The video below is one of the better explanations I’ve seen of the misnomer “assault weapon.”
As an example: My pedigree in the field is pretty well established here. Earlier this year a friend I had not seen for awhile who had heard about the blog said “So I hear you are into machine guns now.”
Well, NO, but the confusion – thanks to the decrepit Fourth Estate and the impact it’s had on some of our readers – is understandable. What I am into is certain rifles that function exactly like most of the rifles that have been used by civilians in this country for over a century, but which also happen to be built to last like the Great Wall of China.
But they look exotic and therefore make some of my fellow liberals nervous when they see them.
Anyway, this guy does a much better job explaining it than I could. It is well worth watching all of it.
Key points:
“The confusion and misunderstanding over firearms is the result of mislabeling.”
“The media blitz that many of these supposedly military style weapons are being converted to fully automatic is not true.”
Here is the video:
On the off chance you might think the incoming administration does not understand the facts related in the video, and if you are therefore now motivated to procure one of these magnificent little babies for yourself, my initial advice would be to go to the Nation’s Gun Show this weekend in Chantilly and buy one. I would bring $600 and hope the world has not gone insane so that I could buy the gun and $100-$200 worth of ammo to go with it. If it appears the world has gone insane and you get caught up in the frenzy, break out your credit card and just buy the first AK-47 that bares its soul to you.
If you strike out there, check out these Web sites. Supplies are ridiculously limited because the entire country is snapping up anything with a trigger (wonder if this fact might influence the potential gun-grabbers in the Obama administration to have second thoughts for political reasons…) but if you are diligent you can find great firearms at affordable prices.
No AK’s right now, but check every day. He usually gets them in periodically at the best prices you’ll find. What they do have now which would interest me are:
Ammo – 7.62 x 39 (AK-47/AKM and SKS)
Rifle – Saiga 236 (Excellent AK-style hunting rifle, only 10 rd. capacity but close to the real thing)
Scroll down for a Norinco 12 gauge shotgun for $149! Currently out of stock but check back for restocking. It is a hell of a deal for a home defense gun.
Also out of AKs right now but keep checking back and, in the meantime…
Site says to call first because they are basically out of everything, but check out the AK-47 page and scroll way down. You will find some AKs and Saigas for under $500. If you are in the market, start calling to inquire about those.
Any gun you buy on the Internet needs to be shipped to a licensed dealer who will do the paperwork and background check before handing it over to you (and charge $30-$50 for the service).
Actually almost any local gun shop will do this for you so just call the local ones for their pricing and necessary information.
Or, of course, you can go to any gun shop and buy it there. From what I have heard, their supplies are more limited than any of the other two options but it is worth checking.
Final note: Buying at the gun show or at a local gun shop are a little more satisfying than over the Internet because you pay your money, do the background check right then and there, and go home with a gun. You pay a little more, but sometimes it is worth it to get it done with.
oh wait another news flash….the press got something wrong! woo hoo.
The news media is more into ratings than accurate reporting of the news. This was very educational as I too was not aware of the differences in the weapons.
I think in the matter of “assault weapons” the media are guilty of worse than inaccuracy, I think it is deliberate obfuscation to get us one step closer to disarming the citizenry.
But maybe I’m wrong and an effective PR campaign by the pro-Second Amendment advocates will get the word out that these scary looking guns are absolutely no different than hunting rifles, and some of the media will help spread the word. I hope so.
“I hope so.”
Don’t hold your breath.
You are correct it is absolute obfuscation on the part of the media.
An assault weapon as defined by the Dept of Defense is a weapon capable of fully automatic fire. Civilian semi-autos are not assault weapons.
The media completely ignores the weapons capabilities and instead bases their definition on the cosmetics of the firearm. It is dishonest and they know it. However, it does not matter, they deem these weapons to be both unnecessary for civilian ownership and dangerous by their mere existence. This provides the motivation and moral cover to continue in this massive campaign of group think dishonesty.
Guns and Gun control are at the top of the list of issues in which the media and their allies flay out lie to the American people about. Firearms and those who own them are in the cross hairs of one of the worst Public relations campaigns ever foisted on the public.
Sadly, the public believes much of it.
Joe,
I don’t know where you found that video and I’m sure the guy meant well, but I could shot so many holes in it that it’s not funny.
Stoner is right-an assault weapon is a weapon capable of full automatic fire AND is either a weapon used by the military OR presented to the military for evaluation. This can be military of any country. M1 Garand, K98 Mauser and their like were called “battle rifles” as they were NOT fully automatic.
Your best advice was going to the gun show. And, yes, you can buy a pre-86 automatic weapon (which they will sell there but you won’t be taking it home for about 4 months) as long as you are willing to go thru a criminal background check from county, state and fed (BATFE) and can cough up the $200 for the tax stamp (if approved) as well as the price of the firearm. What would you do with an automatic, you say? Other than waiting for a riot, storming of you premises or an apocolypse, think of it as the same tingley sinsation that Chris Mathews got from Obama. It’s a guy thing.