This isn't normally stuff I highlight on WarOnGuns with my focus on rights, but this is interesting. Scroll down to Session VI: Time for a Change, and click on the "Jim Schatz" link. [More]
Due to priorities, I have not had time--and probably won't have--to examine the rest of this site, but I'm sure some will find it very useful.
[Via Avg Joe]
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
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4 comments:
I read the presentation on incremental small arms development with a great deal of interest.
I spent nearly 25 years in Air Force R&D. The problems sounded the same. Bureaucracy, ignoring the actual user, always looking ahead to some grand technological solution that never materializes. So what else is new?
Col. (Ret.) USAF
I have a real problem with the US "standing army" but this is a fascinating read. More than anything it's another indictment against government, they can't even do well one of their supposed authorized duties. (On which they claim a monopoly.)
If the DoD filtered these older arms (M16, etc.) out via direct sales to the public or the CMP that would go a long way toward paying for newer designs for soldiers. As it is the feds have eliminated the secondary market for used militia arms; they can only give so many to the NG and police.
Also, with no civilian market, what incentive is there for manufacturers to develop the "next new thing" in military arms? Especially, when the "contests" end with the program being dropped and no weapon purchased. With the Modular Pistol at least they can go to the civilian market. Sure automatics can have the select fire feature removed but the design and usage requirements for a semi-auto are different.
Of course we could just revert to a Constitutional form of .gov and then sell all the m16's to the public as just another firearm... :)
I read through the entire Jim Schatz link - very interesting. No surprises though. The War Department has never been eager to accept new and better. "What was good enough for my grandfather's army to survive with is good enough for you." Even if it wasn't good enough.
One example of many - The French 75 was such a good gun in WW-I (in US GI's hands anyway) that the Army refused to even consider a more effective calibre until well after the 88mm kicked our AFV's butts for most of WW-II.
Others: Maxim, Christie, Garand come to mind instantly.
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