Thu Jan 3, 2013, 11:48 AM
Douva (19 posts)
Assault Weapon Truth
What is an "assault weapon"?
It is debated whether the term “assault weapon,” which entered the American lexicon in the late 1980s, originated as a political ploy by gun control advocates or as a marketing ploy by gun retailers. What is certain is that “assault weapon” is not a technical term, a term of art used by firearms manufactures, or a military term. The closest match in any of those categories is the term “assault rifle,” which is a military term referring to a medium-caliber, shoulder-fired rifle that allows the shooter to select between semiautomatic mode and either fully-automatic or three-shot-burst mode. Because "assault weapons," as defined by state and federal law, can fire in neither fully-automatic mode nor three-shot-burst mode, they are not assault rifles. Unfortunately, the media often conflates these two similar-sounding phrases—using "assault rifle" when they mean "assault weapon"—thereby, further confusing the public on the relationship between so-called "assault weapons" and true weapons of war. None of the rifle models found on the battlefields of Afghanistan, Iraq, or Vietnam are available for sale in American sporting goods stores. Read the rest at AssaultWeaponTruth.com.
|
36 replies, 13145 views
![]() |
Author | Time | Post |
![]() |
Douva | Jan 2013 | OP |
locks | Jan 2013 | #1 | |
loknar | Jan 2013 | #3 | |
lastlib | Jan 2013 | #8 | |
loknar | Jan 2013 | #10 | |
lastlib | Jan 2013 | #11 | |
Recursion | Jan 2013 | #22 | |
lastlib | Jan 2013 | #26 | |
Recursion | Jan 2013 | #12 | |
lastlib | Jan 2013 | #19 | |
Recursion | Jan 2013 | #20 | |
lastlib | Jan 2013 | #27 | |
Recursion | Jan 2013 | #28 | |
lastlib | Jan 2013 | #30 | |
Recursion | Jan 2013 | #31 | |
Callisto32 | Jan 2013 | #32 | |
lastlib | Jan 2013 | #36 | |
AtheistCrusader | Jan 2013 | #2 | |
jmg257 | Jan 2013 | #4 | |
loknar | Jan 2013 | #5 | |
jmg257 | Jan 2013 | #16 | |
Recursion | Jan 2013 | #13 | |
jmg257 | Jan 2013 | #17 | |
AtheistCrusader | Jan 2013 | #14 | |
Recursion | Jan 2013 | #18 | |
AtheistCrusader | Jan 2013 | #21 | |
jimmy the one | Jan 2013 | #6 | |
loknar | Jan 2013 | #7 | |
billh58 | Jan 2013 | #35 | |
lastlib | Jan 2013 | #9 | |
Straw Man | Jan 2013 | #15 | |
discntnt_irny_srcsm | Jan 2013 | #23 | |
Douva | Jan 2013 | #24 | |
jimmy the one | Jan 2013 | #25 | |
Eleanors38 | Jan 2013 | #29 | |
billh58 | Jan 2013 | #33 | |
billh58 | Jan 2013 | #34 |
Response to Douva (Original post)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 12:39 PM
locks (1,991 posts)
1. Confusion
The public may be confused about "gun terms". It is not confused about the number of people killed with guns every day, only horrified, appalled, saddened and angry.
|
Response to locks (Reply #1)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 12:54 PM
loknar (33 posts)
3. on average, how many people do you think are killed every day with assault weapons in America?
I'm gonna guess...somewhere right around....zero.
|
Response to loknar (Reply #3)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:20 PM
lastlib (19,707 posts)
8. So...twenty kids in Newtown, CT were just a statistical anomaly.......
Tell that to their parents.
|
Response to lastlib (Reply #8)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:38 PM
loknar (33 posts)
10. how many people are killed by assault rifles every day?
zero.
|
Response to loknar (Reply #10)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:48 PM
lastlib (19,707 posts)
11. ^
your statement is still false. Restating a falsehood does not make it true. Those twenty kids and six teachers didn't die from Adam Lanza's halitosis. They died of bullets. From a gun with the capacity to fire a lot of bullets rapidly. That's all we need to know. That's what we are going to put an end to. Get out of the way.
|
Response to lastlib (Reply #11)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 03:22 PM
Recursion (56,415 posts)
22. "That's all we need to know"
Well, no, because you're advocating for a ban that kept the gun he used legal.
So, I mean, you might want to learn enough to figure out what laws to support. |
Response to Recursion (Reply #22)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 11:27 AM
lastlib (19,707 posts)
26. I am NOT advocating for any law that keeps his gun legal. That's bullshit, and you know it.
Response to lastlib (Reply #8)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:55 PM
Recursion (56,415 posts)
12. That wasn't an assault weapon
And since preventing stuff like that is the alleged point of the whole damn law I don't see why it's considered "derailing" when I point that out.
|
Response to Recursion (Reply #12)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:27 PM
lastlib (19,707 posts)
19. I bet those kids thought it was--before they DIED!!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Response to lastlib (Reply #19)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:28 PM
Recursion (56,415 posts)
20. Wow! You reminded me that kids died! That changes everything!
You're right! It doesn't matter that the weapon he used was legal under the AWB. Kids died, so we can no longer actually think about laws!
We should quickly pass another AWB so that his gun remains legal! Anybody who points out that fact is, apparently, dancing on those kids' graves! |
Response to Recursion (Reply #20)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 11:31 AM
lastlib (19,707 posts)
27. It wouldn't be legal under MY idea of an assault-weapon ban.
Response to lastlib (Reply #27)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 11:36 AM
Recursion (56,415 posts)
28. So tell me your idea of an assault weapon ban. I'm open to ideas
I haven't heard a workable one yet, unfortunately.
|
Response to Recursion (Reply #28)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 12:34 PM
lastlib (19,707 posts)
30. if it points at you and a bullet comes out, it's an assault weapon.
Response to lastlib (Reply #30)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 12:39 PM
Recursion (56,415 posts)
31. Ban all guns? Hasn't worked well for pot
But you're welcome to try
|
Response to lastlib (Reply #30)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 12:56 PM
Callisto32 (2,997 posts)
32. So just pure, emotional prohibitionism.
Stay liberal.....
|
Response to Callisto32 (Reply #32)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 06:59 PM
lastlib (19,707 posts)
36. If it'll save one child's life, it works for me.
Response to Douva (Original post)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 12:40 PM
AtheistCrusader (33,982 posts)
2. Oh hey, spam link to NRA sources.
Leroy Pyle, San Jose Police Department.
NRA employee, and such. Member of http://2ampd.net/?p=173 (WE SUPPORT SHERRIF ARAPAIO, lol) Bio http://2ampd.net/Articles/Pyle/LeroyPyle-Biography.htm The 'Assault Weapon vs. Assault Rifle' debate has been done to death here already, thanks. |
Response to Douva (Original post)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 12:55 PM
jmg257 (11,980 posts)
4. You should forward this to those folks in Newtown, classes resumed today
at a new school, and I'm sure they'll feel a lot better.
"Catherine was among the 20 students and six teachers killed when Adam Lanza, armed with a military-style assault rifle, broke into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on Dec. 14 and opened fire." Yep - just imagine - a bunch of 6 & 7 yr olds were sitting in their classroom when some scumbag came in and fired a bunch of rounds into each of them...do you really think they'll care how the fucking gun is referred to? |
Response to jmg257 (Reply #4)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:03 PM
loknar (33 posts)
5. Adam Lanza did no such thing, his AR15 did it all.
Response to loknar (Reply #5)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:13 PM
jmg257 (11,980 posts)
16. It sure helped. After all - isn't that why we all like them so much?
How effecient they are?...low recoil, hi capacity, fast rate of fire, pistol grip, muzzle brake, reliable action, lightweight, easy reloads.
Ya know. |
Response to jmg257 (Reply #4)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:56 PM
Recursion (56,415 posts)
13. I think if we're talking about an AWB, it matters that his AR-15 wasn't an assault weapon
You don't think so?
|
Response to Recursion (Reply #13)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:20 PM
jmg257 (11,980 posts)
17. If we're talking about a new AWB, it'll matter - they'll need to know how to expand the definition,
And how to handle grandfathering, or not.
|
Response to jmg257 (Reply #4)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:05 PM
AtheistCrusader (33,982 posts)
14. Doesn't help them any, but if discussing possible policy changes, it's helpful to be accurate.
You could ban "Assault Rifles" entirely (new ones have been banned since 1986, etc) and not prevent what happened at that school, because you missed the target.
|
Response to AtheistCrusader (Reply #14)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:23 PM
Recursion (56,415 posts)
18. Along with "assault weapons", which his rifle wasn't
Since it did not have a bayonet lug or folding stock.
|
Response to Recursion (Reply #18)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:43 PM
AtheistCrusader (33,982 posts)
21. Yes, as defined in the 1994 Comprehensive Assault Weapons Ban.
This is an inherently technical discussion on the firearms side, or at least, at some point in the policy discussion, the rubber language of the proposed policy has to meet the technical road upon which the laws are to be carried.
|
Response to Douva (Original post)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:14 PM
jimmy the one (2,654 posts)
6. wolves in sheeps clothing?
I suspect rightwing trolls might be at work, infiltrating democrat message boards isn't that hard to do you know.
