One of the old mantras many of us continue to see and hear is that the sub-compact firearm is “Carried often, but shot little.” Let me go on the record stating that I TOTALLY DISAGREE with this old adage. Like many of you, my every-day carry companion is a sub-compact handgun (the dark-earth 9mm Springfield Armory XD-S), and I shoot it on a regular basis.
It seems this adage is often repeated by instructors because, in their experience, many of the subcompacts of the past were difficult to manage and the recoil was harsh. These “cons” resulted in little practice time with the firearm.
With the smaller versions of the Springfield XD series though, I do not find this to be the case at all. I actually enjoy practice sessions with these small pistols.
Special Concealment Assignment
Quite often I get requests from friends in the security business requiring assistance with multi-day protection details. A few days prior to receiving the Springfield XD-S Mod.2 for evaluation, I answered one of these calls. After obtaining some of the specifics related to this executive detail, it was clear that a suit and tie were the “uniform” of the day. Knowing that 1) dress belts are not the best rig when carrying full-sized firearms and 2) blending in and concealment were the high priority, I opted to carry my sub-compact 9mm Springfield Armory XD-S as my primary firearm. My Springfield Armory SAINT was relegated to the trunk of my transport vehicle as the “back-up” weapon. Good choice, I know…
60 Minutes Correspondent, Scott Pelley over at CBS has assembled the linked special to once again malign the most popular rifle in the United States. Every time I open one of these articles I have hope. I want it be filled with an unbiased, or at the least a fair minded while ignorant, look at the topic. I can respect a difference of opinion, I cannot respect willful ignorance or misrepresentation and misinformation.
This article is filled with the latter, not the former.
Some of the worst massacres in recent memory have had something in common: the AR-15 style rifle. Scott Pelley reports on why the high-velocity rounds used in the gun makes it so deadly.
The mass shooting this past April at a California synagogue has something in common with the deadliest massacres: the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle. Variations of the AR-15 were used to kill at two New Zealand mosques, a Pittsburgh synagogue, Texas church, a Las Vegas concert, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida and Sandy Hook Elementary School. The AR-15 style rifle is the most popular rifle in America. There are well over 11 million and they are rarely used in crime. Handguns kill far more people. But as we first reported last November, the AR-15 is the choice of our worst mass murderers. AR-15 ammunition travels three times the speed of sound. And tonight we’re going to slow that down, so you can see why the AR-15’s high velocity ammo is the fear of every American emergency room. – CBS
Opening by conveniently leaving out the recent shootings that involved handguns (Virginia Beach, STEM in Colorado). CBS highlights the lethality of the target of their ire and states that ERs across the nation fear the AR-15 and its high velocity ammunition. While mass casualty is among the fears of most emergency rooms and trauma centers, I can’t see it being their ultimate fear just because the method of injury was gunshot wound.
ER Numbers
Check this out here, the unintentional vs. intentional injury rate nationwide for ERs. Unintentional rate of 904.6/10,000. The intentional rate, includes both self-inflicted and assaults, is only 66/10,000. I don’t think rifle GSWs specifically occupy most of their thoughts.
I’m not going to disparage the nature of a rifle wound. A rifle and shotgun (with slug or buckshot) are both far more injurious than a handgun round.
It’s the way CBS writes it, singling out .223 Rem/5.56x45mm as some sort devastatingly unique murder bullet and then using the foil for their comparison as 9mm.
Not other rifle ammo like 30-30 or 30.06… 9mm.
“Bonafides”
CBS gives a quick nod in the first paragraph to the facts that handguns are used in far more violence and that rifles and firearms in general are largely used by the law abiding… they then spend the rest of their time with you attempting to make you forget those facts.
They flow into the anecdotes of responders to these horrific crimes. Every single one reads the same, “The most horrific scene I’ve seen in my XX years in Law Enforcement/EMS.” Yes, I believe you. A massacre on this scale is a high damage/low probability event and when they happen the results are devastating, shocking, and heart wrenching.
CBS mentions Sutherland Springs, Texas. They don’t mention that a citizen, Stephen Williford, armed with the same rifle they are maligning and those very same ultra deadly murder bullets (5.56) was the one who engaged and stopped Devin Kelley.
Kelley should have been unable to purchase the rifle under Federal law but the DoD failed in their record keeping.
And then… it’s time for the Gel Test.
Gel Test of Terror!
Cynthia Bir with correspondent Scott Pelley. Image from the CBS article.
Cynthia Bir (pictured above) shows CBS a standard ballistics gel test. But again, they use 9mm as the baseline for the test. They are then shocked that two rounds designed to perform two different ways are doing just that. I’m afraid to ask them to fire a 30.06 into ballistic tissue simulant… what shock and horror would the folks have to confront when a moderately powered rifle cartridge is compared to a full power rifle cartridge so very commonly used for hunting and over a century old.
They point to the fact that the base heavy 5.56, at its naturally higher velocity, tumbles and depending on the bullet make up will fragment. Where the much slower 9mm, whose velocity they list at 800 miles per hour, instead of the standard feet per second format for some reason, expands when the bullet is designed to do just that.
I can fathom two reasons for the use of mph. I suspect it’s both.
Reason 1. Miles Per Hour/MPH is a more widely understood measure of velocity since we use mph in our vehicles. A 9mm therefore goes 12-15 times as fast as a car on the highway when it leaves the gun. This conceptually makes sense to people as ” very fast.”
Reason 2. We associate high mph speeds with danger because of vehicles. This makes saying the 9mm goes 800 mph far scarier than saying it goes 1,050 feet per second (fps). They then omit listing the rifle velocity in miles per hour (~2100mph by the way. The F22 Raptor, an air superiority fighter, has a max speed of 1,498 mph, highlighting the absurdity of using mph format for ammunition.)
Look at how bad gunshot wounds are!
After highlighting the well acknowledged fact that rifle wounds are worse than handgun wounds… because, you know, physics… They go over more anecdotes of the various wounds caused in some of the AR-15 involved shootings, highlighting the specific damage caused to the organs, muscles, and bones of the wounded and dead.
Not once do they compare it to another rifle round. In fact they largely stop the comparison to the 9mm at this point, having gotten their 800 mph point made. They just go over how bad gunshot wounds are… over and over and over. No comparison, no contrast against a standard, just gunshot wounds from an AR are bad.
Yes. They are. So are the rest of gunshot wounds.
Mandalay Bay
Las Vegas is their next argument by rolling in just how fast an AR can shoot. Well…
Again, the fact that the bumpstock shifted casualties into the wounded category more than the dead won’t be publicized as it doesn’t work for the goal of maligning the AR. Again, the fact that the physical location of the attack and crowd situation contributed drastically to the casualty figure, far more than just the rifle or magazines cannot be publicized as it shifts blame away from the rifle. A bolt action rifle would have been devastating. An IED would have. A Nice, France style drive through attack would have been incredibly lethal in that crowd.
Our obsession with “method” over general means and motive is perpetually aggravating…
It’s that darn high speed ammo…
The response has been is a rehash of emergency response procedures… in many cases late and reactionary instead of proactively. I’ve spoken with LEO and EMS folk who have been trying to get their emergency medicine and response on the levels that have so drastically improved casualty care from GWOT into the civilian side, they’ve been fighting that battle for years. They are met with institutional lethargy, indifference, and a general wish that it just won’t happen to them.
Departments and services that are keeping up on casualty care are what we need! This shouldn’t be a shock to us it should be our demand and expectation for our first responders.
CBS manages to turn this point to read as something shameful. “We shouldn’t need this.” is the vibe the piece portrays.
I wish we didn’t need it. I do.
But we do. The horror glorification the mass media has managed to engender in our 24hr coverage of these are events that will be well publicized and give the deranged among the population the opportunity for a stage. Want proof? New Zealand. And the government did a lot of what the shooter wanted.
We didn’t kick off the deranged race war he wanted when gun control got brought up but we certainly brought up gun control worldwide.
Today, all Americans are being asked to prepare for the grievous wounds of high-velocity rounds. The CBS piece concludes.
Americans are also being asked to prepare for heart disease, diabetes, house fires, power outages, natural disasters, and identity theft.
So why is the AR-15 “the choice” for mass shooters?
Easy.
Cheap.
Available
The reason handguns dominate in other criminal violence is concealability, a factor a mass casualty attack isn’t concerned with. Yet handguns are still common there too.
The question CBS implies they ask is “How are we learning to respond to mass casualty attacks?” Instead they produced a low information slam piece on the AR-15 to continue the “black gun scary” narrative.
I’m not sure exactly what happened, but there seemed to be a moment when a switch was flipped and the country became one that embraced concealed carry. The vast majority of states are now shall issue states and all 50 states offer some form of concealed carry license. This created a massive market for concealed carry guns.
The industry reacted to this trend and guns got smaller, much smaller. The 380 ACP made a major comeback, prior to this concealed carry revolution the 380 ACP wasn’t a popular cartridge. Guns shrunk, every major company offered a small, pocket-sized pistol for concealed carry or a small sub-compact double stack magazine.
After that we saw the rise of single stack 9mms. These guns were the happy medium between the pocket .380 and the double stack sub compact. The single stack 9 still has a healthy dose of the market, but it’s beginning to change.
It all started with that damn P365. The SIG P365 gave us a gun the size of a single stack 9mm with 10 round magazines, with the option for 12 rounders. People suddenly wanted something like a single stack, but they also wanted more than 6 rounds of 9mm. It didn’t end there though. People wanted thin guns, but they weren’t afraid of larger guns either.
Concealed Carry Guns Change Once More
I said it the year the P365 debuted, the concealed carry gun industry was about to change. Companies in that market are going to have to reply with something of their own. Glock replied by modifying the 43 into the 43X and the Glock 48. Instead of coming up with a fancy new magazine they made their guns bigger.
The Glock 48
Both guns have 10 round magazines but the Glock 48 has a longer barrel. Both are thinner than the Glock 26, but match its capacity. They became something we didn’t know we wanted. The larger grip is easier to handle, and the thinner design makes IWB easier. The longer slide and barrel increase the sight radius, making it easier to shoot accurately.
The 43X
People seemingly loved the idea. A compact grip and gun, with the slide of what’s essentially a full sized gun. Companies again had to react to meet this market.
Springfield introduced the XD-E 4.5″ single stack 9mm. Is sports a longer 4.5 inch barrel, but retains a compact grip. Following that S&W showed us the new 4 inch Shield that is optic’s ready as well.
Of course, SIG wasn’t going to be outdone and tossed out the impressive SIG P365 XL that sported a longer slide and barrel as well as a 15 round magazine. It’s also an optic’s ready gun.
The new concealed carry gun market means going a little bigger. You either want a bigger magazine, a bigger slide, or a bigger set of sights via an optic.
But Why?
Why has the market for concealed carry guns changed? What was wrong with subcompacts and pocket pistols? I have a few theories as to why myself.
People Just Like New Stuff
George Carlin once said Americans are professional consumers. It’s somewhat true in the gun world. We like new stuff, and companies have to keep innovating to stay relevant. Is the demand because people like new stuff? That’s one somewhat negative theory about these guns, but let’s be optimistic.
People are Training More
People aren’t just buying concealed carry guns and sitting on it anymore. They are getting out there and training. The training market is huge, big enough that gun companies like IWI are even running their own training academies. People are shooting more and seeing the flaws of those super small guns. These larger guns are so much easier to shoot in all ways.
Holsters Have Gotten Way Better
Back in the day sub-compacts and pocket 380s were the easiest guns to hide and the most comfortable guns to carry. As markets do, companies have to produce a better product to stay on top. The holster market is cut throat and competitive and holsters have gotten better. Holsters from companies like PHLSTER are outstanding and make carrying bigger guns much easier. The rise of appendix carry is another factor we have to consider. Appendix carry makes it much easier to conceal larger guns.
Bigger, but still thin guns are becoming massively popular in very short period of time. To me more options is better. I generally prefer a full sized gun, but smaller guns make it into my carry rotation when carrying a full sized gun isn’t possible. I like the added capacity, the easier grip, and the increasing amount of guns with optics mounts. I hope to see the concept evolve and see what companies like Walther, or even HK can put out to compete.
I recently welcomed a new “pet” into my home. She’s a bit of a senior girl, but still has a lot of life left in her.
Okay she’s a shotgun, not a Corgi, but I discovered that the used gun “adoption” process is not unlike bringing home a pet.
I am usually a buy-once-cry-once gal when it comes to guns, but when I found myself in the market for a tactical/HD shotgun, I decided that with a kid heading to graduate school and needing financial help, that I probably should not be buying any new guns this summer.
New tactical 12 gauges run in the 400 dollar and up range so my challenge was to try to rehabilitate a used gun on a budget.
Welcome to my New Project!
I started my search with calling around to several local pawn shops to see what they had in stock. Pawn shops are not unlike the local dog pound or humane society in that they are full of cast-offs that other people don’t want. I feel bad for all those lonely abandoned guns, but unfortunately I can’t take all of them home with me.
One shop I called didn’t have hours when I could get there. Another shop was wildly over-priced. Another shop had the breed that I was looking for (Mossberg 500 12 Gauge) and even the size I was looking for (18.5 inch barrel) but the price was still too high. And yet another shop had what I was looking for at such a fantastic price that I wondered if this lonely pet had a date with the needle or something.
I had a little fun at the first pawn shop I visited, because I think the older guy in the camo ball cap thought he was going to “little lady” me. Admittedly, I was in my office wear and not tactical pants, but imagine the look on his face when I started unscrewing the end cap of the shotgun he just handed me, and started pulling the barrel off!
It was an 18.5 inch barrel, so that would have saved me money by not replacing it, but this boy had a good bit of mange on the underbelly, so I’d have probably needed to replace it anyway. Since I was just beginning my search and had a few other shops to visit, I thanked the man for his time and moved on. He was still gaping when I left.
The second pawn shop was where I hit paydirt. They had a Mossberg 500 12 gauge and were only asking $119 for it. The reason it was so cheap was not because it was due to be euthanized, but because the previous owner had taken a can of spray paint to it – presumably for turkey or waterfowl purposes. But it wasn’t even a full-on camo job – it was just squiggles of goldish-tan. This gun was an older model with a crummy paint job, but the action was smooth, the trigger was crisp, and the safety worked. The inside of the barrel didn’t even look bad despite the paint job on the outside. But because it was 26 inches long, I’d be replacing it with a shorter “tactical” version anyway.
Just as with adopting from a rescue group or humane society, you have to prove that you are a fit pet owner before you can take a gun home, so I filled out the forms and jumped through the hoops just as I would at any gun shop. We dealed a bit and I ended up out-the-door tax-and-all for $110 cash. I thought I did pretty well.
I got my new pet home and immediately tried to find out how old she was. You can apparently contact Mossberg directly with the serial number, but I found a partial serial number chart online which gave me a ballpark idea.
This girl was about 30 years old. No spring chicken, but she looked to be in decent shape for her age. She had a synthetic stock and forend and no obvious rust.
Taking her to a professional groomer would have defeated the purpose of a budget makeover, so I ordered a “care and keeping of your pet” book online and watched a couple videos before getting started on what was probably her first thorough bath since the Clinton Administration.
The manual for my new pet.
I took the stock off first, and though there was a good bit of crud in that seam, it did not prepare me for the debris that spilled out when I took out the trigger assembly. Wow, this girl had a bad case of fleas – but it was just crud, no rust. At least it wasn’t heartworm. A good bath and application of preventive should take care of everything.
Crud.More crud.Even more crud.
A friend recommended Kroil and canned air, followed by denatured alcohol and more canned air, followed by a good lube. The grooming products cost me more than I expected, but now I’ll have them if this bringing-home-strays thing becomes a habit.
Grooming products for my new pet.
That’s where I am so far in my adoption journey. The parts are still in the soak-and-toothbrush stage, but I am pleased with how everything is cleaning up at this point. I think my new pet and I are going to be very happy together.
In the meantime, I liked the pawn shop (and how I was treated) so much that I may make a little room in my safe with some cast-off safe queens of my own. Besides making room in the safe, that would give my makeover budget a little more breathing room too.
I may just leave the receiver as is for now and not refinish it yet. I haven’t decided on Rustoleum vs a true Cerakote job. I likewise haven’t yet decided if I want to home-hydrodip the stock and forend or if I want to spring for new Magpul furniture. We’ll see what the budget and my home skills come up with. I’ll be sure to update when she’s all finished and ready to become my new Emotional Support Gun.
ETS is mostly known for making transparent polymer AR 15 and Glock magazines, but they’ve also developed a line of magazine loaders. The ETS Cam loaders are designed for both rifles and pistols. I got my hands on the rifle magazine loader and have been putting it through its paces. The ETS CAM rifle mag loader is designed to be used with a wide variety of magazines and that is where the main appeal is to me. I like the idea of a magazine loader I can utilize for a variety of different guns.
The CAM Rifle Mag loader will work with AR 15s, AKs, AR 10s, the MP5, the CZ Scorpion, the Colt SMG, and even the Uzi. It covers all the bases I need, and for 30 bucks it’s a bargain. Of course, that depends on if it works.
Hows It Work?
The ETS CAM Rifle Mag loader is a two-piece system. One part is a plunger, the other holds the ammo and the magazine in place for the plunger to push it all together. What’s cool is the larger portion that holds it together has a channel that allows you to pick up rounds by their rim. If the ammo is sorted with the projectiles facing downwards you can slide the top portion over the rims of the rounds and you can pick them up without hassle.
If your ammo isn’t sorted with the projectiles facing down you can drop the rounds down the channel one by one. You can typically load about 10 to 15 rounds on the plunger depending on the caliber. You hold the load over the magazine and place the plunger on top. Apply pressure and it shoots rounds into the magazine. Simple, quick and effective.
Does CAM Rifle Mag Loader Work?
Yes, actually pretty well too. The ETS CAM Rifle mag loader makes loading mags simple and quick. Mags from the AR, Colt SMG, and Scorpion fit perfectly and are easy to hold and load. Metal AK mags fit perfect, and some polymer mags are a little tight and a little harder to hold onto but still loadable. Things do get difficult when it comes to loading 15 rounds at a time. It’s doable, but the manual does state ten rounds and predictably ten rounds is the smoothest functioning load capacity.
I can load a thirty round magazine in about thirty seconds from the box. This isn’t trying to be fast, just casually loading one mag at a time. Sliding the loader’s channel over the rounds makes it much faster to load mags. Dropping a few in at a time works well too. Outside of being faster, it’s also less tiring on the hands and thumbs, which ensures your hands are rested and strong for that range time.
The ETS CAM Rifle mag loader isn’t just great to load quickly. I imagine folks with arthirits and poor hand strength will love it. It will make loading magazines much easier in this situation.
Complaints and Gripes?
You can find them on Amazon, at Academy, and on the ETS website etc. This was my first experience with the ETS loaders and it’s becoming awfully tempting to grab a 9mm handgun loader.
The Boston Globe ran the following letter from the Falmouth Gun Safety Coalition in response to the Virginia beach shooting. The “Derp” is strong… we will see if the analysis stands up. If you can guess the answer by the article title, you win one internet.
The recent shooting in Virginia Beach, Va., shows that the most severe gun-related problem facing our society is the proliferation of guns containing a semiautomatic mechanism.
Huh? That is a quite the new take on a firearm action style that is more than a century old. “Containing a semi-automatic mechanism” sounds like it’s some form of evil RAM chip you add to a computer to access the dark web. Not.. you know.. a series of springs so that when the action opens it will close again on a new round of ammunition. Also don’t tell the FGSC double action revolvers and rifles exist, throws this whole vibe they have going completely off.
The gun used in this incident was a .45-caliber handgun, not an “assault rifle.”
Thank you for recognizing that… I suppose. Also why is assault rifle in quotation?
The connection between the handgun used and an assault rifle is the incorporation of a semiautomatic mechanism in both.
Aaand there it is. There’s the Derp.
Let’s parlance assault rifle properly first. Once again, for the folks in the back: an assault rifle is a select fire capable (automatic or fires in bursts AND semi-automatic) intermediate caliber rifle most often fed from a detachable box magazine. If it doesn’t have the colloquially called “giggle switch” it is not an assault rifle.
Now every semi-auto is an “assault weapon.” Not assault rifle, which has a definitive set of features, but an assault weapon. An assault weapon can have any of a number of century old features as long as the sound and/or look scary enough to be put on a list.
Now nobody should remind FGSC of the Washington Navy Yard, having a pump shotgun used in an attack with a number killed of 12. Also a government employee attacking their place of work… Such a detail throws this whole angle into chaos.
This mechanism automatically ejects spent cartridges and loads new ones.
And has existed for mass public consumption for over a century. Semi-automatics are not new.
Both styles of weapons accept high-capacity magazines and can handle large-caliber ammunition.
These are nonsense words. Gun controller definition of “high capacity” seems to be a dwindling number. 30, 20, 15, 10, 7… Any capacity when used against you isn’t going to be a good situation. Assigning an arbitrary number isn’t going to help your unarmed gun banned work spaces shoot back, you’re waiting for armed help… exactly like you wanted to.
While we focus on AR-15 style weapons, literally tens of millions of semiautomatic handguns are sold to the general public.
Yep. The single most popular firearm category for years has been handgun, and the reason has been protection. Okay, Derp on.
These are the weapons that function exactly the same as the Virginia Beach gun.
Ruger LCP II .380 ACP. WITH THE SAME MECHANISMS AS ASSAULT RIFLES! – FGSC.. probably. Image via Ruger.
And every department issued or approved service handgun… and the vast majority of handguns used in self defense as the revolver declines in popularity… and the handguns of the the U.S. Military since 1912…
Sooo most guns. But don’t worry, we promise it isn’t an infringement. It isn’t, we said so. -FGSC, again probably.
These are weapons that were designed for military and law enforcement purposes only and not for the general public.
Not at all accurate. Most AR-15’s were designed from the ground up as civilian products and many are even of higher quality and newer tech than their military counterparts.
Revolvers, lever-action, pump-action, and bolt-action guns cover the full spectrum of civilian needs, whether they are hunting, personal protection, or home protection.
You know nothing, Jon Snow. Who are you to arbitrate a need? I missed the line about “unless civilians don’t need it according to you” in the 2nd Amendment. I will check again but it’s only 27 words. And as for protection, when was the last time you have been remotely close to a fight?
The semiautomatic mechanism for guns has no place in civilian hands.
It has every place in civilian hands, your imbecilic level of ignorance to speak on this topic seems very Dunning-Kruger. I should take your expertise on firearms as seriously as you should take mine on neurosurgery.
The murderous attack May 31in the Virginia Beach city government building has predictably elicited outrage and opportunism by masses of sensitive, easily triggered [all puns intended] anti-gun activists and legislators. A large fraction of them are of course Democrats running for their party’s Presidential nomination.
It’s seldom that something unifies so many Americans, though it’s too frequent that the unifying motive is so irrational. Business as usual in the nation’s politics.
John Lott covered the essentials in “What Gun Control Advocates Fail to Grasp After Mass Shootings”. “Gun-free” zones are dangerous places to be in once targeted by murders, like the city employee who readily (and illegally) entered the locked building with his handguns. Other Virginia municipalities that do not forbid employee carry have had no such problem.
The night before, one “Virginia Beach shooting victim considered taking her gun to work” because she knew that employee was dangerous. But she feared dismissal if discovered, and did not. Virginia Beach was complicit in her murder because of that policy, and in all 12 deaths because while forbidding effective self-defense it did not provide any other defense.
So it’s another field day for hoplophobic hysterics. Because the shooter had no Federal or state prohibiting factors, he obtained his handguns legally.
Because of the absence of other blame, the target of opportunity became his use of at least one “silencer”, the deadly, scary accessory that permits assassins to murder people with no audible report whatsoever, and enabled him to sneak around executing his intended victims at will—NOT. (And which he may also have obtained legally.)
DRGO has repeatedly called for unrestricted access to firearm suppressors (the proper term) for the sake of millions of Americans’ hearing preservation. Dr. Wheeler wrote about them as “A Powerful Tool of Public Health” in 2015. Dr. Vaughan in 2016 pointed out the “True Public Health Issue” their expense and licensure creates. Because of our mounting concern, in 2017 we released the definitive paper on “Suppressors and Hearing” explaining the medical basis of the hearing damage that every single gunshot does to every shooter and bystander who are without protection. That paper is available here, with its “Executive Summary” here.
The best protection for everyone is a suppressor attached (or built in) to every suitable firearm (carry handguns excepted). This diminishes the impact of the blast on every ear within range without interfering with audible communication the way ear muffs and plugs do, which help only the shooter.
Noise Induced Hearing Loss is permanent and irreversible, is already present in 38 million Americans (from music and shooting), with over 100 million Americans are at risk just from using firearms. Stopping the damage at the muzzle is the most sensible intervention, as suppressors are much more effective than any ear-positioned device. Suppressors decreased experienced noise levels from instantly damaging to tolerable—but NOT quiet. Suppressed gunshots still measure from 110 to 140 decibels, a range that includes the aural assault of jackhammers. No one can ignore reports at that level, but less than 140 decibel prevents instant, permanent hearing loss.
Suppressors somehow got added in to the 1934 National Firearms Act, whose primary purpose was to reduce the availability of automatic weapons (i.e., “Tommy Guns”) to criminal gangs. There is no record of hearings or the thinking behind including suppressors, a decision that has injured Americans ever since. While over 900,000 are in use now across the nation, effective suppressors can also be made or repurposed from ordinary supplies. There have been virtually no crimes committed here with suppressors in 85 years, nor in countries like New Zealand and most of Europe where they are freely available.
Please read and publicize the truth about suppressors. The truth is that (firearms) being suppressed is an excellent thing—pro-health as well as pro-civil rights.
.
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— DRGO Editor Robert B. Young, MD is a psychiatrist practicing in Pittsford, NY, an associate clinical professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
I had the chance to sit down with Steve Horsman from Springfield Armory to discuss the necessary steps when you first purchase an M1A. Here’s a look at his insights about what you should do when you first get your new M1A.
I own more than a few M1A rifles, and I get a bunch of questions about taking care of my guns and best practices for new owners. You know, I’m not really doing anything significant. The two guns I shoot for competition are Super Match rifles.
Cleaning
The first step I do is clean the rifle. There’s a misconception going around that guns that come from the factory aren’t clean. They really are clean, but they’ve been test fired. I want a fresh start before heading out to the range.
One of the things Springfield does is test fire them up to 10 times per gun. That varies depending on which gun it is. The Super Match rifles are zeroed at 100 yards, so you know you’re getting a gun that is close to dialed.
For cleaning, I’m a big fan of Bore Snakes. I’ll put a little CLP on a Bore Snake and run it through a couple times. I make sure the breach on the bolt face is cleaned. That goes for every time I bring the gun in from practice. I get to know the gun. The M1A isn’t like the new AR-15 rifles, and not many people have a ton of time behind them.
Sighting In and Optics
Some folks don’t pay attention to how they adjust the sights on an M1A. They’re much like the Garand rifles. There are two dials on the back to adjust the sight. The owner’s manual is a great place to start when familiarizing yourself with your M1A. After I understand what I’m in for, I take it to the range for sighting in. Yes, it is zeroed from the factory, but I want to verify. Plus, not everyone likes their guns sighted in at that distance. My suggestion would be to dial the sights in for the distance that you will most often shoot. For me, I zero the guns at 300 yards since that is the distance that many M1A matches hit.
