Ron Paul discusses machine guns with Newsweek

Newsweek Interview Video ^ | 12/7/07

[publiusF27]

I'm a Paul supporter, but was disappointed with his answer on machine guns. I expected the reporter to act as if privately owned machine guns don't exist and are a lunatic idea, but then Ron Paul acted the same way and tried to change the subject! He did wind up saying that if some hobbyist wants a machine gun he doesn't have a problem with it, but that's pretty weak, IMHO.

It was a great opportunity to point out that there are almost a quarter million LEGAL privately owned machine guns in America today and then ask the reporter when he last heard of one of them being used in a crime. There are two machine gun homicides on record, according to guncite, though the info is a bit dated.

It was also a great opportunity to point out that the ban on post 1986 machine guns will wind up being a complete ban over time, as all of the existing guns break or are otherwise lost. Meanwhile, their status makes them only playthings for the wealthier gun owners. It was a great opportunity to ask whether the reporter's assumption is that poor people would cause more trouble than rich people.

A slow pitch right over the plate, and Ron Paul got a base hit.

[Atlas Sneezed]

It was a great opportunity to point out that there are almost a quarter million LEGAL privately owned machine guns in America today and then ask the reporter when he last heard of one of them being used in a crime.

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One per 1000 citizens. Some bulwark against tyranny!

[publiusF27]

And the number dwindles each year. Machine guns get very hot and then they malfunction and break. Once they break, you own a very expensive and very worthless piece of government paper and some scrap metal.

All the more reason to dump the post-1986 machine gun ban. Can we guarantee that Americans won’t need machine guns for some unforeseen reason in a hundred years? Because we’re guaranteeing that they won’t have them.

I’ve fired a machine gun. Frankly, it wasn’t fun. I don’t want to own one. But I want the option if I should decide I need to own one, and I want future Americans to have that option.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

I gotta ask.....what was it and why wasn’t it fun?

[publiusF27]

It was OK, but kicked and rattled around enough that I had trouble aiming. The gun dealer brought a few toys that day, and took out one of his favorite machine guns, which no one else was allowed to touch, and chased some cans and things down the range. He had incredible control, and it was pretty amusing, but not something we could allow a beginner at automatic weapons like myself to try. For some reason, I'm more drawn to the single shot guns. My brother's Serbu 50 BFG is a blast. :D

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

My favorites are sub-machine guns. The MP5 is a hoot. But, on “full-auto” nights at the local range, I love the relics. The Thompsons, the German grease guns and the assorted European 9mm autos.

[Lancer_N3502A]

That is an M-14E2 Squad Automatic Rifle, sought to replace the Browning Automatic Rifle.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7cONyuRoZo

[publiusF27]

Thanks, Lancer. I had forgotten the model. It was interesting, and I don’t regret the experience at all. I’m just not that interested in full auto guns. I just think they should be legal and shouldn’t cost 15 grand.

[supercat]

I’d think a full-auto .22LR might be fun. Should be cheap to shoot, without too much recoil.

[MaxMax]

I converted a 10-22 Ruger into full auto once. It would burn off
a full 25-round clip in less then a second. Not much fun.
It also ate up those plastic 25 round clips and jammed alot. The clip design
wasn't made for full auto on the 10/22 but I did manage to make it
work until it was stolen in Phoenix. Now it's not my problem.

The setup wasn't obvious though, I had drilled a 1/16 hole into the side
that when fitted with the correct pin would make it full auto.

[traviskicks]

A slow pitch right over the plate, and Ron Paul got a base hit.

Happens far too often, like in the debate where he was asked about abolishing the IRS and he went off on a foreign policy tangent...

[dcwusmc]

Could be it’s just a weak area... Not sure, but I do know he’s one who DOES support 2A 100%... so I suspect it’s primarily unfamiliarity... he needs educating on it.