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The Reality of an Assault Weapons Ban

AR15 Rifle

On Wednesday, January 16, President Obama released a list of 23 Executive Orders geared at curbing gun violence. In reality, the majority of these orders will do nothing to curb gun violence in America simply because they do not target the root issues of gun violence. However, Mr. Obama additionally called for an “assault weapons ban” and a ban on “high capacity magazines”. The problem is, by calling for such bans, the president clearly does not know (a) the definition of assault weapons or, (b) existing laws that prohibit assault weapons.

Here’s the problem with the “assault weapons ban”: in reality they are already illegal for civilians to own in the United States.

What? That’s not true! The kid in Sandy Hook used an assault weapon! Didn’t he? Well, to answer that we have to look at the facts and, unfortunately, some misleading verbiage that has been included in the most recent gun debate. Let’s look at the first term in question: “assault weapon”.

Assault Weapon Facts

What is an “assault weapon” exactly? According to Bruce H. Kobayashi and Joseph E. Olson, writing in the Stanford Law and Policy Review:

“Prior to 1989, the term “assault weapon” did not exist in the lexicon of firearms. It is a political term, developed by anti-gun publicists to expand the category of ‘assault rifles’.”

But wait, isn’t an “assault weapon” the same thing as an “assault rifle”? Actually, no they are not. And that is the second term we will take a look at: the assault rifle.

What, exactly, is an “assault rifle”? You can Google it if you want. I did and I found that Google defines an assault rifle as a “rapid-fire, magazine-fed automatic rifle designed for infantry use.” Now, I don’t know what authority Google has to define this, so let’s go further with Merriam Webster’s version which adds that assault rifles can “switch between semiautomatic and fully automatic fire”. It’s important to note the one crucial word included in both definitions: automatic. Automatic means that with one trigger pull, multiple rounds are fired. With an automatic rifle you could, conceivably, empty an entire magazine with a single trigger pull. This attribute also puts these types of rifles in the category of “machine guns”.

If you know anything about mobster history, you’re probably familiar with Bonny and Clyde and their infamous Tommy Guns. A Tommy gun (or Thompson sub-machine gun) is a compact fully automatic rifle – i.e. a machine gun. Due to the violence of the gang wars of the 1930’s and the prolific use of guns like these at that time, Congress passed the National Firearms Act in 1934. This law made the sale of fully automatic weapons illegal in the United States.

So if fully automatic rifles, or assault rifles by definition, are already illegal, what were these guns used at Sandy Hook and in the Colorado theater? Let’s look into that.

The Truth About Legal Firearms

One model of firearm used in both the Newtown and Aurura killings was reported to be a .223 caliber civilian sporting rifle. This particular rifle is a semiautomatic rifle. What does “semiautomatic” mean? Well, for starters, it doesn’t mean “automatic”. Semiautomatic means that with a single trigger pull, one bullet is fired, the case from that round is ejected, and a new round is loaded into the firing chamber. It does NOT mean multiple rounds are fired. That is a complete misconception. In reality, with a semiautomatic rifle – like the ones used in those tragedies – the killers had to pull the trigger for EVERY round that was fired. It’s simple, one trigger pull = one bullet.

An assault weapons ban will not save lives because handguns kill more than riflesThis is how the majority of firearms function. If you pull the trigger once, you fire one bullet. To fire another round, you simply pull the trigger again. Just about every handgun, like the two pictured to the right, function this way. Both semiautomatic pistols and double-action revolvers fire a single round each time you pull the trigger. This is also true for semiautomatic rifles and semiautomatic shotguns: one trigger pull = one bullet. Compared to automatic weapons, the speed at which rounds of ammunition can be fired from semiautomatic weapons is remarkably different AND relies solely on the skill of the operator of that weapon. A military M4 carbine, which can fire in fully automatic mode, can fire up to 950 round per minute. Comparatively, the civilian version like the semiautomatic Bushmaster .223 can only fire up to 60 rounds per minute.

