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What is and is NOT an Assault Rifle

assault rifle

Misinformation. It’s everywhere. It is even more pervasive – and dangerous – when people who don’t understand what they are talking about try to teach other people what it is they don’t know themselves. Case in point: the assault rifle. Everytime there is a tragic murder involving firearms reporters, politicians and even celebrities feel the need to share their opinions about guns. More often than not, these talking heads know nothing about the subject other than that a gun shoots bullets and that they can be deadly. What’s worse is that average Joes and Janes believe the misinformation and take it as fact, when in truth it’s not even close to being accurate.

First: AR does NOT stand for “Assault Rifle”

The “AR” in AR-15 is assumed to mean “assault rifle”. It does not. Period. Just because Piers Morgan or Oprah said that’s what it stands for it doesn’t mean that they are right. The “AR” comes from the firearms manufacturer Armalite. Those letters are used as a standard naming practice for their firearms. Just like the Ford F-150, the AR-15 is a specific model. While I’m not positive that the “F” stands for Ford (but it seems logical), I do know that the AR means nothing more than that it is a firearm model identifier. Just like there’s an F-250 and an F-350, there’s also an AR-10 and an AR-30. So, let’s stop referring to an AR-15 an “assault rifle”. It is not an assault rifle.

Second: What is an Assault Rifle?

ar-15Now, that’s a smart question. An assault rifle is a rifle that:

  • has selectable firing modes
  • can fire in fully automatic mode

Select fire means that there is a switch to toggle between firing modes. One firing mode is called “semiautomatic”. Semiautomatic means that when the trigger is pulled, the following happens:

  1. A bullet is fired
  2. The spent bullet casing is ejected from the firearm
  3. The next bullet round is loaded into the firing chamber

That’s it. One trigger pull = one bullet fired. That’s semiautomatic. That is how most handguns work, how many rifles work and even how some shotguns work. Pull the trigger and one bullet comes out. Just one and only one. A firearm that fires one bullet at a time and loads the next round into the chamber is called a “semiautomatic” firearm. Semiautomatic rifles are NOT assault rifles.

Now, there is another firing mode that is called “fully automatic”. In the case of full auto firearms, when the trigger is pulled and held down, the firearm will shoot continuously until the trigger is released or until the gun runs out of ammunition. A fully automatic firearm is often referred to as a “machine gun”. Machine guns can be described as assault rifles.

Third: Machine Guns are NOT Readily Available to the Public

Once again, just because the news guy said it was a machine gun, it doesn’t mean he is right. Despite what most people have been led to believe, you can’t walk into any gun store and buy a machine gun. Don’t believe me? Try it. In order for a civilian to legally own a machine gun (aka – a REAL assault rifle), they have to obtain expensive permits and other documentation as well as pass federal, state and local screening processes. The vast majority of gun owners and NRA members do NOT own machine guns. The narrative spewed by the mainstream media and the liberal left saying otherwise is completely FALSE.

So Why All the Confusion?

Well, there are a lot of theories on that one – some of which include massive conspiracies and such. However, most of it is simply misunderstanding the real terms and definitions. Another part of it is the media hype. It’s far more intriguing and shocking to talk about a murderer with an assault rifle than it is a killer with a simple “hunting rifle”. The third part is a deliberate goal to confuse, misinform and frighten people.

We could go on about those last two for a long time, so I’ll focus on the simple misunderstanding part. The firearm below is a U.S. Military M4:

Colt M4 Assault Rifle

This is what is referred to as an assault rifle. Variants of this rifle can fire in semiautomatic mode, three-round burst mode or fully automatic mode. In full auto mode, the M4A1 can fire at a rate of 700-900+ rounds per minute. This is a machine gun. This is NOT what was used in the mass murders in Columbine, Sandy Hook, San Bernadino or Orlando or any other of the mass murders people refer to when talking about AR-15 rifles or “assault rifles”. This rifle can NOT be purchased at corner gun shops.

Contrastly, the firearm below is a Mossberg MMR:

Mossber MMR Sporting Rifle

This is NOT an assault rifle. While it looks like the M4, it isn’t. Many, many of the parts and functionality of the MMR are just like the M4 but one key piece is missing: the MMR is semiautomatic and is only available in semiautomatic. Once again, this means one trigger pull = one bullet fired. The firing rate of a gun like this is around 60-90 rounds per minute. Yes that is a lot of rounds and yes that can mean a lot of carnage, but it is NOT an automatic or a machine gun or an assault rifle. It is considered a “Modern Sporting Rifle”. Most people who own guns like these use them for target shooting, home defense and shooting competitions. These types of firearms were NOT intended for combat or warfare and the vast majority of people who legally own them do NOT want to kill anyone with them.

The MMR, like many of the privately and legally owned rifles like it, are designed based on what is known as the “AR-15 Platform”. The AR-15 platform is simply a design platform based on an original design by Eugene Stoner in the 1950’s. Any and all firearms built on the AR-15 platform are commonly referred to as an AR-15 but they have many names depending on the manufacturer. Some of these names are M&P15, SR15, M15 and MMR. They are all AR-15’s in the sense that Ram 1500’s, Ford F-150’s and Chevy 1500’s are all half-ton pickup trucks. There’s a lot that make them similar and a lot that seperate them. In they end they are trucks, just like AR-15’s are rifles. Comparison ends there.

I really hope people take the time to read this and thus will better understand what is and what is NOT an assault rifle. The most important thing I want everyone to take away from this article is that by and large, what much of the media and politicians define as assault rifles are in fact not. If you’ve learned that much today, that’s a good start to better understanding firearms and hopefully better understanding the truth.

Jun 17, 2016G. Miles
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  24. Desertscout1
    5 years ago

    People are constantly correcting others over the use of the term, “assault rifle” or “assault weapon”. I think some of them are desperately trying to make themselves look more knowledgeable than they really are. They are making way too big of a deal out of this trying to prove a point. The point is, it’s starting to make them look silly.

    Their big argument is that a rifle cannot “assault”. They say assault is verb, not a noun. OK, fair enough, I get it. However, when you carried that rifle onto the beach at Normandy to conduct the assault of the enemy thereon, did your rifle not become the tool to facilitate that assault? An assault rifle, so to speak? Even your bolt-action rifle.

    Golf club is a noun. It’s used for golfing, that’s why they call it that. Do you know what they use a cutting board for? Yep, it facilitates the cutting of meat and potatoes. How about punching bag? Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what those are used for? You got it! Punching! This noun’s only job is to hang there and let you punch it. How about a fishing pole? Butcher knife? And so it is with the assault weapon.

    Oh, and guess what a “hunting” rifle is used for. But hunting, is a verb. How can that be?

    ReplyCancel
  25. Majorwrecks
    5 years ago

    Its a Tactic the Media and those that are anti gun anti 2nd know all too well its been going on forever! They distort the facts twist the truth spin it how ever you wish to describe it. so it fits thier narative. So in essence its thier truth For those who are anti gun anti 2nd amendment. anti Constitution Nothing can be done thier minds are made up!
    They do not care what the real facts are!

    ReplyCancel
  26. lilchina
    5 years ago

    Charles Whitman used a Remington 700 and killed 16 and wounded 31 others. According to the anti gun logic people this should be called the Assault Remington 700 because it kill x amount of people. The AR15 is no more an assault rifle then this rifle. A rifle does not kill people. People kill people no more than a Car doesn’t kill people but like the when a Dodge truck 2500 plowed into bikers killing 7. Let’s call it an Assault Doge 2500. SMH!!!!
    https://www.remington.com/rifles/bolt-action/model-700
    https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/22/us/new-hampshire-motorcycle-accident.html

    ReplyCancel
  27. Stephen
    6 years ago

    Given the plethora of kits and instructional books, webpages and YouTube videos on how to convert a rifle based on the AR15 to fuly automatic, wouldn’t it be truer to say that the Mossberg MMR is not an assault rifle when legally bought but with some time in a basic workshop and someone who knows what they are doing it can be.

    Personaly I prefer the stabiity of a bolt action for target shooting and hunting. Marksmanship is preferable to rate of fire in most situations, you want to hit the right target.

    ReplyCancel
    • Robert
      6 years ago

      If a bolt action rifle is magazine fed is it considered an assault rifle?

      ReplyCancel
      • John doe
        6 years ago

        there is no such thing as an assault rifle Robert
        how can an inanimate object assault someone

        ReplyCancel
      • Sean
        6 years ago

        Did you not read the article?

        ReplyCancel
      • Carl
        4 years ago

        Most bolt action rifles are fed by one of three types of magazines. Integral box, external box or tubular.

        But no matter what type of magazine it uses, it is NOT an assault rifle simply because by design, it only fires ONE round with each pull of the trigger. Loading, and extracting the round in a manual operation.

        ReplyCancel
    • G-Dawg
      6 years ago

      This is not necessarily true. The receiver and “action” parts for your average MSR are generally not engineered to put up with the forces generated by automatic fire rates. It might work for a while, but it will eventually fail. I’d expect that failure to be quite catastrophic. Given that the market has been flooded with MSRs chambered in .223, while many consumers and dealers don’t distinguish or know the difference between .223 Remington and 5.56NATO, the assumption that any “Joe” can take any AR-platform rifle and convert it to full auto in his basement is a very frightening thing to assert.

      ReplyCancel
      • Robert
        5 years ago

        I was thinking the same thing, G-Dawg.. I’m glad that you took the time to point this out..

        ReplyCancel
    • Ray A.
      5 years ago

      It would be no different if I attached spikes to the front of my truck or blades to the sides of my car. While it is not full-auto when it is in stock form, it can be made full-auto. This is a common misconception that makes gun sound “scarier” than what they actually are. And like someone said above, “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.”

      ReplyCancel
  28. Liakar
    6 years ago

    Here we go. The big problem, or should I say, the favorite thing politicians like to say is MILITARY TYPE ASSAULT RIFLE. If that is the line, then why oh why can I go buy a jeep. The military has used jeeps. Isnt that a MILITARY TYPE ASSAULT VEHICLE. To further illustrate the military also wears t-shirts. Or should I say MILITARY TYPE ASSAULT CLOTHING. Ohh sounds scary when you say military type doesnt it average citizens.
    Now lets go into mass shootings. Most common type HANDGUNS. Huh that doesnt make sense for all this ban talk.
    Also just because I find it annoying, hi capacity magazines. I am a combat vet. I have seen many a civilian contractor pull out his drum magazine. Good for you fella. Destroys your aim and overall shooting ability. Learn to reload a magazine by doing a few drills and I could inflict more damage with 5 round marines then some tacticool with a drum.

    ReplyCancel
    • Sean
      5 years ago

      Liakar,
      You can’t really think that when you compare jeep and t shirts to military style assault riffles that anybody is going to buy that. Bad analogy!

      ReplyCancel
  29. Peter TTT
    6 years ago

    Can I by a bazooka? I really would like to have one.

    ReplyCancel
    • Steve
      6 years ago

      Nope no civilians can legally own one unless it it demilitarized (nonworking)

      ReplyCancel
      • Andrew
        6 years ago

        Are you sure? There are times when somebody pulls out in front of me and goes really slow bazooka could be warranted. (JK, about that, just please stop pulling in front of me and going slow you in the yellow camry.)Isn’t a demilitarized bazooka basically a pipe? Also if you were to build a working bazooka would that be legal as long as you don’t sell or get rid of it?
        This actually clears up a lot, but you did not define “Assault Rifle.”

        ReplyCancel
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    7 years ago

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    ReplyCancel
    • M. M.
      6 years ago

      My dad said that assault rifles aren’t called assault rifles when you aren’t attacking anyone. Im actually going to kill myself…

      ReplyCancel
      • Dr. Laura
        5 years ago

        Are you okay??? How can we get you help?

        ReplyCancel
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    7 years ago

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  32. Doug Carson
    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

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  34. ZeroKnowledge
    7 years ago

    Websters dictionary defines an assault riffle as:
    Definition of assault rifle
    : any of various intermediate-range, magazine-fed military rifles (such as the AK-47) that can be set for automatic or semiautomatic fire; also : a rifle that resembles a military assault rifle but is designed to allow only semiautomatic fire.

    Sorry, Websters is the authority on definitions, not you. So an AR as defined by Websters dictionary is most definitely an assault riffle.

    ReplyCancel
    • I'm Not An Idiot
      7 years ago

      Armalite’s own website has the answer to this one. In the history section of the site, in the area 1955-1959, it has the following starting as the 2nd line in the first paragraph:

      “Army officials asked Armalite to develop a smaller version of the AR-10 assault rifle in 1956 as a potential replacement for the M1 Garand. The ensuing rifle was called the AR-15….”

      Armalite admits the weapon is a smaller version of the AR-10 assault rifle and therefore IS an assault rifle. Do you happen to know more about the design of the rifle than the original designer? No, you don’t. The DESIGNER knows what it is designed as and their own history of the weapon shows it was DESIGNED as an assault rifle.

      I have saved a screenshot of this section of Armalite’s history for when the NRA and Gun Nuts get them to change it. You can also find the information by going to the Way Back Machine and looking at previous versions of the website. NICE TRY!!!!!

      ReplyCancel
      • You Are An Idiot
        7 years ago

        Hey smartass, the AR-15 is a design. The AR-15 is made by multiple companies and has military versions. You must feel so smart finding that.

        ReplyCancel
      • boütage
        7 years ago

        yes, the AR-10 was and still is an assault rifle. but you said it youself, the reason why Armalite built the AR-15 was because they wanted to build a smaller version. they never said that the AR-15 was an assault rifle… but good try

        ReplyCancel
      • J. Rambo
        6 years ago

        The Secret Service uses a sniper rifle that is heavily heavily modified, they call it the J.A R. Which memes just another rifle. You are J.A.A. that means just another,… I’m betting you can into it what the last eight is it’s what you’ve been all of your life.

        ReplyCancel
      • Kevin
        5 years ago

        If you wish to hold an objective discussion you might want to get your own facts straight. You have clearly supported this blogs argument by posting exactly what he has been saying.

        “Army officials asked Armalite to develop a smaller version of the AR-10 assault rifle in 1956 as a potential replacement for the M1 Garand. The ensuing rifle was called the AR-15….”

        Yes. The Army did ask Armalite (AR) to make an assault rifle. The military version is an assault rifle as stated in this blog. The semiautomatic version available to the public is not the same thing.
        It’s the same thing as saying all pick up trucks are 4×4.

        ReplyCancel
    • S. Lawrence
      7 years ago

      Webster’s, like other reference materials, evolve definitions to adapt to social and political change. Take for example the word “gay”. In the 1940’s version of the Webster’s dictionary, “gay” was defined as “being happy”. Today that definition is completely changed. An evolving reference can never be a concrete and therefore completely reliable source of definitive information.

      The military and firearms industries are the authorities on defining firearms just like the automotive industry defines motor vehicles. Therefore Webster’s is wrong.

      ReplyCancel
      • The Watcher
        6 years ago

        Because those companies wouldn’t have any incentive to distance the idea of civilian AR-15-style rifles from their military counterparts, right? Taken in the context of linguistics, the idea that an AR-15 frame weapon is anything but an assault rifle is asinine. I love shooting it, don’t get me wrong, but simply put the terms “assault” and “rifle” are way too generic to claim they somehow don’t apply to what is essentially the same military weapon without Full Auto and Burst Fire Modes. That means it was designed for war, and stripped of essentially one function. I’m pretty sure that a soldier would still be fairly capable with one even if using Semi Auto. If you actually know the history of its manufacture, you’d know that the ENTIRE gun platform was designed for the battlefield. It’s not just the firing mode that made the gun. I don’t even want a gun ban (for reasons entirely different than most people posting here), but clinging to this, “AR-15’s aren’t assault rifles” bit is, honestly, just pathetic. It’s not a good argument, and really just seems like you’re grasping for straws. Either think up a better excuse to keep you “Not Assault Rifles,” or own up to what they really are, and say you still want to keep them legal.

        ReplyCancel
    • Bobby
      7 years ago

      AR-15’s, and most modern rifles owned throughout the U.S. for civilian use, do not have an automatic function; they are strictly semi-fire and safety. So, while Webster’s is right, you’re actually wrong.

      Your comment would have more validity without your name being zeroknowledge. Kinda hurts your jab there. : (

      ReplyCancel
    • Let Me Educate You
      7 years ago

      This is almost to moronic to have to type but I have nothing better to do at this present time than to educate those with no true knowledge (ie ‘ZeroKnowledge and ‘I’m Not An Idiot’) of firearms, ie guns, rifles, gat, heat, piece, bang bangs, pew-pews, etc.

      The article describes an ‘assault rifle’ as having a selector switch to make it fully automatic. Websters defines an ‘assault rifle’ as being able to be set for fully automatic. Definitions the same, hooray for ZeroKnowledge for researching and supporting the writer of the article, good job. So an AR-15 platform for the public is not an assault rifle because as ZeroKnowledge so plainly has proven with research, it must not only be semi-automatic, but also can be automatic fire and since automatic section cannot be sold to the public, and not even in those scary gun shows, the law-abiding general public cannot own those scary ‘assault rifles’.

      AR designation is in reference to the original designer, Armalite, kudos to I’m Not An Idiot for letting everyone know that, way to educate. Additionally, thank-you for being a self proclaimed internet screenshot enforcer so you can ‘get’ the NRA and Gun Nuts when they make Armalite to change their website, you are doing all those who don’t like bang-bangs and pew-pews a viable service. I did notice though that there is nothing noted in your quote stating that the AR-15 as designed by Armalite is an assault rifle, just that they were asked to develop a smaller version of the AR-10, and so they did, they developed something smaller than an AR-10 yet it doesn’t state that it also is an assault rifle as your reasoning infers, but hey, why quibble over semantics?

      Finally, the Journal of Contemporary Law (http://www.guncite.com/journals/rational.html#fnb21) defines assault rifle as such “As the United States Defense Department’s Defense Intelligence Agency book Small Arms Identification and Operation Guide explains, “assault rifles” are “short, compact, selective-fire weapons that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between submachine gun and rifle cartridges.” In other words, assault rifles are battlefield rifles which can fire automatically. …
      Many civilians have purchased semiautomatic-only rifles that look like military assault rifles. These civilian rifles are, unlike actual assault rifles, incapable of automatic fire.”

      ZeroKnowledge and I’m Not An Idiot are just uneducated, ill-informed parrots that are posting without any true understanding, knowledge or doing their own research. If ZeroKnowledge or I’m Not An Idiot would have taken time to read the article or even the post by You Are An Idiot, or at least have decent reading comprehension (products of our failing public school systems I’m sure), they would have seen that the design, not the functionality of the rifle is referenced as an AR, AR-15 or AR-15 Platform. Kind of like almost everyone knows what a Crescent wrench is, but Crescent is a brand name, it is really an adjustable wrench, not a Crescent wrench…so it seems I just threw a wrench into both of those posts, and to those posers…err posters, you are welcome for the education.

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      • the unnamed
        6 years ago

        Inciteful, poignant and educational.. Im almost sure I spelled all those words wrong… I truly believe that the word “Assault” ; as Defined (there are many definitions but this one seems to stick out..)

        Assault | Define Assault at Dictionary.com <—Credit Due
        https://www.dictionary.com/browse/assault

        " an attempt or offer to do violence to another, with or without battery, as by holding a stone or club in a threatening manner.

