The Walking Dead’s Opinion on Gun Control
Everyone has an opinion on gun control, and oddly enough, a zombie apocalypse—sort of like The Walking Dead…er wait, that IS The Walking Dead!–is often brought up in political analogies. Assuming the world was overrun by a zombie plague, it’s safe to say that the local police and government forces would not be answering 911 calls. You would be free to hoard as many firearms as you desire or need—and frankly, even the arsenal you’re thinking of right now probably wouldn’t even be enough.
That said, we thought it would be prudent to review some of the firearms used on the show, as well as open the forum to public opinion. Thus far on The Walking Dead, we’ve seen a Colt Python revolver, used by Otis, Daryl, Shane, Oscar and Rick. Daryl, Patricia and Lori used a Colt Detective Special, while other characters found refuge in packing a Smith & Wesson Model 442, Colt Official Police revolver and a Taurus Model 85.
For pistols, we have a Glock 17, used to waste zombies by Leon, Lambert, Shane, Daryl, T-Dog, Glenn, Andrea and Rick, as well as a Beretta 92FS, sharp enough to be used only by the elite of Rick, Carl and Andrea. Brother Merle has also found use of a Browning Hi-Power and a Walther P99. When it comes to rifles, former Sheriff and undisputed tribe leader Rick Grimes has only used a Remington 700 VLS, though Merle found a Winchester Model 70 useful, and T-Dog found a Browning Automatic Safari Rifle.
Mossberg fans, you’re represented by Shane and Rick, who chose a model 590 since the “Days Gone Bye” episode, while other Mossberg models were also used by Glenn, Maggie and Tony. Then you have assault weapons, like the M4A1, used by Rick Grimes, Hershel Greene and Merle, with the shadier types (namely the Governor) embracing the Cold Law Enforcement Carbine model. Last but not least (and definitely most controversial) you have submachine guns, the likes of which have only been possessed by Caesar Martinez and other Woodbury survivors.
Of course, manufacturer names aren’t that relevant if you’re scrounging for whatever you can find, in whatever abandoned shack you come across. What about the questions that really matter? Like what type of guns should you keep and what should you let go? (Assuming your clan of cowering children and teens can only hold so many bags for you)
You really want to have a gun that’s not too heavy and has light, easy-to-load ammunition, as this will be important for stockpiling and for weaker members of your crew who may have to cover you. Then again, smaller handguns are also more prone to damage, or at the very least, do suffer from lack of accuracy.
A lot of zombie apocalypse experts out there (oh yeah, they’re just counting the days till this really happens…) say that sub-machine guns are not that practical, considering that they have low accuracy and waste a lot of bullets. Pistols may be more dangerous for the shooter than larger guns, since they only work at closer range. Shotguns are also loud and will possibly alert more zombies to your location than they will kill. Rifles may very well be the most efficient choice, though all of this is relative to your own personal shooting style.
Of course, not everyone thinks guns are effective weapons…we all know Daryl prefers crossbows!
Gun Control – The Walking Dead Barn Scene
Emmettyeo
02/01/2013 @ 7:45 am
Need a semi auto 308 for the field shots , wide spred sawed off shotgun for the run and gun and a couple of glocks and a for the close ones. And of course a couple of knives strapped at easy to access areas of your body for emergencies and one offs.
ColonelNeville
12/05/2013 @ 6:53 pm
Sounds about right. The sharpened fold up trench shovel and slim lined machete is useful too. Damn zombies! No, really.
Anthony Welsch
02/01/2013 @ 10:10 am
Ok, so fans of the comic book series are probably wondering how practical a revolver would be for Rick Grimes— without giving any spoilers for television fans, just think of the problems that would come with reloading given Rick’s “situation”.
Prime Magazine
02/04/2013 @ 7:10 am
“The Walking Dead” is my favorite TV series.
ColonelNeville
12/05/2013 @ 6:52 pm
I concur. I cannot NOT watch it. And I listen to the music all the time. I’m not ashamed! No, really.
geezopete
02/27/2013 @ 12:56 pm
Out of my cold, dead hands. Oh, wait…. hmmm.
ColonelNeville
12/05/2013 @ 6:51 pm
Hey hey. Very witty.
ColonelNeville
12/05/2013 @ 6:50 pm
Even without a zombie apocalypse, we live in a world of wolves, of violent and murderous ideological mob minded movements and governments who have regularly murdered and are murdering millions.
It depends if one takes threats to all you value and love such as your family, children and friends and neighbors etc, and death seriously.
The police arrive in minutes or never for crimes that take seconds. Law enforcement and government authority can collapse in 48 hours and has in the past. But be my guest and if one is still inclined despite much of history, please, outsource your autonomy to those who are either indifferent to you or would totally control you. As the U.S government said to the American Indians, “hand in your guns and we’ll take care of you…”
Only fully trained and armed women are more than the equal of any rapist home invader. How defenseless should women be exactly, so that ‘gun control’ activists [almost invariably of the left] are satisfied? In fact 14 million licensed trained women carry pistols in the U.S and have only been attacked when they are NOT carrying. 99 million licensed gun owners commit not a single crime but prevent over 2 million crimes per year.
Take out cities where their is Democrat legislated ‘gun control’ laws and crime drops enormously. Chicago and Washington have ‘gun control’ laws and the highest gun crime. Why? Due to criminals who do not care about, wait for it, gun control laws. As history has hideously shown over and over again, ‘gun control’ is about people control. Hey, all dictators agree that gun control works.
Now read ‘More Guns [in the hands of law abiding citizens means] Less Crime by John R. Lott…three decades of massive county by county data. No, really. Colonel Neville.