I understand that a AR (AR-15) will help in self defense against the bad guys, but why not the bad guys just not have it in the first place? All that happens when its legal is that the bad guys take it and kill some more people, and yes, maybe a good guy will come to the rescue with another AR, but usually not, so why not just not have the military grade weapon in the first place? I also saw someone talking about how the AR isn't an assault rifle, but thats just not true. The AR was BUILT as a military weapon and is BUILT for killing people, IT IS NOT A SPORTING WEAPON, ITS A KILLING WEAPON!! Also, the bump stalk attachment is a very easy and simple attachment, and makes the AR a full blown automatic rifle, which we do not need in this country. Look, grew up in the south, live in the south, talk about knowing gun culture. I understand hunting, shooting ranges, ect., but just because you want to shred some dear with a AR (Just use a hunting rife!), or shoot a practically auto weapon at the range, don't mean innocent children have to die. In most countries, guns are totally illegal, and they are totally fine, no shooting, no dead children. I don't want all weapons to go away, not even close, but at least the ones that were built for shooting other people to go away.
Tigertomcat - 6 years ago
Kimberly; We didn't win our Independence will strong words, it took Military style arms to do it. And if the government tries to seize legally owned firearms like they tried to do in April of 1775, will most likely be a repeat of that.
Joshua - 6 years ago
Your poll question is arguably non specific and does not clearly specify if those voting are voting for a total ban on AR-15 type rifles or are opposed to legislature that would prevent their sale or ownership. You might receive more accurate results if you were more clear on the subject.
That aside, anyone who truly believes that guns serve no purpose in our world or society has no idea what the real world is like. It is dark, it is cold, and at times it can be downright evil and mean. The gun gives a fighting chance to those who wish to live in peace. Are there bad people out there that wish to do harm? Yes. Is a gun scary in the hands of a deranged person hellbent on injuring others? Yes it is. You know what else is scary? Same deranged person with a knife, a bomb, or a crowbar.
Everyone seems intent to blame the tool but never the person using it. When there is a vehicular homicide, we blame the driver not the car. When there is a shooting, we need to blame the shooter, not the gun. The gun is a tool no more different than a hammer. Without a person to control it, the gun is just steel plastic, and sometimes wood.
I agree with many of the other posters on this article. This issue of violence should not be focused on guns but rather the true issue, there is an abundance of violence in American culture. What can we do about? Or How can we reduce it? I really don’t know, but the sooner we realize that violence begins as a mental state of mind, the sooner we can work to reducing it. The tools used as a result of violence are really an after thought.
Henry Kane - 6 years ago
Kimberly,
You propose "Sweep in and take them all..." as a solution to violence? The ironic flaw in your suggestion is that such a power grab would be an irrefutable marker of tyranny; exactly the kind the Second Amendment deters. This would not be peacefully accepted by any of the millions of free citizens who value their liberty. I think you'd find that your "solution" to violence would have the exact opposite outcome from what you imagine.
Fortunately, even anti-2A legislators realize what you, apparently, do not.
C B - 6 years ago
Banning or restricting any firearm does nothing in terms of crime nor ownership. If someone kills someone with a firearm, kill him back or put him in prison for the rest of their life. There, he will never do it again. Why ban others for his actions? It doesn't work, to begin with, as noted in this article.
If someone was armed, but illegally, and could save your life would you tell him no thank you? Would you wait until a "legal" gun owner showed up to save you? All guns laws are bs and unconstitutional to me.
Tim Halpin - 6 years ago
Enforce the laws that are already on the books! There was a guy in Chicago with 55 counts of selling firearms illegally. It was plea bargined down to one count, and he was given probation. THATS THE PROBLEM!
B. Shapiro - 6 years ago
Hey Kimberly, since when to criminals care about laws?
Guns are entirely banned in Mexico. How is that working out for them? Murder is illegal isn’t it?
Hey drugs are also banned and illegal. Is it hard to get drugs?
Why would we punish normal working folks for the actions of a few crazy assholes?
With all the deaths by trucks and uhauls across Europe and most recently in New York, you’d think you would want to bad vehicles too...
Rambler - 6 years ago
Kimberly, you don’t have any idea of what you are talking about. Our constitution recognizes our God given (or natural) right to protect ourselves and prohibits the government from trampling that right. As far as self defense is concerned, what more effective tool is there, when a bad guy enters your home with a gun? Are you going to swat him with a USA Today? No...you are going to point your gun at him, or you are going to call 911 and hope they send someone with a gun. You can not deny this fact. If you try to do so, you are delusional and should not be allowed a weapon of any sort anyway. Finally, as regards the latest violence in Texas, what was it that stopped the perpetrator? It was a good guy with a gun. And what gun was it with which he confronted the perpetrator? It was an AR-15, the same weapon Feinstein and friends are trying to ban. The incident would have been much, much worse had the good guy with the AR-15 had not been there. Now, a good suggestion for you would be to stop listening to and reading media such as CNN and Hello Giggles, places that have a George Soros and Bloomberg bought and paid for Agenda. Do some real research, and some real critical thinking, and you’ll discover how ridiculous your comments above appear. Thru all of that, remember that Americans will not hand over their arms like the Australians did. First of all, the aussies didn’t have something akin to our second amendment. Second, criminal will never, ever turn over their weapons, so why should the law-abiding? Demanding confiscation or buybacks will cause a civil war, and the outcome will not be pretty.
