Emma Brockes (courtesy mg.co.za)

“I suppose what really baffles me is that I can’t think of a single reason why a civilian needs to own a military-grade weapon, apart from being a monstrous arsehole. Target practice and hunting is what they all say – a legitimate sport and way of life respectively – but we know it is more than that from listening to enthusiasts talking at gun shows . . .

I once met a guy who said he had invented a force field that would protect people in their homes and thus obviate the need for personal firearms. I told him I thought he’d overlooked one thing: that people love their guns. Perhaps it is no more complicated than that.” – Emma Brockes, Why do people cling to their guns? We need to get inside their minds [via guardian.co.uk]

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

196 COMMENTS

  1. We’ve got an AR-15 firearm on order (haven’t owned one since 2004) so, I guess, I’m going from a run-of-the-mill arsehole to a monstrous one. I can live with that.

    • Wolf hunting and hunting dangerous game are legitimate reasons to own one. But then again if you’re not gay, or of another ethnicity than white outside of being female then you’re already an arse and if you’re a heterosexual male then your an arsehole with an arsenal that in imagination land isn’t necessary anywhere in the world.

      • The gun thing still trumps the gay thing.

        Source: Am gay arsehole.

        Also: Are we just going to let the “personal force field” thing slide? I feel like she’s just leaving it out there.

        • ???
          Yeah, all I read was: “bigotry hate fear more bigotry name calling baseless accusations more fear more bigotry INVENTED A FORCE FIELD”…
          …(sound of screeching brakes) Huh!? What!? Explain yourself, please!
          🤠

        • I thought the “invisible force fields” were restraining orders and “gun free zone” signs. We should just cover all our basis while were at it and make signs that say: “murder free zone: violators will be prosecuted”. That’ll stop em’!!

      • If you’re not “equal”, little-girl b1T<hing wont make it so. Has been since forever.

      • I’m a gay, female, 3x AR15-owning arsehole, I guess!

        (Oops, I forgot, make that 1 AR15… the other two were lost in a boating accident)

        • Careful, people will think that 3xAR-15 is an AR that is 3 times more deadly.

          P.S. Sorry to hear about your boat.

        • Another gun owning gay woman right here Tori. sadly i dont have any AR-15’s but only because i live in the GD Peoples Republic of Australia and had not been able to afford one before they essentially banned them though i probably would have gotten an SLR or a AR10 for the harder hitting round. F’ing ignorant aussies turned them in instead of doing what needed to be done. did not turn in or license any of what i had at the time

    • I don’t own an AR and likely never will.

      I must be an average, run of the mill arsehole. *SIGH* I’m never exceptional.

    • All the negative headlines about the AR15 finally got to me. I slowly have changed my thinking and fully understand the hate this weapon has caused. Mentally I had been stuck in a place that doesn’t fit in with today’s common sense approach.
      Millions of AR15’s probably exist in the USA making death from a madman wielding a rifle that fires round after round of a .22 caliber bullet a very real possibility.
      I thought about long and hard. How does an AR15 protect anyone from a murdering psychopath with a similar weapon? Do I keep my AR15 or move up to where society has evolved? And like a gong ringing at 1000 yards it came to me. Time for an AR10.

  2. Why do people cling to their guns?

    Because the last time a government came to take them from americans it did not end well for the government. Which then subsequently allowed americans to bail british and european butts out of the fire on at least two major occasions. But you go ahead and forget all that and keep telling us how backwards we are. We might listen and not show up next time you have to deal with someone unenlightened.

    • WW1, WW2, Marshall Plan, Cold War = 4 Major Bailouts.
      We should sit out the looming Jihad Conquest of the UK and Europe.
      This female will look better in a nice burka.

      • We need “Black rifles & AK variants included” Because the Veneer of civility is only a few Thousandths thick; when shit jumps the shark people panic, riot, pillage and plunder; Government will not protect you.

        1) 92′ L.A. Riots, Bloods and crips driving around the city shooting people. Ask the koreans in LA why they need MSR’s (modern sporting rifles) to protect themselves and their businesses from burning.
        2) Ferguson riots, Blacks Attacking white people and burning their own city.
        3) Hurricane Katrina, gun confiscation, Martial Law, Anarchy
        4) The Ruby Ridge Massacre
        5) The Waco Massacre
        6) The Texas church shooting was thwarted by a man with a “black rifle”
        7) Armed home Invasion with multiple assailants
        8) To respond to a mass shooter or terrorist attack
        9) Varmint/pest control
        10) It is our Second Amendment RIGHT as a well regulated Militia of the people to own MSR’s Well regulated = well trained and well armed, The american people ARE the militia. (We are not subjects of the crown)

        • I love it how these people not only completely disregard the major events of our own history, but even the more recent and relatively minor events that cited, too. (No disrespect intended there, just contrasting the magnitude of, say, the Civil War, to the 1992 L.A. Riots is all.)

          What’s really funny is how they always qualify their comparisons with other countries, too. They always pare down the reference group to western European white countries, plus Australia, Japan and South Korea. On what basis? The S-hole countries of Asia, Africa, and South America don’t count? Because why, exactly? They never come out and say what they mean: “Those comparisons don’t count because they don’t fit our narrative, but mostly because they’re all lesser races and ethnicities than whites. So we pretty much expect them to be barbarians and savages.” THAT’S what they really mean when they say it can’t happen here. Really? Because I was flipping through a history book once, and they mentioned some instances of European countries committing some atrocities in living memory.

