School shooting in Parkland, FL

[luvsJack]

Ok so the weapon of choice in these things is usually a AR-15 right? (We don’t yet know what this guy used).

Is an AR-15 an assault weapon? First I read it is not and then I read it is. So just asking.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

You know, maybe I am oversimplifying. I (and I'm sure you do too) remember the horror and terrible pain I felt after the Sandy Hook massacre. And nothing changed. And it continues. And nothing changes. And kids keep losing their lives. Innocent people are concerts. People at night clubs. Keep losing their lives for no reason.

Maybe instituting an assault rifle ban would do nothing. Fine. Let's try it for 10 years. If I'm wrong about it being effective, at all, I will personally send an "I'm sorry" letter to every gun enthusiast the assault ban inconvenienced for a decade.

There was over 200 homicides in my metro last year (majority on the other side of the state line). Most from gang related or repeat offenders-now gangs are not usually known for obtaining guns 100% legally anyways. It doesn't even phase me anymore as sad as that is because nearly everyday it's on the news that so and so shot so and so in a part of the metro. For whatever reason road rage is an issue too and I don't know why but it plagues a specific area on I-35 and people have shot each other or just one person shooting at another car and to another poster's point it's how it works here unfortunately that the local news latches on in a different way when so and so was killed in the nicer or at least less crime-stricken area. And to that same previous person's point shootings in general (not just school shootings or mass shootings) happen often enough. But your review on the ban of assault rifles only pays attention to a certain and more likely small percentage of incidents that occur each year.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

You know, maybe I am oversimplifying. I (and I'm sure you do too) remember the horror and terrible pain I felt after the Sandy Hook massacre. And nothing changed. And it continues. And nothing changes. And kids keep losing their lives. Innocent people are concerts. People at night clubs. Keep losing their lives for no reason.

Maybe instituting an assault rifle ban would do nothing. Fine. Let's try it for 10 years. If I'm wrong about it being effective, at all, I will personally send an "I'm sorry" letter to every gun enthusiast the assault ban inconvenienced for a decade.

Here's the thing - assuming such a proposal would work, it would have to be all inclusive. You couldn't just ban assault style weapons, you'd have to get EVERY firearm capable of accepting a detachable magazine. And you couldn't grandfather any in. You'd have to gather them all up.

And again, the primary weapon used in homicides is handguns. And in almost every case where an assault style weapon was used in a msss killing, the death toll would have been just as bad with a handgun. The lone exception to that is Vegas where the victims were a significant distance from the shooter. But, even there the shooter had a combination of assault weapons and battle rifles. And we don't know as of yet which caused more damage. Battle rifles (like our soldiers carried in WWII and Korea) are significantly more powerful than assault weapons (like our soldiers have carried post Korea).

 

[Hikergirl]

Ok so the weapon of choice in these things is usually a AR-15 right? (We don’t yet know what this guy used).

Is an AR-15 an assault weapon? First I read it is not and then I read it is. So just asking.

It is in NY and it is banned here. There are exceptions that are under a grandfather law, and I think those who own them do need a permit.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Ok so the weapon of choice in these things is usually a AR-15 right? (We don’t yet know what this guy used).

Is an AR-15 an assault weapon? First I read it is not and then I read it is. So just asking.

Technically, no. It's an assault STYLE weapon. To be a true assault weapon, it would need to be capable of full-auto fire. But, it fits the "generic" definition. For the record, the Pulse shooter did not use an AR-15, but rather a somewhat similar style.

 

[luvsJack]

Technically, no. It's an assault STYLE weapon. To be a true assault weapon, it would need to be capable of full-auto fire. But, it fits the "generic" definition. For the record, the Pulse shooter did not use an AR-15, but rather a somewhat similar style.

Ok. I see. So this obviously isn’t the intended purpose of these kind of guns so what is their intended purpose?

 

[lifesavacation]

Ok so the weapon of choice in these things is usually a AR-15 right? (We don’t yet know what this guy used).

Is an AR-15 an assault weapon? First I read it is not and then I read it is. So just asking.

An AR-15 isn't fundamentally different than, say, a handgun. Having said that, it seems to be the gun of choice for terrorists and mass shooters. I think it's been glamorized in our culture and that's why it's used in these horrific mass murders. I have no idea if an AR-15 ban would do anything because you could easily swap it for something else.

ETA: I'm all for the abolition of any assualt style weapon. My husband and his friends argue with me that it won't do any good for the above reason. I have no idea how to fix this. At the very least, we can tax the crap out of these weapons and use the money to pay for school safety. And then we can require a yearly firearms license and use that revenue stream as well.

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

Ok. I see. So this obviously isn’t the intended purpose of these kind of guns so what is their intended purpose?

I use mine as a home defense rifle, sport/target shooting, and I know several hunters that use the AR for wild hogs.

 

[luvsJack]

I use mine as a home defense rifle, sport/target shooting, and I know several hunters that use the AR for wild hogs.

Ok that makes sense too. Especially the hunting for hogs.

So basically take away this particular gun and some other gun could easily replace it as the gun of choice in mass shootings.

 

[luvsJack]

An AR-15 isn't fundamentally different than, say, a handgun. Having said that, it seems to be the gun of choice for terrorists and mass shooters. I think it's been glamorized in our culture and that's why it's used in these horrific mass murders. I have no idea if an AR-15 ban would do anything because you could easily swap it for something else.

Is it the look of the gun that makes it attractive to these people? It looks like a military type gun, correct?

 

[MamaBelle4]

You couldn't just ban assault style weapons, you'd have to get EVERY firearm capable of accepting a detachable magazine. And you couldn't grandfather any in. You'd have to gather them all up.

