Gov declares state 2nd amendment sanctuary

[BMW R1100]

It would be difficult to shoot up a store, school, office, or much of anything with a flintlock musket.

[McBain II]

Originally Posted by BMW R1100

You know, of course, that the 2nd amendment does NOT guarantee that every Tom, Dick, and Harry can arm themselves and go into the street like Marshall Dillon. Read what this says

That's actually quite exactly what the original intent of the 2nd Amendment was. They very much intended that the common man would personally posses the kind of weaponry used in their militia service.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

You see that part about the "well regulated militia"? Do you think Tom, Dick, and Harry are going to spend even a modicum of time being "well regulated"? If every gun owner was required to attend classes, perform drills, and be well regulated, we wouldn't have a mass shooting incident every week.

Two problems here. First, there has been a very substantial rise in tactical shooting classes and events. Guys like Larry Vickers, John Lovell and the late Jeff Cooper's Gunsite Academy are training thousands of people a year. This current generation of civilian shooters are arguably the best equipped and trained in history, and it should only improve in time.

Second, the idea that mass shootings are happening because shooters aren't trained enough is--and there's no gentle way to put this--shockingly uninformed.

This was written when the most effective firearm to be had was a single-shot musket, not an AR-15 that fires ammo developed to fight wars. What possible need could anyone have for such a weapon? Hunting? BS, the bullet tears up too much flesh, which is what they were designed to do. You want your deer meat so damaged it it pretty much worthless? Plinking? Really? You plink with a .22. Home security? Even Tom, Dick and Harry know that the best home defense weapon is a pump-action shotgun. No one needs a black rifle unless they're on a battlefield.

If you believe that the 2nd Amendment is tied to militia service (and it appears that you do) then by proxy you have to concede the point that the militia can only be effective if they have access to contemporary military arms. To argue the contrary would be nonsensical.

There are a multitude of uses for the modern sporting rifle. Yes, the AR-15 is commonly used in hunting, especially smaller game animals like hogs and varmints. While you're correct that the .223 round isn't ideal for hunting deer, the AR-15 can be chambered in many calibers that are more suitable. As for the damage done by the .223, this makes me question if you have even a basic understanding of modern ballistics. Have you ever seen the damage done by a .308, which is a common deer hunting round?

Sure, you can do plinking with a .22, but that is rather limited. Some people like to train with the same round they'd use in a practical situation. Some others enjoy more long range shooting. Who are you to tell them that they must not?

I'd challenge your assertion that a pump action shotgun is the best home defense weapon. It's a heavy recoiling weapon with a stiff manual action that makes it harder to handle for people of smaller stature, the elderly/infirm and women. Due the NFA barrel length restrictions, it is a larger and more unwieldy weapon. It has a very limited capacity and range. It is prone to overpenetration. An AR-15 suffers none of those drawbacks. I own both a pump shotgun and an AR-15 and in the case of a home invasion, I'd pick the AR-15 every time.

Most veterans, and I am one, think laws regarding firearms should be strengthened, not relaxed.

And with all due respect, your status as a veteran doesn't make your opinion any more informed or valid, nor does it give it any greater weight.