Probably not, I mean...those things are illegal
/s
From hearing the video, yes.
It sure sounded like an automatic was used on the videos that are being shown.
The guy had money so it seems. It isn’t hard to convert semi into full automatic.
From the sound bytes I heard, it sounded like this maniac had high capacity drum mags.
Opinion is divided this morning on Twitter among people who, unlike me, know more than the most basic basics about firearms.
I have to admit that if he injured over 500 and killed over 50, you would think the barrel would be a blob of molten steel, though.
This presumes he would acquire a fully automatic weapon legally.
My wife, and I am sure she is not alone, is asking this morning why automatic weapons are allowed ‘with all of these attacks’. Explained to her that I think this is the first US terrorist attack with an automatic weapon. Ban machine guns she suggests. And how do we carve that out and keep the 2nd amendment alive? Argument on both sides is that automatic weapons likely make up what, maybe 1% of all privately owned guns?
I’m no expert, many FReepers will be able to answer better than I. That said, you can hear the rate of fire. I can’t imagine a full-auto being any faster, I certainly can’t imagine pulling a trigger that fast, even if the weapon fired two-rounds per pull.
No, full auto is not illegal.
From the audio that I have heard, I wonder if he was possibly using a belt-fed weapon of some kind.
First let’s find out what it was. The answer to the question will be a lot easier if we know what we’re looking for. The police know what it was now; whether they’re going to tell anyone anytime soon is a matter of conjecture.
They are legal in the United States, just with the $200 tax stamp. The problem is the limited supply, so the cost of the weapon is high. Note: I was offered a chance to buy one last week, but I have no interest in owning or even shooting one. I like to hit on every shot.
In addition to buying an expensive weapon legally and then waiting up to a year to process the paperwork, there are a variety of legal options (bump fire, slide fire, autoglove, etc.) that make a semi-automatic rifle shoot as rapidly as full-auto. There are also a variety of options for illegally converting a semi-automatic rifle to full auto. It's particularly easy if you never plan to shoot semi-auto with the rifle again, which was probably this loser's plan.
Given that there is a video on Youtube showing how to make an AK-47 out of a shovel, I’m thinking it’s just not that hard.
Any remotely competent gunsmith can just make a full auto.
It’s not that hard.
It’s not that hard to make/acquire an autosear.
Getting caught with one is the problem.
I heard the audio and it was full auto. In fact he was rotating to other full auto guns. From the report ,I would guess .223 . Full autos are illegal so laws won’t help. My guess is disassembled AR-15 Which are easily packed and hidden in larger luggage and golf bags etc.
This shows great logistical planning and supply, I believe a full auto can fire 900 RPM so if he was up there 10 minutes in firing mode 50% of the time , he fired over 4000 rounds. There will be quite an investigation into the supply , One report is he had 10 weapons. The reason I suspect ISLAM is their hatred of what they view as Western decadence. This was the case in Orlando at the homosexual bar. In San Bernadino they struck an office party celebrating the birth of our Lord. I’m inclined to be persuaded that this was a jihad attack but time will tell.
slide/bump fire; why else would he have 10 weapons? If he had a full auto belt fed weapon, he would be much more efficient with just one weapon. Also, if I had an actual full auto belt fed and was proficient in its use (which I am), I would not fire through an entire belt non-stop like he did, then pause to get next weapon, repeat. I would fire targeted burst, slight pause, targeted burst, etc.