Assault weapons

[Suzukimom]

The recent alleged plot to assasinate Obama and others got me thinking about the use of assault weapons in our society.
I'm not very familiar with guns. I don't own one and don't want to. I know many don't want gun control but I'm having a hard time understanding why citizens can get assault weapons. It is my understanding that these weapons can do a lot of harm to many people in a short amount of time. It's above and beyond the need to defend yourself and your property to need an assault weapon.
Help me understand where and why people get assault weapons. What is their purpose? Is it the best way to defend yourself?

[dandelionsrflowers]

the weapon is not what "can do a lot of harm to many people in a short amount of time"

the person behind the gun is the problem

i know several people who have assault riffles… the shoot them recreationally… at targets. i think that weapon in perticular was designed to kill and yes it could be used to defend yourself... BUT i seriously doubt that anyone in this country would NEED an assault riffle for protection. it just seems absurd.

i think that we need to start placing the blame on the people… they need to be held responsible for their actions.

[mamabadger]

I have wondered about this myself, not being a U.S. resident. Do you just go into a shop and buy a semi-automatic, explaining that you have a lot of gophers on your property, or do they have to be purchased covertly?

[mesa]

semi automatic assault weapons are legal in the US. So yes, you go into a gun shop and buy an AK 47 or an AR 15 or even a Browning .50 caliber sniper rifle. They don't care WHY you want it...if you have the cash, the permit (if that is even needed) and can pass the background check, they give it to you.

[tappinerp]

Think SHTF or "end of the world as we know it" scenarios. I know several law abiding citizens who own these types of weapons soley for the "what if" scenarios. It isn't just about being able to defend yourself against the home intruder. It is also about being able to defend yourself in scenarios of out of contol governments, militaries, or in the event of complete societal breakdown. An uncomfortable thought for most, but a possible reality nonetheless....

[kriket]

Originally Posted by mesa

semi automatic assault weapons are legal in the US. So yes, you go into a gun shop and buy an AK 47 or an AR 15 or even a Browning .50 caliber sniper rifle. They don't care WHY you want it...if you have the cash, the permit (if that is even needed) and can pass the background check, they give it to you.

and at gun shows you don't even have to wait for your gun, you can take it home today!!

Originally Posted by tappinerp

Think SHTF or "end of the world as we know it" scenarios. I know several law abiding citizens who own these types of weapons soley for the "what if" scenarios. It isn't just about being able to defend yourself against the home intruder. It is also about being able to defend yourself in scenarios of out of contol governments, militaries, or in the event of complete societal breakdown. An uncomfortable thought for most, but a possible reality nonetheless....

really? a gun is going to protect you, your family or your property from an out of controll government or military?

This argument is bunk IMO.

I really really dislike guns. If you have a gun or two to hunt and eat thats fine. I have a bow.

Also, a lot of people carry guns for "protection" (yes, my state has a concealed carry license ) I have found aiming a bow at a person far more effective then a gun. I've never meet a child who could load a bow and hurt themselves, other then poking themselves.

[Annie44]

Hmm most of you would cry if you came to our house. Our firearms collection is quite extensive. I feel it is NOT the governments decision about whether or not I NEED a firearm. It is my right and I will exercise that right. I don't need to explain to anyone why I need this or that. I have it its my right end of story. We will be fine whether the ban is there or not and it will expire eventually. We don't rely on others to keep us safe as its NOT their job.

[MPsSweetie]

Originally Posted by Annie44

Hmm most of you would cry if you came to our house. Our firearms collection is quite extensive. I feel it is NOT the governments decision about whether or not I NEED a firearm. It is my right and I will exercise that right. I don't need to explain to anyone why I need this or that. I have it its my right end of story. We will be fine whether the ban is there or not and it will expire eventually. We don't rely on others to keep us safe as its NOT their job.

Ditto.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by Annie44

Hmm most of you would cry if you came to our house. Our firearms collection is quite extensive. I feel it is NOT the governments decision about whether or not I NEED a firearm. It is my right and I will exercise that right. I don't need to explain to anyone why I need this or that. I have it its my right end of story. We will be fine whether the ban is there or not and it will expire eventually. We don't rely on others to keep us safe as its NOT their job.

I totally respect that right!

Just for the sake of argument, what would you say if our kids were friends and I asked if your's could come to my house instead of your house because I was uncomfortable with your guns?

[mamabadger]

Originally Posted by Annie44

I feel it is NOT the governments decision about whether or not I NEED a firearm. It is my right and I will exercise that right. I don't need to explain to anyone why I need this or that. I have it its my right end of story.

General question: If you object to all restrictions on firearms, do you feel there is any cutoff point, in terms of the kind of weapon being purchased? Does every American have the right to own assault rifles? Anti-tank grenade launchers? Anti-aircraft guns? Explosives? Biological weapons? What weapons, if any, do you think should not be available to the general public?

[stellimamo]

Originally Posted by Annie44

Hmm most of you would cry if you came to our house. Our firearms collection is quite extensive. I feel it is NOT the governments decision about whether or not I NEED a firearm. It is my right and I will exercise that right. I don't need to explain to anyone why I need this or that. I have it its my right end of story. We will be fine whether the ban is there or not and it will expire eventually. We don't rely on others to keep us safe as its NOT their job.

Yup...

[Annie44]

If I knew what an Anti-Tank grenade launcher was then we could talk... The current regulations are just fine. Criminals however don't follow those regulations and do currently own many weapons. They NEVER EVER buy weapons legally.

Check out the May of 1927 Postmastor generals regulations on the mailing of firearms, the national firearms act of 1934, 1937 presidental proclimation on shotguns, the gun control act of 1968, the automatic weapons act of 1988 (not proper name), the brady handgun control act of 1994, and its companion the violent crime control and law enforcement act of 1994. This is our current gun control and this is PLENTY. We do not need anymore. The brady bill and its companion have sunset however it had nothing to do with assault weapons. It really put restrictions on law enforcement and kept them from doing their job. We are happy that one sunset.

Kriket: I would 100% be fine if you weren't comfortable with your children at my house. Where and what you do with your children is fully your choice and my kid would be totally happy to come to your house instead!

[claddaghmom]

I noted that the ar15 would be banned under this......

And yet the ar15 is very gentle....less recoil than a common handgun, easy to handle, safer way to load (making it easier to keep unloaded)....etc.

I could imagine a housewife wanting one and being safer overall with it (not only in terms of self-defense, but in owning a gun that can be handled).

Too bad a little sense can't be added to a broad ban.

[momo7]

Originally Posted by mamabadger

I have wondered about this myself, not being a U.S. resident. Do you just go into a shop and buy a semi-automatic, explaining that you have a lot of gophers on your property, or do they have to be purchased covertly?

No...you don't have to explain anything... No they don't have to be purchased covertly either. That's is why there is the second ammendment in our constitution so people don't have to be secretive. The laws were made for honest citizens, not those trying to break the law.


If you sell guns as a dealer you must have a FFAL (federl firearms license). That means you have to keep all your sales documented and each gun must be registered. All guns are registered in this country. That means the fed. gov't knows who owns what and where they are. FFALs are strictly regulated. The BATF (bureau of alchohol, firearms and tobacco) makes visits frequently to the FFAL dealers to make sure their paper work is all in order. It doesn't take much to have a FFAL revoked.


Now, that doesn't mean that private citizens can't sell their guns to another person. When that happens no paper work is involved it simply switches hands from one private individual to another, they can do that because it is considered a private sale and doesn't have to be documented.

Is it a loop hole? Yes. But remember the laws were made for honest citizens. People with bad intentions can find a way to get anything they want. They will also justify anything they want to do.

