(01-26-2021, 11:00 PM)Lucky2Last Wrote: I can walk into any gun shop, say I want an AR, and the sellers will present to me many different manufacturers. I think falling back on the Armalite distinction is disingenuous. While you are technically correct, there is a specific type of rifle that is manufactured purely for self-defense. That said, you wouldn't have to make such a distinction if democrats weren't trying to make blanket bans. They are trying to ban a specific type of rifle. I think violates the constitution, and it's rooted in a fear that is statistically irrelevant. It's better to just tell them to get bent than to dance around the technical name of the rifle.

"AR" has become commonly held to mean assault rifle and while technically incorrect, it's public perception (like a "Rambo" knife) and isn't going to change.  Those who seek to bans guns typically have no knowledge of, or experience with, any firearms.  To them, "assault rifles" are all just the big, scary-looking things like they see in movies and only a wacko would want to own one .  The public doesn't need them, therefore the public shouldn't have them.

You'll never convince the public that ANY rifle is manufactured purely for self-defense and the effort to do so is a waste of time.  I honestly can't consider AR's as such and I'm a gun owner.  Generally speaking, if it works for defensive purposes, it will work on the attack as well.   A derringer is about the only firearm I can think of that's intended for defensive only use. 

While I have to admit that gun owners don't really NEED "assault rifles", we have the constitutional right to own them.  As always, the problem lies not with the weapon itself, but with the abuse thereof.   Taking away "assault rifles" won't diminish the likelihood of a mass shooting.   The assailant will just revert to a handgun with a 15 round mag instead of an AR with a thirty (quicker reload with the handgun anyway).  Unfortunately, you'll never get the Left to admit this because taking away the big scary guns is part of their platform.  Garner support by driving fear!

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