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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 05:26 PM Feb 2013

Joe Biden Discounts Semi-Assault Weapons: ‘Buy A Shotgun’

Source: TPM

Vice President Joe Biden participated in a Facebook Town Hall hosted by Parents Magazine on Tuesday as part of the administration's push to reform the nation's gun laws. Responding to a question about a possible ban on assault weapons, Biden advised that shotguns provide better protection.

"If you want to protect yourself get a double barrel shotgun, you don't need an AR-15," Biden said, referring to a type of semi-assault weapon. "You don't need an AR-15, it's harder to aim, it's harder to use...buy a shotgun. Buy a shotgun."

Biden also spoke about owning guns himself last month before the US Conference Of Mayors meeting in Washington, using the tale as a way to relate to fellow gun owners. “I have a 20 gauge and a 12 gauge shotgun,” he said.

Watch video of Biden's remarks at the Facebook town hall here:



Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/joe-biden-discounts-semi-assault-weapons-buy-shotgun
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Joe Biden Discounts Semi-Assault Weapons: ‘Buy A Shotgun’ (Original Post) DonViejo Feb 2013 OP
I find the opposite to be true Mojorabbit Feb 2013 #1
Sorry but the AR15 should be banned and illegal, ease of use or no. n/t SylviaD Feb 2013 #3
I was commenting on his assertion. Mojorabbit Feb 2013 #5
disagree Deep13 Feb 2013 #104
Much as a disagreement should be aimed towards a relevant and stated premise LanternWaste Feb 2013 #122
Trust me,... Spitfire of ATJ Feb 2013 #126
Some would take away choices while saying that women should not own firearms for self-defense. AnotherMcIntosh Feb 2013 #11
So an AR-15 semi-automatic is now a "woman's right" issue? Hugabear Feb 2013 #15
Whether you believe yourself to have superior knowledge as to what is best for home defense, AnotherMcIntosh Feb 2013 #25
So what did all those women do during the AWB ban? Hugabear Feb 2013 #55
I'm sure some purchased semi-auto carbines (AR-15s, AKs, etc.) during the "AWB ban." Eleanors38 Feb 2013 #76
Agree. The ban should not be based upon "looks." Ban all semi-autos, including Hoyt Feb 2013 #118
Because they're scared? bitchkitty Feb 2013 #142
Thank you for making the case for the slippery slope... Eleanors38 Feb 2013 #207
I'd be happy to do the psych exam Shivering Jemmy Feb 2013 #227
In a close neighbor hood an AR15 is one oldbanjo Feb 2013 #145
You are correct indie9197 Feb 2013 #169
Exactly. OGKush Feb 2013 #176
yes, IMO there are better weapons bossy22 Feb 2013 #36
I still think he's right zipplewrath Feb 2013 #20
a standard 18" pump action shotgun will do the trick bossy22 Feb 2013 #26
Yeah, poorly stated zipplewrath Feb 2013 #34
The police are fighting the same people that you will be fighting if they don't show up oldbanjo Feb 2013 #151
The youth model takes care of those drawbacks and is legal. yellowcanine Feb 2013 #53
Horseshit, you need to ame a shotgun if you oldbanjo Feb 2013 #152
But you don't have to aim an AR-15? Hugabear Feb 2013 #175
A shot gun has to be aimed at close range just like a rifle. oldbanjo Feb 2013 #149
A youth model 20 gauge doesn't require a lot of upper body strength and is easier to yellowcanine Feb 2013 #46
I disagree. Travis_0004 Feb 2013 #98
A light 20 gauge shotgun will kick harder than a oldbanjo Feb 2013 #153
+1 darkangel218 Feb 2013 #81
try a smaller shottie pasto76 Feb 2013 #120
Of course what you WANT is a round moving around the house at 2500 feet per second..... cliffordu Feb 2013 #135
if you are talking about weight. timdog44 Feb 2013 #157
With due respect, a 20 gauge is easy for anyone to handle. rhett o rick Feb 2013 #173
Maybe an MS exception? treestar Feb 2013 #224
Here we go... Kingofalldems Feb 2013 #2
But what's easier to kill Kindergartners with? nt onehandle Feb 2013 #4
Not sure. ag_dude Feb 2013 #6
Sorry, innocent children's right to live trumps your right to own a military grade weapon Taverner Feb 2013 #14
Is "military grade" the new meme? hack89 Feb 2013 #23
My Kalashnikov is definitely military-grade - and perfectly Constitutional derby378 Feb 2013 #35
Very precious salt for the wounds of twenty dead six year school children. LanternWaste Feb 2013 #127
You can use those kids as props all you want... derby378 Feb 2013 #185
Here comes the gun-lobby to once again quibble over common-sense terminology Hugabear Feb 2013 #80
well I guess an AR-15 does not meet that Duckhunter935 Feb 2013 #111
thats still a bad definition bossy22 Feb 2013 #121
AR-15s are a 50 year old design hack89 Feb 2013 #141
If it's "merely" a rifle... Hugabear Feb 2013 #159
By its truest factual definition it is a rifle bossy22 Feb 2013 #162
Add to that Duckhunter935 Feb 2013 #165
Why don't you ask them? hack89 Feb 2013 #168
A shotgun was used for hunting now oldbanjo Feb 2013 #155
So you want my deer rifle, eh? sir pball Feb 2013 #193
Don't pretend to be stupid Taverner Feb 2013 #205
They are meaningless, made up terms hack89 Feb 2013 #206
So Ruger found a loophole Taverner Feb 2013 #209
There is nothing uniquely military about semiautomatic weapons. hack89 Feb 2013 #213
what is a military grade weapon? bossy22 Feb 2013 #28
By that logic, should be ban alcohol. Travis_0004 Feb 2013 #101
why the hell not? frylock Feb 2013 #138
They tried that once before and it oldbanjo Feb 2013 #156
Logic treestar Feb 2013 #225
You do not have a "right" to an assault weapon Hugabear Feb 2013 #17
cough slackmaster Feb 2013 #31
Show me where that was used by a federal court to strike down the AWB Hugabear Feb 2013 #60
The AWB evaporated on its own accord, as it was designed to do slackmaster Feb 2013 #68
And the 2nd Amendment gives Congress the power to REGULATE ownership of firearms Hugabear Feb 2013 #74
No. Like the rest of the Bill of Rights it limits the power of Congress. Read the preamble. slackmaster Feb 2013 #83
So then Congress does NOT have the power to regulate firearm ownership at all? Hugabear Feb 2013 #96
Looks like logic is another one of your not-so-strong subjects slackmaster Feb 2013 #109
Either Congress can or cannot regulate gun ownership Hugabear Feb 2013 #161
Of couse Congress can regulate it, based on the Interstate Commerce clause slackmaster Feb 2013 #163
So Congress absolutely can regulate ownership of assault weapons Hugabear Feb 2013 #164
They are just smart enough to talk about it but not actually do anything. hack89 Feb 2013 #170
Yes, I'm well aware of the NRA's stranglehold on Congress Hugabear Feb 2013 #174
It is the voters and not the NRA that concerns Congress hack89 Feb 2013 #183
I've never said anything to the contrary. slackmaster Feb 2013 #188
Except by "regulate" you seem to mean "prohibit" sir pball Feb 2013 #194
This message was self-deleted by its author rhett o rick Feb 2013 #143
At least he didn't shoot you. n/t bitchkitty Feb 2013 #214
Well, since nobody has got around to defining "assault weapon" in the first place... derby378 Feb 2013 #38
what do your rights have to do with your wants? frylock Feb 2013 #137
It's a good thing that criminals NEVER use shotguns to commit multiple homicides slackmaster Feb 2013 #192
With a Shotgun SCVDem Feb 2013 #7
There's no other sound like a 12ga being racked. Light House Feb 2013 #9
You don't rack a double-barrel though. NT NickB79 Feb 2013 #19
Well, ya kinda do if you put it in a rack. Light House Feb 2013 #22
Some have experienced jamming while using Winchester shells -- even with an otherwise reliable 870. AnotherMcIntosh Feb 2013 #30
I didn't know this. Light House Feb 2013 #32
Rem 870 formercia Feb 2013 #33
Sorry. Light House Feb 2013 #41
No problem formercia Feb 2013 #49
quite possibly the best overall home defense weapon bossy22 Feb 2013 #58
Do you mean Remington Model 870? I have 2 of those, among others. Eleanors38 Feb 2013 #85
My mistake. Light House Feb 2013 #89
Saw it, no problem! Eleanors38 Feb 2013 #102
Thats a Remington 870. oldbanjo Feb 2013 #158
Thanks. Light House Feb 2013 #166
I have NEVER understood the fascination with pump shotguns Xithras Feb 2013 #215
Sounds like a very nice shotgun. Light House Feb 2013 #219
Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. ManiacJoe Feb 2013 #182
Do YOU feel lucky? SCVDem Feb 2013 #197
Marines know what they have been trained with. ManiacJoe Feb 2013 #210
I know I served in the Marines. SCVDem Feb 2013 #211
"I know I served in the Marines." ManiacJoe Feb 2013 #212
Thank you for the advice, Elmer Fudd NickB79 Feb 2013 #8
Biden should realize that if a 12ga coachman was better than a pump, the police would be using them. AnotherMcIntosh Feb 2013 #12
Police have lots of weapons that civilians do not need, like AR-15 assault rifles mwrguy Feb 2013 #37
Logically correct bossy22 Feb 2013 #44
All lethal weapons mwrguy Feb 2013 #57
The fallacy in your logic is that bossy22 Feb 2013 #61
Very few law abiding citizens have to deal with home invaders mwrguy Feb 2013 #77
Very few people ever have to deal with a fire in their home bossy22 Feb 2013 #97
In Chicago, cops do not respond to all 911 calls. This includes burglaries, unless a homeowner has AnotherMcIntosh Feb 2013 #119
You're kidding, Light House Feb 2013 #66
