M855: Sporting Purpose and A Natural Right

Unfortunately for many gun-control fanatics, the right to bear arms is an inherent, natural right that was not giving to us by a government and is not limited to sport, but includes sport under an umbrella of rights more fundamental that our government is limited from violating: the right to property, the right to self defense, the right to self preservation, the right to self determination.

Unfortunately for many gun enthusiasts, the federal government has taken it upon itself to attempt to violate the right to arms by subjecting it to "sporting use" criteria and pro "police safety" rules. Arms and other weapons are not legally ours just for sport. And LEOs' safety is not more important that ours.

The fight over our natural right to arms  is more fundamental than administrative regulations and a constitutional amendment. It is wrapped up in our rights to property, self determination, self preservation, self defense and of course additional rights like speech, religion, and justice.

M855 is the latest canary in Obama's coal mine of rights-violating ideas. Though M855 is not the best AR round nor used by everyone, it is our natural right to obtain, possess, and use it.

THE ALTERNATIVE: The Debate

Here is a little of what others are saying about THE ALTERNATIVE™ less-lethal weapon:

"San Diego-based Alternative Ballistics has introduced one of the most terrifying “less lethal” alternatives I’ve ever seen, called 'The alternative.'"
- "The Worst 'Less Lethal' Force Idea Ever?" by Bob Owens at BearingArms.com

 "On the ground, Ferguson protesters were subject to the use of tear gas, armored vehicles, rubber bullets packaged in cluster grenades, flash bangs, smoke bombs, sound cannons known as Long Range Acoustic Devices, bean bag guns, pepper spray, wooden batons, the presence of German shepherds, the issuance of a no-fly zone over the area, and darkness aided by night vision goggles, not to mention other violent threats made with firearms. All are billed as less lethal than outright firing bullets, yet they were no less daunting for a community seeking justice for Brown."
- "Ferguson police training with ‘less lethal’ alternative bullets" at RT.com

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Tools Versus Methods

Alternative Ballistics's THE ALTERNATIVE™ has raised the hackles of some gun-safety proponents and the hopes of some law-enforcement critics. Ferguson, MO will be the first police department to deploy the new tool, following a fight between a police officer and a felony suspect in which the tool most likely would have not changed the outcome of the altercation. (But it might have helped reduced injuries sustained to people shot with rubber bullets during protests that followed the Brown/Wilson fight.)

credit: AlternativeBallistics.com

Whether it works as intended as a less-lethal tool - or whether it fails to protect the lives of criminal suspects, deranged individuals, and LEOs - will be evident once it is deployed. Its success depends on its inherent effectiveness, the tactics applied in its use, and the context of its use.

But I suspect that the larger context of the relationship of law-enforcement officers and other citizens will show THE ALTERNATIVE™ to be a stop-gap, uselessly-divergent tool - that might end up being deadly. Tasers offered a similar less-lethal tool and have proven deadly at times, and have shown that "less lethal" might just be an avenue for LEOs to apply unneeded force in situations that can be resolved my less violent means. Much of the failures of Tasers can be deduced to the misapplication of the tool. Will the same be said of THE ALTERNATIVE™?

And what of the general relationship between LEOs and other citizens? Are suspects being more violent? Are cops becoming more violent? What came first? The chicken or the egg? And is the enforcement of victimless crimes - clear violations of individual freedom - bringing into question the legality of police activity on a more fundamental level, and therefore debasing the moral legitimacy of LEOs? What came first? The chicken or the egg?

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I Really Want To Love This Gun

I really like the idea of having a standard cartridge to use in all my guns. Revolvers, carbines, autoloaders. But alas, all my guns use different cartridges. But maybe, Heizer Defense has come to my rescue.

credit: HeizerDefense.com

They have promised to release their pocket rifle-caliber single shot in 7.62x39 at the next NRA show. Since my carbine is in that caliber, I would be one step closer to standardizing my firearms. And with the ability to switch barrels, I could still use the gobs of battlefield pickups, during the coming zombieesque apocalypse.

I do have a few concerns. The grip profile makes me think that shooting it would be equivalent to chopping wood with a full-tang axe without a handle. But then again, there are so many experts out there that state that you don't notice the recoil during a violent encounter. I guess that's why so many cops are practical sharpshooters with .40 S&W on the street.

 Also, I really think that they could have made the extra effort and produced a double-barrel version. Maybe Heizer Defense is avoiding a litigious conflict with Double Tap Defense.

Obama Complains About Guns, Again

credit: The Blaze

“As long as you can go in some neighborhoods and it is easier for you to buy a firearm than it is for you to buy a book, there are neighborhoods where it is easier for you to buy a handgun and clips than it is for you to buy a fresh vegetable, as long as that’s the case, we’re going to continue to see unnecessary violence,” Obama said in a response to a question at the town hall meeting at Benedict College. - "Obama Complains It's Easier to Buy a Gun Than a Book or Fresh Vegetable" by Fred Lucas, The Blaze

A disingenuous, stupid lie. Really, the Administration is following the well-worn format of a cheap reality show. You're more likely to refute a "fact" purported by the Administration with a quick Internet search than to forget to eat all day long.

M855: An Appeal To Heaven

A Little (Gun) Color

Today, I went and checked out the brand-new gun range that I watched being built a few miles from my home. I wanted to see if it was an appropriate place to take my nine-year-old-son, and if they had a handgun that my wife might be interested in.

They had the obligatory wall of rental guns, so I looked to see what my son could shoot and my wife might like to try. Standing there, I actually found it difficult to distinguish among those autoloaders, because - save one - they were all totally matte black. Now poor lighting might have contributed to my difficulty, but the situation got my wheels a turnin', especially since color choice is a major part of what my wife wants.

I've always liked guns with a little character, but I like original finishes and modern guns, so I generally end up with the oh so exciting black polymer frame and stainless steel slide - or something damn well similar to that.

So what colors do I want to see? 1911 nickel with pearl grips.

credit: ArmsBid.com

Wood furniture on something

(Even on a fancy AR).
Parkerizing.
Case hardening.
Blueing.
Damascus steel.
Those are all out there, but not popular - or cheap.



And my wife wants to see a little feminine color from an Italian manufacture (Talk about narrowing down the choices.).

credits: TinCanBandit.blogspot.com, EAACorp.com, EAACorp.com, GunsAndAmmo.com

Maybe Cerakote is in my future. Maybe home blueing.