No-one I've seen makes the point better- I had a few more, but those were quickest to find.
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.
No-one I've seen makes the point better- I had a few more, but those were quickest to find.
"The original US assault weapon of WWI was the trench shotgun."
Don't you worry, once the evil 'assault' weapons are banned the shotguns will follow shortly.
I built them up from parts...so there's not much to register...
I guess they'd be more scared of a tricked out 10/22 instead of something like a real semi-auto battle rifle....
Well, the "unintended consequences" from actions by "enemies foreign and domestic" will likely happen sometime in our lifetimes. Started by Democrats.
I with these liberal moonbats would get a life!
Oh... we'll resist. When they come for us one at a time. But there will be no grand uprising. No CWII. We haven't the will for it any more...
I respectfully disagree. The U.S. 5.56 mm and the Russian 7.62 x 39 mm are centerfire cartridges, but they are almost universally recognized as intermediate or medium powered rounds, as opposed to the standard high powered rounds used in World War II, which also typically was the same ammunition that was used in the medium machineguns of various armies.
The performance of 5.56 mm in the M4 carbine in Afghanistan and Iraq is such that they are getting M14s out of storage and want a bigger round and a new weapon. IIRC, most states forbid big game hunting with the 5.56 mm.
Romney has flip-flopped on more than one issue. I wish the front runners would go away.
What a load of crap. I can't feature any PD in the nation that doesn't have what it needs to come up against anyone with a semi-auto weapon. Hells bells, they even had Thompsons back in the '20's. This stupid article makes it sound like the local PD is still using sling shots.
Bush has said he would sign a new weapons ban already.
Citizens should have more firepower than the government.
Will they be calling new legislation the Concord Disarmanent Act and give King George honorary sponsorship.
This new tactic they are using really scares me. Instead of admitting that bans do not work and have no impact on crime the libs are now claiming that everything would be working fine and everyone would live in peace and tranquility if it weren't for those pesky surrounding states with lax gun laws.
They are setting the stage for another federal ban and we have no conservatives to stop it. McCain, Guliani, Romney and Bush will all go along with it - for the children of course. In addition, the "pro gun" blue dog democrats will support it because it doesn't really hurt their credibility when you're talking about banning "assault weapons". They're still going to back your right to own a 5 shot capacity deer rifle or over/under shotgun.
The general public will swallow it because the argument has already been framed in favor of the gun grabbers with words like "high capacity" and "assault rifle". Add to that the ongoing effort by the left to outright lie about the intent of 2A and most of the uneducated and unthinking have the belief that 2A is about the National Guard or hunting.
I can already envision the signing. You'll have Sarah Brady and her husband, the human prop, in attendance along with an assorted mix of additional gun violence victims listening to a 'conservative' president blather on about a new day in America where the streets, schools and play grounds of this country will finally be rid of the plague of gun violence. Then throw in a few sound bites from Schumer, Feinstein, Kennedy etc about a great bipartisan congressional effort that shows just how well our government can serve the people when they work together.
I pray to God this ban isn't ex post facto, but hey, since when did the constitution matter.
Sorry for the rant - guess I'll go have a drink.
The battle rifle was designed for battles of older times, when formations of soldiers would shoot at each other out in the open.
In modern battles, you need something that will allow you to quickly engage enemies that are moving from cover to cover, popping up momentarily to shoot at you and diving for cover again. The average infantryman's rifle should have sights that allow you to rapidly acquire your target. It also should shoot something that can penetrate body armor and light cover. The squad will have a mix of weapons, one of which will be a long-range scoped snipe rifle for whatever long-range targets come into view
That's the way it is in Kalifornia. The definition changes almost daily.
Heh. Might even think about enacting "Term Limits."
It is long past time for the state Legislature and Congress to enact more effective bans on high-powered, military-style assault weapons.
We saw the impact of miltary-style assault weapons during last April's riot in Lexington and Concord. His Majesty's police were overwhelmed by a small band of thugs intent on establishing, if you can believe this, their own self-governing community.
Obviously, April's events was a well-planned terrorist incursion, starting with local businessman Paul Revere driving along Route 128 with his signature Pewter Van's loudspeaker telling residents in the greater metro area that the British were coming. The support from right-wing extremists at WRKO with their broadcast message "two if by sea, one if by land" also deserves attention from the Legislature. Free speech is one thing; creating a public disturbance is another.
However, the weapons stashed in the quiet suburban homes in the Boston suburbs shouldn't have been there in the first place. There is no reason to fear His Majesty. His Royal Constabulary supports law-abiding people throughout the kingdom. These firearms weren't used to hunt deer and turkey. The weapons were clearly hidden and then brought out to aim at the bright red coats of our heroic government officials.
We agree that assault-style weapons have no place in the modern world. The Legislature needs to put a stop to the sort of criminals who feel that they have the right to govern themselves. God Save the King.
Yep...
What an absolute mouth-breather. Obviously knows nothing about firearms.
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