what good are they? (Reply #59) - Democratic Underground

In the discussion thread: But guns are special [View all]

Wed Apr 29, 2015, 03:33 PM

59. what good are they?

ezra: And the guns which gun control advocates claim are most "designed only for killing" are among the *least* likely to be used to murder, despite being some of the most popular guns in U.S. homes.

Our premiss is correct, presuming you're referring to what is termed assault rifles (which are not specifically noted in your link - just rifles & sgs, which we gun control advocates generally have no problem with, indeed the most endorsed).
.. the term assault rifle was indeed designed for killing on the battlefield, or better said designed for incapacitating, whether by killing or massive trauma & injury (ie m16 & ergo ar15, as much designed for incap). These rifles do have the capacity to kill inordinately high, compared to most other more conventional rifles & shotguns.
.. the concurrent concern you need to address is, what good are these 'assault rifles' in American communities? what good do they accomplish which couldn't be accomplished by using more conventional rifles & shotguns? even handguns?

Those termed 'assault rifles' are amongst the 'least likely to be used to murder', but they are also amongst the least likely to be used to thwart violent crime or be in a bona fide defensive gun use.
I suspect those termed assault rifles are amongst the least likely, to be used at all.

Reply to this post

Back to OP Alert abuse Link to post in-thread

Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum

Replies to this discussion thread

112 replies	Author	Time	Post
But guns are special [View all]	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	OP
Probably because you are talking out your posterior...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#1
And comparing the US with the UK...	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#2
So you are drawing what conclusion?	Human101948	Apr 2015	#3
The US has more murders than the UK	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#6
Remove guns from the equation and you get...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#15
By all means feel free to digress	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#18
Huh?	pablo_marmol	Apr 2015	#44
In more complete, correct and concise wording...	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#48
There may be more guns but fewer owners...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#4
Maybe or maybe not; IMHO not really relevant	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#7
Like "I smell bullshit?"	Human101948	Apr 2015	#13
No like...	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#14
A hammer is not a wrench...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#21
Please continue, this is looking productive n/t	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#22
I believe future surveys will detect a significant increase in	Eleanors38	Apr 2015	#8
Whoopee!	Human101948	Apr 2015	#12
it's possible that for now, folks have as many guns as they want...	Eleanors38	Apr 2015	#23
rifles sales are dropping	gejohnston	Apr 2015	#26
Seems industry wide...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#35
market saturation	gejohnston	Apr 2015	#37
There may be more guns but fewer owners...	GGJohn	Apr 2015	#32
Likewise.	Lizzie Poppet	May 2015	#92
No sir.	beevul	Apr 2015	#50
Those polls are far from trustworthy.	Lizzie Poppet	May 2015	#91
Several years ago I asked a number of gun owners at the range this question. ...	spin	May 2015	#94
guns kill way less than 30k...somewhere in the 0-none range.	ileus	Apr 2015	#5
Your post ignores how owning a gun corrupts the mind of the owner and makes him homicidal n/t	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#9
It's the Pat Robertson principle	Shamash	Apr 2015	#10
~~~	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#11
Not having a gun certainly lessens the chance that you will shoot someone...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#16
Thank you	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#17
Or have one if you need one. N/T	beevul	Apr 2015	#51
Pat's waiting out that asteroid heading for Orlando.	Eleanors38	Apr 2015	#24
But what about Disney?	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#69
I think that's why Pat wanted it to hit there. Some "homosexual" event at Rat World.	Eleanors38	Apr 2015	#77
Ziiiing!	Puha Ekapi	Apr 2015	#40
P.S.--I am a gun owner...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#19
Cool by me	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#20
Don't think I've seen/heard anything from the NRA in months. Droll.	Eleanors38	Apr 2015	#25
They were at it again today...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#36
Some extreme anti-gunners openly advocate exploiting mass shootings for their ends.	Eleanors38	Apr 2015	#46
Yes but they don't have the money and political clout that the NRA does...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#49
The foremost advocate of gun control is worth in excess of $35 billion dollars	friendly_iconoclast	Apr 2015	#52
