Police chiefs: Retain assault-weapons ban

[malachi]

Can anyone offer one logical, reasonable, sane explanation as to why the nra,other than the fact that they are led by some real jackassses, would be against such a ban.
The NRA has urged Congress to let the law expire. Lawmen had tales of the grim toll.

Recalling officers in their commands killed or wounded in the line of duty, a group of police chiefs from across the nation called on Congress yesterday to renew the federal law outlawing military-style assault weapons.

The 10-year-old ban expires in September, and groups including the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA) have been trying to persuade Congress to let the law die.

"The idea that 10 years later that we're even debating ... is insanity," said William Bratton, now police chief in Los Angeles and former police commissioner in New York.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/cities_neighborhoods/philadelphia/7079405.htm

[FlemingsGhost]

1. After 20+ years of vehemently opposing the NRA...

I've softened my stance regarding gun ownership significantly.

Don't know why anyone would actually need an assault weapon for "sporting" endeavors, but what the hey... they're lots of "terrorists" about these days.

We're supposed to be afraid, right?

(edited for grammar)

[MrBenchley]

2. Agreed

There's no reason to put these damn things back on the street...the ban should be strengthened AND renewed..

[saigon68]

7. Ask the survivors of the Warsaw ghetto

If they could have used an assault rifle?

[demdave]

3. I don't know about the NRA but I like the sound they make

and the way the wood splinters off they 2X4 when you hit it with 30 quick rounds. I just like the smile it puts on my face.

[tom_paine]

4. The Bushevik Takeover of the Empire has shown us all

the necessity of gun ownership.

When they come for YOU, perhaps during the reign of Emperor Jeb or Emperor Arnold, perhaps as late as during the mad reign of George P. Caligula, what are you going to do, use harsh language?

Yes, I am fully aware of the fact that a gun cannot fight off the entire Empire.

But when Totalitarian Scum come to my door to relocate me to the Gulag, be they Nazis, Commies, Combian Right-Wing Death-Squads, or the Bushevik "Nationalized Neighborhood Watch" (as it will be in 2020 if these trends remain unchanged), then I want to be able to "answer the charges".

[CarinKaryn]

5. Here's a good question

Who would be better informed on this subject: Professional crime fighters or people who make money from the promotion and sale of deadly weapons?

[CO Liberal]

8. I Side With The Police Chiefs

I think they're more knowlegeable, IMHO.

[BiggJawn]

9. The Police Chiefs are agents of the State.

Don't forget-they're the ones who's people are going to have to execute the intial round-ups of "defective subversives" or whatever Karl is gonna call us to demonize us to the Murkan Sheeple.

Of COURSE they would rather their forces not have to face a "well-armed populace"!

DUH!!!

[NickB79]

12. Sorry

But I've talked to several "professional crime fighters" in my life that couldn't tell a shotgun from a rifle, much less tell you the specifics of state and federal firearms laws. That's not to say that there aren't police that do know their stuff, but police are only human, after all. Being human, they are also subject to becoming pawns in the political games we like to play.

[saigon68]

6. Some day we may need them

To fight the tyrant. Those who don't want to control their destiny are sheep. Baa Baaa

[Romulus]

10. what's an "assault rifle"?

Oh yeah, any rifle other than a single-shot bolt-action rifle.

What are "sniper rifles," next to be banned?

Single shot bolt-action rifles.

:eyes:

[NickB79]

11. Call me paranoid

But I'm not gonna be caught without a firearm anytime soon seeing all the crap going on in this country.

The problem with this law is mainly that it doesn't do anything to stop crime. Very, very few "assault rifles" as defined by this ban were ever used in crime before the ban was put into effect, so its effect on crime was negligible. Secondly, it bans rifles based on COSMETIC features that have nothing to do with functioning. Can someone tell me how a flash hider, bayonet lug or pistol grip makes a gun more lethal? When was the last time you heard of someone being bayonetted to death? Furthermore, many banned rifles that operate using a similar, if not the same action are legal to own simply because they were made without the prohibited parts after the ban. You can still buy AR-15's and AK-47's today just like before 1994 (only without the "deadly" features I just mentioned), so where is the benefit?