Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Assault weapons don't belong in civilian hands (MA)
The Standard-Times ^ | December 22, 2006 | Meathead Editorial

Posted on 12/22/2006 10:15:46 AM PST by neverdem

It is long past time for the state Legislature and Congress to enact more effective bans on high-powered, military-style assault weapons.

New Bedford police were overpowered and outgunned when they went to the Foxy Lady strip club last week to respond to a domestic violence incident that turned into a deadly and frightening rampage.

The gunman, Scott Medeiros of Freetown, had obtained a Class A license more than a decade ago that allowed him to purchase any legal gun in the state, including the AR-15, a military-style semiautomatic assault rifle that is banned in California.

It is true that without the AR-15 rifle, Mr. Medeiros still might have used deadly force to kill the two Foxy Lady employees he apparently intended to murder. But he would not have overpowered police on patrol. And as one letter writer pointed out this week, "He definitely would not have been able to accomplish the life-threatening terror that took place outside the club."

We applaud New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang for urging legislators from SouthCoast to push for a more effective assault weapons ban in the state, and we urge him to use his influence with our congressional delegation to revisit the federal assault weapons ban that was allowed to lapse in 2004 under the Republican-controlled Congress.

Massachusetts is such a small state and so near states with much weaker gun laws that a stronger federal policy on assault weapons is necessary to protect the Bay State.

The 10-year federal ban halted the manufacture of 19 of the most deadly military-style assault weapons and banned their sale across the nation. Critics say there were significant loopholes in that ban. For example, the weapon used by Mr. Medeiros was banned only when it included certain components, such as a bayonet, flash suppressor and other devices, according to Freetown Police Chief Carlton Abbott. The basic weapon designed to replicate the military M-16 was still for sale across much of the nation.

Chief Abbott agrees with Mayor Lang that it is time to revisit regulations on assault weapons. He also suggests that the state re-examine classifications of gun licenses. Under current law, anyone with a Class A or Class B license can purchase a military-style assault weapon.

Weapons bans open up a raging debate about the meaning of the Second Amendment "right to bear arms." But this debate should not keep us from looking at the disturbing reality that it is too easy for civilians to purchase and use weapons designed only to kill and terrorize people, weapons that provide a civilian with more firepower than local city and town police. We must then enact sensible regulations to protect all law-abiding citizens, whether or not they choose to own a gun.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 181 next last
To: dighton

Whats that saying? "When Guns are outlawed...Only Liberals will have power"


21 posted on 12/22/2006 10:33:02 AM PST by LtKerst (Lt Kerst)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Diamond

The correct usage is any hand carried military weapon that fires multiple times from one pull of the trigger(automatic)and used to assault fixed positions.

It is always used incorrectly in the MSM to include semiautomatic weapons.


22 posted on 12/22/2006 10:33:05 AM PST by A Strict Constructionist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: ASA Vet
Never happen. The New season of American Idol is on.

Or would that be Amerikan Idle?

23 posted on 12/22/2006 10:33:07 AM PST by Dead Corpse (Anyone who needs to be persuaded to be free, doesn't deserve to be.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: longtermmemmory

No, that would be a Federal class III license. Class A, B etc is apparently a Mass. state designation for who knows what, prolly anything the libtards don't like on any given day.


24 posted on 12/22/2006 10:33:09 AM PST by skepsel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Leatherneck_MT

I could live with it. ;)


25 posted on 12/22/2006 10:35:50 AM PST by patton (Sanctimony frequently reaps its own reward.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Joe Brower

Hmmm...so I guess a BLU-82 is out of the question?

26 posted on 12/22/2006 10:36:14 AM PST by Pharmboy ([She turned me into a] Newt! in '08)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

And the definition of high powered in this case - is that the available ammunition is not AP - capable of penetrating ANY body armor.


27 posted on 12/22/2006 10:39:10 AM PST by Sword_Svalbardt (Sword Svalbardt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GulfBreeze
Is there another purpos for weapons than 'assault'?

yup, to make holes in paper. :)
28 posted on 12/22/2006 10:39:20 AM PST by absolootezer0 (stop repeat offenders - don't re-elect them!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

Gun makers need to call all of their products "non-assault weapons". Then what will be left to ban?


29 posted on 12/22/2006 10:39:31 AM PST by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

Additionally, more anti gun blather.


30 posted on 12/22/2006 10:40:03 AM PST by Sword_Svalbardt (Sword Svalbardt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
The article assumes that police are somehown supposed to be better armed than civilians. Nevermind the fact that police are civilians.
31 posted on 12/22/2006 10:40:13 AM PST by kerryusama04 (Isa 8:20, Eze 22:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: patton
I propose a law -

"Any law enforcement officer, found in possession of a weapon not allowed the general public, shall be imprisoned for ten years."

I second your proposal.

It's ludicrous to think that disarming the public while leaving the government armed could lead to anything but tyranny - the second amendment is there to secure the power in the hands of the people, not the public servants.

32 posted on 12/22/2006 10:40:43 AM PST by meyer (Bring back the Contract with America and you'll bring back the Republican majority.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

Why does it not surprise me this is happening in Femichusetts?


33 posted on 12/22/2006 10:41:42 AM PST by Gritty (Modern Western democracy is feminized in every respect except its ability to reproduce-Mark Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
The 10-year federal ban halted the manufacture of 19 of the most deadly military-style assault weapons and banned their sale across the nation. Critics say there were significant loopholes in that ban. For example, the weapon used by Mr. Medeiros was banned only when it included certain components, such as a bayonet, flash suppressor and other devices, according to Freetown Police Chief Carlton Abbott

So the paper alludes to the fact the the "expired" federal ban would not have helped the situation with this nutcase and his AR-15.

So, how many cops were killed? None? So let's hear from the chief how the AR-15 made the situation worse.

Oh yeah, Mass. already has some of the most onerous gun laws in the country. You can keep your hands off mine.

34 posted on 12/22/2006 10:42:28 AM PST by VeniVidiVici (Barack Hussein Obama - Ted Kennedy's Left-Hand Man.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
I want a cannon. Not a "hand cannon", I want a CANNON!

And the government tells me I can't have one except by their leave.

I am but a serf and I don't like it.

35 posted on 12/22/2006 10:42:54 AM PST by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Right Wing Assault

Re-name them all "Assault Prevention Weapons". Maybe that'll get it through to the Brady Bunch and Gun Banners in general.


36 posted on 12/22/2006 10:43:10 AM PST by Dead Corpse (Anyone who needs to be persuaded to be free, doesn't deserve to be.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Diamond
Forgive me, but what is an "assault" weapon, ...

Soccer Moms (and Dads, too, probably) are more easily terrorized by "assault weapons" than by ordinary "weapons".

37 posted on 12/22/2006 10:46:02 AM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Just another Joe
But...you can have a cannon. As long as it is fired by "antique means" (fuse hole), you don't even need to register it.

MRSI gets tough, but it can be done (Multiple rounds simultanious impact) (pronounced Mercy Missions)

38 posted on 12/22/2006 10:47:26 AM PST by patton (Sanctimony frequently reaps its own reward.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

"Assault weapons don't belong in civilian hands"

Yes they do.


39 posted on 12/22/2006 10:48:54 AM PST by karnage
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: patton
As long as it is fired by "antique means" (fuse hole), you don't even need to register it.

I think you do. I have a friend that is a civil war buff. One of the kind that goes around redoing the large battles of the Civil war.
He has an actual Civil war era cannon. Says he had to register it with the fed guv in order to keep it.

I haven't actually looked into getting one. I was relying on his experience.

40 posted on 12/22/2006 10:50:42 AM PST by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 181 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson