• rbesfe@lemmy.ca
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    11 months ago

    I think gun control is necessary legislation, but the term “assault-style weapon” is not based on the function of a firearm or its ability to cause harm. It’s a nonsense phrase used to describe guns that look scary.

    • Mr_Blott@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      “This law would never work, simply because of the legal classification of the guns” says only country in the world where the legal classification of the guns makes the law not work

      • rbesfe@lemmy.ca
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        11 months ago

        My point is that assault-style is not a legal classification at all. If you want gun control, focus on caliber, fire rate, barrel length, etc.

    • chitak166@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Nice right-wing talking point.

      Every single piece of legislation addressing ‘assault-style’ weapons specifies what is and is not allowed, such as magazine and barrel size limits.

      • scoobford@lemmy.one
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        11 months ago

        Those definitions tend to be inconsistent and strange though. They often concern themselves with things like pistol grips vs thumbhole stocks, which only impact the ergonomics and the appearance of a firearm, not the function.

        And even a barrel size limit is a strange thing to regulate. Short barreled rifles are not inherently more dangerous than regular size rifles. The only reason they are regulated today is as a holdover from a piece of legislation that would have banned handguns.

        • chitak166@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          I mean, so? The point is that there isn’t legislation against ‘assault-style’ weapons. Every piece of legislation specifies what is and is not allowed. Whether it impacts the ergonomics, appearance, or function of the firearm is completely irrelevant to my point.

          He was trying to argue that there is no such thing as ‘assault-style’ weapons, and I countered by saying there is no legislation targeting ‘assault-style’ weapons. Each piece of legislation specifies what is and is not allowed.

          • scoobford@lemmy.one
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            11 months ago

            Yes, but it is a problem when we discuss these things. Most people are in favor of banning “assault-style weapons”, but people’s conceptions of what that means vary wildly.

            This is just like asking if people support educating kids. Everyone wants their kids to be educated, but some want their kids taught that the earth is 6,000 years old and that climate change isn’t real, and others want them taught the history of systematic oppression in America.

            As for the actual bans, I’m not aware of any " assault-style weapons" bans that didn’t ban something stupid because it looks scary. Many have included magazine capacity restrictions, which you can definitely make an argument for, but also regulated something stupid, like pistol grips on rifles.

          • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            Where is your well regulated militia uniform? What base do you operate out of? Can I see your military ID card? What rank do you hold? Who is your commanding officer?

            • chitak166@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              Did minutemen wear uniforms? Did they have bases? Did they have IDs? Ranks? Commanding officers?

              Even if they didn’t, the 2nd amendment requires none of this. Lol.

              Also, can you name any of the firearms that I mentioned that do not exhibit the two or more of the listed traits? That would immediately prove your argument about assault weapon legislation not having specifics metrics.

              • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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                11 months ago

                Did minutemen wear uniforms? Did they have bases? Did they have IDs? Ranks? Commanding officers?

                Yes. Even today the uniforms of West Point are based on the colonial army officer uniforms.

                Even if they didn’t, the 2nd amendment requires none of this. Lol.

                Well regulated militia. Not there by accident.

                Also, can you name any of the firearms that I mentioned that do not exhibit the two or more of the listed traits? That would immediately prove your argument about assault weapon legislation not having specifics metrics

                Ask your commanding officer.

          • rbesfe@lemmy.ca
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            11 months ago

            The features specified have nothing to do with how lethal a firearm is, that’s my point. It’s purely cosmetic bullshit.