VA: Happiness is a warm (and fuzzy) handgun

[HerrGlock]

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/062008/06222008/386778
Happiness is a warm (and fuzzy) handgun
Date published: 6/22/2008

A recent pro-gun letter ["Concealed carry could save your life," June 10] citing the "facts" (2.5 million crimes per year prevented and lower crime rates) is straight out of the NRA "Handbook of Handy Facts" and got me to wondering when was the last time I heard the National Rifle Association mention anything about rifles.

It's all about handguns, carry permits, and a warm, fuzzy feeling of safety because I'm packin' heat. Or maybe the people around me are packin'.

Somehow the thought of more guns on the street does not make me feel safer.

We're being sold the Hollywood version of guns--a world where everyone's a dead-eye dick and hits what they're aiming at. First shot, every shot.

Reality paints a very different picture. News reports and those police-video TV programs show that, during times of extreme stress, even trained professionals will simply fill the air with lead and then check on casualties. Everybody hit the dirt!

Handguns are difficult to master, hard to aim, inherently inaccurate, and have a nasty habit of being stolen, borrowed by the kids, or simply going off at the wrong time.

Either don't buy one or please leave it at home. Speaking of home, I recommend a short-barrel 20-gauge pump-gun and a hot load of 00 buck. No aiming required; just point and click.

Jeff Van Hartesveldt
King George

(Comments block at the bottom of the page)

Letters to the Editor:
letters@freelancestar.com

[HerrGlock]

(One of the comments):

If you outlaw handguns, then only criminal's kids will accidently shoot themselves! You can have my handgun when you pry it out of my cold, dead, paranoid, mentally disburbed hands...

[rvrctyrngr]

:wow: Wow. :wow: It takes a lot of talent to roll-up just about every gun cliche ever uttered into less than a dozen sentences.

I'm duly impressed.

P.S...I don't really give a rat's patootie what makes HIM feel safe.

[Daryl in Az]

Reality paints a very different picture. News reports and those police-video TV programs show that, during times of extreme stress, even trained professionals will simply fill the air with lead and then check on casualties. Everybody hit the dirt!


Either don't buy one or please leave it at home. Speaking of home, I recommend a short-barrel 20-gauge pump-gun and a hot load of 00 buck. No aiming required; just point and click.


What a nice, well thought out letter. First, he doesn't want handguns because even trained professionals sometimes just "fill the air with lead"...

Then the author suggests a 20 gauge shotgun with 00 buckshot, which is guaranteed to "fill the air with lead", no matter who's using it.

BTW, have any of you ever tried to buy 20 gauge shotshells loaded with 00 buckshot? Nobody makes them. With a 20 gauge, number two or thee buckshot is about the best you can do from what I've seen.

Daryl

[Gunnut 45/454]

My Response to Jeff! :supergrin:

Jeff Van Hartesveldt
In response to you letter to the editor. I have a few bones to pick with you. From your letter I take it you do not carry a pistol for personal protection? That's fine you have that right! But you don't have the right to tell others they can't carry one if they choose too. See that's the Beauty of our country!! We can do what we want pretty much as long as it's within the law. And a citizen has that right in Virgina! It is legal to both carry concealed with permit or open carry without a permit! Also I question your experience with firearms? Cause if you had anthing more then the basic knowlegde of firearms you'd know people who carry a fiream for protection usually practice way more then Cops!! A cop is only require to quallify maybe twice a year? Most civilian shooters shoot atleast weekly if not more-I know I do! And unlike the cops you see on TV we don't sprey and pray! With practice comes discipline and knowledge of one firearm. Most CCW shooters will not keep a firearm if it's not accurate,I know I will not! I think unlike you I grew up with firearms,hunting, target shooting and personnal protection along with 24 years military service. Do firearms prevent/deter crime you bet-don't believe me go talk to some criminals and ask them if they prefer there victims armed or unarmed-I think you know the answer to that question!! Oh and by the way if you plan on hitting a target with that 20 ga at 3-7 yds you better aim just alittle bit trust me!!

[Obvinityel]

Dear Mr. Van Hartesveldt, you are a fool and should not be parading your ignorance in public, unless you enjoy the mockery you shall surely receive, and richly deserve (for example, you recommend 20 gauge shotguns loaded with 00 buckshot, which does not exist, and has never existed. 20 gauge buckshot is commonly loaded with No. 3 buckshot pellets. You might as well recommend Star Trek phasers for self-defense). Pump shotguns are a poor defensive choice for most people. They are long, awkward, and require two hands. Lawful defenders often require free use of their weak hands to fend off an attack, dial 911 on a telephone, open or close doors, shield innocents, or other tasks. Additionally, anyone who has had basic miltary training - which I doubt you have - knows how easy it is to disarm an untrained person holding them captive with a rifle or shotgun. The best defensive tool - bar none - for a law-abiding citizen is a reliable, compact handgun of adequate power. A cell phone and pepper spray are also valuable, but they are far down the the list of importance. The fact that you assert shotguns do not need proper training or aiming - "just point and click" - proves you are an ignoramus, and a dangerous one, at that. You know not of which you speak, and thus you will do us all a favor by keeping your mouth shut. Thanks, and have a nice day.

[Habu]

:wow: Wow. :wow: It takes a lot of talent to roll-up just about every gun cliche ever uttered into less than a dozen sentences.

I'm duly impressed.

P.S...I don't really give a rat's patootie what makes HIM feel safe.

+1 to that! This idiot can leave HIS gun at home, mine goes with me everywhere. Period.

And uh, I've, uh........never seen a handgun "......simply going off at the wrong time."............I've seen negligent idiots make foolish mistakes, but I don't think that means they just "go off"..........

Typical ignorance from the left. As always, their arguments are based on emotion rather than logic.

[novaDAK]

Either don't buy one or please leave it at home. Speaking of home, I recommend a short-barrel 20-gauge pump-gun and a hot load of 00 buck. No aiming required; just point and click.
This guy needs to stop taking what he sees in movies and on TV as reality. Why doesn't this guy keep his ideas to himself and quit acting like he's smarter than everyone else even when he proves he doesn't know a damn thing about defensive firearms?

[RussP]

This guy needs to stop taking what he sees in movies and on TV as reality. Why doesn't this guy keep his ideas to himself and quit acting like he's smarter than everyone else even when he proves he doesn't know a damn thing about defensive firearms?
HE doesn't know that, or, he does and is just trying tto tick you off! :thumbsup: