Reply #108: Not at all, you just don't know what you're talking about.

[AtheistCrusader]

Automatic is not inclusive of semi-automatic. But that's ok, you're probably a civilian. You wouldn't understand military nomenclature for WEAPONS OF WAR. Basic grammar rules do not really apply to military terminology. If you want to use said terminology, I suggest you learn it's proper usage. There are books and other authorities on the subject, if you are genuinely interested.

In the traditional military sense, an 'automatic' handgun, is actually an auto-loading handgun. Pull the trigger, and the energy bled off to cycle the bolt, ejects the empty shell, and chambers a new cartridge. It is not inclusive of a MACHINE PISTOL, or a pistol capable of select-fire, also commonly referred to as 'fully automatic'.

On your modification point, SOME guns can certainly be modified. I own an AR-15 that happens to be old enough, it was built in a time that did not require considerable modification to insert the fully automatic bolt, and trigger group from an M-16 to convert it to fully automatic fire. The parts cannot be modified in such a way to make it fully automatic, because it has no sear, and metal has been REMOVED, not added. But yes, get me the parts from an M-16 and I can readily convert it. On an AR-15 I have that was made AFTER 1986, this is not the case. The M-16 parts simply will not fit, and cannot be made to fit. I would have to machine, or forge a brand new upper, and probably the lower half of the action as well, to get everything to line up. Meaning, I would need everything one would need to manufacture a brand new M-16 from the ground up, to modify that AR-15 into a fully-automatic or select-fire weapon. Metal does not need to be removed, metal needs to be ADDED where none exists, and the reciever needs to be narrowed. You cannot easily modify either the reciever, OR the parts, to make them fit. If a manufacturer produces a weapon that can be, the BATFE automatically regulates it AS a machine gun, whether it's been modified to fire full auto or not.

SOME model weapons, from SOME time periods are modifiable, with varying levels of effort. But for the most part, this issue was fixed via legislation in 1986.

The vast majority of initial news articles about criminal events that utilize firearms are completely erroneous about the weapon manufacture, type, and mode of fire. It IS important that these things be corrected, because when someone says 'hey we need more regulation of machine guns, because people keep getting these automatic assault rifles', they are asking for something that has been tightly controlled since 1934. Almost 100 years ago. (1934 National Firearms Act)

It is difficult to propose new, worthwhile legislation, when the problem that the media presents has no bearing on reality.