This is a first in a series of posts informing folks about what is so much in the press, how to deter the mass murders we have been experiencing in the U.S. It is not an argument for or against gun control; just explanations of terms we hear in the press that are not clearly defined.
There is lots of talk about eliminating assault firearms. In President Obama's speech after the Colorado and the Connecticut shootings he questioned the validity of people owning an assault firearm. "What would a person want with an assault weapon?"
In this post we are using the term, assault firearm, as the press is using it to describe guns used by mass murders The two guns that carry this popular press term are the AK 47 and the AR 15, two popular types of firearms that can be privately owned in the U.S. Assault firearm is not how they are defined technically.
Before we answer the question of what is an assault firearm, lets first go through the difference between what has been popularized as an assault firearm versus a regular firearm most commonly known as a carbine, rifle or shotgun. Then why these firearms are commonly used in the mass shootings. Pardon me for those who are experts, but we are going to work with my definitions here in more common language for those not familiar with firearms.
The magazine pictured here allows the shooter to shoot thirty rounds before they have to reload another magazine. The reason these firearms are commonly used in mass shootings is because of the large ammunition capacity. Other types of rifles or shotguns only commonly shoot five to ten rounds before they have to be reloaded.
The time it takes to reload a magazine is a key factor why these firearms are the choice for mass shooters. Reloading takes time and skill. Although mass shooters can spend months preparing, it usually takes more practice time then that to be able to load and reload any firearm quickly. Therefore, they prefer firearms that have the capability of thirty round magazines.
At the end of this post you will see some videos on reloading guns. What you will see are experts who have spent countless hours practicing reloading for competitive shooting. Even competitive shooters would like to go this fast.
When the shooter has to reload, he is open to attack from by standers. The empty mag needs to be discharged, the new mag set in, the gun cocked, and aimed again. To someone who has never handled a firearm before, this may not sound like much, but it is. The shooter has to stop what he is doing, use both hands and give all his attention to this task. This down time would give someone enough time to tackle the shooter, people enough time to escape and, if there were a professional with a gun, time to get in a good shot.
Outside of mass shootings, these types of firearms are not commonly used in crime. They are large, bulky, heavy and cannot be concealed easily. For most crimes like robbery or revenge killing, a 30 round magazine would not be useful.
Are there other firearms that have the capacity to have large magazines? Yes, there are many. However they do not find themselves in the press like the AK and AR. Eliminating the AK and AR will not solve the situation of shooters being able to fire thirty rounds or more without reloading.
What about machine guns? With the AK and AR, the shooter has to pull the trigger for each shot. With a machine gun, the shooter only needs to pull once for multiple shots. They are not part of this discussion. Machine guns have very strict laws: cannot be purchased from a Federally licensed dealer without a special permit, have a waiting period while the user is investigated, and requires notification to local law enforcement. States can also make their laws even more strict or even prohibit them.
Why would someone want an assault firearm?
The AK 47 and AR 14 are the most popularized firearms mentioned in the press. What are they used for by owners? Competition and target shooting with organizations like IDPA, USPSA, and thousands of local gun clubs and leagues throughout the U.S. They are used for hunting, however 30 round magazines are not necessary for hunting since the prey is usually out of there after the first round or two is fired. More rounds then that is just shooting air, trees and leaves.
Compromise
A compromise to prevent these mass shootings by firearm regulation is to limit the size of the magazine not the firearms themselves. The AR and AK would be just fine for all sport users with a 10 round magazine. It would be one way to make them less destructive for mass shooters. Mass murders want to do as much destruction as possible. As with most firearms, the number of rounds that a magazine can hold is up to the manufacturer.
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