In reality, this rifle, the Bushmaster .223…

An assault weapons ban would ban this rifle only because it looks scary - not because it is more deadly than another type of rifle

…fires one round with each trigger pull just like this rancher rifle:

The gun would be legal according to the assault weapons ban - but it is no less lethal than any civilian AR15

Why is this important? Well, put simply, a semi automatic rifle (like the Bushmaster .223) is no more lethal than a shotgun, a semiautomatic handgun or a double-action revolver. The number of rounds you fire depends solely on how fast you can pull the trigger.

But wait, I thought guns like the Bushmaster .223 are called “AR rifles”. Doesn’t that mean they are assault rifles? No, that brings us to the next misnomer: the AR.

So What is an AR15?

The most popular type of semiautomatic sporting rifles owned in the U.S. today are often described as AR’s or AR15’s. Most people believe that the AR stands for “assault rifle”. It does not. The AR is an abbreviation based on the manufacturer of the AR15 platform: ArmaLite. In fact, many of ArmaLite’s current line of products bare the letters AR in the name of the firearm – even for their handguns.

ArmaLite, Inc. is a firearms manufacturer that was started in the 1950’s. They originally designed the AR15 as a selective fire rifle for the United States Military. The design was sold to Colt who then used the design platform of the AR15 to manufacture M16 rifles for the U.S. Military. While the official name “AR-15” is a registered trademark of Colt, any rifle built on a platform similar to the original AR15 design is often referred to as an AR. Much like multiple brands and models of copiers are referred to as “Xerox” machines even though they may have very little in common with the original piece of equipment that bore that name.

The media, the president, and everyone else pushing for more laws on guns, however, would have you believe that a weapon like the Bushmaster .223 (referred to as an AR15) is more lethal than other firearms. It’s not. Why then, are so many asking for rifles like these to be banned? The sad truth: simply because of how it looks.

The Assault Weapon Fantasy

I know, you’ll say “lawmakers aren’t that crazy that they would ban a gun just because it looks like a military weapon.” No? Well, we’ve already looked that facts. Let’s recap:

  1. The rifles used in recent tragedies are semiautomatic rifles
  2. Semiautomatic rifles do NOT fire multiple rounds with each trigger pull
  3. Contrarily, true assault rifles are able to fire in fully automatic mode
  4. By definition, then, semiautomatic rifles are NOT assault rifles

Given those facts what, then, would the president be calling for a ban of? Well, if history is an indication, an assault weapons ban will include any firearm that looks like a military assault rifle. Don’t believe me? Again, let’s look at the facts.

The Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) was enacted in 1993 and expired in 2004. In that bill, the definition of assault weapon was described as any semiautomatic firearm “that possess the cosmetic features of an assault rifle”. That’s right, “cosmetic” features. If it looks like an assault rifle, it must be an assault rifle and therefore must be more lethal than other firearms. This is what lawmakers and the media have been feeding us for 20 years.

Why would they do this? Well, for some, like Diane Feinstein, her hope is that this would be a first step to banning guns outright. She has publicly said this. I can’t speak for the media’s reasoning or others for that matter. Some will have you simply believe that so-called “assault weapons” – those that look like their military counterparts – are more lethal than other firearms. Well, it is true that a semiautomatic .223 rifle was used in both Colorado and Newtown. So if an assault weapons ban would make rifles like these illegal, won’t that protect people from gun violence? Let’s look at the numbers and find out.

Real Statistics

First, the Colorado killer used three firearms that night: a .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, a pump-action twelve gauge shotgun and a .223 rifle. Police revealed that the rifle magazine jammed so then he switched to using the shotgun and then the pistol. I haven’t been able to find forensic details describing how many total rounds were fired or which guns caused how many deaths. But, given that the rifle jammed, its hard to say that this was the deadliest weapon involved. In reality, the rifle used was the smallest caliber of the three. So perhaps it was the least lethal. We don’t know for sure.

Second, let’s look at some murder statistics. In the United States in 2011 there were reportedly 12,664 murders. Of those, just 323 were caused by rifles. So, of the total number murders only 2.5% were caused by rifles. Compare that to 1,694 murders by sharp instruments (13.4%), 726 murders by bare fists (5.7%) and 496 murders with blunt objects (3.9%) and the facts seem to prove than rifles are used much less to kill people.

