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Douva

(19 posts)
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 11:48 AM Jan 2013

Assault Weapon Truth

What is an "assault weapon"?

It is debated whether the term “assault weapon,” which entered the American lexicon in the late 1980s, originated as a political ploy by gun control advocates or as a marketing ploy by gun retailers. What is certain is that “assault weapon” is not a technical term, a term of art used by firearms manufactures, or a military term. The closest match in any of those categories is the term “assault rifle,” which is a military term referring to a medium-caliber, shoulder-fired rifle that allows the shooter to select between semiautomatic mode and either fully-automatic or three-shot-burst mode. Because "assault weapons," as defined by state and federal law, can fire in neither fully-automatic mode nor three-shot-burst mode, they are not assault rifles.

Unfortunately, the media often conflates these two similar-sounding phrases—using "assault rifle" when they mean "assault weapon"—thereby, further confusing the public on the relationship between so-called "assault weapons" and true weapons of war. None of the rifle models found on the battlefields of Afghanistan, Iraq, or Vietnam are available for sale in American sporting goods stores.

Read the rest at AssaultWeaponTruth.com.
36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Assault Weapon Truth (Original Post) Douva Jan 2013 OP
Confusion locks Jan 2013 #1
on average, how many people do you think are killed every day with assault weapons in America? loknar Jan 2013 #3
So...twenty kids in Newtown, CT were just a statistical anomaly....... lastlib Jan 2013 #8
how many people are killed by assault rifles every day? loknar Jan 2013 #10
^ lastlib Jan 2013 #11
"That's all we need to know" Recursion Jan 2013 #22
I am NOT advocating for any law that keeps his gun legal. That's bullshit, and you know it. lastlib Jan 2013 #26
That wasn't an assault weapon Recursion Jan 2013 #12
I bet those kids thought it was--before they DIED!! lastlib Jan 2013 #19
Wow! You reminded me that kids died! That changes everything! Recursion Jan 2013 #20
It wouldn't be legal under MY idea of an assault-weapon ban. lastlib Jan 2013 #27
So tell me your idea of an assault weapon ban. I'm open to ideas Recursion Jan 2013 #28
if it points at you and a bullet comes out, it's an assault weapon. lastlib Jan 2013 #30
Ban all guns? Hasn't worked well for pot Recursion Jan 2013 #31
So just pure, emotional prohibitionism. Callisto32 Jan 2013 #32
If it'll save one child's life, it works for me. lastlib Jan 2013 #36
Oh hey, spam link to NRA sources. AtheistCrusader Jan 2013 #2
You should forward this to those folks in Newtown, classes resumed today jmg257 Jan 2013 #4
Adam Lanza did no such thing, his AR15 did it all. loknar Jan 2013 #5
It sure helped. After all - isn't that why we all like them so much? jmg257 Jan 2013 #16
I think if we're talking about an AWB, it matters that his AR-15 wasn't an assault weapon Recursion Jan 2013 #13
If we're talking about a new AWB, it'll matter - they'll need to know how to expand the definition, jmg257 Jan 2013 #17
Doesn't help them any, but if discussing possible policy changes, it's helpful to be accurate. AtheistCrusader Jan 2013 #14
Along with "assault weapons", which his rifle wasn't Recursion Jan 2013 #18
Yes, as defined in the 1994 Comprehensive Assault Weapons Ban. AtheistCrusader Jan 2013 #21
wolves in sheeps clothing? jimmy the one Jan 2013 #6
I love being a democrat, all except the part about having to be anti-gun. loknar Jan 2013 #7
Evidently you misread some of the billh58 Jan 2013 #35
If it points at you and a bullet comes out, it's an assault weapon. lastlib Jan 2013 #9
So just to be clear ... Straw Man Jan 2013 #15
Here's a hint discntnt_irny_srcsm Jan 2013 #23
Did you actually look at the site? Douva Jan 2013 #24
Not worried jimmy the one Jan 2013 #25
Are you a liberal Democrat? I see your anti-2A stance (not a good start). What else? Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #29
DU, especially the Gungeon billh58 Jan 2013 #33
Thank you so much billh58 Jan 2013 #34

locks

(2,012 posts)
1. Confusion
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 12:39 PM
Jan 2013

The public may be confused about "gun terms". It is not confused about the number of people killed with guns every day, only horrified, appalled, saddened and angry.

