Another AR Potitical Protest

AlexanderA said:

You would be surprised by how many people on the Left are AR owners.

Click to expand...

A fraction of the amount of those on the right no doubt, but glad for those on the left that do. I’m sure those that are pro-2A would not disagree with me saying that the lefts political platform is very much anti-2A, it’s just the way it is; that is not diminishing their pro-2A choices in any way. There is very little if not even one thing that I have in common with the lefts political political platform.

And there are issues that I consider more important than the 2A out there. But when it comes to 2A support, I’m glad that there are those on the left that are not lock step with all of the lefts political stances.

Remember the Black Panthers and their AR's, in California in the 1960's. That started the politicization of the AR. It also started the backlash against it, led by one Ronald Reagan.

Here's the thing about leftist owners of AR's -- probably about half of them are in favor of 2nd Amendment rights, but the other half aren't. To them, weapons are a zero-sum game: you are stronger if you are armed, and your opponent is weaker if he is disarmed. Therefore gun control is a tool in making their own guns, which they won't give up in any case, even more powerful.

I venture to say that a lot of people on the Right, although they pay lip service to the 2nd Amendment, would be more than happy if the "commies," their opponents, were disarmed.

We may have reached the tipping point for polarization in this country. Guns are one of the leading issues. Perhaps a symptom, though, rather than a cause.

Mn Fats said:

Fine. But my Wingmaster doesn't have Trumps face engraved on the side. A little extreme of an example, but come on now.

You want your AR with a Punisher skull, or your political view cut into the side, fine. I like a gun that's left alone, the markings the manufacturer meant for it (Aside from Ruger's and others "safety billboards"). Leave it blank. I'm just saying, I'll skip the politics branded into my firearm.

Click to expand...

You'er just showing your age.
I never wanted a Punisher skull on one of my ARs, but I did want a pirate AR.

AlexanderA said:

You would be surprised by how many people on the Left are AR owners.

Click to expand...

I would not be surprised how few actually know how to use them effectively. True, there are some who vote Left and still shoot, thinking that somehow they'll dodge the bullet (pun intended) when The Australian-style 'turn 'em in' law is enacted, or will actually turn them in. And there are probably ANTIFA babies that have never cleaned the preservatives off theirs and sit in their Mommy's basement and fondle them lovingly, softly cooing "Soon, my pretty, soon, when AOC becomes President..." There are also a HUGE bunch of people in the middle who wanted one because the Left said we aren't going to let you get anymore (Yeah, see how that worked out!), but the amount of Left equivalent to "III" ers, those who have AR's and know how to and are willing to use them in defense of , well, anything, including themselves, is not 3%, I'm pretty sure.

AlexanderA said:

I venture to say that a lot of people on the Right, although they pay lip service to the 2nd Amendment, would be more than happy if the "commies," their opponents, were disarmed.

Click to expand...

And they will all be, as soon as the Revolution is completed. Read history. Russia through the 20's and 30's, China through the 50's, Cuba throught the sixties, and the hits just keep rolling on....

And, suddenly it became a game of I'll give up mine if you give up yours first....and the Left said, "What, don't you trust us?"

AlexanderA said:

Remember the Black Panthers and their AR's, in California in the 1960's. That started the politicization of the AR. It also started the backlash against it, led by one Ronald Reagan.

Here's the thing about leftist owners of AR's -- probably about half of them are in favor of 2nd Amendment rights, but the other half aren't. To them, weapons are a zero-sum game: you are stronger if you are armed, and your opponent is weaker if he is disarmed. Therefore gun control is a tool in making their own guns, which they won't give up in any case, even more powerful.

I venture to say that a lot of people on the Right, although they pay lip service to the 2nd Amendment, would be more than happy if the "commies," their opponents, were disarmed.

We may have reached the tipping point for polarization in this country. Guns are one of the leading issues. Perhaps a symptom, though, rather than a cause.

Click to expand...

