98 shots from 'new Rambo' spurs ammo debate

[RamboLiberal]

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (AP) — The man who gunned down 13 people at an upstate New York immigration center fired 98 shots from two handguns in a little more than a minute, police said Wednesday, a gunslinging feat one expert said would make him a "new Rambo."

Gun control advocates said if a man who complained about not getting enough in unemployment benefits could afford enough ammunition to repeatedly practice shooting and go into his killing zone with a satchel of bullets around his neck, new ways are needed to stem gun violence, including raising the price of ammunition.

Ballistics reports showed Jiverly Wong fired 87 times from a 9mm Beretta and 11 times from a .45-caliber handgun. If he bought the ammunition online, he could have paid as little as $40 for the rounds he fired.

Friends say Wong complained that he only received $200 a week in unemployment benefits.

"Chris Rock says in one of his routines — have all the guns you want but charge like $1,000 for every bullet," said Jackie Hilly of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence. "I think if you raised the price, you would probably discourage the violence, but I don't think you would prevent it."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gJkIIKfdTrpMZyiQPW7SWmCNR2HAD97ESLP80

Well this will keep up the frenzied buying of ammo & the hoarding. I've never seen ammo shelfs at Gander Mountain & Cabelas so bare.

[Furyataurus]

1. FAIL

criminals will still steal ammo as well as firearms.

[Hoopla Phil]

2. Yep. Harsh reality is a bitch ain't it?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Not technically possible, not that it will bother many people

[AndyTiedye]

4. Guns Don't Kill People, Bullets Do

Tax the bullets. If people keep buying ammo at their current rate, we could balance the budget. ;)

[Tim01]

6. Ain't that the truth.

[MercutioATC]

5. Well, you'd have a bunch of lousy shots running around...

I don't hunt. I don't compete. I'm not a law enforcement officer.

100% of the ammunition I've fired has been practice...and/or just plinking. If ammunition wax exorbitantly taxed, how much practice would people be doing?

If I ever have to use a gun to defend myself, I'm going to be glad that it's not the first time I've fired one...both for my safety and the safety of others.

[jody]

7. How many of the 13k deaths caused yearly by drunk drivers could we save by increasing alcohol taxes?

[jmg257]

8. He did all that in 1 minute, and the cops didn't enter till 39 minutes later!?!!

Now I KNOW why I carry. (besides because I can, so seems silly not to)

[ManiacJoe]

9. Never mind the ammo costs.

Where did he get the money for the bullet-resistant vest? Those things are not cheap!

[MercutioATC]

11. $200 on E-bay for a decent used vest.

$50 is you're wiling to settle for an old military "flak vest".

[Pullo]

10. This should help abate the stockpiling of ammo

:sarcasm:

[Statistical]

13. If this gets to house floor I will join the stockpilers.

I have a nice dry, cool garage. I figure 50,000 rounds should last me most of my lifetime.

Or maybe just get me a reloading press, 1000 pieces of brass, 50K or so primers and enough powder.

[yay]

17. You'll need more brass than that.

It depends on what you're shooting but you'll need more than 1K pieces of brass if you want 50K shots. That would be 50 reloads per piece.

[Statistical]

18. Never really looked into it.

For say 9mm, .45ACP, 5.56mm how many times would you say you can reload the average brass?

[aikoaiko]

12. I doubt it would have any effect on gun violence.

[benEzra]

14. He only used 98 rounds. Competitive and recreational shooters use thousands a year.

If you raise the price of ammunition to the point that a killer with nothing to lose, who is willing to sell everything he owns and max out every credit card, can't afford 98 rounds of ammunition, then what's that going to do to LEGITIMATE ammunition purchasers?

[jeepnstein]

15. A punitive tax...

would be viewed as a ban by the current Supreme Court. That would be the intent of such a ban. Or would the intent just be to make ammo inaccessible to the average American while those wealthy enough to afford hired security continue to party on?

There are those factions in this country who would have us believe that we would be morally superior if we only allowed ourselves to be at the mercy of the rich and the growing criminal population.

[Taitertots]

16. I don't understand how

The people who are calling everyone paranoid for buying and stockpiling guns and ammo are the ones calling for strict limitations on guns and ammo.

Not the OP, but in general

[Ready4Change]

19. Practice requires ammo.

Make ammo more expensive and you reduce practice time. Result: a few people don't use guns any more, but those who DO still use guns (like the police) are now worse shots.

Not sure that's an improvement.