Ban them, then eventually the bad guys won't have any. mwrguy Feb 2013 #73
You mean like alcohol during prohibition? Light House Feb 2013 #84
And once we get alcohol off the streets we won't have alcoholics. Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2013 #78
nobody has a physical addiction to assault weapons mwrguy Feb 2013 #79
You'd never know that by listening to gun-nuts - even here on DU Hugabear Feb 2013 #82
It's a fetish mwrguy Feb 2013 #87
that mentality is what is wrong in this whole debate bossy22 Feb 2013 #91
Yep. And they are the ones .... oldhippie Feb 2013 #201
oh...so its all okay if it's an addiction? bossy22 Feb 2013 #86
addiction is obviously a harder nut to crack than "I want it just because" mwrguy Feb 2013 #90
so because it's harder we shouldn't do anything about it? bossy22 Feb 2013 #105
Jailing alcoholics is insane mwrguy Feb 2013 #107
how so? bossy22 Feb 2013 #110
Prohibition was not a matter of physical addiction Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2013 #92
Well, as said by one of the gun-controllers above, they "have to start somewhere." AnotherMcIntosh Feb 2013 #124
Alcoholics or people under the influence treestar Feb 2013 #226
You realize some of your allies-in-gun-control say "no one is gonna take away your arms." Eleanors38 Feb 2013 #94
I'm with Dianne Feinstein, I'd love to get them all turned in at once, but mwrguy Feb 2013 #103
If you are like Dianne Feinstein, then you also own a firearm and believe that only the political AnotherMcIntosh Feb 2013 #125
So there you have it: Prohibitionism, even as others say "no one's going to take your guns away." Eleanors38 Feb 2013 #208
I understand your position, even if Feinstein had a license to pack... Eleanors38 Feb 2013 #218
What about AR-15s disqualify them from private ownership? krispos42 Feb 2013 #114
I have a 12 ga. double Hawes coachman formercia Feb 2013 #39
Plus, he told his wife if there is ever a problem... indie9197 Feb 2013 #220
How exactly is a shotgun easier to aim? NickB79 Feb 2013 #10
This message was self-deleted by its author SCVDem Feb 2013 #13
Yes and no. formercia Feb 2013 #43
You'd need one HELL of a choke to expand a group more than that poster described. AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #88
In my Double there is a lot of difference in group size formercia Feb 2013 #113
I have never seen a 2 foot spread at 10 feet even from my wife's un-choked AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #116
Wut mikeypooh Feb 2013 #136
Nothing wrong with the shotgun formercia Feb 2013 #139
Maybe if it's a rifled slug barrel sir pball Feb 2013 #195
The shotgun bore is a smooth Cylinder formercia Feb 2013 #199
That's about the only other explanation sir pball Feb 2013 #200
If it's not reliable, it doesn't get used. formercia Feb 2013 #203
Shotgun pellets scatter... IthinkThereforeIAM Feb 2013 #48
This is not accurate. AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #95
My BS Meter just pegged. formercia Feb 2013 #115
yeah, you have fun with that. AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #117
Read it and weep. AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #123
Unchoked remington, 12 feet, 3.5" spread, OH I'M FULL OF BS HUH? AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #128
I'm the guy with the Hawes double coach Shotgun formercia Feb 2013 #131
I also have a double barrel coach gun with the minimum legal length barrel and no choke. AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #132
They need better arguments than that hack89 Feb 2013 #16
So arm our soldiers with dbl barrel shotguns, not those useless rifles! Blandocyte Feb 2013 #18
Biden is discussing Home Defense, not Combat formercia Feb 2013 #45
Apples and oranges. yellowcanine Feb 2013 #56
We do One_Life_To_Give Feb 2013 #198
If I were to get a gun for home... one_voice Feb 2013 #21
double barrel shotgun? bossy22 Feb 2013 #24
An AR-15 is much easier to use hack89 Feb 2013 #27
Easier to use, not necessarily to stop an intruder in poor light. yellowcanine Feb 2013 #62
Shot guns need to aimed very carefully hack89 Feb 2013 #140
I don't need the Vice President or anyone else telling me what I need and do not need. slackmaster Feb 2013 #29
So if you decide that you need a flame-thrower or a bazooka mwrguy Feb 2013 #42
Since neither of those happen to be regulated items, I will just sit here and laugh at your reply. slackmaster Feb 2013 #50
Flame throwers and bazookas are legal to own. Light House Feb 2013 #54
So are assault rifles, doesn't make it right. mwrguy Feb 2013 #59
Should be. Light House Feb 2013 #63
flame throwers are weapons of mass murder? bossy22 Feb 2013 #67
And gee, we even had a Constitutional amendment (the 18th) to outlaw booze derby378 Feb 2013 #71
He was asked a question and gave his opinion. yellowcanine Feb 2013 #65
I'm just responding to the opinion he expressed, as is my right. slackmaster Feb 2013 #69
And I think yours is thin skinned. So that makes it even. yellowcanine Feb 2013 #72
Next, Biden advised our men and women in uniform to trade in their rifles for shotguns derby378 Feb 2013 #40
We are capable SCVDem Feb 2013 #47
Then you're telling me I can have all the 20-round magazines I want? derby378 Feb 2013 #51
No Problem! SCVDem Feb 2013 #108
Under that reasoning, bring back quill pens and otherwise censor posts on the Internet. AnotherMcIntosh Feb 2013 #130
Exactly! derby378 Feb 2013 #186
How dare the VP have an opinion!! Kingofalldems Feb 2013 #52
An opinion from the former Senator who pushed for the change in the bankruptcy laws so that AnotherMcIntosh Feb 2013 #189
This message was self-deleted by its author Dash87 Feb 2013 #64
I've never owned a gun Dyedinthewoolliberal Feb 2013 #70
Civilians shouldn't be able to own anything stronger than the police have in their caches. judesedit Feb 2013 #75
that is pretty much the case now bossy22 Feb 2013 #129
Full auto is usually worthless SCVDem Feb 2013 #133
The posting and subsequent comments are all well and good, but the ignore the fundamental question.. Veilex Feb 2013 #93
Cue the gun know-it-all chorus... Politicub Feb 2013 #99
Who's thunk it? Joe Biden engenders a debate over the best home-defense firearm! Eleanors38 Feb 2013 #100
What the hell is a "semi assault weapon?" Deep13 Feb 2013 #106
How about I buy the same rifle, but without a pistol grip? krispos42 Feb 2013 #112
no, that will cause brains to explode Duckhunter935 Feb 2013 #134
You make a very good point. We need to outlaw all semi-automatics. Thanks. nm rhett o rick Feb 2013 #150
Your position is logically consistent. krispos42 Feb 2013 #167
You may be able to dance around the problem but if we can get any of these rhett o rick Feb 2013 #171
If I really wanted to kill as many people as I could sir pball Feb 2013 #196
There are an awful lot of guns intended for killing humans in the country krispos42 Feb 2013 #221
Uhm... they also sell wet water, I heard. 2ndAmForComputers Feb 2013 #222
Absolutely mwrguy Feb 2013 #179
Good for Joe Progressive dog Feb 2013 #144
From personal experience only Betsy Ross Feb 2013 #146
Well, that's what I did. NaturalHigh Feb 2013 #147
I go along with Joe Pakid Feb 2013 #148
Biden is da man iandhr Feb 2013 #154
A Mossberg AS-20 Bantam semiauto shotgun is 5.5 lbs and holds 6 shells. truthisfreedom Feb 2013 #160
Pistols are a pretty good alternative to assault weapons, too. Pterodactyl Feb 2013 #172
As an alternative, sure. ManiacJoe Feb 2013 #184
Obama's seccond term...is this what he wants? quadrature Feb 2013 #177
The thread title sounds likes a sales pitch... Deep13 Feb 2013 #178
A Gun is a Tool No More, No Less Wolf Frankula Feb 2013 #180
I knew there was a reason he was called Ol' Shotgun Joe. (nt) harmonicon Feb 2013 #181
Gun people a question: AngryAmish Feb 2013 #187
Message auto-removed CharlieVicker Feb 2013 #191
Some debate on this, but buckshot will go through walls... Eleanors38 Feb 2013 #216
subsonic 300 blk with sbr and suppressor stamps is the best HD ileus Feb 2013 #190
That's gonna be mine .... oldhippie Feb 2013 #202
Kick this for Joe and all Democrats Kingofalldems Feb 2013 #204
I kind of agree. Because it was Joe Biden, many folks felt "safe" in discussing some... Eleanors38 Feb 2013 #217
W. Kamau Bell had this on "Totally Biased" last night--hilarious. TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #223
A double-barrel shotgun? Beacool Feb 2013 #228
Yes, ban that shit.. and-justice-for-all Feb 2013 #229

Mojorabbit

(16,020 posts)
1. I find the opposite to be true
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 05:29 PM
Feb 2013

I don't have a lot of upper body strength as a woman with MS and a shotgun is hard as hell for me to use. The AR 15 is a breeze.
Perhaps from a man's perspective it is easier to use?

Mojorabbit

(16,020 posts)
5. I was commenting on his assertion.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 05:42 PM
Feb 2013

Not the issue of whether they should be banned or not.
Peace, Mojo

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
122. Much as a disagreement should be aimed towards a relevant and stated premise
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:54 PM
Feb 2013

"prohibitions should have functional reasons, not because they look scary..."

