Did you hear about this guy shooting up the neighborhood in East Ventura California?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/apr/12/siege-in-east-ventura-stuns-neighborhood/

Siege in East Ventura stuns neighborhood

By Kevin Clerici (Contact)
Sunday, April 12, 2009

Jeffrey Fennell was one of the good guys on his East Ventura block, a chatty plumber frequently in his yard or out walking with his young daughter, his neighbors said.

So many were stunned when Fennell brought chaos Friday evening to his quiet street, first shooting up his house with an assault rifle, then peppering several nearby evacuated homes during a four-hour standoff with police.

Fennell, 39, ultimately surrendered on his hands and knees after he was shot in the shoulder by a SWAT officer. He had surgery and remained in good condition Saturday at Ventura County Medical Center, hospital officials said. snip

Said another neighbor Ron Baker: “I told my wife, ‘I haven’t heard so much gunfire since I was in the military.’”

Police said Fennell had been drinking Friday. Investigators who searched the two-story home found a cache of high-powered rifles, shotguns, handguns and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

[villager]

1. And of course, that much of an arsenal was perfectly reasonable to keep around for "target practice!

n/t

[MercutioATC]

12. One can only fire (at most) two guns at a time.

What difference does the number of firearms owned make?

[villager]

14. Owning a massive store of armaments and ammo is a kind of window,

I think, into someone's personality...

[Raskolnik]

17. Do tell, please.

What do you consider to be a "massive store of armaments?" Five guns? Ten? Twenty? Fifty?

What personality traits do you think a "massive store of armaments" conveys?

[villager]

20. did you read the article in the OP? Or does gun talk send you into an automatic

tizzy?

[Raskolnik]

24. Non-responsive. I read the OP. I rarely find myself in a "tizzy," to say nothing of the "automatic"

variety.

Obviously, the subject of the OP had some pretty serious problems, which were indicated by the fact that he shot up his neighborhood, and necessitated an armed response from the police. I don't think anyone is disputing that this gentleman had some issues.

Now, back to your own rather vague post:

What do you consider to be a "massive store of armaments?" Five guns? Ten? Twenty? Fifty?

What personality traits do you think a "massive store of armaments" conveys?

[villager]

28. I think storing an excess of guns n' ammo indicates a kind of paranoia

...deep seated fears that the "storer" or "acquirer" imagine can be soothed with enough "defense" or "protection."

Pretty much anything north of a dozen guns (and maybe less, depending on the guns, and how they're talked about in day-to-day life) begins to indicate this...

There might be military collectors here or there that are exceptions to this... but basically, it's a pretty reliable formula: The more guns stashed, the higher the paranoia/instability quotient...

[jmg257]

29. Or B) they simply like guns.

"North of a dozen" wouldn't even begin to cover the interesting types, actions, history, functionality, etc.

[Raskolnik]

31. Ok, so owning more than a dozen guns is a good indicator of paranoia/instability.

But I am curious about how you arrived at your conclusion. May I ask how many people you know that own more than a dozen guns?

[villager]

38. Pretty much.

n/t

[Raskolnik]

40. And you've based this conclusion on...?

You failed to answer my question: how many people do you know that have owned more than 12 guns?

[villager]

42. News reports, primarily, what cops find when they bust rightwing paranoiacs, etc.

How many do you own?

[Raskolnik]

47. So you have no direct experience. I believe you are engaging in either lazy or dishonest reasoning.

While it may be true that you have seen reporting of several "rightwing paranoiacs" that have owned more than a dozen guns, it does not necessarily follow that owning more than a dozen guns is therefore an indicator of rightwing paranoia.

Your particular brand of logic is really no different than that used to argue that all Muslims are terrorists. In other words, simply because one has seen news reports that a person engaging in bad behavior had quality X, it does not follow that those who have quality X necessarily engage in bad behavior. See how that works?

