Here's the thing. Futurecurrents is actually one of the good guys, but who can be fairly abrasive at times. His pet issue, and with good reason, is climate change. Practically all of the gun aficionados here also happen to be climate change deniers. And the Alt-Rightsters here love to pile up on him with their faith-based science. And so this mutual animus carries over into the gun threads as well. I don't know if FC was always on the more abrasive side, but I assure you he has been given cause over time. This forum is flooded with the fringe Right.
I think you're one of the good guys with perhaps too keen an interest in weapons. Just my opinion. But, with the exception of occasionally going off on jags (yeah, almost all of us do, and I live in a glass house), you're crazy smart and well-balanced. Many, probably most, people on the hyper pro gun side of the argument are not. (Please refer to the thread title.) They're loons who should not be allowed near them. So I'd rather live in a world of futurecurrents than KKKintheBeltways. It is unfortunate that you two got caught in each other's gears.
FC pulled that "internal magazine" silliness out of his ass--then he procures a video of a modern BA loaded from a detachable box mag. Top-loading is the process of loading a box mag while inserted. Another half-inch of EP space and I could do it on my Glocks. I CAN do it on all of my MP5s and 5.56s.
I've owned guns since I was 19. My first rifle was an A1 Steyr AUG bought at "The Marksman" in Glenview IL. My dad owned interests in US importers of foreign arms. Gun South, Inc was one of them. I have a mechanical watch collection as well. I am not "spectrummy" I just like to tinker. I am currently working on a WRC Subaru rally car in my shop. It's a legit WRC car retrofitted to be plated. Cosworth long block, AVO450, Inconel exhaust (working on it now), CF dash, Sparco CF seats, etc. 500+ all day to the wheel. I've taken the local McLaren guy in his 675LT easily with a 60-100 pull. I was 3-4 cars ahead on NV580.
I spend an OOM more time with cars and watches. I shoot bc it's my family culture to own firearms. The first year of my CCW I brandished inside a movie theater when a Senior was waving his gun around. Ended peacefully.
Here are some of my political leanings, coming from a family of mil and gov, and having worked briefly in gov:
1) We're all entitled to healthcare (I've never received govt assistance of any kind). My ankle and calf was put in a grinder and my achilles was severed, but I didn't reach 50/20 for pension. USG paid for my surgery and rehab.
2) MM climate change is real and must be addressed in our lifetime, if not already too late.
3) "Well regulated militia" does not apply to modern society. I don't believe that all US citizens should be allowed to own firearms (psych meds, institutionalized). Anything outside of a non-violent misdemeanor should result in a lifetime ban for purchases. 5Y minimum sentence for illegal possession. 20Y for parents whose children commit homicide with parent's gun. 20Y for violation of chain of custody.
4) Voting for felons? FU.
5) Increase taxes on SS withholding. Flat tax; with vouchers for the poor.