McCHRYSTAL METH

     A few months ago on MSNBC's Morning Joe, GEN(R) Stanely McChrystal -- the former top Commander in Afghanistan -- made a since-gone-viral statement about the ongoing firearms controversy.  While I'm sure he had the country's best interests at heart, his comments were irresponsibly misleading and pissed me off more than people who pay with checks.   He said,

"I spent a career typically carrying either an M16 or an M4 Carbine.  An M4 Carbine fires a .223 caliber round which is 5.56 millimeters at 3,000 feet per second.  When it hits a human body, the effects are devastating.  It's designed for that.  That's what our Soldiers ought to carry.  I personnally don't think there's any need for that kind of weaponry on the streets and particularly around the schools in America."

     While entirely factual, GEN(R) McChrystal's comments feature entirely too much stick and not enough carrot.  Let's compare the bullet size and speed of his M4 Carbine "assault rifle" to that of say......the method of firearm-self-defense preferred by most gun control advocates, a handgun.

     When GEN(R) McChrystal was not "typically carrying" an M16/M4, he -- like most senior Army officers -- was armed with a 9mm Beretta (M9) handgun.  Unlike the aforementioned M4 Carbine, an M9 fires a round that is 9.01 millimeters at a rate of 1,250 feet per second; that's nearly twice the size and 1/3 the speed.  Not to mention, 5.56mm rounds are shaped like this:

     While 9mm rounds are shaped like this:

     After conducting a relatively effortless comparative analysis, you should be ready to answer the following question:  Which weapon would you rather have fired at you?  The truth is, besides the unique mission set of war, there's a very good reason our Soldiers carry M4 Carbines: the shape, size, and velocity of a 5.56mm round is designed to create an exit wound.  In turn, what you have is a wounded combatant; these require medical attention and evacuation, which require additional Soldiers that are no longer able to shoot at you.  On the other hand, the ammunition fired from a handgun will likely ricochet around your thoracic and peritoneal cavities, and destroy all your internal organs.

     Still not sold?  It's ok...there're plenty of situations where bigger + slower = better.