Guess what kind of gun was used in todays school shooting

[statementofgoods]

AR15 assault rifle confirmed by police

[femmocrat]

1. What does that mean?

Could you explain?

[statementofgoods]

4. Weapon of war

[onehandle]

6. It's becoming the defacto gun of domestic terrorism.

And the most defended gun by the GOPNRAteahadists.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

9. It's one of the weapons of choice

for those who fantasize about being 'warriors'. It doesn't shoot different bullets, it's not fully automatic, it's not anything special, but it's got the 'look' of a military weapon, so a lot of 'wannabes' like it.

[JustAnotherGen]

31. Thank you Erich

I was trying to understand where the OP was going with it. This makes sense.

[wercal]

36. I have a theory about the AR-15

After the assault weapon ban was enacted, a lot of relatively cosmetic features had to be eliminated from the AR-15...so the AR-15 was manufactured as a 'base' rifle, that was easily accessorized.

And then its popularity took off. Just like people like to customize their cars for example, some people are enamored with customizing and accessorizing the AR-15. A quick google search will find hundreds of different accessories and configurations.

Its not particularly different or more lethal than any other semi-automatic rifle (which have been widely available to the public since the 1950's or earlier). Its just really popular.

[Liberal Veteran]

61. So the "AR" stands for "augment rod"?

[ManiacJoe]

82. AR stands for Armalite Rifle

The company that originally made them.

[Electric Monk]

72. Some of the mods are just stupid. Like, why the heck would someone even want that?

[ManiacJoe]

95. It makes for a great, viral photo on the internet.

Kind of like some of the crazy mods that get done to cars.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

123. Okay

Assuming either picture is real neither looks like anything easily fired.

[hack89]

75. The 1994 AWB was an early Christmas for gun manufacturers

AR-15 sales spiked during the AWB.

[OregonBlue]

92. Who cares, no private citizen needs an assault rifle.

[Duckhunter935]

127. Very few do

and they have to go through very extensive local, state and federal background checks and pay a 200 dollar tax stamp per weapon.

[Nevernose]

94. Assault rifles are essentially Barbies for grown men

And the main profit in them is not usually in the rifle itself, but in the accessories.

[cojoel]

96. one minor difference

The men dress up themselves rather than their barbie gun

[WovenGems]

125. POOPGUN

The AR15 doesn't fire a NATO round so it doesn't have the range of the M16. You can get a new barrel that can handle the bigger round but I don't know if you can get the NATO rounds or where on earth one would go to play with it or why I would want one at all. I do miss my M16 though.

[Duckhunter935]

128. thats funny

my civilian AR-15 semi-automatic rifle fires the standard milspec/NATO 5.56 round

[samsingh]

54. this fing gun is used frequently to comitt mass murder

[rhett o rick]

124. Point of order. You need a ' between the f and the ing. Thusly, f'ing. Just sayin.

[Duckhunter935]

129. How many in the last year

compared to handguns, and shotguns?

[samsingh]

135. too many

[Recursion]

134. That's handguns you're thinking of (nt)

[samsingh]

136. both

[Recursion]

137. No, really, it's handguns. About 90% of gun deaths (nt).

[JustAnotherGen]

2. What is the significance of that to you?

[Erose999]

23. What significance is that to YOU?

[JustAnotherGen]

28. Hmmm

I'd like to know why this was highlighted by the op?


Because I'm feeling salty today!

This is how we have discussions in my life - this is how it works in my friendships, my marriage, my family, my work.

Maybe you relate to people differently. I dunno. Not for me to judge. But give and take will always create a good discussion.

[samsingh]

56. it is a gun frequently used for mass murder

[JustAnotherGen]

62. Thank you

So its not really necessary for the average hunter to own one correct? My husband doesn't, my brother doesn't. My dad didn't.

It's not even necessary for protection in one's home - correct?

It's designed with the sole intent of killing another human being - that was the reason for its invention correct? For military use - correct?

I'm not really that dumb. I just like other people to say the hard truths some times.

I'm heart broken that this happened again today. And I'm not immune to its impact. And none of us should be.

