I was the test director for the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps M16A2 operational test and evaluation.
Congressman (Rick) Nolan’s opposition to “assault weapons” for hunting is wrong. Those who desire to ban so-called “assault weapons” for hunting are naïve, ignorant, or politically motivated. Assault describes a military or law enforcement operational environment. Sport hunting describes a civilian operational environment. “Ruggedized” is the more appropriate term for a firearm used for both civilian and military applications. The ruggedized firearm is designed for abuse and prevents unintentional discharges that can result in loss of life, injury or a broken firearm.
The M16A2 was designed to have a Marine fall on it with the safety off and not discharge, to drop out of a truck and not discharge, to have an effective sight picture after moving over and under logs and rocks, to be used by persons crawling through the mud, moving through the brush, banging into rocks while rappelling, operating in snow, rain, extreme heat and cold, and in a wide variety of adverse conditions. A ruggedized firearm is designed to be operated by people with a variety of body sizes.
Due to these attributes the ruggedized firearm is far superior in safety and accuracy for a hunter. Firearms dropping out of deer stands, falling off trucks or cars, discharging during falls, having sights rendered ineffective after walking through brush or bumping into objects are minimized with a ruggedized design. Rail systems on these firearms allow the user to tailor them for their hunt and environmental conditions. Rail systems also allow for cost-effective upgrades. The very features that make these firearms safe for our soldiers to operate make them safe for hunters. There is no supported, contrary argument that says the ruggedized firearm design is not beneficial for hunters.
Regulating video games that reduce the human, God-given physiological response to killing innocent individuals is a far greater threat to society than a ruggedized firearm. The entertainment industry is using the same technology developed to inoculate soldiers and Marines against fear and emotional responses in combat and resulting PTSD impacts. These same technologies can physiologically affect some violent video game users, with a likelihood of producing killers.
Killers will use weapons that support their intent. The list of effective killing devices is lengthy, but once again, opportunistic and misinformed politicians, shooting from their politically correct hips are trying to take away firearms used for safe effective hunting.
The first step to ensuring our safety is to properly enforce existing laws to keep firearms out of the hands of those not responsible enough to use them correctly.
Paul Cibuzar
Lt.Col. USMC retired
Senior Operations Analyst
Nisswa
See READER OPINION, Page 7A
Comments (15)
Add commentWell done
Properly enforce existing laws is the place to start.
Why add more laws for law abiding citizens when we don't enforce the existing laws.
Thank you for your service and your letter.
Well said
well said marine ! MOS 2111, USMC 1980 to 88
Gun semantics (smokescreen of technical jargon?)
notwithstanding, Americans want less gun violence. Gun enthusiasts love to stroke their egos on how the ignorant "Libs" can't "properly identify" variants on military-style firearms. Okay, we'll concede "technical expertise" on gun definitions to Mr. Cibuza. Besides, I like the word "ruggedized", so extra kudos for that, too.
Mr. Cibuza says Cong. Nolan's opposition to "assault weapons" for hunting is "wrong." Curt word choice -- many detractors would say that they "disagreed with the Congressman's opinion", rather than dismissing it, lock, stock and barrel. Nolan's exact words from an interview with BDD were: " I’m a hunter .... I don’t need an assault rifle to shoot a duck and protect my family. I don’t need a magazine clip with 50 shells in it.” Doesn't sound "wrong" to me, but I haven't been to the Fleet Farm Academy of Duck Hunting yet.
While I get that Cibuza thinks Nolan's an "old school" guy when it comes to accepting certain "ruggedized" firearms for hunting, Nolan's one among many hunters who feel this way. In fact, in PA, semi-automatic rifles aren't even legal to take game animals -- they're kind of "traditional" that way. While I applaud his technical expertise, Cibuza fails to recognize the long-standing "protocols" and traditions some hunters attach to the sport. Regardless, the pro/con debates (about "ruggedized" firearms, bans or no bans,) among hunters will probably continue. That's not even what I really care about.
The serious issue of gun violence in America remains a huge problem that requires some answers. It's useful to note some numbers, also: 32% of American households owned a gun/guns in 2010 (an 18% decrease over 30 years); 65% of guns in America are owned by 20% of gun owners; 5 - 6% of Americans engage in sport of hunting (from U.S. Fish&Wildlife). And 58% favor banning "assault weapons" (ruggedized, or not), according to Post-ABC poll on 1/14/13. There are lots of guns in comparatively few households, and 58% of Americans want some of them banned. That is today's rugged reality.
