> >   TR>>> American citizens the right to keep and bear arms was to keep an   
    > >   TR>>> armed citizenry able to resist and overthrow a tyrannical   
    > >   TR>>> government.   
      
    > >   ak>> Small arms is useless for that purpose.   
    > >   TR> What makes you think all we've got is `small arms'?   
        
    > > If the army use tanks, bombers, satellite, drones, spying equipment    
    > > where can buy it? If you catch a tank it will be destroyed by a bomber   
    > > withing minutes.   
       
   Not to mention the military members being `family' of those the government   
   would want to be suppressing. A look at the expressions on the nation's   
   military commanders faces as Hussein delivered his `state of his own self'   
   address the other night pretty much says it; a tyrant of his stripe would   
   have little control over the nation's military should the citizenry at large   
   start a popular revolt to restore the full governance of our Constitution   
   as it was intended by the Founders. Much of what Hussein boasted of in a   
   military `accomplishment' vein got scornful, `what has he been smoking'   
   looks from the military leaders.   
      
       
    > Tanks and bombers are pretty much useless in an urban environment - unless   
    > the government wants to alienate the rest of the people.  They're pretty   
    > much useless in jungles and forests, too.  We should have learned that in   
    > Vietnam and you should have learn ed it in Afghanistan.   
       
   The APC's of the armored Cav units did pretty good in the highlands and on   
   roads. I saw M1 tanks there, but no huge armored units like in WWII. Mostly   
   it would be two or three M1's securing a bridge complex, or for patrolling   
   Highway 1 in hot spots that didn't involve heavy natural cover or many   
   villages. Very rarely saw more than a few I one place. Armored divisions   
   were there, but actual `tank' battles didn't happen.   
      
    > Small arms, however, are very useful in such an environment.  So are knives   
    > and garrots.     
       
   Well-aimed gallon containers with gasoline in them are perfect for taking out   
   an APC loaded with troops. A 30 06 round from 400 yards does a perfect job   
   as well. Most American hunters are well up on their shooting skills with a   
   rifle.     
        
    > > If a person hasn't been in a mental hospital during his life it doesn't   
    > > mean he is healthy mentally. That is the way how nutcases acquire   
    > > submachine guns.   
       
    > Submachine guns and "assault rifles" are just bullet hoses.  They are   
    > notoriously inaccurate.    
      
   Were I to have a choice of weapon I'd take the M14 over the M16 or anything   
   they've got along those lines now-a-days.    
   The M-14 I had in my Vietnam unit had a selector switch for semi or full   
   automatic. We went to a range on post at Chu Lai regularly with our weapons,   
   and I felt comfortable with what I had.    
       
    > An experienced shooter can do far more damage -   
    > from a much greater distance - with a scoped big game rifle, and have   
    > little "collateral damage."   
      
   Open sights with a `peep-sight-front-blade' system isn't too shabby, either.   
   On the range in Basic I could knock down silhouette targets at 350 with an   
   M-14 lying in a prone position.    
      
    > >   TR> The vast majority of people this president is referring to when he   
    > >   TR> accuses us of `clinging to God and our guns' are just as   
    > >   TR> responsible and experienced with firearms as I try to be.   
      
    > > But anyway, allowing school teachers to have guns is a bad idea. ;=)   
        
    > A century and a half ago in this country it was quite common for students -   
    > ages 10 to 13 - in rural schools to carry pistols to and from school.  Yet   
    > there was none of the mayhem then that there is now   
       
   A mass shooting at a school would have been unheard of. Not even a danger.   
   --- SBBSecho 2.27-Win32   
    * Origin: Telnet://valhalla.synchro.net - Richmond, Virginia (1:275/93)