#1 - My Comments to "A Ban on Assault Weapons in the US must go ahead"

This is the comment I posted on the site in response to the article. It is the comment only. My original post on the subject is here.

I don’t even know where to begin.

First off, you’re British. You don’t live here. If you want to criticize US gun laws, feel free as you have. But ultimately your opinion has no bearing since you don’t live here.

Two, good for you that you’ve read the Constitution and the Founding Fathers. You understand the historical context but then choose to ignore it because they couldn’t have predicted the course of modern society. They didn’t have to. They provided a framework for future generations to operate in and had faith they would do so in a manner faithful to their intentions. That’s why we have the US Constitution.

Third, you’re expressing an opinion based on a 3 year old article! Why not investigate the issue with more recent information.

Four, as pointed out to you, you don’t have any knowledge about what you are talking about. Movie references are not reality! It is very hard and very expensive to own a machine gun here. You’ve fallen victim to invented media terms such as “assault weapon” that have no real definition in fact.

Five, the so-called “ban” that expired in 2004 and you are calling for renewal on banned NOTHING. It banned FEATURES, not functionality. If a gun had a specific combination of 2 or more out of 5 listed features, it was considered an “assault weapon” and couldn’t be sold after 1994. All the manufacturers did were to remove those banned features. The rifles sold as “assault weapons” during the ban were functionally identical to those sold prior to the “ban” but cosmetically different. That’s it. Not one gun was confiscated or turned in, registered or restricted in that time.

And the ban was an abject failure except to harass citizens, raise awareness of gun rights in this country and did absolutely nothing to reduce crime. The CDC agrees when they studied issue.

Six, why the call for “symbolic” action you know won’t have any effect? The 1994 “ban” was considered symbolic under the same logic. You don’t pass laws that restrict rights for the purposes of symbolism!

One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. It is the hallmark of ideology over reality.

Finally, why do you think the idea of legal gun ownership to be a problem? You like Britain now that legal gun ownership has been crushed (to use your term)? You like the skyrocketing incidence of violence of all types? You like that fact you are utterly dependent on the Government for your safety and well-being and if you attempt to defend yourself against an attacker, YOU will be charged with assault? You think that is correct? You think that is a reasonable state to live in?

Here, we still have the notion of self-defense of one’s person and home. That criminals are not elevated to higher level of protection than their victims. The UK wasn’t like that once. 80 years ago and up to the 50s, the UK was similar to the USA with regard to rights towards guns and self-defense. Only by ignoring centuries of common law and by legislative fiat in contradiction of past precedent did the Government take power to enforce its wishes and disarm the populace. And look where it has gotten you.

The anti-gun lobby is in retreat in this country because for the most part, the American citizen has woken up to the fact that the Government and police can’t (and have no duty) to protect them. They are ultimately responsible for their own safety. Most people here believe (correctly) that gun ownership is an individual right guaranteed to them by the US Constitution. It will not be taken easily here despite that anti-gun lobby’s best efforts. And it won’t be the NRA fighting them. It will be people like me who will not be left helpless by the Government who legally has no duty to protect me.

For what it is worth. I could discuss this at length but I think I’ve said enough. Feel free to contact me if you would actually like to learn something and discuss the state of affairs in this country as they truly exist and not what you believe them to be.

Good day.

Next: #2 - Laying the Groundwork