What's the argument for allowing assault rifles?

Thank you for your clear and accurate information. Some of these folks are just astoundingly ignorant about rifles, guns etc. which, BTW, is the way government-politicos WANT it.

I have a semi-auto Remington 20 gauge. If you remove the 'bird' plug, it holds more.

 

And do you feel the need to go out and shoot into a crowd of people with your assault shotgun? I am betting not. The fact a weapon is semi-automatic does not mean it corrupts the user of the weapon and makes him assault people since some here think the only reason for semi-auto is to kill people. IF someone wants to go out and make a political or social statement or just "make a name for themselves" by going out and killing a bunch of people, they aren't going to stop just because assault weapons are banned. They are planning on breaking numerous laws already. What lunacy makes anyone think they will not use an assault weapon because it would add yet another charge to a long list of charges including murder?

 

You sir are now charged with a thought crime. Please report to your nearest constable where you will need to sing two cumbaya's and write a paper validating the intricacies of government issued neo-cortical thought patterns.

 

What exactly is an "assault rifle" ? Who gets to decide what qualifies as an assault rifle? These are important questions that must first be answered.

Is an assault rifle really all that much more dangerous than a regular rifle? Is it really worth taking away an individual freedom to own an assault rifle just to reduce the danger by such a small margin?

One of the arguments for gun ownership is that it helps to ensure that the government will never forcibly take power away from its citizens. This might not be likely now, but it could potentially be a serious issue in the distant future. And if a government started going bad, chances are it would do everything it could not to give its citizens any more access to guns. So the potential benefits of being able to defend oneself against a hostile military force must be weighed against the dangers of weapons that could be used by crazies to kill large numbers of innocent people.

I think that "assault" rifles should be allowed, but not automatic weapons.

 

The definition for assault rifle is defined by the military as a select fire automatic weapon. The Assault Weapons Ban defined what "Assault Weapons" were and defined in the legislation. Now that the legislation is no longer in effect, there is no definition for an assault weapon. It was a political tool used by the gun control crowd to try and re-define what a rifle was and make is scary sounding.

They are still just rifles and handguns. A civilian can buy an assault rifle but it has to be registered with the Federal Authorities and because they do not allow new machine guns to be sold, only older ones are available and thus have become a very good investment. For instance, an M-16 goes for around 20 thousand now.

 

The only way to stop such a person is with equal force...As proven when the cop showed up with a gun. Anti-gun laws only make decent citizens victims.

 

I read the first page. Didn't see this anywhere.

Assualt Rifle and Assault Weapons are not synonyms.

Assualt Rifles are a specific type of firearm.

Assualt Weapon is a US law.

An Assualt Rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge. It does not mean it fires on full auto. It does not mean it fires a large, powerful rifle round.

In fact, a number of Assualt Rifles are not able to fire on fully automatic and none use a large, powerful rifle round by definition.


If the weapon is only capable of firing on semi automatic it is not an Assualt Rifle.

If the weapon is only capable of firing on full automatic it is not an Assualt Rifle.

If it fires a large, full sized rifle cartridge it is not an Assult Rifle.

If it looks scary that does not mean it has to be an Assualt Rifle.


Assualt Rifles. It is not a machine gun.


Not an Assualt Rifle. Also not a machine gun.


Not an Assualt Rifle. Comes in a few variations such as a selective fire battle rifle and light machine gun.

 

That is exactly what I was thinking. Fully automatic machine-guns are not generally legally available are they?

 

This is the statement of a sheep, who clearly has no interest in actually looking at reality; only in making the bad things go away without thinking about whether the tactics they espouse might actually accomplish anything!

Semi-automatic, magazine fed tactical rifles are used for a great many sporting purposes, but in the end that argument is irrelevant. A semi-automatic carbine such as an AR-15 represents, without a doubt, the most effective small arm for personal defense and security available today. Its mild recoil means even women can shoot it effectively. A rifle is, of course, easier to shoot under stress than a handgun, and is more precise. With the increase in gang violence and the upsurge in parts of the country regarding home invasions, a properly configured carbine gives American citizens a powerful tool for enhancing their personal security. It is also a powerful tool for deterring the rise of governmental tyranny.