        I think people are Menaced or "bothered" because the Rifle looks Like its ready to F_cking Kill all by its lonesome. And I believe it plays a major role & is a huge HUGE oversight.. the M4/MMr/Bushmaster CAR /Sig Sauer/ AR 15's literally an assault on the senses. I am a Marine with the III Marine Expeditionary Force (IIIMEF)
        If u asked AR or ANY OTHER LONG GUN Manufacturer to make a rifle that looked like a teddy bear and not a Snarling Grizzly Bear we might be arguing over a different scenario, Like our mental health system ETC NOT bans. Regardless on the upcoming mistakes Both sides are GOING TO MAKE when it comes to this Ban, Bill , Reform ETC THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES ANYTHING DANGERIOUS IS THE BRAIN / LACK THERE OF BEHND SAID OBJECT. Evil can kill u with hands or a Pillow.. Evil CAN WILL AND DID Destroy tens of thousands of families with JP5/8 (aviation fuel) bitch piss and moan all we want A bad guy will still get his hand on a gun because bad ppl don't ad heir*? to law *SWiM* can buy H or Blow right up the street and I'm pretty sure it does not stop him from using it because its illegal to possess.

        Just a thought from an enlisted E-4 who is not paid to think im paid to pull the dead lever on my Pew – Pew and it makes u think every time. Ppl who can pull that life changer switch and careless afterward, are monsters. we are coming for you in your country in your " safe" home with the safety of your darkness and your safe anonymity in your safe bed, u will have one last safe Breath…..
        Before..

        You are safe NO MORE

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    • Joseph
      6 years ago

      You cannot ever… switch firing modes on an AR 15……..

      Websters added that “OR” not very long ago.. and it is … very incorrect.

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    • Abel
      6 years ago

      You are a retard

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    • Mike
      6 years ago

      But Websters did not use the Military definition and seeing as they are the one who came up with the term and the standards I think I will go with there definition. Not Websters.

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    • Cody Washer
      6 years ago

      The United States Military does not refer Semi-automatics as Assault Rifles.

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    • Glenn
      6 years ago

      Webster must have been written by democrats

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    • Zach T
      6 years ago

      Your username resembles your understanding of this topic.

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    • Ricky Andrea
      6 years ago

      WRONG. Websters is NOT the authority, the AR15 IS NOT an assult rifle, As it has no full auto capabilities. a rifle with only Semi-Auto is not and cannot be defined as an assault rifle. Ask your local gunsmith, he/she knows more about guns than websters. Get your facts right.

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    • You're right - zero knowledge
      6 years ago

      Your screen name is appropriate.
      The US Army defines an assault rifle as a select-fire weapon.
      Websters is a common-use dictionary, meaning they include and update their material to reflect colloquial use. “Twerking” isnt a real word, but websters has a page for it.
      Other dicitonaries still have the strict definition in place, that is a select fire weapon. Webster only recently changed theirs.
      I will go with the Army over a common use dictionary. Somehow I think their authority on weaponry is a bit higher than Webster.

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    • Robert
      6 years ago

      If a bolt action rifle is magazine fed is it an assault rifle?

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      • Julian
        5 years ago

        Only if it can continuous fire if the trigger is held down. Watch out for that bolt flying back!

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    • Kevin
      5 years ago

      Webster’s dictionary does not manufacture rifles and even though many people believe that they are the all knowing authority they are not. The are subject to public opinion. Every year Webster changes hundreds of definitions and adds many words. You might need to find a more credible source than the dictionary.

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    • Ray A.
      5 years ago

      Webster’s is also probably written by liberals. There also also many other places you can get definitions of things. It’s also not your authority to decide what the “authority on definitions” Is.

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    • Greg
      4 years ago

      You’re kidding right? Liberals can get the dictionary definitions changed as needed. Look at the word fascist, or how Trump was called racist. What a joke!

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  35. Marti
    7 years ago

    This is a very good article to share with friends and family. Thank you!!!

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    • Dave Libershal
      7 years ago

      One of the sources of misinformation about these semi-autos being assault rifles is that they very clearly (as in your photo examples) are meant to look just like real military assault rifles. Isn’t that the most obvious source of misinformation – the look! It is like an adult shooting version of the “play military” toy weapon. Maybe if it looks like a duck, it is called a duck. It is poor reasoning to blame the misinformation on political efforts.

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      • I'm Not An Idiot
        7 years ago

        See my above comment to Zero Knowledge’s post. Armalite designed it as an assault rifle, admits to it on their website and I doubt you know more about a weapon than the original designer.

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        • FuckLiberals
          7 years ago

          Did it ever dawn on you that when Armalite first was making these rifles that they were intended for the military, therefore having the selector on the receiver, thus fulfilling the definition of assault rifle? Maybe you should learn more about guns rather than spew something you red off a dictionary site. Look into when the gun was created and what it was created for and that will answer the question why it’s considered an assault weapon…. hint dumbass, it’s because the three position selector

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  36. Nate Reagen
    7 years ago

    Mr. Miles, thank you for the informative article – but all you’ve done is present an argument about semantics. I don’t care what they are called, all they do is kill large amounts of people. What else is an “AR-15 Platform” good for? Target practice? Are you kidding me? To annihilate a paper target? The need for freedom to own these weapons of war should not outweigh the danger of civilians owning them. *Keep hunting and low capacity guns legal*. *BAN* the high capacity ‘AR-15 platform’ weapons of mass destruction. (along with high capacity magazines)

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    • Cole
      7 years ago

      more people are killed by handguns and knives then all rifles and shotguns combined both bolt and semi yet you don’t cry for knife control also the Ar-15 platform is not a weapon of war it was never used in any official army or armed conflict it is simply for home defense, personal defense, hunting, target shooting, and sport shooting so no it does not “kill large amounts of people” also not to add but a large amount of people killed by rifles are suicides or use an illegally obtained rifle. your argument is invalid

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      • William
        7 years ago

        Well said. They don’t realize that the AR-15 was designed in 1950 as a light weight SPORTER rifle. It was made to be light weight and initiallly held a magazine that held 5 or 10 rounds! The AR-15 is semi automatic ONLY and the AR stands for Armalite Rifle model 15 . It was never meant to be an assault weapon! The military stole the design, up graded it to select fire and increased its magazine capacity to 30 or greater. But theirs us the M-16, M-4 and others!

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        • I'm Not An Idiot
          7 years ago

          Umm, NO, that is NOT correct on so many levels. It wasn’t designed in 1950. It was not designed as a light weight SPORTER rifle. It was NOT designed for a magazine that only held 5 to 10 rounds.

          Per Armalite’s website history section, 1955-1959, starting at the 2nd line of the first paragraph:

          “Army officials asked Armalite to develop a smaller version of the AR-10 ASSAULT RIFLE (designed as an assault rifle) in 1956 (not 1950) as a potential replacement for the M1 Garand. The ensuing rifle was called the AR-15…”

          Further, the AR-15’s initial design, which was first sold to the Malayan military, had a 20 round magazine. This sale was well before the AR-15 was first available for purchase on the civilian market in 1962.

          I have a screenshot of the above quote with the Armalite URL for when the NRA and other gun nuts try to get the page changed. Further, the Way Back Machine enables people to look at a website’s previous postings.

          Do you happen to know more about what the weapon was designed for than the designer? Didn’t think so.

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          • You Are An Idiot
            7 years ago

            It was designed for military use but there are semi-automatic versions of it for civilians. You put words in Armalite’s mouth. It acts like every other semi-automatic rifle and egotistical liberals like you should stop going around commenting the same exact fucking thing and then thinking you’re some kind of genius. Nobody cares.

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    • Dan
      7 years ago

      Do you realize when making your arguement there are more people killed with handguns each year then AR-15’s? Do you have the same outcry for handguns to be banned as well?

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    • William
      7 years ago

      Actually , Stoner developed the AR-15 as a LIGHT weight Sportsman rifle! That was done in 1950! It was sold for years as a varmit rifle to kill prairie dogs, coyoyes and bobcats . The Military picked up the design because it was light weight and easily taken down to clean! THEY are the ones that further developed to yo be made into a multi rate firing weapon. They are the ones that developed the magazine as high capacity , Stoner made his with the maximize capacity of only 10 rounds! The 30.06 deer rifles can kill at greater distances , andbtheir slugs do MORE damage! But you CAN buy magazines that can hold 30 or more for them as well! The AR-15 was, as is the 30.06 developed as a hunting rifle! Nothing more! The military STOLE the AR-15 design to make the M-16, M-4 and a number of varieties! But the AR-15 can be ONLY bought in SEMI-AUTO mode! It is NOT an assault rifle , pure and simple! You are like the others the article was describing! Going on without even knowing what you were talking about! ANY gun can be a weapon of war! The Israeli uses the COMMON .22 rifles as SNIPER weapons for URBAN assaults! They use the simple hunting frame, fit it with a high capacity magazine and over sized scopes and now you have a weapon capable of killing as many people as the ASSAULT rifles , even more so because on full auto the assault rifles are NOT accurate! The rise and drift associated with full auto makes them good ONLY for putting a LARGE amount of bullets down range! The AR-15 IS NOT FULL AUTO! it is NOT an assault rifle!

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      • Jared
        7 years ago

        William you are close but not telling the whole truth but close.

        Stoner worked for Armalite a division of Fairchild Aircraft. Fairchild made military planes and was a major contractor for the B-52. Anyway, Stoner eventually created the AR-10 which the military ended up passing on. Then eventually created the AR-15. General Wyman wanted to order it and military politics and military officers sabotaging tests, eventually it to was passed on.

        Then Colt purchased its rights and manufactured it. They marketed it as a Miltary Assault Rifle and a Competition Gun. Competition shooters started using it and was using .22 caliber bullets.

        Eventually Colt did some small modifications and named it Colt 601 and 602. They got it on the hands of South Koreans and Army Rangers working as advisors and trainers to the South Koreans. The Rangers loved it and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara told the military to make it combat ready. They made some more adjustments and changed the powder to give it more range. They then named it the M16.

        Modifications: Then came the M16A1; then M16A2; M16A3; M16A4; M4 and M4A1.

        I know long winded but wanted to give true facts and history as some improperly says that AR means Assault Riffle and it does not. Also some say it is “not” an assault riffle or it was “not” developed for the military. As you can see above, it was is in fact created for the military and created as an assault riffle; However when Colt took control they sold is a competition gun and a military assault riffle. Today’s AR-15 by definition “a rapid-fire, magazine-fed automatic rifle designed for infantry use” is not an Assault Riffle. Yes I still believe it was designed for military use however, it is NOT an automatic weapon and there for not an Assault Riffle

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    • R. E. Gragg
      7 years ago

      Dear Mr. Reagen,

      1- The Second Amendment! That’s the ONLY reason needed! SO piss off!
      2- The Second Amendment covers
      a) Weapons for Hunting
      b) Weapons for Self Defense against those who would wish you, your family, your property, ANY harm!
      c) Weapons for Self Defense against despotic governments BOTH foreign and DOMESTIC!

      If you do NOT understand this, you have absolutely NO CLUE concerning our CONSTITUTION!

      3- The ‘AR-15 platform’ is NOT a ‘weapon of mass destruction’, it is NO DIFFERENT than my semi automatic shotgun, or handguns! Not that you have any right (Under the Second Amendment) to do anything about MY RIGHT to PROTECT myself, my family, or my property, against enemies BOTH foreign and DOMESTIC!

      Have a nice day! 🙂

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      • You Are An Idiot
        7 years ago

        Any shotgun is way scarier than a .223

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        • Ray A.
          5 years ago

          That’s an opinion. Shotguns don’t scare me. I don’t think any gun is scarier than another. Hell, I actually think some guns look “cooler” than others. You should really think about typing Less bias shit before posting

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      • Joseph
        6 years ago

        While Im not for the banning weapons.

        Citing something that was written when we used powder and muskets, to now be applied to weapons to today… Is ignorant.

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        • Christopher Corbett
          6 years ago

          Wrong! The reason for the second amendment is every bit as valid today as it was when we used powder and muskets. Why? Because back then, our enemies (both foreign and domestic) were using powder and muskets. We must have parity with our enemies when it comes to our means of self defense. That’s why I personally think civilians SHOULD be able to own not just AR-15s and other non-select-fire semi-auto firearms, but even select-fire and fully-auto firearms if we so choose.If our government has it, we should have it. It belongs to us anyway!

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          • julian
            5 years ago

            There are 2 pesky little words in the second amendment: well-regulated and free. In order to assure a FREE state there must be a way to WELL-REGULATE whatever military there is. Thus citizens must be able to fight back if (hopefully never) necessary. Otherwise those 2 words would not be there.

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    • Austin Kean
      7 years ago

      you can turn a 22 rim- fire into an assault rifle look alike

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    • S. Lawrence
      7 years ago

      You are misunderstanding the point of the article. The AR-15 is no more dangerous and deadly than a standard hunting rifle. It is NOT a weapon of mass destruction. Do you know what “high” or “low” or “standard” capacity means? This was the point of the article to educate.

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    • CR
      7 years ago

      So to recap what you are saying….is that if we ban AR-15 style weapons they will never again be used in mass shootings? Just like banning cocaine, meth, heroin, and many other drugs…..as we all know those drugs are NO LONGER being used in the United States of America because they are banned. So once something is banned even the criminals are going to stop using these weapons and turn them over to the proper authorities????????????? Just to be clear I do not own any of these weapons but how can you blame a weapon that needs a LIVING PERSON pulling the trigger for what that person did with it, shouldn’t the person or persons committing the violent act be held accountable for what they did not the weapon they used?

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    • Uninformed
      7 years ago

      A practical individual can do just as much damage with a bolt action rifle or a lever action, possibly even more with a shot gun, than with an AR-15. “HIGH CAPACITY” soon becomes “ALL GUNS”.

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    • Armed Old Woman
      7 years ago

      Home defense. My husband got me one that looks very similar to the Mossberg pictured when he was working nights. If somebody breaks in, the sight of a very upset woman holding one one of those should send them running. However, if that doesn’t work it holds enough bullets that my aim under extreme stress doesn’t have to be stellar. Many of us don’t live in areas where if we call 911 they can respond in time. If I am going to be on my own in the event of an emergency, then I want every advantage I can get to survive. A weapon of “mass destruction” as you call it sounds good to me.

      If you want to stop gun violence in the schools, make the schools teach reason, logic and coping skills. In other words produce functional adults instead of kids that need a safe space with a puppy and crayons anytime they hear something that offends them or they don’t get their way. Get rid of all the sensitivity and privilege classes and replace them with a “how to stand up to a bully” class. How about a class on how to be a productive member of society instead of telling them everything is all about them and their feelings.

      Banning guns or magazines will NOT make any difference. The stats proved that during the ban on them that Bill Clinton did in the 1990’s. Plus, take a good look at what is going on in London. They are talking about banning knives now that their murder rate has just exceeded the murder rate in New York due to stabbings.

      Since the main stream media and a bunch of kids that have probably never handled a gun say that the violence is the fault of the scary assault rifles I need to be more careful. I will make sure to have a conversation with my gun anytime I am going to be away from the house to remind it to behave and not run off and shoot anybody while I am gone. Guess I need to swing by the kitchen and have the same talk with all my cutlery in case they got wind of what is going on in London. What about the pressure cooker I use for canning? Oh my goodness, I just thought about the chain saw that is in the garage.

      Stop trying to put a band-aid on a broken leg. The problems in society that is producing broken people is what needs to be addressed not whichever tool they use to carry out their insanity.

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      • WtfAmerica
        7 years ago

        Oh? You mean those kids that had to hide behind locked doors as they heared and saw their friends and teachers be massacred by domestic terrorists who perverted the 2nd admendment to do so? Those kids?

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        • Meatballkop
          7 years ago

          Yes those kids. As well as the one using the weapon.

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    • RealiGoodPuns
      7 years ago

      Hey dumbfuck guns don’t kill people, people kill people. In 2015 33,636 were killed using firearms in the united states. That same year 38,300 people were killed by vehicles. I don’t hear you saying that cars should be banned because “all they do is kill larger amounts of people”. Also if you categorize a rifle as a weapon of mass destruction, I’m not sure you understand what a gun is. (weap·on of mass de·struc·tion
      noun
      a chemical, biological or radioactive weapon capable of causing widespread death and destruction.)

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    • GunsRGood
      7 years ago

      You do understan that there is no such thing as a “high capacity AR-15 platform?” You attempt to sound educated on the topic yet you have the same liberal garbage information as the rest. An AR-15 platform requires a magazine to feed the rifle specifical the bolt carrier group. It is the magazine not the weapon platform. In the communist state of CA AR-15’s can only be purchased with a fixed 5 or 10 round magazine. Does that make the rifle less scary to you? It is a round so small in most states it cannot even hunt with it.
      Stop being a liberal lemming and educate yourself.

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    • cliff
      7 years ago

      I think we should ban you from driving. More people are killed by autos every year but you are not calling for their ban. It is not up to you to decide what I can do for my enjoyment. Law abiding citizens don’t kill people with guns. And by the way the shootings are being done by the don’t discipline, give participation trophy, I don’t have a parent but a best friend teenagers!

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    • Edward whetstone
      6 years ago

      piss off fuck head, because laws bad people from doing bad shit huh moron

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    • Ray A.
      5 years ago

      A you mentally incapacitated Nate? A lot of things kill people. Trucks/cars, knives, boats, poison, planes, fireworks, motorbikes, etc.. And even then it’s not those things that kill people, people kill people. They just use those as tools to do so. And not all guns are “weapons of war” And “mass destruction” (which the article author has kindly demonstrated how this is a misconception to make guns sound scary). And all high capacity magazines do are make guns look “cooler”. or as the left would say it, “menacing”. All weapons are and will ever be are tools. Also, the “AR-15 platform” is a good tool for target practice because some people are comfortable with the shape and feel of the gun. For example, joe is a car person, he doesn’t like riding in pickup trucks because he likes to stay low to the ground. It just isn’t comfortable for him to be driving up high. I personally like the AR-15 format because of the way it feels when I hold it. Don’t get me wrong I still like lever action, bolt action, and other types of guns but the AR-15 is the one I feel more comfort with. And to put the cherry on top “annihilating” paper targets is fun but not all targets are paper. Some are steel and some are ballistic gel. It helps practice improving my aim Just in case I have to defend myself or who knows, I might join the military and I’ll already have a head start for target practice.

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  37. Iraqwarvet
    7 years ago

    That’s funny my hunting rifle which does not look like an AR 15 variant of a m16, m4 or any other military variant but I guess it’s an assault rifle in the liberal mind because it has a magazine and automatically Chambers a round after each fire but it wasn’t intended for infantry use. But now we’re on the topic a musket rifle was created for infantry use. Let’s face it this isn’t about gun control it’s about a gun ban! I wish you pansys would just behonest and show your true colors. Which is a red communist flag. And what’s even more funny is the platforms now that accept glock pictols that turn a pistol into a rifle by adding a stock. I guess that’s an assault rifle too but wait a minute you snowflakes were just ok with ppl having pistols. One snowflake up top in the comments was hinting they would be okay. What you pansies or whatever pronoun you use to describe yourselves need to understand is Americans willl never turn over their guns for whatever liberal condom snorting utopia you think you’re creating by calling yourselfs something different than the genitalia you were born with. If you’re crying now just read that last sentence again!

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    • B-Zilla
      7 years ago

      This is dumb. You are just adding to the idiocy.

      1st, I am a from a gun owning family, and love shooting. I love the second Amendment.

