Congress should renew the Federal Assault Weapons Ban Act

[Zenith]

The AK was originally designed to fulfill requirements for military use. So what? An automatic rifle is just like any other gun. It hurls a projectile. An automatic rifle is simply capable of performing this action more quickly.

An AK, or the infamous AR15, is just as good at hunting, plinking, target shooting, competing, and self defense as it is for military uses.

The only difference is that the AK looks scary to sheeple.

Selectively banning certain firearms is silly.

 

[shortcake57]

There is no concrete evidence to suggest and/or state that the crime rate was actually worse when the ban act was in effect. As a matter of fact, according to Time Magazine, “[Holmes’] weapon of choice was prohibited during the 10-year life of the 1994 federal assault-weapons ban.” Had the ban been in effect at the time of the shooting, 12 lives would have been saved, and it would have prevented 58 others from injury. Also, according to the New York Times, the guns that were used in the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting would have been banned if the Federal Assault Weapons Ban Act, saving 33 lives, and preventing and additional 23 from injury. Also, the Remington Model 870 shotgun used in the 2005 Red Lake Senior High shooting is also prohibited in the Ban act. These incidents, with numerous others, would have been prevented had the Federal Assault Weapons Ban been in effect at the time. So, it is flagrant that the crime rate was in fact worse when the ban was NOT in effect.

What makes you think that somebody who's willing to murder people really cares about illegally acquiring firearms?

Outlawing guns only disarms those with honest reasons for owning them and forces all criminals to the black market.

 

[Encyclopedia]

I've tried searching, but I only really get FBI stats on America, and there is no set USA and Europe crime stats kept. So I pretty much had to compare the various numbers posted from different websites.

But Europe being safer than America?

I wanna see reliable figures on that.

So...Yeah...

Maybe I should've specified. Scandinavia is definitely safer. The murder rate is a lot higher in the USA. Unfortunately violent crime seems to get mor common though.

 

[BobK]

The DC vs. Heller opinion laid out very clearly that the 2nd amendment is in place to protect an individual right to self-defense, not to protect the existence of militias. In my opinion, every American should familiarize themselves with DC vs Heller as it very clearly and thoroughly debunks the notion that the second amendment was never intended as an individual right.

Please read, and try to hang in there with terms like "prefatory" and "operative". They're worth understanding for this discussion:

The short version is, as I understand it, the Supreme Court ruled that the word "People" in the Second Amendment means exactly the same thing as it does in the rest of the Constitution. Does that sound like a reasonably fair summation?

 

[Swara]

I see that you are. I just noticed in other threads that the pro-gunners are not that flexible in their thinking.

I do appreciate that you bring up the topic.

I appreciate your good sport!

 

[Danoff]

The short version is, as I understand it, the Supreme Court ruled that the word "People" in the Second Amendment means exactly the same thing as it does in the rest of the Constitution. Does that sound like a reasonably fair summation?

Not really. Because no matter how you read the word "people", you might still think that that group is only entitled to rights to keep arms for the purpose of forming a militia.

What the DC vs Heller opinion does is debunk the notion that the second amendment exists to support militias and explains why it actually exists to support a right to self defense, the militia example being one of the most obvious at the time.

 

[Nicksfix]

A very interesting "final report" document was written on the '94 - '04 weapons ban.

The ban had little impact.

LINK

A little something to read as well. Compliments of the NRA-ILA.

Oh and by the way, for us gun owners and enthusiasts / collectors ..... Do not vote for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) California, as she will has made it known that she will reintroduce this again.

 

[hogger129]

A very interesting "final report" document was written on the '94 - '04 weapons ban.

The ban had little impact.

LINK

A little something to read as well. Compliments of the NRA-ILA.

Oh and by the way, for us gun owners and enthusiasts / collectors ..... Do not vote for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) California, as she will has made it known that she will reintroduce this again.

They also do not want an expiration date on it this time either.

I don't get what's so hard for them to understand about "SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED."

 

[Quackjack]

They also do not want an expiration date on it this time either.

