Re: PEN-L Digest - 4 Jun 2007 to 5 Jun 2007 (#2007-159)

[ann li <ann_z_li@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Subject:
The Econometrics Of AKs

"Distance from Moscow is adopted as a proxy for the transport costs of
getting weapons (in this case Kalashnikovs) from their initial source to
the secondary markets on which they are traded."
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/2007/04/13/000016406_20070413145045/Rendered/PDF/wps4202.pdf

"On the other hand, an AK-47 is an AK-47 is an AK-47 and would probably
be just as effective in Nigeria as in Bolivia or in Malaysia or
wherever."
http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2007/06/journal_what_se.html

AKs are not identical and they don't all come from Moscow, which makes
the underground economy measure more problematic. This is another NC
assumption that disallows a more complex spatial transport surface.

Substitution is much more extensive when the SKS vs. the AK is such a
simple example of complex origin. The more obvious differences in terms
of a standards discourse are important, for example the availability of
.308 ammo (7.62 x 51) for substitutes like the FN FAL /G3 NATO family of
weapons which are still used extensively in Africa for example (thanks
in part to those colonial Belgians Newt Gingrich studied in his
dissertation). The AK also comes in .223 versions besides its "normal"
7.62 x 39, perhaps because of the availability of captured "western"
ammo for the .223 (5.56mm) M-16.

It is far too problematic when the AK as a sign of the Other dominates
the discourse as presented by writers like Larry Kahaner in his recent
book http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6539945 Recall
the display of "waepons caches" in news coverage when in fact ownership
of an AK with 50 rounds is completely legal for every Iraqi household,
even during the "surge". The eventual move to the 6.8mm SPC round in the
main M-16 US infantry rifle seems based partially about the practical as
well as regulatory issues of a (small) arms race where the primary
desire might be to produce more stopping power (Vietnam jungle war
versus Iraq urban war) as in the move to a .45 cal sidearm round from
the existing 9mm for close quarter battle situations. The amount of
rounds expended in Vietnam did rise proportional to the increased amount
of ammo that could be carried by a soldier. It is also based on a desire
to constrain supply using regulatory means that becomes more problematic
when considering both supply and standards in production and procurement
policy. The global sign economy of the gun control discourse reveals a
much more problematic context as indicated in the recent NY Times
business section article on "black guns" that demonizes a civilian gun
type using more superficial signs and misdirects the gun control message
particularly on issues of price by using the AK premise to critique
AR-15 supply for affluent gun owners
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/03/business/yourmoney/03rifle.html?th&emc=th
More amusing in the article is the lead pivoting on Ted Nugent whose
appearances on MTV Cribs solely with his archery equipment can be
contrasted with his extensive personal gun collection including a
full-auto MP-5 featured on other television appearances such as on CNBC.

Ann