      2nd. People for gun control, some of whom are good friends of mine, do not want a ban. They want kids to stop getting shot, they want to be safe visiting the nations cities. They could give two shits what law abiding citizens do in their free time.

      3rd. This whole stupid argument doesn’t exist because ‘liberals’ don’t understand, and are too stupid to figure things out. It is because people on both ends of this issue have given in to the ideas your respective parties, and various political organizations want you too. Sure, lots of people on the left have been manipulated, but I can tell from your comments, you have been too. You seem to think your fellow citizens, are morons, who can’t think, and don’t know their ass from their elbow. It just isn’t true. Sure, they may not have any clue what an AR-15 is, or if it is or isn’t an assault rifle, which brings me to…

      4th, If both sides have been tricked into believing the other side is a bunch of morons. and that they are the only ones who understand the issue well enough to deal with it, who does that benefit? It doesn’t benefit you, me, or any other average law abiding citizen. But it does benefit someone, doesn’t it. It benefits politicians, gun control and gun rights organizations, companies selling products, etc. When you feel passion about an issue, the money and votes flow. There is nothing a politician loves more than a major issue that riles people up emotionally, and turns them into reliable voters, and hopefully donor.

      5th. So what do we do? First, recognize that ‘the other side’ is still your side. They are law abiding citizens, and even if they know jack all about guns, they aren’t all dumb. Second, recognize that they have a point. Nations with strict gun control ARE less likely to have the sort of mass shootings, or gang shootings we have here. Third, there isn’t a single answer to this problem.

      I don’t know what the answer is, I’m not that smart. But there are gun rights organizations all over the country, the NRA is specifically powerful, and influential. They should be spearheading this issue. And I don’t mean just saying teachers should be armed. That’s a non-starter, for all of the teachers I know, and I know several. Remember, most teachers are those liberals you choose to despise so much. The solution needs to be something that both sides can get behind, or at the very least, are willing to try. Ideas like armed teachers are meant to make you feel like you have an answer to the issue, but can be battled on forever, without making any progress. It’s there to gum up the works.

      Look, I’m proud of the 2nd amendment. It is a uniquely American right. Very few countries have anything even approaching this sort of right. But regardless of the reason you think the founders gave us this right, or what they actually meant, there is one thing that was true when this was enshrined in our Constitution that isn’t true now. Back then, guns were everywhere. They were a tool, in parts of the country, could not be dispensed with. Guns weren’t a mystery to kids, that they only saw in video games and movies. More and more people are ignorant of firearms, probably than any other time in history. If they see no other course of action, they will be completely ok with the elimination of the 2nd amendment, if they see no other choice. Few people actually care about rights that they don’t use.

      This country is getting more liberal. In very short order, the boomers will die out, and the millennials, will become the largest voting block. If you want to save the 2nd amendment, you need to recognize this. We have limited time. If we are going to pass these rights to our children, and their children, we need to work with those ‘damned commie lib’s’ or, you know, as I like to call them, American Citizens. If we keep on like this, the 2nd amendment will be gone in a generation, maybe two at most.

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      • Madie Parker Kirkland
        7 years ago

        BZilla, Simply put, you nailed it. Most Americans Aren’t experts on guns, so educating the public with ALL the true facts & correct verbiage about guns that can mow down a classroom in minutes is moot. Let’s just say a dangerous gun was used to assault and murder innocent victims, so even if you decide to call it a toy gun, it does not erase the carnage it created in the wrong hands. I’m going out on a limb here and guess that 99% of Americans approve of the 2nd Amendment, most of us grew up with guns in our homes. We just need to put these guns that are too dangerous for public use out of circulation. There is no quick fix, Both sides need to have better communication, strengthening the 2nd Amendment, while limiting the USE of these weapons. Legal owners or Collectors should have these weapons under tight security, maybe registering these weapons?? There could be a lot if variables and agreeable suggestions, have to start somewhere. Ordinary citizen’s and especially criminals should not be able to buy these weapons that kill so many in moments, blink of an eye! I would say, if we still disagree, with no solutions, then let AMERICAN VOTERS decide, put it on a ballot, the Majority seems to get it right.

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        • S. Lawrence
          7 years ago

          Respectfully Madie, I have to disagree with a few of your points. Educating people about firearms with facts is critical to any debate. You can’t have a knowledgeable conversation if all parties involved don’t understand what they are debating.

          Secondly, what are “these weapons” that you speak of limiting the use of? Are they the “guns that are too dangerous for public use”? Every gun is dangerous, just like every piece of heavy equipment and every motor vehicle is dangerous. A bus can cause more damage on a public sidewalk than a moped can, but they all can do damage.

          Lastly, I agree that we all need to start somewhere on the topic of mass shootings in this country. I suggest we start with asking why are people turning to violence to solve their problems. Or maybe we can talk about getting more armed guards and metal detectors in schools. Are those reasonable topics to discuss?

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      • Ray A.
        5 years ago

        It’s because the liberals who are our fellow citizens are morons

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  38. OldeSarge
    7 years ago

    The argument is moot! All Armalite prototypes were military designs and designated AR-#. They are designed to enhance utiliity in combat–ruggedized, extreme light weight, chambered for common military ammunition. They meet military design specifications and operational requirements. The civilianized versions are still military specification assault rifles. Assault rifles are weapons of war. They are not sporting pieces, target shooters, or basic self-protection firearms. No civilian needs a military weapon for self-defense purposes. As a matter of fact, the SCOTUS actually narrowed it down to the right to have a handgun for self-defense in the home. They did not rule for the wild-wild-west open carry anywhere concept that most of the pro-gun, chest-thumping, macho types think that the 2nd Ammendment entitles them to have as many of any type without restriction. The real meaning was for a time when the nation was starting out and did not have resurces to fund state militias for self-defnse. The individual was guaranteed the protection own, actually expected to own, a musket or rifle with powder and ball to eable the state to raise a militia on short notice to defend it from an invader, foreign or domestic. The concept of a national army was not widely supported out of fear of being abused by the government. It wasn’t until the Constitution was ratified that Congress created the Army, then the Coast Guard (revenue cutters), Marines, and finally a Navy. Those militias were the nations defense force until the formalized miltary was created. Now we have the National Guard which is our official militia of citizen solders. The government now provides the arms to all these forces. Hense, the purpose of the 2nd ammendment has been fulfilled. Ownership of firearms ought to now be a priviledge, closely regulated to ensure public safely, not a right irrationaly creating a nearl limitless market for selling firearms to generate corporate profits.

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    • Rick
      7 years ago

      You are a complete moron. Move to a country where they are not allowed to own firearms. Like Japan, China, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Afganistan, Taiwan, or any other third world crap hole. You deserve to have your rights, enjoy them there. The definition of Militia is an Army of the People, not the government. Go to school and learn something besides complaining about someone stepping on your toes.

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    • BobE
      7 years ago

      “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”.

      “SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.” … PERIOD… there are no “buts”.

      And… Assault is a verb, not a noun.

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      • Madie Parker Kirkland
        7 years ago

        BobE, The right to bear arms is definitely a fact that all AMERICANS agree on. Do you seriously think our forefathers could have, in their wildest dreams have foreseen what is going on in America today? The debate Isn’t EVEN about bearing arms, THAT STANDS, it is about bearing arms that create so much carnage in moments. Too bad we can’t agree to disagree without name calling. If you are so right, Let’s put it to a vote. Let the Majority rule, that’s another American right.

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      • Julian
        5 years ago

        Note “well regulated” and “free”. Obviously there is some relationship between a state being “free” and whatever the military is (it was basically a citizen militia in colonial times) being “well regulated”. Else those words would not be there!

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    • al
      7 years ago

      you sir or whatever you are is a complete IDIOT YOU MAKE UP YOUR OWN EXCUSE OF WHAT YOU THINK PROVE ANYTHING YOU SAID

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    • KCcowboy
      7 years ago

      OldSarge….you are full of assumptions and opinions. I have an AR and have never shot anyone. How is an AR-15 more dangerous than a 9mm handgun with a large capacity magazine? In fact, I would argue that the handgun is more dangerous as it can be easily hidden in a backpack (or several of them if you don’t want to change out a backup magazine). Stop fighting for my constitutional rights to be taken away and get back to prothletising to the idiots that don’t know better.

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  39. RLHHoof
    7 years ago

    Hey, to any interested party in this discussion, read H.R.5087 for the proposed definition of “Assualt Weapons”. YOUR interpetation doesnt matter!

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  40. FactsMatter
    7 years ago

    Your whole story went array in like the fourth paragraph, when you altered what an assault rifle is. The definition of assault rifle is as·sault ri·fle
    noun
    noun: assault rifle; plural noun: assault rifles
    a rapid-fire, magazine-fed automatic rifle designed for infantry use.

    An AR-15 is a variation of a rifle design for infantry use. Further, civilian models are magazine fed. Concluding, they can rapid fire, and with little effort, they are fully capable of being fully automatic. While your argument runs on the basis that an AR-15 is not an assault rifle because it doesn’t have a selector switch and doesn’t achieve full-auto in “most civilian” models, it’s a straw man argument, because as I stated, with little effort, the civilian model can be altered to achieve those criteria.

    It’s like saying a bomb isn’t a bomb because the cap wasn’t on the pipe and the fuse was lying on the table. Yet, set a match to it (the open pipe with no fuse but explosives) and I dare you to see if you don’t call it a bomb after the fact.

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    • Realfactsmatter
      7 years ago

      Your comment went awry in about the fourth sentence. You make one major assumption, that being all AR–15 owners are out to become criminal owners of machine guns. Yes, I intentionally used that term as that’s what the the BATFE calls what you are referring to. To convert to a machine gun it takes a few parts that if purchased LEGALLY, start at $25,0000. And the extensive background check. And in some cases machining the receiver to allow for the parts to fit.

      IF all AR owners were running down to their nearest machine shop (assuming the machine shop would even do the parts) and getting these parts machined as you seem to infer, then yes, go ahead and ban them. But you are so far from the facts. Once again showing that those who think they have the facts…don’t. And assume everyone who disagrees with them is evil.

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    • Facts do Matter
      7 years ago

      Personally, a definition of “assault rifle” copied and pasted from google is hardly the standard by which I would use to define a “assault rifle”. However, for the purpose of working within this framework lets for the moment say that this is the accepted definition. Thus, by this definition, a rifle is an “assault rifle” if and only if it has ALL of the following functions/characteristics 1) rapid fire 2) magazine fed (self explanatory) 3) AUTOMATIC 4) designed for infantry use.

      I see issues with this definition and below are the points

      1) The fact that someone can fire a rifle rapidly should not in my option be a criteria for the definition of an “assault rifle” (at what rate of fire can a gun be considered rapid fire or not rapid fire?) ex. there are countless examples online where a shooter can fire a semi automatic hand gun, a revolver, a shotguns etc at a speed most people can say is rapid fire. Does that make the above said weapon an “assault” handgun, or “assault” revolver etc?

      2) The way I see it, every modern firearm that allows you to fire sequentially employs some sort of “magazine” since a “magazine” by google definition is “a chamber for holding a supply of cartridges to be fed automatically to the breech of a gun.” Besides a single barrel breech loading shotgun, I can’t think of a gun that doesn’t employ a “magazine” of some sort. Even your traditional bolt action rifle that most people would not consider and “assault rifle” has an internal magazine.

      3) An AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle. Period. Like the author of the article stated, one trigger pull equals one bullet fired. Arguing that the AR-15 is not an “assault” rifle because it does not have a defining functions/characteristics of an assault rifle is a totally valid argument. You have to address what the rifle can and cannot do and not what someone can modify it to do i.e. modifying it to be fully automatic, making it capable of fully automatic fire, which is illegal to do (please correct me if I am wrong).

      4) I don’t know about you but I would not design a semi automatic only rifle and give it to our soldiers and tell them to go fight an enemy that very well would have a Machine gun/assault rifle when we have the ability and technology to give them a rifle that can fire semi automatic and fully automatic.

      If anything, base on the definition of “assault rifle” you originally used, I would argue as others have that the M1 Garand is more an “assault” rifle than the AR-15. It is capable of rapid fire, has an internal chamber (magazine) for holding ammo that automatically feeds that next round into the breech of the gun, and was designed AND actually used in its original configuration by the US military in war. I’ll even throw in that the M1 fires a more powerful round/bullet than the AR-15.

      I would also argue that the M14 (which is fully automatic and was used and to some extend still is being used by the US military, is essentially an M1 Garand that is modified to be capable of fully automatic fire. Does that make the M1A a civilian semi automatic variant of the M14 an assault rifle as well since it probable can be modified as well.

      If I add two more wheels to my motorcycle, does that make it a car?

      car
      kär
      noun
      a road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine and able to carry a small number of people.

      My point is that yes the distinction is small but it is a distinction none the less. It is by these differences that we can separate one thing from another. I personally believe that “assault rifle”, basically machine guns are not needed by your run of the mill civilian Joe Smo. However, an AR-15 and any semi automatic modern sporting rifle for that matter is not an “assault rifle”/machine gun. That is a FACT. Just because someone can potential modify it to be one does not make it one unless it is one.

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      • OldeSarge
        7 years ago

        And…? The shooter in Las Vegas proved that AR-15s easily become M-16s with the addition of a bumpstock or trigger crank. That sicko should never have been able to amass an arsenal of “assault rifles” the way he did. He shouldn’t have been able to purchase that many rifles and ammunition without law enforcement, local or federal, looking into what he was doing. There was nothing in he background that would have justified the purchases. The ATF should have decended on his home(s) and put him under a microscoope. If they had, all those victims would be living their lives now.

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    • Greg
      7 years ago

      Readily altered to fire full auto?? Don’t think so. Another ignorant response…

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      • Mumma
        7 years ago

        I notice that no one has mentioned bump stocks to create an automatic weapon from a semi-automatic (lawful in many states). Let’s also accept that the current interpretation of the 2nd Amendment has only been with us since the 60’s. Before that, personal ownership was not guaranteed. Finally, we snowflakes prefer to avoid personal attacks and insults in our posts.

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    • Kase
      7 years ago

      Rapid fire is defined by 2 or more actions or rounds fired by one action of the trigger, fully automatic rifles have been banned in the us since 1986, and you may be able to alter a civilian model rifle to fire fully automatic but that’s illegal as well

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      • OldeSarge
        7 years ago

        Except when adding a bumpstock! Whoever ruled them legal should be prosecuted for all those homicides in Las Vegas.

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        • Retured Flyboy
          7 years ago

          Using that logic, all the car manufacturers should be prosecuted for building cars that can exceed legal speed limits. How many deaths are caused by excessive speed? The cars don’t choose to exceed the speed limit, the driver does. The gun doesn’t choose to kill, the person holding it does. Your logic is pathetically flawed.

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        • al
          7 years ago

          your OBAMA DID

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    • S. Lawrence
      7 years ago

      The point of the article is to define an assault rifle, which we did. We did not alter the definition as you suggest. An AR-15 cannot fire in full automatic mode. Period. That means it is NOT an assault rifle.

      The straw man argument is your argument that a semi-automatic rifle can be altered “with little effort” to allow it to fire automatic. First of all, it takes a great effort to alter a firearm to that degree and takes a skillset that the vast majority of gun owners do not possess. In addition, this alteration makes the firearm illegal.

      Secondly, your suggesting that this type of alteration to the gun makes it something it is not. A pipe bomb is pipe before it is a bomb. Banning pipes because they could become bombs is as ludicrous as the idea of banning AR-15s because they could become illegal firearms.

      Lastly, please tell us how many mass shootings have been carried out by illegally modified firearms. None. Thank you for contributing, though.

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    • Gregory
      7 years ago

      There’s no caveat that an assault weapon be automatic,that’s a misconception. An AR15 has a selector switch,safety and semi,so it fits all of your criteria for an assault rifle. The first M16’s had the same trigger package as the AR15,safety and semi,XM16, XM16A1, M16A1 all have the same trigger package as the AR15. Only later models had burst and full auto.

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      • Wow!!!!
        7 years ago

        !!!!!!
        Wow!

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    • ApparentlyUDontCareAboutFacts
      7 years ago

      You got that (incomplete) definition of assault rifle from Google (who no doubt has a bias against guns). Great, you know how to copy and paste! This article actually gives a more precise definition of an assault rifle. You’re trying to change definitions to get your argument to make sense. That’s not right. Why don’t you just try and understand what an assault rifle is. And I take it you probably prefer there to be an all out gun ban… but that likely won’t happen since it’s unconstitutional (and for the fact that most people like their freedom). The day the USA bans guns is a major loss for freedom. Additionally, comparing bombs to guns doesn’t really make sense in your argument.

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    • Seth
      7 years ago

      OK so here is where your ignorance comes into play. You said it yourself an AR-15 Is a variation of a Military assault rifle. Putting a bump stock on an AR15 does not make this a fully automatic assault rifle. It now becomes a more rapid fire shooting quickly but still not an assault rifle.
      In order for anybody to possess a fully automatic assault rifle one would have to obtain a class 3 firearms permit. This is almost impossible to do. No Joe blow off of the street is going to obtain a class 3 firearms permit.
      And again just because Oprah or some idiot on CNN tells you that an AR15 is an assault rifle does not make it correct.

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    • FactsMatterMore
      7 years ago

      So in your reference then a pressure cooker with no fuse is a bomb. Anyone can modify it illegally and make it such. But in my understand a pressure cooker is a cooking devise just as an AR-15 is modern sporting rifle. It becomes an assault riffle only after someone modifies it into one just as a cooking devise is modified into a bomb. So your story went array in the 2nd paragraph.

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    • julian
      5 years ago

      I have an Uzi. very early models of it were, i have been told, fairly easy for a skilled person to convert to full auto (which was and is illegal). The design was changed to make conversion much more difficult if at all.

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  41. DRITA
    7 years ago

    Thanks for the information, not all do know the difference.
    ….The reality here is that NOTHING will MOVE until YOU move it! Guns are tools, no one in the right mind and a loving heart would commit a crime.

    Adolf Hitler once said, “To conquer a nation, you must first disarm its citizens.”

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  42. A scared single mom
    7 years ago

    Criminals who want to obtain weaponry, will always succeed, period. I don’t care what city or country you are living in. I reside in Chicago where there are fewer law abiding gun owners- due to the all of the previous restrictions here.
    And yet,despite ALL of the local governments attempts to ban guns here, the murder rate has continued to rocket here. The actual figures are staggering! So much so ,they often go unreported by order of our mayor! That is the truth!! I have close friends working in homicide . Armed criminals are successful against us unarmed citizens. I deserve to be able to protect my family in the manner of my choosing.I am staunchly against being prevented from doing that !
    I would have already moved to Reno,Nevada or Houston,Texas ( both pro 2nd amendment and both experiencing a much lower crime rate than Chicago ) had I been able to! I’m finally moving away this summer.And I will be exercising my right to bear arms. Government will never be able to control people with evil intentions.Owning guns will not suddenly or even accidentally cause me to go on a murder spree.
    Knowing that citizens are armed will definitely give anyone with ill intentions pause.

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    • Dan
      7 years ago

      And there you have it! Exactly why our right to bear arms should not be taken away from us. I applaud you for speaking up.

