What is it with the Guns?

[Sunstone]

Seriously. As a (fortunately) non-American, the whole guns thing is a complete puzzle to me.

Keep in mind that the majority of Americans -- including in many cases, a majority of gun owners -- favor stronger regulations. Very few people are in favor of banning guns (contrary to what some folks will tell you), but polls show most people believe they should be better regulated. That is to say, Americans are not entirely a nation of fools who think unlimited rights to guns are the best way live.

 

[McBell]

Keep in mind that the majority of Americans -- including in many cases, a majority of gun owners -- favor stronger regulations. Very few people are in favor of banning guns (contrary to what some folks will tell you), but polls show most people believe they should be better regulated. That is to say, Americans are not entirely a nation of fools who think unlimited rights to guns are the best way live.

Seems to me this is a big part of the problem.
So many people think what the media propaganda presents is the atypical neighborhood activity in the USA.
Of course, it doesn't help when the politicians play right along with their empty promises to do window dressing "fixes"...

 

[Underhill]

Keep in mind that the majority of Americans -- including in many cases, a majority of gun owners -- favor stronger regulations. Very few people are in favor of banning guns (contrary to what some folks will tell you), but polls show most people believe they should be better regulated. That is to say, Americans are not entirely a nation of fools who think unlimited rights to guns are the best way live.

The problem is, the NRA has a stranglehold on the issue. So while a good percentage of people on both sides of the aisle may be in favor of regulation, the group controlling a huge purse for republicans is against any and all regulation. So nothing happens until democrats can act without republicans or the NRA (ie gun owners). This often means the regulations we get are crap. NYS gun laws are a prime example of that. The NRA calculated that they get more money by using the "SAFE act" in their fund raising than they would get by trying to work with NYS on sensible regulation.

 

[Father Heathen]

Keep in mind that the majority of Americans -- including in many cases, a majority of gun owners -- favor stronger regulations. Very few people are in favor of banning guns (contrary to what some folks will tell you), but polls show most people believe they should be better regulated. That is to say, Americans are not entirely a nation of fools who think unlimited rights to guns are the best way live.

Exactly. One can support the 2nd amendment without opposing more regulation. I think training and testing should be required to obtain a gun license, just like a driver's license.

 

[Mycroft]

Exactly. One can support the 2nd amendment without opposing more regulation. I think training and testing should be required to obtain a gun license, just like a driver's license.

That's because there's nothing in the 2nd Amendment that says one can keep whatever kind of gun one likes, in any manner, for whatever purpose.

Some Americans own assault rifles. Why? For what purpose? Some of them have no military background, and display the guns on the walls and suchlike. It's simply unnecessary and nonsensical.

 

[Revoltingest]

That's because there's nothing in the 2nd Amendment that says one can keep whatever kind of gun one likes, in any manner, for whatever purpose.

Who is proposing that we could own any weapon?

Some Americans own assault rifles. Why? For what purpose? Some of them have no military background, and display the guns on the walls and suchlike. It's simply unnecessary and nonsensical.

Most of what is unnecessary & nonsensical.
That's hardly a criticism in & of itself.

 

[esmith]

That's because there's nothing in the 2nd Amendment that says one can keep whatever kind of gun one likes, in any manner, for whatever purpose.

Some Americans own assault rifles. Why? For what purpose? Some of them have no military background, and display the guns on the walls and suchlike. It's simply unnecessary and nonsensical.

No we can "Not" keep any kind of gun we want. Certain firearms require certain licenses.
What "assault rifles" do you think Americans own? M16's maybe?

 

[Father Heathen]

That's because there's nothing in the 2nd Amendment that says one can keep whatever kind of gun one likes, in any manner, for whatever purpose.

Some Americans own assault rifles. Why? For what purpose? Some of them have no military background, and display the guns on the walls and suchlike. It's simply unnecessary and nonsensical.

Out of curiosity, how do you, personally, define the term "assault rifle"?

 

[esmith]

Out of curiosity, how do you, personally, define the term "assault rifle"?

