[applemac_g4]

Under normal circumstances, I support the positions the NRA takes and don't care for restrictions politicians try to place on the 2nd amendment.

That having been said, I wonder if letting the assault weapons ban die is such a good idea. The difference between then and now is 9-11. If we have this type of weapon readily available for sale within the United States, it seems to me that it would make it that much easier for a terrorist group to infiltrate the country unarmed, and then acquire the necessary tools to carry out an attack.

Think of the attack at El Al counter in LA...now have a dozen guys there instead of one...and arm them with machine guns.

Preserving the assault weapons ban makes it just that much harder for terrorists to obtain tools of the trade.

[PuNcH]

Think of the attack at El Al counter in LA...now have a dozen guys there instead of one...and arm them with machine guns.

Preserving the assault weapons ban makes it just that much harder for terrorists to obtain tools of the trade.

The assault weapons ban has nothing to do with machine guns. Your confusion is a good example of why this piece of propaganda has to go.

[patton]

I do not think that the ban does what you think it does.

[Dead Dog]

Owning an Apple computer puts you in a high risk group for HIV.

[Long Cut]

We're not talking about machine guns. Those are covered by a separate law.

Terrs, BTW, would have little problem obtaining weapons regardless of what laws were in place. Italy, for example, has stringent gun control, which did nothing to stop two airports there from being shot up and an American 13-year-old killed, back in the '80s. It DID, however, ensure that the targets would be helpless to defend themselves.

Oh, and the jackals of 9-11 used no guns at all, and slew 3,000+ Americans.

[Godebert]

"That having been said, I wonder if letting the assault weapons ban die is such a good idea. The difference between then and now is 9-11. If we have this type of weapon readily available for sale within the United States, it seems to me that it would make it that much easier for a terrorist group to infiltrate the country unarmed, and then acquire the necessary tools to carry out an attack. "

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." ......Benjamin Franklin

[1stFreedom]

It's so easy to take an AR-15 and make it fully auto (it just takes a flat piece of steel with a few holes).

If terrorists wanted to use automatic weapons, they would get the regardless of the law.

[Godebert]

Preserving the assault weapons ban makes it just that much harder for terrorists to obtain tools of the trade.

This Constitution shall never be construed....to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms........Samuel Adams (1722-1803)

[BlazingArizona]

Preserving the assault weapons ban makes it just that much harder for terrorists to obtain tools of the trade.

No, it just makes it harder for the rest of us to defend ourselves.

Please stop this before you give us Apple users a bad name.

[TexanToTheCore]

That is simply untrue. I would much rather be shot with an assault weapon than, say, a 30-06. The assault weapon is designed to wound, the hunting rifle is designed to kill on the first shot. The difference is amazing.

[Campion]

Think of the attack at El Al counter in LA...now have a dozen guys there instead of one...and arm them with machine guns.

Machine guns have been effectively illegal in civilian hands since 1934. The "assault weapons ban" has nothing to do with them.

It does, however, say that, while my 9mm pistol was designed for a 15-round clip, and takes a 15-round clip, the only kind of clip that can legally be manufactured or imported for it is a crippled 10-round clip. Clearly, I can be trusted with two (2) 10-round clips, or even thirty (30) 10-round clips, but not with one (1) 15-round clip. 10-round clip "good", 15-round clip "bad".

If you can explain that kind of idiocy, then maybe you can convince me that the AWB is a good law.

[SSN558]

"Preserving the assault weapons ban makes it just that much harder for terrorists to obtain tools of the trade."

The Maryland snipers used an assault weapon, however they made all the kills with single shots. As much or more damage could have been done with a single shot bolt action hunting rifle. The assault rifle ban has nothing to do with terrorist control except in the perception of rabid anti gun grabbers. The prefered tool of terrorists is the suicide bomb.

[On the Road to Serfdom]

That having been said, I wonder if letting the assault weapons ban die is such a good idea. The difference between then and now is 9-11.

Just because people joked a while back that some would use 9-11 to promote gun control rather than box cutter control, that does not mean you should take their idea and run with it.

9-11 had nothing to do with guns, other than too much gun control prevented the good guys from having them when they needed them. And when you need a gun, you REALLY need it.

[ChuckMartelRox]

You're arguing for better border security.

Your logic is that people who enter America wishing to do us harm might take advantage of the fact that this is a free country. The answer is to better control those who enter, rather than eliminate the free country.

[elbucko]

Preserving the assault weapons ban makes it just that much harder for terrorists to obtain tools of the trade.

Respectfully, but your whole post is full of Bravo Sierra.

[Dan from Michigan]

Under normal circumstances, I support the positions the NRA takes and don't care for restrictions politicians try to place on the 2nd amendment.

That's good.

If we have this type of weapon readily available for sale within the United States, it seems to me that it would make it that much easier for a terrorist group to infiltrate the country unarmed, and then acquire the necessary tools to carry out an attack.

If I'm a terrorist and want to use a gun attack, I'd be buying up pump action shotguns and 30-06 deer rifles. Those are much more powerful than so called assault weapons, which usually use .223 bullets.

Think of the attack at El Al counter in LA...now have a dozen guys there instead of one...and arm them with machine guns.
Machine Guns(or submachine guns) are not covered at all by so called assault weapons ban. Assault RIFLES are submachine guns. Those are different than 'assault weapons'. Machine guns are legal with a class III. If you have one, you can get an MP5. These so called assault weapons have nothing to do with machine guns at all.

Preserving the assault weapons ban makes it just that much harder for terrorists to obtain tools of the trade

No it doesn't.

[The FRugitive]

The terrorists have no problem violating the law to get their arms.

9/11 is a good reason not to have the AWB.

[RightWhale]

Preserving the assault weapons ban makes it just that much harder for terrorists to obtain tools of the trade

You're kidding, right?

[Poser]

"If we have this type of weapon readily available for sale within the United States, it seems to me that it would make it that much easier for a terrorist group to infiltrate the country unarmed, and then acquire the necessary tools to carry out an attack. "

You need to educate yourself about what is banned. Semi-automatic handguns and rifles are still legal. The banned guns are simply guns that look military. Items like hand grips and bayonet lugs are the only difference. If you want to buy an AR15 or AK47, you can. They aren't banned. If you want a handgun with a magazine that holds more than 10 rounds, you can get one today.

When people call this an ugly gun ban, they are accurate. An "assault rifle" is an automatic weapon. The "asault weapon ban" simply banned a few ugly semi-automatic guns and new, high capacity magazines. Since there are millions of old high capacity magazines that still work in the new guns, that ban is without teeth.

It was (and is) a ridiculous law that was meant to get the camel's nose under the tent. It's time to kick the camel out. Eliminating this law will not make it easier to get an effective semi-automatic rifle or pistol.

[discostu]

Except the laws only stop the law abiding. The terrorists all come from countries that were supplied by Russia, they can smuggle in AK47s by the truck load. Very few violent crimes are performed with legally owned weapons, last stat I saw on assault weapons was that NO violent crimes have ever been performed with legally owned assault weapons.

[Pylot]

I hate to be curt but you don't know what you are talking about.

So called Assault weapons are not machine guns.

Criminals can easily get machine guns. The ban on so called Assault weapons would not slow them down one bit.