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    • A mom too!!
      7 years ago

      I comeplety agree with you. I used to live there and thankfully because of my husbands career we live in a state that is pro guns and I love it. I just got my conceal carry permit and carry my handgun with me. Being a woman with two kids I have a peace of mind knowing I can defend myself and my kids if I ever had too. I have handguns hidden throughout my house just in case of an intruder I can get to it no matter where I am. I’ve always said you take our 2nd amendment away your going to have one hell of a fight coming your way! And if you don’t like guns it’s going to be over really quick! 😉

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  43. 11B1P
    7 years ago

    This article is full of misinformation. In a pure sense, an assault rifle is a magazine fed, automatic or semi-automatic weapon with one or more pistol style grips. That is an infantry definition. It makes zero difference if the weapon possess fully automatic or burst fire capabilities. In a military sense, the only time an assault rifle is used in fully automatic or burst fire mode is for suppression which is typically the role of a crew served weapon. Any variant of the AR-15 platform is an assault rifle.

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    • USMC0311
      7 years ago

      Wrong, as an infantry Marine myself your reply to this great well thought out article is ignorant at best.

      The political definition of assault rifle may be as you have stated but that list of things was made up in the 80s by anti gun groups.

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    • shallnotbeinfringed
      7 years ago

      this is completely false, take the m1 garand, this gun is semiautomatic and people see it as completely harmless, don’t make the argument that the m1 garand does not have a pistol grip, the entire left does not care about pistol grips because they do not seem scary. the left first went after automatic guns and said that would solve gun problems, this did not work because criminals who want to will hurt people in any way possible. the idea in your head that guns being automatic is ridiculous, automatic weapons are meant to send many bullets and semiautomatic weapons are just meant to be more convenient for people who do not want to reload the bolt, or if they are in a circumstance where they are being attacked, do not have the time. you are scared of these guns because of their appearance and in your opinion and gun that is black and scary looking is an assault rifle

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    • S. Lawrence
      7 years ago

      That’s actually completely incorrect. The term “assault rifle” as it is defined by the media and even updated dictionaries is completely political and not meant to be technical. The difference between a rifle being able to fire semi-auto or full auto is absolutely critical to its definition and any legislation that may be suggested to regulate firearms. So the article is accurate.

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      • Landwhale
        6 years ago

        Hitler personally named the first “assault rifle” in the form of the Stg 44 – translated meaning “Assault Rifle 44.” Important aspect is that the Stg 44 was select fire and that was a critical part of the basis of it being an “assault rifle.” I disagree that it was the media I’m pretty sure it was Hitler in WWII.

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    • Airborne
      7 years ago

      as·sault ri·fle
      noun
      a rapid-fire, magazine-fed automatic rifle designed for infantry use.

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    • G. Smith
      7 years ago

      Buddy it doesn’t matter… Like the ladie said a couple comments up, if someone has evil in there heart they will find away to murder other people, point blank period ! This shouldn’t even be about guns ?? I mean seriously do guns walk in to schools are movie theaters and concerts by there selfs and kill folks ? No they don’t! It takes a wicked heartless criminal to be at the other end pulling the trigger.. they have hunting rifles like a 30- 6 that are semi automatic hold up to 8 rounds and if you have experience can be reloaded very quickly and a much more powerful round then a AR- 15 . Like the one guy said, will we outlaw pipes because they can be made into pipe bombs and what about knives ? There’s probably 20 times the amount of people who get stabbed to death every year in the US . Unless your ok will people getting killed as long as it’s not a mass shooting? What about fixing the root of the problem and start putting God back in the mix ? Today’s society is a problem, we have a culture problem , a culture that glorifies violence and a ungodly lifestyle. We didn’t have these problems 60 years ago, why ? Because this nation at the time still looked up to God for the most part. But not anymore. But it is ok because it is all ready written are foretold in scripture.

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  44. Mavisdavis
    7 years ago

    Thank you for the clarification. While I might be on an opposing view point of you, it is still helpful for me and others to have more information on the subject. Each side can learn from one another. It doesn’t make you or me wrong, just different.

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    • Hogh Gewalt
      7 years ago

      From your response it’s clear you missed the point of article. You are entitled to your opinion, but you are NOT entitled to your own FACTS! The inarguable point of the article is that, by DEFINITION, if a firearm does not have the capability of AUTOMATIC fire, it CANNOT be an “Assault Rifle!” What you should’ve learned from this article is that your opinion is factually WRONG! Cognitive Dissonance is nature’s way of telling that you need to update your beliefs based on new information.

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  45. Pamela
    7 years ago

    What a BUMMER. Such great info, and you just HAD to make it political. SMH

    THANKS A LOT. You are really helping educate us “liberal left” folks who are actually TRYING to help.

    God. >:(

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    • Noah
      7 years ago

      Your so annoying noone cares about how much “help” your trying to do just keep your lack of gun knowledge to yourself

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      • george
        7 years ago

        you’re*

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    • Bob
      7 years ago

      Pamela, I totally agree with you on this definition being political. When I started reading, I was looking for information and as soon as I saw specific names and trades that this a bias report.

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    • Jeff
      7 years ago

      Trying to help? If you are trying to help, then learn about the issues you are protesting and then maybe your protesting will mean something.

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    • Shelley
      7 years ago

      You are not helping anyone. By the way, the liberal left has made it political…not author of this article.

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      • Cyndee
        7 years ago

        Misinformation from these pawns at the marches is what is political. Slamming the NRA and responsible gun owners is political. Machine guns and all guns are glorified in movies but that’s ok? All the celebrities that have armed security that’s ok? Chicago has the worst homicide rate in the country yet the most gun murders, ditto Mexico. Now let that sink in and get your facts straight.

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        • Schona
          7 years ago

          AMEN!

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        • John
          7 years ago

          Chicago does not have the worst homicide rate in the country. Do some research. There are cities that are upto 29 homicides per 100,000 people. Chicago is not near that. I am not trying to start an argument, just stating some facts that I read a short time ago. Hopefully they were true.

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    • Kyle
      7 years ago

      Trying to help by taking guns away from legal gun owning citizens. I wasn’t a great guy when I was 21 I sold pills but guess what I had 3 illegally purchased guns. Thank God I never went to prison and have been clean over 10 yrs. I’m a proud nra member and multiple LEGAL gun owner. So how if u get rid of legal guns do u get rid of illegally purchased guns? You’re not helping…

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    • shallnotbeinfringed
      7 years ago

      I think you are misunderstanding the intention of this article. There has been much debate lately and the goal of this article seems to be to help clear up misconceptions so we (both the left and right) can come to an agreement on how to stop these shootings from happening. The right is trying to move the discussion towards stopping the people from committing these acts by identifying them and stopping them while the left believes that taking their means of harming people will stop them entirely
      im not trying to be some person who is acting patronizingly, I just saw your comment and thought I might try to clear up what is actually happening even if I sound like a douchebag

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      • Peopleseriously
        7 years ago

        Shallnotbeinfringed: I don’t think you were being a douchbag. I think you got it right on! The articles sole purpose is to EDUCATE people on what an assault rifle is and it did exactly that. The author even broke it down so people who are not familiar with the terminology can understand.

        I just don’t understand why there is so much confusion. Look it up! Look for reliable sources! Education is key!! Google is a very powerful tool use it! If your not convinced with one website try another. If that one doesn’t convince you try another. If that one doesn’t fit with your definition of assult rifle then your probably wrong! Bam! Easy! Solved that problem!

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  46. FirstSight
    7 years ago

    Question: Are there any machine guns that ONLY fire automatic mode and have NO mode selector lever?
    If so, then the machine gun would NOT be an assault rifle according to definition above because there is no selector lever

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    • shallnotbeinfringed
      7 years ago

      yes there are, light machine guns such as the m240 and the browning 50 are automatic with no option to make them semiautomatic. these guns are what fall under the categories as machine guns

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      • Inquiring joe
        7 years ago

        Just a question. This is what the article writer said:
        This is what is referred to as an assault rifle. Variants of this rifle can fire in semiautomatic mode, three-round burst mode or fully automatic mode. In full auto mode, the M4A1 can fire at a rate of 700-900+ rounds per minute. This is a machine gun.

        So does that mean that a light machine gun is an assault weapon even though it doesn’t have a mode selector from automatic to semi-auto?

        Just a question not going against anyone, just makes a bit sense, putting it all together.

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    • Mark
      7 years ago

      The answer to your question is that there is a selector switch it is incorporated with the safety.

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  47. witlessX
    7 years ago

    It’s YOU that doesn’t know what semi automatic and automatic guns are. But, you definitely know what condescension is.

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  48. Rob
    7 years ago

    Who cares what you call the gun? The problem is guns that have the capacity to kill large numbers of people in a short period of time. The issue is large magazines, guns that can easily be modified to be automatic, and easily interchangeable magazines. Imagine if the magazine was required to be fixed to the gun (like a revolver chamber is fixed), required individual reloading of bullets, and had a limited capacity of 10 bullets. Way more difficult to kill large numbers of people.

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    • Billy From Tennessee
      7 years ago

      Rob

      You are not that bright are you. There are far fewer vehicles on the road than there are guns yet vehicles take more lives than guns. To be more exact 40,000 lives are taken by vehicles per average year which there are only 222,000,000 million license drivers whereas there are 357,000,000 million guns .

      Guns take an average 13,000 lives per year and they are not all innocent lives either. However, where lives are lost by vehicles 99 percent of those lives are innocent people, women, children it does not matter these are innocent lives. A good percentage that are lost is because of young adults between the ages of 16-25 being reckless and some attributed to cell phones. Although laws have passed restricting such use people still do it. Simply meaning distracted driving take lives and anytime when people are more concern to what going on in their vehicle is more important than the lives they hold in their hands around them and if they take your life or one of your family members life and ugly as this may sound it is an acceptable causality.

      Furthermore, there is an average of 130 lives taken by school busses these are mostly children and adults that have been ran over or hit. Mind you this is 130 lives by bus and the only reason why no one is screaming about it is because they are spread throughout the states but you group those numbers together that is a mass killing.

      So what do you say Rob, and what are you doing about that. Not only that Rob our children loose their lives to playing sports every year at school can you guess how many and although the number have declined over the years the number is still high and sports are still being played in the schools across our great nation do you know why Rob, simply because it is an acceptable causality per same it should be with guns.

      Truly the people that want guns taken away are the ones that are ignorant to how they protect everyone including none gun owners or the people in power want more control and power over you. Proof when a DUI occurs the government and media does not brainwash you to hate the vehicle or to abolish alcohol you blame the person for the choice they made but everytime a gun is used they scream to get in your head it’s the gun. Not only that when someone is beaten to death with a hammer they don’t scream the hammer the hammer done it. So think for yourself why the minority aka the government in most cases brainwash you to think the guns are bad when they are more willing to stick a gun in a 18 boy or girl hands anytime when they see fit and the ugly truth here is not because a war needed to be fought but because of the mighty dollar yes because of money is one of the reasons why our children fight and die so wake up we are at war and other countries want to kill us and you. Give them the opportunity they will come and we are the last defense between you and them.

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      • Daniel
        7 years ago

        Couldnt have said it better myself.

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      • Cliff
        7 years ago

        The PRIMARY purpose of a car/vehicle is to transport. Agreed? The PRIMARY purpose of a hammer is to drive a nail. Agreed? The primary purpose of a gun…any gun…is to fire bullets into something or someone. I do appreciate defining the differences in rifles-I will be a better consumer of gun-related news in the future. Still…if asked to face an assailant with a knife (or hammer), an assailant with a semi-automatic weapon and an assailant with a fully-automatic weapon, I would take option #3 last-don’t understand the need for that many bullets to be fired.

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      • John Sheil
        7 years ago

        There is a difference between cars and hammers and guns, the first two are not designed to kill. If fact all cars have design features to prevent people from being killed. Guns are designed to kill. Since this fact has escaped you, I would hope someone reports this to your local authorities. People (possibly such as yourself) with mental illnesses or defects should are usually banded fro gun ownership.

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        • Tom
          7 years ago

          John…Cars are not designed to kill, yet more people die from auto related incidents each year than they do from guns. John, by your statement, guns are safer.

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      • Jason
        7 years ago

        There’s are not that many people in the world let alone cars. 222,000,000 million is 222,000,000,000,000,000. You think there’s that many licensed drivers? Lol who’s the bright one?

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      • Simple
        7 years ago

        Love it!!! But of course people will only read what they want!

        People are killers not guns!! Simple!

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    • roosevelt rugless
      7 years ago

      He forgot to mention if no one pulls the trigger it will not fire, guns don’t kill people, people kill people.

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      • FactsMatter
        7 years ago

        Incorrect, factually! If I push a bowling ball off a 20 story building, and it crushes your skull, I’ve never touched you and am physically not capable of killing you. My actions my have led to your death, but rest assured, it’s the falling bowling ball that is killing you. Now apply this to a gun. The actions of a shooter my have led to a persons death, but it was most certainly the gun and bullet which is the physical cause of death. But, your argument is distraction from the fact that if assault rifles weren’t owned by civilians, then less assault rifles would be used in crimes. Yes yes yes I know the BS argument that criminals will always buy illegal guns, but those illegal guns are normally stolen from legal gun owners, thus we’re back to limiting/banning assault rifle sales.

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        • Local house burgler 88
          7 years ago

          Dude, you still pushed the bowling ball off the building. That bowling ball didn’t jump up there on its own and jump. I can put a loaded shotgun outside my door with a box of shells next to it and I promise you that gun won’t kill anyone unless someone picks it up and shoots it. Of course you are phisically being killed by the bullet and the weapon that projejected it, but someone had to shoot it. Also, it’s true you can get an illegal gun if you really want to. And you can’t steal or get an illegal gun from a legal gun owner, cause if they are legal gun owners, they don’t own illegal guns. The prohibition prohibited alcohol, but moonshine and fast cars and speak easies were all created to illegally transport and distribute alcohol. Kids with drugs got them illegally, but you still see them. Limiting and or banning assault rifles unfortunately can’t stop killings by them, but remember, automatic rifles are illegal, so if you own one without the nessasary requirements, your illegal. They are already illegal. Ar-15s are not assult rifles, and are legal. And if you were to mod this weapon to make it automatic, that’s illegal.

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    • Floki
      7 years ago

      I mean i can kill a large number of people with a sword in a small amount of time. Just because a revolve has a fixed chamber does not mean you cant load it fast. They make speed loaders for that now. 10 bullets is still a lot. now while that is said that does not change the fact that something needs to happen. it does not change the fact that our country is sick from something and that we need to find the source and soon.

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      • Buttercup
        7 years ago

        That. This country IS in fact I’ll and rotting from the inside out. That is what needs to be fixed

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    • LAURA
      7 years ago

      So which 10 people do you choose to take the 10 bullets? That is a very strange statement. Not to mention, a fixed chamber will still fire. The killer would simply have 2 guns, one for each firing. A 6 shot revolver in each hand could kill 12 people at once. If a killer has 4 revolvers on the window sill he can fire 24 rounds as fast as he can pull the trigger and pick up one a fresh revolver. A revolver is “semi-automatic” as the chamber rolls after each bullet is fired. You are required to pull the trigger in order to fire each bullet and have the chamber roll. ALL guns can kill their target. The reason man invented them was to kill. The problem starts when a killer chooses a human target.

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      • FirstSight
        7 years ago

        RE:Laura. A revolver is not usually considered semi-automatic, although if you use the definition of 1 trigger pull=1 shot then technically, I guess it could be called that.. The chamber does not rotate after each shot. Except for the first shot, in which the hammer can be cocked and fired without rotation, the chamber must be rotated BEFORE each subsequent shot. This creates a delay which is slightly greater than that of a semi-automatic gun.

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        • FirstSight
          7 years ago

          Correction: By chamber, I should have said cylinder.

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        • mike
          7 years ago

          check out competition shooting and see how fast a revolver can be!

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      • shallnotbeinfringed
        7 years ago

        I think a good point to make is that people who want to hurt others will find ways to do it even if it inconveniences them and slows them down, we need to make sure that there are only good people getting their hands on guns and give guns to those who want to protect themselves and the people around them

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    • Mike
      7 years ago

      Rob, Large capacity mags are not the problem. People are the problem, and no morals or teaching from parents. I have A CCP and my choice of conceal carry firearm is a XDS 45 auto, which I can buy and have large capacity mags. Which has not killed anyone. You can argue the mags all day but it will not fix a heart problem or mental problem.

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    • Billy
      7 years ago

      Obviously people do if they think semiautomatic means “automatic”. Also did you know there are rifles more deadly than an AR-15. A .22 is more deadly because it has no exit wound and bounces around inside you. There are also deer rifles that have bigger rounds. But no one wants to ban them because they dont look scary. I’d you want to continue this argument my email is down below.

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      • Rob
        7 years ago

        How scary do you think an AR15 would be if it were all white? Just a question our media is our worst enemy and they along with the federal government want to keep us divided wake up America you are being robbed of your right’s

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        • Rob
          7 years ago

          How scary do you think an AR15 would be if it were a lighter color (wt) I tried to post the word spelled out they wouldn’t post it lol. It’s just a question. But it also shows free speech is being Stifled on here as well.

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          • BobE
            7 years ago

            Black… Hmmm, they posted that?

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    • Harlod
      7 years ago

      You can’t easily modify a semi automatic rifle to full automatic. It takes a new receiver that is fully automatic capable. Guess what? You can’t get them. Go ahead, try.

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    • Joel
      7 years ago

      Sounds like your describing living in a country like Russia.
      If people don’t like the gun problem, your free to move somewhere else.
      Perhaps treat people with a little respect, teach your children not to bully other kids, thousands of ways to correct the problem.
      Better background checks for all. And the feds need to prosecute people who lie to obtain arms they shouldn’t have!

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      • Trumpism
        7 years ago

        Lol at Americans, you’d rather let your kids get shot and arm your teachers with weapons then swallow your stupid pride and give up your firearms.

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        • mike
          7 years ago

          trumpism, I feed my family with my guns when I hunt!

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          • Rob
            7 years ago

            Trumpism
            Is like all the other liberals. Nobody needs a gun!! Till it’s needed to protect them don’t worry I will keep my guns and when only the police and outlaws have guns, I will sell you some deer meat so you family don’t go hungry. Read your history the gun made this country!!!!!!

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        • Kyle
          7 years ago

          So where ever you live trumpism I’m sure you don’t have access to the Internet… If u do then u have criminals with guns. You are just too naive to realize it. How well did that no gun policy work out in Paris. Stick to things you know.

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        • Rob
          7 years ago

          Wow
          Your really lost and clueless, but my guess is you don’t live in any major city, like Chicago, new York, LA, were gun control laws have been in effect many years. You should read more and stop watching tv. Talk to one of the stupid prideful Americans(your words) living in Chicago how gun control laws are working there and how much safer it is there due to gun control laws.

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        • Mary
          7 years ago

          3000 babies are killed everyday in the U.S. by abortion, not a gun. There is no valid argument against guns if you support abortion.

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        • Local house burgler 88
          7 years ago

          My kids won’t die if I have a way to stop the shooter. I ain’t going to run at the mother fucker with a damn katana!

          I’D RATHER BE JUDGED MY 12, THAN BE CARRIED BY 6

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    • SouthBound
      7 years ago

      Why then do car speedometers go up to 100+ mph? Who other than police needs to go that fast? If a car runs up on a side walk into an innocent crowd of people at 50 mph or 100 mph which do you think what cause more casualties? It doesn’t really matter it was the driver who did it not the car!