[samsingh]

102. you're absolutely right - it is gun suited for mass murder and to satisfy the ego's of

some gun lovers.

[Erose999]

116. I think we're all in agreement here. I know people like to downplay the features of such weapons,

but if such features were as unimportant as the gungeon crowd seems to say they are, then these weapons would not be so in demand by domestic terrorists.

For example, a a Remington Woodsmaster is a semi-automatic sporting rifle you can find in probably half the gun cabinets in the US. It has a full "monte carlo" stock (as opposed to the pistol grips on AR15's and other military style weapons) and a 5 round magazine. But it hardly ever turns up as a weapon used in crimes.

[JustAnotherGen]

119. Not appropo probably

But my husband is like - my .45 is all my ego needs in a home invasion.

But he was a tactical sharp shooter in the Italian Marines.

I don't have issues with guns - AT all. I grew up in a house with them. My father was Green Beret - huge hunter. I know how to shoot one and I'm a good shot.

My problem is Who is buying them, where they are getting them, and the type of people that use these types of guns to hurt people.

Enough. Just - enough.

You know in Italy you have to register your guns with the police? My father in law had to surrender his guns to hs sons a few yea ago because as a 70 something stroke survivor he was no longer fit to protect his country. What is wrong with mental and physical fitness tests? What's wrong with having to register you guns with the polizia and having to have your tests every other year or so?

It's the easiest way to find the bad guys too - if you have an ill gotten gun those leo's over there know who committed the crime.

[onehandle]

3. Clearly we need better guns than that in the vending machine that is gun culture.

Pitiful body count.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

10. I'm not sure gallows humour is appropriate

even if it's all we've got left, since we can't seem to actually get anything done, sigh.

[GeorgeGist]

5. Why else would one want ...

an ASSAULT rifle?

[Crunchy Frog]

37. Target practice? Shooting squirrels?

Male enhancement?

[Duckhunter935]

130. as it was not

Most are not, they are civilian models that operate the same as any standard wooden stock equipped semi-automatic rifle.

[bravenak]

7. What is it?

I'm sure he stole it for some reason. Whoever let that kid have a gun or access to it should be arrested.

[statementofgoods]

15. They haven't confirmed if it was stolen or not

A high school age student ' I would think wouldn't be able to go into a gun store and purchase an assault rifle on his own.

Either it was stolen or it was in his household

[bravenak]

20. Thanks.

I'm sure we will find out soon enough, but my first thought was how could a kid get that?
Had to be stolen, i though he probably took an axe to a gun cabinet.

[Boom Sound 416]

18. ...

[bravenak]

19. Hey!!

Long time no see!

[flamin lib]

8. AR variants are becoming the weapon of choice for these incidents although

handguns are still the most prevalent for gun violence overall.

[Indydem]

21. Really?

Please list all the incidents in which the shooter chose an "Assault Rifle" over a handgun.

[flamin lib]

25. No do your own damn research. I'll not be spoon feeding some one too involved in gun

Culture to recognize a trend when it hits him in the face....or shoots him in the head.

[Indydem]

29. Derp derp.

Thanks for proving my point.

[flamin lib]

34. Just Google AR15 shooting, Derpster. And the horse ya rode in on. nt

[Indydem]

38. OK, let's do that.

On the second page of results, we find the LAX shooting and the Washington Navy yard shooting. LAX, yes. Navy yard ended up being a shotgun.

On the fifth page, we find the Clackamas shooting.

On page 6 we find the first article about Newtown.

So here's the deal. I'm not going through 10 pages of Google results to compile a list of AR15 shootings for you. There are 2-3 times as many mass shootings that are performed with a plain old handgun.

[flamin lib]

41. I fucking said that. Reading impaired much? Oh and derp derp back at cha. nt

[Indydem]

51. NO. You said they were the gun of choice. They are not.

I am not talking about gun violence. I am specifically talking about spree shootings, or mass shootings.

Still mostly handguns.

[tkmorris]

83. Good point. Get rid of those too.

Is that what you wanna hear?

