"Ask the Rabbi" by R. Mermelstein



QUESTION: Dear Rabbi Mermelstein, In my unit of the Texas Constitutional Militia we have struggled with the issue of weapons and ammunition standardization. We finally settled upon a compromise encouraging volunteers to purchase weapons in one of three calibers--.223 Remington, .308 Winchester and 7.62x39mm. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations as regards this issue? The main considerations came down to this question "Should the militia consider itself part and parcel of the Armed Forces, and therefore restrict itself to standard U.S. military calibers by regulation, or not? Should the high affordability and desirability of weapons produced in the Communist Bloc nations over-ride the standardization of ammunition with the U.S. government, or not?" We have already made this decision but I am very interested as to your thoughts on this matter.

ANSWER: Dear Sir,

Indeed, the 7.62X39 is a fine cartridge. However, the biggest plus going for that round has in the past been the relatively inexpensive retail prices of ammo from overseas. The importation of these supplies has, and could further, be halted with a stroke of the Executive Pen. Witness the ban on importation of arms and ammo from China. There are no flies on the true blue .223 Rem. and .308 Win. While the Chinese and Russian SKS and European Akm, etc., which utilize the 7.62X39 are battle proven weapons, I'm a bit uneasy relying on foreign supplies for replacement parts some time down the road in the future. While the U.S. unorganized militia shouldn't be restricted to cartridges used by the standing army, logistical considerations would dictate that whatever arms are used be kept easily serviceable. That means American made replacement parts. The entire concept of the unorganized militia of able bodied citizens is that it is NOT part and parcel of the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces is a tool of the Federal Government that could conceivably turn on it's own people. I thought that was the point of the Second Amendment. I would think in terms of logistics, not compatibility with the U.S. military.

Sincerely,

R. Mermelstein

Click here to write Rabbi Mermelstein your questions!

[Back to Home Page] [Copyright, Contact & Credits]

[Back to "Ask the Rabbi"]