So, what then will an assault weapons ban do to curb gun violence? Realistically, probably very little. That’s not just my opinion. Our own government, when evaluating the Assault Weapons Ban of 1993 when it expired in 2004, performed a study which concluded:

“Should it be renewed, the ban’s effects on gun violence are likely to be small at best and perhaps too small for reliable measurement. [Assault weapons] were rarely used in gun crimes even before the ban.”

So What’s the Real Reason Behind an Assault Weapons Ban?

If you’re a rational human being, you have to admit that all of this evidence shows that re-instating an “assault weapons” ban like the one enacted in 1993 is complete lunacy. There is nothing to suggest that there is any benefit from banning these so-called “assault weapons”. In reality, if you ban these rifles simply because they look like military weapons, then firearms manufacturers will just come up with new designs. That’s what happened after the 1993 assault weapons ban.

One such weapon that was designed specifically to replace those that were banned was the Hi-Point 995 carbine. This weapon was infamously used by Eric Harris in the Columbine killings in 1999. So did that assault weapons ban stop school shootings? No. Will this one? No.

Some will tell you that enacting an assault weapons ban would be the first step to outright violation of the Second Amendment. Perhaps that is true. I’m not going to encourage that mindset. It could be the truth, I won’t argue it’s potential. But, I think that, perhaps, this recent push for an assault weapon ban is much less about actually stopping mass killings or curbing gun violence or even overall gun control – instead it’s a simple, knee-jerk reaction to do something.

I believe the president may be more interested in his public image than he is in really keeping our kids safe. That’s not to say he may not attack our Second Amendment rights. He may, he may not – I certainly hope not. But, based on how little his Executive Orders will do and how ineffective an assault weapons ban would be. This move looks more like public relations than public safety.

Jan 18, 2013S. Lawrence
Obama's Executive Actions on Gun Violence: What They Mean to Gun Owners & What He Failed to AddressThe New Tavor Bullpup Rifle from . . . Israel?
Comments: 4
  1. Phil
    5 years ago

    Mr. Lawrence, please give a suggestion, then, about something that can curb gun deaths. Your piece suggests the status quo only.

    ReplyCancel
    • S. Lawrence
      5 years ago

      Phil, thanks for your thoughts on the subject. This article was aimed specifically at the political argument against “assault rifles”, not so much as curbing gun deaths. That topic would require an article of its own. I would only say this at this point: gun deaths, along with all murders have much more to do with the human beings that carry them out than the instruments those individuals use. The vast majority of gun deaths in America are the result of drug trafficking and gangs. These tragic murders are mostly carried out by criminals who have obtained their firearms illegally. There is no gun legislation currently on the table to address these tragedies. Perhaps a look at inner city violence is the first place to start that conversation.

      ReplyCancel
  2. Dusty
    7 years ago

    Dusty from Canada,

    To me, this article is well thought out, relatively logical and well written but from our perspective up here, at least if you judge by our gun laws the article may be a little incomplete. But then again so may be my information so I write this humbly and ask you to take it with a grain of salt.
    Regarding “assault” style rifles,
    Assualt style rifles acquire their name for a reason and it is not solely based on its rate of fire.
    They are manufactured in ways that are different from the traditional “long” or “hunting” rifle. They are generally shorter for easier handling in close quarters shoot outs. The are built much more robustly to handle the widely varied and inhospitable conditions they may be found in as compared to a hunting rifle. They are designed to be much more user friendly in regards to transporting (carrying) and transitioning into fireing mode than the traditional hunting rifle. They may or may not pack the same full punch of a long barrel hunting rifle but they certainly are a lot more powerful than a hand gun. Finally, I guess there is the psychological factor. A criminal may have an advantage using one of these types of guns over a hand gun simply due to potential psychological beliefs. Such as 1.) His victims may be more instilled with fear upon seeing that type of gun over a hand gun, thereby giving the criminal an automatic advantage without having to do anything / any extra effort. 2.) Along the same lines, it may well embolden the criminal to risk / perform acts of violence that they may not have considered with a hand gun as he now feels even more power.
    Finally, why do you think they are called “assualt rifles? They are not really the type of gun you would want to take to the range. Nor are the really that well suited for hunting So, of what value does it really have for you? This design was made specifically for one thing. Close quarters COMBAT to take human lives. Yet, in CIVILIAN USE i.e.self defence in a home invasion. Is a hand gun, in the moment and in addition to the cummulative time required to care for and range practice and the paper work involved and storage much simpler over time than the rifle? Hence, in my mind, this type of gun is a WANT but absolutely not a NEED.
    And, I guess that is the biggest divide between us Canucks and you Yanks. Sure, we would like to have this style of gun around for fun but we agree with our Government in the above paragraph. It really is just a want and not a need. I think this is why we are satisfied being restricted (in general) to (long) hunting guns and hand guns. All those ones inbetween that you Yanks want so bad? Why do you want them so bad? They were design specifically to kill people in combat. Not for range practice, or hunting or self defence, so why doeth thow protestith so much?
    I do have more to say but I think perhaps they are more well suited to other catagories.
    Thanks for hearing me. Health and wisdom be with you all.

