From: forda@gtephx.UUCP (Andrew Ford @ AGCS, Phoenix, Arizona)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: "Wasteland" Attitude (was Re: $5000 Shopping Spree)
Date: 27 Jul 92 13:53:15 GMT
Organization: gte

In article <1992Jul23.000854.4178@athena.mit.edu>, sybok@athena.mit.edu (The Rifleman) writes:
# In article <11366@optilink.UUCP> cramer@optilink.com (Clayton Cramer) writes:
# #
# #In article <9207211127.AA12411@mimsy.cs.UMD.EDU>, C08926RC@WUVMD.Wustl.Edu (Rob) writes:
# ## Guns magazine is currently running a contest in which the grand prize
# ## is a $5000 firearms shopping spree.  I thought this would be an interesting
# ## subject here.
# ## 
# ## If you had $5000 to spend on firearms and/or accessories, what would
# ## you buy?
# ## 
# ## Rob
# #
# #Barrett Light .50.  No question.  You never know when blue whales
# #will come back on land, or _Jurassic Park_ will cease to be fiction.
# 
# What about "Puff the Magic Dragon"--a 20mm self-powered gatling gun with
# six chambers.  Must be six or eight inches in diameter and cylindrically
# shaped, weighing in at 40 pounds or more.  You pick it up, squeeze
# the trigger, and the chambers spin around unleasing shots until the belt
# runs out.  Is this PTMD or maybe a "GE Chain Gun."  Are these transferable?
# My dream vacation would be a trip to Arizona wastelands with one of these

"Wastelands" in Arizona?  I've lived here most of my life and I've never
seen any wastelands.  Some pretty desolate areas, yes, but there is still
a thriving ecosytem.  Why do people seem to think of the desert as a 
wasteland?  This aint the Sahara - everywhere I've been there is life
all around (most of what you see is in the form of dormant plant life 
which may appear to be dead, but is not.)

I'm making no personal attacks, but the "wasteland" attitude that a lot
of people have about much of the desert southwest ("It's a dead wasteland,
I'll haul my old washer/fridge/water-heater out there, shoot it up and leave
it.") is much of the reason that the deserts are becoming less and less
accessible.  (State trust lands are now limited to hunting access only.)

BTW, since you mention AZ, shooting cacti is illegal, whether or not
you aim for one: they are protected plants.  (And more than one 50 ft. 
Saguaro cactus has gotten its revenge upon a foolish shooter.)

# machine gatling cannons, 1000 watermelons, and a mile-long belt rolled up
# on a giant spool.  I'd set the watermelons down in a pattern around me,
# put on my ears, pick up the cannon, and Rock 'n Roll. . . .
# 
# And some would say there's no "sporting purpose" for a 20mm cannon.  Not so.

That does sound like fun!

BTW, Shooter's World (with which I have no affiliation) does occaisionally
sponsor machine gun shoots where you can rent one of their machine guns
(one of the few times it's worth standing in line) :if there's enougth 
interest I'll post next time I see it advertised.




-- 
"25 States allow anyone to buy a gun, strap it on, and walk down the street with
no permit of any kind: some say it's crazy.  However, 4 out of 5 US murders are 
committed in the other half of the country: so who is crazy?"   -  Andrew Ford
gtephx!forda@enuucp.eas.asu.edu  OR  !uunet!samsung!romed!enuucp!gtephx!forda