Nightline on Obama, gun control

[unixronin]

Nightline broadcast a good and pretty balanced segment last night, discussing Barak Obama's gun control position and the massive gun buying rush that's going on across the US now by people concerned that if they don't buy them now, they won't be able to.

Particular points to note:

• The customer who keeps repeating to the reporter, "Never mind Obama's words, look at his actions."¹
• The gunshop owner reporting Obama supporters coming into his store wearing their Obama buttons, who just voted for him but are still afraid he'll ban guns.

[1]  You might have seen me say this once or twice.  Assuming you've been paying attention.

Comments

Re: (kind of) slipery slope

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Oh, I forgot to add ... many states DO require citizens who wish to carry firearms in public to undergo equivalent training and testing to police officers. But many police officers don't train nearly as much as you might think. When the City of Los Angeles hired former (fired) Philadelphia police chief Bernie Philips (if memory serves) as Los Angeles police chief, LAPD had to issue him a civilian concealed carry permit (the first one they'd issued other than to a celebrity in over 20 years) in order for him to carry the duty sidearm that LAPD regulations required he carry, because he was unable to qualify with it under LAPD standards. Many police officers only do the minimum range practice each month required by regulations (typically 100 rounds a month), while many civilian shooters spend several hours a week at the range practising. It is a SHORT range session in which I fire only 100 rounds; when I go to the range, I typically fire anywhere from 50 to 200 rounds each through each of several different pistols, and depending on the range, I may have brought a rifle or shotgun as well.

In San Jose, California, the CCW qualification test is based on the San Jose PD pistol qualification test. I saw several people shooting qualification on various of my trips to the Metcalfe Road county range, and asked the overseeing officer the test requirements. Honestly, and this isn't meant as bragging, I could almost have qualified with my eyes shut. And I don't consider myself an expert.