Much as a disagreement should be aimed towards a relevant and stated premise, not on one you made up to better fit your narrative.

Six of one and half a dozen of the other, you see...

 

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)
126. Trust me,...
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:57 PM
Feb 2013

....the sound of cocking a pump action will send a burglar flying out the window.

No window?

 

AnotherMcIntosh

(11,064 posts)
11. Some would take away choices while saying that women should not own firearms for self-defense.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 05:50 PM
Feb 2013

Some of these people claim that their intolerant position is the position that should be taken by all good liberals and that only the evil NRA favors any kind of firearm ownership.

These self-appointed "liberal" spokespersons (including that gun-owning hypocrite Dianne Feinstein) do not speak for me.

It seems to me that an AR-15 is a good choice for a woman for home defense. Not only are they lighter, they kick less.

If a person has the body strength, a reliable 12 ga pump, such as a Remington 870, is a good choice and a better choice than a double-barreled shotgun. In contrast to a pump, a double-barreled shotgun limits a person's ability to reload. If a person knows that, they may be inhibited to shoot when necessary. If they are unwilling to shoot and a home invader or other attacker realizes that, the show of force may simply anger an attacker.

Hugabear

(10,340 posts)
15. So an AR-15 semi-automatic is now a "woman's right" issue?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 05:59 PM
Feb 2013

This thread is the first time I've ever heard anyone try to make that claim.

Assault weapons should be BANNED. Period. There are better options for home defense than an assault rifle.

 

AnotherMcIntosh

(11,064 posts)
25. Whether you believe yourself to have superior knowledge as to what is best for home defense,
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:14 PM
Feb 2013

who are you to believe that you or anyone else can take away the choice of women or men to own an AR-15 for home defense.

I've trained women how to shoot. I know, as most people know, women commonly do not have the same hand strength and wrist strength as men.

Do you favor a pistol for home defense for women? Since you should know that women tend to have less wrist strength than men, there is a greater opportunity for them to jam a pistol by limp-wristing it. Even a long gun can be jammed with limp-wristing, but a person who holds a rifle with two hands is much less likely to do so.

Do you favor a rifle other than "an assault rifle" (whatever than means)? Well, good for you. Disapproving of "assault" rifles and those who own them, even if AR-15's are used to clear ranch land of rodents called prairie dogs to protect cattle against broken legs from stepping in prairie-dog holes, seems to be the current politically correct stance.

No one should have a firearm in the home for self-defense unless you approve?

Sorry. I'm an old fashioned FDR-type liberal. I'm not buying it.

Hugabear

(10,340 posts)
55. So what did all those women do during the AWB ban?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:47 PM
Feb 2013

Sorry, there is nothing you can say that will convince me that women - or anybody else - NEEDS to have an assault weapon for home defense.

No one should have a firearm in the home for self-defense unless you approve?


Nice strawman - nowhere in this thread did I suggest that "no one should have a firearm"
 

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
76. I'm sure some purchased semi-auto carbines (AR-15s, AKs, etc.) during the "AWB ban."
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:07 PM
Feb 2013

By now, you should have realized that the 10-yr. ban did not prohibit the sale & possession of these weapons, only certain accouterments. Many of these weapons were sold during the "ban."

When will controllers get over their obsession with "looks" and the firearm equivalent of "tail fins?" Is the allure of prohibition of ANYTHING so great as to overcome that highly-touted notion of "common sense?" There are many semi-auto rifles and carbines which will be completely unaffected by any of the proposed bans before congress. Is it just about some kind of scalp on the wall? Some way of saying: We beat 'em, we beat 'em!? If so, then I can understand anyone imbued with the looks-are-everything culture we live in being so overcome that they another "ban" will do some good.

But don't think for a minute that it will stop crime, or prevent mass-shootings. And to that extent, some controllers are being selfish in promoting schemes which will not work, and putting less emphasis on measures which might.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
118. Agree. The ban should not be based upon "looks." Ban all semi-autos, including
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:49 PM
Feb 2013

Last edited Tue Feb 19, 2013, 11:12 PM - Edit history (1)

hand guns.

And, if we continue to sell the dang things, anyone who wants/covets the "scary looking" ones should be required to pass an exhaustive psychological exam.

Why exact does someone covet the "scary" looking ones?

bitchkitty

(7,349 posts)
142. Because they're scared?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:02 PM
Feb 2013

Maybe it's compensation for someone who feels weak and powerless when left to their own devices.

That said, I don't have a problem with someone owning a handgun, and keeping it in their home, if they've been properly screened and have a license. Some neighborhoods are dangerous. (Mine is - I don't go out after dark, and I have some awesome locks, but no gun.)

 

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
207. Thank you for making the case for the slippery slope...
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 04:33 PM
Feb 2013

Would you like to perform the psychological exam?

Need to clarify the "scary" looking ones. To me, some of 'em are butt-ugly, based on old technologies and "the latest!" accessories.

oldbanjo

(690 posts)
145. In a close neighbor hood an AR15 is one
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:07 PM
Feb 2013

of the safest guns to have it will not hit the next door neighbors house, the bullet will break up after going thru one wall, a shotgun with buckshot will go thru four or more walls and hit the neighbors house.

indie9197

(509 posts)
169. You are correct
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 11:32 PM
Feb 2013

I didn't believe it so I googled it and .223 caliber rounds (AR-15) penetrate only through one layer of drywall before fragmenting. Bullets from .45 caliber hand guns and buckshot from a 12 gauge shotgun easily go through three layers of drywall.

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
36. yes, IMO there are better weapons
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:29 PM
Feb 2013

but the problem is those are weapons that many in our party would like to see banned as well

weapons such as
Pistols
Revolvers
Pump-action/semi-auto shotguns

Here is the issue....when you start going by the logic that "weapons used by Law enforcement/military should not be in the hands of the civilians" without delving deeper into "why" they are used, you will end up taking some of the best weapons off the market

I find it silly and insulting when a politician says that all I should have is a 1 or 2 shot shotgun, and anything more is crazy.

If they truly believe in allowing americans to own weapons for the primary purpose of self defense they are going to have to allow weapons that are good at "killing" people. A pump action shotgun, in the wrong hands, can have a devestating effect, especially in such things as "contained" mass shootings.

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)
20. I still think he's right
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:06 PM
Feb 2013

Upper body strength not withstanding, if you are going to be "effective" in a home defense situation, you really want a shot gun. Yes, it's going to be a two handed weapon if you can't handle the weight. But it doesn't require alot of accuracy, it won't be particularly lethal through walls and doors, and it will stop the forward motion of an attacker. The AR-15 will tend to shoot anyone in the vicinity, even through doors and walls. It needs to fairly well aimed. And except for maybe the best of body mass shots, an attacker is likely to continue towards you, even if just on shear momentum.

Sad part is that probably what you really want is a "sawed off" shotgun, i.e. a short barreled, pistol gripped weapon that is illegal in many states last I knew.

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
26. a standard 18" pump action shotgun will do the trick
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:16 PM
Feb 2013

the problem is that such weapons are common in police arsenals so it would fall counter to the prevailing "logic" that "weapons the police use should not be available to citizens"

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)
34. Yeah, poorly stated
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:27 PM
Feb 2013

I tend to think of a weapon with something between 12 and 15 inches. But it is a poorly worded guideline to suggest "if the police use it, you don't need it". It's more of the converse, "Just because the police have them, doesn't mean you should". Of course it isn't automatic that you SHOULDN'T either.

oldbanjo

(690 posts)
151. The police are fighting the same people that you will be fighting if they don't show up
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:19 PM
Feb 2013

so you need the weapons that they need.

yellowcanine

(35,690 posts)
53. The youth model takes care of those drawbacks and is legal.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:43 PM
Feb 2013

Light and easy to handle. The barrel is longer than a sawed off but the shorter stock makes up for that a bit. And as you pointed out, aiming is not really needed, just pointing.

oldbanjo

(690 posts)
149. A shot gun has to be aimed at close range just like a rifle.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:16 PM
Feb 2013

One of my shotguns has a 18 1/2" barrel and a pistol grip. A bullet from an AR15 will stop you. A shotgun with buckshot will shoot thru a lot more walls than an AR15.

yellowcanine

(35,690 posts)
46. A youth model 20 gauge doesn't require a lot of upper body strength and is easier to
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:37 PM
Feb 2013

stop an intruder with one shot at close range in poor light than an AR 15.

 

Travis_0004

(5,417 posts)
98. I disagree.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:22 PM
Feb 2013

I think 12 gauge is a better round than 5.56, but I think that 5.56 is more effective than 20 gauge.

cliffordu

(30,994 posts)
135. Of course what you WANT is a round moving around the house at 2500 feet per second.....
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 08:43 PM
Feb 2013

'SPECIALLY if you get some of the new rounds for that schweet piece...

"For general issue, the U.S. military adopted the M855A1 round in 2010 to replace the M855. The primary reason was pressure to use non-lead bullets. The bullet is made of a copper alloy slug with a steel penetrator, reducing lead contamination to the environment. The M855A1 offers several improvements other than being lead-free. It is slightly more accurate and has an increased penetrating capability. The round can better penetrate brick, concrete, and masonry walls, as well as body armor and sheet metal. The propellant burns faster which decreases the muzzle flash, an important feature when fired from a short barreled M4 carbine. Though the M855A1 is more expensive to produce, its increased performance compensates. One possible danger is that it generates more pressure in the chamber when fired, slightly increasing the risk of catostrophic failure of the weapon, though this has yet to occur.[28] From fielding in June 2010 to September 2012, Alliant Techsystems has delivered over 350 million M855A1 Enhanced Performance Rounds."[29]
[edit]

Cause then you can shoot through the walls and kill the people in the next apartment.

