What are your gun credentials?

There are so many threads that devolve into gun advocates informing gun prohibitions of exactly how clueless they are on the subject. Arguments of misunderstandings, terminology, etc, yet the gun prohibitionists believe they are right. Much like how a young earth creationist believes the earth is 10,000 years old, even when shown evidence to demonstrate how they re predictable, factually, and demonstrably wrong.

So, what ever side you are one, cite some of the credentials that make you feel as if your opinion is worthy of consideration:

- I have been arguing the subject since I was 14. I am 26 now. I know more than you if you are in opposition to me. Period.
- I know a great deal about a fraction of firearms, mostly military firearms (WWI to present), and some long range shooting (I can hit a 12" target at 1,000yds some 50-75% of the time depending on a few factors).
- I compete with firearms. I know what does save time, what does not, what I do well, what I do not well, and how (*)(*)(*)(*)ing stupid the idea that reducing a magazine to ten or fewer rounds is going to make difference in some sort of mass shooting.
- I collect firearms. I own more than most. How many people do you know with 60+ firearms? I have no reason to take anyone seriously if they do not understand firearms. It is like a young earth creationist attemtping to "educate" a geologist on the age of the earth or the claim that humans co-existed with dinosaurs. It is laughable.
- I am a safety guru. Finger off the trigger. Muzzle down range. Be aware of your target. And if you are a n00b, and have any issue, I am the one to clear it. If shooters fail to observe these rules, they don't get to shoot anymore.
- I like to build AR-15's. I have some 10 under my belt. I help friends install their parts. Build their AR's. I know AR's. I know guns.
- I shoot. I shoot a lot (not as much as last year though). I know people who shoot, and shoot a lot. I know friends who compete on the national level. I know people who proctor educational firearms related courses. Guess what? They are not killing anyone. Yet, these ignorant gun prohibitionists believe that average Joe is a threat. It is actually the impoverished ghetto trash who commit 80% of the violent crime in the US. Facts are facts. Facts are not racist, sexist, whatever. Facts do not care what you believe.

So... yep.

 

well lets see

I am 56 and have been shooting seriously since I was 8. I earned Distinguished expert in air rifle at 14, shotgun at 18. I was the national JO skeet champion at 19, a two time all american shooter at Yale
I hunted in Kenya at 17, and I stopped a mugging 9 years later by shooting a mugger and I learned more about the laws of self defense through that than I ever did in law school. I have over 200 hours of formal training in defensive pistol and rifle and shotgun shooting. I have held masters ratings in several shooting sports. I was general counsel for two major FFLs, a major league NRA affiliated gun organization, three police departments and a Title II maker of machine guns. then I spent almost a quarter of a century as a DOJ Line attorney where, among other things, i helped those needing to be issued weapons in the course of their duties pass the USMS qualification course-which I earned Distinguished Expert in with six different handguns. I am a member of the GLOCK 500 club and held the national record in pin shooting 30 years ago.
I had a triple AAA classification in NSSA skeet and have registered 100 straights in all four guns multiple times
I have taught dozens of classes on firearms safety, CCW courses, etc. I shoot an average of 20,000 pistol rounds a year and several thousand clay targets a year. I have lectured on the second amendment at 6 different ABA accredited law schools and have been a live guest on 2nd amendment issues on the NRA's XM radio station.

so I love watching gun banners who don't know the difference between a semi auto and a pump gun try to lecture me on gun issues-be it the law, the use of guns or types of guns

 

