Parente: Digging gun rights out of a State House Dumpster

[beevul]

My opponent was relentless. "And where is it written, that a man has the right to a private weapon? Where is that written?"

"I thought you would never ask." I responded and read from the book's withered pages:

"Whereas by a Resolve of the General Court of this State, past the 2nd of April 1778, for raising 1300 men for North River, it was among other Things resolved that every person who supply himself with a good firelock and bayonet, cartouche-box, haversack and blanket ... shall receive, agreeable to a resolve by the Congress, ... two dollars for the use of his firelock, bayonet and cartouche and two dollars for the use of his blanket and four dollars in like proportion for either of them."

According to the Acts and Resolves of 1779, "after producing proper vouchers they were so provided. It is my considered belief the farmers earned tacit approval of private gun ownership." In conclusion, I said, "Had not the farmers brought their private weapons to the Revolutionary War we might not be standing here today."

I called for a roll call vote. The proposal to restrict ownership of private weapons went down in flames.

Speaker McGee leaned over the rostrum, and said, "where did you find that one?"

I smiled and said, "The Dumpster, sir."

http://www.milforddailynews.com/opinion/x42388263/Parente-Digging-gun-rights-out-of-a-State-House-Dumpster

Marie Parente is a Democrat.

And this is quite interesting, and a worthwhile read.

All in all a neat story.

Enjoy. :toast:

[GreenStormCloud]

1. Unfortunately, the farmer's long rifle was a poor military weapon.

It was great for sniping, but that was about it. The problem was the extremely slow rate of sustained fire that it had. To get the range and accuracy that the long rifle had, the ball had to fit snugly in the bore. After a few shots, the powder of those days fouled the bore, so that new balls could not be forced down the barrel. The rifle had to be cleaned. That was no problem for hunting, but was a disaster for open field combat.

The musket had a loose fit between the bore and the ball, so the fouling build up didn't hinder reloading. The musket wasn't as accurate, but it did OK with the massed fire of the day. The two lines would start shooting at each other, trying to concentrate their fire on a part of the other's line that they thought to be vunerable. If they could force part of the other line to crumble, then they would charge with the bayonet into the gap and rupture the enemy line, getting in behind the enemy. The enemy's forces would then turn into a rout.

From a well prepared, defensive position, the long rifles could also gave good service. But wars are rarely won by being on the defensive.

That is why they had armories in those days. The farmers kept their long rifles at home, and the muskets were stored in an armory. Nobody really wanted a personal musket as they were very poor hunting weapons.

[oneshooter]

3. Actually yes and no

Many farmers had muskets, they could be fairly accurate to 50-75 yards with a PATCHED round ball. But were mostly used as shotgun with a load of swan shot, gravel or formed small shot. The armories were for those who had no musket, mostly city dwellers. When Militia Company's were formed and trained (usually once a week, after church) those what had them brought em, those that didn't got one from the Armory. When weekly drill was completed then the muskets were cleaned, oiled, and returned to the Armory. Powder and shot for live fire drill was also drawn from the Armory.
The Long Rifle had it's place in the line of battle. Manny a Hessian and British officer felt the final agony well before the battle lines were joined. A good shot with a 45-50 cal rifle was deadly out to 200 yards or more!

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

[OttavaKarhu]

4. Tell that to Simo Hayha n/t

[GreenStormCloud]

5. Could you elaborate, please?

I'm sorry, but I don't know who that is.

[oneshooter]

6. He was a Finnish sniper during the Winter War.

Between 30 November 1939 and 13 March 1940 he was officially credited with 505 kills. Most all of these were with a issue M28 Mosin-Nagant rifle with issue iron sights.He also used Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun, for a reported 200 additional kills. Bringing his credited kills to at least 705. All of were accomplished in less than 100 days.

The Winter War was an illegal invasion of Finland by the Soviet Union.
Wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_H%C3%A4yh%C3%A4

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

[GreenStormCloud]

7. Quite a bit different from a 1770s Long Rifle.

Further, I will NEVER say that snipers are not valuable in war, because they are very valuable. But I will say that they are not a main battle rifleman.

[oneshooter]

9. The"snipers" of the 17-1800 were a part of the line of battle

They simply were able to begin firing sooner than the others. As for long rifles not being a "main battle weapon" have you read about the "Battle of Kings Mountain"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kings_Mountain

http://www.tngenweb.org/revwar/kingsmountain.html

Mostly riflemen.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

[GreenStormCloud]

10. Long Rifles were extremely effective in the ensconsed defender role.

They had longer range and greater accuracy, albiet a horribly poor sustained rate of fire. The Revolutionary milita was firing using cover and movement, retreating when necessary, then returning to the base of the hill to shoot some more. The British forces were loyalist militia and I wonder what they were armed with as they were militia also.

By "line of battle" I am referring to an infantyman who stood in the formations of the day that opposed each other in open fields. Many battle of the period were engagements of formations lined up against each other. In those type of battles, the musket's much faster rate of sustained fire was a battle winner.

The Long Rifle gave a very good account of itself at the Alamo, but Santa Anna just had too many troops. It won at San Jacinto also, but the Mexican Army was attacked while they were at seista, and Santa Anna was literally caught with his britches down as he was in his tent with the lovely Miss West.

[oneshooter]

11. The Torie Militia were armed with the standard musket

75cal.smoothbore firing a 70cal rb propelled with 80gr of 2fg (musket grade) black powder. The commander of the British forces was Maj. Patrick Ferguson, inventor of the breech loading Ferguson Rifle. Unfortunate for him these rifles were pulled from service by Generals who disliked/distrusted them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Ferguson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_rifle

Had he lived, and his rifle been officially adopted for general issue, the War of 1812 may well have turned out differently.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

[spin]

2. Fantastic story. Thanks. (n/t)

[virginia mountainman]

8. That was a great post...THANKS!! NT

[derby378]

12. WOW. Great story!

Many thanks for sharing! :hi: