(Circumstances will limit posting for a while. No problems, just limited opportunities.)
The basic message of TDF: Focus on the baseline and basics.
The basic message of TDF: Focus on the baseline and basics.
MY COMMENT: "Whether it's the 5.56mm "assault(ish) rifle" or the 7.62mm "battle(ish) rifle," the best fighting rifle for an *untrained/disciplined non-vet civilian is basic, and possibly featureless (due to current and future legalities). Without military training and discipline, civilian 2A Militia will find themselves most useful at set-position support-by-fire and logistics work. They won't doing a lot of run-and-gun assaulting in an actual militia context, let alone a civilian one.
"Too many tacti-cool features are bothersome and unnecessary for their most likely role. Red dots make sense, but night vision is rather expensive, with money sometimes better used for basic things like ammo, mags, and training, as well as political activism. Suppressors are great, if you can afford them and handle the NFA aspects. There are alternatives which direct sound away from the shooter which are not NFA. They protect hearing, though offer little in the way of stealth. But again, civilians won't be running a lot of stealth ops. In fact, hardly any, and then best under the guidance of uniformed military or veterans.
"Whatever stylizing a civilian does--or a veteran, for that matter--he or she needs to remember that 2A RKBA is NOT about a hobby. It's not about looking cool. It's about the FUNCTION of Militia and personal/home "Blackstone" defense. The shooter is not a "Delta Force Rangers with SEAL Team 6." Being tacti-cool does not make one tactical. Every add-on adds weight, complexity, and potential failures. Our rights are there for a serious reason. Focus on fulfilling that reason.
I know some will respond, "Well, I might..." this or that. Problem is, they probably won't, and most likely can't. Each should be prepared to do what he or she can do, and defend against what he or she can defend against. Without training, the shooter can't run squad-level fire and maneuver. And without discipline, the shooter won't likely have the willingness to follow orders and run them and risk getting killed in the first place. That, ironically, is the flipside of the very "freedom" so many talk about in these contexts.
"It's not about what one wants. It's not about what one has a "right" to. It's about function. Focus on that.
*Hours on Call of Duty does NOT constitute "training.""
I could add so many more links. But it would be repetitive ad nauseum after awhile. The TDF Index is linked to above and below. I urge readers open to a realistic and function/intent-based approach to 2A/RKBA to check out the articles in this now hiatus-ed series. Even if one doesn't agree with some, they can offer a perspective in pursuing the maintenance of our heritage.