    ReplyCancel
    • S. Lawrence
      7 years ago

      Hello Dusty. We appreciate your comments and thoughts on the subject of “assault weapons”. However, I have to address a couple of your points.

      First of all, the term “assault weapon” is a political term, not a techical term. It has been used to describe firearms that simply look like military weapons but it says nothing about specific aspects of the weapon. As such, it is an arbitrary term that has no specific definition.

      Secondly, you said, “They are manufactured in ways that are different from the traditional ‘long’ or ‘hunting’ rifle.” I would like to know what your source is for this statement. Specifically, what is different about how these so-called assault weapons are manufactured differently. I know that with some firearms this statement is completly false. Take for example the Mossberg MMR. There are two commercially available version of this rifle: the “Hunter” and the “Tactical”. Both versions are identical except for two pieces: the stock and foregrip – both are cosmetic and do not affect how the weapon is used or how it functions.

      Third: “They are generally shorter for easier handling in close quarters shoot outs.” Also, not true. Short-barreled rifles used for close quarter combar (CQC) are referred to as “carbines”. Most have long barrel length alternatives and as such they are not specifically designed for CQC situations.

      Fourth: “The are built much more robustly to handle the widely varied and inhospitable conditions they may be found in as compared to a hunting rifle.” Again, untrue. The durability or rubustness of any firearm are manufacturer level variables. Some weapons are designed for the cheap and therefore, while looking like “assault” weapons, they still jam easily, are difficult to maintain and can be unreliable. There is no general standard for tactical rifles that ensures they are better made than their hunting rifle counterparts.

      Fifth: “They are more powerful than a handgun.” Definately not true in all cases. A rifle that looks like an assault weapon can fire a cartridge as small as a .17 caliber making it tremendously less powerful than, say, a .357 magnum. There’s no general standard for rifles or handguns that make one more powerful than the other in all cases.

      Many of your other comments are valid. However, tactical rifles, or “modern sporting rifles” as they are technically classified, are not designed for killing. Yes, that is part of their purpose. But, as with all firearms – which are designed to be lethal – being made to kill does not mean they are designed for malicious intent. Being lethal is what all firearms are meant for in the worst case scenarios. That is not and never has been their sole purpose.

      I agree, in most cases, a home invasion or in the case of a robber caught in progress of committing a crime, a handgun is most likely the easiest and most practical option. But, that depends on what or who a person is protecting from someone who wants to do harm to another person. A tactical rifle is far more useful at distance, say futher than 15 yards. They are also much more useful in cases involving multiple assailants as they are more accurate and usually carry more ammunition than handguns.

      Lastly, while I do agree that tactical rifles are a “want” more than a “need”, they are used everyday in competition shooting, target practice and hunting giving them multiple uses beyond simply self-defense.

      Once again, I want ot thank you for visiting our site and sharing your thoughts. We welcome your feedback and hope you will return.

      ReplyCancel

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S. Lawrence
10 years ago 4 Comments Educational, Guns & Politics, In the News, Rants2nd amendment, AR15, education, fiction, gun laws, history, in the news, media, NRA, Obama, politics, revolver, submachine gun, tragedy3,139
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