Arrogance and Gun Control

Having served in VietNam, I am aware thay Nygen Tahng could make an operating pistol using scrap metal and a file. What could Joe Sixpack do with a high speed drill press and carbon steel in his garage?

Just a thought in passing.

While the flash gordon zip gun I saw was the silliest, I was most impressed by the lighter gun. It was standard steel zippo, with a nail soldered in the fuel chamber, and a short .22 round wedged between the nail and the place the wick would go. The ingenuity just amazed me. Then again, I wondered if someone else tried it with a .38 round and blew their hand off.

Of course, you are correct. Prior to mass production, all guns were just made using metal rods and blacksmithing tools. Even some relatively modern firearms can be made pretty effectively using your average auto shop. So, you are right that nothing is going to prevent an industrious soul form making his own firearm (or ammunition).

For that matter, even someone with very little skill can build a musket and make black powder and shot with only some minimal training and a few relatively primitive tools. It isn't a great weapon, but it certainly can kill. You don't need an FN-FAL, M-16, or Uzi to kill someone. The Aztecs lost thousands to arquebuses and swords.

Thanks for the comment, and welcome to the site. I hope you come back again and read more.