By Philip Bourjaily

In our town, elementary school ice cream socials are a long-standing institution. You go, get a little cup of ice cream in a hot gym, then get volunteered for things you don’t want to do. I dutifully went for all the years my kids were in grade school and am now thankfully done. Seeing this video, I can’t help but think how much more fun would a “machine gun social” would be.

The event drew 500 people recently and I don’t blame them for showing up: $25 bucks for full magazine, a BBQ sandwich – something they know how to make in South Carolina – and a chance at a rifle is a pretty good deal.

My only quibble with the idea is, why raffle off an AK-47? At the very least, a candidate to lead the National Guard (SC is the only state that elects its Guard adjutant general) should award a US service rifle. It would be even better, though, to give away a gun made in South Carolina: why wasn’t first prize a Jarrett rifle or a South Carolina-made Model 70? I guarantee people would pay more than $25 for that ticket.

From AOL News:
GREENVILLE, S.C. (Sept. 27) -- A candidate to be South Carolina's next National Guard leader skipped the fiery speeches for firepower, launching his campaign with what he called a "machine-gun social."

The Greenville News reports some 500 people came out to a shooting range Saturday for Republican Dean Allen's political rally. He wants to be the next adjutant general, the person who leads the state's National Guard.

Attendees paid $25 for barbecue, a clip of bullets for target practice and the chance to win a semiautomatic AK-47. Whoever wins the rifle will have to undergo a background check.

Allen says he is an Army veteran who wanted to celebrate Second Amendment rights. South Carolina is the only state that elects its adjutant general.

Comments (19)

from buckhunter wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

What a great idea. Combining food, guns and the Second Admendment to get votes. I like it.

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from taylorhayward wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Good thinking. That would get me down there to hear him speak. If he's good enough thinker to put this thing together, that says something to me.

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from horseman308 wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

I had the same thought. Something like a classic service rifle such as an M1 Garand or 1903 would have been really cool.

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from Danthehunter wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

I was there and it was amazing. Anybody who has never shot full auto before definitely needs to put that on your bucket list.

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from jersey pig wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

i long for the day of my retirement when i can move to a place that does stuff like this.

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from sgaredneck wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

I agree Phil, there are great custom and production gunmakers in SC. It should have been something from SC. Maybe this will catch on though.

Danthehunter +1. I was at a class 3 shoot a couple of weekends ago and for those that haven't, you ought to at least once.

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from Jim in Mo wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Wish you'd have posted this last week.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 86Ram wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

I love the smell of gun powder in the mornin...

Sweet..

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from sgaredneck wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Smells like.......the 2nd Amendment!

+5 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 86Ram wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Should've given away an American Gun If they wanted to give away a true American Icon They Shouldv'e given a Springfield Armory M1 or M14 Rifle.

I also agree with givin away a gun made in SC.

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from hnestle wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Great idea. I wish I would have known about it. I live 30 minutes away and this is the first that I have heard about it.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ralph the Rifleman wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Nice...I remember my days of Full auto fire while in the military mode...very GOOD IDEA; keep the 2nd amendment alive, share some prime time with fellow shooters, and eat some good BBQ..and I agree the M1 or M14 would make a better prize...in my opinion.

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from RJ Arena wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Well, they went for a cheap prize, a M1 would be nice, carrying on tradition, and a fine weapon to boot.
But I should not complain at any attempt to introduce shooters and new shooters to full auto!

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jbird wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

I agree on the rifle, but hey, it was the guy's first "machine gun social", he'll surely get the minor kinks worked out before the next election. All in all, I think it was a ballsy and brilliant move. I would've ponied up $25 in a heartbeat.

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Carney wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

I'd throw down $25 for that -- for myself and each of my kids!

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ricardo Rodríguez wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

That seems like fun!

