Gun enthusiasts?
There's a wire services story this morning about some issues that Idaho is having with overzealous shooters. Seems the National Guard trains in a wide open area that attracts people with guns who like to "shoot at anything that moves." Including National Guard vehicles.
We should be clear. People who shoot at volunteer National Guards on training missions aren't gun enthusiasts. They're fucking morons. It's not enough these folks are risking their lives on the streets of Baghdad? They've got to dodge potshots from assholes in the desert who think the world is their private rifle range too?
For the most part i'm agnostic on gun control laws. I think in certain urban environments, guns do much more harm than good. And i'm pretty sure, when the shit really hits the fan, that your assault rifle is not going to protect you and your family from a government that is really intent on imposing its will on the populace. And i don't think you can argue that Texas, for example, with pretty much universal gun ownership, has any significantly lower crime rates than any other part of the country. Hell, look at all the people on death row in that state.
On the other hand, there's certainly a place for responsible gun ownership in our society.
But shooting at our own National Guard?
That's not responsible. That's just stupid.
For years, ATV-riding, gun-toting sport shooters have flouted gun laws in part of Idaho's high desert by taking pot shots at ground squirrels and other animals.
Now, officials say, they're also setting their sights on National Guard tanks that train in the area.
Rifles and pistols have been banned in a 68,000-acre area of the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area since 1996.
But the federal Bureau of Land Management is considering expanding the gun-restricted area by 41,000 acres to try to limit shootings at Idaho Army National Guard troops who report slugs bouncing off their tanks on a regular basis.
. . .
With just two agents to patrol 4 million acres of desert near Boise, gun enthusiasts regularly defy the ban by shooting squirrels, protected birds and even grazing cattle, park officials say.
We should be clear. People who shoot at volunteer National Guards on training missions aren't gun enthusiasts. They're fucking morons. It's not enough these folks are risking their lives on the streets of Baghdad? They've got to dodge potshots from assholes in the desert who think the world is their private rifle range too?
For the most part i'm agnostic on gun control laws. I think in certain urban environments, guns do much more harm than good. And i'm pretty sure, when the shit really hits the fan, that your assault rifle is not going to protect you and your family from a government that is really intent on imposing its will on the populace. And i don't think you can argue that Texas, for example, with pretty much universal gun ownership, has any significantly lower crime rates than any other part of the country. Hell, look at all the people on death row in that state.
On the other hand, there's certainly a place for responsible gun ownership in our society.
But shooting at our own National Guard?
That's not responsible. That's just stupid.
Labels: idiots
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3 Comments:
Boy, that's dumb. "Gee, I think I'll take some target practice on something that has a gun with a caliber 20 times what mine is, is mobile, and is full of people in the National Guard. They'll think it's fun!" Not. I hope no one's been killed, but it's possible the "fun" won't stop until something bad happens.
By
Joseph H. Vilas, at 9:51 AM
I thought we only did that in New Orleans.
By
toastie, at 12:56 PM
And I'll bet these "gun enthusiasts" consider themselves to be patriotic. And moral.
By
Anonymous, at 10:22 PM
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