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    • James
      7 years ago

      It is already illegal to modify a gun to be fully automatic. It is also illegal to have all of the parts to make an automatic weapon even if you don’t assemble it.

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    • Don
      7 years ago

      Easy to solve just buy 20 guns that hold 10 rounds each.

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    • Kyle
      7 years ago

      Hey Rob… Here is a true stat for you. It takes a trained police officer up to 10 shots to get on target when surprised. This is do to adrenaline. This same officer is required thousands of hours of range time to learn to be this good.
      Now my question to you… I’m sound asleep with my family and someone breaks in. I think my adrenaline is going to be way higher cuz I’m protecting my family. I go to the range as oftern as I can but nothing can prepare you for protecting your family. So u say a mag that hold 10 bullets… Say I get lucky in a pitch dark house on the 10th shot an graze the intruder. Say he bought his gun illegally on deep web(very easy to do and the govt still gas no way of stopping this) and I just pissed him off… I’m frantically trying to get another bullet in my mag (sense I guess u want me to sleep with them in my pocket) he causally shits me and can’t leave witnesses so my family is dead.
      THERE SMART ROB is your idea in a real life. Do you as well as others see how it does work. There will ALWAYS be a way to get whatever kind of gun illegally.

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    • Buttercup
      7 years ago

      I like that idea

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    • Shaun
      7 years ago

      Way harder to defend yourself too if you happen to miss, are dealing with multiple threats, or the shots you land fail to stop the threat Einstein. Really – WTF dude?

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    • G. Smith
      7 years ago

      No buddy. I think the problem is wicked heartless CRIMINALS! What about the fact that probably around 20 times the amount of people are killed here every year in the us by knives and nobody in a up roar up that? Oh it’s ok as long as people aren’t murdered in mass amounts ? As long as you kill one at a time slowly and just rack the numbers up then people don’t get upset? Oh ok… now I get it ! Guns don’t kill people know more than drugs kill people!

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    • ...
      7 years ago

      Do you know how easy it is to make incendiary bombs

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    • BILL
      7 years ago

      BUT BOMBS ARE BETTER YET TAKE GUNS AWAY SEE WHAT YOU GET , PEOPLE WANTING TO HARM WILL USE THE NEXT BEST THING

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    • Grandpaw5000
      7 years ago

      ANY gun can be easily modified to go full-automatic. Well, almost any. Bolt action would take some work. Limiting the number of shells in a clip is not going to happen. The only thing that is going to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Not a toy baseball bat like some schools are issuing their teachers!

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    • julian
      5 years ago

      and there are revolvers with changeable cylinders, and it only takes about 3 seconds to swap a magazine.

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  49. Old Guy
    7 years ago

    The modern dictionary definition of “assault rifle” includes both AR-15 semiautomatic rifles and their military variant M-16 which has the full auto option. Legal description however is more strict as it includes:

    1) must be an individual weapon
    2) selective fire
    3) must fire an intermediate charge
    4) must be fed ammunition from a detachable box magazine.
    5) effective range must be at least 300 meters.

    The only difference between my Colt 601 and the Colt 603 I used in the Military was a full auto selection, location of the charging arm, and a 25 magazine instead of a 30. In many situations ammo is wasted in full auto. The effective killing ability of the two weapons is very close.

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    • ralphc
      7 years ago

      You are correct. What real purpose is served by trying to claim that assault rifles are only fully automatic rifles? Particularly when semi-automatic rifles, especially with bump stocks or modified triggers, can fire a 30 round magazine in 10 seconds.

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    • S. Lawrence
      7 years ago

      The modern dictionary definition has been updated to include AR15s. And as you said, selective fire is one of the keys that an AR-15 does not have. The legal terms are what matters when it comes to legislation. That was the goal of this article to outline the legal definition.

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    • Thom
      7 years ago

      Wel, lthe modern definition of Fascist has been commandeered by the liberals and change entirely from its historic meaning. So based on your insertion it must be incorrect, just because the Modern definition includes it that does not make it accurate.

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      • Jeremy
        7 years ago

        Fascism: noun (sometimes capital) 1. any ideology or movement inspired by Italian Fascism, such as German National Socialism; any right-wing nationalist ideology or movement with an authoritarian and hierarchical structure that is fundamentally opposed to democracy and liberalism.

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        • Joe
          7 years ago

          Actually that’s incorrect. Fascism usually gains political traction by attracting people to the ideal that they are victims, and that there is a scapegoat for all of the problems. In nazi Germany, the German people fell to the radical ideas of Adolfo Hitler’s because they felt they were victims of the great powers after the First World War. While the Germans, the victims, seemed to be suffering, Jews, the scapegoat seemed to be thriving where the rest were suffering. The nationalist ideals take root in a violent way, and eventually someone uses the chaos to grab power. I could go more into depth but I need to eat back to work.

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        • Joe
          7 years ago

          If you want more information check out Robert Paxton’s five stages of fascism. It really outlines what fascism is.

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    • Vanessa Mendez
      7 years ago

      I would like to repost this one FB. Exactly what I know is here in your own words of experience.

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  50. Laura
    7 years ago

    Thanks for the info. I am learning both about guns and to shoot. I believe being well informed before judging or deciding which gun may be right for me is the way to go. With all the shootings and learning how to shoot I also felt it necessary to know what is being talked about. Just as pencils don’t make bad students, guns don’t make bad people; it’s what people do with the available tools.

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    • Aileen
      7 years ago

      I wholeheartedly agree. Good luck on your search for truth. I was trained In gun safety when I was 16, by the NRA. Back then it was free.

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      • Jeremy
        7 years ago

        Yeah well now they need to pay their bills (The Government)

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  51. billhausser
    7 years ago

    Potato, Potado, the problem is that these recreational instruments however defined have been used to kill people en mass over and over again. Americans are fed up with killings. Guns are out there everywhere in society, can obviously be purchased by immature kids and the general public without an EFFECTIVE way to screen out mental deficiency. The movement gaining momentum now wants to ENSURE that anyone who acquires ownes or has access to a gun of any kind (defined above) is mentally capable to use it in a socially responsible way. It is the “greater good” concept.

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    • SouthBound
      7 years ago

      I agree that sensible gun control should be brought up to date for the world we live in today. More importantly though is mental health in this country and how to deal with it. No matter what you call a gun it’s still the person behind it that ultimately makes the choice to pull the trigger, if they never touch the trigger nothing will ever happen. When I was a kid we had a very odd and unstable person in our neighborhood that everyone knew owned guns and my parents asked our police chief if anything could be done about him, his answer was the real thing people should be worried about. He said “UNTIL HE HURTS HIMSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN DO”

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    • Aileen
      7 years ago

      This depressed individual would have gone into the building to save lives, I care far greater for others than myself, I have been trained in gun safety and operation, to calm you down I do not qualify nor do I own a gun. Don’t enter my home because there is a knife in every room. Knives can be known kill too. Making a big deal about the mentality ill will cause those experiencing problems not to seek help and not get on your list.

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      • SouthBound
        7 years ago

        So I guess we’ll just keep letting the mentally ill keep doing what they’re doing? Let’s face it sane people aren’t the ones doing these horrific acts. Making a big deal about the mentally ill will be in the form of family, friends, teachers or neighbors notifying authorities of so called RED FLAGS. I’m not sitting around waiting for the mentally ill to turn themselves in, our government and police need to act on such tips and address these individuals accordingly and not blow it off. Get them the help they need before they act out.

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        • Debora
          7 years ago

          How many times do they’ve to be Told? 36?

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        • Susa
          7 years ago

          Susa

          Not all mentally ill people are violent. In fact, most are not violent.

          Have you ever heard of EVIL? Yes, many people who commit violent acts are just plain EVIL.

          I worked in the mental health field for several years and rarely encountered a violent client. Nor was I ever attacked by one.

          Stop steteotyping people.

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          • Jeremy
            7 years ago

            As someone who has PTSD, MDD, and Schizoid Disorder (if you were in the mental health field you know what it is) I can tell you right now the school shootings are a mental issue, it is called being bullied and picked on and nobody will listen and things just escalate. I am not allowed to own a gun, not by law (because there is no mental health check for a gun) but my family and friends, they know what could happen if I had one.

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      • avordman
        7 years ago

        Please retransmit in English instead of psycho-babble…

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        • SouthBound
          7 years ago

          ?????HUH?????

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    • Virg
      7 years ago

      Yes yes yes …. Most all murders in the US are committed by pistols not scary looking guns…. You can make a 22 rifle look like a scary looking guns…… Maybe we should Dan all guns like China….. Then they will use other items to kill… The ban in Chinese has not reduced killing

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      • JC
        7 years ago

        The FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) for 2016 shows more than four times as many people were stabbed to death than were killed with rifles of any kind.

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      • Daniel
        7 years ago

        Also just cause guns r banned doesn’t mean criminals can’t get them.

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    • Billy From Tennessee
      7 years ago

      Hum 40,000 innocent lives taken by vehicles 13,000 by gun not all innocent lives either I guess what you are saying anyone who plans to drive on any given day should be screen out for mental deficiency this should also be included since this changes daily.

      Happy go lucky one day pissed off and upset the next because of a relationship gone bad and people do loose their minds yet still get behind a wheel which in turn is like a loaded gun.

      billhausser lets just don’t stop at guns if that is your point.

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    • Lynn
      7 years ago

      What they really want is to eliminate private ownership of firearms of any kind. They know they can’t get that in one bite, so they will keep biting a little at a time. Some people are fooled into believing that they will stop when they eliminate the AR type rifles, but they won’t.

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    • Rob
      7 years ago

      I agree with you about a social responsibility, but hey let’s start in Washington. Who decides what is mentally unfit go to California it means one thing go to South Carolina means something different BUT IT DOESN’T START WITH GUN CONTROL. Stiffer prison sentences if you give someone 20 years they do 20 no time for good behavior your in prison!!!!!!!!!!!

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    • Local house burgler 88
      7 years ago

      That may have been true, but unfortunately, the new protests like the march for our lives and such just wants to ban guns, as I’m sure you know as well. They are against the NRA, and the NRA wants only good sane people to have guns.

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  52. Gayle
    7 years ago

    I am a non-gun owner trying to inform myself about this issue and appreciate this informative article. I still have not understood why anyone would need a gun that shoots lots of bullets fast — which seems to be only for the purpose of killing lots of people, not hunting or self-defense — until someone mentioned their usefulness in killing feral hogs. Not many people need to do this, though, and I am thinking that there could be special permits for people who need to do this. Is there any other practical reason to own such a gun?

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    • Ray
      7 years ago

      The only real practical reason is recreation. People (including myself) just enjoy shooting different types of firearms. Some people play golf, some fish, ride ATVs, motorcycles etc. It’s just a fun time that many people do on a daily basis without harmful intent.

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    • Jason
      7 years ago

      https://youtu.be/6qhvBzZM1c8

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    • Brandon
      7 years ago

      Well to determine a practical reason you need to first think about why anybody would want a gun in the first place. For hunting, sure. For self defense, of course. But if you look at the second amendment, it was written specifically to allow citizens to protect themselves from a tyrannical government. When the bill of rights was written, the colonists had just completed a revolution against Britian (a tyrannical government) and they wanted to make sure it never happened again. That’s why citizens need these weapons.

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      • Lisa
        7 years ago

        Amen brother. Im seriously questioning mental health of many people in our govt. Lets face it, we have a party who said they woukd change the US, HAS changed the US, and WANTS to continue to change the US. Change it to what? Another research topic as facts are presented.

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      • Debora
        7 years ago

        That’s a fact!!

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    • Aileen
      7 years ago

      Any gun today the hand gun or rifle are mostly semi-auto. All this is a gun which shoots as rapidly as you can pull a trigger, even older guns of the West could be fan fired. Only difference is the intent of the person firing it. You might need a quick pull if you found yourself in the middle of a nest of snakes. Or maybe a deranged person firing at you. Need is subjective.

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    • Tyler
      7 years ago

      Maybe you need to expand your research and look at home invasions stopped by the owner with an AR platformed rifle. Numerous articles out there. They are indeed a self defense weapon. The faster you can rattle off bullets at some one trying to kill you the better chance you have of surviving.

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    • avordman
      7 years ago

      Special permits for ownership of fully automatic weapons already exist and no one ever owns a fully automatic firearm without these permits, just like no one ever breaks the speed limit or turns without signaling. Sorry, but there is no perfect/foolproof system.

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    • Floki
      7 years ago

      There are permit for such things. even in Arizona. To evan get a gun in Az you need to take around 10-15 Hr courses, pass safety tests get a licence,and then you can get your gun.

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    • Rob
      7 years ago

      Gayle
      So when someone is shooting lots of bullets very fast at me. Lol really Ar15s are sporting guns for plinking .I suggest going to your local gun range and shoot one. It’s a hugh stress relief but fyi a 12gage shot gun is far more dangerous than a AR15. If you load double 00 buck. It’s It’s multiple 32 rounds in one shot

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    • Local house burgler 88
      7 years ago

      Honestly you’re right, Gayle. The only need is recreational purposes, but they are illegal

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  53. David
    7 years ago

    Wonder what type of weapons Pelosi and her pals carry!! Lol

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    • Phaeros
      7 years ago

      Pelosi carries a .45, and has been seen at ranges with shotguns and rifles. As a matter of fact most of theese gun grabbing ass hats have firearms, many of them have ARs. Its that classic “i have it but nobody else should” crap

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  54. David
    7 years ago

    The highest crime rates in us r where u cannot carry handgun legally! ! There where more murders in Chicago than La. And new York City combined!! Everyone needs 2 wake up!!

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    • Bob
      7 years ago

      You can carry a gun in Chicago, your info may be outdated

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  55. David
    7 years ago

    I’m a former marine and hunter. The shotgun I use is semi automatic. Is this an assault weapon? Let Pelosi and her cronies spread their poison. It only helps us!!

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  56. David
    7 years ago

    As a former marine let’s get some things straight. I hunt with a shotgun that does not need pumped!! Let Pelosi and her leftist cronies keep spewing their poison. It only helps us with our cause! !

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  57. John
    7 years ago

    Melt snowflakes, melt. You will never get our guns.

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    • Mark
      7 years ago

      So this is your only contribution to the debate?

      You might as well not bothered.

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      • Mark
        7 years ago

        Lol, really? Not showing much of a vocabulary there sunshine! And devoid of any content at all.

        I grade this ‘must do better’, C- at best. Pretty poor showing really.

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        • John
          7 years ago

          Anything untrue in my statement? Didn’t think so. You can fantasize about getting our guns and our “assault weapons”, but it will never happen. Come to the table with a real solution, or just melt away. Either way, our guns are fine where they are, not committing any crimes.

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          • Stephen
            7 years ago

            John, don’t try to rationalize with these snowflakes. Who cares what they want. They are just pissed that Trump beat out their best. In all honesty, I would be too. They are doomed. LOLOLOLOL.

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        • John
          7 years ago

          Awww, sunshine. That’s sweet. I’m hurt by your C- grade, really. I think I’ll go shoot my AR (Assault Rifle, right?) in the backyard. You know, because I can and all.

          Sniff. Sniff.

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  58. Montie
    7 years ago

    You’re barking up the wrong tree………

    I read all the comments to this point and see that the gun is damned and the gun is defended.
    It’s the issue is incorrect!!!
    It’s a fact that ‘so-called’ assault weapons and weapons of mass destruction have been around since Ferdinand von Mannlicher introduced the semi-automatic rifle in 1885. From that time forward hundreds of new rifles, pistols and shotguns were introduced and many improvements (in rate of fire, capacity, etc.) were brought out. Since WWI there have been civilian versions of ‘assault ‘style’ weapons’ available to the public.
    YET…… there was no use of any of those weapons in ‘mass shootings’ prior to the first in August 1966. Since the capability was there for 70+ years without being used, that should make it very obvious, to anyone but an idiot, that it was not the availability of the ‘gun’ but the degradation and moral corruption of the human that is the root cause of the problem. If you deprive that type person of one method of killing, he will only come up with another. (vehicle, pressure cooker bomb, fire, knife, etc.)
    If kids were raised with discipline, responsibility, and respect instilled in them by their parents, like those raised prior to the 1960’s, we wouldn’t have the problems we are having today…. with NO chance of fixing the problem in the future.
    I’m in my 70’s and have watched the downfall of the American human over the years. A ‘good person’ comes from a good upbringing. A poor upbringing gives us what we have today.

    PS: The true ‘assault’ (automatic) weapons have been banned from open civilian sale since 1934. Any new banning laws will not be banning ‘assault weapons’.

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    • Nancy
      7 years ago

      I couldn’t have worded it better myself!!! Thank you Monty!!!

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      • Nancy
        7 years ago

        To clarify;
        Thank you for your comment Montie!
        And
        Thank you for this article, the firearms guide article author who ever you may be. I intend to share this article far and wide.
        Thank you again.

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      • Debora
        7 years ago

        Yes, thank you very much. Said very plainly. great!!!

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    • Richard Stein
      7 years ago

      Japan… no guns no violence

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      • Craig Tappe
        7 years ago

        Chicago…no guns…murder capital of the USA…Moron!

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        • Cory
          7 years ago

          Chicago is full of guns and violence…

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        • Tim
          7 years ago

          Chicago is not murder capital of US.

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        • Bob
          7 years ago

          What do you mean, no guns?

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        • Debora
          7 years ago

          There you go.

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          • Debora
            7 years ago

            Chicago–Toughest gun laws in country. Wonder who has them there.

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        • Debora
          7 years ago

          Right..

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      • Patrick
        7 years ago

        Bullshit, I lived in Japan for 5 years. There was violence of a different source yet violence none-the-less. Culture makes up for differences, not the availability of firearms. Your argument is not valid.

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      • David
        7 years ago

        Let’s be like hitler. Confiscate all legally owned guns!! U gotta b a leftist liberal! ! What a shame.

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      • JC
        7 years ago

        Switzerland . . . millions of guns no violence

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      • JC
        7 years ago

        Switzerland has millions of guns and similar violence levels to those of Japan..

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      • Bill
        7 years ago

        You are really really dumb

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      • Clair
        7 years ago

        You might want to fact check that, Richard Stein. Read up on the murder of Junko Furuta. Also the Japan knife attack and the Japan acid attacks.

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      • Floki
        7 years ago

        ya did you evan look at japan’s crime? just because there are no guns does not mean there is no crime. they may have a low crime rate but that is not the same as no crime at all.

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      • Local house burgler 88
        7 years ago

        Correction, no guns, no GUN violence.

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        • Local house burgler 88
          7 years ago

          But that would mean NO guns at ALL, which is about a possible in America as winning the lottery 12 times in one day and fucking Lindsay lowhan with a strap on.

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    • Pierre
      7 years ago

      It was the mass availability that changed everything, prior to that time, it was very difficult to obtain a large magazine holding rifle, whether it be auto or semi auto triggered. Kids with difficulties and loony intentions abounded prior to the 60s, they simply didn’t have the means to express their murderous tendencies and make the news. Today, they can do it for a few hundered bucks or less. Hey, they even get grants from the NRA as was the organization Cruz belonged to.

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      • Susa
        7 years ago

        Andrew Pollack’s daughter, Meadow, one of the Parkland victims was fatally shot nine times.
        Gun in the wrong hands = shooting victim.
        Better screening neefed. Klink, you idiot!

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    • JC
      7 years ago

      wiseone: Do you have an opinion on the issue of gun ownership?

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    • Wednesday Williams
      7 years ago

      AMEN!!

