Screw Twitter gun culture, they are forgetting some important details
I have seen a lot of posts, a lot of posts, about how it’s time to sell your extra ARs and buy NODs, IR lasers/illuminators, a can, mags by the case, and so on.
See, you can only carry one rifle so having more than one AR is stupid.
You need to liquidate your collection to gussy your one AR up like you’re a motherfucking elite operator.
Of course, implied in all of this is if you’re not carrying a recce rifle identical to some Knight’s Armament gun porn or what some Delta operator carries, you’re gonna die.
This is feels a lot like Gun Culture 3.0’s version of the old and obnoxious CCW “you still carry a snub nose revolver, you’re just gonna get yourself killed on the streets if your not carrying [favorite plastic wonder 9] with three reloads.”
So here are my counter points.
First, the practical:
Anytime you buy new gear you need to practice with it. If you add new optics, especially something like NODs, and you don’t practice, it becomes a liability.
Ammo is stupid expensive right now. If you can’t or don’t want to spend the money on practicing with all your new gear your were convinced to buy, you’re not really helping yourself.
If you do have the money then post your lottery numbers in the comments. Because if, on top of the price if gas and food for a family of four, I added an adequate ammo budget to cover practice with NODs, whatever money I had left will become alimony for ex-wife.
If you are familiar with your equipment, don’t change it unless you really feel the need to upgrade.
Second, the legal:
This blog coveted the Kyle Rittenhouse shooting and trial in detail. I also recently addressed the Jake Garner shooting in Omaha.
So imagine you are caught in a Leftist riot gone to hell.
It’s late at night, these riots don’t get really bad until after dark.
You slot some rioter(s) with your registered 12-inch SBR, with a can, IR laser, and night vision optic.
You are going to fucking prison.
I hate to be the barer of bad news but popping a dude in the dark with NODs will be interpreted as intent to commit murder.
ARs and red dots are probably common enough that with sufficient exculpatory evidence, you can avoid a guilty conviction.
NODs and IR lasers, that type of stuff will be used against you.
“You put the same accessories on your gun as a NAVY SEAL. Do you think you are a SEAL? Were your preparing for battle?”
Then your beloved recce rifle is going to walk out of the evidence locker and into some police chief’s gun safe while you are doing 20 to life.
Now, let’s say that society has gone to hell so much that you have no fear about a post-shooting prosecution..
Then I will stipulate that there will be plenty of NODs available already mounted on select fire M4s, and you will have free reign to pick them up off bodies or out of abandoned armories.
Under those circumstances I’m going to get myself an abandoned Stryker.
If you want to own that stuff because it’s cool, fine. That’s your prerogative.
But I’m going to say the same thing about recce rifles as I will about guys who tell you that you need to practice with your AR out to 300, 400, 500 yards:
Having been through major natural disasters and social unrest, I have never witnessed a situation that required a civilian to take a shot in self defense outside of 25 yards that on anyway could be legally justified.
Buy and practice however you want, but when the shit hits the fan you need to remember you are responsible for every bullet you send downrange and will be required to justify it in court when it’s all over.