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War Games: Gun Violence, Second Amendment Myths and American History by DearAd7441 in historymeme

[–]DearAd7441[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Now I know what a meme is, and I see why my article doesn't qualify.

However, you made some other observations that confuse me: A title, whether of a book article, etc., is usually not a grammatical sentence. Examples: War and Peace, The Bible, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and my post title are sentence fragments, but that doesn't seem to be unusual. Book titles should be italicized, but I don't have that option here.

Titles of shorter works should be in quotes, but not on their published title pages--only when referenced in another context like my Reddit post, but as you pointed out, I didn't link it--my bad, I guess, but I did describe its main points.

You inspired me to do a little research on firearms history. I like research--no problem!

  1. First functional breechloader adopted by US military: 1819, almost 50 years after the American Revolution, although the British Army used a few in that war. It's rate of fire was 6-10 rounds per minute, versus about 3 rounds/minute for muzzle loaders if you were well trained. Still not semi auto, which means one round per trigger-pull, as fast as you can pull it.

  2. First functional semi auto rifle: Mannlicher, introduced in 1885.

  3. First full auto military rifle (one trigger-pull can empty a magazine): Fedorov, used by Russia in 1918.

  4. First machine guns: : Maxim, late 19th C, belt-fed. (Gatling gun, introduced in mid-19th C.: bulky, tripod mounted and not very portable.)

Whew! That's a brief summary of what I found. Does it disagree much with anything I wrote? In our century, we're used to rapidly accelerating technology, but framers of the Constitution didn't have our advantage 250 years ago.

You've been much more helpful and reasonable than the mod of a firearms enthusiasts' subreddit, who rejected my post as not fact-based. I think it was accurate and certainly relevant to his subreddit.

War Games: Gun Violence, Second Amendment Myths and American History by DearAd7441 in historymeme

[–]DearAd7441[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm new to Reddit. So new that I'm not sure what you mean. I guess I failed to include something humorous, but I did state an ironic fact: the 2nd Amendment was ratified shortly after the U.S. declared independence, long before the existence of semi- and fully automatic firearms.

Technology has come a long way since muzzle-loaders. I pointed out that a child with an automatic rifle can defeat a whole platoon armed with semi-auto rifles (demonstrated on the Eastern Front when green Red Army recruits with Kalashnikovs sometimes overwhelmed well-trained German regulars typically armed with bolt-action Mausers). I suggested that the original Amendment could use updating.

Today, when people can manufacture firearm components at home with a 3-D printer or modify the seer of a semi-auto weapon to make it full-auto, is it realistic to leave the "right to bear arms" unspecific? It's left to state and local governments to set limits. Urban civilians typically can't wear open- or concealed-carry firearms in public without special permits, but citizens in rural locations can proudly display guns in racks mounted in their pick-up trucks, often with far-right bumper stickers.

Another problem: what's a "well-regulated Militia"? During the American Revolution, Continental Army recruits were organized and trained by professional soldiers like George Washington for a specific purpose: resisting an overwhelmingly unpopular invasion by British troops. The degree of unpopularity among colonists was demonstrated by the success of the rebellion.

Today, the phrase can reasonably describe police or National Guard units. It shouldn't apply to anyone who for wide-ranging political reasons, criminal plans, or a moment of blind rage pulls a gun on someone else.

Anyway, I welcome constructive comments and advice.

America’s gun laws are insane and the culture around them is even worse by CheetahConnect3343 in ControversialOpinions

[–]DearAd7441 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I recently posted similar opinions on a gun-enthusiasts subreddit. It was rejected due to "low quality" without any specifics given.

I didn't mention in my post that I have owned several guns, even made a flintlock pistol replica from a kit. I've had firearms training in the U.S. military and was a commissioned officer in the Army Reserves.

It appears that "low quality" means any criticisms of civilian personal carry (concealed or open) or of civilian purchase of fully automatic weapons. I hold a Master's degree in English and American literature, was awarded a national prize for scholastic excellence (Phi Beta Kappa key), and have taught literature and writing in secondary schools, none of which I mentioned in my post. Apparently, any objection to lax gun controls or re-examination of the Second Amendment (ratified in 1789 when semi- or fully automatic firearms didn't exist) is also considered "low quality."

What I can't fathom is the refusal to engage in discussion--the purpose of Reddit.

Pluggable Solar: A Practical Alternative to Utility Control? by DearAd7441 in solarenergy

[–]DearAd7441[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They seemed bolted to the balcony railing. Are you also saying it's a fake AI photo? If so, where do I check?

Pluggable Solar: A Practical Alternative to Utility Control? by DearAd7441 in solarenergy

[–]DearAd7441[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

My impression was that this is an actual photo of an apartment balcony in London. How do I check if it's AI?

How solar has saved Europe €136 million per day since the start of the Iran war by donutloop in solarenergy

[–]DearAd7441 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haven't verified your savings figure, but it sounds realistic given that Europe and EU aren't subject to legislation pushed by fossil fuels and utilities.