Do some push ups. OR get a .357 magnum. OR a 20 gauge shotgun.

timdog44

(1,388 posts)
157. if you are talking about weight.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:35 PM
Feb 2013

Check it out. Shotguns can weigh less than an AR 15. Pulling the trigger I would guess to be the same.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
173. With due respect, a 20 gauge is easy for anyone to handle.
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 12:00 AM
Feb 2013

Shotguns may not be as effective (capable of killing, killing, killing) as a m-fucking-16, but a shotgun is enough to scare the shit our of anyone in your home. And it maybe less apt to kill those you love.

The gun idiots wouldnt agree. They want to have the ability to lay down blanket firepower that will kill anything in the area. If your children die, too bad it is just collateral damage.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
224. Maybe an MS exception?
Sun Feb 24, 2013, 07:38 PM
Feb 2013

People who really think they need a gun to defend themselves would need one they can handle. But then, are there other alternatives?

 

Taverner

(55,476 posts)
14. Sorry, innocent children's right to live trumps your right to own a military grade weapon
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 05:58 PM
Feb 2013

Just saying

hack89

(39,171 posts)
23. Is "military grade" the new meme?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:13 PM
Feb 2013

what rifle in the past 100 years was not "military grade" at some point? Lets not forget that bolt action rifles were the main infantry weapon in WWII.

Do you really mean "modern"?

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
127. Very precious salt for the wounds of twenty dead six year school children.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:57 PM
Feb 2013

"My Kalashnikov is definitely military-grade - and perfectly Constitutional..."


Very precious salt for the wounds of twenty dead six year school children, one might think.

Woo-hah, indeed...

derby378

(30,252 posts)
185. You can use those kids as props all you want...
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 10:13 AM
Feb 2013

And if that doesn't work, try stamping you foot and holding your breath.

Hugabear

(10,340 posts)
80. Here comes the gun-lobby to once again quibble over common-sense terminology
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:09 PM
Feb 2013

I think it's pretty clear when someone refers to "military-grade" weaponry, we're talking about weaponry currently used by the military - ie assault weapons, machine guns, etc - not what was used by the military 50 years ago.

 

Duckhunter935

(16,974 posts)
111. well I guess an AR-15 does not meet that
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:39 PM
Feb 2013

A MILITARY GRADE rifle has select fire to allow burst fire. Since my civilian M-4 carbine does not have this feature it is not military grade. It is also not a machine gun.

Thanks for the schooling on this.

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
121. thats still a bad definition
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:53 PM
Feb 2013

because then by that definition all modern firearms (anything except a musket) should be banned

The military uses
Pump-action/Semi-auto shotguns- a weapon that happens to be one of the top choices for home defense
Pistols- another weapon that happens to be used heavily for defense
Bolt action rifles with scopes- which happen to be one of the primary weapons hunters and target shooters use.

But this question needs to be asked- if it is such a "common sense" definition- why is every assault weapon ban law on the books define it significantly different- to the point that large number of guns are prohibited by some but allowed by others?

hack89

(39,171 posts)
141. AR-15s are a 50 year old design
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:02 PM
Feb 2013

so there is that. Do we have to wait until they invent phasers before it is ok to own AR-15s?

It is merely a rifle. Like every generation before, a large group of men in the military become familiar and comfortable with a certain type of rifle. The AR-15 is a 50 year old design - is what two generations of men think of when they hear the word rifle.

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
162. By its truest factual definition it is a rifle
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 10:03 PM
Feb 2013

Just like by the truest factual definition a Ferrari is "merely" an automobile.

I can't tell you why others like them- only why i do...here are a list of the few reasons
Accurate
Comfortable to fire
Reliable
Looks "cool"- yes, that is most certainely a legitimate reason to by something. We buy things that we find aesthetically pleasing
Ammunition is easy to find for it
Accessories are easy to find for it
Parts are easy to find for it


 

Duckhunter935

(16,974 posts)
165. Add to that
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 10:31 PM
Feb 2013

It is a modular design meaning I can change the upper receiver to what caliber I want to fire without having to buy another rifle. 22 caliber plinking ammunition is cheap. I still have the option of.223 if I want to fire at longer range targets. It is also the basic type of weapon I trained on.

hack89

(39,171 posts)
168. Why don't you ask them?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 11:20 PM
Feb 2013

me and my family shoot them because they are the standard for competitive target shooting. Very accurate, very reliable, very comfortable to shoot. We don't obsess - we just want to be competitive when we enter competitions.

oldbanjo

(690 posts)
155. A shotgun was used for hunting now
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:29 PM
Feb 2013

the military use it, would that made it illegal, an AR15 is not military grade.

sir pball

(4,706 posts)
193. So you want my deer rifle, eh?
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 11:44 AM
Feb 2013

I have a rifle that is literally the exact same thing the Army and Marines use. Remington Model 700 in .300 Winchester Magnum, issued as the M24. I could walk into an armory and exchange any part on it with a genuine, military-issued one with absolutely no problem whatsoever. Mine is even heavy-barreled, accurized, and painted scary black!

I am being a bit disingenuous; it's an attempt to point out that you don't want to control "weaponry currently used my the military" but rather weaponry that resembles currently used military rifles. I'm not going to get into worrying about whether pistol grips and flash hiders affect the usability of a rifle, point is functionally and mechanically an AR is a hell of a lot less like its military issue counterpart than the most popular bolt-action rifle in the country. It's a lot more intellectually honest and I find respectable to simply say either "I don't like the way 'assault weapons' look and want them banned" or "I really want ALL semiautomatics and/or detachable magazine guns banned" instead of using Sugarmannn-esque tactics to try to confuse and cow people to your opinion

 

Taverner

(55,476 posts)
205. Don't pretend to be stupid
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 03:49 PM
Feb 2013

You're not stupid, so stop asking dumb questions

You know what military grade is...

You know what an assault weapon is...

It's the NRA crazy organ that belts out these dumb "What do you mean by "the"?" type questions

hack89

(39,171 posts)
206. They are meaningless, made up terms
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 04:19 PM
Feb 2013

that have no technical meaning.

We are talking about semiautomatic rifles that have certain cosmetic features.

Here is the stupidity of the entire AWB in two pictures:

This gun is specifically called out in the legislation as being illegal under the AWB:




This gun is specifically called out in the legislation as being legal under the AWB:



They are both Ruger Mini-14s

http://www.ruger.com/products/mini14TacticalRifle/models.html

What is going to happen when gun manufacturers simply make their rifles look like the bottom rifle? There will be no more "military grade assault rifles ". Will we be any safer?

 

Taverner

(55,476 posts)
209. So Ruger found a loophole
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 05:21 PM
Feb 2013

And exploited said loophole - that doesn't make the terms meaningless

The focus should be on capacity though - in clear terms - over 6, you need a special license

hack89

(39,171 posts)
213. There is nothing uniquely military about semiautomatic weapons.
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 05:53 PM
Feb 2013

The internal workings of a Mini-14 are the same as an AR-15 and there is nothing military about a mini-14. It has been a civilian gun from the get go. A few cosmetic changes do not make it "military" grade.

As for your wish -is not even possible to pass a watered down AWB. Anything stricter is firmly in the realm of fantasy.

That is what always fascinates me about many hard core gun controllers. I can understand and appreciate the source of their passion but I am constantly flabbergasted how disconnected from American social and political reality they are.

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
28. what is a military grade weapon?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:18 PM
Feb 2013

any modern firearm can have a military purpose

gandpa's deer rifle- it can make one hell of a sniper rifle

standard double stack 9mm pistol- great side arm for soldiers

pump action shotgun for home defense- great breaching weapon for CQB

 

Travis_0004

(5,417 posts)
101. By that logic, should be ban alcohol.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:23 PM
Feb 2013

Drinking and driving kills lots of people, a lot of whom are in kindergarten. Should we ban alcohol. . . . for the children.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
225. Logic
Sun Feb 24, 2013, 07:41 PM
Feb 2013

Alcohol does not exist for the sole purpose of using it to get drunk in order to drive and crash into other cars/people.

Hugabear

(10,340 posts)
17. You do not have a "right" to an assault weapon
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:01 PM
Feb 2013

There is absolutely nothing in the 2nd Amendment that guarantees your right to own any kind of firearm you want.

 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
68. The AWB evaporated on its own accord, as it was designed to do
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:57 PM
Feb 2013

The Ninth Amendment means people have a right to own, say, or do ANYTHING that hasn't been explicitly prohibited through due process of law.

Hugabear

(10,340 posts)
74. And the 2nd Amendment gives Congress the power to REGULATE ownership of firearms
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:04 PM
Feb 2013

Which is exactly what Congress has been trying to do, even though the NRA and gun-lovers seem to think we should have an unrestricted right to arms.

Hugabear

(10,340 posts)
96. So then Congress does NOT have the power to regulate firearm ownership at all?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:21 PM
Feb 2013

Silly me. And here I thought Congress could mandate such things as background checks, place restrictions on fully automatic weapons, etc.

Maybe I'll just go down to the local gun shop and ask to buy a fully automatic machine gun. I'll tell them that slackmaster told me that Congress isn't allowed to place any restrictions at all, so if they could just please hand it over no questions asked.