          That’s why they disregard examples like Zimbabwe’s expropriation of white farmers’ land two decades ago. That’s why they ignore the same thing going on in South Africa today. The less said about the senseless abomination that is Mexico, the better.

        • In the Rodney King Riots, LA’s finest were the FIRST TO FLEE.
          Citizens were told that they were “On Their Own”.
          That’s reason Number One to suitably arm yourself with whatever weapon is appropriate.

      • She’ll either get a burka or be found raped and mangled in a ditch somewhere…maybe both.

      • There ain’t no F’ing way I’d let my kids or grandkids fight for Europe when (it’s no longer a question of IF but rather WHEN) the Islamofascists take over. Those F’in Euro-trash millenials can just suck it when the Islamofascists start raping their wives and their livestock.

        I’ll personally drive my kids acros the canadian border. I’ll do a second covert crossing to bring them some guns.

    • You mean the first time the US government took guns within a decade we had an emperor seize control of the country and proceed to fill the supreme court with Klansmen, limit food production to solve famine and even bring back slavery.

      • Nanashi: Your prognostications would be true, but we have prevented it! You’re Welcome!

    • None of my ARs are military-grade; all commercial grade.

      So, she’s not talking about me.

      • “None of my ARs are military-grade; all commercial grade.”

        Damn straight.

        I’ve yet to see an AR-pattern rifle salute anyone.

        (Inset rimshot *here*)… 🙂

    • Great timing. Half way through the video my son asked “can I borrow the truck?” I said “no.” He said “Why?” I said “Wait for it….” Dennis didn’t fail me.

  7. So says a subject of the crown. One that hasn’t really experienced freedom. One that cannot grasp the concept of freedom. Self defense and defense of kith and kin are anathema to these types.

  8. Well nobody NEEDS life insurance unless they’re dead. But for some people it gives them peace of mind knowing that their family will be taken care of in case of tragedy. You don’t need health insurance unless you get sick. You don’t need car insurance unless you get in a crash. You don’t need a fire extinguisher unless your house is on fire. And you don’t NEED an AR unless you need to engage an enemy at ranges over 15 yards.

      • Not saying that they’re ineffective under 15 yards, but you could make a case for a pis tol being just as effective at close range. Unless you need the higher capacity, but that would be extremely unlikely. Inside of 3 yards I’d definitely want the handg un though since you’re likely going to want a free hand. Even though I shoot my revo lvers off hand out to 50 yards there’s no comparison past 15 or 20 yards. Personally I keep a Marlin 336BL loaded with 125gr hollow points ready in case I have to take the fight outside. The scoped AR is in the truck. I don’t think where I live I could possibly take an unobstructed shot in any direction over 100 yards.

        • A pistol is NEVER as effective as a 5.56 mm NATO round regardless of distance. A rifle round has a far better chance of a 1 shot stop.

        • Point of fact, my 6-1/2″ barreled .44 magnum loaded with 180gr. SJHPs has about identical muzzle energy as a 5.56 round from a 16″ barrel. That said, power isn’t the sole indicator of effectiveness – if that were the case my 336 would be 60% more effective than your AR. Han dguns are easier to maneuver and quicker to point. And as I mentioned inside of 3 yards they’re much easier to operate one handed.

        • A .44 magnum is an effective defense tool for bears. For humans, the bulk and recoil make is effectiveness questionable. But if you need to keep a hand free, a Tavor is the best of all worlds. And for police officers, I would recommend it over the AR for just that reason. On another side note, there is NO reason for a cop to have a fully automatic rifle (unless they are involved in some really messed up crowd control).

        • I occasionally carry my birdshead Vaquero .44mag, mostly just for shits and giggles though, not because it’s the most effective carry g un. Recoil tolerance varies from person to person, but even with the two finger birdshead grip it’s pretty comfortable with 180grs. Fast follow up shots are not part of the platform’s virtues though. Neither are fast reloads, but if 6 shots of .44mag don’t get me out of trouble I guess I should reexamine some life choices.

          Anyway, in all seriousness, the first rule for winning a gunfight is – bring a g un. The difference between having an AR or a .38 snubby is far less than the difference between a .38 snubby and nothing but your wits.

        • Well if the .45acp kills you and your soul, what does .44mag do, kill your grandchildren too?

          It’s just such a cute little revo lver, then you pull the trig ger and it’s like the noisy cricket from Men in Black. If I were serious about carrying one for EDC there’s a .357 version that might be the best of both worlds.

        • Supersonic so close to my noggin seems to have a bad/disorienting effect on me these days. I’ve met a few others with similar issues. Even though it is not optimal, I’ve had to stick with .45 ACP to be sure I’m able to perform to spec when the need arises. I can and have trained with other rounds but seem to do my best anymore with slower pistol rounds.

          In the city mostly now it’s 1911 but I still do sport the Vaquero daytime on nice days. I open carry all of the time.

        • Ah, well, at least in 1911 form I can say there’s something sort of pleasant about the slow push of recoil from the .45acp round. I’m just infatuated with the magnum rounds. I bought the .44 Vaquero mostly because this was a .44 mag that was light and compact enough to carry but heavy enough to not be too punishing to shoot. That and that they brought back the old large frame Vaquero for it and the serial numbers are from the old line, so if they quit making them soon there’s a chance they’ll gain a lot in value. Sweet little wheel g un in any caliber though.

          Personally, as I get older I find that my recoil tolerance increases but recoil fatigue sets in sooner. Maybe this is unique to me, but it’s the long sessions that get to me, not the initial recoil.

