Got to vote for Kamala Harris

[BStrong]

If elected, she'll ban imports of AR-15 rifles...

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kamala-harris-would-ban-ar-15-style-assault-weapons-imports-source/

California Sen. Kamala Harris will announce at a campaign stop Wednesday that she would use executive action to ban imports of AR-15 style assault weapons if elected president, a senior campaign official tells CBS News.

She just said it at the debate.

You can count on one hand the foreign manufacturers of AR rifles. Sounds good though.

 

[Tero]

"Trump didn't pull the trigger, but he sure is tweeting out the ammunition."

 

[BStrong]

"Trump didn't pull the trigger, but he sure is tweeting out the ammunition."

It's a good line.

 

[dann]

Sounds good though.

What makes it sound good?! Is it because potential mass shooters will then have to buy AR-15s made in the USA if they want to shoot people?

 

[Ranb]

Beto O'Rourke: 'Hell, yes, we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47'

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/12/politics/beto-orourke-hell-yes-take-ar-15-ak-47/index.html

So, I guess what he really means is "'Hell, yes, we're going to take your semi-auto firearms". The number of deaths associated with AR-15's and AK-47's is dwarfed by the total deaths from firearms. He is either not interested in making a difference and is just posturing, or what he really wants to do is take most of the guns owned by Americans.

Surely he can't be as stupid as those who thought the AEB of 1994 would work as long as AR-15's were banned by name or still legal without the bayonet lug or flash hider. The buy back will either be a rip-off (like Trump's gun grab) or cost a ****-ton of money.

Washington State is in the process of doing what O'Rourke wants. In WA all semi-auto rifles have been designated as assault weapons. The next gun ban in WA will be sold as "we only want the assault weapons".

Ranb

 

[Ranb]

What makes it sound good?! Is it because potential mass shooters will then have to buy AR-15s made in the USA if they want to shoot people?

I think he means is that it sounds good like Trump's bump stock ban. A single mass shooting led to banning a gun part that was not (in my opinion) a substantial reason for the number of deaths. The rifles remain just as lethal and the tab for the gun grab is only $312 million.

 

[Bob001]

....
You can count on one hand the foreign manufacturers of AR rifles. Sounds good though.

It doesn't matter how many manufacturers there are. The question is how many assault-style rifles are imported, and what percentage of the market do they represent? Does anybody in the U.S. make AK47s? And what percentage of rifles assembled in the U.S. use foreign-made parts?

Anything that reduces supply and increases price of military-style weapons that no civilian has any legitimate reason to own would be seen as a good thing by a large majority of Americans.

 

[Ranb]

It doesn't matter how many manufacturers there are. The question is how many assault-style rifles are imported, and what percentage of the market do they represent? Does anybody in the U.S. make AK47s? And what percentage of rifles assembled in the U.S. use foreign-made parts?

There are 100% Americana made AK-47 type rifles. Here is one; https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/the-new-american-made-ak-the-ras47/

Anything that reduces supply and increases price of military-style weapons that no civilian has any legitimate reason to own would be seen as a good thing by a large majority of Americans.

I don't think there is any reason at all to believe that banning import of AR-15's will reduce the supply or demand. They are common as flies right now.

 

[Puppycow]

The number of deaths associated with AR-15's and AK-47's is dwarfed by the total deaths from firearms. He is either not interested in making a difference and is just posturing, or what he really wants to do is take most of the guns owned by Americans.

But what about high-profile mass-casualty school shootings?

People seem to be more concerned with those than suicides or gang-bangers killing each other.

 

[Ranb]

I'm not surprised that the mass media pays more attention to kids and middle class persons who are killed. It is kind of like the "missing white woman syndrome" that we see.

 

[arthwollipot]

Start with the low-hanging fruit. Everyone knows that getting the handguns out of the hands of the gangs will be much, much harder. Remember that perfect is the enemy of good.

 

[Drewbot]

Start with the low-hanging fruit. Everyone knows that getting the handguns out of the hands of the gangs will be much, much harder. Remember that perfect is the enemy of good.

