How many is too many? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

strelnik · #1 04-02-2012, 09:28 AM

In the news this week a southern California man was put under 72-hour psychiatric observation when it was found he owned 100 guns and had (by rough estimate) 1-million rounds of ammunition stored in his home. The house also has a secret escape tunnel. The television reporter said: "Wow! He has about a million machine gun bullets" and the headline referred to it as a "massive weapons cache".

By California standards someone even owning 100,000 rounds would be called "mentally unstable."

If he lived elsewhere, such as Arizona, he'd be called "an avid gun collector".

In Arkansas, he'd be called "a novice gun collector".

In Utah, he'd be called "moderately well prepared", but they'd probably reserve judgment until they made sure that he had a corresponding quantity of stored food.

In Montana, he'd be called "The neighborhood 'Go-To' guy".

In Idaho, he'd be called "a likely gubernatorial candidate".

In Wyoming, he'd be called "an eligible bachelor"

And, in Texas, he'd be called "A huntin' buddy."

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How many (Mercedes, pets, tools, suits, golf clubs) is too many? And why should anyone care?

vwbuge · #2 04-02-2012, 09:34 AM

I see absolutely nothing wrong with owning that many guns or that much ammo. Maybe he likes to target practice.

If there were other indicators such as irratic behaviour, then by all means evaluate him.

Dudesky · #3 04-02-2012, 09:36 AM

In DC he'd be called a Tea Party radical.

Hope he passes his head check with flying colors, then what will the government due next?

MTI · #4 04-02-2012, 09:46 AM

Where exactly was this "news story?" Best I can tell, this originates from a 2007 story. LA Times Article

This One Is From NY, But Included Pipe Bombs, Homemade Grenades and Bomb Making Materials

elchivito · #5 04-02-2012, 10:13 AM

This is all over the gun forums but doesn't seem to actually have a news report linked anywhere I can find.
It has the warm, squishy, steaming redolence of a forwarded email.

Having said that, you can only shoot one shot at a time, so how many guns or rounds the guy owns doesn't concern me. He may be no crazier than Jay Leno with all those cars, or John McGain who doesn't remember how many houses he owns.

pj67coll · #6 04-02-2012, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Having said that, you can only shoot one shot at a time, so how many guns or rounds the guy owns doesn't concern me.

Indeed. I've only got about twenty. And a few thousand rounds. I guess that makes me an amateur in AZ. I'd be curious to know how someone could amass that number of guns in a nanny state like California though. I would have thought it would be difficult.

- Peter.

strelnik · #7 04-02-2012, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Indeed. I've only got about twenty. And a few thousand rounds. I guess that makes me an amateur in AZ. I'd be curious to know how someone could amass that number of guns in a nanny state like California though. I would have thought it would be difficult.

- Peter.

Charlton Heston had a HUGE collection of rare firearms dating back before the Revolutionary War. Some were collectors, some were shooters, some were modern shooters.

Probably a couple thousand.

I think the collection was rated at about 7 million as a whole, when it was auctioned off.

So: art or mania?

I know a guy who buys cars all the time, his late father was a millionaire and bequeathed money to the kids. He used to buy cars, outbid everyone at auto auctions, then stick them in a corner and never drive them. Go figure. He has 60 of them in 4 countries.

MS Fowler · #8 04-02-2012, 10:37 AM

About the only item I can think of, off the top of my head, where ONE is the limit ( and we are NOT talking ownership) is in wives.

cmbdiesel · #9 04-02-2012, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

About the only item I can think of, off the top of my head, where ONE is the limit ( and we are NOT talking ownership) is in wives.

not in Utah...

MS Fowler · #10 04-02-2012, 11:08 AM

Its so hard to try and think of all the possible ways a comment can be misinterpreted....
Yes, I missed that one.
However, even were I to move to Utah, I seriously doubt that the current ( and future) Mrs. Fowler would ever accept that I could have additional wives.

Dudesky · #11 04-02-2012, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

This is all over the gun forums but doesn't seem to actually have a news report linked anywhere I can find.
It has the warm, squishy, steaming redolence of a forwarded email.

Having said that, you can only shoot one shot at a time, so how many guns or rounds the guy owns doesn't concern me. He may be no crazier than Jay Leno with all those cars, or John McGain who doesn't remember how many houses he owns.

Looks like you get the cigar:

Gun Hoarder