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    • Scarl
      7 years ago

      Montie is spot on; welcome to the fall. It is for this precise reason that gun ownership is so important of a right to safeguard. Crime in urban areas is on the rise and criminals do not care about gun laws, only dumb politicians and good guys do. Harding soft targets is a good start. Btw: the Ar-15 sucks for CQC scenarios. Think back to that gay bar in FL. One armed patron could have stopped that carnage. US gun owners will never accept nor comply with a scenario that played out in France with respect to gun ownership and the plummeting rate of gun ownership after draconian licensing rules. American gun owners are too of an entrenched political power (both parties know it) for any substantial change to occur to ownership laws. I hope so anyways. Good blog post.

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    • Buddy
      7 years ago

      Well said an couldn’t agree more.

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    • Chris
      7 years ago

      Montie times are changing. Shouldn’t the laws change with it?

      You just said American humans have been declining so why should we continue to be allowed to have weapons of mass destruction?

      A gun is a quick and easy method to kill someone. I rather a person have to research a home bomb and then correctly construct it than to simply point and pull a trigger.

      America has a history of valuing materials and lifestyle over the life of a living person.

      If you say you own a gun for security then maybe its time to move somewhere you feel better protected.

      And lastly, you mentioned of all the alternatives as a method of killing. The biggest difference between them and a gun is they all actually have a primary use that does not involve harming something or someone. Let’s ban a pressure cooker while we’re at it. If you do not have the time to cook it low and slow then you do not deserve to make it at all!

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  59. camper Bill
    7 years ago

    Interesting discussion? Some of you know what you’re talking about. Others…no clue.

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  60. Joanne
    7 years ago

    An AR-15 can fire 60-90 rounds in a minute. The NRA calls it a hunting rifle. What exactly is a shooter hunting that requires that capability?

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    • B.C.
      7 years ago

      the 2nd Amendment isn’t about hunting and the AR-15 can only fire 60-90 rounds per second if you can pull the trigger that quickly. Why do you get to decide that an AR-15 is deadly but the Ruger Mini-14 isn’t? Go research it

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      • Scott
        7 years ago

        Per minute not per second (typo).

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      • Richard Stein
        7 years ago

        Both should outlawed

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      • jim
        7 years ago

        Never fired a weapon,but agree about the ability to shoot that fast. Kind of misleading

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      • LAZER
        7 years ago

        That’s correct B.C.!!! The 2nd Amendment isn’t about hunting at all. If the idiots out there knew exactly why we had a 2nd Amendment, there would be no gun laws, restrictions or debates, because the reason is very clear, to defend us against a tyrannical government. All arguments for gun laws and restrictions are null and void!! Period, case closed. And if the people with these views were around during the American Revolution, we’d still be bowing to the king and queen!! Get smart people, learn the history of this country and enlighten yourself as to the exact reason why we have a 2nd Amendment. One quote comes to mind as I sum this up, “People Who Don’t Believe in Guns, Will Always be Subservient to People Who Do”!!!!

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        • Craig Tappe
          7 years ago

          Hey Lazer! Don’t confuse libtards with facts. It makes their pea little brains explode! That is why they do not listen to them.

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        • Lisa
          7 years ago

          I think you made an awesome point, to “learn the history of this country.” I’m 55 and it was taught in elementary and high school. Its my understanding it is no longer taught, so you have a bunch of empty minds walking around ready to take whatever whoever deposits. Clearly college campuses are all liberal professors brain washing the young and dumb, and we already have Nation of Islam being taught in elementary schools. Once upon a time it was prayer, scripture, and Pledge of Allegiance. People owned guns then too. The amount doesnt matter, considering most people only shoot one gun at a time. All things being equal concerning firearms available, the changes are obvious: totally different curriculum leaving out character building, removing God from schools , and now we are moving into mentioning His name is becoming politically incorrect, lack of the structured family unit, and now we begin on teaching both? All? Sexes that masculinity and maleness is undesirable and unacceptable. We already have Transexuals. How long before we bring back the eunich to minimize the amouht of public maleness, AND make life easier on women who consider a growing fetus to be some collection of unwanted cells, like cancer.
          I seem to have wandered. At any rate, i looked up this article to learn about semi-automatics since the world is talking about banning them. Now I know if they are banned it means fire, load, fire, load. Its a learning process, but my husband and I are getting educated, armed, and practiced asap. The world has turned upside down.

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          • TrueGrits
            7 years ago

            You are correct! I finally decided to retire at the age of 72 to pursue my dream of getting a PhD in American history. But first I had to get a B.A. in American history. I have a strange education which includes a B.S. in Finance at the undergraduate level and a minor in German at the graduate level since I was an exchange student at one time. Then I went to get my M.B.A. and to my surprise the cases were the one’s I did as an undergraduate so after three semesters I dropped out and got my tuition refunded. Then came the opportunity to pursue post-graduate studies in Finance and I took it (hard to refuse the Chairman of the Board!).

            So while I read history I have not been able to pursue my dream. Finally I could and I looked at the course outlines at a fair number of colleges. The 17th, 18th, 19th and first half of the 20th century seem not to exist. Neither do courses on the philosophers of the enlightenment. Yet we can trace our history from the Code of Hammurabi (18th century B.C.) through the Pentateuch, to the Constitution of the City of Athens (5th century B.C.), to the Roman Law, to the Magna Charta (1215 A.D.) to the English Bill of Rights (1688 A.D.) to the works of Rousseau, Locke, and others – all read by our founders and provided the foundation for our Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

            And “yes” my family emigrated to these shores in 1643 and fought in every war through Gulf 1. But not to know of our shared history is to be uneducated.

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        • Roswell
          7 years ago

          Lazar, Truer words have never been spoken. The first thing Dictators through out history do is disarm the population.

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        • Chris
          7 years ago

          So you really think your gun will make a difference to the government if they wanted to kill you? Your AR-15 will stop a tank that wants to blow up your home? Even if we all had machine guns do you really think that everyone would band together in an appropriate manner to defeat our government who spends trillions of dollars on military equipment? I would really like to know what you all really think.

          What about the military personnel we all praise and thank for their service? Do you think they will carry out the orders to kill American citizens? Your cousin in the military, would he kill innocent people on American soil? And let’s just say for the hell of it that he will…do you think you can outshoot him and his hours of military training?

          Let’s all hope that LAZER will protect us!!!!! It’s lazy to use an old outdated law/freedom to justify your wants. Kind of sound like slavery huh?

          The government is to smart to kill us by force, look around we do it ourselves by what we eat drink etc. We also do it by killing one another with rifles, handguns, shotguns you name it.

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          • Local house burgler 88
            7 years ago

            Because we have guns, the government would never try it

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      • daniel
        7 years ago

        ssssshhhhhhhhhhhh keep the m14 rancher out of discussion. i love it for target shooting coy dogs n other small game. plus love target shooting with it.

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    • Jacob
      7 years ago

      Most cars go over the speed limit, why buy a car with that capability? Just because it can doesn’t mean it’s used that way.

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      • TrueGrits
        7 years ago

        Surfire makes a 100 round stick magazine but it is really too big to be useful for sport or hunting. And I wonder what would happen to the barrel (not the right word) if the rifle were modified to fire full automatic. I think the heat would deform it.

        My brother who was an avid hunter and Federal Enforcement officer for more than 30 years always thought a magazine of more than 5 or 10 rounds was silly. He used one in early season to check the sights and one each to take two elk which he and his family ate. Why 5 or 10 rounds? Gutting an elk draws the apex predators and you need some personal protection if only a shot or two to run them off.

        So why buy a car that will go 100 mph? Beats me! Before they reduced all the speed limits I did drive over 100 mph. 65mp across the northern part of Texas was dangerous! The roads were too straight and it was easy to lose attention.

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      • Chris
        7 years ago

        Cars also take a very large investment to obtain. You can not just up and decide you will buy a car. For the majority of us, someone else has to approve our purchase.

        You don’t buy a car to hurt something or someone regardless of the car.

        Gun murders don’t just happen by accident.

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    • Phillip
      7 years ago

      I have a .22 remington rifle and I cold probably fire 30 to 40 rounds a minute. Is that an assault rifle. Now if I gave it to my mother she could probably fire about 20 rounds a minute. What about a pellet gun.

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    • Tommy
      7 years ago

      Personally, I use it in the hunting of wild hogs. I am on the ground, closely engaged with as many as 40 at a time. After the first shoot it is possible that they will charge me. Without semi-automatic fire and a mag full of rounds I would be subject to great harm. You may ask why I hunt this way. If you knew the issues with Texas farm and ranch lands being overrun with these harmful animals you wouldn’t have to ask why an AR-15 is needed.

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      • TrueGrits
        7 years ago

        I saw hog eradication in Texas from a helicopter. I could not believe how big the “groups” of hogs were; I paused the film and counted 40 and stopped. And seeing the size of the tusks on some of them, I would never hunt alone. That’s when you need a shooting buddy even if you shoot from a stand or move them into a pen.

        Yes, I also saw the damage they could do in a single night. Looks like a 100 acres or more.

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    • Ronald
      7 years ago

      Just because it’s capable doesn’t mean you need to ! Your car can go over 100 mph but most speed limits are Only 65-70 mph why do you need a car capable of going over 100 mph ! Get what I’m saying . It’s a people problem not a gun or mental health issue ! It’s time to start spanking your kids and teaching them respect and discipline again .

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      • Craig Tappe
        7 years ago

        Hey Ronald! Our inalienable rights are not subject to the question–“Yes, but do you really need it?” Who will determine the answer to that question for each individual? Apply that to freedom of the press, freedom of religion or any of the others in the Bill of Rights. DO we really “need” everything that is done under the protection of those amendments? It does not matter. “Need” is not even a consideration in any of our rights. I do what I do because I have a right to do it whether you or anyone else thinks I need to do so!

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      • TrueGrits
        7 years ago

        The psychologists have determined that a boy does not fully mature into manhood until he is about 23. The reason we did not have the problem prior to the end of the Vietnam War is, I think, simple.

        We had two things: Prior to WWII most of us lived on farms and hunted, did heavy chores etc. – and went to church. From WWII forward a number of things happened. First, IBM stood for I’ve been moved and the extended and immediate families dissolved. Second, the draft disappeared. It’s not war that made men of boys, it was the discipline of boot camp. For eight years I had season football tickets for Army. The transition in the “boys” as I knew my friends sons when they were in high school just to the second home game was eye opening. Manners, the way they stood and carried themselves and more all changed. Men making men out of boys.

        We need to change that. Yes, I am in favor of not allowing people under 21 from buying guns. Not using the, buying them. I learned on my Grandfather’s .22lr bolt action single shot rifle. I learned to handle it, clean it and finally shoot it. But I didn’t own it. There’s the difference. However if an 18 y/o has an honorable discharge from the military that should be sufficient regardless of age.

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    • Missy Carter
      7 years ago

      Wild Boars. Usually extremely heavy and it takes a lot of force, in a short period of time to take one down.

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    • cybr
      7 years ago

      The gun can shoot as fast as your finger can move. But no one shoots them that fast, they become WAY too inaccurate if you do.

      It is like a car. Why does anyone need a car that can go 120mph? Yet almost all cars can go that fast.

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    • Pierre
      7 years ago

      “What exactly is a shooter hunting that requires that capability?”
      Squirrels on espresso diets? 😀

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    • Patrick
      7 years ago

      How is that your business? There are plenty of semi-auto matic hunting rifles not labelled ‘AR’, yet liberals want to focus on ARs because they think they are “assault rifles”. FOOLS!

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    • Buddy
      7 years ago

      Joanne almost any semi automatic weapon can be fired that quickly as long as you have enough ammo I’ve seen someone fire three 10 round 9mm clips in 30 seconds.

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    • Debora
      7 years ago

      Johnny, what about self defense?

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  61. Billy From Tennessee
    7 years ago

    Before I critic school buses let me say this, school buses are still the safest mode of transportation than by car or any other means; with that said I submit this question to you.

    How many children are killed by school buses per year?

    What do you think one maybe two, perhaps it is less than 100 or maybe more than 100 (hundred) per year? Answer: sadly, it has averages as high as 130 lives per year, yet I hear no screaming to ban school buses. This exceeds death by guns at school’s by more than 85 percent.

    How about this question: How many lives does a gun save or protect per year?

    Answer; on average guns are used 2,5 million times a year in self-defense that is a whopping average of over 6,800 lives per day and if they did not have a gun these people would have been called victims or a tragic news story and in my opinion you know how your new people thrive on such stories.

    How many people die from alcohol related deaths per year?

    This number includes children and if you are thinking 250,000 that’s (two and fifty thousand) per year. Yet I hear no one attacking the alcohol industry.

    How many people are killed in automobile accidents in the US per year?

    During my research one number said on an average 1.3 million people are killed per year, and up to 50 million are maimed or crippled this number is unimaginable to me because that would be an average of 3,287 per day therefore I reject this number and keep my car. However, preliminary data shared from the National Safety Council suggest that as many as 40,000 people died in motor vehicles crashes in 2016 this number appears to be more realistic to me an acceptable number hence the saying casualties of war. This being an acceptable number casualties to comfort of our everyday living you won’t hear me yelling to take away our automobiles anytime soon and if guns saves an average of 6,800 lives per day why mess with our guns. What did someone say because that is what our government wants hence the hype and propaganda through the news media.

    It case you did not hear that is 40,000 lives by vehicles crashes and this includes the innocent. Now if we take this into consideration maybe some of you that don’t own guns; perhaps you are the one’s that should not own vehicles because what I have gathered motor vehicles are just as deadly as any weapon and perhaps more so. Research said in 2016, there were about 222 million licensed drivers in the United States and estimated number of firearms nationwide was around 357 million, With a population estimated to be around 317 million. Lets make this clear in 2015 some 13,000 people were shot and killed by firearms, some of them rightfully so, whereas the auto accidents did not distinguish the guilty from the innocent. There are more guns than the population of the Untied States and billions of cartridges and bullets fired daily yet more people are killed by automobiles and if we add cell phones to some of the cause that triggered the deaths cells phones are deadly because they have been know to cause the chain of events that have taken lives.

    So lets don’t stop at guns lets take a closer look at all you none gun owners who drive. So when would it stop say you take away our guns you will be next too many cars on the road need new restrictions no more eating or drinking of any kind no reaching for your items that slid from your seat to the floorboard, etc and only one car per household this should save about 30.000 lives per year.

    Here are some facts:

    1. People are also beaten to death every year by blunt objects this includes hammers, bats, flashlight etc and they are much more quiet too shall we ban them as well because they are silent and deadly. Oh wait in California you can no longer own a six-cell Mag flashlight and did this slow down the beating death hum not to my knowledge.

    2. On an average 200,000 women a year defend off would be attackers. Yeah women power it does my heart good to know this since I can’t always be around to protect my love one’s.

    3. Vermont, citizens can carry a firearm without getting permission, that is right without going through any kind of government-imposed waiting period and Vermont remains one of the top safest states and have received the “Safest State Award” on more than one occasion.

    There are to many facts to list why guns should stay in America don’t believe all the hype you hear from the news or the government learn to think for yourselves and quite being these brainwashed or brain-dead idiot’s because if you do your research guns saves lives it is a fact and I pray to God for you and gun owners alike may you never have a need or use for one and the old saying goes a gun in hand is better than a cop on the phone. It is a know fact 99 percent of the time a cop will show up to clean up the mess and take reports it is rare when they are there to help or save you in timely manner. The fact remains it is up to us to protect ourselves until help arrives or for the ones that can’t protect yourselves expect Calvary to arrive. Meaning time of anguish: a time of great suffering.

    May God be with you

    Billy From Tennessee

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    • John
      7 years ago

      Question: How many lives does a gun save or protect per year?
      Answer: Depends on who you listen to. The last CDC study estimated 105,000, not
      2,500,000. LOL

      Question: How many lives does a gun take in a year?
      Answer: In 2010, incidents in the U.S. involving firearms injured or killed more than
      105,000 Americans, of which there were twice as many nonfatal firearm-
      related injuries (73,505) than deaths.

      What you are calling facts are cherry picked facts that I see listed nowhere other than on Pro 2nd Amendment and Pro Gun websites. Then when I do find them I see no source for how they compiled the data. It may exist but I cannot readily find it.

      Oh and since you seemed intent on discussing School Buses. How many students from Sandy Hook, Columbine, Virginia Tech. and Stoneman Douglas have been killed by school buses?

      May God be with you too,

      John from Missouri

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      • TrueGrits
        7 years ago

        I am happy to see how you used your words: “injured or killed”. I have no idea where your numbers came from either. I think we would agree that one death is too many. But banning guns will not solve the problem.

        We have two separable issues: 1) Harden the schools or 2) Arm the schools. For 20 years I worked on the 25th floor of a 26 floor high rise with a heliport on the roof. We had fire drills. The alarm would go off FOLLOWED BY VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS AS WHAT TO DO AND WHERE THE FIRE WAS. It made no sense to send us on the 25th floor down the stairs if the fire was on the 15th floor. Wrong call; stay put. They needed that in that FL school – one sound for fire, one for an active shooter or other emergency. When the alarm was pulled it would activate a 911 call and an image on a screen from a camera. So we know where the problem is and what to do. Have you ever thought how a safe works: one lever moves three or more bolts into the door frame. Easy to put in a school with new classroom doors.

        Guns are a problem. Were is the problem relative to the gun? Though a properly armed person could fire even blanks and the shooter would likely run. I’m not against guns, I just don’t know how to effectively employ them on a campus of 47 acres. Or how to select people who will actually shoot to kill or could consistently shoot at 50 yards. But if teachers want to conceal carry, I would not oppose it. Where would women put a Glock 17?

        To protect a school like the one in FL might require 100 armed guards. One floor, two floors, some three floors or four. What would the guards do 99.999% or more of the time? I haven’t a clue.

        One problem with our schools is that they are simply too BIG!! I moved from a school with my graduating class to another where I was one of 468. A close community? No. Just a lot of cliques (in the positive sense). Then I went to school in Germany; my graduating class was 40; I knew everyone.

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    • David
      7 years ago

      U r right on all accounts! !

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    • Lisa
      7 years ago

      I believe the majority of gun related deaths in US are from suicide?

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    • TrueGrits
      7 years ago

      Well put. The death rate by car accident is about 43,000.

      CA banned six cell Mag-Lites; who cares. They take D cells and while I carry one in my car, you remind me to replace it with a lighter LED flash light and keep the 6 cell light in my bedroom for defense. Sounds nuts, but when a misguided fellow tried to rob me at knifepoint, I just broke one of his knees and 6 ribs.

      I have two problems: post-polio syndrome and DISH so I often walk with a staff – not a cane. Bending down to a cane is too painful. But a 5’4″ oak staff is both a good third leg and defensive weapon if you know how to use it. Someday I’ll get a gun but it’s not in the budget for now. If I buy it, I have to practice so where I live it is an expensive toy. Now if I move near my daughter on a homestead in NE TN I will definitely have a gun and dog. Coyote are an ever increasing problem.

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    • Debora
      7 years ago

      well said, Friend.

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  62. Renee Blare
    7 years ago

    It’s a design issue. Water guns can look like an AR15. The issue is in the mechanisms. How do they fire? Automatic vs. Semi – automatic not assault vs. Semi – assault. Getting the terminology right would help a lot in the debate

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    • Dave
      7 years ago

      Semi-assault. HAHA I like that one.

