“There are many true stories from Crimson Trace owners and users who report that activating the laser—and having the potential attacker see that defining red dot on their chest or body—ultimately turned the attack and saved their life.” Crimson Trace’s presser presses the point that a laser dot on a bad guy’s body can stop an attack in its tracks. It’s the same sort of claim that shotgun fans assert regarding the deterrent effect of racking a pump. Crimson Trace’s true tales of “laser sights in the real world” certainly make for compelling reading but laser sights have their downsides: eye fixation, revealing your location, failure to activate, stopping you from responding in a timely fashion. What do you reckon? Do any/many/most bad guys find religion when they’re lit-up? Is that important enough to add a laser to your carry or home defense gun?
BURN THE G&A MAGAZINES!!! BURN THEM ALL!!!
What is this guy, living in a cave? As said, “well-regulated” did not at all have the meaning it does today. In addition, who determines what are “adequate” laws? And WHAT THE HELL kind of reasoning is it that a the general public has any authority to force a person to undergo training to exercise a “RIGHT?”
That’s like saying that one has a right to engage in free speech, but first must undergo training to ensure that they are knowledgeable enough to comment on the subject.
And does anyone really believe that driver’s licenses “train” people to drive? Most people learn to drive just by doing it. Driver’s licenses are useless in that sense. If people actually had to pass a TRUE driver’s qualification and had to be TRULY trained how to drive, we’d have far fewer drivers, and that is probably how it would be with the leftists except that then society wouldn’t be able to function.
Vaguely related since it was mentioned– regarding motor vehicles and driving/travel:
http://accountabilityforpeople.blogspot.com/2013/11/learn-all-about-right-to-travel-in.html
My .45 has a CTC LaserGrip. It also has tritium night sights. If the laser causes the perp to run and I don’t have to live with another killing on my conscience then fine. If they are stupid enough to continue to be a threat… well that is fine also.
I don’t nor have I ever used a laser sight.
But it may have its merits on de-escalating an attack.
I prefer to dry fire and get my sight picture, maybe a laser site makes it easier.
But its bulk or expense on most weapons I own takes it off the market for me.
I don’t know. When I did CQB in the military, I found that laser sights slowed me down. For me… it was much better to practice acquiring the target with both eyes open. Remember the mantra – front sight, front sight, bang.
Also when we did green on red forces drills, sometimes the “bad guys” would use lasers. I never noticed it. My adrenaline was pumping so much it never occurred to me.
Laser pointers are really cheap.
Y’all do realize that a laser can be a weapon by itself. It’s a federal felony to aim a laser at an aircraft due to its ability to blind the crew. Read the warning label – all those tiny words. So do lase an intruder, who can then sue you for blinding them or damaging their eyesight. Personally, I’ll continue to rely on the sight and sound of my weapon to deter the criminal. Fatally if necessary. You break into my house, you don’t get a second chance.
I agree with all of Robert’s words, and in particular “I believe in the Second Amendment but…”
I disagree with cutting off subscription because of one mans’ opinion. People of the Gun J.O.B is to inform and communicate the facts.
I suggest writing responses and instead of emailing, send via fax. Start mass faxing at Close of business. I’m sure this will get your point across.
To whom it may concern;
I am a subscriber to Handguns, G&A, Shotgun News and Rifle Shooter magazines. Mr. Metcalf’s recent G&A editorial just blows my mind in it’s support for government sponsored gun control. Maybe Mr. Metcalf stopped reading the 2nd Amendment before it got that part about “Shall Not Be Infringed.”
I’ll be awaiting a very public response from Intermedia Outdoors next week. Particularly, I would like to hear that this editorial does not stand in line with the company’s views on gun ownership and that Mr. Metcalf is no longer employed by Intermedia Outdoors.
If the response is slow or if there is even a hint that Mr. Metcalf won’t be held responsible for his pro gun control statements, I will be canceling all of my subscriptions. I speak not only for myself, but my family and friends.
Sincerely,
I used to run a cheap LaserLyte I got on sale for Black Friday. I had it on my XD for a few months before I realized, if I do ever get into a situation, I’m not going to be thinking about pressing the little button on the back of the unit to turn it on.
I think lasers you have to turn on manually are pointless in a DGU situation. Therefore, a laser that can turn on automatically when you grip the pistol might be useful. The only laser I know of that does that is the Crimson Trace.
Not a glowing recommendation for eighteen year olds and making informed a mature decisions; especially in a state that has shall issue CC.
If a man came charging at me with an ax; depending on if they are outside of 20 ft.+ or – , I would either issue a challenge or immediately start shooting until the threat is neutralized.
It depends TOTALLY on the situation I am in, period. There are places where a laser might be of great use, especially if you are behind cover or out of line of sight. THen there are times too where a laser is time consuming and attention grabbing .. Once again, it is up to the OPERATOR to decide which way to go.
Robert Seddon
Shoot to kill. Most motorcycle helmets are not bullet proof, and the few that are the face plate is not.
Given the ratio of Hollywood education to real education, it wouldn’t surprise me if lasers and shotgun pump noises scared the shit out of some common criminals. Being of the real education population, I would never rely on a superficial effect to save my life.
I keep finding that with firearms there can be many correct and many wrong answers. While all the discussion is great for learning, I think most of the time the only good answer is “it depends.”
“I’m going to stop there. Anyone who says “I believe in the Second Amendment but–” does not believe in the Second Amendment.”
Well that does sound like a bit of a challenge. Would me saying, “I believe in the Second Amendment, but Metcalf obviously doesn’t,” count as an exception?