I don't get what's so hard for them to understand about "SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED."

Because before you know it, forks will be banned in public

 

[sumbrownkid]

The AK was originally designed to fulfill requirements for military use. So what? An automatic rifle is just like any other gun. It hurls a projectile. An automatic rifle is simply capable of performing this action more quickly.

An AK, or the infamous AR15, is just as good at hunting, plinking, target shooting, competing, and self defense as it is for military uses.

The only difference is that the AK looks scary to sheeple.

Selectively banning certain firearms is silly.

Yeah, but in hunting I think it's fair the weapon stays single shot, so the animal has a chance to get at you if you miss.

 

[ParkourVeyron]

Yeah, but in hunting I think it's fair the weapon stays single shot, so the animal has a chance to get at you if you miss.

By "single shot" do you mean an actual single shot weapon or something along the lines of a bolt action?

Also, I'd prefer to have something semi-auto, or at least a lever action on me if I'm hunting something that will willingly "get at me."

 

[hogger129]

Yeah, but in hunting I think it's fair the weapon stays single shot, so the animal has a chance to get at you if you miss.

The Second Amendment isn't and never was about hunting.

 

[sumbrownkid]

By "single shot" do you mean an actual single shot weapon or something along the lines of a bolt action?

Also, I'd prefer to have something semi-auto, or at least a lever action on me if I'm hunting something that will willingly "get at me."

Bolt action if you're courageous. Knife if you're a sadist.

The Second Amendment isn't and never was about hunting.

Oh I know that.

But the Constitution has been, and always will be subject to interpretation.

 

[Keef]

But the Constitution has been, and always will be subject to interpretation.

It is open to interpretation so long as that interpretation is consistent with the document's original intent, which was clearly to extend natural and legislated rights to their maximum, and to limit the government to the role of protecting those rights and nothing more.

 

[hogger129]

It is open to interpretation so long as that interpretation is consistent with the document's original intent, which was clearly to extend natural and legislated rights to their maximum, and to limit the government to the role of protecting those rights and nothing more.

^ +1 👍

 

[shortcake57]

It is open to interpretation so long as that interpretation is consistent with the document's original intent, which was clearly to extend natural and legislated rights to their maximum, and to limit the government to the role of protecting those rights and nothing more.

Next time I'm discussing this topic with my friends I'm going to quote this.

 

[Quackjack]

It is open to interpretation so long as that interpretation is consistent with the document's original intent, which was clearly to extend natural and legislated rights to their maximum, and to limit the government to the role of protecting those rights and nothing more.

Anyone who thinks guns should be banned is laughable at best, un-american at worst.

 

[II-zOoLoGy-II]

I own shotguns, pistols, rifles (bolt action and modified auto).... I shoot regularly because I enjoy it. It is a hobby that endangers no living creature (seeing as I personally don't hunt because there is absolutely no sport in hunting domestic game IMO ). I conceal carry, as do most Texans I know. I am an advocate for concealed carry on campuses and an avid supporter of gun rights.

Restricting law abiding citizen's constitutional right does nothing to solve the problem; as the articles posted above suggest.

The real problem here is mental disease. Until there are proven methods of preventive diagnosis in place violence will continue. People seem to forget there is nothing rational about an individual who is willing to go on shooting sprees. The institution of a ban will not stop an unstable individual from carrying out a mass murder; they will simply find an alternative.... parking a moving truck full of fertilizer outside a building, using weapons that have no ban in place (which can easily be modified to semi/full auto and hold additional rounds with larger magazines), putting homemade pipe bombs in the mail, or simply using Google to find alternative means...

Fix the real issue here. Not some vendetta the public has against weapons because they're "scary."

 

[hogger129]

I own shotguns, pistols, rifles (bolt action and modified auto).... I shoot regularly because I enjoy it. It is a hobby that endangers no living creature (seeing as I personally don't hunt because there is absolutely no sport in hunting domestic game IMO ). I conceal carry, as do most Texans I know. I am an advocate for concealed carry on campuses and an avid supporter of gun rights.