And right now I own about ten guns of various kinds. My family has owned far in excess of that amount in the past, and for some strange reason, none of us has ever gone on a killing spree, we pretty consistently vote Democratic, we're pro-choice, and we don't really consider ourselves right-wing or paranoid. Are we just fooling ourselves?

[villager]

48. ...in addition to the paranoid rhetoric surrounding the ammo stockpiling going on now...

...about Obama "taking our guns!," the confluence with the Glenn Beck nuttiness, etc.

How many guns do you own?

speaking of direct experiences.

[Raskolnik]

50. I have no idea what those sentence fragments mean.

And I answered your question already.

[villager]

53. ...the way the gun-proliferators here are constantly defensive, swarming threads, conflating their

love of their own guns with the very well-being of the Republic, etc., etc....

[Raskolnik]

54. Oh, drop the victim schtick. Me calling shenanigans on your poor logic skills and broad-brush

generaliztions does not amount to "swarming." And if you can point out where I've conflated my "love" of my own guns with the well-being of the Republic, I'd appreciate you doing so.

Thanks in advance.

[villager]

56. You don't read many gun threads here, do you?

All you folks have conflated your personal cache of guns -- and the right to grow them by leaps and bounds -- with the very integrity of the Constitution itself.

Also, your lack of humor, carping, snarking, etc., are also hallmarks of the gun proliferator personality...

[Raskolnik]

58. You and Bill Frist should go into business together diagnosing people on tv

and over the internet.

Did you have anything substantive as a reply to my point about your shoddy logic skills, or is this what you resort to when you're without a response?

[MercutioATC]

37. I disagree...especially about the amount of ammunition he had.

A recreational shooter can easily go through a few thousand rounds a year. With the recent increase in prices, it's absolutely normal for an everyday recreational shooter to have at least a few thousand rounds stored.

I own two guns, shoot maybe once every two months...and I have about 1500 rounds of 9mm and 4500 of .22 stocked.

[X_Digger]

43. Yes, those who purchase paper products in bulk packs are..

..paranoid hooligans bent on covering their neighborhoods' trees with toilet paper.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

60. When I used to shoot once a week I usually had over 10,000 rounds at the house.

If someone put large boxes of .22 ammo on sale I would stock up. Not to mention that I would reload 1000 rounds of different centerfire pistol rounds at a time. The media needs to make it seem as bad a possible for shock value.

David

[jeepnstein]

70. Back in the day...

I used to buy my .45 auto ammo by the five gallon bucket full. The guy I bought it from sold it to my by weight. I have no idea how many rounds fit into three or four buckets. At the time it was not uncommon for me to fire 5,000 rounds a month in practice. I was very good at the time. Now my shooting is a mere shadow of what it once was. It takes tons of practice to stay in good form.

I buy .223 in lots of 500 or 1,000 when I can. The prices are going through the roof and I see no end in sight. My acceptable floor for .223 on hand is around 210 rounds, all you can really carry.

Having a bunch of guns and ammo isn't really an indicator of anything.

Getting drunk and shooting up the neighborhood? Well, that is a pretty sure sign of a problem. Wanna bet he presented some unusual behavior before going all Terminator on the neighbors?

[imdjh]

55. I think that alcohol and drug use are killing this country, and I don't think "therapy"

...is the answer. I think community standards are the answer.

But we go on, worshipping at the temple of minding our own business, allowing alcohol to be glamorized (hell they teach classes in it) , laughing off boring stupid stoned people, and reserving our harshest criticism and mockery for people who use meth and crack.

The time has come for people to clean this up at the personal level. When someone asks, "Would you like a glass of Chardonnay?" then answer, "No, and I don't want a couple of hits of oxycodone or Librium either."

[Howzit]

62. It is the first gun that scares me

If a person demonstrates their ability to handle their first gun in a safe, responsible and legal manner, I don't care how many guns they buy after that. In fact, gun enthusiasts are more likely to practice safe gun handling than the person who keeps one around "just in case", but has never even fired it.

