General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I am sincerely perplexed by the "it's not an assault rifle" meme... [View all]Igel
(35,300 posts)1. I'm not an NRA member. I never owned a gun. Haven't fired anything but a shotgun (one) and muzzle loaders (perhaps a dozen times). Last time was about 30 years ago. However, my father killed himself with a handgun about 2 years ago.
2. I like to argue against those who say the sky is always blue or always black. Or never orange. I like trying to make sure the words I use to express propositions that I need to say are true or false because they reflect or influence reality have a meaning that I and my listeners agree on, and that we have a common set of facts that we agree on. If we don't have that, there's no discussion possible. Politics and academics without discussion and understanding is basically a matter of brute force and naked power. Some prefer it that way. "Can't you all just get along with me, or I'll lock you up or kill you, kulaks." The only thing missing is the chest thumping and having the dominant male haul all the womenfolk off into the bushes to propagate his line, after killing off all the children by the former dominant male. (Although Russia did do the latter bit, didn't they, as well as the chest-thumping?)
3. Sorry, not a sociopath.
"bottom line is the AR-15 Holmes used could shoot 50-60 rounds. is this a hunting rifle?"
Don't know. What's the usual definition of a hunting rifle? Don't think there's a special, form-based one. It's a function. The AR-15 is a rifle, because it fits the definition of one. People use it for hunting. That makes it a hunting rifle. It may be overkill, it may be seldom used as a hunting rifle. But it's a rifle that's used for a hunting. It can't be a can of baked beans, definition doesn't fit. Certainly not a lawn mower, definition doesn't fit. Can't be a shotgun, definition doesn't fit. Can't be an assault rifle. Definition doesn't fit.
Find a term we can all agree on that doesn't rewrite law and misuse current words and all'll be well. But don't get pissed off because you're caught not having a clue what the words you're using mean. Wiki's not perfect, but it's often a better source of information than our self-contained portable wetware unit.