That is pretty much it. There’s not much to get to know and adjust your M1A. Take the M1A CQB, for example. When I first purchased the gun I already knew I wouldn’t put an optical sight on it. I read through the manual, even though I’ve had plenty of time around the gun, but a little re-familiarization with a platform is good to do every so often.
One thing I have noticed about the variants of the M1A platform is people’s desire to scope the M1A. If you’re going to scope the M1A, you might as well go with a full-size gun. Springfield offers scope mounts that allow shooters to scope their M1A. But, again there folks that rush into putting on the optic. We all know how that ends. They don’t put it on right and can throw off the windage by several feet at a hundred yards.
Sig Sauer Traditional Match Elite in Black Multicam "Battleworn" by BDL Custom Finishes
If you are a 1911 traditionalist, then you will like Sig Sauer’s Traditional Match Elite 1911 in the worst weather conditions. To ensure the pistol gives you a good purchase the front strap has crisp factory checkering, dark checkered custom wood grips and checkered mainspring housing. For ease of operation the TEM ships with extended ambidextrous controls. The safety and slide stop are sized to be easy to operate without being so large they snag clothing. These standard features that you would expect on a custom 1911, not a factory pistol.
Even with a Cerakote finish the checkering is still sharp, but not cutting sharp.
To ensure you can operate the slide with wet or
cold hands, there are front and rear cocking serrations. All of the sharp edges
have been beveled so you don’t tear up your holsters or hands during clearing
drills. Sig installs a rugged adjustable rear sight with two dots to match the
single dot on the front post.
You can see the “P Series” style extractor, factory ambidextrous safety and perfectly fitted grip safety. I blacked out the tritium vials in the rear sight.
Unlike most 1911s, the TME completes the slide
assembly with a short plug and flat wire recoil spring not a full length guide
rod. Some will argue this being a poor system, because the spring kinks. In
twenty plus years I have never seen a 1911 recoil spring kink or fail to
operate properly, with the flat spring that should be virtually
impossible. The short plug allows you to
clear jams that you could not otherwise quickly clear. On more than one
occasion because of old case failures, I have cleared a 1911 using a door or
window frame. The short plug allows you to use the slide to gain this leverage
and get the slide open; with a full length guide rod you cannot do this.
This image gives you a good view of the short plug and front cocking serrations.
The TME ensures reliable case extraction by
using a spring loaded external extractor. This has been a point of contention
with purist for years. In non-45, 1911s; proper extractor tension is vital and
this set-up ensures the extractor has consistent tension every time. In the
short time I have been running this 1911 it has had several thousand rounds
shot through it on a square range and in U.S.P.S.A. competition There have been
zero failures to extract or feed properly. If this system works on Sig’s other
duty weapons, there is no reason to poo poo it on their 1911s.
For testing, we used several offerings from
Hornady, Remington and Sig’s Elite Performance line. The ammunition we used had
bullet weights from 115 grains to 147 grains, it was full metal jacket, hollow
points and frangible. From its first trip to the range the TME showed no
preference for bullet weight or ojive design. Accuracy right of the box was
point of aim, point of impact at 25 yards; with all bullet weights. Sig has taken
its years of experience from building duty pistols and somehow put it in this
1911 and built a pistol that simply performs well. This pistol consistently
fired sub-3” groups all day long. The best group was fired with Sig’s Elite
Performance 124 grain hollow point and Remington’s 100gr Disintegrator
frangible cartridge with groups averaging 2.25”, Hornady’s 125 grain HAP load
was close at 2.5”.
The TME with all the test ammunition.
To ensure the TEM fed ammunition reliably,
Wilson Combat and Tripp Research 9mm-RG magazines were used. Both of these
magazines hold ten rounds and have been proven to be 100% reliable. Tripp
offers a weighted base pad to ensure their magazine falls free every time.
These pistols are practically perfect out of the box and with three changes. First for my over fifty eyes, I installed 0.100” fiber optic sights from Dawson Precision, the factory sight is a tritium dot that is great for CCW not so good for competition. It has been my experience this size sight gives me a fast accurate sight picture and is much easier to see than a wide white dot sight.
Dawson Precision’s fiber optic sights are some of the best on the market, they give a bright clean front sight.
Next
the factory grips were replaced with Hogue’s Extreme G10 Grips with Piranha
texturing. The TME had the black Magrip kit with arched mainspring housing
installed. This grip gives you a flush fitting magwell, so there is not a need
to have one fitted. This is the slickest set of grips I have used on a 1911.
The funnel of the Magkit gives you a perfect size magazine well for carry or competition. As you can see the Piranha texture is fairly aggressive. The mainspring housing can be had as an arched or flat.
Recently
I made the last change, have BDL Custom Finishes apply a Black Multicam “Battleworn”
Cerakote finish to it. A lot of folks like stainless steel because it can
handle bad weather conditions, but I find it to be boring. I thought the Black
Multicam was ideal. It is stealthy, looks cool and Cerakote will enhance the
weather resistance.
BDL Custom Finishes “Battleworn” Cerakote makes your firearm look likes its been around the block. It is sealed so bare metal is not exposed.
If
you are looking for an out of the box match ready 1911 the Traditional Match
Elite should be at the top of your list. With a MSRP of $1164.00 available in
38 Super, 9mm or 40S&W you won’t go wrong. You will find Sig’s Traditional
Match elite will get you out to the range to shoot. It will help you shoot
fast, shoot accurately and it ensure you have fun.
I use a Galco Gunsite Holster for USPSA and range work. You can see it has been well used.Putting the Sig TME through it’s paces. Rudy Project Traylx and Safariland Liberator HP are my go to eye/ear protection.
After a recent article a few emails came in seeking further information about the suppressor/silencer situation. Well via an email the MCRGO (Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners) pushed out on the same topic the NSSF has this helpful infographic that addresses many of the questions about suppressors.
Here are a few of those questions that stood out though. The main questions on suppressors.
1. Is it ‘Suppressor’ or ‘Silencer’
Yes.
Quite simply either term is both technically and legally correct. “Silencer” is the patented term by Maxim. Gun muffler would also be technically correct as the design theory is nearly identical to a car muffler.
2. How quiet do they get really?
The best “ratings” (reduction under ideal environmental and preparatory conditions) are usually 30-35 decibels dependant on the suppressor. Usually putting the quietest guns at 130+. That decibel rating is just under the momentary or impulse safe levels to prevent hearing damage, usually listed at 140db.
3. What purpose do they serve in society?
PPE.
A suppressor is personal protective equipment. They are hearing protection. That is their primary and nearly sole practical function. They are fun, its cool tech. But it is ultimately a better form of protecting hearing than just plugs or earmuffs and the suppressor helps anyone near the firearm regardless of if they personally have hearing protection or are wearing it properly.
I shot a suppressed rifle for hundreds of rounds over this past weekend. It is still “loud” in the overall meaning of the term. You could hear it being fired anywhere on the range, even with non-electronic hearing protection.