As for the stupid, irresponsible, criminal or insane, even one gun is too many.

[yay]

63. What the fail?

I own close too 10 guns(between me and my step dad) and neither of us are paranoid. I know several people who own double that amount and they aren't paranoid.

I'd say your "theory" is BS. Troll

[rl6214]

65. So I am ok

with my collection of WWll rifles from the US, Great Britain, Germany, Russia and Italy? It's ok by you that I have a few dozen rifles as long as they are collectables.

[MercutioATC]

27. You're the one here making accusations based on gross generalizations.

That's a lot closer to a "tizzy" than asking you to elaborate on your statement.

I'd like to know too...how many guns can you see through this window before you think somebody has a problem?

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Actually, owning this arsenal and choosing to shoot up the neighborhood

is a better massive window into a personality.

[villager]

39. And the second part followed the first, yes?

n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

57. They carry equal weight

:)

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

61. Judging people you've only read about is a big window into your personality.

[rl6214]

64. What arsenal?

" a cache of high-powered rifles, shotguns, handguns and thousands of rounds of ammunition."

A cache could be two hunting rifles, a couple shotguns, acouple pistols and ammo for each. That's not an arsenal. Now if they listed what he had then we could make a determination if it really was an arsenal.

[Furyataurus]

74. I bet it didn't even compare to this

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.gopachy.com/forum/comments.php%3FDiscussionID%3D21208&usg=__i51YlLUTLw6_TCmOeKqEL9VruAs=&h=621&w=969&sz=112&hl=en&start=5&tbnid=6vAwyoUQJV97dM:&tbnh=95&tbnw=148&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgun%2Bvault%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den



Now THAT is a nice collection.

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. Nope. n/t

[dem629]

3. Did you hear the one about the bartender that was a talking dog?

[Captain Hilts]

4. No. nt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Now tell me again why drinking is legal and pot isn't

If he'd gotten stoned on pot, would this have happened?

[Warpy]

6. Possibly. Conservatives don't do well on pot

and tend to get all paranoid.

Pot isn't a cureall, although it might contribute to a more civil society.

[HillbillyBob]

19. Correct , It is not a cure all, but it has many worthwhile uses

and has few if any after effects, does not rot your liver either.
I have known many folks with hiv, cancer, lupus, glaucoma, seizures, IBS,PTSD, almost all got some relief that they could not get with any other manmade chemical drugs available.
Gee I've known a lot of sick folks.
Perhaps we could fix up job lots of brownies and carry to congress, or church?
I would never dope something and give it to unknowing folks..that happened to me once many many years ago. A hit of lsd in my drink the next thing I knew I was in a hotel 5 hrs drive away. I did not know what I had had but I did know it was not something I asked for.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

23. I've never used it, but I've been around enough folks who have

to say that I'd rather drive home from a party with someone who has smoked a joint than someone who has drunk beer.

[Tikki]

7. Law enforcement involved handled the situation very well...

The Ventura Police Department handled this as well as can be expected..
Very drunk and frustrated Dude there...

I guess the question is...who absolutely would never react in a violent manner
with these extraordinary pressures....


Tikki

[L0oniX]

8. Did you hear about the guy with a gun who defended himself from a home invasion?

http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090410/NEWS04/704109960

or this: Intruder killed during shootout in North Charleston home
http://www.counton2.com/cbd/news/local/article/intruder_killed_during_shootout_in_north_charleston_home/23354/

or how about this: Gunfight breaks out during attempted robbery
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/breakingnews/shoot040909.htm

Maybe you missed out on this one too: Shotgun-toting robbery suspect shot and killed by business owner
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Shotgun-toting-robbery-suspect-shot-and-killed-by/3VbZvZI0VES46MF9V8Nxjg.cspx

I like this one: resident trying to protect himself during a home invasion shot and seriously wounded one of two invaders
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/mar/30/home-invasion-results-shooting-one-suspect/

I can come up with hundreds if not thousands of stories and links. Too bad the national sensational media and some people just come up with the crazy gun stuff and do not balance it out with the untold self defense news events. It's fair and balanced ...just like Fox.