  9. We need to get inside the mind of such a closed off one as the women the article is centered on.
    Why does anyone need a reason to own anything?? And what business is it of her to even question why.
    In my case because I want to….,……

    • In her utopian world, items are rationed by Big Brother for the good of the people. Private ownership is unthinkable and all belongs to the Collective.

  10. I can’t think of a single reason why a civilian needs to own a military-grade weapon, apart from being a monstrous arsehole.
    Liberals think all guns are military grade weapons. This is just an incremental and selective stage.
    Spin it.
    I can’t think of a single reason why a government agent needs to own a military-grade weapon, apart from being a monstrous arsehole.

    • Indiana Tom,

      What she was really saying was, “Anyone whose political views are not the same as mine is a monster and should be imprisoned or killed.”

      Everything else is just window dressing.

      • “What she was really saying was, “Anyone whose political views are not the same as mine is a monster and should be imprisoned or killed.””

        Nailed it.

        My favorite libertarian-leaning commenter *stunned* me today with laying out where all this leads, and it’s in the WaPo, no less.

        Check it out –

        “Publicly slighting millions of NRA members isn’t good for business – or America”

        (The ‘money shot’ is the last paragraph)

        “I don’t, of course, mean to suggest that a single boycott will lead to the dissolution of the Republic. The danger lies in the totalizing impulse it signifies, in which every activity, no matter how small, takes on some greater political implication. If we decide to make every single thing in our lives political, we risk becoming so estranged that we can no longer resolve our disputes through politics.”

        Let that sink in –

        “…we risk becoming so estranged that we can no longer resolve our disputes through politics.”

        I *love* that woman. She actually *gets it*, and she laid out just where we are headed…

        https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/publicly-slighting-millions-of-nra-members-isnt-good-for-business–or-america/2018/03/02/d1b03e28-1e46-11e8-9de1-147dd2df3829_story.html?utm_term=.7a4c1a004d55

  11. I might add that ARs are NOT military grade weapons, they are the civilian semi-automatic replicas of military grade weapons. And if ‘military grade’ is the standard for what should be banned then I suppose that would include the Beretta 92? The 1911? Colt Single Action Army? Muskets?

    • Please, the auto sear does not make it military grade, just makes it unavailable without a tax stamp. How often are AR-15s on the battlefield ever used in full auto. And the 3 round burst is there to overcome the shortcomings of the .556 and try and flex the ARs into the sub gun roll. I would also argue that quite a few “civilian” AR-15s are of much higher quality and more effective as a combat weapon than what the military uses. And all of the limitations of the AR-15 can be easily overcome with the AR-10. Which is probably a more effective firearm for countering government forces due to increased range and effectiveness against armor. And that is one gun where the full automatic fire gets to be kind of stupid like the M14.

      And to argue against the military grade B.S. Military grade has nothing to do with the effectiveness of a weapon, but more to do with using something that can fulfill a certain role and usually meets certain durability requirements as well as having fulfilling other goals.

      The popularity of the AR-15 has less to due with the “lethality” of the weapon and more to due with the the third party support of said rifle. The AR-15 is one gun that you will never have to worry about getting parts for. And due to the relatively low power of the round, can be easily handled by most anyone.

      And before someone uses a the stupid Hummer argument, a closer comparison would be the H1. Same basic truck, just modified for civilian use.

    • Please, the auto sear does not make it military grade, just makes it unavailable without a tax stamp. How often are AR-15s on the battlefield ever used in full auto. And the 3 round burst is there to overcome the shortcomings of the .556 and try and flex the ARs into the sub gun roll. I would also argue that quite a few “civilian” AR-15s are of much higher quality and more effective as a combat weapon than what the military uses. And all of the limitations of the AR-15 can be easily overcome with the AR-10. Which is probably a more effective firearm for countering government forces due to increased range and effectiveness against armor. And that is one gun where the full automatic fire gets to be kind of stupid like the M14.

      And the whole “military grade” thing B.S. Military grade usually has less to do with the lethality of a weapon, but more to do with filling a certain role, usually meeting certain durability requirements and fulfilling any other goals.

      The popularity of the AR-15 has less to due with the “lethality” of the weapon and more to due with the the third party support of the rifle. The AR-15 is one gun that you will never have to worry about getting parts for. And due to the relatively low power of the round, can be easily handled by most anyone.

      And before someone uses a the stupid Hummer argument, a closer comparison would be the H1. Same basic truck, just “modified” for civilian use.

      Sent from my iPad

      • ‘…unavailable without a tax stamp…’

        Only if it were manufactured and if applicable imported before 1986.

        As to the third party support, this is why the AR became so popular – Colt let the patents run out in 1977. Before that the Mini-14 probably outsold the Colt. Had the situation been reversed and Colt still had the patents and the Mini-14 was non-proprietary it would be what everyone had. Similar situation with 1911s.

        • If you look at early mass shootings, you will see the Ruger Mini-14 was the gun of choice. Winn Dixie parking lot/ William Cruse in Palm Bay Florida and the McMassacre in California both featured Mini-14 rifles. They whatever is available. When guns are gone, gasoline and big trucks will be the preferred tools.

        • Oh stop with the big trucks, it is easy to defend crowds against them. The French screwed up by making it easy to drive a truck along the Promenade. They still do not have barrier poles up along it. Just from a regular pedestrian safety point it is not the best setup in the world.

        • TR, this is mostly because back in the day the Mini-14 was substantially less expensive than an AR, but now the rolls are reversed, at least with lower end kit. How many of these spree shooters spent $1800 of their own money on a high end AR?