[Indydem]

85. How about some reality?

Getting shot is a statistical improbability.

Trying to stop a statistical improbability is a waste of time.

Agonizing over the inability to stop one is lunacy.

[flamin lib]

90. I am typing this very slowly because you apparently don't read well.

I said BECOMING the weapon of choice. There seems to be a trend in planned shootings toward the AR derivatives. I also said that pistols are still the predominant weapon in most shootings.

OK?

[Indydem]

108. OK bud.

Good talking to you.

Keep believing the myth.

That gun's gonna get you!

[morningfog]

104. Deep is NRA members intruding on liberal boards.

[Indydem]

107. How am I intruding?

I am a liberal. I am a member of the NRA. Have been for 20 years.

These things are not mutually exclusive.

I don't agree with a lot of what the NRA does. That doesn't mean I abandon the things I do agree with.

We've had this discussion before.

[morningfog]

110. Fuck the NRA and its members. Blood proudly on all their hands.

[Indydem]

113. That's a silly position to hold.

I am no more liable for the actions of a deranged mind than you are responsible for the illegal war in Iraq.

I do not support violating the rights of individuals. I hold the RKBA as one of those rights.

I am no more responsible for the actions of others than you are.

After all, what are you doing to end gun violence, besides being rude and belligerent to me on an internet message board?

[morningfog]

97. Aren't you a proud NRA member? Your arguments and opinion are not welcome here.

[Indydem]

99. Since when do you get to make that decision?

You are not the authority of anything on this forum.

Your opinion is one of many. I welcome all points of view. I can actually debate them. I don't have to tell people to "shut up and go away."

[morningfog]

103. You don't have to shut up or go away, but your opinion

is of no value here, and I am free to point out your proud membership in the terrorist organization that is the NRA when you enter into these discussions.

[Indydem]

105. Are you still following me around?

Why don't you find something more constructive to do?

[morningfog]

109. Are you still pimping for the NRA on liberal boards?

Even while kids are dying everyday? Why don't you find a conscience?

[Indydem]

111. I do not "pimp" for anyone.

I have never tried to recruit anyone to the NRA. I have never tried to absolve them of the failed policies they hold.

I am also not ashamed of my membership. Their local shooting and safety programs are important to responsible - TRULY RESPONSIBLE - gun owners.

You have an irrational hatred of an organization of people who have absolutely no ill will towards you or anyone else. It is sad.

[morningfog]

112. Are you proud of your Las Vegas compatriots?

They were simply the action arm of your organization.

[Indydem]

114. Now that's just silly.

No one in the NRA, or any other legitimate organization of any kind, right, left, middle, alien or otherwise, has advocated for the murder of police officers.

Broken minds.

[morningfog]

115. I never said the NRA was a legitimate organization.

[Indydem]

117. Ahh.

I see what you did there. So full of irrational hate.

I really feel bad for you.

[morningfog]

118. The irony of a member of an actual hate organization

Saying that. No hate here, only absolute opposition because of death and damage your organization has caused.

[Indydem]

121. A Hate Group?

Now you are just being ridiculous.

Who does the NRA hate? Who do they advocate hating?

The Southern Poverty Law Center does not classify them as a hate organization, or anything even close. Only you and your ilk. Irrational haters full of unfounded hatred of people you don't even know, over something you don't understand.

[billh58]

138. +100

Pimping is the correct phrase...

[A HERETIC I AM]

120. Excuse me, but who the hell are you to tell a member that has been on this board....

almost twice as long as you have that their "arguments and opinion are not welcome here"?

Who died and made you arbiter of all that is appropriate on this message board?

Something about a member that has been here 2 years telling one that has been here 8 they are not welcome just sticks in my craw.

[morningfog]

122. Member of NRA 20 years, DU 8.

Pull it out if your craw. Or don't. I don't care. Fuck the NRA. They are killing this country.