When I was a little guy, my dad was an Army reservist at Camp Williams, in Utah. He was also a Boy Scout Master. I was their mascot. Some of my earliest memories are from riding around on his shoulders with the Scouts, and "in the Army". Back then, the NRA provided Mossberg rifles and Super X .22LR ammo to the Scouts. That's how I started shooting at the age of 4.
My first very own Ruger 10/.22 rifle came along with a serial number in the 15 thousands. A Bearcat revolver soon followed, and then a .44 Mag. Deerstalker carbine, which was mine at age 6.
I started reloading at age 13, with one of those Lee monstrosities that require the use of a hammer to do most of the work. It was important to me to read the current edition of the Hornady reloading manual cover to cover at that time.
A lot of guns came and went. In '76, I received the only gun I've ever really regretted selling. It was a Ruger No.1 in 7mm Mag. On the barrel was engraved: "Made in the 200th. year of our American Liberty".
But I was in the Navy, and I didn't know how long that was going to last, so I sold all of my guns.
In '87, I got out, and got back to shooting again. I don't own guns that I don't shoot. If they're center fire, they only shoot my own reloaded ammo, with the current exception of the AK. The AK is a thing in itself, kinda' sorta'.
My collection then topped out at 21 different guns, and I was reloading for 17 different calibers. Living in Salt Lake City, I felt obligated to study P.O. Ackley, and visit what used to be John Brownings' personal test range. One of my most commonly visited ranges was a training range that had been used in the World wars for ammo produced at the Salt Lake Armory. I was a range safety officer at the Lee Kay range for just over a year.
One day, a wannabe gang banger came up to me and said: "Dude! Show me how to cap a dude, dude!" That was my last day as an RSO.
When I moved to Las Vegas, I tried to renounce my interest in guns. I sold everything again. My interest at that time was photography, and I was determined to go to as many local places as I could, photographing wild life and anything of interest. I soon found that if you're going to wander around in the wilderness, you're going to encounter morons who think that they can get away with anything, as long as the cops aren't around. OK. I took up an old policy that I had found to be necessary in previous years: "I shoot back".
These days, my collection still has Ruger 10/.22's, built by me to serve various purposes. 3 of those. For defensive handguns, I believe that there is nothing better than 9mm, and nothing better than Glock. 4 of those. For what I want to with centerfire rifles, the AR-15 fills that bill. 2 of those, with a "spare" 20" HBAR upper. There's that AK thing in there, too.
I finally got around to mounting the long range light on the AR carbine tonight, and trying some shooting in the dark, out to 200 yards. That works.
My guns are ready for defensive use, but thank God, I've never shot anyone. Each one does what it does a little differently, and that's the fun of it. Even between the 2 20" AR uppers, there is a lot of difference. One is a free floated HBAR with a 1x9" twist. The other is has a Magpul forend, with 1x7" twist, in Gov. profile.
Though I've been a shooter for 52 of my 56 years, I still feel that everything I know about guns is a kind of "black science". My "worldly" self knows a huge amount about this, and is very proficient with all aspects of shooting. My "better" self wishes that it wasn't necessary.

 

Let's see now.

I own a gun.

I have fired a 10/22, AR-15, multiple pump and semi-auto shotguns.

I took a class in riflery in college.

I'm a pretty good shot.

 

I am a gun owner, but I'm also a Liberal Democrat.

I believe in reasonable & common sense gun laws, to keep guns out of the hands of children and dangerous individuals, being convicted criminals and mentally ill folks who are a danger to themselves and others.

I believe that no civilian should own a machine gun. The risk is just not worth it.

I believe you should only be able to buy one handgun a month. This will make gun running very difficult, as many guns sold illegally across state lines to criminals, are bought legally at first.

we also need a nation-wide CCW program, with uniform regulations.

magazines should be limited to 10 rounds, for ALL firearms.

- - - Updated - - -

I am a gun owner, but I'm also a Liberal Democrat.

I believe in reasonable & common sense gun laws, to keep guns out of the hands of children and dangerous individuals, being convicted criminals and mentally ill folks who are a danger to themselves and others.

I believe that no civilian should own a machine gun. The risk is just not worth it.

I believe you should only be able to buy one handgun a month. This will make gun running very difficult, as many guns sold illegally across state lines to criminals, are bought legally at first.

we also need a nation-wide CCW program, with uniform regulations.

magazines should be limited to 10 rounds, for ALL firearms.

