| Personal firearms won us the revolutionary | | | | meet a certain minimum standard, they may not |
| war so I cant be completely against the idea. | | | | be as high quality or may even lack some good |
| | | | features found on more expensive weapons. |
| I do think though that national guardsmen and | | | | |
| reservists should carry their own personal | | | | Another advantage is that every soldier would |
| side arms and be forced to qualify with them. | | | | be carrying a weapon that fits him or her. |
| | | | People's hands come in different sizes; it |
| The reserves tend to get stuff 2nd, 3rd or | | | | would make sense to allow for a range of |
| 4th hand, so encouraging them to purchase | | | | firearms to be used, rather than the "one |
| personal firearms would at least mean that | | | | sizes fits some" mentality. |
| their weapons would be new as or newer than | | | | |
| the ones in the active duty inventory. | | | | It's not a matter of "looking cool," or just |
| | | | "trying to be different." I think there are |
| It is hard to be proficient with the M9 when | | | | some valid reasons why we should look into |
| only officers get to use them, and even then | | | | allowing the use of personal firearms. When |
| it is only once a year that my unit goes to | | | | agencies buy guns, price is a huge factor |
| the range. Maybe it is because I am in a | | | | because they have limited budgets, but when |
| hospital reserve unit, but that has been my | | | | individuals buy guns, price is considerably |
| experience. | | | | less important. If you could get a gun of |
| | | | much better quality, reliability or accuracy |
| It is just not practical to carry a M16 or M4 | | | | for a few hundred dollars more, I think most |
| in a hospital while you are trying to see | | | | sensible people would want the most bang for |
| patients. But my unit does not have enough | | | | their buck rather than what is the cheapest |
| M9s to issue to everyone. By having the | | | | gun they can carry. Why buy a used 38 special |
| opportunity to carry a personal sidearm I | | | | police revolver for 300 bucks when you can |
| could ensure that I would always be armed and | | | | buy a new hi-capacity Glock for not much |
| ready in case one of the "patients" turned | | | | more? Of course, knowing that common sense is |
| out to be an insurgent. | | | | not so common any more, any military |
| | | | organization that allowed personal weapons |
| People tend to respect things more when they | | | | would have to set up specific criteria and |
| own them. If the gun is yours, there is an | | | | have the firearm inspected by the unit |
| attachment to that gun that you wont have | | | | armorer to ensure that it meets those |
| with a "lowest bidder GI weapon." If the | | | | criteria. No Saturday night specials in our |
| government's rifle is not clean, who cares, | | | | beloved military! |
| right? Someone else will get stuck with it. | | | | |
| But if it is your gun that you paid for, you | | | | Weapon confidence and morale would be better |
| might be a little more diligent in cleaning | | | | as well. Everyone has a gun that they think |
| it right? I mean, since you would be the | | | | is inferior or one that is really great. |
| "lucky one" to use it in combat and you | | | | People tend to buy what they like best, so if |
| wouldnt want to have to buy another one | | | | they were carrying a personal sidearm, |
| because it was poorly maintained. | | | | chances are they would be more willing to |
| | | | practice with it and less likely to complain |
| No offense to GI weapons, but mil spec weapon | | | | about it. |
| is made to be cheap. Though they are made to | | | | |