Hugabear

(10,340 posts)
161. Either Congress can or cannot regulate gun ownership
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:57 PM
Feb 2013

Either you accept that gun ownership can be regulated, or you reject the notion. There is no in between.

If Congress can regulate fully automatic machine guns, then they can regulate semiautomatic guns.

Please explain how this is wrong.

 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
163. Of couse Congress can regulate it, based on the Interstate Commerce clause
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 10:19 PM
Feb 2013

The same justification that serves as the federal government's regulation of agriculture and pretty much everything else it regulates. I have never claimed otherwise.

If Congress can regulate fully automatic machine guns, then they can regulate semiautomatic guns.

Please explain how this is wrong.


It isn't wrong, it's just off topic with respect to this sub-thread that started with you declaring in reply #17 that people don't have the right to own some arbitrary class of firearms that isn't even defined.

BTW, manufacturing of and commerce in all firearms is regulated.

hack89

(39,171 posts)
170. They are just smart enough to talk about it but not actually do anything.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 11:47 PM
Feb 2013

they are not stupid - they want to be reelected.

Hugabear

(10,340 posts)
174. Yes, I'm well aware of the NRA's stranglehold on Congress
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 12:22 AM
Feb 2013

Although it does appear the NRA is losing its public appeal. Hopefully sane heads will prevail, and one of these days we'll get meaningful hun legislation passed.

hack89

(39,171 posts)
183. It is the voters and not the NRA that concerns Congress
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 07:31 AM
Feb 2013

the NRA only has 4 million members - a tiny fraction of gun owners.

sir pball

(4,706 posts)
194. Except by "regulate" you seem to mean "prohibit"
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 11:49 AM
Feb 2013

None of the court decisions claim there can't be regulation; Heller allows for some pretty strict stuff: licensing, registration, and a near-complete ban on possession outside the home. What you can't do is ban a type of weapon, nor "regulate" it to the point of a defacto ban - which bodes pretty poorly for any new AWBs but happily forces the discussion to more constructive and effective legislation like Colorado's, which incidentally I support 100%.

Response to slackmaster (Reply #83)

derby378

(30,252 posts)
38. Well, since nobody has got around to defining "assault weapon" in the first place...
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:30 PM
Feb 2013

...I think the Republic will not go kablooey if my pistol were to hold 11 shots instead of 10.

frylock

(34,825 posts)
137. what do your rights have to do with your wants?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 08:46 PM
Feb 2013

and let's get real here, the WANT to own a kick-ass military style carbine far exceeds the RIGHT to own, or more specifically the NEED.

 

SCVDem

(5,103 posts)
7. With a Shotgun
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 05:45 PM
Feb 2013

Close counts!

That's the point.

Usually just sliding the action will get the desired result.

 

Light House

(413 posts)
22. Well, ya kinda do if you put it in a rack.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:08 PM
Feb 2013

But I was talking about something like what I have, a Winchester Model 870.

formercia

(18,479 posts)
33. Rem 870
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:26 PM
Feb 2013

You can get them on Sale for less than $225.
Get the optional Choke accessory kit and install the modified Choke Tube.12 ga. #2 High Velocity Steel 1 1/8 oz Shot can be found at the Big Box store we like to hate for under $9. a box of 25. Shot is better in an Urban environment, since it's less likely to kill or injure your neighbor across the Street.

 

Light House

(413 posts)
41. Sorry.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:33 PM
Feb 2013

Meant the Remington 870 12 ga.



Mine is just out the box, no frills, plain, as it comes shotgun.

Can ya tell I'm not well versed on firearms?

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
58. quite possibly the best overall home defense weapon
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:49 PM
Feb 2013

is the one pictured above.

I will qualify this with the fact that everyones situation is different but if you are "unsure" falling back to the "good ole" Rem 870 tactical is never a bad choice

Xithras

(16,191 posts)
215. I have NEVER understood the fascination with pump shotguns
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 06:48 PM
Feb 2013

In theory, you should only have to use a weapon on an intruder who intends to do serious bodily harm to you. Racking that shotgun does two things: 1) It tells the intruder exactly where you are (and where to point their gun, if they have one). 2) It confirms to the intruder that you have a slow-firing single shot weapon.

My home is defended by a Benelli M2 Tactical with an 18" barrel and a +3. IMHO, it's probably the single best home defense shotgun made by any manufacturer, anywhere. I'd even argue that it may be one of the best home defense weapons you can put in your home...period. I'd never pick a handgun over it in a life or death situation. Sadly, even though it's a shotgun, my particular configuration will be banned if Feinsteins AWB goes through because it's a semiauto and has a pistol grip under the stock. Still, it's available in a standard stock, and that won't be going anywhere.

 

Light House

(413 posts)
219. Sounds like a very nice shotgun.
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 08:48 PM
Feb 2013

I'm not a big gun type guy and the only firearms i own are my shotgun, my 1911 Colt .45 and my Winchester 30-30 rifle.
That's all I really want for my needs.

ManiacJoe

(10,136 posts)
182. Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 07:27 AM
Feb 2013
With a Shotgun
Close counts!
That's the point.
Usually just sliding the action will get the desired result.

Hollywood movies are not good places to learn about firearms.

Shotguns need to be aimed just like rifles do.

Buckshot does not spread like Hollywood suggests. In reality, 12 gauge 00 buckshot from an 18 inch barrel has an average spread of 1 inch per yard of travel from the end of the barrel. At 10 yards (a long hallway) you are only going to spread 10 inches on average.

You cannot miss fast enough to win. Only hits count.

If the Bad Guy can hear you racking the pump shotgun, it means you entered the danger zone with an unloaded gun.
 

SCVDem

(5,103 posts)
197. Do YOU feel lucky?
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 12:35 PM
Feb 2013

If someone wants to break in and hears you chamber a round, do you think they will be doing the math on their odds of your missing?

Now it's you in the fantasy world where marauding gangs of murderers and rapists have targeted only you.

I walked armory guard in the Marines with a short barrelled 12 ga.

But what do the Marines know?

ManiacJoe

(10,136 posts)
210. Marines know what they have been trained with.
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 05:31 PM
Feb 2013

You post suggests you know what you have seen in Hollywood movies.


Shotguns are good for some situations, carbines for some others. Training and good tactics are always important.

 

SCVDem

(5,103 posts)
211. I know I served in the Marines.
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 05:39 PM
Feb 2013

A fact you dismiss.

You are living in the movies if you think you can aim a carbine while shitting your pants from fear.

Welcome to the real world.

Go away now! I hear Wayne calling you with a fresh batch of fear mongering!

ManiacJoe

(10,136 posts)
212. "I know I served in the Marines."
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 05:49 PM
Feb 2013
A fact you dismiss.

A fact unknown until now. Thank you for your service. While I would never dismiss that, at the moment I am questioning its relevance to this thread.

You are living in the movies if you think you can aim a carbine while shitting your pants from fear.
Welcome to the real world.

You seem to be suggesting that aiming a shotgun is any different from aiming a carbine. It is not. However, your choice of bullet vs shot vs slug will certainly need to play into your tactics.


Go away now! I hear Wayne calling you with a fresh batch of fear mongering!

Now you are just being silly.

NickB79

(19,063 posts)
8. Thank you for the advice, Elmer Fudd
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 05:46 PM
Feb 2013

A shotgun IS an excellent home defense weapon, but a double-barreled shotgun? Biden shoots himself in the foot with that remark (pun intended).

If I have to use a shotgun for home defense, I'll respect the years of experience most police departments have racked up and go with a pump-action 12-gauge equipped with an extended tube magazine and 18" barrel, minimum. I'm not going to rely on a skeet gun for home defense, if home defense were something I was really worried about.

I wonder if Biden would be cool with this shotgun though: http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/shotguns/ksg/

 

AnotherMcIntosh

(11,064 posts)
12. Biden should realize that if a 12ga coachman was better than a pump, the police would be using them.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 05:52 PM
Feb 2013

mwrguy

(3,245 posts)
37. Police have lots of weapons that civilians do not need, like AR-15 assault rifles
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:30 PM
Feb 2013

Just because they work well for the cops doesn't mean that anyone should be able to get them.

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
44. Logically correct
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:37 PM
Feb 2013

it depends "Why" they use the weapon. But I'm curious, what other weapons that are in police arsenals that you believe citizens shouldn't have access to?

mwrguy

(3,245 posts)
57. All lethal weapons
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:48 PM
Feb 2013

Citizens don't need firearms.

Once we get the guns off the street then the cops won't need them either, and they can be like British Bobbies.



bossy22

(3,547 posts)
61. The fallacy in your logic is that
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:52 PM
Feb 2013

the impetus for owning firearms is to defend yourself from people with firearms. that is not necessarily the case. I own one with the expectation (and with statistics behind me) that if i encounter a home invader, chances are he will not have a gun him.

I don't want to be a "parity" with a home invader, I want to be the one with superior force.

mwrguy

(3,245 posts)
77. Very few law abiding citizens have to deal with home invaders
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:07 PM
Feb 2013

If you are that scared of impending invasion then get a dog and put the cops on speed-dial.

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
97. Very few people ever have to deal with a fire in their home
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:22 PM
Feb 2013

but we own fire extinguishers.

Do you know how many times the myth of the family dog being "a guard dog" has been debunked. good guard dogs are ones that are anti-social and have violent tendencies- which begs the question, why would I want such a creature around my family? Chances are the loveable friendly labrador that licks every strangers face, will probably do the same thing to an intruder.

And the cops?- in most cases you will get at best a 5-7 minute response time. So what happens in those 5-7 minutes?