Douva shows up & poststarts on how assault rifles get a bumrap, douva with grand total of 18 posts, or signed up yday? and suddenly boasts how great assault rifles can be? Loknar has about the same posts maybe 20, trolling about assault rifles, actually it could be loknar talking to himself. .. tell us how much you like being a democrat, guys... guys? you there guys? |
Response to jimmy the one (Reply #6)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:20 PM
loknar (33 posts)
7. I love being a democrat, all except the part about having to be anti-gun.
BTW, you're breaking the rules by commenting on post counts and calling people trolls because they disagree with you. I'm sure that will be overlooked for anyone that comes across as even mildly anti-gun though so don't worry.
|
Response to loknar (Reply #7)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 03:42 PM
billh58 (6,565 posts)
35. Evidently you misread some of the
rules yourself. See ya...
![]() |
Response to Douva (Original post)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:24 PM
lastlib (19,707 posts)
9. If it points at you and a bullet comes out, it's an assault weapon.
Response to lastlib (Reply #9)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:08 PM
Straw Man (5,923 posts)
15. So just to be clear ...
If it points at you and a bullet comes out, it's an assault weapon.
... you're calling for a ban on all private ownership of firearms? Just looking for some clarity here. |
Response to Straw Man (Reply #15)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 03:28 PM
discntnt_irny_srcsm (17,527 posts)
23. Here's a hint
For some folks it's repugnant to be a single issue voter but expecting federal, state and local law enforcement to be single issue is just fine.
![]() ![]() |
Response to Douva (Original post)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 07:16 PM
Douva (19 posts)
24. Did you actually look at the site?
If those of you decrying this as a debate of semantics or terminology had actually bothered to look at the site, you would have seen that the quoted portion is the only reference on the site to the difference between assault rifles and "assault weapons." The rest of the site actually goes into a great deal of detail about why so-called "assault weapons" are no deadlier than other semiautomatic firearms.
If your ad hominem reflex won't let you listen to Officer Leroy Pyle, there are plenty of other sources listed. Questions about pistol grips and recoil are red herrings--those features improve accuracy on assault rifles because they prevent muzzle climb during fully-automatic fire; however, those features have little impact on semiautomatic fire because the muzzle of the gun has time between shots (it only needs a fraction of a second) to fall back into line with the target. Even with a fully-automatic rifle, those features wouldn't be a major factor in a mass shooting scenario because accuracy is not as big an issue at short distances. If your target is ten feet away, your muzzle can climb six inches and still be on target. On a semiautomatic firearm, a pistol grip simply makes the gun more ergonomic, and low recoil simply makes the gun more comfortable to shoot. |
Response to Douva (Reply #24)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 10:29 AM
jimmy the one (2,654 posts)
25. Not worried
loknar: I love being a democrat, all except the part about having to be anti-gun.
Gee, never heard anyone put it that way before, my entire life. I guess you win, you best me as well, cause I don't really 'love' being a democrat, just that there aren't any other realistic choices, other than being being independent which really isn't a choice, since to me it's too representative of having 'no political convictions'. I like being a democrat as much as belonging to a motor club. Hey lok, you love the endless campaign emails for donations to every democrat running in 2012 within 3,000 miles of where you live? I almost went on a guilt trip for deleting a fundraiser for some dem running in honolulu.... how was the convention in charlotte? You should start a thread lok, "I love being a Democrat!", and explain how great it is - I'd love to find out, humanize yourself you know? I bet you'd make a lot of new facebook friends. Not that I really know your sincerity, but 'I love being a democrat', is what an outsider might say, were he trying to clandestinely infiltrate a democratic grouping. BTW, you're breaking the rules by commenting on post counts and calling people trolls because they disagree with you. I'm sure that will be overlooked for anyone that comes across as even mildly anti-gun though so don't worry Not worried; I didn't say you trolled on assault rifles because I disagreed with you, just that you evidently 'joined' DU ~january 2, 2013, to harp on the validity of assault rifles, with no other apparent interests. THAT, does indeed fall within the realm of trolling. .. a duck, looking talking & walking. |
Response to jimmy the one (Reply #25)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 12:28 PM
Eleanors38 (18,318 posts)
29. Are you a liberal Democrat? I see your anti-2A stance (not a good start). What else?
Response to jimmy the one (Reply #25)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 03:21 PM
billh58 (6,565 posts)
33. DU, especially the Gungeon
has a recurring zombie problem.
|
Response to Douva (Reply #24)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 03:39 PM
billh58 (6,565 posts)
34. Thank you so much
for stopping by and for having the patience to explain the difference between a GUN that kills, and a gun that KILLS.
Oops, I see your pizza has been delivered, and I don't want to keep you from your meal... ![]() |