"Ask the Rabbi" by R. Mermelstein
QUESTION: Dear Rabbi
Mermelstein:
I have gained through inheritance a .357 Magnum Dan Wesson
revolver, with the associated barrels and parts. Is this a good firearm
for self defense and general target shooting? Also, I gained a
semiautomatic rifle called the Zastava 77/82 which is in .308 caliber,
has a Zeiss scope and looks sort of like a Kalashnikov, but has a
longer barrel and a 20 round magazine. Do you know much about this
particular rifle?
Also, I am an Orthodox Christian who is seeing a delightful Sephardic
Jewish woman originally from Greece, and she tells me of the injunction
in the Torah about "defending oneself." Is there a way to document this
quotation? Please forgive my ignorance of Judaism, but I am learning a
great deal.
By the way, I attempted to have an intelligent conversation with NY
Senator Charles Schumer about firearms issues when I visited Washington
and saw him at a gathering, but he seems rather crude, insufferable and
definitely insulting. I guess the old adage is true about those from
Harvard, "You can always tell a Harvard man, but you can't tell him
much."
Michael E. Kreca
12 Jun 1999
ANSWER: Dear Michael,
The Dan Wesson .357 Magnum
revolver that you inherited is as fine a sidearm for self defense and
target shooting as can be had at any price. The firm has reorganized as
the Wesson Arms Co., but they will service your revolver should repair
ever be needed. I cannot find any reference to the Zastava rifle you
mention in JANE'S GUNS RECOGNITION GUIDE.
For the Torah perspective of self defense, please see:
http://www.gunownersalliance.com/Rabbi_0029.htm
Your impressions of Sen. Charlie Schumer are identical to the
impressions received from him by anyone that attempts to question or
debate him on any matter upon which he disagrees. The gun control
debate is becoming distilled down to a clash between rural and urban
values. Schumer defines the Urban Elitist, refined and superior to
those whom he considers 'hicks', 'rednecks', and Second Amendment
'extremists'.
Sincerely,
R. Mermelstein
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