The CZ Scorpion is one of my favorite sub guns. I own three of them at this point and my standard model is my oldest. To put things into perspective the first brace to ever grace it was the classic SIG brace, also known as the SB 15. The CZ PDW Brace from SB Tactical is a welcome upgrade to that classic brace. The CZ PDW Brace is brand new and was developed hand in hand with Manticore arms. The Brace comes stock on the Micro Scorpion and has recently been released as a separate option to retrofit your Scorpion.
Inside the SB Tactical CZ PDW Brace
What’s cool is the SB Tactical variant has two adjustment slots to change the length of the brace. The Micro Scorpion model only has one. The brace is also a high-quality piece. The only nonmetal portion is the rubberized brace portion on the end of the CZ PDW. The CZ PDW is made from 6061 hard coated anodized aluminum. It looks amazing and comes in FDE and Black.
Using the CZ PDW Brace
Installing it takes no time at all. Just slide it on and it’s secure. The brace collapses to a small package and adds 3.25 inches to the rear of the gun. In the mid position, the brace’s length is 7 inches and when fully extended it’s 9.25 inches. Deployment is very quick, just grip and rip it. It will extend to the mid position. To extend it to the final position depress the top button and pull it.
The top button is ambidextrous and also collapses the brace. It’s simple and effective. The Brace comes with a velcro strap and securing it over your arm should be done with the weapon unloaded. Its a one sized fits all design and it latches over my massive forearm easily enough. It certainly aids in supporting the big CZ Scorpion pistol. It balances it very well and allows you to more easily use something like a red dot optic.
Now, the ATF has said you can shoulder braces. If you choose to take that route you will have a very small brace to press against your shoulder, or to use as a cheek rest. But it’s not going to provide you with much of a cheek rest. The steel bars aren’t exactly supportive. The good news is that the big and heavy Scorpion only shoots a 9mm round. The recoil is minimal and the metal bars aren’t digging into your cheek.
Bang Bang Time
The CZ PDW brace on a CZ Scorpion is a great way to improve the handling of your weapon on the range. It’s much easier to reach out and touch a target with the brace installed. Out to 50 yards, you’ll have no problems with small target engagement. Move back to 75 to 100 yards and you’ll still tear up the torsos of a man-sized target.
The additional braced support allows you to stabilize the weapon, which means you’ll see less movement when aiming, increase your overall control over the weapon, and you’ll be able to resist recoil and muzzle rise easier.
This all results in a more effective weapon. The CZ PDW brace does have some wiggle to it, as do most PDW stocks. This means you won’t have the best lock up, but on a 9mm sub gun, this isn’t a critical issue. At the range that this gun is effective a little bit of movement isn’t going to be a serious detriment to your accuracy.
The Complete Package
The CZ PDW brace aligns you in a manner that allows you to very easily utilize the sights on the CZ Scorpion. The low bars replicate the lower position and sloping design of the original CZ stock. This was a smart move and guarantees everything is aligned and accessible. Beyond the sights, this placement is comfortable and allows you to see the ejection port and controls without having to contort your head into a difficult position.
When I ran this gun with the AR buffer tube adapter and the SB15 brace I found it to be somewhat high, and it didn’t allow proper coordination with the weapon’s sights. The CZ PDW brace has no such issue.
The CZ PDW brace is not the only CZ brace out there, but to me, it certainly looks the slickest. The SBT Evo is more traditional and does have a more supportive design. The CZ PDW brace is the quickest to deploy and swings into action in a flash. Pull it rearward and you are ready to go. It makes concealment and deployment from a small bag easy and quick.
Finally, it also just looks cool. I know looks shouldn’t matter, but let’s face it the CZ PDW brace looks sexy on the gun. That PDW look is a natural one for sub guns and gives a reduced overall bulk compared to other braced options. The Braces from SB Tactical are famed for a reason, they work, they look great and they are functional. I have SB Tactical braces on my MPX, my KPOS Glock kit, my Mossberg Shockwave, my 80 percent lower AR pistol, and now two of my Scorpions.
NEWINGTON, N.H., (June 17, 2019) –SIG SAUER, Inc. is honored to announce that the United States Marine Corps (USMC) is set to adopt the M18, the compact variant of the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS), as their official duty pistol.
“The Marine Corps announcement to put the M18 in service with the Marines is a very exciting development for SIG SAUER, and a true testament to the success of the MHS program,” began Ron Cohen, President & CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc. “The Marine’s procurement of the M18 brings the adoption of our Modular Handgun System full circle, as this means, beginning in 2020, either the M17 or the M18 will be officially in service with every branch of the U.S. Military.”
The M18 is a 9mm, striker-fired pistol featuring a coyote-tan PVD coated stainless steel slide with black controls. The pistol is equipped with SIGLITE front night sights and removable night sight rear plate, and manual safety.
Recently, the M18 successfully completed a MHS Material Reliability Test that consisted of firing three M18 pistols to 12,000 rounds each for a total of 36,000 rounds in accordance with the MHS requirements. Comparatively, the U.S. Army’s legacy pistol was only tested to 5,000 rounds making the test duration for the M18 pistol 2.4 times greater than that of the legacy pistol. In this testing, the M18 experienced zero stoppages despite being allowed up to twelve stoppages. Additionally, the M18 passed a parts interchange test, and met stringent accuracy and dispersion requirements.
“The success of the MHS program is the direct result of the indisputable performance and superior quality of the M17 and M18 pistols, and the commitment and dedication of the men and women of SIG SAUER to those that serve in the defense of freedom,” continued Cohen. “We are very proud, and humbled, to have earned the trust of every branch of the U.S. Military through their acceptance of the MHS program and adoption of the M17 and M18 pistols.”
Currently, the M17 and M18 are in service with the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The USMC will begin their acquisition of the M18 pistol in 2020.
About SIG SAUER, Inc. SIG SAUER, Inc. is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, airguns, suppressors, and training. For over 100 years SIG SAUER, Inc. has evolved, and thrived, by blending American ingenuity, German engineering, and Swiss precision. Today, SIG SAUER is synonymous with industry-leading quality and innovation which has made it the brand of choice amongst the U.S. Military, the global defense community, law enforcement, competitive shooters, hunters, and responsible citizens. Additionally, SIG SAUER is the premier provider of elite firearms instruction and tactical training at the SIG SAUER Academy – a world class, state-of-the-art, 140-acre training facility. SIG SAUER is headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, and has more than 1,700 employees across eight locations, and is the largest member of a worldwide business group that includes SIG SAUER GmbH & Co. KG in Germany. For more information about the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.
If you are like me with many firearms to choose from, we find it hard to justify a new purchase. The option is to upgrade what we have. While it is easy to head out to your local big box store for a can of spray paint which wears poorly, I suggest having a professional do a finish that will last. One of the leaders in the industry is BlownDeadLine Custom finishes in Clinton Township, Michigan.
This Star Wars themed helmet is one of the items that put BDL Finishes on the map as a major player in the industry.