 

you're a gun banner. and yes, being a liberal democrat is a prerequisite for being a gun banner. (or farther left)

tell us why 10 rounds is the proper number. what scientific evidence makes that a proper limit when every major CIVILIAN LE Agency has determined 15-17 round handguns are MOST SUITABLE for civilian self defense in a civilian urban environment.

criminals cannot own any weapons so a magazine limit only impacts honest people

why do you trust someone to have a ten round weapon but not a 20 round weapon

 

rapists can't rape people, but they still do it.

however, if only 10-round magazines were legal in the USA, and all FFLs followed this rule and only an FFL could sell magazines, it would be pretty difficult to find magazines over 10 rounds, as most criminals are knuckleheads

 

You are not going to derail my thread Ronstar. If you want to explain the platform for your gun prohibitionism, start a new thread.

 

you again are derailing and your stupid argument is equally applicable to 3-or 3 round magazines which proves my point

gun banners are gun banners and magazine restrictions are a pimple on the large pus filled reservoir of anti gun schemes

 

My mom hated guns. I was never allowed to own or shoot them in my youth. While in the service, I only trained on pistols and revolvers. I did ok qualifying on those considering my experience with guns before that was limited. My primary occupation in the service had nothing to do with weapon systems of any sort. Later I developed an interest in collecting WW2 era rifles as my Dad was in the infantry during WW2. I shoot those a couple times, but mostly they are for display. I have a couple pistols for self-defense as I've been robbed at gun point twice. The bad guy flourished a weapon, meaning in both instances a gun was not pointed at me they just displayed it and asked for my wallet. It convinced me that a gun might be necessary, maybe the next time I get robbed the bad guy won't be so reluctant to threaten me.

I am by no means a pacifist, but I don't eat, breathe and sleep firearms either...it's low on the radar for personal interests other than as collectibles and necessary self-defense. I think Americans are far too pre-occupied with them, with violence in general, but I'm by no means an advocate for any sort of laws that limit the private ownership of legal firearms.

 

i don't understand the folks who insist on stocking up on as many guns as they can, every type they can possibly find.

its like a strange addiction, to prove how "manly" they are.

i have one gun. maybe someday I'll buy another.

the size of my gun, and the number of guns I have, has no bearing on how manly I am.

too many folks see this as a dick-waving contest:

"bro, my gun is longer than yours, my caliber is bigger than yours, my magazine holds more rounds, I have more gadgets on my gun. you're just a sissy with your little sissy gun".

its juvenile, immature, and reeks of Freudian insecurity.

 

translation-liberal democrats want to pass laws harassing people and groups that don't support democrats. your tripe is just that, arguments based on mainly projection and lies

and your facade of being a gun owner is fooling no one

now why don't you start another silly anti gun thread rather than derailing this one

 

The only thing you need to do is I am an American who may or may not own guns but according to the second amendment its not your or the governments business what I own. As for my beliefs, its pretty simple. The second Amendment means what it says. And if your in any doubt go read the many other pieces of historical literature published by the framers of the constitution for clarity. If you still can cognitively put it together after that, then you are probably a socialist and are most likely clueless or just don't care. Either way I have no time for that level of stupid.

 

Well, the purpose of the thread is not to denounce firearms. I believe the intent of the OP is to discuss what place do firearms have in your life. In my case, I felt a gun was needed for protection, ideally I honestly wish this was not the case. Historically, firearms helped shaped this country, from hunting to fighting for our independence...from a collectible aspect it is interesting to me.

I was deployed in the Gulf war and saw a few dead bodies, casualties of war, and I think our film media tends to glamourize it...you know violence. There's nothing noble about it really, it's another human being..who probably had hopes and dreams of their own, and was now no more than a statistic in a war that will probably be forgotten eventually. I don't have a hero complex, I don't envision saving damsels in distress with my trusty pistol...like some mild mannered Clark Kent turned Superman. However I'm not so naive to think this World is free of danger, or from folks that want to do harm to others. There should be no significant legal roadblocks for every citizen's right to legally protect themselves, though personally I have no fantasy or desire to ever take another human life.