[Aristus]

11. Careful. Don't call it an 'assault rifle.' The gunfucks will become hysterical.

They'll scream that it's not an 'assault rifle' unless the grip is precisely 4" long, made of black Bakelite manufactured in Albania by cross-eyed midgets, and that the rifling has a left-hand twist instead of a right-hand twist, and that if the firearm is operated at temperatures lower than 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and unless the sling is made of hand-dyed silk made in Antarctica by Carmelite nuns who hang upside-down by their toes, and unless the trigger is made of hand-carved fossilized mastodon bones.

If it doesn't have all of those features, IT'S NOT AN ASSAULT RIFLE SO STOP SAYING THINGS TO SCARE PEOPLE AND PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY AR-15 AWAY, DAMMIT!!!!!

Just so you know...

[billh58]

16. +100

Closer to the truth than not...

[geomon666]

17. Yup

[d_b]

22. couldn't have said it better

[uponit7771]

24. +1

[PeaceNikki]

32. .

[TheCowsCameHome]

33. Too late, they're already circling the wagons.

But you knew that would happen, right.

I know I did.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

42. That's always a winning combo: hysterics with guns.

Thanks, NRA!

[alcibiades_mystery]

46. That's probably the best parody of gunner shithead nonsense I've ever seen

Gawd, they're such trash.

[gollygee]

48. ROFL

+1

[samsingh]

60. that's the common trip to take attention away from the murder

and focus on details that are irrelevant to the people mourning the loss.

btw - their grammar is not always good

[Paladin]

66. Bullseye, Aristus. Thanks. (nt)

[WinkyDink]

76. Spot-on---except for the "PLEASE." Heh.

[G_j]

80. might as well

get it out of the way now...

... broken records

[countryjake]

86. +!00

Bookmarked, and I hope you'll not mind if I reference your excellent rant in the future.

[Aristus]

87. Please do. Thank you.

[aikoaiko]

88. Your caricature of an anti-gunner put down is spot on!

[Hoyt]

12. AR15 marketing promotes the manliness, powerful, etc., aspect of these weapons.

[upaloopa]

13. Where did he get it?

Maybe a gun nut parent who doesn't lock up their guns?

[TheCowsCameHome]

35. Hopefully right between his freaking eyes,

if you're referencing the shooter.

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. Ah, the weapon of choice, say 9 out of 10 gun humpers .

In a recent blind survey of humpers that can't get enough bang for their buck.

[aikoaiko]

26. A popular rifle among those who are and remain law abiding.

But there are involved in very few homicides compared to other types of firearms.

[randys1]

30. Bazookas could be popular too, and you might be able to own one and never

hurt anybody with it, but that would be insane, almost as insane as owning an AR15

Jesus fucking christ...I sure hope liberals will get real angry about this and real soon, before too many more are dead

[aikoaiko]

47. The ordnance in bazookas is too pricey. ARs are fine.

There is nothing radically different about them than any other semi-auto rifle.

[randys1]

53. But if it were cheaper why not everybody have one?

[aikoaiko]

57. They might.

I've never shot one, but they are probably as not much fun for recreation, nor as useful in self-defense situations.

[randys1]

59. How about hand grenades?

Land mines for your property to keep robbers out?

[aikoaiko]

65. I'm glad to see we're not arguing about ARs anymore.

Hand grenades and landmines could only be used in self-defense situations where using them would probably also kill you or the threat is not close enough to warrant lethal force.

[randys1]

67. Oh, I think all AR15's should be seized, today

[aikoaiko]

84. I know. And thats why gun control fails.

[randys1]

98. We havent tried gun control yet...have to first get rid of SC justices who purposely

misinterpret the constitution

[MohRokTah]

40. EVERY gun owner is law abiding and responsible...

all the way up to the point where they aren't.

[aikoaiko]

43. Yes, but the vast majority are and remain so.

[MohRokTah]

44. All the way up to the point where they aren't.

[aikoaiko]

49. most never stop being law abiding.

[MohRokTah]

50. Yes, but ALL will stop being. eom

[aikoaiko]

52. Existentially, of course. I like Albert Camus, too.

[MohRokTah]

55. You cannot be a responsible law abiding gun owner and also be dead.

[aikoaiko]

70. For some anti-gunners, the only good gun owner is a dead one.

Not directed at you, of course.

