"Why do we need assault weapons?"

[30-30]

Please keep this civil as I would like this thread to last. A politically neutral friend of mine is posting on facebook asking why American civilians need assault rifles, and suggesting that they be banned. Here is an excerpt.

"To me, guns serve only two civilian purposes: self-defense and hunting. Why would you need an assault rifle for either of these purposes? And it's not the firepower of the gun that's so important; it's the capacity of the magazine, of which assault rifles generally are larger. This allows for a wider range of damage across targets, say, in shooting sprees. There is a problem, however, in that if someone wants to kill people, they'll find a way to do it. We shouldn't outlaw civilian possession of firearms in general, only those styles which can injure many people at one time."

The last sentence concerns me. What would you say?

[icetrauma]

IMO, if any type of ban would take place then, that would get the snowball rolling and next thing you know, everything is being banned and see 2nd Amendment.

[systemnt]

I don't know what weapon can't be classified as an assault weapon.
So the easy answer is, for protection, for hunting , for sport, and for entertainment.
The capacity question is a useless arguement meant only as a stepping stone to more regulation and its been tried before..
Next question.

[Jaspro]

I don't own any assault weapons. I only own hunting weapons. When I am hunting things with multiple targets, ie feral hogs, I want as many shots possible to kill,maim, disable as many of those hogs as possible.

[elkbowhunter]

Founding fathers would have insisted on WE THE PEOPLE have free access to the same weapons the government has...probably not nukes but ground defense weapons.
take away our AR 15 it won't stop there....by the end we will BB guns.

[Bhuntinfishn]

A deer rifle can shoot folks from longer distances than the common ar-15 carbines.

[crittergitter]

Originally Posted by 30-30

Please keep this civil as I would like this thread to last. A politically neutral friend of mine is posting on facebook asking why American civilians need assault rifles, and suggesting that they be banned. Here is an excerpt.

sounds like you need new FB friends. that is one way to get deleted off my page.....

[DorothyNotKeegan]

I own hunting rifles....they become assault rifles when someone tries to take what is mine or attempts to cause harm!

[RLB]

Originally Posted by Bhuntinfishn

A deer rifle can shoot folks from longer distances than the common ar-15 carbines.

Shhhhhhhhh......they ain't figured that out yet!!!

[icetrauma]

Originally Posted by Bhuntinfishn

A deer rifle can shoot folks from longer distances than the common ar-15 carbines.

Yup. Not to mention a lot more accurate.

[garzanium]

Originally Posted by systemnt

I don't know what weapon can't be classified as an assault weapon.
So the easy answer is, for protection, for hunting , for sport, and for entertainment.
Next question.

Perfectly said.

[DFlores]

In any discussion each side attempts to pull the discourse as far as possible in their direction, thus keeping things in the middle. A good example is the republican party, a candidate cannot run as a republican unless they are more conservative than anyone else, this then results in stagnation because no one will compromise.

[Draco]

If a gang of drug cartel members comes to my camp house with assault weapons, I want to be as well armed as they are. After reading on here some of the things that have happened to people on south Texas leases, I think it is highly likely that it could happen and a bolt action just ain't gonna cut it.

[unclefish]

Need is not the point. The premise of the question your friend posted is wrong from the start.

People in large cities don't necessarily need a car. Cars kill far more people than guns annually. Do people really need cars?

[8pointer]

I think you bring up a very interesting point. When I worked behing the firearms counter at Cabela's when I was in college, I was kind of scratching my head "why anyone really needs this .50 BMG". All in all, I think a firearm is a firearm and a Murderer is a Murderer. Guns don't kill people..... people kill people.

[Texasredneck]

Originally Posted by systemnt

I don't know what weapon can't be classified as an assault weapon.
So the easy answer is, for protection, for hunting , for sport, and for entertainment.
Next question.

^^^^ This!!!

[M16]

Originally Posted by elkbowhunter

Founding fathers would have insisted on WE THE PEOPLE have free access to the same weapons the government has...probably not nukes but ground defense weapons.
take away our AR 15 it won't stop there....by the end we will BB guns.

This

[Cam-Mac]

You need new friends buddy, lol!

[icetrauma]

Originally Posted by 8pointer

I think you bring up a very interesting point. When I worked behing the firearms counter at Cabela's when I was in college, I was kind of scratching my head "why anyone really needs this .50 BMG". All in all, I think a firearm is a firearm and a Murderer is a Murderer. Guns don't kill people..... people kill people.

Logic does not work with government.

[Tejas Wildlife]

Why not ban any vehicle that is faster than the speed limit?

Why not ban long butcher knives?

Why not ban the ability to "Supersize" your fast food order?

These all make just as much sense as banning large capacity magazines.

