I've recently returned from the annual NRA Convention, Annual Meeting and Product Exposition. This is a show that I look forward to attending; it is the only "retail" (open to the general public) show where NAA has a factory presence and it represents the best opportunity for me to get some face-to-face product feedback from the gun community at large.

     It's somewhat ironic that it again comes in such close proximity to another school shooting tragedy. Some of you may recall that the show in 1999 cancelled, as it was scheduled to be held in Denver one week following the Columbine event. One can only imagine the reception the NRA audience would have met there had "the show gone on". At least VA Tech occurred after the show and so the shooting was not a subject of discussion during the show, although such a discussion would have been of some value in certain respects, as explained below.

     A frequent part of the feedback I get at NRA shows are remarks like, "What are you going to do with that little thing?" or "That's only going to piss somebody off!". I'll admit that remarks like that piss ME off, speak volumes to the ignorance of those who would utter them, and are met with an answer from me which (depending on the time of day, the day of the show, the phase of the moon, and my particular patience to deal with these fools) can range from persuasive, indignant, disdainful, logical, disgusted, to just plain rude (I've before mentioned in a Soapbox that I've been known to make a flip remarks suggesting that the I-only-carry-a-big-gun types are desperately trying to compensate for something even smaller than a minirevolver).

     I usually reply that I don't care what the caliber is - if someone were to point a gun at me, it would absolutely change my behavior. I don't care what size the hole is, I don't want to get shot and start bleeding. If any gun is pointed at you and it doesn't change your behavior, then you're a fool. That's my pleasant, persuasive approach.

     I further point out that we don't argue that a minirevolver has as much stopping power as a 1911; in most cases and given an even comparison, it doesn't. A minirevolver affords the possessor an enormous advantage over someone who has NO gun, however, which is how we market our products: "Better than nothing. What are you carrying?". "Well, I left it in the car/at home, wherever, blah blah blah, and besides, we can't bring one in here anyway". I will tell you that it takes more fingers and toes than a normal human has to count the number of minis I was shown on the show floor; other than the duty weapons carried by the visiting police, nobody showed me any gun other than an NAA. People carry NAA firearms.

     I also suggest that lethality/stopping power is far more than just a matter of caliber and one should consider, amongst other thing, bullet placement. A 22LR in the head or another "vital" organ has far greater stopping power than a 45 in the leg.

     Similarly, I feel that the 22 caliber round doesn't enjoy the widespread reputation which it is due. I am not a bullet ballistician and can point to few authoritative sources to back the anecdotal stories I've heard, which, if true, are very compelling indeed. One includes the "fact" that more people die from wounds caused by 22 caliber bullets than any other caliber. Another is the tale that 22 caliber rounds are preferred by the CIA, KGB, and other international assassins. I don't know if either of these is true. I know with some certainty that Bobby Kennedy was killed by a 22 caliber bullet. Consider the fact that mouseguns are typically used at very close ranges which, incidentally, is a prime requisite for the legal/acceptable use of a firearm in self-defense and which would positively impact placement. Consider, also, the internal trauma suffered as a small bullet careens around a chest cavity. These all have a great impact on lethality. It would be very interesting/instructive if our Message Board community would start a thread with references to credible sources that discuss the lethality of 22 caliber rounds.

     At least one very "successful" killer respected the 22 caliber round, Seung-Hui Cho, the murderer who wrecked havoc on the VT campus and the sensibilities of our nation and the world. His weapons of choice were two: a 9mm Beretta and a 22 caliber Walther. I have not seen it reported how many people were shot with which guns, but I'll bet the Walther was responsible for several deaths.

     That, unfortunately, should end all arguments about lethality and stopping power of a 22. It's a very sad way to make a point.