Yall will get a kick out of these

[RED333]

Pick them up from Saiga 12 forum

[gunwhatgun]

That is awesome!!!

[hipower]

Great information. And you're right...I got a big kick out of it.

[vontar]

I shared the one about hunters with the guys at work and one immediately said hunters make up the largest sitting army. 

[TrickyNicky]

I wonder if there are more hunters than sport/recreational these days? Of course there is a large section of both that' crosses into the other. Either way, between the sports/rec shooters, the hunters, America does indeed have the largest standing army.

[hipower]

Just wondering about this. With all the stats flying around about the "frightening" number of firearms in this country, just how accurate do you think it is?

 

And what is the real number of gun owners in this country?

 

If anything, I would think that it's above those thrown out by the media. Surely in the last few years more and more people are getting quiet about their ownership.

 

Yes, the production numbers from manufacturers should be pretty credible. But with all the handed down, brought back for the wars, imported, and home-built rifles; just how accurate can these numbers be?

 

Just wondering.

[TrickyNicky]

I think your asking two very different questions. The number of guns has little to nothing to do with the number of gun owners. Consider this, I own about 20 or so myself. There are many folks on this forum who own as many or more. Now consider the percentage of TGO members versus the total of gun owners in Tn.

And that's just one state in the nation.

I think, and am quite pleased that the true numbers for total amount of guns as well as the total number of gun owners is impossible to accurately tell. I think that's the way it is, and I know that's the way it should be.

[TMF]

I think your asking two very different questions. The number of guns has little to nothing to do with the number of gun owners. Consider this, I own about 20 or so myself. There are many folks on this forum who own as many or more. Now consider the percentage of TGO members versus the total of gun owners in Tn.

And that's just one state in the nation.

I think, and am quite pleased that the true numbers for total amount of guns as well as the total number of gun owners is impossible to accurately tell. I think that's the way it is, and I know that's the way it should be.

 

And the great thing is about folks like us is we make up for those who don't.  So in a SHTF situation, I at least have the ability to not only arm myself, but I can also arm my neighbors who always believed they never had a reason to pick up a rifle.

[TrickyNicky]

Very true, of course some of them won't exactly be getting the cream if the crop but if they needed it it would be there. Ammo is of course a whole nother matter. I have enough for me and mine and that's if we're very conservative.

[Moped]

Personally, I'm not sure I want to arm some of my neighbors in a SHTF situation...  Some because I'm pretty sure they would be more a danger to themselves than to the bad guys and others, because I'm not sure they aren't the bad guys!   But I do get your point TMF.  Mine, however will go to my family first.  Then whatever is left over, I will use as loaners.

 

On a related note, I've actually considered buying several loaner weapons.   You know, something cheap that doesn't break the bank.  I really wish I had set aside some M44 from back in the day when they were $70 from SOG.  Wasn't thinking like, I'm thinking now, back then though. 

[TMF]

Personally, I'm not sure I want to arm some of my neighbors in a SHTF situation...  Some because I'm pretty sure they would be more a danger to themselves than to the bad guys and others, because I'm not sure they aren't the bad guys!   But I do get your point TMF.  Mine, however will go to my family first.  Then whatever is left over, I will use as loaners.
 

Haha, the rest of my family outnumbers my collection by quite a bit. Between myself and my uncles we have enough to equip a rifle company just about.

[Gun Smith]

OK,  Here's my thoughts and concerns and/question.   The american people may have millions of guns, billions even.  But, do you really think they have any chance of standing up against a well armed military with tanks, planes, rockets, bombs, etc.?   I mean,  what's ten million ants against a man with a can of Raid?

 

Please don't get me wrong,  I love my guns and my rights to them,  but I just don't see them along with all my patriots as a threat to any modern, well arm military.   

 

Feel free to set me straight,  as I know you will.     :pleased:

[TMF]

OK,  Here's my thoughts and concerns and/question.   The american people may have millions of guns, billions even.  But, do you really think they have any chance of standing up against a well armed military with tanks, planes, rockets, bombs, etc.?   I mean,  what's ten million ants against a man with a can of Raid?

 

Please don't get me wrong,  I love my guns and my rights to them,  but I just don't see them along with all my patriots as a threat to any modern, well arm military.   

 

Feel free to set me straight,  as I know you will.    

 

The short answer is yes.  To put it in perspective, the Iraqi insurgency (both Shia and Sunni combined) at its height was incredibly small compared to the general population of Iraq... like incredibly small... less than 0.5 percent of the population.  Really really tiny.  Iraq is comparable to the size of Texas.  Occupying that country and keeping the bad guys in check was near impossible.  Yeah, we killed a whole lot of them, but body count did nothing in terms of stomping out the insurgency, and forcing us to fight in neighborhoods full of civilians only turned popular opinion against us.  They learned a valuable lesson in Fallujah, and the Shias learned a valuable lesson in Najaf; they can't go toe to toe with us and win.  Forcing us to piss off the population puts favor in their corner, while conducting attacks every so often to restrict our movement and cause us to adopt force protection measures that hinder the mission. 

 

Now apply that to an area the size of the US.  Even if our military leaders were all in lock step with an administration at war with the people (which they would not be) and every service member was also in lock step, they would not be able to occupy an area the size of the US.  They also wouldn't be able to handle an insurgency larger than a few thousand without committing to total war, which would only make the problem worse and recruit more members to the insurgency.  Public opinion and support of the people will keep even the most fledgling insurgency alive.  If Obama suddenly declared himself king tomorrow he would only be king of areas he could control, which would be less than a few percent of the US.