What is the purpose of assault weapons?

[creekster]

Your state senator's proposal to not only eliminate the sale of assault weapons but also require all gun owning, law abiding citizens to turn their guns over to the federal government.



Try to keep up.

Is this the specific proposal that Calicut and others here are suggesting be adopted? The one they are implicitly suggesting would have prevented the Sandy Hook murders?

[Uncle Ted]

Only the police should have high-powered engines.

If civilians had them, they could use them to flee the scene of crimes and outrun the police. If we restrict cars to go only 80mph, then the police can catch criminals more easily and we'll be a lot safer.

No, there is no way that the criminals could modify their cars to break this law.

And while we're at it, you don't need spoilers, racing stripes, or hood scoops either. No I don't care that this doesn't actually change how the car functions, it makes it look scary and fast. Such features should only be in the hands of trained racing drivers.

And finally, lets restrict gas tank sizes so you can't drive too many miles without reloading refueling. I'm not sure how this reduces crime or death but there's no reason you should NEED to drive 300 miles without refueling, and during the time spent refueling you won't pose a threat to others on the road.

C'mon car nuts, we're not banning cars, we're just limiting the types of cars you can buy. You can be happy with your Corollas and Station wagons.

[UtahDan]

Ted, you have made some really good points in this conversation. The car analogy is not one of them.

[Uncle Ted]

Ted, you have made some really good points in this conversation. The car analogy is not one of them.

You're right. The ban on assault vehicles needs a thread of its own. Mods, make it so.

[calicoug]

The gun control issue is so easy for the ignorant to spout opinion and emotion without any real understanding of what they are talking about.

Consider this.

http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/...useronline.pdf

Nobody is talking about banning all guns. We are talking about banning a subset of that group. And so far, the best reason given that we shouldn't is that it would be hard. The second best is that they are fun to shoot. So, in order, let's try hard, and let's find something else fun to do.

[calicoug]

Your state senator's proposal to not only eliminate the sale of assault weapons but also require all gun owning, law abiding citizens to turn their guns over to the federal government.



Try to keep up.

"Not only?" It is surprising that part of a ban means you can't keep owning the banned thing? It would be kind of a stupid ban otherwise. No wonder you think a ban wouldn't work.

[pellegrino]

Nobody is talking about banning all guns. We are talking about banning a subset of that group. And so far, the best reason given that we shouldn't is that it would be hard. The second best is that they are fun to shoot. So, in order, let's try hard, and let's find something else fun to do.

I think that those guns can and do play a vital role in the self defense of many Americans.

[Maximus]

Nobody is talking about banning all guns. We are talking about banning a subset of that group. And so far, the best reason given that we shouldn't is that it would be hard. The second best is that they are fun to shoot. So, in order, let's try hard, and let's find something else fun to do.

Which guns, exactly? why? Do you really think making more guns illegal will prevent people from breaking the law to kill people?

[Colly Wolly]

From my cold, dead hands.

[Levin]

The gun nutters are nothing more than insecure men with small dicks.

There is no reason in our civil society for a person to own an assault weapon except to satiate some twisted insecurity.

Sorry, but society is sick of paying that price.

[Maximus]

The gun nutters are nothing more than insecure men with small dicks.

There is no reason in our civil society for a person to own an assault weapon except to satiate some twisted insecurity.

Sorry, but society is sick of paying that price.

it is easy to say ban assault weapons, but harder to define "assault weapon". Assault weapon is a term made up by those wanting to ban them. The assault weapon ban didnt do anything useful when it was in affect anyways.

[pellegrino]

The gun nutters are nothing more than insecure men with small dicks.

There is no reason in our civil society for a person to own an assault weapon except to satiate some twisted insecurity.

Sorry, but society is sick of paying that price.

so what makes a "gun nutter"? Am I one?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Levin always seems to elevate the tone of the debate.

[Bo Diddley]

I'm as open minded as the next guy. I'm pro 2nd Amendment, yet don't carry myself.

I have yet to hear any logical and honest points of contention out of the gun control crowd. All I seem to hear is appeals to emotion, and nonsense. I've actually begun to believe that there's no point in trying to have a rational discussion with them, because they either refuse to be rational, or just can't because it's not within them.

I have a few ideas myself of ways to tighten controls, but I don't believe that there will be a rational discussion, so I won't even float them out there.

[Uncle Ted]

"Not only?" It is surprising that part of a ban means you can't keep owning the banned thing? It would be kind of a stupid ban otherwise. No wonder you think a ban wouldn't work.

Maybe you missed this video the first time I posted so I'll post it again. Making an assault weapon from pretty much scratch is not that complicated. These people are making about any gun you can think of in the mountains of pakistan using some of the simplest of tools. They just replicate the parts and assemble.

[YOUTUBE]FinRqCocwGE[/YOUTUBE]

The fact is that firearm technology exists. It cannot be uninvented. As long as there is metalworking and welding capability, it matters not what gun laws are imposed upon law-abiding people. Those that wish to have guns, and disregard the law, will have the banned guns via the black market. Also, given we can't stop the flow of drugs across our borders I don't expect it to much different for the flow of guns. I also find it highly unlikely that the government will be able to make any gun ban retroactive. In short, a gun ban will only take guns away from the law abiding citizens but not the criminals.