NationStates Jolt Archive


Keep Your Powder Dry!

Roycelandia
17-06-2004, 15:31
The idea for this issue that occured to me earlier on today... most of the "Weapons" Issues seem to be centred around "Modern" guns. But what about all the antique guns that must surely exist in every nation? They don't just disappear once they become obsolete... they end up in the hands of collectors and military re-enactors. Which seems to set itself up nicely for this issue:

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Title: Keep Your Powder Dry!

Description: The Nation’s Military Re-enactors are complaining about laws that treat antique weapons as being just as dangerous as modern military weapons.

Validity: Not valid for nations that have compulsory firearms ownership

[option]“It’s about time our Government realised that the weapons of yesteryear pose no threat to society!” exclaims re-enactor @@RANDOMNAME@@ as he fumbles with a powderhorn and shot whilst trying to reload a musket. “When was the last time anyone held up a bank with a blunderbuss? Any weapon more than 100 years old should be exempted from all ownership restrictions and government controls! Never mind that ammunition for most of them is still commercially available, and that they work just as well today as they did a century ago!”
[effect] hunters with muskets and antique guns are a common sight in the Nation’s outdoors
[stats] crime decreases, political freedoms increase, health decreases, environment decreases

[option]“Old guns can kill someone just as effectively as new ones!” cries @@RANDOMNAME@@, spokesperson for People Against Everything. “These weapons can still fall into the wrong hands, and need to be strongly regulated. Better yet, we should put all the old weapons in a museum, where no-one can use them! Sure, the regulations and preservation will cost money, and the Arms Industry will suffer, but isn’t it worth it to save lives and preserve our history?”
[effect] military history buffs use BB guns to re-fight famous battles
[stats] taxes increase, arms industry decreases, environment increases, education increases

[option] “Hang on a minute… all these old guns work just fine, right?” asks General @@RANDOMNAME@@, head of @@NAME@@’s Armed Forces. “We should draft all the re-enactors into the Armed Forces. They’ve already got their own weapons and uniforms, so we’d save huge amounts of money, which could be spent elsewhere… like helping our Arms Industry make lots of shiny, new guns. The history buffs get to fight wars for real with their guns, we get more soldiers and cut costs, and the economy gets a boost. Everyone wins!”
[effect] the nation’s soldiers spend all day practicing musketry drill and volley firing
[stats] military decreases, education decreases, economy increases, arms industry increases

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I'm well aware that most military re-enactors use modern replicas of weapons (in the case of muskets and cap-and-ball firearms, cowboy guns, and so on), but all the Zulu War, WWI-and WWII re-enactors use actual guns from the period. Anyway, your thoughts and comments on this issue are appreciated...
Tuesday Heights
18-06-2004, 01:45
Another interesting one! I like it! :)
Unfree People
18-06-2004, 02:54
Yeah, it is a neat idea. I don't get what the title has to do with it, but some current titles are really odd by my thinking as well.

Use straight quotes " instead of stylized ones “
Roycelandia
18-06-2004, 08:43
"Keep your powder dry" was the most critical piece of advice given to soldiers in the British Imperial Army before metallic cartridges were invented. Gunpowder (being a mixture of saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal) doesn't ignite when wet, so early firearms (arquebuses and the like) could be almost totally useless in the rain. The development of the powderhorn did much to fix this problem, but it wasn't until metallic cartridges were invented in the 1850s that soldiers could rely on their guns to fire in the rain. (Flintlocks, wheelocks, and matchlocks were notoriously unreliable in wet weather, as once the flint got wet, it wouldn't spark- it wasn't just the powder.)

