Some basic firearms information

I have been struck by the lack of explanation that much of the news media has displayed since the horrific events in Newtown. Often times even the experts they have on the shows across all networks fail to explain the basic way the law works and the types of weapons there are.

For instance, when they say 'assault weapon', that is, from a design standpoint, a meaningless designation. The term assault weapon as it is used has everything to do with the physical appearance of a weapon, and that is in large part what is proposed in the assault weapons ban law by Sen. Feinstein. The law lists specific weapons, and then goes on to define an assault weapon as a weapon that looks like this (insert language of the definition). In the old assault weapons ban that ran out earlier this century, it defined an assault weapon as one that had a bayonet lug and a grip that protruded downward.

It also made large clips illegal.

This law would be just like the last assault weapons ban, and the manufacturers will just change the physical appearance of the weapon enough to sell it legally, just as they did the last time the assault ban was in action. 7.62 is the most popular round for AK-47 style weapons, and these types of guns were available during the last assault ban, just as were .223 or 5.56 rounds (the same as an M16 - a great example of this was the hunting rifle Ruger made, the Mini-14).

So, from a design standpoint, the mechanism of an assault rifle is the same as any semi-automatic hunting rifle. 7.62 rounds are roughly equal to 30.06 rounds. The different designations are used, but the round is nearly identical.

There are many semiautomatic clip fed hunting rifles, like the Ruger 44 and the Browning BAR. These are both semi-automatic hunting rifles that would not in any way fall under the proposed ban; nor did they fall under the last ban.

And semi-automatic weapons will not be outlawed; 'Assault weapon' as defined right now has everything to do with the way a gun looks; the mechanics of assault weapons and semi-auto hunting rifles is exactly the same.

I will cover just one more issue for now, and more as time goes on; even if all semi-automatic weapons were outlawed, which is very doubtful, revolvers and a lever action rifle contain a huge amount of firepower. There are other ways to make sure schools and other areas are safe from this type of attack, but they are complicated systems if performed correctly. It would involve multiple layers of security at the school, both apparent security in the form of an armed guard and either staff or an undercover officer who was armed.

The mental health aspect is also very important and is actually the first line of defense against attacks such as the one which just occurred. It is a tragedy, but it seems as though the basic explanation of firearms and the way they really work has been missing. Only when you understand the most basic parts of the problem can you come up with a coherent solution, and that is what DoubleTap Concealed hopes happens.