For the Lurkers
Machine guns are one thing... submachine guns yet another.
If we are to extrapolate and read between the lines, apparently the US govt knows that the Mexican Drug Cartels would eschew their illegaly procured fully automatic weaponry, RPG devices and hand grenades in favor of US purchased, from licensed FFLs mind you, neutered semi-automatic rifle versions of famous assault rifles to commit their heinous crimes of control to further their drug emporiums in 90% of their activities. Or so it was reported and believed by all who listened to the media a while back. It was OUR fault. Investigation STILL underway.
I would guess that at least 1 in 4 non gun owning Americans today think that the evil bushmaster rifle(s) used in the recent spate of madmen murdering unarmed movie goers, shoppers and students think they are in fact fully automatic weapons, given their ignorance on the subject matter and the duplicity of the media and the anti crowds tactics of vague and footloose semantics. Heck some politicians who supposedly write the bills they propose do not know a barrel shroud from a folding stock as incredulous as that truly is. Kafkaesque perhaps. Leadership at its finest... not.
Back to the OPs point... Yes, Law abiding citizens who have the desire, money and have passed the onorous background check and live in States that allow NFA items rarely use them in crimes, if ever. A mere micro-blip on the crime screen. A non issue at most.
Let us play Devils Advocate for a moment. For argument sake, a "Ban" is passed requiring NFA compliance for the devices in question, anything semiautomatic that is fed by "clips" that hold more than (pick a number) say 7 rounds. An amnesty period of 30-60 days is allowed for registration and processing of applications along with a meager $200 transfer tax each device and "clip", followed by a minimum 6 month waiting period for background checks. All in the name of stopping crimes of the recent nature.
Imagine how many "Law-abiding" citizens would break the law after going through all that? Minimal if any. They are law abiding. The other 99% (OK, pick a number that suits you) who are now outlaws because they refuse to comply? 99% of these will also not take someones life without need or necessity, because basically they too are law abiding and respectful of life and don't really want to spend their lives in prison.
But the criminals and the mentally unstable who get their hands on a weapon, up to and including a gallon of gasoline and a match, can still wreak havoc on the unarmed law abiding populace. So what, exactly, have we solved for the children? (rhetorical preaching to choir question, we all know the answer) Well, Uncle Sam now has a registry, a little money to spend and more employees to keep track of it all. How did that fare in Canada as of late? (again, we all know the answer)
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