  13. She has a right to her opinion, I have no obligation to care what she thinks, let alone agree with her.

    • ‘She has a right to her opinion…’

      Actually that depends, as a subject to the crown she must be careful to avoid opinions that could be considered ‘sedition’.

    • I was taught at a young age—opinions are like assholes; everyone’s got one, and they all stink.

  14. if there ever was proof of white entitlement or privelege she just encapsulated it right there

    shes currently all wrapped up in her little first world problems because shes never had to face the harsh reality that like it or not this world is still largely ruled by the use or the threat of use of overwhelming force

    she hasnt had to live through:

    civil war

    revolution

    societal collapse

    riots looting raping pillaging

    if she lives in europe all this and more is coming to a neighborhood near her sooner rather than later

    she would do well to study up about what history has to say about firepower:

    “when you need it and dont have it-you sing a different tune…”

  15. “I once met a guy who said he had invented a force field that would protect people in their homes…”

    Sure he did, dear. Sure he did…

    It’s nonsensical fantasy world tripe like this that allows people to hold beliefs that are incongruent with reality.

    • I know, right? Damn those evil guys over there, why won’t anyone listen to me about my magical garden gnome army!!!

  16. Always nice to get the opinion from a subject of the British Crown. Not that I really care –
    we told y’all to piss off over two centuries ago with the help of our “military grade” firearms. How’s that whole issuing criminal charges for “offensive” YouTube vids thing working out for you folks across the pond? I guess the right to free speech, and the right to the ability to fight to maintain that right, is for us dumbass colonial types.

    Also, what’s with the obsession with the “military grade” descriptor amongst the antis? The way they throw it around it could be used for practically all firearms. But, maybe that’s the idea for their long run. “Whitman wouldn’t have been able to kill most of those folks from the clock tower if he didnt have access to a firearm that was basically a military grade sniper rifle. Civilians just don’t need access to that sort of firepower…”

  17. It s not about hunting ore self defense in regulary life.
    It s against tryants and hypocrits like you !!

    And “Assault” Weapon means Full Auto not Semi.

    • actually, assault weapon means nothing. Assault rifle on the other hand, means something. I wish I had one but they are illegal in communist WA.

  18. “I suppose what really baffles me is that I can’t think of a single reason why a civilian needs to own a military-grade weapon, apart from being a monstrous arsehole.”

    Her statement is confused,as the AR 15 is not capable of automatic/select fire,so thus not military grade,then again facts and truth are not hallmarks of the Left.

    Unless any Brit has be come a US citizen I could care less what they have to say,although nobody said it quite like Quigley/Ton Selleck.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-r-5kB1Sz0

    • Automatic/select fire is of limited utility in a rifle. So using the argument at the lack of auto fire makes the “civilian” version of the AR-15 somehow less effective than the “military” version is B.S. At the same time, the augment that a military rifle is somehow more effective than a “civilian” firearm is also B.S. The nasty part is that when the AR-15 is pushed into the SAW role (and it can be with a bump stock) but that is different argument.
      The real reason that the AR-15 is so popular and prolific has less to do with it being being more of less effective than any other auto-loading rifle and more to do with the fact that because if was adopted by the U.S. Military and thus setting a standard that all the manufactures can use. A bolt from Smith will work and a Ruger. Most accessories will work on most rifles. Makes it easier from both the buyers and manufactures point of view. I would defiantly argue for cost vs effectiveness on the US market, nothing is better than a AR-15 pattern rifle. Especially for people with limited firearms experience.

  19. Wait…
    “I once met a guy who said he had invented a force field that would protect people in their homes and thus obviate the need for personal firearms.”
    What? We’re just going to let that go, huh.

  20. A. The AR15 is not “military grade.”

    B. If the AR15 isn’t appropriate for civilian use, then start by rounding them up from police departments.

    C. Being that she is a Brit, I trust that the speaker knows full-well that American civilian firearm ownership has far more to do with than mere hunting and sport. It is why we have a president, rather than being subjects of the crown.

    • You have (B) backwards…

      (B) since LEO and civilian federal agency personnel are authorized to possess (ie, keep and bear) machine guns, so too should the citizenry.

      In Miller vs US, SCOTUS indicated firearms used by the military = protected by 2A.

      • You have (B) backwards…

        (B) since LEO and civilian federal agency personnel are authorized to possess (ie, keep and bear) machine guns, so too should the citizenry.

        I agree with what you’re saying, but in this case, I intentionally structured the statement that way. I was making a slightly different point.

      • i completely agree. i may be an aussie (though i wish i was born a US citizen and have since my teens) but i have always understood the real reason for free men to keep and bear arms. there is no room for middle ground with any aspect of liberty. you either have liberty or you are a damn slave and i refuse to bow the knee to anyone. IHMO even a CWL is an infringement on the constitution as is certain states refusing to allow open carry of either handguns or long arms. IHMO any govt official or even SCOTUS that rules in any way to limit any of the first 10 of the amendments is actually committing an act of treason against the people.

        • Spot on.

          Australia could have the many things that make the American experience so desirable plus the unique things about Australian culture that make the Australian experience desirable if the people could only understand what you have posted. IMHO, this applies to any nation. The truths put forth in the Declaration of Independence are universal. Unfortunately, many of my own don’t understand what you have expressed. They simply no longer seem willing to defend “shall not be infringed” and it will be to our utter demise as the inalienable individual right to keep and bear arms is absolutely crucial to liberty. Without it, we are enslaved.

