WHETHER IT’S NEW GUNS OR USED GUNS, DON’T BELIEVE THE MOVIES

Movies and television shows provide harmless entertainment – as long as what happens on-screen isn’t taken too seriously. The problem is, big-budget blockbusters routinely portray utter nonsense when it comes to firearms. This does little to dispel the countless myths about new guns and used guns that propel anti-Second Amendment attitudes. Occasionally, this complete lack of regard for facts can also have tragic consequences, especially when children try to imitate what they on TV or in the movies. 

Some of the worst offenses routinely committed by Hollywood include the following:

Endless ammo

This is one that really makes gun owners cringe. Whether on TV or the big screen, shootouts seem to go on forever. Even when one of the characters is armed with a 5 or 6-shot revolver, he or she routinely fires dozens of rounds without ever needing to reload. Then there are the militaristic fantasies in which homicidal robots or soldiers of fortune shoot thousands of rounds from automatic weapons without ever running dry. The mere act of firing a weapon for such an extended period of time would destroy the barrel.

Quick kills

This error is seen countless times in TV shows. Someone gets shot, they sigh, and then they fall over dead. Sometimes, they have just enough energy left for a few dramatic parting words. This is so far removed from reality it’s hardly worth refuting. Suffice it to say that, in real life, the consequences of being shot are much, much worse. This is all the more reason to never shoot unless there’s no other option.

Bloodless wounds

Apparently Hollywood actors are much tougher than the rest of us. That’s the only explanation I can find for how often I’ve seen them get shot in the arm or leg, only to grab their wounded limb (which never bleeds) with a free hand and keep going.

Recoilless weapons

Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Willis, etc., are masters of this. Their characters fire military machine guns with deadly accuracy. Yet, no matter how powerful the weapon, it never throws the hero backwards or shoots high. Apparently the laws of physics don’t apply in Hollywood.

Impossible feats of marksmanship

There are literally thousands of examples of this I could cite, from cops with snub-nosed revolvers picking off bad guys 200 yards away to heroes charging directly at hidden snipers and picking them off with a 9mm sidearm. However, my personal favorite is from a few months ago on one of those “zombie apocalypse” shows, where a kid shot a walker clean through the head from across a giant compound with a handgun. Put that boy on the Olympic shooting team and he’ll bring home gold for sure.

Dramatic draws

The old westerns are famous for this. During the climactic gunfight at high noon, the camera focuses on the good guy, following him in slow motion as his arm swings waayy back behind his hip. His hand then dips down to grab his six-shooter, pulling it dramatically from its holster before firing it (usually from the hip) with perfect precision. The fact that the marshal took 3 seconds longer than he had to by using that maneuver never stops him from out-drawing the bad guy. I guess luck and a white hat was all it took to fight crime in the Old West.

Back to reality

There’s nothing wrong with watching made-up stories, so long as we in the gun community take the time to teach young people and novice shooters how to tell fact from fiction. That’s why good firearms education is more important now than ever.

Speaking of the real world, it’s no secret that prices for quality weapons are higher than ever. That’s all the more reason to look to Dury’s for your next purchase of used guns. Our pre-owned selections are ruthlessly tested by our experts before they’re put up for sale. We’re so confident they’re as good as new we back them with a lifetime guarantee. That’s no Hollywood fable; it’s cold, hard fact. Check out our selection and see for yourself.