Gunman William Spengler Used Bushmaster, Left Chilling Note

[reACTIONary]

129. The assult weapon ban of yore contained the specifics...

Assault weapons have features - styling cues - that descend from military use and project a specific purpose - that is "militaristic assault". That is a great deal of the their marketing appeal. One legislator who owns one said that they are "real conversation starters on the firing range" for this reason.

Since we are concerned about discouraging the improper use of guns, the discouragement of stylistic cues that project combat assault and militaristic purposes is important to discouraging and breaking the unhealthy, dangerous aspects of the gun culture.

In other words, make them ugly, frumpy and old fashioned, very uncool. Make them harder to market to those who fantasize about carrying out militaristic assaults.

Same principle as with other anti-social, dangerous products like cigarettes - make them as unattractive and uncool as possible. Restrict who can use them and where. Make them more expensive and cumbersome to buy and sell. Give those who own them the feeling that they are outsiders and make them feel uncomfortable with their personal choice. Take the enjoyment out of it.