  21. Most Brits are snobbish arseholes themselves…even without ARs…hmmm…fancy that

  22. Emma Brockes. So you can’t “think of a single reason why a civilian needs to own a military-grade weapon, apart from being a monstrous arsehole”. I do not have the benefit of years of liberal education at Oxford University on other peoples dime, or a degree in Journalism. I haven’t won any of the awards left wing socialist journalists bestow on each other in order to raise the din of their self congratulatory echo chamber. So you’ll have to bear with me while I try to come up with a reason. How about, ” A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,”. There you go, and I’ve never been to Oxford. Oh, and I better cite my sources. Not for the hoi polloi regulars on this site but for the Elitists, like yourself who never found the time to study our founding documents while studying the fine points of journalism. The Constitution of the United States. Primarily attributed to James Madison. 1791.

  23. I don’t know about all of you, but I have been wholly persuaded by this argument and will be getting rid of all of my AR15s today.

    • You can give it to me. I knew I’m an asshole before she told me, so one more AR15 doesn’t make any difference.

  24. I would correct her and say that I’m an unmitigated asshole who wants to stay free and be left alone. The AR is to keep me and my family that way.

    And she’s damn right it’s a military type weapon. It may not be full auto, but let’s call a spade a spade and these things are specifically to offer a parity of force capability vs a potentially dangerous standing army (the 2nd biggest fear of our founding fathers, after a central bank).

    Technically, if Title 10 Subsection 311 is to be followed, the Militia is the largest paramilitary force in the world, roughly 50 million strong:

    Ҥ311. Militia: composition and classes

    (a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.

    (b) The classes of the militia are—

    (1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and

    (2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.”

    We should start offering tax exemptions for buying/owning ARs, since it can be legally recognized as officially part of our national defense.

    *grin*

    • totally agree. in fact those that refuse to own one i would hit with 50% tax while those that do and are active in a militia unit no more than 10%. hate to say it but those that refuse to do their duty deserve to pay the extra.

    • It’s good to remind everyone of how Militia’s are defined, thank you! The thing I don’t like is the upper 45 age limit. It’s conceivable that the grabbers could latch on to this and start pushing for some sort of age related ban.

  25. Whew…I don’t own an AR so I guess I’m not a monstrous azzwhole. Just a regular azzwhole. 😎😎😎😎

  26. The thing that is most annoying to me about the tendency of these people to decry the AR-15 or any other specific weapon when one is used in a negative manner is that, somehow, they seem to think that my and other’s ownership of that thing has something to do with the bad thing that happened.

    Essentially, right now, these people are saying that me owning an AR-15 is terrible because one was used at Parkland. So what. What is the connection between my AR and the Parkland shooters?

    None of these babbling anti’s ever seems to address this fundamental premise. They shout and stomp their feet about ‘weapons of war’, and ‘need’ and ‘complicit gun owners and NRA’ and whatnot but they still can’t explain what that has to do with my AR. My AR was not used and has not been used to harm anyone.

    What kind of car did the Parkland shooter drive. Are other drivers of that type of car somehow complicit in his crime? What brand of toothpaste does he use, is there some burden of responsibility borne by other users of that brand?

    I don’t even really care about the fact that they all seem to think the AR is some super extra deadly shooting murder-death-kill machine – they think that because they are ignorant and assume that anything that resembles the gun the military uses must be extra deadly. Apparently none of them comprehend that the Military uses a similar pattern rifle because it is light and reasonably accurate and, as far as they are concerned, deadly enough while being cheap enough and serviceable enough. I guess they think the military is the home of all the best technology and not the home of, in most cases, technology that is adequate for the task at hand.

    But, even if my AR was an M4 and had been used by the military in conflict and was, therefore, a weapon of war, it still would not have any connection to the gun and shooter in Parkland – none.

    So, as unlikely as it is that any anti will read this rant, in case one does, here is my statement: I did not shoot anyone with my AR-15 so leave me alone!

    I actually own a weapon of war, it is an 1898 Krag-Jorgensen. I’ve never shot anyone with it either.

    • Oh, and another thing for little missy and her arsehole comments. You don’t need to get inside my mind – I’ll tell you what I think. Ready, wait for it, OK: I do not care one little bit what you think of me and my fellow gun owners. You do not need to “get inside their minds” you just need to leave them alone. Virtually no gun owner is a threat to you and neither are their guns. We “cling” to our guns because we want to, for individual reasons. We are not some collective of depraved warmongers that you need to ‘understand’ so you can ‘deal’ with us. We are people, self-determined ones, who do what we do and own what we want because we choose to. Your failure to understand others is just that, your failure. Your failings cannot be fixed by imposing your views on someone else.

      • I was reading an article and they had a photo of a poster and newspaper during WW2 that was requesting gun owners in America to please send guns and ammo to the British people to defend their homeland with. They never learn do they.

      • sorry but i came close to cutting off my aunt because she is so anti. pretty much told her that by holding the views she does she is pretty much a traitor to the memory of all family members who have ever served and fought for freedom, so yes i damn well would kick her out.

  28. “Target practice and hunting is what they all say”

    I find it hard to believe that any randomly selected AR owner would mention target practice and/or hunting and not mention self defense (though there are a handful for which it is exclusively used for hunting). Given the use of the word “all”, there would need to be three individuals who, apparently, never thought to mention defense.

    It would be possible to ask three van owners why they own vans, and they all respond “terrorism”, but I can imagine another use of vans other than terrorism: namely transportation.