 

- I'm a Son of the American Revolution (mother's side) and have spent decades becoming knowledgeable about the founding of the United States, the US Constitution, and the Natural (Inalienable) Rights of the Person that our government is mandated to protect.

- I understand the statement by John Paine that, "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." By it's very existance government infringes upon the Freedom to Exercise our Natural (Inalienable) Rights. In it's best state this infringement upon our liberty is always based upon compelling arguments and is to the least extent possible to meet the necessity based upon the compelling argument.

- Providing for the "public safety" is a responsibility of government while providing for "private safety" is not.

- The 2nd Amendment incorrectly states that people have a "Right to keep and bear arms" when, in fact, the Natural (Inalienable) Right is the "Right of self defense against acts of aggression" by others. "Arms" are technically a commodity and no one has a Right to own a Commodity. This technically incorrect statement about a "Right" is excusable because "arms" provides the means for a person for defend themselves from aggression by a physically superior person. Not all "arms" are firearms although firearms are generally superior to many other forms of arms for self-defense in life or death situations of aggression.

- When addressing "arms" of any kind we need to address them based upon functionality in providing a means of self-defense against acts of aggression by others.

- Oh yes, I'm a decorated combat veteran, I have a CCW, I own numerous firearms, and I used to be a hunter but gave that up years ago as I find no need to kill wildlife for food or pleasure. I don't even keep fish I catch anymore and practice catch and release because I can purchase domestically raised fish at the market.

 

At 12 years old I owned my first rifle... it was a .22 and I still have it.

My father introduced me to bird hunting at about that age and I have enjoyed it ever since.

About 10 years ago I became a range safety officer and went on to become an NRA CCW instructor.

I probably have qualified around 1000 people to get their carry license. This year alone I have qualified roughly 200 men and women.

My 2016 schedule is already mapped out.

I teach beginning firearm safety classes.

I teach advanced force on force classes for those that want to take their training to the next level.

I have given lectures at the annual NRA conference on the politics of firearms.

I am a nationally ranked Expert International Defensive Pistol Assn (IDPA) competitor.

I am an A class shooter in United States Practical Shooting Assn (USPSA).

I have shot side by side with the best competition shooters in the world and I'm friends with many of them.

I am a sponsored shooter by CZforum.com and Weapon Shield who pays for most of my shooting costs.

I shoot approximately 1000 rounds a month.

 

good thing I wasn't denouncing firearms.

I am a gun owner, and think guns are fun.

they are also useful for home and personal protection.

doesn't mean we should be able to own ALL guns that exist, or by them whenever we want and as often as we like.

common sense and reasonable gun regulations, are neccessary for a safe society.

unless we reach the stage where all human beings are kind and loving.

 

You are already on record criticizing our judicial system for not enforcing gun laws aggressively. Why would more laws on top of the ones we have be any more likely to be enforced to your satisfaction?

 

America was founded upon the principle of citizen-soldier and the musket was essential. Whether putting food on the table, defending a homestead from hostile indigenous people, or literally fighting for freedoms; the musket shaped our nation. We would not exist as a nation without it. We would still be bowing to British royalty as her majesty's subjects, without it.

The spirit of America lives on in the 2nd Amendment. I don't think it should be tampered with.

 

1776 was how many years ago?

btw, technicially our right to keep and bare arms is recognized within the context of a well-regulated Militia, something we have not had since the 1920s.

The well-regulated civilian Militia, no longer exists.

 

However, "the right of the people to keep and bear firearms" does exist.

 

yes, within the context of well-regulated citizen militia.

which under Federal law, no longer exists. The National Guard took its place.

 

Slavery was a long time ago and yet you keep bringing that up, even though it's no longer relevant. Well, it still exists, just not in this country.

I'm going to say you're willfully ignorant.

The right to keep and bear arms is not just some one line sentence added to the Constitution. As you well know many of our founding fathers went into discourse at great length on what they meant with the 2A.

Luckily they had the foresight to explain what they meant regarding the 2A, because they knew that people like you and some of our more idiotic people in government would attack it.