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