My main points were
a) the flawed nature of gun rights arguments in using actual incidents of self-defense rather than the threat and risk imposed on potential criminals
b) the need for pragmatism and maturity in owning and legalizing weapons-- regardless of whether the AWB was effective or banned the right weapons
A) I believe that many of these arguments came about from liberals porclaiming that no gun would be effective against a threat, that no matter how well trained a person was in using the weapon, that it would be taken away and used against them
B) I don't think that you will find many people here that are saying that any 8 year old should be able to buy a rifle without their parents consent. Likewise, I would bet that most people here have never threatened another person with a gun, and if the did, then it was provocation from the other party.
For your original post,
But, assault weapons have little place in modern society.
That right there is an opinion. There is no reason to have anime in a modern society, yet I could care less if someone were to watch it.
Rifles and shotguns are designed for hunting, for the most part, and semi-automatic handguns are efficient in the realm of self-defense.
Let me remind you first off, that most so-called 'assualt weapons' are, in fact, rifles. Most rifles you claim have a real purpose, hunting, are designed on weapons originally made for the military. Mausers were originally used by many countries for war, yet today they are one of the most commonly reproduced bolt action rifle.
But weapons like an AK-47 or Uzi are not designed for either-- they are designed for warfare. How can you logically claim otherwise? An AK-47 is not meant to kill one attacker, or fell a deer-- it's meant to efficiently kill several men.
What somethign was originally meant to do has no bearing on what it is used to do. Because Jeeps and Humvee's were originally designed for military use, by your logic, no civilians should own them. Yet, they are popular because of the same reasons that semi-automatic military variations are popular. Well tested, proven, reliable, easy to use, fun. Semi-automatic versions of military weapons are just that. They have found alternate uses as target guns, defense guns and fun shooters for those who are tight on the budget.
That's not something that is necessary or wanted in the modern United States.
Again, an opinion. I would believe that if you were to conduct an internet poll, you would find a majority of people wanting to ban smoking, too. Does that mean that we should?
Thus in your poll, comparing banning assault weapons to banning a specific type of computer-- that's ridiculous. Computers have legitimate uses other than electronic crime, whereas an Uzi used in a drive-by is operating within its primary function.
And guns do too. Target shooting is a sport that I enjoy. Would you ban baseball bats if they were used in crimes? Do you honestly think that someone doing the drive-by would voluntarialy hand over their Uzi when you came for them? Also, I believe you are confusing 'assualt weapons' with submachine guns. Do you know what a semi-automatic Uzi is? Simply a huge, bulky, inaccurate 9mm handgun. What makes you think that a 9mm Uzi is any more dangerous than a 9mm Beretta 92?
Its wrong to deny fifth graders Microsoft Encarta because of electronic crime; but I think gun enthusiasts should be mature enough to recognize the cost to society legalized assault weapons incur and thus relinquish their right to own such property. Legalized assault weapons enable terrorists and criminals to acquire means without risk, and this will result in more uses of the weapons.
Do you know that any weapon legally purchased in a gun store must have a background check completed? That, if you are not a citizen, you can't buy one? And what purpose would buying a semi-automatic copy of an AK, for about $300 do? When fully automatic weapons are available in Iraq for nothing, and the Mexican borders are flooded with illegal immigrants crossing, why wouldn't they simly carry them across the border?
Simply put, I am asking how putting a bayonet mounting lug, a flash hider, and a collapasable stock on my legal rifle is going to affect national security, the safety of my neighbors, or will in any way affect you.