If anyone can think of a better name, I'm all ears... :D

And as for the quotes... I'll make sure I fix them before I submit the issue. I type them in Word first, then cut n' paste here to save re-typing it, or forum problems, or whatever...
Ultimate Stupidity
18-06-2004, 09:27
No, the name "Keep your powder dry!" is a very inventive one. I like that issue.
Unfree People
18-06-2004, 18:24
"Keep your powder dry" was the most critical piece of advice given to soldiers in the British Imperial Army before metallic cartridges were invented. Gunpowder (being a mixture of saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal) doesn't ignite when wet, so early firearms (arquebuses and the like) could be almost totally useless in the rain. The development of the powderhorn did much to fix this problem, but it wasn't until metallic cartridges were invented in the 1850s that soldiers could rely on their guns to fire in the rain. (Flintlocks, wheelocks, and matchlocks were notoriously unreliable in wet weather, as once the flint got wet, it wouldn't spark- it wasn't just the powder.) Ah, I see, makes sense. I don't think your title is anywhere near as confusing as some, and that's an interesting - and relevant - background story for those in the know ;)

Yeah, I'd go ahead and submit the issue too.
Roycelandia
20-06-2004, 03:06
Duly submitted. Now, we play the waiting game... :D
Emperor Matthuis
20-06-2004, 15:37
Duly submitted. Now, we play the waiting game... :D


Hopefully this one will get through! :)

Nice Issue,
Dragonari
20-06-2004, 18:03
Yeah, I hope it goes through because I liked it. However, I don't know if the game moderators will keep the same stats for option 1

[stats] crime decreases, political freedoms increase, health decreases, environment decreases

They got some warped ideas about guns and the military. When I voted to increase my miltary spending my poltical freedom went down. :shock: Like, what gives with that? Oh well, good luck with getting your issue adopted. :)
Roycelandia
21-06-2004, 03:02
Thanks! I'm not too fussed if the Editors play with the stats a bit... it'd just be nice to get an issue accepted!

We'll see what happens...
Unfree People
21-06-2004, 03:30
It's optional to put stats in at all and there's no doubt that the editor will change them if your issue is accepted... that's not really the important part of the issue ;)
G Dubyah
21-06-2004, 03:38
Why not include AR's?

Or Magazines with a Higher Round Capacity?

Hell, everything under the AWB Ban in general.

I think that would make for a damn good issue.
Roycelandia
21-06-2004, 05:23
Well, for several reasons:

Firstly, the issue isn't about Guns in general- it's about antique guns.

Most people here on NS are obsessed with Modern, Ultra-Shiny/Black Assault Rifles with large magazine capacities, Grenade Launchers, and Laser sights.

The whole point of this issue is to make people think about older weapons- remind them that there are guns besides the M-16 and AK-47 out there, and that they are a part of history as well.

Secondly, many Nations in NS allow their citizens to own whatever they like firearms-wise (so the issue won't apply to them).

Thirdly, not everyone on NS lives in the US. High Capacity Magazines and Assault Rifle type weapons are perfectly legal in many countries (New Zealand, most of Europe, and Thailand spring to mind).

I might write an Assault Rifle legalisation issue, but it won't be from the US perspective...
Syskeyia
28-07-2004, 00:07
Well, for several reasons:

Firstly, the issue isn't about Guns in general- it's about antique guns.

Most people here on NS are obsessed with Modern, Ultra-Shiny/Black Assault Rifles with large magazine capacities, Grenade Launchers, and Laser sights.

Got 'em. :)

The whole point of this issue is to make people think about older weapons- remind them that there are guns besides the M-16 and AK-47 out there, and that they are a part of history as well.

Secondly, many Nations in NS allow their citizens to own whatever they like firearms-wise (so the issue won't apply to them).

Intersting, I've been doing research on firearms to see what kind of guns my soldiers would have carried in the past.

Though as I have compulsory gun ownership (think Swiss civic virtue/milita, not OMG I AM TEH L33T AM3RICAN 1ND1V1DUAL15T), I won't get the issue anyway. :sniper: ;)
God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia
Tuesday Heights
28-07-2004, 05:00
There was a news story a bit back about Mexican police that interrupted a US soldier's funeral in Mexico because the Americans giving him a proper military burial were using "fake" weapons for the ceremony at the request of the government; so, this is very relevant!
Roycelandia
28-07-2004, 08:39
The Issue has to be accepted first, before anyone gets to see it...