Relevant to some recent school shootings, my topic for this
posting is ‘Assault Weapons.’
This is a subject that drives gun owners right up the
wall. Why? Because ‘assault weapons’
have become such an over-worked cliché generally bandied-about by those, including
politicians proposing laws, who cannot define what they are actually talking about.
To describe 'assault weapons' simply as ‘military type’ guns only exposes the lack of knowledge of the speaker. All guns have a military genesis – all guns. Guns were initially invented and developed to
kill people in war; and it was only later that they were used for hunting and
sport. And, one could say the same about
any number of common devices in use today, as well as some domestic animals; all of which were first and
principally developed and promoted for the purpose of human conflict.
Generally speaking, I hope we all understand that many guns are already banned or not available to the American public. Some of these can be obtained or displayed under very restrictive conditions and licensing standards. All automatic
weapons are banned. What does that
mean? Well, an automatic weapon is generally
a rifle type weapon (could be a pistol) that fires more than one round (a burst) ‘automatically’ when you pull the trigger.
In other words a ‘machine gun.’
Some in the public are familiar with the Thompson Sub-Machine Gun from
movies of the ‘gangster era,’ (Pretty Boy Floyd, John Dillinger, and Baby Face
Nelson.)* In this context, it is sufficient to know
that ‘machine guns’ (automatic weapons), of all varieties, have been banned for
many decades – as they should be. In
more recent times, for reference purposes, the military version M-16 is an ‘automatic.’ That, too, is generally banned – not sold, and not legal to possess.
What is legal? Well, ‘semi-automatic’ rifles, pistols and shotguns are legal to possess. What does that mean? ‘Semi-automatic’ is one trigger pull, one round fires (self-loading). Some might immediately respond, ‘So what, it will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger.’ Yes, you are right in that regard. However, the point is that semi-automatic weapons have been around for approximately 150 years and have been commonly used for hunting and sport most of that time.
The military’s M-16 (fully automatic) has a civilian counterpart called the AR-15 (semi-automatic rifle). They look the same, but they are not. Many hunters like the AR-15 for various reasons – principally for its durability. On the other hand, most hunters would prefer other semi-automatic rifles and/or shotguns for their craftsmanship, quality, and performance.
What is legal? Well, ‘semi-automatic’ rifles, pistols and shotguns are legal to possess. What does that mean? ‘Semi-automatic’ is one trigger pull, one round fires (self-loading). Some might immediately respond, ‘So what, it will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger.’ Yes, you are right in that regard. However, the point is that semi-automatic weapons have been around for approximately 150 years and have been commonly used for hunting and sport most of that time.
The military’s M-16 (fully automatic) has a civilian counterpart called the AR-15 (semi-automatic rifle). They look the same, but they are not. Many hunters like the AR-15 for various reasons – principally for its durability. On the other hand, most hunters would prefer other semi-automatic rifles and/or shotguns for their craftsmanship, quality, and performance.
So, what is the difference between the present-day,
civilian-owned, so-called ‘assault weapon’ and other semi-automatic rifles,
shotguns and pistols? Functionally,
there is no difference. It is all about
cosmetics. All have the same ‘killing’
potential in the hands of a mentally deranged shooter.
What then is the argument against civilian owned ‘assault weapons?’ Well, basically, there is no
valid argument. Unless, you are talking
about an illegal bootleg, modified, or stolen military weapon.
If you are a gun control advocate, and a gun owner should
ask you why you hold a position against guns, in an attempt to
engage you in civil discourse, be prepared to answer coherently. Please don’t automatically use the vague, meaningless statement,
‘We should ban all 'assault weapons’ or, even worse, in my opinion, ‘We should
ban all guns.’ If this is the sum of your incoherent comment, you will only have
accomplished exposing your lack of understanding of the issues, or dare I say your ignorance.
Magazine capacity for semi-automatics is another issue. And here, in my opinion, gun control
advocates have a valid argument. We’ll
talk more about this.
Addendum: Above Photo: Top is a common semi-auto hunting rifle. Bottom is the semi-auto AR-15.
Addendum: Above Photo: Top is a common semi-auto hunting rifle. Bottom is the semi-auto AR-15.
True Nelson
* Baby Face Nelson is no relation, I’m happy to say, – his actual name
was Lester Joseph Gillis; and he was responsible for the murder of three FBI
Agents. Gillis was later killed by FBI
Agents in a shootout. If you had lived
in that period, and happened to meet Gillis, you would have required a ‘death
wish’ to address him as Baby Face. He
did not like that nickname. It was given
him, reportedly, because of his small stature and child-like face. The Nelson part was due to an alias he once used.