With possible emergency or ordinary controls eating from below (handguns, 'sat night specials') and from above ('assault weapons') will shotguns remain longest as the last/only legal private firearm ?

-- Ct Vronsky (vronsky@anna.com), April 15, 1999

Answers

May not matter much. A 12g pump shotgun is THE weapon of choice if you can only have one weapon. Multiple interchangeable barrels, significantly different loads from #8 to 00 and slugs, very intimidating.

-- RD. ->H (drherr@erols.com), April 15, 1999.

A shotgun is very intimidating to a burglar, but not to a rifle squad. They would have you for breakfast. That's why the shotgun will be the last weapon you're legally allowed to own, because you can't fight a war against tyranny with one. Eventually they'll take your shotgun, too, so screw the government. Own whatever weapons you want, bury some of them if necessary, don't harm anyone who isn't trying to harm you, and kill anyone who tries to disarm you.

Any questions?

-- hadit (withtyrants@this.country), April 15, 1999.

Stay cool. Shotguns are super short range but No4 buck is a much load to keep. Sixteen vs, nine pellets is a better worker. Be safe my friend.

-- Carlos Mueller (riffraff1@cybertime.net), April 15, 1999.

Shotguns are better thought of as tools, as they have a wide variaty of game harvesting applications. They fall short in a tactical situation as they lack range. However, inside ten yards nothing does more damage. Get a shot gun with an eye towards as wide a hunting application as possible. And go with the more reliable pump. Eats any shells you put in it and since you work the action it always feeds the next round.

Luck

Eyes_open

-- eyes_open (best@wishes.net), April 15, 1999.

C.V.

I sure hope not - I've never been much with a shotgun. Seriously though, I guess whether or not they'll be 'legal' firearms depends on how long we let the harassment go on, doesn't it?

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), April 15, 1999.

Highly recommended reading: A Nation of Cowards by Jeffery R. Snyder

What we certainly do not need is more gun control. Those who call for the repeal of the Second Amendment so that we can really begin controlling firearms betray a serious misunderstanding of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights does not grant rights to the people, such that its repeal would legitimately confer upon government the powers otherwise proscribed. The Bill of Rights is the list of the fundamental, inalienable rights, endowed in man by his Creator, that define what it means to be a free and independent people, the rights which must exist to ensure that government governs only with the consent of the people.

At one time this was even understood by the Supreme Court. In United States v. Cruikshank (1876), the first case in which the Court had an opportunity to interpret the Second Amendment, it stated that the right confirmed by the Second Amendment "is not a right granted by the constitution. Neither is it in any manner dependent upon that instrument for its existence." The repeal of the Second Amendment would no more render the outlawing of firearms legitimate than the repeal of the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment would authorize the government to imprison and kill people at will. A government that abrogates any of the Bill of Rights, with or without majoritarian approval, forever acts illegitimately, becomes tyrannical, and loses the moral right to govern.

This is the uncompromising understanding reflected in the warning that America's gun owners will not go gently into that good, utopian night: "You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead hands." While liberals take this statement as evidence of the retrograde, violent nature of gun owners, we gun owners hope that liberals hold equally strong sentiments about their printing presses, word processors, and television cameras. The republic depends upon fervent devotion to all our fundamental rights.

-- from A Nation of Cowards by Jeffery R. Snyder

-- Max Dixon (mcdixon@konnections.com), April 16, 1999.

-- Max Dixon (mcdixon@konnections.com), April 16, 1999.

Don't forget about the black powder guns. They would probably be the last to go (even after shotguns). A good Hawken style reproduction rifle in .54 caliber is accurate to 200 yards, but it takes practice to get off more than 2 or 3 shots per minute. The reproduction cap and ball revolvers are a good complimentary gun. Go for the .44 caliber as the .36 and .31 caliber jobs are just a tad puny, though a .36 would be OK in a pinch. For utilitarian use, the Ruger stainless model is tops. Just remember to stock up on black powder and caps of the proper size.

Gerald

-- Gerald R. Cox (grcox@internetwork.net), April 16, 1999.