I don't recall the Black Panthers with ARs (not saying they didn't have them, just that I don't RECALL it) but I do recall them with M-1 Carbines and shotguns, and others.
I do recall it prompting Ronald Reagan to make one of his few blunders and sign a antigun law ......

entropy said:

I would not be surprised how few actually know how to use them effectively. True, there are some who vote Left and still shoot, thinking that somehow they'll dodge the bullet (pun intended) when The Australian-style 'turn 'em in' law is enacted, or will actually turn them in. And there are probably ANTIFA babies that have never cleaned the preservatives off theirs and sit in their Mommy's basement and fondle them lovingly, softly cooing "Soon, my pretty, soon, when AOC becomes President..." There are also a HUGE bunch of people in the middle who wanted one because the Left said we aren't going to let you get anymore (Yeah, see how that worked out!), but the amount of Left equivalent to "III" ers, those who have AR's and know how to and are willing to use them in defense of , well, anything, including themselves, is not 3%, I'm pretty sure.



And they will all be, as soon as the Revolution is completed. Read history. Russia through the 20's and 30's, China through the 50's, Cuba throught the sixties, and the hits just keep rolling on....

And, suddenly it became a game of I'll give up mine if you give up yours first....and the Left said, "What, don't you trust us?"

Click to expand...

I would not count on antifa members with ARs not knowing how to use them. Reports I've read indicate many are out training with guns and learning guerrilla warfare tactics. There have even been videos of them doing so.
It won't make them SEAL TEAM 6 commandos but don't think they're shrinking violets , either.
Never underestimate the enemy. Learn from George Armstrong Custer's final mistake!!!!

Tommygunn said:

I don't recall the Black Panthers with ARs (not saying they didn't have them, just that I don't RECALL it) but I do recall them with M-1 Carbines and shotguns, and others.
I do recall it prompting Ronald Reagan to make one of his few blunders and sign a antigun law ......

Click to expand...

There’s a group of them today called the Huey P Newton gun club that’s goes to pretty much any anti-gun rallies armed to teeth and are supposed to be pretty go at helping those who get in legal hot water by using a gun.

Back on topic, it’s your lower. So you can have anything you want on it. But I wouldn’t use a lower with any sort of sayings or emblems in SD/HD. A savy lawyer can easily turn that to work against you.

entropy said:

And there are probably ANTIFA babies that have never cleaned the preservatives off theirs and sit in their Mommy's basement and fondle them lovingly

Click to expand...

Antifa are a bunch of clowns, and anyway are just the tip of the iceberg. There are armed leftists out there, some with military experience, that are much more clear-headed than that.

The election next year will be an indication of just how far polarization has gone. I'm worried more about the reaction of the losers than about who the actual winners will be. This may be the first election in this country where widespread doubt is cast regarding the legitimacy of the result. There may be people on each side that are ready to start shooting if the result doesn't go their way.

ETA: Doubts were cast about the elections of 1824 (an alleged "corrupt bargain" that denied Andrew Jackson the presidency), 1860, and 1876. But these didn't lead to armed conflict except for 1860 sparking the Civil War. We are just as polarized as in 1860, except that the polarization is spread throughout the country instead of being concentrated regionally.

A scarey thought, there, AlexanderA!!!!!

Tommygunn said:

I don't recall the Black Panthers with ARs (not saying they didn't have them, just that I don't RECALL it) but I do recall them with M-1 Carbines and shotguns, and others.

Click to expand...

I remember reading an interview with Eldridge Cleaver, at the time. The reporter mentioned that during the course of the interview, Cleaver reached into his closet and brought out two Colt AR-15's, which he stressed were the semiautomatic equivalents of the army rifle. (Thereby stressing that they were legal, and not just stolen army guns.) So ownership of AR's by the Left goes all the way back to that time. (If I remember correctly, the interview was in Playboy magazine.)

AlexanderA said:

This may be the first election in this country where widespread doubt is cast regarding the legitimacy of the result.

Click to expand...

2016? Hello? The Left has been doing everything within their power to nullify the results of the 2016 Presidential election. Fortunately, it is not within their power.

AlexanderA said:

There may be people on each side that are ready to start shooting if the result doesn't go their way.

Click to expand...

On the Left? Possible, buy why wouldn't they have done it in Dec. 2015? The Right? Maybe should have done it some time back, but other than the odd crackpot, which both sides have too many of, I don't see the Right firing first. They may fire the last shot.....

Antifa are a bunch of clowns, true. So were the SA. But they were useful, and I'm sure the Left powers-that-be have a similar fate in mind for them.

BSA1 said:

Too late. The Left has made firearm ownership into a political issue.

For the life of me I can not understand why little old Betsy Ross sitting in her home hand sewing the flag is offensive. I think it is more of a comment on how little American history is being taught in our public schools.

