NRA today (Chicago, Wayne: purchases, budget, assault)

[Leatherneck50]

Here are 2 very interesting links on guns and violence statistics:

[url=http://youtu.be/Ooa98FHuaU0]Choose Your Own Crime Stats - YouTube[/url]

[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/5712573/UK-is-violent-crime-capital-of-Europe.html]UK is violent crime capital of Europe - Telegraph[/url]

What Constitutes an ‘Assault’ Rifle?

Merriam-Webster Dictonary defines “assault rifle” as “any of various automatic or semiautomatic rifles with large capacity magazines designed for military use.” The keywords here are “designed for military use.”

If that definition doesn’t quite cut it for you, here’s how David Kopel (via the Washington Examiner) describes it in an article in the “Journal of Contemporary Law” based on a definition from the Department of Defense (emphasis added):

As the United States Defense Department’s Defense Intelligence Agency book Small Arms Identification and Operation Guide explains, “assault rifles” are “short, compact, selective-fire weapons that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between submachine gun and rifle cartridges.” In other words, assault rifles are battlefield rifles which can fire automatically.

Weapons capable of fully automatic fire, including assault rifles, have been regulated heavily in the United States since the National Firearms Act of 1934. Taking possession of such weapons requires paying a $200 federal transfer tax and submitting to an FBI background check, including ten-print fingerprints.

Many civilians have purchased semiautomatic-only rifles that look like military assault rifles. These civilian rifles are, unlike actual assault rifles, incapable of automatic fire.

Based on these two definitions, since AR-15 is designed for civilian use, it therefore doesn’t fit with the definition of an “assault” weapon. This then begs the question why the association is being made in the first place.

[chitownperson]

Originally Posted by Leatherneck50

UK is violent crime capital of Europe - Telegraph

I think it's important to note that the focus of the article is on "violent crime", not "gun crime". "gun crime" in the UK (which also includes crimes including the use of air-guns and replicas) has been dropping for the past 7 years. The british police note that a large portion of gun crimes are with the use of air-guns and replicas, so the annual drops in "gun crimes" are actually much lower than the already declining official number, if we consider "real" gun crime to be the use of a "real" gun. The article points to the inability to deal with social problems as a root of the violence (much like the US), but their gun crime is in decline while violent crime stays high... This shows that the ban was effective.

The Uk and the US both need to deal with their social problems, but at least the UK has found a way to deal with the gun problem.

[Happy in Wyoming]

Originally Posted by chitownperson

I think it's important to note that the focus of the article is on "violent crime", not "gun crime". "gun crime" in the UK (which also includes crimes including the use of air-guns and replicas) has been dropping for the past 7 years. The british police note that a large portion of gun crimes are with the use of air-guns and replicas, so the annual drops in "gun crimes" are actually much lower than the already declining official number, if we consider "real" gun crime to be the use of a "real" gun. The article points to the inability to deal with social problems as a root of the violence (much like the US), but their gun crime is in decline while violent crime stays high... This shows that the ban was effective.

The Uk and the US both need to deal with their social problems, but at least the UK has found a way to deal with the gun problem.

If I were the victim of a violent crime I wouldn't care what weapon were used against me. I believe most people would share that sentiment. It would warm my heart, however, if I had been able to send my attacker to the morgue.

[chitownperson]

Originally Posted by Happy in Wyoming

If I were the victim of a violent crime I wouldn't care what weapon were used against me. I believe most people would share that sentiment. It would warm my heart, however, if I had been able to send my attacker to the morgue.

I think everyone agrees that any violent crime is bad, but you missed the point, which was that the UK gun ban worked to reduce gun crime (hence its purpose). Obviously there are other problems that also need to be addressed.

[mattywo85]

Violence is violence regardless of weapon. We can focus on that however no matter how hard you try you will never get rid of violence. You may be able to tone it down, but not get rid of it.

[mortpes]

The problem in America today is that many Americans do not carry their gun with them to work, shopping etc. Thus they cannot respond.

[Manigault]

Originally Posted by Leatherneck50

Based on these two definitions, since AR-15 is designed for civilian use, it therefore doesn’t fit with the definition of an “assault” weapon. This then begs the question why the association is being made in the first place.

That's kind of specious. An assault rifle is an autoloader which can hold more than 7 rounds. Folks should realize that you cannot really use a rifle to hunt in IL (except for squirrels with .22's) and that shotguns used to hunt are not allowed more than 3 shells.

So an assault rifle is surely not for hunting wild game. They tend not to be the most powerful rifles, but they can get off more rifle shots in a shorter amount of time than hunting rifles. Thus, they are far more lethal to humans. An AR-15 is surely an assault weapon.

[Chicago South Sider]

I despise people who support all of this gun control nonsense. They are the sheep and mindless throngs of the world. The folks that think with emotions and believe every word that they are told. Incapable of independent thought, these folks don't realize an obvious fact, it's ALREADY illegal for criminals to own guns. Stupid sheep.

Reading about the law that just passed in New York made my stomach turn.

[8loody]

Originally Posted by Chicago South Sider

I despise people who support all of this gun control nonsense. They are the sheep and mindless throngs of the world. The folks that think with emotions and believe every word that they are told. Incapable of independent thought, these folks don't realize an obvious fact, it's ALREADY illegal for criminals to own guns. Stupid sheep.

Reading about the law that just passed in New York made my stomach turn.

It's also illegal to drive super fast and kill people with a car, but we do have speed limits don't we?

[Chicago South Sider]

Originally Posted by 8loody

It's also illegal to drive super fast and kill people with a car, but we do have speed limits don't we?

That's a dumb analogy.