• becausechemistry@lemm.ee
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    9 days ago

    Okay, then. I guess I’ll ignore the muzzle loaders my dad and all his friends used to hunt with until the AR-15 became such a symbol of the “cold dead hands” crowd that they all went ahead and got one. And then a few more.

    I think the AR-15 should be banned because I think any semiautomatic rifle and pistol with a magazine capacity of more than a few rounds should be banned. That’s enough for the “guns are easier than getting medicated for anxiety” crowd to feel like they can engage in deadly personal defense without making it easy for someone to walk into a school or church or business and just unload.

    • brygphilomena@lemmy.world
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      9 days ago

      What? Are you saying you dad and all his friends used to use muzzle loaders before the ar-15? We’ve had bolt action at least since WW1 and semi-automatics have been common since WW2. There is no way you dad and his friends had muzzle loaders and only changed to AR-15 because of the popular crowd.

      Or are you trying to say bolt action, but don’t know firearms? Because most of the old hunting rifles were old military surplus rifles largely made popular by familiarity of those who used similar in military service and the high availability of rifle rounds in common calibers.

      Things like the Civilian Marksmanship Program that got old M1 Garands into civilian hands and the ubiquitous amount of 30-06 ammo that was easily accessible to hunters all over the country lead the previous era of gun owners. The current era of vets are familiar with the m4a1, but thats not available to civilians. But the ar-15 is similar so veterans tend to pick up the ar-15.

      The ar-15 is also highly module. It can be rechambered in almost any caliber, has many attachments for accessories, can have the barrel, muzzle, and stock changed making it a favorite of anyone that finds a hobby in firearms. If you picked up a complete ar-15, you can change essentially everything but the lower receiver and have it be the “same” gun.

      That’s why it’s popular and why so many people have one. Since it’s so popular and so common, it gets used in shootings. Not because of the traits you listed, but because the most dangerous gun is the one the criminal already has.

      • becausechemistry@lemm.ee
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        9 days ago

        Yes. Muzzle loaders. Shoot once, then spend a few minutes loading a powder charge and a bullet down the barrel. They weren’t flintlock muskets like it was the 1700s, they were modern rifles. Just loaded through the muzzles. It gives the deer a fighting chance. You have to hit on the first shot. Did you know that people also hunt with a bow and arrow? Those have been around since the Neolithic. Sometimes not using the most advanced tech is the point.

        It’s funny that you typed all that stuff trying to explain firearms to someone who you assume knows nothing about them. I’ve shot everything from pellet guns to the aforementioned muzzle loader to a .30-06 to, yes, an AR-15. I can pick up most guns and check to see if the chamber’s clear. I can disassemble and clean and put them back together.

        I want these things to go away. Not just AR-15’s. Anything semiautomatic with a magazine that can hold more than, let’s say, six rounds. Anything beyond a revolver is over the top for personal protection, and if you think that’s not true you’re a lunatic or just want to cosplay army guy. Duh, AR-15’s are the most commonly used firearm in shootings because there’s a lot of them. How about we make there be less of them and other guns that can kill so many people so quickly?