[geeks] 1911A1 handguns

[Michael A. Turner]

	I wanted to weigh in real quick on all the customizing and hot loads
you guys are carrying. Personally I have a Concleaded carry permit for the
state of virginia and my carry weapon is a stock norinco 1911a copy (alright
I admit I changed the grips out for nice wood ones) loaded with stock .45
cal Ball ammo and I have what I consider are two really good reasons for
this.
	1. If I loose the weapon to anyone (law enforcemnet, crack head
stealing it, etc) I am not going to cry. If it is a carry weapon then it is
exposed to loss. This is actually a small concern as you should not be able
to get it away from me but I do have to leave it in the car if I go into a
resturant or such so loss is possible. The reason for leaving it in the car
is the permit does not allow me to carry it anywhere they serve alcohol. So
if I go anywhere sit down to eat I have to leave it behind because
everywhere serves beer. 
	2. Legal ramifications. A person I trust with gun knowledge told me
that carrying customized guns or ammo is a good way to go to jail even if
the shooting was justified. He is a class 3 firearms dealer and a lawyer on
top of that. I I was talking to him one day about what ammo I should carry
in my gun, looking at all the interesting rounds out their. I was
particularly looking at glazer safety slugs at the time. He told me to never
carry anything but standard ammo as their have been several cases where a
justified shooting, when it went to court, was ruled unjustified on the
basis of the person doing the shooting was using custom ammo. The
prosecuters said that this man left the house with custom ammo therefore he
was looking for trouble and must have put himself in a situation were he had
to shoot someone, based on the evidence that he had planned for it obviosuly
by spending $100s on his weapons and ammo. Because he had planed to shoot
someone, and had, the shooting was premeditated and therefore not a
justified shooting. The jury bought the argument and convicted the guy of
murder.
	   

Michael A. Turner
Systems Engineer WHRO
michael.turner at whro.org
http://www.whro.org