Simple visual that clarifies why the Assault Weapons Ban renewal

[Tommy_Carcetti]

232. If that's how you want to limit the conversation, then there's a question begging to be asked.

So let's just talk about these rifles, shall we?

If use of these semi-automatic assault rifles is indeed rare, what exact purpose do they serve?

Unlike handguns, they aren't practical for concealed protection, either inside a house or--if in a CCW jurisdiction--on one's person.

And there's nothing that they offer for hunting that can't necessarily be provided by your more traditional gauge shotgun.

I guess there's always target shooting, but again, isn't that something that could be just as well be served by a pistol or gauge shotgun?

So you say that the proportion of rifles used in homicide is smaller than some other weaspons used in homicides. That may be true, but I wonder what the statistics are in terms of proportion of gun ownerships as in what percentage of semi auto rifles are there in comparision to handguns, shotguns, etc.--and see how they rank with the percentage of rifles used in homicides versus other firearms.

Also, just because a percentage is smaller does not make it insignificant in terms of discussion. If something has the capability of creating massive harm (say, 12 people dead and 58 injured in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado), it cannot and should not be discounted. It reminds me of the oil drilling lobby's excuse for the BP Horizon spill, stating that it was only one well out of 500 (or whatever the number) in the Gulf. And that was true, but we all know the damage that just that one well did. It's the same thing here.

You cannot claim an assault rifle is a "concealed" weapon. They're not optimal for hunting. So what are they good for?