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from elmer f. wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

it's rather funny Mr. Petzal. when you write about it, it sounds like a nice family outing. when i read what you have included from the news article, i can just feel the hostility. what a difference a few words make! both basicly report the same facts, but there is an entirely different attitude between the two reports! that is because we are on the opposite side of this war. we, are pro gun, and the (ap) media is 110% anti-gun. i really despize how the (ap) press can interject their adjenda into every story they "report" on. the press is trying to influence (brainwash) the entire country into whatever their political beliefs happen to be for any given story. it isn't working as well as they would like it to, but it does have an effect. I.M.O.. that is why we have "oblamination" going on right now.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from wingshooter54 wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

To paraphrase the Nuge; "You can't do this in France, baby!" Or England, Australia, etc.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jmiles wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Petzal and Nuge Rock! I live in SC and am proud of this. I was out of town on businees and could not attend. I hate that thing called work!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

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from horseman308 wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

I had the same thought. Something like a classic service rifle such as an M1 Garand or 1903 would have been really cool.

+5 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Danthehunter wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

I was there and it was amazing. Anybody who has never shot full auto before definitely needs to put that on your bucket list.

+5 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from sgaredneck wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Smells like.......the 2nd Amendment!

+5 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 86Ram wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Should've given away an American Gun If they wanted to give away a true American Icon They Shouldv'e given a Springfield Armory M1 or M14 Rifle.

I also agree with givin away a gun made in SC.

+5 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

What a great idea. Combining food, guns and the Second Admendment to get votes. I like it.

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from taylorhayward wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Good thinking. That would get me down there to hear him speak. If he's good enough thinker to put this thing together, that says something to me.

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jersey pig wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

i long for the day of my retirement when i can move to a place that does stuff like this.

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from sgaredneck wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

I agree Phil, there are great custom and production gunmakers in SC. It should have been something from SC. Maybe this will catch on though.

Danthehunter +1. I was at a class 3 shoot a couple of weekends ago and for those that haven't, you ought to at least once.

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ralph the Rifleman wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Nice...I remember my days of Full auto fire while in the military mode...very GOOD IDEA; keep the 2nd amendment alive, share some prime time with fellow shooters, and eat some good BBQ..and I agree the M1 or M14 would make a better prize...in my opinion.

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from RJ Arena wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Well, they went for a cheap prize, a M1 would be nice, carrying on tradition, and a fine weapon to boot.
But I should not complain at any attempt to introduce shooters and new shooters to full auto!

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jbird wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

I agree on the rifle, but hey, it was the guy's first "machine gun social", he'll surely get the minor kinks worked out before the next election. All in all, I think it was a ballsy and brilliant move. I would've ponied up $25 in a heartbeat.

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Carney wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

I'd throw down $25 for that -- for myself and each of my kids!

+4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Jim in Mo wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Wish you'd have posted this last week.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from hnestle wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Great idea. I wish I would have known about it. I live 30 minutes away and this is the first that I have heard about it.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ricardo Rodríguez wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

That seems like fun!

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 86Ram wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

I love the smell of gun powder in the mornin...

Sweet..

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from wingshooter54 wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

To paraphrase the Nuge; "You can't do this in France, baby!" Or England, Australia, etc.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jmiles wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

Petzal and Nuge Rock! I live in SC and am proud of this. I was out of town on businees and could not attend. I hate that thing called work!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from elmer f. wrote 2 years 19 weeks ago

it's rather funny Mr. Petzal. when you write about it, it sounds like a nice family outing. when i read what you have included from the news article, i can just feel the hostility. what a difference a few words make! both basicly report the same facts, but there is an entirely different attitude between the two reports! that is because we are on the opposite side of this war. we, are pro gun, and the (ap) media is 110% anti-gun. i really despize how the (ap) press can interject their adjenda into every story they "report" on. the press is trying to influence (brainwash) the entire country into whatever their political beliefs happen to be for any given story. it isn't working as well as they would like it to, but it does have an effect. I.M.O.. that is why we have "oblamination" going on right now.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.