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    • Craig Tappe
      7 years ago

      Renee–Hearing a woman talk with such knowledge of guns makes me fall in love all over again.

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  63. Joan Of Arc
    7 years ago

    Split hairs over what to call these guns, I don’t care. We are not at war, boys and girls and if there is a ban on certain makes, models or whatever you want to call them, then so be it. And there will be, along with other measures that deal with gun safety (fingerprint technology), universal and enforced background checks and mental health safeguards. You’ll need to deal with having a few less guns. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you during your profound loss.

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    • Henry
      7 years ago

      Split hairs over the role of our government. Does the government regulate our rights as US citizens? Do we need permission from government to live our lives? Do we get our freedom from the government?

      This is the question. Has nothing to do with guns. If you don’t want guns in your life don’t get any. That simple. And stay out of mine.

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      • Rob
        7 years ago

        Henry, your attitude reflects the big problem and the standoff between 2 to 3 different groups across United States. The poster “Joan of Arc” and myself and many millions of others of People, can and have minded our own business for many years. However how many more public school shootings, concert Halls shootings Etc before there is policy 2 stop the sale of semi-automatic and automatic weapons, because evidently there are way too many out there legally and illegally as they find their way into the hands of evil or bad people.

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        • T
          7 years ago

          Automatic guns are not sold to the public. That is an absolute shitfaced lie told by one side of the political spectrum to enrage and rile up support for infringing on the second amendment (the only amendment to contain the phrase “shall not be infringed”).

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      • Phillip
        7 years ago

        Bravo Henry bravo. My sentiments exactly.

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      • John
        7 years ago

        Yes, the government does regulate our rights as US citizens. That is part of the social contract in being a citizen of any developed country. By my definition you don’t have freedom in the truest sense of the word, not as in unlimited freedom. You cannot drive your car over the speed limit, you cannot skip out on property taxes or income taxes, you cannot purchase a river, in many states you do not have mineral rights on your own land, etc….

        Actually I am a gun owner. I own a 12 gauge and four pistols. The guns are not assembled and their components are locked in two separate safes within my home. Breaking into one safe will get you the frames while breaking into the other will get you the cylinders, slides, magazines.

        What if the students at Stoneman Douglas didn’t want guns in their lives? Too late, eh? See when you are part of a developed country you cannot live as if you’re on your own island there are rules and laws that are designed to protect the citizens and it is the government’s primary duty to ensure these protections.

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      • Local house burgler 88
        7 years ago

        Yes, a few people in the government shouldn’t have control over individuals. That’s totalitarianism with a bigger controller.

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    • Be Informed
      7 years ago

      And there’s the second problem with this debate: people like you screaming for a change in laws without knowing what the existing laws are. Everything you mentioned is already in place, for all gun sales, not just the so called assault rifles. All of these things were completed for Cruz. He passed. He had not committed a felony, nor had he been found mentally unfit. It’s a tradgedy, but the reality of the world is we can’t control everything, no matter how hard we try. Terrible things happen to good people, and some days the bad guys win.

      The second problem with your argument is your assertion that we are not at war, implying we do not need guns unless we are. There are a variety of reasons why people have guns, and luckily for the rest of us, you do not get to decide when people should or should not have guns.

      Now here’s a wake up call. We will not have to deal with having fewer guns, thanks to a little thing called the Second Amendment. Our founders wisely put this in place to guarantee THE PEOPLE the right to possess arms in the event a tyrannical government formed. It says nothing about the type of weapon (in fact it was legal to own a canon at the time, and there were actually automatic weapons available during that time period, not to mention the average rifle was a .75 caliber, whereas anything over .50 is illegal today), and they were not talking about hunting or other everyday use. They wanted the people to be able to protect themselves. Considering the weapons available to our government, we need greater access, not less.

      Now, your personal objection to gun ownership means zero. The Second Amendment can only be changed by a majority vote of Congress AND the agreement of 38 states. And if such an attempt were made, it would result in a civil war. It’s a catch 22. People like me would view any effort to change the amendment as a threat of tyranny in itself and would act accordingly pursuant to the existing amendment. Oh and you might also look at it from the other side. Shootings like this often take place in gun free zones. If one of the good guys had had a gun, they could have shot the assailant and saved a lot of people.

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      • Matt B.
        7 years ago

        You should become a speech writer for all Presidents ! Thank you

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      • Richard Stein
        7 years ago

        Japan no guns no violence

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        • JC
          7 years ago

          Switzerland millions of guns no violence

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      • LAZER
        7 years ago

        Be Informed, I couldn’t agree with you more!! And I couldn’t have said it any better myself!! Way to go!! By the way, the founding fathers where pretty much opposed to having a centralized government for fear of it becoming to powerful!! And we see how that has turned out!!! And at that time it was also mandatory for every household to have a firearm in case there was a call to arms. And like it has been stated before, the 2nd amendment is there to protect all the other amendments!! There’s a reason it’s number two, it shows how important it was!!

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      • Ricky Andrea
        6 years ago

        This is the best post iv’e seen in the comments, Thank you!

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    • Keith
      7 years ago

      Fingerprint technology ! Obviously you don’t have personal protection . You will call 911 and they will arrive to help you after said felony has been committed 9/10. As for your silly fingerprint technology for a gun or personal protection . All technology fails if you have phone im sure you had to reset it before. If you want to be the sheep then so be it but use logic when debating whats best . All for common sense gun legislation but a person who whats to do harm will.

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    • Derick
      7 years ago

      It’s interesting that someone going by the name Joan of Arc would be so far off base for what she stood for. To be named for a peasant woman (read: civilian) who led a country in a fight against an invading foreign power and to be so willing to sacrifice the constitutional right of the people to do the same certainly seems at odds with itself.

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    • Cdat88
      7 years ago

      So you admit to having no idea about what you speak, but you blather on anyway. Got it. Tell me, could you tell the difference? No, that is already obvious. Would you know the capabilities even after you read the article? No, because you did not read it, you simply scrolled to the comments to get you CNN hot take posed.And as more people die in car accidents then you need to have fingerprint technology, enforced background checks and mental health safeguards (you will fail at least one of those, no doubt) because my gun is protected by law, your car is not.

      Idiot

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    • Matt B.
      7 years ago

      It’s Not splitting hairs ! It’s a Fact ! So get your facts straight ! I like the anology if why do you open a case that can go faster then the speed limit ?? Explain that please

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    • Phillip
      7 years ago

      Don’t think so Joan. And we are at war with democrat communists and their perverted media buddies who want to turn this country into a modern day China or Russia. If you want to live like the Chinese or Russians then move there. I don’t ever plan on giving up my firearms and your attitude towards the situation is disturbing.

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    • John
      7 years ago

      Go away.

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    • Lisa
      7 years ago

      Just wondering in what country you live? Last time I checked, the US is at war, and the enemy is already living here.

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  64. Wandawoman
    7 years ago

    I think everyone is missing the point. It doesn’t matter what you call the” gun”, it’s how many people it can kill in a minute. I vote for less than 10!

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    • S. Lawrence
      7 years ago

      Terminology matters when legislation is drawn up using it as a basis. In most cases, the limits to how many people a gun can kill is only limited to the person who is doing the killing.

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      • Steve S
        7 years ago

        was it specifically designed for killing other humans? than it’s an assault weapon.

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    • Be Informed
      7 years ago

      That would effectively eliminate virtually every gun in existence. However, the gun is not the problem. There are many other options that could be used to kill more than 10 people in a minute. It is the knowledge, skill, and intent of an individual that can result in killing, and those things you cannot control. A skilled archer could kill more people with a bow and arrow made from things available in his back yard. I could kill a rather large crowd of people with things that can be found on the cleaning aisle at Walmart. Sorry to burst your bubble, but people killed people long before guns were invented, and they will continue to do so when they have become obsolete. Welcome to the real world.

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    • Local house burgler 88
      7 years ago

      Then u dead

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  65. Mark
    7 years ago

    “short, compact, selective-fire weapons that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between submachine gun and rifle cartridges.”

    This is the US ARMY definition of an Assault Rifle.

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  66. Roger
    7 years ago

    At one time my WWI bolt-action Springfield O3 A3 could be considered an assault rifle but not anymore. Times change.

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    • Derick
      7 years ago

      the muzzle loaders like the Brown Bess and the Springfield model 1861 were also “military” weapons… assault weapons of their own time

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  67. Linda Parrish
    7 years ago

    No such thing as ASSAULT rifles!!!
    Assault is an action! A rifle is an inanimate object and can not perform an action, like assault!
    People commit assaults using any number of items! A rifle, a hand gun, a knife, a fork, a fist, a spiked high heel shoe, a car, a pressure cooker, a baseball bat and so on……..can be used to assault some one!!

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    • JOHAN
      7 years ago

      YEAH, AND SPACE SHUTTLES DO NOT GO TO SPACE, PEOPLE DO!!!! HOWEVER; SURE DOES MAKE IT EASIER TO GET THERE!!

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      • Be Informed
        7 years ago

        Apples and oranges. Thus far our means of getting to space are limited and are not readily available to the average person. Eliminating space shuttles would greatly hamper any effort to go to space. The same cannot be said for guns. Even completely eliminating guns would not significantly affect the efforts of a person bent on killing. Equally effective weapons are everywhere, from your home to your yard to your local Walmart. People could not go into space before certain technology was invented, but people have been killing people for their entire history.

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        • Ya, Sure
          7 years ago

          This is a piece of crap argument. There are mentally unstable people all over the world. When a guy in Europe snaps and tries to kill a bunch of people, he gets as far as about one person with his claw hammer before he’s tackled to the ground. You’re making it way, way too easy for an incredible amount of damage to be done in a ridiculously short amount of time. Plain and simple. The blood is on your hands and you back it up with some of the most childish logic imaginable.

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          • Disinformation from the ignorant
            7 years ago

            Are you that aloof? Nothing you said is correct it is just wishful thinking. We had an attack by a knife wielding man that killed over 30. The 9/11 attackers weren’t tackled. The various attacks in the UK, Germany and France have all featured terrorists that were not tackled for quite some time. Take your appeal to emotion and illogical “blood is on your hands” back to nursery school. If these weapons were being carried in great abundance as you fear, there would be a lot of people shooting back at such an attacker.

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          • Les Mied
            7 years ago

            Except that already happened with a van on a bridge and a lot were hurt or killed.

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    • Gage Goodwin
      7 years ago

      You are actually stupid.

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      • Garland Remington III
        7 years ago

        You reply with that, and that’s it? That’s how a Emotionally immature person talks. Teenager. You just revealed a tremendous amount about your lack of intellect.

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    • Craig
      7 years ago

      Agree…Assault is an action by a Human.

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    • jim92065
      7 years ago

      “Assault” can be an adjective, just like with “running shoes” or “race car.” “Assault rifle” has a specific definition, as the article states, but no privately owned assault rifle has ever been used in a mass shooting in the US. This silly argument about “assault is a verb” does nothing productive for our side. In fact, it does just the opposite. That being said, there is no such thing as an “assault weapon.” That term is completely meaningless.

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  68. speakittrue
    7 years ago

    Gun Control is needed….period

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    • JESUS 1
      7 years ago

      No stupid people control is needed!

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    • Be Informed
      7 years ago

      Can you please define what you mean by gun control? What would you add to the existing laws, and how do you think it would change things?

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    • Garland Remington III
      7 years ago

      What is gun control to you? Please list actual law or laws. Numerical or alphabetical.

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      • julian
        7 years ago

        Yep. When you get down to actually defining it then the problems begin. What will work? What might work? What dosen’t and won’t work. What can be abused? Not so easy when you actually try to do it, is it? Want a better solution? Let’s see if we can’t do a better job of socializing our kids, from infancy through teen years. That would solve a lot of problems.

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        • L
          7 years ago

          How about we look at what works in other countries where there is minimal gun violence, particularly countries which are closest to america’s “Frontier” mentality, which would probably be Australia.

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    • Frank
      7 years ago

      There’s no such thing as gun control. The government will need guns to take away guns from the public. Therefore the only people with guns will be the government. If you’ll do a little research on how well that worked out in history, even people as stupid as you should realize that every country in the world that had so called gun control ended up killing millions of thier law abiding citizens. Fact !

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      • Richard Stein
        7 years ago

        Fact… no guns in Japan… no violence

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        • JC
          7 years ago

          Fact . . . millions of guns in Switzerland . . . no violence

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          • L
            7 years ago

            Fact. Different gun legislation in Switzerland and mandatory military service

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            • JC
              7 years ago

              Good point, L!

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    • Kirsten
      7 years ago

      True that! Wake up America!

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    • Montie
      7 years ago

      You’re barking up the wrong tree………

      I read all the comments to this point and see that the gun is damned and the gun is defended.
      It’s the issue is incorrect!!!
      It’s a fact that ‘so-called’ assault weapons and weapons of mass destruction have been around since Ferdinand von Mannlicher introduced the semi-automatic rifle in 1885. From that time forward hundreds of new rifles, pistols and shotguns were introduced and many improvements (in rate of fire, capacity, etc.) were brought out. Since WWI there have been civilian versions of ‘assault ‘style’ weapons’ available to the public.
      YET…… there was no use of any of those weapons in ‘mass shootings’ prior to the first in August 1966. Since the capability was there for 70+ years without being used, that should make it very obvious, to anyone but an idiot, that it was not the availability of the ‘gun’ but the degradation and moral corruption of the human that is the root cause of the problem. If you deprive that type person of one method of killing, he will only come up with another. (vehicle, pressure cooker bomb, fire, knife, etc.)
      If kids were raised with discipline, responsibility, and respect instilled in them by their parents, like those raised prior to the 1960’s, we wouldn’t have the problems we are having today…. with NO chance of fixing the problem in the future.
      I’m in my 70’s and have watched the downfall of the American human over the years. A ‘good person’ comes from a good upbringing. A poor upbringing gives us what we have today.
      ‘PEOPLE CONTROL’ is needed………..

      PS: The true ‘assault’ (automatic) weapons have been banned from open civilian sale since 1934. Any new banning laws will not be banning ‘assault weapons’.

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  69. Libtroll
    7 years ago

    Any rifle used to commit assault is an assault rifle.

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    • Common Sense
      7 years ago

      So by your definition we have cars and assault cars. And I guess any time a lamp is used in assault, it becomes an assault lamp. Perhaps we should limit the sale of lamps to cut down on domestic violence.

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    • Local house burgler 88
      7 years ago

      No, it is assault by rifle, an assault rifle is its own thing. If you run in converse that doesn’t make them running shoes, running shoes is it’s own thing.

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  70. George
    7 years ago

    Machine Guns can be obtained for civilian ownership, however they come at at price of around $15,000 to $100,000+. There is no required permit or license required to own a machine gun however the purchaser is required to submit an atf form 5320.4 and also submit to an extensive FBI Background Check which usually takes 12-18 months. Upon approval they are issued what is called a “Tax Stamp” and must keep a copy of said stamp with the rifle at all times. After receiving the stamp the purchaser is then required to fill out an ATF form 4473 and submit to yet another background check. They can at this time take possession of the firearm. The high price for “Machine Guns” is due to the fact that there is a Limited quantity. You see Machine Guns can only be purchased by civilians if they were Manufactured prior to the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1986. This means that no Machinegun manufactured after 1986 can be owned by a Civilian.

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    • Local house burgler 88
      7 years ago

      And they’re illegal if you don’t have all of that stuff.

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  71. Dawne
    7 years ago

    Why so stuck on the symantics…like this is a game of words rather than ehat the real problem is….Mental health is more the issue with gun violence…but that’s a lot of a different type of symantics!

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    • Heidi
      7 years ago

      This is not semantics, it’s facts and information that people are basing opinions on, and cannot speak to them with any intelligence if they are just regurgitating what some idiot politician is feeding them. Education is key in having any reputable argument!!!

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      • Carl Mitchell
        7 years ago

        Fully automatic handheld machine guns (keeps shooting until the trigger is released) were banned in 1934 from civilian ownership to keep the Thompson sub-machine gun out of the hands of the Mafia and other criminals. Special license permits are controlled for them and the U.S. Government knows who they permitted and where they and the gun is located. No one can legally buy one off the rack because they are not available to buy off the rack.

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    • Be Informed
      7 years ago

      While mental health is a serious issue that needs greater attention as a whole, you can’t characterize it as THE issue any more than we can say specific guns are THE issue. Gun violence is a broad topic with a number of contributing factors and varying conditions. There is no single cause, and therefore there is no single solution. Additionally, if people were to suddenly switch their focus to mental health as the main cause, we would end up with the same kind of misguided, reactionary
      outcry as we now have for gun control. Every person taking an antidepressant or anti-anxiety med would become a suspect and a target for having their rights trampled.

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      • julian
        7 years ago

        And the “mental health” “solution” is fraught with potential issues as well. The potential for abuse is great. Exactly how do you define it in this situation, and what is the process? Again, not so easy when you actually try to write down the details.

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  72. Marcie
    7 years ago

    I learned a lot from this, thanks for sharing!

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    • weedsinfrederick
      7 years ago

      This guy is misleading everyone. The definition of an Assault Weapon in this article is inconsistent with the definition in the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994. In that, semi-automatics are included, such as the AR-15. The author should recognize that fact and discuss in the article for full disclosure and understanding.here

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      • S. Lawrence
        7 years ago

        The Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 was a political document that arbitrarily defines specific firearms as being “assault weapons”. Read it in detail. Terminology was used such as “if the weapon looks dangerous” it would be classified as an “assault weapon”. There was nothing technological or sensible about that legislation. It was knee-jerk reaction piece of legislation just like everyone is proposing now. Information is more important than emotions.

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        • julian
          7 years ago

          And there really is not much functional difference between a semi-automatic rifle and any so called “automatic” hand gun. Even the military 1911A1 45 “automatic” is a semi-automatic weapon as are Glocks and all the rest. One trigger pull, one round. So, if you are going to define automatic or assault as you like, even as a bill was drafted, you will remove all of them. Of course i’m sure some would like that. Even a revolver is a “semi-automatic”. It just does not hold many rounds.

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        • Tim Howe
          7 years ago

          Information, right! How about it, lets have some truthful information here for a change. I support guns and the right to own guns, BUT an assault rifle is any rifle that can be easily reconfigured not with just a switch from single shot to semi auto to full auto(period). Any gun owner can obtain what is needed and skillfully alter their AR15 or any other legally sold ASSAULT rifle in mere minutes. We have the US armed services for our protection already, hand guns, hunting rifles(not assault rifles, if you cannot get Bambi’s mom or dad in one shot, maybe you not a very good hunter) and shotguns are enough resources for any American. You want more protection and feel you need an assault rifle in your hands to protect your family, join the military, they will give you one to use while in service of our great nation.

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          • S. Lawrence
            7 years ago

            I’m not sure what point you are trying to make, Tim. An AR15 is NOT and assault rifle. The talk in DC right now is about banning the AR15 in wake of the Florida tragedy. But the AR15 is no more dangerous than most any other firearm so banning them would do nothing to curb gun violence.

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          • James
            7 years ago

            When’s the last time the armed services showed up at your house when you were being robbed at gunpoint????

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          • Local house burgler 88
            7 years ago

            If it was easy to turn an ar-15 into a fully automatic assault rifle,(which it still wouldn’t be because it’s still an ar-15) then everyone would do it. It’s not easy. Go through the comments and some will explain how hard it would be to do it. Sorry.

