Guns – Your Right To Bear Arms

Taking away guns from citizens may be well intentioned but it could rob away people’s rights to defend themselves. There are rising concerns from various stakeholders that guns should not just be the reserve for law enforcers and criminals. (Goodman, 2004)Ordinary citizens need to have the ability to protect themselves too. The essay shall examine both sides of the coin and recommendations given on the matter.

The United States is one of the countries with the highest crime rates in the world. In response to this crisis, legislators have instituted laws that attempt to restrict gun ownership. Additionally, many politicians will be heard rallying against mass ownership of guns within the country. The latter group may seem as though they are committing just acts through their avocations. However, their intentions are quite misplaced; most of them simply want to impress the public by appearing to be tackling the problem. If the United States was to restrict gun ownership among citizens, then the latter will look for another method of killing. These legislators ought to realize that it is the human being behind that trigger that causes death. Consequently, if guns were outlawed or severely restricted, then criminals would just look for another method of killing. For instance, they could use fire, bombs, knifes among other items. It is therefore illogical to limit gun use yet guns are simply tools used to commit killings. It is the person using the gun who must be stopped. (Murray, 2000)

Citizens should have the right to own guns because if owning a gun was made illegal, then criminals or persons will ill intentions would look for more destructive methods of killing. For instance, bombs would be on the rise and would therefore cause intense harm to vast surroundings or persons who had not done anything wrong. Besides this, guns usually target specific individuals and may not cause as much disarray as other weapons do. The fact of the matter is that murder will not come to a halt because guns have been eliminated. (Goodman, 2004)

There is a basic assumption that most of the people who own guns, plan on committing evil with it. However, guns are sources of recreation in many parts of the country. Usually, rifles are utilized to shoot down ducks and other related animals. In other instances, guns are used to hunt for game meat and they contribute to family sustenance because individuals can access meat rather than purchase it. This is an important way of cutting down food costs. (Murray, 2000)

If law enforcers were the only ones allowed to own guns and the rest of the population was left unarmed, then chances are that criminals would have an easier time invading homes. They would access guns illegally and the rest of the law abiding citizens would have to contend with higher crime rates, greater loss of lives and more loss of property. The truth of the matter is that everything in nature always looks for the path with the least resistance. Potential criminals would be more attracted to crime if they knew that their potential victims have no mechanisms for defending themselves. The overall result would be greater crime rates. In fact, research has indicated that the presence of guns among the populace creates fear in some criminals and prevents them from committing crime. In the year 1997, the Washington Times reported the case of a store owner known as Mr. Choi at Minnesota Avenue. This man was courageous enough to shoot the assailant and he thus saved his family. Although the store owner under consideration had illegally acquired the gun, he was not prosecuted for this. The officer in charge testified for Choi claiming that criminals would definitely be deterred from that convenience store because they would know that there was the danger of being shot by its owner. The media also has numerous stories about persons who protected themselves and their families through guns. For example, there is the case of a grandmother who protected herself against four men in Moses Lake, Orlando. There was the case of a church leader in Arizona who shot a robber and many other scenarios of honest people who protected their right to life and property through guns.

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In lien with the latter, argument, numerous records by the National Rifle Association, the US state Department of Justice and the media have depicted statistics of cases in which hardworking and honest people have protected themselves from guns. Here is a summary of the figures

Cases of rape or robbery that have been halted through guns-65%
Cases where guns have worsened the situation-9%
Cases of people who have caused injuries to themselves using knives instead of guns-34%
Number of crimes that require self defense annually-200, 000 cases annually

These numbers indicate the fact that guns are a crucial part of the country’s self defense system. The fact that close to sixty five percent success rates have been recorded in robberies or rape cases where victims used guns indicate that guns are actually quite useful in protecting lives and property. Even those who claim that guns actually worsen the situation by actually hurting the victim or killing a wrong person have little evidence to support them because only nine percent of all the self defense cases have been categorized as such. Even those who opt to use knives to protect themselves would have a more difficult time because thirty four percent of such cases report self injury on the part of the victim. The percentage of victims who hurt themselves while using guns is less than half of this amount. Consequently, one can assert that guns are actually more useful than those respective proponents may imagine. (Murray, 2000)