Well to start with a "assault rifle or weapon" was not a term used until 1989. The term is only a political term to describe a weapon that looks "scary" and might look somewhat like a military weapon. No military in the world calls their weapons "assault rifle/weapon", they are "service rifles" But just to answer your question I will use a term that has no meaning in the firearm world, just the political world.
A rifle that is capable of automatic mode.. In other words capable of firing more that one round with the pull of the trigger. Example
M16A4 used by the USMC. Has a 3 position selector switch: Safe-Semi-Auto. Safe-Weapon can not fire, Semi-one round with pull of trigger, Auto-3 rounds fired with single pull of the trigger (burst mode).
Note: no US service rifle at the present time can empty the magazine in one pull of the trigger.

That is what I consider your term "assault rifle".

Now there are rifles that can empty their magazine with one pull of the trigger and the most familiar is the AK47 and this type would meet your idea of an "assault rifle".

Note: A semi-auto rifle (Like the AR15) that fires only one round with the pull of the trigger is not my criteria for your term "assault rifle".

 

[metis]

Unless one is a truly lousy hunter, why does anyone really need an AR-15 or any other semi-automatic?

 

[esmith]

Unless one is a truly lousy hunter, why does anyone really need an AR-15 or any other semi-automatic?

Need and want are two different things. I have never owned or hunted with a semi-automatic weapon. Ooops, I take that back, I have a semi-auto 22 but the only thing I used it on was jackrabbits. All of my big game rifles were bolt action. I say were because I sold them due to plantar-fasciitis. Would like to pick up a Ruger AR15 and or a Savage .17HMR semi-auto for target shooting but my other hobbies take my disposable cash at the present time. Going to have to win the lottery but I'll have to buy a ticket first or find a winning one (about the same odds)

 

[Apex]

Unless one is a truly lousy hunter, why does anyone really need an AR-15 or any other semi-automatic?

Are you an expert in all forms of hunting?

Also, what is the common caliber most civilian "ARs" come in? No cheating (searching the internet).

 

[Apex]

One thing I still have a hard time figuring out with the gun debate, is why all the fascination with civilian ARs? They are responsible for the fewest number of homicides. Shotguns, knives, and hands/fists are all responsible for more murders than civilian ARs.

https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/u..._20_murder_by_state_types_of_weapons_2013.xls

 

[esmith]

Are you an expert in all forms of hunting?

Also, what is the common caliber most civilian "ARs" come in? No cheating (searching the internet).

Depends on if it is a true AR15 which comes in 5.56X45 NATO which is the same dimensions of .223

 

[McBell]

Depends on if it is a true AR15 which comes in 5.56X45 NATO which is the same dimensions of .223

Mines a 12 gauge...

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Depends on if it is a true AR15 which comes in 5.56X45 NATO which is the same dimensions of .223

5.56mm is for sissies. NATO should never have got rid of the good old 7.62mm round.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

 

[metis]

Are you an expert in all forms of hunting?

Also, what is the common caliber most civilian "ARs" come in? No cheating (searching the internet).

The key word is "semi-automatic".

As far as hunting goes, doing so just to have fun killing an animal is rather sadistic, imo. If one had to hunt for survival's sake, that's a different matter.

 

[metis]

One thing I still have a hard time figuring out with the gun debate, is why all the fascination with civilian ARs? They are responsible for the fewest number of homicides. Shotguns, knives, and hands/fists are all responsible for more murders than civilian ARs.

https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/u..._20_murder_by_state_types_of_weapons_2013.xls

Handguns are the most.

Contrary to what you seem to have me believing, I am not anti-gun.

 

[Mindmaster]

One thing I still have a hard time figuring out with the gun debate, is why all the fascination with civilian ARs? They are responsible for the fewest number of homicides. Shotguns, knives, and hands/fists are all responsible for more murders than civilian ARs.

https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/u..._20_murder_by_state_types_of_weapons_2013.xls

Most of the civilians don't buy these guys -- they are the sports cars, and generally they are no use to the normal population for most tasks. A pistol is a better home defense weapon alongside a shotgun (due to the spray and low penetration through walls... ), and for hunting generally no animal is going to take 3-4 rounds to kill, so burst weapons aren't useful... Generally, squeezing each shot is good enough...

I am aware of a shotgun though that shots double barrels off "each rack" and is fed via two magazines... This could put more lead out than an AR in most uses.