[NNN0LHI]

10. I remember when they hauled my drunk neighbor away after shooting at a moth on his wall with a .38

I was a little kid at the time but still remember.

Don

[L0oniX]

11. Must have been a communist moth.

[stillcool]

9. That's why we don't have any weapons

though I quit drinking and drugging years ago, having weapons around is just too tempting, for all kinds of things. Act now, think later.

[jmg257]

13. No, likely because no one was killed.

[Hekate]

15. Hubby's brother & family live in Ventura. :-( Tell me again why a civilian needs a crowd-killing...

... military-style weapon? What Constitutional purpose this serves? How our freedom-loving Constitutional Framers, who had flintlock rifles, intended this? How it makes sense to kill your neighbors while defending your home against the odd robber (holes in the fire station 2 blocks away)?

Hekate

:argh:

[jmg257]

22. 1) In case he needs to shoot something.

2)Provides for an effective militia to keep consitutional guarantees, lessens need for large standing army. Also allows effective self-defense, the killing of game, & all other lawful purposes re: the use of private property.
3)They didn't, they never expected the people would be misguided enough to support a HUGE military, or to allow extreme federal govt control or recreation of the Militias, or to allow the disarming or ineffectiveness of the citizens in defense of their own freedoms
4)Doesn't make sense.

[ColbertWatcher]

25. You do realize that white supremacists hide out in Orange County north (aka Ventura Co.).

That was carved in front of a friend's house.

[Caliman73]

67. White Supremacists are all over California

We used to get into scraps with skinheads in the San Gabriel Valley where I grew up. My dad and I were harassed by racist hicks in Fallbrook in San Diego county. They are up in Arcata, in Humboldt. Why do you mention this?

[Iktomiwicasa]

71. there are white supremacists...

...in virtually every community in the country. Your point?

[MercutioATC]

30. Either the report was innacurate (my bet), the man owned the gun illegally, or

He had been through an extensive FBI background check and still shot up the neighborhood.

The most likely scenario is that it was NOT an assault rifle, but a semiautomatic rifle.

[Caliman73]

68. If it was a similar rifle to the one used in Oakland

Then it was an SKS. Semi-automatic, 10 shot magazine which is usually pinned into the rifle which is fed through stripper clips. Uses 7.62x39mm ammo which is an intermediate power cartridge not a "high power" rifle. They sell them at Big 5. The problem with this situation is that alcohol, anger and desperation, and guns don't mix. He had just declared bankruptcy in a down economy and probably felt desperate and upset at his prospects. He drinks which disinhibits him. He goes for his firearms to teach the world a lesson. The problem is the man not the firearm.

[MindPilot]

16. Please, no more...

plumbers.

[X_Digger]

18. Lol, that's what I thought, too! n/t

[Xithras]

26. Either the weapon was illegal, or the writer is uneducated.

"High powered rifles" could be anything from deer rifles to flak guns, but one thing is clear: Assault rifles of all flavors have been illegal in California since 1989. When the AWB expired a few years ago, we Californians collectively shrugged our shoulders since ALL of the weapons banned under the AWB were also banned by state law...we also banned a bunch of weapons that were perfectly legal under the federal AWB. Any gun illegal in Iowa in 2005 is still illegal in California in 2009. A

So, either this guy didn't really have an assault weapon, or he was using illegally imported firearms. My guess, based on the fact that his wife worked for the Sheriffs department, would tend to lean toward the first option. Anyone with an AK47 knockoff in California today faced jailtime for mere possession, even though the weapon is legal in every state surrounding us.

[MercutioATC]

33. More accurately, unless he held a Class 3 federal firearms license, it wasn't an assault rifle.

Assault rifles, by definition, are fully automatic and are strictly controlled by the Federal Firearms Act of 1934.

