Just When You Thought Arizona Couldn't Get Stupider...

[Minimalist]

Maybe the millitia were employed by companies in bigger cities, such as Mass or Phily

I'm not at all sure how you are using the word "companies" there, Rev. In any case...

http://www.ushistory.org/people/minutemen.htm

Although the terms militia and minutemen are sometimes used interchangeably today, in the 18th century there was a decided difference between the two. Militia were men in arms formed to protect their towns from foreign invasion and ravages of war. Minutemen were a small hand-picked elite force which were required to be highly mobile and able to assemble quickly. Minutemen were selected from militia muster rolls by their commanding officers. Typically 25 years of age or younger, they were chosen for their enthusiasm, reliability, and physical strength. Usually about one quarter of the militia served as Minutemen, performing additional duties as such. The Minutemen were the first armed militia to arrive or await a battle.

The mythological part of the question is where the gun nuts have convinced themselves that the Revolutionary War was won by men who took their hunting rifles off the walls and ran out to oppose the British. That is ludicrous.

The equipment required of a militiaman included:

Below are various accounts, regulations and laws regarding the use of militia weapons and equipment.


1. "Each soldier to provide himself with a good fire arm, a steel or iron ram rod and a spring for same, a worm, a priming wire and brush, a bayonet fitted to his gun, a scabbard and belt thereof, a cutting sword or tomahawk or hatchet, a . . .cartridge box holding fifteen rounds . . . at least, a hundred buckshot, six flints, one pound of powder, forty leaden balls fitted to the gun, a knapsack and blanket, [and] a canteen or wooden bottle to hold one quart [of water]" (Journal of Arthur Harris of the Bridgewater Coy of Militia.)

2. "A firelock, bayonet, waistbelt, a cartridge box, cartridges, and a knapsack." ("An Easy Plan of Discipline for a Militia", Timothy Pickering, p. 1-4.)

3. "Militia minutemen [who were to] hold themselves in readiness at a minutes warning, compleat in arms and ammunition; that is to say a good and sufficient firelock, bayonet, thirty rounds of powder and ball, pouch and knapsack." (Town of Roxbury Resolves, December 26, 1774.)

http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/18cnel/...ilitia.htm

The bayonet is the key. A hunting rifle cannot be fitted with a bayonet. If someone did own a rifle and the talent to shoot it effectively they would be employed as a sharpshooter picking off British officers ( a tactic which the British found to be truly barbaric) so perhaps that is where this myth comes from. General Daniel Morgan began his career commanding a Sharpshooter company which had been raised from frontiersmen for the express purpose of harassing the British. The vast majority of militiamen were expected to serve in the line, loading and firing massed volleys of musketry.

For the record, I own and have fired repeatedly both muskets and muzzle-loading rifles. To properly load the rifle takes about a minute. The musket can, with a little practice and a paper cartridge, be loaded and fired in about 20 seconds. And while you are re-loading you always have that bayonet in place in case they get too close for comfort.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

I think it's funny how the British think their country is so great and superior

Funny, I thought that was Americans. That's what a lot of Americans go around saying. Viz "America is the greatest country in the world"' .That REALLY pisses some people off. The rest of us are too busy laughing.

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@Min; my point about gun nuts has been made for me here by defenders of gun ownership. Just humour them and change the subject.

[JohnDG]

I think it's funny how the British think their country is so great and superior

Funny, I thought that was Americans. That's what a lot of Americans go around saying. Viz "America is the greatest country in the world"' .That REALLY pisses some people off. The rest of us are too busy laughing.

No that's only the white, republican, upper middleclass minority of america that you see on T.V. or traveling the world because only they can afford it. The rest of us believe this country is horse shit because the people running it are only the white, republican, upper middleclass minority of america that you see on T.V. But there is one thing we love about this country, and thats the dream and possibility of joining the white, republican, upper middleclass minority of america that you see on T.V. or traveling the world. America stands for change, change in the way that any man can change his position in life, and does not have to accept what is given to him, everyone is in charge of their own destiny here. Gradually more and more people are joining the upper middle class.

Most americans don't give a flying f#@$ about what anyone thinks, we are proud of our country and freedom and well aware your laughing at us. Because in times of need, we are the big brother that helps feed and protects everyone else. We are the first in last out, the people everyone looks to for answers, we are not charged with policing the world, but expected to. We are not responsible for any natural disasters or wars that go on in other country's, but we are expected to respond and help out. So don't give me anymore of your double standards and take care of yourselves, for what would the world be like without america?

So be pissed off and laugh your ass off, in times of need we will still be there for you.

If you don't believe America is the greatest country in the world then tell me what our flag stands for?

hmm let me guess "FREEDOM" the most powerful symbol in the world, and thats way everyone emigrates here. Can anyone from other country's tell me what their flag stands for? anyone?

[reverendjeremiah]

Defenders of gun ownership = gun nuts

Who must obviously be ignored and humored as if a child.

Nice atitude Padraic.. unless that ISNT what you meant.

hmm let me guess "FREEDOM" the most powerful symbol in the world, and thats way everyone emigrates here. Can anyone from other country's tell me what their flag stands for? anyone?

I look at the united kingdoms flag and basically get the same feeling and thoughts I do when I look at the german flag, and French, and most other European countries.

I think "Friendly, good people, long histories, friends that we should defend if threatened, people we should have open free trade and discussions with, Friends that we should help in time of need."

Yeah..when I see those flags I usually think one or more of that list.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Defenders of gun ownership = gun nuts

Who must obviously be ignored and humored as if a child.