If everyone was allowed to own guns, then cases of mistaken identity or trigger happy citizens would be on the rise. In the year 1988, US media was splashed with the astounding case of a Mr. Carl Rowan. The latter had been accused of first degree murder after killing a teenage boy with a pistol in the middle of the night. What had happened was that Mr. Rowan thought that the intruder was a dangerous criminal as he was at his backyard. However, it turned out that the supposed intruder was a young boy who just wanted to take a swim at the accused’ swimming pool. The court found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to death. Such an incident goes to show that not everyone has the responsibility and discipline necessary to own and use a gun. It would therefore be dangerous to place so much power in the hands of reckless individuals such as Mr. Rowan. (Mashek, 2008)

Although certain people may argue that it is people who commit the murderous acts and not guns, it becomes unreasonable to ignore the fact that greater crime rates are recorded in areas with high access to guns. When people have greater access to guns, then they are more likely to use them and this would cause greater loss of lives. It should be noted that society’s moral standards have deteriorated, things are not the way they used be some fifty years ago. Many teenagers come from broken homes, abuse drugs and nurse a lot of anger within. Consequently, if such persons access a tool that they can use to vent out their frustrations on, than chances are that those teenagers would continue to misuse guns and other such tools. For example, a student at Virginia Tech used a gun to make statements against his peers in his school and ended up killing a number of his colleagues. Such a tragedy would not have occurred if this teenager had not accessed a gun. Statistics show that a substantial number of killings occur in areas with high gun availability. Since there is a relationship between these two aspects, then it would be wise to eliminate this tool. (Mashek, 2008)

Many people believe that US citizens have a ‘siege’ mentality and this is actually true. For instance, it is quite easy to purchase a gun in the United States than if one was in another country such as Ireland. Most of the problems that emanate from the need to defend oneself in the US are actually caused by the tools used in self defense; guns. If the country was very strict with the level of availability of guns, if they restricted purchasing mechanisms and also if they instituted heavy penalties for those persons with guns, then it would be more difficult for potential criminals to commit crimes because they would have to resort to difficult methods of killing such as knives. Things such as knives would make crimes fewer because they give the victim leverage to fight off the attacker. Additionally, the criminal would have to be very hardened to kill someone who they can see up close. This would not eliminate all crimes but it would make it difficult to commit them hence minimizing them in the end. (Mashek, 2008)

Guns should be restricted because the very nature of guns makes committing crimes a very easy thing to do even for the relatively inexperienced. The United States has recorded numerous cases of teenage suicides most of which have been committed using guns. The reason behind this is that suing a gun is quite easy. It does not need a lot of skill or expertise in crime as do other weapons such as bombs or knives. Also, guns are very convenient to use, they only require the push of a trigger and just like a jock, the crime has occurred. This means that people using them may not take the time to think about what there are doing. Those who may be overtaken by emotion may rush to the gun instead of confronting their problems head on. For instance, if two people get into a heated argument and it happens that each of them have guns, then there is always the imminent danger that they might use them. (Mashek, 2008)

Considerable evidence has indicated that guns have protected people from assailants. Consequently, they cannot be ignored as important self defense weapons. Additionally, guns are mere tools of destruction; the real problem is with society. Bunning guns or prohibiting guns to the military and the police force would only cause criminals to look for other means of committing crimes. This is why crime rates are much higher in the US than in Canada yet both have similar laws on possession of guns. The problem is that morality in society has deteriorated to such an extent that individuals can use any methodologies to commit crime. It is therefore necessary to allow the populace access to guns since the serve a useful purpose and would only be replaced by something else if prohibited.

Mashek, J. (2008): Guns Kill People. Period. , retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/ accessed on 23rd September 2008

Murray, J. (2000): Despite Risks, More Use Guns In Self Defense, The Washington Times, 12th May

Goodman, C. (2004): Some thoughts on guns, Associate Press

The guns used in Airsoft are typically replicas of real firearms. can be divided into three groups by what powers them: spring powered, electric powered, and gas-powered.

Spring Powered

Spring-powered airsoft guns are single-shot devices that use elastic potential energy (EPE) stored in a spring to compress air to launch an airsoft pellet down the barrel of the gun. The user must cock a spring gun prior to each shot. This is typically achieved by pulling back the slide (pistols), bolt (rifles), or the grip on a shotgun, which in turn compresses the spring and makes the gun ready to fire. Because of this, these guns are by definition incapable of automatic or semi-automatic fire. Spring-powered airsoft guns are generally not as powerful as gas and electric models, although some spring shotguns and sniper rifles can be very powerful and shoot at velocities of 400–1000 FPS. These are not hard to find and are generally inexpensive, and don’t usually last long because of the tension created by a powerful spring.