I'll be surprised if any weapons ban is passed by the 113th Congress (and, arguably, it wouldn't accomplish much if it did, as there will still be 300 million guns in America). Gun ban or not, the executive actions aimed at reducing gun violence(http://documents.latimes.com/president-obamas-actions-gun-policy/) are a worthy start, reflecting things most Americans say they want. Since most of these actions strengthen and focus on Cibuzar's other area of concern - "enforcing existing laws", maybe he'll give Obama an "oorah" on that part of the effort.
In Mr. Cibuzar's 5th paragraph, when he says: "Regulating video games that reduce the human, God-given physiological response to killing innocent individuals is a far greater threat to society than a ruggedized firearm." . . . doesn't he mean "the LACK of regulations for" video games . . .? If not, I'm not following his meaning. If he wants tougher restrictions of violent videos and movies, I'm 100% with him.
Oh bubba
It pure political bull & you know it!! If nolan said he wants everybody to drink his kool-aid you would want everybody to do it. ( Can I make it??)
Thank-You Mr Cibuzar
Sure wish I had a pre-65 M-14 in my collection. The semi-auto of course.
Your comment is overly vague, OFB
If you care to critique individual points above, or if you have some differing facts or examples, I'm happy to respond to your ideas or engage in dialogue. (I may have to do it later, though, as I need to get ready for Church! You have a nice morning!)
A knee jerk response, akin to the gun banners!
Sure is easy to shoot holes in the retired colonels views here. I wonder if he is even a hunter? Hunters in MN are required to go through gun safety training. In that training, the difference between combat and hunting safety is made clear. I don't think the colonel views much difference. Specifically, hunters are taught to take care not to drop guns out of deer stands, lay them on a car or truck where they might fall off, fall down with their gun, or any of the other reasons the colonel thinks a hunter needs a "ruggedized" gun. And beyond that, hunters are taught in gun safety courses to take care with every single shot, and to plan for one shot, make it good, and take care to know what's around and behind their target. Hunters do not need large capacity clips and if they did--they would not be hunting in the manner in which they were taught in gun safety classes. I've been out when hunters have shot off large capacity clips and everyone in the area instantly wonders if it's safe to be out there with that idiot shooting so much. There's no way they can be taking the care they need to when they are shooting that much--and they could well be putting people in danger! Hunting is not the same as combat, Colonel! Please don't imply to non-hunters that it is!
"Regulating video games..."
Assuming the underlying comment is related to children engaging in this activity; why does that responsibility fall on the government? What happened to "good ole Ma and Pa" being parents and "regulating" their children? No, I feel more comfortable knowing that when I shove the “electronic device of the month” in my child’s hand, so as to not burden me with the responsibility of interacting with little Johnny/Susie, I know that someone else has been looking out for my best interest.
Video games--another knee jerk and false response
I have never quite understood the video game argument. If a gun is an inanimate object that isn't responsible for a death at the hands of a deranged gunman,the gunman is, how is a video game then responsible for the killing? If we shouldn't ban guns because it's people, not guns that do the killing, why are you saying we should ban video games?
Furthermore, like the gun issue, the actual facts don't support banning video games. They aren't tied to gun deaths any more than owning a gun is a predictor that you are a high risk for killing someone with it. The colonel's parents probably thought that rock music was poisoning his mind and would lead him to ruin. Theres always a boogeyman out there. We need to find ways to identify them, not ban an inanimate tool they might use that the majority of solid law abiding citizens use with no problems!
And we need to hope those we elect don't jerk there knees as hard as people like the colonel here has!
If King Obama
really wanted to do something about gun violence he would start with the cities where he is the most popular.Chicago is the capital of Obamerica. If he really cared so much about "his people" he would at least address the problem and quit using little dead children to further his radical agenda against average law abiding gun owners.We don't have an assault weapons problem we have a gang/drug problem. Unfortunately addressing the problems of inner city violence and the their decay would only shine the light of truth on years of failed democrat policies.
