LOADER, specifically allowed per Amazon rules. It is also essential to the function of this weapon. The en bloc with five rounds goes into the internal magazine, and the weapon doesn't function properly without it.

4:  An en bloc clip is not a "Speedloader," which is a revolver accessory.

5:  "Assault weapons" don't take "speedloaders." They take "Detachable box magazines."

6: Whoever "identified" this is completely ignorant of how firearms function. If they are having input on other products, they are costing you lost sales.  If it's some random complaint by a respondent online, I would hope Amazon is wiser than to trust "the internet."

 I would appreciate a thoughtful response, rather than a repeated bleat that "this has been identified as a speedloader for an assault weapon," which I've had twice, and is akin to identifying a gas can as a shell loader for a tank.

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I have still received no response.

I have just sent this query:

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Per the description and the above link, this is a MAGAZINE LOADER, which is within Amazon's listing rules. It is also an essential functional part of this historical rifle. It cannot be properly operated without one.

 The rifle predates so-called "assault weapons" by a half century.

 "assault weapons" don't take "speed loaders." Revolvers take speed loaders, which, are in fact, also a magazine loader.

 Your previous response was snide, ignorant and unhelpful, and then there was no further response.  Please escalate to someone who is capable of grasping the above, capable of discussing the matter without resorting to copy/paste, and has decision making authority.

 For information purposes, I would like to know how this decision was reached.  Clearly, no one with any credentials in firearms was involved. So who made this decision, using what ludicrously flawed information? That response will be used for a professional article.

 

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 I award Amazon a rating of "full retard and full diaper."

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It is essential that we stop this sort of rampant assininity, and it proves the point that the neurotic gun haters will never be satisifed. Bans on full auto are not enough, bans on self-loading sporting rifles don't sate them, bans on 1930s military collectibles are only a waystop.  We've reached the point where a 19TH CENTURY RELIC is an "assault weapon."

DC has already ruled that a lead muzzle loader projectile, with neither rifle nor powder, is a felonious weapon.

We must fight the war with reason, rhetoric and the law now, or we will most certainly have to fight it later in the streets.

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Written by Michael Z Williamson

Created: 25 October 2015

Since my daughter is almost an adult, I took her shopping for a good carry gun.  This can be quite a task, and usually devolves to the old revolver vs auto and belt vs purse fights.

This is different.

I had her handle several different compact pistols and a couple of revolvers.  Then we had different arguments.

Daughter:  "This?  If I shoot someone with a .32, all it's going to do is make them angry. I'd be better off throwing it at them."

Me:  "They don't make a concealable .44 Magnum."

Daughter:  "I like the Magnum.  It puts holes in things."

Me:  "It would reach halfway down your thigh when holstered. You're five foot four. "Try this revolver."

Daughter:  "Ugh. I like this one much better.  And it's in .45, not .38."

Me:  "It's got a huge grip that will stick up to your ribs if you wear it on a belt."

Daughter:  "I prefer a large grip.  The small ones don't give enough purchase."

Me:  "It's GOT to be small enough to conceal."

Daughter:  "Let's compromise.  How about this .357?"

Me:  "First, it's $900.  Then, it's STILL almost as long as your forearm. You can't conceal it.  Look, it comes down to .38, .327, .380 or 9mm, unless you like the compact .45."

Daughter:  "That .45 has too small a grip.  What, are babies carrying guns now?"

Me:  "Concealed has to be small and flat when you're only 5'4" and 125 lbs."

Daughter:  "I LIKE my Magnum!  Hey, Ruger makes a .44?"

Me:  "That's a Super Redhawk, stainless, with a scope. It's for hunting."

Daughter:  "Hunting, you say?"

Me:  "Big game, not muggers. And the Astra is not YOUR Magnum until I die."

Daughter:  "Hmmm..."

Me:  "Of natural causes."

Daughter:  "Dad!"

This is worse than trying to find a pink case for the Magnum and her .45 Long Colt.  Apparently, the industry doesn't believe women have guns bigger than a J Frame.

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Written by Michael Z Williamson

Created: 19 May 2015

I think what we can learn from Waco is that Assault Motorcycles cause crime. You never see Minivan gangs killing each other. If we just ban motorcycles, we'll prevent this kind of motorcycle-related killing. And it's not as if anyone really needs a motorcycle. Remember: The motorcycle you own is the motorcycle most likely to kill you.