Florida: Man shot dead at Edison Mall

[DissedByBush]

182. By definition, assault rifles are not high-powered

By definition, they use an intermediate round, more powerful than pistol, less powerful than a normal battle rifle. A battle rifle is equivalent in power to an average hunting rifle, like a .30-06.

These probably weren't assault rifles either, but semi-automatic civilian rifles (no news stories mention automatic fire). By the news accounts, there's nothing even showing the rifles would necessarily be classified as "assault weapons" under the failed 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban. But for the sake of argument, I'll go with it probably being an AK or AR variant, which is what normally sticks in the ignorant mind as an "assault weapon" or even for the more ignorant as an "assault rifle."

"Do you think we are likely to see more of these types of shootings as more "high-powered rifles" enter private hands? "

No. High-powered rifles have been in peoples' hands hundreds of years. Most hunters currently own rifles of much higher power than what was used here.

"Do you think the "Federal Assault Weapons Ban" makes a difference in reducing the supply of these firearms to criminals?"

It didn't before, why should it again? These types of weapons are rarely used in shootings.

"If not, where do you think criminals such as these would obtain this amount of firepower? "

"Firepower" has pretty much nothing to do with the AWB. Slap a new stock on a "non-assault weapon" and it suddenly becomes an "assault weapon." It was mainly about things that made guns look "evil."

What I wonder is why a guy with a history of drug sales and grand theft auto was let out on $30,000 bail on charges of aggravated assault, firing a weapon at people in a car, and possession of a firearm by a felon a month prior to this shooting. And that was the victim. So most likely he pissed off a fellow criminal.

BTW, you received an education above about what is and isn't an assault rifle. I expect you to not repeat this error. If you do, it can no longer be blamed on ignorance. It must therefore be a willful effort on your part to deceive. I will be watching.

If you would like to show an even higher level of honesty, correcting the lies in the news story would be appreciated.