Assault weapons aren't necessary

The second category in President Obama’s plan is banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines.  Now while there are both sides to the argument (many people might not think there is), I will be covering the positives.

Let’s first remember back to the period when there was previously an assault weapons ban; 1994-2004 assault weapons and high capacity magazines were illegal for civilian use.  Did it work?  In the previous ban, crimes by assault weapons decreased by 66% nationwide.  In 1993(the year before the ban was passed), crimes by assault weapons was 3.67%, which dropped in 2001 to a measly 1.1%.  this doesn’t seem like much, but if you think about it, if three people were 3% of victims of crimes, you’re saving 2 of those people with this ban.

In Massachusetts, an assault weapons ban is already put in place. Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said, "they have no place in Massachusetts. These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people."  Which is correct!  Assault weapons were made to be military combat weapons, made for killing a lot of people faster.

Who gains from these weapons being legal?  Criminals mostly, they are not suitable for self-defense, and since they fire so many shots so fast, it is more likely you will accidentally shoot an innocent bystander if you are not a perfect shot.  The argument “criminals will get it some way or another” is not a valid argument; that is not what laws control.  It controls law-abiding citizens, and they have no need for these weapons.  If we based every law off of the criminal statement I made above, no laws would be passed!  But even if it makes it just a little harder for criminals to acquire these guns, isn’t it worth it?  I recently watched the Daily show with John Stewart, and they had a very funny clip where they were talking to a gun rights advocate, I encourage you to watch it.

                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pOiOhxujsE

The last argument for banning these weapons is they are not suitable for recreational use.  You don’t use them to go hunting, or trap shooting, or other recreational activities.

Now let's reflect on the positives I have stated while we click on my next blog talking about the negatives.