...getting the already illegal handguns out of the hands of gangs...

 

[TragicMonkey]

Stopping the flow of American guns to Mexico where they are used by the drug cartels who send their drugs to America strikes me as a higher priority than random shootings. The random massacres are horrific spectacles, yes, but the drug cartels are actually an existential threat to Mexico and a serious disease to America.

 

[Puppycow]

Start with the low-hanging fruit. Everyone knows that getting the handguns out of the hands of the gangs will be much, much harder. Remember that perfect is the enemy of good.

I've heard the complaint that "why aren't we enforcing the laws that are already on the books" first before we go after law-abiding gun owners. I honestly don't want to take guns away from responsible, law-abiding people even if that is the "low-hanging fruit". I do want to take them away from mass shooters though. If somehow you could figure out which one is which ahead of time. Easier said than done.

 

[Ziggurat]

Stopping the flow of American guns to Mexico where they are used by the drug cartels who send their drugs to America strikes me as a higher priority than random shootings.

Sure, I agree. But I don't know if the American voters are willing to get rid of the ATF.

 

[Ziggurat]

I've heard the complaint that "why aren't we enforcing the laws that are already on the books" first before we go after law-abiding gun owners. I honestly don't want to take guns away from responsible, law-abiding people even if that is the "low-hanging fruit". I do want to take them away from mass shooters though. If somehow you could figure out which one is which ahead of time. Easier said than done.

Indeed. How on earth to we get local law enforcement to actually report disqualifying crimes to the National Criminal Information Center database so that they can block gun sales to criminals? It seems like an intractable problem.

 

[Bikewer]

Just off the top of my head, the majority of these mass shooters have been totally off the radar prior to their act. The only one I recall that was under the care of a medical-health professional was the Virginia tech shooter, and the guy didn’t tell anyone...

The only way “mental health” issues show up on the standard background check is if you have been adjudicated by a court as such. Very few people with issues actually end up being treated by judicial mandate.

 

[crescent]

Just off the top of my head, the majority of these mass shooters have been totally off the radar prior to their act. The only one I recall that was under the care of a medical-health professional was the Virginia tech shooter, and the guy didn’t tell anyone...

The only way “mental health” issues show up on the standard background check is if you have been adjudicated by a court as such. Very few people with issues actually end up being treated by judicial mandate.

The Aurora theater shooter was also under psychiatric care and even told his psychiatrist that he was thinking of doing violence.

 

[Ziggurat]

Just off the top of my head, the majority of these mass shooters have been totally off the radar prior to their act.

That's not even close to true. There are many examples of missed red flags.

The only way “mental health” issues show up on the standard background check is if you have been adjudicated by a court as such. Very few people with issues actually end up being treated by judicial mandate.

Mental health problems frequently lead to criminal actions and convictions prior to mass shootings. If these are properly reported, then they will disqualify the person from legally purchasing a gun, but often they are not.

 

[Dr. Keith]

I agree with Ziggurat that a more robust reporting system would help in a lot of these cases.

I think that combined with a universal background check system could help.

Follow that with laws requiring courts to seize guns from those convicted of crimes that would make those defendants ineligible for gun ownership.

This wouldn't be perfect, but it would be good.

Finally, I think a proper AWB bill could be passed that would actually ban the possession of certain assault weapons, say, any semiautomatic weapon with a caliber over a certain size with a removable magazine or internal magazine over a certain size. You want a 10-22, I'm good even if it has a 50 round magazine. But if you want to shoot .223 you need something with an internal magazine below say 10 shots. Or you can pick a lever action* with a bit more capacity.

Maybe caliber isn't the best way to define "size", as it may just lead to the proliferation of a caliber just below the threshold, but I'm not up to date on other measurements based on the velocity and weight of the projectile.

*I've always preferred pump and double barrel shotguns over semi-autos and lever action carbines over semi-autos. It just feels more like shooting to me, but I know that is a personal preference.