Assault weapons don't belong in civilian hands (MA)

The Standard-Times ^ | December 22, 2006 | Meathead Editorial

[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.

[karnage]

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

My revision: "If any law enforcement officer is found in possession of a weapon not allowed the general public, the law will be amended to make that weapon legally available to the public!"

[neverdem]

Forgive me, but what is an "assault" weapon, as opposed to just a "weapon"? The word "assault" is used to describe "weapon" nine times in the article. What's the difference?

An "assault" weapon is a vague term usually used to obfuscate the difference between military looking semi-automatic long arms and various automatic firearms. Wikipedia seem to have a decent discussion, although I didn't read all of it.

[RetiredArmy]

N.B. for the clueless, the ammunition for the AR-15, M-16, AK-47, etc. was intentionally designed not to be high-powered.

Regardless, the 5.56 mm of the M-16 does huge damage. Kills and wounds. As one who has been wounded by an M-16 round, I can testify to the damage that round does to the body.

[longtermmemmory]

based on my many years of legal practices I have come up with the following law of nature:

The more restrictive the gun control laws in a political entity, the greater in incidence of political corruption within that entity.


example: Chicago, high political corruption and very restrictive gun control. Same for Washington DC.

[redgolum]

Compared to a .22 LR it does. But a 5.56mm (.223 Rem.) is not a legal deer cartridge in most states. It is classed as a small game cartridge. Because it is too under powered. A 7.62 NATO (.308 Win) delivers a lot more energy and stopping power than a 5.56 mm. Both will kill you quick if hit in the right spot.

[Centurion2000]

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

What about percussion caps?

[skepsel]

Assault rifle, originally from the German WWII "Sturmgewehr", sturm = storm or assault and gewehr = rifle. I may have spelled it wrong, at any rate the idea was to neck down a full power rifle catridge, usually about .30 caliber (German 8mm or 7.92 x 50 something) into an intermediate powered round.

It was decided that full powered rifles were unnecessary, engagenments rarely took place at more than 300 yards, much closer than the 1200 yds a standard battle rifle was capable of.

The old style weapons were more costly to manufacture than the new select fire weapons (today an M1A1 semi-auto M-14 type rifle made the old way goes for about $1400 vs around $400 for a Romanian WASR AK clone) made from simple stampings and welds and a minimum of the precision machinings by skilled craftsmen required in the older weapons.

In addition the new weapons fired lighter ammunition allowing more of it be carried.
Tactics changed as the war went on and the numbers of well trained long service troops declined, the proportion of less well trained troops rose and the general level of marksmanship declined, mass over quality if you like.

It was felt that in close quarters combat the ability to through a lot of bullets would compensate for the decline in other qualities and improve the average soldier's morale enough to make the assault with his fellows close beside him, all spraying and praying, suppressive fire by the individual soldier or squad providing a base of fire to pin or supress the enemy and allowing other elements to manuever against the objective.

[Shellback Chuck]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO9eMgFWXTk

[Domandred]

Forgive me, but what is an "assault" weapon, as opposed to just a "weapon"?

Here is an example of the stupidity

Weapon:

"Assault" Weapon:

Same model gun. The first picture is "Stock" minus the bayonet to make it legal for import. The second is filled with after market accessories and addons. Still missing the bayonet but the bi-pod uses the bayonet lug in this case so probably can't have both.

These are not my pictures, just ones I found on the net. I own the same model myself, but not pics sorry. And yes mine is technically "banned" because of my after market stuff, but I don't give a rats ass.

[redgolum]

The other reasons for a smaller cartridge were:
1. Most fighting took place under 300 yards. An 8mm or 30-06 has a longer range.
2. A full auto high power cartridge tends to beat up the shooter. As some of the guys who had the full auto M-14. It was impossible to control.
3. Lighter ammo meant that you could carry a lot more into battle.

But this came at a price. Less stopping power. That is one of the reasons the military is invesgating the 6.8 SPC.

[killermedic]

Nice poster! You're right it has nothing to do with guns. After the brady bill was lifted, I went and bought one of the post ban AR-15 M4 styled assault rifles just because I could.
Personally I think that the media has more power to kill than my single rifle...sarc/but hen again what would I know about regulation, I am just a white male who used the power of my ancestors to oppress the less fortunate of our genocidal,empirical, and capitalist country. May I rot in hell. /sarc

[54B]

The sad thing is, politician's try to ban AK's here in the states, but the gutless state department insisted that every Iraqi has the cultural "right" to one.
Ask any OIF vet, we have to let the Iraqi citizen's keep an AK-47 at the house and place of business.

[Dick Bachert]

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[paul51]

I propose a law

I'll make another proposal. Any elected or appointed public or law enforcement official that attempts to deny the citizens a right to defend themselves be hung.

[MarkL]

Forgive me, but what is an "assault" weapon, as opposed to just a "weapon"? The word "assault" is used to describe "weapon" nine times in the article. What's the difference?

There's a "real" definition of the term "assault rifle," which is a rifle, capable of select fire (fully automatic), which fires a reduced power round (compared to a "high power" rifle caliber"). Since the weapons they're trying to ban don't actually meet the definitions of an "assault rifle," they basicly made up a scary name for a scary looking rifle. That's why it's common to hear the term "semi-automatic assault weapon." They're trying to associate "semi-automatic" with "assault weapon," i.e. "all semi-autos ARE "assault weapons!"

For instance a "battle rifle" is a long arm, firing a full power cartridge (like the M1 Garrand, which fires the 30-06, or the M14, which fires the .308 or 7.62mm NATO), while the "assault rifle fires a round like the .223 or 5.56mm NATO. A soldier can carry more than twice the ammunition in the same weight load.

And an "Assault Rifle" is often smaller, and sometimes lighter (but not always) than a "battle rifle."

Mark

[Domandred]

Well I had two pictures. Can't remember where I got the first one now though and can't go back and edit my post.

[Dick Bachert]

And the goal of any sensible military organization is to WOUND the other guy as he will tie up several others as they tend to him on the battlefield.

[patton]

Percussion caps? A flintlock cannon? don't ask, don't tell...

Piciric acid is willow bark, you know. Make all you wish. Ten times distilled, asperin - 100 times distilled, flash powder.

[Just another Joe]

Never do see those balls come back down. Maybe it's my eyes.

[vigilence]

The left likes to think that all governments are benevolent and exist for the collective good. Conservatives believe that all governments are suspect and exist only as a necessary evil, their existence subject to revocation at any time they become a threat to igod given rights. The left thinks that weapons are meant for protection from the enemy from without. Conservatives resereve the right to fight enemies from both without and within. Therefore, the left believes we don't need weapons, the government will protect us. Conservatives believe we should have any weapon we choose to match the weapons of any enemy, foreign or domestic. Ever seen the movie "Seven Days In May"? What if a charismatic American general decided to stage a coup de ta? Wouldn't we need weapons to fight he an his followers? Happens all the time around the world. Hopefully, never here but then you never know do you.