[Sarah W]

Originally Posted by kriket

I totally respect that right!

Just for the sake of argument, what would you say if our kids were friends and I asked if your's could come to my house instead of your house because I was uncomfortable with your guns?

I can understand this, especially if you're really uncomfortable with guns. I would hope that we'd be able to come to an agreement eventually about kids at both homes. We keep our gun in a locked safe that only DH and I have the combo to.

We're military and all of our friends are military, so I doubt we'd have this problem. The only place I've ever heard this sentiment is on here.

[mamabadger]

Originally Posted by Sarah W

We're military and all of our friends are military, so I doubt we'd have this problem. The only place I've ever heard this sentiment is on here.

You would probably hear it fairly often outside the U.S.

Originally Posted by momo7

No...you don't have to explain anything... No they don't have to be purchased covertly either. That's is why there is the second ammendment in our constitution so people don't have to be secretive. The laws were made for honest citizens, not those trying to break the law.

I guess this is where the logic breaks down for me. I understand the argument for private citizens being able to purchase shotguns and pistols. What I do not get is why any "honest citizen" would need military type weapons that could kill forty or fifty people at a go. What legitimate purpose do they have outside a battlefield?

[Sarah W]

Originally Posted by mamabadger

You would probably hear it fairly often outside the U.S.

I'm sure, but I don't live outside of the US. Wouldn't it be a moot point to have the discussion in a country where guns were illegal? When I did live in another country, I had no problem leaving my gun in US.

Originally Posted by mamabadger

I guess this is where the logic breaks down for me. I understand the argument for private citizens being able to purchase shotguns and pistols. What I do not get is why any "honest citizen" would need military type weapons that could kill forty or fifty people at a go. What legitimate purpose do they have outside a battlefield?

I think very few people "need" guns. I think that people who live off of the land and shoot their food have a legitimate need. However, people do enjoy shooting for sport. I personally really enjoy shooting and used to go fairly frequently with DH. We don't go now because there isn't a range where we live. We're honest citizens.

I'm not a gun nut. I'm fine with current gun restrictions. I have no problem requiring background checks or waiting periods. I can't think of a good reason you would need to purchase a gun and not be able to wait 3 days.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by Sarah W

I can understand this, especially if you're really uncomfortable with guns. I would hope that we'd be able to come to an agreement eventually about kids at both homes. We keep our gun in a locked safe that only DH and I have the combo to.

We're military and all of our friends are military, so I doubt we'd have this problem. The only place I've ever heard this sentiment is on here.

I live exactly next door to Wright Patt AFB. So, everyone here (but me) is military!

I would be happy if the guns were always away. A combo makes me feel safer then a key lock, kids can find keys!

I feel like there is a "gun culture" that I'm just not a fan of. I have friends that are MPs who get drunk and flash gun licenses. I know thats not the norm, and they are just punk kids, but they are punk kids with kids of their own, and guns. Makes me uneasy.

I'd like to think that I'm not unreasonable about guns or people who own guns. I've even taken hand gun lessons. Its just not for me. Its not what I want in my life.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by kriket

I'd like to think that I'm not unreasonable about guns or people who own guns. I've even taken hand gun lessons. Its just not for me. Its not what I want in my life.

:

I'm fine with other people having guns, but would NEVER own one myself. Also, I can't help but blame parents when I hear of another child "accidently" shooting his/her friend while playing with the gun daddy left out for "just moments".

And what good is a gun in a safe, locked by combo IF someone is breaking into your house?

[mesa]

Originally Posted by Annie44

Hmm most of you would cry if you came to our house. Our firearms collection is quite extensive. I feel it is NOT the governments decision about whether or not I NEED a firearm. It is my right and I will exercise that right. I don't need to explain to anyone why I need this or that. I have it its my right end of story. We will be fine whether the ban is there or not and it will expire eventually. We don't rely on others to keep us safe as its NOT their job.

hear hear