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[Wooster]

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4A71LQ20081108

Seems there's a run on weapons in the USA at the moments (specifically Assault Weapons) based on fears of an Obama clampdown.

You'd think that everyone who wanted one, would probably have one ...but anyhoo.
Hunting rifles, shotguns and handguns I can sort of agree with (well, tbh the handguns can probably hit the scrap bin as well, as far as I'm concerned)..but I have some serious problems with the state of mind of someone who feels the need to own an assault rifle (like an AK or an AR-15).

It's a weapon designed to take down multiple, relatively large, targets of about the size of say...your average Human Being, as quickly as possible.
Bearing that in mind, I'm left with three conclusions. (excepting the armed forces and reserves)
1: You have a complete lack of faith in (or deeply held resentment of) your neighbours and Government and live in the expectation that you will probably have to kill as many as possible, as quickly as possible, at some time in the future.
2: You expect an imminent attack at any moment by organised groups of some other largish mammals like pigs, horses, elk or bears.
3: You are some kind of overgrown child who has taken 'playing' soldiers into adult life and are too much of a shitebag to actually risk your life in order to do it for real.
I think either of the conditions should instantly preclude you from any kind of gun ownership at all.

Anyhoo, the serious question is:
In which circumstances (barring the military obviously, or reserves) would it be reasonable for a private individual to own an assault weapon?

[keasy]

Don't know.
It's mainly an American question though isn't it ? Is it ?
Are you aiming it at the American contingent ?


In no offence intended mode I'm sick of American politics and issues at the moment. I love having America as our main ally, but with the election just being finished our news has been awash with American politics and I'm just hacked off with it right now.
So right now IDGAF tbh   

[Wooster]

Not really, we have members from all over the place.

Just curious as to whether there might be a good reason to own one that I haven't thought about..

I thought I'd covered my own personal biases in the middle of the OP, and looking around the world, the main concentrations of these weapons in private hands, is usually in places everyone else avoids.

[keasy]

I meant it's really only in America people have private owned assault weapons, hence an american issue, not an exclusive to Americans for answering issue   

[Wooster]

  eh?
Countries all over the world allow private individuals to own semi and fully automatic assault rifles..


Most of them you wouldn't want to visit though..

[Wooster]

Btw..in semi-related (quite old (2000)) news, I think I just discovered the most inappropriate use of the word 'only' in recent years, while I was looking for something else.

From the CATO Institute..

In 1997, the last year for which data are available, only 142 children under 15 years of age died in gun accidents

Anyhoo, that's part of the wider debate, not what I'm talking about here. (just funny they'd couch it in those terms is all.. )

[Hallcat]

I think the 2nd amendment (the right to bare arms) is deeply rooted in the conscience of many Americans.  The movement from a more conservative government to a more liberal government with this last election has many conservative Americans worried that the change of power will mean the end of their right to buy and/or own certain weapons, so they're buying them up as fast as they can.  I really don't think it has anything to do with lack of faith in our government or neighbors.  Its just an American thing. 

Keasy, believe me we're sick of it too.  But, its not our fault.  The news organizations there choose what to air and wouldn't put it on if there wasn't an audience for it because its all about advertising, no audience, no advertising, no show about US Politics.  So right your TV stations and tell them you're gonna stop watching, enough people do that and they'll change what they put on the telly (that's what you call it, right).  

[Thermalsig]

I agree with Hallcat. It is an American thing. An American thing that is the second amendment. I don't care to own or see the need to own assault rifles personally, but to me, hand guns, hunting rifles and shotguns are my right to own. I don't intend to, nor will I willingly shoot someone. I don't think I would walk down the street in Glasgow with out a gun, the chances of me getting hurt or killed are high.. There are places like that here in the US. Be it a gun, a knife, a bat, or a bottle, people will find a way to kill people on a scale unthinkable to most humans. Frankly, to me it's useless to have conversations about Americans belief to own guns with those who don't have that right. It's a cultural thing, baby!

[Nivlac]

"Assault weapons are for hunting  " - and my reply is if you need an automatic weapon to hunt with then you are never allowed to use my bathroom (all about targeting)

I own a shotgun, 2 hand guns and a .22 rifle but I can't think of a situation where I would need an assault rifle where I wouldn't be totally fucked anyway.

[Wooster]

I suppose it's down to where the line is drawn.. (Can you 'hunt' with RPG's?  )

Gotta laugh at "I don't think I would walk down the street in Glasgow with out a gun, the chances of me getting hurt or killed are high.."

The chances of you getting hurt or killed is actually tiny.
I've been going into Glasgow regularly since I was 15 and dogging the school and never felt at risk at all, I lived there for a while too (quite a shitty area too, mainly occupied by alkies and prostitutes).
I worked Cash In Transit there for about 8 years also, and while I was there no-one was ever shot or injured during the odd armed robbery we experienced (that's the only time I've actually seen a handgun IRL, and it was usually pointing at someone's face ). It was stressful, sure, but it's hard not to feel a bit stressed when you are (for instance) carrying £20k into a shop that has a junkie shooting up in the doorway next to it.

[keasy]

eh?
Countries all over the world allow private individuals to own semi and fully automatic assault rifles..


Most of them you wouldn't want to visit though..

So that leaves us with america as the only one that we call safe.
 


HC, writing to the telly stations won't make a difference, it's too important, America leads the World in finance, military issues (well for the west) etc.
So it's an important political coverage, I'm just sick of it that's all. Not because of any malice or anything, it's just constant atm. It's the same whith Diana for example, she's been dead for ages and it still makes news from time to time.

[Wooster]

You're looking in the wrong direction.
There's a pile of European countries where you can legally own one. (Switzerland, for one, is particularly high)

[keasy]

Whatevah!




Dawktah!
 

[Thermalsig]

Gotta laugh at "I don't think I would walk down the street in Glasgow with out a gun, the chances of me getting hurt or killed are high.."

My own son said he didn't feel safe there and had to wait in a crowd of people at Claire's advice to avoid a roving gang. He said he felt like he was here on the south side.The news stories of all the knifing and beatings made the news here. I've seen the pics of the Neds chasing people down the street, one after the other. I suppose you only go there at day time?
^
It's just a reference to potential violence being everywhere, and death not needing a gun.

[keasy]

He went around at night time.

But the danger is walking around the schemes at the wrong times I suppose.

Being on the out skirts we get a lot of the ned and knife culture around here, but we know the types and the ones with more infamy and where they hang, so to speak.