While most electric guns also use springs for propulsion of the airsoft pellet, they are not considered to be in the same category as the single-shot spring-powered guns. Low-end spring guns tend to be much cheaper than their electric-powered equivalents due to their simplicity and lack of electrical components (spring assembly, electric motor, battery, and battery charger) and thus are widely available. These guns are less suited for competition because they are at a disadvantage against automatic guns in close combat and do not provide enough accuracy and power for long-range use. There are some exceptions, however, as higher-end spring-powered airsoft rifles can be quite expensive; these guns are typically suited for “marksman” applications in airsoft matches and provide competitive muzzle velocities. Additionally, pump shotguns are sometimes used, especially in CQB (Close Quarters Battle). In colder weather, spring pistols are more reliable than gas-powered pistols and even the batteries on AEPs (Automatic Electric Pistols) both of which can be adversely affected by extreme cold.

This represents one of the major advantages of spring-powered airsoft gun, as it can be fired in any situation, without reliance on an external source of power, such as batteries or gas. The lack of reliance on external power sources causes some players to favor spring powered guns. Spring guns are also less susceptible to the effects of water, where a battery-powered gun could malfunction when wet.

Spring-powered weapons are often cheaper than electric or gas powered weapons. They are also more readily available in most department stores. Because of their price and availability, spring guns tend to act as “training guns” to bring new players to airsoft games and are considered the primary weapon of “backyard skirmishes”. Almost all airsoft players at some point owned a spring weapon, whether for its actual use in the sport or for the replica value since some airsoft weapons are only available as spring versions.

Electric Guns

Electric guns, in their varying forms, use an electrically powered gearbox to compress a spring, which, when released, propels the pellet out of the barrel.

Automatic electric guns

An illustration of the working of a Version 2 gearbox

Electric-powered airsoft guns typically use a rechargeable battery to drive an electric motor, which cycles an internal piston/spring assembly in order to launch pellets. Automatic, 3 round burst, and semi-automatic operation is possible which gives these guns the popular name “automatic electric guns” or AEGs. These guns often attain muzzle velocities between 150 and 650 ft/s and rates of fire of between 100 and 6000 rounds per minute. They are the most commonly used and widely available type of .

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These type of guns were developed in Japan and the Japanese company Tokyo Marui dominates the market. In a Tokyo Marui AEG, the motor drives a series of 3 gears mounted inside a gearbox. The gears then compress a piston assembly against a spring. Once the piston is released, the spring drives it forward through the cylinder to push a pellet into the chamber, through the barrel, and forward from the muzzle. Many manufacturers have now more or less replicated this basic model, adding reinforced parts or minor improvements. These guns are powered primarily by nickel metal hydride (NiMH) with varying voltages and milliampere hours ratings. The most common battery is an 8.4 V large battery (between 2200-5000 mAh.) Also available are “mini” and “stick” batteries, which generally have 900-1600 mAh capacities. Voltages for NiMH batteries range from 7.2 V, all the way up to 12 V. The rule of thumb usually is the higher the mAh, the longer the battery lasts while the higher voltage, the higher Rate of Fire (RoF). Recently, however, Lithium-Polymer, or Li-po, batteries are becoming more popular in the airsoft world. These batteries can last longer and have higher mAh and Volts while at the same time, being small and light. Li-po batteries are usually at 11.1 V or 7.4 V and at varying mAh from 500 mAh to 6500 mAh.

External modifications, such as metal bodies and reinforced plastics that make AEGs look and feel even more realistic, have become very popular. AEG manufacturers such as Classic Army and Tokyo Marui produce replicas that are visually nearly identical to their real counterparts. Tokyo Marui, however, sticks with a durable ABS plastic, whereas Classic Army features full metal bodied guns and stronger furnishings. Most AEGS produced as of late are designed to be as visually realistic as possible.

The three most common AEGs on the field are the AR-15 series (M16 rifle, M4 carbine, etc.; sometimes referred to as the ArmaLite or Colt series), the Heckler & Koch MP5 series, and the AK or Kalashnikov series. Also increasing popular is the Heckler & Koch G36 and more recently, FN P90. Subsequently numerous parts for repairs and modifications are commonly available for these rifles.

Gas Powered Airsoft Guns

Gas-powered airsoft guns use pressurized gas to propel pellets. These guns are capable of automatic and semi-automatic operation. The most common gases used are “green gas” (which consists of a mixture of propane and a polysiloxane lubricant) and HFC-134a. Less commonly used gases include “red gas” (which is actually HCFC-22), CO2 and nitrogen/high pressure air. Red gas is usually avoided unless the airsoft gun has undergone modification, as its relatively high critical pressure can cause damage to the airsoft gun, such as breakage of the slide or bolt. CO2, nitrogen, and high pressure air are less common because they need to be stored at higher pressures than “green gas” or HFC-134a.

