Last night I received a comment on one of my YouTube videos. Since the comment mirrors those often made by gun control advocates, I thought I would reprint it here along with my response. First, the comment:
“Alright. I have some honest questions. Don’t you think buying such a dangerous weapon is a bit overkill. I think that too many people live in fear as a result of the mindset that things like the NRA have put them in. They are always thinking “someone’s out to get me”. And then they bring that into politics, and we all know where that goes. I like guns, I’m fascinated with the moving parts and form. If you are into the whole “home defense” deal, why not just get a 9mm? With some mods, the ar15 can be turned into a fully automatic gun, the choice of domestic terrorists all over the US. The gun is a killing machine, and 556 is military grade ammo. I mean, don’t you think there should be heavier restrictions on the ar15? With all the hullabaloo in today’s gun control debates, I think there need to be more compromises.”
1) “Don’t you think buying such a dangerous weapon is a bit overkill?”
No. I don’t. The 2nd Amendment was drafted so that the people would have the ability to resist a tyrannical government. You cannot resist if you do not have the tools with which to do it.
2) “I think that too many people live in fear as a result of the mindset that things like the NRA have put them in.”
That is nonsense. I have carried a gun every day for the last 38 years. I fear nothing and no one. NRA members are among the most honest, law-abiding and secure people in this country. They are doctors, lawyers, iron workers, carpenters, soldiers, police officers, business owners, executives, computer programmers, firefighters and more. They span all walks of life. There are over 5 million of them and that number is growing.
3) “They are always thinking ‘someone’s out to get me’.”
This is incorrect. What you have described is paranoia. I spend time with gun owners every day. I have yet to meet a law-abiding gun owner who thought that someone was out to get him/her. I have met many gun owners who understand the dangers of being defenseless following a natural disaster, during an active shooter incident or when being robbed. There is an enormous difference between being paranoid and being prepared to defend oneself.
4) “With some mods, the ar15 can be turned into a fully automatic gun, the choice of domestic terrorists all over the US.”
This is also nonsense. First of all, the choice of domestic terrorists all over the world is explosives. The second choice is generally an AK style rifle because they can be purchased on the black market anywhere in the world.
A civilian AR15 is a semi-automatic firearm, no different in operation from my semi-automatic deer rifle and much less powerful than my deer rifle. The parts which are required to turn an AR15 into a select fire M16, for example, will not fit in an AR15 lower receiver. The receivers are designed differently. Likewise, the bolt carrier group in an AR15 is not designed to handle the stress or rapid action of fully automatic fire. Are there clunky, makeshift, unreliable ways to make a semi-automatic rifle fire in a fully automatic mode? Yes. However, they are unreliable. They are also completely illegal. No further restrictions are required.
5) “The gun is a killing machine…”
This is just an anti-gun talking point. It’s hyperbolic nonsense. Any firearm can kill. In fact, guns are designed to kill. They were always intended to do two things: feed us when we’re hungry (hunt), and defend us against those who would do us harm (fight). That is what they are for. Therefore, all firearms are killing machines.
6) “and 556 is military grade ammo.”
This is also nothing but hyperbole meant to frighten and confuse people. .556 NATO/223 Remington is used by military and law enforcement. It is also used for hunting and competition. The same can be said for 7.62 NATO/.308 Winchester, which happens to be what my deer rifle is chambered for. You might also reference U.S. 30-Govt-06/30-06 Springfield, which has been a standard medium game hunting round for many decades. It started out as the standard rifle ammunition of the United States Military and was used during World War II in such famed rifles as the M1 Garand. By the way, all of the rounds I listed are much more powerful than .556/223 Remington.
7) “I mean don’t you think there should be heavier restrictions on the ar15?”
No. I don’t. There should be less restrictions, not more. Legal restrictions do nothing to prevent criminals and terrorists from acquiring whatever weapons they desire. The only thing that is accomplished by legal restrictions is the disarming of law abiding people. The 2nd Amendment is clear, “… the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
8) “With all the hullabaloo in today’s gun control debates, I think there needs to be more compromises.”
Translated, this statement means, “I think gun owners and 2nd Amendment advocates should compromise their positions so that gun control can become more restrictive.”
You don’t want compromise. You want gun owners to compromise. You have no desire for gun control advocates to compromise. That is the liberal mindset.
Let me be clear. There can be no compromise of my God-given right to self-preservation and self-defense. That is what the 2nd Amendment was drafted to protect.
Thank you for being clear. And thank you for the videos