Why Would You Own An Assault Rifle? - Page 6

Barney · 01-13-2013, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppine

If the US government, sheriffs office, swat team really wants to come and get you, there is going to be big trouble. No one can board themselves up in a house with some neighbors and some AR 15s and 10,000 rounds and expect to win that battle. It is the American gun fantasy. I have been guilty of it myself. We need to review the actual history instead of the versions that people throw around becasue they so desperately want to believe it.

Plain old CCW handgun is enough to defend yourself from a random criminal or two.

Add a shotgun or two to your house and you'll be able to resists a smaller group of thugs.

But if you have not done anything wrong to deserve that visit from US government, sheriffs office and swat team, I would want every person in the neighborhood to be armed with AR-15 + 10,000 rounds and prepared for resisting. It's not because I want to up the chance for survival, but to defend what I think is worth defending in the face of tyranny.

Marshmallow · 01-13-2013, 10:37 AM

I was listening to a radio show yesterday, and they were declaring that some hunters really "needed" their assault rifles to do the kind of hunting they enjoyed. That's still so lame to me. No one needs this kind of weapon unless they are in a military or governmental protection role.

wvbreamfisherman · 01-13-2013, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marshmallow

I was listening to a radio show yesterday, and they were declaring that some hunters really "needed" their assault rifles to do the kind of hunting they enjoyed. That's still so lame to me. No one needs this kind of weapon unless they are in a military or governmental protection role.

No one "needs" a car capable of going over 70 miles per hour...No one "needs" more than maybe 2500 calories per day. No one "needs" a house with more than 2000 square feet. No one "needs" to have over $1,000,000 in assets. No one "needs" to be paid over $100,000 per year. No one "needs" more than one car. No one "needs" more than two kids. No one "needs" a pet- it's cruel to the animals..

See how easy this is? Who decides who "needs" what, and who is allowed to have what?

Theo · 01-13-2013, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvbreamfisherman

No one "needs" a car capable of going over 70 miles per hour...No one "needs" more than maybe 2500 calories per day. No one "needs" a house with more than 2000 square feet. No one "needs" to have over $1,000,000 in assets. No one "needs" to be paid over $100,000 per year. No one "needs" more than one car. No one "needs" more than two kids. No one "needs" a pet- it's cruel to the animals..

See how easy this is? Who decides who "needs" what, and who is allowed to have what?

Most people have a hard time distinguishing between needs and wants. I have very few needs but a whole bunch of wants. I also have the intelligence to tell the difference between the two.

DuctTape · 01-13-2013, 01:00 PM

There is also a difference when it comes to the level of scrutiny applied to any regulation, law which infringes on a freedom. Part of the basis is whether the freedom is just of personal desire or if it is a constitutionally protected one. While someone may want to drive 100mph, highway laws often prohibit this freedom. Since driving at excessive speeds is not a protected right, the state need only have a rational basis and intermediate scrutiny for the law. While a regulation limiting freedom of speech requires a compelling interest and strict scrutiny. The courts have established different tests to determine whether a regulation or law meets the thresholds to infringe on personal liberties. Thus it is the representative democratic process with the system with checks and balances who "decides".

Boroffski · 01-13-2013, 01:32 PM

I would never own an "assault rifle", I have plenty of "assault hands" and "assault feet" to use.

However. If we call it what it actually is..... A SEMI-AUTO RIFLE, and not a left-wing media moniker..... I'll take one of each!

wvbreamfisherman · 01-13-2013, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theo

Most people have a hard time distinguishing between needs and wants. I have very few needs but a whole bunch of wants. I also have the intelligence to tell the difference between the two.

That's somewhat beside my point. The point being, that all those things I said that no one "needs" have been mentioned as serious subjects for legislation or social cajoling.

I'm the one that decides what I "Want" or "Need". These are not things to be decided by the government. The entire point of the Constitution was to limit the role of the government , originally just the Federal power, but later through incorporation, to limit the encroachment of state and local governments as well.

The Framers didn't believe that the state should have the power to decide what we "needed". They intended to leave that to us.