Intresting comment while at the range.

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DWS1117

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While I was packing up my gear after my range session this man stopped and asked me about my AR. He asked if it was an M-16. I told him the it was just an ordinary semi auto AR-15. He said that he carried one of them things for Uncle Sam for 2 years in the Vietnam hell hole. I thanked him for his service. What he said next left me speechless. He said that when he left the army he stole his M-16 and his .45. I just didn't know what to say. I slowly turned to get in my can and left.
 
Some people get away with stuff.

FWIW, it didn't happen to me, but a Virginia friend had an interesting experience back in October. He had his AR-15 clone (I think it is a Bushmaster) at the range and a man who said he was a VN vet asked if it was an M16. He gave the same answer about it being semi-auto, but the vet went ballistic, screaming that it was only for killing people, that no civilian should be allowed to have a military gun, and that he was going home and call the police and have the guy arrested as a dangerous madman, etc. He ranted that when Kerry was elected, he (Kerry) would round up and "exterminate all you machinegun crazy maniacs" etc., etc. The vet (who had been shooting a .22 rifle) left, still fuming, but he certainly converted my friend from the "undecided" column into a Bush supporter.

Not all vets are on our side, nor are all gun owners.

Jim
 
My first thought was for you to ask him if you could shoot it, but if it's illegal you really don't want to be anywhere near it. All of us with Class 3 guns have keep the Form 4 with it at all times and I don't think he has one.
 
Yup! he said "stole". That is what shocked me. Didn't the practice of soldiers being able to keep thier issued weapons or bring back guns end before or during vietnam or was it before that?

I know my grandfather has his 1911 that he had been issued during WWII, I only wish I knew where it went. I would love to have it, :(
 
LOL... There's still close to 2000 servicemen missing from the Vietnam era...I doubt that missing rifles were a high priority. :(
 
Valkman:

He didn't have it with him. At least if hi did he didn't offer to show me. He had what appeared to be a .22 rifle.

Jim Keenan:

A couple of people that I know that are combat vets have aversions to AR type rifles,
M-14 type rilfes, and other guns that they associate with thier time in combat. Some had been shot. For others it just revives memories that they would rather not have. Yet, others don't care one way or the other and even have some of those types of weapons.

Myself, having never served in the armed forces much less been in combat it is something that I can't truly understand.
 
I heard of a USMC MST that sent 15-29 M97 trench guns home. Long story concerning a 16 that was "lost in combat" would'nt fire 10 rds without jamming. "Lost" with a grenade taped to it! had to go to Siagon for a new weapon, saw a rack of 97's but the sarge told me that they were his "retirement". Got out of there with a mossburg pump with a disconnector on the trigger. Carried that for the rest of my tour. :D

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas
 
I kind of think the "vets" that DWS1117 and Jim Keenan are talking about never saw the inside of a recruters office. ;)
 
My dad brought an M1 and a .45 home for his brother who was denied enlistment. It happens

As to DWS1117's comments.
My father has always enjoyed looking at and handling my additions which have mostly been civilian/hunter/cop type guns
When I showed him my recently purchased SKS and AK he got a look I've never seen in him.
Kinda as if I had shown him a picture of his new grandbaby that happened to be the ugliest baby ever born
I could tell that I had stirred something bad in his memory
 
I had the pleasure of meeting a marine that was on leave and had his newly issued m16 I believe-all he said was that the civilian version was a little different,and allowed me to fire 3 rd burst at the range.2 30 rounders.he was practicing cqb.he was a super nice guy and if he was any indication of what is in the military,well it's still top notch.I let him shoot my p22 and 1911 and he was a heck of a shot.it made me feel good.he just got back from iraq and said things are a lot different than the media portrays.just be thankful there are people defending our rights that allow us to do what we do everyday and take for granted.God bless everyone in harms way.
 
