General Gun Violence/Gun Control

[MyBelle]

Would a ban on assault rifles actually help to curb the violence? With rifles being a relatively uncommon type of weapon used in homicides in the United States, an assault rifle ban may not make much difference when it comes to the number of murders that occur. Homicides are overwhelmingly committed using handguns; they were found to be the most common murder weapon for nearly half of all homicides in the United States in 2019. Even hands, fists, and feet are used to commit homicide almost twice as often as a rifle is. An NIH study that investigated the levels of criminal activity committed with assault weapons or other high-capacity semiautomatics also found that these types of weapons are only being used in a small percentage of crimes: “Assault weapons (primarily assault-type rifles) account for 2–12% of guns used in crime in general (most estimates suggest less than 7%).” Wouldn’t all of the time, money, and resources being used to push for an assault rifle ban be better used elsewhere, such as creating a better mental health-care system that is accessible to those that need it most?

Criminal Use of Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Semiautomatic Firearms: an Updated Examination of Local and National Sources - PMC

Policies restricting semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines are intended to reduce gunshot victimizations by limiting the stock of semiautomatic firearms with large ammunition capacities and other military-style ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Isn't public safety always a goal? To me, it is no different than urban areas with LE task forces trying to curb gang violence.

A ban on the sale of assault type weapons and high-capacity magazines are with the intent to curb the violence inflicted in mass shootings in places such as schools, shopping malls, bowling alleys, parades......

JMO

 

[PrairieWind]

If any of your weapons are ‘assault-style’ I think at some point those guns will be banned, imo. Otherwise I don’t believe anyone is suggesting that America is going to outlaw firearms.

I don’t know you, but my sense is that you’re a responsible gun owner. My question would be is how your community would know that, and how they know that of all gun owners?

I read that vehicles have more regulations than guns in the US, which I’m hoping is a general statement that doesn’t apply everywhere. But, how are you all tracking firearm owners and making sure they comply with regulations, etc?

But what is an "assault style" weapon? It is just a made up term. A legislature can define it, ban it, It holds up. then just gradually adds to what is considered "assault" weapons. I own a WW2 era semi auto rifle. I have lever action rifles whose interior magazines will carry more than 10 rounds. Will they be banned? Why should they?

As for more regulations for cars than guns, I'm not sure that is accurate. Are some states banning cars that go over a certain speed? Are they they restricting sales of cars to certain people?

 

[Lexiintoronto]

But what is an "assault style" weapon? It is just a made up term. A legislature can define it, ban it, It holds up. then just gradually adds to what is considered "assault" weapons. I own a WW2 era semi auto rifle. I have lever action rifles whose interior magazines will carry more than 10 rounds. Will they be banned? Why should they?

As for more regulations for cars than guns, I'm not sure that is accurate. Are some states banning cars that go over a certain speed? Are they they restricting sales of cars to certain people?

If you don’t see the proliferation of weapons in the US corresponding to the epidemic of gun violence and why other countries are banning those weapons there’s likely nothing I could say or quote that would be useful. In Canada we’ve decided there’s no good reason for the general public to own ‘assault-style’ weapons. Over 80% agree.

I’d have to look for the reference, but after a recent mass shooting a US leader said it’s more difficult to purchase and register a car and be licensed than it is for a person to purchase etc. a firearm, which was my point.

This commentary referred to a similar idea:

“I remember well a commentary in The Baltimore Sun by a Maryland gun owner after the mass murdering of over 50 individuals in Las Vegas in 2017. He wrote how he thought “it should be more difficult to buy a gun than to drive a car, yet there’s a lot more hardship involved in getting a driver’s license.”

 

[Deleted member 39678]

The title of this thread is "General Gun Violence/Gun Control".

The topic is not just "assault weapons". I think that concentrating on banning a type of firearm that statistically is used in an overall small number of homicides is not the answer.

On a personal basis I'm more concerned about being attacked at the grocery store by a mentally ill homeless person using their hands, feet or a knife to seriously injure or kill me.

Or a drug addict who's been on a meth binge and hasn't slept for 5 days breaking into my home and attacking me because he thinks it's someone else's home.

Or a teenage carjacker using a stolen handgun to take my Maverick from me to joyride or do a drive by shooting.

Assault weapon bans do absolutely nothing to address these real life threats to my safety. Concentrating on those bans vs spending more resources on mental heath care and things like drug court and tougher sentences for felons and other prohibited persons in possession of a firearm would be a good start IMO.

All JMO.

 

[Laughing]

Once again, no one has an answer to my question about the Sacramento shooters.

No one has a solution for courts that will not support families seeking guardianship to protect love ones & communities.

No one offers a different civil right to carve up.

btw, those high-capacity magazines are great at the range to really improve your shooting position.

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[PrairieWind]

If you don’t see the proliferation of weapons in the US corresponding to the epidemic of gun violence and why other countries are banning those weapons there’s likely nothing I could say or quote that would be useful. In Canada we’ve decided there’s no good reason for the general public to own ‘assault-style’ weapons. Over 80% agree.

I’d have to look for the reference, but after a recent mass shooting a US leader said it’s more difficult to purchase and register a car and be licensed than it is for a person to purchase etc. a firearm, which was my point.

This commentary referred to a similar idea:

“I remember well a commentary in The Baltimore Sun by a Maryland gun owner after the mass murdering of over 50 individuals in Las Vegas in 2017. He wrote how he thought “it should be more difficult to buy a gun than to drive a car, yet there’s a lot more hardship involved in getting a driver’s license.”

I think part of my issue is still being missed. When we talk about banning "assault" weapons, what is meant? I get the feeling that what is really being insinuated is "semi-automatic." Is that what you would want to see in a ban?
To buy a gun from a dealer you need to be 18 or 21, have an id, pass a background check. You just need money to buy a car. Sure, you can buy a gun no questions asked in a private sale or on the street. But that is the same anywhere.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

I think part of my issue is still being missed. When we talk about banning "assault" weapons, what is meant? I get the feeling that what is really being insinuated is "semi-automatic." Is that what you would want to see in a ban?
To buy a gun from a dealer you need to be 18 or 21, have an id, pass a background check. You just need money to buy a car. Sure, you can buy a gun no questions asked in a private sale or on the street. But that is the same anywhere.

I always thought that an "assault rifle" is so deadly because it has a pistol grip. My Mini-14 does not have a pistol grip so it's less lethal. JMO.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Good evening y’all! I’ll be creating a new thread, so prepare to continue the discussion there in a few minutes.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Continue the discussion here:

General Gun Violence/Gun Control #2

Hi All, Tricia has asked us to open up a discussion about gun violence, as clearly, there is a problem with gun violence, especially in the United States. In many of the cases that come to Websleuths, gun violence is the cause, and we don't/can't allow general gun violence/control discussion...

www.websleuths.com