So it's acceptable to just kill ONE person at a time using a singleshot but not if you are using an AR????

THE CRIMINAL ACT OF TAKING A LIFE IS WHAT IS WRONG, NOT THE INSTRUMENT AN EVIL PERSON USES TO ACCOMPLISH THE ACT.

Help me remember, HOW MANY FIREARMS did the 9/11 attackers use?

As I recall..............NONE!!!! And those MUSLIM *********x'ers killed over 3,000 PEOPLE!!!!! Don't fall into the "Lets just ban this ugly gun because it looks bad" trap.

[Hill Kuntry Boy]

Wow. Some people really need to think things through more before speaking. Next it will be take away bows and crossbows cuz they are a silent killer... All I gotta say is pull your jeans up cuz the poop is really gettin deep!

[RiverRat1]

Originally Posted by Bhuntinfishn

A deer rifle can shoot folks from longer distances than the common ar-15 carbines.

Then they will want to ban those "sniper" rifles. I mean why do you need to shoot something so far away?

[AJMag]

Originally Posted by 30-30

We shouldn't outlaw civilian possession of firearms in general, only those styles which can injure many people at one time."

That's what the government would like, so we can't resist as effectively.

In the right hands, a hand full of spoons and butter knives can injure many people, just like a seriously foggy morning and a slippery road. Should we, then, ban spoons, butter knives, and bad weather?

[Shane]

Because the framers of the Constitution were wise enough to recognize that citizens need to be able to do more than hunt and/or shoot recreationally. We need to be able to do more than defend ourselves against criminals, thieves, and attackers. We need to be able to defend ourselves against an oppressive and over-reaching government.....

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

[kfd82]

Originally Posted by 30-30

We shouldn't outlaw civilian possession of firearms in general, only those styles which can injure many people at one time."

The last sentence concerns me. What would you say?

The answer is, you cant "Outlaw" any guns and make it work. Bad guys WILL still get them.
Cocaine is outlawed, but there is still plenty of that around.

Outlawing high capacity magazines wont work either. There are too many out in the world already.

[redheadkronik]

Anything could be used as an assault weapon look at David and goliath one little rock is all it takes I have an ar15 I didn't buy it to harm any one just to have fun with and kill pigs and stuff I heard the other day that the biggest army in the world is the American hunters lol all I have to say on this post

[Coach W]

Originally Posted by 30-30

A politically neutral friend of mine is posting on facebook asking why American civilians need assault rifles, and suggesting that they be banned. What would you say?

I would tell him that we are not friends.... THat when he needed to protect his family he was on his own... and to go "Letter after E before G" himself...

Then move on. I dont associate with the enemy... you aint gonna change his mind... and he aint getting my guns... sooooooooooo

[SOLID EAGLE]

Might as well ask why someone needs a car that can go 160 mph when 70 is the speed limit. Or why do you need a compound bow when a traditional bow can do the same thing.

My bottom line is this, when someone like the guy in Colorado decides he wants to do what he did, then no government law or ban is going to stop him. If it wasn't an AR15 then it would have been something else and the end results would be the same. He had the knowledge and the means to make all kinds of ied's that probably could have been worse.

In my opinion the only real deterrent is armed citizens who will react when they find themselves in those types of situations. It ain't much but it's a hell of a lot more than some "make me feel safe" ban on something that will only serve to disarm the ones that don't need disarming.

[Landrover]

Woohoo!!! Pad party.........

[Mudslinger]

This guy was going to kill people no matter what he used, look at what he did with his apt. If he did not have access to guns, then it looked like he would have devised bombs and or a chemical that would have just killed the same number or even more in the theatre.

You give the anti gun crowd an inch, they will want a mile.

[GregH]

Emotions run unfettered during a tragedy like this. It's when our lawmakers get caught up in emotion that bad laws get passed. Logic almost never prevails...guns, welfare, healthcare, take your pick.

Anytime something is banned, a new criminal enterprise is created.

[Loftin]

Reading trough here I can pretty much see u have already gotten enough answers, and I'm sure ALL of them went in te direction you thought they would. I am a gun activist and will die before your gonna come take mine away from me, tough to understand how your friends with someone who is against you on the beliefs on guns??? Guns don't kill people, people kill people, just like alcohol don't kill people, it's the people that are irresponsible and abuse it that kill and harm others due to alcohol. Ban guns, ban alcohol, ban drugs, ban whatever you want irresponsible people are still gonna find something&abuse it and it will get outta control and hurt others

[Landrover]

Originally Posted by Mudslinger

This guy was going to kill people no matter what he used, look at what he did with his apt. If he did not have access to guns, then it looked like he would have devised bombs and or a chemical that would have just killed the same number or even more in the theatre.

You give the anti gun crowd an inch, they will want a mile.