Nice attitude Padraic.. unless that ISNT what you meant.

Here we call that "kidding on the square"

I honestly find American gun culture nuts, as in insane,and one of the less attractive aspects of American life.

But hey, I'm Australian not American, it's only my opinion, based on observation and having a hard copy of the US constitution,which I've read. It's academic to me,not emotional.

You have very right to be offended, what you do not have is the right NOT to be offended.:

[reverendjeremiah]

Defenders of gun ownership = gun nuts

Who must obviously be ignored and humored as if a child.

Nice attitude Padraic.. unless that ISNT what you meant.

Here we call that "kidding on the square"

I honestly find American gun culture nuts, as in insane,and one of the less attractive aspects of American life.

But hey, I'm Australian not American, it's only my opinion, based on observation and having a hard copy of the US constitution,which I've read. It's academic to me,not emotional.

You have very right to be offended, what you do not have is the right NOT to be offended.:

Okay. I figured you were pulling legs. There is a difference between "gun nuts" and "gun fans", or affectionados or whatever. i'm not a gun nut. In fact I have spoken more about guns on this site in the last few weeks than I have face to face with other people in a year. Its just something I dont normally bring up. If it comes up I will chat about it, but other than that I consider it a non-starter for a conversation. I like guns, I respect guns, and I enjoy shooting them sometimes. Thats it.

That is NOT a gun nut.

A gun nut has something gun related on his possession at all times, wether it be gun bumperstickers, gun shirts, gun hats, guns in the holsters, spent or live shells in their pockets, gun tatoos, etc. A gun nut talks about guns every day, and usually starts conversation like; "Me and Jim where coming back from shooting our pistols.." or flat out asking what kind of guns you have, and then going through a VERY long list of the guns they own. And this is just bare minimum of what I think a gun nut is. It gets progressively worse, to the point of having a bomb shelter in your yard, stocked with a years supply of ammo (not that such an idea is stupid, its just a bit extreme to me), having guns hiden everywhere in the house, etc.

[Cinjin]

I honestly find American gun culture nuts, as in insane,and one of the less attractive aspects of American life.

I own 5 legally purchased and registered guns. I've never pointed one of them at another human being. Am I "nuts" for wanting to own a few guns? and why?

[reverendjeremiah]

I honestly find American gun culture nuts, as in insane,and one of the less attractive aspects of American life.

I own 5 legally purchased and registered guns. I've never pointed one of them at another human being. Am I "nuts"? for wanting to own a few guns? and why?

Doesnt sound nuts to me. The only time I would even ask is if me and you were in a car and got pulled over by the cops, or if we were working together and staying in the same hotel room out of town..and even in those cases I might not even ask. I consider gun ownership to be a personal thing. I shouldnt have to butt into your privacy unless I think it is going to affect me negatively in a situation. I am DEFINITELY not going to be a violent ass that provokes a gun being pulled on me regardless.

[Autumnlicious]

The problem isn't you owning the guns, it is the fact that a great many people spread their "gun culture" like religion, purporting complete utter bullshit like "Grandma shoots the burglar" and the like as something that happens all the time.

Fact is, it doesn't. Fantastic stories like "John Q Public uses WeaponX to defeat Phil Badguy" aren't taken in American culture as an example of an unexpected triumph. Instead, the same people like "Gun nuts" use it, like a Fundamentalist looking for evidence of prayer answering, as a singular example in a long and bloody history of people killing other people and usually following through, regardless of who was armed.

Now, granted, it may be that there is a correlation between survival and gun ownership in high crime areas. It says nothing about owning a gun and everything about the safety, culture and status of said area.

It also may be reasonable to point out that perhaps increasing the number of guns in a community and owning a gun would increase your chances of surviving something horrible - however I will point out that while the gun owner has, by virtue of owning a gun, increased the number of guns in a population, and henceforth has put others at risk.

The whole nasty "culture" that I, and quite a few European folks I've had the pleasure of driving with (rideshare), oppose is that. I've heard it from Germans and Czechs, and even the lone Frenchie - we've usually reached this conclusion:

Guns aren't bad. A few guns are fine. But the thought that one would own a gun to increase their petty chances while damaging the community through increasing the number of available firearms in a population?

Fuck them and their boomstick.

It only takes one to fuck everything over for the rest of us...

TL;DR version - I oppose the self-serving "every man for himself" mentality. Owning guns in it of itself isn't bad. But then again, having fundamentalist churches isn't bad either. It's the cultural baggage that comes with is the problem. Perhaps things will mature. Perhaps not. But don't make life more risky for the rest of us just because you're too damn chickenshit to walk the same paths the rest of us walk.

[reverendjeremiah]

TL;DR version - I oppose the self-serving "every man for himself" mentality. Owning guns in it of itself isn't bad. But then again, having fundamentalist churches isn't bad either. It's the cultural baggage that comes with is the problem. Perhaps things will mature. Perhaps not. But don't make life more risky for the rest of us just because you're too damn chickenshit to walk the same paths the rest of us walk.

Quite frankly I hope that strawman you set up does fail. I hope that strawman you set up does not get his guns. That strawman is obviously fucking up the community, and possibly even the entire world. That strawman is definitely and immature idiot who ads cultural baggage to the rest of those sane, non-gun owning strawmen. That gun owning strawman is so self serving. That strawman pisses me off! That gun owning strawman is so immature for wanting a gun in such conditions. Until then he is responsible for holding society back from maturing. That strawman is obviously a chickenshit.

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Chickenshit, immature strawman gun nut