Over the last few days several folks have sent in opinions and responses that lack candor and accurate information.
Lets correct the record with facts, not uninformed opinions and outright fabrications.
Suggestion: If you do not know and understand the real facts of the subject, stop writing it down and publishing it for your neighbors to laugh at and to mislead others.
AR15's are not fully automatic assault weapons and never have been.
Fully automatic weapons are still available in the US to citizens, and are taxed by the Federal Government ($200) and as with other weapons require a background check. In 1986 the Federal Government illegally stopped new full auto weapon manufacture for the average citizen. Those already manufactured are still available to the citizens.
AR15's are semi-automatic firearms that fire one bullet with one press of the trigger, just like millions of other pistols, rifles, shotguns that have been around for centuries. This point is not up for debate it is a honest to God true fact and is not disputed by folk with average intelligence. The AR15 is loaded/reloaded via a magazine again not different from millions of other semi automatic firearms. Magazine capacity varies from typically six to well over 100 for these semi-automatic firearms.
AR15's are used in a very small percentage of the murders committed in any given time frame (statistics available via Internet, your choice). So, if every AR15 in the world disappeared, it would have very little if any real effect, because there are millions of other choices available.
The 223/556 AR15 caliber shell is a mid range small caliber rifle cartridge with an effective range of 600 to 800 yards. It is no more or less powerful or destructive than other cartridges in its comparable range. There are hundreds of cartridges that are less powerful and destructive and also hundreds that are more powerful and destructive. The 223/556 AR15 cartridge is less effective and less powerful and less destructive than cartridges used by the US forces in WWI and WWII and Korea.
Many sane intelligent people could easily and do make a better caliber choice (than 223/556) for defending one's self from predators (human or animal). There are hundreds of choices available in the market today and have been in the market for more than 100 years.
Deterrence
In many respects we agree on deterrence. Typically only sane rational intelligent folks are deterred by the laws and current judicial/prison system in place today. Many look at the current status determine that they have a good to excellent chance of getting away with the crime they intent to commit and often do. We agree criminals are not deterred for various reasons.
Look at deterrence via a different perspective: A violent three-time felon in prison for life will be deterred as long as he is in prison. Prison is in fact a deterrent as long as any criminal is in prison. When released the deterrent value is only as good as the criminal's acknowledged chances of getting caught and the criminal's fear of returning to prison, today not too good.
In looking at the current criminal culture of today we are in agreement, deterrence (fear of punishment) is not working for many reasons. So we must catch and punish most if not all and the punishment must make an impression on the criminal or the criminal must not be released. Clearly by definition three time violent felons should never be released, they have demonstrated their criminality and their inability to change. Releasing a three time violent criminal felon should be a crime and any escaping three time violent felon must be dealt with in a way that makes escape a very unattractive and potentially fatal option.
There is a downside to the three violent felonies rule. Deaths/resistance, of two felony criminals to the third arrest and potential deaths of law enforcement involved in arresting them and citizens in resisting them. The death of the criminal in this instance does deter them, so the rule works, the death of law enforcement or a citizen is a cost no one wants to occur.
The world has managed to create a class of criminal that only harsh and permanent solutions can deter. I suspect that most citizens do not have the ability to deal with the necessary decisions to deal with those criminals. I know that some do, and those will, and in some communities it will make a difference, other communities will continue to be victims.
Deterrence thru tough decisions and tough actions or increased criminal activity, which side will you take and which side will survive.
I wish I knew, history says increased criminal activity, I hope that is not true.
Pete Clark
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We gun novices and semi-gun novices are grateful for the education on guns. But whew! That was long. Next time try to condense it. Otherwise, no one will get pass the second or third paragraph, if that.
So automatic means rapid fire as long as the shooter is pressing on the trigger? Semi-automatic suggest the shooter has to manually press the trigger each time the gun is fired, but a bullet does "automatically" enter the chamber in preparation to be fired after each shot? Then there are modifications that can be made to make a semi-automatic automatic?
Crime, even gun crimes, have always been a part of American history, dating back centuries. After all, guns have been used to assassinate American presidents. But just think how many more could have been killed if John Wilkes Booth was packing an automatic or semi-automatic weapon when he shot President Lincoln? Or how many more could have been killed when President John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963?
A major part of the problem with the gun culture in the U.S. might be traced back to how guns are promoted here. Sure there are other countries where guns can be easily obtained, but they don't have the weekly, sometimes by-weekly, mass shootings America has, and for many of those countries there are strict rules that are enforced.
In the U.S., guns are primarily promoted as some kind of equalizer and license to kill with impunity. For instance, America's SYG laws. They're also promoted as this macho image. Like, you ain't got balls until you're packing the heat. The bigger and deadlier the heat the bigger the balls you have. Rocket launchers?
You've seen the type, for sure. I know I have.
I was walking across a parking lot a while back on my way to enter a packaging store, when dude ahead of me looked back and saw me. He had a gun strapped to his hip. All of a sudden his entire demeanor changed. You'd have thought he'd just rode in and hopped off his horse the way he began that cowboy style walk and swagger. The only things missing were the horse, his Stetson, cowboy boots and spurs. As if he'd just left a part in a movie scene of Hang'em High with Clint Eastwood or John Wayne, Stagecoach. I gave him his space and held back, taking my time to enter. I was embarrassed for the poor guy, that he had such low self-esteem that he thought the gun strapped to his him somehow made him more manly. More powerful. Honestly.
Brenda Washington
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Mr. Clark and and Ms. Washington,
Without debating the issue of assault rifles, I did want to respond to both of you.
As someone who has worked in the criminal system for over 30 years, I agree Mr. Clark that the only way for deterrence to be effective is too severely punish those that chose to use a gun to commit any crime. Coty Wamp, running for district attorney, if elected in August, has pledged to try to make a difference in the violent gun crimes occurring in Hamilton County. I believe she will do everything within the law to try to make changes regarding violent crime. The new Truth in Sentencing law will aid her in those efforts.
The issue of gun violence is a problem for everyone, not just those in certain areas. It will also take everyone to be involved in assisting law enforcement and prosecutors. To borrow the TSA slogan, see something, say something.
Ms. Washington, I am sorry about your encounter with the cowboy. Very inappropriate. But I too do not go anywhere without a firearm on my hip. I keep mine covered (yes, I have a conceal permit). I do not feel safe anywhere and carry for my personal protection. But I agree it's not a show piece and I too do not like to see anyone openly touting a firearm.
Not all gun owners are like the cowboy you encountered. If you and I are ever at the same place and someone starts shooting, get behind me.
Steven Moore
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Pete,
Someone didn't heed your third paragraph "suggestion" and replied to your opinion piece. But we 2A advocates are grateful for a laugh and a story from a self proclaimed gun novice, though it was a bit preachy. A laugh and a story in one swoop.....that's called a "twofer".
Phil Snider