I have (attempted) to post a response there. Whether the moderators will allow it remains to be seen. It was difficult to formulate a response, without referring to Helmke as a loathsome, reprehensible, despicable, dishonest sack of human excrement. But I managed. Somehow.
Here's my (attempted) response:
The firearms available to U.S. civilians are not "the types of guns we use in Iraq".
The firearms sold in the U.S., such as the AR-15, are semi-automatic ONLY. That means, when you pull the trigger, they fire one round (bullet) and one round ONLY.
The weapons used by our military are selective-fire. This means they are capable of BOTH semi-automatic AND fully-automatic fire.
Automatic weapons have been strictly regulated in the United States since passage of the National Firarms Act of 1934.
One does not simply walk into a gun store, and purchase an automatic weapon, as the dishonest Mr. Helmke would like you to believe.
Helmke states:
"...two states in the heart of the country have sustained mass shootings by people armed with by people armed with military-style assault rifles..."
Assault rifles, by definition, are selective-fire. ("Assault rifle" comes from the German "Sturmgewehr". The term, and it's defintion, are derived from the first "assault rifle", the "Sturmgewehr 44".)
The firearms used in the most recent attacks were semi-automatic only. They are not "assault rifles". Referring to semi-automatic rifles as "assault rifles" demonstrates a noted lack of veracity.
Helmke further states:
"...the type of bullet many assault weapons fire (7.62mm full metal jacket) can penetrate four categories of police body armor..."
The same is true of ALL center-fire rifle ammunition.
All classes of body armor are rated to stop certain calibers of ammuntion.
Class III & Class IV body armors are rated to stop rifle rounds (.308 Winchester & .30-06, respectively).
The other classes ("I" through "III-A") do NOT stop rifle rounds. These classes of body armor are not INTENDED to stop rifle rounds. They are rated to stop certain calibers of hand-gun ammunition, only.
Banning ammunition capable of penetrating certain classes of soft-body armor would mean a ban on ALL rifle ammunition.
If this is Mr. Helmkes' goal, I wish he would state it openly, and honestly, and without the hyperbole and misinformation.
| Variable SEMIGUNS : SHOULD SEMI-AUTO GUN SALE BE LIMITED TO MILITARY Literal Question
Should semi-automatic, assault weapons or semi-automatic guns known as assault rifles be sold to the general public or should their sales be limited to the military and police?
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Paul Helmke: "Should The Public Be Able To Get The Types Of Guns We Use In Iraq? "
Well Pailie, I say 'dam straight'. But enough about me, let's hear what some experts on the Constitution and the 2A have to say on that.
Patrick Henry: "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined...The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun.Samuel Adams: "The Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms."
Thomas Jefferson: "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
And Paulie, before you retort with that militia thingy, read thsi...
George Mason: "Who are the militia? They consist of the whole people, except a few public officers."
Now drink your bottle, have your mama tuck you in and say night-night.
(oh and the 2A ain't about 'hunting' - unless the topic is hunting tyrants.)
That’s an EASY question: OF COURSE! Stop infringing on their pre-existing RIGHTS!!!