| not just a small handful, else it will become neglected. Having children, I can tell you that the toys they cherish most are the ones they had to work for and perhaps that is why freedom is not appreciated in America today. Perhaps we as a nation and especially many of our countrymen do not hold freedom in awe and respect because it has come to us so easily. I believe that if we take our duty to defend the Constitution as a personal responsibility that comes as part of being a citizen, we will put a higher value on liberty. Therefore, do not look at being armed as something frivolous or as a privilege, it is the single most essential element of your citizenship that you can bear. Remember also that the 2nd Amendment says “well regulated”, this means precisely and specifically that you be well trained. A nation of armed and trained citizens that know the Constitution cannot be defeated by any foe, regardless if they are foreign or domestic. Last month we discussed the rifle as the single most important and indispensable firearm in your inventory. If you live in one of those Constitutionally challenged states (usually run by socialist despots such as Ted Kennedy who have their own well armed bodyguards), you may be forbidden from owning certain types of firearms despite the phrase “shall not be infringed” which is clearly inserted into the 2nd Amendment to prevent such gerrymandering of the rule of law. Some states have provisions against owning certain types of firearms, fortunately they were written by hysterical liberals who are more frightened of symbolism than they are of substance. Usually those provisions are against such features as pistol grips or bayonet lugs but sometimes are substantial in that they also forbid large capacity magazines (5 rounds or more are forbidden). For those states, I recommend a hunting grade rifle in 7mm mag or .308 (7.62 NATO) with a good scope on it and that you practice shooting at distances up to 1,000 yards. This will make you a more than an adequate defender of the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies both foreign and domestic. There may be a situation in which you can only have a shotgun or a handgun. Let me first say that in a fire-fight, a shotgun requires you to get fairly close in order to be effective. A handgun is only a backup, a sidearm, it is a pathetic substitute for a rifle and you will be on the losing end of any engagement if you are the one with the pistol. The pistol and shotgun have serious limitations, especially when compared to a rifle. The shotgun and pistol, like the submachine gun, have gotten a lot of undeserved favorable press lately and a lot of recommendations are coming from the same and usual suspects, namely law enforcement types. While these weapons are ideal when used in set piece battles with overwhelming odds on your side in a controlled environment, I would not want to lead a squad of men armed with such against a squad of men armed with rifles. The men with rifles would stay out of range of the shotguns, pistols and sub-machineguns and never suffer a casualty as they decimated you. Still, if you must have a shotgun, let me give you some specific advice on what to get and what not to get. First, don’t buy a pistol grip shotgun, they are hard to shoot and are actually not that maneuverable in small spaces. Additionally, the instinct for many shooters is to stick the end of the shotgun in their shoulder when firing and this can create some minor injuries (I know because I have done this). Second, don’t buy an overly militarized shotgun or one with a fancy name on it just because the SWAT or FBI like it. I have seen the folding stock SPAS and others that sell for over $1,000 and know that if these SWAT or FBI guys weren’t using stolen taxpayers money to purchase the weapons, they would stick with something like a Remington 870 or cheaper. Do buy a 12 gauge pump that is capable of shooting magnum loads and do buy one with an extended magazine tube. Don’t waste your money on an auto-loader, they are far too expensive for the minimal amount of functionality they provide. Do get a full stock, preferably a wooden one although the plastic ones are a bit more weatherproof. Buy a good supply of slugs along with a variety of other shots. The ammunition you want for defending your country and the law of the land is known as “high brass” (it has a larger propellant load than the bird-shot or skeet shot). Avoid fancy gimmicks and especially avoid all the phony militarizing gadgets that you can put on your shotgun. There are heat shields, folding stocks, pistol grips, bayonet lugs and laser pointers that might have a purpose but are not worth the time, money and effort. Furthermore, should you use your shotgun for defending your home against one of the common crooks (the uncommon ones work for the IRS and hide behind the color of law to rob you), the jury is going to see you not as a home defender but as Rambo who laid up an ambush. I have a good friend from my old Ranger outfit, a real Boy Scout type who, because he was in the Rangers, had a defensive shooting case turned against him in court (he lost everything he owned, was convicted of a felony and spent five years on probation; all for shooting a crook as he tried to break in to his home during the day!) You will notice that I didn’t mention pistols at all and that is because, for the purposes of defending the Constitution and this great country of ours, they are not worth mentioning. If I found myself in a combat situation armed only with a pistol, I would use it to kill an enemy combatant and take his rifle so I would be properly armed. Having a fancy and expensive and very accurate pistol is all fine and well if you are in law enforcement but it is impractical if you are looking to be a well regulated and armed citizen. If you feel it is important to own a pistol, buy something that shoots a common caliber such as .45 auto or .38 special but only after you have bought a good rifle. Most importantly, NEVER make an illegal modification to your weapons. This will give the ATF the excuse they are looking for to come after you and your friends and everybody else they fear and loathe. Further, modifying your weapon to fire fully automatic mode will cause you to become a pathetic marksman and a terrible waste of ammo (not to mention a hazard to those around you!) If you absolutely must have a fully automatic weapon, get the tax stamp for about $200 from your local gun dealer and own them “legally”. Keep your weapons safeguarded, either lock them in a safe or in a safe place. If you have children, teach them about the guns, don’t rely on hiding them because children will always find them. If your children are too small to understand the word “no” or to obey simple instructions, it might be best to keep the ammunition and weapons locked away. At my home all the weapons are always loaded and we put them in a safe and secure place when company with small children come to visit. |
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| ------------------------------------- Al Lorentz is a Fundamentalist Christian, father and devoted husband, state chairman of the Constitution Party of Texas. Al has served as a Marine Sniper and later as an Airborne Ranger in the Texas National Guard. He welcomes your comments at allorentz@truevine.net. ------------------------------------- PRISON PLANET.com INFOWARS.com |
| Police State: Keep and Bear Arms Part II By Al Lorentz This month we will be talking about shotguns and pistols but first… In my previous column, we discussed the importance of the 2nd amendment. Indeed, the right to keep and bear arms was not guaranteed by law in our Constitution merely so we would have a sort of privilege, it was put there as a responsibility. The assurance that our society remains free is the duty of every citizen, |
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