General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: IT'S. THE. GUNS. [View all]TeddyR
(2,493 posts)So sounds like we agree that automatic weapons are not a problem, are not used in crimes, and all the language about "assault weapons" is at best intentionally misleading.
I didn't say that semi-automatic rifles weren't readily available, I said $500 isn't "easy." If you consider $500 easy then congrats on having a lot of disposable income.
No, the fact that a handful of criminals use semi-auto weapons to commit crimes is not a reason to ban those weapons. This is exactly why many people oppose an "assault weapons" ban - you say you just want to ban "assault weapons," but when that passes then you want to ban all semi-automatic weapons. The end game is banning firearms altogether.
Do you really think that if an automatic weapon had been used in any crime over the last 10 years we wouldn't hear about it, regardless of what the FBI does or does not report? The North Hollywood shootout was covered by every major news organization in the US.