(Replying to Sparky, didn't capture the quote, and am too lazy to redo): Honestly, the primary reason I've had 9mm pistols over the years has been relative lack of expense for ammunition when I feel like heading out to the desert for some gunpowder therapy. (I'm still pissed at myself all these years later for selling my Colt Python, which was a perfect mix of cheap ammo with .38s and greater power.) I have never had to pull a gun on anyone, and hope I never do. Would I rather have the .50 Desert Eagle if that happened? Probably -- if I was confident I'd hit anything with it (but I doubt I'd be very practiced on it with the cost of those rounds). But much of my last post arises from a pretty strange set of circumstances over the last few weeks:
GF's 23 year old son has been ordering high capacity magazines for a lot of assault weapons (and semi auto pistols) to our NV address (he lives in CA, where everything he's ordered is illegal). I may disagree with some of CA's rationale for some of their gun laws, but they are the laws, and he did this without telling us or asking permission. I don't appreciate being used, and she is not a gun fan. I've only met him once -- briefly, and he was pretty rude. I talked to him the other night, and he lied up and down to me, so I start wondering whether he's mature enough to own what he's ordering. Then, the next morning, I check to see what has been backordered to arrive here, and discover that it consists of 100 round AR15 and M1 rotary feeding magazines. So, I suggest she call her ex -- the kid's dad. Nice guy, and not only does he know his son is spending all his money (kid makes a lot) on a friggin' combat arsenal, but he's actually pretty concerned about it and the emotional issues potentially implicated. Tells me that son also has a .50 cal machine gun that he actually has registered -- he paid $7500 for that alone. I learn some more possibly troubling shit. Yesterday, everything that had been sent here got shipped back to suppliers.
I've owned guns since I was a teen -- under my Dad's supervision and tutelage. Like most males, I'm taken by their engineering and machining perfection. Hey -- we all love mechanical things and tools, don't we? And I was taught to respect them. But I also distrust unchecked testosterone in some people. I'm sure that if I was paranoid enough, or had been picked on enough as a kid, I might so as far as GF's son and own some REALLY heavy defensive weapons, even if not as many as I now understand he has. (I mean, no one is coming in here if I set up that .50 cal and point it at the door, right?) I'm not knocking others' legitimate love of and use of firearms. I am concerned about some people's reasons and emotional states, however. As for me, I'm happy with the guns I have, and don't want to spend any more time or money upgrading my arsenal to enable me to shoot through car windows effectively, or stop the next drug dealer who tries to come through my front door with one shot.
No offense to anyone intended -- just some observations about egos, testosterone and motivations (mine, yours, ours and theirs) borne of a unique (in my life) recent firearms situation. BTW, the little twit is now righteously pissed at his dad, mom and me for not getting what he tried to make us an accessory in illegally possessing. IMO, by itself, THAT tells me he isn't mature enough to own that sort of thing.
Hmmmm, let's see if I can hijack this thread even FURTHER off the motorcycle path.
:erm:
