Today, on the eve of Memorial Day, The Knoxville News-Sentinel ran a story entitled,
White House steps up warnings about terrorism on U.S. soil
In this story, Brian Bennett of the L.A. Times, reports,
Behind the scenes, U.S. authorities have raised defenses at U.S. military bases, put local police forces on alert and increased surveillance at the nation’s airports, railroads, shopping malls, energy plants and other potential targets.
Have you considered that you could be one of those other potential targets? Maybe you have a good quality handgun or two and a good stock of ammunition. Have you made the commitment to carry one everywhere you legally can? Have you had some training and regular practice?
The odds that they will strike any particular one of us are small, but for whomever they strike, thestakes are extremely high. Suppose you live in a relatively isolated area, you could find it necessary to repel invaders for some time before the cavalry arrives.
For that, nothing beats a good fighting rifle. The AR15 in 5.56 caliber is difficult to beat. It is easy to handle and shoot, has negligible recoil, and can be had in an infinite number of configurations. The ammo in this caliber is relatively inexpensive. A decent 1-4x scope gives you the ability to score hits at anywhere from point-blank range out to 100 yards with very little training. With a fair amount of training, that range should extend to 200 yards or more, depending somewhat on your specific choice of rifle and accessories.
The market is very much a buyers’ market at this time. Manufacturers stepped up production to meet demand over the last couple of years, and inventories are high. Anyone who has followed this market in the last decade will recognize that the AR market can be extremely volatile. Prices could skyrocket overnight.
Here are a few suggestions for your first AR:
Smith and Wesson- The S&W M&P Sport is a quality budget priced AR. Like Eugene Stoner’s original design, it is slick-sided, that is, it does not have a forward assist or dust cover. For those that train to tap-rack-bang*, the forward assist shouldn’t be missed. Decide for yourself if you need that or the dust cover. The barrel (inside and out) and chamber are melonite coated for corrosion resistance.
Ruger- The Ruger AR-556 is their recent direct gas impingement entry into the market. This rifle is similar to the the Smith above, with the addition of the forward assist and charging handle. Ruger also markets several models of piston action rifles.
There are many other entries in the market. Many will give good service as long as they are kept reasonably clean, and well lubed. My Army Marksmanship Unit mentor, Army SP4 David L. Bahten, told me he uses synthetic motor oil on his precision M-16. Check with friends and see what they are using. For modestly priced examples, the Smith and Rugers listed above should serve well.
*Be extremely cautious of this procedure, because a malfunction caused by a projectile stuck in the barrel could result in turning your firearm into a grenade, causing serious injury or death.
by Liston Matthews
http://www.examiner.com/article/firepower-beyond-the-defensive-handgun
