Quote:
Originally posted by Lebell
(Also, the M16 had problems in Vietnam because soldiers weren't cleaning them properly. So this was a training problem, not a reliability problem.) [/B]
|
::ahem:: not quite. There were many reasons why early M-16's failed in Vietnam. #1 lack of chrome plating. #2 different powder was used in development, and in the final product.
I know several Marines who served in Vietnam who will tell you
their Marines' guns were clean enough to drink from.
Mr Dick Culver's well done article is here:
http://www.jouster.com/articles30m1/
The issue with these guns is as follows: Modern guns are more reliable than older guns. e.g. an original 1911 (not the 1911A1) cannot reliably feed any ammo other than ball (Full Metal Jacket) most modern 1911A1 clones can reliably feed modern defensive ammunition, as well as the once impossible to feed semi-wadcutters. Modern guns have become more reliable mechanically, and in fact, when properly maintained are so reliable it's quite astounding. The H&K USP series comes to mind, as does the Glock Mdl 17.
I, as a gun owner, see no need whatsoever for these little gizmos. My gun hasn't killed anyone that wasn't made out of paper. These devices are one more thing that could go wrong, I don't want, don't need, and will not pay for one more thing that could go wrong.
Ostensibly the justification is:
1. criminal steals my gun, kills me, uses my gun to kill others.
Anyone wanna guess how often that happens? You're wrong. About as often as I get drunk. (Police are a different story)
2. My gun is stolen from my house, and is used to kill someone.
This is somewhat more common (though not as common as some may think) but it has an easy solution. If my gun isn't under my pillow, it's in a safe. Lottsa luck gettin into the safe and not wakin' me up.
If this came about due to a demand in the market for these guns, I'd not care. The reality is this came about because of demands of government. They're foisting a product on the people that the people don't want. Imagine if they mandated we only buy American cars. Good, now you know how I feel.
-Morgan