[papertyger]

What makes a weapon a terrorist weapon is the way it is employed, not the weapon itself.

Precisely!

That they DID get THIS kind of punishment for this kind of WEAPON is unconscionable. And I'd be saying the same thing if their names had been Achmed, Mohammed, and Abdulla.

[Smokin' Joe]

Maybe they have reason to suspect that the rifles (and ammo) were intended for malicious use (such as communications intercepts or other contacts, including possibly informants).

Without that context to show intent, the possession of the rifles and ammo shows only the means to carry out such plans, not actually having a plan to conduct any terrorist act more nefarious than the removal of varmints (the 4-legged variety).

I seriously there is more to this than we are being told.

[the scotsman]

They are career criminals and gang members who bought this rifle, as well as hollowpoint ammo. What do you think they bought it for?.

They didnt get 16 yrs for having a .22. They got 16 yrs because they are violent criminals who bought the weapon and ammo clearly to shoot at other gangs, not cute squirrels. They got 16 yrs because this charge was the umpteenth for most of them.

Had they been non-career criminals, the UK sentence would have been much less. Probably a third to a half of what they got.