Why is the AR-15 Legal?

[Nakosis]

Details about Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old who was expelled from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., emerged Wednesday after he returned with an AR-15 assault rifle and opened fire while stalking the halls.

Florida shooter with history of problems bought his AR-15 legally

The civilian version AR-15 is not an assault rifle. It's a small caliber semi-automatic hunting/sport rifle with cosmetics designed to make it look like a military style rifle. However it is constantly being referred to as an assault rifle in the media.

Is this media ignorance? Is it justified to support the cause? Is my information about it wrong?

 

[sun rise]

From what I found your information is incorrect Urban Dictionary: AR-15

and especially More on the Military and Civilian History of the AR-15

Given the kits available "bump stocks" that can rapid fire the rifle, it's effectively fully automatic.

 

[Orbit]

You might find this illuminating:

America's gun problem, explained


More Guns Do Not Stop More Crimes, Evidence Shows

 

[Brickjectivity]

We have shootings here because we have encouraged mass fear and depression. We already have gun control. The Democrats and the extreme pro-peace lefties ought to focus on getting people who are Republicans to consider crossing over instead of focusing upon this gun issue, which you already know is not a root problem but a symptom. Yes they are guns and they are dangerous, but so are cars, chemicals, books and rock music depending on whom you ask. You have too many issues you are pushing as your main thing, and so you are counteracting yourselves cutting off potential allies. I told you this before the last election. Compromise or lose. Focus on your strengths and win. Focus on guns? Then stop focusing on other issues, because you have to compromise. Its a big country.

 

[Nakosis]

From what I found your information is incorrect Urban Dictionary: AR-15

and especially More on the Military and Civilian History of the AR-15

I don't see anything incorrect here. There is a lot of confusion however about the differences between the civilian and military versions.

Given the kits available "bump stocks" that can rapid fire the rifle, it's effectively fully automatic.

Which could pretty much be created for any semi-automatic rifle. Should we ban semi-automatics?

Semi-automatic have a automatic system for reloading the chamber vs a bolt or lever which requires a manual process to clear and reload the chamber.

 

[Nakosis]

We have shootings here because we have encouraged mass fear and depression. We already have gun control. The Democrats and the extreme pro-peace lefties ought to focus on getting people who are Republicans to consider crossing over instead of focusing upon this gun issue, which you already know is not a root problem but a symptom. Yes they are guns and they are dangerous, but so are cars, chemicals, books and rock music depending on whom you ask. You have too many issues you are pushing as your main thing, and so you are counteracting yourselves cutting off potential allies. I told you this before the last election. Compromise or lose. Focus on your strengths and win. Focus on guns? Then stop focusing on other issues, because you have to compromise. Its a big country.

What? There is no compromising with the otherside. They are evil ********!

Obviously being sarcastic but this seems the mentality. The era of compromise is over?

I think training, observation and responsibility should be supported however necessary. However I don't know. One side thinks you are taking away their rights. The otherside thinks you are wanting to see more children killed.

 

[Mister Emu]

Is this media ignorance?

Yes. The people who want gun control are often the least informed, because they don't have or want guns. Which makes sense.

See:

Given the kits available "bump stocks" that can rapid fire the rifle, it's effectively fully automatic.

Bump stocks do increase the rate of fire, but they don't make a weapon "effectively fully automatic"; fully automatic weapons are far more dangerous than a bump-stock modified semi-automatic. An automatic weapon will fire about twice as fast and have significantly better accuracy.

 

[Brickjectivity]

What? There is no compromising with the otherside. They are evil ********!

Obviously being sarcastic but this seems the mentality. The era of compromise is over?

I think training, observation and responsibility should be supported however necessary. However I don't know. One side thinks you are taking away their rights. The otherside thinks you are wanting to see more children killed.

When one side builds up its military the other side will, too. It is the same with the political platforms. If you add a plank to your platform then the other party must also add a counteracting plank. If the gun issue were simply let go by the Democrats then the backstabbing Republican Party would enact gun control legislation on the sly anyway. In 20 years they'd be ready to seize all unlicensed guns as they have zero respect for voters, but no the Democrats need to make a showdown and beat them visibly or it doesn't count. "We have to make them do it." No, you have to use the party's internal dishonesty to your own advantage. It doesn't do anything that it promises, so you can bet if you drop the issue it will stop caring about it. Not that I am against gun ownership. I think people should be permitted to own and care for guns and weapons. I just hate to see all of the energy wasted on this issue.

 

[Revoltingest]

Yes. The people who want gun control are often the least informed, because they don't have or want guns. Which makes sense.

See:

Bump stocks do increase the rate of fire, but they don't make a weapon "effectively fully automatic"; fully automatic weapons are far more dangerous than a bump-stock modified semi-automatic. An automatic weapon will fire about twice as fast and have significantly better accuracy.

A demonstration....

 

[BSM1]

Details about Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old who was expelled from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., emerged Wednesday after he returned with an AR-15 assault rifle and opened fire while stalking the halls.

Florida shooter with history of problems bought his AR-15 legally

The civilian version AR-15 is not an assault rifle. It's a small caliber semi-automatic hunting/sport rifle with cosmetics designed to make it look like a military style rifle. However it is constantly being referred to as an assault rifle in the media.

Is this media ignorance? Is it justified to support the cause? Is my information about it wrong?

View attachment 20401

After the emotional smoke clears you might want to go back and check how many of the school shootings were carried out using hand guns. Should we start banning hand guns?

 

[Nakosis]

Yes. The people who want gun control are often the least informed, because they don't have or want guns. Which makes sense.

See:

Bump stocks do increase the rate of fire, but they don't make a weapon "effectively fully automatic"; fully automatic weapons are far more dangerous than a bump-stock modified semi-automatic. An automatic weapon will fire about twice as fast and have significantly better accuracy.

Some folks are suggesting we ban semi-automatic as well. Leaves us with bolt action rifles and revolvers?

So a kid was able to get a semi-automatic rifle onto school grounds? I could maybe see a semi-automatic handgun, but a rifle?

Something is not right about that.

Would a semi-automatic handgun be more or less lethal?

 

[BSM1]

Yes. The people who want gun control are often the least informed, because they don't have or want guns. Which makes sense.

See:

Bump stocks do increase the rate of fire, but they don't make a weapon "effectively fully automatic"; fully automatic weapons are far more dangerous than a bump-stock modified semi-automatic. An automatic weapon will fire about twice as fast and have significantly better accuracy.

BTW, before the inevitble finger pointing begins, bump stocks were approved by the Obama administration.

 

[BSM1]

Some folks are suggesting we ban semi-automatic as well. Leaves us with bolt action rifles and revolvers?

So a kid was able to get a semi-automatic rifle onto school grounds? I could maybe see a semi-automatic handgun, but a rifle?

Something is not right about that.

Would a semi-automatic handgun be more or less lethal?

Or a shotgun?

 

[Nakosis]

After the emotional smoke clears you might want to go back and check how many of the school shootings were carried out using hand guns. Should we start banning hand guns?

The reality is this: A semiautomatic firearm — whether a long gun or a handgun — is a weapon of profound destructive capacity. Though semiautomatic (as opposed to automatic) guns require that the trigger be pulled once to discharge each bullet, they still allow a shooter with a quick finger to unleash an avalanche of bullets at a horrifying pace.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...automatic-guns-banned/?utm_term=.c370e65d7d47

I'm just trying to have an informed opinion.

 

[metis]

Most of what I hear on the t.v. news and commentary use the terms "assault-type" or "assault-style" weapons for guns like the AR-15. But let's not kid ourselves here as they are still quite powerful.

One of my friends has a son who is a police officer in a suburb near Detroit, and my friend and his son witnesses a police demonstration of an AR-15 as used in a mock-up house, and the bullet they shot went through two interior walls of the house, and the instructor said that it was still strong enough to have been able to kill a person on the other side of the 2nd wall.

However, to be clear, the real issue is much less a gun like the AR-15 than it is the real issue that we have almost one gun per person here in the States, and study after study has shown that it is the proliferation of all these guns that's the #1 problem. Just a couple of hours ago I was listening to a man who was involved with a long-term international study of homicide rates, and he said that the only real direct relationship was the number of guns in society-- not rates of mental illness, not how much violence on t.v. or video games, not religious attendance, etc.

 

[Altfish]

Why is the AR-15 Legal?

"Because of Freedom"
Freedom to allow idiots to kill schoolkids

 

[Revoltingest]

The reality is this: A semiautomatic firearm — whether a long gun or a handgun — is a weapon of profound destructive capacity. Though semiautomatic (as opposed to automatic) guns require that the trigger be pulled once to discharge each bullet, they still allow a shooter with a quick finger to unleash an avalanche of bullets at a horrifying pace.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...automatic-guns-banned/?utm_term=.c370e65d7d47

I'm just trying to have an informed opinion.

A bump stock isn't much faster than semi-auto.
And since accuracy suffers, its increased lethality is questionable.
Still, I don't have a problem with making them less available.

 

[Curious George]

Why is the AR-15 Legal?

"Because of Freedom"
Freedom to allow idiots to kill schoolkids

If that were the case, you would expect that the killing of school children would be legal. It is not. So, I think you are mistaken about the reasoning.

 

[Nakosis]

Or a shotgun?

If I had a mind to I suspect a couple of semi-automatic handguns would be a more effective means of accomplishing the goal versus an AR-15.

Semi-automatic handgun in each hand with extended mags and silencers.

The Maxim 9 could have market potential. Silencer sales are booming, despite tight restrictions, and prices ranging from $325 to $2,500. According to the most recent figures from the ATF, the number of registered silencers jumped 38% year-over-year to 792,282 in February 2015.

Waldron says that silencers are popular with hunters and people who do target shooting who want to protect their hearing.
New pistol with a built-in silencer debuts

 

[Nakosis]

A bump stock isn't much faster than semi-auto.
And since accuracy suffers, its increased lethality is questionable.
Still, I don't have a problem with making them less available.

Probably true. I can imagine being able to pull the trigger fairly quickly. How do you feel about banning semi-automatic weapons?

 

[Revoltingest]

Probably true. I can imagine being able to pull the trigger fairly quickly. How do you feel about banning semi-automatic weapons?

I oppose that on constitutional grounds.
Personally, I like single shot & bolt action rifles.
And semi-auto handguns.
Wheelguns can be pretty fast too, so banning
semi-autos would have minimal positive effect.
Here's a fast (unusually fast) guy.....