Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Assualt Weapons in our Subdivisions

Assault weapon is a term, often used by gun control advocates, typically referring to firearms "designed for rapidly firing at human targets from close range," sometimes described as military-style features useful in combat.

The term was most notably used in the language of the now-expired Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act of 1994, more commonly known as the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which expired in 2004. The federal assault weapons ban specifically prohibited 19 guns considered to be assault weapons. These were all semi-automatic firearms, meaning that they can eject spent shell casings and chamber the next bullet without human action, but (as opposed to automatic firearms) only one round is fired per pull of the trigger. In addition to the 19 weapons specifically prohibited, the federal assault weapons ban also defined as a prohibited assault weapon any semiautomatic rifle with a detachable magazine and at least two of the following five items: a folding or telescopic stock, a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, a bayonet mount, and a flash suppressor or threaded barrel (a barrel that can accommodate a flash suppressor); or a grenade launcher.

The act also defined as a prohibited assault weapon semi-automatic pistols that weighed more than 50 ounces when unloaded or included a barrel shroud, and barred the manufacture of magazines capable of carrying more than 10 rounds.

Although the federal assault weapons ban expired in 2004, several states have their own assault weapons bans, which sometimes differ from the former federal law. For example, in California, the Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989 bars a number of specific firearm models as well as firearms that have one of a number of features.

If the weapon is designed for firing at human target, why in the world do we allow them?  And in our subdivisions, too?

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:16 PM

    Because it is our 2nd Amendment Right to do so. I suppose we could legally carry flint lock's while the bad guys have "assault weapons". Gun control advocates don't get the fact that bad guys kill people. They will find a way to get the latest and greatest weapons, no matter the ban. (i.e. Colorado)
    Give the rest of us a legal and level playing field. Who knows... you may thank your NRA neighbor one day!

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  2. Anonymous9:30 PM

    Let's go back to the days of the old West. Hey, they had weapons, but no assault wepons. They got by by practing fast draw. Good idea.

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    1. Anonymous12:38 PM

      Only the Government should posess weapons. Subjects of the government (the governed) will then be subject to the whatever the Government decides is best. This message is approved by King George, Idi Amin, Stalin, Hitler, and all other dictators.

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  3. Anonymous3:55 PM

    Good Lord, some people are ignorant. An assault weapon opearates on the exact same principal as many hunting and target rifles, you pull the trigger, a bullet comes out, it loads the next round. The ONLY difference is the way it looks. Should they outlaw a car that looks too scary? "Assault" weapons are no more dangerous than any other gun (despite what the media would like you to believe). It's an individual's right to choose what type of gun they want to own, it's not your business to decide if the style they choose meets your liking.

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