The first ever gas powered airsoft guns were commonly referred to as ‘classic’ guns, owing to their age. These guns were most commonly powered by liquid propellants such as R-12 (Which was marketed by the Japanese as FLON-12 or brand name Freon-12) Freon feed system with a majority of the configurations containing two tanks, one containing the R-12 and one used as an expansion tank, and the gun itself. R-12 was commonly used in car air conditioning systems. It is also illegal in some states and parts of the world because it is not environmentally friendly. Later users modified these old guns to be powered by regulated CO2 canisters or nitrogen/high pressure air bottles to increase power and consistency. However, these guns have largely been superseded by the newer and more versatile AEGs, or automatic electric guns. One of the reasons for this is because the most commonly available propellant, R-12, is costly. Additionally, at high flow rates, liquid propellants tend to cool down, eventually freezing. As cooldown progresses, the rate of fire gradually decreases until the gun ceases operation. The user would then be forced to wait for the propellant to warm up again. CO2 is not affected as badly by this tendency, and nitrogen/high pressure air is immune to it. Furthermore, if liquid propellant is introduced into the gun’s mechanism, rubber parts can freeze and eventually damage the gun. However, it is unlikely for this to occur since once the gas is released from the containing cylinder it instantly turns back into its gaseous state, and expands rapidly. It is doubtful whether the retained pressure behind the pellet before it begins to accelerate down the barrel is enough to keep the gas in a liquid form. Also, any gun that is expected to be exposed to the intense cold of de-pressurizing gas should have materials that can handle it.

Gas power tends to be used in airsoft pistols where size constraints make electric-powered mechanisms impractical. Other instances where gas is favored are where adjustable velocities are required or where a blowback feature is desired. A blowback feature is a mechanism which cycles a slide or bolt to better simulate a real firearm’s operation. Because of the mechanical complexities involved with distributing and regulating gas, these guns have largely given way to electric guns for less specialized applications, however, they still remain favorable amongst some airsofters. They are not just limited to pistols; submachine gun airsoft replicas and sniper rifle airsoft replicas commonly use gas mechanisms. Whilst the submachine gun replicas typically feature a blowback mechanism similar to the pistol replicas, sniper rifle replicas usually omit the blowback mechanism in favor of reduced recoil and increased muzzle velocity.

Along with using gas to power guns, it is also applied for use in replica grenades. These grenades are both projectiles, fired from a grenade launcher such as the M203 or GP-25, or throwable. The shells work on the system of an internal piston, filled with gas. Either a series of pellets or in some cases a rubber or soft foam head is seated in or on top of the shell. When the pressure is released the projectile(s) are shot from the launcher sent downrange.

In the case of the throwable grenades, inside the grenade there is a similar piston to the one used in the shells, but is on a literal “timer” that allows the user to clear the area of effect. Pellets or powder act as the projectile in the case of these grenades. Currently both types of grenades are not very common, mostly because grenade launchers are quite expensive and the throwable grenades are not very reliable.

Classic Guns

guns are usually older variety which are gas powered. Unlike the gas pistols of today, they can run on either an internal tank using conventional airsoft gas or use an external CO2 tank much like a paintball gun. They generally cost more than the standard AEG but provide a more realistic approach to airsoft. Some models, such as those made by the Sun Project, feature a type of “recoil” provided by these guns. While these guns can become more powerful than AEGs, almost all users operate them at AEG power. These replicas often are fitted with a LRB (Long Range Barrel) instead of a traditional hop-up unit. The LRB turns the entire barrel into a hop-up system, giving a consistent spin on the BB. The rate of fire on these can be regulated by the amount of air being fed through the system, versus the motor strength of an AEG.

Hop-Up

The “Hop” system, which is installed in most stock airsoft rifles and pistols, is used to add extra range to the pellets, by putting backspin on each as it is fired. This operates through a small rubber nipple, which protrudes into the top of the barrel through a small hole. Adjusting the Hop-Up makes the nipple vary in size, so that backspin is increased or reduced. Ideally, the Hop-Up should be adjusted so that the pellets fly as far as possible in a straight line. The Hop-Up adjustment is usually relatively easy to access, so that players can adjust it during play. On the majority of airsoft guns it is located underneath the innate bolt cover, but sometimes is only accessible by an Allen key.