 

AnotherMcIntosh

(11,064 posts)
119. In Chicago, cops do not respond to all 911 calls. This includes burglaries, unless a homeowner has
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:52 PM
Feb 2013

gone through their house to verify that a burglar or home invader is still in the house.

Even if a burglar or home invader is still in the house, it's likely that the police will take more than 5-7 minutes.

mwrguy

(3,245 posts)
73. Ban them, then eventually the bad guys won't have any.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:02 PM
Feb 2013

I know it won't happen overnight, but we have to start somewhere.

 

Light House

(413 posts)
84. You mean like alcohol during prohibition?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:11 PM
Feb 2013

How about the drugs that have been banned. How hard is it to get just about any kind of prohibited drug in this country despite the decades old drug war?

Hugabear

(10,340 posts)
82. You'd never know that by listening to gun-nuts - even here on DU
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:10 PM
Feb 2013

Gotta have their precious assault weapons

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
91. that mentality is what is wrong in this whole debate
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:15 PM
Feb 2013

you label the opposite side as having a mental disorder so you justify "expelling" them from the conversation. Then you make the claim that "no one can can justify the use of xx weapon"

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
86. oh...so its all okay if it's an addiction?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:12 PM
Feb 2013

but shouldn't it be the opposite- shouldn't we want to control addictive things that almost always cause extreme personal and societal harm when someone is addicted?

mwrguy

(3,245 posts)
90. addiction is obviously a harder nut to crack than "I want it just because"
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:15 PM
Feb 2013

The latter of which is the gun nut's positions.

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
105. so because it's harder we shouldn't do anything about it?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:25 PM
Feb 2013

why don't we try to stop it before it even becomes a problem. Why don't we ban the consumption and possession of alcohol? and i mean a true strict ban, with real prison time for violators.

Do you know how many children we will protect? 1 out of 5 children grow up in a household with an alcoholic.

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
110. how so?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:34 PM
Feb 2013

we get them away from the rest of society. We get them out of homes with children. We get them out from behind the wheel.

We will also send a strong message that consumption of alcohol will not be tolerated. Yes, it won't stop all alcohol consumption, but just imagine all the lives we could save if the consumption of alcohol in this country was lowered to the level of other illicit drugs

Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts)
92. Prohibition was not a matter of physical addiction
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:16 PM
Feb 2013

You get points for orginality though.

Seriously though, can you really suggest that a ban will disarm criminals? You can't disarm the world because the world doesn't care what you want. Guns will always be a fact of life. All you can do is render good people defenseless against those already determined to create victims.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
226. Alcoholics or people under the influence
Sun Feb 24, 2013, 07:46 PM
Feb 2013

Don't drink so they can kill people. They don't have a bottle of Scotch sitting at home in case they need to kill an intruder.

They don't get drunk so they can get in the car and kill someone.

An alcoholic doesn't carry his hip flask around in case someone attacks him, so he can get behind the wheel to kill the attacker.

This is one of the top ten most illogical correlations.

 

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
94. You realize some of your allies-in-gun-control say "no one is gonna take away your arms."
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:16 PM
Feb 2013

Are they full of it? Are you going to do this?

mwrguy

(3,245 posts)
103. I'm with Dianne Feinstein, I'd love to get them all turned in at once, but
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:25 PM
Feb 2013

it will probably take an incremental approach to get the job done.

Those increments should be as big as practical, though.

 

AnotherMcIntosh

(11,064 posts)
125. If you are like Dianne Feinstein, then you also own a firearm and believe that only the political
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:57 PM
Feb 2013

elites should be able to do so.

 

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
208. So there you have it: Prohibitionism, even as others say "no one's going to take your guns away."
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 04:35 PM
Feb 2013
 

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
218. I understand your position, even if Feinstein had a license to pack...
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 07:24 PM
Feb 2013

What I find interesting is how many times I've heard from gun-control posters who ridicule pro-2A folks as paranoid, by saying: "No one wants to take your guns away."

And yet, here you are. Just asking, but do some of these folks ever take issue with you, or are they in on the same talking point (wink-wink) so that they might seem more reasonable?

krispos42

(49,445 posts)
114. What about AR-15s disqualify them from private ownership?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:45 PM
Feb 2013

The cartridge it fires?

The sights/optics?

The accessory-mounting rails?

The pistol grip?

The quick-adjusting telescoping stock?

The semi-automatic operation?

The detachable magazine feeding system?

The matte-black finish?


You can pick more than one.

formercia

(18,479 posts)
39. I have a 12 ga. double Hawes coachman
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:31 PM
Feb 2013

I can get off 2 shots faster than any pump and decide if the perp gets a Slug or Buckshot first. The short and light double is easy to handle an maneuver compared to the Rem 870 I have for backup. It does kick, but I relish it.

indie9197

(509 posts)
220. Plus, he told his wife if there is ever a problem...
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 11:50 PM
Feb 2013

go out on the balcony and fire two blasts up in the air. Really? Now she's temporarily deaf, out of ammo, and out in the open where she is vulnerable. At least the cops will be on their way but she could have just dialed 911. Thanks, Joe.

I had my eye on that Keltec for a while, almost impossible to find now at anywhere near MSRP. I like the sub2000 also.

NickB79

(19,063 posts)
10. How exactly is a shotgun easier to aim?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 05:48 PM
Feb 2013

A 12-gauge kicks like a mule; I hate shooting them. Or is he referring to the myth that you can't miss with a shotgun because it fires pellets?

At 10 yards, a shotgun firing buckshot will put all it's pellets into a group smaller than a softball. The idea that a shotgun is a streetsweeper, spraying pellets in all directions almost immediately after they leave the barrel, is complete bull.

Response to NickB79 (Reply #10)

formercia

(18,479 posts)
43. Yes and no.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:35 PM
Feb 2013

Different loads will give different patterns in the same shotgun. The only way to tell is to go to the Range with several different brands and try them out. Slugs will also impact differently.

making an absolute statement like that is a good indicator of your field experience.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
88. You'd need one HELL of a choke to expand a group more than that poster described.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:14 PM
Feb 2013

"making an absolute statement like that is a good indicator of your field experience."

so, I'd be careful with absolutes like that one.

formercia

(18,479 posts)
113. In my Double there is a lot of difference in group size
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:44 PM
Feb 2013

At 10 feet, Federal Premium OO buckshot has a spread of over 2 feet, yet, Winchester #4 Buckshot spread is less than 4 inches. Diferrent gun, different Load, different Size of pattern.

As far as the Rem 870 goes:
The only thing you can do is go out to the Range and test your Shotgun for yourself. Chokes tend to reduce pattern size. The Modified Cylinder is the least restrictive and will tend to create a larger shot pattern than the Full Choke the 870 came with from the Factory.

You should be careful as well.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
116. I have never seen a 2 foot spread at 10 feet even from my wife's un-choked
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:48 PM
Feb 2013

Remington 1100 tactical.

Not even my over-bored Mossberg 835 ulti-mag will do that. And that's basically a 12 gauge chamber mated to a 10 gauge barrel, even without the choke.

mikeypooh

(9 posts)
136. Wut
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 08:46 PM
Feb 2013

A general rule of thumb is that shot spreads at a rate of about 1" per yard after the first 7 feet.

Meaning that at 10 feet, there is essentially no spread, all pellets will group in about an inch at that range regardless of gun or ammo type or ammo brand.

Unless you have something extremely strange going on with your shotgun.

If you really are getting 2 foot spreads at only ten feet, stop shooting that gun immediately and take it to a gunsmith, something is wrong with it.

sir pball

(4,706 posts)
195. Maybe if it's a rifled slug barrel
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 11:57 AM
Feb 2013

Those will cause spreads of 18 inches at 5 yards, which would actually be pretty good for home defense except they tend to a "donut" pattern with the shot in a ring.

Me, when I live where I'm allowed to keep firearms, I use a Marlin Camp Carbine with hot .45 loads and a ghost ring. Nine JHPs are enough for any situation I can think of.

formercia

(18,479 posts)
199. The shotgun bore is a smooth Cylinder
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 01:14 PM
Feb 2013

I think the problem with the Federal Premium Buckshot loads is that they use a slow-burning powder. In an 18 1/2 inch Barrel, the muzzle Blast is excessive, leading me to believe that it is the problem. In a longer Barrel, the powder would be consumed and the patterns would be normal.

Hawes had the shotguns made by AYA in Spain. The finish isn't spectacular, but they are very well made. A Gun Dealer acquaintance tested one
when they first came on the market. He told me he put 1000 rounds of the hottest 12 ga. shells he could find and the gun was still tight afterwords. I bought mine in 1983 and it's as good as new.

sir pball

(4,706 posts)
200. That's about the only other explanation
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 01:37 PM
Feb 2013

That makes any sense to me. I''m not calling shenanigans but I've quite literally never ever heard of or seen that kind of spread before...I wouldn't use it in the home, it's so extreme it seems like some pellets could miss and go zinging through the walls.

formercia

(18,479 posts)
203. If it's not reliable, it doesn't get used.
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 03:02 PM
Feb 2013

That's why I keep recommending for folks to go to a Range and test out their loads. I Know what all of my firearms are capable of and know their limitations are. Peace of Mind.

IthinkThereforeIAM

(3,070 posts)
48. Shotgun pellets scatter...
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:38 PM
Feb 2013

... and all you need to do is point the shotgun, especially a 12 gauge or 20 gauge, in the direction of the perp/attacker and you have about a 200:1 chance of hitting them with enough pellets to stop them, even if one hits them it is going to hurt and cause them to flinch, letting you get a closer follow up shot. That is the point I am sure he is inferring. Maybe I am wrong. A rifle is much harder to aim with as it has a much, much smaller point of impact than the multiple impacts that come with standard shotgun ammo (I am not talking about slugs or sabots, which are pretty unique in themselves). Do you want to increase your odds of hitting your target by 10 to 200 (general number of pellets in a shotgun shell in respect to shot sizes) or do you want that 1 chance?

