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Why We Love Guns
11 years ago
General
A friend of mine, who recently moved here full-time from Australia, made his first firearms purchase over the weekend. In explaining this purchase to his family back in Australia, he laid down probably the best explanation for why we love firearms that I've yet seen laid down.
With his permission, I'll share a portion of what he wrote:
"First, a little history lesson.
It was in 1936 that the M1 Garand rifle was made, dubbed "the greatest battle implement ever devised" by General George S. Patton, and provided to the standard US infantry soldier in world war II. The M14 however, was the only thing that could surpass it.
Starting in 1957 and completely implemented by 1961, the M14 was designed by Springfield Armory with the addition of an improved gas system, a full 20 round box magazine and a (what some would call) tad unnecessary fully automatic selective fire option, due to its frantic wild recoil. It was designed to replace three active rifles and fuse them into one: The M1 Garand, the M3 "Grease Gun" and the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, or BAR.
It was during the first years of the Vietnam war that this rifle saw deployment, as a designated marksman rifle. The only drawbacks were that it was unwieldy within the thick scrub, and its wooden stock would swell and expand in the increased humidity. It was, however, exceedingly well equipped with a 7.62 NATO FMJ round (made famous by Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket) used to penetrate cover and reduce cinder-blocks to rubble.
It would then be replaced in 1966-1967, by the early model M16. A decision which many US troops despised, due to its excessive tendency to jam, and some managed to remain with their M14's.
Back in the US, it was used to train new recruits for the ongoing conflict on the other side of the earth. The M14 was the last true american battle rifle, and the last rifle issued with a wooden stock, later to be replaced with a synthetic stock, and is now requested for use in the middle east, where it still serves and preforms exceedingly well in extremely tough conditions.
After it's creation, Springfield Armory wanted to pass on this rifle for civilian use, so that the professional rifleman, hunter, or casual shooter could enjoy the history, aesthetics and maybe even the nostalgia of the M14 in their variant, the M1A.
And yesterday, I began owning one.
This rifle came right out of the 20th century, the metal frame looks like it's forged from the armor of a tank and the wood is thicker than a hard Christmas pudding. Shake an M16 and you may hear sounds similar to a baby's rattle. Shake the M1A and all you hear is the sound of your own tendons popping.
I believe weapons in human history are the ultimate expression of form over function. They have been designed along with the human body to create one organic form - an extension of the body. The designers have used what works through trial and error, and the story of the weapon spans back to when humanity was first throwing rocks at one another and acting like dumbasses. But it isn't the rock that is stupid, it is the one who wields it.
Aside from the use of these weapons in death and destruction by dumbasses, there is a great appreciation for the brilliant engineering behind this weapon. There's a history and a time period behind this that can be seen through the piece, and the way it's designed, the curves, lines, and form of this directly reflects the middle of the 20th century. It is an art form with an almost macabre undertone that can be appreciated in the same ways the sword is to the Samurai, the armour is to the Knight, and the shield is to the ancient Roman.
This is my rifle, there are many others like it, but this one is mine."
Amen.
With his permission, I'll share a portion of what he wrote:
"First, a little history lesson.
It was in 1936 that the M1 Garand rifle was made, dubbed "the greatest battle implement ever devised" by General George S. Patton, and provided to the standard US infantry soldier in world war II. The M14 however, was the only thing that could surpass it.
Starting in 1957 and completely implemented by 1961, the M14 was designed by Springfield Armory with the addition of an improved gas system, a full 20 round box magazine and a (what some would call) tad unnecessary fully automatic selective fire option, due to its frantic wild recoil. It was designed to replace three active rifles and fuse them into one: The M1 Garand, the M3 "Grease Gun" and the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, or BAR.
It was during the first years of the Vietnam war that this rifle saw deployment, as a designated marksman rifle. The only drawbacks were that it was unwieldy within the thick scrub, and its wooden stock would swell and expand in the increased humidity. It was, however, exceedingly well equipped with a 7.62 NATO FMJ round (made famous by Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket) used to penetrate cover and reduce cinder-blocks to rubble.
It would then be replaced in 1966-1967, by the early model M16. A decision which many US troops despised, due to its excessive tendency to jam, and some managed to remain with their M14's.
Back in the US, it was used to train new recruits for the ongoing conflict on the other side of the earth. The M14 was the last true american battle rifle, and the last rifle issued with a wooden stock, later to be replaced with a synthetic stock, and is now requested for use in the middle east, where it still serves and preforms exceedingly well in extremely tough conditions.
After it's creation, Springfield Armory wanted to pass on this rifle for civilian use, so that the professional rifleman, hunter, or casual shooter could enjoy the history, aesthetics and maybe even the nostalgia of the M14 in their variant, the M1A.
And yesterday, I began owning one.
This rifle came right out of the 20th century, the metal frame looks like it's forged from the armor of a tank and the wood is thicker than a hard Christmas pudding. Shake an M16 and you may hear sounds similar to a baby's rattle. Shake the M1A and all you hear is the sound of your own tendons popping.
I believe weapons in human history are the ultimate expression of form over function. They have been designed along with the human body to create one organic form - an extension of the body. The designers have used what works through trial and error, and the story of the weapon spans back to when humanity was first throwing rocks at one another and acting like dumbasses. But it isn't the rock that is stupid, it is the one who wields it.
Aside from the use of these weapons in death and destruction by dumbasses, there is a great appreciation for the brilliant engineering behind this weapon. There's a history and a time period behind this that can be seen through the piece, and the way it's designed, the curves, lines, and form of this directly reflects the middle of the 20th century. It is an art form with an almost macabre undertone that can be appreciated in the same ways the sword is to the Samurai, the armour is to the Knight, and the shield is to the ancient Roman.
This is my rifle, there are many others like it, but this one is mine."
Amen.
The States trying to take guns away from people are just trying to make Americans defenseless and reliant on government programs for protection. It's just a power grab made to look good with gun murder propaganda.
People would rather have a gun to protect themselves from murderers and thiefs. Calling police and waiting for them to save you isn't very efficient, you would be long dead by the time they arrive.
But whatever people believe their propaganda box more than real life.
Not everyone who goes out to buy a gun is doing so because they want to be ready for the fall of society, or to defend themselves in case of an attack. People can buy guns simply because they are neat and great fun to shoot.
Even among the gun-lovers community there seems to be this idea that only preppers and self-defense aficionados buy guns. The idea of a Jewish liberal Democrat going out to shoot cans after synagog is inconceivable to many pro-gun supporters.
Nobody questions the guy who goes out and spends way too much money buying himself a fancy sports car that he will never need and will never be able to drive at full speed on surface streets. Yet many gun owners will raise their eyebrows and whisper at the guy who buys a Deagle or a S&W 29 because they grew up watching "Dirty Harry" and have always wanted one.
So far the current administration has tried to ensure that this is the case. The second amendment has the words, "a well regulated" but the NRA and much of it's members don't want to follow that part. They are happy handing nut jobs automatic weapons as they walk into schools. No one is saying anything about taking away your guns. Polls show the majority of the US just wants common sense procedures in place to help prevent the nut jobs from having easy access to weapons.
I personally agree with DOPR5. I would LOVE to get a M9 for my collection as I think they are awesome guns. I would be happy to fill out a background check and wait a reasonable time to get it if that will help make it harder for some ass hole to slaughter children in a school or go on a murderous rampage in a mall or theatre. The slight inconvenience on my part is worth the price if even one life is saved.
Anyway just my 2 cents here
I can only agree though. Why only because they are weapons, we can't admire their designs and build like other product?
I love the design of some, I love the sound of some guns. That's part of why I would like one. But eh...