Unfinished receivers, lets some get around the law

Not sure how military training helps. Some awful bad shooters in the military.

 

to be honest and frank, it isn't any of your business why and who has them

 

It's a misconception that marksmanship alone makes for a good soldier. There are tactics to consider. I'll get back to that later. While it is difficult to pinpoint a precise number, there are by most estimates 3.2 million of the M16, M4 clone military style rifles out there in the hands of private citizens in the U.S.

I asked, why are these type of firearms so popular and increasing in popularity. The question posed is not challenging the legality, it is focused more on the rationale of purchasing such a firearm as opposed to a shotgun or bolt action long rifle. Most of the responses to the question posed were hostile, but if the question was answered a common retort is these weapons were purchased to defend themselves against a potentially tyrannical government. The basis of this protection being the formation of an organized and armed civilian militia(s). I'm guessing that of the 3.2 million owners of these types of firearms, the vast majority have no such lofty goals. They like the looks of the gun, it's modular and customizable, and aside from personal and/or family self-defense...they were bought and are used primarily for hobby shooting.

I'm addressing more the fringe element of the typical M16/M4 clone owner, those that maintain a deep mistrust of the government at large. I'll call them "preppers," and they envision a SHTF scenario wherein a governmental entity decides to enact martial law and quite literally goes to war with the citizenry. Again, not knowing the precise number of these individuals, I'll make a guess and say this comprises probably 5- 10% of the military type rifle ownership ranks. They go to the range and modify their weapons with the intent that one day their diligence will pay off in the form of taking on the full force of the government's armed forces.

Going back to tactics, as mentioned in my first paragraph. In addition to target shooting to hone their marksmanship are they also training in the area of IMTs, or individual movement techniques? What about just the basic drill when individual soldiers actually come under fire.

Double tap
Run two or three steps
Drop to the ground or into cover
Crawl a few yards (or move under concealment/cover)
Observe
Shoot (identified targets of opportunity within effective range)
Move
Observe
Shoot
Repeat until issued orders.

The essential goal of the basic drill is to move the soldier into cover, remove him (or her) from the last position where he was likely to be seen by the enemy, and keep him positively engaged by identifying and shooting any targets in range.

My point is, it is one thing to train oneself to calmly and accurately shoot at paper or steel targets, that don't shoot back. It is another to calmly and accurately shoot at something that shoots back. Also the issue of command and control of these civilian milita(s). Who is in charge? Who gives the orders, will they be followed or will chaos ensue once in combat. Are there contingency plans for just such a scenario or are they just going to "wing it." Are they even organized at all, or is this just individuals running around, every person for him or herself. I would contend they wouldn't last but a week or two in the field, in a real armed conflict, against a well trained and equipped government armed forces. They may very well be able to hit a paper target accurately at 500 yds, and fancy themselves as expert marksman...it is a an entirely different scenario when the target they are shooting at is moving and is equally capable of shooting back and accurately hitting a target at 500 yds.

 

I would agree but there are a fair number of military trained people like that but that is not what would provide any resistance since resistance is often not structured as in gorilla warfare. People even unstructured can do a lot of damage.

I don't doubt for a second that many 'preparing' for the worst will probably die of old age before that happens.

 

Duly noted. Thanks for your time.

 

the first time I dropped it would be my resting place now that I am 55 lol, I had forgotten we were trained to do that , I remember the mud and the barbed wire wooo

 

I served in 'Nam.....there's some things you just don't forget

 

Thank you for serving

 

And to this I must ask the inevitable question: What is your point? The language of the 2a is clear, even if people refuse to read the damn thing. Those "preppers" as you call them, many of which as you correctly point out are not likely to survive some sort of conflagration, have an uninfringable right (or rather a right that is SUPPOSED to be uninfringable) to those weapons for each purpose expressed in this thread (from target shooting to hunting, to self defense to militia use). The fact that that type of weapon is equally suited to each of those endeavors, AND able to be modified mostly at will, pretty well explains its popularity. My question: What's your point in pointing all this out? They have an uninfringable right unless you've got 3/4s of the nation (in the rights concentrations) ready to vote on an amendment.

 

Well, so far the OP title is a lie. Hard to get around the law when it is legal.

 

it's the same plan for confiscation...............that's where they always go, always

 

Actually, you are allowed to sell it, under some circumstances. Basically, as long as you've owned it and used it for a while, you can sell it. You are not allowed to build a gun at home with the intent to sell.

 

I was wrong. You are correct but would you? You can engrave it and register it with the feds if you feel you need to.

 

Military training sticks. It was almost 20 years after I got out of the Army until I fired an AR-15 again. It jammed. My over 20 year old training jumped in and took care of the problem. I don't even think it was my brain, more like muscle memory.

 

I wouldn't do that myself. That said, I read about the homemade gun laws a few years ago and was intrigued by them.