- Messages
- 1,011
- Reputation
- 1,371
- Location
- San Antonio, TX
- zBucks
- 9,261
- Sex
- Male
- Race
- Black
- Origin
- USA
First I'd like to preface this by saying I am a military veteran. I have graduated from two federal law enforcement academies that requires qualifying on multiple types of weapons. I am also a lifelong hunter and outdoorsman. So I am fairly familiar with guns.
This opinion may be controversial and maybe I'm wrong:
When people say assault rifle ban the idea that comes up is the military style weapon that has the tactical look.
I don't think an assault rifle ban is the overall answer. Will it help? Sure it will. Will it stop mass shootings? No.
People choose these for 3 reasons. One is they are much easier to learn to shoot and even if you have never shot one before at close range you can still be very accurate. The second reason is that they are very lethal and cause a lot of damage. The third reason is because they are so readily available.
All an assault rifle is is a semiautomatic weapon. That means that each time you pull the trigger a shot is fired. This is different than a pump action shotgun or a bolt action or lever action rifle int that you don't need to cock it, re chamber or anything in between, just pull the trigger again. There are many hunting rifles that don't have that tactical look that fit this description and if you showed it to news pundits they wouldn't even think it is an assault rifle but it functions the exact same.
So let's just say we ban all semiautomatic high powered rifles. ( that will never happen but just in theory) People that want to carry out these killings will just go to what is next available. Semiautomatic pistols or shotguns.
Now in the case of the pistols the shootings will be less deadly.
Here's why. Rifles give a lot of room for error, especially close range. You don't need site picture, your breathing can be off, your aim can be off slightly and you'll likely still hit your target. You don't need many fundamentals to be accurate with a rifle at close to moderate range. A pistol on the other hand you need some fundamentals or you'll miss even at a relatively close range. That is because pistols are more difficult to shoot accurately without lots of practice.
I'll put it this way. There are 3 qualification levels in the Army. Marksman, Sharpshooter, Expert. It took me less than a year of practice to get to Expert with an M-16A2 rifle. On the other hand it took me almost 3 years in before I finally shot Expert on a Beretta 9mm.
So with semiautomatic pistols the gunman may miss more and the pistols aren't near as lethal so dependent upon where you are hit you may survive.
But let's not forget Virginia Tech. That gunmen did a lot of damage with 2 handguns. So at close range they can still do lots of damage.
So if we ban assault rifles gunmen are just going to go to what is next readily available semiauto handguns which can fire up to 17 or more shots even with the regular magazine.
So unless we are talking about banning all semiautomatic weapons we're back to square one.
_______________________
I think regulating weapons the same way we do cars if a better option. Anyone can purchase a gun. Each year though you a to register and pay registration fees to own the weapon and you have to attest that yourself or no one in your household has mental health issues. In order to register the person should have to bring in a physician statement showing they have clear mental health. Everyone should be seeing their primary care at least once per year so this could be done at that visit.
Physicians should be released from any criminal or civil liability. This will enhance physicians facilitating these exams without fear of being sued or held criminally liable. However, if anyone in your household carries out a massacre with your weapon not only should they face criminal penalties but the owner of the weapon should also.
The fees should be charged for each weapon. Semiautomatic weapons should carry a substantially larger fee.
If anyone in the household has mental health issues then the person should be required to purchase and register a firearm safe and keep all weapons in it. This should also have a very large registration fee.
This wouldn't stop anyone from purchasing and owing a firearm. It just puts safeguards and roadblocks in the way. And at the end of the day that is all we are asking for!
This opinion may be controversial and maybe I'm wrong:
When people say assault rifle ban the idea that comes up is the military style weapon that has the tactical look.
I don't think an assault rifle ban is the overall answer. Will it help? Sure it will. Will it stop mass shootings? No.
People choose these for 3 reasons. One is they are much easier to learn to shoot and even if you have never shot one before at close range you can still be very accurate. The second reason is that they are very lethal and cause a lot of damage. The third reason is because they are so readily available.
All an assault rifle is is a semiautomatic weapon. That means that each time you pull the trigger a shot is fired. This is different than a pump action shotgun or a bolt action or lever action rifle int that you don't need to cock it, re chamber or anything in between, just pull the trigger again. There are many hunting rifles that don't have that tactical look that fit this description and if you showed it to news pundits they wouldn't even think it is an assault rifle but it functions the exact same.
So let's just say we ban all semiautomatic high powered rifles. ( that will never happen but just in theory) People that want to carry out these killings will just go to what is next available. Semiautomatic pistols or shotguns.
Now in the case of the pistols the shootings will be less deadly.
Here's why. Rifles give a lot of room for error, especially close range. You don't need site picture, your breathing can be off, your aim can be off slightly and you'll likely still hit your target. You don't need many fundamentals to be accurate with a rifle at close to moderate range. A pistol on the other hand you need some fundamentals or you'll miss even at a relatively close range. That is because pistols are more difficult to shoot accurately without lots of practice.
I'll put it this way. There are 3 qualification levels in the Army. Marksman, Sharpshooter, Expert. It took me less than a year of practice to get to Expert with an M-16A2 rifle. On the other hand it took me almost 3 years in before I finally shot Expert on a Beretta 9mm.
So with semiautomatic pistols the gunman may miss more and the pistols aren't near as lethal so dependent upon where you are hit you may survive.
But let's not forget Virginia Tech. That gunmen did a lot of damage with 2 handguns. So at close range they can still do lots of damage.
So if we ban assault rifles gunmen are just going to go to what is next readily available semiauto handguns which can fire up to 17 or more shots even with the regular magazine.
So unless we are talking about banning all semiautomatic weapons we're back to square one.
_______________________
I think regulating weapons the same way we do cars if a better option. Anyone can purchase a gun. Each year though you a to register and pay registration fees to own the weapon and you have to attest that yourself or no one in your household has mental health issues. In order to register the person should have to bring in a physician statement showing they have clear mental health. Everyone should be seeing their primary care at least once per year so this could be done at that visit.
Physicians should be released from any criminal or civil liability. This will enhance physicians facilitating these exams without fear of being sued or held criminally liable. However, if anyone in your household carries out a massacre with your weapon not only should they face criminal penalties but the owner of the weapon should also.
The fees should be charged for each weapon. Semiautomatic weapons should carry a substantially larger fee.
If anyone in the household has mental health issues then the person should be required to purchase and register a firearm safe and keep all weapons in it. This should also have a very large registration fee.
This wouldn't stop anyone from purchasing and owing a firearm. It just puts safeguards and roadblocks in the way. And at the end of the day that is all we are asking for!