A ban on guns does NOTHING to make any of us safer. It does, in fact, undermine public safety by giving violent criminals a more victim-rich hunting ground. A properly disciplined and trained populace can be armed, and do more to fend off criminal acts than an unarmed one. Almost any of the big shooting massacres of recent memory could have been halted if one of the people there had been armed and able to respond. The fact that so few people choose to be armed and so many choose the coward's way out is nothing less than a national disgrace.

 

Good post. Good info for those out there that are ignorant of the facts and think that just because a rifle LOOKS menacing it is somehow more lethal. The truth is such 'assault' rifles are no more lethal than a semi-automatic .22 caliber or even a revolver. It's like knives, styles can range from a kitchen 'butcher' knife to a knife specifically made for stabbing/killing however, a butcher-knife can kill just as easily.

 

A guy in China just used a knife to kill nine and wound many more. Guess he didn't need a gun, did he?

Yes, a so-called "assault rifle" is designed for rapid and accurate fire for tactical applications. If I get multiple people trying to invade my home to kill me and my family then I WANT it to shoot multiple people, fast, accurately, and with powerful ballistic affect!

 

I seem to recall watching a vid of a little girl at a gun show firing an MG42.

 

Well then, what you want is a battle rifle like the FN-FAL!

 

Hmmm...I stand corrected...Seems it is legal to own a machine gun however it does require special permits depending on the State.

 

I'm pretty sure it was Texas.

 

A valid point, but few people commit a mass killing with a hunting rifle. I love the rights we Americans have, but even I think an assault rifle like the AR-15 with a 100 round drum magazine is a bit over the top. I would love to have an AR-15, I think they look badazz and would be a blast to shoot. I do think though that all the large capacity magazines should be melted down and destroyed.

 

An AR-15 is not an Assault Rifle. It is a semi auto rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge.

 

There is absolutely no good reason for making a sports car. You can't go faster than 70, nobody needs a car that can go any faster. You dont need to accelerate quickly either. Actually all you need is a box that gets you from one place to another. Besides, sports cars kill lots of people.

While we are at it, hang gliders, parachuting, ultra-lights, rock climbing, white water rafting, no good arguement for any of those activities.

Now that I think about it, no good arguement for any type of alcohol either. Just gets people drunk, and kills far far more people than all the firearms and cars and hang gliders put togethor.

So lets just all close our minds and make the world a nice safe place by getting rid of everything that we dont see any reason to have.

 

People keep bringing this up, get rid of the high cap magazines and the world will be safe. As if people cant change magazines fast.

You focus on the symptom not the cause. The problem is stopping the psychos before they act. They identify themselves, they give plenty of advance warning, the people around them just failed to act. The Tucson shooter, Colorado shooter, even the Ft Hood shooter, all were very obvious in their intentions. The Colorado shooter even sent a letter to his psych over 1 week before the shooting telling her what he was going to do. Guns are not the problem.

 

Sigh. The AR-15 is not an assault rifle. It is just a rifle. People should learn a little about what they are talking about before they show their ignorance.

 

The AR-15 is used for hunting all the time. It is just a rifle, not an assault rifle.

 

Few civilians commit mass killings with AR-15s either. Weapons that would fit in the Clinton "Assault Weapons" ban are almost never used in killings. People seem to think they are because the few times they are used they get huge media attention. In reality you are more likely to be struck by lightning or die in a plane crash than to be shot with a so called "assault weapon".

 

Nice assumption, but I never said that. Perhaps let me speak for myself while you speak for yourself.

OK, tell me something I do not know. Again nice assumption. Perhaps in the future instead of assuming you know what I am thinking, just ask me what I am thinking and I will tell you.

 

Do a google of the AR-15 and see what it is refereed to by many. It is not ignorance, it is what it is labeled as by many. So don't set me straight, do a google search and set every website and news organization straight that refers to the AR-15 as an assault weapon. Does it really matter in the context of the topic anyway? Not to me. It can still have a 100 round drum and kill lots of people fast. And before you say, guns are not the problem, let me say I agree... people are the problem. But still I would rather a psycho has five 20 round clips than one 100 round drum.

 

Educating me on the obvious. Thank you?