[SGII] Random thoughts on Colonials

I'm not trying to get that gun-control discussion started again, but I
think it's fairly self-evident that for new colonies in ecosystems where
the local predators havn't learned to fear humans yet, and there might not be
enough military and law enforcement personell to go around, it makes good
sense for the colonists to be armed.

It seems to me that for those nations concerned about revolts, and wishing to
retain the ability to disarm these colonists should it become necessary (like,
after you went an imposed a tax on computor datachips or tea or something else
vital), the ideal Colonial weapon would be laser rifles or carbines. We see
that the impact of the laser sniper rifle is low (d6), it's unlikely any other
laser weapons would be any better. Not a real problem when shooting at wild
animals, criminals (unlikely to be equipped with military body armor), and
colonists of rival powers, but grave difficulty penetrating the armor of
Regulars with full body armor. Very accurate, even in the hands of relatively
inexperienced shots, especially since it could include a low-power
spotting mode (Button you press with your thumb puts a red dot on the target,
trigger just ups the setting). And it uses power packs which can be recharged
from the solar cells on the roof of your cabin. Likely to be FP 1, Imp d6.
Downside is that repairing it if it gets broken is likely to be a bit
difficult.

As a secondary note, the NRE prefers to sell subsidized 7mm ETC assault
rifles, on the grounds of ammo commonality with Akritai and formal militias.
Of course, their ideal is that any settlement would have a formal militia
structure as well.

John spake thusly upon matters weighty:

> It seems to me that for those nations concerned about revolts, and

That's a fair statement, although hand-loadable rifles like a basic
semiauto (along the lines of a modernized accurized Garrand) might be a very
serviceable choice also. And shotguns.

Not a real problem when shooting at wild animals, criminals
> (unlikely to be equipped with military body armor), and colonists of

Or in the back of your ATV. Or from the local power grid in times of civil
defense emergency.

  Likely
> to be FP 1, Imp d6. Downside is that repairing it if it gets broken

Not necessariliy - you would make it robust (lasers have been around
a long time by 2183). You would make it cheap. And you would either take a
small piece of CAM machinery that could make the components, or bins of spares
for these items for your colony.

> As a secondary note, the NRE prefers to sell subsidized 7mm ETC

Of course, places like the FCT colonies and other places where the right to
bear arms is a cultural norm might have a vast variety (up to an including GMS
systems and SAWs) in the hands of colonists. Standardization might not be
important as everyone may maintain there own stock of ammo and repair tools.
This strikes me as a kind of
"Pioneer/Individualist" thing.

It really depends on 1) flavor of those establishing the colony (the
colonists) 2) flavor of those organizing and paying for the colony (colonists,
politicos from major or minor powers, corporates, other kinds of ideological
backers with money, etc) 3) security situation on target planet (indigenous
life forms, military threats, resource value, etc)

All of these will contribute to the weapons control policy on any particular
colony world.