Vuurwapen Blog Firearm Essay Contest Winners

Due to some unforeseen issues, it took a long time for me to be able to publicly select and acknowledge the winners of the essay contest I announced on Facebook late last year. I announced the contest on Facebook and made it open only to those who had already “liked” the blog because it was not an attempt to inflate the number of “likes” on Facebook. I wanted to spend my own money to reward those who already followed my work and showed intellectual prowess.

As it turned out, it was a pretty difficult decision. There were no bad essays turned in – and there were more than those mentioned here. Of course I wanted to reward everyone, but in the end decided on three prizes.

Here are the winners and the prizes:

1st Place – Terence Nelan – Case of .22LR (6300 rounds)
2nd place – Matthew TY – 5 30rd Lancer mags
3rd place – Francis Sullivan – AR bolt and BCM GFH

And the beginning of each essay (see link for full version):

Gun Control as Race Control in the United States
Terence Nelan

This essay summarizes the legislative efforts by the white power structure in the United States to keep minority populations disarmed, and therefore more easily controlled. Although white concern over the possession of arms pre-dates the founding of the American republic, with even free blacks required licenses to possess or carry arms in Britain’s North American Colonies, this essay will begin just after the Revolutionary War Period.

Gun Control and Minorities
Matthew TY

Since the birth of the United States, gun control laws have been implemented to control or prevent minorities from keeping and bearing arms. To better understand the history of gun control laws passed with the intent to prevent and regulate the minority ownership of firearms in the proper context they have been categorized into laws passed within three distinct eras. These eras are Pre-Civil War America (1776 – 1861), Post-Civil War America (1861 – 1910), and Modern America (1910-present).

M9 Pistol Trials
Francis Sullivan

The JSSAPC tests in 1980 and 1984 to find the US military’s replacement to the M1911 service pistol are the source of many angst-ridden remarks throughout firearm internet forums. Allegations of foul play range from simple beliefs of favoritism to full-on tin foil hat level conspiracy theories. This essay will analyze the procedure and results of the 1980 and 1984 competitions in order to find the most severe problem with their design or execution.