"Liberated" weapons

If a guy is really sharp, he can do a lot of things he isn't supposed to do. At the end of any major dust-up like Korea, Nam or Iraq, someone will bring home a gun or two. I remember piles of M1s laying around in Korea. We were supposed to keep the one we were issued but if it got dinged up and didn't shoot well, we'd sort through the pile for a better one and trade it in. When the time came to go home a lot of them were carefully stuffed into duffle bags and I remember one guy who walked through Customs in Hawaii with two .45s tucked in his waistband.
I was always afraid I'd get caught.
 
Long story short. Shortly after getting out of the active duty portion of my time in the service I was spending some time at a local watering hole and indulging in alchohol.

Strike up a conversation with fellow who was in shooting pool, I can't shoot pool so no game, and the conversation gets around to where, when, and with who did we do our service.

Usual BS and maybe not, when the fellow offered to give me an M16 with attached Starlite. This is 1973 and I know that there is great HOO-HOO that goes with these aforementioned items. Fellow says he did not have it with him but if I would come in the next night he would give it to me.

I have no idea if he actually had this, if he was on the up and up, or a real straight shooter. I do know that I made a specific effort to be seen somewhere else the next night.

Always be extremely careful of anyone making these claims cause you certainly don't want any of the stinky stuff to get on you.
 
Cheers guys,

Not everyone who claims to be a Vet is one - just look at Hollywood. How many actors have claimed to be one and then it was found out that they weren't?

Just because someone tells you - "I was there" doesn't mean they were!

If I couldn't tell an M-16 from a clone, well, since I was "Aviation", maybe I'd be granted a waiver - but NOT a grunt!

If you get some "spooky" person at your range, then, and this is just from me - I'd get a clip of ammo for the best gun I've got "displayed" and have it in my pocket - "just" in case!

Today, even after 30 something years, we/they still have MAJOR problems! Having some bubble butt 23 year old coming up to me and thanking me for my "duty" in VN is still uncomfortable - "I" was most comfortable being a "bad boy" for doing what my government asked/told me to do.

"That", being the bad boy, left me with the option of "turn, tuck, take it on the armor". Being "Thanked" doesn't!

You want to honor those of us that went to Nam - then LEAVE us alone - you spit on us, sh*t on us, and have always treated us with disrespect and distain. The "fawning" you do now doesn't make up for what "YOU" did to me or my people!

For those that "claim" (Viet Nam) and didn't go - well, don't let me catch you - it ain't gonna be pretty!

Sorry for the rant! This does NOT reflect on the people on this forum - I'm just venting after reading some of the posts. And the bad taste in my mouth, remembering.

Gentle winds,
Russ
 
I'd c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y explain the penalties involved with illegal machine gun ownership, with some examples of the extremes the BATF goons will go to get an arrest one of us peons who are making like the feds with unregistered burp guns. (Waco, anyone?)

Then I'd say if he truly has one, to hide it well, and never mention it to anyone
 
There are plenty of military veterans who think that only active duty military people should have guns. Check out Colin Powell's position on guns.
 
If he picked it up pre-68 he may have registered it during the amnesty. I have seen M14s for sale advertised as amnesty registered rifles.
 
I had the pleasure of meeting a marine that was on leave and had his newly issued m16 I believe-all he said was that the civilian version was a little different,and allowed me to fire 3 rd burst at the range.2 30 rounders.he was practicing cqb.he was a super nice guy and if he was any indication of what is in the military,well it's still top notch.I let him shoot my p22 and 1911 and he was a heck of a shot.it made me feel good.he just got back from iraq and said things are a lot different than the media portrays.just be thankful there are people defending our rights that allow us to do what we do everyday and take for granted.God bless everyone in harms way.
Click to expand...

Umm... troops don't get to take their rifles home with them on leave.
 
yep, definitely calling 'BS' on kart racer's tale. Somebody's lying. No military-issue rifle is wandering onto some public range in the hands of a US Mil on leave.
 
Another BS for Kart Racer.

Military's weapons are kept in the armory when not on duty. You're issued your weapon when you go to the armory when you start your shift. You turn it in when you get off.
 
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