Ex-SEAL backs assault-weapons ban
April 25th, 2009
Letter to the Editor in the Arizona Republic:
I’m a Vietnam veteran, a former Navy SEAL with over 70 combat operations, most of which I served as an automatic weaponsman.
I’m also a former federal law-enforcement ranger for the Park Service. I clearly understand how dangerous machine guns and assault rifles are.
While necessary for the military and certain law-enforcement activities, such weapons have absolutely no place in general American society. They are antithetical to responsible hunting, afford no realistic additional protection for individuals, and in spite of the shrill rhetoric of some ideologically blinded gun-rights groups, are not protected by the Constitution’s Second Amendment.
For the greater good, safety and sanity of the American people, I urge Congress, particularly Arizona’s delegation, to support the renewal of an assault-weapons ban that expired in 2004. – Kim Crumbo, Grand Canyon.
The first reader comment online:
Nice letter. I too am a veteran – US Army airborne infantry. I don’t think the average Joe needs automatic weapons for home defense.
You would think that the guys with military experience would realize that the AWB doesn’t apply to “machine guns,” “assault rifles,” or “automatic weapons.”
April 25th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
How sad that both of these veterans have fallen for the media definition of an assault weapon. We know that while all full-auto firearms are ‘assault weapons’ not all ‘assault weapons’ per se.
Myself, I don’t own any ‘assault weapons’ just homeland defense rifles.
April 25th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
* sorry, brain moving faster than fingers.
We know that while all full-auto firearms are ‘assault weapons’ not all ‘assault weapons’ are machine guns.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
And you assume that this is a real Seal or Army member? That is is NOT beneath those who appose gun rights to “fib” a little?
How in the world would a true member of SEAL not know and understand what an assault weapon really is?
And also have an understanding of “force” and how/when to apply it?
I call them out. They are as real as the many “truths” that gun haters always state to justify “controlling” other people.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Yeah, I’m a Vietnam SEAL vet, too. Yeah, I was only 6 at war’s end, but hey – as part of the 101st Keyboard Commandos, one can say stupid stuff all day, like, the Assault Weapons Ban will keep 9 year olds off playgrounds with M60′s, and other such nonsensical claptrap.
Show me where the 2nd Amendment bars ANY weaponry on ANY grounds, and I’ll show you my 12 Silver Stars, 4 CMH’s, and a Marv Throneberry baseball card when he was with the Toronto Bluejays. >:-(
April 25th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Yeah, that’s astroturfing at its finest.
April 25th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
All this is just verbal sleight-of-hand. Let us distract you over here while we do something else even worse behind your back. Show me anywhere in the 2A where it says anything about “just assault weapons”. It says, in part, “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Once you start banning one type of weapon, ANY type of weapon (not just guns), it becomes SO much easier to go after the next, and the next, and the next, . .
April 26th, 2009 at 3:05 am
Assault “weapon”? From my understanding “weapon” in German means “Waffe”, while a gun, etc, in German is a “Schusswaffe” (literally a “shooting weapon”). So, technically speaking -splitting hairs now- an assault weapon can be any weapon used to assault someone.
Ok… I have a wodden stick. I can assault someone with it and use it as a weapon.
April 27th, 2009 at 7:58 am
WTF is an “automatic weaponsman”? A machine-gunner? Even squids aren’t this stupid – IMPOSTER.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
If he is a SEAL, then I am Queen Marie of Roumania.
He needs to post a copy of his DD214 … if he even has one. If not, he should STFU and go back to sucking out National Park septic pits.
When some victim disarmament clown claims military service, demand a copy of his dd214. If he claims he is a shooter or a hunter, demand he post a pic of his firearm next to today’s newspaper.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Here is some background that might be of interest.
According to this site:
http://cyberseals.org/authentiseal/realitycheck.htm
“There were a grand total of no more than about 250 SEALs sent to Vietnam, and only about 750 UDT “Frogmen” who served in the Republic of Vietnam or the coastal waters immediately offshore during the entire time span of the Vietnam War.”