What is an assault rifle? Video showing difference

[Ryan Salo]

This video makes it very clear that politicians are not taking the most dangerous guns off the street, they are just taking the scariest looking guns off the street.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01 ... ult-rifle/

[ryan costa]

what guns do you want to take off the street?

[Ryan Salo]

I am not for taking guns away from responsible owners. I just dont understand the liberals fear of assault weapons when clearly there are more powerful and dangerous guns out there. Why take something away because it looks scary?

[Sandra Donnelly]

I am not for taking guns away from responsible owners. I just dont understand the liberals fear of assault weapons when clearly there are more powerful and dangerous guns out there. Why take something away because it looks scary?

"Looking scary" has nothing to do with the issue. Weapons equipped with extended magazines that can pump out hundreds of rounds in a matter of seconds in order to inflict maximum damage to a number of targets are the issue. Equivocating over the definition of "assault rifle" is a feeble attempt to dilute the conversation.

[Ryan Salo]

Sandra,

Please watch the video or read the definition of assault weapon. The size of the magazine is a totally separate argument that you and I probably agree on. Looking scary has everything to do with the issue.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_weapon

[Will Brown]

I am aware of magazines that can carry 30 and even 50 rounds, but never of any that can carry hundreds of rounds. I think Donnelly just made that up to cloud the issue.

[Stephen Eisel]

"

Looking scary" has nothing to do with the issue. Weapons equipped with extended magazines that can pump out hundreds of rounds in a matter of seconds in order to inflict maximum damage to a number of targets are the issue. Equivocating over the definition of "assault rifle" is a feeble attempt to dilute the conversation.

Having used to own an SKS, I became very proficient at changing magazines. Regardless of magazine capacity each shot still took a pull of the trigger. For example, a 30 round magazine versus a 10 round magazine may make a total time difference of about 5 - 6 seconds in getting off 30 rounds off with 3 10 round magazines. I do not think that banning extended magazines will prevent the next Sandy Hook or really impact the casualty count. I think that smart weapon technology, gun storage mandates and not only background checks on the individual buying the weapon but individuals living in the same house might have a real impact on guns following into the wrong hands.