Tim - 6 years ago
We must work together toward real solutions to these types of violent encounters. Our parochial focus towards guns/controls/regulations simply have not and will not work. We can no longer afford to remain ignorant on the topic of guns and gun rights in the US. It is this ignorance which produces the frustration on both sides of this (non)issue. We must understand that there are more guns than people in our country. Gossip and foolhardy notions of buy-backs or confiscation (Australia) are just that. Guns will not be magically rounded up and melted down. Guns will not be handed over or taken away. To think otherwise is utter nonsense as this is profoundly unfeasible. This goes for all guns, including semi-auto rifles of which there are 10s of millions in circulation. It is vital to fully comprehend the nature and scope of guns in the US in order to make any kind of progression in the fight against mass violence. We must truly look to the root causes of violence, real and stringent enforcement of current, existing gun laws, mental health care, values within our society, strengthening and mending the educational and justice systems. Simple gun control, based on an sheer ignorance of guns in this country, does not and will not work.
Tim - 6 years ago
@Kimberly As the article states, only 16 of 50 states have adopted the measures. Sounds like there is still a lot to be done to make the database complete. If the DoD or Air Force had processes in place to include their members who were identified as having mental health issues, this slaughter may not have happened. Your suggestion of banning all of these weapons isn't realistic. They are already out there. We aren't Austrailia, America's culture is different. The most simple solution is for you to move where your values align with the environment versus change millions of people to change their culture.
Kimberly - 6 years ago
If we are already making such a huge improvement in reporting...then why are these shootings still happening? What the hell do we need with a gun that can do that much damage. The only point this article makes is because its popular and people use it to hunt. Woopie. This does not negate the FACT that these guns are not a necessity to protect ourselves or to hunt with...with so many more less dangerous options out there. Yes, I do understand that if someone wants to kill me a handgun would do it just as much as an AR-15. That's where the gun control comes in. How do you propose we do more than what your article says is being done to stop these psychos from getting thier hands on one of these guns? Because there are too many on the black market and laws wont stop them there. You know what would...banning them to the public altogether. Sweep in and take them all and that gives them less options to destroy so many lives at once.
I understand that a AR (AR-15) will help in self defense against the bad guys, but why not the bad guys just not have it in the first place? All that happens when its legal is that the bad guys take it and kill some more people, and yes, maybe a good guy will come to the rescue with another AR, but usually not, so why not just not have the military grade weapon in the first place? I also saw someone talking about how the AR isn't an assault rifle, but thats just not true. The AR was BUILT as a military weapon and is BUILT for killing people, IT IS NOT A SPORTING WEAPON, ITS A KILLING WEAPON!! Also, the bump stalk attachment is a very easy and simple attachment, and makes the AR a full blown automatic rifle, which we do not need in this country. Look, grew up in the south, live in the south, talk about knowing gun culture. I understand hunting, shooting ranges, ect., but just because you want to shred some dear with a AR (Just use a hunting rife!), or shoot a practically auto weapon at the range, don't mean innocent children have to die. In most countries, guns are totally illegal, and they are totally fine, no shooting, no dead children. I don't want all weapons to go away, not even close, but at least the ones that were built for shooting other people to go away.
Kimberly; We didn't win our Independence will strong words, it took Military style arms to do it. And if the government tries to seize legally owned firearms like they tried to do in April of 1775, will most likely be a repeat of that.
Your poll question is arguably non specific and does not clearly specify if those voting are voting for a total ban on AR-15 type rifles or are opposed to legislature that would prevent their sale or ownership. You might receive more accurate results if you were more clear on the subject.
That aside, anyone who truly believes that guns serve no purpose in our world or society has no idea what the real world is like. It is dark, it is cold, and at times it can be downright evil and mean. The gun gives a fighting chance to those who wish to live in peace. Are there bad people out there that wish to do harm? Yes. Is a gun scary in the hands of a deranged person hellbent on injuring others? Yes it is. You know what else is scary? Same deranged person with a knife, a bomb, or a crowbar.
Everyone seems intent to blame the tool but never the person using it. When there is a vehicular homicide, we blame the driver not the car. When there is a shooting, we need to blame the shooter, not the gun. The gun is a tool no more different than a hammer. Without a person to control it, the gun is just steel plastic, and sometimes wood.