[Xithras]

35. Not in California. Here, even a shotgun can be legally (and correctly) called an assault weapon.

Per California Law:

"A firearm’s status as an assault weapon under this category is determined solely by its characteristics.
There are three general types of firearms that are controlled by the generic characteristics assault
weapons laws. These types include semiautomatic centerfire rifles, semiautomatic pistols, and semiautomatic
or revolving cylinder shotguns.

Yes, even shotguns and pistols can meet the definition if they match the criteria.

12276.1 (a) Notwithstanding Penal Code section 12276, “assault weapon” shall also mean the following:
Rifles
(1) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of
the following:
(A) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
(B) A thumbhole stock.
(C) A folding or telescoping stock.
(D) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
(E) A flash suppressor.
(F) A forward pistol grip.
(2) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10
rounds.
(3) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.


You read that right. Replace the shoulder stock on your legal Ruger Ranch Rifle with a pistol grip, and your varmint gun becomes a big, bad assault weapon.

Pistols
(4) A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:
(A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.
(B) A second handgrip.
(C) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning his or her hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.
(D) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.
(5) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

4D is a perrenial running joke here in California. If your semiautomatic handgun takes its magazine in the pistol grip, it's safe for civilian use. If it attaches into the side, it instantly becomes a nasty assault weapon capable of frightening small children, San Francisco gun grabbers, and pandering politicians. It's not the size of the bullet, the capacity of the magazine, or the rate of fire that matters, it's the spot where that magazine is inserted that determines whether it's safe enough to permit onto the streets.

Shotguns
(6) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:
(A) A folding or telescoping stock.
(B) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or
vertical handgrip.
(7) A semiautomatic shotgun that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine.
(8) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.


So, technically speaking, you're incorrect when you state that assault rifles are "by definition" fully automatic. That definition depends on who has the legal authority to write it. In California, that definition is set by the state legislature, and by their definition even some inane design detail is enough to elevate a lowly shotgun to dreaded "assault weapon" status.

[MercutioATC]

36. "Assault WEAPON", yes. "Assault RIFLE", no.

An assault rifle, by definition is fully automatic.

An "assault weapon", by definition is semiautomatic.

Assault RIFLE possession is heavily restricted by federal law and has been since 1934.

[Xithras]

41. Did you read my post? Assault RIFLES are covered. You're wrong.

You'll note that my post was broken into three convenient parts, just like the law is, covering rifles, pistols, and shotguns.

According to California law, any semiautomatic centerfire RIFLE with a lenth under 30" is an assault RIFLE. So is any other semiautomatic centerfire rifle meeting any of the other criteria in sections 1, 2, or 3 of my original post.

Your definition may have been correct in 1934, but the definition of "assault rifle" has been legally set and formally changed in California and several other states around in the years since.

[MercutioATC]

46. I did, and you're misreading the law.

It clearly states the California definition of "assault WEAPON". Nowhere does it define "assault rifle".

A rifle that is an "assault weapon" is NOT an assault rifle...

It may seem like an unimportant detail to you, but "assault rifle" has a definition...and an assault rifle is a fully automatic firearm. The incorrect use of the term "assault rifle" only muddies the water and feeds the "assault weapons are military-style weapons" crowd's misunderstanding.

[Xithras]

51. Sorry, but that water is already muddy as hell.

Assault rifle has no formal and legal definition across the country, and it's not defined by the U.S. military. Any "standard definition" in the US was merely set by common use, and is subject to change as the use changes. Languages evolve, which is why we don't use thy's and thous anymore.

To claim that an "assault weapon" of subtype "rifle" is not an "assault rifle" is merely an exercise in verbal gymnastics.

[MercutioATC]

59. You're not a gun enthusiast, are you?

I realize it's hardly a definitive source, but even Wikipedia knows what an assault rifle is. The ONLY people I've spoken to who don't understand the difference between an assault rifle and an "assault weapon" know nothing about guns.

