Yesterday morning, while on the Paul Gallo Show on SuperTalk Mississippi, the subject of gun control came up. I said it's time we had a conversation about whether or not we should restrict ownership of some types of guns here in Mississippi. Mind you, I own a shotgun, and I'm not giving it up. Nor am I advocating that anyone else should.
But we need to at least discuss whether or not assault rifles have any place in our society. The AR-15, the weapon used in the Connecticut school murders, is an example of a gun that might not ought to be available to the general public. And I'll tell you why.
Sure, an AR-15, when unmodified and used very carefully, is no more dangerous than a .22 rifle. I get that. The problem is in the "bump firing" technique, which turns the thing into a fully automatic war weapon. Don't believe me? Check this out:
Honestly, I'm having a hard time figuring out the purpose of what I just saw. I'm sure it would be great at stopping the zombie hordes, but otherwise, I'm stumped.
And as if that's not enough, there's a perfectly legal add-on to an AR-15 that allows you to "bump fire" from your shoulder. That's important, because normally bump firing is done from the hip, which makes it difficult to aim. Here are some videos of product from Slide Fire, a company selling the aforementioned add-on, being used on an AR-15:
Again, great for the imaginary zombie hordes, but questionable in civilized society. And you know what else? Slide Fire stocks can be put on guns other than AR-15s. For example, look at what they did with a .22:
Can someone tell me why we should allow these in Mississippi? I haven't been in the woods for a few years...maybe the deer are faster?
Isn't physics great?
ReplyDeleteSo we can defend ourselves against the communist socialist (etc) hordes that Obama is using to take over our country. At least, that's what I've heard.
ReplyDeleteBecause we have a constitutional right to possess them.
ReplyDeleteWe already had all the conversations about restricting gun ownership. BUT, if we must have them again, there is a certain way we are required to have them. See Article V.
Clarence, would you be against making the Slide Fire a Class 3 item?
ReplyDeleteYes. In order to make the "Slide Fire" a Class 3 item, the entire National Firearms Act would need to be revised. The Slide Fire has no automatically functioning mechanical parts or springs, and it performs no mechanical action when it is installed. It is basically a piece of plastic. The BATF considers it only a firearm part, and not a "part designed and intended solely and exclusively for converting a weapon into a machine gun;"
ReplyDeleteMatt, would you be for making blunt objects Class 3 items in light of this: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-11 ?