Assault weapons don't belong in civilian hands (MA)

The Standard-Times ^ | December 22, 2006 | Meathead Editorial

[karnage]

"Any law enforcement officer, found in posession of a weapon not allowed the general public, shall be imprisoned for ten years."

My revision: "If any law enforcement officer is found in possession of a weapon not allowed the general public, the law will be amended to make that weapon legally available to the public!"

[neverdem]

Forgive me, but what is an "assault" weapon, as opposed to just a "weapon"? The word "assault" is used to describe "weapon" nine times in the article. What's the difference?

An "assault" weapon is a vague term usually used to obfuscate the difference between military looking semi-automatic long arms and various automatic firearms. Wikipedia seem to have a decent discussion, although I didn't read all of it.

[RetiredArmy]

N.B. for the clueless, the ammunition for the AR-15, M-16, AK-47, etc. was intentionally designed not to be high-powered.

Regardless, the 5.56 mm of the M-16 does huge damage. Kills and wounds. As one who has been wounded by an M-16 round, I can testify to the damage that round does to the body.

[longtermmemmory]

based on my many years of legal practices I have come up with the following law of nature:

The more restrictive the gun control laws in a political entity, the greater in incidence of political corruption within that entity.


example: Chicago, high political corruption and very restrictive gun control. Same for Washington DC.

[redgolum]

Compared to a .22 LR it does. But a 5.56mm (.223 Rem.) is not a legal deer cartridge in most states. It is classed as a small game cartridge. Because it is too under powered. A 7.62 NATO (.308 Win) delivers a lot more energy and stopping power than a 5.56 mm. Both will kill you quick if hit in the right spot.

[Centurion2000]

But...you can have a cannon. As long as it is fired by "antique means" (fuse hole), you don't even need to register it.

MRSI gets tough, but it can be done

What about percussion caps?

[skepsel]

Assault rifle, originally from the German WWII "Sturmgewehr", sturm = storm or assault and gewehr = rifle. I may have spelled it wrong, at any rate the idea was to neck down a full power rifle catridge, usually about .30 caliber (German 8mm or 7.92 x 50 something) into an intermediate powered round.

It was decided that full powered rifles were unnecessary, engagenments rarely took place at more than 300 yards, much closer than the 1200 yds a standard battle rifle was capable of.

The old style weapons were more costly to manufacture than the new select fire weapons (today an M1A1 semi-auto M-14 type rifle made the old way goes for about $1400 vs around $400 for a Romanian WASR AK clone) made from simple stampings and welds and a minimum of the precision machinings by skilled craftsmen required in the older weapons.

In addition the new weapons fired lighter ammunition allowing more of it be carried.
Tactics changed as the war went on and the numbers of well trained long service troops declined, the proportion of less well trained troops rose and the general level of marksmanship declined, mass over quality if you like.

It was felt that in close quarters combat the ability to through a lot of bullets would compensate for the decline in other qualities and improve the average soldier's morale enough to make the assault with his fellows close beside him, all spraying and praying, suppressive fire by the individual soldier or squad providing a base of fire to pin or supress the enemy and allowing other elements to manuever against the objective.

[Shellback Chuck]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO9eMgFWXTk

[Domandred]

Forgive me, but what is an "assault" weapon, as opposed to just a "weapon"?

Here is an example of the stupidity

Weapon:

"Assault" Weapon:

Same model gun. The first picture is "Stock" minus the bayonet to make it legal for import. The second is filled with after market accessories and addons. Still missing the bayonet but the bi-pod uses the bayonet lug in this case so probably can't have both.

These are not my pictures, just ones I found on the net. I own the same model myself, but not pics sorry. And yes mine is technically "banned" because of my after market stuff, but I don't give a rats ass.

[redgolum]

The other reasons for a smaller cartridge were:
1. Most fighting took place under 300 yards. An 8mm or 30-06 has a longer range.
2. A full auto high power cartridge tends to beat up the shooter. As some of the guys who had the full auto M-14. It was impossible to control.
3. Lighter ammo meant that you could carry a lot more into battle.

But this came at a price. Less stopping power. That is one of the reasons the military is invesgating the 6.8 SPC.

[killermedic]

Nice poster! You're right it has nothing to do with guns. After the brady bill was lifted, I went and bought one of the post ban AR-15 M4 styled assault rifles just because I could.
Personally I think that the media has more power to kill than my single rifle...sarc/but hen again what would I know about regulation, I am just a white male who used the power of my ancestors to oppress the less fortunate of our genocidal,empirical, and capitalist country. May I rot in hell. /sarc

[54B]

The sad thing is, politician's try to ban AK's here in the states, but the gutless state department insisted that every Iraqi has the cultural "right" to one.
Ask any OIF vet, we have to let the Iraqi citizen's keep an AK-47 at the house and place of business.

[Dick Bachert]

LET THOSE FACES IN THAT LAST PHOTO -- ESPECIALLY THE BEAUTIFUL ONE FRONT ROW LEFT -- HAUNT YOU AS THEY DO ME AND IMAGINE YOUR CHILDREN IN THAT SITUATION! CAMP GUNFREE!