Originally Posted by GregH

Emotions run unfettered during a tragedy like this. It's when our lawmakers get caught up in emotion that bad laws get passed. Logic almost never prevails...guns, welfare, healthcare, take your pick.

Anytime something is banned, a new criminal enterprise is created.

thanks to both of the gentlemen for having sense to look beyond the first page!
Wierd how folks tell someone NOT to be friends because of an issue. Duh, guess yall live a very boring existence.

[icetrauma]

Tobacco kills more people then guns so, why not ban tobacco. Just another example.

[Habanarrow]

Tell ur friend I can put about 300 push pin in a sock with a hole and swing the heck out of it. That would fit the style of injuring many people at one time. Is he planning on banning socks and tacks????

[HNT ETX]

Crazy people are always going to be crazy........can't outlaw crazy.

Take away guns and they will be strapping IED's to their chest. More gun control is not the answer. As a matter of fact, I say less gun control may be the answer, an armed citizen may have been able to end this quickly.

[BSMITH]

cuz the bad guys have them...I should too

[JFISHER]

Why do we need someone deciding(for us) it's in our best interest to not have them?

[Bhuntinfishn]

Cars kill more people thanks guns ever do, are they gonna ban them next?

[8pointer]

I respectfully agree with what everyone is saying and it seems like we are all on the same side. Let's stick to the question though. Why do we need assault rifles??? ..... And I must say this, if a drug cartel rolls up to your deer lease, you are probably in big trouble no matter how many AR's you have.

[BBReezen]

I have an assault rifle for two reasons... Assault anyone who enters my sanctuary unwelcomed and warned (maybe) and assault any and all corn thieves and feral swine that shall impede on my deers sanctuary unwelcomed.

Do we really need these things? Yes, I may not use mine for the same purposes as the next person but mine is a precise and efficient tool that I use on a weekly basis. I don't use it for mass shootings of human beings for the reason that I am a law abiding, level headed American citizen. That should give me the right to own whatever the hell I want. Be it a .50 cal or a 100rd mag for my 10/22. The person that made the comment on Facebook is prob one who would want to ban assault rifles and let the guy in colorado plead insanity. Ok I'm done got a bit carried away.

[GregH]

Originally Posted by JFISHER

Why do we need someone deciding(for us) it's in our best interest to not have them?

^^ Well said!

[Bhuntinfishn]

I have them because it's my right to!!!

[Snipehunter]

To impose even one ban of any sort would be to start the downward spiral of the 2ND Amenment right.

[Pistol]

I don't own any WEAPONS. They are firearms, simple little machines that function very well when maintained. They aren't weapons until they are used against a person for either defense or attack. Under the definition of a weapon, a baseball bat can become a weapon or a car or anything else.
Hilter didn't kill millions with guns. He used many other methods and was able to do so becuase he took away their guns first!

[BBReezen]

Originally Posted by icetrauma

Tobacco kills more people then guns so, why not ban tobacco. Just another example.

Banning tobacco would just cause a mass nicotine rage and we would have a nationwide royal rumble on our hands.

[Lungbustr]

For the exact same reason the govt. And law enforcement "needs them". They could do their jobs with single shot weapons couldnt they? We need to protect ourselves from crazies like the colorado shooter, we need to protect our country from foreign invaders, and we need to protect ourselves from our govt. ,and just common criminals. That and its our right and duty as american citizens to own them. Dont forget this shooting along with pretty much all mass shootings happened in a gun free zone.

[Shane]

Originally Posted by 8pointer

I respectfully agree with what everyone is saying and it seems like we are all on the same side. Let's stick to the question though. Why do we need assault rifles??? ..... And I must say this, if a drug cartel rolls up to your deer lease, you are probably in big trouble no matter how many AR's you have.

With all due respect, that's the WRONG question.

The right question is "Why should we be unable to own any firearm we want?". 99.99% of gun owners are good, law-abiding citizens. Why should our rights be infringed in any way?

[DawgOnIt]

Originally Posted by unclefish

Need is not the point. The premise of the question your friend posted is wrong from the start.

People in large cities don't necessarily need a car. Cars kill far more people than guns annually. Do people really need cars?

Exactly right here!

Your facebook friend even states, "To me, guns serve only two civilian purposes: self-defense and hunting."

He has a narrow view based off his opinions which probably came about by being shielded or never exposed to all types of weapons. You could probably take this guy out and let him run a few clips down shooting at targets and he
may see there is more to it then just self-defense and hunting.

[JSF]

Originally Posted by Shane

With all due respect, that's the WRONG question.

The right question is "Why should we be unable to own any firearm we want?". 99.99% of gun owners are good, law-abiding citizens. Why should our rights be infringed in any way?

This ^^^