General Discussion

Kablooie

(18,634 posts) Sun Dec 16, 2012, 06:38 PM Dec 2012

What do civilians do with automatic assault weapons?

I'm serious about this.

As far as I know people hunt with guns and shoot things as target practice as a sport or hobby.
Some weapons are kept as self protection at home, work and on on their person.
I suppose there are macho bragging rights for someone who has the most powerful weapon.

But where are these rapid firing, military style weapons really used by civilians?
Why is it so tremendously important that civilians retain access to these weapons of war?

Can anyone give me reasons, or tell me what reasons the NRA members give, why eliminating these from civilian arsenals is worse than living in an America where mass murders occur several times a year.

15 replies

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Highlight:

What do civilians do with automatic assault weapons? (Original Post) Kablooie Dec 2012 OP

These should not be allowed the ban needs to be re-instated. Lionessa Dec 2012 #1

The AWB did not ban the possession, sale, use, transfer, or purchase of assault weapons. It kelly1mm Dec 2012 #5

My neighbors shoot them in the back yard.... peace13 Dec 2012 #2

I agree with the sentiment you're expressing. COLGATE4 Dec 2012 #3

Actually, anyone who is not already banned from firearm ownership can buy a fully automatic kelly1mm Dec 2012 #9

They fantasize about killing bad guys. Maybe even some of their neighbors? reformist2 Dec 2012 #4

Prop them in front of the mirror while masturbating NoOneMan Dec 2012 #6

I think yours is the most correct answer. kestrel91316 Dec 2012 #15

Nothing, because automatic weapons have been heavily restricted since 1934 Spider Jerusalem Dec 2012 #7

You mean scary rifles like below jody Dec 2012 #8

Single shot bolt action fail jpak Dec 2012 #11

Yes but aren't they scary and one is an air rifle? nt jody Dec 2012 #14

I know three people with Class III firearms. ileus Dec 2012 #10

Apparently they like to spend many thousands of dollars on them. Kaleva Dec 2012 #12

Kill their friends, families, neighbors, co-workers, and random strangers. kestrel91316 Dec 2012 #13

Lionessa

(3,894 posts)

1. These should not be allowed the ban needs to be re-instated.

Reply to Kablooie (Original post)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 06:40 PM

Dec 2012

kelly1mm

(4,733 posts)

5. The AWB did not ban the possession, sale, use, transfer, or purchase of assault weapons. It

Reply to Lionessa (Reply #1)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 06:52 PM

Dec 2012

Banned the manufacture and import of new assault weapons and high capacity magazines.

peace13

(11,076 posts)

2. My neighbors shoot them in the back yard....

Reply to Kablooie (Original post)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 06:48 PM

Dec 2012

Go figure!

COLGATE4

(14,732 posts)

3. I agree with the sentiment you're expressing.

Reply to Kablooie (Original post)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 06:49 PM

Dec 2012

But we need to be careful about terminology here, so as to not be defeated by the NRA-nuts before we ever get out of the starting gate. These weapons are not "automatic" weapons. Automatic means that, when the trigger is depressed the gun continues to fire until a) the trigger is released or b) the ammunition is expended. In almost all cases (barring law enforcement and some gun ranges, etc.) possession of automatic weapons by civilians in the US is already prohibited. True "assault rifles" used by the military have a switch which permits the user to move from 'automatic' to 'semi-automatic' mode at will.

These civilian weapons are classified as semi-automatic. They will continue to fire after each pull of the trigger until the ammunition is expended. They have no fully automatic function. They do bear a lot of cosmetic similarities to the military grade weapon but in fact, mechanically speaking they are no different from the run of the mill hunting rifle we are all accustomed to seeing.

We need to attack the problem at its root, not by getting tied up in semantic games by the NRA and nutzoids and wind up making a great fuss about solving the problem when in fact we've done essentially nothing of the sort.

kelly1mm

(4,733 posts)

9. Actually, anyone who is not already banned from firearm ownership can buy a fully automatic

Reply to COLGATE4 (Reply #3)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 07:30 PM

Dec 2012

assault rifle in most states of the US. You need about $20k+ for the weapon and $200 for the federal transfer fee. The background check is exactly the same as buying a handgun/hunting rifle/shotgun.

reformist2

(9,841 posts)

4. They fantasize about killing bad guys. Maybe even some of their neighbors?

Reply to Kablooie (Original post)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 06:49 PM

Dec 2012

In any case, I don't want to know them.

NoOneMan

(4,795 posts)

6. Prop them in front of the mirror while masturbating

Reply to Kablooie (Original post)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 06:58 PM

Dec 2012

Right? Hrm. Maybe not everyone is like me.

kestrel91316

(51,666 posts)

15. I think yours is the most correct answer.

Reply to NoOneMan (Reply #6)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 07:42 PM

Dec 2012

We need a masturbation emoticon.

Spider Jerusalem

(21,786 posts)

7. Nothing, because automatic weapons have been heavily restricted since 1934

Reply to Kablooie (Original post)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 07:00 PM

Dec 2012

and "assault weapons" don't exist. Assault RIFLES are full-auto or select-fire military weapons. Semi-automatic rifles with high capacity magazines, like the AR15 and clones, or "demilitarised" AK-47's, are probably problem enough (I can't really think of a legitimate sporting use for a 30-round magazine, honestly).