 

loknar

(33 posts)
3. on average, how many people do you think are killed every day with assault weapons in America?
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 12:54 PM
Jan 2013

I'm gonna guess...somewhere right around....zero.

lastlib

(22,895 posts)
8. So...twenty kids in Newtown, CT were just a statistical anomaly.......
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:20 PM
Jan 2013

Tell that to their parents.

lastlib

(22,895 posts)
11. ^
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:48 PM
Jan 2013

your statement is still false. Restating a falsehood does not make it true. Those twenty kids and six teachers didn't die from Adam Lanza's halitosis. They died of bullets. From a gun with the capacity to fire a lot of bullets rapidly. That's all we need to know. That's what we are going to put an end to. Get out of the way.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
22. "That's all we need to know"
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 03:22 PM
Jan 2013

Well, no, because you're advocating for a ban that kept the gun he used legal.

So, I mean, you might want to learn enough to figure out what laws to support.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
12. That wasn't an assault weapon
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:55 PM
Jan 2013

And since preventing stuff like that is the alleged point of the whole damn law I don't see why it's considered "derailing" when I point that out.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
20. Wow! You reminded me that kids died! That changes everything!
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:28 PM
Jan 2013

You're right! It doesn't matter that the weapon he used was legal under the AWB. Kids died, so we can no longer actually think about laws!

We should quickly pass another AWB so that his gun remains legal! Anybody who points out that fact is, apparently, dancing on those kids' graves!

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
28. So tell me your idea of an assault weapon ban. I'm open to ideas
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 11:36 AM
Jan 2013

I haven't heard a workable one yet, unfortunately.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
2. Oh hey, spam link to NRA sources.
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 12:40 PM
Jan 2013

Leroy Pyle, San Jose Police Department.

NRA employee, and such.

Member of http://2ampd.net/?p=173 (WE SUPPORT SHERRIF ARAPAIO, lol)
Bio
http://2ampd.net/Articles/Pyle/LeroyPyle-Biography.htm



The 'Assault Weapon vs. Assault Rifle' debate has been done to death here already, thanks.

jmg257

(11,996 posts)
4. You should forward this to those folks in Newtown, classes resumed today
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 12:55 PM
Jan 2013

at a new school, and I'm sure they'll feel a lot better.

"Catherine was among the 20 students and six teachers killed when Adam Lanza, armed with a military-style assault rifle, broke into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on Dec. 14 and opened fire."


Yep - just imagine - a bunch of 6 & 7 yr olds were sitting in their classroom when some scumbag came in and fired a bunch of rounds into each of them...do you really think they'll care how the fucking gun is referred to?

jmg257

(11,996 posts)
16. It sure helped. After all - isn't that why we all like them so much?
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:13 PM
Jan 2013

How effecient they are?...low recoil, hi capacity, fast rate of fire, pistol grip, muzzle brake, reliable action, lightweight, easy reloads.

Ya know.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
13. I think if we're talking about an AWB, it matters that his AR-15 wasn't an assault weapon
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:56 PM
Jan 2013

You don't think so?

jmg257

(11,996 posts)
17. If we're talking about a new AWB, it'll matter - they'll need to know how to expand the definition,
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:20 PM
Jan 2013

And how to handle grandfathering, or not.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
14. Doesn't help them any, but if discussing possible policy changes, it's helpful to be accurate.
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:05 PM
Jan 2013

You could ban "Assault Rifles" entirely (new ones have been banned since 1986, etc) and not prevent what happened at that school, because you missed the target.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
18. Along with "assault weapons", which his rifle wasn't
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:23 PM
Jan 2013

Since it did not have a bayonet lug or folding stock.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
21. Yes, as defined in the 1994 Comprehensive Assault Weapons Ban.
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:43 PM
Jan 2013

This is an inherently technical discussion on the firearms side, or at least, at some point in the policy discussion, the rubber language of the proposed policy has to meet the technical road upon which the laws are to be carried.

jimmy the one

(2,708 posts)
6. wolves in sheeps clothing?
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:14 PM
Jan 2013

I suspect rightwing trolls might be at work, infiltrating democrat message boards isn't that hard to do you know.

