Americas biggest machine gun festival goes off with a bang as thousands of firearms fanatics gather

[Ghost in the Machine]

[h2]Americas biggest machine gun festival goes off with a bang as thousands of firearms fanatics gather in the Arizona Desert[/h2]
By Damien Gayle
PUBLISHED: 04:51 EST, 26 March 2013 | UPDATED: 10:01 EST, 26 March 2013

Thousands of firearms fanatics gathered in northern Arizona this weekend for the biggest organized machine gun festival in the U.S. Twice a year the Big Sandy Shoot, near the town of Wikieup, turns the Arizona desert into what is probably the biggest civilian shooting range anywhere in the world. Enthusiasts travel from across the country with their weapons to socialize, compare guns, and riddle explosives filled targets with hot lead

Organized by MG Shooters LLC, the Big Sandy Shoot began some three decades ago as a series of recreational target shoots for 'friendly groups of machine-gun fanatics'. Now the event is on major music festival scale, with thousands of gun-owners, their families, and mere spectators paying to camp for three days and soak up the ultimate in American gun culture. Reuters photographer Joshua Lott took his camera along to take some shots of his own.

{snip}

With so many lethal weapons floating around, organizers take security - and health and safety - very seriously. All visitors are asked to sign a release waiver before they are allowed on the site, and are banned from carrying sidearms. Only security guards are allowed to carry loaded guns off the firing line. 'MGShooters LLC has assembled a large loyal range officer department. 'They are identified by red t-shirts, with MG Shooters logo and the word SECURITY in large, panic reducing letters.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2299254/Americas-biggest-machine-gun-festival-goes-bang-thousands-firearms-fanatics-gather-Arizona-desert.html

Someone please tell me.... If GUNS KILL!!!, how in the name of gawd did *ANYBODY* get out of there alive this weekend, let alone any of those other weekends held twice a year for the past 30 years?? How could this be so, with all of those "Delicate Flowers", "Gun Nuts", Gun Humpers", "Gun Fetishists" and whatever other derogatory names the "Anti-Gunners", "Gun Banners" and "Gun Confiscation Advocates" wish to label gun owners as, in attendance?

Thanks in advance for your answers,

Ghost

[RedstDem]

1. give it time

now that the gathering is increasing in size, which is to be expected, there will at some point be a problem. not because the people there are "gun nuts", but because shit happens when large groups of people gather, it's inevitable.

also helps no one is allowed to carry while they are there...

[pipoman]

2. In other news..

This weekend at Lake Powell thousands of boating fanatics will be gathering...Thousands of car racing fanatics will gather in Tallahassee, Thousands of basketball fanatics will gather for the finals...thousands of basket weaving fanatics will gather in Taos...thousands of ski fanatics will gather at winter park, thousands of electronics fanatics will gather in Las Vegas, thousands of gun control fanatics will gather in NYC to wring their hands over thousands of machine gun fanatics gathering....

[holdencaufield]

3. Wish I'd been there ...

... sounds like fun

[jmg257]

4. Yee Haw!! Well oil me up and rub me down! A machine gun festival?!?

Thousands soaking up the "Ultimate in American gun culture".

How exciting is THAT!!?

[holdencaufield]

6. You sound a little TOO excited.

Don't get out much?

[jmg257]

8. Gawd and Guns, don't ya know!?!

And guns are such a blast!

(guns a blast...get it?)

[holdencaufield]

12. I spell it G-d, actually

[jmg257]

14. Sweet. since the OP used"gawd", figure Id throw him a boner. nt

[DonP]

10. He's trying to be "funny" and condescending at the same time - not working well.

Obvious never been to either major shoot event to see the quality and type of people it takes to own and use a $20,000 and way up firearm.

[jmg257]

23. A major shoot event? Not really. But WWF and a tractor pull...do those count?

Last edited Fri Mar 29, 2013, 02:58 PM - Edit history (1)

'The type of person who uses a $20,000 firearm'? $20,000? Wow! They must be genius!..being able to load that piece, cock the action, get a good sight picture AND squueeeeze that trigger!? At the same time?!? Are there college degrees available for that, or does one just need to join the army, marines, or well...simply buy a full auto instead of a semi??

[Remmah2]

7. Think of it as wood stock for RKBA people.

Deal with it.

[jmg257]

9. HA! Wood for gun owners...I GET it!

No problem, I totally understand the joys of surrounding yourself with those you most relate to...just make sure they're pointed safely down range!

[Remmah2]

11. No you don't get it.

And never will.

[jmg257]

13. Sure I do...guns are fun! Family bonding, special times, shared moments,

Pride in ownership and ability, security of being armed, letting loose a string of rounds downrange, blasting things apart, hitting that target center mass, fast reloads, 'being prepared', stalking snd killing the wild beasts, full auto tracers lighting up the desert sky at night, the excitement of a new piece, the history and engineering of deadly weapons...wheeewwww.


Great stuff, that American gun culture!

[Remmah2]

15. It's not nice to stereotype.

Stereotyping leads to profiling. Profiling leads to a career in the NYPD.

[jmg257]

17. 20 years and out...not a bad gig!

Except for those damn Glocks. The Sig however...

[Remmah2]

18. But only 4 weeks of work!

nt

[jmg257]

19. And limited education and IQ required! nt

[jmg257]

24. Aww..all that time wasted responding to one who had his pizza served. RIP! nt

[DonP]

5. I thought Knob Creek was the biggest?

Check out video of the night shoots at Knob Creek on YouTube if you get a chance.

But, good to know there have been no injuries for years at either shoot beyond a pinched thumb here and there.

[Remmah2]

16. Knob's creek should be a festival where the anti-2A people get together to conspire.

[ileus]

20. How did anyone escape alive with all those real assault death spewers.

umpossible I say....all those gun wanting to kill people, and not a people was killed.



Wonder what precautions have been taken to assure a kid doesn't get injured/killed like a few years ago? I'd love to take the kids to one of these events and let them have a turn each on something.

I have a friend that has 3 or 4 class III's but I'm never at this house/shop with the kiddo's, I only see him at work.

[Eleanors38]

21. Oh, the controllers are waiting with bated-breath for that. nt