The Liberal Gun Club Forum

dbluefish wrote:I like the idea put forth by some of you of asking your dad to use his rifle. He might even offer his brothers gun since it was just sitting there. If not, the n let the whole thing rest.

Yeah, let him choose. "Seein' as you have two identical rifles, can I borrow one for a long-term loan?" If he asks which one, say "I don't care. Since you bought one for yourself, the other one, I guess, if it's all the same to you."

Be vague. Use lots of commas.

judgepacker wrote:

the comedian wrote:I wonder that about surplus weapons sometimes. What exactly were they used for? Odds are they were in the hands of a grunt, and, judging by the standards of marksmenship of conscripts in a firefight, probably didn't hit anybody on the other side. But who can really tell if their M 91/30 was used for more nefarious purposes in the hands of the NKVD?
I also wonder about the Arisaka carbine I have- did somebody shoot at some GI or Marine with it? I don't think so, since Type 38 carbines were usually issued to rear echelon troops like engineers and supply clerks but who knows?
I rationalize it by telling myself it is the brain and the trigger finger that makes the decision to kill. The weapon used- rifle, knife, rock- whatever it is, is just a means to an end.
Still, I shy away from WW2 mausers, P-38s, and such... I just feel uncomfortable with a weapon with the swastika on it. No judgement on people who collect them, though.

That's the feeling I always got when walking through the U505 in Chicago. That thing was sneaking around, killing people and today we ooooh and ahhhh at it (myself included).

My granddad was a Norwegian merchant seaman from '30 to '46. He'd bring visiting shipmates of his to the MSI to see that every chance he got.

Buck13 wrote:

dbluefish wrote:I like the idea put forth by some of you of asking your dad to use his rifle. He might even offer his brothers gun since it was just sitting there. If not, the n let the whole thing rest.

Yeah, let him choose. "Seein' as you have two identical rifles, can I borrow one for a long-term loan?" If he asks which one, say "I don't care. Since you bought one for yourself, the other one, I guess, if it's all the same to you."

Be vague. Use lots of commas.

I almost think it would be better to ask for my uncle's rifle. My dad has MS and, as such, has been losing his independence slowly but surely. He doesn't really hunt anymore, but I think he still likes tinkering with his guns. (Though the last time I looked at his 700, about six months ago, the crosshairs of his scope were about 15 degrees off level and I don't think he's cleaned the bore very well for a few years...ughh... He can't see that kind of detail anymore.) He still goes up to his cabin to deer hunt with a friend each November, but he stays in the cabin the whole time unless they're going out to eat. He stopped driving about five years ago, I think. Good for other people on the road, but emasculating for him. He's not one that ever thought a gun was an extension of his dick, as far as I know, but I can see how one might feel maybe not emasculated, but dehumanized, at least regarding his independence through taking away his guns. Sad, but that's the way it is.

I'll be sensitive when I get around to asking him. He also has many other guns that are sitting around, probably mostly neglected. Rem 722 .222, Marlin 57 levermatic .22 mag, Ruger Red Label 12ga., couple of older S&W revolvers etc., all from the 1970s or before. He was worried when I moved across the country on my own 10 years ago and took "my" guns (mostly ones that he passed down to me, but were considered mine) because he thinks living in apartments is less secure than a house. I think he's worried that they'll be stolen. Maybe that's true in some cases. I never thought it was an issue. I know I'd take better care of them than he does at this point. It's hard to convince him of that, though, since he's the know-all father and I'm the son.

At the least, maybe the next time I'm at his house I'll just make sure they're all cleaned and stored properly.