Douva shows up & poststarts on how assault rifles get a bumrap, douva with grand total of 18 posts, or signed up yday? and suddenly boasts how great assault rifles can be?
Loknar has about the same posts maybe 20, trolling about assault rifles, actually it could be loknar talking to himself.
.. tell us how much you like being a democrat, guys... guys? you there guys?

 

loknar

(33 posts)
7. I love being a democrat, all except the part about having to be anti-gun.
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 01:20 PM
Jan 2013

BTW, you're breaking the rules by commenting on post counts and calling people trolls because they disagree with you. I'm sure that will be overlooked for anyone that comes across as even mildly anti-gun though so don't worry.

Straw Man

(6,596 posts)
15. So just to be clear ...
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 02:08 PM
Jan 2013
If it points at you and a bullet comes out, it's an assault weapon.

... you're calling for a ban on all private ownership of firearms? Just looking for some clarity here.

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,470 posts)
23. Here's a hint
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 03:28 PM
Jan 2013

For some folks it's repugnant to be a single issue voter but expecting federal, state and local law enforcement to be single issue is just fine. ...

 

Douva

(19 posts)
24. Did you actually look at the site?
Thu Jan 3, 2013, 07:16 PM
Jan 2013

If those of you decrying this as a debate of semantics or terminology had actually bothered to look at the site, you would have seen that the quoted portion is the only reference on the site to the difference between assault rifles and "assault weapons." The rest of the site actually goes into a great deal of detail about why so-called "assault weapons" are no deadlier than other semiautomatic firearms.

If your ad hominem reflex won't let you listen to Officer Leroy Pyle, there are plenty of other sources listed.

Questions about pistol grips and recoil are red herrings--those features improve accuracy on assault rifles because they prevent muzzle climb during fully-automatic fire; however, those features have little impact on semiautomatic fire because the muzzle of the gun has time between shots (it only needs a fraction of a second) to fall back into line with the target. Even with a fully-automatic rifle, those features wouldn't be a major factor in a mass shooting scenario because accuracy is not as big an issue at short distances. If your target is ten feet away, your muzzle can climb six inches and still be on target.

On a semiautomatic firearm, a pistol grip simply makes the gun more ergonomic, and low recoil simply makes the gun more comfortable to shoot.

jimmy the one

(2,708 posts)
25. Not worried
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 10:29 AM
Jan 2013

loknar: I love being a democrat, all except the part about having to be anti-gun.

Gee, never heard anyone put it that way before, my entire life. I guess you win, you best me as well, cause I don't really 'love' being a democrat, just that there aren't any other realistic choices, other than being being independent which really isn't a choice, since to me it's too representative of having 'no political convictions'. I like being a democrat as much as belonging to a motor club.
Hey lok, you love the endless campaign emails for donations to every democrat running in 2012 within 3,000 miles of where you live? I almost went on a guilt trip for deleting a fundraiser for some dem running in honolulu.... how was the convention in charlotte?
You should start a thread lok, "I love being a Democrat!", and explain how great it is - I'd love to find out, humanize yourself you know? I bet you'd make a lot of new facebook friends.
Not that I really know your sincerity, but 'I love being a democrat', is what an outsider might say, were he trying to clandestinely infiltrate a democratic grouping.

BTW, you're breaking the rules by commenting on post counts and calling people trolls because they disagree with you. I'm sure that will be overlooked for anyone that comes across as even mildly anti-gun though so don't worry

Not worried; I didn't say you trolled on assault rifles because I disagreed with you, just that you evidently 'joined' DU ~january 2, 2013, to harp on the validity of assault rifles, with no other apparent interests. THAT, does indeed fall within the realm of trolling.
.. a duck, looking talking & walking.

billh58

(6,632 posts)
34. Thank you so much
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 03:39 PM
Jan 2013

for stopping by and for having the patience to explain the difference between a GUN that kills, and a gun that KILLS.

Oops, I see your pizza has been delivered, and I don't want to keep you from your meal...

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