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
95. This is not accurate.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:17 PM
Feb 2013

With buckshot, at ranges useful to self-defense, you're putting the equivalent of 8 or so rounds of 9mm into a target about 5 inches across at 15 feet. At most.

you can see the actual performance of these sorts of things at a site called 'theboxoftruth' where you can see videos of the results of firing them into various semi-realistic targets.

You don't shoot humans with bird shot. Slugs or buck for the most part. Screw around with rock salt or other pellets where deadly force was justified, and you may find yourself facing a jury taking your use of that round as prima facie evidence you were NOT justified in employing deadly force.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
128. Unchoked remington, 12 feet, 3.5" spread, OH I'M FULL OF BS HUH?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:58 PM
Feb 2013

Maybe we should just calm down and start over, huh?

Hi, my name is AtheistCrusader. I am well. How are you?

formercia

(18,479 posts)
131. I'm the guy with the Hawes double coach Shotgun
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 08:03 PM
Feb 2013

You better read it again. Those figures I gave were for the Double.

You just keep stepping on your Dick.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
132. I also have a double barrel coach gun with the minimum legal length barrel and no choke.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 08:06 PM
Feb 2013

I have yet to see a 2 FOOT SPREAD at 10 feet.

MAYBE at 20? Are you perhaps exaggerating a bit?

Edit: Also, if you happen to be correct, and can demonstrate it, fine, that's actually a good argument AGAINST using such a weapon in self defense, for the sake of bystanders. there is a reason indiscriminate fire weapons, like grenades are not protected under the 2nd amendment, and rather than 'arms' are classified by law as 'destructive devices'.

Blandocyte

(1,231 posts)
18. So arm our soldiers with dbl barrel shotguns, not those useless rifles!
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:02 PM
Feb 2013

It's a disservice to the service, I tell ya!

formercia

(18,479 posts)
45. Biden is discussing Home Defense, not Combat
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:37 PM
Feb 2013

You need to go back to your Village for a refresher course.

yellowcanine

(35,690 posts)
56. Apples and oranges.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:48 PM
Feb 2013

Soldiers aren't defending their house. And FWIW a lot of police departments do use shotguns for close quarters.

One_Life_To_Give

(6,036 posts)
198. We do
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 01:08 PM
Feb 2013

Was popular on patrols in Nam for point to carry 12ga.

Argentinians complained about British using a "Silent" 12ga shell in their night attack in the Falklands.

one_voice

(20,043 posts)
21. If I were to get a gun for home...
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:08 PM
Feb 2013

protection it would be a pump action shot gun. One of my brothers works part time selling guns--in a store and teaching how to shoot, so I know I'd get what I need.

That's a big if. Right now I have to big beasties and an alarm system.

hack89

(39,171 posts)
27. An AR-15 is much easier to use
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:18 PM
Feb 2013

lighter, usually more compact and much less recoil.

Not my first choice for home defense - a handgun is better by far. I like a hand free to dial 911.

yellowcanine

(35,690 posts)
62. Easier to use, not necessarily to stop an intruder in poor light.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:52 PM
Feb 2013

If all you need is one shot the kick is not such a problem. And you don't need a 12 gauge - a 20 gauge is sufficient.

hack89

(39,171 posts)
140. Shot guns need to aimed very carefully
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 08:57 PM
Feb 2013

they are not "scatter guns" like many think they are. And if you miss, then one shot is definitely not enough.

And shotguns can be intimidating for small framed women. I asked my wife what her preference would be - she said the AR-15. She has spent literally hundreds of hours shooting one and using it would be like second nature. Light, compact and low recoil - an excellent weapon.

 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
29. I don't need the Vice President or anyone else telling me what I need and do not need.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:19 PM
Feb 2013

I am perfectly capable of making that kind of decision myself.

mwrguy

(3,245 posts)
42. So if you decide that you need a flame-thrower or a bazooka
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:34 PM
Feb 2013

then we should just let you?

That's how this epidemic of mass-killings got started, gun nuts feeling that they "need" assault rifles.

 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
50. Since neither of those happen to be regulated items, I will just sit here and laugh at your reply.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:39 PM
Feb 2013

Flame thrower = agricultural equipment.

Bazooka = hollow tube.

 

Light House

(413 posts)
54. Flame throwers and bazookas are legal to own.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:43 PM
Feb 2013

Flame throwers are classified as Agricultural tools in most states and bazookas are legal as long as you go through the ATF background check, get an OK by your local police chief/Sheriff and pay the $200.00 tax stamp.

 

Light House

(413 posts)
63. Should be.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:52 PM
Feb 2013

But until the law is changed, there is nothing illegal about it, immoral, maybe, but not illegal.

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
67. flame throwers are weapons of mass murder?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:55 PM
Feb 2013

how many mass murder incidents in the U.S. have been done using flamethrowers? none

How about one of the biggest "weapons" of mass murder- ALCOHOL- did you know that the cost to society of alcohol is more than firearms, car accidents, and smoking combined?

derby378

(30,252 posts)
71. And gee, we even had a Constitutional amendment (the 18th) to outlaw booze
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:00 PM
Feb 2013

Remind me again how well that law worked out, ladies and gentlemen?

 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
69. I'm just responding to the opinion he expressed, as is my right.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:58 PM
Feb 2013

I think his position on this issue is arrogant.

derby378

(30,252 posts)
40. Next, Biden advised our men and women in uniform to trade in their rifles for shotguns
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:31 PM
Feb 2013

You buying it? Neither am I. They use rifles for a reason, people. Duh.

 

SCVDem

(5,103 posts)
47. We are capable
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:37 PM
Feb 2013

of defining by type what you may not have!

Note we no longer talk of hunting animals for food as per the founders, but killing people.

That is what ends this argument.

You may have an unlimited supply of what was available at the time of the second ammendment!

Tyranny from the government? I'm more woried about wannabe heroes!

derby378

(30,252 posts)
51. Then you're telling me I can have all the 20-round magazines I want?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:40 PM
Feb 2013

Well, that's a start, at least...

 

AnotherMcIntosh

(11,064 posts)
189. An opinion from the former Senator who pushed for the change in the bankruptcy laws so that
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 10:32 AM
Feb 2013

student loans owed by impoverished former students are no longer dischargeable? An opinion from the former Senator who represents the big banks and the super-rich instead of ordinary Americans?

An opinion from the former Senator who pushed for the adoption of the first AWB which according to Bill Clinton (in his autobiography and elsewhere) led to the 1994 defeat in Congressional elections?

Response to DonViejo (Original post)

Dyedinthewoolliberal

(15,463 posts)
70. I've never owned a gun
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 06:59 PM
Feb 2013

and outside of my time in the military never even fired one. But I know enough about 'em to know that a shotgun is the best wepaon for home protection. It's like those cameras, you know, 'point and shoot'! Within 15-20 yards it's all you need.........

bossy22

(3,547 posts)
129. that is pretty much the case now
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:58 PM
Feb 2013

Police have access to Full-auto weapons, civilians generally do not

 

SCVDem

(5,103 posts)
133. Full auto is usually worthless
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 08:15 PM
Feb 2013

Unless you have a bi or tripod, most rounds will miss.

Semi-auto is much more efficient and increases the odds for enfilade fire.

Wouldn't you agree?

USMC Vet

 

Veilex

(1,555 posts)
93. The posting and subsequent comments are all well and good, but the ignore the fundamental question..
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:16 PM
Feb 2013

What do we do to reduce fatalities due to criminal gun violence? This is not a rhetorical question. I really want to hear people's thoughts on this. I don't think arming more people is the answer... arming more people means more guns out there and as a result easier access to guns for criminals. I don't claim to be the expert however, so please, add your thoughts.

Politicub

(12,162 posts)
99. Cue the gun know-it-all chorus...
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:23 PM
Feb 2013

Who knows nothing, really. So much that passes for gun knowledge is derived from NRA propaganda, and therefore suspect.

krispos42

(49,445 posts)
112. How about I buy the same rifle, but without a pistol grip?
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 07:40 PM
Feb 2013

Assault weapon:



Not an assault weapon:




Both rifles pictured are semiautomatic rifles fed from a detachable magazine. Ruger Mini-14 rifles, to be exact.



No matter how much you talk, the definition of "assault weapon" is entirely arbitrary and only addresses secondary features. The Newtown murderer used an AR-15 rifle that was, by definition, NOT an assault weapon. Connecticut has had a ban on "assault weapons" for nearly 20 years.

krispos42

(49,445 posts)
167. Your position is logically consistent.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 11:12 PM
Feb 2013

Thank you.


Hypothetical question for you.


What if somebody made a pump-action AR-15? With the whole tactical works... pistol grip, flash suppressor, telescoping stock, accessory rails, matte black finish, etc. Feeds from a regular AR-15 magazine, shoots .223 ammo, uses regular AR-15 accessories, barrels, trigger groups, etc.

But it's a pump-action instead of a semi-auto. Any problems with that?

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
171. You may be able to dance around the problem but if we can get any of these
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 11:54 PM
Feb 2013

human killing weapons out of circulation, we are better off. Your clever redefining so you can have your macro-killing machines is hard to battle but I am willing to try. Those that need killing machines that can kill many in a short time are not who I want in my society. Try to justify it. Go ahead.