Restricting law abiding citizen's constitutional right does nothing to solve the problem; as the articles posted above suggest.

The real problem here is mental disease. Until there are proven methods of preventive diagnosis in place violence will continue. People seem to forget there is nothing rational about an individual who is willing to go on shooting sprees. The institution of a ban will not stop an unstable individual from carrying out a mass murder; they will simply find an alternative.... parking a moving truck full of fertilizer outside a building, using weapons that have no ban in place (which can easily be modified to semi/full auto and hold additional rounds with larger magazines), putting homemade pipe bombs in the mail, or simply using Google to find alternative means...

Fix the real issue here. Not some vendetta the public has against weapons because they're "scary."

The problem here is that good, honest people are prevented from having the means with which to defend themselves. Criminals could care less if there's a ban on the carrying of weapons or if certain weapons are illegal. They'll do whatever they can to achieve their ends.

 

[XoravaX]

I've tried searching, but I only really get FBI stats on America, and there is no set USA and Europe crime stats kept. So I pretty much had to compare the various numbers posted from different websites.

But Europe being safer than America?

I wanna see reliable figures on that.

So...Yeah...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate
The statistics are based on the countries' own reports, so some may not be trustworthy.

Of all of the European countries, only Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and Russia (and Caucasus Georgia if you consider that a part of Europe) have higher reported homicide rates (per 100 000 inhabitants) than the US. Of those 6 (or 7) countries only Estonia and Lithuania are EU member states.
Even countries like Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria are "safer" than the US.

 

[Bram Turismo]

How do you Europeans defend yourselfs? Can you even own hunting rifles???

Defend ourselves against what?

I think you'll find the answer to that as an American pretty clear. But the answer to this for Europeans may not be as clear.

 

[hogger129]

Defend ourselves against what?

I think you'll find the answer to that as an American pretty clear. But the answer to this for Europeans may not be as clear.

How do you defend yourselves against dictators rising to power?

 

[Encyclopedia]

How do you defend yourselves against dictators rising to power?

Awareness.

Internet is a pretty good weapon.

 

[Zenith]

Basically prevention is the only weapon most Europeans have. In the US we have both prevention and a fall back.

 

[Danoff]

Defend ourselves against what?

Force.

(Keep in mind that most Americans have not had to do so, but we like the ability if it's needed.)

 

[Bram Turismo]

Basically prevention is the only weapon most Europeans have. In the US we have both prevention and a fall back.

It is also the only weapon we need.

 

[Danoff]

It is also the only weapon we need.

No it isn't. American's are exactly getting held up or attacked all the time. We have similar personal safety and similar needs when it comes to self defense.

 

[Azuremen]

It is also the only weapon we need.

That clearly worked out well in Oslo last year.

 

[Nicksfix]

They also do not want an expiration date on it this time either.

That's the scary part of a new weapons ban getting implemented.
Will this one last indefinitely if it comes to be ? What per say guns will be on the hit list this time around ? The new legislation to be pushed by this 80 year old Grandma (who by the way should be on her front porch in a rocking chair knitting blankets for her grandchildren), could be a bit interesting to say the least. With her getting in office again, and Obama, who also makes it clear about gun bans getting implemented, it will put us gun owners in a bit of a situation. What's next behind this possible legislation ? Are they going to come at us CCP owners and try to revoke our permits ?

Gun owners ..... fight for your rights !!!

 

[hogger129]

That's the scary part of a new weapons ban getting implemented.
Will this one last indefinitely if it comes to be ? What per say guns will be on the hit list this time around ? The new legislation to be pushed by this 80 year old Grandma (who by the way should be on her front porch in a rocking chair knitting blankets for her grandchildren), could be a bit interesting to say the least. With her getting in office again, and Obama, who also makes it clear about gun bans getting implemented, it will put us gun owners in a bit of a situation. What's next behind this possible legislation ? Are they going to come at us CCP owners and try to revoke our permits ?

Gun owners ..... fight for your rights !!!

That's why I donate to organizations like NRA and GOA who stand up for our rights.