I agree with many of the other posters on this article. This issue of violence should not be focused on guns but rather the true issue, there is an abundance of violence in American culture. What can we do about? Or How can we reduce it? I really don’t know, but the sooner we realize that violence begins as a mental state of mind, the sooner we can work to reducing it. The tools used as a result of violence are really an after thought.
Kimberly,
You propose "Sweep in and take them all..." as a solution to violence? The ironic flaw in your suggestion is that such a power grab would be an irrefutable marker of tyranny; exactly the kind the Second Amendment deters. This would not be peacefully accepted by any of the millions of free citizens who value their liberty. I think you'd find that your "solution" to violence would have the exact opposite outcome from what you imagine.
Fortunately, even anti-2A legislators realize what you, apparently, do not.
Banning or restricting any firearm does nothing in terms of crime nor ownership. If someone kills someone with a firearm, kill him back or put him in prison for the rest of their life. There, he will never do it again. Why ban others for his actions? It doesn't work, to begin with, as noted in this article.
If someone was armed, but illegally, and could save your life would you tell him no thank you? Would you wait until a "legal" gun owner showed up to save you? All guns laws are bs and unconstitutional to me.
Enforce the laws that are already on the books! There was a guy in Chicago with 55 counts of selling firearms illegally. It was plea bargined down to one count, and he was given probation. THATS THE PROBLEM!
Hey Kimberly, since when to criminals care about laws?
Guns are entirely banned in Mexico. How is that working out for them? Murder is illegal isn’t it?
Hey drugs are also banned and illegal. Is it hard to get drugs?
Why would we punish normal working folks for the actions of a few crazy assholes?
With all the deaths by trucks and uhauls across Europe and most recently in New York, you’d think you would want to bad vehicles too...
Kimberly, you don’t have any idea of what you are talking about. Our constitution recognizes our God given (or natural) right to protect ourselves and prohibits the government from trampling that right. As far as self defense is concerned, what more effective tool is there, when a bad guy enters your home with a gun? Are you going to swat him with a USA Today? No...you are going to point your gun at him, or you are going to call 911 and hope they send someone with a gun. You can not deny this fact. If you try to do so, you are delusional and should not be allowed a weapon of any sort anyway. Finally, as regards the latest violence in Texas, what was it that stopped the perpetrator? It was a good guy with a gun. And what gun was it with which he confronted the perpetrator? It was an AR-15, the same weapon Feinstein and friends are trying to ban. The incident would have been much, much worse had the good guy with the AR-15 had not been there. Now, a good suggestion for you would be to stop listening to and reading media such as CNN and Hello Giggles, places that have a George Soros and Bloomberg bought and paid for Agenda. Do some real research, and some real critical thinking, and you’ll discover how ridiculous your comments above appear. Thru all of that, remember that Americans will not hand over their arms like the Australians did. First of all, the aussies didn’t have something akin to our second amendment. Second, criminal will never, ever turn over their weapons, so why should the law-abiding? Demanding confiscation or buybacks will cause a civil war, and the outcome will not be pretty.
We must work together toward real solutions to these types of violent encounters. Our parochial focus towards guns/controls/regulations simply have not and will not work. We can no longer afford to remain ignorant on the topic of guns and gun rights in the US. It is this ignorance which produces the frustration on both sides of this (non)issue. We must understand that there are more guns than people in our country. Gossip and foolhardy notions of buy-backs or confiscation (Australia) are just that. Guns will not be magically rounded up and melted down. Guns will not be handed over or taken away. To think otherwise is utter nonsense as this is profoundly unfeasible. This goes for all guns, including semi-auto rifles of which there are 10s of millions in circulation. It is vital to fully comprehend the nature and scope of guns in the US in order to make any kind of progression in the fight against mass violence. We must truly look to the root causes of violence, real and stringent enforcement of current, existing gun laws, mental health care, values within our society, strengthening and mending the educational and justice systems. Simple gun control, based on an sheer ignorance of guns in this country, does not and will not work.
@Kimberly As the article states, only 16 of 50 states have adopted the measures. Sounds like there is still a lot to be done to make the database complete. If the DoD or Air Force had processes in place to include their members who were identified as having mental health issues, this slaughter may not have happened. Your suggestion of banning all of these weapons isn't realistic. They are already out there. We aren't Austrailia, America's culture is different. The most simple solution is for you to move where your values align with the environment versus change millions of people to change their culture.
If we are already making such a huge improvement in reporting...then why are these shootings still happening? What the hell do we need with a gun that can do that much damage. The only point this article makes is because its popular and people use it to hunt. Woopie. This does not negate the FACT that these guns are not a necessity to protect ourselves or to hunt with...with so many more less dangerous options out there. Yes, I do understand that if someone wants to kill me a handgun would do it just as much as an AR-15. That's where the gun control comes in. How do you propose we do more than what your article says is being done to stop these psychos from getting thier hands on one of these guns? Because there are too many on the black market and laws wont stop them there. You know what would...banning them to the public altogether. Sweep in and take them all and that gives them less options to destroy so many lives at once.