That said, most AWB supporters seem to be under the misconception that the guns they're trying to ban are military-style weapons, which is why it's important to emphasize the difference.

[Xithras]

66. Let's just say that kicking my front door in would be a BAD idea. But I'm no enthusiast

I like roses. In fact, I have 17 rose bushes on my property. As a person who enjoys roses, I have some high quality tools to take care of them. I can talk to you about the comparative advantages and disadvantages of teflon coatings vs. oiled steel. We can discuss the efficacy and differences between anvil loppers, bypass pruners, and rose shears. I can appreciate a well crafted garden tool, and detail out for you simply by holding it once whether a particular pair of pruners will work well in a certain type of bush. Still, I'm no pruner enthusiast. I like roses, and my pruners are simply the tools I use in my hobby. When one of my neighbors walks over and comments about me using my "rose trimmers", I don't jump down his throat for using incorrect terminology, and recite off technical details to illustrate they are PRUNERS and not TRIMMERS. I would never cite obscure old laws and get confrontational simply because someone used a slightly incorrect term. Why not? Because I'm a normal person, I understand that most people don't care about the trivial differences between minor descriptive words, and I get that doing so would simply make me appear confrontational and alienate people. So I smile, and show them what a clean cut a pair of $120 pair of bypass pruners can make.

When I'm showing someone the tools used in my other recreational activities, I extend the same courtesy.

If you really want to know my background in firearms, look up my posting history. Not all DU gun owners hang out in the gungeon.

[MercutioATC]

69. If there was proposed legislation to ban "trimmers" but not "pruners"...

...might you try to educate people in the individual characteristics of each?

That's my point. Most non-"gun people" see an AK-47 clone and think "military-style automatic weapon". They don't understand the difference between automatic and semiautomatic weapons. They don't understand that, in a semiautomatic firearm, magazine sizedoesn't haves great effect on rate of fire. They don't know that fully automatic weapons have been heavily restricted since 1934.

...and so they support legislation like the AWB based on misconceptions.

[slackmaster]

75. You have misstated California law - Here is what it actually says

12276. As used in this chapter, "assault weapon" shall mean the
following designated semiautomatic firearms:
(a) All of the following specified rifles:
(1) All AK series including, but not limited to, the models
identified as follows:
(A) Made in China AK, AKM, AKS, AK47, AK47S, 56, 56S, 84S, and
86S.
(B) Norinco 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.
(C) Poly Technologies AKS and AK47.
(D) MAADI AK47 and ARM.
(2) UZI and Galil.
(3) Beretta AR-70.
(4) CETME Sporter.
(5) Colt AR-15 series.
(6) Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C.
(7) Fabrique Nationale FAL, LAR, FNC, 308 Match, and Sporter.
(8) MAS 223.
(9) HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, and HK-PSG-1.
(10) The following MAC types:
(A) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.
(B) SWD Incorporated M11.
(11) SKS with detachable magazine.
(12) SIG AMT, PE-57, SG 550, and SG 551.
(13) Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48.
(14) Sterling MK-6.
(15) Steyer AUG.
(16) Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78S.
(17) Armalite AR-180.
(18) Bushmaster Assault Rifle.
(19) Calico M-900.
(20) J&R ENG M-68.
(21) Weaver Arms Nighthawk.
(b) All of the following specified pistols:
(1) UZI.
(2) Encom MP-9 and MP-45.
(3) The following MAC types:
(A) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.
(B) SWD Incorporated M-11.
(C) Advance Armament Inc. M-11.
(D) Military Armament Corp. Ingram M-11.
(4) Intratec TEC-9.
(5) Sites Spectre.
(6) Sterling MK-7.
(7) Calico M-950.
(8) Bushmaster Pistol.
(c) All of the following specified shotguns:
(1) Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12.
(2) Striker 12.
(3) The Streetsweeper type S/S Inc. SS/12.
(d) Any firearm declared by the court pursuant to Section 12276.5
to be an assault weapon that is specified as an assault weapon in a
list promulgated pursuant to Section 12276.5.
(e) The term "series" includes all other models that are only
variations, with minor differences, of those models listed in
subdivision (a), regardless of the manufacturer.
(f) This section is declaratory of existing law, as amended, and a
clarification of the law and the Legislature's intent which bans the
weapons enumerated in this section, the weapons included in the list
promulgated by the Attorney General pursuant to Section 12276.5, and
any other models which are only variations of those weapons with
minor differences, regardless of the manufacturer. The Legislature
has defined assault weapons as the types, series, and models listed
in this section because it was the most effective way to identify and
restrict a specific class of semiautomatic weapons.




