General Discussion

branford

(4,462 posts)

25. At what rate were fully automatic weapons used in the commission of crimes

Fri Oct 2, 2015, 07:01 PM

Oct 2015

before the NFA as compared to the years afterward? Pre-1934 crime statistics seem quite difficult to locate, particularly anything before 1930,.

Moreover, be careful not to confuse correlation with causation. Much of the violent crime of the period before the NFA involved the illegal sale and transport of alcohol during prohibition (and one of the reasons for the passage of the NFA). This crime mostly ended upon repeal of prohibition in 1933, mere months before the NFA went into effect.

To the extent that there was indeed any notable reduction of crime using fully automatic weapons around the end of 1933 and beginning of 1934, it could just as easily be attributed to the legal sale of alcohol and resulting diminishment of organized crime than anything to do with the NFA.

Of course, I would be most interested in reading any scholarly works that discuss the issue or, as you assert, prove that the historic and contemporary lack of crime involving fully automatic weapons is the direct result of the NFA.

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Gun Control [View all] SecularMotion Oct 2015 OP

Seems odd they would mention automatic weapons Travis_0004 Oct 2015 #1

Yep Duckhunter935 Oct 2015 #2

Not many, if any, unless altered, you know why? Darb Oct 2015 #7

That same law bans sawed-off shotguns, which are used rather frequently Recursion Oct 2015 #11

According to FBI shotguns and rifles (short or otherwise) are rarely used unlawfully Statistical Oct 2015 #54

True, but short shotguns are used orders of magnitude more often than automatic weapons Recursion Oct 2015 #55

Agreed. n/t Statistical Oct 2015 #57

That said, use of automatic weapons in crime did certainly seem to go down after 1934 Recursion Oct 2015 #58

Well something else happened in 1934 Statistical Oct 2015 #60

to get full auto weapons there are a barrel of hoops and forms and taxes and Gawd knows what else. littlewolf Oct 2015 #3

The fact that full autos aren't used in crimes is proof positive....... Paladin Oct 2015 #4

He shoots, he scores! Kingofalldems Oct 2015 #5

I bet I've nailed the NRA types a dozen times on that matter. Paladin Oct 2015 #6

So explain the use of sawed off shotguns in crimes Recursion Oct 2015 #13

Economics and paperwork play a big role. Paladin Oct 2015 #16

I agree Recursion Oct 2015 #17

Because you can make a sawed off shotgun in a minute dumbcat Oct 2015 #61

Yep, but don't expect those upthread to notice this reply. Rex Oct 2015 #9

Well...not exactly. Lizzie Poppet Oct 2015 #10

That exact same law bans sawed-off shotguns, which are used rather frequently Recursion Oct 2015 #12

Non-full automatic rifles are rarely used in crime as well hack89 Oct 2015 #15

At what rate were fully automatic weapons used in the commission of crimes branford Oct 2015 #25

Ah, the inevitable "post hoc" argument. (nt) Paladin Oct 2015 #26

Excuse me? branford Oct 2015 #42

Because there are readily available alternatives krispos42 Oct 2015 #29

LOL! pablo_marmol Oct 2015 #30

Sounds like you've devoted a lot of unhealthy thought to the subject. Paladin Oct 2015 #47

Not all all. I simple know how guns operate. pablo_marmol Oct 2015 #62

They were seldom used in crime before the ban Travis_0004 Oct 2015 #32

Exactly what advantage does a fully automatic weapon offer to your average criminal? spin Oct 2015 #45

See my post 47. (nt) Paladin Oct 2015 #48

I've actually fired fully automatic assault rifles. ... spin Oct 2015 #52

or not (all rifles are involved in less than 2% of homicides ... Statistical Oct 2015 #56

Or you could apply a file in the correct place. n/t ryan_cats Oct 2015 #31

Not odd at all -- given the extreme level of ignorance caused pablo_marmol Oct 2015 #27

The only thing odd about it is that they categorize it as moderate gun control. Gormy Cuss Oct 2015 #51

Total prohibition Matrosov Oct 2015 #8

Will total prohibition end the actual availability of firearms? (nt) Recursion Oct 2015 #18

Sadly, even that would be a long-term solution at best Matrosov Oct 2015 #20

could you be a bit more quantitative on what you mean... discntnt_irny_srcsm Oct 2015 #35

It worked for Heroin, so why not for guns? JustABozoOnThisBus Oct 2015 #33

Hard core. With "basic training" just verging on PTSD inducing terror. hunter Oct 2015 #14

God knows why fadedrose Oct 2015 #19

Shooting fully automatic weapons is a blast hack89 Oct 2015 #22

Yes it is Duckhunter935 Oct 2015 #24

Cleaning them, however, is some of the most back-breaking drudgery in the catalog of human toil Recursion Oct 2015 #37

That's why God created Gunners Mates. hack89 Oct 2015 #46

and pack mags. aikoaiko Oct 2015 #63

Firing one of these is a blast also. GGJohn Oct 2015 #41

A background check that looks into political leanings? Have you thought that out? Sounds kind kelly1mm Oct 2015 #34

I was thinking about fadedrose Oct 2015 #38

I think the problem is just that - govenment protected. None of those haters simply kelly1mm Oct 2015 #40

Hate is pretty common fadedrose Oct 2015 #43

You do realize.. virginia mountainman Oct 2015 #44

Yes. Iggo Oct 2015 #21

having never owned a gun I can't miss owning one olddots Oct 2015 #23

Somewhere btw choice 3 and 4 etherealtruth Oct 2015 #28

I find it interesting that even on DU TeddyR Oct 2015 #36

WOW! Democrats respecting the Constitution! Paladin Oct 2015 #49

You missed my point TeddyR Oct 2015 #53

A (very) vocal minority. Statistical Oct 2015 #59

This message was self-deleted by its author olddots Oct 2015 #39

Kick SecularMotion Oct 2015 #50