The weapon of choice among criminals is the handgun, because you can't conceal an AR-15 in your jeans. Gosh, criminals must not be involved in hunting or sports. If any gang banger had wanted a rifle for some reason during the AW ban, they were always available to steal or buy with no flash hider. This is such a load of political crap.
So now, suddenly police departments have to militarize themselves due to the expiration of the AW ban? It sounds like hollow justification for the JBT to me.
"Good afternoon my good man. I and a dozen of my amigos from the Mara Salvatrucha fraternity would like to purchase several AR-15 semi-automatic weapons so that we might engage in self-defense preparations as well as some leisurely watermelon plinking. Would you be a good chap and wrap those up and throw in a couple of thousand rounds of 5.56mm before the next LAPD shift change? Thank you ever so much."