Hunter safety
No matter what is taught, things happen, we are all taught to keep the muzzle in a safe direction, and to treat a firearm as if it were loaded ect, yet accidents still happen. Any person that has spent time in the woods knows that things like banging a rifle against a tree branch, or other abusive actions happen when moving through brush ect, to include god forbid, dropping your rifle, so yes, i'd prefer a "ruggedized" rifle over a fancy pants rifle, sure they are nice rifles, but given a choice i wouldn't go tracking deer through the buck brush with one. It amazes me when i read some of the comments relating the second amendment to hunting, no where in it does it say one word about hunting. All of you hunters don't seem to realize that once they have taken away one set of firearms, they will indeed begin to limit the others til they finally take away that old single shot shotgun your daddy left you. Do you really believe that once they take the so call assault weapons away, that criminals will magically stop using firearms ? no they wont, and when the next style of firearm becomes the weapon of choice, they will be next on the chopping block. If you look at it from the point of view outlined in the second amendment, it was created to protect citizens from a corrupt or unjust government.. period. so, again from that point of view, which would you rather have to protect yourselves, equal firepower or a single shot musket when and if the need arises ? I choose equal or greater firepower...Lets address violent video games, do i think they are the cause ? no, but i believe they de sensitize our youth to violence in their own way. Easy to kill in a video game, without a second thought to feelings or consequences. I do believe it plays a part in it.
Video Games, Movies & Hunting
The colonel wants to blame video games and violent movies. Those who believe this have to explain why it is only an American problem. They have these same video games and movies in Japan, Australia, Norway, Finland and other countries.
Why don't those countries experience the same gun-related violence?
And, finally, does the Colonel really believe this:
"...are trying to take away firearms used for safe effective hunting."
Assault rifles with large magazines for hunting?
Towpro
Did you have to have a background check done on you back then?? It wouldn't suprise me with carter though.
Bubba better to be vague than viagra ehh?? Don't matter what you're king(obama) or you're queen(nolan) say. You & about a dozen other's on here will stand up for it & cheer!!! No sense in yapping about it. I have an assault rifle made in St Cloud. On the book's (Leagally). Had my permit to buy in 1.5 days. I think everybody in Mn should have one because it gives somebody a job in MN!!!
Matter of fact if ya have last Fri's Dispatch on page 7 it would be on the left & 3rd from bottom. It is a great investment lady. Especially after talking to my bud's. They are having a hard time trying to find something without paying an arm & leg for it.
Com-On bubba
I know you. NO come-back??? NOT you bondish. Thank god for small favor's bondish you have me on ignore. PLEASE.
BTW Bub if I could have barrowed $250.00 from ya I would have bought that 100 round clip/(you're mr o you would call that a clop) ya know. All filterd word aside woman there just might be sometime's I had a 1/2 doz of those clip's in my life! Hope not though.
Bond - Good point about video games and movies;
I need to reasses my thinking on this. Some of them are just so outrageous that they're easy to disparage, but that doesn't mean there's a causal link, as you point out.
OFB - I hope you're very happy together (you and gun). Beyond that, you give me nothing to work with, in terms of on-going dialogue. You have a nice evening -- stay warm.
Bond you need to look at statistics.
First and foremost i would like to thank Lt. Col. Cibuzar for his service to the greatest nation in the world. James Bond before you decided to type in about countries like japan, Australia, Norway and Finland and find out their populations? Dont worry, I checked a few different web sites and found different amounts for populations for these countries and the USA. Here is the Population of each with how much bigger the USA is than each of them. I am showing this to say if a country is a heck of alot smaller than their crime rate with guns shouldnt be as bad unless its a country in severe turmoil. Last time I checked, Japan, Australia, Norway, and Finland isnt in turmoil. Again, I am stating this now, i went to different web sites and each one was different for population growth so these numbers arent exact just an idea how much the USA is Bigger than them. Before anyone thinks I am for guns because I was in the Military your wrong. I dont own guns and I dont like guns, however no person, or Government should tell any law biding citizen what gun they can or cant own. Its exactly like someone who is gay being told they cant be gay its wrong. I am not gay and dont care if others are, its their choice. America is about choice. Remember guns are only as smart, sane, and safe as person using them.
USA = 309.9 million people
Japan = 127.4 million people (2.5 times less people)
Australia = 22.5 million people (13 times less people)
Norway = 4.9 million people (63 times less people)
Finland = 5.4 million people (57 times less people)
(True Heroes are the women and men serving in our armed forces keeping America safe. God Bless all our Soldiers)