Automatic Weapons
 

I know every man has the right to own his own gun, or her own for that matter. However do we really merrit automatic weapons as acceptable firearms under the constitution.
I am by no means against gun ownership, and I plan on buying pistols in the future, however do Americans really need automatic weapons?
I know one can take their auto down to the firing range and practice, but what other purpose is there to owning an M16, or a SAW for that matter? Certainly not for hunting, so why do we need them? If anything, these weapons waste away the American personal firearms industry.

Thoughts?

The Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting.

Hey Debaser :)

I dunno, but i don't think you need to spray 800 rounds a minute for home defense.

In my opinion the only reason u need automatic fire is for firepower, and to keep heads down...none of which are really needed in today's world..

my 2 cents

Well, the Second Amendment has nothing to do with home defense either. It specifically deals with the ability of the militia to preserve the security of a free state, or in other words to fight against a tyranical government (someone elses or our own).

Full auto weapons are useless for everday purposes, but they are the weapons specifically dealt with by the 2nd Amendment.

I would agree, there isn't much need for automatic weapons in today's world, in the USA anyway, but that doesn't mean they should be banned.

Automatic weapons have been heavily regulated since 1934.

You have to cough up a hefty amount of money and submit your name and fingerprints to the FBI for a lengthy criminal background check.

After that, you can count on spending several thousand dollars to get the cheapest of automatic weapons.

This includes M16's and AK47's (select fire).

I can recall only one time in the last 20 years or so that an automatic weapon was used in a crime.

So, with that in mind, why ban them?

Check out how much fun you can have shooting them:

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...&threadid=3144

(moved to politics)

Yeah, semi's illegaly converted to autos on the street and illegaly imported auto's are much more dangerous.

I dont have a strong opinion either way on this.

Weapon's are personal possessions (however dangerous they are) and govt should try not to tell people what they can possess.

Actually, only one crime has been comitted with a legally owned Class 3 NFA device (full auto weapons for our purposes) since 1935. A cop shot a man with his MAC-10.

Now, this might make it seem like the ban works, but what about illegal gun crime? Only 1 percent of all gun crime in Miami involves a machine gun in any way. That was about as high as it gets. There is no reasonable, logical, sound argument for taking such weapons away from law-abiding citizens. For whatever lawful reason it may be used, a citizen is fully within their rights to do so.

The NFA is completely unconstitutional, and should be repealed. So should every ban, restriction, repeal and other ordinance action since then. As Barrel shrouds and bayonet lugs do not kill people, individuals who use weapons of any kind maliciously kill people.

If'n we ever have to take over the gov'ment we will need our automatic weapons

lol, the epitome of gun nut reasoning: the fact that (banned) automatic firearms haven't been used to commit crimes is now evidence that the ban is unnecessary.

Smooth,

You are being unclear. What "banned" automatic firearms are you talking about?

There is really no reason to keep fully automatic weapons from those private citizens who are trained to use them. If you want to go through the hassle of becoming trained/licensed, you too can fire a fully automatic weapon.

I personally see no reason why fully automatic weapons should be kept from the populace as well.

The reason why the second amendment is there at all is for the purpose of revolution. If the government gets out of hand, the people have the right to get rid of it and instate a new one. Banning automatic weapons makes no sense in this respect because if a revolt ever breaks out (hypothetically speaking), how could people who decide to revolt have a chance against the cops, let alone the military?

In my opinion, if all guns of any kind are banned, then only the government will have them and thats a scary thought in my mind. The second amendment is there so the government has a reason to fear the people if those in power choose to abuse them.

The ban is unnecessary if it hasn't changed the nature of gun crime at all, which it hasn't. Illegally acquired arms of that sort are very minimally used. The fact is, just because it's illegal to have it, doesn't mean that people don't.

If you jump through al the hoops to own one what is wrong with having the person that goes by the rules is not someone to worry about

The way it is now is fine.

Besides, how many crimes are committed with a fully automatic weapon? It's pretty difficult to accomplish, and even more difficult to get away.

when over 10,000 people a year in the u.s. die from automatic weapons... you have a serious problem.

The only thing I'd like to chime in is on the reasoning:

Its true auto weapons don't kill all that many people a year. But saying its unnecessary? The truth is, a ban that works would make sure those who die don't die.

The only problem is whether or not hte ban works. I just hate it when people say "because few die its not needed" - why not make it work and make sure those few don't die.

People die driving, so why not make it illegal so people don't die because of it?

People also die because they ride a bike, why not make sure they don't die and make that illegal too.

People can get massive injuries by using skateboards, roller blades, and roller skates, so lets make that illegal too.

So, according to that logic, our only forms of transportation should be walking and running.

PEOPLE!!!

We need to be clear what we are talking about.

AUTOMATIC Weapons (guns that you pull the trigger and the gun keeps firing until you release the trigger or you run out of bullets) are regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934.

Automatic weapons ARE NOT BANNED. It is merely VERY HARD to get them, since you have to pass an FBI background check and spend a lot of money.

As such, VERY few crimes involve ANY automatic weapons, LEGAL or ILLEGAL. (I believe on the order of 1-5 since 1934.)

Now, I believe that people are confusing the ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN of 1994 with automatic weapons. They are NOT the same.

This Ban deals with SEMI-AUTOMATIC rifles that look like select fire military rifles, but in reality are functionally NO DIFFERENT from semi-automatic hunting rifles.

So in otherwords, people chiming in to ban automatic weapons from private ownership are people with a solution in search of a problem.

Lebell, please PM me to receive a free-huggles coupon. Thank you.