If it weren’t for the fact that 17 beautiful children are dead, the response from the Left and the damaged survivors in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Parkland, FL would be laughable.

Everybody and I mean EVERYBODY has an opinion on the subject of guns, gun parts, and, of course, those Evil gun owners. You know, the 85 Million+ gun owners who murdered No One. There are so many lies and “misleading” facts, I truly don’t know where to begin. So, let us begin with the article penned by Col. Ralph Peters (Ret.) on February 22, 2018, in the New York Times. https://nypost.com/2018/02/22/automatic-weapons-dont-belong-in-the-hands-of-everyone/

All of his arguments are based upon ignorance, lies, misrepresentations, and, personal biases masquerading as fact. Many of his opinions run contrary to U.S. history and court rulings to include the U.S. Supreme Court. Anyone with a basic knowledge of firearms and the use thereof knows more than this man. So, allow me to get started countering his rantings of a pissed off old man.

But, before I take this man’s arguments and discredit them one-by-one, let’s debunk the use of the term, “Assault Weapon.” The term “assault weapon” originated in Germany. The term assault rifle is generally attributed to Adolf Hitler, who for propaganda purposes used the German word “Sturmgewehr” (which translates to “storm rifle” or “assault rifle”), as the new name for the MP43, subsequently known as the Sturmgewehr 44 or StG 44. The “assault rifle,” was/is a select fire. This means that the gun can be fired in both semi-automatically (one bullet fired with One pull of the trigger) or in a “full-automatic” modes (One pull of the trigger results in multiple bullets being fired). In 1986, the Federal Government made it illegal to sell or possess fully-automatic firearms for the general public. Although still lawful to own, one must apply for the privilege by applying to the federal government in a long application process to include an extensive background check along with a $400 fee. Then one still has to find a seller willing to part with a pre-1986 firearm and it will cost you with prices starting around $10,000.

Semi-automatic firearms have been around since the invention of the first semi-automatic gun in 1885. The first semi-automatic rifle was introduced in 1885, the first semi-automatic pistol in 1892, and the first semi-automatic shotgun in 1902.

Back to Col. Peters. His article is not what I would expect coming from an educated military man. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought this was written by an anti-gun zealot from “Mom’s Demand…blah, blah, blah…” The first point he makes is just wrong.

“These are military weapons (the AR-15, and semi-automatic rifles in general). Their purpose is to kill human beings. They’re not used for hunting (unless you want to destroy the animal’s meat). They’re lousy for target shooting. But they’re excellent tools for mass murder.”

In response to the first sentence, No. No the AR-15 and other military-style firearms are NOT military weapons. The only attribute the Civilian AR-15, AK-74/47 and others rifles share with the actual military versions is the cosmetics. These civilian firearms ONLY look like the military versions. The actual mechanical functions that allow for Full-Automatic fire are only available in Actual military issued weapons. Next, purposed for killing human beings. EVERY firearm ever designed has the potential to be used to kill a human being. as a point of fact, the very first firearms were designed to do just that.

The arguments that…”They’re not used for hunting,” and “they’re lousy for target shooting,” are, on the face, farcical. The AR-15 has been designed and re-designed in Many different calibers for many specific uses to include intermediate and large game hunting. As for “target shooting,” apparently to the teetering Peters, has never heard of 3-Gun competition and other National sporting competitions, some at the FEDERAL level sponsored by the government to include the annual Camp Perry Championship.

Peters goes on…”The latest school shooter could not have done what he did with a sports rifle or shotgun.” First of all, the AR rifle system as well as variants of the AK-47, are legally termed “Modern Sporting Rifles.” There are hundreds of designs of sporting rifles that are semi-automatic in function. As for shotguns, The first successful semi-automatic shotgun was marketed in 1902. And, armed with a modern shotgun, the school shooter here in Florida, could have killed just as effectively as with the AR-15, especially since FOUR police officers/Deputies were too cowardly or Stupid to do their jobs, enter the school and KILL the shooter.

Peters ignorance or outright left bias on the 2nd Amendment to our Constitution is astounding.

“That “well regulated militia” part always gets left out. It’s called the “National Guard” and “the Reserves.” Did any of the recent shooters belong to a “well regulated militia”? As a matter of fact, I have not been able to identify a senior NRA executive who’s served in our military or in law enforcement — that’s patriotism for ya.”

First of all, Dick…er, Col. Peters, the term “militia” does NOT refer to the National Guard. Traditional State Militias were not adopted into the U.S. Army as the “National Guard” until World War I in 1917. The U.S. Constitution which the Bill of Rights is enshrined was ratified in 1788, that’s a full 129 years. And, militias have been around since 1636 when Massachusetts codified the existence of the militia, the forerunner of the National Guard. The militia was made up of ALL men aged 16 to 60. They were tasked with maintaining military arms and ammunition in defense of the colony. To attack the NRA leadership over military or law enforcement participation is a Strawman argument and a learned man such as Peters should know better.

“As for putting weapons in schools, that’s a punk idea. More innocents would die.”

Col. Peters is engaging in the fallacy of “false cause” in this statement. Exactly what empirical evidence is there for this argument? None. Zero. As for it being a “punk” idea, I haven’t heard one single punk on the street nor punk musician for that matter suggest this.

He continues…”When the shooting starts, even the best-trained, most disciplined soldiers and cops — US Army Rangers or NYPD SWAT members — don’t put every round on target. The notion that a guard or teacher who goes to the range once a quarter would keep kids safe is profoundly divorced from reality.”

Really, Dick…er, Col. Peters? I challenge you to go to ANY shooting competition where law enforcement and civilians compete together. Although there are exceptions, civilians out shoot law enforcement by a large margin. Here is but glaring bit of actual data gleaned from Chicago. Here is the data based on your “best-trained…cops.” Whom, by the way, are only required to qualify with their weapons One or Two times per YEAR!

Among the findings involving the deaths of 92 individuals:

•At least 2,623 bullets were fired by police in 435 shootings. In 235 of those incidents, officers struck at least one person; in another 200 shootings, officers missed entirely.

•The officers who fired weren’t rookies but, on average, had almost a decade of experience.

•Of the 520 officers who fired their weapons, more than 60 of them did so in more than one incident.

•The number of shootings by police — hits and misses — declined over the six years, from more than 100 in 2011 to 44 in 2015.

That’s more than 28 bullets per individual shot by the highly trained and skilled “cops.”

So, why my vulgar title for this essay? It expresses my frustration with individuals, organizations, even those with military experience/education, making statements, arguments and interviews to the press, who have no to limited knowledge on the subject of which they speak. I’m sick and tired of people using emotion and misinformation, deliberate and otherwise, to further an agenda based on political or personal feelings and not hard data and facts, not to mention Our Constitutional Rights!