Czech gunmaker CZG buys Colt in cash and stock deal • Hacker News Board

Re: Czech gunmaker CZG buys Colt in cash and stock deal

#341

Post by injidup » Mon, Feb 15, 2021, 6:34 AM UTC

nicoburns wrote: post #337

nickthemagicman wrote: post #334

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If any country needs violent overthrow of their govt which enforces systemic inequality it's England. It's been a thousand years since the battle of Hastings and these same families still own 2/3s of the land. And the inequality is just getting worse! https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfr... Although if someone's in the beneficiary of that they wouldn't see the issue.

I agree that we could do with reform. But why does it need to be violent?

Because then "some" people could live their video game fantasy life of an existence in a Mad Max landscape where the job description is to roll into town in a souped up 1974 Ford Falcon XB GT and solve all problems down the barrel of a gun. So many people want revolution but they only imagine it in a universe where they themselves are holding the stick and not the ones being beaten with it.

Revolution should be the last resort not the first.

Re: Czech gunmaker CZG buys Colt in cash and stock deal

#342

Post by philipkglass » Mon, Feb 15, 2021, 6:07 PM UTC

yellowapple wrote: post #340

philipkglass wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the guns themselves become easy to manufacture I think that there will be more emphasis on controlling and tracing ammunition, including primers and propellants for handloading. Making stable, uniform smokeless propellant starting from raw cellulose and over-the-counter chemicals is a huge investment of skill and effort. Making black powder is more tractable but still a lot of effort. Most aspiring firearm enthusi…

> Making stable, uniform smokeless propellant starting from raw cellulose and over-the-counter chemicals is a huge investment of skill and effort. Making black powder is more tractable but still a lot of effort. Re: black powder, I think you're overestimating the level of effort a bit. It certainly hasn't gotten harder to make it after the Industrial Revolution. Hell, there are even WikiHow articles on it: https://ww…

People who commit violence out of ideological devotion may rise to the level of competence required to assemble weapons from over the counter components. It already happens occasionally, like with the 2005 London bombings. I very much doubt that the typical gun toting criminal of today will rise to that level of competence. I wouldn't expect the median member of the law abiding public to successfully make a rifled firearm and ammunition given a machine shop, a shed full of agricultural chemicals, and a year to practice. My expectations are even lower for the median armed criminal. Most will get distracted or injure themselves before reaching success.

I don't think that a cottage industry of weapons-for-criminals is going to spring up in the same way as illicit drug production. The drug trade is nearly impossible to vanquish because so much of it is victimless; neither the seller nor the consumer attracts much attention in the usual case. But if you're dealing weapons specifically to people who can't get them by legal means, that's much riskier. Most would-be attackers who meet with a "bomb seller" are actually meeting with LEO.

The novelty factor of "3D printed" firearms leads to law enforcement worrying about them disproportionately to their actual significance. They're mostly an exotic hobby.

Re: Czech gunmaker CZG buys Colt in cash and stock deal

#343

Post by quantguy » Tue, Feb 16, 2021, 2:53 PM UTC

I'm so happy to see this posted here along with the lively and mostly civil discussion.

There is a lot of crossover between the tech and firearms community and for good reasons. The engineering and design of the firearms, gear and especially optics is fascinating. The external ballistics and math involved to hit targets at 1000 yards and beyond with all of the apps and sensors required. The breathing, aiming and movement techniques brings a nice physical element as well.

I've taken several firearms classes over the years and I'm amazed at how many hardcore tech people I meet there - top engineers at top companies (Uber, Google, etc.). These aren't mid-level PMs or entry-level script kiddies either; these are the top guys solving for the hardest engineering problems.

Despite the stereotypes, the tech community as with all other communities is not a monolith that walks in lockstep. It's disappointing that some of us need to hide our hobbies from those who would unfairly pass judgment because of their own phobias and biases. The firearms community is no different than the people who are into fast cars, motorcycles, beer making, wine tasting, maker faire, etc.

Re: Czech gunmaker CZG buys Colt in cash and stock deal

#344

Post by nickthemagicman » Tue, Feb 16, 2021, 4:54 PM UTC

injidup wrote: post #341

nicoburns wrote: post #337

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that we could do with reform. But why does it need to be violent?

Because then "some" people could live their video game fantasy life of an existence in a Mad Max landscape where the job description is to roll into town in a souped up 1974 Ford Falcon XB GT and solve all problems down the barrel of a gun. So many people want revolution but they only imagine it in a universe where they themselves are holding the stick and not the ones being beaten with it. Revolution should be the l…

Because throughout all of recorded human history only violence and plague has ever reduced inequality.

The nobility violently won their land at the Battle of Hastings a thousand years ago and nothing has changed in the UK.

Is history taught so poorly in schools nowadays?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/econom...

The people living out fantasies are the people who are ignorant of human history.