    • I live in an extremely safe neighborhood. There’s really no reason for me to own an AR.

      But I like target practice, and I hate reloading.

    • For me my AR-556 is for target practice. But I do keep mags loaded with 65gr soft points. So it could be used for hunting or self-defense, but that’s not the main reason I own one.

  29. What baffles me is when the uneducated morons call my AR-15 “military grade.”

    Honey, my AR is MUCH better than military grade.

  30. That hurt my feelings that someone I don’t know in a different country called me a name.

    @What’sHerName If you must, say “doughnut-hole” next time. That way the visceral pain of being called a name will be assuaged by the memory of doughnut-holes.

    • Interesting read. I expect it’s way too deep for most of the foaming at the mouth folks screaming about doing “SOMETHING” though.

  33. Notice how a-hole like what’s her face always seem to think that there’s no such thing as self dense with a firearm? To quote: ‘Target practice and hunting is what they all say’. It’s almost as if she didn’t even bother to talk to anyone and just threw out her opinion like it’s fact that applies to everyone universally.

    • That is because in today’s England there is NO right to self-defense…you are supposed to retreat and scream for the unarmed Bobbies to come and “assist” you. Pepper spray is illegal. Carrying a fixed or folding knife with a blade over 3″ is illegal. I worked with some Brits in the Service…tough little bastards in a scrap…but, their politics and country sucks.

      • Oh, very true. I’m aware that the subjects of the UK don’t have much in the way of legal self.

        Perhaps a better way for me to have put it would be to ask why it is that a lot of people in the UK seem to have this providential attitude that their way of governance is better than other nations way of doing so. America fought a revolution to get away from the British way of doing things, and eventually our nation became a super power, while their own nation decayed from a world spanning empire to a single nation state. And in all those years, we still people that insist that we’re just a terrible because most of America refuses to cede out right to self defense over to a central government authority.

  34. Wow. That’s a very crafted piece of agitprop, in relatively few woirds. Who fed her that? I’ve met products of Oxford. They’re not that good.

    I’d fisk some of it, but Disqus isn’t letting me paste into a comment right now. Content banning, one presumes.

    I did wonder why this quote was so annoying … then I got it (a product of thought and memory, both apparantly excised at Oxford.) Aside from the delivery ticks, this exactly fits the template of President Obama’s policy “remarks.”

    Torching straw men causes global warming. Just sayin.

  35. And I for the life of me can’t understand why women, who claim to be the only ones in the room with common-sense, insist on killing their own babies. Over 55 million babies are victims of women. Where is the outrage?

    Abortion kills…every time. Exercising one’s 2nd Amendment right, rarely.

  36. My workshop is full of objects that ninnies like this wouldn’t know the names of, let allow the reason for, and in most cases it would be a waste of time trying to explain. So I’ll simply thank them kindly for minding their own business and not meddling in things they don’t understand.

  37. FORD F-150 uses “Military Grade” Aluminum In their pickup trucks; Maybe we should ban the sale of Military Grade pickup trucks.
    FORD F-150 MILITARY GRADE ASSAULT TRUCK

  38. Flip the question, “Why are you so desperately trying to take away my lawfully owned possession?” I hold tightly to my guns because your strident and vicious attacks convince me of their value.

    • She is the type of person to tell the Nazis where the Jews were hiding, or tell the slave owners about the under ground railroad.

  39. Eff her (not literally).

    I _COULD_ spend a few moments illuminating this poor example of a civil human being on the finer points and benefits of the direct impingement system and the Armalite Rifle (AR) design; how it is well suited to modifications that support many different uses.

    I _COULD_ elaborately explain my specific reasons for choosing AR rifles as one of the platforms included in my arms collection.

    But I’ve been around this earth a while and have grown tired of dealing with intolerant people such as MS (or whatever feel-good snowflake pronoun she prefers) Emma Brockes. So I’ll just say…

    Eff You (not literally), Emma. You don’t know me; you don’t know my family and you haven’t a clue about my motivations. It’s people like you who make sane people briefly consider using one of those scary black rifles in the manner you suggest as a viable option to listening to your BS.

  40. She’s from the UK. Who gives a shit what she thinks? She’s not an American her opinion isn’t important.

  42. She should wash her greasy hair; Looks like she would smell like pee, B.O. and a hot dumpster fire of spoiled fish and cabbage.

  43. we have these guns so arsholes like her can still have the freedom to exercise her right to free speech. because if we did not have these guns this country ( which IT IS TRYING TO ) would “progressively turn more and more to the communist ideals that they are trying to push on us now. a “progressive socialist” is in fact a communist. and we have quite a few in our government. mostly on the “democrat” side. and just like the peoples democratic republik of ( pick communist country) . this is what they want. so the government gets richer and the people get poorer. and what gets me is how stupid people are that they don’t see it. all you have to do is look at Venezuala. even England is not really a country where you are free. they too are slowly clamping down on there people.

  44. We “need” weapons like these because without them, assholes like Emma Brockes invariably start asking why we also need to speak freely, openly practice our beliefs, or own private property.

  46. “People who don’t think like I do are arseholes. Also, if you don’t give me what I want l, you’re an arsehole.”

  47. Emma,
    Because the ar15 is an equalizer to ms13 and all the other psychotic felons you liberals welcome in our country.
    Plus we would not be able to form a well regulated militia with slingshots. Read the constitution.

  48. Should be throwing me a parade for being a monstrous arsehole. Thanks to me the value of an individual relative to society is higher. My existence, the fact that they exist in aworld with me in it, imparts dignity to these peasants.

