Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
I do agree with you on some of what your saying about the assault rifle definition, your right that a modern military assault weapon whether its a full rifle, or smaller weapon like the Swat Carried MP series all have selector switches that allow you to select rates of fire from Semi, to 3 round to fully automatic for example.
However and I don't think that you can argue to much, that the AR-15 shares a lot of the same features as an assault rifle. The semi auto feature and firing mechanism allows you to put a lot of rounds down range quickly, the magazine fed capability means that you don't have to reload as often like a standard hunting rifle that might be designed with a 3 or 5 round clip and a bolt action firing mechanism.
The type of bullet is irrelevant to the definition of an assault rifle. The AK-47 uses a heavy 7.62 round, the AR-15 I believe uses a high velocity 5.56 round the difference in design philosophy really goes towards carry weight and accuracy more then anything else.
I say up half the night because I just can't in my mind figure out a civilian use for a magazine fed, precise semi automatic light weight rifle whether we define it as an assault rifle or not.
Target practice? There's little challenge to that as this generations rifles are extremely accurate, you can shoot a lot of rounds quickly. So its not sportsmen like.
Hunting? Do you really need to have a 30 round clip to go duck or deer hunting? It removes the sport from it.
Aha defending our homes against evil burglers? That's where the hand gun argument comes into play. the bottom line is this, I firmly believe that more harm comes from this mentally then good, trust me I know this.
First of all, its more then likely that any intruder is going to get a jump on you. Second of all, in a darkened environment when your scared and your adrenaline is pumping, things like target identification goes right out the window, your more then likely to hurt your self or a loved one then hurt a burgler.
Guns embolden you, they wipe out any sense of self preservation and right thinking in a panic filled chaotic situation. Your more then likely to go towards a unknown and deadly situation then retreat from it because by gawd you have a gun.
Ok, how about defending yourself against a oppressive situation, I mean I have my AR-15 I have 30 in the mag, lock and load, come get me Obama (don't worry I still think he's a terrible president).
But what is your AR-15 going to do against a armored cav brigade with air and artillary support. Heck whats someone's dumb a$$ going to do against a marine recon operater except look stupid and die.
We saw yesterday that the police had the tactics, training and equipment and they killed those things dead when they caught up to him.
If Americans want guns, in my mind, bolt action, low capacity is all they should get their hands on. And non self cocking revolvers.
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