My New Year's Resolutions concerning guns

[derby378]

I freely admit to borrowing from David Codrea of Guns Magazine and his War on Guns blog, but here I go anyway:

1. Stop making excuses and update the Amendment II Democrats site, already.

Yes, I update the Facebook page. Yes, I also update the MySpace blog. Why can't I get it together and maintain the mother site? It's a bit more tedious, yes, but it is supposed to be a timely resource.

2. Fire an automatic weapon.

I don't need an NFA tax stamp just to shoot a machine gun - and I don't have to travel to Knob Creek or Wyandotte to do it, either, although that would be rather fun. I know of at least one gun range not far from home where I can get my hands on a full-auto Uzi, so maybe I should push myself and see how well I can handle it.

3. Push for official recognition of the Second Amendment in our state Democratic Party platform.

I choose this task for various reasons. First, I chair a gun owners' caucus in my state. Second, at our last state convention, Democrats approved a resolution supporting the Second Amendment, but it didn't make it into the text of our platform. This year, it's time to finish the job.

4. Do something creative.

If you're good at shooting guns, you know how to destroy things, even if it's only paper targets. I should counterbalance the ability to destroy with the ability to create. But what I should create will take some thinking. Music? Sculpture? Art? Even start a little herb garden? Whatever my avenue of creation is, it should be a discipline that takes a little effort so that I can feel a true sense of satisfaction from my labors.

5. Try to keep gun activism positive.

No rancor, no bitterness, no insults. Frustration is normal - if you're a Democrat, you should be frustrated, because it constantly drives you to seek something better than the status quo. But frustration should not be channelled into a club with which to abuse people on the other side of the fence. Activism can be a slow process, but a steady one, too.

[sui generis]

1. my New Year's resolution about guns

1. try to avoid the bullets coming back down in my neighborhood on New Years.

2. try to get the police to give a damn about people confusing firearms with fireworks

3. try to give a damn about positive gun activism.

:P

[derby378]

5. We have a problem with celebratory gunfire, too

I do sympathize with you on that. On New Year's, some damn fool was firing a pistol as fast as he could into the air. There's a creek not far from where I live, and maybe this guy was hoping that the bullets would all land in the creek, but in any dense suburban setting, it's still reckless and stupid. And if any of those shots hurt or killed someone, he's responsible for firing the shot that caused the injury.

[tburnsten]

9. As long as the shots are all more or less directly up they will be pretty safe

once you introduce a little arc in the trajectory they no longer come to a total stop and fall at terminal velocity. That's dangerous.

[eqfan592]

2. Good list :)

As for something creative, you could build a gun from scratch, like an AR-15 or even a AK clone. Might not be what you had in mind, but it IS something that can feel very satisfying when youre finished! :)

[tburnsten]

10. Or even a Glock with no Glock factory parts! N/T

[eqfan592]

12. lol, nice :D (nt)

[tburnsten]

13. Those Lone Wolf frames look pretty good

and they will probably work better than the (EXPENSIVE!) CCF Raceframes did.

You might need to get an OEM striker sleeve actually, not sure if anyone makes those...

[safeinOhio]

3. #5 is great

Even if some one calls you a derogatory name, it does nothing to support your cause to do the same. If you have no empathy for others and cannot see anything in another point of view, you have zero chance of changing their view.

[X_Digger]

4. My #4 is to get back into leatherworking..

This is before trimming the holster to match the gun's controls

[michreject]

15. Bersa Thunder?

Best 299.00 gun on the market.

[X_Digger]

16. Yup, in a soon to be tuckable IWB. n/t

[MineralMan]

6. No. 5 is very important.

Calling someone a moron for not knowing the difference between a clip and a magazine does nothing but solidify the opinion that gun owners are angry people.

Same thing goes with "automatic" and "semi-auto" and "assault rifle" definitions. There are valid definitions in both directions, as seen in the AWB and state laws. All the anti-gunner has to do is quote the definition from the legislation.

Other similar responses to ignorance should also be avoided. Instead, a polite educational post would do a lot more good.

Ugly rhetoric spawns more anti-gunners. That is an absolute fact.

[slackmaster]

7. Those are all good. I'm going to continue my mission of teaching firearm safety to young people

And to adults who have never had an opportunity to learn how to safely handle and enjoy firearms.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

8. Whant to create something? How about a circa 1770

flintlock rifle?

I just yesterday finished building one from parts purchased from Track of the Wolf http://www.trackofthewolf.com/%28S%28fij1yu55dkgp4haxadnuekzp%29%29/index.aspx

It took me three years but I'm so proud of it, I could spit.

I'll post pics later today under "It is finished" in the guns forum.

Kind of gives you the best of both worlds, creativity and guns.

[spin]

11. K&R: great resolutions (n/t)

[Tejas]

14. Mine: 2 Bohicas, a 24" and a 33".

For a start :)

[taurus145]

17. #2

If you choose to do it at Knob Creek, I know where you can use a basement apartment nearby free during your visit.