On Sun, 21 Jul 1996, Llywarch Hen <ecgwulf@postoffice.worldnet.att.net> wrote: [snip]
I'd certainly agree with that, but would like to add that an unloaded gun is of no use and a gun in the nightstand or in the trunk of your car is also of no use. For all cases other than home intrusion, the gun has to be worn -- I recommend a shoulder holster. In the case of home intrusion, one can hope that the intruder has no desire to be successful and permits you to get the drop on him. Perhaps he'll slam the refrigerator door allowing you to fumble around under your pillow for your weapon. I know of people who have walked out of museums with paintings trailing alarm wires -- so let's hope our intruder is an amateur and best of all is scared off by some phony security signs, fake alarm wires, etc.
If you lock your doors and windows, forced entry generally becomes a noisy, somewhat time-consuming process that allows anyone not in a recreational drug induced stupor or coma sufficient time to pull a pistol out of their shoulder holster (or nightstand drawer, etc.) and pull the hammer back. (2-3 seconds is all I need!)
In these parts most guns seemed to be used by the temporarily depressed teenaged children of gun owners.
In the majority of cases, (although the margin is on the decline) when an armed homeowner confronts a burglar, the burglar runs like projectile diarrhea for the nearest exit, and no shots are fired. However, these incidents are not counted as firearms "use", under current crime statistic collection methodology. Many of these incidents are not reported, especially in areas where gun ownership is not approved by the authorities. Furthermore, if your Cousin Vinnie the crack addict breaks into your house at 0300, attempts to rob you at knifepoint, and you force-feed him half a dozen jacketed hollow points for his trouble, the incident will usually be put in the same statistical category as the "crazed husband shoots wife, children, 11 neighbors, and 6 police officers" tragedies, even though you may never be charged with anything. Most "studies" of crime statistics come from gun control advocacy groups, and are suitable primarily for lining the bottoms of birdcages.
Now for street wear I strongly recommend a variety of loads. Probably my favorite is a reversed semi-wadcutter. This puppy is extremely inaccurate since it starts tumbling as it leaves the barrel. At extremely close ranges it'll tear up some flesh and further out it'll walk nastily through outer clothing completely wrecking it for formal wear and continue through enough skin to be damaging. Low on kinetic energy, it will however transfer its entire momentum where it counts. A semi-automatic will not properly feed these, so you gotta be traditional if you are of the big clip persuasion.
I have $10 US that says that this idiot has never fired a gun is his life. Furthermore, it is obvious he has no clue when it comes to bullet/target interaction. A "reversed semi-wadcutter" is going to stay in its original shape (for the most part), which will tend to make it over-penetrate, wasting kinetic energy and endangering people behind the target. Moreover, anyone who intentionally uses an inaccurate load is a fool--missed shots waste ammo, have no effect on the target, and run a significant risk of endangering innocent people. A hollow point or Glaser is a much better option. Jonathan Wienke "1935 will go down in history! For the first time a civilized nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead in the future!" --Adolf Hitler "46. The U.S. government declares a ban on the possession, sale, transportation, and transfer of all non-sporting firearms. ...Consider the following statement: I would fire upon U.S. citizens who refuse or resist confiscation of firearms banned by the U.S. government." --The 29 Palms Combat Arms Survey http://www.ksfo560.com/Personalities/Palms.htm 1935 Germany = 1996 U.S.? Key fingerprint = 30 F9 85 7F D2 75 4B C6 BC 79 87 3D 99 21 50 CB