FOX News Story - Why I Own an Assault Rifle

[Wiz-of-Awd]

Interesting...

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/07/26/why-own-assault-rifle/#ixzz21kMfGXYI

A.W.D.

[adampolo13]

I didn't like the way it ended... He never explained why he owned a semi-automatic rifle yet called it an asault weapon. Anti crap written to sound like it came from a gun owner.

[senorpeligro]

There's a lot of that going around, I saw something like that on The Atlantic today. I won't provide a link.

[JON KARGATHALON]

He had some valid points, but just as he said, he was speaking for both sides, and ended up not being too rational about CCW. Yes training is key, But if people are dying around you, FOR GODS SAKE take the shot! even if you had very little training! if it may prevent further death, TAKE THE ****** SHOT!

[Jason_2111]

There are some very valid points in the article, but keep in mind where it is coming from.
This is a civilian that isn't a more hardcore enthusiast or former military person. He is definitely much more the "average Joe" than even your standard calgunner.
A completely untrained person with a gun is not very much more effective than a person with no gun, IMHO. If the author is going to be armed, a big part of that is training.

I know dozens of people that would have dropped that fool in the theater, or at least made a valiant effort. Then again, these are all former LE, former military, or just folks that actively train.

Unfortunately, just being willing to own a gun isn't good enough. It's not some magic talisman that keeps the boogeyman away... you gotta have training.

(I know, preaching to the choir... but it emphasizes my point that the article has a narrow view from a true average Joe, not an average calgunner.)

[JON KARGATHALON]

There are some very valid points in the article, but keep in mind where it is coming from.
This is a civilian that isn't a more hardcore enthusiast or former military person. He is definitely much more the "average Joe" than even your standard calgunner.
A completely untrained person with a gun is not very much more effective than a person with no gun, IMHO. If the author is going to be armed, a big part of that is training.

I know dozens of people that would have dropped that fool in the theater, or at least made a valiant effort. Then again, these are all former LE, former military, or just folks that actively train.

Unfortunately, just being willing to own a gun isn't good enough. It's not some magic talisman that keeps the boogeyman away... you gotta have training.

(I know, preaching to the choir... but it emphasizes my point that the article has a narrow view from a true average Joe, not an average calgunner.)

Nope your absolutely right, i was just saying that someone with a gun and minimal training is better than fish in a barrel, like it ended up being.

[SoCalXD]

Weak!

He is pretty much saying that an armed citizen is a danger in public. That goes against the opinion of just about every deputy sheriff I know who works the street.

[PackingHeatInSDCA]

When I hear this I automatically tell pepole to watch the compelling testimony of Suzanna Gratia Hupp after she survived the Luby's massacre in 1991 which took the life of 23 people, including her parents. this is really must see video for anyone throwing out any opinions (regardless of which side you are on):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1u0Byq5Qis

also found a good arguement from a LEO on the icnn something page:

The following is a quote from BanditLEO on the iCNN page. BanditLEO is a law enforcement officer:


Does anyone know what the one common denominator is in every massacre that has happened lately? Colorado, Sweden, Columbine, etc... The bad guys had guns and no one else did. The reason why 70 people were injured is because that city had an ordinance stating that it is a crime to carry a concealed weapon inside a business that has posted signs barring firearms. Did that stop the gunman? No it did not and thus left a room full of victims with no means to protect themselves and their loved ones. Does anyone know that in april of this last year there was another shooting in Aurora Co? No because it did not reach massacre status because an off-duty officer shot and killed the individual after he had killed his first victim. Had that off-duty officer not been there it would have been another massacre, yet one law abiding citizen with a firearm was able to end the threat quickly and with minimal lives lost.

[UFO hunter]

This is the article that I'd write:

Why I Own an Assault Rifle

Because I can.

Take that, biatches!

[Untamed1972]

A few thoughts:

I think he, like many avg. citizens, is under the misconception about how much firearms training and practice LE actually get. Unless you're SWAT....it ain't that much. And even then.....as he stated.....military/LE have no idea how they're gonna react until it actually happens. But does that mean someone should not train as best they can anyway?

Having options (weapons, training, awareness, etc) are all better than having nothing.

Ultimately it seems like he was just ranting that people should not be politicizing this. It's a tragedy...pray for and mourn the victims and leave it at that. Which I can agree with.

[Vlad 11]

"assualt rifle cartridges" .... Really???

Once again the media gets the facts wrong ,,, and who cares about some randoms guys opinion as if he is some authority on typical gun owners and their ability. He doesn't even know that what he owns is not an 'assault rifle'

[Lagduf]

I doubt the validity of his claim that he owns an assault rifle.

If it's semi-automatic then by definition it's not an assault rifle.

And if the author is so clueless with regard to what kind of rifle he owns then well...let's just say I didn't bother to take much stock with regard to what he had to say about arms.

[1BigPea]

Meh...that was a waste of my time.

[Glock22Fan]

"Owning a fiream doesn't make you a shooter any more than owning a piano makes you a musician - and for much the same reasons" Col. Jeff Cooper

[TempleKnight]

He had some valid points, but just as he said, he was speaking for both sides, and ended up not being too rational about CCW. Yes training is key, But if people are dying around you, FOR GODS SAKE take the shot! even if you had very little training! if it may prevent further death, TAKE THE ****** SHOT!

I went to see "Dark Knight Rises" Tuesday and I couldn't help scoping out the exit doors during the previews. I always sit in the second row up from the rail; it's less than 10 yards from anywhere the shooter would have been. I believe I would have taken the shot. I do have a LTC; I am fortunate to live in Placer county where they trust us.