[MohRokTah]

73. For some pro-gunners, the only good anti-gunner is a dead one.

Not directed at you, of course.

[WinkyDink]

74. I've never heard that one.

[aikoaiko]

79. You edited that didn't you?

Here's an example of how it shows up on DU.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5058416

[derby378]

58. Every voter is law-abiding up to the point when they aren't...

So, for their own good, they should not vote. They might cast a vote for a cucumber or David Vitter or something.

[WinkyDink]

71. This is a most specious argument. "The vast majority" of ANY group "N," unless "N" = "Felons," would

be law-abiding.

UNTIL THEY ARE NOT.

[aikoaiko]

78. The nonspecious part is that they remain law-abiding until the end of their days.

That is they never are not law abiding as the phrase "gun owners are law abiding until they are not" implies.

"Gun owners are law abiding until they are not" is just fear mongering from the anti-gun club.

[Hoyt]

81. But, they help arm the non-law-abiding directly or indirectly.

[Jenoch]

126. I am sure there are many people who

have guns and were irresponsible from the start.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

68. Well.....Sort of.

Back when I was a kid, nobody I knew of had an AR-15 even though they were introduced to the civilian market in 1963. It was something of a novelty weapon.

Sales have spiked in the past few years. More than a million units sold in 2009 and 2012, and more than a half million sold in every year since at least 2005. In 2011, almost 20% of all firearms sold in the U.S. were so-called assault weapons. So it stands to reason that with more of these guns in circulation, we're going to see more shootings where they play a role.

[randys1]

27. But dont express fear on DU, dont tell other members here that as outspoken liberals

you fear for your life because someone will come along and tell you that you are the problem, that it is you that needs help

Sometimes my anger at fellow "so called" liberals is over the top but for good reason, anyone who would say that is not a liberal anyway

[Indydem]

63. Why would you fear for your life?

It makes no sense what so ever.

You have a greater probability of dying SO many other ways.

It's random. It could happen. It probably won't.

I am a liberal. I will not live in fear over a statistical anomaly. I live my life based on reason and logic, not irrational fear.

[LadyHawkAZ]

39. Light, small, easy to hold and rapid fire

Scary as fuck to look at too, especially from the business end. Perfect for a mass shooting.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

45. Recc'ing, mainly for Aristus' reply. (n/t)

[Iggo]

64. Boi-oi-oi-oi-oing!

Moar gunz!

[WinkyDink]

69. I'm guessing one that was bought legally because.....SECOND AMENDMENT! BENGHAZI!

[Iggo]

77. Your dead kid doesn't trump my second amendment rights!

Derp.

[liberal_at_heart]

91. If we weren't willing to change the laws after a bunch of 5 yr olds were murdered, we will never

change them. Sadly, it's a lost cause.

[Iggo]

106. I'm still willing.

[The_Casual_Observer]

89. Ever get the feeling that the Genie is out of the bottle about this?

There must be many millions of those rifles out there. Even if production was stopped completely, there is no way to control who ends up with whats out there. This can only get worse.

At the Las Vegas killing, some "Hero" guy got snuffed out by getting in the way. So much for that shit.

[OregonBlue]

93. I'm so sick of gun nuts. How many children are going to die before we say enough is enough.

You can't open carry. You can't have semi-automatic weapons, you can't have assault weapons and you can't have ginormous clips that allow you to go on shooting and shooting. No actual hunter needs any of those things. The rest is just ego and little man syndrome. It is just plain sickening how we are allowing this to go on.

[dilby]

100. Do you have a link because here in Oregon it's just being reported as a rifle.

I have not been able to find anything that it was an AR15.

[KamaAina]

101. But, but, but, but the difference between an AR15 and a regular rifle is only cosmetic!

[ManiacJoe]

131. Without the sarcasm tag you would be right, too.

[KamaAina]

132. So why aren't regular rifles ever used in massacres?

[ManiacJoe]

133. Before I respond with "They aren't?"

I should probably ask for your definition of "regular rifle".