Gun Control 2022

I don't usually comment on political matters, but this year (2022) in the first 5 months there have been 27 mass shootings, and the year is not yet half over. Anyone with a working brain must be troubled by this, so I just wanted to open up my thoughts.

Near as I can tell by the newspaper and TV accounts, all of these mass shootings have been by immature or unbalanced men. No women. All have used one of the several brands of the AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle. While this gun is available around the world, outside of a war, it has been used to kill innocent people only in the United States of America, and once in Australia. As a result of the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, Australia has banned all assault rifle from citizen use.

I am not an expert on guns, and know very little technically about the AR-15, but it appears to me that this is a weapon designed for war to kill people. It physically looks like the AK-47, a Russian designed weapon, also known as a Kalashnikov named after its designer. The AK-47 was designed as a weapon of war explicitly to kill people. The US military purchases the AR-15 in combat form and calls it the M16. The only difference between the M16 and the AR-15 is that the M16 can be used in fully automatic and burst mode, while the AR-15 in its delivered form, cannot. The most important aspects of these assault rifles is the use of high velocity ammunition and a quick-change magazine to allow rapid reloading. The long barrel and higher velocity ammunition available for the M16 makes it more accurate at distances up to 600 yards. The AR-15 typically uses a slightly lower velocity bullet and shorter barrel making it less accurate, but still deadly. In fact, the people-killing capability that makes the M16 so effective as a weapon of war, makes the AR-15 less desirable as a hunting rifle - it tends to destroy the target animal.

Some people claim that they need a weapon for self-defence at home. The AR-15 might chase a home invader away just because of its looks, but would do damage to the home if it were actually used. Pulling the trigger of an AR-15 means you intend to KILL the invader, not just chase them away. A hand gun is a much better weapon for self-defence.

Conclusion: The only reason to own an AR-15 rifle is the desire to kill many people. It's not good for hunting, target shooting, or self-defence.

But wait... how about the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution? Doesn't it give all of us the right to bear arms?

...well yes, but read what the 2nd Amendment really says:

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

This was written in 1781 and finally approved in 1791. At the time, the "arms" referred to in the constitution were a rifle that was a musket and a pistol that was a flintlock. Both were capable of firing a lead ball once every minute, if the shooter was really skilled at reloading. During the American revolution, the "militia" was voluntary and included men drawn from the citizenry. In 2008, the US Supreme Court determined that the 2nd Amendment permitted individuals to own firearms, not just police and military, but allowed states to regulate sales. This allowed the banning of assault weapons in succeeding years, but has since been repealed. Currently, no other country in the world allows ordinary citizens to own firearms without strict control by their government.

There are a number of laws that place constraints about dangerous devices. The automobile for example: there are age limits that vary by state that limit citizens from driving; states require licenses and passing both a written and driving exam before allowing citizens to drive; automobiles must pass safety inspections before being allowed on the road carrying passengers. Why are there no such laws relating to firearms such as the AR-15 assault rifle or even a semiautomatic pistol.

I do own an automobile and am licensed to drive it. Every year I must have my car inspected for safety. Once every 5 years I am required to renew my driver's license, and often to take a vision test. Why are there no such laws required for gun ownership and use? Why do our laws allow ownership of weapons of war to go unchecked?