[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.

[Sender]

OK, I'll spot you an AR-15, a flat piece of steel, a drill press and a file and I'll check back with you in 24 hours if it's so easy. Seriously, one of the anti-gunners' most damaging myths is that all semi-autos are really machine guns with one part missing. We shouldn't reinforce that myth; in reality it ain't that easy, and it certainly ain't legal.

[supercat]

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).

Depends whether you want something that will actually work without blowing up.

I have yet to hear any explanation of why it's easier to turn an AR-15 into a useful machine gun than e.g. a Ruger Mini-14.

[Constitutional Patriot]

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

If terrorists want to terrorize,why are they going to putz around trying to modify firearms when all they have to do to inflict terror is detonate a bomb on a bus or in some other crowded area? The whole terrorism angle in this debate is a red herring. A bomb is easy to make and use and more effective than a firearm in inflicting indescriminent harm.

[ozzymandus]

Please tell me how to make an AR-15 fully auto with a flat piece of steel and a few holes. A good machinist could make a functional machine gun out of sheet metal and bar stock easier than the complex machining operations needed to convert an AR to full auto, particularly if he wanted it to work.