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  73. JC
    7 years ago

    Thanks for a really clear, concise explanation surrounding the term “assault rifle.” I am a 70-year-old woman who has never even TOUCHED a gun – though not through any aversion to them . It’s merely that my life’s experience has never put me in a position to do so. My son was a captain in the US Army, and remains a gun owner to this day. And I firmly believe in the right to bear arms (although fully automatic rifles in the hands of civilians are a far reach for me, just as a tank would be – but I’m willing to be open-minded and continue learning truth even about that topic).

    Actually, truth-seeking is how I came across this excellent article. I have become tired of attempting to separate out the truth from the politically-motivated, slanted “news coverage” available now. If you recall, many news outlets actually ADMITTED their culpability on that score during the last election (though many – to their shame – have STILL not done so, and probably never will). I very seldom accept anything I hear verbatim anymore, since virtually no news source even attempts to hide its impartiality (with the possible exception of the Washington Times – we subscribed to the weekly version IN DESPERATION and it has often been very helpful to this “truth-seeker”).

    How sad that the politics of personal destruction seems to have overtaken our country. What I mean is “If you disagree with me, you’re not only wrong, but evil!” And, of course, the “end” (that is, defeating that perceived “evil”) supposedly justifies dishonest means: actual TRUTH be damned.

    Thus the atmosphere of hatred created by megalomaniacs. And the substitution of opinions for facts in news broadcasts/papers, as well as biased selectivity as to which “news” stories to cover in the first place.

    The Florida school shooting coverage again sent me looking for what was true. Thanks so much for providing it!

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    • EJ
      7 years ago

      Amen, JC!

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    • julian
      7 years ago

      That raises an interesting and important point, though unrelated. If Russia has been seeking to disrupt our country and has actively worked at it through social media as well as other methods, then they have done a pretty good job. Just look at us. We are doing just what they want us to, attack and destroy each other and save them the trouble. By the way, this is not new. Russia has been meddling in our lives since at least the 1930s and 40s. They infiltrated everything from school boards, to PTAs, to labor unions and everything else they could. Look up the trial of the top communist party leaders in the late 1940s, and they were usually controlled by Russia.

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      • JC
        7 years ago

        I agree that Russian meddling has resulted in disruption of our society, Julian. Whether we like Trump or not, we should be concerned that we have people out there refusing to accept the CONSTITUTIONALLY VALID election of a president!

        It is provable that DURING the election the Russians held rallies, etc.against Hillary Clinton (the PRESUMED winner). But AFTER the election they did the same against Donald Trump (the ACTUAL winner). Thus proving that their interference was not aimed at electing one candidate or the other, but rather at sowing the seeds of dissension among the American people.

        Unfortunately, their efforts have yielded a tremendous success!

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    • S. Lawrence
      7 years ago

      We appreciate your feedback and we’re happy to see people are learning from our website.

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  74. Kevin
    7 years ago

    So an M16A2 or an M16A4 wouldn’t be an assault rifle because it cannot be fired on fully-automatic mode?

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    • Kevin
      7 years ago

      Never mind. Burst-fire is apparently considered fully automatic for the purpose of defining an assault rifle.

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    • George
      7 years ago

      An M16 , M16A1, M16A2, M16A3 etc is a select fire rifle meaning it is a Machine Gun Capable of firing in full auto modes. The M16 is made for Military use and is not readily available to the public. However they can be obtained for civilian ownership at at price of $20,000 to $35,000. The purchaser is required to submit an atf form 5320.4 and submit to an extensive FBI Background Check which usually takes 12-18 months. Upon approval they are issued what is called a “Tax Stamp” and must keep a copy of said stamp with the rifle at all times. The high price for “Machine Guns” is due to the fact that there is a Limited quantity. You see Machine Guns can only be purchased by civilians if they were Manufactured prior to the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1986. This means that no Machinegun manufactured after 1986 can be owned by a Civilian.

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      • David
        7 years ago

        The current m16 is semi or 3 round burst. Not a machine gun. But any semi automatic rifle can b made automatic! !

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  75. M2MikeGolf
    7 years ago

    I disagree completely with the premise of this article, but not the subject. The US Military does not have a rifle or carbine in its inventory with the nomenclature of “assault rifle”. It never has, not even the M-16 or M-4. The term is used by civilians, most often by liberals as a way of providing a good old fashioned term to invoke bias and discrimination. It is a term that the Democrats used to describe the AK-47 in the 90s as a way of vilifying them, and getting bills passed to make them illegal. They were successful in some ways, and so they have stuck to this term, which has even confused gun aficionados. The tern itself is a rough translation of the German words “Sturm Gewher” for assault weapon, supposedly (but unconfirmed) label led by none other than Hitler. The rifle itself, by design, became the model for the modern day combat rifle. Like all military arms in history, it became popular with civilian gun enthusiasts. Full auto versus semi automatic capabilities have very little to do with it at all, actually.

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    • Kevin
      7 years ago

      https://www.heckler-koch.com/en/products/military/assault-rifles.html

      Heckler & Koch disagrees with you

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    • Rick
      7 years ago

      M2Mike….you are confusing “assault rifle” (a real, defined, military term) with “assault weapon” (libtard/media made-up term to confuse the masses)…hope that helps

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      • Chris
        7 years ago

        No US military manual I ever read had the term “assault rifle” or “assault weapon”. The M-16 and M-4 are both classified as “A magazine fed, air cooled, shoulder fired, select fire weapon.” They are also known as Small Arms. I served 15 years in the USAF and have friends from all branches. They include infantry guys and Green Berets. We never saw them described as “assault” anything.

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        • Taylor
          7 years ago

          Agreed. I liked the article, but once I came across the M4 part, I got a little skeptic of the rest of it. Current security forces here. The M4 Carbine does not fire fully automatic….at most, 1-3 round bursts. Not to be confused with the M4A1…..which isn’t what we carry, but can be selected to fire fully automatic

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          • S. Lawrence
            7 years ago

            Thanks for your feedback. The article has been adjusted thanks to your input. To be clear, “assault rifle” and “assault weapon” are both really political terms not descriptive ones. But since they are the terms being used by the media to attack the second amendment, the author wrote this in an effort to clarify and educate.

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            • JC
              7 years ago

              Thanks for continuing to clarify and speak truth!

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  76. Bork
    7 years ago

    Mirriam Webster Definition of assault rifle
    : any of various intermediate-range, magazine-fed military rifles (such as the AK-47) that can be set for automatic or semiautomatic fire; also : a rifle that resembles a military assault rifle but is designed to allow only semiautomatic fire

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    • Jay
      7 years ago

      That is the definition that was updated as of this month. Meaning: that definition is completely new and potentially part of some agenda. Look at definitions before just this month. Such as “rapid fire, automatic rifle designed for military use.” Which was used before this month of February, 2018.

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    • Vzon
      7 years ago

      You beat me to it. I was going to use the M-W definition also. I actually carried the real AR in combat. Guess how many times I fired it in full auto. Notta! Ammunition management. Every DI I know preaches that. 3 round burst fire max. So in my opinion the Bushmaster XM-15 QRC is an assault rifle, even though it is incapable of firing full auto.

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  77. Steve
    7 years ago

    Just a fyi … do your research before posting :
    F in F150/250/350 = Fleetline
    E in E150/250/350 = Econoline
    Dont understand your logic ?

    An AR-15 is the designation of the company Armalite Rifles that made it … My FED ARMS .223 is Not an AR but rather a .223 / .556 caliber semi auto rifle NOT made by Armalite , so as you ASSUME what F Stands for in the ford models , your no smarter than the people ASSUMING that F= FORD !
    Whats Chevys designation for their trucks
    C1500 / K1500
    C2500 / K2500
    C3500 / K3500
    In the early 70’s they had K models
    Those were due to 2wd or 4wd applications
    Never seen a chevy spelled with a K !
    Lets all do our due dilligence before making ASSUMPTIONS , because this is why people think an AR-15 is just an ASSAULT RIFLE !!

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    • Not_Steve
      7 years ago

      Whoa, relax dude. He noted that he wasn’t sure if the F is for Ford? At least he was trying to help people understand instead of shitting on them for making a mistake.

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    • BatsonDBelfrey
      7 years ago

      He didn’t make any assumptions, did you actually read the article? He even admitted he wasn’t sure what the F in F150 meant. Why are you splitting hairs with this guy, you’re on the same side here. If you want to pick a fight, then go pick it with someone who wants to take your right to own ANY firearm. Pick your battles wisely,

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    • Mark
      7 years ago

      Irony comes in many forms. How ironic someone would think such that.

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    • Jimmy
      7 years ago

      You’re*

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    • Not the FBI
      7 years ago

      Looks like someone’s got tunnel vision. You’re stuck on details that have no bearing and you missed the whole picture.

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  78. Michael Dunn
    7 years ago

    So a 5.56 is used to hunt humans? Because many of of the AR15 owners sure don’t shoot coyote or varmits.

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    • Manuel
      7 years ago

      I’m sorry, there are a lot of hunters using the .223 caliber for coyote here in michigan, it is the #1 caliber for it, we can use it here at night for the hunts.

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      • Allison
        7 years ago

        It’s great for hunting feral hogs!

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    • Ray
      7 years ago

      Fire extinguishers could easily be used to assault and kill people if you wanted. However a very small amount of people do that. Just most of the owners keep them stashed under a sink in the kitchen for protection. Should we ban fire extinguishers ?

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      • JOHAN
        7 years ago

        WOW!!! PEOPLE DIE SOMETIMES HAVING SURGERY!!! GUESS WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW SURGERY EITHER. ONCE A GUY ATTACKED ANOTHER WITH A SALT SHAKER. NOW MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS LOW AND MY ARTERIES ARE SOFT. COME ON MAN! TERRIBLE TERRIBLE COMPARISON, YOU CANT BE REAL, RIGHT?

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  79. Michael
    7 years ago

    So a 5.56 is used to hunt humans? Because many of of the AR15 owners sure don’t shoot coyote or varmits.

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    • Norman
      7 years ago

      Ruger mini 14 …
      .223
      Semi auto
      Available with 5,20 or 30 rd Mag.
      All same as AR-15 but the mini14 looks like a hunting rifle and is exactly the same thing as a AR-15

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      • Allison
        7 years ago

        Also the m1 garand looks just like a hunting rifle and it was used during WW II and the Korean War. I would like to know if people would consider that as an assault rifle. LMAO!

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  80. Dan
    8 years ago

    The M4 and AR type rifles use a relatively weak cartridge the 5.56 aka .223. The bullet size is similar to a 22 cal but with a full metal jacket. The round is considered too light for hunting anything but small game and varmints (ie Coyotes and other small predatory animals). The minimum size for hunting in most western states in the US is the .243 (a bit bigger cartridge than the .223), but for big game most consider the .270 the minimum cartridge size (quite a bit bigger cartridge/case with a heavier bullet than the .223 can fire). The most popular hunting cartridge is the .30-06 (also a former military round) which dwarfs the .223 in size and power. An M4/M16 is effective out to about 300 meters open sights. The .30-06 is good out to about 800 meters and further if you know how to use it. Sniper rifles in the US military are generally bolt action .30 caliber or above (like the .30-06).

    The reason the AR style rifles are popular is that the ammo is cheap and light. In the Army we were taught that the M16/M4 was great at wounding the enemy and a wounded enemy takes two people to carry so the weapon system is designed to injure more than kill. That being said, ANY gun can kill large numbers of people in the hands of a determined murderous person. Just like any ax or a machete or bomb can kill large numbers of people. So can a madman in a car or truck. The idea that guns are to blame is ludicrous.

    The gun is a tool for hunting, sports such as target shooting, or for defensive purposes. Certain people can misuse guns. Certain people can misuse household cleaners and make nasty things out of them that can kill far more people than a gun. Certain people need help and we as a society need to do a better job in providing that help. You can blame guns for all of this but you’d be wrong.

    ReplyCancel
    • Doc
      7 years ago

      No but you can blame those who allow guns to be purchased by people who should not own guns. Guns don’t kill people, but people with guns do kill people. You state that ” certain people can misuse guns.” And they do. Laws need to be changed to try to limit those ” certain people” from buying guns. A simple vetting and background check of the latest shooter may have prevented him from legally purchasing a gun and large capacity clips. Yes the gun was sold legally, based on current Federal and Florida law. Perhaps the law needs to be changed?

      ReplyCancel
      • Be Informed
        7 years ago

        Doc, what specifically would you change? I will be kind and warn you this is a loaded question, no pun intended. And because I’m in a really generous mood, I would suggest you look up Fl gun laws before responding. That way you won’t make the mistake you did here, posting without knowing the facts.

        ReplyCancel
      • julian
        7 years ago

        Fine, let’s see the specific details you have in mind so we can discuss them. It isn’t so simple when you get to the nitty gritty.

        ReplyCancel
    • Lori
      7 years ago

      In response to your last paragraph.

      Eugene Stoner, an ex-marine and the rifle’s inventor, never used his AR-15 for sport, kept it for personal defense, or even owned one. His family said he made millions by using his design, but only for military sales.

      “After many conversations with him, we feel his intent was that he designed it as a military rifle,” Stoner’s family explained, saying that their father wanted to make the “most efficient and superior rifle possible for the military.”

      ReplyCancel
  81. ROCKLOKSH IPS
    8 years ago

    ROCK LOKESH IPS
    M4 is awesome gun in the world
    Cant even imagine the power of the
    M4………………………………….

    ReplyCancel
  82. David
    9 years ago

    The AR-15 IS, for all practical purposes a semi-automatic assault rifle particularly because of the magazine load capacity. In fact, in military basic training AND actual firefights, combatants are trained to use semi-automatic so as not to exhaust the entire magazine within seconds. It also enables the combatants to stay in the fight longer and be more precise. Good article though.

    ReplyCancel
    • Michael Seikel
      8 years ago

      Semi- auto weapon is not an assault weapon.
      Practical purposes or otherwise.

      ReplyCancel
      • Doc
        7 years ago

        From the main article , the writer states that a fully automatic rifle, an “assault rifle”can fire 700-900 rounds per minute. He also states that an AR-15 and other rifles based on the the AR 15 platform fire 60-70 rounds per minute, when set in semi-automatic mode. He also states that the AR-15 and similar rifles are mere hunting rifles. Assuming his statement and numbers are true and correct, does anyone hunt in semi-automatic mode and if so what type of game? I acknowledge and agree with the writer that the AR -15 and similar rifles cannot be assault rifles because they cannot fire in automatic mode. Accepting that definition, I am just curious to know if anyone else thinks that we are talking potatoes versus po -ta-a toes? Granted , you arguably can shoot a lot of people with 700 rounds per minute than a mere 60 rounds per minute, but in a reasonably close quarters like a school does it really make a difference? Either way semi-automatic mode can kill more people per minute than a bolt action single shot rifle or a double barrel shotgun. Begs the question, if no civilian uses an AR-15 type rifle in semi-automatic mode to hunt, then can’t we just eliminate AR-15 platform rifles with semi-automatic mode ?

        ReplyCancel
        • Be Informed
          7 years ago

          Doc, you’re premise is flawed. Hunting is not the only reason to own a gun. I’ll dispense with listing the many other reasons and just focus on the one I think is the most reasonable justification for having the right to own a semi-auto: self defense. Whether defending myself against an intruder in my home or a tyrannical government (the reason the Founders penned the Second Amendment) I want to be the one holding the superior weapon, defined as the one that provides me personally with the best chance of taking out my target before he hurts me or my family. For some people, the AR-15 has attributes that make it the best choice; it’s lighter weight, has less recoil, etc. I actually prefer handguns as I tend to have greater accuracy, but I should have the choice.

          We have developed this tendency, as a society, to give greater weight to preventing the actions of a small percentage of the population at the expense of eroding the rights of the majority. Benjamin Franklin said those who give up Freedom to achieve safety deserve neither. While I support preventing those who’ve committed a felony or been deemed mentally unfit from obtaining guns, I think the rest of us should be able to own any damn thing we choose, and we should not have to explain or justify it.

          ReplyCancel
    • Dan
      8 years ago

      David,

      The magazine is not actually part of the rifle and so has no bearing on it being an “assault” weapon. There are more 22 long rifle caliber plinking rifles that have 50+ round mags but they are hardly worthy of being designated anything more than target or practice rifles. The term assault rifle is used most commonly for fully automatic/burst auto rifles which excludes all AR-15 type rifles since they lack the ability to go full auto. There are semi auto hunting rifles that are far more lethal than the little .223 aka 5.56 AR-15 round. one of the nastiest rounds in terms of lethality, is actually a .60 caliber muzzle loaded ball.

      My point is that magazine capacity has little effect on a rifle. As a trained soldier I can have 10 – 10 round mags or 5- 20 round mags and it would have 0 impact on my overall rate of fire. I woud be able to shoot all 100 rounds with almost no difference in time. If I used a WWII rifle that telied on stripper clips and a bolt and I trained with it my time to deliver 100 rounds would not have much change- yes a bit slower due to the clips being somewhat more of a hassle to drop in but with practice I would do just fine.

      The other point is that someone with a semi auto or pump shotgun has a far more deadly weapon at hand than someone with a so-called assault rifle.

      Assault is something people do to each other. A knife used in an assault is an assault knife. An ax used in an assault is an assault ax. And so on and so on. The person engaging in vioence should be the bigger concern not the tool used.

      ReplyCancel
      • S. Lawrence
        8 years ago

        Well said, Dan, thanks for the support.

        ReplyCancel
      • Randall
        7 years ago

        So, since the shooter used the rifle to assault people, the rifle he used was indeed, an assault rifle? Just going by your last paragraph.

        ReplyCancel
        • Dylan W.
          7 years ago

          A woman was once charged and convicted of “assault with a weapon” after she beat her husband bloody with a frozen summer sausage.

          By your logic, that is now an “assault sausage”.

          ReplyCancel
          • Not the FBI
            7 years ago

            Very good! You are catching on.

            ReplyCancel
        • Doc
          7 years ago

          Truth. A Rose is a Rose is a Rose and by any other name, is still a Rose.

          ReplyCancel
        • Phillip
          7 years ago

          No he did’nt assault them he killed them so it is a kill rifle. I he would have beat them with it it would be beat rifle.

          ReplyCancel
      • speakittrue
        7 years ago

        ((((rolling eyes)))))

        ReplyCancel
      • David
        7 years ago

        We need more people like u who states the facts!!

        ReplyCancel
    • Manuel
      7 years ago

      That makes my .22 which is a semiautomatic gun with a clip a assault rifle??????? Look out Squirls here comes Rambo.

      ReplyCancel
      • Doc
        7 years ago

        Do you shoot at squirrels in semi-automatic mode? Kinda of destroys the meat and all that lead could be hard on the teeth. LOL

        ReplyCancel
        • Neighbors
          7 years ago

          C’mon man… semi = 1 pull, 1 shot.
          ***break***
          OP I was unaware that my T.O. weapon (M4) goes full auto… unless you are considering burst as fully automatic which it is NOT.
          -Army dude, max effective range of an M4 is almost twice what you said at 500m individual and 600m area targets.
          M16 max effective range is 550 and 800m individual point and area targets respectively.

          ReplyCancel
        • Not the FBI
          7 years ago

          What do you think semiautomatic means?

          ReplyCancel
    • julian
      7 years ago

      if i had a full auto i would not use it that way. Could not afford the ammunition!

      ReplyCancel

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