12276.1. (a) Notwithstanding Section 12276, "assault weapon" shall
also mean any of the following:
(1) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to
accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:
(A) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action
of the weapon.
(B) A thumbhole stock.
(C) A folding or telescoping stock.
(D) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
(E) A flash suppressor.
(F) A forward pistol grip.
(2) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine
with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
(3) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length
of less than 30 inches.
(4) A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a
detachable magazine and any one of the following:
(A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor,
forward handgrip, or silencer.
(B) A second handgrip.
(C) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely
encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon
without burning his or her hand, except a slide that encloses the
barrel.
(D) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location
outside of the pistol grip.
(5) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the
capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
(6) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:
(A) A folding or telescoping stock.
(B) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action
of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.
(7) A semiautomatic shotgun that has the ability to accept a
detachable magazine.
(8) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.
(b) The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in
exempting pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic
target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned
by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the
national governing body for international shooting competition in the
United States, and that are used for Olympic target shooting
purposes at the time the act adding this subdivision is enacted, and
that would otherwise fall within the definition of "assault weapon"
pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subdivision (c).

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?WAISdocID=73140214352+9+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

The term "assault rifle" is not defined in the law.

[AtheistCrusader]

76. Cite your sources please.

Assault Rifles are, by law, machine guns, and covered under the 1934 National Firearms Act. (Some border on Sub-Machine guns, but they all share a common characteristic, they are select-fire, meaning either full auto, or burst capability.

What you are talking about are Assault WEAPONS, which are NOT machine guns.

[Xithras]

45. Oh, and by the way...

The term Assault Rifle wasn't coined until after WW2. It's the english translation of the German term for the Stg-44 rifle, and it's a term that was actually invented by Adolph Hitler. Not only was the term irrelevant in terms of the 1934 FFA, but technically the term "Assault Rifle" simply means "A weapon that mimics the Stg-44", aka the Sturmwher, which translates to Storm Rifle, using the version of "storm" that means "to invade or assault". Hitler named the rifle the Sturmwher after test-firing one of the first models himself.

Yes folks, that's right. Adolph Hitler personally invented the term Assault Rifle.

The U.S. military, but the way, has no set definition of assault rifle.

[MercutioATC]

52. Actually, an "assault rifle" must be capable of selective fire.

If it's not capable of selective fire, it's not an assault rifle.

[dashrif]

73. Uh

The Olympic Torch Relay too

Now go protest that, thats more than just a name and in the worlds face
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/08/14/spt_oly1symb.html

[Pithy]

32. Wow.

All the sleepers are getting triggered. Wonder what the PTB have in mind?

[ColbertWatcher]

34. It's likely this won't get much attention.

For one, Ventura County has a reputation it has to protect and two that reputation is dependent on people knowing as little about Ventura County as possible.

Like how many dirty secrets there are hiding in Ventura County.

[arcadian]

44. Pirate says what?

[Raskolnik]

49. Were you not getting enough attention in your own pirate threads? n/t

[TheWraith]

72. Sounds to me like an attempted suicide by cop.

The fact that he didn't deliberately target any people or anywhere that people still were suggests to me that the only person he wanted to die was himself.