The shop keeps a low profile, which with all the firearms and parts that come in and out of the shop is a good idea. When I ventured up to BDL, what I found was a large garage type building with paint booths, drying ovens, file cabinets full of stencils, loads of finish and dozens of parts in various stages of preparation and/or finished. There were vaults with numerous one of a kind finished firearm, helmets with a wide array of camo patterns and auto parts. It seems Michael Sigouin the proprietor of BDL has a passion for fast sports cars.
To get crisp lines, BDL uses stencils they cut in house.
Michael
and his family bring their passion for art, firearms, and sports cars to
finishing firearms and various shooting/outdoor kit. The company is so well
thought of they are one of the few Cerakote authorized shops that is licensed
to Crye Multicam’s various patterns and to use the pattern to create unique
camouflage patterns for the consumer or OEM vendors.
This was a batch of rails being finished for one of the many manufacturers that BDL does custom work for.
According to Michael traditional Multicam and Black Multicam are the most popular finishes. The various flag themed patterns and crazy multicolor finishes are also very popular. They also do many single color or combination solid finishes such as a black slide and grey frame on a pistol. No matter the finish the work is art for your firearms, knives, or whatever you need done.
Turnaround
times vary as to the quantity of in-process work that is in the shop and what
you are requesting. If you want your items to be done in Multicam and BDL is
doing that version of Multicam, odds are your parts will be in that batch. Your
in shop time will be decreased if you have your firearm in its component parts,
so they do not need to have their gunsmith come in and take it completely
apart. BDL will not simply finish over pins and sights; they want complete
thorough coverage. Cleaning solution and oil left in the small holes will
prevent the Cerakote from properly adhering to and curing on the metal or
polymer.
I
am not a fan of black or stainless firearms so I had BDL do three stainless
pistols; a Sig X5 Competition, a Sig 1911 and a full house custom Springfield
Armory done by Ted Yost. No doubt there are folks who will be groaning that
this ruins perfectly good stainless steel firearms. I tend to disagree, it
makes them easier to care for, more corrosion resistant and it makes them
“mine”.
Stainless steel is virtually impervious to weather but it is boring, BDL gave this Yost Custom 1911 and Sig Sauer X5 character. I also had BDL give this Sig Sauer 1911 a facelift.
I
had BDL do three different looks. The X5 was done in traditional Multicam, the 1911
in battleworn Black Multicam and the Yost 1911 in a red/blue camouflage. These
three patterns all look good and are not over the top crazy.
BDL did the Yost 1911 in a blue and red pattern finish, it looks good and wears well.The Sig 1911 is done in Black Multicam, “battleworn”, the finished product looks like it has lived rough but is sealed against more wear.This Sig Sauer X5 has seen many three gun matches and is showing very little wear.
How
well do the finishes from BDL wear; amazingly well. The X5 and Yost 1911s have
been heavily used for the last two years shooting USPSA and three gun. I shoot
them out of a Safarliand GLS which is a polymer holster. Some folks say polymer
or kydex holsters cause finishes to wear more quickly than leather; I have yet
to see the difference. That said, after dozens of matches and hundreds of
presentations, I have seen virtually no wear of the finish.
When shooting USPSA I use a leather Galco Gunsite holster which keeps the Cerakote looking new save for a little muzzle wear.The Multicam on the X5 shows more wear from being tossed into dump barrels shooting three gun.
BDL Custom Finishes does amazing work. If you want to see more of their work check them out on facebook https://www.facebook.com/bdlCerakote/ This past year BDL added laser engraving to their line-up and it is just as amazing as their Cerakote work. You will not go wrong having BDL do a custom finish on your favorite firearm(s) or most anything you want to give a new look.
[Ed: This is a piece from March 14, 2018 inThe Daily Signalby John G. Malcolm, vice president of the Institute for Constitutional Government and director of the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation.It remains highly relevant and is republished for educational purposes per The Daily Signal‘s copyright policy.]
In the wake of the tragic murder of 17 innocent students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, students, educators, politicians, and activists are searching for solutions to prevent future school shootings.
As emotions morph from grief to anger to resolve, it is vitally important to supply facts so that policymakers and professionals can fashion solutions based on objective data rather than well-intended but misguided emotional fixes.
Are there ways to reduce gun violence and school shootings? Yes, but only after objectively assessing the facts and working collaboratively to fashion commonsense solutions.
Here are eight stubborn facts to keep in mind about gun violence in America:
Violent crime is down and has been on the decline for decades.
The principal public safety concerns with respect to guns are suicides and illegally owned handguns, not mass shootings.
A small number of factors significantly increase the likelihood that a person will be a victim of a gun-related homicide.
Gun-related murders are carried out by a predictable pool of people.
Higher rates of gun ownership are not associated with higher rates of violent crime.
There is no clear relationship between strict gun control legislation and homicide or violent crime rates.
Legally owned firearms are used for lawful purposes much more often than they are used to commit crimes or suicide.
Concealed carry permit holders are not the problem, but they may be part of the solution.
Each of these facts is firmly based on empirical data. Here’s a deeper look.
1. America is relatively safe, and the trend is toward becoming safer.
According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, violent crime has been declining steadily since the early 1990s.
The 2011 homicide rate was almost half of the rate in 1991, and according to the Pew Research Center, the 2013 gun-related death rate was half of the rate in 1993.
The number of nonfatal firearm crimes committed in 2011 was one-sixth the number committed in 1993.
In the past few years, there have been minor increases in certain types of violent crimes, mainly in large metropolitan areas. However, these increases are nowhere near those seen in the 1990s and are largely related to gang activity.
It should be remembered that it takes at least three to five years of data to show true trend lines. It appears that the collective homicide toll for America’s 50 largest cities decreased modestly in 2017 after two consecutive years of increases.
2. The principal public safety concerns are suicides and illegally owned handguns.
According to the Pew Research Center, almost two-thirds of America’s annual gun deaths are suicides. Since 1981, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began publishing data, gun suicides have outnumbered gun homicides. In 2010 alone, 19,392 Americans used guns to kill themselves.
Most gun-related crimes are carried out with illegally owned firearms—as much as 80 percent according to some estimates.
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports prove that the overwhelming majority of gun-related homicides are perpetrated with handguns, with rifles of any kind accounting for less than 3 percent of gun-related homicides. In 2013, 5,782 murders were committed by killers who used a handgun, compared to 285 committed by killers who used a rifle. The same holds true for 2012 (6,404 to 298); 2011 (6,251 to 332); 2010 (6,115 to 367); and 2009 (6,501 to 351).
More people are stabbed to death every year than are murdered with rifles.
A person is more likely to be bludgeoned to death with a blunt object or beaten to death with hands and feet than to be murdered with a rifle.
3. A small number of factors significantly increase the likelihood that a person will be a victim of a gun-related homicide.
Where do you live? Murders in the United States are very concentrated. According to the Crime Prevention Research Center, over 50 percent of murders occur in 2 percent of the nation’s 3,142 counties. Moreover, gun-related homicides are heavily concentrated in certain neighborhoods within those counties: 54 percent of U.S. counties had zero murders in 2014.