  49. Just saw an ARSHOLE ex-general on CNN who believes no wants should have an AR. He demonstrated “full semi-auto” with an AR15. After he pledged he supports the 2nd Amendment BUT…😡😩😖😧

    • Those are some of the worst kind. The mindless sheep naturally think that they speak with authority on the subject and the crafty wolves use them to their deadly ends.

  51. Why do police, who are civilian, not military, need “military-grade” firearms? The majority will never use one in the line of duty. But they carry to protect themselves and others from people who wish them harm.
    Non-police civilians have the same reasons to carry. Defend self and others from harm.

    If the government could protect us, no one would ever be harmed in prison. After all, prisoners are searched for weapons, armed guards patrol to protect prisoners, etc. But evil finds a way and prison is not a safe place.

    OTOH, I’m sure Nancy Pelosi feels safe surrounded by her armed security detail as does Chuck Schumer. Apparently, you are an arsehole if you have a gun but not if you hire someone to have it for you. Weird that that means only the privileged, rich and powerful are protected. Hmmm.

  53. Oh, my God! I actually own a true military type select fire AR… got it many years ago and paid all the taxes… Funny, having that extra position on the selector/safety switch has never made me do anything bad. And I played a lot of shooter video games too…
    My point is that no one “Needs” anything other than food, water and shelter. Toilet paper is kind of handy too. So why does anyone “Need” a house with a two car garage, a big truck with big tires and a lift kit, trips to Hawaii, jet skis, cocaine, alcohol, tobacco, pants or bras??? The answer is we don’t Need any of these to survive but it’s America and we are allowed to chase our own version of the “Pursuit of Happiness”.
    Did you guys know that in Alaska we can buy automatic knives, marijuana, full auto weapons and suppressors… oh, and flame throwers have been for sale up here for years and no one has been incinerated with one yet…
    Keep your accent across the pond. We’ve bailed your asses out through two World Wars… after we kicked your ass over gun rights and taxes.

  54. “Emma Brockes is a British author and a contributor to The Guardian and The New York Times. She lives in New York.”

    This British subject LIVES IN NEW YORK. Enjoying the freedoms the USA provides to an author/journalist, I am sure. Things that make you go hmmm…

    I mean come on, she also believes some guy invented a force field to “protect people in their homes”. She is 1 IQ point shy of retarded for god’s sake.

  55. Well…. actually. “Some” of you do fit that label honestly. But so do parking ticket people & telemarketers.

    • Any large group of people includes a-holes. The argument here is the mere ownership of certain type of firearm makes us monstrous arse holes.
      I think you can tell who’s one not by what he owns, but by what he does and says.

  56. Interesting that she bemoans the U.S. so much, but she lives in New York, rather than her native England…

  57. I purchased my AR 15 this past November 2017. The Slide Fire stock I just order should be here next Wednesday. Why do I want them?
    Because I’m an american citizen with the civil right to have them.

    And as a “poor black man” I can’t afford ($25,000 used) a machine gun. Now that you know my race, does that make you uncomfortable?
    Are you comfortable with only white policemen with machine guns?

    BTW
    A bump stock does turn an AR15 into a machine gun. It becomes a rapid fire gun.

      • Chris,

        Unless you are planning on overthrowing the duly elected part of the government (feel free to have at the unelected bits!), shooting up a school, massacring everyone in a church on Sunday, robbing a bank, or anything else that might be considered illegal and/or immoral, your possession of an AR-15 gives me no concern whatsoever. Under those mild restrictions, I would not be concerned if you COULD buy a machine gun. I’d recommend something belt-fed.
        Neither does your purchase of more-than-sufficient ammunition for it, and any number of high-powered clipazines with which to feed it said ammunition.
        Don’t forget one for others in the house.

        • At some point in the lifespan of ANY government, it becomes necessary to include the “elected” ones as well. I wouldn’t even fault Chris T in KY if it were “the duly elected part of the government.” I would not condemn them nor would I rat them out.

          “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

          That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

    • Good job. That last thing tho; you might see it as a machine gun and that might be logical, but there’s another, legal definition whether we like it or not, and whether it’s logical or not.

      Unless we can get rid of the NFA and Hughes Amendment, we’re worse off without that definition, because to power-hungry senator or a normie in the midst of a hysteria an AR15-styled 22 is a “machine gun”

  58. What is truly frightening is that this person represents the person that socialist democrats would have making ALL decisions for the rest of us (but not for them). It’s not about the death of children- socialists advocate for mass abortion (especially the offspring of brown people) and for lenient sentences for those who use guns to commit crimes (eg. Chicago); it’s not about violence- socialists regularly promote violence against those who hold a different (traditional) political view (look at violence being encouraged on campuses and opponent’s political functions while police are told to stand down); the ONLY reason socialists want to remove gun ownership from the uniquely American experience is to subjugate the masses. Civilian gun ownership is an insurmountable obstacle for the politically corrupt and why we cannot give in, even a little to ANY infringement on our rights to armed self-defense.

  59. Citizens of Britain today understand as much about the 2nd Amendment as we understand about their ridiculous paper monarchy. 😉

    However, the British are a warning to us: Remember, they used to rule the world.

  60. I own AR 15 for the same reason other people own Corvettes, or Ferrari’s of million dollar homes.

    My AR is what I like, what I can afford and what I want.

    Do people need cars that can drive 180 MpH? Do they need 10,000 SQ Ft homes?

    Absolutely not, last I checked the highest speed limit in the lower 48 is 90 MPH.

