The second one... I lol'd. But yeah, that's just how the media are...

Yeah, I had a good laugh too. Still, people ought to know better than that, but many don't.

True true

I just learned the technical definition of an assault rifle. Good post!

Thanks! There's way too much confusion over that.

Fear is a very potent poison.

Even when the antidote is applied, it may not always take. Still have to keep inoculating though.

Wait a second.

Does that mean Laguna's theme song is inaccurate?

It sure does.

Very informative, and explaining the why was the most useful of all. I was aware of the design similarities between the M16, M4 and AR-15 but I didn't presume that was a source for the latter's use in the civilian market.

I'd like to own an AR-15, myself, since I'm very familiar with how to use it safely and maintain it. Canada's gun laws are pretty shitty, though, so the AR-15 is classified as a restricted weapon here, meaning there are all sorts of ridiculous things you're not allowed to do with it.

Gun control has me so torn personally. There are lots of very responsible gun owners and enthusiasts, and I can see how shooting can be a great pastime. From a technical perspective they are fascinating and I can see why people collect them. But at the same time... Shootings by crazy people are just far too many and if there was a way to avoid it I'm all for it.

Unfortunately, reducing violent crime doesn't seem to be as simple as outlawing guns. Compare countries like the United States and Sweden, who both have very high gun ownership, but the US has an extremely high rate of violent crime, and Sweden has very little. You can also compare countries like Great Britain and Japan, both who are incredibly restrictive with their weapons, but the UK has a huge amount of violence, and Japan is relatively low. The root cause of violence goes a lot deeper than just the availability of firearms. Too many people ask "how" instead of "why."

Thanks for posting this! I learned a few things, myself.

Happy to share my expertise.

Hooray for fighting ignorance!

Always glad to fight that. I was kind of worried that this journal would cause a shitstorm, as I know a couple of people who are afraid of firearms -- but the intent was to inform and reduce some of that fear.

I'll shoot you in the face with my machine gun

Psh, you don't got one of those, airgenet.

THis is America, do not underestimate our love of overkill

The only thing I hate about this whole gun control issue is the knee jerk reactions from both sides from the fence. One half of them shouts "BAN ALL GUNS" while the other half screams back "SECOND AMENDMENT" and after a whole lotta shouting nothing has changed until the next shooting and everything stay exactly the same and thus the circle of life has been completed.

Funny thing about America, you're not allowed to (publicly, mind you) have a intermediate opinion without getting pushed off the fence into the abyss of extremism. You can't agree to some conservative points but hate Romney smug assface, you can't agree with global warming as an effect but think that it doesn't influence our lives in ways that can't be managed and you sure as hell can't be FOR certain gun control measurements but AGAINST gun bans.
wtf,g?

I agree. It's why I don't fully support any political party. They're all way too polarized. They each have a few good ideas, but they're also stupid in their own ways.

It's not so simple to be in the middle, is it?

Sure isn't. Because then everyone hates you.
then again, this might be just the stupefying effect of the internet which makes everyone go apeshit.