October 24, 2005
GUNS DON’T KILL BRAZILIANS, BRAZILIANS KILL BRAZILIANS
Brazilians vote to keep guns (Globe and Mail, October 24th, 2005)
Brazilians soundly rejected a proposal to ban guns in a national referendum Sunday, striking down the bid to stem one of the world's highest firearm murder rates following a campaign that drew parallels to the U.S. gun control debate.Posted by Peter Burnet at October 24, 2005 6:07 AMBrazil has 100 million fewer citizens than the United States, but a staggering 25 per cent more gun deaths at nearly 40,000 a year. While supporters argued that gun control was the best way to staunch the violence, opponents played on Brazilians' fears that the police can't protect them.
“I'm don't like people walking around armed on the street. But since all the bandits have guns, you need to have a gun at home,” said taxi driver Mohammed Osei, who voted against the ban.
With more than 92 per cent of the votes counted, 64 per cent of Brazilians were opposed to the ban, while 36 per cent backed it, said election officials, giving the ‘no' position an insurmountable lead.
"Soundly" defeated. Ahh, once again we start the morning with the smell of napalm.
Not much of a surprise, really. Countries with strong frontier traditions, such as the United States, have gun traditions. Of course this includes Brazil and even Russia, for all that years of Communist domination have kept it suppressed there.
We may note also that Brazil has a robust gun-making industry, whose products have greatly improved in quality over the years. My sub-compact .45 is a Taurus PT-745, a real Moro-stopper, smaller and lighter than many .380's.
Posted by: Lou Gots at October 24, 2005 6:31 AMGee I guess the Brazilians know something the citizens of New Orleans don't.....you are responsible for your own safety, not the police.
Taurus makes some of the best firearms for the money. They are know primarily as a maker of revolvers for self-defense, but have are starting to gain a good reputation for their semi-autos as well.
I love my PT-145 made by Taurus...it is a subcompact .45 that holds 10 rounds plus one in the chamber. For such a small gun the recoil is moderate and will stop any goblins in their tracks. I was so impressed I bought a .357 revolver from Taurus as my backup gun.
Just curious Lou, what made you choose the PT-745 over the PT-145?
Posted by: JR at October 24, 2005 9:33 AM"...giving the no' position an insurmountable lead"
No lead is insurmountable here in King County, where a recount or two could still put the 'yes' position in the lead.
JR: It wasn't even close. The double-stack sub-compact is too fat and too short in the grip.
Too fat means means it doesn't point instinctively--Glocks have the same problem. Too short is worse. The bottom of the mag bites the inside of your palm, big-time. Lots of push-back with a 21 oz. .45.
The only thing that wasn't first-rate on the PT-745 was the trigger. As is the case for CURRENT* Taurus revolvers, there is a a nice hump just at the point of the sear tripping so you can train yourself to do some really good double-actuion shooting. The problem was a really muddy creep on the way to that point.
What I did was to drop in a snap-cap and pull the trigger just to that point before the let-off about 8 or 9 thousand times. This smoothed the creep right out, and had the bonus of allowing me to learn, really, really learn in a Zen way, exactly when that sear is going to let go. This tiny gun has point-fire capability: Over the sights, it's good for the rapid-fire 9-ring at 25 yds.
I strongly agree with you about Taurus stuff. I was all ready to trade in my General Nguyen Ngoc Loan gun, my S&W Model 38, for the Taurus all-titanium copy, the trigger is actually better, with that more predictable double-action let-off. Unfortunately, they make it only with muzzle ports, which is utterly dumb on a snubby meant to be fired from the waist or inside a vehicle.
Enjoy the gun. Good shooting.
*the early Taurus guns had really gross triggers.
Posted by: Lou Gots at October 24, 2005 7:54 PMAhhh....that makes sense. I can see where the grip might be short for most. I have small hands so it fits me well. It is a little wide with the double stack mag, it took some getting used to wearing in a IWB holster. Good idea about the snap caps, I have some and will be working on learning just where the magic spot is for double taps.
Good shooting to you as well.....
Posted by: JR at October 25, 2005 9:47 AM