Click to expand...

Exactly.

BSA1 said:

<whisper> You do have more than one AR don't you?<whisper>
.

Click to expand...

I don’t even have one....for now...

AlexanderA said:

You would be surprised by how many people on the Left are AR owners.

Click to expand...

I'm pretty left leaning myself on a lot of issues. Constitutional rights are not one of them though.

<*(((>< said:

A fraction of the amount of those on the right no doubt, but glad for those on the left that do. I’m sure those that are pro-2A would not disagree with me saying that the lefts political platform is very much anti-2A, it’s just the way it is; that is not diminishing their pro-2A choices in any way. There is very little if not even one thing that I have in common with the lefts political political platform.

And there are issues that I consider more important than the 2A out there. But when it comes to 2A support, I’m glad that there are those on the left that are not lock step with all of the lefts political stances.

Click to expand...

I guess it depends on how left leaning you are talking. I can tell you for certain that a large percentage of Democrat voters are firearms owners and users. Probably more so on the republican side, but political views are not always cut and dry. I don't have to agree with everything a political party stands for, I can pick and choose.

One point in favor of an "80%" lower receiver is the absence of any markings....

Everybody should have at least one of those...

AlexanderA said:

... particularly egregious is anything referring to zombies. We are not children playing fantasy games.

Click to expand...

I'm not so sure about that. Seems like a whole bunch of shooters these days ARE playing fantasy games. Just look at the entire tactical world. None of these folks are going to combat zones or doing a SWAT raid any given day of the month, so all that training is just fantasyland fun. That is not saying they cannot have fun and enjoy shooting sports, just it is not reality. (Don't give me all that mumbo-jumbo about stopping a mass shooting or end-of-world gobbledygook - those are the definition of fantasies.)

Anyhow, get the guns you like and have fun shooting them. Don't care if it's banging steel, hitting bullseyes, or those lovely spatter targets of zombie hordes.

Oh, and as to receiver markings, you can always have a custom logo or image etched on the lower for a lot less than it used to cost to engrave and inlay a classic pattern.

Keeping this thread on topic: If you're on a budget, Anderson makes an AR lower with no roll marks. If money's not an issue, Spike's also makes a lower with no logo.

I think it’s an exceptionally naive notion to expect if you have a safe full of rifles with slogans and aggressive logos, that only the bare bones version you used in a defensive shooting would be what is brought to the attention of the court. Internet discussion forum posts, Facebook content, Instagram photos, etc all can be admissible, and you should expect if charges are brought and a warrant executed on your residence, the prosecutor will use any evidence they can muster to lean a judge and jury. Hell, I know if I ever get charged with more than a parking ticket, I’ll have some “‘splainin’ to do” when the DA brings up just the sheer numbers within my safes. Whatever they can point to which, “doesn’t look good,” to a jury of our peers is what they want to find. The fact I’ve sought out hundreds of hours of defensive carbine and pistol classes could make me look like a fanatic. The fact I have more than a couple AR’s in my safes could be detrimental to a case. I collect (accumulate, really) Ruger Vaqueros in 44mag, and with the volume I have of them added to my other handguns, there would be a newsfeed headline that a warrant was executed and over 200 handguns found... Not exactly great fodder as a defendant...

But we makes our choices and we lives with our consequences...

I’ve thought through my defensive carry choices as a part of my overall risk management strategy. I don’t care what it says on the side of my firearm when the time comes to use it - so I pick mine for aesthetic appeal.

Boy how this topic has gone off the reservation. From political protest to defending yourself in court.
I sometimes wonder if some members know how to start their own topics.

But to get back on topic.
I would have bought one of the Betsy Ross lowers if they had not sold out so fast.
I have given thought to buying lowers with different logos just for the hell of it. Might buy enough to mount in a frame to hang on the wall in my shop.
The unmarked lowers are nice because, you can have them engraved with any political statement you want.

I like the one in that lower picture Gunny.
And I see it's from Hays, Ks.

Shanghai McCoy said:

I like the one in that lower picture Gunny.
And I see it's from Hays, Ks.

Click to expand...

That’s the Spartan lower from Jo Bob Outfitters. I have three of them.

GunnyUSMC said:

That’s the Spartan lower from Jo Bob Outfitters. I have three of them.

Click to expand...

It has a unique style. Guess I need to drive out to Hays sometime and check them out.