Hello Damon,   
      
    JM>> Besides "assault rifles" are not used as a primary hunting rife by   
    JM>> serious hunters.   
      
    LL>> No hunters, serious or not, use assault weapons of any kind for   
    LL>> hunting.  They use them at a shooting range, firing at paper or   
    LL>> cardboard targets.  But not for hunting game.   
      
   DG>Not true; I've seen SKSes used for hunting deer.   
      
   Most hunters would not even consider using such a weapon   
   for hunting deer (or anything else).   
      
    LL>> Assault weapons are designed for killing people.   
    LL>> That is why drug dealers like them so much.   
    LL>> As well as other hard-core criminals.   
      
   DG>Yes they are.  They are given to us by the founders of the   
   DG>constitution for a very specific purpose, as well: to provide   
   DG>the people a means to resist tyranny.   
      
   There are many different interpretations of the 2nd Amendment.   
   The Framers of the Constitution had no way of envisioning the   
   society we have today, or the firepower of the weapons in the   
   hands of everyday people.  The amendment itself is poorly   
   written, and as a result misunderstood by just about everyone.   
   Interpretaations by the courts have varied greatly over the   
   years, and new interpretations will continue well into the   
   future.   
      
   DG>Our own government has, if you'll take a look at legislation that   
   DG>has been introduced and shot down, been trying to impose a more   
   DG>restricted lifestyle on its citizenry while also destroying its own   
   DG>checks and balances.   
      
   When it comes to gun control, President Obama has done *NOTHING*.   
   The only thing of note being an expansion of gun rights, enabling   
   folks to carry concealed weapons in national parks.   
      
   DG>Our reasons for having the weapons in the hands of the citizens   
   DG>are even more necessary than ever.   
      
   I'd feel far safer if some types of weapons (such as military-style   
   assault weapons) were taken off the market.   
      
   DG>Do you have any idea how much blood there is on the stars on stripes   
   DG>at this point?   
      
   I don't even want to think about it, there having been 31 mass   
   shootings since Columbine.   
      
    JM>> Mine will be used to defend my property when society breaks   
    JM>> down or ANYONE tries to take them away.   
      
    LL>> Oh, yeah.  I forgot about nutters sometimes known as preppers.   
    LL>> National Geographic did an entire season of shows based on them.   
    LL>> And is now airing a second season ...   
      
   DG>The media caters to idiots by showing them things that are   
   DG>outlandish and pointing out and exaggerating excentricities in   
   DG>people.  You're painting with a wide brush on this one.   
      
   Yeah, but what a fun series it is to watch!  I have the first   
   season on DVD and can't wait to get the second season!   
      
    JM>> Blaming guns for murder by an insane person is like blaming the   
    JM>> pencil and paper for misspelled words.   
      
    >> There is absolutely no doubt in anybody's mind that the guy who   
    >> offed his mother, all those school children, and other adults and then   
    >> himself was totally bonkers.  Had those weapons and ammo not been   
    >> available, his mother would not have been able to buy them.  And her   
    >> son would not have been able to kill her and all those children and   
    >> other people including himself.  Imagine that.  Gun control could have   
    >> saved 28 lives, 20 of those lives being children.   
      
   DG>We'll never know his mental state, unfortunately.   
      
   I don't need a shrink to tell me he was nuts.   
      
    >> Guns don't kill people.  People with guns kill people.  Not people   
    >> with pencils and paper.  Not even people with knives.  That is why the   
    >> UK banned guns.  That is why Australia banned guns. That is why Japan   
    >> banned guns.  That is why China banned guns.  It is time the USA did   
    >> the same.  Banning assault weapons would be a good first step.   
      
   DG>It'd also be a great way to remove the last few barricades that we   
   DG>have in place against letting the government completely steamroll the   
   DG>people.   
      
   I am not in favor of banning all guns.  Only certain types of weapons,   
   and ammo.  Along with other limits, such as limitations on how many   
   rounds clips, strips and drums can hold.  Nothing really draconian, as   
   I do not view gun ownership itself as being an evil.   
      
   --Lee   
      
   --- MesNews/1.06.00.00-gb   
    * Origin: news://felten.yi.org (2:203/2)