Gun Porn - The Kalashnikov
February 4th, 2007 by Syd
For a write-up, click here
Do I “need” to own a gun like this? I really hope not. That’s not the issue. It’s my right to own a gun like this plain and simple. I own it because I want to. It’s fascinating and it’s fun to shoot. That’s the only justification I need. Could I imagine a scenario in which I would “need” this rifle for something other than recreation? Yes. Widespread civil disorder brought about by natural disaster or coordinated terrorist strikes on the homeland could leave one feeling very glad to have the Kalashnikov by your side. Short of a cataclysm such as this, I doubt that I’ll ever need this rifle for its intended purpose. But, such a crisis is far from impossible as Hurricane Katrina demonstrated. The AK-47 is a great WTSHTF (”when the shit hits the fan”) gun. It can hunt, fight, and provide an intimidating defense. Ammo is cheap and fairly light. It’s short and compact for close quarters. All of those pistol issues of stopping power and mag capacity sort of fade away with the AK. It can endure extended periods of operation under very adverse conditions. Admittedly, I’m a big bullet kind of guy, but I have more confidence in the 7.62mm than I do in the .223.
The last time I read the Second Amendment it didn’t say anything about actions, calibers or cosmetics. It didn’t say I had to justify my ownership of a rifle with some kind of “need.” It said “shall not be infringed.”
A handsome rifle, in a utilitarian way. If I didn’t already have an SKS and an AR180-B (I specifically bought this AR because it has an op rod), I’d definitely be in the market for an AK. As it is, I think I’m adequately covered (maybe not ideally, but adequately) in the firearms department for any large-scale crisis my area, and this country, might face.
DAL357