Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gopher]

Where can one buy automatic assault rifles in America?

[Kikomom]

Last month at a gunshow in Westfield, Massachusetts:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081027/ap_on_re_us/boy_shoots_himself

Now I've never been to a gunshow myself, but I would surmise that they're not just for demonstration purposes, they are about sales too.

[Tiger Beer]

[Gopher]

The boy's death is bad news, Kikomom.

It is news to me that one can buy and/or own automatic assault rifles in America without undergoing the background investigations the Class III license entails. Same goes for a concealed weapons permit.

If this has changed, then I would support reasserting and tightening these restrictions.

[Kikomom]

Or online...

[Kikomom]

So basically, the so-called Sportsman's Clubs supporting this industry are supporting terrorists. Now just how patriotic is that?

A couple minutes googling, and not only where can I buy assault weapons, but when:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/GACalendar.aspx

[Milwaukiedave]

[Gopher]

My suggestion to you, in your future career as a lobbyist is this, Kikomom: lose the antagonistic "gun nuts" and the "terrorism" vocab. Focus on something most of us will readily agree on: completely and permanently banning automatic and semi-automatic assault rifles in the United States. I support gun rights, but I would support you in this.

Also, would you compromise and agree on this: handguns, shotguns, and hunting rifles are fine for those law-abiding adults, with no criminal records whatsoever (traffic tickets do not count), with no mental confinements, and who have not been discharged dishonorably from the armed forces, willing to register their weapons with state and local authorities? If so, this already exists in most states.

There is one national limitation, too, which I believe derives from Brady: no one with any domestic-violence citations or convictions, or subjects of restraining orders, I understand, may ever again buy a weapon in any state. No appeal no matter what.

What would you change in this structure?

[Jandar]

While it is easy to ban automatic weapons the problem arises with semi-automatic weapons and then there is the assault weapon terminology and definition.

What makes a semi-automatic an assault weapon?

Are all semi-automatic weapons assault weapons?

What about revolvers?

Would you allow large capacity clips for bolt action hunting rifles?

When you look at the laws as passed you begin to see how slippery these definitions become.

The other problem is when news media call a semi-auto weapon an automatic weapon, there is a difference.

I've said it before and I'll say it again until law enforcement and the courts can prove that laws on the books are being enforced and are effective then writing new laws aren't going to help.

Model any new laws based on those that are working or have worked.

Get rid of the laws that don't work.

[Gopher]

I think we could agree that we are talking about military-style, automatic and semi-automatic rifles, mostly designed to put multiple rounds downrange rather fast.

All handguns are fine (although the Desert Eagle .50 cal. pistol has always struck me as a bit extreme; check it out on Youtube.com if you want to see demonstrations), as are all shotguns, and hunting rifles. As far as I know, Jandar, only semi-automatic handguns use magazines. Definitely not shotguns. And hunting rifles tend to be bolt-action weapons, no?

We are talking about permanently banning the production, sale, and possession of the kinds of weapons we -- I assume you are former Army and know precisely what I am talking about -- trained on and carried in the Marine Corps: M16s and MP5s, for example. Add AKs and AK-wannabes. But I do not want to even pretend imagining civilians' buying Mk19s. None of these belong in civilian hands in our cities. What do you need such weapons for as a civilian?

The more I think about it, the more I disagree with it. Just how many Burt Gummers are there out there...?

[asylum seeker]