I started reading this thread before I left for work today, but didnt get the chance to finish it.
I am ex-military (Special Forces/Navy to be precise), I have extensive weapons training in just about every modern handgun, rifle, shotgun, sub machine gun and machine gun that you could throw at me. I am also a very avid gun collector, firing range visitor and hunter.
Now, considering all of that, my opinion is that no one (emphasis on NO ONE) should be allowed to a weapon that is fully automatic. Even talking about owning an automatic firearm should make the talker cringe and cower, with the threat of imprisonment, if they go about their idea and find a full auto weapon. This particular type of weapon was not made to hunt with, protect yourself with, or use for recreational purposes...it was meant to kill people, plain and simple...end of story.
The manufacturers that make the conversion kit (you can convert some types of semi auto rifles to fire full auto) should be forced to either stop selling these conversion kits, or go out of business...it's their choice.
Law enforcement does not need these converstion kits...weapons, in police deptments, in cities such as L.A., Miami, Chicago, etc. are bought directly from the firearm manufacturer, with full auto capabilities. There is no reason, what-so-ever, for ANY company to be selling full auto conversion kits to ANYONE. They shouldnt exsist, period.
I can understand the "I just enjoy to shoot them" angle, because I am one of those people that enjoy it. But, I dont enjoy shooting full auto any more than I do semi auto, or rifles or handguns. As fast as you can pull that trigger is how many rounds of ammunition you're going to expel. What's the fun in wasting 30+ rounds of ammunition in 3 seconds, cause you think it's cool to shoot a full auto weapon?? That baffles me. There was a time when I'd go through 1000+ rounds of ammunition, in all calibers (9mm, .40cal, .45cal, .223), every week...it's expensive!
Guns dont kill people...people kill people and that's the plain, simple truth. The media makes firearms out to be a horrible thing. Think of the last gun story you heard on the news...it was either a gang shooting, or a 5 yr. old finding his IDIOTIC fathers handgun and shooting his little sister with it. In my opinion, that father should go to jail for the death of that child. But instead, it's no ones fault, cause it was only a kid that found the gun and then it immediately launches into..."Well, this wouldnt have happened if we had stronger gun laws". No, it wouldnt have happened if the father had half a brain and followed simple gun safety by not having a loaded gun in the house. And, it's difficult for me to believe the "Well, I keep the gun loaded in case someone breaks in" theory...it takes someone all of about a second and a half to pick up a magazine and insert it into a handgun.
The media plays on this fear of firearms and what has it gotten us??...rediculous gun laws, that are getting worse and worse every day. This country was founded on our right to bear arms...whether it be an old musket or my .223 M4, with a 30 round magazine.
I just took a job at a security guard/security supervisor for a new company in my area. They're not well liked, for unjustified reasons, in this area and me and the guys I work with are required to have firearms training. My first day on the job, they issued me a .38 revolver...6 whole rounds. Now, with the world like it is today, where 13 yr old gang bangers are shooting up neighborhoods with Ak-47's, who wants to work at a job where the possibility of a gun fight? You want to pull out that old 6 shooter and face off with a guy with an Ak-47?...no thanks, I put the .38 in the desk drawer and carry my HK USP .40...13 rounds of stopping power is better to me than an old 6 shooter.
To wrap this up, I'll say what myself and countless generations before me have always said...
The government can take away my guns when they pry them from my cold, dead fingers.
