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Keep Calm and Carry On: Guns for Beginners

Robert Farago - comments No comments

In the video below, Floridian Michael Wanger confronted a motorcyclist speeding through his Cape Coral neighborhood. Mr. Wanger admits that he was screaming at the biker using some “strong language.” Minutes later, the motorcyclist’s friend, one Barry Williams, rolled-up in a car to confront the aggrieved homeowner . . .

“I walked up to the window,” Wanger tells the Mondrian-inspired reporter. “And as soon as I walked up to the window there was a nine millimeter pointed right at my face . . . three inches from my head . . . one little slip of the finger and it would have been over.”

A fact that Mr. Williams will now have to face in front of a judge or jury. Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that Mr. Wanger should have been armed, to protect himself from an imminent, credible threat of grievous bodily harm or death. Or not . . .

Running after a neighborhood speeder, screaming at obscenities at the speeder, walking up to the car window of someone looking for a confrontation — these are not the actions or words of a man who can control of his temper. And someone prone to violent outbursts — whether spoken or physical — is not a prime candidate for carry.

Don’t get me wrong: the government has no business denying a citizen their natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms based on their temperament. (Which has happened.) I’m talking about you. Your conscious, rational choice of whether or not to carry a firearm.

Gun control advocates maintain that the so-called “good guy” with a gun is a myth. That everyone is a potential homicidal psycho. So no one should be able to bear arms.

That’s not true. In fact, most new gun owners who start carrying a firearm find the weapon has a calming effect. It motivates them not to go down the road of confrontation, lest it end in ballistic violence. Who needs that sh*t?

In short, if you carry don’t confront people, unless you absolutely must.

If you can’t control your temper by, say, noting a license plate and calling the cops on a speeder, or convincing the police to set-up a speed trap in your neighborhood, or getting your local government to add speed bumps to the roadway, or, at the least, talking calmly to a speeder (should you be able to flag them down), the leave the gun thing alone.

That is all.

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Robert Farago

Robert Farago is the former publisher of The Truth About Guns (TTAG). He started the site to explore the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns.

0 thoughts on “Keep Calm and Carry On: Guns for Beginners”

  1. I’ve got a commercial contract Steyr Hahn M1912 with a 1913 mfr date that I snagged at a gun show for $175 a couple years back. Still shoots great. Also have a Astra Cub in .22 short.

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  2. Oldest are a couple of S&W M&P Hand Ejectors made in 1905 or so. Plenty of ammo for them since i reload 38 special.

    Most obscure are M&P lend lease guns in 38 S&W. One is an Australian and the other is an RAF gun with remnant of a bright blue finish. I keep 100 rounds loaded and a couple hundred brass. Also have 1950s Terrier in 38S&W.

    Got rid of my Walther PP Ultra cause i didnt like not having ammo for it.

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  3. Obviously, the motorcyclist and his buddy are knuckleheads.

    Mr. Wangler perhaps should have taken a different approach but with the safety of kids involved…I certainly understand his frustration.

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  4. Great article and interesting research. I applaud the original author for taking on the project and sharing the work.

    From a scientific perspective the original paper has several limitations as well as delimitations, which is where I will start.

    First, the author uses a range of different ammo loads. This helps the the ability to generalize the findings. Second, the original barrel was modified, which eliminates a range of other, potentially, confounding factors. Finally, a range of distances were used. It is possible that one setup is more precise at a given distance while another ammo/barrel combo is better at a different distance.

    There are several limitations to the study. Foremost is that incomplete data are reported. E.g. The descriptive data should always include not only the average but relevant other statistics including standard error/deviation. Because this data is not present it is the readers’ error is using the incomplete descriptive data to draw inference about the underlying population. This is the readers’ fault, not the author’s. Finally, even if the data were captured and reported here, generalization to all calibers/distances is simply not possible with s study with this very limited scope.

    I have a lot of experience with statistical studies and am happy to volunteer my time to consult on a similar project should someone wish to undertake it.

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  5. Let the police deal with douchebags, (which seems like both parties here are) that’s what you pay taxes for, and that’s why the police get paid. You don’t do the janitorial work at your job? Do you? (No offense to our courageous janitors, who face unspeakable acts of defecation daily- I know, I used to be one).

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  6. Dyspeptic Gunsmith,a very true statement! The “can’t have your cake and eat it too” expectations of the marketplace just don’t happen. People will always buy the lower cost mass produced plastic and stamped gun and expect it to be like an heirloom Browning Hi Power (not Hi Point). Reality is what it is, can’t make a price point item and expect performance on par with a hand fitted gun from the past.

    I always enjoy reading your well thought out comments and I believe what you write! Please never stop commenting.

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  7. I would chime in about not using TSA approved locks on your gun case, but I think enough people have already.

    I knew a photographer who always flew with a starter pistol, because it’s a fifty state legal way of declaring a “firearm”. He does that because the one time he checked a camera case with TSA approved locks many years ago, after the creation of the TSA, some of his valuable gear didn’t reach the destination. By declaring the starter pistol firearm, he can lock his luggage with high quality locks and not have to worry as much about the Thieves Standing Around at the airport.

    When I travel, I use a big pelican case for my luggage, and I put all my clothing, toiletries, etc. in there. I also add a zipped gun rug with a gun (plus any ammo or magazines I need). The big pelican case is my locked, rigid container. There’s no restriction on putting other stuff in there. I’ve put valuable Christmas gifts in there, and never lost a thing.

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  8. DAMNIT! I just spent $200 on ammo at Sportsman’s Warehouse, including 200rds of M193! Grrr… (price was really good, but not that good)

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  9. It’s crazy to me that Surefire and Zev Customs are in CA. How does that work out for them. They deal with and make products not legal in the state…

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  10. “They can pass all the laws they want, and I can guarantee you we are going to find a way around them.”

    Guarantee? The next round won’t be banning pistol grips. They’ll be banning guns.

    Reply

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