"I got to have weapons capable of killing people as fast as I can, because [fill in your asinine rationale]."

sir pball

(4,706 posts)
196. If I really wanted to kill as many people as I could
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 12:01 PM
Feb 2013

I'd probably use my M700 bolt-action and stake out 6-800 yards away from a crowd. And that line of thought is far too nasty to continue.

krispos42

(49,445 posts)
221. There are an awful lot of guns intended for killing humans in the country
Sun Feb 24, 2013, 10:03 AM
Feb 2013

Sorry the for delay; I mean to respond sooner but the week turned to shit.


Here's the issue that we can't get around.

When a guy decides to go on a rampage, the guy generally picks a place where he will be successful. Lots of people with no active security nearby.

It could be his place of employment, or a shopping center, or a grocery store, or a school.

In those instances, the shooter has more than enough time to kill a bunch of people pretty much independently of the type of gun used.

The Newtown shooter, for example, had about 11 minutes inside of a school filled with kids who were locked up inside. Six hundred sixty very long seconds.

Any gun that is suitable for self-defense could have been used to kill that many at Newtown, including a double-barreled shotgun.

My point in all of this is that the reason that an AR-15 and other rifles have the features that they have is because they are logical, reasonable features to have on a gun. Detachable magazines allow quick and safe loading and unloading. Pistol grips to get a more secure hold. Telescoping stocks allow quick adjustment to properly hold the gun. Barrel shrouds are heat shields to protect flesh from hot metal. Accessory rails allow the mounting of flashlights so you can see what you're aiming at.

Even if semi-automatics are outlawed, the proven utility of detachable magazines, pistol grips, telescoping stocks, accessory rails, and/or barrel shrouds will be added to other, legal guns. Pump-action guns, for example.

Lever-action and bolt-action guns can and will be built with all of the above features except pistol grips.


This is the inevitable evolution of long guns. Expecting them to stay "Fudd-like" is unreasonable.

Progressive dog

(6,854 posts)
144. Good for Joe
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:02 PM
Feb 2013

Most of us liberal democrats agree with you Joe. The pro NRA gun worshipers already have their own party.

Betsy Ross

(3,147 posts)
146. From personal experience only
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:07 PM
Feb 2013

I have a shotgun. It is my preferred defense weapon. I have had one, off and on, for the last 40 years. In those years, I picked up the gun for protection twice. In both cases it was to defend a young person staying with me. I put two shells in, but never closed the barrel. My hopes have always been that I wouldn't have to aim particularly well and, hopefully, would not kill anyone.

NaturalHigh

(12,778 posts)
147. Well, that's what I did.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:09 PM
Feb 2013

I'm a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms, but I don't consider myself a marksman. With my 12-gauge, I don't have to be. I also don't have to worry about a bullet going through a wall and hitting someone else.

That said, I'm not for politicians banning weapons, even the ones that look scary. History tells us that when governments start to take away guns, they don't stop. There are already plenty of people (likely many on this board) who think I'm a bad person for owning any sort of firearm and would like to see law-abiding citizens disarmed.

Pakid

(478 posts)
148. I go along with Joe
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:12 PM
Feb 2013

If you feel the need to have a gun then a shotgun is the one to have for home defense.

truthisfreedom

(23,108 posts)
160. A Mossberg AS-20 Bantam semiauto shotgun is 5.5 lbs and holds 6 shells.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:53 PM
Feb 2013

Well, if one is in the chamber.

It's a relatively inexpensive, extremely light, easy to shoot shotgun that can provide plenty of personal protection. The kick is completely reasonable... when we practice shooting, my slender girlfriend has never complained that it bothers her at all.

On the other hand, I keep it at my log house in the middle of nowhere, and it's unloaded with the shells in a hidden cupboard far from the weapon. And if I ever purchase any other guns, I will not keep them in the city with me. That's where I keep my Taser. Yes, they're legal in most states. Check them out... they are (generally) non-leathal and work up to 15 feet. They have a laser that shows where they're going to hit, and the sight of that alone will generally diffuse any situation unless a gun is involved, in which case I gotta hope I don't miss because it only has one cartridge at a time and they're slow to reload.

I don't want to kill anybody. I do want to enjoy shooting and, perhaps, hunting, now that I have 6.1 acres.

Pterodactyl

(1,687 posts)
172. Pistols are a pretty good alternative to assault weapons, too.
Tue Feb 19, 2013, 11:57 PM
Feb 2013

Most life threatening incidents happen at close range and with a little training, you can be very effective.

ManiacJoe

(10,136 posts)
184. As an alternative, sure.
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 07:34 AM
Feb 2013

However, given the option, a semi-auto carbine like the AR-15 is the better choice in most circumstances.

 

quadrature

(2,049 posts)
177. Obama's seccond term...is this what he wants?
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 12:31 AM
Feb 2013

second presidential terms,
are usually difficult.

these are the good days of
Obama's second term.
all down hill from here.

does Congress plan on doing anything
beyond 4 years of bickering and
being on vacation?

Deep13

(39,154 posts)
178. The thread title sounds likes a sales pitch...
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 01:29 AM
Feb 2013

...Come on down to Uncle Joe's discount assault weapons and buy a shotgun today!

Wolf Frankula

(3,595 posts)
180. A Gun is a Tool No More, No Less
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 01:59 AM
Feb 2013

Use the right tool for the job. If you are breaking up ice cubes, you do not need a jackhammer. Using an assault weapon, semi-auto or automatic for home defense is like using a jackhammer for making crushed ice.

For home defense, you need a small easily usable weapon. A revolver or automatic pistol is sufficient. Learn to use it. Or a shotgun, ten, twelve gauge or .410. Leave the .44 magnums to Dirty Harry. Leave the AR-15s, SKS, SLRs and other military weapons to the military.

Keep the ammo locked up. Keep the weapon away from children. You don't need accidents.

Learn to use it. Learn to be safe with it. You don't need lots of bullets or a high rate of fire, you aren't fighting a war, you're just defending your home.

Wolf

 

AngryAmish

(25,704 posts)
187. Gun people a question:
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 10:22 AM
Feb 2013

Does buckshot really go through walls? Wouldn't a shot somewhere between buckshot and bird shot be safer for home defense? Most criminals don't have body armor.

Response to AngryAmish (Reply #187)

 

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
216. Some debate on this, but buckshot will go through walls...
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 07:06 PM
Feb 2013

"When loaded with smaller shot, a shotgun will not penetrate walls as readily as rifle and pistol rounds, making it safer for non-combatants when fired in or around populated structures. This comes at a price, however, as smaller shot may not penetrate deeply enough to cause an immediately incapacitating wound; those who recommend birdshot for minimizing wall penetration also suggest backing it up with a larger buckshot if the first shot fails to stop the threat.[4]" (This practice is sometimes called "stacking.&quot

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotgun#Home.2Fpersonal_defense

"...will not penetrate walls as readily..." suggests that anything heavier will "gladly" go through walls.
______________

Another source suggests that birdshot will be stopped, and ironically a variety of .223 fragmented/tumbled after hitting the third wall (this latter ammunition family was used in the Sandy Hook shootings). One could conclude that an FMJ (full metal jacket) in .223 would have penetrated like other rounds.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/03/ryan-finn/sheetrock-penetration-testing-take-1/

Other sources (and my own experience "patterning" at the range) point to a fallacy about shotgun firing method: "All you have to do is point." No, in the confines of a bedroom, you still have to aim because the spreading pattern -- even in an open-choke barrel -- is too gradual to exhibit a cartoon/Hollywood wide burst of shot. Shotguns are normally pointed (not aimed) when shooting clays or flying birds; but the ranges are much further than a bedroom's width.

Personally, I prefer a powerful revolver; small, easily maneuvered, no mags, safeties, racking, etc. Just point and pull. I hope this helps.

ileus

(15,396 posts)
190. subsonic 300 blk with sbr and suppressor stamps is the best HD
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 11:27 AM
Feb 2013

option...

For most of us a common AR will have to do.

Shotguns are nice but way limited on number of rounds.
My mossy has 8 rounds to my AR's 31....pretty easy decision IMHO

 

oldhippie

(3,249 posts)
202. That's gonna be mine ....
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 02:33 PM
Feb 2013

... in about 5 months.

Already have the AAC 9" upper on a pistol lower. Apps for the SDN-6 and the SBR are in. Now working on sub loads with 208 AMax while I wait. You got any good load data for Lil Gun or A1680 (if I can finally get some)?

Oh, and there will still be the 870 with #4 buck behind the bedroom door. And the G34 with TLR-2 on the nightstand. And the Ruger .357 on the wife's nightstand (she's partial to revolvers and .38s.) We like options.

Sometimes I just scare myself.



 

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
217. I kind of agree. Because it was Joe Biden, many folks felt "safe" in discussing some...
Wed Feb 20, 2013, 07:15 PM
Feb 2013

serious issues about home-defense (semi-auto rifles, shotguns, handguns, etc.), and what is safest. Ironic as hell, but very positive.

Beacool

(30,243 posts)
228. A double-barrel shotgun?
Sun Feb 24, 2013, 08:23 PM
Feb 2013

Does Joe know what he's talking about? A double-barrel shotgun holds only two shells, which means that if you fired two shots in the air, your attacker will probably have shot you dead before you had a chance to reload. Besides, the recoil is pretty strong for a small person.

Also, firing warning shots is a felony in most states, and will result in a prison sentence ranging from 3-20 years depending on the state because it is usually combined with other charges (assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful discharge, etc.).

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