Here’s a clip of Rep. Ken Buck earlier this week in a House Judiciary Committee hearing, interacting with friendly witness Amy Swearer of the Heritage Foundation on the hot-button subject of the AR-15 assault rifle–a weapon whose availability to civilian Americans is once again in question as mass shootings utilizing the easily-obtainable and modifiable weapon continue to claim lives by the dozen.
In this exchange, however, Rep. Buck wants to talk about something else–innocuous, even routine use of AR-15s to kill varmints on ranches in his district:
BUCK: And, and are those individuals and and, let me just tell you from my experience and in my district in eastern Colorado an AR-15 is used to kill raccoons that are, or foxes or other animals that are predators and trying to disturb individuals. [inaudible off camera] Or trying to, you know, kill chickens or or are are disturbing agriculture in some way. Is that your understanding also of how some, not saying a majority of that 16 to 18 million, but some of those guns are used?
SWEARER: Uh yes, it’s actually not suitable for a a lot of higher-end hunting for larger game because it’s actually more suitable for, as you inferred more varmint hunting and small predator hunting.
Here’s the thing: Rep. Buck is not wrong that AR-15 are often used for varmint control, and the Heritage Foundation employee he’s talking with agrees that the small caliber of assault weapons makes them unsuitable for hunting larger game. There are of course plenty of other weapons that would be suitable for ranch varmint duty, but since you can buy AR-15s at any gun shop starting at surprisingly low prices, they’re no doubt very popular.
But folks, we’re going to go out on a limb and assert that Rep. Ken Buck does not keep an American flag-painted AR-15 in his office to celebrate its ability to kill raccoons. The AR-15 was not developed for ranches, it’s a weapon made for battlefields. The .223 ammunition used by these weapons is indeed too weak for big game–because it was designed to kill people, not elk. Incidentally, yes, it’s hell on raccoons.
The point here is simple: you can’t have it both ways. If you cherish assault weapons as a defense against tyranny based on their ability to kill people efficiently, you can’t minimize them as a mere ranch implement in the same breath. Everybody knows why Ken Buck wants AR-15s available to the masses like shovels and plows, and it has nothing to do with killing varmints.
We all benefit from honest debate, and here’s an issue for which honesty is long overdue.
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Buuuck, buck, buck, buck . . .
. . . Buck-a-doodle-doo
As a prosecutor, Ken Buck has to tread lightly around the whole armed rebellion thing.
I'm sort of curious how the weapon got to Rep. Buck for the picture:
Pursuant to the United States and District of Columbia Criminal Codes, firearms, dangerous weapons, explosives, or incendiary devices are prohibited on U.S. Capitol Grounds.
Open carry is not allowed in District of Columbia.
Magazine capacity restriction? Illegal to possess magazines of more than 10 round capacity.
He and Gowdy were
A guy who needs an AR-15 to shoot a raccoon isn't much of a marksman.
Ok, sure . . .
. . . maybe not just for a raccoon.
But,
SheriffCongressman Buckhead said, “raccoons” . . .. . . what about all them invading herds of them pet-food stealin’, chicken-raping, criminal gang cartel, masked banditos???
Whadaya gonna’a use then, huh? Kung Fu? . . .
(. . . and no one’s yet mentioned about how you’re sposed to defend your home and womenfolk from a whole field of bad watermelons!?!?)
I’m guessin’, maybe you’re not from around these here parts?
Raccoons are freaking scary. They’re smart, tool-using, dextrous, fierce, adaptable, omnivorous critters. Ever cornered one? If you do, I’d recommend backing away…..slowly.
Raccoons are Plan B if Mother Nature ever decides to gamble with another sentient species in the northern hemisphere.
Someday, in the not-too-distant future
That looks a whole lot like the hissing, slathering maniac who terrorized and rampaged through our outfitter’s tent several November late nights one long-ago elk season . . .
. . . we assumed he was mostly out for our jerky, but nowadays I’m wondering if maybe he wasn’t stealing ammunition?
Reminds me of that photo of Patrick Neville and his shredded pork puller.