Rational Basis Analysis of "Assault Weapon" Prohibition (Long, but must read)

Independence Institute ^ | 1994 | David Kopel

[Dan from Michigan]

Click on URL for the sources.

I needed to post this since amazingly, some people even here are actually defending the ban.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang!

[Drew68]

Bump to read later

[madison46]

ditto

[nightdriver]

People should be able to "keep and bear" the same arms our "authorities" use against us, including those automatic weapons we saw used in the Elian Gonzales kidnaping and the tank cannon used against Mt. Carmel in Waco.

[gcruse]

The prohibition is no more rational than a prohibition on beer based on legislative "findings" that beer grows on trees, that a single sip always causes instant physical addiction,

And yet when a libertarian makes the same statement about marijuana,
a hefty portion of the gun crowd gets 'up in arms.'  The refusal to
recognize that gungrabbers and drugwarriors are two sides of one antiliberty
coin leads to a split in what should be solid support for the freedom of both.

[supercat]

A folding stock makes a gun shorter and easier to carry, thus making it useful to hunters.

Non-NFA firearms with folding stocks (as distinct from folding actions) are a fair bit larger than smallish rifles/shotguns without them. To avoid NFA classification, a firearm with a folding stock must have a minimum collapsed length of 26"; since the sights, grip, and trigger are usually located for maximum utility with the stock unfolded (which, to be meaningful, must add at least 6" to the gun) this means such firearms generally have a useful length of 32" or more. While a rifle that's e.g. 34" collapsable to 26" has some advantages over one that's simply 26" long, concealability is hardly one of them.

[Drammach]

bflr

[_Jim]

and the tank cannon used against Mt. Carmel in Waco.

What 'tank cannon'?

Is this more "urban legend" in the making?

[_Jim]

including those automatic weapons we saw used ...

.. like by the gangs during prohibition?

No thanks.

[_Jim]

Because of an injury to her wrist, she was unable to use a handgun.

WAIT Wait wait -

- she *only* had one arm too?

[_Jim]

30-round ammunition magazine

A 30-round clip?

THAT is a little excessive for defense of property in a city (unless, of course, you're protecting your storefront property somewhere in LA during a riot) ...

[Dan from Michigan]

What's the difference between one 30 round and three 10 rounders?

About 2 seconds. Besides, it's none of the fed's business anyway. 10th Amendment(As well as 2nd amendment)

[_Jim]

Baaaaad article. Quite literally falls apart in several places in the last several paragraphs IMNSHO ...

[_Jim]

What's the difference between one 30 round and three 10 rounders?

Twenty additional stray ballistic projectiles ...

[flashbunny]

Gee, I didn't realize this was the Democratic Underground gun corner...

[_Jim]

Let's try that this way:

What's the difference between one 30 round[er] and three [one] 10 rounders?

Twenty additional stray ballistic un-accounted-for projectiles ...

[flashbunny]

30-round ammunition magazine

"A 30-round clip?"

Thanks for demonstrating you know zilch about guns.

[Dan from Michigan]

BS.

Detach magazine. Insert new magazine. Click, fire.

Luckily, my Congressman and Former FBI agent agrees with me.

[_Jim]

I didn't realize this was the Democratic Underground gun corner...

What?

Don't they like guns?

(I do - they have a place, a time and a reason for being. C&C *should* be a right in *every* state!)