Absolutely...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#53
I applaud your principled stand, but you will find yourself a very lonely person...	friendly_iconoclast	Apr 2015	#54
I can support that because there is something bigger at stake...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#58
So what. All the money he spends to try to get me to vote for unreasonable gun control ...	spin	May 2015	#95
Oh-oh! NRA gets caught with pants down!	Human101948	Apr 2015	#64
Another dead horse	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#66
not dead at all, my NRA friend...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#67
Okay we'll wait to hear your findings	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#68
so why do you feel compelled to criticize a post bout the NRA?	Human101948	Apr 2015	#70
Cupidity, like stupidity, deserves it's own reward	DonP	Apr 2015	#71
I don't/didn't	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#72
If you are intent on being helpful and informative...	Human101948	Apr 2015	#73
Excuse my pejorativity, I found little correlation between...	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#74
"And of course as we all know most firearms sold today are designed to save lives."	Starboard Tack	Apr 2015	#29
You say potatoe...I say potato.	ileus	Apr 2015	#31
What you use them for is irrelevant	Starboard Tack	Apr 2015	#33
my airgun is only for paper targets	gejohnston	Apr 2015	#34
It would be good if he meant that, but I very much doubt it.	Starboard Tack	Apr 2015	#38
my impression is totally different	gejohnston	Apr 2015	#39
I just traded a ninja range toy for a CZ75 a few weeks ago.	ileus	Apr 2015	#43
power over ethernet?	ileus	Apr 2015	#42
Not to be smart-assed, but is Ileus a Poe or a "poet?" Poe was a poet, of course.	Eleanors38	Apr 2015	#47
Possibly both, possibly neither	Starboard Tack	Apr 2015	#55
His stuff is too sideways to be that offensive. I, on the other hand, can stir up a sloth!	Eleanors38	Apr 2015	#57
LOL	Starboard Tack	Apr 2015	#60
I match his Hillary one-liner with mine for Bernie.	Eleanors38	Apr 2015	#61
I hope Bernie runs and think he will.	Starboard Tack	Apr 2015	#62
My use for them is the only one that matters.	ileus	Apr 2015	#41
Or not...	Starboard Tack	Apr 2015	#56
Gee only 30,000 a year isn't that special nothing to do about it	upaloopa	Apr 2015	#27
Oh thanks	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#28
My firearms are special.... because they're mine.	ileus	Apr 2015	#30
And the guns which gun control advocates claim are most "designed only for killing"	benEzra	Apr 2015	#45
what good are they?	jimmy the one	Apr 2015	#59
What good are they? Well, let's see...	benEzra	Apr 2015	#75
I hear heroin is fun & helpful, too	jimmy the one	May 2015	#85
Here's the thing, James.	blueridge3210	May 2015	#86
Good point.	benEzra	May 2015	#87
Remember, we are dealing with an authoritarian mindset	friendly_iconoclast	May 2015	#89
Well, I might have to agree on the comics and video games;	blueridge3210	May 2015	#90
It'd be cabernet, not heroin.	benEzra	May 2015	#88
the wall challenge, 22rf vs .223 fmj	jimmy the one	May 2015	#96
"Upper class white man's toy"	blueridge3210	May 2015	#97
I for one...	discntnt_irny_srcsm	May 2015	#98
Um, yeah.	blueridge3210	May 2015	#99
Looked like a nice town	discntnt_irny_srcsm	May 2015	#100
I like my smart car	Duckhunter935	May 2015	#106
I thought we were discussing centerfires, but since you mention it...	benEzra	May 2015	#109
balked on the wall challenge	jimmy the one	May 2015	#110
Ummm, no.	benEzra	May 2015	#111
Here's the thing, James.	blueridge3210	Apr 2015	#76
If you honestly believe the misinformation about "assault weapons" being special	ManiacJoe	Apr 2015	#78
Yup. This gun is identical to an AR-15 in every functional way...	benEzra	May 2015	#79
Except the most important one.	Straw Man	May 2015	#80
Yup. And the factory stock is brown walnut, not black nylon.	benEzra	May 2015	#81
So to be exempt from said 2003 version of the ban...	discntnt_irny_srcsm	May 2015	#82
Presumably a name change would do it...	benEzra	May 2015	#83
I love people that know nothing about firearms making laws and writing bans	DonP	May 2015	#84
Let's stop focusing on assault rifles	Matrosov	May 2015	#102
It's a pretty transparent bit of sophistry, really	petronius	Apr 2015	#63
Well everyone who studies martial arts...	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Apr 2015	#65
The Controllers are so filled with hate they don't realize how they expose their hand.	pablo_marmol	May 2015	#93
They still kill	Matrosov	May 2015	#101
A complete ban would, however.	gejohnston	May 2015	#103
Run that by me again	Shamash	May 2015	#104
You lot are so cute when you attribute your own positions to others.	beevul	May 2015	#105
"We let tens of thousand die each year so a few good guys with guns can shoot a criminal....."	pablo_marmol	May 2015	#107
"So much failure in this post!" Would that other controllers had such economy of style...	friendly_iconoclast	May 2015	#108
Oh my dog!	pablo_marmol	May 2015	#112

Edit History

Please login to view edit histories.