Comments on This is a tall tall tale but every word is true - I promise.

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sannhet - It makes you think doesn't it - that just 35 years ago, the
word "replica" allowed anyone to sell a working gun to anyone. Where I'm not 100% certain that it was in fact an Archie comic book where the sales add was found, I am certain that it was a comic book (as is Johnny). "Get your fully functional replica M16 right here" sandwiched in between the "dancing sea nymphs" and the "X-ray glasses"..... on the back page of a comic book but the real kicker is that the item was sent via postal, across the Canada/USA border.   

posted by gomedome on December 12, 2005 at 7:54 AM | link to this | reply

Gome -
Great story. Good thing you were around when he really needed you.

posted by sannhet on December 12, 2005 at 7:40 AM | link to this | reply

He is a lucky,lucky man
I would like to think that we have come a bit further since then. Problem is, kids keep getting guns! Cherish the time you have and have a drink in celebration that it did not turn out worse!

posted by Darkride on December 11, 2005 at 2:58 PM | link to this | reply

Gubby - there is no joke but the missing piece of the puzzle is that this
took place 35 years ago. The word "Replica" is the key element. A replica was technically not a real gun back then, with very loose parameters to define exactly what a replica was. In this case 3/4 scale was the qualifying factor. This allowed any vendor to sell it to anyone. Things have changed dramatically in terms of gun control legislation but the mentality has not. For some people, any loophole is good enough. Right and wrong, nor the possibility of disaster, do not enter the equation.

posted by gomedome on December 11, 2005 at 12:44 PM | link to this | reply

Um, they had an application form for a gun on the back of a comic book? You know, those things kids read?

I don't get it... what's the missing peice of the puzzle here?

Or is this just a joke which I'd have to be someone else to understand?

posted by Gubby on December 11, 2005 at 12:01 PM | link to this | reply

Eee gads, thank God his 16 year old friend had a little more common sense and perhaps a few more brain cells between his ears to run like a rabbit and save his life!

posted by JanesOpinion on December 11, 2005 at 9:41 AM | link to this | reply

Wow...that was amusing...It's amazing he lived.

posted by Ariala on December 11, 2005 at 5:03 AM | link to this | reply

Great story. I read those Archie comic books but I don't remember the ads.

posted by babe_rocks on December 11, 2005 at 2:32 AM | link to this | reply

Fascinating story...
Thanks for telling it. It made me chuckle.

posted by Giskard on December 11, 2005 at 12:43 AM | link to this | reply