All kidding aside (clearly that “but” only ruins it when it refers to your own belief, not someone else’s), it’s the most black-and-white phrasing in the bill of rights; it’s not limited to Congress not passing a law (as is the First), so an argument can be made it applied to the states the instant it was ratified. It goes so far as to say “shall not be infringed” and… well, I am preaching to the choir here. I’ll add, rather unnecessarily that even if “regulated” meant what they think it means (cue Inigo Montoya, saying, “That word… I do not think it means what you think it means” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIP6EwqMEoE), it’s clearly the militia that is to be regulated not the right of the people to keep and bear arms, which shall not be infringed. [And what part of “shall not be infringed” do they fail to understand? Clearly it’s the word “not” that they do “not” understand.]
I am curious WHY Metcalf and the Editors did this? What were they trying to accomplish?
As I posted elsewhere here is how I cancelled: How do I end my subscription?
To cancel your subscription, please call 800-829-3340 or Send a Comment to our Customer Service Department through the Manage Your Account area of the Customer Service site. You may also write to us at Guns & Ammo, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235 .
For international orders please call 386-246-3326.
A refund will be issued for any un-served issues of your subscription.
Most of the posters here seem to be in the one size fits all mode. I have CTC lasers on my .45’s and one on my CQC AR. they all have pressure switches for activation or NOT activation. As far as DGU situations, having the switch under your dominant hand middle finger (sort of ironic there…) is nice, and after you use it enough it becomes motor memory automatic. ALSO extremely nice for a fire from the hip quickie. PRACTICE makes perfect.
Robert Seddon
Abstracting from the fact that it was a commercial the gun itself is as likely to have scared off a real attacker. Remember, most criminals follow predator logic. If resistance is offered then search out an easier target. Are lasers useful? yes. Will a laser alone scare off a bad guy? I wouldn’t bet my life on it. Any component of your self defense system that impedes your decision making shouldn’t be there. When you draw your gun your should be to deliver a lethal wound. If the act of drawing your weapon dissuades your attacker from proceeding that is a bonus.
It’s no different than the NRA. Search YouTube for Wayne LaPierre praising Harry Reid! Hopefully you will all eventually see that these corporations are capitalizing off of “opposition”. For example, if you research enough, you will see many links between “big oil” and “Green Peace”.
Like the WWF/WWE…nothing works better for sales, then a heel.
A friend of mine found himself in a situation with a road-raged felon charging him with a baseball bat. As he drew, he lased the malcontent’s eyes, who promptly dropped the bat and turned himself wrong side out reversing direction. Good thing too, ’cause my friend had about 3.5 pounds of pressure on a four-pound trigger.
Are longer barrels even available? If I am going to add a 7.62 to my arsenal, I will not buy a 16″ barrel.
Coupla things about that video: The woman left her car so she could stand in the middle of her sidewalk. She gave up all of her possibilities for either concealment or cover. If she had had decent training she would have never done that.
Second, she stands completely still waiting for the BG to get out of his vehicle. She didn’t know if he had a gun. She should have been moving.
Third, the presentation of a firearm in the hands of a determined defender is at least as good defense as shining a red dot on him. Had this been a real defensive situation she would have been very unlikely to be able to hold the dot on his body.
So,Napolitano isn’t a bull dyke?
I think ill read the article myself to see if i agree with him and will renew my subscription immediately. We need regulations badly, too many mass shootings done by people who were law abiding citizens the day before.
If you don’t like Carnik Con then f**k you.
“Thous shall not lie”, “thous shall not steal”, “thou shall not murder” are not absolutes. There are some exceptions to the overall rules or laws based on context.
Likewise, I see noting wrong with criminal background checks for gun purchases, keeping guns out of courtrooms, and certain other restrictions that some people would define as infringements.
So, has that revolver ever been fired? I hope that it has at least once.
This exaggeration by Garcetti is part of the Left’s gleeful attempt to demonize this guy because he appears to be an extreme Right-Winger. I am sure they have been praying for a bona fide Rightist, nutjob to commit a mass shooting attack with an “assault rifle” (or something they can call that misnomer). He used a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 in .223 is what the Los Angeles News is reporting and had about 150 rounds….Garcetti is a lying Politician who believes everyone in L.A. who voted for him is basically an idiot. He would have said the Suspect had a “machine gun” and 10,000 rounds of ammunition if he thought he could get away with it.
You just reminded me that a .22mag lever gun is at the top of my need to have list.
Being unarmed and all, it’s a good thing you are going to New Jersey where they have zero violent crime.
/sarcasm
Just heard from a peer in California (retired LEO) who, while purchasing a new handgun and going through the waiting period, had to sign a form immunizing the gun store by stating he was not buying the gun to commit “mass murder”.
Apparently, they are not worried by “drive by shootings, rape, robbery, and just regular murder” as these were not mentioned on the waiver.
Ahhhh…. California. A great place to be from.
If the mainstream media would come to rural Amreica and see how we use them in our daily lives at the range to shoot competition matches or just to plink. They could see that weapons are not bad things . It’s the person behind them. Go to 3 gun match and watch it. There fun to watch and compete in.
I have tried for 10 minutes to type this on my I phone. It keeps going to other other screens. Coiencecdence? I don’t think so no wonder no one has responded!
I have a Henry 001 that I won in an NRA Raffle. Some folks chuckle when I bring it to my club’s rimfire matches but so far I’ve put in a pretty good showing with it and I think any space for improvement in my scores belongs to ME not the rifle.
If the laser doesn’t deter them, the bullet that follows will.