Who is your partner? According to a recent scholarly article in the Hastings Law Journal, people recently or currently involved in an abusive intimate relationship are much more likely to be victims of gun-related homicide than is the rest of the population, especially if the abuser possesses firearms.
Are you in a gang? According to the Department of Justice’s National Gang Center, particularly in urban areas, significant percentages of gun-related homicides (15 percent to 33 percent) are linked with gang and drug activity. Gang-related homicides are more likely to involve firearms than non-gang-related homicides are.
Are you a male between 15 and 34? The majority of standard gun murder victims are men between the ages of 15 and 34. Although black men make up roughly 7 percent of the population, they account for almost two-thirds of gun murder victims every year.
Women and children are more likely to be the victims of mass shootings and homicide-suicide shootings than they are to be the victims of a “typical” gun-related homicide.
4. The perpetration of gun-related murders is often carried out by predictable people.
5. Higher rates of gun ownership are not associated with higher rates of violent crime.
Switzerland and Israel have much higher gun ownership rates than the United States but experience far fewer homicides and have much lower violent crime rates than many European nations with strict gun control laws.
While some will argue that the guns carried by Swiss and Israeli citizens are technically “owned” by the government in most cases, this does little to negate the fact that many citizens in those countries have ready access to firearms.
Canada is ranked 12th in the world for the number of civilian-owned guns per capita and reports one of the world’s lower homicide rates—but even then, some provinces have higher homicide rates than U.S. states with less restrictive laws and higher rates of gun ownership have.
Although many gun control advocates have noted that “right to carry” states tend to experience slight increases in violent crime, other studies have noted the opposite effect.
Higher rates of concealed carry permit holders are even more strongly associated with reduction in violent crime than are right-to-carry states. The probable reason for this is that right-to-carry studies often include “open carry” states, which have not been shown to correlate with more people actually carrying or even owning firearms. Rates of concealed carry permit holders are better indicators of the number of people who actually possess and carry firearms within a given population.
Further, as with most correlations, there are many other factors that can account for increases in concealed carry permits—including the fact that people who live in already dangerous neighborhoods seek out means of self-defense. The Huffington Post noted that the rate of concealed carry permit requests in Chicago has soared in recent years after the city loosened restrictions, in large part, according to the Chicago Tribune, because law-abiding residents are increasingly worried about rising rates of violent crime in the city.
The rate of gun ownership is higher among whites than it is among African-Americans, but the murder rate among African-Americans is significantly higher than the rate among whites.
Similarly, the rate of gun ownership is higher in rural areas than in urban areas, but urban areas experience higher murder rates.
6. There is no clear relationship between strict gun control legislation and homicide or violent crime rates.
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence ironically makes this clear with its ratings for states based on gun laws. “Gun freedom” states that score poorly, like New Hampshire, Vermont, Idaho, and Oregon, have some of the lowest homicide rates. Conversely, “gun control-loving” states that received high scores, like Maryland and Illinois, experience some of the nation’s highest homicide rates.
The Crime Prevention Research Center notes that, if anything, the data indicate that countries with high rates of gun ownership tend to have lower homicide rates—but this is only a correlation, and many factors do not necessarily support a conclusion that high rates of gun ownership cause the low rates of homicide.
Homicide and firearm homicide rates in Great Britain spiked in the years immediately following the imposition of severe gun control measures, despite the fact that most developed countries continued to experience a downward trend in these rates. This is also pointed out by noted criminologist John Lott in his book “The War on Guns.”
Similarly, Ireland’s homicide rates spiked in the years immediately following the country’s 1972 gun confiscation legislation.
Australia’s National Firearms Act appears to have had little effect on suicide and homicide rates, which were falling before the law was enacted and continued to decline at a statistically unremarkable rate compared to worldwide trends.
According to research compiled by Lott and highlighted in his book “The War on Guns,” Australia’s armed and unarmed robbery rates both increased markedly in the five years immediately following the National Firearms Act, despite the general downward trend experienced by other developed countries.
Great Britain has some of the strictest gun control laws in the developed world, but the violent crime rate for homicide, rape, burglary, and aggravated assault is much higher than that in the U.S. Further, approximately 60 percent of burglaries in Great Britain occur while residents are home, compared to just 13 percent in the U.S., and British burglars admit to targeting occupied residences because they are more likely to find wallets and purses.
It is difficult to compare homicide and firearm-related murder rates across international borders because countries use different methods to determine which deaths “count” for purposes of violent crime. For example, since 1967, Great Britain has excluded from its homicide countsany case that does not result in a conviction, that was the result of dangerous driving, or in which the person was determined to have acted in self-defense. All of these factors are counted as “homicides” in the United States.
7. Legally owned firearms are used for lawful purposes much more often than they are used to commit crimes or suicide.
In 2013, President Barack Obama ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assess existing research on gun violence. The report, compiled by the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, found (among other things) that firearms are used defensively hundreds of thousands of times every year.
According to the CDC, “self-defense can be an important crime deterrent.” Recent CDC reports acknowledge that studies directly assessing the effect of actual defensive uses of guns have found “consistently lower injury rates among gun-using crime victims compared with victims who used other self-protective strategies.”
Semi-automatic rifles (such as the AR-15) are commonly used as self-defense weapons in the homes of law-abiding citizens because they are easier to control than handguns, are more versatile than handguns, and offer the advantage of up to 30 rounds of protection. Even Vox has published stories defending the use of the AR-15.
AR-15s have been used to save lives on many occasions, including:
Oswego, Illinois (2018)—A man with an AR-15 intervened to stop a neighbor’s knife attack and cited the larger weapon’s “intimidation factor” as a reason why the attacker dropped the knife.
Houston, Texas (2017)—A homeowner survived a drive-by shooting by defending himself with his AR-15.
Ferguson, Missouri (2014)—African-American men protected a white man’s store from rioters by standing outside armed with AR-15s.
Texas (2013)—A 15-year-old boy used an AR-15 during a home invasion to save both his life and that of his 12-year-old sister.
8. Concealed carry permit holders are not the problem, but they may be part of the solution.
Lott found that, as a group, concealed carry permit holders are some of the most law-abiding people in the United States. The rate at which they commit crimes generally and firearm crimes specifically is between one-sixth and one-tenth of that recorded for police officers, who are themselves committing crimes at a fraction of the rate of the general population.
Between 2007 and 2015, murder rates dropped 16 percent and violent crime rates dropped 18 percent, even though the percentage of adults with concealed carry permits rose by 190 percent.
Regression estimates show a significant association between increased permit ownership and a drop in murder and violent crime rates. Each percentage point increase in rates of permit-holding is associated with a roughly 2.5 percent drop in the murder rate.
Concealed carry permit holders are often “the good guy with a gun,” even though they rarely receive the attention of the national media. Concealed carry permit holders were credited with saving multiple lives in:
.
.
— DRGO Editor Robert B. Young, MD is a psychiatrist practicing in Pittsford, NY, an associate clinical professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
