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Feb. 27, 2005 As a writer and avid reader for at least 50 years, I am continually chagrined by the lack of knowledge in certain areas by many writers. Several best-selling novelists--all of whose works I enjoy very much--sometimes make blatant errors in a variety of fields. This I attribute to the writer first; then to his/her agent; then to the publishers' readers...then back to the writer whose responsibility it is to proof his or her work. In short, if a writer, agent, or publisher's reader doesn't know the subject, an error will be printed...in 50,000 copies or more. As a technical editor and consultant, I feel it is vital for me to know exactly what I am working with; to that extent, I research every questionable word in a manuscript. One of the prevailing ailments in the fiction business is the lack of technical knowledge regarding weaponry. As a Marine, I was thoroughly indoctrinated in small arms, and later pursued arms as one of my hobbies. So let's begin with that: SILENCERS: This is a device (suppressor) used to muffle the report of a small-caliber weapon, usually a handgun, sometimes a specialized automatic pistol or rifle. The high-speed calibers, such as .357 magnum, cannot be successfully muffled because of the velocity of the bullet and the amount of propellant. The .45 automatic is one of the most popular handguns because the bullet's speed is subsonic. Revolvers CANNOT be silenced; the noise they make derives from both the muzzle and the cylinder. There have been only a few "silenced" revolvers, all experimental, and extremely costly. Failures. SAFETIES: Most semi-automatic pistols and rifles are equipped with exterior safeties--but not all. The GLOCK semi-automatic pistol (an Austrian design now manufactured in the US) is a highly-regarded weapon by police and military, but it does NOT have an external safety. This is the weapon often referred to by less-than- knowledgeable writers as "being able to pass an airport detection screen" because of the polymer frame. In fact, the Glock is mostly metal--there has not yet been a non-metallic element capable of withstanding the chamber pressures of a cartridge. REVOLVERS DO NOT HAVE SAFETIES! The little button seen on the left side of a revolver is a release mechanism for the cylinder, which rotates outward to discard used cartridges and reload. This is a blatant example of writer's error. The only exceptions to the left-hand cylinder release are found in the early .44 and .45 Colt's single action revolvers, in which a loading gate is on the right side, permitting the shooter to eject and reload, one cartridge at a time. CLIPS VS. MAGAZINES: Too many writers-- including many former military types--erroneously use the word "clip" when they should use "magazine". What's the difference? A clip holds a certain number of cartridges, which are then inserted into an internal magazine, either rifle or pistol. A magazine is an external piece of equipment which is first loaded (by hand or by machine), and then inserted into the weapon. Nit- picking? You bet! In the Marines, should one dare refer to his rifle as a "gun", he was required to hold his rifle in one hand...and his privates in the other, chanting "This is my rifle, this is my gun; one is for shooting, the other's for fun." ASSAULT WEAPONS: If ever a buzzword has outlived its time, this nonsensical hype wins all dishonors. It was created by hysterical people who do not believe that responsible, law abiding American citizens should have semi-automatic rifles...or, indeed, ANY weapons. An assault weapon, by its very nature, is a FULLY-AUTOMATIC weapon, usually a rifle. The AK-47 is the prime example of the assault weapon: In Korea, US soldiers and Marines used eight-shot, semi- automatic rifles against North Koreans and Chinese troops ALL equipped with fully-automatic assault weapons...with 30-round magazines. The AK- 47 has been manufactured in the tens of millions and has been used by Communists and radical Muslims for over 60 years. A FINAL NOTE: In the US, 31 states have passed legislation permitting citizens with no felony record to carry a concealed weapon for self-protection. A recent--and long-overdue--law has been passed permitting former police officers to carry a weapon anywhere in the US. But what about the states that refuse the citizen's right-to-carry privilege? Easy to answer: the states whose inner cities have the highest crime rates: New York-Massachusetts- California-Michigan-Illinois-District of Columbia-Maryland are some of them. If you live in a city where rape, robbery, muggings and murders are prevalent, chances are you're living in one of the above. Write to your congressman/woman! ------------ About the author Charles K. Bush: Am a former Marine (Korean War), majored in zoology & creative writing, worked my up from cook to captain in the Merchant Marine over 20 years, lived outside US over 15 yrs., traveled and lived in many foreign countries, including Southeast Asia, where I researched for one of my novels, MING JADE, an action-adventure story set in Sumatra & the South China Sea. The "heroine" of MING JADE is a 10-meter Reticulated python of the same name. I've self-published 100 copies but am seeking an agent to properly market it. http://www.peganet.com Email: editcon@peganet.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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