A common sense and historically proven way to keep those dangerous and destructive GUNS out of YOUR life. MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE NOW!

Details below.

Concerned about the easy availability of guns in our society?

Are you as alarmed as the United Nations and some within our own government about the "gun nuts" and other freedom wackos allowed to run loose?

Wish the government would just repeal the Second Amendment and confiscate all the guns because you believe sensible people shouldn't suffer because of some idiotic notion about some antiquated “right?”

While we can't take the guns away from the people, we CAN take the people (or at least SOME of them) away from their guns.

At CAMP GUNFREE, we have created an atmosphere of near-total tranquility where you and your family will experience the benefits of a GUN FREE environment.

The unique main gate at Camp GunFree.

The sign over the beautiful wrought iron gate declares: “NO FIREARMS ALLOWED!” Most arriving camp guests never see this view from their comfortable rail cars.

Each of our camps is a gated community designed to keep guns away from camp guests. Firmly enforced security measures ensure that these dangerous and destructive devices are kept outside. Each camp boasts 24 hour, 7 day a week sentries and state-of-the-art enclosure systems, guard dogs, trenches and surveillance equipment to absolutely GUARANTEE that no firearms enter the facility. Rigidly controlled access ensures that no guns will ever be smuggled in.

No cost has been spared to ensure that Camp GunFree remains gun free.

All camp members are given distinctive uniforms to distinguish them from any gun-toting barbarians who might attempt to evade our security measures. Each camp member is also assigned a distinctive ID number to ensure that only the right people are allowed within the camp.

Camp Director, Oberstfurher Koch, and his crack staff are here to see to your COMPLETE safety from dangerous firearms.

Spacious and comfortable sleeping accommodations are a hallmark of Camp GunFree. Room and board are provided to each member in exchange for rewarding tasks designed to provide a sense of accomplishment and to demonstrate that large numbers of people CAN exist – even if for a short time -- in a gun violence free community.

Camp members engaged in one of our many fun-filled organized play activities.

Current headlines prompt us to remind you that there has NEVER been a shooting by a student in any of the camp schools and we can GUARANTEE that there never will be!!

For more information, call 1-800-GUNFREE OR visit our new website at http://www.privategunsareabadthingandwe'llseethatyouare”safe”.batf.gov

(This idea from a pamphlet originally created by The Minnesota Center for Individual Liberty, PO Box 32170, Minneapolis, MN 55432-0170)

[paul51]

I propose a law

I'll make another proposal. Any elected or appointed public or law enforcement official that attempts to deny the citizens a right to defend themselves be hung.

[MarkL]

Forgive me, but what is an "assault" weapon, as opposed to just a "weapon"? The word "assault" is used to describe "weapon" nine times in the article. What's the difference?

There's a "real" definition of the term "assault rifle," which is a rifle, capable of select fire (fully automatic), which fires a reduced power round (compared to a "high power" rifle caliber"). Since the weapons they're trying to ban don't actually meet the definitions of an "assault rifle," they basicly made up a scary name for a scary looking rifle. That's why it's common to hear the term "semi-automatic assault weapon." They're trying to associate "semi-automatic" with "assault weapon," i.e. "all semi-autos ARE "assault weapons!"

For instance a "battle rifle" is a long arm, firing a full power cartridge (like the M1 Garrand, which fires the 30-06, or the M14, which fires the .308 or 7.62mm NATO), while the "assault rifle fires a round like the .223 or 5.56mm NATO. A soldier can carry more than twice the ammunition in the same weight load.

And an "Assault Rifle" is often smaller, and sometimes lighter (but not always) than a "battle rifle."

Mark

[Domandred]

Well I had two pictures. Can't remember where I got the first one now though and can't go back and edit my post.

[Dick Bachert]

And the goal of any sensible military organization is to WOUND the other guy as he will tie up several others as they tend to him on the battlefield.

[patton]

Percussion caps? A flintlock cannon? don't ask, don't tell...

Piciric acid is willow bark, you know. Make all you wish. Ten times distilled, asperin - 100 times distilled, flash powder.

[Just another Joe]

Never do see those balls come back down. Maybe it's my eyes.

[vigilence]

The left likes to think that all governments are benevolent and exist for the collective good. Conservatives believe that all governments are suspect and exist only as a necessary evil, their existence subject to revocation at any time they become a threat to igod given rights. The left thinks that weapons are meant for protection from the enemy from without. Conservatives resereve the right to fight enemies from both without and within. Therefore, the left believes we don't need weapons, the government will protect us. Conservatives believe we should have any weapon we choose to match the weapons of any enemy, foreign or domestic. Ever seen the movie "Seven Days In May"? What if a charismatic American general decided to stage a coup de ta? Wouldn't we need weapons to fight he an his followers? Happens all the time around the world. Hopefully, never here but then you never know do you.