I disagree. This kid in Florida LEGALLY purchased his a year ago. Had it been illegal to sell these weapons after Sandy Hook, those 17 children taken today may still be with us.

Look, I do not pretend to have all the answers (it is pretty clear that I don't), but I know that saying "Nah, that won't work" but doing nothing over and over again after each shooting benefits no one.

And, sure, states can institute separate gun laws, but that doesn't stop people from crossing state lines.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Ok so the weapon of choice in these things is usually a AR-15 right? (We don’t yet know what this guy used).

Is an AR-15 an assault weapon? First I read it is not and then I read it is. So just asking.

Agree with Gumbo4x4's comment regarding AR-15's

In my state an AR-15 is legal. For firearms in my state you do not need a permit to open carry it. If you are at least 21 you also don't need a permit to conceal carry though that requirement is for handguns only.

There is no age requirement in my state for buying or owning long guns however federal government requires age 18 or older. Handguns are age 18 both at my state level and the federal level.

You can use a gun in my state if you are under the age of age provided the following:
If you are under 18, you can have a firearm if you are:

• Attending a hunter’s safety course or a firearms safety course;
• Practicing at an authorized shooting range;
• Participating in an organized shooting competition;
• Hunting or trapping, with a valid license;
• Travelling with a firearm going to or from any of the activities listed above, as long as the gun is unloaded and not immediately accessible;
• On property controlled by your parent, legal guardian, or grandparent, with their permission;
• At home, carrying the firearm for self-defense purposes, with permission from your parent, legal guardian, or grandparent.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Ok so the weapon of choice in these things is usually a AR-15 right? (We don’t yet know what this guy used).

Is an AR-15 an assault weapon? First I read it is not and then I read it is. So just asking.

The AR-15 is not a fully automatic rifle, nor is it an assault weapon.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Ok. I see. So this obviously isn’t the intended purpose of these kind of guns so what is their intended purpose?

Well, they're military knockoffs. The ban essentially made this style of rifle "cool". Most civilian semi-autos in years past have actually been much more powerful, but they didn't have that "cool" look of the military arms.

Perhaps the best way to explain is to talk about the military purpose. Beginning in WWI, our soldiers carried a rifle designed to kill a horse at 800 meters. WWII soldiers carried a rifle in the same caliber, but semi-auto. Korean soldiers carried either the WWII rifle or a slightly less powerful rifle that was capable of full-auto. These are all examples of battle rifles.

For Vietnam, our soldiers switched to assault rifles. Power is significantly reduced (less than half the power of the Korea era rifle), but the rifle is lighter as is the ammo. This rifle is meant to "incapacitate" enemy soldiers at distances up to 300 meters. With no traditional battle lines, soldiers could carry a LOT of this lightweight ammo afield without worrying about a resupply. Power reduction is so significant, many firmly believe this weapon was actually designed not to kill enemy soldiers, but rather to wound them - the theory being that a wounded enemy occupies more resources than a dead enemy. This rifle was the M-16 - the AR-15 is the civilian semi-auto version. Today, it is available in a variety of calibers, but the most common caliber is the same one our soldiers use (ammo in this caliber is cheap because of mass production). This caliber is actually illegal for deer hunting in many states because it fails to meet the minimum power level some states require for deer hunting.

So basically, guys want the military rifle & they can't have it. So, they want one that looks the same.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I disagree. This kid in Florida LEGALLY purchased his a year ago. Had it been illegal to sell these weapons after Sandy Hook, those 17 children taken today may still be with us.

Look, I do not pretend to have all the answers (it is pretty clear that I don't), but I know that saying "Nah, that won't work" but doing nothing over and over again after each shooting benefits no one.

And, sure, states can institute separate gun laws, but that doesn't stop people from crossing state lines.

What I'm saying is that banning this specific style wouldn't stop him from getting another gun that looks different, but functions exactly the same. That's why it would have to be a more comprehensive ban, and it would have to account for those already in circulation.

 

[Jennasis]

Perhaps guns would be less desirable if they had to be painted pink and bedazzled end to end.

At this point, it's as good an idea as any cause I got nothin'. Really just at a loss. Empty. Hopeless.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

An AR-15 isn't fundamentally different than, say, a handgun. Having said that, it seems to be the gun of choice for terrorists and mass shooters. I think it's been glamorized in our culture and that's why it's used in these horrific mass murders. I have no idea if an AR-15 ban would do anything because you could easily swap it for something else.

ETA: I'm all for the abolition of any assualt style weapon. My husband and his friends argue with me that it won't do any good for the above reason. I have no idea how to fix this. At the very least, we can tax the crap out of these weapons and use the money to pay for school safety. And then we can require a yearly firearms license and use that revenue stream as well.

Yes, I do believe this particular style gun had been glamorized. It's also far & away the most popular model rifle sold in the US. So, that also contributes to its commonality in crime.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Okay - watching CNN right now. Please stop interviewing these kids. They're scared, they're confused and they're in pain. Send them HOME.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Perhaps guns would be less desirable if they had to be painted pink and bedazzled end to end.

At this point, it's as good an idea as any cause I got nothin'. Really just at a loss. Empty. Hopeless.

Perhaps guns like AR15s, but women like guns too though majority probably favor smaller guns. There are def. purses specifically designed with hidden pockets for handguns for example.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Okay - watching CNN right now. Please stop interviewing these kids. They're scared, they're confused and they're in pain. Send them HOME.

While I agree with you is someone making them stay and do tv/news interviews right now?