    Do I begrudge them for having a machine capable of this speed or a home this ridiculously large, absolutely not.

    So leave me and my little AR alone, had it for years and the scary tool never once jumped up and shot anyone.

  61. You might find it entertaining to go to the original Guardian article and read the comments.
    No, they are NOT ‘favorable’; In fact, most of them being from Brits, they are most decidedly ‘UNfavorable’ from our point of view.
    However, they do bring one stark point to the fore: They actually, truly, sincerely believe that WE GIVE A SH*T about what they think of us!
    They also make it clear that they are quite comfortable in their absolute and undisputed superiority to us, and cannot understand why we do not just. . . change.
    This, from a country wherein dentistry is a form of sorcery as yet undiscovered.

  62. I think she’s never had the responsibilities of a Father and Husband who not unlike a vengeful warrior protecting every aspect of his family’s past, current and future from scores of bad actors who want to deprive them of their future.

    I’m such a husband an Father. Over time, I decided that the threats were so severe that a semi-automatic AR-15 was needed. I bought two and trained my wife with the second one.

    Sure, firepower is often abused. In my case, it was simply used, actually just threatened by the appearance of that firepower and all went well thereafter.

    She hasn’t faced the same threats I’ve faced.

  63. I think she’s never had the responsibilities of a Father and Husband who not unlike a vengeful warrior protecting every aspect of his family’s past, current and future from scores of bad actors who want to deprive them of their future had to act and acquire the tools needed.

    I’m such a husband an Father. Over time, I decided that the threats were so severe that a semi-automatic AR-15 was needed. I bought two and trained my wife with the second one.

    Sure, firepower is often abused. In my case, it was simply used, actually just threatened by the appearance of that firepower and all went well thereafter.

    She hasn’t faced the same threats I’ve faced.

  64. And a bunch of other assholes made sure that my address is USA and not uk, with a constitution not a king, so go and fuck yourself

  65. “…I can’t think of a single reason why a civilian needs to own a… ”

    So her lack of imagination somehow means that I am the arsehole?

  66. “I can’t think of a single reason why a civilian needs …”

    This statement encapsulates the predicate of the collective dominating the individual. Emma, keep that trash over there. Many of us don’t want it over here. We are a free people, not a people where some consider reasons for restraints on others who are otherwise law-abiding.

  67. I guess we need them for the same reason we got rid of her sorry ass and her king (queen) back in 1776.

  68. the gun-grabbers will just never ‘cut’ it with the overwhelming majority of US citz….
    many of whom, i’m pretty sure, do not 100% believe these “mass shooting” accounts…..
    for instance: Tucker Carlson openly acknowledged, on FOX, that there were “many un-answered questions” abt the Vegas incident….
    all the evidence is not “in” yet on the FL school shooting but, as always, the official story is un-ravelling with ever passing day….
    here is one of the best sites to find out what’s occurring
    (FaceBOOK still has a modicum of freedom unlike YouTube which has gone berserk ‘del’ content recently)

    the bottom line
    the av. US citz knows that AR-15s save lives and prevent violent crime and that the main-stream media is lying

    ( “bitchute” looks like it might ‘snooker’ YouTube )

  69. My nephew has been with the Zapatista’s for over four years, he has recently moved to Liverpool. I’m more worried about him there then down in Mexico. England makes some nice bicycles though, so peddle your arshole comment on down the rode, fat bottom girl

  70. I can’t think of a single reason why anyone living in a monarchy is allowed an opinion concerning anything OR why anyone in the US would care about any such opinion. Burger off homely broad.

  71. 300blk pistols haven’t been adopted by any military that I know of. Think I’m safe.

  72. Read the 2nd amendment and the Supreme Court rulings and the insight our forefathers had. The right to form a militia to stand against a tyrannical government even if it your own government. You cant do that with a slingshot. You think that confiscation of guns can’t happen here. Check the news, what’s happening in Eastern Europe right now. They found out it’s not just talk.

  73. I never understand why gun owners try to appease gun grabbers by saying “Oh, my AR is only for hunting or target practice.” Screw that, when a grabber asks me why I have an AR I honest with them. I have it cause it is one of the most easy to use killing machines available. If a riot breaks out in my city (again) I am prepared to take out a mob of people trying to break into my house. If a single man breaks into my house. I am prepared to overcome him with superior firepower. We don’t need to beat around the bush. The AR is one of the most useful self defense tools available to American citizens and should be treated as a necessity for anyone self defense conscious.

  76. The Guardian is an uber-liberal dead tree propaganda paper. I wouldn’t expect them to have one iota of knowledge about self reliance, the enumerating of power to Citizens or the desire for checks and balances to the power of the state.

    Why do we keep giving them air time?

    • @ A Brit in TX

      If I see a article with credit to the Guardian,I stop reading the article as it’s either propaganda or click bait.

  77. I honestly can’t tell. Is the force fields thing a joke? Is this a crazy person?

    Inquiring minds want to know.

  78. I’m a bit confused as to my status: I don’t own any AR-15s. My wife has hers (pink!) and I have an ar-10 equivalent, plus a shotgun that was made to resemble an ar-15/10. The only military grade weapons I own are my Yugo Mauser M-48 and its bayonet.

    Did I sell my “arsehole”ness when I sold the only AR-15 that I owned?

  79. This coming from the country that we overthrew more than 200 years ago. They really do hold a grudge!

  80. Our rights are no longer granted by the British state. The 2nd amendment was written to maintain and possess arms suitable for defense of the nation.

Comments are closed.